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Image of Perfection

Farewells and Furry Friends

'If the Hogwarts Express crashed tomorrow, and George and I died, how would you feel knowing that the last thing we ever heard from you was an unfounded accusation?

I'm almost completely sure that the only person who'll ever get as far as this page will be me.

Or maybe Lysander, at the most - when he's a forty year old pot-bellied tosser who's jealous of me having aged so well, and can't stand my loyalty for the Pride of Portree, (what'd he know, he supports the Blackpool Bludgers for heaven's sake!)

Or maybe Lorcan, as he tries to fathom what drove me to murder Lysander (before Lysander calmly walks out from a cave of Kappas in Japan after having raided it to lure out the nocturnal variety of Mongolian Mimblebins, having finally realized that Mongolia Minor neither lies in Japan under an unplottable charm, nor do the Mimblebins actually exist.)

My absolutely mental mates can also be suspected to read this, as they'll try their best to find out about the location of the single secret passageway that opens up in the cellar of Zonko's - back off Luce, it's my discovery - and try to get back at the genius that I am by plotting out the exact location and displaying it in fliers all over Diagon Alley.

On second thoughts, I doubt I'll be the only one who'll make it so far.

Apart from my biographers, of course.

I suppose that's another bloody reason for me to curse this book against trespassers, isn't it?

So yeah, don't be surprised if your eyeballs roll out within thirty seconds if you read any further. You've been warned.

Just joking.

So, where were we?

Oh yes, Confucius. Poor, young Confucius. If you've any sense, you'd have understood about Confucius by now. And will stop reading further because this is personal.

In all probability though, you haven't.

But do not fear, I'm no longer the damsel-who-caused-distress that I once was. Not everyone can be born with a streak of natural brilliance (read : Ravenclaw), and I'll only hope for the sake of the future generations (hopeless lot that you are) that –

It won't be much use if I spell it out.

Just read on.

We were late. Again.

Because of me.

I bolted out of my room as fast as I could, my hands searching the pockets of my jacket. This was the first time I had been allowed to carry the wand on my person. If I forgot it this time, mum would bury me alive.

Dad and Victoire were standing outside the house, wearing identical frowns. I saw dad checking his pocket watch anxiously. It would be a long walk from the cottage to the highway where we would board the knight bus. And personally, I wasn't too keen on that.

"Where's mum?" minimal conversation just might keep dad's temper in check.

"She just left with Louis" dad said, nodding at Victoire, who stepped forward confidently. Drawing her wand, she took a deep breath and turned. I caught sight of her face for split second, frowning as she concentrated. The next second, she disappeared with a loud crack.

"We're dissapparating?" I couldn't keep the anxiety out of my voice. I'm claustrophobic, see? And dissapparition, well, is almost like being strangled inside a rubber tube. Or something along those lines.

"Yes, or we won't make it," Dad drew his wand, and held out his hand, "it wouldn't take too long, Dom." Dad said soothingly. I held onto his forearm, and shut my eyes.

I could see Mum on the other side of the road, holding Louis's hand, and Victoire stood beside us, looking a little pale-

What? I don't like apparition, so don't expect a description of the entire process. We're at King's Cross and that's that. I'm chatty, but only about selective stuff, alright!

So yeah, we crossed the bloody road, got to the bloody platform, and finally leant through the bloody barrier.

And voila, we were there!

That wasn't sarcasm, or fake enthusiasm, you know. I really wanted to yell 'voila' and go hug the engine. I mean, who wouldn't? I was off to Hogwarts. For my fifth year.

I was going home.

The platform was full of people, students who couldn't wait to get in, and parents who just wouldn't go out. All the 'I miss mum' part comes later, see, when the homework piles up and you're down with flu. But otherwise, all of us just can't wait to get back. And I topped that list.

"Dominique, come here, weel you." I felt mum's hand on my shoulder, pulling me back. Apparently, Victoire had already received her start of the term pep talk, as she flew past me, squealing "Teddy!" Well, that was predictable. Teddy Remus Lupin was bound to be here. Teddy's a family friend, and the godson of Uncle Harry. Uncle Harry's dad was best mates with Teddy's dad, Remus Lupin, who died in the war. And if things go on this way, Teddy will be my brother-in-law soon.

You see, Teddy and Victoire are in love.

No, I'm not exaggerating their relationship. They really are in love. They've been going out since they were both in school. I suppose Victoire was in the fourth year then. But yeah, they're pretty serious, even now. I mean, Teddy is nineteen, and he came to see Victoire off last year too.

I think I'll puke.

But thank Merlin, this is Victoire's final year at Hogwarts too, so maybe the next time I see Teddy, he wouldn't be trying to eat her face off.

I hope.

But Teddy's really decent, you know. I mean, he is the only one giving me compliments every now and then, getting me great books every Christmas, and he thought it was bloody cool when I turned my hair green. I guess he was secretly hoping that I turn out to be a metamorphmagus like him, but he was thrilled nevertheless. And until the grown ups could sort out the problem, he gave me company by turning his own hair green.

It's rather hard to believe that he is not my brother. But I suppose he's too decent for that. It'll be really great to have him in the family though, right?

Unless he dumps Victoire.

What? Life just isn't meant to be fair!

"…Dominique! 'ave you been listening?"

"Err… yeah Mum! I'll get to it as soon as I get to school. I'll be pretty punctual, I swear." I said, nodding as tried to look as though I had been listening to each word of her lecture, scanning the crowd for a quick escape route, and trying to ignore that annoying feeling that that I had forgotten about something. Pep talks just aren't my thing.

"You'll get back to detenzions as soon as you get to ze school?"

"No! I mean why would I –"

"But you just said you'll get back to zem as soon as you'll get to school!"

"You were talking about detentions?"

Bloody hell.

My mother towered over me, even though I was barely an inch shorter. I don't know why everyone says that grandma Molly and Mum didn't get along well in the beginning. I think they're pretty much alike.

"You 'aven't been listening 'ave you? Your poor maman talks and talks and you don't pay attenzion. If I so much as receive a letter from your school saying zat you have been out of bed or crept to ze kitchens, I shall not let you come 'ome for Chreestmas."

I couldn't help but gasp.

I know what you're thinking – that doesn't exactly sound like a punishment, does it? But well, that's because you haven't been to the Weasley Christmas parties at the Burrow, mate. That is the place to be! With the entire Weasley family and all the friends and an entire zoo of all sorts of creatures that we Weasleys saw fit to pet, the place is like a magical menagerie itself. And there's always a chance that Lucy snuck in a bottle of firewhiskey…

And that is why, Mum's words were rather threatening.

Apparently, Dad seemed to think so too, "C'mon Fleur" he tried to reason, "that's a little harsh, isn't it?"

"No, it eesn't Beel!" Mum was definitely in a rage now, "she is always trying to get away from work and never leestens. She is a grown woman now and she steel acts like a child"

Grown woman, me?

Yeah right. I bet mum confused firewhiskey for coffee this morning.

Dad seemed to think the same, "I'm sure she'll behave herself as soon as she gets to Hogwarts, Fleur. After all, it's her OWLs year."

As soon as Dad mentioned the OWLs, I felt like somebody had dropped a quaffle in my stomach. Me and my bloody exam nerves.

Speaking of quaffles…

Bloody hell, how could I forget!

"Err… Mum, Dad" I secretly hoped that this off the cuff request would get Mum off the steam for a while, and the words tumbled out of my mouth quicker than I could wrap my tongue around them "it's just that…Owen Harper won't be on the team this year. I mean, he gave his NEWTs this summer, so the Ravenclaw team has a vacancy, and I'm pretty sure I'll make it. The trials will be held this month and –"

"What are you talking about?" Mum looked pretty confused, and suspicious, so I looked at Dad for support.

"Dominique, you want to…play quidditch?" Dad looked pretty happy about my request. I sort of understood why, as most of his siblings had been in their houses' teams, and now most of my cousins were, too. It sort of ran in our blood.

"Didn't you 'ear your papa, you have OWLs zis year!"

Really, I didn't know that. People were beginning to turn and stare at us now.

"C'est insupportable! You fly around on a broomstick and 'urt your 'ead, and what happens to your future?" mum looked really mad, "no Dominique, zis year, you will work 'ard and get OWLs. Play queeditch later – you get in enough trouble as eet ees."

With that my mother turned and grabbed Louis by the shoulder, and started giving him 'advice' on how-to-survive-the-dangerous-lands-of-Hogwarts, with a rather fierce expression on her face. Louis gave me an apologetic smile as he turned to listen to Mum, and Dad came over to stand next to me. I could feel my eyes burning as I tried to swallow the fact that after four years of waiting for a vacancy, my chance was gone.

"Dominique," Dad said gently, "your mother is right. The fifth year is going to be a hard nut to crack, what with the OWLs coming on, next summer. Maybe taking up quidditch right now isn't a great idea."

"There won't be a vacancy next year!" I really wished the waterworks wouldn't start. It was so hard to keep my voice level whenever I was in a bloody temper, or upset. There were still five minutes for the train to leave, and I knew I couldn't get away before that.

"There will, if you've got talent. Teams hold trials every year to have the best players on the rosters"

"It doesn't happen like that in Ravenclaw! Why do you think I never mentioned this before? The last team remained unchanged for four years, even the substitutes, this was the first time anybody could've gotten in!

Dad sighed, taking out my trunk, which had been bewitched to the size of a matchbox, from his pocket. Placing it on the platform, he waved his wand, and restored it to its normal size. He finally looked up and ruffled my hair, "I'll try and convince her, Dominique. She's just a little tense, what with your grandfather being ill and all that. She doesn't want you hurt, too."

I bit my lip. Granddad Delacour – If you will – had been bedridden for quite some time, and I could sort of see Dad's point. But I wasn't going to let him know.

"It's got nothing to do with that! Mum just doesn't understand – she got to be in the Triwizard tournament, you get to be a curse breaker, but I don't even get to play quidditch!"

Dad opened his mouth, then closed it again, shaking his head. "Well, off you go then," he said softly, "have a good term."

I knew Mum was going to say something. I had a feeling she had been prying on my conversation with Dad too. I was right – I had barely taken a few steps, dragging my trunk behind me, when I heard her.

"Send an owl as soon as you get zere, and don't bozer your sister!"

So much for a sweet goodbye.

While I hated apparition, it did save us time. I mean, you must have figured that out, as I had had enough time to see my sister flouncing off to snog her potential fiancé, receive a not-so-flattering goodbye from my mother, and give my Dad a hard time by being difficult.

It wasn't my fault – Mum started it.

So, with three minutes to kill, I stood in the line before the carriage entrance, as it crept at a snail's pace, occasionally knocked out of the line as a seventh year pushed past, or when one of the third years realized that their cat had been about to swallow their best friend's rat.

Sounds a little familiar. I think Uncle Ron told me something about it…

Anyhow, it created quite a ruckus.

I saw Louis rush by dragging his trunk. I wished (sincerely!) that I could help him, but I wasn't very good with heavy things, as you are about to see.

Oh, and Louis stopped by to hand me, err, Atlas. Atlas is my huge barn owl, very strong, and a really spectacular creature with light brown feathers and amber eyes.

Don't give me that that's-how-all-barn-owls-are…Atlas is beautiful, and that's that.

Alright! I admit it. This time I nearly forgot to take my owl. But look at it this way. I didn't forget it at Shell Cottage, just at the platform. Not a big deal, if you ask me, what with my mother ruining all the chances of me being a famous quidditch player in the future. It was a pretty small mistake.

Don't you give me that look!

So, back on the platform, with Atlas's cage perched on my trunk, I finally reached the carriage. I placed Atlas's cage aside, lifted the trunk from one end, trying to maneuver it on to the train…

And dropped it on my foot.

Ouch.

I hopped on the site, tears springing to my eyes. Why did that happen to me every year?

Speaking of 'annual occurrences', I had a feeling that something else was about to happen too.

Any second now…

"Need help, my lady?

I turned to see Tara Goldstein leaning against the carriage, her arms crossed over her chest, one eyebrow cocked as she looked at the trunk with the most disdainful expression that even a Slytherin would have been proud of. The beast was already wearing her Hogwarts uniform, robes and all. Without waiting for my answer, she straightened gracefully, and got onto the train. Leaning a little, she said, "Lift one end, will you?" I did as she instructed, seeing that I really had no choice, and she pulled up the trunk, with little help, and no apparent effort. I saw a shiny prefect badge on the front of her robes as she pulled up Atlas's cage. Pushing my trunk out of the way, she held out her hand and pulled me up too.

Figuratively, I mean. I'm not that weak, I can lift myself!

The train pulled out of the platform as we dragged my stuff through the corridor and into the first compartment, which was occupied by a trunk and slender white cat.

"Hey Artemis." I mumbled absent-mindedly as the cat wound around my legs, while Tara and I waved to our parents. Mum didn't look half as mad now, but maybe it was just the distance. The train picked up speed, and finally, I was off to Hogwarts.

I leant back to see Tara straightening her robes and fixing her tie. Finally she ran her fingers through her long hair, ruining her own appearance, and turned towards me.

"We've got to stow your trunk on the luggage rack."

"Nah, it alright," I said, bending down to stroke Artemis. It, or rather she had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen on a cat – startlingly blue with a hint of grey – and a smooth coat of silvery white fur that would put a bloody unicorn to shame.

I wondered if Tara had bewitched the cat to look that way. I wouldn't put it beneath her…

"I'll do it myself." I explained, as I noticed Tara looking at me, "So…you're a prefect now. Pretty good."

"Yeah" she said quietly as Artemis tugged at her robes with its claws. She picked up the cat and gently placed it on the seat, and I could practically feel the unease settling in the pit of my stomach like a boiled egg swallowed whole.

"I suppose you've got to go for the meeting too."

She nodded "See you in an hour, then" then she turned and left.

I sighed and sank onto the seat next to Artemis, who took her chance and jumped onto my lap, flexing her claws and settling into a position that made it clear that she didn't want to be disturbed until the lunch trolley came around.

It's been a weird day, Artemis, I thought, scratching her behind the ears. I almost wished Artemis could speak, but she remained as incommunicado as her mistress.

Tara Goldstein – she was such a twit.

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Author's Note: This was hopefully a little better than the last chapter, yeah? Well, thanks for reading, anyway! Please review!