"We'll see about that." She was all too eager to take her new brother down a few
pegs once they got to Hogwarts.
Meals were served in the formal dining room at the long oak table, though each
member of the Potter family all sat at one end, close enough to pick off one another's
plates, something that Charlus and James did constantly despite Dorea and Mia's
objections. After dinner, the family gathered in the drawing room where Dorea and Charlus
watched their children play game after game of Exploding Snap, talking constantly about
their eagerness to attend Hogwarts in less than a month.
When Tilly announced it was time for the family to get some rest, Mia practically
ran to her room, taking off her robes and throwing on her nightdress swiftly in order to
make sure that the house-elf did not do it for her. When Tilly came in later to see if Mia
had need of anything, she grinned at her as though she were a challenge. Instead of fighting
her new young Miss, Tilly wished Mia sweet dreams.
But as much as Mia Potter wanted to set aside the baggage of Hermione Granger,
the two identities were still of the same entity, and just a few hours into the night, Mia
began screaming in her sleep.
"Please! Don't hurt them! Please! No!"
"Mia? Mia? Are you all right?"
"Let him go. Please, let him go!"
Her mattress dipped, the motion slightly drawing her out of her nightmare, and
when she felt hands on her shoulders, she startled fully awake.
"It's okay." He patted her head affectionately. "It's just a nightmare. You're safe."
"Harry?" Mia whispered.
There was a long pause. "It's James."
Mia looked up at him, tears still welling in her eyes. "Jamie?"
"Yeah, it's me." He looked down at her with a sympathetic gaze, and in the dark,
she could almost mistake the hazel colour of his eyes for green.
Her tears overflowed, and a bubble of pain burst inside of her chest as she cried
and reached out to hug him close to her, sobbing quietly in his arms.