the_debt_of_time

Hermione looked up at him. "Professor, I know this is more Hagrid's speciality, but
would you happen to know anything about kneazles?"
"Unfortunately, no." Remus shook his head. "Just that they're quite intelligent and
loyal creatures. Very independent, too. I'm told they can be interbred with common cats."
"I have one; it's my familiar. And he's causing another problem with Harry and...
well, it's mostly just Ron. My kneazle has apparently taken a dislike to Ron's pet rat. He's
curious, is all," she said defensively, wearing the same affectionate expression on her face
as Mia wore when her vicious cat would claw and bite anyone except her. "It's just that it's
started several fights, and if I can get Crookshanks to behave, maybe it'll make things
easier."
"Training a rat-seeking kneazle." Remus smirked. "I wish you all the luck,
Hermione."
"Thank you for the tea, Professor, and... and for listening."
"I am always here to listen if you need someone," he promised her. "And I know
he won't say it himself, so I'll thank you on Harry's behalf for looking out for his well-
being. You're a good person, Hermione. Don't forget that."
Hermione just shrugged her shoulders. "He's my best friend."
The words briefly stung, but Remus shoved the jealousy deep down, remembering
that Mia had once promised him that she considered Remus and Harry both her best
friends. He felt a little silly but mostly lonely. It had been many years since he enjoyed
anyone's friendship.
"Happy Christmas," he said to her in parting before closing the door behind her as
she left.
Remus turned around and let out a long sigh. A full moon in a few days, a crying
witch, Sirius Black on the loose, dementors surrounding the castle, and now he had to
worry about a potentially jinxed broom. He groaned as he made his way back to his desk
to look over the lesson plans for when classes were back in session. He reached across a
stack of parchments for a book on vampires when he noticed his copy of Lupine Lawlessness:
Why Lycanthropes Don't Deserve to Live was missing.
Standing up, he walked around the desk, wondering if the tome had fallen on the
floor while Hermione was looking through his collection. Curiously, he scanned the rest