As she was sat at lunch Tanwen wondered about what it had meant when Cedric had touched her like that. It wasn't exactly the sort of thing 'just friends' would do. 'Maybe…no, never mind,' she thought.
Fred and George deposited themselves in the seats in front of her, Marcia immediately began to talk with them, catching up on any other gossip she'd missed out. Tanwen found it rather amusing to find that Fred and George were as much gossip mongers as Marcia.
She ignored them and chatted to Dave, who was sat on her other side. Suddenly Marcia elbowed her sharply in the ribs.
"Ow!" Tanwen complained, rubbing the spot, "what did you do that for?"
"Because you weren't paying attention," she responded tartly.
"But I don't care abou-"
"Yes you do, Fred just said that he found out Diggory and Sarah have broken up," Marcia interrupted.
"Oh," said Tanwen, an odd feeling beginning to flutter in her stomach. Fred and George were looking at her interestedly. She cleared her throat, and said as airily as possible, "of course that's none of my business."
"Not long 'til Valentine's Day too," Marcia added, grinning, "interesting that."
"Not still after him are you?" Fred asked.
"There are much better guys around," George added, tapping himself on the chest and grinning at her.
Tanwen made a non-committal noise. Disappointed she wasn't going to rise to their probing the twins turned back to talk to Marcia. Tanwen's eyes drifted over to the Hufflepuff table where she could see Cedric laughing at something Will had just said. Somehow he felt her eyes on him and looked up, holding her gaze for a long moment. Then she looked back down at her plate a small smile on her face.
***
A few days later Tanwen descended to breakfast, it was Valentine's Day. They were a little late to breakfast as Lou had been presented with a large bouquet of fragrant, pink lilies on emerging from the dorms and had to run up and put them in water, her face matching the flowers. Mark gave Cassie a three foot tall cuddly bear, which she insisted on taking with her.
They made their way to their tables, the air filled with owls delivering valentines. More than one student sat at the tables was blushing furiously. Most of the teachers were smiling tolerantly or amusedly, apart from Snape who looked as though someone had cancelled Christmas.
To her surprise the moment she sat down about half a dozen owls dive-bombed her, fighting to be the first to deliver their messages. Removing them of their charges she opened them one by one, her blush deepening as she read each one. Most of them were clean, but some were really….creepy. But there was only one she was interested in. It was anonymous but the words clearly spoke to her of one person. It was a short poem and read,
They say that love's a game of chance,
A complicated song and dance
But all my steps have turned out wrong
I couldn't hear its sweet, pure song.
And ever since we said goodbye
My every move has seemed a lie.
So as I speak my heart does quake
And I hope it's not too late
To say it's you that I desire,
The one I long for and admire.
Tanwen smiled happily and clutched the note tightly in her hand.
"Get anything interesting?" Marcia said nosily and gestured to the pile of letters reaching out to take them. Tanwen gave a small nod of permission and she took them eagerly. "Sweet, sweet, sweet, eww creepy!" she said as she scanned them, she looked up, "who sent you that?"
"I don't want to know," Tanwen replied fervently.
"What?" Jon asked from behind his usual mound of love tokens.
"Don't show him!" Tanwen protested as Marcia handed over the note. She leant forwards and snatched it out his hand, but not before he'd read some of it.
He raised an eyebrow as she blushed furiously, "Don't say a word!" she snapped, destroying the note vindictively in a small ball of flames.
"What's that other one?" Marcia asked, pointing to the note still clasped in Tanwen's hand.
"You can't see it," Tanwen replied, "it's mine."
"Yes, but that didn't stop you from letting me see the others," Marcia reasoned.
"Well, this one's different," Tanwen explained, putting the poem in her pocket.
"Oh I see," Marcia grinned bobbing excitedly in her seat, "I love Valentines Day!"
"But you didn't get anything," Dave said, tactlessly.
"So," Marcia replied, "I don't care, I just like all the gossip!"
For the rest of the day Tanwen was plagued by the others to see her valentine, but she refused. It was the end of lunch and Tanwen rose to head to the next lesson, as she walked with Jon and Cassie towards the classroom she heard the sound of flapping wings behind her. She stopped and turned to see an owl flying along the corridor. In its claws it clutched a bag of something. As she watched the bird hovered over her head and let go. A shower of red petals fell out falling gently all over her, Tanwen smiled shyly and heard Marcia clapping gleefully behind her. The owl swooped back off and she stooped to pick up a small note lying amidst the petals on the ground.
One for every day we've been apart
Aware she was probably smiling like an idiot she stuffed it onto her pocket and stood up. Suddenly she realised that not very many of the petals had fallen onto the floor, most were delicately resting on her. She tried to pick one off but found it stayed in place.
Jon grinned at her, "I've never seen a walking rosebush before."
"That is adorable!" Marcia squealed, "who was it from?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Tanwen replied.
"Well, you're just lucky we don't have Potions now, Snape would kill you!" Jon said with a grin.
Tanwen agreed with him and self-consciously began to walk to Charms.
Before long it was time for dinner. The petals still hadn't come off and Tanwen felt slightly stupid as she walked through into the Great Hall. Her cheeks were tinged with a flattering blush and she bit her lip. The others hurried to the table as she followed, trying not to look at anyone. And so she missed the various admiring glances and the one secretive smile.
"That's so romantic!" Hermione sighed as Tanwen sat down next to her.
"Surely you wouldn't like to walk round all day like that?" Ron pointed out.
"How do you know what I would and wouldn't like Ron Weasley?" she demanded.
Ron, very wisely, said nothing and Harry hid a grin behind his hand.
Then the third owl of the day sailed towards Tanwen a single red rose in its beak, its petals were still closed and a white ribbon held a small note to the thorn-less stem. Dropping it into her outstretched hands it took off out of the window. She bent to read the note.
If you're willing to give us another chance meet me at the two headed lion statue at seven.
There was only one person this could be from. She glanced at him over the heads of the chattering first years on the next table and gave him a radiant smile.
After what seemed an age it was finally time for her to head off to meet him. Throwing aside the magazine she'd been flipping through restlessly, Tanwen stood up.
"Of to meet you're not so secret mystery man?" Marcia said, although it was more a statement than a question.
Tanwen nodded, fiddling with a loose strand of hair.
"Oh, stop that girl, don't be so nervous!" Marcia told her authoritatively.
"I can't help it!" Tanwen protested, "what if I've got it all wrong and it isn't him?"
Marcia laughed, "of course it's him you silly goose, with the clues he's given you it couldn't be anyone else."
That made her feel a bit better and she smiled, "thanks."
"Anytime. Now get on with you," Marcia chivvied good-naturedly.
Leaving the room Dom insisted on calling the Den, Tanwen hurried along the corridor to where she was supposed to meet him. Her heart was pounding and she could feel butterflies in her stomach. Glancing at her reflection in a mirror on the way, she hoped she looked ok.
'Not much further," she told herself, as she rounded the final corner. At the end of the corridor she could see the statue and a tall figure with his back to her, looking out the open window. Swallowing hard she slowly made her way towards him, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Sensing her approach, he turned,
"Hello Tanwen," Cedric said as he turned to greet her.
"Hey," she returned, suddenly shy. 'What on earth's wrong with me?' she thought, 'why am I suddenly acting like a lovestruck teenager?-oh yeah, because I am one!' she smiled.
Cedric reached out and grabbed her hands, pulling her towards him, "I'm so glad you came- I wasn't sure that after everything…I thought that maybe I'd been imagining things before and…"
Tanwen shook her head, stepping even closer to him and resting her forehead against his, "there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be right now than here."
He gave a short sigh and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her tightly against his chest, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair and skin. Tanwen closed her eyes, her forehead against his neck and her hands draped round behind. For a long moment neither of them moved, they just stood there, enjoying at last being in each others arms. Outside the winter sun was beginning to set and the sky was covered in a deep purple glow. In silent agreement they turned, still holding one another to watch the sun descend. A brilliant orange haze burned in the reflection of the lake, sparks glittering on the surface like tiny lights. The few wisps of clouds in the sky were lit up with a dusky pink glow. As they watched the night closed in covering the sky in a layer of an ever deepening darkness.
As the last rays of light faded from the sky, Tanwen turned and looked up into Cedric's face. Just seeing him there with her, knowing that he still cared for her made everything seem perfect. And all the problems and trials of the past few months were as nothing. None of that mattered anymore.
He glanced down to see her looking at him, "What are you thinking?"
"How much I missed you," she replied, bracing her hands on his chest as she rose to her tiptoes. Then she closed her eyes and pressed her lips softly against his. Pulling away gently she kept her eyes closed and smiled, she felt Cedric kiss her eyelids and she opened them.
"Let's never fight again," he murmured, a hand gently caressing the side of her face.
Tanwen laughed softly, "You think that's possible?"
He smiled, "ok then, I'll amend that- let's never let petty grievances separate us."
"Much better," Tanwen replied, smiling softly and leaning forward to give him a lingering kiss.
He sighed contentedly and squeezed her tightly, "nothing was the same without you."
Tanwen felt as though her heart might burst with happiness as she snuggled against him, her head pressed to his chest so she could hear his heartbeat reminding her that this wasn't a dream.
She felt a petal brush her cheek and remembered that she still hadn't been able to get rid of them, "Cedric?"
"Mmm?"
"Do you think you could get rid of these petals yet? They are beautiful, but not exactly practical."
He laughed, "Stand back then." She took a step back and he drew out his wand, reciting a spell. Then, gently, slowly the petals began to fall from her, alighting ever so lightly onto the ground.
"I never knew guys could be so romantic," she commented as she stepped back into the secure circle of his arms. "What you did for me today was so beautiful!"
He smiled, "The occasion called for something a bit special. Besides, I find you just seem to inspire that kind of thing in me, Tanwen. Every time I think of you I want to something brilliant for you, something unique, that no-one has ever thought of before."
Tanwen looked into his grey eyes, so full of tender care and said, "You do give me something unique and brilliant every time I see you."
"I do?"
She smiled, "you can never give me anything better or more special than yourself." Then she blushed and looked down. He lifted her chin so her eyes met his and the look in his eyes meant more to her than any reply he could have given her.
**
She walked back to the common room as if in a dream. It was fairly quiet inside and she made her way straight up the stairs to her room. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair tousled and her eyes glittered. The others were all in the dorm when she got back, Cassie and Lou were already asleep and Marcia was helping Alicia put the finishing touches to her Charms essay; not even Clem's snide smile could dampen her mood. She just smiled absently and walked past her into the bathroom to get ready for bed.
The next morning she was woken by the warm sunlight on her face. She hadn't completely closed her curtains the night before and the morning rays were filtering through the windowpane and falling onto where she lay on her pillow. Smiling contentedly, Tanwen pulled her covers up under her chin and looked at the flower on her bedside table. It was just beginning to bloom, several petals had begun to unfurl in the night. Inhaling a deep breath of air she could not only smell her fresh sheets and the slightly musty smell of the hangings but the delicate fragrance of her rose.
Surely there was no better way to wake than this? She thought contentedly, even the fact that they still had lessons today, or that the first lesson was Potions, couldn't spoil this day. Leisurely, she sat up, pushing her sheets down and rising to ready herself for the day. None of the others were up yet, so she tiptoed around as she gathered her things for her shower.
When she entered back into the room, Clem pushed past her roughly, slamming the door behind her.
"How rude!" Cassie frowned, from where she was sat on her bed, pulling her socks on.
Tanwen just shrugged, "I don't mind."
"I expect it will be a long while before anything does harass our Tanwen," Marcia remarked with a grin, "she's still in la-la land by the look of things."
Alicia giggled, "Back with Cedric again?"
Tanwen nodded, blushing a little and a small smile appearing on her face. Recently she had the impression that Alicia was no longer upset about the whole Quidditch thing. They would probably never be the best of friends, but they never argued or were nasty to one another.
***
A/N: Ah sickly fluff...well actually I hope it wasn't too sappy. But hopefully Tanwen/ Cedric fans liked it! Anyway, finally finished all my work and can once again do things that don't make me groan and bash my head on my desk. Anyway if you enjoyed this chapter spread the cheer and press that little review button! xxx