the_debt_of_time

"Does the Order of the Phoenix have a spy in place? No, they don't, because the
only spies we had were defected Death Eaters. Snape, who only came back because of―"
"Lily. I know." Mia sighed. "I'll just―"
"And you won't be preventing Voldemort from returning, Mia," Hermione
interrupted. "Because he'll still be in power. If you plan on saving James and Lily, then
Harry wouldn't have defeated him. Voldemort would remain in power, and Death Eaters
would continue attacking. Harry's parents can't stay in hiding forever. And while
Voldemort searches for them, how many other people will die? Sirius? He wants to be an
Auror, you know. We've read the statistics on the history of the First Wizarding War.
You know how many Aurors died in the Death Eater attacks."
"Fifty-seven," Mia whispered, feeling sick. She wondered what she would vomit up
since she had not eaten anything since breakfast. Had she actually eaten?
"Maybe fifty-eight if Sirius ends up in the crossfire. Or he could just take a different
job. After all, it's not like he's already trying to sign up for the war, right?" Hermione said
sarcastically. "Perhaps go into hiding with Harry's parents. Sirius has, after all, proven to
be completely calm and cautious when forced to never leave a safehouse. Yes, let's lock him
up again for his own good. That will turn out well."
"You really are an insufferable know-it-all," Mia growled.
She hated it, but her other self was right. After knowing James, she was surprised
that he had been willing to go into hiding at all, assuming that it had everything to do with
protecting Lily and Harry. But to think that Sirius would go into hiding? That Sirius Black,
of all people, would stay out of the fight? It was ridiculous to think such a thing. The man
had gone out of his mind with boredom—likely also dealing with Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder—being trapped in Grimmauld Place before he fell through the veil. Mia could
not imagine a younger Sirius reacting much better to a similar situation.
"And what about Remus?" Hermione asked.
Mia felt her defences flare up again, and her stern gaze turned on the witch in front
of her.
"Will he survive? Your other friends here? Mary? Pandora? Maybe Luna will never
be born. What about the Weasleys? They've been like a family to you for so many years.
How many of them are you willing to risk? Are any of Ron's brothers worth sacrificing
because you can't face losing your own? Is changing everything worth the chance that