the_debt_of_time

"It's okay, love." Remus wondered what on earth could have happened on the
bloody Hogwarts Express that not only had something to do with impacting the future,
but also angered her to such an extreme level. "Skip that part. Go back to Harry."
She took several slow, deep breaths and reached for the bottle of firewhisky. Before
she could bring it to her lips, Remus snatched it from her hands and launched it across the
room. The glass shattered, and the noise echoed off of the walls. Mia momentarily pouted
and then sighed, leaning back against him.
"He flew his broom... but wasn't supposed to. Malfoy was picking on Neville."
"Alice and Frank's boy?"
"Yeah. Harry stood up for him. Brilliant."
He grinned. "And what, may I ask, were you doing?"
"Lecturing Harry to stay on the ground, of course. Always lecturing him. Them
both." She yawned, rubbing her face against his chest. Likely to scratch her nose. He knew
that her nose always turned red and itched when she cried. "The whole lot of them.
Nothing but trouble. Sirius, too. Bloody reckless."
"What about me?" Remus asked. "Tell me more about me."
"So smart and brave. You t-t-taught... n-not to be a-f-fraid."
"Okay, it's okay," he assured her immediately before she burst into tears again. "You
don't have to be afraid. I'm here. I'll always be here."
She let out a long sigh and yawned. "Mmm tired, Remus."
He slowly stood and pulled her into his arms, placing one hand behind her knees
and lifting her up. Her arms fell over his shoulders, and her head tucked beneath his chin
like a child's. Remus smiled fondly at how innocent she looked when just minutes ago she
was a raving mess.
"Come on then, love. I'll take you to bed."
"Sirius better not hear that," she mumbled.
"Very funny." He rolled his eyes and nudged open the door to the flat, carrying her
inside. "I'm taking you to Sirius's bed."
"Careful, he sleeps naked sometimes."
Remus grimaced as he walked down the long hallway, noting that Sirius had left the
bedroom door open. "I'm aware," he said before poking his head inside the room.