the_debt_of_time

"I still think the breakfast thing is creepy," James remarked. "How come Remus
can't get his own bacon? There's a plate right in front of Peter."
"Because he likes it undercooked," Mia replied matter-of-factly. "The plate in front
of Peter is too burnt."
"Why don't you let me or James make your tea?" Sirius asked with a raised brow.
"Last time one of us did, you didn't touch it."
"Because she doesn't take milk in it," Remus explained.
"How do you even notice things like that?" James asked.
At the same time, both Mia and Remus just shrugged.
James and Sirius had little time to come up with more questions or jokes at the pair's
expense because, right then, Frank Longbottom stumbled over to the table looking worse
for wear.
"Frank? Are you all right?" Mia looked up at the boy with concern.
He tried to smile but it did not reach his eyes. "I'm fine, thanks, Mia."
"You are not. What happened?"
While the Marauders had banded together due to circumstances that first day on
the train, their bond had solidified due to sleeping arrangements. Frank, on the other hand,
roomed with the other two Gryffindor boys in their year, Gaspard and William, who had
apparently been best friends since they were toddlers. Not wanting him to be friendless
and left out, Mia had extended a hand of friendship to Frank.
Frank sighed loudly. "Some first year Slytherins hit me with a nasty charm when I
caught them picking on some Hufflepuffs," he admitted, his face turning red. "I told the
snakes to leave them alone, and they turned on me instead. I thought they'd maybe try a
hex or two but didn't think one would actually stick."
"Which one?" Sirius asked.
"They stunned me."
"What?" Sirius snapped. "Those rotten, low-life snakes!"
"They stunned you?" Mia's eyes widened. She felt her own temper flaring, and Sirius's
seething just egged her on. "Merlin, that's a fifth year spell! How did they even know how to
do that?"
"Once I woke up, I overheard them bragging that Malfoy and Mulciber have been
teaching all of the first year Slytherins advanced hexes and jinxes," Frank said bitterly.