Iris Lily Potter (Harry Potters Sister) Book 1

Chapter 8

The last few weeks have been uneventful. Harry and Iris have grown even further apart and Ron and Hermione have been telling Harry all sorts of rumors and lies about his dear sister. Harry didn't believe them at first but then they started coming up with more believable lies and he now can't look at his sister anymore.

Iris has been getting tips from Daphne and Daphne has been training her, so to speak. Iris now has a constant cold expression on her face and has been ignoring her brother and his friends. All of the houses look at her as if she is the most vile beast imaginable. She acts as if she doesn't care, but when it is in the middle of the night, and everyone is asleep, she cries.

She isn't sure which was worse. The fact that everyone hates her, or the fact that her brother hates her. Lily, Rose, and James seem concerned for her as they watch her act cold to everyone and then cry in the middle of the night. It's as if she is being torn apart and they are witnessing it.

Finally comes the first Potions class with Professor Snape. Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the register, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name. "Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new - celebrity." Iris and her group of Slytherins sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word - like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stop death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

More silence followed this little speech. "Potter!" said Snape suddenly, causing both Harry and Iris to jump. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had shot into the air.

"I don't know, sir," said Harry.

Snape's lips curled into a sneer. "Tut, tut - fame clearly isn't everything." He ignored Hermione's hand. He then turned to Iris and she answered immediately.

"You'd brew a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death." Iris answered.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry didn't have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Alec, and Nico who were shaking with laughter.

"I don't know, sir." Said Harry.

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?" Snape sneered and then turned back to Iris.

"From the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons." She answered.

Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand. "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfs-bane?" At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching towards the dungeon ceiling.

"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"

A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus's eye and Seamus winked.

Iris shakes her head a little bit. That moron. He should have figured out that talking back to the teachers has consequences. Iris was taken back to when they were in muggle school. Iris had once talked back to a teacher and had ended up getting locked in the basement for a week with no food and bruises that lasted just as long.