To be honest, Solim was still surprised when Dumbledore spoke those words. The ring on his right hand was a magical wand known only to him and his grandfather—not even Selna knew about it. And yet, somehow, Dumbledore knew.
Old pure-blood families often possessed ancient, powerful wands handed down through generations, and the Selwyn family was no exception. Solim had been smuggled into the wand store by Elrond after the Black Glove duel. That's where he obtained the wand called Bone Spur.
According to family records, this wand was crafted from the bones of an extinct creature—the night devil. Its middle finger was the longest and, consequently, the most magical. The wand and the ring were inseparably linked: the wand itself was the phalanx of the night devil, and the ring was made from its nails, skin from the middle finger, and other arcane materials, all fused together through complex alchemy.
When the owner wore the ring, the wand would appear in their hand.
"Don't be surprised," Dumbledore explained, seeing Solim's astonishment. "I discovered the ring long ago, but I returned it to the Selwyn family."
Dumbledore held a wand in his right hand and tapped the palm of his left. "At the time, we only knew it was a wand, but I never saw its true form. Solim, curiosity demands you satisfy this poor old man, doesn't it?"
Since everyone recognized its significance, Solim realized that if it weren't for Dumbledore, he might never have obtained it. Thinking this, he shook his right hand—and the Bone Spur materialized directly into his palm.
The night devil's middle finger was unusually long, consisting of five phalanges, meaning it had four knuckles—its protrusions resembled the Elder Wand's. The wand was pure white, its tip the night devil's sharpened fingertip.
"Fourteen and three-quarter inches," Dumbledore murmured. "A little shorter than your Elder Wand."
Solim lightly touched the wand's tip with his left hand. "It's made of bone. Stronger than the Elder Wand. It won't break easily and can even serve as a dagger if necessary."
Holding the wand firmly, he showed it to Dumbledore.
"I can't let go," Solim explained, "or it will disappear."
This was another remarkable feature: the Bone Spur would never leave its owner. If struck by a Disarming Charm, it simply vanished and reappeared in the wearer's hand, ready to fight again.
"It's a work of art," Dumbledore said, eyes on the wand. "I think Garrick would be delighted to see this."
"Professor, I think you might misunderstand," Solim replied. "I admit the Elder Wand is remarkable, but my true interest lies in the combination of the Deathly Hallows—their fate, their interconnectedness."
Solim studied Dumbledore intently, hoping the professor could reveal something unknown to him. Dumbledore and Grindelwald had both investigated the Hallows; perhaps they had insights that other wizards did not.
After a pause, Dumbledore spoke. "Solim, have you discovered something… unusual? Something that seems unreasonable, yet you cannot prove it, and still, you are compelled to investigate?"
Before Solim could answer, Dumbledore continued, "Let me give you a piece of advice, Mr. Selwyn."
Hearing his full name, Solim sensed that what followed would be serious.
"You can use the Resurrection Stone—it's harmless in itself. But don't delve into the secrets of the Hallows. They are merely bait, designed to deceive."
"Then you must speak plainly," Solim urged. "Is there any real connection between the Deathly Hallows? What happens if one wizard possesses them all?"
Dumbledore sighed, his eyes distant. "It is said that if a wizard possesses all three Hallows, they will conquer death." His soft chuckle carried an edge of irony—perhaps directed at Solim, perhaps at his own younger self.
"Conquer death?" Solim echoed. "That can't be literal. Death claims everyone, regardless of what they hold."
"In the Ministry of Magic, in the Department of Mysteries, there is a hall called the Hall of Death," Dumbledore began. "It once served as an execution chamber. Do you know how they executed the condemned?"
"You mean the stone gate that disappears when someone passes through?" Solim asked. He had noticed it but never paid it much attention. He knew only that Sirius had passed through it—and vanished.
"That's right," Dumbledore said. "Few at the Ministry even realize the stone platform is incongruous with its surroundings, as if moved from elsewhere. The curtain over the stone door always flutters, and from behind, one hears faint voices—yet never clearly. A strong compulsion urges anyone nearby to enter—but none ever return."
Solim frowned. "But how does this relate to the Deathly Hallows?"
"Gellert and I consulted many saints," Dumbledore continued. "They speculate that someone possessing all the Hallows might pass through the gate of death. But no one can prove it."
Even if a wizard obtained all the Hallows, even if they infiltrated the Department of Mysteries and stood before the stone platform, would they dare pass through the gate? None could guarantee a return.
"And there's something peculiar about the door," Dumbledore added. "Anything that enters disappears—completely. We've investigated it ourselves. It defies all understanding. So, Solim, forget the legends—they won't serve you in life."
Solim felt a pang of disappointment but tried to calm himself. "Then let us not dwell on the Deathly Hallows. What about the Horcrux, Professor? Did you manage to destroy it? I promised Professor Snape I would deal with it during the holidays."
"I'm afraid not, Solim," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "I lack the means to destroy it. And if the ring were destroyed, its power would likely be lost."
Solim considered this for a moment. "Then perhaps during the holidays, Professor, I might attempt to destroy the Horcrux without harming the ring."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Part of Voldemort's soul resides in the ring," Solim explained. "Could it be possible to sacrifice that fragment while using the Resurrection Stone to perform a summoning ritual?"
"I was unaware the Resurrection Stone could function that way," Dumbledore admitted. "To my knowledge, it does not truly resurrect the dead—it merely draws forth a substance more real than a soul but more illusory than the entity itself."
"Professor," Solim said, "you must admit that the ancient families were meticulous in preserving knowledge. The Resurrection Stone, as you mentioned, can plunge its user into irreversible grief and despair, ultimately leading to… self-destruction. But if used correctly, it can summon the spirits of the deceased."
He paused. "The prerequisite is that the soul must still linger in this world, not having crossed into the 'dead land.' Unfortunately, I cannot locate records of these 'dead lands.' To summon truly, one must sacrifice one's own soul. The greater the number of souls, the stronger the wizard, the longer the summoning can persist. These practices were meticulously documented."
"When the Gunter family still held influence, any wizard seeking to see the dead had to strike a secret pact with them. Both parties kept absolute secrecy, and the Gunter family received a substantial fortune in return."
"I know this because the Selwyn family recorded these transactions," Solim continued. "Yet this method of summoning requires soul sacrifices. I believe during the holidays, I could attempt it."
A playful thought crossed Solim's mind: when Snape truly summoned Lily Evans, would Dumbledore wish to meet his sister?
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