Disclaimer/statement: Hp belongs to JKR. The storyline, new character development, new events, new characters, and new magical creatures are my intellectual property. Glorioux

A/n I have a few several chapters - it is Holiday story-

Some months later-

The holiday season was coming up, and Sirius had helped Francis put lights on the windows and taking old Christmas decorations out boxes, all without magic. Francis played Christmas songs by putting a round disc in a box. He said it was a present from his friend's daughter. Sirius was enjoying the season, helping him put his sorrows away. The cook had made homemade biscuits and sweets, which they had with shared with the dogs and Kiki.

Sirius was organizing his room while getting ready to go out. Francis had asked him to go to town to an old friend's home who had invited them to dinner. It was for the relatives had come over for the holidays. He explained they liked to eat special dinners during this time of the year when the young family was around.

Sirius looked quite different, he had shaved, had short hair, and wore specs, not that he needed the latter, but they changed him a lot. After working with Francis, his body was fit; his brown hair had gold streaks, and his skin, darkened with the sun, glowed with health. Kiki, the rooster, followed him everywhere; Francis had explained that Kiki used to be his son's rooster.

When Sirius was getting his clothes ready, he saw the shoe bag where he had hidden his wand and the Galleons. He spread the coins on his bed, a small fortune. There were also two large diamonds, a ruby, and a sapphire. He wondered how much was a new truck? Maybe he could buy one with one of the diamonds. "

He would go by a jeweler and ask how to sell one of the gems. He wanted to buy nice gifts for Francis and the cook, though Francis insisted on paying him, so he had Muggle money. Ah, there was something else in the bag, a rolled scroll. He opened it and read:

"Sirius, I wanted to know you are family; it is complicated. In a couple of months, you can send a Muggle message to me at this address. I would like to know you are safe. If you need more money let me know, don't hesitate. You shouldn't tell me where you are at and sign as Achiles Malfoy. We will figure out how to send you more money. You can sell the gems; each is worth a small fortune. Lucius."

NSirius did not want to be Lucius family but so be it. Now, he was curious, but not that much. He put the money away and placed his wand under his shirt using a wand holder he had made himself. He wore a tweed jacket with a waistcoat, dress trousers, a white shirt with a set of gold cuff links from a gold and silver collection, a red silk Muggle tie, and dress shoes. He looked in the mirror and grinned, not recognizing himself. He looked better than he had in years. He was a little surprised he looked much younger than when he arrived or was it an optical illusion?

He missed Harry and the young witch, though he did not like the way he felt about her; unfortunately, he could not help it. It made him feel like a pervert. As far as he was concerned it was an unfortunate Black trait, because once that you met the one that you would love, it would never stop. Too bad he was not wrong and without a doubt the young witch was it. His mom had said it ran in her family, meaning the Blacks. She looked sad when she said, "I hope it doesn't happen to you," and ran away crying. Oh no, a terrible suspicion creeped after reading Lucius's scroll, and it was ruining his day; he remembered his parents were miserable and often fought; during one fight Sirius heard the name Malfoy mentioned. He would put the thought aside, no sense in making conjectures.

When Francis saw him, he grinned, "What a handsome young gentleman," he said, "I am not sure if there will be any female relatives, other than his married niece, but maybe there will be a young lady that you might like. I was wondering if may ask you for a favor. In the next couple of days, could you help me go to my uncle's house. I had never liked the place and find it scary. You see many said that witches lived nearby, and the place is haunted. We will talk, I hope you don't find me crazy, but I saw something odd and wanted to check."

A chill ran along Sirius back. But he would do it for Francis. When he was not looking Francis looked at Sirius relieved and grateful. He hoped Sirius was what he thought because he would understand and help; he had waited but after what he saw, it was time to ask.

The dogs, cat, and rooster followed, to Sirius surprise the truck had a tarp cover in the back, with blankets, inside they were beds for the dogs and the cat, and a basket with a pillow for Kiki. Francis helped the animals climb, when up, put them in their beds, and, finally, he secured the cover. "I bring them when I go out, they like coming. Ah, they don't mess their blankets, and Kiki is house trained, that is why he sleeps by your door in his basket. The boys sleep in my room."

Sirius laughed; he was happier than he had been after James died. He wished he could contact Harry or Remus; it was the one cloud. Maybe, they could find a way to end Voldemort, wishful thinking.

Francis told him about his friend. He said his friend an old bachelor, used to love a girl. Francis thought the girl was a Scottish witch. Francis said, "In confidence, I believe him. I will tell you later why. Oh, we are here."

Sirius was wondering if he were walking into a trap. But probably no, Francis let the dogs jump and picked the cat. "Son, can you get Kiki? He will like that; he prefers you." Sirius thought he would get pecked, but not, Kiki was relaxed. Francis carried the cat and also a bag with gift parcels.

.|Francis knocked and a dressed up older gentleman invited them in. Sirius's was going to let Kiki outside when he noticed the animals seemed to be invited as well. Sirius thought they were very eccentric to say the least. Past the door, the host opened a door to an inner garden, where two hens came to greet Kiki, that went to greet them. Francis said they were old friends, three small dogs and two cats walked along them, Sirius could not stop smiling; he guessed it was a visit for everyone.

The friends were smiling. The friend's house was large, a manor; portraits from several centuries covered the walls. He guessed old money. He kept smiling until he nearly had a heart attack when he saw the guests. "My niece, her husband, his brother, and their daughter; the tree Doctor Grangers and little Hermione, they are, Max, Hugo, my wayward niece Emily, and Mimi their daughter, my favorite."

Hermione's eyes opened like saucers, wondering. Sirius shook his head, begging her to be quiet; he was equally startled. But why was Hermione's mother sitting between the brothers, holding hands, very cozy. Hermione looked lovely in her Muggle clothes. She wore a very short dark blue velvet dress with dark tights, short boots. Her mother also wore a short dress. Both were equally beautiful.

Francis introduced Sirius, "This is my dear friend James White; he has been keeping me company and helping me at the farm with the animals and the crops."

When he said at the farm and the animals, his friend broke out in a guffaw. "Francis, what farm, you have pets, a fruit orchard, some vegetables, and live in a country manor, plus you have a townhouse in London, and one in Brighton. Lord Francis Thomas Riddle is no farmer he is an Earl, and could be a Duke, a title waits for him."

"Ed, you cannot talk because you have your own friends, ahem, and you are the same I am, ahem. You also have the same wretched title waiting for you. And I can start counting your properties." Francis grinned.

Hermione said, "Mr. White, sorry for interrupting, but you look so much like the uncle of a friend of mine."

"What friend Mimi? I don't remember any of your friends having an uncle," Her mother thought her daughter was flirting, and the poor gentleman looked flustered. The men grinned, amused, pitying Mr. White. They knew the poor man was no match for Mimi because she was like her mama, who always got her way; and they had never seen Mimi so interested. Their bet was on Mimi.

"You don't know everyone that went to my school; do you? it was a while ago." She answered coyly.

Hermione realized that Sirius looked like he was around 20 some without the beard and the short hair. His eyes looked bluer with the darker skin. Though it was true magical people looked younger, he now looked like an older version of the pictures she had seen when he was in Hogwarts, and the haunted look was mostly gone. Maybe falling in the Veil had changed him. She thought it was too bad he saw her as a little witch, but next September when she turned 17, she would go after him, nothing to lose. Her mother had started it when she was 16. Her grandmother married a week after she turned 18 same as her great grandmother, Uncle Ed's mom.

Edward, Ed, said, "Francis tells me that you are his adoptive son. Since you are family and my niece does not care, you should know she is married to Max, and she lives with both brothers. She couldn't decide which one she liked best. No sense in hiding it; if you are going be spending lots of time around us, you'll be wondering. Their father is a Duke, and my sister married one. Not that any of us cares, but the in-laws care."

Hermione's mother giggled like a young girl; Hermione was her look alike, "I lost my parents when I was five, and came to live with my uncle, who was my guardian. When I told him I couldn't decide which twin I wanted; he told me, "Dear girl, why decide, keep both, nobody has to know. Which I did, and I appreciated his open mind. I am lucky."

Hermione covered her eyes. "Mom, you embarrass me."

Sirius grinned. "No, it is perfectly acceptable to me. So, what is your name again? Oh Mimi, yeah, where did you go to school?"

"I go to a private school that you wouldn't know." She narrowed her eyes, not liking his silliness.

The evening went well, but he was dying to talk to Hermione alone after dinner.

Hermione said she wanted to see the chickens since Francis mentioned that he had brought his rooster. Nobody wanted to go with Hermione, but Sirius offered to go with her.

Her father said, "Why don't you go alone? You can find out the place, and let James stay here. We are enjoying his company."

"No, it is fine with me. I want to go and check on Kiki." Sirius was about to go, anyway.

When they were far enough, she said, "I thought you had died. I'm so glad to see you. I wanted to hug you."

Sirius said, "Shh, don't say anything. How long are you going to be here?"

"Three days, but maybe throughout the Yuletide. I don't feel like going back with the craziness at Hogwarts right now. My parents are staying here until January; it is lovely. What happened? How did you get out? I saw you falling in. We cried for days." She still cried, every night. Today was the first day she was hungry.

"I cannot tell you because I promised I wouldn't tell anyone. So, is it Lady Hermione?" He grinned." We have a few Muggle titles as the Malfoy and others from olden times do, from the Muggles persecuted our people."

"Maybe, but you are not allowed to tell anyone. My friends wouldn't like it." Hermione explained.

They went by several Muggle pictures. Two were of a young bride who could have been Hermione. "Who is that?" Sirius asked.

"My great grandmother, uncle Ed's mother. And see the other one? This was my grandmother, notice their hair is fixed differently, because they are mother and daughter, here look, and that is my mother." She showed him another picture of another bride, but the picture's colors were better. She was also Hermione with different hairstyle. "Funny how much they look alike; I would say triplets. You see my mother also wore the same dress on her wedding. It is beautiful, from the last century. I will wear it when I marry." She sighed, imagining wearing the dress to marry Sirius, who only thought of her as Harry's friend.

Sirius would not look at her, his mind was very confused and it made him unhappy. He was having hard trouble seeing her as Harry's bride; and he didn't like it. He knew how old he was.

Hermione wanted to see his face because he was very quiet.