The early morning light filtered softly through the windows of the Gryffindor girls' dormitory, casting long shadows across the room. The usual bustle of Hogwarts was beginning to hum in the halls, but for now, the dormitory was a quiet haven—a safe space for the girls to prepare for their much-anticipated trip to Hogsmeade.

Gloria sat at her vanity, brushing through her long brown hair. The simple motion was almost meditative, but there was an electric hum of excitement in the air that kept her from being fully absorbed in the task. Around her, Lily Evans, Alice Prewett, and Marlene McKinnon were all busy in their own little worlds, each preparing for the trip in their own way.

Lily, always meticulous, was standing in front of her mirror, inspecting her robes with a critical eye. 

"Honestly, it's a bit ridiculous," she muttered, adjusting the cuffs of her sleeve. "How can I look both presentable and not like I'm trying too hard?"

Marlene, who had been lounging on her bed with her legs draped over the edge, tossed a cushion at Lily.

"You're overthinking it again, Evans. You're perfect just the way you are." She paused and looked at Gloria with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Right, Gloria?"

Gloria gave a small, distracted smile as she ran the brush through her hair again. 

"I'm just here for the snacks," she said, looking up briefly. "Anything that involves food and minimal effort works for me."

"That's exactly what I've been saying!" Marlene grinned widely and flopped back onto her bed, kicking her feet up in the air.

Lily rolled her eyes good-naturedly, though there was a hint of amusement in her expression. "You're incorrigible, Marlene."

Alice, who had been quietly fiddling with her hair near the window, turned around and chimed in with a laugh, 

"And you are ready for Hogsmeade. Just remember to keep your expectations reasonable. You know how these trips tend to end in chaos."

Lily shook her head, but there was no real ire in her voice. 

"Don't encourage her," she warned Alice, who just shrugged with a grin.

Gloria couldn't help but laugh as she finished brushing her hair and set the brush down. The lightness in the room felt good, a welcome change from the weight she had been carrying in her mind lately. There was something about being surrounded by these girls, their friendship and unspoken understanding, that made her feel more at ease in her own skin. Even Lily, with her strict ways and unyielding opinions, felt more like an ally these days than a rival.

"Alright," Lily said, stepping away from the mirror and smoothing out her robes. "We're all set. But, seriously, I'm hoping we won't get dragged into any wild shenanigans today, okay? I just want to get some proper butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks."

"That sounds like a great idea. Not to mention Potter will probably be there" Alice said with a wink. 

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation, and before anyone could respond, it swung open to reveal none other than Remus Lupin.

He peered inside, looking somewhat out of place in the girls' dormitory. 

"Ah, sorry—didn't mean to interrupt," he began, his voice a bit sheepish. "But I thought I'd check if Glor- all of you were ready. We are, well... waiting outside, and you know how impatiently dramatic Sirius gets."

Gloria's eyes widened as she stood up, brushing off the nonexistent wrinkles from her skirt.

 "Sirius? He's waiting outside?" 

Her heart skipped at the thought. She wasn't sure what it was, but every time he looked at her with that roguish grin, her stomach seemed to do an odd flip.

Remus, ever the calm presence, smiled faintly at her reaction. 

"You know how he is. He can't stand waiting more than a few minutes." 

He gave a quick glance over at Lily, Marlene, and Alice, all of whom were watching him with varying levels of amusement.

"How does he always manage to pop up when I least expect it?" Gloria muttered to herself, trying not to look too flustered.

"Well, he is a bit persistent," Remus replied, his smile shifting into something more affectionate. He then turned back to the girls. "He's, uh, a bit eager to get going. I told him you'd be ready in a minute."

Gloria smiled in gratitude. "Thanks, Remus. I'll be out in a second."

With a nod, Remus backed out of the room, leaving the girls to finish getting ready.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Alice gave Gloria a knowing look. "So, Sirius, huh?" she said in a teasing tone.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "You've got Sirius Black waiting outside for you? This I've got to see."

Gloria laughed, shaking her head. 

"It's not like that," she said quickly, though the blush on her cheeks betrayed her. "I'm sure he's just impatient to get going. It's not a big deal."

Marlene, who had been watching with a grin, rolled her eyes. "Oh, it's definitely a big deal, love. I can practically feel the tension in the air."

Alice nodded. "You two have been exchanging looks for weeks now. You can't fool us."

Lily, ever the voice of reason, put a hand on Gloria's shoulder. "Don't rush anything. Just enjoy the day, okay?"

"Yeah," Marlene added. "And if Sirius tries anything, we'll be right there to back you up."

Gloria grinned at them, feeling more reassured than ever. The grin turned into a frown as realisation set it.

"Wait a minute...how did Remus get up the stairs to the girl's dormitory?!"

"A little something called Levitation.", reply came from the other end of the door.

"Go away, Remus!!", the girl collectively shouted.

By the time the girls had finished putting the finishing touches on their outfits and makeup, they were more than ready to head down to the grounds. As they made their way toward the main entrance, they were greeted by the familiar sight of the Marauders lounging outside, awaiting their arrival. James was holding a broomstick, tossing it between his hands as he leaned against a tree, while Peter was nervously adjusting his robes.

And, of course, Sirius was standing in the middle of it all, arms crossed, and leaning casually against the castle wall with that trademark grin plastered on his face.

"Finally!" he called out as soon as he saw Gloria. "I thought we were going to have to leave without you."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Gloria shot back, matching his grin with one of her own.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "That's the spirit."

As they walked toward the carriages that would take them to Hogsmeade, the conversation flowed easily, full of banter and jokes. James was already plotting some ridiculous plan for the weekend, Marlene was making fun of him, and Peter was excitedly recounting the latest happenings in the Slytherin common room.

But as Gloria and Sirius found themselves walking just slightly apart from the group, there was a soft, almost silent moment when their gazes met. The world around them seemed to fade, and for just a moment, it felt as if it was just the two of them standing there.

Sirius broke the silence first, his voice quieter now, "You look nice today, Gloria."

Gloria couldn't help the smile that crept onto her lips, "Thanks. You look alright yourself."

Sirius chuckled, nudging her gently with his elbow, "Alright? You wound me."

As they reached the carriages, Gloria's heart was still racing a little faster than usual. The rest of the group clambered inside, and the day ahead promised plenty of fun, but Gloria couldn't shake the lingering feeling that the moments with Sirius were starting to feel a little more real.

The trip to Hogsmeade was everything Gloria had hoped for and more. The crisp air felt refreshing as they walked through the village, and she couldn't help but marvel at the charm of the little shops and the bustling atmosphere. The group of friends spent their time ducking in and out of the various stores, sampling enchanted sweets at Honeydukes, laughing over pranks in Zonko's, and marveling at the strange items on display in the Shrieking Shack's gift shop.

After indulging in a few too many Chocolate Frogs, Gloria found herself standing outside the Three Broomsticks with Sirius, Marlene, and James, all of whom were in the middle of a lively conversation about the latest quidditch match.

"Honestly, I don't see how the other teams think they can even compete with us," said James.

"Please, James, you're all talk," Marlene teased, stealing a piece of popcorn from the bag Peter was holding. "I'd like to see you try to make it past the Slytherin defense next match."

Peter, who had been in a world of his own, piped up nervously. 

"I—uh—I bet Gryffindor will win the Cup this year." He looked around, realizing no one had been listening to him.

Sirius, who had been quietly watching Gloria, smiled. 

"Speaking of bets, Gloria," he said, his voice low and teasing, "I owe you a challenge."

Gloria turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "A challenge?"

Sirius grinned, stepping a little closer. 

"A challenge," he repeated. "I bet you can't beat me at the next round of wizard chess."

"Oh, I'm so on," Gloria replied, matching his grin. "Prepare to lose, Black."

As the banter continued, Gloria found herself walking a little ahead, caught up in the warm glow of their camaraderie. They made their way toward the edge of Hogsmeade, near the bridge that led toward the forest, when a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.

"Gloria!"

She turned, and there, looking as mischievous as ever, was Sirius.

Before she could say a word, Sirius gave her a wink and, in one swift motion, scooped her up onto his back with a grin. 

"Come on," he said, laughing as he held her up, "you've been walking for hours! Let me carry you the rest of the way."

"Wait, what?" Gloria gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. Her heart raced at the sudden close contact, but she couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. 

"Are you serious?" she managed to say between giggles.

Sirius's grin only widened. "Of course I am Sirius! You're getting the full Sirius Black experience."

Marlene, who had been walking beside them, let out an exaggerated sigh, 

"Well, if you're going to act like that, maybe I should get a ride, too!"

"I can't carry all of you," Sirius shot back playfully, though his grip on Gloria tightened, making sure she felt secure.

"You're spoiling her, Black!" James called out, a grin spreading across his face. "Next thing we know, she'll want a private carriage to Hogwarts."

Gloria leaned in closer to Sirius, feeling the warmth of his body and the familiar flutter of her stomach. 

"You're ridiculous, you know that?" she teased, but the teasing was soft, almost affectionate. "People are staring."

"I'm used to it," Sirius said with a wink. "Let them look. You're with the most charming guy in Hogsmeade."

Gloria couldn't help but roll her eyes, but the truth was, she was enjoying it. As they walked, the laughter from the group faded into the background, and for a moment, all she could focus on was the warmth of Sirius's arms around her and the feeling of his breath against her ear as he walked.

They made their way back toward the Three Broomsticks, where a few other students were hanging out, and just as they were about to walk inside, Marlene called out to them, "Hey! Don't let the boys try to convince you to have a drinking competition, alright?"

"You've got it, Marlene," Gloria called back, giving her a playful salute before turning to Sirius. "Alright, Mr. Black. Let me down. I'm beginning to think you're enjoying this a little too much."

"Maybe," Sirius said with a mischievous gleam in his eyes, but he did set her down gently. "But I'm still keeping that challenge going. You and me. Wizard chess."

"You're on," Gloria said with a smirk.

As they entered the pub, the scent of butterbeer and freshly baked pastries filled the air. The group found an empty table and began settling in, ordering food and drinks while joking about the things they'd seen that morning.

Later that evening, after they'd had their fill of butterbeer and a round of jokes at the table, the group headed back to the castle, the cool night air whipping around them as they made their way toward the main doors.

Sirius had stayed close to Gloria the whole time, as if he couldn't quite let go of the easy banter they'd started earlier. They were laughing about something ridiculous when the group stopped outside the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

Gloria glanced over at the boys and raised an eyebrow. "Sirius, you still game?"

"You bet," Sirius said with an exaggerated grin. "But we're playing in the common room. I don't want to play by any other rules."

"Agreed," James said, nudging Remus in the ribs. "Chess in the common room's the best. We can watch Gloria school Black on the rules."

 Gloria couldn't help but feel a wave of amusement and warmth wash over her. It was moments like this—simple, happy moments—that made her feel like she was really starting to belong.