Susana Amelia Bones was a nice girl. There was no other way to put it. When asked to describe the girl, the only thing any of her professors could say about her was that she was nice. Susan was a Hufflepuff, and as as such, she was expected to be nice. The only professor that could truly say anything about Susan, was Professor Sprout, the Hufflepuff head of house.
Pomona Sprout would probably describe Susan's exemplary grades (in most of her classes) or her ability to make friends in any house. Perhaps, Professor Sprout would exclaim her joy in Susan's unfailing ability to see the beauty in the most disturbing botanical specimens or discuss her abysmal potions grades, but how proud she was that Susan pulled it together to make it past the potions O.W.L.S.
But one thing is certain; when asked about Susana Amelia Bones, each of the Hogwarts Professors would explain, in excruciating detail, exactly how each of Susan's relatives were murdered. In fact, the story of Susana Amelia Bones' family was almost as well known in the Wizarding World as the Potters. Wherever any of the remaining Bones went, whispers followed, even in Susan's final year at Hogwarts.
Hogwarts was under siege by the very person who destroyed her family. Susan knew that, and while Hogwarts had always been one option of education for young witches and wizards, this year it was mandatory. So Susan bid her recluse father goodbye with a heavy heart, wishing to Merlin, Morgana and all of the other great witches and wizard she could think of, that she, her friends and family would survive the coming year.
The change was overwhelming. Hogwarts looked as if the life had been leeched from its walls. As the returning students filed into the great hall, they noted the dim candles that looked as if immense effort went into making them float and the somber expressions worn by their professors. Large rolling storm clouds replaced the typically clear night sky. It seemed like a very fitting... if not depressing change.
Susan sat at her normal spot next to her best friend, Hannah Abbot and quietly stared ahead at the school's new headmaster. While Severus Snape rarely showed any emotion other than displeasure, Susan was mildly surprised that his fixed expression had not changed.
"You would think that being in power he might look a bit more lively." She muttered under her breath.
Snape's eyes, which had been previously scanning the new students, flicked upwards to meet Susan's gaze. She quickly looked away, slightly embarrassed that she had been caught. However, after a moment, she looked back in order to study him only to find him still glaring intently at her.
Dinner was a somber affair; but not just in the attitude of the students, but the food seemed to be depressed as well. The meals at Hogwarts were typically exemplary. However, tonight everything seemed to be inedible. Instead of sumptuous roast with garlic potatoes and luscious puddings, everything was boiled, blanched or stewed. The vegetables were positively bleached of all color and flavor and the only meat on the table was boiled, stringy chicken that cried for salt. Obviously, something had happened to upset the house elves.
Susan thought back to the feast that was held after Dumbledore had been killed. Although the atmosphere of Hogwarts had been bleak, the food was good. So good, it was able to lift the spirits, if only a little.
Something was definitely wrong.
"Do you notice anything different about the food?" Susan asked Hannah while absent mindlessly pushing the gruel across her plate.
"Yeah... it tastes almost as bad as Snape being headmaster feels." Hannah joked, her voice carrying across the soft clinking of silverware.
Hannah was always funny. The day of Dumbledore's funeral, she ran into the Hufflepuff common room wearing every item of clothing backwards; including, by some unknown spell, her shoes. By the end of her demonstration, all of the Hufflepuffs were in tears from laughing so hard. Hannah made things feel like they would get better.
"How do you do that?" Susan asked.
"Do what?"
"Joke? Like things are normal." Susan whispered.
"Because things seem a little brighter when people laugh." Hannah answered seriously. "Things have to get better. They just have to. Three of my neighbors went missing over the break; muggle borns."
"My dad says that the muggle born registries are just going to get worse. Soon they will be put on trial." Susan said under her breath, aware that Snape was still glaring at her.
"What can we do? We can't let our friends suffer. We need to take action." Hannah murmured, knowing that whatever she said wasn't safe.
"We will talk tonight." Susan reassured her.
Not long after, the students began to file out of the Great Hall, knowing that their unsatisfactory meal would be a distant memory as soon as their heads hit their pillows.