the_debt_of_time

"There's still plenty of time. Is it odd that I'm nervous?" she asked, but Charlus
never had the chance to answer as a woman with a pet vulture perched on her shoulder
shuffled her way into the next seat, distracting them.
Charlus stared at the bird in horror, but Mia cleared her throat and smiled politely.
"Lady Longbottom."
The witch nodded in greeting, narrowing her eyes as she observed Mia. "Potters,
right. I never got to say my condolences last year." Her gaze turned to Charlus. "Your wife
was formidable and much more pleasant than her relatives."
Charlus smirked. "Of that, we can certainly agree."
Augusta Longbottom then complained for a full ten minutes about the unpleasant
couple to her right—the Pettigrews—who she was adamantly avoiding, as well as the
couple in front of her—the Browns—who were eagerly trying to get her involved in the
wedding plans for Alice and Frank.
"Our oldest boy Robert just got married last year." Mrs Brown smiled as she turned
to face Augusta and Charlus, gesturing to the brown-haired wizard sitting next to her and
the blond witch attached to his arm. The girl was giggling and calling her young husband,
"Wobbie," in a high-pitched squeal.
Both Charlus and Augusta looked horrified by the display, though the former was
stifling a laugh. Mia, having horrid flashbacks to her original sixth year, took that as her cue
to leave, brushed a kiss against her father's cheek and made her way toward her friends.
"Merlin." Mary groaned, looking over Mia's shoulder as she approached. "I'm pretty
sure my mother just hit on Pandora's father."
Mia turned back to see Mary's mother, Begonia Macdonald, eyeing a passing wizard.
The man swallowed nervously and walked away just as quickly as he had arrived, leaving
Begonia laughing with amusement.
"Oh, that's lovely," Pandora said with a smile, her blue and bronze robes parted to
reveal the clashing bright orange dress beneath them. "My father's quite nervous around
witches; I'm sure he appreciated being complimented by her flirting."
"He didn't come," Remus muttered as he scanned the crowd. Mia followed his gaze,
spotting an empty reserved chair reading LUPIN on it. She frowned and pulled her best
friend into a tight hug, quickly followed up by Lily, Sirius, and James. Eventually, all the
Gryffindors were clinging to one another, laughing.