the_debt_of_time

"Ahem!" Remus cleared his throat loudly, smiling with amusement when they both
turned to look at him in surprise.
Mia smiled sheepishly at Remus, looking mildly embarrassed about her behaviour,
although it was not anything new—at least for Remus. Harry, on the other hand, looked
completely thunderstruck. Mia must have turned her focus on Harry as well because she
pulled away from Sirius, her eyes lit up with joy.
Sirius smiled, glad to see how happy the sight of his godson made her. His smile
faded rapidly, however, when she cried out, "Jamie!"
"Oh no," Remus whispered, looking as panicked as Sirius felt.
She fell into Harry's open arms, and he caught her without hesitation. His eyes were
wide as she peppered his cheeks with kisses. Sirius watched in horror as her hands ran over
Harry's shoulders, her firm grip loosening as she likely came to the painful realisation that
the wizard she was hugging was not her brother.
"Hermione?"
Mia pulled away from Harry and stared into his eyes. "Green eyes," she whispered
softly as she reached up to brush the hair off of his forehead. Her gaze immediately darted
to the slightly faded lightning bolt scar, and she jumped away from him as though she had
been burnt. Her hands shook as she wrapped her arms around herself, staring at him with
tears pricking at her eyes.
"Harry," she choked out.
Harry looked at her with gentle concern. "Hermione, what's going on?"
Her bottom lip trembled. Bringing her hands to cover her mouth, she closed her
eyes, letting a few stray tears fall. "Remus.. ." She gasped, reaching out for him. "I... I
can't."
With a troubled frown etched on his face, Remus squeezed her hand in support.
"It's all right, love."
Mia shook her head and took one last look at Harry before she turned and ran up
the stairs.
"Should I?" Remus muttered, vaguely gesturing to the staircase. "Or do you... ?"
He looked at Sirius, who was being angrily glared at by Harry.