As the first years marched after Professor McGonagall, the two gingers glanced around, eyes wide at all the wondrous things they had listened to their brothers speak about for years.
They waved at their brothers, Charlie, the 6th year, and Percy, the 3rd year, as they joined the crowd of other anxious students in the front of the entire school.
"What do you think, Freddie, are we going to be in Gryffindor like the others, or ..." George said.
"...or will be placed into another? Like maybe Ravenclaw?!" Freddie finished his sentence.
They turned forwards towards Professor McGonagall as she explained what they needed to do.
The old brown hat, setting on the stool, sang a little ditty before the Professor began calling students alphabetically by last name.
"Roger Davies." She started.
The twins watched impatiently. They knew they were going to be the last ones sorted.
"Ravenclaw!" a small round of applause burst from the long Ravenclaw table. "Cedric Diggory." One after another, students were called to the front and sorted. Fred and George clapped when their friend Lee Jordan was sorted into Gryffindor.
"Garnet Prince." Professor McGonagall called. A short, chubby girl with long, dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes slowly made her way to the front. She sat shyly on the stool, biting her bottom lip with apprehension.
"Prince, I've never heard that name before." George nudged his brother.
"Maybe she's just moved this way?" Fred suggested, but then noticed how the Professor with greasy black hair sat up and took notice of the girl. "Is that Snape? The Potions teacher Charlie makes fun of?"
George nodded, "I think it is."
The Sorting Hat seemed to be taking it's good ol' time deciding on which House Miss Prince belonged in, but finally "Slytherin!"
Snape gave a meek attempt at a smile, and clapped politely.
The girl smiled, blushed, and hopped up to join the table of Snakes. Fellow first year, Marcus Flint, grinned at her with his crooked teeth.
The ceremony continued on, and finally Professor McGonagall called out "Fred Weasley,"making the twins eyes light up with glee.
Fred bound in front of everyone, and sat cheerily on the stool. Once the hat was placed on his head, it didn't take long before it called out "Gryffindor!" Charlie and Percy erupted in applause. Grinning, Fred joined them.
"George Weasley," Professor McGonagall called out. George raced up to the stool and plopped onto it without preamble. Dumbledore chuckled. George looked out over the entire student body.
Smiling, Professor McGonagall set the hat on his head. "Another one?! Gryffindor!" the hat called, sounding almost exasperated. The second Weasley twin raced over to his brothers, high-fives all around.
The sorting ceremony ended, and Dumbledore stood and gave his Start of Year speech. As he finished his warnings about the Forbidden Forest and being out of bed after hours, as well as mentioning the irregular mood swings of the Giant Squid in the Black Lake, he clapped his hands and the feast began.
The First years chattered excitedly with the older students in their Houses. Fred and George joked with Lee Jordan. George looked around at the other tables, grinning, and his eye stopped on the Prince girl.
She sat quietly, head bowed, eating bits and pieces of food, looking up only to give the occasional nod to an upperclassman asking her a question here and there. 'What an odd choice for a Slytherin,' George thought to himself, when she looked right at him, making eye contact. George grinned, but Garnet's face turned a shade of pink and she looked back down at her food.
George shrugged it off and continued with his brother's conversation with a boy in Third year with Percy, Oliver Wood, "I can't wait for Quidditch tryouts this year! I overheard your brother Charlie say he was trying out for Seeker." Oliver's already thick accent got heavier the more excited he became.
"Yeah," Fred nodded, "He's done nothing but talk about..."
"...tryouts and how stiff competition will be this year." George finished his sentence. "We want to be Beaters someday."
They continued their chatter until it was time to head on to their Common Rooms, then Charlie ushered the First years to the Common Room, making sure they all heard the password to get past the portrait of the Fat Lady.
Fred and George sat on their bed, looking around, amazed at all the finery of the dormitory, something they were unaccustomed to at home.
"This is going to be a great year, Freddie," George grinned.
"I have to agree with you, Georgie," Fred nodded.
"Goodnight!" they said in unison.
~ September 4th ~
After a weekend of exploring the castle, and seeing what sorts of trouble the twins and their friend Lee could get into, Monday morning arrived, bringing with it the first day of classes.
They got their schedules and saw they had Potions first thing...with the Slytherin.
"Good luck," Charlie said, "Snape is Slytherin Head of House. He favors them."
"Yeah, please, TRY not to lose any points before we have a chance to earn them." Percy but in.
"We will try!" they said in unison, smiling with their fingers crossed behind their backs.
Gryffindor and Slytherin students stood outside the dungeon, where the Potions Classroom was located, and waited for the Professor to open the door. They anxiously looked around at each other, not sure if they were allowed to talk to one another, or what they were supposed to be doing.
George saw Garnet, standing off by herself, head down, trying to go unnoticed. He nudged Fred with his elbow and tipped his head in the direction of the Slytherin slinking in the shadows. George edged her way, followed by his brother.
Clearing his throat, George smiled when Garnet looked up at him, eyes wide.
"Hello, I don't think we've officially met. I'm George, this here is Fred." he pointed at Fred who was smiling beside him.
"I'm..." she said quietly, shifting back and forth on her feet, "I'm Garnet."
"You're a shy one, aren't you?" Fred laughed.
"How'd you manage getting into Slytherin being that shy?" George joked. Their laughing ended when they watched her face fall, and cast her eyes down to the floor.
They saw her clench and unclench her hands on her book. "Ya know there's nothing says a Slytherin can't be shy." she shot back at them, fire in her eyes.
"Hey, sorry, it was..." Fred said.
"...just a joke." George finished.
"Jokes are meant to be funny." Garnet looked away from them scowling.
Just then the doors opened and there stood Snape, looking around at all the First Years.
"Come along, we have much to do." he said with a drawl.
Garnet walked in ahead of the Weasley twins, who took the desk right behind her.
"Really, we're sorry." George felt bad.
"Don't be upset." Fred tried.
Garnet just huffed and opened her book to the first Chapter.
"Quiet down." Snape said quietly, but had an air about him that made all the students listen. He began with taking roll call. When he read through almost all the names, he stopped before the next one, made an almost sigh, glanced up at the twins, and with disdain said "The Weasleys." not even bothering to distinguish one from the other.
"Here!" they said.
Snape took a deep breath, gently shook his head, and began his start of year speech to his new batch of First Years. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making."
Snape seemed to rattle on, and normally Garnet would have no problem listening, but the bracelet she wore started changing colors from green to yellow. She quickly raised her right hand, the one wearing the bracelet, into the air.
Snape stopped, "Yes Miss Prince?" he snipped, however his eyes immediately focused on her bracelet.
"M-may I use the restroom, please?" she asked.
Snape nodded, "Very well." and Garnet was up and out the door quickly.
A while later, Garnet came back, looking slightly disheveled and tired. Snape paid her no mind, except to glance at her as she sat back down.
Finally, class ended, and the students filed out of the dungeon. The last one to leave, was Garnet.
"Everything alright, Miss Prince?" Snape raised a brow.
Garnet glanced around to make sure there was no one else in the room, "It will be, sir," she replied.
Snape nodded his head.
Garnet shouldered her bag, took a breath, and walked out of the room to head for Herbology.