As time drew closer to Christmas Tanwen wondered what to do over the holidays. She could stay at Hogwarts, but she knew that most of her friends would go back to their families at times like this. And then there was her flat in London. But to be honest, she wasn't sure she fancied that option; it would be lonely there without the noise and bustle of her friends with only Loki for company. But whatever she decided she knew that soon the list for those staying on would come round and she'd have to know by then what she was going to do.
Two weeks before the end of term the list came round. Tanwen decided that she would go home after all. She planned to get the fireplace in her living room connected to the floo network as soon as she got back. That way she could visit her friends during the holidays, well those who were connected that was. And she had the added bonus of being away from the castle, where she was reminded daily that everyone else in the castle believed that her father was a murderer.
In fact she was quite looking forward to the holidays, she thought as she walked down the long drive towards Hogsmeade. It was the last weekend before the holidays and she, like most of the school, was taking advantage of the opportunity to search for Christmas gifts.
She was walking with her arm linked though Cedric's. Will and Lizzie were arguing good naturedly as usual next to them, and behind her she could hear Jon and Mark laughing at one of Dom's jokes.
After walking round with them for a while, visiting Honeydukes and Zonkos she met Lou, Marcia and Cassie outside Gladrags, a popular dress shop. Unsurprisingly Will and Cedric left her there, Lizzie she managed to drag along after a little persuasion.
The five of them pushed open the shop door and entered, chatting amongst themselves. Once inside she turned to them,
"Ok, the reason why I wanted you all here is to buy your Christmas presents," she informed them excitedly.
"You're not seriously saying you'll pay for dresses for all of us?" asked Cassie, disbelieving, "I mean, this shop's pretty expensive."
Tanwen frowned slightly, "it's ok really. That lady I lived with before I got my letter from Beuaxbatons paid me off. You know, she thought if she gave me enough money then it was ok for her to cast me off."
The others looked at her awkwardly.
"Come on you guys," Tanwen urged, "that was a long time ago and I'd rather put that money to good use rather than have it sitting in the bank."
They gave in and made their way to the numbered clothing racks. A floor length mirror next to the dresses told them what colours they would suit if they stood in front of it.
"Maroon or black, dear," the mirror told Marcia, "try rack four."
"Pastels I think," the mirror said to Lou, "try the pale pinks and blues, rack two."
Tanwen shoved Lizzie in front of the mirror, "a little reluctant dear?" inquired the mirror, "I'd advise dark green, rack seven, or creams- that's rack one, but not white dear, they are very hard to keep spotless."
"My turn," Cassie said, turning from examining a robe Lou had picked out.
"You do have a wide choice, you can try the same colours as your reluctant friend, or perhaps paler colours- just not too pale, it won't compliment your complexion."
As Cassie wandered off to join Lizzie, Tanwen stood in front of the mirror.
"I remember you dear," the mirror told her, "the wet girl from the beginning of summer." Tanwen grinned and nodded, "well you have changed-"
"What are you talking about?" Tanwen replied, "it's only been half a year!"
"The mirror never lies," it told her reprovingly, "now let's see- oh yes, a dark blue to match your eyes would be just lovely-rack three, or you could try the white- that's in rack one with the cream, you look more capable of keeping it clean then your reluctant friend over there."
Tanwen grinned as she went to see how her friends were getting on. Lizzie was eyeing a backless green dress dubiously, while Cassie was busy trying to convince her to try it on. Lou looked just about as reluctant to try on many dresses as her.
Tanwen grinned as a thought popped into her head, she grabbed Cassie's elbow and whispered in her ear, "Lou and Lizzie just don't know how to shop do they, I mean Marcia's doing just fine. But I think our friends need to be given a lesson in shopping."
Cassie grinned back, "I'll take Lou, you take Lizzie." She scampered off to accost Lou. Scanning through the racks she commanded, "hold out your arms," before depositing about ten dresses into Lou's surprised arms and marched her off to the changing rooms a little way behind them.
Lizzie turned to Tanwen, "I hope you don't think-"
"Of course I do," interrupted Tanwen smiling brightly, "now you'll try this one- and this one- oh and that one up on display looks good." She pulled out dresses and gave them firmly to Lizzie. Marcia laughed as she passed on her way to the changing room.
"That's what you could do when you leave Hogwarts," she said to Tanwen.
"What?" she asked pausing.
"Personal shopper," replied Marcia grinning.
Lizzie laughed, "Not mine though- remind me not to come shopping with you again!"
Tanwen ignored her and frog-marched her to the changing rooms.
Under the supervision of Cassie and Tanwen, Lou and Lizzie emerged from the changing booths after, what seemed like to Marcia, the thousandth change.
"Oh that's perfect," Cassie gushed.
"Oh yes," agreed Tanwen, nodding.
Lou was wearing a silken dress in ice blue, the sleeves were made from chiffon and practically floated around her arms. The neckline was high at the front, but more than made up for this with the bare skin that it exposed on her back.
Lizzie, who looked rather flushed, wore a forest green, velvet dress, hemmed in gold with a plunging neckline. She put her hands in front of it hissing,
"You have to be joking!"
Marcia popped her head round the curtain of her booth, "if you've got it flaunt it."
"Marcia!"
She shrugged unapologetically and vanished behind the heavy curtain again.
Lou turned to Lizzie, "you know that dress really does suit you."
Lizzie turned back to look in the mirror, "a fine choice," it approved.
"Fine, fine," conceded Lizzie, struggling to hide a smile. She was really quite pleased with how it looked, other than the fact that it was rather lower than she would have chosen herself.
Tanwen and Cassie turned their attention to finding dresses for themselves. Muffled squeaking noises could be heard coming from Marcia's booth.
"Are you alright in there?" Lou called uncertainly.
"I've just got this dress stuck over my head," panted Marcia, "I can't get it off!"
"Want a hand?"
"Erm, nah- I'll just fight with it myself for a while longer."
"We don't have to come in you know," Lizzie said ducking behind her curtain to fish out her wand.
"Oh do be careful," cautioned the mirror, "you'd better not damage the dress, are you good at Charms?"
"I'm ok," Lizzie replied modestly.
"Ok then, use these words- 'removatora'"
"Removatora," Lizzie repeated, poking her wand round the corner of Marcia's curtain.
Tanwen riffled through the racks selecting several blue and white dresses as the mirror had suggested. Cassie wasn't far behind with her own selections.
Inside the booth, which was a lot more spacious than it looked from the outside, Tanwen took of her clothes and hung them on the first peg. She turned to hang up the dresses on the other hooks circling the cubical. By the time she had done that she noticed that the peg had finished with her clothes; they were neatly arranged on hangers, pressed and spotless- it was a nice bonus about trying on clothes here.
She surveyed the dresses speculatively, before choosing a white chiffon dress. She slid it over her head.
"Eeek!" she squealed, catching sight of herself in the mirror.
"What's wrong?" Lizzie called.
"Nothing, nothing," Tanwen called back hastily. The dress looked pretty on the hanger, but on her it was completely see-through!
"Aren't you girls done yet?"
Tanwen froze in horror- that was Will's voice! Don't be stupid, she told herself, it's not as if he can see through your curtain.
"Have you got a dress on yet?" Cassie demanded.
"Yes but I'm not coming out!" replied Tanwen crossing her arms, which, she reflected, was again rather pointless.
"Why not?" asked Cedric, "aren't we guys allowed to see?"
"Not this time," she replied firmly. Making sure most of her was behind the curtain she poked her head round, "hello, it was nice of you to drop by," she disappeared again.
"Wait! What's the problem?" it was Cassie, she was wearing a peach coloured robe made from satin, it was sleeveless and shimmered when she moved.
"You look very nice," Tanwen said approvingly, peaking round the curtain again.
"Stop avoiding the question," Cassie scolded.
Tanwen beckoned her closer, "this dress is sheer!" She hissed into her ear.
"Ah," Cassie grinned, "I get it."
"Look do you have a dress on or not?" demanded Will, "'cos if you do then we want to see!"
"I bet you do!" Cassie said grinning wider.
Tanwen rolled her eyes, "wait 'til I put on a different one. This one…well, let's just say I might as well not be wearing it."
Will grinned and raised an eyebrow, "Then Cassie was right, I definitely want to see!"
"Hey!" Cedric elbowed him in the stomach, "that's my girlfriend you're talking to!"
Tanwen vanished again to change into one of the blue ones grinning to herself. As she changed she listened to what the others were saying outside.
"You look like a girl!" Will was saying to Lizzie.
"That's what I am half-wit!"
"Yeah, but now you really look like one!"
"Meaning what exactly?" Lizzie asked him in a dangerous tone, "that I don't normally?"
"You're on your own," Cedric told him laughing.
"Erm…no…I meant that…you look erm…"
Marcia snorted, "Don't even bother Griffiths."
Tanwen smoothed out the last few creases in the dress and glanced at the mirror in her cubicle to make sure it wasn't transparent before walking out to join the others. She laughed at the sight of them. Lou was standing next to Cedric, both looking highly amused; Cassie eyed Will, her face matching perfectly with Marcia's maroon dress, whilst Lizzie stood in front of Will, her hands on her hips. Will was tugging at his shirt collar, looking rather uncomfortable.
"You know I just remembered I've got an important letter to post- a matter of life and death," said Will hurriedly, eyeing Lizzie cautiously, "I'll catch you in the Three Broomsticks." And with that he dashed out the shop.
"A matter of life and death," scoffed Marcia.
"No, he's got a point, it is a matter of life and death- his," replied Cedric, he noticed Tanwen come out and paused, "That's looks…good…"
Tanwen blushed at the intensity of his gaze. Her dress was floor-length with a high slit up one side the waterfall neckline fell about as low as Lizzie's dress.
"Let's see the others," Cassie said, ignoring Cedric.
Lizzie elbowed him, "don't you know it's rude to stare."
"What? Oh right, yeah," he grinned and walked over to Tanwen.
"Eyes on face," Marcia remarked wickedly as he approached.
He coloured, "Erm, I think I'd better go catch up with Will."
"Ok, I'll catch you later," replied Tanwen, she caught Marcia's eye, she was mouthing eagerly,
"Tease him!" Tease him!"
Tanwen grinned and took a step towards Cedric. She trailed a finger up his chest slowly and looked up at him through hooded eyes, whispering huskily, "are you sure you want to go?"
He swallowed hard, "Errr…" his voice wavered.
"Come on Diggory!" Will had reappeared, he stopped and grinned wickedly, "unless you're busy that is." He winked at Tanwen, "nice dress, still think you should have shown us the other."
"I'm coming," replied Cedric slightly distantly, still staring at Tanwen. Will grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away.
"Happy shopping girls," he called as the two of them left.
Marcia was doubled over with silent laughter, Tanwen grinned at them, "I'll go and try one of the others."
Several tries later they all had their dresses. Tanwen carried them over to the counter to pay.