FOREWORD
I have enjoyed Japanese RPGs for a long time, with the Pokémon franchise being my gateway drug, so to speak, and I embraced the Final Fantasy games rather swiftly. But it took me some time to get into the Shin Megami Tensei franchise.
It wasn't like I wasn't aware of it. I learned of the Digital Devil Saga spinoff quite by chance, and eventually learned of the Persona spinoff as well as the mainstream Shin Megami Tensei franchise. I'd tried giving the manga adaptation of Persona 3 and the anime of Persona 4 a go, but I was underwhelmed by both. But eventually, after reading a number of fanfics relating to the franchise, especially Persona 5, I decided to give it a go, playing Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne and Persona 5. Both games, I will admit, took me some time to get into, especially given the premise of both of them. Indeed, the main character being framed for assault nearly turned me off playing Persona 5 in the first place.
But after a while, I was hooked on Persona 5.
It was inevitable, after that point, that I would write a fic eventually, and a Potterverse crossover at that. There's surprisingly few Potterverse crossovers with Persona 5, some oneshots notwithstanding. But who would be the pairing? For an adult Harry, it'd be with either Sae Nijima, something I attempted and failed (for now), or Tae Takemi. But for a teenaged Harry…well, it'd be either Makoto Nijima, who is basically a Japanese Hermione…or Futaba Sakura.
Futaba is easily one of my favourite characters from the game. Given what she went through earlier in life, she and Shiho need all the hugs. Plus, she's a cute little nerd whose story arc is one of the more heartwarming of the game. Hell, the scenes in the game where she, with the help of her Shadow, realise the truth about her mother's death and Awakens her Persona have got to rank amongst the top ten of emotionally-charged moments in video games.
Of course, writing a story where Harry and Futaba become friends is a challenge in of itself, given how she is a hikikomori with severe social phobias. But then, when it works out, it makes it all the more worth it. And this is the result. I hope you guys enjoy it.
Anyway, time for the usual disclaimers. Firstly, there will be spoilers for both Harry Potter and Persona.
Secondly, there will be heavy annotations, as is usual for my works. You have been warned.
Thirdly, this is an M-Rated work. There will be coarse language, violence, and sexual references. Again, you have been warned.
Finally, the following is a fan-written work. Harry Potter and Persona are the properties of their respective owners. Please support the official release. Otherwise, Caroline will give you some shock treatment with her baton…
