Chapter 1-A Myth and a Duel

Many centuries ago, there were three brothers who called themselves the Peverells. The first brother was a master of warfare, the second brother was wise and always quick to form a successful strategy, the third brother could gaze into the future, warning the others of any trouble that lay ahead.

One day they were passing through a forest, in search of new places. When suddenly the third brother had a vision. He saw a river ahead, over which was a wrecked bridge. He saw themselves attempting to cross it, but the bridge giving way as they fell into the treacherous river. He could see himself drowning, and before he took his last breath, he saw a lone figure, clad in black. Death was pleased to see their demise.

He shook himself out of his trance and quickly warned his brothers. The second Peverell came up with a plan. As they were nearing the river, the first brother created an illusion of themselves, that went on to cross the river. Just as the illusion reached the middle, he silently reached out with his magic and broke the sole supporting column. It ended just as the third had envisioned, but with them safe and on their way through other roads.

They couldn't get far, however, as just a while later they faced a lone black figure, with a long scythe in hand. The smell of rotten flesh and fear of demise prominent in the air, they knew that they faced Death herself.

Death was not very pleased to find her prey slipping out of her grasp, but at the same time she was amused to find mortals who could deceive her. So she came forth deciding to let them go for now. As she voiced her pardon form demise, the first Peverell strode towards her and claimed he had triumphed over her, asking for mastery over her in return. The third one also claimed the same. Death was now enraged beyond words, wishing for nothing but agony on them for their foolishness. She wanted to end their lives then and there.

However, she had other plans. They would die for their own cleverness.

She acknowledged their 'triumph' and stated that in return of said 'triumph', each brother would gain a boon from her.

First she turned to the eldest one. The elder one wanted nothing but power all his life. So he asked for a weapon that would grant him power to be invincible in battle. Death cut off a branch off an Elder tree nearby and lacing it with her power over life, fashioned a wand. She gave it to the eldest, who left without looking back. True to the words of Death, the wand helped against overwhelming odds as he tore through his enemies. However, one day he got drunk and spilled his secret in front of a friend of his. He was killed that very night, as his friend claimed the wand from his corpse. After that the wand passed hands after hands as blood flowed freely for want of its hold. After around ten generations, the Elder wand was lost to history, waiting to be found again.

Death now turned to the second Peverell. Just as she was about to speak, she was interrupted as the third brother claimed he be the next one to receive her boon, as he foresaw the whole event. He asked for a way to glimpse in the future, to delve into the unknown as he willed it. Death presented him with a gateway that was laced with her power to reach out to unknown places and time. She also warned him never to step in or cross it, otherwise he would face dire consequences. The man left with his prize, eager to see the secrets hidden within. 'The Veil' as he called it helped him to see secrets and pieces of the future beyond his comprehension, and more importantly, beyond his reach. It almost seemed that he could hear it whisper, urging him to reach out. One day, he gave in to his temptaions. He walked into the Veil, never to be seen or heard ever again. Many souls were lost to it as they gave in to the temptation, never to return. The Veil was now rumored to be housed in the fabled department of mysteries, waiting silently for its next victim.

Finally Death turned to the second Peverelle and offered him a boon. He politely refused and thanked her for his life. When she offered again, he respectfully denied his victory, stating "No one hides from the dead.". Death now impressed with him, blessed his life to be a peaceful and happy one. And that his descendents would become legends in the world, they would be the driving force of progress. Thankful for her blessing, the second one went to live a very long and happy life that ended as him embracing Death as a friend.

But as he left the scene, Death looked into the future, she saw a boy, no a man of his lineage going up against overwhelming odds and triumphing over the darkness that will spread over the magical world. What his fate would be, if he would ever finish his journey, that she could not see. Determined to help, Death voiced,

"Darkness will come. Slowly it shall cast it's shadow of ignorance and blindness over men. It shall strike once, twice. One shall be won. The other is undecided. As the shadow will be at its blackest shade, a child of Death shall be born. He shall wield one of Death's instruments in time and shall be aided by one who remained and by one who never dies. He will be bound by a prophecy. And should he survive, his power and wisdom will be compared to none other. He will be the world's salvation, as all darkness will be cast out by his light."

Satisfied with herself, Death left. She had countless souls to reap.

[Hag's End, 1 May 1945]

Gellert Grindelwald, the most powerful dark lord ever known was in doubt. Sure, he had numerous followers willing to die on his merest whims and fancies. Sure he had devastated those who had dared to oppose him, he had money, control, land. Yet he felt something was out of his reach. Something he started his journey for. Power.

He idly twirled the wand in his hand as he looked at it, fascinated by its beauty. An instrument of Death. The Elder Wand.

When he killed Gregorovitch and took possession of this wand, the promise of power he felt from it took his breath away. He thought he would be invincible. Now he suspected that the previous owners thought along the same line. Now when he looked at it, he felt fear. Fear that his death was very near, and he'd be helpless. The wand worked better for him than any other he owned before. But with time, he felt it rejecting his wishes. Killing when he wanted to harm. Destroying when he wanted to leave a mark. His own followers died because he wanted to teach them a lesson with a simple reducto. It smashed their heads.

He had tried to use other wands, but each time he did, he felt that his magic was no more stronger than an average wizard. He finally figured out why. The wand, it was draining him, his magic slowly receding. The wand used him, making him think that he had mastery over it by claim. While it never really had a master. The wand was powerful, but as every other wand it had a true master. And that was obviously not him.

He gave a rueful smile. In his arrogance, he had challenged the leader of the other side to face him in one on one duel. Albus Dumbledore. His friend, the one who accompanied him on his early phase of journey. He knew that his skill and experience was on par with his own. It was only this wand that gave him the confidence to dare to do such. And now he would go without it to face his death. How ironic.

Before he killed Gregorovich, he 'forced' him to tell him all he knew about wands, wanting to make sure he had absolute ownership of the Elder One. The old man had told him that all wands search for their true master, their magic reaching out to find them. And no matter what happens, the wand will always find its chosen one. any else attempting to use one would face consequences. He heard, he knew, yet ignored it. 'How blind is man.' He thought. Reaching a decision, he took out his other wand, made by the previous owner. He reached within to find his withering core, pointing his wand at the Elder One.

"With my death, all I have and I am I sacrifice to seal this wand. Only when it's true master needs it, shall it appear again. Until then, all who search for it shall search in vain. For I, Gellert Grindelwald will it with my magic, mind, and my soul. Let it be so." Blue light flashed surrounding the Elder, and it was gone.

'Now Albus or any other will never lose their lives over it. Never again.' With this thought, he made his way to center where his foe stood in waiting. "Ah Albus." He said in a resigned tone. "You were with me at the start, now you will witness my end." Gellert Grindelwald died that day, but the shadow of darkness he left behind was only getting blacker.