the_debt_of_time

"You keep to the back and sides," Sirius instructed. "Moony recognises Prongs, but
to Greyback, you're nothing but prey."
James, looking indignant, nodded anyway, and turned from them both to shift. His
arms fell forward moulding into long legs that had him hit the ground with hooves. He
gave a shake of his messy hair, and his head formed into the face of the noble stag, antlers
branching outward, large and sharp.
Mia chuckled at the sight. Prey indeed.
Sirius took a deep breath and leapt forward, shifting mid-air and landing on the
ground with big black paws. Padfoot's eyes turned to look back at her, and he pressed his
muzzle into her open hand, a silent gesture of comfort.
Mia inhaled sharply, trying to control her emotions. Was it really just a few hours
ago that she had been so angry with him?
She closed her eyes and slipped to the ground in a movement that still felt like water
pulling her down. Her eyes opened, and her pointed ears twitched as she listened up ahead.
The screams had stopped, but she could hear noises. A look to Padfoot next to her, and
Mia knew he heard it too.
Whimpering.
Stealthily, she and Padfoot followed straight ahead toward the noises, while Prongs
stopped and lingered several yards to the side. She looked at her surroundings as she moved
through the brush and felt a sharp, painful memory resurface.
This is where it happened the first time.
She knew that collection of trees just to the right, and as she checked behind her
for a moment, she could see the pathway perfectly, as though she were looking back
through her human eyes, but not just Mia's eyes. Hermione Granger's eyes.
Running through the forest with Harry's hand clenched tightly in hers, a recently
spun Time-Turner around her neck, and a werewolf on their heels. Remus transformed.
Those trees, that path, it was all the same, and Mia could almost see Buckbeak in the
distance waiting for them. If she looked far enough ahead with her vulpine eyes, she was
certain she could see the lake bank where Harry fought dementors. She could hear Moony
howling in the distant memory, echoing in her mind as she ran, following Padfoot, and the
scents and sounds that drew them both continually forward.