the_debt_of_time

being transmitted to others without a full moon bite, then she knew she was going to
struggle with convincing him now.
"Remus, I refuse to let you keep from enjoying every aspect of life because you're
afraid of hurting people—of hurting me."
"I refuse to put you in harm's way," Remus growled and tried to pull his hand away
from her, but she held onto it tightly, glaring at him when he huffed and tried again. "That's
why you deserve better than me. It's this." He held their hands up to her face. "Or nothing.
That's all anyone can have with me. Ever."
"Fine." Mia scowled and stood up, releasing his hand and turning her back on him.
She watched in the reflection of the window nearby as he reached out for her instinctively
and then pulled his hand back, looking shocked. He shook his head, and she wondered to
herself what his inner wolf was trying to tell him at that particular moment. Was Moony
wanting a connection? Or was the wolf trying to remind him that Mia was not his mate?
"I'll see you in class," Mia said as she turned back around. "You should probably
talk to Jamie before Hogsmeade. It's two months away, but still. He'll probably want to do
the whole 'big brother' talk." She rolled her eyes. As if James had any room to tell her
whom to date considering the production he put on anytime he asked Lily to borrow a
quill.
"Wait... what?" Remus blinked confusedly and looked up at her. "But I
thought―"
"You thought I'd embrace your condition for the past three years of friendship and
then turn tail," she said with a wry smile, "the moment it became inconvenient to me? I
told you, Remus. I am not afraid of you, and I'm not afraid of your ridiculous rules. And
they are ridiculous. Though to make you comfortable—for the time being—I will abide by
them."
He sat in silence, looking utterly gobsmacked.
"Get some rest," she whispered as she kissed him on the cheek.
She would obey his rules like a good little Gryffindor, but the Sorting Hat almost
put her in Slytherin, and if a Slytherin knew anything, it was how to exploit loopholes.