Burning Love

•Hopes and Dreams•

As I sat in the common room, the late afternoon sun spilling through the windows, my heart raced as I stared at the envelope from the Ministry of Magic.

"Are you going to open it or just stare at it all day?" Lily teased, plopping down next to me on the couch.

I shot her a nervous smile, feeling the weight of my friends' expectant gazes—James, Sirius, Remus,  Alice, and Frank all gathered around, leaning in closer. "I don't know, what if it says no?"

"Grace, it's you. They'd be fools not to accept you," Sirius said, his voice low and encouraging. "Now, go on. Open it!"

Taking a deep breath, I carefully tore the envelope open, unfolding the letter inside. My heart pounded as I scanned the elegant handwriting.

Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the Auror Training Program. We believe your skills and determination will make you an excellent candidate for this challenging yet rewarding career.

I barely finished reading before I squealed, "I got in! I got in!"

The room erupted into cheers, my friends surrounding me in an instant. James lifted me off the ground, spinning me around, while Lily jumped up and down with excitement. Sirius beamed at me, pride shining in his eyes.

"That's amazing, Grace!" Alice exclaimed, hugging me tightly. "I knew you could do it!"

"Thanks! I'm still in shock," I said, laughing as I caught my breath. "I didn't think I would actually get accepted!"

Just then, Frank entered the common room, a wide grin on his face. "Guess what! I got in too!"

The room erupted again as everyone rushed to congratulate him. I couldn't believe it—my best friend was going to join me in this adventure.

"Just think of all the trouble you can cause," Sirius added, winking at me. "You two will be the best team ever. And I'll be your number one fan."

"Right, because we'll definitely need you cheering from the sidelines," I laughed, feeling the warmth of our friendship surrounding me.

As the celebration continued, we all shared our hopes and dreams for the future, planning out what our Auror careers might look like. It felt surreal, but in that moment, surrounded by my closest friends, I knew we were all destined for great things. The future was bright, and I couldn't wait to dive into it—together.

As the celebration buzzed around us, I noticed Alice holding a letter of her own, her fingers trembling slightly as she glanced between us and the envelope. "Um, I also got a letter," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

My heart skipped. "You did? What does it say?"

"Open it, Alice!" Frank encouraged, his excitement palpable.

With a deep breath, Alice tore the envelope open, and we all leaned in closer. As she read, the silence in the room thickened, the anticipation hanging in the air. Her eyes widened, and a huge smile broke across her face.

"I got in too!" she squealed, jumping up and down.

The room erupted again, and we all rushed to wrap her in a group hug. "This is incredible!" I exclaimed, beaming at her. "We're going to be Aurors together!"

"Can you believe it? All of us!" Alice laughed, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

James chimed in, "This calls for a celebration! Three future Aurors in one room? I'm officially impressed."

Sirius grinned, ruffling Alice's hair playfully. "You guys are going to be amazing. Just think of the trouble you'll cause together!"

"We'll be the dynamic duo!" Alice declared, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.