The funeral was dreadfully boring. All the high- up elite pureblood society trying to produce some tears when in reality they just didn't give a shit.

Gemma had been very familiar with Edward Rosier during the short period of time they'd been at Hogwarts together, before he left to study another form of magic abroad.

And now, rather than standing at a podium as Minister of Magic, he was lying in a coffin, while his mother wept for him and his brother and father bore stoic expressions of repressed anguish.

When she'd first heard the news, it had hit her like a bowling ball- something of a mixture of shock and grief. She'd refused food for days and stayed in bed, not willing to leave or do anything. When she'd received the funeral invite, she'd been hesitant to attend at first.

But then her father had come in and said that some people have things much, much worse, and that she should honour Edward's memory by saying goodbye for a final time. It was, supposedly, the first step to moving on.

So here she was.

She approached Evan, Edward's brother. They'd never had the best of relationships with one another, which perhaps made him even more sad.

'Hi,' she said tentatively. He nodded to her in greeting, but did not take his eyes off the coffin. They stood in silence for a few minutes, but before Gemma made a move to leave, he began to talk.

'It's sad,' he said. 'He wanted to do so much, yet managed so little.' Gemma paused for a moment before answering.

'It is,' she said quietly. They stood for another moment, then Gemma said a brief word of comfort and left him. She caught sight of Ted at the entrance.

'Hey,' he said softly, as she approached him. 'How's it going?'

'Pretty boring,' she replied. 'I do feel awful for saying that but the entire event is just mind- numbingly dull.'

'Not what Edward would've wanted at all,' Ted said. Gemma shook her head.

'Oh no, he would've loved this,' she said. 'A bunch of rich, rotten people staring down at his dead body. Real fun stuff.' They made their way to the small stage, upon which Mrs Rosier stood.

'Hello, everyone,' she began, her voice shaky. 'We are grateful that you all were able to make it, to commemorate my son, Edward Rosier. Edward not only had high hopes, and ambitions for his future, but he also-' She was interrupted by Mr Rosier, who burst into tears. Evan consoled him, while silent tears of his own ran down his cheeks.

'God,' Gemma murmured. 'I really can't do this.'

'Do you want to go inside for a while?' Ted asked uncertainly. She nodded, and they both entered the large estate. They headed for Edward's old room, which Mrs Rosier had left relatively untouched. Gemma sat on the desk chair, which she was all too familiar with.

'Is Iz planning to show up?' She asked Ted, who shook his head.

'She's still bitter about their.. um... argument,' he said. Gemma frowned.

'Actually? Like seriously? He's dead!' She said. Ted shrugged.

'Yeah well, Iz has always been a petty person,' he said, looking around at the posters on the walls.

'And Luke?' She asked. Ted rolled his eyes.

'Poor lad's stuck in Ireland,' he said. Gemma bit back a grin as she nodded. 'Play any quidditch?'

They were talking-or arguing- about whether the Chudley Cannons or Montrose Magpies would win the next match, when a boy entered the room. He had longish curly black hair and shadows under his eyes. Gemma recognised him almost instantly.

'Black,' Ted greeted with hostility.

'Nott,' he replied. His eyes darted around the room and landed on her. She raised an eyebrow at him and he looked away hastily.

'You need something?' Ted asked him. He shook his head, but didn't leave.

'Did I miss the ceremony?'  He questioned quietly.

'The one where they put the coffin in the ground? Dunno,' Gemma answered. He nodded.

'If that's all you need...' Ted trailed off, but Black got the message.

'I'll be off.' And he left the room, closing the door behind him.

'I hate that guy,' Ted declared, when the sound of footsteps was no longer there.

'Couldn't tell,' Gemma replied.

'He's just so annoying,' Ted said.

'No he isn't,' Gemma sighed. 'You're just mad he made seeker rather than you.'

'Shut up,' Ted snapped. 'I am perfectly content to be beater. The team's better beater.' Gemma smirked.

'You haven't landed half the people I have in the hospital wing,' she said.

'Yeah? Well I broke three of James Potter's bones. I also hit the bludger at Phoebe Dawson so Black could catch the snitch before her, which won us the match last year,' he said smugly. Gemma rolled her eyes, and stood.

'Nobody likes a show- off,' she said, and left the room.

'You started it!' He yelled after her.

'I'll see you on the train, asshole,' she called back, as she began to walk back down the stairs.

.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.

The train station was, as usual, packed with muggles. Old muggles, getting ready for work, or young muggles, leaving for school and hastily bidding farewell to their sobbing mothers.

Gemma and her father walked past them all. They went straight through the barrier- unnoticed by all the non- magic folks around them- and straight onto the platform 9 and 3/4. The large red steam engine stood before them, proud as ever. Gemma's dad turned to her.

'Okay,' he said. 'Fifth year. I have a few demands.'

'Of course you do,' Gemma said, making no attempt to hide her smirk.

'First, I want you to make sure you study. You have your O.W.Ls this year and just, please, don't absolutely fail them.'

'Nice to know you have so much faith in me,' Gemma commented, rolling her eyes.

'Second, no breaking anyone's bones in quidditch,' her dad continued, a tad sternly.

'I would never,' Gemma said, placing a hand on her heart mockingly.

'Yeah, right,' her dad said. 'Finally, I want you to keep this.' From his pocket he revealed a small flick knife. He placed in her palm and her eyes widened.

'A knife?' She said disbelievingly. Her father bit his lip.

'It's a target knife. It'll always hit its target if you throw it, unless redirected by magic.'

'You mean like... mum's knife? Why would you give me mum's knife?'

'There's a war going on Gemma,' he said hesitantly. 'And I need you to be safe. Even if...'

'Even if I suck at magic,' Gemma finished.

'That's not what I said.'

'It's what you meant,' Gemma said, rather sullenly. 'But thanks anyway. I better get onto the train now though.' He hugged her, and she left to find a compartment, tucking the knife in her pocket and out of view.

She found Luke in the compartment they usually sat in. Only he was accompanied by none other than the Slytherin seeker himself. She entered warily.

'Gemma!' Luke said cheerily. Black turned to look at her, but made no attempt to leave as she sat down. He nodded to her and she flicked her eyebrow up at him in response.

'How was your summer?' Luke asked. She shrugged.

'Nothing unusual,' she replied. 'Attended a funeral though. Remember Rosier? His.' Luke paled slightly.

'How- how did he die?' He asked. Gemma frowned.

'You didn't know?' She asked. He shook his head and her frown deepened. 'Oh.' She realised just how pale Luke had gotten. Apparently so had Black, because he promptly changed the subject.

'Practise any quidditch?' He asked casually.

'Um, yes,' she answered.

'Me too. Though not too much.'

'I didn't really have a choice though, ' she said. 'The beaters have got to try and kill the opposing team so our seeker can actually catch the snitch.' Regulus' eyes narrowed and Gemma offered him a smile to show she was joking. He relaxed slightly.

'Well then, it's good you practised,' he said, rather tentatively. 'Because you've never managed to do that before.' Luke choked slightly, but was silenced when Gemma glared at him. When she looked back, she found Regulus flashed her a sardonic smile.

'Does anyone know where Iz and Ted are?' Luke asked. She was about to shake her head when their compartment door burst open. Isolde Greengrass walked in, looking very different to last year; she was now sporting black eyeliner and lipstick, with shockingly bleacher platinum hair. Ted came in behind her, already removing his coat.

'Hey gu- Black.' His expression changed when he saw Regulus. Gemma rolled her eyes and pulled him down into the seat next to her.

'How was your summer?' Luke asked them. Iz sighed dramatically.

'Literally horrible,'  she started. 'I was literally decomposing. I didn't have any contact with anyone my age the whole entire time because you were in Ireland and Gemma was depressed over that loser Rosier- oh don't give me that look we all know it's true- so I had to resort to painting. Painting, I tell you. And then I became worried-'

'Okay,' Ted interrupted her. 'We get it.'

'No you do not get it,' she snapped. She looked around, and her expression morphed from annoyance to surprise when she saw Regulus. 'What're you doing here?'

'I invited him,' Luke said hastily. Iz frowned.

'What? Why? I thought we were supposed to hate him. No? Don't we hate you?' She directed the last part at Regulus, who's expression was unreadable.

'No,' Gemma said, shaking her head. Iz really couldn't keep her mouth shut.

'Yes,' Ted argued.

'Um, I should probably go get changed,' Regulus said rather uncomfortably.

'Gemma will go with you,' Luke said, glaring daggers at Ted. 'I need to get this piece of homework finished.

'We aren't even in school yet!' Ted protested. Gemma stood.

'Let's go.'

They both left the compartment, and walked in silence to the bathrooms at the end of the train. There, they found a girl and a group of boys. They appeared to be harassing her, until the girl held her wand up to a greasy boy's neck. They left her alone after that, and she slipped in.

'It's occupied,' Regulus mumbled.

'Apparently so,' Gemma replied.

'I reckon there's more at the other end of the train. Up for a walk?'

'Okay.' They began to make their way down the train, but Regulus was stopped by the group of boys. Gemma recognised Blythe Avery and Severus Snape, but not the other boy. He raised an eyebrow at her the way she usually did to other people. It annoyed her, for some reason.

'Black,' Avery said cheerfully. 'Who's this your hanging with?'

'Um, Gemma,' Regulus replied. Avery paled, but only slightly.

'Gemma?' He said, his voice slightly less confident than before. 'Like.. Isolde Greengrass' friend Gemma?'

'The one and only,' she replied. He swallowed, and nodded. She turned to the boy she hadn't recognised, who was appraising her. He held out his hand.

'Garrick Mulciber,' he offered. She shook his hand. He had a weak grip.

'Come with us Reggie,' Snape said, extending his hand out. Regulus seemed hesitant to accept.

'You could come with us as well,' Mulciber said, winking at her. Gemma was a flirtatious person at the best of times, but something about Mulciber just didn't seem right.

'I'm good,' she said slowly. 'But you can keep him. Bye, Black.' She felt guilty about sacrificing him, but as she left, she did not look back.