Chapter Two

April 4th 1920

Shamrock stood in the doorway of the kitchen looking out onto the spacious grounds of the Potter mansion. It was early morning, the sun rising higher in the sky and not a cloud in sight. (Lily had upon seeing this, jumped for joy because it meant that she could have a much needed full washing day, cleaning all bedding, sheets, curtains anything and everything she could and hang it outside to dry) she had then ran out of the kitchen to tell the serving girls to wake up and collect all the linins around the house then when the Potter's were eating breakfast, strip the beds.

Shamrock shook he head and grinned at her friend's energy. Lily used to be an night-owl, now here was her friend was running around full of energy at death o'clock in the morning.

She walked back into the kitchen pulling her apron off the hook then she deftly tied it round her waist, and smiled at the kitchen, this was her kingdom, her world…

…

When the lord and lady got up at 9 o'clock and walked into the dining hall they were greeted with the magnificent sight of a full English breakfast, kippers and all. They smiled at each other and helped themselves from the massive silver plates.

Just as they were sitting down they heard an enormous racket coming from above them.

…

Jams Potter stared indignantly at Mr. Archer the butler, "Archer, I may have known you since my childhood but that does not entitle you to wake me up at this ungodly hour!" he belted.

Mr. Archer just looked at James, "the young man had such potential to be a great man like his father but it seemed that he was straying down the wrong path…" he thought but his face displayed only the polite butlery face that he had trained himself to use when dealing with the 'members from the upstairs'.

Mr. Archer nodded his head "indeed it does not, but your father wished me to wake you so he could see you at breakfast" James raised an eyebrow, "breakfast?" Mr. Archer nodded "full English I believe," both eyebrows went up, "I think there are even kippers" that did it.

James was up, and dashing into the bathroom across the hall, Mr. Archer heard the water turn on, and he smiled. Then he looked at the bed, there was someone in there, he took a cautious step forward, then remembered himself and issued a butlery cough.

The girl sprang up clutching a sheet to her body; Mr. Archer stared disapprovingly at the girl "Jenny. Follow me" the girl gulped and looked at Mr. Archer "could you umm turn around Mr. Archer" she squeaked, one eyebrow raised and he turned around "you have one minuet" he said pulling out his pocket watch.

…

Meanwhile James Potter had finished his shower, gotten dressed and successfully got his friend, Sirius Black, to do the same.

Both young men arrived at the breakfast table 15 minuets later. And found both lord and lady Potter talking to a young woman with copper colored curls coming out of her cap. "Wonderful breakfast, Shamrock m'dear, full English with kippers and all" Lord Potter was saying, the woman inclined her head, "thank you my lord, may I ask if you have any preference for lunch" Lord Potter smiled "surprise us lass" said Lady Potter her eyes filled with mischief. The woman laughed, curtseyed then turned to walk out of the dining hall, but walked right into James Potter who winked at her, she sneered back at him and disappeared down the servant's stairs.

James stared at Sirius his mouth open, but Sirius's eyes were on the four kippers remaining. All thought of the sneering woman left his mind as he saw the four kippers, and the hungry way Sirius was eyeing them.

…

At Shamrock entered the kitchen, she was met with a very interesting sight. Two serving girls were sitting at her meticulously scrubbed table, they were both looking their feet, all around them were the ten other girls who had come to work for the Potter's when the war had ended, every girl was looking at the floor and their cheeks were flaming.

Staring at the girls, eyes filled with anger, was Lily. She was showing her red head temper again, and standing next to the flaming red head was Mr. Archer, his eyes angry.

Shamrock put her hands on her hips and stared at everybody "what the devil is going on in my kitchen?" her voice was deadly, the serving girls looked even more embarrassed than before, as the head cook walked to stand next to Lily and Mr. Archer.

Lily turned to Shamrock "the young lords have bedded all of them" Shamrock turned to them and put one hand to her forehead, the other on Lily's arm, silently telling her friend to calm down.

"Girls, I m going to ask you a question, and answer me honestly because I will know if you are lying to me" Twelve pairs of embarrassed eyes met Shamrock's hard green eyes, "how many of you were willing, at the time, to be bedded by the lords?" twelve shaking hands were raised.

Shamrock put a hand over her eyes "you must understand that what you have done will haunt you for the rest of your lives, as shamed by this as I am, that the girls I know so well and trusted would give up their future for a handsome face" one of the girls sitting down looked at Shamrock "we haven't given up our future!" Shamrock's face darted to the girl. Green eyes meeting blue, Shamrock shook her head "Jenny, our society today is not kind to any girl who doesn't come to her husband unsoiled, and if you are thinking that the young lord might marry you, you are mistaken, lords marry ladies, that is how it always has been and always will be." The girls looked at Shamrock "did you..." they began Shamrock looked at them her greens eyes hard and angry "you think I would be bedded by some lord, I will have a hard enough marring a English serving man without being soiled" Jenny looked at her "why?" Shamrock grinned "I'm Irish, now all you get back to work, NOW"

The kitchen was emptied faster than Lily could snap her fingers, Mr. Archer, Lily ans Shamrock were the only ones remaining. Mr. Asher looked at the two girls who he had known since they came to work for the Potters when they were but children of five or so, they had never like the young Potter or his friends, but when their dislike had turned to hatred sometime ago and all Mr. Archer knew was that it had something to do with the last letter Shamrock had received from her elder brother, who died in the war.

"Girls, I have to ask, as I consider both of you my daughters, have you…" Shamrock and Lily looked at him and grinned "us?" Lily said and she wiggled her eyebrows sending herself and Shamrock into hysterics, when they calmed down they shook their heads. Mr. Archer smiled "good, at least some of the females who work her have some sense, now I am off to work" he winked and left the kitchen.

Lily looked at Shamrock "we are now they only two girls the young lord or his friends has not gotten hold of, I think that deserves some congratulating" Shamrock giggled "congratulations Lily!" she yelled then she slapped Lily on the arm, "go on you, back to work!" Lily laughed as she and Shamrock went up the servants' stairs and into the dining hall to clear away the plates.

Shamrock and Lily sat on the stare outside the kitchen finishing their apples, watching the clean sheets that had been hung out to dry on the Potter's back lawn flap in the slight breeze. "Today is not even half over, and I'm exhausted" Shamrock laughed "oh ai, I'm sure you are, well at lest you get a break whilst I have to go and finish the Potter's lunch." Lily who was now lying on her back on the grass, looked u at Shamrock "whatcha make them today?" Shamrock grinned, "pork-pies" Lily laughed, "well it's almost lunchtime, which means you have to finish creating and I have to go get the boys to set up the pagoda, the lady said it was too nice a day not to eat outside"

Now it was time for Shamrock to laugh "well I guess there is no rest for the wicked!" she stood up offering Lily her hand "or the Irish" Lily added with a laugh as she stood up.

…

Shamrock was just setting the pork-pies, salad, cooled fruit juices, and strawberries with cream and sugar on the trays for Lily and her to take out to the pagoda the boys had just finished setting up. When she heard a cough coming from the open door to the grounds, Shamrock spun around, standing in the door was a young man, he couldn't have been older than 20.

Shamrock's eyes widened "the pagoda hasn't fallen down has it?" the young man's eyes widened "nnnno" he stuttered Shamrock relaxed and smiled "sorry" she said "been a bit stressed today"

He smiled at her, Shamrock raised an eyebrow, laughing at the dimples that had appeared in the young man's face reminding her of her mischievous little brother "can I help you?" she asked.

He held out a piece of paper, Shamrock took it from him, restraining from laughing when he blushed when her hand brushed his, she scanned the paper. "So your the new stable boy?" she asked, he nodded. Shamrock smiled at him, "well you just sit yourself in the corner there and help yourself to an apple and when I get back I'll show you to the stables she looked out the door "or as my friend still hasn't arrived and I don't want to be late with the food, you can help me carry theses trays out to the pagoda, and hen I'll show you to the stables"

The young man smiled again "okay then, but first may I know your name" Shamrock laughed, "I am Shamrock, the head cook, so if you need any food come see me" she laughed again "and you are?" He laughed "Remus." Shamrock handed him a tray "now that is an unusual name" Remus smiled "so is Shamrock" Shamrock laughed "not where I come from" she said as she lead him out the door and over the grass to the pagoda, by the forest that backed onto the Potter's property.

Author's Note: 'yay' or 'nay' please! I love it when you guys review! It makes me incredibly happy :-) so please review