After first appearing inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,the initials of R.A.B possess a haunting presence across the laterHarry Potterfilms. The initials first surface in conjunction with one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes – Salazar Slytherin’s Locket. Whilst R.A.B plays a central role in Harry Potter’s ultimate defeat of Voldemort, very little is revealed about R.A.B’s identity across the films.
Although the books explore R.A.B’s character in greater detail, his role is often overshadowed by the series’ more prominent characters. This means that fans will likely have a few questions about R.A.B, including what do the initials stand for, what are his connections to otherHarry Pottercharacters, and what role does he play in the series?
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What does R.A.B stand for?
R.A.B stands for Regulus Arcturus Black. Harry Potter fans will notice the prominence of the surname Black, which links to another significant Harry Potter character –Sirius Black.The Black family are a notorious family of Pure-Bloods in the Harry Potter universe, who earned a reputation for their unwavering support of Voldemort – something which Siriusrebelled against. Sirius’ refusal to comply with the Death Eater’s ideology meant that his mother burnt his face from the Blacks’ family tapestry, as seen in the 2007 filmHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
How are Regulus and Sirius linked?
Regulus is the younger brother of Sirius Black. However, whilstSirius rebelledagainst his family’s involvement with the Death Eaters, Regulus fed into this. As a result, tension was created between the two brothers. This conflict was heightened during the brothers’ time at Hogwarts.
Whilst Regulus followed the family tradition of being in Slytherin, the Sorting Hat placed Sirius in Gryffindor – a clear indication of the brothers’ differing personalities. As the brothers got older, the tension between them only increased. Upon graduating from Hogwarts, Regulus joined the Death Eaters marking the brothers’ official separation. Regulus became a renowned server ofthe Dark Lord,until he decided to rebel against his family’s fate.
When are audiences introduced to R.A.B?
Audiences first see these initials inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.After Harry opens Salazar Slytherin’s Locket, he discovers a note signed from R.A.B. The note is addressed to the Dark Lord and reads: “I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it is I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more”.
R.A.B’s identity is not revealed untilDeathly Hallows: Part 1.After Harry, Ron and Hermione escape from theDeath Eatersat Bill and Fleur’s wedding, they arrive at 12 Grimmauld Place. Here, they spot the name Regulus Arcturus Black written out on one of the doors. Harry quickly connects that this must be the same R.A.B who wrote the letter to Voldemort. It’s then confirmed by Ron that Regulus is the brother of Sirius. Whilst the movies only contain brief mentions of Regulus, the books explore his troubled character in greater depth. However, in both the books and the movies, Regulus’ betrayal of Voldemort is an important plot piece in Harry Potter’s narrative.
Why did Regulus betray Voldemort?
After joining the Death Eaters, it’s suspected that Regulus began to see the true cruelty of Voldemort’s supporters. The books also allude to the fact that Regulus was unsettled by the excessive brutality which Voldemort inflicted on the Blacks’ loyal house-elf – Kreacher. Because of this, Regulus decided to rebel against the Dark Lord himself – a decision which resulted in significant consequences.
How did Regulus rebel against the Dark Lord?
Regulus derived a plan to destroy one of Voldemort’sHorcruxes- Salazar Slytherin’s Locket. After replacing the original locket with a fake, Regulus set off to try and destroy the Horcrux. However, as seen inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,Voldemort had arranged a series of traps surrounding the locket’s location in the cave. Regulus sadly died whilst attempting to destroy the real Horcrux – something which Sirius may never have known.
However, the films indicate that Regulus was killed by Voldemort after he learns of Regulus’ betrayal. Ultimately, it isRon Weasleywho manages to destroy the real Locket using the Sword of Gryffindor, as seen in theDeathly Hallows: Part 1.Ron’s ultimate destruction of the Locket fulfills Regulus’ narrative.
Why did Regulus decide to steal the Locket?
Regulus’ decision to steal the Locket was made in an attempt to kill the Dark Lord. It also signifies Regulus’ direct departure from the Death Eaters. It’s likely that Regulus was pressured by his family tojoin the Death Eaters,meaning that the character was never a true supporter of Voldemort.
By stealing the Locket, it’s evident that Regulus was desperate to redeem himself and wanted to save others from Voldemort’s cruelty. This narrative is eerily similar to one belonging to another Harry Potter character – Draco Malfoy. Like Regulus, Draco faced immense pressure from his family to join the Death Eaters, despite his reluctance to side with Voldemort.
Will Regulus feature in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series?
The upcomingHarry Potterseriesis set to closely follow J.K Rowling’s original books. The plot will allegedly tell a decade-spanning story, meaning that it’s possible for Regulus’ character to return to the screen. The series could likely explore the Blacks’ family history in greater detail than the film franchise and could potentially recount Regulus and Sirius’ forgotten years at Hogwarts.
