When Albus Dumbledore died, he bequeathed The Tales of Beedle the Bard to Hermione Granger. This seemingly simple children's book held secrets vital to understanding the final quest against Lord Voldemort.
The Bequest: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Upon his death, Albus Dumbledore, the former Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, left Hermione Granger a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. This ancient collection of wizarding fairy tales, much less known in the Muggle world, first came to prominence within J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007), the seventh and final novel of the Harry Potter series.
Dumbledore's choice of gift for Hermione was deliberate and highly significant, reflecting his deep understanding of her intellect and her crucial role in Harry Potter's journey.
Why This Particular Gift?
Dumbledore's bequests were never arbitrary. He entrusted this specific book to Hermione for several key reasons:
- Her Intellectual Curiosity: Dumbledore knew Hermione's analytical mind would scrutinize every detail of the book. Unlike Harry or Ron, she would not simply dismiss it as children's stories.
- Deciphering Hidden Meanings: The tales contained within The Tales of Beedle the Bard held clues to powerful ancient magic, specifically the legend of the Deathly Hallows. Dumbledore needed someone to identify these hidden messages and the unique symbol associated with them.
- Guidance for the Golden Trio: By giving the book to Hermione, Dumbledore ensured that the trio – Harry, Ron, and Hermione – would have access to this critical piece of information. Her ability to translate and interpret the text, especially runes and historical context, was indispensable.
Contents and Significance to the Wizarding World
The Tales of Beedle the Bard is composed of five well-known wizarding fairy tales, each offering moral lessons or insights into the magical world. However, one story, in particular, proved to be of paramount importance:
- "The Tale of the Three Brothers": This story, marked with a symbol that Hermione recognized from her copy of the book, describes three brothers who each receive a powerful magical artifact from Death: the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of Invisibility. These three items collectively form the Deathly Hallows, objects of immense power that, if united, are said to make one the "Master of Death."
The discovery of the Deathly Hallows within this seemingly innocent collection of stories irrevocably changed the course of Harry Potter's quest.
Impact on the Search for the Deathly Hallows
Hermione's possession and study of The Tales of Beedle the Bard directly aided the Golden Trio in their mission.
- Identification of the Deathly Hallows Symbol: It was Hermione who recognized the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, drawn by Xenophilius Lovegood, from the cryptic mark found in her copy of the book.
- Translating and Interpreting: The edition Dumbledore bequeathed to Hermione was in the original Ancient Runes, a language only she could translate proficiently. This allowed them to understand the full implications of "The Tale of the Three Brothers" and the existence of the Hallows.
- Strategic Understanding: The tales provided crucial context for Harry's final understanding of Dumbledore's plans and the true nature of the Elder Wand.
Without this specific gift, and Hermione's capacity to unravel its secrets, the trio's understanding of the Deathly Hallows would have remained incomplete, significantly hindering their fight against Lord Voldemort.
