the_debt_of_time

"Rivalled only by the need to protect one's pack." Remus frowned and turned from
her, leaning against the rail to her side as he stared out at the open black sky, watching the
approaching waxing moon with interest.
"Do you have a pack?" Hermione asked.
He closed his eyes thinking of their faces: James, Lily, Sirius... Mia. He bowed his
head sadly. "I did. Once."
"And you lost them." Hermione sighed in understanding. "Is that why you tried to
push Tonks away? Because you're afraid of losing someone else?"
His nose twitched. "For someone so against Divination, you have quite the skill for
it."
"No, I just have eyes," she teased. "I know my opinion doesn't matter."
He laughed quietly, remembering his promise to himself earlier. Her words meant
more than anything to him. "You'd be surprised, Hermione. You... You're a friend, and
your opinion matters a great deal to me."
"I think you should be with your mate," Hermione said, blushing softly and looking
as though it had taken her a great deal of courage to tell him what she thought. "Professor
McGonagall is right: Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think there
was a little more love in the world. How long have you known that Tonks is—?"
"Much longer than I feel appropriate to say aloud." Remus groaned at the memory
of being locked in Sirius and Mia's bedroom while a five-year-old Dora pilfered his
chocolate supply in the kitchen.
He turned to look at Hermione, and his attention fell on a large wound on her arm.
His brows furrowed at the familiar triangular mark.
I've been here, he thought to himself as he stared at the small wound.
"Hermione, are you all right? Let me see your arm."
"It's nothing," Hermione insisted, tucking her arm in close to her. "Stray hex. Had
you not been there, I'm sure it would have been worse."
The Pensieve! The memories!
Remus did his best to hold back his anxiety and excitement. This was a memory
Mia had shown him. But if she had known this moment happened, she would have known
that Sirius had died, wouldn't she? Had Sirius's death not destroyed the future that Mia had
shown him?