Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 445, Section 443: The Resurrection Stone
night.

On the hillside of Little Hangerton, deep in a tangled forest.

Suddenly, two figures dressed in black robes appeared.

Oh no, there were three. One of the figures was so small that it was impossible to spot him without looking closely at the dense weeds.

It looks even smaller than a dwarf, easily conjuring up images of dwarfs, fairies, and other such myths.

“We’re almost there, Mr. Green.”

Quirrell said cautiously.

He kept a close watch on his surroundings, not missing a single sound or movement.

The phrase "there is a very high probability of danger" kept haunting him. Since Mr. Green hadn't told him where the danger lay, then anything could be dangerous.

"Professor, have you heard the story of the three brothers?"

Sheen's voice rang out in the dense, dark forest. In front of them, only the light from the magic wand illuminated a small patch of miscellaneous trees.

“Ah…yes, Mr. Green…”

Quirrell remained vigilant; they were traveling along a secluded, narrow path, the sky as dark as in the story he was currently contemplating.
"Legend has it that they used magic to build a bridge across a dangerous river, thus avoiding death."

Death was furious because he felt he had lost three new sacrifices.

But he pretended to congratulate the three brothers and let each of them choose one thing as a reward: the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Invisibility Cloak.

Two of the three brothers, hoping to conquer death further, foolishly chose the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone, ultimately dying prematurely.

The youngest of the three brothers was more intelligent than his two older brothers. He chose the invisibility cloak and, only after he was able to accept death did he greet it as if meeting an old friend, leaving this world.

Quirrell naturally had a deep memory of this well-known wizard story.

Do you believe this story is true?

"We're still a ways from our destination," Sheen asked.

"I prefer to believe that they were three incredibly powerful wizards who created three incredibly powerful magical items."

Quirrell carefully searched the bushes.

In his view, the moral of "The Legend of the Three Brothers" is all too clear:
Humanity's efforts to evade or conquer death are doomed to failure.

Yes, it has always been so.

Only the third brother in the story—"the most humble and also the smartest"—understands that after narrowly escaping death once, he can only hope to postpone his next meeting with death as much as possible.

The youngest brother understood that mocking Death—either by resorting to violence like the eldest brother or by using mysterious necromancy like the second brother—meaned confronting a cunning and formidable adversary who could only win.

“A long time ago, when I was as young as you, I also dreamed of owning these three items.”

Professor Quirrell sensed something and said with a slight smile.

"I'd like to ask you, now?"

Sheen asked.

This issue is very important to him.

To obtain Gaunt's Ring, they will face two obstacles.

One is obvious—Voldemort wouldn't let them get the ring so easily.

Based on past experience, he would at least fill the old house with curses.

And as everyone knows, Voldemort's mastery of curses has surpassed that of everyone else.

For example, the liquid in the cave that weakens wizards' power, the curse on Gaunt's ring, and the curse of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class...

But Sheehan doesn't see this as the biggest obstacle.

The second obstacle, and the biggest obstacle... is a certain...

Sheen looked around; it was quiet and dark, with the occasional bird flying out of the bushes, causing a cacophony of chirps.

"Now, I wish you knew, Mr. Green, that I had abandoned my illusions."

I didn't understand before that the reason we were born in hell was simply because we wanted to turn the world into heaven.

Quirrell murmured,

"A small group of wizards still firmly believe that Bedouin has sent them a secret message that is the exact opposite of what is written in black and white, and only they have the wisdom to decipher it."

They believed that if a person legally possessed these three things, he would become "the master of death".

This statement is usually interpreted as meaning that he is invincible, or even immortal.

I want you to know that I used to have the same fantasy: whether you're a wizard or a Muggle, you're filled with a desire for power.

How many people can resist the 'Staff of Fate'? And which person who has lost a loved one can resist the temptation of the Resurrection Stone?
But I've seen Death, Mr. Green, and it told me that there's only one thing that matters most…”

They had arrived at a dirty, dilapidated little house.

Its walls were covered with slippery moss, and many of the stone slabs on the roof had fallen off, revealing the rafters underneath.

The windows were small and dirty, and barely let in any light.

The most striking feature is a dead snake nailed to the door, forming a chilling door knocker.

Looking through the small, broken window, one could tell that the interior was equally dire, consisting of only a main room that was dark and filthy.

If you get closer, you can smell the stench of decay.

“Professor… if we find something special, I hope you can destroy it as soon as possible.”

Sheen said softly.

Quirrell nodded without hesitation, but suddenly froze when he saw the snake-like shape.

He knew that the second of the three brothers, Cadmus Peverell, was the ancestor of the Gaunt family, and that the eerie door knocker was their family emblem.

This also means...

"Resurrection Stone..."

Quirrell muttered to himself, then lowered his head.
"This matter is... to always obey your will."

Will.

Sheen remained silent, then called out again.

"Yes!"

Will lowered his bow and arrow, and stood tall with his head held high.

In the pitch-black silence, they effortlessly broke some insignificant curses.

Just as Sheen had anticipated, Voldemort did not expend much effort on the curse on the outside of the ring.

Ten minutes later.

Sheen stood in a rather inconspicuous spot in the filthy room.

The viewing mirror gleamed and spun in his hands.

This was purchased by Sheehan in Diagon Alley.

Although it is just an object that looks like a spinning top made of cracked glass, it can predict dangerous objects and people around it.

It is a practical black magic detector.

Now it reminds Sheen that this unassuming place is the most dangerous.

Will.

Sheen called out again.

Upon hearing this, Will immediately snapped his fingers, and a special little box quickly appeared out of thin air.

This is exactly what was buried in the hole beneath that inconspicuous place.

—The Resurrection Stone.

"He wouldn't understand, and he wouldn't care..."

Quirrell laughed abruptly, his voice low. He looked at Butler Pukchi and realized they were the same kind of people.

In Voldemort's eyes, perhaps there was no difference between wizards and goblins.

He could sense that there was a lot of dark magic and protective magic below, but none of it was aimed at fairies.

Voldemort will be defeated by something he doesn't know—Quirok knew this from that night on.

(End of this chapter)