the hallows - f. weasley

- c h a p t e r - e i g h t -

 "This is so illegal."

"And?"

"What if we get caught?"

"'Mione, it's too late now."

Hermione gave her a slight glare through the face of the Ministry worker–Mafalda Hopkirk–that she had turned into using the Polyjuice Potion Gemma had brewed.

"It's far too late..." Ron added from the face of Reg Cattermole–a ferrety-looking wizard. "Harry? You ready?"

Harry reemerged from changing, and Gemma snickered at the sight of his new disguise.

He was about six feet tall, had muscled arms, and now had a beard. He honestly almost looked like Charlie if Charlie was taller and didn't have all the scars he got from raising dragons since he was a teenager.

"What are you laughing at?" Harry shot at her. "You look ridiculous as well!"

Gemma crossed her arms in mock offence, "Excuse you. I happen to be very, very beautiful!"

While the witch Hermione had taken the face of was beautiful with age, Gemma was given the gift of warm skin, sharp silver eyes, and raven hair. She was much taller than she ever had been other than when she rode a broom. She couldn't help but wonder what Priah Noctum was doing in the profession she was when she should have been on the cover of the Witch's Weekly issues.

Hermione scoffed, "Are you two done? Take one of Mafalda's tokens and let's go, it's nearly nine."

As they rounded the corner and stepped out of the alley, Gemma whispered to Harry, "Ginny would think you look hella hot with a beard."

He blushed red all the way up to the roots of his hair as he grumbled, "Shut the hell up."

Gemma was snorting as Hermione grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to a very normal underground public toilet system labelled Ladies.

Gemma had been to the Ministry of Magic before, but that had been by Floo Network from Hogwarts. She had never actually entered the Ministry of Magic by the actual entrance or the back entrance. So when they descended into the bathroom, she gave Hermione a concerned look before hopping into a line behind another witch.

Hermione looked like she wanted to help Gemma, but the Lupin girl vanished into the stall–pressing her gold token into the slot next to the door as she had seen the previous witch do.

She closed the door behind her and stared at the toilet, praying to the stars that the toilet water would not leave her feet smelling for hours as she climbed into the bowl. She was surprised to feel nothing, even as the water appeared to be soaking into her stockings and heels.

"Oh Merlin..." She breathed just before plugging her nose and flushing the toilet.

The bowl gave out under her, and with a gasp, Gemma was now stumbling out of a familiar fireplace and into the Ministry of Magic.

It didn't really look how she remembered it–far louder and crowded. Then she remembered that she hadn't even seen this part of the Ministry so clear-headed. The last time had been when she was being examined to see if she would be put on the werewolf watch list. And that was the same night that the Ministry was attacked by Voldemort and his followers. As she took in the glittering walls and decor, Gemma couldn't help but flinch as she remembered the battle between her brother, Voldemort, and Dumbledore. She almost fell into the memories of those traumatising moments when a witch gently pushed her out of the way.

"Oh, pardon me," Gemma said sincerely.

"Not a problem, dear," The witch answered.

Gemma recognised her.