the_debt_of_time

"Mia?"
She spun on her heels and rushed over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist
tightly, the contents of the bottle sloshing around. "Remus? Remus, wait.. ." She pulled
away from him and looked up with heavy-lidded eyes. "Which one are you?" she asked,
and he could see her trying to focus her gaze.
"Younger," he answered, already knowing what her issue was. He was glad that
something like this had not happened years ago before Dumbledore set the Truth Spell on
her. Considering the future of the war hung on the facts inside of her head, firewhisky was
a poor decision for the witch who apparently had a very loose tongue when well-plied with
liquor. "You having dreams of somewhere else, love?"
"Somewhere... somewhen." She nodded and then reached up, running her fingers
through his fringe. "I miss your grey hair. You were so handsome."
"Am I so hideous now?" Remus teased affectionately.
"I love that smile." She touched his lips in an investigative manner. "You should
always smile Remus... Even when... Even after... J-J-Ja―" Unlike when she tried to
force the words out, now she was just trying to stop herself from stammering on and
getting caught in the loop.
He pulled her back to his chest when he noticed tears forming in her eyes. "It's
okay, Mia. You don't have to say anything."
She cried against him. "I'm supposed to be strong. Remus, I can't be strong. I'm not
brave enough. I don't know what's going to happen. Am I going to die after it happens?
After everything's gone and everyone I l-l-love―"
"Stop talking."
He could see how this would scare the hell out of Sirius, who had no idea that the
love of his life was a girl that would not even be born until later that year. "I don't know
everything you know, and Merlin, I wish you didn't know it either. I wish I could take it
away. I don't want to get old and send you back here. I don't want you to hurt anymore.
I'd do anything to prevent whatever it is you're going through."
She pulled away from him instantly and looked up at him with wide, amber eyes.
"You have to, though. You promised me," she said in a panic-laced voice.
"I know."