The Geminus

Chapter One: Everything Changes

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger sat beside each other, Harry in the middle. Hermione to his left and Ron to his right. It was Defense Against the Dark Arts class, with their newest teacher, Professor Cordelia Cordo.

Professor Cordo was a strict, obsessive-compulsive (hard to miss how her chalk was arranged by color, alphabetically and were all exactly the same length) teacher who paid attention to detail, and was very objective and very proper. Needless to say, she was one of Hermione's favorite teachers. She gave points a lot... but she just as quickly took them away.

"Can anyone tell me what a glamour is?" she asked, walking in between the rows of students.

Several hands shot into the air. Not surprisingly, Hermione's was one of them.

"Ms. Patil," Professor Cordo called.

"A glamour is a way to mask an appearance. A person can use a glamour to have longer hair, a different eye-color, to hide a zit..."

"Excellent. Five points to Gryffindor. What are the types of glamours?"

Hermione raised her hand up in the air along with several others. "Mr. Malfoy," Professor Cordo called.

He didn't stand up, even though it was a requirement in Professor Cordo's class to stand up when called. "The glamours are identified by their strength. There are five types of glamours. Discretio makes something hidden, but still visible if one tries to see it hard enough. Concelsio makes something completely hidden, and it's fairly easy to remove. Conversio, changes things, but small things, such as a small portion of hair. Transforte is used when changing things such as hair color, eye color, complexion... and Mutatio is a complete change of appearance. It eats up the magical power of the one wearing a glamour, it is considered by some to be Dark Magic," Draco Malfoy drawled.

"Good. Five points to Slytherin. Now, who can tell me how to detect if a person is wearing a glamour?"

Several hands shot up again. "Ms. Granger."

Hermione stood up. "There are several spells to be able to detect a glamour. The most basic is the Revelorum spell, which will cause the spell casters wand to glow white for a glamour, and green for none. Another is-"

"Stop there, Ms. Granger. Five points to Gryffindor. So class, the spell Ms. Granger mentioned is the Revelorum spell, one that detects all distortions or changes in appearance, though only on a physical level. It does not only detect glamours, which is why it is used it medical magic. It's a simple spell, and its powers are limited, depending of the magical power of the caster. For instance, if a first year were to try that on a person with a good glamour on, the wand would either glow violet or not glow at all." She turned to the Slytherin side. "Malfoy, Parkinson, and Goyle. To the front please."

The three came forward. Pansy Parkinson, now vivacious and beautiful- and extreme contrast to her pug-faced days, sauntered to the front. Goyle was prodded by Crabbe and trudged to the front. Malfoy, cool as always... well a lot less talkative and annoying and more contemptuous and condescending, walked to the front.

"Mr. Goyle, if you will, twirl your wand and say Revelorum."

Goyle did.

"Now, face Ms. Parkinson, and do the spell."

Goyle faced Pansy, and the tip of his wand glowed violet.

"Class, this is an example of the Revelorum spell cast by a wizard or witch with little magical power or a wizard or witch not concentrating. Mr. Malfoy, if you please. Twirl, and Revelorum."

Pansy looked nervous. Malfoy looked impassive.

He twirled and said the spell. His wand tip glowed white, surprising none. Everyone knew that Pansy Parkinson had gone to a glamour clinic. No one knew what she really looked like though.

"Excellent. Five points to Slytherin. Go back to your seats please." She turned to the rest of the class. "All right, partners," she called, referring to the partners made at the start of the school year. Harry and Ron were partners while Hermione's partner was Parvati Patil.

The room was filled with blinding lights. Hermione discovered that Parvati Patil, contrary to popular belief, did not wear glamours. That was shocking. When Harry and Ron did the spells, of course their wands glowed green. Parvati and Hermione looked surprised when Parvati's wand glowed white after casting the spell on Hermione.

"I didn't know you wore glamours, Hermione," Parvati said conversationally.

Hermione was staring at the white tip of Parvati's wand. "I don't."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of you know, not unless you're Pansy Parkinson."

"Parvati, I swear I don't," Hermione replied, looking strangely at the white tip.

"You're wearing a glamour?" Harry asked, noticing Parvati's white wand. "I didn't know that."

"But I don't," Hermione stated.

"What are you so ashamed of?" Ron asked, turning to them and noticing Parvati's wand. "Why are you wearing a glamour?"

"I'm not," Hermione repeated.

"You're not what?" Lavender Brown asked.

"Wearing a glamour," Hermione filled in.

"But my wand glowed white," Parvati insisted. "I cast that spell correctly!"

"It's really nothing to be ashamed of, Hermione..."

"But I'm not wearing a glamour!" she wailed.

Ron grinned. "Come on Hermione, you can tell us the truth. How do you really look like? Maybe-"

"Hey!" Harry interrupted. "Be fair. Hermione says she's not wearing glamours, she's not."

"Thanks, Harry."

Ron grinned mischievously and lowered his voice so only Harry and Hermione could hear. "But then again, she said that she wasn't made prefect, but she was... she said she wasn't snogging *cough* unintelligible *cough* in the fourth floor corridor, but she was..."

Hermione blushed. "Low blow, Ron. But, I really wasn't lying. I don't wear glamours."

"Revelorum," a cold voice called. A wand glowed white. Draco Malfoy walked steadily forward. "Looks like you do, Granger. What's under that oh-so-innocent, holier-than-thou glamour of yours?"

"Bugger off, Malfoy," Harry and Ron said simultaneously.

"Why should I?"

Ron pulled out his wand. "Here's why." But before he got the curse out of his mouth, he found himself unable to speak.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy, ten points from Slytherin. Go back to your seats now. Ms. Parkinson, and Ms. Granger... to the front please."

Harry watched as Hermione made her way to the front, while Pansy Parkinson didn't move.

"Ms. Parkinson?" Professor Cordo asked, an eyebrow raised pointedly. "To the front please."

"Professor... I... I..."

"You what, Ms. Parkinson?" Professor Cordo asked sneeringly, challenging Pansy. "Ten points from Slytherin for disobeying a teacher."

Pansy paled and walked to the front, the normally playful and sly aura gone to be replaced by a very nervous and timid one.

"Thank you," Professor Cordo told Pansy. "To the rest of you, as you undoubtedly know well, certain glamours are strictly forbidden at Hogwarts." At this, if it was possible, Pansy paled even further. "Does anybody know why?"

Not one hand was raised up.

"No one?" Professor Cordo asked. "Disappointing." Professor Cordo, with her back to Hermione, didn't see her raised hand... or ignored it. Professor Cordo turned back to Pansy and Hermione, and conjured up seats. They sat down.

Professor Cordo spoke with her normal commanding voice. "Long term effects of glamours are that they can bind magical powers, and take away certain abilities. For instance, someone who has used glamours for years may find him or herself incapable of performing a simple levitation charm. One who has used glamours for years may be incapable of becoming an Animagus, or being able to interact with certain magical creatures... such as hippogriffs."

She turned to Pansy and Hermione. "As you know, girls, glamours- strong ones, like the ones you're wearing, are forbidden at Hogwarts. I'll have to take them off, and take off points from your houses."

Hermione and Pansy paled. "But Professor, I'm not wearing a glamour!" Hermione wailed.

Pansy looked beyond nervousness.

Professor Cordo stared at Pansy. "Stand up Parkinson."

Pansy got shakily to her feet.

"Class, this is a more specific detection spell. After the Revelorum, you say Glamoris... and wave it carefully around the person. Where it glows, or glows brightest, that is where the glamour is."

She stepped towards Pansy Parkinson. "Revelorum." Her wand tip glowed white. "Glamoris." She waved her wand slowly over Pansy like a detection bar. First in front of her head, her neck, upper body, legs, and feet. It glowed brightest when it was over her head. "The Glamoris spell, when coupled with the detection spell, reveals where there are glamours and how strong they are. The degree of the brightness of the light would depend on the degree of the glamour."

Professor Cordo brought the wand to Pansy's head, where it glowed brightly. "Finite Glamorem." Pansy's face slowly changed so that her aristocratically arched nose became pug-shaped, her seemingly sculpted lips and mouth... well, scrunched up, her high cheek-bones faded, leaving in place the pug-faced Slytherin they had remembered from their first to fourth years.

Hermione caught Harry and Ron sniggering, and sent them reproachful glares. Harry stopped, and Ron made a valiant effort- but the only help that did was to make him burst out laughing after several seconds. Hermione looked back at Pansy. She was in tears, looking over at someone. Hermione followed her gaze to see Draco Malfoy, smirking, then whispering something to Crabbe. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Pansy.

"Go back to your seat, Ms. Parkinson, and fifty points from Slytherin. Ms. Granger, come here please."

Hermione nervously stood up. She looked at her class, making it a point not to look at Draco Malfoy, who was leaning forward eagerly. She looked at Harry and Ron- both had noticed where she had looked and had sent death glares at Malfoy... who just smirked back.

Hermione swallowed nervously. She had no idea why she was so nervous... she knew she hadn't put on any glamours...

"Finite Glamorem," Professor Cordo repeated... but nothing happened. Professor Cordo frowned.

"Finite Glamorem!" Professor Cordo repeated, this time more forcefully. But still, nothing happened.

Hermione fidgeted and spoke again softly. "I... I told you I wasn't wearing a glamour... maybe... maybe-"

"Impossible. The Revelorum Spell is never wrong. Let's try something stronger." Professor Cordo made complicated gestures with her wand, and muttered a few words... but still nothing. Professor Cordo grew increasingly frustrated. "All right Granger... let's try this last one..." Professor Cordo's wand lit up... and the light forcefully struck Hermione, pushing her back to the wall.

Hermione felt awful pain racking her body... her skin felt like it was on fire, her hair was being torn out, her eyes felt so heavy... and suddenly it all stopped. Not too different from Polyjuice potion, Hermione mused. She blinked and straightened up.

Absolutely everyone was staring at her. The head's of the Hufflepuffs who had fallen asleep jerked upward, the Slytherins were... well, the Slytherins looked confused... and some looked... envious? The Ravenclaws were all staring wide-eyed... some Gryffindors were staring at her... well, to say they were disgusted would be putting it mildly. Neville looked terrified, Dean was pointing from her to Malfoy, doing an excellent fish imitation- well, a disgusted fish imitation. Draco Malfoy was staring at her intently. Hermione looked away from his gaze. She turned to Ron... Ron looked repulsed.

Ron was staring at her with something very much like hatred. His usually happy-go-lucky expression faded to be replaced with a look only reserved for particularly detested people. Hermione slowly turned to look at Harry... and quailed under the furious stare. His bright green eyes were burning with hate. He shot up in his seat and pulled his wand out. Ron followed suit.

"What have you done with Hermione?" Harry asked through gritted teeth.

She turned to look at Professor Cordo... Professor Cordo was staring at her blankly. Her head spun round again to look at Harry.

"Harry... what do you mean? I am Hermione..."

"Not as convincing in that outfit..." Ron spat.

"Ron, I don't under-"

"What have you done with Hermione?" Harry repeated, his voice quiet but with a strong undercurrent of anger.

"I am Her-"

"I'm going to ask this one last time. What have you done with Hermione?"

"I don't-" Hermione never had the chance to finish the sentence. At the exact same time, Ron and Harry cast their spells.

"Stupefy!"

Hermione braced herself and shut her eyes... but nothing happened. She opened her eyes. Harry was still staring, Ron was still staring... everyone in the class was still staring... a noise made everyone in class turn to look.

Draco Malfoy had hurriedly stood up, and was quickly walking to the door. Everyone watched the door slam shut. His footsteps echoed in the empty hallway.

Ron lowered his wand. "What are you?"