Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series/books (whatever you want to call it). Any characters you might recognize from the series do not belong to me. All the other characters you do not recognize from the book are mine.

Chapter 1 – Daughter of the Serpent

Sirius stared at the fire. It was already around midnight yet he could not sleep. The thought of Harry back at Privet Drive made him lonely. He knew Harry despised it there like the way he despised the 12 Grimmauld Place. If only Pettigrew did not get away, Harry would now be living with him. He looked around and the sight of the house brought back painful memories of his 'childhood'.

A loud pop interrupted his train of thoughts. Turning around from his chair by the fireplace, Sirius saw a familiar and shabby face looking back at him.

"Moony!" Sirius jumped up and greeted Remus Lupin, who just Apparated.

"Nice to see you too again Padfoot." Remus greeted back with a smile.

"What brings you here?" Sirius questioned, gesturing Lupin to sit down beside him.

"Dumbledore"

"What about Dumbledore?" Sirius Summoned two mugs of Butterbeer and handed one to Moony.

"Thanks." Lupin said gratefully and continued, "He wants us to meet someone. He said it's really important."

"Probably another member for the Order." Sirius guessed taking a sip of his Butterbeer.

"Maybe. But why call only us?" Remus wondered.

Sirius shrugged. Sirius was about to tell Remus his presumption when a figure followed by another suddenly appeared from the hearth. Both men stood up to welcome the Headmaster and his companion.

Dumbledore brushed the soot off his cloak and gently ushered a dark haired teenager with dark crimson eyes that are almost black towards Sirius and Remus. "This is Nepenthe. I'd like to ask you, Sirius, to let her stay for awhile." Dumbledore introduce. He took out his wand, gave it a flick and two cozy armchairs, like the one Sirius was sitting on earlier, appeared out of thin air and sat himself down. Sirius nodded his approval. Nepenthe held out a hand to shake both Remus' and Sirius'.

Sirius took it and noticed that her skin is white, almost the color of snow highlighting her beautiful dark features. "I am –"

"Sirius Black, I know," she said shaking his hand. Turning to Remus and shaking his hand too she said, "And you must be Remus Lupin. It's a pleasure meeting you both." Her voice soft and quiet, almost in a whisper, her red lips barely opening. Sirius indicated for her to sit down beside Dumbledore and summoned another two mugs of drink.

"My muggle name is Joelle Ploomarc," she continued. "But my real name is Nepenthe Ambrosia Cybele... Black."

"Black?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"Yes, my maternal grandmother is Araminta Meliflua, your mother's cousin," she explained turning to Sirius.

"I see..."

"How about your father then? How is it that you carry the name of your mother?" Remus asked curiously and sat down.

Nepenthe looked at Dumbledore with an expression neither Sirius nor Remus could read.

Dumbledore, however, took no notice of Nepenthe's uneasiness but answered Remus' question for her. "That is a matter she do not wish to discuss, I believe. I ask of you both to leave that issue behind." Dumbledore explained. There was a finality in his voice that both men knew better than to pursue the subject. Dumbledore stood up and said, "I have to go. I'll see you in a week's time," with that, he Apparated with a pop. An edgy silence followed his departure.

Finally, Sirius decided to break it. "How about if I show you your room?" he asked. Sirius glanced at Remus and Remus nodded, indicating he will wait by the fire until they came back. He took out an old book and started to read.

Nepenthe nodded and followed Sirius upstairs to an empty room. It had a nice comfy bed although the worn-out paintings and the dusty shelves suggested that the room was very old.

"This used to be your grandmother's room as I remember. But we have to clean it up for you to use it. It's a bit untidy. I'll have it spotless for you now so you can sleep her tonight." Sirius explained. "Kreacher!" Sirius shouted. Nepenthe walked across the room and studied the pictures displayed on the shelves. Sure enough, there were pictures of her grandmother from her younger years up. She heard some mutterings and turned around to find an old houself dressed only in a loincloth. She watched, slightly amused as the houself bowed down low to Sirius but cursed at him, loud enough for anyone to hear.

"This is Nepenthe, Kreacher. Nepenthe Black, granddaughter of Araminta." Sirius said loudly.

Kreacher stood up straight, eyes almost filled with tears of joy. "Is it true?" Kreacher peered at Nepenthe and said, "It is. Kreacher can see the resemblance. But Kreacher never knew mistress Araminta had a daughter." He bowed down low at Nepenthe and muttered under his breath. "Kreacher is happy. Kreacher finally meets a true Black. Mistress would be happy! Oh she will be!"

"Kreacher, I want you to clean this room and rid it of dirt. Nepenthe would be sleeping here tonight." Sirius said in the same loud voice, filled with disgust, making Kreacher jump.

"Kreacher would be very happy! Very happy indeed to work for Mistress!" Kreacher muttered while working happily.

"Would you want me to show you around the house?" Sirius asked Nepenthe as they exited the room, leaving a very happy Kreacher behind.

Nepenthe nodded.

"You know, Kreacher was right." Sirius said as they walked towards the tapestry. "I never saw your name on the family tree before," he said, scanning the family tree.

When he reached Araminta's descendants however, he saw letters being written in gold as if by an invisible hand. The writing paused at the name of Nepenthe's mother, as if thinking. Slowly, a golden line was placed beside the name of Nepenthe's mother. Sirius looked closely to be able to read the name of Nepenthe's father. T-O-M R-I-D-D Sirius eyes widened in shock and quickly backed away. Nepenthe looked away as the hand finished her father's name – Tom Riddle. Yes, Nepenthe's father is no other than the Dark Lord, Lord Voldemort himself.

A/N: Reviews - comments, complaints and suggestions are always welcomed. Thanks!