A/N: Thank you for all the support
Myrddin Emrys The Third: Thank you so much, here it is the mystery about the veil
pgoodrichboggs: Your review gave me an awesome idea. Thank you very much.
White Bishop: I am absolutely floored by your review and I don't know where to begin. Your reviews probe me into new angles that could be established and explored. They have definitely raised my confidence levels and somehow made me extra cautious before posting a new idea. When I started with this idea, I didn't believe I would be able to put at least 50k words, but seeing its progression I am really thankful for the great support I am receiving from you. I think we both are on the same page with the idea of Ginny. I hope you appreciate my take on it. The philosophical thoughts you have touched on in your review are very thought-provoking, and also quite intimidating at the same time. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. This is getting way longer, but I can't stress enough on the fact that I am so grateful for your review.
Guest: Dimensional Portals are very intriguing. Definitely, something to think about. Thank you for your review.
A fine thread
Perception
It looked like a tiny musty room, but definitely not one to be found in this grand Manor. The light in this place was dim compared to the library. He saw cobwebs dangling in the corners. The place appeared filthy and rats have taken permanent lodging around the corners. Now, Draco was sure he was hallucinating. It simply was not possible to have such a room in the prestigious Malfoy Manor. He turned back to see the veil in its place slightly fluttering. He shook his head and proceeded towards it.
"Are you the new head?" A croaky voice stopped him.
Draco got a severe whiplash at the sudden involuntary movement by his head, at the sound. He peered through the dim light to spot the source. He crinkled his eyes to see to the far ends of the room, "Who is it?" Draco yelled, his hand immediately going to his wand.
"Come on, boy. Just a little further," the voice continued.
Draco pulled his wand out and murmured, "Lumos," immediately filling the room with radiance. Now, Draco clearly saw where exactly the voice was coming from.
"Ha, Glorious! It had been such a long time I have experienced such brightness. Definitely affecting my eyes."
Draco approached the lone portrait hung at the corner. "Who are you?"
"What a waste of the prestigious Malfoy line!" The person in the portrait hissed. "Haven't you been taught any manners, boy? And put that thing away. Are you trying to take my eye out?"
Draco shook his head, and just out of curiosity, did what the person asked to, "My Apologies. I am Draco Lucius Malfoy. But I am not sure I have seen you before in the Manor? Pleased to meet you, sir." Draco asked giving the person a curious look. He definitely was a Malfoy. No one else would have that hair or such pointy features.
"Well, You are Lucius's boy aren't you? If you are here then what happened to that old git? Finally graced the clutches of death, rather than following a delirious madman?" He guffawed loudly at his own joke.
"No, He is in Azkaban," Draco explained slightly flustered that this person was insulting his father. Lucius may not have been the best of people, but he was his father.
"Azkaban?" The person almost shot out of the portrait. "How dare he spoil the Malfoy name? No one, I repeat, not a single person from our family either born or married into, had set their foot into that nasty place. How could he do this?"
"As you said following a delirious man did that to him," Draco replied.
"So you seem to have a good head on that shoulders if you have stayed away, from all that rubbish."
Draco unconsciously touched the place where the reminder of that madness lied and Draco chose not to answer.
"Although, I am terribly disappointed by the way you are carrying yourself. What in Merlin's name are you wearing? And what's with your hair? Don't you know the longer the hair, the more intimidating you are?" The person brandished his waist long platinum blond hair as stating a matter of fact.
Draco tried his best to stop the chuckle that was threatening to escape from his lips. "I agree," he replied. With that hair and still delicate features, the person closely resembled a very graceful woman more than an intimidating ancestor. "What is this place?" Draco asked diverting their discussion.
"Ah yes! This is the real wealth of Malfoy family," he said pointing to the room with a proud smile on his face. Draco looked around to take another look. "And I am the keeper of it. I am Nicholas Armand Malfoy. A Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Draco Lucius Malfoy."
Draco was confused, did he really mean the dangling cobwebs, rats pilfering the place or the dank musty smell was the real wealth. No, that must not be it. He turned to the man in the portrait who was still giving him a proud smile. He cleared his throat and asked, "Not to be disrespectful or anything, what exactly are you referring to? I don't see anything here that could be worth at all."
"You, foolish boy! The new generations and their arrogance, they don't deem books are worth. Don't underestimate the power of knowledge, you silly boy. It is as helpful as you want it to be and as dangerous you can turn it into."
"I know that. The reason I have said that, because I couldn't find any, in this room, except for those cobwebs and rats," Draco exclaimed.
"Oh! Yes, it seems the old age had crept up to me. I have forgotten their new place. Come here boy, and press the snake eye on my cane," the elder Malfoy from the portrait directed him. He emphasized the cane part by lifting it and directly placing in front of Draco's eyes.
Draco still feeling surreal about everything happening around him, looked at the sparkling green eye of the snake in the cane. But before he could touch it and press it, Nicholas pulled it back.
"Before that boy. This information is for your eyes only. It cannot be shared. I warned your father about this, but he didn't care. You see this is a very sacred place to us. I have been safeguarding this secret place, since my time. The books contain so many mysterious secrets of early magic. Did you see the veil, boy?"
Draco nodded mutely, still contemplating the words of his ancestor.
"Right, it can only be seen the current head of the Malfoy family and only he can enter this place."
"So you mean I am the head of my family now?"
"Of course, you are. Your father lost the respect of his ancestors when he entered that wretched place. I warned him to consider everything and not to jeopardize his family. He didn't care and took this knowledge to the madman. A fool, following somebody calling him a 'Lord'. A Malfoy will never bow to anyone." He huffed angrily and continued, "All of your ancestors contributed to the tremendous success of Malfoy name. Until your grand father and father came. Blots to the glorious name of Malfoy. Shame! a great shame."
Draco slowly started to understand the implications. "What did they do exactly?"
"Fools, they both were. Your father didn't heed my caution. This knowledge is very dangerous in wrong hands. He took the book that contained the information and gave it to a mad man. It was not returned back. That's why I took these new precautions. These books are safely behind me. But until you give your word that the information doesn't leave this room, I will not let you access it."
Draco contemplated for a minute. Now everything started to make sense. His father had himself given enough fodder to the dark lord to develop the curse that is currently eating away his life. So there is every chance that he might find important answers in here. His thoughts turned to his mother. He began to empathize with the poor woman. She, in her distraught state, had spent many days in the very same library trying to find a solution for him. Without a single ounce of awareness, that the information was in the same room but just out of her reach. His thoughts then turned to Hermione. Yes, the ever strong and unwavering Hermione could be saved, if he found just the right information.
"What are you waiting for?" Nicholas Malfoy's voice was growing impatient.
With a new determination in his heart, Draco stepped forward, "I promise."
"Good. Go on, boy. Bring the Malfoy name, back to its grandeur".
Draco smiled and pushed the sparkling serpent's eye. The portrait opened with a small creak, revealing a small door inside. With a small nudge, a knowledge that could save Hermione and he would be, with in his reach. But some how, the fact that she could be saved gave him contentment more than his own cure. As he opened the door, his glance fell on the ancient tomes neatly stacked inside. He ran his fingers over them as an immense respect started bubbling inside his heart.
"Take your time boy. You will be amazed just to know, to what levels magic could take us. We are not just pureblood in name; we are one of the earlier people who had manifested magic. Just don't get carried away," Nicholas Malfoy commented from the frame.
Draco smiled and gathered the nearest tome, which was sparkling ruby in color and slowly moved back. He looked around to find a spot to take a look at it. But it was really hard to find one in that place. He quickly cast a 'Scourgify' around and conjured a chair and a table, finally sitting down. He quickly thought of Hermione's bluebell flames and settled down as he cast one for himself. He gave a nod to the man in the portrait and delved into the volume. This was the first time he felt a bit of hope, calming his tired mind, after seeing Hermione in that way.
Draco woke up suddenly as a loud sound emanated in his surroundings. He rubbed the drool that got accumulated on the precious book and he stood up suddenly trying to rub it away.
"Leave it, boy, they are protected with an impervious charm." Nicholas let out an irritated sigh. "But I don't encourage using these books as pillows."
"What time is it?" Draco asked groggily.
"What would I know, I have been in this dank room for years. But I am sure you could just step out and find out easily," Nicholas Malfoy showed the way outside.
"Right," Draco cleared his throat and looked back at the book he slept on.
It might have been his third book since last night. The first two entailed how exactly people have started manifesting magic around them. He didn't exactly remember exactly what the third book detailed. It started with a history of witch hunting in the past years and that must have been where Draco fell asleep. Draco didn't deem it as interesting as the previous two. He tried closing the book but a small picture captured his attention. He peered trying to focus what exactly was that. It somehow looked familiar to his sleep-hazed mind. But the emerald hue and pointy-head suddenly sprung into his mind. It was that bloody needle. Draco came to his senses as if somebody hit him an icy water spray.
He quickly turned to the article related to the needle. But to his disappointment, there was not much information. They were cautioned to be wary of the tiny thing, as it would take away one's magic. Some notorious wizard stole it and nobody heard after that. He scratched his head and turned to his haughty ancestor.
"Do you have any information on this?" Draco approached the portrait and lifted the book.
Nicholas Malfoy adjusted his monocle and looked at it. "Oh! This one. It was some stupid Ministry venture that was undertaken by some misguided imbeciles. I am not sure exactly how they accomplished it. I guess it involved some menial elf magic. They built that atrocious thing to extract magic out of a person as a punishment. But fools didn't contemplate that it's going to be a disaster until a scandal broke out. When there was an increase in the number of mud-bloods that bred, they stopped using it. But I heard that a victim stole it soon after that. There were some weird tales that he became a haunted ghost in the same village where they sacrificed wizards and witches."
An unexplained exhilaration hit Draco. This may be the solution to Hermione's problem. Oh! How foolish he was. The solution was just with in reach all this time. But doubt gnawed at his mind. Was it really the solution? He can bet his damn life that she wouldn't accept the magic that was taken from somebody. But Draco's mind started churning. Will he be able to convince her? Definitely, problematic but he could employ some of his own house ways. He could work on it.
"Thank you." He gave a smile to the elderly wizard gleaming at him from the portrait and went back to the table.
He didn't know how the next few hours passed as he went on with his probing. He accidentally rubbed the spot near his chest where certain pressure had taken housing. But he was not in a mood to check what that is all about. Now, he had a solution to Hermione's problem, his search went on to look for his. The task appeared more hopeful this time. But slowly as he passed onto the next volume and further, his confidence started wavering, as he found nothing about the Infelix. Then he remembered that the old man said something about some books taken away.
He asked Nicholas Malfoy from his sitting place, "You said that my father had taken this knowledge outside."
"Yes, boy. Do you have a poor memory?"
"Right, were those books returned?"
'Unfortunately, no! That's why I had to take extra precautions with those," the elder man said pointing to the stack of the books on the table.
"Do you know anything about the Infelix curse?" Draco asked pointedly, his impatience taking the better out of him.
"The curse? Well, I remember it was in one of the books. Didn't you find it?" When Draco shook his head, "I guess then that was the book missing. But why are you looking for that curse? It's fairly innocent."
"The curse may be innocent, but that madman my father followed had alloyed it into another dangerous one of his," Draco grumbled.
"Oh! That would make sense. Why are you, upset boy?"
"Nothing! Um, some of my friends were affected by that," Draco mumbled not courageous enough to claim that he himself was a victim of that.
"Oh! I hope there had been much help for you here. But don't lose heart, boy. Sometimes you will find answers in the least expected place. You are a Malfoy and you are going to win what you wish for," Nicholas Malfoy encouraged him in his own way but unconsciously gave Draco the last bit of hope.
"I guess so. But thank you for everything," he earnestly conveyed his gratitude.
"Nonsense. Cut all that pish posh. We are family." Draco turned and carried all the books into the door neatly arranging them. "This is where we part Draco Lucius Malfoy. Bear the honorable pride of being a Malfoy, and bring back its former glory. And do pay this room a few visits. Don't neglect the wealth and try to add some of your own to it."
Draco smiled and took a bow and proceeded towards the veil silently passing its barrier.
Once again he stood amidst the enormous amounts of books. But before he could adjust to the new light there was a sudden pop just beside him.
"Young Master," the elf proclaimed in a high-pitched squeak.
"Tinky, slowly," Draco said covering his ears.
"Master had vanished into the thin air. Mistress was terribly worried. Tinky had gone to check Master's cottage but he was not there too."
"Everything's fine now. Where's moth…?" His question was answered immediately when Narcissa rushed to him at the same moment.
"Draco, Where did you go? How irresponsible of you? For one minute you come to the manor and in the next minute, you leave. Since yesterday, Tinky and I have scouting different places, looking for you." His mother reprimanded him for his uncouthness. But Draco was looking mesmerized, as his mother was standing just before the veil totally unaware of its presence.
He gulped and turned his attention to her, "You have to excuse my clumsiness, mother. I had to go on an urgent errand." He explained scratching the back of his neck wondering that he had been in there for a whole day.
"What could be that urgent that you didn't have a single moment to wish your mother?"
"Well, I had to go to Hermione," Draco said looking at her with a smirk.
Narcissa immediately had the intended reaction. "Of course, Draco. That would definitely take the precedence. I just wished you had come to me before you apparated away."
"I am sorry, mother. I will keep that in mind."
"Very well. By the way, Blaise was here yesterday and he wished to talk to you. Draco, make sure you have enough time to meet your friends, the next time you are here. I am sure it will be a great change for you."
"I will think about it," Draco assured her.
"I hope you could join me for dinner. It's been a long time."
"Sure, mother. I would love to do that."
Narcissa beamed and turned to the elf. "Tinky prepare an excellent feast, including all of Draco's favorites,"
"Of course, Mistress. Tinky is excited to do that," the elf declared. The elf tried to disapparate but Draco narrowed his eyes at him gesturing him to wait. The elf stayed in the spot wondering why his master ordered him to wait.
"Mother, I will join you soon," Draco said ushering Narcissa out of the Library. Once she was out of the Library Draco turned to the elf and beckoned him to come closer as he sat down on the nearest armchair.
The elf approached timidly and squeaked, "Master."
"Tinky! Listen to me very carefully and you are going to promise me that this information will not be shared with anybody."
"Of course, Master, Anything Master. Tinky lives to serve the young master of the Malfoy family."
"I trust you remain true to your word after I have asked you what exactly I am looking for," Draco sat back leaning on the chair with both of his hands on the armrests and crossing his legs at the knees. He was finally looking like the authoritative Malfoy head of the family.
"Any thing for the master," the elf bowed.
Draco gave the elf a contemplative nod and cleared his throat. He bent his head and whispered, "Good. Now, get me that green needle that takes away the magic."