The car turned right once the light changed to green. She heard the screech of tires, and headlights coming straight at them. Grabbing the sides of the front seat, eyes closed, she braced for impact, but a sound, like the crack of lightening, echoed in her head, and pain as her back hit the ground.
She looked around and realized that her father had grabbed her hand and apparated out of the car.
"Amethyst!" her father yelled, as the passenger side was rammed into with full force by another car. Both cars slid several meters before coming to a stop.
"Mom?!" she screamed. She tried to get up and run towards the car, but people were gathering around the accident now.
She could hear her father yelling at her to stay put as he headed towards the wreck.
Lights could be seen in the distance, and sirens were wailing.
Closing her eyes to the lights, she didn't open them again until a man and woman were beside her, asking if she was hurt, if she could tell them her name, her address, they just kept her talking. She complied, until she couldn't focus her eyes anymore, and she blacked out.
~ August 27th, 1993 ~
Garnet sat in her room, watching the summer rain outside.
Her mother's funeral was ten days ago. Her father and her were trying their best to keep going, but she could see how hard it was for him. Severus had been coming around quite a bit, concerned for them. Her Aunt Sapphire and Uncle Connor left the morning after the funeral to go back to Ireland. They had land to take care of, after all.
Lots of people had shown up at the funeral. Many adults that Garnet had never met, but was sure were from the Ministry. Her dad was very much respected at work.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George and Ron had come. Percy had stayed home with Ginny. Charlie had ordered food and had it sent to their home, with a note of apology that he couldn't make it.
Having George there was comforting. He held her hand and had tissues in his pocket when she needed it. He didn't say much, but his presence was enough for her.
Now she sat alone, thinking about everything that had happened.
Blaming herself for not telling someone else about her vision at her Divination Finals.
Shaking the thoughts from her mind, she sat at her vanity and brushed out her hair.
There was a knock at the door. "Garnet, darling?" her father opened the door a crack, "Are you about ready to go get your school supplies?"
Garnet put down her brush, took a breath and put on her brave face, "Yes Daddy, I'm ready."
"Good girl, we'd best be off then." he turned and headed for the fireplace. "We'll pop on over to the Leaky Cauldron and meet up with the Weasley's."
Garnet nodded. She knew it was awkward right now between she and George, he didn't know what to say, and she didn't talk much.
She climbed into the fireplace and shouted "Leaky Cauldron" as she dropped her floo powder.
Garnet had tried to get into the conversation while hanging out with the Twins, Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny. She paid attention to what Harry was telling them about blowing up his aunt, and a strange dog, and then his ride on the Knight Bus.
And then of course, conversation landed on this murderer, Sirius Black, escaping from Azkaban, something no wizard or witch has ever done. The theories were tossed back and forth.
Garnet put on her fake smile, but George knew when she'd had enough. He excused them, and walked with her through Diagon Alley, just holding her hand.
He stopped by an alley, away from the hoards of people. She watched him shift from foot to foot, he rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles as they stood facing each other, then he cleared his throat.
"I know you've been through a lot, and I know the pain's not gone and won't be for a long time, if ever." he wasn't looking in her eyes, just kept looking at her hands, "I want you to know you don't have to put on the brave face around me. And even though I may not have any idea what you're going through, or have anything to say to make you feel better, I'm here for you, and I'll listen if you just need to talk." George finally looked up at her, tears threatening to spill from his eyes, "Don't shut me out, okay?"
Garnet couldn't hold it in, she began to cry. George pulled her in to a firm hug, holding onto her, letting her sob into his shoulder.
And now she laid on her bed, darkness having set a while ago.
She thought about mum. She couldn't help but feel at fault, even though Severus had told her over and over again it wasn't.
Garnet flipped her long hair over her shoulder and sat up. She walked over to her vanity, grabbed her hair brush and began brushing her hair. Then she stopped mid stroke.
"I need a change." she said out loud to herself. She set her brush down, opened her drawer and grabbed her scissors.
~ September 1, 1993 ~
George stood on the bustling platform, watching for Garnet.
"Oi! Georgie! We need to find a car." Fred said, "She'll find us once she gets aboard, come on!" he pulled his brothers arm.
"Alright, alright," George sighed. He followed his brother onto the train and claimed a car as quickly as possible.
George looked at his watch, then glanced back out at the platform. He saw Mr. Prince waving towards the train, so he knew Garnet must have made it on board.
He watched, and knew as soon as Garnet was out of Mr. Prince's line of sight, because his whole demeanor changed, like he put down the mask he had on. He watched his father approach Mr. Prince, and greet him with a hug.
George set to putting his bag in the overhead. He heard the door of the car open up.
"Bloody hell," he heard Fred whistle.
George turned to see Garnet standing in the doorway, her long hair no longer there, but cut short, into a pixie cut.
Garnet made eye contact with him, "Do you like it?" she asked nervously.
"Like it? I love it." he smiled, then moved to kiss her.
"Ugh, get a room you two." Fred teased.
George was pleasantly surprised that the train ride wasn't quiet like he thought it might be. Instead, Garnet was chatting with Fred, Lee, Angelina, and Alicia, and appeared as happy as could be.
Garnet stood during a lull in the conversation.
"Alright, Garnet?" George asked quietly.
She smiled at him, "I'm fine George, going to the loo, I'll be back in a minute." She left the car and traveled down the corridor of the train.
"How's Garnet been, George?" Angelina asked, concerned.
George nodded, "She's fairing well, I think. Taking it one day at a time."
Garnet had just finished washing her hands, when the train jolted to a stop and the lights went out. She touched the door knob and jumped at how cold it was, as if it was frozen. She waited anxiously, the lights dimmed back to life. Garnet reached for the door knob again, but it began to turn. Startled, she looked up as the door slowly opened and she saw a creature she had only ever heard of and only ever saw in her nightmares.
She felt sadness, memories of the accident and her mother's funeral popping front and center into her mind.
Garnet couldn't breath, and then everything went black.
"Wake up, dear, you're alright," Garnet heard an unfamiliar voice speaking to her. Her eyes fluttered open. "Ah good girl, let's sit you up." a man in ratty clothes smiled at her as he helped her to sit. He watched her look around anxiously, "It's alright, the Dementor is gone. Here, eat this, it will make you feel better."
Garnet raised a brow at him. She was sweaty, and she was getting very tired all of a sudden. She knew what had happened, but he seemed to think it was only because of the Dementor.
"I'll be alright, really sir." she said as she stood up shakily. "Happens quite often."
The man stood and watched her curiously, but still held out the chocolate. "I'd feel much better if you ate it."
Garnet sighed and took the piece of chocolate offered.
"Good, now where is your car? I'll get you back there before I go speak to the conductor." he held her arm so she didn't wobble.
"May I ask who you are?" she looked up at his profile, noticing his handsome features.
"You may call me Professor Lupin," he smiled kindly at her. "And you are?"
"Garnet Prince," she stumbled tiredly. "Right here is my car." she pointed.
Professor Lupin opened the door and everyone inside jumped, but George stood and ran to Garnet.
"You alright?" he asked, pulling her in to a tight hug.
"I'm fine." she whispered.
Professor Lupin began handing out pieces of chocolate, insisting that it would help.
George and Garnet sat down, he put his arm around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
"We should be nearly to Hogwarts," Lupin said, "Another forty minutes or so." then he left.
The chatter in the car revolved around the Dementors now.
Ginny had gone and come back and told them that Harry had passed out, like the Dementor was attacking him or something.
Everyone else started talking about what they felt when it was nearby.
"What happened with you Garnet?" Lee Jordan asked.
Garnet felt all eyes turn to her now, so she opened her eyes and took a deep breath.
"It trapped me in the loo, it got so close, then all I could think about was my mums funeral, the accident..." her voice faltered, and tears threatened the corners of her eyes. She turned her head into George's shoulder. "And then I blacked out."
"Harry blacked out too," Ginny whispered.
Everyone got really quiet. George tightened his hold on her and kissed the top of her head.
"I've got you now." he whispered to her.
As the Garnet, George and Fred walked up the steps towards the Great Hall with all their friends, Professor Snape stopped them.
"Miss Prince, please come with me." he looked her up and down, then turned to head down the hall.
She kissed George on the cheek quick and followed Snape.
Once they were away from everyone, Severus turned towards her quickly, "Are you alright? Professor Lupin told us you passed out when the Dementors boarded the train."
"I don't know if it was really that I passed out, Severus... I think I had an episode." she looked at her feet.
"Oh," Severus thought about it, "It still could have been triggered by the Dementor." he sighed.
She nodded, she didn't want to tell them they've been more frequent lately.
"Anything else you want to talk about before we go to the Welcoming Feast?" he asked. Garnet shook her head no. "Well as long as you're feeling alright, you can go on to the Great Hall." he gave her a small smile.
She stopped and stared at him.
"What?" he looked at her worriedly.
Garnet shook her head at him, "I haven't seen you smile, actually smile, since the summer before I started school. It's nice. Maybe you should do more of that here."
Snape scoffed, "Nonsense, I have reputation to uphold." he shook his head, "Me, smile...right."
Garnet gave him a quick hug.
"I like the new hairstyle, by the way. Very grown up." he whispered.
Garnet grinned at him then turned to head to the Feast.
Garnet walked in quietly as Dumbledore began his speech. This made her mood deflate, as she had wanted to watch the Sorting Ceremony. She deflated even more when she saw the only seat available at the Slytherin table was with her friend Adrian, who was sitting across from Marcus Flint.
She sat down, and Adrian's eyes lit up. "You alright?" he whispered.
"I'm fine," she smiled. She looked up and made eye contact with Flint, who was watching her, emotionless.
It gave her chills.
She looked up towards Dumbledore in time to hear that Hagrid was the new Care of Magical Creatures Professor. Garnet grinned. Then Dumbledore announce Professor Lupin as Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.
'Well that explains a lot.' Garnet thought to herself.
Once dessert was served, she said bye to Adrian and made her way around the tables towards George.
She was stopped by Cedric grabbing her wrist.
"How are you?" he asked, a look of concern etched on his face.
"I'm fine," Garnet smiled. "I'm sure I'm not the only one that had a bad reaction to the Dementors."
"Wait, what?" he looked confused. "I was asking how you were since your mums passing."
Garnet felt the color drain from her face. "Oh, I, yeah, I'm doing okay, Ced, really." She turned to walk to George, who was watching them, but Cedric grabbed her wrist again.
"What do you mean you had a bad reaction to the Dementors?" a look of horror was now on his face.
"I...I blacked out, that's all. I'm fine." she assured him.
"You're sure?" he asked. Once Garnet nodded, he took a deep breath, "Okay. I'm sorry about your mum."
"Thank you." She nodded and walked towards George, who welcomed her with open arms.
"What was that about?" he asked.
Garnet shook her head. "Don't start, George." she knew he was still leery of Cedric.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
Garnet joined in the conversations going on around them.
