Tanwen something wet and tickly nibbling her ear, she opened her eyes blearily and yawned, "morning Loki, ready for the big day?" She wasn't sure that she'd be allowed him at school, but there was no way she was leaving him behind. Besides, if anyone said anything she could say he was a cat- a really large…mutated…deformed cat.
Sitting up she pushed the covers back and sank her feet into the sheepskin rug, wiggling her toes with pleasure. She glanced down to the foot of her bed where her trunk stood packed and ready and she was beginning to feel quite nervous. If she hadn't met Cedric she would have been rather more anxious, she thought, it was just nice to know that there would be someone there she knew.
Her clock read 09.07 dragging her pink, towelling dressing gown she headed for the shower. Loki curled back up in the warm patch that Tanwen had left, it was far too early to get up.
An hour later the taxi beeped its horn down in the street and Tanwen dragged her trunk out into the hall. Thankfully the rickety old lift had been fixed, she wasn't going to trust herself in there but her trunk was another matter. Pressing the button for the ground floor she quickly jumped out as the doors closed and raced Loki down to meet it.
As the door opened Tanwen grabbed one of the brass handles and heaved. Panting and puffing she pulled it out into the road where the driver got out and helped her cram it into the boot. Cheeks rosy, she climbed into the back and told the driver to take her to King's Cross station. The small imprint in the seat next to her vanished and a disgruntled squeak filled the cab as the driver moved away quickly. Tanwen smirked to herself and put up her hand to hide her smile. Grumpy sounds where heard as Loki climbed back onto the seat huffily.
Houses and shops rushed past in a blur as they drove through the London traffic. About half an hour later they pulled up outside the station and the driver placed her trunk on the ground outside. She thanked him and paid the fare while Loki went to get a trolley. Several people stared as a trolley made its way by itself to the entrance of the station.
"Thanks Loki," said Tanwen brightly as she dumped her trunk laboriously onto the trolley, "let me know where you are and I'll put you on the top." She felt him nudge her legs and she bent to lift the invisible animal onto her trunk. "This is so weird! It looks like I'm some kind of mental case lifting nothing," she whispered to him as she placed him on top. As she let him go she felt his body shaking with laughter.
Looking around she saw that Cedric was right. There were groups of rather conspicuous looking people with trunks on trolleys like hers and the occasional owl that sat grumpily in its cage as it was bumped around. Following one particularly large group of about ten people she pushed her trolley along, struggling to keep it going in a straight line. These things had a mind of their own. Glancing to where she knew Loki sat she knew without seeing him that he was laughing at her again. Well that was just fine, she thought as she purposefully pushed the trolley hard over a bump in the pavement, smiling wryly at the squeak that accompanied it.
She stood a little way back from the group in front, they seemed to be mostly one very large family, but two looked like they didn't quite belong, friends maybe. One of them looked rather familiar.
"Don't be stupid," she muttered to herself, "how can you possibly know anyone here that isn't Cedric."
She watched as what looked like the father and young boy with black hair went and leant against the barrier between platforms nine and ten. To her astonishment they suddenly vanished. Where had they gone? Common sense told her platform nine and three-quarters, but how had they got there? Did they say some kind of incantation or password? At Diagon Ally you had to poke a brick with your wand. "What do you think Loki?" she asked her furry friend.
"Oh blast!"
"Fred dear, be careful!" remonstrated his mother as he scrambled over the ground collecting his fallen Gobstones.
"Look there's one over there, I'll go get it," said his twin as he ran after the escaped piece.
"Just you make sure and get it before a muggle picks it up," called Mrs Weasley.
A small brown ball came rolling towards her. Bending down she picked it up and looked at it, a Gobstone.
"Hi," she looked up to see a stocky redhead grinning at her.
"I guess this is yours," she said holding out the piece to him.
"Thanks," he glanced at her trolley, "Hogwarts?"
She nodded.
"I've not seen you before, what year are you…fifth?"
"Nope," she shook her head, "fourth."
"Ravenclaw?" he asked speculatively.
She shook her head again, "I'm new, so I don't have a house yet."
"Wow, a new fourth year- that almost never happens. Come to think of it, I can't remember that ever happening," he grinned at her, "I'm George Weasley, fifth year, Gryffindor."
"Tanwen Gray, fourth year, neutral," she replied straight faced but eyes sparkling.
He laughed.
"Harassing students already, Weasley?"
Tanwen blinked as George's exact double walked over.
"Fred," he said as he offered her his hand.
"Don't shake it," he brother warned as she lifted her hand.
"Err, Tanwen," she offered hesitating over whether or not to shake his hand.
"Fred, George, hurry up dears, the train's going to leave soon," called Mrs Weasley.
Tanwen eyed the barrier dubiously.
"Not been through before?" asked Fred with a wicked grin, "Want a hand?"
"Ye-es," she replied slightly worried by the look on his face
He winked at his brother before grabbing her trolley and running towards the barrier.
George grabbed her hand and, pulling her along, ran after Fred with a jaunty wave at his mother as they passed.
"Ahh, what are you doing?" Tanwen gasped as they neared the barrier. Fred disappeared through and then it was their turn, she screwed up her eyes as they were about to hit.
Opening her eyes cautiously she found herself the other side on a platform with nine and three-quarters hung above her. A steaming, red engine with 'Hogwarts Express' written on the side stood waiting as students piled on up and down the platform.
"Oh," was all she could say.
The twins stood laughing.
"Hey!" she turned to face them, pretending to look injured, "I thought you were going to be nice to me," she said quietly looking up at them from under lowered lashes with a trembling lip.
George moved towards her, "we didn't mean any harm…"
Tanwen flashed a smile as she poked him in the stomach, "Gotcha!"
"Oh brother, didn't I say that soft heart of yours would get you into trouble one day?" said Fred mockingly as he shook his head and sighed.
Tanwen giggled and turned to her trolley. "Loki?"
He reappeared, claws dug firmly into the top of her suitcase, body rigid and fur standing on end. Tanwen picked him up and kissed him gently in the nose, "It's alright, silly."
"Fred, George, come and get your lunches," called Mrs Weasley. The twins grimaced at each other as they obeyed.
"Be back in a sec," said George.
Tanwen frowned and looked from her trunk to the train, exactly how was she supposed to lift that?
"Need any help?" offered a burly looking guy with light brown eyes.
"Yes please," she answered gratefully.
Several minutes later she stood in the corridor of the train, Loki in her arms. There were people running up and down the coach excitedly. She wasn't really shy but still, she felt rather overwhelmed by it all. Hesitantly, she began to move down the coach to find somewhere to sit.
As she neared the end of the train she looked in through the glass door of one of the compartments and paused. Inside were three students and an adult who she guessed was probably a teacher. Forgetting that it was rude for her to stare she gazed at the teacher and the dark haired boy; there was that feeling again of almost familiarity.
"Hey Harry, you've got another fan," grinned Ron as he nodded at Tanwen.
Harry flattened his fringe impatiently, as he did so he saw her eyes go to his forehead and widen. Almost as if she hadn't seen it and wasn't expecting to see that famous scar. She backed away and mouthed an apology.
"Harry Potter," she whispered as she walked away from the compartment. "You know Loki I'm going to have to put you down; you're far too heavy to carry all the time." She put him on the ground and he ran off up the corridor. "Hey! Where are you going?" she sighed and followed him
She walked quickly along the corridor, looking out for Loki moving to the side to avoid the younger students who were still charging up and down the train. Suddenly someone slammed into her, knocking her to the floor with the force of their body. A pair of icy blue eyes looked into hers,
"Hello," she smiled affably, "interesting method you have there of meeting people."
He stood up and brushed down his close and eyed her suspiciously, "haven't seen you around before," he commented, "new?"
She nodded "mmm, fourth year."
"Really?" he looked interested now and held out a hand to help her to her feet.
"…Yeah. Thanks," she added as she stood up, "used to go to Beauxbatons."
"You must be pretty smart if they're letting you transfer so late on," he said coolly.
She shrugged, "maybe, I'm Tanwen by the way," she held out her hand.
"Draco, Draco Malfoy," he shook her hand; his grip was as icy as his stare. The effect almost made her shiver. Two trollish boys loomed over his shoulder, "Crabbe, and Goyle," he added in an offhand way. They nodded curtly at her then one nudged Malfoy and gestured to a compartment a short way away. Looking up he noticed who was in there and sneered nastily, "excuse me, I have a prior engagement. I do hope we meet again," he gave a mock bow and walked past her.
"Err, bye then," muttered Tanwen, puzzled, she wasn't quite sure what to make of Draco; he seemed only half sincere in what he said. 'Oh well,' she thought to herself, 'I suppose I'll find out eventually.'
Half way along the train a familiar head poked round the corner of a compartment, "there you are, I was about to come looking for you." He walked out towards her, "I've got a friend in there that you might have been looking for," he added grinning broadly.
"Cedric!" Again she kissed him on both cheeks before colouring.
"You know I quite like that French custom," he commented as he raised an eyebrow mischievously.
"Are you going to introduce us to your new friend?" A tall, good looking boy leaned nonchalantly against the side of the compartment's open door he watched them grinning. He winked at Tanwen, "you know, you've got quite a reputation to live up to from Mr Diggory here."
It was Cedric's turn to blush now, "shut up Griffiths!"
Still grinning he walked up to Tanwen, "Will Griffiths," he said offering his hand, "unless you're going to greet me the French way," he smirked
"Well that depends on how nice you're going to be to me?" she replied smiling coyly.
"Touché!" Laughed Cedric.
She grinned at him and then the three of them returned to the compartment. Loki was sat smugly on the lap of a friendly looking freckled girl.
"You must be Tanwen," she said, "Don't mind Griffiths, he has a personality defect. Incurable I'm afraid," she added with a sigh.
"This is Lizzie, she's in the same year as you," said Cedric making the introduction, "she'll give you a run for your money, she's got a wicked sense of humour."
"And my arch nemesis," sighed Will melodramatically as he sank into the bench opposite her.
"Yeah, she can usually run circles around my good friend here," said Cedric grinning as he stepped over Will's outstretched legs to sit the other side of his friend.
"Ah, they just want to get into my good books before term starts," Lizzie commented, "mighty fifth years or no they'll come crawling to me soon enough to do their homework. Especially Griffiths there, not the sharpest tool in the shed; he'd never make a Ravenclaw."
"Who'd want to be a Ravenclaw," Will scoffed waving his hand dismissively.
"Better watch what you say Griffiths, Tanwen's not been put into a house yet," replied Cedric grinning.
"No offence intended of course," said Will to Tanwen gesturing for her to come and sit next to him, "I'd never insult a pretty lady."
"Ever the flatterer," commented Lizzie, "you'd do better to sit with me; Griffiths is renown as a bit of a heartbreaker."
"I can't help it if the public love me," he retorted winking at Tanwen as he ran his hand through his short blond hair.
"What public is that then?" asked Cedric punching him playfully. "The blind and hard of hearing?"
Tanwen laughed and went and sat next to Cedric, "Didn't want to get in the way of their feuding," she told him as she sat down, "they seem to enjoy it so much."
"Shunned again, you must be loosing your touch," Lizzie commented to Will.
About an hour later Lizzie paused in the middle of the conversation she looked out the door and then back at the two boys that sat opposite.
"You'd better get your autograph pens out you two; that's about the fifth time those second years have walked past."
Tanwen grinned, "The trails of being popular huh?"
"Well what can I say?" said Will as he stretched out his arms behind him
"You know I think I'm going to escape before your head swells up so much none of us will be able to move," said Tanwen as she rose and tried to clamber across. Just as she crossed Will he raised her legs and she tripped and fell into his lap.
"How nice of you to visit," he said grinning maliciously.
"Hey, no manhandling of my friends!" Objected Cedric.
"Jealous?" retorted Will with a twinkle in his eye, "I guess I'm willing to share, us being best friends and all."
Lizzie rolled her eyes at Tanwen as she extricated herself and stood up, "Men hey," she shook her head at the two sat opposite, "I'd come back later once the testosterone levels have dropped back to normal."
"I think I'll do that," replied Tanwen, "Loki, you ok staying here?"
He purred contentedly and nodded.
"Right then, see you later guys." And she left to go and wander the corridors again. It was much darker outside and rain was coming down in sheets.
Passing an extremely noisy compartment she heard her name and turned to see the two twins who had 'helped' her at the station.
"Hello,"
"Hi, come join us, Tanwen wasn't it?" said George.
"Come and we'll make with the introductions. The more people you know, the more picky you can be with your friends," added Fred.
"And that's a good thing is it?" she asked skeptically as she joined them.
Just as the sky began to turn black she rose to go back and join Cedric, Will and Lizzie. She had just walked out into the corridor when the train began to slow down. Where they finally there? Abruptly the train stopped and she fell forwards onto the ground, she could hear bags falling out of their racks and just as she had stood again everything went black.
Running her hands along the wall for guidance she walked along the corridor. Suddenly she felt everything grow intensely cold; something was coming up behind her taking long, slow rattling breaths. She could feel it coming closer and closer an icy hand seemed to be squeezing at her heart and she gasped out loud. Her head pounded and then seemed to suddenly explode with screams. Soundless, she dropped to the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Enervate,"
Tanwen opened her eyes and looked around in panic, where was she? What happened? What…
"It's ok, calm down," said a voice. She looked up to see a tired grey face looking down at her, he looked like a teacher, "Come on, get up and come and sit down."
Shakily she stood up and followed him wordlessly down the corridor. Her head still hurt as if it had been remembering things that were meant to be forgotten.
She followed him back to the compartment he shared with Harry, and his two friends. Two other students were with them. As he entered the professor paused and spoke to Harry, "I haven't poisoned that chocolate you know…"
Harry began to eat the chocolate; his friends eyed him worriedly. Tanwen sat down heavily, her hands shaking; she covered her face with her hands and took deep breaths. What had just happened?
"What's your name?" the professor asked her gently.
"Tanwen," she replied lowering her hands to find the others staring at her, Harry looked just as bad as she felt. She smiled weakly at him.
Lupin started a little at her name and looked at her closely, "Tanwen…" Then he shook his head and offered her some chocolate, "I'm Professor Lupin, here take this it should help," She took it from him obediently and began to eat.
The others in the carriage didn't talk much; everyone seemed rather shaken. Once she had eaten she felt a little better and wanted to find Loki, she made as if to stand but her body told her in no uncertain terms that she wasn't leaving yet. She sighed and took a better look at her companions.
"I guess you heard, but I'm Tanwen," she said.
"Harry,"
"Ron,"
"Hermione,"
"Ginny,"
"Neville,"
The others offered, nodding at her in their turn.
"And before you ask, yes I'm new, I used to go to Beauxbatons. And no, I'm not a first year, I'll be joining the fourth year." She paused and saw the look on their faces, "sorry, but I've spent the last day answering those questions over and over again, I just thought we'd get them out the way. You know I'm thinking of getting them tattooed across my forehead."
Ron and Harry grinned at her. Hermione was about to ask something about Beauxbatons when a small figure ambled in the door.
"Loki!" Tanwen bent to pick him up and hugged him tightly; he squeaked in protest then licked her nose affectionately. It was so nice to have him there, she was still scared about what had just happened to her and his familiar presence was reassuring.
"Is he your pet, because I don't think we're allowed animals like that at school," said Hermione as she eyed the new arrival.
"Well, I wouldn't call him a pet," replied Tanwen, "And I'm not letting them take him away from me," she added fiercely.
"I'm sorry I only meant…" began Hermione looking injured.
"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you," apologised Tanwen, "it's just that he's all I have left in the world."
Again Lupin looked at her as if trying to puzzle something out, she shifted uncomfortably and looked away.
"I'll see you later, ok?" she said as she nodded to them all and left.
Several minute later she found Cedric, Will and Lizzie, all much subdued.
"You ok?" asked Cedric as she came in and slid the door shut behind her.
"You look real shook up," added Will as they both eyed her with concern.
"I'll survive," she replied weakly coming to sit in between them. "what happened?"
"Dementors," replied Lizzie grimly, "horrible things, they suck the happiness out of living beings."
"But I didn't see anything, the lights went out and then I felt this wave of unbearable coldness creeping up on me from behind and…" she paused and gulped hard, should she tell them about those screams?
"Hey, it's ok," said Cedric as he squeezed her arm comfortingly, "it's over now."
"And you know who to come to if you need 'comforting' right?" asked Will with a wink.
She laughed and smiled at him. Lizzie stood up and walked to the window, "we're here," she announced as the train drew to a halt.
"You'd better stay out of sight ok?" she told Loki, "you can find me if you need me right?" He nodded and disappeared from sight.
"Neat trick," commented Will approvingly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N Ta-da! Don't you just love Will, he rocks and as a bonus-he's mine! Mwahaha! Am lovin the frenchie greeting ^__^
Apologies if paragraphing spaces are somewhat odd, ff wouldn't let it upload normally so I went a bit mad with the spacing to make it more readable for you guys. grrrrrr well hope it isn't too unintelligible.
Right if you liked it review it! Otherwise chapter postage will not be very frequent, these are much longer chapters than I normally write. Right ttfn
xxx