the_debt_of_time

hours of pacing back and forth outside the headmaster's office before Mia finally said,
"Acid Pops!"
The gargoyle retreated, allowing her to walk up the spiral staircase.
Dumbledore greeted her with a smile. "Good evening, Miss Potter. How can I help
you this night? I hope it's nothing to do with the circumstances surrounding your presence
here in 1971? I've had little time to arrange a secure investigation of your Time-Turner."
She paused, caught off guard by his words. Had she already forgotten that
Dumbledore promised to look into the Time-Turner and potentially send her home?
"No, sir, I did not imagine you had already done so. It's fine. I'm growing
accustomed to this new life that I've been.. ." Forced—no—tricked into. She ignored the
terms that floated across her mind. "... presented with. I'm doing what you said. Following
the rules that Remus left me."
"Yes, your future Mr Lupin. I've noticed you've taken quite a shine to another Mr
Remus Lupin here at Hogwarts. I can only assume they are one in the same."
She nodded with a sad smile. "They are, Professor."
"As much as I caution myself about knowing more about the future, I cannot deny
that it gives me great relief to have a bit of knowledge concerning this one particular
student," he said, sharing in her expression.
"That's actually the reason I've come tonight, sir," Mia said. "I know."
"You know?"
"I know the real reason the Whomping Willow was planted this year, sir."
"I see."
"I'd like to request permission to stay with him. Not in the shack, of course," she
said quickly. "But before and after. In the future, I've taken care of him. I know how to
heal his wounds and what potions he needs to let the pain pass by easier." She wished she
knew the one that would make the most difference, the Wolfsbane Potion, but that would
not come to exist for several years.
Dumbledore momentarily lost that constant twinkle in his eyes. "There is no cure
for lycanthropy, Miss Potter."
"No. But... he's my friend, and knowing what I know... I can't let him be alone."
She looked down. "It's painful."