Almost

Chapter 62: Cousin

She still hadn't managed to beat the dream as the days crept on. She cried all through the graduation she should have been at for Dominique, but she knew if she went, she'd just be a distraction. And her cousin deserved to enjoy her day without the pall of her laid over it.

The Saturday after, she was curled up on the couch with Ezra, Corliss, and Smithwick, trying to will Nestor to join them between fumbled crocheting stitches. She was in near tears with the frustration of both failings, though she wouldn't let them fall from her eyes. She was freshly showered, hair still hanging in wet tendrils down her neck, when she was surprised to see the bright green flames erupt from the fireplace. And for every single one of her cousins to follow each other over the hearth.

"Get out, Crawley," Victoire said, leading the charge.

Ezra raised an eyebrow, setting down the copy of ConJour he was reading. "Excuse me?"

"Weasley cousin day. You're not a Weasley cousin yet."

He looked at Teddy for a moment as if to point out that he technically wasn't a Weasley, either. The gaze in Victoire's eyes almost dared him to. But thought better of it.

Katherine sat up, embarrassed by how much a mess she looked and pulling her blankets tighter to her chin. Ezra noticed and quickly pointed his wand at her to dry her hair, a task she'd not wanted to risk with her unreliable magic.

"Go on," Victoire said. "Go find Sebastian or work or something. We haven't got all day."

Ezra looked at Katherine, who couldn't manage more than a shrug. She had no idea what "Weasley cousin day" would entail.

"Put your moony eyes away," Teddy said, a bit gentler than Victoire. "We'll take good care of her."

Ezra wasn't convinced. "I'd feel better if there were an auror here. Or at least an adult . . ."

"Hey, I'm almost an auror," Teddy interjected. "Uncle Harry says I'm a natural."

"And there are adults in this room," Dominique reminded him. "Besides, Uncle Charlie is at the Burrow. Just a floo away."

With a sigh and really no provided option, Ezra stood slowly."Don't overdo it," he said to Katherine, kissing her forehead. "Call if you need me."

He shot a warning glare at Victoire, who just stared back at him with her cool, collected smile, blonde hair swept up into an effortless bun. Dominique ignored the standoff, coming to sit next to Katherine and situating herself under the same blankets. Katherine was grateful for the gentle companion, and Corliss flew to the Hufflepuff's shoulder almost instantly.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't be there yesterday," Katherine said softly, turning her gaze from Ezra and Victoire. "But I hear you got a job at the Hippogriff rescue all on your own! I'm so excited for you."

Dominique took her hand reassuringly. "It's really okay. I just wish you were feeling better."

"I'll get there," Katherine answered before turning back to Crawley. "Ezra, love, would you get Dominique's present before you go?"

Ezra let his eyes fall from Victoire's, just as Katherine had hoped, and walked upstairs. He returned with a small black box and a gold bow.

"Black and gold were my college's colors, too," Katherine said as he handed it to Dominique, sitting up to watch her properly. She opened it and found a gold chain with two pendants—one, a gold disc with a script "D" on it. The other was a dainty gold hippogriff, just as proud as could be, whose feathers ruffled as if a wind blew past them. She'd asked Ezra to go to Mairead's this week and have Lacey help him find something nice—she'd outdone herself with this.