The Mercado Girl
Part Two
"Chantal, it is lovely to finally meet you. Have you met my son, Blaise?" Mrs. Zabini said, ushering over her son, who was having a conversation with Draco.
"It's a pleasure," Chantal said, as Blaise took her hand and brought it to his lips.
"The pleasure is all mine, Chantal. You'll be attending Hogwarts in the fall? Perhaps I may see you there?"
"Perhaps. It was lovely meeting you, Blaise," Chantal said as Narcissa came to usher her to another introduction with another notable wizarding family. She had noticed Narcissa's son staring at her while she talked with Blaise, she couldn't help but wonder what nasty comment he would make next. If he made one at all.
"Chantal, you are making quite an impression tonight," Narcissa said, seeming quite impressed with the younger woman.
"Thank you Narcissa. I'm humbled by the –" before, she could finish; she was ushered onto the dance floor by none other than Draco Malfoy himself.
"Care to dance?" he asked with a smirk as they glided across the dance floor.
"Isn't it a bit late to be asking that, Malfoy?" Chantal hardly fought the edge that snuck into her voice.
"Well excuse me, Mercado. I was just trying to be a gracious host."
"By insulting the guests when they walk in the door? Hardly the behavior of a 'gracious' host."
Draco looked like he had been slapped in the face. The music ended and Chantal swept away, leaving Draco standing there, dumbfounded.
The day after the ball shined bright and clear. Chantal awoke after a restful sleep to find Chrissy the elf there to help her get ready for the day, beginning with breakfast with the Malfoys. Chantal entered the dining room in dark gray corduroys and a fitted white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled to her elbows.
"Good morning, Chantal. Did you sleep well?" Narcissa asked from across the table where she sat with her husband, the incredibly intimidating Lucius Malfoy, whom Chantal had met the night before.
"Very well, I thank you," she said, taking a small bite of her eggs. Draco Malfoy was nowhere to be seen.
"Narcissa, where is Draco?" Lucius asked in an uninterested tone. "It is rude for him not to be here for breakfast."
Narcissa sighed and snapped her fingers. A house elf appeared and after receiving her instructions, disappeared to go locate the boy.
When Draco made an appearance, he looked as if he had just rolled out of bed, which was made more obvious by his seat next to the prim and pretty Chantal.
"Good morning, Draco," Chantal said, trying to at least be cordial with the disagreeable boy.
He muttered something under his breath in reply. Chantal just rolled her eyes, finished her breakfast and asked to be excused. Her request was granted, with the stipulation that she be ready to go to Diagon Alley with Draco for school supplies within a few hours. Chantal agreed and returned to her room.
She laid on her bed, staring at the top of the four-poster, just thinking. What did I ever do to him to make him such a jerk, and yet he has decent people as friends. That Blaise seemed really nice… Her thoughts were interrupted by a series of insistent knocks on her door.
"Yes?" she asked. The door swung open to reveal the one and only Draco Malfoy.
"It's time to go," he said shortly, turning away from her and going down the hall.
He's really rude, isn't he?
But of course he is. He's a Malfoy.
That's unfair. Narcissa is agreeable.
If you say so.
Chantal grabbed her clutch and her wand and went down to the fireplace where Lucius and Narcissa were waiting to see them off with Floo Powder. Narcissa gave her a quick hug as she took a handful of Floo Powder and threw it in, stepping into the fire.
"Diagon Alley!"
Chantal stepped out of the fireplace, removing the soot from her white Oxford with a quick spell and looking around. The Alley was bustling with people getting supplies for the new year at Hogwarts. Draco came out of the fireplace and started walking away.
"Where are you going?" Chantal asked, slightly perturbed by his indifference.
"I'm going to get my supplies. You are going to get yours," he said, as if it was obvious. He walked away.
Chantal shook her head and went down the alley to the robe shop. She needed robes for Hogwarts instead of her powder blue Beauxbatons robes.
"Can I help you?" the stout woman who owned the shop asked when Chantal entered the shop.
"Yes, ma'am, I need Hogwarts robes please."
The woman nodded and helped her onto a block so that she could fit her new robes.
"Starting new this year, dear?" she asked. "Begging your pardon, but you look a bit tall to be a first year."
"I'm sixteen," she said. "I went to Beauxbatons last year."
"Oh, that's lovely. Here you are dear. That will be 16 Galleons." Madame Malkin said, handing Chantal a package containing her robes. She handed the woman the money and headed on her way, she still had things she needed.
"Let's see; new potions kit, owl, broom cleaning kit, quills—OW!" Chantal's list-making was interrupted by her running into a set of very tall redheaded twins.
"Whoa, sorry about that!" they said in unison, helping Chantal to her feet.
"It's all right," she said, brushing off her corduroys.
"I'm Fred," the one on the right said.
"And I'm George," his twin said.
"We're the Weasley Twins!" they said in unison.
"I'm Chantal. Chantal Mercado. Do you guys practice that?"
"Practice what?" they said.
A/N: Well wasn't that fun? Let's see what troube Chantal gets into next. Review please! I'd really like to know what all of you think about this story!!