October 31st, 1975Mia's flowing, lilac-coloured dress hung in smooth layers around her legs. The
bodice was soft and loose, and the multiple straps holding it in place were thin, showing
off the golden hue of her shoulders. She let her hair go—different from the way she had
confined it during the Yule Ball in her original fourth year—using only a ruby-encrusted
gold comb to hold back her rich curls. Remus loved when she left her hair wild and often
expressed how he felt in control when his fingers were buried in their depths, so she was
all too willing to forego the Sleekeazy's Hair Potion for the night.
She walked down the stairs from the girls' dormitory and smiled at the sight of her
boys in the common room. Sirius was missing, of course, forced into detention with
Professor Higgs as he had been every Friday that month—writing lines, washing
chalkboards, and even polishing the professor's shoe collection. James and Remus turned
from their place at the foot of the stairs to look up as Mia descended toward them.
"Merlin," Remus whispered.
His lingering gaze burned her skin. She was certain that if she broke eye contact and
looked down, she would see a brand on her flesh anywhere he was looking. She blushed
under the intensity of his eyes and almost entirely missed the fact that her brother was
staring open-mouthed at something behind her.
Mia turned and smiled as she watched Lily walk down the stairs, wearing a brilliant
shade of green to match her eyes. Her long, red hair had been curled at the ends, pulled to
one side, and tied with a simple, gold ribbon.
"We'll see you all down there," Lily said with a smile for Mia as she linked arms with
Mary and left.
James stared after her.
"You really aren't going to attack her verbally? Embarrass her over how she looks?"
Mia asked, but James just shook his head side to side slowly, staring at the door long after
the portrait closed behind Lily. "Jamie? You're not going to go and tell Lily how pretty she
looks?"
"There aren't words," James whispered. "They should've sent a poet."