Victoire/Lily

Prompt: Return

Return

June 26, 2017

Lily found her by accident. She hadn't meant to, she was just going to the bathroom. But as she passed what had once been her mother's bedroom, she heard someone crying. Curiously, she pushed open the door and saw Victoire slumped against the back wall, her head buried in her knees and her entire body shaking. Lily was taken aback at seeing her normally brave, strong cousin looking so vulnerable and approached her gently.

"Victoire," she began meekly, sitting beside her cousin. Victoire glanced up at her with red, puffy eyes and sniffed loudly, hastily wiping away the tears that poured down her cheeks.

"Lily, I was just…"

She didn't get to finish explaining what she was doing, as Lily hugged her tightly around the waist, tears welling in her eyes.

"Oh, Vic," she wailed. She knew exactly what was troubling her and couldn't think of any way other to comfort her. Dominique had been sent away to France to stay with her Aunt Gabrielle over the summer. It had been such a sudden departure, and most of the family didn't know why it had happened, except for Victoire and Louis.

"It's going to be okay, Vic," Lily told her as they pulled away, handing her cousin a handkerchief from her pocket.

Victoire shook her head and blew her nose noisily. "No it's not!" she sobbed. "It's all my fault, Lily. It's my fault she's gone!"

Lily cocked her head to the side, a little confused. How could it possibly be Victoire's fault? If it was anyone's, it was Aunt Fleur's. She was the one who had sent Dom away.

"No, it's not," Lily assured her sweetly, patting her arm. Victoire still seemed distraught and turned her body away from her youngest cousin.

"You don't understand, Lil," she said. "She hates me. She hates what I made her do. I hate me."

"She can't hate you. She's your sister." Though still confused with the context of the conversation, she knew that Victoire was being absurd.

Victoire buried her face in her hands and wept. "I'm the worst sister ever," she muttered bitterly through her broken sobs. The two of them sat in silence for a while, except for Victoire's sobs, and Lily bit her lip as she watched her cousin. Something must have happened between Vic and Dom before she went away.

Suddenly, Victoire snapped her head up and made to leave. Lily followed her and pulled on her wrist.

"Wait, Vic, where are you going?"

She whirled around to face Lily. "To France," she said firmly, her blue eyes fierce. "I need to find Dom, to apologise..."

Lily shook her head. "You can't just go off to France," she informed her. "Auntie Fleur must have sent her away from a reason. You should let her be for a moment."

Victoire pondered her words for a moment, her fair eyebrows knitting together as she frowned.

"Alright," she said softly, nodding her head. "I'll apologise when she returns. I'll set things right."

And without another word, she headed downstairs, leaving Lily as confused as ever.

A/N: This is going to seem a little vague, but I will explain what happens in due course. This story follows on from the next chapter, which is Dominique and Louis's prompt. Everything will be uncovered then.

Reviews would be lovely :) xx

Ages: Victoire (18), Lily (9)