The little color she had regained since their arrival had drained from her face。 Ron gave Harry a reproachful look； and said； 〃Let's not worry about that now a150a150〃
But Mr。 Ollivander intervened。
〃The Dark Lord no longer seeks the Elder Wand only for your destruction； Mr。 Potter。 He is determined to possess it because he believes it will make him truly invulnerable。〃
〃And will it？〃
〃The owner of the Elder Wand must always fear attack；〃 said Ollivander； 〃but the idea of the Dark Lord in possession of the Deathstick is； I must admit 。 。 。 formidable。〃
Harry was suddenly reminded of how unsure； when they first met； of how much he like Ollivander。 Even now； having been tortured and imprisoned by Voldemort； the idea of the Dark Wizard in possession of this wand seemed to enthrall him as much as it repulsed him。
〃You … you really think this wand exists； then； Mr。 Ollivander？〃 asked Hermione。
〃Oh yes；〃 said Ollivander。 〃Yes； it is perfectly possible to trace the wand's course through history。 There are gaps； of； course； and long ones； where it vanishes from view； temporarily lost or hidden； but always it resurfaces。 It has certain identifying characteristics that those who are learned in wandlore recognize。 There are written accounts； some of them obscure； that I and other wandmakers have made it our business to study。 They have the ring of authenticity。〃
〃So you … you don't think it can be a fairy tale or a myth？〃 Hermione asked hopefully。
〃No；〃 said Ollivander。 〃Whether it ineedsi to pass by murder； I do not know。 Its history is bloody； but that may be simply due to the fact that it is such a desirable object； and arouses such passions in wizards。 Immensely powerful； dangerous in the wrong hands； and an object of incredible fascination to all of us who study the power of wands。〃
〃Mr。 Ollivander；〃 said Harry； 〃you told You…Know…Who that Gregorovitch had the Elder Wand； didn't you？〃
Ollivander turned； if possible； even paler。 He looked ghostly as he gulped。
〃But how … how do you a150a150 ？〃
〃Never mind how I know it；〃 said Harry； closing his eyes momentarily as his scar burned and he saw； for mere seconds； a vision of the main street in Hogsmeade； still dark； because it was so much farther north。 〃You told You…Know…Who that Gregorovitch had the wand？〃
〃It was a rumor；〃 whispered Ollivander。 〃A rumor； years and years ago； long before you were born I believe Gregorovitch himself started it。 You can see how good it would be for business； that he was studying and duplicating the qualities of the Elder Wand！〃
〃Yes； I can see that；〃 said Harry。 He stood up。 〃Mr。 Ollivander； one last thing； and then we'll let you get some rest。 What do you know about the Deathly Hallows？〃
〃The … the what？〃 asked the wandmaker； looking utterly bewildered。
〃The Deathly Hallows。〃
〃I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about。 Is this still something to do with wands？〃
Harry looked into the sunken face and believed that Ollivander was not acting。 He did not know about the Hallows。
〃Thank you；〃 said Harry。 〃Thank you very much。 We'll leave you to get some rest now。〃
Ollivander looked stricken。
〃He was torturing me！〃 he gasped。 〃The Cruciatus Curse 。 。 。 you have no idea。 。 。 。〃
〃I do；〃 said Harry； 〃I really do。 Please get some rest。 Thank you for telling me all of this。〃
He led Ron and Hermione down the staircase。 Harry caught glimpses of Bill； Fleur； Luna； and Dean sitting at the table in the kitchen； cups of tea in front of them。 They all looked up at Harry as he appeared in the doorway； but he merely nodded to them and continued into the garden； Ron and Hermione behind him。 The reddish mound of earth that covered Dobby lay ahead； and Harry walked back to it； as the pain in his head built more and more powerfully。 It was a huge effort now to close down the visions that were forcing themselves upon him； but he knew that he would have to resist only a little longer。 He would yield very soon； because he needed to know that his theory was right。 He must make only one more short effort； so that he could explain to Ron and Hermione。
〃Gregorovitch had the Elder Wand a long time ago；〃 he said； 〃I saw You…Know…Who trying to find him。 When he tracked him down； he found that Gregorovitch didn't have it anymore： It was stolen from him by Grindelwald。 How Grindelwald found out that Gregorovitch had it； I don't know … but if Gregorovitch was stupid enough to spread the rumor； it can't have been that difficult。〃
Voldemort was at the gates of Hogwarts； Harry could see him standing there； and see too the lamp bobbing in the pre…dawn； ing closer and closer。
〃And Grindelwald used the Elder Wand to bee powerful。 And at the height of his power； when Dumbledore knew he was the only one who could stop him； he dueled Grindelwald and beat him； and he took the Elder Wand。〃
〃iDumbledorei had the Elder Wand？〃 said Ron。 〃But then … where is it now？〃
〃At Hogwarts；〃 said Harry； fighting to remain with them in the cliff…top garden。
〃But then； let's go！〃 said Ron urgently。 〃Harry； let's go and get it before he does！〃
〃It's too late for that；〃 said Harry。 He could not help himself； but clutched his head； trying to help it resist。 〃He knows where it is。 He's there now。〃
〃Harry！〃 Ron said furiously。 〃How long have you known this … why have we been wasting time？ Why did you talk to Griphook first？ We could have gone … we could still go …〃
〃No；〃 said Harry； and he sank to his knees in the grass。 〃Hermione's right。 Dumbledore didn't want me to have it。 He didn't want me to take it。 He wanted me to get the Horcruxes。〃
〃The unbeatable wand； Harry！〃 moaned Ron。
〃I'm not supposed to 。 。 。 I'm supposed to get the Horcruxes。 。 。 。〃
And now everything was cool and dark： The sun was barely visible over the horizon as he glided alongside Snape； up through the grounds toward the lake。
〃I shall join you in the castle shortly；〃 he said in his high； cold voice。 〃Leave me now。〃
Snape bowed and set off back up the path； his black cloak billowing behind him。 Harry walked slowly； waiting for Snape's figure to disappear。 It would not do for Snape； or indeed anyone else； to see where he was going。 But there were no lights in the castle windows； and he could conceal himself 。 。 。 and in a second he had cast upon himself a Disillusionment Charm that hid him even from his own eyes。
And he walked on； around the edge of the lake； taking in the outlines of the beloved castle； his first kingdom； his birthright。 。 。 。
And here it was； beside the lake； reflected in the dark waters。 The white marble tomb； an unnecessary blot on the familiar landscape。 He felt again that rush of controlled euphoria； that heady sense of purpose in destruction。 He raised the old yew wand： How fitting that this would be its last great act。
The tomb split open from head to foot。 The shrouded figure was as long as thin as it had been in life。 He raised the wand again。
The wrappings fell open。 The face was translucent； pale； sunken； yet almost perfectly preserved。 They had left his spectacles on the crooked nose： He felt amused derision。 Dumbledore's hands were folded upon his chest； and there it lay； clutched beneath them； buried with him。
Had the old fool imagined that marble or death would pro