24 Chapter 24: Entangled

A/N:- I am sorry for not being able to update for some days, I was sick(had high fever and cold). The updates will be slow for a week or two as i have my mid-terms.

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Salim was now mechanically moving his fork through his dinner, his thoughts drifting far from the dining table. The last thing Serena had said to him before they sat down was, "What if you possessed all three of them at once?"

According to legend, the possession of all three Deathly Hallows granted mastery over death itself, though the exact source of this tale remained shrouded in mystery. If Salim's earlier speculations about the Deathly Hallows held any truth, perhaps this legend wasn't so far-fetched.

Owning a single Deathly Hallow eliminated two common causes of death, leaving only murder, suicide, and natural death as potential threats. Upon reflection, these three modes of death seemed to encompass all of life's vulnerabilities.

Though Salim couldn't be certain if his speculations held water, the frantic pursuit of the Deathly Hallows by Dumbledore and Grindelwald suggested there was more to this than met the eye.

Salim decided to delve deeper into this question once he'd finished his meal. If his theories held any merit, he wanted nothing to do with the Resurrection Stone, but this complicated his promise to Snape.

As he pondered these complexities, a sudden headache struck him, the result of Serena's cryptic words. He stole a glance at his sister, who remained deep in her own thoughts. The story of the Deathly Hallows was a tale every wizard had heard in their childhood, and Salim was no exception. Yet, few had ventured beyond the surface of this fable.

Well, perhaps not everyone—Dumbledore and Grindelwald had attempted to uncover its hidden truths. Dumbledore, in particular, had contact with all three Deathly Hallows, even if he never possessed them simultaneously.

Dumbledore planned to give Potter the Invisibility Cloak during the holidays, but the boy already had two of the Deathly Hallows. If he didn't hand over the Cloak, what might happen when Dumbledore gained possession of the Resurrection Stone remained a mystery.

Ah, yes—the Resurrection Stone. Salim suddenly recalled that his grandfather, Marvolo, and his uncle, Morfin, had been the previous owners of the Resurrection Stone before Voldemort. Marvolo's demise had been shrouded in obscurity.

After his release from Azkaban, he returned home to find Merope—Voldemort's mother—had eloped with Tom Riddle. Left to fend for himself, Marvolo eventually succumbed to starvation. Morfin, on the other hand, met his end in Azkaban after Voldemort took the Resurrection Stone, though the exact circumstances of his death remained unknown.

Salim couldn't recall all the details, but if his theory held any water, Marvolo's death could indeed be seen as a form of self-inflicted demise. The thought churned his stomach, causing him to lose his appetite. He longed to retreat to his underground room immediately and meticulously investigate and validate his speculations.

"Kid, what's on your mind?" Elrond inquired, noticing Salim's distant expression and calling out to him.

Salim remained lost in his thoughts, completely unresponsive to the outside world.

"Kid! I asked you what you're thinking!" Elrond's voice grew more insistent.

Still, Salim offered no response; his mind raced at lightning speed, paying no heed to his grandfather and sister watching him.

Elrond's face darkened as he withdrew his wand and cast a spell at Salim.

Salim immediately convulsed, tumbling from his chair.

Serena leapt from her high stool, ready to rush to her brother's aid. She found Salim writhing in agony on the ground, his eyes bulging, teeth clenched, and his body curled up in torment.

"Leave him be; let him get up on his own," Elrond instructed Serena. He turned his attention back to his steak, cutting it with a knife and fork.

When Salim finally managed to stand, his body still twitched slightly, but this sensation felt strangely familiar.

"Grandfather, there's no need for Legilimency, right?" Salim stammered as he retook his seat.

"Humph! Who knows what came over you? I called you twice, and you didn't respond," Elrond said, setting down his knife and fork and studying Salim. "And you're too slow; it's been more than thirty seconds. If this were at Hogwarts... hmm..."

Salim remained silent; he understood what his grandfather was implying. He had indeed recovered rather slowly. At Hogwarts, his performance just now would have been deemed inadequate, and the monthly Legilimency sessions would have been inescapable.

"Out with it. What happened just now? What were you pondering so deeply?" Elrond probed.

Salim took a moment to consider but decided it was wiser to withhold his thoughts until he was more certain.

Shaking his head, Salim replied, "I think I should gather more information first before discussing it. If I require assistance, I'll come to you, Grandfather." Feeling somewhat recovered, Salim stood and prepared to retreat to his underground sanctuary.

Elrond continued to observe Salim's retreating figure until he disappeared around the corner. He then turned to Serena and inquired, "What's happening? Did you say something to your brother just now? You were whispering to each other on the way here."

"I was merely sharing my findings from the books I've been reading," Serena explained, recounting the earlier conversation.

Elrond narrowed his eyes, considering for a moment before turning to Serena. "Very well. From now on, since your brother has returned, you'll move into the room next to his. Both of you will stay in the underground chambers instead of your previous quarters to avoid any further inconveniences."

Salim was now in the underground library, scouring the shelves for books. He needed information about the Gaunt family, as well as any books related to the Deathly Hallows. In short, he sought any knowledge that could either substantiate or debunk his theories.

When Salim entered his room, a stack of books levitated behind him. Elrond was already waiting, his brow furrowed at the sight of the pile. "What's going on? Have you discovered something?"

"I have a preliminary hypothesis," Salim began as he placed the books on the table, "We all grew up hearing the story of the Three Brothers, but few have ventured to uncover its hidden depths. Serena's words reminded me of that." Salim turned to face Elrond. "It might not just be a children's tale."

"Go on."

Salim continued, "We all know about the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Invisibility Cloak – collectively referred to as the Deathly Hallows." He began arranging the books he had brought with him.

"The possessor of the Elder Wand typically meets their end through murder, the Resurrection Stone's owner often succumbs to suicide, and the Invisibility Cloak's bearer tends to die a natural death. My aim is to delve into the historical accounts of these wizards who possessed these Deathly Hallows to see if their demises align with the symbolism associated with these items."

Elrond leaned forward, his arms still crossed. "So, what's your personal stake in all of this? You seem unusually committed. Are you contemplating some action involving one of these Hallows?"

"Do you fully grasp the gravity of this endeavour? Except for the Elder Wand, currently in Dumbledore's possession, the whereabouts of the other two have been lost for centuries. Do you possess the audacity to seek out the Elder Wand now?" Elrond chided Salim.

As he listened, something about this conversation seemed eerily familiar. The phrases, "What's your connection to this?" and "Do you even know what you're getting into?" bore a striking resemblance to the words Salim had once used to admonish Harry Potter not too long ago.

Salim regarded his grandfather with an amused expression. "I never suggested I had any intention of acquiring Dumbledore's wand. I lack the nerve for such an endeavour."

"Then why this rush to delve into research? Or are you..." Elrond fixed an intense gaze on Salim, "Do you possess knowledge about the whereabouts of the other two?"

Indeed, age often brought wisdom, as the saying went.

With a sigh, Salim nodded. "I do know the locations of all three Deathly Hallows. Earlier, I mentioned that I was planning to visit Little Hangleton before dinner. The Resurrection Stone is there. I am contemplating pursuing the Resurrection Stone, but I am hesitant because obtaining it might ultimately lead to suicide. Therefore, I wish to test and potentially debunk my hypothesis."

"Little Hangleton?" Elrond mused, rubbing his chin. "That name rings a bell."

"It's the location where the Gaunt family..."

"Ah, that troubled family. I recall now," Elrond exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Horcrux! The Resurrection Stone is a Horcrux!"

...

Salim found himself at a loss for words.

"Grandfather, how did you come to know that the Resurrection Stone is a Horcrux?"

"Creating a Horcrux is common knowledge, especially when it comes to someone like Voldemort. That wretched Riddle dabbled in blood magic. At the time, the Ministry of Magic investigated for a while, but it was eventually shelved."

Elrond stated matter-of-factly. "Riddle was too insignificant for the Elder Council to bother with. They let him run amok, assuming Dumbledore would take care of him. Plus, once it became known that he didn't die, we immediately suspected he had created a Horcrux."

The advantage of ancient wizarding families lies in their rich history and extensive knowledge. While most witches and wizards celebrated the end of the Dark Ages, these individuals were aware that Voldemort hadn't perished, and from that, they inferred that he had created a Horcrux.

"Yes, the Resurrection Stone is indeed one of his Horcruxes. But why refer to him as an 'idiot'?" Salim inquired.

After all, Voldemort was a formidable wizard, and Elrond was no slouch himself. What gave him the right to label someone as an idiot?

"Humph! If someone willingly crafts a Horcrux, are they not an imbecile?" Elrond responded confidently. "Especially when they do so voluntarily. Utterly foolish." Sensing Salim's perplexity, Elrond began to elucidate further.

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