Leave Out All the Rest

by xXBeckyFoo

The Golden Trio has lived through their time at Hogwarts. Now it's time for their kids to make memories of their own, to live their own adventures of survival, of friendship, of family, and, of course, of love. And Hogwarts will be the place where they discover who they really are and what they truly want. Even if they have to suffer to figure it out.

36. Smooth Talker

Leave Out All the Rest

Chapter 36: Smooth Talker

POV: Dominique

There was loud chatter everywhere; mouths moving in rapid speed and invading the contained space of the Great Hall. Everyone in there mixed their uproar with the person next to them, making it all sound like one giant, ranting, mess as an old woman approached the podium at the center of the room.

"Settle down!"

The chatter continued, loud and unyielding, but a redheaded boy stood from one of the benches. His dirty-smudged face in a deep scowl as he directed angry brown eyes at the elderly woman. "We will not settle down!" He shouted. "We were attacked by a gang of want-to-be Death Eaters!"

At his shouts, there was a booming clatter of agreement echoing off in the Great Hall that surely was heard throughout all of Hogwarts.

"Fred Weasley!" There was no playing now. McGonagall was shouting, her shrill voice overpowering the protests as she glared badass-ly at my cousin. "Sit down this instant, or I will sow your mouth shut!"

All eyes turned to us, the threat of the Headmistress taken lightly. Uncle George and Aunt Angelina looked up at their son; his mother looking thoroughly embarrassed and enraged while his father looked between embarrassed and amused. Grandmum Molly, however, was nowhere near looking bemused by Freddie's need to get attention. She pulled him down by the ear, hissing who-knows-what. (Oh, the Weasley shame.)

And as silence started appearing amongst us in the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall turned to the gathered Aurors behind her. She was looking specifically at Uncle Harry, her beady eyes looking expecting. And as it took a shove from Uncle Ron for the Head Auror to approach the Headmistress of Hogwarts, I rolled my eyes. (Great. We were going to hear a speech from the Boy Who Lived.)

"Daddy, can I—"

Without letting me actually tap his shoulder, Bill Weasley turned to me with a glower that made me think he'd swallowed a vile of venom. "Turn around, Dominique," he snapped in a very bad-parenting manner.

Almost letting the shivers that raced down my spine that signaled a warning for me to act like a good daughter and listen to her almost-werewolf father, I crossed my arms and huffed. All while narrowing my green eyes at his. "Get over it, why won't you. It's been a few days now."

"And that makes it better?"

I was about to open my mouth, but he turned away from me and focused on the group ahead of us. (How rude of him.) Frowning, I noticed he had an arm tightly wrapped around Victoire's shoulders.

Teddy, who was on my sister's other side, was glancing longingly at her; even a little uncomfortable as he noticed the protectiveness of Dad's hold.

Honestly, they've been dating since they were in diapers and Dad still has the nerve to be completely offending to Teddy sometimes. I don't know exactly what he thinks he's keeping Victoire from; they've already done the do. I've had the displeasure of hearing them give it various goes two years ago, those animals. (It was the week Mum and Dad went to France to visit Aunt Gabrielle and Teddy and Victoire had a sleepover. One would think they'd be smart enough to throw up a few Silencing Charms, but no. All I heard that week at night instead of the ocean below Shell Cottage was thumping, Lupin making horrible grunts, and my sister's giggles.)

"Erm...Hello," from the podium that he was forced to stand behind to speak to the public, Uncle Harry cleared his throat uncomfortably. "The Ministry would like to inform you that...erm...today's attack is completely unforgivable and the attackers will be contained without trial."

"Of course it's unforgivable! They attacked our children!" A random woman shouted as she clutched a tiny girl to her. "How could the Ministry keep this from us! You put our families in danger!"

Uncle Harry looked completely at loss; his bespectacled eyes looking torn. It was almost like he wanted to agree with the woman, but he was also the Head Auror and had to maintain professionalism. "The Auror Department is not allowed to discuss subjects of investigations to the public," he cleared his throat as he flashed a look at the Minister. "But as of today, the Minister has granted permission to inform you what happened today."

"—About bloody time!"

"—Freddie!" With a well-aimed smack against the boy's head, Grandmum Molly dragged her grandson back down.

Smiling dimly at our direction, Uncle Harry gave us a momentary look before glancing back at the citizens of the Wizarding World. "The wizards and witches that attacked today were looking for something lost hundreds of years ago amongst the Pureblood families. They were items that were once owned by Salazar Slytherin. These items have dark magic bound into them; and they were looking for them to release it.

"The attack today, we assume, was to gather hostages of old Pureblood families that could give whereabouts to these artifacts."

"How are we supposed to be safe then?" Standing from his seat, a tall wizard narrowed his eyes at the Head Auror. "How do we know that these lunatics won't come attacking our families again? Have these items even been found?"

"We've rounded up all the culprits," Uncle Harry was fast to answer, trying to subdue the wave of protests that was surely to surface. "We're going to further control this situation once they've all been interrogated."

But the tall man was not done questioning yet. "And who the hell were these people anyway? We've got the right to know that much!"

Glancing quickly at the Minister, the Head Auror found the approving nod he was seeking before he answered. "The Macnair and Rookwood families were the main culprits behind all these movements. What they intended to do with the old magic contained with these artifacts, we're not sure of. But they're all apprehended now."
There was a pause from my uncle. He shifted uncomfortably on his feet, glancing back and looking at his redheaded best friend for a moment. And with a deep breath, he looked back towards us and spoke once more.

"Though the heads of these families were responsible, we received intelligence that during the attack Belinda Rookwood was murdered. By which side, we don't know yet..."

As Uncle Harry trailed off, shocked gasps of students forming in the open air of the Great Hall, my momentary-selfless eyes flickered towards Scorpius Malfoy. Though he had Rose now, and even though he denied thousands of rumours about what exactly was the deal with him and Belinda Rookwood, I knew that she'd been a friend to him. (How exactly that conniving bitch could be considered a friend, I'll never know. But, I suppose she is dead now, and my condolences to her.)

Malfoy tightened his pale lips into a line, silver eyes going narrow and void of all emotions. And watching him trying to go into shut-off mode, Rose squeezed his hand and became the supportive girlfriend.

What a bloody day, I'm telling you.

X

Letting out a giant, pent-up sigh, I lazily walked out of the Great Hall with my family. "Well, that sure was cheerful," I said. "Did any of you notice that the Auror Department didn't technically state that this situation was under control? I mean, who knows what bloody psychotic Purebloods are going to try and steal these things and become the next What's-His-Name."

No one who was within ear-reach of my voice said anything. I rolled my eyes at that.

"Oh, come on," I added. "Trust me when I say that cowardly Purebloods are all going to run and hide underneath rocks. Which, now that I think about it, isn't all that bad. I'm sure all of Slytherin will be away for the rest of the year."

Turning from his stance ahead of me, Dad glared roughly at me. "Is everything all about jokes with you, Dominique? We just suffered an attack, for Merlin's sake! People are dead! You would think that that would encourage you to mature at least a little bit."

I frowned at him. "Well, excuse me," I huffed. "What happened before already happened, Dad. You can't change that. These people are still dead."

And right as Bill Weasley and I were going to commence this ongoing fight that's been happening for a couple of days now, Mum stepped in between her husband and I. Her blue eyes were scowling at both of us, her beautiful features twisted with irritation. "I do not care w'at 'as 'appened between zee two of you, but you will stop eet now!" She snapped. "You are not children. Behave!"

With a frustrated sigh, Dad crossed his arms over his chest and just continued to glare.

Having brilliant comebacks to throw back at the old man, I decided to keep my lovely mouth shut before I said anything that could anger him. He'd been keeping my little secret hidden from the family for now, and I didn't want to give him an excuse to throw me to the pack of dogs these Weasley/Potter clan were.

Strolling up towards my parents and I, perfect Victoire and her boyfriend interrupted the little spat. "Mummy," she said in a sickly sweet tone; like she was still five years old and she made a flower bloom. "Teddy and I are going to go find Molly. She should know what happened with the family. I'm sure she's worried sick."

With a light frown that creased her beautiful face, I knew that Mum was thinking that Molly deserved to be on the edge of insanity. Mum had been one of the very few who were extremely disappointed and offended when my cousin Molly had vanished from our lives and the Wizarding World when she turned seventeen. Mum adored Molly, but she just couldn't see what could cause someone to abandon their loved ones and their magic to go play Muggle and live a secret that wasn't hers.

Catching on to the same thing I was, Teddy cleared his throat. "Percy and Audrey are dealing with Artie," he explained. "The boy was scared senseless with everything. He's up in the Hospital Wing. I think it's the right thing to do; it doesn't seem like Percy will get around to it soon."

Mum gave a single nod. "Very well," she said stiffly. "You tell Molly zat zee family iz perfectly fine. Tell her zat eet iz best if she visits somezime soon, yes?"

Victoire and Teddy nodded hurriedly.

As my sister and her annoying boyfriend were getting a smile and look from both my parents, like they were complete perfection, both with obedient functions, I scoffed loudly. "Talking about family," I interrupt their little moment. "Where's Louis?"

Usually, I wouldn't bother knowing where that twerp was, but at least I could handle the rubbish that my brother spewed out. He was the only one in my immediate family who was just as insane as I am. When he was around—though I will deny this even in my death-bed—I felt almost at home. I would much rather stand next to Louis the Troublemaker than Victoire the Soon-To-Be-Healer.

"Cormac McLaggen was summoned by the Aurors after the attack," Teddy was the one to answer my question. "After the attack today and all, Hermione and Mister Malfoy convinced him to tell his children about their mother's death. Louis is with Coral now."

I smirked. "Aw, he cares about her," I chuckled. "And all this time he said it was nothing but sex."

"Dominique!" Mum gaped at me, looking completely appalled.

"Well, what?" I said to her casually. "It happens, Mum. He's a boy. You really didn't think that Louis was just holding the girl's hand? Come off it. Don't pretend you don't know that he keeps those editions of PlayWizard in his sock drawer."

Losing the shred of patience he'd gained when Victoire had showed up, Dad turned to me again. "Honestly, Dominique, be quiet for a moment! You're going to give your mother a heart attack—"

"WEASLEY!" Before Dad could continue on with his parental scold, the wind was knocked out of me when a pair of arms embraced me and caged me into them.

Heaving for air, watching with a blur as my feet left the marble-flooring, I started smacking the hands on my stomach. "Oi! C-Can't breathe! Let go!" Heave, heave, heave. "Let go!"

"Oh, sorry."

As soon as I was released, I waited the first minute to suck in all the air that had been knocked out of me. And once I felt my poor, abused lungs filled to the brim with oxygen, I turned to my attacker. "Is that really a way of grabbing a lady, you complete idiot?"

Eyes the color of the night glittered with a gleam of white from the light pouring in from the giant windows of the castle as they stared intently at me. They were filled with worry, fear, relief, and a dash of adoration that was growing more and more the longer they looked at me.

They were the eyes of Derrick Rowle—my Derrick Rowle.

"I thought you died out there, Weasley," he told me, voice contradicting his eyes as it was indifferent and aloof. "I saw a sea of redheads and I couldn't identify you in it. For a second I thought you'd gone down in the attack."

"Nah," I huffed. "I'm a Pureblood reject. I'm sure those fuckers didn't want anything to do with a Blood Traitor offspring." And then I was smirking, raising an eyebrow in tauntingly. "Why? Don't tell me you were running around the platform looking for me?"

Rowle scoffed. "Yeah, like that would ever happen," he said, his eyes rolling like if that really was the most outrageous thing he'd ever heard of. "I just wanted to see how a girl as dense and hopeless as you handles herself during a battle. I mean, you are pretty daft when it comes to defending yourself, remember?"

"Well, if I do remember correctly, you were the one who's always had trouble holding a wand properly."

"That happened once. Besides, I'm a man, Weasley," he told me casually. "In the time of need I can perform the most complex of spells without a worry. It's in my blood."

At the wink he sent at me, I scoffed. "A man?"

"Even if you can't see it," he chuckled darkly. There was a smile on his face, and I swore my knees started to betray me when they shook at his gorgeous expression. (That ruddy idiot. He knows I can't control myself when he does that.)

With a clearing of a throat, that came right on time as I already felt the tingles of girly-feelings wanting to override me, Victoire made herself known again. "Aren't you going to introduce us, Dom?"

"My sister Victoire," I nudged my head back, not breaking eye-contact with Rowle as I gave in to my sister's request instantly. "My parents, Fleur and Bill Weasley." I pointed two fingers behind me, trying to guess wherever those two were standing. "The git with the blue hair would be Teddy, my soon-to-be brother-in-law once Victoire bullies him into popping the question. Which will be soon; I've seen her wedding-planning notes."

As Victoire let out an outrage gasp and Teddy made a choking noise, Rowle leaned to the side to get a view of the people behind me. "Pleasure," he said politely to them.

I smiled at him. "Family, this is Derrick Rowle."

"Oh, well, eet iz a pleasure to meet you, Derrick—"

"He's my boyfriend," I added, letting that sentence slip foolishly out of my mouth as Rowle's smile frazzled me into an incoherent mess. "He's been my boyfriend for two years now." (Who said Dominique Weasley didn't love her family? Look at me being all open with them! This was as easy as making Freddie cry.)

Clearly not knowing that this was a very touching moment from me to them, I was spun on my heels and met with Mum's shocked expression. "How could you hide zis from us, Dominique?" She said loudly. "We agreed to be open with each other!"

I shrugged a little. "I was waiting for the right time, Mum."

"And you think this is the right time?" Victoire interjected, meddling in with her righteous attitude as she gestured to the overflowed hall with students, their families, and some professors. "And you've been in a relationship for two years? You could've at least told me!"

At her hurt eyes, I let out a frustrated sigh. "I was getting around to it, I swear," I told her dismissively, not daring to mention how the only one who knew about my relationship with the Slytherin was our muggle-playing cousin Molly. "The point is that I told you now. So please wipe that look of utter shock and let's get to know each other!" I grinned dramatically.

However, not quick to follow my lead, Dad and Teddy stared down Rowle with daggering eyes. Both of them looking like they were ready to hex the Slytherin if he even decided to breathe next to me.

But always being the one not to follow rules, Derrick marched to my side and stood loyally beside me. "Always straightforward, aren't you?" He mocked.

I tilted my head to the side and looked at him with a bored expression. "I thought you knew that by now." I clucked my tongue. "Oh, Rowle. Have you been neglecting your boyfriend duties? You know we play 20 Questions every weekend. I'll ditch you in a second if you don't pass my quiz."

"Can't blame me, can you?" He pulled his sleeves back, exposing some of that toned skin that made me want to giggle and grab. "It's easy to sound you out sometimes."

"Charming," I frowned.

And as Rowle laughed at my distaste, Victoire's eyes looked calculating at us. "And you two have been together for two years? Really?" She let out a puff of air, almost sounding surprised. "Can't see how, with you two being so...indifferent with one another, but congratulations. You two are cute together."

"We prefer the term random, Vic," I told her as Derrick laced his fingers through mine. "And we are not cute together. Look at us! We're the bloody King and Queen of this place," I added as a group of familiars headed towards us from a short distance ahead.

For fuck sakes. I could almost groan at what was surely going to be their outraged and embarrassing reactions, but now was the time to be honest, wasn't it? I needed to lay everything out for them in the simplest way I could manage so they wouldn't overreact and murder Derrick in the process.

I was the master of breaking things gently to people. I had a very eloquent way with words after all. How hard could this be?

"What's going on?" Uncle George was the first to arrive, Aunt Angelina by his side. He looked warily between Rowle and I, noticing Dad's angry face.

"Well, apparently my sister and—"

"Hey, listen up, you lot!" Cutting across Victoire before she could give the clean version of my story, I waved my free hand to capture my family's attention. "This is my boyfriend Derrick Rowle. He's a Seventh Year Slytherin, and he's a Gemini. He likes Quidditch, Wizard Chess, exploring the Forbidden Forest, reading—though he will deny it to maintain his bad-boy rep—and he's a fantastic artist."

Lily was giggling by Uncle Harry's side as I tried to give the gist about my boyfriend to the family.

"We're going to be celebrating our two year anniversary in..." I trailed off for a moment, knitting my eyebrows and looking up at my boyfriend. "By when?"

Shaking his fine and shiny black hair, Rowle scoffed. "In a week, Weasley. Come on, keep up."

"—Two years?" Aunt Ginny raised an brow.

"—Slytherin?" Freddie scoffed in disgust.

"—You have a boyfriend?" Artie asked, looking mildly interested as Uncle Percy held on to his hand tightly.

"—Boys actually fancy you?" James sounded surprised.

I frowned at the prat. "Thanks for the self-esteem booster, Potter."

Breaking into another round of giggles like the immature girl she was, Lily had to hold on to Liam's arm as she looked at my direction. "Nice to meet you, Rowle," she laughed some more, her cheeks turning red and brown eyes glittering with mock. "...Completely dressed and not on a bed."

Greengrass paled, looking uncomfortably as he hurriedly flashed his eyes to the floor.

Rowle shifted awkwardly beside me to; not responding to my cousin as her indirect hung in the air.

"Guess what?" I shouted, jumping on my feet dramatically and distracting the family before they tried to decipher what Lily had meant. "I'm pregnant!"

All around me, eyes opened widely and jaws dropped.

Dad growled.

"Dom!" My sister gasped.

Teddy caught my mother before she hit the floor.

My grandparents shook their heads me; their eyes looking like they've heard it all now.

"I'm telling Louis!" James hissed at me, disapproval on his face.

Aunt Ginny let out a loud sigh; stopping Lily from the laugh-attack she was going under at my revelation.

"—You son of a bitch!" Freddie launched himself against Rowle; making both of them hit the floor. Arms were flying everywhere, curse words being spluttered—all of them too graphic that they made Artie chuckle.

In between getting punched by my redheaded cousin, Derrick managed to poke his face out from the limbs to stare at me. "You're after my money, aren't you, Weasley?"

Freddie swung a fist roughly and viciously towards Rowle's stomach, Uncle Ron and Uncle George encouraging him from the background, but I could still see a true smile on my boyfriend's face.

My head rushed with dizzying emotions; my chest pounding with happiness as I saw no negative reaction on his face. But composing myself immediately, I scoffed in an almighty fashion. "Who said it was yours?"

Translation from a Slytherin to a Gryffindor: I love you; I love you too.