When she got home Tanwen set to tidying up her already clean flat. She changed into shorts and t-shirt and pulled her hair back into a ponytail, pulled on rubber gloves and set to cleaning the muggle way. Every time she could feel tears welling up she would scrub harder as if somehow she could scour away the sadness growing inside her.
An hour later she had scrubbed every surface in the small flat, floors, worktops and windows. She stood in the centre of the living room, her bare knees dripping with water from her cleaning and looked around for something else to do as she pulled off the gloves and dropped them on the worktop next to multiple bottles of cleaning fluid. Loki eyed her worriedly from the sofa, making a tutting noise.
"Reply to Fleur," she muttered out loud, and set herself to replying with false cheer to her friend. However as soon as she had finished her letter and got up to find Artemis she realised that perhaps it hadn't been such a fantastic idea…Cedric had given her that for Christmas…
She sat down on the floor and started to cry, "I'm so pathetic," she sobbed, folding her arms round her knees. It was such a silly detail to get upset over. Loki lolloped down from the sofa and nudged her knees.
There was a soft puff of green smoke and Jon appeared in the empty grate. Tanwen was sobbing so hard she didn't hear him.
It was just typical of things to end up like this, Tanwen thought bitterly, once people get to know the real me they decide that it wasn't quite what they were looking for and go to find a better model.
Jon stared at her awkwardly, he'd wanted to check she was ok and to be honest, he'd expected she would have been a little upset, but not sobbing her heart out! She must really like Diggory, he thought, maybe I should have backed off a bit. I guess I didn't really think it was an issue. He ran a hand through his hair uneasily, and walked over to kneel in front of her, ruffled Loki's head and patted her awkwardly.
"Waah-" she jumped in surprise and looked up swallowing a sob, her eyes red and tear-filled.
"Hey," Jon offered weakly, "Mum told us about you and Cedric, I wanted to see if you were ok, I kinda feel like this is my fault," he rubbed the back of his neck and looked at her feet.
Tanwen gulped and tried to stop sobbing but ended up hiccupping and then crying again. She covered her face with her hands in an effort to compose herself enough to speak and stem the flow of tears. Jon sat himself next to her and pulled her close to him, softly stroking her head and rocking her, making soothing noises. Just like he did when Sinea fell over or hurt herself.
After a while her tears subsided and she managed to speak, her words punctuated with sudden hiccups, "It's not your fault. It just forced us to face something that was already a problem. It's just that I didn't expect- I never thought we'd-" she bit her lip and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Neither did I. I'm sorry," he didn't really know what to say, he wasn't used to having girls cry on his shoulder. 'I'm not really good with advice,' he thought, 'I'm better at offering witty comments. Like last year when Marcia had that messy break up with Blake all I could say was 'Smile tomorrow will be worse', I mean, what kind of advice was that?! And I really don't want to make Tanwen more upset.'
Tanwen sniffed as she wiped small rivulets of tears from her face and shivered. The apartment was icy cold, she hadn't turned the heating on and was sat on the floor in shorts and a t-shirt.
"Come on, up you get," Jon said rubbing a hand over her arms before standing up and offering her a hand, "go put some more clothes on."
"Never thought I'd hear you say that," she replied with an attempt at a smile.
"Yeah," he grinned, "I'm surprised too."
She got up and walked into her room while he wandered around looking for matches, "I'm sure that's what Revlon said to use to light a fire in Muggle Studies," he muttered to himself.
In her room Tanwen walked into the bathroom and splashed her face with cold water. Raising her head she stared at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. She looked washed out, her skin was pale and her eyes red rimmed, her hair had come half out of the tie. Sighing she pulled her hair free and ran a hand through it.
"Whatever," she muttered at her reflection and trudged back into her bedroom. Rummaging through her draws she pulled out a pair of light grey tracksuit bottoms and swapped them for her shorts. Then fished out a white fluffy jumper and put it on over her t-shirt. Then began to walk back into the living room, at the door she paused and grabbed the corner of her quilt and pulled it after her.
Loki had turned on the TV and Jon was staring at it, fascinated. He was knelt in front tapping the glass screen. Despite her mood, she couldn't help but laugh. He turned and grinned at her, "That's better. Can you light the fire? I tried, and as you can tell, failed. Matches are so hard to use!"
She gave him a half-hearted smile that disappeared as soon as she turned to light the fire. Abandoning the TV for a moment he came over to watch.
"You're rather attached to that quilt aren't you?" he asked smiling.
"It's comfy," she told him, dragging it over to the sofa.
He watched her walk over and smiled sadly, it was strange to see her like this. Tanwen was always full of life and laughter; he'd never seen her look quite so lost and vulnerable, it made him want to…do something, anything to make her laugh, to see that sparkle again in her eyes. He frowned heavily remembering that Cedric was the cause of all this, he had thought that Cedric, being the 'nice' boy he was would have treated her better.
Tanwen lifted her duvet onto the sofa and got onto her knees to fetch out a video, "Clueless or My Best Friend's Wedding?" she asked Loki, who was sat next to her on the floor.
Loki shrugged and waddled over to crawl up onto her quilt. Tanwen held the two videos for a moment before selecting 'My Best Friend's Wedding' and slotting it into the video player. She grabbed the bar of chocolate off the coffee table on her way back to the sofa and snuggled under her duvet.
"Want to watch with me?" Tanwen asked, turning to look at Jon who was still staring at her, "What?"
"Oh nothing," he replied hastily, "I just don't like to see you miserable that's all. I guess I'll stay for a while, it's that or go back to watch Lizzie and Alex eating each others faces."
Tanwen made a face, "you have such a charming way of putting things."
He shrugged and came to sit next to her, "Budge up," he said, pushing her back so she could lean forwards. He squeezed himself in at the end of the sofa and she leant back into him, "You're squishing me," he said, "wait a minute." He manoeuvred himself so his chest was facing her back and she could lean back without causing either of them discomfort. She was wrapped from shoulders to feet in her quilt, her feet resting on the armrest at the other end; Loki was sprawled out on her lap.
"No questions," Tanwen told Jon as the opening credits started to roll, "think of this as an extra credit Muggle Studies assignment. One that you can't ask for help with."
"I get it," he replied, reaching over to ruffle Loki's head, "no talking during the movie. I have seen films before you know, Mark has a huge TV at his house."
Tanwen broke off a square of chocolate and handed it to him then took one for herself. Minette was right; there were a multitude of problems that chocolate could solve.
About half way though the film Tanwen felt her eyelids drooping and yawned. Everything around her was lulling her to sleep, from the familiar drone of her favourite film and the quietly crackling fire to Loki's gently snoring and the barely audible beat of Jon's heart by her ear. The room was pleasantly warm and her quilt was soft and familiar. And slowly, irresistibly she drifted off to sleep.
As the end credits scrolled down the screen Jon said, "I don't know if I like that ending, I mean she and her best friend were so right for one another. Don't you think it's sad she didn't realise how much she loved him until he was marrying someone else? That was quite a sad ending really. Tanwen? Tanwen?" He looked down to see her sleeping peacefully and smiled.
Loki woke up with a start and looked at the blank TV. Grumbling he jumped down and ejected the video from the machine and pawed at another video until it came out.
"You really are pretty smart," Jon said, bracing Tanwen with his arms, "I would get up and lend a hand, but for one thing I wouldn't have a clue what to do and for another I've kinda got my hands full." He grinned at the furry animal who rolled his eyes at him and put the next video in. "Gone with the Wind," Jon read out loud, "a favourite?" he asked Loki as he jumped back up onto a spare part of the sofa, Tanwen had curled her legs making more room at the end.
This is a very long film, Jon thought as he yawned and glanced at his watch, half past nine, he should get going soon. He wondered how to get out without waking Tanwen, just a few more minutes he told himself. I'll just rest my eyes for a bit and then head off.
But 'resting his eyes' soon turned into a deep sleep and the video ran on with only Loki paying any attention to it.
Back at home Cedric paced up and down in his room, 'maybe I was a bit rash in some of the things I said…I can't believe we broke up…I should have trusted her, she's right, she does act like that with most people, and Will flirts with her all the time and we've never even rowed about it, I guess it's just because Contay's such an idiot that it annoys me…maybe I should go an apologise and we could patch things up, I believed her when she said she would never be unfaithful to me, I guess I just overreacted. That's it, I'll go and explain things to her and we can pretend like this never happened.'
Pulling on a jumper he walked down into the kitchen and grabbed a handful of Floo powder to take him to Tanwen's.
Seconds later he appeared in the grate in her apartment and looked around for…he gasped. She was asleep on the sofa in his arms, and after she'd said all those things before! "I knew there was something going on with those two," he breathed harshly, "I can't believe I came here to apologise! She obviously doesn't care about us at all, she's already moved on to someone else." He gave a hollow laugh, "I'd never have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes!" He shook his head and with a last glance at the sleeping couple closed his eyes painfully and flooed home.
Sometime during the night they moved down the sofa so they were both lying down, Tanwen lying on Jon's chest. The sun started to filter in through the long French windows and fell onto Tanwen's face. She stirred and murmured something before blearily opening her eyes. For a moment she wasn't sure where she was and who was there with her, lifting her head she saw Jon fast asleep under her on her sofa. Slowly she sat up, careful not to put too much pressure on Jon's chest. Then half crawled off the end onto the floor.
She stood for a moment, watching him and thinking. He looked so innocent when he slept. Highly deceptive, she smiled. It was odd to wake up with him by her side, he was one of her best friends but after what Cedric had said she wondered if it was weird the way they acted to one another; if it was improper, if she should be somehow different towards him. She'd never bothered to treat him any different just because he was male and didn't really see that she should have to. Why shouldn't she show her affection towards him?
Loki nudged her legs and she automatically headed to the kitchen to give him his breakfast. After placing a thick bamboo shoot on the ground for him she wandered back through to the living room to where Jon lay sleeping. She pulled the quilt up to cover him and then went to have a shower.
As she stepped into the rushing hot water she wondered if other people jumped to the same conclusions as Cedric. A long time ago Cordelia Summers, a Slytherin in her year, had called her a Gryffinwhore. Maybe there was some truth in that in what other people saw in her.
'I guess I could try not flirting so much and maybe…I don't know…be more like Lou or Cassie…and maybe spend more time away from Jon…'
She turned off the water and stood dripping in the shower for a while.
"I just don't know what to do."
Half an hour later she left her room, dressed and hair dried. Jon was still sleeping on the sofa.
Deciding against waking him, Tanwen got out her homework and sat down at her desk. She had just finished her Potions assignment when she heard Jon stir behind her. She turned to see him sit up and yawn widely as he ran a hand through his messy hair.
Ok, she thought, the new 'me' starts today. Biting back the urge to greet Jon with a 'afternoon Sleeping Beauty', she just smiled, "Do you want anything? I can get you food, or you can use the shower, I was going to go out for a while."
He rubbed his eyes and stood up, "Nah, It's ok, I should go back home, my family will be wondering where I am."
"Ok then." She turned back to her desk and started to pack away her finished homework.
Jon watched her, frowning a little, "are you alright? Did I do something wrong?"
"What?" 'Damn him for knowing me so well,' Tanwen thought. "No, I'm fine, just thinking about some shopping I need to do." She said out loud.
"Oh well I guess I should get going. Come round and see us whenever you like, it'd be a relief from hearing Alex drone on about how wonderful Lizzie is," he grinned and yawned. Then walked over to the fire, burning brightly with the new log Tanwen added to it earlier. Picking up a handful of Floo powder he turned, "I'll be back to check up on you."
"No, there's really no need, don't bother," Tanwen said quickly, "I'll be fine-really."
Jon shrugged sceptically, "See you around."
When Jon was gone she got dressed to go out herself and Flooed to Diagon Ally.
The famous wizarding street was filled with people bustling up and down, arms laden with copious amounts of gifts of all shapes and sizes. She narrowly avoided collision with a short witch whose parcels were stacked higher than she could see herself as she walked out of the entrance of a shop. It was snowing ever so lightly and everything was covered in a light dusting of snow like icing sugar. A light breeze tossed and whirled the featherlike flakes in a haphazard dance before they reached the ground.
For a while Tanwen stood in front of Florish and Blotts, out of the main stream of traffic and watched the snow fall. It was calming to watch their lazy progress through the sky and she could forget for a moment all of her worries. Glancing momentarily down the street she saw a group of her friends from school wandering along towards her, their cheeks flushed with the cold and talking and laughing with one another. Not wanting company she quickly ducked into the crowd and headed away from the main street. Slipping down the first side street she came to she wandered on away from the main noise of Diagon Ally.
The small cobbled street was filled with various smaller shops selling anything from jewellery to the latest product in wizarding gardening. One particular shop called 'Tilly's Trinkets' caught her attention with the large window display of crystals, which twinkled in the artificial light coming from within. She stood in front of the window and looked at the other things it offered. Numerous other interesting curiosities lay on display, all of them beautiful things. A notice stuck to the window pane caught her attention, 'Wanted-Assistant for the holiday period. No candidates of a clumsy disposition need apply. Inquire within.'
'Hmmm,' Tanwen thought, this might be just the thing to take her mind off things. "It's worth a try," she said out loud and pushed open the shop door.
The small bronze bell above the door entered and a rather harassed looking woman hurried out from behind a curtain hanging behind the counter. She had a mass of mad curly hair the colour of wet sand, a small pert nose and bright blue eyes. Her rounded face was flushed and she absentmindedly brushed down the front of her skirt at invisible dust.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, I saw your add in the window and was wondering if you still need assistance?" Tanwen replied politely.
"Oh," the woman let out a sigh of relief, "I thought for a minute I was going to have to deal with a customer, and I've just received a particularly sensitive delivery. Would you mind if you waited out here while I deal with it? It won't take long."
"Sure," Tanwen agreed.
"Thank you," smiled the woman and hurried off behind the curtain again.
Tanwen sat herself on the stool in front of the counter and looked around the shop. It was a fairly decent size, while at the same time retaining an intimate, friendly feel to it. A rectangle central isle displayed larger artefacts, such as crystal balls and a moving model of the solar system. The three walls uncovered by the large front window held shelves full of items that glittered, hummed or sat gracefully, and one curious looking fluffy thing in a glass that hopped up and down as if it were possessed. Tanwen couldn't help but grin at it, it reminded her strongly of a puffskien she'd had as a very small child. One time she had fed it several mugs of coffee because it had liked the smell and the poor thing had jumped around manically for hours! Her parents had thought the whole thing highly entertaining and hadn't done anything about it. In fact her Dad had laughed so hard he cried, and he had taken many pictures of her trying to catch up with it as it bounded across the room! Her mum hadn't even minded when it crashed into a picture frame and broke the glass. They had always had a fantastic sense of humour and were easy going like that.
Her smile faded. She missed all that so much.
"Sorry about that, it was a bunch of nocta plants. Very useful in particularly potent spells, but they disintegrate if even the smallest ray of light falls on them-shame really they're supposed to be beautiful flowers." She let the curtain fall back behind her and grinned at Tanwen, "not that I've ever actually seen one of them- you have no idea how hard it is to package them for sale without being able to see them!"
"I can imagine," Tanwen replied with a smile of her own.
"Now where were we? Oh yes, you came about the job," Tanwen nodded, "well, let's see now, you look a bit younger than I was thinking about when I advertised. How old are you sixteen? seventeen?"
"I'll be fifteen on March seventh," Tanwen replied grinning, people always thought she was older than she was, not altogether disadvantageous as the man from the Floo Network had proved.
"Hmm, I see," she mused, "well ordinarily I wouldn't take a girl as young as you but I am in desperate need of help at the moment. My usual assistant has come down sick at the last moment. How about I give you a trial and we'll see how things go?"
"Sounds fair to me," Tanwen nodded, "I can start that right away if you want. I don't have anything else to do these holidays except from an extremely boring History of Magic essay."
She grinned, "Old Binnsy still teaching then I presume?" Tanwen nodded. "Well I'll give you a quick tour and a run down of things work and you can start right away." Suddenly she smacked her forehead, "bless me, in all the rush I never even introduced myself! I'm Tilly, pleased to meet you," she smiled cheerily and shook Tanwen's hand.
"Tanwen Gray," she returned.
"Well Tanwen, let's hope for my sake this is the beginning of a wonderful relationship! This is the quietest my little shop has been in two weeks!"
*******
A/N: Yessssss, more people like my story! Well, I hope you enjoyed the latest instalment, and nobody point out that Loki's dexterity with the video machine isn't possible ^__^ So ppl seem to be wondering if things are all over between Cedric and Tanwen, what do they think now? And where does Jon fit in in all this-after all Tanwen's repeatedly said that she only has platonic feelings for him.
As for continuing this one for each year, I'm not sure, I'll have to see how things go. The next few years might be a bit less lengthy and condensed, and plus I have to decide at what point I'm going to diverge from canon- if I eventually do. At the moment I think it's still fairly canon. Anyone any ideas on this?
Next chapter: All Work and No Play