Diagon Alley
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter 3
Kysa woke up slowly, before sitting up in her bed and stretching. She yawned before remembering what today was when she saw the room she was in. Yesterday had been her eleventh birthday so they hadn’t arrived at the tower until late due to the party at home. She got out of bed and quietly slipped out of the room and then slowly opened the door to her father’s room. She crept inside, being careful not to wake him. He was, as she had suspected, still asleep. She grinned in a way that promised mischief. Thankfully for her father, she only wanted to wake him up, so in true childish fashion, she stepped back a few paces, took a running start, leapt and landed on the bed, her knees landing on the mattress right next to him, her chest falling over his upper torso as she overshot her landing slightly and tried to correct it. Loki shot up in bed, and Kysa laughed.
“Time to get up dad! We’re going to England today! To the British mortal wizarding district!”
“You could not wake me in a normal fashion?” He asked. She laughed. “Oh you think it is funny?”
She made to jump off the bed, but he caught her round the waist and began to tickle her. The sounds of her shrieking with laughter woke the others in the penthouse of Stark tower up. This was actually a regular occurrence whenever the Asgardians visited the tower now. And none of them really cared. Kysa and her cousins were adored by all of the avengers. There was no doubt about it. There was something about the children that they just wanted to protect. That they had seen them grow up probably helped that fact, but it still stood- they all wanted to be a part of their lives whenever she and Thor’s children visited Midgard with Kysa’s father and uncle.
When they had finally gathered for breakfast, Kysa had calmed down slightly, but she kept fidgeting in her seat.
“Calm down Kysa, we will not be going to that shopping district until tomorrow.” Loki said.
“Yes, but we’re going to England today.” She said, as if that was reason enough. “I’ve never been anywhere in England before.” There was that. They had taken her to various places in America and then branched out to the rest of the world. She’d been to France, Australia, Italy, Germany and Russia, but she had never been to anywhere in Britain. For one simple reason. The Potters.
“You won’t be seeing much of it. It’ll take the best part of twelve hours to fly there.” Natasha said.
“But we’re still going there today!” She argued. It was the same thing every time she was going somewhere new. Even if they would only be travelling there, she’d get excited, knowing that it was the start of the entire trip.
They used one of Stark’s private jets to get to Heathrow Airport. It took a lot of work for them to keep Kysa occupied through the trip. It was times like these when she was a bundle of energy, and if they weren’t careful, she could start letting off bursts of accidental magic. While she had Asgardian magic, and was able to wield it well, as well as her father could when he was her age, Kysa also had the magic that mortals used. That was something that she couldn’t control as well. That was the reason that they were going to England. Kysa had gotten a place at Hogwarts School and they were taking her to get her school supplies and have her first glimpse at the mortal magical world. She wished her cousins had come, but they had chosen to stay in Asgard this time. She mentally shrugged. She would make the most of it. And they had promised to come see her off to school. They would probably be on Midgard within the week. It was just like them both to say no to coming and then want to come a few days later.
They were staying in the same hotel that they had been in when Loki had adopted Kysa, not that she knew that, of course. All she knew was that the group of adults had been there before. Of course, she also didn’t know she was adopted but Loki knew that he would have to tell her the truth soon. He’d had let slip that her mother had gone to Hogwarts. Now, she was dead set on going, and he knew she would find out in the worst way possible. He had to tell her. Plus, he knew that leaving her live her life without the truth would also not work out. He had still not forgiven Odin for that one. He knew he would have preferred to have been told sooner. But… she still probably wouldn’t take it all that well. He had tried to dissuade her. There were other schools. And then, he could tell her at the right time, and it wouldn’t seem as if his hand had been forced about it.
Loki sighed as he watched her sit down to watch a film on the TV. He wished she would never have to know this, but at least she would have the net of knowing he had adopted her in blood.
Walking over to the sofa, he conjured a thick green blanket. She looked up at him and smiled widely as he draped it over her. She patted the spot next to her, and he sat down before she moved under his arm and leant against his side. He always enjoyed the times he had with his daughter like this. This was one part of being a father that he would never grow tired of. Though, he could do without a few of the cheesy children’s films.
The next day found the group walking into a small dingy pub called the Leaky Cauldron. The pub was packed with people in robes of all different colours. “Where do we go now?” Tony asked.
Loki solved the problem by walking up to the bar and addressing the bar tender. “Would you be able to grant us access into Diagon Alley?” He asked the man.
“Of course sir.” The bar tender said jovially. He moved from behind the bar and led them to a door and into a small enclosed area out the back of the pub. He pulled out his wand and tapped a brick, which wiggled, before disappearing and then more bricks slid away, forming an archway. “Gringotts bank is straight ahead, you may want to stop there first to exchange some currency.”
“Thanks for your help.” Steve said, before they all past the man and into the bright alley which was lined with various different shops with bright displays. People wearing robes, just like people back in the pub, were everywhere, going from shop to shop. Kysa noticed that many had children her age or older with them.
“Looks like this is a popular day to get school supplies.” Natasha said.
“Stay close.” Loki said to Kysa.
She nodded and slipped her hand into his, and the group made their way down the alleyway. Kysa, Thor and Loki were the only ones who didn’t stare when they reached the bank and saw the goblins.
“Whatever you do, do not smile at the goblins and show your teeth. It is considered a mortal insult to them.” Thor warned the group. They were quick to exchange pounds for galleons and then, they were out of the bank. Tony looked ready to burst.
“Well, how about while Kysa gets her school supplies, we all split up?” He suggested hopefully. It was obvious that he wanted to go explore, and he didn’t want to adhere to a shopping list.
“May as well. We might get the essentials done quicker if you are not with us.” Loki said. “Norns know you would be stopping to gape at every little thing.” He then led Kysa down the steps of the bank and back into the hustle and bustle of the alleyway. “Do you have your list?”
“Yes.” She nodded, pulling it from her pocket. “Can we go get the books?”
“We can go get the books last. If we go now, we will get nothing else done.” He smiled. “Thor would have to come and drag the both of us out of there as we both looked for new books. We will get your other equipment and then your uniform before we go get the school books.”
She sighed in disappointment, but nodded, knowing that it was true. She got the cauldron and potions kit, which included a set of crystal vials, a set of brass scales and a telescope before they went to the wand shop. Ollivanders was a musty old shop but both father and daughter could feel the magic tingling in the air.
An old man with large pale eyes stepped out from between the shelves. “Can I help you?” He asked.
Loki placed his hands on Kysa’s shoulders. “My daughter Kysa needs her wand.” He said.
“Well, we’ll see about getting her sorted then.” He pulled a tape measure from his pocket. “Hold out your wand arm please.” He said.
Kysa held out her right arm and he began measuring her, soon she noticed that Ollivander had moved away and the tape was measuring between her nostrils by itself. He snapped his fingers and the tape dropped to the floor. He pulled a box from the shelf and pulled out the wand. He then handed it to her. Kysa took the wand, only for it to be snatched back.
“No, that won’t do at all.” He declared. Soon, they were moving through wand after wand. The pile of wands deemed useless for her had grown quite large, before the old man disappeared into the back of the shop, and came back with a very old box. “This might just do it. Maybe. My grandfather made this. And it very nearly cost him his life. As you both probably know, Fenrir is a very temperamental wolf.”
Loki raised an eyebrow. “That has some connection to Fenrir?”
“Yes. Elder wood with a core of hair from the tail of a particularly mischievous Kitsune which was sprinkled with what little blood my grandfather managed to get from Fenrir.”
“Ah yes, I do remember him growling about some foolish wizard a few years back. I believe that he truly enjoyed tearing his leg off.” Loki mused.
“Not the best time for that, dad.” Kysa said.
“Well, try it out then.” Ollivander said, handing her the wand.
Kysa took it and waved the wand and green and blue sparks emitted from the tip and she felt warmth spread through her fingers.
“It seems we have found you a match. Always remember- the wand choses the wizard. You will not get the same results with another’s wand, as you would with your own. That will be nine galleons.”
“Go wait by the door.” Loki told Kysa softly. “I need to have a few words with him.”
“Yes dad.” She said, moving to stand out by the door.
Loki pulled out the money needed to buy the wand and placed it on the counter. “I am going to make myself perfectly clear, mortal. If you or your kin ever take anything from mine own without paying for it, as your grandfather tried to do with Fenrir, you will sorely regret it. Understood?” His tone was icy, and his smirk promised pain.
Ollivander gulped and nodded. “Of course. How about a free wand holster? Dragon hide, from the Common Welsh Green?”
Loki nodded and was soon leaving with Kysa and handing her the holster to strap to her wrist. Their next stop was at Madam Malkins. There were two boys around Kysa’s age in the shop, one with his father, the other with his mother. The boy with his father had dark messy brown hair, which could be mistaken for black at a distance, or at first glance, which he had obviously inherited from his father. They were paying for their purchases, and Loki watched them carefully, pretty sure already who they were.
“But, she might be here.” The boy said excitedly. “Today! Emma might be here today, dad!”
“She might be, or she may come for her school supplies another day, Hadrian. But she will be on the Hogwarts Express.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Albus said she accepted her Hogwarts invitation. And I don’t doubt she’ll be a Gryffindor. How can any Potter be anything else?”
“I can’t wait to see her again. I wonder what she’s like. Do you think he would have treated her well?”
“We can only hope. But we’ll find out soon.”
“She’ll be coming home for Christmas too, right dad?”
“Of course.” They both left, and Loki fought back the sneer. There was no way Kysa would be spending any holiday with them. They were no longer her family.
Kysa, however, hadn’t really noticed the conversation between the Potter men. She had noticed them, and noticed the blonde boy and his mother, who had dark hair with two blonde streaks pulled back. The blonde boy was already on the stool, and had just started having his measurements taken and robes pinned.
“Hogwarts too dear?” A witch asked.
Kysa nodded. “Yes.” She said.
“Hop up onto this stool then.” The woman smiled. Her name tag said that she was Madam Malkin herself. She began taking measurements.
“Hello, are you in your first year too?” The blonde boy asked.
“Yes, I am.” Kysa said. “I’m very excited to be going. From what I’ve read, the magic taught there is rather different to the magic I’ve learnt so far. I’m Kysa, by the way, Kysa Lokidottir.”
“I’m Draco Malfoy.” He replied, and neither noticed his mother tense slightly and look over to where Loki had sat down to wait for his daughter, or how both the witches working on getting their robes ready exchanged glances too. “None of the wizarding families I know have that surname.”
“As with all my people, my surname is derived from my father’s name.” She answered. “It’s an old tradition.”
“Oh, that would explain it then.” But his tone suggested that it didn’t explain at all. She knew he was still wondering why he hadn’t heard of her family before.
“Draco, be nice.” His mother warned.
“I am, mother.” Draco said. “But father always says that mud-”
“She is not muggleborn, Draco.”
“Oh, right.” He said. “So, what house do you expect to be in? I’m bound to be in Slytherin. My entire family has been Slytherin for generations.”
“I’m not sure myself.” She said. “I know my mother went, but I’m not sure what house she was in.”
Draco’s voice dropped, so only she and the two witches would hear. “What about your father, what house does he expect you to be in?”
“I expect nothing of my daughter except that she does well in her schooling. I only want what is best for her and her happiness. Any parent who says otherwise is not a good parent at all.”
Draco jumped a mile. Kysa grinned. “Good hearing is… a family trait, I guess you could say.”
“That’s you done.” The sales witch finally said to Draco. He hopped down from the stool and he and his mother paid for the uniform and left. Through the window, Kysa could see Mrs Malfoy explaining something in a hurried way to her son, who then looked through the window, back at Kysa, wide eyed.
“Well that went well.” She said dryly.
“Is it just the school robes you are looking at?” Madam Malkin asked.
“Perhaps a few things for casual wear.” Loki suggested. “Seeing as how we’re not sure how appropriate the clothes you wear at home, and the ones for when we visit New York are in your school, Kysa.”
“Alright dad.” She nodded. The first option she was given, she immediately shot down.
“It’s very feminine though. Many young girls your age go for things in this style.” The woman said.
“It’s pink and it’s frilly.” Kysa said. “Both are a no go. I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot barge pole, so I most certainly wouldn’t wear it.”
In the end, they managed to get a few blouses, skirts, jumpers and trousers as well as robes to go over the top of them that Kysa wouldn’t burn the moment she left the shop. Those, coupled with her school uniform and the other clothes from the muggle world, and the clothes she wore for training and when there was nothing going on back in Asgard, saw that she would be set for the school term.
Finally, they entered Flourish and Blotts. They grabbed the books on her list first, before either father or daughter allowed themselves to look at the other titles on offer. Kysa had her arms full of books when she all but ran into a girl around her own age.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She said.
“No, I am.” The girl said. She and bushy brown hair and brown eyes and, like Kysa, an armful of books. “I should have been looking where I was going.”
“Me too really.” Kysa grinned. “Hogwarts too, then?”
“Yes, I’m the first witch in my family. I was terribly excited when I found out. And there are so many interesting books to read- I couldn’t just settle on only the ones on the book list.”
“I know. I mean, the library at home is huge, and has books from all over, but I’m always on the lookout for more material. I get that from my dad.”
The girl grinned. “I’ve never met anyone else my age who likes reading as much as I do. I’m always searching for more knowledge too.”
“I’m Kysa by the way.”
“Hermione.” The girl introduced. “Are you a first or second year?”
“First. You?”
“I’m the same. Do you know any books that might be good reading?”
“Well… it’s not so much fun reading but… there are the books on runes. I know it’s not studied until later, but Runes really is an integral part of magic. Perhaps they start in second year after easing students into their studies. It can be quite complex, but, as I said, the study of Runes is highly important. If you’ve never studied runes before, perhaps a book for those just beginning to learn it?”
“You sound like you grew up in the wizarding world, yet at the same time don’t know anything about it.” Hermione said. She was sharp, having picked up on the fact that Kysa didn’t know about the school curriculum.
“I didn’t grow up here. My dad and I are sorcerers. But I have the powers of a witch as well.”
“How do they differ?”
“Sorcery doesn’t really need a foci for one. Every witch and wizard begins with a wand. Very few have become accomplished enough in their talent not to need one at all. Even Merlin preferred to use a staff in his more complicated spell work, rather than without a foci. But, though sorcerers do use staff’s sometimes, it really is more to help in battle, as they only really use them as battle instruments. It can also be a lot more subtle, and powerful. There are quite a few spells that are available to us that merely need thoughts to activate, and no incantations or hand movements. Merlin was borderline sorcerer.”
“B-but, if even Merlin wasn’t completely a sorcerer, then how come he’s so important?”
“He’s an important wizard. Of course, I have heard of a mortal sorcerer who’s alive today. I haven’t met him…”
“Wait, mortal?”
“Oh, I didn’t introduce myself properly, Kysa Lokidottir.” She said, hoping this girl wouldn’t need it spelt out by her parents as Draco Malfoy had.
Hermione’s jaw dropped. “Really? You really are… I thought the Ӕsir were myth.”
“I bet that until you got your letter, you thought magic was a myth too, huh? Were you of the impression the Avengers that had powers were mutants or something along those lines?”
She nodded.
Kysa grinned. “Don’t worry. You’ll pick things up soon enough. Even I’m going into this world blind except for what I’ve read. It’s so different from the non-magical mortal world.”
“Do you think that on the journey to school we could perhaps meet up and talk more about magic? You must know so much about it.”
“I’m nowhere near as good as my dad. Or grandfather and grandmother, but I think I can teach you about a few things, but no spells. You’ll need to master witchcraft first. We’re both in the same boat there; I can assure you of that.”
“Hermione!” A man’s voice called. “It’s time to pay and leave!”
“Coming dad!” Hermione called back, before turning back to Kysa. “I have to go. I’ll see you on September first.”
“See you then.” Kysa agreed. It wasn’t long after that, but Kysa had grabbed quite a few new books, that she and Loki decided it was probably best to leave, and paid for their purchases and then left to meet up with the others.