the_debt_of_time

of apology to the Marauders and Lily, all of whom finally lowered their wands at the sight
of the retreating Aurors.
"Evans, what happened?" Sirius finally asked. "Is it true? About Remus's mum?"
Lily nodded sadly, wiping an escaped tear from her cheek. "His father told him. He
also outed him as a werewolf to the Aurors, saying they weren't to let Remus see his
mother."
"Thank you, Kingsley." James extended a hand to the man, showing no feelings of
resentment over a situation that had been handled poorly by all parties. Sirius wished that
he felt the same, but some of the Aurors were still looking a touch cagey. "I'd apologise for
our reaction, but as you said.. ."
"I heard what the boy's father said," Kingsley said quietly. "Werewolf or not, I can't
imagine anyone reacting differently than he did. It's a bad time, I know, but you're all very
quick on the draw. When you've finished your N.E.W.T.s, come and see me at the Ministry
if you're interested in a job. As you can see, the Auror department is in need of new blood."
Sirius glared angrily. "Unprejudiced blood, you mean."
"That's exactly what I mean."
"Do you know what happened to our friend's mother?" Peter asked.
"I suppose he should know." Kingsley said, his voice low and full of foreboding.
"While we were being attacked on the ground floor by those Death Eaters, we weren't
aware that more had broken in earlier and slipped by us without their masks. The second
we were distracted by the attacks down here, someone upstairs threw a Blasting Hex and
devastated the entire ward where the Muggles were being held. Only two survived, and
they're not looking to last the week."
Sirius shared a look with the others as his heart dropped into his stomach. First
Dorea and now Remus's mum too? "I'll go check on them."
Slowly, he approached the room, noticing that while Mia had thrown up security
wards that he could feel, she had left the door open. Remus was stiff, hands clenched into
fists at his side. Mia's hands cupped his cheeks again, willing the wolf to retreat.
"Come back to me, love," Sirius heard Mia whisper.
Remus collapsed to the ground, bringing her with him, hands over his face and
leaning into her embrace as he wept.