Benjamin Hendrix was the 23-year-old middle child to Atticus and Cora Hendrix. He was a half-blood; his father being a Muggle-born wizard and his mother a pureblood witch. He had two older brothers, Elisha and Finnick.
Elisha, who had proven to be incredibly intelligent and uncannily kind like his father, saw an untimely end when he become a casualty of the Battle at Hogwarts just four years prior. It was Elisha that initiated Finnick and Benjamin into the Order of the Phoenix during their seventh and fifth year at Hogwarts, after Voldemort's physical manifestation and attack on Cedric Diggory. Elisha's brilliant Ravenclaw mind set a foundation for a handful of plans concocted by the Order. He was memorialized along with the others that gave their lives for the sake of a free Wizarding world. A small shack containing a shrine was built at the Hendrix farm. Elisha's body was buried in the family cemetery under the willow tree just a short walk from the shrine.
Finnick was just two years ahead of Benjamin. He acquired their father's love and passion for Muggle animals and magical beasts so much that he bought his own plot of land and has started up a rescue and sanctuary for endangered Muggle animals and magical beasts.
Benjamin's younger sister, Hazel, happened to still be attending Hogwarts and was sorted into Gryffindor. She was just a second year when the destruction began at Hogwarts school. She was the reason Elisha attended the battle, as well as an already-graduated Benjamin. She favored their mother heavily in looks, sharing the same grey eyes and thick, brown hair.
They all shared two paternal-twin siblings that were just a few years old. Leonardo, or Leo, and Lilith, mostly called Lily, were born just a short time after the war ended. It was an incredible blessing for the family to relish in. Cora had been stressed prior to the main battle, of course, and news of losing a son while two other children were at the castle during the chaos had taken its toll on her pregnancy. The twins, when born, were healthy as horses. They do, however, have a shared case of the Muggle mutation Heterochromia iridum, where Leonardo's left eye is brown and his right eye is hazel, while Lilith's left eye is hazel and her right eye is brown.
Their father, Atticus, was known to have a calm and kind disposition - as well as general outlook on life - which has been rumored to have been passed on to each of his kids. That very behavior has allowed him to lead a prosperously peaceful life for his family. His own parents were farmers on a Native American reservation in the United States, so Atticus grew up working and living the first part of his life mostly without magic. When those in the tribal counsel had found out about this, they had it in their right mind to call him their Shaman. This, however, would be a short-lived title as he would be accepted into the Ilvermorny school. He had become so accustomed to it that, even after graduating from Ilvermorny and moving closer to the illustrious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he continued a very "Muggle-y" way of life.
This was not something his wife, Cora, was particularly inspired about at first; but she fell for Atticus as a partner and person and, eventually, as a caretaker and father. She was a firecracker of a woman, with a strong voice and adventurous mind. Her cunning intellect drew her husband to her. With her family's pureblood heritage, it was considered taboo for her to marry a Muggle-born wizard - let alone an Ilvermorny Thunderbird instead of a Hogwarts Slytherin. It wasn't until they began having children that her family ultimately would accept her way of life and new husband.
Atticus and Cora sold many of their products like Mooncalf dung, pickled Murtlap tentacles, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, a few different cheeses and milks, and chickens' eggs, of course, in Diagon Alley during the week. Every other weekend, their middle son, Benjamin, would work the stall. Finnick was busy traveling the world (rescuing harmed, neglected, endangered, and poached species) while Hazel attended Hogwarts and the twins needed tending to at the farm.
The Hendrix family appeared to all as a productive, humble bunch. As much as Benjamin would love to settle down and have his own family, he had felt that the one he was thankful to still have needed his attention more.
Most of the other stalls had shut down awhile ago, and those still open were beginning to crate up supplies and roll down the stall covers. Diagon Alley was quieting down, aside from The Leaky Cauldron.
It was Saturday and Benjamin had one more day left of running the stall, so he took the key with him after closing down shop. He trudged into The Leaky Cauldron and found a stool at the bar.
"Oi, Ben, why the long face, eh?" Asked Tom the bartender.
"Well, some guy tried to tell me the stuff he bought last week was rotten - kept badgering me for his coin back. We lost out on a few galleons by some thug in the market this afternoon, and I definitely blew my shot with a beautiful woman in the Alley," Benjamin explained to the man as he placed a large beverage in front of him.
Benjamin began chugging the liquid, coming up a few times for a breath. He slammed the empty glass on the counter, burping as he said, "Another!"
The bartender, Tom, obliged the request. After a few more Butterbeers and engaging conversations, Benjamin left the tavern and found his 1999 Indian Chief motorcycle parked around the corner. The engine groaned to life and the deep rumbles echoed off the brick walls of the alley. It was nearly dark now.
He opened the door to the small apartment building, which had only two apartments downstairs and two upstairs. A narrow set of stairs led straight up to a door with an aging sign that read "WASHROOM", which was shared between tenants. Two doors lay to the immediate left and right when reaching the top of the steps. He stuck the key in and wriggled it around before being able to open it to his small abode.
The apartment (as one would be able to tell from the outside) was small and outdated. The once-white walls had begun peeling long before he moved in. Old dirt and mold spots painted over the dingy walls. The unfinished, rough wood flooring seemed to always hold dust in its ridges, leaving a permanently antique scent among the apartment. The floor plan was simple: walking in, you found yourself in a slender hallway. The wall to the right runs the width of the apartment with his bedroom door near the furthest corner. Another wall, though shorter, runs to the left, where it's met with an opening that leads into the kitchen and flows into the living room.
The surfaces were clean and organized, though, only so much could be done to such a run-down dwelling on the poorer side of town. It was decorated in a minimalist style of rustic grunge. All furniture was gifted or bought from a thrift store at whatever Benjamin could afford.
He hung his keys on the metal hook near the door. He turned the light on to his bedroom to reveal a small, cluttered bedroom. The bedroom door nearly touched the mattress of the full size bed, and a wooden side table at the foot of the bed held a black kerosene lantern, a few books, and a rolling tray scattered with skunky green. At the opposite end against the other corner was a small analog tv on a black stand. A lawn chair sat in front of it and on the tv stand was a scratched-up, black PlayStation 2. A few games stacked beside it: Driver, Tekken 4, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Spider-Man.
He slumped onto his bed, the rough sheets ruffling underneath him as he made himself comfy.
One more day, he thought to himself, as his eyes began to become so heavy it seemed an impossible task to keep them open. He fell asleep there and his light snores began to fill the apartment until it was the lullaby that kept him asleep.
He rose that morning to the smell of coffee, eggs, and bacon. He opened his eyes and saw his older brother, Finnick, plating breakfast for two.
"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!" The older brother teased the younger brother.
"Fucking A, Finn. What time is it?" Benjamin rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he searched for the analog clock above the fridge.
"It's three-quarters past six, brother," Finnick told his younger sibling.
Hearing such dreadful news, Benjamin turned over and let out a groan as he mashed his face into the cushion of the couch. The sound of ceramic meeting the wooden coffee table rang just before a heavy smack. Finnick had slapped Benjamin's thigh and proceeded to give it a squeeze. Benjamin, in defense, quickly rolled over and shoved his brother's shoulder.
"What time did you even get here?" Benjamin asked.
Finnick had already begun shoveling food into his mouth.
"I was 'ere bout fifteen min'ts before you 'cided to wake up," he replied with a mouthful of food. Benjamin winced and looked away in disgust.
"Fine, alright. Just keep your mouth closed and I'll forget the early awakening."
After breakfast, they each packed up a thermos filled with coffee and loaded up into Benjamin's other Muggle transportation device, an imported 1985 Chevy Silverado. It was roughly a twelve minute drive to the alley (with traffic) near The Leaky Cauldron where Benjamin would park his rides.
"Morning, Tom," the brothers greeted the bartender in unison before making their way to the entrance of Diagon Alley. It was one of Benjamin's favorite moments of the day: being able to enjoy the crisp quiet before the hustle-and-bustle of wizarding life.
Finnick, who helps out one or two Sundays a month, did most of the unpacking of goods and setting up of the stall. Benjamin had revealed the thievery from the day before and Finnick felt it his duty to lighten his little brother's load.
Benjamin would be inside The Leaky Cauldron, on the mornings that someone else would begin to set up the stall. He'd be caught refilling his mug with coffee and having a cinnamon roll or two before the start of his shift. He would also be found chatting with a few stall and shop owners during the morning hours.
Diagon Alley generally would not be busy until nine to nine-thirty, but most shops would be open by eight o'clock on the dot.
As expected, by nine-thirty that morning, the Alley was bustling with lively energy. A variety of conversations could be heard:
"I lost fifty galleons in stocks this week!"
"Look, mum! A barn owl!"
"Oi, how much fer th' gillyweed?"
The two brothers had made a congenial amount of galleons, so they decided to take their lunches early. They rolled down the curtains to the stall and ate their corned beef sandwiches from The Leaky Cauldron.
The day droned on like any other weekend that the two Hendrix gentleman would be together. Benjamin caught his thoughts wandering as a quick mental image of Hermione invited itself into his mind.
"What are you festering over, little brother?" Finn asked his younger sibling.
Benjamin shrugged his shoulders. "I keep thinking about her - Hermione, y'know."
"Hermione? Hermione Granger?" Finnick was now only a foot from Benjamin's face, his eyes wide with childlike-excitement. "You mean to tell me that the beautiful woman who rejected you yesterday was Hermione Granger, one of - if not THE - brightest witch of our time? The 'Golden Trio' Hermione Granger?"
Benjamin nodded as he through his head down in defeat. He could hear his brother facepalm himself.
"For fucks sake, Benny. She's a bit out of your league, don't ya think?" Finnick pestered his brother, giving him a nudge in the ribs.
Benjamin brushed him off. "Ey! Knock it off!" He could feel his cheeks turn warm and he crossed his arms across his midsection in defense.
"At least she didn't shove the vegetables back in my face," Benjamin replied, trying to use his own humor to make light of his humility.
"Yeah, 'cause if you'd have told me that - oh boy, I'd take the mickey out 'ya."
"You're not already?"
Finnick smirked, releasing a short, quick breath from his nose. "Fair enough. You know, Mother worries about you. She drones on about how the pair of us should be looking to settle down and all of this other nonsense."
"I dunno if I would call it nonsense; I think it could be nice, actually."
Finnick turned his face to his brother, his eyes mimicking those of a deer in headlights. "You? You want to settle down? Have kids? No more waking up late on days off or traveling whenever you want?"
"Who said I can't travel with a few extra pounds on my back? All I'm saying is, preserving your own legacy and having someone to talk to and share plans for a future with doesn't necessarily sound horrible to me."
"Huh. Well, I guess when you put it like that, little brother." He ruffled Benjamin's thick, dark hair, "one day."
"One day," repeated Benjamin.
The day was ending and they had observed an opportunity closed up the shop a tad early. Finnick took the money back home shortly after the two brothers bid their farewells. Tomorrow, Benjamin would start his week of shifts as the cook at The Leaky Cauldron. He was tired, already having worked the past seven days in a row, he was dreading the upcoming work week. Tom, however, gave him a few days of coming in in the afternoon and working until late to save more time to rest.
He found his way home (the routine route), and prepared for his usual nightly regime: get home, change into comfy clothes, listen to music or watch tv, maybe video games, eat, brew a pot of coffee, write in his journal, listen to more music before crawling into bed.
Benjamin fixed himself a pan-seared salmon - lemon and garlic flavored - with buttered green beans and loaded mashed potatoes. This was a common meal made by his mother due to their father's more American diet.
He didn't have an issue with British recipes, he was just more comfortable with his American-shaped palate. Some of the dishes he grew up on in the States were even featured on the menu in The Leaky Cauldron; these tended to be a good hit, believe it or not.
As his day drew to a close and his belly was filled and warmed by the sweet liquid of coffee beans, he crawled into his twin size bed - fitted with charcoal-colored sheets and a pine headboard.
He set his alarm for 10:00AM, as he would be working a noon-to-close shift the following day. Benjamin Thelonious Hendrix closed his eyes and that night, he dreamed hard.