the_debt_of_time

"Wow," she whispered, eyes lit up in awe as she scanned the room with a smile.
How did this place already feel like... home?
"Is it to your liking, then?"
Hermione turned her attention toward the sweet feminine voice to see three other
people in the room, all standing and watching her with amused expressions on their faces.
Dumbledore stood beside a couple who—though certainly older than Hermione's
parents—were nowhere near as old as the headmaster himself. Both appeared to be in their
early fifties, though there was a youthful twinkle in the man's hazel eyes. He had familiar
salt-and-pepper hair that appeared to almost stand on end despite it thinning along his
hairline.
The woman who had spoken bore an uncanny resemblance to Andromeda Tonks,
all but the colour of her hair—dark auburn instead of brown. She smiled brightly, her grey
stare and aristocratic features only enhanced by good humour and perhaps a little mischief
in her eyes. She had a softness to her that reminded Hermione of Mrs Weasley.
"It's beautiful." Hermione smiled gratefully. "Thank you, for... for allowing me
into your home."
"It's your home now too, dear. I've been in dire need of another woman around the
house." The witch smoothed her hair before clasping her hands eagerly in front of herself.
She laughed sweetly when her husband winked at her. "I'm desperate to escape the
foolishness of youthful boys and old men who absolutely refuse to grow up."
"My wife exaggerates," the wizard said. "She loves it. Keeps her on her toes."
The witch extended her hand. "Dorea Potter."
The wizard grinned down at Hermione. "Charlus."
Shaking Dorea's hand, Hermione smiled at them both. "Hermione."
Dumbledore beamed, looking just a bit too proud of himself. "Well, I don't mean
to be rude and under stay my welcome, but I have only one month left to prepare my
speech for the start-of-term feast." He reached into his robes, removing a familiar-looking
envelope and handing it to Hermione, who looked down at it with a twinge of nostalgia.
Her Hogwarts letter.
Her second first Hogwarts letter.