She lay in bed, eyes open staring blearily at the canopy overhead. She had barely slept a wink all night. Every time she had fallen asleep visions of the memories she had awakened brought her back to consciousness with a jolt. Glancing at her watch she saw it was almost 6.30, well she wasn't likely to get much more sleep anyway. Groaning she pulled herself upright and made her way towards the shower.
She gasped as the steaming water hit her face; she tilted it upwards letting it wash over her, hoping to wash away that unclean feeling that haunted her. The strong jet of water pounded her skin, helping to rouse her from her half-waking state. Her hands steadied herself on the tiles in front of her as she watched the water swirl towards the plughole.
Shivering she wrapped her towel around her and stepped out of the shower. Ten minuets later she was dressed. She stared at the mirror as she wiped the condensation away, she looked pale and drawn, oh well, she thought, that's pretty much how I feel.
Dragging her robe over her newly dried hair she looked at the sleeping girls around her and envied them their undisturbed sleep. Not really feeling much like eating she left for breakfast.
Down in the common room the remains of her spell sat as a reminder in the grate. She knelt and picked them out, throwing them disgustedly into the bin. She wasn't too sure that she hadn't been better off before she had cast the spell. In more ways than one, ignorance was bliss.
Sitting herself down at the breakfast table she noticed how few people were there, she'd have to remember that for future reference she told herself. She toyed with a piece of bread as she leant on her elbow and sighed. She was not in the mood to make casual conversation with others or explain why, and yet she knew she would have to. As more people began to drift in she wondered what she was going to do. Nothing she supposed, just keep quiet and say nothing like a good girl. Like she was expected to do.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey, cheer up," urged Cedric, putting his hand on her shoulder to halt her as she emerged from the Hall, "you've been miserable all day, what's up?"
She sighed, "well you remember that thing I talked to you about before?" He nodded, "Well, now I know and pretty much wish I didn't," she forced a smile.
"Come on, let me try and cheer you up. Why don't we go out and fly for a bit?"
"I don't know…"
"What've you got to loose?"
"Well, ok then I'll grab my broom and meet you back down here."
"Great," he grinned as he turned and headed off to his dorm.
'That boy has too much enthusiasm,' she thought to herself as she climbed the stairs towards the common room.
Ten minutes later they were walking out towards the pitch, it was still light. As they got closer Tanwen's mood began to lighten, just the thought of being back in the air made her smile.
"That's more like it," said Cedric grinning at her as they came to a stop next to the stands. They'd been out together flying several times since the beginning of the term. Tanwen hadn't said anything to Wood, she knew that she could probably play on the team but there were more important things in life. They took off their outer clothes leaving t-shirts and trousers, the rest of their clothes they left on the bottom bench of the stands.
Taking Cedric's wrist she undid his watch and then grinned at him, "Hey!" he protested.
"Come and get it," she teased as she took off into the air.
Leaning low over the handle she rolled over and over in the air closing her eyes as the air rushed past her, ruffling her hair and clothes. Glancing back she saw Cedric gaining on her and she swerved sharply down and backwards beneath him. Following her slightly half-heartedly he watched grinning as she danced through the sky, he'd never seen anyone move like her. She seemed like part of her broom as she turned so lightly and gracefully, 'she should have been a bird,' he thought.
Coming tantalisingly close she leaned forwards onto her broom and dangled his watch from her finger, "Well Mr Diggory, don't we want our watch back?"
He darted forwards suddenly and she laughed and swerved just out of reach. They chased each other through the air laughing as they flew. As evening fell the sky grew dark making it harder to see one another. Much of the pitch was soon in shadow.
Hovering just above the ground Tanwen turned and looked at Cedric eyes dancing as he came to a halt just in front of her, he grinned mischievously and threw himself towards her.
She fell off backwards onto the ground with him on top of her. Straddling her he pinned her arms above her head and wrestled his watch from her grasp.
"Ok, ok you win," she admitted as she tried to sit up, "Get off," she pushed him off her laughing. As she sat up she rubbed her head ruefully.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," he said looking at her with concern.
"You do play rough don't you Mr Diggory?" she asked with a glint in her eye.
"Errr" he looked slightly panicked.
She laughed, "come on, it's getting dark, we should go back in."
Pulling the rest of their clothes on Cedric slung his broom over his shoulder as Tanwen slung the strap of her case over hers and they began to walk back up the dark lawn. As they left the pitch Tanwen shivered, it was cold now and neither of them had thought to bring cloaks.
"Cold?" he asked looking at her. She nodded. Hesitating briefly he put his arm round her and drew her closer. She smiled and put her arm round his waist, resting her head gently against his chest as they walked feeling his body heat through his clothing. Cedric looked down at her as she rested against him and smiled, tightening his arm about her shoulders. They walked the remainder of the way back in silence just enjoying each others silent company.
As they entered the Entrance Hall they were met by Professor McGonagall.
"Where have you two been?"
"Out practicing," replied Cedric gesturing to his broom and subtly stepping away from Tanwen.
"Together?" McGonagall raised an eyebrow, "When you aren't even in the same houses?"
They nodded and hid a grin. McGonagall frowned, "Well very well then, both of you should head back to your common rooms, it's almost time for you two to be thinking of going to bed isn't it?"
"Yes professor," they replied.
"Night Cedric," said Tanwen turning to him, "and thanks, I feel better now."
"Anytime," he replied with a smile, "see you tomorrow,"
She began to walk up the stairs giving him a small wave as she went. He turned and went the other direction towards his own common room.
The next morning began with Herbology, Tanwen's least favourite subject, no matter how much she loved flowers and delighted in nature she could never quite get to grips with Herbology.
She walked down the dew-covered lawn towards the Greenhouses with the rest of her year, she could see the Hufflepuffs waiting for them outside.
"Hi Lizzie," she said as they reached them.
"Morning, ready for another fun filled lesson?" she replied with a smirk, Tanwen's extremely un-green fingers were infamous.
"Oh I'm simply dying of anticipation," Tanwen replied sarcastically.
Just then Professor Sprout appeared and they followed her into Greenhouse number two.
"This morning class we will be re-potting the Addis Abababa plant," she began. Tanwen groaned inwardly, she'd done this before last year at Beauxbatons and it had definitely not gone well.
Resolving to make the best of things she paired off with Lizzie and they made their way to a bench and prepared to wrestle with the plants once more.
"I'm not doing this for my NEWTS, not for a thousand galleons!" Tanwen said out loud as she fought to push the wriggling plant back under the soil. Lizzie laughed as she poured the soil over the top of Tanwen's newly potted plant. "You see," Tanwen continued, "Plants and I have this mutual agreement. I don't try to make them do anything out of the ordinary and they don't attack me, so I'm fine with flowers, trees etc, but anything like this…" Lizzie's plant sprayed soil into her face, "…just has a conspiracy theory to do anything it can to annoy me," she finished, wiping her face on her apron.
"So I've noticed," commented Lizzie wryly. She grinned to herself before adding, "I hear you were out late last night."
("Class I'll be back in a few minutes," Professor Sprout told them as she bustled out of the room.)
"Mmm," Tanwen agreed flicking away a large chunk of mud from their desk, "flying. I guess Cedric told you, huh."
"Yeah, he tells me lots of things, want to know anything else he said about you?" she asked innocently.
"Oh no thanks," replied Tanwen, she was not going to rise to the bait, "besides the things that he told you might be private."
"Oh I expect Mr Diggory keeps his truly private thoughts about you to himself," she grinned.
Struggling to keep her face straight, pretending she had no idea what Lizzie was talking about she looked over at her some of her friends. Catching Jon's eye she grinned, he grinned back and sidled over to their bench.
"I hope you're not causing this damsel any distress," he said absurdly to Lizzie.
"Oh save me good sir knight," cried Tanwen melodramatically clinging to his arm, quite glad to have a distraction from the way her conversation with Lizzie had been going.
"Never fear," replied Jon in a deep voice, "I'll save you!" Grabbing the nearest plant out of its pot he brandished it in front of him like a sword, clutching Tanwen to his side with his other hand.
"Hey!" protested Marcia, "that's ours!"
"I'll protect you, fair Elizabeth!" vowed Alex Contay, a fellow Hufflepuff, and as his name suggested Jon's twin. They looked alike in most things, they both had the same eyes, but Jon's hair was much darker and he was the better looking of the two. Alex, on the other hand was older by a few minutes and had inherited more brains.
"I'm not totally defenceless Alex," Lizzie told him, "I'm perfectly capable of defending myself against a plant-brandishing pretty boy." She drew her wand and pointed it at Jon, who scowled at her.
"Those two just want an excuse to show off their fencing skills, you know what they're like," Alicia said from her bench.
Lizzie smiled at her, "I think this time Mr Contay junior deserves a lesson in female relations- Locomotor plantea"
Immediately the plant held in Jon's outstretched arm began to grow, wrapping its rapidly expanding branches up and over his hand.
"Hey!" he tried to drop the plant but it was already firmly established. Tendrils snaked along his arm and over his chest towards Tanwen, who yelped and tried to pull out of his hold, "Oh no you don't, this is as much your fault as mine!"
"Is not!" protested Tanwen as she wriggled in his grasp. "Lizzie..." she looked pleadingly at her friend as the plant wrapped itself around her waist. But her friend was too busy laughing to do anything other than hold onto the bench with one hand to stop herself from collapsing into a pile on the ground.
The others had gathered round to watch. Alex stepped towards her and tried to unwind the plant from Tanwen. But instead it just grew another tendril and grabbed hold of his hand. Alex yelped and tried to pull back but tripped over a vine busy attaching itself to Tanwen's legs. He fell to his knees at her feet and tried to pull away from the vine desperate to attach him to the couple further.
Jon laughed, "Alright down there brother dearest?"
Alex gave up his struggle against the plant and it pulled him into Tanwen. His face was trapped millimetres from her chest. Tanwen turned a bright shade of pink, "Err, hello there, it's been so nice meeting you for the first time." She emphasised the last words.
Alex coloured and tried to avert his eyes, which considering the angle he was held at, was no easy task!
"I think you're just a little too close for comfort," Jon told his brother, now almost completely covered in vines from his ankles to his chest. In fact the three of them looked rather like some strange bush hybrid. Luckily Lizzie hadn't seemed to make the plant angry so it wasn't trying to kill them.
"A little help please, Lizzie?" Alex asked from his awkward position.
"Can't you defend yourself?" She asked pausing for breath, "Anyway, if you ask me, you don't look like you aren't enjoying it." She started to laugh again.
"Someone?" pleaded Alex as the plant pulled him closer towards Tanwen, "I think I'm going to die of embarrassment!"
Someone knocking on the window made those who were able turn to look out of the greenhouse. A whole crowd of excited looking second years stood with their faces pressed to the walls.
"Oh no! Just what we don't need, more witnesses," moaned Alex.
Tanwen spotted a thrilled looking boy pull out a camera, "You just wait!" she told him, "it looks like there's even going to be photographic evidence!"
"What?!" he struggled to see and stumbled, falling right into her. As if to gloat over its triumph the plant fixed his head firmly in place with a leafy branch and sprouted a large pink blossom by his head as if pleased with its endeavours.
A grinning Dom pushed the rest of his class away from the walls to allow the boy brandishing a camera a better view. There were several bright flashes as the moment was captured on film.
"Great, just great," muttered Tanwen. Even Jon was blushing by this time. They did make rather an odd picture, with the side of Alex's face pressed to Tanwen's chest and him standing behind the two as close as he could possibly be, all held in place by a sprouting Addis Abababa plant.
"And what may I ask is going on here?" asked Professor Sprout as she returned to her class. All but three of whom were paralytic with laughter and the others firmly attached to one another in the centre of the class, looking rather uncomfortable. The corners of her mouth twitched until she brought herself under control and turned to give her attention to her class.
Outside Hagrid had arrived to reclaim his escaped pupils. They were shunted away reluctantly as he roared with laughter all the way to his hut.
The bell rang for the end of class and Sprout dismissed the rest of the class and went to deal with the trio trapped within the plant.
Lizzie broke away from the still laughing main group headed up to the castle for lunch to find the small boy with the camera. Dom, guessing what she was up to, followed her at a sprint.
"Hey," she called to him as they met up with the second years, "you're the boy with the camera aren't you?"
"Colin Creevy," he told her nodding, he laughed, "you were in that class weren't you? What happened? Were they in trouble? Was it dangerous?"
"Nope," Dom told them arriving to stand next to Lizzie, "just a practical joke."
"Do you mind if I develop your film now?" Lizzie asked the boy, "I'm dying to see those photos!"
"You can do that?" he asked, looking at her with something close to reverence.
"Yeah, a tricky little spell my mother taught me when we were on holiday. Hand over the camera and I can develop them."
Jon, Alex and Tanwen emerged from the greenhouse and walked back to the castle.
"Well wasn't that fun?" Alex said sarcastically.
"Maybe for you two," grumbled Tanwen.
"Excuse me?" Jon said, "You didn't enjoy being sandwiched between our gorgeous selves?"
Tanwen rolled her eyes and elbowed him. "You have no shame," she told him, "I think I like your brother better," she said, knowing that would annoy him.
Alex grinned smugly at his brother who looked rather offended. Then shrugged, "Ah well, I guess we can't all be blessed with such good judgement as me. We'll have to begin your education soon, Beauxbaton seems to be very behind on this vitally important life skill."
They reached the castle and made their way into the Great Hall. Lizzie grinned at them as they entered and waved a photograph in her hand.
"Uh-oh!" said Alex.
"Uh-oh indeed," agreed Tanwen.
"Any publicity's good publicity," Jon told them wisely.
"Except this publicity," retorted Alex, "if you'll excuse me I have a violent appointment with a certain young lady."
He made his way over to his table, who were all grinning broadly at him. Several of the older boys whistled as Tanwen passed. Will shook his head at Tanwen, with a wink. All in all Jon looked rather pleased with himself and put his arm round her with a wink to the laughing table, Cedric scowled at Jon until Will nudged him. Tanwen shrugged his arm off her and walked off to sit in between Fred and George before she noticed with horror the moving colour photo sat in the centre of the table. She sighed exasperatedly and went to sit in the empty seat between Lou and Harry.
As soon as she sat she covered her face with her hands.
"It's not so bad," Lou told her comfortingly as she poured her friend some juice, "it'll be forgotten as soon as something else comes along. And in Hogwarts that's surprisingly often."
"You know that dream where you dream you go to class naked?" she said though her fingers, "well this is pretty comparable to that."
Marcia leant round Lou to add, "you got off pretty lightly, just think about the comments Alex's getting!"
Tanwen grinned and took her hands away, "yeah, poor guy, he was only trying to help. I think a certain individual deserves payback." She nodded towards Jon, who sat grinning away next to Dom.
At the end of the meal Tanwen got up and headed towards the common room to pick up the books for this afternoons lessons. In the hall she was greeted by numerous snide remarks. Most of which were harmless.
"Look it's the Gryffinwhore!" taunted a blond Slytherin.
"That's harsh, Cordelia," her bespectacled companion said, frowning.
Mark walked into the hall with his arm over his house crest and tie, "it's only because she fancies that airhead Jon Contay," he drawled, in his most Malfoy-like tone. "And you should look in a mirror next time you want to make a comment like that."
"Draco!"
"What?" the real Draco turned round and started to walk over from a short way behind her.
Cordelia hadn't heard and she continued, "better that I fancy a pure blood than some halfblood albino freak like you Malfoy!"
"Shut up Summers!" Malfoy snapped, blushing.
She half turned, her eyes widening at the sight of him, then turned back. Mark moved his arm revealing his tie and badge, "I'm sorry were you expecting someone else?"
The girl stood next to her blushed and looked at her feet.
"Mark Bradley," he said holding out his hand, "nice to meet you." He said pointedly to the other girl.
"I do believe we've already met," she replied with a smile, "but I don't think I've been introduced to your friend."
"Desdemona!" Cordelia hissed, her eyes narrowed.
"This is Tanwen," Mark said nodding towards her, "Tanwen this is Desdemona Rosier."
"Nice to meet you," said Tanwen tentatively holding out her hand.
Desdemona shook it smiling. Behind her Cordelia was sulking. She turned to face her friend, "What's your problem Cordy? Just because you had a fight with Darcy over the ownership of a lipstick and decided to hang with me out of default doesn't mean that I have to adopt your attitude. If I thought that I'd have to I'd have left you crying in the bathroom like a sissy. I'm not your friend."
"But-but-"
"Oh go away! Honestly you're so pathetic." She sneered at the girl, then turned back to Mark and Tanwen, "see you around." She headed off down to her own common room with a last disgusted look at Cordelia.
As Mark and Tanwen climbed the marble staircase Draco was arguing with Cordelia, "What did you think you were doing?!"
Tanwen grinned at Mark, "thanks," she said.
"Hey, no problem," he replied, "she deserved it and more."
They reached the common room to find Jon fidgeting in front of the unlit fireplace. When he saw Tanwen walk in he went straight over to her.
"Look, I'm really sorry about all the hassle you've been getting. I heard what Cordelia said to you- I guess that's my fault...I dunno what else to say..."
Tanwen gave him a small smile, "it's ok, it's not only your fault, although you could do with dropping the smugness down a notch or two."
"Anything for my lady," he told her with a sweeping bow.
"That's your apology?" asked Marcia incredulously, "honestly!"
He looked suddenly worried, "but I meant it you know, I really am sorry!"
"I know," Tanwen told him as she hugged him, "it's ok. And I think Marcia's only teasing."
Deciding to try and avoid the rest of the school that evening, she'd had to put up with enough comments that afternoon to last her a lifetime, she made her way Lupin's office. She hadn't spoken to him properly since that night but she was fed up of having no-one to talk to and she trusted him, Sirius had. Knocking on the door she peered round it to see Lupin sat at his desk marking a pile of papers.
"Hello Tanwen, what can I do for you?" he asked looking up.
"I…I'm not sure really, have you spoken to Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes, he agrees with me in that you shouldn't say anything to anyone about Sirius. Not only could it be dangerous for Harry but also for you."
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it Tanwen. What would people think of you if you suddenly announced that you were the long-lost daughter of a serial killer?"
"I told you he didn't do it!" she frowned.
"You're missing the point," he told her seriously, "regardless of whether or not he did it, people believe that he did. And you would be victimised because of it, tainted by association don't you see?"
Tanwen looked at him silently. It made sense what he was saying, she sighed.
"It's just…I guess it's stupid but I don't want him to think that I don't want to be associated with him, that I've forgotten him…I suppose that's stupid…"
"Not at all," Lupin reassured her. It was strange reassuring her that Sirius would understand as if he was still the same person that he had been so many years ago. He wanted to believe like she did in his innocence, but the evidence was overwhelming and undeniable. "He wouldn't want you to suffer for his sake."
She nodded looking at her feet, "I miss him,"
"I know."
"Do you? Do you really? Until this year I couldn't remember I didn't think that I had a father and to suddenly realise that I do and that he's alive was something that I'd only dreamed about. But there's nothing that I can do even now I know, nothing I can do to tell him I'm here, nothing I can do to be reunited with him, nothing I can do to help people to understand that he would never, never do anything like that!"
"I truly am sorry," Lupin told her, his eyes full of compassion, "I guess I don't really understand, but you can always come to talk to me if you just need someone to talk to."
She smiled her wordless thanks.
"It must be hard when everyone else is talking about him and the things that he's done when you can't say a word to defend him," he added shrewdly.
"More than you know," she replied softly as she turned and left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: mwahahaha!! How much fun was that?! Well before it got a little depressing….well I had fun writing it anyway :p Oh I have a new story started, another Harry Potter, but totally different style-more mystical and plot filled and less fun and flirtation, so if this isn't your thing check out 'The Moonlit Ones'
P.S. Review!!!!