August 14, 1992 ~
Garnet waited impatiently by the fireplace for George and Fred to come through.
Fred came first. "Sorry we're late, George changed shirts three times." he laughed, "He's worse than a girl."
There was another flash and George stepped out of the fireplace, but his foot caught on something and he fell forward, knocking Garnet down.
He pushed up on his hands, hovering over Garnet, "I'm so sorry!"
Garnet laughed, as she looked up into his eyes. "Get off me your oaf!" she swatted his shoulder.
George scurried to get up and helped her stand. He and Fred took a look around.
"Nice place." Fred said.
Garnet's family lived in a modest ranch style home with a shed and a large garden in the backyard. From every account it looked mainly muggle, but then they noticed the broom sweeping by itself.
There were beautiful colored glass windchimes hanging in front of each window.
"Those are pretty, where did you get those?" George asked.
Garnet smiled, "My mom and I made those."
"Oh yeah?" Fred smiled, then got an idea, "Do you think you could show us how to make one for our mum? Her birthday is in October, so we have time."
Garnet thought that was a lovely idea, "I'm sure we can make one." she thought a moment, "You can make them out of glass, or mum has used silverware, bells, all sorts of things."
She hooked her elbows with theirs and ushered them out to the shed, her mother's workshop. She knocked gently before walking in. Their eyes widened as they looked at all the different windchimes hanging, and different art projects being worked on.
"Well hello boys," her mother said. "Garnet, what are you three up to today?"
Garnet smiled, "The Twins were admiring our windchimes and asked if we could show them how to make one for their mum."
"Oh that's lovely!" Her mum smiled. "You're welcome to use anything here."
Mrs. Prince went to the house and The Trio set to it.
Fred rummaged through a container of a bunch of different colored glass beads, while George rummaged through a different container of different odds and ends. Garnet found an old bunt cake mold. She started punching holes spaced out along the edge.
"Okay, so you'll need 8 strands of different lengths." she explained, then got out the metal to link their pieces together.
They worked on the windchime until lunch was ready.
George carried the windchime in to the house and Garnet's mom just gushed over it.
"It's beautiful! I love all the different colors, and the game pieces? So unique! Your mom will love it boys!" Mrs. Prince set plates out at their spots. "Are ham sandwiches good for lunch boys?"
"Yes ma'm, thank you." they replied in unison, making sure to remember their manners.
The trio sat and ate while chatting.
"Mum almost didn't let us come..." George said.
"...after we took dad's flying car to go rescue Harry." Fred finished.
"Wait...Flying Car? Rescue Harry? You drove?!" Garnet was wide eyed.
Of course the Twins had to explain what was going on. Garnet just shook her head in amusement.
"I can't believe you two." She smiled, then frowned. "Poor Harry."
"The Dursley's are a real piece of work." George shook his head.
"I'll say," Fred said, "they had bars on the windows."
"Wow," Garnet sighed. "But he's with your family now, right? Everything is okay?"
"Yeah, he'll be with us until we head for Hogwarts." Fred nodded.
"When are you going to Diagon Alley to get your school supplies?" George asked.
"I'm not sure. Dad'll be back on Wednesday, I think he was going to take me. You saw the list for Defense Against Dark Arts, right? Gilderoy Lockhart?" Garnet rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, mum fancies him." George laughed.
"He's so full of himself." Garnet said. "My dad said he was always like that though, he use to make up far fetched stories at school."
"Lockhart went to school with your dad?" Fred asked.
She nodded, "And my mum, and Severus, actually. Lockhart was four years below them. But they still had to deal with him for the following three years." Garnet looked over her shoulder to make sure her mum wasn't listening. "Dad said that Lockhart was the only one that Slytherin were willing to team up with Gryffindors to prank."
Fred and George laughed.
After lunch, Garnet took the Twins for a walk around the garden.
"What kind of flowers are these?"George touched the long stems of the colorful flowers in one section of the garden.
"Oh those are my favorite, they're snap dragons." She said, then laughed as George pulled his hand away quickly.
"They're not actually going to bite! They're muggle flowers." She pointed at the petunias, and hyacinths and other colorful flowers. "Same with those."
"Wow, you guys like muggle stuff almost as much as our dad." Fred laughed.
"My aunt and uncle made sure I was brought up with knowledge of both worlds." she shrugged but smiled.
"Garnet!" They heard Mrs. Prince call. The three of them went running towards the house. "Ah there you are!" She smiled, "Garnet, your dad sent an owl and said he's bringing stuff to grill hotdogs and eat on the patio, how does that sound?"
"Lovely mum," Garnet smiled. The Twins nodded in agreement.
A while later, Garnet and George were putting a tablecloth on the picnic table, while Fred set out the plates Mrs. Prince handed him. Mr. Prince, on the other hand, was having a hard time getting the grill to light.
Fred and George watched in amazement.
Mrs. Prince came out with a bowl of potato chips, "Still can't get it to light, dear?"
"I'm not sure what's wrong with it." Mr. Prince looked at his wife, utterly confounded. "It's probably the ignition, and that's going to take me an afternoon to fix, but in the mean time..." he took his wand out and lit a flame on the pilot.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to do that from the beginning?" Fred whispered to George and Garnet.
Garnet laughed and elbowed him in the ribs. "You don't have to rely on magic, you know."
George and Fred just shrugged.
After dinner, Arthur came through the Floo to gather the Twins, but ended up being invited to join Alatar for a glass of brandy, which Arthur rarely indulged in, but couldn't refuse his friend.
Mrs. Prince had laid a blanket out in the garden for the Trio to sit on. Garnet was showing the Twins some things they hadn't learned in Astronomy.
"It's hard to believe we don't learn them by their names the Big Dipper or Little Dipper. The North Star is found at the end of the Little Dipper. That's how sailors find North when traveling." she explained.
The Three of them laid there looking up at the stars. Garnet was between the Twins.
"There it is," George pointed up at it faint little star.
Fred watched the pair briefly. He decided to make his exit.
"You alright Freddie?" Garnet asked, as he stood.
"I'm fine Garnet, just need to use the loo." he smiled and walked towards the house.
George pointed up in the sky again. "What's that constellation?"
Garnet giggled, "Boy you sure don't pay attention in class, do you? That's Sagittarius." she said. "And over there is Lyra." Garnet pointed.
George turned his head to look at Garnet as she gazed up into the sky. He was so close, he could see the moonlight reflecting in her eyes. George stared at her face, lost in thought, he didn't hear anything she had just said.
"Georgie, did you hear me?" Garnet turned her face towards him, and stopped suddenly when her face came close to George's. Their eyes locked and her breath caught in her throat.
George was psyching himself up to make a move when Mr. Weasley hollared for him. "George, come along, you've got a busy day tomorrow!"
Hearing Arthur made Garnet jump, and stand quickly.
"Bollocks," George muttered as he sat up. He stood, helped Garnet fold the blanket, then walked with her back to the house.
Fred and George thanked Mr. and Mrs. Prince for having them over, and Arthur told them goodbye.
Fred hugged Garnet, picked up the windchime they had made Mrs. Weasley, and hopped into the Floo. George stepped up and Garnet wrapped her arms around his middle. She laid her head on his shoulder, hoping he'd say or do something.
But he didn't.
"I'll write you when we're going to Diagon Alley. Maybe we can meet up?" he said as he let go of her.
Garnet nodded and smiled, slightly disappointed.
He went on through the Floo with a final goodbye.
Garnet stood staring for a few moments after the fireplace went dark.
"I know that look." Garnet was startled back to reality by her mother.
"What look, Mum?" Garnet turned to her.
"You like him." her mum grinned.
Garnet blushed. "Yeah...but if he liked me back wouldn't he have told me by now?"
"Awe, sweetie, you can't always wait for the boy to make the move." Mrs. Prince smiled. "Your dad and I would have never gone on a date if I didn't tell him to meet me at the Three Broomsticks one weekend."
"Really?" Garnet smiled.
"Really," she gave her a hug quick. "Now head on to bed." she kissed her on the head.
"Good night mum." Garnet headed for her room, and stopped at her father's office door, "Good night dad."
"Good night, sweetheart," he called.
As Garnet laid down to bed, she thought about what her mum had said about her taking the first step. She smiled as she thought about George, then she heard an owl at her window and hopped up to get the letter.
It was from Cedric.
