Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 22

I really don't fancy a freezing cold trip down to Hogsmeade, but Hermione wont take my no for an answer. She drags me round, squealing with delight every time I smile. We crash into Ron and he joins in the 'fun trip round'. I wasn't given a choice, but he seems more than happy to go with us. We get back to the castle, and Harry seems a little quieter and more reserved. I chalk it down to him being upset he missed out, but I don't get given enough time to think. Percy runs passed us, shouting something about the common room. I sprint after him, up stairs and stairs. The woman in the portrait is terrified and screams, "He's here! Sirius Black is in the castle!"

Hermione and I bag two sleeping bags next to each other. We take it in turns getting into our pyjamas, and sit together, with her teaching me a muggle game.
"Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker's man..." Hermione says slowly, letting me catch up with her stupid little hand dance. I realise my hair is bright red with concentration and she laughs, starting the next phrase. It's too hard, and I say, "Muggle children do this? How? All the clapping and high fiving is hurting my head."
Hermione smiles and says, "Okay, here is one. A sailor went to sea, sea, sea!"
She does more ridiculous hand movements and I just watch her and Dean chant. They turn to me by the end of it and Dean says, "Well?"
"What did you think!" Hermione is beaming. I say, "I think that muggles are weird. Anyway, have you heard of the tale of the three brothers."
"No, never." They both say in unison. I think and say, "Right, let me..."

I rummage in my bag for my book, annotated with little notes from Regulus.
"Okay..." I say, flicking to the right page, "There were once three brothers who were travellingalong a lonely, winding road at twilight. In time, thebrothers reached a river, too deep to wade through, andtoo dangerous to swim across. However, these brotherswere learned in the magical arts, and so they simplywaved 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 it was Death. He was angry that he had beencheated out of three new victims, for travellers usually drowned in the river. But Death was cunning. Hepretended to congratulate the three brothers upon their magic, and said that each had earned a prize forbeing 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 battles for its owner. A wand worthy of a wizard who had conquered Death.So, Death had crossed to an Elder Tree on the banks of the river, fashioned a wand from a branch that hadhung there, and gave it to the oldest brother. Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death stillfurther, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So, Death picked up a stone from theriverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring backthe dead. Finally, Death turned to the third brother. A humble man, he asked for something that would enable him togo forth from that place without being followed by Death. And so it was that Death reluctantly handed overhis own Cloak of Invisibility. In due course, the brothers separated, each for his own destination . The first brother travelled for a weekor more, and, reaching a distant village, sought out a fellow wizard, with whom he had a quarrel. Naturallywith the Elder Wand as his weapon, he could not fail to win the duel that followed. Leaving his enemydead upon the floor, the oldest brother proceeded to an inn, where he boasted of the powerful wand whichhe had snatched from Death himself and of how it made him invincible. That very night, another wizardcrept upon the oldest brother as he lay wine-sodden upon his bed. The thief took the wand, and, for goodmeasure, 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 thestone which had the power to recall the dead, and turned it thrice in his hand. To his amazement anddelight, the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry, before her untimely death, appeared at oncebefore him. Yet she was sad and cold, separated from him as though by a veil. Though she had returned tothe mortal world, she did not truly belong there, and suffered. Finally, the second brother, driven mad byhopeless longing, killed himself, so as to truly 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 onlywhen he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility, andgave it to his son. And then, he greeted Death as an old friend, went with him gladly, and, as equals, theydeparted this life."

Hermione wrinkles her nose and Dean's jaw is dropped. I smile and Hermione scoffs, "You're telling me you can't understand a little hand game but wizarding children listen to that? That's barbaric!"
"Actually," I say, "It's pretty nice. It's got a good meaning to it. It's about greed, you know?"
Dean shakes his head and says, "I'm so glad I was raised by muggles. Muggles make way more sense. Anyway, good night."
He gets up and walks to the far end of the hall, letting Ginny walk over and sit back on her sleeping bag. Hermione turns to her and says, "Have you heard the tale of the three brothers?"
"Oh yeah!" She gasps, "My favourite bedtime story. I would make mum repeat it and repeat it."
"I used to learn German, Spanish and French by repeating it." I laugh. Hermione shakes her head and lies down, whispering, "Night Atti."
"Night Mines."