The following morning, Dominique had left her trunk and all of her things sitting outside of the Great Hall as she popped inside for some sort of caffeine. It had been a long night for so many reasons, and while she'd hoped for a bit of a lie in, she had been up almost first thing thanks to the loud hustle and bustle of the girls' dormitory. Younger girls, who'd been loudly walking around the corridor that morning packing their things and getting ready to catch the train at nine o'clock, proved to be extremely disruptive. She didn't have to catch the train and had planned to leave school around lunch time, but that clearly wasn't happening now. It was currently ten after nine and she was wide awake. It was probably best to just get a move on and go home.

The Great Hall was practically empty. The train had left at nine sharp, so the majority of the school was well on their way home. She counted maybe ten people of various ages in the entire room, all sitting at their respective tables. It was almost eerie how cavernous the room seemed with so few people in it. Even with so few people present, Dominique immediately noticed that Flynn and Natalie were among the numbers sitting at the Gryffindor table. They were joined only by Flyer and Fiona Taggart. Seemed Flynn's entire family was here for the holiday.

Natalie caught Dominique's eye as she approached; she looked as tired as Dominique felt. Seemed someone else hadn't slept much either.

"Need this?" she asked, passing Dominique over a pot of tea once she sat across from her. "It's extra strong."

Dominique nodded eagerly, but said nothing as she poured herself some and pulled the warm mug up to her mouth. After a few sips, she glanced back at Flynn. She'd been so tired she'd forgotten that he'd walked in on her and Jack last night, and now felt a bit awkward under his gaze. He didn't say anything and continued on with his breakfast in a sleepy sort of way.

"I take it Louis is still asleep?"

Flynn laughed as if that was a dumb question.

She continued to drink her tea. She had been debating whether or not she wanted to wait for Louis or go straight home, but if he was going to sleep all day and wake up hungover and emotional, it was probably best to go alone and deal with him later. If she did that though, she'd have to answer to her parents about his whereabouts and why he didn't come home with her. She wasn't sure she wanted to do that either, but she wasn't going to wait around for hours. She could sacrifice a cup of tea or two. Or at least as many cups of tea that it would take until Jack made his way down here.

"Is Jack up?"

Flynn cracked a small smile as he stabbed his sausage with his fork. "I haven't seen him this morning. Thought maybe you had."

Dominique hummed as she glanced down the table to watch Flyer randomly stab his sausage in an identical fashion as Flynn had. Was he doing that on purpose or was that just a random Taggart quirk? She returned her attention to Flynn and gestured to the lot of them. "You're all staying at school, then?"

"Yeah, we almost always do. My dad's always busy this time of year, so there's no real point," Flynn said. "And with my N.E.W.T.s and his—" he gestured to Flyer, "O.W.L.s, might as well. Perhaps if I try to do some work over break, by the start of term I'll actually be caught up in everything."

He wouldn't. Flynn working enough to get caught up in one class was a stretch, let alone all of them. He was lazier than she was when it came to finishing schoolwork, and that was saying something.

She looked over at Natalie. "You headed home?"

She shook her head. "No, I've decided to stay as well." She gestured to Flynn. "As he said, I have so much work to do and I could really use the time to catch up. Plus, Trelawney has offered to work one on one with me on my crystal ball gazing, which," she smiled, "is a tremendous opportunity."

Dominique half pretended to be impressed by that, despite it sounding like a bunch of rubbish. She'd never known Natalie to stay behind, but there was always a first for everything. She just wondered how much of that was due to Flynn instead of their heavy workloads.

She, herself, had never stayed at school for the holidays before because her mother always insisted that they return every time. To be fair, Christmastime was her mother's absolute favorite time of the year and she always claimed that having her family there was what made it the most special of occasions. Still, she couldn't help but think how peaceful it would be to have the castle mostly to herself.

"Sarah's staying now as well," Dominique said, draining the last of her tea and reaching back over to refill her cup.

Flynn's brow furrowed. "Since when?"

"Take a wild guess." She picked up her tea again and took a long draw. "I tried waking her up this morning, but she said she'd decided to stay and that she was writing to her folks to tell them today. She claims she wants to be alone and she'd rather do that here than lie around her house." She took her tea cup and began swirling the tea inside around it. "I'll bet you money that if I go and tell her Louis has decided to stay, she'll be packed and ready in ten minutes."

Flynn was now staring through her, looking very much lost in thought. Natalie said nothing. From a few seats away, a very solemn looking Fiona was also staring at Dominique, having apparently been listening to everything being said.

"Just keep an eye on her, will you?" Dominique said as she addressed Flynn specifically, knowing that two went as far back to the days they were in nappies. "Don't let her waste away all holiday?"

He nodded as if to say he could do that. Even Fiona was nodding a little.

Dominique told herself she would have a third cup of tea, and that was it. If her parents asked where Louis was, she'd tell him she didn't know and that she wasn't his keeper. He could deal with that on his own.

She sipped on her tea, noticing that Natalie's eyes were now locked onto the entrance of the Great Hall with great interest. She mumbled, "Look who's here."

They all turned to look. In walked Jack and Louis, the latter of whom looking like complete shit. It was as if he'd been hit by a train, then drowned in a lake, before being dredged up and hit again by a train. His hair was messy and unkempt, his face was pasty and pale, and his eyes were puffy and red. Really red, actually. Red enough that she could see them from across the room.

She met those red eyes immediately, but he immediately looked away. If he had been planning on coming inside any further, he abruptly changed his mind and walked right out. She let her gaze travel to Jack, who was standing there looking a bit confused as to where he'd gone.

"Have a good holiday," Dominique said abruptly to Flynn and Natalie, now standing and marching across the Great Hall to the exit. She walked up to Jack. As happy as she was to see him, she was also happy for Lois providing a distraction since she didn't really know what to say to him. She quickly smiled, ignoring the obvious tension, and instead let her expression ask what was going on with Louis.

He shrugged.

She continued on past him, deciding to confront Louis head on. He was just outside the Great Hall leaning lazily against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and his head back and looking up at the ceiling. She knew immediately what he was doing. He was looking to escape—and he always looked up first. She said nothing as she approached him.

"Not now," he croaked, his voice terribly hoarse.

"You stupid idiot."

"Dominique. I'm not in the fucking mood."

"Really? Because that's the exact mood I've heard you've been in lately."

He lowered his gaze to look at her, his red eyes narrowed. "I didn't fuck…" He stopped and glared at her. "Fuck. You," His volume had barely been above a whisper. Even despite it being low, she could feel the anger. That had come from a place of fire inside of him. Louis Weasley never got that angry about anything.

She didn't flinch. "What right do you have to be so angry?"

He turned away from her and snatched at his trunk with such intensity that she was almost expecting the handle to break off. She again wasn't fazed and turned to fetch her own trunk, tapping it quickly with her wand to make it lighter. It was something Louis had forgotten to do, which was why he'd currently been slowed down and was angrily swearing as he attempted to get his trunk down the front stairs.

She noticed Jack nearby still holding his own trunk while watching them both. He caught her attention before saying, "Look, I know the whole thing is bad, but he's really fucked up about it. Maybe just…?"

She threw him a look as if to say that wasn't going to happen and that he should really know better. She trekked after her brother, where he'd just managed to get outside the front door and down the steps. He'd finally levitated his trunk and was walking across the courtyard, but it was easy for her to catch up. Despite wanting to escape her, he wasn't walking very fast at all.

"I swear to Merlin," he muttered, not looking at her, but obviously sensing her presence as she leveled her pace to his.

"You swear what?" she goaded. "You're going to what?"

He didn't say anything. Perhaps he was going to attempt to ignore her. That was fine by her. More time for her to talk without interruption.

"What the fuck were you thinking?"

Silence.

"Clearly you weren't thinking."

More silence.

"Which is strange since all you do is think," she said as they made their way down the path to the front gate. It was from there that they could Apparate away, as soon as they were off proper school grounds.

"I'm not talking about this," he snapped. "Mind your own fucking business."

She laughed in a humorless way. "Ohhhh no. No. No. No. No. You went and made it my business when you decided to date my best friend in the first place. You made it my business when I spent most of my night listening to her talk about how you broke her heart."

He said nothing to that, though his expression seemed to soften at hearing what she'd said.

"This is without question the dumbest thing you've ever done."

"Yeah, well, maybe I'm not so fucking perfect after all," he snapped again, this time turning to face her. "Maybe I'm fucked up."

She stared at him and only then did she suddenly realize that Jack had followed them and was trailing several paces behind the pair of them. He also stopped once they stopped and was now watching them both.

"I've never once in my life thought you were actually perfect, so you can knock that shit right off," she finally said, staring him straight in the eyes. "But this has nothing to do with being perfect."

"You've obviously chosen your side," he muttered, turning back toward the path. "There's nothing I can say."

"Chosen sides?" she asked. "This has nothing to do with choosing sides. Fuck, Louis, you're my brother. I'd fight anyone for you, but that doesn't mean I can't call you out for being a complete fucking idiot when you're a complete fucking idiot."

He again was silent.

"And seeing as I've heard Sarah's side of things and you're refusing to talk to me…" She shrugged. "I really can't see how you'll change my mind on that, but it doesn't mean I don't want to know what happened."

"I mentally do not have it in me to talk about it right now," he said once they reached the gate, and she knew by looking at him that he absolutely meant that. Even the anger had drained out of him considerably, as if he'd used what little energy he had left to fuel those last outbursts at her. "These last two weeks, I've never been more tired in my life. I just need some time. I need to lock myself away in my room for a couple of days and be by myself. Then I will talk to you."

She sighed. What was she supposed to say to that?

"So," came Jack's voice, reminding her that he was still there. "Lou, did you still want me to pop by later in the week? Or do you want space?"

Louis turned around to look at him. "No, come by. Or maybe I'll come to you. I need a couple of days, but I can't stay locked up all holiday."

"I'll come to you two," Jack offered, his eyes suddenly darting over to Dominique briefly before landing back on Louis. "I'm away for Christmas, but after I'll come 'round." He went and stepped past the pair of them to exit through the gate, though he dawdled in front of Louis. "You look like shit, mate. Get some rest. Seriously."

Louis nodded as Dominique let herself grin a little lazily at Jack. He threw her a small smile as well, though it was clear that was most likely the extent of any real goodbye they were going to have. She hoped he kept his word and came around in a few days. Not that she wouldn't have to fight Louis for his time, but it was better than not seeing him for the next couple of weeks.

"Happy Christmas," Jack said, walking over to half hug, half pat Louis on the back.

"Yeah, you too," he said to him, as Jack turned onto Dominique. There was a very strained second where they both seemed confused as to what they should be doing, but Jack stepped forward to offer a friendly looking hug and she managed to return it a lot less stiffly than she'd thought she would.

"You hate hugging," Louis muttered, and Dominique noticed he was talking to her.

"Yeah, well, it's Christmas time, just…" She rolled her eyes. "Tis the season or whatever."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"For someone who is too tired to talk, you sure are doing enough of it," she snapped, which caused Louis to roll his eyes and step away toward the gate.

She threw Jack an exhausted shrug, which made him whisper, "I'll come by." He glanced over his shoulder to where Louis was doing something to his trunk and reached out to brush her arm affectionately. "Happy Christmas."

"You too," she said, watching as he stepped back and made to pass Louis out of the gate. One final exchange of goodbyes and a couple of lazy waves before Jack had finally Apparated away. She found herself immediately sad that he was gone.

"Can you not tell mum and dad about this?" Louis asked, glancing back at her.

She turned and gave him a look to end all other looks.

"I meant not this minute. Not right when we get home. I don't need mum being mum right now. Can I get a day?"

"Louis, have you seen yourself? You look like death. She's going to fuss no matter what. She was already afraid to send you back to school, but when she sees you—"

"Which is why we don't need to tell her everything right now," he said. "I'll tell her I don't feel well and just want to sleep." He looked at her as if he was about to beg. "Please?"

After everything he'd done, he was owed no favors. He was a prat and deserved every minute of this feeling. She didn't feel the least bit sorry for him, but yet here she was unable to deny him his request. She never fell for his stupid charm act like others did, but seeing him this pitiful; this actually got her. Something inside her felt the need to protect him, even if she hated him for what he'd done. She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

He smiled a little. "You're my favorite person in the world."

"You're still an arsehole."

Louis slept until Christmas Eve, which meant no one saw hide nor hair of him for the first three days he was home. Their mother fretted, assuming he was still very sick and tired and stressed from the tournament. She made him all of his favorite dinners and snacks and would take them upstairs, only to find them returned barely touched. That would make her worry more and she was currently going back and forth with their father as to whether or not she should have a Healer come by the house to check on him. It would be easier to have it done today rather than Christmas, apparently. Perhaps he needed to go back on the potions he'd stopped taking again.

"He is already too skinny, he cannot afford to lose weight," her mother was saying the morning of Christmas Eve as she and Dominique sat in the living room wrapping the last presents for tomorrow. She'd noticed her mother had gone shopping the day before and Louis had a few more under the tree.

"He's fine, he's just tired," Dominique mumbled as she tied a ribbon around a box for Victoire. She'd kept her word and not mentioned a thing about Sarah to anyone in her family, though it was starting to grate on her that Louis was being treated like a poor kicked puppy who needed extra special meals and presents despite being the one who caused his own problems.

Tonight was the annual Weasley Christmas Eve gathering and this year it was being held at her Uncle Percy's home. She had absolutely no desire to go since her Uncle's Percy and Aunt Audrey's parties were dreadfully stiff and sterile. She'd decided that if Louis' rubbish got him out of it but not her, she was going to blow the lid off of everything.

He'd finally talked to her earlier that morning. Louis, who was usually never up before noon, had been up particularly early that day after sleeping for the last several days. She caught him on his way to his room after a shower—the first shower she'd known him to have taken since they'd arrived home—and she'd noticed his face had returned to its usual handsome state. His color was back, the puffiness was gone, and his eyes were no longer bloodshot. He was starting to look skinnier, but otherwise he seemed like the same old Louis standing in front of her. He had smiled rather meekly at her before disappearing into his room, but hadn't said anything.

"It smells like something died in here," she had said to him fifteen minutes after that encounter, once she'd walked down to the kitchen to retrieve him some leftover waffles before entering his bedroom. "Aren't there charms for that?"

"Doesn't bother me," he muttered, staring at the waffles she was holding outstretched to him. "I'm not hungry."

"For fuck's sake, eat something," she said, still holding them out to him. "You look like a skeleton and mum's about to call a Healer out to have you checked on."

He sighed and took the waffles, picking one up and biting off a piece out of obligation. She watched as he chewed it, which only seemed to make him antsy. "What?"

She went over and shut his door before walking over to where she knew his desk chair was supposed to be. It was difficult to find considering it was currently covered in about three layers of dirty clothes and miscellaneous rubbish. She pushed it all aside and let much of it fall to the floor.

"Go ahead and put that anywhere," he muttered.

"You obviously did." She sat and let herself get comfortable. "Let's hear it, then."

He stared at her.

"It's been days, Louis. I've been patient. I've kept you're stupid secret. Suck it up."

He took another bite of waffle. Then another. After a prolonged silence where Dominique got the impression he was hoping she'd get bored and leave, he finally seemed to realize she had no intention of walking out of that room without hearing his side of the story. He finally mumbled. "What's to say? I cheated on her."

"Yes, I heard that. Loudly and through lots of tears. Let's elaborate a bit."

"I'm sure she told you everything," he said, starting in on the second waffle. "I honestly don't even remember what I told her. I barely remember what happened. I did it. It's done. It's over. I'm moving on."

She blinked at him. Well, that had been dismissive. This wasn't some girl he'd been seeing for a few weeks and ultimately meant nothing; this was the supposed love of his life. The girl he claimed to have secretly pined for since his fourth year, back when she was hung up on some fifth-year bloke and was one of the few girls who didn't give Louis the time of day. They'd been together for over a year.

"You sound so remorseful."

He threw her a look. "I never meant to hurt her," he said, and his tone seemed to mean that. "I'm sorry I did. I'm sorry I was a dick about it when I got back, but I didn't know how to deal with the guilt. But…" He shrugged, finishing the waffle. "What's done is done. Can't dwell on it."

Dominique pulled a face. Where the fuck was this cavalier attitude coming from? "Why did you do it?"

He shrugged. "Dunno. Just did."

"That's a shit answer."

"It's a shit question." he responded. "What do you really expect me to say?"

"I expect you to tell me whether or not this was a moment of weakness, or a one time thing, or if you've got something going on with this new girl—what's her name again? Amalie or something?"

He suddenly smiled rather eagerly. So much so, it was rather startling. "Yeah. Amalie."

"Right," she said slowly. "Ok, well, I would hope if you're willing to throw nearly a year and a half away, that—"

"I won't be a one time thing," he said immediately. "There's definitely something there."

She furrowed her brow. "Something there? What does that mean?"

He laughed, his mood now almost giggly. "What do you think it means?"

"Uh, I have no idea what anything you're doing lately means," she said, suddenly feeling rather unnerved by his random pleasant mood. Hadn't he been glumly eating waffles two minutes ago?

"Look, it's hard to say anything for sure," he said with a casual shrug before he lay himself back down to lounge on his bed. "It's all new. I'll have to give it some time to sort out, but…" He smiled. "I have a good feeling about things."

"What things?" she asked, still finding herself baffled by what they were even talking about.

But he hadn't had any real answers of substance to give to her. It was almost as if he was talking in vague circles, and his happy and casual attitude about the entire situation was putting a bad taste in her mouth. She eventually relented her questions and left him to his own devices, letting him go back to hiding away in his room.

Louis continued to stay up in his room after that, leaving Dominique to be the sole child her mother had to help her put the finishing touches on their Christmas festivities. She'd been wrapping presents, helping cut vegetables and prep food, cleaning up the house despite the only visitors they were getting tomorrow being Victoire and Teddy—and they didn't even count. She'd been put to work while Louis got to wallow in a mess of his own creation.

Later that day, there was a knock at the door. Dominique had barely managed to even look up from the ribbons she's been tying in time to catch a taller figure with dark hair outside the window. A sheer curtain was obscuring her from him, leaving only his trace outline to be discernible, but she immediately knew exactly who it was.

Fuck. Davies. Again.

This wasn't even the first time he'd come around since she'd been home, but she'd avoided him that first time as well. She didn't want to see him. The letters had stopped—for a bit. But then, toward the end of the month they'd kicked up again. He'd been writing to ask to see her and for her to talk to him. It honestly was the strangest change in his behavior and she hated it; she was completely turned off by the entire display.

This time, she was learning from the mistakes of the past and not even leaving it up to chance that he'd somehow be able to work his weird charm on her if they met face to face. She'd cut things off and she intended to keep it that way. Everything she'd wanted to say to him, she'd said in that final letter she'd written to him telling him to fuck off forever, so there was nothing further to talk about. She needed him to just leave her alone.

The first time he'd visited had been two days ago when she, Teddy, and Victoire had been sitting around in the kitchen eating snacks their mother had baked for Christmas. Victoire had been the one to answer the door after Dominique ducked under the table and asked her to send him away. She'd gone out and done just that, only far more politely than Dominique would have liked.

She'd made it seem as if Dominique was genuinely out and to try again later. Apparently, Victoire hadn't even realized they'd split up; she'd assumed she was just angry with him and playing games. When she explained that no, they were absolutely done this time, Victoire didn't seem the least bit convinced that was true.

And now here he was on Christmas Eve. She immediately made a point to scoot back against the wall to shield herself behind the Christmas tree as the knocking continued once more.

"I'm not here!" she fiercely whispered once she saw her father emerge from the kitchen and head straight for the door. "Tell him to go away. I don't want to see him!"

He gave her a funny look, but said nothing in response as he opened the door with a swift movement and strong energy. Her father was a lovely man, but he could be rather intimidating even the simplest of looks. It was the scarring on his face. People didn't know what to make of it, so when he let himself even get the slightest bit aggravated, he always appeared so much scarier than he actually was. Davies had never said so, but she got the impression he was a bit intimidated by him. There was really no better person to tell him to go away.

"She's not here and even if she was, I've been told she doesn't want to speak to you. You can stop coming around. She doesn't want to see you and neither do I." He shut the door.

She grinned as she remained in her concealed spot, watching as her father turned and walked straight back into the kitchen. That seemed effective.

Davies' figure dawdled for a moment, even going so far as to glance through the windows, but he soon turned to disappear away from sight. She still chose to sit for another minute or two—at least until her mother returned into the room with more ribbons and an expression that seemed confused.

"Why are you hiding?"

"Henry was at the door."

She stared at her, wondering why that would require her—of all people—to hide. Dominique was usually one to confront those sorts of challenges head on and with lots of sharp barbs. But this was Davies and he'd messed with her head before. She couldn't outright tell her mother that the last time she'd gone to chat with him with the intention of it just being a talk, she ended up having sex with him upstairs in her room. Her mother probably wouldn't appreciate that.

"You and Henry are over again?"

Dominique emerged from her spot behind the tree. "This time for good, I swear."

She nodded as if she understood. "You hadn't mentioned that."

"Wasn't worth mentioning. Nothing about him ever was."

"You don't seem upset this time," she said, setting the ribbons down. "Last time—"

"It was a couple weeks ago. It was long overdue. I shouldn't have ever gone back."

Her mother continued to nod. "If you're happy, then I'm happy for you."

"I'd be happier if he stopped coming around," she mumbled, just as her father entered the room chewing on a Christmas biscuit.

"Are we finally done with that kid?" he asked. "Because I have no problem telling that one off every time I see him. I could do that all day."

"Please do. I'm tired of doing it." she said. "It's time I moved on."

"Well, no rush," he said, giving her hair an affectionate stroke. "Don't feel as if you need to compete with Vic and Lou and get all serious and practically married while in school."

Dominique made a face that had far more to do with the fact that Louis no longer fit that descriptor rather than anything having to do with disagreeing with his point. Given his reaction though, he apparently thought she was doing just that.

"I'm serious," he continued. "I know a lot of people do that. But I'm very happy I didn't settle down with the girl I dated at school. I waited and it paid off."

Her mother looked up and gave her father a very funny sort of look. "I married the man I fell in love with while I was still at school."

"We met when you were essentially done with school," he countered. "You went back to France and graduated within the month. And we didn't go to school together. It's not the same."

Her mother laughed. "No, it's not." She smiled at Dominique. "Your father is right. Take your time and find someone right for you. I never thought you and Henry were in it for the long term."

Dominique wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Ug, I hope not."

There was a knock at the door again, and her father immediately turned with a quickness that seemed to say he was ready to tell Davies where he could go once again. But just as quickly, the knock proved to be cursory as the door suddenly flew open and in walked Victoire with a copy of the Daily Prophet under her arm. She was dressed nicely with her hair pulled back in a perfect ponytail, clearly ready to depart for Uncle Percy's straight from their house.

"Hi, sweetheart," their father said, as his body visibly relaxed and he smiled widely. "Are you here early or are we late?" He checked his watch. "Do we need to get ready to go?"

"It's a bit early, but I was done with my errands and thought I'd come over," she said, pulling the Prophet out from under her arm. "I also have a question. Anyone read the Prophet this morning?"

"Hadn't gotten around to it," he said, just as their mother interrupted to ask, "Is Teddy coming this evening to Percy's?"

She shook her head, still fumbling to open the newspaper. "He's working tonight, but he's off all day tomorrow and he'll be here."

"Can I skip Uncle Percy's?" Dominique asked.

"No. It's Christmas Eve and we're going to go see everyone."

"Does Louis have to go?"

"Not if he's sick."

She rolled her eyes just as Victoire asked, "Is he still sick?"

"He still hasn't left his room much," said their mother. "You don't understand how much stress that tournament takes out of you. Especially after what happened to him. He needs to rest. I'm happy he's home so I know he's properly doing that. He should not have gone back to Hogwarts last week."

"Are you sure that's all it is?" Victoire asked, having reached the page in paper she was looking for and flipping it around for the rest of the family to see. "Or is he depressed because, apparently, he and Sarah split up."

Dominique reached forward to snatch the paper away from Victoire, just as her mother and father made noises of shock and curiosity. She scanned the page Victoire had opened the paper to where, sure enough, a small column had been written dedicated to Louis and Sarah's "very public row at a recent Christmas party at school." Sources said the two were clearly angry and shouting, with Sarah making quite the scene in their shared common room in front of a room full of onlookers. While a breakup wasn't confirmed, these same sources claimed that the couple were obviously no longer together. The reasons for the split were still unknown, but it seemed the fan favorite champion was now very single.

"Funny they talk about his relationship now, as if they haven't been pushing the single angle from the get go," Dominique muttered as her father took the paper from her to read the article himself.

"Ok, but is it true?" Victoire asked, addressing Dominique specifically. "Did he and Sarah split up?"

"I find that hard to believe," her father said, letting their mother now look over the paper. "We'd have heard something." Now he was looking at Dominique for some kind of confirmation.

"He hasn't said much of anything since he's gotten home," her mother said, not looking up from the article in question. "And Sarah hasn't come by to visit once."

"She stayed at school," Dominique said, feeling suddenly put in an awkward position.

Her mother looked up at her. "Her and Louis are usually inseparable, but she chose to stay at school for the holiday?"

Dominique glanced from her sister, to her father, to her mother—all three of whom were now staring at her. How could she deny this? Was she even supposed to? She'd only promised Louis she wouldn't say something right away. It had been days at this point.

"If he's going through a breakup," her father said. "It would explain a lot about his behavior since he got home. It's sort of a relief because I was starting to worry that he was really sick again."

"Why would they have broken up?" her mother asked. "They seemed smitten with each other?" She looked at Dominique. "Did something happen?"

"I…" She searched for words. "I don't know?"

"Oh, please," Victoire said to her, now walking over toward the stairs. "You know everything when it comes to Louis. And Sarah's your best friend. You're full of it."

"Did they split up, Nicki?" asked her father. "Yes or no?"

"Forget it," Victoire said once she reached the stairs, "I'll go ask him."

"Fine," Dominique said, annoyed by how bloody nosey they all were. "Yes. They split up! Yes, that's why he's up there locked away in his room. He's not sick, he's…" She trailed off. They could all use their imagination to put the rest of the pieces together.

Her mother gasped while her father's expression turned concerned. By the stairs, Victoire didn't bother to climb any, instead she suddenly made a sympathetic noise. "Oh, poor, Lou."

"I would not go that far," Dominique mumbled. Victoire caught her eye, as if silently asking her what that had meant, but she merely threw her a look to say that there was a whole lot more to this story.

"What happened?" her mother asked, genuinely now looking distressed as Dominique took the Prophet back from her. "I can't believe it. Why didn't he say anything?"

"The rest of it is his story to tell," Dominique said, shaking her head and walking away from the group of them. "I want no part of it. I barely talk about my own breakups, I'm not touching his." She had been about to climb the stairs, but stopped and rounded back on her family. "So, if he's not sick, he has to go to Percy's tonight, right?"

Her father threw her a look as if to say this wasn't the time to ask that, but as far as she was concerned it was the perfect time. If he didn't have to go because he was a slaggy cheat, then she shouldn't have to go despite not being one.

"If a breakup is an excuse, Henry and I just split, too." She faked a frown. "I'm sad."

"Dominique."

"Bah," she exclaimed once she realized she wasn't getting an answer one way or the other. She turned and walked up the stairs, but bypassed her own room entirely and walked straight to Louis'. She knocked once, but the sound of music playing over his radio either hid the sound or he ignored it. She let herself in, hoping he was decent.

He was sitting on his bed, reading. He seemed surprised to see her as he looked up from his book. He stared as she tossed the copy of the Prophet onto his bed directly beside him; his brow furrowed as if asking what that was for.

"Seems like they finally bothered to mention Sarah," she said, gesturing to the paper. "And now everyone knows you've split up. Including mum, dad, and Vic. They have questions."

He immediately reached for the paper and pulled it up in front of his face, "You can't be serious? It's in the bloody paper?"

"'Reasons for your breakup remain unknown,'" she quoted as she turned to walk back out of the room. "Oh, and I'd get dressed if I were you. Now that you're not sick, you're suffering through Uncle Percy's party with me tonight."