The ten days until August 10th seemed to drag by for the Dursley household. Megumin had Yunyun helping her sew a variety of "sorcerous accessories" which mostly consisted of eye patches, cloaks, and wide floppy hats. Yunyun was not certain about wearing such things, but when Megumin assured her that they were "a part of their culture" Yunyun reluctantly took to wearing an eye patch and hat herself.
In the case of Vernon, he was apoplectic when he got home, turning redder than a beat and shouting about "the madness spreading." For her part, Petunia was extremely distraught for a couple of days, until Yunyun gave her mother an eye patch, hat, and cloak. At which point despite her best intentions, Petunia Dursley started to live out her childhood fantasy of becoming a witch.
She had always wanted to join her sister in the magical world she described during summer holidays when they were girls together, before jealousy poisoned their relationship. Lily had never invited Petunia to join her, but when Yunyun offered her an eyepatch and cloak, and said, "You c-can be a part of the C-crimmson Demon Clan if you want, mum." It was everything Petunia had wanted; to join the magical world.
Though in this case it was far, far worse. She was becoming a member of the Crimson Demon Clan.
"I can't bloody believe this! My own wife is falling to the madness!" Vernon raged when he got home to find Petunia sporting an eye patch.
"YES! LET THE MADNESS FLOW THROUGH YOU, VERNON! SOON IT SHALL CONSUME YOU WHOLE!" Megumin cackled.
"NOT IN THIS BLOODY HOUSE!" Vernon roared, trying to rip the eye patch off of Megumin's head.
"D-daddy?"
Vernon paused, giving Yunyun a somewhat twitchy smile. "Yes, sweetie?"
"Um, well, in the Crimson Demon Clan...we have bacon." Yunyun held up a tray of freshly fried meat.
After a moment's consideration, Vernon dropped Megumin to the ground with a thud. "Well why didn't you say so?" He took two slices of bacon and happily downed them, smacking his lips and licking the grease off his fingers. "Don't suppose I have to wear an eye patch to get more, do I?"
"Only members of the Crimson Demon Clan are permitted to feast upon the spoils of our conquest!" Megumin decreed.
And so, at least until the start of the school year, Vernon and Petunia were roped into the mad delusions of a deranged child. Fortunately for them, the delusions of a mad child are usually highly entertaining, at least if you're willing to play along.
It did ruin their reputation with the neighbors forever, though. But considering their reputation prior to that was a bunch of rude, insufferable prudes, that was only a good thing.
And so upon the 10th of August, the family piled into the car, dressed as though they were going to Otacon. Vernon and Petunia were a bit nervous, but Megumin assured them that their dress was "only natural."
Amazingly, she turned out to be prescient, for when Hagrid guided them into the Leaky Cauldron, not a single head turned to regard them. A family dressed in cloaks, floppy wizard hats, and eye patches was perfectly normal as far as the wizarding world was concerned.
"Morning, Hagrid," the bartender called as they entered. "The usual? And for your friends?"
"Not today, Tom. On official Hogwarts business," Hagrid said in an imperious tone.
This was, of course, a mistake, as Megumin took it as an invitation.
"Yes! We are embarked upon a secret mission of great import, to obtain an item of vast and perilous power, and spirit it away to a location where it can be kept safe from the vile machinations of HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED!"
In the corner, a turbaned man nearly choked on his drink as he spilled it all over himself. However, the bar was far more concerned with other matters, and no one else noticed.
Hagrid, being Hagrid, could only gape down at Megumin. "What? How do yeh know that, Megs?"
"Good lord," Tom gasped, getting a good look at Megumin's scarlet eyes and forehead. "It's Megumin Potter!"
There was a collective gasp, and Megumin, sensing she had an audience, lept up atop the bar counter. "YES! BEHOLD! IT IS NONE OTHER THAN I, THE GIRL-WHO-LIVED, MEGUMIN POTTER, FOREMOST GENIUS OF THE CRIMSON DEMON CLAN! THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO REVEAL MYSELF AT LAST!"
With this, Megumin gestured to Yunyun and continued, "Indeed, I am accompanied by my dastardly rival."
"S-she means boon companion!" Yunyun stammered, then hastily scrambled up beside her cousin and struck a pose. "B-behold! I-I am Yunyun Dursley, F-foremost Friend of the Crimson Demon Clan, a-and I have c-come t-to aid m-my best friend, Megumin, um, i-in her perilous quest! A-and my friend M-Mr. Hagrid too!"
Hagrid beamed at being called Yunyun's friend, though Megumin shot Yunyun a dirty look for not following her script.
Hagrid ushered the group out of the back before the crowd could grow further. "You've got to be careful, Megumin. Some folk'll want to use yer name for terrible things."
"Well, as long as I get the credit, I don't see why they shouldn't," Megumin said amicably, earning her a look of horror from Hagrid.
Hagrid muttered something choice under his breath and hastily rapped out the proper bricks to open the wall to Diagon Alley.
Upon seeing the wall fold open, Petunia let out a sigh and passed out, and Vernon barely managed to catch her, looking rather pale himself. "Bloody hell. It really is real."
"Oh for the love of- You two: Don't go anywhere. I'm putting them back in the pub," Hagrid grumbled at Megumin and Yunyun, and hastened to haul the Dursley's back inside.
Megumin immediately strode off into the crowded street, Yunyun tagging along at her side.
"Um, Megumin, didn't Hagrid just say n-not to go anywhere?" Yunyun whispered.
"Yes, which is how I know that we must take this opportunity to explore this location immediately. Everyone knows that it is only once they are separated from their adult caretakers that intrepid heroes are able to truly awaken their own potential," Megumin explained.
"But what if we get lost?" Yunyun protested as they moved further into the press of the crowd. Normally, Megumin stood out in any group, but her ostentatious garb blended in perfectly with the wizarding world's lack of fashion sense.
"It is only once you are lost that you are truly able to find yourself," Megumin proclaimed. "Now! Let us embark on our first adventure!"
They wove through the crowd, the two girls awestruck by the myriad sights, sounds, and smells. Despite her constant ranting on the subject, Megumin had never been exposed to magic before. Nowshe and Yunyun were delighted at seeing the various impossible things. They peered in the windows of various shops, gaped at the magic toys and tools, and generally behaved like a couple of tourists.
"Oh, Megumin, look at all the plants!" Yunyun cried, so excited that her typical stutter disappeared. She ran over to a stall that contained all manner of flora, some of which looked positively animal with great toothy mouths, viney arms, and even eyes and faces. When Yunyun began chattering away at a row of violets that had the faces of young girls at the center, the flowers all turned to her, and began to twitch and shake.
"Oh, got a bit of a green voice do you, deery?" the woman running the stall said. She was a dumpy looking woman with caked dirt under her fingernails, but a kindly smile and warm brown eyes.
"Um, I-I don't know, the p-plants can just t-talk to me," Yunyun gasped, her stutter returning in force.
"I see. Do you have a garden at home?" the woman asked, smiling encouragingly.
"Um, yes. B-but m-my plants aren't as nice as yours," Yunyun admitted.
"That is because you have dull, common plants, and not interesting ones like this," Megumin sniffed. "Come on, plants are boring."
"Oh, I hardly think so. Tell me, the two of you look about the right age. Coming to Hogwarts this year are you?" the woman asked.
Yunyun blushed and nodded quietly, but Megumin struck a pose.
"Indeed! Soon the halls of knowledge shall tremble before our coming! For I am MEGUMIN, Foremost Genius of the Crimson Demon Clan!"
"A-and I'm Y-yunyun, F-foremost Rival o-of Megumin," Yunyun added, awkwardly posing herself.
"Oh indeed?" the woman beamed happily, even as passersby paused and began to mutter at hearing the famous (and very recognizable) name. "Well, I'm Professor Pomona Sprout, head of Hufflepuff house. Many of these plants were grown by Hogwarts students. Here, why don't you take a blushing violet, Yunyun. And in exchange, the two of you think about asking to join Hufflepuff when it comes to the Sorting."
"Hmm. Is yours a dark and mysterious house, full of treachery and intrigue?" Megumin asked.
Professor Sprout shook her head gravely.
"I-is it a good place to make l-lots of friends?" Yunyun asked.
"Hufflepuff is the warmest, most friendly group you can imagine. We're the most steadfast and loyal of the houses. So long as you aren't afraid of a little hard work, you'll fit right in," Professor Sprout promised, handing Yunyun one of the purple flowers.
"T-thank you!" Yunyun gasped.
"Hmph. That does not sound like the proper house for us. We seek a house that will aid our rise to greatness, where we can prove our superior genius and arcane power," Megumin declared. "Come, Yunyun. There has to be something more interesting than a bunch of dumb plants here."
Leaving the plant stall, several people wanted to shake Megumin's hand, or pointed and stared at the girls. Megumin drank it in and eagerly put the squeeze on several people, but then lost interest and hurried off. Yunyun mostly tried to stay out of everyone's way, too shy to capitalize on the chance to actually make some friends.
They wandered through the brightly lit streets for a time, until Megumin spotted a narrower, dirtier, and generally less reputable looking street. She immediately turned in that direction, Yunyun trailing behind and mostly lost in contemplation of her new plant, which she was happily talking to. The words she was saying sounded like gibberish to Megumin, so she just ignored it.
As they moved along the cracked and dingy paving stones, suspicious eyes peered out of windows and door frames, and crook nosed people with ragged clothing eyed them suspiciously.
Most people would have turned around and headed the other way. Megumin eagerly pressed forward, certain that this was the interesting part of the town.
"Well, whatever is this?" a smooth voice purred. Two red eyes glowed from a darkened doorway from behind a strange mask. "Be it two lost little girls, traipsing down an alleyway where they do not belong?"
Yunyun at last looked up, realized where she was, and let out a squeak, trying to hide behind Megumin, who dramatically swirled her cloak. "Who dares accost the Foremost Genius of the Crimson Demon Clan, The-Girl-Who-Lived?!"
"Foolish child, thou art in Knockturn Alley. Here, allies of the Dark Lord yet linger," the stranger chuckled, a throaty sound that sent shivers down even Megumin's back. "Thou would be well advised to be more cautious in thy words, and in thy explorations. Thou art alone; helpless. Vulnerable."
Megumin leaned away as a long limbed man in a pinstripe suit unfolded himself from the doorway, stepping closer, a mocking grin beneath his mask. "Indeed, one might think that to curry favor with the more unsavory elements of this locale, one might capture or even slay such a prize as thou, and-"
"Vanir! Are you trying to scare customers again?" a woman's voice called from within the doorway.
The man flinched. "They are but penniless children! Not customers! And besides; moi hungers. Their despair is most filling."
"Children? Oh goodness! They shouldn't be here!" Out of the shop bustled a woman in purple robes. Her smile was warm and welcoming, her face slightly obscured by her loose brown hair. Upon spying Megumin and Yunyun, she leaned down to smile at them. "Oh hello, you two. Come in, come in. Are you lost? Where are your parents?"
Yunyun couldn't even speak, still clutching to Megumin and trembling as the man in the mask loomed over them. At least until the woman slapped at him and he stepped back.
"We are not lost! We know exactly where we are! As for our parents, we are orphans, cast upon the cruel world, and forced to fend for ourselves!"
"Oh! Your eyes, you're not...Megumin? And...is that you, Yunyun?" the woman asked. She suddenly pulled both girls into a hug. "I'm so happy to see both of you! Vanir! How dare you be so cruel to these two?! Don't you know who they are?"
"Moi is aware. Thou, O shopkeeper who turns profits to sand, forgets thyself! They are strangers to us," Vanir said in an acid tone.
"No one's a stranger in my shop," the woman sniffed. "And besides, everyone knows who Megumin Potter is, and well, Yunyun just wants to find some friends, doesn't she?"
Looking up at the bright smile of the woman, Yunyun could only nod vigorously. Neither she nor Megumin noticed just how cold the skin of the woman was, or how palid her complexion was.
"Y-yes. F-friends," Yunyun stammered, shooting a nervous glance at Vanir and giving him a frightened smile.
"Well, come inside. I'll put on some tea." The kindly stranger led both girls inside, and in a moment, had a hot cup of tea in both their hands. "Welcome to Wiz's Shop and Sundries! Please, tell all your friends about us! We offer the finest of wares!"
Megumin looked around, her mouth open slightly. All around here was a truly extraordinary collection of knick knacks, baubles, glass bottles with strange liquids, and even live creatures in various cages and tubs. There were racks of clothing, shelves with spinning bronze instruments, and dozens of miscellaneous items of unknown origin and function.
"This place is amazing! Do you sell magical items? Can we buy tomes of forbidden knowledge here?!" Megumin asked eagerly.
"Well, of course! Though everything here is perfectly legal, I assure you! Why, the aurors stop in all the time for tea!" The woman said happily.
"That is because they view us as charlatans and ne'er-do-wells who they suspect of possessing ill gotten gains and harboring malicious artifacts," Vanir grumbled as he swept the shop floor.
"Well, we don't have any of those, so it's just nice to have the company," his companion said brightly.
"Um. E-excuse me. Um. I-I'm sorry," Yunyun stammered. Her eyes were fixed firmly on the floor, and she was clutching at Megumin's robe. "W-what's your name?"
"Oh! I'm so sorry. You don't know, do you?" The woman looked near tears for a moment, her eyes full of longing as she gazed at the two girls. Then she collected herself. "Why, I'm Wiz, the shopkeeper." She stepped forward, kneeling down so she was at eye level with Yunyun, and gently taking the girl's hands in her own. "I hope we'll be good friends."
At the mention of friends, Yunyun looked up and nodded hastily. "Y-you're nice, right? A-and Mr. Vanir, too?"
"No. Moi is not nice. Moi is a-"
"Rather eccentric gentleman of questionable taste. But he is my longtime companion, and while his sense of humor is quite odd, he means you no harm," Wiz assured Yunyun.
"Is he secretly your demon familiar, who you have bound to yourself with a dark pact to serve your will?!" Megumin asked eagerly.
"Once more, thou are a child playing with forces thou does not comprehend, saying words of great import, and yet knowing nothing of what she says. Moi is ever amused at the folly of mortals," Vanir chuckled. "Moi looks forward to the chaos and despair that shall follow in thy wake."
"Oh! I almost forgot. I have a gift for both of you," Wiz said. She beckoned the two girls over to where the animals were kept in a corner of the shop. Megumin came over eagerly, trying to reach her hand out to touch what appeared to be a shriveled up chicken with a hood over its eyes.
"Oh, don't touch that one! Cockatrices don't like to be petted," Wiz said, gently pushing Megumin's hand aside.
"I like this one," Yunyun said quietly, gazing up at a gorgeous snowy owl.
The owl hooted softly down at Yunyun, her intelligent yellow eyes examining the girl carefully.
"I'm glad you do. She's for you. She was sent by...a friend," Wiz explained.
"She...she is?" Yunyun asked hesitantly.
"Of course. It wouldn't be the same story without her. At least, that's what my...friend...says. Her name is Hedwig. She's a present, so you can send letters home to your parents," Wiz explained. She gently undid the leather straps that tied Hedwig the Owl to her perch, and handed the bird down to Yunyun, who beamed happily.
"What about me?" Megumin demanded. "An owl is an alright familiar, but I do not wish for something ordinary and plain."
"No, I imagine you wouldn't," Wiz said with a soft chuckle. She nodded to the cages and tanks. "Take a look. I'll tell you what. Any one of them is yours."
"Ha! I shall use my dark arts to ascertain which is the most powerful of them!" Megumin cackled. She began to search through the various creatures, some of which she recognized from various fairy tales or stories. There was an antlered jackalope, a feathered serpent, and several kinds of fae with wings of various insects.
Instead of reaching for any of them, Megumin glanced over the array, frowning at each and muttering to herself. Finally, she came to the end, glancing around. She looked down at the floor, where a black fuzzball was softly snoring.
"Ah ha!" Reaching down, Megumin snatched up what appeared at first glance to be black kitten. However, when the drowsing feline was held up, a red cross marking could be seen on her forehead, as well as two small bat wings.
"I shall take this one!" Megumin declared. "She shall be named...Wolbach!"
At the mention of that name. The cat opened one eye and let out a grumpy hiss.
"Hmm. Perhaps not. What about...Chomusuke!"
At this, the cat's mouth spread in a wide, toothy grin, and it began to purr happily.
"Yes! I can already tell, there are dark, secret magics locked away within this majestic creature!" Megumin laughed, taking the cat and nestling her in the collar of her robes.
"Hmph. Just see that thou treats thy familiar well, mortal. Or moi shall be forced to reckon with thee," Vanir sniffed, shaking his feather duster in Megumin's direction.
"Oh ho, do you challenge me to a duel?" Megumin cackled, striking a pose. "Be wary, shopkeeper, or I shall unleash my dark arts upon thee."
"Pah! Thou art an untrained child. Moi doubts that thou could cast the meanest spell. Why, moi would even-"
There was the tinkle of a bell as the shop door opened, and Vanir spun on his heel, suddenly obsequious and cordial. "Welcome, moi is ever so pleased to see thee again, O honored customers? What can moi interest thee in?"
"Vanir," a middle aged man in fine robes grunted. He was followed into the shop by a boy with messy brown hair and a bored expression on his face. "Was wondering if you had any...interesting items today."
"Moi's wares are always of the most fascinating kind. Ah, and who is this? OH-HO-HO-HO! This is too fine!"
"Ugh, dad, do we really have to come to this dingy place?" the boy whined. "Let's just get my school supplies and go. Come on, I want to get a broom. I bet I could get onto the quidditch team."
"You're a first year. Wait until next year, son," the man said, stepping over to examine one of the rows of wares. "I say, is that a genuine screaming mask? Thought those were illegal."
"Not at all, not at all! This is the genuine article, made by Trellius the Mad himself! Moi can offer a most competitive price upon it," Vanir said, rubbing his white gloved hands together.
The boy stood by the door, looking rather bored. He glanced in the direction of the two girls, but seemed rather uninterested in them.
"Um, h-hello," Yunyun said, shuffling towards the boy. "A-are you g-going to Hogwarts too?"
"Obviously. As if there's another school worth going to. Except maybe Durmstrang, but that'd be way too much effort," the boy replied. He glanced at Wiz, who was smiling at him. "What? Something on my face?"
"No, just...happy to see customers!" Wiz answered. "Can I get you some tea?"
"Pass."
"W-we're going to Hogwarts," Yunyun stammered, blushing even as her eyes began to glow red. "M-maybe we can-"
Megumin stepped between the two, her own eyes glowing as brightly as Yunyun's. "A-ha! A potential rival! Tell me, boy, do you know who stands before you?"
The individual in question rolled his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. "An overly dramatic moron who has an inflated ego because she got the same letter we all get when we turn eleven?"
If Megumin was taken aback by this response, she didn't show it. "Ha! Fool, all already know of my tale! I have acquessed to attend Hogwarts, and shall allow the school to propel me further on my path of glory!"
"Oh come on. Who do you think you are? Megumin Potter?" the boy snapped, clearly irritated now. He paused as Megumin grinned, throwing her head back so that her scar was clearly visible.
"THEN YOU ALREADY KNOW MY NAME!" Megumin cackled as the boy looked at her, utterly thunderstruck. "Know that you are merely the first of many to know my face!"
The boy blinked a few times, then suddenly bowed formally. "My apologies, I did not recognize you at first in such an establishment of ill repute, Ms. Potter."
Wiz let out a wounded gasp at hearing her shop referred to in such a manner, but she was ignored.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kazuma-"
"Right, that's all then. Come on, boy, let's see about your robes," Kazuma's father said, striding over with a freshly wrapped package under his arm.
"Father, allow me to introduce you to my new friend," Kazuma said smoothly, turning and smiling. "This is Megumin Potter."
"Is she now?" the man studied Megumin's wide grin, his eyes flicking to her scar, then her visible red eye. "Well now. My son will be attending Hogwarts in your year, Ms. Potter. I'm sure the two of you will get to know one another quite well. Such a cunning individual as yourself is certain to end up in Slytherin. It's the house for those with ambition."
"Um, a-actually, w-we were going into Hufflepuff, s-so we could make friends." Yunyun held up the violet she had received earlier. "W-we met a nice lady who-"
"Hufflepuff?" Kazuma sneered, shaking his head derisively. "That's a house for Mudbloods and Dumbledore's pets. Even worse than Gryffindor in some ways."
"Kazuma! I will not hear such language in my shop!" Wiz huffled, planting her hands on her hips.
Giving the proprietress an odd look, Kazuma shrugged. "Well, it's true. Isn't it, father? Well. We've got to go now, but I'm sure we'll meet again, Ms. Potter. And your...friend."
The door closed, and Yunyun stepped closer to Megumin. "He...he seemed nice?" she said in a questioning tone.
"Hmph. He is but a stepping stone on my path to legend," Megumin sniffed.
Vanir broke out in chuckles, which earned him a glare from Wiz. Once she had shooed away her partner, she turned back to the two girls. "Well, I suppose I should ask who is minding you. Surely you two aren't supposed to just wander Knockturn Alley like a-"
"Do they name everything after dumb puns, or is it just the streets?" Megumin interrupted. "I can think of several superior names, such as Heroic Alley, or Supreme Alley."
"I...well…" Wiz leaned towards Megumin, lowering her voice. "You know, when I came here, I noticed the same thing. But no one else seems to think anything of it. People have Newt Scamander as a famous biologist, and nearly every other person has some sort of name like that."
"It's because they understand the importance of having a memorable name. Thankfully, my parents understood that as the hero, I could not have a common name, and gave me a suitable appellation," Megumin said seriously.
"I...I always wished my name was more ordinary," Yunyun admitted.
"Do not say that! Your name is one of your few remarkable features," Megumin stated.
Yunyun looked embarrassed, while Wiz sighed and glanced down at the girl's chest for some reason. "Give it a few years."
Just then, the door banged open again. "Wiz, yeh haven't seen- Oh thank Merlin, yer here!"
Hagrid stomped in, puffing and red faced. "I been lookin' all over for the two o' yeh. Didn't I tell you not to go anywhere?"
"We did not go anywhere. We came here," Megumin answered airly.
"Bloody hell, Megs, do you know where this is? This is Knockturn Alley!" Hagrid cried.
"Yes, and perhaps we shall yet find Diurn Alley," Megumin replied.
Wiz tittered at that, while Hagrid just looked flummoxed.
It was, unfortunately, an expression he would frequently be wearing when talking with young Miss Potter.