SABAISM | H. POTTER

THIRTEEN. | DUELING

Gemini violently gagged as the putrid fumes entered her nostrils, the acrid smell curling around her senses like an unwelcome serpent. "Merlin, that's grotesque," she started to complain, her voice muffled by the gag tied tightly around her mouth. "No wonder Voldy doesn't mind not having a sniffer." Ron, Hermione, and Harry all paused their animated discussion to offer her a disbelieving look, their expressions a mix of incredulity and concern. She merely shrugged in response, frustration bubbling beneath the surface like the potion they were brewing.

They were all cramped within the cramped confines of an unused bathroom stall, huddled over a bubbling cauldron that cast an eerie green glow upon their faces. Hermione and Gemini were in the midst of adding outlandish ingredients to the steaming potion while Gemini's continuous interruptions filled the air with exasperation. With a shake of her frizzed hair, Hermione quoted what Harry and Gemini had reluctantly admitted earlier, "Anyways... again? You mean the Chamber of Secrets has been opened before?" Ron's voice rang out with certainty, "Of course! Don't you see? Lucius Malfoy must've opened it when he was at school here, and now he's told Draco how to do it." They all took in his theory with a grain of salt, as many were always quick to accuse a Slytherin of wrongdoing, and Gemini cleared her throat, preparing to interject. "Maybe. We'll have to wait for the Polyjuice Potion to know for sure," she said, attempting to inject a note of caution. It was a warning she hoped would seep into the thick skull of the redhead; she certainly didn't want him going in without a plan.

The young Weasley, angered that no one seemed to take him seriously, shifted his attention towards her with fiery indignation. "Enlighten me. Why are we brewing this potion in broad daylight, in the middle of a girls' lavatory? Don't you think we'll get caught?" Gemini knew his words were laced with ill intent, and she rewarded him with an icy glare that cut through the tension like a knife.

Hermione quickly interrupted before Gemini could put their friend in his place, her voice firm yet soothing. "Never. We'll never get caught. No one ever comes in here." Harry's curiosity piqued, his brow furrowing as he took his hands away from his now slightly disheveled mahogany curls. He asked innocently, "Why is that?" Hermione shot him a weary glance, her eyes revealing a mixture of concern and annoyance. "Moaning Myrtle," she stated matter-of-factly.

Ron's eyes skittered between them, the wheels in his mind turning rapidly. "Who's Moaning Myrtle?" An earsplitting, piercing screech reverberated through the gloomy stalls, cutting through their conversation like a bolt of lightning. The ghost of a young girl barreled out of an adjacent wall and brought herself face to face with Ron, her moans echoing in the dimly lit space. Gemini desperately attempted to contain the laughter bubbling within her; if she couldn't chastise Ron about his obnoxious queries, then at least Myrtle could.

The translucent female wailed dramatically, "I'm Moaning Myrtle! I wouldn't expect you to know me. Who would ever talk about fat, ugly, miserable, moping, moaning Myrtle?" A flurry of adjectives cascaded from her mouth, emphasizing her self-deprecating despair. With a loud, exaggerated sob, the ghost flung herself headfirst into the toilet, causing Gemini to burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. "And you lot call me the dramatic one. Don't worry, Ron. She's just a little sensitive." She reveled in the moment, watching as wide emerald eyes met her sight, a twinkle of mirth dancing within them.

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Following their unsupervised potion-making escapades, that evening the Golden Quartet attended the Dueling Club's inaugural meeting, excitement buzzing in the air like crackling electricity. A brilliant golden stage had been erected in the Great Hall, shimmering under the flickering candlelight, and the students watched with bated breath, anticipation teeming within them. Upon spotting Lockhart prance out onto the shiny floor, Gemini groaned in annoyance, her displeasure evident. Hermione's firm grip on her wrist prevented her from abandoning ship, though.