The Daughter

“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” Hermione breathed, looking at it in wonder, along with the two boys. She glanced at Kysa, who was looking at it with a calculating gaze. “Don’t you agree Kysa?”

“I agree that it’s a sight. And perhaps had I not grown up in Asgard I’d have agreed with you. But, I have to say, my home is far more stunning.”

Hermione blushed. “It’s rather easy to forget your heritage. Sorry. I guess it would be hard to find anything that could compare.”

The two boys were staring at her.

“You’re Asgardian?” Seamus asked.

“Aye. I am. I introduced myself as merely Kysa earlier. My full name is Kysa Lokidottir.”

“Wait, wouldn’t that make you royalty?” Neville asked, his eyes wide.

“That is correct, I am fifth in line for the throne, my Uncle, my two cousins and my father before me of course. But here I’m just a student. Unless I absolutely have to use my status.”

“Sharing a boat with a princess of the gods…” Seamus muttered. “I think the fates are smiling on me today.”

“The Norns. And you don’t know that. I could just be another by passer in your life. Or, I could be your downfall, or I could be the one to help you achieve greatness. What’s that non-magical mortal saying? Ah yes- don’t count your chickens until they hatched. We’re still young. We could yet grow up to be anything to the other. And the same goes for almost everyone in these boats.”

“Almost anyone?” Hermione asked.

“I rather like you already. So I hope we will continue to be friends. And there is one who I already believe I should stay away from. For the sake of not dirtying my hands with something as uncouth as murder just because of something he had no control over.” She was with two almost complete strangers, and one girl she had only just begun to get to know. She had to be careful with the way she acted. They were not her family. Things could change easily. And Caia had warned her of the prejudices of the wizarding world. She wouldn’t expect Hermione to turn on her, being as new to the wizarding world as she was, but the others would have grown up with the prejudices of their parents. How would they react to things she did that was not normal for them?

Kysa tucked it away, just as the boats pulled up on the other side of the lake and they all got off. The giant picked up a toad, and Neville cried out in relief.

“Trevor!” He rushed up to the giant and took the toad from him happily. They were then led into the castle where they were met by a stern looking witch.

“The firs’ years Professor McGonagall,” The giant said.

“Thank you Hagrid.”

The giant, Hagrid, nodded and walked into the great hall, leaving them with the witch. “I am Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress and head of Gryffindor House. In a moment you will enter the great hall where you will be sorted into the houses in which you will remain for the next seven years of your education. While you are here, your house will be like your families. Hard work will earn house points. Rule breaking will lose house points. The four houses, each with their own noble history, are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Wait here while I go and see if they are ready for you. You should take the time to ensure you look presentable,” she disappeared back into the hall, and the first years began talking rapidly.

“How do you think they’ll sort us?” Hermione asked.

“I’m not sure,” Kysa said, frowning.

A red haired boy spoke up loudly. “My brother Fred said we have to fight a troll!”

“My mum wouldn’t tell me. And she works here,” his friend, who Kysa felt was vaguely familiar, said. “But are you sure Fred wasn’t just yanking your leg Ron? I mean, he and George are pranksters.”

“I don’t know them, and I’m pretty sure they’re trying to make a fool of you,” Kysa said. “I mean, how many people here would be able to take on a full grown troll? For most of you, you wouldn’t have even begun to learn spells yet.”

“Oh and you’re so ahead?” the red head, Ron, said, his ears beginning to redden rapidly.

“I may be. I guess you’ll just have to wait and see,” she said.

Just then, the boy she had met in Diagon Alley, Draco Malfoy, approached her, with two large thugs standing behind him like body guards. He held out his hand to her. “I’m afraid that we may not have got off on the best start back in Diagon Alley when we first met. I was unaware of your heritage, My Lady,” Kysa resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She was sure what he was saying had been scripted for him by his parents when they had realised that he would have a chance to get to know her, seeing that he would be going to the same school as her. “I wish to extend my friendship to you, and help you learn about us mortals and make descent,” He sneered at Hermione, “Connections here.”

“While I appreciate the gesture,” It wouldn’t do to alienate him straight away; his family had done nothing to her and his connections as he said it could come in useful, “I will decide who is a descent connection for me to have. Hermione, while a first born witch, is obviously highly intelligent from the conversations I’ve been having with her, and is rather well versed in lore. Your two… companion’s, for example, seem little more than muscle. I would guess that they are what you would call pureblood yes? I don’t think I would be able to hold a decent conversation with them. Hermione on the other hand, is a different matter. I know several non-magical mortals. I grew up knowing them. They are some of my Uncle Thor’s greatest friends, and I view them as extended family. Considering that my uncle is next in line for the throne of Asgard, if he believes that non-magical mortals are good friends, then surely a muggleborn witch can have the potential to become a good friend of mine? Oh, and let’s not forget my Aunt Jane, who had no idea any sort of magic existed until Thor fell, quite literally, into her life.”

Malfoy was speechless. She knew that throwing the example of her uncle at him would mean he would have no quick retort. In fact, it may even mean she could form some sort of contact link with him, and whatever resources he had, and Hermione wouldn’t have insults hurled at her in the meantime. Hopefully. She may end up needing someone like Malfoy (she had read about the political power of the old families) to keep the Potters off her back politically.

Kysa sent a quick grin at Hermione, just as McGonagall came back to the entrance hall. “They’re ready for you now.”

“Why did you do that?” Hermione asked quietly, as they filed in to the great hall.

“He’s right. I could do with a few good connections. But, I don’t want to lose friends in order to gain those connections. I just happen to have the cards and am able to play my hand right.”

She nodded. “I see. Do you need to have the right connections to advance in this world?”

“It certainly helps.”

“It sounds corrupt.”

“That’s because a lot of it is. At least, according to Caia.”

“Who?”

“A friend,” Kysa told her, before they stopped in front of a stool with an old tattered hat on it. Hermione seemed to only be paying it half of her attention, mulling over what Kysa had told her about connections, and needing the right ones to advance. The brim of the hat opened in a tear that resembled a mouth and it began to sing.

“Oh you may not think me pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindor’s apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuff’s are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!”

“So we just put on the hat?” Kysa asked. “That’s easy. Uncle Thor and Aaric would be disappointed that it wasn’t fighting a troll that proved where we belonged.”

“Really?” Hermione asked, as Professor McGonagall began calling names out.

“Really,” she nodded.

Soon, Hermione’s turn came, and she walked up and sat on the stool. McGonagall put the hat on her head. She was sat there quite a while, and the hat seemed to be having an internal debate with itself, before it cried out “SLYTHERIN!”

Silence swept the hall, before Kysa began applauding for her new friend, and others followed. A muggleborn in Slytherin. Who’d have thought? She sent Hermione a thumbs up as she headed towards her new table where she was greeted with open stares; the Slytherin’s not knowing what to make of her. Kysa waited eagerly for her turn to be sorted, before McGonagall called, “Longbottom, Neville.” She was next, she was sure of it.

After a moment, the hat called out; “Gryffindor!” Neville ran off, the hat still on his head, making people laugh. When he handed the hat back to McGonagall and had sat down, Kysa was ready to move forward.

“Lokidottir, Kysa.” McGonagall called.

Kysa strode forward and sat down on the stool as gracefully as she could, placing Rhan on her lap. Having had lessons with her grandmother on how she should conduct herself in formal public situations where she was the focus of attention at any time, coupled with her fight training, that was pretty graceful for an eleven year old. The hat was placed on her head and she almost jumped when she heard it talking in her ear.

“Ah, now you are interesting,” the hat said. “Bravery, yes, but not the type that rushes into things. An extreme loyalty to your family and friends… but you do take after your father. You would probably end up giving most of Hufflepuff a heart attack at some point. Very intelligent, and a good thirst for knowledge, as well as ambition. You want to do your father and your family proud… but at the same time you aspire to do as much as you can to disappoint those who abandoned you. I can see now where it would be possible for you to flourish, as well as to help with your smaller desire of disappointing your birth family as an added bonus. Better be… SLYTHERIN!”

Kysa removed the hat, smiling widely and Rhan jumped off her lap and onto the floor. She handed it back to McGonagall and headed to sit beside Hermione at Slytherin table while applause was heard from the other students, her familiar following her. She sat down, grinning at Hermione.

“I guess we’re housemates then,” Hermione said.

“I guess so,” She didn’t notice the professor with red hair frowning in disappointment at her sorting as she turned to watch the rest of it. When the final student had been sorted, the headmaster stood up.

“I just wish to say a few words. Nitwit, Blubber and Tweak. Tuck in.” Food appeared on the tables and everyone began helping themselves to food.

“So, looks like we’ve got ourselves a muggleborn,” A fellow first year, Daphne Greengrass, said. Her hair was blond, but a more gold colour than the white blond of Draco’s hair. “What makes you so cut out for our noble house?”

“The hat thought it would be a good place to put me, considering my ambition to make it far in this world.”

“A muggleborn? Go far?” A pug faced girl, Pansy Parkinson, said sneering. “No one of muggle stock can go far at all.”

“Then you obviously were not listening to what I said to Draco earlier.” Kysa said. “My aunt Jane was as muggle as they come. Yet, my Uncle Thor still fell in love with her, and my grandfather still permitted their marriage. And that means, that when Thor eventually becomes king of Asgard, she will be queen. So, if a non-magical mortal can get that far in life, I’m sure a witch of non-magical parentage can go far in this world.”

Pansy looked as if she had been slapped. She narrowed her eyes at Kysa. “You might mean something back where you come from, but here, you have no power, half breed.”

“On the contrary. I think I have quite a bit. I’ve caused you, within one very short conversation, to revert to the childish behaviour of name calling. I think that in itself proves who has the upper hand.” She smiled brightly at Pansy, knowing it would piss the girl off further.

Pansy was about to say something, when Draco signalled to her to shut up. Kysa knew that it by no means meant that he was helping her defend Hermione. He was just trying to protect his chances of making some sort of beneficial connection. It was all about beneficial connections in pureblood society. And this was one opportunity that had never been presented to them before. She was sure his parents, realising this, would have made sure Draco would do everything he could to take advantage of the situation.

But she knew, even with some of the members of Slytherin trying to suck up to her and be on her good side for her power, there would be others like Pansy, though more of a challenge. In order to protect both herself and Hermione, she would at some point have to put her foot down and show them the power that came with her heritage and training of, not just a sorceress, but a princess of Asgard. Even if her abilities as a sorceress were still in training.

After the feast, the prefect led them down into the dungeons and into the Slytherin common room. The light was tinged with green, and green, silver and black were prominent colours in the large room. Leather sofas and arm chairs were near a large fireplace and high backed dark wood chairs surrounded tables where they could study.

“You room in pairs,” The prefect said, “First years are down that corridor.” He pointed and they all headed to choose rooms, pairing up. Kysa and Hermione quickly paired up and chose a room and their things appeared.

Kysa closed the door and placed a protection spell on it. No one with bad intentions would be able to get in. Hermione didn’t notice.

“We should unpack before we head to bed,” Hermione said.

Kysa nodded. “You’re right,” She saw Rhan trying to jump up on one of the beds. “Uh, I think my bed’s been decided on though. Rhan seems to like that one.”

Hermione looked round and let out a laugh at the cubs unsuccessful attempts at jumping onto the bed. Kysa took pity on her and picked the cub up and placed her on the bed, where she wandered up to the pillow and curled up, while leaving enough room for Kysa to lay her head on it as well.

The two girls unpacked and then got ready for bed. Kysa fell to sleep easily after that.