RAB - Regulus or not? (was: Green Potion, Regulus, Snape, and DD)

[amis917]

No: HPFGUIDX 169745

I think the idea of RAB being Amy Benson is an inspired guess<SNIP>  
Regulus Black was the obvious choice but JKR rarely does
the obvious. Amy Benson and Dennis Bishop are mentioned by name in
HBP and we know that JKR rarely mentions people by name unless they
are going to play some part in the story, however small.

Magpie:
Well...she doesn't do the obvious (always--sometimes she does), but 
this
isn't really about the obvious but meaningful. RAB being Regulus is
well-foreshadowed so that it actually means something.<SNIP> If we 
learn
it's her, it will not be a cool revelation until we get the whole 
story.
She was mentioned by name, but doesn't Regulus seem set up to play the
larger role? He's been mentioned more than once in two books. He's
connected to characters we care about.

<SNIP> 
Yeah, it's a surprise and they're connected to somebody, but it's only
after you explain the story that I'll even have any reason to know 
why I
should care. It's *good* that Regulus' groundwork is already laid so 
well,
imo. (Laid by telling us about three times that he was defined by 
being in
over his head and therefore couldn't have done anything significant.)

Amis917 now:

I have to agree with Magpie. I think that to us it seems like an 
obvious choice, but to the characters in the story, not so much so. 
Like Magpie said, JKR lays the ground work for Regulus but, that's 
for our benefit. 

Its clearly not obvious to the characters in the story because Harry 
has Hermonie researching possible people who could be RAB. At the end 
of HBP, Hermonie reports that she has yet to find someone who meets 
the initials. If she continues researching at Hogwarts, she may find 
Regulus, because he did go there. I believe, however, she's looking 
in research material. Regulus would likely not be found in those 
kinds of books. To them, finding out it's Regulus, will be a 
surprise. They all think he followed the rest of the Black family 
into the Dark Arts. 

I also think JRK said as much during the post-HBP interview –

MA: R.A.B.
JKR: Ohhh, good.
[All laugh.]
JKR: No, I'm glad! Yes?
MA: Can we figure out who he is, from what we know so far?
[Note: JKR has adopted slightly evil look here]
JKR: Do you have a theory?
MA: We've come up with Regulus Black.
JKR: Have you now?
MA: Uh-oh.
[Laughter.]
JKR: Well, I think that would be, um, a fine guess.
MA: And perhaps, being Sirius's brother, he had another mirror –
JKR: [drums fingers on soda can]
MA: Does he have the other mirror, or Sirius's mirror — 
JKR: I have no comment at all on that mirror. That mirror is not on 
the table. [Laughter from all; Jo's is maniacal.]

JKR may be leading us astray here
but I like believing she is not. I 
read it like JKR is saying that RAB is Regulus.

It can also give clues as to how Harry may figure this out, or 
somehow contact Regulus. Could he be someone the Order is hiding that 
people believe to be dead?

If that is the case, and Regulus is alive – would that have 
implications for Harry being Sirius's heir?? Maybe the fact that 
Kreacher is Harry's voids the idea that Regulus is alive. 

Anyway, I've been reading this list for several years – but rarely 
post. I'm fairly certain this has all been discussed at somepoint
..

Amis917