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Chapter 25:

Absorbedly staring into pupil-less white eyes, Odette knew that her second school year at Hogwarts would not be tedium and uneventful. Of course, the imposter, Grindelwald had been unveiled and the true Albus Dumbledore returned to his rightful place. However, James and Lily Potter would be constants around the castle to protect their precious 'savior' meaning nothing good for the impassive redhead. Why, Odette hadn't stepped foot into the esteemed castle and already a shocking surprise awaited her; shocking, yet not entirely unexpected, after all, Odette Arielle Potter was a famous assassin who went by the name of Shadow Swan and had the misfortune of being acquainted by death at the early age of four, therefore, she would obviously be able to behold a Thestral quite visibly.

Fleshless, with black coats clinging to their skeletons; dragonish heads; wings sprouted from each wither – vast, black leathery wings that looked as though they ought to belong to giant bats; radiating eeriness and a sinister gloom, and yet, Odette regarded them to be beautiful in their own unique way. Pairs of white, glittering eyes that lacked both, expression and pupils; perhaps that particular oddity was the perplexing reason as to why stirrings of companionship was evoked in the redhead's pure, yet black heart that had begun withering seven years ago. …Many would spare them a mere glimpse and recoil away in fear and disgust; many with the inability to witness them would claim and blindly judge them to be omens of evil; in conclusion, Thestrals were grossly misunderstood creatures by the dense, judgmental wizarding population, just like Odette herself, had been wholly misunderstood since her separation from Lily Potter's womb.

Thestrals were dead smart and extremely loyal creatures with the ability to discern friend from foe and the redhead immediately felt a kinship to the magnificent creatures awaiting the second to seventh year students to aboard the carriages. With absolutely no hesitation whatsoever, she lifted a dainty hand with the intention of stroking the one that would be pulling the seven Slytherins' carriage, garnering herself a mixture of awed and perplexed stares from her fellow friends.

"I cannot believe you can see Thestrals," Tracey muttered, shaking her head in sympathy. Odette shrugged from her seat between Aaron and Theo in the Great Hall amidst the seas of green, emerald orbs stubbornly averting eye-contact with the staff table, "Ugh, Trace, spare me the unneeded and misdirected pity. I wasn't affected, so don't give me a shoulder to cry on, because that's not going to happen. Not now, not ever." It was true after all – the first few deaths Odette bore witness to had been a plethora of nameless and faceless girls who had outlived their usefulness from the Red Room long before the taboo event struck: Zelda's death forcibly by her hand. Out of the hundreds of hundreds of deaths Odette endured witnessing and instigated herself, Zelda's was the only one that affected her, and will always be a taint on her soul and conscious.

Tracey childishly stuck her tongue out as the others laughed at her expense, not including Theo; Odette didn't fail to realize that her introverted friend could see the majestic creatures as well, she merely cast a blind eye, leaving his private life exactly that: private; once Theo decided to share with them, he will, but in his own time. In the meantime, Daphne was diligently examining the staff table with a heavy scowl marring her beautiful mien and she wasted no time in ranting to the other six about the subject of her deep ire, "It's like they're purposely trying to torture us! We have that complete pillock Lockhart as our Defense Professor, and James bloody Potter for Transfiguration. McGonagall at least remained fair, Potter will be horrid!"

Odette gritted her teeth angrily at the reminder of the sperm donor's presence in the castle, despite her adamantly remaining in denial, the redhead knew that she would inevitably come face-to-face with the sperm donor and the surrogate – no way in hell was Odette about to give them the title of father and mother, even in the recess of her mind; they didn't deserve such priority, definitely not from her. Sharing in the icy blonde's vexation, Blaise's indigo eyes scanned the head table and grimaced when they focused in on the poised redhead with emerald eyes, though quite dissimilar from Odette's, "Don't forget next year. I for one have been looking forward to taking Arithmancy as an elective."

Snorting loudly, Draco smirked, "If you ask me, I don't know whether I'd prefer Grindelwald's spawn teaching us over Lily Potter." That particular declaration had the seven Slytherins erupting into uproarious laughter, prompting a few students to inquisitively stare at those that were becoming famously known at Hogwarts as the Slytherin Princes, Ice Princesses, and Ice Queen in regards to the terrifying redhead, notorious for her poisonous glare and toxic words.

The start-of-the-year feast went along swimmingly with best friends, Astoria Greengrass and Rhea Lestrange succeeding in getting sorted into Slytherin under their sister and three cousins protection, respectively. Once the desserts had been wiped clean throughout the hall, the real Headmaster announced a heart-warming speech of his return, followed by the introduction of the three new professors; he then reiterated the plethora of rules alongside the methodical ominous warning to keep clear from the Forbidden Forest, and lastly, a stern yet imploring diatribe encouraging House Unity – an announcement that had been lacking for eighteen years.

Odette Arielle Potter stood by her previous sensation, call it intuition… her second school year at Hogwarts would not be tedium and uneventful, and she couldn't wait to observe the chaos that would surely ensue.

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

Transfiguration for the second years ended up taking place three times a week for the Slytherins and Gryffindors. The seven Slytherins groaned and bemoaned as they trudged over to the Transfiguration classroom, ignoring Professor Potter who pompously stood by his desk, and congregated together at the back of the class. Odette sat between Tracy and Daphne while Aaron, Draco, Blaise and Theo sat in front of them, all four of whom instantly took it upon themselves to be a sort of buffer for the three girls.

Glaring at the snakes with palpable distaste, James Potter began the registry and once he reached Odette's name, he initiated eye-contact and parted his lips; Odette instantly knew that whatever he had to say, would be anything but good. "Miss Potter, I would like you to change your seating plan. Go sit beside Miss Granger."

The tension in the classroom surmounted as emotionless emerald orbs gazed indifferently at her alleged father; leaning against the back of her chair, Odette crossed her arms against her chest and defiantly exclaimed, "No. If you have a problem with my seating arrangement Professor, then I suggest you take it up with my Head of House or the Headmaster."

A collective hush permeated the air as every single pair of eyes widened at the Ice Queen, heads swaying to and fro from the apoplectic Professor to the nonchalant redhead.

James gritted his teeth and glared at his disobedient daughter; how was he supposed to separate Odette from the group of mini-Death Eaters? Apparently his daughter had no problem disrespecting him in public. Menacingly, he approached Odette's desk, ignoring the way the six Slytherins surrounding her tensed up and inched closer to her. "No? I am the Professor here, Miss Potter, and when I tell you to do something, you obey with a 'yes, Professor Potter', do I make myself clear?!"

"Yes, Professor Potter," Odette parroted in a monotone, a saccharine smile on her lovely visage that didn't bode well for those on the receiving end of it. Smiling smugly, James waved a hand to the vacant seat to Hermione Granger's right, "Good. Well then Miss Potter, change seats, and let it be known that it will be your customary seat until the end of the year."

"I meant, yes, Professor Potter, I understand," Odette snapped with vitriol, "But if you honestly expect me to sit next to Granger, then you're off your rocker. I see no reason why I should change my seat; after all, Professor McGonagall wasn't bothered, I see no reason why you're making a hissy fit over it."

Hazel eyes bore a hole into Odette's forehead and fury consumed him; when he spoke up, spit flew wildly around as his anger surmounted due to the defiant disrespect his daughter was portraying quite brazenly, "Professor McGonagall is no longer your Transfiguration Professor! In my classroom, under my instruction, things will be moving along very differently. If you don't like it, then there's the door. As for now, move over to your seat beside Miss Granger!"

Charlus and Ron shared devious smirks, exuberantly watching with unadulterated glee as the squib got dressed down on in front of the entire class. Grabbing her possessions, Odette sprung from her seat; James inwardly grinned, glad that Odette was finally obeying him, but unfortunately, his triumph was short-lived as the redhead strode towards the door with a purpose, emeralds glowing like the Avada Kedavra Curse and narrowing in on him with pure hatred that had him inwardly cringing, "I believe that I will not be attending your lessons from now on, Professor Potter. I find that Transfiguration is severely lacking now that we have a bigoted professor teaching us. You'll be hearing from Professor Snape," and without further ado, she slammed the door shut, shaking the foundation with its intensity.

The Gryffindors gaped at the closed door, unable to believe what had just occurred before their very eyes, and before James could spew forth another word, every single Slytherin stood up from their seats in perfect unison, and departed the classroom, following the Ice Queen's footsteps. Some like Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Lily Moon, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle may despise Odette Potter and envy her with a passion, but even they couldn't deny that she was an appropriate leader that wouldn't set them astray, and in all honesty, they would rather follow her than suffer through James Potter's bullying and torment.

Word spread like wildfire throughout the entire castle regarding Professor James Potter, the father of the Boy-Who-Lived's first Transfiguration lesson with the second year Slytherins and Gryffindors, and of how his own daughter disrespected him and defied him in public. There was a metaphorical fissure in the castle as everyone's opinions were split, and surprisingly, some Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws admitted that James Potter was in the wrong, while some proclaimed that Odette had no right to disobey or question a teacher. But it wasn't merely the students with varying opinions regarding the incident; a war ensued, a war instigated by Professor Snape who was known to be immensely and fiercely protective of his snakes, especially Odette Potter, despite her parentage.

Professor Snape was on a roll; he deducted points from the second year Gryffindors as though he was donating free candy on Halloween, and when Charlus and Ron foolishly avowed blatant unfair treatment, they were both handed Saturday detention. Professor Potter was unable to treat the second year Slytherins unfairly because after the first Transfiguration lesson, none of them bothered showing up to their remaining allotted lessons. The matter accumulated when Professor Potter reduced a few first year Slytherins into tears, including Rhea Lestrange who had the heart of a badger; Aaron Lestrange, Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini vowed retribution and relayed the occurrence to their respective parents, to which, James found himself bombarded with Howlers on a regular basis, surmounting chaos in the Great Hall and madness in the castle.

After the second week of term past with no change, the Headmaster decided it was time to intervene.

Currently, soft blue eyes devoid of its customary twinkling was boring into the indignant hazels of James Potter; not only was Albus furious with one of his favorite students and the son of two of his closest, deceased friends, Charlus and Dorea Potter, but Albus was morose as well – glumly wondering where the James Potter he personally knew vanished. It seems blasphemous that James never matured from his bullying tendencies and bigotry toward Slytherins. For Melin's sake, his mother was a Slytherin!

"James," Albus sighed disappointedly, prompting him to cringe in return, "What happened to you my dear boy? Don't play me for a fool, James. This all started because you made things personal, because you wanted to create a distance between your daughter and her friends. You are a Professor here at Hogwarts, and under no circumstances am I to allow you to tarnish any hopes of House Unity! What happened to you?!"

Albus always had the gift to make even those who have long graduated to feel like naughty schoolchildren; James shuffled nervously in his seat and winced when he met hardened blue eyes as opposed to the merrily twinkling soft azures. "Headmaster, I am merely practicing caution. I don't like my daughter frolicking around with the children of Death Eaters. She's painting Charlus in a bad light the more she cavorts with them! Can't you see?! I'm trying to protect my family!"

Eyes slowly shuttered to a close from behind a pair of half-moon spectacles, and one withered hand was dragged down the wizened face of the Headmaster. After a few tensed minutes of absolute silence, Albus instigated eye-contact with the man who used to be his favorite pupil and the shadow of the boy he used to regard as a grandson, "James, the fame has clearly got to, not only your head, but Lily's as well. Don't. Interrupt!" he abruptly placed a hand up and a bewildered James obediently snapped his mouth shut, "Did you know that while Gellert Grindelwald had been impersonating me, he hoarded all the events of the past eighteen years into my pensieve?" he asked rhetorically, swiftly continuing, "I was planning on waiting till Yule to convene with you and Lily, but this will have to do as I find myself sufficiently lacking patience. You and Lily have treated Odette deplorably. I had the misfortune to bear witness and watch as a vibrant, optimistic and cheerful toddler evolve into an emotionless, lonely and empty girl, and you have nobody but yourself and your wife to blame! Both of you foolishly and blindly believed my imitator's claim regarding her lack of magic! Even I am not without flaw; as responsible parents you should have garnered a second opinion and take Odette to a Healer at St. Mungo's; even if she ended up being a squib, what happened to the James Potter that befriended a werewolf and held no prejudice? What happened to Lily Evans, believer of equality concerning Muggleborns, squibs and magical creatures, who brutally attacked their unfair treatment in Magical Britain?"

Too aggravated by the accumulated wrongdoings of two of his favorite pupils who had such promise and compassion and goodness, Albus started pacing in his office, not bothering to scrutinize the expression of the silent, gobsmacked James Potter as he heatedly continued with his outburst, "Not only did you ignore your daughter, your own flesh and blood, but you completely disregarded her birthdays! Charlus and Odette are twins, and yet, when I took the plunge into my pensieve, I only perceived Gellert attending Charlus' birthdays! And to make matters worse, the only two who supported, cared and cherished that little girl, who treated her as a living human being, you drove them away with an ultimatum. Sirius and Angelica absconded to America for years due to their inability to confront and ignore that little girl who's only fault was being the twin to the Boy-Who-Lived!"

"Albus-"James choked out, tears cascading down his handsome visage, unable to articulate a coherent sentence with his mentor, a man he regarded as family, listing off all the deplorable actions that had surmounted in twelve years. Turning around to face the miserable father with a sliver of hope, Albus calmly stated, "Did you ever wonder why, when Peter Pettigrew or Gellert Grindelwald held your daughter or merely stood nearby her form, did you ever wonder why, the usually quiet infant would cry her heart out? Hours after leaving Lily's womb, your daughter portrayed powerful magic. It wasn't luck, nor was it her instincts, James, Odette's magic, at a few hours old, recognized Pettigrew and Grindelwald's evil and the taint of dark magic lingering on their soul."

James was reduced to a stuttering mess, unable to accept the fact that he had treated not only a magical child, but his daughter, his flesh and blood, worse than some of the darkest and evil Pureblood families would treat their house-elves, muggles and 'mudbloods'. "But-but, Albus, come on. I am sure it … it's possible she was a late bloomer due to the backlash of tha-"

"And if she was?" Albus calmly retorted, returning to his customary seat behind his desk to face James better. "Let us assume Odette ended up being a squib. Is that a reason to alienate her, mistreat her and abuse her, favoring one twin over the other? Why, I do recall the many extravagant dinners Dorea arranged, and your uncle, Marius Black was a regular guest at Potter Manor, hmm? Your mother never treated her older brother, who so happened to be a squib, any differently unlike the remaining Blacks who perceived him as a plague on the Black Family Tapestry. Charlus, Dorea and Marius would be ashamed of you and of the way you treated your alleged squib daughter!"

And that was the final blow that consumed James Potter with overwhelming guilt and horror; the moment where he finally confronted his abysmal attitude toward the precious daughter he promised to protect, love and cherish upon her birth twelve years ago. Unfortunately, James was at a loss and knew that there was no fixing his sins in regards to Odette, the daughter who fiercely and unwaveringly hated him and always looked upon him with palpable malice.

Oh, what have I done?!

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

A month had gone by after the disastrous Transfiguration class, and the war between Severus Snape and James Potter had reached fruition after a lengthy meeting with the Headmaster and nothing of importance happened. Professor Potter still treated Gryffindors with blatant favoritism; however, he managed to treat Slytherins adequately, awarding points appropriately and adding excitement to his interesting lessons. Despite the snakes' unified hatred regarding James Potter, even they had to admit that he was a prodigy in Transfiguration.

Divus and Shiva, Odette's familiars would spend most of the time away from her, scoping the castle for anything newsworthy, and a fair few secrets as per their Mistress's instructions. The seven Slytherins' bond solidified with every passing day and they even began a small group study, especially for Defense since, as per Daphne's prediction at Diagon Alley, the pillock was a charlatan and a total disgrace to all wizards out of there who spent most of his classes acting his fictional scenes from his novels in class or passing over quizzes regarding his personal life and preferences. The only unfortunate information Odette managed to memorize from Defense, was that Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color was lilac!

The moment Odette had been patiently waiting for arrived two weeks before Halloween; Professor Snape approached the redhead, informing her that the Headmaster inquired after her presence and that he has a fondness for 'Cockroach Clusters', much to her amused disgust. Muttering the password, Odette squared her shoulders for the long overdue confrontation and ascended the moving staircase.

Staring into twinkling azure eyes, Odette could distinguish the major difference between him and Grindelwald. While impersonating the Headmaster, the redhead detected the genuine evil behind half-moon spectacles and a charade, but upon gazing into the true Headmaster, she easily identified the genuine honesty, fondness and pureness serenely staring back at her; much to her amusement, Odette didn't sense any probing against her solid Occlumency shields, proving that the Headmaster actually had morals and a good sense about him.

"Miss Potter," Albus began, "Firstly, I would like to personally thank you for rescuing me and giving back my freedom. I shall never be able to repay you. Secondly, I apologize for postponing meeting you, I admit I was fervently ashamed of the actions my impersonator doled out against you. I thought perhaps you may blame me for Grindelwald's sins." Odette detected nothing but honesty and she frowned, not liking the fact that she was sympathizing with the old man; looking at the true Albus Dumbledore, Odette admitted she didn't blame him at all, the man was locked behind bars for eighteen years… eighteen long years in solitude, living unjustly and merely existing with each passing day hoping for freedom… who was Odette to treat him ruthlessly.

"I don't blame you, Headmaster," Odette brusquely stated; Divus sang a melodic tune in her head, and she knew that she could trust him with a few secrets. "To be honest, I thought I had a vendetta with Albus Dumbledore and I spent years imagining your demise. I planned to slowly crush you and take away everything you hold dear: the respect you were treated with, your many esteemed positions in the Wizarding World, your title as Headmaster…"she ticked each one off with her fingers, "and then, I discovered I had a vendetta with the wrong man; that I spent years of my life holding a grudge and planning many scenarios regarding an entirely different person. I triumphed by paying Grindelwald back for all the suffering he caused me, freeing you was merely an act of kindness. I couldn't have your unfair incarceration on my conscious; I did what was right, so no offense, Headmaster, but liberating you was done for purely selfish reasons."

Albus Dumbledore however, continued nodding his head and smiling benignly at her throughout the entirety of her speech, not at all disturbed or affronted by her detached tone, lifeless eyes and caustic words. Interlacing his fingers, Albus positioned them underneath his chin and gazed at Odette as though he were looking right through her soul, "Decades ago, a boy by the name of Tom Riddle attended Hogwarts. He was an orphan and he was bitter over the fact that he grew up in an orphanage, however, upon entering the castle, he changed entirely. He portrayed charm, an ingenious mind and was very charismatic; all members of the staff and Armando Dippet, the Headmaster back then, were enthralled by him and favored him – all but myself. He became prefect and Head Boy and spent his years searching for the truth of his parentage. It wasn't until he connected the dots: he shared a certain affinity with Salazar Slytherin; both were Parselmouths."

Cocking her head to the side, Odette bluntly uttered, "I'm assuming there's a reason for the illumination regarding Voldemort's background?"

Azure orbs twinkled tenfold when Odette showed no fear or hesitance in uttering Tom's moniker and he found himself enjoying the redhead's presence, "You see, Miss Potter. You remind me so much of him. The aloofness, the impassive expression and blunt words, your detachment to your emotions and the lethal glare I heard so much about. You are cold, ruthless, cunning, and according to the rumors, downright terrifying, yet you radiate such potent power and I detect a brilliant mind as well. Also, both you and Tom share in common an unhappy childhood. However, I sense purity and sense of good in you that Tom never had. And despite your similarities, my familiar trusted you with my safety and for some reason, I personally trust you."

Rendered speechless, the frigid redhead scrutinized the wizened Headmaster, unable to come up with a perfect response to such a shocking announcement. How often the man was able to sit in casual conversation with people who considered him a friend, she had no inkling. Albus Dumbledore was the figure-head of the Wizarding World in many ways, and Odette thought that that must be a rather lonely position to be in, especially after existing eighteen years of tormented solitude. Deciding to offer an olive branch, Odette revealed, "Nicholas Flamel took me on as his apprentice…"

That was the start of a beautiful alliance, one that held many fruitful benefits for the future.

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

"The Chamber of Secret has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next Mudbloods!" fourth year, Wilbert Macnair exclaimed with utmost glee, dull brown eyes flickering towards the known Muggleborns in the vicinity.

Roars of outrage met his insult as many lions, badgers and eagles retorted with heat; the bigoted Slytherins joined the fray and it wasn't until Argus Filch stepped forward with bulging eyes, did the commotion suddenly wan, all eyes solely fixated on the insane caretaker cradling the immobile Mrs. Norris in his arms. The Headmaster quite calmly informed him that the blasted cat who so happened to be the bane of the many denizens of Hogwarts' existence, wasn't dead, but merely petrified, and therein began the eventful anomaly of second year.

As Yule approached, not only was Mrs. Norris petrified, but so was first year Gryffindor, Colin Creevey, a known sycophantic adulator to the Boy-Who-Lived; second year Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchley was found alongside the Gryffindor ghost who had lost its pearly sheen in the attack and resembled a black fog; third year Ravenclaw Missy Liames and a few other half-bloods. Two weeks before the students were to depart for the Yule holidays and two Gryffindors, three Hufflepuffs, and five Ravenclaws were secluded in the Hospital Wing, awaiting the mandrakes to reach maturity so that Professor Snape could start concocting the Mandrake Restorative Draught and cure them. Not one Slytherin had been attacked and become victim to the mysterious Heir of Slytherin, therefore alienating them further from the rest of their peers and becoming the target of incessant bullying.

Unlike the majority of the gleeful Slytherins who were reveling in the palpable fear oozing throughout the castle, Odette Potter was furious and not at all ecstatic with the events taking place in Hogwarts that year. A metaphorical thundercloud could be seen looming over the enraged Ice Queen's head and only her six loyal friends, Rhea and Astoria were exempted from her wrath and immune to her menacing disposition.

Odette Arielle Potter was Lady Slytherin! The fact that somebody was masquerading around as Slytherin's Heir, attacking students left and right, dousing the castle in fear, promoting bigotry, and basically encouraging a smear campaign towards the Noble and most Ancient House of Slytherin, was unforgiveable and treason against her House, against her Ladyship! As the Lady of Slytherin, the act of capturing the charlatan impersonator had to be dealt with by her; once she unmasked the perpetrator disgracing the Noble and most Ancient House of Slytherin, he or she would be begging for death.

Upon Mrs. Norris' petrification, Odette sent Divus to Ragnok with an envoy to aid her in her plight; as a Friend to the Goblin Nation, Ragnok promptly replied with a helpful missive, claiming Slytherin's vaults were barren of journals and such, but that they were probably all hoarded in the Chamber of Secrets, guarded by his thousand year old familiar, which was most probably a basilisk. Upon receiving the glaringly obvious clue, Shiva offered to scour the entire castle for the fabled Chamber; problem was, Yule was rapidly approaching and Shiva had yet to achieve any fruitful results.

Worst case scenario, Shiva would remain in the castle during Yule and hopefully, upon Odette's return, the mystery would be cracked and the basilisk would efficiently be halted in its tracks before a student actually achieved eye-contact and died. No, Odette, as Lady Slytherin, would not allow her house to be looked down upon any longer; its reputation had already been tarnished by Voldemort, and it was her job to recover its high standing to the Wizarding World.

Little did she know, Theodore Nott held most of the answers to her dilemma and had been a nervous wreck ever since the first attack; a battle had been waging in the recess of his mind… loyalty to his ruthless father who risked his safety at school, or loyalty to his best friends, particularly since Odette seemed to be the most affected out of all the Slytherins regarding the attacks for some unknown reason. Theodore never had an authority figure to look up to; to idolize; his beloved mother died when he was merely three years old, and the rumors were that his own father murdered Elisa Nott in cold blood.

Theo had always been a moral boy, much to his father's disappointment and utmost disgust; he never agreed with the bigotry that Magical Britain was famous for, and unknown to Rigel Nott, but his only son had no plans in becoming a Death Eater and swearing fealty to the Dark Lord. Theodore had always been an introvert, and spent most of his days in the library drowning in a plethora of books as a means of escaping his father's crude wrath and the loveless household he had been raised in. Narcissa Malfoy fondly confided in him that he was the embodiment of his dearly departed mother and to always be proud for carrying a huge part of Elisa with him.

Theodore Nott promised himself, after returning from Yule, if there was another attack, then he would come clean and confide in his six friends; he will not allow anybody to die due to his father's cruelty; besides, the mere fact that the traitorous coward who sold Odette out to the Dark Lord resided in the castle alongside them, turned his insides. One more month… he'll give it one more month…

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

A familiar woman sat alone at the bar she owned, drowning her sorrows in a lineup of five tequila shots, tears streaming down her mocha complexion like rivulets as sobs wracked her body. Her wild raven frizzes bounced as she suddenly pivoted around upon hearing footsteps approaching her and red-rimmed hazel orbs widened in terror as heapproached her.

"We were just leaving, I wanted to say goodbye," he tonelessly stated, electric blue eyes narrowing in on her tear-stained face. Turning around in dismissal, though her hands were shaking due to sudden nerves, she flatly replied, "Good to see you again, Damon."

"No kiss?" Damon mocked; his tone was biting and his eyes were dilating with anger. Turning around for the third time, she frantically retorted, "I'm full of vervain. I put it in everything I drink."

Cocking his head to the side, Damon smirked, but it held a menacing quality, "And you're telling me this why?"

"Lexi was my friend. How could you?!" she turned around before inhaling a sharp intake of breath, hands automatically clutching her heart in fear when Damon appeared in front of her, looming over her with apoplectic anger. Hurriedly, she exclaimed, "The tomb can be opened!"

Moving closer to her with deliberate steps, Damon snarled, "You're lying!"

"Emily's grimoire, her spellbook," she wildly threw out, backing away from him in utmost terror, eyes flickering over her surroundings as she searched for an escape, "If you know how she closed the tomb, the reversal process will be in her book. You can open that tomb."

"Where is this book?" Damon demanded; there was a hint of urgency in his tone yet his face remained stoic and his electric blue eyes were still narrowed in rage and a hint of … betrayal? Shaking her head frantically, she stammered, "I-I-"

"You have no idea," he interrupted her, a mocking quality in his words. Placing her hands on his chest to halt his movement, she implored him with wide, tearful eyes, "No. I'm telling the truth!"

Nodding his head in sorrow, Damon sighed, "And I believe you. My dear, sweet Bree," he caressed her face with the back of his knuckles in a tender fashion, "That's why I'm almost sorry." And without any warning, he thrust his free hand into Bree's chest, prompting an agonized grunt from the mourning witch who stared at him and managed to utter her final words in raspy tone, "You… won't get away with it. Sh-she'll fi-find out… and she'll k-kill you…"

Damon scoffed and rolled his eyes cynically as her expressive hazel eyes turned vacant and she rattled out one last anguished breath. Damon extricated his hand from Bree's chest and carelessly tossed her heart onto the ground beside her dead body. Wiping his bloody hands on a napkin, Damon grabbed his leather jacket from one of the stools and left.

Emerald orbs abruptly snapped open and a loud gasp escaped through parted petal-shaped lips. Odette hastened to jump out of her bed, Bree's death replaying quite vividly in her head and she immediately donned on her robe. Feeling quite claustrophobic and a frantic mess, the enraged redhead soundlessly departed the Slytherin Common Room and invisibly stalked the empty castle trying to comprehend the vivid dream that plagued her mind.

It was quite obvious that her dream would be occurring in the future as Bree looked older and her bar had yet to be remodeled as portrayed in the dream. Damon – that bastard vampire who tried to compel her last Christmas, tossed her warning away like an idiot – Damon killed Bree, and if she understood the dream correctly, then Damon also killed Lexi! That smug, overconfident vampire murdered two of her best friend… yes, she had her Slytherin friends and she was starting to love them in her own way, but no matter what, Lexi, Lee and Bree will always be her first friends, and her family, and nobody, NOBODY harms her family. After Zelda, the redhead vowed to never lose a loved one again, and she'd be damned if she was about to let Damon eliminate two of her dearest, most cherished friends.

But… what if her dream was merely that… a dream? What if she was working herself over a simple nightmare?

Suddenly, she heard the castle beckoning her to the seventh floor; as Lady Slytherin and Lady Ravenclaw, owner of half of Hogwarts, Odette already knew of her ability to correspond with the sentient castle, therefore, the redhead immediately acquiesced and in a daze, ascended the seventh floor, not pausing in her footsteps until she reached a ludicrous tapestry of trolls learning ballet. A copper handle materialized in front of her and she strode inside, gaping unattractively at the misty, transparent sheen of an unearthly, beautiful woman floating in front of her with a breathtaking smile on her visage in the middle of a vacant chamber.

"Lady Slytherin-Ravenclaw, at last we meet," the woman spoke in a mystical, ringing nuance that sounded distinctively like-

"Are you, are you Lady Hogwarts?" Odette eloquently blurted out, shocked to her very core. Smiling benignly, Lady Hogwarts nodded her head, "Yes, my Lady. I haven't been seen by a soul in centuries. Too long has the castle been abandoned by the Founders' progenies."

Frowning in bemusement, Odette couldn't help but point out, "But Voldemort was Slytherin's Heir."

"Do not speak of that abomination," Lady Hogwarts' face morphed into one of unadulterated rage and contempt, "Yes, he was the Heir of Slytherin, however, that boy did not claim his Lordship at Gringotts, he never made it official, unlike you. Now," she suddenly squared her shoulders and beamed at the perplexed redhead, "we must tarry. Tomorrow you disembark to London for the Yule Holiday, you need your rest. I sensed your distress and confusion and appeared to set your mind at ease and share your burden. What ails you so?"

Uncertainly, Odette confided in Lady Hogwarts of her confounding dream; the assassin felt somehow mortified by her actions, unable to believe that she, for the first time in her life, was sharing her nightmares to somebody and simply, Odette felt juvenile. However, Lady Hogwarts adopted a solemn and professional mien and when she spoke, her words where laced with importance, "Young Lady, you have done right by informing me of your latest conundrum. For you have not concocted an elaborate night terror. I am surprised of your unawareness, my Lady. I would have suspected you to have visited the many abodes of your Ravenclaw ancestors and discovered the many secrets of Rowena Ravenclaw."

Odette felt properly chastised and squirmed uncomfortably in her standing position as she gazed into Lady Hogwarts' rebuking visage. Shaking her head with a smile, Lady Hogwarts waved a hand in the air, "Never mind, I shall illuminate you. Rowena Ravenclaw had the gift of premonition, my Lady. Rowena had the inborn ability to receive well-played, clear visions of the past and the future, as well as events that would occur hundreds and thousands of years into the future. Her eldest daughter, Helena Ravenclaw, skipped that certain trait, but her son, Robin, did not, and through Robin Ravenclaw's descendants, her unique gift thrived. Some descendants, like Helena Ravenclaw, did not inherit the gift of premonition, while some inherited strong instincts or a weak version of premonition, such as clairvoyance, thus making them a Seer. You, you on the other hand, are the first descendant since Robin Ravenclaw, to have the inborn gift of premonition."

Absolutely gobsmacked, Odette tried processing the life-altering and phenomenal discovery. "But, why now?"

"My Lady, Rowena Ravenclaw first started receiving premonitions at the early age of eight, while her son Robin activated his inborn trait at the age of twelve, like you. It is perfectly normal, and you must learn to adapt and hone your gift as you will start receiving premonitions randomly," Lady Hogwarts solemnly informed her.

At that moment, Odette made two vows; first, a visit to the Ravenclaw Library would take precedence; and second, protect Lexi and Bree! Her premonition would not come to pass if she had any say in it; that cocksure vampire would rue the day he decided to murder her family.

***THE FORGOTTEN POTTER***

Odette spent the Yule Holidays alternating between spending time with Harry, who, now that James and Lily Potter were teaching at Hogwarts, spent most of his time at Black Manor being raised by Sirius and Angelica; whenever the redhead wasn't with her baby brother who meant the world to her, she'd alternate between sleeping over at the Malfoy, Lestrange, Zabini, Greengrass or Davis Manors. She had yet to visit Lexi and Lee since they were spending the first week of her holidays in Spain for a romantic getaway, and Bree was with her new Beau, Malcolm or whatever, and so, the twelve-year-old avoided the Potters and the Blacks at all costs, bonding with the six Slytherins and introducing them to ever cheerful Harry.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

It was the afternoon of December 26th that Odette Arielle Potter's past came back to haunt her.

A walking distance away from the Leaky Cauldron, there was a secretive underground Wizarding District that only the rich and respectable pureblood families knew off. Lucius and Narcissa invited her to join them for a leisure day at the exclusive District and the redhead readily agreed, excited to spend the day with her friends, who were quickly becoming family to her.

Aaron, Draco, Blaise and Rhea were waiting for Odette in front of the Leaky Cauldron with their respective parents; the emotionless redhead – who was starting to accept positive emotions and those of love and kinship and successfully shedding all that had been indoctrinated into her in the Red Room – Shadow Traveled behind an ally and sauntered toward the congregated group in front of her when suddenly, a familiar accented voice resounded from behind her, immediately turning her blood cold and sending a shiver down her spine.

"Vell, vell, vell, you have been most difficult to find, moy malen'kiy ubiytsa."

Slowly pivoting in her spot, Odette's eyes widened in a mixture of fear, anger and hatred at the two men who aided in making her life a living hell, and the two men she had always dreaded locating her and forcing her back to Russia.

"Zdravstvuyte, Odette."

The Petrovich brothers, Pyotr and Pavel had finally caught up to her.

A/N: Ahhh! Cliffhanger. Don't kill me! LOL!

Russian Translation:

Moy malen'kiy ubiytsa: My little killer.

Zdravstvuyte: Hello.

Soo… what did you think of this chapter? Already I am halfway done with the Chamber of Secrets; there have been many important discoveries in this chapter, so I hope you enjoyed it! XD

What did you think of Odette's premonition? The song that played, coupled with Damon killing Bree always played on my heartstrings! :( …And James… will he finally change his ways… will he actually feel remorse and beg for forgiveness? Will Odette forgive James…?

What about the Petrovich brothers? I mean, c'mon, you didn't think we actually saw the end of them when Odette escaped the Red Room, did ya? ;) What do you think of that huge surprise… Da Da Dummm! XD

Next chapter I will try and finish the Chamber of Secrets. Gilderoy Lockhart, James and Lily Potter, Sirius and Angelica Black, the unearthing of the Chamber of Secrets, the Basilisk, the Diary, Peter Pettigrew… and a lot more to come… yeesh, so much to look forward to. Can't wait! ;)

R&R.