A/N: I'm so sorry how late this is. I had all these assignments due in the last week of school and I've been busy these holidays. To the anonymous reviewer who was really nice: Thank you very much! =) Unfortunately there won't be much of it in this story, but I have sequels planned if this goes well.
This one has quite a bit of Dom and her friend. Hope you don't mind ;) Again, really, really sorry for the wait, I'll try and get better.
"There he is, over on the left!"
"I heard he spat in their faces-"
"Don't be daft, he turned them both into mushrooms-"
The whispers followed him all day, floating around like bothersome flies, full of speculation and condemnation. But years of being a Malfoy taught him to brush off these irritants like specks of dust on his shoulders. The question was 'why'? Why on earth were these people talking about his confrontation with Henlei and Graeme now? It had already been two weeks and no one had seemed interested at the time. There must be something about to happen, he concluded. Immediately after reaching that conclusion he freaked.
Why had he been so stupid? Why hadn't he just drifted away instead of confronting to two bullies? What an idiot.
"Hello? Earth to Scorpius," Rose Weasley waved an impatient hand in front of the blonde's face. Scorpius flinched, "Oh hey, Weas- Rose!"
Rose surveyed him for a second, taking in his grim-faced expression, "Why so glum?"
"Everyone's talking about the thing with Henlei and Graeme. It happened two weeks ago and no one seemed to give a rat's arse! I don't know what to make of it," he explained.
"It seems to me that you're about to get your arse kicked!" Rose supplied cheerfully. Scorpius just glared at her, a sour expression visible on his sharp features.
"Ok, ok, calm down. My advice would be to avoid those two like the plague."
"Helpful, as always," said Scorpius dryly, "And why are you so cheerful?"
Rose just shrugged, "Pass,"
"What? You can't just pass!"
"Can too."
"Can not!"
"Can too!"
"Can not!"
"I know you are but what am I?"
That stumped Scorpius. What on Earth was this girl on about?
"That doesn't make any sense," he exclaimed.
"The search for sense begins with acceptance of all answers," Rose clapped him on the back and strode off to her common room.
"Don't think you can pass on me!" He called after her, "Don't think you can pass on me."
Sentences such as these should not be shouted down a crowed hallway, he reflected as curious eyes turned on him.
It was also a bad idea to draw attention to yourself while trying to avoid people who might - just might - be in close vicinity.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Little Scorpion himself,"
"Careful, Henlei, I'm not sure he can stand to be around us,"
"I guess that's good then, I wasn't planning on him staying upright for much longer,"
The two advanced on him.
"Hold on- you're not seriously- we can work something out!" he pleaded desperately
"Too late for that Little Scorpion. You had your chance," sneered Henlei.
"And you've sure turned your back on us. You know what I heard? I heard you're with them now."
"What would your daddy say?" taunted the burly boy, "Hanging out with a Weasely!"
A quick movement, a sharp pain and then Scorpius was falling.
There was something about Dylan Fletcher. Something that made her stomach twist and set her heart pounding. Maybe it was the way he smiled, his eyes dancing as he looked at her. Or was it the way he said her name, his lips curving upwards as her saw her- "Dominique". Maybe it was in his hugs, fierce and fleeting.
But there was defiantly something about Dylan.
She entered the Great Hall, and he looked up as she neared. His eyes lit up, "Dom!"
Funny, how hearing him say just one word brightened her day.
"Hey Dylan," she grinned, "Where's everyone else?" She gave him a hug and slid into the seat next to him – not so surreptitiously stealing his toast.
"They went out for a game of Quidditch. We can join them if you want," he added hurriedly.
"Nah, I'm knackered." she admitted, taking a bite of peanut-buttery toast. Dylan's face flooded with happiness.
"So what do you plan on doing for the day?" he asked, stealing the toast back and taking a larger bite. Dominique frowned, "Is that the best bite you got? I reckon I could double it."
"Oh you're so on,"
They spent the next hour happily chewing away on toast, arguing over who took the biggest bite.
Rose watched them interestedly. But before long, they headed off to the library playfully shoving one another.
"Essay finished!" Dominique wore a triumphant expression. Dylan just winked his eyes at her, making her heart flutter. Disguising her blush, she bent down to put her things back into her bag. But as she turned to speak to him, she found his face only a few inches away. Dominique tried to look away but there was a stronger part of her that was keeping her gaze strong, his deep green eyes holding her captive while her heart pounded against her chest. She felt the rest of the world disappear, slipping away until it was just the two of them, in this infinite place. Nothing and no one else mattered. The distance between began to close, she could feel his warm breath on her face, her eyes fluttered shut.
BANG!
They jerked away from one another looking flustered.
"Merlin's pants, stop dropping things!" Came a voice.
"Sorry," was the mumbled reply, but Dominique had no time for the other inhabitants of the library. She grabbed her bag, "I, er, better go- you know. Essay due." She stammered, forgetting to realise it was Sunday and there were no classes. Dylan watched as she hurried away.
"Bloody hell," he groaned.
It was raining as she slipped and skidded across the muddy path, the darkness not aiding her in the least. The other children were silent and pale, wondering what would be waiting for them when they arrived. Behind her she could hear the cacophony of the students and their pets heading for the carriages.
The path reached an incline and, upon reaching the summit, a large lake loomed in front of her- she watched the raindrops hit the surface. It was cold out. Too cold to be in the pouring rain, far from home.
Briefly, she wondered if the water would be nice to swim in, surely in couldn't be much colder than this. She was, however, proved wrong as she climbed into a small boat -the water lapping at her ankles made her want to shriek. But that would be undignified. And Dominique Weasley was anything if not dignified. So calmly, she perched on the end of the boat and pretended not to be bothered.
Dom tugged at a lock of recently hacked hair. The shortness felt so unusual, but it felt nice to be different, nice to not just be Victoire's copycat. Here at Hogwarts she could be anyone she wanted to be.
A wave of water hit the boat, rocking it, and Dom – sitting precariously on the tip – tipped backwards. She was heading for the icy-cold lake, she braced herself for the chill that would seep through her cloak in a matter of milliseconds.
But it never came.
A hand reached out and steadied her. She smiled thankfully at the owner, not at all upset about missing out on a quick dip in the lake.
"Thanks,"
"No problem. I'm Dylan, by the way," he extended a hand.
Dominique surveyed him critically. He was not the sort of boy she would normally be friends with. His light brown hair fell into his eyes – a deep green – and he wore a cocky, playful smile that Dominique's sister would have abhorred. He was tall and one of his cheeks was smeared with dirt. He had a graze on his chin and nose, almost as though he had hit the ground face first. For Dominique, so used the perfect hair and clothes and well, everything, he was rugged. Victoire would have said he was … different. Dominique liked different. She was different.
"I'm Dominique," she said, reaching out to shake the boys hand, "but you can call me Dom."
Instead of shaking her hand like she'd expected, he raised it to his lips and kissed it.
"A pleasure," then he winked and she laughed. Because he was her friend and he'd saved her from an icy bath.
Dylan Fletcher.
It was second year and she was trying out for her house Quidditch team. The feeling of nervousness grew stronger as she saw all the older students waiting to try for the same position. Dom gripped her broom tighter, eyes flickering around, sizing them all up. Her body was tense, waiting to be told that no, she shouldn't be here. She was too young to beat these experienced players.
She launched into the air, wind whipping her hair and the feeling of flying flowing through her. A bludger shot past and she swung at it, missing by a good ten centimetres.
Her confidence dropped. She couldn't do this, she couldn't play at all.
"GO DOMINIQUE!" shouted a voice from the stands. Her best friend Dylan Fletcher waved enthusiastically from the stands.
She smiled. She could do this. She was Dominique Weasley- fearless beater.
Turning, she sped after the retreating bullet of a bludger.
Dylan Fletcher
Third year.
She was in the common room, sitting in front of the fire and staring desolately into the flames. It was late and she was the only one in the room, tears spilling down her face. Stupid boys. Stupid family. Stupid, stupid world.
Footsteps echoed down the stairs so Dom hastily wiped away her tears and hitched a smile on her face.
"Dominique? Is that you?" Dylan asked from the bottom of the stairs case. She nodded dumbly.
"Are you, you know, are you OK?"
"Yeah," she choked, but it sounded strangled and unnatural. Her bottom lip wavered and her eyes filled up again. She looked away but was unable to stop the tears falling.
"No. I'm not." she admitted.
Awkwardly, he made his way over to her and patted her on the back.
"Is this about that... thing?" you could tell he was out of his comfort zone. Dylan was a sweet boy, but he was generally uncomfortable in these situations.
Not knowing what else to do he asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Dom just shook her head, Dylan let out a breath of relief.
"I'll, er, You know I'm here? I'll always be here. If you ever need to, er, yeah."
This time Dom replied, "Don't make promises you can't keep," a sob racked through her, "Everyone leaves eventually."
"No!" his voice was stronger, firmer, less awkward, "I'll always protect you. Always."
And Dominique felt protected. This declaration, though they were young was something that meant a lot to her. And he proved true to his word.
Dylan Fletcher
"No, let me go! I don't want to! Stop!" she cried. The boy ignored her, crushing his lips to hers while his other hand travelled up her shirt, making her shudder with disgust.
"Let me go!" she tried to push him away but he was too strong, he pulled her closer, his breath hot on her lips.
"Come on Dominique, we both know you want this,"
"No, Tim! Leave me alone!" She succeeded in wrenching herself from his grasp, ripping her shirt as she did so.
"Don't be like that Dom Dom," he leered.
She turned and fled, down one corridor and another and another until she was sure she'd lost him. Until she herself was lost.
Footsteps. She could hear them,it was Tim, she could tell. Exhausted she huddled into the corner of an empty classroom, hopping he would just run past.
Another set of footsteps, lighter this time. Voices.
"What are you doing here Fletcher?"
"I could ask you the same thing. Where's Dominique? I thought you had a date with her tonight?"
"We do. If you'll excuse me, we have some things to catch up on,"
The footsteps came closer. Dom curled into a ball, Dylan didn't know she was in here, Dylan was walking away, Tim entered.
"Dom Dom!" he smirked.
"Go away, Tim! Just go away!" she shouted with all her strength, hopping Dylan could hear her.
"Not a chance," he crowed with delight.
A figure burst into the room. He caught sight of Dominique, curled up on the floor, with Tim standing over her. She knew her hair was a mess and she looked like a wreck.
Dylan's voice came out angry, "What did you do you filthy prick!" he was fuming.
Dom watched as he pulled Tim into the corridor, "Touch her again and you're dead!" There was thud and a groan and the sound of heavy footsteps retreating.
Dylan hurried back inside gently helping her up, he held her gently as she cried. Dom didn't know how long they stood there, but she knew she felt safe in his arms.
Dylan Fletcher
A/N: I was going to write about other people too, but it''d feel weird if I just started on them now. Sorry that it's short and late and not my greatest. Who do you guys want to see more of? I know I've been missing out people but they're back next chapter! I'll try get one more chapter in before Christmas but no promises.
Tell me what you think? :)
