the_debt_of_time

"It's nothing, Mrs Lupin. Remus is my friend," Mia said brightly, reaching out and
curling her arm around Remus. "I would do anything for him."
Both Mr and Mrs Lupin gaped at the sight. Mr Lupin looked like he was on the
verge of a panic attack, while Mrs Lupin looked as though she would burst into tears at
any moment.
Remus winced, clearly noticing the shift in his parents. "Mum... Please... please
don't cry." He sighed and attempted to offer a comforting hand to his mother as he often
did with Mia when she cried. He stopped, looking as though he thought better of it,
especially when Mr Lupin gave him a pinched look from behind his wife's shoulder.
"Honestly," Mia assured Mrs Lupin with a smile, "Remus has probably done more
for me this year than I've done for him. Can't tell you how many times he's saved me." She
chuckled softly and reached up to brush Remus's hair from his face, purposely touching
him as much as possible; she felt the need to prove to the Lupins that it was safe—
that he was safe.
Mia could not understand any of it. From what Future Remus—as she had named
him in order to separate them in her mind—had told her, his father once worked for the
Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. She knew the
circumstances surrounding Remus's initial infection had been due to his father's stance on
werewolves, but she had assumed, after his son being one for eight years, he would have
seen for himself that Remus was not dangerous outside of the full moon.
Mr Lupin remained distant, staring at her as she continued to lavish friendly
affection on his son.
Mrs Lupin, on the other hand, appeared to break through the wall that separated
her from her child, and she smiled, approaching Remus and pulling him into her arms for
what was clearly the first time in many years.
Remus's eyes widened, but he refused to hug the woman back, especially with Mr
Lupin staring at them from behind, shocked at the display. Eventually, it was too much to
bear, and Remus conceded, hugging his mother back tightly.
Mia smiled sweetly, trying to keep herself from crying at the sight of Mrs Lupin
joyfully weeping on Remus's shoulder while he patted her on the back.
Mr Lupin cleared his throat. "Love. We, umm... We should go."