I am soooooooo sorry to all of you who have been waiting so long for me to update. I never intended for things to get so this way but due to some tragic events, (3, yes three), close friends dying in such a short amount of time I felt I needed a break. However, I am back and will try to update all of my stories once a week.

Chapter 26: Malfoy Manor

(A/N-This may start off weird, just keep reading.)

A cruel breeze blew a lock of shockingly white blonde hair across a tired young man's face. The tall, blonde young man checked his watch and impatiently swiped away his hair. They were late...

BANG! Damn it, thought the young man, they could never be cool about anything. Harry and Ron always had to make an entrance; they always had to have the attention, Potter and his big, over inflated head.

Harry Potter stood up immediately with Ron quickly by his side, "We're here Malfoy, and are you ready?"

Draco surveyed them coldly, they had not changed a bit, not that he had expected them too. "Just because you're doing this for me, it doesn't mean... I don't want you to think that, just because of this..." It was unusual for the usually suave and calm Malfoy to stammer. Clearly he was feeling something here.

Harry held up his hand, "Its nothing, because of this I don't expect you to be my friend or anything. After the war, when all was said and done, we made promises to each other, and even though we are totally different people, we are each men of our word."

Malfoy couldn't top that, "Exactly."

So why exactly were these enemies uniting? Because they were going to Malfoy Manor, a mansion that had been left untouched since the end of the war. Only God himself knew what, or who was in there.

The three men turned and began walking up the drive to the stately home. It was a magnificent site to behold, even in its ruins. Built of grey granite, it held its structural integrity, and beautiful, glossy green ivy grew up from the ground and wove its ways over the battered old shutters and to the roof. The flower beds, now overgrown, still lingered mysteriously, impressing Harry who was not expecting or hoping the mansion was still in rather good condition.

He was not hoping that the mansion was in good condition, for if it was, that could only mean one thing, someone was living there.

Ron, who was trying very difficultly to be polite, asked, "Did they ever find your father Malfoy?"

Malfoy shook his head.

They approached a once sturdy looking door; Ron went to open it and was thrown back several feet.

Malfoy laughed, "Clearly the magic here is still strong, it was made to repel all blood-traitors. Here," Malfoy opened the door and motioned them in, "This should be interesting."

"To say the least," muttered Ron.

The three grown men gasped. The house was in perfect condition. No shattered glass from the broken windows, clearly there were no broken windows, they, like much of the rest of the house had been charmed to look abandoned. Clearly someone was living here, and by the looks of things, it had been quite a while.

Malfoy, who's jaw was on the floor quickly wiped the look of shock off of his face and motioned for Harry and Ron to fan out, "I'll go up the stairs, Ron, you check the East and North Wings, and Harry, check the West and South. I've got the upstairs covered."

Malfoy quickly ascended the grand staircase and was gone from site checking rooms along the side opposite the banister.

Ron scoffed, "Who does he think he is to be directing us around like that? Honestly?"

"Perhaps because he is the owner Ron? He did grow up here so he may have some ground on us there." Harry laughed as he began to walk towards the southern wing when he heard it.

It was a high pitched scream, he and Ron both turned just in time to realize Malfoy had been thrown from the banister.

Harry, acting quickly, magicked a stretched to catch Malfoy and laid him down gently. "Malfoy, what's up there?" Harry was anxious to know.

"It's not what, but who." Malfoy stammered.

"Well that's an obvious answer, Harry look at his arm."

Malfoy's arm had a strong red mark on it; like it had been held by an arm, a stronger-then-your-average human arm.

Harry gulped; it could only be one person, one person who would bother to hide for six years.

Ron was as white as a sheet, "Scabbers is here!"

"Ron, honestly I feel like I have to pull a Hermione on you! It's Wormtail."

"Same difference Harry."

"Not quite Ron! But how could he be living here for so long without anyone noticing."

In the meantime Malfoy felt like making a few confessions. "Listen guys, I have a few confessions to make."

"Like what Ferret?" Harry asked, being reminded more and more of how much he could not stand the man lying on the ground like a baby. And regretting more and more the fact that he was so vulnerable after the war and had been hoodwinked into helping Malfoy. Well, this was just going to be a one time thing. Harry was going to finish this bullshit right now.

"Well, I knew he was living here, I just didn't know-"

Ron exploded, "YOU KNEW!?" "How could you know and let him stay when you know that he has been at the top of the ministry's list for years?"

"Well, I thought he may be able to help me-

"I hate to break it to you Malfoy, but you really look like that, and it's a fact that you're going to have to deal with it because nobody can help you with that one bubba." Harry was in no mood for this, he had a beautiful fiancé at home and he really wasn't in the mood for games.

"Listen Potter, you think I like asking for your help, but you two swore to me that day you would help me. There is just not Wormtail up there-"

Ron was annoyed, "Who the boogie man?"

Harry laughed, "No wait, the man in the moon! Yeah that's it. Because Dumbledore mentioned his uncle had disappeared, silly old man"

Malfoy lost his patience. "LISTEN! MY FATHER IS UP THERE!"

It was Ron and Harry's turn to drop their jaws to the floor.