Je Regrette Rien

-2-

Mme. Delacour had been waiting in the front hall of the manor since early in the morning. The group from England was due to arrive at 10 o’clock and she was extremely nervous. Eventually Fleur and Gabrielle joined her to greet the guests.

At 10 o’clock on the nose, a tall red-haired boy with glasses appeared in the front hall. Mme. Delacour stared at him for a moment before for muttering, “Just one?”

“No, Madame,” The boy said, “The others should be here any minute.” As if on cue, five others appeared, all clutching a tin can. All of them looked bewildered, except the other redhead. He was sulking.

“Percy, why do you get to apparate?” Ron grumbled. Percy didn’t answer him.

“Welcome,” Mme. Delacour said quietly loudly, “Welcome to France. Je suis Sophie Delacour and zese are my daughters, Fleur and Gabrielle.” Fleur winked.

“Merci, Madame, I am Percy Weasley,” The red-haired boy with glasses began. Mme. Delacour smiled broadly, “This is my brother, Ron, and his friends…”

“ ‘Arry!” Fleur burst out, hugging one of the boys and kissing him on each cheek, “ ‘Ow ‘ave you been?”

“Fine,” Harry said, blushing.

“As I was saying,” Percy continued, annoyed that he had been interrupted for such a silly display, “Ron and his friends. Harry Potter, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Neville Longbottom.” He gestured to each of the boys in turn. Mme. Delacour looked like she would burst with happiness.

“It’s so wonderful to see you all, I’ll show you to your rooms.”

As they walked up the stairs, Neville looked around nervously. “This place looks familiar,” he said to Ron, but Ron was too busy sulking to hear him.

“What’s eating you?” Seamus asked.

“Hermione,” Ron spat out as if the very word sickened him.

“What about her?”

“She’s in Bulgaria,” Harry intercepted. A look of understanding formed on the faces of everyone else.

“The Ministry just about killed me when my mum insisted that I bring my little brother,” Percy complained loudly to Mme. Delacour as she led them down the hall, “and when I had to bring his friends, well, all I can say is they better watch themselves. I won’t be held responsible for their actions. I have work to do!”

Mme. Delacour nodded politely, “Perhaps Fleur or Gabrielle might show zem zee sights.” She stopped at the end of a long hallway. “We ‘ave two rooms and a study prepared for you. You may rest and unpack. Luncheon will be served promptly at twelve o’clock.” With that she left.

Percy opened the door to the small room next to the study. “This is my room, don’t disturb me unless someone dies!” Then he slammed the door behind him.

“It’s not like I wanted to come in anyway,” Ron growled as Dean opened the door to the larger room. Inside were five identical four-poster beds with cerulean blue hangings.

“Wow,” Seamus said upon entering the room, “Do you suppose this is what the Ravenclaw dorm looks like?” The boys all laughed and then chose their beds.

“I wonder if we’ll get to see Paris,” Neville said, looking out the window.

“I doubt it,” Ron said, “You know Percy, he’ll probably make us stay here and read, or do extra homework.”

* * * * *

“Six boys!” Squeaked a little curly haired brunette. She was talking to Gabrielle in the entrance hall.

“Oui, Dauphine, six boys,” Fleur said as she entered the room.

“What year?” Dauphine asked excitedly, her cheeks were getting pink.

“I do not know, zey are from England.”

“Oh, foreign boys. Cute foreign boys?”

Fleur held up her hand to silence the girl. “Are you staying for lunch, Dauphine?”

“Oh, of course. ‘Ow could I miss six foreign boys?”

“All right.” Fleur then turned to her sister who had been quiet through the whole thing. “I do not know ‘ow you and ‘er are friends.” With that she sped from the room, somewhat self-righteously.

“Your sistair is horrible Gabrielle,” Dauphine said angrily. Gabrielle didn’t say anything, but her brain was screaming ‘No, she’s not! No, she’s not!’

* * * * *

Dinner went unusually well for the Delacour house. Percy talked at length about the importance of his Ministry department and Mme. Delacour listened politely. “Yes, dear, but what I do not see is why no one wants to co-operate with zee French Ministry.”

“Well, they have gotten themselves quite a reputation in the past.”

Further down the table Dauphine kept batting her eye lashes or giggling loudly and by the look on Fleur’s face she was about to be killed.

“I’ve got an idea!” Mme. Delacour said suddenly, “Let’s all go into town tomorrow, see zee sights.”

“Muzzer, I will ‘ave too much work to do,” Fleur piped up and a spark of admiration flickered in Percy’s eyes. Ron looked oddly at his brother, but then as quickly as the change had come over him it vanished without a trace.

“All right then, Gabrielle and I will take the boys sightseeing immediately after breakfast.”