HEY!has anything to do with Jo telling something NEW about the book EVER BEEN predictable? No!the woman is publicising herself and i personally think this is gonna be included in jo's rubbish bin section in a week or two.... This is a bloody rumour

Though most of us have guessed that RAB is Regulus, I really feel that this is something Jo wanted us to ponder until Book 7's release. Confidentialty agreement or not, revealing this kind of info without consent is in poor taste. As for "keeping awake the excitement for book 7" that responsiblity falls to Jo, her agents and publishers and they're doing a fine job already. Besides, suspense and mystery keeps people on the hook more than revealing the answers ahead of time does.

I KNEW IT!!!

i agree...we should stick to the tried and tested HP motto, or not believing anything until it come from the main source.

To be honest loads of people were saying that its Regulus and I dont think that this piece of information is entirely crucial to working out the "top secret" storyline of the seventh book. she must have known that people would think it was Regulus, so if it is then maybe she thought that it doesnt matter if it's revealed although it is more fun when its only a good guess i suppose. I think it's Regulus.

I think this news are true and thrustworthy. It all fits. In my opinion some other commentators shoudn´t make such a fuss about an info which slipped from a translator probably by accident. We all suspected that RAB is Regulus Black long time ago.

I posted this last night------------------- ************SPOILERS** ******************** The name in the article is "Regulus Arthur Black", not "Arcturus". And the full name was sent by JKR herself, although what the translators asked was simply the gender of the person. The article was very interesting, I missed it at the time it came out. *********************** And someone asked me where did I get this information. It's in the article, of course. I am Portuguese. According to what Isabel Nunes said, they asked the gender of RAB (it was necessary for purposes of translation) and JKR not only sent the gender, but the full name of the character. They were actually surprised at this. Isabel didn't say this to reveal some big news, it was an example of how sometimes the author gives more information about the characters than what is said in the actual text (book). The newspaper definitely exists, it's Diário Económico and it was published in the weekly magazine that comes with the newspaper.

I don't think this is just a rumour. It sounds very logical to me, however, just because the Portuguese translator know this, doesn't mean we're going to find out, so as far as I'm concerned, this is no big deal.

By the way, everyone who says they don't want spoilers... then avoid the internet and all news related to Potter LOL Nobody forced you to read the article. It's easy enough. I don't want spoilers either (I made an exception with RAB because I don't think it's a big surprise and JKR already hinted at this in the interview to Mugglenet/TLC) and I will definitely be very careful about HP sites next year. In fact, one of the reasons I'm going to buy the book as soon as it comes out, is that if I read it fast, I won't risk getting spoiled accidentally (hearing people talking in a bus, for example!).

I agree with Jaded. RAB being Regulus Black does make sense. However, I don't see why JK would share this kind of information with a translator before the book is even published. She is very careful about what she reveals. Plus, she always says don't trust any source other than her or her publisher.

Wow!! thanks ciaran, I'll be happy for the rest of the month! XD

There's no way JK will confirm OR deny this, because the first couple of chapters in B7 will have Harry wondering who it is. Why would she want to tell us now? Plus, if she tells us, what will we be left to wonder about?

oh cool ive found people who lyk evanescence, i luv them too and amy lee is lyk sooooo awesome!!!

*CRACK* [apparates] Good Morning all! This news is quite interesting...I just wanted to comment my initial thoughts after reading only the news bit (I'll get to the actual article in a moment). I have a problem with this excerpt: "Her reason for shedding light on the topic at this point is to "keep awake" the excitement for the seventh book. In the past, Nunes also clarified that Blaise Zabini is a man and Professor Sinistra is a woman." I'm not quite certain - it could just be me, but I really don't need the identity of RAB to be revealed to "keep awake" the excitement for the seventh book!!!! Why does this translator feel that the ecitement has waned??? It hasn't - and from what I see here from you lot it surely hasn't!!! I just don't get it. Okay, I'm off to read the article...

Huh, what use is the article if it's not translated to English (or any other language other than Portuguese)? Again, I don't need the identity revealed to keep the anticipation of book seven alive in me. Whether or not if this is actually true, it really doesn't matter - most of us have guessed it was Regulus after reading HBP. If this bit of information doesn't come directly from Jo or her publisher, I'm not taking it to heart.

personally im not gonna believe this until Jo says it herself

The Black Family Tree that Jo auctioned of and which you can see a version of at the HP Lexicon shows that Arcturus was a Black family name. It was the name of Regulus' grandfather and also of one of his grandfather's uncles. So of course it seems reasonable that he would have this as his middle name.

I think R.A.B. is Sirius' brother Regulus. It would cover the R & B. Since it never tells his middle name, then it is possible that it starts with an A. It would explain why he was killed by Voldemort's followers killed him, or why he was actually with them to begin with.

u kno i dont think she would release info lyk this wiv out a unbreakable vow and i do think that RAB is Regulus but i cant be sure until Jo says it

and assuming that translator hasnt bin reported dead then i am sure that Jo has not said this

"Keeping excitement alive for book 7"...as if this book isn't going to be the biggest and fastest selling book of all time. They could never speak of the book again until the day of release and it would still break all the sales records set by HBP. Harry Potter 7 will NEVER have a shortage of excitement.

I NEED TO KNOW!!!!!

Tony the Terrible: guess we all agree with you!

I don't believe that JKR would give away such an important information without making sure, that this woman is not allowed to tell anyone else. That or it's not really an important information. Just as some people said before, as long as Jo or her publisher aren't confirming this, I won't take it for true.

Well, if anyone remebers on HP Lexion there was an update for Regulas Black showing his middle name, but it was taken down a day or so after, and there was also something else that popped up around the same time stating that RAB was Regulus.

When did Emma say that she wasnt going to stick around for 6&7?...last interview that i read of hers said that she wasnt sure...and if she doesnt stick it then that is very disappointing...Ü

God! I dunno why i'm bothering, noone listens ./emo lol. RAB cannot be Sirius's brother, he'd be too young. Were talkign 19/20 here, far to young to be Voldemorts inner circle as a DE. I really cant be assed to explain, but i'll say this, Regulus died before Harry was born, and Harry was born when Lilly and James were 20/21 (cant remember), go check the timeline somehwere, It all figures, Sirius does have an Great Uncle, Great Granfather, or something however, ( Go look at the Black Family Tree) Called Regulus, he was alive somewhere at the tim of Voldie. Sorry if you think this is just general Rambles. I'm not crazy.

I really do hope RAB turns out to be someone other than Regulus. That would make this Nunes look like a total idiot. ;)

Luke: If Regulus was 19/20, he would still be 2/3 years older than Harry. Given that Harry must eventually fight Voldemort at 17, I think Regulus could at least defy Voldie at 19/20. Therefore, I believe age is irrelevant, and Regulus could still be RAB.

you can translate the whole article with http://babelfish.altavist a.com/tr the passage that tells the name and sex of RAB in the picture of the translator i took me a few mintues to find it.

I think R.A.B. is Serious black uncle, on the Order of the Pheonix Serious is telling harry about his family, and says he had an uncle who gave him money after he run away from home. the name was alfard black.

i dunno. i'm kind of thinking its a lie, cuz why would jo tell some traslator? especially if they can just blab it to everyone. still, i wouldnt mind knowing... by the way, Arcturus is the third brightest star in the sky-after SIRIUS and canopus, excluding the sun. anyone know someone named canopus?

I know i'm portuguese but this woman doesn't know what she's talking about come on now

This woman doesn't know what she's talking about--I mean it's obvious that Dawlish is RAB! Gezz, lady, get with the program!

I work in a translation company, translators do sign contract of confidentiality. I find it really odd that JK wouldnt impose a contract of confidentiality anyway.

OMG! RAB is Regulas Arcturus Black!!!!!!!! Thts so kool!!!!!!!

Ok, I've been thinking about it, and I want to clarify it. If when the translator received the text to translate she signed a contract of confidentiality (which doesn't usullay happen), she cannot make the information contained in that text public, that means she can't divulge that text until it is officially released or published. Nevertheless, supplementary information wich is not contained in that text (and that she can't get from any source, even the author) is not under the restriction of that contract of confidentiality. So we can consider what the Portuguese translator said in the interview is true, supposing JKR would give her that information. But it's true that a translator can contact with the author to get extra information so the translation is as faithful to the original text as it may be. Sorry about the lenght!!

i think r.a.b.'s accomplice was abeforth (some problems ei why didn't h tell albus?) anyway, WHY SHIP???

i mean abeforth's name is a and the r &b are conected maybe meanig a is seperat!?!? anyway, WHY SHIP?

That's just not right. Her giving something this huge away... but i doubt the interview is valid anyways...

*I'm not looking at highlight I'm not looking at highlight I'm not looking at highlight I'm not looking at highlight I'm not looking at highlight I'm not looking at highlight* Must-refrain-from-spoiler s!

I think RAB is regulus, i did before this new information and always have since i saw RAB. One other interesting thought i have is, This cup drained dumledore nearly killing him, if regulus did it he would have needed help, (going into theory's now) i think he had snape help him and snape back stabbed him like he back stabbed dumbledore, cuz regulus would have needed help getting though all of that plus leaving RAB there, i think snape told voldemort after and took him down. Seems like a good theory on how voldemort knew and found him/killed him... But its just a theory.

o.0 ...i don't want to know!!

Let's just leave it a surprise!=D... I love surprises!=D

ok! i found it! i read in this article on the internet and it said that j.k said it personally herself that R.A.B IS NOT regulus black! phew....... it feels good to get that out of my system. ;] luv, amber xoxoxoxo xoxxoxoxoxoxoxxo

Shelledfade...I thought the same thing at first, but the more I thought about it, I don't think Regulus (if RAB is Regulus) could have possibly had Snape with him because Voldemort had a curse on the boat that would only allow one fully-grown wizard at a time

Well, it's logical to me that J.K. Rowling had to reveal the gender of the character, since Portugese, as a romance language, makes a difference in adjectives, verbs, etc when talking about soemthing or someone femenine or masculine, BUT!! I don't see the point in telling the translator the middle name of the character, which makes it suspicious.... She could've done very well without knowing the full name of R.A.B. The only reason I think Jo would've had to tell her is if she changed the name of the character, but I don't think she did... haven't really read the books in portuguese... not that I'm interested anyway... I think she was very unprofessional by saying that if it is true, and if it is not, it is still unprofessional to go and say it... However, if Jo doesn't speak soon.... it'll make me wonder

i think that R.A.B is two people because dumbledore tells harry that one person alone could not retrieve the horcrux

Well, I think I should come out and clarify a thing about the Portuguese language. Indeed, like with all Latin based languages, in Portuguese the nouns and adjectives have to be either male or female. So, there was never really a doubt regarding the gender of either Blaise of Professor Sinistra for the Latin based reading public. And yes, the translators do need to know about the gender of the characters beforehand, but in this case - with R.A.B. - that info was not exactly necessary. I just went through my Portuguese copy of HBP and the mysterious gender of R.A.B. was not disclosed. There's only one passage where Isabel Nunes makes him a male character - but, in Portuguese, when in doubt or making a generalisation, we use the nouns and adjectives in the male form. So, I'm joining the "just a rumour" bandwagon: regarding both R.A.B.'s gender AND Isabel Nunes disclosing a privileged info about Book 7.

AGAIN, A few other thoughts that R.A.B. is Serious Black uncle. Both were blasted off the tapstry on the black family. could be that he also went to the good side, and not like the entire black family. And also, the fact he gave money to Serious after he run from home is an evidence of him being a good wizard. Ragulous might be his first name, and maybe the brother of serious was named after him. (a little far fetched, but possible). If R.A.B. is not a new charecter, it might be him.