Chapter Ten: The Three Brothers:

Hogwarts:

Harry was annoyed with one Severus Snape. Did not the wizard know all the homework and things he had to do now? Hermione was not much happier as she took up the copied pages of Tale of Three Brothers. As she could read runes she started to read the tale to Ron, Harry and Neville as Neville had become such a good friend over the past two years. He had blossomed from a scared little boy to a strong confident young man. He was a hero and a powerful wizard, he was growing from pudgy little boy into strong confident man. That was fine with him, he could use that to his benefit and he did on more than one occasion. Hermione took up the book and started to read to the three boys.

"….. In time, the brothers reached a river too deep to wade through and too dangerous to swim across. However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water. They were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure.

"And Death spoke to them. He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for travelers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic and said that each had earned a prize for having been clever enough to evade him.

"So the oldest brother, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence, a wand that must always win duels for its owner, a wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death! So Death crossed to an elder tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hung there and gave it to the oldest brother.

"Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still farther, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead.

"And then Death asked the third and youngest brother what he would like. The youngest brother was the humblest and also the 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 Death most unwillingly handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility.

"Then Death stood aside and allowed the three brothers to continue on their way, and they did so, talking with wonder of the adventure they had had and admiring Death's gifts.

In due course the brothers separated, each for his own destination.

"The first brother traveled on for a week or more, and reaching a distant village, sought out a fellow wizard with whom he had a quarrel. Naturally, with the Elder Wand as his weapon, he won the duel that followed. Leaving his enemy dead upon the floor, the oldest brother proceeded to an inn, where he boasted loudly of the powerful wand he had snatched from Death himself, and of how it made him invincible.

"That very night, another wizard crept upon the oldest brother as he lay, wine sodden upon his bed. The thief took the wand and for good measure, slit the oldest brother's throat. And so Death took the first brother for his own.

"Meanwhile, the second brother journeyed to his own home, where he lived alone. Here he took out the stone that had the power to recall the dead and turned it thrice in his hand. To his amazement and his delight, the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry before her untimely death, appeared at once before him.

"Yet she was sad and cold, separated from him as by a veil. Though she had returned to the mortal world, she did not truly belong there and suffered. Finally the second brother, driven mad with hopeless longing, killed himself so as to join her. And so Death took the second brother for his own.

"But though Death searched for the third brother for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and equals, they departed this life." Hermione finished, Harry and Ron were puzzled as to what this could mean.

"The deathly hallows." Neville said looking up.

"What?" Ron asked.

"I was talking to Luna, she had this symbol in her book like this" Neville sketched a triangle with a circle within with a line that dissected the circle and triangle down the middle. "She said it was the deathly hallows, let me see the first page."

Hermione handed it over and Neville studied it. He traced with a finger the top of the page and took out his wand and gently made the title bigger and looked closer at it. What Hermione had passed over as a smudge now was a clear picture, very similar to the sketch Neville had made. The four teens looked at each other still not as clear on what they were seeing. Then Hermione looked up alarmed then at Harry.

"Harry did you say your invisibly cloak from your father?" She asked.

"Yes why?" Harry asked.

"Invisibly cloaks don't usually last that long." Ron said looking over at Harry. "I just thought it was a bit of good magic that kept it working."

"There is mention of powerful wands through the ages." Neville said added in. "The death stick, wand of destiny, the elder wand. If the cloak and wand are real then the resurrection stone is too."

"But it does not bring the dead to life and it's a story!" Hermione said. "And this is Luna we are talking about!"

"She does have a few quirks I will give you that, but her father helped out last year." Neville said. "Besides this year she seems a bit different, I mean she is still Luna but she is more refined, take how she did the Quidditch match."

"Yea she really did a good job, she must have read Quidditch Through the Ages then." Harry said. "I can believe in the cloak and the wand but not the resurrection stone."

"Why not?" Ron said.

"It goes against nature, against God as well." Harry said. "I mean to call back someone with a stone like that would be wrong, like a Horcrux. Only one way to eternal life and that is to die and rise again in…"

"What about seeing your mum and dad then?" Ron asked Harry.

"I will see them again, just not in this life and I can live with that." Harry said. "I mean it's not easy but I can live with it. Even if I had the stone I would destroy it, remember in the story it did drive the second brother mad?"

"I still don't get why professor Snape gave this to us." Hermione said.

"I think he wants us to solve a puzzle." Harry said. "There are three names on the back here, Antioch elder wand, Cadmus the resurrection stone, Ignotus the cloak of invisibility." Harry read. "Here is a last name, Peverell."

"That means if this is true you would be related to Ignotus." Neville said. "Potter line goes through the youngest Pervell brother."

"Yea, that is right." Harry said. "If Severus knows about this I am sure the headmaster does too and that means that Bellatrix could be seeking them out too."

Harry looked from one friend to the other, trust Severus to warn him in this manner, by having him read the book and see the danger that he was protecting him from even now. Harry realized he had seen a stone in a ring, Aberforth had given it to Dumbledore. That meant if the story was anything to go on that two of the hallows were at Hogwarts. The stone and the cloak, where then was the elder wand? Harry realized that with the dark lord gone it had only brought forth a dark lady far more evil and wicked than even Voldemort had been and she was looking to unite the hallows for her own evil use.

"So this means that dear Bella is looking for them then." Neville said.

"Yea but they cannot defeat death, if they could then whoever had them first would still be alive." Ron said.

"You don't believe the three brothers met death do you?" Harry asked him.

"No mate not at all, it would be mental, magic can do much but it cannot raise the dead." Neville said, " Voldemort did come close with his Horcruxes but we saw what damage he suffered for it."

"Or turn water to wine." Hermione added.

"Or allow a witch or wizard to walk on water, well one could freeze calm water but not a tempest." Neville replied.

"Right, so let's see who these three brothers were and what connection they have to your cloak." Ron said.

"McGonagall may have a way to get a genealogy for me of my family." Harry said helpfully. "See just what my ancestors had and all."

"Would not hurt to ask." Hermione said.

The four friends set about studying more from the book and when McGonagall came to the common room. He asked her about his family tree and she said she would see what she could do. Satisfied he had done all he could Harry went back to studying knowing that they were still helping out in getting rid of evil.

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Severus looked out the window and back at the aged headmaster who was calmly sucking on one of his lemon drops. Severus was really thinking that maybe, maybe Dumbledore had gone mad this time. Why on earth had Dumbledore had him give the story to the golden trio of all people? Okay so it was real, somewhat, the visit to Godric Hollow had been hard as James and Lily were buried in the churchyard there. He had paid his respects as he did every year then followed the headmaster to where he saw another grave, that of Ignotus Pervell. Now back at Hogwarts Severus still had many questions.

"Headmaster if the Deathly Hallows as you call them are real than Potter owns the cloak, and the ring is the resurrection stone." Severus said slowly looking up at Dumbledore. "The elder wand is yours am I correct?"

"Yes." Dumbledore said.

"Hnn, you plan to be the last owner then?" Severus asked.

"Yes, I intend on that." Dumbledore said.

"Good, let us speak no more of it." Severus said. "Only you and I need know. But the resurrection stone bothers me headmaster, there is great evil there."

"Severus you of people know what this means, this could bring back those we love." Dumbledore said.

"No headmaster, not this way, it goes against nature, against everything, please headmaster destroy it I beg of you." Severus said looking into Dumbledore's blue eyes his black one's pleading. "I have lost one father, I cannot bear losing you."

"Severus I, I am touched." Dumbledore said not realizing that he meant this to the boy, still, still he need to know, to use the stone. "What if the hallows united can raise the dead?"

"No headmaster they cannot." Severus said sadly. "Think on the story, these things were created by death, if that is so than to try and use them together would only bring misery."

"But if they could…"

"If they could then the Pervell brothers would still be with us and not buried in the ground." Severus said.

Dumbledore knew Severus was right, of course he knew that. Years before he had found the tombs himself, had seen the moldering bones and knew that the hallows united would not bring back the dead. Still the resurrection stone, ah that at least could unite him with his sister. Then again had not his sister died because of his wickedness in wanting these? Severus knew Dumbledore would think on what he said, he could not destroy this on his own, but the time would come when the stone had to be destroyed, but not today. Not yet, not yet…

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Fussen Bavaria:

Bellatrix was here to see the one person who had killed Severus brat's mother. Oh yes he was here and she needed to know why he had killed Aurora Swan. She looked over at Grayback who was softly growling crouched low to the ground sniffing and pawing the ground much like an animal, which Bellatrix had to remind herself he really was. She looked over at Yaxley and McNair and nodded to them. They spread out and began to make their way to the house that stood inside the woods a mile outside of the city.

Grayback had been right, the house was well warded, and as a werewolf he could not get in on his own wizard or not. Bellatrix stayed by the werewolf, she did not much care for him but he was useful, perhaps that was why Voldemort had kept him around. Bellatrix took out a round golden globe and opened it letting off a dull red light. It flickered and changed to green letting Bellatrix know the wards were down and she could head into the house. She walked up the path quietly and entered the house. Yaxley had a man on his knees, hands bound behind his back in the middle of the sitting room. He was tall, blond and fair and was clad in red and brown clothing. Bellatrix held her wand fingering it and Grayback growled at her side, he clearly was hungry.

"What do you want?" The man, Bauer said in German showing very little fear.

"I understand a year to two ago you killed a witch named Aurora Swan." Bellatrix said in the same tongue.

"What would that be to you? You are not family?" Bauer said.

"No I am not, you took something from her when you left." Bellatrix said.

"What was there to take?" Bauer asked.

"She was well known for her work with runes and ancient text." Bellatrix said. "Now you can tell me what I want to know or my werewolf here will start eating you while I use Legitimacy on you."

"She had a book, a children's book." Bauer said fearfully looking over at the Grayback who did indeed look very hungry. "You know of the tale of the three brothers?"

"I do indeed." Bellatrix said.

"They are real, the wand, the stone, the cloak, find all find eternal life." Bauer said.

"You know where these things are?" Bellatrix asked.

"No, I have my theories, Grindlewald had the elder wand last, he is in Nurmengard." Bauer replied.

"I see, you have been most helpful." Bellatrix said. "For that your death will be painless. Avada Kedavra!"

Bauer slumped over dead on the floor. Bellatrix motioned Grayback forward knowing his tastes, she hated him but knew she had to keep him around and this was one way to do so. She walked from the house with Yaxley and McNair while Grayback stayed behind to make a meal of the now dead human. Bellatrix would force him to bathe after, she did not want him around her especially after he had eaten a human. She left him there, if he was caught and killed that would not matter to her, she had Yaxley and McNair as her most loyal followers to work with.

"I must go to Nurmengard." Bellatrix said to Yaxley.

"It is a dangerous place my lady." Yaxley said. "If they find out who you are you will never leave again, I cannot lose you my lady, let me go, if I am lost it is of no consequence."

"I will go, I must do this personally, you are worth much to me and I cannot afford to lose you, who would I have to speak with? Wormtail is not good company." Bellatrix said.

"As you wish my lady." Yaxley said bowing to her.

With a swirl of cloaks and a crack they were gone at once and outside the massive gates of the fearsome prison. Bellatrix had Yaxley wait and she changed to her newly acquired Animagmus form of a raven. She flew up to the highest tower and entered the cell of the onetime most feared wizard in the world. She saw he was kept if not in luxury in comfort, he had books along one wall and the shelf where his bed had a thick mattress and warm blankets. She felt anger as she had not been treated this well in prison, she had been clad in rags and kept in a bare cell with Dementors outside her room day and night.

She was not happy, who was this wizard to get such treatment? What she did not realize was Nurmengard was a fearsome fortress but as a prison it tried to reform those prisoners it could. Those like Grindlewald who had been given a life sentence instead of the death sentence were allowed a few comforts. Though the prison was not guarded by humans, (it was in fact guarded by goblins and dwarfs) it had humane conditions. The prisoners could not do magic and many felt that was punishment enough behind these grim walls. The old man stirred and woke sitting up and looking up at Bellatrix. He was very thin and frail looking, his white hair hung lank about his head and his face was sunken and skull like. His pale watery eyes looked at her keenly.

"You must be Bellatrix Lestrange." Grindlewald said pleasantly in English showing no sign of surprise at her here. "I do get the papers, they are so kind that way."

"You know why I am here." Bellatrix said her dark eyes flashing.

"Let us say I do not, why do you not tell me?" Grindlewald asked kindly. "But where are my manners, do sit, please." He motioned her to a chair and she did sit.

"I want the elder wand." She said.

"Ah yes, I see, many have sot the elder wand, many have died trying to find it." Grindlewald replied. "What would you do with it if you got it?"

"I would unite it with the resurrection stone and the cloak of invisibility." Bellatrix said. "Legend tells that once united these three would give the owner immortality."

"Ah yes, you are but young, when the weight of years has come upon you there would come a day you would wish for death." Grindlewald said sighing heavily. "Much as I do now, of course you are going to kill me, oh do not look so surprised, I will not call for the guards or put up a fight."

"You dare toy with me old man?" Bellatrix spat standing up in fury.

"No my dear," Grindlewald said sadly. "No but if I could help you I would, I sot long years for the elder wand, but in the end I never found it."

"You lie!" Bellatrix hissed.

"No my dear, I wish I could help you" Grindlewald said.

"Then if you will not help me you will die old fool!" Bellatrix said. "Avada Kedavra!"

A jet of green light hit the old man and he slumped over dead. She changed back to her Animagmus form and flew out of the tower. She knew the old fool had been lying, he had the wand. Who was he protecting? With a jolt she knew who he was protecting and she knew who had the elder wand. Albus Dumbledore had the elder wand and she was going to get it…

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Yes the plot thickens, Harry knows about the deathly hallows and his role and Bellatrix knows too. As for Grayback eating humans, he is vile that way and does like fresh human even when he is not in werewolf form. That is fully cannon fact as he did state he really likes to eat children. He is just too evil to be allowed to live but he does unfortunately.

So let me know what you think!