Explanatory Plans

Elizabeth Tanner

Money is the only important thing in life. I never had much of it… I was poor as a child. I used to pick garbage up off the streets and try to sell it. I guess you could say that even as a child, I had crazy money-making schemes within me.

I am a pureblooded witch, and I attended Beauxbatons. Draco Malfoy was someone I'd heard about—even in school. A friend once told me he was so rich that people bowed at his feet and respected him more than anyone.

I wanted to live that life. I wanted to have respect, servants, gold toilets… and I wanted it badly. So, I did what anyone would do: I formulated a plan to make his life mine.

I stayed in close contact with all my schoolmates. Fleur Delacour, in particular, was my best friend in school and out. During our last year of school, she became romantically involved with Mr. Malfoy.

It was the annual wizarding school ball. We were assigned a dance partner from another school. I ended up with Harry Potter—and I didn't see what was so special about him. But anyway, Fleur hit the jackpot… Draco Malfoy.

She gushed over him endlessly after the dance. She arranged to meet him once a week and things grew from there. One night stuck out in memory….

"Eliza…" Fleur was crying when I walked into our dorm room.

"What's wrong?" I asked, sitting on her bed.

"I'm… I'm pregnant." She sobbed. "I'm going to have Draco's baby!"

From that moment on, I knew what I could do to get rich fast. I would convince my delusional, hormone-crazed friend that Draco Malfoy was a monster. She would, of course, eventually dump him, and when he was depressed, I'd charm him and win his heart.

Let's just say that my plan worked out perfectly. It took a few years—and another pregnancy—but I got what I wanted. I introduced Fleur to a very attractive man and I knew she would fall for him. Then I sent an owl to Draco and told him that Fleur was cheating on him. He caught the pair together, and he turned to me with his thanks and sorrows.

Everyday I saw Stella and Luna and I got angry. They were reminders of Fleur and her happy-go-lucky life. I didn't want anything to do with her after her ended marriage to Draco. I especially didn't want anything to do with her children.

Ginny Weasley was my replacement best friend. Ginny had changed a lot since school, apparently, and was no longer the kind, sweet girl-next-door most remembered her as. I found out through friends that Ginny was secretly dating Blasie Zambini in school, and when he humiliated her in front of everyone, she changed for the worse. She no longer trusted anyone, and she became desperate and depressed. People with problems are so easy to manipulate! I befriended her and told her about my plan to get rich.

Since Draco was friends with Blasie, she felt no remorse for Draco and wanted revenge. Also, she told me that Draco was cruel to herself, her brother, and her friends in school. Ginny had motivation to manipulate Draco Malfoy. She, of course, used to be friends with Hermione Granger, that hideous little nanny. Ginny thought twice about the plan when she heard about Granger. So, I made up a little tale about something bad Granger did and spoon fed it to Ginny. I can't remember what the story was, exactly… I lied so many times a day that it became difficult to keep track of.

Before long, Ginny hated Hermione, Draco, Fleur, Stella, and Luna. When Stella failed to drive Granger out of the house, I had to formulate another plan. Ginny and I kidnapped the girls. We kept them in a cave in the Forbidden Forest for four days. We charmed their memories to forget the whole ordeal. When we got our ransom cash, we let the girls go and rushed home.

Draco didn't know about Ginny. He didn't even know that my friend that always came over was Ginny Weasley. I told him her name was Jenny Smithers, and he bought it. I don't understand how, because her red hair was still reminiscent of a Weasley's. She grew into a different-looking person, I guess.

I thought the ransom money would be enough. But after splitting it 60/40 with Ginny, I realized how easy this was. I wanted more. I wanted so much money that it would be disgusting. I wanted to be a Malfoy.

What easier way to do it than to actually marry him? I thought about it... it was tempting. I'd be a very rich and powerful lady. All the newspapers would write articles about my "Cinderella" story. I would marry someone who had been the "Most Eligible Bachelor" even while he was in a relationship! And to end my scheme, I'd break it off with him and break his fragile little heart.

Money was the most important thing in my life. The more I got, the happier I was. I guess some might say it was sick and twisted, but if they felt the rush I felt when gold poured into my hands, they might understand.

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"Elizabeth!" Draco stormed angrily into my room. I was brushing my long, silky hair. The comb I used was gold-plated and a priceless antique. It was the finest possession I'd ever owned.

"Yes, Darling?" I drawled.

"You lied to me!" I wondered what he was talking about.

I gave him a blank stare.

"You told me the girls never came back to the manor!" He yelled. "But they did! Stella and Luna both remember coming here after the boat left the dock!"

"Are you sure their memories weren't tampered with?" I asked sweetly.

"They were tampered with… but that's the last thing they remember." He continued. "Just answer this: did you lie to me this morning?"

"No." I said sternly. "Maybe they came back here, but I didn't see them… Jenny was here, after all. I didn't hear them or anything, but that doesn't mean they weren't here. I'm sorry I made my story sound suspicious, Draco."

His expression softened. "Sorry." He kissed me quickly, and I wished he'd do it more often. He never really showed much affection towards me.

Somehow, even though I was manipulating the hell out of him, I wanted him to. Show affection towards me, that is.

Author's Note: Thanks again for all the reviews! I hoped you enjoyed this glimpse into Elizabeth's head. She really is a complete bitch, lol.

NEXT CHAPTER: Hermione's POV. We learn that she ahs a secret talent she's been keeping to herself. There'll be some more internal conflict… she can't admit that she loves Draco! Well, thanks for reading!