SABAISM | H. POTTER

ONE. | THE RESCUE MISSION

"You know that one right there is me...one of the brightest, don't you think?" Gemini Lupin-Black exclaimed, her finger pointed eagerly at the canvas of stars above as they soared through the night sky in Arthur Weasley's enchanted Ford Anglia. The juxtaposition of her vibrant enthusiasm against the serious nature of their mission made the moment all the more surreal.

"Gem, I have to be honest with you. All those stars look the same to the rest of us," Ron Weasley replied cautiously, his voice tinged with exasperation. The ginger trio had endured Gemini's astronomy ramblings since they took to the sky, and each twist and turn of the car only made Ron's anxiety about heights grow. Fred and George, however, found her passionate rants quite endearing and simply exchanged amused glances.

"Just trying to ease your mind, Ronald! You have no class," she huffed, rolling her eyes dramatically.

"Relax, LB. It isn't that serious. Don't get your knickers in a twist," Ron shot back, but the twins flinched at his daring tone.

"You on a suicide mission, mate?" George whispered to Ron, worried about the mounting tension behind the wheel. But all hesitation vanished when he glanced in the rearview mirror, catching sight of the incandescent determination in Gemini's eyes.

"I'LL THROW YOU OUT OF THIS CAR!" Gemini shrieked, grabbing Ron by the collar, her sudden fury startling him into silence.

"Merlin, woman!" Ron squeaked in fear, visibly paling.

"You're the most—," she began, until Fred interjected, managing to keep his composure.

"Oi! You both need to chill. Firstly, you almost made me wreck. Secondly, keep the cursing to a minimum since you're twelve. And finally, we're nearly there." Fred emphasized the last point as they neared Harry's residence.

"Look! We're here, love," George announced, suddenly cheerful.

Harry Potter awoke with a jolt, thoughts battling the reality of the strange engine noise echoing outside his window. Scrambling out of bed, he squinted through the bars of his window and nearly gasped. A turquoise Ford Anglia was hovering just outside! That made sense, or at least he hoped it did.

"Guys?" Harry called, his heart racing. Relief washed over him when the faces of the Weasley twins and Gemini surfaced from the car.

"Hiya, Harry!" Ron exclaimed, waving vigorously.

The Boy-Who-Lived couldn't believe his eyes. "What are you all doing here?" he asked breathlessly, a mixture of disbelief and hope glimmering in his gaze.

"It's me. I was worried when you didn't respond to my letters, and when Ron mentioned the same problem... Well, we are here to save you, of course!" Gemini determinedly stated, her fierce protectiveness igniting yet again. Harry's heart raced at her concern; it felt surreal, a lifeline in the midst of his isolation.

"You lot realize you can't use magic outside Hogwarts, right?" Harry pointed out, yet his excitement bubbled beneath the surface.

"Forget about that. Just tie the rope around those bars," Gemini commanded, holding a grappling hook as if it were her wand.

Harry complied, tying the rope nervously and glancing back at the door. "If the Dursleys wake up, I'm finished."

"We'll handle them, Harry. You just stay calm," Fred assured him, revving the engine. With a steadying breath, he nodded for Harry to stand back.

"Ready? Hit it, Fred!" Gemini yelled as Fred floored the accelerator. A cacophony of metal-on-brick echoed through the night as the bars were wrenched from their frames, crashing down onto the lawn below.