Update time! Thanks again for all the kind reviews, they always make me happy now matter how crappy my day has been! I hope y'all keep enjoying the story and keeping me updated on your thoughts :) Hope y'all have great weeks!

-Ally

"I'm exhausted," Gemma said the first day of Easter break, the train slowly pulling into King's Cross station after the long trip down from Scotland. She could see loads of happy families waiting on the platform, her own mother would be somewhere behind the wall waiting, never comfortable enough to go through the wall.

"You slept almost the whole way down, Gems," Lily yawned, rubbing at her eyes, "how much sleep could you possibly need?"

"Another twenty hours should do it." She laughed, stretching as she stood before smoothing out her clothes. Mary had gone off to sit with Benjy for the ride back so at least she and Lily got to lay on their own seats for the trip.

"Can you die from sleeping too much? Because I will put a bet on that's how you die right now," Lily shoved her playfully as they walked down the aisle with their bags and Winnie hooting in her cage.

"At least I'll be dying doing something I love," Gemma laughed, stepping off the train as parents looked expectantly at her wishing for someone else's face. A light blush tinged her cheeks as she made her way through them and walked back to the muggle world behind the brick wall.

The throng of people running around was just as crowded as it was on Platform 9 ¾'s, people in business suits pushing against her and sending her this way and that. She wanted to pull out her wand and stupefy them all but sadly, that was illegal. Hauling her bag up and holding onto Winnie tightly, she and Lily went on searches for their parents together. They were quick to find a joyful Mr. and Mrs. Evans, waving happily and hugging them both when they came over. Gemma noticed that Petunia wasn't around and figured she stayed back at home.

After hugging her best mate tightly and saying she'd see her in a week, she bid them all goodbye and went off searching for her mum alone. It took a little while, her mother standing against a wall and looking quite haggard around the crowd. Her graying brown hair was high on her head, held in place with a paintbrush that she must've stuck there and forgotten about. She sometimes would forget how much she missed her.

"Mum!" She shouted, fighting between the last few people before immerging right in front of her. "Hiya!"

"Gemma! Oh Gemma, you've grown!" It was common response after anytime away from her mother, instantly getting squeezed tightly against her chest. "You're even more beautiful."

"Definitely not any taller," she groaned, trying to detach herself from her mum's octopus like grip.

"Well I gave up on that after your sixteenth birthday, darling. You'll just be another wee lass like me," her mother kissed her forehead and they finally started walking out towards the car park.

Once she'd thrown everything in the boot and got Winnie settled in the front seat, she climbed in back and stretched out against the leather. It was no surprise to her that her father hadn't been there to help pick her up; in fact if he had been she might've died of shock. Getting comfortable, she curled up on her side and stared out the opposite window as they slowly left London behind and headed towards home. She actually longed to be there, so close to the sea and far away from the stress of school. Closing her eyes, she listened to her mother catch her up on things that'd been happening at home and settled in for the long trip.

Waking up when the car came to a full stop, she blinked open her eyes and sat up to see her house standing as it always looked. The small cottage with its white walls and windows clear and shining in the late afternoon sunlight, she got out of the car and smiled up at it. Her mum came round to help her with her things, grabbing Winnie for her as she grabbed her bag before following her up the stone path and in through the front door.

The house smelled like fresh apple crisp, one of the only things her mother knew how to bake and she baked it well. Looking around she noticed that it hadn't changed much, a few new paintings her mum had done and a new Manchester United flag was up over the fireplace. Stifling her laugh, she took her things upstairs as well as Winnie as her mother made her a snack.

Throwing her bag in the corner and letting Winnie out onto her perch, she changed out of her travelling clothes and dug through her closet for something that didn't smell like the train station. Pulling on an old jumper and a pair of shorts, she gave her owl a few treats and then jogged back downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Smells great, Mum," she grinned, hoping up and sitting on the countertop as her mum smiled back.

"Ta," she said in thanks, handing her over a plate with a big slice of crisp atop it, "would you like some milk darling?"

"Please, yes. Just a wee one," she stuck a big forkful in her mouth, reveling in the taste of home cooking as she swung her legs back and forth. The ginger her mum always put in her crisp just for her clung to her lips, licking them deliciously as she relaxed.

"How's school going then, Gemma? It sounded like it was going well in your last letter."

She shrugged, setting down her plate when she was finished. "Yeah, it's been fine. Just a lot of work I guess, we have exams coming up so it's always a real pain in the arse."

"Aren't they always?" She laughed, Gemma nodding. "And what about that boyfriend of yours? Sirius Black was it?"

"What?" Her cheeks burning hot as her mother's eyes widened. "No, no, no! Eddie Bones is my boyfriend Mum!"

"Oh, that's right. I'm sorry darling; I just always see that other boy's name more in your letters I suppose. He's just a mate?"

"Yes, right, a mate. I fancy Eddie after all, not Sirius." Her mother smiled kindly, patting her on the head as she handed her a mug of milk. "And Eddie is fine too, he stayed back at school or I might've let you meet him."

"Might have?" Her mum's eyebrows rose as she laughed. "Ashamed of your old mum?"

"Well, he's pureblood, I don't know. It seems a bit odd," she blushed, slightly ashamed of herself for even thinking it.

"Pureblood?"

"You know - all wizards in the family. I have lots of pureblood friends; you've met Marlene and James before. They're both pureblood." She said, remembering both of them running over to her in third year when she'd dropped something. Not an official meeting but they had said hello to her mum. "It's no big deal."

"So there isn't any prejudice against you then?" Her mum asked innocently, Gemma never wanting to worry her with things going on in the wizarding world. "You're okay?"

"Well of course there's a little, but I'm dealing with it fine. My mates help a lot, nothing to worry about Mum."

There was a little look of worry on her face but it disappeared quickly, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she grinned and pulled out take away menus for dinner. Gemma started to flip through them, curry sounding like the best option when the front door shut loudly in the hallway and she froze. She could hear him taking off his jacket, putting it on the stand and then sliding off his shoes. His footsteps sounded loud as both her and her mum stayed completely still until he entered the kitchen.

"What are we having for dinner?" He asked, his blue eyes so like her own gracing her face for only a split second before falling on his wife. "Have you ordered yet?"

"No, I thought curry sounded good." Gemma spoke up, holding up the menu.

"I don't want curry, pick something else Cathleen."

"But Dad—"

"I'd like Italian."

With that, he left to go sit in his favorite chair in the sitting room and Gemma bit her lip as to not scream out at him. The frustration of his acting like she didn't even exist was becoming insufferable, her mum laid a hand on her shoulder and said she could order curry if she liked but it wasn't about the curry. She just wanted her father to act like he still cared what happened to her. Hopping off the counter, she told her mum to order her some curry from down the street and she'd pick it up on the way back.

Sliding her feet into her trainers by the door and making sure her wand was securely in her pocket, she started to run. It was always something she used to blow off stress, leaving the pain behind her as she ran down the street and past places she barely recognized anymore. It felt so lonely in the muggle world, like everything she wanted was so out of reach that she was suffocating. All it took was her father acting like she didn't belong to make her feel more out of place than ever.

She didn't stop until her feet hit sand, the water still coming up on the shore and crashing against it. Walking closer to it, she collapsed and sat down, her legs a bit cold in the April breeze but she didn't care much. She couldn't wait until her birthday in July, she'd finally be able to use magic freely and could apparate away from home when she needed. Though, apparation still scared the life out of her but she'd still try.

Nothing seemed right without magic anymore. To think she wanted to leave it all behind and come back to the muggle world after school was absolutely insane, she couldn't believe that had been her idea at all. Magic was as much part of her as the fingers on her hands, it had always been there inside her and her father refused to see it. He didn't want her to be special, he wanted her to be just another normal little girl who grew up and sat at home as her husband brought home all the money. It had never been what she wanted and it wasn't about to change.

Going back into town as she calmed down, she walked into the curry shop and took a deep breath breathing in all the Indian spices. Smiling as she walked up to the counter, her favorite shop owner greeted her happily. "If it isn't Gemma O'Malley the Great!"

"I thought I told you to stop calling me that when I was eight, Maurice," she laughed, taking the bag from him and putting a few pound notes on the counter. "I'm a bit old for it now."

"You're never too old to be great, Gemma. Remember that!" He smiled jovially, his big belly shaking as he laughed and waved her away. "Be sure to get that bum back here before you go back to school, you hear me young lady?"

"I promise!" She left feeling better than before, her bag heavy with her food as she took her time getting back to her house. The lights were on inside, her parents just sitting down and pulling out their food at the table and she got a good view of what it was like when she wasn't there.

It was so blandly normal.

Walking back in and going into the dining room, she sat where an empty plate was and pulled out her dinner. Pouring white rice and hot curry over it, she grabbed her fork and stirred it together as her parents continued their conversation about what was going on with Parliament and the Prime Minister. She ignored them, eating her chicken in silence and enjoying the curry she had had so many times when she was younger.

She no longer felt at home here, Hogwarts was her home.

The next afternoon there was a football match on, Manchester United versus Liverpool. Gemma spent the morning preparing all kinds of snacks to eat, just little things that her parents could enjoy as they all screamed at the telly. Though, her mum usually just sat there saying "Oh drat!" over and over when they yelled about fouls or obvious missed calls. Piling everything onto plates, she took them all out into the living room and sat them down on the coffee table.

"I think we've got a good chance today," she smiled at her father, him not bothering to respond as she sat down.

"I'm sure you do, darling. Manchester is doing well, aren't they?" Her mum asked, placating her as she awkwardly pulled at her kit.

"Yeah, we're up a few matches. I think we'll make the finals this year," she said quietly, grabbing a few little finger sandwiches to eat and pouring herself some tea.

"That'll be lovely," her mum smiled, "Won't that be lovely, Eoin?"

"What would be lovely?" His deep voice sounded bored, staring up at the pregame as Gemma bit her lip and sat back in her chair.

"If Manchester won." Her mum repeated.

"Of course it would be lovely, it'd be bloody brilliant. I've got a few pounds riding on them winning it all," he laughed, looking over at his wife as Gemma sunk down in her seat further.

"I won a bit of money on a match two weeks ago." She said, her mum looking over at her.

"Did you? Which match?"

"My house versus another, it was quid—"

"Can you get me another ale, Cathleen? This one's empty." He shook his bottle and her mum went off to retrieve another from the ice box.

They sat there in an awkward silence, Gemma picking at a hole in her jeans as she watched the players start to warm up on the screen. When her mum came back she excused herself, saying she'd be back before the second half and left her house again to get away from them.

Walking down the path, she walked into a store she knew sold lots of little trinkets she always loved looking at. Going inside, she went up and down the aisles and picked things up to examine. Spotting mini footballs in a box near the windows, she saw a Manchester United ball and an Arsenal ball sitting next to each other. Smiling as she thought about Sirius and calling him an arse, she grabbed the mini ball and went to buy it for him.

Leaving the store a little happier, she went down to a bridge she used to frequent to fish with her dad when she was younger. Sitting down and letting her legs hang freely over the side, she stared at the sticks floating in the deep blue water as they went under her and off to whatever destination they would reach. It was peaceful here, calm and full of happy memories. Something she hated to leave when she got back up and headed home.

When she sat back down in the living room the score was 0-1 Liverpool, her dad nursing another ale as her mother knitted something or other. "How did they score?"

"The keeper didn't do his job, according to your father," her mum laughed, not looking up from her stitch as Gemma rolled her eyes.

"Really? Now that's a surprise."

"Gemma?" Her father said suddenly, both her mum and her eyes jutting to him instantly.

"Yeah dad?"

"Stop talking, would you? It's distracting."

And that was all he said.

"He'll come around Gemma, I know he will." Her mum said a few days later, both of them out in the garden drinking afternoon tea. Winnie was high up in a tree, fast asleep and enjoying the cool spring air that ruffled her feathers. "It's just been hard."

"Mum, it's been six years since I found out I was a witch. If he hasn't come around by now, he isn't going to. And you…you may ask me about my studies and such but you care about it about as much as he does. Ever since we've left Ireland you both act like you left your real daughter there."

"Gemma—"

"No Mum, don't try to coddle me. I'm sixteen years old, I've growing up in a world that you know nothing about and you don't even try. You have no clue what I go through and not just because I don't want to tell you but because you don't want to know. Two of my best mates are muggleborns too and their parents couldn't be happier." Gemma sighed, setting her teacup on the ground and staring up at the sky. "You can't even pretend well enough to make me believe you. I hate that you won't even try!"

"I may not care for your world, or what happens in it, but I still know, Gemma. Winnie brings me the paper sometimes, that Daily Prophet you're always reading in your room. I know there's a war going on right now. I don't like thinking about you in that, I don't want to think about it." Tears began to spill from her eyes, Gemma biting her lip and trying not to look at her. "And you're my little girl, Gemma…I don't like not knowing how to handle you anymore."

"I'm the same person I've always been! You should handle me like I'm your daughter, like you're supposed to! Yes, there's a war going on and I'm trying to protect you from it because it's people like me who are targeted. But I don't want you worrying about it, that's not what I want you thinking about. I just want you to be proud of me. For once."

"But Gemma—"

"No, I can't listen to you say you are one more time. Because you aren't, you may be proud of my grades but you aren't proud on what they're for. You don't like hearing what I'm getting in my Potions class or how I'm doing in Ancient Runes—"

"Gemma Elizabeth, please."

"Mum, I'm done. I want you and Dad to be safe, and be careful…but I can't take all this insistence on acting like I don't exist. Or acting like a big part of me doesn't exist. When I come back for summer holidays, please just be able to accept who I am." Standing up and walking back into the house, she marched straight up to her room and sat down at her desk.

Before she even realized it, she'd started writing a letter to Sirius.

Sirius—

Why the hell did I come home? I blame you, I don't have anyone else to blame but myself so I'd appreciate it if you let me act like it was all your fault. Honestly though, it gets worse every time I come back. My Dad has spoken about seven words to me and my Mum wants to act like Hogwarts is some amazing muggle boarding school I attend in Switzerland. God forbid I bring up we used frog spawn to make a potion, I might actually kill her.

I hope your holiday is better, I'm sure you lot are up to trouble like usual. I'm not even sure why I'm writing you of all people, but maybe I figure it's easier to talk to someone who wants to throttle his parent's just as badly as I do. I'm about ready to take a train to London, go to Diagon Alley, buy a racing broom, and then fly my arse back to Hogwarts. Though, this is all very time consuming, I have no wizarding money on me, and I hate heights.

I make terrible escape plans.

I suppose I'll be seeing you in a few days, I'll be the one kissing the floor in the Entrance Hall. I'm sure you'll be able to find me easily enough. I miss you lot, I honestly do. I'm going to move to France for the summer, I've heard they have amazing food there.

Yours,

Gemma

Grabbing an envelope and sealing it up quickly, she whistled out her window and Winnie came flying in. She looked a bit perturbed to be woken up in the afternoon but she was used to odd hour deliveries. Sending her away with the letter, she collapsed on her bed and grabbed a pillow to scream into. Once she'd finished that, she heard a loud knock on her door and reluctantly told them to come in.

"Gemma," her mum walked in, carrying something black in her arms, "I'm sorry."

Taking a deep breath, she sat up and played with the ends of her hair. "I'm just tired of feeling like I'm not comfortable here, you know? I want to feel like I'm home when I'm here."

"I will talk to your father about it, alright? We'll do better for summer, I promise. I realize we aren't handling this the best we could, obviously." She laughed a little, smoothing what was in her hands. "And I know we're not the ideal parents, but this is hard for us. We just can't understand it."

"I didn't either at the beginning, you've just never tried." She said it with no malice whatsoever, just honesty. Her mother nodded, like it was final. She was going to do better.

"Now, getting away from that, I bought you something when I went home for Christmas. I'm not sure when you'll wear it, but every girl needs something pretty and black, don't they?"

Her mum held up what she was holding finally, a black dress displayed prettily in front of her. She had never seen anything so lovely, the only other dress she owned was the green one Marlene had bought her for Christmas. Otherwise, she may have had one or two when she was a baby but nothing ever so beautiful.

"Mum, that's too much."

She held up a hand to stop her from trying to convince her against it. "Take off that ratty shirt and those jeans and put it on."

Gemma laughed, rolling her eyes as she pulled off her shirt and then wiggled out of her flares. Helping her step into it, her mum stood back as she pulled it up her arms and then over her shoulders. Looking at herself in the floor length mirror on her wall, she held up her long hair and admired the dress. The front dipped into a V shape, deep enough for a little cleavage but nothing drastic. And when she turned to look at the back, she was surprised to see it so bared.

Only two black bows crossed her skin, the fabric coming together just under the dimples on her back. "Isn't this a bit…slaggy?"

"Gemma! It isn't slaggy, you look gorgeous. Now you have something beautiful to wear on a date with your boyfriend." Her mum smiled, hooking her finger under the clasp of her bra. "Though don't wear this with it, it takes away from the overall sophistication of the dress."

"Go braless, even more slaggy."

"Only the best for my daughter."

Laughing, she hugged her mum and took a deep breath. "Thanks Mum."

Waking up early the next morning to a tap tap tap on her window, she opened her eyes and saw Winnie perched there holding a letter in her beak. Wrapping her blanket around her and going to retrieve it, she let her in and took the letter away before she went off to get a drink. Sitting back on the edge of her bed, she yawned as she ripped it open and smiled when she read it.

Irish Lass So Far Away—

I am honored that you would come to me with your never ending problems. Because, well obviously, I'm the best advice giver there is. So I say, light your house on fire and then just laugh maniacally. Is that sound advice? I think so. Burning things always makes me feel better.

Honestly though, I'm sure you'll fix it. You're always doing that anyway, making things better without even trying. It's quite annoying really how easily you do that. Which I guess is my way of saying thanks for helping me, though I'm sure you already knew I was happy to have you. Really, I sound like a twat right now. Or a bird.

Your parents will get used to it all eventually and you'll all go back to being happy and eating huge dinners and whatever it is that normal families do. I'm not really clear on all that, you'd be better talking to James.

Just relax for a while, yeah? Go take a bubble bath or whatever it is you girls do to relax. Though, that sounds brilliant. I might do that myself, James can get me into the prefect's bathroom after all.

And so could prefect Remus now that I think about it.

As for blaming me about it? Sure, go right ahead, I'm the one that tied you up and threw you on the train after all, wasn't I? I'd love to see you try to fly your arse back here, I'm not so sure you'd make it though. I see you crash landing just over the Scotland border and no one finding you for weeks. So it might be best you just tough it out there mate.

Be happy O'Malley, smile and breath in some fresh England air for me. Be a muggle for a few more days and buy me a present. All of those things will make your mood better, I'm sure. But the present thing, honestly, you should. I like presents.

-Sirius Black, Badass Advice Giver

P.S. Seriously, I want a present.

Laughing as she fell back onto her bed, she fell asleep almost instantly with the letter still gripped in one hand.

"And we're back," Gemma said on Sunday when they returned to school, the break already over and not a moment too soon. Of course, she returned to the train station with only her mum again but her dad had at least told her goodbye as she left. But it was all over now and she wouldn't have to worry about it for a few months.

"That week went rather quickly, didn't it?" Mary asked, her and Benjy having sat with them on the way back. They all grabbed their things and headed out together as some of the students stood waiting on the platform. "I was just getting used to the feeling of my bed again."

"I would have enjoyed it ending about five minutes after I got home, so I'm really not that upset about it." Gemma said honestly, Lily shaking her head.

"Yeah, Petunia wasn't that fond of seeing me so it made the trip a little worse for wear. Though, I did have a nice day trip into London and brought back loads of handmade sweets." Lily grinned, shaking her bag as if they could hear all the candy jumbling around. "I plan on us all having deliciously horrible stomach aches soon."

"Oh Lily, always trying to make us all fat. What would we do without you?" Mary laughed, Benjy's arm wrapped around her as they walked down the platform.

Gemma spotted Eddie a few minutes later, telling them all she'd catch up with them in the castle. Walking over, he grabbed her and gave her a long, deep kiss before pulling back and smiling like a loon. She laughed as he took her bag from her, pulling it up on his shoulder before they began walking up to the school.

"Nice trip Gems?" he asked, flipping his hair to the side as she smiled tightly and nodded.

"Yeah, it was okay," she lied, giving him a big smile like nothing was wrong. For some reason she didn't want to complain about all her problems too him, she didn't want him to feel dragged down with all her baggage. Besides, she had her mates for that. "Just a normal Easter holiday."

"That's good, though I did miss having you around this past week," he grinned, pinching her hip playfully as she giggled.

"Such a liar. I bet you sat around hanging with Davey and completely forgot about me."

He feigned shock and pain. "How dare you think such a thing! Besides, I can't snog Davey whenever I want to, it takes away from the enjoyment when you're not here. Also, you have much better legs." He waggled his eyebrows, kissing her cheek as she nudged him in the ribs.

"You're embarrassing me."

"That's my job."

"What, being a prat?" She laughed, walking up the stairs as his arm dropped and he opened the door for her. "That doesn't just come natural?"

"Very funny Gems."

"Well, I'm going to run up quick and drop these off and then I'll come back down and we can go for a walk. Sound good?" She asked, taking her bag back from him at the bottom of the stairs.

"Sure, I'll be here." His hand went behind her head and pulled her in for another kiss before she smiled and walked up the steps quickly to catch up with her friends.

Heading up together, the portraits welcomed them back and asked about their holidays. She still found it weird to tell a painting to stuff it, but there was always one or two that needed a good telling off. They made a pit stop so Mary could give Benjy a quick but effective snog and then headed the rest of the way to their dorm.

"Look who it is, my favorite trio!" Marlene joked as they walked in, laying on her bed and appearing to have just woken up from a nap. "You all look so amazingly gorgeous after a week stuck with Florence the whore cow."

"Is that what we're calling her now? Not the whore dragon anymore?" Mary teased, putting her things away as Gemma dug in her bag for Sirius's gift.

"No, whore dragon is too brilliant for her. Whore cow sounds much better. I fucking hate her," Marlene groaned, sitting up with her blonde hair in a halo of messy spikes. Gemma bit back a laugh.

"Don't we all?" Lily asked like it was obvious, pouring out her huge bag of candy.

"She's definitely not on my list of people I'll be inviting to anything. Anyway, I told Eddie I'd come down to take a walk with him." She smiled, grabbing the mini football and hoping Sirius would be in the common room.

"Just fuck him and get it over with Gems." Marlene said bluntly, giving her a big toothy smile.

"Classy Marlene, nothing less was expected of you." She laughed, walking towards the door. "I'll be back in a bit. Don't eat all of that candy, alright? Save me one or two."

"I promise nothing Gemma." Lily teased, waving at her before she closed the door and skipped down the steps.

Thankfully when she reentered the common room, Sirius was standing over by the fireplace talking to a fifth year girl. Gemma bit back any jealousy that tried to rear its ugly head as she waited for him to notice her standing there. It was pretty quick though, his grey eyes lifted away from the girl and found her standing there as she nodded her head in hello. Walking over to her and leaving the girl behind, he held out his hands expectantly as she shook her head.

"My present?"

Placing the little football in his hands, she held back a laugh at how confused he looked. "Happy birthday Sirius."

"First off, my birthday is November 17th—"

"I know."

"Secondly," he looked at the ball, the silver and red Arsenal symbol throwing him off more than giving him a clue, "what the hell is this?"

"It's a football. You know, part of my favorite sport."

He nodded like he suddenly understood. "Does it do anything?"

"No, it's like a quaffle but you kick it. Don't look at me like that mister, I could have got you nothing." She scolded, Sirius laughed as he pulled her into a hug.

"I'll cherish it forever and try to not kick it out a window."

"That's all I ask."