the_debt_of_time

Tonks laughed, and the sound cheered him. Grimmauld Place was dark and dank,
and when it was not quite as a tomb, it was filled with the sounds of either Kreacher's
mumbling, his mother's portrait screaming, or Order members bitching and stressing about
one thing or another.
"Care to tell me why Molly Weasley has it out for you?" Tonks asked, leaning back
in her chair again. "She seemed like a sweet, little house-witch the first time I met her."
Sirius laughed loudly at the thought. "She's anything but a sweet, little house-witch.
Don't let that dainty, white apron fool you. I'm guessing that her original issue with me has
everything to do with my reputation. You should have seen the look on her face when I
transformed in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Woman started screaming her bloody head
off."
"Yeah, but you're not a murderer now. I mean.. ." Tonks winced, almost losing
her balance in the process, but grabbing the edge of the table just in time. "Not that you
ever were. You know what I mean."
"I may not be a murderer, but I am Harry's godfather. Once my name is cleared,
that gives me rights," he growled. "She's been playing parent to my kid since he started
Hogwarts. I'd normally be grateful for what she's done, but she has it in her head that a
jumper every Christmas makes her more parent to Harry than me. I've overheard her more
than once saying she hopes that he'll take a liking to her daughter once they're of age. Not
to mention she's said the same thing about Hermione and her youngest boy."
Tonks scoffed. "That'll end well."
"If Molly or her kid makes Hermione cry again, and I find out about it, it'll end—
period." Sirius's knuckles turned white as he clenched the coffee mug in his hands. He
could not decide whether he wanted to refill it himself or launch it across the room.
"Who made her cry?"
"Remus said that Ron has a temper and takes it out on Hermione," Sirius said. "He's
not the best friend to Harry, either, but I'm not going to say anything and jeopardise my
relationship with my own kid. Molly made Hermione cry, too. Last year, the Daily
Prophet and Witch Weekly wrote―"
"Oh, I read what they wrote," Tonks said, rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, well, Molly bought all that bullshit and gave Hermione the cold shoulder for
a while."