And before she knew it they were drawing in the King's Cross station and Mark was gently shaking her awake. The train was filled with bumping and crashing as trunks were dragged to the doors. As the others in her compartment scrabbled to get ready Tanwen glanced at them all affectionately; she was really going to miss them all.
"Planning on staying on the train?" Mark asked her with a smile.
She smiled back and rose to collect her things.
Out on the platform Tanwen stood with Marcia, Lou and Cassie who had joined them, while the guys lifted their trunks down.
"Who's coming to pick you up?" Cassie asked as she scanned the waiting crowd for her parents.
"No-one," replied Tanwen.
"What?" Cassie turned back to her.
"Why not?" asked Marcia.
Tanwen shrugged, "I live alone,"
"What?" The guys had finished carrying down the trunks and had come to say their goodbyes.
"Tanwen says she lives by herself," Lou said, going to Dom for a hug.
"Is that even allowed?" asked Dave.
"I don't know, maybe, maybe not," replied Tanwen.
"Probably not," Jon added with a grin.
A tiny girl with long raven hair came running along the platform to collide with Jon's legs, she looked about four. She hugged them tightly, "Jon!"
He smiled broadly and bent down to pick her up. She wrapped her arms round his neck and gave him a kiss.
"This everyone is Sinea, my baby sister," he introduced her to the others.
"I'm not a baby," she replied petulantly. Then she caught sight of Loki at Tanwen's feet, "that's a funny looking cat."
Tanwen grinned and picking up Loki stepped closer to Jon, "He's not a cat, he's an Argus."
"What's an Argus?" Sinea asked, then without waiting for a reply, "can I pet him?"
"Hey petal," it was Alex, he was pushing his trunk on a trolley.
"Alex!" Sinea held out her tiny arms to him.
Alex lifted her out of his twin's arms and hugged her tightly.
"She has an Argus," Sinea told him, pointing at Tanwen. "I want one."
Jon winked at Tanwen. She smiled back and after Alex had placed Sinea on the top of his trunk placed Loki on her lap.
"You can hold him."
Sinea squealed and hugged him tightly, Loki made a choking sound.
"Gently, gently," Jon told his sister, smiling.
Tanwen spotted Cedric waving her over from a short way away, "I'll be back in a minute," she told the others as she made her way over to him. Alex followed saying there were some friends he wanted to say goodbye to as well. He headed over to join Lizzie and some of his other year mates.
As Tanwen reached him Cedric kissed her softly, "I'm going to miss you," he told her.
"Ditto," she hugged him tightly, "I'll be round to visit though, I'm getting connected to the Floo Network as soon as I go back."
"Well then, I'll be expecting many visits. I know that it isn't technically Christmas yet, but I wanted to give you your present now," he turned and picked up a cage from behind him. It contained a small silver-grey owl. Its eyes were large and bronze and matched its curved beak. It clicked a greeting.
Tanwen turned pink with pleasure and threw her arms round Cedric's neck, "Thank you!"
He laughed, "I'm expecting her to be well used," he told her grinning. She nodded and took the cage from him, "Look, I'd better get going, my parents' are waiting."
"Ok," she kissed him again, "see you soon."
"Definitely," he grasped the handle of his trolley and pushed it over to his waiting parents. She felt a pang of envy as his father clapped him on the back and his mother hugged him affectionately.
"Tanwen!" Cassie came running up to her, "I've got to go now," she hugged her tightly, "oh did Cedric give you an owl?"
Tanwen nodded.
"I'm hoping my parents' will get me one for Christmas,"
They bid each other farewell and Cassie ran to where her parents stood with her trolley.
She walked back to the group, on her way bidding goodbye to Lizzie, Will and many of her other friends'. Finally the only ones left were her, Jon, Alex and their little sister. Together they pushed their trolleys over to where their mother stood near the exit.
"Do you really live by yourself?" Alex asked as they walked.
"Yep, just me and Loki."
"What about your mummy and daddy?" Sinea asked twisting round to see her.
"I-I-I don't know what happened to them," Tanwen replied, which was close to the truth, if not exactly correct.
"Did you lose them?" the little girl replied, "I did that once."
"In a manner of speaking," replied Tanwen with a sad smile.
"That's enough," Jon told his little sister, "no more interrogating my friends."
"What's interrorating?" she asked.
"I'm sorry," Jon whispered apologetically to Tanwen.
"It's ok," she replied.
"Are you ready to go?" They had reached the twins' mother. She was tall and slim with auburn hair and large, beautiful silver eyes. Tanwen thought she was one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Her mature beauty made her feel so childlike.
"Yes mother," replied Alex.
"Ok then, let's be off, your father's at work I'm afraid, the Ministry's rather fraught at the moment." She turned to Tanwen and held out her hand, "Hello, I've not seen you before, I'd have remembered."
Tanwen smiled shyly, "I'm new, I used to go to Beauxbatons," she replied shaking her hand.
Jon stared at her, he'd never seen her act shy before. 'It's kinda cute,' he thought, grinning to himself.
"Seeing as both my sons are very rude I'll have to do the introductions myself, I'm Minette," she told her.
"Tanwen," the younger girl returned with a smile at the twins, Alex was looking a little indignant, but Jon just shrugged.
Minette glanced around, noticing Tanwen was by herself.
Sinea had gotten off the trolley and was crouched petting Loki at her mother's feet, "Tanwen's lost her parents, I think she left them in the shops."
"Not that kind of lost," Alex told his sister.
Minette looked sharply at Tanwen who was biting her lip and looking interestedly at her new owl. Jon placed a hand on her arm, she saw that too.
"How are you getting home, Tanwen?" she asked.
"Erm, taxi," replied Tanwen looking up, "I live in London."
"Would you like a lift with us?" she asked.
"On no, thank you, but I wouldn't want to be any trouble," replied Tanwen.
"It would be no trouble," replied Minette.
"Oh go on," encouraged Jon, "I want to see where you live." He grinned.
"You're always so nosy," Alex told his twin.
"Ok then, if you're sure it's not an inconvenience," said Tanwen.
"Of course not," Minette reassured her, "now, let's go."
The five of them walked through the barrier and out into the muggle world.
"So, what are you gonna call the owl?"
"Hm?" Tanwen looked up from her daydream, she was thinking about her parents, well specifically her father, she hadn't even realised Jon was still talking to her.
"I said 'what are you gonna call the owl?' have you even been listening to a word I've said?"
Apparently he hadn't shut his mouth since they walked out of Platform nine and three quarters.
"I…", she began, but was interrupted by Alex.
"Put another girl to sleep with your mindless drivel, Jon? You could at least have waited until she was somewhere more comfortable."
They rounded a corner and a deep blue sports car came into view. Tanwen raised her eyebrows as the family headed towards it.
"Umm…Jon?" she whispered.
"Yes sweetums?" He replied with a grin.
Tanwen looked scathingly at him, he held up his hands in a mock apology.
"That car's very…"
"Attractive?" suggested Jon.
"Expensive-looking?" offered Alex.
"…small"
"Ah... more to this than meets the eye, just wait and see," Alex left her side with an enigmatic grin.
"Haven't you learned not to judge a book by its cover…although one could be forgiven for doing so in my case," Jon admonished with a grin.
"Your modesty never ceases to astound me Jon."
"I know, it is one of my many fine virtues."
Tanwen decided not to dignify that with an answer and as she pushed her trolley faster over to the car, she heard Jon's soft laugh behind her and grinned.
A few minutes later all their trunks were in the boot of the sports car and Tanwen was getting into the car which, needless to say was much bigger on the inside. It looked similar to a limo on the inside and had black leather seats surrounding a small mahogany coffee table. Everything spoke of money, without being ostentatious. It was not quite as she had expected though, it did not need to be driven and when she entered the car Minette was already sat on the backseat with Sinea pouring out drinks.
"Just write the address of your house on that," she said gesturing to a silver coloured piece of parchment with a matching silver quill attached by a deep blue string. A pot of the same blue coloured ink lay next to it.
Tanwen picked up the quill as the boys clambered into the car. Alex sat next to his little sister and accepted a drink from his mother. Jon took the seat nearest her and watched over her shoulder as she wrote her address onto the silver parchment.
"Aren't you Mr. Nosy then?" Tanwen said as she put down the quill. The car started to move away.
"Just curious," he answered as he accepted a goblet of juice from his mother.
The words on the page glittered briefly and disappeared.
"And why might that be then?" she asked innocently.
"Because he secretly wants to stalk you during the Christmas Holidays," responded Alex immediately.
"I'll have you know I'm a perfectly law-abiding citizen."
"And whose law might that be?" asked Tanwen, grinning at him.
"He just doesn't want to get beaten to a pulp by Diggory," added Alex.
"Are you Amos' boy's girlfriend?" inquired Minette.
Tanwen blushed slightly, "Yes."
"How did you know that?" Jon asked his mother.
"Well other than Alex's obvious hint, Lana- that's Amos' wife- came round for coffee last week, and we were talking about how quickly our little boys are growing up-"
("Mum!" protested Jon)
"-and she was saying that Cedric talked about his girlfriend in his letters home. Apparently young Diggory's quite sweet on you."
Tanwen blushed even further.
Minette turned to her twins, her eyes twinkling "He's such a well-mannered young man, you two could learn a lot from him."
Jon scowled, but Alex said, "We get this all the time, her comparing us disadvantageously to other people's children."
"Yes," added Jon in a melodramatic voice, grinning again, "but we're never good enough!"
"Honestly, you two! You'll harass the poor girl to death before she reaches her home at this rate. Anyway, Tanwen dear, would you like orange, apple or guava juice, I'm afraid we haven't any pumpkin, I rather detest the stuff."
As the car pulled up beside the white three-storey building where she lived, Tanwen thanked Minette for the lift and the drink.
She got out of the car and was followed by Jon.
"I live on the third floor," she said and walked round to the back of the car.
"Allow me," said Jon gallantly as he opened the boot and removed Tanwen's trunk. Alex had now emerged from the car and helped Jon carry the trunk up to the door.
Tanwen fumbled in her pocket with one hand, while she held the owl's cage in the other. Minette came out of the car carrying Sinea and chivvying a rather reluctant Loki.
"I think he likes your car," said Tanwen, grinning as she walked up to the door to stand with Jon and Alex.
"I think he wants you to come home with us," said Jon grinning slyly.
"Oh stop it Jonathan, but Tanwen, really you must come and visit us whenever you want. Although I won't be surprised if we don't see you every day, the twins can be quite trying, especially Jonathan."
"Thanks mum," he responded sarcastically.
"Oh I quite agree," replied Tanwen, with a straight face.
Jon spluttered, before regaining his composure, "and here was me thinking that you were my friend," he looked injured.
"You know I love you really," Tanwen said with a smile, hugging him.
He was about say, "prove it," but stopped seeing his mother and little sister watching him. So he settled for hugging her back.
At the top of the stairs all five crowded on the small landing outside Tanwen's flat while she hastily located her key. Slotting it in the lock she twisted it and pushed the door open. The room was just as she had left it.
"You're so tidy!" Sinea said wandering in, "what's that?" she asked pointing at the TV. "And that?" she turned to the hifi system, "And that? You have a weird house."
Tanwen laughed.
"Where do you want this?" asked Jon, holding one end of her trunk, Alex had the other end.
"Umm just put it down anywhere you like." They let go immediately.
"Would you like to stay for a cup of tea?" Tanwen asked them, struggling to conceal a grin.
"No, we should get going, my husband will be home soon, he'll be wondering where we got to," replied Minette, "another time maybe."
"Ok, thank you again for you help."
"You're most welcome. Come on you three, say goodbye."
"Yes mother," Jon grimaced.
Alex grinned, "see you Tanwen, come visit soon ok?" He gave her a hug and stooped to pick up his little sister.
"Bye bye Tanwen," she said, waving.
"Last but not least, moi. Did you like my little bit of French?" asked Jon.
"Very impressive, a whole word," Tanwen grinned.
"Oh I do know a sentence," he told her, "want to hear it?"
"Say no," Alex advised her, "definitely say no. It's not suitable for delicate ears."
"Maybe another time then," she said to Jon.
He shrugged and turned so his back was to his mother, "maybe a more appropriate occasion," he grinned and raised an eyebrow suggestively.
Tanwen laughed, "Goodbye Jon," she hugged him and saw them all to the door.
Once she shut it she turned to Loki who was sat on a large cushion on the floor, "Just us again."
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A/N: Hooray, new reviewer!! Thanks for your thoughts, I agree that this has less plot than the Moonlit Ones, but I think the people have more personality, and it's fun to write!! Also, I really don't mean to sound big headed, but I think this story should have more reviews too! It takes me ages to write it all, plus my other stories have more reviews esp Moonlit Ones...and I don't think it's that bad a story either. So thanks for your support reviewers, it means a lot. J
Sorry for the long wait for this chapter, but I hoped you liked it, and the story pace does get faster from here on in- I promise!