"This is very well done," Professor McGonagall told Gemma during Transfiguration early one afternoon, handing back her essay with a smile on her lightly wrinkled face. Taking hold of her parchment, she looked to see a top mark in golden ink at the top and smiled back up at her teacher. "You should be proud, Miss O'Malley."

"Thank you, Professor."

"We should have another talk about your future soon; I'd love to hear your opinions on a few things and to see if you've changed your mind."

Gemma laughed a little. "Still don't think I should work in the muggle world, Professor?" She asked, wondering if McGonagall was going to suggest the Ministry again.

"I do stand by what I said, but I have a few things to add as well. We'll set about a time to talk after the Christmas holidays, alright? I look forward to it, Miss O'Malley."

Nodding, she gave a grin and agreed. "Of course, whenever you like Professor McGonagall."

The older woman smiled, offering a comforting squeeze to her shoulder once more before moving along. Turning to her right, Gemma noticed Sirius and Jame high fiving over similar marks and she couldn't help rolling her eyes. She knew well enough that neither of them put even half the amount of time that she did into writing that paper and wrote it off the cuff. The fact that they got high marks just irritated her to no end.

What do they know about animagi anyway?

Writing down her notes as McGonagall assigned yet another project about animagi, she noticed the Marauders all looking particularly happy. Even Peter looked cheery and he usually despised Transfiguration class. Ignoring their little celebration over the topic, she finished writing what books she'd need down from her own memory and made plans to stop in the library the next day to check them out.

Once they were dismissed from class, she caught up with Marlene who was looking over her paper still and gave her a bright smile when she fell into step with her. "I got another bloody C in that class; I'm starting to think McGonagall doesn't like me." Her mate said somewhat irritated, shoving her paper down into her bag with no intention of ever looking at it again

Gemma snorted, shaking her head and hugging her mate around the waist. "Or maybe you've been off snogging Fabian more than you've been studying; no matter how much you suck his face, Mar, you won't gain any of his knowledge."

"Bloody shame that; I'd have all the answers for the NEWTs and everything if it worked like that," Marlene laughed, "But yeah, I'm sure that has something to do with it. What did you get, my precious genius...another A, I presume?"

"I beg your pardon; I studied for a whole day to write that paper. If I got anything lower I would have thrown myself to the Giant Squid and be rid of this cruel, cruel world." She said, over dramatically putting a hand against her forehead as if she were about to faint.

"Can I borrow your brain and motivation for the upcoming exam, Gems? Then I can just go snog Fabian until my heart's content and not worry about a thing."

"Um, how about no?" She laughed, Marlene giving her a little glare before shrugging. "I'll help you study though. You know it's my favorite pastime."

"Do you actually like it, Gem? Really?"

Thinking about it honestly, with all the hours spent in the library while her mates were off snogging boys and sneaking out of the dorm, Gemma only nodded a little. "I do like it, at least the learning aspect and finding out new things all the time. I'm not fond of it stealing away all my free time though, I could do without that."

"So then, you want me to corrupt you into a dark, scary pit of sinning then?"

Gemma laughed, shaking her head and letting go of her mate to pull her bag back up onto her shoulder. "That's exactly what I was saying, yeah. Of course."

"Finally ready to enter the seedy years of your teenage life...perfect. Sinning is loads of fun, after all."

"What is this I hear about sinning?" For a moment, Gemma thought it was Sirius coming up behind her with a smirk on his face, but was surprised when it turned out to be Fabian wrapping an arm around her shoulders and his other about Marlene's waist. "It is a topic I'm very well acquainted with, you know."

"Seeing as you know Marlene biblically," Gemma teased, "I'd believe it."

"Biblically?" Fabian questioned, Gemma just shaking her head with a knowing smile.

"Never mind Fabian."

"You know little Gemma, my brother is still madly in love with you."

"Oh stuff it," she begged the blush to stay out of her cheeks, "Gideon probably doesn't even remember that stupid dare. He was fourteen for God's sake; I'm sure he's had many a girl that would've erased that memory easily."

Fabian smirked, a look that so easily reminded her of Sirius. "That's where you're wrong! Supposedly, for a twelve year old, you were a pretty good snog, Gemma."

"You liar – stop pestering me, will you?" They all laughed, Fabian giving her a squeeze and a sloppy kiss atop her head. "You two go have fun."

"Oh, I plan on it, Little Gemma." Fabian wiggled his eyebrows, Gemma just rolling her eyes and smacking him across the shoulder as he let go and they headed down an opposite corridor.

"See ya, Gems." Marlene called behind her.

"Bye guys!"

Waving at them until they disappeared, Gemma pulled her wand from her bag and started in the other direction, passing barely anyone until she saw the back of Peter bending over to tie his trainers. Biting her lip nervously and knowing she still wasn't one of his favorite people even after the past month, she turned on her heel and went another route.

Taking the longer journey up to the common room, she made a tighter grip on her wand and kept her eyes peeled. The attacks had slowed the past week, at least the malicious ones, so she wasn't too worried. Though, when she saw Evan Rosier leaning against a wall tiredly and looking as if he was just waiting for anyone to walk past so he could curse them, it made her nervous all over again. Only a moment later she saw Remus walking down the hall towards her; a big smile on his face as she laughed and waited for him to catch up with her.

"Do you guys have magic tags on Lily, Mare, and I, or what?" She said a little irritably, pushing back her hair as she thought of all the calm late night walks that'd been interrupted by James or Sirius and long talks of stuff she'd rather never hear.

"I guess it's just luck." He offered unconvincingly.

"Oh come on, Remus," Gemma sighed, "luck has nothing to do with it; you boys are up to something, I just know it."

Remus chuckled, both of them walking safely past a perturbed Rosier and then safely up the stairs. "You'll never break me, Gemma."

"Oh, but I know your weakness. I could bombard you with loads of chocolate until you talk."

"Everyone knows my weakness is sweets Gemma, honestly." Remus looked at her, "I think Dumbledore probably knows that and I barely ever see the man."

"Well, it's his too." She offered, shrugging her shoulders, "He loves lemon drops like no other, I swear. It's just a bit odd for such an old wizard to love bland muggle sweets."

"He does?"

She nodded, hauling her bag back up her shoulder. "Mmmhm, I had some on me once when I went to see him and now he always stops and asks me if I have them when we pass one another in the corridors. Which is rarely, but I always keep a small bag of them in here." Patting her bag, Remus laughed and seemed to store that away in his mind.

"I'll keep that in mind if James or Sirius ever get into trouble so badly that they can't possibly fix it with a detention. It'll at least make the blow hurt less...maybe."

Gemma snorted. "Good plan, Remus."

"I am the mastermind behind everything, you know. Do you really think the others are smart enough to plan the things we do?"

"That's scary."

Remus nodded, sending her a big smile. "Oh yes, you should be very afraid."

She laughed, now wondering just how involved he was with the pranks over the years. "Just don't plan any that revolve around me, alright? I'm still scarred from the day Sirius turned my skin blue and I looked like a Cornish pixie for a week."

"I promise I won't partake in anything involving you, though...I can't really stop the others." He shrugged, both of them coming up to the seventh floor finally as they started towards the common room. "I don't have too much control over them."

"I don't think anyone does. Speaking of, I saw the flyer up for the Halloween party." She remembered it, the image burned into her mind. "Those were tastefully done."

"Yeah, Sirius's artistic skills are getting better every year." Remus laughed, shaking his head like he'd never get used to his mate's ridiculousness.

"Oh yes, the slag in the pumpkin costume he drew was very…life like."

"You should see what he wanted to draw, I think it would have made Florence Dubois faint." Gemma laughed, Remus trying to convince her with a gesture as he said the password to the Fat Lady and they walked in. "It's true."

"I don't doubt you, I can only imagine what it would have been if you guys didn't stop him. I envision a girl wearing absolutely nothing and pouring butterbeer down herself."

Remus laughed, a warm, loud sound as they headed over to the sofa and flopped down on it. Setting their bags on the table, they sunk down into it together and got comfortable. "Are you a psychic? Though, I think he was in that picture too, and it was firewhiskey instead of butterbeer."

"Ah yes," Gemma giggled, "That seems like such a better choice."

"Sirius thinks very hard about these things, can't let his artistry go to waste and what not."

Closing her eyes, she laughed again and started thinking about other things that pertained to the party. "Any ideas on the costume front then? Weren't you Godric Gryffindor last year?"

"Yep, that was me. And you were Alice in Wonderland if I remember correctly.."

She nodded, pulling her legs up under her. "I have no idea what to be this year. I'm quite keen on just throwing on some pajamas and telling everyone I'm some fake muggle character. No one would be the wiser...well, except you."

"I like that idea," he agreed, Gemma feeling him sliding down the couch more, "sounds comfortable."

"Yeah, but Lily probably won't let me – she loves going all out for this silly holiday so she'll most likely end up planning my costume for me." Peeking her eyes open, she watched Remus give her a small grin and then bend over to dig in his bag and pulled out a bar of half eaten chocolate. "Much easier for me, in the end."

"Right, very true."

"Well then, my kind savior," she smiled when he laughed again, "I have to run up and get changed into something warmer seeing as I'm being dragged to quidditch practice after dinner."

He gave her an odd look, nibbling on his candy. "I didn't know you were trying out."

"Oh, no no no, I'm not. Are they honestly still looking for another beater though?" He nodded, Gemma sighing as she grabbed for her bag again. "That's rubbish – you'd think someone would have been good enough by now."

"Obviously not...maybe you should try out."

"I'm absolute shit on a broom, Remus," she said truthfully as she stood, "I'm terrified of heights as well. I'm just being dragged down there to watch; Marlene has to stare at Fabian eighty percent of the day or she'll die."

He chuckled, "That's intense."

"Oh yes, a very dreadful curse indeed," she teased, "Well, I'll see you at dinner then. Have a good night!"

"You too, Gems."

Jogging upstairs to the dorm, Gemma walked in and threw her bag onto her trunk before getting undressed. Grabbing her dressing gown, she opened her wardrobe and searched through her clothes to figure out what would end up keeping her the warmest. A few minutes later, Lily and Mary walked in whilst loudly chatting about the Halloween party and their costumes.

"Lily," she got her best mate's attention, grabbing for a jumper and jeans, "you're in charge of my costume this year, all right? I have no energy to care." Getting dressed, she watched Lily nod with a gleeful smile.

"Oh goody, I can torture you then."

Rolling her eyes, Gemma just sighed. "I was going for something nice and simple but if you want to be a bitch about it..." She laughed when Lily grabbed a pillow and chucked it at her, dodging it successfully before tossing it back. "What about you Mary, what are you going as?"

"I was thinking just a white sheet over my head and I'd be a ghost. Or maybe just white knickers...that'd get some attention, wouldn't it?"

"You two have no imagination, I swear." Lily huffed, tapping her foot on the ground like she always did when she got miffed.

"Come on Lily, we're just not into the Marauder's party as much as you are. Seeing as you're madly in love with Potter and all, it's no big surprise." Mary joked, a pillow flying her way as well.

"I don't love or like Potter, you're imagining insanity is what you're doing!" Lily shouted.

"See, my imagination works just fine!" Mary smirked, Gemma bending to give her a high five.

"If you both don't stop it I'll make you wear horrible costumes."

"As long as I'm not a cat again, I was a cat year one through three and I almost was again last year." Gemma sighed, walking over to brush out her hair at the vanity. "I can only take so many crude jokes from Sirius about licking up cream and what's got my tongue."

"I was thinking of being a Bond girl." Lily smiled, braiding her red hair down her back.

"Really? A girl for James, James…Potter." Gemma snorted, running away as Lily began to chase her around the dorm and finally stopped when Florence threw the door open in front of her. Lily caught her and pinched her hard on the arm and she glared back before giving a big toothy grin.

"I hate you." Lily said tiredly, huffing a bit from the chase.

"Whatever Lily, you'll realize your feelings someday and then the whole school will let out a cheer and Dumbledore will cancel exams in honor of you two finally snogging." She teased, swatting her mate away after another hard pinch.

"Can we go eat now?" Mary complained, "I'm so hungry I could eat a bloody cow!" Gemma nodded, walking back to her bed to try and find her shoes so they could go down.

"Isn't that cannibalism?" Florence said, nasally as ever as the three of them sent her a heated glare.

"I'd stop right there Florence," Gemma spat, brandishing one of her shoes as if she were about to lob it at her head. "Or you'll have a nice red shoe print on your face for dinner."

"Just stating a fact," Florence continued, Gemma grabbing for a slipper and tossing that at her head as she screeched when it hit her, "I hate all of you."

"The feeling is mutual. Believe me."

Gemma pulled on her trainers and tied them up as the other girls finished getting ready. Trying to ignore the onslaught of insults from Florence to the best of her ability, she grabbed the books she wanted and then headed down with her mates. The Great Hall was already full up of chatting students eating, so they quickly got to their table and sighed happily at the smell of bangers and mash filling the room.

It had her mouth positively watering.

Sliding next to Marlene and across from Sirius, Gemma smiled at them as her plate filled up with her favorites. Taking a long sip of ice cold pumpkin juice, she went to grab one of her books from her bag before Marlene reached out and stopped her.

"You need to be more social." Marlene warned, a spoon of potatoes in her mouth. "Remember what you said about studies filling up all your free time? Leave it, Gems."

"I am social, and I have fun. Why can't I read?"

"Because you are always reading; just take this one meal and not learn more than the rest of us, yeah? For me?" Marlene fluttered her eyelashes as Gemma snorted.

"Fine…but I'm studying while you all ogle boys on their brooms."

"Deal."

"Did I just hear you're coming to ogle my fine talents, O'Malley?" Sirius said across from her, winking as he shoveled food unattractively into his mouth. "I knew you couldn't stay away."

"If you don't watch it, I'll curse you off your broom, Black. At least it'd be more fun for me then."

He shook his head with a laugh. "I'd like to see you try, Leprechaun."

"Really? Because I will." He laughed again, Gemma just rolling her eyes and taking another drink. "Aren't you a beater?"

"Why yes, that would be me," he smiled before it dropped and he looked at her oddly, "Wait a minute...don't you go to the matches?"

Gemma shrugged. "I've been to two; the first one in first year, and then once in fourth when Marlene was starting to fancy Fabian."

James practically had food falling out of his mouth when he looked over at her with round, shocked eyes. "You don't come to the matches?"

"No, not really." She admitted, "I mean, I like a good afternoon of sport just like anyone else, but I just don't understand quidditch. I've tried, believe me, but I rather just stick with footie."

"You don't understand it?" Sirius asked, dumbfounded. "But you know everything!"

"Obviously, I don't. Why is this so shocking?" Gemma laughed, "It's not as if you could have believed I was a mad quidditch fan with a hidden Chudley Cannons poster in my bedroom or something!"

"Ugh, Chudley Cannons? You must've been listening to Fabian…don't. Cannons are rubbish." James said, spearing a sausage onto the end of his fork before taking a big bite.

"Better than your Wimbourne Wasps." Fabian shot off.

"Look at the scores mate…we know who wins." James countered.

"Thanks for the advice." Gemma interjected jokingly, the boys going off about teams now as she shook her head.

"I can't believe you don't like quidditch." Sirius sighed, as if she'd just ruined Christmas or something.

"Sorry Sirius, I didn't realize this would be such a big shock to you."

He sighed again, looking dejected. "It's like you just told me unicorns aren't real."

"You are such a drama queen."

"Does that mean I get a crown?" He wiggled his eyebrows as if expecting her to produce it right away and his mood turning on it's head. "I'm sure all this sexy could pull off a crown."

"I'm not sure there is a crown big enough to fit on your head." Mary added, pointing at his head with her fork.

"It is rather large." Lily went on. "I can practically see it growing as we speak."

"Must your mates always gang up on me?" Sirius asked Gemma, smirking as if he was enjoying it.

"I can't help it if we all know how incredibly large your head is." She said, shrugging and happy they were all getting along again. She still felt irritated with Sirius off and on, but she'd moved past the insults and gave him another chance. "I'm surprised you can sit up."

"My head is of normal size, thank you very much. I just have more confidence than most."

Everyone sitting near him snickered. "Sirius, you are the cockiest, most arrogant boy at this table, and that's saying something seeing as who you're sitting next to."

"Hey! Don't drag me into this Gemma!" James complained.

"And you bloody well know it." She continued, ignoring James and still staring at Sirius. "Admit it."

"If you're so sure of it, why would I need to admit it?"

He smiled, both of them leaning towards one another as if they were about to start a big row but Gemma just smiled back. He was staring into her eyes as if it were a contest to see who'd blink first and she stared back. He stuck out his tongue all of a sudden, Gemma retaliating with crossing her eyes followed with him making a raspberry with his mouth.

"Are you two drunk?" Marlene asked from her left, pulling on her jumper a little.

"Shush, you'll make me blink."

"Because that would be terrible and your life would come to a halt."

"Shut it, Mar!" Gemma concentrated harder, Sirius sitting there like he had no problem not blinking but she got him. She lifted her hand and blew him a kiss, the air she blew from her mouth hitting him in the eyes and sending him blinking rapidly. "I win!"

"That's cheating!" Sirius shouted, people looking at them oddly as Gemma laughed. "You can't blow in my eyes with your nasty food breath!"

"Oh, such a sore loser."

"I am not a sore loser…I'm not even a loser! You cheated, O'Malley, and I still win for being better looking and just generally hotter than everyone."

She snorted, Lily giving her a high five and Mary flicking some potatoes at Sirius. "My heart, that really hurt Sirius. My ego can't take such a hurtful statement."

"And I'd argue she's hotter than you, mate." Fabian butted in again, Gemma's cheeks reddening into a hot blush as Sirius barked out a laugh. "Though I'm partial to birds over blokes."

"I think she's better looking, too." Added Lily.

"I'm on the Gemma train of hot." Mary smiled.

"I'll take a ride." Marlene went on, Gemma's face slowly trying to hide behind her hair.

"I'm going with Gemma too in this fight, sorry Padfoot." Remus laughed.

"And I, too, prefer tits over your man chest. Gemma wins all." James announced loudly, a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws still looking over at them as Gemma and Sirius glared at their friends for different reasons.

"It's not like she has huge tits though, they're just," Sirius raised his hands as if invisibly cupping her breasts and Gemma definitely felt like sliding under the table. "A nice handful maybe."

"Oh my God, can we stop?" She groaned, "Sirius, I cheated and blew in your eyes, you win. And if we gauge looks by how many snogging partners we've had, you win that too. Okay?" Gemma reached over and smacked his hands, "Now stop mentally groping my chest!"

"Nope, I quite like groping, even if it's invisible tits." He mused, making her swat at his hands again.

"I am about a minute away from cursing all your hair off!"

"Hey! That's a step too far, O'Malley."

"Says the boy with two invisible handfuls of boob." Marlene laughed.

Gemma let out a long, frustrated sigh before going back to her dinner and letting everyone around her converse. Though, oddly enough, Sirius had fallen quiet as well and kept looking over at her until she stuck her tongue out at him and he smirked with a wink. It was weird getting closer to him, trying the whole 'mates' thing even as he continued getting under her skin in an unpleasant way. Not that they'd perfected being friendly all the time just yet, but to think of him being a friend at all was going to take some time.

After most the boys left for practice, they all finished eating and she said a quick goodbye to Remus before heading out with her friends. The cold October wind hit her hard at first, Gemma pulling at her jumper to hug it more tightly around herself and was comforted by the lingering warmth. Mary was idly humming to herself as they walked, Marlene going on and on about how she and Fabian had an extravagant date planned for the upcoming Hogsmeade trip the following month.

"You two officially dating then, or just shagging like rabbits?" Gemma asked, stepping over a puddle carefully as they kept along the path.

"Where's the need to put a label on it, Gems?" Marlene smiled, throwing an arm over her shoulders, "Honestly, we don't need to go around telling every living soul we're boyfriend and girlfriend. It's just...whatever."

"Isn't it more...I don't know, proper?"

"Pfft – who gives a fuck about proper? I fancy him, he fancies me...we're just having a good time, Gemma." Marlene smiled, hugging her closer. "This way, if it were to end or whatever, it's much simpler. No big fall out, no messy loose ends; we simply just stop shagging."

Gemma looked down at her feet as she thought, wondering if she could ever have a relationship that was all physical without deciding to make it a real, concrete relationship. "I don't think I could do that," she decided, giving a small smile to Marlene, "I'm not built that way, I guess."

"Depends on the boy, Gemma my love. If you fancy him enough, you might just be willing to have a bit of casual fun."

Shrugging like there was a possibility, they started to climb up the stairs of the stands and went to take their seats. Looking up into the sky, Gemma saw all the boys and the few girls on the team floating around as Captain Potter yelled out orders over the wind. She spotted Fabian shaking his arse on his broom for Mar's amusement and she snorted before grabbing her books from her bag.

Flipping open her History of Magic book first, she started reading up on Falco Aesalon being the first ever animagus. He turned into a falcon, which wasn't very surprising as his name meant falcon in Latin, so Gemma wondered if he saw that coming. Pulling her scarf up over her mouth to keep out the cold, she idly chewed on a loose thread as she turned the page and kept reading.

"You should watch a little," Lily said in her ear, bright green eyes following James all around the pitch, "You might just learn something and we all know how much you love learning things."

"What are you learning by staring at James then, Lily? The way that his hair flows in the wind? How hot his arse looks in those tight trousers of his?" Gemma teased.

"Do you fancy Potter, Gems?" Lily asked, sounding almost serious to which Gemma just scoffed.

"Oh come off it Lily – you fancy the bloke, not me!"

Lily huffed, her eyes never leaving James as he raced up and down past and below them. "I do not."

"Whatever you say, crazy girl."

Lily finally turned towards her, cheeks red from the wind. "You're the one talking about his arse."

"And you're the one following that arse in it's every move, thank you muchly. Besides," Gemma turned to look back up at James, "everyone knows he's sporting a nice arse."

"It's true." Mary added, nudging Lily as they all looked up at him. "Give in girl, go for the captain. You could do worse, you know...like Snape or something."

"I don't fancy Potter!" Lily said, her face bright red as she turned from the pitch again and gave them each a deadly glare.

"Whatever you say, Miss Bennett." Gemma said calmly.

"Don't you dare compare James Potter to Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gemma O'Malley." Lily shook her finger at her like McGonagall did when she was mad at the Marauders. "Don't you dare."

"Yes love, anything you want."

"And who do you fancy, Miss O'Malley?" Mary asked, smiling over as she ran a hand through her hair to push it back and out of her face.

"No one." Gemma answered, not bothered by the question in the least.

"No one?" Lily said, obviously not believing her. "What about Remus?"

"Oh Merlin's beard, not that again!" Gemma sighed, shutting her book, "I do not, nor have I since fourth year, fancy Remus."

"You fancied him in fourth year?" Marlene asked, turning away from the boys. "How come I never knew about this?"

"Because you spread rumors faster than wildfire, Mar, honestly. I just had a little crush, I liked studying with him." She shrugged, not ever thinking her wee little fancy for Remus would really matter to anyone.

"And who do you fancy now, Gems? Whoooooo?" Mary asked again.

"I don't fancy anyone. Last year I fancied Gideon quite a bit, we had fun in the library...but he's graduated now and I don't like holding a torch for boys that aren't even around." She admitted, resting back in her seat.

"Oh, back to your first kiss, eh?" Mary winked like it was some saucy secret.

"Mmhmm, can't seem to give up on Gideon, can I? I mean, I fancied him in third year, fourth year, and fifth year...pathetic really."

Mary giggled. "He was pretty cute, I'll give you that. I mean, all that red hair and those deep brown eyes. God, and the way he looked in a pair of snug trousers – and we think Potter has a nice arse, ha!" All the girls laughed, "You could bounce a pixie off that arse. I'm suddenly really missing that arse...damn. But anyway, he was gorgeous and smart and fitter than any boy in this school – even counting his brother."

"Hey, my man is gorgeous." Marlene pouted, "You're just jealous you don't have one."

"Yes Mar, I'm devastated." Mary said sweetly back, turning around to Gemma once more. "So no one?"

She nodded, smiling a little. "Cross my heart and hope to die, I promise. Why? Do you fancy someone, Mary?"

"Maybe..."

"Is it that guy from the train?" Gemma thought about the boy on the ride here over a month ago, "Back on the first day of school? That Hufflepuff fifth year?"

"Calm down, Scotland Yard, no need to interrogate me." Mary snorted, "Yes, yes, I fancy the Hufflepuff."

"A badger and a lion would never work out." Lily added, her eyes back on the pitch.

"Not in the animal kingdom, no," Gemma shot her best mate a look. "But with you and mystery boy, yes, I do think you should give it a shot. Rob the cradle a bit."

"He's cute enough to rob it, I'll say that much."

They both giggled, something Gemma didn't usually do but she loved girl talk from time to time. Making sure she marked her page well before putting her book back in her bag, she turned to Mary and gave her her full attention.

"So…what's his name then? Spill the beans, MacDonald."

"Reginald Cattermole."

"Reginald?" Gemma rose an eyebrow, "Oh Mary."

"I know, I know. Terrible name, but the bloke can't help it, can he?"

"He is very cute though. I saw him, remember? I thought he looked very smart in his uniform," she smiled, bending down and slowly braiding a small section of Mary's hair as they spoke, "Reginald fits him fine."

"Yes, well, I call him Reg. That is, when I call him anything. We haven't talked much this year and with him being below us by a year it's not as if I get many chances." Her mate sighed, sounding more defeated than she had in a while.

"That and being Hufflepuff, yeah, I can see how that would be hard."

Mary shrugged, turning in her seat to look up at her. "But you know, Sirius and you would–"

"Oh don't even, Mary MacDonald," she stopped her, yanking on the braid a little, "Stop that before you go any further. It's a ship that'll never sail much less even float; dead on arrival. Never going to happen. No."

Mary grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "Aw, you're practically James and Lily all over again."

"I don't hate Sirius the way Lily hates James," Gemma said, "Nor do I fancy Sirius like Lily fancies James. In fact, I don't fancy him at all."

"I do not fancy him!" Lily shouted once again, though she didn't join the conversation.

"Honestly, Mary," Gemma continued, "I don't feel much for Sirius Black other than the irritated feelings I get when he starts teasing me or driving me up the wall. I mean, for God sake's Mare, we only just started acting like mates. How could that ever evolve into anything even resembling a fancy?" She looked up into the sky, finding Sirius easy and feeling nothing much more than admiration for the way he could turn on a broom. And maybe realizing he wasn't hideous to look at, but she didn't fancy him. "I swear on my life, I do not fancy Sirius."

"Just you wait Gems," Mary poked her in the nose, "it'll blossom into a beautiful love one of these days. I'm calling it now, which means I get to be the maid of honor. Officially kicking Lily out of that role right now."

"Hey!" Lily turned around and hit her as they both laughed.

Gemma rolled her eyes, pouting as she grabbed for another book. "Oh go snog Reginald and leave your insanity at home, Mary."


"So, what did you think, Leprechaun?" Sirius asked, catching up to her on the path with his hair dripping wet fresh from a shower in the locker room.

"About what?" She asked in return, pushing her hair behind her ear as he looked at her excitedly.

"Merlin, what do you think? Quidditch practice – did you have fun watching?"

Shrugging, she gave an apologetic look as she spoke. "All I saw was a bunch of idiotic boys tossing balls and hitting them about; I really don't understand it, Sirius."

"Come on, O'Malley – do you even like flying?" He asked curiously, running a hand through his wet hair.

"I hate heights, so no...I don't. I mean, it wasn't horrible but I'd never ride a broom alone again and I don't think it'd be very fun to play a sport on one."

Sirius just looked at her like she was crazy. "What do you do for fun?"

"Other than reading you mean?" He nodded, Gemma shrugging and realizing the rest of their mates were inside already. "I like watching footie, I like going on walks…normal things, I guess."

"What the hell is footie?"

"Well, football technically; it's a muggle sport where people kick around a ball and it's shot into goals for points. All safely on the ground," she tried to explain, Sirius not looking interested, "I think you'd like it Sirius, if you gave it a try."

He shook his head. "It sounds boring."

"C'mon, I think you'd be a good Arsenal fan," she smiled, thinking of watching matches with her dad growing up. They were definitely some of her favorite memories from before she became a witch.

"Are you an Arsenal fan?"

She shook her head no, "Nope – I root for Manchester United, actually. If not for Ireland during World Cups."

"Then why did you say I'd be an Arsenal fan?" He pondered, "Don't tell me it's because there's an arse in it and I'm an arse."

She laughed, Sirius smiling back as they climbed the steps. "No, I was just thinking that if we're rivals in everything else, we'd probably be rivals in footie too. Though, that arse bit works just as well."

"A ha! I knew it!"

"Stuff it, you arse."

They both laughed, welcoming the warmth as they walked in the Entrance Hall. "Well I'm dragging you to the first match of the year, okay?" He asked, throwing an arm around her shoulders as they continued on. "If I'm going to try this footie thing at some point, I'm getting you into quidditch."

"How can you do that if you're up in the air, Einstein?"

"Who the fuck is Einstein?" He looked utterly confused and she couldn't help laughing at him. "Okay, never mind Einstein or whatever; the first match is Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw, I'll be in the stands with everyone else. You are going to sit there and enjoy the hell out of it."

"Is that a threat, Black?"

"No, it's a promise." He smiled, pulling her closer. "You're going to scream, cheer, drink butterbeer, and be fucking merry. You will have the most fun you've ever had or my name isn't Sirius Orion Black the Third."

She saw the sincerity on his face, a light in his grey eyes as she realized their faces were suddenly much closer together than they'd ever been. And yet, it didn't make her nervous like it usually did. "Fine, but if I watch quidditch, you have to watch footie next summer."

"I will find your house and you can do whatever you like to me." He agreed with a wide smile, Gemma suddenly rethinking it all.

"Okay, maybe not. This sounds like a terrible plan," she laughed, shaking him off a little, "I don't think I want you near my house, Black."

He shrugged, giving her no choice. "James knows where you live, you know – it won't be hard for me to find it and stop by for a visit."

"My house is off limits; I don't think you'd survive an hour in a muggle house anyway...all those un-magical things and what not."

"Oh come now, O'Malley. I can deal with unmoving objects for a while. And I bet it'd be a great holiday away from my crazy flat with house elf heads on the walls and talking portraits." He suggested again, much too keen in coming over to her house.

"You are not inviting yourself to my house and that's final."

"Then we'll meet somewhere of your choosing." He said, offering a hand to shake on the deal and even though she doubted he'd hold true to it, she shook his hand anyway with a smile on both their faces.

"It's a deal."