New RAB theory...

[carolynwhite2]

Pippin:

But if people don't need a reminder of that theme [childrens' 
abilities], why do they keep coming up with theories that someone 
other than young Regulus would have had a better
chance of snitching the horthingy?

Carolyn:
Um, why not? You can doubt that this particular teenager was 
capable/had the opportunity to switch the locket, whilst at the same 
time acknowledging that JKR has kids carrying out the main action in 
the books. If one really wanted to be tiresome (shurely not..), you 
could even argue that so far we have not seen any child in a previous 
generation being successful in fighting evil; it seems to be Harry's 
year that she's singled out for the doubtful honour.

Judy:
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.

Carolyn:
I find this good catch of Judy's more convincing than Pippin's 
thematic children-as-heroes argument. Could definitely live with 
Regulus-the-younger being helped by his father, especially as this 
would do away with the Kreacher difficulty.

On which point:

Carolyn, previously:
> > (Although I've yet to hear any convincing argument as to why
> > Kreacher would want to help him).

Anne:
I don't understand -- who cares what Kreacher wants, when he can
simply be ordered to do things?

Judy:
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.

Carolyn:
I think we saw from Dobby's curious interpretation of house elf 
rules, and indeed Kreacher's own peculiar behaviour that they seem to 
have a good deal of latitude in obeying orders. I would have thought 
a reluctant Kreacher was an extremely dodgy companion to take on such 
a dangerous mission, and I don't believe Regulus would be strong 
enough to command him. It's a bit like riding a horse, all about 
willpower. IF Kreacher accompanied young Reg, it may have been 
because Mrs Black told him to, and tying that into Judy's point above 
about the death dates, maybe the reason she told him to was because 
Voldie had just killed her husband?

Anne:
On the other hand, there's nothing to rule out Regulus the elder,
either.  His opportunities are not as clearly delineated, though.  He
was 36 in 1942, which was the date on the Diary, so he did not know
Tom Riddle in school (though, as a younger son of Phineas Nigellus's
eldest son, he may have known Slughorn, and met Tom at a party).  Tom
Riddle worked for a while and begon collecting trophies -- but when
did he begin gathering DEs or their precursors?

Can't rule either of them out, can we?

Judy:
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.

Carolyn:
...er, now wait a minute! Neither of you are arguing from known facts 
here. Regulus the elder had infinite opportunities to know all about 
Tom Riddle through the myriad Slytherin and inter-bred connections. 
He is also the right age to have been taught by DD, and to have ended 
up on the other side of the fence. 

Either way, DD told us in HBP that Voldemort had an adult gang of 
supporters as early as 1954, as they were waiting for him back at the 
Hogs Head when he came to ask for the Dark Arts job after a 10 year 
absence at the age of 28.

Also don't see why he could not have assembled quite a lot of inferi 
by 1959. All they are are corpses bewitched to do a wizard's bidding. 
He could have commanded any number of them from graveyards all over 
the place, he didn't have to have actually murdered them all himself.

Though I agree, the dating of the cave protections is an interesting 
point. If he put it all together much later, as you argue, then that 
makes it much more likely the locket could have been swapped before 
it ever got there - but can't believe that Voldie would never have 
noticed that fact. And where did he stash the locket for 20 years or 
more since he murdered Hepzibah for it (and the cup)?

Carolyn