Disclaimer: This story contains settings, situations, and characters created and owned by JK Rowling. Plot and everything else you don't recognize is inarguably mine… this includes Cheops and the wizarding village of Shadrack, although I got those names from Salem's Tails: The King of Cats by Mark Dubowski. No money is being made, therefore no trademark or copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: One of my fanfic pet peeves is OOCness, so if you think any of the characters are being, well, out of character, please let me know.

Enchantments: Chapter Three

"Market day's today," Cheops announced as he led the students through the busy street. "That's why it's so crowded."

"It's not only crowded, it stinks," Pansy complained.

She does have a point, Draco thought as he breathed in a lungful of air that smelled like a combination of sweat and animal poop, but he was too occupied with looking around him to be bothered too much by the stench.

A gaggle of plump middle-aged witches were sipping lemonade in an outdoor café, eyeing the students speculatively. One of them called out something to Cheops, who shouted back, "Hogwarts! They're from Hogwarts!" There was a collective "Ahhh…" from the witches, and then they returned their attention to their drinks.

Snickering, Crabbe and Goyle pointed to a window displaying Beanie Mummy dolls. "Hey, that would be a great gift to give Potter!" Goyle said loudly, then glanced at Draco for approval.

"That was unbelievably lame even for you, Goyle," snapped Draco, rolling his eyes. Pansy sneezed as they passed a herd of "fine, sturdy Bactrian camels" for sale. Behind him, Draco heard the squeals of Parvati and Padma Patil, who had spotted a shop selling robes for teenagers.

"Can't those two ever think of something other than clothes?" Hermione Granger said testily.

Draco glanced back at her and smirked. "At least they have fashion sense."

Her cheeks flushed pink with anger, or maybe it was from the heat. Now that Draco noticed, it was very warm. No wonder Egyptians wore white all the time.

"Would you mind walking a little faster, Malfoy?" said Hermione. "I know you like looking at your ugly reflection in the shop windows, but, really, you're holding everyone up."

Before he could think of a suitable retort, she shoved past him. "What's your deal, Granger?" he yelled after her.

"I think it was that dig about her not having fashion sense," said Pansy. "Girls are very touchy about that--- not that you were telling a lie or anything," she spitefully added.

"Whatever." Draco put the incident out of his mind as he looked at a shop selling broomsticks with interest. A Charioteer 5000… Isn't that the latest model? I think I'll buy it. It's way better than Potter's Firebolt.

Just as he was craning his neck to see the price tag, he bumped into Crabbe, who was walking in front of him and had suddenly stopped.

"Crabbe, you big oaf, why'd you stop all of a sudden? Oh…" Draco's eyes widened a little as his gaze rested on the gleaming white marble building in front of them. His house was grander, of course, but that didn't make the Museum of Magical Artifacts any less impressive. Guarding the entrance were two lions carved out of sandstone, looking fierce in the sunlight.

"Here we are!" said Cheops, bounding up the steps, beckoning for the students to follow.