Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: I am so sorry for the delay! It's just, I am writing 22 stories all at once and it is hard for me to update sooner. Also, I will NEVER abandon my story, NONE OF THEM, so don't worry XD! No matter how long it takes me to update, I am not one to abandon a story!

Enjoy!

Chapter 21:

When Voldemort met his downfall with little 'Charlus' Potter that Halloween night, a myriad of the Dark Lord's followers who were dubbed, Death Eaters, pledged Imperius Curse, some threw a shitload of money to a few charities masking themselves as humanitarians, and a few bribed the blithering fool of a Minister, Cornelius Fudge. Numerous ruthless Death Eaters were caught in the raid in Diagon Alley, the same night of the Dark Lord's demise, such as the twisted Carrow siblings, Antonin Dolohov, Yaxley, and many others. However, the Dark Lord's favored and most trusted, like the Malfoys and the Lestranges got out scot-free since the only demand given to them, was to lay low.

The Ministry and the Light Side which comprised Dumbledore's Chicken Order were completely unaware of the delicate machinations of the Dark Lord and his faithful's. Some Death Eaters were not given the prestigious privilege of being branded with the Dark Mark, and some were merely contacts, or spies, disguised as regular citizens, fraudulently neutral in the skirmish that shook Magical Britain.

For that simple strategic reason, many miscreants roamed freely under the guise of regular civilians, making a foolery of the Ministry of Magic and the higher ups.

Benjamin Russell was an exemplary of the Dark Lord's clandestine followers that escaped justice and damnation. The Russells weren't one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight; they were an extremely minor House with an abundance of gold and riches. Benjamin was never referred to as a Lord, but the Russells were categorized as a strictly Dark Family and were known for dabbling in the Darkest of Arts.

Benjamin had been given the honor of being branded with the Dark Lord's Mark, but was kept hush-hush from even the Inner Circle. Voldemort severely enjoyed what he had to offer, a sick and twisted mind whose specialty was raping women and a few men until they were a shell of their former selves, a morbid punishment instead of the welcoming arms of Death. In St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies, a ward was allocated and filled to the brim with Benjamin Russell's victims, lost deeply in the recess of their minds, replaying their greatest fear – Benjamin – yet unable to utter the identity of their tormentor, leaving the Magical Community dumbfounded, since even during the Death Eaters' trials, they were oblivious to the clandestine rapist's identification under the effects of Veritaserum.

With the Dark Lord gone, Benjamin resumed his abandoned hobby and began terrorizing the inhabitants of Muggle London. Every odd consecutive day, a Muggle was located in a puddle of blood, body fluids and insanity, quivering in heart-wrenching sobs and cries of lunacy, floundering the constabulary. But eventually, the Day of Judgment would come to collect from every sinned evildoer, and it so happened, that Benjamin Russell's sick ploy finally reached fruition a few days before Yule.

Leaning against a brick wall, hidden in an alley, Benjamin puffed nonchalantly on a cigarette, inhaling and exhaling the strong tobacco that filled him with the regular buzz, his steel blue-grey eyes focused nefariously on the latest unlucky victim.

The petite blonde Muggle froze mid-step, like a cornered animal sensing danger, and Benjamin reveled in the fear that radiated from her tiny form. Eliciting raucous chuckles at the ward awaiting their latest patient in the Insane Asylum, he pounced from the shadows, not even bothering to muffle her shrilled screams – for he was a Dark Wizard, an arrogant man who held faith in his potent silencing charm placed on the alley before the unlucky filthy Muggle walked headfirst into his trap.

The nefarious wizard was oblivious that he had in fact, walked into the trap, and that it was his last unlucky day on Earth. The modus operandi was harshly abrupted when, much to his greatest shock, the warm and soft form trapped in his strong arms dissolved into a wisp of black smoke and he found himself grabbing nothing but thin air.

Like a rabid animal that needed to be put to sleep, Benjamin dangerously whipped his head around from left to right, forward and backward, but his victim was nowhere in sight, and that was when he heard it. Cold, malicious laughter, ringing perversely in the empty alley, eliciting goosebumps out of him and the hair on the back of his neck rose exponentially.

"You're not a Muggle, are you?" Benjamin growled out in a methodical slick tone, in resemblance to slime; furtively he slid out his prized wand, a weapon he hadn't felt the need to use when attacking Muggles.

The biting cold tone echoed around him, "Now, what gave you that idea, Russell?" And before his mien could morph into shock at the sound of his name, a hard blow came in contact with his spinal cord, bringing him down to his knees, his wand clattering away from reach and onto the pavement.

He was paralyzed, and his blue-grey eyes began watering with agony. A cold, dainty hand grabbed his chin roughly, raising it upwards to face his prey-turned-predator in the eye. From afar, he identified her as blonde and petite, but up close, he noticed onyx eyes burning like an inferno, an oval face and a much too large nose that contrasted greatly with her soft features. She bent lower and chuckled, and Benjamin could smell mint and oranges fan his face from her cold raspy breath, but for some unknown reason, it smelt like death to him.

"Your sick and twisted days has come to an end, Benjamin Russell," her mouth twisted into a shark-like smile, "You have been most difficult to capture, but I guess it was due to the fact that you're a wizard, huh," it was a statement, not a question, and Benjamin knew that even if she hadn't managed to successfully paralyze him with one crucial blow, he would be frozen in fear. This mystifying not-Muggle was death personified.

"You reek of death," he spat, his voice a mixture of a snarl and a quiver.

The woman grinned, and if he weren't mistaken, oddly … flattered, "That is because I am the harbinger of death, and my main victims happen to be rapists. Unlucky for you, dear one, you fall flat into that category. I see why Voldemort showed a reverent interest in you. You are one sick fuck, aren't you? Makes me wonder what happened to you as a child …. The mind healers would get a kick out of you," and suddenly, her head fell backwards and she let out a bellow of cold laughter that was strictly artificial.

Benjamin knew his life had come to an abrupt end, and so, he asked the last question he was most curious of before he was to be sent down to the fiery pits of hell, "Who are you?"

A smirk inhabited her face – a cruel, devious smirk that held a double-meaning, and Benjamin discerned that he would never discover this woman's secret. "I am Shadow Swan."

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

The commonly empty alleyway in Quay Street was buzzing with activity; police officers and coroners surrounded a mutilated and gory body, staring down at it with revolted eyes. Deadened blue-grey eyes were frozen forever more in a red-rimmed and wide-eyed depiction of fear, thin lips were agape and twisted in anguish, and the onlookers shivered as they imagined the man's tormented screams reverberating in their head.

Officer Stuart Motley grimaced from his position a few feet away from the victim who held absolutely no identification, but he had a shrewd suspicion his contacts would, and upon hearing the familiar tell-tale loud cracks from around the corner, he straightened up and whipped around, smiling wearily at the three men approaching him.

"Sirius! I'm glad you could make it," Stuart sighed, offering a handshake, and the handsome aristocratic man with stormy grey eyes smiled genially in return, taking the offered hand at once. "You called, I came. What's this about, Stu?"

Stuart Motley was a second generation squib and growing up in his childhood house in Grimmauld Place 10, him and his sister, Alice, who happened to be the only Motley that inherited magic from their grandparents, were familiarized with Sirius Black who managed to escape his horrid family into the noisy playground a few blocks away. Stuart and Sirius were the same age, while Alice and Sirius' younger brother, Regulus were admitted into the same year. Sorted into Hufflepuff, Sirius assumed the role as the younger, docile girl's protector, and although they lived in two different worlds, Stuart never lost contact with Sirius who was still amicable with Alice Gérard, née Motley.

"D'you lose your manners, Black?" a gruff, weather-beaten man from beside Sirius growled out; he wore a long cloak and a bowler's hat and Stuart instantly recognized him to be the notorious Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody who was the reason most of Azkaban's prison cells were filled out.

Sheepishly, Sirius grinned and distractedly gestured his hands toward the men on both sides of him, "The one lacking humor here is my boss, Head Auror Moody, and this is my best friend and partner, Auror James Potter. Moody, James, this is an old neighbor of mine, Officer Stuart Motley, he's a squib."

Recognition gleamed in James Potter's hazel orbs and he flashed him a benign smile, "Little Alice's brother? I remember you talking-"

"Enough dilly dallying around," Alastor barked impatiently, tugging his bowler hat to cover his fake eye from the curious stares of the muggles, "What favor do you need?"

"Right," Stuart cleared his throat and tugged on his collar nervously, "We've got a murder victim, no identification, no fingerprints in our database, nothing. Either the guy is from some secretive service, or he's a wizard. Now, we ain't squeamish here since we see a lot of death, but this… this is some messed up shit," Stuart beckoned them to walk along with him, and the other officers and coroners gave the four of them a wide berth. Alastor, James and Sirius didn't fail to notice that they all seemed to be relieved to set a long distance with the dead body.

"You have any proof that this person is a wizard?" Alastor gruffly demanded in a low voice, "He could be running from the law and had connections to make himself disappear."

Stuart nodded sternly, "I thought so, too. Unfortunately, I got a glaringly obvious proof pointing him towards your community. The perpetrator was kind enough to leave us the proof untouched."

James frowned in confusion, "What do you mean? Untouche-," unable to finish the sentence, James Potter let out a strangled noise seemingly a mixture between a cough of disgust and a yelp. Even Alastor, the war-veteran who lost an eye, a leg and a chunk of his nose in the war stared at the mutilated body – or what remained of it – in revulsion and horror.

"Shadow Swan," Sirius whispered with wide-eyes focused intently on the signature carved crudely on the decapitated man's forehead. Of course, the Magical Community in Britain had heard rumors of the deadly assassin terrorizing Muggle London, originating from America. This was however, the first time one of their own was slaughtered by the murderer.

Alastor coughed gruffly and pointed a gnarly index finger and the limbless corpse, "I recognize him alright. Benjamin Russell; came from a Dark family, surprisingly kept his nose clean, no complaints about him and he has a clean state of criminal activity."

James bobbed his head in agreement, "He took no sides in the war with Voldemort, barely listed himself as neutral, too."

Stuart stared at the three oblivious aurors in disbelief and skeptically snapped, "Are you sure about that? Evidence paints a completely different story that immensely contradicts your saintly image of him!" And before the wizards could question his claim, Stuart ordered one of the Officers nearby for a plastic baggie with evidence. A mere moment later, Stuart handed over the amputated left arm of Benjamin Russell where the familiar Dark Mark was tattooed.

"Son of a bitch!" Alastor swore, his one eye widening vehemently, while James and Sirius recoiled in shock and horror. "So, what? This Shadow Swan is some kind of vigilante, doing the job for us?" James whispered.

Stuart shook his head, and dragged a hand through his bronze waves, "Nah, Shadow Swan is a murderer alright. An abhorrent cold-blooded killer. However, one fact we do know about this assassin, is they despise rape. Left us a printed message, smart not to give us any way of identifying themselves, claiming that the Insane Asylum is filled with his victims."

Sirius was the one to ask the million galleon question, "How did Shadow Swan manage to have the upper hand over a Dark and highly trained Wizard that had managed to stay out of our radar?"

A chilling silence met Sirius' shrewd question, and Stuart was the first to find his voice, "If you're saying this Shadow Swan is witch or wizard, then we're completely screwed! It would solve the befuddling question of how come they never got caught in nearly six years."

After that, it didn't take long for the evidence to point them in the direction that the myriad of unsolved cases of rape victims in a special ward of its own in St Mungo's, were sent there by Benjamin Russell, the coveted follower of Lord Voldemort.

Alastor, James and Sirius didn't know if they should be thankful to the assassin Shadow Swan, or fear them for solving a case that took them a little more than a decade to unravel, and would have taken them longer, if it weren't for the crude aid.

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

It had been a week since Odette returned back to Potter Manor for the Christmas holidays, and she spent most of her time ducking James and Lily Potter who had been insistent on spending time getting to know her for the time lost. Odette found herself tarrying with little Harry and visiting Lee and Lexi, while frequently roaming around as Shadow Swan.

Recalling her last murder, Benjamin Russell, Odette knew that confronting him was a risk since Magical Britain would be involved for the first time, but it had to happen.

Odette was by no means a saint, nor was she an abider of the law, nor the protector of citizens; she killed in cold-blood, and she enjoyed it, basking in their pleads and tormented screams of pain, but most of all, Odette Potter reveled in watching the light leave their eyes, knowing that her murderous face with a shit-eating grin would be the last thing they would ever see, and she found a sick delight in being their executioner.

However, her twisted conducts had a limit, and it was rape. It was of no importance what their gender was, or their age, rape was wrong in her basically non-existent book of right and wrong. During her five months of captivity by Ivan Vanko, being tormented, anguished and defiled on a repetitive basis, Odette solemnly vowed to herself, that she would do everything to the best of her ability, to never allow a single soul to feel her pain, and be debased in such a cruel demeaning way where their virtue would be forcibly taken by despicable demons.

By no means did it make Odette and Shadow Swan good, but the pleasure of getting even for every pain, every hurt, every scream, and every tear Ivan Vanko caused her. And if Odette had to take a break from being an assassin to murder every single rapist in the planet, then she would do it gladly, without batting an eyelash or complaint. Every rapist expunged from the planet allowed her to breathe even more freely.

Currently, it was Christmas and her alleged parents were excited to have a full-out family gathering with Remus Lupin, the Blacks and the Longbottoms. Odette couldn't help but viciously roll her eyes and glare at the red and gold dress Lily left hanging in her closet for the family Yule Dinner; Gryffindor colors, she scoffed with revulsion; even though Odette was sorted into Slytherin, they still tried to forcibly change her, and even though red and gold was also the color for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter, she wanted no part in belonging with them. If it weren't for Harry, Odette would have tossed out the Potter name and emancipated herself, moving into one of the many Manors she had inherited with her numerous impressive titles.

Unbeknownst to the Potters, Odette already made plans for Yule. Narcissa Malfoy sent a fancy engraved invitation to their Yule Dinner for Christmas Eve, and Lucius Malfoy – of all people – had even sent her a missive, informing her that their family would be honored to have her come as their well-esteemed guest. Odette supposed they were laying it on thick, but after a week of pondering and a hearty discussion with Lexi, she discovered that it was merely two grateful parents who loved their child more than anything in the world and had no limit in showing their abundant gratitude.

Christmas day however, would be spent with Lee, Lexi and Bree in the British Emrys Manor. And so, Odette Potter would not be spending the holiday around her so-called family's suffocating presence; after all, they managed to survive a decade of holidays without her inclusion, and Odette didn't see fit to bless them with her company now that they knew she had always been a witch.

Hearing the guests' arrival, Odette quickly donned on a sweetheart neckline emerald ball gown that brought out her vivid Avada Kedavra eyes, interlaced with silver sequins, portraying her pride as Lady Slytherin. She styled her ruby red hair into bouncy curls and tied it sideways in a mermaid braid; her face was kept natural with no makeup whatsoever – for even though Odette was mature for her age ever since her defilement at the age four, she had to keep a low profile with the Magical Community and wait till her third year before acting adult.

Her silver ballet flats allowed her to descend silently down the staircase upon reaching the ballroom where the fireplace was situated; there was a unanimous hush as many pairs of eyes were frozen on her visage, taking in her ethereal beauty and violent Slytherin dress.

Lily chuckled nervously and ambled toward her with a hidden fire in the dissimilar emerald eyes, "Odette, sweetheart, where in heavens did you get that dress? I left you a stunning red and gold one for you to wear."

Pouting in a mien of childish innocence, Odette lifted the folded garment from her arm, "You mean this one? Yeah, I'm not some porcelain doll you can force a revolting Gryffindor-Potterish dress into," and without further ado, before anybody could blink, Odette tossed the rich dress into the fireplace, permeating the room with the charring smell of burnt cloth.

James let out a half-hearted booming laugh of good-nature, even though his hazel orbs were narrowed in rage and he addressed the guests with a smile, "Odette's going through a stage where she randomly spouts out a few tantrums, we're hoping she grows out of it soon. Odette, honey, come here, your godfather and Aunt Angelica have been most excited to see you."

The many expletives were frozen in a strangled choke, and Odette Arielle Potter found herself to be tongue-tied for the first time since Zelda's death as her icy, haunted emerald orbs located the two people she would have died for before … before Ivan Vanko.

There they were, the two people she hadn't seen in seven years, the two individuals she screamed and begged and called out for in anguish when she was held in captivity in Russia. Sirius Black, her godfather looked as devastatingly handsome as ever with his silky raven waves, stormy grey eyes that stared intently at her with hope and wonder, and prominent aristocratic features most men would kill for, his full lips curved in a charming smile. Beside him, her arm looped through his, was the gorgeous Angelica, the woman she wished had taken the role as her own mother during childhood; strawberry blonde hair straightened elegantly, she had the same high cheekbones and petite nose, and doe-like baby blue eyes that shimmered with delight; Sirius and Angelica Black looked like a divine couple, and they aged gracefully, still appearing like a couple in their early to mid-twenties.

"Oddie," Sirius whispered in wonder, and from the peripheral of her vision, Odette took morbid pleasure in watching the precious Charlus Potter turn green with envy.

"Sirius, Angelica," Odette coolly uttered, her face frozen in an impassive state, and she inwardly smirked at the violent flinch that was a result of her icy, nonchalant greeting. Her eyes roamed over to their three children; Alexia was the only child she knew due to the Ball at the Ministry before everything went to hell. Alexia Black was a perfect replica of Angelica Warren-Black, except for the eyes; they were stormy grey like Sirius.

Angelica smiled genially once she noticed Odette's focus was one the children, "This is Alexia Black, Leo Black and Liam, our youngest. Would you like to meet your god-sister and god-brothers?" Leo was the carbon copy of Sirius; Liam on the other hand, could have passed as Leo's twin, if it weren't for the Warren eyes, the only child that inherited the baby blues.

Disinterestedly, Odette enunciated in a chilled tone, "No." She smiled sarcastically at the Longbottoms and her alleged godmother that never came to her aid or asked after her, and turned toward the fireplace, "If you'll excuse me, I've been invited to the Malfoy's Yule Dinn-"

"You are not going, Odette Arielle! They are a Dark family, they were in league with Voldemort and you'll be putting your brother in danger," James snarled, forgoing the fake paternal act, "You will be spending Yule with your family, and that's that!"

"James-" Sirius wanted to do damage control before a full-out argument could be blown out of proportion, but he was too late, for Odette arched an eyebrow and her emerald orbs glowed with heated rage and a malicious temper, her voice slicing into the already stifling atmosphere like a glacier.

"Family? You are not my family, James Potter. In fact," Odette made sure to maintain eye-contact with each and every individual in the Manor, "None of you are my family! Funny how you seem to worry about your precious Boy-Who-Lived, and completely ignore Harry and my safety altogether, but at least I had a decade to get used to abandonment, unlike my baby brother who is already in the beginning stages of familiarizing himself with your crude treatment and lack of parentally affectionate care. Don't speak of matters you know not! Why would I want to spend Yule with a couple of disgraceful bastards? You who categorized yourselves firmly in the light, claiming to be a Light Family with no interest in the pureblood dogma being spouted, yet, when Albus Dumbledore fathomed me a squib, you tossed me away like trash! At least the purebloods would go to St Mungo's first and foremost for a second opinion, to people skilled in detecting a magical core." Grinning sinisterly at the flabbergasted individuals and her apoplectic parents, Odette grabbed a handful of floo powder from the pot on the mantelpiece and before she vanished from the Potter Manor in green flames, she parted, "You already spent a decade of Yule without me, I'm sure you could survive another one. Just pretend I don't exist, you've perfected that!"

Odette chuckled gleefully as she arrived at Malfoy Manor, imagining the reactions she left behind before Narcissa Malfoy's flawless form appeared in her line of vision, "Odette, honey, I am thrilled you made it. I wondered if your parents would forbid you."

"She was threatening to go over and retrieve you if you didn't show up within the allotted hour," a musical voice cackled slightly, and Odette turned to face Bellatrix Lestrange's violet orbs, cognizant to Charlus' fourth birthday Ball in the Ministry.

"Lady Lestrange, Lady Malfoy, I thank you for the invitation," Odette smiled sweetly, politely bowing.

"Oh, pish-posh, none of that here, darling," Narcissa cooed, engulfing her, yet again, in a motherly embrace, "You are part of the family. And family doesn't bow to one another. Now, Draco, Aaron and Blaise are most excited to see you," she continued smoothly, sandwiching the redhead between herself and Bellatrix as they escorted her into the lavishly decorated dining room.

A dulcet voice with an Italian lilt joined the fray, "And Rhea seems to be jealous. She has been demanding that she befriend you as well, just a warning." Odette looked up to see a woman with an olive-toned complexion, iron straight raven hair, prominent features and distinctive indigo eyes filled with mirth that were the carbon copy of Blaise's, and she instantly knew that this woman was his aunt.

"You must be Lady Zabini-Lestrange, Blaise's aunt," Odette grinned saccharinely.

Esmeralda tittered, "Call me Esme, like Cissa and Bella said, you're family now."

Before Odette managed to walk a few steps into the ballroom, she was attacked by her mob of … friends. Draco, Aaron and Blaise crowed around her, engulfing her in hugs and a slew of words, and strangely enough, the young emotionless assassin felt a warm feeling consume her over the fact that she was actually wanted by this family. Once they allowed her a breather, Aaron nudged forward a short girl with raven black curls, indigo eyes and soft features who looked slightly intimidated when looking directly into Odette's eyes.

"Dee, this is Blaise and my little cousin, Rhea Lestrange. She'll be starting Hogwarts next year," Aaron introduced with a smirk, "She's not actually this shy, usually she's a blight little terror."

"Hey!" Rhea snapped, smacking him across the chest, her face tingeing with pink as she averted eye-contact with the redhead. Odette grinned and decided to be forthcoming, "Rhea, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, I've heard so much about you." And that was all it took to break the damn; Draco, Aaron and Blaise groaned in unison at the giddy girl who wouldn't shut up any longer, grabbing Odette's hand and dragging her over to the adults with the three boys obediently following from behind.

The cacophony of conversation halted abruptly as the children approached them, and Odette was hit with a sundry of familiar faces from the Ministry Ball. Rodolphus Lestrange's eyes widened perceptibly once they settled onto her form, and he spoke in a hushed voice, "I remember you. Odette from the Ministry Ball; the munchkin Sirius Black had been searching high and low for. Odette … Potter."

Biting back an impolite retort, Odette smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief, "Bet you already knew that. I mean, I'm sure Mr. and Mrs-, uh, I mean, Lucius and Narcissa already regaled some interesting facts about me. Or even your son and nephews hmm?"

The Zabinis, the Malfoys and Bellatrix smothered their laughter as Rodolphus blinked in astonishment, but a jubilant booming laugh broke them from the reverie, and Odette turned to see the owner being a man resembling Rodolphus to the T, except for his leaner form, in contradiction to the older Lestrange's muscular body. "Rabastan Lestrange, Kid. I must say, I like your sass," turning to face the amused adults, he crowed, "She's perfect. I see what you meant Lucius."

Rodolphus finally cracked a smile, "I see why Aaron is so very fond of you."

After that interesting confrontation, they sat down for a laid out buffet filled with the richest delicacies; Odette enthusiastically familiarized herself with the Lestranges, the Malfoys and Blaise's parents, Eduardo and Pauline Zabini. It was a completely alien atmosphere for the cold-hearted redhead, who, the closest she had ever been to fit in and find a family of her own, was whenever she was around Lee, Lexi and Bree. The warm tingling feeling continued to consume her, especially when many plans were formulated for the holidays and during summer, where the adults practically bulldozed her into calling them Uncle and Auntie.

Odette Arielle Potter was finally building familial attachments and finding her place in the planet. Never in her wildest dream did she ever expect to feel the alien sensation of happiness, and that scared her more than anything. Her instincts, molded by the Petrovich brothers, were screaming at her to create a distance between them of amicable acquaintances, yet her heart, and that damn conscience of hers that sounded impeccably like Lexi Branson, demanded her to grab the opportunity and the silver lining that had aroused, otherwise she would regret it in the murky future.

Suffice to say, Lexi won out, but Odette insured herself that she would be cautious; no matter what, Odette would never forget the fate of Zelda, and she wouldn't wish it upon anybody, even though these ruthless witches and wizards were highly-skilled and could more than protect themselves from harm's way.

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

"Bree! Come out, come out, wherever you are- Woah!"

Odette froze, shell-shocked as her emerald orbs met electric blue. It was Christmas Day, and Odette was given the post of collecting Bree from Georgia. However, the last thing she expected was to walk in on her Nature Witch friend doing early morning shots with a handsome stranger after having clearly concluding a shagging session.

"Bree, who's this?" the man had a velvety voice, hair as dark as the midnight sky, a perfectly sculpted face with chiseled cheekbones, electric blue eyes and, what looked to be, a patent smirk on his rosy lips.

"This, can speak for herself, thank you very much. Arielle, how do you do, Mr. Stranger," Odette snarkily retorted, crossing her arms against her chest and glaring blankly at the smirking man.

Chuckling, the man allowed his eyes to roam her body, "Huh, Bree, didn't know you were babysitting. What are you, fourteen, fifteen?"

"Eleven," she negated coolly, inwardly smirking with success at the shocking surprise that flashed across his smug visage. Ignoring the man, Odette winked at Bree and clapped her hands twice, "Chop, chop Bree, we got places to go, things to do, people to see."

"Uh, right, let me just gather my things," Bree chuckled good-naturedly, before throwing a warning glare at the man, "Damon, behave!"

Odette moved toward the bar and jumped with expert ease, lounging cross-legged on the bar table, "So … Damon? How do you know Bree?"

"Oh, we go waay back. Met her at college campus actually," Damon quipped; Odette was skilled in reading facial expressions due to the Red Room's training, and although she detected honesty in his reply, there was something else she couldn't fathom due to his vague wording.

Leaning forward, Damon's pupils dilated, and his velvet voice echoed hypnotizingly in her ears, "What about you, Arielle, how do you know my dear, sweet Bree?"

Emerald orbs glowed in the perfect replica of the deathly Avada Kedavra Curse, and with efficient swiftness due to the serum injected into her veins, she smacked him hard on the cheek, the slap reverberating around the empty bar, "So, Mr. Damon Stranger is in all actuality, a Vampire," the nuance of her jesting tone morphed into a chilled anger, "Never try and compel me again, otherwise it may be the last thing you do. I may be eleven, but I am not one to be trifled with."

Damon spluttered, staring agape at the curious mortal in front of him, "H-How did you know? You're not wearing any vervain."

Odette smirked, "I know plenty, Damon. And believe me; I do not need any protection from your type. On the contrary, you may need protection from me."

"Is that a threat?" Damon snarled, all humor vanishing from his stance and his mien, his face twisting into a predatory gleam that portrayed his volatile nature.

"It's a warning," Odette whispered back, "But you need only fear if you try and harm me and mine. Including Bree!"

"Girl! You ready to go?" Bree's tangy American accent rang out; smiling brightly, she made a beeline toward an uncertain Damon and pecked his lips, "Sorry, my cherry pie, but I need to close up the bar. Don't be stranger now, you hear me!" she jokingly warned. Damon nodded absently, and sparing one parting confused glance at a smug Odette, he left Bree's Bar.

Bree swiveled around to face an innocent-looking Odette, and raised an eyebrow, completely unimpressed, "Okay, what did you tell him?"

Shrugging, Odette deftly waved her hand, wandlessly locking up the bar, "He tried to compel me, and I threatened his immortal life. Same old, same old," not leaving room for Bree to argue, Odette clasped her shoulder and Shadow-Travelled them into Emrys Manor where a beaming Lexi and amused Lee were waiting for them.

"Merry Christmas!" Lexi squealed giddily, suffocating the two witches in a bear hug.

"Merry indeed. Heya Lee," Odette chirped, hugging the handsome vampire who returned it tenfold. After the greetings were all over and done with, the four of them regrouped around the Christmas tree for a wonderful Christmas lunch prepared by the Emrys house-elves, trading stories and infectious laughter.

"Look, Dee, I know you're terrified of building ties with those magicals, but you need to take risks in life. I understand your point of view, but you can still be a cold-hearted bitch of an assassin, maintain your Shadow Swan persona and be family to those rich 'uns," Lexi softly informed her after Odette blurted out her worries and mixed emotions from last night.

Lee nodded in agreement, "When you told us of your …extracurricular activities, we didn't bat an eyelash, and we accepted you completely."

"Yeah, but you're vampires, you understand the siren call for blood, and Bree here is friends with a ton of vamps, you guys are different," Odette pointed out neutrally.

"Uh-huh, girl, you told us they supported this Voldemort bastard," Bree snorted, "I don't think they have room to judge."

"Besides," Lexi calmly interjected, "We're not saying that you have to be honest with them. Just open up a bit, allow them to befriend you and let you in. From what you've told us, they already seem to be loyal to you, especially after you protected the Draco fellow from Charlus, and they obviously adore you. Just give them a chance."

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

The last week of the Yule Holiday passed without a glitch; the seething James and Lily Potter avoided Odette initially, until they decided to change strategies and kept looking for an excuse to fix things with her – to no avail.

Odette continued to shut them out, and spent most of her time at Emrys Manor with Lee, Lexi and sometimes, Harry, since she was working on a project; Project Lemon Drops.

It wasn't until the day before she was to board the Hogwarts Express, did Odette finally achieve a breakthrough; she managed to separate the components of the Lemon Drops and the amalgamated potions. The last step of identifying the Potion was practiced beforehand in one of the darkest potion books from the Le Fay Library, allocated at the Manor in Switzerland; a dark spell to administer when one needed to detect potions before imbibing.

Funnily enough, it was perceived in a Potions Book written in Ancient Norse depicting its antiquity; immense gratitude toward Loki consumed her, since he was the God that had the foreknowledge to educate her in the complex language.

A sinister gleam followed by a triumphant cackle erupted from Odette's pouty lips when she recognized the potion laced in the old codger's offered Lemon Drops, and she shook her head at the paramount lengths the manipulator would go through to achieve his goals. However, the hidden stash Fawkes delivered to her had the assassin choking on a stupefied cough that wracked her whole body.

Emerald orbs widened impressively and her petal-shaped lips formed an 'o' of immeasurable shock and horror. Nothing could have prepared the emotionless girl for the identification of the potion, and Odette's body shook with rage and scandal. If the detection of those Lemon Drops became known by the Magical Community, and published in the Daily Prophet, all hell would break lose.

Horrified she may be, the results didn't stop her lips from curving into a nefarious smirk, and she felt as though she were standing on top on the world with victory. This discovery would bring him down for sure, with an impossible mean of escaping.

'Oh, Albus Dumbledore, beware my wrath, you are going down, and I cannot wait to out you… soon.'

A/N: Cliffhanger! What potions were mixed in the two lemon drops? Guess … wait and see, Dear Readers! By the end of Odette's first year, the truth of the Lemon Drops will come out.

For those that wanted to see Sirius and Angelica, I gave you a small glimpse, but UNTIL Odette's third year, they will not be coming up regularly. Did you like the plot about Benjamin Russell? I like adding a few OCs and background events to spice up the story and try blending them in together.

ALSO, tell me your honest opinion about Odette being welcomed as an honorary Malfoy, Lestrange and Zabini? They are dark like her, and I feel that they would understand her and protect her more than the Potters; of course, Odette wouldn't accept them so easily, it will take time … this is a rollercoaster ride and there will be many ups and downs and plot-twists.

Damon Salvatore Fans out there, I added a small scene just for you. Question; do you think Damon would be stupid enough to kill Bree? Or even Lexi? Odette obviously is smart enough not to give him her real name.

Next chapter, I'll try and add in a Loki scene.

R&R.