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THE DEATHLY HALLOWS

There were once three brothers who were travelling along a lonely, winding road at twilight ...


THE THIRD HALLOW: THE CLOAK OF INVISIBILITY


HISTORY:

[The third brother] asked for something that would enable him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And Death, most unwillingly, handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility. But though Death searched for the third brother for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - The Tale of the Three Brothers - Bloomsbury - pages 90 & 93


Today, I'm chatting about one of the three Deathly Hallows: the third hallow, Death's Cloak of Invisibility.

Ever written a fic where Harry's Invisibility Cloak is used? Leave a comment telling us about your story, and links are welcome! Let's talk more about the Invisibility Cloak -- what's canon and what's fanon about this rare and valuable item?

Legend has the one true Invisibility Cloak, the third Deathly Hallow, as having been sheared from Death's own cloak itself, and it is described as having a "uniquely durable nature" in comparison to other Invisibility Cloaks. The Cloak of Invisibility was originally owned by Ignotus Peverell of the three Peverell brothers. Ignotus Peverell was born in Godric's Hollow, and Harry, during the time the Potter books take place, is Ignotus's only remaining descendant. This changes, of course, when Harry's children are born; the Peverell heritage continued upon the birth of James Sirius Potter, Harry and Ginny's son. It's interesting to note that through the Peverell line, Harry is actually, albeit distantly, related to Voldemort, as the Gaunt family (Merope Gaunt was Voldemort's mother) had the Resurrection Stone in their possession, the stone being the second Deathly Hallow.

APPEARANCE:

Your father left this in my possession before he died.
It is time it was returned to you.
Use it well.


Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - page 148 - Bloomsbury - chapter 12, The Mirror of Erised

We're introduced to Harry's Invisibility Cloak right off the bat, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, when Harry receives the cloak anonymously for Christmas. J.K. Rowling reveals in a later interview that it was indeed Dumbledore who returned James Potter's Invisibility Cloak to Harry. In the King's Cross chapter in Deathly Hallows, Dumbledore talks about his wonder, and also a sense of greed, at being in possession of two of the Hallows at once, the Elder Wand and James's Invisibility Cloak.



An Invisibility Cloak is an extremely rare and valuable magical item, as noted. Harry's cloak is described as fluid and silvery-grey with gleaming folds. As well, it has a unique feel to it, as if flowing water had somehow been woven into the cloak's material. The Invisibility Cloak is described as a beautiful, ethereal garment.

HOW IS AN INVISIBILITY CLOAK MADE?

There are several ways in Potterverse in which an Invisibility Cloak is created. First, apparently, if one crosses a deadly, fast-moving river using magic, and cheats Death, Death may swoop down and confront the offending individual. If one bargains right, they might come away from the encounter with an impervious, perfect Invisibility Cloak taken from Death's own shroud. Frankly, o best beloved, this is unlikely to happen. Furthermore, it would serve only to make Death angry and more likely to track a person, and really, who wants to to spend their lifetime slinking around, hiding from Death under an Invisibility Cloak?

An Invisibility Cloak may be woven from the hair of a Demiguise. A Demiguise is a quiet, herbivorous magical creature that inhabits the far east. They are able to become invisible when threatened and therefore are very difficult to catch. Demiguise pelts are very valuable, due to their long, fine, silky hair.

Finally, a regular cloak can be charmed with either a Disillusionment Charm or a Bedazzling Hex to render it able to work as an Invisibility Cloak. I expect using mere charms and hexes might render this kind of Invisibility Cloak vulnerable to a simple finite incantatum.

MAGICAL HISTORY OR LEGEND?

The canon question, though, is whether Ignotus's Peverell's Invisibility Cloak was actually gifted to him by Death. Is The Tale of the Three Brothers true, as written in The Tales of Beedle the Bard?

Let's look at three passages from canon:

1. ‘Mr Lovegood,’ Hermione began again. ‘We all know that there are such things as Invisibility Cloaks. They are rare, but they exist. But –’

‘Ah, but the Third Hallow is a true cloak of invisibility, Miss Granger! I mean to say, it is not a travelling cloak imbued with a Disillusionment Charm, or carrying a Bedazzling Hex, or else woven from Demiguise hair, which will hide one initially but fade with the years until it turns opaque. We are talking about a cloak that really and truly renders the wearer completely invisible, and endures eternally, giving constant and impenetrable concealment, no matter what spells are cast at it. How many cloaks have you ever seen like that, Miss Granger?’


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - page 333 - Bloomsbury - chapter 21, The Tale of the Three Brothers

Xenophilius Lovegood believed 100% in the legend of the Deathly Hallows. Accordingly, he describes Death's cloak as "enduring eternally" and "impenetrable", suggesting it is unaffected by age and, more importantly, indestructible. In the next few paragraphs, Harry thinks to himself It so happened that a cloak exactly like the one Xenophilius had just described was in the room with them at that very moment (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - chapter21, The Tale of the Three Brothers).

However, Dumbledore's notes in The Tales of Beedle the Bard words the description of the third Hallow a bit differently; Dumbledore does not suggest the cloak is indestructible:

2. True Invisibility Cloaks, though rare, exist in this world of ours; however, the story makes it clear that Death’s Cloak is of a uniquely durable nature.3

"Uniquely durable nature" does not equate to infallibility, indestructibility, or eternal existence. It suggests the one, true Invisibility Cloak is more durable than all other Invisibility Cloaks.

As well, J.K. Rowling tells us:

Invisibility Cloaks are not, generally, infallible. They may rip or grow opaque with age, of the charms placed upon them may wear off, or be countered by charms of revealment. This is why witches and wizards usually turn, in the first instance, to Disillusionment Charms for self-camouflage or concealment. Albus Dumbledore was known to be able to perform a Disillusionment Charm so powerful as to render himself invisible without the need for a Cloak. JKR (The Tales of Beedle the Bard - The Tale of the Three Brothers)

Dumbledore, whose "guesses are usually good", ultimately rejects the legend of Tale of the Three Brothers, and the three brothers having encountered Death. Dumbledore believes in the Deathly Hallows, though, and considers them as powerful magical items created by the Peverell brothers:

3. ‘So it’s true?’ asked Harry. ‘All of it? The Peverell brothers –’

‘– were the three brothers of the tale,’ said Dumbledore, nodding. ‘Oh yes, I think so. Whether they met Death on a lonely road ... I think it more likely that the Peverell brothers were simply gifted, dangerous wizards who succeeded in creating those powerful objects. The story of them being Death’s own Hallows seems to me the sort of legend that might have sprung up around such creations. The Cloak, as you know now, travelled down through the ages, father to son, mother to daughter, right down to Ignotus’s last living descendant, who was born, as Ignotus was, in the village of Godric’s Hollow.’ Dumbledore smiled at Harry.

‘Me?’

‘You.’


Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - page 572 - Bloomsbury - chapter 35, King's Cross

CAN ANYONE OR ANYTHING SEE THROUGH AN INVISIBILITY CLOAK?

There are three possibilities for individuals or creatures that may be able to see through Invisibility Cloaks: Dumbledore; Dementors; and Mad-Eye Moody and his magical eye.

1. Dumbledore

Angela Morrissey: Why is it that Albus Dumbledore can see Harry under his Invisibility Cloak at certain moments?

J.K. Rowling: Dumbledore, who could perform magic without needing to say the incantation aloud, was using homenum revelio - the human-presence-revealing spell Hermione makes use of in Deathly Hallows.


MUGGLENET'S DEATHLY HALLOWS WEBCHAT

Dumbledore cannot see through an Invisibility Cloak. The homenum revelio spell merely reveals the presence of another human being or beings. J.K. Rowling refers to Hermione casting homenum revelio at No twelve Grimmauld Place, after Harry, Ron, and Hermione escape the Death Eater in Tottenham Court, and flee to Grimmauld Place to hide in Deathly Hallows; Hermione determines through this spell they are alone in the house. When Dumbledore cast homenum revelio in Hagrid's hut in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, he was merely able to detect there were other people in the hut besides himself, Hagrid, Fudge, and Lucius Malfoy, those persons being Harry and Ron, who were hiding under the Invisibility Cloak. So ixnay on Dumbledore.

2. Dementors

‘[The Dementors] are stationed at every entrance to the grounds,’ Dumbledore continued, ‘and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks,’ he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other. ‘It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors.’

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- page 72 - Bloomsbury - chapter 5, The Dementor


But Crouch [Jr] took another deep breath, and continued in the same flat voice. ‘The Dementors are blind. They sensed one healthy, one dying person entering Azkaban. They sensed one healthy, one dying person leaving it. My father smuggled me out, disguised as my mother, in case any prisoners were watching through their doors.’

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- page 594 - Bloomsbury - chapter 35, Veritaserum


Dementors are blind. They find their prey by sensing (being attracted, in particular, to despair, depression, and hopelessness). And while Dementors can quickly sense human presence, they cannot see through an Invisibility Cloak. They can merely sense the presence of the person(s) underneath an Invisibility Cloak. So, that's a no on Dementors as well.

3. Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye

Moody took a step closer to the foot of the stairs. Harry saw Moody’s magical eye travel over Snape, and then, unmistakably, onto himself.

Harry’s heart gave a horrible jolt. Moody could see through Invisibility Cloaks ... [Moody] alone could see the full strangeness of the scene ... Snape in his nightshirt, Filch clutching the egg, and he, Harry, trapped in the stairs behind them. Moody’s lopsided gash of a mouth opened in surprise. For a few seconds, he and Harry stared straight into each other’s eyes. Then Moody closed his mouth and turned his blue eye upon Snape again.


Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - page 409 - Bloomsbury - chapter 25, The Egg and the Eye


Mad-Eye Moody can indeed see through Invisibility Cloaks!



PERSONS IN CANON KNOWN TO HAVE OWNED OR USED AN INVISIBILITY CLOAK:

James Potter (the 3rd Hallow)
Harry Potter (the 3rd Hallow)
Mundungus Fletcher
Mad-Eye Moody (owned at least two Invisibility Cloaks)
Barty Crouch/Barty Crouch Jr.
Sturgis Podmore (borrowed Moody's 'best' Invisibility Cloak)
Severus Snape (used Harry Potter's Invisibility Cloak)
Albus Dumbledore (possibly used James Potter/Harry Potter's Invisibility Cloak)

DID YOU KNOW?

~*~



[The third brother] greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life.
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