the_debt_of_time

Wincing as the memory flooded straight to the forefront of his mind, Remus
groaned and walked across the cave to take a seat down beside his friend. "I'm sorry, Pads,
I... I forgot."
Sirius sighed miserably. "She's a teenage girl, and even though I don't see her like—
can't see her like I want to... she's still mine."
Remus nodded in full understanding. He had spent the entire previous year
watching Hermione grow, and it was hard to reconcile the two witches. Despite his very
intimate history with Mia, he never saw Hermione in that way, so he understood exactly how
Sirius felt.
"She might not know about the Soul Bond, but I do, and it's my job to make sure
she's safe and happy. Right now she's not safe, and Harry's not safe, and I can't do a thing
about it. I have to just sit and pretend like I don't know who or what she is. You have no
idea how that feels."
"You'd be surprised," Remus muttered and ran a hand through his hair, hesitating
for a moment before deciding to confess. "I uh... I found my mate."
Sirius's eyes widened, evidently pulled out of his depression. "I'm sorry, you what?
When? Who is it?" he asked excitedly.
Remus shook his head. "I really can't say. Let's just go with the fact that she's
younger than me, and I've had to do exactly what you're doing. Watch her grow up and
wait, all the while hoping that she doesn't accidentally get herself killed."
"Killed? What, is your mate a Dragon Tamer?"
"No, but she apparently dated one," Remus bitterly replied, recalling a recent
conversation with Nymphadora where she told him about her short-lived relationship with
Charlie Weasley while the two were still at Hogwarts.
"Oh, now who's pouting?" Sirius said mockingly.
"Fine." Remus huffed. "Aren't we a pair of sad sods."
"Your girl dated a Dragon Tamer and mine's dating a famous professional
Quidditch player." Sirius sighed and leant back against the cold stone wall of the cave. "And
one day if we're very, very lucky, they'll both settle for a werewolf and a felon."
Remus did not want to tell Sirius that he was already making small strides with his
mate. He did not want to jinx himself by hoping his friendship with Nymphadora was more