Movies - R.A.B.

	Movies - R.A.B.

The initials R.A.B. are the main clue to the identity of a possibly pivotal character revealed in the sixth book of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The following note was found in a locket recovered by Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter:

To the Dark Lord
I know I will be dead long before you read this
but I want you to know that it was 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.

(Chapter 28, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince)

The locket had been recovered in the belief that it was one of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. Later, Harry, Hermione, and Ron start to investigate who might have the initials R.A.B. Hermione researches the initials in the school library but only finds two wizards with these initials - Rosalind Antigone Bungs and Rupert "Axebanger" Brookstanton. According to Hermione's findings, neither Bungs nor Brookstanton are very likely candidates to be the writer of the note, their matching initials probably being a coincidence.

The Search for R.A.B.

J. K. Rowling has stated in interviews that the sixth book of the Harry Potter series is to a large degree the first part of a two part story. She has also stated that no new major characters will be introduced in the final book. Readers have drawn the conclusion that the mysterious R.A.B. must represent a person or persons already known in the existing books and that it is possible to determine the identity of R.A.B. by careful study. A wide fan-following of the Harry Potter series began speculating almost instantaneously about the identity of R.A.B., since this would likely and markedly affect the plot of the seventh book.

Melissa Anelli from The Leaky Cauldron and Emerson Spartz from Mugglenet were invited by J. K. Rowling to interview her immediately after The Half-Blood Prince was published. Emerson asked Rowling, "What's one question you wished to be asked and what would be the answer to the question?"

She replied, "Um--such a good question. What do I wish I could be asked? Today, just today, July the 16th, I was really hoping someone would ask me about R.A.B., and you did it. Just today, because I think that is--well, I hoped that people would."

Melissa asked, "Is there more we should ask about him?" Rowling replied, "There are things you will deduce on further reading, I think--well you two definitely will, for sure--that, yeah, I was really hoping that R.A.B. would come out." As is Rowling's normal policy in such interviews, this did not confirm or deny that R.A.B. had been identified.

Identification through Translation

There are no characters specifically mentioned in the books who have exactly R.A.B. as initials, apart from those identified by Hermione. There are some who have incomplete names, or whose initials might be correct if they customarily use their second name, or have a changed surname (perhaps by marriage). However, there is further evidence for the identity of R.A.B. from foreign language editions of the book. These contain various alternative names for the principal characters, as well as the initials from the note. For example, the Dutch edition uses the initials R.A.Z. (perhaps for Zwart, which means Black). The Norwegian edition has R.A.S. (perhaps for Svart, which also means Black). The Finnish edition has the letters R.A.M. (perhaps for Musta - also meaning Black). The French, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian editions retain the initials R.A.B..

Translation of the Harry Potter books into authorized editions in other languages are performed by authors other than J. K. Rowling herself, although she would undoubtedly have approval and veto authority over crucial plot details. Nevertheless these alternate editions may not be considered absolutely canonical. The author is not fluent in many of the languages and cultures that the series is printed in, and therefore must relinquish much literary license to the translators.

Regulus Black

The character who has had the greatest support as a candidate to be R.A.B. is Regulus Black, the younger brother of Sirius Black. Previously mentioned in the interview quoted above, Melissa suggested to Rowling that R.A.B. could stand for Regulus A. Black. The following conversation ensued:

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