The next morning Tanwen opened her eyes to the unfamiliar sight of the inside of her bed curtains. Yawning she opened one and glanced at the clock on her table.
"That you up Tanwen?" called Marcia, "well up you get then, we get our wonderful timetables this morning, I just can't wait to find out how many fun-filled hours of work we have in store for us,"
"Don't mind Marcia," said Lou quietly from her bed, "she's always sarky in the mornings." Then she turned back over and closed her eyes.
"Come on people, breakfast's a calling!" roused Marcia.
"Ok, ok, I'm getting up," laughed Tanwen as she pushed her covers off, dislodging a highly disgruntled Loki, "want me to get you anything?" she asked as he curled up.
"I should think the house-elves will take care of him," said Cassie emerging from the bathroom with dripping hair, she sat down on her trunk and rubbed it with a towel, "I wish I knew a drying spell," she grumbled.
"Can I try?" offered Tanwen reaching for her wand.
"I guess so, you couldn't make it much worse than it normally is suppose."
"Sarco"
As Tanwen waved her wand in a downwards motion Cassie's hair dried straight.
"Hope you like it straight, I don't know how to do ringlets or anything else come to think of it yet," said Tanwen.
"Oh that's great thank you!" replied Cassie beaming, "I always have to go down to breakfast with wet hair and it is not nice I can tell you!"
"No probs," replied Tanwen as she headed to the shower.
Half an hour later the four who were ready emerged and headed down to breakfast. On the way they told Tanwen about what their teachers were like and what sort of thing to expect from them and their classes.
As she sat down to breakfast she spotted Will and Cedric and waved, "do people always sit in their houses?" she asked Marcia.
"Yeah, it's one of those unwritten rules."
"As in no-one does it or it's not allowed?"
"I don't really know," admitted Marcia, "mostly people stick to their own houses."
"Shall I find out?" asked Tanwen grinning mischievously.
"I…"
"Do you know those two?" Cassie interrupted in a hushed whisper nodding at Will and Cedric who were waving to Tanwen.
"Yeah, they're real nice."
"I'll say!" said Cassie looking at them wistfully, "they are so fit!"
"Put your eyes back in, Cassie" said Lou.
"What were you going to do before miss love-struck here interrupted?" asked Marcia.
"Go sit with them," replied Tanwen.
"Oh, go on try," encouraged Marcia, "I'd like to see what they'd do. Nothing I guess seeing as you're new. Plead ignorance."
"Alright then, see you after breakfast," replied Tanwen standing up and walking to the Hufflepuff table. About ten to fifteen people were sat there including Will and Cedric, it was too early for the rest to show their faces. "Hi," she said smiling at the two, "can I sit here?"
"Sure," replied Will grinning, "we're all for the rule breaking here."
"Morning Tanwen, how are things going?" asked Cedric as she sat opposite them.
"Good thanks," she replied and turned to Will, "and how dare you suggest that I'm a trouble maker young man? How is a new girl like me supposed to know what the all rules are on her first day?" She grinned at them both and took a slice of toast.
"Well you're more than welcome here," said Cedric as he helped himself to the bacon, "it is odd that houses should almost never mix."
"Yeah, that's what I think," Tanwen agreed watching Will in amazement as he piled his plate with food. "What zoo did he escape out of?" Tanwen whispered loudly to Cedric leaning across the table towards him.
"Hey!" interjected Will, "A growing man needs his food!"
Tanwen laughed, "Where's Lizzie this morning?"
"Ah, dear Lizzie turned into a toad overnight and has run away," replied Will sadly.
"Which translates as 'Lizzie isn't really a morning person, she likes her lie-ins'" added Cedric grinning. He paused and leaned towards her saying, "Your little rebellion is catching quite a lot of attention." Lots of people stared as they passed their table, people knew that she was sitting at the wrong table.
"Rebellion? What are you talking about, all I'm doing is having breakfast with two friends, now what's the harm in that?"
Once they had almost finished eating Cassie came over to them with Tanwen's timetable.
"This is Cassie," Tanwen said as she thanked her friend and took her timetable, "Cassie this is Cedric and Will."
"Hi," nodded Cedric.
"Hello," said Will grinning.
"Hi," Cassie muttered going extremely pink, "look I'll meet you later, our first class is Charms ok." And she practically ran out the room.
Will winked at Tanwen who rolled her eyes at Cedric.
"What other subject's d'you take?" asked Cedric.
"Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures,"
"Not Arithmancy then?"
"Oh no, numbers do my head in!"
"I'll not ask why you didn't choose Divination though," Cedric said grinning, "A lot of rubbish if you ask me."
"I do Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures," said Will, "Both my parents are magical so I don't know much about muggles. I can't believe some of the things they do, Muggle Studies is so funny."
"I'm not sure that's entirely a good reason for liking Muggle Studies, Will," grinned Tanwen.
"What happened to your old Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?" she asked.
"We've had a new one for the last three years, seems rather a high-risk job if you ask me," said Cedric as he began to tell her all about what had happened the last few years. By the time he had finished breakfast was almost over.
"Oh no," groaned Tanwen noticing the time, "I've got to go or I'm going to be late, I don't even know where I have to go."
"Do you want me to…"
"Thanks Cedric, but I've got to go back to my room to get my bags. I'll see you guys later." Bolting the rest of her tea she flashed them a quick smile before running out of the Hall.
In the Entrance Hall she was joined by Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Can you help me find my way back please?" she asked, "I think I'm going to be late for Charms."
"Sure, we're just on our way to get our books," said Harry
"Charms isn't far from the common room, if you're quick you should still make it," said Hermione as they hurried along the corridors.
Five minutes she pelted along the corridors repeating to herself Hermione's direction, "left, right then second left, down the stairs fourth classroom on the left."
Flushed and panting she pushed open the door to find that she had made it, Flitwick wasn't there yet. She sat down, breathless, next to Lou and grinned at her, "made it!"
"Tanwen, isn't it?" asked a dark haired boy sat on her other side. "Dave, pleased to meet you."
"Hi," she replied smiling, she glanced around, "that everyone?"
"Yup, we only share lessons with the other houses for Potions, Herbology, and your options subjects. Other than that this is everyone, the five girls you've met and then there's us six; Me, Leo, Chris, Dom, Mark and Jon." He pointed to the others as he named them. Leo was a tall boy with a head of thick blond hair and a light dusting of freckles. Chris was the smallest of the lot, he wore glasses and had chestnut hair and green eyes. Dom was about the same height as Dave and had light brown hair and a cheeky smile. She had to look twice at Mark, he was the exact double of the boy who had knocked her over on the train, Draco Malfoy. Jon had black hair and the most beautiful silver eyes.
"I guess you noticed Mark's our resident Malfoy look alike, huh?"
She nodded as Mark scowled, "Thanks for the fantastic introduction, Bailey," drawled Mark. Then he grinned and he voice changed a little, it was what Tanwen would call a polished British accent, "What did you think, pretty good eh?"
She grinned and nodded, "not that I know him that well, but from what I've seen that's pretty good." She paused and glanced at Jon again before asking Mark, "Are you from a magical background?"
"Lord no," he replied, "I was as clueless as a muggle before I got my Hogwarts letter."
"You?" she asked Dave.
"Half and half, my magic's from my mother's side."
"Well, do you know if it's a normal magic thing to have silver eyes?"
"You mean pretty boy Jon over there? Ask him yourself, he won't bite...hard," he grinned broadly before calling Jon over.
"I hope you weren't misrepresenting me to our beautiful new year mate, David" said Jon as he took Tanwen's hand and kissed it.
Leo groaned, "Cut it out Contay!"
"Besides, you haven't got a chance this time. Competition's too fierce," added Marcia grinning.
"Yeah, didn't you see who she was sat with?" said Cassie with a wistful sigh.
"Hufflepuffs?" supplied Chris, turning round on his stool.
"Hufflepoofs you mean," said Dom.
"Cedric Diggory and Will Griffiths idiots," said Alicia.
"Well unless she's actually 'taken' then I think I'm still in with a chance," he turned to her expectantly, "Well Miss Gray?"
Tanwen laughed, "Well that's for me to know and you to find out," she said loftily, with an arch look at him.
"What are you going to do now then?" Dave asked Jon.
"Surely you didn't expect her just to throw herself at your feet?" added Dom
"Cos that's only happened about twenty times before," said Clem.
"Robyn Clearwater..."
"Susan Radler..."
"Felicia Carmen..."
"Oh stop it, you're making me blush!"
"Cordelia Summers..." continued Leo, "A Slytherin!"
"Slytherming," added Dave.
"What can I say? The public love me,"
"Now where have I heard that before?" said Tanwen grinning.
"Morning class," squeaked Flitwick as he walked into the room and went to his desk, "I hope you all have a pleasant holiday and a special welcome to our new student, I hope that you will all make every effort to make her feel welcome." He beamed at them all from his tall chair that rather dwarfed him.
There was a lot of chair shuffling as the rest of the class, who had been crowded round Tanwen, Lou and Dave's desk, made their way back to their own desks. Jon winked at her over his shoulder.
She smiled back at Flitwick, he seemed nice, if rather like a cross between a garden Gnome and a pixie.
Charms was no trouble, they'd been doing simple remembrance spells, for things like remembering where you left your keys, and she'd already studied that at Beauxbatons. But it gave her a good opportunity to speak to the others and get to know them a bit better.
After Charms came Transfiguration, the class filed into the room and Professor McGonagall watched as they found seats. Each table had tiny pens filled with tortoises,
"I wonder what we'll be turning them into," she whispered to Dom who sat next to her.
"Welcome to your fourth year," McGonagall said as she moved to lean on the front of her desk, "I expect you all to work especially hard this year as you all have exams looming."
"But OWLS aren't until the fifth year," protested Jon.
"I'm well aware of that and that objection is made every year I say this."
"Then why do you say it," muttered Marcia to her right.
"What was that Miss Limonelli?"
"Nothing Professor," replied Marcia smiling sweetly.
"Right then we'll get on with the lesson today we will be transfiguring the animals in front of you into footstools."
About fifteen minuets later, once McGonagall had explained the theory behind what she wanted them to do she called Tanwen to the front of the class.
"Miss Gray, I hope that should you have any troubles that you won't hesitate to communicate them to me. All of us at Hogwarts are most keen for you to settle in well, and as your head of house I feel extra-specially responsible for seeing that you adjust well to the move."
"Thank you Professor, I will, I'm really enjoying my first day here, and everyone is so friendly."
"Very well then, you may return to your work," Tanwen turned and walked back to her desk, "Oh, and Miss Gray,"
"Yes?"
"In future will you please note that during mealtimes you only sit at your own house table."
"Yes Professor," she grinned at Marcia who hid a smile behind her hand.
"What was that about?" Dom asked her as they picked up their tortoises and plonked them down on the desks, they were really quite heavy.
Tanwen grinned and filled him in briefly.
"Oh, I see. Known Diggory and Griffiths long?"
"Well, I met Cedric before I came here in Diagon Ally and Will I met on the train, so not really I guess."
"Well I feel that as one of your newly appointed guardians I have to warn you about those two. As we were saying before, they have rather a reputation, especially Griffiths,"
"And you're warning me out of the goodness of your heart?" replied Tanwen wryly.
"Naturally."
"Well thanks, I'll bear that in mind," she
McGonagall frowned at them and they turned their attention to the tortoise in front of them.
Marcia's was scrabbling across the desk trying desperately to get away. True to her word Marcia was not good at Transfiguration; hers just kept loosing its head, which made it run around in blind panic. Well not run really, more like extra fast crawling.
Focusing hard on the image of a footstool in her mind Tanwen closed her eyes and held her wand in her hand. In her minds eye she slowly saw it change as she made small flicking movements with her wand in front of her. About a minute later she opened her eyes to see a tortoiseshell footstool on her desk. She smiled contentedly and looked around. Lou, Clem, Mark and Dom had the same success as hers and the others were in varying stages of completion, from Marcia's headless variety to Jon's six legged example.
"That's all class," said McGonagall as she returned the animals to normal with a wave of her wand, "five points to all those who successfully transformed their tortoises. The others of you don't worry I thought we'd start off with something hard this term. Please deposit your tortoise in the crate at the front on your way out."
"Hurrah, lunchtime," exclaimed Leo as they walked out, "I'm starving."
"Typical McGonagall," grumbled Marcia, "you know I think she might do it on purpose to spite me."
After lunch they split up to go to their options, Tanwen went to Ancient Runes with Dom and Lou. As they walked along the corridor Tanwen noticed how frequently Dom looked at Lou. Lou was about the same height as her so she could easily lean over and whisper to her,
"Do you like Dom?"
"Like? Yes of course I do, he's a really nice guy."
"No, do you like Dom?"
"Oh," she blushed and looked at the floor, which was enough of an answer for Tanwen.
"What are you two talking about?" Dom asked suspiciously, "don't you know it's rude to whisper?"
"We have Ancient Runes with the Ravenclaws, do you know anyone in Ravenclaw?" asked Lou quickly, they had almost reached the classroom.
"No actually," replied Tanwen with a sideways smile at Dom, "you know, I think I'll go talk to them." And with that she hurried off up the corridor grinning to herself.
There were five Ravenclaws taking the subject with them; two girls and three boys. A pretty girl with long dark hair turned and smiled at her as she approached,
"Hello, you're the new girl aren't you, Tanwen?"
"Yes, it seems hardly fair that the whole school seems to know my name and I hardly know anyone," she replied smiling.
"I'm Cho," she said, "and this is Laura and those three over there are Tim, Elliot and Tony."
Dom and Lou joined them, Lou looking slightly flushed, Tanwen grinned brightly at them.
They studied Ancient Samarian writings in Ancient Runes, something she hadn't covered yet and was a little behind the others.
"You can borrow my notes if you like to catch up," offered Cho at the end of the class.
"That'd be good, thanks," replied Tanwen taking them gratefully from her.
On the way to dinner she literally bumped in Lizzie, she was trying to find something in her bad and wasn't looking where she was going.
"Oh, sorry," she looked up, "hi Lizzie, how are you?"
"Good thanks, you?"
"Yeah, great."
"The dynamic duo are suffering withdrawal symptoms, you know," she said grinning.
"Sorry?"
"Almost cried when you were put in Gyffindor," she winked, "oh did you know you have Herbology with us tomorrow?"
Tanwen groaned, "I hate Herbology!" she shuddered.
"It can't be that bad!"
"Just you wait! Wait 'til you've seen me in one lesson, than tell me if I'm exaggerating!"
"Ok, ok, look I'll see you tomorrow, I'm so hungry!" she said as she reached her table and went to sit next to Will.
"Hi, you two," said Tanwen smiling, "been given my orders to maintain the segregation so I can't sit with you."
"I'm sure they'll get over it tolerably given time," remarked Lizzie pouring herself some juice.
"What are you doing after dinner?" Cedric asked, "I remember how long it took to find my way around when I first came here, if you want I can give you a guided tour of the castle."
"That'd be great, any chance to improve my navigation skills'd be great. I have practically no sense of direction."
"Ok then, I'll see you after dinner."
"Right, see you then," she smiled and then left to go to her own table.
"You do take people on fantastic dates," commented Will as he helped himself to mashed potatoes.
"What? That wasn't a date, I'm just helping her to find her way around," protested Cedric.
"You keep telling yourself that, hun," said Lizzie patting Cedric's arm patronisingly, Will winked at her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ah my people are so much fun....just a quick question, who do you guys like best of the boys in her year(Gryffindors of course)? Personally, I can't decide, though it's probably between Jon and Mark or maybe Dom...it's just Jon has such fun flirtyness...anyway, just wondering what you thought.
xxxxx
Next chapter: Tanwen tries a complicated spell that goes horribly wrong.