Chapter Text
Teddy could feel the excitement bubbling under his skin, coursing through his veins. In just a few short hours everything he had been dreaming of his whole life would become a reality. There were three other kids sharing his compartment, one of whom was a Muggleborn. Teddy tried to listen to the conversation as the other two told the Muggleborn about the wizarding world, but concentration came with great difficulty.
The more anxious and excited Teddy got, the more his hair changed to pink. This, of course, did not go unnoticed. "How are you doing that?" the Muggleborn girl asked. Teddy tried to remember her name. "I'm a Metamorphamagus," Teddy explained. He tried again to recall her name. "A what?" she asked breathlessly. Ellie. That was it. "A Metamorphmagus," Teddy repeated. When she stared at him blankly, he explained further. "I can change my appearance whenever I want." Her mouth formed a little circle. She was silent for a moment before peppering him with questions. He answered them with as much patience as he could muster. It wasn't her fault her parents were Muggles and she had no idea what anything was in the wizarding world.
When the castle finally came into view, Teddy's heart began pounding in his chest. "We'd better change into our robes. I can see the castle," he said, interrupting yet another of Ellie's questions. She stopped immediately and looked out the window. The four of them changed quickly into their robes. Teddy's snowy owl, a gift from his godfather, hooted excitedly as the train came to a stop. The doors to other compartments slid open at the same time and hundreds of Hogwarts students emerged. They filed out of the train and trudged up the path to the gates of Hogwarts.
Older students went towards the horseless carriages, which most people knew were pulled by Thestrals, while the first years stood trembling with fear and excitement. The air was warm and smelled sweet. Teddy inhaled deeply and took in the sights around him. There was a gentle breeze making ripples over the glassy surface of the lake. The sun was setting over the castle and darkness slowly crept over the grounds. The bustle around him was like nothing he'd experienced before, not even at King's Cross. The thought of his extended family made his stomach sink. For the first time in his eleven years, he was all by himself. His grandmother wasn't there to fuss over him. His godfather wasn't there to play Quidditch with him or tell him stories about his parents, something his grandmother just couldn't bring herself to do. Victoire wasn't there to follow him around, get angry with him, and then ignore him until he apologized. There was no Nana Molly to cook his favorite foods. No one familiar at all. He was feeling like crying when he heard a voice he recognized.
"Firs' years follow me!" A smile crept onto Teddy's face and he ran to Hagrid. "Hi, Hagrid!" he called. "Hullo, Teddy! Ready ter get sorted?" Hagrid asked. Teddy nodded enthusiastically and Hagrid beamed back at him. "Yer gonna do great things, Teddy." As the carriages pulled away, the first years gathered tightly around Hagrid. "A'right, you lot. We're gonna divide up inter these boats now. Four to a boat, no shovin'!" Teddy climbed in a boat with three people he hadn't met on the train and waited for the rest of the first years to be seated in their boats. When the sun had completely set and the carriages couldn't be seen but were heard some distance ahead, Hagrid led the first years across the lake.
Halfway across the lake, the Giant Squid reached up from the depths and waved benignly at the students. Some of them, of course, knew about the Squid while others were shocked to see a long, tentacled arm shoot up out of the water. Teddy could hear Ellie from two boats over asking a million questions. He smiled to himself. He already felt Hogwarts becoming his home away from home, despite still being nervous about where he'd be sorted. He knew his family would love him no matter what, but he couldn't help but feel he had some big shoes to fill. His father had been a Gryffindor and someone his godfather had looked up to for many years. What if he couldn't become half the man his father was? And his mother, a Hufflepuff, had been kind and brave and someone who had proven plenty of people wrong. He had a lot to live up to, and he was scared.
When the boats gently pushed against the embankment on the other side of the lake, Hagrid led the first years up the hill and up to the front door of the castle. He opened the huge, heavy oak doors and led them into a corridor in front of another set of doors. "All yours, Professor Longbottom, and not a one fell in this year!" "Wonderful! Thank you, Hagrid." Hagrid bowed and took his leave. Teddy felt a little more relaxed. Another familiar face smiled in his direction. "Alright, you'll all line up and we'll make our way into the Great Hall. You will be called up alphabetically to be sorted. When your name is called, simply take a seat on the stool and I'll place the Sorting Hat on your head. The hat will deliberate and place you in the House it feels you are best suited for. Any questions?"
Unsurprisingly, Ellie's hand shot up. She had somehow managed to get right up next to Teddy. "What's your name?" Uncle Neville asked. "Ellie Lewis, sir," she replied. "What's your question, Ellie?" Ellie took in a deep breath. "What if we're not suited for any House, sir?" she asked. Neville smiled. "The Sorting Hat always knows where to put you." Ellie didn't look satisfied but Neville opened the doors to the Great Hall and led them inside.
Name after name went before Teddy. The waiting, the not knowing what House he was in, was almost unbearable. He wanted to run up to the hat and sit down long before his name was called. Finally, Ellie's name was called and Teddy knew he'd be up soon. Ellie sat down on the stool and the Hat was placed on her head. In seconds it shouted her House. "RAVENCLAW!" Teddy's palms began to sweat. "Lupin, Edward," Neville read. Teddy stepped up to the stool and sat down, hoping his nerves weren't showing. His heart nearly leapt out of his throat when the Hat spoke to him directly.
"Ah, Mr. Lupin, a wonderful mind you've got. Loyal, brave, humorous, but diligent and hardworking...yet under your carefree exterior lies uncertainty. What is it you're so unsure of?" Teddy wasn't sure if the rest of the Hall could hear the conversation, but based on their curious or bored looks, he assumed they couldn't. 'I'm worried I won't live up to my parents' greatness,' he thought shamefully. "Ah, as I suspected. I don't think you have a thing to fear, so, I'll put you in...HUFFLEPUFF!" Teddy beamed as he took the Hat off his head and handed it back to Neville. The Hufflepuff table cheered loudly, banging on the tables and giving him a standing ovation.
Finally, the wait was over.