The Great Hall was filled with students for breakfast. "You sure you guys want to stay," said Ginny to Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
"Yeah, it'll be safer," replied Harry.
"And we don't want Harry to spend the Holidays alone," said Ron as Hermione nodded in agreement. Tessa smiled to herself as passed the group and walked over to Fred and George.
"Everything is packed away," said Tessa as she sat down.
"Great," said Fred.
"Mum, would never look into your case. She thinks you keep us at bay," said George winking at Tessa.
"If only she knew," said Tessa jokingly.
The train ride back was interesting. Girls kept peeking into their compartment for a sight if Fred and Tessa were actually together, but Lee was the only one excited over the attention.
"Never had this many women looking in," said Lee excitedly.
"Yeah and it's all for you Lee," said George sarcastically as he lifted a journal and wizard's chess from his pack.
"Knight to B3," mumbled Tessa. She wasn't great at wizard's chess, and this was the fourth game she played with George with high chances of losing…again. To the right of her were Lee and Fred muttering last minute ideas before they parted ways at King's Crossing for the next few weeks.
"Checkmate," said George confidently.
"Why do I have to play again this is getting ridiculous. Can't you pick Fred or Lee to play", said Tessa after a quick win again for George.
"Because it's more fun watching you lose at something," said Fred as he looked up from his notes on a creme-puff recipe mixed in with various potions.
Tessa mumbled a few words back that made Lee and George laugh loud enough to have a few first years try and sneak a peak of what was happening from their compartment.
"Can we play something else please," said Tessa innocently. George sighed and gave in after a long silence and pulled out snap bang playing cards.
"Ohhhhh," yelled Tessa, George, and Lee as Fred nearly got his eyebrows singed from a card bursting into flames.
"Look!," exclaimed Lee as the sun was setting with a beautiful view of London's cityscape.
"We're all going to live there someday," exclaimed Fred while smiling at the vastness of buildings.
"I just hope I have a radio job anywhere," replied Lee. George laughed an nudged Lee to scoot over so everyone could pack up their things.
The Hogwarts Express slowed to a stop as it reached its destination. Students were chattering excitedly at seeing their parents outside.
"Better get a move on. She's looking too eager," said George as all four walked out of the compartment. Once they stepped off the train, a very happy Molly Weasley quickly moved herself through the crowd and greeted Ginny first.
"Oh my boys," said Molly with a sigh of relief as she hugged the both of the twins.
"Great to see you Tessa dear," said Mrs. Weasley as she hugged Tessa last. "You'll be staying with Ginny for the Holidays, unless you'd—"
"—The Holidays?" Both of the twins said in unison.
They looked at their mother and Tessa with shock and confusion. "Well if you actually read my letters you would have known," stated Mrs. Weasley sternly.
"But, mum," said Fred walking after Mrs. Weasley leaving Tessa in annoyance with an excited George talking about new projects they could get done with Tessa around distracting their mother.
Fred sat quietly in Eeylops as Tessa, George, and Ginny looked at the cats while Percy and his Mother went to Gringotts.
"Look at this one," said Ginny to a Blue, short hair, and big-eyed Scottish fold kitten with chubby little legs. George poked his finger towards the cage and the cat spat and lunged forwards nearly loosing balance from his large head.
"Nope," said Tessa as George steered her away from the agitated cat. Fred rolled his eyes and got up to from his makeshift seat by the entrance and walked down a section filled with popular muggle pets. "
Fred?" Tessa walked down the aisle and stood next to him.
"Trying to look for a real guinea pig now I see," said Tessa.
"No, still using you," said Fred with a faint smile. She reached for his hand and began pulling him back towards the group. Fred only glanced at Tessa and slightly pulled his hand from her grasp. Tessa rolled her eyes and walked away.
"He's not too keen on me staying with you guys," said Tessa to George.
"He'll get over it soon," said George quietly when he saw Tessa's annoyed face once she rounded the corner.
"Yeah, but he blames me for not saying anything," said Tessa.
"Technically, it's all three of you guys' fault," interjected Ginny as Tessa and George walked passed the aisle she was in. Tessa stuck her tongue out while George made a face and both continued towards the end of the store farthest away from Fred.
"It would have been better to know beforehand, but maybe it was for the best that it was unexpected," said George quietly. "What do you think of this cat."
George pointed towards the shopkeeper's grumpy old cat sitting in the window seal. It growled at George and leaped off the window towards the front desk. Tessa laughed quietly and pushed George into the last aisle of the shop.
They both reached the end where the shopkeeper's apprentice was cleaning a few cages. They talked quietly about each animal they walked passed until they heard a slight mew. Tessa and George turned their head sharply to the right to see a solid black cat with a small white "U" slightly above the cat's bright green eyes.
"You," said Tessa as she opened the cage. The cat immediately jumped out and into her arms.
"You are the only person she has done that to," said a surprised apprentice of the shop.
"How much?," Exclaimed George as they walked to the front of the store with the loud purring of the cat in Tessa's arms.
"5 galleons," said the apprentice as Tessa gave the cat to Ginny who excitedly approached the front desk after seeing the lump of fur in Tessa's arms.
"She's cute," said Fred as he scratched underneath the cats' chin.
"Yeah literally jumped out of the cage to us," said George.
"Another good thing is that she's almost a year old, so she's trained and everything," said Tessa after talking to the apprentice who was gathering pet supplies for her. Fred rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, the guy nearly tripped over the counter to help you," said Fred with annoyance.
"That's his job Fred," said Ginny with a laugh.
"Yeah, but it's not his job to leave the store," said George while winking at Tessa and Ginny.
"And help hold your things to your next destination," said Fred with annoyance.
"He's just being nice," said Tessa trying not to laugh at Fred's jealousy.
"Molly and Percy were bickering about something when the group finally came into their view.
"Oh, hello dears, we've already got what we need. Ginny I see you have something new?" Mrs. Weasley bustled over to her daughter to look at the sleeping cat cradled into Ginny's arms.
"Tessa finally got a cat," said Ginny looking down at the kitten.
"She's gorgeous," said Mrs. Weasley while scratching the cats' tummy.
"Have you named her yet?" Tessa shuffled her feet.
"Uh, no; I don't really know her personality yet," said Tessa blushing.
"Always good to know how they are first before making decisions," said Percy confidently as the group began walking to a public chimney.
The cat leaped out of Ginny's arms and scrambled through the house after she walked out onto her parents' living room floor.
"Sorry kitten," bellowed Ginny as it made its way to hide underneath Mrs. Weasley's rocking chair. After all of the Weasleys and Tessa made it through the fireplace, the cat finally sauntered out and nestled itself onto the window next to the back door.
"See; she's fine mum," said George pointing at the cat. The voices from the living room faded out as Tessa climbed the stairs after Fred. Fred tried to shut his door and Tessa ran with her arm stretched. She pushed the door open and slowed to a stop in the middle of the twins' room.
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to be here?" Asked Fred loudly while walking towards Tessa.
"I thought you already knew," said Tessa defensively.
"You didn't bring up how excited you were or anything at all. Did it not occur to you that me and George never brought it up," exclaimed Fred.
"Why would it occur to me? It didn't seem like it was important to bring up how excited I am to hang out over the holidays because we always hang out," said Tessa visibly annoyed.
"All you had to say was 'oh by that way I'm staying at the house over the Holidays'. It's not that hard," said Fred sternly.
"Well, if you didn't want me here Weasley, you could've said it while in Diagon Alley. I would've gone home," said Tessa shakily as she walked out of the twins' room.
Tessa walked back downstairs quietly as Mrs. Weasley was cooking dinner by the backdoor.
"Can we go, Please?" Tessa whispered into George's ear as she walked towards the front door. George put down Tessa's cat and followed her outside.
"Still mad I see?" said George. Tessa sighed and shook her head.
"I don't want to talk about it," replied Tessa as she walked towards the path that led to the village.
The town was bustling with locals and tourists going into shop after shop. Tessa stopped in front of a homey coffee shop and opened the door to go in. It was surprisingly large, due to it connecting to the bookstore next door. George walked over to a secluded corner next to the window that showed the main street and shops.
"Two chai lattes, please," said Tessa to the barrister at the register. Once she was given both of their drinks she walked over to George.
George nodded his head after taking a sip.
"Good job," he said as he sat the cup down and picked up the local paper that was left on the table from a previous tenant.
"I thought you guys knew. That's why I didn't bring it up; I just, I—," George interrupted Tessa,
"—It's fine. I honestly wasn't expecting you to spend time with us over Holidays, but I think Fred is taking it worse. Just give 'em some space." Tessa nodded her head and looked at the muggles walking across the streets and weaving through buildings one after the other.
"Why?" Tessa asked after a moment of silence.
"For once, I don't know," said George looking out the window.
George and Tessa followed the crowd aimlessly as they walked from shop to shop. Tessa bought Hermione a few books and would owl them to her as soon as she could to Hogwarts, and George carried some supplies his mother asked for since they were going into town.
"We should be heading back," implied George as the temperature was significantly colder and the lights in the stores slowly began to turn off.
George held open the door for Tessa, to the Burrow, and she set their bags down by the sofa. Tessa's new cat immediately jumped down from the window sauntered over to the new items that took up space in the house.
"Nosy cat that one is." Tessa turned to see Fred walking towards her from the staircase. Before she could say anything he hugged her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered and let go of her.
"It's okay. We can talk about it later," Tessa replied as they both turned to see her cat rolling in a paper sack after she pawed out the little trinkets that were inside. "Nyx," said Tessa. "Let's call her Nyx."
After dinner Tessa walked outside with Fred.
"The stars are pretty," said Tessa as she looked up at the night sky. The clouds broke as both George and Tessa walked back to the Burrow which left a beautiful night laid out before them.
"If you didn't want me here you could've said so," said Tessa not looking a Fred.
"You would've been alone," said Fred as he looked down at his feet.
"I have my cat. I would've been fine", Tessa finally looked at Fred.
Tessa smiled slightly that made Fred's stomach hurt.
"She's still sad about it," thought Fred. "I didn't mean for it to be like this."
She looked away from him when he didn't respond. Her smile dropped and she looked at the grass blowing between their feet.
"I understand that you didn't want me here. It is odd that we'll see each other constantly until Summer holiday gets here. Honestly, I didn't think about that; I just saw it as an opportunity to see your family, but you saw it as a burden," said Tessa quietly. Fred looked down at the grass too. "To be honest, you would have been fine. I mean, since we were on that tower things changed slightly with you. Like it's something you want, but you're forcing it in so much that now you're just angry about it." Fred looked down.
"I don't know what to say," said Fred as she turned to him.
Fred sat outside a bit longer after Tessa said Goodnight. He still stared at the ground below his feet still processing what just happened.
"Hey, you coming in?" Fred jumped slightly seeing Ginny's face as his level hanging out of her window.
"Uh yeah," said Fred. "How do you feel?" Ginny asked staring at her brother with slight concern.
"I feel everything," said Fred walking back towards the back door of the house.
"Come on Percy," said George with annoyance as he tried to get into the bathroom that all of the boys shared.
"You can wait," replied Percy harshly.
"Looks like Percy is grooming himself for no one," said George to Nyx while she tried to push her paw underneath the door. He picked up the cat and walked downstairs to Ginny's room.
"Happy Christmas!" Tessa yelled at George as she shoved a box towards him. Two colorful boxes with tissue and ribbon were laid open on Ginny's bedroom floor. He dropped the cat onto Ginny's dresser and picked up the hefty package. He opened it to find various items that he needed. From new Quidditch equipment to potion supplies, George was stocked on all extra-curricular activities that needed repair and replenishment for next semester.
"I told my parents about you guys wanting to start a business, and they sent you some supplies," said Tessa smiling broadly.
"We need to keep them in her suitcase though," said Fred sitting behind Tessa. He was holding a book that said candy in bold letters on the spine.
"Mum got you a book as well. Should be at the bottom," said Tessa. He pushed aside the tissue to see a muggle book with advice on how to maintain a business.
"Tell your mum we appreciate it," said George as he sat the empty box on the dresser for Rosie to climb in.
The clinging of plates and joyful chatter gave the Burrow a homey atmosphere, even more so than it already was. Fred, Tessa, George, and Ginny sat near the end table waiting for breakfast to be over so they could go outside.
"I hope we can go into town. It's much more fun on Christmas. No one's around. Fred actually flew down Main Street after getting a broom from mum and dad for Christmas a few years ago," said Ginny whispering excitedly.
"Oh yeah," said Tessa remembering the twins telling her the story on the train ride back to Hogwarts.
Tessa put on the new sweater Mrs. Weasley made her with a black cat on the front and grabbed an old broom from the shed.
"Alright we have about two hours of time before Mum comes looking for us," said Ginny.
"So town first," said Tessa as she reached for some goggles and gloves.
"Yes," said twins in unison who were already outside and walking towards the path that lead to the tiny village.
The village was a ghost town. Every store had been closed for the day and no one, but the four were walking in the streets.
"Perfect," said Tessa as she ran through the streets without the worry of a car flying past. Fred chased after her while Ginny and George walked through the street together.
"How long do you think this will last," said George jokingly.
"Long enough for someone else to step in," said Ginny smiling at her brother who smiled back. Once across they notice Fred lifting Tessa towards a ladder, on the side of a building in an alley, which was high enough to not be reached without assistance.
"What are you doing?" said Ginny quietly.
"Going to the top," said Tessa with a grunt. She reached the ladder and pulled it down enough for George to reach for it. Fred, with Tessa, stepped back enough for his brother to reach the ladder. Tessa reach for the bars as Fred let go of her and she went up first. She reached the top of the building with Ginny next.
"Wow," said Ginny as she looked at the vastness of field a few streets away and the many buildings in front of her where the Main Street was below them.
Tessa sat on the side of the building with one leg hanging off as Fred and George reached the top.
"Took you long enough," said Ginny.
"Just some extra precautions to us being alone," said George as he sat next to Tessa with both legs hanging off the side of the building.
"Someone will see you," said Ginny laughing as Fred balancing on the edge of the building while walking back and forth.
"We'll be fine," said all three in unison in response to Ginny. They were used to this back in London when they would take walks through town with Tessa, if they were able to visit her for more than a weekend.
Fred hopped off the railing and walked over to the other side of the building. There was a small enough gap between the two that one could, with a running start, jump to the building without any fear. So Fred did just that. He leaped with full force to the next building and landed softly on the rocky roof.
"Nice one," said George who decided to go next and landed to the left of his brother. Ginny and Tessa followed suit and jumped at the same time. Fred put him arm around Tessa as they walked to the edge of the building they were one.
"Oh no," said Ginny as she reached the edge first and back away quickly. "It's probably time to go." She turned and briskly walked towards the back of the building where there was a fire exit leading to the back alley.
All four reached the bottom as Fred's feet touched the ground last. "That older witch who lives in town, she was the one the street below," said Ginny between puffs of air.
"We'll be fine," said George patting his sister on the back.
"She probably couldn't even see us from that far of range," said Fred jokingly.
"It's time to head back anyways," said Tessa as she looked at the time from the muggle watch on her wrist.
"Hope you like cold pie", said Mrs. Weasley grumpily as the dessert cooled by the time everyone was ready to eat it.
"It's still a great pie Mum," said Ginny with a mouthful of crust. All the children nodded in agreement as they stood up to grab more tiny cakes and go their separate ways.
"Today was fun," said Tessa to Fred and George as they walked towards the twins' room.
"Yes it was," said George.
"Now, it's time for business," said Fed smiling at his brother.
Books were strewn across the floor with parchment between pages and notes scribbled on the ones set off to the side still drying off. Tessa sat in a corner staring over a muggle notebook with colored pencils beside her. Her sketches were filled with differently colored labels and notes that matched the color of a box or jar in the middle of the words.
"How's it coming," whispered Fred. He laid his head on her shoulder and looked at her sketches.
"Going well," said Tessa trying to draw without elbowing a tired George to her left.
"Don't like the color," mumbled George after he heard his brother talking.
"Doesn't matter if you like the color," said Tessa nudging him.
"Constructive criticism," said Fred and George in unison.
"It's getting late anyway. Don't want your mum to walk in and see me here in the morning," said Tessa straightening up to stretch her arms and legs. Nyx, who was laying at Tessa's feet stretched across the two beds that were pushed together and refusing to move away from her owners toes. Tessa nudged her slightly and the kitten still refused to budge.
"She can stay with you lot then," said Tessa laughing quietly as she grabbed her things and walked out with Fred.
Both walked downstairs quietly as to not wake up Percy who would rat them out in a heartbeat, especially, if he saw Fred and Tessa together. She walked passed the clock to put away a few dishes and cups to see it was nearly 4 in the morning.
"The time flew away from us I guess," said Tessa as she turned to Fred.
"Yeah it did," Fred said quietly. He stood there staring at her waiting for something, anything.
"Well I'll see you in a few," said Tessa who reached forward to hug Fred. She let go after a few seconds and turned towards Ginny's door. Once, the door shut she leaned against it as she heard Fred slowly make his way back up the stairs.
"This is going well," though Tessa sarcastically as she desperately wanted to run back and hold him again.
The next morning Fred woke up to a bang at his door hitting the wall. Rosie jumped off his headboard and landed on his stomach with force that should not have come out of a kitten her size. He gasped for air as he heard his mother yelling at both of the twins, George first.
"HOW DARE YOU TAKE THOSE GIRLS OUT ON SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS. YOU'RE LUCKY MRS. PADMOORE OWLED ME THIS MORNING, INSTEAD OF LAST NIGHT, OR, SO HELP ME, YOU TWO WOULD HAVE GONE WITHOUT THOSE TWO HELPINGS OF DESSERTS. I SAW YOU GO DOWNSTAIRS AND COME BACK UP WITH A PLATE FULL OF MY PIES, FRED WEASLEY, SO DON'T YOU DARE THINK YOU'LL BE GETTING ANY DESSERT TONIGHT."
Both boys were shooed out of their rooms and downstairs to have another earful, but Fred wasn't really listening, both of them for that matter.
"We're sorry mum," they said in unison.
"Well, now that this has been settled you will only have a portion of snacks for the train, and I hope you have saved up on your allowances for it has been revoked, until further notice," said Mrs. Weasley as she reached the living room where Tessa and Ginny were stuffing the treacherous letter from Mrs. Padmoore into the patched up sofa crease of the love seat.
There was also a conspicuous red and white paper shreds all over the table and Tessa's lap.
"Probably from her parents", whispered George to Fred as they were thrown two packs, which matched Tessa and Ginny's, and a list from their mother.
"Now since you four love that town so much, it's time to go get supplies for tonight, and tomorrow," Mrs. Weasley finished firmly as all four stared at her in shock.
"But Mum—," said the twins in unison. "Not buts; you'll be lucky if you get back to Hogwarts with your brooms, for Quidditch, if you keep this up!"
The only sound emitting from the four outside of the Burrow were their shoes sloshing in the mud.
"Well it could've been worse," said Tessa as they reached a safe distance away from the Burrow.
"Yeah," said all the Weasleys smiling. After an hour of talking and laughing about this morning's antics, they finally reached the paved road that was marked with the village's limits on a small wooden sign.
"Finally," said the twins in unison as they saw the thatched roofs of town's homes. The town was bustling with people again returning duplicated presents or shopping for food that ran out after yesterday's festivities.
Tessa and Ginny split up from the twins to get their items on their list as the town grew larger the closer they walked to it.
"See you," yelled Tessa as Fred waved goodbye.
"So, are you two going to get together or not?," Ginny asked immediately. Tessa's stomach lurched into her chest.
"I…It wasn't the same since we left Hogwarts. I mean even physical things were going well and then it immediately went to shit once he found out I would be here." Tessa's façade of optimism and joy was gone. She looked tired and worn out.
"It's for the best I suppose," said Ginny. "I still think you should have waited to see how things would go at Hogwarts." Ginny paused for moment and Tessa looked at her eagerly.
"What," said Tessa with a defensive tone.
"You always run when you think things are getting tough. I mean, look at how you and Cedric turned out. He said one wrong thing on accident, and suddenly you break it off." Ginny let in a huge breathe of cold air and sighed.
"I think you're right. It is my fault," said Tessa as she stared at the Muggles weaving in and out of stores.
"It just isn't the right time," said George to his pessimistic brother. Fred moped around the small market picking out ingredients that was on his mother's list. "You shouldn't have forced it you know."
Fred glared at his brother who moved on to the next aisle.
"I know it's my fault, but do you have to talk about it right now," said Fred. George just nodded, and moved on to another aisle filled with sugar and flour.
"It's too late to fix things now just got to give it time," said George over his shoulder after picking up the last thing on the list for the super market.
With their sacks filled with ingredients all four walked towards the post office. The twins turned the corner and Fred stopped in his tracks. Across the road Cedric Diggory was holding the girl's bags while helping them cross the road.
"Fuckin' hell," mumbled the twins in unison as they waited for Cedric to say his goodbyes. Ginny waved more affably than Tessa which gave Fred some satisfaction.
"It's like he knows when she's around," said George. Fred mumbled in agreement and nodded his head. Tessa waved to them both very excitedly, and walked towards them.
"Hey," said Tessa excitedly as she pointed to the extra bag she was carrying.
Fred and George couldn't help, but smile the whole way back. The sack had every supply they could ever need for next year's projects.
"Merry Christmas," Tessa said happily as she handed the bag over to them. They split the ingredients evenly and stuffed them at the bottom of their sacks.
"Much appreciated," said the twins in unison as they turned onto the muddy road.
The walk back was dismal as they struggled more with the weight on their backs than they did with the silence that was obviously weighing over all four of them.
"There you are," said Charlie as he walked out of the shed.
"Here we are," said Tessa as she handed the bag to him.
"Mum's in a better mood so, you guys should be in the clear by the time the train leaves in a few days," he said as he grabbed Ginny's bag as well.
The next few days did fly by with ease as Mrs. Weasely did lighten up on the four.
"Hurry up! Got a busy day tomorrow," said Molly as all the kids made the finishing touched on packing for the train ride tomorrow.
"We're fine mum," said George as he kept dodging his mother's advances towards the twin's bags.
"We don't need help. We're big boys; unlike Percy." Mumbled Fred as Arthur was helping Percy with all of his bags down the stairs.
"Be careful Father that one has gifts in it," snapped Percy as his Father threw the bag down next to the fireplace. Ginny and Tessa muffled their laughs and walked passed with Tessa's cat and toys in cages and boxes.
"Alright looks like everyone is ready for tomorrow," said Mrs. Weasley as she poured Floo Powder into each of the children's hands. "You first, Tessa."
Tessa pushed her way through the Weasley Family gathered in the living room and stood in the fireplace.
"Diagon Alley," said Tessa perfectly and threw the powder into the fireplace with force.