Author's notes: I do not own Harry Potter nor associates. Please review. Explanations for new term/spells/magical item are at post-fic author's notes. Thank you.
At the Slytherin castle, Draco paced about his dormitory. He had considered the option of marching straight up to Professor Dumbledore and demand for a break to go home, but he knew the Professor would never agree to such an arrangement. And by that he would have drawn more attention to himself, making it even more difficult for him to escape. He drew out his quill and attempted to pen a letter to his mother. "No, that would be futile. Dumbledore must have banned all owl activities." Devestated, Malfoy tore up the parchment and his quill flew halfway across the room, hitting Crabbe.
"Hey, what was that for!" Crabbe yelled as he soothed the broken skin caused by the quill nib.
"Just shut your gap, will you!" Malfoy rose and left the room hastily. He ran out of the dungeon and walked about the castle aimlessly. Not noticing where he was going, Malfoy found himself near the Gryffindor tower. He was about to turn around when he bumped into a figure. It was none other than the worked up Ron who left the room after a fight with Hermione and Harry.
"Watch it Malfoy!" Ron scowled at Draco. Ron gave Draco a shove and the latter fell backwards.
"What was that for Weasel? Take your filthy hands off me!" Draco picked himself up and sneered at Ron. Given another time and place, Malfoy would just have gotten his Slytherin sidekicks to wallop Ron. Today, Draco was by himself, and likely on the losing end, for he was thinner and shorter than Ron. Without considering his position, Draco lunged and Ron and attempted to knock him down. He drove his fists hard into Ron's face, while the latter gave the Slytherin a few hard kicks. The racket they created as their knocked over vases and shelves apparently attracted the attention of Professor Snape, who happened to be nearby.
"Impedimenta!" Snape casted the charm to stop the two from tearing each other's lungs out. The two broke apart instantaneously and fell hard on the floor. "Both of you! Fighting in the hallway! Fifty points off each house and detention classes for both of you!" Snape vociferated at the two. "Mr. Malfoy! I expect better conduct out of you and I trust that you will not touch the Gryffindors again!" Snape stared at Malfoy and stomped off. The two, bruised and wounded, glared at each other. Malfoy limped off, scowling at no one in particular.
"Ron." A voice called out meekly. "Are you all right?" Hermione rushed forward with a hankerchief and tried to dab the blood off Ron's lips. Yet Ron raised his arm to block her advance.
"Go away. I don't need your pity." Ron spat.
"Ron. Listen to me." Hermione stood there, hurt. She withdrew her hand and held them by her side, awkwardly. "Ron. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have screamed at you just now. It was my entire fault. I should have told you about the meeting with Harry. Trust me; it is not what you think it is. We merely met to discuss about Malfoy."
The couple remained silent for a considerable amount of time. Ron was deep in thought, trying to calm himself down, while Hermione bit her lips, trying to fight back her tears.
"Why didn't you want to include me in the discussion?" Ron broke the silence, and finally accepted Hermione's explanations. Upon hearing this, Hermione looked up at Ron and smiled.
"We thought... we shouldn't bother you. Besides, Harry and I know that you would never agree to help Malfoy." Hermione explained.
"So you thought I would never understand? Tell me, all these years, have I been that unreasonable? I mean, sure, I hate Malfoy, but if my dearest friend and my dearest love wants to help him, I'll step aside. Just don't leave me out of your life again, all right?" With that, Ron step forward and embraced Hermione. Hermione returned the hug and both of them made up. They returned to the Gryffindor common room hand-in-hand.
Harry was standing at the doorway, and upon their entrance, he gave the couple a great big smile. Ron gave his dearest friend a hug, and the three was a trio again.
As Malfoy limped back to his dormitory, he met Professor Dumbledore along the way.
"Mr. Malfoy? Are you sure you don't require Madam Pomfrey's attention on those injuries?" the Professor asked benevolently. He did not care to enquire the cause of those bruises, for he had in his mind the very idea how.
"No, Professor. I won't die from these." Malfoy never really respected Dumbledore, calling him Mudblood-loving behind his back.
"In that case, I thought you would like a cup of tea in my room." The Professor guided Malfoy towards his office. The two walked to the gargoyle on the second floor and uncovered the secret passage. "praedulcis mlkis", The Professor gave his password and the two went up the stairs.
In the room, Malfoy sat himself down on a chair by the window and stared out of it. He did not wish to see the seemingly malicious grin on the Sorting Hat, nor the exceedingly fanciful chicken.
"Mr. Malfoy," the Professor started, "I guess you know perfectly well the reason behind this meeting." Still back-facing, the Professor fumbled with some scrolls on the stand.
"Professor. Why did you have to keep me in the dark?" Draco spoke in a staccato manner, clearly trying very hard to contain his anger.
"Mr. Malfoy, I see no point in us trying to convince you with any of our reasons. Perhaps you would have a clearer idea after reading this." The Professor handed Malfoy a letter and a thickly bound book. Draco held this quizzical look on his face, and the professor spoke again. "May it clear your doubt, and may this meeting be just between you and me. And I suppose you would want to read those in the comfort of your own dormitories." With that, Draco was dismissed and he made his way back to the dormitories.
Along the way, Malfoy couldn't help but wonder the implication of his newly inherited wares. The bound book had the distinct Slytherin mark on its leather cover, while secured by golden clasps. The book was covered in dust, whereas the letter seemed relatively recent. Malfoy cleaned up his wounds and got Blaise Zabini to treat him. Zabini was an aspiring medi-wizard, and was well versed in healing. Then Malfoy settled down to read the letter.
"To Draco," the letter read. "The only reason why you are reading this now is that I'm incapable to be present to hand you the Book of Eclairement. Do not care too much about my well-being, for I knew that this day would arrive, before you did. The Book of Elcairement is the Malfoy family heirloom. It has been passed down from my grandfather, Raghnall Malfoy, whom, since then, predicted your coming and has penned this book especially for you, that you may, one day, be enlightened. Your grandfather and I have never read this book, as we respect that he has his reasons behind this. I shall hinder you no further, and may you benefit greatly from this book. And do not blame that Mudblood-lover for keeping you from my plight. I asked him to. Your father, Lucius." Draco let the letter slipped. He was in a state of shock, at how Malfoys of many generations before existed, such that he could be born. Never in his life has he been treated with such importance and dignity. As much as Malfoy is elated, he was nonetheless precarious about the book. All the more it looked gothic now. Draco carefully undid the clasp, and the first page was more than awe-inspiring to him. It bore the words, "For Draco Guthrie Malfoy" embossed in gold. Draco never knew he had a middle name, let alone knowing it as Guthrie.
Overcoming the initial shock, Draco flipped the page. Reading the first line, he was strangely befuddled. Before he could continue, a commotion rose in the common room, and the phrase "disgusting Gryffindor" caught his ear.
Book of Eclairement: Book of Enlightenment. Eclairement is French (I think.).