Chapter 1
Regulus Black was not exactly a favorite Death Eater, heck he was a great student but didn't get the top marks. He tried to not stand out much. Sure, he had been his mother's favorite, but that wasn't really saying too much. She was a hateful woman that had forced his own brother to run away and live with the Potters.
Did he miss Sirius? Depends on how the question was worded. He did get his brother in trouble often, but that was more to keep himself from the spiteful nature of his mother. Sirius had his side of their life at home, and Regulus his.
Sirius did cross his mind, from time to time. That was because he always feared having to confront his brother in a battle. Maybe that's why he spent more time away from the battles and more time studying. A nose in the book, trying to find ways to hunt down the baby that Voldemort needed to kill seemed to be a good excuse to not fight at all. He was never a fighter. Not a brave Gryffindor like his brother. Merely a good student.
Today, however, he was out walking the edge of a small town. He had read about Albus Dumbledore's connection to Godric's Hollow, and had begun to speculate that the Potters may be hiding in this small little village. It was night, a full moon lit the sky, helping him find his way. A close glimpse and a small walk may give him some sort of hint.
He never made it into the town, however. He heard the piercing sound of a wolf howling in the distance. A foolish mistake, coming out on a full moon night. Especially a wooded area. He turned, withdrawing his wand and using a simple lumos to give him better light.
He saw a light brown werewolf, ridden with scars. A wolf he kind of knew, it was Remus Lupin. He only knew that from the nights he would sneak out after his brother and his friends. Usually in the company of Severus and Barty.
In front of the wolf, however, a small girl with raven black hair and piercing green eyes. He knew the girl well. A girl that had been seated near her father often at the Death Eater meetings. He knew he had to do something. Regulus ran, placing himself between the two. His mind raced through his Third Year Defense Against the Dark Arts text.
"Stupify!" He cast. The wolf was knocked back, just long enough for Regulus to grab the girl and apparate back to Malfoy Manor. This was their headquarters at the moment, and he knew her father would be happy to have her back, safe and sound.
He kneeled down to her level, "How did you get out there, Seres." He asked, looking her over.
"McNair took me." She answered, holding her arm. Regulus took the arm and sighed, a bite mark.
"Does it hurt?" He asked.
She gave a small nod. "Will father hate me?"
Regulus really didn't know the answer. Would he hate her? His mother would. No matter the love there would be hate. Pure bloods hated half breeds. Not to mention, the girl's own mother would really hate her.
The girl was his cousin, a child of Bellatrix Lestrange. Not that the woman had any care for her, she wasn't a boy as she had wanted.
"I really don't know. I feel that he may. And to be honest, if he didn't his followers would." Regulus pondered the complex situation. He picked her back up and carried her into the manner. "We won't tell him about the bite, but we will do what we can to get you somewhere safe."
"Where would that be?" She asked. Such a bright child for her age, always so curious.
His mind thought through all the places he knew, then he had an idea. "I will take you home with me." He commented, a soft smile on his face. "If we don't tell my mother about the bite, she won't mind. To protect you, we will say you are my own. She will adore you and bestow upon you the fortune of my household." He replied. Weirdly, he felt good about this choice. First, he would have to notify her father. It would make him look more favorable in the eyes of his lord.
He carried her into the sitting area. Luckily Voldemort was alone. He looked over, a look of confusion upon his face.
"Black, why do you have my child?" He asked.
"I found her, My Lord. She was near a small village. According to her, McNair took her out on a full moon night." Regulus explained.
"Was she injured." Voldemort questioned, truly showing a rare bit of concern. This was, after all, his heir.
"Yes, by a werewolf." Regulus replied. "I know the opinion of your followers, and her mother, I would like your permission to take her to my home. Grimmauld Place is safe, and hidden. If I trick my mother, and with some convincing, she could be paraded as my own."
Voldemort looked at the young follower, and his daughter. He knew there were dangerous times ahead.
"It would be safer for her, to not be mine." He thought a tad more, raising himself from the chair and walking to his child. "Perhaps this is for the best."
"I really want to keep her safe. She is my cousin, after all, and truthfully despite her age, she is the only family I appreciate."
Voldemort nodded, "Then take her with you, and keep her safe. I expect you to be with her every moment, so unless I call for you, stay with her."
Regulus blinked, a tad confused and excited. He didn't have to battle anymore? And he could do some good? Maybe even turn a child that was meant to be the heir of the Dark Lord into something else? Who knew.
Regulus gave a small bow, "I will get Dobby to help me collect her things."
Soon, he was standing in his home, a child in hand. His mother walked to them both, she looked at the child and at her son. A huge hug came to her favorite child. After all this time, he actually had added to the Black Family line.
The happiness was short lived. The first full moon proved hard for the small girl, and Walburga did catch on to the noise. Regulus had to make a quick choice, and the choice was, to make his mother disappear. Walburga died after falling down the stairs. That was the story the world would hear. But the girl was more important, and truthfully, maybe with her gone his brother would come home. He would need all the help he could find to insure this child's safety.
Why would he kill his mother though? She had given him life? Perhaps it was the fear? People thought she loved him more than Sirius, but really what did that even mean? She did hit him less, but she still didn't treat him well enough. Here he was 17, fresh out of Hogwarts, and yet he was still scared of her.
His father was gone, his brother abandoned him...all he had was Kreacher. Now, though, he had a kid. No, she wasn't his, but she did seem to care for him.
It was settled in his mind, while not his by blood, she was his daughter. Much like himself, she had a mother that tormented her. Her father loved her, but he was always busy fighting a war he was going to lose. Granted, if Dumbledore and his minions learned that Voldemort had a child, they would probably want her dead too, or use her as a tool. Kind of like his parents offered him up to Voldemort.
His mind was going in circles, as he walked out of Gringotts. This had been a busy day, putting things in order. He had to make sure the Black accounts all had Seres as the only person to inherit them. He didn't want anybody else to ever take that from her. She had done nothing wrong, and he wanted to provide a future he and his brother never had. Weirdly, he figured Sirius would agree. Especially if it meant helping family. At least he hoped so. Had he done right?
He shook his head a bit, but smiled when he felt the small hand in his. Seres had come along with him. She enjoyed going to Diagon Alley.
He saw her look at the Apothecary and he let out a laugh. "You're much to young to get into potion making kid."
She smiled at him, "No I am not. Please can we go in?"
He shrugged. Why not, why not let her live her best life. He let her lead him in, and promptly he began a conversation with the shop keeper.
By the time he left, he had parcels full of materials and books. She would need to know how to make a Wolfsbane potion one day.
His heart nearly fell when he walked out, though. There walking in the path was Sirius and Remus. He felt like punching Lupin, but he also knew it wasn't the wolf's fault. But it was Sirius that made him so unsure.
Sirius turned and looked at him, he gestured to Lupin, before walking over.
He eye his brother up and down, "Look who it is..."
"Shut up Sirius," Regulus growled.
Sirius began to laugh a bit, before looking down at the girl. "Who is she?"
"This is Seres, my daughter."
"When did you have a kid?"
"A few years ago, what's it to you?" Regulus replied.
Sirius looked at her a bit more, then back to his brother. "Sorry, it's just she looks a bit older than I'd figure for a niece of mine."
Regulus looked over at Lupin and back at her. "Anyway I need to get her back home."
"I bet Mother is proud of this accomplishment you made."
"Mother is dead, died a few nights ago after accidentally falling down the stairs."
Sirius gave a small laugh. "Really? Her ankles finally gave out?"
Regulus just nodded, "Anyway, I really need to get going."
Sirius watched as his brother began to walk off. There was something wrong. While he had issues with his younger brother, he didn't like seeing him in pain. Regulus stopped a bit and turned back.
"Change your mind?" Sirius asked.
Regulus sighed, as he looked to the girl and then back to his brother.
"If anything happens to me, you will be all she has left. Aside from Bella. Please promise, no matter how much you hate me, that you will take care of her."
Sirius felt a bit of a pang in his heart, hate was a strong word. Had he really betrayed his sibling so much? He smiled, "I would be happy to Regulus. She has done nothing wrong."
Regulus hoped Sirius was telling the truth. That he would actually keep an eye on the child.
Nobody could prepare anybody for the months that followed. The death of Regulus, the death of the Potters and Sirius' imprisonment, but they all happened.
Seres ended up being raised by the noble house elf Kreacher, and Harry went to the Dursley's. Two lives so similar, and yet neither had met. They should never have had reason to meet. Seres was older than Harry, and kept in hiding. Harry was younger and lived with Muggles. It wasn't until the Fall of 1995 that they would meet. Of all places, they would meet in Grimmauld Place.
That's where this story truly begins. The meeting of two destined to meet.