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The Forgotten Daughter.

Chapter 1: Prologue: Before the Lightning.

May 2nd, 2006

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry:

"It's over," Melinda Potter said as she stood on a chunk of rubble from the same bridge Voldemort had led his army across, forcing Hagrid to carry her limp body for all to see.

She realized with an amused spark in her eyes that she was pretty high up. If she lost her balance from up here... she chuckled bitterly. The war had cost her so much, and she had a gut feeling it wasn't over for her yet.

Sure, she'd defeated Voldemort but something told her she had another war to fight, and she wasn't sure she liked that. Wasn't she allowed some time to rest after this? She also had Teddy to think about now, she wasn't someone who could go home now and do nothing.

She didn't technically have a home anymore, Hogwarts was in ruins and she'd thought of Privet Drive as much of a home. She had responsibilities, and another war would only cause her problems. At least she knew Teddy would be alright with his grandmother, the only family the baby born no more than a month prior had now that the war was over.

"Why didn't it work for him, the Elder Wand I mean?" Hermione asked.

Melinda exhale sharply, a short chuckle escaping her.

"It answered to somebody else. When he killed Snape he thought the wand would become his." She turned to look at them. "But the wand was never his, it was Draco's. He disarmed Dumbledore that night in the astronomy tower. Voldemort killed the wrong man for power, not that it would have mattered if he'd known Draco was the new owner."

She twirled the wand in her hand. "It was Draco I disarmed in Malfoy Manner, now the wand answers to me."

Hermione and Ron exchanged looks and then stared at their friend in shock.

"So what should we do with it?" Ron asked, sort of dazed.

Melinda chuckled when Hermione turned to the youngest Weasley male with an incredulous look.

"We!" she demanded, and Ron shrugged.

"Hermione, that's the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand in the world," he said. "With that we'd be invincible."

Melinda sighed.

"Invincibility, it's so overrated," she said. "I plan to destroy it... eventually. I don't know exactly how or when, but I have a feeling I'll need it for now."

"I'm not surprised you don't want that sort of power or responsibility, but what would possibly be so dire you'd need it?" asked Hermione, clearly concerned.

Melinda jumped off the rock that used to be part of the railing for the stone bridge, and placed the wand in her right boot.

"I don't know exactly, but I've always trusted my gut before," she replied.

"Well, we'll be with you if you want us to be," Ron said coming to stand beside the dark haired girl. Melinda's green eyes, bright and similar to the sea in the sunlight, smiled along with her.

"You know I'd love that guys, but this adventure I have to go alone. It's not something you two can do with me," she said, and Hermione sighed.

"It has to do with your birth father, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I think it does."

"Okay," Ron said as they watched the sun rise even higher over the grounds. "Just remember, if you need us all you have to do is call."

Melinda grinned, hugging two of her best friends.

"I know, and I appreciate it. But if you don't hear from me for for a while, go to Gringotts after a year and if something has happened..."

"Don't say that Mel," Hermione interrupted. "Nothing will happen to you, but if you haven't contacted us in a years time, every year, then we'll go. Promise."

Melinda smiled. She didn't know what fate had in store for her, but she knew it wouldn't be an easy ride. It might be one she didn't come back from.

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March 31st, 2006:

Empire State Building,

600th Floor;

"What do you want now Zeus, I've already told you I didn't have your stupid bolt," Poseidon said dryly. He sat on his throne, his head propped up on his hand, and his elbow on the arm of his throne.

Zeus and Athena where the only two gods present. Both look grim, something he was slightly worried about.

"So you say, but I don't believe it. Especially not after the news I've been given by Athena. I was under the impression you had sent your son to steal it, and I still believe he did, but not without help."

Poseidon frowned. "What are you getting at?"

Athena stepped forward, her usual superior look about her. Athena may have had her mother's eyes and wisdom but she was her father's daughter. "I was checking on a descendant of mine in England, Hermione Granger, she's my great-great-great granddaughter on her mother's side of the family. I happened to get a view of a girl, a school friend of Hermione's." Athena arched an eyebrow at Poseidon. "Her name is Melinda Potter, she seems to be very famous in the world Hecate helped build. At first I thought she might be Zeus' girl, or a legacy of his because this peculiar scar on her forehead, but then I saw her eyes."

"You never told me you had a daughter as well, Poseidon," Zeus grumbled.

Poseidon paled several shades, and he gritted his teeth. "Leave Melinda out of this, she is of no concern!"

"How old is she Poseidon?" Athena asked. "She looked around sixteen, and you know the prophecy..."

"Can not be about her," he growled. "Melinda is nearly eighteen, that is two years older then the prophecy states."

Zeus and Athena shared a look, and Poseidon sighed.

"I didn't know about Melinda until just before she was born. It was summer of 1987 when I met her mother, Lily Potter née Evans. I didn't even realize she was married until I'd already fallen for the beautiful redhead. She had the most amazing eyes, bright emeralds. Lily always said Melinda had my eyes, just more green. I always thought she had Lily's eyes."

He looked to his brother and niece with hard eyes. He didn't know why he bothered explaining Melinda to them, but he felt he had to try defending his only daughter.

"I knew she was in danger from you all, no one could know of her. Lily was sure she was unable to have children because of an injury she suffered while in school, a curse gone wrong, but against all odds we conceived Melinda. She told her husband everything, he was just so happy to have a child around the house he didn't care she wasn't his by blood. He gave her his name, his family heritage by adoption. Not many in that world would do that for a child not even of their blood. Many Purebloods would have divorced their wives if they couldn't give them an heir."

He shook his head.

"I didn't know Lily and her husband had been murdered until Melinda was nearly ten years old. I knew I couldn't take her away from her mother's relatives, who were the worst kind of people, but I did visit once to be sure it was her. She found out about me later, and I sent one of my court to give her a weapon for her protection. I don't know much of how she is these days."

"It's a touching story brother, but it means little. She could be dangerous, she has lived to see sixteen after all, and then there's your son. It is my belief you've used them to steal my bolt, and if it is not back by the summer solstice..." Zeus glared, leaving his words to a silent threat.

Poseidon glared back as his brother turned his back and walked off. Athena gave him a pitying look.

"I hope you know what you've done, Athena," stated Poseidon. "My children have nothing to do with Zeus' missing bolt, and if they are killed for this there will be war."

Athena sighed as Poseidon stormed off. For once she wasn't so sure bringing Melinda Potter to Zeus' attention was such a wise idea after all.

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Edited: 12/4/15.