Draco got up. Days had passed since first they had pitched camp. Whilst his cot bed was wonderfully warm, outside it was slightly chilly. Keen to get some fresh air, Draco got up and went for a walk outside. The tang of the cold air in stark contrast to the fuggy tent, bit into his face waking him up more effectively than anything else could have done. The sun was just peeking over the horizon, its velvety rays showing up in the thin mist that filled the forest. It was almost as if there was nothing wrong with the world, just like he was back at home, as he had the last few months, getting up early to get the papers. Well, there wasn't any reason he couldn't go and get them, was there? After all, he'd paid for his subscription, he may as well get the most out of it.

Draco apparated north to the tree where his impromptu letterbox was. Once more he began the tricky procedure of climbing the tree. Jump, legs around, swing and grab. Pull up and stand. Then Draco slipped, with an athletic jump, he managed to grab hold of another branch with no reward for his troubles except a scratch which felt like it was bleeding. Never mind, that could be sorted out later, onwards and upwards. Well, there we go, another week's worth of papers. That long already? Well, just as well he was here, not much room for any more, any longer and the owl would be having trouble. Draco picked up the papers and shoved them under his arm. Well, there wasn't much point in jumping down- he might as well apparate all the way back. Now, couple of D's, never mind about the licence - apparating without a licence would be the least of his troubles, and at any rate, he'd done it once today already. Now, here's hoping he didn't miss his way back.

Before long, Draco was back. The tent was around here somewhere, but that didn't matter much now, did it. Suddenly Draco heard voices, one sounded slightly crackly. And another, exactly the same. Draco dived into under a nearby hedge. Great, even more prickly, but who could it be? Surely they hadn't been found already? Well, if Harry had said the word Voldemort by accident, then it was always possible. Draco listened in to the conversation, desperate to try and find out anything he could.

Well that was no use, they were goblins speaking in gobbledegook, Draco thought as he spied on them from his vantage point in the hedge. Soon they had gone. Hmm, not great. Slowly Draco crawled out from under the hedge and dragged his newspapers with him. Where was everyone else? Now, he'd set off in the morning from over there, that's the way to go. In the distance he heard a faint calling. Was that his name? Could someone be calling for him? Draco carried on walking forwards and was suddenly hit full on by a flailing mass of arms which squeezed him into a hug.

'Where'd you go? We haven't seen you all morning.'

'I went to get the papers.' Said Draco, showing her the mass under his arm by way of proof.

'Where have you been you're muddy and cut. How do you get that from fetching the papers? And why didn't you tell anyone?'

'I'm sorry- I thought you lot would be sound asleep- you were snoring your heads off when I left.'

'Hm.'

Behind him Draco heard a noise of someone blundering through the undergrowth. He span round, wand at the ready.

'Bloody hell, put that away, mate.'

It was Ron.

'HARRY, WE'VE FOUND HIM!' Ron bellowed.

'Great idea, there's goodness knows who in this wood and you announce our presence to the world.'

'Yeah, but it does get Harry back. I said you could look after yourself, didn't I? I said he'd probably just gone for a walk or something. But no, we had to go looking for him.'

'Alright, calm down, Ron. Read the paper or something.'

'But we haven't got any. Oh. So that's where you went.'

'Yes. Hello Harry, you take these two. Let's head in.'

'What on earth for?'

'Well, there newspapers, right. There has been a major change of regime recently, hasn't there. So, if we find today's, that'll have some clues in it about what we should do. Anyway, you never know what you can learn from reading the paper.'

'You can when it's the Prophet- absolutely nothing. At least the Quibbler doesn't pretend to be serious.'

Back in the tent they sat down around the kitchen table and started to read. Draco had the most recent copy.

'Harry- one for your scrapbook here.' Draco said, showing the massive photo of Harry that was plastered over the front page, along with the caption Undesirable Number One.

'Thanks. Anything on why I'm undesirable?'

'Well, have you looked at yourself in a mirror lately? Sorry, too good to resist. Let's see. Surprise change of policy...new minister...ahh, here we go. For crimes against muggles including whole body inflation of an aunt.'

'Who'd have guessed it? You done in by them for cruelty to muggles. Well, there's only one thing to do.'

'What's that?'

'Ignore it of course.'

'Guys.'

'Hermione?'

'Would you shut up for a moment? I think I've found something.'

'What?'

'Well, if you give me a moment I'm getting to it, aren't I?'

'Let's see. The audit of Gringotts bank has been completed by wizards William Weasley and Arthur Price. A complete list of everything stored in the vaults of the bank at this time has been submitted to the Ministry for evaluation. This annual report has gathered some controversy this year as it contains for the first time the detail of high security vaults, the pure-blood community has been outraged by this, which it describes as an unwarranted attack on traditional freedoms. A ministry spokeswitch, when asked for a comment, said that the ministry does not disclose any details and that the lists were being kept under protection in the record vaults of the ministry itself.

This does not engender any confidence in a ministry that has suffered several break-ins by dark wizards over the years, and whilst the vaults have been untouched so far, their position on the third floor next to the maintenance office hardly engenders much confidence in the system.'

'Great, but aside from a fine appreciation of a well-read third-rate piece of hackery, what are we supposed to get from that?' Ron asked.

'They've taken an audit of Gringotts. We've already decided it's a reasonably likely place to find a Horcrux –we just didn't have any way to find it before now.'

'You're not suggesting what I think you are, are you? You are, aren't you? You want us to break in to the ministry and steal from their vaults to get some information so that we can plan a raid on Gringotts. We've been a bad influence on you, Hermione. What happened to that nice girl- wouldn't say boo to a goose- we met for the first time on the Hogwarts express, who wanted nothing more than to find a toad?' Harry asked.

'Who says that she ever existed?' Hermione replied, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

'Can't say I've ever met her.' Draco said, earning himself a wallop from Hermione.

'Ow, what was that for?'

'You just said I wasn't a nice girl.'

'No, I just said you weren't a girl who wanted nothing more than to find a toad.'

'Oh.'

'You wanted to boss people around.'

'Do you enjoy being hit?'

'Erm, not really?'

'Good.' Thwack. Hermione hit Draco again, this time straight to the cheek.

'That'll leave marks that will.' Draco said rubbing it.

'Never mind- the ministry. How do we get in, how do we avoid being detected, how do we get into the vaults and how do we get out again?'

'A ghost could get in and out pretty easily. Anyone fancy becoming a martyr for the cause?' Ron joked.

'Maybe later.'

'Suit yourself.'

'Well, assuming we're keeping the dying to a minimum, how are we going to do it? I can't think of many places more dangerous for us than the ministry at the moment.'

'Well, we'd have to use disguises, that'll help won't it?'

'Yes, if I take my cloak as well that'll help to, but how to we even get into the vault. Do we know anything about it? Who built it?'

'Nothing. Senior ministry officials have access, I think.' Said Ron, 'Dad had to get something from there once and had to get permission from the minister himself.'

'I don't think we're going to get that somehow? Do you?'

'No chance. The big question is, which official are we going to impersonate?'

'Which official? So, you don't reckon we should all go in?'

'Not really, I mean, it'd be a bit obvious if four people were going to try and do it, wouldn't it? Far easier if only one person goes in- less to go wrong and less to lose if it does.'

'I suppose so. Who should we impersonate?'

'That's the tricky bit. It'll have to be someone who has access, won't it? That limits it severely.'

'Yeah, and I don't think we should impersonate the minister either- far too senior, people would notice him if he's somewhere he's not expected to be.'

'Yeah. That's a right nuisance, that is.'

'True. I've got a suggestion though.'

'Go on.'

'For the moment, I reckon it'd be the sensible thing to sit back, and read some newspapers- there's going to be loads on the change of minister in the prophet. If we can find out a bit about who's in, we might not even have to worry too much about investigating the ministry itself.'

'OK. Start with the ones we've got here?'

'Good a place as any.'

They sat in silence, reading, the only noises to be heard being the occasional sound of birds in the trees and the rustle of the newspapers.

'Have a look at this, Draco. Looks like your Dad's got his old job back- listen to this "The ministry has announced the return of Lucius Malfoy to the post of Permanent Secretary to the Minister for Magic. Forced to resign in disgrace due to a plot by Albus Dumbledore, Malfoy has been declared innocent of all charges and welcomed back to his former position."'

'Well, bully for him.'

'Hang on, this gives us a way in, doesn't it? Draco, have you ever taken an ageing potion?'

'No. Why?'

'I've just had an idea.'

A month passed. The invisibility cloak was heavily used by Ron to "borrow" some potions ingredients from an apothecary in Diagon Alley. It was a nuisance, as they could only steal one ingredient at a time, but before long, Hermione had all she needed to start brewing. Soon the tent was filled with the smell of decay associated with the ageing potion. Every day it approached completion, but still Hermione wouldn't tell anyone what her plan was. Then, one day, she did.

The next day Draco was up and about before dawn, unable to sleep because of nerves. He padded outside in his bare feet and went for a short walk, he reached the stream and gave his face a wash. This was going to be fine. There wouldn't be a problem. There was nothing to be nervous about.

Draco was only halfway back to the tent before he threw up. Maybe there was, Draco admitted to himself as he headed back inside to get a drink and have a quick shower. It wouldn't be long, and by the time Draco was dressed again, Hermione stood waiting for him.

'Well, are you ready?'

'I suppose.'

'You know what you have to do, right?'

'Of course. Do I look like I've got a memory problem?'

Hermione looked slightly hurt at this.

'Sorry, It's just I'm a little nervous about this.'

'Only to be expected. Stick to the plan and everything'll be okay.'

'I know.'

'Well, off you go. You've got plenty of time- non need to rush, just act casually.'

'See you, Hermione.'

'See you, Draco. Good luck.'

Draco pulled Hermione into a tight hug before turning around and leaving. The doors of the tent had barely shut to behind him when he apparated.