the_debt_of_time

The cat shrunk down quickly to the size of a pygmy puff with a large red bow
wrapped around its neck. It let out the smallest meow before the weight of the bow was
too much and the little kitten toppled forward, smacking its small face into the floor.
"Miss Evans, you're up!"
Lily stepped forward just as the tiny kitten shifted and grew tall and large, taking the
shape of a man with a white painted face, curly red hair, and big floppy shoes.
James gaped. "What the hell is that?"
"A clown," Mia answered quietly, and everyone stared at her. "It's a Muggle...
thing." She shrugged and then added, "I read about it."
"Riddikulus!" Lily shouted, and the clown looked down at his chest as they all heard
a ticking sound. He pulled open his large vest to reveal a clock strapped to sticks of
dynamite stuck to his shirt. Suddenly, the clown exploded right in front of everyone, raining
down confetti upon them all.
Professor Prewett looked impressed. Lily looked proud. James looked besotted.
"All right, Mr Potter, you're up!"
"Poor Jamie," Mia whispered to Remus with a frown. "He won't admit it, but he's
afraid of snakes. The Slytherins are going to have a fit."
She sighed as she watched her brother approach the pile of confetti on the floor as
it shifted in front of him. Though, instead of the large snake she had expected to see, all
she saw was a set of double doors. Her mouth fell open as she looked up at those familiar
white oak doors.
"Is that my... ?" she began with panic in her voice, and almost immediately she
felt two hands on her shoulders, holding her steady. One belonging to Remus, the other
to Sirius. She turned back and the looks on their faces said that they knew what was about
to happen.
Mia looked on as James stared at the silent white doors, and suddenly a sharp scream
echoed from behind them.
Mia's scream.
James stood frozen.
"Go ahead, James," Professor Prewett encouraged as the door continued to hold
back the screams behind it.