Regulus Black

Regulus Arcturus Black
Biographical information
Born	1961
Died	1979 (age 18)
Blood status	Pure-blood
Also known as	R.A.B.
Physical information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Hair colour	Black
Family information
Family members	Orion Black (father) † Walburga Black (mother) † Sirius Black III (brother) † Arcturus Black III (paternal grandfather) † Melania Macmillan (paternal grandmother) Pollux Black (maternal grandfather) † Irma Crabbe (maternal grandmother) Bellatrix Lestrange (cousin) † Andromeda Tonks (cousin) Narcissa Malfoy (cousin) Cygnus Black III (uncle) † Druella Rosier (aunt) Alphard Black (uncle) † Lucretia Black (aunt) † Ignatius Prewett (uncle)
Affiliation
House	Slytherin
Loyalty	Death Eaters (formerly) Slytherin Quidditch Team

"Fight, fight for my master, the defender of the House elves. Fight the Dark Lord, in the name of brave Regulus! Fight!"

— Kreacher

Regulus Arcturus Black (1961 - 1979), also known as R.A.B., was a pure-blooded wizard, born to Orion and Walburga Black. Regulus was also the younger brother of Sirius, Harry Potter's godfather.

Biography

"...my parents, with their pure-blood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal...my idiot brother, soft enough to believe them... He was younger than me, and a much better son, as I was constantly reminded..."

— Sirius telling Harry Potter about Regulus

Regulus was born into the wealthy, pure-blooded Black family, as the youngest son of Orion and Walburga Black in 1961. It is assumed that he was named after his great-uncle, also named Regulus, and his paternal grandfather, Arcturus. Relatives included Bellatrix Lestrange, a loyal Death Eater of Lord Voldemort's, Andromeda Tonks, who married a Muggle-born and was subsequently disowned by the family, and Narcissa Malfoy, who married Death Eater Lucius Malfoy.

Regulus's parents considered him to have much difference to his older brother Sirius. Although Sirius was the older son and heir, he didn't whatsoever follow the Black family traditions, unlike Regulus. Their parents disapproved of this, and Sirius was later sorted into Gryffindor house when he attended Hogwarts. Following this, Sirius left home at the age of sixteen and was subsequently disowned by his family. Regulus, on the other hand, was admired by his parents for his loyalty towards his family and their traditions. He, unlike Sirius, was sorted into Slytherin, and became a member of his house Quidditch team. Harry Potter discovered a photograph of Regulus's team years later, which suggested that he played as Seeker, based on the seating.

"They’re all about Voldemort. Regulus seems to have been a fan for a few years before he joined the Death Eaters…"

— Hermione Granger on the collage of news clippings in Regulus’ room

From a young age, Regulus admired Lord Voldemort and made an ambition to become a Death Eater in later life. Regulus had photos and articles of the Dark Lord and his followers from newspapers hung in his bedroom near a painting of his family crest during his childhood. Regulus recieved the Dark Mark during his adolescent years, which his family approved of as Voldemort was seen as striving to achieve pure-blood supremacy over other wizards and Muggles. Even though his parents were never Death Eaters themselves, they agreed with many of Lord Voldemorts own beliefs.

"To the Dark Lord. I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know 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."

— Regulus's letter to Voldemort, after he stole Salazar Slytherin's Locket

File:Tothedarklord.gif

Regulus's letter to Voldemort.

After becoming a Death Eater, Regulus began to consider abandoning his Death Eater title, partly because his master mistreated and intended to kill the Black family's loyal house-elf Kreacher, whilst setting up the security measures for one of his Horcruxes.

"He was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders, more likely, I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or death."

— Sirius Black

R.A.B. hand-written letter to the Dark Lord pertaining to the Horcrux Locket

By 1979, Regulus had become a defector of the Death Eaters and began to be one of many whom sook Lord Voldemort's defeat. Regulus was aware that his former master was making use of Horcruxes in an effort to achieve immortality. It is assumed that the Dark Lord knew of this, since Sirius had been aware of it.

Voldemort was not aware that Regulus had destroyed Slytherin's Locket, a Horcrux, before his death. However, he left a note for Voldemort, declaring his desire that the Dark Lord would one day be mortal.

In 1997, Kreacher told Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger of Regulus's succeeded attempt to destroy the Horcrux, having been there himself, as the duo also sought to destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. They then realized that Regulus was R.A.B. that was signed on the note to Lord Voldemort. Following this, Harry gave Kreacher the counterfeit locket that Regulus had replaced the real one with, showing Harry's own respect for the house-elf. Kreacher later earned this respect by subsequently showing more respect towards Harry, Ron and Hermione.

During the Battle of Hogwarts, Kreacher, having rallied many of the schools house-elves to assist him, ordered them to fight for Regulus, wielding knives against Death Eaters' knees and shins.

Physical appearance

Regulus has been known to have resembled his older brother, with the black hair and haughty good looks common to their family history. Harry Potter made an opinion that Regulus was “smaller, slighter, and rather less handsome” than Sirius.

Personality and traits

Regulus, having been sorted into Slytherin house, was eager to show similarity with his parents, unlike Sirus, who would rather show difference. Regulus's parents had a preference of pure-blooded wizards, so it is assumed that Regulus took after them whilst growing up. Regulus's room was full of Slytherin banners, unlike Sirius, whose room was full of Gryffindor's. Regulus, like his parents, admired Lord Voldemort, and believed that he was a great Dark wizard. However, after he became a Death Eater, he realised how desperate his master was to reach his goals. Regulus later discovered the Dark Lord's creation of Horcruxes, and what they meant. Having turned against his master, he decided to destroy them, sacrificing himself, which shown his bravery. Regulus also respected his family house-elf, Kreacher. The character was among those of many who believed that Voldemort would be destroyed by the Chosen One.

Relationships

Sirius Black

Sirius, his brother

Regulus and his older brother Sirius didn't have a good relationship, partly because Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor. Sirius also disliked Regulus because of his ambition to become a Death Eater, but he was unaware that Regulus had later attemped to destroy one of Voldmeort's horcruxes.

Etymology

Members of the Black family and their history seem to have made a tradition of naming their children after stars and constellations. In Latin regulus means "little king" and was one term for a basilisk. As a name it has also been applied to the star Alpha Leonis, which is situated at the heart of the lion in the constellation of Leo. Regulus was also the family name of a Roman general, Marcus Atilius Regulus, who was known for his honour and self-sacrifice. Arcturus is also a star, in the constellation Boötes. It is derived from Ancient Greek meaning "bear guardian".

Author's Comments

J. K. Rowling compared Regulus to Draco Malfoy, his first cousin once removed, who also became a Death Eater at a young age and eventually defected. Like Draco, Regulus "got in a little too deep... He was attracted to it, but the reality of what it meant was way too much to handle."

Behind the scenes

• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it is established that Regulus was killed by the Inferi in Voldemort's Horcrux Cave. But in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the way Sirius describes Regulus' death implies that he was killed by the Killing Curse. However, Sirius' information came second-hand and it is possible that whoever told Sirius of Regulus' death did not know exactly how he died.
• On the Black Family tree depicted on the 2nd DVD of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Regulus' picture is depicted as a skull.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Appears in photographs)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Mentioned only)