the_debt_of_time

Mia fell into a quiet slumber, grateful for James and Sirius sitting beside her to chase
away the nightmares. Instead of memories of war playing behind her closed eyes, she
dreamt of Hogwarts and of Harry and Ron.
When her eyes opened hours later, she blinked the sleep away and surveyed her
surroundings with an amused smile on her face. James, to her left, had snuggled into her
shoulder, his messy black hair tickling the side of her cheek as he softly snored. Sirius,
however, had collapsed on her lap, his long black locks strewn all over her thighs, his legs
splayed out toward the end of the bench.
Mia smiled down at him affectionately and ran her fingers through his hair without
a thought as to how strange it might appear.
"You seem pretty close to Sirius after only just meeting him," Remus commented.
Mia glanced up with a smile. "I guess I have a habit of adopting strays."
"I heard that," Sirius mumbled sleepily, snuggling further into her lap.
Mia looked down at him, wondering how he was so easily affectionate with
Walburga as a mother. She could hardly imagine that woman being the type to hug her
children.
"If you're awake, why are you still on my lap?"
"This 'stray dog' enjoys having his head scratched." Sirius reached up without
looking, took her hand, and put it back on his head. When she laughed and swatted him
gently, he grabbed her free hand and laced his fingers with hers.
Mia blushed, shocked, but continued to run her fingers through his hair,
remembering how an older Sirius would shift into Padfoot and crawl next to her, head
against her thighs as she petted his soft black fur. Apparently, the man had always been a
bit of a lap dog, and someone who clearly did not know the meaning of personal space.
"I'm going to ignore the fact that your head is on my sister's lap because there are
more important things to take care of right now," James said with a yawn as he sat up and
rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"Like what?" Mia wondered, still running her fingers through Sirius's hair.
"Remus, Peter," James addressed them with a very intense stare. "I have
a very important question for you both, and the future of our friendship hangs in the
balance here."