the_debt_of_time

charming their trousers and dresses all black. Only Sirius looked out of place; one glimpse
of the man in formal attire and Lily actually laughed for the first time since she had received
word of her parents' deaths. She immediately pleaded with him to put his jeans and leather
jacket back on.
They all arrived at the Apparition point in Cokeworth and made their way to the
small cemetery where Petunia had instructed Lily to be. There were no speeches or stories,
few flowers, and even fewer people in attendance. Just a simple minister who said a short
prayer over the double plot, and then it was all done and over with.
"I'm going to go and say hello to my sister." Lily smiled sadly at her friends who
nodded, agreeing to wait to see what the plans would be for the Evans sisters before making
any of their own to return to Hogwarts.
As she walked away, Mia narrowed her gaze at Vernon and Petunia Dursley and
muttered, "Ears up, gents," to Sirius, James, Peter, and Remus.
Lily approached Petunia, who was just as red-eyed as her younger sister, though she
wore a much harder expression on her face, even when Lily wrapped her arms around her
and pulled her tightly into a hug.
"Thank you for taking care of everything. I know Mum and Dad had money saved
up just in case, but I'm aware arranging this came at a personal financial loss to you both.
Once I'm out of school, I plan on paying you back for what would have been my share."
Vernon snorted at the sentiment as though it were an outright lie.
Hearing the noise, Sirius scoffed and stepped forward, only to be held back by both
James and Remus, and hushed by Mia when he opened his mouth to protest.
"It's fine, Lily," Petunia responded shortly. "There's no need."
"We can talk about it another time," Lily said, pushing the subject aside. "I was
thinking maybe we could go back to the house and sit and visit awhile. My headmaster gave
me the entire day off of classes, and it feels like it's been forever since we've spoken."
"We are going home," Vernon insisted.
"You can't go to Mum and Dad's instead?" Lily asked, clearly trying to reason with
the stubborn and miserable man.
"We can't go there because, well.. ." Petunia hesitated. "The house no longer
belongs to us. At least, not entirely."