a/n: oh my god i know there are already a few steven universe hogwarts aus running around but i had to contribute something, i love harry potter so much and i love the wizarding world setting far more than the actual plot itself so here i am to exploit it and shove in all my favourite characters

naturally it is rosepearl, though there is some rosenet stuff in there too because you know how much i love that pairing too

Pearl knew it was a long shot right from the start, but when she first walked into the Great Hall to be sorted, her eyes fell on the girl with the pink hair and her face heated up. It was her own unspoken secret that for as long as she could remember she had always liked girls far more than boys. It had been kept far more guarded than the original discovery of her magic, which she had confided in her mother at the age of seven when she came home with an enchanted mop that had come to life and started to chase her.

She knew girls were supposed to like boys, boys were supposed to like girls, and so on so forth, but that still didn't explain the uneasy attraction she felt squirming in the bottom of her belly as she spared longing glances towards the fourth year with the candy pink hair, talking to a black girl clad in a red and gold tie.

Pearl wondered how those two managed to get away with looking so pretty while the others around them looked marginally ordinary in the simple grey uniform and dark cloak. Pearl hid behind her first year hat, wondering when the comments about her nose would start. She often wondered why the world had cursed her with such a long, pointed nose, and part of her hoped that in the seven years she would be attending Hogwarts she would stumble across a cure for such an annoying trait.

One by one first years were being called up to the Sorting Hat, and Pearl was beginning to panic at the thought of sitting in front of the entire school while her fate was decided by a ratty old hat that held inside it a harsh, rusting voice. What if she tripped on the way up? What if she was pulling a silly face while praying to be put in the house that adorned the crimson and gold ties, just so she could talk to that mystery pink-haired fourth year?

Finally, her name was called, and she hurried forwards, thankful she hadn't tripped over her neatly laced shoes as she approached the seat. The sorting hat was lowered onto her head, and the teacher holding it offered her an encouraging smile – oh dear, did she really look that terrified? - as she released it. Instantly, the voice filled her head.

"So, you're a nervous one."

Well, there are all these people here...

"Still, it isn't like I'm holding a wand to your head. All right, lets see... you're a very intelligent girl, above average IQ..."

Really? Pearl blushed. But that's only in muggle-related subjects. I suspect my current knowledge won't be much use here.

"Nonsense. Knowledge is fluid, not concrete – adapt it to a magically-inclined way of thinking, and it will flow as it did before. Some of the brightest alumnus of this school have been muggleborn. So clearly you are also humble and lack self-confidence – perhaps not a Slytherin, then..."

Pearl's gaze fell on the pink-haired girl, who was watching in earnest, though after a few moments turned to talk to her friend.

What about the red house? The people with the red and gold ties, what do I need to be to be with them?

"Red and gold ties? Why, has nobody mentioned the four houses to you? Have you not read up on them?"

Pearl's cheeks flamed.

Er, I read up on the subjects extensively, but I might have missed the chapter on the houses. I haven't spoken to anybody yet, so I don't know the names of the houses.

"Griffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. The house you are referring to is Griffindor, house of the brave and the courageous. Without confidence, it would be hard to place you there."

But there are different ways of being confident! Pearl internally insisted, growing desperate. I can be strong and courageous if I try. I can show her-

She halted.

"Her, eh? You mean the one with the pink hair who you keep staring at?"

Oh geez, it really was obvious.

"You think you're brave enough to tell her how you feel? The outside world is cruel. Students spread rumours. The two of you have never even talked."

There's no point. The outside world is cruel anyway. Kids spread rumours every day. I was bullied for my magic back home, I'm used to people talking about me. It'll be okay.

She glanced over at the girl again, inhaling sharply as their eyes met. The girl was watching her meaningfully, her dark eyes pouring with gleeful anticipation.

Pearl had to be brave.

I like girls, she confided to the hat, and being able to say it to somebody else, even if the words weren't spoken aloud, filled her with a warm, intoxicating courage. I like girls and I'm going to talk to her, even if I get laughed at. That is my courage.

The hat didn't say a word for a few moments.

"Bravery is admitting when you are afraid, and accepting things you are afraid of."

She had her fists clenched, praying, praying.

"Griffindor!"

Relief washed through her and she stood up all too quickly, head rushing slightly. The teacher beside her lifted the hat from her head, nodding with a smile, and Pearl's heart hammered in her chest as she stepped down and stumbled towards the Griffindor table.

She took a seat next to another elated first year and caught the eye of the pink-haired beauty, who now grinned at her.

"Welcome to Griffindor," she said, reaching over to shake Pearl's hand, and Pearl took it, enamoured.

"Thank you," she managed with a swallow.

The headmaster, with his long silver beard and smiling eyes, gave his speech, but Pearl found herself unable to focus on much of what he was saying.

The feast passed by in a daze, Pearl only nibbling at a small roll lathered with warm butter, before they were being ushered up to the dormitories. The girl with the pink curls said something flattering along with what sounded like some sort of code word before the portrait swung aside, and the first years were pushed through, some shoved out of the way by antsy second years looking to call dibs on the comfiest chairs.

"All right, first years, listen up," the girl commanded, and they all fell silent. She towered over the rest of them, only rivalled in height by her friend from dinner. "I'm Rose, and this is Garnet. The older years have been kept behind by the professors for some sort of briefing, so we were asked by the prefects to give your welcome speech. Welcome to Griffindor. People say we're the top house, the best of the best, but that's frankly a load of crap."

Quiet murmurings spread through the first years while the second, third and fourth years all groaned at Rose's unconventional speech.

"The houses were made to be equals to one another. Friendly competition is allowed, but if I hear about any of you tripping up Slytherins in the corridors or telling Hufflepuffs they don't belong here, you'll be answering to me. And, you know, the prefects. I want us all to be friends. You all look adorable in your squeaky clean uniforms and all, so I don't want to be remembered as the intimidating one who scares the pants off of you, but I won't hesitate to intervene if you're being arses to other houses. That clear?"

They all felt inclined to nod, and her face melted into a warm smile.

"Great! We'll all get along fine, then."

…

It was late, but Pearl still couldn't sleep. She had been tossing and turning for the past few hours (first years had ridiculously early curfews) and it didn't help that she was receiving the brunt of the cold draft since her bed was closest to the window. Grateful her mother had insisted on her packing plenty of thick slipper socks, she slipped out of bed, shivering a little at the cold, and made her way down to the common room. She sat down in the chair nearest the slow-burning fire, enjoying the silence for a few moments, before muffled giggles interrupted her.

Her gaze darted around wildly, finally landing on a long tapestry near the door, adorned with the pattern of a griffin. There were two wiggling, giggling shapes behind it. Pearl froze.

"We should go back to bed already, it's cold down here..."

"Mmph... but I've been waiting for this all summer, geez."

She knew it was wrong to be listening in, but from the voices... they both sounded female. Oh dear, oh god. Her face heated up as the noises continued, smacking kisses in between more hushed laughter, the odd whimper in between. Pearl shivered, her body feeling oddly warm, especially further down south, and she grabbed fistfuls of her pyjamas to try and distract herself.

Maybe she should go. It was a bad idea to-

The tapestry lifted suddenly, and she jumped up, ready to run.

"Hold on-" Rose emerged from behind the tapestry, and Pearl stopped, a deer in headlights, as the two made eye contact.

"Rose, what's the-" Garnet peeked out from behind Pearl, and stopped. "...matter..."

She trailed off, gauging the situation for herself. A timid first year had undoubtedly witnessed their little late night exchange, and if they didn't handle this carefully their secret could be blown wide open.

"You there. What's your name?"

Pearl swallowed.

"P-Pearl," she said quietly. "Um, listen, I won't tell anyone-"

"Good. It's nobody's business but ours."

Garnet's tone was firm, and Pearl shrank back instinctively. Rose glanced between the two of them.

"Garnet, let me handle this, okay?"

"Sure," muttered Garnet darkly. "I'm going to bed."

Once she was out of earshot, Rose turned to Pearl, steering her to sit down.

"She's mad at me," Rose said with a sigh. "She didn't want to meet in the common room, but I was being needy. And now she thinks it's all over."

"I-I-I won't say anything," Pearl stuttered, fumbling with her hands nervously. "I swear I'll keep quiet. I just came down because I couldn't sleep."

"I know you won't," Rose said, offering her a warm smile. "You look very trustworthy. Can I trust you to keep this secret for me?"

"Of course," Pearl said all too quickly. She hugged herself, not realising she had blurted out, "Y-You like girls?" until Rose had let out a small laugh.

"I do. I like boys too. Everyone has something different to offer."

"I do too," whispered Pearl. Her face was a rich crimson, blood pounding in her ears, heart racing. "I like girls too."

"You do?" Rose echoed, before her face split into a smile. "Well then, good for you. I wish you the best of luck finding your own happiness."

She stood up and offered Pearl her hand.

"What's your name again, hon?"

Pearl took it, noting Rose's hand was the tiniest bit damp.

"Pearl."

"It's nice to meet you, Pearl," Rose said softly. "Welcome to Griffindor house."