HANDS OF GOLD
act one, chapter one
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━ GEMMA WOOD,
AUGUST 1989 ━
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𝗖harlie Weasley was an okay friend. When he wasn't trying to buy you off because he was plastered in a pub. Gemma had come to realize that when Charlie placed a bet on her, urging the druken men to take a wild guess at what her house could be. Those who knew her would know of course that she was proudly a badger and Gemma felt slightly sorry for the men who were going to loose at least thirty Galleons on Charlie's stupid bet.

Crooked teeth grinned at Charlie. "She's a Slytherin mate. I can tell by her irritated face."

One eye shook his head and proudly clamped forty Galleons on the table. "Forty that she's a Ravenclaw. You always look at their clothes, she's wearing blue."

Gemma was glad she didn't wear any yellow that day, but then again was she really glad? She will benefit from this stupid bet as well, she knew that, so maybe she was glad.

Gums grinned a gummy grin at Gemma, who grimaced. "She's a Gryffindor ol' right."

"Wrong!" Charlie laughed victoriously, taking all the Galleons from the men. "She's a," He hiccuped and he grinned at Gemma. "Hufflepuff!"

Gums shook his head. "She's no Hufflepuff mate."

"Well, tough luck Gums," Gemma began, scooping the Galleons into her purse and she grinned at them. "Because I am a Hufflepuff. Sure I'm wearing blue and let's face it ━ this," She pointed to her face. "Was supposed to be Slytherin Princess material. I was meant to rule those measly snakes." She shrugged. "As for Gryffindor, Merlin knows I would've burnt that stupid talking hat if it ever placed me in that hell house ━ no offense Charles."

Charlie grinned at his best mate. "None taken Gems."

"I hate that nickname." Gemma reminded him, nose scrunched up and Charlie chuckled when he saw her face, grinning at her.

"And that's exactly why I use it ━ because you hate it so much and you look cute when you're angry." The Gryffindor Seeker told her and Gemma rolled her eyes, saluting at the three creepy men before they went to a table.

"Watch out Charles, this puffer can turn into a snake and kill you. Hiss hiss you git." Gemma lazily replied, counting the Galleons they made and she only looked up when Charlie said that he was going to get them drinks. ❨ Again, and she nearly stopped him because he was already so intoxicated but she didn't. ❩ Gemma went back to counting the money when she felt someone settle themselves in front of her. "That was lighting quick." The redhead looked up, only to see Bill Weasley grin madly at her. "Oh ━ hello Bill."

"I would've thought you'd be much happier to see me."

"You thought wrong then." Gemma stated matter of factly, dropping the Galleons into her purse. "Where in the devil's name is Nymphadora?" She muttered to herself and as if some invisible God or Merlin's ghost heard her, Nymphadora Tonks burst through the door, bubblegum pink hair pulled up in a ponytail and her Hufflepuff sweater on full display.

"Whotcher Gem, Bill." The bubbly witch greeted them in her own weird way, sliding next to Gemma. "Where's your better half?" She asked Gemma, who rolled her eyes at her friend.

"Getting us Butterbeer or Firewhiskey." Gemma shrugged, running a hand through her auburn locks. "You have a mirror on you?"

"What do I look like? A savage?" Nymphadora asked, pretending to be utterly offended and Gemma raised a brow at her.

"Yeah, everyone knows you are Nymphie." She told her fellow Hufflepuff, who was about to correct her that she wasn't Nymphadora, rather Tonks but the redhead didn't give her a chance to do so. "Remember when you told the first year girls that story about the cannibalistic owl? And then you even changed your mouth and nose into the beak of an owl to further scare them? That has savage written all over it."

Nymphadora grumbled something before pulling out a cracked mirror from her jacket's pocket. When Gemma raised her brow, as though to ask about the state the mirror was in, Nymphadora told her that she fell.

"You always fall, it's as if you don't even need a reason to fall. You just do it." Bill spoke, wand in hand as he tried to stick it in his hair and Gemma suppressed a giggle when it fell right through.

Gemma decided to ignore her overly energetic friend and the annoying Bill Weasley as she looked in the cracked mirror Nymphadora gave her. The witch had always adored her eyes, from a young age. They looked like they were blue from afar but with closer inspection, you could see the flecks of green in them. But the blue was fighting for dominance, and it was wining. Then came her skin. It wasn't pale like most redheads, she had ivory skin, dotted with freckles, lots and lots of freckles that it would put the entire Weasley family to shame.

"One Butterbeer for Gems ━" Gemma threw a very dirty look at the drunk Charlie, who swayed a tiny bit. "One Firewhiskey for me." He plopped down, eyes going wide when he finally noticed Nymphadora and his brother. "I invited them, now I remember. Bill, go get you some drinks."

"Why should I do it? You were literally just there and you've been glancing at us for at least three times while ordering." Bill pointed out and Charlie placed a hand in his shoulder.

"Bill, I love you, very much and I would kiss you if I could but I'm drunk. It took all Merlin's toes and powers to let me walk here without a single drip."

"Merlin must have strong toes then." Gemma remarked, shaking her head and Nymphadora snorted beside her. "And look Charlie, you don't need to get even drunker, Merlin must then use his fingers and I don't want to know how strong they are if his toes are that powerful. Just give your Firewhiskey to Bill and Nymphie and I will share this Butterbeer."

Charlie gaped at her. "Where in Rowena are you hiding Gemma Wood's body you imposter?"

"I am Gemma you drunk fool." The redhead sighed. "Now give it to your horrible brother before I force you too."

"I sometimes forget how mean you can be Gem." Nymphadora spoke, watching as Charlie reluctantly handed his precious glass of Firewhiskey to his brother, who promised him that he'd rather die than let any harm befall it ━ until he downed the whole thing and Charlie cried.

"You cry as though you lost a rib." Bill grumbled to his brother, who was busy punching him on the arm. "And you hit like Ron." The day ended with Charlie crying like Percy, apparently, and Gemma hitting Bill behind the head for saying that because she actually really liked Percy.

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an. I kinda like this version better, I dunno🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️