Chapter 5: We are going to Hogwarts
(Warning: child abuse, self-harm)
-"Alex, Alex!"- Lily shouted in annoyance as she looked around the room for Alex.
Alex's eyes immediately widened, and he flinched, he thought he was going to be punished again. He tried to keep quiet, but realized that his mother had heard him, as he heard his mother's footsteps approaching the closet.
Lily opened the closet door and sighed when she saw him, -"Get out of there, brat"-
Alex put his stuffed animal under his chin shaking his head -"No, no, sorry, I'll be good, don't hit me anymore"- He said holding back tears.
Lily frowned -"Get...out...of...there, brat, I have to heal you, but if you don't come out now, I'll beat you out"- She said, holding back her anger.
Alex flinched and slowly walked out of the closet.
Lily growled -"I thought your father told you to get rid of those stuffed animals"- She snatched the stuffed animal out of his hands -"I don't know who gives you these things, I'm sure Remus gives them to you on secret"- She threw the stuffed snake on the floor.
Alex's eyes watered up -"My snake"- He walked towards his stuffed animal -"Ouch!"- He looked at his mother who had smacked him on the butt.
Lily was really upset, she just wanted Alex to stay still and obey, but she couldn't hit him now -"If you want it to stop hurting then shut up and let me heal you"- She sighed and took out her wand, She cast a spell to heal all his wounds -"Go to sleep"- She said before looking at the stuffed snake -"Incendio"- She muttered pointing her wand at the stuffed animal -"I don't want to see you with another damn stuffed animal, you're not a baby anymore, you don't need that, grow up and be a man"-
-"No"- Alex cried as he knelt down in front of his stuffed animal -"My snake"- He put his hands to his face and cried silently.
Lily rolled her eyes -"Go to bed!"- She said before leaving the room, she knew that if she stayed she was going to really beat him.
The moment Alex heard the door to his room close; he removed his hands from his face and stopped crying instantly. He stuck his hands in the fire, the flames were cold, the moment he touched the stuffed animal, the flames went out, and the stuffed animal returned to its original state -"Good as new"- He murmured hugging the stuffed animal. He didn't know how, but his stuffed animal was charmed, no matter how many times James or Lily burned it, smashed it or threw it away, the stuffed animal magically returned to Alex's room as if nothing had happened. Alex's parents used to ignore him so much that they never noticed it was the same stuffed animal, but of course, since a few years ago, Alex had hidden the stuffed animal in his closet in a box. He didn't want them to notice it at some point, and only took it out of the box when he really needed it. He got up and walked back to the closet, -"I'm sorry"- He said, putting the snake back in the box and closing the closet. He looked at the closet for a few seconds before closing his eyes tightly, -"I can't"- He ran to his bed, grabbed his pillow and blanket, walked back to the closet and locked himself in it. He pulled out his snake again and hugged it; he covered himself with the blanket and lay back on the pillow. He rocked back and forth, murmuring to his snake, -"Everyone hates me, you're the only one who loves me"-
After a couple of hours, Avery had calmed down. She sat down and looked at the time, it was 1:00 A.M. it was already the first of September, a small smile appeared on her face, she would finally get out of there, but then her smile disappeared remembering what happened a while ago. She felt extremely guilty, it was all her fault, her father was right, and her mother was right. She walked to her desk and took a sharp object, she cut her wrists leaving several marks, -"It's my fault, it's my fault"- She mumbled for a while. As she watched the blood run down her arms, she remembered what she had done to Alex, -"I have to apologize"- She bandaged her wrists and changed into long sleeved sleepwear, she couldn't let anyone see the bandages. She crept out of her room and went to Alex's -"Alex?"- She looked around when she didn't see him in her bed, she was about to panic when she heard a noise in the closet. She sighed -"Sure, the closet"- She mumbled and walked towards the closet.
Alex was about to fall asleep when he heard someone calling him, he panicked and quickly hid his snake in the box. He hid under the blanket when he heard the closet door open, -"I''m sorry"- He said in a panic.
-"Hey, Alex, it's me"- Avery said softly -"Come on, get out of there, you can't sleep in there, it's too uncomfortable"-
Alex relaxed when he heard it was his sister, but he felt so guilty that he didn't dare to come out or look at her -"No, I'm fine here, I'm safe here"-
Avery sighed, picked him up and carried him to his bed. She put him on the bed and sat next to him -"You can't stay there, mom and dad are asleep, you're safe now"- She said softly, trying to pull the blanket off him.
Alex brought his knees against his chest and put his head against his knees, he didn't want Avery to see his face, he knew he had his eyes red and swollen. Besides, he was still too embarrassed to look at her.
Avery sighed and looked at Alex -"Alex...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you upset..."- She said without hesitation.
Alex shook his head -"Ok, that doesn't matter anymore, it's my fault, I was very childish, everything would be better if I wasn't here, I just cause trouble, that's why I was punished"- He said with a broken voice.
Avery hugs him tightly -"Don't say that, none of that is true"- She said firmly -"I was a bit childish too, I just wanted Draco to like me"- She said about to cry, Alex's words made her feel guiltier -"Alex, please look up"-
Alex looked up and burst into tears -"I'm sorry for calling you an idiot, I just wanted to keep you from getting in trouble with dad, but I only made it worse"- He said with a trembling voice -"Please don't hate me or say that I'm a disappointment or that you're disappointed in me"- He said hugging her tightly and put his face on his sister's chest to muffle the sound of his crying.
-"I won't, I didn't mean to hurt you...I didn't mean it! I'm really sorry..."- Avery hugged him tightly, letting him cry into her chest. She felt even guiltier.
Alex shakes his head. -"I'm fine, just don't say it again, please"- He took deep breaths trying to calm himself down.
-"I won't, I promise! As the older twin, I shouldn't have said that to my younger twin brother"- Avery said, trying to act like an adult again for Alex. She let go of Alex, got up and went to the closet, pulled out a pair of pajamas for Alex -"Come on, you must be uncomfortable in those clothes"-
Alex nods. -"Okay"- He changes his clothes quickly before hugging his sister tightly again. He rests his head on her shoulder sobbing -"Thank you"- He smiles slightly and yawns, feeling very tired.
-"You're welcome, brother"- Avery lays him down and tucks him in -"Come on, go to sleep, it's very late, you must be very tired and tomorrow is the big day"- She stroked his back while singing him a lullaby.
Alex snuggled under the blanket and closed his eyes slowly. He fell asleep listening to his sister's singing.
Avery sighed as she watched her twin brother sleep, she looked at the time after a while, it was 3:00 AM. She got up and went back to her room, she sat down in front of the window and started reading, even though she felt tired, she didn't feel like sleeping, so she stayed awake until the time she had to go downstairs to make breakfast.
Everyone during breakfast was silent; no one dared to say a word after last night's incident. When everyone had finished eating, James sent his kids for their trunks -"I want you all in the car in ten minutes, the train leaves at 11:00 AM, and we have a long drive to get there"- He said before walking out the door.
Alex sighed lightly as he went up to his room, he picked up a couple of things in the bathroom and saw himself in the mirror, he had dark circles under his eyes, he didn't sleep well last night and his sister was the same, at first glance he looked like two kids excited to go to Hogwarts who didn't sleep well, but the reality was different. He checked that he had everything in his trunk, books, clothes, gifts, letters, and notebooks. He looked at his closet, biting his lip, he walked to it and opened the closet, he took out the box with his snake. He pulled out the snake in fear, he didn't want to leave it here and not see it until next summer, but he also didn't want to take it and be made fun of him if his roommates if they found it. He closed his eyes tightly and decided to take it; if he had a nightmare or if he needed it, he would keep it well hidden in his trunk and no one would find it. He closed his closet and walked back to where his trunk was.
Avery ran to her room and made sure she had everything, the memory book, her mother's diary, plus she packed the baby photos. And then she ran to Alex's room, dragging her trunk -"Do you have everything?"-
Alex blushed slightly as he closed the trunk and looked at his sister. -"Yes, I have everything, I've put the notebook away too, and you, aren't you forgetting anything?"-
-"Nope!"- Avery said happily -"Now, let's go!"- She said before running downstairs and out of the house. She loaded her trunk into the car.
Alex nods, follows her down the stairs, and puts his trunk in the car after her.
James helps the twins and Harry put the trunks into the car, and then, once they were all inside, drives to King's Cross station. He drove for an hour until they arrived at King's Cross station. He parked and helped the twins unload their trunks. He changed his sour face to his proud and excited father face.
And just like James, they all changed their faces from angry and annoyed, sad and apathetic, to excited and happy. Although in the case of the children the happiness and excitement was not entirely acted out, no one but them were happy and excited to go to Hogwarts and get away from their parents.
-"We're here, we're here!"- Alex said excitedly as he got out of the car. He forced a smile towards his father as he grabbed the trolley where his father had put his trunk.
Avery jumped out of the car -"This is so exciting!"- She said, doing the same as her brothers.
The whole family was smiling as they walked and just like many children at the station they each pushed a trolley with their respective things. Excitement turned to excitement when they reached platform 9 ¾.
-"Ok, Harry, why don't you go first and show your siblings how it's done"- James encouraged him with a smile.
Harry looked at his father and then at his siblings -"Ok"- He said as he walks through the wall, and come out on the other side.
Avery follows him, jumping into the wall and coming out the other side. She, more than nervous, was excited, so she didn't think twice about going after her brother.
Alex looks at the wall suspiciously before jumping on it, closing his eyes. When he opens his eyes, he is fascinated to see the train -"Wow, it's really big!"- He said this time with genuine excitement and amazement.
-"I know it is! - Avery said, just as excited and amazed.
James walks across the wall. -"Ok, kids, come on, your uncles must be waiting for you near the train"-
Avery started walking around and sees Sirius and runs over to him and hugs him -"Uncle Sirius!"- She says happily.
Alex sees his uncle Remus and runs to hug him. -"Uncle Remus!"-
Sirius hugs Avery and Remus ruffles Alex's hair.
-"Hey kids, are you excited to start Hogwarts?"- Remus said with a smile.
-"Of course we are! I'm going to spend 7 years with you!"- Avery smiles as her eyes lit up when she says that.
Sirus laughs. -"Yeah, you're absolutely right, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with Remus, even though Snape will be there"-
Avery smiles not caring about what he just said -"Yeah, I know! And I want to have classes with him! I admire Professor Snape so much!"- She laughs.
Sirius frowns, about to say something.
-"Okay, kid, we're going to miss the train, let's go!"- James said, looking at Sirius with a 'you say something stupid, and I'll kill you' look.
-"Okay, let's go! Bye, dad!"- Avery waves.
-"Bye mom, bye dad, see you at Hogwarts, Uncle Remus"- Alex says as he gets on the train.
-"Bye, Uncle Moony, Uncle Padfoot"- Harry waves as he gets on the train behind Alex, helping him and Avery carry their trunks up.
Avery gets on the train next to her uncle. As Remus heads to the professors' area, Avery wanders around the train and Alex sits with Harry and his friends.
Alex pulled his legs to his chest as he looked out the window; excitement had turned to fear and nervousness. At his Muggle school he lived through hell, he was always bullied and ostracized, he didn't have any friends, he was always with Avery, she protected him and helped him, but she was his sister. He feared that everything would be the same, but this was a boarding school, here he had nowhere to run. He really didn't want to be dependent on Avery anymore, she didn't have friends because of him either, and he didn't want her to be the same here. He flinched slightly when a voice brought him out of his thoughts.
-"Hey, Alex, are you excited about your first year at Hogwarts?"- Hermione asked sweetly, but at the same time he was looking at her worriedly, the boy seemed to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Alex looked at her shyly -"Yeah, I'm really excited, I want to learn magic"- He said with a slight smile.
Hermione sighed slightly at the boy, he looked so scared. She then looks at Harry, she could tell that something bad had happened, even though Harry never told her about his situation at home, she suspected something, but every time she wanted to talk to Harry, he always told her not to worry that everything would be fine soon. Of course, she never believed him.
-"Of course he's excited Hermione, he's a Potter, you'll see how well he'll fit in at school like Harry, you and your sister will make great Gryffindors"- Ron said with a big smile.
Alex looked down -"Yeah, sure"- He said unsure, it never occurred to him that he would be in Gryffindor, he thought he would be in Hufflepuff, the house of the useless ones, as his father called them. He never thought he would be in Ravenclaw either, he was too dumb and even though his sister always said she wanted to be in Slytherin, he didn't see himself in that house either. Avery always tells him about the people she admired who were in Slytherin and how much she wanted to be like them, Alex thought they were all the opposite of him. He went back to looking out the window as Harry and his friends chatted.
Avery, after walking around for a while, sits in an area with two twins, but doesn't look at them. Once she notices that the blue sky was turning orange, signifying that they were almost there, she finally opted to talk to the twins -"Hi, I'm Avery Potter, what are your names?"- She asked the red-haired twins.
Both smiling mischievously at the sound of her name. -"I'm Fred, and I'm George, Weasley"- They both pointed at each other, but gave the other's name.
-"Weasley? Oh! My brother Harry is friends with your little brother!"- Avery laughs. -"Anyways I'm also a twin, my brother is sitting with Harry because he doesn't like new people"- She complains -"I wish he was more social, I don't like forcing him to make friends!"- She continues to complain -"I want him to make friends, but he gets scared and suspicious of everyone!"- She sighs, knowing the reason -"I bet for all the years we're here he'll just stick to Harry or me like glue"- She knew it would be hard for Alex to make friends, not only because of his bad experiences but also because of his personality. Avery had been able to fit in well at their Muggle school, not that she had anyone she could call a friend, but she got along with some of her classmates, but not Alex, he never got close to them or tried to make friends, he just attracted pure bullies, which she had to chase away. She was so long protecting Alex that she couldn't make a real friend and well, she hoped that here she might get to make at least one.
They laugh. -"Well, we have a little sister, she's not as shy as you describe your brother"- -"But we can introduce them, and then they'll both be friends, I'm sure they'll get along well"-
-"That would be great! But what do you do for fun?"- Avery asks.
They look at each other and smile, then look at her. -"Pranks"- They say at the same time.
-"That sounds like fun!"- Avery says, smiling.
They nod. -"Yeah, it's a lot of fun; you can't imagine how many pranks we've pulled these past few years"-
-"I bet a lot of people have gotten mad at you two!"- Avery laughs as the train comes to a stop -"Looks like we're here!"-
They get up. -"Well, you should get ready, you love the way you and your brother got to the castle!"-
-"Alright then! I'll see you both around!"- Avery gets up and once they left she put on her uniform and heads over to where her brother was standing -"Let's go, Alex!"-
Alex was putting on his uniform when his sister spoke to him. -"I'm coming"- He said quietly, Harry and his friends had left him alone from earlier, he was glad to see Avery, he didn't know if he had the courage to go down the train alone.
They both got off together. Although everyone around kept talking and laughing, Alex kept his head down wanting not to draw attention at all, he really felt so out of place surrounded by so many people.
-"Oh, stop being so scared and look up at the castle!"- Avery pats his back, encouraging him.
Alex looked up, and his eyes sparkled at the castle. -"It's amazing and huge!"- He said, completely forgetting the people around him.
-"I know it is! And we're going to live there for seven years!"- Avery laughs at the look on his twin's face.
Alex nods, unable to help but smile with excitement.
As the twins looked at the castle until a big burly man started shouting. -"First years, first years, this way, towards the ships"-
Avery and Alex make their way to the boats and sit side by side. Alex holds Avery's hand tightly as they waited for the rest of the kids to board the boats.
The boats begin to move across the lake and toward the castle.
Avery puts her hand in the water, splashes the other boat, and laughs, getting the other first years wet.
Alex laughs softly at his sister's antics. Once they reached the other side of the lake, he was the first to get out of the boat -"Wow, this is bigger up close!"- He says, looking at the castle.
Avery smiles -"Woah, it's so cool!"- She says happily as she got off the boat.
Alex takes Avery's hand as they walk inside the castle until they stop in front of the Great Hall doors.
Avery returns her brother's hand and smiles. She pays close attention to the lady who talks to them about the houses and other things about Hogwarts.
Once Mcgonagall finished speaking, she lets all the impatient, excited and nervous first years into the Great Hall.
Alex looks around, amazed by the decorations, but at the same time nervous to see so many people.
Avery smiles and waves when she sees Snape in the distance. -"Don't be afraid! Look, you get to make so many friends!"- She said, trying to comfort him.
Severus nodded to Avery. He as well as the rest of the professors were anxious to know which house the little Potters would be in.
Alex nodded slightly. -"You're right, I guess"- He said softly, squeezing his twin's hand a little tighter, and they stopped in front of a hat and a stool.
-"Come on, that'll be fun! I bet you could make a lot of friends if you just tried! You are a really cool person to be around! You just need to stop being scared of people!"- Avery encouraged him -"This place is different from our old school!"-
Alex smiled slightly. -"Okay, I'll try"- He looked straight ahead, and gave a small jump as the hat began to speak. -"That hat just spoke!"-
-"It's the Sorting Hat! Harry told me about it, that's how you get put into a house!"- Avery said, smiling at her brother.
Alex smiled broadly. -"Really! That's really cool!"- His smile disappeared as he realized that the lady started calling the students alphabetically and one by one they sat on the stool, put the hat on and were selected into a house -"Wait, are we going to be selected in front of all these people?"- He said looking around.
-"Yep, they will, but don't worry, so is everyone else, and I bet they are just as nervous as you are!"- Avery said, smiling.
Alex nods and watches the selection of the other students until she calls his name -"Potter Alexander!"- He bites his lip and walks slowly.
Avery smiles at her brother as she let go of his hand.
Everyone was staring at Alex as well as the professors, The Great Hall had gone silent when his name was called, save for a few murmurs, all attention was on him. He flinched at the murmurs; he sat on the stool and gave a little jump when she put the hat on his head. -'Curious, very curious, you are a very smart, clever and loyal boy, but you lack courage and are very distrustful and insecure...mmmm...but you seem to have a definite destiny that you are not yet aware of. I will put you in the house where you will get good allies who will help you overcome your problems and a good mentor who will instruct you in your steps to follow your destiny'- Alex couldn't process what the hat said before he shouted. -"SLYTHERIN!"- He was shocked, as was everyone at the result, he slowly got off the stool and sat down at the Slytherin table, he bit his lip feeling everyone looking at him.
Avery clapped for her brother when her name was called -"Potter Avery"- She walked up to the stool and sat down and helped herself with her hands as the hat was put on her head. Like her brother all eyes were on her, but the murmurs were louder, they were still surprised which house the first Potter twin ended up in, and now they didn't know what to expect from the second -'Smart, education focused, full of charisma and good at getting what you want...mmm...you're also sociable and good with people. I'll put you in the house where I know you'll thrive and follow the path you've already set out on'- Avery was confused by that last part and the hat shouted -"SLYTHERIN!"- Avery smiled and ran over to the Slytherin table and sat down next to her brother, not caring that everyone was looking at her. She didn't care about the stares or the whispers, she was in the house she had always wanted to be in, she was really happy, she couldn't remember the last time she was like this.
But Alex, unlike his sister, was not so happy; the stares were making him extremely nervous. -"Why do people stare at us so much? Even the professors look at us weird? Is it because we don't look like Potters, or why we were selected in Slytherin or why we look like Professor Snape?"- He looked towards the professors' table, they were sitting right next to it, and the headmaster was looking at them both in disbelief.
-"I think it's all three, Alex"- Avery pulls him closer to her to make him feel better. She waves to the professors and smiles at Snape.
The professors look at Avery a bit confused, not knowing how to react, they were all surprised.
A few minutes later the selection ceremony was over, dinner started, and the table was filled with food.
-"Looks delicious"- Alex said, feeling a little calmer.
Avery looks at the food, looks down and puts very little food on the plate.
Alex ate slowly and glanced at the professors' table, giving a small jump as he saw the look Dumbledore was giving them. He moved closer to his sister as he trembled in fear.
Avery stopped eating, hugged her brother and rubbed his back -"It's okay Alex"- She said in a relaxed tone and then gave the professors that same annoying and stern glare that Snape always gives and said. -"Will you stop glaring at us?"- In a monotone, almost dead sounding voice you've heard from an 11-year-old girl.
The professors' eyes widened at Avery's words before they went back to eating and stopped staring at the twins. But from time to time some of them shot them furtive glances.
Dumbledore glared at them for a few seconds before getting up and leaving the Great Hall.
Alex clutched his sister's shirt tightly. -"He wants to do something to us, I'm sure, and it won't be anything good"- As Alex tended to distrust people very often, he had developed a sixth sense for recognizing when someone really wanted to hurt him. From the way they looked at him, the way they spoke to him, their expressions and other things, he was a very observant person.
-"Alex, we're not going to do what he says, okay? You have me, we're in the same house, we'll be fine, now I'm going to have a conversation with the professors because I'm not going to let the professors scare you like that, you can come with me"- Avery states as she lets go of her brother for a moment, she holds his hand and gets up and walks to the professors.
The professors look at the twins confused as they realized they were in front of the table.
-"Why do you all keep glaring at us at this rate, you're going to make my brother cry because you're all being gits and not listening to me. I get that we don't look like Potters, and we don't act like Potters either, but that doesn't give you the right to stare at us, especially when you KNOW that it's scaring someone"- Avery says not caring who she's talking to and crosses her arms giving them all a passive-aggressive half smile and the judge-mental stare Snape gives.
Snape turned his head away while hiding the fact that he was laughing under his breath. He cleared his throat before speaking, he returned to his serious state, no matter who these children were they belonged in his house and he could not allow any bullying, even from the professors. -"Miss Potter is right; I know all too well the prejudices you all have towards my house. So please, I ask you not to bully my students"- He stands up and walks over to where the twins are. -"You two, I would like to talk to you tomorrow before breakfast, in my office, I want to have a little chat"-
Avery nodded with a smile -"Of course, Professor Snape, we'll be there"-
Snape nodded -"Well, you'd better finish eating, you'll soon be going to where you'll be living for the next seven years"- He said before heading out of the Great Hall.
Alex held on to his sister's hand the whole time as he stayed behind her. He listened intently to his sister and then to Snape. He could sense a hint of guilt on the professors' face, but before they could say anything, Avery was already dragging him back to the table.
Avery shot one last glance at the professors before dragging Alex back to the table, but it wasn't long before the prefect told the first years to follow him. She followed the prefect, but sighed when she saw how Alex wouldn't be separated from her. It had only been a couple of hours, and already she had to calm her brother down, so he wouldn't have a panic attack, the school year wasn't starting off well at all.