the_debt_of_time

imagine what he would do to a man like Vernon Dursley, who he would have no desire to
apologise to after hitting him.
Before anyone took to violence, however, Remus stepped between James and
Vernon—much to the displeasure of both men, who were apparently trying to one-up the
other merely by height. James had Vernon on that angle, though anyone would be lying if
they denied that Vernon had James beat when it came to width.
"Everyone calm down," Remus ordered quietly, putting a gentle hand on James's
shoulder.
"I don't take orders from riff-raff like you!" Vernon spat toward Remus, his face
beginning to turn a shade of purple. His look of disgust only increased when he got a good
up close look at the scars on Remus's face.
"Mate," Remus said looking directly at Vernon, "I am your best friend right now
because I am currently keeping my friends over there from coming over here and
introducing themselves."
He gestured to the group of witches and wizards who were all glaring at the man
from where they stood, but none likely looked more menacing than Mia and Sirius. Even
hanging over her boyfriend's shoulder, Mia felt like she was a hair's breadth away from
shifting into Animagus form and mauling the Muggle.
"Upsetting Lily has not won either of you any good marks," Remus added, glancing
to Petunia who briefly looked ashamed of herself as she hid behind her husband. "One
more step out of line, and I can promise, it'll win you a trip to the hospital."
Vernon sputtered up at Remus. "Are you threatening me?"
"Yes," Remus answered tersely.
"Moony's got this," Sirius said with a chuckle, letting Mia slide off of his shoulder,
catching her with one arm before she fell to the ground.
Mia wondered if Remus's eyes had turned gold. She figured they must have to have
caused Vernon to stumble over his next words, because he hesitated and took a step back.
Though still aggressively ignorant about the Wizarding world that his sister-in-law had
exposed him to unwillingly, he still apparently retained an iota of self-preservation; if he
pressed the issue with Remus, he would deeply regret it.
"Where are my things?" Lily whispered through stifled sobs, her temper finally
having calmed down only to give way to misery and grief once more.