the_debt_of_time

Harry shook his head. "Sirius gave me the talk years ago. I really don't want to have
another one."
James looked relieved and turned his attention back to Hermione, who had stopped
smiling again.
"Mia, you made a choice, and you chose right. It's all about choices, isn't it? You
and Sirius fought each other for so long because you thought you didn't have a choice, but
you did. And you chose one another. This wasn't fate. We all made choices in the war. I
chose my fate the moment I joined the Order. We all did."
She looked down. "How can you ever—?"
"There's nothing to forgive," he said, cutting her off. "You kept your promise, Mia.
You were there for Harry, and I couldn't have asked for more. Actually, I do have a lot
more to ask. I want you to move on. I want Remus to stop feeling sorry for himself." He
turned and eyed Harry with a stern glare. "Same goes for you, son," he insisted before
looking back at Hermione. "I want you and Sirius to be happy. To let go of all that anger.
I want you to learn to forgive Dumbledore, Snape... and Peter."
Hermione scowled bitterly at the request. Harry could understand where she was
coming from, but the look on his father's face brokered no argument. Harry thought of
Pettigrew himself and wondered if he had already forgiven the man. He knew he pitied
him, especially in death.
"Do it," James insisted. "The war is over. Put us all to rest."
"I miss you, Jamie," Hermione said as she stood up.
"I've missed you too, Mia. Don't tell Sirius, but you were always my best friend,"
James said and then glanced down at her hand, noticing the ring. "I see the prat finally gave
you Grandmother Black's ring. Did he say that it was his idea? Because he's a fucking liar.
It took me hours to find that thing."
Hermione laughed. "So I've got your blessing?"
James shrugged, smirking as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his robes.
"Well, I personally think you can do much better than that prat. You know he's old enough
to be your father now, right?"
She rolled her eyes. "Very funny."
"Was he at least romantic? He couldn't top my proposal, of course. Christmas lights
and a well-rehearsed speech."