Ch 2: The truth revealed: Sirius and Hermione talk about how Sirius fell in love with Jane and how Hermione came to be
As Hermione was being hugged she felt tears streaming down her face, "Oh Sirius I'm getting you all wet. I'm sorry" she whispered. "Hermione, it's okay. I know this news is shocking and you can cry all over me if you need to. Why don't we sit down and talk. Once we are done we should apparate to your home and talk with your mom." Sirius said as he guided her to the couch in front of the fire.
"Well let me start with this, I know you have a dad already but I want you to know I will be here for you. You don't have to call me dad, Sirius is fine. I want you to know that I am proud to call you my daughter. For one thing you saved me no questions asked and risked a lot to do that. Another thing, Remus has been telling me all about the smartest witch of her age and you definitely did not inherit those brains from me, that is all Jane." Sirius smiled. Hermione looked at Sirius and smiled, "Sirius I am so glad you are my dad and I want to call you dad but it may take time. I haven't been honest with my friends the past couple of years. My father left my mom and I after McGonagall came to inform us that I was a witch. He couldn't handle my 'freaky talents" But their marriage was not one filled with love. I always got the sense theirs was a marriage of convenience and that my mom loved someone else." She smiled sadly at him. Sirius put his arm around her and pulled her closer. "Hermione, don't you ever think your talents are freaky. You are the brightest, kindest, bravest witch I have ever met. You are growing up to be a force to be reckoned with and I am so proud of your talents in the short time I have known you. Now let me tell you the best love story you will ever hear…I may be biased though." he chuckled. Hermione laughed a genuine laugh and Sirius couldn't help but think that was the best sound in the world.
"Well as you know I came from an uptight, thought they were better than everyone else pureblood family. I despised everything they taught me. When I got to Hogwarts James, Remus and to some extent Peter became my best friends in Gryffindor. After the first year I began spending holidays with the Potters and left my home for good when I was 15 years old. The summer before 6th year James and I were in the alley when I bumped into the cutest girl carrying way too many books. The moment our eyes met I knew I had to ask her out. She had the brightest smile, the prettiest brown eyes, and long curly brown hair. After making a complete fool of myself I was able to gather up the courage to ask her on a date and to my surprise she said yes. Jane kept me on my toes. She was smart as a whip, she would stand up for what she believed in, and she was oh so kind. She told me she was a squib from the high standing Monet family in France but that didn't matter to me. I loved her no matter what her blood status was. Jane and I dated until the spring of 79. The war was picking up and I was becoming busier as an auror and as a member of the Order. Jane was the one who ended things. She told me she was going to live in the muggle world because the treatment of Squibs in England was a lot worse than where she grew up in France. Now looking back on it, she must have known she was pregnant with you and wanted to keep you safe. I can't say why she didn't tell me, that is something we will have to ask her. But I want you to know I never stopped loving your mother, even after all these years." Sirius explained.
"Wow, ok. Ummm I am at a loss for words…which is rare, just ask Harry and Ron," Hermione chuckled, "Thank you for being so honest with me. I think we should go talk to my mom now so we can both have all the information. And umm Sir- dad you just need to gather your Gryffindor courage and tell my mom how you feel because I get the feeling you are the one love she thinks about." Sirius could have cast the biggest, brightest patronus after hearing Hermione call him dad. Sirius and Hermione just sat in front of the fire for a few moments in silence before moving. The two silently crept out of Grimmauld Place and Sirius apparated them to the location Hermione gave him.
Sirius apparated them outside of a beautiful 2 story brick English style house. The cream windows had colorful flower boxes on them and the garden leading up the walkway was breathtakingly beautiful. Sirius noticed Hermione walk right in the door and he quickly stopped admiring the house and followed her inside. "Hello! Mom! I'm home and I have someone with me" Hermione shouted as she walked inside. While they were waiting Sirius took a look around. While the outside was a traditional English styled home, the inside was all modern. One picture that stuck out to him was hanging above the fireplace, it was a picture of Orion's Belt with the Sirius star painted the brightest. 'Oh Jane, I love you' Sirius thought. Jane came down the stairs in her legging and oversized sweatshirt, curly hair in a messy bun. "Hey Hermione and who did you bring with you?" Jane asked. Sirius turned around and smiled "Hi Jane". Jane smiled and tears formed in her eyes, "Oh Sirius…you're supposed to be in Azkaban, I mean I know you would never betray Lily and James. I tried to get you a trial but your ministry turned me away because of my blood status. I assume you two are here to ask questions. Well, let's go in the living room and get cozy." As all 3 sat down Hermione was the one to break the silence. "Mom I want to hear your side of the story but I want to know why? Why not tell me once I got to Hogwarts? I mean not the whole truth because that would have been a lot at 11 but that my dad was a wizard and that I wasn't a freak like he said I was" Hermione cried.
"Oh sweetie" Jane whispered as she hugged her daughter, "I never knew how to tell you. I am curious how you both discovered the truth but I will tell why I kept it a secret first. What you have to understand is while I loved, and still love you Sirius, it was dangerous for us to be together. You are a part of the sacred 28 and even though I come from a high ranking pureblood French family I am a squib. In France that was no problem for me as they are more accepting of everyone but here in England it's different. As our relationship became more public and more serious many pureblooded women would treat me like I was dirt under their feet. If they wanted me hurt or out of the way they would just ask their powerful, pureblooded husbands to get rid of me and I would be gone in an instant. Once I found out I was pregnant with Hermione I knew I had to flee to the muggle world for the safety of our daughter. When Hermione was about 2 years old we were out shopping one day and I met a handsome muggle man by the name of William Granger. Will was handsome, successful, and most importantly he had no connection to the wizarding world. I liked him but he loved me. He also loved Hermione like she was her own, well until her magic started acting out of control. I could hide her accidental magic often since Will was always working but one day when Hermione was about 9 he was home and saw her reach out her hand to grab a book that was floating towards her. That was the day everything changed. Will became cold towards Hermione, he slowly started to fall out of love with me. The day McGonagall came to give Hermione her Hogwarts letter was the day Will completely fell out of love with me and left us. I know I should have fought harder for you Sirius but after losing Lily and being a single mom I just couldn't get myself to fight harder." Jane said as tears rolled down her cheeks. Sirius knelt down in front of Jane and grasped her hands, "Oh Janey, I should be the one apologizing to you. I let my temper control me, something you had always warned me about. I should have stayed with Harry, I should have come here with him and we could have raised these two crazy, super smart, mischievous kids. I can't change the past but I am promising you and Hermione from now on I will be here for you both. We can figure out a way to clear my name so we can be a proper family. Jane I have always loved you and 15 years away has not changed that." Sirius kissed Jane's hand and she pulled him into a deep kiss.
"So I hate to break up this love fest but we should tell you how we discovered this information so Sirius and I can go back to where we are staying before we are missed." Hermione said. Sirius and Jane blushed at forgetting their daughter was there with them and broke free. "So while cleaning at Sirius's house I was admiring his family's tapestry and noticed dirt near his name. Once I cleaned the dirt off there was a line connecting Sirius to you Mom, which shocked me. What was even more shocking was there was a line connecting me to the two of you. Then I found Sirius,told him, we talked, and then came here." Hermione explained without taking a breath. "Wow Hermione, you can breathe next time even though you are in a rush but thank you for explaining." Jane chuckled. Sirius was sitting silently thinking of what their next steps should be. He knew from now on he can not rush into things with his Gryffindor brashness, this needs slytherin cunning and ravenclaw brains.
"The first thing we need to do is figure out a way for us to communicate while Hermione and I are at headquarters and you are here. Something that is faster and more convenient than owls. I wish I could find my two way mirrors James and I used while we had detentions." Sirius said. Hermione and Jane sat thinking when all of sudden, "Kreacher…we can use Kreacher. That means you have to be nicer to him, Sirius. You can tell him about us and explain to him it must be kept a secret until we are ready to make the information public. " Hermione jumped up and exclaimed. Sirius got up and hugged his daughter, "Brightest witch of her age you know!" Definitely inherited your brain Jane." Sirius chuckled, "now that we have that figured out we can communicate on how to get me a trial. Hermione, we should head back to headquarters now. Jane, I missed you and I promise to make up for the missing years for you." Sirius hugged Jane and gave her a chaste kiss. Hermione rolled her eyes at her lovestruck parents but she was secretly so happy because she could see they loved each other very much and her mom deserves happiness. Jane hugged Hermione and kissed the top of her head. "Sweetie, I am truly sorry for keeping this secret but I thought I was doing the right thing. I love you very much." Hermione hugged her mom back and whispered "it's okay mom. I know you were just protecting me. I love you." Hermione held Sirius's arm and he apparered them to an alley right next to Grimmauld Place. The two snuck back into the house, quietly snuck past the portrait of Mrs. Black, and headed to the drawing room.
"Kreacher!" Sirius yelled. A crack was heard as Kreacher popped into the drawing room. "Master called…oh and dirty blood is here soiling the House of Black" Kreacher sniffed. Before Sirius could yell at Kreacher, Hermione squeezed his hand and he took a deep breath. "Kreacher, I am sorry for my poor treatment of you. It was wrong and it won't happen anymore. I need to tell you something that you must not tell a single soul until either Hermione or I give you permission. Hermione is my child. Her mother Jane is from the high ranking Monet family from France. Her blood is not dirty as you say but as pure as mine. You will treat her with respect and follow her orders. We are looking into clearing my name so I can become Lord Black. Once I gain my title, I need you to become my head elf and help me restore the House of Black. Can you do that?" Sirius explained to him. Kreacher looked between the two and said, " Master Sirius, Kreacher will be pleased to help the House of Black." Kreacher said. "Okay dad, now we plan. Let's go to the library. Write down some plans and then give them to Kreacher to give to mom." Hermione said seriously as she yanked Sirius out of the drawing room to the library.