In the morning he awoke to the smell of frying onions and potatoes. He opened his eyes and saw Hermione standing at the stove. Presumably, she was doing the cooking.

'Good morning.' Draco said lifelessly.

'Afternoon more like it, sleepyhead.'

'Already?'

'Well, yes. Ready for some breakfast?'

'Breakfast. But you said?'

'Fine, lunch then. Want some?'

'If there's some going, I suppose so.' Draco's gloomy attitude bore through all and even the food didn't cheer him up much.

'Cheer up, Draco. We're all here aren't we? There's still hope.'

'If you say so.'

'What is with you today Draco? Ever since you woke up you've been a right sour-faced misery-guts. Why are you feeling so miserable?'

'I don't know. Everything really. Last night I lost my father and my wand at the same time. It's not a nice feeling.'

'Well. We can't do anything about your father Draco, and I don't think it would be a good idea if we could, but we might be able to do something about your wand.'

'Don't tell me you stashed Ollivander in your bag.'

'No, don't be silly, he wouldn't fit. I have got that make-a-wand kit you bought me for Christmas however.'

'That's for you though.'

'Yes. And I want to use it get you a new wand. If I make it will that be good enough for you? At least that way I've got some use out of it.'

'Ok then.'

'Well, let's have a go then, shall we?' Hermione pulled the box out of the bag, opened it and pulled out the instructions.

'Right, the first thing we need to do is find some wandwood, apparently. The best thing is to harvest your own, and it's got to be the right type. The type of wood is determined by. That's complicated; I always wondered what the measurements Ollivander did were for, now we know. Then we need to get the core- well, the kit comes with a selection of popular cores apparently, so no trouble there. Once we've got the wood and selected the appropriate core, we have to use one of the special drills to make a hole and then insert the core. Afterwards we seal it with one of the caps provided and Bob's your uncle.'

' we get going?'

'Lets.'

It took a long time to identify the right wood, oak and the right core, unicorn horn, but it took even longer to trace down a suitable source of the wood itself.

'It's all down to fashion you see, there used to be wand woods everywhere- no self-respecting wizarding family would be without one, then a fashion for lawns and rose-beds came in, and all the wand woods were chopped down. A complete disaster for the bowtruckles of course, but there you are. Here's only one wand wood left that I know about.'

'Where's that.'

'The palace.'

'The palace? Who lives there?'

'Several people, but the family that owns the place is the Merlinus's.'

'Who are they? I don't think I've heard of them.'

'I 'm surprised. They're the most influential magical family in the country, some would say the world. It's the way they claim direct line of descent from Merlin that has something to do with it, I expect but what they're really known for is that they hold the royal prerogative for magical Britain.'

'Come again?'

'Well, you know all the muggle laws and things have to be signed off by the monarch?'

'Yeah.'

'Well, when they signed the International Statute of Secrecy, it was decided that the monarch couldn't be told about the wizarding world, so they set up a magical viceroyalty. They've got it, you see.'

'So, why aren't they dealing with he-who-must-not-be-named? And why is the minister so important?'

'Well, for one thing, the head of the family is under house arrest and his only son- nice guy, about our age- doesn't want to do anything that could get his dad killed.'

'Understandable, I suppose. It's why I cast memory charms on my parents.'

'What did you do that for?'

'I just wanted them safe. I've sent them to Australia so they'd be safe. I'm hoping that I'll be able to find them one day, but...'

'You will, Hermione.' Draco said, putting his hand on hers. 'You will. I'll help if I survive, that is, if you want me to.'

'Thanks, Draco. But that feels a long time off at the moment. We haven't really done much since the ministry fell, have we?'

'I don't know, it's been a while, sure, but then again, we've made all sorts of progress haven't we. We know where to find one of the blasted horcruxes, Harry reckons the snake's one and that'll be near him so we can't get that one 'til last and who knows where the last one is. We'll get them though, one at a time. Then we can get rid of the dark lord, and everything will go back to normal.'

'Will it though?'

'It will, in a hundred years nobody will be able to tell that this has ever happened.'

'That's rather a long time in the future though.'

'Is it? I dare say we'll still be alive. Dumbledore was well over a hundred when he died. Merlinus senior- the viceroy that is, is about to celebrate his hundred and seventy-fourth birthday. No, I think there's a good chance you'll be there.'

'That's something. So, how are we going to get hold of this wandwood then?'

'We ask, preferably the young one.'

'Will he let us?'

'I think so. He gave me some help finding the audit scroll in the ministry. He didn't raise a finger to get me out of trouble, but I think he supports the cause. It might be worth it, don't you think?'

'Could be, could be. This time though, I'd like to come to, even if Harry doesn't.'

'Should my ears be burning?' Harry asked, as he opened the door.

'Not really, we're just talking about getting Draco a new wand. Draco knows where we can get some wood, but there might be some risk involved. I was saying that Draco and I should go, but that it might be a good idea for you to stay here.'

'Ok, I don't mind. I was hoping to have a look at that book on Dumbledore you picked up yesterday. It might be by Rita Skeeter, but it might have something useful in it, you never know.'

'Book? What book?'

'It's a biography of Dumbledore, Draco; I found it at Godric's Hollow and picked it up. What with that snake and all, I didn't have time to get rid of it. Lucky it wasn't stolen when those snatchers came really.'

'You can say that again. I can't believe they didn't nick any of my books too. Perhaps they can't read.'

'Well, I've got Rita. Are you two heading off then?'

'What, now? Well, I suppose we could. You up for it Hermione.'

'Sooner it's started, the sooner it's done.'

'See you later then Harry. If we're not back by nightfall tomorrow, move camp and stuff.'

'See you.'

Draco and Hermione headed outside and Hermione grabbed Draco's arm.

'Well. I don't know where we're going. You don't mind taking the lead, do you?'

'Not at all. Come on then.'

The Viecory's palace was the most spectacular building had ever seen- it was almost as big as Hogwarts and yet it had none of the oppressive nature of the great grey stones and norman arches of the school. Its stone, which looked almost golden in the gentle glow of the sun, was cut delicately in fluted columns, in between which great windows sat. Something about the symmetry of the building gave Draco the impression of a quiet, understated dignity waiting patiently for a chance to show itself. The gravel crunched under their feet as they walked across the drive to the great front door. Grasping the heavy knocker firmly, Draco rapped smartly on the door three times. Then he stood, waiting for someone to appear.

'Hello.'

'Hello, is Marcus in?'

'I am sure we can find him.' A tall man replied. There was something about him that engender respect.

'Marcus! Someone at the door for you.' The man cried out. From outside, Draco saw a pair of legs rapidly pumping as their owner came down the stairs. On top of the legs was a body that Draco recognised. It walked to the door.

'Hello, I don't believe we've met.'

'I understand we have, Marcus, now, I wasn't wearing this body at the time...'

'Draco Malfoy I take it.'

'The one and only.'

'Good to see you got out alright. I'm sorry I couldn't be more use, but I'm sure you understand how it is.'

'Absolutely.'

'So, are you going to introduce me to this enchanting friend of yours?'

'Of course. Marcus Merlinus, this is Miss Hermione Granger, my friend.'

'A pleasure to meet you Ms Granger, Marcus Tullius Merlinus at your service' Saying these words the boy bent down to kiss Hermione's hand. Coming up he made eye contact and smiled. Hermione began to blush.

'A pleasure to meet you.'

'Was there anything I can help you with?'

'We were looking for some wand-quality wood, Mr Merlinus.' Hermione said.

'Marcus, please. So you want wand-wood do you? I think we can arrange something on that front. It just so happens we have a wand wood in the grounds. What tree?'

'Oak, if that's possible.'

'Of course it is. Certainly we don't have that much of it- the big storms last year took care of the bigger ones, but there's still plenty left.

They followed Marcus around the side of the palatial mansion and out, over the vast flat lawns and into the wood.

'I do hope you'll excuse the general scruffiness of the place. We've had a pruning session recently and I haven't finished tidying up.'

'You work your own land?'

'In general, no, but the wand wood is important. I wouldn't want to leave that to anyone else.'

They walked through the leafy paths into the depths of the wood where the paths gave way to tracks in the ivy that covered the whole forest floor.

'The best oak for wand wood at the moment is this way.'

'Thanks for showing us the way. How on earth do you know it. We've been walking for ages now and well, I can't tell where we came from.'

'Oh, it's easy enough to learn most of the paths if you spend enough time out here. I always used to play here as a child, running about, pretending I was Sir Lancelot or Sir Bedevere.'

'Really?'

'Oh yes, it's about the only way you can learn it. I still spend most of my time out here, mind, I'm only at the ministry on weekends. Lucky you came in that day really, or you'd've found someone else there. Well, here we are. If you wouldn't mind using this pruning knife to get the particular branch off, I'd be grateful, a nice clean cut helps keeps the trees healthier.'

'Righty-ho. Can I climb it?'

'Of course. It's a tree, isn't it?'

And with that Draco gave an almighty bound and grabbed hold of a branch that was at least ten foot in the air. Walking his legs up the trunk , he was soon up in the tree, way above ground level. The knife in one pocket he climbed ever higher, until he found alength of wood that felt about right in his hand. He cut it and stuck the stick in his pocket, before climbing down and making a last jump to ground level.

'I had no idea you were such a monkey, Draco.' Hermione teased.

'Well, one tree is much like another.' Draco said modestly. It had been a rewarding climb.

'Well, that's your wand casing sorted, may I ask what you're looking to put in it?'

'Unicorn horn.'

'Unicorn horn , eh? Unusual core that, capable of quite powerful magic, at least according to legend, but, I am led to understand, like all unicorn cores, it doesn't tolerate dark magic. Well, good luck to you with it, I hope the process goes smoothly. Now, I'm afraid I can't hang around chatting for too long, a deputation of Death Eaters are coming and one has to do one's best to stop them making a mess of the place. I assume you'll want to be off?' They nodded. 'Very well. Well, I'll say goodbye for now, but I've a sneaking suspicion we'll meet before the end.'

Marcus apparated away- presumably back to the big house –leaving Hermione and Draco very perplexed.

'Well, what do you think that was all about, he'll see us before the end?'

'I think he meant the war- foresight run's in the family apparently, it's one of the reasons they're so powerful, never put a foot wrong. Once you know that, the conclusion seems rather inevitable.'

'It does rather. Well, shall we go back to see Harry?'

'I suppose so. You don't think he'll mind if I keep his knife until we next meet do you? After all, he'll never find it if we leave it out here, and going to the house to give it to him doesn't seem like an option either- you heard what he said about Death Eaters.'

'Indeed. Come on, let's go.'