Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Not Worth It
Chapter 5
The Constable's Son
Merope nodded. She had completely forgotten the constable's son was coming.
"I hope you don't mind," said Kevin, raising the fish. "But I just went fishing. Thought we'd have some lunch before I get to work."
Merope didn't respond. Emily stepped forward and broke the silence.
"Sounds good," Emily said. "Hi, I'm Emily. I'm a friend of Merope's."
Kevin inclined his head. "Madam."
"Come on in and we'll cook this fish," said Emily, nodding inside. "Goodness, these are big fish. Where'd you get them?"
"There's a river than flows into a pond here in the village," Kevin explained. "It's my favorite place in the world."
Emily and Merope prepared the fish as Kevin began unloading the shingles and tools from his wagon.
"He's friendly," said Emily.
Merope shrugged as she put the fish in the frying pan. She knew Kevin was only here because the constable sent him here. Kevin wouldn't voluntarily come to the house of Gaunt. The constable only came in the first place because of his duty.
"Handsome," Emily began setting the table.
Merope shrugged again. That might be true but Kevin couldn't hold a torch to Tom. There was no point in even comparing the two. Tom was the one man Merope always wanted to be with. She felt so foolish for thinking that Kevin was Tom. Though she wondered where tom could be. Why hadn't he gone by the lane yet? He went by every morning. Had she missed him?
When the fish was cooked, the three of them sat at the table to eat. Merope hardly spoke and it was up to Emily to keep a conversation going. Merope's mind wandered to Tom and she tried to imagine that Tom was sitting in Kevin's place. Soon, Merope believed, Tom would be at her home. They would be sitting enjoying a nice lunch together and talking about their lives. After their plates were clean, Emily and Kevin were still chatting. Emily gave them a moment to keep talking as she kept looking at their plates. When she cooked for her brother and father, she had made the mistake of taking her father's empty plate to wash it and he gave her a black eye for it. He wasn't finished eating. When she had asked him if she could take his plate, she received another beating. She was not allowed to ask if he was finished or wanted more. She was supposed to sit in silence until Marvolo told her give him more food or to wash the dishes.
Merope bit her lip. This was the first meal she had prepared for someone other than herself since Marvolo and Morfin were taken away. Did the same rules apply for her guests? She wasn't sure how to act. Should she say something since she prepared, or wait until Kevin said something because he had brought the fish in the first place? It was was in the middle the afternoon and though they had plenty of daylight left, she wanted to get the roof taken care of so Kevin could be on his way. In case Tom was to pass by, she didn't want him to spot Kevin at their place. It could ruin her chances.
"Ah, sorry," Merope whispered, getting to her feet. "Are you two finished?" She pointed to her plates.
Emily looked at her plate, forgetting that it was there. "Oh yes, I suppose I am. I'll do the dishes. How about you get Kevin started on the roof?"
Merope glanced at the ceiling. She didn't know what to tell Kevin. His father was the one who sent him to here.
"I'll meet you out there," Merope said to Kevin. He nodded and went outside.
. Merope grabbed her plate and cup and followed Emily to the newly installed sink. It had once been a basin. "I don't know what to do."
"Just keep him busy while I do these," said Emily. "I'm going to finish up in here and do that cellar for you."
"But I," Merope began and Emily cut her off.
"Don't worry," said Emily, taking her plate and cup. "Just leave it all to me. You can take nettles off your house. Do a little outside cleaning and keep him occupied. He's very friendly."
Merope sighed as Emily filled up a bucket of soapy water, threw in a rag and sent her outside. Kevin had a ladder propped up against the house.
"Could you hold the ladder for me?" he asked.
Merope sat the bucket down and approached the ladder. He showed her how to firmly hold ladder for him. Merope caught a whiff of his scent as he began up the ladder. For a man who spent most of his time fishing, he didn't smell much like fish at all. He smelt like grass and pine. It surprised her. When he got to the top, he told her to let go.
"I'll let you know when I need you to hold the ladder again for me," he said as he began pulling off the old shingles.
"All right," said Merope. "I'll be right here."
Instead of leaving the old shingles on the roof, Kevin dropped them to the ground. He warned Merope every time he dropped one so they wouldn't fall on her. Merope began washing the outside of the windows. Every so often she looked over her shoulder to see if Tom Riddle was coming over the horizon. She had not seen him in a few days. As she thought on it, the lane that went by her house wasn't the only way to the village. There were small paths through the forest and she had spotted him galloping in the fields several times. Tom rarely went by her house and she couldn't blame him. Why would he want to see the hovel that wasted space in the village? Why would he want to see the ugly girl that lived there? Still she couldn't help it. She wanted to know where he was. She wanted to chance seeing him. She might go mad if she did not see him soon.
After cleaning each window, she began pulling down the nettles that were climbing up the house walls. She saw the stinging hairs and she moved slowly to the vines. Her palms had only just barely brushed the hairs but her hands were stung. She let out a cry of pain.
"What happened?" Kevin peeked over the roof.
"Stung my hands," she said, showing him her hands. "On the nettles. I barely touched them."
"They're more likely to sting you if you do touch them gently," Kevin said.
"Really?" Merope asked. "I thought if I was careful it wouldn't."
"I know," Kevin nodded. "If you grasp them hard," he made a grasp in the air with his hand. "It crushes the hairs so they won't sting you. Show me your hands."
Merope opened her palms and lifted her arms up.
"You should put something on that," he said.
"I haven't anything," Merope admitted.
"No ointment or medicine?"
Merope shook her head. There was no medicine of any kind in her house, not since her mother died.
"When my sister and I got stung by plants and bees," Kevin began with a grin. "My mother would use mud when we had no ointment."
"Mud?" Merope raised an eyebrow and Kevin laughed.
"Yes, it takes the poison out," said Kevin. "I can help put it on."
Merope shook her head. "I'll be right back," said Merope and she walked behind the trees. She bent down to dirt and took out her wand. She winced as she closed her fingers. Using just her fingertips, she pointed the wand to the dirt.
"Aguamenti!" she whispered and a small trickle of water escaped from her wand. She gasped in surprise. She had never been able to get a spell to work on the first try with her mother's wand.
She worked the mud onto her hands and waited a few moments. Kevin was right. The mud helped. After she washed off the mud, her hands still felt a little achy, but her hands felt good enough to continue working. She walked back to the house.
"I'm back," she declared.
"You all right?" Kevin said, tossing down the last worn shingle.
"Yes," answered Merope.
"Hold the ladder for me again," he said.
Merope went to the ladder and held it still for him. When he got back down, he asked for a look at her hands. As she did so, a horse came down the lane. Merope felt her heart stop. Dare she look?
A man laughed. "Proposing to the tramp's daughter, are you, Hale? I doubt she'd make a decent wife."
Merope was in too much shock to say anything or pull her hands away. Kevin smiled and turned his head. He did not let go of her hands.
"Afternoon, Tom," he said. "Merope just stung her hands on the nettles." He nodded at the nettles.
"What the hell happened to the roof?" Tom demanded.
"I'm putting new shingles on," Kevin explained.
Tom snorted. "The place is falling apart. You can't fix it. Besides, it's not your home. The tramp should be working on it."
"Oh you haven't heard, have you?" Kevin said. "Marvolo and Morfin are in prison."
Tom dismounted and walked forward. "Is this true? Oi, girl!"
Merope raised her head. Tom was speaking to her?
"That the truth?" Tom questioned. "Your father and brother are in prison?"
Merope nodded. "Yes."
Tom smirked. "Perfect. I trust they won't return? Then perhaps you won't mind selling this property over to my father. We can have it taken down."
"Now just a moment, Riddle," Kevin said, the friendliness in his voice disappearing. He released Merope's hands and turned to look at Tom in the eye. "This is still Merope's house. You take it away, where is she supposed to live?"
"House!" Tom exclaimed. "You call this ugly shack a house? Look at it!"
"It needs some work, that is true," Kevin said with a nod. "This is why I'm fixing the roof."
"You can't just fix this place by putting on a new roof," Tom complained.
"Then I'll make whatever improvements are necessary," Kevin said.
"So are you working for the tramp's daughter then?" Tom jeered. "What sort of payment does she give you?" He glanced in Merope's direction.
Kevin cleared his throat. "I have some work to do, if you excuse me."
Tom didn't move. "Don't think that just because your father is the constable, you can order me around."
Kevin stepped forward. "And don't you think that just because your father is the squire, you can push people around."
The two men stood glaring at each other. Then bang!
Tom's chestnut neighed loudly, reared back on its hind legs and took off. Kevin's mule however, remained where it was, grazing.
"Your horse is a real Nervous Nellie, isn't she?" Kevin said, with a wide grin.
Tom was gaping in shock. After standing dumbfounded for a moment, he ran after his horse, cursing. Kevin shook his head, laughing. Merope remained quiet.
"Serves him right," he said. "Always flaunting his weight around."
The door opened and Emily walked out, surprising the pair. "We have just a few hours of light left. We should get a move on." Emily went to the wood pile. Merope noticed she had a large grin on her face.
"Oh, right," said Kevin. He returned to the roof and Merope returned to pulling the nettles. Emily returned to the house, only coming back out to grab more wood or rocks.
Thinking they might be useful as a potion ingredient, Merope pulled the nettles apart and placed the flowers, leaves and stems in separate piles.
"Ow!" grunted Kevin. "Damn hammer!"
Merope paused from her task and stood up. "What is it?"
"Hit my thumb," he explained, holding his thumb up. He went on complaining how he always managed to hit his thumb more than the nail.
"Let me see your hammer," said Merope suddenly.
"My hammer?" Kevin said.
"Yes," she reached out for it. "Maybe I can keep it from hitting your thumb."
Instead of asking how she could, Kevin handed her the hammer. "Careful now, don't let it get your thumbs!"
Merope brought Kevin's hammer inside the house. There was a large hole between the kitchen and living room. Merope carefully walked around it and looked inside. There were steps leading down the hole but she didn't go down them. There were a few small lights inside the hole.
"Emily?" said Merope.
"I'm not finished!" Emily cried. "Don't come down yet!"
"I just need you to look at Kevin's hammer," Merope said. "It hit his thumb. Is there a way you can…?."
Emily chuckled and came to the stairs. "Hold it out for me."
Merope complied and Emily touched the hammer with her wand. "Destino. Now tell him he has to touch the hammer with the nail, and it ought to work.
As Merope stood up, Emily spoke. "Oh, that man with the horse. Is that him?"
"Yes, that is Tom Riddle," said Merope. "Isn't he handsome?"
Emily shrugged. "He may be, but he was rather rude if you ask me."
Merope returned the hammer to Kevin and instructed him as Emily had suggested. After he continued his work, he stated in amazement that he didn't hit his thumb once. Merope finished separating the nettle parts and went inside and grabbed a pot for them. She asked Emily to place them in the new cellar for her. As Emily was arranging them for her, Kevin called for Merope.
"I'll take care of it," said Emily and Merope stepped outside.
"What is it?" Merope asked.
"All finished!" Kevin declared. "What do you think?"
He was standing on the new roof. Merope couldn't remember the last time it looked half this good. She smiled.
"I like it," said Merope.
"Hold the ladder for me?" he requested.
Merope did so and he excused himself to the restroom. He had already gone inside when she remembered that Marada had gone there to sleep! She entered the house and began pacing. Merope worried what he might think if he saw a snake sleeping in their bathtub. He might think the house was infested and try to kill her. There was also the possibility that Marada would think he was intruder and bite him. She waited for him to shout. There was nothing. When he came back out, he just commented on the color of the walls.
Emily emerged from the cellar and Kevin looked surprised. "There was a cellar entrance here, the whole time?"
"Yes," said Emily quickly. "I was just getting it ready for the harvest season, you see."
"Need any help?" he asked.
Emily shook her head. "I've got it all taken care of. How's the roof?"
"Finished," he replied. "Come and see."
He led her outside to show her his handiwork. Having already seen it, Merope remained inside. She remembered the money hidden behind the stove. She went to fetch it. She counted out ten pounds. She walked out of the house and handed it to him. He wouldn't accept it.
"You should keep it," he said. "I can't accept it."
"But you worked so hard," Merope whispered.
"An act of service," said Kevin. "My father instructed me not to take any money for it."
"You should save that money for more things to improve the home," Emily told her. "You need a new mattress, new bedding, rugs-"
"The shops are still open," said Kevin, glancing at his pocket watch. "I can take you to town and we can get what we need."
"Good idea," said Emily.
"I'll be back," Merope went back inside to get more money. As she was stuffing into her pocket, Emily came in.
"Don't you have a purse?"
Merope shook her head.
"I think I've got an extra coin purse in here," Emily said, picking up her bag. She grumbled. "Curse this Extendable Charm! I can fit everything in the world in here, but I'm never able to find what I need!" She took her wand out. "Accio yellow coin purse!"
The yellow coin purse came out. Emily opened it up and dumped the contents back in her bag. Merope stared and pointed at it.
"Oh I'll sort it later," Emily said. She enlarged the purse and added a strap. "There you go. You should be able to fit more into it. Your money is likely to fall out of your pocket if you put it there."
"How much should I take?" Merope asked, counting the money. "I have almost two hundred pounds."
"Two hundred pounds?" Emily gasped.
"It was the money my mother made," she said. "I found it yesterday."
"Take just fifty for now," Emily instructed. "You'd want to put the rest of that in Gringotts. We can get something second hand and I can always fix it up later. I'm sure whatever we find will be loads better than what was here."
"You ladies ready to go?" Kevin knocked on the door.
"Coming!" Emily said. Merope put fifty pounds and some change into her newly acquired purse and put the rest of it in its hiding place.
The three of them rode to the village. "We have a small village," Kevin admitted, "but we've got some good shops. If you don't find what we need, we can try Great Hangleton."
Kevin parked his wagon and Emily pulled Merope into a second hand store. While browsing, the proprietor approached them. She was a tall middle-aged woman.
"You like those curtains? I made them myself."
"I do," said Emily. "What do you think, Merope?"
Merope nodded and the woman recognized her. "Wasn't your mother Marada?"
"Y-yes," Merope said, wondering if she would be thrown out because of her family.
The woman smiled. "She was my midwife. I would have died it weren't for her. I doubt my baby would have made it either."
"Oh," said Merope. Then she remembered that she had acted as a midwife to other women in the village.
"Your mother had a gift," the woman said, walking on to show Emily and Merope more merchandise. "She could do things that no one in the village could do. I don't know how to explain it."
"I'm sorry," said Merope. "I don't remember you."
"I'm Constance Webber," she introduced. "I'm a seamstress. My late husband was a hunter. We didn't have much money back then so we traded your mothers services with some furs, leather and clothing. You know, I still owe her a favor. She asked me to make you an outfit for when you started school. But that was years ago! The shock of her passing made me completely forget."
Merope bit her lip. Her mother was going to have a muggle make her Hogwarts outfit? She really wanted her to go to Hogwarts if she would go to that level. She knew her father would be flabbergasted, but Merope was quite impressed. It made her realize that her mother really wanted her to have a chance to learn magic, like the rest of the wearing children.
"Did you get your clothes for school?" Constance asked. Merope shook her head. "I—I didn't get to go. My father taught me at home."
Merope remained quiet.
"I'm Emily," Emily said. "We're getting some things for her house. A new mattress, bedding, some rugs. A new chair for the living room"
"I—I've only fifty pounds and seventy-three pence," Merope admitted.
"Well, since I owe your mother a favor," Constance said, "I'll cut you a deal. I'll take these to the counter and you get what you need."
She took the curtains to the counter, passing Kevin. After exchanging hellos, he joined Emily and Merope. After Merope indicated what pieces of merchandise she liked, Emily plopped them into Kevin's arms. After picking out some bedding, two rugs, some towels rags and a couple changes of clothing, Merope stated she was finished.
"Are you certain?" Emily said. "Mrs. Webber said you can get all you need!"
"Did she?" Kevin asked. "She isn't usually this generous."
"She said that she owed Merope's mother a favor," she replied. "She was her midwife."
"Oh, that's right," Kevin said. "He was my mother's midwife when my sister was born."
"We need at least a chair for the living room," said Emily.
Merope went to the smallest, cheapest armchair. There was a small tear on one of the arms. "This will do."
After paying for Merope's new home accents, Kevin started loading the wagon. Constance encouraged Merope to come back again soon.
"I'll do that," said Merope. When she and Emily stepped out of the second hand shop, she almost bumped into the pretty Cecelia, Tom's flame.
"Watch where you're going, you ugly waif!" she exclaimed.
"No harm done," said Emily. "Neither of you were knocked down."
Cecelia eyed Emily's wide girth. "I don't know which would be worse, bumping into a fat cow, or an ugly witch."
"Fat and ugly, are we?" said Emily. "That may be, but I can lose weight, and Merope can get a makeover!"
Cecelia stared.
"You on the other hand," Emily continued. "Have a bad attitude. Good luck getting rid of that!"
Cecelia gasped and spluttered. She noticed the second hand shop sign behind them. She grinned. "Yes, well, the second hand store suits you. You'll never afford proper possessions!"
Cecelia walked off and Emily hollered after her. "We got a good deal on these—and if Merope wanted more—she could get a job!"
Kevin came over, chuckling. "That was quite entertaining, thank you."
"Who does that girl think she is?" Emily said.
"That was Cecelia Roberts," Kevin explained, putting more rugs into the wagon. "She moved here in the beginning of the summer. Tom Riddle-the squire's son-is courting here. They make the perfect couple. Perfectly rude." The wagon loaded, he began untying the mule from the post.
"She's right," Merope muttered.
"What's that?" Emily asked.
"I'm ugly."
"Well so am I," said Emily. "You can get a makeover. There's lots of makeup you can use, not just in the muggle world but also in the wizarding world. But remember Merope, it's a lot easier to change the outside of a person than it is the inside."
As they approached Merope's cottage, she barely recognized it. It only had a new roof and the nettles had been cleared away, but it did make a big enough difference. Kevin helped bring in the mattress and chair while Emily helped Merope make her bed and put her clothes in away.
"You can use an Enlargement charm on the chair and rugs," Emily told Merope. "Make the chair a sofa and the rugs into carpet if you want. Maybe some tile in the bathroom. There's plenty of notes you can use in the books I left you. Be sure to send me an OWL on how you're doing. If you need some practice, I'll try to come by, as long as my schedule permits."
"Thank you," said Merope.
"I wish I could stay and help you finish up," said Emily, "but building that cellar took longer than I thought. I've got a train to catch."
Emily stepped to the main room. "Kevin, could you give me a lift to the train station?"
"It'd be my pleasure," he answered. "Merope, if you need any help, just let me know."
Merope nodded.
"After you," said Kevin, holding the door for Emily. Emily waved goodbye and Merope shut the door. She turned around and took her time walking around her newly improved house. It was clean. The walls had color. New furniture. She walked downstairs to the cellar than was not always there. There were stone support columns in the middle of the room and large wooden shelves against all the walls. It was perfect for Merope to prepare potions in. She couldn't wait to go to Diagon Alley and get some proper potion making equipment. She walked back up stairs to her room and took out her newly bought nightgown. The sun was barely beginning to set, but it was a long day and she remembered how Emily told her that a bubble bath and a warm nightgown relaxed her after a hard days' work. She went into the bathroom, filled the tub with water and poured in the pink bubble bath solution that Emily happened to have in her mysterious bag of everything. When Merope stepped into the warm bubbly water, all her troubles seemed to melt away. Her father and brother were gone and there was nothing left in the house to remind her of them. Besides the man she loved, Merope had everything she wanted. But that was about to change.
TO BE CONTINUED