Dark Legend of Potter: Crimson Demons Awaken

by Full-Paragon

Megumin Potter was always seen as a delusional child who believed that the death of her parents and her mistreatment at the hands of her aunt and uncle were signs that she was destined to be the Chosen One and had dark and terrible powers within herself. Most thought her mad. Unfortunately, she was dead on. Hogwarts will not survive this.

6. Hello Darkness My Old Friend

Despite all odds, the Dursley's house was not blown up between August 10th and September 1st. Well, at least that year. You never know.

Anyway, as the day drew closer, Vernon and Petunia both grew increasingly skeptical and frantic, trying to talk Yunyun out of going to Hogwarts. They didn't even bother with Megumin, for two reasons. One, even the Durselys were not dumb enough to try to talk her out of what was her apparent life goal up to that point, and two, getting rid of Megumin for at least a few months was like a dream come true.

Two days before the start of term, however, Yunyun got sick of the constant presents, heavy sighs, reminders of how lovely Weaving School for Girls was, and talk of how beastly wizards were sure to be.

"Mum, dad, Megumin is my cousin and my best friend. I'm not letting her go to school without me. We're going to have a lovely time together, and, and, and I'm going to be a great witch! Better even than Aunt Lily!" Yunyun finally declared at dinner. "And that's final!"

With that she stormed off to the WC to have a good cry. By the time she got back, Megumin had already stolen half her supper and snarfed it down. She appeared to be trying to make up for lost time in regards to her body's metabolic needs, though with her constant manic energy and motion there was little danger of her growing to the size Vernon was.

"So, I-I will really miss you both!" Yunyun said brightly, picking absently at the remains of her food. "But I'll write every week! Hedwig can bring you letters, and you can write back! I-It would be like having a pen pal!"

Vernon opened his mouth, but Petunia put a hand on his. "When I was a girl, I wanted nothing so much as to go to Hogwarts with my sister. I...I wouldn't take this away from Yunyun, Vernon. Lily...she was my best friend before…" She swallowed, and managed to smile at Yunyun. "Just...stay safe. If there's any danger...come home. Please."

"Of course! I promise!" Yunyun agreed.

"Hmph. It is in danger that-"

"Not now, Megumin," her aunt said, sounding weary unto death.

For once, Megumin listened and shut her mouth. She was crazy, not cruel.

There were a great many tears on the morning of September the 1st. To Megumin's shock, she was crying too as Petunia and Vernon snapped pictures of their girls and gave them brand new dresses to wear to the train. For once, Megumin agreed to wear the new clothes instead of misfit hand-me-downs. She was rather pleased with her red skirt, which matched Yunyun's, though their blouses were different colors and patterns.

"You both look lovely," Petunia told them, tears in her eyes as she kissed the top of their heads before getting into the car. "You be careful. Those people aren't safe."

"Neither are we, for we are the Crimson Demon Clan!" Megumin laughed.

Vernon pulled her aside before they got into the car, and Megumin got ready to shout back at him when he lambasted her. Instead, Vernon shoved her wand case into her hands. "Take care of Yunyun. I know you're a bloody maniac, but you care for her. She's naive, and too trusting. You at least, I can count on to have some healthy skepticism. Look out for your cousin, you hear?"

Megumin studied her uncle for a moment, then nodded seriously. "I may mock Yunyun, but I am the only one allowed to do so. I shall protect her from any fools that might wish to take advantage of her."

At the train station, the Dursleys walked Megumin and Yunyun to the designated platform, Vernon muttering all the while. "Platform 9 ¾! Been to this bloody station a hundred times, never heard of such nonsense!"

When they arrived at platform 10, Vernon gestured to the wall. "You see? Nothing here. No Platform 9 ¾. We can just go home then. Seems this was all a prank."

"No, this is but a test! We must find this mysterious platform, that we can attend Hogwarts!" Megumin protested rather volubly.

"Do you really want to go to that school for weirdos?" Vernon demanded. Then threw up his hands and answered his own question. "Never mind, of course you do. Well, how do YOU suggest we find this mystery platform, Little Miss Genius?"

Megumin looked around, her red eyes searching the crowd. She pointed at an approaching pair, an older woman and a young girl pushing a trolley loaded with trucks similar to the ones that Yunyun and Megumin were pushing. "That one."

"Her? Why do you think that old biddy would know where this damn platform is?" Vernon demanded.

"Because she has excellent taste in headwear," Megumin declared, nodding to the hideous stuffed vulture perched atop the woman's hat. "She is the most interesting person here, and thus, is most likely not to merely be a nameless NPC and have important quest information."

"That is utterly daft," Vernon grumbled. But he stepped towards the oddly dressed woman anyway. "Excuse me, ma'am. Don't suppose you know where to find Platform 9 ¾?"

"Of course I do," the lady in question sniffed. She eyed Vernon with mistrust, her ward regarding Yunyun and Megumin with interest. Yunyun waved shyly, while Megumin grinned maniacally. "You look like a muggle. Why are you asking about 9 ¾?"

"He is merely my uncle, pay him no heed," Megumin declared, inserting herself in front of Vernon. "Behold! I am MEGUMIN POTTER! I and my rival, Yunyun Dursley, are here to embark upon our academic careers! Be you fellow witches?"

"Megumin Potter?" the older woman studied Megumin's face, while the girl suddenly reddened and took a step back in shock. "Good heavens, it is you. Well, don't just stand there, girl. Introduce yourself!"

"Greetings," the girl said, her spine snapping straight and she stood to rigid attention. She was a tall, gangly thing, all arms and legs, with a long face and hair done up in a ponytail that hung to the nape of her neck. "I am...I am mumble mumble Longbottom. It is a pleasure to make-"

"Your full name, girl! And none of your tricks!" the old lady harumphed.

Wincing, the girl managed, "I am Lalatina Longbottom. I...I am pleased to meet you. My parents knew yours, back in the War."

"War?" That got Megumin's immediate attention. "Where are your parents? I would be eager to meet my parents' allies in their struggle against the vile dark lord."

Lalatina's eyes went an ice cold blue, and her tone became rather chilling. "They are..not here. My one true mission in life is to ensure that all of the Dark Lord's minions are rooted out, and justice done in the land. The ones who wronged my family have been caught, but some former Death Eaters walk free."

"Then we are allies in the same cause!" Megumin declared, and extended her hand.

Lalatina looked surprised, then eagerly took Megumin's hand and pumped it. "I-I am glad to find you so eager, Miss Potter! I did not think to find those so dedicated to-"

"We shall root out the minions of the Dark Lord, and write our names in-" Megumin paused, noticing that Yunyun had come up next to her and was blushing and looking down. With a sigh of exasperation, she grabbed her cousin and shoved her in front of Lalatina.

"Come on, you can talk to adults! You can talk to her too!" Megumin snapped.

"H-h-h-h," Yunyun stammered, shuffling nervously from foot to foot.

"Um, hello," Lalatina said, somewhat unnerved by Yunyun's glowing red eyes and flushed face, as well as the fact that the other girl was leaning in far too close to her.

"HELLODOYOUWANNABEFRIENDS!?" Yunyun finally half shrieked.

"Um…" Lalatina glanced desperately at Megumin, who had smacked her palm into her face.

"That's enough of that," Ms. Longbottom said, grabbing Lalatina by the collar. "Come, you're making a scene. You should know better than this, girl. Try to act like a proper lady, for once."

"Yes, grandma," Lalatina sighed. She motioned for Megumin and the Dursleys to follow her, meekly following after her grandmother.

Megumin and Yunyun followed after, and while Yunyun hesitated when the Longbottoms walked straight through a wall, Megumin simply expected the universe to conform to her wishes, and went straight on through with no hesitation. On the other side, however, Megumin let out a squeak and tripped right over Lalatina, who was sprawled on the pavement. Chomusuke let out a yowl from her carrier, and a moment later both Hedwig and Yunyun shrieked as they crashed into Megumin, creating a three cart pileup as trunks and familiars went everywhere.

"Clumsy girl! Is it too much to ask for you to not trip over your own two feet?!" Ms. Longbottom asked in exasperation.

"Yes, grandma! I mean, no, grandma! Sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry!" Lalatina babbled, jumping up. She easily hefted both Megumin and Yunyun's trunks, one under each arm, quickly stacking them back on their carts even though Vernon had puffed and sweated to lift even one up.

However, Lalatina's further efforts just knocked over the carts, sending possessions spilling everywhere and drawing looks from the various other families on the platform.

"At it again, Longbottom?" a blonde boy called, sneering at the frantic girl.

Upon hearing the words, Lalatina stiffened, then turned, her face suffused with red. "You want to make something of it, Malfoy!?"

"Oh yes, I very much do," the boy said with a smirk. He held up a wand and laughed. "I have one of these now. Tell me, did they even give you a wand? I thought they didn't let squibs into Hogwarts."

"Ignore him. You're a witch. Not a troll or a muggle street urchin," Ms. Longbottom said, though her tone and eyes were pure winter as they regarded Malfoy and his father with pure contempt.

"Yes, grandmother," Lalatina ground out, and went back to helping Yunyun and Megumin.

"Is he one of the Death Eaters? Should we challenge him to a duel?" Megumin asked eagerly once she had calmed down the frantic Chomusuke. Vernon and Petunia had finally made their way through the portal, both pale and looking worried.

"No. But his father was," Lalatina ground out, tears of frustration filling her eyes. She hastily wiped them away. "But no. I can… I can endure this. I have to. I must. I cannot...I cannot shame my family."

"If he is the spawn of wickedness, then we should stamp him out!" Megumin declared, whirling towards Malfoy and slapping on an eye patch. "I shall-"

"Potter. I thought I said you should find the right sort of people," a familiar voice said. A grinning Kazuma stood before Megumin, another blond boy at his side.

Lalatina stiffened at seeing the two boys, but turned away, her teeth gritted in anger. Yunyun looked back and forth between the two groups, uncertain of what to do.

"Hmph. We meet again. What do you want, Kazuma?" Megumin demanded.

"Well, Dust and I were going to invite you to sit with us," Kazuma said, giving Megumin a friendly smile. "You don't want to hang out with this squib. She can't hardly do any magic at all. And, well...that name. Lalatina."

The girl in question flinched, but very carefully did not look at Kazuma.

"La-la-tina, La-la-tina," Dust teased. "Can't do magic however she pleases!"

Their only answer was the grinding of Lalatina's teeth.

"Come on, the real wizards will be with us," Kazuma said. He nodded to Yunyun. "Bring your friend. She's got decent magic, right?"

"Yunyun is a member of the Crimson Demon Clan! Her magic is potent. Tell them, Yunyun!" Megumin ordered.

"Um, w-well, I, um...I don't...b-but…" Yunyun glanced at Dust, who was smirking at Lalatina, then at the other girl. "But….but...aren't you all...f-friends?"

"What? Us? Friends with her?" Kazuma laughed. "No way!"

"Lalatina is a crusader for Justice, who seeks to avenge her parents," Megumin said, folding her arms over her chest. "That is a very compelling backstory. What is yours?"

"Backstory?" Dust asked, confused.

"She means like our lineage," Kazuma said with a shrug. He pointed at his chest. "I'm Kazuma Krabb. This is Dust Goyle. Our families are old, rich, and powerful. But that old coot Dumbledore and his pets like Lalatina here have it out for us, even though we've never done anything wrong."

"That is a lie!" Lalatina yelled, whirling on the boys, who were both half a head shorter than she. "Your families were-"

"Cleared of all wrongdoing. Our kin were just as hurt by You-Know-Who as yours," Kazuma said in a tone of wounded innocence.

Lalatina snarled, her hands balling into fists, which she half raised. There was a cough behind her, and she glanced at her grandmother, who was frowning at her. Reluctantly, she lowered her hands. "You're not worth it. Megumin, Yunyun, you're free to sit with me. If you want to consort with Death Eater spawn and their vile stench, you can hang out with Scumzuma and his minion."

"Hey, I'm not a minion!" Dust the Minion protested.

"Go back and fawn over Malfoy," Lalatina snarled and stalked off towards the train.

"That is not a very compelling backstory. You claim to want to be in Slytherin," Megumin said as if nothing had happened.

"What? That's totally compelling!" Kazuma put on his expression of wounded innocence again. "We must struggle against oppression and bigotry on all sides, as well as a tide of mudbloods and muggle trash!"

"Mudblood," Megumin said, rolling the word around in her mouth. "You've said that before. This means?"

"Oh, you know, trash that thinks they're real wizards and witches, with impure blood," Dust supplied. When Megumin's expression did not look enlightened, he added, "You know, people with muggle parents."

"I see. And Mudblood is an insult?" Megumin inquired sweetly as Yunyun wilted.

"Oh yeah. If someone called us that?" Kazuma and Dust shared a look, then a chuckle. "Well, as they say, 'them's fightin' words."

"Very well." Without warning, Megumin delivered two swift kicks, one each to the groin of both Kazuma and Dust, who let out gasps of pain and crumpled to the ground. She then immediately stood atop both their backs, posing and shouting into the astonished silence, "BEHOLD! I AM MEGUMIN POTTER! FOREMOST GENIUS OF THE CRIMSON DEMON CLAN! ALL WHO WOULD BESMIRCH THE GOOD NAME OF THE CRIMSON DEMON CLAN, BE WARNED! FOR OUR RETRIBUTION IS SWIFT! I CLAIM VICTORY, FOR I WIN AGAIN THIS DAY!"

"Pose," Megumin hissed to Yunyun, "and introduce yourself properly."

"Um, um," Yunyun glanced at all the strangers, then squeezed her eyes shut and stood next to Megumin. "I AM YUNYUN! F-FOREMOST FRIEND OF THE CRIMSON DEMON CLAN! A-AND I THINK WE CAN BE FRIENDS NO MATTER WHO YOUR PARENTS ARE, A-AND THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE A BULLY EVEN IF YOUR PARENTS ARE M-MUGGLES!"

"Hmph. That will do for now." Megumin knelt down to look Kazuma and Dust in the eye. "I shall see you at Hogwarts. Know this: you are now my eternal rivals. One day, you will kneel and beg Yunyun and I's forgiveness! Come on, Yunyun. We're sitting with Lalatina. Her backstory is suitably tragic, and therefore she is destined to be our companion."

"You're crazy," Kazuma wheezed.

"M-muggle loving maniac," Dust whimpered.

Megumin flounced off, Yunyun tiptoeing along behind her.

"Bloody hell girl, what was that about?" Vernon demanded.

"Those boys insulted Yunyun, and called her what appears to be a slur," Megumin stated. "As such, I defended her honor, and the honor of the Crimson Demon Clan."

"Oh did they?" Vernon snorted and nodded. "Good girl."

"That was very improper of you," Ms. Longbottom lectured when Megumin arrived. Then she looked over Megumin's shoulder and smirked. "But the look on Castor and Gordan's faces when their sons keeled over...well. I suppose you have been living with wild muggles."

"I have managed to suitably tame this group," Megumin answered seriously. "They are not so bad at times."

"Try not to attack anyone that doesn't deserve it," Petunia sighed.

"I am the hero. Naturally, that means that anyone I attack deserves it," Megumin said smugly.

"Who bloody well tamed who?" Vernon groaned.

Just then, the call came to board the train, and it was all frantic haste to get luggage loaded on the train. Lalatina easily scooped up all three girls' trunks, despite each weighing over 100 pounds with the cauldrons, books, clothes, and other school supplies.

"Good God, girl, you're going to hurt yourself!" Vernon protested.

"This is nothing," Lalatina grunted, barely breaking a sweat. "I train every day. Come on."

"Bye, mum, bye dad!" Yunyun called, kissing her parents goodbye.

At the last moment, Petunia dashed forward, giving Megumin a quick hug. "Come back to us," she whispered, and kissed the top of her niece's head.

"I shall, that you might hear my tales of glory!" Megumin promised. Then a tide of students swept her onto the train.

Megumin found Lalatina and Yunyun wrestling their possessions into a compartment, as students hastily boarded. After stowing Chomusuke, she stuck her head out of the window, grinning and waving at what she naturally assumed was her own private audience.

"Hello? Is there room in this compartment?" a frazzled looking girl with frizzy hair and buck teeth asked, poking her head in.

"Um, um, um," Yunyun stammered, blushing and looking uncertain.

"Yes," Lalatina answered, scooping up the girl's trunk and stowing it in the overhead bin.

"Thank you. Are you using a strength enhancing charm?" the girl asked curiously, coming into the compartment. "I've tried a few spells, but not one of those."

"No," Lalatina admitted, blushing slightly. "I merely train daily."

"Well, I'm Hermione Granger," the girl declared, plopping herself in the seat next to Lalatina and across from Yunyun and Megumin. She eyed the cousins with a calculating eye. "And you are Megumin Potter. Did you know, you're in Greatest Wizards of the 20th Century? I think it should have been called Greatest Wizards and Witches instead."

"Of course, my fame has spread far and wide, for I was the one to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named when I was a mere babe," Megumin said imperiously as the train began to pull away. Yunyun quickly leaned over her, to wave goodbye to her parents, who both looked rather ill, but had smiles pasted on their faces.

"You know, they didn't mention the Crimson Demon Clan in A History of Magic or Greatest Wizards. Is it terribly famous?" Hermione prattled on.

"We have just begun to make ourselves known. Soon, all shall speak of the mystic might of the Crimson Demon Clan," Megumin bragged.

"Really? Are there a lot of wizarding clans? Should I join one? I only read about the Hogwarts Houses. I think I shall be in Gryffindor, that's where all the best wizards and witches like Albus Dumbledore are from," Hermione stated.

"Um," Yunyun looked at the other girl, biting her lip.

"What? Do you disagree?" Hermion asked. "Is there another wizard you think is more important?"

"N-no, I just...I…" Yunyun fidgeted a bit, then managed, "D-do you...want to be friends?"

Hermione and Lalatina both blinked at Yunyun's glowing eyes, but then Hermione smiled. "Of course. You're the first witches I've met. Aside from Professor McGonagal of course. She's the one who told me and my parents. They're just dentists, but I'm certain I shall make a splendid witch."

"M-my d-dad s-sells drills," Yunyun stammered. "But, um...I'm Megumin's cousin, and, well...I guess we're witches too."

"Do you think magic is genetic? I've wondered about that. I can't find anything in any of the books about how magic is passed down, but I only have our textbooks and they seem very basic."

"Ha! This only goes to show that the adults are hiding the true knowledge in hidden places, and feeding the youth only dribbles of power to keep them beholden to the establishment!" Megumin laughed. "We must set free the proletariat students by breaking their reliance on the bourgeois teachers and seizing the means of education for ourselves!"

"I...I don't think Marx is appropriate in this situation…" Hermione said, frowning slightly.

"We must endeavor to act as proper students, so that our teachers can train us!" Lalatina declared. "They must levy heavy burdens upon us! I have been training my body daily to prepare for the rigors of Hogwarts."

"Don't you think it's our minds that are more important?" Hermione demanded.

"A true Crimson Demon knows that while a strong body is important, and sharp wits are a boon to all heroes, it is the dark, terrible powers within one's soul that are what truly make a hero."

"...that sounds something a Death Eater would say," Lalatina said, her tone dangerous.

"Hmph. To fight evil, you must understand it. I know this, for even now, a great and terrible evil stains my soul from my encounter with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. If you had such a brush with destiny, you would understand, Lalatina," Megumin replied.

The other girl flinched, flushing and looking down. "Um, actually...if we're going to be friends...I would prefer you not call me that…"

"W-what should we call y-you?" Yunyun asked.

Lalatina opened her mouth, but it was Megumin who answered. "Clearly, we should call her Darkness, that she might embrace her own tragic backstory, and draw courage from the terrible event that has happened in her past that defines her."

"I don't think-" Darkness began.

Just then, the door slid open, revealing Malfoy, with Kazuma and Dust behind him. "Well, there you are. I have to say, Potter. What you did to Kazuma and Dust...that was impressive. A bit of a dirty muggle method, but I wouldn't have thought someone like you had that in you. Oh. You're here. Lalatina."

"It's Darkness," the girl in question snapped. "You know I hate my name, Malfoy."

"Well I could just call you Longbottom," Malfoy sneered, while Kazuma and Dust sniggered behind him.

Darkness flushed, but shook her head. "I like Darkness."

"Well, maybe you'll get put in a proper house, like Slytherin. Oh wait, you have to have magic for that," Malfoy laughed. "Really, Potter, is this who you're going to spend your time with? Two...muggleborns...and a squib?"

Megumin sprang to her feet, standing on her tiptoes so that her eyes were even with Malfoys. "Hmm. Are you applying to be my rival?"

"Applying to- Are you mad?" Malfoy asked in bafflement. "I'm here to offer you a chance to spend your time in the company of real wizards. Those with real magic, and real bloodlines."

"Yunyun does not make for a proper rival. She is too nice," Megumin said, which earned a gasp of delight from Yunyun at what she perceived as a compliment. "Clearly, Hermione and Darkness are here to be my boon companions in my quest as well. That means I need a proper rival. Preferably a Slytherin, as I shall be in Gryffindor."

"Boon companion? I don't remember-" Hermione started, but gave up when Malfoy laughed.

"You call this lot boon companions? Well, I suppose you belong in Gryffindor. It is the house for those with no sense," Malfoy sneered. "Last chance, Potter. Come with me, or doom yourself to the dregs of wizarding society with these mud-"

There was a meaty twack, and Malfoy's eyes rolled up into his head as he collapsed to the ground, gasping and clutching at his family jewels.

"You owe me five sickles," Kazuma said, holding his hand out to Dust. "Pay up."

"Damn, I didn't think he'd be that dumb, or she'd be that crazy," Dust sighed, digging around in his pocket for the coins.

"Are you calling me mad, fool?" Megumin demanded.

Hastily crossing his legs, Dust stammered out, "N-no?"

"Hmph. I shall let the three of you fight over who is fit to be my rival. Only the most cunning and ruthless of foes are suitable to be my rival," Megumin declared, slamming the door shut and sitting back down.

"Well." Hermione looked at the door, trying and failing to hide a smile. "That's one way to handle a bully."

"M-megumin is good at f-fighting bullies," Yunyun sighed. "I-I just wish she wouldn't scare everyone off when she did…"

"I, um, well...your methods are quite brutal. I suppose I could learn from you…" Darkness said hesitantly.

"Then we shall make a pact!" Megumin declared. "We shall all join forces, and together, rid the land of evil and defeat Voldemort for all time!"

"Y-you even say his name!?" Darkness gasped. "I'm in! I shall work my body brutally to be ready to fight evil!"

"Um, as long as w-we can be friends…" Yunyun agreed hesitantly.

Hermione considered, then shrugged. "Well, at least being around you is sure to be interesting."

And thus, the Crimson Demon Clan began to grow.

Somewhere, a shiver ran down the spine of one Severus Snape.

He was in for a rough seven years.