"We are never going to financially recover from this," George groaned, resting his head in his hands as Professor Trelawney walked away, a jingling bag of coins in her hand.
Fred just moaned softly, his head flat on the Gryffindor table.
"It's your own fault, you know," Percy lectured, giving them both disappointed looks. "I hope you both learn something valuable from this."
"Yeah," George said, nodding, his expression sorrowful. "Don't take book if you can't cover bets."
"Why'd the woman have to go and get herself eaten by a giant toad exactly three weeks from the start of school!?" Fred wept. "We had to pay Trelawny double. Double!"
"Didn't the both of you still make off like bandits from all the bets you took?" Ron asked curiously.
"Well, yes," George admitted. "But we prefer to not have to give any of that money back, you see."
"At least this day cannot possibly get any worse," Fred muttered darkly, finally sitting up.
Just then, the morning mail arrived in the form of a flock of owls. Megumin spotted Hedwig in the mix, and went over to the Hufflepuff table.
"Did I get anything?" Megumin asked as soon as she saw Yunyun, who was still petting her familiar.
Yunyun gave Megumin an exasperated look, taking out her wand and severing the ties to the package that Hedwig had brought. "J-just wait. I w-want to read mum's letter f-first."
"Hmph. Well, scoot over, I'm still hungry." Megumin sat down and took a plate, piling it with some sweet rolls and bacon. She paused when she realized that several Huffllepuffs were staring at her, and a few had slowly moved away from her. "Ah, do you fear the might of the Crimson Demon Clan?"
"You've never come over here before," Hannah pointed out, looking rather concerned. "Usually, you make Yunyun come to you."
"Well, today I'm sitting here. Do you have a problem with that, NPC?" Megumin demanded, glaring and taking a large bite of her breakfast.
"D-don't call my friends an NPC," Yunyun said as she took out a letter. "She-"
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?
Megumin was so surprised by the noise she dropped her roll, while Yunyun let out a squeak and looked up with a start. The owls all immediately took off and booked it, apparently knowing what was coming next.
"Ooo, someone got a Howler," Susan Bones said, craning her neck. "Which one of them is it?"
HOW DARE YOU LIE TO ME! YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!
Above the Gryffindor table, a letter was hovering, and it was from this that the tremendous sound of Mrs. Weasley's thunderous bellowing was coming. All four of the Weasley brothers were cowering and looking rather sick, while the letter continued to rage.
I HAD TO FIND OUT FROM MRS. GREENGRASS THAT GINNY WAS WITH HER DAUGHTERS IN SLYTHERIN! I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN FROM THE LOT OF YOU THE DAY AFTER SHE WAS SORTED! YOU MADE ME THINK SHE WAS IN GRYFFINDOR! YOUR FATHER AND I EVEN SENT HER A LETTER CONGRATULATING HER, AND I SENT POOR ERROL WITH A RED SCARF FOR HER!
Megumin looked behind her to see Ginny gingerly getting up out of her seat at the Slytherin table and tiptoeing towards the doors, Ron, Draco, and Dust creeping and cringing along with her.
WHEN YOU BOYS GET HOME, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LONG TALK ABOUT TRUST AND FAMILY LOYALTY! IF I HEAR YOU'VE PUT EVEN ONE TOE MORE OUT OF LINE, I'M COMING TO HOGWARTS TO GIVE YOU A PIECE OF MY MIND IN PERSON! DON'T THINK JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE ALL BIG GALOOTS THAT I CAN'T STILL GIVE YOU A PROPER THRASHING!
Ginny had just made it to the door when the letter zipped over to hover above her. She winced, but slowly turned to face it. This time, however, when Mrs. Weasley's voice came out, it was kindly and gentle.
"Ginny dear, your father and I want you to know that we are very happy for you. It doesn't matter what house you're in; you're still our daughter. I wish you would have felt confident enough to tell us yourself, but I'm knitting you a proper green scarf, and I'll make sure your jumper this year is silver and green. You'll do quite nicely for yourself. Astoria is a lovely girl, and I know you'll make plenty of friends."
Then the letter ripped itself to pieces, which fluttered down like confetti over Ginny.
Ginny glanced back at the Slytherin table, which was looking at her in silence. She swallowed, smiled, and then managed, "I just remembered, I have to wash my hair."
Then she fled.
"Um, us too," Draco added, Dust nodding emphatically.
"Yeah, we've got to um...bye!" Kazuma said, and all three fled.
"What was all that about?" Megumin asked, confused. "Isn't she upset that Ginny is now in the Evil Minion house?"
"W-well, Ginny does have her own minions," Yunyun pointed out. "M-maybe she'll be a r-real dark lady."
"Hmm, that's true," Megumin agreed. She thought for a moment, taking a new bite of her roll. Around a mouthful of food, she added, "Maybe she'll be a better rival than Kazutrash."
"M-maybe. They could be the o-opposites of the Crimson Demon Clan," Yunyun suggested. "W-we could be rival parties! A-and have monster killing contests! I'm still j-jealous you got to kill grindylows and t-toads without me…"
As Megumin and Yunyun talked, the rest of the Hufflepuffs stared at them in obvious shock.
"Wait, Yunyun can talk?" Justin said, leaning over. "She's always so quiet, except when the teachers call on her."
"Don't be an arse!" Sally Anne said, slapping at Justin. "She's just shy."
Before Megumin could launch a counter assault in defense of Yunyun, heavy hands fell on both of their shoulders and yanked them out of their seats.
"Sorry everyone," George said in a far too chipper voice as he dragged Megumin away. "Emergency meeting."
"Very important Crimson Demon Clan business y'know," Fred agreed as he carried Yunyun towards the doors.
Ron was beckoning frantically, while Percy was trying to hide his face behind his Herbology textbook. Darkness looked very concerned as she stood with the Weasleys, while Hermione looked on the edge of laughter. They all hustled out into the hall, then sprinted for a private corner, where Hermione collapsed into a dusty chair and started laughing hysterically.
"It's not funny!" Ron said, clenching his fists and glaring at Hermione.
"Are you kidding? It's hilarious!" Hermione wheezed. "You lot lied to your mum about Ginny's sorting? What did you THINK would happen? I only met the woman once but...oh, hell...that letter!"
"You're just lucky your parents are muggles so they can't send you a howler," Percy muttered dejectedly. "I'm going to lose my badge for this…"
"Percy, mum can't take your prefect badge!" Ron said, tearing at his hair. He looked pleadingly to Darkness and Megumin. "Come on, you have to help us! This is horrible! She found out before we could get Ginny back!"
"Clearly, we must launch a direct frontal assault!" Megumin proclaimed. "First, we lure Ginny out to the forbidden forest…"
"Yes?" Percy said hopefully.
"And then, we locate a massive spider, or perhaps a toad!" Megumin explained
"I don't like that…" Ron muttered. "But if it's for Gin…"
"Then, I unleash my most glorious and powerful Explosion! When she beholds the pure spectacle and glory of such a spell, she shall forswear Slytherin for all time, and- OW!"
Megumin glared at Ron and rubbed the back of her head, where Ron had given her a solid thwack.
"No! Absolutely not! You're not blowing up the Forbidden Forest! Besides, it's YOU who's a nutter for explosions, not her!" Ron snapped.
"Um, c-can I say something?" Yunyun asked, timidly raising her hand.
"Are you going to suggest we be friends with everyone?" Ron demanded, folding his arms over his chest.
"Steady on, Ronnikins. Let's let her talk," Fred suggested, putting a hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Some friendship might go a long way to getting Gin-Gin back," George agreed.
"Um, w-well...have...have you asked Ginny?" Yunyun said. "She seems h-happy in Slytherin…"
"That's because Kazuma has lied to her and deceived her," Darkness said, shaking her head. "We must break Ginny from his clutches!"
Yunyun glared at Darkness, looking frustrated, but Hermione spoke up. "You know, you mentioned she likes Michael Jackson...and Professor Aqua is really good at singing...maybe we should try performing that, at Halloween."
"A Dance Battle!" Megumin gasped. "A contest of hearts, minds, and footwork! Truly, this is nearly as good as an Explosion!"
"Do you really think we can win over Ginny with a song and dance routine?" Percy demanded, incredulous.
Fred nodded. "Actually-"
"-yes we do," George finished.
"You were dancing, and so was every ghost in the castle," Ron agreed. "I think it could work."
"How would we do this?" Darkness asked. "Would we have to perform on stage, where everyone is watching us, judging us? That...that could be humiliating if we fail…"
"We shall not fail! The Crimson Demon Clan are well known to be musical prodigies who are famous for our incredible song and dance routines!" Megumin stated. "We shall dazzle all, and win over Ginny!"
"B-but...you haven't even asked her!" Yunyun protested, going red in the face.
"We told you, Yunyun, it's not up to Ginny. This is for her own good. She has to be in Gryffindor," Ron said with a shake of his head.
Yunyun's back went rigid, and she suddenly snarled, "Well, if you can only be friends with Gryffindors...then I guess you don't want me here!"
Then she stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
"What's eating her?" Fred asked, frowning.
"Yeah, usually she never goes against Megumin, or anyone," George agreed.
"Hmph. Well, it's about time she tried to make her own friends. Don't worry, sisters have such spats. Besides, it's not as though Hufflepuff is evil like Slytherin," Megumin pointed out.
"Fair," Percy agreed. "Right. So how do we get Aqua to agree to help us perform this dance?"
A short time later, the members of the Crimson Demon Clan stood in front of Aqua's desk in her office. The office itself was essentially a shrine to Aqua. It had posters of her albums, pictures of her on every wall (all of them muggle ones for some reason) and, to Megumin's slight concern, a picture of Aqua, Megumin, Darkness, and Kazuma she'd had Chris take at Yunyun's birthday party.
"Hi guys, what's up?" Aqua asked, looking up from her desk. "I was just answering all the prayers people sent me. Even if I'm on vacation, I still have a duty to my followers!"
"Don't you mean your fan mail?" Hermione asked, frowning at the desk, which was littered with various letters from Aqua's adoring public. "Bit strange to call them prayers."
"I don't know if we've mentioned this before," Percy said, clearing his throat and pushing Hermione aside. "But you're our favorite...professor…" The words obviously pained him, as Percy really thought Aqua was terrible at her job, and had expressed doubt that she would help him with his NEWTs, as he was already fretting about the exams next year.
Aqua was, naturally, oblivious to this, and preened at the praise.
"Yeah, you're a lot of fun," George added.
Fred chimed in, "Really pretty too, best looking of our professors."
Both George and Percy elbowed Fred at this incredibly inappropriate remark to one's professor, but Aqua just giggled.
"Oh, that's so nice of you to say! I'm a maiden goddess though, so I'm afraid you're better off with Angelina. Or was it George who fancied her?"
"Wait, you fancy Angelina?!" Fred gasped, whirling on his twin. "You know I like her! I thought you liked-"
Hermione coughed loudly, and Fred managed to shut up before he started a row with his twin.
"Please, Professor Aqua," Darkness said, stepping forward. "We were wondering, if it's not too much trouble...will you teach us how to perform that dance you did the other night? We'd like to learn it to, um-"
"Get Ginny away from Kazutrash!" Aqua gasped. "That's a great idea! Oh, I know, we can do it at Halloween so everyone can see! This will be so great! We can make costumes, and dress up...Hmmm. Well, we'll need zombies, so the boys can be those, and you girls can dress up to be pretty like me! This is so exciting! It's always fun to dance with you! I'll call Chris, and get her to play for us! Oh, oh, I wonder if I can call Cecily and have her send down Axel Hearts for the night! This will be so fun!"
Aqua continued to prattle on, jumping about the room excitedly, with Megumin egging her on and talking about the cool poses and costumes they could have. Hermione was over the moon at the prospect of getting to perform one of her favorite pop songs, and Darkness seemed excited to "be humiliated in front of the entire school!"
"Well, that was easy," Ron muttered to his brothers.
"I'd say it was too easy, but she owes us after getting eaten by that toad," Fred whispered.
"Just as long as it gets Ginny back," Percy grumbled. "I don't like dancing."
George chuckled. "Oh come off it, Perse. Practice a little, and maybe even Penelope Clearwater will be interested in you."
Percy went pale at that, and whirled on his brother. "What?! Why would you-"
"We've noticed your study sessions, O Brother," Fred teased. "Or should I say, Snogging Sessions?"
"Gross," Ron muttered. "Can we please focus?"
"Eh, you'll like it soon enough, Ronniekins," George laughed, ruffling Ron's hair. "Who knows? Maybe in a year or two, you'll want to sneak Megs off for a snog or two."
"Ugh, no way," Ron said, blushing heavily. But his eyes followed Megumin as she demonstrated a dramatic pose for the dance. "Girls are weird."
"Yeah, but that's why they're so interesting," Fred sighed. "Come on, then. Guess we get to practice being zombies. At least the makeup for that should be a lark."
Some time earlier, the Three Stooges and their Fearful Leader were in an abandoned classroom of their own, Ginny pacing back and forth frantically.
"What am I going to do?!" Ginny babbled. "That was the most embarrassing moment of my entire life! And everyone saw it! Ugh, Astoria isn't even going to talk to me for WEEKS!"
"Well, I mean, at least your parents are happy for you?" Draco offered. "They don't seem too upset…"
"Yeah, weren't you worried they'd reject you or something?" Kazuma asked. "I mean, if they do, you could always come live with Draco and me."
Ginny shot him an exasperated look. "What kind of parents would disown their child for going into a different house at school that's-" she cut herself off, flushing red as her mouth made a small "O".
"My parents wouldn't have been happy if I'd gone to another house. My sister said they'd probably kick me out. That's why she taught me the Muggle Baiting Song," Dust put in.
"Kazuma...Big Bro...I'm so sorry," Ginny said, going over to give Kazuma a hug. His face had gone red, and he'd teared up a little.
"It's...fine. Just be glad your parents aren't monsters like mine," Kazuma mumbled, but he hugged Ginny rather tightly.
"We're family," Ginny told Kazuma firmly. "We look out for one another."
Then she separated from Kazuma, and started pacing again. "Ugh! I just KNOW my brothers are going to pull some stupid stunt! This is only going to encourage them! They're always trying to control my life! Mum too! Oooo, I just know she's going to try to pressure me to change my house as soon as I get home for Christmas!"
"Can you even do that?" Draco asked.
"Who knows! They're old friends with Dumbledore so….maybe?! I don't know. Everyone always acts like Slytherin is evil but that's a load of bollocks!" Ginny ranted.
"You know," Dust mused. "Voldemort was a Slytherin."
"He was the exception," Ginny said with a wave of her hand.
"My parents were Slytherin," Kazuma muttered.
Ginny blushed. "Well, um, that doesn't prove-"
"The Dark Lord was just misunderstood. He was really trying to save us," Draco said in pious tones.
"Oh piss off! He tried to kill us!" Kazuma said, turning on Draco.
"Bellatrix LeStrange was Slytherin. Actually, pretty much all the Death Eaters were," Dust added.
"Um, well, er...Sirius Black was Gryffindor!" Ginny snapped. "So there!"
"Good point," Kazuma agreed. "He betrayed the Potters, you know."
"Obviously! Ugh. We just have to figure out what my brothers are up to…" Ginny grumbled. "And figure out a way to convince my parents Slytherin is all right…"
"Well, you could always point out your Big Bros defeated Voldemort!" Dust said brightly. "We're the good guys!"
"Hmm, that's not a bad point...But Megumin helped too…" Ginny said, rubbing her chin. "We have to do something heroic too."
"Like what?" Draco asked, sounding concerned. "Heroics are usually a good way to get yourself hurt. That's more of a Gryffindor thing."
"Well, Megumin is usually doing something cool. Maybe we should figure out what she's going to do this year. She said Voldemort would be back, so we just have to figure out how, then beat him again!" Dust declared.
"That's stupid. He's dead. Megumin blew him up, twice," Ginny pointed out. "No, we need something new and impressive to do."
"We could win the quidditch cup?" Draco suggested.
"Obviously, that's important, but my parents don't care about that. No, we have to do something impressive." Ginny considered, then added, "Preferably something that gets us rich too."
"Now you're talking, Sis!" Kazuma cheered.
"But how can we get rich at Hogwarts?" Draco demanded. "It's not like they go around handing out cash prizes."
"We'll just keep our ears to the ground for any deadly monsters, ancient conspiracies, or nascent Dark Lords," Ginny decided. "And hopefully we can manage it before Christmas too."
Nervously, Yunyun ducked into the girl's lavatory on the second floor. She gingerly stepped over the puddle on the floor and looked around, but Moaning Myrtle seemed to be elsewhere at the moment. She quickly opened the Diary, and scribbled,
OK, I'm here. What's the secret to helping me make my friends listen to me?
After a moment, the letters faded, and Tom's response came.
Well, it's a bit tricky. You'll need to let me possess you for a moment. The passage can only be opened by speaking Parseltongue, the language of serpents.
Yunyun bit her lip, but responded,
OK, we're friends, so I trust you. How does it work?
Just close your eyes, and let me take control for a moment.
Yunyun did, and soon felt someone else move her muscles. It was a bit strange, but Tom was her friend, so of course he wouldn't do anything perverted or betray her. In a sort of dreamlike haze, she found herself walking to one of the sinks. There, she made odd hissing noises, which she realized meant, "Open."
The sink moved back, exposing a pipe. Yunyun reasserted control, bending down to look into the pipe.
What?! How did you do that!? I should be in control!
The voice came not from the diary, but her mind.
"Oh, um, s-sorry, but you opened it, so I figured you were done…" Yunyun whispered, but there was no response. She hastily wrote it down in the diary, but without the stuttering because that would be silly.
No, it's fine. I just didn't expect it. You really are a genius, you know that?
Yunyun blushed and smiled to herself. Tom really was becoming her best friend. She really wished he had a body. A boy like him...he was exactly the sort of friend Yunyun wanted to spend more time with. Especially if he were handsome. Not that they couldn't be friends if he weren't! But it would be nice.
She jumped into the pipe, and slid down into a dank, dark passage. This didn't bother her, as she could easily see in the darkness.
What do I do now? She wrote.
We have to find the basilisk. You may need to let me take control again: if you do not give her the proper greeting in Parseltongue, she will petrify you and eat you. We'll need to make a light.
OK, but we don't need a light, I can see just fine down here.
Yunyun let Tom take control again, and she began to walk through the maze of corridors.
Bloody hell, this girl wasn't kidding, she can see in the dark! This is incredible! There's no way she's a mudblood, her magic is far too potent!
"Tom, I won't let my friends use such a mean word. There's nothing wrong with having muggle parents," Yunyun murmured, though she didn't take back full control.
What?! You can hear my thoughts?!
"Well, yes. You're in my head."
Oh. Well, um, sorry. Old habits. I don't really think of you like that, you're my friend, after all. The only one I trust.
"That's OK, as long as you don't try to say something like that," Yunyun agreed.
Before long, they came to a great door, covered with several serpents. Tom hissed at it, saying, "Guardian, the Heir calls you! Come forth!"
The serpents on the door shivered, then came to life, coiling and moving. Then, on grating hinges, the door swung open. A massive serpent's head poked out, the eyes of the great beast closed.
Master, I hear your call, and answer. What is thy bidding?
"She's beautiful!" Yunyun gasped. She ran forward, and hugged the giant basilisk. "What's y-your name?"
What is this!? You stink of mudbloods…
"That's not a very nice thing to say," Yunyun said sternly. She suddenly realized she was speaking in the serpent language, and absently wondered how she managed that. Then she decided it didn't matter, as talking to snakes just meant she could make more friends! "Now, what's your name?"
I am the Guardian of Slytherin.
"That's not a n-name, that's a job," Yunyun tisked. "What's y-your name really?"
I...I do not know...the Master never gave me a name…
"Hmm. Well, what about...Becky?" Yunyun offered.
Becky!? That's a horrible, common name! You can't name the Serpent of Slytherin Becky! Tom's mental voice protested.
"You sound like Megumin, Tom," Yunyun sighed. "What do you think?"
Becky...it is not a name to strike fear into the foes of Wizardkind, the Basilisk responded.
Yunyun thought about that for a moment. "What about...Sylvia? That's a g-good name for something that wizards should f-fear, I think."
What!? No! It's a beast, don't try to make friends with it, it's just a tool! Tom wailed.
Sylvia...I like that, Sylvia the Basilisk agreed. Now, what is thy bidding, Mistress?
Yunyun thought about that. "Well, r-right now, why don't we just talk for a bit. I'd l-like to get to know my new f-friend!"
Sylvia seemed taken aback by that. R-really? You...you want to be my friend? I've been so, so lonely down here...all these centuries...in the cold…
"Oh, I c-can warm you up! Here, Incendio!" Yunyun conjured up a flame, and sat down next to it, patting the rock. "Here, coil up, and let's talk for a while!"
And so, Sylvia the Serpent of Slytherin coiled up around the fire, and began to listen to Yunyun's stories about her life, as Tom's mental ghost faded away.
Yunyun smiled to herself. This was nice. At least now, she had two real friends.