Marinette and Adrien sat across from each other, talking up a storm, eager to share their expectations, share what they were excited for. Tikki and Plagg sat between them, happily cuddled up and purring.

"I hear they have one of the biggest libraries in all of Europe," Adrien voiced. "And that the library is vibrant and full of life, and you can listen to music."

"Maman told me the school was covered in gardens everywhere," Marinette uttered in wonder, wishful and excited. It was a warm feeling from her, the enlightening feelings Adrien ever felt. He felt light and energized.

"You like gardening? " he asked.

"It's one of favorite hobbies," Marinette gushed.

"What House you hoping for?" he asked excitedly.

She blinked, then tilts her head, considering his question. "I think a Clover or a Spade," she said.

"I think I'm going to be a Spade," Adrien said.

She hummed. "Spade is a good House."

"Maybe I'll see you in it?" Adrien voiced.

"That'd be awesome, it'd be nice knowing someone in my own House when we get there."

Adrien agreed. Before he could suggest them arriving together, a crow flew past, cawing, "Almost there! Almost there!"

"Oh shoot," Adrien muttered, sparing a glance down the hall. He needed to get his stuff.

"Good luck," Marinette bid, glancing down at Plagg.

Plagg opened one eye, shooting Adrien a look, daring him.

Adrien dared.

Ignoring the kitten's yowl Adrien scooped Plagg up and hurried out. He stopped at the door, promising, "See you later?"

"See ya!"

Adrien didn't move though, his gaze lingering on her, breathing in deep like he was trying to remember her scent. It was pointless since they were going to the same school but he couldn't help himself.

Who knows when they were going to see each other again?

He jumped when the crow darted past, screeching, "Back to your seat!"

With a sneeze, he hurried away, cheeks pink as he heard cute giggles following him.

He met Chloe's skeptical as he slipped into their shared room, struggling a little to get Plagg back in his carrier.

"You were gone a while," the blonde noted.

"Plagg went far," Adrien answered easily, standing up and looking to the two girls with a grin. They were practically here.


The Palace of Beauxbatons was grand and huge. Adrien could see it from where he stepped off the train. Beauxbatons stood across a shimmering lake that proudly mirrored the school, with it's designed similarly to Chateau de Chambord. Eyeing it, Adrien could see movement dancing around the large towers and skimming along the roofs.

With an excited tug, Sabrina gushed beside him, "I bet those are winged horses!"

Most likely, Beauxbatons was famous for their winged horses. It was only natural to see them flying around.

"To the cygnie boats! All students to the cygnie boats!"

Blinking, Adrien turned to the bank of the lake, spotting the swan like boats waiting for them. The enchanted boats turned their head, peeking their bright eyes towards the students, eyeing the new and old.

"Let's go!" Chloe gushed, grabbing Adrien's wrist and dragging him down towards the boats, Sabrina clamoring to follow. The cygnie boat they got into squawked as it was jostled, giving the children a one eyed glare. Chloe gave the ivory neck a pat, silently ordering the boat to carry them over.

With an annoyed clack of it's wooden beak, the boat did as she bid, and moved forward, one of the first to start crossing the lake. Over the silver water, Adrien leaned over, eyes wide with excitement as he took in the lake. Below the surface he can see giant fish swimming along, with long, colorful fins streaming behind them. One tilted it's head up, blowing bubbles that sizzled on the surface.

"Siamese Alpha," Sabrina breathed. "The gentle giant breed of the Siamese fighting fish."

"Wow," Adrien breathed, unable to help himself, reaching out to touch one fin that broke the surface as one of the giants slid under their boat, flopping over with no water to support it. The fin was slick and soft under his hand, and easily slid past his fingers. He went to the other side, watching this pale giant with red fins disappear into the deep.

Flicking his hand to shake off the water, Adrien looked out among the boats, searching for Marinette among the boats.

He didn't see her among the faces, but he did spot the half giant, sitting in a boat all by himself, staring up at the school in wonder. Adrien quickly turned away from him, looking to Beauxbatons instead.

Being closer now, he could almost see the winged horses circling around the palace, racing each other.

So caught up in watching the large beasts moving, he gave a start when the boat rattled, banking itself.

The cygnie boat gave a cry, alerting the new students that they arrived.

Clamoring out, they turned to a redheaded woman that stood on top of a stairwell. With a wand pressed to her neck, she called, "All new year arrivals, right this way please!"

Jumping in excitement, Chloe grabbed Adrien's wrist and pulled him up along the steps, towards where the woman was directing the students. Looming abode the stairwell, stationed like guards were two large statues of winged horses, poised and ready to charge. Looking up at them, Adrien gasped as one turned it's head to peer down at the new arrivals, rumbling out.

"So cool," he whispered, nearly tripping on a step as Chloe continued to drag him up.

Coming into the castle walls, he found that the interior was just as Marinette said.

Gardens upon gardens lay out before them, vibrant with life and flowers. Gleaming, dark marble paths paved roads between the gardens, leading to entrances, domes, ponds, fountains, benches, and tables to sit at. Among the gardens, nymphs wondered about, singing their songs as they tended to respective plants, some turning to greet students, new and old, some simply ignoring them as they focused on their task, singing with songbirds, moving and dancing with them.

"All new arrivals right this way!" a tall thin man called, his wand also pressed to his throat and waving to a large dome shaped gazebo, held up by four columns, and four statues.

Statues of the four founders of Beauxbatons.

Letting Chloe lead them on, Adrien took them in, noting the matching symbol they held for each house.

There was Jeanne Richelieu of Diamond, the bravest and fiercest of the four founders, she sought to teach the fearless and the noble. She was the first headmaster of Beauxbatons, Adrien recalled. Tightly grasped in her hand, and held boldly up before the arrivals was a diamond, a large, carefully carved amethyst. A sword was clasped in her other hand, the tip set ready at her feet.

The other side of her was Clovis Heroux of Clover, one of the most famous muggleborns in history, and was the second headmaster of Beauxbatons. He sought the determined, steady, loyal, and hardworking. In his hand, held out like he was going to pass it to a student, was a clover shaped emerald. In his other, he grasped a small scythe. A memento to his muggle family, and their life on the farm.

Past them, framing the gazebo was Aveline Le Seur of Heart, one of the most beautiful witches in history and said to be one of the kindest and greatest healers in French; the students she sought were gentle and generous. In her hand, she held a ruby carved heart, held delicately to her chest, her chin dipped low like she was going to place a kiss upon the gem. In her other hand, she held a ring, looking ready to fall to the ground. Adrien eyed her for a moment, before turning to the statue across from her. The last founder.

Sebastian Courtet of Spade. The founder of the very house Adrien suspected he'd be in. According to Nathalie, Sebastian Courtet was the sole designer and creator of Beauxbatons itself, and was intelligent and refined artist, seeking students that matched the potential of creativity and intellect. And Adrien could see it, Sebastian stood the stiffest out of all founders, a book tightly grasped in one arm, and a sapphire spade that looked held up for inspection and judgement.

They were all here.

And were going to see the new students that would join their houses.

"Attention! Attention!"

All looked forward, seeing an owlish man step forward, looking over them on from a pedestal set in the middle of large gazebo. "Are all the first years here?" the old man called, looking over them all, like he could simply know just by looking.

"They all look to be here," the woman from the steps called, coming up to join the owlish man, and the crew of what had to be teachers behind him.

He smiled at the crowd, waving out to the gardens while his other hand came and rested a wand to his neck, "First years! I am Headmaster Damocles, and I welcome you to Palace of Beaxbatons, an Academy of Magic! Here, we seek to teach you the fine arts of magic, help you discover what you shall do with your life, and help you find your inspirations, help you be creative. Or objective is to see each and every young wizard and witch go far in their life!"

"I'm not going to need much help," Chloe whispered.

Adrien nudged her, shushing, keeping his eyes locked on the old headmaster.

"Now, first things first, is sorting each and every single one of you into your House. Those pins that came with your letter have a special charm on them, and if you have been wearing as you were supposed too, it will shape into the House that matches your traits. There in that House, we aim to help strengthen your greatest strengths, help you overcome your worse flaws, help become who you're meant to be. Despite this, I want each and every one of you to know and remember, it's not this one house that is your family. All students here in Beauxbatons are your family. The founders were a tightly knit group, and we aim to echo the bond they shared together."

"Now, for those that aren't familiar, the four Houses are these. The House of Diamonds, for the brave and noble, most famous leaders you know have come out of Diamonds. They are strong and sure, standing for their beliefs and morals. Though can be too pushy for some," the headmaster chuckled. A few students in the crowd echoed him, easily understanding this.

"The House of Hearts are made by the generous and compassionate. Hearts have been the greatest healers and guides the world has ever seen. Some would argue that Hearts can be too kind, but I've met many a Hearts that argue there is no such thing.

"The House of Clovers are made of those determined, passionate, and hardworking. A House that has set goals and will see those goals to the end. I often hear that they can be too stubborn sometimes, but can always be trusted to finish as task. This House has been known to bring many people together, and have helped many people in their lives.

"And lastly, the House of Spades, made up of the creative and intellectual, and the loners. The ambition is who we host here, making the greatest creations the world has ever seen, and has guided us to promising futures. The most famous creators and professors have come out of Spade."

Standing up straight, the headmaster declared, "All these Houses are important. All play a key role in shaping our society. No House is greater than the other, each has their flaws and their strengths. These Houses would not be without each other."

Clearing his throat, he stepped back, waving to the center beside him. "Now as I call your name, come on up, and we shall see what shape the pin takes!"

Accepting a list handed to him, the headmaster called out the first name on it.

"Adrien Agreste!"

Adrien tensed, eyes wide at the summon.

He was first.

He didn't expect to be going first!

"Adrien?" the headmaster called, searching the crowd for him. "Come on up lad! We'd all like to meet you!"

Chloe pushed at him, urging, "Go on."

Adrien stumbled forward, cheeks going red as all eyes turned to him.

Heart pounding heavily in his chest, he took his first steps forward, heading to the headmaster and up the pedestal, where all could see him, and what house he'd be sorted into. Around him, he could hear people murmuring, could feel their curious stares, feel their excitement and eagerness to see the first sorting.

"Be poised," he whispered to himself as he slowly came up the steps. "Be sure."

Be confident.

It was the Agreste way.

Let them all see his strength, let them all admire.

Stopping before the headmaster, Adrien turned to the crowd with a smile, eyes crinkled up, not giving away anything to his nervousness.

He paid little mind to the looks of wonder that crossed their faces as they watched him, a little mystified and awed.

A throat cleared behind him, and Adrien turned to meet the curious gaze of an old man peering back at him. The old man nodded his head to the sight and Adrien quickly turned to the headmaster, standing at attention, hands set behind his back.

Beaming, the headmaster instructed, "Touch the pin, and let's see it bloom."

Blinking at him, Adrien turned down to the pin. Reaching up, he rest his finger to the plain round piece.

Magic sparked under his touch, and Adrien watched as the shape and color changed. Under his touch, the pin bled red and grew and thinned into a heart. Around the heart, the heads of flowers bloomed and shaped. Camellia flowers.

Adrien withdrew, staring at the pin in wonder, surprised to see what he had got.

He was a Heart.

He was in the House of Hearts.

"Congratulations!" The headmaster bellowed, waving to the woman with red hair. He instructed, "That is the Heart Head Bustier, go join her."

Adrien did so, still awed by the sorting. Faintly he heard the headmaster call, "Aurore Beaureal!"

He was a Heart.

He snapped to attention when Bustier greeted him, "Hello Adrien, welcome to the House of Hearts."

"Hi," Adrien returned softly.

Smiling down at him, she waved towards the statue of Aveline Le Seur. "Past her is a seating area where you can watch the rest of the sorting and see who else will be in your house with you. I'll be covering rules and such after it."

Adrien nodded, and slipped past the founder statue, his gaze lingering on her, the slight mournful smile on her lips, and the ring that seemed to lay heavy in her hand. He hurried to a seat, staring down at his pin.

Behind him, he heard the headmaster call, "Ivan Bruel!"

He was a Heart.

That's who he was.

He wondered if it was normal to feel proud and nervous.

"Marinette Dupain-Cheng!"

Adrien's head snapped up, eagerly looking to the sorting area, watching her prowl up to stand beside the pedestal. Nervously, she reached up, lightly touching the pin. Under her finger, the pin blushed purple and grew into a diamond. Much like his, flowers sprouted around the pin, little, lively apple blossoms.

A Diamond.

She was a Diamond.

Neither were a Spade like they expected.

A Diamond and Heart instead.

While sad that they weren't in the same House, Adrien found he rather liked it still.

Diamond and Heart.

It seemed fitting.


Out of all fish pets, Bettas are my absolute favorite (I wish they weren't so aggressive so I could have a whole tank of them, especially the males). So instead of giant goldfish or koi swimming in the lake, there are giant gentle bettas!

Also, why hasn't anyone doing HP AUs for ML tried doing Beauxbatons before? This is really fun so far.

Loosescrewslefty is the one who came up with the founders XD she dove right in before I could even start planning the possibilities. Thank you Loose for helping me plan this AU, it's been lots of fun talking out ideas and hearing them.