Ellis was unnerved by all the stares they were getting from those who were in the Great Hall. It hurt to know that the opinions of the masses (in this case, the students of Hogwarts) could change in the blink of an eye. The words they whispered cut deep.
"I heard Ellis Potter got away with murder!" A third year student from Gryffindor sneered. Although Gryffindors were supposed to be chivalrous, spreading rumors about someone they knew only by name was rather dishonorable. Ellis cared about what people thought of him, but not so much so that he would become violent over some slander. However, insulting Harry was an entirely different story. He lost all rationality when it came to his brother, and was extremely protective of him. Harry grounded him and made the world less bleak. He was his everything.
"I bet Harry Potter is just as bad as Ellis. After all, twins are basically just carbon copies of each other, right?" A Slytherin cackled, which prompted the rest of his house to follow. Harry just turned his head towards his brother to make eye contact and shook his head, 'They aren't worth it'. Thankfully (for the Slytherin), Ellis just glared. The Slytherin sneered in response.
Even though Harry was the only one being sorted, Ellis walked with him to the chair where the Sorting Hat sat. When Professor McGonagall placed the hat on Harry's head, his face seemed to scrunch in concentration. Ellis frowned and had to stop himself from ripping the hat off of his brother. However, before he could set his plan in motion, Harry's face relaxed, and the Sorting Hat shouted, "GYRFFINDOR!"
"What about Ellis?" Harry furrowed his brow. He would not allow them to be separated again. He would not fail to protect his brother. Never again.
"Technically, Ellis wouldn't even be able to attend Hogwarts since he is a 'squib', but from what the Headmaster told me, that is not entirely true," Professor McGongall sighed, "Details will be provided at a later date, but truthfully, we weren't sure what to do with Ellis. So, we decided that Ellis could temporarily attend classes and stay in the dorms with you until we can make a unanimous decision."
Harry and Ellis were elated to hear this, embracing each other and smiling happily at the news.
-+-
Some of the other Gryffindor students had followed the brothers as they toured Hogwarts. It was the middle of lunch, so they could spare a few minutes before classes started. They weren't sure if they wanted to crowd the twins or give them space. It was no secret that Ellis was not very popular in any of the houses. Deciding on the latter option, they surrounded the twins.
Ellis sweated at their close proximity while Harry smiled awkwardly and tried to respond to the overeager students. Most of the time, they asked to see Harry's scar. The twins were uncomfortable to say the least, especially since both of them had developed claustrophobia because they were locked in a tight space for most of their lives. Haphephobia (the fear of being touched) was also something the twins struggled with, as the only contact they had ever received outside of each other was abusive.
They both let out a sigh of relief when they arrived at the dorms entrance. Although, the brothers were slightly confused since they didn't see a door. While both had experienced the talking paintings when walking through Hogwarts, it didn't become any less unnerving when the portrait of a rather obese woman asked for a password.
The Gryffindor prefect that was leading them proudly announced the pass code, "Caput Draconis!" The portrait opened to reveal a lavishly decorated common room. It felt like a home, a real one. Something the twins had never experienced.
"Remember, the boy's dormitories, are upstairs and down to your left. The girls, the same on your right. You'll find that your belongings have already been brought up," the prefect left the boys to their own devices. Dumbledore had given the boys the day off so they could rest and prepare for classes.
Ellis and Harry instantly huddled together on a bed, which would normally be uncomfortable since they were meant for one person only. However, the boys had lived their entire lives in smaller quarters in an even smaller bed (if you could even call it that), so it was actually an improvement. They both fell asleep soon afterwards.
-+-
Breakfast in the Great Hall was...unnerving to say the least. The brothers were surrounded by people that stared and whispered. They tried their best to ignore them, instead focusing on enjoying their meal. It was strange, feeling full. Harry and Ellis had spent their entire lives living on scraps. Dudley probably ate more food in one course than the twins got in a week. The feeling was, well, fulfilling. Ellis smiled at his brother, who was in the middle of eating a thin slice of treacle tart. Both laughed when they each realized they were not eating what would be considered breakfast food, as Ellis had a bowl of fruit fool.
When they finished, they scurried away to class. Transfiguration was first, and the twins weren't sure how to feel about it. Since they were raised by muggles, they did not have much knowledge about magic and its applications. They arrived on time, only to find that Professor McGonagall was absent. Instead, Ellis and Harry found a cat. Ellis was extremely tempted to hug the cat (unfortunately, he was thwarted by Harry).
Everyone found their seats rather quickly. Professor McGonagall was hoping she could help mentor Ellis, as she was well aware of his... unique abilities. She happened to be the most qualified given her status as an Animagus.
The cat jumped off of the desk and transformed into Professor McGonagall. The students clapped, and Ellis was in awe. He was amazed at the flawless transformation, although he wondered if it was uncomfortable to shift into something so much smaller than a human.
Class began and Ellis was instantly enamored by Transfiguration. Although he knew that he could never actually preform it, the theory behind it was wonderful. It was very systematic, required hard work, and a logical mindset. Maybe by learning more about Transfiguration and its properties, he could figure out how to control his own skill set. He vowed to research everything about the subject so that he could use his abilities to the fullest.
After all, danger might just be around the corner.
-+-
Snape wasn't sure how to react to the Potter twins. Harry looked like his father with his mother's eyes, while Ellis resembled his mother but with his father's black hair. At first Snape thought that Ellis was a squib, but Dumbledore told him otherwise. Apparently, Ellis could communicate with animals and could shift into them (though it was influenced by emotions and was not a conscious act). He had theorized about WHY Ellis had these abilities, but the ones that made the most sense were: Ellis was an unknown magical creature (somehow), or he was born with a different kind of magic.
Either way, Snape was not amused when Harry and Ellis started writing notes. To him, it felt like he was being ignored, so he decided that he would make an example out of the twins, "Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confidant enough to not...pay...attention."
Ellis and Harry stopped writing to look up at Snape, who was towering over them. He glared menacingly at them, and asked, "Mr. Potter. Our...new...celebrity. Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" The twins looked at each other, puzzled. Which Potter was he asking the question to? Not that it mattered anyways, since neither knew the answer.
"I don't know," answered Ellis, slightly disappointed. Snape asked many questions after that, but the only answer the brothers could answer was: "I don't know". Unfortunately, Snape took advantage of their ignorance and jeered, "A pity. Clearly, fame isn't everything, is it?" Some of the Slytherin students laughed at the twins misfortune.
Both brothers were annoyed, but most of all embarrassed. It wasn't like they didn't study. It was their first day of classes, after all. None of Snape's cruelty seemed justified. But they could do nothing about it without risking punishment.
-+-
When lunch came around, the twins ate their fill once again. This time, Harry had a simple sandwich; Ellis had a fruit salad. The stares were less intense this time and the whispers became white noise. Suddenly, there was a flash of bright light, and dozens of owls flooded the Great Hall carrying packages. One owl was carrying something very small, and seemed to be heading straight towards Ellis. Said owl dropped the parcel off right in front of Ellis, who opened it with increasing excitement. He wondered what it was!
What Ellis found in the envelope was a single, bronze key that was intricately decorated. There was also a small note:
"Dear Ellis Potter,
This is a key to a cabin that is on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Rubeus Hagrid lives close by, so feel free to ask him for any assistance. May I remind you that first years are not allowed in the Forbidden Forest, so please refrain from wandering. Also yes, your brother can stay there too.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall"
Ellis excitedly showed Harry, who shared the same sentiment. They would have their own space, just the way they liked it. Not to mention it would be much more spacious than the cupboard. Harry and Ellis decided that they would go straight to the cabin after school was over to explore. However, Ellis suggested that they also grab a few books from the library to study, in case they didn't have any books in the cabin.
-+-
After Harry became the new seeker during an exceptionally stressful class period (Ellis nearly fainted when he saw how high up Harry was flying), they finally arrive at the cabin. It is simple on the outside, and for a moment Ellis thought of how they built it so quickly (the work of magic, probably). On the inside, it was cozy, not unlike the Gryffindor common room but all the red was replaced by light gray. To the right there was a master suite and the left led to a small kitchen. there was a set of chairs and a table on the back porch, which had an amazing view of the forest.
All in all, they felt at home.