I know you are all loving that I'm on summer break too! Please Read, Review and Enjoy!

The next morning, I'm up bright and early, ready to start my day. To my horror, Cissa has left a good three feet of parchment delineating my duties. Make` beds, sweep and clean porch, arrange flowers, polish all mirrors, tidy store cupboards, laundry, clean bathrooms daily, ironing. Etc. I'm magically whipping up breakfast and reading this all when I hear someone coming. Stashing my wand after a quick swish to stop my current charms, I pretend I'm a muggle as Drake walks into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Tori," he says with a wide grin. "You know, you don't seem like a Tori."

A bit offended, I give him a cursory glance before telling him, "You don't look much like a Drake."

"Hmm, but this breakfast definitely looks delicious, mind if I steal a bit of toast for myself, you seem to have made quite a bit." I look at the stack of toast that I hadn't been paying attention to. I guess when you cast the spell and just let it go on its own, it makes an infinite amount. I probably should have cast the counter charm five minutes ago.

"I got a bit carried away," I say as I stir the porridge.

"Well," he said with a flirtatious smirk. "If I was in your beautiful presence all the time, I might get a bit carried away too. You look especially nice this morning." I find myself blushing in pleasure at the compliment. I pulled my hair into a loose pony tail rather than the customary bun that I normally wear. I had almost forgotten how long my hair was.

"Well you sir, are distracting me, so off to the garden with you," I say, wagging my spoon at him as he grabs some sliced fruit, of which I also have an overabundance.

Running the breakfast tray into the dining room just as the clock is striking eight, I happily set it down in front of Lu and Cissa who are looking quite cozy. She's sitting on his lap, and they have the paper open in front of them. He has it half open on the left reading the business and world news while from all the pictures she seems to be reading the society section. It's a bit endearing, and I wonder what really happened with their last housekeeper.

I'm just on my way out the door when Lu calls me back. "Miss Green," he says looking friendlier than usual. "I took the liberty of drawing up a contract last night for your services as our housekeeper, if you would like to look it over and sign it this morning? Cissa is dreadfully afraid that her friend Lady Violet is going to snatch you up after last night's dinner party success."

"LU!" exclaims Cissa. "Whatever they offer, we'll double!" she tells me seriously.

"That won't be necessary," I say. "I'm getting used to things here, and feel I could grow quite content here." Especially if I see Drake around more often. I pick up the parchment on the table and quickly scan the contents. Everything seems to be in excellent order despite the slightly smeared handwriting in some places, a very nice little piece of work if I say so. And I'm a contract lawyer. I wonder who he called in to do this, before realizing I wouldn't know them.

Flicking my eyes over the weekly salary and converting pounds to galleons, I figure it's just about what I made in an hour at the firm. If one thing can be said, my father didn't skimp on pay, not that I don't have a tidy little trust fund.

"It seems extremely generous," I say. "Does it really say I have the weekends free except on special occasions?" My mind just can't wrap around the idea, and I have to ask even at the risk of sound like an idiot.

"Of course, dearie, we aren't slave drivers! Even our house…. Old staff, had the weekends traded on and off between them. We can't expect you to work every weekend, and I can manage a few meals a week," says Cissa with a happy smile. She's obviously pleased I want to stay. She just doesn't realize how desperate I am to avoid my mother and that outstanding engagement contract with Montressor.

"Do you have anything for me to sign with?" I ask Lu.

"Let me give you some advice: be sure to read all legal documents very carefully," he says. I bite back a retort, but know he means well and doesn't realize the hilarity of his statement. I nod.

"I'll keep that in mind, but I've pretty much read through it, and everything seems to be in order. I have no qualms about signing now."

"Oh good!" beams Cissa. "I'm so pleased!"

Lu hands me a quill, and thinking nothing of it, I poise the tip over the line where I am to sign. As I write my name, I take a risk and sign my full name, not what I've been calling myself- just in case someone ever tries to get me for fraud or misrepresentation. I'm going with the assumption that Lu will not notice considering he'll probably just file this thing away.

As I write Astoria Theia Greengrass on the line, I have a fleeting blip of incredibility. I'm actually doing this. Taking a job miles from home, away from not only my family, but the wizarding world itself, and no one knows what I'm doing. I have a sudden flash of my mother's face, the expression on her face if she knew I was going to become a MUGGLE FAMILY'S housekeeper! If she could see me in the uniform acting like a regular house elf. She would die of mortification. I'm seriously tempted to owl her and tell her just what I'm doing. I might include a picture. But I don't have time right now, I'm going to do the laundry.

And it's not really that hard, as long as I don't bother trying to figure out how to use the muggle machine in the little room off the kitchen. Really, muggles are ridiculously complicated, no wonder Cissa wanted a maid. That thing must take hours to work. Dotty was right about that Mrs. Weasley's book. Next time I see the woman, I'm going to walk right up to her and give her a giant hug and a smack on the cheek. I think I love her. She deserves an Order of Merlin… First Class!

I'm really getting the hang of things, and after I finish the laundry, I whip up an easy lunch and deliver it to Cissa and Lu who have decided to dine in Lu's study. Cissa is planning some sort of function, and Lu must run some sort of business from the home.

"He needs to settle down, get married, start a family," Cissa is saying.

"He's only 22, let the boy live," replies Lu, glancing at the window. "Besides, Violet's daughter is a troll. I'm glad he dropped her, and I haven't seen anyone catch his eye since."

"But I want grandbabies," Cissa pouts before thanking me for the soup and sandwiches. "He needs to get out of the house and do something. He needs to make some new friends and interact with people besides Blaise and Greg."

"I think he's been hanging around even more with that Longbottom boy," says Lu, nodding to me as I pour his drink. "For all they didn't get along in school, I think the poor boy thought the worst with the first letter. Didn't respond too nicely, but then again, it was probably deserved."

"Well good, if they're becoming good friends, then I'm sure he'll come to the midsummer ball I'm planning. Augusta was good friends with my uncle Alphard I think." Lu meets my gaze and rolled his eyes, but looks at his wife fondly as I leave the room.

The rest of my day is rather dull. Making beds, dusting again… such a large house, so much dust… putting the clean laundry upstairs. Cissa told me not to try to put it away, so I fold it all and leave it on her dressing table. And for supper, I make a wonderful fried chicken with some sides and a chocolate cake for dessert. Lu has three pieces.

I am just putting the cake away in the muggle cold box thingy when Drake comes inside, carrying his familiar masculine smell mixed with dirt, and the outdoors. "Is that for me?" he says with a grin.

"I might be persuaded to serve you up a slice," I reply flirtatiously.

"Name your price madame," he laughs.

"I was wondering if you could take me into town on Saturday or Sunday," I say hopefully. From there I can apparate to London. I really need to go to Diagon Alley and get some things, such as some money, and possibly send my parents an owl, just not one they'll recognize. Also, some potions ingredients for some cleaning potions I'd like to try. Apparently they really improve the quality of your cleaning charms, and I am too timid to try any of the muggle products Cissa has provided. Maybe I can floo my brother from the Leaky.

"I happen to own a car, and am the recent holder of a license!" he says with a grin. "I'd be happy to take you out, in fact, you didn't even have to bribe me with cake."

"Great! I have several things I need to get in town. I'll start my list tomorrow!"

"This cake is fantastic," he says between bites. "I'll drive you into Trowbridge Saturday morning and hopefully you can find everything. When you're done shopping, may I take you out to dinner?" I blush all over, cursing my pale complexion. Is this handsome man really asking me on a date? My first date since I graduated?

"I might not be doing anything else that evening," I say coyly.

"I'm sure I could talk your boss into giving you the evening off," he laughs. "Say yes… you know you can't resist me." He gives me a sexy smirk, and I'm lost. The game is up.

"I have missed hearty English pub fare in France these past few years," I say downplaying my enthusiasm. "I'd love to go to dinner with you."

"I can't wait," he says breaking out into a heart stopping smile. And suddenly, he's leaning across the island and his lips are on mine in the most perfect first kiss ever, and I can't even think. Never has a kiss felt like this before, and I kissed my fair share of boys at all those lovely Pureblood Functions and at school. Before I can fully enjoy the taste of his chocolatey mouth, he's pulling away, thanking me for the dessert and heading out the door. I take a few steps and rest my head against the cool stainless steel ice box before letting my jelly legs slide to the floor with a sigh. Now, just to clean up this kitchen from dinner.

The next day goes quickly, and if I'm a little distracted by the thought of my date for tomorrow and a blond haired man- I can't help it. Even Cissa notices my good mood, catching me humming a Celestina Warbeck tune as I polish the dining room table with the muggle furniture polish. "You seem in a good mood," she says with a slight smile and a look on her face as if trying to place the tune.

"I'm just excited for my weekend off, it's my first free weekend in years." Which is true, considering if I'm not working, I'm usually at some sort of dreadful dinner party or gala my mother has forced me to attend.

"You're young, you should enjoy life!" she says with a smile. "We are very happy to give you the weekend off."

The next morning, I'm up with the sun, despite not having work to do. Out of the goodness of my heart, I make up a batch of cinnamon rolls and putting a warming charm on them, leave them out where I'm sure Cissa and Lu will see them before packing some for myself and Drake to eat on the way to town.

At eight-thirty, I'm dressed in some of the only casual clothes I own, birthday presents from Luna who has surprisingly normal and stylish taste in clothes. A flowy light blue skirt paired with wedge sandles, a floral print top with matching blues, greens, and yellow in it, and a matching light green cardigan. I have my handbag with my wand and a set of green robes for my trek into Diagon Alley. Drake comes in looking rather fit in a perfectly tailored blue shirt, a pair of gray trousers and a matching vest. I feel a bit underdressed, but he also has a briefcase.

"I have some business in the city, so today is perfect for me to take you into town," he says with a grin, grabbing a cinnamon roll before heading out the side door and through the kitchen garden out onto the grounds. Heading for the outbuilding that appears to be a stable, he presses some sort of button on a box, and a large wall rises up, revealing a muggle automobile parked inside. I've never been in one before, so I'm a bit nervous, but don't let it show as he opens the door for me to climb inside.

Getting in the other side, I watch him strap himself in and follow his lead since I'm not too sure I trust this muggle device as far as I can throw it. Which is not very far.

Soon we're whipping down country roads, passing small farms and homes every so often. It's a lovely day, but I'm still too uncomfortable with the car to enjoy the scene. Plus, I have quite the view right next to me in the driver's seat. Drake makes small talk, asking how I've liked working these past three days. I ask him what his business in town is, but he seems quiet about it.

When we get to Trowbridge, he parks the car, that looks rather shiny and nice next to all the other cars, and we bid our goodbyes, promising to meet back at seven. I head off a ways before finding a deserted back alley and apparating to the Leaky Cauldron.

Please Review! Especially if you want to hear about Draco and Astoria's date! I'll try to update very soon! Thanks for the reviews and I'm expecting lots for this chapter!

Elaine A.