DISCLAIMER: HP belongs to JKR. My intellectual property is the storyline, all new characters, new character development, and new developments. Glorioux

Revelations

Someone knocked at the door, Kiki walked with him, ready to help. It was the old lady who never said much. "Mr. James, may I come in?"

"Yes, certainly," he offered her a chair.

Sirius picked up Kiki who had pecked his foot gently, keeping an eye on the older lady. Sirius was certain Kiki would fight to protect him with his mean spurs and beak. He had seen Kneazles and owls who were familiars hurting people.

"Sir, I haven't wanted to bother you, but I felt the need to talk to you. Let me introduce myself, I am Lady Amanda Riddle, a title inherited from my father; my husband was Thomas Riddle. Yes, I see, looking at you shaved and looking better, I know I was right. I had a son who was often sick, and a daughter. When my daughter Amy was 14, several young gentlemen, around 16 years old, and a couple young ladies, came to walk around my home. They dressed oddly, with long coats, that like old fashioned cloaks. We walked outside to greet them; my husband was in London." She stopped to look at Sirius.

"Francis had just married; it was 1958, and he confided how measles had left him sterile. He asked me if he could adopt Orion, the name my daughter chose. Orion was three and a half. Orion, the father, came the next year. He looked bitter and broken. He wanted to see Amy and cried when he found out she had died having his son. It was very sad. He explained that he loved Amy, but his parents forbade the union. When he found out he had a son, he wanted his son to attend a school in France and would not claim him. He stayed for a few weeks, then came whenever Orion was here. He told Orion he was an uncle. Orion went to the school and stayed teaching there. He returned for good around one and a half years ago, saying he was staying. He was quiet and withdrawn, I would say afraid. I told Francis I had seen someone in a broom while walking with the dogs. The house is not far from here." She stared at Sirius the entire time.

"Do you have pictures of him?" Sirius asked; he was in shock.

"Yes, I will be back in a minute." Lady Amanda said.

"She brought a book with Muggle pictures. Orion, the son, looked a little like him but more like his father. Sirius took after Wallburga. The son had light brown hair and some features of Amy, his mother; thank goodness he did not look like the Dark Lord. Amy was a beautiful, petite, what some called an English Rose.

"Here is a picture of my daughter and Orion." She showed him.

Sirius never saw his father smiling. In this picture, he looked somewhat like him, dressed in a suit but without a robe. He was smiling and in love with the petite girl, which made Sirius sad. His father was a Black, in love forever. It must have been not very good for him to love a Muggle. Poor his parents; both had loved someone else.

He did not like it one bit. The young witch was for Harry, but seeing the older men with the mother made him wish no or no.

Last, she showed him, "This is a picture of my husband about a year after getting married."

Sirius swallowed. In the picture, her husband looked like the Dark Lord. Sirius also understood he had a brother around Lucius's age. His parents married in 1957. He heard them fighting more than once; he wanted to bring a son from the one he had loved, and Tom had forbidden him to marry. Sirius remembered. Oh, no, his father had accused his mother of hypocrisy; she had also said it was a dangerous idea. He had reminded her how he always looked the other way with Abraxas and still did, just because he didn't care. His father often travelled to France, and now, Sirius guessed his father went to see the son he loved, how tragic. Now he suspected the Dark Lord killed his father over Orion the son, and Ed must have loved Professor McGonagall; it was all too sad.

Sirius went to sleep with a heavy heart and was happy that Kiki was there in a basket by a window. He had the wands under the pillow. He wondered who was riding a broom; hopefully, not Death Eaters, or just as bad, the Order; now he knew about Dumbledore and wondered why he had killed Francis and Ed's mothers'a families. He was certain Karma was at play, though his life was happier than in many years. He held Francis in great affection, he loved him as a father; he was mature enough to understand it; whoever had given him a family, the father he always had wished.

Francis woke him up after a restless night. They had a quick breakfast, all delicious. The cook asked, "Mr. White, did you like my brother's cooking? I trained him; we had a pub near here, and then he went to London."

Sirius grinned, "It was good, no wonder if you taught him." He wanted to say, without magic.

Francis agreed, "Mary could have gone to London; so I am glad she stayed."

"I agree," Sirius meant it.

A Picnic and Fishing

On the way to fish, Francis drove a beautiful huge car with wonderful leather seats. Francis put a blanket for the dogs. Kiki waited for Sirius; Francis also had a small blanket for the rooster next to Sirius, so Sirius picked up Kiki, sat him next to him, and put his hand over the rooster. Kiki leaned on Sirius.

"Son before you talk, I have a confession, Ed's mom was a witch; I know because my mother was her cousin. Maybe you have heard of a nasty Wizard, not of one but two of them. One wizard was the headmaster wherever they went to school, a castle somewhere. My mom's family was caught in the crossfires of a war between them. Although, I don't know much, I heard the two young witches were hiding in Ed's barn, well in his parents' home; they were 14 years old and very scared. They were in a school when they received news from the parents to run and hide, and to go as far as they could." He stopped to look at Sirius, but Sirius had no questions.

"My grandmother had two sons, Thomas and Peter. Peter was my father the oldest, and Thomas the youngest. My dad was best friends with Ed's father. Both fell in love with the young witches, who never divulged their names. They went to a nearby school, and when finished, they had a double wedding. My father might have known their real names, but I didn't. They wanted to stay away from others like them, and neither liked my father's brother, nor did they walk by his property. Mom said she saw the horrible wizard who had killed her family near there, more than once, maybe searching for them. She had no idea; nevertheless, she worried that he might do something to me. That day she told me she was a witch. She warned me if I ever saw a man, wearing robes, with a long white beard, to hide; he had killed her family because their relationship with his enemy. When I asked her what relationship she said it was best if I didn't know. She said that she and her cousin, were able to hide who we were, and hopefully nobody would ever find out; nevertheless, I should fear the man with the long white beard." Francis stopped to glance at Sirius.

Sirius had almost said, "Dumbledore," he felt sick.

"My mother and her sister made up a story about being Eastern European nobles; we can talk more later and see her things, one is a uniform, I am certain; she also had pictures that moved. I will show them to you. So, what was in my son's drawer, something magical? I thought you looked a little like my son when I saw you on the road. Aunt Amelia said she talked to you last night. You also look like the man who was his father. I wasn't sure, though I knew you were running from danger. You looked like someone who had seen death. I can sense such things since I can remember. Are you related to my son's father?" Francis asked.

"He was my father, but I look like my mother, neither liked me much. You are right, my life was, and it is in jeopardy. Evil, powerful people want to end my life. You should know I will be forever grateful for your kind help during a time of great need." Sirius wanted Francis to know; he wanted to tell him more, about his friends and Dumbledore, maybe later.

"Thanks for trusting me, but we are getting close. I will do whatever I can to keep you safe. I feel like you are my son. Just tell me, was the stick something magical? You see my mother had the same. I will show it to you; she had other strange things, miniature books inside a satchel, she had a lot more. Kiki came with my son. I see Ed's car; we will talk more later. Your secrets are safe with me. One last question, you knew Mimi, right?" Francis asked.

"I knew her, and you are right about the stick, later." Sirius answered. Kiki pecked him softly a couple times feeling the turmoil inside Sirius.

Hermione had opened the window and was screaming something. Their car was driving next to theirs. Sirius rolled the window, "Where is Kiki? James, could you stop and let him ride with me? I want to hold him." Hermione yelled.

This Hermione was more open, playful, less intense, and lovelier than ever, wearing her Muggle clothes. But her flirting made him uneasy. Unfortunately, she was encouraged by her parents, who laughed at her flirting. Naughty witch; why would they allow her to flirt with an older man? He could see she looked lovely, with her hair tied in a messy braid, and wearing a high neck red jumper. She was perfect as far as Sirius was concerned.

Francis laughed, "She is like Emily, a flirt, be watchful, but I wouldn't mind." He was pulling to the side of the dirt and stones road. Sirius huffed; Hermione was lovely and a flirt, this was new. She wasn't like that before, and was way too young. Francis saw his face and grinned; "The twins made the same faces when I teased them about Emily. The day she saw them at again, she was sixteen. She told Ed and I she had loved the twins since ever, and could we help her? We tried to tell her they were too old for her, but she wouldn't listen. They often came to visit in the summer to look at the cars. I no longer drive them that often, and the twins love them. You will see them around; they borrow the cars, one different every time. Orion, my son, did not have a use for them. He liked motorcycles; they are in the back of the garages. You might like them; drive the cars when you wish."

Kiki let Sirius pick him up. The moment the rooster saw Hermione, it wanted down. Hermione bent, picked up Kiki and said, "Such a good boy, so pretty, do you want to drive with me?" Hermione's parents and Ed were laughing. Sirius liked Ed's car, it was modern, he guessed, and had several seats. Sirius now liked cars; Arthur Weasley had it right.

One of the twins rolled his window, "James, watch the girl; she is her mama. I know her devious mind; they always get what they wish; there is no stopping them." Everyone laughed but Sirius who made an awful face, making Francis laugh more.

Ed, also laughing, rolled his window down and said, "She is her mama;I guess we shall see."

Hermione said, "My uncle and my Papa Ed have great imagination." She laughed and winked at Francis.

Sirius went into the car, sounding annoyed, "Kiki is a flirt."

"No, you are wrong. Mimi is the 4th person Kiki allows to pick him up; he can be quite nasty. Ed has tried and was pecked more than once, ask him. Maybe Kiki likes the ones you do." Francis winked a Sirius.

Sirius was super annoyed; Mimi was a little girl and was for Harry; he did not understand the winking; in the Muggle studies it was something about complicity; and no, he didn't like it. He was sulking for the rest of the drive, and Francis chuckled whenever he looked at Sirius and saw his sour face. A few minutes later they were there. Ed's dogs ran to meet Francis's dogs, a family outing, Sirius concluded; he liked it.

Sirius liked Hermione's clothes. They all wore similar jackets. The same type than the one Sirius found in the wardrobe; Francis said they were water proofed. She had blue trousers and rubber boots to walk in the stream while casting, same than every one else. Sirius knew nobody compared to her.

Sirius thought it was a wonderful day. They unpacked a picnic basket, and a box with pieces of ice filled with fizzy drinks, juices, water, and beer in bottles. Francis had a basket with thermoses with milky coffee, and milky tea, and a lemon cake. They spread blankets and a few pillows. Francis stood by his side and taught Sirius to fish; Sirius found out he was a natural. Francis was a father to him, a person who cared about him, helping Sirius heal his past sorrows. Sirius liked fishing and was still amazed at what Muggles could do without magic.

They caught enough fish for dinner and sat to eat. The basket had cheese sandwiches, pastries with spinach and cheese, meat pies, potato salad, biscuits, pudding, fruit, cooked eggs, and cooked corn for Kiki.

Sirius noticed the twins looked in their thirties. He figured the mother was around his age, 35 or so. Ed and the parents catered to Hermione, who was different around her family. She was playful, funny, and relaxed. Kiki stayed by Sirius while fishing, and then went by Hermione, who filled a small bowl with corn.

When they were eating, a tall dressed up older man, must have seen the cars and stopped. The dogs ran to greet whoever he was. Hermione hollered and ran to him, "Papa, I thought you were at work in London."

"I was, but I am back, I only work a few hours a week, but not this week; I wanted to see my favorite girl; I have a few gifts for you when you come to see me." He said hugging Hermione and then twirled her around like she was five. She was laughing joyously.

Francis introduced Sirius. They talked a little, and he invited Sirius to visit. Sirius thought he looked like many Purebloods, not much different. He guessed they all did, but nicer. Everyone was eccentric yet wonderful.

As the grandfather was leaving, he stopped to look at Emily. She was lying covered with a small blanket, with her head on one twin's lap, while the other fed her fruit, and pieces of a lemon cake. His sons waved their hand, refusing to coward under their father's glare.

One twin asked, "Has Letty arrived with her children?"

"Now that you mentioned it, Letty sent you a message. She said to remember her children are impressionable and to please not make public whatever is going on here." Their father answered, tightening his lips and narrowing his eyes.

His sons grinned, "Do you mean having a picnic and fishing?" One twin asked.

The father harrumphed and left while the others tried not to smile.

After he left, Hermione ran to hug the twins and reprimanded them, "Do not tease Papa; he is proper and old fashioned."

"Yes, and that is why neither one of us will accept his Lordship's wretched title." One twin said.

"At least he is not like his hateful relatives." Emily sighed and grimaced looking at the twins.

Sirius noticed one putting a finger to his lips, like saying be quiet, and pointing at Hermione with his nose, strange.

Hermione asked, "Why, have you see them lately? Have they asked about me?"

Emily shook her head emphatically, making Sirius wonder what was happening? They were keeping a secret from her.

a/n So Tom Riddle's father was married to older lady living with Francis. And it seems if Dumbledore might have killed Hermione's family. More coming. Is a good mistery, all written if there is interest. If you do, let me hear from you