the_debt_of_time

Remus nodded as he joined her by the railing, leaning his forearms against the metal. "I know
what you mean. I've been doubting myself for years over everything I once believed. For twelve years, I
thought Sirius was responsible for James and Lily's deaths, and now a man I trusted, because Albus
Dumbledore asked me to, is a... I don't even know if we can call him a traitor. I have to wonder if he
was ever loyal to our cause."
"Was he always this bad?" Hermione asked him. "You went to school with him."
"Went to school with a lot of Death Eaters," he said, letting a frustrated scowl pass his generally
stoic face. "Of course, we didn't exactly know it at the time."
"Were you ever suspicious?" she asked, taking note of the fact that he avoided looking her in the
eye when he nodded his head, looking ashamed.
"Some of us were."
"I'm sorry." Hermione sighed. "I know it must be painful to talk about the past. What with
losing―"
"Everyone?"
Hermione's heart broke for the man who had indeed lost nearly everyone he ever loved. She did not
know much about his family, but considering the state he always looked to be in, it did not appear he had
any left. If he did, they were not very good at taking care of him. The only family he would have likely
claimed for his own had been ripped away from him one by one by Voldemort and Death Eaters: Harry's
parents, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius, and now Professor Dumbledore.
"What's going to happen now?" she asked, trying to change the subject from past to present.
"There's the funeral I suppose." He shrugged his shoulders. "And then the Order needs to find a
new headquarters because Grimmauld Place has been―"
"I'm sorry, Remus," Hermione interrupted him. "I actually meant... what's going to happen
with you? I know Profe—Snape was the one who brewed your Wolfsbane Potion. Is there another Potions
Master who could help?"
Despite the severe topic at hand, he turned and smiled at her. For some reason, it made her feel
guilty, like she was not living up to some strange expectation or that he knew something she was supposed
to understand without being told.
"No, unfortunately not," he answered. "Perhaps you could give it a try."
"Me? You put too much faith in me, Remus," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not anywhere near
talented enough to brew such an advanced potion. I'd be terrified of hurting you."