the_debt_of_time

"I take offence at being called a liar," Sirius declared. "If anyone here is a liar, it's Mia.
She almost ended up in Slytherin, did you know?" He was glad when Mia smiled at him,
though her eyes were slightly narrowed.
After their epically failed date on Valentine's Day, Sirius returned to the castle to
find Mia had disappeared somewhere with Remus. Once the two had returned to the
common room, Sirius had apologised profusely for what happened with Marlene, and Mia
forgave him, hugging him tightly and apologising as well. They both agreed that a first date
on Valentine's Day had been a bad idea and that in the future, they would just try to be
casual about whatever it was that was happening between them.
Remus had given Sirius the cold shoulder for a week.
When James found out what Sirius had done on his date with Mia, he broke Sirius's
nose, being the good brother that he was. Being the good friend that he was, he escorted
Sirius to the hospital wing where Sirius, being the good friend that he was, concocted an
amazing story about a Fanged Frisbee flying into his face—the culprit having mysteriously
escaped. When Mia heard about what happened from Remus and confronted James and
Sirius about it, they both gave her the rehearsed Fanged Frisbee excuse and refused to
make eye contact with her until she let it go.
Things mostly went back to normal after that, though Mia could often feel Sirius's
gaze on her when she was not looking.
"You were almost a snake?" Mary gasped at Mia.
Mia smirked, remembering her conversation with the Sorting Hat. "It's not a bad
thing. My mother was a Slytherin for crying out loud, and she's one of the best witches I've
ever known. That doesn't make me some sort of liar."
Sirius beamed at her. "There's only one way to find out. I suggest we play a game!"
he shouted enthusiastically, reaching into his pocket to pull out a small phial, presenting it
with a flourish.
Remus gaped at his friend. "You were serious about that?"
"Aren't I always?"
"What is he talking about?" Mia asked.
"Veritaserum or Dare." James poured himself another shot of firewhisky and then
leant over to refill a few empty glasses around the table. "The Prewett twins taught us. You
put Veritaserum in a shared bottle of firewhisky. Every round begins with someone issuing