CHAPTER DISCUSSION: DH - Chapter Twenty-One – The Tale of the Three Brothers

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 183022

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CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Chapter Twenty-One – The Tale of the Three Brothers

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`The Deathly Hallows?'

Take a sip of Gurdyroot tea with Xenophilius and dig out yon Tales of 
Beedle the Bard Hermione; once you're sitting comfortably you may 
begin.

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there lived three brothers. These 
brothers were wizards who, on a certain occasion, were travelling 
together when they reached a stream. Being wizards they conjured a 
bridge. This upset Death who stopped them half way over the magical 
bridge due to his being piqued at being denied three further victims 
from the dangerous river they were traversing. Death offers the 
brothers each a gift. The first chooses a wand that can not be 
defeated in a duel. The second a stone to bring back the dead and the 
third, being more ingenious than his brothers, chooses to take 
Death's own invisibility cloak.

The first brother, who was inclined to be a bit of a braggart, went 
to the nearest hostelry, boasted of his wand, killed another wizard 
and was himself killed and lost his unbeatable wand.

The second brother went home and continued yearning for his lost 
love. With the stone he had acquired he conjured her up, although 
only in a diminished and non-tangible form. Her presence made matters 
only worse and after a while he killed himself to save further 
distress.

Thus, Death had achieved a measure of vengeance on the first two 
brothers who had cheated him of themselves and their other brother at 
an earlier time.

Now, the third brother used the cloak to hide himself from Death 
until an advanced age, at which age he greeted Death warmly, but not 
before passing on the cloak to his son.

Here ends the paraphrased and précised version of the Tale of the 
Three Brothers.

The chapter has some way to go once the tale has been read, not 
without minor interjections from both Harry and Ron. Xenophilius 
expands on the tale, saying that the wand is the Elder Wand, the 
stone is the Resurrection Stone and the cloak is actually Death's 
Cloak of Invisibility. Together their symbols form the sign of the 
Deathly Hallows.

There follows further discussion of the Hallows and those who seek 
it, during the course of which Mr. Lovegood makes out he is waiting 
for Luna to return from collecting Plimpies. Interestingly, once 
Xenohilius describes the Cloak of Invisibility in detail, the trio 
simultaneously realise that he could be describing Harry's own cloak. 
Then, after a brief exchange about the Resurrection Stone the group 
discusses the Elder Wand. Of the hallows, says Xenophilius, this is 
the most notorious. He uses the word 'capture' when describing how 
ownership of the wand can pass and narrates the known history.

Hermione throws the Peverell family into the discussion, a name that 
causes momentary pause to Harry. She does this due to having seen the 
symbol of the Hallows on the grave of Ignotus Peverell at Godric's 
Hollow. Before leaving to ostensibly go downstairs to check on the 
Freshwater Plimpy soup, Xenophilius states that the Peverell brothers 
are integral to the legend of the Hallows, naming them as Antioch, 
Cadmus and Ignotus. He retires leaving the trio alone.

HRH continue talking of the Hallows and whether they believe there 
might be any truth in the legend; they are back on the same terms as 
usual, with enmity between Ron and Hermione now forgotten, as noted 
by the narrator. They each say which Hallow they would want at the 
same moment, Ron naming the cloak, Hermione the wand and Harry the 
stone. The wand, the wand, the wand – many different wands are 
discussed and a theory propounded that perhaps all the powerful 
legendary wands are in fact the Elder Wand. Harry briefly wonders if 
his wand could be it, but puts the idea aside due to his wand being 
of holly rather than elder wood.

At this point Harry explains why the stone would be his choice, he 
would want to see his dear departed – `Sirius 
 Mad-Eye 
 Dumbledore 

 my parents 
' Hermione pooh poohs the idea that the stone could 
really exist, suggesting that Beedle possibly adjusted the legend of 
the Philosopher's Stone to fit into his tale. Briefly the cloak is 
touched upon once more, with Ron stating that Harry's cloak fits the 
bill of the description by Xenophilius closely, iow Harry's cloak is 
exceptional.

Harry is gazing around while this part of the discussion proceeds and 
he notices himself looking down from above. This him, he realises, is 
a painting and upon this realisation he goes upstairs into Luna's 
room. There, on the walls, are a series of murals showing 
five `beautifully painted faces', those of himself, Ron, Hermione, 
Ginny and Neville intertwined with a golden thread reading: `friends 

 friends 
 friends 
' However, Harry notes that there is a distinct 
unlived in feel to the room and that there is dust all over it at 
which point they descend and Xenophilius reappears. Shortly after his 
reappearance he breaks down and confesses that he is helping to trap 
Harry because Luna has been taken. The trio are barred from leaving 
the room and take no action against Xenophilius notwithstanding his 
betrayal.

Two figures on broomsticks now make their appearance at the same 
moment as Luna's father's stunning spell blasts the room containing 
the trio and himself to smithereens. Mr. Lovegood is blasted out of 
the room and away from the trio. The room is a mess, with rubble, 
paper and other detritus everywhere. The printing press blocks the 
door. Voices are heard below, the two interlopers being named as 
Travers and Selwyn, who interrogate and taunt Xenophilius, 
disbelieving him that Harry is in the house. One casts Hominem 
Revelio, which soon shows that people are present. Mr. Lovegood, 
after threats from the Death Eaters, begins to come upstairs, 
severely hampered by the debris.

Exit HRH after first ridding themselves of whatever bits of rubble 
they are encumbered by, Obliviating Xenophilius and burying the Death 
Eaters in much of the remains of the Lovegood abode. Hermione 
Disapparates all of them away, making sure the Death Eaters see her 
and Harry, but not Ron before doing so.

Questions:

1. Do you think Gurdyroot tea is really that bad?

2. While reading the story of the Tale of the Three Brothers by 
Beedle the Bard did any realisation come to you, as a reader, that 
the gifts given by Death were potentially items with which we had 
familiarity?

3. When Xenophilius named the gifts of Death from the story as the 
Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility, did 
the title of the book you were reading make perfect sense?

4. What reaction did you have to the speculation relative to Harry's 
Cloak being the cloak from the story and did you find yourself 
agreeing with or dismissing Ron's thoughts about Harry's cloak being 
extraordinary?

5. Did the Elder Wand ring a bell at this point in the book or 
alternatively when Harry thought of his wand as the Elder Wand did 
you wonder if the Elder Wand was actually a wand with which we were 
familiar?

6. Xenophilius uses the word 'capture' when describing how ownership 
of the wand could be transferred - would that then mean that the wand 
does not necessarily have to be defeated in order to transfer its 
allegiance?

7. Was the Peverell link thrown in by Hermione rather too convenient 
or not? Explain.

8. Were you relieved to find normal relations amongst the trio 
restored?

9. Are the trio's choices of which Hallow they would like to have 
representative of their personalities?

10. Did you, as I did, find the order in which Harry named his dear 
departed notable?

11. By this stage, the trio having being at the Lovegood house for 
some time, were you expecting Xenophilius to betray the trio? Did you 
feel some sympathy with Xenophilius and his reasons for being a 
Quisling or not given the status of the WW at the time?

12. Was it just the stunning spell that blasted the room apart or was 
something else also involved?

13. Were you able to make the link between Selwyn and Umbridge at the 
time or did it not occur until later, or perhaps not until you read 
this question?

14. What is Deprimo, had it been previously heard of, and was its use 
necessary?

15. Any further questions arising.

Goddlefrood, not including too many questions in respect of the 
Hallows as he apprehends that later summarisers will have plenty for 
us.

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Next Chapter Discussion, Chapter 22, The Deathly Hallows, 9th June