======Wizarding Fairytale======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Literature]], [[Folklore]], Children's Story
  * **Owners:** The [[Wizarding community]]
  * **Maker:** Various, with the most famous collection attributed to [[Beedle the Bard]]
=====Description and Appearance=====
A [[wizarding fairytale]] is a traditional story told to young [[witches]] and [[wizards]]. These tales are a fundamental part of childhood for those raised within the [[wizarding world]], serving a similar function to [[Muggle]] fairytales, though with distinctly magical themes and morals.
Unlike [[Muggle]] stories which often portray [[magic]] as something to be feared or overcome, wizarding fairytales treat it as a natural part of life and a tool for the protagonists. As [[Ron Weasley]] explained, the heroes and heroines in these tales are fully capable of using [[magic]] to solve their own problems. For example, in a wizarding version of a story like //Hansel and Gretel//, the witch would not be tricked and baked in an oven; rather, she would likely use her [[wand]] to defeat her captors.
The most famous collection of these stories is //[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]//. The copy bequeathed to [[Hermione Granger]] by [[Albus Dumbledore]] was a small, ancient-looking book with a stained and peeling cover. Its title was written on the front in [[Ancient Runes]].
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary purpose of wizarding fairytales is for entertainment and moral education, instilling cultural values specific to the [[wizarding world]]. They teach lessons about bravery, cunning, and the proper use of [[magic]].
However, the most significant "property" of these tales is that some contain historical truths disguised as fiction. The most prominent example is //The Tale of the Three Brothers// from //[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]//, which is not a mere fable but a factual account of the creation of the [[Deathly Hallows]]. While many [[wizards]] dismiss it as a children's story, others, such as [[Xenophilius Lovegood]], believe it to be a true story passed down through generations.
The copy of //[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]// left to [[Hermione]] also contained a hidden clue from [[Dumbledore]]: a hand-drawn symbol of the [[Deathly Hallows]] on the page containing //The Tale of the Three Brothers//, which was instrumental in guiding her, [[Harry Potter]], and [[Ron Weasley]] on their quest.
=====History=====
Wizarding fairytales are an integral part of wizarding heritage, known by heart by children raised in magical families. This shared cultural knowledge serves as a point of connection among them, but also as a marker of difference for those from [[Muggle]] backgrounds. [[Hermione Granger]] and [[Harry Potter]], having grown up outside the [[wizarding world]], were completely unfamiliar with even the most famous tales like those by [[Beedle the Bard]], a fact that surprised [[Ron Weasley]].
[[Beedle the Bard]] lived in the fifteenth century, and his collection has remained popular for centuries. The central story, //The Tale of the Three Brothers//, served to keep the legend of the [[Deathly Hallows]] alive, even if most of its readers did not believe in their existence.
=====Role in the Story=====
Wizarding fairytales, and specifically //[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]//, are a critical plot device in //[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]//. The book is one of three objects bequeathed to the trio by [[Albus Dumbledore]], intended to provide clues in their hunt for [[Lord Voldemort]]'s [[Horcruxes]].
Reading the tales leads the trio to seek out [[Xenophilius Lovegood]] for an explanation of the mysterious symbol found within the book. It is through his explanation of //The Tale of the Three Brothers// that they learn about the [[Deathly Hallows]]: the [[Elder Wand]], the [[Resurrection Stone]], and the [[Invisibility Cloak]]. This discovery reshapes their quest, as they realize [[Voldemort]] is seeking the [[Elder Wand]] and that [[Harry]]'s own [[Invisibility Cloak]] is one of the fabled Hallows. The story provides the crucial context for understanding [[Dumbledore]]'s past and the true nature of ultimate power.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * J.K. Rowling published a real-world version of //[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]// in 2008, with proceeds going to her charity, Lumos. This book contains five fairytales and extensive commentary on each written from the perspective of Professor [[Albus Dumbledore]]. (J.K. Rowling)
  * In the film //Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1//, //The Tale of the Three Brothers// is depicted through a distinct and highly stylized animated sequence, narrated by [[Hermione Granger]]. (film)