A CHANGE IN PLANS

J K Rowling owns all the rights to the books and the amazing characters she created. I write only to satisfy my imagination and use my creativity and make no money from my writings.

Chapter 1 – Waiting

It was almost over. Everything they had worked for, all of the suffering, abuse and humiliation they had been subject to would have been worth it as they were about to win and then reap all of the rewards that they were due. They would be the new rulers, the new movers and shakers. Some expected fame, riches and important positions in the new order. Others thought they'd have the opportunity to change the world to their higher moral way of thinking and mold it into what it should be.

It was so close and all they had to do was to wait a little longer and not get killed. They had to survive to get their well-deserved rewards but if all went according to Dumbledore's well thought out, carefully planned operation it should all be over in an hour. Everybody knew Dumbledore didn't make mistakes. If something didn't go according to his plan then it was only because he had been betrayed. But since the death of Severus Snape the last of the betrayers was dead. Now there was left just two more moves on the grand chessboard and victory would be theirs.

The pawn had been sent to his "death" but the Order members knew that he wouldn't be dying just the Horcrux contained in his head. Then he would be meeting the Great Albus Dumbledore in the afterlife and be sent back to finish off Voldemort because due to the prophecy (or was it a dark spell gone terribly wrong) only Harry Potter could kill Voldemort and vice versa. Harry Potter would kill Voldemort and then…well without the Horcrux in his head and Voldemort dead anyone could kill Harry Potter.

It was the next logical step that Harry Potter had to be killed. If a vengeful Death Eater such as Bellatrix didn't kill him for killing her Lord and by some miracle he survived then any surviving Order member would do it – and get the glory for killing the new Dark Lord as it was a known fact that whoever killed a Dark Lord inherited his power and position. That's what Dumbledore told his followers.

It had been Fleur Delacour who had questioned this pronouncement because since everybody knew Dumbledore had defeated the darkest lord before Voldemort, namely Gellert Grindelwald, he hadn't become a Dark Lord – had he? It was at this point that Molly Weasley had tried to seriously harm" the evil, disgusting half-breed whore for daring to impinge the honor of the Greatest Wizard since Merlin, the Leader of the Light and living saint Albus Dumbledore." But Fleur had better reflexes, had anticipated an attack and already had a shield up before asking the question.

Others actually thought about it for the first time such as Bill Weasley, Remus Lupin and others but Dumbledore (who realized what had happened) quickly told a dark secret. "I defeated Gellert and was bringing him to the Ministry so he could stand trial for his dark and evil deeds and imprisoned for life as you know I am a merciful man but at the last minute he escaped and fled. He didn't have a wand and during the attempt he ran into some Muggle military forces who shot him. He was dead but since a Muggle had actually killed him the Muggle couldn't become a Dark Lord since he wasn't a wizard."

Everybody had bought that explanation and was sworn to secrecy on their oath as a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Except for Fleur Delacour who although she assisted the Order had never became a sworn member because she didn't trust Albus Dumbledore. It was a wise decision. She had heard too many things about the man as his reputation outside of Britain was questionable and considering the way he ran the Triwizard Tournament proved to her that her father had been correct.

Also Dumbledore had allowed Harry Potter to be treated abominably throughout the entire fourth year and even commanded the Hogwarts staff to not protect the boy from all the slander and abuse he was subject to when all it would have taken was one statement by Dumbledore and the boy swearing on his life and magic of his innocence. But he had not nor had he protected the boy during the next two years.

No Albus Dumbledore was a wizard of dubious character and although she had gotten a job at Gringotts to "improve her English and to renew her acquaintance with Bill Weasley" she was also spying for the French Ministry. Granted she had fallen for Bill Weasley which she hadn't really expected to do. After their wedding she had found out she had been spelled to do so probably by a Goblin but by then it was too late. However, she absolutely refused to swear the Oath of the Phoenix and become a full-fledged member. She was merely an auxiliary member like Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout and Poppy Pomfrey who had been forced to become affiliated with the Order on command of their "boss" Dumbledore.

Fleur was waiting for the last battle. Since she wasn't a "true member" of the Order she wasn't told everything but that never stopped a competent spy. When the odious Ron Weasley had abandoned Harry and Hermione on the "quest" he had taken refuge at Shell Cottage to rest and recuperate. He should have returned home to the Burrow to the loving arms and care of his Mummy but instead came here. She asked herself why and then Bill who brushed her off with the excuse "he's probably afraid of Mum's wrath for leaving and not telling her."

He had then assured Fleur that "Ron will come to his senses and return to them after we fatten him up a bit and he's 'made his point' or whatever. Then he'll go back and be welcomed as a hero and Hermione might 'give him some' and who knows what Harry will do as he will be so glad to get back his only friend. He'll probably promise a Ron a reward – like a good broom – once this is all over."

Bill had laughed and Fleur smiled back as if to agree with his theory. However, she was seething inside again because of how bad the Weasleys (especially Ron) treated Harry when he was so good to them. She also knew the "real reason" why Harry had no other friends – because Dumbledore wouldn't allow it.

There was one good thing accomplished by Ron's staying with them. She could spy on him. She planted runes in his room and kept tabs in other ways. For instance she knew that probably one of the reasons he slept so much during the day was because he was sneaking out of the house at night. She put a tracer on his boots and found out that he was going to the Burrow no doubt to report in. He went there four times during his stay and two other places which she didn't know about.

Every so often Bill would go off to collect supplies. She wasn't "allowed to leave" except to attend Order meetings with Bill. On two occasions Ron was still asleep and she took the chance to stun him, dose him with Veritaserum and find out what was going on. She'd then erase his memory of it all. What she found out was terribly distressing. She'd would then go to the edge of their land and call for her personal house elf. Pepe was living in Britain as Fleur was not the only French spy. He received verbal reports from them and Fleur quickly gave her report so that he could take it to her father.

Once Bill had nearly caught her and she had to be more and more careful as although she did love him, he was still a Weasley through and through and she doubted that he really loved her. The way his bitch of a mother and nasty slut of a sister treated her before and even after the marriage was horrible. Bill obeyed his "Mummy" in all things and his sister was the "Little Princess" who could do no wrong even when she was acting dreadful to Fleur in front of Bill. The only thing he had gone against them was to marry Fleur.

The last time she had dosed the odious Ron she had asked about her and the real feelings of the Weasleys. She didn't like what she found out and reported to her father that very night. When Ron finally left she made a very nice dinner for Bill and served some good wine left over from a case which had been a wedding present from one of her relatives and which was sent after the wedding otherwise the Weasley clan would have claimed it and guzzled it down (or sold it if the Twins got to it first). She told her husband it was a night for romance and it was - after she dosed him with the remaining Veritaserum.

He did love her - he really did but - his Mother wanted him to divorce her after the war was won otherwise Fleur just might meet with an accident. Bill was "nobly" trying to find a way out of it as "She was his and always would be" and although he wanted her to live, well it was the case of the old "If I can't have you nobody can" spiel some men have used since the beginning of time.

Also he had only been "allowed" to marry her because Dumbledore had commanded it as even in death Dumbledore had plans which were to be carried out without deviation. Her father was a very important man in France and held a seat on the ICW as the French representative. He had never been a Dumbledore supporter and after his youngest daughter had nearly died in the second task of the Tournament, he had had a very disturbing conversation with Dumbledore when he met with the man to complain. It was a thinly disguised threat concerning the wisdom of voting the "right way" at the ICW assemblies. Dumbledore protected his followers, his allies and his protection – or lack of it – extended to their families.

Apparently Dumbledore thought he had "convinced Rene Delacour of the wisdom of siding with him" when he had "allowed" his elder daughter to get a job at Gringotts Britain and pursue her budding relationship with Bill Weasley. Fleur had played her part very well and had convincingly put up with everything thrown at her regarding Bill and their "romance and courtship" other than becoming a permanent oath-taking member of the Order of the Phoenix. She had been spelled not to join because then Dumbledore would truly have her in his clutches. Even the abominable treatment by Molly and Ginny hadn't swayed her even after being told that if she really joined it would all go away and she could marry and live peacefully with Bill because Dumbledore would command it and nobody in the Order would (or could) ever disobey him.

"But you wouldn't do it. You wouldn't see the Light and do just one simple little thing to prove your dedication to the Light and that you really and truly loved me" Bill had told her. "Because you wouldn't nobody trusts you and you will be treated horribly by Mum, Ginny and others until you prove your worth."

Finding out the truth had broken her heart but at least she knew exactly where she stood. She would have liked to ask him more questions but the Veritaserum Pepe provided her with had run out. She did find out that Ron would eventually come back here bringing Harry and the Mudblood (which he always called Hermione behind her back) with him and that would mean the end of the war wouldn't be far off.

That same night as Bill slept soundly she contacted Pepe and gave her report and requested more Veritaserum for when the others came to stay. Unfortunately, that was the last time she saw Pepe despite desperately trying to contact him on several occasions. There had always been the risk that he would be found out either by Voldemort or the Order and apparently he had. There was no other elf she could contact and she felt very alone. She only hoped he had been able to give her father her last report.

Fleur was now waiting with the others for Harry's return. He had gone off to meet with Voldemort and from what she could hear from eavesdropping on those "in the know" the next hour or so would determine the course of the war. It would be won or - IT WOULD BE WON BY THE LIGHT BECAUSE DUMBLEDORE HAD ARRANGED FOR IT TO HAPPEN AND THUS IT WOULD. That fact had kept many of them going despite the real dangers they all faced.

Fleur had her doubts about "the Light" or at least as it was defined by Albus Dumbledore. Certain people were entirely too confident about the outcome. Perhaps Dumbledore's master plan, the one she wasn't privy too would "work" but at what cost? There would be more deaths this day, probably even after the Light won. A stray spell in the back could be blamed on a Death Eater to get rid of certain persons that other "certain persons" wanted out of the way and not getting blamed or caught would be part of their many rewards for being faithful. Fleur had no doubt whatsoever that was what her parents would be told regarding her death.

Fleur was aimlessly walking around the Great Hall to calm her nerves. She should have been with her husband receiving love, support and comfort but he was currently in conference with Kingsley Shacklebolt and others such as Percy (who had "seen the Light at last" and changed sides at the last minute) and Molly Weasley and she "wasn't wanted" so was left on her own. No doubt they were plotting.

She saw Ron talking with Ginny but there was no sign of Hermione. She looked around the Great Hall but didn't see her and subtly cast a point me spell and followed it. Apparently the obnoxious girl was human after all (sort of) because it led to the girls' loo nearest the Great Hall. Hermione was coming out just as Fleur was about to go in. Hermione saw who it was and her face expressed her opinion of Fleur Delacour (who like Molly and Ginny she refused to call Fleur Weasley. She then switched to a slight but smug smile and that was the last straw for Fleur.

The insufferable bitch had joined the Weasley bitches in their unjust harassment of Fleur. Even while the girl was staying at Shell Cottage Fleur's home (which had been bought and money given to furnish it by Fleur's parents as a wedding present) she had been rude to Fleur and never directly talked to her unless it was unavoidable. For someone who prided herself as an equal rights crusader for "lesser magical beings" she should have been at least civil to Fleur – condescending but at least civil – but she was just plain rude.

She had aligned herself with the Weasleys as that was what was expected with one's "partners in crime" and the girl had always considered herself to be so far above everybody in Magical Britain – except for Dumbledore and possibly Minerva McGonagall. She had probably been told by Dumbledore how much he admired her, respected her many talents and intelligence, stroked her massive ego and had her believing that her future in the Magical World was assured as he would personally see to it. All she had to do was to blindly obey him or rather sell her soul to him. And she had but just didn't realize it as people with an ego as massive as her never really saw the forest for the trees.

The slight smug smile told Fleur that Granger knew her potential fate and wouldn't think twice about it as it was probably explained to her that it was for the "Greater Good" and would make all of the Weasleys happy. It was probably one of the many rewards that #(#(#&#**#& Molly would receive. So despite knowing it wasn't a wise thing to do Fleur did it anyway because she didn't think she was going to survive and she wanted to have the small satisfaction of telling the stupid bint what her real fate was going to be.

Whipping out her wand before Granger could react Fleur froze the girl but kept her standing. She couldn't move or talk but only listen. To be safe, Fleur put up a silencing and notice-me-not charms and a shield just in case the enemy (meaning just about everybody where Fleur was concerned) couldn't see or hear them. Now it was Fleur's turn to smile like the proverbial cat who ate the canary. She looked Hermione in the eye and began to speak.

"You've been played Hermione Granger, played by a master manipulator – old Dumbledore himself. Not that you would know or believe it if you did, in certain parts of Europe Dumbledore is known as the "Satan's Nephew" because Satan is the Father of Lies and since Dumbledore lies so much and so very outrageously and soul-shattering, then he must be some sort of relative of Satan."

By the look in Granger's eyes Fleur could tell that she was outraged at her hero and mentor being so slandered and it did Fleur's heart good to see it. Fleur then told Hermione about what Ron really thought about her and what he planned to do to her once they won and he got one of his many rewards – namely the "Mudblood cunt" who he was going to use, abuse and punish for her being born and then do more of the same for her daring to think she was actually worth something.

"I have more to tell you or rather warn you about but time is growing short. Your lot have a lot of betraying to do to Harry Potter and the others. You sold your soul you stupid fool and have really gained nothing by doing it. I'm only bothering to tell you a bit of your future because (1) I am bored and (2) I know I am fated to die today either by Death Eater or by the hand of a Weasley slut. Who knows maybe even you will be given the 'honor' of killing me if Molly or Ginny can't do it."

"I might not cross over for a while and become a ghost if only to see the expressions on the faces of those who thought they were going to receive 'rewards beyond my wildest dreams' I believe the Death Eaters say only to be horrified when they only get torture, destruction and death - just like you will be getting."

Before releasing her Fleur threw one last volley at Hermione Granger. "You think you know so much but you really don't. Harry Potter says you are the dumbest smart person he's ever met and you are. You are an egotistical, bigoted, snob and make that Draco Malfoy look like - who's that living saint? Ah yes Mother Theresa. I believe the poet Dante – he was a wizard just so you know – he reserved the lowest circle of hell for traitors which is where you will be going much sooner than you expected but you WILL be going there when you do die. Enjoy it."

Fleur cancelled the spells after putting a time delay on them so she could make her escape. It was none too soon as when she returned to the Great Hall a huge shout could be heard. Then a person who had been sent to watch what was happening (as the Order members knew where Harry was going and why) came rushing into the Great Hall.

"He's dead. Harry Potter is dead. You-Know-Who killed him and then burnt his body. They're making Hagrid carry his charred remains back here."

Everybody in the Great Hall froze but most especially the Order members. That hadn't been the plan. It had to be wrong, it just had to be wrong. Then the sound of a great wailing scream was heard coming from the mouth of Minerva McGonagall.

Fleur actually smiled. "THEY" had lost and she hoped she lasted long enough to watch certain persons die the deaths they so deserved.