HANDS OF GOLD
act one, chapter five
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━ GEMMA WOOD,
OCTOBER 1989 ━
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𝗜n all honesty, Gemma only hung out with Hugo because it made Bill furious. At least he left her alone after all this time! Four years ━ and all she had to do to make him leave her alone was to sit with a boy that wasn't Charlie or Oliver. Speaking of Oliver, Gemma was currently pulling him by his ear towards the Hospital Wing. Here's the thing, the Wood family loved Quidditch ❨ and Queen, don't forget Queen ❩ but Oliver was so obsessed with it that it really scared Gemma. She worked at this ice cream shop during summer break, it was a muggle shop, and she had saved all the money, intent in using it on Oliver, just to get him a therapist. Naturally, she doesn't know what to tell him. Saying "Uh my brother is obsessed with this sport that you play on a broomstick and you have to catch this little tiny golden ball," isn't a really great place to start and if she wants to give the therapist a heart attack, she might as well say that.

"Technically, you're hurting him more by pulling his ear like that." Hugo whispered and shrunk back when Gemma glared at him. Beside him, Nymphadora snickered. Right before she tripped and went sprawling to the floor. Hugo grinned madly at this.

"Gemma, really, I'm not that hurt." Oliver argued, nearly smacking into his sister as she had stopped and she raised a brow at him.

"Not that hurt?" She asked and Oliver nodded before crying out in agony because Gemma twisted his arm. "It's fucking broken Oliver, but no, you're not that hurt."

"I don't think Roger will appreciate it if his future wife is an abusive ━ well, piece of...mint." Nymphie chuckled at her own joke as she stood up, brushing off the dirt on her neon purple trousers and pale blue shirt. To prove her point, she made her hair a shade of mint and grinned at Gemma, who rolled her green eyes at the girl.

"I'm sorry if being concerned for my little brother is abusive Nymphie." She shook her head. "And look, you don't have to be here if you're just going to tell me how I should be sister-ing this little douche."

Oliver gawked at his sister, mouth hung open. "But I'm not a douche?"

"Shut it, less talking, more walking towards the Hospital Wing." Gemma snarled, pushing him forward and Oliver sighed. Why did he have such a sister?

"You know what, you may be right." Nymphadora whispered, and Gemma turned to ask her why she sounded like that but the girl spoke first. "I have a thing with McGonagall anyway."

"Nymphie, wait, I ━" Gemma began but stopped herself when Nymphadora walked off, not looking back. Did she just have a real fight with her best friend? But it wasn't much of a fight, it was just a silly argument. Gemma was always hot-headed, Nymphadora will understand.

"You should definitely apologize after this sis." Oliver hummed from before her and Gemma sighed. He was right, but Oliver has always been right.

"And I thought I told you to shut up Oliver." But Gemma was never going to admit that, that would be like signing her name on a dotted line, agreeing to let the devil hold her soul in the palm of his hand.

"You could try to be a little nicer to people sometimes, you know Gemma? They actually start to like you more when you do that." Hugo told the redheaded girl and he immediately shrunk back when she glared at him. "Or not, you know?" He chuckled nervously, a strained smile etched on his face. She's insane. So very insane.

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𝗚emma Wood wasn't one to apologize that easily, unless her aunt Sarah forced her too, but she wasn't here so no one was going to make Gemma Wood apologize to Nymphadora Tonks. She could be the bigger person here, naturally, but all in reality, Gemma was just bloody terrified. It had been two days without talking to Nymphadora, and these two days have been quiet and weird. Gemma thought the pink haired witch would approach her first, but clearly that wasn't the case. But she wasn't man enough to do it first, especially without someone actually forcing her to do it.

Which is why Gemma wrote to Roger Taylor and Brian May for advice on the entire situation. She had assured them numerous times in the letter that she knows what she's asking about is entirely stupid but she made it clear that what she's loosing isn't only a friend but a sister. She sent the letter yesterday, and was still waiting for a response from the two famous singers, who were also her friends. ❨ She has probably said that a couple of million times but she still can't believe Roger Taylor, the man who usually only sings her to sleep in a cassette tape is actually her friend. It was still so absurd. ❩

It was the last period of the day for Gemma and Charlie, and they were waiting for the bell to signal their leave ❨ escape ❩ from the very boring classroom. They just had to have Snape as the last thing they saw for the day. Great.

Gemma glanced around, locking eyes with Nymphadora, whose hair was a dull brown, and she smiled at her. Her hair had been brown ever since their fight two days ago and Gemma honestly didn't know what that symbolized. She felt a sharp jab of pain when Nymphadora looked away and Gemma did too, confusion evident on her face.

After another excruciatingly long five minutes, the bell rang and Gemma flung out her chair, picking up her stuff already and she rushed over to Nymphadora, only to see that she wasn't there. It was disappointing, as she had hope that she would get a chance to talk to her a little bit.

"Merlin, I swear they're making the classes longer and longer." Charlie complained beside her and Gemma only shook her head, brain wracking with what just happened now.

Is she going to loose Nynphie forever?

The answer was yes, that Gemma came to realize when they were in the Great Hall for dinner that night. Nymphadora was laughing away with Bill and Monette Star a few seats away and the angry monster that is jealousy, gnawed away at her insides. She suddenly didn't have the thrill of sitting next to Hugo anymore, as Charlie had detention with Flitwick.

"I think I'm going to head in early." Gemma told the blond boy next to her, voice soft and rotten with hurt. Hugo could hear the pain clinging unto every word she said but he kept quiet, fearful she might tell him off again. She after all did have the tongue of a deadly serpent. "Tell Charlie he'll find me in my dorm, and that he should bring me cookies."

Hugo smiled, briefly squeezing her hand. "Of course."

Gemma Wood had listened to Roger's voice for at least twenty times, angry tears spilling down her cheeks, cookie crumbs on her lips when she finally drifted off to a sleep, her best friend Charlie right beside her, the image of Nymphadora laughing with Monette haunting her mind. Did she loose her best friend forever?

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an
And I am not deadh👌🏻