My name is not JK Rowling; I don't own Harry Potter, although I enjoy playing around in her sandbox. However, any grammar issues are from Grammarly and my own. Although my time management skills are gods awful occasionally, I can't blame it for this one. So, yea, it's been a while, friends, for this one.

Iris Potter's younger self wouldn't have been horrified to learn what her older self now considering relaxing. And truthfully, she didn't expect it to be, but throughout the years, she found it much like meditating.

"I didn't think you were the type to be into embroidery."

"And what type is that, Sirius?"

Iris couldn't help but smile as he spun around, not seeing Andi when he entered the room. Sirus had been brought over by Kreacher earlier to speak to Ted to give him an update on what was going on with the investigation and, hopefully, trial.

"Well, you know girly pursuits," he murmured.

'The Girl Who Live' gave her godfather a stare that would have easily borne a hole through him if it were a laser.

"And what does that mean?"

Stepping back from both women, he began to wave his hands in panic. "I mean, in your third year, you usually dressed all frumpy."

Iris opened her mouth and closed it, unable to refute it; however.

"Frumpy, really?" Andi commented.

"Err, no, I mean, she does look nice now."

"I look nice?" Iris raised an eyebrow.

Sirus began to panic even more, much to the amusement of both women. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers as if finding a lifeline. "You used to dress; what do the Muggles call it? Like a Tomboy. You know, like Nymphadora."

"Don't call me that," a voice shouted, coming from the other end of the room.

Tonks glared at Sirus before collapsing on the couch. She had disappeared right after breakfast. Apparently, her old mentor wanted to meet with her.

"Rough day at the office, dear?" Iris gave her cousin a lopsided grin feeling horrible about using her for her own purposes. She'll have to do something nice for her later.

"Gods, I'm so glad I didn't screw the pooch."

"Nymphadora!"

Cringing, she said, "Dumbledore finally spoke with the head Unspeakable about my little encounter with one of his underlings the other night."

"You know I am not happy you are working for that man?"

Tonks sighed. "I know, mum. Thankfully, Croker knew all about our little group watching, 'you know what,' Sirus. In fact, he seemed inordinately pleased that they had never heard of an Unspeakable called Raven who happened to be in charge of the Death Room."

"Wait, was it an imposter?" Sirus asked.

"No, it seems that some rooms summon, I guess, employees, whether human, fae, ghost, goblin, or whatever. I don't know who or what I ran into that night." Tonks shivered, "Not sure if it was even human."

Iris frowned; true, some departments had their own reality-based laws, but she was probably still human.

"Anyway, I don't know why Moody couldn't have waited this evening to tell me this," she complained. Leaning over, she began rummaging through a basket, pulling out another hoop.

"All Black women learn how to embroider, Sirus; you know that," Andi interrupted, seeing that he was about to open his mouth again. "Bella was a daft hand at it when she put her mind to it. Better than Cissy."

Tonks shrugged. "It's relaxing, although I prefer Tai Chi."

"I feel like it's 'pick on godfather day.'" Sirius grumbled, then asked. "Are you planning on spending any time with your friends, Iris?"

"Don't know. I mean, Dora hasn't even taken me out clubbing."

"I'm not taking my 15-year-old cousin clubbing."

"Why not? I'll show you my brilliant dance moves; we can get a drink or two and maybe pick up a couple of guys."

"There will be no guys," Sirus growled.

Irish shrugged, "OK, girls."

Her godfather laughed, sounding like a bark.

Giving him a soft grin, she raised her hand, displaying two fingers. "Two weeks; I'll come over in two weeks."

Iris knew that time would allow events to percolate more in the Department of Mysteries. And it went by quickly. The surprise late birthday party the night before she left was nice—a small group attending, only the Tonks and Sirus. Besides cake and ice cream, Dora and Sirus had given her some bitchin boots and a leather jacket, while Andi and Ted had gifted her several books on the Healing Arts. The more and more Iris spoke to the formidable Black witch, the more she became interested in what might be a new path for her in the future.

The party ran late into the night; frankly, Iris was putting off making an appearance at Grimmauld Place, but she did need to go. If nothing else, to make Sirus happy.

They were also expected, as Tonks already told the residents that she would return with the wayward missing 'Girl Who Lived.' Thankfully, Iris managed to talk her cousin out of the simply silly plans for the Order of the Pheonix to come and get her.

"OK, ready? Let's get cracking," she announced before grabbing both Tonks and Sirus by the arm and, with a twist, suddenly appeared inside the parlor.

The two stared at her in shock, now finding themselves in a new location.

"You just fucking side-along Apparated the two of us!"

"Glad you noticed, Dora," Iris replied with a cheeky grin.

"You shouldn't have been able to do that."

"Yes, I know, the two of us need to talk. Later though, please."

Tonks frowned. "OK, I'll hold you to that."

Sirius ignored the two, looking at the room he hadn't been able to enter since his teenage years.

"You've been here before," he finally said to his goddaughter accusedly.

"Yes."

"Why didn't you say anything? Sirus asked, obviously hurt.

"Because I was angry for the adults forcing me back to Privat Drive, then add the little fact that no one bothered to check on me," Iris growled, then stopped. This was not her Sirus, her daddy. He was just a broken man forced to stay in a home he hated.

Then with a smile, she slipped her arm into his. "Come on, Padfoot. You've had me for the last couple of weeks, and now the remaining time before school starts."

She had been lucky since arriving in this reality so far. Almost all of the people she had interacted with were relative strangers. None of them knew the old 'Iris' enough to notice a difference in how she acted. Even communications with Sirus had been with letters. Now, those who now resided in Grimmauld Place, well, that was a totally different story.

The sound of the door opening, which had been inaccessible until that very moment, and the footsteps that followed resulted in several people coming out of the hallway leading to the kitchen with wands drawn.

"Oh, thank goodness," Molly Weasly exclaimed.

Iris gripped her hand tighter on Sirus as the woman made a beeline toward her. Some of the faces she recognized, a few she didn't. Thankfully, cloaked in death's shadows, Iris had reconnoitered a bit, trying to match faces with the names in the diary. But one person in the group she would never forget.

"Miss Potter," Dumbledore approached with a grandfatherly smile. "I am happy to see that you are safe. We were all worried about you."

I'm sure, she thought. "Well, as you can see, I'm perfectly fine." She did find it odd that the ancient wizard wouldn't look directly at her.

"Perhaps we can take this someplace else." Sirus jumped in, then frowned when he noticed the parlor doors behind him closed with a loud click.

"The kitchen then," Tonks suggested.

Iris gave her godfather a warm smile as he pulled out her chair.

The then headmaster gave a quick introduction to those of the Order who had stopped by tonight. Besides Molly and Arthur Weasley, there was an older witch named Emma Vance, Hestia Jones, who seemed to be around Tonks age, and another Auror she recognized as Kingsley Shacklebolt. He had for a time been the Minster of Magic in her world. The other members were off doing whatever or had left earlier, not waiting around as she had arrived so late.

"Now, Miss Potter," Dumbledore spoke up. "Why did you leave your aunt's home? It was the safest place for you to be."

"Not safe enough to protect me from an assassination attempt," she replied.

"Told you, Shack," Tonks said.

"What do you mean an assassination?" Molly Weasley almost screamed.

"Well, when the ministry sends two Dementors to attack someone, what else would you call it?" Iris replied, then hid a smile as people around the room began arguing.

Sirus gave her a nudge at the chaos she had just caused.

"Anyway, I came out ahead," she interrupted while brushing her bangs away from her face. "See, no scar."

That comment froze the room.

Dumbledore frowned, "May I cast a few spells upon your scar?"

After not finding whatever he was looking for, the headmaster excused himself, breaking up the little reunion, which was what Iris had hoped. Now she needed to speak to another group. Ron Weasley had gone to sleep, and the twins were hiding in their room, so she made her way to the bedroom of the two who could cause her the most trouble.

Hermione Granger sitting on her bed was reading a 5th-year Rune book when she heard a soft knock on their door.

"Come in, were decent," Ginny Weasley attempting to work on her Defense of the Dark Arts homework, called out.

"My my," a familiar voice teased. "Waiting until almost the last moment to do your schoolwork, Miss. Weasley."

"Iris!" Hermione screamed, leaping off the bed, and rushed across the room. Then jumping back, and began scolding, "Where have you been? Everyone's been worried about you."

"Leaky Cauldron," Iris replied, then leaned over to call out. "Hi, Ginny; how has the summer been treating you?"

"Not too bad. That outfit looks nice on you, and you did your hair. Did that style come out of Rose's Young Woman's Beauty Charms book?"

"A friend recommended it to me," she then showed her hands. "Even tried out the mani-pedi spells."

"You're ignoring me."

"Like you did me all summer, Hermione?" Iris commented with just a little snark.

"I know, it's just."

Raising her hand to stop the explanation, she said, "Listen, it's been a long day, and I'm pretty knackered."

"Ah, let me straighten up a little." Ginny looked over to the third bed in the room, which was covered in school bags and clothes.

"Don't bother; Kreacher cleaned a bedroom for me next to Sirus. I'll see you both in the morning."

As Iris stepped away, she could hear Hermione almost cry, "She's angry."

"What do you expect," Ginny laughed. "Sillymoo."

Later in the evening, Iris rummaged through the closet of Andromeda's old bedroom, sorting through some of the clothing. So far, everything was going as well as can be expected. Instead of going to bed, though, she had spent most of the time in the Black library, but now it was time to sleep.

"Kreacher," she called out.

"Yes, mistress," he replied, appearing.

"What's the rest of the household doing?"

"Everyone but the nasty old master has gone to sleep."

"What's Sirus doing?" She asked, hopefully not drinking, or they would be having words in the morning.

"Trying to get into the parlor." The house-elf smirked. "Old mistress is amused."

Iris laughed. "I'm sure she is. OK, I made a menu for the next two weeks. Why don't you look it over while I finish up."

Kreacher nodded quite happily, thrilled to have the mistress home.

"Oh, there's food."

The following day, Iris looked up as one of the Weasley twins sat at the breakfast table.

"So, how you doing, hen?" He asked while making himself a bacon sandwich.

Iris shrugged, cutting her grilled tomato into neat quarters, "Can't complain. Where's your better half?"

As if summoned, the second twin, who she thought might be Fred, appeared with a rather large pop and then declared, "I see that the wayward goddaughter has been found."

Iris chewed her food carefully, then set her utensils down. "I didn't know I was missing."

Sitting across from his brother, he began making a bacon sandwich while giving the 'Girl Who Lived' half an eyeful. It seems the summer had been good to the witch. Gone was the girl who dressed only in baggy jumpers or hoodies.

"Where's mum? I thought she would be in the kitchen?"

"I assume she is complaining to Sirius right now," Iris explained. "She seemed annoyed after finding out breakfast had already been made."

"So, who made it then," George asked, reaching for more bacon. "You?"

"No, I woke up early and ran into Tonks scrounging for food, so I asked Kreacher to cook us breakfast." Iris sighed. "Didn't think it would be such an issue. It is his kitchen, after all."

"And Tonks?"

"Went to work."

Ginny entered the room, grabbed a plate, and looked around, "Where, mum?"

"Complaining to Sirius that someone else made breakfast," one of the twins answered.

"OK." Ginny shrugged and then started to help herself. "Hmm, so good; you make this, Iris?"

"Kreacher."

"You shouldn't have him cooking," Hermione grumbled, obviously overhearing the discussion, as she entered the kitchen. "Good morning, everyone."

"You didn't wake Ron?" Ginny asked, moving forward so the bushy-haired girl could sit.

"I see you guys didn't bother either," she yawned. "Anyway, he's a big boy. He needs to learn to wake himself."

"I have to agree; besides, I refuse to enter that pigsty of a bedroom," Iris said with a shudder.

The other two girls grimaced in agreement.

Iris then stood up and prepared to leave. "And I now think I am going to do some reading."

"You're not going to help clean the house?" Fred inquired, then laughed. "I take it by that look that's a big no."

"You would be correct, sir."

"Ahh, Iris, can we talk?" Hermione pleaded.

"Sure, eat first, then meet me in the downstairs parlor," Iris replied, then turned to the redheaded girl in the room. "Ginny, why don't you come by as well? Bring your homework if you haven't finished it; we can work on it then?"

"There's a parlor?" Fred asked between bites.