True Love Conquers All (sequel to Loving You)

Chapter XX {The Tale of Three Brothers}

the sun hangs low over a hillside gloriously free of snow. i lead the way, Hermione by my side. Ron and Harry a few yards behind us.

"you're not still mad at him, are you?" i ask Hermione about Ron

"I'm always mad at him." she says

as we near the top of the hill a strange looking house appears in the distance, etched like a great black cylinder against the sky.

a sign is tacked to a door studded with nails: "The Quibbler. Editor: X. Lovegood" Hermione knocks three times.

"keep off the dirigible plums." Ron says 

Hermione turns, gives him an odd look. Ron points to a sign that says that exact phrase. just then, the door swings open and Xenophilius Lovegood appears, barefoot, wearing a soiled nightshirt. 

"what is it? who are you? what do you want?" Xenophilius says vastly

"hello Mr. Lovegood. im Harry Potter. we met a few months back." Harry says

seeing Harry, Xenophilius' jaw goes slack in shock. 

"would it be okay if we came in? it won't take long sir. i promise." Harry begs

great tottering towers of Quibbler back-issues rise to the ceiling while old-fashioned wooden printing press chugs away in the center of the room, spitting out new ones.

"just as i remember" i whisper

"what was that?" Hermione asks

"oh nothing" i smile

"excuse me." Lovegood steps to the wheezing press, we glance at past Quibblers laying about: MUGGLE MURDERS RISE: DOZENS DIE AS DEATH EATERS ATTACK, HARRY IN HIDING, WHERE IS THE CHOSEN ONE? YOU-KNOW-WHO CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM: QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP CANCELED AMID DEATH THREATS. abruptly the press goes silent and Lovegood turns.

"so. what brings you here, Mr. Potter?" he asks

"well, sir, we need some help." Harry begins

"ah. help. i see. yes, well, the thing is, helping Harry Potter, rather dangerous these days..." Lovegood begins

"aren't you the one who keeps telling everyone its their first duty to help Harry?" Ron asks

"i have expressed that view, yes. in the past. would you excuse me one moment. i shall return shortly, and, um, try to help you." Lovegood dashes from the room

"what's going on here?" Harry asks

"he's mental. let's face it. Luna's always good value but she's nutty as squirrel poo." Ron says

i glare at him insulting Luna. 

just then, Hermione gasps, points to an enormous spiral horn mounted to the wall.

"do you see that?" Hermione asks

"yeah. its huge." i say walking towards it

"no! don't go near it!" Hermione yells

i stop.

"its an Erumpent Horn. its a Class B Tradeable Material." Hermione says

"okay..." i say confused

just then, Lovegood returns with a tray rattling with cups.

"may i offer you all an infusion of Gurdyroots? we make it ourselves." Lovegood asks

"where is Luna, sir?" i ask

"Luna? oh, um, she'll be along. now, how can i help you, Mr. Potter?" Lovegood asks

"well, sir, its about something you were wearing around your neck at the wedding. a symbol..." Harry begins

"you mean this?" Lovegood reaches into his nightshirt and pulls out the chain with the triangular eye. 

"yes! exactly. what we wondered, sir, is well, what is it?" Harry asks

"what is it? well, its the sign of the Deathly Hallows, of course." Lovegood says 

"the what?" all four of us ask at the same time

"the Deathly Hallows. i assume you're all familiar with 'The Tale of the Three Brothers'?" Lovegood asks

"yes" Hermione and Ron say

"no" me and Harry say

we all look at each other, then Hermione reaches into her beaded bag and pulls out The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

"its in here" Hermione says

then how did i miss the story?

"well there's no real reason to go on unless one is familiar with the tale. why don't you read it Miss..?" Lovegood says

"Granger. well...alright." Hermione opens the book "there were once three brothers who were traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilght-" 

"midnight. Mum always said midnight" Ron interrupts "but twilight's fine. better actually." 

"in time, the brothers reached a river too treacherous to pass...but being learned in the magical arts, the three brothers simply waved their wands and made a bridge. they were halfway across it when they found their path blocked by a hooded figure. it was Death and he felt cheated, for travelers usually drowned in the river. but Death was cunning. he granted each brother a wish for their cleverness. the oldest, who was a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence. so Death fashioned one from an elder tree on the banks of the river. the second brother, who was an arrogant man, asked for the power to recall others from Death. so Death plucked a stone from the river. finally Death turned to the third brother. a humble man, he asked for something that would make him disappear. and so it was that Death handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility. Death then stepped aside and the brothers went their separate ways...the first brother traveled to a distant village where, with Elder Wand in hand, he killed a wizard with whom he had once quarreled. proceeding to an Inn, he bragged of his Invincibility. but that very night another wizard crept crept upon him as he lay sleeping. he took the Elder Wand... and slit the brother's throat for good measure. and so Death took the first brother for his own. meanwhile, the second brother journeyed to his home, where he took out the stone and turned it thrice in hand. to his delight, the girl he had 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 moral 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 had 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 him gladly, departing this life as equals..." Hermione finishes the story