Oh my goodness, so many encouraging reviews! Stop it, you're making me blush... Okay, continue. And yes, it's a short chapter, but I didn't want to overload on the Brook angst.
It still tripped him up sometimes, Brook thought quietly. To realize that he was human again that is. He'd been human for eleven years now and while that may seem long to some, it is appallingly short in comparison to almost a century of semi-death.
He flexed his fleshy human hands in wonder, then picked up his bow and violin as he began to play. The violin was a gift from two Christmases ago when aunt Amelia had caught on to his passion for music. Along with the instrument had come lessons as well, which was both good and bad. Good, because he now had an alibi for where he had learned all his songs. Bad, because that meant he had to downplay his ability to the level of a beginner and not the master that he was.
The first few notes of music sang sweetly in the morning air and he closed his eyes (eyelids! He had eyelids!) as he hummed along. It wasn't the usual way he played Black Handkerchief, loud and obnoxious and chipper, but the first (and only) time he'd tried to play as such, he'd brought the whole house down on him for waking them all at the ungodly hour of 4 am.
The Hufflepuff common room was warm and bright, for all that it was set in the dungeons. The proximity to the kitchens ensured that it always smelt wonderful too. His stomach rumbled loudly, almost drowning out his quiet sonnet.
Almost a month now had passed since he'd come to Hogwarts. A month of lessons and wonder and excitement. The joyful warmth he felt as he grasped his wand is most soothing in times of loneliness.
The last note trailed off beautifully, perfectly. His skills had diminished ever so slightly, unused to as he was with new muscles (muscles at all really) and stiff fingers that must be retrained. It was with satisfaction as he finishes the song with almost no mistakes.
Charms might be his favourite class of all, Brook thought as he began to play his signature song. The jaunty tune of Binks' Sake traveled through the Hufflepuff dorms, bringing the students pleasant dreams and pleasant awakenings. Yes, charms was probably the class he enjoyed most, full of colour and delight. Not that he disliked his other classes– potions was interesting and transfiguration was wonderous and even defense had a certain dangerous thrill. Charms however, was like he had always imagined magic to be. Flashy and loud and bright. Just the sort of thing his crewmates would enjoy. Luffy would laugh and Chopper would squeal and Usopp would spin a tale as Nami appraised and Sanji smiled and Franky struck a pose while Zoro feigned sleep and Robin would giggle quietly.
His hand slipped and he fudges a note before carrying on. And carry on he would.
Soon enough, his morning routine finished and his fellow badgers began to rise. Returning to his room, Brook tucked his violin away carefully before beginning to dress. As always, he was one of the earliest ones to enter the Great Hall, beaten only by the most studious Ravenclaws and a few professors. It is a habit he has acquired over the days of coming to the hall early in hopes to maybe spot a crewmate, just in case he'd been wrong (he hadn't).
The Hall filled quickly with students of all ages and houses, and food appears on the table. Brook piled as much food as possible on his plate, and ate till his stomach could have burst (Yet he had no stomach! Skull J- ah, wait...) but bemoaned the fact that Sanji could have made it better.
An owl swooped down as he was finishing his meal to deliver a note from Susan. The two wrote each other often, as Susan missed him terribly, fraught though she was with envy that he was learning magic. In exchange he would write her tales in his letters to keep her amused. Brook had never been much of one for stories, more suited to lyrics and composing, but it was an easy feat to repeat the adventures of the Strawhat crew, and her eagerness to hear more was always gratifying.
Giving the owl a bit of bacon, Brook packed away the letter to reply to later, picking up his bag as the students filled out of the Hall, classes soon to begin.
Though the halls were packed, there was a sudden distinct emptiness around him, and his hand clutched tightly around his wand, drinking in the soothing emotion.
He'd spent eleven years without his nakama now and while that may seem short to some, it is appallingly long when it comes to a yearning heart.
"Time is The King of all men."
No, to be absolutely serious though, I'm very glad and super flattered that so many of you guys think this is a fic worth reading, even a "diamond in the dust". And I'm relieved that you all like my sad Brook. I was worried the lack of general happiness would make him seem out of character, but you guys seemed to like it, so it's a-ok!
So, the reason this chapter took so long to come out is because a: I'm a lazy bastard, and b: I wasn't sure if I should write this chapter, or just skip along to the next year. But, because of 'Sebazu's review (as well as a few others) I decided to write this one. So, was it a good idea?