Disclaimer: The original characters are the only things that are ours, the rest belongs to the brilliant JK Rowling. We're not making any money or anything. This is just for fun!
"Allons, Draco! Stop admiring your reflection in ze window, we do not have all day!" Dominique Antoinette Lestrange snapped at her cousin. She didn't want to spend all day in Diagon Ally, waiting for Draco to have his fill of his own reflection. Honestly, he was worse than his mother's namesake. Draco smoothed his hair back one last time, practiced his trademark Malfoy sneer, then joined Dominique and Narcissa in the street. Dominique rolled her eyes. "Where are we going first, Aunt Narcissa?" she enquired. Narcissa smoothed her cloak over her shoulders and began walking regally toward Madam Malkin's. Dominique and Draco followed.
The three of them enterred the store, and Madam Malkin began measuring Draco, for his new robes. Dominique was browsing the fabrics. She would never buy anything pre-made off the racks, but if this Madam Malkin was as good as everyone said, she might have her make some robes that were more fitting for the dreary English weather. Dominique was instantly drawn to a bolt of down-soft green wool. It would make a wonderful winter cloak, and would go especially well with the rest of the robes in Dominique's wardrobe. At the moment she wore her favourite grey shopping robes - they were comfortable yet elegant, with a fitted waist, tapered sleeves and a gently scooping neckline that showed just a hint of cleavage. A thick, emerald-green cloak would look fabulous with it. Dominique snapped her fingers for the attendant. A scrawny, timid-looking girl scurried over to assist her.
"I want a cloak made from zis fabric. It must have a large hood and a place for my wand." She looked at the girl, who was taking notes. "Now!" Dominique barked, scaring the attendant half out of her wits. The girl scrambled to take out her measuring tape, which began taking measurements. After a few moments, the tape was done, and the girl carried the bolt of cloth into the back, to begin making the cloak. Dominique continued browsing the fabrics. Suddenly, she heard raised voices. She looked up and saw her cousin exchanging heated words with a group of teenagers. She walked silently up behind the group.
"Harry, no!" blubbered a bushy-haired girl, clinging to a black-haired boy. The boy had his wand drawn and pointed at Draco. Dominique narrowed her eyes.
"Iz zere somezing wrong?" she asked smoothly, her hand on her wand. The three teenagers - a tall redheaded boy was with the other two - spun around at the sound of her voice. Dominique looked each of them in the eyes in turn, reaching into their minds to read their surface thoughts effortlessly. The redhead thought she looked vaguely familier, but couldn't quite place her. The girl was wondering if she was a Hogwarts student and if so, what house she was in. The black-haired boy, though, had recognized her face. He now pointed his wand at her.
"Your Master letting you out in public now, Bellatrix? Why don't you step outside for a moment, I'm sure the Aurors would just ilove/i to have a word with you," the black-haired boy - who Dominique figured must be Harry Potter - asked with more malice than she would have thought him capable. She raised her eyebrow.
"You are confuzed. My name iz Dominique Lestrange. Bellatrix iz my muzzer," here she sighed, "demented az she iz. And you are...?" She looked at him questioningly. He blinked, studied her face for a moment, then lowered his wand considerably.
"Harry Potter. This is Ron Weasley," Harry gestured to the redhead, who wore a look of dawning comprehension, "and this is Hermione Granger," he gestured to the brown-haired girl, who gave her a wary smile. Draco mumbled something about a Mudblood, and Dominique narrowed her eyes at him.
"Aunt Narcissa, you and Draco do not need to wait for me. I will meet you at..." she searched for the English word for a moment, then gave up. "At l'Apothecaire." Narcissa nodded, bidding Draco to take off the robes he was being fitted for and follow her. After they left, Dominique returned her attention to Harry. "I apologize for my cuzzin. 'E believes zat 'iz pure blood makes up for 'iz 'orrid manners. It is a pleasure to meet ze three of you. You attend Hogwarts, yes?" Harry was a bit speechless that Narcissa and Draco Malfoy had just left at the request of this newcomer, but Hermione stepped up immediately.
"Yes, we're sixth years in Gryfindor. Are you going to be attending Hogwarts? What year are you going into? Where are you from? What House d'you think you'll be in?" Hermoine spoke quickly, firing off questions one after the other. Dominique smiled indulgently at her.
"Yes, I will be attending 'ogwarts. I am going into sixth year. I believe I will be Sorted into Slitherin House, for obvious reasons. I 'ave transferred from Bauxbatons; I grew up in France. Would ze three of you be so kind as to show me around 'ogwarts when we get zere? Draco 'as said zat 'e 'as no time to babysit, and I do not know anyone else." Dominique asked softly. If this Granger girl was always this nosy, Dominique didn't know if she would be able to stand her all year. But she would if she had to, to stay in Harry's good graces. Her mother - not to mention the Dark Lord - would murder her if she ruined their plans. Dominique was Bellatrix's chance at redemption for failing to retrieve some prophecy earlier in the year, just like Draco was given a mission to redeem his father.
"Of course!" answered the Weasly boy brightly, wipping a bit of drool from his freckled chin. "We'd be neglecting our duties as prefects if we didn't. Wouldn't we, Mione?" he prodded Granger, who nodded. Dominique smiled at him.
"Merci. I appreciate your 'elp." Just then, the assistant returned with Dominique's finished cloak. Dominique inspected it. Having found that it met her standards, she paid for it, and asked the assistant to wrap it up for her. The assistant hurried to do so, then brought Dominique the wrapped parcel and disappeared into the back again. Dominique turned back to the trio. "I must meet Aunt Narcissa and Draco now. I will see you at 'ogwarts. Good day," she bid them farewell and exitted the shop.
She quickly found Narcissa and Draco at the apothecary. They entered, and Dominique immediately began looking for the perfume oils display. She browsed the bottles, reading the scent combinations on each. She couldn't find a combination that she felt really fit her, so she approached the shopkeeper.
"Pardonnez-moi, Monsieur. I would like a bottle of perfume oil, but I do not like any of the combinations you 'ave already made. Can you make me a new one?" She asked briskly. The shopkeeper, a stooped old man with a large nose, looked her up and down, giving a start when his eyes reached her face, then nodded. "Good." She thought for a moment, trying to remember what she had smelled when she caught a wiff of Amoretentia. "I would like a combination of red wine, amorretto, plum and black currant." The shopkeeper nodded and ambled over to begin mixing her perfume. She purchased all her potions supplies while she waited. Once the perfume was ready, she made sure it was to her liking, then paid for it and left the shop.
After visiting a few more stores, their shopping was complete. All in all, it was a very successfull outing. She'd gotten all the items in her Hogwarts letter, a new cloak, some fabulous perfume, and she'd made friends with Harry Potter and his sidekicks. Very successful day, indeed. Dominique, Draco and Narcissa returned to Malfoy Manor early in the afternoon. Dominique spent the rest of the day arranging her belongings and packing her trunk. That night after the evening meal, she sat at her vanity while her house elf, Babette, brushed out Dominique's long black hair. She really did look remarkably like her mother; the only difference was that fifteen years in Azkaban had aged Bellatrix beyond her years, and Dominique was still young and beautiful.
After her hair was brushed, Dominique dismissed Babette for the night and prepared for bed. The cool night air caressed her flawless ivory skin as she changed into her blue silk pyjamas. She crawled into her four-poster bed, pulling the thick duvet up under her chin. Tomorrow she would go to Kings Cross Station to board the Hogwarts Experss. Draco had offered her a seat in his compartment, but she wasn't sure if she should sit with him, or try to get closer to Harry. Draco had said something about wanting Dominique to meet a friend of his, Blaise, and Dominique was certainly intrigued. She'd decide once she got there. Closing her eyes, she thought of her home in France as she drifted off to sleep.
See, wasn't that fun! Now go review, review, review! Let me know what you want to see happen with Dominique in upcoming chapters and you might just find yourself indulged! Amber