the big one nine -Dominique-

[kaitlin]

Today was today, the day Christopher Peace was actually dreading. It was his birthday. Chris was never one to really enjoy birthdays, the only thing to him that was enjoyable, was getting drunk, because it was the one day of the year that he actually felt OK about getting drunk. See Chris never really had a great childhood, his first eleven birthdays were hell, and they only got slightly better when he for once in his life had a friend to share his birthdays with when he turned thirteen during his first year at Hogwarts, because that's when he met Dom.

Dom, who was now his best friend, had made it a tradition to spend every birthday with him, something he didn't mind at all, it was actually a nice feeling. He could remember when they were younger and would just sit around the common room playing games and opening his one gift he received, the gift from her, and that hasn't changed since then. But now, they normally found themselves hanging around a bar somewhere drinking and goofing off, not sitting in the common room playing random board games.

But what amazed Chris was the fact that Dom had actually stuck around threw all the years. It was amazing to him, she had put up with him threw all his awkward years, she stuck with him threw his first break up that didn't include her, and she always made sure that he had a smile on his face. Even during the few times in his life he found himself crying in front of her (which happened only to be once). Truth be told, she was his best friend and always would be.

But lately, he had found it hard to actually hang around with her. She was normally with Anton, who truly intimidated him, that and the fact he was afraid that the way he normally acted around Dom might offend him or something. Why, because Chris has never ever had guy friends. He only had Dom, and probably about two others, who where both girls. So natural, because of his brothers, he was intimidated from guys, and his friends Fiance didn't make it any better.

Shaking it all off Chris found himself leaning against the door of the tree broom sticks awaiting his friend for the day she had promised to claim him for... His birthday.

[meme]

There weren’t many people that Dominique could saw she has been friends with since she started school. Mostly because she has changed over the years. She didn’t know if she changed for better or for worse. She believes she has gotten better over the year but that was just her. Course there were those times when she was close to an alcoholic. But those times have changed and Dom has gone close to a few months without a drop of alcohol. Thanks to her fiancée. Yet there were plenty of times in her life when she was drunk out of her mind. And pretty much going with any guy in sight. When that happened there was only one guy with her who kept her in line. And that guy would be her best friend in the world Chris.

Dominique doesn’t know exactly how she became friends with him. Probably from just being in the same house. And well once she became friends with him she really did stick to him. Dom knows he says he doesn’t understand how she stuck with him when she had no idea how he managed to stick with her. She used to be partying up all the time and each time Chris would come but never partied. He watched her making sure she didn’t do something stupid or go with some guy. Even when she looked her worst, that was when she was way past wasted, he still helped her to the common room or some place. He even held her hair back when she was vomiting in bushes. Many times in the mornings after those parties she would wake up next to him. Usually on the common room couch. Him being her pillow of course.

Walking down to Hogsmeade she got Anton to stay back in the castle. This was a yearly thing for Chris and her. No one else just the two of them getting drunk at the closest bar, which was the Three Broomsticks. She had a present all set for Chris. It was one that she has been working on for a few years now. And she was going to give it to him for his twentieth but decided the ninetieth was fine. It was actually a photo album of them since they were young up until recent. And now each year she was going to give him another page to put in the photo album. Dominique even brought a camera with her tonight. Seeing him up ahead she quickened her pace up to get the party started quicker. “Hey there birthday boy!” she said hugging him and smiling up at him. “So this is your day. I pay, well get us the drinks. You just tell me what to order.” And well really Dom wouldn’t pay. Just use some veela charm to get some free drinks. It was something she was good at.

[kaitlin]

Christopher found himself leaning up against the door next to the Three Broomsticks, his eyes closed momentarily as he placed his hands over his eyes letting out a loud yawn. Not sleeping all night last night do to some factors he knew he wasn't going to be telling anyone, he was pretty much exhausted, but it would all change momentarily, it always did. When Dom was around it was almost impossible for him to stay sleepy when she was around. How energetic and child like they always seemed to be. The good old days in his opinion. The days when he didn't have to worry about anything but what he wanted to eat and what game he and Dom would end up playing the afternoon after school. The simply life, and boy how he missed it.

The moment after his hands dropped back to the folded position over his chest he opened his eyes and saw the oh so familiar face before him. A natural smile almost instantly formed on his lips as he wrapped his arms around her returning the hug that normally occurred when either of them saw each other. "And hello to you Dom." He said pulling away running his hands down her arm slightly before flashing her a smile and opening the door to the bar for her as he listened to her speak. He just nodded in agreement letting the familiar bar smell slip out of the Three broomstick and into his lungs. "Sounds like a plan to me. You buy, we drink. Absolutely perfect." With a wink he led her into the bar shutting the door behind them.

Chris naturally let his eyes roam over the bar to all the faces of people he didn't know, only to linger upon the bar where there were about three open seats. He nodded toward them before looking down at his best friend. "Where do you want to sit, table or bar?" He asked as if he didn't know. Even though they had sat in the same two seats in the center of the bar for the past four years, but hey it was a natural question that he couldn't help but to ask. Although he knew the sooner they sat down, the sooner they would be drinking, and the sooner the night would truly begin.

[meme]

Being best friends with a guy wasn’t something that Dominique didn’t like. Sure there were plenty times in her life that she did need a girl friend but Chris always gave her advice. Maybe wasn’t what she wanted to hear but he learned quickly how to answer Dom’s question. She really couldn’t ask for a better friend. He was always there for her and she didn’t trust anyone else how she trusted him. Well of course she trusted Anton immensely but this was about her friends. Anton was her fiancé there was a difference. Or at least in her mind there was. He was the guy that made her feel better and was there when she needed a shoulder to cry on. So most would say they would make the perfect couple. Tried that. Only made things awkward. They were better off as friends.

A smile wouldn’t leave her lips as long as she was here. And she knew Chris wouldn’t dare look unhappy with her here. That wasn’t allowed especially since it was his birthday. Dom’s birthday wasn’t until August and that was usually when she got wasted. But for Chris’ birthday they both decided to get drunk and somehow make it back to the common room. It was good they were in the same house or else Dom would have been sleeping in a different common room for most of her school years. “Well I got you a present. But I don’t know when you want to open it.” She said holding up her colorful birthday gift bag with a smile on her face. Yeah this was the best birthday present she has gotten for him so far. Photo album couldn’t go wrong with those. “Oh! Before I forget!” she quickly took Chris and held up the camera that was in her pocket so she could take a picture of them. Dom made a funny face knowing that he would probably just be smiling.

Tonight wasn’t going to be the night she was going to worry about being in the Three Broomsticks. Didn’t want to worry about Jack or anything like that. Tonight was her night to drink and she really hasn’t been drinking so tonight was going to be a good night. At his question Dominique smiled and let a laugh escape her lips. “I think the bartender has those two seats saved for us every year. Plus tables are for dancing on.” She said returning Chris’ wink. Maybe she knew what kind of drunk she was. She grabbed his arm and brought him over to the bar so they could get this night started already. Dom quickly gave the young male bartender a smile and said, “Shots. And keep them coming.” She knew she didn’t have to put too much effort into that. He was young, a new guy and didn’t know about the charm. The other bartenders should have warned him. When the drinks she came she lifted the glass up and said, “To the birthday boy!” The night was just beginning.