Chapter 54: Wands and Whispers
Solim was genuinely taken aback. The ring on his right hand was a secret known only to him and his grandfather, not even shared with Sylna. How had Dumbledore pierced its disguise?
Ancient pure-blood families often possessed heirloom wands of immense power, and the Selwyns were no exception. After his victory in the black-glove duel, Elrond had ushered him into the family's most secure vault. There, he had been chosen by the wand known as "Bone Spur." According to family grimoires, its core was the middle finger bone of a long-extinct magical creature, a Night-Demon, prized for its potent magical conductivity. The wand and ring were a single alchemical entity: the wand was the phalanx itself, and the ring was crafted from the creature's nail and the skin of its finger. When the wearer willed it, the wand would manifest instantly in their hand.
"Don't be so surprised," Dumbledore said, a faint smile touching his lips as he noted Solim's reaction. "I was the one who found the ring, you see. But I returned it to the Selwyns, as was right."
He tapped the Elder Wand gently against his palm. "We knew it was a wand, but I have never seen its true form. Solim, would you indulge an old man's curiosity?"
Since the secret was out, and he owed Dumbledore for its return, Solim saw no reason to refuse. With a subtle flex of his will, the Bone Spur materialized in his grasp.
The Night-Demon's finger was unnaturally long, composed of five bone segments, giving it a knotted, powerful appearance not unlike the Elder Wand's own protrusions. The entire wand was a stark, polished white, and its tip tapered to a wickedly sharp point.
"Fourteen and three-quarters inches," Solim said, his left hand tracing the air near the sharp tip. "A bit shorter than your wand. It's solid bone, far more durable than wood. And, as you can see, it doubles as a rather effective stiletto." He did not offer it to Dumbledore. "I can't let go, or it will simply vanish and reappear when I call it."
A feature he prized; the Bone Spur could not be disarmed by conventional means.
"What a magnificent artifact," Dumbledore breathed, his eyes alight with a scholar's fervor. "I believe Garrick Ollivander would weep to behold such craftsmanship."
"Professor, I believe you may have misunderstood my intentions," Solim said, making the wand disappear back into its ring form. "While I would be lying if I said the Elder Wand holds no allure, my interest lies deeper. I am fascinated by the Deathly Hallows themselves, and the... fates... of those who unite them."
He looked at Dumbledore, hoping the man would share knowledge gleaned from a lifetime of research and correspondence with other "Tale-lovers." Dumbledore surely knew more than any book.
Dumbledore was silent for a long moment, his gaze distant. "Solim," he said finally, "may I assume you have stumbled upon a theory? Something that feels inherently true, yet defies conventional proof? A puzzle you are desperate to solve?"
Without waiting for an answer, he leaned forward, his tone turning grave. "Then let me offer you a piece of advice, Mr. Selwyn." The use of his surname signaled the seriousness of what was to come.
"You may use the Resurrection Stone. That is a tool. But do not delve into the deeper secrets of the Hallows. They are a snare. A distraction."
"Then you must explain," Solim pressed, his curiosity now a burning need. "What is the connection? What truly happens when one wizard holds all three?"
"The legend claims the master of the Hallows will be the 'Master of Death'," Dumbledore said, a dry, self-deprecating chuckle escaping him. "Conquer death. It is a grand, intoxicating phrase."
"And?" Solim prompted.
"It can be interpreted quite literally. If you become one with death, you have, in a sense, 'conquered' it."
"You're saying a wizard who collects the Hallows will die?" Solim asked, perplexed. "That makes no sense. Everyone dies, Hallows or not."
"Deep within the Department of Mysteries," Dumbledore said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "there is a chamber known as the Death Chamber. It contains a stone archway, ancient beyond reckoning, hung with a tattered black veil. Do you know of it?"
Solim nodded slowly. He knew of the archway Sirius had fallen through.
"That archway is an anomaly. It feels... transplanted. The veil flutters without wind, and one hears whispers from the other side—compelling, irresistible whispers that draw you closer. But we know, as an absolute truth, that nothing which passes through that veil ever returns."
"But what has this to do with the Hallows?"
"Gellert and I, in our correspondence with other seekers, encountered a theory: that uniting the Deathly Hallows would grant one the power to pass through the veil and return." Dumbledore shook his head, his expression profoundly weary. "It is a theory that can never be proven. For who, even with the Hallows in hand, would be brave or foolish enough to test it? The veil consumes all. We have sent objects through—simple stones, scrolls, even a living mouse. None returned. The Hallows are a fairy tale, Solim. A dangerous one. Let them be."
Solim felt a pang of disappointment, but he was not entirely deterred. "Very well, let us table the Hallows. On another matter, Professor, the Horcrux. Have you managed to destroy it? I promised Professor Snape the use of the Stone this holiday."
"I am afraid not, Solim," Dumbledore replied. "The enchantments are... exquisite. To break the Horcrux would be to shatter the ring, and I believe that would irrevocably destroy the Resurrection Stone's function."
A new idea sparked in Solim's mind. "Then, Professor, might you have time after the holidays? I believe there may be a way to destroy the Horcrux without damaging the ring."
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose in clear interest.
"Voldemort's soul fragment is trapped within the ring. What if we could use it as the sacrificial component in the Resurrection Stone's true ritual?"
"I was not aware the Stone had such a function," Dumbledore said cautiously. "My understanding was that it conjured shades, not true souls."
"Professor, you must admit that ancient families have certain... advantages in historical knowledge," Solim said smoothly. "What you describe is the Stone's 'weapon' aspect—the illusion that leads to grief and despair. But when used correctly, with the proper sacrifice, it can summon a true soul, provided that soul has not yet passed fully into the realm of the dead. The Gaunt family's business was built on this. For a vast sum and a vow of secrecy, they would facilitate such a summoning. The Selwyn archives have records of such transactions. The ritual requires a soul sacrifice—the stronger the soul, the longer the summoning lasts."
He met Dumbledore's gaze squarely. "So, I think it would be beneficial if you could assist us during the break."
A new, more personal thought occurred to him. If Snape could truly summon Lily Evans's soul, would Dumbledore, in turn, wish to speak with his own sister?
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