As the elevator ascended, Nathan noticed things about Reno that had clearly gone unnoticed. To the former Auror, his friend looked exactly as he had at Hogwarts….but in truth, he looked quite the opposite. Instead of short black hair, the Mist-user had long black dreads that contrasted sharply against his pale skin. While a young Mr. Roberts had been quite in shape, the man standing to Nathan's right was sinewy and thin….a side effect of the Mist that destroyed the user's appetite. The dark eyes, once fierce and passionate, were now unfocused and hidden behind droopy eye lids. If anything, Reno being invisible helped Nathan ignore the changes in his old friend. Hearing the scratching of Reno's nails on the Mist-user's scraggly beard, Nathan was glad the elevator was currently deserted.

As the elevator gates slid open, Nathan felt for Reno's arm and, moving carefully around the incoming rush of employees heading to various departments; carrying on their normal lives not knowing they had been passed by two very dangerous men.

Reno couldn't fight the feeling that something HAD to go wrong…it couldn't be as simple as Nathan walking in to the rehabilitation office and breaking him out. It couldn't be.

As the duo walked past the reception desk, Nathan guided Reno out of the main causeway to a deserted side passage; speaking loud enough for his invisible comrade to hear him while avoiding catching the attention of any passerby.

"Take my arm."

Feeling the large hands grasping for a permanent hold, Nathan began to focus on Number 12 Grimmauld Place…hearing confirmation that the escaped prisoner had gotten a firm grip; the former Auror hoped the "pop" of aparating didn't carry and tried to ignore the hooked feeling around his belly button.

Arriving a few houses down, Nathan quickly recast the disillusionment charms; hoping none of the housewives had noticed the sudden appearance of two suspicious looking characters on their street.

"So this is Grimmauld Place?" Reno approached the front of the ancient house but hesitated at the top of the stairs, allowing Nathan to open the door and quickly shuffling in behind his old schoolmate.

Dissolving the charm, Nathan decided the kitchen (the usual haven of ) wasn't the first place he wanted to visit upon his return to Grimmauld place. Not planning on staying long, the former Auror didn't want to go through the usual "hello and goodbye" routine.

Stepping into the living room after tip-toeing past the various Black portraits, Nathan and Reno settled into two comfortable facing chairs; the relieved tension of the successful escape attempt lightening both their shoulders.

After a few brief minutes of comfortable silence, Nathan cleared his throat and addressed his good friend.

"Franklin's dead…."

Like ripping off a band-aid, the words came out as painlessly as possible under the circumstances when the former Auror said them bluntly. There was a moment of shock on Reno's face before it quickly faded….the man's eyes beginning to drift around the room.

"That's bad man…" Was all Reno could muster, scratching at a dry spot on his scalp before Nathan's cold stare brought him back into focus.

"I'm going to need your help to get revenge on the people responsible. I realize that's a lot to ask of anyone, so I'm giving you the choice. Either way we're still friends; either way you'll be welcome here. Either way I'm going to get them back for this….ten times over I'll get them back for this….but if you're willing, I could use a good wizard to have by my side."

Staring deep into the escaped prisoner's eyes, Nathan saw his words register; saw the wheels turning inside Reno's head…but the relaxed face revealed nothing of the answer.

"Would I have to quit?" Reno asked, expecting a lecture but instead receiving a calm shrug.

"Honestly, I'd rather you quit that stuff….I've seen what it does to you and I don't necessarily like it….but you're a grown man. If you can help me and indulge your habit, then it makes no difference as far as I'm concerned."

Visibly relieved, Reno smiled goofily and stood up, making for the front door before Nathan cut him off.

"That'll have to wait…." As the former Auror predicted, Reno's expression shifted from glee to barely restrained anger.

"I don't want to wait! If you think just because you got me out of there that you own me I'm going to have to…"

"Have to what? Last time I checked, you don't have a wand." Rising to his feet, Nathan's wand slid with practiced ease into his hand, a look of rigid seriousness covering the man's gaunt face.

Reno looked from his rescuer to the door and back again, judging the distance and realizing he'd be caught just past half-way at best.

"So it's like this huh Nate? You going to curse me after all the years we've been friends?"

Nathan smiled sadly, realizing the obvious play Reno was making on his emotions….and shutting them down with cold indifference.

"It's like that man….this is bigger than your drug habit. You could endanger all of us. You can't tell anyone where this place is, but if you're seen leaving this place you could alert someone….someone that could bring either the Ministry or Death Eaters to our door. If you want to sneak out tonight, I won't stop you…but you're at least waiting til then. Get it?"

Reno stood transfixed, torn between the reality of his situation and the addiction that was screaming within his brain for satisfaction.

"So after nightfall I'm free to go? No strings?"

"No strings. I didn't bail you out of jail just to stick you in another one. Now give me your word that you won't leave so I can lower this wand already."

Reno took one last, long look at the door before nodding slowly.

"You have my word." Walking back over to his chair and slumping into it, Reno began to stare at the clock….only interrupted by Nathan's sardonic laughter.

"What?" Reno's irritation started to boil over as Nathan's laughter continued. If the former Auror didn't have a wand on him, the matter would have been settled with a good right hook.

"You're going to sit there and stare at the clock? You really have gotten pathetic." Nathan rose to leave, an incredulous smirk on his face before he heard Reno stand behind him, leaping onto his back and wrapping long arms around the former Auror's neck.

"I'll kill you!" Reno roared, bringing hurried footsteps from the kitchen.

Struggling against the surprise attack, Nathan barely managed to utter a garbled," I got this."

Molly stood in the doorway, frozen with wand in hand as she debated hexing them anyway. Deciding it was best to let them separate so she could get them both individually, wondered who this new, disreputable character could be. Lately it seemed the Order was becoming more and more like the Death Eaters they were trying to stop.

Setting his feet, Nathan shot up and drove the crown of his head into Reno's face; the snap of a broken nose echoing through the room. Peeling his attacker's fingers apart, the former Auror flipped the staggering Reno over his shoulder, the tall man landing in a heap on the floor with the air leaving his lungs in a coughing gasp.

Pouncing on him like a jungle cat, Nathan restrained the squirming addict; pinning his arms to the ground and avoiding the man's powerful kicks.

"My word!" exclaimed, but the former Auror ignored her….he was sure he'd be hearing a good deal about this later.

Finally running out of stamina, Reno gave in to the inevitable and ceased his resistance; still fuming over Nathan's mocking laughter.

"Are you done yet?" Nathan asked, feeling a bit winded himself.

"Not really…why the hell did you call me pathetic anyways?"

"Because…I remember a time when you were the funnest, most enjoyable person to hang around…we were like brothers and now….you're a shell of what you used to be. Whatever this is…it's a pale imitation of that guy. Who you could be again. So that's why I called you pathetic, Reno Roberts. "

Instead of becoming enraged again, there was a look of realization on Reno's face….a look that brought some hope back into Nathan's heart. Releasing his grip, the former Auror climbed back to his feet, taking Reno's outstretched hand and pulling him up as well.

Straightening out their clothes, the two men wordlessly made for the kitchen; leaving an incredulous Molly framed in the doorway.

Grabbing a few random snacks from the cupboard, Nathan dropped them in front of Reno and slid down into the chair next to him.

"So….partner….after I get back from the dealer, where will we be headed?" Reno hadn't heard Molly's approaching footsteps; and at the mention of the word "dealer" her jaw dropped and her face took on an all-too common mask of outrage.

"First Mundungus….now this…this criminal…" Letting her voice trail off, Molly shook her head in obvious contempt.

Reno stood to leave the room, but Nathan placed a hand on his arm and guided him back down into his chair.

"Don't let her bother you. You're as important in this fight against Voldemort as she is. As a matter of fact, you're probably a lot more useful. I couldn't think of a better wizard to have my back."

stormed out of the room, heading up the stairs and muttering angrily as she went.

After a few minutes of silence, Reno put his hand on Nathan's shoulder, steeling himself to say what he had been trying to say since had stormed out.

"Thanks Nate….not too many people would be willing to speak up for a used up addict like me…."

"No problem Reno….just make sure I don't live to regret it."

Author's Note: Make sure to pick up a copy of "Love and Much Disrespect", my new poetry book. You can go to and order it.