Be Our Guest

by chestnutss

The war is over and our young witches and wizards return to Hogwarts to finish their education. Normality is supposed to catch up with them. What happens is the exact opposite: dark memories haunt their minds, old rivalries resurface and no one really seems to be able to move on with their lives...until they find that music might well be the only thing that could safe them all.

1. The Return

The Return

She was tired. Tired of the world pulsing with life, tired of people around her moving on, tired of not being able to do the same. The young Hannah Abbott was standing in front of the wall to platform 9 3/4 - just like seven years ago. Her feelings, however, could not have been any more different than last time. All innocence, all excitement and hopes that had filled her chest with a comfortable anticipation back then were now replaced by dullness and resignation. She was slowly, but surly vanishing. The war had changed her; in a way that not even she recognized the reflection of herself in a mirror, in a way that the thoughts running through her head seemed to belong to a stranger, not to her old self. Sure enough the good has won over the evil. But at what cost? This had yet to show.
With slow movements, she willed her numb body to drag itself the last few metres towards the barrier. Another year at Hogwarts, another year filled with nightmares.

••••

Steam billowed out under the red engine and gracefully danced through the air. Students and their families had gathered all over the platform, saying their goodbyes, exchanging some last loving words - the air was filled with laughter, eyes shone with tears, bodies were pressed together in tight hugs. Harry wisely had chosen to stand at the side of all the hustle and bustle, slightly hidden by a large panel advertising the latest invention of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. He radiated a certain calmness - might have something to do with a certain dark wizard gone from the world, but that's just a wild guess - and only his emerald green eyes would show the hint of a shadow whenever a painful memory resurfaced. He lifted his hands to blow a warming breath at them - he should not have forgotten his gloves - when he heard a joyful shout. He turned and flashed a big grin at his two best friends approaching. After they had managed to elbow their way towards him he was swept into a bone crushing hug with Ron and Hermione. He felt safe.

••••

"Golden Trio reunited", the blonde stated in his usual drawl. His other fellow Slytherins simply rolled their eyes in response. None of them was interested in getting any more involved with the Saviour and his entourage than was strictly necessary. This should be a calm and quiet year - please, just this once! It was difficult to not notice how much their number had diminished, what with most of their house mates supporting the Dark Lord and now dwelling in cells of Azkaban or under cold earth. Blaise, Theo and Draco seemed to be the only ones to go back to Hogwarts for their 8th year. They were determined to focus on finishing their education. No mingling, no drama, no nothing.

••••

Oh, but don't worry: they will be in a shitload of trouble soon ;)