Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter

TRIGGER WARNING – This snapshot is set prior to Benni realising she's a girl so she is referred to using he/him pronouns. This may be upsetting to some trans people, if that's you, you may want to skip this.

1st September 1996

Benoit Lunaire Lupin holds his big sister's hand as he stands in the loud train station he'd been at so many times before. He's starting Hogwarts today, alone. He's meant to be getting on the train, but right now he can't manage to get out of his own head.

"Benni?"

Benoit looks up at his sister who eyes him in obvious concern, Benni bites his lip as he looks back to the train, tears in his eyes. As soon as he steps on that train, he's alone.

No Jamie.

No Fred and George.

No Père.

Of course, his Papa is at the other end, and Harry and the others will all be there. They already said he can hang around with them, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny are even waiting right now for him so that they can walk onto the train and sit together.

But all of this is so wrong.

"BENNI! JAMIE!" Benoit looks over to see Draco running towards them, closely followed by Theo, Pansy, Greg, and Vince. Benoit releases his sister's hand and flings himself at Draco, "Blaise is already on the train," Draco tells him which makes Benoit smile.

He was wrong. His brother will be with him.

Benoit looks back over to Jamie and nods once. She smiles brightly, tears in her eyes and she nods back, taking Fred's hand and leaning into his side.

"Uncle Re isn't here?" Draco asks Jamie who sighs.

"We haven't heard from Dad in a while. He's not been doing so great since…anyway. No clue where he is," Jamie explains with a shake of her head.

"Your father is nothing if not resourceful," Lucius says as he steps up behind his son, "I am quite certain he is all right, wherever he is."

Benoit is a little less certain, but he hugs his uncle gratefully all the same.

Benni walks over and takes Hermione's hand, Ron throws an arm over his shoulders.

"Good luck, Little Benni," Jamie tells her brother, kneeling down before him, "And know that no matter what, we'll all be proud of you." Benni bites his lip uncertainly, Jamie frowns. "You know, when I was much younger and Dad was first dating your Mother, she used to read me stories. Stories of magic and witches and dragons. All her life she'd wished for magic to be real, she'd be so happy and proud too." Benoit feels tears fill his eyes as he moves away from Hermione and Ron and hugs his sister.

"Thank you," He whispers to her, much to her surprise. She hugs him tighter before they hear the train horn.

"C'mon Benni, doesn't look like Harry's going to make it," Ron tells him, sounding mildly anxious. Hermione takes Benni by the hand, saying goodbye to everyone as she leads him onto the train.

They search the train for an empty compartment, almost walking past one occupied by a single person before Ron suddenly does a double-take.

"Oh, I've got a bad feeling about this," He mutters before he opens the door. The occupant of the compartment looks over at the sound of the door, "Hey Harry, what the bloody hell are you wearing?" Ron asks, hiding his anxiousness behind incredulity as he looks over the large hoodie and sunglasses his best mate wears. Ron and Hermione sit across from Harry as Benni takes a seat beside his cousin. Not that Harry knows they are cousins, or so Benni thinks.

"Does it matter?" Harry snaps at his friend, only something in his voice is wrong. Weak and…wheezy-like.

Hermione frowns at her friend in concern, "Harry, what's happened?" Benni can't help but wonder if perhaps Père isn't the only one to have dealt with Uncle Padfoot's death badly, Harry sounds hurt. As in physically hurt. "Is that blood on your eyebrow?" Hermione asks, looking closer, "Harry, take off the glasses and hood."

Harry hesitates, "But I like my glasses and hood," he says.

Ron frowns at him now too, "You know she isn't going to give up mate, just do what she says." Harry huffs, then moans slightly. Benni's all but on the edge of his seat as Harry pulls his sunglasses off and pushes down his hood. "Bloody hell," Ron mutters under his breath while Hermione gasps and Benni stares in shock.

"I know, my attractiveness is unparalleled," Harry drawls sarcastically. Benoit frowns at him, this isn't like Harry at all. Of course, Benni hasn't seen his cousin since before Uncle Padfoot died. He knows better than most what grief can do to a person. Maybe Harry had to change to cope, too.

"Harry, what happened?" Hermione asks worriedly, her forehead creased and brows furrowed in her concern.

"It was just a stupid fight, Hermione. Relax." Somehow, this doesn't reassure anyone.

And to think, for some strange reason Benni had entertained the thought of this year being quiet for him now that he'll be in Hogwarts instead of Grimmauld Place.

"Looks more like a thrashing to me, Mate, and not one that went your way," Ron tells him.

Harry narrows his eyes at him, "Thanks Ron, very helpful."

Before anyone else can respond, the door opens. Draco and the others are there, Benoit gets up and flings himself at Blaise who kneels down and holds him tightly.

"It is good to see you," Blaise tells him in French. Benni squeezes him tighter. "Now, listen. You're going to be better off walking in with this lot than with us, but if you need or want us, forget that and come over to our table regardless of where you get put. You'll always have a place with us. And remember, you aren't alone," He continues. Blaise ruffles his hair as Benni nods before retaking his seat.

"Looking good as always, Potter," Draco says. Benni rolls his eyes at his cousin.

"Jealous as always, Malfoy?" Harry replies, sounding confident and sure. It sort of lost its affect when he wheezes afterwards, apparently that one sentence had been more effort than it had appeared.

"Only you would be that up yourself. What the hell happened to you, anyway? Whoever did that to you, I'd like to send them a fruit basket."

Now, Benni and Draco have never been that close, but he has still known his cousin his whole life. Thus, he can quite confidently say that Draco sounds…concerned. He's sure of it, no matter how confused that leaves him.

"Oh shove off Malfoy, I'm not in the mood for your shit. Go annoy someone else if you seriously can't find anything better to do," Harry practically spits as he lays his head against the window and closes his eyes. Benni looks between his cousins in concern, but luckily Draco only scoffs and leaves, the others following after him. Though Blaise and Pansy both smile at Benni once more before going too.

The four left sit in an awkward silence for a minute or two before Hermione finally breaks it. "But who did do this to you Harry? You have to tell us!" She tells him.

"I don't have to tell you anything, Hermione, so just leave it!" Harry says harshly before coughing a lot and then groaning rather loudly from pain. Ron helps him sit back again and then sits next to him in case he needs help. Ron and Hermione look at each other, Benni can't tell what agreement they come to, but they both back off about it.

Benoit sullenly remembers when his Papa and his Père used to have silent conversations like that.

Sometimes he really misses it.

When the train finally arrives in Hogsmeade, Benni heads off with the other first years.

"Ah, Li'l Benni. How's yer Da doing?" Hagrid asks when he sees him, Benni gives a nervous little smile that Hagrid understands a little too well as he nods. "Come on then, best give'im somethin ter smile about," He tells the young lad before calling all the first years over to him and leads them to the boats.

"Hi, I'm Danielle," A girl says as she climbs into the boat beside Benoit. Benni smiles and waves at her, "This is…hey," The girl beside her doesn't respond, staring out at the water in fright, "Kaylaaaaaaa!"

The girl snaps back to the boat, "Sorry. Only I heard there's a giant squid and…I'm not great with squids."

Danielle rolls her eyes, "Kayla, this is…actually, I didn't catch your name."

Benoit's eyes widen for a moment before he remembers that his grandpa gave him a pad of paper and a pen before he left. He grabs them from his pocket and writes Benni on it.

"Oh, you can't talk?" Danielle asks, Benoit shakes his head sheepishly. "Do you know sign language?"

Benoit nods, his old school had worked with his Grandparents to get a tutor and teach him. They learnt too so that he could practice at home back when he'd been living with them. Benoit internally sighs, missing when home meant France and Père, Papa, Jamie, and Blaise. Now it means England, Grandma, Grandpa, and Jamie when she isn't staying with her boyfriend.

"I know sign language too, I can help you talk to others! I'll translate for you."

Benni smiles at Danielle, shocked by the offer but oh so grateful.

Eventually they get sorted. Benni's a little surprised to be sorted into Hufflepuff, but mostly grateful. He's heard too many stories about Gryffindor and Slytherin and would much prefer a calmer environment. He looks over at his Papa as he takes his seat and sees the pride in his eyes. Benni grins at him, feeling the happiest he has been since he was seven-years-old.

And while Danielle and Kayla both chat with him excitedly about everything they're going to learn, he thinks maybe Hogwarts really won't be so lonely after all.