The Mercado Girl
Part Three
Chantal followed the twins to a huge, well-lit, packed joke shop.
"Welcome to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes—it's our joke shop. C'mon Chantal, we want you to meet some people!" the twins each grabbed one of her arms and started pulling her toward a small group of people mostly comprised of redheads.
"Who's this?" a round, redheaded woman asked the twins.
"This is Chantal, mum. She's a new friend." George said.
"It's lovely to meet you dear," the woman said gently. "I'm Molly Weasley, and this is my daughter Ginny," a redheaded girl who appeared about a year younger than Chantal, "My son Ron," a tall redheaded boy who appeared about her age, "and his friends Harry and Hermione," Hermione was a bushy-haired brunette who seemed really nice, also about Chantal's age and Harry, the black haired boy with the lightning scar on his forehead. "It's, er, nice to meet you, Chantal," Harry said, extending a hand.
She smiled. "It's nice to meet you too; all of you."
"MERCADO!" the shout from across the shop sent many heads in the direction of Draco Malfoy.
"What do you want with her, Malfoy?" Harry said defensively, stepping in front of Chantal.
" That's none of your business, Pothead. Chantal- Mother and Father expect us back by now."
"All right, I'm coming. I'll see you guys later?" She quickly hugged the twins and waved goodbye to the others.
The group nodded as Chantal grudgingly followed Draco back to the fireplace. He didn't speak to her, and went off to brood when they returned to Malfoy Manor. Chantal sent her owl to fetch what she didn't manage to get at Diagon Alley and she decided to relax until dinner. When Chrissy came to help her get ready-dinner was a formal affair with the Malfoys- Chantal changed from her corduroys into a royal blue dress that flowed to her knees and silver high heels. Chrissy quickly put small sections of her hair into small braids and disappeared when she was finished and Chantal was ready to go down the stairs to the dining room.
When she entered, Narcissa and Lucius were seated. Chantal found a place marker with her name across from the empty chair that she assumed belonged to the absent Draco. She began polite small talk with Lucius and Narcissa as they waited for Draco so they could begin the meal.
"How was Diagon Alley today, Chantal? I hope you found all of your supplies."
"Oh, yes Narcissa, I did. It was a very interesting place, so many unique shops and products. We don't have a Fortescue's in France," Chantal replied. "I only wish I didn't have so long before going back to school. Hogwarts sounds delightful."
Lucius inclined his head. "Things at Hogwarts are not what many for the Pureblood families have hoped. The standards for those allowed to be taught there have dropped drastically. Only the Slytherin House has managed to uphold its noble vision."
Chantal nodded in polite agreement. Her parents hadn't really cared about blood status as much until she got older and began dating. Then things changed, and she had her forced 'vacation' with the Malfoys. Now it was still about two weeks until the term started and Draco was a jerk, there was no kind way to put it.
Just as she finished her thought, Draco entered the dining room. She greeted him politely and got only a grunt in return.
"Mother, Blaise is having a small get-together at Zabini Manor tomorrow night. May I go?"
Narcissa nodded with a slight undertone of indifference.
"You may go, Draco," Lucius said slowly. "But only if you take Chantal with you."
Draco's face was frozen in a mask of disbelief. He stood up abruptly, after not even eating a bit and stormed off, presumably back to his room.
What have I done to make him hate me so much? Chantal asked herself as she stared at Draco's recently vacated seat. She couldn't understand what was wrong with him.
"If you'll excuse me…" she asked Narcissa. She nodded and Chantal hurried to her room. She needed a swim. Chantal changed out of her dinner clothes into a red bikini, covering it with a silk short kimono-style cover-up. The Malfoys had a large pool directly under where her room was. She snuck down the back stairs to find the pool waiting, cool and refreshing.
She took off her cover-up and dove into the deep end of the pool, surfacing dramatically and gasping for air. It felt good to have her hair fanning out in the water, swirling around her head as she floated on her back, just thinking.
So about that Malfoy, what is his deal?
Ask someone who cares.
We do care, or why else would we be asking?
Chantal's thoughts were interrupted by a loud splash from the other side of the pool, it startled her, causing her to sink and take in water She began coughing to try to clear the chlorinated water from her lungs. She felt strong arms holding onto her, not letting her sink for anything. When she looked up, she almost swallowed water again. It was Draco Malfoy.