"Your first visit to Hogsmeade tomorrow," said Cassie excitedly as she sat on her bed brushing her hair.
"Not really," replied Tanwen, "I've been before early on in the summer, a couple of weeks after you broke up I think."
"Oh, really?"
Tanwen nodded.
"But you haven't been to the Halloween feast before," said Marcia as she joined them, "I love it, the food and the pumpkin juice…"
"You and your food Marcia," laughed Tanwen.
"Hey!"
"Hogsmeade is where people meet up when they're on dates isn't it?" Tanwen asked with a sly glance at Lou.
"Yeah," replied Cassie.
"So Lou," began Tanwen turning to grin mischievously at her friend, "will you be meeting Dom there?"
Lou blushed, "No…I don't know,"
"But you would like him to, hmm I bet we could get him to ask you," said Tanwen winking at the other two, "if you wanted."
"I…I…" stammered Lou reddening.
"Ohh that means yes!" yelled Marcia excitedly
"But the visit's tomorrow," began Cassie doubtfully.
"Well I'll just go and see him now and tell him," replied Tanwen decisively.
"But we aren't allowed in the boys' dorms," protested Cassie.
"Well," said Tanwen as she rose and headed towards the door, "if I stand in the hallway then technically I'm not in the boys' dorms am I?"
"I'd love to see that girl made a prefect," said Marcia laughing as Tanwen closed the door behind her.
Grinning to herself Tanwen slipped out into the deserted common room and began to climb up the stairs the other side. About halfway up a sign on the door announced, 'Fourth Year Boys', she knocked.
"Hello," she said brightly as Dave appeared in his boxers.
He yelped and hid behind the door, "What do you want? You're not supposed to be in the boy's dorms!"
"Well, as I explained to the girls, I'm not really in your dorm am I? I'm in the hallway. And I want to speak to Dom, is he there?"
"Yeah, hang on a sec," he grabbed a dressing gown off the end of his bed and walked over to the bathroom, knocking on the door he called, "Dom, visitor for you,"
The door stood open, Leo and Chris were sat on their beds, both of them wore pyjamas, Mark was wearing a T-shirt with 'Green Day' emblazoned across the back in large green letters. Jon lay on his bed wearing a pair of very interesting boxers. They were black with hundreds of pictures of pink kiss marks all over them. "Hi." She waved at them as Dave crossed the room back towards her, "nice boxers" she told Jon.
"Would you like to add your own mark?" he asked her smirking, "I think there's a little bit of space here," he said pointing.
Tanwen did not follow his directing and turned to Mark instead, "nice t-shirt."
The others laughed.
"Dom'll be right out, I think he's having a shower," Dave told her.
"Ok, thanks," she smiled, "Oh, I just remembered, have you done that essay for Sprout yet?"
"Nah, it's not due 'til next week," he replied.
"Excellent, I hate Herbology, plants just seem to have this instinctive antipathy towards me,"
Dom emerged from the bathroom rubbing his hair with a towel, "Oh hi Tanwen," he said as he walked over. He too it seemed only wore boxers to bed- normal boxers, but seemed rather less concerned about being seen in them than Dave. "What's up?" he asked.
Tanwen glanced at the others who were watching them with interest and grabbed his arm pulling him into the hallway, pulling the door half shut. Then she produced a camera from her pocket and put a finger to her lips motioning for Dom to be silent.
Then she opened the door again,
"Oh, and Jon-" he looked up, "smile," she snapped several shots of him in his oh-so-very-attractive boxers, "payback time!"
Grinning smugly she shut the door again, and turned to Dom who was smirking.
"Want a bit of privacy do we?" he winked at her.
"Ugh, honestly Dom, do you have any sense of modesty?"
"Well no, not really," he admitted.
"This isn't about me Mr Modesty, it's about Lou," she began.
"Oh,"
"Yeah, well to put it simply you like her right?"
"I guess so,"
"I guess so?"
"Well yeah then,"
"Right, well I know she likes you too, so you should just ask her to meet up with you in Hogsmeade then."
"Ask her out you mean?"
"Yes Genius,"
"Ok then," he replied, "I'll ask her at breakfast," he grinned, "like playing the matchmaker don't you?"
"Yeah," she giggled, "I obviously have a natural flair."
"What about your own love life then?"
"Oh, I don't do matchmaking for myself, that's weird."
"But any action?"
"Action? Honesty Dom, what a romantic you are,"
"Hey, easy on the sarcasm, I only meant was there anyone special?"
"No, not at the moment,"
"What about Diggory? You guys are pretty pally-pally,"
She smiled enigmatically.
"Ah I knew it, I knew you fancied him! Just wait 'til I tell Jon! He'll be so disappointed."
"Shut up!"
"What's going on?" Fred and George emerged on the stairs above them, "a little mid-night escapade?"
"Escapade? What are you talking about?" sighed Tanwen, "I just wanted a word with Dom,"
They glanced at the fourth year standing in the hall with dripping hair, a towel round his neck and boxers and grinned mischievously, "Wouldn't even let you put your clothes on huh?"
"Ugh, you two!" Tanwen marched up the stairs and poked them in the chest, "Just go back to bed."
"Come and visit us instead," suggested Fred as he grabbed her arm.
"Good plan," agreed George taking hold of her other arm.
"Hey!" objected Tanwen as they pulled her into their dorm, "Dom help me!" she glanced back over her shoulder at him.
"I don't know," he mused, "this is kinda entertaining."
"Men," she postulated, "can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em," Having dragged her into the room the twins let go of her arms, "Hi guys," she said to the others who looked at her in surprise. "What is it with you guys? Do girls never come up here?"
"Well no, not really, it's not allowed," admitted Jordan, "Which is all the more reason why you should be here," he added grinning.
"Welcome to our humble abode," said Fred grandly, bowing.
"Yeah, it's great but I should be getting back," she said darting round him and opening the door, "I'll see you guys around," she grinned and started to run down the stairs.
"Hey the prisoner's getting away!" shouted George as he and Fred ran out the door behind her.
Laughing Tanwen ran down the stairs, waving to the fourth years through the open door on her way past, "Night," she called. Reaching the bottom she wrenched open the door and ran into the common room. Fred and George emerged just behind her, grinning she opened the door the other side and began to climb them at speed. Glancing back she noticed they were still following her.
Reaching her room she quickly opened the door and ran in, breathless. Closing it she turned the key and leant against it.
"This isn't over Miss Gray," warned Fred from the outside as he tried, with no success, the door. "The War is just beginning!"
"War?" asked George, "what are you talking about?"
"Ok well not really war, but you know what I mean…" Their voices receded as they headed back to their room.
"Done," she declared dramatically to her roommates as she threw herself onto her bed. "And I got an extra little thing." She waved her camera, "did you know that Jon wears a pair of boxers with pink kisses all over them?"
The others laughed, "I can't wait to see that!" said Cassie, before colouring, "I mean...err...not that...sheesh..." she hit herself on the head.
"Yeah, stop digging Cassie, I think you've almost reached Australia," Marcia told her grinning.
The next morning dawned bright and very early for Tanwen, who was woken up by Lou tripping over some of her books in her hurry to get into the shower.
"Up early to give extra preening time?" Tanwen asked with a yawn as she sat up and rubbed her eyes blearily.
"Not preening," replied Lou colouring slightly, "just err…umm…going to have a shower." She concluded lamely before exiting swiftly for the bathroom.
Tanwen grinned to herself as she stretched and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. As usual, Loki didn't get up when she did, and instead curled up in the warm spot she had left in the bed. Pulling on her dressing-gown Tanwen slipped on her fluffy pink slippers and went to look out of the window. The pale morning light lit up the grounds below and the sun's rays danced across the motionless surface of the lake. The Forbidden Forest was still very dark, even in the sun and Tanwen wondered if it ever stopped having that dark and forbidding air, but given its name she guessed not.
Ten minutes later when Lou emerged from her shower Tanwen went to take her own just as the others were beginning to stir.
They had just reached the bottom of the marble staircase when she felt someone touch her shoulder lightly. She turned to see Cedric, "Good Morning," she said smiling.
"Morning," he replied, "can I speak to you for a second?" he asked. Marcia and Cass nudged each other and grinned broadly.
"We'll see you inside," Marcia said with a wink.
"What's wrong with them?" Tanwen asked as they disappeared out of sight. The Entrance Hall was empty now except from her and Cedric.
He rubbed the back of his neck as if he felt uncomfortable about something. Tanwen looked at him expectantly.
"I was wondering if you would maybe come for a drink with me in Hogsmeade," he said looking hopefully at her.
"Oh," replied Tanwen blushing slightly, "you mean-"
"Yeah, I want you…I'd like you to be my girlfriend," he told her twisting his hands nervously.
Tanwen smiled, "I'd like that," she told him, "I'd like that a lot."
Cedric breathed a visible sigh of relief; Tanwen smiled and did an inward skip of glee.
"Can't believe you were so worried about it mate," said Will as he emerged from the corridor behind them and clapped Cedric on the shoulder. "With those good looks you had nothing to worry about…" he paused and frowned, "and that came out a lot more gay that it sounded in my head."
Tanwen laughed and grinned at Cedric.
"Ignoring Mr Word-wizard over here, I'll meet you at 12 outside The Three Broomsticks ok?"
"Sure."
She went and sat down at her table next to Marcia and Cassie who looked at her expectantly. Tanwen sat down and smiling helped herself to toast.
"Ah another one deserted the ranks of the bachelorettes," sighed Marcia.
"Did he ask you?" asked Lou quietly leaning across the table.
Tanwen nodded and smiled happily, "You?" Lou blushed, nodded too and looked down at her food. Dom, who sat to Lou's right, winked at her.
"You talking about Diggory right?"
"Maybe," replied Tanwen in a voice which blatantly said yes.
He grinned at her, "What did I tell you? I knew he had the hots for you, has done for ages I'd say."
"You know," said Tanwen with a sudden realisation, "he's just about the person I've known for the longest here."
"Who've you known for longer?" asked Cassie in between mouthfuls.
"Err," Tanwen thought desperately about how to not reveal all about her and Harry, it would be a pretty big bombshell to drop at breakfast, 'oh by the way, I spent the first three years of my life growing up with Harry Potter.' "Oh I'm sure there's someone I've known for longer," she said, 'wonderful' she thought to herself, 'that was such a good reply!' "Is everyone done with breakfast?"
"You're so odd sometimes," commented Marcia, shaking her head. Tanwen shrugged.
After breakfast Marcia and Cassie queued up with her in the Entrance Hall, Lou was with Dom a little way back. Glancing back she noticed Harry walking back up the stairs, she guessed that he hadn't got his permission slip signed. Thankfully, she hadn't needed to get one for Hogwarts as she still had the equivalent from Beauxbatons. Otherwise she would probably be joining Harry.
Several minutes later they were walking down the path towards Hogsmeade.
"Brr, it's cold," complained Cassie rubbing her arms.
"Maybe, but just look around," replied Tanwen looking around dreamily, "everything's so beautiful, the light frosting on the bare twigs, the grass heavy with the early morning dew sparkling in the…what?"
Cassie and Marcia were looking at her as though they thought she was mad.
"It's just a cold Halloween morning," said Marcia, "and the sooner we get inside the shops the better."
Tanwen laughed, "if you're that cold we could run." She grabbed each of their hands and began to run down the slope.
"Sorry!" she yelled to the people they collided with on the way down. The path was really quite steep and as they ran they got faster and faster until Tanwen thought that her body was going to finally overtake her feet.
"I can't stop!" screamed Cassie.
"I'm going to fall!" shouted Marcia.
There were several screams as the three of them collided with Dave, Chris and Leo.
"Easy!" said Leo, steadying Tanwen, who had crashed into him, as he managed just to stay on his feet; Marcia's human barrier had been Chris who hadn't had the fortune to stay upright and the two of them lay in a heap on the ground. Cassie was clinging to Dave who had also managed to stay standing.
Tanwen was laughing so hard she could barely breathe, doubled over she held on to Leo's arm to steady herself. Marcia was laughing too and Cassie looked as though she was trying very hard not to.
"That's an interesting game you've got there," said Dave grinning at the three of them.
Taking deep breaths Tanwen straightened and held out her hand to help up the two on the ground. After getting up Marcia said matter-of–factly, "shall we go to Honeydukes?"
"Good plan," agreed Cassie, "see you later guys."
Linking arms with the two Tanwen waved to Dave, Chris and Leo and together they walked to the famous sweetshop. Passing Jon on the way, who was surrounded by an eager looking pack of girls. He waved jauntily to them, a grin on his face.
At ten to twelve Tanwen bid the other two 'goodbye' and left them in the clothes shop she had spent so much money in during the summer. She walked out into the street and headed for The Three Broomsticks. A little way in front of her she noticed Mark entering with that Slytherin girl, Desdemona and smiled to herself.
Cedric was already waiting for her.
"I hope you haven't been waiting long, it's cold out," she said as she reached him.
"Not really," he replied, "do you want to go have lunch somewhere else? You can eat here but there's a little place I know about five minutes from here which I think is nicer."
"Sure, whatever you like,"
Cedric smiled at her and offered her his arm. Self-consciously she took it and smiled back. 'He's so cute!' she thought to herself as they walked away.
As they walked away from the main street and through the side avenues they chatted about whatever came to their minds. Tanwen had never been in this area of the village and looked around with interest as they went.
"I found this place quite by accident a year or so back," he told her, "I was just wondering through the streets when I came upon this small restaurant. I think it's quite well known among the residents though, here it is,"
They had stopped in front of a small cottage with vines growing up the walls and round the frame of a small wooden door. Walking through the door Tanwen gazed around, old wooden beams lined the ceiling and the walls seemed to be made of a white, sandy brick. There were about ten small circular tables scattered through the room with vases of delicate, pink flowers and a lantern on the top.
She smiled and looked up at Cedric, "I love this place," she told him.
"Table for two?" asked the waitress.
"Thank you," replied Cedric. She led them to a table towards the rear of the restaurant and handed them their menus.
"I think we're the only students here," Tanwen commented looking around.
"Not many people know about this," he replied, "it was such a nice place that I didn't want it becoming overrun with excitable third years. I don't think I've even been here with Will and Lizzie. Just once or twice with my parents during holidays I think."
The waitress returned and they ordered their food, which appeared amazingly quickly.
"So Miss Gray," Cedric said in an interview-like voice, "how are you settling in at Hogwarts?"
"Well," she replied in the same tone, "I really enjoy it there, and there's this one guy I met there who's been…" she searched for the word, she wanted to say 'wonderful' but that sounded way to cliché, "great,"
"And what's this young man like?" Cedric asked grinning, "good-looking?"
"I'm not just here to inflate your ego you know," she replied teasingly.
After their meal they ordered coffee and sat and talked. Before they knew it the light was fading.
"Oh my goodness!" exclaimed Tanwen looking at her watch, "it's half past five."
"Really?" replied Cedric in surprise, "when did that happen?"
After a little argument Cedric paid and they walked out into the street
There were few students left now, most had returned to the castle. On the way back they paused and sat on a low wall watching the rest of the light fade.
"I've had a really great day, you know," Cedric said.
"Me too," she replied, "thank you."
He turned and looked at her. There was a long pause. Tanwen swallowed hard, her heart was beating faster than normal. Cedric leant towards her and brushed her lips lightly with his own. She reached up and pulled him back towards her and kissed him harder entangling her fingers in his hair. He pulled away gently and took her face in his hands, softly brushing away a stray stand of hair,
"I've wanted to do that for a long time," he said throatily as he bent his head to trail a line of butterfly kisses along her neck. His breath was hot and moist against her throat.
"Mmm," she murmured into his dark hair. He looked up into her eyes they were so amazingly pure, as grey as the early morning light. She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled up next to him. He responded by encircling her with his strong arms and kissing her lightly on the top of her head, sighing contentedly.
She wondered how things could have moved so fast so quickly. This was after all only their first date but things just felt so natural and…right.
All too soon the light faded and they knew that they would have to return for the feast. Getting to their feet Cedric snaked his arm round her waist, dropping the edge of his cloak around her shoulders to keep her warm.
As they walked back up towards the castle, whose lit windows sparkled and winked at them as they approached, Tanwen said,
"I wish we were in the same house."
"Me too," Cedric agreed, he smiled in the dark, "because then I could put you on my Quidditch team and we'd have a really strong chance of wining the cup. I don't know why you aren't on Gryffindor's team anyway."
"There's more to a team than individually good players, and I might not be that much better than any of them. Anyway, they've had pretty much the same team for years and I wouldn't want to ruin the relationship they have, you should know how important that is."
"Yes, I know, but I still think Wood's making a mistake not having you- does he even know that-"
"No," she interrupted.
"You haven't told him?"
"Well, no, I just didn't think that…oh I don't know. Don't get me wrong, I love Quidditch, but I don't want to be the cause of antagonism in the team. If I joined then one of the girls would have to be dropped."
"Well maybe once we've played them I'll tell Wood what he's missing out on," replied Cedric with a smile, "but not 'til then, I don't really relish the thought of playing against you."
"That's right," she told him with a playful poke, "be afraid, be very afraid."
They had reached the Entrance Hall; Cedric opened the door and held it open for her before following her through. It was full of people coming down to the feast chatting excitably.
"I guess we don't really have time to drop these off," commented Cedric as he took his cloak off and folded it over his arm.
"I guess not," replied Tanwen following his example.
They went their separate ways once in the Hall, each going to their respective tables. Tanwen sat down between Dave and George opposite Marcia and Cassie, all of whom were in very high spirits.
"Get lost did you?"
"Loose track of the time?"
"Soo nice of you to make it,"
The snide comments were endless, but all in good humour.
The food was delicious and however much people ate there always seemed to be more there. The room was filled with festive decorations, hundreds of candle filled pumpkins were scattered all over the place and a cloud of live bats fluttered over head amidst flaming orange streamers that floated lazily through the air.
Once it was over they rose together and trod the familiar path back to the common room. Tanwen waved to Cedric as she passed his table where he was still waiting for Will to finish.
It had been a perfect end to the perfect day; as Tanwen walked contentedly along the corridor she thought that almost nothing could spoil it.
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A/N: I don't think I can keep going with this story to the end; although I do have a lot more chapters that I can post as in about 200word pages more^__^ but I don't know how to give it a definite ending and also given what happens in Order of the Phoenix, which I am NOT going to talk about for those of you who haven't read it yet (all I'm going to say is I'm in deep emotional pain *sob*), I'm not sure if I can bring myself to write more. But, if you want to see the other stuff I've written I will continue to post it. Thoughts? Still interested? If I get a lot of interest I might try to keep going, if only a few I'll post until the end of what I've got. It's all up to you guys.