Junko raced up the kitchen stairs, towards the foyer. Once she reached the Foyer, she set down her plate of badly burnt Fire Flakes on the small, thin table. She removed her apron and hung it up in the closet. She was about to pick up the flakes again but there was a hand in them. It was Lucius's. He picked one up and examined it. He looked at Junko, eyebrow raised, as he flicked away the flake.

"You're cooking again?"

Junko picked up the bowl. "Yes."

"You know we're not going to eat that, right?"

"I don't plan for you to."

Junko stepped towards the front entrance. Lucius grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"A party."

"Excuse me?"

Junko pulled her arm away from Lucius, and walked out the door. Lucius followed her but stopped short when he saw the ratty old car in his driveway. A brown, dented up thing. A dumpy man with red hair got out of the car and greeted Junko. Lucius recognized him. How could he not? It was Arthur Weasley, that low-born wizard from the Ministry, thought Lucius. Junko and Arthur embraced, kissing one another on both cheeks. Arthur noticed Lucius standing in the doorway.

"Lucius Malfoy, how are you?" Arthur approached Lucius, arm outstretched.

Lucius stood there, aghast. "Arthur Weasley. I wasn't expecting you to come to my house."

Arhur lowered his hand, as it was clear now he wasn't going to get the handshake he sought. "Oh, did Junko not tell you? She's having dinner at our house tonight."

Lucius turned to look a Junko, with a look as cold as ice yet burned liked a thousand flames. "No, she did not."

"Oh."

"Sorry for the confusion." Junko said, "I didn't have the opportunity to tell you, Master Malfoy. We were so busy, it was hard to find time to let you know."

Lucius stepped out of the doorway, with slow, deliberate steps towards Junko, "It's quite all right Junko. Although what about your chores?"

"I took care of them already. You'll find everything to be clean and in order."

"And what of dinner?"

"I asked Dobby to take care of it for me."

"What is going on?" Narcissa appeared in the doorway. She noticed the car, the red-haired man, and her husband talking with the maid. She stood, dumbfounded, "Arthur Weasley?"

"Narcissa, how are you?" Arthur asked.

"Lucius, what is he doing here? Did you invite him?"

"I did," Junko responded. "He's picking me up. I'm having dinner at his and his wife's house tonight."

Narcissa spun around to look at Junko. She looked at Junko as if her stare could bore into girl's skull. If Junko noticed it, she didn't let on. Junko walked past Lucius and Narcissa to Arthur.

"Come, Arthur, let's go. Molly and the children must be starving by now."

"Yes, good idea Junko. It was lovely to see you Narcissa and Lucius. Say hello to little Draco from us."

With that, Junko and Arthur entered the car, Arthur sitting in the driver's seat and Junko riding shotgun. The car backed out of the driveway, and then disappeared into the darkness. Lucius walked next to his wife, and watched as the car vanished.

Lucius remarked, "She's going to get it when she gets home."

"Allow me, Lucius darling." Narcissa walked inside, her black dress trailing behind her.

Lucius looked at where his wife had gone, curious about what kind of punishment she had in store for the insubordinate girl. Lucius entered the house a moment later.

After a half-hour long flight, the brown car landed at a house that, to Junko, looked like several houses stacked upon one another. It was surrounded by a beautiful green field, that looked like something out of a fairy tale book in the moonlight. Arthur and Junko stepped out of the car, and walked down the dirt path that led to the house. Inside, was chaos. Children running around the kitchen, laughing as they played. Molly shouted at them, trying to get them in line as they ran around the house. Then, she saw Junko and Arthur enter.

"Junko, welcome!" She said as she embraced Junko.

"Thank you for having me, Molly, Arthur."

"It's our pleasure, Junko," Said Arthur.

"I brought an appetizer." Junko said, as she placed the bowl of Fire Flakes on the table.

Molly and Arthur stared at the blackened concoction. They looked at one another. Finally, Molly mustered the courage to ask.

"What is that?"

"They're known as Fire Flakes where I'm from."

"Are they supposed to be so burnt?"

"Oh, well no… but I wanted to make sure they were cooked fully" Junko explained.

"I'm certain they're delicious." Arthur said as he took a handful and popped it into his mouth. Suddenly, his eyes started to water and he spit it out into a napkin. Then, he rushed to pour himself a glass of water and drank the whole thing in one big gulp. He panted heavily for a moment before pouring himself another glass, and taking a smaller sip this time.

"Oh." Junko said, disappointment clear on her face.

"Oh no, it's not bad Junko. It's just a little spicy is all." Arthur explained, trying to spare her feelings as best he could.

"Woah," Percy said. The children had stopped running around to view the spectacle of their father almost dying from Junko's cooking. They were astounded.

"Can we have some?" Bill asked.

The kids sat at their table, each taking turns daring each other to eat more and more of Junko's Dementor food, as they called it. Molly, Arthur, and Junko were sitting at the table, finishing their meal with tea and cookies. Junko was sipping her tea, which she had decided to try with sugar and milk for the first time. It wasn't bad, although Junko thought she wouldn't try it with Jasmine tea anytime soon.

"I can't thank you enough for tonight." Junko said, "This is the most fun I've had in a long time."

"You're welcome Junko," Molly said.

"It must be dreary working at the Malfoys', no Junko?" Arthur asked.

"Arthur please! Behave!" Molly chided.

"No, no, Molly it's quite all right." Junko said, "The Malfoys are very kind to me, but they can be a bit … serious I suppose."

"They seem like that type." Arthur remarked.

"That is true Arthur," Molly agreed. "But Junko, tell us about you got this job."

"Oh." Junko said, doing her best to hide her panic, "Well I was living in my home country, and I really wanted to move to England so I could be closer to my sister, who is in Hogwarts right now."

"Oh really?" Molly asked, "What house is she in?"

Junko hesitated, "Ravenclaw." She said, finally.

"Ah, a lovely house." Arthur remarked.

"I'm sure the Malfoys are upset she isn't in Slytheran." Molly said.

"I don't think they mind. They don't ask me about my life much."

"Oh." Molly said, "What year is she in?"

"Her first. She's eleven."

"Aw, how sweet. You must be very proud of her."

"We are, very much so. It was quite a surprise when we find out she was a witch. But we were glad to have an explanation for all the strange things happening around us, and we were glad she found somewhere to belong."

"It must have been hard for her before you found out." Said Arthur.

"Oh yes, it was. She has a very difficult time socializing at school. But now she seems so much happier. She finally has friends. It's so nice."

Molly smiled, "Wonderful, simply wonderful."

"Yes, it is. Well anyway, Master Malfoy was on a trip to my country when he met me. I was working as a maid in the hotel he was staying at. I was already in the process of trying to come to England. My aunt was here to watch after my sister, trying to get me a visa, but she couldn't get me one unless I had a job. Well, Master Malfoy liked my work so much that he asked me to work for him. So, I got the job I needed to come here. And here I am."

"That worked out very well for you," Arthur said.

"Yes, perfectly. Now the next task will be getting my parents over here, if my father and mother can get jobs here."

"We'd be happy to help anyway we can." Molly interjected.

"Oh, thank you so much, but I don't want to put you out in any way."

"It won't put us out. Please, we'd love to help."

"Oh, well, thank you. I'll let you know if there's anything you can do."

Arthur leaned back in his chair, and held Ginny, who had run up to him trying to escape her older brothers who were trying to force her to eat Dementor's food. "You know, I'm rather surprised Lucius hired you. The Malfoys, well, they're not known for their tolerance of Muggles."

"I guess they don't mind Muggles when we're their servants." Junko said laughing.

The Weasleys did not laugh along.

"I see." Arthur said.

"Darling," Molly said as she placed her hand on Junko's "Are you sure everything's ok there?"

"Yes," Junko said, nervously, "Everything is fine. Why do you ask?"

"Well," Arthur said cautiously, "We've noticed you've had a lot of bruises on your body and face."

"Oh, well I'm clumsy is all. I take a lot of falls."

"Junko," Molly said, "We're concerned about you."

"I appreciate that. I really am. But everything is fine. There is nothing wrong."

"You will tell us if they ever hurt you, will you?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, of course I will. Thank you again for your concern." Junko assured them. There was a moment of silence among them. Then Junko said. "Well, it's getting late. I really must be getting back."

"Yes, I will take you." Arthur said as he rose from his seat.

"Thank you again for everything." Junko said as she gave Molly a hug.

"It's no problem dear, you come back any time now." Molly said.

"Thank you. I'm so sorry my appetizer was less than appetizing."

"Oh," Molly said laughing, "It's quite alright. The children seem to be having fun with it."

"Well I'm glad someone enjoyed it."

"Come Junko, let's get you home." Arthur said.

Junko said goodbye to the children, and made her way out of the house along with Arthur. Molly gave one last concerned look in Junko's direction before beginning the daily struggle of getting the children ready for bed.

The brown, beat-up car arrived at the Malfoy Manor. Arthur parked it right in front of the door. Junko was about to open the car door, but Arthur stopped her.

"If they ever hurt you, in any way, please let us know."

"Ok, I will. Thank you again for tonight."

Arthur handed Junko a card. "Call us if you ever need us. Please."

"Thank you. I will."

Junko exited the car. She waved to Arthur as he took off. She watched him disappear into the night sky. She looked at the card, which seemed to have two phone numbers on it. She put it in her dress pocket. She entered the house quietly and took her apron out of the closet. She put it back on, tying it in the back. She exited the foyer, and entered the main hall. There, Narcissa waited for her in between the stairs, armed folded.

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy. How are …"

Narcissa took out her wand and pointed it at Junko. Narcissa walked towards Junko, who was walking backwards trying to avoid Narcissa's attack. Narcissa's walk became a run, as she charged at Junko. Junko tried to run, but hit the wall behind her. Junko tried to dart to the right, but Narcissa caught up with her and grabbed her by the hair. Narcissa pulled Junko to the left, where Junko was met with a slap in the face. Junko stumbled in the direction of the smack, holding her cheek where she had been hit. Narcissa grabbed her hair again and pulled her close.

"Don't you EVER embarrass my family like you did tonight again. Inviting a low-blood wizard to our house. Disgracing our family by making people think we associate with their kind. What were you thinking?"

"Mrs. Malfoy, please, don't hurt me! I just wanted to make some new friends is all. It has no reflection on you or your family."

"Oh really?" Narcissa snarled, "Having that low-born wizard pull up in our driveway has no impact on how we're viewed hm? Well it's going to have an impact on that pretty little face of yours."

Narcissa pushed Junko to the floor. She landed hard, hitting her nose in the process. Junko quickly got on her feet and ran for the ballroom door, but Narcissa quickly shouted

"Expulso!"

A burst of blue light emitted from Narcissa's wand, and Junko was sent flying into the wall opposite her. She hit the wall hard, and blood from her nose streaked the wall as she slid down it. Junko remained immobilized as Narcissa walked up to her, with Lucius trailing behind. Unbeknownst to Junko, Draco and Dobby were watching from the stairwell. Draco's eyes were wide with excitement, taking in every moment and anticipating how his mother would beat the mud blood next. Dobby watched nervously, hoping Junko would not be hurt too badly, but he knew that point had already been passed.

Narcissa reached Junko and kicked her in the stomach. Junko groaned and grabbed her stomach.

"Oh, does that hurt Junko?" Narcissa mocked, "You poor thing. Here let me help you." With that, Narcissa said, with an evil, deliberate tone,

"Crucio."

The second the spell hit Junko, she started to scream. Searing pain shot all throughout her body, pain that was almost unbearable. Like a million white-hot needles were stabbed into her body at the same time. Tears streamed from her eyes like a waterfall. She began to rip at her arms and legs, pulled her hair, throw herself upon the ground. Anything to stop the pain. Her display made Draco squeal with glee and made Lucius laugh. Dobby put his hands on his mouth in shock, and tears welled up in his eyes. At last, Junko could take it no longer. She laid on the floor, shaking, crying, but making no sound.

"Do it again Mama!" Draco pleaded.

"I have a better idea." Narcissa said, as a grin grew on her face. Then, she said.

"Imperio."

Yellow mist was emitted from her wand, and surrounded Junko's face. Then, Narcissa lifted her wand. As she did so, Junko rose as well, standing on her feet as best she could, but she wobbled nonetheless. Narcissa took a knife out of her pocket and flung it by Junko's feet.

"Since you're so keen to cut yourself, Junko, why don't you all show us how it's done? After all, you are the expert."

Narcissa lifted her wand. Junko bent over and picked up the knife. She tried to fight the curse, but Narcissa was too strong. Junko pushed up her sleeves and the knife was placed on Junko's outstretched arm. Junko placed the knife over her wrist and began to cut. Blood, red and warm, dripped from her wrist, and its droplets landed on the floor. Junko continued to cut up her arm, the cuts getting deeper and larger each time, tears flowing down her face, mixing with the blood on the floor, which had now created a puddle. When Junko reached the top of her arm, Narcissa motioned her wand so that Junko moved the blade to her face. She was about to cut a gash into her cheek, but suddenly she stopped. Lucius had appeared in front of his wife, and had pushed Narcissa's wand bearing arm away from Junko.

"That's enough, Narcissa." Lucius said.

"Yes, of course. We wouldn't want to ruin her pretty, young face, now would we?" Narcissa said with all the vitriol she could muster. With that, she lowered her arm and Junko fell to the floor. Dobby rushed to her side. Narcissa and Lucius stared at one another. Then, Narcissa walked off. She picked up Draco on her way up the steps, telling him it was time for bed. Lucius took one last look at Junko before ascending the steps as well.