the_debt_of_time

of course, but then again, he still bought her books—at least books she did not already
own. Sirius had always been different, though. He gave her things that meant something
to her, like the mismatched earrings from several Christmases ago, or even the Potter family
bracelet an older Sirius had given her for her nineteenth birthday. Sirius never fell back on
the easy gifts.
"I bought a very large box of Honeydukes chocolates," he announced.
Mia furrowed her brows in slight disappointment. She had not been expecting a gift
at all. It was not a holiday, and she had only joked about wanting something. "Seriously?
Appalling and cliché, and you still bought it?"
"Yes, and then I gave them to Moony because he looks like shit today," Sirius
replied with a smile.
Mia let out a soft laugh and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly.
Merlin, she loved this man.
"Despite the insult to his appearance," she commented thoughtfully, "taking care
of the people I love is the best gift you could ever give me."
"Because your name on his chest isn't enough?" James asked from behind Sirius,
his tone less than pleasant.
"Don't be a hypocrite, Jamie." Mia smirked without even looking at her brother as
she let Sirius kiss her again and again and again.
Eventually, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly from the Head Table,
causing Sirius to smile up at the Deputy Headmistress and slowly pull away from Mia.
"So, why are you two in such good moods this morning?" James asked, watching
with great interest as Lily continued to suck on her Sugar Quills, his cheeks colouring.
"We found out that Frank proposed to Alice," Lily announced quietly.
"What?" James shouted, the colour rapidly draining from his face.
"Oh, Merlin.. ." Sirius groaned and leant his head on the table.
Both witches immediately rolled their eyes.
"Circe, you two are just as dramatic as Mary," Mia said with a laugh. "Don't worry;
he hasn't set a precedent for the rest of Hogwarts, so ease back into your semi-comfortable,
non-ball-and-chain-attached lives."