the_debt_of_time

After the meeting, the Order departed, leaving behind the current residents of
Grimmauld Place. Remus said goodnight to Dora—who left for a late shift at the
Ministry—before he watched Arthur and Molly retire to their temporary room.
The younger occupants had been ushered off to bed hours earlier, and Remus
himself was looking forward to a good night's rest, his body already aching from the
approaching full moon the upcoming week.
He passed the open door to the library but stopped in his tracks and turned around
to peek inside. There, on the sofa, was a quietly sleeping Hermione. Her wild mane of
honey-brown hair circled her head like a halo, her hands crossed over her chest, cradling a
book.
Sitting on the floor near her head was Sirius, staring at her while she slept. He very
gently brushed a lock of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
Remus frowned at the look of pain on his friend's face.
"Pads? Everything okay?" he whispered as he walked into the room.
Sirius did not even turn his head at the interruption. "I put up a Silencing Charm.
Didn't want to wake her. Do you see?" he asked with a small, sad smile. "No nightmares.
I know Mia's stopped when we got older, but seeing her at this age and not screaming in
her sleep―" He let out a shaky breath as though he were waiting for the ball to drop and
for the witch to start stirring.
Remus looked down at the girl and smiled. He could not deny that it was good to
see her sleeping soundly. He had far too many memories of watching Mia jerk awake,
screaming loudly with tears in her eyes. She woke up terrified far too often. He pushed
back the memories and looked down at Sirius, who turned away from Hermione for a
moment to rub at his eyes. "How've you been sleeping?"
"Same."
"Dementors?"
Sirius bowed his head. "If not that, then it's Azkaban in general or... Godric's
Hollow. Lately, it's my own mind putting together alternate versions of whatever happened
to Harry in that cemetery."
Remus put a hand on Sirius's shoulder. "He'll be okay, Sirius. They'll be okay."