the_debt_of_time

"Of course," she responded immediately. "But couldn't we write to the Ministry?
All of your students want you to stay. Fine, maybe not the Slytherins, but they have biased
opinions."
"Unfortunately, I believe it will do little good." Remus frowned at the way her eyes
filled with tears. He had always hated it when Mia cried; it was so very rare that, when she
did, it usually meant something truly terrible had happened. Hermione, on the other hand,
appeared to weep quite often, which only endeared the girl to him more. "Your kindness,
as always, astounds me."
"Where will you go?"
"Home. Perhaps I'll travel. It does get quite lonely, though. If I'm lucky, perhaps I'll
get myself a pet. I've always been a fan of dogs."
Hermione smiled sadly. "I hear there might be a big, black stray out there
somewhere."
Remus grinned at her. "If I track him down, I'll do my best to look after him. You
do the same with Harry. Oh." He turned around, reaching for the small box of books.
"These are for you."
Her eyes widened with glee at the sight. "Really?" She took the box gratefully. "But
I thought... I mean I couldn't―"
"You're still borrowing them," Remus clarified. "And when you're done, you'll send
them back, and I'll give you something new to read. I may no longer be your professor but,
considering Dumbledore previously hired Gilderoy Lockhart to teach you, I'd be remiss in
my duties as a friend to leave your education in the hands of those less qualified. Plus, you
can keep me informed on Harry. I imagine you'll be much better at writing letters than a
Quidditch-obsessed teenage boy. But I do care to know that he's well. I care to know that
you are well, also."
She nodded, still frowning. "Can I help carry some of your things to the gates?"
"No need," he said, waving his wand and shrinking all of his belongings into one
large trunk. "I'm not vanishing quite yet. Professor Dumbledore has been keeping some
things of mine for me, and I need to retrieve them before I depart."
"I suppose this is goodbye," Hermione acknowledged.
Remus shook his head and smiled. "'Never say goodbye because goodbye means
going away, and going away means forgetting.'"