When I woke up I turned staring up at the ceiling, mentally preparing myself for the day ahead. Today is the day my perfect older sister Victoire is to marry Teddy Lupin, my long time crush. I turned in the bed to see Rose sleeping soundly beside me. All that was visible was her mass of red curls. To my other side Roxanne was snoring softly in her bed, dark her like a curtain over her face. I got out of bed, put on my dressing gown and padded softly downstairs to the kitchen in the Burrow. I didn't feel up to eating, and it was so early that even Victoire wasn't up yet but I couldn't go back to sleep either. So I sat at the Kitchen table and dreamed wistfully about the wedding being called off and Teddy declaring his undying love for me, but that wasn't likely to happen.

Victoire woke at seven and rushed downstairs, followed closely by her two best friends, cousins and bridesmaids, Molly and Lucy. The cheek of it, I'm her only sister and she doesn't even ask me to be flower girl. No, that's Lily. It's not like I even want to be part of this sham marriage, she's only 20 for Gods sake! Her silvery blonde hair is dancing around her face; her smile is as radiant as the sun. "Morning Dominique" she says rushing past me. "Molly, will you wake up maman, I need to start getting ready". Molly smiles and obediently rushes out of the room to wake my mother.

"You exited!" Lucy says to me, her green eyes sparkling, her red hair tied up in a messy bun. "Yeah" I say flatly, she laughs awkwardly noting the sheer unexitement in my voice.

Then mom enters the kitchen in a flourish. "Oh Victoire" she sighs, "And Dominique you are awake!" I smile at her, genuinely, because I really can't blame her for being happy. "Alright zen, upstairs, eet is time too get ready". And with that I'm alone in the kitchen again.

James isn't long coming down though, and boy am I glad to see him. He grunts at me before sitting down. I nod at him. I'm glad that there's somebody else not overly excited about this wedding. "Its not all bad" James says as if reading my mind "Loran and Lysander are coming, and did I mention Viktor Krum". I turn to him in one swift movement "Viktor Krum! Why would Viktor Krum be coming to my sister's wedding" James shrugs his shoulders, "friends with your mom isn't he" he says this as if it should be obvious. I mean I knew my mom and Viktor Krum knew each other, they competed in the tri-wizard tournament together along with Uncle Harry. I can't help thinking Dad won't be too pleased.

Molly and Lucy come into the room dressed in their shimmery silver bridesmaid's dresses. "How do we look!" Molly exclaims while Lucy twirls, sending the dress billowing around her. "Beautiful" I say. I happen to think the dresses are really ugly.

It's not long then until the whole family are awake and entering the kitchen for breakfast and I take this as my cue to go and get ready. I slip out un noticed and head up stairs to the room I share with Rose and Roxanne. I grab my stuff and go into the shower.

I revel in the steamy heat for awhile. Then I get out, dry my dark blonde shimmery hair by magic and put on the dress my mother chose for the occasion. I don't hate it, its slightly more delicate then what I think is suited to me but... well, and I secretly like it. It's the palest powder pink which reaches just below my knee. The straps go right across my shoulders and dive down my back leaving it bare. And honestly, I think I look really pretty in it. In fact, I'm just as pretty as Victoire; I've just always been second rate to her. To finish it off I slip on ivory heels with a petite heel.

"Dominique!" I hear someone gasp behind me. I turn to see Rose in all her early morning glory gaping at me from the doorway. "I look alright?" I ask. "Dom, you look... wow!" She's closely followed by Roxanne who has a similar reaction with a slight hint of resentment. Me and Roxanne, while we hang around together a lot, don't really like each other. "So what are you guys wearing? I ask to divert the attention.

And I spend the rest of the time helping rose and Rox get ready. Rose is wearing a pale blue dress while Roxanne is wearing emerald green which bring out her deep brown eyes beautifully.

The three of us head back downstairs to find everyone fully dressed and looking beautiful, and happy, and I start to feel happy until I remember the occasion and then I just feel angry. James wolf whistles as he comes up behind me. "Looking good Dom, come on, let's take a walk". He grabs my wrist and leads me outdoors. Away from the crowd I take in his appearance. He's looking good himself in his jet black suit. "So, how you doing Dom?"

This is a very ominous question coming from James, and it can only mean one thing. Fred, our slightly more intuitive cousin who knows me inside out has just informed the completely not intuitive James that something's wrong with me.

"I'm doing absolutely splendid James" I tell him dryly. He stops me and stands in front of me, looking down into my eyes because he's slightly taller than me, and I mean slightly because I myself am very tall. "Well, Freds told me different." It's lovely really how much James cares. I mean he pisses me off a lot ... but still. "Oh really" I say, stepping around him and continuing to walk. "And what's Freds told you?" He falls into step beside me. "Well" he says pausing for a moment. "Fred mentioned that you're not all that happy about the lovely Victoire and her wedding."

I don't answer. "Well" James continues, "Would I be right." But I still don't answer, because I'm frozen in horror looking at the beautiful marquee adorned in Rose petals, and it seems to be shimmering in the early morning sunlight. And the bitter image of Victoire walking down the aisle and Teddy smiling proudly... and then they kiss.

And before I know it I'm running. I don't know where I'm running to (or from) but I'm running because I just can't hold in the tears any more. I'm a stupid little girl I tell myself, I'm a stupid pathetic little girl.

"Dominique" I hear James call miserably behind me. Followed by "I really don't approve of that dress." He only now saw the back of it and it makes me smile through my tears.