the_debt_of_time

"Albus!" Remus snarled. "Professor," he corrected. "Did you know?"
"I'm afraid I know many things, Remus, you may have to jog an old wizard's
memory if you're hoping to find something specific."
"Mia! Did you know she'd be here?" He sighed when Dumbledore just stared back
at him. "Of course you did. My... Mia Potter. Only not... Her real name is—Merlin, it's
been fourteen years." He groaned and took a seat opposite the older wizard, running both
hands through his shaggy hair.
"Hermione," Dumbledore said with a smile. "Her name is Hermione Granger."
Remus turned and glared up at the man. "I know her name."
"A Muggle-born witch," Dumbledore continued as though he had not been
interrupted at all. "Very bright for her age, but then again, that has never really surprised
me. She's taken on quite the workload this year. I hope you'll be kind to not push her too
much in class. It's my understanding that the Ministry has approved Minerva's request for
Hermione to borrow her personal Time-Turner in order to accommodate her schedule."
Remus's eyes widened, and he looked up at Dumbledore as the memory of a silver-
encased hourglass with blue sand came into the forefront of his mind. "A Time-Turner?
Merlin, and my class... I'm her professor. I can't do this, Albus. I'm sorry, but I can't be at
Hogwarts. I can't be her teacher."
"On the contrary, I believe no one is more fitting for the job."
"Sir! I can't be her professor! You know what she was—what she is to me!" He
frowned as a deep pain settled in his chest. "That girl was my absolute everything: My best
friend, my first love, my... my heart and... And now I'm—I'm thirty-three, and she's got
to be... thirteen." He leant forward, lowering his head between his knees. "Oh, I think
I'm going to be sick."
"You already don't look so well, I'd say," Dumbledore commented. "I know the full
moon is tomorrow. I apologise that this news has come at a terrible time."
"I need to leave," Remus moaned, still not moving.
Dumbledore took a moment to reach for a sweet sitting in a bowl on his desk,
throwing the sugary treat into his mouth before speaking again. "Dementors boarded the
Hogwarts Express, Remus. Should I begin to wonder what might have happened to the
students had you not been there to rescue them? To rescue Hermione?"