They cling to the idea that they have different last names: Weasley and Potter. Maybe if they run away together, no one will know (or care). Of course, they might see the way that their eyes glisten with emotion like their Grandma Molly. Or how they both have perfect noses that Aunt Ginny says came from their great uncle. So okay, they do look a bit alike in a certain lighting, and yes, his mum and her dad are siblings, and yes, they're cousins.
.oOo.
What an awful word, Dominique says to herself as she gets ready for Christmas Day with the entire Weasley-Potter family. Of course, Scorpius with be there with Rose. Lysander with be there with his family, attached to Lily Luna's hip. Neville and Hannah will bring Frank and Alice, their kids. It's pretty much the same thing every year. A pickup game of Quidditch, maybe a game of soccer that will get way too rowdy, and then Grandpa Arthur will call everyone in the Burrow for the wonderful meal their grandma has made. After dinner and presents, everyone will go to the Potter's at 12 Grimmauld Place, and eventually the adults will leave, letting the kids spend the night.
Like every family get together, Dominique spends way too much time deciding what to wear. This time, though, she chooses a dress; it's white with long sleeves, and looks very elegant with her brown riding boots. That, and the scoop neck is a bit low.
"That's cute, Dom," Victoire, tells her when she finally leaves the bathroom she's been hoarded in. Of course, her sister is wearing jeans and the modest sweater she bought at some mall the other day. Vic is perfect; always has been, always will be, Dominique reckons.
"Merci beaucoup, Vic."
They descend down the stairs together, dragging a sleeping Louis along with them. Their parents are waiting on them, and it looks like they have been for a while by the way her mother is tapping her heel and speaking in rapid French.
"Domi, what are you wearing? Oh, never mind! Leet's go!" And then a hand is being thrown at Dominqiue; she finds herself outside the Burrow very quickly.
Two redheaded - one straight, one curly - girls approach her. The taller one, Lily Luna, has emerald eyes, and to Dominique's delight, is wearing a more provocative outfit than her own. Rose is blue eyed, like Uncle Ron, and is practically wearing a burka. She leaves, though (to find Scorpius Malfoy, no doubt), after saying hello quickly.
"They've had a spat," Lily informs her in a whisper, like it's a large secret, "but that only means they're snogging somewhere as we speak."
Dominique giggles, happy for the first time all day. "You're right."
"Aren't I always?" the younger girl says and winks.
Lily tells Dominique some story about Teddy, but Dominique's not listening. She's taking in the scene around her: the uncles and aunts all talking; Molly, Roxanne, and Hugo swinging on the front porch; Lysander, Lorcan, and Lucy talking; Fred, Louis, and Albus pointing and waving wildly; and of course, the fact that Rose, Scorpius, Teddy, and Victoire are all currently missing.
But the only person she really wants to see, Dominique can't find.
"Lily, I'm going to go inside for a moment."
"'Kay. I'm going to find and embarrass Rose."
He's exactly where she thought she'd find him: sitting by the fire. Sometimes he's not all that predictable, but most of the time he never ceases to surprise her. His hair is, of course, sticking up all over; although it's brown, and the way it's messed up is more shaggy than unruly. He's the only Potter child to have received his mother's brown eyes, and for some reason doesn't like them. He looks gorgeous in his jeans and plaid button down, Dominique can't help but notice, as his face lights up from the flames.
"Don't fall in," she tells him, and he chuckles, patting next to him for her to sit down. Grandma Molly's Christmas tunes are playing from her little old radio, and they sound almost comforting.
"You look great," he says, and she thanks him politely.
There's nothing unordinary about this, right here, right now, Dominique thinks to herself, pushing out mental images of him half naked. Two cousins talking by the fire. But there's lingering touches and longing glances there, too, and it reels the blonde back into reality. They aren't ordinary at all.
His deep voice snaps her back as he asks, "Who are you trying to impress, Dom?" His eyes light up, and he looks at her, smiling. It warms her whole body up more than the fire could dream of.
"Ly."
"Lils might just kill you," he informs you, and she grins wickedly.
"This family needs a scandal. Haven't had one since the fight between Uncle Ron and Mr. Malfoy."
"A scandal, huh?" He leans towards her; his breath makes her hair stand on end. She can't focus with him so close.
"Y-yeah."
And he kisses her, soft and slowly, as if to remind her that they are a scandal in the making. For a moment, he's not her cousin.
He's James Sirius Potter, and Dominique Fabienne Weasley might be falling in love with the Chaser.
But he stops kissing her, and she sees that glint in his eye and remembers that they're cousins. She sighs, knowing he won't try anything for the rest of Christmas at the Burrow; he knows her better than that.
"Want to go see if the family is up for Quidditch?" James asks. She nods in reply.
So they do, and of course the family immediately heads out to their makeshift pitch. Teams are chosen; positions are assigned.
Like every year, the team with Uncle Harry, Aunt Ginny, and James Sirius wins.
They have dinner, and the ham is good, but no one was expecting less than perfect in the food department. Molly talks of how the rest of the cousins need to behave more at school, while Lily won't shut up about her last boyfriend and how he cheated on her, but she couldn't've cared less because he was stupid anyways. Dominique just sits and listens, laughing when one of them says something hilarious - and with this group, it's often. She loves her family and wouldn't trade them for the world.
Unless it meant her and James weren't cousins anymore, of course.