The moment was surreal for all of them. Each of them grown up, adults by both wizard and muggle laws, but in the shadow of this great decapitated house, just six mere children. The building ruin with age, was rotting. It's paint worn away, leaving the primer to turn to gray in the elements. The windows were dirty and vines were overtaking most of the structure.All in all, this place was the physical embodiment of every scary house in every scary story. Every place they would learn to avoid. And yet, there they stood, unable to move, staring at it.

Off to the left a cricket chirped, causing all of them to jump tremendously.

" Alright damnit!" Ginny said, taking a step forward, " one of us has to go first."

At that moment a strange creaking sound emitted out of the house.

" Ron, it's all you, Mate!" Harry said, taking Ginny by the arm and pulling her back to him.

" ME?" said Ron, whining, " It's his house!" Ron pointed at Draco.

Taking his free hand, his other holding Hermione's, he ran his fingers through his hair.

As he climbed the great front steps on the porch they could hear him say, " You guys are great mates and all, but right now, " He said, reaching the giant wooden front doors, " You all suck!"

Ron smiled a little, but no one laughed. Draco was right, this was a shitty position to be in.

They all entered the main foyer. Luna went to shut the door behind her, when Harry stopped it from closing.

" Luna love, wait." He said, opening it back up, " It'll be easier to run away screaming if opening the door isn't a step"

"So where are we going?" Hermione asked, looking around, trying to get her bearings.

" She wrote that it would be in the library. However, I've never been here before, so where exactly that is, " Draco shrugged, " Who the hell knows!"

" Everyone open doors" Ginny said, going to the one nearest to her.

Opening it she found a coat closet. There were several doors off this main hall. One by one all the doors were opened. Revealing a kitchen, den, office,dining room, tea room, a small ball room, and two servants quarters. Realizing there were two more floors above them, they all climbed the great staircase. Hermione gave a slight air of disgust, running her hand along the dusty banister.

" Yuck!" Ginny remarked, watching Hermione furiously wiping her hand on her jeans.

The staircase opened up to an open air grand hallway on the second floor. By his eyes, Draco counted 16 doors.

" Split up!" He said to everyone behind him, " Check 'em all!"

Quickly they disbanded. Each one opening doors. After the first few, Luna came to two large wooden doors. The doors were ornate with several large eyes encircled by a rope of snakes. Cautiously she opened it. The door creaked in an eerie sort of manner.

" HEY! you guys!"

They all came running.

It was a large multi-leveled library, which extended up to the 3rd floor of the house. An iron railing lined the upper balcony, which ran the entire diameter of the room. Several large windows, going from floor to ceiling, let lots of light in, making the room feel like you were high up in the sky. As they entered, dust began to kick up from their feet.

In the center of the room was a grand table, on which a family coat of arms was engraved. A shield with a crown in the center, surrounded by thorns, dripping blood. The table was surrounded by many wooden, ornate, velvet chairs. Without a word, the each went to a different part of the first level. It was fairly quiet, until Luna started sneezing.

Suddenly Ron cried out, " JACKPOT!"

Draco sprinted to the other side of the room. " whoa!" Ron yelled as Draco, taking the book from him, nearly ripped his arm off.

Everyone crowded around as Draco threw the book onto the table. It was bound in green leather, the snake on the cover was curled up in itself. Opening the very old book, slowly, you could hear the binding, crack and snap. The first page was mostly empty, except for a few small words

The Serpent's Cross

by Maribertium Pertanken.

Turning through the pages quickly, Draco got a depressing look on his face.

" I can't...I can't read any of this." He said, flipping back and forth in the book. " It's in something I don't recognize.I have never seen this type of writing in my life."

He was right. It looked less like a language and more like someone tried to write with their feet.

Harry turned to him, " It's not that bad, " Harry was lying," Don't get frustrated yet"

Hermione grabbed the book, bringing it very close to her face.

" Wait!" she said loudly, " I know this. I've seen this before.It's an old dialect, barely used anymore. Hard, but with the right books, I could translate this!"

Without a word Draco cross the room quickly to her, raising his hands to the sides of her face, he kissed her deeply. Deeper than even the first night they kissed. When he pulled away, he left her quite dizzy.

He smiled at her, " you are wonderful Hermione Granger!"

" Aww!" Ginny whispered, Harry only able to hear her.

" Thanks!" Hermione said, she was blushing so much, she felt her face get hot. " But don't celebrate yet, I am not sure how long it will take."

" It's ok. Don't break your head over it!" Draco said, still holding her.

Harry, in the moment, took Ginny into his arms, kissing the tip of her nose. Her eyes closed, enjoying the kiss. Opening her eyes, she smiled at him, staring deep into his eyes. She could get lost in them forever. Her eyes refocused, catching the reflection of the upstairs balcony. There she saw a man, who was staring right back at her.

" Ha-Harry!" She grabbed onto the collar of his coat, stammering.

Harry looked at her, raising an eyebrow, " Gin?"

He started to ask what had given her this spooked look on her face, when she whispered, " Harry! The balcony behind me!"

Seeing the danger in her eyes, he quickly flicked his eyes upward then back down in a blink. He swung his arm around her and turned his back to the man, making it seem like he was still not noticed. It was obvious he was sent there for information, or they would have all been dead already.

Looking up he caught Draco's eye, trying to give him enough of a look to prepare him, but not make him freak out. Draco looked at Harry's expression, catching something was off. Taking Hermione's hand he turned to her and said, " I could use a vacation. What do you think?" She was about to answer when he pushed her behind a great pillar. At that very moment Harry turned around, pointing his wand and yelling " STUPEFY"

Everyone jumped behind something as a bolt shot towards the man on the balcony. He was quick to Dodge it though. Harry ducked behind the table. Peeking up, he couldn't see the man anymore.

" Who the hell is that?" Ron said, a little too loudly.

" They named me Marcus but they great one calls me Tuxian." sounded a voice from above. "I am here on orders from the great one. And what things I will have to tell him about his bastard of a son"

Draco could feel his blood boiling again. He went to leap forward, except Hermione had a rather good hold of his coat.

" Yeah well you tell that son of a bitch I have his book! See how he likes that information" Draco yelled up at the man!

Tuxian began to laugh, " My boy. How foolish of you to think there was only one copy of that ever made!"

Draco's heart stopped

" I send your father your regards. Oh and by the way, pretty girlfriend you got yourself there. I'll make due to mention that as well!" Tuxian laughed again

"Draco!" Harry yelled from behind the pillar, "Draco!"

Looking to the left he saw Draco's head poking around a bookshelf, tightly embracing Hermione.

" I think he's gone Harry!" yelled Ron, from an unknown location.

Quickly, grabbing Luna, he ran to Draco and Hermione. Harry and Ginny followed close behind.

" I think it's time to go...!" Luna said, her voice trembling

" We can go to.." Draco started, but Harry quickly put his finger to his own lips, reminding everyone they weren't sure if they were alone or not.

" Hey Ginny!" Ron said, slightly winded, " Remember those cookies we made that time, poogle's?!"

They all looked at Ron, thinking he must have hit his head somewhere along the way.

" Yeah?" Ginny replied, slowly and unsure of what was wrong with her brother, " so what?"

" Where did we make those?" Ron asked her

" Oh that was at..." She trailed off, looking at her brother smiling at her. She caught on, " Of course!'

Grabbing a hold of Harry and Luna, who were closest to her, they were gone in a POP.

Ron reached out, taking Draco's hand, grinning from ear to ear.

In a heartbeat they landed on their asses, in soft, wet, sand.

" So..", Ron said, " Hope you guys like the beach!"

They were standing on a great beach that went on for, what seemed like, forever. The deep blue ocean roared in front of them. Behind them, however, was a quaint little cottage, equipped with a little white fence. They all started to walk through it, which, in sand, was easier said than done.

" Ron, where are we?" Hermione said, looking about.

" A few years ago the Ministry gave away several vacations to top workers. Mostly Austria, Japan, Africa, places of interest. I was still little, I believe it was Fred and George were first years actually. Well anyways, Dad won one and well, we all crammed inside this place for two weeks one summer. " Ron said, opening the gate in the fence.

" Okay" said Harry, confused still, " but where are we?"

Ginny sped up next to Harry, taking his hand and kissing it she said, " We're in York beach love,...America"

A/N I had originally ended this chapter when she sees Tuxian. But I wanted the next chapter to end when they got to the beach house. Looking over the two chapters they were going to be itty bitty tiny ones. to I just threw them together. loves- Dazen...where are my reviews people?