the_debt_of_time

"One more word, Sirius Black, and I will march right out of these dungeons, and this prank is
over!"
"You keep your filthy paws off of me, Sirius Black!"
"I'm warning you, Sirius Black.. ."
"You are a good man, Sirius Black."
"You are good, Sirius Black. You are good, and kind, and brave and... Merlin, so brave."
"Don't you 'kitten' me, Sirius Black!"
"When I think about the past and the future, the first thing I always think is: I miss Sirius
Black."
"I love you, Sirius Black."
"Mia," Sirius whispered so softly he was not even sure sound had left his lips.
It was her. But how was it her? Missing—dead; they had told him that she was dead.
He had not believed it, but... Mia... his Mia—but too young. Far too young. She had to
be fourteen or fifteen. Not his Mia. Remus's Mia? Her eyes were brown, not amber. But
there was something wrong with her hair and her teeth, and the way she was looking at
him... she was afraid.
Someone in the room shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
"Where is he, Sirius?"
Was someone calling him? Sirius's eyes never left her face, her perfectly terrified face.
Why was she afraid of him? Didn't she know he could never hurt her? The Soul Bond
would not allow it even if he tried. Why couldn't he feel her through the bond? Something
was wrong with it. It was still there, he could feel it, but she was... she wasn't there. Why
wasn't she at the other end of it?
"Sirius!"
For a few seconds, he did not move at all. Then, very slowly, he looked up into the
eyes of Remus. Confused, he stared at his old friend helplessly.
"Sirius, where is he?" Remus asked again.
Sirius raised his empty, shaking hand and pointed straight at Ron.
"But then.. ." Remus muttered, staring at him so intently it looked as though he
were trying to read his mind. "Why hasn't he shown himself before now?"
"Moony, I.. ."