the_debt_of_time

"Whoa!" Sirius stepped forward defensively in front of Peter, something that made
her blood run cold. "Mia, Pete didn't mean anything by it. Right?"
"R-Right," Peter mumbled nervously.
"See?" Sirius slowly approached her with calm grey eyes, reaching up and helping
her lower her wand. "It's all right, love. We're just shocked. Remus is our friend, too. How
long have you known about him?"
Mia frowned, letting her anger dissipate and be lulled away by Sirius's gaze. "Since
first year. I read about it, saw the signs, went to Dumbledore and asked permission to help
him recover each month. He can't be around humans when he changes because the wolf
takes over, but I'm there before and after, to help with the pain and to heal his wounds."
"What happened to him?" James asked, concerned.
"He's basically locked up when he transforms," she explained as she moved, walking
over and pulling out clean sheets from the cupboard by the bed. She pulled the top sheet
off of Remus, keeping the one below to preserve his dignity. After tossing aside the blood-
stained sheet, she draped a soft clean one over his sleeping frame. "Since he's alone, he
lashes out and attacks himself in frustration."
"He told me he got those scars from camping trips with his dad," Sirius remarked.
"Said he fell off a mountain last summer."
She turned and eyed the boys. "You can't tell anyone."
"Of course not," James agreed.
"No, I mean it." Mia grew serious. She trusted James and Sirius, of course, but Peter
was still there, and it was taking every last inch of humanity inside of her not to curse him.
"I want... I need you all to take a Wizard's Oath."
"Whoa." Sirius's eyes went wide. "Mia, you can't just take our words for this?"
"No. I'm sorry, not with his reaction." Mia's eyes turned to Peter, and she narrowed
them into slits. "Remus trusts me to take care of him and to keep his secret. I know you all
love Remus, but I can't risk anything happening to him. If people found out that he was
here, they'd take him away."
"Done." Without needing her to say another word, James held up his wand. "I,
James Charlus Potter, swear upon my wand and magic as a wizard never to reveal to anyone
that Remus Lupin is a werewolf without his permission."
The wand glowed red for a moment before returning to normal, sealing the oath.