Cupid's Primadonna

As soon as Ethan pulled away from her and slid to the other side of the sofa, Dominique jumped up. It had been nice and all, but watching the way he moved away from her, too ashamed to even look at her had sent a shred of self-awareness through the blonde. What was she doing here? Something to take her mind off things? Just ‘keeping it casual’? Deep down she knew she couldn’t do that, she got attached too quickly, fell in love too fast. And the last person she wanted to catch feelings for was Ethan Wood - the supremely annoying and up-himself chaser. 

She pulled her clothes back on, picking them up from where they’d been thrown, only pausing when she heard his exhale Well, Fuck. At least that was something they could agree on. He was right, it had been good. Great, even. But she had already ruined a friendship over this and somehow it just didn’t seem worth it any more. Perhaps it was coming down from high or maybe just finally coming to her senses.

It took her a moment to gather up her belongings, and it was only when she was dressed she glanced back at him on the sofa. In her defence he was hot. It almost made her changed her mind. 

“Guess I better get going.” She was sat, awkwardly pulling her shoes back on unsure if she was supposed to just... go. Dominique had never been the kind to get up and go after a hook up, she usually outstayed her welcome if anything. 

“If Sunny asks - can you say we never saw each other again? I think I shouldn’t have come here.”

aidan doesn’t care much for the party life anymore. he would never say that out loud, but he’s noticed that when he’s out he doesn’t take too much to black out. no – not like before. he liked to think that he was just getting over the life, but he knew there were cans of worms knocking at the back of his head that he was not about to open. everyone was dying, he needed to be on his guard, not in his head.

he took a sip of his mixed drink with some little hawaiian umbrella in it, nodding over at every other man that looked his way. move along, i’m not looking. all the while, avoiding every other woman who decided to force their bottoms against him. “thank you, but no.” he made it an effort to not look at their faces or his teammates – former teammates? who would make side comments. “i’m not trying to get kidnapped here.” he yelled out to one of them before chugging his drink. 

at the first sound of his nickname, he decided to ignore it under the guise that he was hearing things. his ears ring when he chug things. it’s a thing. the second time, he raised a brow turning just in time to see dominique from a distance. “yikes.” he could only say watching her as she fought the crowd. he moved a hand over his mouth to hide his amusement, only to shake his head afterwards. he needed to stop that. 

“nique! hi.” he could only call back, staying in the spot that he was. “didn’t expect you to be here. how are you?”

He didn’t seem all that pleased to see her, but she barely picked up on his amusement fighting through the crowd to get to him. Dominique wanted to have her say, although she wasn’t exactly sure what that was. Did she want him to know that he’d hurt her feelings by not even bothering to check in with her? Or did she want him to be jealous and know that she was totally un-bothered by him? She folded her arms when she reached him. Either way, she wasn’t exactly pleased with him.

“Bet you didn’t,” she said in response to him not expecting her to be there, continuing, curtly - “I’m fine. Lost my job, got kidnapped, big break up. Oh. And I guess you never cared enough to even send an owl, but whatever. It’s fine. I’m here for a good time.” Going for both the ‘I’m angry at you’ and also ‘I don’t care about you at all’ options wasn’t the best move but she’d made her way through enough drinks that to her it was a genius idea. 

She eyed his drink with the little umbrella in it, annoyed at how bright and happy it was - annoyed at how happy Aidan seemed. A night out with friends, girls adoring him. How was that fair? 

“I can see you’re doing well though.”

When she opened her eyes again she met Ethan’s that smug look on his face drawing a smile of her own. She didn’t mind rewarding him when he’d done a good job. Dominique slumped back into the sofa’s cushions, happy to let Ethan do whatever he wanted now she had finished, especially when it brought her pleasure too. Plus, she was too blissed out to do anything except lazily drape one of her legs over his hips allowing him to press deeper inside her. 

“Well my boyfriend-” Albus started and choked on the words.  Could he joke about this yet?  To Dom of all people?  He swallowed.  “A-anyway, let’s just say the stand ins for another person get old after a while.” Get shagged and forget about the man missing from his life for the past few weeks.  Sounded like a good plan.  “I hope he’s seeing you properly at least.  Never liked with a friend didn’t live up to the hype, you know?” He waggled his eyebrows.  Nothing worse than a dick appointment that didn’t end with feeling boneless. 

Al couldn’t help the smile that spread over his lips as he watched his cousin attack the rack.  Yep, this was a good way to get someone’s attention.  He nodded along, agreeing with a few choices and loudly decrying one or two of the frocks she tried to put into her arms.  But there was plenty there by the time an assistant approached.  

“Potter, that’s correct,” he murmured, flashing his ID.  The assistant nodded and suddenly was far more chipper.  They were lead to a plush room, comfortable seats and a screen for privacy.  A large swath of mirrors and a platform from which to see every angle.  Al threw himself gracefully into one of the armchairs and smirked.  

“A bottle of Krug while you’re on the get, would you?  And send up the head of mensware and someone to show my cousin the new line of ladies boots.” He adopted the tone he’d taken in Slytherin, the little drawl and the silky sweet words that promised calm seas if you just obeyed.  He flashed a wink Dom’s way.  “Talk about service yeah?  Now!” He clapped and eyed the bundle of dresses.  “Just how electric do you want to look tonight Dommy?”

“He’s not a stand in,” she snapped completely missing that Albus was talking about his own situation, assuming that her cousin was insinuating she still wasn’t over Danny and was only sleeping with Ethan to get over him. Which wasn’t the case. At all. “He’s fine though. No complaints.” Perhaps there was one area she missed Danny. Just a little bit. 

As they were taken to their own private room she kept talking, not really caring that the shop assistant who was leading them there could also hear her telling Albus about her sex life. “He tries very hard. Which is good? But also annoying. Like it feels good, but it’s not that sexy is it?” She soon left Dominique and Albus to fetch them some champagne and Dom was quick to start trying on dresses, ducking behind one of the screens and each time coming back out to admire herself and show Albus. It wasn’t long until they each had a glass.

Dominique had grown up well off. Her parents could afford everything they needed, but their family weren’t Potters. She wasn’t used to this level of luxury, but she took it in her stride. This was how she had always imagined her life would turn out. “Great service,” she agreed wishing she got this every time she went into a store. 

She narrowed down her dress choices pretty quickly, ending up with two which she presented to Albus for the final choice. One was classic Dominique, pale pink and flared sleeved but with a much higher price tag than any of her usual clothing. The second was a little more sexy. Perhaps a new version of her. Something she might not dared to have worn before. “Which is more electric?” She asked mimicking Albus’ word choice. 

When he slowed she almost reached for her wand to hex him, frustrated - she had been so close. In fact she was just about to tell him off again, when she saw that grin and realised he was doing it on purpose. She whined but relaxed back into the cushions. She knew eventually he’d give her what she wanted. “You’re such an arsehole,” she murmured half under her breath. Dominique didn’t want him to slow down yet again. 

When he increased his speed the blonde stretched out, enjoying the tension he was building inside her. Her toes curled and breathes came in short gasps when she finally came, forgetting that he was even there. She basked in the feeling for a while, relaxing back into the soft material of his couch, eyes closed. It felt like her body was melting against his. Eventually, she opened her eyes again, not sure how long she had been lying there.

“Okay, okay–y'all aren’t dating. I guess.” Danny didn’t know or really care what  dating was–to him, it was synonymous to like having with friend with benefits but you’re not allowed to benefit from anyone else. He was literally about to walk away and not really care–I mean, he was totally gonna talk about how weird Dom was to Quidditch Bro. “Sorry, what’s his name again?”

Dom was definitely a piece of work and she was certainly a lot to take in. He really would like to forget it, but she just like, kept going?

“Holy shit, you have like, no chill.” Logically this meant that she would have worn the pants in their relationship and it kind of didn’t make sense: if she were killing his vibe so much, then he should have been doing the breaking up. But the pros of fucking a veela on the regular with a nice bed he didn’t have to pay rent for outweighed the cons of ‘dating’ a crazy bitch.

And obviously Danny was just going to continue to be confused by the semantics instead of confronting the fact that he was definitely in the wrong and definitely a real piece of shit, as was so eloquently put. “Wait… how could you end a relationship if there wasn’t a relationship?”

And it definitely wasn’t the first time he had been called that, though it was rather unfortunate that he had no interest in making it up to her or anyone else. Maybe he did deserve what was coming to him.

“Ethan,” she spat out in response to his question, wondering if it was even worth trying to make Danny understand. He couldn’t even remember his supposed friend’s name. How was he supposed to be in a real, committed relationship, when he was basically a just huge man child? He didn’t care about anything, or anyone. When he said she had no chill she practically inflated with anger, only proving his point.

“You are so fucked up! Shit, you’re such a looser. A selfish, unemployed looser, incapable of thinking about anyone but yourself, incapable of love!” Dominique, completely unaware that she was also describing herself, screamed causing a lot of shoppers to look in their direction at the scene going on. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you.”

It was the same with every man she ever dated and only now was she starting to realise that pattern. She had always had in the back of her mind that somehow she was the one who was to blame - she wasn’t good enough or smart enough or whatever. With Danny she could confidently say that he was the asshole in this situation. “Forget this, I’m not wasting anymore time on you.”

“Hell yes.  Whole big charge account just waiting to be abused,” Albus purred, eyes bright as he steered them towards the store.  He knew the way well enough, and thanked the small mercies he was so used to walking the line between muggle and magical that his ID was in his wallet.  “Definitely both.  And a matching wallet for the handbag,” he encouraged.  They could take it out of his trust for all he cared.  It wasn’t like anyone else was touching the fucking ridiculous pile of gold.  

“Dommy dear, I like the way you think,” he replied, eyes bright.  “I also think I might look at things a little more…risque?  I mean, if we have enough money, they’re paid not to pay attention right?”  There were visions dancing through his head that…well they were maybe a bit scandalous.  And fuck if Albus didn’t want to feel that way right now.  

“Then I’m very glad I can help,” he replied easily, flashing his cousin a smile.  He didn’t always click with other members of their clan.  He was bookish and snappish and god he did not look good in crimson and gold.  But once in a while, he could come through when they needed him.  

“I suppose the biggest question is, really,” he said, pausing dramatically, “what on earth should we start with?  Shoes or dresses?” His grin only widened as he turned them around a corner, the building in view.

“Risque?” With an eyebrow raised and a smile on her face she questioned her cousin. “Are we looking to pull tonight? You know I’m seeing this quidditch player? Well not seeing, but seeing. I think you’d like him Al, if he swung your way. We’ll have to find one for you.” While she was idly talking about finding Albus a hot quidditch player to talk home with him, they approached the large shop her cousin had been leading her towards and pushed open the glass door to be greeted with the smell of expensive perfume and leather. 

Dominique took them straight towards the designer section, “I need to get a dress first and then find shoes to match,” she told him, sorting through a large rack of pristinely hung clothes. By the time she had pulled them aside to see each dress better they were not quite so neat, but at least she had an armful of hangers and dresses to try on. 

“Can we get one of those big private changing rooms please?” She asked as soon as the shop assistant approached them. “I believe we’re on the Potter accound?” She gestured towards Albus, he was sure to sort it out. 

Dominique was just about catching her breath when he whisked her off the floor and onto the sofa. She was quite glad to finally sit back and let him take over. Her knees were bright red and stinging and she wondered how she hadn’t noticed that a few moments ago. It was quickly forgotten again though when Ethans hands and lips roamed her body. As soon as his fingers pressed inside her, the blonde let out a soft sigh, leaning back and closing her eyes. She wasn’t going to think about anything except for the pleasure washing over her. 

Albus was practically thrumming with excitement.  This was going to be a blast.  It was everything he shouldn’t do, from being in public and having his inhibitions lowered and risky activity right down to spending money when he should be making stable choices for his future.  Well sod all of that prudent advice.  He was going to get fancy, get drunk, and…well he’d see about getting fucked.  

The pendant on his chest was a bit heavy, but he pushed that thought aside.  

“Sounds like we need full makeovers then my dear cousin,” he replied with a grin.  He clicked his tongue, looking about and letting his grin almost turn feral.  “I really think, what we need, is a splurge.  And I happen to know someone with a charge account at Harrod’s.” His dad had set one up ages ago should they need anything muggle.  And when he forgot anniversary presents.  Or birthdays.  It mostly just collected dust and was cleared by the Gringotts folks.  Or maybe the magical group at Barclays.  Who knew.  

What was important was it was there.  With his name on it.  And no fucking limit. 

“Let’s go.  They’ll even bring us lunch and champagne if we get up there and start looking at the designer labels,” he said with a grin, giving Dom’s arm a tug.  “Should I go suit?  Or something more down spun and clubby?  I’m thinking I need a new leather jacket you know.  Something…that might make Granny Molly freak.”

Dominique had just been running through her finances in her head. It didn’t take long because she knew she had almost nothing to her name and had run out of the money Vivienne had given her. Not that she needed to worry. She could always go back to her cousin for more - she’d been exceptionally generous that way and it really was a weight off her shoulders considering how little she’d been working at the Leaky Cauldron recently. Even so, she’d run through her latest allowance and was considering dropping by the Lestrange-Shacklebolt home to ask for more, but Albus’ offer had been too good to even consider doing that. An all expenses paid shopping trip? Of course she was in. 

“You do?!” She squealed in excitement. While her own parents were well off, the Potter side of the family were rolling in money and she did not feel bad taking from them. Especially when it was offered to her. “Maybe I’ll buy a designer handbag, or shoes... or both!” She hadn’t even had that glass of champagne yet and she was feeling giddy.

“Get a leather jacket, and some designer jeans - those skin tight ones that muggles wear with cuts all up the leg.” She tugged her cousin closer, their arms linked together.

Previously her and Albus’ relationship had been on-and-off. She found his work dull and he stood his ground against her when he disagreed. Sometimes they fought, sometimes she adored him, but recently everything had fallen into place where the two just wanted the same thing; to forget the awfulness of the world and take comfort in all the wrong things. She was thankful, and although she didn’t always have the manners or thought to thank other people for what they did for her, on this occasion she wanted him to know. “Thank you Al, this is exactly what I needed.”

“Ethan? Oh! Ethan!” FUCKING FINALLY, Danny figured out his friend’s name. They’ve been hanging out for like way too long for Danny to ask what his name was. He looked hella relieved. “I mean—come on, you wouldn’t be dating him if you weren’t like… having fun, y’know?”

Danny has a very funny definition of ‘dating’ but within the context of when he ‘dated’ Dom, it made sense. He wasn’t sure what Ethan was getting out of it since ‘dating’ was pretty transactional, but he did understand that bros had needs.

“Find what real soon?” Danny still didn’t look worried. He was just pretty hungry and his arm was tired from trying to find reception in the middle of magic England. Actually, his stomach growled in the middle of their conversation, which wasn’t going to go ignored for too long.

“And sorry about what? Girl, you can’t go ‘breaking up with people’,” Danny sashayed his hips and made air quotes as he spoke. “Then make me sorry because of shit you did?”

It was probably one of Danny’s more lucid moments, mostly because he just wanted to understand crazy bitch reasoning. He laughed at the logic of it all—if anything, he’s doing her a kindness by being the coolest ex ever and being real supportive of his bro.

Talking to Danny was like talking to a brick wall. A handsome, annoying, American brick wall, but a brick wall nonetheless. Dominique was becoming increasingly frustrated with how nonchalant he was - she wanted him to be hurting, she wanted him to be missing her and most of all she wanted him to realise he’d made a huge mistake in letting her go. Clearly, none of these things were true, and instead once again Dom was left as the emotional party attempting to get a rise out of someone who just didn’t really care. 

“We’re not dating.” Her tone was sharp - Danny had hit a nerve. She wished she did have someone she was dating to rub in Danny’s face but from his reaction to her sleeping with one of his close friends, it seemed like even that wouldn’t phase him. It made her realise just how little she had ever meant to him. Just a worthless shag.

“Just forget it.” Now more than ever he deserved what he had coming. If it was coming at all. She would get her revenge in some way. Dom wanted to make him feel just a small, insignificant and meaningless as he had made her feel but everything just seemed to bounce off this boy. If she couldn’t make him feel it she could at least make him realise what an utter dick he was.

“It was me that ended our relationship! We didn’t even have a relationship because you’re too cowardly to commit to one - you never wanted me, you just used me! You made me feel like a screwed up piece of tissue, just some disposable shag, and I gave you so much. I let you stay at my place rent free! You’re a real piece of shit if you don’t get what you did wrong.”

A walk.  Albus could do a walk.  Get them away from the regular, from what they knew.  Were used to or whatever.  Change as good as a rest, right?  Or something.  He let her set them off in a random direction, idly keeping track of where they were.  He knew London quite well after doing his growing years in the city, but it still wouldn’t do to stumble along blindly.  

“Circe yes,” he whispered out at the idea of a drink.  He’s even happier at the idea of a muggle pub.  No one could give a shit who they were in the muggle world.  Two kids with a need to forget.  He perked up at the idea and his eyes widened.  “Dancing?  Like…muggle club?” he inquired, eyes brightening.  

He could score something to blank his mind, dance and drink, and hopefully get shagged rotten into forgetting his last name and the fact that he could zap people with a bit of birch.  

“Fucking in,” he replied breathlessly.  “But I think we might need a change,” he replied, waving a hand at their attire.  “Could magic, but care for something the muggles call retail therapy?”  He grinned.  “We need something scandalous.”

Albus was clearly on the same page as her, and it was a breath of fresh air. Her parents had told her she needed to get her life together and if they knew she was using partying as an outlet for her frustrations and upset they’d be less than happy. But they didn’t know. And it didn’t matter. She didn’t have to think about them right now. 

“Yes!” Shopping was what she needed. The endorphin rush of getting something new, something that made her look and feel good, was the boost that would get her through the hangover she was bound to have tomorrow. “I want a new dress. Skin tight, and sexy.” Dominique usually went for pink and frilly but for their little adventure she wanted something different. Something Roxanne might wear - cool and sleek with a plunging neckline. Black or red, rather than pink. 

“We could get you a suit! Oh wait! - I want new shoes too.” The idea of a shopping spree had wiped any thought of the ministry from her mind. “I think you’d look so good in a dark blue.” Her thoughts were getting all muddled up about who would be wearing what and where they were going to go first but she just let the excitement carry her along.

Danny found his phone.

Well, more specifically, a phone. It was in the same case as his and just as beat up as he remembered it. He’s been trying to get it to work—not that Diagon fucking Alley ever had any reception or any damn outlets to charge the fucking thing into.

He seriously was not paying attention to what he was doing or where he was going. Not that he really had anyone to bump into as he was trying to see if his phone could connect to something, with his arm outstretched. It was freezing in mid-fucking February.

“Fun?” He lazily turned on his heel towards the voice addressing him, an irritating familiar blonde at his wake. Danny didn’t really have any idea what she was talking about. He gave it a quick think before coming to the realization. “I mean I totally know why you did it, Quidditch Bro is fucking jacked as hell!”

Quidditch Bro and Quidditch Bro two point oh had both hooked it up with… Dom. Some secrets just kinda slip once the alcohol starts flowing, and there wasn’t anything new with Dom that Danny was actually aware of. He moved a step back—was she done talking to him or what? Did she want to take him back?

She did give good head.

“So like… is that it?” He wasn’t that eager for a blowjob and only mildly curious why she stopped him on a snowy street.

Danny didn’t even seem pissed off when he turned around, more like mildly irritated. If it had been anyone else Dominique would have assumed he was taking the high road and just ignoring what she had done so as to show her actions hadn’t had the desired effect - but it was Danny. She didn’t think he’d be able to control his emotions well enough to keep a straight face when he was secretly fuming inside. When he spoke about Ethan, he confirmed it. The aurors had done nothing with the information she had given them.

What was the point then? All those hours in that room with the imposing questions, desperate for any scrap of information and when she finally gave them something they didn’t even bother to follow through? Pathetic. She had heard others say the ministry weren’t doing their jobs in catching whoever was behind this whole thing, but this was the first time she actually believed it. 

“It’s not about Ethan.” Her arms were folded, voice short at curt trying to decide what she should do now that she couldn’t rub it in his face that she’d got him in trouble. She didn’t exactly want to say what she’d done but she wanted to win this victory over him somehow. 

“Just forget it. You’ll find out real soon anyway.” She hoped. The aurors would do something about it eventually? “And then you’ll be sorry.”

Ethan’s pants and groans succeeding in getting a self-satisfied smile from her, lips pulling away for just a moment to look up at him - hand still wrapped around his cock, pumping rapidly. Dominique only allowed herself a short moment to enjoy his reaction before dipping her head back down and pressing him deeper into her mouth. 

She steadied herself with one hand on his thigh, the other holding his cock to her mouth, allowing her to move more rapidly. This was something she knew she was actually good at, and soon she got lost in the repetitive but quickening motion, only occasionally breaking it up to take a breath or remove her hand and try to press the whole length into her mouth - that was usually a move that got her praise.

Albus was there for his cousin.  He knew that, somewhere in the back of his mind where the rational part of him was banging on the walls and trying to push back the anger.  Blunt nails pulled at the skin on his palms and all he wanted to do was rage at the people here seemingly doing nothing.

But fuck if that wouldn’t help Dom. 

“Yeah.  Yeah.  Fuck this place,” he hissed, voice wavering as much as he was.  He put an arm around his cousin, keeping Dominique close and putting as much of himself between her and the Ministry as he could.  Hollow gestures and little things seemed all he could muster right now, but with any luck it would have some sort of effect.  He lead them away from the people doing so little with frightening speed, from the security that only seemed to protect the people in this place, not the citizens they served.  

“Walk?  I…don’t think I can Apparite right now,” he murmured, voice low and tight.  “My luck I’d splich us into a tree.” He was already shit at jokes, but right now it was downright sad.  “Where…can I take you anywhere that’ll make things better?”

Although she knew that Albus was just as shaken up as she was, his arm around her did make her feel better. She let him guide her away from the large entrance hall out into the street. It finally felt like she could breath again and she was sure that Albus must feel the same way. “Yeah. I need a walk. Far away from here.”

They took off in a random direction as Dominique tried to decide where she wanted to go and what would make it better, but the walk alone was helping somewhat. It was nice to just not be in that dimly lit auror room. “Let’s just get a drink,” she said eventually coming to the conclusion that they probably both needed to relax and blow off some steam. “Not the Leaky Cauldron though. I’ve had enough of that place for a while.” She didn’t really want to go back to her work place to relax and instead took the lead towards muggle London.

“Let’s just go to a muggle pub? We can drink and just chill out, yeah? Actually no! Let’s go dancing!” Dominique would’ve done anything to forget the world around her and getting outrageously drunk sounded like the right move.