The invisibility cloak, RAB and Petunia

[Rick & LeAnn Kelley]

No: HPFGUIDX 164273

I've been thinking about the invisibility cloak again.  It seems there are only two things which could make it so important: either there's something special about the cloak itself - perhaps Lily charmed it somehow - or else it was used by someone else.  Since DD didn't need it for invisibility, then the question in that case would become who needed it, and why?  I've been thinking about JKR's reply when asked about Regulus Black.  It's true that she replied, "He's dead, so he's been pretty quiet these days," but if memory serves correctly, didn't she hesitate a bit before answering?  If she
planned a big plot twist around Regulus being alive, how else would she answer that question?  Do we really think she would say, "Oh, yeah, you guessed it.  Regulus really isn't dead.  He's been in hiding all these years, only presumed dead, and he'll show up again in the final book"?  

I can't believe she would give away something that big.  She could justify her answer later by saying he'd been "dead" with a draught of living death potion, or something of that nature.  It didn't seem to me that her answer about Regulus being dead was as definite as when she told us that Dumbledore is really dead. I'd like to hear her say unequivocally that Regulus is dead and will stay dead before I will be totally certain.

If it is possible that Regulus is still alive, then that would have been a possible use of James' invisibility cloak - whisking Regulus away into hiding.  If he is the infamous RAB, then he would likely have taken the locket around the same time.  The question remains, who was with him?  One person couldn't have taken the locket from the cave alone.  Is the locket the one in the cabinet at #12 Grimmauld Place, or did the companion take it for safe-keeping?

I had one other wild thought.  JKR told us there's more to Petunia than meets the eye - is it possible that Petunia also loved someone from the wizarding world?  It may be true that she is truly disgusted by anything to do with the wizarding world, but if she was a woman scorned or one who loved and lost, that might have precipitated her disgust.  On an even wilder thought - could Petunia have been in love with Regulus?  It would be logical for Petunia to be visiting Lily when Sirius and his brother dropped by or a visit.  If Petunia and Regulus developed a relationship it might have been the thing that changed Regulus' mind about purebloods.  Dumbledore seemed to know Petunia very well, or at least had conversations with her of which
Vernon was unaware.  Perhaps DD threatened to tell Vernon about her prior relationship unless she took Harry into her home.  Petunia must have at least known who Sirius Black was since he had such a close relationship with James and Lily, yet Petunia was totally mum about him when he appeared on the Muggle news.  She seems to have either blocked all memories of Lily's wizard friends or else is careful to make no mention of them.  Perhaps she believes Regulus was killed, and was traumatized by the experience.  (Is she keeping a small memento of him hidden away somewhere - something such as a
locket perhaps???)  Regardless, it has been apparent from the first that Petunia knows more about Lily's world than she let Vernon and Harry know.

I realize these are just wild theories, but does anyone see any thread of possibility here?

 

Anders