Five arduous minutes later, they emerged at the top of the steep hill, a little out of breath. Minette sat on a chair by the fire, keeping an eye on her children, all of whom were still racing up and down the hill. Will and Lizzie were sat together on a low bench, drinking from steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
"Now either you guys were going at the same speed as a flobberworm down that hill or it's much longer on that side than ours," Will commented, spotting them.
"We crashed into a snow drift," Tanwen told him, taking a spot next to him as Cedric accepted mugs of hot chocolate from Minette.
Cedric sat next to her and handed her a mug, she took it and cautiously began to sip it.
"We stopped a little before you came up," Lizzie said, "I was fed up of having this idiot scream like a girl in my ear every time we went down." She gestured to Will and grinned as he pouted and made a face.
"She's lying," he retorted, "I think she must have been hearing herself, I have a very manly scream I'll have you know!" He cleared his throat as if to attempt to show them.
"No thanks," Tanwen said quickly, covering his mouth with one of her gloved hands.
He shoved her hands away, "that's gross, they're all wet," he protested, "you should give them to Mrs Contay to dry." Taking her hand he pulled the glove off before she could protest and then moved to the other hand.
"I'm quite capable of removing my own clothing," Tanwen replied haughtily, removing her hand, which still held the mug, out of his reach.
"Oh yeah, I forgot how apt you are at that," Will replied quickly with a sly grin, "but I like helping you take off your clothes."
"Hey!" Cedric protested, putting a protective arm round Tanwen as she placed her hot chocolate on the ground.
"Alright, alright," Will laughed, putting his hands up.
"You really need a girlfriend," Lizzie said, shaking her head at Will.
"Are you offering?" Will answered, turning to look at her suggestively.
"Sorry to burst your bubble Will, but I'm already taken," her cheeks showed the faintest hint of colour.
"Ohhh!" Tanwen said excitedly, "who? No, let me guess," she twisted her mouth thoughtfully, her mind running over possible solutions. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Minette smile discreetly. "Alex!"
Lizzie nodded, turning even more pink. Tanwen thought it really odd to see her so uncharacteristically discomposed, she was normally so cool headed.
"He's a good guy," Cedric commented approvingly.
"But I bet he has no idea about the firecracker he's taken on," Will said, ruffling Lizzie's hair.
"Hey, don't touch the hair," she ordered, batting his hands away, which just made him more determined to mess it up.
"Hands off my friend," Tanwen told him, leaning forwards and grabbing his arms. Of course she wasn't strong enough to hold them back fully. Lizzie took hold of them too and together they wrestled to hold him still. All their struggling unbalanced them and all three fell backwards into the snow laughing. Cedric watched them laughing too, he had jumped to his feet just in time to avoid being thrown to the ground by the toppling bench.
"Get these mad women off me!" Will yelled, fighting from his back to keep both girls at arms length.
"Who said they were the mad ones?" Alex asked, coming up over the hill to watch the fight, an amused expression on his face.
"I expect you probably deserved it," observed Blake with a grin.
"I never deserve it!" Will protested.
"You… always… do!" panted Tanwen as he grasped hold of both her wrists and forced them into one of his hands.
Jon and Sinea came up from the other side, Jon holding his little sister with one arm and dragging the sled with the other.
"Why are they fighting?" Sinea asked her older brother as he put her down.
"Because Tanwen's a little vixen," replied Jon with a grin.
"What's a vixen?" she asked her mother as she ran over to get a hot drink.
"A female fox," Minette replied, bending to give her youngest a small mug of chocolate, carefully cooled so she wouldn't burn her toungue.
"Why does Jon think Tanwen's a fox?" she asked, a bemused expression on her face.
Minette laughed.
"She's not even the same colour as a fox," Sinea continued, her brow furrowed with intense concentration as she tried to understand Jon's meaning.
The others started to laugh now and Will stopped fighting with the two girls who abruptly fell onto him, causing him to laugh even more. Smiling, Alex held out a hand to Lizzie to help her stand. She took his hand and got to her feet. They didn't let go of each other afterwards.
Cedric grinned at Lizzie as he helped Tanwen to her feet. Jon winked conspiratorially at his twin who rolled his eyes in return.
"Now that you're almost all drenched I think it's time to go inside," Minette said, smiling at the group stood around her, "Take them in through the snow room," she told the twins, turning to put out the fire and then float the furniture back to the house. Sinea sat herself on one of the benches, giggling merrily as it lifted off the ground.
"This way," Jon said, leading the way back down. Together they walked down as a big group chatting and laughing as they went.
Reaching the manor Alex, who was at the front of the group now with Lizzie, pushed open a large maroon door and lead the way into a small room. It was stuffy and extremely hot.
"It's like a sauna in here!" Tanwen exclaimed, pealing off her coat.
"A what?" The others asked interestedly.
"Honestly, am I the only one who knows anything about the muggle world?"
"You can admonish us for not knowing the finer points of the muggle world later," Alex said, interrupting several of the others who were about to protest or question Tanwen. "You can take your clothes off behind the screens and then place them in the large red box on the same side. They should be dry after that, Tanwen and Lizzie on the right, the rest of us on the left."
"I would ordinarily suggest communal changing, but for one thing if my mother came in she would string me up from the rafters and for another two guys in this room might decide to lynch me," Jon added with a grin.
"And I don't really want to go to Azkaban for fratricide," Alex added, with a smile at Lizzie.
Lizzie smiled back and taking Tanwen's arm walked round the cream screen that ran almost the whole way behind the right hand wall. The boys walked behind the one on the other side.
Behind the screen was a long bench and several hooks hanging on the wall. As Alex had said, there was a large red box in the middle with brass hinges. As Tanwen and Lizzie started to remove their wet garments she could hear the boys bickering on the other side of the room, something about people accidentally hitting each other as they took their clothes off and there not being enough room. Tanwen laughed and grinned at Lizzie,
"So," she whispered, "how long have you and Alex been dating?"
"Almost a month," she replied, taking care to lower her voice so the others couldn't hear, "he was so adorable, he asked me to help him with an extra assignment he was working on for Sprout down at the greenhouse. And when we got there he had the whole of greenhouse two covered in brightly coloured plants all in full bloom!"
"Awww!" Tanwen made a high pitched squeaking sound.
"What's going on over there?" Jon called noisily from the other side.
"None of your business!" Tanwen called back.
"Girl stuff," Lizzie added, with a grin.
"That means they're regretting the segregation," Jon commented sagely.
The girls snorted and turned back to whispering, putting their wet clothes in the basket and sitting down on the benches in their underwear.
"Then what happened?" Tanwen asked eagerly in a hushed voice.
"Well he asked if I would be his girlfriend," Lizzie continued in a bashful tone, "he said that if I didn't feel the same it was ok but," she turned a bright shade of pink, "he thought I was the most amazing girl and he'd really liked me since the second year!"
Tanwen made the squeaking sound again and clapped her hands, "that is sooo cute!!" She fidgeted gleefully, happy that someone finally understood how great Lizzie was.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Tanwen asked.
"I don't know, I wanted to keep it a secret for a while," she shrugged, "he's the first boyfriend I've ever had and well you know what Will and Cedric are like, I didn't want to be teased mercilessly unless I was sure that I wanted to be in a relationship."
"And are you?"
She nodded and grinned, "he's a really good kisser!"
They giggled girlishly.
"What are you two talking about?" Will called.
"Nothing, nothing," Tanwen dismissed in a singsong voice.
There was a loud ping and the lid of the basket flew open.
The girls both screamed and jumped to their feet. From the other side of the room they could clearly hear the guys dissolve into laughter.
Feeling stupid they pulled out their newly dried clothes and pulled them on. The same ping sounded across the room and they knew the guys were almost done. Smoothing their hair, and making use of the brush and mirror on the wall, Lizzie and Tanwen walked round the other side. Alex and Blake were just coming round the partition.
Remembering Lizzie's words again, Tanwen grinned at Alex, throwing her arms round his neck and squeezing him tightly. He looked rather shocked and patted her awkwardly, sending Cedric a bemused look as he came out from behind the screen.
Lizzie giggled and grinned broadly at Tanwen as she let go of Alex.
"What's going on?" Jon demanded as he emerged, "Why don't I get a hug too?"
"Because you're a cocky peacock," Tanwen retorted, walking over to Cedric and kissing him on the cheek.
Jon made a spluttering noise, "p-tch, well you're a hyperactive squirrel, all that squeaking."
"Can we trade childish insults in a different room?" Blake asked, "I'm about to melt."
*********
Half an hour later they were all sprawled out on large cushions and sofas in the large room that joined Jon and Alex's rooms together. Lizzie was sat on Alex's lap in a large armchair, chatting quietly, both colouring imperceptibly when coming under the others' scrutiny. Jon, Blake and Will were engaged in a heated discussion about who was going to win the Quidditch House Cup in the centre of the room. Next to the fire Cedric reclined onto a huge squishy cushion, Tanwen resting comfortably in his arms. He was playing with her long hair a thoughtful expression on his face as she contentedly watched the crackling flames leaping in the grate. A wizarding radio was softly piping out tunes in the background.
Outside in the hall a grandfather clock struck five and the sky outside the window had mellowed to a dusky grey. The only thing disturbing the peacefulness of the evening was the passionate debate going on between the three boys in the middle of the room.
Shaking her head slightly Tanwen lifted her head of Cedric's chest and spoke to them, "Chill guys, you'd better stop this 'discussion' before it turns into an all out row. Or at least continue it another time."
They paused and looked at her.
"Besides," she added, "none of you are on the Quidditch teams anyway."
"Ok then, if you're such an authority on Quidditch little miss chaser, who do you think'll win?" Jon asked, grinning at her.
"At the moment I'm off duty," Tanwen replied laying her head back down, "and there are more important things on my mind." She wasn't going to allow him to draw her into the discussion.
Jon's eyes flickered over the position she was in and said, "suit yourself," before getting up to take a pack of exploding snap from a bookcase near the door to Alex's room.
Tanwen frowned at his abruptness, but dismissed it quickly. The shape of a large flying object headed for the window caught her attention and she got to her feet to see it.
"What is it?" Cedric asked from his position on the floor.
Tanwen squinted through the snow that had gently begun to fall, "Erm…an owl." She fiddled with the clasps on the window trying to get it open for the owl now perched on the sill outside, an envelope in its beak. But, not matter how she struggled she couldn't get it open.
Jon crossed the room grinning and came to stand next to her, "having trouble?"
"No," Tanwen replied obstinately, tugging at the window.
Will snorted behind her.
She felt a grin begin to spread across her face as she realised how stupid she must look.
Jon laughed, "look, hands go here," he took her hand in his and placed it over the clasp, positioning her index finger over a small circle on it, "and here," his other hand pressed her other hand to the other clasp, "then push the knobs in," he said, applying pressure to her index fingers. There was a click and the window was released. Jon grinned and moved her hands to the edge of the window, "now you lift up-"
"-yes, thank you Mr Contay," Tanwen replied a small grin on her face as she tried to tug her hands out of his, "I'm not stupid, I think I can manage to lift the window up myself!"
Jon raised an eyebrow and was about to answer when the owl flew in through the window, which was now open enough for him to fly in. It manoeuvred past them into the room. Tanwen pulled her hands free of Jon's and turned to the owl now hovering behind her. It dropped an envelope at her feet and then with a soft hoot flew back out the open window. As she picked up the letter and broke the seal Jon shut the window.
She sat herself back down next to Cedric and was about to start to read when she noticed the expression on his face, "What is it?" she asked.
He was frowning darkly, "Nothing," he replied abruptly, he got to his feet and turned to Jon, "can you show me where the bathroom is?"
"Sure," Jon replied slowly, "it's just down the-"
"-I really would prefer you to show me," Cedric cut in.
"Oh…ok," Jon answered, and lead him towards the door.
Once they were both gone, Lizzie turned to Tanwen, "What was that about?"
"I have no idea," she shrugged, turning her attention to the letter in her hands.
Will caught Lizzie's eye and nodded meaningfully at Tanwen, Lizzie's mouth opened silently in an 'o' of surprise. Blake was about to ask what was going on but Will interrupted him with, "How about another game of exploding snap?"
Alex whispered something in Lizzie's ear to which she nodded. Tanwen remained oblivious to the weird behaviour of her friends as she read. It was a letter from Fleur, one of her friends from Beauxbatons. Fleur could be arrogant and precious at times, and often this was all people saw in her, but Tanwen had been in her year and had got to know her better than most. As much as she loved her new life at Hogwarts she still missed her friends in France.
A small smile played on her face as she read about the normal Fleur style gossip about who was dating who and the latest fashion faux pas. As she reached the bottom, Tanwen realised Will was speaking to her, "desolé, qu'est-ce que tu a dit?"
"Eh, what?" Will responded, a bemused expression on his face.
"English Tanwen, English," Lizzie said grinning.
"Ooops, sorry," Tanwen apologised, smiling too.
Will was about to repeat his question when the two boys came back in. It was hard to say which of them looked more angry.
"What's going on?" Tanwen asked looking from one to the other.
"Ask him," Jon answered curtly, walking straight past them into his room, slamming the door behind him.
"Cedric?" Tanwen turned to her boyfriend questioningly.
"Excuse me," Alex said to Lizzie as he motioned for her to move, "I think I'd better go cool down my brother."
"Sure," Lizzie agreed.
Alex paused at the door to Jon's room, "I you two want some space Lizzie, Blake and Will can go to my bedroom." Then he walked into the room.
Will, Blake and Lizzie quickly took up his offer and left the room leaving Tanwen and Cedric alone.
"What it is?" Tanwen asked, confused.
"I just had a word with your friend," he began, his arms folded defensively across his chest, "I don't like the way he acts towards you."
"What?" Tanwen stuttered incredulous.
"Don't act like that Tanwen, you know what I mean, he's always flirting with you!"
"That's just his way, he's like that with everyone," she responded, not quite grasping the point Cedric was making.
"You must see it!" Cedric replied frowning, "he acts different towards you, I thought it was just normal behaviour for the player he is too at the beginning, but I'm not blind you know!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied, tapping her foot irritably, "was that why the two of you went out? What did you say to him?" She asked suspiciously.
"I told him to keep away from you," Cedric answered defiantly.
"You told him what?! Cedric, Jon's one of my best friends, you can't go threatening my friends like that!"
"Why not, you're my girlfriend and he's acting as if you were one of his- his…conquests."
"Conquests?!" Tanwen glared at him, "yes I'm your girlfriend Cedric, but that doesn't mean you own me!"
"I see the way you flirt back!" he threw back at her.
"I do not-"
"You do so!"
"What are you saying?" She asked, crossing her arms too and narrowing her eyes, "just what are you accusing me of?"
Cedric stared at her angrily.
"I've never, never been unfaithful to you," she said in a dangerously quiet tone, "And I never would, but if you can't accept the way I behave- well, I'm sorry but that's just the way I am Cedric. I can't stop being me just because it makes you uncomfortable!"
"I'm not asking you to stop being you," Cedric retorted crossly, "I'm just saying that-"
"That what Cedric? That you don't trust me? That you don't like the way I pay any other male attention other than you?" Tanwen was really angry by now, she didn't think she'd done anything wrong and he was being so unreasonable!
"Now hold on just one second," Cedric said heatedly, "I never said any of those things!"
"No? But that's what it comes down to isn't it?" Tanwen challenged.
"Why are you being so difficult? I didn't want to have an argument about this!"
"No, you just wanted me to comply with your request. I suppose you were going to go on and tell me you didn't want me to be friends with Jon any more."
Cedric opened and closed his mouth, a guilty expression on his face.
"You were! I can't believe you!!" Tanwen cried, her face flushed, "You can't order me around Cedric! I won't change because you tell me to and I won't cut of my friends just because you don't like attractive guys paying me attention!"
"I thought you cared what I thought," Cedric replied bitterly, "And I don't think I'm being unreasonable!"
Tanwen took several deep breaths, "look Cedric, this is it- this is me. I've not lied to you or done things behind your back but yes I will joke around with my friends and if you don't like the 'package' then maybe you should be with someone else."
Cedric took a step backwards in shock and stared at her for a moment, studying her angry and defiant expression. "Fine," he snapped, "maybe I should." He span on his heel and stormed out the door, it slammed loudly behind him.
Tanwen watched him go in astonishment, what had just happened? She sat down abruptly on the nearest chair. She'd thought things were going well between them, this had come completely out of the blue. But if that was really what he thought about her then maybe they were better off apart, she couldn't be anybody other who she was.
The room was completely silent, she couldn't even hear the other in the rooms either side of her. She sat motionless for a moment, feeling tears stinging her eyes, she blinked them back and swallowed hard.
'I'm not going to cry,' she told herself choking back a sob.
There was a soft knock on the door Cedric had just left by and Tanwen looked up. Minette's head peaked round the corner, "Is everything alright? I just had an angry young man leave-" she stopped seeing Tanwen sat on her own, "oh my dear, did you two have a fight?"
Tanwen sniffed and nodded. Minette came into the room and knelt beside her, giving her a hug.
"What happened, you two seemed to be getting on famously?"
"I thought so too," Tanwen replied softly, she had no intention of telling Minette the reason they broke up. Not that Jon was the main reason really, it was just the principle of the whole thing. If Cedric couldn't accept her for who she was then no matter how much she loved spending time with him it would never work. She couldn't spend all her time trying to change herself to please him. "I think I'd like to go home," she said, "can you tell the others I've gone they're just next door; Alex and Jon are in Jon's room and the others are in Alex's room."
"Of course dear if that's what you want," Minette replied, gently squeezing her.
Tanwen nodded and stood up, "thank you for having me," she said politely.
"You're very welcome," Minette said smiling softly, "I hope next time you come you can leave happier. You go on home and I'll tell the others you've gone."
Tanwen nodded and walked to the door.
"Oh and Tanwen,"
She turned back.
"Here," she waved her wand and a large bar of chocolate appeared in the air next to her, she sent it over to Tanwen, "I always found chocolate a good comfort when I had relationship troubles."
Tanwen smiled her thanks and walked out into the hall and headed off home.
************************************
A/N: Ohhh so Tanwen and Cedric have broken up, I bet not one of you guys guessed that! It was kind of a shock to me to when I was writing this, but it just seemed like what would happen, there's been underlying tension between Jon and Cedric before and it all just came to a head in a massive row.
Soooo, what'll happen next? Of course I know, but what do you guys think, I like to hear what you think might happen. Oh and Katelyn, that guy wasn't Sirius, he still thinks Tanwen's dead, it was a random creepy guy that came into my head and demanded to be written about.
Anyway, next chapter's called 'Tilly's Trinkets' and an interesting new plot thread gets added.