December 25, 1992 ~
Garnet woke that morning to a small pile of presents on the foot of her bed. Her parents bought her a couple new books she had mentioned wanting, and a note stating that when she got home for Summer Break, her dad would take her to London to buy her a Discman and her Aunt Sapphire and Uncle Connor planned to visit this Summer and take her out to get some new CDs.
Most teenagers would sulk at the thought of getting IOU's for Christmas, but Garnet appreciated it, considering she wasn't allowed to have technology like that at school. It wouldn't work anyways. She had read it in Hogwarts: A History.
She saw a small box with her Godfather's handwriting on it.
"I hope you like it. - S"
Garnet smiled. She opened the box and found a pretty silver snake pendant wrapped around a chain. It was lovely. Garnet put it on right away.
She then saw a small package. Ripping it open quickly, she saw a soft emerald green knitted jumper. A note fell out of it. Garnet grinned when she saw it signed "Molly Weasley"
She put it on immediately. It was so soft. She dressed in comfy jeans and sneakers, grabbed her gifts for the Twins and headed down to breakfast.
There, along the Gryffindor table, she saw all sorts of jumpers from Mrs. Weasley. Harry in a greyish blue color, Ron in a maroon color with a big R on it, Percy in a brown sweater with a P on, Ginny in a pink one with a G on it, and Fred wore gold with a red F on it, while George wore a red one with a gold G on it. George looked up to see Garnet walk in.
"Mum sent you a jumper too?!" he grinned.
"Yeah, I love it." she sat down next to him. "I hope you two like your presents." She handed George and Fred their presents, and they gave her a box.
For Fred it was a book on Muggle pranks and jokes. For George, a book on Muggle magic tricks. They both looked at her grinning.
"Can you imagine the look on Dad's face..." Fred said.
"...when we do weird things without the aid of magic?" George laughed.
Garnet opened up the box they gave her. Inside was a bracelet. It was a thin leather band with her name stamped into it, and a beautiful designs all over it. Smiling, Garnet pulled it out of the box.
"I know it's nothing special but," George whispered to her.
"Nonsense, I love it!" She held her left wrist out to George, "Help me put it on?"
George loved the twinkle in her eye as she looked at it. The brothers had worked together to make it special for her.
Garnet turned over her arm so he could fasten it for her. His fingers brushed against the sensitive skin on her wrist. It sent a shiver up her spine. Garnet bit her bottom lip, but smiled up at him from under her lashes.
"Merry Christmas, Garnet," he smiled.
"Merry Christmas George." She said.
"Merry Christmas!" Fred but in on their moment by putting his arm over Garnet's shoulder and giving her a quick squeeze. "Do you like the design? Hagrid helped us."
"Merry Christmas Fred, yes I love it." She smiled at Fred.
Fred nodded and got up to talk to Harry, Ron and Hermione a few people down he table. "So..." he sat beside Hermione.
"So...?" Hermione raised a brow at him, while Harry and Ron just looked at his questioningly.
"So I need a little help." Fred smirked. "You know how there's Mistletoe hanging all over the corridors, right?"
"Ugh, don't remind me. I almost walked under it a couple times on the way down here." Ron groaned.
"Well...I think we should help a couple people make their way under the mistletoe." Fred grinned. "It may jump start what we all already know is bound to happen."
Ron and Harry rolled their eyes, but Hermione looked at Fred concerned.
"You know that's magic mistletoe, right? Whoever gets stuck under it has to kiss to get out. Don't you think we should let it happen on it's own? Trying to force it may cause more harm than help." she tried to reason with him.
Fred shrugged, then looked over at his brother and Garnet, subtly flirting. "Something's got to happen. They're driving me bonkers."
Hermione rolled her eyes, Ron shrugged, "I guess we're in." Harry smiled.
"Great," Fred smiled, "When we leave just follow my lead."
As they left the Great Hall, Garnet was beside George, and Fred on his other side. Harry followed closely behind Garnet, with Ron and Hermione beside him, watching for Fred's cues.
Fred saw some mistletoe down the corridor, so slyly began edging George closer and closer to Garnet. It looked like his plan may work.
What no one was expecting was Draco and his goons walking closely behind Harry with an agenda of his own.
As the group neared the mistletoe, Fred was getting ready to shove George into Garnet.
"Hey Potter, have a nice trip!" Draco shoved Harry from behind. Harry flew forwards and landed on top of Garnet.
"I'm so sorry," Harry got up then helped Garnet up.
"It's okay, Harry, I'm fine." she smiled. Garnet tried to walk towards George, but something wouldn't let her. She looked around and everyone was staring at her, wide eyed. Except of course, Draco and his friends. They were laughing hysterically.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Ron pointed up.
Garnet glanced up and her heart dropped. "Mistletoe?" Then she turned and saw Harry blushing uncomfortably.
Garnet tried to walk away again, but she just couldn't seem to go anywhere.
"Magic Mistletoe," Hermione muttered, "The only way to get away is to kiss the person you're trapped with."
Garnet looked at Harry then back to Hermione. "Can I just kiss him on the cheek?"
Hermione shrugged, "It doesn't give exact terms in the Herbology book I read."
Garnet sighed, then looked to George, who looked upset. She shook her head, then turned to Harry. She was taller than him, so had to bend down to kiss him on the cheek.
Harry's cheeks were as red as the Weasley's hair.
Garnet tried to walk away, but was still trapped.
"Oh come on!" she hollared, exasperated.
Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were doubled over, holding their sides.
"Technically, he didn't kiss you. He has to kiss you too." Hermione thought about it.
Garnet was beginning to get red in the cheeks.
She was staring at George again.
"Can you guys just go on ahead. This is embarrassing enough without an audience." Garnet begged. She made eye contact with Fred, urging him to take George away from there.
Fred got the hint, and pulled on George's arm, getting him to walk away. "We'll meet with you in the library." he suggested.
Garnet nodded, then turned back towards Harry.
"Nothing against you, Harry, this is just awkward." she shook her head, then glared at Draco.
Hermione and Ron stood between Draco and Harry and Garnet, trying to block their view.
"Let's just get this over with, please." she whispered.
"Agreed." he said back.
Garnet leaned down and watched Harry close his eyes. She closed her eyes and let their lips touch briefly.
She straightened up and stepped away from Harry. Garnet sighed with relief when she could get more than a few steps from him.
"That's a relief." Then she glared at Draco who was smirking. "I'm sure Professor Snape would just love to hear about this." Draco's smirk fell. Most Slytherin felt like Garnet was one of Snape's favorites, they just couldn't figure out why.
"Whatever, blood traitor." he sneered, and they walked off.
Garnet shook her head. "I'll see you guys later." she said to the trio, trying not to look at Harry. She took off for the library.
Fred and George were waiting for her outside the doors.
"That was so weird." Garnet frowned.
Fred gave a strained chuckle, "But it's over now. No harm done."
George watched her face. He decided, he needed to do something. "Garnet, c-can I talk to you?" he looked at his brother, "Alone?"
Fred's eyes widened, and he smiled. He held his hands up. "No problem. I'll just be... this way." he ran down the hall and disappeared around the corner.
Garnet was looking at the floor. George stood in front of her.
"Garnet, why'd you send us away back there?" he was hoping his guess was right, but he wanted to hear it from her.
"I, um..." she sighed, "I didn't want you to see me kiss Harry."
George smiled lightly, "Why?"
She mumbled something he couldn't make out.
"Come again." he raised a brow.
Garnet shook her head. She turned from him, stopped and turned back at him.
"I would have rather been stuck in there with you! Okay?" her face got red, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "There, now you know! Now it'll be weird between us." she crossed her arms over her chest.
George was grinning. He could barely contain himself. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Would it make you feel better if the whole time I wanted to swap places with Harry?"
Garnet's heartbeat quickened. "Really?"
George loosened his hold on her so she could turn towards him. He nodded.
"So..." she smiled shyly, "So now what?"
George pulled her in for a hug. Garnet went willingly.
After a few moment, George held her at arms length, "Garnet, would you be my girlfriend?"
Garnet grinned, she almost squealed. "Yes."
George smiled. "Can I...can I kiss you?" he asked shyly.
"Of course," Garnet blushed.
George leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. He was relieved when she kissed him back.
Garnet's stomach was doing flipflops. "This," she thought to herself, "This is how it's supposed to feel."
George broke the kiss and looked her in the eyes. Garnet took a deep breath and smiled up at him.
He took her hand in his, and they walked down the hall.
