Snape the Younger

Mistress of Malfoy

The Manor

Malfoy Manor was huge, three storeys high, not including cellars, dungeons or attics. Built around an inner courtyard and two wings, it was sprawling and winding with more nooks and crannies than a completely designed castle. The original house was now the dividing strut between the two areas and still the prettiest part, reserved for the family's use. The rear sections divided off the servants' quarters, outdoor staff quarters, stables and garages. In earlier times it had held the kennels, horses, carriages and the private zoo one of the earlier Malfoys had created in the outbuildings. Now it was inhabited by cars, brooms, the gardeners and home farm staff who rarely if ever came near the main residence except when ordered to bring a car around or to deliver produce to the kitchens.

House staff and kitchen staff - the human varieties - inhabited the upper storeys of the far west wing of the rear section of the Manor, while the public rooms, family suites and guest quarters were situated in the front half. The entry hall, public rooms and ballroom at Malfoy were often written up in Wizarding Homes of Great Britain as some of the finest examples of 13^th century sculpting and wood carving available today and in perfect preservation. Of course, the upkeep for such a vast ancestral home was staggering, in magic as well as galleons. During some periods in the past the Manor had been allowed to degenerate a little but as soon as the family fortunes rose, the building was brought back into perfect repair. A Malfoy was always most dedicated to keeping the family property intact, no matter what it took.

Some of the families serving the Malfoys had been there for years, Squibs for the most part but bound to the land and the title by magical ties stretching back six and seven hundred years. Most pureblood families had long given up human servants and had only house-elves but the Malfoys refused to give up a single feudal jot or privilege. For the most part the families were content. Malfoy provided schooling for the children, wages for the bread earner, protected the widows and orphans created in its service and pensioned off comfortably those who served her well. There was an infirmary to care for the births and the sick and a graveyard to bury the dead. It was said that some of the Malfoy people were born, lived and died without ever leaving Malfoy land.

The estate proper consisted of farm land, forests and lakes, probably one of the largest private estates in England but so guarded and warded that most Muggles never saw the extent. The lands were self-sustaining and self-supporting in the majority of ways, very little having to be imported or purchased outside the great landholding. Malfoy was indeed a rich prize and it took a very substantial dowry to make a bride worthy of a Malfoy Groom.

On her wedding day, Narcissa had almost lost her temper when she saw her husband to be standing at the Altar, at his side stood Severus Snape, his bloody lover! It was a slap in the face, an affront to everything she thought being married stood for. She had wanted to scream and drum her heels but good breeding and a thousand drummed in lessons from her mother and sister refused to allow her to give in to her natural inclinations. Later, at the reception, she had tried to publicly humiliate Snape on the dance floor, then Lucius had agreed that Bella should dance with him and even called for a tango. Narcissa had thought that would cause the dour man some problems, but he had actually danced very well, even Bella had agreed. That had not helped her disposition.

At the gift giving, she had been thrilled with the honeymoon she had unwrapped, right up until she realised it had been planned and paid for by none other than Severus Snape. Lucius had reminded her not to make a scene or say a word out of place, and of course, she had not. Only in the privacy of their bedroom had she said anything and Lucius had simply informed her that she would just have to make her peace with Snape as he was staying!

Of course, less than three days later, Narcissa was planning to kill both Lucius and Severus when Lucius ended up in his bed rather than hers. She had done everything she could to make herself interesting to Lucius, but he still went off to his lover, leaving her alone and abandoned. His father had simply shaken his head and ignored her appeal for him to talk to his son saying it was not his place to interfere in someone else's marriage.

Two days later Lucius had come home early and told her to put on her best hat and robes they were off to the Continent for their honeymoon. She was whisked away with only enough time to grab her wand and a hairbrush, literally having to shop for everything from underwear to make-up in Paris, Milan and Hong Kong. It had been a mad, whirlwind of laughter and loving and money being spent like pixy dust. Lucius lavished her with silks and satins, velvets and gossamers. Diamonds and pearls, opals and rubies were draped around her neck and dripped from her ears.

The honeymoon on the Sun Rider had been a fantastic journey and she had forgiven Severus who, it seemed, had a romantic streak a mile wide. He had arranged for stops at the Temple of Aphrodite and the Oracle of Delphi, moonlight carriage rides in Athens and even a private group to serenade them at their first week anniversary dinner. It was indeed a fairytale honeymoon, and Lucius admitted he could not have done it better if he had tried. By the time they came home a month later, a silver fox fur cloak draped over her shoulders and swirled around her ankles.

As they came through the double doors and into the Great Hall, Abraxas was there to meet them, hugging them both impartially before hurrying them up the secondary staircase to the family sitting room. Severus was there, a pool of blackness against the red leather sofa, a faint smile curving his thin bloodless lips when Lucius dragged him to his feet and hugged him hard, then kissed him! It was humiliating, but Severus merely ignored her glare, kissing Lucius back. He even had the temerity to lean over and drop a kiss on her cheek, almost daring her to wipe it away.

When she forgot herself enough to grow excited when describing some of their excursions, he even listened politely and laughed in the right places. When she showed off an under-robe that Lucius did not quite like, he even defended her choice saying not many people could wear that particular shade of green without looking ghastly while Narcissa pulled it off with panache. After a couple of days she even began to think Severus was not all that bad. He was quiet of course, barely saying a word sometimes but he listened well and rarely showed anything but polite interest when she was explaining something or telling a story, unlike Lucius who tended to roll his eyes and sigh a lot.

After a month of constant companionship, Lucius returned to work as the Director of his father's holdings. Narcissa understood that he had to do something with his days, but she was bored and did not think he should spend so much time away from her. Her father did not stay at work from eight in the morning until ten or eleven at night. Lucius told her very bluntly that her father did not control a multimillion galleon industrial conglomerate with an income and expenditure greater that that of some small countries.

"You enjoyed your shopping trip, didn't you? Where do you think the money comes from to finance these little side trips into fantasy land? It certainly doesn't grow on trees!" he snapped angrily when she voiced a reasonable complaint about his late return for the fifth time that week.

"But Lucius, I have no one to talk to all day," she whined, clinging to his neck.

"Talk to Severus, I have to go."

Narcissa stared at him in shock. "Go where? You just got home! It's midnight, where are you going at this time of night?"

"To Europe, not that it's any of your business. I'll see you in a few days. If you are bored get yourself a hobby or something," he tossed over his shoulder as he strode out, leaving her sitting on their bed with her mouth hanging open.

~~*~~

Truce Talks

Narcissa Malfoy lay in her great bed, the finest linen sheets crumpled around her, the lambswool blankets tossed on the floor. Her pillows were a crumpled mass against the far wall and the fine silk covered duvet showed rents and tears where her nails had shredded the fragile fabric. Tear tracks stained her porcelain skin and blotches of temper still marred her cheekbones.

Her father had paid a small fortune for the Malfoy Heir to be her groom, a dowry even she did not know the extent of, and where was that bastard not a week after they get back from their honeymoon? Grinding her teeth in fury, Narcissa pulled her wand and incinerated the confetti-like remains of the Daily Prophet. The article went up in smoke but the content and the photograph were burned into her mind in living colour.

Lucius Malfoy courts the Nordstrom Fortune

Our roving reporter spotted the newly married Lucius Malfoy in Switzerland skiing with Brunhilda Nordstrom, debutant and heiress to the Nordstrom Pharmaceuticals Conglomerate. Miss Nordstrom, who announced her engagement to Ludvick von Hass of von Hass Industries only last week, is an old friend of the Malfoy Heir but assured our reporter that they were just good friends. Mr Malfoy added that they were now negotiating to become business partners and their previous relationship would be an asset in easing the way as their two companies joined forces to conquer the newly opened Russian markets. Miss Nordstrom declined to comment on the negotiations but Mr Malfoy assured our reporter that everything was going very well and he would be back at his new bride's side within the week.

Well, the new bride was not feeling very much like accepting her wayward groom back into the circle of her loving arms right at this moment. Quite the opposite. The two timing bastard had better watch his back, or he was going to get blasted all to hell and back as soon as he showed his nose! She blew up another set of vases just for practice then tossed the last of the bed linen onto the floor and stamped over to her dressing room.

While Lucius was missing in action, she had been cooped up at Malfoy Manor with nothing to do but talk to Severus Snape or Abraxas Malfoy or listen to the radio which only picked up wizarding music. She had discovered that Severus kept a few Muggle records hidden in his room and he could be persuaded to play them in the evenings sometimes. Even Abraxas played a mean game of canasta and, if they could persuade Mr. Truman, his attendant to loosen up, he and Severus were quite good bridge players. Still, it was a lot different to the nights she had gone out with her friends and danced at a Muggle pub until after midnight.

She and Severus had declared a truce after the third day of incarceration at Malfoy Manor, talking rather freely about Lucius, love and expectations. She had never thought much about a man loving a man but Severus really did love Lucius, fiercely, completely and obsessively in some ways. When she taxed him with that, he had agreed with a wry smile and a small, depreciating shrug.

"That's my nature, Narcissa, I am extreme, I cannot help that. When I love, I love completely and when I hate...."

"You hate with all your heart?" she suggested when he did not continue.

"I destroy utterly," he corrected with a sigh. "Lucius calls it my naïve belief in black and white. My Lord tells me it is part of being raised as a vampire, blind loyalty to the Master, whoever I chose to be my master. That's what sets me apart from a genuine vampire; I can choose my own master while a real vampire who is governed by the thirst has to take the one who bit him as his god figure."

"Is that true, Severus? Are you a vampire? There was a rumour that you drank blood to make you so good at potions and things." Narcissa leaned forward eagerly, amazed when the pale boy blushed.

"That rumour is founded on pure jealousy and a thoughtless act. I was covered in blood after one of the Lord's little demonstration and it sort of called to me. I was thinking about other things when I realised I was licking the blood off my chin and thoroughly enjoying the taste. No good gagging, Narcissa, I have probably drank more blood, human and animal, than any other non-vampire in the world. She tried everything to turn me except the obvious."

"What was the obvious and who is 'she'?" Narcissa murmured, trying not to break the mood.

"She was my grandmother, a firm believer in her own theory that with careful breeding and training you could turn a normal human child into a vampire by triggering recessive traits. And the obvious would be to ship in a real vampire and have me bitten, but she didn't. That would have proved her theory was false so she clung to it stubbornly until it nearly killed me and finally killed her. So, I don't need to feed, I don't need blood to live and I am of no danger to normal humans. The only real legacy my grandmother instilled in me is a preference for vegetarianism and a need to eat bloody meat once a month. Sad but true." His wry laughter invited her to join in and a real truce was declared, a bond formed.

~~*~~

The garden room was cool and comfortable first thing in the morning. Severus liked to breakfast there and read quietly while he had the time free. Today was no exception, Lucius being away on business and Abraxas taking a nap even though it was barely ten thirty in the morning. His studies were up to date and he had only to write up his research project to finish it off. Reaching out a hand, he groped around and found his cup of tea without lifting his eyes from the page. He was totally engrossed in the text and did not hear the footsteps on the stairs, only a scuff of feet on stone.

"You're here at least," the disgruntled tones made him close his eyes for a moment, gathering his patience. That note in Narcissa's voice was a clear indicator of dissatisfaction. "What are you reading?" Narcissa demanded flopping into the armchair and crossing her arms over her chest, her foot tapping.

"'The Unicorn Diaries' by Cornelius WeatherBane," Severus grunted, turning his shoulder pointedly to discourage her conversation.

Narcissa sniffed disinterestedly and leaned forward to investigate the teapot, sighing in disgust when she found it contained black tea, nothing interesting. "I'm bored! What's the book like?" she asked, eyeing the black leather bound tome with an uneasy glare. "Read a bit to me!" she demanded when he did not answer.

"Narcissa! Why don't you go and find something to do instead of bothering me?" Severus demanded, slapping the book down on his chest to glare at her.

"Because I don't know what to do, what am I supposed to do? No one told me what I was supposed to do once I got married, just that I had to get married."

About to blast her, Severus stopped with his mouth open then shut it with a click. She did have a valid point and complaint. "I never thought about it. What do married women do once they are married? Look after the house, I suppose."

"But that's what servants are for. And besides, I could never look after this place properly, not by myself. I wouldn't know where to start," Narcissa added honestly.

"True, and if you tried I'm sure Madame Johnson would have something to say about you intruding on her territory. When Abraxas finishes his nap, you should ask him what his wife used to do, he will have some idea. Perhaps there is a hereditary Malfoy Wife's Duty List floating around somewhere."

Narcissa giggled then nodded. "Good idea. Do you have any friends, Severus?"

Frowning thoughtfully, Severus shook his head. "Not really, apart from Lucius, Abraxas and perhaps Tom, but that is enough for me."

"Did you know Lucius was going off to Switzerland to pork that Nordstrom bitch?"

Severus burst out laughing. "Meow! Lucius does what the hell he likes, I don't hold his chain, no more do you, my dear. If he wants to go tomcatting around Europe then I suggest you either go with him or go find your own lover. I'm sure he won't mind a threesome every now and again, but count me out."

"That's a foul thing to suggest!" Narcissa gasped.

"I must admit that it doesn't appeal to me either. I prefer my lover's full attention when in bed with him."

"Your lover is my husband!" Narcissa snarled furiously.

"Yes, I'm aware of that, which is why this is such a surreal conversation we are having," he murmured with a sly grin. "Narcissa, here's a word of advice, if you are willing to listen. Luc and I have been together for the last three years. He had gone out picking up strays before but he always comes home again, without a hanger-on. I am the only one he brought home in all that time. Now he has you, his legal wife, and hopefully the mother of his future children. You are important to the Family, much more so than I am, so enjoy that security but do not think it gives you any immunity to the famous Malfoy temper, it does not. If you pick at him when he comes back, he will not like it at all and will go off on another trip almost immediately. I learned that lesson early in our relationship. If you accept him back and simply acknowledge that he has strayed but you are still glad to see him, he will be contrite and pliable for quite a long time before he feels the need to stray again. However, I do not suggest you stray until after your first child is born. After the birth you can discuss the taking of a lover with him calmly and rationally before going out looking. If he has any doubt about your child's parentage, he will destroy it, and you too, do you understand me?" Severus spoke calmly and conversationally but Narcissa was still horrified.

"What sort of monster do you think Lucius is that he would destroy his own child?"

Severus clicked his tongue impatiently. "I said if he had any doubts about the child's parentage he would kill it, that's all. Just make sure he never has any doubts. Ask him, he will give you the same warning."

Biting her lip, Narcissa picked up the teacup on the table and drank the brew before spluttering and pulling a horrendous face. "This is awful! How can you bear this tea, it's stewed! Honestly, can't you make tea properly?"

"I thought I was," Severus remarked, taken aback. "Put in tea and boil, then pour."

"No, silly. Boil, then put in tea and steep, then pour. I thought you were a Potions Master?" she teased lightly, banishing the failed brew and making a fresh pot, conjuring clean cups. "There, isn't that better? Do you want milk or lemon?"

Severus grinned, having successfully diverted her away from her griping. "Lemon, please."

"Lemon it is. So read me a bit of your book, you never did say what it as about."

"Are you completely sure you want to know? Very well, I did warn you," he temporised before turning to the next page. "'They strained against each other, their tongues entwined and their hard co...."

"Severus Snape! It doesn't say any such thing!" Narcissa gasped and flung herself forward, wrenching the tome free and quickly scanning the page. "Oh, you torment! It's about real unicorns, not smut! Where did you get this? It's fantastic! Listen to this. 'This morning I watched as the lead mare of the herd used her horn to cure a cut on her foal's hind leg. The stallion looked on but made no move to assist.' And the pictures... oh Severus, they're beautiful!"

Severus smiled at her wonder, knowing how she felt. There was something wondrous about the drawings the author had made - more magical than ordinary wizard drawings - that drew the eye and sparked something deep in the soul. Nodding, he reached over and turned back a few pages to show her some of the earlier pictures that made her exclaim aloud, curling up next to him to share the book.

"Well, this looks cosy," a voice said in amusement some undefined time later and both heads popped up in surprise.

"Abraxas," Severus said in greeting, a rare genuine smile curving his lips. "She stole my book and wouldn't give it back unless I shared."

"Hah, he tried to convince me it was pornography so I would leave him alone. He has a nasty mind, this one!" Narcissa stuck her nose in the air but spoiled it by giggling.

"It must be a fascinating book. Oh yes, the Unicorn Diaries, Cornelius WeatherBane was a keen observer and I believe he even managed to get the unicorns to bless his book when he had finished it. Quite a wizard! Shame he had to keep the state that a unicorn respects, not that you two would know anything about that. Celibacy, my dense children, only virgins get to play with unicorns."

Severus and Narcissa looked at each other and burst out laughing. "He has a point," Severus conceded as he rose and helped his friend to a cup of tea. "Narcissa wants to know what a Malfoy wife does with herself all day. I wondered if you could help her."

"Of course, my dear, of course. Really, Lucius should have given you the tour but this stupid Nordstrom thing blew up in our faces when Miss Nordstrom's fiancé became involved in that idiotic fake yeti wool scandal. Humm, it seemed he was assigned to procure a batch of yeti wool but the fool tried to cut corners and bought from an unknown supplier. It turned out to be a fake - yak wool instead of yeti - so as you can imagine there were failed potions left and right, and if you know what sort of potions call for yeti wool, well, I can tell you it was not pretty."

"So he didn't go out there to romance Miss Nordstrom at all?" Narcissa asked in a small voice.

Abraxas shook his head ruefully. "Young husbands, they do make the silliest mistakes. No, my dear, he did not, he went to show support for the company, his belief in Nordstrom Pharmaceuticals and to screw them down to a really decent trading arrangement. Now, let me see, I think I have my wife's daily diary in my office. Severus, do pop along and see if you can find it, would you? Narcissa, my dear, call for a light luncheon for us all, would you please. We may as well be comfortable while we are exploring the possibilities."

~~*~~

The Housekeeper

Madame Johnson had been in charge of Malfoy Manor for the past twenty years, having taken the position when Madame Foxglove finally died. She had been somewhat troubled by the installation of a new Mistress but had decided that it was her house and she could deal with any young upstart who tried to upset her arrangements. When the new bride failed to invite her to Afternoon Tea, Madame Johnson was indeed put out, snubbed even!

Sylvester McIntire, the Butler, tried to tell her that it was because there was no Lady Malfoy to tell the new bride what to do and that the old master was too sick to do things properly but she wasn't buying any of that rot! The girl was hoity-toity enough to demand this and that and to expect her orders to be obeyed but not to acknowledge that someone was there before her! Well, she could just continue to be an interloper; the reckoning would come soon enough, that's all Madame Jolanta Johnson could say about that!

The summons when it finally came was a handsome one, written on creamy parchment with prized purple ink and a proper seal ribbon in purple wax. The fact that it was a month late in arriving was what annoyed Madame Johnson as she pulled on her best uniform robes and brushed her hair into a formidable crown of plaits and curls. Her cap, the best lace and linen, was perched on top of the edifice and her starched white apron rustled suggestively as she made her way majestically down the passageway to the family drawing room. Scratching at the panels, she sailed into the well lit room overlooking the gardens and curtsied formally staring down her nose at the small, blonde girl who looked somewhat apprehensive. And so she should.

"Please, won't you sit down, Madame Johnson," Narcissa invited softly, indicating a chair beside her at the small tea table.

"Thank you, Madame," Madame Johnson replied haughtily and took the straight-backed chair opposite.

Narcissa smiled at the woman, realising she had a fight on her hands. This one was going to be a real bitch about handing over the reins of power on the domestic scene. "I must ask you to forgive me before we start. I had no idea I was supposed to meet you as soon as possible. In fact, dear Abraxas had no idea either until we found his wife's diaries and her book of Etiquette for the New Malfoy Bride. I didn't have a clue that it even existed until we found it in Lady Malfoy's desk. Abraxas has never disturbed her things, as you know."

"No, Madame, he never has. We were given strict instructions and my girls know their place to be sure. Lady Malfoy's arrangements have never been changed."

"Yes, they are a credit to your organisation; there is no doubt about that. Running this place successfully would take a general and an army and I am no general, certainly not of Lady Malfoy's calibre, I do assure you. May I offer you tea or coffee? I have no intention of disturbing your arrangements over the general running of the house and staffing matters. You are much more experienced in that sort of thing than I. However, on some occasions I may have to make a special request of you. I hope you may help me when such a time comes."

"We'll have to see about that when it happens, won't we, Madame," the woman replied uncompromisingly.

"Yes, I'm sure we will. I will of course be meeting the Butler, the Chief Cook and kitchen staff as soon as I can, to compliment them on their efforts for the wedding, a perfect occasion, you must agree? Everyone did so well."

"There is no need to meet the cook, I will inform the kitchen staff that you were pleased with their efforts," Madame Johnson said repressively.

"Oh certainly, it will only serve to reinforce my compliments, I am sure," Narcissa replied with another sunny smile that would have fooled no one. "Now I also read that I was supposed to keep an eye on the household accounts and give Lucius a report once a month. Do you know where the account books are?"

"No Madame, I do not. I have been taking care of that sort of thing so there's no need for you to worry your head about it."

"Oh, but I must, Madame Johnson. Lucius expects me to be a proper Malfoy wife, and so I must follow all the traditions, don't you see? I must ask Abraxas to look for the accounts books. I'm sure he or Severus can accio them for me." She smiled shark-like over her teacup's rim at the woman opposite, battle lines drawn and weapons chosen.

"You must do as you think fit, Madame, of course." Madame Johnson smiled back with equal venom.

"So tell me about yourself, Madame, how long have you served the Malfoy family? Were you born here on the estate or are you a 'foreigner'?"

"My husband's family has been on Malfoy land for four hundred years," she replied flatly.

"Ah, so you married into the position, just like me then. Interesting how we take on our husband's causes as our own, isn't it? And in what capacity does your husband serve the Manor, if I may inquire?"

"He's dead, Madame, died during the Grindelwald war," the woman said proudly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, but I have mis-titled you then, it should be Widow Johnson, shouldn't it? You must have been very young when you were widowed, such a pity."

"Yes, Madame Malfoy, barely eighteen when my Richard was taken from me."

"Humm, so you were a wife for how long? Six months, ah, and a widow for sixty years or so, well, well, interesting! A pity really, I shall have to speak to someone else about a few matrimonial matters, who would you recommend? After all, you are no more experienced in these matters than I." Narcissa giggled, covering her mouth in a show of self-consciousness. "How long has the Cook been married? Or perhaps the Butler is married and his wife may serve as my aide de camp on these matters."

Madame Johnson knew when to concede a battle and the last thing she wanted was to have Letty McIntire usurp any of her authority or power. As for the Cook, he was male and never married, probably one of Severus Snape's lot, if the truth be known. She drew herself up firmly and gave the chit a serene smile. "Oh, I think you will find I am well versed in matrimonial matters. I have dealt with every conceivable problem forty years of looking after the girls and women under my command have thrown my way. After all, you don't need to be a killer to be a great general, do you?"

"Oh, I thought you did, but I could be wrong. Very well, we'll see how we rub along before I make any firm decisions on that issue. Now, the process rooms, I want to keep them as they are until I am more familiar with their working. From what I have seen they are much better organised than my mother's so I must learn your methods. Mother was very strict with her people but it was a strictness of panic rather than the strictness of capability, if you see what I mean."

Amazed that she had won that crucial battle so easily, Jolanta Johnson nodded her head and agreed to give the new bride a tour as soon as possible. She was so pleased with the girl's astuteness, it wasn't until she was back in her own rooms that she realised she had lost both the accounts and the kitchens as bases of power. In fact, when she thought about the interview, she had come away with no more and no less than was usually granted a Housekeeper in the long run in any house with a real mistress. Ah well, she would see how the girl handled the kitchens before she passed any further judgement. After all, the chit was not the vapid little blonde she seemed to be, but Jolanta had been intimidating their poor excuse for a cook ever since the idiot arrived and installing her own people anywhere she could. Everyone knew that those girly boys had no backbone to speak of! A few choice words said in the right ears would send him running for London with his tail between his legs.

~~*~~

The Butler

McIntire had been the Malfoy Butler for sixty years, appointed when the present Lord Malfoy was newly ascended. He had watched Lady Malfoy grow into her power, watched young Lucius at his Naming, and helped him take his first steps. He had helped young Lucius dress for his mother's funeral and had mourned the passing of an era with the rest of the staff. Lady Malfoy had not ruled long but she had ruled well and it would take a strong woman to follow in her footsteps.

Young Madame Malfoy had not done well so far. Slighting Jolanta Johnson and putting her back up was not a wise move for any young bride. Of course, Jolanta was actually a foreigner so you couldn't expect too much tolerance or loyalty from that sort. The shame was that young Madame Malfoy was not going to have the guidance of Lady Malfoy to show her how to behave and how to hold household. Still, the old guard would stand by her and try to guide her steps as she learned, even if Jolanta did not like it.

Madame was very gracious when she invited him for tea, even pouring for them both with a rare grace. She asked about Mrs. McIntire and the young McIntires, entering into his concerns about young people not getting the employment opportunities these days, what with the big old houses closing their doors. She listened to his stories of the older days and even encouraged him to reminisce about young Master Malfoy when he was a boy, learning to fly his broom and getting stuck in the hedge that made up the maze.

As the teapot emptied, they touched on the old man's duties and his concerns about the boys and men under his captaincy. She entered into his worries and even gave gently tendered suggestions on how to channel some of the boys' exuberance into something a little more constructive than trying to ride the local bull. Although he had to admit her giggles over the story of the bull race were a treat to see. He confided to her that the silver needed to be overhauled and a few pieces mended as they had not been done for nigh on forty years and the everyday china for the staff needed replacing as soon as possible. He also reported the roof leaked at the back of the West wing and that a new set of charms needed to be put in place and that old Master Colbane was not as young as he used to be and perhaps needed to be seen to.

On inquiry, Narcissa learned Master Colbane was the maintenance coordinator for the Manor and he ran the heavy maintenance division who looked after the plumbing, the roof, building maintenance and of course the removal and treatment of soil. He and his crew dealt in a mixture of charms and physical labour and the job was a specialist position with a crew of twenty men under him. Young Master Colbane was well groomed to take his father's place but the old man insisted on hanging on long past his usefulness. Mr. McIntire was asking permission to ease the old man out, Narcissa realised and told him he should do as he saw fit, of course.

All in all, it was a very productive meeting and McIntire came away with a very good impression of the new mistress, also a desire to please her, support her and engage with her ideas. Jolanta may huff and puff but Madame was not about to change everything they had built over the years and so he was totally satisfied. Jolanta merely huffed louder and commented that the first hint of trouble would certainly give them a measure of her stripe!

~~*~~

The Cook

Ralph Munroe was a tiny, weedy little man, totally nondescript with a broad cockney accent. He looked sly and furtive as he refused to meet Madame Malfoy's eyes when he came to Afternoon Tea on the third day. He was nothing like the Black's Cook, a huge, bustling woman who radiated good cheer and ruled the kitchen with an iron ladle. No matter what topic Narcissa tried to bring into conversation, he replied in monosyllables in a tiny, mumbled voice.

"How do you feel a kitchen should be run?" she asked desperately at the finish.

The little man blinked then mumbled again.

"I'm sorry, Ralph, may I call you Ralph? I - I need to know about the kitchens, how they are run, what needs to be changed, what needs to be done or I cannot make sure Malfoy Manor maintains standards. I am told that you are the person in charge of the kitchen and you are also in charge of ordering and purchases for the kitchen. Now please, answer my questions," Narcissa ordered firmly.

"Am I in charge of the kitchens then?" the man suddenly looked up, his muddy brown eyes now intense and keen.

"That is what I was led to believe by the Housekeeper. Of course, if it too...." She broke off as the small man jumped to his feet and began pacing furiously.

"That blurry old cow! She tol' me you was arsing me out cus I wouldn' take notice of her orders. She tol' me you was disgusted wi' the modern crap an' foreign muck I were tryin' to feed youse an' wus goin' to put me off as soon as her cousin were here."

"Really? How very interesting. Actually, I was going to tactfully ask you to change the menus a little, perhaps add lighter, Chinese and Asian style food and a little less stodgy British puddings and boiled foods. I rather admire some of the Mediterranean salads and such which are very good for Lord Malfoy's condition, rather than black pudding. Although I think Severus eats that awful stuff to keep his iron levels up." She smirked, remembering how foul Severus really found the black sausage.

"Nah, garn with you, Lord Snape is a fish and vegetarian eater with Steak Tartar every twenty-nine days regular, er, Madame," the man twinkled at her, then blushed and dropped his eyes when he realised he had been too familiar.

"Yes, I know but it is fun to tease him sometimes, keeps him from getting totally stodgy." Narcissa giggled then became a little more serious. "I have no intention of 'getting rid' of anyone just yet, not until I am quite aware of the dynamics between the staff, the departments and the routines behind the work. I hereby authorise you to take control of the kitchens and all things so pertaining to the preparation and presentation of foodstuffs, including buying and procurement, until further notice. That is my official word. I will make requests of you at some points, either for special meals or to cater for parties or events and you may do as you think fit within the framework of those requests but in the day to day running of the kitchens, it's all yours until further notice. Do what you need to, to make that position very clear to anyone who disputes it. If you need to call on a higher authority, you may refer them to me, or if that is not enough, refer them to Lucius, but only as a last resort. If you have to kill anyone, you had better have a very good reason as I will make you find and train the replacement, and get rid of the body. Do you understand?"

"Oh yes, Ma'am!" His grin stretched from ear to ear as he bowed in continental style. "Er, you want me to sort out the pastry chef too? She's pretty good with plain stuff but we could use a confectioner if you plan to do a lot of entertainment. One of the girls and one of the lads were interested in taking a course in London."

Narcissa smiled. "As I said, it's your department, do as you think fit, including train people to fill perceived needs. Oh, and on occasion I will need you to cater for a special guest at very short notice, can you do that?"

Ralph nodded slowly. "I am a wizard, not a very good one, none of the staff are, but I have enough power to knock up a small dinner party for up to twelve with an hour's notice."

"Would a time turner be helpful?"

"No, bless you, that is my one claim to fame, I can make time do some extraordinary things if I need to, within a twenty metre radius." He grinned at her surprised look and bowed again. "I'll send you up some sample menus and some sample foods for dinner, if you like, Madame?"

"Thank you, that would be delightful. Just family tonight, I think, Lucius isn't due home until tomorrow."

~~*~~

Group Dynamics

The first skirmish in the Battle of the Kitchen began at four o'clock that afternoon, Jolanta sweeping into the usually steamy confines of the place with a glare that could have melted pots. A brisk, cooling breeze came in through the wide flung windows making the kitchens much more pleasant to work in. She immediately swept a wand over the windows, slamming them all shut one after the other until the fusillade of bangs made a heavy silence fall over the staff. Ralph emerged from his office where he was just putting the finishing touches to the menus for the following day, the light of battle in his eyes.

"What do you think you are doing, you stupid little cretin, letting the good heat out to the fresh air, inviting any passing insect to come and sample dinner before the humans get to eat?" Jolanta roared, hands on hips, elbows akimbo.

"Get out of my kitchen and don't come poking your nose in again!" Ralph snapped back, going at her like a terrier to a Bull Mastiff. "Get those damned windows open again before the lettuce wilts and the jelly weeps!"

"Don't you dare! What lettuce? Today is Thursday; it's Shepherd's Pie and roasted vegetables today. It's always Shepherd's Pie on Thursday."

"Not anymore," he replied smugly as his staff slowly opened the windows. He noticed who had moved and who hadn't. "From now on, the Mistress wants a healthy diet for the Lord, with more vegetables and less meats. She wants high-energy, low-fat foods and more Asian cuisine which do not include Shepherd's Pie, Toad in the Hole and Spotted Dick! And that reminds me, your cousin is not welcome in my kitchen, nor is any of your shirt tail relatives, unless they are trained staff or kitchen hands, is that understood!"

"Listen, you jumped up little queer, you will do as you are told and like it!" the woman roared, raising her fist.

Ralph leaped back, a large meat cleaver flying to his hand as he roared furiously, waving it threateningly in the general direction of her nose but only reaching her chest. "The mistress warned me to clean up my own mess if I had to kill anyone. I got a great place by the onions to bury a few bodies, you wanna be the first?" he demanded, all but foaming at the mouth.

"You wouldn't dare!" Jolanta blustered, backing away from the furious little banty cock and his extremely large and shiny meat cleaver!

"Try me," he snapped, making a little rush and she picked up her robes and fled, his mocking laughter following her. "Anyone else 'ho had a problem wit' loyalties can just piss off too," he added, glaring around the general kitchen. "This is my patch from now on, the lines of demarcation have been drawn by the Mistress and the'ull be properly enforced from now on. Are we all understood 'ere? Right, let's get on wit'it? How is that Crème Caramel coming on, Doris?"

~~*~~

Resulting in

"Goodness me, did we get a new cook?" Abraxas asked in surprise as a light consommé was served rather than the usual Scotch Broth or Cream of Tomato. "This is truly delicious, my dear."

Narcissa smiled widely, sipping her own soup and approving it with a nod. "No, actually I simply made the hierarchy of the domestic staff clearer and the Chef took control of his own kitchen. He is even better than I suspected. What do you think, Severus?"

Severus nodded a little but reserved judgement until the meal finished with a choice of dessert that included Crème Caramel or English Trifle. "He could use a few better quality herbs and spices; the chervil was not as fresh as it could be."

"That's a potion ingredient, Severus, why would it be in the salad?" Narcissa asked in surprise then blushed in irritation when Severus rolled his eyes in disgust.

"Most of the common herbs and spices we eat are also used in potions although not in the same sort of combinations and quantities. Of course, if I find half a common cabbage butterfly caterpillar in here I will not be impressed."

"Oh yuck, Severus! Only you would think of something like that! Inappropriate humour spotted there," she groaned, making him snigger and Abraxas smile. Although the children would never be real friends, their friendly bickering was a lot better than the cold, stony silence and over-bred manners they had used to each other in the past.

"So, my dear, are you feeling more at home with being Lady Malfoy now?" Abraxas asked as they drank after-dinner coffee and ate peppermint truffles handmade in their own kitchens.

"Humm, I certainly didn't realise just how much went on behind the scenes but I am certainly learning. It is a small army with generals and rivalries, politics and coups to be brokered and sorted out, better than office politics, believe me."

"Well, if you need to dispose of any bodies, make sure you do it properly. Our own people should be turned over to the Master of Rites, whom I think you still need to meet officially but that must wait until Lucius is home. Anyone else, we usually make it look like an accident and get rid of them as far from us as possible."

"Give them to me and I will dispose of them," Severus said quietly as he picked up another truffle. "Wonder if they make these in hazelnut too," he commented, popping the sweet into his mouth and closing his eyes in appreciation. "Almost better than sex."

Narcissa and Abraxas just laughed at his ecstatic expression.

~~*~~

Ralph Munroe put his feet up on his desk and crossed his hands behind his head, grinning at the ceiling in tired satisfaction. He'd braved the Lady of the Manor and found her to be a gracious lady and not a horrendous monster. He had taken control of his kitchen and made it his own domain at last, implementing some of his own ideas in both the style of food and the methods of preparation. Last of all, he had routed the Bitch from Hell with a meat cleaver, sending her running from his kitchen with her tail between her legs and her tongue between her teeth.

He had sent up the fruits of his kitchen to the Family and they had welcomed them, every dish. He had received a note from the Lord, a note from the Lady and a note from Lord Snape too.

Lord Abraxas asked if he could make gumbo like the Americans in New Orleans. If he could, was it possible to have that one lunch time? And perhaps he knew how to make Angel Hair pasta? That would be a very acceptable addition to the menus. Ralph was determined to make the best gumbo and angel hair pasta available, as soon as possible.

Lady Malfoy sent all the menus he had given her back, each and every one approved without change, not even a single side dish rejected, a miracle! She had also added in her notes that he was even better than she thought he might be and to keep up the good work.

Last of all, Lord Snape had written simply that the food was greatly improved and would be even better for fresh herbs so he had permission to harvest what he needed from the potions garden, a huge concession that Ralph had not expected but was greatly appreciative of.

To acquire herbs for the kitchen usually meant they were at least a day old but this way, he could literally cut what he needed within an hour of using them. The potions garden had such a range and variety of herbs it was almost impossible to name them all and the gardeners lavished so much time, attention and magic on the plants, they were perfect!

Severus Snape had also asked if they could make hazelnut or cherry bonbons too, some evening. So, Ralph thought, our dark and gloomy Potions Master has a sweet tooth, has he? Well, that was a titbit of information Ralph would put aside for further investigation at a later date and training the two under-chefs who wanted to learn to be confectioners was looking like a very good idea.

Folding the three notes, he put them away safe in the safe and blew out the candles before making his way to bed, new ideas for exciting new dishes dancing like will-o'-the-wisps in his head.

20. 04.2006