Nothing was going the way she expected it to that day.

First she hadn't gotten the job at Snape's apothecary, and then one moment she was writing to her mother's old school friend, a Ravenclaw who'd gone on to be a financial adviser for some wizarding families, the next, she found herself promising to help him with a difficult client, a certain Gregory Goyle. And as she glanced down at the address in her hand, she wondered just what she'd gotten herself into.


Brown eyes looked back at the door she stood in front of, both the house number and street matching what she had been given. It was a surprise, though, seeing as she hadn't expected Greg to be living out in Muggle London and certainly not in a flat like this. She was half expecting someone not Greg to answer the door, as she raised her hand and knocked a moment later.

Luthien cracked open the door warily. Master Val had said that she was to make this odd little place her home and that meant opening the door. He had been rather drunk at the time, though she'd changed his nappies and to her way of thinking that meant she could ignore the 'drunken' part of his orders. Luckily, she was taller than most house elves and could pass as a very short muggle if she needed to. Until Master Val had come for her she hadn't appreciated all the 'questionable' experiments the Goyle family had dabbled in over the centuries. Her eyes went wide when she spotted a very pretty woman standing in front of the door, one that wasn't Miss Maeve or Miss Pansy. "May I help you , miss?" she asked, careful to stay out of sight- just in case.

Aha, she knew it. That was a female voice, not that of Greg. It had been the wrong house after all. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything, but I'm looking for Greg Goyle and was told this was his home. Do you know where I might find him?" River asked politely, taking one last glance at the scrap of parchment in her hand before crumpling it up.

"What do you need with Master Val?" Luthien asked flatly, prepared to defend him if this woman was here to start trouble.

Brown eyes merely blinked in confusion at the question. "Master Val...? Is that what you call Greg?" Considering his middle name, it would make sense, she supposed, but it was certainly unusual. "I'm only here to help him. We're old friends and schoolmates...my name's River Montgomery, if that's any help. Is he home at the moment?"

Luthien whistled for Huginn, Master Val's post raven, to fly over. He was a very good judge of character and she wanted his opinion. When he didn't attempt to attack Miss Montgomery, Luthien relaxed slightly. "Do you have any proof, Miss?"

The witch had to think for a moment. Proof of who she was, that she was friends with Greg? She didn't have anything on her that she could think of that would prove that. All she did have was the crumpled note in her hand, which she smoothed out as best she could before holding it out. "This is the best I can give you at the moment, I'm afraid. Is it enough...?"

Luthien recognized the handwriting as there was a stack of notes on the kitchen counter. According to Master Val, that sodding wanker financial advisor had written them. "If I let you in you must send a letter to this advisor person so I know you can stay."

"Your terms are accepted," River said, finding the idea of sending a letter as a security measure incredibly ridiculous and smiling widely because of it. "Is there anything in particular you want me to include in this letter to Mr. Addams?"

"Yes, Miss, that he sends a note back with the why of your employment and exactly what your responsibilities are." Luthien crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her bare foot. "I will protect Master Val, even from a Miss such as yourself if I have to."

River couldn't help but giggle at the elf's last comment. Protect Greg from her? Hardly necessary; Greg needed to be protected from the little birds on the street more than he ever would her.

"Very well," she replied once her giggles calmed enough for her to speak. "May I have a quill and a piece of parchment to write with? I didn't expect to be writing any letters while here and didn't bring any with me."

Luthien stepped aside and allowed the Miss inside. Once she'd closed and warded the door, she turned to the stack of boxes in the corner with a light sigh. "It will take a moment, Miss. Master Val isn't unpacked yet."

The brown haired witch merely nodded, stepping to the side and looking around the room as the elf found her some writing supplies. It really would take a moment, with the boxes everywhere. It didn't look like a home, a place to retreat to and enjoy. It seemed more like all Greg did here was sleep and drink. Then again, that was what she was here to help with.

She let out a soft sigh as her gaze sought out the elf once more. The sooner she got the letter written and replied to, the sooner she could get to fixing this place up, making it more of a home for Greg...

"Here it is," Luthien said triumphantly, holding up a stack of parchment, an ink bottle, and a quill. She looked around and sighed. The only flat surface was the low table in front of the couch and it was still a mess. "Let me clean off the table so that you have a place to write."

"Ah, thank you," River replied, moving over so that she could take the parchment, ink, and quill from Luthien. She paused after, glancing around quickly. "By the way, where is Greg right now? It doesn't seem like he's home."

Luthien scooped up the dirty dished and carried them off to the kitchen- one place she had cleaned already. "He said something about a coffee shop and then going for a run...whatever that means."

River put the writing gear down on the table and got everything ready to write. "Ah. Did he say when he would be back, then?" She didn't wait for an answer, neatly penning a note to Mr. Addams as she spoke, explaining the situation and asking for the information that Luthien had requested. After signing her name, she gave the letter a quick once over before asking her second question. "And how do you wish for me to send this letter?"

Luthien whistled and Huginn flew over and held his leg out for the Miss to attach the letter. "Huginn will take it, Miss."

"Well, thank you, Huginn," the witch smiled, rolling up the piece of parchment and tying it to the raven's leg. "Take it to Mr. Addams, please."

Luthien bustled around the flat, trying to clean and put things away despite the fact that Master Val had a couch, a low table, and a wet bar in his main room. The rest of the flat wasn't much better. She kept one eye on the Miss and couldn't help but smile. If the Miss was telling the truth then maybe she could have something done about the horrible state of Master Val's home. Huginn returned quickly and dropped a large envelope in Luthien's hand. She was thankful that Master Val's mum had taught her to read in secret as it made her a more useful elf, especially at times like these. She scanned the note and nearly did a dance when she read that Miss River Montgomery had free reign to schedule Master Val's meetings, ensure that he arrived to said meetings, and to assist him in any way he needed. To her way of thinking a change was necessary if this flat was to be home for him. Knowing that she would have to be quick and crafty about it, she smiled at the Miss. "It is in order and just as you said. Master Val said I was in charge of his home, will you assist me in making his home...better?"

"If by better you mean either cleaner or more home-like, I would love to help you," River replied with a bit of a conspiratorial smirk, pulling her wand out of her pocket. "Did you have anything in particular in mind?"

Luthien rushed across the room to the place she'd hidden the wonderful...magazines... yes, that was what Master Val had called them! Right before he'd tried to chuck them. They were design magazines that someone had hidden away in his moving boxes. She rushed back to the Miss and held them out. "I have marked the pages, Miss. I have also made a list of places to get the furniture in muggle London. If we hurry, we can have this done today."

River took the magazines and began to flip to the marked pages. She liked the designs the elf had picked out, they were simple and practical, mostly all dark colors. Greg would definitely like them. The magazines were closed and gathered into her arms as she stood, smiling at the elf. "Well, you did a good job then. I suppose I'll go get the furniture and leave the job of straightening up here to you." Her smile widened slightly. "We'll have quite the surprise for Greg when he gets home, won't we?"

Luthien smiled; she knew she was going to like having the Miss about the flat. "Yes we will, Miss."