            Hermione shook her head as they followed her into the dark kitchen. "I don’t think it’s wise to use the wand outside of emergencies," she said, glancing at the long, Applewood wand in his hand. "We still don’t know if the Ministry is tracking you. Besides," she said, as Sirius strode over to the sink window, "I felt the wards still in place. The house is unplottable, and the only people who know...knew the location are gone. Not even Harry knows." She glanced sideways at Lucius and found him staring back at her with calm, unnerving eyes. He stood in the open doorway, ignoring Sirius as he continued to examine the other two windows in the room. "Yes?" Hermione snapped, raising one eyebrow. Lucius opened his mouth, before clamping it shut with a smirk. He rolled his neck, cracking it, then strained against his bonds as if asking her to free him.