Disclaimer: I don't own anything JKR created, and whatnot.
Heart of a Hufflepuff
Chapter 1- Sowing
It's all I am. All anyone will ever think of me as. Some freak that would make a great sex toy. Should I even care? Maybe it would be fun to just play along. Tears slipped down the seventeen year old Hufflepuff's cheeks. I thought he was different, that someone was finally different.
"Are you okay?" a small voice asked. The girl, Nymphadora Tonks, looked up to see a round-faced boy looking at her. He looked like a first year, and Tonks was fairly sure that he wasn't a Hufflepuff.
"Not really, but I'll get there eventually, I guess," Tonks answered honestly, not sure why she said anything except the typical "I'm fine." To her surprise and slight annoyance, the boy walked slowly closer to her and sat down. She looked at him through the tangle of her drab brown hair. She hated that hair, her natural hair, but she probably should have at least kept it up a little better- she wasn't sure when she'd last bothered running a brush through it.
"My day wasn't great either," the boy said. "I melted a cauldron, and then I had to write Gran about it to get a replacement. That man, Professor Snape, absolutely terrifies me," he said softly.
"I wrote the book on melted cauldrons, my friend," Tonks chuckled. "I went through five years with the man and he thought he was going to get rid of me. I somehow scraped an "E" on my OWL though, and that meant he had to take me back. He actually changed his standards now and won't accept "E's" anymore, but he had to take the ones in my class," Tonks smiled, already feeling better, in her own way taunting her least favorite professor.
"Why would you want to keep doing potions?" the boy asked.
"To be an auror," Tonks said a bit wistfully. "It's one of the classes they recommend. "And Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, of course. I'm taking Care of Magical Creatures though too, because it seems like it could help. Especially if I can't get through Potions after all…"
The boy was silent for a moment. "My parents were both aurors," he said quietly.
The girls eyes lit up, "Really? What's your name? What do your parents do now? Are they retired?" Tonks asked before she saw the boy's expression. She thought she would have ripped out her own tongue if she could have her words back.
"I'm Neville Longbottom," he spoke slowly. The girl instantly knew what was coming. Trust Nymphadora Tonks to be the biggest idiot on the face of the earth. "And they are in St. Mungo's now," Neville finished.
Tonks had wrapped her arms around the startled boy even before he was through speaking. "I'm so sorry," she spoke near the smaller boy's ear.
"I'm not ashamed, or anything," the boy spoke up. "I'm very proud of my parents."
"You should be," Tonks sniffed. How could she have gotten so upset about a stupid seventh year Ravenclaw when this poor boy... Tonks actually felt worse for him than for Harry Potter. Not as many people even knew anything about Neville Longbottom, but he must have suffered so much. It might have been easier if his parents were just gone instead of being- shells, from what she had heard. Tonks almost couldn't look at the boy, not sure if she should speak. "I sort of knew them, your parents," she finally spoke.
"Really?" the innocent young boy turned in her arms to look at her. His bright eyes were so close to hers, excited but sad. Poor boy.
"Yeah. I mean, I don't remember much. I was just a little girl. But our families were in the same crowd. Defending people against You-Know-Who and everything. My parents are Andromeda and Ted Tonks. I'm just Tonks. I heard some things back then because people- you know- some adults speak in front of little children like they aren't even there," Tonks spoke to the very intent boy. "Everyone wanted your parents to go into hiding like the Potters did. I don't really remember the Potters at all. I think they left even before Harry was born. But your parents wouldn't go. I think they sent you away actually, do be with your grandmother, and they would visit you when they could. I never met you. But your parents wouldn't go when there was fighting. I wanted to be an auror already, and I looked up to your mum so much."
Tonks hesitated, thinking of her childhood, growing up during a wizarding war, "She was the one- she told us that my cousin had gone bad," Tonks said, wanting to tell him everything she knew, even though she had trouble talking. "That was the day after the war ended. They had been friends back to their school days, I think. She was really nice, and sad because of Sirius and the Potters, but she was also excited that the war was finally over. She was going to go get you soon, and she couldn't help but talk about it. She said she'd bring you back the next day so that I could meet you. But- then everything else happened. I'm so sorry. I don't know if they even had a chance to go see you again or not. I would guess they didn't, since you weren't hurt, were you?" she asked, holding him tighter. It was in her nature to be a hugger. Tonks hoped she wasn't scaring the poor boy with being so close to an older witch he had barely met, but he didn't seem to mind too much.
"No, I was still with Gran. And it's fine. Thank you very much for telling me. What- um- brings you out here anyway?" She couldn't blame him for changing the uncomfortable subject. They were both out well after curfew, but they were in one of the lesser known about passages, so Tonks felt pretty secure about them being from the prying eyes of people like Filch.
Tonks sighed, loosening her hold. "I was meeting a stupid boy. I dated him for three weeks for some reason, until tonight. Don't turn out like the rest of them, okay?" she asked Neville. She sighed again, "He- uh asked me to change, like change my body, and I wouldn't. I'm- a- metamorphamagus, which means I can change how I look. But I- I didn't really want to do what he wanted me to do."
"Well, you're better off without him, right?" Neville asked, the sweet innocence of youth. "There's no use staying with the wrong guy, because you might just miss the right one, right?"
"I'm not supposed to be getting wisdom from what- an eleven year old?" Tonks laughed. "You'll be quite a catch for some girl one day, you know? I bet you'll be really cute too." Neville blushed dark enough that Tonks could clearly see it in the corridor lit only by her wand. He was a cute kid with a baby-fat sort of round face. "What brings you out here anyway?" she asked, changing the subject for him.
"I was lost," Neville admitted. "I don't remember the password to the Gryffindor common room anyway, and the portrait won't just let me in. I've asked before," he complained lightly.
"The Gryffindor password right now is 'griffin's guide,' and you have to not ask how this Hufflepuff knows that," she laughed. "I can lead you back there though. We're not far," Tonks smiled. She made a face and turned her hair pink.
Neville gasped, "That's so cool."
"Yeah, well I can't get away with pink hair during the day, but I figured if we're breaking curfew already..." she smiled. "If I were a Slytherin, of course, I'd turn into someone else to get them in trouble for being out late. But I'll take my positive and negative points as they come. The honest Hufflepuff way, I suppose," she admitted.
"The hat thought about putting me in Hufflepuff," Neville said quietly as they walked. "It was quiet at first for so long that I thought it was just going to tell me that I couldn't go to Hogwarts at all," Neville confided. "But then it talked about Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. "I don't know what made it think I could be a Gryffindor. I can't even look at one of my teachers without shaking," he admitted. "No one else thinks I belong in Gryffindor already. I can tell."
"I'm sure there's a reason. But you can be an honorary Hufflepuff, a great honor, I assure you," she told the younger boy. "I remember you now though. You were under there so long that there were some people wondering if you were long enough to call a hat stall, so you must be almost half and half anyway," Tonks smiled. "Sometimes I think the hat even gets it wrong, but not for you, I don't think," she said, studying the young boy as they walked. "We'll just have to see," Tonks said. "I'll be sad that I won't be around Hogwarts to see you grow up, Neville Longbottom," Tonks said as they walked in the direction of the Gryffindor portrait hole. Tonks was already planning out how she would make it all the way back down to the Hufflepuff common room on the first floor without detection.
"Thanks for taking me back," Neville whispered as they made their way quickly down the final corridor. Tonks managed to only half trip over her feet once in the entire walk, and it was when they had almost made it back to Gryffindor territory, but she caught herself quickly on poor Neville's shoulder, glad that he didn't buckle too. Clumsier than a first year, I am, ugh.
The Fat Lady did not look at all pleased when the two arrived so late at the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. She looked particularly unimpressed when Tonks, a non-Gryffindor, had to remind Neville of the password again before he could scramble through the hole, waving at Tonks as he left. Somehow a terrible night hadn't ended too badly for her after all. At least she had helped someone else.
*****Tonks*****
"Wotcher, Neville," Tonks greeted. "What are you up to?" the older girl asked as she sat down beside the boy who had been alone under a tree.
"Identifying plants," Neville said, holding up the large book in his lap that seemed to be about plants of some sort. "Even common plants that grow wild on the grounds can have magical uses and properties. Mostly in potions," Neville went on.
"I thought you hated potions," Tonks asked curiously.
"Well," Neville hesitated. "I think it's more that Professor Snape makes me really nervous. And I'm sort of clumsy," he admitted.
"Well, you're talking to the queen of clumsiness here," Tonks dismissed.
"But I really like Herbology. And I might not hate potions so much except for Professor Snape..." Neville sounded almost wistful. "I'm no good at magic really, almost a squib I think," the younger boy said, looking down, but not really even looking at his book anymore.
"Nonsense, Neville, you're here, aren't you?" Tonks prodded. "Your problem was being sorted into Gryffindor. Snape hates Gryffindors the most. Honestly, Hufflepuff and even Ravenclaw get less attention from just about everyone, but I don't let it bother me. It hits the younger Hufflepuffs each year, but we grow out of it in time.
"You really think Hufflepuff is ignored?" the younger boy asked innocently.
Tonks gave him the look of a slightly time-worn Hufflepuff, "Gold and rubies, silver and emeralds, bronze and saphires, black and yellow... What do you think? What even are the stones in the Hufflepuff hour glass? Does anyone even pay attention? It sounds like first, second, third, and honorable mention. But Hufflepuffs aren't supposed to care. We are supposed to be as incredibly good and kind as Helga Hufflepuff herself. We try, you know, almost all of us anyway, but it's a lot to live up to when other students are more concerned with Quidditch Cups, House Cups, and OWL scores. Not to mention the NEWTs," Tonks said with a slight grimace.
Tonks continued, "And Ravenclaw too. There are tons of smarts people in there, each year. I've heard the competition is pretty brutal actually for the top spots. But this year I've heard more combined about a smart little first year Gryffindor girl. Do you think a smart girl in Ravenclaw would have that much attention?"
"Yeah, I guess I understand," Neville said, sounding sympathetic. "But I'm not much of a Gryffindor really. I'm terrified of every new thing. I was sent to the hospital wing after my first time on a broom, and I've never won a single point for my house," Neville admitted.
"Eh, you will. And the point system isn't that great anyway," Tonks dismissed easily. "And everyone knows deep down that Hufflepuff is the best, not to say anything negative about your house," Tonks said lightly. "I've had lots of Gryffindor friends. But don't worry about Snape, Neville. You'll do fine in your other courses, I'm sure. And magical strength isn't that important anyway," Tonk tried to comfort him.
"Yeah? Maybe I will work with plants someday. Maybe magical creatures too, though I can't even keep track of my own toad," Neville admitted. "I've talked to a third year, and Professor Kettleburn's lesson plans sound really interesting," Neville smiled.
"Ah, they're mostly pretty boring if you ask me. I hear from mum that he used to bring crazy things to class, and do even wilder things when he was even younger. But then he lost about half of his other leg and the hand, and slowed down, I guess."
"Well, I think I might like him better this way anyway," Neville admitted shyly.
Tonks laughed. "Just wait, Neville, you'll have your share of adventures. Every Hogwarts student does, especially Gryffindors."
"Well, I think I've had enough," Neville stated. "I've fallen off a broom, been locked out after curfew, and nearly been eaten by a giant three-headed dog! Hogwarts is definitely not the safest place on earth."
"What?" Tonks asked, confused, but not thinking her young friend was one to brag by making up stories.
"Oh," Neville said, looking more embarrassed. "I probably shouldn't talk about it, but you wouldn't tell anyone?" he asked but didn't wait for an answer, clearly just trusting her. "I was locked out again, maybe a week after I met you, and ran into some other Gryffindors in my year, and we were running from Filch, and found it by accident. That's what's in the third floor out of bounds area. And it's guarding something. That's all I know. It was giant and really scary, and I haven't let myself get locked out after curfew since then. I make sure to be inside very early, so I don't miss other people, in case I forgot the password," Neville explained quickly as Tonks's mind reeled. A three-headed giant dog in Hogwarts? Creatures that strange weren't even in the forest, in Tonks's exploring experience, not that she ever ventured too far in.
"You're serious, Neville?" Tonks asked, still only half believing it.
"Yeah. I wish I wasn't. I had thought that Filch and Mrs. Norris were scary, but I would have run to stand at Filch's feet. Or even Sn- no actually, as silly as it sounds, I might rather go back to the dog then be alone with Professor Snape," Neville shrugged sheepishly.
"Well damn," Tonks whistled. "I won't tell anyone of course, but I wish my friend Charlie was still around to tell. He is learning about Dragons in Romania now, and he would have loved to see the beast. It sounds like Hagrid's kind of thing too."
Neville shrugged. "I just know that I'm going to stay away," he said.
"Well, you're probably smarter than Charlie and Hagrid. Probably than me too for that matter, though I wouldn't mess with such magical beasts. Wizards are at least a little more predictable, I think, even criminals," Tonks voiced before changing the subject to lighter matters. How much trouble can a bunch of first year Gryffindors possibly get into?
*****Tonks*****
There was a crowd gathered around the points hourglasses when Tonks slipped down the stairs, rather late for breakfast. The cause was immediately evident. Someone from Gryffindor was probably going through hell right now. Gryffindor had been in the lead for house points last night, and now they were now even lower than Hufflepuff, (which was unfortunately saying a lot), despite their quidditch wins. It never seemed quite fair that sports were worth so many points at an educational establishment in the first place, but the House Cup was often determined by the Quidditch Cup, which was not a traditional Hufflepuff specialty.
Even Ravenclaws and other Hufflepuffs seemed annoyed at the change in points, because Slytherin was on top again, like they had been for every year of Tonks's time here. They were certainly helped by Snape venting anger on the other three houses and pretending that his Snakes were perfect little angels. Tonks personally thought that if Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were upset with Slytherins winning, then they should try doing it themselves, instead of moaning about Gryffindor losing their chance. It wasn't like there were only two houses in the school.
Tonks did scan the Gryffindor table and was mildly surprised that Neville wasn't even there. She quickly looked for other Gryffindors that she thought were first years, Harry Potter and that lot. Tonks wasn't sure that she's ever seen as depressed looking set of kids. Where was Neville?
Tonks didn't manage to find Neville until after dinner that night. She found him hunched over being a tree on the grounds, hardly surprising for the young, budding herbologist.
"What's going on, Neville?" Tonks asked, trying to sound sympathetic already, as she had an idea by now what he would say.
"I lost Gryffindor fifty points. Fifty. We lost a hundred and fifty points last night. And now everyone hates me. I mean, I was just incompetent before, maybe losing a few points from Professor Snape here and there. But fifty points?" Neville ranted. The poor boy looked close to tears.
"What happened, Neville?" Tonks asked.
Neville looked like he was about to explain before he turned to her. "You won't tell anyone?"
"Hufflepuff's honor," Tonks pledged seriously.
"I heard Draco Malfoy say that Ron and Hermione were taking a dragon from Hagrid to help it escape with Ron's brother, and I didn't want them to get into trouble, so I went looking for them. Hermione says it wasn't a joke and there really was a dragon, but it doesn't even matter anymore. We've lost the House Cup for sure now, and no one will even speak to me," Neville explained.
"Okay," Tonks said, soaking everything in. "Ron is the youngest Weasley boy, right? His brother Charlie does work with dragons in Romania now, so that part checks out at least. How does everyone even know that you lost points?"
Neville looked like the question had never even occurred to him. "I don't know. Harry and Hermione were there, maybe Ron I guess, because he'd know. I don't think Malfoy would have known about me, because he was already sent away before McGonagall found me. No one means to tell, but word gets around fast somehow. Of course, most of the older years don't know who I am, so I guess they don't all know who to hate, but most of them who know me will talk to me."
"They shouldn't have told," Tonks said simply, "Though you can't expect first years to realize everything. I'm sure they didn't mean to, but you never rat on a classmate; that's the Hufflepuff way anyway. Some of the younger years get a bit legalistic about not telling anyone anything sometimes, but their hearts mean right at least. Unless there's something too dangerous or stupid, of course," Tonks amended.
"Yeah, but I shouldn't have been out there in the first place," Neville spoke up.
"Nonsense. You meant well. If there really was a dragon, then those two could have gotten in huge trouble, much more than school rules. Dragons are serious business, especially with a castle full of underage wizards. If anyone except Hagrid and a couple of first years were involved, I wouldn't believe it at all. But maybe he's crazy enough. But I mean, his hut is made mostly out of wood! How could he expect that to go well?"
"I guess," Neville said noncommittally, clearly still upset. "It's even worse because Hermione won't even speak up in class anymore, and she would win us points all the time in class. And I heard Harry saying that he was thinking about quitting quidditch, which would just make us terrible," Neville added.
"Cheer up, Neville. Your classmates will move on and people will forget about it. I've lost more than my fair share of points for being caught out late," Tonks said. "I lost fifty in a night once. Charlie and I each did when we were caught coming into the castle after midnight his last year. We probably would have lost more if they could prove that we'd been in the forest and the lake. Luckily, I'm not too shabby at drying charms," Tonks laughed. "Usually it's not fifty just for being out late. I think they like to take more if they are pretty sure something worse was going on, like anything with dragons," Tonks tried to joke, though Neville wasn't ready for it.
"People forgave you?" Neville asked.
"Only one of my roommates that woke up when I came in actually knew it was me for sure. And she was annoyed, but she didn't tell anyone. They probably all guessed it was me honestly, but no one was sure. There were maybe a few lower years that were upset with the drop, but points really aren't that big of a deal. The staff should probably have some more objectively rewarded point levels, because getting last and getting second is all the same, and getting first doesn't even seem all that great. It might be nice to have had, say, a week off of homework if the house gets four hundred points, or five hundred for that matter. Just winning the cup is more of a Slytherin and Gryffindor incentive, I think."
"Maybe," Neville admitted.
"Well, you can always find me if you want a chat," Tonks offered. "And things will get better eventually," Tonks said, ruffling the top of Neville's hair. "Buck up, kid. It will be fine."
"Thanks, Tonks," Neville smiled at last.
"Now, let's go eat dinner," Tonks chided, remembering that she hadn't seen him in the Great Hall at all today. "We've missed the meal in the Great Hall, but I'll show you to the kitchen," she offered, as the two made off towards the castle and to the kitchen, conveniently located near the Hufflepuff common room.
*****Tonks*****
The owl from the ministry arrived just after her first class, when she was outside during her long break before lunch. Excitement and terror mixed as she watched the owl fly towards her, knowing that she was the only recipient around that it could be heading towards. She had sent her application to the auror training program less than a week ago, and she had never heard of an applicant receiving any word until NEWT scores were known.
They couldn't have decided already that she wasn't worth bothering with, could they? She couldn't think what else a ministry owl could possibly be talking about. She patted the owl's head after retrieving the letter, and the owl flew off without waiting for a reply. She felt bad that she hadn't anything to feed him, but he hadn't come at breakfast like the normal overnight owl post owls. Too many owls couldn't be flying about the country in daylight, or the muggles might find it odd. Tonks knew that her thoughts were only her way of stalling before opening the letter with its ministry insignia stamped on the front.
Bravery, she told herself as she stared at the letter in her lap. She wanted to be an auror after all.
Holding her breath, she tore open the heavy envelope and tried to read what was inside. "Pleased to tell you... ...special abilities particularly interesting... ...accelerated program... ...Contengent on receiving at least five "A" level NEWT scores..." Goodness, that was significantly lower than typical auror requirements, but Tonks wasn't in much of a questioning mood. Excitement and nerves. She probably wouldn't be what they expected, but she wouldn't let them kick her out. She knew exactly how valuable metamorphamagus skills could be, and she just wouldn't let her inability to walk around without falling over her own feet get in her way. If it helped, she could somehow run significantly better than she walked. Her feet actually had less of a chance of catching on each other.
Thoughts zipped through her head, mostly of wanting to tell someone but not knowing who to tell. Most of her friends were older and had already graduated. The girls in her year were nice, but they were more interested in "pretty hair" and didn't know why on earth Tonks would want to be an auror when she could be a happy housewife. Not to think badly of them, but they were just never like Tonks. The girls in the year above had been awesome, and their quidditch team was distinctly worse without two of them now.
Tonks smiled as she saw Neville walking towards the greenhouses. He couldn't have a class there for at least ten minutes, so he must just be heading over early. "Hey, Neville, come over here," she shouted at the first year.
Neville smiled and hurried over.
As soon as she didn't have to shout, she held up her letter and declared, "I got in. To auror training already. I mean, it's probably just because I'm a metamorphamagus, but I still got in, right? They seem pretty eager to train me and everything. It was signed by the Director, Rufus Scrimgeor himself," she said, almost too excited to contain herself.
"That's great," Neville said, giving his friend a hug. Neville looked more surprised than Tonks did at his own action. My hugging habit is rubbing off on him, she thought, smiling to herself. "And it's not just because of your metamorphamagus abilities. You've worked hard, and you deserve it," Neville reassured her adorably.
"Thanks Neville, now run onto class or you won't beat the little brunette over there," Tonks gestured to a girl that she thought was the smart little Gryffindor first year walking towards the greenhouses. Two boys were talking to her as they walked more slowly, several paces behind. One was Harry Potter, Tonks noted, and the other had to be Ron Weasley.
"It's okay. I'll never beat Hermione Granger at anything, even just at arriving to class early, but that's okay. She's pretty nice to me; she helps me in potions class sometimes," Neville smiled.
Neville turned to her again, not yet running off for his class, "You'll be a great auror. You're one of the bravest people I know. I'd say you were an honorary Gryffindor if I thought I was enough of a Gryffindor myself to give it to anyone else," Neville said before hurrying in the other direction.
"Just you wait, Neville," Tonks half-yelled after him, "You'll be braver than them all. Just wait and see."
The boy waved back to her, looking embarrassed but happy nonetheless. Neville would have his own moments to shine, Tonks was sure.
*****Tonks*****
Tonks sat in the Great Hall at her very last Hogwarts Feast. Impending pressure of real life mixed with the faint disappointment from the green hangings that decorated the hall yet again, just as they had at the end of each of her years at the castle. The year had been fairly quiet as a whole, except for the whole troll thing and whatever Harry Potter and his friends got themselves into a few days before. Rumors had spread around that couldn't possibly be true. Tonks had tried to corner Neville multiple times with little success to see if he knew the story any better. He seemed embarrassed and ran off quickly whenever she tried.
Dumbledore was saying something that Tonks barely paid attention to until he gave a large number of points to Gryffindor in his speech. Tonks's head shot up. She thought that there would be a good story there at least. The points were given to Charlie's little brother, the smart Gryffindor girl whose name she still couldn't remember, and Harry Potter. Tonks certainly hadn't been keeping track of the exact point count, but it didn't take a genius to realize that points were useless at this point in the year unless Gryffindor was going to win the cup. As strange as Dumbledore was, Tonks didn't think that he would raise his precious Gryffindor's hopes so high needlessly.
Still, apparently someone was doing the math, because there were whispers that Gryffindor and Slytherin were tied. Tonks wondered for a moment if a tie for the cup was possible, before Dumbledore continued speaking and called a name that made Tonks smile more than anything that night, "Neville Longbottom." Neville had just been given ten points for standing up against his friends, which certainly sounded interesting.
Tonks enjoyed the feast, celebrating with the rest of the school minus Slytherin, though she did feel a bit bad for them, the younger ones at least who hadn't already won for the past six or seven years. She mostly felt proud of Neville and was determined to tell him so. "So, how did you stand up to your friends?" Tonks asked, catching Neville before he left the Great Hall. "I can't believe I didn't get the full story from you before now," Tonks teased lightly.
Neville blushed adorably, "Well, I guess I didn't really want to talk about it. It wasn't anything really," he said modestly. "I told them that they couldn't leave because it was a bad idea and I wouldn't let them lose any more points for Gryffindor. Herm- uh they cast a full body bind curse on me and left me there though. I couldn't move 'till a sixth year found me the next morning," Neville finished speaking in a mumbled voice.
"Well, it was brave of you to do something like that, and I'm proud of you," Tonks said, smiling leaning down to give him a kiss on the cheek. Neville blushed further and didn't have any response that recognizable as words, though there was a bit of stammering. Tonks giggled, a very un-Tonks sound. "We have to keep in touch with letters, alright? Hufflepuffs don't let friends go, you hear me?" Tonks smiled, ruffling the younger boy's hair.
"Yeah, sounds great, Tonks," Neville replied, smiling before running off to follow the other Gryffindors, probably ready to celebrate their House Cup and pack to go home. Tonks was ready to go to her own home for a while before looking for her own flat, if she could afford such a thing on an auror trainee salary, if the Ministry held up with their bargain to take her.
Tonks's mind drifted back to Neville as she walked back to her dormitory for she guessed the last time. The boy could have been the best type of Hufflepuff, the sort the house would have been proud to claim. Badgers could be among the fiercest of beasts if provoked correctly. She wasn't as sure about the actual Hufflepuff first years as she was about Neville. The Hufflepuff lot in that year seemed so young and immature compared to Neville, but maybe they would grow up fine in their own time. Tonks hoped that young Neville wouldn't get lost with all his fellow lion cubs before he learned his own strength. Tonks promptly reminded herself to stop philosophizing and enjoy her last hours at Hogwarts. Maybe she would stop by the kitchens as well. She likely had a lot of self-cooked meals ahead of her, which would doubtless have her begging for the house elves within the week.
A/N: So I love strange pairings, and this story just came to me, though it's taken some time to iron out. This story will eventually be a romance, but not until he's old enough that it isn't creepy, I promise. This will be a relatively short story, by the way, but I have some other stories if you're looking for things to read. If I can say one thing about this story, it's that I love the title way more than those of the other stories I have written.
And just for reference, I know it is usually assumed that Tonks graduated the year before the books started, but I maintain that cannon itself is ambiguous about timelines of many characters, and that it can be interpreted that Tonks's last year at Hogwarts was our first with the books, so I enjoy reading and writing her in either year to suit my needs better. Also, this is just fanfiction… Hope you enjoy!