The Enigmatic Deathly Hallows: Unlocking the Secrets of Harry Potter's World
Uncover the hidden secrets of the Deathly Hallows, a haunting legend that has shaped the wizarding world Delve into their significance, Voldemort's pursuit, and the fate of these powerful artifacts after his downfall
Even though Harry Potter receives the Cloak of Invisibility during his first year at Hogwarts, it is only in the last installment of the series that it is revealed to be one of the legendary Deathly Hallows. These magical artifacts, including the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone, are said to have been created by Death himself. While many dismiss the story as a mere fairy tale, some individuals desire the Deathly Hallows in order to become the Master of Death.
While others strive to possess them, throughout history, Harry remains the only known person to possess all three Hallows and thus hold that title. However, he never utilizes them for personal gain or to attain immortality. What ultimately happens to the Deathly Hallows, with various characters fixated on obtaining them?
What Are the Three Deathly Hallows?
Originally narrated in The Tales of Beedle the Bard, the tale of the Deathly Hallows commences with the three Peverell brothers. While journeying at twilight, they stumble upon a daunting river, devoid of any means to traverse it. Utilizing their enchanted abilities, they effortlessly conjure a bridge with a mere wave of their wands. However, their seemingly triumphant feat is abruptly interrupted as Death materializes, feeling slighted by their evasion of drowning. Deceptively offering congratulations, Death presents them with supposedly prestigious gifts, covertly intending to bring about their demise.
The eldest brother, Antioch, beseeches Death for the most potent wand ever to exist. Granting his request, Death severs a branch from a nearby ancient tree and carves the Elder Wand. Following suit, the second brother, Cadmus, in an obstinate attempt to humiliate Death, implores for the power to resurrect deceased loved ones. Obliging his plea, Death retrieves a stone from the riverbed, forming it into the Resurrection Stone. Lastly, the third brother, Ignotus, yearns to evade Death's pursuit without being apprehended. Exhibiting reluctance, Death surrenders his own Cloak of Invisibility to fulfill the brother's request.
When the brothers part ways, Antioch ventures out to engage in a duel with an adversary. Following his victory, he proudly flaunts the dominance of the Elder Wand to others. However, while he sleeps, another wizard stealthily slits his throat and pilfers the wand from him. On the other hand, Cadmus employs the Resurrection Stone to resurrect the woman he cherished. Nonetheless, she only emerges as a feeble imitation of her former self, as the deceased cannot truly return to the realm of the living. Subsequently, Cadmus takes his own life in order to be with her in death. In contrast, Ignotus employs the Cloak of Invisibility to elude Death until his old age, when he welcomes Death "as an old friend."
According to Dumbledore's theory, the Hallows were more plausibly crafted by the brothers, who possessed immense wizarding power. Over time, they are inherited by successive generations of the Peverell family. The Cloak of Invisibility, impervious to any enchantments or hexes, ultimately falls into the possession of Harry, who is Ignotus' direct descendant. Similarly, the Resurrection Stone finds its place within a ring passed down to the House of Gaunt, suggesting that Voldemort is also a descendant of Cadmus. Unaware of this heirloom's true nature, Voldemort seizes it from his uncle Morfin and transforms it into a Horcrux. The Elder Wand appears throughout history under various aliases, such as the 'Wand of Destiny' and 'Deathstick'. At one point, it is in the possession of wandmaker Gregorovitch, but it is stolen from him by the Dark wizard Grindelwald. In their famous duel in 1945, Dumbledore emerges as the victor and becomes its master until his demise.
Why Did Voldemort Need the Deathly Hallows?
Voldemort, despite possessing two of the Deathly Hallows, remains unaware of their connection. This is evident when he uses his ancestral Hallow to create a Horcrux. According to Dumbledore, even if Voldemort were to learn about the connection, his primary focus would still be on obtaining the Elder Wand, which holds immense power in the wizarding world. This prediction proves to be true, as Voldemort relentlessly pursues the wand not only to defeat Harry, but also to attain invincibility. In 1998, he confronts Grindelwald in Nurmengard and demands to know the wand's whereabouts.
During this confrontation, Voldemort discovers that Dumbledore had possession of the wand after defeating him in a duel years ago. Subsequently, he steals the wand from Dumbledore's grave at Hogwarts. However, Voldemort never becomes the wand's true master as Dumbledore's murder, meticulously planned by Snape, prevents Snape from being its rightful owner. Furthermore, just moments before Voldemort's death, Draco disarms him, unknowingly transferring the wand's allegiance. Voldemort kills Snape in retaliation, unaware that the Elder Wand now favors Harry, who had claimed Draco's wand while escaping from Malfoy Manor. In the end, during the Battle of Hogwarts, the wand sides with Harry, resulting in Voldemort's ultimate defeat.
What Happened to the Deathly Hallows After Voldemort Was Defeated?
Voldemort's relentless pursuit of immortality sets him apart as the only wizard in history who dares to create a staggering number of Horcruxes. However, his aspirations are ultimately thwarted as he lacks the crucial understanding that true mastery of death necessitates accepting its inevitability and recognizing that there exist far more dreadful fates in the realm of the living.
After the destruction of the Horcrux embedded in the ring, Dumbledore bequeaths the Resurrection Stone to Harry, concealing it within a Golden Snitch. During the climactic Battle of Hogwarts, moments before Harry embarks on his perilous journey into the Forbidden Forest, he employs the stone to commune with the ethereal manifestations of his loved ones - Lily and James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin. Following this poignant encounter, Harry carelessly discards the stone upon the forest floor, neither seeking it once more nor divulging its existence to others. In a peculiar turn of events, it came to light through J.K. Rowling's later revelation that one of the centaurs, who had valiantly mobilized to aid in the confrontation against the Death Eaters, inadvertently trampled upon the stone, burying it beneath the very ground. To this day, the precise whereabouts of this extraordinary relic remain shrouded in mystery.
Harry decides to utilize the Elder Wand to restore his own damaged wand before eventually returning it to the White Tomb, as he has no intentions of keeping it. He firmly believes that by doing so, no one will be able to claim its power for themselves if he were to die naturally. However, it should be noted that this differs from the book, where he does not use the Elder Wand to repair his wand but instead breaks it in half and casts it off a bridge. This deviation from the book's version drew significant criticism from fans.
In contrast, Harry decides to keep the Cloak of Invisibility, feeling that it poses no immediate threat. Like his ancestors before him, he plans on passing it down to his own children in the future.
