Author's note: I'm warning you in advance, Ron is a bit OOC. I don't really like him in cannon, and I don't think I could work with him. I don't think I've changed too much, I've just made him slightly more tolerant of Slytherins. In cannon, he takes it to extremes, and that obviously doesn't work for this story. Hope you like it anyway! (Nope, still not JK Rowling. Sorry.)
3: In which Draco concocts another plan
They apparated away from Platform 9¾, Blaise and Weasley riding side-along with Draco and Potter. Draco had told them all before that their summer home was in a hidden location that they wouldn't be able to find by themselves until they'd been brought by someone who knew where they were going. Blaise could only hope that Draco was right about that. He would really hate having to be dependant on Draco to come and go: he was sure his friend would think of some truly outrageous price for the privilege of leaving.
Clearly Weasley had the same idea, because he looked hard at Potter. "So now we can leave whenever we want to?"
Draco shrugged. "You can. I wouldn't, though."
Weasley turned to scowl at Draco. "I wasn't asking you, Malfoy."
Draco shrugged. "I had the answer."
Potter put a warning hand on Draco's arm. "Dray," he said. "You promised to behave."
"True," Draco agreed. "Very well. Weasley, you are perfectly capable of leaving, but I wouldn't."
"Why not?" Weasley demanded.
"Because our secrecy depends on how little we use magic," Draco said flatly. "And we would really rather not be found."
Blaise sighed. "So we can't use magic?"
Draco shrugged. "We can," he said. "But it's probably not a good idea. After all, do you want your mother discovering us?"
Blaise winced. "Point taken," he said dryly. "No magic."
Draco grinned. "Don't look so sad," he said. "You'll see, even without magic, it's a fine place to stay." He led them into the house, which was obviously bigger on the inside than on the outside. Or, rather, Blaise hoped it was bigger on the inside. If not… well, they were going to more than a little cramped.
Thankfully, it was indeed bigger on the inside. Draco showed them proudly around, though it was clear Potter had been here before. Blaise nodded his approval as he realized just how much bigger it really was. If there was one thing they wouldn't have to worry about, it was being cramped. And then Draco showed them the bedrooms, and Blaise's heart sank. He shot Draco a black look as he took in the two rooms.
"I apologize," Draco said, with practiced insincerity. "The house isn't designed for more than two people. Three, if two of them like each other."
'Likely story,' Blaise thought grimly as Draco nodded towards the lefthand door. He'd been in enough wizarding houses to know that Draco would have been quite capable of adding another bedroom. His cursed friend had done this on purpose. He glowered at Draco, who only grinned.
"It's for your own good," the blond boy mouthed, his eyes bright with mischievous glee, like those of a very small child who has drawn all over the walls and gotten away with it.
"Youwill pay," Blaise mouthed back as he passed into the room. There was all of one bed. His scowl deepened. Weasley didn't look any happier.
"I'm sorry about this," Potter said, and he, at least, sounded like he meant it. "We didn't have enough time to get another bed."
Blaise only nodded, sorting through a list of ways to get back at Draco for this. One thing was certain: he wasn't going to let Draco get away with this unpunished.
"We'll leave you alone to unpack, shall we?" Draco asked, heroically restraining his manic grin.
"You do that," Blaise said darkly, not deigning to look at his so-called friend.
Potter and Draco left, closing the door behind them. Blaise was left alone with Weasley. Neither of them looked at the other, though Blaise would bet a lot of money that the tall Gryffindor's face was as red as his hair.
"How shall we work this?" Blaise asked at last, surveying the room as though he expected another bed to spring out of nowhere. None did, and he sighed.
"We don't appear to have a choice," Weasley commented grimly. "I guess we'll just have to deal."
"I suppose," Blaise said reluctantly. "Please remind me to murder Draco as soon as I possibly can."
Weasley blinked. "What?"
Blaise shook his head. "Never mind. Which side of the bed do you want?"
Weasley considered. "The window," he said.
Blaise nodded and lugged his trunk over to the opposite side of the bed. Without looking at Weasley, he sat down and flicked open the clasp. The trunk popped open, and he began to dig through it, searching for his travel potions kit. He grasped it at last, and a wicked grin spread across his face as he considered the ingredients carefully stored in the kit.
"What are you doing?" Weasley asked, as the silence grew longer.
"Considering which of these to put into Draco's dinner," Blaise answered. His hand hovered over a couple jars, but he eventually shook his head. "No good," he muttered. "He'll find those."
He stared down at his potions kit for a moment longer, then abruptly snapped it shut. There was nothing in there that would help him. With a sigh, he put it back into his trunk and dropped the lib back in place. He flopped back onto the bed, eyeing the ceiling moodily. What could he do that Draco wouldn't detect? An image of the two lovers snogging on the train came to his mind, and, slowly, a malicious grin spread across his face.
"What?" Weasley asked, looking suspiciously at Blaise. Blaise looked at the redheaded boy, and decided he could trust him.
"Promise you won't tell Potter?"
"I promise," Weasley said earnestly, his curiosity evident on his face.
Blaise eyed him for a moment, decided he was bring honest, and described his plan. When he'd finished, Weasley's eyes lit up.
"That is a fantastic plan," he said eagerly.
Blaise nodded. "Of course it is."
"When will you do it?"
"Tonight," Blaise said. "So they won't notice until tomorrow morning."
Weasley grinned. Despite himself, Blaise smiled back, doing his best to ignore then warmth that spread through him at Weasley's approval.