'You have got everything, Lucia, haven't you?' Andromeda fussed over her, straightening the collar of her cloak. Lucia let her; after all, Teddy didn't tolerate her babying him anymore.

'I checked three times, Andromeda', she managed a smile, though her foster mother had now produced a comb from her handbag and was attacking her head.

'Oh, Luce', she sighed deeply, as if her tangled curls were a mortal injury, 'Everyone's going to see you at the Sorting...'

'She looks fine. Come on, Luce, Victoire's waiting', Teddy grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the train. Lucia barely had time to shout goodbye to Andromeda and grab hold of her trunk before he'd dragged her onto the train. They fought their way through the throng of students, ignoring a lone Prefect trying to keep order, and tumbled into a compartment.

'All right, Victoire?' Teddy said nervously, running a hand through his hair- which was electric blue this morning. The stunning blonde girl sitting in the compartment beamed at him, showing perfect white teeth.

'Teddy!' she said throatily, standing up to kiss him on both cheeks. His face was a deep, painful red when she pulled away, 'And 'oo eez your friend?'

'That's Lucia', he waved a hand carelessly in Lucia's direction, who had been staring, entranced, at Victoire's hair- blonde, smooth and shiny, it was far superior to her own.

'Enchante', Victoire kissed her cheeks too, which she hadn't been expecting, 'Teddy 'as told me much about you'.

Lucia didn't know how to reply, so she quickly sat down- and immediately leapt back up with a cry of pain. She'd sat on something black and furry, which had promptly hissed and swiped at her arm. The creature leapt into Victoire's arms, who- far from scolding it for hurting Lucia- clutched it tightly to her chest as if it was the one who had been attacked.

'Minou!' she kissed its furry head, and Lucia realised it was only a grumpy-looking black cat, 'Lucille didn't mean to sit on you, eet was an accident-'

Lucia didn't bother to correct her; she was too busy fumbling for a tissue to stem the blood flowing from the deep cut on her arm. Never mind her hair, what would Andromeda say if she stood up at the Sorting with blood all down her robes?

The other two largely ignored her, Victoire flashing her a radiant smile now and again over the hissing beast in her arms. Teddy hung on her every word, almost forgetting to change out of his Muggle clothing as the train slowed. They spilled out onto the dark platform, jostling each other for space.

'Firs' years over here! Firs' years!'

Several people sported scratches from Minou by the time they had formed a haphazard queue behind Hagrid. Lucia got into a boat with Teddy. They were soon joined by a curly haired boy and, to Lucia's disappointment, Victoire and Minou. Still, their presence didn't dampen her excitement at her first sight of the castle looming over the hills. All around her, students called out, pointed, laughing in their excitement- but they fell silent when they reached the door, so Hagrid's knock boomed out over the lake even more loudly than usual. They were led into a room by a jolly, dark-haired man with a pointed beard. He introduced himself as Professor Aguile, the Transfiguration teacher.

'Now, now, don't look so frightened!' he said jovially, 'I don't bite! Although he might!'

He pointed his wand and the suit of armour in the corner bent towards them, snapping massive jaws as its head transformed into that of a bear. The trick was clearly meant to put them at ease, but most people screamed. Two identical, pale boys with rather protuberant eyes stepped forward to touch it, but Professor Aguile hastily changed the bear back again. Then, before Lucia knew it, they were filing into the hall with hundreds of eyes upon them. A lot of people muttered; she saw a few people pointing at her and began to wish she'd let Andromeda comb her hair...

Lucia wondered, as the line in front of her became shorter and shorter, which house she'd really like to be in. The curly haired boy who'd shared her boat, Finnigan, Aidan, became a Gryffindor. Everyone seemed to expect a lot of Gryffindors, though she didn't think Ravenclaw sounded too bad. She knew people still moaned about Hufflepuff, but at least then she'd be in the same house as Teddy...

And Slytherin. Since Voldemort had been defeated, it wasn't judged so harshly- but it was still, without doubt, the worst of the four.

Yes, she thought happily as the protuberant eyed twins, Scamander and Scamander, were made Ravenclaws, I'd like to be a Ravenclaw.

Araminta Tofty became a Hufflepuff, then it was Lucia's turn. She walked towards the front, suddenly nervous.

Don't worry, she told herself, recalling a story she'd heard from Teddy, If the Hat tries to put you in another house, you can tell it you want to be in Ravenclaw-

But she didn't have time to ask the Hat anything. As soon as it touched her messy curls, it screamed "Slytherin!"

Lucia couldn't move. How could she be in Slytherin? Surely she was clever enough to be a Ravenclaw, or brave enough to be a Gryffindor? Though Professor Aguile was holding the Hat out to Towe, Amanda, who was a confused-looking girl near the front, Lucia remained frozen on the stool.

'Miss Tonks,' Professor Aguile tapped her shoulder and she half-fell off the stool, stumbling towards the Slytherin table. Unable to look at anyone, cheeks burning, she sat down- and saw, out of the corner of her eye, a flash of blue. Teddy was staring at her, clearly trying to look sympathetic, but his shock was clear in his eyes. Lucia turned away, staring down at the table, not hearing a word of Professor McGonagall's welcoming speech.

I know Victoire isn't likely to be in the same year as Teddy, but I suppose she could be in the year below...

Anyway. Artistic license and whatnot. Lucia's surname is "Tonks" because Andromeda adopted her, not because she's any relation. Please review and tell me what you think!