Dark Pasts { A Harry Potter Story }

Chapter 97 - The Tale of The Three Brothers

Harry, Ron, Hermione and I shared a confused look.

"The Deathly Hallows?"

"That's right," Mr. Lovegood said. "You haven't heard of them? I'm not surprised. Very, very few wizards believe. Witness that knuckleheaded young man at your brother's wedding," he nodded at Ron," who attacked me for sporting the symbol of a well-known Darkwizard! Such ignorance. There is nothing Dark about the Hallows— at least, not in that crude sense. One simply uses the symbol to reveal oneself to other believers, in the hope that they might help one with the Quest."

We shared another confused look.

"I'm sorry," Harry said. "I still don't really understand."

I took a sip from my cup and almost gagged: the drink was absolutely disgusting and practically tasted like bogey-flavoured Every Flavour Beans.

"Well, you see, believers seek the Deathly Hallows," Xenophilius said.

"But what are the Deathly Hallows?" Hermione asked.

"I assume that you are all familiar with "The Tale of the Three Brothers'?" he said.

"No," Harry and Hermione said, but Ron and I said "Yes."

"Well, well, Mr. Potter, the whole thing starts with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers' . . . I have a copy somewhere. . . ."

"I've got a copy, Mr. Lovegood, I've got it right here," I said as I pulled out The Tales of Beedle the Bard from my small bag.

"Well then, why don't you read it aloud? Much the best way to make sure we all understand."

"Er . . . all right," I said nervously.

I opened the book to the right page, which was the one where the sign had been drawn at the top.

" 'There were once three brothers who were travelling along 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 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 —'"

"Sorry," Harry interjected, "but Death spoke to them?"

"It's a fairy tale, Harry!" I said exasperatedly.

"Right, sorry. Go on."

" 'And Death spoke to them. He was angry that he had been cheated out of three new victims, for travellers 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 further, 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.' "