Significance of missing line (was: HBP paperback)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 156076

Dung earlier:
>>> RAB is alive and well, and being kept hidden by Aberforth. And I
bet Snape knows, and is pals with him. <<<

SSSusan replied, earlier:
>> But, yep, I'm betting Aberforth will be active in Book 7 somehow --
whether that's bearing news from brother Albus or having knowledge
of Regulus' history or -- heck yeah! -- harboring Regulus, we shall
see. <<

Dung then responded:
> > Except... no it can't be Regulus. If Regulus were being hidden by 
> > the Order, or by DD, DD wouldn't have gone chasing off after a 
> > fake Horcrux. 


SSSusan:
AH!  So I get what you're saying now.  Erm... maybe I do. That you 
think Aberforth is harboring R.A.B., but that R.A.B. is *not* Regulus?  
That's what you're getting at?  I'll come back to that.  

At the moment, still assuming R.A.B. *is* Regulus...

Colebiancardi: 
> unless,  unless, Regulus was so "insane in the membrane" from 
> drinking the vile liquid, he could not really tell anyone much of 
> anything.  

SSSusan:
Hee.  Well, I'm not sure about the "insane in the membrane" 
possibility, colebiancardi, but I had to include that because it 
cracked me up.

Dung, again assuming R.A.B. could be Regulus and going with 
your "R.A.B. is being kept hidden by Aberforth," what about the 
possibility that DD didn't even *know* that Regulus is alive?  

What do we really know about Albus' and Aberforth's relationship?  
Precious little!  That Albus *said* he wasn't sure Aberforth could 
read.  (Was he joshing? Or was this indicative of a not-especially-
close sibling relationship.)  We do have confirmation that heis a 
member of the Order, yet Moody claims he only met him once, and we 
don't see much of him.  He's the barkeeper at the Hog's Head, but we 
can only guess how often (or not) Albus visited him there.  He was seen 
conversing with Dung.  He appeared at Albus' funeral.  That's about 
it!  

To quote a question from the Lexicon, "Is Aberforth an undercover 
operative, or mostly working for himself?"  The answer for now is, "Who 
knows?"  But if he's doing a lot of undercover work or working mostly 
by or for himself, is it possible he might keep information from his 
brother?  

Nyeh, I know, it's doubtful.  I'm really not at all convinced Regulus 
is alive.  But I do think it's possible that he could be alive without 
Albus Dumbledore's knowledge, even if Aberforth were the one hosting 
him. 

So, back to what you were saying (I think).  You're postulating that 
R.A.B. is not Regulus, and that Aberforth is keeping R.A.B. in hiding.  
Then who's R.A.B.??

Siriusly Snapey Susan, 
who knows this post is all chopped up and confusing, but it reflects 
the state of her brain this morning (blasted DECAF coffee)