Hi all!

So sorry for the long delay! I won't make any excuses, just know that I'm sorry.

I have most of the next chapter written, so expect another update before next week.

On with the story!

Philomisia and Compassion

The First Day of Class

.

.

.

As Andrea left the loo, she was wondering what her first ever Potions class would be like. With how much James and Jack hated Professor Snape, she imagined that the Slytherin Head of House wouldn't be all that fond of her at first. But, she would win his respect at the very least; of this, she was sure. She is her mother's daughter and Harry's sister, after all; i.e. she was very diligent when it came to her studies.

These thoughts led her to be thankful that her father seemed to be avoiding her around the school. Andrea knew that once they do end up interacting, it would be a royal pain in the arse. She could just picture her father standing over her with a disappointed glare directed at her, telling her just how ashamed he is that a Potter was in a house other than Gryffindor. He'd then go on about bringing shame to their ancestors...

Too bad for James Potter, as Andrea couldn't care any less about her father's opinion.

As she rounded the corner in the dungeons where her destination was, she opened the door to the Potions classroom and stepped inside. The first thing she noticed was that all eyes were on her. The second was that she was probably the last student to arrive, considering there was only one seat left.

She must have taken longer in the loo than she thought.

Professor Snape sneered at her before saying, "Ah, Miss Potter. How nice of you to finally join us."

She knew she still had a few minutes before class actually began, but decided not to say anything. If she wanted to get on Snape's good side, starting an argument with him during their first meeting wouldn't be a very good way to go about it.

"As the only seat left available is beside Miss Greengrass, sit there for today. I assume you'll be abysmal in this class, just like your father and brother. So, do try your best not to embarrass your partner for the day. The Greengrasses are known for their potioneering; I doubt you would want the eldest Greengrass daughter to know you hindered her sister on the first day of class," he said as he turned to the blackboard at the front of the classroom. Andrea was irritated, that was for sure. Once again, though, she decided against saying anything.

Walking to the only available seat in the classroom, she sat down and offered Astoria a subtle smile, who gave her own small smile in return. Andrea was glad she was the last student to arrive, as otherwise she probably wouldn't have been able to sit next to her first friend. She only wished that she and Astoria wouldn't be harassed by their respective housemates if they were seen being friendly with each other.

So, with that in mind, the best they could get away with for the foreseeable future would be polite, school-oriented conversation; in public, at least. Andrea absently thought about going to find a place where she and Astoria could meet up and have a real chat, away from prying eyes.

"I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However, for those... select few who possess the pre-disposition," he said, glancing towards his Slytherins, "I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper to death."

After a moment of silence, Snape turned to Andrea with a sneer. "Miss Potter. Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"You would get the Draught of Living Death. A very powerful sleeping potion," Andrea said without hesitation, never taking her eyes off the sneering Potions Professor.

"Ah, I see you have some modicum of intelligence. For a Potter, at least. But, I assume your brother told you the answer in advance," Snape said. However, before he could continue, Andrea decided to speak up for herself.

"Professor. I doubt my brother even knows what wormwood is; or what to do with it, for that matter," she said, trying her best to keep her irritation from seeping into her voice. Andrea heard a few whispers around her and noticed Snape's eyes widen ever so slightly. "I, unlike my lazy brother and foolish father, have a thirst for knowledge. I take after my mother much more than my father. I would greatly appreciate it if you didn't compare me to them," she said, her brows knitting in annoyance.

At this, every student was staring at her in surprise, along with Professor Snape. "You aren't a fan of your family?" he said in a skeptical tone.

Andrea rolled her eyes and let out a loud scoff. "I'd say James Potter barely even counts as a father. My brother... he's the most arrogant, closed-minded, rude, and lazy person I've ever met," she said with a noticeable disgust in her tone. "I've been getting along well enough with my mother, though," she said as an afterthought. She noticed a flicker of understanding in Snape's eyes. He was one of the few people who know of Harry's existence, and what had happened at Potter Manor, after all.

"Well, well, well. Maybe you and I will get along just fine, Miss Potter," Snape said with another sneer, though this one seemed more amused than anything.

"I hope so, Professor. I don't think there would be much that could get under my father's skin more than that," Andrea said with a knowing grin.

After the conversation between Andrea and Professor Snape, the students didn't do much else besides listen to the Potions Professor explain what they would be doing in class and how it would work, much like any classes first day. Towards the end, he had them begin sorting through ingredients in preparation for the potion they would be making during their next class, which would be towards the end of the week.

She didn't really get a chance to say anything to Astoria, unfortunately, as Snape seemed to not tolerate people who didn't pay attention to him during instruction time, even his own Slytherins.

After class had ended, Andrea said a quick goodbye to Astoria, and was one of the first to leave the classroom. Normally, she wouldn't be in such a rush to get somewhere. But, she had felt all of the stares on her during class. When she had scanned the room, she noticed that most of the Slytherins were looking at her with calculating eyes, as if they were trying to figure out an interesting puzzle. Her fellow Ravenclaws, on the other hand, seemed to look at her with confusion and surprise. It looked like they were wondering how she could dislike her own brother, the Boy-Who-Lived. Everyone who wasn't a follower of You-Know-Who loved Jack Potter, after all.

She let out a dark chuckle at the thought as she continued on her way to her next class: Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall and her Gryffindors.

As she walked down a dimly lit corridor, she began to think of the old witch. She had only met Professor McGonagall a few times before Harry had left, but they had all been pleasant. She had only been back to Potter Manor once since she found out what had happened.

Apparently, the Transfiguration Professor and Andrea's mother had been quite fond of each other during Lily's time at Hogwarts. However, now the Deputy-Headmistress of Hogwarts didn't seem to even acknowledge Lily's existence, considering how the Lady of House Potter had treated her eldest son. Not many people knew about Harry, but, most of those who did weren't on the best terms with the adult Potters after finding out what had been going on at Potter Manor.

McGonagall had always been nice to Andrea, though. And to make it even better, the stern witch didn't seem to be all that fond of Jack Potter, even though the arrogant prat was a member of her own house. That gave Minerva McGonagall quite a few points in Andrea's book.

This time around, Andrea was the first student in the classroom. Having her choice of seats, she chose to sit in the very front row, considering Tranfiguration was one of the subjects she was most interested in. Placing her Transfiguration book, some parchment, and her quill on the table, she put the rest of her things away and proceeded to look around the classroom. It was a rather ordinary classroom. At least, ordinary for Hogwarts, she supposed. The only thing out of place was a cat making its way around the Professor's desk. As soon as she saw it, it must have seen her as well. The cat stopped mid stride and stared at Andrea, as if it were surprised by her presence.

"Good morning, Professor McGonagall," Andrea said with a wide smirk.

The youngest Potter watched as the mostly brown tabby cat began to shift and grow, until it settled on the form of one Minerva McGonagall.

"Good morning to you as well, Miss Potter. Did your brother tell you?" the older witch said with a bit of annoyance in her tone. Andrea chuckled, figuring that the Transfiguration Professor was looking forward to spooking her new students, who hadn't seen the transformation before.

"No. Jack and I don't get along all that well, so we hardly ever talk," Andrea said, noticing McGonagall's expression turn a bit sour. "My mother told me."

At Andrea's words, McGonagall's brow rose in interest. "Oh? Are you getting along better with young Lily? The last time I visited your manor, you seemed to be very open about your dislike of your whole family," the Professor said with genuine curiosity.

"A bit," Andrea said before glancing behind her to make sure no one else had entered the classroom yet. "Ever since Harry ran away, she's been acting like a real mother to me. We've been getting closer over the years, especially this year with me starting Hogwarts. I'll never forgive her, though; and she knows it. But, at least we have a better relationship than we had before," Andrea said with a far off look in her eyes. "At the station, she actually hit Jack for saying something bad about Harry. She was so angry..."

This seemed to be news to McGonagall, considering her usual stern demeanor turned slightly surprised. "Lily hit someone? And her son no less."

"Yeah, it was awesome!" Andrea chuckled before turning a bit more serious. "I think that really opened my eyes. I enjoyed the fact that she was giving me so much attention for the past few years, but I always thought it was hollow. I always thought she was just trying to butter up to me; but, I never thought she actually cared that Harry was gone. After seeing her at the station though... I realize that she really does miss him."

Professor McGonagall was silent for a moment before saying, "After Harry was born, Lily absolutely adored him and wouldn't stop fussing over everything he did. She didn't care one bit that he was a squib; she loved him with all her heart," she said with a fond smile at the memory. This was very surprising news to Andrea. Considering she wasn't alive when the whole Voldemort thing happened in Potter Manor, she didn't know what life was like before that. But, she just figured that her parents always had some sort of resentment for the fact that Harry was a squib. Or at least, had been thought to be a squib.

"But, after the incident with You-Know-Who, something changed. It was as if over night Harry went from being the light of her life to being no more than a background character," she finished in a sad tone.

"But why? I get that Jack's fame might have gone to her head a bit. But, to completely ignore her firstborn? Especially now that you told me how much she cared about him before, it just doesn't make any sense..." Andrea said, getting visibly upset.

"I don't know. I really don't. Lily was always the nicest, most caring person," McGonagall said in a soft tone.

After a few moments of silence between the two, McGonagall sighed and offered Andrea a small smile. "I'm glad you're getting along better with her, though. As angry and disgusted as I am in your mother for what she did to little Harry, I know just how devastated she was, and still is, about him running away. I think it's good that the two of you have been building a closer relationship. If it weren't for you, I don't know if Lily would have made it," McGonagall said with a sad glint in her eye toward the end.

Andrea nodded, but decided against saying anything further. However, she had to agree with the older witch. For the first month or so after Harry had run off, Lily was so depressed and inconsolable that even Andrea, who hated her at the time, was worried about her health. Lily Potter hadn't been eating anything at all and only drank the bare minimum to survive, which James had been required to force down her throat. The only reason she had survived that first month was because of the nutrition potions that had been mixed in with her water.

After the first month of watching her mother wither away, Andrea decided to take pity on her and try to comfort her as much as she could. After all, Harry had always taught her that you should help those in need whenever you could. Even though she truly hated her mother back then, she didn't want to see her like that; but more importantly, she didn't want to disappoint Harry. She knew that Harry hated the Potter's just as much as she did, if not more. But, at the same time, she know he wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them. He may have been a bit cold on the outside before he left, but Andrea knew that his heart would always be pure gold.

So, she had done everything she could to make Lily's life easier, and started the beginnings of a budding mother/daughter relationship that had never existed before.

Thinking on what she and McGonagall had just been talking about caused Andrea to frown. Why would her mother be so utterly devastated because her son had left when she had barely cared about him, or even acknowledged him, before then? This wasn't the first time she'd thought about this, and likely wouldn't be the last. But, she never really came up with a solid answer, as evidenced by her small outburst only moments ago.

The only thing that really made any sort of logical sense was that Lily had been so blinded by the fame of her other son, that she simply overlooked Harry. Then, when he was gone, the crushing realization that she had been so severely neglecting him had caused something to change in her, as if a switch had been flipped. But, after her conversation with McGonagall, that didn't make sense anymore. Why would Lily go from loving Harry, to neglecting him, then back to loving him again. It just didn't make any sense and it was so frustrating!

"I'm surprised, Miss Potter. Usually my students avoid the front row like the plague."

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she focused on Professor McGonagall once again.

"Well... Transfiguration was one of the subjects Harry was most passionate about, so his interest kind of rubbed off on me," Andrea said, her cheeks red with a bit of embarrassment at her confession.

McGonagall looked at her with a pained smile before saying, "I truly wish I could have had the opportunity to teach him. From what I remember of him, he loved learning even more than your mother; and that's saying something," she chuckled. "He would have made a wonderful wizard had he been able to put what he was studying to use," the Transfiguration Professor said with a soft voice, so unlike her usual strict tone.

"Yes," Andrea said. But, before she could say anything else, she heard a few other students enter the classroom. She shook any of the leftover depressing thoughts from her mind. It wouldn't do to be distracted with sadness if she wanted to be the best witch she could be, especially since Harry was going to be with her at the end of the month.

The class ended up flying by for her, much like Potions class had earlier in the morning. After all, she had been studying Jack's old Hogwarts school books for years now in anticipation of finally going herself. If she had to guess, she would say she could ace her third-year exams if she took them right now.

Even though she already knew pretty much all of the information Professor McGonagall was relaying to the class, Andrea still paid the older witch rapt attention. Her love of learning was so great that even the smallest chance that she could learn something new caused her to focus with everything she had.

Once class had been let out, she found herself headed towards the Great Hall for lunch, alongside one of her fellow first years, Orla Quirk. The other girl seemed to be extremely shy, but had a nice personality, as far as Andrea could tell. The youngest Potter liked talking with her, even if they hadn't had all that much interaction yet, considering it was only the first day of classes for the school year. But, even with their limited interactions, Andrea had a feeling that young Miss Quirk was trying to distance herself.

With Astoria being in Slytherin, Andrea wasn't looking forward to trying to find ways to interact with the young Greengrass girl. She knew it would be difficult with how tense the house rivalries were, but she was determined to keep her first friend. However, she also wanted to make other friends, and was hoping that she and Orla could become closer. It would be nice to have a close friend in her own house who she could talk to whenever she wanted or needed to.

"Orla?" Andrea said when they were about half way to their destination. As Orla jumped a bit, Andrea figured her shy classmate had been startled from hearing her name.

"Yes?" the girl said in a meek tone.

"I was wondering if you wanted to read ahead on some of our subjects in my room tonight," Andrea said with a bright smile. On the inside, though, she was a bit nervous at the answer she would receive, for two reasons. For one, she remembered how hard it was for her to make real friends. She wanted to have a bunch of friends, but at the same time, she was worried that people would only want to be friends with her because of Jack.

The second reason being that she was afraid of an outright rejection. Afraid that the girl would think Andrea unworthy of being a friend. Having no real friends growing up may have caused a bit of confidence issues for the youngest Potter when it came to socializing.

Orla glanced at Andrea with wide eyes for a moment before turning away and mumbling something under her breath.

"What was that?" Andrea said, not being able to hear her housemate.

"Um... I said that I don't think it would be the best idea," Orla said with a downtrodden expression.

"Oh. I'm sorry, I just thought that maybe we could be friends. No worries though," Andrea said, trying her best to hide the hurt she was feeling at being rejected.

Once again, Orla looked at her with wide eyes. "You want to be friends... with me?" she said in a soft, unbelieving tone.

At this, Andrea quirked a brow in confusion. Why was this girl so surprised that someone would want to be friends with her? "Yeah. I don't really have any friends at the moment, except for a girl I met on the train ride here. She's in Slytherin, though, so we can't really hang out without being harassed by the other students..." Andrea said.

This time, she didn't even bother to hide how sad she was that she couldn't spend time with her first friend. "I was hoping you could be my friend, too..."

Orla gaped at her for a moment before turning away. "Why would you want to be friends with someone like me?" she said in an even softer tone than before.

"Someone like you?" Andrea said, not having a clue as to what the girl walking beside her was talking about.

After a few moments of silence, Andrea sensed that Orla was not going to say anything. So, being the ever-curious person Andrea was, she said, "Orla? What do you mean?"

Orla's shoulders slumped as she let out a soft sigh. "You must not know who I am," she said before hastening her pace in an attempt to get away from Andrea.

The youngest Potter, though, wasn't about to let the shy girl get away. Increasing her own pace, Andrea caught up to Orla and grabbed her shoulder. "Orla..." she said in a gentle tone.

After another few moments, Andrea's Ravenclaw peer turned to her with an almost depressed expression. "I'm a muggle-born..."

It took a few seconds for the girl's words to register for Andrea. But, once they did, she couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Orla! You do know that my mother is a muggle-born and is considered one of the most brilliant witches of the time, right?"

At this, Orla merely glanced towards the young Potter and said, "Of course. Every muggle-born knows about Lily Potter."

"Then I don't understand... Why would you being a muggle-born stop me from wanting to be friends with you?" Andrea said, her confusion growing by the second.

Orla looked to Andrea with a rather confused expression. "I thought you didn't like muggle-borns."

At this, Andrea almost tripped because of how shocked she was. "Why would you think that? Like I just said, my mom is a muggle-born. Regardless, why would it matter?"

Orla stopped walking and stared at Andrea with wide eyes for a moment before saying. "You don't hate muggle-borns?"

"No! Of course not! What on Earth would make you think that?" Andrea said in complete surprise.

"Oh... I'm sorry. It's just," Orla began, trying to arrange her thoughts. "I found out last night that your brother doesn't like muggle-borns. I guess everyone just assumed that you didn't like them either."

"What?" Andrea said, stopping on the spot. With wide eyes, she stared at Orla in utter shock.

Orla, who now looked a bit concerned, took a step back. "Last night I was talking to a couple other first years and some older students, and they said to stay away from your brother. When I asked why, they said he caused a lot of trouble for muggle-borns," she said, looking down at her feet.

Andrea didn't even say anything. Her brother, the son of one of the most brilliant witches alive - who happened to have muggle-parents - hated muggle-borns? If her mother found out about this, she would be absolutely devastated. To have one child run away on her because of how she treated him and to have another hate her because of who her parents were...

"I can't believe it," she said in a soft voice as her gaze turned to the ground.

"You didn't know?" Orla asked in shock.

Andrea shook her head and looked up at her housemate. "No. I've never seen him do or say anything that would hint at it. Sure, he's a prat, but I just can't believe he would hate muggle-borns considering who our mother is..."

"Well, I don't know for sure because I've never experienced it. But, the older students told us some pretty bad stories about your brother and his friend Ron," Orla said.

Then something came to Andrea's mind. "Wait. His other friend Hermione is a muggle-born."

"Yeah. I guess they keep it from her and no one has the guts to tell her how your brother really is. From what I understand, all the houses tend to stay out of each other's business. And I guess the other Gryffindors who know how he is don't tell Hermione because they don't want to cause problems in their own house. At least, that's what Padma said last night," Orla said, trying to explain to Andrea everything she knew about the situation.

Shaking her head, Andrea sighed and started walking towards the Great Hall. "Lets go get some lunch, Orla..." she mumbled.

As the two were walking, there were two things on Andrea's mind: First, for the first time since Harry left, she felt truly sorry for her mother. And second, her hatred of her git of a brother just grew exponentially.

.

.

.

That's a wrap for chapter three! I hope you liked it. And again, sorry for the long delay!

As usual, if you spot any spelling/grammar errors, shoot me a PM so I can fix them. Also, I've noticed that FF Doc Manager tends to cut words here and there for some reason. It's a pain in the ass to re-read a chapter five times trying to see if anything is missing...

Thanks for reading!

-Mystiirious