A/N: This is one of my favorite chapters
Chapter 40
After leaving Ron and apparating away, the first place he could think to go, was Sirius's. He wasn't thinking as he apparated to the house, he totally forgot to apparate inside the wards of 12 Grimmauld Place.
"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted a death eater waiting outside the building.
"Damn." Ewan thought to himself. "At least they still don't know the location of the house."
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here... Little Ewan Potter." snarled one of them. The spell was canceled, but with two death eaters beside him, he couldn't go anywhere anyway.
"Yes, hi, How are you doing today?" asked Ewan, sarcastically.
"Potter, Potter, Potter." tasked the other man, kicking Ewan in the ribs.
"Do you always say things three times in a row, Death Eater, Death Eater, Death Eater?" asked Ewan.
"We'll see who has the last laugh." said the Death Eater, tying him up and apparating him away.
After a good ten minutes of arguing over who would call Voldemort, Ewan spoke. "You know I could call him for you all, I could say: 'Hey, mate, I caught myself. Can you please kill me now?'"
Of course that earned him the Cruciatus Curse, but it was well worth it.
"Where's his wand?" asked Lucius to the Death Eater that brought.
"In my pocket." answered Ewan.
"Shut-up!" snarled Bellatrix Lestrange.
"I was just answering the question!" said Ewan.
Lucius Malfoy went to Ewan and pulled out his elder and phoenix feather wand.
"Dumbledore lest you a wand, in his will. His wand. Where is it?"
"I lost it, Harry and I were in the woods in Albania, it fell out my back pocket. I went back and searched but I couldn't find it." lied Ewan.
"You lost Dumbledore's wand?" asked Ballatrix Lestrange.
"It wouldn't be the first time I lost something." said Ewan. Bellatrix smile, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"No, Potter it wouldn't." said Bellatrix, touching her Dark Mark on her arm. "He's coming to kill you now little Ewan."
"I'm not scared." Ewan said, thought he knew he was. His heart was beating uncontrollably.
"You will be." she laughed.
It was a few minutes later until a crack sound broke the air. Ewan closed his eyes, his arms still held tight by the strong Death Eaters beside him. A long finger grazed his cheek, pulling his face up.
"Ewan Potter." said the voice of the Dark Lord. "Don't be shy now."
Ewan's breathing quicked, his heart felt like it was coming out of his chest, sweat starting to form along his hair line. Then he opened his eyes. The Dark Lord stood before him.
"I will not kill you, boy. If... you answer my... questions," said Voldemort. "Lucius, get me the Vertiserum."
"Yes, my Lord." said Mr. Malfoy before walking out of the room.
"Ewan, dear child, I see you have mastered the art of Occumanlency. Who taught you?" asked the Dark Lord.
Ewan had to lie, lie to protect Snape. If Voldemort it was one of his own trusted... "Headmaster Dumbledore."
Voldemort looked the boy in the eye. "Remember, not so long ago, we met in the Riddle Graveyard, I asked you to join us, I'm giving you that choice again. Something I don't do very often."
"Why?" asked Ewan. "So I could spy on my brother, so I could kill him instead of you, you've got to be crazy."
"Crucio!" cried Voldemort. Ewan withered where we was, The Death Eaters standing beside him tightened their grips.
"You will join me!" said Voldemort.
"No." whispered Ewan. "Never."
"My Lord," said Malfoy, returning with a vial full of Vertiaserum. The Death Eater to Ewan's right grabbed his face, forcing his mouth open. While Voldemort poured the potion into his mouth.
"Now, Mr. Potter," said the Dark Lord. "Where is Harry Potter?"
'No, no I can't say anything... can't say anything.' thought Ewan, however he couldn't control it, his mouth opened up and spoke on it's own accord. "The forest."
"What forest?"
'No, Harry isn't there anymore he would have left after I did.' "I don't know."
Voldemort growled. Then grabbed Ewan by the air pulling him up a few inches. "DON'T LIE TO ME!" yelled.
"I don't know, honest." cried Ewan. Voldemort threw him down, the two Death Eaters grabbed his arms again.
"Crucio." said Voldemort. There wasn't much Ewan can do while in pain when his arms were held tight. He could move.
"I know you, Ewan Potter, always second best. Powerful, yet everyone limits you." said Voldemort in barely a whisper. "All this is because of Harry. Why should you have to suffer?"
"Not fair..." whispered Ewan.
"No its not. Harry doesn't care about you, the wizardry world gave you up all those years, ago. No one loved you." Voldemort said.
"Jon and Lara... they did..." said Ewan, his eyes betrayed him as tears fromed into them.
"Muggles, they didn't really care. They didn't really understand you. Stand beside me Ewan, and everyone will look up to you, everyone will adore you."
The tears poured down his face as he thought of his mother and father, James and Lily, Jon and Lara, then he thought of Harry, Hermione, and Ron. That made him think of Sirius, Remus and all the Weasley's, then of his girlfriend, Katie. A lot of people loved him... but none of them were here. None of them would save him now.
"You need to think it over." said the Dark Lord. "Place him in the cellar, give him a few hours to think about his new postion in life."
* * *
The cellar was dark, damp, and cold. Ewan sat alone in the darkness. His knees pulled close to his chest, the tears had stopped but his body still shook uncontrollably. All he wore was a t-shirt, jeans, underclothes, and his trainers. No jacket, no wand, no light. From the count in his head, Ewan would guess that he had been in the cellar for at least three hours.
A crack noise permeated the air. "Master?" croaked an deep voice.
"Kreacher?" called Ewan quietly, his voice broke due to the sobs and tears.
"Kreacher sent to get Master home, Kreacher here to rescue Master." said Kreacher.
"Who sent you?" asked Ewan.
"Kreacher not know, only sent. Master hold Kreachers hand."
In the dark, Ewan feeled around for the house-elfs hand, to to have it grasped tightly. Then suddenly there was light.
Ewan had to squint before he could make out the shape of 12 Grimmauld Place's kitchen.
"Master hurt?" asked Kreacher.
"N-no. Just cold." Ewan replied, wrapping his arms around his body.
"Master sit by the fireplace, Krecher make you warm soup."
"Thank you." he said, moving next to the fireplace. The memories of the past four hours flashing in his mind.
* * *
It was well after Christmas when Harry, Hermione and not so shocking Ron came back to 12 Grimmauld Place.
"We're going to the Lovegood's," said Harry. "Want to come?"
"Yeah." said Ewan, making sure he had Dumbledore's wand in his pocket.
"What happened to your wand?" asked Harry. Noticing the other wand where his real wand usually went.
"Lost it."
"How?"
"I got caught, by Death Eaters. They took my wand." said Ewan. "By the way don't say you-"
"We know Ron told us." said Hermione. "The name is tabooed."
"We can call him Tom Riddle. That would tick him off." said Ewan. "Or better yet! Wadofsnot!"
"Wait- if you got caught by Death Eaters, then how did you get away?" ask Harry.
"Kreacher. He apparated me out. I haven't left the house since." said Ewan.
"What have you been doing all this time, then?" asked Ron
"Listening to Potterwatch."
"Yeah, Ron told us about it. So you coming?"
* * *
"That's go to be Luna's house, who else would live in a place like that? It looks like a giant rook!" said Ron, while the four walked up to the house.
"It looks nothing like a bird." said Hermione
"I was talking about a chess rook, a castle to you." explained Ron.
Three hand panted signs had been tacked to a broken-down gate. The first read,
The Quibbler. Editor: X. Lovegood
The second,
Pick Your Own Mistletoe
the third,
Keep Off The Dirigible Plums
Hermione knocked on the door. Barley ten seconds passed, then the door was flung open and there stood Xenophilius Lovegood, barefoot and wearing what appeared to be a stained nightshirt. His long white candyfloss hair was dirty and unkempt. Xenophilius had been positively dapper at Bill and Fleur's wedding by comparison.
"What? What is it? Who are you? What do you want?" he cried.
"Hello, Mr. Lovegood. I'm Harry, Harry Potter." said Harry, holding out his hand. Mr. Lovegood didn't shake it.
"Would it be okay if we come in?" asked Ewan. "There's something we'd like to ask you."
"I- oh well, all right then, Come in, quickly. Quickly!"
They were barely over the threshold when Xenophilius slammed the door shut behind them.
"Why have you come here?" asked Lovegood after he lead them the living room.
Before Harry could speak, however, Hermione let out a small cry of shock.
"Mr. Lovegood – what's that?" asked Hermione, pointing to a spiral horn. Ewan saw it.
"That's a Erumpent Horn!" said Ewan. "I learned about that when I was training for the Tri-wizard tournament. But isn't it dangerous?"
"It is! Its class B Tradable Material and its extremely dangerous thing to have in a house!"
"No it isn't! That is a horn to a Crumple- Horned Snorkack! A Crumple-Horned Snorkack is a very shy and highly magical creature and it's horn-"
"Mr. Lovegood, I recognize the grooved markings around the base, that's a Erumpent horn and it's incredibly dangerous – I don't know where you got it -"
"I bought it, two weeks ago, from a delightful young wizard who knew of my interest in the exquisite Snorkack. A Christmas surprise for my Luna. Now why exactly have you come here, Mr. Potter?
"We need some help." said Harry.
"Ah. The thing is... helping Harry Potter... rather dangerous..."
"Aren't you the one who keeps telling everyone TO help Harry?" asked Ewan.
"Er- yes, I have expressed that view. However-"
"That's for everyone else to do, but not you personally?" asked Ron.
"Where's Luna? Let's see what she thinks." said Hermione.
"She- Luna is down by the stream, fishing for Freahwater Plimpies. She... she would like to see you. I'll go and call her and then – yes, very well. I shall try and help you." said Lovegood, disappearing down the spiral stair case.
"He's lying. Something is wrong, it doesn't feel right." said Ewan.
"Look at this house, nothing is right." joked Ron.
"We need to get out of here." said Ewan.
"No, we need our information." said Harry. "And I'm not leaving here till I have it."
"Fine, but I'm telling you, he's lying."
Mr. Lovegood came back a few minutes later. He said the Luna would be up any minute.
"Now, Mr. Potter, how can I help you?"
"Well, its about that symbol you were wearing around your neck at Bill and Fleur's wedding, Mr. Lovegood. We wondered what it meant."
Xenophilius raised his eyebrows.
"Are you referring to the sign of the Deathly Hallows?"
"Deathly Hallows?" asked Harry.
"That's right," said Lovegood. "You haven't heard of them? I'm not surprised. Very, very few wizards believe. Witness the knuckle-headed young man at your brother's wedding," he nodded to Ron.
"Who?" asked Ewan.
"Victor Krum." answered Harry.
"He attacked me for sporting the symbol of a well-known Dark wizard! Such ignorance. There is nothing Dark about the Hallows- at least, not in a crude sense. One simply uses the symbol to reveal oneself to the other believers, in hope that they might help one with the Quest."
"I'm sorry but I still don't understand." said Harry.
"Well you see, believers seek the Deathly Hallows." said Xenophilius.
"But what are the Deathly Hallows?" asked Hermione.
"I assume you are all familiar with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'?"
Harry said , "No", but the other three said, "Yes." Xenophilius nodded gravely.
"Well, well, Harry, the whole thing starts with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'... and I have a copy somewhere..."
"I've got a copy Mr Lovegood, I've got it right here." said Hermione pulling out The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
"The original? Well, then read it aloud."
"Er... all right." said Hermione. She opened the book to the story, gave a small cough then read.
"'One day long ago, there were three brothers who decided to go out traveling the world together. At twilight-'"
"Midnight, our mum always told us."
"Whatever, go on." said Ewan.
"'-they came to a treacherous river that had taken the lives of many people who attempts to cross to the other side. The brothers, being expert wizards, casually whipped out their wands and created a bridge out of thin air to cross over. No sooner had they set foot on the bridge when they saw a dark, hooded figure blocking their path at the middle of the bridge.
"And Death Spoke to them-'"
"Sorry," interjected Harry, Ewan turned giving Harry a glare. "but Death spoke to them?"
"Harry, shut up, its just a story."
"Right, sorry. Go on."
"'And Death Spoke to them. He was outraged that he'd been cheated out of three new victims, since most people usually drowned in the river. However, Death was cunning and pretended to congratulate the three brothers for being able to "evade" him, offering each of them a prize for their skill.
"'The eldest, most boastful of the brothers, who was a combative man, desired power over others, and so he asked Death for a wand that must always win in a duel for its master, a wand worthy of a man who had conquered Death. So Death crossed to an Elder tree near the river bank, snapped off a twig from one of its branches, fashioned a wand fifteen inches in length with the core of a Thestral hair, and gave it to Antioch, promising him that the newly-created Elder Wand would be the most powerful wand in creation.
"'The middle brother, was an arrogant man and wanted to humiliate Death even further, so he asked Death for the power to bring people back from the dead. So Death walked to the river bank, picked up a black stone from the riverbed, and gave it him, promising him that when turned over thrice in one's hand, the Resurrection Stone would have the power to bring back the dead as he had requested.
"'The youngest and wisest of the three brothers, was a humble man and did not trust Death at all, and rather than ask for something to further his own desires, he asked for something that would enable him to leave that meeting without Death being able to follow him. Death, knowing he may have been outsmarted by the youngest brother but not wishing to betray his true intentions in giving the brothers their "gifts," took off his own Cloak of Invisibility."
"Death's got an Invisibility Cloak?" interrupted Harry again.
"Harry!" growled Ewan.
"Sorry!"
"'Death stepped aside and allowed the three brothers to continue on their travels as they admired Death's gifts and talked of their adventure.
"'Eventually, the three brothers separated, each heading toward his home. The oldest brother reached a village and sought out a wizard with whom he had a quarrel, engaging him in a duel that left the rival wizard dead on the floor. He then proceeded to a nearby inn, where he celebrated his victory and drank heavily in the process. He then drunkenly boasted of his unbeatable wand he had snatched from Death himself, claiming it made him invincible.
"'Later that night, a greedy wizard who had overheard The brother's ravings crept up to his room. Finding the oldest brother unconscious and wine-sodden, the wizard took the Elder Wand from his belongings and, for good measure, slit the older brothers throat, winning mastership of the Elder Wand for himself.
"'So Death took back his first victim.
"Meanwhile, the middle brother returned to his own home and took out the Resurrection Stone. As Death had instructed him, he turned the black stone over thrice in his hands, and, to his joy and astonishment, the image of the girl he had hoped at one point to marry before her untimely death appeared before him.
"'However, she was cold and distant, as though being seen through a veil, and she suffered due to the fact that she no longer belonged in the world of the living and desired to go back to the world of the dead. Upset that the Resurrection Stone could not make it as though she had never died, the middle brother was driven mad with longing, and he took his own life so as to truly join his love in death.
"'So Death took back his second victim.
"Though Death searched for many long years, he was unable to find the youngest brother, who successfully hid from Death for a good many years using the Cloak of Invisibility. Finally, when he was a ripe old age and had lived a long and happy life, the youngest brother decided to take off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. The youngest brother then greeted Death as though he were an old friend, and together they departed the world of the living as equals.
"So, there you are." said Xenophilius
"Sorry." said Hermione.
"Those are the Deathly Hallows." said Lovegood, he picked up a piece of parchment and quill. "The Elder wand." he said drawing a vertical line, "The Resurrection Stone." he said, adding a circle on top of the line. "and the Cloak of Invisibility," he finished, enclosing both the line and circle in a triangle, to make the symbol that Ewan had seen in Hermione's book. "Together, the Deathly Hallows."
"But there's no mention of the words 'Deathly Hallows' in the story." said Hermione.
"Well, of course not." said Xenophilius, maddeningly smug. "That is a children's tale, told to amuse rather than to instruct. Those of us who understand these matters, however, recognize that the ancient story refers to three objects, or Hallows, which, if united, will make the possessor master of Death"
Xenophilius looked out the window. "Luna ought to be back soon."
"When you say the 'master of Death' -" started Ron
"Master," said Xenophilius. "Conqueror, Vanquisher. Whichever term you prefer."
"But then... you don't mean... that you believe these objects – these Hallows – actually exist?"
"Of course I do."
"Mr. Lovegood, we all know there are such things as Invisibility Cloaks. They are rare, but they exist. But-"
"Ah, but the third Hallow is a true Cloak of Invisibility, Miss Granger! I mean to say, it is not a traveling cloak imbued with a Disillusionment Charm, or carrying a Bedazzing Hex, or else woven from Demiguise hair. We are talking about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely invisible, and endures eternally, giving the constant and impenetrable concealment, no matter what spells are cast at it. How many cloaks have you seen like that, Miss Granger?"
They all glanced at one another. It so happened that a cloak exactly like the one Xenophilius had just described was in the room with them at that very moment.
Xenophilius looked out the window again.
"Alright, say the cloak does exist... what about the Stone, Mr. Lovegood? The thing you call the Resurrection Stone, how can it be real?" asked Hermione
"Prove that it's not."
Ewan smirked. "And the Elder Wand?" he asked. "You think that exists too?"
"The Elder wand is the Hallow that is most easily traced, because of the way it passes from hand to hand." said Xenophilius
"What is what?" asked Harry.
"Which is the possessor of the wand must capture it form it's previous owner."
"Mr. Lovegood, does the Peverell family have anything to do with the Deathly Hallows?" asked Hermione.
"The Peverells have everything- everything! - to do the with the Hallows!"
"Who are the Peverells?" asked Ron.
"The three brothers in the story are actually the three Peverell brothers, Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus! That they were the original owners of the Hallows!"
Mr. Lovegood went down to the kitchen. Harry, Hermione and Ron were talking about the Hallows while Ewan looked around a bit. Then he realized why he wanted to leave, how he knew they were in danger – Luna wasn't home. Nor had she been for awhile.
"We have to get out of here." he said. "Luna isn't home."
"Of course, you heard Mr. Lovegood, she is out by the river." said Ron
"No, she hasn't been home for a long time." said Ewan. His eye caught something. He went to the magazine press that Xenophilius hid when they first entered. Ewan pulled out a Quibbler.
"We definitively need to leave. Look!" he said showing them the front page of the magazine.
It was a picture of Harry, emblazoned with the words UNDESIRABLE NUMBER ONE and a caption of the reward money.
"Let's go." said Harry.
"I can't let you do that." said Xenophilius, pointing his wand to Ewan.
"If I let you go, then they will never give me my Luna back." said Mr. Lovegood. "But they might let her go if I – if I-?"
"Hand over Harry? Hand over Ewan?" Hermione finished for him.
"No deal." said Ron. "Get out of the way, we're leaving."
"They will be here any moment. I must save Luna. I cannot lose Luna. You must not leave."
"Harry, Ron, Hermione," said Ewan looking back at them. "You all disapparate out of here. I have an idea."
"Ewan..." said Harry.
"Shut up and go." said Ewan looking at Mr. Lovegood. Three pops later, and all that was left at the Lovegood house was Ewan and Mr. Lovegood, himself.
"You want Luna. I can help you." said Ewan, looking at the scared man.
"I just want my daughter back." Mr. Lovegoods wand still pointing at Ewan's chest, at his heart.
"And I understand that, I do. But trading in Harry, the savior of the wizardry world, won't help you. The world needs Harry, besides, I've already been caught before, once more won't kill me." grinned Ewan.
"Here they come." said Lovegood, looking out the window.
"Do you trust me?" asked Ewan.
"What?" asked Mr. Lovegood.
"Do you trust me?"
"I- yes." said Mr. Lovegood. The Death Eaters landed at the door, and burst there way inside.
"Merlin's bread Travers, Lovegood was actually right this time, he has Potter. Not the one we want but a Potter non-the-less." Ewan grabbed Xenophilius by the should pointed his wand to the Erumpent horn, and cast a stunner at it.
There was a colossal explosion. It sounded as though the room was blown apart. Wood, paper, and rubble flew in all directions. The two Death Eaters were flown in the air, and landed on the ground with a loud crash. Ewan never letting go of Lovegood apparated a second before the staircase gave way. The two landed at Budleigh Babberton.
"Where are we?" asked Mr. Lovegood.
"This is Budleigh Babberton. A Muggle village. See that house there," said Ewan pointing to the house where Professor Horace Slughorn used to live. "That one is abandoned, stay there, don't use magic, and don't do anything that would alert you to the Death Eaters. Harry and I will find and save Luna, but you must trust us."
"I will, and I promise." said Xenophilius.
"Go on then, I will cast the Fidelus on the house and be the Secret-Keeper." said Ewan. Mr. Lovegood walk to the door, looked back to Ewan for a minute then entered the house. Ewan cast the Fidelus Charm on the house protecting Mr. Lovegood inside.
