the_debt_of_time

Her focus was immediately drawn toward Flourish and Blotts, a strong part of her
eager to get her hands on the earlier editions of books she had bought during her own
time.
"Can you two be trusted to be on your own while I head into Gringotts?" Dorea
asked, her attention strictly on James.
"You don't trust your own son?" he asked, pretending to be offended.
"The last time I brought you to Diagon Alley, you got lost for three hours, and we
found you in the back storeroom of Sugarplum's Sweet Shop." Dorea stared down at her
son accusingly, and James rolled his eyes.
"That was not the last time we were in Diagon Alley." James scoffed as if the date of
the incident was the problem. He turned to Mia, shaking his head. "Mum exaggerates."
Mia quietly laughed as Dorea's jaw twitched, clearly debating whether or not
bringing him was a smart move on her part. "I'll take care of him, Mum."
Dorea smiled thoughtfully at Mia, then she turned and pointed a finger at her son.
"James, stay with your sister. I mean it, young man. You can look around for a bit, but
meet me at Ollivanders in twenty minutes. And don't wander. And do not go anywhere
near Knockturn Alley."
"Yes, Mum." James bobbed his head, and the newly acquainted "Potter twins" were
left to their own devices, one incredibly eager to run amok.
"Do you want to go to Flourish and Blotts?" Mia asked, scanning the shop with
anticipation.
James made a face at her idea. "Or we could go to Broomstix."
"Obscurus Books?" Mia suggested.
He smirked. "I counter your boring idea with a trip into Gambol and Japes."
A joke shop? Mia shook her head. Absolutely not. The last thing she needed was a
Potter in a joke shop. She had spent enough time dealing with Harry and Ron inside
Zonko's and eventually Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Though she missed her friends, she
felt relieved that she need not worry about encountering Fred and George in this era.
"We should be looking for things on our lists for school." She frowned at him,
unaware that she had adopted the look Dorea used when trying to rein in her son.
"Fine, fine. Let's head over to Quality Quidditch Supplies then," he said as though
it was a great sacrifice on his part.