You were sitting at the Slytherin table, picking at a treacle tart, surrounded by the familiar chaos of your childhood. Or what used to be your chaos.

To your left, Draco Malfoy was explaining the intricacies of a new Nimbus model to a petite, blonde Ravenclaw, Astoria Greengrass, who listened with rapt attention, her hand resting lightly on his forearm.

Across from you, Mattheo Riddle had his arm slung around the shoulders of a Hufflepuff girl with bright auburn curls, Elara Vance. He was telling a story that made her laugh, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned in to murmur something that made her blush.

Further down, Blaise Zabini was engaged in quiet conversation with a sophisticated-looking brunette from Beauxbatons, Celeste Dubois, who was visiting for an exchange program. He offered her a grape from his own plate with a slow, deliberate smile.

Theodore Nott and Lorenzo Berkshire weren't at the table. They'd excused themselves earlier, Theo mentioning something about showing the Astronomy Tower to a certain Gryffindor, Cassandra Flint, while Lorenzo had simply nodded and followed, his gaze lingering on a pretty brunette from Durmstrang, Anya Petrova, who walked beside him.

You took a slow sip of pumpkin juice. The noise of the hall felt like it was happening behind glass.