Hello, so it looks like I might just get another update in just before my birthday! Someone who reviewed very kindly pointed out that I'm a complete dunderhead and Ginny's been performing magic underage! In a flash of quick thinking (hmm…) I've decided that my official comeback on that is that she's been granted exemption from the law as she has to be able to perform magic at the drop of a (pointy) hat when she's doing the junior Mediwitch thing… Acceptable?

Do I need to write it into the story or are you all ok with this explanation?

Anyway, as it's my birthday tomorrow I feel that for once I'm allowed to grovel for some reviews lol! I don't mind if they're just one word or a smiley (or grumpy) face. But to help me get through the working day tomorrow (I used up all my holiday on my honeymoon so I can't really complain!) a few extra reviews would be good!

"I think Hermione's in danger; Pansy and Ginny too…"
All three boys stood silently for a moment, none sure how to voice their fears. Ron shifted a large bag awkwardly from shoulder to shoulder.

"It's Voldemort, isn't it?" Draco asked. Ron looked uneasy and Harry seemed unwillingly impressed.

"You aren't afraid to say his name?" He asked

Draco scoffed. "Were you still expecting me to call him the Dark Lord? It's only a name and not even his real one. Once you've been sentenced to death by someone, their nickname seems a little less important to you. Plus, if it is him that's taken Ginny then it's my name he should be scared of."

Harry shook his head. "Don't be a fool Malfoy. Voldemort's probably the most powerful wizard alive now we've lost Dumbledore. You shouldn't be so overconfident."

"Yeah whatever Potter. That's why you've been able to defeat him what, 5 or 6 times?"

"I was lucky and he wasn't at his full power then. I always seem to have help or protection of some kind. I'm not hopeful now we've lost Dumbledore."

Draco sneered at Harry. "Merlin's beard Potter you're both pessimistic and pathetic. I hope you're good at boosting his confidence Weasley or otherwise I might be forced to put an end to his snivelling before Voldemort has the chance."

Ron butted in before Harry had a chance to retaliate. "This is serious Malfoy, not a light hearted walk around the Manor. We don't even know that it was you-know-who that took them."

"It was" Harry and Draco said in unison.

Ron eyed them both suspiciously. "How can you be so sure?"

"I can just feel it." Said Harry, moving his hand to his scar – an unconscious gesture Ron had recently seen him make increasingly frequently.

Draco nodded as if in agreement with Harry's statement. "Plus, it's the only thing that makes sense. No-one else would want the three girls and I doubt if any of them would just disappear without telling someone."

Ron nodded before tentatively asking, "Do you think it's to get at Harry in some way? I mean you-know-Wh..." Ron swallowed hard… not wanting to be outdone by Malfoy he tried again. "Voldemort wouldn't know who Harry was with. Bloody Skeeter made every one think that him and Hermione were together; and it was no secret about you being with my sister." Ron frowned a little at the thought. "And now-"

"Stop right there." Harry interrupted quickly, sneaking a glance at Draco from the corner of his eyes. "Before you start that again, Pansy and I are just friends."

Ron looked triumphant. "But Voldemort doesn't know that does he? Maybe he just took them all just in case?"

Draco shook his head. "You're both wrong. If Voldemort was unsure about whom Harry was dreaming about polishing his wand over he'd have just taken you; the Ginger Weasel. After all you're the one who means everything to Harry, aren't you? His tri-wizard tournament prize… His confidant. His best friend."

Draco ignored the disgusted and angry looks he was getting and continued. "I don't think he wanted them as bait. He has another reason for doing what he did… Most importantly we need to find out how he got to them. I mean surely there are just as many wards protecting wherever you were as there are here?"

Ron and Harry looked at each other, Draco could tell that they felt uncomfortable discussing anything with him.

"Look, let's not stand here in the hallway, come to the kitchen. Whether you guys like it or not I'm going to be involved in this. You don't like me and I'm not exactly your biggest fan either. However, we all have something at stake here so we need to work together. Merlin's staff, I never thought I'd hear myself say something like that."

He started off down the corridor without waiting to see if they would follow, after a few moments of hurried whispering and exaggerated hand gestures the two reluctantly trailed after him.

When they got to the kitchen Draco was rummaging through cupboards, pulling out different foods, looking at them briefly and then shoving them back. Harry cleared his throat and Draco turned to give him a disdainful look.

"I don't know about you, but I'm hungry and I have been brought up to be a good host and provide for my guests, even if I don't particularly like them." He peered at Ron and Harry for a second before turning his back again and continuing.

"However, it would seem that I have a slight problem in that I wasn't brought up to cook, so it would appear that we have a choice of… some sort of dried fruit or a small chunk of extremely smelly cheese."

"Cheese" piped up Ron immediately although slightly morosely, he could already feel his stomach grumbling.

"You're both absolutely useless." Stated Harry pulling out half the food Draco had stuffed back in the cupboards and proceeding to start what looked to the other two boys to be a very promising fry-up.

A little miffed about being outdone Draco commented. "So where did you learn house elf duties Potter? Slaving away for those muggle relatives of yours or during the passionate nights spent with Dobby in the kitchens?"

Ron looked up angrily but before he could say anything Harry replied calmly, "You were closer with the first Malfoy; I'm not really into inter-species relationships. But if you have a problem with my cooking I can just do food for Ron and myself and leave the yummy cheese for you."

Draco withheld a scowl and thought quickly how to keep his food and his pride. "I'm allergic to cheese Potter so I guess I'll have to eat what you've cooked. I'll be no help if I'm starving, will I."

Harry made a non-committal noise and finished off the food in silence, obviously deep in thought. When he'd served it up onto plates and all three of them were tucking in he commented matter-of-factly.

"You'll be no help anyway Malfoy. You've got no wand and you're too headstrong to stick to a plan. You'd probably get us into trouble rather than out of it. We came here because I felt my summoning charm warm up and thought it might be the girls. When I realised it must have been you I then wondered if you had any information but you obviously don't so Ron and I should carry on looking once we've stocked up on supplies."

Draco put his knife and fork down slowly and carefully, Harry noticed this and put his cutlery down too, both looking directly into each other's eyes. Ron looked between Malfoy and Harry uneasily but carried on eating, if somewhat faster than before. This type of tension wasn't a good thing and he figured he could at least finish his food before the fighting started.

"Potter, you can't tell me what to do, if I don't go with you I'll go on my own and that's fine by me. But I know an awful lot more about the Death Eaters and Voldemort than you do and I could more than likely help prevent a lot of nasty situations. If I could choose anyone else to do this with I would, but I'm stuck with no other choice. Things will be easier for us all if we work together." He paused for a second to sigh deeply, talking like this made him feel uneasy. He wasn't used to being straight with people.

"I know that you have got information that you don't want to share with me which will slow my search down if I'm on my own, but I'm not stupid and I will find a way to get Ginny back.;

At the comment about information Harry's eyes had flicked towards Ron who shook his head almost, but not quite imperceptibly. Draco rolled his eyes at their lack of guile.

"No, Ron didn't tell me – and don't look so shocked that I know what you're thinking. Please try to get it into your thick heads. I am a Slytherin in my heart and we are good at deceit and trickery, and practised at seeing through other people's acts. Most of the people you are going up against were schooled just like me… You two are about as transparent as Madame Rosmerta's underwear... You need me – without Hermione you are lacking any brains in your little group and I don't want to risk you two messing things up and getting Ginny hurt."

Ron looked a little less hostile at the idea of Draco joining them but Harry's lips were set in a stubborn line. "I can manage just fine thank you Malfoy." He said coldly. "I think we're clever enough not to fall into any stupid traps. You'd probably sell us out anyway."

Harry immediately regretted the words; he didn't really think Draco would do such a thing but he was angry. Angry that his friends had gone missing and he didn't know where; angry that Ron had thought Hermione was captured because of him; That the truth was they did rely on Hermione to do all the intelligent things. Mainly, he was angry that it was Draco Malfoy who was telling him what was happening.

Before he had a chance to apologise, Draco was replying haughtily. "You wouldn't fall into any stupid traps? Like when you went running to the ministry because Voldemort had planted false information in your head and Sirius Black got killed? I know all about that. He followed you there - followed you to his death. I don't want the same fate for Ginny, or Pansy."

Although moments before Harry had wanted to apologise to Draco - now he just wanted to punch him. He stood up so quickly that his chair went crashing backwards onto the floor. Draco was also standing in a flash, although a lot more gracefully.

Looking sadly at the remains of his food, Ron also stood, ready to prize the two apart; maybe getting a quick elbow in Malfoy's ribs – entirely by accident of course. He watched dubiously as Harry struggled with his emotions.

"How dare you…If Snape had tried to train me properly Voldemort wouldn't have been able to put those thoughts in my head. It's his fault Sirius died not mine."

Draco scoffed. "You just weren't good enough."

Harry's face had gone very red and Draco expected him to start hexing at any minute; but surprising both Ron and Draco, Harry said through gritted teeth. "We're leaving Ron. We don't need him with us. Come on."

He started to walk towards the door, after only a moment's hesitation Ron followed.

"STOP." Yelled Draco, so forcefully he thought his throat might explode. As he shouted he felt power flowing from within him. Harry and Ron were both thrown down to the floor. Both Gryffindor boys craned their heads from their positions on the floor to look at the platinum blond, standing and staring at his hands as if they belonged to someone else.

"I... Are you ok?" he sputtered, one of the most un-Malfoy like things Harry had ever seen him do

Ron stood up first. "Bloody hell Malfoy... what did you do? That was bloody amazing... Horrible, but amazing!"

Harry also looked at Malfoy with a new respect, although he was still furious. "I thought you didn't have a wand Malfoy?"

Draco looked up from his stupor. "I don't... But I need one. Will you come to Ollivander's with me? I know I can be abrasive at times but this is more important than you and me. For Ginny's sake I'll try to be reasonable. You help me and I'll help you and together we can rescue the girls. OK?"

Harry was still shocked at the force of the magic that Draco had sent flying at him; he looked at Ron who nodded his agreement forcefully. "Ok. But there will be conditions... We can discuss them if we get out of Ollivander's..."

So it's actually my birthday now!! It's just gone 1.00 and I've desperately tried to finish – so I ended the chapter before I wanted to but I have quite a bit scribbled down so hopefully you won't have to wait too long!

I know Draco is talking quite differently to the other two than he would to Ginny but I'm hoping that it's keeping in character for him... I don't think he would talk the same way to Ginny as he would to other blokes, let alone those two!!