The Unknown Thief

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The fake Horcrux locket reveals a note from R.A.B., who stole the real one, leading to the discovery that it was Regulus Black.

increasingupBearing stren­gth in each eventdowndecreasing
The Discovery of the FakeThe Discovery of the Fake
The Revelation The Empty Locket After Dumbledore's death, Harry finds the locket they retrieved from the cave is a fake. Inside is a note from someone calling themselves R.A.B. The Note The note says: '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. R.A.B.' The Mystery Harry is puzzled. He does not know who R.A.B. is. The note suggests that someone else has been working against Voldemort.
The Search for AnswersThe Search for Answers
The Hunt The Clues Harry, Ron, and Hermione discuss the note. Hermione researches R.A.B. but finds nothing immediately. Harry suspects it might be Regulus Black, Sirius's brother. The Confirmation Later, Harry learns that Regulus Black was a Death Eater who defected. He likely stole the locket. The initials match. The Implications The real Horcrux is still out there. R.A.B. (Regulus) died trying to destroy it. The hunt continues.
late June, after Dumbledore's death
late June, after the funeral