The winter air outside was crisp, the kind that bit at your cheeks and made your breath mist in the cold. Inside Hogwarts, however, there was a comfortable bustle as students packed their trunks and said their goodbyes before heading home for the holidays. Gloria felt the familiar mix of excitement and melancholy settle over her as she folded clothes into her trunk, her mind still lingering on the conversation at Honeydukes and the strange feeling the seer's words had left behind.

But there was a quiet comfort in being around her friends again, even if that comfort came with a touch of unease. The dormitory was filled with the sounds of zipping trunks, murmured goodbyes, and the occasional burst of laughter as students prepared for their journeys.

Gloria sat on her bed, her trunk half-packed, eyes scanning over the mess of clothes, books, and random trinkets that had accumulated in her room over the past few months.

"Hey, you're just going to leave your socks in a pile?", a voice called from across the room.

Gloria glanced up to find Lily Evans and Mary MacDonald both grinning at her. They were in the middle of organizing their trunks, a mix of chaos and methodical packing as they chattered away.

"I'm getting to it," Gloria muttered, trying to stuff a pile of clothes into her trunk, "I'll deal with them when I get home. I'm not even sure what half of this stuff is."

Mary laughed, tossing a pair of shoes into her own trunk, "You're always the last one ready. Honestly, if you didn't have us, you'd never get on that train." 

She gave a mock pout, "I've always had to drag you out of here, haven't I?"

Gloria chuckled, "I'll be fine. I just need to get these last bits packed and I'll—" 

She paused, her eyes falling on the very letter she had hidden away in the depths of her trunk. She hadn't been able to focus enough to figure out the next step. She let out a sigh, trying to shake off the nagging feeling in her chest.

Lily, who had been silently packing beside Mary, gave her a sideways glance, "You sure you're alright? You've been kind of quiet today."

Gloria froze for a moment, her hand still on a pile of sweaters she'd been trying to fold neatly.

 "Yeah, just... tired, I guess." 

She gave a quick, forced smile, before adding with a hint of humor, "It's nothing, really. I'm just ready for the holidays. Can't wait to sleep in tomorrow."

Mary raised an eyebrow, though she didn't press. 

"Uh-huh. Sure." 

She glanced at Lily, who returned a knowing look. Mary changed the subject, "Well, I'm ready to escape this place. Nothing like some good old-fashioned family chaos to make you appreciate Hogwarts more."

Lily chuckled, but there was a certain fondness in her expression,

"Can't argue with that. I'm just hoping I can actually get some peace and quiet for once. Maybe even a break from Potter's endless flirting."

"Is that a bad thing, though?" Gloria asked, nudging Lily lightly, "You'll miss him while you're home. I mean, I'm not sure you'll survive without James's constant 'I'm the one for you' speeches."

Lily groaned, but her smile was undeniable, "I swear, if I hear one more time about how we are 'destined to be great,' I'll hex him into next week."

"You mean 'I'll be your knight in shining armour'?" Gloria teased, remembering Sirius's enactment of James in love. The memory of the playful banter with Sirius brought a smile to her face, though a small thread of unease tugged at her again. She hadn't been able to shake the seer's words from her mind.

"That's exactly what I mean," Lily said with a laugh, "Although I don't think he actually believes it, which is both the best and the worst part of it."

Mary rolled her eyes but smiled, "He's impossible, but we wouldn't have him any other way."

Just as Gloria was about to add something, the door swung open, and in walked Alice Fortescue. She was carrying a box of chocolates, her hair slightly disheveled from the rush of packing.

"Hi!" Alice greeted brightly, "Are you all almost ready? The train's leaving in an hour."

Gloria glanced at her half-packed trunk. 

"Getting there, just need to finish a few things." 

She turned back to her friends, suddenly feeling more at ease. It was moments like this—moments of ordinary life—that helped distract her from the weight of the strange prophecy and the unsettling feelings that had lingered ever since the encounter with the seer.

"I just hope I can get out of here without anyone trying to make me do one last favor," Alice added, flopping onto her bed, "It's been crazy this year. But hey, we survived, right?"

Lily raised her eyebrows, "Survived? I think you mean 'thrived,' Alice."

"We made it through first half, yes. But I'm not ready for the finals," Marlene groaned, "Don't even talk about the mounting assignments. That's a nightmare I don't want to relive anytime soon."

Gloria snorted, 

"I'd take finals over home any day. At least here, I don't have to deal with...", she trailed off, feeling the familiar pang in her chest at the thought of home, "Well, you know."

The room fell quiet for a moment, the girls exchanging glances, but none of them pushed the topic further. They all understood—some things were just harder to talk about, especially when it involved family.

After a few moments, the topic shifted back to their excitement about the holidays. They helped each other finish packing, and before long, it was time to head to the train station.

The Hogwarts Express was as chaotic as ever, a rush of excited voices and students saying their goodbyes. Gloria found herself weaving through the crowd, her trunk rolling behind her as she made her way to the compartment she'd reserved with the boys. It wasn't long before she saw James, Sirius, and Remus, who were already inside, settled in and ready for the ride.

"Oi, finally!", James called from across the compartment, grinning as he waved her over. "Thought you might have gotten lost back there with all the packing you're doing."

Remus was sitting quietly by the window, his book still open in front of him, though he was glancing up every now and then to take in the scene. As usual, Remus's calm demeanor stood in stark contrast to the chaos of his friends. He smiled warmly at Gloria when she entered, his eyes carrying that familiar kindness.

"Good to see you, Gloria," he said, shifting a little to make space for her.

"Hey, Remus," Gloria replied, sitting down beside him, "What's up? Not planning on causing trouble this time?"

Remus smiled, his eyes twinkling slightly. 

"I'm just trying to make it through the holidays without being caught in the middle of one of James's ridiculous schemes." 

He glanced over at James, who was pretending to be insulted, "But I suppose that's asking for the impossible."

"I heard that!" James protested, grinning, "And just so you know, I'm taking my side in this. You're both boring!"

Peter leaned forward,

"Remus isn't boring. He's the sensible one who keeps us all from getting into too much trouble. Otherwise, who would make sure we don't get expelled by the end of the year?"

Gloria chuckled, feeling a warm sense of camaraderie settle over her. She looked around at her friends—this ragtag group that, despite their differences, had become her closest allies over the past few months. Remus with his quiet wisdom, James with his boundless enthusiasm, Sirius with his charm and wit, Peter's quiet kindness....and her.

As the train began to move, Gloria settled into her seat by the window, the snow-covered landscape blurring past as they left the school grounds behind. Her trunk, now safely stowed in the compartment, sat beside her feet, and she found herself staring at the white, endless expanse outside.

"Come on, you can't just ignore us now," Sirius teased as he plopped down next to her, flopping lazily across the bench. He propped his head up on his hand and gave her an exaggerated pout,

 "Not even a quick 'I miss you' or 'I can't wait to see you again'?"

Gloria rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at her lips, "You really do like the dramatic flair, don't you?"

"Well, someone has to bring the flair to this boring ride," Sirius said with a wink. He turned to glance at James, who was grinning widely, "Besides, you're not going to get away that easy, Gloria. We've got letters and owl post, remember?"

Gloria nodded, grateful for their effort to make her smile. 

"Alright, alright," she replied, settling into the familiar back-and-forth with Sirius, "I'll make sure to write— send you both an owl now and then just to keep you from getting into too much trouble."

James leaned back in his seat, looking at her thoughtfully,

"I still can't believe we're already at Christmas. Time's flying this year", he sighed, "Next thing you know, we'll be sitting here, packing for our last year."

"Don't remind me," Gloria muttered, a twinge of anxiety rising in her chest at the thought of the future. Her focus shifted back to the view outside the window—anything to avoid the creeping thought of what lay ahead.

It felt good to be surrounded by people who understood her, who accepted her without question. It made everything seem a little less daunting. Even though the seer's words still echoed in her mind, she tried to push them away for the time being. She had her friends, and that was enough for now.

The train ride passed quickly, filled with the usual jokes and teasing from James and Sirius. Remus, as always, kept a watchful eye on them, making sure their antics didn't go too far. Peter just going with the flow. Gloria couldn't help but smile at how easily they had become a family of sorts, each of them filling a different role in this unexpected bond that had formed between them.

As the train neared the station, the excitement of the holidays was palpable, but so was something else. A quiet understanding that, no matter what came next, they would face it together.

When the train finally pulled into the station, the familiar bustle of the end of term awaited them. Students were gathering their belongings, waving goodbye to friends, and rushing toward the carriages that would take them home. For Gloria, the journey didn't end with the train ride—she still had to face the part of her life that existed outside of Hogwarts. It wasn't that she dreaded it, but it was always a little different from the world she shared with her friends.

As she stepped off the train, she was greeted by the cold bite of winter air. Her scarf wrapped tightly around her neck, she scanned the crowd, spotting her brother's familiar figure standing near the edge of the platform.

"Edward!" she called, a grin spreading across her face at the sight of him. He waved back, his usual welcoming smile on his face.

He was dressed in a heavy coat, his hands tucked into the pockets, but there was a warmth about him that made Gloria feel immediately at ease. As she approached, he gave her a hug, lifting her off the ground in the way he always did, like no time had passed since they'd seen each other last.

"Missed you, kiddo," he said, giving her a playful squeeze before setting her down.

"I missed you too," Gloria replied, a little more seriously. The holidays always brought her closer to him, even if it was only for a short time. There was a sense of familiarity in the way he greeted her, in the way he'd always been there for her—something comforting in the consistency.

As they gathered her things and started walking toward the exit, Gloria found herself glancing back toward the train, where her friends were already starting to scatter in different directions. But for now, she was with Edward, and the promise of letters, calls, and visits filled the air between them, as comfortable and reassuring as the Christmas season itself.