Magical Origins
Author Notes: Sorry for the wait. I've been taking a break. I will be working on finishing this story. I'll also be working on Aspect of the Wolf again.
Year 7: The Three Brothers
"'Once, three brothers were traveling down a lonely, winding road at twilight. In time, the brothers reached a river too deep to wade through and too dangerous to swim across. However, these brothers were talented in the magical arts, so they waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure.
"'It was Death, and he felt cheated. Cheated because travelers would usually drown in the river. But Death was cunning.
"'Death congratulated the three brothers on their magic and said each had earned a prize for being clever enough to evade him.
"'So, the oldest brother stepped forward, a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence: a wand that would always win duels for its owner. A wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death! So Death fashioned him one from an Elder Tree that stood nearby.
"'The Second Brother decided he wanted to humiliate Death even further. He was an arrogant man who asked for the power to recall loved ones from the grave. So Death plucked a stone from the river and offered it to him.
"'Finally, Death turned to the Third Brother and youngest brother. The youngest brother was the humblest and wisest of the brothers, and he did not trust Death. So he asked for something that would enable him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And so it was Death, reluctantly handed him his own Cloak of Invisibility.'"
"'Then Death stood aside and allowed the three brothers to continue their journey. They did so, talking with wonder about the adventure they had and admiring Death's gift.
"'After reaching the edge of the forest, the three brothers went their separate ways.
"'The First Brother traveled on for a week or more, reaching a distant village, and sought out a fellow wizard with whom he had a quarrel. With the Elder Wand as his weapon, he easily killed his quarrel wizard. Drunk with the power of the Elder Wand, the oldest brother boasted loudly of that powerful wand he had snatched from Death and how it made him invincible.
"'That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay, wine-sadden, upon his bed. The thief took the wand and slit the oldest brother's throat for good measure.
"'And so, Death took the first brother for his own.
"'The Second Brother journeyed to his own home and turned the stone thrice in hand. To his delight, the girl he'd once hoped to marry before her untimely death… appeared before him. Yet, she was sad and cold, separated from him by a veil. Though she had returned to the mortal world, she did not truly belong there and suffered. Driven mad with hopeless longing, the second brother killed himself to truly join her.
"'And so Death took the second brother for his own.
"'As for the third brother, Death searched for many years but never was able to find him. It was only when the youngest brother attained a great age that he finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. He greeted Death as an old friend and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life.'"
Harry had to admit this story was very strange.
"There you have it," said Xenophilius.
"Sorry?" said Hermione.
"Those are the Deathly Hallows," said Luna.
The trio looks at the Lovegood in confusion.
"Here…" said Xenophilius.
Harry began to notice that Xenophilius seemed anxious for an unknown reason.
Xenophilius pulls out his wand and begins to write in the air.
"The Elder Wand," Xenophilius said as a straight line appeared.
"The Resurrection Stone," a circle surrounds the wand.
"The Cloak of Invisibility," a triangle covers the circle.
"Together, they make the Deathly Hallows. Together they make one Master of Death," said Xenophilius.
"But there is no mention of the Deathly Hallows in the story," protested Hermione.
"Of course not! This is a children's tale. Told to amuse rather than instruct. Those who have studied the story recognize the story is talking about the three objects, or Hallows, which… if united, will make the wielder the Master of Death," said Xenophilius.
"Are you saying these three objects, Hallows…, actually exist?" said Hermione.
"Well, of course! I am well aware many of my fellow wizards think I'm a nutter, but I am one of the few who actually believe these Hallows are real!" said Xenophilius.
"But… Mr. Lovegood, how can you possibly believe…?"
"Luna has already told me about you, young lady," said Xenophilius.
It was clear he felt insulted by Hermione's attitude.
"You are not unintelligent but painfully limited. Narrow, close-minded. You neglect what's around you for facts and evidence," said Xenophilius.
"Mr. Lovegood," Hermione began again. Trying hard to stick to her reasoning logic. "We all know that there are such things as Invisibility Cloaks. They are rare, but they exist… but…."
"Ah, but you are limiting yourself yet again! The Third Hallow, the one the youngest brother received, is the true Invisibility Cloak. I mean to say, it is not a traveling cloak imbued with a Disillusionment Charm, or carrying a Bedazzling Hex, or else woven from Demiguise Hair. They will hide one initially but fade with time. We are talking about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely invisible and endures eternally. Giving constant and impenetrable concealment, no matter what spells are cast upon it. How many cloaks have you ever seen like that, Miss Granger?"
Hermione shuts her mouth, having no answer.
Harry pauses to think about what Xenophilius said.
Yes, he has once seen the Wynter's family Cloak of Invisibility. They spend pouches of Galleons on maintaining its concealment charm to keep it long-lasting. It's one of Wynter's most expensive items but is showing signs of wear and tear. Holes and tears started to make it useless. Even its concealment charm has started to fade, and it's only ten years old.
Then Harry begins to think about his own Invisibility Cloak.
'Your father left this in my possession before he died. Use it well.'
Harry began to wonder how old his Invisibility Cloak truly was. Sirius and Lupin told him they would run around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade under his father's Invisibility Cloak.
Even now, his Cloak remains tucked safely under his robes and shows no wear and tear. It still looks brand new like the day Harry first received it on that Christmas day.
Could the story be true?
"Let's say for a moment the Cloak exists. What about the stone? Mr. Lovegood? That thing you call the Resurrection Stone?"
"What about it?"
"Well, how can it be real?"
"Prove that it is not," said Xenophilius.
Hermione looked outraged at being questioned about her intellect.
Harry beings to think carefully.
The symbol was also embedded in another stone.
A gemstone to be more precious.
Is it possible that the stone is a short reference to a gemstone?
"So, the Elder Wand, do you believe it exists?" asks Lily.
"That is the easiest traceable of the Hallows in our history," said Xenophilius.
"And there is enough evidence to support its existence!" snaps Xenophilius before Hermione can say anything.
"What do you mean?" asks Lily.
"The way it has been passed down," said Xenophilius.
The trio looks at Xenophilius in confusion.
"Surely you've all heard of the wand of Egbert the Egregious after he slaughtered Emeric the Evil? Of how Godelot died in his own cellar after his own son, Hereward, took the wand from him? Of dreadful Loxias, who took the wand from Barnabas Deverill, whom he had killed? The bloody trail of the Elder Wand is splattered across the pages of wizarding history!" said Xenophilius.
Harry begins to think about how Dumbledore smiled at him during their duel and how he initially dropped his guard to allow Harry's spell to hit him.
Harry looks at Hermione. She is frowning. Trying to wrap her brain to win this argument. She was losing. It was unnerving for her to lose an argument.
"Where is the Elder Wand now?" asks Lily.
"Who knows?" said Xenophilius.
"Who knows where the Elder Wand lies hidden? The trail goes cold with Arcus and Livius. Who can say which of them really defeated Loxias and which took the wand? And who can say who may have defeated them? History, alas, does not tell us."
Harry thinks back to the chest in his bag.
Where Dumbledore's wand lies.
Grindelwald claims the wand was his old friend.
How did Grindelwald come across the wand?
Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald, so it would explain how Dumbledore took the wand.
Grindelwald lived with Dumbledore winning the wand. Meaning you didn't have to kill your opponent to win the wand.
Did Dumbledore leave the wand for Harry because Harry bested him and won the wand?
"Mr. Lovegood, does the Peverell family have anything to do with the Deathly Hallows?" asks Harry.
Cadmus Peverell. The name of Marvolo Gaunt proclaims he was related to who was a direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin.
"Mr. Potter, you surprise me. I thought you were new to the quest of the Hallows. Many of us Believers believe the Peverells have everything… everything… to do with the Hallows," said Xenophilius.
"Who are Peverells?" asks Hermione.
"I came across that family name when I was studying Voldemort's past," said Harry.
Xenophilius and Luna flinch terribly upon hearing the Dark Lord's name.
"Well, those who believe… we believe the three Peverell brothers are the ones in the story. Antioch is the oldest and brashiest of the three, then there is the arrogant one, Cadmus, and the youngest one, Ignotus! They were the original owners of the Hallows!"
Xenophilius looks out the window and suddenly gets up.
Harry looks at Luna.
She didn't seem to be not paying attention, like she was not interested in what was happening around her.
Harry gets up and looks out the window.
"Death Eaters," said Harry.
"What?" said Lily.
Harry turns and stuns Luna.
"Harry! What are you doing?" shouts Hermione.
"She's not the real Luna. She's a doppelganger. Most likely a Golem. The real Luna must be held prisoner by Death Eaters," said Harry.
"Then we have to leave," said Lily.
"Potter is here! I swear! Give me back, Luna!" shouts Xenophilius downstairs.
"We can't disapparate," said Harry.
"Where do we go?" asks Hermione.
"Just follow us," said Lily.
Harry grabs his bag and follows Lily, who starts casting spells and hexes at the Death Eaters, mocking Xenophilius Lovegood.
It took them some time to register that Harry was coming down the stairs and had fired spells at them.
They flew backward as Harry grabbed Lily and pulled out his Firebolt. Hermione jumps on and holds onto Harry's back tightly as they take off into the air.
Spells fly past them as they make their escape.
Harry, Lily, and Hermione reached the edge of the Lovegood's territories before they disapparated.
"I can't believe you wasted your time on the nutter," said Hermione.
"Who said it was a waste of time?" said Harry.
"You can't honestly say you believe all that crap about the Hallows being real?!" said Hermione.
"Prove to me they aren't," said Harry.
Hermione found herself at a loss for words as Harry began challenging her.
Once again, she found herself at a loss and knew she would lose this argument.
Harry pulls out the magical tent as they climb inside.
"Do you actually believe Lovegood said is true? The Hallows are real?" whispers Lily as Hermione begins to use the bath.
"I have every reason to believe him, and that's coming from the Lovegood," said Harry.
Hermione was in the other room, so they didn't have to fear being overheard.
"What Lovegood said about the Cloak of Invisibility. Mad Eye's Cloak must warn out, and it would have cost him galleons to keep it going. My Cloak has been in my care since my father was at Hogwarts. Invisibility Cloaks don't last longer than a decade at best," said Harry.
"If your cloak is the Cloak of Invisibility, then what about the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone?" asks Lily.
Harry pulls out Dumbledore's chest. He left him and pulls out Dumbledore's wand and the Golden Snitch.
"The Elder Wand. Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald and took this wand from Grindelwald. Only Dumbledore was smart enough not to boast he had the best wand in the world," said Harry.
Harry reveals the Golden Snitch.
"The Resurrection Stone."
"Hidden within the Golden Snitch," said Lily.
Harry reaches up and grasps his Golden Snitch.
Golden Snitches have flesh memory, meaning they always return to the owner who first touched them.
Harry knew Death was the clue, and he knew at once what Dumbledore was trying to tell him.
'I open at the close.'
"I'm ready to die," said Harry.
The Golden Snitch pops open, revealing a gemstone. The same gemstone that Dumbledore wore on a ring.
"So you have all three Hallows," said Lily.
"I wonder why Dumbledore would try to hide this fact and not tell me? And why is this so important in dealing with Voldemort and his newfound powers," Harry wonders out loud.