the_debt_of_time

"And if I don't comply?"
"I'll force your hand."
He stood there, slightly shocked and a little nervous but tried not to show either.
"Meaning?"
"You love me, and I love you," Dora whispered as she stepped closer, her scent
assaulting him like a tidal wave. "For some reason, you think I need to have time to make
a proper judgement on our relationship, which is really just an excuse for distancing
yourself from me because you think that being involved with a werewolf will put me in
more danger than I already am. It's ridiculous. You know it's ridiculous, but considering
what happened to Sirius, and how Harry's in danger, and Hermione's right on his heels all
the time, you're feeling helpless. You've decided to take a stand in our relationship so that
you can feel like you've got control over something."
Well, Remus thought. She's not wrong.
"And you're saying if I don't get over it, you'll force my hand? By doing what,
exactly?"
"I don't know, something to rile you up. Run naked through Diagon Alley for
everyone to see." She grinned when Remus growled involuntarily. "Oh, Moony doesn't like
that idea?"
She belayed nothing that said she was bluffing.
Blacks have no shame. She'll do it, and everyone will see her—desire her.
"Six months," Remus agreed, trying to hear his own voice over the sound of the
wolf snarling inside of his head.
It was painful to be away from her, but she clearly was not letting up. Six months
would give him time to think of a new plan to get her to see reason. Six months would give
him time to figure out how to keep her safe. Then again, with Sirius dead and the future
changed, Remus did not know if he would survive the next six months.
"Six months."
A lynx Patronus soared in through a nearby window, landing in front of them.
When its mouth opened, Kingsley's voice spoke. "Happy Christmas Tonks. Mad-Eye says get
back to Hogsmeade. He's in a mood," the lynx said and then promptly vanished.