the_debt_of_time

that brilliant smile of his and offering a handkerchief. And Remus, so afraid and yet so
willing to trust me. That's love. That's family."
Peter smiled and nodded in agreement. "Yeah."
"You're not a part of this family, Peter."
His eyes widened in shock. "W-What?"
Mia slowly stepped toward him, not the lion chasing down a gazelle in the brush,
but rather a serpent moving toward a rat in the bushes. She did not rush at him with balled
fists the way she had once done to Draco and repeatedly with Snape. She slithered. She was
the daughter of Dorea Potter, and it would not be her bite that would kill... but her
venom.
"You were given the chance, that's what I don't understand. Pureblood parents, and
only one of whom appeared to have an affinity for the Dark Arts. Yet you didn't care much
at first, did you? No. You were just selfish and greedy and eager to please so long as it kept
you in the good graces of those who could protect you."
With every step she took toward Peter, he instinctively stepped back as though the
room was closing in on him. "All throughout Hogwarts I watched as you lapped eagerly at
my brother's feet, basking in Sirius's shadow, and praising Remus's efforts to be your friend,
all while turning up your nose in disgust at the fact that he was a werewolf, or that Lily and
I are Mudbloods."
Peter flinched at the word. "I-I... Mia, I didn't.. ." He continued moving
backward until he hit the edge of the brick fireplace.
She reached up, brushing the hair that had fallen over his eyes, her hands soft,
almost affectionate as if she had not been looking at him like he was something she was so
eager to squish beneath her heel.
"Are you afraid now? Are you standing there, mentally going through the various
ways that I could genuinely harm you? Wondering if I might have slipped something into
your food or drink at any point recently?"
Peter's eyes widened.
"You know I could do it. I did it in school quite frequently. Are you wondering if
I'm going to hand you a Tele-Portkey? Wondering if maybe—just maybe—I really did finally
feed one to the squid? Can you swim, Peter?" The smallest hint of a dangerous grin tugged
at the corner of her mouth. "Can you swim out of the belly of the beast?"