the_debt_of_time

"Don't oversell it," Mia muttered under her breath.
"Would you be a dear and help me with my trunk?" Daphne asked with a pretty
frown. "It's very heavy."
Ron raised a confused eyebrow. "Can't you just use your wand to... Ow!" He
winced as Mia elbowed him in the ribs. Understanding finally reached his eyes, and his
blush deepened. "Oh. Umm... yeah, I can get it for you."
Daphne lightly touched his shoulder when he reached for her trunk, and Ron stared
at her hand, eyes wide. "Thanks so much," she said sweetly. "Can I save you a seat inside?"
"Really?" Ron swallowed. "I... Yeah, that'd be great."
"Bye, Mia," Daphne said and smiled as she followed her sister onto the train after
Draco spent a good thirty seconds bent over Astoria's hand, kissing her knuckles for the
flashing cameras.
Ron rubbed the back of his neck as he approached Mia after putting Daphne's trunk
on the train. "You sure she's a Slytherin?"
Mia chuckled in amusement. "I've never been more certain."
"Well, maybe they're not all rotters," he conceded for a moment but then glared as
Draco approached them. "This one, however.. ."
"Remember my rules," Mia said sternly.
"Weasel," Draco said looking at Ron.
"Ferret."
"Boys," Mia hissed.
Draco sighed dramatically, hands in the pockets of his tailored trousers, looking
relaxed even as put together as he was. It was a trait Mia attributed to the Black family
genes; Lucius Malfoy was always annoyingly stiff. Looking back at Sirius, who was leaning
against the wall talking with Harry and trying to hide the cigarette in his hands, she decided
that, yes, the relaxed manner was certainly a Black family trait.
"Weasley," Draco said as though it was uncomfortable to have the name roll over
his tongue. "I won't be returning to Hogwarts. As it is my responsibility to look after the
safety of Astoria, I find myself in a position where I could use your... assistance in keeping
an eye on her or, more likely, keeping an eye and a well-aimed wand on those who might
seek to do her harm for being associated with me."