CURUS: Merp. Thanks for being patient! This chapter is extra long because of how long you had to wait! Love you all that reviewed :) P.S. for some reason my page breaks didnt work :( sorry about that!

Summary: If a male Harry is (in Snape's words) a carbon copy of James, what will the world do when a female Harry is a splitting image of Lily? AU, slightly off canon.

Of Flowers and Dandelions

02: The Classes.

Something fluffy smacked her repeatedly and all Orchid could do was grunt as her eyes fluttered open. She stared at Su, her roommate, standing over her holding a rather large pillow. Su's face broke out into a huge smile and she giggled. Su smacked her once more before leaping onto her own bed beside the young Potter girl. Orchid grumbled and scratched the top of her head, looking around at her new room. Sitting up she looked over at Su who still hadn't stopped laughing. She was dressed in full uniform, while Padma was dressed as well, sitting on her bed and reading a book.

"Wake up! It's your turn to get ready!" Su was a morning person, Orchid noted to herself. A very cheery one at that. She yawned and stretched, itching her shoulder as she sat up. She made her way to the washroom, her toiletries already set up. With bleary eyes, Orchid closed the door and got ready, showering, brushing her teeth and braiding her wet hair over her shoulder. When she exited fully dressed, Su was standing on the other side, handing her a leather messenger bag. It was really Petunia's old purse but Orchid didn't mind, she rather liked the dark leather and the many pockets. "Good morning sleepyhead!" Su sung.

"Morning," Orchid was awake. "What time is it?"

"Six thirty," Padma answered without looking up. "We're rather early but Su and I get up at this time out of habit," Padma closed her book and slipped it into her leather back pack. "We had to help our parent's garden before work. Good morning," Orchid grinned at Padma's late greeting and the girl broke out into a small smile.

"So!" Su said clapping her hands together. "Let's have breakfast!" The three friends smiled and followed a rather excited Su into the common room. The way the dorms were set up, it was three girls to a room and first years were on the first floor, the same floor as the common room. Orchid could never get tired of seeing it, the huge marble and ivory statue of Rowena in front of the wall to wall library in the circular room was beautiful. The blue couches, the large window overlooking the rest of the castle, Ravenclaw was gorgeous. Orchid was used to waking up at this hour, just never on a full stomach and she was surprised to see many Ravenclaw's up and about. They greeted Anthony, Michael and Terry along with Lisa and Mandy before making their way across the castle to the great hall at seven.

Orchid looked around, it seemed all Ravenclaws believed in an early rising as do the Slytherins and half of the Hufflepuffs. She glanced at the Gryffindor table and saw mostly older years yawning into their porridge. She giggled, the dynamic was rather interesting. She noticed Hermione and Neville eating happily with a still snoring Ron and waved at an eager Hermione and shy Neville.

"Who in the world are you waving at Orchid? We're all you got!" Su said as she nudged her elbow into Orchid's ribs. She winced, a particular bruise had not fully healed and she shrunk into her already slouched figure.

"I've made some friends on the train," She admitted quietly. Su peered at her with a raised brow, "Gryffindors if you were wondering," She added and Su nodded in approval. "And Draco Malfoy," She added the last part under her breath and Padma, Su, Michael and Anthony paused to stare pointedly at her. She shrunk into her small frame again and couldn't hold the blush in.

"Malfoy?" Michael repeated. She nodded slowly. "How did that happen?"

"Ron, Hermione, Neville and I were sharing a compartment and Draco came and offered me his friendship. I accepted and said that I was also their friends and he told me that I had to pick a side soon," Orchid spoke meekly, playing with the long sleeves of her robes. Her Ravenclaw companions shared a look apart from Su who gave a small smile.

"I think a man with power is wonderful," Su muttered into her porridge. Anthony gave her a cold look.

"You're eleven," He pointed out. Su stuck her tongue out and Anthony chuckled.

"Orchid I know you don't know much about the wizarding world but Malfoys are known dark enthusiasts, you're affiliated with the light so you have to be careful," Padma warned haughtily. Orchid stared down at her oatmeal, her thoughts focusing on her affiliation… To her, she was merely a young girl in Hogwarts. She glanced at Su with her knowing dark eyes and knowing smile and couldn't help but feel better knowing that she supported her. Feeling better Orchid continued to eat quietly and quickly, almost in fear that it would disappear and gently pushed her bowl away as it finished, barley paying attention to Michael and Padma's worried glances and Su and Anthony's attempt to lighten the mood with their joyful banter.

"And how are we doing little firsties?" She heard a familiar male voice behind her and she turned around seeing the gray blue eyes of Ken, Su's older brother, year five with his bright silver P badge and his Ravenclaw uniform. Orchid was aware that she was in a magical world but something about Ken made the magic come alive. Maybe it was his eyes. She blushed and turned around when he glanced at her and she distracted herself by playing with her fingers.

"Ken!" Su said with a big smile. "I want you to meet my friends!" She said excitedly. "This is…"

"I know Cookie, I know, I'm here to give you firsties your schedules," he handed it out and Orchid didn't turn around as he dropped the piece of paper in front of her shrinking figure.

"You know, I take offense to being called a firstie!" Padma defended in her usual haughty tone. Orchid snickered and glanced at Ken who happened to glance at her and gave a watery smile,

"It's alright Paddy, Cookie's friends get teased just like Cookie," He ruffled her hair and Padma scoffed loudly.

"Why Cookie?" Anthony asked politely. Ken sighed,

"Well, I was always babysitting her and every time she went missing Su was hands deep in the cookie jar," they laughed and Su couldn't help but pout. "Well there are more little ones to get to, later Su and Su's troop," a chorus of bye Ken's surfaced and Orchid stared at her schedule, wondering why she barely had any classes with the Gryffindors, just the Hufflepuffs.

Monday:

Herbology with Slytherin

Transfiguration with Hufflepuff

Tuesday:

Charms with Gryffindor

Potions with Hufflepuff

Astronomy with Hufflpuff

Wednesday:

History of Magic with Gryffindor

Flying with Hufflepuff

Thursday:

Charms with Gryffindor

Double Potions with Hufflepuff

Friday:

Defence Against the Dark Arts with Hufflepuff.

"Urgh, Herbology is going to be soooo boring," Su complained

"It's probably because you help your mom's Herbology shop and work on her garden," Padma clarified. Orchid listened as they discussed home life. Su and Padma grew up in the same wizard community, both being pureblooded and wealthy in their parents' country, they moved to England to expand their business and happened to be neighbours since birth. Anthony's parents worked for the Ministry just like Michael's and Orchid couldn't help but clam up wondering what her parents would be doing if they were alive. She wished she wasn't so shy, or nervous or blushing all the time.

She followed her three companions toward the exit of the Great Hall, noticing then a group of Slytherins coming toward her. If her memory served her well they all had herbology together. Draco was leading the pack as Orchid trailed behind and he gave a small smirk. Orchid couldn't help but smile at him as he approached flanked by two oafish looking boys, the rest of the Slytherin firsties behind him.

"Good Morning Potter," Draco greeted with a little nod and she curtsied politely.

"You can call me Orchid, you know," she mumbled. Draco grinned.

"You have so much to learn, we're acquaintances and you already wish to be on a first name basis?" Draco shook his head waving his hand and she pouted.

"Aren't we friends?" She asked with a little more certainty. Draco glanced at her and nodded.

"Sure, Orchid, the more you're around me, the more you'll get to know the ins and outs, come," he beckoned her over and he gently took her by her arm and followed after the Ravenclaws. Orchid couldn't help but blush as other students, old and young gaped openly at them. She squeezed his forearm and he chuckled. "They're in awe of our combined influence. You have to understand Po-Orchid, not everyone is kind and truthful and sincere, people want something from you and expect something of you, that's why allying yourself with me will protect you,"

"I don't like attention Draco," she mumbled, looking down at their steps. Draco chuckled.

"Don't worry, they'll leave you alone when I'm around," Orchid gave him a warm smile as they entered the greenhouse. She couldn't understand how others could describe him as pompous and ignorant when he had taken the seat beside her in herbology class, the Ravenclaws and Slytherins taking that as cue to mix around the seating, and Draco gave her pointers with the utmost sincerity. Orchid couldn't stop blushing the while and as she exited the class with the customary two kisses on the cheek from and to Draco, she saddled up between Padma and Su as they gazed toward the departing Slytherins heading for a class with Gryffindors.

"Whoa, Malfoy was unbelievably nice to you…" Padma admitted lowly under her breath. Orchid looked up at the taller girls and frowned.

"Draco says he wants to protect me from bad wizards," Orchid said quietly, "But what's a bad wizard?"

"Ah, the question indeed young grasshopper," Su said with a bow. She snickered and they headed to their next class, transfiguration. Su prattled on about how much fun it would be to study and her and Padma bickered over studying habits for their group of five and Orchid couldn't help but meekly look around, trying to take everything in. As they entered the class, the seating was done by three and she sat between the two bickering girls and stared at a rather stiff looking cat on a stool. For some reason, the cat felt really funny to her, tickling her skin though she wasn't touching it and she noted that and gasped in shock as the cat leaped from the stool and transformed to a stern faced McGonagall.

"What was that?" Orchid whispered quickly to Padma as McGonagall talked about her expectations of the classroom.

"She's an animagus, she can turn into a cat whenever she wants," Padma quickly whispered back and Orchid decided that if she ever learned anything it would be that. She paid attention and took notes on what she was saying and analyzed the theory behind the wand movement and spell to change her toothpick into a needle and blushed terribly when her first try proved success.

"Ten points for Ravenclaw for patience and talent," McGonagall gave her a small stiff smile, "Your father had an apt talent for transfigurations as well," Orchid nearly jumped at the fact that the woman had been standing over her for the longest while and at the mention of her parents she couldn't help but sit up straighter,

"You knew him? You knew what he was like?" She asked excitedly. A puzzled look came upon the older witch's face,

"Why, I taught both James and Lily when they attended Hogwarts, both Gryffindors both really talented," she frowned as she peered deep into Orchid's hazel brown and green eyes, "I'm shocked that you didn't know that Miss Potter,"

"My Aunt and Uncle don't talk about them much, I was wondering if you knew anyone else who knew them," Her big eyes were wide and glittering in hope and curiosity and Su and Padma, second and third to have complete the task, took notes and listened absently to the ignorance of Orchid and her excitement.

"Well, Severus Snape would know just as much, maybe even more, and Professor Dumbledore," She couldn't help but flinch at his name, the man known as her magical guardian who refused to guard her. She had to thank Hermione for showing her the book about her life. McGonagall hurried off, "Zacharias now is not the time for showing off!" And Orchid could only stare after her, questions burning deep in her chest. She slouched, deflated defeated and discouraged and stared at her needle. She absently turned it back into a toothpick and sighed. Hopefully she'd find out more about her parents another time.

After classes, Orchid had ditched and spent all her time in the library forgetting to go to dinner and studying with the group. Orchid slipped into the common room a few minutes before curfew and noticed the candle light readers scattered across the common room and hugged her book bag close to her chest. She couldn't help but notice Su sprawled on the floor nearest to the statue, Ken leaned against the podium, a book on his lap. She couldn't help but feel guilty, Ken and Su made her feel like she belonged and she had skipped out in favour of studying. She, like a dog with his tail behind his legs, walked over, sitting right beside a softly snoring Su and a grinning Ken.

"She waited up for you," he pointed out softly gazing at the twitching girl. "Something about making sure you're okay?"

"That's rather kind of her," she smiled softly as she twitched in her sleep, murmuring something or another about pancakes.

"I'll teach you a spell to help carry her, it's the floating charm," Ken demonstrated the wand movement and pronounced the strangest word ever, wingardium leviosa, something along those lines. Orchid was determined to see this through and practiced a few times on her book before turning to Su's sleeping body and standing up. She happily waved goodbye to Ken and followed after the still sleeping girl with a wide grin. Entering their dorm, she put her into her bed and climbed into her own, excited for the next day to learn and to bond some more with Su and Padma.

"Wow you did it on the first try!" Hermione exclaimed as she sat beside a blushing Orchid. Professor Flitwick gave her points and she wanted to bury her face into her sleeves while Hermione prattled on about how good her technique was. Neville gave her an encouraging smile and attempted the spell. "No Neville, you have to pronounce it properly!"

"Hey, Granger, wanna tone down the bossiness?" Su called from behind them. Orchid glanced over and gave her a grateful smile and Su saluted.

"Sorry, I tend to get carried away." She mentioned she carried on talking about how others didn't really like to be around her and wanted to work on her people skills. She couldn't help but smile and nod, listening to Hermione as she copied down notes. As charms ended and she gave Hermione and Neville a hug goodbye, Orchid and her fellow claws headed into the dungeons for potions class.

"I heard Snape eats Gryffindors for breakfast," Terry Boot said nervously.

"I heard he hangs them on his walls as trophies," Michael suggested. Orchid couldn't help but roll her eyes, he couldn't be that bad. They entered the dungeons, Su and Orchid paired up while Padma and Anthony were behind them followed by Terry and Michael and Lisa and Mandy. The Hufflepuffs looked just as nervous and Orchid couldn't help but be excited. Petunia had taught her how to cook, how to preheat the oven and prepare ingredients while you waited, or how to skin fish and make pasta sauce. She was excited, in muggle school the closest thing to cooking was chemistry and now she was in a potions class ready to work. She thought cooking was peaceful and relaxing so potions should be the same way.

Severus Snape came billowing in with his dark robes and snarky sneer, everyone held their breath as he did his speech, barely above a whisper. Orchid couldn't help but lean at the edge of her seat, gazing at him and his words of wisdom and passion. He was very scary in his demeanor but that was because he felt that students never appreciated the art of potions. Orchid nearly had a heart attack as he yelled her last name. He asked rather aggressively three questions which she answered, having studied every day after classes and before and after dinner with her friends and sometimes alone. He didn't look surprise as he gazed upon her and gave a nod before turning to the whole class.

"Five points for Ravenclaw for preparation," It was deathly silent. "Well? Write this down you dolts!" The sound of scratching quill on parchment sent a small smile to Orchid's mouth as she glanced at Su who grinned back. Ravenclaw firsties studied when there wasn't even something to study! Su was into dueling, Padma into almost everything and Orchid was determined to be ahead in her studies.

The ingredients and list for the potions appeared on the board and Su gathered the materials while Orchid put the pot to simmer, humming a song Petunia often sang when she dressed her bruises and wounds. She missed her aunt the most, even if they hurt her they were family, she just had to learn to be better.

"Merlin's Beard MacMillan, if you want your potion to sour by all means squish the newt eyes into a million pieces!" Snape sarcastically suggested.

"Sorry Sir," Ernie mumble and attempted to retrieve the eyes from the newt another way.

"Wow, with that gentle touch you might even salvage the potion." His drawl and monotone sarcasm couldn't help but make laughter bubble in Orchid's stomach. Something about Severus Snape was rather comforting.

"Boot this isn't a stew! Don't just throw the ingredients in their!" Snape shook his head. "You'd think my instructions were just for bloody show. Read the bored you brats!" Su and Orchid giggled quietly to themselves as they had already copied down the instructions and were working peacefully and quietly. Snape wondered around the classroom sarcastically and somewhat rudely giving comments on their potion making which actually made the students feel more comfortable as he backhandedly gave them pointers. Orchid and Su were the first to hand in a vial of their potion and Severus stared at it, putting it up in the light. "And that's how you're supposed to brew a potion! I want a six foot long essay depicting the importance of following instructions in a potion and how it pertains to the potion you all brewed today! I wouldn't call this group anything short of passable, but if you listen and follow instructions you might even turn into decent brewers," Snape gave Orchid a little nod and she blushed, hurrying back to her seat with Su as they cleaned up and washed their cauldrons carefully and by hand.

Snape sat at his desk, everyone was nearly done and he commented on their potions, if it was a little darker he berated them for letting it simmer too long and if it was lighter he berated the students for making it rather weak. Even the Hufflepuffs took notes on his commentary and he deduced that the students were on the right track, all potions were nearly spot on which was enough but he demanded perfection. Most of Orchid's friends in Ravenclaw did a good job, and they took a page from her book and washed their utensils by hand.

"Why should we wash it by hand anyway?" Mandy asked as she rolled up her sleeves that kept slipping into the cauldron.

"Because if we wash it with magic it could contaminate future potions." Orchid murmured. "Plus we still have class time left since we finished our potions a little early. We can help out by cleaning and spending the remaining fifteen minutes going over notes and starting the essay," she pointed out softly. She could feel a burning gaze and glanced over at Snape not surprised that his dark eyes were fixed on her.

"I'm convinced he likes them young," Su muttered as she wiped their now clean station. Orchid blushed and arranged the utensils and left over ingredients having finished cleaning everything. They pulled out their notes and continued adding to them, and Orchid looked around the classroom to see that other students were following her example. The bell rang after she and Su finished their notes and they headed out, all feeling much better. Those that weren't finished cleaning stayed to clean and as Orchid and her friends stepped out into the hallways, the Hufflepuffs along with the Gryffindors and the Slytherins managed to head in the same direction.

"Wow, I feel like I actually learned something," Zacharias mumbled not too far from Potter. She remembered his name because teachers often caught him goofing around. He was pretty tall for Orhcid, maybe because she was so small, and had brownish blondish hair and blue eyes. "I think he like syou Orchid, I mean I heard Snape never gives house points to anyone besides Slytherin!" At this the Gryffindors drew nearer.

"Did I hear that Snape gave housepoints?" Ronald Weasley asked flanked by Seamus and Dean.

"You heard correctly Ron," Zacharias continued, "He gave it to Orchid and he even taught us to improve our potions skills," Zacharias shook his head in disbelief.

"Wait a minute, you learned something in potions class?" Neville asked.

"Yes, we all did," Lisa admitted in as much shock as Zach.

"Merlin…" Neville muttered.

"It's because of how good Orchid was, and Su too! They finished their potion in like, twenty minutes!" Terry said excitedly. Orchid couldn't take their murmuring and discussion of her and Su and quickly walked ahead, a blush on her face. She couldn't understand what was so special about being a good student and being rewarded for it. She didn't stop walking or pay attention to where she was heading until she realised she was alone. She decided she'd meet up with them later. She needed time to herself.

"Orchid?" She heard a whispered and worried voice behind her and she jumped in mild shock, slowly dropping her wand hand and turning to face the stranger. It was after curfew and late into the night but she couldn't sleep, too busy in the Ravenclaw library to care about sleep. She was levitating a rather large book from the Ravenclaw library, a section restricted to anyone below sixth year. But Orchid had been curious and most of all restless, to determine whether she could achieve what she only had dreamed of especially now that she had magic… She just needed the knowledge… So as she levitated a possible book from the older years section of the library she jumped and turned around at the sound of her name. She was hit in the head, rather suddenly and stumbled knee first onto the blue carpet, the book she had forgotten that she was controlling, had slipped forward from her head and onto the ground in front of her. Orchid swayed a bit, only to feel hands on either side of her keeping her still. Her vision was blurred and she squinted to try and make sense of whoever had snuck up on her. She blinked and heard the worried voice continue to desperately call her name. She wriggled about coming to and quickly pulling the book onto her lap.

"I'm alright," she finally responded, looking up at Su's older brother, Ken, his worried glittering gray blue eyes made her stomach twist, and she looked away, it was stupid to think but there was something about his eyes, they seemed more magical despite being in the magical world… She blushed as he pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry for startling you," he let go to gaze upon her flushed flace, "I'm just surprised there is someone else up so late in the common room," he let go of her and peered down at the book, "what were you doing in a restricted section?"

"I was getting a book on transfiguration," she said as she stood up and swayed, experiencing vertigo from sitting down and getting up too fast. Ken was quick to hold her steady again, his speed was almost non-human and another look in his eyes made Orchid think of the possibility. Su had brown eyes while he had gray blue, they were blood related so why did he seem more different? Orchid wondered why she was so observant and he stood up and smiled.

"I heard about what happened in your first potions class, the whole school is still talking about it," he grinned and Orchid stared at her toes, Su had painted them yellow and she focused on the colour rather than Ken's piercing stare. "How you managed to answer all his questions correctly, him giving you house points and how the whole class even learned something seems farfetched," he shook his head and slid onto an armchair nearby staring curiously at Orchid. She could never help the blush, Ken Li was very attractive, especially the way he styled his hair, short and combed backward. He was merely so nice to both her and Padma, so happy to meet Su's friends. Well, mostly nice to Orchid since Padma and the siblings already mentioned being neighbours, they were more familiar with each other.

"After questioning me rather aggressively, I answered his questions and he gave me house points then went around sarcastically giving advice to others," Orchid explained as she sat down beside him, opening up her book, "barley anybody botched their potion, it was wonderful, I quite like Professor Snape, he's brilliantly intelligent, I've been reading some of the work he's published he is a very accomplished Master," she rambled on to the small amused smile and shining eyes of Ken, "did you know he's created many cures for symptoms for hexes and curses? Like the cruciatus curse, a curse said to be one of the darkest practices of magic," she frowned and Ken continued to listen as the blush receded and her rambling curiosity remained. "That doesn't make any sense, how could magic be categorized in boxes of light and dark if it merely causes pain? Light and dark has everything to do with intent, a lot of these books contradict themselves," Ken couldn't help but stare at the eleven year old girl rather thoughtfully.

"You sound very old Orchid," she quickly crumbled into herself as Ken leaned toward her, staring observantly at her rather timid behaviour. "You sound very wise too, but you're too young to be so perceptive, either you've been through tragedy, or you have suffered."

"Well, do you agree with me?" She asked softly, "About magic? About how we're barely scratching the surface of it by learning one spell per week, it's ridiculous," she seemed to reach the root of her inability to sleep, "Do you agree with me?" She asked softly.

"Yes, but again, you're rather young to be thinking like that, why is your thirst so large, why do you need to know everything?" He asked delicately.

"Because!" Her voice had raised and she blushed looking away, "Because I used to dream that I would be saved, used to read fairy tales and anything magical so that I wouldn't have to focus on my reality, but I am disappointed in what we're learning…"

"Orchid, why not ask the teachers for extra work, ask them for tutors, ask them to point you in the right direction," Ken said, "what branch of magic interests you?" his warm welcoming eyes made her stop biting her lip as she stared at his calm and embracing face. She blinked, thinking it over quickly.

"I'm quite fond of transfiguration, I think it's the epitome of magic you know, the ability to change its chemical composure, I was in muggle school and science really appeals to me, atoms and matter, basically the genetic make up of things and life and transfiguration throws that out the window by merely even suggesting that we can change something into something else," she shook her head, "I've been trying to find books on animagi, books on human transfiguration and this one seems to be the most promising,"

"That's illegal,"

"And so is banning practices of certain magic, it's unfair and biased," she reasoned casually. Ken couldn't help but stare at the eleven year old, it had been a while he had had an intelligent conversation, he shouldn't be surprised it would be Orchid, she intrigued him… "I'm going to determine whether or not I am even capable of such a feature, and maybe look up interesting spells, dueling isn't fun but I'd rather be prepared,"

"Wow," he muttered and she blushed and went back to her book. He sat there with her, answering questions when she ran into words she didn't understand. She later confessed to making a list of words she didn't understand when reading and researching them later in the library and thanked him for his presence and all Ken could do was stare at the little witch in wonder. It had been extremely adorable to watch the large tome drop on her little unsuspecting head and even more magical to hear her speak of magic and knowledge, she would do great things.

After a while, she turned to him telling him that healing was also rather interesting along with potions and magical creatures. As a muggle raised witch, you heard stories of monsters, ogres and giants and goblins and vampires, and tales of misguided werewolves and sirens, she wanted to know more, and he was sure she would find a spell to help retain her new found knowledge. He remained in her company as the sun rose, knowing full well she had already prepared for the day, and listened to the waking tower as he continued to sit and enjoy the company of his younger sister's friend. Su was lucky to have such an intelligent friend. He wondered what type of woman she'd grow into if either of them would live that long…