the_debt_of_time

Mia was busy examining her lacewing flies to prepare for her Polyjuice Potion,
though she was seriously considering making a few adjustments to it to see if she had it in
her to invent something new. She had always been terrific at creating and adjusting her
own charms and transfigurations, but Potions was something for which she always felt she
needed to follow the book. However, Snape—and therefore Harry in sixth year—were
proof that potions could be altered for the better.
"What are you up to?" James asked as he approached the table she shared with
Snape, Damocles, and Lily. Damocles had left his seat to dig through Slughorn's supplies,
offering James his first chance to see what Mia had been talking to the Slytherin about.
"Nothing," Mia said innocently.
"I saw you talking to Belby," James whispered. "Still looking into wolfsbane?"
She eyed him carefully and confirmed with a quick nod.
James smiled, clearly remembering that when he had questioned her about the toxic
plant on a list he found her writing, she admitted that she was wanting to use it to
potentially create a potion that could help Remus with his "furry little problem" as Sirius
was calling it these days.
"Speaking of," James said, tilting his head in the direction of Damocles's cauldron,
"I heard a rumour that a certain sister of mine is trying to get involved with a certain friend
of mine."
"Not a rumour. I asked Remus to Hogsmeade, and he's not the type to be casual
about such things. I told him to talk to you instead of you finding out and thinking that we
were keeping secrets," she said, daring him to challenge her.
"You asked Remus to Hogsmeade?" Lily asked before James had a chance to say
anything.
Mia turned and her mouth fell open. She knew that Lily fancied Remus a few years
earlier but had already forgotten, and now she felt bad for perhaps hurting her friend's
feelings.
"Umm... yes. I'm sorry, Lily, I should have―"
"No. I think you two are well-paired," Lily said with a sincere smile.
Snape scowled, turning his attention to Lily. "Why do you care anyway?"
"Because Mia and Remus are my friends, Sev," Lily scolded him quietly before
stirring her potion in the cauldron.