Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

(Summer) Year 5- Ch. 95

** The conversations in this chapter and the next will be mainly in French, and the translation will be at the end of each dialogue **

Céline's lungs ached and she struggled to breathe, her calves were on fire, and she felt like her feet were about to fall off. Céline had been running nonstop for as long as she could. She was a pretty fit person who would always exercised regularly.

The only problem was that she didn't get to do it very much this past year at Hogwarts, and she especially didn't get to do any exercise so far in the summer. She bent over putting her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath. Her eyes were clamped shut as she tried to focus  steadying her breathing, if she didn't, she was going to pass out.

After a couple of minutes her heart rate finally began to settle. She opened one eye to check the time.

2:35am

She had been running for thirty minutes. She looked back and saw nothing but silhouettes of the trees and hills, it was still so dark out with only the stars and moon illuminating her surroundings. She decided to continue walking for a little bit until she regained some of her stamina.

She pulled out a hair tie that she stuffed in her pocket as she got ready, and tied her now dampened hair. The sweat that plastered her baby hairs on the back of her neck quickly became cold from the chilly breeze. She checked her back pocket to make sure her wand hadn't fallen out as she ran, thankfully it was still secured in place.

Everyone once in a while she would look behind her, paranoid that Telly may have told on her. She only hoped that she didn't. She looked around her and occasionally would be able to see silhouettes of cottages or farmhouses in the distance.

After another forty-five minutes of constant running, with only a few short walking breaks in between she finally saw a sign that read: Welcome To Moret-Sur-Loing

It was the biggest relief she's had all night. She finally made it to a muggle town. She checked her watch.

3:34am

She held her trunk tighter and quickly made her way into the town. She needed to find the train station. She needed to get to Paris. She wasn't sure if this town had any hidden magical areas, like Paris did.

She felt nervous, she looked around at the buildings as she passed them, it was still so late at night, so many people were sleeping, so it was quiet. All she heard were her own footsteps against the stone paved ground.

Céline thought if she were here on different circumstances and in daylight, she would have definitely liked to enjoyed the scenery and the architecture.

She finally found the train station, though it took a lot longer since she wasn't familiar with the town. She ran up the steps and entered the building. It was dimly lit and she didn't see anyone around. She checked the time again,

3:55am

She slowly made her way to the ticket counter, where she saw a lady with a curly brown bob and hazel eyes. She looked to be in her forties.

Her eyes widened when she suddenly remembered that she was going to need muggle money. Something she's never used or even had for that matter. She nervously approached the counter.

"B-Bonjour er— combien pour un billet pour Paris?" She asked the lady. (Good morning er- How much is one ticket to Paris?)

The lady raised one of her arched eyebrows, inspecting Céline and her state. "Pour quelle heure?" She asked in a skeptical tone. (For what time?)

"Pour le train le plus tôt." Replied Céline, in her most polite tone. (For the soonest train.)

She eyed Céline for a moment and then began to look at the train arrival times. She lifted her head and looked around Céline and then back to her.

"Est-ce juste toi?" The woman asked her. Celine's hand tightened around her trunk again and nodded her head. (Is it just you?)

"Oui.." she said. (Yes..)

The woman looked at Céline carefully, before sighing. Céline's anxiety was skyrocketing with each passing second.

"Le prochain train n'est qu'à cinq heures trente et il coûtera quinze euros." The ticket lady said, with a look of pity in her eyes. She could only assume why a young lady such as Céline would be at the train station this early. (The next train isn't until five-thirty and it will be fifteen euros.)

Celine's face paled, she checked her watches again.

4am

The train wouldn't arrive for another hour and a half. To much time that would be spent like a sitting duck. On top of that, she didn't have any muggle money on her. She might be able to sell something to get that money but she was sure there wouldn't be anyone open at the time to sell to. Céline would still have to wait and waste time that she didn't have to spend.

With each passing minute, the closer the time gets to her father or mother waking up and seeing that she wasn't there. That is, if Telly hasn't already woken them up.

The woman looked at the panic that was setting on Celine's face. She suddenly felt so bad for her. She checked the time and sat there for moment, debating, until she ultimately decided.

"chérie, as-tu de l'argent?" She asked now with more of a softer tone. (Sweetheart, do you have money?)

Céline stiffened. She slowly shook her head. "M-Mais je pensais peut-être vendre ma montre ou quelque chose comme ça pour avoir de l'argent pour le train." She quickly said. (B-But I was thinking about maybe selling my watch or something to get money for the train.)

The woman checked her watch, "Ma chérie, la plupart des prêteurs sur gages ne seront ouverts qu'à six ou sept heures." She said. (My dear, most pawnbrokers won't be open until six or seven.)

Céline looked at her downcast, she didn't want to waste anymore time than she did. If she waited until then, there was great possibility that her father might be there waiting for her by the time she got to Paris. She supposed that the best thing for her to do is walk.

"oh, je vois... merci alors... désolé de vous déranger, madame." Said Céline, with her head down. She was starting to feel discouraged. She turned around and started to walk away. (Oh, I see... thank you... sorry for bothering you, ma'am.)

Céline only was half way through the room, before she heard the woman call out to her.

"Attendez, mademoiselle, attendez une seconde, s'il vous plaît." Called the woman behind her. Céline turned around to see that the woman had come out of the ticket booth and was now walking towards her. (Wait, Miss, hold on, please.)

As she came closer, she saw that the woman was a bit taller than her.

"Êtes-vous pressé?" She asked. Céline looked at her confused, "Ce que je veux dire, c'est que mon service se termine dans une heure, et il se trouve que je vais à Paris aujourd'hui." (How much of a hurry are you in? What I mean is, my shift ends in a hour, and I just so happen to be going to Paris today.)

Céline looked at her for a moment, contemplating for a moment whether or not if she should trust her. But there was something about her that reminded her of Mrs, Weasley and she also didn't really have any other options.

"Et tu m'y emmènerais?" Céline asked nervously. (And you would take me there?)

The woman gave her a big warm smile, "Si vous acceptez mon offre, je serais heureux de vous accepter." She said energetically. (If you accept my offer, I would be glad to take you.)

Céline suddenly felt some sort of comfort. She thought that there weren't any other options that would get her there sooner and she wouldn't have to sell her things either.

"Merci..." Céline's voice trailed off because didn't know the woman's name. (Thank you.)

The woman gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Julia. Attends-moi là-bas et je viendrai une fois que j'aurai fini er—" She points to a bench in the corner of the room. (Wait for me over there, and I'll come over once I'm done.)

"Céline." She said. She made her way over to the bench setting her bench down. Once she sat down, she brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them. She only hoped that her parents were still asleep and they wouldn't find her while she waited.