Hey, Remus!

In the warm, golden glow of the kitchen, the gentle clinking of teacups filled the air as Maria and Tonks sat across from each other. The scent of chamomile tea wafted between them, soothing yet unable to mask the tension that lingered beneath their conversation.
Maria traced the rim of her cup, her thoughts swirling. She had been here for weeks now, a world she had only known through pages and screens suddenly real and vivid. Her heart ached with the burden of knowledge she had no right to possess... Especially the fate of the woman sitting before her, bright and alive, oblivious to the shadows lurking in her future.
Tonks, ever curious, tilted her head, her vibrant pink hair catching the light.
"So," she began, a teasing lilt in her voice, "you know what happens to us, don't you?"
Maria's fingers stilled on the porcelain. She looked up, her heart thudding in her chest.
"Some things," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Not everything."
Tonks leaned in, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"What about me?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Maria set her cup down, the weight of it almost unbearable. How could she tell her? How could she not?
"You fall in love," Maria said, her voice soft, each word a struggle against the flood of emotions welling up inside her.
Tonks's eyes widened, a delighted grin spreading across her face.
"I do?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Maria nodded, her hands trembling slightly.
"With someone... surprising."
Tonks's grin turned mischievous.
"Oh, now you've got to tell me. Is he handsome? Brave?"
A pang of guilt twisted in Maria's chest. She looked away, unable to meet Tonks's hopeful gaze.
"Yes. I think he's both. Extraordinary brave."
Silence settled between them as Tonks studied her friend, the shift in Maria's demeanor not lost on her.
"You're not telling me something," Tonks said quietly, the lightness in her voice replaced by a steady seriousness.
Maria's heart ached as she forced herself to speak.
"You marry him. You have a son. But... things don't end well."
The room seemed to still, the air growing heavier. Tonks's smile faltered.
"We die," she said, the words not a question but a solemn realization.
Maria nodded, tears brimming in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry."
For a long moment, neither spoke. The only sound was the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. When Tonks finally broke the silence, her voice was calm, almost reflective.
"Who is he?"
"He's... Remus," Maria whispered, her voice breaking.
Tonks blinked in surprise, the name hanging in the air like an echo.
"Remus?" she repeated, as if trying to reconcile the idea with the man she knew. "Your Remus?"
Maria couldn't bring herself to look at her.
"It's not fair. You two were supposed to have a beautiful love story. A family. And now... I'm here. I've ruined it." Maria's eyes filled with tears. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to ruin everything. I got in the middle of you two before... before you even had a chance."
For a moment, Tonks was silent, her gaze thoughtful. Then, to Maria's surprise, she burst into laughter. A warm, genuine sound that echoed through the kitchen.
Maria stared at her, bewildered.
"Why are you laughing?"
Tonks wiped a tear from her eye, her smile bright and reassuring.
"Oh, Mary, you didn't ruin anything. You came into our lives before Remus and I even realized we could be something. If anything, you've helped."
Maria's brow furrowed.
"Helped? How could I have helped?"
Tonks shook her head, her expression more serious now but still gentle.
"Married, with a son, and then dying in a war, leaving an orphaned child? That's not exactly a fairy tale, is it? Maybe knowing what's ahead will give us a chance to change things. Maybe we can have a real future. A longer one. And maybe," she added with a playful nudge, "you being here is part of that change."
Maria's heart lifted, the crushing guilt easing just a bit.
"I never thought of it that way."
Tonks reached across the table, taking Maria's hand in hers.
"You're not in the middle. You're part of the story now. And if you've given me even a chance to make different choices, then I'm grateful."
A tear slipped down Maria's cheek, but this time it was accompanied by a tentative smile.
"Thank you, Tonks."
Tonks squeezed Maria's hand, her eyes sparkling with understanding.
"Anytime. But tell me this: what's Remus like when he's smitten? You've got the inside scoop now," she teased, a playful glint in her eye.
Maria's laughter was soft, a mix of warmth and lingering guilt.
"He's... everything you'd expect. Serious, but with a tenderness that sneaks up on you. When he loves, he loves deeply."
Tonks smiled, though it was tinged with wistfulness.
"Sounds like someone's already found out firsthand."
Maria's cheeks flushed, the reality of her feelings for Remus pressing on her heart.
"It's complicated," she admitted. "He's... we're... But I know it can't last. I'll have to go back to my world someday."
Tonks nodded, her expression thoughtful.
"Complicated, sure. But it doesn't mean it's any less real right now. Maybe that's the point: living in the moment, even if it's fleeting."
Maria felt a pang of bittersweet emotion.
"I never wanted to change anything between you two. I didn't mean to get in the way."
Tonks shook her head gently.
"You didn't. If anything, you've shown us all there's more to life than just what we think is written. Remus deserves happiness, and so do you."
Maria looked down, the weight of her uncertain future still heavy, but Tonks's words offered a glimmer of solace.
"Thank you, Tonks. That means a lot."
Tonks grinned, her usual vibrancy returning.
"Now, let's make sure that whatever happens, we make the most of it. No more worrying about what-ifs, yeah?"
Maria nodded, her heart lightened, even if just a little. Maybe, for now, she could focus on the present, cherishing the moments she had before they slipped away.
Later that evening, walked into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place, hugging a cup of tea to her chest. She found Sirius lounging at the table, boots kicked up on a chair, idly flipping through an old newspaper. The air was thick with the scent of wood polish and faint traces of burnt toast from breakfast.
Sirius glanced up, a mischievous glint in his grey eyes.
"Well, if it isn't our time-traveling mystery woman. Come to judge me again?"
Maria blinked.
"Excuse me?"
Sirius grinned.
"From the way you look at me, I get the feeling I wasn't exactly your favorite character in those books of yours."
Maria sat down across from him, lowering her cup.
"I wouldn't say that."
Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"No? Then what would you say?"
She sighed, choosing her words carefully.
"You're... complicated. Reckless. You've made a lot of mistakes."
He let out a bark of laughter.
"Complicated and reckless. I've been called worse."
Maria smiled faintly, but her expression grew serious.
"Look, it's not that I didn't like you. But... I always saw you as a bit of a walking time bomb. And you weren't exactly pleasant to Molly Weasley. I mean, I saw it firsthand today"
Sirius smirked.
"Oh, that. Molly and I have our differences. She thinks I'm a bad influence on Harry."
Maria hesitated, then pushed on.
"Its't not just that. You weren't always a great friend to Remus."
The smirk faded from Sirius's face. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.
"Go on."
Maria took a deep breath.
"You wished for a full moon when you were younger, just for the thrill of it. You didn't think about how painful that was for Remus. And that prank with Snape... You din't care for Remus's fate had he atacked him."
Sirius flinched, but said nothing.
"And," Maria continued softly, "you didn't trust Remus to be James and Lily's Secret Keeper. You thought he might betray them."
Silence hung between them. Sirius stared down at his hands, fingers curling slightly.
"I suppose you're right," he said at last. His voice was low, reflective. "I didn't think about how much I hurt him. I was selfish. Arrogant." He looked up, meeting her gaze. "I've never been good at admitting that."
Maria offered a small, tentative smile.
"It's good to hear you say it."
Sirius chuckled, a spark of his usual mischief returning.
"So, it all comes down to how I treated Remus, eh? You're quite protective of him."
Maria flushed.
"That's not the point."
But Sirius grinned, leaning back in his chair. "So much for that Wolfstar thing those people in your world are so obsessed with. If I had feelings like that for Remus, I'd have put him first, wouldn't I?"
She laughed despite herself, shaking her head.
"I wouldn't know."
The humor in Sirius's expression softened into something more wistful. He gazed into the distance, his eyes distant.
"Truth is, I've never really fallen in love. Not like that. I'm not... I'm not Remus."
Maria looked at him, surprised.
"Remus?"
Sirius nodded.
"He's always been the sentimental one. But even he didn't let himself fall for anyone. Until you."
Maria's heart tightened painfully. She looked down at her tea, swirling it absently.
"He only let himself feel that way because he thought I wasn't real."
"And now that you're here?"
She shook her head. "We can't be together. We're from different worlds. I'll have to go back eventually and he'll have to stay here.
Sirius studied her for a long moment, then smiled gently. "You never know. The universe works in strange ways."
The door creaked open, and Remus entered the kitchen. He paused in the doorway, his eyes flicking between Sirius and Maria.
"Am I interrupting something?" His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it.
Maria's head shot up, her cheeks flushing.
"No! Of course not."
Sirius smirked, noticing the tension.
"Not at all, Moony. Come in. Have a seat."
Remus hesitated before stepping inside, taking a seat at the far end of the table. His gaze lingered on Maria for a moment too long before shifting to Sirius.
"What were you two talking about?"
"Old regrets," Sirius said lightly. "And some overdue apologies."
Remus raised an eyebrow.
"Apologies?"
Sirius leaned forward, suddenly serious.
"I've been a terrible friend to you, Remus."
Remus frowned.
"Sirius..."
"No, let me finish," Sirius insisted. "The prank with Snape. The full moons. Not trusting you with James and Lily. I've been carrying that guilt for years."
Remus's expression softened, and he shook his head. "You've never needed to ask for my forgiveness, Padfoot. You, James, and Peter... you were the brothers I never had. You still are. I've never blamed you."
Sirius swallowed hard, his usually cocky demeanor stripped away.
"Thank you, Moony."
Maria watched the exchange with tears in her eyes.
Remus glanced at her, his gaze lingering once again. There was a flicker of something vulnerable there. A fear he couldn't voice. A fear that Sirius would, once again, get the girl. But Maria met his gaze with quiet reassurance.
Sirius leaned back in his chair, his usual grin fading into a more somber expression. He studied Maria carefully, a quiet intensity in his eyes.
"So, what about me?" he asked softly. "Do I get a happily ever after in your books?"
Maria's hands tightened around her tea, her gaze dropping to the cup. She couldn't bear to look at him. The weight of the truth pressed heavily on her chest.
Across the table, Remus's posture grew rigid. His eyes flicked between Sirius and Maria, catching the subtle tension in her shoulders, the faint tremor in her fingers. His jaw tightened, though he said nothing.
Sirius's smile faltered, a flicker of understanding crossing his face.
"I see."
"Sirius..." Maria began, her voice barely above a whisper.
He held up a hand, cutting her off gently.
"No need. I can guess." His eyes gleamed with a strange mix of resignation and a hint of dark humor. "I die, don't I?"
Remus's voice was calm, yet firm.
"Let's not talk about this."
"Sirius..." Maria tried again, but Remus interrupted, his tone steady but brooking no argument.
"No." He stood, his movements controlled as he paced the length of the kitchen. "You're not going to die."
The room fell into a tense silence. Maria could feel the weight of unsaid emotions hanging in the air.
Sirius shrugged, attempting a nonchalant air.
"What? It's true, isn't it? I go out in a blaze of glory. That's how I'd want it. Quick and clean. No more rotting in a prison cell."
Remus stopped, turning to face Sirius with measured composure. His expression was serious, his voice even.
"You're my family, Sirius. You and Harry are important to me."
Sirius's expression softened. He crossed the room and placed a hand on Remus's shoulder, his touch grounding.
"I know, mate. I know."
For a moment, the room was silent, the gravity of their conversation settling over them.
Maria's voice, though trembling, held a quiet determination.
"It doesn't have to happen."
Remus turned his gaze to her, his eyes calm but questioning.
"What do you mean?"
"My being here..." she gestured vaguely around them" It changes things. It already has. We can stop it. We can save him."
Remus studied her for a long moment, his face impassive. He didn't speak immediately, but Maria could see the gears turning in his mind.
Sirius shook his head, a soft, almost wistful smile playing on his lips.
"No."
Remus's brow furrowed slightly.
"What do you mean, no?"
Sirius met his gaze, his voice gentle but resolute.
"I don't want to know when or how. I've spent enough time fearing my future. I'm not afraid of it anymore. I just want to live while I'm alive."
Remus's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't argue, but the weight of unspoken thoughts lingered between them.
Maria's voice softened as she spoke again.
"Sirius... you don't have to throw your life away."
Sirius turned to her, his eyes filled with a surprising tenderness.
"I'm not throwing anything away. I've spent my life fighting for what I believe in. If I go down fighting, that's enough for me."
The room fell into a contemplative silence, each of them caught in their own thoughts, the bond between them stronger despite the unspoken fears.
As they prepared to leave the kitchen, Maria lingered in the doorway, her gaze drifting back to Sirius. A twinge of guilt twisted in her chest, and she couldn't ignore it any longer.
"I'm sorry I judged you," she said softly, her voice tinged with regret.
Sirius turned to her, his characteristic smirk fading into something more introspective.
"I'm a man of many flaws, Mary," he admitted with a casual shrug. "Reckless, stubborn, maybe a bit too handsome for my own good."
Maria raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at her lips despite the seriousness of the moment.
"Modest too, I see."
He grinned, the roguish charm returning in full force.
"Well, I do what I can."
She shook her head, a laugh escaping her. But then her expression softened, and she looked at him earnestly.
"But seriously, I think... we all have both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on."
Sirius tilted his head, a spark of amusement in his eyes.
"Those are wiser words than I would've ever said. Where'd you get that from?"
Maria smiled, the warmth of familiarity washing over her.
"I might have heard it somewhere..."
Sirius chuckled, a rich sound that filled the room.
"Well, whoever said it must've been quite insightful. But you're right. It's true."
He paused, then added with a wink, "
Though I'd still like to think I bring a bit more light than dark to the table. And maybe just a touch more charm than necessary."
Maria laughed, the heaviness in her heart lifting slightly.
"A touch more, huh?"
"Just a touch," Sirius replied, his eyes twinkling. "Wouldn't want to overwhelm anyone."
As they stepped out of the kitchen, Maria felt a sense of lightness return. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but moments like these, filled with humor and sincerity, reminded her that even in the darkest times, there was room for light.
Remus, standing just behind her, watched Sirius carefully. There was a flicker of something unspoken in his gaze: an understanding born of years of friendship and shared loss.
After a moment, Sirius clapped Remus on the back.
"Don't worry about me, Moony. We've survived worse, haven't we?"
Remus nodded slowly, but his jaw remained tight. He wasn't convinced.
As Maria and Remus left the kitchen, she noticed his silence. He hadn't said much after Sirius's declaration, and his thoughts seemed far away.
"Remus?" she prompted gently.
He shook his head, forcing a small smile.
"I'm fine."
But Maria saw the truth in his eyes. He wasn't fine. He was terrified of losing Sirius... and her.
Maria pressed her back against the wall and sighed. The conversation with Sirius had left her drained. She rubbed her temples, lost in thought, when a familiar voice made her jump.
Remus's gaze flicked toward the closed door Sirius had walked through moments before, then back to Maria. His tone was calm, but there was something off. Something guarded.
"You've been spending a lot of time with him."
Maria blinked, surprised by the shift.
"Well, yes. He needed someone to talk to."
"Ah." Remus nodded slowly. "He's good at that. Getting people to talk. Always has been."
There was a beat of silence. Maria tilted her head.
"You sound... weird."
"Weird?" He cleared his throat. "I don't sound weird."
"Yes, you do. Like you're... jealous."
Remus's ears turned pink.
"I'm not jealous."
"You are!" Maria grinned, stepping toward him. "Oh my God, you are jealous of Sirius!"
"I'm not," he insisted, though his blush deepened.
Maria couldn't help laughing.
"You totally are! This is adorable."
Remus groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is not how I imagined this conversation going."
"How did you imagine it going?"
"Honestly?" He sighed. "I thought I'd be... calmer. Wiser. Less..."
"Less jealous?" she offered, smirking.
"Yes!"
Maria bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
"Remus, you have no reason to be jealous of Sirius."
He gave her a pointed look.
"He's everything I'm not. Loud, charismatic, reckless. The kind of man people fall for without even realizing it."
Maria rolled her eyes.
"I'm not some schoolgirl with a crush on the bad boy. I've never been."
"You're sure?" he teased, though his voice held a trace of vulnerability. "You don't find him dashing?"
She laughed.
"Oh, absolutely. He's incredibly dashing."
Remus's brow furrowed.
"But," she continued, stepping closer, "I don't have a crush on Sirius Black."
Remus froze.
"You... don't?"
Maria shook her head.
"Nope. I love a quiet, thoughtful, stubborn werewolf with terrible taste in cardigans."
He blinked, utterly stunned.
"Terrible taste in cardigans?"
"Yes," she teased. "I mean, honestly, who picks brown and mustard yellow?"
Remus chuckled despite himself.
"You love that man?"
"I do."
His gaze softened, the tension in his shoulders easing.
"I've never been... the one people notice first."
"Well, you're the one I noticed," she said softly. "Even before I met you, you were the one who stood out in the books. Not Sirius. You."
He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Finally, he managed,
"Even though I'm cautious? Even though I overthink everything?"
Maria smiled, a hint of self-deprecation in her eyes.
"Remus, have you met me? I'm the queen of overthinking. I spiral about everything. I've probably had more imaginary arguments than real conversations."
Remus chuckled, the sound low and warm.
"So you're saying we're both hopeless?"
"Pretty much," Maria said with a grin. "But that's why it works. We both need someone to remind us to stop spinning our wheels."
He tilted his head, a soft curiosity in his gaze.
"And how do you do that for me?"
Maria squeezed his hand.
"I remind you to come back to the present. To see that you're more than the worst thing you've ever worried about becoming."
Remus's expression softened.
"And me?"
"You remind me that it's okay to take a breath. To trust. To just be." She paused, her voice gentler now. "I never knew how much I needed that."
There was a quiet moment between them before Remus spoke again, his voice thoughtful.
"So we balance each other, then."
Maria nodded.
"Exactly."
"A good team."
"The best," she said softly.
A smile tugged at the corners of Remus's lips.
"We're quite the pair, aren't we? Two chronic overthinkers, fumbling our way through."
Maria laughed.
"Absolutely. But at least we're fumbling together."
He laced his fingers with hers, his touch steady.
"Together."
As they stood there, wrapped in each other's warmth, Maria knew one thing for certain: whatever time they had, it would be enough. They'd make it enough.
And maybe, just maybe, there was still room for a happy ending.