Before anyone goes up in arms about me posting this before the epilogue, this was ALREADY WRITTEN! and I haven't had time to write anything this week. I will try to write as much as I can this weekend. I had four exams this week, one tomorrow I need to START studying for, and annother on Friday. so... please just nice reviews or constructive criticisms of this, not angry at me for posting this before MHFLIL epilogue which is forthcoming I SWEAR! I already picked the twins names... unless for some reason I decided to change them AGAIN! But I'll try not to... lol. Please enjoy and review!
"Thank goodness you're here!" she exclaims with a dazzling smile. She turns and calls out to someone who seems to reluctant to appear, but I really have no idea what she's on about. She could be speaking Zimbabwian for all I know. My head hurts so much I can barely look at her, let alone listen to whatever is coming out of her mouth.
"Are you all right," she finally asks. "You look positively dreadful." She sounds so much like my mother here, I can't help but snap to attention.
"I have a rather terrible headache. Could I perhaps have a glass of water and a po… something for the pain?"
"Of course! Come in!" She guides me into the rather impressive entry with marble flooring and a huge crystal chandelier. "You'll want to see the house of course… LU!" Her voice rises shrilly as she calls for someone. "LU! Another one's here! I'm the Lady of the House, by the way, but you knew that… call me Cissa, everyone does. This way." She leads me down a series of hallways into a luxurious kitchen that would fit the entirety of my Paris flat in it. She quickly turns on a faucet, filling a glass that she must have gotten when I wasn't looking and hands it to me after putting a bit of white powder from a small unmarked bottle in it. If I didn't know better I would say it was powdered pain potion, but then again, I'm not one to say anything about muggles. "Drink that up."
"Thank you," I say swallowing it quickly, not wishing to taste the concoction if it's as horrible as what my mum forces down my throat. Knowing muggles, it is probably worse. My head is so painful, from the crying I think I did as I walked, that I can't even think straight.
"Your English is very good," she says giving me an appraising look. "Very good indeed."
"Oh," I say, a bit thrown. "Right. Well, I'm actually English, even if I have been living in France for the past five years. That's probably why."
"You're English, interesting. Well, sit down. That po… potent painkiller should kick in soon." However, before I can sit down, she sweeps me back down the hall. "The dining room, quite a bit of silver, polishing and the like, and a chandelier, dusting. Next is the drawing room. We don't use it any longer, but it must be kept in order," she looks at me, so I nod politely. Why I care about her housework, I'm not sure, but she's a muggle and I guess that in itself warrants acceptance for anything strange.
She leads me into the parlor while pointing out various things. "That's a lovely table," I say politely commenting on the shiny mahogany tea table.
"It needs polishing." Her grey eyes narrow. "Regularly, and believe me, I notice these things."
"Of course," I say with a smile.
As we pass through a library, a morning room, a billiards room, a music room, a bloody ball room, a conservatory, I am overcome with exhaustion. Every room has ornate marble fireplaces, opulent furnishings, and lush carpet or shining floors. Somehow, I think Cissa expected me to be fawning over everything, awed by my surroundings, but as a pureblood who has certainly seen at least near this equivalent, I manage to disappoint. Although it is nice, the La'Blanc's home is nearly as nice, and the Montressor's ballroom is at least twice as large, and the Guardelli's have the most expensive chandelier in the entire world, I should know, I worked on their insurance contract.
Suddenly, we reach a shut door, and Cissa knocks. "Lu?" she says, as if waiting for some imperceptible signal before she pushes the door open and pulls me in behind her to enter the study. Behind the desk is a man, most likely in his late forties, my father's age. Cissa is probably a few years younger, like my mother. He also has platinum blond hair, lighter than his wife's more golden hue, except his may have a few nearly imperceptible streaks of grey in it. More of a silver actually. As beautiful as his wife is, he's just as handsome. There's something about his strong, aristocratic features that makes him almost familiar to me. He reminds me of a politician type. He's wearing a tailored black suit without the jacket, the vest a dark blue to match his eyes. His hair is longish, tied back with a black band. Something about him is immediately intimidating, as if he can look at you and see all of your darkest secrets, and something else about him seems as if he himself has the darkest of secrets. However, Cissa immediately flits around his desk and settles herself on the arm of his chair, with a smile at him. For as intimidating as he is, he has the sweetest of smiles for her, and it's almost painful to watch, the couple is so obviously in love. He turns to me after a moment and stands, revealing that he must have hurt one of his legs because it moves rather stiffly, and he reaches for a cane as he walks around the desk, smoothly, yet obviously inhibited.
"I'm sure my wife has told you all about me," he says holding out his hand rather stiffly, as if he doesn't really wish to touch me. "I'm Lord of the Household, but you'll soon see who really runs things."
"Lu, this is…" Cissa pauses and looks at me in surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."
"Tori," I supplement. "I'm so sorry to bother you but I had the worst headache, and…"
"I gave her something," replied Cissa hastily.
"Hah! Hopefully not that green poison you make, positively lethal Cissa."
"Lu! Don't say things like that!"
"Er… right, of course. We aren't trying to poison you." He said this last part slowly, emphasizing every word. "Just tastes bad is all."
"Of course not, we want to be as hospitable as possible," says Cissa with a glare in his direction. "Lu and I are so happy to have you." They both look at me, and I feel as if I'm supposed to say something.
"I'm very grateful, really," I give them my best society smile. "You've been so courteous, letting me trespass on your evening."
"Her English is very good isn't it?" says Lu with a surprised look to Cissa.
"She's English darling! She understands everything I say!" Really, I never thought I looked foreign, especially as they, like me, are both blond haired with light eyes.
"Shall we do a tour of the house then?" asks Lu. Really, I've already seen it all. If I didn't know better, I would think I was at the Montressor's when they are showing off for society. I really hate that you know. Trying to find something nice to say about every single room is such a bore. As if they haven't heard it before. I just want to sit and let the pain potion kick in. Or whatever it was.
"I already showed her most of the downstairs, but come along."
I can't say no. I'm too well bred to do something like that, but I simply cannot seem to focus as my head spins. I do a bit of math. I think I spent about eight hours wandering the countryside, and taking that potion on an empty stomach didn't do me any good. I follow obediently, up staircases, through room after room. My head is pounding, and all this woman can talk about is bloody house work. It's all she's interested in, I swear. Get a bloody life already. She keeps telling me which things need special dusting, and which cleaning solutions she uses on which things, and which things are never to be touched.
Suddenly we're upstairs, and she's showing me room after room of bedrooms, explaining how often the bedding needs washed. Really, like I care?
"So, whereabouts are you from, I know you said you have been living in France?" asks Cissa.
"Paris, Southern England originally, we moved a few years back," I reply absently.
"And you had a job in Paris?" she asks.
"I did. I quit."
"What sort of hours did you work?" she asks.
"Around the clock, I literally slept there sometimes. When I slept at all."
The couple looks stunned. Really, people have no idea what lawyers go through.
"You worked through the night? On your own?" asks Lu.
"Me and the other staff, whoever was needed."
"So you come from a big set up?" asks Cissa.
"One of the biggest in all of Europe," I say. I don't want to brag about my dad, but well, it's quite the company.
"Well, we are far more relaxed here I'm sure," says Cissa with a grin. She leads me up another flight of stairs to the third floor, I think. "Almost to the staff rooms." Really, such a large house, you think they could do with showing me the downstairs and be done.
"Could I…" I suddenly feel dizzy, and begin groping in my bag for my wand. What the hell if they are muggles. "I need to… sit down…" I can't find it. I'm frantic now. "That drink, was…. strong… I'm allergic to… hellborne…. Oh bollocks…."
I come to a bit later. I'm not sure how later. I'm in yet another large room, this one about as large as my bedroom at my parents, but much plainer. I've been laid out on the chaise, and my bag is next to me after a frantic search for it.
"Oh good! You're awake," says Cissa with a high pitched nervous laugh. "This is the staff accommodation."
"Lovely, a gorgeous room," I say.
"Great Tori, I'm glad you like it, because you've got the job!" says Lu. I blink stupidly at him.
Job? What Job?
"Lu!" snaps Cissa. "We can't offer it to her yet, we haven't even finished the interview process!"
Interview? Did I miss something?
"We haven't even given a full job description!" Cissa is hissing at him.
"Well, then give her the details. I'm rather ready for our walk in the garden." The mischievous grin isn't lost on me.
"Oh… well… Tori," Cissa giggles. "Your role as full time housekeeper will comprise of all cleaning, laundry, and cooking, you will wear a uniform, and maintain a courteous and respectful attitude to us and all guests. We will provide you with full board and lodgings, with four weeks holiday a year."
"Salary," interjected Lu. "Are we paying her more than the last muh….girl?" Cissa glares at him. If she was a witch, she'd whip out a wand and hex him into next week.
"Excuse us, Tori," she grabs his arm and drags him out of the room roughly. I can't properly hear, but from what I could tell, they argued. I'm too distracted to listen. I look around the room trying to gather myself. They think I'm a housekeeper? Mum would have a laughing fit at that one. I have to put them right, explain the misunderstanding. I lay back down on the chaise. I don't want to get up, I'm so tired. It's been a long day, painful, exhausting, emotional. I just want it to be over.
Suddenly, Cissa reappears, apologizing, but I can only really watch her mouth. I need to say something, anything, tell her I'm not a housekeeper. Suddenly it occurs to me. I could stay here, just one night.
"Would it be possible to start tonight?" I ask.
"Why yes, of course," says Cissa with a smile.
"Well make sure she's qualified first!" scowls a somewhat dejected looking Lu from the door.
"I'll make it quick… So, you're experienced in all forms of laundry? We got one of those machines," she says.
"Yes, I even got a… laundry prize… in school. That's what started my career." I really want to stay the night. I'll obliviate them in the morning. Oh, shit.. that's a charm… Maybe I'll just leave. Is there a potion for that, and where would I get the ingredients?
"And you're cordon bleu trained?"
"Err… yes, under the best Cordon Bleu Master in Pari, Madame Olympe Maxime." I rattle off, naming my ex-headmistress. "Her name clearly speaks for itself."
"Absolutely," says Cissa with a nod, but I see her shoot a confused look to her husband. Inside, I'm asking myself why I'm lying to these people, but really, I just need… a place for the night. And they seem nice enough. I'm sure neither of them are serial killers. They seem normal… like a couple my parents would have over for a dinner party. Somehow, I'm managing to block out my horrible day, my quitting my job, my brother's promotion, my sister's engagement, my utter failure as a daughter and a person.
I'm going to get this job.
"Could you give us a sample menu, for a dinner party per say?" I smile. I've been to a thousand. I rattle off what we ate last night. The house elves made it, but really, I should know what it is, I ate it.
"Well, I must say, that's impressive!" exclaims Cissa with a smirk to Lu who looks like he's about to start drooling.
"And I'm assuming you have a reference?" A reference? Hell… bloody hell.
"We will need a reference," Cissa says with a condescending look that would do my mother proud. My mother is the master of condescending looks. Daphne and I will ever be mere students in her art. Cissa looks as if she could teach my mother a thing or two.
"My reference is young Lord Helios Greengrass. I've been associated with the Greengrasses for many, many, many years. I know Lord Helios will vouch for me," I say, knowing that the titles in my family, given to us by a stupid muggle king for service to the crown centuries ago, would impress them. Really, a bit of magic preformed without anyone the wiser could make you seem like a hero. Nearly all Purebloods in England have them. However, some, unlike the Greengrasses, have let them drop over the years.
"A positively lovely family," I embellish, nearly choking on my words as I think of my mother. "Quite the job keeping their townhouse clean. And… polishing Lady Daphne's… tiaras…" ha! Tiaras. I will not laugh, I will not laugh.
Both Cissa and Lu look stunned, perhaps I went a bit far with the tiaras. But imagine, Daphne in a tiara. Then she really would be a pratty pureblood princess. "Ahh, the Greengrasses, yes, fine family. If you served them, I know you'll do perfectly well," says Lu as if he knows them. I smirk. Likely. Because I'm sure my family is well known amongst muggles. More like he thought they should know who we are and feigned it.
"Well, if you're to start in the morning, we'll let you get to sleep. You must be very tired from your travels," says Cissa with a smile. "So happy to have you with us Tori."
I nod, sighing with relief as they leave. Muggles can be so utterly tiring.
Please please review. I swear it helps me write more and you all know the inspiration is going to push the epilogue of MHFLIL faster! Thanks! Ellie