The whistle of the red steam engine rang out above the din of the platform. The people began to bustle about more frantically when they understood the meaning of the shrill noise. "Darling," a fair, blonde woman cooed, "eet ees time. Ah but where deed eet go? You are so grown up." She leaned forward to kiss the girl to whom she spoke on the cheek. Both women were slender and beautiful in a nearly ethereal way. The younger girl beamed at her mother.

"Mother, no matter how old I get, I will always be your little girl. Au revoir. I love you." She hugged her mother and turned to hug her father. A tall man with broad shoulders and scars across his face, Bill Weasley grinned with pride at his eldest daughter. He embraced the girl before bidding her farewell.

"Goodbye darling." Victoire spun away from her parents, practically gliding through the crowd towards the train as if a path had been cleared through the hustle just for her. As she boarded the train, her parents turned to her siblings. Fleur embraced her son, who resembled his mother nearly as much as his sister, as he prepared to leave.

"Au revoir ma douce. Be careful, and be sure to write me."

"Mum," Louis complained squirming, "I'm not a baby. Let me go." She released him, and he shot away from her toward his father.

"Have fun son." Louis quickly hugged his father and raced toward the train, but he stopped short and turned back to give his mother a quick peck on the cheek.

"Love you mum," he called over his shoulder just before darting toward the train. Fleur beamed at her son's display of affection, which was getting harder to come by the older he got. She watched him go and almost missed her middle child, who was making her way toward the train.

"Goodbye dear," Fleur said, giving her a quick peek on the cheek. Bill then gave her a pat on the head and sent her off with a simple goodbye. The red haired girl pushed her way through the crowd that was seemingly collapsing upon her. She was a muscularly built girl of average height, with hair much lighter than the rest of her family's vibrant hue. She had a plain face with dull brown eyes and a smattering of freckles across her nose. As she boarded the Hogwarts Express, she found an empty compartment and settled in. She immediately opened a book and began to read. The other students continued to bid their parents farewell and some of them trickled into her compartment. The first to join her was her closest friend, Billie Jordan. She had met Billie first year along with Lottie Corner and Peggy Boot. The four girls had remained friends throughout their education. Billie and her sister, Jemima, were incredibly close, which made Dom slightly jealous of the pair given how insignificant she felt compared to her sister.

"Hey Dom," Billie greeted upon entering the cabin. Dominique smiled up at her friend but continued reading. Billie waited for Dom to finish the page and they made small talk until they were joined by Lottie and Peggy. The girls caught up with each other as the train continued to fill.

"Hey," Peggy said, "Lottie I saw your brother out there. He's really grown into his body. He looks good," Peggy gawked out the window as Lottie's brother, Oliver, boarded the train.

"Ew," Lottie said, making a face, "he's your cousin, and he still acts like a stupid boy. I bet right now he's scouring the train for Victoire. No matter how many times she gives him the cold shoulder, he still follows her around like a lost puppy."

"I know he's my cousin. I didn't mean it like that, and can you blame him," Peggy retorted, "I mean she's perfect. I wish he would follow me like that sometimes." Dom began to tune out her friends as conversation turned to her sister, as it often did. Even with them, she couldn't escape the constant fawning over Victoire. It was the same at home. Victoire excelled at school, she was beautiful, she conducted herself like a lady, and she was even dating Teddy Lupin, whom her entire family adored. She could do no wrong. As such, she was a much more interesting subject for conversation and praise. Dom was her sister's opposite in nearly every way. She preferred books to people, and her interests were not nearly so commendable. Victoire intended to pursue a career as a healer after Hogwarts. She would help people. Dom had more "muggle" aspirations, not that she had told any of them to her family. She wanted to be an artist. She loved to paint, draw, and created art out of practically anything. She had a talent for it that she kept to herself. She felt inadequate compared to Victoire's grand plans, so she just told them she hadn't decided yet. She became lost in these thoughts as the train pulled away from the station. She glanced out the window at her parents, who waved at her sister until the train was out of sight.

Dom walked into the Great Hall silently. As she walked through the great stone arch of the doorway, she watched all the students around her talking animatedly. Her cousin James ran by, followed by his usual lackies. She noticed that Rose and Albus had stuck close together in quiet conversation. Louis looked content with Matilda Finch-Fletchley on one arm and Winnie Davies on the other. Fred had the Wood triplets cornered just past the doorway, no doubt trying to convince them to help him in his newest scheme to escape schoolwork. Roxy strutted to the Gryffindor table, joined at the hip with her best friend, Annabel Boot. From the table, Molly could be seen whispering to Tilly Carmichael as both girls ogled at Emil Krum. She had found her entire family except her sister, not that Victoire could be avoided for long. Sure enough, there she was, floating into the room surrounded by her band of admirers. Dom watched as Victoire sat gracefully at the Gryffindor table followed by the remainder of her family and several admirers. She sighed as she turned, for the thousandth time, away from them toward the Ravenclaw table. She loved her house. Professor Jones was an excellent teacher and very kind. She was friendly with many of the students in her house. However, it didn't change the fact that Dom was the first Weasley in decades not to be sorted into Gryffindor. She remembered the sorting vividly. The terror she felt when she heard the hat call out "Ravenclaw". It was over within a minute, but she didn't believe she had heard it right. She looked desperately to her older sister whom she saw, for the first time, blushing furiously in shock as she turned away from her sister. That was when Dominique's relationship with her sister had took a turn. They had been close growing up. Of course, Victoire had always been prettier and better at everything, but that didn't stop them from being close. They did everything together. Victoire had treated Dom like a doll. She took her everywhere she went. She would dress her up and shared everything with her. Dom used to thrill that her big sister would deem her so important. But after that fateful sorting, Dom knew they couldn't go back to the way they were. She was hurt by her sister's betrayal, and it seemed as though Victoire had spent the entire school year avoiding her sister. Their relationship had been shaky ever since, as Victoire gained popularity throughout the school and Dom continued to be ignored. Dom sat down at the Ravenclaw table with Billie. The sorting went by quickly as did the meal, and soon all the students were headed to their dormitories. There were only three girls in the sixth year Ravenclaw dormitories: Dom, Billie, and Tia McMillan. Tia had been a thorn in Dom's side since her first year. Her foul personality was only rivaled by that of Tillie McLaggen. Tillie was a Gryffindor prefect, and she was pompous as a peacock. Tillie and Tia had made an effort since the beginning of their schooling to make Dom's life hell. They took pleasure in noting that she was the only member of her family who wasn't in Gryffindor, wasn't a prefect, and she wasn't as gorgeous as her part-veela mother and her sister. She loathed the idea of spending another year in their company, but knew that it would be over soon. Another year and she would be rid of all of them. As she entered the dormitory, she found Tia and Billie were already unpacking.

"Well well well, if it's isn't Miss Weasley. Making a habit of being late, are we?" Tia sneered as Dom came into the room.

"Shove off Tia," Dom said flopping onto her bed as Billie chuckled from across the room. Tia just shot her a glare and continued her unpacking. Dom looked up at the ceiling. She grabbed her spellbook on the creation of spells. She had been fascinated with the idea of creating a spell since she started reading it. Creating new magic. It was exciting. She tried to immerse herself in her reading, but could not ignore Tia's stalking about the room. It was going to be a long year.

Dom made her way to her first class of the year. It was her favorite: transfiguration. In all honesty, she loved all three of the N.E.W.T. classes that she was currently taking. She didn't have an interest in any occupation they might provide, but her parents expected her to finish her time at Hogwarts with some N.E.W.T.s under her belt. She was taking Charms, Potions, and Transfiguration, and she loved all of them. However, Transfiguration class had the best professor. Professor Dumbledore walked into the classroom swiftly and addressed the class.

"Quiet, quiet. Merlin's beard, the way you lot chatter you'd think you were first years." The class snickered quietly as they turned their attention to their professor. Though he tried to appear stern and gruff, Dom knew that Aberforth had a soft heart under his hard exterior. His first class jumped into more complex spells than they had ever attempted. Dom did fairly well, which pleased Professor Dumbledore as he canvased the room and gave her a pat on the shoulder. Dom met up with Billie after class was over and they went out to the Black Lake. Being sixth years, they had much more free time than the younger students. They enjoyed sitting out by the lake as they watched flustered first years rush through the grounds. Dom spotted little Eva Longbottom searching the yard frantically. Dom walked up to the Hufflepuff girl and asked her,

"Need help?"

"Yes", the small girl squeaked out, "do you know where flying class is?"

"Of course, it's right through that hall on the other side of the castle," Dom said with a smile.

"Thank you, Dominique," Eva said beaming up at her before running away to her class.

"Who was that?" Billie asked as Dom came back sit with her friend.

"That's Professor Longbottom's daughter. First year," Dom replied.

"Wow, it's so weird to think about teachers having kids," Billie said. Both girls laughed.

"Well, my family is close to the Longbottoms, so I've known Eva since she was born." The girls continued to talk and were soon joined by Lottie and Peggy. They talked about their classes and their hopes for the year.

"Did you know that Victoire is taking the same N.E.W.T.s that I am?" Peggy remarked.

"No way which ones?" Billie ogled.

"Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology, and Charms," Peggy said proudly, "I want to be a healer. Wouldn't it be amazing if Victoire and I worked together? Do you think she'd notice me?" At this point she turned sharply to Dom.

"She does want to be a healer. I don't see why not," Dom replied uninterestedly.

"It would be amazing to work with Victoire every day. Imagine how much you would learn," Lottie commented with an air of envy. Dominique tuned out the conversation that was becoming as repetitive as the one from the train ride. She hated that even her friends worshiped her sister, but she had gotten used to it. She looked at her watch and noticed with relief that it was almost one o'clock.

"I gotta go. See ya later," Dom said as she picked up her things and hurried away from her friends and talk of her sister. Unfortunately, in her hurry she ran into the very witch she wished to avoid. Dom regained her balance and looked up to see Victoire glaring at her.

"Dom!" she spat as she looked past her and shouted, "Angus, wait!" With that, Victoire hurried down the hallway. Dom shook her head and continued toward her destination. She opened the door to Aberforth's office and stopped fast at what she saw. Along the walls were paintings, at least fifteen, displayed for all to see. Dom marveled at the display as Aberforth took note of her and smiled.

"Are these mine?" she asked softly.

"Sure are," he chuckled, "I wanted to hang them in the Great Hall, but I don't think that's my call to make." Dom let out a breathy laugh. She had given Aberforth her artwork, knowing that he would appreciate it more than her family would, but she had never expected this.

"I don't know what to say," she stammered.

"You have talent kid. It should be displayed," he said, "now let's have some tea shall we." Dom regained her bearings and smiled as she sat down in an armchair opposite her friend. Aberforth had been the first person to take an interest in her without comparing her to her sister. He appreciated her as an individual with her own personality and talents, not as Victoire Weasley's younger sister. He was her solace away from the shadow of her sister. As such, she shared everything with him, her hopes, dreams, feelings. In return, Aberforth was able to connect with her, having had a disturbed relationship with his older brother.

"So what classes are you taking?" he asked.

"Yours," she smiled, "also potions and charms."

"And what are you going to do with N.E.W.T.s in transfiguration, potions, and charms?

"Well, nothing really. You know I won't need them."

"Then why are you here Dom?" he said with a stern look.

"Ab you know why," she said exasperatedly, "my parents would disown me if I don't make it to seventh year. Besides, I'm good at all my classes."

"Yes you are, but you know that before next year the staff will ask you about what you plan to do after school. If you are sticking around to please your parents that's fine, but you'd better have a story to tell them."

"Well what do you want me to do? Go home and say, 'Hey Mum, Dad, I've decided to drop out of school. Hope you can still love and respect me.' Brilliant," Dom shouted.

"I know how you feel Dom, but listen to me," Aberforth said as Dom calmed down and looked at him, "you're wasting your time here if you don't have any intentions for your education. So, you either need to find a way to use your N.E.W.T.s or tell your parents about your art."

"No," Dom replied quickly.

"Would it be that bad?" Aberforth asked gently.

"Yes," she replied after a moment's thought, "I can't tell them that I want to take up a muggle occupation. Imagine how disappointed they'd be, especially with Victoire becoming a healer and Louis on his way to becoming an auror. I can't disappoint them further."

"You can't sacrifice your happiness to make your parents happy Dom," Aberforth said, "but if you insist on keeping it to yourself, you need to have a backup plan to justify staying in school."

"Ok yeah. Let's see… well, I could be a potioneer. I'm getting Os in potions, and transfiguration and charms could be helpful in making potions. It would cover all the bases."

"That's good. That's good. You're a smart kid you know that?" Aberforth smirked. Dom smiled.

"Thanks Ab, for everything," she said.

"Of course," said, "and Dom… your parents will always love you no matter what you do."

"Yeah," Dom said sadly, "I just wish I could believe that." Dom and Aberforth continued to talk until Dom had to leave for dinner. She went back to Ravenclaw tower soon after the meal, and spent the rest of the evening reading her spellbook.