Chapter 2

Harry and Dobby went up to see Ollivander. Harry would have liked to bring Hermione and Ron along, but she was in no shape for this and Ron wouldn't leave her side.

Harry knew there was no time to lose. His connection with Voldemort showed him that the Dark Lord was in a towering rage, punishing the Malfoys and Bellatrix for letting the prisoners escape. Soon though, he would be back on the trail of the Elder Wand.

Ollivander was lying down in an upstairs bedroom. "Harry my boy, I can't thank you and your house-elf enough! I thought I would die there in that horrid place."

"Dobby isn't mine. He's a free elf," said Harry.

"Because of Harry Potter, so Dobby is," said Dobby.

"I have some questions for you, if you feel up to it," said Harry.

"Certainly, I'll be glad to help," said Ollivander.

"First, can you identify these wands?" said Harry, handing him two of the wands he had taken from Draco just before their escape from Malfoy Manor. Ron had the third one.

"Walnut and dragon heartstring, twelve and three-quarter inches, inflexible -- the wand of Bellatrix Lestrange. Hawthorn and unicorn hair, exactly ten inches, somewhat flexible -- this used to be the wand of Draco Malfoy."

"Used to be? Isn't it still?" said Harry.

"If you took it from him, its allegiance will transfer to you," said Ollivander. "The wand chooses the wizard."

"I grabbed it out of his hand," said Harry. "But I've heard of a wand or wands that have passed from hand to hand by murder."

"Only one wand," said Ollivander. "Legends call it the Elder Wand, the Wand of Destiny, or the Deathstick. It had a long and bloody history, but it has disappeared in recent decades."

"How do you know that it's the same wand?" Harry asked.

"There are certain characteristics that crop up again and again in the tales," said Ollivander. "For example, the wand is described as 'afire' or 'shot through with flame'. That leads me to believe it's of reddish flame-elder wood, and it may have a phoenix-feather core."

A hazy recollection stirred in Harry's mind. Somewhere recently he'd seen a wand like that...

"You-Know-Who is looking for that wand, isn't he?" asked Harry.

"Yes! How did you know?" asked Ollivander in a shocked voice.

"Never mind how. I know, just like I know that you told him about the twin cores in our wands," said Harry.

Ollivander looked horrified. "Please forgive me! I had to tell him that a borrowed wand would work better against you. The pain was unbearable."

"But my wand destroyed that other wand," said Harry. "You-Know-Who wanted to know why."

"Y-Yes, but I couldn't tell him. I still don't understand it."

"Then you told him that Gregorovitch might have the Elder Wand."

"You know so much it terrifies me. Yes, I told him that rumor. I think Gregorovitch started it to enhance his reputation. I had to tell him something to make him stop the torture. Please don't blame me."

"One last question," said Harry. "What do you know about the Deathly Hallows?"

"I've never heard of them," said Ollivander. "Are they wands?"

"Thank you for your time," said Harry, cutting off the interview abruptly. They left Ollivander, who was still pleading for forgiveness.

"Harry Potter was very hard on Mr. Ollivander," said Dobby sadly.

"At least three people died because of what he told You-Know-Who," said Harry. "Gregorovitch, an old landlady of his, and Grindelwald."

"Grindelwald?" asked Dobby. "Professor Dumbledore was defeating him long time ago, Harry Potter."

"He was alive in prison until today."

Harry suddenly remembered where he had seen a flame-colored wand. It was Dumbledore's! He must have taken it from Grindelwald.

"Harry Potter is still needing Dobby's help?" Dobby asked.

"Yes, Dobby," said Harry. "You said you needed to go back to Hogwarts?"

"Dobby should, but Dobby stays to help Harry Potter if needing Dobby."

"Can you take me with you?" Harry asked. "I need to get onto the grounds of Hogwarts."