the_debt_of_time

Oh, he'll get Chocolate Frogs that Ron will eat, an eagle-feather quill he'll barely use, a homework
planner he'll secretly hate, a birthday cake that will feed him when Lily's sister won't, a Broomstick
Servicing Kit, a Sneakoscope—Oh, and assistance in destroying the darkest wizard in Wizarding history.
"Love. Friendship," she said aloud with a smile. "Maybe a little wisdom if he's
patient enough to listen to me." She left a pregnant pause in the conversation before she
summed up the courage to whisper, "I... I'll take care of him, you know?"
James yawned. "My hypothetical kid?"
She nodded, squeezing her brother's hand tighter. "I just want you to know that.
When you and Lily do start a family, you should know that I'll always take care of him. I will
make sure that he's happy and healthy and.. ." Her words stuck in her throat, pent up
behind the dam of emotions.
"Should I promise to do the same for your future hypothetical kids with Sirius?"
James asked with a raised brow.
Mia laughed loudly in response, looking over at the large armchair where Sirius was
lightly snoring. Remus, still awake, kept his eyes closed, but she could see his chest shake
with silent laughter. "Oh, Merlin, don't even talk like that! Could you imagine me and Sirius
having―"
"Puppies?" James snickered.
She lightly hit him on the back of the head. "You're awful. And they'd be half mine
so they could equally be kits."
"Is that what little foxes are called?" James inquired. "What about deer?"
"Fawns," Mia answered.
James frowned, unimpressed. "That sounds stupid. I guess we're all just going to
have human children," he conceded aloud with a sigh, as though a human child was the
most horrible thing in the world.
"How utterly ordinary of us."
"We're very boring."
"Jamie.. ." Mia hesitated. "What if the war never ends? What if we lose?"
"We can't." The mirth all gone from his voice as he spoke. James looked ever the
confident leader, fighter. He looked like Harry on the battlefield. "It's too important.
It has to end, and we have to win, there's no wiggle room for doubt, Mia. I'll... I will
do anything to win this war."