the_debt_of_time

"I hope I can live up to them." Hermione smiled tightly, fingering the bracelet
around her wrist, glad that none of the Potters appeared to have noticed it thus far. If they
did, they did not care. Maybe they assumed Dumbledore had given it to her. She was
worried that they would accuse her of stealing, especially since she had only known them
for less than a day. Sirius just had to give her a Potter heirloom on her birthday. It would
be difficult to explain how she knew their grandson.
Charlus grinned proudly. "I think she'll be a Gryffindor."
"Of course she will. All Potters are Gryffindors." James rolled his eyes as if the point
were moot.
Dorea folded her arms across her chest. "I wasn't."
"Well, you weren't fortunate enough to be born a Potter, dear," Charlus teased.
"Don't you mean fortunate for you?" Dorea winked at him.
"What house were you in?" Hermione asked politely, reaching for a piece of toast
in front of her.
"I was a Slytherin, dear," Dorea explained.
Hermione's eyes went wide. Harry's grandmother was in Slytherin?
"Sneaky little snake tricked me into our first date." Charlus scooted his chair closer
to his wife, reaching for her hand which she casually allowed him to take, a devious smile
on her lips.
"Are you complaining?" Dorea asked.
"Not a bit." He smiled flirtatiously, kissing her wrist.
Hermione chuckled and glanced at James who was rolling his eyes.
"Don't worry, Mia. Mum was probably the only good Slytherin to ever come out of
that snake pit."
"Don't start causing trouble already, James." Dorea shook her head and sighed as
she released Charlus's hand, picking up her cup of tea. "There's already enough animosity
between the Houses. I won't have you walking into that school and being a problem child."
James widened his bright eyes and stuck out his bottom lip as he stared at his
mother. "Does this look like the face of a problem child?"
"Don't give me that innocent look, James Charlus Potter." Dorea's eyes narrowed
into slate grey slits. "I know better by now. Speaking of innocent, you better be exactly that
when we go to Diagon Alley tomorrow."