Chapter 3: November 2015
"What on earth is that supposed to be?" Brooke asked, grabbing Dominique's parchment out from under her quill.
"Hey!" Dominique cried, reaching for her homework. "I was working on that!"
"It looks like a stick," Tom said as Brooke passed the parchment around.
"It's supposed to be a bowtruckle," Dominique muttered.
"Is it really?" Miles asked, stifling a laugh. "Well it's a good effort."
"Shut up," Dominique groaned. "I know I'm a terrible artist. If I'd known care of magical creatures would require so much drawing, I never would have signed up for it."
"What exactly is the purpose of this assignment anyway?" Tom wondered. "Are you going to learn how to care for a bowtruckle by sketching it?"
"I have no idea," Dominique sighed. "Professor Hagrid seems to think so, though I have no idea why."
"Wouldn't it make more sense to have sketched this in class?" Brooke wondered. "You know, when the bowtruckle was there?"
"Well I started it in class," Dominique replied. "But I didn't have a chance to finish. I can remember what it looked like though."
Brooke shrugged. "Well I prefer arithmancy anyway."
Dominique laughed and shook her head. "If you say so," she muttered. She'd looked at Brooke and Tom's arithmancy notes on occasion, but they were nothing more than gibberish in her mind.
Dominique grabbed her parchment back and continued to attempt to sketch out the remaining parts of the bowtruckle. It was weird, taking a class that none of her friends were taking. Ever since she'd started at Hogwarts, all the first years had taken their classes together. So it felt strange, when she trekked down to the ground for care of magical creatures class, to be going alone. Not to mention, her class was significantly smaller than most classes – another disconcerting fact.
It wasn't the same for Brooke and Tom – at least they had arithmancy together. Dominique was sure that Miles would understand her feelings though, since he was taking ancient runes alone. At least all four of them were taking muggle studies together. If Dominique had to take two of her classes without her friends, she'd go mad. It was lonely enough in care of magical creatures, sketching out a bowtruckle with nobody to talk to. No wonder she'd been unable to finish her sketch in time – she'd kept looking up at the castle and thinking of her friends inside.
"Okay seriously Miles, what are you muttering?" Brooke demanded out of the blue. Dominique looked up in surprise. She hadn't noticed any muttering.
"Sorry," Miles apologized. "I'm supposed to practice pronouncing my vocabulary words out loud," he explained, gesturing to a piece of parchment with fifteen unintelligible words that consisted of a bunch of random shapes and designs that Dominique couldn't recognize.
"But why?" Brooke wondered. "Isn't it only important that you can read and translate the runes? Why do you need to pronounce them?"
Miles shrugged. "I can only assume that Professor Thicket knows what he's doing," he said.
"How do you even know if you're pronouncing it correctly?" Tom asked. "I mean, runes are from a long time ago. All the runic languages are dead, which is why they have to teach students to translate them into modern languages. So if there's nobody alive who actually spoke in a runic language, then what are you measuring your pronunciation against?"
Miles shrugged again. "I don't know," he muttered. "Take it up with Professor Thicket."
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The next day, the third years started the day off in history of magic, after which they parted ways for their elective classes. While Tom and Brooke ascended to the fourth floor for arithmancy and Miles ascended to the sixth floor for ancient runes, Dominique descended to the Entrance Hall and then began to trek across the grounds for care of magical creatures.
To Dominique's dismay, Professor Hagrid had decided to continue with the sketching of bowtruckles. Today, he wanted everyone to sketch a second, different bowtruckle, so that they could compare their two sketches and see what parts of a bowtruckle are unique to the individual creature, and which parts are standard to all bowtruckles. Dominique thought this was a pretty useless use of her time, but figured that it at least beat memorizing vocabulary words or doing complicated equations back in the stuffy castle.
Dominique chose a bowtruckle and then got herself settled with some parchment and her quill and ink in the ground beside her. She propped up her history of magic textbook on her knees to serve as a working surface to draw on and carefully began to draw.
Though the class size wasn't huge, there weren't that many bowtruckles, which meant that some students had to share one. So Dominique wasn't at all surprised when she sensed someone sit down next to her with their own parchment. In fact, she didn't even look to see who it was, not bothering to spare the student a second thought until she spoke.
"Hello Dominique," Quinn said quietly, causing Dominique to jump and spill her ink all over the ground.
"Quinn," Dominique muttered in acknowledgement as she quickly grabbed her inkwell only to discover that it was too late to salvage anything. "This ink cost me fourteen sickles you know."
"Hey, I didn't do anything," Quinn replied. "All I did is sit down to sketch this bowtruckle. You spilled that ink all on your own."
Quinn was right of course. Nothing she'd done had caused the ink to spill, except in the way that her presence had affected Dominique.
"Did you want something?" Dominique asked. Normally, Quinn hung out with her buddies – Marsha and Catherine – during class. So it was strange for her to seek out Dominique. Unless she was here for revenge.
"I did actually," Quinn nodded. "I'm here to call a truce."
Dominique's head snapped up in surprise at the words. "A truce?" she questioned.
Quinn nodded curtly.
"But why?" Dominique wondered. "You were pretty clear in September that I needed to watch my back."
Quinn shook her head. "Yeah well, you're not worth it," she muttered.
Dominique wanted to say something to that – fight back, say she was worth it. But she fought the desire to do so and instead remained quiet. If Quinn was serious about backing off, Dominique didn't want to jeopardize that.
"Besides," Quinn continued. "I don't have time to worry about brats in other houses. I have my own house to worry about now."
"Your own house?" Dominique asked, before she could reign in her question. She immediately regretted speaking, fearing that she'd end up saying something wrong, but Quinn didn't seem fazed.
"Let's just say that joining the Quidditch team was not Summer Snow's best move," Quinn said.
Dominique nodded, pretending she understood. What could Quinn possibly care that Summer had joined the Quidditch team? Dominique wasn't going to ask though.
"Alright, so then we're good then?" Dominique asked. "Even, I mean?"
"Sure," Quinn rolled her eyes. "We're even. As long as you stay out of my way from now on."
"Yeah," Dominique said in a rush. "Yeah, of course, definitely. You won't have to deal with me again."
"Good," Quinn nodded. "Glad we understand each other."
Quinn got up and left then, rejoining her friends with their bowtruckle, leaving Dominique to ponder the conversation she'd just had. Could she really believe it? It all felt kind of surreal. Quinn wouldn't just let her off the hook like that, would she? But as Dominique watched Quinn draw, she caught her staring in Summer's direction, narrowing her eyes slightly. Clearly there was some animosity between the two girls – far more than had ever been between Quinn and Dominique. So it must be true. Dominique breathed a sigh of relief. She was free.
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"Are you sure this is for real?" Miles frowned later at lunch.
"It seemed like it was real," Dominique nodded. "What reason could she have to say anything unless she was serious?"
"She could be trying to throw you off," Brooke pointed out. "Trying to get all relaxed and feeling safe before she locks you in another closet."
Dominique shook her head. "I don't think so," she said. "It didn't feel like that."
"Well it wouldn't, would it?" Tom asked. "Or else it wouldn't be very effective."
"Well if you all want to go on being worried, then go ahead," Dominique crossed her arms defiantly. "But I'm going to take this for what it is – a fresh start."
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The next day found Dominique, Miles, and Tom studying in the library while Brooke was off at Quidditch practice. The three were working on their most recent muggle studies assignment – to write a short paper on a game that muggle children play. Dominique was writing hers on jumping rope, while Miles had chosen the game hangman and Tom had selected a game called dominoes.
As they worked, Dominique noticed Summer Snow and her friend, Carly Sutton, enter the library and take seats not far away. Remembering her conversation with Quinn, Dominique again wondered what could have happened to get Quinn so mad at Summer.
"Maybe I should warn her," Dominique mused to herself, not realizing she was speaking out loud.
"Warn who?" Tom asked.
"Summer," Dominique replied, pointing in the Slytherin girl's direction. "About Quinn."
"Whoa!" Miles said, dropping his quill and raising his hands in front of Dominique. "Do you really think that's wise?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Dominique frowned. "If she knew Quinn was mad at me, I'd like her to tell me, so I could be warned at least."
"Okay, but just consider what you're proposing for a minute," Miles said. "For one thing, Summer is a Slytherin. She might not be Quinn, but she could still be dangerous."
"Don't tell me you're spouting off that nonsense about everyone in Slytherin being evil," Dominique rolled her eyes. "Just because Quinn is – well awful – doesn't mean that all Slytherins are like her."
"I agree," Miles nodded. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful around them. What if Summer decides you're the real threat?"
"Any other reasons?" Dominique sighed. "Or is that your only point?"
"Okay, well if Quinn is after Summer now, then that means she's probably keeping an eye on her," Miles said.
"Sure," Dominique nodded with a frown. "That's why I want to warn her."
"But if Quinn finds out you went to Summer behind her back, then that could negate this so-called 'truce' you claim to have now," Miles said.
"You don't even think the truce is real," Dominique accused.
"I don't," Miles agreed. "But if it turns out it is, and you ruin it all by getting involved where you shouldn't and talking to Summer, then you'll be right back where you were before. Except you won't know until Quinn strikes."
"Okay, calm down," Dominique insisted. "You're talking like Quinn's a murderer or something."
"She locked you in a closet!" Miles cried.
"I wasn't in danger," Dominique pointed out. "The worst that would've happened is I might have missed my exam."
"She poured a dangerous potion all over you," Miles added.
"It was only one hand," Dominique contradicted her friend. "And it was hardly a dangerous potion. It was a simple swelling solution. Professor Abbott-Longbottom fixed me up in no time."
"I hate to agree with Miles on this," Tom stepped in, "but I do. You should keep your head down."
"Well I think I should do the right thing," Dominique disagreed. "Besides, we're Gryffindors. We don't run from a fight."
"But you're initiating something that doesn't have to happen," Miles insisted. "This isn't a fight you have to be a part of."
"It is," Dominique said, her mind made up. "Just because Quinn backed off doesn't mean this is any less my fight. It's been my fight since last year when Professor Abbott-Longbottom paired us up in potions class. It's been my fight since I found Cat – I mean Tommy – and gave him to Quinn by mistake. This is every bit my fight."
Miles sighed as Dominique stood, knowing that there was no talking her out of it now.
Dominique walked over to Summer and Carly and took a seat, causing the two Slytherin girls to look up and scowl at her.
"And what do you want?" Summer asked with a frown.
"Nothing," Dominique said. "I just came to warn you. Quinn told me she's coming after you. I don't know why, except that it might have to do with you joining the Quidditch team. Anyway, I just thought you should know."
"You did, did you?" Summer asked. "And why do you think it's any of your business?"
It was Dominique's turn to frown. "I just thought you'd want to know."
"Listen girl," Summer said. "I know Quinn, and I know when someone's coming after me, and Quinn is not after me. Not approving of my extracurricular activities is no reason for her to declare war on me."
"I'm just telling you what she told me," Dominique informed Summer. "That's all."
Before Summer could say anything else, Dominique rose and left, returning to her table where Miles and Tom were watching her.
"How'd it go?" Tom wondered.
"Well she wasn't particularly receptive to what I had to say," Dominique shrugged. "But it's not like there's anything more I can do. I told her what I know, and it's her decision how to use that information."
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"Ugh, I'm so behind," Brooke groaned a few days later as she frantically tried to piece together an essay about the game jacks. "All these Quidditch practices are killing me."
"Why do you have so many?" Dominique frowned. "Isn't your next game not until next term?"
"Well yeah," Brooke nodded. "But after losing to Ravenclaw, we have to step our game up. Hufflepuff and Slytherin both have some pretty good teams this year."
"But you have plenty of time to improve before then," Dominique contradicted. "You'd think you'd deserve a break for a few weeks after playing a game."
"Not the losing team," Brooke shook her head. "There's no celebrating unless you win."
"Hmm," Dominique mused. "Well I still think they should have given you a break, instead of increasing the number of practices per week."
"This is the only way we'll get better," Brooke insisted. "But you'll just have to take my word for it, I suppose."
"I will," Dominique agreed. "Because I certainly know nothing about Quidditch to make a fair assessment."
The girls lapsed into silence for a few minutes while Brooke worked on her muggle studies assignment and Dominique worked on identifying the parts of a bowtruckle directly onto her sketches – which was difficult since her sketches were terrible and not at all accurate representations of the creatures.
"Hey Domi?" Brooke spoke up.
"Yeah?" Dominique said.
"Any chance I could take a peak at your muggle studies paper?" Brooke wondered.
"Not a chance," Dominique smirked as she shook her head. "I'm not going to help you cheat your way through third year."
"It wouldn't really be cheating though," Brooke attempted to justify herself. "I couldn't just copy yours, because we have completely different topics. I'd just be looking for an overall structure that I could follow."
Dominique sighed. "Fine," she agreed, reaching into her bag to locate her essay. "I suppose as long as you don't copy anything then it couldn't hurt."
"Thanks Domi," Brooke smiled.
Dominique frowned when her hand didn't immediately locate the essay. It should be wedged right inside her muggle studies textbook, but it wasn't there. She hoisted her bag up onto the table and rifled through it again, but still couldn't locate the essay.
"I must've left it up in the dorm," Dominique said. "I'll go and get it."
"Oh, if it's that far away, I can just figure this out myself," Brooke said. "I don't want you to climb all those stairs just so I can read your essay."
"I don't mind," Dominique replied. "Besides, it looks like my herbology essay is missing as well, and I was going to work on completing that next. I'll be right back."
Leaving her things behind with Brooke, Dominique hurried out of the library and towards the staircase that would lead her back to Gryffindor Tower.
She thought about taking the Grand Staircase from the second floor, but then decided to go a different route. She would take a staircase near the library up to the fifth floor, and then cross over to the Grand Staircase to climb the final two stories. The traffic on the fifth floor would be significantly less than on the second floor at this time of day, so she'd likely get there faster.
As Dominique reached the top of the first staircase though, she suddenly found her path blocked.
"Oh, hi Quinn," Dominique greeted the Slytherin girl.
"Dominique," Quinn nodded, her usual greeting. She didn't move, and Dominique felt her insides fill with dread. Had Miles been right after all? Should she have just kept out of Quinn's business and not spoken to Summer?
"Well I was just – "
"You failed my test," Quinn interrupted her.
"I – what?" Dominique asked, frowning in confusion. What test?
"You interfered in my business with Joanna Miller," Quinn stated. "That was bad."
"And you locked me in a closet," Dominique retorted. "Which was also bad."
"We would've been even if you'd stayed in the closet," Quinn said. "But you escaped too soon."
"I don't understand," Dominique shook her head. "I thought you called a truce?"
"I wanted to see if you could stay out of my business," Quinn replied. "But you spoke to Summer Snow. You tried to warn her against me. Which means you're still sticking your nose in my business."
"I didn't – " Dominique started, but she stopped herself.
"You didn't realize I was testing you?" Quinn asked. "I know, that was the point."
"I didn't mean to get involved," Dominique explained. "I just thought Summer ought to know."
"That wasn't for you to decide," Quinn said. "My business is my business. I don't like it when other people interfere with my business."
"Alright," Dominique said, holding her hands up in surrender and taking a step back. "I understand. I won't interfere in your business again. Can we call the truce back?"
"If there aren't any real consequences, then you'll never learn," Quinn declared.
"Consequences?" Dominique frowned. "What do you mean - ?"
But before Dominique could finish her question, Quinn had drawn her wand and cast the knockback jinx, sending Dominique flying backwards.
Dominique felt herself land hard on the stairs behind her and she cried out in pain as she rolled down to the landing at the bottom. She could hear Quinn's footsteps walking down the stairs and she tried to push herself up, but when she tried to put her weight on her right leg, she felt a sharp, shooting pain that had her cry out and fall to the floor again.
"Are we clear then?" Quinn asked, standing over Dominique, a satisfied look on her face.
Dominique clenched her teeth and nodded. "We're clear."