GEMINI KNEW THE TRIO, AS THEY TRUDGED DOWN DIAGON ALLEY, COULD BE HELD IN COMPARISON TO AN ODDITY. The boy who survived the cruelest unforgivable, a half-giant, and the daughter of a deranged prisoner; all walking alongside one another in harmony. Gemini snorted at the mental image. The observation in itself sounded like the beginning to a lousy joke. - She typically didn't mind the attention, truthfully having grown used to it eons ago, but the soot that streaked her face fueled an irritation deep within. Gemini wanted to snap at the judging eyes that bore into them all, and the mask of negligence she routinely held in public was about to crack...Which is why she found herself in this situation; having a staredown with a witch in a hideous bonnet. However; the girl's attention span was rashly cut when the calls reached her ears, "Harry! Gemini!" The children in question looked up to see Hermione Granger, who excitedly stood at the top of Gringotts' steps. A mop of bushy hair flowinf threw the wind as the girl ran down to meet her friends. Gemini couldn't help the grin that found it's way onto her face; Hermione always managed to make her feel at ease.
When the girl approached the trio she said, "Hello, Hagrid. Oh, it's wonderful to see you three again." She stopped as she took in her friend's appearance. They could all tell there was a question on the tip of her tongue from how her head cocked curiously to the side. "Don't ask," Gemini jokingly commanded as she held up her head. Harry quickly nodded his head in agreement, not wanting to explain his mistake. Hermione respected their wishes and responded with, "C'mon. Everyone's been so worried." She lead them to Gringotts, where Hermione's nervous looking parents stood with the Weasley's. They could hear their exchange even from the distance.
"So you're dentists? Fascinating! I understand other Muggles quite fear you? Why is that?," Mr. Weasley spouted off. Gemini decided to make her presence known, "It's because they prod about your mouth, and they try to prevent you from eating sweets. Tried to do it on me. Hello, Grangers!" Hermione's parents looked at the girl in amusement. "Oh, Gemini! Harry! Thank goodness. We hoped you'd only gone one grate too far. Come now. We're off to Flourish and Blotts," Mrs. Weasley said in obvious relief. She frowned slightly at seeing how dirty they appeared. Merlin, these two were attracted to danger. "Isn't it thrilling!," Hermione started out excitedly, "Gilderoy Lockhart's going to be there! We can actually meet him! I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!" Mrs. Weasley and herself dashed off enthusiastically. Harry frowned in confusion. "Lockhart is a right prick," Gemini informed him as the two followed in their wake.
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Gemini had wonderfully memories connected with Flourish and Blotts. When she was a child; Remus would frequently bring her here, and the two would immerse themselves in all the things the store had to offer. They weren't always able to buy anything, hut it was always an adventure to them both. The girl happily breathed in the signature smell of old books and fresh parchment.
The shop was strangely packed today. Harry, Gemini, and the others threaded their way through a throng of middle-aged ladies. The smell of desperation oozed off of them in waves as the women craned their necks to get a look of Lockhart. He was sat at the rear of the shop signing books. Gemini had to admit, despite her unwarranted hatred for them man, that Gilderoy Lockhart was the basic definition of handsome. He was golden-haired, had pearl-white teeth, and bright blue eyes. He wasn't really her type, though. At the sight of the man, Mrs. Weasley patted at her hair. Gemini shot the woman a disappointed look that went unnoticed.
"There he is," the ginger-haired woman practically squealed. "Mum fancies him," Ron informed the group. For this, Mrs. Weasley gave Ron a harsh jab to the shoulder. Before her son could groan in shock, a short man with a camera bumped past the group. "Out of the way! This is for the Daily Prophet," the man rudely explained. Lockhart instantly looked up with a trained smile on his face, but then the author's face fell in recognization. "It can't be...Harry Potter?," he exclaimed in wonder. Harry groaned, ad the crowd began to whisper excitedly. Lockhart unexpectedly dove forward and seized Harry's hand. "Oi! Personal space!," Gemini reprimanded the older wizard, but her criticism fell on deaf ears. Lockhart turned Harry to face the photographer, and under his breath he instructed, "Nice big smile, Harry. Together, you and I displayed across the front page." He sounded like a kid on Christmas who couldn't believe he got the gift he asked for.
After the camera flashed; Lockhart loudly announced, "Ladies and Gentlemen! What an extraordinary moment this is! When young Harry here stepped into Flourish and Blotts this morning to purchase my autobiography, Magical Me -- which, incidentally is celebrating its twenty-seventh week atop The Daily Prophet's Bestseller List -- he had no idea that he would, in fact, be leaving with my entire collected works. Free of charge!" Gemini snorted loudly at how full of himself the man was, at least she went about it elegantly. The crowd clapped. Before Harry knew it, a towering stack of books was shoved into his arms. Mortified, Harry mumbled out quietly, "Thank you." He, thankfully, slipped free and drifted back into the crowd, red with embarrassment. He approached Gemini, who was about to make a joke about him having his picture taken, and dropped all of the books he had been gifted into her cauldron. Before she had the time to scold him; he stated, "You have these. I already sent Fred off to buy mine. I wouldn't want to just waste them." He had lied about sending Fred off, but he knew Gemini was too proud to accept them unless told otherwise. "Yeah, wouldn't want them to go to waste! Thanks Harry," Gemini joyously responded. She felt the nagging in the back of her head quiet down, for she had been slightly worried she wouldn't have the means to cover all of it. Harry's famousness sometimes had its perks, but she knew he hated the attention.
A clearing of someones throat interrupted their conversation that was about to continue. They turned to see Draco Malfoy glaring at the both of them. "Bet you loved that, didn't you Potter? Famous Harry Potter. Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page," their enemy sneered in disgust. Gemini rolled her eyes at his obvious jealousy. "Come off it, Draco. Just because the spotlight wasn't on you for once doesn't mean you need to throw a fit," she dryly responded. Draco's face sprouted a furious blush and he haughtily yelled, "Look, Potter. You've got yourself a girlfriend!" Gemini looked at him incredulously. Ginny, who stood beside them all, gasped. Meanwhile, Harry simply blinked. "Was that supposed to offend me?," the Gryffindor boy queried. A chuckle escaped Gemini at Harry's nonchalantness. "Leave Harry alone!," Ginny yelled out from behind the two of them, wishing to be included.
Draco's rebuttal never heard; for, Lucius Malfoy interjected before harsh jeers could be bestowed upon the youngest ginger. "Silence, Draco! Ah...Mr. Potter. I don't believe we've met." Ice blue eyes calculatingly examined the Boy-Who-Lived; the eldest Malfoy then extended his hand, as if offering to shake Harry's in greeting, but instead gently ran his fingers over the fringe of Harry's scalp. - Such movement revealing the famous lightning bolt scar. - From the forward contact; Harry began to withdraw, ever so slightly. It was obvious he was extremely uncomfortable. "Pedophile! Stop bloody touching him," Gemini ordered the man. Lucius pulled away, sharply, and a perfected death glare was awarded to the female.When he fully registered who it was; his nose scrunched up in disgust, "Oh, Miss. Black. You truly do bring shame to our family." Harry appeared shocked from hearing of her relations. However, she simply rolled silver eyes and retaliated, "It is Miss. Lupin-Black; and I have never claimed you as family, bitch." Everyone in their vicinity gasped outwardly when they heard the girl crudely address Mr. Malfoy. Ginny had scattered away in fear after that comment. "Yes, the mutt in you is undeniable," Malfoy sneered out as he lost his temper. "I thought I made it clear earlier that you are the bitch," she confidently responded. Draco Malfoy stood off to the side with a gaping mouth, no one had ever talked to his father like that and lived. He would never admit it out loud but he was impressed.
Lucius breathed in deeply before he twisted away from her. He didn't want to hex a child out in public. Gemini was so giddy with the fact the she had won that she hadn't seen Draco and Harry's shocked faces. "Forgive me, Mr. Potter," Mr. Malfoy started out coldly, "But your scar is legend. As, of course, is the wizard who gave it to you." That rubbed Harry the wrong way. "He was a murderer," he said factually. Lucius looked him up and down before he replied, "Yes, a pity about your parents. Curious that you yourself should escape with a mere flesh wound. Curious, too, that you speak of him in the past. Surely, you don't think He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone forever."It was insane to Gemini that the Malfoy's didn't deeply hide their loyalties to the dark. "His name is Voldermort," Harry corrected. Lucious looked disturbed, "You must be very brave, Mr. Potter, to dare speak his name. Or foolish." Gemini shook her head, "What's foolish is being defeated by an infant. Voldemort obviously wasn't that grand of a wizard." Harry gave her a look of appreciation. Those in earshot gasped, once more, at the use of that name.
"Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself," Hermione Granger stated as she walked up to them with her parents in tow. Trust Hermione to bring facts into a fight of passive aggressive sarcasm. Lucius Malfoy's eyes slid over to the new voice, and Hermione stared back defiantly. Merlin, Gemini was so proud. "You must be Miss. Granger. Draco's told me all about you...and your parents. Muggles, aren't you?," he questioned displeasurnedly. Mr. and Mrs. Granger nervously nodded their heads in confirmation. They could sense his obvious distaste. Before the uncomfortableness fully swallowed them; Arthur Weasley hurried over.
"Children! It's mad in here. Let's go outside," the man offered in an attempt at diffusing the tension. The group all huddled together. "Well, well, well...Arthur Weasley," Mr.Malfoy greeted mockingly. "Lucius," Mr. Weasley responded stiffly. He went about trying to leave again, but Malfoy's voice stopped him in his tracks, "Busy time at the Ministry. All those raids. I hope they're paying you overtime." As he spoke, he reached into Ginny's cauldron, removed a very old copy of A Beginners Guide to Transfiguration. What was with him and having to touch everything? After running his finger across the battered cover; he continued on, "Obviously not. Dear me. What's the use of being a disgrace to the name of a wizard if they don't even pay you well for it." He was such a git. "We have very different ideas about what disgraces the name of a wizard, Lucius," Mr. Weasley retaliated quickly. Lucius glanced at the Granger's and then said, "Clearly. The company you keep, Weasley. And I thought your family could sink no lower." Mr. Weasley moved to hit the man, but Hagrid stepped forward and put a firm hand on his shoulder. Gemini, meanwhile, was shocked at seeing the normally calm man about to resort to violence. His actions weren't done unprecedented, though. Slowly, Mr. Weasley backed away. Lucius Malfoy tossed Ginny's textbook back into her cauldron, "Here girl. Take your book. It's the best your father can give you."
Draco and Lucius began walk away from them, and Hagrid kept his eyes on all of the furious Weasley's. He made the mistake in not watching Gemini. "Oi! You don't have to be such a prejudice arsehole. You can have your money, but you are also about to have my foot up your -," her shouts at their retreating figures were cut off by Mrs. Weasley covering a hand over her mouth. She removed her hand only when they had exited, "Gemini. I understand he is a cruel person, but that doesn't mean you should shout at an adult like that." Gemini looked away. "She called him a bitch," Harry tattled, but he was mainly informing them out of awe. The twins roared with laughter. "You are my hero!," Fred yelled out as he scooped her up into his arms.
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Later that night, Gemini was sat in front of Remus; showing him everything she had got. He was a little perturbed when he recognized the book covers to be brand new copies, but he didn't want to outright express his concerns. He felt ashamed he couldn't just buy his daughter's schoolbooks without a second thought. Before he could figure out a way to voice his thoughts; Gemini chucked the bag of coins in his direction when she got to it. The man was utterly confused as it still felt considerably full. "How much did you spend?," he queried. "Only a sickle. We stopped and bought food." She then began to explain to him how she acquired all of the new books, and he felt a sense of relief wash over him.
"I am going to go take a shower, Dad," Gemini informed her Father subsequent to the utterances of their day; her unexpected adventure to Knockturn Alley not brought up. - The werewolf absentmindedly hummed in acknowledgement; his attention now brought to the sweets laid out before him. Just as he popped the smooth chocolate into his opening; Gemini, cheerfully, included, "Oh! By the way, I addressed Lucius Malfoy as a bitch today!" That sure caught Remus' concentration; however, his choking on the sweet was not heard as the door slammed behind her figure. Merlin, what was he going to do with her?