the_debt_of_time

"Maybe another time." Hermione smiled at Sirius. "I'm sure Fred and George would
be willing to go on a tour of the place. They've been talking our ears off about the pair of
you."
"Us? Why?" Remus asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You're apparently their idols. Marauder's Map and all."
"GINNY! HERMIONE!" Molly yelled again.
Sirius had briefly let go of the curtains in front of the portrait which, at Molly's
volume, sprung open revealing the enraged image of his mother.
"Filth! Disgusting creatures, blood-traitors, and Mudbloods tainting the house of my father!"
Sirius jumped back as quickly as possible and shut the curtains, silencing the old
witch. He turned and looked at Hermione, feeling guilty and mortified. "I am so sorry
about that. It's my mother's portrait. We can't seem to get it down from the wall."
The shouting from the painting and the specific words used had clearly upset
Hermione, who was clutching her hand to her chest as she caught her breath. Mia had
perfected the ability to rein in her emotions, not wanting to ever appear weak, but
Hermione had yet to be able to completely hide away the pain that the slur caused.
"It's... fine," she lied. "Not your fault."
Sirius and Remus stood awkwardly in the hallway, both clearly struggling with the
need to comfort her, but neither in a position to do so due to the fact that Hermione was
not Mia yet. She was just a fifteen-year-old girl, the best friend of their best friend's son.
Almost as if the thought occurred to the men at the same time, they grimaced and
took a step back from her.
It was at that moment that Ginny came barrelling down the stairs, rushing past
Remus and Sirius, whom she silently greeted with a polite smile before snatching
Hermione's hand and pulling her toward the door. "Come on, Hermione, before Mum
starts screaming again."
The moment Hermione vanished down the stairs, Sirius leant against the wall
behind him and dropped to the floor in defeat.
Remus leant his forehead against the nearby door frame. "That could have gone
better."
"Is that right? Professor?" Sirius said sarcastically, grinning when Remus groaned.
"How the hell did you get through an entire year of that?"