It took the Twins a while to get Garnet to tell them exactly what had happened on Valentine's Day, and even longer to get her to be her old happy self again. She had almost seemed to seclude herself from people for a while. But the Twins broke through her solitude and made her smile once more. Things were getting back to normal.
~ April 1, 1991 ~
Garnet entered the Great Hall and her eyes immediately fell on her two best friends. She held the small wrapped boxes behind her back as she made her way to them. She set a box down in front of each of them.
"Happy Birthday!" she grinned and hugged each one from behind in turn. Fred and George were smiling.
"You didn't have to do this, Garnet," George laughed, "All we did for your birthday was sneak around the castle and almost get caught by Filch."
"And I loved every minute of it, so much easier to do while people are gone on Christmas Holiday," she shrugged, but smiled again, "Go on, open them!"
Fred and George tore the red and gold paper off the boxes, and opened them. A look of pure confusion on their faces, Garnet started laughing.
George pulled a teeny tiny box out "Are these chocolate frogs?"
"And Fizzing Whizbees?" Fred pulled out another tiny object and grinned, "How in the world?"
"The looks on your faces was fabulous," Garnet laughed again then took the chocolate frog from George and put it on his plate in front of him. "Now do the Engorgio charm." she motioned to the tiny package.
Smirking, George pulled out his wand, concentrated on the sweet and said "Engorgio!"
Quickly the Chocolate Frog was normal size once again.
"Did you have Flitwick teach you the Shrinking Charm already?" Fred laughed. Garnet nodded, smiling proudly.
"This is grand, we have a stash of candy now we can hide from others and blow it up when we want it." George smiled, and then hugged Garnet again. He let her go quickly, and his ears turned red.
"I figured if anything else you'd perfect the Engorgement charm by the time the boxes are empty. But that may take a little time." Garnet peered in Fred's box showing him all the different things.
"How'd you get all this stuff? Second Years aren't allowed to go to Hogsmeade." Fred asked.
"Oh no, this stuff is from Sugarplum's Sweet Shop, I wrote my mum and gave her a small list of things I would like, she sent me way more then what I asked for." Garnet explained.
"Thank you," the twins said in unison.
Garnet looked around at all the empty seats near the Twins.
"Are we missing some classmates?" She said.
The Twins grinned mischievously, "No," Fred said, "Nobody wants to sit near us today..."
"...because they don't want to get in the way of any pranks." George finished.
Then it dawned on Garnet "Oh my lord...your birthday is April Fools Day." she shook her head, "How appropriate for the pair of you."
George and Fred laughed. "Don't forget, you still owe us." Fred said.
"Wait, what? Owe you what?" Garnet's eyes got really big.
"You said you'd join us on one prank, whenever we want." George reminded her.
Garnet took a deep breath, "Okay, what did you have in mind?"
Fred raised a brow at George, who smirked back.
"We're going to get Flint." they said.
The evil smile that slowly spread across Garnet's face, made the Twins smile that much more.
"Yeah, we thought you'd be in." George smiled.
All day the Twins pulled small pranks here and there, invisible ink, which Angelina was NOT happy about after writing out four paragraphs of her Transfiguration homework; a couple dungbombs in the corridors, which poor Percy walked right into; and random silly things expected of the duo.
After Dinner, Garnet has asked to go to the Potions classroom to practice the Girding Potion they had been learning about in class that day. Naturally, Professor Snape gave Garnet permission.
She started the potion, and perfectly timed it so when it needed to simmer, the Twins would be waiting just on the other side of the wall in the secret passage.
What she didn't plan for was Snape coming out to talk with her.
"You've been doing well again this year. Professor Flitwick says you are a natural in Charms." Snape said, the corners of his mouth slightly turned up.
Garnet's eyes flickered to the spot on the wall the Twins were probably waiting behind for her.
"Thank you, Professor." she said, stirring the contents of the potion.
"Your parents are very pleased, as am I." he nodded, "You're one of the best pupils here, Garnet."
Garnet smiled at Snape. "Thank you Severus, that means a lot coming from you."
"I'm retiring for the evening. Whenever you're finished, just make sure to put everything back. Do not test it out on yourself until I check it over in the morning. If anything were to be incorrect, there would be horrid consequences." he said as he turned to head out the door.
"Of course, Severus, good night." she called.
"Good night my dear." he said, and closed the door behind him.
Garnet waited a few ticks before setting her stirrer down and walking towards the case with the ingredients. She found the brick she needed and knocked three times, then walked through to the passage.
The Twins faces, which were lit up with the Lumos charm, were in shock.
"What?" she tried to act innocent, but she knew why they were looking at her like that.
"Where do we start?!" George said in a forced whisper.
Fred shook his head and pulled his brother in the direction of the Slytherin Common Room, "No, come on we're on a time limit!" he turned back to Garnet, "But we WILL come back to this."
Garnet bit her lip and nodded.
Once they came to the secret entrance to the Slytherin Common Room, Garnet poked her head out and checked that the coast was clear, most students were still out. She led the guys to the Second Year room. Fred slowly opened the door and peered in. He nodded to George and they went in.
Since Garnet couldn't go into the boys room, she stood guard.
Fred and George quickly figured out which four poster bed was Flints, his Quidditch robe was hanging off one of the corners. They sprinkled itching powder in his bed, put some pink hair color in his shampoo bottle, and stuck a dungbomb inside his folded up pajamas so when he picks them up it will fall out and go off.
Once they were finished they quickly made their way back through the wall in the Common Room and straight to the Potions Classroom.
Garnet moved fast so she could stir the potion she left before it exploded.
The Twins joined her in the classroom. They sat on top of the desk in front of her, watching her, waiting.
Garnet put the last ingredient in, stirred it, then turned off the heat.
Crossing her arms, she looked at Fred and George. "Okay, ask me."
"My Dear?" shot out of George's mouth immediately.
"Severus?!" Fred couldn't stop himself either.
Garnet closed her eyes, took a deep breath in and let it out. "He's my Godfather." Fred and George were wide eyed. "And he's also my dad's cousin."
Now their mouths dropped. "So you're actually related to him?" Fred asked.
Garnet nodded. "I just didn't want to be treated differently, that's why no body knows except Dumbledore.
Fred and George thought this over for a few minutes, "I understand." George finally said.
"Me too." Fred nodded, "Doesn't mean I won't rag on you for it." he smirked.
Garnet shrugged, "That's fair." she smiled and hopped up to sit beside George. "So, was it a good birthday?" she smiled.
The Twins thought for a moment. "Yeah," they said.
"Good." Garnet hopped up and began cleaning her work area.
Fred and George helped her, then helped her pour the potion into several potion bottles and cap them so Snape could check it in the morning.
"I better get back to the Common Room, I want to be there when things go south for Flint." Garnet grinned, "Glad I could assist on the last prank of the day."
They stood smiling at her. "Glad you could help too." Fred chuckled.
"You're a good lookout." George smiled.
"Well Happy Birthday you two, good night." She hugged them both before heading for the Common Rooms.
"Good night," Fred and George said.
