the_debt_of_time

beautiful, and Mia cursed herself for not exploring the grounds earlier. She had thought to
ask James why he had never shown her the river before, but Sirius was there, and it would
look suspicious if Mia—who supposedly lived at Potter Manor her entire life—did not
know where their land ended.
Determined to make up for lost time and last year—when she had spent an entire
hot summer sweating inside—Mia asked their parents if they could have friends over to go
swimming.
James and Sirius were thrilled with the idea, but Mia was not happy with their
planning.
"Peter's birthday is this Friday; we should have him over for a party!" James said
excitedly; Sirius appeared eager to join in on the idea of surprising their friend.
Mia had snapped out a quick, "No!"
"Why not?" James asked.
"I can't this Friday," she said before coming up with the worst excuse ever, knowing
it would put an immediate end to the argument. She forced a blush across her face to
appear embarrassed. "Girl stuff."
Both boys nodded quickly, awkwardly avoiding her gaze.
Mia smirked at them and rolled her eyes. "How about the Tuesday after that?"
"Why then?" Sirius asked.
"I don't know. It just feels like a good day to be with family and friends. To
celebrate." She smiled and walked away.
"Fine. Fire-call your friends and tell them to be here July 31st!" James called after
her. A full minute later, he shouted, "And make sure to invite Evans!"
"She's gone, mate," Sirius said with a chuckle, picking a splinter out of his hand and
cursing himself for deciding to not wear gloves when flying. He made a mental note to try
and sneak back over to Grimmauld Place before school started up again so he could steal
something worth selling in Knockturn Alley for enough Galleons to get a new broom.
James stared off into the space where his sister had disappeared, his jaw slack. "Do
you... Do you think Evans will come?"
Sirius smirked, waggling his eyebrows. "You think they'll wear bikinis like my
motorcycle girls?"
He looked in the same direction that James was, where Mia had gone.