"Me?" His eyes went wide at the accusation. "If I did something, Evans would have
smacked me! No, she hit James." He pointed at his friend, who stared off in the direction
Lily had left, his hazel eyes wide and his hand still fixed to his reddening cheek.
Mia frowned. "What did you do, Jamie?"
"What's a toerag?" Sirius asked, feeling a modicum of respect for Evans for
creativity. Then again, maybe it was a Muggle thing.
Remus tried, and failed, to stifle a laugh. "Lily called James a toerag?"
"Look, dear, there's Mia!"
Mia could hear her parents the second she stepped foot off the train. She smiled at
the sight of them both.
Her father was not even trying to be quiet when he said, "That must be the Lupin
boy. You don't think... she's too young for a boyfriend."
"I think it's cute." Dorea teased him. "You behave. Mia says they're just friends."
In the hopes of cutting off the conversation before Remus heard—though he likely
already had thanks to his enhanced senses—Mia rushed into her father's open arms and
hugged him tightly.
When he released her, Mia turned back and smiled at Remus. "Mum, Dad, this is
Remus."
"Glad to have you, son." Charlus grinned and extended his hand to the boy.
"Charlus Potter. This is my wife, Dorea."
Remus smiled slightly and reached his hand out to take Charlus's. "Remus Lupin,
sir. I really appreciate... I mean, I am very g-grateful," he stammered a bit before inhaling
a deep breath to calm himself. "My parents wanted to say thank you, for letting me stay for
a few days."
Dorea beamed brightly. "You are more than welcome, dear. The more the merrier!"
"Oh!" Mia blushed when she realised that she had forgotten to send a last minute
owl home. "I, umm, is it okay if Sirius stays with us for the holidays as well? His mum,
well.. ." She did not want to divulge all of Sirius's concerns to her parents, so she looked