Author's Note: Written for…
Next Gen Competition. Prompt: Dominique celebrates a holiday.
PayDay Challenge. Prompt: omnioculars
Snowless in Sydney
For as long as Dominique could remember, Christmas was always done the same way.
Christmas Eve was spent at home with her parents and siblings. They'd exchange gifts and she and Louis would go in the backyard and have a snowball fight while Victoire tried to dodge getting hit. On Christmas they'd go to the Burrow and spend the night with the entire clan. Then on Boxing Day they'd head to France.
In all of that, there were two things that stuck out in Dominique's mind as being essential for Christmas: family and snow. Currently she had neither.
In theory, interning in Australia sounded like a fantastic idea. It would give her the independence she craved since Mama had forced her and Vicky to share a room for ten years, she'd be able to pad her resume to get a better position in Magical Cooperation upon her return, and Louis wouldn't be able to take her things without permission again - he never did replace her omnioculars.
Christmas hadn't really been a concern of hers back in July, but it was all she could think about now, staring out of the Ministry windows at snowless streets.
"Homesick?" someone asked behind her. She knew her boss's voice well enough that she didn't even turn around, just letting out a long sigh.
"I was supposed to go home today," she murmured. There was a gigantic Christmas tree all lit up in the courtyard out front. It was beautifully decorated, but it just didn't look right without the backdrop of fluffy white mounds.
"You'll be home by Christmas, I promise," Gabriel said, leaning against the window sill beside her. "It's only the twenty-second."
"It's not the point. I'm missing things!" She waved her hand in emphasis.
"Really? What sort of things, then? Important things, I imagine. Life-threatening?" He didn't hide his smirk. She glared at him.
"You know what I mean. Shopping with my sister, baking pies with my grandma, decorating the house…" She pressed her forehead against the cool glass. "The important stuff."
"So quit."
"Weasleys do not quit, thank you very much," she huffed, straightening and crossing her arms. "I'm only saying-"
"You want to go home?"
"Yes."
Gabriel sighed, running a hand through what little hair he had left. "So, if I were to give you two weeks off with pay – starting today – how grateful would you be?"
Dom's eyes bugged out as she stared at him. "Are you serious? You'd do that for me?"
He shrugged like it was no big deal, and she launched into a hug, squealing.
"Thank you so much, Gabe! I promise to bring you a present back." She frowned as she let go. "Oh, no. The presentation! Will you be able to manage it if I go early?"
Gabriel smiled sheepishly. "Lawrence finished it twenty minutes ago. I just wanted you to think I was doing you a favor."
She scoffed. "You can forget about a present."