Abraxas Malfoy

Abraxas Malfoy was a pure-blood wizard, father of Lucius Malfoy, grandfather of Draco Malfoy and great-grandfather of Scorpius Malfoy. He was related by marriage to the Blacks and, more distantly, to the Lestranges.

Biography
Abraxas had at least one child, Lucius Malfoy, who was born in 1954. He apparently knew Horace Slughorn, according to Slughorn and Draco Malfoy.

Abraxas died of a case of dragon pox, a relatively common malady of the elderly, some time before September 1996. Horace Slughorn knew him at one time and was sorry to hear that he had passed away, as he informed Abraxas's grandson Draco. Abraxas may also have been a well-respected wizard, as Draco attempted to use his name to charm Slughorn into letting Draco into the Slug club, because Slughorn was impressed with heritage. However, the name was not good enough to earn Slughorn's favour.

Etymology
The word Abraxas was engraved on stones that were considered amulets in the Ancient Roman-Greco world. They often had figures carved on them as well that resembled basilisks or chimaeras. The name may be related to the word abracadabra, which is notable as this may also be the root of the Killing Curse incantation "Avada Kedavra". The name Abraxas is also mentioned in Gnostic texts, and in Ancient Egyptian mythology as a god or demon.

Behind the scenes

 * In 1992, Harry Potter, speaking about Draco Malfoy, said, "Look at his family... The whole lot of them have been in Slytherin, he's always boasting about it". This indicates that Abraxas was most likely a Slytherin when he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, though it cannot be confirmed.
 * In 1997 a portrait was hung in Malfoy Manor showing a wizard; Abraxas may be that wizard.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Notes and references
Abraxas Malfoy Abraxas Malefoy Abraxas Malfoy