the_debt_of_time

She knew better than to bring it up on the days leading up to the full moon. Remus
was downright volatile. More than once, she saw him stare at her in a predator-stalking-
his-prey way that both terrified and excited her.
Eventually, James intervened.
"Yes, Mia, we've talked to Remus about his condition. It's... complicated. Can you just, I don't
know, pretend you don't know that he's a werewolf?"
"What?" Mia asked, shocked by the request. "How could I just...? Why?"
Her brother sighed. "It's personal. Look, you know you're one of his best friends, but you're a girl.
And... he can't handle you as his caretaker anymore."
"There you are!" Mia shouted, pulled from her heavy thoughts as she watched
Remus help Sirius through the portrait hole.
It was late, and she had heard that most of the boys were staying the night in the
infirmary. All the other Gryffindors had gone to bed, but Mia had waited up, hoping for
news about what had happened.
"Hey, kitten." Sirius winced as Remus dropped him on the sofa.
"I've got some Pain Relief Potion in my trunk upstairs if you want it," Remus
offered.
Sirius shook his head.
Mia frowned and sat down next to him on the couch to look at his face. "Sirius,
what happened?" Without answering her, Sirius tilted forward and slowly lowered his head
to her lap. "No, no. You need to get fixed up. Didn't you go to the hospital wing with the
others?"
"He refused to let Madam Pomfrey touch him," Remus said irritably. "We stuck
around to make sure James and Pete were fine, and then I was told to get him back to the
tower before he bled all over the infirmary."
"Mia can heal me," Sirius mumbled, closing his eyes and wrapping an arm around
her waist.
Mia turned to look at Remus, who watched the scene with a sad smile, as though
he were remembering how good it felt when it was him that she took care of and healed.
When he noticed her staring at him, Mia could see him put his barriers back up.
"I'm going to bed," he said. "You need help up the stairs, Sirius?"
Sirius shook his head. "Good, here."