RAB revisited

[Ken Hutchinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 153606

> Tonks: 3. The name Regulus is associated with a star, as are most of
> the Black family names.  Regulus is a `double' star according to one
> of our informants.
>
> Nick:
>
> Allow me to add that the star Regulus is literally the heart of the
> Leo constellation.  Leo is Harry's (and Rowling's) sign and, as a fire
> sign, is generally associated with Gryffindor house.  Perhaps Regulus
> has the heart of a Gryffindor?
>

Ken:

Regulus is actually a triple star according to the sources I see, for
example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulus

How much importance we should attach to details like these is unclear
since the author is so shaky with "maths". I'm a little more willing
to accept that she might have some familiarity with the mythological
lore surrounding stars and constellations than with the techinical
details of astronomy. She did after all have Harry plotting the stars
of Orion during his OWL test which took place on a date and time when
it would not have been visible. Oddly enough Regulus and Leo would
have been visible at the start of the test. The little detail we see
of Harry's astronomy course work suggests that it manages to make a
fascinating subject dreadfully dull. Hogwarts really needs a new
astronomy professor and the evidence I've seen says that they would be
much better served with a muggle than with a wizard or witch!

Ken