Original Work by Mysteria Wilson

Chapter Fourteen – In Need of a Friend

*Narrator*

The brown haired woman drew the collar of her coat around her neck, trying her best to hide her identity. As it wasn't very cold, she did attract the stares of some people in Knockturn Alley but no one stepped to the former Mrs. Malfoy.

Astoria was certain people were still talking about her and she desperately wanted to keep her name out of the papers until she had succeeded in her plan. She didn't care that his second wedding was splayed all over the papers and on the cover of every magazine. The Malfoy heir and his blushing bride. There hadn't been this much press when she tied the knot but because it was that mudblood, all the world suddenly took interest.

She ordered several copies and burned them all in the fireplace of her manor home. The home he bequeathed to her in the in a gesture he considered sincere and gracious. But she knew he did it to torment her. To leave it to her as a reminder of the home they shared and all the memories of his time there. She wanted to destroy the home but knew better. It would only draw attention to her. Everyone would see her as a mad woman, a scorned lover. But that wasn't her at all.

No she was the victim, in a murder most foul. And the killer was Hermione Jean Granger.

As Astoria walked into the bar, she quickly scanned the bar before locating the person she sought tucked away in the corner booth. He appeared to be attempting to drink away his sorrows, not looking like his distinguished self any longer.

His face held a few days' worth of stubble, his platinum blonde hair cloaking his face. The bags under his eyes made him appear mad. But she was hoping he would be mad enough to assist her in her climb to the top of society.

She took the seat across from him and removed her coat and scarf. He didn't glance up from his glass but knew who she was.

"Can't a man wallow in peace anymore?"

"I need your help. I'm sure you know by now that Draco and I are no longer together, he ousted my transgression and brought about disgrace to my family name. Now what do we plan to do about that?"

Lucius swirled the glass of firewhiskey, looking into the amber colored liquid.

"I went to his wedding, you know. It seems that Narcissa has chosen to leave me for greener pastures as they say. The night before the wedding, right during dinner. She tells me that she is leaving and I have forgotten who she was before we married. I told myself I wasn't going to attend but I couldn't stay away. I needed to see.

"They didn't notice me but there was happiness in the air. Genuine happiness was emanating from them as they spoke their vows and the binding spell. And the glow of their rings was much brighter than when you and he were married. He looked at her with such love adoration. I haven't seen anything like it from Draco, ever." He smirked looking at Astoria through slotted eyes.

Lucius truly wanted his son to be married to the likes of a pureblood family like the Greengrass family. All his life, he thought he knew what was best for his son, for his own family. But as he sat alone, in a seedy pub, filled with others tettering the rock bottom line; he knew that everything he thought and believed was wrong. As he slowly sipped his drink, Lucius told Astoria, "I plan to do nothing except enjoy this and live out my days alone. I have lost everything of value because of the deal I made with your family."

"And we can get it all back. We just need to find a way to remove that mudblood from the situation. I know that you have something dark and sinister churning around in that hidden vault of yours. Don't forget you were the one who gave me the potions in the first place!" Astoria hissed.

"And I have regretted it. You knew the contract would be voided if you didn't provide a legitimate heir. We had a plan and you should have stuck to it. I made all the arrangements. All you had to do was drug him and then brought in the other woman to take the potion. She would have slept with him and would have carried his seed. I would have kept her hidden away until the precise moment. That was the plan but you ruined it. And now you come to me asking for my help once more. I'd think you know better. But then again you actions have proven you're not exactly bright.

"Now if you will excuse me, I would like to enjoy my drink in silence."

Seeing that Lucius wouldn't assist her any longer, Astoria prepared to leave. As she made her way to the apparition point, a hand shot out and pulled her into the shadowy alley. Clammy hands clapped over her mouth, muffling her scream. She was dragged into a back room of what appeared to be a dark arts shop. The stranger plopped her down in a chair and suddenly the room was basked in a dim light. Astoria withdrew her wand and sent out a stunning spell. It rebounded off the wall and hit something but she couldn't tell what.

"It's seems we have a common enemy, Mrs. Malfoy."

Astoria chuckled. "Haven't you read the papers? I'm not Mrs. Malfoy anymore."

"But you want to be. And I can help you."

Astoria looked around, trying to place the voice when the owner emerged from the shadows.

"You're that Weasley fellow all the Aurors are looking for. They said you tried to kill Draco and his mudblood whore in the Shrieking Shack."

Ron smiled as if he had something to be proud of. "That is true. I also murdered Pansy Parkinson. But that neither here nor there. My associate overhear you in there with you father in law. You have a plan to get rid of Hermione and get back in Draco's good graces. I would like to help you." He took the seat across from her.

"And why should I trust you? Why shouldn't I alert the Aurors?"

"Because you want Draco and you want to get rid of Hermione. I have the perfect way to do both. Only problem is, my plan calls for three people and as I am short a person, I figured you wouldn't mind replacing her."

Astoria weighed her options. If she enacted her plan on her, there was a great chance she wouldn't succeed. But it was clear that Ron held a deep seeded vendetta against Draco and Hermione. With Ron assisting her, Astoria figured she could have him do all the work and if things went south, he could take the fall.

"Fine, let's say I do go along with your plan. What do you get out of it?"

"I get to see that whore get exactly what she deserves."

Astoria shook her head. Ron was clearly not understanding her question. She had much experience making deals in smoky back rooms. She knew that no one ever did anything without expecting some kind of compensation, usually of the monetary value.

"What is it that you want?"

Ron leaned forward in his chair and asked not for money but a plae to stay. "Nott and I share Pansy's old cabin but her corpse is beginning to haunt the place so we are in the market for cheap room and board.

Astoria mulled it over. as much as she hated to admit it, she was lonely in the huge manor. Walking down the hallway at night, her long shadow was casted on the walls making it feel like ghosts were following along with her.

"You can stay in the West Wing. Now what's your plan?"

Ron sneered and brought over Nott before revealing his plan. Astoria helped him work out some of the kinks. They were confident that their plan would work especially since Astoria had a secret weapon.

"Lucius had a vault hidden in his study, a place where he hid a lot of his dark arts things when the Ministry would come by for their raids. I happen to know that he has a large supply of potion ingredients we can use to recreate the potion he gave me."

"Perfect, because Nott here is an excellent potion master."

AN: Any ideas as to the plan Ron has concocted?