*warning: sexual content and trigger warning: sexual abuse*

Maureen lead Merope back up the stairs that went to the top of the right side corner of the manor. She opened the door and inside were four young ladies wearing nightgowns, one still in her maid outfit, a baby, and one years older than the rest who sat by the fire still in her maid outfit.

"Ladies, your attention please," Maureen said letting Merope walk in first.

Merope clinched the strap of her satchel and slowly walked in looking at the floor the whole time. The girls looked at each other at the sight. They all had been in this girls position, and they soon got off their beds to meet the new girl. Except one, she just rolled her eyes and went back to heating her curling tongs in the small flame in the fireplace.

Maureen looked around the room and noticed one girl was missing. She notices a window open and sighs before calling out the name "Josephine. Inside now."

After a few moments, a young girl with short ginger hair that stopped at her chin, gently slide into the room from the open window.

"You know what Madam has said about..."

"I'm sorry Miss Maureen, but the sunset always looks more beautiful the closer winter comes and you know we can see it from..."

"Josephine, if you are caught, this time I'm not going to speak to Madam in your defense. Not just because you broke a rule. You know how I feel about climbing." Maureen gave the girl a warning look and the young girl nodded in defeat. "Now if I may have all your attention...," she looked over at oldest woman in the room. In fact, she was older than Maureen by two years, but if you didn't know this you would never guess. "Valeska, all I need is at least five minutes."

"More like you need at least five inches," she fired back not even bothering to mumble her words as she left the curler by the fire place and walked over to the rest of the women.

Some of the girls snickered under their breath and others held it back by biting the inside of their cheeks. Even Merope, had to place a hand to her mouth and pretend to cough. Though her reaction was more out of shock than humor.

Maureen's expression went cold as she walked up to the woman. From day one these two had never gotten along. Valeska was full of resentment at her situation in life and despised that a younger woman had authority over her.

"If I didn't relish at the fact you leave this house every weekend I would have you locked in the basement," she said knowing she didn't have a come back and threats were all she could use. "Keep it up and Madam might learn who really keeps moving her jewelry around."

Valeska stiffened a bit since she knew the power Maureen had not just as head maid but I life long friend of Madam Riddle. Valeska was no thief but she could never control her urge to see what Madam's jewelry looked like on her.

Maureen smirked in satisfaction that she had made the woman backdown. "Now ladies, if you are done being vulgar minded harlots," she said sarcastically.

The girls laughed a bit more. Though they had to act prime and proper when doing their jobs and especially when visitors were near once in their living quarters as long as they disturbed no one they were free to act as they pleased. Often this was dancing, joking, using "social enhancers" as they called them, expressing how they truly felt about the Riddles, and even some not so lady like banter.

"This is Merope Gaunt, starting today she will be working and living with you all. Treat her well, and let's make her stay here as pleasant as we can."

"Our bosses won't so someone has to," said a girl with shortest hair. Merope had never seen a young girl with her hairstyle, and thought short hair like hers was only associated with boys. She looks at Merope and smiled before walking over and giving her a small hug. "I'm Alice."

Merope stiffened at the affection. For the first time she was being embraced with warmth and not in a disturbed possessive way. When her father embraced her in his moments of depression it was never warm. It was cold because no matter how many times he apologized she knew the peace would not last, and she couldn't bear to think about her brother embracing her. If she thought about it to long she would scream or vomit. After some hesitation Merope embraced her back, but said nothing.

The next girl, was a different race than the rest. She had long black hair, skin as smooth as silk, and healthy looking face with plump cheekbones. She bowed and shook Merope by the hand. "I'm Kiyoko, I'll be your bed buddy. My other left some time ago, and I've been waiting for someone new."

"Thank you, knowing what sleeping in a bed is like will be nice," she smiles a bit more as she rejoiced on the inside but also worried. Could she handle sharing such a close sleeping spot with someone? Her words made some of the other girls frown. They already knew she most likely wasn't from a well off family, but they had never excepted such a high level of poverty. The oldest woman and a girl that was clearly the youngest snickered slightly.

A tall girl with long auburn hair elbowed the youngest and gave her a warning look which the younger just rolled her eyes at.

A girl with long dull wavy brown hair walked up next. She introduced herself as "Ivy" and held a small baby on her hip. The baby had big blue eyes and was starting to grow out auburn hair.

"Your daughter is adorable," Merope said and when her eyes looked at the child she frowned, knowing she would never know motherhood, but maybe it was for the best.

"Oh she is mine," said the tall girl with long auburn hair. Her face was cross and showed premature aging as it seemed stress had caused her to age much quicker. "I'm Louisa," she said smiling as best as she could but her face soon became sorrowful again. "I'm second head maid, and that is my daughter, Dorothy."

"She is all our baby," Ivy explained as Dorothy played with her hair. "Except on Saturday nights and Sundays...then she is her mother's," the girl laughed as the others did as well.

Merope could see Louisa smile slightly, but it soon faded. Merope had a feeling this poor girl had been through a lot. Her face gave it away and she found herself pitying someone more than herself. She often felt bad for others, but also felt they didn't understand real struggle and pain. This girl clearly did.

"We call her bundle since we pass her around so much," the girl that had come through the window said. "As you heard, I'm Josephine," she said walking over and embraced Merope even more warming than Alice. Merope hugged back a bit stronger but still found herself feeling awkward.

The oldest woman was tired of standing waiting and walked up to Merope as Josephine got edged to the side. She rolled her eyes at the older woman's behavior and went to give her the finger behind her back but Maureen's expression stopped Josephine's hand.

"My name is Valeska Elizabetha Weber," she said speaking quickly a bizarre accent. "Ms. Valeska, I am call."

Merope listened to her voice and was very tempted to ask about it, but held herself back. This upset Valeska, how this low girl didn't find her interested enough to engage in simple talk. "You do know the mouth is for speaking, right, darling." She said eyeing the girl up and down and noting her plainness. There was nothing of her worth complementing, especially in her eyes.

"Sorry, your name is unique. Where are you from."

"My life is such a tell best not waste free time explaining," she scuffed before turning on her heals. "Come along Beatrice, and I can start on your hair like I promised."

Beatrice gave Merope a small nod as a greeting, but said nothing else as she followed the woman. Louisa was clearly biting her tongue and her expression was almost rage. All the girls were clearly annoyed by Valeska but Louisa seemed to express hatred.

"That's everyone," Maureen said and turned Merope to face her. "I'm sure you've been wondering about my personality change from our first encounter," she asked giving Merope a questioning look to see if she was right. Merope nodded because she was in fact right but didn't want to force conversation. "Well, you should know. I have never married or had children so you girls are in some ways my children...and one washed up, bitchy sister."

"Excuse me," Valeska said in angry tone dropping her curling tongs and luckily missed Beatrice's foot. "How dare you say that about me." She said walking closure to Maureen in the middle of the room.

Maureen turned to her with a smirk on her face, so grateful that bidding her time for a comeback plaid off. "How did you know I was talking about you, Ms. Valeska? Was it the words washed up or the word bitchy?"

All the girls, even Beatrice though she did it as low and little as possible, laughed at the stunned older snobby woman. Josephine, who was behind Valeska, placed a hand to her heart and mouthed. "Proud of you," to Maureen.

Valeska said nothing just rolled her eyes, and went back to Beatrice and forced the girls head to look straight as she went back to curling her hair.

Maureen held her smirk before returning her look back at Maureen. She noticed that though the girl laughed at first she seemed nervous now. Maureen took her hand in hers. "Don't worry, she can't harm you and if she tries let me know." She let Merope's hand go and held them in front of her one over the other.

"As I was saying," she began again. "You girls are like my children, and I want to push you do your best in the kindest way but I also have a job and reputation of my own. Over the years, I have done my best to make this home up to Mary's likeness, and over the years she has gotten harder to please. I will always love her as an old friend but to stay on her good side for the good of all you girls I have to make her believe I am harsh and forceful with you all to make her believe you are not just worthy to keep but you have earned your money."

Merope nodded and understood to the best of her ability. It couldn't be easy working directly under someone like Madam Riddle.

"I understand."

Maureen nodded and smiled kindly. "You are in luck to be arriving on a Friday, and the girls shall, I'm sure, explain why," she then let out a sigh and turned to the rest of the girls. "Now that the introductions are out of the way I am afraid I must also bear some troubling news."

All the girls gave Maureen their attention and Merope could see they dreaded what was coming next but it also seemed like the knew what was coming.

"You all will be able to go out Saturday night as usual and have your Sundays off but...Lord Riddle will be leaving on..."

"Oh God," Ivy groaned loudly as she fell on her bed, but since it was padded from feathers and horse hair it made no sound. "Dear almighty father, I know it's been some time since we last spoke but...

"Oh shut up...," Josephine said sharply. "Let me do the praying he will answer faster," she said trying to make light of the situation.

"I was going to ask him to strike me down, thank you...," Ivy fired back.

"In that case, God will definitely answer Ivy first," Kiyoko said causing the girls to laughs more, before she got in her bed.

Merope found herself smiling again and it felt so unusual for her. In the short time, of being around the girls she felt like she was in a normal healthy sibling relationship. Something she had never had before and this almost brought tears to her eyes.

"I'm guessing you all like Lord Riddle," Merope asked thinking maybe he wasn't as bad as his wife.

This question caused all the girls, even Beatrice and Valeska to laugh more. The only one who remained silent was Louisa, who was now in her bed holding Dorothy close, patting her back to help the baby begin to relax for the night. Unlike before Louisa didn't even try to laugh this time.

"He's a bit nicer to look at," Kiyoko laughs a bit putting a hand over her mouth. "I wouldn't say he is easier to deal with but..."

"He's is just as snobbish, but he can also have his nice moments if he feels you have earned it," Alice explains. "Like once there was this girl...I can't remember her name she didn't last long but we had to polish the silverware for a party and we laid them out incorrectly. Madam began to lose her mind asking us if we were ever taught and the girl swore on her life that we had...I told the truth that we in fact didn't, and I got to keep my job because while she was just so enraged at the mess up he said "well at least this one is honest." That is how I earned his favor."

"He also can defend staff when he feels there is a need," Josephine added. "He defended me the first time I got in trouble for sitting on the roof. Madam was so angry but he reminded her how when she was once young I she did as well. He can be snobbish, but he isn't an ogre like Madam can be."

"She is just hurting," Louisa speaks up laying Dorothy down on the small cradle beside her side of the bed. "Have some sympathy."

"Really," Kiyoko sat up a bit looking at the older girl in a baffled way. "Do you recall how she acted the last time he was gone. It's hard to have sympathy for a woman who throws soup on the carpet. After I scrubbed in over an hour."

Louisa sighed and gave Kiyoko a compassionate expression. "I'm not saying you are wrong for feeling how you do but...I can't imagine the pain she must feel when he is gone."

"Because he isn't just doing finical business," Merope finally spoke up in an asking tone. The girls looked at each other and they were surprised to realize even someone like her who seemed so sheltered, not in a good way, could see it. "I got the feeling, the first time I met them, they are not the happy couple they want the world to see."

Maureen looked at the girls and singled it was time to change the subject. "Just do your best these few weeks, and all should be well. We will get through it. Now remember you are all to be up by six," she looks at Merope. "Saturday, if the Riddles did not have a party on Friday, are a bit more slow. Tomorrow you shall be helping Ivy and Louisa with the washing tomorrow."

"Yes ma'am," she says copying the curtsy she had done for Madam Riddle.

Maureen smiled and laughed softly before turning to the rest of the girls. "This one made an impression quicker than any of you. Show them how you bowed to Madam."

Merope had the feeling the teasing was all in good fun, but she was still a bit embarrassed that she had made such a fool of herself. She turns to face the girls, sticks out her arms, lowers her upper body, curtsy her legs. The girls laughed at the sight and Merope blushed in a bit of shame.

"Someone did worse than me," Kiyoko laughed pulling the covers back on Merope's side of the bed signaling for her to get comfortable for the night. "I bowed in respect and she flinched like I was going to headbutt her."

"Alright, enjoy your night girls...," Maureen said turning to leave.

Ivy got up off the bed. "Before you leave did we get any mail today," she asked with a smirk on her face. Maureen sighed and reached into her dress pocket. "You're such a dear, Ms. Maureen." Maureen rolled her eyes playfully and shut the door behind her.

"Well I do believe, I will be using the tub before bed," Valeska said going into the drawer beside her bed and pulling out a silk night gown. "Beatrice dear, your hair will look even puffier if you sit in a hot bath for a bit."

"Oh I would love that," she smiled and grabbed the silk one Valeska had given her once she decided it wasn't to her liking anymore. Since the bathroom had two tubs there was no need to wait and she soon followed the older woman.

"I swear one of this days that old bat is going to bite her own tongue and bleed to death," Josephine said rolling her eyes. "She has that poor girl has to be under a spell to like bitch even an ounce."

"Beatrice, has always had big dreams," Louisa said brushing out her hair for the night. "She just foolishly believes that old bat will help her."

Merope moved to her side of the bed and placed her satchel down on the ground so no one would see her reach deep inside. She pulled out the only night gown she had, and laid it out on the bed and saw she had forgotten to finish stitching the side. With all that had happened in the last few things, she wasn't surprised that despite wearing it often she still forgot about it.

Josephine looks over and notices the old, torn, and uncomfortable looking fabric of the night gown. "Is that your only one?" She asked shocked.

"Ye...yes, sorry I promise I will fix it tomorrow, this has just been such a busy time and I forgot," she says looking down in shame at her stupidly. No one would want a girl dressed in dirty rags in their room.

Josephine soon realized the mistake she had made and walked over to give her a hug. Merope stiffed and looked at her confused, as to why she felt the need.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that," she looks Merope over. "I'm a bit plumper than you so you should be comfortable in one of mine."

"One no...I cannot make you do that. I promise, I'll..."

"On hush now," Josephine said walking over to her side table drawer and pulling out a black sleeveless long Cotten dress. "Besides, when I wear black with this red hair, I look like the bride of the devil, himself."

Merope thanked her and nodded. She paused for a moment and took a breath. "Do you all mind closing your eyes. I just, I don't think anyone should have to look at my face let alone my body," she chuckled nervously.

The girls nodded and respectfully turned away though they made sure to tell her there was nothing wrong how she looks and even complemented her hair braid. Once dressed Merope, quickly put on a knitted light coat to make sure there was no chance of anyone seeing her scars, and then gave them the okay to open their eyes as she got in bed with Kiyoko.

"Now if everyone is done talking it's time for the next part of the story," she says holding up a small little pamphlet in her hands. All the girls squealed with excitement and Merope looked confused. "Oh you are in for a treat my dear," Ivy laughs.

"Ivy, is fond of...," Kiyoko thought over her words. "...passionate love stories," she explained to Merope. "She gets a new pamphlet with a story inside every few weeks."

"Oh yes, they are passionate...," Josephine chuckled elbowing Louisa. "Last chapter, this Victorian era couple, who are newly weds, were getting ready for winter."

"I can't wait to hear how they keep each other warm," Alice laughed leaning back against the headboard. "Come on don't keep us waiting!"

Ivy opened the pamphlet and began to read the words inside. "This week it's from the woman's point of view."

"I shall return to you soon, my darling," he said as I slide out of his warm embrace. Immediately, I felt my body become cold as he walked away to add more wood in the fire.

I turned on my side and watched him move in the candle light room. He threw a few logs in the fireplace and shivered as he did. I couldn't stop admiring his tall and slightly lanky build. His hair wasn't its usual brushed back so his bangs fell down his forehead.

"My poor angel is cold," I thought to myself . As the flames of the fire grew more and I soon realized why he was shivering.

I felt my face warm and the flesh between my legs tremble..."

Merope, had been listening silently but let out a small gasp at what she had heard. This was the type of books muggled read? In all the books she read that belonged to her family and the few she looked over when her father allowed her to join him on him on the rare trip to Diagon Alley using a portkey. Never had she come across stories like this.

The other girls laughed at her innocents, even Louisa, and at first she was embarrassed, but when Kiyoko placed a hand on her shoulder to show it wasn't malicious teasing, she found herself chuckling as well.

"You didn't know, about books like this?" Alice asked her but a part of her wasn't surprised. Merope seemed to have been raised very sheltered but she didn't know for a good reason or not.

"No I did not," she laughs softly a little embarrassed. "...but they seem interesting."

"They always are..," Ivy said looking back at the page and finding her place again and started at the beginning of the sentence.

I felt my face warm and the flesh between my legs tremble. My gorgeous angel, in his fresh washed knee length nightshirt; nothing under them.

The girls laughed in excitement and Ivy waved a hand in front of her face in a joking matter. Louisa seemed to roll her eyes a bit, since she knew these stories were often over exaggerated, but she also seemed to enjoy sharing a laugh with the girls. Ivy turned the page.

He turned around and noticed my gaze. A smirk appeared on his face as he climbed back into the bed. I blushed and turned to face the wall.

"Don't be ashamed, only your eyes I want to admire those places and parts of me," he whispered in my ear before gently biting down on the earlobe. "Would you like to see more...," he asked as I felt his cool hand slide into my nightgown and up my thigh.

Merope found herself listening to the words and soon Tom's face appeared in her mind. When the story got into more physical passion she began to wonder what it would be like to be with him in that way. A part of her felt guilty since she knew the thought even almost crossing his mind would make him feel sick, but they continued to linger. She wondered what being in his arms would feel like, his hands touching her, and wondered how "blessed in length" his "phallus" was.

/

Merope found herself frowning when Louisa told them they had to get to bed. For the first time in her life, Merope had a night with nothing but joy. In the short time she had been with these girls they made her happier than her family ever did her whole life.

As the girls slept Merope stayed up restlessly and her body naturally stiffen in defense. She learned quickly it was best to at least try to protect yourself when resting, but sometimes that only made it worse. Her mind drift back to memories at her home, and her brother's voice began to fill her head.

"You think anyone will ever love you? If a wizard rejects you for being the filthy little squib you are, do you really believe a muggle would love you with that face," he laughs sliding his hand up her shoulder as they laid on the floor since their father owned the only bed in the house.

Merope said nothing as tears slide down her face at his words. They were not only cruel but true. With her plain face, dull hair, and inside eyes no man would ever stomach her.

As she embraced herself when her breathing began to increase and tears slide down her face. A cold sweat went up and down her body as she remembered other times.

"You really thought that little muggle boy, Riddle was going to save you," Morfin laughed hysterically. "Did you know father Merope, here is love with that muggle boy. I know she rushed to his rescue...she was hoping he would take her away in his arms."

"You idiot pathetic little squib," Marvolo yelled as he rushed over to her and slapped her so hard she fell to the shack floor. "May the great Salazar Slytherin curse you for this disgrace!" He watched her try to crawl away and turned to Morfin and walked out knowing full well what his son would do next.

Morfin smiled sadistically and walked over and yanked Merope by the hair, dragging her across the floor.

Merope terror ended when she felt Kiyoko move in her sleep. As silently as she could and as quickly she slide out of the bed with her pillow and cuddled up to the wall on the floor.

/

Author note: This chapter maybe boring to some but wanted to take the time to introduce the girls and establish their character. This girls will play big rolls in Merope's new life.

Warning, the story will cover some sensitive topics. It will feature underage drug use, grooming, abuse of power. It will have sexual content at some point good and bad kind.

It's basically a different and more mature telling of the life of Merope Gaunt. There will be no love potion, but there will be complications like in real life love. Once again, I haven't written in over a decade so I am still rusty but I hope to be getting better.