Chapter 13: Dominique the Dominant

"You look positively ravishing" Sirius said, as he met Dominique in the common room the next morning.

Dominique smiled in return. "Thanks…well…shall we?"

"Lets." Soon they were joined by other students as they made their way to the village of Hogsmead.

"Look, there goes Remus and Megan…" Dominique said, pointing to the couple that passed by them several feet away.

"Yea…Megan looks like a keeper, don't you think? Remus seems awfully fond of her." Sirius commented.

"You think so?" Dominique replied, remembering what Kierra had said last night. "well, why don't you just date her if you think she's so hot?" 'oops…' she thought.

"What?" Sirius had stopped walking and looked furiously at her. "Where did you hear that"—

"Don't change the subject! I've got my sources…" Dominique said quickly. Why did she always get so jealous? Why….

"So what if I think she's pretty? I'm not in love with her!" Sirius said hotly.

"Well you don't have to look at her!"

"Where am I supposed to look? She…and girls, for that matter, are everywhere! What am I supposed to do, walk around with my eyes closed?"

"Well…" Dominique said thoughtfully…

"I am NOT going to do that…give me a break Dominique…It's not like I walk around checking other girls out…I mean…attractive girls will walk by…I'll notice…but that's it…I don't give it a second thought…well, just you…I give you plenty of thought…" Sirius said with a wink.

Dominique smiled slightly. "I'm sure…"

"Really…I do…like just yesterday, I was thinking about how lucky I am to have a girlfriend like you…who gets so jealous so easily…and once again, today you prove my point…"

"I do not get jealous…"

"uh huh…yea, right…" Sirius cut her off. "Which reminds me…I owe you a ride, don't I?" he said, kneeling down. "Hop on!"

"No Sirius…that's ok"—

"Come on! Piggy back! My uncle used to give me these all the time when I was little!"

"Let's hope it was when you were little…"

"Get on!" Sirius repeated.

"Ok!" Dominique obeyed and climbed on his back. She screamed as he got up quickly and took hold of her legs.

"Oww..oww…easy on the grip!" Sirius moaned as Dominique had wrapped her arms around his neck too tightly.

"Sorry…" she said apologetically as she loosened her grip.

"It's alright…now…" Sirius cleared his throat, "Thank you for choosing Sirius Express for all your travel needs! Please do not attempt to get off until I've come to a complete stop! Now, our first destination…Honeyduuuuuuuuuuukes!" Sirius shouted as he sped off, causing Dominique to scream again.

"Sirius! Slow down!" Dominique shrieked as he jogged through the crowds of people, some who were looking at them with amusement, others looking confused, and some looking angry ("Mr. Black! Behave your self!" shouted Professor McGonagall).

"No can do! This goes only at one speed!" Sirius laughed.

After hurtling through the masses for several minutes, they finally reached Honeydukes.

"Ok! We're there! Put me down now!" Dominique said breathlessly.

"No, I don't think so…" Sirius said, seemingly not tired at all by running across the village with a girl on his back.

"Sirius!"

"Oy, Hey Remus! Hey Megan!" Sirius said as he entered the store.

"Hey..." Remus said slowly, looking from Sirius to Dominique and raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you see….Dominique got all jealous that I carried Kierra around, so"—

"No I didn't!" Dominique protested, pulling a lock of Sirius' long hair.

"Ow! Don't make me drop you!" Sirius said.

"Why would you be carrying her around?" Remus asked.

"Her leg, remember?" Sirius said, picking up a sugar quill with a few of his free fingers. "Which flavor do you like, Dominique?"

"Strawberry."

"Oh, right…" Remus said, looking annoyed at Sirius.

"So, you two kids having fun?" Sirius asked as they moved along to the chocolate aisle.

"Yea…you guys look like you are as well…" replied Megan.

"yes we are…aren't we, D?" Sirius asked, looking over his shoulder only to bump heads with Dominique.

"Oh yea, barrels of fun…" Dominique said as she squirmed uncomfortably against Sirius.

"Woah…woah…Dominique, if you wanted to get raunchy, you should've waited til we got to a more private place!"

"Oh shut it, you great perv…" Dominique muttered.

"I am not a pervert!" Sirius said indignantly, standing straighter. "I think if anyone's a pervert, it's you…groping me in the public like that…"

"I wasn't groping you!"

"You two are a riot..." Megan laughed.

"Yea, let's leave before this riot gets out of hand…." Remus said, pulling Megan away towards the door. "Bye guys!" he and Megan said together.

As Remus and Megan walked hand in hand towards The Three Broomsticks, Remus thought of the girl who walked with him and chatted animatedly with him.

"Sirius and Dominique are so cute, don't you think?" Megan asked.

"Yea…" Remus laughed lightly, "they are…they…go well together, I think…"

"I think so too…he's a bit hyper though, isn't he, that Sirius?"

"Yes…he is…he's got quite a bit of energy…he and James Potter…they're a pair of clowns, those two…"

Megan laughed. "I was just about to say that. It's funny…you're such good friends with them, yet you're so different…they're so hyper and crazy and…such…wild, trouble makers…whereas, you're just the opposite."

"Are you calling me boring?" Remus asked in a false angry tone.

"No!" Megan laughed, "not at all…you didn't let me finish!"

"Then?"

"You're more calm…and rational…much more coolheaded."

"Thanks." Remus once again looked thoughtfully at her. She was a great girl. She was sweet, funny…beautiful…he was actually having a lot of fun with her. 'Kierra's with Kyle anyway…' Remus thought. 'If she wanted me, she'd probably dump him…'

"Well, we're here.' Remus said as they stopped at the entrance of The Three Broomsticks.

"Could I persuade you to delay our lunch there?" Megan asked, pulling him away and leading him off towards the side wall of Three Broomsticks.

"Er…why?" Remus asked, though part of him knew what was coming, as Megan leaned forward and kissed him in a not very innocent manner on the the cheek.

"Oh…"

Kierra trudged along the aisles of Zonko's, looking at various jokes and pranks. She was bored stiff. Going to Hogsmead was no fun unless you were with your friends, or your significant other. 'Oh that's right…I don't have one…' Kierra thought miserably as she put back a set of fake wands. Dominique was off with Sirius, Alice was off with Frank, and Lily and James were at a Prefects meeting at the Hogsmead local library. At least the librarians there were nicer than Madam Pince at Hogwarts. She would be meeting everyone at The Three Broomsticks for lunch later on, but that was not for another hour. She had quite a bit of time to kill, and she had already gone to most of the interesting shops in Hogsmead. Her thoughts had been interrupted by a pair of footsteps behind her. Kierra whirled around to see Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape.

"Well, well..if it isn't little Miss Quidditch…what do you think you're doing here?" Lucius snarled.

"I can shop wherever I want" Kierra snapped, "What are you two doing here? That Dark Arts shop is over on the next block…"

"Don't take that tone with me, girl…you'll be sorry…"

"What are you gonna do? Throw a bludger at me? You pathetic coward!" Kierra retorted, making a move to leave. Snape however, stood in her way. "Out of my way" she said.

Snape glanced at Lucius, as if for instructions.

"What, can't make up your own mind, eh?" Kierra said. She smiled at Snape and stamped her foot down as hard as she could on his foot, and quickly bolted out the door and turned the first corner she came across. 'Stupid idiots..' she thought, as she felt her back pocket to make sure she had her wand with her, just in case.

After making sure the coast was clear, Kierra walked back out onto the main street and decided to head down to the Three Broomsticks early, and drown her sorrows in a few butterbeers…or in a few firewhiskeys if she could trick the bartender.

Just as the bar came into her view, Kierra noticed two figures standing outside Three Broomsticks, looking heavily occupied.

'Ugh…there's a hotel just down the street, I can't see why they can't get a room…' she thought to herself. But just as she neared The Three Broomsticks, the figures became clearer to her. It was Remus and Megan.

"Eww…" she said aloud, but not loud enough for them to hear, as she was still a few meters away from them. Kierra clenched her fists as she watched Remus pull Megan closer to himself while they kissed.

'I can't watch…' Kierra thought to herself as she marched right into the Three Broomsticks. "Gimme a firewhiskey…" Kierra demanded of the bartender. The bartender looked up at her, a bit taken aback by her rudeness, but seemed to be flattered by it, as if she had just complimented him…as he replied to her. "Sure ma'am…8 sickles.."

Kierra looked up at him, startled. But he had already reached down under the counter to get her drink. Maybe her rudeness made her look older, Kierra thought as she handed the man 8 sickles and taking her drink. She sat down at a large table, enough to fit all the people she was expecting, and popped open her firewhiskey. 'cheers…' she thought miserably.

About half an hour later, Alice and Frank arrived together, dragging behind them, Remus and Megan.

"Look what we found, snogging over on the corner?" Frank said.

Kierra forced a smile as Frank, Alice, Remus and Megan sat down.

"How was your day?" Alice asked, trying to change the subject for Kierra.

"Eh…"

"Did you drink all of these?" asked Frank, pointing at the two empty firewhiskey bottles, and the third one that she was drinking.

"Maybe…"

"Kierra!"

"Cool! I bet you could beat James in a chugging contest!"

"Frank!" Alice scolded.

"Bet I could too…" Kierra said, taking another gulp of her drink.

"Kierra, this stuff is strong! And uh, what if a professor walks in? Shoot, professor Flitwick is just a few tables away!"

"Then don't fuss about it so loudly!" Kierra snapped.

"Are you upset about Kyle?" Frank asked.

"Why, what happened with you and Kyle?" Remus asked.

"They broke up…Kyle told me…" Frank replied.

"No, I'm fine…is he alright?" Kierra asked.

"Yea…he's ok…I mean, he was a bit bored today…he tagged along with us for a while…but he'll get over it soon enough, don't worry…"

Just then, James and Lily walked in together, followed by Peter, who walked in alone.

"Hey kids!" Alice called after them. "How was your meeting?"

"Boring…" James said.

"Oh thanks, Potter…" Lily said nastily.

"Except when you talked, of course…" James said quickly.

Suddenly, Dominique walked in by herself.

"Hey D! Where's Sirius?" Kierra asked.

"What?" Dominique turned around and headed back to the entrance. "Sirius! Quit being such a baby!"

"I am not going in there!" everyone could hear Sirius whining from outside.

"You look fine Sirius! Don't be so self conscious!" Dominique replied, reaching out and grabbing Sirius's hand, and with great effort, she dragged him into the bar.

"What's wrong—oh holy crap!" James gasped as he looked at Sirius.

"I know!" Sirius said, frowning and folding his arms across his chest.

Sirius's long hair was gone. It was now cut short, except around the front, so his hair still fell elegantly over his eyes. (a/n: mmmm….)

"It looks…hiccuppp….great!" Kierra said. The others turned to her.

"Kierra! Are those…firewhiskeys?" Lily said in a whisper.

"yea…and if you even think about telling on me…"

Lily rolled her eyes. "I won't…but don't come crying to me tomorrow morning when you're puking it all up…I for one will not be holding your hair back over the toilet…"

"yea, ok…I'll keep that in mind…" Kierra replied.

"Why'd you cut your hair, Sirius?" Remus asked as Dominique and Sirius joined them.

"I thought it would look nice!" Dominique answered for him. "It does, doesn't it?"

"I miss my hair…" Sirius said, looking out the window mournfully.

"You shouldn't have cut it…" James said, throwing a glare at Dominique, who had gotten up to get everyone's drinks. "Why'd you listen to her?"

Sirius only shrugged and ran his fingers through his short hair.

"Don't worry, I think it looks great" Alice said.

"Yea…me too.." Frank chimed in, "very sexy…" he added with a wink before falling into laughter with Alice.

"Yea…I guess I just need to get used to it…" Sirius said.

James shrugged. "You've got to stop letting her walk all over you…you always let her have it her way…" James stopped at the sound of several bottles of butterbeers clunking onto their table. "Oy, thanks D…" James said.

Dominique sat down next to Sirius, across from James. "Think I'm a spoiled brat or something, do you?" she asked him casually.

"I didn't say that…"

"But you were implying that…"

"Guys…" Lily began but was immediately cut off by James. "Alright, maybe I was!" he retorted, "I just think you should just leave him alone, and let him do what he wants sometimes…you're acting like his mother…"

"I am not!"

"Um…yea you are…

"Am not!"

"Are too! You're always telling him what to do, D! Leave him alone, he's a grown up man!"

"I'm aware of that!"

"Then quit bossing him around and give him room to breathe! ("James, what are you doing?" Sirius hissed)."

"What do you mean, give him room to breathe?"

"I mean, let him alone! You're always with him! You can't even give him a minute to himself!" ("James, I don't mind…" Sirius tried interrupting.)

"I don't ask him to!" Dominique shouted, who was now standing up, "What if he just wants to be with me? Have you got a problem with that?"

"Yea! I do! I do, when you're constantly hogging him for yourself!"

"I'm not hogging anyone for myself! Maybe he just likes me better!"

James snorted. (a/n: he does that a lot, doesn't he? lol) "yea…right…"

"Fine!" Dominique said, grabbing her purse. "I'm out of here…see if he likes you better!" and with that, Dominique stormed out.

"I like them both…" Sirius said helplessly to Remus. They all looked at each other awkwardly for a moment. Finally, Lily broke the silence.

"You're an idiot, Potter, you know that?"

"What?"

"What was the point of blowing up at her like that for?"

"She..she…she's always with him! And she always tells him what to do!" complained James.

"She's not that bossy…" interjected Sirius. "I…I'm flattered that you got all pissed off on my behalf…but…you're making her out to be some horrible witch…and she's not…"

"Yea…easy for you to say…" James muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing…"

"Wanna take a walk outside?"

"Yea, ok…"

As James and Sirius got up and left, the others glanced at each other again. "You know, if I didn't know those two as well as I do, I swear…I'd think they were gay…" Kierra commented, breaking the tension by making everyone laugh.

"Ok, what's with you?" Sirius asked as they came outside.

"Well…it's just that…ever since you started dating her…this whole year…you've been spending so much time with her…we don't hang out as much anymore…I feel like I'm losing you…"

Sirius glanced at James and raised an eyebrow. "I mean as a friend!" James exclaimed.

Sirius laughed, "yea, I know what you meant…look, I understand now how you feel…I'm sorry that you do…but…ok first of all Prongs, you're my best friend…Remus and Peter are too, but I put you even before them, and I always will. That'll never change between us, I hope." James nodded, so Sirius continued, "But…Dominique's important to me too…I mean, of course it doesn't compare to our friendship…but she's important to me…I think I'm in love with her…"

"What?" James snapped.

"I said, I think I'm in love with her…I dunno…maybe I'm just being stupid…but…this is the best relationship I've ever had…I love being with her…she's great…she means a lot to me…so…yea, that means less time with some of my friends…but, it's something I've got to do if I want her…"

"So dump her…"

"But that's how all girls are, Prongs! If you ever get Evans, which you will, man…" Sirius added quickly, patting James on the shoulder, "she's going to be demanding time from you too…but you'll be willing to sacrifice for her, because she's that important to you…does that make sense?" Sirius asked.

"Yea…I guess…" James said. "Sorry…I just didn't like the sudden change…but ok…I'll get used to it…"

"And do me a favor, would you?" Sirius asked.

"Yea, sure Padfoot…"

"Can you at least try to like her?"

"I'll try…"