The rest of the night passed without event; they returned late to the common room, driving each others' bodies confidently now. Wary of the potion's short life, they went to bed quickly (although it was already late) into their new dorm rooms. They found no resistance from the staircases which tended to repel the other gender and both fell asleep almost instantly in each others' beds, exhausted from the day's events.

The next morning was a Saturday and the two were quick to reunite after an awkward change of clothes. They re-assembled in the same dungeon passage they'd met the previous day, as they'd agreed. Mina got there first, wearing a loose fitting T shirt and jeans. She was surprised to see Gabe arrive though; wearing the only dress she owned and with her hair up; the red tips of her hair forming a rough halo around her head. It wasn't a style Mina would have chosen for herself, although Gabe had been pestering her to give it a go a while back. It worked on her. Wow, thought Mina.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Mina noticed Gabe's face (her face, technically, although it looked so different). It was smiling shyly, one hand covering the side of her mouth. Her lipsticked mouth.

"Oh, Gabrielle." She smiled back, gently moving Gabe's hand from her face. Gabe's smile grew wider at the mention of her female name, but couldn't disguise the terrible lipstick job. It was everywhere.

"Yeah; lipstick's difficult the first time round."

"Technically not my first time"

"You nicked your mum's?" –she asked incredulously at her supposedly timid friend.

"Yeah; a dark red shade called 'moonlight enchantress.'"

"You rebel!" she laughed.

It was amazing the change that come over Gabe. Not just the physical aspects, but she seemed much more confident with herself, as if her skin finally fit her personality. Even her movements were feminine; she was holding herself in an almost dainty way, which Mina had thought impossible for her stature. It seemed to Mina that Gabe was prettier as her than she was. Oh gosh.

"So how was your night as a boy?"

"Ooh. Well." She smirked. "It was weird. It was quite… unusual waking up with a little tent in the sheets."

"I'm sorry. That happens sometimes. I should've warned you"

"Don't be. It was a novel experience. On the subject of novel experiences, I happened to catch sight of some of the other boys."

"Yup. Sorry again. Was Rowan…

"Flapping about? Yeah."

"God. He's getting better I assure you. Actually, can I tell you something?"

"Yeah"

"I mean since you were so good with the whole girl thing"

"Go on."

"Sometimes, for me, your two… novel experiences… they're not unrelated."

"So you're…" she moved her hands, unsure what she was miming.

"I suppose I am. Well, I mean it's normal for girls. Isn't it?"

"Oh yeah." She said, although the word 'normal' made her flinch a little. "Well I mean it's not (she made obvious air quotes) 'lady-like' but yeah it's totally normal. You don't just want to be a woman so that this is more normal, are you?"

Had she been rude? Probably, but Gabe answered easily enough. She had nothing left to hide now.

"No; my gender came first. The boys came later."

Mina nodded in understanding. She was hoping the questions weren't too obvious and she hadn't exposed her own secret. Right now she was doing whatever she could to disguise the fact that she was beginning to fancy Gabrielle in her body. She wished she had Gabe's confidence.

In fact, Gabe seemed to have a little bit of everything. She had the potions and history knowledge to be a Ravenclaw and she was kind enough to be a Hufflepuff, but she was brave to expose herself to Mina so wholly. Braver than any Gryffindor she'd met. She was probably only Slytherin because that was what her dad wanted.

She could be brave too. She could tell Gabe. Deep breath…

"Gabe…"

"Yeah?"- she was smiling sweetly, although her eyes quickly filled with surprise.

Mina saw what she was looking at; her skin was bubbling- she was turning back into herself. She felt herself shrinking and changing. It was much less painful than the first time physically, but her confidence had bolted. There was no way to tell her now.

"Do you want some more polyjuice potion?" asked Gabe, who didn't seem to show any sign of changing back.

Mina had fully reverted back to her own body now. "No, thanks. I'm just going to take some time being me for a moment. Oh bosoms, I've missed you!"

"Alright, but remember we need to spend as much time today as possible getting you trained and ready for quidditch as a bloke."

Secretly she was quite relieved to be back in her own body, if only for a bit. It was familiar and, to her at least, it felt right. But she was glad Gabe was so comfortable in her body, albeit curious as to why the potion lasted longer on Gabe than her. Maybe Gabe slept longer than her, so used less brain activity. Maybe it was to do with how long you wanted to stay that way.

As it turned out, it was another half an hour before Gabe showed any sign of changing, during which time the two discussed quidditch, gender differences, teachers, but never once did Mina let her secret rear its head.