Chapter 17

Gloria took the box of chocolates and tucked it away with her own gifts. As for the chocolates themselves? Oh, they were sitting comfortably in James's stomach. Weren't they just right for a birthday party dessert? Besides, she hadn't slipped any Amortentia into them, Gloria thought. Sirius already had the pendant around his neck, fastened by Gloria's own hands. He looked thoroughly delighted, spinning her around in a tight hug the moment she put it on him. Because Sirius couldn't see behind his back, he had been clumsily trying to clasp it himself, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on Gloria with his intentions completely transparent. Gloria didn't call him out on it; instead, she raised her hands to circle his neck, took the chain from his fingers, stood on tiptoe, rested her chin on his shoulder, and personally fastened the gift around his neck. "Idiot." Sirius naturally wrapped his arms around Gloria's waist, rested his chin against the crook of her neck, pounced his lips, rubbed affectionately against her skin, and muttered a low retort: "I am not." *Little troublemaker, you clearly saw right through me, and yet you still tease me like this.* *But so what? She likes doing it, so I'll just go along with it. After all, I always indulge her the most.* Of course, his Lily did too.