DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. The storyline and all new characters, new character development, new developments are my intellectual property.

A/n a reader asked why an M rating. The story has chapters that call for an M rating, and will have more. This story is about the children and the adults.

Expect the unexpected

Sirius

"My stupid pride has served me badly. Here I am fifty-four years old, my body could actually get pregnant, and I am all alone. My beloved husband is dead, Regulus disappeared probably killed by that insane Dark Lord; we should have stopped him while we could. It was the Dark Lord who had Orion killed, of that I am sure." She stopped to dry a runaway tear.

"And my biggest disappointment, Sirius, not a word from him, he never apologized for his betrayal. Like they cared, they let him to rot in Azkaban. Merlin, I still miss him. Everyone knows that a mother's love never dies. Maybe if Sirius hadn't left, Regulus would be here today."

"Yes, Mistress Black, I miss my boy," it was the very old Goulymong, Kreacher's aunt speaking in a broken, tired voice.

The statement saddened Sirius in an unexpected way. Not once had he come back to visit either his old nurse or the other house former servants, who had since then passed. A few tears of sorrow ran down his cheeks.

"I know, I know, but he betrayed all of us. Not that it matter since Regulus died, I knew the war effort was dangerous and a bad idea. My husband also knew it and tried to keep us protected, but he was killed by the mad man." Sirius' mother answered. Sirius had no idea his mother felt like that. What else didn't he know?

Her portrait made in 1978 reprimanded her, "I cannot believe that I hear myself talking such nonsense; woman, the Dark Lord had the right idea, sacrifices had to be made. Quit the bellyaching," she spoke in the voice Sirius remembered, haughty and nasty.

Grant recoiled at hearing the voice coming a few steps away from them. "Shit, my mother had a portrait made. I wonder if it saw us." Sirius whispered very low.

For a minute Grant's mind was confused. A portrait seeing them, that couldn't be; and just like that he made the association; he had seen the talking pictures, wow.

Sirius didn't have to wonder for a long while.

The next sentence froze both intruders, "No need to pine away dear me, you have but to look in the alcove, and you will be surprised to find our traitor son." The portrait told her with a nasty, cold voice, a laugh, and a snort like laughter.

What happened next, Sirius would have never guessed in a lifetime. He pulled out the wand and held it in his hand inside his pocket, ready to do whatever it took.

Walburga Black, whose portrait would terrorize Grimmauld 12, for years to come, stood up and walked towards the alcove. Not for a moment, she thought to pull out her wand.

Sirius came out with Grant right behind him. "Son, my dear boy," Walburga ran and the pureblood witch, who had, otherwise, always held her emotions in a tight rein, held her arms out to her only living family member, her son. Her husband and her other son, were all dead now, and all because of the Dark Lord.

Sirius stopped for a second, but the acceptance coming from his mother did something to him, he hurried up towards her, and held the now too thin body close to his chest. Albeit the considerable weight loss, she was still very beautiful, yet too slender.

Grant understood Sirius' filial feelings. He assumed that the last years had changed the hard woman's beliefs and had challenged her prior decisions. The happiness to find out she still had a son, had made her forget the past antagonisms, and to wish that things could have been different.

He knew of many cases like that. After the wars when prodigal children came home, the doors to healing were always wide open; and he hoped this would be the case. Happier warriors made better ones.

Portrait Walburga wasn't happy at all. She expressed her opinion by screaming insults and asking her living-self to reconsider her stand.

At this barrage of pure nastiness, Walburga pulled her wand and cast a spell to release the Sticking Charm holding it in place. Now, the nasty portrait faced the wall, and she sent a second spell to seal her lips.

"Better, much better," she breathed in relief and turning to Grant, "A very nasty portrait, she gave me a migraine. I am going to have it burnt, and have a nicer one done; I didn't look very nice with that horrible frown."

This is when Grant saw all the hanging, shrunken heads along the stairway wall, and he suppressed a scream. He would ask later, meanwhile, he would act his best; he didn't want to end up 'hanging' in the Black home.

Tea Time and surprises at every cup.

She poured the tea for Grant and added the milk and sugar to his taste.

"Excuse me young man, you remind me of a very intelligent wizard we once entertained in our home; you are his spitting image. I was but ten years old, the year was 1940, and it was my birthday." Her eyes looked far away.

"He was so handsome that I fancied myself in love with him for years, wait please, I will show you. Kreacher," she called.

"Filthy blood traitor, yus fault, all yus fault, my boy Regulus, yous fault," Kreacher muttered under his breath. He had done the same when he had helped bring the tea earlier. Grant couldn't believe the bigoted and racist little elf.

"Now, now Kreacher, Sirius is now Lord Black, we won't talk about blood issues at this time. Make sure you listen well, or I will have to punish you. He is Lord Black to you, and you owe him your loyalty and respect," Kreacher didn't soften at the warning words and grudgingly stared at his feet.

"Bring me the album from 1930-1949 and be a good elf," she ordered.

Grant noticed she hadn't said please or thank you, not even once. She was like his mother; Sirius had indicated she was fifty-four, two years younger than his mother. They both were still young looking, and in the non-magical world they would have passed for women in their early forties or less.

The difference was in their vitality and their demeanor. His mother was full of life and despite her proper comportment, she was friendly and warm. In comparison, Walburga Black, appeared fragile and rather cold and obviously class conscious; and as his mother, both were beautiful.

He really could appreciate where Sirius' looks came from. Were wizards blind, where were her suitors? A woman like her should have a long line at her door, he wondered why not?"

Wallburga was making an effort to be in her best behavior and had not yet asked Sirius what he was doing there, and why he wasn't in Azkaban. Sirius had noticed and wasn't offering any explanations.

Actually, he was considering finding the wands and Obliviating his mother. He really didn't trust her, wanted to stay out of jail, and understood that everyone would be compromised if he were caught.

He was wrong about his mother, at least this time. She had been feeling very sick, and the Healer failed to find a reason for her illness. "Lady Black, you are strong as a horse. All you have is a touch of melancholy, and you need to eat or you will die from malnutrition. You are so weak that any virus which affects magical beings will prove fatal to you."

"I have nothing to live for, and I would welcome death," was her answer every time, she had a reason now and was willing to give it a try.

Loneliness and tragedy had taught her that change was necessary if you were to survive. Wasn't her belief in Blood ideals the very reason she was all alone? She had thought about this for five years, and had nearly gone to her niece Andromeda to join the fight against Voldemort, not for vengeance, only for retribution.

She knew that the monster was behind Orion's and Regulus' demises, and her demented niece Bellatrix follow right behind him. She had pretended, for the sake of staying alive, that she agreed with all the nonsense, but she no longer did.

Recognition and a Proposal-

"Sirius darling," Wallburga addressed Sirius. He was a little spooked by his mother's new loving self. He shouldn't be since he he still had memories of his mother when she liked him, and he remembered the loving and dotting mother who had spoiled him rotten.

"I thought that you had been convicted of killing the Potter boy and his wife. Did they release you early? And will you be taking over their son? I heard that he was your godchild." Her eyes were fixed on him and Sirius paled. He had assumed she wasn't going to ask.

"Mother, it is best not to talk about it. Are you going to call the Aurors to apprehend me? Nobody knows I have escaped, and it would be best if you don't ask any questions."

She smiled a smile worth of Sirius Black, a grin full of mischief with a touch of darkness. Now Grant could see another facet of the woman, she still had some life and mischief inside of her. She was cunning and sneaky, reminding him of a beautiful, but dangerous predator.

"If I wasn't around, they would not be able to ask me any questions. Could they?" She asked as she looked around the room.

Sirius couldn't believe his ears, what she was implying was absurd.

"Mother, I am afraid what you are insinuating cannot be. Where I am, or better where I am going, you wouldn't be happy. I haven't changed my convictions, or at the very least I haven't changed that much. Let's say I am with people you have despised." He looked at her daringly.

"Sirius Black, look at me and tell me, do you think I am happier now? My only visitors, and not often, are; Alphard who hates me, and Narcissa and Lucius who tolerate me. I cannot bear to be around the ones who might have killed my son, and surely Regulus is dead. And if he is dead, it had to be by the order of the Dark Lord," quiet for now. She stopped and looked at Kreacher.

"Thanks Kreacher, please leave and if anyone should call, I am indisposed. And make sure neither Gouly nor you, mention my son being here to anyone. If you do, I will give you clothes. Now take the portrait to the attic, cover it, and lock it up where nobody can find it until we can figure out how to destroy it, thanks."

Kreacher was no longer mumbling, the Mistress had thanked him twice, and he was proud. Maybe having Lord Black back wasn't a bad thing.

Unfortunately, the portrait had managed to take off the seal from her lips, and now screamed bloody murder. At that, Wallburga zapped the portrait again and erased her lips. "There, perfect," she said, and Kreacher left quickly.

Sirius looked at Grant, as if saying, what is going on here?

Minutes later, she had found the pictures that she was looking for. Grant, once again, saw a picture of his grandfather, actually several. In the photos, he must have been around fifteen to twenty years older than his own current age, yet the resemblance was uncanny.

"There are other albums with him younger, before I was born. And of his sister as well, went with some uncle or a friend of my family. We'll see them later."

He felt a little sick; now, he really appreciated the problems that his looks could bring. His brother needed to be advised as well.

He wondered how many history books had Gellert's picture plastered all over. If he had never met his new magical friends, he might have been killed or kidnapped, without knowing why.

"I was right, wasn't I? I thought Grindenwald had no family." She asked Grant and once again she reminded him of a predator, of a snake?

"He did, isn't rather obvious. But I am not a Pureblood; I am not even a practicing wizard." He wanted to observe the effects of his words, not aware Wallburga had detected his educated accent.

She pursed her lips, but seemed to stop herself, and after a short meditation and clicking her tongue, she looked at him.

"What are you doing with my son? Honestly, I can see why you have stayed away from the Wizarding world, your grandfather left some rather powerful enemies in his wake, as well as somewhat unsavory memories. Very wise from your part," she smiled and looked beautiful, yet…

"I don't think that is any of your concern, suffice to say, you shall not have to see me again after today." Grant answered already upset.

"I disagree, you see, thru your veins runs the blood of a very gifted wizard and even a few drops make you simply powerful, and as I have said, I am tired of being alone. I won't last more than months if I am to continue this way of life. I have found my son, and I will do what it takes not to lose him." She looked at Grant with serious intent while she drank a sip of her tea, and continued.

"And then maybe you have a female cousin or a sister. You see, I believe that I am in need of grandsons. This sad house needs noisy little boys running around and maybe a couple of little girls. Just imagine a Black-Grindenwald baby, beautiful and powerful. Their beauty would be without rival, unless that one would have one Malfoy-Grindenwald baby, and Lucius is married."

Sirius swallowed hard. Whereas Grant nearly laughed thinking about Maddy, he knew that she was right about Draco and Mimi's future babies; maybe she had the sight.

Sirius felt the marriage noose tightening around his neck, his mother was truly dangerous. Wait, was she saying babies, as in multiple, how many was she talking about?

All of sudden, she stood with her body posed to fight, and she pulled out her wand, "And I'm not a fool to let my convictions about whose blood runs through whose veins, make me lose my last family. I am a gifted witch and a trained fighter; our kind has been persecuted and killed, so at my home we all trained for war. All our children learned to fight as they learned to walk," she looked at Sirius who had to agree with her.

"Sirius didn't know but one of my talents is Legilimency, the Dark Lord wanted to use my skills, and I declined, maybe I could have saved my family. You see, I know that Sirius wants to Obliviate- me, and I cannot allow that to happen, if others can change so can I." Her voice left no room for doubt; she meant every word she had said thus far.

Sirius was cursing himself for his idea of getting extra wands. There had to be another way, this wasn't the way he had envisioned this day.

A/n hope you all liked it. By the way there is more to come.