The air in the marquee was thick and humid, the throng of dancing guests showing signs of beginning to disperse as fatigue finally gained on some of the older guests. Dominique couldn't understand the draining of energy herself, happily bouncing and twirling around with 'the gang' as she had been for a majority of the evening so far – although she only now noticed that they'd all gotten separated and she was in fact alone with Sean Finnigan who was rapidly spinning her once again.
"Will you stop!" She giggled, wobbling as a result of both the twirling and James' stolen rum, as she tried to steady herself. "You'll have me flying into another one of my relatives if you carry on." Talking had caused a lapse in her concentration and she stumbled forward, her arms flying out to cushion her fall but instead landing against his chest. The part-veela looked into the startled face of her friend and raised an eyebrow in amusement. "What's the matter, Sean? Never been this close to a girl before?"
He laughed at that, carefully pulling her upright as he replied. "I've spent plenty of time in close proximity with girls, thank you Dom."
"Not that I've seen." Dominique teased as she skipped a little away from him, her aggravating sing-song tone earning her a grim expression. "Oh, come on, we both know it's true! You've not dated anyone the whole of fourth year."
"Doesn't mean I've not snogged a few!" Sean responded grumpily. "You saw at the Christmas party in the common room, that girl with the freckles! And when we won the match against Slytherin, the blonde Ravenclaw with the nose ring couldn't keep away from me. You know the one I'm talking about, she's in Fred's year, right?"
She snorted dismissively. "Your memory of names is as impeccable as always." She attempted to stride back toward him, though no doubt her lack of sobriety meant it was more of a stumble than the confident swagger she intended. "If you're such a ladies man then why haven't you snogged anyone here yet?"
The dark-haired boy was equally intoxicated and a smug grin spread across his face when he realised just how close she was to him. "Anyone in particular you had in mind, Dominique?"
Rolling her eyes at the line, she slipped her arms around his neck and brought his lips to her own in a clumsy gesture, feeling his grip settle around her waist. She was quick to involve her tongue in the kiss and felt him return with matched enthusiasm, his hands slowly slithering lower. She broke the embrace after five minutes or so and clutched his forearm before dragging him through the crowd, out the tent and in the direction of the Burrow to search for somewhere her family wouldn't catch her.
Pausing by the back door, Dominique gestured for Sean to stay put as she peaked through the kitchen window to see if they were clear to enter. She'd expected that maybe her grandmother might be bustling around making food or that a couple of her Uncles might have tried to escape the dancing, but what she actually saw made her recoil in disgust – she now knew where Fred and Robyn Thomas had disappeared to and sadly concluded she wouldn't be able to stop picturing the sight of them sucking face every time she attended one of their frequent family dinners. She turned to her friend with a shudder and instead of ducking indoors (which would've been far more ideal) pulled him round the side of the building, shoving him playfully against the wall before re-initiating their make out session.
As things continued to heat up, Dominique felt her mind start to sober and with her returning consciousness came the realisation of just who she was currently smacking lips with. Sean Finnigan. One of her closest friends. She was kissing Sean – and she didn't fancy him. And she certainly had no intentions of dating him. What was she doing?!
She could feel one of his hands creeping closer to the hem of her dress with every second that passed and she grew more uncomfortable with each centimetre. How on Earth was she meant to get out of this?
A single shout coming from the direction of the orchard caught both their attentions and Dominique was quick to use this as an excuse to tear away from the now awkward (at least for her) embrace. It was dark, particularly in contrast to the bright light of the tent, but she could spot the outline of two figures among the trees – one was racing toward the Burrow at increasing speed. As it grew closer she could just make out the billowing burgundy skirt…
"Victoire?!" She called to her sister but the older girl didn't as much as flinch, instead continuing straight through the front door. As she passed them it had been easy to see the tracks made in her make up by tears, her previously perfect eyeliner now in uneven black trails down her cheeks.
Dominique didn't bother to give Sean an explanation before she took off after her sibling, hearing the unmistakable whoosh of the floo network being put to use as she swiftly made her way through the living room and, taking a shot in the dark, made her way home through the green flames. As she stepped out into the kitchen of Shell Cottage she could hear the footsteps from the ceiling above and made her way up the stairs, finding Victoire wasn't huddled up and crying like she'd expected but instead methodically racing round her room, throwing and summoning items into her old Hogwarts trunk.
"'Toire?" the older blonde jumped, unaware she was expecting company, and smiled weakly at her younger sister before continuing to pack. "What on Earth happened?"
"It's not important," her voice sounded gruff and she spoke so quietly that Dominique had struggled to catch the words.
"It certainly looks like it's important! What are you even doing?"
She shook her head at the question, her thick plait bobbing from side to side as she sorted through the array of creams and cleansers on her dresser. "Go back to the party, Dom."
The younger half-veela could hardly believe her ears. "Are you mad? Do you really think I'm just going to waltz off back to a party, your party, when I've found you looking like a tsunami has hit your face, packing all your worldly possessions away in a trunk?!" She moved into the room and flopped down on her sister's bed, watching Victoire continue to sift through her things. "Talk to me, 'Toire."
"I don't want to talk, Dom," her voice was monotonous, her mind set entirely to the task at hand. "I want you to leave me be and go back to the party."
"Did something happen in the orchard? Who were you talking to out there?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Of course it matters!" Dominique exclaimed, her frustration getting the better of her. "How can something that has you so upset not matter?!"
"You're right, it does matter – but it has nothing to do with you whatsoever so would you please just go back to the party and leave me alone!" Victoire was always the patient one but she was clearly at the end of her fuse now. "I've had enough trouble tonight without having you trying to pry!"
"I'm not being nosey, 'Toire, I'm trying to help you!" Dominique's voice was now raised to match her sister's volume, her face growing a little red as was the habit with an angry Weasley. "Just like I always am, and just like always you're brushing me off-"
"Because, just like always, you wouldn't have a bloody clue what to do about anything even if I did tell you!" Victoire sniped.
"You haven't even given me a chance! What the hell is going on-"
"Teddy proposed!" Victoire shouted. "Ok? Teddy proposed and I said no."
"You said no?" Dominique repeated in confusion.
"Yes, I said no. And the fact you don't seem to be able to comprehend that is exactly why you didn't need to know in the first place. Now please leave me alone."
There was a long uncomfortable pause in which Dominique sat staring blankly at her sister who'd returned to preparing her luggage, her attention now on the wardrobe as if nothing had happened.
"Don't you love him?"
The words stopped Victoire in her tracks and she let out a deep sigh before turning to face her sister with a look of defeat on her face.
"Of course I do."
"Then why-"
"I can't do this, Dom," Victoire gave a sad smile, her eyes watering once more. "I just… I can't deal with these questions right now, ok?" She moved forward and pulled her younger sister into her arms, squeezing her tight. "Just please, go back to the party, for me?"
Dominique swallowed before pulling away to look into the deep blue eyes, almost identical to her own if it weren't for the barrage of emotions currently reflected there.
"Ok."
%%%
"Quit it, Freddie!"
The boy smiled, the trademark cheeky grin he'd inherited from his infamous jokester father, as he continued to lazily stroke along his female companion's side. She squirmed under the ticklish, feather light touch and attempted to seem cross with him.
"Fred Lee Weasley if you don't stop that right now-"
Robyn was cut off as he moved to cover her mouth with his own, his lips turned up in a triumphant smirk. She shoved him away half-heartedly, taking a couple of steps up the staircase and lifting one finger in a beckoning fashion. The two had managed to move out of the kitchen since Dominique had spotted them, Robyn having been worried that anyone could've walked in. Fred hadn't seen any reason to worry himself but nonetheless complied with his friend for fear that if he didn't they'd have to end whatever it was they'd set in motion. The truth was that, whilst they'd been friends since their first year, it was only as their O.W.L.s had been approaching this summer that he'd started to really look at her as anything more and tonight was the first opportunity he'd had to act on it.
"You know winding me up won't get you anywhere." She leant idly against the bannister.
"Hasn't done any harm up till now, though, has it?" People often marvelled at just how over-confident Fred Weasley could be and he was certainly no different in that respect when it came to his romantic endeavours. He reached the staircase in two lazy paces and looked up at the girl, her dark chocolate eyes sparkling and ink black hair slightly messy from their encounter. She wore a skin tight mid-length dress, bright red, which hugged all her curves and left little to his imagination.
"You really are unbelievable sometimes." Robyn grinned down at him.
"You don't seem too unhappy with that."
Fred moved onto the bottom step and placed his hands on either hip, tracing small circles with his thumbs delicately as he lightly pressed his lips to hers, almost in the ghost of a kiss. He could see the way her eyes fluttered shut, the pulse in her neck visibly increased, her breathing growing shallow, he was teasing her and she loved every moment.
"Tell me what you want."
"You know what I want," She practically growled the words out, her eyes now open and fixed intently on him. "Quit messing around."
He shook his head, continuing to gently brush his thumbs against the fabric of her dress, his grip growing a little firmer. "Uh-uh, you don't get anything unless you ask me for it. You just have to say the word," Fred moved until he was practically breathing the words on her ear. "And you get whatever you want."
He was delighted to hear a quiet whimper escape Robyn's lips before a loud roar came from the fireplace in the sitting room, unmistakable as the sound of the floo being activated. He frowned before a soft hand forced his face back to look at his friend, the deep brown irises now blazing.
"Whatever I want?" Her voice was husky, her teeth lightly clamping down on her lower lip. Fred could feel himself start to lose control when the footsteps from the living room revealed his pint-sized blonde cousin strolling out with a torn expression.
"Dom?" Fred called out and the part-veela's head snapped up to look at him. He could tell she was distressed from the way she was currently nibbling at her already non-existent nails, pale pink flecks of varnish flaking off. "What's up?"
The girl's eyes darted from him to Robyn, who he'd somehow forgotten was there in that moment, before she answered. "Don't worry about it – you're busy." As Dominique strode off, Fred turned back to his friend who'd now folded her arms across her chest, her mouth set in a grim line and one dark eyebrow raised.
"What?" It looked like he was in trouble but he had no idea what for.
His friend rolled her eyes before gesturing in the direction his cousin had disappeared. "Go on, then! You need to go after her."
"But she said-"
"Oh, please, Freddie – you know when a girl says 'don't worry' she's just trying not to bother you." She poked him in the chest. "Go find Dom and sort out whatever is going on." Fred was hesitant for a moment but Robyn quickly planted a kiss on his cheek before slipping past him and in the direction of the back door, calling over her shoulder; "Come find me when you're done!"
He couldn't help the goofy smile that appeared on his face whilst he watched her walk away however once he regained his composure, the dark-haired boy was quick to jump off the steps and dart off in pursuit of Dominique. It wasn't too difficult to find her leaning against the wall beside the front door, her face giving no hint as to her current emotions.
"Dom?" She turned to look at her cousin and briefly flashed him a small smile before focusing back on the horizon. He moved to settle beside her. "What's up?"
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," she sounded meek, unusual for the normally boisterous blonde. "You didn't have to ditch Robyn to come talk to me."
Fred laughed as he slung an arm round his cousin's shoulders. "Are you kidding? She practically threw me out here to come talk to you." Dominique regarded him with suspicion. "You're her friend too, you know." She nodded before dropping her head to study her own feet. "So are you gonna spill the beans or do I have to wrench it out of you?"
"I haven't got a clue what you're on about." She mumbled without looking up.
"Knock it off, Dom, I've known you your whole life. I can tell when something isn't right."
She sighed and lifted her chin, her crown resting on the brickwork as she inhaled deeply a couple of times, her eyes closed as she seemed to wrestle with her own thoughts. At last his cousin spoke; "Teddy proposed to Victoire."
"What?!"
She raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by his loud volume. "And she said no."
"What?!"
"Keep it down, Fred, you're not helping!" She stated, exasperation leaking into her voice.
"Oh come on, cut me some slack, Dom. You can't drop a bombshell like that and expect me to be cool about it – this is huge!"
"I know," She mumbled miserably as she brought her head back down, her eye-line set firmly on the horizon once more. "And I'm worried about what'll happen now."
Fred frowned. "What d'you mean?"
Dominique sighed dramatically. "Think about it, Fred. Teddy is practically family, all of us treat him like he is. He and Victoire's lives are pretty heavily entwined, how are they supposed to carry on now as if nothing has changed? Are you expecting them to just sit beside each other at family dinners and laugh about the time he tried to propose and she shot him down?"
"I'm sure it wasn't quite so brutal."
"Even so, he'll be hurt. And she looked pretty distraught about the whole thing too. How are they meant to recover from that?"
The two stood in companionable silence for a couple of minutes, the magnitude of the situation really sinking in for both of them. Fred was trying to think of any way that they're family might be able to simply bounce back from this mess but right now he was drawing a blank.
"Have you spoken to your parents?"
The small blonde shook her head. "I wouldn't know what to tell them."
"You just explain what's happened and then they can go speak to Vic."
"Oh, of course, it's all so simple – and tell me on a scale of one to ten, how happy do you think Victoire will be that I've told our parents about what's possibly the biggest thing to happen in her life so far before she could?"
"Fair point." Fred shrugged, his head turning to face straight ahead. "But it's better than doing nothing. Besides which I doubt she'll want to wait up and explain it all when they get home later." He jumped as he felt his cousin's hand clutch his forearm in a vice-like grip, looking to find her eyes were wide and her face was panicked. "Dom?"
"She was packing."
"Huh?"
"When I left," her voice wavered. "She was going through all her things, she was stuffing a load of it into her old school trunk. And not just a few bits and pieces – there was a lot she was putting in, all her prized-possessions, sentimental stuff."
"Well where was she going?"
"I don't know, I didn't ask!" Fred's mouth gaped at his cousin and she shook her head hurriedly. "I wasn't thinking straight, I was still tipsy, having to chase after distracted me and then she hit me with the news about Teddy…"
"Come on," Fred took control, dragging her in the direction of the tent. "We need to get your parents - now."
Nodding, Dominique raced ahead of her cousin in spite of her ridiculous footwear. He could just make out her desperate cries for her mother as she entered the marquee around ten paces ahead of him and at that point he could only hope they weren't too late.
%%%
The delicate scent of sea lavender still hung in the air, only this time it was coating Victoire's throat, forming a sickening layer that caused her to gag a little whilst she dragged her partially shrunken trunk along the front path of Shell Cottage. Tears streaming down her face, she paused for a moment by the front gate and took a moment to simply look at her childhood home. For her entire life this had been somewhere safe, where she could always find comfort and peace, somewhere she yearned to be whenever she was absent. Now as she studied the grey stone of the building, her heart broke at the realisation that this was the first time she couldn't bear to stay here.
Victoire had managed to finish gathering her things in a little under ten minutes once she'd convince Dominique to leave her to it, taking the time to sit at their kitchen table and write an apologetic note to her parents. She might've stayed to say goodbye if she thought she could've bared to see their faces, but even the thought of her mother's desperate pleas for her to stay and her father's disappointment was too much. She knew she'd give up on the idea if she let them have a say and that just wasn't an option.
The breeze was cooler than earlier, making her glad she'd bothered to change out of the wisp of a gown she'd been wearing for the party. Instead the part-veela wore her scruffiest skinny jeans, her worn out converse and the over-sized yellow jumper belonging to what she now supposed was her former-boyfriend. She'd wanted to be comfortable before she set off, not entirely certain of her plan yet but unwilling to take any longer to work it out. All Victoire knew was that she needed to get away and she needed to do that right now.
One final moment, one deep breath and a then a loud crack disturbed the peace of the shore-side property, marking the departure of the eldest Weasley grandchild mere minutes before a great flurry of activity burst through the kitchen fireplace of the cottage. Then the silence of the Cornwall shoreline was once again shattered by the desperate howling of a mother without her child.
%%%
So whenever I introduce my own OCs I feel I want to add their origins – Sean Finnigan is the eldest of the three children of Seamus Finnigan and Susan Bones, whilst Robyn Thomas is the only child of Dean Thomas and Cho Chang. These are my own personal head canons.
This chapter was actually a lot of fun to write, and I'm hoping people aren't too bothered by the slightly steamier sections – if there's an issue I'll up the rating to M but as of now I think it's innocent enough. This has now set things officially in motion for the story so I hope you'll enjoy, and every read/review/follow/favourite for this is truly appreciated :)