"Okay everyone, I have some exciting news. As you may have noticed, over the course of this past week we have been doing various placement tests on you to see if you are struggling in anything. There are a few of you who are very advanced, and we have decided that the five of you are going to be in an advanced math and English course with a new teacher, Mr. Lupin. This is a very special opportunity, because taking an advanced course now looks good on your university applications and can affect your whole future," Miss Quinn explained. "So, if I call your name, will you please stay in for recess to further discuss this."

Harry was nervous. He felt like he had done well on the tests, but he doubted he was at the top of the class. If he was, what would Dudley and the Dursleys do? They would just hate him even more, because he was smarter than Dudley. The only way Dudley would be able to make it into an advanced class is if Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon paid for it.

"Audrey Davis, Mia Spencer, Owen Smith, Andrew Williams, and Harry Potter," Miss Quinn read from her list.

Harry sat there in shock. How had he possibly made it onto the list? He knew Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia would be outraged that he was on there and Dudley wasn't.

When the time came for recess, Harry hung back along with Audrey, Mia, Andrew, and Owen.

"Hi guys, I bet you're very excited to have this experience," Miss Quinn smiled at them once they were the only five left in the room.

"Does being in the advanced class mean we're going to be doing extra work?" Andrew asked.

"No, not necessarily. I mean, it's totally up to Mr. Lupin, but when we discussed it, the plan was to do the same amount of work, yours will just be more challenging. Trust me, I think you'll like it. You'll be with people whose minds work the same as yours and won't be bored in class," Miss Quinn told them.

Harry was now excited. This was a chance for him to be away from Dudley in an environment where his talents might not be constantly overshadowed. But then he realized something.

"Does that mean we won't have you as our teacher anymore?" Harry asked sadly.

"No, I'll still be your teacher. In the mornings, you'll go to the advanced classes, and in the afternoon, you'll be back in here for the rest of the classes," Miss Quinn said. Harry smiled, relieved. He really liked Miss Quinn.

"Okay, the classes start next week. I hope you all enjoy them. Mr. Lupin is a very good teacher, I think you will all like him," Miss Quinn said. Harry nodded, then went out to recess, where he was chased by Dudley and his gang because he made it into the advanced class.

Harry met Lauren at the entrance of the school building once the day was over, and they walked home together. Dudley was usually picked up by Aunt Petunia, but Dudley insisted there wasn't enough room for Harry and Lauren in the car even though all six of them could fit together in the car.

"I made it into an advanced program they're starting," Harry told Lauren.

"Really?! Me too!" Lauren cried.

"They're doing it for fourth graders too? And you made it? That's amazing, Laur!" Harry said happily.

When they got home, the two were met by an angry Mrs. Dursley. "How dare you two get into an advanced program and not my Dudley? This is an outrage! My Diddy Duddlekins is the smartest boy out there, and you two think you can just waltz in and go to advanced classes and leave poor Dudders alone and with no self confidence! You should be ashamed. You two are just like your mother, always think you're all special because you have some 'talent', but really you're just a freak! Up to your rooms, and no dinner! I will be calling the school to have both of you pulled immediately!" Aunt Petunia lectured them.

Harry and Lauren just nodded and walked to their rooms, spending the night alone doing homework.

The next day, Miss Quinn pulled Harry aside when he walked into the classroom. Dudley sniggered at him, whispering a taunting "you're in trouble" as Harry walked to the teacher's desk.

"Harry, I got a surprising call last night, and it was from your aunt," Miss Quinn started slowly. Harry felt his face redden.

"Oh, that-," he stated, but Miss Quinn cut him off.

"She demanded that you be removed from the advanced program immediately," Miss Quinn confirmed, and Harry nodded. "What was that about?"

"Um, well, she and my uncle don't really like when I do better than Dudley, so she got a little mad and had to remove me," Harry explained nervously.

"Do you want to be in the program?" Miss Quinn asked him, her kind blue eyes staring softly into Harry's green ones.

"It doesn't really matter-"

"It does to me. Do you want to be in the program or not?" Miss Quinn asked him.

"Yes," Harry nodded. "But you won't be able to convince them to let me in. My little sister got in as well, but she's also been taken out."

"Harry, I promise I will do whatever I have to in order to get your aunt and uncle to let you join the advanced program," Miss Quinn promised.

"Really?" Harry asked. No adult he could remember had ever treated him like this.

"Really," Miss Quinn smiled warmly. "Now go to your seat."

Harry obeyed, walking towards his seat in the back of the classroom.

"Alright, class, as you all know, open house is today. I look forward to meeting all of your parents-and guardians," she added, glancing at Harry.

Harry looked down at his hands. He wasn't sure that Miss Quinn would like Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon too much. They weren't very enjoyable people.

Once school was let out early because of the open house, Harry sat under a tree to read as he ignored everyone who came near him.

Miss Quinn, on the other hand, was dealing with the fifth graders' parents.

They were all very different. Some were very sweet and the talks were easy; their kids were doing well in school and had little to no corrections needed. Some seemed a little annoyed; Issy assumed it was either because they were stressed or their kid wasn't doing as well. Some seemed frazzled; their kids were the out of control ones, the ones in Dudley Dursley's gang. It seemed that they had lost authority over their children.

Finally, her last meeting of the day, the one she dreaded the most, was the Dursleys.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. It's so nice to meet you," Issy said, smiling warmly at the couple. The man grunted in response. "I'm Issy Quinn, Dudley and Harry's teacher."

Mrs. Dursley nodded her stiffly-held head.

"I thought we could start off with Dudley and then get into Harry," Issy tried. The couple just looked at her. "Dudley seems to be very popular, he has a lot of friends.''

"As he should," Mr. Dursley grunted.

"But I feel he scares some of the smaller kids, he can act threateningly at times," Issy told them

"He's a man," Mr. Dursley said, annoyed.

"That's not really an excuse-," Issy tried to say, but was cut off by Vernon Dursley.

"He is in a position of power. You should fear the people in power," Mr. Dursley explained.

Issy paused, knowing it would be useless to continue arguing. "Anyways," she stated, "about his schoolwork... I feel he had potential to do better, he's just not using it. He doesn't like to listen to what any of the teachers have to say."

"Is he failing any of his classes?" Mrs. Dursley finally spoke.

"Well... no, but-"

"Then why is it a problem?" She asked. Her voice was unusually high and girly. Issy had barely heard her say a sentence and she was already annoyed with how her voice sounded.

"I was just trying to say that he could be doing better," Issy told the couple. Mr. Dursley grunted. This was by far the worst conversation of the day.

"Okay, well, that is all I wanted to say about Dudley, now let's move to Harry..." Issy said, swearing she could see both of the Dursley's wince. "He's doing great in class, so nothing to worry about there... he doesn't seem to have many friends, he likes to spend recess alone under a tree reading a book."

Issy had expected them to be concerned, however, they looked far from it. "Does he need friends?" Mr. Dursley asked.

Issy was taken aback by this. "Friends are always good to have," she told the couple.

"He doesn't need 'em," Mr. Dursley said.

"Right... well, I also wanted to ask why you said Harry wasn't allowed in the advanced program?" questioned Issy.

"Doesn't need it. He's fine with the rest of the class. He shouldn't feel special; it's not good for him. Feeling as if he's better than anyone just because he has some freak ability shouldn't be how he lives life. His kind seem to think they're all better than us," Vernon complained. It seemed as though he had said something wrong.

Petunia screamed "Vernon!" in a shrill tone right as Issy asked, "His... kind?"

Vernon's face went redder than it already was. "Er- his-his parents thought-thought they were better than us because they had special abilities. But his dad was living on unemployment," Vernon explained.

"What kind of special abilities?" Issy asked, with no idea what the Dursleys could possibly be talking about.

"Freak abilities," Petunia answered, looking even more tight-lipped than before.

Issy nodded slowly, unsure of what she meant but realizing pressing the matter would do no good. "Right. Well, I was hoping you would reconsider your decision to let Harry join the advanced program," Issy said, and right then, the classroom door opened and Remus Lupin stepped in.

He froze when he saw the Dursleys. They looked so familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea you were still doing these, I'll come back a little later-," Remus said, starting to leave when Issy called him back.

"Actually, Remus, this involves you, so you can stay," Issy said, hoping Remus would be more effective than she at persuading the Dursleys to let Harry join the advanced program.

Remus walked unsurely toward the desk where the group was gathered and stood next to Issy. "Hi, I'm Remus Lupin, I teach the advanced program," he introduced himself.

Petunia glanced at him, and then went back to staring at the wall.

"We were just talking about how they removed Harry from the advanced program," Issy explained.

Remus felt his heart jump. 'This is Lily's sister. They really couldn't be more different in looks, could they?' he thought. "Ah," he said.

"He doesn't need to feel special," Vernon Dursley insisted.

"The program isn't meant to make the students feel special, Mr...?" Remus said, realizing he had no idea what these people's names were. He knew Petunia's maiden name, of course, but doubted she still went by that, let alone that her husband went by that.

"Vernon Dursley," Mr. Dursley said gruffly.

"As I was saying, Mr. Dursley, the program isn't meant to make him feel special, it is to get him working with people whose minds work the same as his," Remus explained. He had meant this in a non-magical, Muggle way, but quickly realized that was not how it was taken.

Vernon's face reddened, and Petunia got stiff. "He does not need to associate with freaks like himself and his parents and sisters," she said, her eyes distant.

Remus felt his temper rise. 'Lily and James weren't freaks, and neither are Samantha and Lauren nor any other witch or wizard' he thought bitterly. But he kept his anger well-covered, and no one seemed to notice.

"You keep going back to how his parents were freaks, and I believe you mentioned their dad lived on unemployment, if you could exaggerate on that-," Issy said, but was quickly interrupted by Petunia.

"We don't talk about that," she said strictly.

"But-"

"You heard my wife, we don't talk about her freak sister or brother-in-law!" Vernon yelled.

Issy gulped, then nodded. "Alright then. I won't mention them ever again if you agree to let Harry into the advanced program.''

"And Lauren," Remus added.

Petunia looked at Vernon as though considering it.

"It's what their parents would've wanted," Remus added quietly. Petunia flashed a quick glance at him, knitting her eyebrows together for a second before deciding it was impossible for this man to know her sister, because if he was one of those freaks, what would he possibly be doing at a school for normal people?

"We'll let them join," Petunia said quietly.

"Great. It's all settled then," Issy said, before remembering there was one more thing she wanted to discuss. "Oh, hold on, just one more thing: I heard Harry mention that his sister had run away, I was wondering if you have come any closer to finding her?"

Vernon's jaw tightened.

"It's no use looking for her; she'll turn up eventually, just as freakish as her mother. Besides, we couldn't find her even if we wanted to," Petunia answered, and without waiting for a reply, she and Vernon left the room.

Issy turned to Remus. "That was... a journey," she sighed. Lupin smiled softly. "Hey, do you know what she was talking about when she called them freaks? You know, since you knew their parents."

Remus hesitated. He couldn't tell her, he knew that. A part of him wanted to, though. "Haven't got a clue," he replied, shrugging.

"Eh. It was worth a shot," Issy replied.

At Hogwarts, Samantha was having the best time of her life. Only one thing set it back from perfection.

It was Potions. All of the other classes she was good in. She was normally the first to learn the new spells and successfully complete the task at hand. Max was always a close second. They would compete sometimes, and Max had only beaten Samantha once. He had rubbed it in her face for the next week, even if she had beaten him in the next class and all of the classes after that.

It wasn't that she was performing poorly in Potions either. In fact, she was once again top of the class, however much Snape was hesitant to admit it. Then, of course, there was the double Potions class on Thursday, and Samantha was talking as Snape was going over Potions recipes and what would happen if you mixed certain plants. But Snape noticed her, and naturally asked her a question about what he had just said.

"Potter!" he called in his deep voice, "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Samantha thought for a minute. She had read about the language of flowers in the library when she was bored over the summer, and had picked up on a bit of it. She had no idea what happened in Potions, though, so flower language was her best bet.

"Well, in Victorian Flower Language, asphodel is a type of lily that means something like 'regrets follow you to the grave' and wormwood means 'absence'. It also symbolizes sorrow. Combining that, you would get something about regretting someone's death," Samantha explained. "Now, not trying to pry too far, but my mother's name is Lily."

Everyone looked at her in shock. Samantha looked expectantly at Snape. He stood quite still, contemplating how to reply to this. Finally, he spoke.

"I was talking about Potions," he said.

"And I was talking about Victorian Flower Language," Samantha replied.

Snape gritted his teeth together. "See me after class. And if I catch you talking once more, detention and zeros for the rest of this week and next week," he threatened.

Samantha thought she was lucky. She had thought she would get much worse than that. She didn't talk the rest of class, though, because however reckless she was, she also wasn't an idiot, and getting a week and a half's worth of detentions plus no credit for the next few weeks was not a price she wanted to pay.

Once class had been dismissed, she said goodbye to Max and Leslie, telling them she'd meet them at lunch before she made her way to Snape's desk.

"Sit," Snape ordered, magically summoning a chair in front of his desk so Samantha could sit. "So, you think I regret your mother's death, do you?" he asked her.

"Well, that is what you said," Samantha replied almost coolly. "But why would you of all people regret my mother's death?"

Snape paused for a moment, as if asking himself whether or not whatever he was about to do was the right decision. Finally, it seemed he had chosen his answer was yes.

He stood up and led Samantha to his office, going to a shadowy corner.

"Come," he beckoned. Samantha followed him. He was standing in front of a large basin with silver-white contents swirling inside of it. Samantha watched it for a moment before looking up at Snape.

"What's this?" she asked him.

"Memories," he replied. It seemed he was only capable of talking to her in one-word responses.

"Your memories?" Samantha asked. "Memories of... my parents?"

Snape did not reply. Instead, he took Samantha's arm and pulled her into the contents of the basin with him.

Samantha watched in awe as the Great Hall formed around her. She knew what it was at once, however, instead of the house tables, there were many, many smaller tables, and each had a student sitting there. Samantha looked around her and spotted teenage Snape immediately. He had a stingy air to him, and his greasy black hair fell around him in curtains. He was scribbling on a paper, as was everyone else. While Samantha observed young Snape, she saw adult Snape was somewhere else, a few rows away.

He seemed to be looking at someone, watching to see what they were doing. Samantha walked towards him, and her heart left when she saw him.

A face she hadn't seen in nine years, and yet she recognized him the second her eyes landed on his familiar messy, dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Samantha was looking at a teenage version of her father. And so was Snape.