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

Discoveries

When they opened the garden door, Kiki liked Hermione and went straight to her. She scratched his head, then picked up Kiki, that let her.

The hens came to Sirius, and he scratched them. He noticed they had ribbons and smelled of perfume, both grinned.

"Is he yours? Wait, Kiki is magical, I can feel it. How can it be? Hmm. My parents come from non practicing magical people, how strange. Is your friend related to you know who?" She sniffed Kiki, "Kiki wears cologne, a nice one."

Both laughed, "I think Francis washed the dogs and the cat and put cologne on them."

Hermione said, "Touch the hens, who knows, they might be also magical."

He touched them. His eyes opened wide in wonderment, "They are, faint magic, yet is there. Is Ed, your uncle-grandfather, magical?"

"I am not 100% sure; I think he is at least a Half-blood. So is Francis related to you know who?" Hermione inquired again.

"Uh huh, we can talk later, come over to see the pretend farm; it is beautiful. You can ride a bike, I learned; it is a twenty-minute ride." Sirius invited her. He didn't want to be so close to her; he might look much younger, but he knew how old he was, and her proximity was disturbing, filling him up with ideas he didn't like. He wanted to go back with the others, maybe it would clear his mind.

Hermione's father came to call them to dinner. He laughed looking at the hens' fancy bows. "Ed also loves chickens, who is the handsome boy, may I? We had one growing up." He stretched his hands to get Kiki.

Hermione said, "No, you can come later. Besides, he might peck you." Hermione was being selfish; Sirius grinned when he saw her pouting, "Let Kiki decide."

She put Kiki on the ground. Kiki went to Sirius, making Hermione giggle. "My daughter is quite naughty, like her mama. Be careful with her; the last time we had seen Emily she was seven, at my father's home. She was stuck to us and was rude to the girl we brought. That time, when Ed reprimanded her for being rude to Inga, Emily answered looking at Inga that we were hers, and she wanted to marry us when she was a little older. She added that Inga was lying because she was jealous." He stopped to chuckle. Sirius was grinning as well.

"Nine years later, I let my guard down while visiting my parents near by. She was about Mimi's age; we were 34. Hugh and I thought we were too old for her, and we tried to ignore her outrageous

flirting. We told her we were too old when she called us to invite us to go out with her friends. We were not too old according to Emily, who had made up her mind. She was right, we married less than two years later, a month after she finished school. Her father was one of our best friends, imagine." He grinned.

Both daughter and father laughed together, and the father offered his arm to Hermione. They loved each other that was obvious.

"Francis was saying he would like you to take his name. He would accept the other title if you did. He is such a nice man. He is very fond of you." Her father said.

"He has never said so. I consider myself quite lucky. It would be an honor; you see, I lost my parents long ago," Sirius said, meaning it.

Hermione was sad, knowing his tragic story. Her father raised an eyebrow, wondering about her long face, but she turned her head away from him.

They arrived at the beautiful dining room with a table for two dozen people. A large fireplace warmed the room; there were fresh flowers, candles, elegant place settings, and it smelled delicious. They saw that the dogs had a low table with bowls. Sirius smiled, and Hermione's father winked. Hermione said, "Lovely, I should have brought my cat. "

Her mother shook her head, "No darling, that is not such a good idea; he is rather large, and you know he dislikes dogs."

The food was excellent, Sirius ate things he never had and enjoyed everything. Francis said it was Caribbean. When Sirius complimented the food, Ed said he had a retired chef working for him, the younger brother of Francis's cook. The chef lived with his wife and an older daughter in a cottage behind the house. He said it was probably cheaper than a wife, making them laugh.

Sirius noticed the dogs had ground meat and what looked like creamed potatoes, and the cats had bowls with tuna. Sirius thought he would stay there if he could bring Harry and Remus to live with him. Forget the magical world; it had brought him nothing but grief. Looking at Hermione's parents, he was having ideas he did not like. Mimi was too young, and he was way too old.

Her mother asked, "James, do you have a girlfriend?"

"No, I enjoy my life, we are busy at, err, Francis's place." Sirius would not look at Hermione, if he did, he was afraid someone would notice how he felt about Hermione.

"Do you mean at the farm? Did you drive the old Rolls? He has a few, also a Bentley, and other beauties. He still has two gorgeous old carriages; we rode in one at our wedding." Her father asked Sirius.

"Hmm, no, we came in the truck." Sirius answered, not sure what a Rolls was.

At this, Ed burst out laughing. "Frank how many cars do you have, and you bring your friend in the rickety truck you bought at the auction because it was more authentic?"

Francis shrugged, "My boys like it."

Hermione covered her mouth to smile. This was the most fun in age; she could stay here, forever, only if Sirius would be interested, which was doubtful. Sirius could have any witch he wanted. Sirius looking like this, hmm, no, she did not want any witches to see him; they would chase after him. Only thinking about it, made her heart ached; she knew she was jealous. Truly, finding Sirius alive made her happier than she could describe, but she couldn't tell anyone, not even Harry; it would endanger him. And losing Sirius twice was more that she could bear.

Her mother said, "Mimi you are finally eating and look happy. I am glad you came home and with us. You needed a break."

"Yes, I am glad I came, the food is tasty. I might stay." Hermione answered.

"I bet," her mother grinned, looking at Sirius trying to keep his eyes on his food.

After dinner, they sat to visit. One of the brothers, they looked exactly alike and dressed identically, said, "James do you want to go fishing, we are all going and we will have a picnic. Dress warm, and bring your boy, Mimi would like it." He looked at Hermione who nodded eagerly.

He had never gone fishing, "I never learned, living in the city, but I am willing."

"I will teach you," Francis offered.

"Thanks, yes, I like that. I think Kiki would like it." Sirius grinned.

"Mimi," their name for Hermione, "where do you go to school?" Francis asked, but he knew the answer.

"To a small school; you wouldn't know it, I already told Mr. White." Her parents smiled.

"I see. What are you planning to study? Will you follow your parents, two medical doctors and three dentists. I like their modern surgery; they take care of my teeth and other ailments. Like a small clinic." Francis explained.

"I haven't decided it. I'm still thinking." Hermione answered.

They had a lovely evening, Sirius didn't miss the magical world, too much heartache, but he missed some people. When they said goodnight, Sirius didn't remember such a wonderful evening since James Potter was still alive.

In the truck, Kiki rode next to Sirius. Francis asked, "Son, did you know little Hermione? I noticed her surprise."

"No, she said she thought I was someone else." He hated lying.

"Hmm, I have a second confidence, Ed told me she is a witch. No surprise there, Ed's mother was probably one." Francis told Sirius.

He said, "Son, if are like her, you can tell me. Think about it, we all need to trust someone. That day I picked you up, I thought you were different. You reminded me of someone. I want you to trust me because I want to adopt you; I like you and see you as the son my son sent. I want you to have children and give them my name. Let new blood replenish the old one. Ed is right, I am a farmer at heart. I still have tenants and need someone good to take care of them. I don't care who you are, but I am always right about people."

Sirius didn't answer. Maybe, he should Francis. He would think about it.

Soon they were at home, the boys did their business and followed them, Kiki did as well, Sirius saw Kiki all alert, strange.

"So where did you get Kiki?" Sirius asked.

"I told you; he was my son's pet. We can talk about it later. We will be going fishing early. I will wake, you up. Look in my son's desk, in the top drawer. Tell me what you find. Good night son, I had the best time I had in a while. Ed's niece is wonderful; at her wedding Max and Hugo looked identical, wore exactly the same formalwear, same hair, cufflinks, pins, and family rings, confusing everyone; the three rode in the carriage with Emily between them. At the reception, I think, both kissed her many times, though nobody was the wiser," Francis stopped to chuckle and look at Sirius. Sirius also grinned.

"At the reception with a couple hundred guests, including a few royals, the three sat together and when mingling would trade places, I guess a shell rigging game. Ed, my son, and I had the most fun watching and laughing. The groom's parents looked miserable since they suspected. They told me their son was marrying the daughter of one of their school friends. At Eaton, the twins had been two or three classes behind Emily's father. The Granger's parents looked sour and disapproving, saying the bride could be their daughter. So, when Emily and the family visit, they stay with Ed, go for tea and what not to the parents, and return to Ed's." Francis finished with his story when they got home; both smiled, but Sirius dislike the message.

When Sirius opened the drawer. He saw a quill, not a quill, it seemed to be a disguised wand. He removed the tip; it was a wand. A find, an unidentifiable wand; if anybody saw magical activity, it would not have his signature.

What was going on? He liked it here, maybe Francis was magical but not practicing?

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 and picked 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.

Sirius was speechless thinking this was somehow connected to Voldemort.