Tessa looked out at the crowd as her Mother and Father were having a seemingly serious to Mrs. Weasley and Tonks. It looked the same; no red haired towers insight.
"You need to get on the train dear," said Mrs. Weasley quietly.
Tessa looked up to she Mrs. Weasley and her parents smiling at her.
"Please," said her Mother. "We'll see you soon."
"Okay," sighed Tessa. She hugged all three and saluted Tonks, whom giggled lightly saluting back, and leaped onto the cart waving goodbye one last time and entered the crowded hallway.
She weaved and bobbed through the crowd until she found an empty compartment. She unlocked the door and struggle to push it open and quickly shut it behind her sighing.
She placed her backpack on the chair and sat by it looking out the window. Two lanky red heads weaved through the crowd on the platform and Tessa lobbed her head back in relief. She unzipped her bag as two ears and steely green eyes popped out inspecting the surroundings.
"You okay Nyx," laughed Tessa as the cat hopped out of the bag and stretched onto the sofa knocking the bag to the ground.
Tessa quickly bent over picking up the items as Nyx kneaded the chair purring. Tessa zipped her bag and tossed onto the sofa across from her and sat back into her seat. The moment she settled herself the door sung open causing her to jump and Nyx to arch her back growling, her tail perfectly fluffed.
"Way to pick the rooms," laughed George sarcastically. He barged into the compartment smacking Nyx with his case sending her leaping into Tessa's lap. "Sorry."
"The cat deserved it," said Fred jokingly as he came in after throwing his things on the rack above Tessa's head and sat across from her letting Lee barge in and close the door behind him.
"We've got about ten minutes," stated Lee excitedly. He threw his trunk above Fred's head sitting beside him. "Everything alright Tess."
"Pardon," said Tessa looking away from the window.
"You look like someone broke your heart," joked Lee smiling.
"Oh," laughed Tessa. "I don't understand why my parents came with me to King's Cross today."
"Why?" Asked Lee as Fred and George shifted in their seats awkwardly.
"Well I always come with the Weasleys or by myself," stated Tessa quietly. "In seven years, this is the second time my parents have taken me to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."
"Well it is our last year you know," stated Lee happily. "Maybe they wanted to say goodbye in person."
"Yeah," said Tessa quietly.
The train lurched forward and the twins immediately began pulling out notes, pens, and candy from every pocket imaginable. Lee and Tessa looked on amazed as George closed the blinds to prying eyes.
"What's this," stated Lee looking at a candy wrapped in deep green paper with purple stripes.
"I wouldn't eat that if I were you," said Tessa quickly as he began to unwrap the oblong shaped piece.
"It'll male you puke your guts out," said Fred excitedly.
"Haven't made an antidote yet," stated George quickly looking through their notes. "But what Fred said is pretty accurate."
"He was in the bathroom for hours," laughed Fred as he watched Lee examine to brightly colored candy.
"How'd you even make this," sated Lee astonished.
"Well it's easy when mum's mind is elsewhere," said George shrugging.
"And it really has been elsewhere recently," mumbled Fred.
Tessa nudged him lightly with her foot merely causing him to wink at her and trying to intertwine their feet making her pull back in shock. He smiled at her even more staring her down until she looked away, her hair raised on her arms.
"That's where you come in Tess," stated George without looking up from the notes. "We need some research and since you're not playing Quidditch this year-"
"Whoa, Whoa," interrupted Lee. "You're not playing Quidditch? This is your last year."
"I've signed to the Holyhead Harpies," said Tessa quickly. "So not allowed to play Quidditch for a year."
"How's that even possible," said Lee not impressed. "You haven't even graduated yet."
"I went to some training camps with Wood over the Summer and the Harpies recruiter was there for some of them so now I'm red shirted," said Tessa nervously.
"Well bloody hell," said Lee happily. "Congrats are in order when we get a chance to do so. First round of Butter Beer is on me at Hogsmeade."
"Sounds like a plan," said Tessa happily. The twins nodded in agreement.
"Now back to business," stated George quickly. "We need you to research what's working and what's not."
"How so," stated Tessa.
"For example," said Fred. "Say we make a new candy and we have some First years test it."
"And," said Tessa.
"And they go to the Hospital wing, or they loved it- don't get mad it's consensual-," stated Fred quickly shushing Tessa's objections. "When you get back with research know we need to lower the dosage in the candy or throw it out entirely and make perfect the flaws."
"Fine," said Tessa. "Lemme know when to begin and I will."
"Good," said the twins excitedly.
The train ride was a business meeting, mostly catching up on products that worked, and didn't, what needed to be perfect, and what needed to be scraped entirely. This continued for hours until the train slowed to a halt.
"Blimey," said Fred jokingly. "Look at the time."
It was dark outside. The lamps illuminating the carriages outside were brighter than usual causing Tessa to look toward the ground as she jumped into the carriage with Rosie purring in her lap snuggling closer to keep warm.
Fred jumped in quickly behind her. Sitting closer than usual. Resting his bag between his legs causing their knees to touch the entire ride to the castle. Tessa's cheeks flushed as the three guys talked animatedly to each other. She stared down at Fred's thigh touching hers creating a bridge as Nyx stretched out of her lap and nestled into his. The carriage came to a halt at the castle entrance as Fred held Nyx and helped Tessa out of the carriage.
"Same old school," sighed Lee. "Can't wait to see you go."
"Yeah," grumbled George as he followed Lee up the steps with Fred and Tessa in tow.
"Are you going to carry her all night," laughed Tessa as she watched Fred hold Nyx purring loudly in his arms.
"Of course," said Fred as if he were offended. "I was chosen."
Tessa, Lee, and George laughed as Fred stroked Nyx lovingly not breaking. They reached Great Hall as Fred sat Nyx down by the mountains of luggage and trunks. The group into the Great Hall grew larger and larger as everyone sat in their respective seats waiting for the ceremony to begin.