New RAB theory...

[Judy]

The idea that the elder Regulus Black is *the* R.A.B. is very 
creative. However, I don't think it's correct.

First, this elder Regulus has never been mentioned in canon.  In 
contrast, Harry knows that Sirius had a brother with the initials 
R.B., that this brother was a Death Eater, that he turned against 
Voldemort, and that he was killed as a result.  It makes sense that 
Harry will eventually deduce that R.A.B. is Sirius' brother.  Harry 
has no information about the elder Regulus, so it's unclear how Harry 
would ever figure out that R.A.B. was him.  Having R.A.B. turn out to 
be someone the readers and Harry had never heard of would be a cheat, 
in my opinion.

Also, there's the interesting theory that Regulus (the younger) may 
have had a mirror for communications, as Sirius did, and that Harry 
will use this to learn the fate of the locket.  I don't see any 
connection to Regulus the Elder that would help Harry find the locket.

What I find most convincing against Regulus the Elder being R.A.B. 
however, is the inferi in the cave.  Voldemort didn't have all those 
inferi at his disposal back in 1959.  Of course, he could have added 
the inferi to the cave later, but in that case, why didn't he check 
up on the locket while he was at it?  The presence of the inferi 
leads me to conclude that the cave was set up fairly late, well into 
Voldemort's first reign of terror. 

My feeling is that Regulus the Elder is actually Regulus the Red 
Herring.  He could even be a red herring designed specifically for 
the "benefit" of devoted adult fans such as ourselves.  The fan 
community figured out that R.A.B. was "Regulus A. Black" within hours 
of the publication of Book 6.  JKR may have wanted to throw us off 
the trail, and recently written the elder Regulus into the family 
tree specifically to throw us off. 
  
For those who hope to see some interesting allegiances further back 
in the Black family tree, though, they may be there.  Remember the 
theory that Sirius' father had helped Regulus against the DEs, and 
was killed as a result?  It could be right.  Sirius' father died the 
same year as Regulus. 

Anne said, about the claim that Kreacher wouldn't want to help 
destroy a horcrux:
> who cares what Kreacher wants, when he can
> simply be ordered to do things?

I concur.  Kreacher is bound to the Black household.  If he is 
ordered to do something by a "proper" member of the Black household, 
then he would do it. 

Also, although Kreacher clearly believes in the pure-blood chauvinism 
of the Blacks, that doesn't mean he favors Voldemort.  It seems that 
everyone in Sirius' immediate family ended up either having doubts 
about Voldemort, or actively opposing him. So, one can be a pure-
blood chauvinist and yet not actively support Voldemort.  Also, 
perhaps Kreacher has learned that Voldemort has a muggle father -- 
we've seen how he feels towards Muggle-born Hermione.

So, then, why did Kreacher try to help the Death Eaters at the end of 
OoTP?  Because Narcissa told him to. 

-- Judy