Ashlynn and Sirius stood wrapped in a hug, Ashlynn's head resting on his chest. Today was the day that Ashlynn was being escorted by Remus and James to France along with Aludra. It had been a surprise when Alice and Lily had been last minute additions to the group. She had been getting nervous for two days and now doubted her decision to leave. Yet she knew there was no time to change her mind as Alice and Lily were already waiting in Lille for Aludra and herself.
Sirius kissed her softly on the lips and smiled. "Don't worry love; I'll be in Lille to see you in one week. I promise." He said as he closed his eyes. Inside he was dying he did not want to risk Ashlynn or Aludra by letting them travel. Yet with this week coming up he felt it was better for her to be out of the country, out of harms way. The Order of the Phoenix had a plan to find and take down most if not all of Voldemort's Death Eaters. The one flaw in the plan was the fact the school would only have the heads of houses that were to be locked away in the common rooms and the teachers patrolling the hallways. Ashlynn and Aludra would be at risk so it was best that they would be out of England.
Remus entered the room and nodded. "It's time Ashlynn." He said softly looking at the couple with envy. They were so much in love and no woman would look at him because of his furry little problem as Sirius called it.
Ashlynn pulled away from Sirius without a word and nodded. She grabbed up the bundle that was Aludra. She turned to Sirius and forced a smile. "You stay safe while I'm gone you hear me?" She demanded fighting back the tears that were close to spilling over. She could not believe she was acting like this but she knew the mission he was going on would be dangerous.
Sirius smiled and came closer to his wife. "As long as you do my love. Keep Ally safe okay?" He asked softly. He wanted to pull both of them to him and give then one last hug and kiss but he knew he couldn't or he'd never let them go.
She nodded quickly trying to hold herself together. "I love you Black." She whispered trying to make her voice sound normal and light.
"I love you too Malfoy." He said with a wink. "Owl me as soon as you get there."
Ashlynn nodded and then turned on her heel she smiled at Remus. If she had not turned away, she would have stayed no matter what anyone else said. "Are you ready?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
Remus nodded with a smile. "Do you remember the plan?" He asked with a small smile. They had gone over the plan for a week now and he knew Ashlynn had it down pat.
"Yes we go down to the Hogs Head, from there we apparate to Poole to the home of Edgar Bones. There he will show us the muggle way across the English Channel by something called a fairy. Once we are on the other side we meet up with Alice and Lily from there we apparate to Lille where Jullien will take over from there." She said with a small smile.
Ashlynn who was not sure she could apparate such a distance was the reason they had to add in the muggle way of travel. It did not bother Remus or James to be traveling that way as neither of them were positive they would apparate the distance either.
Remus nodded and smiled. "Let's get going then." He said with a smile.
Edgar Bones was a pleasant man that greeted everyone with pleasant hellos. They had one hour to get situated and make it to the port. "Ashlynn follow me so you can change in private." Edgar said with a smile. Once in a small room she saw a set of muggle clothes on the bed and a polyjuice potion sitting on the nightstand. "Once you're done just come down to the living room. We should be ready."
Ashlynn smiled and nodded. "Thank you, it's very nice of you to help me get to France." She said softly.
Edgar shook his head waving off her thanks. "I want to keep as many people as safe as possible. Plus Sirius is a good friend of mine." He said with a smile and then quickly shut the door.
Once she had fully changed into the muggle woman Edgar had chosen for her to morph she looked in the mirror. She was a black haired woman with blue eyes in her mid thirties. She was wearing a black pair of slacks and a pale blue shirt with a matching cardigan. With one last sigh, she made her way down to the living room.
There three unknown men stood staring at her. Ashlynn smiled as one held out Aludra whose blanket was no longer twinkling with the stars she had charmed. She had not realized how through the Order was being just to make sure the two were not taken by Death Eaters.
"Gather around." Edgar said he was an aging bald man in a very black formal three-piece suit. Ashlynn moved closer still holding the silent baby trying to guess which one was James and which one was Remus. "Now we are going to leave the house in two groups. James and I will go first as brothers Peter and Paul O'Conner." He said pointing to the other balding man who looked closely like Edgar who was dressed in a blue three-piece suit.
"How will we know where to go?" Ashlynn asked suddenly.
Edgar smiled and looked Ashlynn. "The O'Conner's are very tall and we will walk slowly. Now you three are the Andrew, Elizabeth, and their daughter Angela Smith. Just popping over to Cherbourg for a bit of Sunday shopping." He said as he gestured towards Remus who was a brown haired man with brown eyes. He wore a nice pair of dress pants and a button down red shirt tucked in.
Edgar then handed Remus the tickets. "There's a pram just outside put Aludra in that." He said with a smile. "Now wait two minutes before leaving through the side door." Edgar said and then James and he walked through the front door.
"So wife you ready to get going?" Remus asked with a smile. "Remember to smile we are a happy family."
Ashlynn nodded. "Like this?" She said forcing an unnatural smile.
Remus laughed and shook his head. "You're very odd Ashlynn." He paused and then said. "I mean Elizabeth Smith."
"Come along Andrew." Ashlynn said with a smile and the two made their way out of the house through the side door. Just as Edgar had said there was a pram waiting for them. Ashlynn laid Aludra down and Remus began to push her through the small alley.
As they made their way through Poole on foot, Ashlynn was lost in her thoughts. She milled over leaving Sirius for so long, she wished he had given in to her begging and had joined her on this trip. She felt lucky that Lily and Alice would be with her though. Cherina had been more then delighted that they would be joining Ashlynn on her trip. Edgar had bought the Smith family a cabin so that Ashlynn and Aludra would be out of sight with Remus to defend them inside. James and Edgar would be keeping guard in the lobby that was the only way to get to the cabin.
Ashlynn looked around alertly though she thought this was the best way to travel, as most would have expected brooms or Floo powder she was still nervous. She was risking her child's life and that thought scared her. Remus gently touched her shoulder and she jumped a bit. "It's okay Ashlynn." He mumbled. "Soon you and Al will be tucked safely away from prying eyes."
Ashlynn nodded and bit her lip harder then usual. As they made their way onto the boat, Ashlynn could not help latching onto Remus' arm. Remus once again smiled reassuringly at her and then turned to the little man bobbing by his arm. "Cabin A9 is just off the lobby to the left." The little man said after glancing at the tickets. "Enjoy your ride."
Remus nodded and smiled as he pushed the pram through the lobby where James and Edgar were already seated in reclining chairs nearest to the hallway. Ashlynn relaxed a bit as she was steered into the cabin. "You look exhausted." Remus said with a small smile.
Ashlynn nodded slowly. "I didn't get much sleep last night; I was too worried about this trip." She answered stifling a yawn.
Remus smiled and patted her shoulder and pointed one of the twin beds in the room. "Why don't you take a nap? I'll take care of Aludra." He said with a smile. He had been spending more time with Aludra then James had because he knew he would never have his old children.
Ashlynn smiled. "Are you sure? I can stay up." She said softly.
"No no. We still have a lot of traveling to do you might as well take advantage of the two hour boat ride." Remus said with a smile.
Ashlynn nodded slowly and then made her way to the twin bed. She had not been laying down for more then two minutes before Remus heard her light snores. He laughed as he picked up Aludra. "Your mums a bit crazy Al." He murmured as he walked over to the other twin bed.
Alice and Lily watched as the boat pulled up to the dock. They were not sure what the others looked like but they kept watch for a couple with a black pram. Both had been escorted here by the Prewett brothers, and Edgar who had apparated back to his house before the boat had even docked fully. It seemed that he had done the same because Remus and James flanked the witch who was pushing the pram.
"Over here!" Alice cried waving her hand.
Ashlynn's nervous face broke into a smile when she saw her best friends wearing much the same outfit of her except in different colors. Fabian and Gideon moved closer to their wards. Ashlynn hugged both girls and smiled. "How was your trip over?" She asked softly.
"Wasn't too bad when these two were on their best behavior." Lily said pointing her thumb at the Prewetts.
James glared at Fabian who loved to flirt with Lily just as much as Gideon loved to flirt with Ashlynn. Of course James did not take it in stride like Sirius did and it had caused some problems when planning this trip. "He better not have touched you." James grumbled.
Lily shook her head. "He was a gentleman in that sense." Lily said forcing a smile.
"We should get going to our safe house." Fabian said suddenly he disliked like being exposed in open daylight as they were now. "I'll lead the way."
Soon they were in an old storage house that smelled oddly of cheese and eggs. Ashlynn picked up Aludra and handed her to James. Ashlynn hated knowing she could not do the side along apparition and that she had to depend on someone else to transport her daughter. It had helped a bit that her godfather would be the one who would transport her though.
"Everyone ready?" Gideon asked with a small smile.
"Yes." The group of five answered.
"Then on the count of three. One…two…three…" And with that the six adults spun in place and apparated.
"Impressive." A heavily French accented voice was the first thing Ashlynn heard once she felt her feet on the solid ground again. She opened her eyes to see the familiar face of Jullien Reyes. Of course, he had changed since Ashlynn had last seen him but it did not change the fact that she found him a bit attractive. Shaking her head, she smiled and moved towards him.
"Bonjour." She said.
He waved his hand. "Please, I know the rest don't speak French we can speak English." He said with a smile.
Ashlynn smiled and nodded. "Jullien this is Lily and James Potter, Fabian and Gideon Prewett, Alice Longbottom and Remus Lupin." She said pointing to each person. "Everyone this is Jullien Reyes."
"Hello." Jullien said with a smile. "Who all is coming with us Miss. Ashlynn?" He asked.
"Just the girls. The men will be going back as soon as we are on our way." Ashlynn said with a smile.
Jullien nodded. "Ladies. Madame. Potter, Madame. Longbottom, please follow me." He said. "We received your things last night so we don't have to worry about them."
Lily and James were already saying goodbye and Alice was holding the baby. She came over and smiled. "Hello Jullien it is nice to meet you." She said holding out her hand.
"Enchanté Madame. Longbottom." He said with a smile as he pressed her wrist to her mouth. Alice giggled and pulled her wrist back as fast as she could politely. With a smile, he turned to everyone and said. "I believe ladies it is time for us to get going. We don't want to keep Lady Cherina waiting nervously."
Lily nodded and pulled away from James. The four men watched as the women got into the large car. Jullien smiled at each of them before starting the car. Lily turned around in her seat just in time to see the men apparate back to the ferry. Somehow, in the car she felt a lot safer, who would believe that they would be driving a car?
Three hours later the car turned onto a gravel pathway and towards the large gate with a stylized D and L that were monogrammed on the front gate. With a smile, she knew she was home, she had always loved being at Château De Lenfent more the Malfoy Manor as the Château was a much more peaceful and light place. "It's good to be back." She said to Jullien.
Lily and Alice gasped at the beautiful scenery leading up to the huge house. "It's so beautiful." Lily said as Jullien chuckled. He was used to people's reactions to the Château but Lily's childlike awe had entertained him.
When the car finally stopped Ashlynn got out slowly with Aludra in her arms. Before she could even get her bearings, Cherina took Aludra out of her arms. "What a darling child!" She cried in her French accent.
Ashlynn laughed as Alice and Lily exited the car. "Grand-mère." She said with a smile. "How are you?"
"Fine now that this little angel and you are here." Cherina said with a small smile. Finally she looked up smiling at the other two women, turning she looked at Ashlynn expectantly.
"Grand-mère these are my friends Alice Longbottom, and Lily Potter, Alice, Lily this is my Grand-mère Cherina Theon." Ashlynn said.
"It's a pleasure ladies." Cherina said with a smile. "Jullien will show you two to your rooms. I assume that you're tired and would like a nap before dinner."
"Ladies this way." Jullien said and Alice and Lily followed him.
Cherina smiled at her granddaughter. "Here take your princess back. You darling know where your room is. Just so you know there's now a nursery off the side of your room, and Jeannette will be acting as the nanny while you attend some functions."
Ashlynn sighed. "Grand-mère you promised no functions. I am not a high society person anymore. I'm in hiding here no ones suppose to know we are here." Ashlynn cried unhappily. "Plus this trip was so you can meet your great granddaughter."
Cherina waved her hand and smiled. "Fine I'll cancel the functions just so I don't upset you. Why don't you go and lay down I can tell you're tired from your journey." She said with a forced smile.
Ashlynn smiled and nodded. "Before I go lay down how is Grand-père?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"He is well today, resting as of right now as he can't wait to host the dinner tonight and meet Lily and Alice and of course his darling Aludra." Cherina said with a small laugh.
Ashlynn smiled and nodded. "I will see you at dinner then. If you excuse me." Ashlynn said and then made her way to her old rooms. The rooms that had once belonged to her mother. She had remembered her first summer here at Château De Lenfent. She had only been ten before her mother had past it had been her own mother to show her the room. Now this was the one place Ashlynn could feel close to her mother.
With a sigh, she laid Aludra in the bassinet and then laid down on the queen-sized bed. Her last thought as she covered herself up with the thick light blue quilt was. 'I wish you were here mama.'
I'm not happy with this chapter and i reworte it twice just so you know the story will be picking up again with some action in the next chapter. Once again your reviews are also welcome and they help me keep motived. Thank you - Lena Knight