August 27th, 1992 ~
Garnet had written to Fred and George and told them her dad was taking her to Diagon Alley on Thursday before school started back up.
Cedric was also planning to meet up with her at some point today.
There was a huge group at Flourish and Blotts as Garnet and her father headed there to meet up with the Weasley's.
They got there just as Mr. Malfoy and Draco were coming out in a bit of a rush.
"'ello Lucius," Alatar nodded, being polite. He knew that Lucius had been one of Severus' long time friends.
"Hello Alatar." Lucius looked behind him at the crammed store. "You should have come a little earlier, now the store is full of Weasley's. It will be hard to find the books you're in search of."
Garnet narrowed her eyes at the white-blonde man. "I'm sure we'll manage, Mr. Malfoy."
She watched as Draco whispered something to his father.
"You really should take more pride in who you spend your free time with, Miss Prince. I'm sure your Godfather is quite disappointed." he sneered, before turning and walking away with his confused son.
"Daddy..." Garnet growled, jaw clenched, hands in fists.
"I know sweetie." he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Try not to let him get to you. He's been a bully as far back as I can remember."
They were heading towards the door, when someone put their hands over Garnets' eyes. At first she panicked, but then she heard a familiar voice.
"Hello Alatar!" Mr. Diggory's voice carried over the sound of the crowd just inside the store.
"Cedric." Garnet smiled and turned to see his big grin.
"Hello Garnet," he stepped close to her. "Have you thought about the last owl I sent you?"
Garnet's face turned red, "I... can you give me a little time to think about it?" She didn't look at him.
"Hey," he got her to look at him again, "Of course." His smile caused her to smile.
"Fred and George are inside waiting for me. Want to join us?" she asked.
Cedric shook his head. "We got here early, we knew this Lockhart bloke would cause a scene. I'll catch up with you a little later though, okay?"
Garnet nodded as he and his father walked off.
Fred and George were watching her from the door of Flourish and Blotts.
Garnet saw them and joined them smiling.
"Hi guys! How's it going?" she asked.
"Dad almost got into a fist fight with Luicus Malfoy." Fred smiled.
"Oh my!" she gave him a quick hug. "Hello Georgie." She hugged him, but he barely hugged her back.
Fred rolled his eyes at his brother, but asked the question he was too afraid to ask.
"What did Diggory want?" Fred smirked.
"He wants me to meet up with him in a bit and talk about..eh-hem..." she trailed off, blushed and averted her eyes.
George's brow furrowed, "Talk about what?"
Garnet looked from one Twin to the other, and then down at the ground, "He wrote me over the summer. He asked me if I'd be his girlfriend."
Fred felt George tense beside him.
"What did you say?" Fred asked.
Garnet shrugged. "I asked him to let me think about it. That buys me a little time."
"But what do you want to do?" Fred knew this was killing George, and was concerned. If the two of them stopped talking over her going on a date with Adrian, how would her being Diggory's girlfriend affect their friendship?
She sighed, "I don't know yet." She glanced at George, trying to gauge his reaction.
"Well no need to rush into anything. He said you can think about it." Fred hooked his arm with Garnet and pulled her into the book store to get her books for this year.
George was uncharacteristically quiet the whole time they walked around Diagon Alley.
The Weasleys, with Harry, Grangers, Garnet and her father ended their afternoon at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor.
The kids all sat around eating their ice cream, of which Mr. Prince insisted on picking up the tab, even though Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger was insisting it wasn't necessary.
Fred and George sat next to Garnet; Harry, Ron and Hermione were across from them, and Ginny was on the other side of Fred.
"Hi guys!" Angelina and Alicia came over to the table.
"Hi Angelina! Hi Alicia!" Garnet smiled.
"Hi George," Alicia hovered beside George.
George smiled at her. "Hey Alicia."
Garnet watched as she flirted with George, and he flirted back.
Fred felt Garnet tense beside him.
"Everything alright Garnet?" Fred whispered to her.
She turned to him, hurt showing in her eyes for a moment. "I'm fine, Fred," she whispered. "I didn't know he liked her."
Fred narrowed his eyes at George, "Yeah, news to me too." he muttered.
But George was too busy talking to Alicia.
Cedric came in and saw the group. Smiling, he waved at Garnet.
Garnet waved back. "Well, I guess that made my decision less difficult." she stood up.
Fred grabbed her wrist, "Garnet, don't."
"The only reason I wasn't going to say yes to Cedric, was because I thought George might feel the same way I do about him." Garnet whispered to him and shook her head.
"He does." Fred blurted out.
Garnet looked behind her at Alicia fawning all over George, and George grinning like an idiot.
"Yeah...sure looks that way. I've waited for him to make a move for a while now. I'm not going to wait on the chance he does." Garnet pulled away and walked over to Cedric.
He hugged her, then they talked a bit. Fred watched the horror unfolding before him.
Alicia walked away from the table and Fred reached over and smacked George upside the head. The Golden Trio all stared at the brothers, wide eyed.
Angry, George turned towards his brother. "What was that for?" then he looked around, "Where's Garnet?"
Fred pointed across the parlour at Cedric and Garnet talking. George realized they were holding hands. He took a deep, shaky breath, and his heart broke.
"You just had to flirt with Alicia." Fred muttered, frowning. Then he saw his brothers' face. "Come on bro, we talked about this. Make a move because she won't wait forever."
"Freddie," George looked like his whole world was crumbling. "I'm an idiot."
Fred nodded, then whispered to his brother, "But I really don't see it lasting. So just keep being her friend, and maybe eventually you'll be able to tell her how you feel."
George sighed and continued eating his ice cream.
Cedric walked Garnet over to the table. "Hey guys!" He had a huge grin on his face.
Garnet smiled at his side, holding his hand.
Fred chatted with Cedric a little bit until Mr. Diggory called for Cedric to get a move on.
"I gotta go, I'll catch you all on the train in a few days." he turned to Garnet. "I'll talk to you later?" he smiled.
When Garnet smiled and nodded. Cedric kissed her on the cheek, causing a blush to spread across her face. He waved at everyone and took off.
Garnet sat down, still smiling, but a sad look in her eyes.
George sat, looking at her, "So..."
Garnet looked up at him, "I told him yes." she shrugged.
"That's cool." George put a fake smile on.
Garnet nodded and turned back to finish her ice cream.
As everyone else was finishing up their ice cream, Fred leaned over and whispered to Garnet. "You look awfully distraught for a girl who just agreed to date someone."
"No," Garnet perked up, "I'm happy. My first boyfriend. Never thought someone like me would actually get a boyfriend."
George couldn't help over hearing their convo, but kept his mouth shut.
"Why's that?" Fred asked.
"Look at me Fred. I'm short and stocky, I'm plain looking." Garnet sighed.
Fred pulled her in for a hug. "You're anything but plain, Garnet." he laughed. "And any bloke would be lucky to call you his."
Garnet smiled, "Thanks Fred, that means a lot."
Everyone finished up their ice cream, and it was time to go home.
Everyone but Hermione's family gathered at the Floo Network entrance.
As the Weasley's were disappearing one by one, Fred gave Garnet a quick hug. "See you on the train." he said, and left through the Floo.
Garnet turned towards George, who was trying to put on a brave face. "I'll you see you later, Garnet." He said, then pulled her in for a hug.
Garnet could feel his heart beating fast in his chest, just as fast as hers was.
"Bye George, I'll talk to you soon." she smiled sadly. She knew things were going to change a bit now.
Her best friend disappeared through the fireplace, and she finally let a tear slide down her cheek.
