EIRA'S LAMENT

Disclaimer: I do not own Lucius Malfoy or any of the other characters mentioned from the JK Rowling series. So don't sue me…k?

Synopsis: Set 5 years after the great war against Voldemort. Lucius Malfoy killed his own wife and son when they attempted to help stop Voldemort. When he realized what he had done, he left the Malfoy manor and retreated into a home on the outskirts of the magical realm. There he stays, solitary and in need of some household help. Along comes Eira Bardwell.

Rating: a PG-13 for talk of death and a few semi-violent scenes…as well as some fluffy romantic stuff and implications of intimacy.

This is dedicated to Rebecca (Eira).

CHAPTER 1

The ashes in the fire place were scattered, quite thickly, at the base of the stone hearth. A long iron poker shifted them around, writing some words. This was his only comfort now, alone; next to the deadened chimney rest. The screams still fresh in the man's memory, the shrill pitch of a woman and the dreaded shouting of an adolescent male. Five years, after the great war, he could still smell the blood and feel the burning flashes of spells. Five years, after the great war, he was exiled, lonely, and tormented with guilt. No one knew he was capable of guilt, not him, not Voldemort's right-hand man. Nay-Sayers could hardly believe it when he sold the family home, many doubted it was true. Sure enough, it had been, the home sold and the previous owner disappeared. The ashes moved around lightly, dusting the sharp point of the iron poker. The instrument was cast aside and a pale face, surrounded by white-blonde hair, collapsed into equally pale hands. This was the new fate of Lucius Malfoy.

He picked at his dinner; it had been ages since his last home-cooked meal. The food moved around his plate dully. A sigh. He stood and walked to his writing table, picked up the quill, and began writing on a parchment.

Dear Mrs. Dumpgry,

As I understand it, you run a housekeeping business. I am in need of a house-keeper and would be much obliged if you could put one into my service. Please, no house elves for I find them tedious. The person must be skilled, efficient, quick, and pleasant company. I am willing to pay a more then competitive wage for services rendered while in my employment. Room and board is also provided.

Thank you,

Lucius Malfoy.

He summoned his owl and handed the bird the folded parchment; it turned and flew away. Lucius went back to picking at his now cold dinner. At least, he felt better, knowing that he finally took the initiative to get some help. The home was dirty and the food, mediocre at best. The screams returned to him and he left the food to go sit in his chair. He sat there silently, begging the screams to stop. What had he done? Only the worst thing possible, and he was reaping what he sowed.

In Hogsmeade, Mrs. Dumpgry, a short and stout witch, with graying temples, sat in front of a girl. The girl was of average height with elegant curves, pixie-cut dark brown hair and enormous brown doe-eyes. Her skin was that flawless alabaster that most strived to burn to a crisp in order to become brown, they ended up just burning to a crisp.

"Miss Eira Bardwell, you are looking for a job, I think we may have one." she said the words but wanted to take them back. The young woman before her, was too sweet of face to subject to that horrible, murdering Malfoy.

Eira Bardwell was a muggle-born witch and graduate of Hogwart's. She had been fifteen during the war but she wasn't part of Dumbledore's army. She didn't get to fight for her fearful parents wouldn't let her return until after the mess had ended. Once it had, she came back and was able to finish her studies. Though, she was never really talented magic-wise, she tried her best and was a fast learner. She left the muggle world and had hoped to make it on her own. She did odd jobs around and now she was looking for new employment. The portly witch handed Eira a card with a name on it. It was quite far and she would have to catch a carriage to take her. She looked at the name on the card; Lucius Malfoy. Her heart stopped. He killed his own wife and son during the war and had vanished. Eira was doubting that she would work for him for very long. She had a low tolerance for the mean sort and she had never encountered the notorious wizard before. However, it was a job, and those were far and few between these days. With the dark enemy deleted, the witches and wizards had little to do but average work.

Eira sighed to herself…"Lovely…perfectly lovely" she mumbled sarcastically. A passing man overheard her, looked but continued walking. She flagged down a rental carriage, she told the driver where the address was, he nodded silently and they set forth. Eira had watched the pretty countryside during the ride but nodded off. She didn't realize how long until she felt that tell-tale jerking, the carriage stopped. She looked out the window and saw a cottage. It was a stone cottage with broken shingles. Browning vines twisted and coiled over the cottage like snakes, window shutters were hanging off the hinges. The driver came around, opened the door, and helped Eira from the buggy. He handed her her carpet bag as she stared ominously at the drab building. She handed the man a few silver coins and went to the door, knocked softly. She waited, and waited, and what was the man doing? She thought to herself. The door creaked open and steely gray eyes looked out at the porch's resident. A young woman with the biggest eyes he had ever seen. She wore the typical, drab, bustled, black dress that house-keepers wore. This only accentuated her very white skin and dark hair. She had a lovely mouth and small chin, he noted. The door opened further to reveal a tall, pale man with those eyes and an aristocratic face. His long white-blonde hair hung neatly to his shoulders. Eira breathed in, his face, was so much like his son's, only older. He was a handsome devil to be sure, but something sad lingering in those cold eyes. There were some added stress lines to his face, as if he always worried and never got enough sleep. Eira cast her eyes down as only a proper servant should do, but a hand lifted her chin, returned her gaze to his face. The eyes were now critical and commanding.

"You girl, don't look like you have seen a hard days work ever." his voice was smooth and elegant. A rich contralto that vibrated along Eira's skin; she shuddered slightly.

"I assure you sir, that I have much experience." She answered back. The hand left her face, allowing it to drop back down. The man stepped back into his house, leaving the door open. A signal for her to enter. He would never have allowed her to enter before him, that would be raising her position to his level. Woman or not, Eira was still just a house-keeper. She stepped into the house and raised a nostril, the smell was most unpleasant. The man lived in absolute filth. She set down her bag with an eyebrow lifted cynically.

"I certainly have my work cut out." she said as she walked over to the kitchen, where most of the smell generated from. Was this man completely incapable of doing the simplest chore? She went over to the sink where dishes piled. A plate contained something moving and Eira jumped back with a small yip. "The dishes are alive." she stated loudly. There was no response. She walked over to the table; on it, sat a parchment, a list of rules and chores. Eira picked it up and read to herself.

1. Wash dishes and countertops every day after each meal.

2. Scrub all the floors every 2 days.

3. Clean bathroom every day.

4. Make beds every day. There are 3 rooms including your own.

5. Do laundry every day

6. Simple spells may be used to aid in chores and cooking.

7. My breakfast is to be served no later then 7 am.

8. Do not speak unless spoken too.

9. During the Spring and Summer months, the yard and gardens need care.

The list went on and on. "At least I get to use some spells" Eira nodded. Her bedroom, that was the next order of business. She walked back into the sitting room with the fire place, Lucius sat in his chair, ignoring the girl. She remembered rule 8 and stayed silent, her brown eyes scanning the sight of the brooding man. He held a brandy snifter, rolling it around by his fingers, his gray eyes placid as they stared at the empty hearth. Eira moved on impulse, kneeling by the fire place, grabbed several hunks of wood, placed them into the hearth. She stood up to retrieve her wand.

"Incendio" came the smooth, velvet voice of Lucius from his chair. A roaring fire formed in the hearth and warmed the air instantly. Eira looked at the man and then moved away from the fire, back to her carpet bag on the floor. Lucius never looked at her, he simply leaned back in his chair and put one leg up onto the ottoman; his head resting against his hand, arm propped on the chair's own arm. "Your room is off the kitchen." his voice was heavy this time. Eira picked up her bag and headed back through the smelly kitchen. The room she found was down a small corridor, it was tiny. A servant's room. There was a full-sized bed with a plain wood headboard and footboard. A trunk sat at the end and a small side-table on the right hand side; atop that was lantern. There was a large bureau and a closet. Another door led off to the left, upon opening it, one would see the small bathroom with a clawed tub, porcelain sink, and toilet. A dirty mirror hung above the sink. Eira set her bag on the bed top and went back into the kitchen. She frowned and nearly gagged as she drew closer to the moving mess.

"Scourgify" she snapped at the sink with her wand at hand. Instantly, a sponge, a rag, and soap went to work on the dishes. "I don't know if that's allowed but I am certainly not touching that." she said at normal volume, sure that Lucius wasn't listening anyhow. She began tossing litter from the table and counters into the trash bin, and the cleaned, no…scrubbed, the surfaces. As the dishes cleaned and she began sweeping, she also opened a window to air out the smell. After a couple of hours and the dishes cleaned, the kitchen smelled better. Eira stopped scrubbing the floor to wipe the perspiration from her brow. She sighed, but at least the worst was over, soon she would start supper.

Lucius sat in his chair when the smell of cooking food hit his nostrils, he perked to scent of vegetables, meat, and potatoes stewing. It had been too long since he had last smelled a home-cooked meal. He was amazed by how quickly, the scent overtook the entire downstairs of the cottage. He heard a giggle come from the kitchen, rising and walking stealthily to the other room. Eira stood by the open window, on the perch sat a bluebird. It was chirping away, as Eira feed it pieces of bread. She giggled most infectiously and not once did she turn her attention towards her employer. She smiled and moved back to the large iron pot that contained the meal she was making. The bird chirped again causing more giggling and even a whistle back, mocking the bird.

Lucius watched this girl with innate curiosity and smiled secretly to himself. Perhaps life would return. At dinner, Eira served the food in silence and care not to spill a drop of neither stew nor wine. Lucius watched her move to the corner of the room and stand, head lowered and hands clasped together in front of her. The typical servant pose during meal time. She would stay that way until Lucius called on her for second servings or refills of wine. Three helpings and 4 glasses later, Eira cleared the dishes as Lucius grunted and departed for his room. This meant that she could now eat. After her first meal in the Malfoy home, she sat by the fire for a moment, she swept up the ashes and went to go take a bath. She would have to rise early to ensure that the breakfast was served no later then 7 am.

So ended Eira's first day and the signaled the beginning of an interesting adventure of the domestic sort.