the_debt_of_time

"And you lost them." Hermione sighed in understanding. "Is that why you tried to push Tonks
away? Because you're afraid of losing someone else?"
"For someone so against Divination, you have quite the skill for it."
Hermione blushed at the way he looked at her. As if he were trying to share with her some inside
joke to which she had not been made privy. "No, I just have eyes," she teased him. "I know my opinion
doesn't matter."
"You'd be surprised, Hermione." The genuine look in his eyes caught her off guard. "You're a
friend." Hermione smiled at the word, grateful that a man she respected so much no longer thought of her
as a swotty little know-it-all child. "And your opinion matters a great deal to me."
"I... well.. ." She blushed again, her face heating up at his words of praise and familiarity. "I
think you should be with your mate. Professor McGonagall is right; Dumbledore would have been happier
than anybody to think there was a little more love in the world. How long have you known that Tonks
is—?"
"Longer than I feel appropriate to mention aloud." Remus groaned in embarrassment, his eyes
turning away from her face to fall on a large wound on her arm. His brows furrowed in what looked like
recognition. "Hermione, are you all right? Let me see your arm."
"It's nothing," Hermione insisted. "Stray hex. Had you not been there, I'm sure it would have
been worse."
"Did this happen in the battle? Why wasn't it treated?"
"I cleaned it myself," she replied. "It'll heal naturally."
He gestured to the door. "Madam Pomfrey should have some Dittany back in the infirmary."
"No. I... I need it to scar." She pulled her arm away from him, nervously picking at the healing
wound. "I need to remember. I need to always be able to look down and remember Professor Dumbledore,
and... and Snape. I need to remember to always be on guard. Remember that not everyone can be trusted.
Remember that Hogwarts isn't always safe."
His gaze was intense, and she could not help but feel like he was pitying her, something that made
her grimace in response.
"I should head back to the hospital wing. I want to check on Bill and make sure he recovers well."
Hermione smiled. "He's lucky to have you there for him. Maybe you could rebuild your pack.
Tonks and Bill."
"Maybe." Remus nodded slowly, a sad smile crossing his features. "In the meantime, there's a war
to fight."