The Best Laid Plans…
Chapter 9
Draco stood in front of the mirror, frustrated with his wet hair. He had cast a warming charm on the room, and was trying to get his hair dry and in order, but without the massive amounts of styling product he normally had at his disposal.
Most recent orphans would not take the time to worry about their hair, however Draco was a Slytherin. His grief for his mother's death was slowly gnawing at his heart, but now was the time to present a stellar impression and make allies.
He had stood under the hot water and allowed himself to cry one last time. Now he was wiping off the foggy mirror and staring at his reflection. The jeans fit well and required very little transfiguration. He hadn't yet buttoned up the oxford, and was surprised at the quality of the fabric. His light hair hung limply to the bottom of his chin. He had an overwhelming desire to cut it all off.
The long locks of Lucius. Privately, he had always thought that a man's hair should never look better than his wife's. His father had crossed that line before Draco was even born. Anything to not be reminded of that man when looking at himself.
Sighing, he decided that a haircut would have to wait at least another day. He quickly finished drying his hair, and buttoned up his shirt. Looking down at his feet, he wiggled his toes and wondered if bare feet would enhance the little lost boy look he was going for.
As he opened the door and entered the hallway his heart made him realize, unfortunately, that the little lost boy routine was going to come to him easier than he had thought.
Four Weasleys and a Potter stood outside the study room door.
Actually, three Weasleys and a Potter were standing, the girl Weasley was lying down with what he could identify as an Extendable Ear running under the door.
"Gin, what are they saying?"
"Hush, Fred, I can't hear with you talking!"
At the sound of his footsteps, Draco quickly found himself with four wands at his throat.
"Bugger it mates, Harry, Ron, lower your wands," the twin on the right commanded.
"No," Potter retorted.
"Now," the twin on the left said, swinging his wand around to point at Potter and Ron. "You heard Mum said no hexing in the house."
Actually, what Molly had said was no hexing first in the house….and neither Fred nor George felt like explaining to their mother how quickly she had been disobeyed.
"How many more of you are there?" Ron asked, his wand hand twitching from where it now dangled at his side.
"Of whom do you speak?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Enemy Slytherins that are suddenly going to show up on our side."
"By my calculations, at most two. We've always questioned Blaise Zabini's loyalties to the Slytherins, and Pansy."
"Pansy?" Potter asked, shock in his voice.
Damn Gryffindors – can't hide an emotion to save their life.
"Yes, Pansy Parkinson. She questions. Everything."
"HUSH!" whispered the Weasellette from the ground. "I think they're coming."
She scrambled to her feet, shoving the thin string into the pocket of one of the twins.
"Ah, I see everyone is here, well come on in," Remus stepped back from the doorframe and allowed the teens to enter.
Hermione sat next to Severus, looking quite pleased with herself.
"Sit down, and listen closely," the Headmistress announced.
Ginny moved over to sit next to her mother, while the boys glared at Draco as he carefully crossed over to sit in the empty seat beside Severus. Harry, Ron, Fred, and George stood, flanking the doorway.
Blocking the exit, Draco thought darkly.
"We have discussed it and come to a conclusion," Minerva continued. "Everyone had someone representing them inside this room."
"What about Hermione!" Harry asked.
"I am of age, and represented myself," she answered, giving him a small smile.
"And us?" chorused Fred and George.
"You're also of age," Molly said, her voice weary. "In fact, I don't seem to have any children left."
"Sweetheart," Arthur murmured in her ear, patting her on the arm. Ginny grimaced at the tight grip her mother had on her.
"Fred, George – we will present you at the meeting next week, and you both will be allowed to become full fledged members – "
"Professor! Should we be talking in front of him?" Harry shot a glare towards Draco along with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Mr. Potter! Cease your interruptions," she replied sharply, "and you two – stop whooping!"
Fred and George tried to calm down, the excitement on their faces betraying how serious they knew this was.
"Harry, you and Hermione and Ronald will be allowed full access to the library here, the one at Hogwarts, and to anything you need for your mission. However, in lieu of telling the entire Order, Hermione has agreed that each of you will tell one person to help you with your search."
Harry narrowed his eyes at his bushy-haired best friend, and barely noticed when Ron asked his question.
"Do we get to choose who?"
"Yes," Hermione answered, "I chose Severus."
"Harry? Who do you chose?" Ron continued, having expected that as soon as the suggestion was made.
"SEVERUS!"
"Harry – we need his knowledge of the Dark Arts!"
"Fine," Harry said, his anger evident. "Then I chose Remus!"
"Me?" Remus looked at him warily, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop, "are you sure you don't want one of the twins? Or Ginny?"
"Don't give him ideas!" Molly implored. "Ginny's too young."
"No I'm not," she muttered quietly to herself.
"It's dangerous," Harry said, dismissive of Ginny's words. "Now, Ron, your choice. Which brother? Or, even both twins?"
"No."
"No?" Hermione asked, having fully expected Ron to go with either Fred and George (and would have agreed to both), or Remus. But the Harry had surprised her. "Tonks instead?"
"No," he said calmly, "I choose Ginny."
"NO!" Harry and Molly shouted at the same time.
"She's almost as good as 'Mione in the library, she can cast spells, charms, and hexes as well as most 7th years, and she's as loyal as either of your choices, if not more so."
"But Ron, it's going to be dangerous – " pleaded Harry.
"I know," he looked down at his little sister, "and she's family and my friend. I trust her."
"I won't let you," Harry face clouded over with a rebellious look.
"I'm sorry, mate, did you say you won't let me? I must have misheard."
"It's too dangerous for a girl," Harry countered, trying to convince Ron.
"Humph!" came the disturbed snorts of Hermione, Ginny, and surprisingly Minerva.
"Listen mate," Ron grasped Harry's upper arm in his hand, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "She's my choice, and I'm not going to change it. Save the anger for our enemies."
After seeing a slight, although sullen, nod of his head, Ron relaxed his grip.
"Very well then," Minerva took back over, "that's settled and you can begin this afternoon or tomorrow. As for the rest of the plans. It has been decided that Draco and Ginny will remain here over the summer, protected, with Professor Lupin and Hermione, Ronald, and Harry. There simply isn't any where else that isn't dangerous."
She gave Harry an apologetic glance.
"As for sleeping arrangements," she continued, "We don't think it's safe for anyone if the boys share a room. Or if certain people are left alone in a room."
"So I'm leaving!" Tonks shot everyone a gleaming smile.
"Leaving?" Fred (or George) asked.
"Going home to me' flat. That'll free up the adjoining room to the girls."
"You want us to move down?" Ron asked, skeptical that his mother had agreed to Harry and Ginny having adjoining rooms.
"No," Hermione answered, reading his thoughts. "Ginny and I will move in there and share a bed. Severus and Draco will share our bedroom."
"You're going to let HIM sleep next to them?" For the first time in a few days Ron started sputtering.
"I'll be there," Snape spoke up for the first time. "And I will ward the door shut myself."
"Have you all gone barking? Like we can trust him – "
"HARRY! I can HEAR you!"
"Sorry Hermione," the green-eyed savior of the Wizarding world mumbled, looking for all he was worth like a chastised schoolboy.
"You were saying, Headmistress?" Hermione turned back towards Minerva.
"Draco and Ginny will be allowed to take lessons this summer from myself, Severus, and Remus. Once Ginny's OWL scores arrive, she'll be tutored in the appropriate subjects. Both will go ahead begin their summer studies in NEWT level Potions, Dark Art Defense, and Transfiguration. And – Hermione has assured me that you three will be ready to take your NEWTS on-time, if not early."
She paused to look around the room, her gaze stopping on Draco. She turned to address him.
"Mr. Malfoy, you will be interviewed by Aurors Moody and Tonks. They will be releasing only the facts that you are safe and innocent to the Ministry. They'll say the information came from our spy still inside the Death Eaters. Severus and Nymphadora have agreed to take you in a few days to your home to pick up what you wish."
"But the wards are set to only allow family to enter – oh…"
"You mother reset the wards after your father went to Azkaban to always admit me," Severus explained.
"And I'm family." Tonks punctuated her words with a sudden hair dye job – the solid black long locks bringing sick looks to both Draco and Harry's face. Harry saw Sirius in front of him, while Draco couldn't stop seeing Auntie Bella.
"Tonks…" Remus carefully admonished.
"Sorry 'Arry, and you too, Draco." She turned her hair back to her "normal" short bubblegum pink.
"As for immediate plans," Minerva continued, "after lunch everyone here can begin working in the library, or helping set up one of the upstairs bedrooms as a classroom. Except Arthur who will be heading back to the Ministry, and I am needed at Hogwarts."
"Actually, Minerva," Molly began, "the girls and I won't be here for a couple of hours this afternoon."
"COR!" squealed Tonks and Ginny.
"But Mrs. Weasley? I thought after Dumbledore – "
Hermione was cut off by the look Molly gave her.
"No," the resident Mum said, "Albus specifically told me this was important to him. Since he knew his end was coming, I have to believe he intended for us to follow through."
"Follow through with what?" Harry asked.
"It only affects Ginny, Hermione, Tonks, and myself," Molly answered. "We'll be spending a bit of time in Muggle London, right after lunch."
"Then who's coming with to protect you?" Ron questioned.
"No one else, we're going alone."
"Like bloody hell you are!" Severus bellowed, slamming a fist on his knee and shocking the others in the room. "Hermione's not leaving this house without security and neither should the rest of you! You'll take along at least four of us for safety!"
"Severus Snape," with eyes narrowed Molly stood and advanced on the younger man. Whipping out her wand she pointed it at his chest. "I wasn't admitted in this Order because I can roast a lamb and bake a pie, you ruddy pig-headed chauvinist. Tonks is an Auror, and I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself and the girls."
Hands clenched, Severus remarkably kept his mouth shut. Draco thought he could see Hermione's fingers applying gentle pressure to Snape's forearm.
"Now, I have laid out a butty spread, and there are bags of flavored crisps on the table. Lets eat lunch like civilized wizards and witches."
A turn on her heel, and Molly led the way through the door to the kitchen and dining room.
"I've never heard your mother curse before," Harry said in awe to the rapidly emptying room.
"Eh? Mum's a right foul-tempered bint when someone insults her. Where did ya think Gins got it from?" Fred supplied.
"Besides," continued George, "that wasn't nearly as bad as she got the night Charlie and Bill offended her by trying to keep her out of some loop of Order information."
"Come on boys," Ginny called from the doorway where she had returned, "Mum made fairy cakes and biscuits for afters."
Hermione gently guided Severus into one of the corners of the dining room, her voice low next to his ear so only he could hear her.
"I'll talk to Molly, but please, trust me. We are going into Muggle London – but the destination is a trustworthy witch."
"It's not safe out there," he stressed.
"Albus arranged this. It's as safe as it can be, I promise."
"What is it, exactly?"
"I can't tell you; not even Arthur knows. But the four of us have gone once before, and we'll most likely go again. And it's safe. I'm asking you to trust my judgment. Go sit down and I'll fix you up."
He let out a sigh of defeat, and moved towards the table, sitting down at one end next to Remus and Tonks.
Draco watched from his seat next to Ginny and the empty chair between him and Snape.
Two bread rolls, sliced cheddar, ham, exactly three pickles per roll.
He had spent many a lunch growing up with Snape at the Manor – he knew well enough exactly how the picky Wizard took his butty. Yet even after hearing Hermione was actually Taioyu, it hadn't quite sunk in like it did seeing her fix the surly man's meal without double checking with him.
All the way down to the pile of plain crisps and a sliced apple from the fruit bowl.
She laid the plate in front of her betrothed and her own at her place setting, and moved back as Severus stood to pull out her chair for her. He never turned to look at her, engaged in a conversation with Tonks and Remus about how long they would have to wait to take Draco home to pack things.
Draco noticed she wasn't upset at what most girls would consider being ignored, but sat down, tucking her napkin on her lap and smiling at Ginny beyond him, and Ron and Harry sitting opposite them. He also noticed how after she finished her glass of pumpkin juice, Severus poured her a glass of water – just as she had at every meal in the Great Hall at Hogwarts for the last six years.
"Okay, boys, I think the two of you should start with making lists of what we do know about our – mission." Hermione began.
Harry and Ron let out twin sighs; there came Miss Bossy-Know-It-All.
"Draco will likely end up with the twins carting books and such from school upstairs to the temporary classroom," she continued, ignoring her friends. "I imagine Severus and Remus will want to supervise. When Gin and I get back we can go over what you have written, and talk to all three of our choices at the same time, explaining the mission."
"Mione," Ron stopped her with his hand. "Can we relax for an hour? Over lunch?"
"Fine," she huffed, "talk about Quidditch! I have more important things to worry about."
She turned her back on her classmates, falling right into the adult discussion on the other end of the table.
"Quidditch, now there's a brill topic," Harry set the conversation in motion.
Draco was attempting to balance a healthy bit of disinterest at the teens talking, while still listening very carefully to their dissection of the sport. It really was too bad he wasn't going to be playing Quidditch for Slytherin ever again – as between the Keeper, the two ex-Beaters, the Seeker, and the Seeker/Chaser, he had a much clearer understanding of their strategy.
"The Sweetwater All-Stars won their game in four days – and would have lost if the Quiberon Quafflepunchers hadn't kept Haversacking," Harry said during an exposition on common penalties.
"It was a five day match," Ginny corrected.
"Four," Harry argued.
"Five, Harry," she repeated.
"I think I know Quidditch," Harry retorted.
"Then you should know it was five days," she bickered hotly.
"Gins, don't argue with him, he's read Whisp's Quidditch Through the Ages as many times as Hermione has read Hogwarts: A History," Ron counseled his sister.
"Then Potter should know the Weasellette is right, the match lasted five days," Draco interjected.
"Thank you, Ferret," the vindicated girl replied, leaning back smugly in her chair.
"Anytime," he countered, mirroring her smug look.
"I'm surprised," Harry sneered, "I would have thought after a year away from Quidditch would have made you rusty."
"Name the time and place, Potter."
"After lunch, then."
"Not to be a bringer –" began Fred.
"of bad tidings, Harry," continued George.
"But how do you intend to play – " asked Fred.
"Quidditch without a full team?" finished George.
"Quick Seeker Quidditch," Draco answered.
"Do fill us in!" Fred and George leaned forward on the table.
"It's played with a single snitch – and as many Seekers as can fit on the pitch. First one to catch the Snitch wins a point. First person to five points wins."
"So just the two of us?" Harry's face took on an evil grin.
"Three," muttered Ginny, growing a bit tired of being overlooked yet again.
"Weasellette's right, there are three of us who are trained as Seekers. And someone will need to act as a referee."
"Stop calling Ginny that!" Ron stabbed his knife towards Draco.
"It's okay, Ron," Ginny soothed him. "The Ferret knows his limits."
"Ron," Hermione called from where she had stood, "help me and your mother clear the table."
"Fine," the lanky redhead grumbled, gathering his, Harry's, and the twins' plates, while Hermione picked up her own, Ginny's, Draco's, and Severus' empty dishes.
"Ferret?" Ginny asked, turning to the blond beside her, "What's your favorite pro-Quidditch team?"
"Likely the Falmouth Falcons – they're known for brutishly cracking skulls," Harry answered for Malfoy.
"The Ballycastle Bats, actually," he corrected his nemesis with a superior smile.
"Oh!" Ginny squeed, reminding everyone at the table just how much of a teenage girl she was. "I just LOVE Barny the Fruitbat!"
"Fred – George, come here," Hermione's call from the kitchen drowned out Harry's response to that tidbit of information. The twins dutifully rose to heed their friend's command.
Harry, Ginny, and Draco sat quietly. Draco was hesitant to push his luck, either with Ginny or Harry. And Harry was just pissed and stewing.
"Okay, mates, Fred and George are going with the girls for protection," Ron announced, dropping the plate of fairy cakes and biscuits on the table.
"Go grab what you need, Ginny, so we can head out. Your mum said we need to leave in the next few minutes," Hermione said, following Ron and the food back into the room.
"Oi!" Ginny scrambled out of her seat. "Is our bag still packed?"
"Yes," Hermione crossed to the door, Ginny following her. The boys listened to the last few bits of conversation as they headed up the stairs. "I think I stuck it in our wardrobe, Tonks said she's got her stuff here so she won't have to go back to the flat."
"Blimey," Fred sighed, plucking a chocolate covered fairy cake off the plate for himself and another for George. "Always stuck with the hard tasks."
"Where are you going?" Remus asked the twins.
"Crikey Remus!" George answered, "Mum's making bangers and mash for dinner, and said if we told she twasn't givin us any to take back to our flat."
"You're selling us out for food? What ever happened to Wizards sticking together?"
"Show us a Wizard that can cook like Mum, and we'll spill all."
"Boys…" a firm cuff on the ears brought their attention back to their mother who was standing right behind them. "Tonks, hurry up dear."
"Yes, Mrs. Weasley," she leaned in to kiss Remus on the cheek before heading up to Ginny and Hermione.
"CHIVVY ALONG GIRLS!" Molly called up the stairs. A thundering of footsteps heralded the arrival of the girls on the first floor. Through the doorway, those remaining at the house could see Tonks, Ginny, and Hermione were dressed in similar muggle clothes.
Long sleeved T-shirts and trousers, along with sandals, and hair wrapped into matching buns at the nape of their necks. Tonks had extended her pink hair to below her shoulders, so it would tuck in neatly. Hermione's hair was attempting already to escape from its confines, and she smiled sweetly at Molly who was charming it to stay in place.
Most shocking was how young Molly looked standing beside her daughter and the other two women. Dressed in the same muggle clothes, her red hair tied in a bun like her daughter's, she looked like she could have been Bill's twin, rather than their mother. She carefully sheathed her wand up her sleeve and waved into the dining room at the table.
"We'll be back in about two hours, Arthur dear. Please behave, boys." The matriarch opened the front door and ushered the younger women outside.
"Yes, boys, please behave," echoed the twins sarcastically as they stepped into the Muggle world, pulling the door shut behind them.
"So," Harry asked, staring at Draco, "Quick Seeker Quidditch?"
"No –" Remus rolled his eyes, levitating the empty afters plates into the kitchen. "You and Ron head to the library. Mr. Malfoy will help Severus and I set up the classroom."
"Is Granger the boss of everyone?" Draco asked, staring at the grown men, and practically grown men, at the table.
They looked around at each other.
"Actually, I'm not sure Hermione isn't," Ron conceded, pulling Harry towards the library.
"She won't be telling me what to do." Draco said to Remus and Severus confidently.
"And when you feel the brunt of her displeasure," Severus answered, "don't come to us for sympathy."
"But, WHY?"
"We all have our roles, Mr. Malfoy. Severus makes potions – we wouldn't dare argue with him on that. Molly cooks and hexes. I'm able to communicate with dark beasts. Ron can plan six steps ahead of anyone else. Fred and George are whizzes at developing new protective and offensive gadgets. Harry – well, Harry's good at not dying when facing Voldemort."
Draco shuddered at the speaking of the Dark Lord's name.
"And Granger? I mean, Lupin?"
"She's the thinker, the planner, the one with all the knowledge and the ability to keep it all straight in her head. She knows her limits, Draco," Severus explained. "She only hasn't reached those limits yet."
"You both seriously trust her completely?"
"With our lives," Remus answered for both of them.
"Now, let's get this classroom organized," Severus said. "I had hoped to avoid teaching ever again."
"At least you won't be stuck with dunderheads," Draco offered.
"No, but a Gryffindor is almost the same thing."
"She'll keep up," Draco commented, exiting the room.
"Did he give Ginny a compliment?" Remus asked Severus in disbelief.
"I swear that boy can charm blood from a stone."
"This is going to be one bloody summer."
A/N: My beta is back from Italy and finished this chapter for me as soon as she got off the plane. Normally I would wait until Sunday/Monday to post, but rather than force ya'll to wait another four days – here ya go!
Also Rarely do I comment on reviews. And even more rarely do I comment on those people who dislike my stories and tell me so, but really if you are going to leave a multiple-paragraph review on how much you dislike my story, at the very least get the facts correct. I've NEVER called Hermione a pureblood, in fact, the whole point (as one can refer to in the third paragraph of Chapter 3, Curios) is that Severus made her magical AND muggle relatives happy, because he was also part-muggle. :steps down off ranting stool and puts it away: