the_debt_of_time

Hermione had officially moved in with Sirius, it made it that much easier. It also helped
that Sirius was overjoyed to have everyone close by, and had taken to spoiling Teddy in an
effort to outshine Harry—the boy's actual godfather.
Of course, it did not matter. Save for Dora, Teddy only had eyes for one person,
and that was Hermione. Hermione, who was supposed to be home by now.
There was no sound of her arrival, at least one that humans could hear, but Remus
heard her instantly and rose from his seat in the library to greet her. When the sound of
sobbing echoed up the stairs, alerting the rest of the house to her arrival, he quickened his
pace until he reached the little witch, who was crumpled on the floor of the entryway,
crying her heart out. There was more frizz to her hair than usual, and her eyes were red-
rimmed and glassy.
Without a word, already knowing what was wrong, Remus pulled her into his arms
and let her sob against his chest as he took to the staircase, silently moving toward her
room. He placed Hermione on her bed, sitting instinctively back against the wall and
pulling her close to him in a hug, a large arm wrapped protectively around her.
"What happened? Were you able to see them?"
"They'll never know me again," Hermione sobbed. "I... I went all that way to
Australia. I knew they wouldn't remember me, but seeing them... Remus, my parents
are... They might as well be dead."
He frowned, running a hand down her hair, thinking of the lovely Muggle couple
he had met at King's Cross. Though he would always associate Charlus and Dorea Potter
as her parents, he understood the pain she was going through right now.
"In a way you're right, and I am so sorry for that." He spotted Sirius, Harry, and
Ron standing in the doorway. The two younger wizards looked worried and uncomfortable
at the sight of their friend sobbing. Sirius, however, stepped forward quickly, pulling
Hermione from Remus's arms and holding her against him.
"It's okay if you need to grieve, kitten," he whispered. He stroked his fingers up and
down her back consolingly, kissing the side of her head and ignoring the curious looks he
was receiving from Harry and Ron as he did so. "You don't always have to be the strong
one."