the_debt_of_time

black. "He's going to end up with issues. Parents who are too eager to hand him over and
a hovering Hermione who won't stop kissing him. You're too old for him, Hermione!"
"Age is just a number, Harry." Hermione chuckled as she ran her fingers through
Teddy's now messy, black hair, trying to get the back to stay down. "I should know; I've
been reminded of my own age many times today."
There was a loud whoosh from the room, and Hermione looked up to see Ron
stumble out of the fireplace, a haphazardly wrapped present in his hands.
"Happy birthday, 'Mione!" He kissed her cheek in greeting.
"Thank you." She smiled, looking at the gift. "Any chance I can convince you to
return whatever that is and instead stop calling me 'Mione'?"
Ron scoffed. "You and nicknames. Sirius calls you 'kitten.'"
"That's not a nickname, it's a pet name," Sirius defended, handing a bottle of
butterbeer to Ron.
"Do I look like a pet to you?" Hermione put her hands on her hips and then, as
Sirius opened his mouth, she narrowed her eyes. "Don't answer that."
"Is it time for presents yet?" Ginny bounced on the balls of her feet, snatching Ron's
gift and tossing it onto the large pile on the table. "I'm dying to know what everyone got
you and if anything's better than my present... which is so unlikely."
Hermione frowned, feeling uncomfortable at the ridiculously large pile of gifts. "I
really wish you all hadn't gone to such trouble." Ginny ignored her entirely, looping her
arm through Hermione's and dragging her toward the table.
Gifts were opened, and Hermione spent the better part of a half-hour thanking
people graciously—while feeling extremely guilty since so many people put forth so much
effort and were far too generous. Most of her friends bought her books, which was
expected, though Ginny had given her tickets to a Weird Sisters concert for when she
would be home for Christmas. Harry had given her an old book on runes that he had found
in his family vault; the inside cover had Lily Evans written in lovely penmanship. Fred and
George gave her a large box of various Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes items that she was afraid
to touch, and Ron had given her a gift card to Honeydukes.
When most of the guests departed for the night, Hermione was grateful to see them
go. She had been more introverted than usual since the end of the war, and a big gathering
made her a bit anxious. She had gone to help clean up after the party, but a determined