dance with me

Ben grabbed a handful of the silvery powder that his mother held in a small, velvet bag in her right palm. Stepping into the cramped fireplace of the Weasley family home, he lifted his fist into the air before throwing the substance that was falling through his finger-tips onto the red flames and reciting, "The Leaky Cauldron."

Emerald flames burst up around him, engulfing him into the magical aurora. Before he knew it, he was stepping out of the creepy-looking fire place in the Leaky Cauldron- which he had travelled to many times before. He was welcomed by his father and the eldest set of twins who had travelled there, not long before Ben had.

"Good job boy," Arthur praised as he gestured for the boy to stop examining the room and step out of the fire place, "Give the others room to come through now." Ben grabbed his trunk and walked over to where Fred and George where standing before he gave them a nod to greet them.

It was only a couple of seconds later when the second half of the twin pair appeared in the antique fire place, "Bloody hell," Ron muttered to himself as he walked to stand next to the blond boy, "What did Mum pack in this bag, rocks?"

Ben rolled his eyes at his immature brother, "Well, if you had been bothered to pack it yourself then it wouldn't be so heavy would it?" Ron gave a harsh glare in Ben's direction before they heard a crackling sound coming from the fireplace.

"Boys, don't fight on your first day of Hogwarts!" Their mother tutted when she appeared, Ginny attached to her hip. She was shortly followed by Percy who seemed just as disappointed in the two eleven-year-olds.

Just the name of the school made Ben's whole body shiver. He was not looking forward to leaving his family for the wizarding school. His head lowered to the ground as he thought of what his new home would be like, 'No one is going to like me there,' His brows knitted together in sadness, 'I'm going to be known as the guy who has no friends and only follows his more popular twin brother around all day.'

Ron noticed the fear and sadness that Ben was feeling and tried to calm him down by saying, "L'homme chest rien- l'oeuvre chest tout." This did calm Ben, he found it amusing, Ron's poor pronunciation and his lack of knowledge about what the quote actually meant but became overjoyed with the fact that Ron had taken note of the quotes Ben would say to himself when he was sad. This quote of course being from his favourite book- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

"Hogwarts will be fun!" Ron smiled to his twin, and at this statement Ben thought- for just a second- that maybe Hogwarts would be fun. That maybe he would make new friends and spend the next seven years happily learning and laughing, but as quickly as the thought came, it vanished again.

"Come on," Their father called out to the large group that trailed along behind him, "We'll be walking the rest of the way to Kings Cross, need the exercise." Arthur exclaimed while trotting out of the Leakey Cauldron and down Diagon Alley.

They always walked to Kings Cross when it was one of the sibling's first days, Molly had always thought that it was a good idea to get the kids used to the route- just incase they ever had to go alone.

The walk didn't take them long, they only had to stop a couple of times to wait for Ron to catch up- he was too busy stumbling of the three suitcases their mother had made him pack. On the way they passed a lot of muggle shops that Ben had never really seen before. Whenever he had gone on the walk he was always reading, but this time he decided to enjoy it and take notice of his surroundings. There where shops of all different varieties, one however caught the young wizard's eye: a small book shop that Ben believed to be family-owned.

This shop didn't seem as crowded as Flourish and Blotts usually was, but instead quite empty. The book-store was filled with books that all seemed new to Ben, they were muggle books. Hundreds of muggle books that made Ben's heart flourish, he wanted to visit the shop and spend hours scouring the shelves and book cases for stacks of muggle books to read- he wanted to read them all. However, that day was not today, he had to get on the train and travel to his new home.

                         The Weasley family walked on platform nine of Kings Cross station, with all their bags neatly pilled on top of each other on their trollies. Ben glanced around him and to his surprise, he spotted the raven haired boy that he had seen eyeing the broomstick in Diagon Alley a couple days before. Though this time the boy wasn't with the giant bear-like man that Ben had seen earlier, but instead looking quite confused and talking to one of the muggle workers at the station.

"It's the same year after year," Molly complained as she looked around at the busy platform, "Always packed with Muggles, of course." Ben now noticed the raven haired boy turn his attention to the Weasley mother.

"Muggles?" Ben heard as the boy muttered under his breath, still looking quite confused as to where he was supposed to go.

"Come on. Platform 9 ¾ this way!" Molly started to beckon her children forward, one by one.

Ben turned his attention back onto the raven haired boy and began to think to himself, 'Harry, I remember the giant called you Harry.' Ben seemed pleased with himself that he had remembered the young boys name and noticed Harry trying to get the attention of Ben's mother.

"Excuse me!" Harry said quite loudly in order to be heard over the noise of the crowd that surrounded him. Harry's voice seemed comforting and familiar to Ben, as though he had heard it a thousand times before. It reminded him of when the birds would sing in the morning or when the crickets would chirp at night. It made his whole body heat up as though he was sat next to the fireplace on a winters night. "C-could you tell me how to-" Harry continued, pulling Ben out of his happy thoughts.

"How to get on the platform?" Molly finished for him. Harry gave a nod and a small worrisome smile appeared on his face. "Yes, not to worry, dear. It's Ron and Ben's first time to Hogwarts as well."

Harry's eyes panned around to look at the two boys, giving them both a warming smile. Ben saw the twinkle that shone in his eyes as he made eye contact. He felt his face redden a bit but couldn't bring himself to look away from the boy's eyes. It was almost as though he was drawn to Harry, and he got lost in his jade-green eyes that sat behind a pair of broken glasses.

"Now, all you've got to do is walk straight at the wall between platforms 9 and 10." Molly continued but Ben barely heard her, it was only a muffle of sound compared to the screaming of bliss that was in his head, "Best do it at a bit of a run if you're nervous."

The raven haired boy followed the stranger's instructions and began to slowly run at the red, brick wall. As the boy disappeared from view Ben felt his body temperature return to what it was before and his heart-rate slowed. Once again he couldn't help but wander if he'd ever see the raven haired boy again.

Once Ben had made his way through the pillar that separated platforms nine and ten of Kings Cross station, he looked around the hidden platform of 9 ¾. He had been here before to drop off his elder siblings on their first day's of school, so the sight of the steam-train didn't excite him as much as he once did.

Nonetheless, he was mesmerised by the sight of the ruby-red locomotive.

His mother and father both hugged him goodbye, his mother's eyes threatening to overflow with the tears she was trying to keep hidden, "Please be more sociable Bennie," she begged as she squeezed Ben a bit too tightly for his liking but despite that he gave a hug back before replying, "I will Mum" and with that, Ben left to board the train to Hogwarts, leaving Ron to say his heartfelt goodbyes separately. 

                         As soon as Ben walked onto the train he noticed that it was jam-packed with new faces that Ben had never seen before. His heart quickened out of fear as he hurriedly walked down the corridor of the train, becoming more anxious and frightened at every person who looked his way. He peered through each compartment window to try and find an empty one, but came to find no such luck. However, he did find one compartment with a familiar face- Harry.

He walked into the compartment that housed the raven haired boy and muttered softly, "I'm uh sorry to disturb you," Ben stuttered out, nervous of the interaction, "But there isn't room anywhere else," His eyes looked up to meet those of the raven haired boy and found slight comfort in his emerald-green eyes before continuing, "Do you mind if I sit in here with you? I promise I won't be a bother."

Harry gave a friendly smile to the anxious boy that stood before him and gestured to the seat opposite him, "Of course you can sit in here. I'm not selfish enough to need a whole compartment to myself!" his chuckle was slightly comforting to the blond.

Ben sat down where the boy was pointing before pulling out his a book and saying, "Your name's Harry isn't it?" his eyes widened in shock, surprising himself with the blunt questioning.

Harry looked at the Weasley boy- puzzled, "Yes it is, how did you know?" He asked curiously, drawing Ben's attention away from the tattered book in his hands.

Ben froze and realised what he had just said, 'He must think I'm a crazy stalker or something' He thought before replying calmly, "I saw you outside of 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' in Diagon Alley the other day," He stoped shortly to examine Harry's facial expressions, but they were almost unreadable, "The giant called you Harry, so I assumed that that was your name." Ben finished and then examined Harry's facial expressions once more.

"The giant?" Harry asked, confused at who Ben could be referring too.

"The man you where with?" Ben replied in a questioning tone, as though Harry should already know what he was talking about, "The one with the long, brown beard?"

"Oooh," Harry said with realisation, "You mean Hagrid!" he smiled at the thought of his new friend.

Ben recalled the events of that day, not too long ago, and remembered another name being mentioned, "Of course, I did hear you call him Hagrid. I must of forgotten, sorry." Before Harry could reply another familiar face poked through the door and looked upon the people that sat inside.

Ron smiled from ear to ear when he noticed his twin sitting in the compartment. "Ben! I was looking all over for you!" Ron then looked over to Harry and asked "Do you mind? Everywhere else is full."

Ben was surprised as he had never seen Ron act so politely towards someone their age before. Looking over to Ben before replying to Ron's question, Harry said, "No, not at all."
Ron then happily sat down next to his twin before noticing that he hadn't introduced himself to the new boy who sat in front of him, "I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley. And this right here is Ben."

Harry looked happily at the two twins and then introduced himself mostly to Ron though as he already knew that Ben knew his name, "I'm Harry. Harry Potter."

Ron gasped silently before giving Ben a look that said 'Oh my god!'. Ben knew exactly why Ron was so flabbergasted at the boys name, could this really be the Harry Potter? The boy he had read countless articles about? Could this really be the boy who lived?

Answering Ben's question Ron stoped his gaping to say, "O-so it's true?! I mean, do you really have the...the..." Ron looked to Harry with curiosity, gulping slightly out of worry.

"The what?" Harry seemed confused, and just looked at Ron with his eyebrows raised.

Ron's voice was now at a whisper, as if he was afraid that someone would over-hear what he was about to say, "Scar...?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders before calmly lifting up his fringe to show the pair his scar, "Oh yeah." he said nonchalantly.

"Wicked." Ron's mouth closed and a large grin made its way up to his cheeks.

"So," Harry continued, trying to turn the attention off of him and to the two boys, "Are you two... friends?"

Ron chuckled at Harry's question and then promptly and proudly stated, "No, we're twins." Harry looked surprised and when Ron noticed he decided to fill Harry in a bit more, "Ben here is the only one in the family to not be a ginger. Everyone jokes all the time, says that Mum just adopted a random kid off the street." Ben looked to his brother in annoyance but then noticed Harry staring at him with a slight smirk on his face. Ben met Harry's gaze but Harry then quickly avoided eye contact and he turned almost red-in-the-face.

Ron and Harry began to talk more, about sports and their old schools and all other things that Ben found no need in contributing on. So he opened up the satchel that he was carrying and took out the book he was reading the night before- The Wind in the Willows.

                         The sound of rattling wheels came from the corridor and a trolley parked outside of the boy's compartment, "Anything off the trolley, dears?" A grey-faced women asked, smiling at the three of them. Her hair curled in large silver strands- framing the pail, wrinkled face that looked at the boys in the compartment expectedly.

The twins both held up sandwiches, Ron's was smushed together from being squashed inside his pocket but Ben had neatly rapped and placed his in his satchel that housed five books Ben planned on reading in his first term at Hogwarts.

Harry looked at his two new friends and had an idea, he fished into his front pocked and took out a handful of galleons. Both the twins eyes widened, they had never seen so much money before. "We'll take the lot!" He demanded as the twins looked at him with shocked expressions.

The trolley witch only nodded in understanding before getting to work at unloading the sweets onto the benches in the compartment. Ron and Ben both looked at each other, not really knowing what was going on, but they still both had huge grins on their faces.

Ben didn't really have a sweet tooth but did however like the look of the jelly slug and excepted, hesitantly, with a small smile and a thank you. Only after about five minutes of quietly sucking on the jelly and reading his book did Ben notice that Harry had been admiring him. When Ben realised that Harry had been watching him, he turned a light shade of red, trying to hide his embarrassment. Harry noticed the colour of the boys cheeks and then became the same shade himself, before striking up a conversation with the ginger that was munching on his sweets next to Ben and not paying attention to the two's staring.

Harry and Ron were making conversation throughout the train ride while Ben was occupied with reading. He had gotten through almost a quarter of the first book when his reading was interrupted by a protruding voice, "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one." Ben looked up and saw a girl who he determined to be the same age as everyone else in the compartment. The first thing Ben noticed about the girl's appearance was her frizzy, untameable dark hair that looked to be similar as to that of a lion's mane. The lion girl spoke with determination and Ben could tell that she was going to be a strong character. When she was talking, he was drawn to notice her protruding teeth and it made her seem more interesting to him.

After he had made a mental picture of the lion girl, he peered back down to his book and continued reading, trying to drown out the noise of the other three talking.

Ben was once again pulled out of his reading trance by the lion girl's sharp intake of breath, "Holy cricket!" The lion girl muttered. Ben was now becoming furious as no one seemed to be able to just leave him alone while he was reading.

When he looked up at the girl, who had now sat down next to him, his fury lessoned. She had a genuine smile on her face as she read the title of the book he was reading, "Oh I love that book!" she looked Ben in the eye before asking, "Have you read it before?"

Ben became excited that he had someone to talk to about his favourite book, someone that actually understood what he was talking about, "Yeah, I have actually. I don't get many new books."

The girls eyes sparkled with delight as she began talking to the young boy about how much she loved the book in his hands, they began talking about other books that they had both read and shared recommendations for those they hadn't. When Ben began laughing about Ron only having read Charlie and the Chocolate factory, the lion girl chimed in "Have you ever watched the movie?" she asked, a look of utter confusion appeared on Ben's face.

"What's a movie?"

"It's like a moving picture just... longer." The lion girl was practically jumping up and down with excitement at this point, "I've got it on DVD at home, you could come round mine and watch it in the holidays."

Ben's heart grew, he had never had someone want him to come round their house before. He had never had a real friend his age. "Sounds fun." he couldn't help the genuine smile that spread across his face.

The two new friends talked about all the different muggle books they had both read and Ben found out that the girl was a muggle born, he was not phased by this, in fact he was more intrigued, 'She must be a bloody good witch.' He thought.

A few minutes later the lion girl got up to go back to her own compartment, but before she left she said, "I'm sorry, I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Hermione Grander. And you are?"

"Ben." he clearly stated.

"Do you have a last name Ben? Or are you like Bono or Madonna?"

Ben looked at Hermione confused for just a moment, unsure of who she was talking about. But he just brushed it off and said, "Ben Weasley." the reaction Hermione gave him was exactly like the ones he had gotten countless times beforehand, shock then confusion and then just brushing it off.

"Alright Ben," She said with a mischievous grin on her face, "See you around."

                         The train stopped, when Ben stepped out he saw a large man towering over all the first years. The man's beard was wild and tangled and was approximately three feet in length. The mighty man bellowed, "Right then first years, this way please! Come on, now, don't be shy! Come on now, hurry up!"

Ben was in a trance when he examined the giant's face, despite his hight the man looked joyful and not at all menacing. As though he was a massive, cuddly teddy-bear. His trance led him to follow the man without question. 'This must be Hagrid,' Ben thought as he approached the man, Ron shortly behind, 'I remember that he was with Harry, that day at Diagon Alley.'

As if to reassure Ben that he was indeed correct, Harry came up behind the giant and said, "Hey, Hagrid." The relationship between the two very different people intrigued Ben. He would've never thought that such man could ever feel the need to be nice to a first year (after all Hagrid had the ability to squish Harry under his foot).

The thought of Ben's conversation with Harry in the train made his heart bounce ferociously in his chest. His head pounded with embarrassment, 'Harry must think I'm a crazy person that I knew his name before he had even met me.' Ben thought, now consumed with hatred towards himself.

"Right then. This way to the boats! Come on, now, follow me." Hagrid wailed.

Ben knew that they were taking the boats over to Hogwarts- that's what all first years did. However, he didn't realise that when they named it 'the Black Lake', they really meant 'the BLACK Lake'. His heart jumped as he came into view of the dim-watered lake and a single droplet of sweat ran down the side of his face. He didn't know why he was scared, it wasn't like he was scared of water or anything but it was something about this lake that made his eyes bulge out of his head and his mouth become dryer than the Sahara. When he realised how deep and dark the lake that he was set to cross really was, he froze.

"Come on then," Ron called out to Ben from a couple paces in front, "Jeez, normally I'm the slow one." Ron muttered to Harry as they stopped in anticipation for Ben to catch up.

"No." Ben firmly stated in response.

"What the bloody hell do you men 'No'?" Ron aggressively shot back.

"What I mean is I'm not going anywhere near that dismal, dark, dangerous death trap" Ben said, still frozen in place staring, frightened, at the lake.

"He gets like this when he's scared," Ron explained to Harry still looking annoyedly at his older twin, "Uses more words than necessary and that."

Harry turned his attention to the well-spoken boy and his face dropped. 'Oh god is he coming over here?' Ben thought when he saw the raven haired boy approach him with a sympathetic look.

"Hey, Ben?" Ben removed his gaze from the lake and looked Harry in his eyes, "Are you scared of the lake?" Harry asked in hushed tones, not wanting anyone else to hear their conversation.

Ben hesitated for a few seconds but when he saw the comforting look in the boy's eyes he nodded slowly. The smile on the raven-haired boy's face seemed caring, Ben hadn't seen anyone smile at him that way before- it was surprising to say the least.

"Ben, we can go on the boat together." Harry motioned, "Nothing can happen to you, we will be safe, we will be fine."

Ben gave Harry a smile and nodded, "Yeah, I know. It's just an irrational fear anyway. I'll probably forget that we're even on the water." he said trying to act more brave than he was feeling on the inside.

                         'Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.' Ben thought to himself as the boat rocked back-and-forth along the Black Lake. His eyes grew the size of a tennis balls and he stared into the deep-depths of the lake's water.

Harry moved closer to Ben and put his hand on top of his, trying to calm Ben. No one else on the boat noticed though, as the were all talking about quidditch.

Ron had made two new friends on the boat ride and was now deep in discussion with them. Ben didn't know their names, he was too occupied with his thoughts of dying a slow and painful death by drowning to even care what the two people looked like, let alone their names.

The gesture of Harry placing his hand on Ben's calmed his anxiety down a bit, but that didn't stop him from feeling really self-conscious about the interaction. 'Are my hands too sweaty? If they are then he's going to think that I'm disgusting. Are they too cold? If they are then he's probably going to think I'm a vampier or something.' But then he noticed something peculiar, his hands, his whole arm in fact, looked like it was... glowing? A faint yellow glow seemed to radiate off of them. It made his whole body feel fuzzy, he loved the feeling and let it settle within him. Harry gripped Ben's hand tighter and he felt safe. He was no longer thinking that Harry was going to judge him for the moister that lingered on his hands, but instead felt that he could sit there for hours with Harry's hand on his own and all his troubles would fade away.

"We are almost there," Harry muttered to Ben as they neared the castle, "Look!"

Ben's eyes shot up to see the magnificent spectacle that was Hogwarts. He was speechless, he had never seen anything more spectacular than the great building that stood before him. Ben estimated it to be about seven-stories high. With all the lights on in the castle, it was glowing a warm, welcoming shade of gold. The turrets sat high in the sky, they almost seemed to be touching the clouds. No matter how much his siblings had told him that it was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen, Ben had never imagined that it would look like this. That it was this magnificent.

His siblings had told him of how beautiful and magical the castle was, "There are floating ghosts roaming all around!" Fred had once said, "And talking portraits that tell you of their adventures!" George chimed. "The Great Hall is magnificent!" Bill once exclaimed around the dinner table one night, "The ceiling is taller than the Burrow! And it is enchanted to show the beautiful night sky, or-or a gorgeous summer's day!"  "You would love it there Ben!" Charlie told him one night as he sat on the end of his bed, "The library is one of its greatest features and has hundreds of thousands of books for you to read," He stopped for a moment before continuing with a small chuckle, "But knowing you, you would've read them all in the first year, maybe even the first term!"

Ben smiled and the memory of all his older siblings gawking over the schools architecture and imagined that when he came home, he would do the same.

                         All the first years made their way out of the small, dark-wood boats and into the castle. The steps echoed as around 40 students trotted up excitedly. Ben trailed shortly behind Ron not wanting to look up at all the other eleven-year-olds that he would have to become acquainted with throughout his stay at the boarding school.

He only rose his head when he heard the voice of an adult woman talking, "Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin."Ben noticed how strict her voice was but he found for it to be quite pleasant too, as though she was only mean in order to protect them all.

The houses that she mentioned all gave Ben a very different feeling: Gryffindor, being the house that everyone in his immediate family had been sorted into, gave him a sense of pride and humility; Ravenclaw, which was often classed as the 'smart' house, made him think about all the wise people that must have been placed in the eagle house; Hufflepuff gave him a feeling of happiness, as everyone had told him that anyone placed in the badger house was kind and forgiving; and finally, Slytherin, he had mixed feelings about Slytherin, as all his siblings often told him that no one good ever comes out of it, but he couldn't help but disagree, surely not everyone in Slytherin was bad. But despite how much he disagreed, he always couldn't help but wonder, are all Slytherins really evil?

"Now, while you are here, your house will be like your family." The woman drew Ben's attention back to reality. Her glasses sat neatly on the end of her nose, and her grey-streaked hair was tied up neatly in a bun. This gave Ben the impression that she was sophisticated and wise, 'Could be a Ravenclaw?' Ben thought to himself, 'Although, she doesn't really seem like a Ravenclaw. She definitely isn't a Hufflepuff, she's too strict to be a kind badger. Slytherin...? No. She is definitely and Gryffindor.'

Ben began tearing around the hall at all the new students and tried to guess which house each of them would be placed in. 'Gryffindor... Hufflepuff...' his eyes landed on the raven-haired boy he'd recently become acquainted with, he couldn't quite place the boy, 'Slytherin maybe? or Gryffindor?' but before he could come up with a legitimate house for Harry, a round-faced boy jumped out of the crowd.

The boy jumped in front of the Gryffindor woman and yelped, "Trevor!" Ben looked down to where the boy was kneeling and spotted a black-eyed, slimy toad placed happily on the marble-plated floor. The Gryffindor woman looked down upon the boy crouched at her feet, not amused. Looking up shyly the boy said, "Sorry." Before backing away, flustered making the majority of the first years giggle.

Ben just stood there, lost in thought once more, 'Hufflepuff? Maybe...' he tried to guess the house the toad boy was going to be placed into.

"The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily." The woman stated, still slightly annoyed but almost amused at the plump boys actions, after she spoke, she walked off gracefully.

"It's true then," Ben's attention was drawn to a voice. The voice was civilised in a way, as though he was well educated. Its raspy undertones made Ben squirm slightly, and goosebumps appeared on his arms. "What they're saying on the train." The voice continued and Ben turned to spot who was speaking, a bleach-blond haired boy was smirking wickedly. "Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

The room filled with muffled whispers from all the first years "Harry Potter?" They all questioned.

"This is Crabbe, and Goyle..." Ben peered over to who the ferret boy was pointing too, it was the two chubby boys from before. "...and I'm Malfoy..."

Ben new of the Malfoy's, both from books and the stories his older brothers, Fred and George, had told him about death eaters- the Malfoy's were known death eaters. That left a sour taste in Ben's mouth, he hated the horrors that followed wherever the death eaters went. The destruction, the death. But he tried to look past it when looking at the young Malfoy, not everyone was like their parents.

"...Draco Malfoy."

'Draco, son of Luscious Malfoy and Narcissa Black,' Ben recited, whenever he got nervous he would recall his knowledge. Ben stopped thinking so violently when he heard a snicker come from next to him, it was Ron. Ben elbowed him in the ribs to which Ron gave a pain-filled look back at him.

"Think my name's funny, do you?" Malfoy snapped at Ron, who looked like he immediately regretted his action. "No need to ask yours." He continued. Ben became frightened of the blond before him, he tried to retreat behind Ron but failed because of the foot difference in hight. The scary boy before him continued, "Red hair, and a hand me down robe? You must be a Weasley." Ron looked furious at this description, but Ben just felt embarrassed.

It was all true of course, Ron did have the families red hair- that Ben was lacking in- and he was wearing hand-me-downs from their older brother, Charlie. So Ben couldn't help feel embarrassed that the statement didn't apply to him. He was a Weasley, that much was similar, but his hair was darkened-blond and his robes where new (since he was drastically taller and skinner than the other Weasley boys had been their first years and his mother didn't want him getting bullied more than he needed to be). He would've done anything to fit the description Malfoy had given his younger twin, but he knew that that was impossible.

Malfoy turned back around to face Harry- whom he was talking to before Ron rudely interrupted, "You'll soon find that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. Don't want you to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." Ben felt anger build up inside him, despite how unlike he was to the rest of his family, he couldn't bare someone thinking thy were better than them. He loved his family after all.

Draco extended a hand in Harry's direction and Ben felt his heart leap in his chest, something inside of him told him to step in-between the two, to stop Harry from shaking the other boy's hand, to protect him. But Harry didn't need protecting, not from Malfoy.

"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks.'" 

                         The tremendous doors to the great hall opened with an echoing creak and all the first-years happily hurried in- excited to be sorted into their houses. However, no one knew how each witch or wizard got sorted into each house; there were no records of how this occurred each year. It was a mystery.

"It's just bewitched to look like the night sky." Came a familiar voice from behind- Hermione's.

From the corner of his eye, Ben could see Ron rolling his eyes as the lion girl went on about her extensive knowledge of the magic. Ben didn't understand why Ron was so annoyed at Hermione, just because she knew more than he did about that hall. Wasn't it good that she enjoyed learning? This was, in fact, a school after all.

After a couple of seconds of trying to figure out what on earth Hermione could be talking about, Ben looked up above him to see a magnificent sight before him.

Hundreds of warm-lit candles dance above their heads- their flames swaying in the breeze. Ben looked, but he couldn't find a ceiling above his head; it was as though they were outside, for the roof of the great hall had been replaced by a star-filled night sky that mesmerised the boy. A voice echoed in his head 'it is enchanted to show the beautiful night sky, or-or a gorgeous summer's day' . This must have been when Bill was talking about, Ben thought to himself.

He was so taken aback at what was above him, he didn't even notice that they had already reached the front of the hall. He looked up and saw an adult women talking, it was the same woman from before. Her glasses sat neatly on the end of her nose, and her grey-streaked hair was tied up neatly in a bun. This gave Ben the impression that she was sophisticated and wise, he recognised her as the head of Gryffindor- Professor McGonagall.

Ben's examination of the teacher had meant he missed most of what she was saying, and only tuned in at the last sentence, "Now, let the sorting ceremony begin!"

Only now did Ben acknowledge the existence of the ancient hat that sat on the stall in front of the great hall. Its rim curved slightly, giving it the appeal that it had been worn many times before. Its colour was musty chocolate but cracks were prominent in its fabric. When Ben looked closer it almost seemed as though it had... A face? Two eyes closed- sleeping- where above a mouth that stretched from one end of the headwear to the other. But that couldn't be right, hats didn't have faces. But after all, this is a magic school.

"Abbott, Hannah." McGonagall called to the first year's standing before her. A blushing girl stepped forwards, clearly embarrassed to be the first one called.

She sat down on the wooden stool at the front of the great hall before the deputy headmistress placed the hat- with a face- on her head. Unfortunately, the hat seemed too big for the petite girl, and it fell straight passed her eyes and onto where her nose sat.

The whole hall was silent, not one of the 280 students spoke in the moments that it took the hat to decide the girl's fate for the next seven years.

But after only a few seconds the face on the hat opened its mouth and bellowed only one word, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

One table at the very right of the hall cheered, 'That must be the Hufflepuff table.' Ben thought, and when he looked closer he found out that his assumption was correct as the students sat at the said table all wore yellow robes- indicating the colour of their house.

Student after student, this cycle continued with a different table of students cheering if their houses name was called from the hat.

Susan Bones- Hufflepuff.
Terry Boot- Ravenclaw.
Mandy Brocklehurst- Ravenclaw.
Lavender Brown- Gryffindor.

The mention of Gryffindor caused Ben's stomach to tie in knots. He was a Weasley, and every Weasley before him had been placed in Gryffindor. Ben was already an outcast from his family, he didn't want to be shoved aside more because he didn't get placed in the same house as everyone else had. He just hoped and prayed that when his time came to sit on the wooden stool and have the hat placed on his head, that it would roar "Gryffindor!" as it had done with his relatives before him.

The hat continued, yelling house after house for each student that was placed underneath it. McGonagall called out another child's name, "Longbottom, Neville." A few people sniggered at this name, but Ben smiled at the young boy, hoping that it would calm his nerves slightly.

Ben didn't know much about the Longbottoms; they weren't in many of the books that he had read. However, he did know enough to realise that Neville's parents must have been Frank and Alice Longbottom- two retired auras from the first wizarding war. Ben had also realised that he had seen this boy before, he was the one that always seemed to lose his toad. At this thought, Ben looked to the boy's pockets to try and spot if he had lost Trevor- the toad- again. Which he had.

As the hat was being placed on the forgetful boys head, Ben took it upon himself to look around for the lost pet. He scoured all around the great hall floor with his eyes until he spotted the cold-blooded creature, happily hopping around beside someone's feet.

Neville's sorting process seemed to be taking a long time. And with the hats facial expression not moving, Ben tiptoed the few feet it was to the toad and kneeled at the person's feet to retrieve the lost animal. Once the pet was in his grasp, Ben backed away slightly and only then thought to look at the person whose feet he had just been kneeling at.

It was Malfoy.

They locked eyes for only a second until a determined scream from the hat stopped the encounter from becoming even more embarrassing.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it finally roared after minutes of stillness. At this, the hat-wearing-boy jolted up out of his seat and franticly ran- forgetting that the now annoyed hat was still placed firmly on his head.

Once the boy had realized his mortifying mistake, he shamefully scurried back to McGonagall and passed her the hat- leaving echoes of laughter trailing around the hall.

As the boy was glumly walking back to the Gryffindor table, Ben found it to be the time to return the boys toad.

"Excuse me, Neville?" Ben asked the boy. At this, the boy pulled his head up from its hanging position; it seemed as though tears were in his eyes.

"Yes?" he croaked, the distant sound of other first year's getting sorted behind him.

"I found Trevor for you, I assume you would like him back?" Ben replied holding the unbothered animal out for the newly-found Gryffindor to take.

A large smile swept across the forgetful boys face, "Trevor!" he squeaked, causing a blush to appear on both the boy's cheeks as other students began turning to watch the accounted and a few prefects- Percy included- shushed them. "Thank you for finding him! I always seem to be losing him, I'll see you later... hopefully." the boy said, trailing off at the last word.

Ben gave a warm smile, a new friend.

Ben smiled again at the seemingly shy boy and turned around to notice a bleach-blonde-haired boy swagger up to the stool at the front of the hall.

The hat didn't even seem to graze the top of the eleven-year-old's head when it growled the name of the boy's house, "SLYTHERIN!"

Malfoy had gotten exactly what he wanted and at that, he marched off to the Slytherin table, being greeted by his friends, Crabbe and Goyle, who had been placed there before him.

His sharp grey eyes met Ben's pale blue ones, and he gave him a nasty glare. But Ben saw something in his eyes that no one else could, it was as though with this one look, Ben could read Draco like a book, he could see into his past and read his future.

Images stared to flash before Ben's eyes:

A pale boy alongside a house-elf, one chocolate chip cookie in hand.

"Here, " the boy in the vision said, "Dobby here. You're hungry. Daddy hasn't fed you in days. Just eat the cookie."

"Thank you, Master Draco." Came the weary voice of the wrinkly house-elf- Dobby.

Suddenly, a- what seemed like- taller version of the boy strode into the room.

"Dobby! What on Merlin do you think you're doing?!" the foul, harsh voice of the man roared.

The house-elf only stumbled back, away from the cookie and looked at the man with expecting eyes. Before the house-elf has time to explain his actions, a walking-stick came crashing down on his head. First once, then twice, then a third time. It seemed as though it was going to go on forever.

The boy with the cookie only looked on the scene in horror, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. "Daddy! Daddy! No! It's my fault, not Dobby's! Daddy, please stop! I'm begging you!" the boy cried.

At these words from the broken boy, the monstrous man stopped beating the house-elf abruptly.

"A Malfoy never begs Draco." He spat, venom leaking out at every word. And then he turned the walking-stick on the young boy.

"Potter, Harry." McGonagall said, ripping Ben from his horrendous hallucinations.

But Ben didn't pay attention to the sorting of the boy, he only drew his attention back to Draco, who was still eyeing the Weasley.

'That boy. In the vision.' Been thought, silently. 'It was Draco.'

Ben couldn't bear to dwell in his thoughts any longer; so he turned his attention back to the magical hat, that was now placed on top of the raven boys head.

He had missed the minutes of silence before and only caught the yell of "GRYFFINDOR!" that the hat gave after.

Harry bounced excitedly over to the cheering house's table. Ben could only notice the excitement and positive joy that radiated off of the raven-haired boy, but that didn't stop his mind from folding in on itself and unraveling images before his eyes:

"Hey, hey," a calming voice whispered to a blond boy, "It's all going to be alright." the first boy had dark hair, glasses and a prominent scar that was easily spottable when the wind blew his fringe to the side. He lifted his hand to the blond's face and caressed it lovingly.

The two boys stood in a tent, they seemed to be around the age of sixteen, maybe seventeen.

The pain in the blond's eyes was dark and filled with lost, but the way he looked at the teen before him was filled with love, pure love.

"Dance with me." as the words left the brunettes mouth, a song began to spill out of a radio, hidden away in the corner of the tent.

The blond obliged the other's request and the two danced, slowly with their bodies fitting together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

And then the images stopped. And Ben was left wondering, Who were those two boys?.

                         The thought of Ron and Ben not being the placed in Gryffindor made the twin's heads spin. But it was Ben who had it the worse. He knew that Ron would get into Gryffindor, after all, he was a stereotypical Weasley. But for himself, Ben didn't have much confidence.

Time passed as more people got sorted into their houses, the twin's anxiety only grew until the fist name was called, "Weasley, Benjamin." McGonagall said.

Nobody was paying attention, not even his elder brothers seemed to be watching. However, Ben did see a few eyes turn his way as he walked up to the stool. Those were of Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger and of course his twin brother.

McGonagall had to force the hall to quiten down with a loud "Shhhhh!" However, most people just carried on chatting to the people near them.

Ben hesitantly sat down on the stool. It was uncomfortable, to say the least, it had splinters the size of nails and its surface was moist and warm from the dozens of students that sat on it before him. His uncomfortableness only grew when the hat was placed on his head. It was heavier than Ben would've thought, it's leather material caused his scalp to itch- but he fought off the urge and just sat there quietly.

"Hello there, Benjamin." the whisper of the hat called, making it so that only Ben could hear. Its voice was strong- like that of dragons- but despite that, it was comforting for Ben to hear the wise voice of the old hat in his ears. "Ah, I've been waiting to sort you for quite some time." the voice spoke to Ben, "Everyone in your family has been placed in Slytherin so I think you should be no different-" he drew his voice so everyone could hear, "SLYTH-"

"Wait!" Ben yelled to the hat but then quietened his voice when he noticed faces in the crowd stop their conversations and turn towards the commotion, "N-no you're wrong! I'm a, I'm a Weasley, all my family have been placed in Gryffindor, not Slytherin." Ben grew confused, how could Hogwarts rely on such a stupid hat to sort the students?

He looked up to see Ron looking at him with anger and disgust, he had heard the hat start to say Slytherin. Everyone in the hall turned to pay attention, the hat clearly didn't change his mind often. Ben looked to the side to see where McGonagall stood, and saw her with worry in her eyes, stumbling back from where she had stepped forward to retrieve the hat.

"No, you certainly aren't a Weasley. You are a..." The hat began but was cut off.

"You are wrong!" Ben said, his voice breaking and tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

Ben frantically peered around the room to look at his elder brothers. Ron had a look of confusion and disgust plastered on his face- clearly still not over the fact that the hat wanted to place Ben in Slytherin. Fred and George were just laughing uncomfortably- just thinking that this was a cruel joke that Peeves was playing on them. Percy looked jealous more than anything- probably because all the attention was on his youngest brother and not on him.

What if the hat was right? That would explain why he looked and acted nothing like any other Weasleys. Maybe the jokes Fred and George always made about Molly just taking in a random kid from the street were right.

The hat sighed in sorrow and announce and brought his voice down to a whisper once more, "I think you need to talk with Professor Dumbledore after the feast."

Realizing that the whole hall was on the edge of their seats, waiting for the hat to sort the boy into his house, he raised his voice to talk to them all, "Upon further inspection, I believe that you're heart is one of a brave wizard. And although at first glance you appear to have traits more of an ambitious Slytherin, you value the traits of the lion house more. I withdraw my first attempt at this sorting, for I was wrong, "

McGonagall gasped loudly and dramatically from a few feet away while the rest of the hall was silent, it seemed as though no one even dared to breathe.

"I place this young wizard in... GRYFFINDOR!"

No one clapped or cheered as they had done for the other new students. Only a few let out the air that they were holding in. And in silence, Ben lifted the hat off of his head and placed it in McGonagall's outstretched arms- she was paralysed from shock. Ben hung his head and slowly and silently skidded over to the Gryffindor table, before taking a seat next to a very confused Harry Potter.

Ben didn't bother looking up to meet anyone's gaze, but he could feel every eye on him until McGonagall snapped out of her frozen state, cleared her throat and called the next name as if nothing happened.

"Weasley, Ronald."

Ben only listened as Ron made his way up and had the hat placed on his head. The hat started to speak. It started to speak to Ron but Ben found himself being able to hear. He looked up, finally, at the other people at the table who all seemed to be oblivious to what the hat was saying. Maybe the hat wanted Ben to be able to hear what it was telling Ron?

"Although he is not a Weasley by blood, " the hat began, "He is as much of a Weasley as you are. I am going to place you in Gryffindor as I have him because you are both as brave and chivalrous as any other Weasley I have come to sort into the same house. You mustn't think of him any differently than you did this morning now that you've found out about his true blood-line. It was my mistake thinking of him as a Slytherin. You shouldn't be disgusted with him for his traits, for even if you don't think you do, you have but the same traits lurking inside of you."

Ben looked at Ron, knowing what he was hearing, and found him looking back at him. His face had softened from the last time he had seen him. No longer with the same furious look of disgust on it, but still a subtle hint of betrayal lay there.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat roared, making Ron jump slightly. This time, the Gryffindor table burst into cheers and Ron went and sat by Hermione Granger, the furthest away from Ben as he could get. This made Ben's heart sink a little bit, no matter what the hat has said to Ron, he knew everything had changed.

For the rest of the sorting ceremony, Ben didn't pay that much attention, he only distantly heard the name of the last child being called before Professor Dumbledore ripped him from his stroppy state.

"I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce." His voice boomed across the whole hall. Not a soul dared to speak over him, it was as though everyone had a respect for the long, grey-haired man- even the Slytherins clung on to every word he said. "The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students."

The forbidden forest was something Ben knew of; Fred and George had always come home after a term to rant on about how unfair it was that they weren't allowed to enter. After Fred and George's first words about the forest, Ben decided to do some reading about it. He read about all the wonderful plants and creatures that called that place home, and from then on out he had been obsessed with magical creatures and nature and found a fascination with it- he had begged his parents to get him Newt Scamander's 'Fantastic Beasts and where to find them' and had now read it more than fifteen times.

The elder headteacher continued his speech, "Also, our caretaker, Mr Filch, " at these words everyone eyes turned to an old man- not as old and Dumbledore- with lengthy, thin, grubby, grey hair, his hands were fists of hared at his sides. "Has asked me to remind you that the 3rd-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death."

Some people looked disturbed at this statement but no one questioned it and just carried on looking, expectantly, at the professor.

"Oh I mustn't forget, I assume that the sorting hat has told you already but there's no hurt in reminding you, Mr Benjamin Wesley, " Ben could feel everyone's eyes pierce through the back of his head, but it was only Ron who didn't dare look at him. "You are to see me after the feast for any queries you may have with the information the hat has told you. Thank you. And let the feast begin!"

Everyone's eyes were taken off of Ben and instead directed to the mountains of food that had just appeared in front of them all. Golden plates lined the outstretched tables, children hurriedly filling them with their favourite foods. Goblets containing pumpkin juice and thirsty mouths chugged their contents.

Ben admired the view around him, he was starstruck about everything. The sorting, the headmaster's speech and the vast feast that sat before him. But he couldn't eat. He wasn't hungry just confused.

Had what the hat said true? He always felt different from the rest of his family but was he really not a Weasley?

He didn't feel like eating, he needed to talk to Dumbledore. He just sat there in silence, staring at his empty plate and thinking. Until the mountains of food disappeared and prefects started to guide the first years to the common rooms.

Ben stood up in a trance and glided over to the teacher's table at the front of the hall.

"I'm sure you have many questions Mr Wesley," Dumbledore calmly spoke to Ben, "And I will answer them all in due time. If you would just follow me to my office."

                         Ben followed the wise professor with his head hung low, not wanting to look at the other pupils as he passed. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of a staircase that lead to the headmaster's office.

"Lemon drop." as soon as the words left the professor's lips the statue shifted and transformed into a spiralling staircase reaching to the top of the tower. Ben peered upwards, his mouth formed an amazed grin. He, of course, had seen magic before- he came from a pureblood home after all- but that was always something minuscule like washing the dishes or knitting a jumper, he had never encountered magic this well... magical before.

"Come my child." Dumbledore's voice was calming and Ben followed, almost in a trance, up the staircase to the older man's office.

Stepping into the Headmaster's office wasn't something that Ben had planned on doing his first day at Hogwarts but nonetheless, here he was: walking through the doorway that was very kindly held open by the professor.

The walls were packed with moving portraits of what Ben presumed to be previous Hogwarts headmasters and headmistress- he recognised a couple from the books he had read. They all started mumbling to themselves at the sight of the young boy, and Ben became nervous and started picking at the skin around his nails- trying to make his racing thoughts calm down.

It was at that moment that he spotted it, a majestic creature sat atop a perch. Ben was transfixed as he gawked at the magical creature. It's wings burned like flames and it's eyes twinkled in the light. Ben felt like he could feel what the bird was saying, he could hear the thoughts inside its head.

"Impressed are we?" Dumbledore asked, an amused grin etched on his face. "His name is Fawkes, but i'd assume you already knew that."

That's when Ben became more confused, why would he already know the animal's name if he had never come across it before? But then again, he felt as though he had already known the birds name; in fact, he could tell most things about Fawkes just by looking at him.

"Can I see your wand Mr Weasley?" it was a strange request but nonetheless, Ben reached into the inside pocket of his robe and complied, slightly scared of the consequences if he didn't.

Dumbledore examined the wand for a couple moments before giving a warm smile, "You know why you feel so connected to Fawkes?"

Ben shook his head slightly but then connected the dots, 'what did Ollivander say again? "the feather inside was gifted by a very dear friend of mine" '

"It's Fawkes' feather?" Ben asked hesitantly, not quite sure if his thinking was right, "That's what's inside my wand?"

The professor nodded, the smile becoming even more prominent on his face, "You're a very clever boy Mr Weasley." the man passed the wand back to Ben- who hurriedly placed it back into his inside pocket- and then walked over to his desk. "You've got a lot of questions about what the sorting hat said am I correct?" the professor continued, he sat down and gestured for Ben the take the seat opposite him, Ben complied.

Ben didn't really answer the elder man's question, he began scratching his arms, leaving red lines all over is already damaged skin, trying to get his mind to stop racing. After a few seconds of waiting Dumbledore just carried on talking, "Well, I'm sure they will all be answered in due time."

"Stop that!" Ben heard a voice, but it wasn't the professor in front of him speaking, "Stop scratching your arms like that!" Ben hastily glanced around the room, but no one else was there with them. "It's going to scar." Ben looked to the side at where the voice was coming from.

It was Fawkes. But yet it seemed as though he was making no noise at all. Was Ben reading his mind? Could he read the bird's mind?

"I can see you're on edge and that's understandable. So, to make you more comfortable, why don't I tell you a little bit about my family before we talk about yours?" the headmaster smiled warmly, and that calmed the boy down a bit, he nodded slightly at the professor- signalling his agreement.

"Well," Dumbledore was hesitant about his next words, he peered around his office- almost as if he was searching for what to say to the young student, "I have a brother, his name's Aberforth."

Ben had read about Dumbledores family, his brother and his parents, so this wasn't really news to him but he felt obliged to ask, "Do you talk to him... sir." Dumbledore looked up at the boy which made him stumble on his last words.

"When you get to my age Mr Weasley, you start to lose contact with people in your life it's-" he sighed almost sadly, "It's just natural." Dumbledore glanced at the boy in front of him, and noticed him looking down at his hands. He was still clearly uncomfortable but looked slightly more relaxed than before. "Benjamin," the boy was thrown off by the elder's use of his first name, so he looked up to meet the teacher's gaze, "Do you know about your heritage?"

Ben tumbled on his thoughts, opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. His voice cracked slightly as he spoke, "Till an hour ago I thought I was a Weasley."

At those words Dumbledore leaned forward, "No, Benjamin," he spoke calmly but his words were firm, "Before I tell you anything you have to know that you are a Weasley, nothing can change that."

Ben nodded, his eyes were welling up, tears threatening to spill down his checks. The headmaster noticed this, his voice came to a whisper, "Would you like me to get your parents, or maybe one of your brothers?"

"No." The word shot out his mouth quickly and Ben shook his head. "I need to handle this on my own."

The headmaster gave him an understanding smile before beginning his explanation about the boy's history.

                         Ben learnt a lot in that office. He learnt of his biological family, or lack there of.  His mother had been separated from her family when she gave birth. Her name was Sorana. Sorana, the name sounded weirdly familiar on Ben's lips. Sorana, it sounded so beautiful. So youthful.

Professor Dumbledore didn't say much about Ben's father. He said it was a matter for another day. But he talked highly of him, describing him as an incredible wizard, and from the knowledge Ben had of Dumbledore, that was a complement very few wizards received. Ben wanted to ask more about his father and was confused why he couldn't know, but he understood that he may not have been ready to know everything, so he didn't argue.

Days after giving birth to her only child, Sorana was running from the dark lord. He had learnt of the newborn and his natural powers and he wanted them, he wanted to use the child for his own devilish acts. But Sorana knew she couldn't let that happen, she knew she had to protect her child. She had to hide him. It was the hardest thing she ever had to do, but she had to let him go.

That night, Molly could hear the wailing of an infant, it echoed through the fields behind the Weasley home. The noise seemed to draw her nearer, and soon enough she found the culprit. A newborn boy, no older than a fortnight. She thought he must've been close to her own son's age. Ron had only been born a month or so ago, the thought of her own baby made her snap her gaze back to her home- everyone was still asleep.

Molly looked back at the young boy on the mud ground, the child's screeching had quietened. His eyes staring at the young Molly Weasley, finally clearing of the pools of tears that were once there. Molly couldn't just let the child die here, alone, abandoned. So she crouched down, her thumb rested on the younglings cheek. As she did this the most peculiar thing happened, the baby glowed.

A warm yellow glow. It started out faint, but Molly could tell it was there and as she picked up the child and held him to her chest the glow only became stronger- almost blinding.

That was how Ben became a Weasley, because of their close age he was told that he was Ron's twin. The only ones that knew that he was adopted were his parents and the eldest of his siblings.

                         When Dumbledore had finished his explanation Ben was almost in tears. A dozen emotions washed over him and he didn't know what half of these emotions were, but what he did know was that he wasn't angry, he knew that he probably should be, but he just couldn't. He just felt loved.

His skin began to itch and he noticed a slight glow escaping (the same glow he had felt when Harry's hand touched his own). This had happened before, but rarely. Like that one time him and Ron were in the back garden climbing the oak tree; or that other time when him and the eldest twins were giggling about their prank against Percy; or the time he read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Ron and watched him absorb every last word.

"Thank you for telling me sir." Ben looked up and smiled at the headmaster.

"You're a strong boy Mr Weasley. I know many wouldn't of handled this information as well as you have." Dumbledore said, reciprocating the boy's smile, "If you ever want to talk to someone or need any advice, my office is always open. Now," He stood up from his chair and walked to where Ben sat, pressing his hand to the boy's shoulder, "It's getting late, why don't I accompany you to your dorm?"

                         Ben followed the man out of his office, down the spiral staircase and through the corridors of the castle. The hallways were quiet, the only sound to be heard was the echo of the pair's footsteps, by then, everyone was in their dorm rooms.

The two turned a corner, Ben following hesitantly behind, his eyes glued to the ground.

It was only when he heard Dumbledore's voice boom through the hallway that his daze was broken. "Hello Mr. Weasley," it was Percy the man was talking to. The prefect pacing towards them from the other end of the corridor. "Why don't you take your brother back to the Gryffindor common room?" by then the ginger-haired prefect had stopped in his tracks. "He missed it when you showed the other first-years around."

Percy turned his gaze to his brother and then back at the professor, "Of course sir."

"Excellent!" Dumbledore turned to the younger of the Weasley siblings, "I will check in with you soon Benjamin." the warming smile of the old man calmed Ben, he felt more comfortable around the professor than he had done when he first stepped into his office. With a final nod at the prefect, Dumbledore turned on his heal and paced back down the corridor.

As they walked side-by-side, Ben looked up at Percy. He had always been slightly jealous of Percy, he thought of him as being 'perfect'. Just looking at him now he saw determination in the teenagers eyes, it was as if ambition was coursing through his veins like a drug. Percy never felt embarrassed like Ben did, he was never shy and always spoke his mind. Why couldn't Ben be like that?

"Did you know?" Ben asked his elder brother, his voice still shaky from his conversation with the headmaster.

Percy turned his head quizzically at the first-year, "I know many things Benjamin, you'll have to be more specific." he turned his head and glanced back down the corridor once more.

"That I'm not a real Weasley."

Percy stopped dead in his tracks. He turned his body fully so that he was facing his younger brother. "Who told you?" his voice was a whisper, Ben had never seen his brother looking this concerned.

"I-uh" Ben felt anxious again, and began to scratch at his arms once more.

Percy noticed and slapped the boy's hand away, "I've told you to stop doing that." his voice was still quite but more forceful which made Ben oblige. "Ben, you are a real Weasley." Ben was taken off-guard, Percy had always used Ben's full name when addressing him. The use of his 'less-professional' one made the statement seem more personal.

A single droplet of water trickled down Ben's cheek. The emotion of the last couple hours only just setting in. Percy pulled the young boy into a comforting hug.

"Ron's going to hate me." Ben cried into his brothers chest. "He already hates me for what the hat said."

Percy pulled Ben out of the hug to look him in the eyes, "He isn't going to hate you. You're his twin. He's just being pathetic." Ben chuckled and whipped the snot from his nose, "He'll get over himself eventually." Ben nodded in agreement, a sad smile on his face.

"Come on." Percy pushed Ben forward and they walked side-by-side toward the Gryffindor common room; sharing small-talk and giggles as they went. Ben had never felt as close with Percy as he did then. The warm glow returned to his skin.

Ben waved goodbye to Percy when they reached the Gryffindor tower, him having to continue on his prefect rounds. Percy had already given the password to 'the fat lady'- a name that Ben felt uncomfortable using, he would ask her for her real name tomorrow, he was too tired right now.

                         A warm breeze of air flowed on Ben's skin bringing with it a waft of cinnamon and firewood smells. Ben closed the doorway behind him as he entered the Gryffindor common room. He gazed around the room in awe, it was beautiful. A lit fireplace, where all the heat must have been coming from, sat in the centre of the largest wall in the room. It's orange flames were mesmerising, Ben imagined sitting beside it reading a book or reading over his class notes- the thought brought a smile to his face. The room was red all over, patterned rugs and drapes covered the room in a wonderful tapestry of red.

"Ahem." a voice coughed from a seat on one of the comfy chairs before the fire. It made Ben squeak and jump slightly, he hadn't seen the figure beforehand.

The mysterious person stood up and it was only then that Ben realised who it was, the smile that was once on his lips deflated. His head dropped down, his eyebrows knitted together as he examined his arms- patches could be seen with layers of skin scratched off.

"Ron, I'm sorry." He could hear the pacing of his twin's steps toward him.

Then the pacing stopped and Ben looked up to see his brother standing meters away from him. He wasn't coming any closer. Ben felt icky, like he had a contagious disease that Ron was scared of catching. They were once so close, sharing laughs as they climbed the tree in the back garden or giggling over Ron getting syrup from his pancakes on his nose, but now that was gone.

"Is what the hat said true?" Ron asked, it was so quite that Ben could barely hear it.

Ben answered by nodding slightly and that seemed to be all that Ron needed. He turned and stormed up the stairs to what Ben presumed to be the dorm rooms- he hadn't been told yet where they were.

Ben deflated, he sank into one of the many armchairs in the house's common room and stared, blankly, into the raging fire. The once comforting flames now seeming violent and angry. Ben felt numb, he had just lost his brother, his best friend. He tried to remember what Percy had said,'He's just being pathetic. He'll get over himself eventually.' His brother's words gave a small amount of relief, it wasn't much but knowing that at least one of his brothers was on his side was enough.

Ben's mind began to swim and he sat there in silence, not even noticing that he began to scratch at his arms again.

                         Percy walked into the common room after he had finished his rounds, making his way toward the stairs toward the dorm rooms he was in his own mind. He was only pulled from his thoughts when he heard a gentle snore come from somewhere else in the common room.

He began to march over to where the noise was coming from, prepared to reprimand the student for being out of their dorm. However, when he came face-to-face with the sleeping student he decided against it.

Ben lay with his head against the armrest, his hair poked out in all directions. Percy could see the faint tear marks that stained his brothers cheeks.

His eyes then scanned down to the first-years arms, the sleeves of his robes having been pulled up, "Fuck Ben." he sighed, sadness and concern was prominent in his tone. He pulled out his wand and uttered a spell, as he did so the boy's arms wrapped themselves in bandages; but the boy still slept on, undisturbed.

Percy walked over to a cupboard that stood against the wall of the common room, he opened it and pulled out a blanket. Walking back over to his sleeping younger brother, he pulled the blood-red blanket over the sleeping boy. A smile threatening to pull at his lips.

Despite what people thought, he did have a heart. He always felt like he had to look out for his younger siblings, especially Ben. As much as Percy was the odd-one-out in the family, Ben was double as much- if not more so. He always saw the sadness in Ben's eyes at the dinner table while the other siblings were giggling and fighting over food, clearly feeling left out.

"Make sure to look after Ben this year, you know how he gets."

His mother had said to him before they left the house to go to the train station.

"I know Mum... You know he's going to find out this year?" Percy replied

"I know." Molly sighed knowingly, "But when he does don't let him isolate himself again. I don't think I could handle what happened last time happen again."

"I promise I'll look out for him Mum."

And Percy was going to look out for him. He had to, he felt obliged not only as a prefect, but as his older brother.

Percy yawned, clearly he needed rest too, it was almost 1 a.m. He told himself that he'd wake up early and come down to wake his brother up before anyone else came down. And with that thought he sluggishly tiptoed over to the stairs and up to the dorm rooms.