two is better than one [Dominic Slaider]

[NOXX]

Summer holidays. What was usually a reprieve for students had become Sabine Savris’ own personal hell as she was left to dwell on the events of the prior year. Normally she would have been ecstatic to see her father again, to feel the comfort of her own bed and room… this time it was so much different. The most unexpected person had come so quickly into her life, turning it upside down and disappearing without a word – no explanation, nothing. Truthfully? She didn’t even know how to react; whether to be infuriated, heartbroken, or grateful. In many ways she was all of them. Infuriated that he was no where to be found and that she cared. Heartbroken that nothing had been said and the fact that really there was nothing she could go on as to what had occurred between them. Yet, she was grateful. He had been her saving grace and the one that had helped her rid herself of endless torment and tyranny; showed her that no matter what… she was strong and that no one should make her feel any less than human. He had freed her.

In doing so, they had become... well she supposed they were close. So much had happened between them but nothing really was clear cut. None of it had an answer for Sabine's questions: what? why her? Out of all the girls at the school, he had singled her out - had helped her without even knowing her. It was a riddle even a Ravenclaw was unable to decipher, and with him no where to be found - she didn't really expect to figure it out either. That was what bothered her most. What had become her new torment in the absence of Ian. Regardless of the many menial tasks she assigned herself, none of them distracted her. None of them seemed to help. Not even a shopping trip to Diagon Alley, one of the few chores she had always looked forward to. Even as things screeched or called or beckoned she found herself walking in an empty street - just her and her many thoughts; and the relentless pain of not knowing.

Had he gone back to America? Had they taken him back to that cold storage building they had found themselves trapped in almost three months ago? Was he dead?

Enough! Sabine shouted in her head, grinding her teeth and clinching her fists. I don't know what any of this means, or why it has happened... but just please. Please leave me be just for a moment! No matter how much she pleaded, his face was still lingering in her thoughts - but for the moment it had faded enough to give her some taste of relief. Thankful for it, she sighed, turned on her heel and entered the near by cafe. All at once a crowd seemed to appear before her as she returned to reality - finding herself face to face with the back of a rather large hairy man. He turned and looked at her from beneath his enormous black eyebrows. Sabine swallowed hard and slowly looked up to meet his eyes. "S-sorreh.." The petite Ravenclaw stammered, taking a step back only to step on the foot of a person behind her.

[Dominic Slaider]

The holidays meant one thing, and one thing only to Dominic – time to work. He had to support himself and his little sister, and that usually wasn’t too hard with the help of the neighbours, a couple of squibs in shabby part of London who understood the sibling’s predicament. If Dom didn’t work, then they couldn’t keep paying the bills, which meant child services would eventually come around and realize that they had no parents to take care of the four year old girl, living at home by herself when she wasn’t at pre-school. Dominic had been working hard during school, and now he had landed a full-time job that was making him work twice as hard during the summer. The brunette had watched his parents disappear without a cause and he wasn’t about to let his sister be ripped away from him. He was damn sure about that.

Dominic was rushing through the streets of Diagon Alley, trying to make it on time for his first shift. His black robes fluttered around him and the t-shirt he wore underneath. He was doing his best not to run into anyone as worry crossed his face. He couldn’t afford to be late, so much depended on him. Responsibility didn’t bother him, what bothered him was how some people couldn’t rise to the occasions handed to them. He didn’t want to be one of those people.

Running into the small cafe, the owner didn’t look impressed as he switched out of his robes and slipped an apron over his head. He was trying to avoid her gaze, but she was approaching him before he could think of something to say. “Dominic, it’s 12:00,” she said. A confused expression crossed his face. “My shift is at twelve, isn’t it?” He asked, a hand coming to scratch the back of his neck. “No, your shift starts five minutes before, you need to be here earlier,” she said, a stern look on her face. “I’m really sorry ma’am, there was a rather large bloke in the alley earlier, and-” There was no point in continuing as she shoved a dish rag into his hands and pointed to the tables that needed to be cleared.

Pushing his way through the crowded cafe, Dominic began clearing and wiping tables, trying his best to smile at the various patrons. It was a job, and he hadn’t been fired. Not a great first impression, but not bad either, I was on time... He thought to himself as he turned around with a handful of dirty teacups, only to be stepped on. A blonde hen had stepped away from a rather tall gentleman and Dom couldn’t help but grin at the comical difference in sizes. “You alright there love?” He asked her kindly, glancing at the bigger man again, who was already making his way out of the shop with a coffee in hand. If she was being harassed Dominic would have a few choice words to say to the older man with the big bushy eyebrows, but that wouldn’t be necessary.

“Oh!” He said, as though remembering why he was there to begin with, a small blush creeping up his neck. “I’ll clean this table for you here,” he announced to the girl, wiping as fast as he could with one hand, the teacups in the other. Dom even pulled the chair out for her and everything, giving that a wipe down as well. Were you supposed to wipe down the chairs when cleaning the tables? He wasn’t sure, he just hoped he didn’t look too stupid with his apron on. “I just started working here...” He offered, and since most of the other servers seemed busy, he lingered. “Can I get you anything?” He asked, his dark green eyes holding her own set of blue ones, “To drink or eat I mean.” Dom didn’t want her to think he was being creepy, but it was pretty obvious that he worked here right? That totally clueless, boyish smile on his face hopefully pointed to his innocence.

[NOXX]

Hearing a voice emerge from the crowd just behind her, frightfully close that she could only assume that it belonged to the person whose foot she had just tread on; blinking, she slowly turned around. A cafe waiter. Sabine could feel a sigh of relief form in the back of her throat - at least he didn't look capable of eating her. Then again, looks in this day and age were incredibly deceiving. Offering him a bashful smile, she nodded. "Aye. I was jus' no' lookin' where I was goin'." Sabine responded, her accent blatant causing her cheeks to flush a light shade of pink growing ever brighter when she realized she was only an inch away from smacking into him for a second time. Quickly stepping back, this time making sure to glance behind her for any unexpected obstacles in her way, giving him room to continue his work. However the boy didn’t seem to notice – instead… he began cleaning a table for her. “Nay, nay! It’s qui-“ He had gone from wiping the table, to pulling out the chair and cleaning that off as well. Sabine frowned momentarily, feeling a little bit guilty regardless of the fact that he was really only doing his job. Hesitating for a moment, her blue eyes fixated upon the waiter, she stepped towards the chair – gently putting her satchel upon the table and sitting down beside it. “T-thank ye...” She replied, ignoring his newly hired explanation with a smile.

It didn’t matter really. He had nothing to explain for, as far as she was concerned. The whole thing had been just happen chance – and could have been much more disastrous then a small body collision. Sabine scooted herself in, placing her arms around her back and looking down at the gently sun faded green fabric of the shoulder strap. The boy, however, lingered by the table. Noticing this she looked back up at him, her pale blue eyes meeting his own deep green. “Oh, umm. ‘oney tea, please?” Honestly, she hadn’t even meant to come into this café – it had just been closest thing to her… and rather than being left alone to battle with her inner turmoil she had retreated into its awaiting doors. As far as she was concerned out in those streets were her problems and even if it was only temporary she was escaping them here in this small quaint café, a little bit of respite. Just for a moment, she didn’t have to wonder or contemplate as she had found a suitable distraction… regardless of how unorthodox the manner she had discovered it.

The irony never escaped her, of course, the fact that her own salvation had become her next prison cell. Though, it was in a much different manner. It was the price she had to pay, she supposed. The price of caring for someone – to letting herself become attached to anyone, a universal cost that everyone at some point had to pay. It’s discomforting presence lingering like a black cloud on a sunny day. She didn’t want any of it, yet, at the same time she did. Or, perhaps she had just wanted him; the strange boy that had taken her hand when she had the need of one. That comforting yet unnerving presence that made her feel safe but in danger at the same time. In his absence, the yearning to feel that just one more time had become more unbearable with each passing day. Not having anyone to really lean to besides her father, who in an effort to keep not only the house but his daughter happy was far too busy to listen to a teenage drama story. Plus, she figured, he didn’t want to have to relive the storehouse incident.


[kind of short, kind of crappy...]

[Dominic Slaider]

“Well just keep your eyes open next time,” Dom said with a soft smile. He was by no means reprimanding her, nor was he trying to chastise her. He noted the Irish accent, but didn’t comment, there was no reason to. She was a pretty girl with a nice accent and there was nothing to be ashamed about in that. They were in the Wizarding World after all, there were stranger things than her. Hell, there were stranger things he had seen that very day, and he couldn’t have been up for more than an hour before arriving at work. “It’s really no trouble at all,” he said quickly, the busy cafe moved around them as though they weren’t there, and many other patrons jealously glanced at the table the girl now claimed, by sitting at it. He stood up a little taller once the table was cleared and cleaned, and nodded his ‘you’re most welcome’, waiting patiently to hear her order. He had the patience of a saint after all. One almost had to when it came to having younger siblings. He had always prided himself on being a good older brother, and that meant more than having a good listening ear and a providing funds.

He smiled again, before chuckling softly. “Alright, tea with all the fixings,” he said as he moved away from her finally. His streamlined body moved through the crowd with ease again as he made his way into the small kitchen filled with mostly women. “Oi! Dominic! Can you reach those pink teacups up there for us?” A high pitched voice rang in his ear, and he couldn’t help but smile at how mousy the woman was who had spoken the request. “Not a problem,” he said, gently lowering down said teacups, receiving a happy smile. “Can’t very well use the ladder right now,” Dom glanced at said ladder, which was about one foot high at the moment, “it’s gone a bit batty.” He chuckled then, setting down the dirty dishes in the large sink. While they rose to wash themselves, he took a pink teacup for himself, and was about to fetch the tea when it dawned on him that there were more varieties of teas than he could count on one hand. “Right then...” He said to himself with a sigh, his eyebrows furrowed. Earl Grey would have to do, he decided as he poured boiling water from the kettle into the cup. He was about to leave the kitchen when a co-worker handed him a small platter carrying sugar and milk. It was the same woman who needed help reaching the cups. “Wouldn’t want such a handsome young bloke losing his job on the first day, don’t forget the trimmin’s!” She was off to take care of her own lot of customers sitting on the opposite end of the cafe.

He was starting to like this place more and more. “Thank you!” he said over the hum of the cafe, making his way back to the clumsy girl.

He placed the tray down carefully, followed by the dainty little tea cup and its contents. “Don’t burn yourself now,” he said with a chipper smile, “you didn’t say what kind of tea so I brought you... the regular...” He trailed off then, studying the girl further. Dominic wasn’t especially good with talking about feelings, but he could tell when something was wrong; when something was plaguing one’s mind. “You alright there love?” He asked then, a bit of concern in his voice. “You look a bit...” what was the word? “Lost.” The boy would never admit to it, but he had a rather big, rather kind heart. He was sympathetic to most any living creature, but especially to those he could relate to best – humans. He wiped his hands self-consciously on his apron, wiping the sugar away from his finger tips. There was sugar everywhere in this place, it would end up being like glitter for him. In no time it would be in his hair, on his regular clothes when he went home.

[NOXX]

Sabine sat awkwardly waiting for the boy to return, her fingers buried beneath her satchel and her eyes tracing the weave in the fabric with a feigned look of fascination. Though, of course, her thoughts were far from textile analysis. Instead, it took every little thing she had just to ignore the eyes that had drifted her way, not knowing it was her posture attracting the attention. Like a deer caught by a spot light, frozen and suspended in fright – expecting the worst but somehow unable to move; unable to flee. In a way perhaps she was, caught by her attachments and no matter how resolved she was now to let them go… it still held tight. The unanswered questions so engraved into her mind that she felt as though she’d never really have total relief. Not without knowing; and it wasn’t just what had occurred between them… it was what had happened to them. The storehouse and the broken cottage in the forest. It wasn’t just a story of a broken heart, if that was what this was, no. When Cheveyo had come crashing into her life, saving her from Ian’s relentless tyranny, he had completely turned her world upside down. Changed the rules of the game, as someone had surely noticed and taken interest in them. What had started out as a normal life was slowly eroding away into a chaos Sabine didn’t think she could withstand alone. From her perspective… the fault lay with him. If he hadn’t been in the Great Hall that morning, if he had never noticed her, then perhaps she wouldn’t be sitting here in this café. Perhaps she would be home patiently waiting for her father to return from work, to get that long awaited minute with him. Though, as she thought of it – either outcome didn’t lead to a peaceful existence. With Ian, she’d be forever miserable… trailing after him in fear of the harsh physical reprimand. With Cheveyo, well… she was experiencing the outcome of that every second of every day.

Who was she kidding? She wasn’t freed.

She had built her own prison with the worry, the hurt, the torment; she had become her own warden constantly banging on the cell bars until she was screaming for it to stop. How exactly was she to escape though; when he lingered if only in her head, in the shadows of thought, in the corner of her eye. The girl shook her head. This was just getting ridiculous. If it had been anything, he would be here now. She would have the answers she’d so desperately wanted, no, needed. Maybe with him out of the picture, she had become nobody… not worthy of attention and therefore safe; no longer threatened by a relationship only she seemed to really value. In that moment, Sabine realized she had only the option of forgetting. Of moving on with her life while she had the chance, of letting go of the self torment she had placed upon herself. Could she do it? She didn’t know.

Looking up, she noticed the waiter making his way back to her table with a tray in hand. Placing it gently upon the table top with a smile, Sabine thanked him quietly – finding it a little more difficult now to return the smile. Removing her bag from the table, she placed it upon her lap and leaned over it, looking at the assortment of sugar and creams upon the tray. She almost didn’t hear the boy, but over the constant drone of the busy café she heard: ‘You look a bit… lost.’ The Ravenclaw looked up from the tea and to the boy with a brief flicker of confusion; taking only a moment to realize her inner turmoil had crept in and it had become all too obvious. “Yea, jus’ a lot goin’ on in my life righ’ now is all. I’ll be fine.” Sabine was never any good at lying. Then again, she really wasn’t… or at least she hoped she wasn’t. This couldn’t last forever, right?

[Dominic Slaider]

Dominic nodded a couple times. This wasn’t the time or place to talk about personal matters anyways. Surely the girl wouldn’t appreciate being harassed by a server in a crowded place. “If you need anything else, just let me know,” he smiled warmly, “I’m Dominic.” The boy added quickly, before retreating back into the swarm. It was lunch time; it was busy.

He kept clearing and cleaning tables, sometimes wiping off the chairs sometimes not. He was pretty preoccupied with keeping things clean. He so wished that he could use magic outside of Hogwarts, it would certainly make this job easier anyhow. His mind was on the task at hand, and he was doing a fairly decent job for having to do it so quickly. His co-worker approached him once more, a pleading look in her eyes. “Dom, would you kindly take some orders for me? I’ve too many tables to count.” She was using him, but he wouldn’t notice. “Course, by the fireplace over there?” He inquired just to be sure, and she nodded a few times before disappearing into the back for an undeserved break.

Dom approached the table of three school boys, about his age he presumed, but he wouldn’t ask. They weren’t in his house and he’d rather not be bothered. “What’ll you have?” He asked then, glancing at them all patiently. They were grinning smugly, as though they were somehow better than he was. “Well if you could tell that pretty thing over there,” one of them was nodding towards Sabine, “that I’ll buy her anything she wants, that would be wonderful.” The three of them smiled at each other, like some inside joke. “She already has tea,” Dominic said simply. These guys really couldn’t simply approach her themselves? It said something about their character, and the Gryffindor didn’t like it.

As though reading his mind, the bloke that spoke got up and went over to Sabine, drumming his knuckles on the table as though trying to get her attention, before he sat down with her. Dominic shook his head, looking back at the other two. “Two coffees,” one of them finally said, as Dom kept an eye on the one harassing the girl, “cream and sugar.” He left then, going into the back to fetch the drinks. That girl didn’t need more on her plate, he could tell. Practically dropping the coffees and tray of accessories on the table for the two boys, Dom made his way back to the blonde girl, who was still being harassed by the first guy.

“You alright here sweetheart?” He was going out on a limb here, as he placed a protective hand on the girl’s shoulder. The girl whose name he didn’t know, but a girl in need of rescuing none the less. The boy sitting across from her got up then and went back to the table with the other two know-it-alls. Dominic was glad he didn’t have to start a fight, that might have looked bad on his first day. He peeled his hand off of her shoulder, looking down at her. “Sorry, you didn’t know him did you?” He asked then, a nervous chuckle coming through. Today was going to be a long day if he had this much concern for every patron.

[NOXX]

She wasn’t sure how long she had been sitting there, staring into the steaming cup of tea, before she finally made a move to prepare it. Gingerly grabbing the petite white handle of the sugar bowl and sliding it closer to pluck a single white sugar cube from within. With a small splash she dropped it and watched it sink to the bottom, dissolving in what seemed like only a matter of seconds – but in reality was several minutes. Dipping in the small tea spoon, she swirled it around three times clockwise and three times counter – holding the flat of the handle in the tips of her fingers. Releasing it with a click of metal against porcelain, she leaned back into her chair – her eyes remaining fixated upon her drink but no desire within them to drink it.

Time passed by slowly and in a haze. People came in, people left, people chatted with friends, and people read papers or books while leisurely sipping upon their beverage of choice. Eventually the petite blonde faded into the background, and went unnoticed. Or so she thought. As the clock ticked, just out of sight, a threesome of boys had wandered into the café. The leader, a tall fair-haired and hawk-nosed 7th year Slytherin, had apparently taken notice of her. He walked with a thick, almost tangible, conceited air. As if the only person in the room that mattered was him and whatever he set his eyes on was his without a question. Hovering over her for a moment, he sat down across from her – a smirk tugging the corners of his lips. “Fancy seeing you here, Sabine.” The Ravenclaw looked up from her tea cup, recognizing over the drone of the café a distinct and arrogant voice. Immediately her heart dropped as her eyes met those of one of Ian’s old lackeys, Roderick Mordaunt. Having been his right hand man for four and a half years Roderick, in his leader’s absence, had usurped the throne – taking the power while he knew there was no one there to challenge his rise to what he obviously perceived as some sort of glory. No one had questioned it, seeing one bully take another’s place wasn’t worth much consideration – though it meant Sabine was even more so on his radar.

“Go away…” She muttered, looking back down to her cup. He wouldn’t get the pleasure of tormenting her – she refused to let him think he could have her as Ian did without Cheveyo around to protect her. No, she wasn’t going to let it happen… never. Roderick feigned a frown. “Awww, but you’d miss me. We can’t have that now can we?” His twisted smirk returned and she could almost feel it as if it was being seared into her flesh. Leaning forward, he reached to touch her hand. Feeling the icy cold of his finger tips she yanked her hand further back into her and looked up to glare at him. “Leave me be, Roderick!” Sabine seethed, her jaw clenched and a livelier fire blazing in the deep recess of her eyes. The smirk grew, more malevolent and threatening. “Oh, so you did grow claws, eh?” Roderick said mockingly, his eyes all too delighted in a renewed look of dread creeping its way over her face. Then, like a savior, she felt a hand being placed upon her shoulder. She looked over, it was the waiter - Dominic. “You alright here sweetheart?” He asked. Sabine swallowed and glanced back at Roderick who was now shooting vicious glares to the cause of the interruption. “I’m not as weak as Ian was, Sabine, so…” His voice had shifted from a maliciously playful tone to that of pure hatred and assumed authority. He stood back up so that he could lavish in the horrified look on her face. “Count on this being the first of many get togethers, as I think… we will be seeing a lot of one-another this year.” With that the Slytherin turned on his heel and made his way back to his table where his two minions sat laughing and eagerly waiting to find out what had transpired.

“Sorry, you didn’t know him did you?” Dominic asked, and somehow… the girl’s heart managed to sink even further down. If Roderick had decided that she was his new conquest, his first soul to break, in the absence of Cheveyo – then she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to survive her 6th year. Especially seeing as she barely survived her 5th. “I-“ Sabine started though choked on a knot that had begun to form in the base of her throat. “I ‘ave to go…” Shooting up from her chair causing the table to wobble slightly, she clutched her bag and did her best to brush passed the likely stunned café attendant. Squeezing her way desperately through the mass of people waiting to make their purchase she could almost feel the three Slytherin’s laughing victoriously behind her. She pushed the door open with all her might, practically stumbling into the street where she received throngs of questioning looks. Trying to catch her breath passed the lump in her throat, she moved to the side of the café where there was a break in the crowd and leaned against the side of the building. Tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes.

Where in the hell was he?