the_debt_of_time

"Learn a few things, did you?" Sirius asked in an amused tone.
Ginny laughed loudly and shoved Sirius into the hallway, taking his place. "Get lost,
both of you. I have to help our virginal bride," she said sarcastically, "get wrapped in black."
The redhead quirked her lips and shut the door behind her, effectively dismissing them
both. "Ugh, Hermione, it smells like sex in here," she said, waving her hand in front of her
face. "You know you're not supposed to consummate the marriage until after the ceremony,
right?"
Mia chuckled and pulled herself out of bed, wrapping a thin, red bathrobe around
her body. "Tell that to the wretched creature that sneaked into my room to defile me on
the morning of my wedding."
"I'm sure Harry's doing just that," Ginny said with a grin. "Now get your arse into
the bath. The other girls will be here soon."
Eventually, Luna, Laurel, and Alice made their way to Mia's bathroom, all sitting
around the copper clawfoot tub discussing the events of the day. The witches, as per old
traditions, had been chosen to bathe the bride and prepare her for her robes, which would
be placed on her by family. While Ginny tended to Mia's hair and Laurel to her nails, Luna
filled the tub with cloves ("It drives away negativity and blibbering humdingers."), lemon
oil, ("To purify the body and soul."), and daffodil petals ("They're traditional," Luna
insisted, "for fertility.").
"I feel like a cup of tea," Mia said with a laugh, and Luna smiled at her.
Alice sat by, watching everything and telling old stories about Mia and Sirius
growing up together. Ginny replied by telling everyone what she and Harry had almost
walked in on earlier. "Oh, that's nothing," Alice said. "By the time we all graduated
Hogwarts, I think every Gryffindor in our year had walked in on the pair of them. It was
practically a rite of passage. Honestly, I don't know how Remus lived with you both."
Once she was dried, Mia kissed Alice, Ginny, Laurel, and Luna on their cheeks and
exchanged their company for Narcissa, Tonks, and Andromeda.
"Why," Narcissa wondered, pausing before continuing, "does it smell like lemons
and cloves in here?"
Tonks snorted. "I imagine it's to cover up the stench of Sirius."
"Harry told you?" Mia asked.