DISCLAIMER; HP belongs to JKR. The story line and all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property.

A/N Remus the conflicted, he still has great loyalty to James, and it's a the root of everything. Remus carries a heavy baggage, one that maybe Moony can help him lose.

Jealousy and Hope

Moony was fed up, Leave Sirius alone, let him shag whoever he feels like. Who died and made you judge? So he likes other wizards, yet James was the same, and you didn't mind. May - I remind you, ahem, the touchy-feely with James when you were 14, which made me uncomfortable? Should I remind you that James was after Sirius until the last day, and you found it funny. Even if made Lily distressed to think that James' true love was Sirius. You told her, "James is only playing, games, he loves you." Enough said, worry about our own shagging, I want you to concentrate on us. I think you want Sirius to be loyal to James who decided to marry Lily after he told you, "I am the last Potter, I think that I love her best, besides it is the only way"? Enough, James was selfish, you have thought about it often enough. Us, think of us.

Remus blushed, Moony was a pain, but he hadn't lie. Snivelous, James, it was all the same, and it was true, he need to let it go, and he would try. Ata Boy, try we will.

He hated when Moony was right. Where was he with Elly?

Kelly ran to help Rabastan, her breathing stopped when she looked at him closely, he wasn't handsome, he was divine, as her yank friends would say, a hunk. The room was very warm, or was it?

Kelly was not your run of the mill 70s-80s young woman. To her mother's chagrin, she had studied the esoteric since she knew how to read. When they stopped to visit Tante Tillie that late summer's trip to Burgundy, was she around three maybe four, no idea. The pictures had no dates, but she was sure of one thing, no magic had been performed; she would have noticed. They had stayed at the guest cottage, around three days, nothing but fireflies when they had the pretend wedding, come to think of it, had that been magic?

She was a baby and Jeanie probably a toddler when they have first visited the Tante and the uncles, at Normandy. And she was not sure how old, also one year later the Alsace, as mommy told her. Tante was her mummy's Godmother and also her own. She would ask, she just was not sure.

She was a little on the shy side, even though, her sister thought she was so outgoing. She felt ugly compared to Jeanie. Kelly hated her wild dirty blond hair, and her light brown colour eyes. Poor Mimi she had inherited her hair and her eyes, the skin coloring and the nose and lips were from Grant's side. Truth be told they all had curly hair, some more than the others. However, she did get color in the sun, much more than Maddy and Elly. Maddy was her best friend, but where Maddy was outgoing, she was more reserved.

One day, Kelly was early from her piano lesson, and she 'caught' her mother and Lady Grant in one of the hidden rooms on the top floor, making a potion in a cauldron. Her mother swore her to secrecy.

It was decided that Maddy and Kelly would travel and stay with the Granger's family American relatives. They lived in Boston, and there were some others who lived in New York. There, they started their magic studies. She had two years left of high school, and Maddy one. Albeit Elly was told, by that time she had already joined a Wicca church.

Lady Granger removed the core blocks she had casted on her daughters, and the same was done for Kelly. She wished that she had been told much earlier, it was because her father didn't approve of it, neither did the Earl. She guessed things were about to change. Jeanie and Grant were going to be very angry.

Although, she'd wanted Jeanie included, her mother talked her out of it. Jeanie was very much into the accepted religion, and Grant was as well. Jeanie had no idea that she attended classes at both the magical and regular campus at her Massachusetts University. She adored her non-magical studies and had great hope for merging them with magical applications.

Her mother and Lady Grant had explained to the young women the importance of saving their virginity for the man they loved. There was something magical during the offer of your innocence to the only man they would love. She remembered Eleanor turning red as a beet, she was already shagging someone.

For Kelly it had not been too hard, she studied all the time. There was a common factor between the children of both houses, to include the two Grant hunks, they all read most of the time, and they all shared the thirst for knowledg. In the US, there was a term for people like them, nerds. Except as her roommates would all agree, both Maddy and she were well-dressed-nerds. Besides, she studied all the time, and there had not been one guy that had made her weak with passion. She had the feeling that her lack of passion had just changed.

She touched Rabastan's forehead, he was very cold, and when her hand was over his skin, small sparks were witnessed by all, but they did not see what happened inside her, a frisson of pure raw desire manifested at contact; it then travelled throughout her system at the speed of light. She moved the hand as if she had burnt it. "He is freezing, bring a cover." That is all she said for a while, she felt as if she was combusting, and her core was dripping lava.

`~~~``*The short-pints, a brawl, and a 'must- nap'*``~~~

While the adult drama was being played, the children ran around and played. It wasn't long before they all stretched by the warm fire with all the dogs nearby, Frankie and Evie's nurse and Mrs. Jones sat on one of the couches behind.

The room was in different shades of grey, each with one of the four seasons' motif. The areas were furnished with sofas, ottomans, footstools, in other words built for entertainment, probably during the regency period in the 19th century. The fireplaces, made of granite and marble, had small pieces of gold embedded; the natural stones had been brought from Germany and Italy. At the centre of each, there were carved scenes of one of the months of the year motif.

"Mimi, is this a castle, is Daddy's papa a royal?" Harry asked. He didn't want to ask his mom and sound foolish in front of the adults. But not even at the Malfoys, they had something this grand.

Draco was looking at one angel that looked like Mimi. He liked her wings and wished that Mimi had wings.

"No, it isn't, it's a big house." Mimi answered, and held Harry's hand, "Granddaddy isn't a king, asides he is prettier than the royals; he is only my daddy's daddy and a somephing, a lord Granger."

"He could be," Draco interjected, "You doesn't know it all. This might be a king's house, it looks like it. Look up, it's you." Draco was already distracted but keeping an eye on Mimi's hand. He stood up and squeezed his body between Harry and Mimi. Better said, he pushed his way in, and Frankie right away rolled into Draco's place and grabbed Hermione's other hand.

Frankie was just used to having his cousin's nearly undivided attention. Draco knew about cousins – they married, his Mommy said so, and it didn't sit well with him. His Veela was jealous and possessive. For days, he had not needed his blanket but at bedtime. Being with Mimi was what he liked best, and all the new competition, even with Evie, was too much for him. It would take him some getting used to it. He still didn't know that Frankie was his cousin, not that it mattered.

"Franky you are too little, go with you mommy, this is for older childrens." Draco finally told him, while he pushed Harry who wanted his place back.

"I'm three, I'm a big boy." He said firmly and a bit loud; he wasn't one to back up. Frankie looked at Draco with defiance; however, he was also tired and grouchy.

Harry wasn't happy about being pushed away from his sister, his Mimi, "Dwaco dat's my place. You pushed me, she is mine too, my sister. You're rude." Rude had become Harry's mantra, rude, and my, my mommy, my daddy and my sister. He was new to the business of having something and had embraced it with relish.

Harry had come up on his knees and was pulling Draco away from Mimi. Meanwhile, Evie was still walking around petting the dogs.

Well, three of the pooches, the large hounds, were all-alert by the time the pushing and pulling began, the situation was rapidly deteriorating, and Mrs. Jones and Nurse Williams were too busy chatting.

The dogs were growling. No fighting allowed, and they weren't sure in whose side they should be. They were all nice human pups. Mimi was their favorite second to Evie. Frankie was too rough with them. Next was Draco, he knew how to rub ears and bellies, or maybe Harry, he had shared all his biscuits with them and understood their barks.

With all the pushing and pulling, Draco fell backwards over Mimi who started crying bloody murder; this was the cue for the two females and the young male hounds to join the brawl with barks, in an attempt to separate the four children. The three boys accused one another for hurting Mimi, Frankie had walked over her trying to get to Draco, they all had a share of fault. She was crying, happily forgetting her magic. It all happened in seconds.

Remus totally forgetting where he was at, pulled his wand, and cast a charm to separate them. Everyone around him saw him but Cousin Darius, and Mrs. Jones. The nurse did a double take, and then she shrugged her shoulders. Albeit she was a squib, she no idea the young men were wizards.

Remus' face turned the color of a fire truck engine, and both Elly and Maddy nearly melted in their knickers. Wow, he was a really sexy and beautiful wizard, and he loved children. Even the older women thought the same.

Mrs. Jones ran to get Mimi, but she wanted Uncle Remy, and was wailing his name at the top of her lungs. She did have a couple of very nasty bruises, and two deep scratches, probably from Draco's claws and was unhappy. Remus ran and picked her up; the others took care of the wayward little rascals. Draco was upset for hurting Mimi, blaming Harry and Frankie for encroaching on his "fainsee,", fiancée, that was what Maddy had told him that he was Mimi's fiancée. He was screaming," I wants to go with my fainsee."

He wanted Remus to pick him up as well.

"No son, I don't know who started this, but you are all very tired. Let me hold her for a spell, and then I am going to read you all a book and you can nap until teatime. Mrs. Jones, please bring some pillows and a deck," Remus requested.

"But sir, they would be more comfortable at the nursery," Nurse Williams, a squib hired a month or so before Evan died, interjected.

The word 'nursery' acted like water on a grease fire. All children, except Harry, broke out in sobs and screams. Serpens and Thallia came forward, "No, they can all take their nap here, they will rest better. Here let me help." Thallia went for blankets, while Serpens picked up Draco.

Remus was checking Mimi with Jeanie's help; she was bruised and the scratches looked nasty, "how did she get those scratches?" Remus looked at her, "Ah, she thought she knew;and again Remus, in wizard mode, barely pulled the wand out and whispered, "Episky".

By magic all bruises and scratches were gone. Jeanie's face shone in wonderment. If she had any gifts, she wanted to learn. She was sure to have some magic. She couldn't wait for the revelations.

Within minutes, the children had their hot milk, Mimi and Evie on one side of the blanket, and the ruffians on the other with the dogs all around. Remus sat on the couch to read them a story while Eleanor sat by his side, a little too close for Maddy's comfort. She brought her wine and sat on the other side of Remus.

Severus' eyes narrowed in anger. He turned around to check on Sirius. He was still out. Two can play that game; he picked up his wine and walked towards the Remus and his group.

~~~``* Rabastan*``~~~

Rabastan had been talking to the L'Orcs. He was now sitting on the wheelchair, and his legs were still shaky. He couldn't get over with all he had heard, and it wasn't all. He wished so that Rodolphus was here. He needed to let his parents know they were alive, but he only trusted Père Martin. His Père was staunch supporter of the dark Lord even without a Dark Mark, or at least he thought so. On the other hand, he didn't have to know all the truth, yes, that could work.

He wanted to tell them all he had learned about Tante Mathilde, she truly had been a Half Blood; she had been his great-aunt by marriage not by blood. She had been a great-aunt of Jeanie, a blood relative, and the little witch's great-grand-aunt. Nothing short of amazin, and he wasn't related by blood to Kelly, all was well.

Tante Mathilde's mother was a witch, and her husband was a Half-blood from a 'reformed' converted family; part of a movement during the 17th,18th, and 19th Centuries, to renounce magic and convert back to the old religion; the one that had burned so many of them. From what he had read, most had renounced in name only, and to the world, they were Muggles but behind closed doors, they practiced magic.

Charlotte's mother had married one from the same circle; he had been more than a Half-Blood. Charlotte's husband had one parent who was a Half-Blood, so Jeanie and Kelly were close to Half Bloods or maybe more, he needed to do calculations. They were both magical, it might work out with his parent.

They were all being called to tea, time for real revelations; he offered his arm to Kelly. A pleasant feeling made him tingle with excitement. He was still not feeling well. After tea and to his regret he would need to excuse himself. He wondered if he would be able to drag Kelly to introduce her to Rodolphus, he smirked with a plan forming on his mind.

*~*MM*~*Severus strikes*~*MM*~*

Right before being called to tea Severus reached the reading group. He was rather upset as he walked towards the wayward witch. She was a flirt, and he would not take it lying down, not this time.

Damn Remus, wasn't the blond beauty enough? This time, Severus wouldn't allow any of the Marauders to have an upper hand on him; moreover, he would be in control of his relationship with Sirius, the only wizard that had ever attracted him. Damn Gryiffindors, not only one, but two had broken his heart. This time, if there were broken hearts, his would not be one of them.

He sat by them, not in the couch, but on the floor next to Maddy, and leaned his back on the sofa. He looked at Maddy, "I am thirsty; may I have a sip of your drink; I think it is the only thing that can quench my fire," he softly whispered. Maddy's insides burned a bit. Remus was far away, and all she could hear was the sensual voice flowing through her.

"Maddy get up, we are being called." What was up with her sister, she didn't look well. Elly wanted to scream, Maddy was always going after her wizards. That is why she didn't introduce her to Evan right away.

She whispered in Maddy's ear. "Maddy, if you keep flirting with Remus, I will fight you. I know a few nasty hexes that I will not be afraid to cast. He is M.I.N.E. I saw him first, and he likes me. Give it a rest."

Maddy was called from her haze, "Remus, what are you saying? No, not him," what was Elly talking about?

Severus heard the exchange and his lips upturned a little. Ah, it paid to be more assertive, to be the aggressor, bless the little pests and their healing; he couldn't remember why he hurt so much before. He would always love Lily, but he was going to try to move on. She chose James, and it was a fact, time to live and love again.

*~*MM*~*Tea time and revelations*~*MM*~*

Overexcited Harry and Draco had woken up a few times. The children were carried to the nursery after they had fallen sleep. But Harry and Draco were immediately awake. They were the new kids on the block, so they were getting lots of attention and didn't want to give it up. Harry couldn't get over that he had a grandfather who lived in a castle, life could get any better. The only wrinkle was that he wanted Dudley to see how lucky he was, and that he was kissed and called love, and a good handsome boy.

They sat them at the table for a few minutes, and, even though there were initial refusals, the little wizards were passed from aunt to grandmother, and thoroughly smooched and harassed. The women were pleased that the boys were too tired to fuzz and fight them. Finally, the tired pixies decided that the nursery had its appeals and once again all was well.

The tea was in progress. The revelations actually confirmed Severus theories, spontaneous magic did not occur. It might have been lying dormant for centuries but it had been there.

He had read several books from a famous recluse witch, 'Zascandille" was her name. She supposed to have lived around the Pyrenees region. She and her followers believed that all magical beings had come from another realm, through tears in the fabric of time and space, along the earth's sky. It had happened during an exodus, from a bloody battle or from a cataclysm, around 4,500 years before. It coincided with the time when several structures, still baffling humanity, had been built.

Lucius kept his eyes on his annoyed Pépère. Paul's cousin, Darius, the yank from New York, who was a couple years widower, whose wife had been witch, a few years his senior, was intent on Thallia. Even after Pépère had gently informed him of the fact that Thallia was over 15 years his senior. Thallia was not appreciative of his disclosure; she had aged perfectly, her body and looks were of a Muggle in her early 60s, however, it did not deter Darius of his flirting, much to Serpens' anxiety. Once in a while Lucius would do a toasting sign to irritate him. Life was wonderful once in a while.

*~*MM*~*History and Tea time *~*MM*~*

Paul told them a bit of family history.

The powerful Christian churches in the European states sought to eradicate pagan religions, and ultimately any movement that opposed their doctrines and disobeyed their tight ruling. Witchcraft was the favorite targeted one, and one that the church clerics from even the later dissident Christian churches agreed upon. It took too many precious financial resources away from them, and refused to abide by the astringent church ruling. Witch burnings and killings gained force, during the 15th and 16th Centuries.

The hatred and persecution during the following centuries resulted in moneyed and titled families, who were actual wizards and witches, in the great majority, 'to pretend' leaving their magic behind, and to embrace the church's believes. In actuality, they did not.

They held on to their practices, but behind close doors, while some others just disappeared into Unplotted lands and created a separate world, or merged with existing communities already created. Spies were everywhere, and occasionally a real magical person would be apprehended, tried and killed, but it was rare. All the ties between the magical and non magical word became stricter, and soon the magical world was nothing but a legend.

Sometimes, in remote areas, very young children whose parents or family died or were murdered simply didn't know who they were, and some 'lost' their magic over time.

Then came religious zealots, entire Wizarding families, during the 18th and 19th Century who voluntarily gave their magic up, or one of the partners did. They, the families, all still knew each other, and their families remain fairly close even geographically. Such was the situation of the Graham, the L'Orcs, and quite a few more, yes, most of the in the upper circles and the families who lived in their estates nearby.

During the 19th Century the Ministry of Magic was gaining strength and monitoring magic released at locations around Europe, and later the new world. It was the time of the industrial revolutions, discoveries and growth. One ancestor of Paul Graham, equated magical discharges, to magnetic and electrical releases, by applying new physic theories of was known. He had books of theory stored at the locked collection.

They found a fairly effective way to disguise their magic use. They all lived nearby and their servants and house employees were often families from the same background. During the late 19th century one of Paul's ancestors had been a minister and had condemned the magical world, but not all his family heed the advice.

Paul knew there had been witches in his family but had disregarded the knowledge, he was a modern man and dismissed it, until much later. He had latent powers, which he assumed were sixth senses, and had used them ignoring their origin.

He went to Medical School with Guy L'Orc, and off they went to war. Guy was sent to France, and Paul to Germany

Guy took over and related his story.

Each had met their wives there. Charlotte grew up in a home where magic was practiced by the wealthy landowners, but they mingled with Muggleborns, as done by generations. They were always amazed with the British and their total separation of worlds. Guy's came from a family like Paul's, as a matter of fact, their states touched in one of the fences. However, Guy's family was more open than Paul's.

They often talked about their ancestors and Guy for one was not opposed to visit their magical families, and his parents had been part of small practicing pods.

Charlotte's aunt on her mother's sister, Mathilde, was a wealthy heiress, married into a magical family, the brothers Lestrange. She married two wizards as it was a tradition in their family, a fact hidden from Charlotte until she had asked.

Tragically their three children were killed when someone threw a grenade unto their car. The year was 1941, after France fell to their neighboring conquerors. They were driving a Muggle car, all twenty something; they were going back after a soiree with the German conquerors. It was rumored the resistance had killed them. No bodies were found.

Charlotte became quite distressed, and she could not help tears. Guy stopped his tale. "Amour, what is wrong," he took her hand on his.

So she explained; "I still miss them. It has been a long time, but I have never forgotten them. I was an only child and I grew up with the Lestrange's cousins. I went to school with them until we were eleven. Then they left for boarding schools, but we spent our summers together." She dried her tears.

"Of course, I could never figure out why there were two fathers, and all the females I knew were half in love with my Lestrange Uncles, beautiful men."

She smiled to Rabastan, who blushed intensely but smiled back nonetheless.

"Goodness, I must have been eleven or twelve when I asked. I was explained about much love, and that you could only do this in the magical world, but all was explained without the sleeping part."

Grant heard it all in context, and he thought of Peter and how things could have been different in a Magical world. Maybe they still could, he missed his brother.

Charlotte was still talking, Grant listened. "I then informed her parents that my intention was to marry two brothers, if I could find such combination. My aristocratic non-magical father nearly had a heart attack."

Everyone laughed, and Rabastan gave such a look to Kelly that made her squirm on her chair. She choked when he winked an eye. "I have a brother. I wonder if the idea still appeals to some of the beauties gathered here. It appeals to me." He smiled and gave her a very hungry look. He hadn't been with a witch, without being forced, since 1979; but deep in his heart, he knew what he had since he was a lad, that she was his witch.

Kelly's heart was pumping fast, she felt dizzy. Narcissa's heart was also beating disorderly, she looked at Rab with squinting eyes and her teeth clenched. What was going on with the young-dark-wizard's heart?