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.
On the way back to the Slytherin dungeon, Draco went to the library to drop off the books. He was done with them, and he is now proficient in French. He couldn't wait to read the Book of Eclairement, and unravel the mystery that has been kept over generations of Malfoys, and why he was chosen to read the book. He barged into the library, and threw the books down at the counter. The catalogus stared at Draco maliciously for giving him so much work, and Madam Pince gave him a cold hard stare for creating so much noise. There were few students in the library, mainly the Ravenclaws.
Draco had wanted to give dinner a miss to read his book, but his hunger got the better of him hence he went for a bite at the Great Hall before going back to his book. Dinner time at Hogwarts was an extravagant event; almost endless supply of food, students chattering away over their food and ghosts flying around creating a racket. Draco selected some poultry and potatoes, and not forgetting his dosage of caffeine. He was digging in when he noticed the trio coming into the Great Hall, Harry lagging behind. Harry looked tired, but nonetheless remained robust around the rest. Draco gobbled down his dinner and left the hall early to get going on his book.
Back in the comfort of his bed, Draco made himself another coffee and began to pour over the book.
"You are now holding the Book of Enlightenment, which is written in French." Read the first line. Hermione didn't lie after all. He went on, "I wish to bring to your attention that this beautiful lady here translating the book for you is a good catch, and I'm happy to predict your marriage with her." There was then an unusually large space between this and the next line. The next line went, "No. I wasn't being serious. It was a joke. I will never betroth a Malfoy heir to just any French speaking girl. This measure is to prevent, I repeat, to prevent just any French girl trying to marry you. I believe you are a fine child, given the good lineage you have. I believe your father, Lucius, is now either in captivity, or ill or ill in captivity. Do not worry too much about it, he was never meant to live long. The crux here is you. Do not question my ability in reading into the future, trust me, I am far better that that Divination teacher of yours."
"First let me tell you about me. Yes, I am Raghnall Malfoy, your father's grandfather. This might sound a long time ago, but trust me, I regard to you as I regard to a son. See, your father's grandmother, my wife, Glenys Malfoy, was from Hogwarts and me, myself was from Beauxbaton. I married your great-grandmother and her father insisted that I take on the Malfoy surname. I know you are rather shocked to hear that, but trust me, that is the case. Glenys insisted on sending our children and subsequently our descendents to Hogwarts, just as the Malfoys before. We had two children, Madeleine and Wyatt, who is your grandfather. Madeleine died at the age of fifteen, and in the later part of the book, I will elaborate further." Draco was really quite shocked that his great-grandfather, had not been a true Malfoy, and had not been to Hogwarts. All these mystery was causing him to feel queasy. Yet he continued to read the book.
"Wyatt grew up a fine young man, very soft-spoken and gentle, unlike the unruly Malfoys before. Many people said that Wyatt took after me, but he just lacked the aptitude for divination. Wyatt Malfoy was the Head Boy at Hogwarts during his time. And yes, then, Dumbledore was still teaching Transfiguration. And yes, I believe you guessed it right, Wyatt was in Hogwarts during the time of Tom Riddle. Back then, Tom Riddle was a studious pupil, quiet and soft-spoken. He was two years senior to Wyatt, and was in the same year as Madeleine. The three of them were friends, and that would tell you why your father is a death-eater for Voldemort. I never particularly object to their friendship, until the sudden death of Myrtle. I was concerned about the safety of the two, but Madeleine reassured me in saying, 'purebloods are safe'. I never really understood until Glenys told me about the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts. What horror I would say to keep a basilik in the castle!"
Draco was having trouble trying to take in all the facts. His grandfather had been friends with Tom Riddle? And he never knew he had a grandaunt who died in Hogwarts. Draco was disturbed, nonetheless. Scanning the rest of the page and the next few pages, Draco realized that it was all about how his grandfather excelled in school and the years after. Draco was essentially puzzled as to why his great-grandfather had wanted him to know all this and kept beating round the bush with digression about the family and the extended family. Draco was feeling pent-up with the information overload, and how little he knew of his family. In a spurt of fury, Draco slammed his fist down hard on the book. "Argh!" Draco exclaimed as he felt sharp pain radiation through his palm. He was pricked by a needle hidden in the book and his blood was smeared on the book. Draco swore and curse loudly while clutching his injured hand.
Suddenly, light poured out of the Book of Enlightenment. The light was so bright it blinded Draco, and the book levitated off the bed, orienteering itself to be opened in Draco's face. The light turned from bright white to bright red, and the pages of the book seemed to flutter to the ground. The light diffused to be a gentle ember, the page glowing red in Malfoy's face. Draco reached for the book, and it fell nicely into his opened arms. The thick leather bound book was reduced to merely the cover. The interior of the cover glowed blood red and slowly reduced to a soft silver. Draco looked into the red, he saw a flowing liquid like a Pensieve, and it seemed like a bottomless pit. Suddenly, words appeared across the surface, written in what seemed as blood. "Draco Guthrie Malfoy". His name appeared on the surface.
"What is this?" Draco was amazed at this new gadget he possessed. The words on the silver liquid changed. His name diffused into the liquid and a new word is formed. "Accostrome". At the sight of this word, Draco dropped the book. The Accostrome of Slytherin. One would be honoured to received such a gem, but Draco was taken aback, that he was chosen. Each of the four houses had an accostrome, each were disguised as a thick leather bound book with the house mark on the cover and had golden clasps. Only the chosen one could unravel the mystery behind the book. The chosen one is not necessary the heir, but bears the blood which the book identifies. The last time the Slytherin accostrome appeared was during Tom Riddle's time, said to have been in possession by a certain female prefect, but lost ever since then. Students have never seen the accostrome before, only reading about it. The accostrome is one of the highest magic in the wizarding world, it is enchanted with many charms unknown to even the Ministry. The book holds the history, the present and the future. It is virtually all-knowing, and and for years, the wizarding world has been awaiting the return of at least one accostrome from at least one of the houses of Hogwarts, such that it would bestow wisdom as to the way to defeat Lord Voldemort. The accostrome has someone a spirit of its own, and it remains even invisible to all wizards till it decides when it wants to appear. Everyone feels that the Gryffindor accostrome would be the first to appear, and would assist Harry greatly to defeat him. And now, the Slytherin accostrome is back, and in the hands of Draco Malfoy.
Malfoy picked up the treasure again, and wiped the beads of perspiration off his face. He was unclear as to whether he should stick his wand into the liquid like a pensieve, or should he just talk to the book as his did earlier on. Malfoy thought that he should be speaking to Salazar Slytherin, the maker of the Slytherin accostrome. "Are you Salazar Slytherin?" Malfoy asked the accostrome.
"Yes. And no." The book replied. Draco's eyes opened wide with wonder. How could an accostrome hold more than one identity? Unless, if the other party was... Voldemort?
Accostrome: read the fic for explanation.
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