the_debt_of_time

"You would." Mia glared affectionately at her father, who laughed as he looped his
arm through Dorea's before leading her out of the foyer and through the corridor that
opened out into the back garden.
Lily stared at a sprig of green hung up in the corner of the room. Red ribbons curled
down from the bow in the centre near the plant's berries, looking perfectly charming and
innocent. She bit her lower lip apprehensively. "Do I even want to know what the mistletoe
does?"
"They're charmed to make a loud screeching noise anytime Remus and I are alone
in a room together," Mia said in a huff. "I still haven't figured out how he's done it. Clearly
a mixture of a Caterwauling Charm and a Tracking Spell."
The first time the charm activated was in the middle of the night when Mia sneaked
into Remus's room to lend him a book to read before bed. She had not stepped more than
one foot over the threshold before the tiny Christmas decoration had begun screaming.
Sirius and James burst into the room, wands drawn and grinning, as Mia and Remus stood
ten feet apart, looks of absolute horror plastered on their faces.
"That's horrible," Lily said, even as she tried to stifle a laugh. "Really clever, but
horrible."
"Talking about me?" Sirius asked as he sauntered into the room wearing Muggle
jeans and a tight, white shirt that was stained with motor grease.
Lily smirked at him. "How did you know?"
"I heard 'really clever' and just naturally assumed."
Mia glared at him. "She also said horrible. As in, 'you are horrible for creating those
awful, screaming mistletoe.'"
She put her hands on her hips as she spoke, a tactic she used to use with Harry and
Ron when one or the other would misbehave. It always worked on them. They would feel
guilty and then go finish their homework and apologise; however, Sirius just laughed at the
action, completely unaffected by her narrowed gaze.
"All I heard was 'clever,' so I'm going to stick with that." He grinned and winked at
both girls. "You going to be around long, Evans?"
Lily nodded, looking like she was struggling to hide a frown. "Until we go back.
Having some family issues," she admitted quietly, an embarrassed flush creeping over her
cheeks.