Evie spent the train ride back to Kings Cross with James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Lily said she'd been meaning to catch up with Snivellus, as James and Sirius had taken to calling him. Matilda was ordered by her mother to stick with Fabian and Gideon as soon as she was to set foot onto the train. Sarcastic comments aside, she abided. Marlene was in a compartment somewhere with her five older siblings. Her brother Lester McKinnon; a seventh year Hufflepuff as well as Head Boy, Liza; her favorite sister, a fifth year Gryffindor and President of the Charms Club, twins, Bethany and Brody; fourth year Gryffindors and, according to Marlene, painfully annoying, and lastly, her brother Martin; a fourth year Hufflepuff and a big favorite of Slughorn's, even more so if possible than the rest.

Marlene, like Evie, James, and Sirius, had a notable family name and was quickly ushered into the "Slug Club". Not all of Evie's friends were as welcomed by Slughorn though. Peter, given his perceived lack of talent was definitely not a favorite. And Slughorn saw nothing particularly notable about Matilda or Remus that would invite enthusiasm from him. Remus was good at potions, not great, but not bad. Matilda was bored at best and uncooperatively difficult at worst. And as the names "Prewett" and "Lupin" didn't strike excitement into the heart of the Professor quite like the names "McKinnon", "Bloxum", "Black", and "Potter", Remus and Tilly were not exactly on the invitation list.

As promised, Sirius would be spending the holidays with Evie and James. He felt something between anxiety and excitement at the prospect of meeting his best friend's parents, let alone staying with them. The only purebloods he'd ever gotten to know in his life were his family, as well as dark arts-worshipping Slytherins. Meeting purebloods that didn't stick to the old ways was always somewhat of a shock to Sirius, much as it had been when he had first met Evie, James, Tilly, and Mar

"So you're all coming to the Christmas party, right?" asked Evie to her friends as they neared the station.

"I'll try, Evie. I've just got to convince my mum is all first. I mean technically it's on Christmas Eve and not actually Christma-"

"That's great, Pete. What about you, Remus?" She asked looking to the boy seated across from her.

"That's not a good night for me," he said quietly, "I'll try to visit for New Years though." Something about Remus didn't always quite seem right in Evie's mind. Often he looked ill or would disappear for a few days to visit his mother who also happened to fall ill. The way he always talked about it didn't seem quite genuine. Of course she'd never question Remus's integrity…but she wasn't the only one that had noticed anymore. Decidedly, she, James, and Sirius would get to the bottom of it.

Laughs and goodbyes aside, once they reached the station Evie was pleased indeed to find her father waiting there for them.

"Dad!" she cried with joy as he lifted her into his arms. "I didn't think you'd make it!"

"Now, Evie, have I ever broken a promise?" he said as he set her back onto her feet. "Now let me get a good look at you. Yes, yes, you do seem a bit more universally powerful now that I think about it. Seems Hogwarts is doing you some good after all. Ah, James!"

Aldion Bloxum was always very fond of James Potter. Like James had "adopted" Evie as a surrogate sister, the Bloxums had "adopted" James as a surrogate child, much like the Potters had done with Evie. They spent enough time together as it was.

"'Lo, Mr. B! Did you get all those Quidditch stats I owled you?" asked James as he and Sirius dragged their trunks over to Evie and her father.

"That I did, lad. And based on the way the season's going I'd say your money is well bet on Ravenclaw taking this year, much as it pains me to see Gryffindor lose," said Mr. Bloxum feigning hurt before turning his attention on the newest addition to their misfit family, "And you must be Sirius?"

"Yes, Sir," Said Sirius before shaking Mr. Bloxum's hand.

"Yes, I met your Uncle Cygnus a few weeks ago. Appears your cousin Bellatrix got into a bit of a erm... squabble with a deputy in the Muggle Liaison Office."

"She always was a bit off her rocker to tell you the truth." Muttered Sirius, at which Mr. Bloxum gave a laugh.

"My first impression as well. Anyways, let's get on our way. Your mothers have been working tirelessly on a feast for you lot. Did you happen to bring any dress robes, Sirius?" asked Mr. Bloxum as he took Evie's trunk and steered them to one of the grates.

"Didn't know I'd need any, sir," Responded Sirius with a slight glare to Evie and James who merely gave him innocent smiles.

Evie was more well off than she'd initially led on. Of course she'd try to down play it, taking it all in stride, quite the opposite of what a Black would do. Sirius was shocked that the Bloxums were as affluent, if not more so, than the Blacks. Sirius came from old wizarding money, but this was just ridiculous. Grimmauld Place was of nearly the same caliber, but Evie's home seemed more welcoming and lavish as it was quite decked out in golds and scarlets. "Mane Place" as the manor was called, was like a luxuriously enlarged Gryffindor commonroom.

"They really do take your house pride seriously, don't they?" said Sirius.

"Ha! House pride? More like genetics." Remarked James as he settled onto one of the large red couches by the hearth.

"Genetics?" asked Sirius as Evie immerged from the fireplace a moment later.

"It's a bit much I know, but-"

"Something you haven't told me Evie?" asked Sirius, motioning to a displayed family crest. This came as a shock as well, for the crest was a mirror image of their house mascot.

"What?" asked Evie innocently. She merely chuckled as she saw what he was referring to and said, "Oh that? Yeah well, Gryffindor's kind of an ancestor. No big deal."

"Gryffindor? As In Godric Gryffindor?"

"No, Gryffindor the Chicken. Yes Godric Gryffindor. This was the original Gryffindor house. The family homestead though has moved to a more…grand venue. This is really nothing compared to Lion's Den. That's my grandad's property."

"Wow."

"I know! And she had the audacity to think she wouldn't get placed in Gryffindor!" exclaimed James.

"There've been Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs too, Potter!"

"Yeah like maybe two every hundred years, Bloxum!"

Sirius took her humility in stride, for as bold and headstrong as Evie could be it was not in her nature to wear her status on her sleeve. As much as it wasn't a big deal to her, it was indeed a slight deal to her father, who had indulged Sirius in a tour of the family portrait room and the tale of how one Alagos Bloxum had won the heart of Gwendoline Gryffindor, the founder's only child and daughter. "And if you think I'm one for stories you just wait until you meet my father. The man bleeds scarlet and gold."

"You're not boring them with that story are you, Dad?" said Evie from the doorway.

"Oh tosh, Evie. I find your ancestry quite enthralling!" said James with a cheeky grin.

"Well I suppose someone's got to," she muttered, "Now how about that game of Quidditch?"

"So this is where you got to," called a voice from behind Evie. The woman shared the same unruly waves as Evie, though hers were lighter. The same deep set chocolate-brown eyes were unquestionably the same between the two though.

"Forgive me, Metrodora, I was merely giving Sirius here a brief Bloxum history lesson," Said Aldion as he walked over to his wife.

"Yes, and Dorea and I meant to give these children lunch, but it appears it'll have to be dinner," She replied before strolling out of the room, her husband in tow.

"Looks like Quidditch will have to wait," muttered Evie before she, James, and Sirius marched on over to the Potters' house for dinner.