As the first day of classes drew to a close Lorelei hummed thoughtfully from her perch on the arm chair settled betweeen hers and Ezras bed. Her friend was occupying herself with Archimedes and the feline was too happy to play with his new friend as the feather lure was tossed & tugged just out of paws reach. After the debacle last night and the fact that the Deputy Headmistress had lost her cool at the 'unexplainable' magic that defied her orders the silvery white haired witch had been pondering the next steps that would have to be taken.

"If you keep that scowl on your face you'll have lines before twenty."

Lorelei and Ezra looked up noting Daphne leaned against the doorframe looking straight at them. "Thats not very polite considering Loreleis agreement to helping you Greengrass." Ezra scowled scooping up Archimedes and cradling the cat as she scratched under his chin. "What are you doing here anyways? I would imagine you were playing up to maintaining the status quo for the time being until the etirety of everyone with status to force law changes was assembled."

"I am playing up the status quo. Considering I had to have a very...forceful conversation with Draco prior to my showing up here. He had the presence of mind to try and reveal your secret Lorelei in a letter he was starting to pen home when I was passing him in common room. You should be thanking me that he has the correct incentive to forget he ever learned what he did about you" Daphne said as she crossed her arms across her chest. "But I digress ladies, I require a second opinion. A second opinion from someone who does not think along the same lines as those who know me do."

Lorelei raised an eyebrow at Daphnes way of wording and raised a hand to stop Ezras inevitable comment. "Allow me the satisfaction of knowing how you managed to convince the young Malfoy to forget such information and I'm more than happy to share such an opinion. Provided my well of knowledge is relevant to what you require a second opinion for" she said crossing one leg over the other at the knee.

"Honor Debts enforced by magic herself" Daphne said but elaborated no further. There was no need to say Draco owed her for saving the blonde ponces ass after his father had went off on him. It had been her who got him to her mom who managed to get him stable with basic healers spells while her dad summoned emergency help after Lucius had beaten Draco bloody & unconscious in a rage. "I need to know what you know about White Oak."

Loreleis gaze sharpened though her posture did not change as she folded her hands on her lap. "White Oak" she repeated slowly. "It depends on what context you and pretense you are asking under. You'll have to be more specific."

Ezra was still as a board, Archimedes fur standing on head as he hissed at Daphne. "Come in and close the door behind you." Her tone was far from kind as she glared at the other blonde. "I said get in here now!" she barked.

"Patience Ezra, we're all friends here. Aren't we Daphne?" Lorelei asked though her tone was expectant as the girl was jerked into the room with unseen magic and the door slammed shut. "I take you have figured it out at last? The thing that Ezra recognized."

"You aren't human" Daphne said standing her ground though her stance said that she was not going to make a move to harm Ezra or Lorelei.

"What gave it away I wonder" Lorelei said tapping her finger ever so lightly on one knee. "It wasn't my family name. It wasn't my looks. It wasn't-"

"It was what you said at dinner about where you had been the past few years. The places were far too specific and it sparked something I remembered reading about among my families past alliances once" Daphne said cutting Lorelei off. "The name was different back then since the spearhead was controlled by a woman feared and respected among her own kind as well as the rest of creature kind- Akasha Blood Driver."

"So you are acquainted with my family then" Lorelei said raising her brow just slightly. "Akasha is my mother. Terribly frightening woman to piss off. She was and still is the most powerful of central and eastern asias three Dark Lords for a reason. Do get to the point of what you're asking about. Knowing who my mother is and what she is, you must realize how fine a line you tread having the stones to ask me about White Oak."

Though her body language held firm Daphne was certain even her eyes showed hints of just how wary and frazzled her nerves were. She didn't want to be on the wrong side of Lorelei, the girl had agreed to help her in her aims to protect Astoria and other girls like her little sister from grim fates like being sold of like cattle to men against their will, but with the confirmation she knew that she needed some assurances. "I have no intent to try and poke the nest to needlessly provoke undue ire but I need-"

"You need to show some respect is what you need to do. Just because the Ministry treats every creature as subpar scum under their boots does not and will not ever make them right about everything. Look at how dated our beliefs, our education and societal standards are. My cousins in America that came over to visit showed me their school texts and do you know what my parents said? They were ashamed to live here because magical Britain is so self-contained and stagnant. New magical theory, whole branches of magic that are labelled as''Dark Magic' here is common place around the globe. Creatures, no offense Lorry, contribute actively to every other Ministry around the globe or whatever form of government equivalent they have and here they are slaughtered or treated as prisoners monitored & forced to work themselves practically to death. If Lorelei meant any of us harm she would have done so by now" Ezra spat with a near hateful look in her eyes.

Blue eyes closed as Daphne sighed and brought her hands to her temples & rubbed slowly. "I'm just concerned ok? I know I asked. I know Lorelei has agreed to help but you understand better than she does what anyone outside of us three knowing would do" she said trying to pick her words carefully. "One Sanctified House behind a cause carries a lot of weight. Having a magically recognized Lord or Lady of the House throw their name into the arena behind a cause is a gamble because they then become a part of the politcal process as a whole whether they wish to or not. Given the sensitivity I was going to ask a reassurance that you had plans or solutions in place to control your...urges lets call them."

"And if I don't?" Lorelei asker with a non-chalance as she leaned forward. "What are you going to do then?"

Daphne shuddered internally and turned her head to the side exposing her throat to both Lorelei & Ezra. "Offer up my own blood if and when you need it. I told you why this mattered to me, why I'm willing to fight so hard for it even if I have to be a victim of the very laws I seek to change. Family has always been at the core of what has driven my bloodline as far back as its founding. Protecting our own even at the expense of ourselves..." She paused closing her eyes. "I'd die for my little sister. Hell if it came down it I would kill for her..." her eyes opened hearing the slow click of steps approaching her and saw Lorelei looking at her critically "so why should I be afraid to offer my blood to my ally? The answer is I'm not."

Loreleis fingers gently traced a vein on Daphnes neck while her eyes were focused on the blonde witches own. "Is that resolute in your heart of hearts? A willingness to shed your blood to me" her words were let out in a slow controlled pace "to keep my 'urges' in check. That is a big committment to a vampire you understand."

"I do and it is. It isn't just the future of my sister thats at stake though all three of us know she is my driving factor. If my blood is whats needed, I give it to you freely and without reservation or fear" Daphne said.

A soft laugh escaped Loreleis lips as she leaned in close and breathed in the subtly sweet but coppery scent that she knew to be the lifeblood racing through Daphnes veins. "I can hear it you know. The racing of your heart pounding in your chest" she whispered as her nose brushed the tender flesh of the other girls cheek. "Even trying to be so brave the idea scares you. Or maybe it excites you a little, I won't judge because I can't. But like the root of your drive I respect and applaud your convictions." For a moment she let nose linger before she leaned in closer teasing the tips of her fangs across the flesh of Daphnes throat with enough pressure it was able to be felt but not but break skin. "I do have things in place to control my urges and thirst but consider yourself a source too now. A promise is a promise and a deal is a deal before the eyes of magic & the powers that be."

Ezra watched tensely for a moment before letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding as Lorelei pulled Daphne into a light hug. "So we're all good then?" she asked running a hand through Archimedes fur trying to calm the tense feline.

"Yeah, we're good" Daphne said pulling back from the embrace though she did shudder a little visibly as Loreleis fangs made one momentary final teasing pass along her throat as the vampire smirked a tiny bit. "Thanks for the second opinion."

"You're right though about White Oak."

Daphne paused in the doorway, the door open making some of the Slytherin girls look over in confusion. "Am I?" she asked.

"My wand, its made of White Oak. A rare wood here and around the globe though many wpod contest otherwise. Its properties are rather unique and dangerous in the wrong hands against the wrong sort of creatures" Lorelei said as she drew said object from her robe and twirled it lazily between her fingers like a muggle magician would a coin.

MEANWHILE IN GODRICS HOLLOW

James Potter cursed as he blew up a conjured straw dummy. How could they uave been so stupid all those years ago?! He ignored the burning of the brand as he cast another blasting hex at the ground. Voldemort attacked them in the very home they now resided, the attack failed because the twins had used an unknown magic repelling the Killing Curse back to Voldemort and Raven... They got rid of Raven in the aftermath of stress like yesterdays trash. "We.. We weren't in our right minds.. Abandoned our daughter... Dumbledore said it was the best plan for her safety!" An overpowered Bombarda impacted the ground forming a crater.

From the back door Lily watched her husband in worry. He'd been out back for the better part of six hours pacing and continually conjuring straw dummies before blowing them up with curses or hexes. Ever since the ill fated meeting with their daughter none of them had been right. James Jr and Jason were traumatized & broken their elder sister would turn her back on them. Even with their limited memories, they were just infants at the time after all, they remembered her being so loving and kind back then; what had turned her to be so heartless and cruel was beyond them. James sr was a wreck who spent more time in his head than anywhere else; if he wasn't blowing up in anger at conjured and transfigured targets he was lost in his head. "James..." she called trying to catch her husbands attention.

"Mom..."

Lilys eyes turned to spot her youngest son Jason, two minutes younger than his twin, nearby with a tired upset expression on his face. Pulling him close she wrapped him in her arms and squeezed tight. Their mansions, their libraries, ninety five percent of their wealth- it was all gone and Lily could care less. What bothered her most was the loss of her first born and she knew the boys plus James felt it too. Their family was incomplete and would remain so because Raven wanted nothing to do with them. Branded her father and brothers Blood Traitors for abandoning her. "Things are going to be ok my sweet boy" she said quietly. Would they though? She wasn't so sure herself but she needed to be strong for Jason.

Jason didn't look convinced as he allowed his mother to embrace him tightly. His parents had been in less than stellar mindsets since the bank and even he had to admit that his brother had been nearly silent as the grave which was worrisome all unto itself. James Jr was more like their dad and he was more like their mom yet the loud boisterous spirit that made his elder brother him hadn't revealed itself since the three of them recovered from the runic branding. "She hates us... Its not going to be ok" he said quietly as his eyes closed. "She chose a new family over us... New siblings, a new person she treats like a parent... How is any of this going to be ok?" he asked hiding his face in his mothers shirt as his eyes began to tear up.

Lily felt her heart shatter into pieces feeling the wetness begin to collect against her stomach. Jason was right, Raven hated them and made no qualms about saying it. She even went on to say she would kill them with her own hand and wand if they were found with Peverella property. There was no way any of that didn't spell out she hated them in bold letters. Then she left treating the older woman and her daughters like they were family before she disappeared off to somewhere via Portkey. "She... She doesn't understand my sweet boy" she said kneeling down and made Jason look her in the eye as she wiped the tears away. "Theres a lot that she doesn't understand."

"Where is she?"

Jasons eyes shot over spotting a very ticked off Minerva McGonagall. "Where is who?" he asked pushing out of his mothers hold.

"Raven" Minerva said with a look in her eyes like she was ready to go to war. "Where. Is. She."

"How in the hell should we know? We haven't seen her since yesterday morning at Gringotts" Lily said. "If you hadn't noticed Minerva, we have our own problems to deal with. Like the fact she is apparently the Lady Peverelle and because of ALBUS' plan to put her at my sisters 'For the Greater Good of her own protection' in the aftermath of the failed attack" she glared harshly here "she wants nothing to do with us. She branded her father and brothers Blood Traitors for abandoning her, her words not ours. We'll be lucky to scrape by with me going to back to work after she took back the Peverelle fortune, land properties and the homes built upon them, the books from the Potter library that har belonged to the Peverelle archives & any and all Peverelle wands or artifacts."

Minerva took a step back in shock. Albus wasn't the only one victimized by Raven Potter? She targeted her own kin out of hate and spite?! This was terrifying if it got out into the public sphere. The Potter wealth was more than the money representative of the generations of successful witches and wizards, if that was gone there was going to be a massive slot open for a lot of power to be seized. Add into the fact Albus himself would be laid up in the Intensive Care Ward at St. Mungos with a mile long list of magical and physical injuries the chaos caused by one eleven year old girl, a vengeful spite fuel angry girl, was going to dramatically shift the landscape of the magical Britains future if the dark factions got wind of this. "This isn't good" the scottisb witch said to herself.

Lilys eyes narrowed as she saw the tensing of Minervas muscles. "Jason, go get your dad and bring him inside. Dinners in the stove being kept hot" she said gently nudging her son toward his father. "I'll be right in." Once the two men were inside, Jason had to pull his dad inside, green eyes bore into her former mentor. "Spill it, why do you think Raven would be here? She disappeared from my sisters at seven years and we hadn't been able to find hide nor hair of her since. Not until yesterday and that was less than an hour start to finish before she was gone."

"Raven attacked Albus in his office at Hogwarts or so he claims. His injuries are a laundry list of magical and physical injuries a mile long" Minerva said after erecting a privacy ward to keep the men from hearing. "Albus was crucifed to the wall like Christianities depiction of Jesus on the cross. Its a bloody miracle hes alive with how badly he was wounded!"

Lily felt a heavy stone land in her stomach. Raven couldn't have done that! She.. There was no way that.. "She couldn't of done that Minerva! You or Albus would have flooed us the instance her name writ itself onto the list of students to be sorted for the First years and you never did!" Even with the denials escaping her lips her soul clenched tight in her chest. Her daughter hadn't responded to the name Raven but when the other woman called her Lorelei... "Is...Is there a girl by the name of Lorelei that was sorted?" she asked in a weak almost meek voice hoping and praying she was wrong & what was going was all a bad dream she'd yet to wake up from.

"One girl, a sorted Slytherin. Why?"

The clenching of Lilys soul tightened in her chest. "Silvery white hair, purple eyes? Pale as death warmed over?" she asked hoping against Morgana herself to be wrong.

Minerva didn't make the connection for a moment but her eyes widened in horror fueled understanding seeing Lilys heart sink and her normally warm bright green eyes dull to an almost lifeless lack luster shade. "Lily... Tell me you didn't..."

"She.. She didn't respond to my pleas to listen... She ignored my begging to let us explain why.." Lilys eyes were sightless as silent tears fell connecting the dots. "Jason is right.. She truly has turned from us... Truly hates us... Found a new family... It explains so much...and she only responded to a woman with pink hair. She only responded when she was addressed as Lorelei..." she said hugging hereelf as an absolute cold dread filled every part of her body. She didn't even notice the pure unadulterated alarm as Minerva apparated away like she was being chased by Death itself.

Back at Hogwarts about the same time as Minerva apparated away from Godrics Hollow, Lorelei finished the adjustment to the ward scheme at the center of the schools protection suite. While she removed Dumbledores memories of her identity of Lorelei Shuzen- Lady of all four Hogwarts bloodline houses and Lady Peverelle- and the former heiress known as Raven Potter, she needed to be sure that no one coming to or going out of the castle would be able to connect the dots. With a diagram that showed the true location of the ward stone and ward scheme, not the one Dumbledore thought was the stone and modified, from Rowenas journal she added what was essentially a rune matrix that had the effects of what she knew would be if the Imperius and Confundus spells had a love child. She barely had felt the matrix activate and integrate into the wards when a staff member apparated on the edge of the wards. Now she would see if she got her however many times great grandmother Rowenas idea right.

The moment Minerva crossed into the ward and onto the schools grounds she stopped dead in her tracks as a woozy and nausiating feeling washed over her. She could feel a tenseness and worry in her body but what had she been worried about? She couldn't remember but it was there. It was a cold dread and fear but it was like whatever it was disappeared completely. That was worrying but if it disappeared it couldn't be that important...could it?

A/N: so another chapter down and our vampire heroine is continually making waves though its more of a ripple effect result and word of mouth. Just what did Minerva think was going to happen when she went demanding answers of Lily and James? What exactly else is in the rune matrix Lorei added to Hogwarts protection ward scheme? Will Lorelei actually feed off of Daphne since she now understands the connection about who and what Lorelei is? Will the rune matrix adversely affect those who know Loreleis secret already or does it act in only the way of befuddling those who make a reach to connect Lorelei Shuzen & Raven Potter as the same person?

Find out next chapter as we jump forward in time to examine how the Hogwarts student body takes to strange occurences happening in the castle