The Perfect Plan

Chapter Nine

The Perfect Plan

The Morning After

~*~~*~~*~

She opened her eyes to a familiar sight. Feeling the presence of someone behind her, she turned. It was Chayse, he was sleeping soundly. She looked around the bed. The curtains were drawn and inside was dark but she could tell from the light that crept over the top of the bed that it was morning already, perhaps even early afternoon. She turned over completely and looked at him while he slept. Soon, if all went well, he would be her little brother. She had always wanted a brother but that was near impossible seeing as her mother had never even looked at another man besides her father.

Chayse stirred but didn't open his eyes; she held her breath using everything necessary to make sure he stayed asleep. He had had a hard two months and it was finally going to pay off. He deserved his sleep.

Before long they would be the proud owners of two parents again and this time they'd stay in one place. They would be brother and sister and the greatest part of that would be - she would be older. "Little brother, I like the sound of that," she mused tucking a few stray strands of hair behind his ear.

"As great as that sounds," she heard and jumped out of surprise, "I prefer Astie better."

"You're awake? I didn't know you were awake, you should have said something."

"Of course I'm awake I always get up early, you know this. Besides, the others in this room had to get ready this morning for Hogsmeade and they did not hold back on the noise factor. Apparently, they're going to bring me some kind of a surprise when they get back. I'm looking forward to it actually."

"I think I should get back to my dorm. Spending most of Saturday in uniform is not exactly my idea of a good start to a weekend."

"Good idea. I'll meet you by the lake in two hours. Maybe we could find something to do."

"What about homework?"

"Finished it already."

"Really? I'm only half way through."

"Well then it looks like we have something to do already. I always enjoy work in progress."

She hopped off the bed and opened the door. "See you in a bit." Leaving the door open, she sprinted down the stairs and walked the rest of the way to the tower.

***

It took a while to open her eyes due to the intense beam of sunlight that penetrated through the window. When she eventually opened her eyes it took another long while for her to figure out where she was, again. It wasn't a room in her house. It wasn't the room she was staying in either. Where the hell am I?

Then last night's events flooded back into her memory. "I have to go, I can't be here I have to go."

"Hmm, what?" She jumped. Lying next to her was Malfoy and his arm was wrapped firmly around her waist. What have I done? she thought. She tried to move her hand but her fingers were interlaced with his. Carefully she removed her hands without waking him up. He wasn't a heavy sleeper and he had already asked her a question but had dosed off again so she had to be careful.

The room was bright as if after noon and she traced the ground for her clothes and found the shirt Malfoy had given her the night before.

I have got to get out of here. She opened the door quietly and stepped outside closing it behind her. She buttoned up the shirt and walked along the corridor searching in all the rooms for the one she had slept in the night before but she couldn't find it. She turned a corner and bumped into the same frightening man that she could only guess was the butler.

He scanned her up and down in her 'outfit,' with scrutinizing eyes before speaking. "Good morning Madam, I trust you had a peaceful sleep," he said sarcastically.

"Um." She tried hard not to sound guilty but the fact of the matter was that she was guiltier than sin itself. "Yes, it was great!" she blurted out before realising how it sounded. "I mean, I - it was peaceful, yes, very peaceful."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Good day madam," he sighed and rounded her to walk away.

"Um, Alder. Excuse me but - this might sound strange but - you wouldn't happen to know-."

"Excuse me miss but this has been a trying day and I have things to do."

"Of course, of course. Um - I was just wondering-."

"The bathroom, madam, is down the hall and the fourth door on the left." He turned rudely and began to walk away.

"No - that's not-," she tried calling after him.

"And your bedroom is two doors opposite," he called knowingly as he walked down the stairs.

She followed his directions and found her room dressing quickly. She had to get out of there. She couldn't wait to get home and take a long scolding hot shower. Somehow showering here was not as effective and only made it worse.

"Where are you going?" came a voice from the door.

She jumped for the second time. This house was getting to her. From creepy paintings and killer butlers to sleeping with the owner, it was all too much.

"I have to go. I can't stay here any longer."

"So, you're just going to run away, again." He put all his weight on the door frame.

"I didn't run away, Draco, I walked. You said you had to keep your promises to her family, so I let you go. I loved you so much that I had to let you go." She watched his reaction as he scoffed. "Don't give me that, I didn't force you away you did that by yourself. When I left, your friends told me - no ordered is more like it - they ordered me to stay away, so I did. I left to leave you in peace, but even so..." she laughed mockingly.

"Even so what?" he asked angrily.

She shook her head. "Never mind."

"You say that a lot and it's bloody annoying. Finish what you were saying. Even so what? You ran off without a trace, without a letter, without... without as much as a goodbye!"

"Oh - piss - off Malfoy! I may have walked away, Draco, but I gave you plenty of time to come after me!" She stared at him for a long time and he became silent, in words and expressions.

"I could have left for you, I loved you but he's my son. I couldn't leave him."

"I understand you know. She was pregnant, Draco. How could you have left a woman pregnant? Even you aren't that selfish. She was having your child. You cannot tell me that you would have left her and him for me. Well, would you? Knowing what he has become, would you really have left him alone if you could go back and change it all?"

He hung his head. "No," he said to the floor.

"I didn't think so. Think of his life Draco, your son. He needs a father, one that can be there for him. Personally, I think you made the right choice. It was a hard decision I know, believe me. It took a lot of strength for me to leave but I did because I knew that if I were around you that your choice would falter, it happens, but we dealt with it."

"Last night-."

"Last night was a momentary lapse of judgement, one that won't happen again because we cannot think of ourselves anymore. We both know this."

"We seem to know a lot of things, Ginny." She sighed heavily and walked past him onto the corridor.

"I can't love you anymore because it only causes problems. I learned that a long time ago. I have to convince myself that they don't exist just like I have been doing for so long. It's the only way."

He scoffed. "They've worked well for you," he said sarcastically as they passed his room.

"The things that I felt last night will never be brought to the surface again, Draco. I haven't felt like that for a while and I don't intend to feel them again anytime soon. I don't know why we keep getting dragged together like this but I have nothing to stay here for anymore so I'll have to go." He watched her descend the stairs.

"How, pray tell, do you intend to get to the station?"

"I'm sure I'll find my way. I have an excellent sense of direction."

"Sure you do. No, despite recent events I promised you I would take you back to the station and I will, just let me get dressed."

***

{~~ One Week Later ~~}

"I hope you know how much I am sacrificing for you." Ginny turned to her daughter as they walked behind the other two men leading the way through the park.

Cordelia looked at her mother. "Mum, please just try to get along with him. This means a lot to me and I don't want anything to go wrong."

"Nothing will go wrong I can promise you that much. Just as long as his father stays away from me, I'll - everything will be fine."

"Don't worry mum, he won't touch you." As much as Ginny had repeated that to herself, somehow hearing those words from someone else suddenly made her feel a little miserable. She shook it off as they crossed the street. They followed them up the wide pathway to the house, this time entering through the front door.

The same man with the broad shoulders opened the door as they walked up the three wide steps. The children entered first, practically running through the door. Ginny took a little more time and almost shrank at the look the man was giving her. He then glanced behind her and fixed his face to a smile when he settled back on her.

"Welcome home Sir. Miss Weasley," he half bowed his head and closed the door behind them then walked off towards the living room.

"You didn't have to do that you know," she said once Alder was gone feeling relieved.

"Oh so you want him watching you like that, well that's fine I'll remember it for next time he's around." He walked through the hallway towards the library.

Without thinking she followed him. "I don't think he likes me."

"Ignore him. It's really me this has to deal with. He just doesn't like the idea of me breaking my promises." He entered through the doors and went upstairs to the balcony. Ginny remained below and looked up when he came to the edge.

"Hmm, when are we leaving?" she called to him.

"As soon as your daughter finishes Chayse's tour. He'll know where to find me once he's ready."

***

"Cool, this is your room?" Cordelia looked around. "Damn. I knew you were spoiled but this is ridiculous!"

"I am not spoiled!"

She looked at him in a scrutinizing way. "Sure Chayse, whatever." She went and sat on his bed. "This house is fantastic. I wish I could live somewhere like this."

"You can, you can and you will."

"Let's not go ahead of ourselves. My mum just told me to keep your dad away from her so she'll behave. In hind sight I don't think this was such a good idea."

"Well, too late. We will get them together and they will fall in love if it kills them."

"Don't say that, I don't need another dead parent. Come to think of it, neither do you." They both laughed.

"Well, ready to go? All of the things we need are in our bags and those are already at the cabin so we can't do much planning now. Shall we?" he held out his hand and Cordelia took it.

"Yes, let it begin." She took a deep breath and walked down the stairs with him. "Where are they?"

"Well I don't know about your mum but I know where my dad will be."

***

"You have a lot of literature books, by muggle authors which is even more surprising," Ginny said scanning his collection more carefully.

"Why is that surprising?" He peered over the balcony to look at her.

"Well, I never thought you would read these kind of things - oh Merlin's beard!" she said shocked.

"What?"

"You have Shakespeare?" she laughed.

"So?" he said defensively.

"Nothing." She shook her head and continued along the line. Just then the door opened. Ginny looked to her left towards the door and saw Cordelia walk in followed closely by Chayse who walked straight up the stairs to find his father. Cordelia walked straight over to her.

"Have you been behaving?" she said quietly

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I should think so. Where have you been?"

"Upstairs he was showing me around. I met this very strange looking man. I think he was the butler."

"Alder," Ginny said drifting her head back to the bookshelf.

"Yeah that's right. How did you know?"

Ginny's eyes went wide. She didn't think much of knowing the butler's name. "Um - I was introduced just after you both ran up the stairs by the prick extraordinaire."

"Mum," Cordelia said in a hushed tone.

"What," she said defensively. "It's true, the guy's a jerk. I hope you've made the right friend because if he's anything like his father - Oh great Merlin," she interrupted herself.

"Mum? Mum what is it?"

I sound just like my mother. Oh no. "Just please promise me you won't get emotional with this boy. That's all I need."

"Eew, mother please! That's disgusting!" she screwed up her face.

"That's exactly what I want to hear from you every time I bring that up. Continue with what you were talking about." She turned and pulled out Macbeth from the large collection of plays in the bookshelf. "Who would ever think the man has taste in literature," she said to herself but Cordelia heard her.

She smiled as Ginny scanned the pages. "Um - well their bathroom is huge. Oh and you should see his father's bedroom -." She stopped as her mother promptly shut the book and shoved it back into the bookshelf.

"Never mind, I don't want to hear anymore. When are we leaving?"

"Now," said a voice above them.

"Good, let's go." She ushered Cordelia to the fireplace and watched as both her and Chayse flooed to the cabin.

"Nice save," she heard as she grabbed a handful of powder.

"What?" she said.

"To avoid knowing the butler's name. Oh, and you do realise you sounded just like your mother when she met me don't you?"

"Urgh. Please spare me I'd rather not do this right now."

"Are you not going to tell her?"

"No! Are you crazy?" Her interest peaked though when he raised his eyebrows. "Do you plan on telling your son?"

"If he wants to know then yes I'll tell him. No point in lying to him, he's a smart boy he'll probably figure it out for himself anyway." He looked at her amazed expression. 'What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

"Fine, I'll see you on the other side."