Prologue
“Marinette, dear, what’s this in your room?” Sabine Cheng called from the attic of the Dupain Bakery, as her daughter froze in horror.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng has always been an average girl with an average life, at least on the outside. She goes to school, has some friends, helps her parents, and so on. But in the night, she becomes The Crimson Witch, with the power of a piece of jewelry called a Miraculous. But if either of her parents- or anyone else, for that matter- EVER figured out she had the ladybug miraculous, only hell would await as time waited for all she knew to fall apart.
Horrified that Sabine realized, Marinette dashed into the attic that is her room so fast her father, Tom Dupain, spun full circle as she passed by him. But as Marinette slowed to a stop in her room, she found her Mamán holding an unfamiliar… letter?
Marinette calmed down, quietly taking the letter with confusion clearly showing all over her face. As she opened it, she read, “Hogwarts School of… Witchcraft and Wizardry? We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry… Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.”
“Mamán, is this another prank?” Marinette asked, not impressed by the seemingly obvious false creation. “I have to admit, though, it would’ve passed as real if it didn’t talk about magic.”
“Marinette.. umm, I actually don’t know. Do you know who gave it to you?”
“That would be me!” A strange voice shouted from the trapdoor to the roof, as the mother and daughter looked up, bewildered. “Hah, sorry about the surprise. When I found out I had to deliver an entrance letter to a muggle-born in an attic, I couldn’t resist!”
Marinette and Sabine looked at the stranger, seemingly both ready to strangle them.
“Ah, right- you don’t know about magic. Anyways, mind if I come in properly and eat cheese while talking to you about this? I’ve waited TOO LONG to eat the camembert in my bag!” Said the stranger. Marinette and Sabine shared skeptical glances before both showing them into the first floor.
“So now that you’re set, will you start explaining?” Marinette said, somewhat frustrated from the combination of the horror show of a prank, the lack of sleep, and the stranger who infiltrated the house all at once.
“I’m Plagg, a professor at Hogwarts. Before you ask for pronouns and… I am not saying that- I use he/him pronouns. I came here to deliver your invitation letter, which you’ve already started to read. I also have to show you to Diagon Alley, help you obtain what you need for your first year, and teach you the basics of reaching Hogwarts- if you accept, that is.” said ‘Plagg’, his voice portraying ounces of pure boredom in every word. “Blah, blah, blah, you get the point! Can we get to the fun stuff now and go to Diagon Alley?! I’m DYING to get to Tikki already!” he said, in a much more energetic tone now.
As Plagg went practically yelling, Tom- Marinette’s Papa finally entered the room, entirely confused. With his entry, Plagg’s mood dropped into frustration.
“Do I have to explain AGAIN!!!” He yelled, complete annoyance in his tone, while Marinette groaned and Sabine was holding back a chuckle.
—— — ——
By the time Plagg finished, Sabine’s head was reeling, Tom was just staring in confusion, and Marinette was buzzing in excitement. Magic, potions, and wands, AND traveling through fireplaces like Santa Claus, AND THEN Platform Nine and Three Quarters- Plagg took over an hour to debrief the family, somehow, and the effects showed themselves. Even Plagg showed concern when he saw how energetic Marinette was. But he just shrugged it off, with more to say.
“I’d have ended this already, BUT since you don’t get to see news about magic with your muggle businesses, there IS something I should probably tell you.” Plagg started, with Marinette beginning to deflate a little, and Sabine and Tom still on the previous topic. “About… twenty years ago? Some random old dude started attacking the wizarding world, ‘cause he’s one of those idiots who hates people related to muggles AT ALL. He vanished from the wizarding world after failing to kill a baby eight years ago, which people say is because of some mother’s love poop that makes NO sense to me. Anyways, since he was never arrested or seen dead, he can probably still come for your head. So, now that THAT debriefing is over, can we start so I can FINALLY SEE TIKKI!”
Sabine and Tom were staring dead-on at Plagg and were about to decline VERY loudly, when Marinette just said, “YES.” Sabine and Tom exchanged glances, before proceeding to look at their daughter like she was on drugs (considering how sleepless and excited she is, Marinette might as well be high LOL).
—— — ——
Adrien Agreste is an eleven year old boy with a neglectful father and a dead mother. The last time he ever actually saw his father was five years ago, when the man revealed to him that his mother was not just missing, but dead. Apparently his mother, Emilie Agreste, died when he was three years old, from a magical attack by a dark wizard who wanted to procure artifacts known as the miraculous- pieces of jewelry that god-like beings called kwamis used to be tied to, resulting in the jewelry bestowing the holders magical powers upon command. Of course, Adrien could never find more information upon these so-called miraculous, but he still had vowed to someday fight and end the man who killed his mother. His father disapproved of it, but it was the one thing he disapproved of that he allowed, so Adrien was very much willing to stick with what he had.
Adrien couldn’t remember anything from the last time he had been outside. Those times were far gone, by now. He had been told by his father’s assistant, Nathalie Sancoeur, that everyone was staring at him for the lightning symbol on his forehead, and that if he dared step out again one day someone might steal him. But even with this total isolation from the outside world, a letter still managed to make its way into the young Agreste’s room, as well as a nice explanation, a list of things to buy- but most importantly, a ticket out of his sickening house with a promise of warm welcome.
As Adrien gathered what he thought he’d need for his journey- mostly the new papers, a bunch of money, a small portion of clothes, and then two extra large, empty suitcases-, he walked over to the fireplace tucked in the corner of his room to begin.