Chapter Six: Saddened

Regan awoke long before her alarm was set to go off. For some reason, she was nervous with butterflies in her stomach.

Why was this making her nervous?

She was just going to follow him around and be his secretary, hardly a complicated job. This would be easy.

She showered and dressed herself just as Mr. Harvey came to the door with her breakfast. Two eggs, bacon, toast, mixed fruit, orange juice; a modest breakfast that left her feeling a little better about her morning. It was far better than what she was served at the Ministry; they were lucky to see a piece of fruit, let alone actually be allowed to eat it. Wearing a high neck white cotton shirt with long sleeves and a loosely tied bow around her neck, Regan opted for a pair of high waist trousers and a pair of black flats. She had decided to go simple since this was her first day and she wasn't sure how long she would be on her feet. With her hair braided on the side of her head and then coiled into a bun, she went downstairs to Lucius's second floor study. She was surprised to find the door open as if he had been waiting for her.

What was she thinking?

Of course he was waiting for her…

"Right on time," he called from his desk as she stood in the doorway. "Are you always so punctual?" He asked as Regan shut the door behind her and strode into his office. This time the early morning light replaced the moonlight and Regan could see much better. It looked like the study downstairs with tall bookshelves and a reading chair placed in front of a fireplace; the whole place screamed grandeur.

"I try to be on time." Regan said as Lucius finally looked up from the couple pieces of parchment that rested in front of him. She couldn't ignore the way his eyes seemed to rake over her body, taking in her form and appreciating the view.

"Wear a skirt tomorrow," he suddenly told her as she continued to stand in front of him.

"Why, do you find pants offensive?" Regan instantly bit her tongue as the sly remark tumbled out. Thankfully, Lucius just chuckled at her snide remark.

"You have a wonderful set of legs and I believe that it would be a true crime to keep them hidden, don't you agree?" Before Regan could make another off handed comment, she simply nodded. "Good girl," Lucius purred. "Now sit down."

The next few days passed uneventfully as Regan quickly took to her new position. It was far from complicated work; she often addressed letters to be sent and took notes on meetings and recorded memos. She found that once Lucius was in a working environment, he was actually tolerable to be around. He was focused, serious, and quiet; Regan appreciated his silence more than she could ever express. And at the end of the day, she could go up to her room and enjoy a quiet dinner by herself. Then she could shower, read, and then fall asleep.

Her first weekend at the Manor was absolutely glorious. The family had decided to spend a weekend in the country and Regan had nothing to do but kill time. She finished a book and wrote a few letters to her only uncle who lived across the pond in Connecticut. She hoped that maybe he knew something about where her parents were. Until Lucius actually found them, she had no reason to give up hope just yet.

The next week passed quietly and before Regan knew it, it was the day of the first quidditch match. Regan was surprised when Astoria sent a request for her to come down so that they could get ready together. When Regan arrived, Astoria had curlers in her hair and a woman carefully doing her makeup. Astoria's eyes flicked to Regan, a disapproving look in her eyes.

"Oh you're not really going to wear that, are you?" Regan didn't get the chance to answer before Astoria was giving orders. "Go upstairs and fetch something more appropriate for her. Maybe something in an emerald green, and don't forget shoes and a nice fascinator."

A timid maid scurried past Regan as the young red head quietly wondered what was so wrong with her clothing.

"You're going to be put on display today; a simple suit just won't do the trick." Astoria explained as she motioned for Regan to sit in the cushioned chair next to her. She did as she was told, hesitant only when the makeup artist gave her a wary look. "It's nice to finally have a girl my age to talk to," Astoria admitted as she leaned away from the makeup artist.

"I'm sure that you have plenty of friends," Regan said as the makeup artist eyed her face as if planning out some sort of strategy for her face. Regan had already put on makeup; that woman was not allowed to touch her face.

"Oh I've got lots of proper acquaintances, but they never come to the Manor. You're the first person that I've been approved to be with." Regan didn't bother to question her as another woman began to unroll Astoria's hair and style her hair. "I know that you'll be working closely with Lucius, but I hope that we'll be friends."

Regan forced herself to smile when she saw the desperation on the woman's face. She was lonely and absolutely desperate for any form of human contact outside of her husband and her child. Despite all of the wealth that she had, Regan actually found herself pitying Astoria as she sat in her designer clothing with a feathered fascinator being attached to her hair.

And yet…Regan didn't pity her enough to actually be her friend.

"Do you always get this dressed up to go to a quidditch match?" Regan asked as the timid maid returned with a much more presentable outfit.

"Oh we're just going to the first game. It's all for publicity, they want to make it look like we're connected with the people." Regan nodded as Astoria leaned back with an amused smirk. "So, how do you like living here?" Regan shrugged her shoulders as her hair was suddenly yanked and subjected to the same treatment that Astoria had endured.

"The Manor is beautiful." She said, furrowing her brow together as the hair dresser pulled at her hair and made her scalp protest from the sudden, jerking movements.

"Well anybody can see that, but do you like living here?" Astoria asked with a small chuckle.

"I do," she answered simply. She didn't want to give too much away to Astoria, despite the fact that this woman was to be her friend. At the end of the day, she still reported to Lucius and anything that Regan said could be reported back to him.

It was just best to remain positive, even if it was only on the outside.

"I promise that I'll get to your room eventually, Draco's just been so stressed out. Of course, you know all about that." Regan gently nodded. Lucius had been distracted this week about some crisis in Sweden. They were trying to extend their power and get new members to the Death Eaters and apparently they weren't having much luck. He hadn't even noticed that she had worn pants on Thursday.

Regan wasn't sure that he had even had the time to look at her ass.

"Yes, I understand, Lucius has been very distracted." She commented. Astoria sighed, watching with a small smirk as the makeup artist descended on Regan's unsuspecting face.

Well fuck...

"Those two are so consumed with making sure that their power is secure in Europe before they make any attempt to establish themselves in Asia or in the Americas."

Regan stilled, finally allowing the makeup artist full access to her pale face. So it was true then. They were finally getting ready to make their move over to another continent.

Why couldn't they just be content with Europe?

Was world domination really that important?

"I see," Regan muttered. She couldn't give much of a response as the makeup artist began to pluck and shape her eyebrows, causing her eyes to water.

"But it's nothing for us to worry about, all we have to worry about today is to smile and look pretty." Regan flinched as her makeup was finished and her hair was brushed and a soft wave gently framed her face. Astoria watched as Regan was pulled behind a screen and the clothing was removed from her body only to be replaced by an emerald green dress and a fitted black blazer. The fascinator was a large, neatly tied bow with stiff netting hanging down across Regan's eyes. When she stepped out in her big black pumps, Astoria was actually impressed by the petite woman that stood in front of her. "Well, I think it's safe to say that nobody will be looking at me today." She said with a small smirk. Regan actually blushed at that, but she kept a straight face.

"I can't see why anybody would ever be interested in me." She said with a small shrug, her ankles already complaining from the abnormally high heels.

"You're new and you're very pretty." Astoria explained as she took the young woman's arm and the pair casually strolled downstairs to where two large cars were waiting to take them to the quidditch match. Lucius and Draco were having a quiet conversation, but Lucius stopped when his eyes locked on Regan as she descended the front stairs with Astoria.

"It's about time," Draco said, yanking open the car door and waiting for his wife to climb in.

"Actually, I was thinking that Regan could ride with me." Astoria said, making her husband finally look up. He quickly took in his wife's appearance, but his eyes moved to Regan's slim form and suddenly he looked interested.

"No, Regan must ride with me," Lucius insisted. "She is my personal servant after all." Astoria held onto Regan's arm tighter.

"But Regan and I have become such good friends." She said, clearly not willing to back down.

And neither was Lucius.

"She rides with me," he insisted. He yanked open his car door and motioned for Regan to climb inside. Despite the hard look in his eyes, Astoria stuck out her chin and pulled Regan to the second car.

"You get to sit with her at the match, at least let me sit with her for the drive." She waited for Regan to slide into the back seat before sitting down next to her and slamming the door shut, effectively ending the conversation. Lucius glared at her for a moment before he got into the front car with Draco climbing in right behind him. Astoria waited until they were moving before speaking again. "I see the way that he looks at you, be very careful." Astoria warned, her eyes focused on the dark car in front of them.

"What do you think he wants to do with me?" Regan asked, genuinely curious.

"It's hard to say…has he tried anything?" Regan bit the insides of her cheeks, pushing the memories of that night out of her mind.

"There was…an incident." Regan commented, not wanting to go much further into detail, but she didn't need to. Astoria could see the lingering darkness in Regan's eyes.

"If something else happens, you tell me immediately." Astoria insisted. "When Lucius sets his eye on something, he will stop at nothing to get it…and he wants you." Regan inwardly shuddered, the memory of his smooth hands playing again in her mind.

"He can't have me," she muttered. "As soon as he finds my parents, I will have no reason to remain here." Astoria's face saddened.

"What will I do after you're gone?" She asked with a sad smile. Regan shook her head, looking out the window at the passing dull foliage.

"Perhaps we shouldn't be friends," Regan quietly suggested. Astoria let out a little sigh.

"Perhaps…"

...

A/N: I think my university is trying to kill me...graduation cannot come fast enough...next chapter will be better...

Dragoon Dave: Well who else would have the power and connections to find them? Besides, who doesn't love a good moment of disaster?

Reviews are always appreciated and questions are always answered.