My Double Agent

Chapter 33- The Three Brothers

Hermione was sitting at the table downstairs eating some avocado toast. Harry and Ron sit across from her. She looks at them tiredly, "What?" Ron elbows Harry and nods towards Hermione. Harry sighs and clears his throat, "I'm sorry- you're right. That night was not just about me. I should have talked to you about it before telling Ron. I truly am sorry for that."

Ron then chimes in, "And I'm sorry I pried. It truly wasn't any of my business to ask him what happened."

Hermione sighs, "Thank you, I'm still upset... but I thank you for apologizing."

Harry nods and started pouring some tea for everyone.

Ron clears his throat and hands her the book, 'The Tales of Beedle The Bard', "We need you to read The Three Brothers, it's supposed to explain the "Deathly Hallows" to us. Harry and I didn't understand it."

Hermione sighs and grabs the book. She takes her last bite of her toast before she starts to read it aloud, "There were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely winding road at twilight. In time, the brothers reached a river too treacherous to pass but being learned in the magical arts, the three brothers simply waved their wans and made a bridge. Before they could cross, they found their path blocked by a hooded figure. It was death, and he felt cheated. Cheated, because travelers would normally drown in the river, but Death was cunning. He pretended to congratulate the three brothers on their magic and said that each should earn a prize for having been clever enough to evade him. The oldest asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence. So Death fashioned him one from an elder tree that stood nearby. The second brother decided he wanted to humiliate Death even further and 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. A humble man, he asked for something that would allow him to go forth from that place without being followed by death, And so it was that Death reluctantly handed over his own Cloak, of Invisibility. The first brother traveled to a distant village where, with the Elder Wand in hand, he killed a wizard with whom he has one quarreled. Drunk, with the power the Elder Wand had given him he bragged of his invincibility. But that night, another wizard stole the wand and slit the brother's throat for good measure. And so Death took, the first brother for his own. The second brother journeyed to his home where he took the stone and turned it thrice in hand. To his delight, the girl he's once hoped to marry before her untimely death appeared before him. Yet, soon she turned sad and cold for she did not belong in the mortal world. Driven mad with hopeless longing the second brother killed himself so as to join her. And so Death took, the second brother. As for the third brother, Death searched for many years but was never able to find him. Only when he attained a great age did the youngest brother shed the Cloak of Invisibility and give it to his son. He then greeted Death as an old friend and went with gladly departing this life as equals."

Hermione looks up from the book to notice that now Bill, Fleur, and Luna were also at the table and had been listening the whole time, "What?" 

"Does it make sense to you?", asked Ron

Hermione shrugs, "I'm not sure."

Bill clears his throat, "let me see the symbol again Ron."

Ron shows his brother the symbol. Bill traces it with his finger, then it clicked in Hermione's head, "It's the gifts." She traces the line, "The wand," then the circle, "The stone," and lastly the triangle, "The cloak. Together they create The Deathly Hallows. Together, they would make like the most powerful wizard."

"A master of death-" Luna pointed out.

Hermione nodded and looked at Harry and Ron. "Voldemort want all of them for himself. If he gets all three- that's a problem. We need to find the rest of the horcruxes."

"Where do we even start looking?", Ron asked 

"Bellatrix's vault."

Everyone looked at her shocked. Harry then coughs, "How would we?"

Hermione looks at everyone and then looks at Harry, "I have one of Bellatrix's hair..."

That was all the convincing Harry and Ron needed to agree to break in. Harry, Ron, and Hermione walk upstairs to talk to Gribhook. They walk into his bedroom and Harry clears his throat, "How are you?"

"Alive.", Gribhook responds

Harry starts to walk over, "You probably don't remember that you-"

"That I showed you to your vault the first time you came to Gringotts? Even amongst Goblins, you are famous, Harry Potter."

Harry looks out the window as Ron and Hermione stand by the door. Gribhook looks up at Harry, "You buried the elf?"

Harry nods, "Yes."

"Brought me here... You are a very unusual wizard."

Every one sits in silence for a while until Gribhook spoke up again, "How did you come by this sword?" He asks as he point to the Sword of Gryffindor.

Hermione waits for Harry's answer for she was wondering that as well. Harry looked at the sword and then looked back at Gribhook, "It's complicated. Why should Bellatrix Lestrange think it should be in her vault at Gringotts?"

"It's complicated."

Harry sighed, "The sword presented itself to us in a moment of need. We didn't steal it."

"There is a sword in Lestrange's vault identical to this one... but it is a fake. It was placed there this past summer."

"And she never suspected it was a fake?"

"The replica is very convincing. Only a goblin would recognize that this is the true Sword of Gryffindor."

Hermione spoke up, "Whose the acquaints?"

"A Hogwarts Professor, as I understand it he's now Headmaster."

Hermione's heart skipped a beat at those words. He was talking about her husband. She hoped it would give Ron and Harry a sign that he was on their side all along.

"Snape?", Ron asks confused. "He put the fake sword in Bellatrix's vault? Why?"

"There are more then a few curious things in the vaults at Gringotts.", Gribhook said looking at Harry.

"And they're in Madam Lestrange's vault as well?", Harry asked.

"Perhaps."

"I need to get into Gringotts. Into one of the vaults."

"This is impossible."

"Alone, yes. But with you, no."

"Why should I help you?"

"I have gold. Lot's of it."

"I have no interest in gold."

"Then what?"

Gribhook looks at the sword and points at it, "That. That is your price."

Harry looks at the sword and nods in agreement. The three leave Gribhook with his new possession as they come up with a plan.