Chapter 19. Blót, the gods and a kiss.
Ella go inside," Whispered Jakob to the girl, who frowned at him.
"Why? Don't you know them? they said your name." The energic Raven claw turned to them.
"Hello, My name is Lillian Potter, and this is my Daughter Ivory," The mother said, putting her hands on her daughter and smiling warmly at Ella.
"You must be Jakob's little sister. It's a pleasure to meet you." continued Lilly and Ivy looked like she did not want any part of this conversation.
Ella was about to speak when Susie walked out.
"Are we already making friends? Jakob, you can..."
When she saw who they were talking with, she stopped and looked a bit shocked.
"I... I mean, Lord Quade, Ella, can you help me to unpack inside? Susie told her daughter more firmly.
Ivy seemed to notice something and looked away.
Ella walked inside with her mother, and Lilly looked a bit confused.
"Well... we should be walking inside to Ivy," smiling at Jakob and walking into the cabin, but Ivy did not move.
Jakob, who knew that Susie had switched, knowing they were now in public, sighed and was about to go inside.
"I won't tell mum who they are to you so that you know."
Jakob snorted.
"Why would I care, and why would even you? I have done nothing for you."
"You haven't done anything for me, but you have done something for someone, and I want to repay the favour."
Jakob glared at her and walked inside. She sees too much that Potter girl.
When he looked around in the place he would call home for the next three days, Jakob noticed that it was not extensions, charms or anything that he was used to.
"My tent at home has more comfort than this," said Jakob while he walked on the creaky wooden planks on the floor.
It really looked like someone had built this by hand. It had a small living room with four benches that encircled a fire pit in the middle. Jakob looked up and saw that a chimney was above it and chuckled.
Above it was a cauldron, but he did not think it was for brewing potions.
He looked to the left and saw another room without doors where Susie and Ella were in the middle of packing up. The beds looked uncomfortable and were made of wood with pelts as a sheet and cover.
"Are you really going to sleep in that bed, Susie?"
She smiled at him.
"Don't worry about me, Jakob. Your room is over there."
Susie pointed towards another room to the right of the living room, and the boy saw a much more comfortable-looking bed that was bigger and had black fur covering it.
He walked back to the room where they were unpacking, and he felt his irritation toward his father rise for doing this to the people Jakob cared about as a family.
Jakob grabbed Susie's bag, took the different things she had already unpacked, and walked with them to his bedroom.
"Jakob, what on earth are you doing?"
He put her bag down on the bed and smiled at her, trying and failing to keep his irritation inside.
"You are going to sleep here. Me and Ella can take the other room."
Susie looked surprised and then smiled at him putting her palm on his cheek.
"Jakob, it's not necessary, and it's not fitting for you to sleep in that type of bed."
Jake, who briefly had closed his eyes at the touch, smiled back, clasping her hand.
"Now that father is not here. Please let me for once take care of you, Susie. You know that you won't be able to sleep on that. Me and Ella are young. We can manage, but please take this and let me do this."
Susie teared up and hugged her boy, and Jakob hugged her back.
"Mum, Jake, what's wrong? Why are you crying, mum?"
Susie released him and dried her eyes quickly.
"Nothing dear, it's been a change of plans. I'm going to sleep here, and you will share the room with Jakob. Is that alright with you?"
"Ella looked confused at the beds and then at Jake. Ella then understood why her mother had cried and walked over and hugged Jakob.
"It's going to be perfect."
When they had settled in, Jakob lay in his bed looking outside his and Ella's Window and asked Susie in the other room.
"Susie, why are we even living like this? "
Susie, who was in the middle of cleaning, stopped and turned to the boy on his bed.
"Swedish people are a bit funny this way. They want us and everyone here to feel like we are a part of the Old World and have forbidden the modern-day comforts for the festival.
Jakob nodded.
"And they will probably sell better stuff at the market. That's pretty Slytherin off them.
When Susie was done cleaning and Ella was done exploring every inch of the place, they decided to go outside to find something to eat.
They walked out, and with relief, Jakob saw that the Potter was not inside their own house.
"Jakob, I want you to keep an eye on Ella now."
"But mum, I'm eleven and can take care of myself.
Jakob chuckled.
"Good, then you can keep an eye on me then. He said, and they walked out to the crowd of people that were enjoying the festival.
Jakob noticed that there were fewer people now than before but still so much that the stands and shops lining the path always had at least two customers.
They observed the different stands and saw that one sold various pelts. He walked forward to an old shopkeeper who looked like she was around 60.
"You like what you see?" she spoke in a Swedish accent.
Jakob looked at the pelts and lifted one up, seeing straps that would hold it in place and had a few runes on the back.
"It charmed to keep you warm even on the nights when it can reach -30 degrees Celcius, but I would suggest keeping close to fire just in case.
"What are the runes for?" The boy asked, showing the runes on the back.
The old witch chuckled.
"Dear boy, do you think that a warming charm alone can warm you when the hair on your head freezes after a few seconds? Those runes are enhancement runes that pull magic from around the air and strengthen the charm.
"I have never heard or read about those kinds of runes. Do they work on everything?" frowned Jakob.
"No, they are made to strengthen the warming charm, and my husband does the work. I only sell them." He nodded at the woman who was trying to end the discussion.
Jakob looked down at his winter robes and could already feel the freezing cold biting into his skin. Ella and Susie would surely be feeling it if he felt it, he thought and waved them over.
"Pick one that you like, and I will take care of it said Jakob while he picked up another one that was a bit darker.
"Really?" said Ella and started to look through them, and Susie, who usually would have refused, knew that now that Jakob was the only one with them, it was his duty to take care of them.
They all picked something they liked and put it on their regular clothes feeling the coldness subsiding immediately and their muscles relaxing.
They continued on their walk, People waved them over, and they all wanted to tell them about their products. Some were selling nice dresses that they tried to manipulate Jakob to buy for Ella, which they succeeded in. One woman even walked in front of her desk with a blue gold dress that she showed the eleven-year-old girl who melted when she saw herself in the mirror.
One Clerk even tried to sell Susie a pair of earrings she had stopped to look at. When she politely declined the store clerks prompting to test them on, Jakob had stepped forward, holding in a sigh and bought her the earrings and a matching necklace. Susie had not been happy about it, but the boy smirked as she saw her holding the paper bag with the jewellery tightly to her chest like she was afraid to lose them. Jake had even noticed her looking down at her paper bag and smiled a little but only for a second when she thought no one was watching when they continued their shopping spree.
"Ella, you don't have any money. You must stop walking over to them when they call you." Said the irritated mother to her Daughter while Ella carried the Different bags with things Jakob had bought for her.
"It's Fine, Susie. I made a promise last year, do you remember? And Ella, the things you get here are your Christmas gifts, alright?"
Ella, who had only been able to look at the two others while they discussed her behaviour, nodded and smiled.
Jakob, who felt his hunger take over, continued with Ella and Susie to a bigger brown wooden house where a sign was hanging out depicting a pig over a fire pit. Under the sign stood a text.
Den glada grisen.
Jakob opened the door, and they all walked inside, feeling the warmer air and light from the fire pit.
Jakob saw that a pig was being turned magically around over the firepit, and slices were cut off and levitated to plates. The plates then Levitated to the different people who were sitting and already eating.
There were two long tables where people sat around, and Jakob noticed a lot more wizards and witches that looked like that woman but had runes as tattoos that Jakob had never seen.
Ella, who had gone beforehand, had found a place and waved Susie and Jakob over.
"Over here!" she tried to say, but the music, sound of laughter and talking drowned out the small girl's voice.
Jakov and Susie walked over to her, sat together, and waited for a waiter.
A witch looking as old as Susie walked over to them with a quill and parchment that was levitating beside her, and she gave them a warm smile as she approached.
Jakob, the hormones boy he was, saw that she was dressed in a similar outfit to the rest of the natives but had a leather shirt instead of just a bra and no bones as jewellery.
"Welcome to the Happy pig, and my name is Helga. What would you like to eat?"
Jakob looked towards Ella and Susie, who weren't sure and looked back at the woman who moved away a Curly brown lock as she had turned her head away, signalling for someone that she would be right there.
"Do you have a menu?"
The woman smiled at him and snapped her fingers.
Three different menus were levitated up from a desk further away and quickly flew towards them, landing on the table in front of them.
"I will return shortly." The waiter said as she saw someone yelling for her to come over.
Jakob looked through it and noticed it was only different meats with bread and salad.
He turned the menu, read the different drinks, and saw that only water was nonalcoholic.
What are you two having? He questioned the woman and girl beside him.
"I think I will have… oh, the roasted pig with bread and salad," Ella said and looked at the pig on over the firepit with hungry eyes.
"I will have the same," said Susie putting down her menu and looking around in interest.
Jakob nodded and put his menu down. Wonder how many times Susie has been able to do these kinds of stuff? He thought while seeing the woman having a sparkle in her eyes.
The waiter returned, and Jakob told her he wanted three of the same thing.
"Anything to drink?"
Water for all three will be fine," said Susie interrupting Jakob, who was just about to open his mouth.
The waiter looked at Susie and then at Jakob.
The drinking age in Sweden is 15." She said, smiling at Susie.
"He isn't 15?" said Ella confused.
"Well, I can make an exception for a 14-year-old." Said the woman waving her hand like it didn't really matter.
"he is 12!" declared Susie baffled.
Jakob, who had looked hopeful at the opportunity, now turned to a look of disappointment.
The waitress looked a bit surprised at Jakob.
"I'm sorry, he just looked older. I… your orders will be ready shortly."
Jakob could see she was laughing at her assumption and when she walked over to the desk. There she whispered to a bald man with a short white beard who looked like a bear with a beer belly. He stopped cleaning his glass, and deep, joyful laughter echoed in the restaurant.
The food and drinks arrived shortly, and when Jakob tasted it, he looked at the meat like he had eaten something good for the first time.
"Shit, this is good!" said Jakob and started to devour his food.
"Jakob!" said Susie, lightly slapping him on his shoulder but smiling mischievously at Ella, who grinned back at her.
They ate their food, and when Jakob was halfway done with his meal, he noticed someone sitting down on the bench opposite them but a little to their right.
When he looked up, he saw that Ivy and her mother had seated themselves, not noticing him or his company while they took off their muggle-looking winter jackets.
Jakob was about to turn away when Mrs potter saw them.
"Oh, hello again. Mr Quade and I never introduced myself." Lilly said, reaching out her hand to Susie, who took it.
"My name is Lillian potter, and my daughter goes to school with your son and Daughter. I believe your son is in the same year as Ivy."
Susie took her hand and looked a bit uncomfortable. Just as she was about to tell Lilly something, Jakob opened his mouth.
She is not my mother. She is Ella's." He nodded to the girl sitting beside him.
Lilly looked awkwardly and apologised.
"I'm sorry for assuming."
Susie gave her a nod. Even if she knew she was talking to what Jakob's father would call mud blood, Jakob did not reflect that same behaviour.
"Their family is very close to mine, and I invited them to join me, seeing that my father could not make it, Mrs Potter."
Jakob thought he had no idea what would happen if he started to throw around the prejudiced behaviour he had been taught in a place like this. It could be that the Swedish magical community did not like it, and Jakob took this chance to be more like himself.
Mrs Potter smiled. At the same time, Ivy sat and witnessed her brother's sworn enemies respectfully talking to her mother even though she was muggle born.
"Why are you talking to her like that?" questioned Ivy, not believing what she was witnessing.
"What do you mean, miss Potter?" asked Jakob turning to the redhead copy of the woman beside her.
"Why are you speaking to my mother like that when I know how you can speak to muggle-borns." Said Ivy with a calm expression.
"Ivy, you will behave here." Said her mother, but Ivy ignored her, looking at Jakob, who glared back at her.
"How do you speak to them?" asked Ella, happily confused.
And Jakob turned to the girl and smiled at her.
"Nothing Ella. Have you eaten up your food and are ready to go?"
"Susie, who had been quiet knowing this was not her place to speak, gave her daughter a look that told her to say yes."
Ella nodded, still confused.
"I'm really sorry about this. Mr Quade Ivy can be a bit forward sometimes, making her rude." Said Lilly giving Ivy a stare.
Jakob gestured for Ella and Susie to go ahead and turned towards the two redheads.
"It's fine, Mrs potter. Have a nice day."
He took a slight bow, and they were off.
When the mother and Daughter had watched them leave, an angry Lilly turned towards her daughter.
"I thought this holiday would get you in a better mood seeing that you wanted to have some alone time. And now I see you insulting a boy who has done nothing to us? "
Ivy glared at her mother.
"Don't you think it's weird that he does not act like the rest of them towards you?"
"you should be glad that he doesn't, Ivy. That young man is one of the few people that has treated me with respect, so don't be like your brother and father searching for trouble where there isn't one."
"But I have heard him saying the m word with his friends."
Lilly looked at Ivy, and her anger washed away, and she told her daughter something that made her think of an old friend.
"Honey, don't you think that now that he is free of them, he can feel like he can be himself a little more? I once had a friend who was one person when he was alone with me and a total stranger when he hung out with his friends."
Ivy looked at her plate, still frowning but nodded.
"Maybe…."
After an afternoon of continuous shopping, Susie and Ella returned to their house and started a fire to warm themselves and prepare dinner.
Jakob had wanted to look around a bit more and continued on by himself. It had already turned dark, and the torches and different lightning orbs in all the colours of the rainbow were making the forest light up like a fantasy tale.
Jakob had taken a path he believed led to a hill. As he strolled forwards, he noticed that people had started to return back to their tents or houses. And the stands began to close for the night. The puff of smoke he breathed out became larger as he walked up the hill, sensing the temperature drop as he rose higher.
When he finally was at the top, he witnessed a large building that looked more like an upside-down boat, standing in all its glory and watching over the village. Different runes and pictures depicted various magical creatures that Jakob had read about in a book he bought had skimmed through in a bookshop.
He saw an army of Draugr, The mighty Beast Fenrir and the sea serpent. It was slithering around the boat, and the scales showed different symbols.
"Wonder if I would be able to speak to it if I met it someday.
Jakob stepped up the stone steps seeing a massive open gate with torches on either side.
He walked inside and noted a larger firepit in the middle, but this was longer and wider than the other ones he had seen, and different Statures were so large that they reached the end of the wall and the beginning of the boatlike ceiling. They were placed close to the walls and had offering tables in front of them.
Different people were standing around the statues. Some were praying, some were crying, and some looked like true tourists. Look at one statue in awe, give a slight nod, then walk over to another and do the same thing.
Jakob walked to his right, where a large statue of what he believed was a woman wore a cloak and a spear.
"That's the god Freya." Said a voice, and Jakob jerked. he turned and saw the woman he had seen before standing Infront of him.
She looked to be over 20, but he could not be sure.
"She is the goddess of many things. Magic, future, war, death and fertility."
The woman with blonde hair said the last word glancing at Jakob with a smirk.
Jakob tried to hide his blush and looked over at the statue again.
"Isn't she beautiful?" asked the woman again, and Jakob nodded.
"Yeah, she is. But why do magical believe in the old gods?"
"Old?" the woman laughed, and Jakob could see her bra discreetly bounce and her abs protruding slightly more. He turned his glance when he noticed that she had seen him, and she said, still smiling.
"It is said that the gods were the first ones having magic and taught those who were worthy."
Jakob frowned.
"So the gods just went down to the earth and taught people? Seems a bit far-fetched. I mean no disrespect, of course." Said Jakob after he had told his statement.
The woman looked upon the goddess statue.
"Yes, it's about right. The gods would sometimes take the shapes of humans and visit them from time to time. They sometimes came to help, sometimes they came to make love and sometimes they came to warn."
Jakob, listening to the woman, looked back at the statue.
"warn about what?"
The woman gestured for Jakob to continue to the next statue, and as they walked, she carried her staff with her making a dull noise as wood hit wood.
"The gods could shapeshift, and if you take Odin, for example." She said and gestured to a statue of a man with a beard missing an eye and having two birds on his shoulder.
"He would sometimes take the shape of a wandering storyteller and tell stories that held a warning." they stopped in front of the statue, and Jakob observed the massive god-king.
"Did they do it by the goodness of their hearts?" the boy asked, looking at the woman again.
Her blonde hair waved as she shook her head, and they continued.
"No. Everything had a price. "
"Like rituals?"
"Exactly," she said, giving him a nod."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know your name."
The woman stopped before another statue, this one depicting a man with a hammer raised high.
"My name is Syr. What is yours?"
"you don't have a last name? "asked Jakob, confused.
"Do I need one? I could get one. But I don't see the point."
Jakob shrugged.
"My name is Quade. Jakob Quade."
"Quade." She said, almost like she tasted it and turned towards him.
"And what do you believe about the god's Quade?"
Jakob thought for a moment before he answered.
"I think they resemble something I have read about in an old book. They give but must have something in return."
The woman smiled and nodded.
"Go on."
"Morgan le fey talked about a gift she acquired from someone that had wanted a sacrifice in return. I see no difference between them and that."
The woman looked back at the statues, and she took his hand and walked with him out into the winter night. He could feel her warm, gentle but strong grip while she led him out into the winter night.
"You are one interesting character Jakob. I will have to see you again before you leave."
Jakob nodded, and with a final smile, she turned and walked down the steppes leaving a thoughtful Jakob behind.
When Jakob returned home to his cabin, he saw that Ivy was sitting on the porch of her own and when she saw him, she got up and walked over to him.
Jakob heard the now snowy ground make a crunching noise as she walked closer, and he just wanted to go inside, away from her. He remained, thinking she had already said too much in front of Ella. The innocent girl did not need to know what he had been saying or doing. She did not need to know of his world yet.
"I'm sorry about what I said earlier," Ivy said, standing Infront of him, having snowflakes in her red hair told Jakob that she had been here a while.
"Why do you insist on speaking to me? Can't you just leave me alone and be with your mother?"
"Ivy observed him crossing her arms, and Jakob noticed that she did not wear a coat. Good.
"I just want to see what Hermione sees in you. You-"
"What do you mean what she sees in me?" said Jakob frowning.
Ivy sighed.
"I'm her best friend, and I know that she cares about you. She has never said anything bad about you, ever. Even if we others can sometimes, she always keeps quiet. And I remember the favour," Ivy said with air quotes.
"There was no favour, wasn't it? You just wanted to see her happy."
"you must be quite delusional, miss Potter for having to come up with something so idiotic." Said Jakob feeling the worry creep up his spine about his secret.
"Why do you always have to degrade people like that? Is that why you call Hermione what you did? You could not stand seeing her with us, so you decided to crush her feeling by calling her a mudblood?"
As she said the word, Jakob took a step towards her giving her a murderous look.
"Don't speak of things you don't know. I told her that she could never…" as he hissed in anger, he suddenly stopped and realised what he had just done.
Ivy had a victorious smirk on her face.
"Got you." said the redhead with a smirk that made Jakob wanna curse her right here and now.
The Slytherin boy instead straightened up. He needed her to shut up about this, and if something were to happen to her, there was no way that Jakob would be free. The Quade name might keep Azkaban away, but the light side would never release him from their sight. The boy who lived sister was off limits, and he had to play the hero complex card back at her.
"Miss Potter, now that you know the truth, would you like to know why me and Hermione held our friendship secret?"
Ivy nodded so fast that the snow fell from her hair. She had tried to pry this information out from Hermione, and now Jakob, of all people, would give her the gold that she had craved for so long.
"Yes." She said, taking a step forward.
Jakob said in a low voice with his charming smile.
"If my father heard about this. He will kill me and probably Hermione two. He might even kill her family."
Ivy looked confused.
"Are you joking? Do you think I will buy that?" she said, frowning.
"Miss Potter, my father beat me to the ground and was close to disowning me from the family after that meeting at the headmaster's office last year. Suppose my father would do that to his own flesh and blood because I told him that a muggle-born was better than blood traitors. How do you think he would react if he knew that I had been secretly friends with her for over a year?"
Ivy, who saw that Jakob wasn't playing any games, took a step back, still holding her crossed arms but now because she was freezing.
Jakob took off his pelt and swung it around her. She flinched at the gesture but relaxed when the warming charm did its magic. Jakob took a step closer, clipping the strap on so it would not fall off her. She looked up at him in stunned surprise.
"Ivy, I am a pureblooded Slytherin from an ancient and noble house. I did not wish to be born into it, and I'm dead if I don't play my part until I can get away. I said those things to Hermione to protect her. And she knew the risks. She knew everything."
Jakob turned around and started to walk.
Call me back call me back. The Slytherin boy thought as he strode over to the stone steps to his house.
"Wait."
I got you. Jakob smiled as he turned around.
"I knew you weren't all bad. I swear I will never tell anyone about this."
Jakob turned towards her.
"You can't tell Hermione." He said and stared at her.
"Why? Why does it matter if I talk with her-"
"Because if you do, you risk exposure. Someone might hear you."
"No one would hear. I would be careful."
Jakob chuckled.
"What?" Ivy Asked, starting to smile, seeing him chuckle for the first time.
"Hermione said those exact words one time. And now she can't stand to even look at me. Promise me you will never speak about this situation to anyone, not even Hermione."
Ivy smiled a bit sadly at Jakob, and he frowned.
"What?"
"I can't even Imagen the life you must live. Hurting those you care about to protect them…" she said and looked away.
Jakob continued to stare at her. This was it. Now he would know if he had played his card right and gained her loyalty on this.
"I promise not to tell a soul."
Jakob looked into her green eyes and saw that they were showing the truth, and inwardly he felt like he needed to sit down in relief, but he smiled at the Gryffindor instead.
"Thank you, Ivy." Jakob turned and walked up the stairs.
"Your pelt!"
"Keep it as a token of my gratitude." Said Jakob, not turning around and walking inside.
Ivy stood there in the snow, feeling like she wanted to laugh in happiness and cry for the boy simultaneously.
"Hermione, I think I start to see what you see in him." She whispered and smiled a bit.
"Ivy, come inside. You will freeze to death out there." Lilly, who had just opened the door, had seen her daughter with a new pelt that belonged to Mr Quade and was smiling like she had gotten the perfect gift for Christmas from Santa.
"Ivy, where did you get that pelt?"
The redhead turned around, and a slight blush formed on her cheeks.
"Some random witch thought I looked cold and gave it to me," The daughter said quickly as she walked inside, not looking her mother in the eyes.
"Oh, that's nice of her, dear," Lilly said, closing the door and smiling at her.
The next morning Jakob woke up seeing Ella still sleeping in her bed, having her pelt over the other ones, and small puffs of smoke were coming out from her mount as she breathed out.
Jakob, who had no warming charms, cursed the redhead that he gifted her the pelt. He was freezing, but what could he do? He needed her loyalty, and it had worked. It was a good enough plan for now.
He walked up and carefully felt Ella's forehead to see that she had no fever or was too cold. He felt her temperature was normal, and he smiled at the still-sleeping girl.
Jakob took out a piece of paper and wrote down that he was going out for a while and that there were galleons on the table for breakfast and shopping.
Jake took on his robe and cast a warming charm while he stepped out.
The snow hand thinned, and the various strolling paths had been cleared of the snow that had fallen the previous night.
He saw that the shopkeepers just had arrived and that people had yet to come out from their houses to continue the festival.
He noticed his first mission had arrived and strolled up to the old pelt lady and looked to get a new pelt.
"Did I not sell you one yesterday, young man? Is it broken?"
Jakob smiled at her and shook his head.
"I gave it to someone that needed it."
"Oh, isn't that a nice boy?"
Jakob paid for the new silver pelt and felt the warmth spread as he started to walk down the path.
He had seen a stall that sold different stews and pieces of bread and hurried his steps when his stomach sounded like it agreed to the plan.
When he arrived, he walked into an open tent with tables lining up, and furthest back stood a man with his son and preparing the different doughs they levitated into the oven.
"Hello, are you open?" asked Jakob and smiled broadly as the blonde man with a moustache nodded.
"Yes, what would you wish to eat? We have a menu there."
The man said, pointing at a flyer on the wooden desk in front of him.
"Hmm... I guess o can try this one. Jakob pointed at a word he knew he would pronounce wrong. The man nodded with a smile and then turned to his son.
"Mikael kunden vill ha kalops, släng in två brödbitar också, han ser hungrig ut."
The boy nodded as he stopped what he was doing, took out a big wooden spoon, and poured some of the stew into a wooden bowl that started to smoke in the winter morning. The boy, whom Jakob understood was named Mikael, put it on a tray and took out a long piece of bread from the oven that he sliced into two big pieces.
"Do you wish for something to drink?" asked the man with the moustache.
coffee and water will be just fine." Answered Jakob with s grateful smile as the boy handed him the tray of food.
Jakob paid a little extra, and both father and son bowed as thanks.
The raven-haired boy sat down, ripped a piece of bread, and dipped it into the stew. He blew a little and then chewed with open mouth feeling that he should have bowed a little more.
When breakfast was finished and the boy's belly full, he roamed the road and looked at the festival again. As he followed a path he hadn't walked before, he soon found himself outside the village, and a clearing of the woods showed a round stage about 15 meters across. He walked over to ut and jumped up.
He saw a symbol carved into the wood and an altar in the middle. The carvings looked like a symbol around the altar. It continued around the stage in various forms and twists and ended in a circle around the edge of the stage. The altar, which was made out of wood and iron, had a formed tap that was right above the carvings on the floor below.
Jakob frowned and looked around. He saw that seven different cages stood empty, and he looked in realisation of what this actually was.
"Gå ner därifrån!"
Jakob turned and saw an older man who looked old and was carrying a staff and wore a robe that looked like nature itself.
Jakob raised his hands to his chest, palms out.
"Im sorry, I don't speak Swedish. I was just admiring your work."
The man halted and then walked a bit slower to the boy.
"I thought you were sabotaging it. It's a pretty sight, isn't it?"
"it really is. But what is it? I have never seen a ritual like this."
The man chuckled and reached out his hand for Jakob to grab, and he pulled up the man on the stage.
"Oh, thank you, young man. This." He said as he stood and gestured to the platform.
"is where the blót is going to happen."
"What is blót?" asked Jakob, interested.
The man saw the glint in the boy's eyes and smiled.
"It's a form of ritual. We will sacrifice seven different males this evening."
"Why males and why seven?" asked Jakob looking at the altar.
"Because seven is a magical, powerful number and males because it was females the last time. The gods want a little variation." The old man winked to Jakob.
"Will there be humans?" asked Jakob, now turning back to the man.
"Of course. Seven men, seven goats, seven pigs, seven stallions, seven roosters, seven bulls and seven Sheep will be sacrificed to grant us good fortune and health." said the old man as he finished counting on his fingers.
"Have you prayed to the gods yet, boy?"
Jakob frowned in confusion.
"No, why would I do that?"
The older man chuckled and walked over to the altar, checking to see that the runes were still where they should be and that they looked okay.
"It's a part of the blòt. You pray to the statues and choose only one. You match the wish to the right god, and then tell them what you wish. Then you witness the blòt, and if the gods favour you, they will give you what you wished for."
Jakob looked a little sceptical.
"And this works? Does not sound like any ritual I have ever done."
The man laughed and had to lean on his staff.
"Little boy, this is not a ritual. This is a blòt. When you do a ritual, you order magic, but when you do a blòt. You ask the gods for a favour. The magic the gods will provide this evening will be so intense that even old magical creatures will wake up from slumber to baith in it."
"That sounds pretty dangerous." Said Jakob, and when the older wizard looked a bit confused, Jakob continued.
If. And it's a big if. If I were granted a gift from them, I would have to pay the price."
"Boy, what do you think the sacrifices are for?"
The Slytherin boy crossed his arms.
"What if the gift costs more than the paid sacrifices?"
The man looked like he had never gotten that question before.
I guess the gods would not grant it. Or they might be benevolent and give it anyway."
He said, scratching his chin.
"We'll get going now, boy, and make sure your wish is relative to the god you're asking, " said the old nature-looking man shooing Jakob away.
Jakob nodded and jumped down. He took a few steps before he frowned and turned around to the older man, who was looking back at him with a smile.
"I did not get your name, mister?"
The man smiled as he waved. Is it Harbard young one and yours?"
Jakob waved back.
"It's Quade. Jakob Quade.
Jakob stood again in the hall of statues. He looked around to see if Syr was around and could help him, but no blonde beutiful woman was in the big house with him.
Jakob walked around, looked at the different statues, came to Odins and stood there for a while.
If I prayed to Odin, I would pray for power. If I prayed to Freya, I would pray for magic. Thor does not have anything I would want, I think, and I don't even know the other ones. Jakob thought, walking back and forth.
He finally stood Infront of Freya again and looked up at her.
I already have the power, he thought. The power that was given to me by my father and see what good that did. But I really do need magic.
He looked around to see what the other witches and wizards were doing when they prayed. The black-haired boy saw an older man with runes tattooed all over himself, mumbling with a lower head to a statue Jakob did not recognise.
A bit nervous, Jake looked back at the statue and lowered his head.
"Freya, I come to you seeking a gift. I wish to extend my magic powers. I need to have a bigger magical reserve, and I need…." Jakob stopped. He thought about his life and where he actually we're going.
"what am I even doing he whispered and stood there silent for a while.
"Freya, I wish for guidance. Get me started on my path." Jakob, then little awards and fastly, whispered.
"If you could also give me more magical reserves, it would be great. Thanks."
He then looked up and noticed someone standing beside him.
He turned, and Ivy was standing there looking at the statue.
"You really need to stop following me." Said the Slytherin, unimpressed.
Ivy looked back at him and frowned. I wasn't following you. I'm making my prayers." She then closed her eyes and prayed.
When she was done, she opened her eyes, seeing that Jakob looked a bit weirdly at her.
"What? " she asked in annoyance.
"Ivy, do you know what a blót is?"
The redhead frowned and shook her head.
Jakob chuckled.
"Well hope that wish was worth it. Go out tonight and follow the mass of people. Or your wish won't come true." Said Jakob waving his hand as he walked away.
"See you at the end of the festival tonight."
When lunch was around the corner, Jakob wandered around, trying to find his way back to his cabin and noticed two familiar-looking people.
"Ella, Susie, what have you two been doing?"
The two looked back at Jakob and smiled, and Ella told him about the store they had been buying many books about Norse mythology. They went for lunch, and Jakob said to them that there was going to be a blót tonight that he would go. When Ella asked what it was, Jakob told them that it was a different form of ritual for the gods.
"Mum, can I go with Jakob?" Ella was staring at Susie, who inturned saw Jakob behind her daughter, gesturing the number seven and then dragging his finger across his throat, closing his eyes and sticking out his tongue comically.
Susie's eyes widened for a second, and then she cleared her throat and forbade her daughter to attend. Ella tried to reason with her, but this was something that Susie would not budge on, and Jakob did not disagree with her.
They continued their shopping and later returned to their cabin, Looking at the things they had bought.
Jakob had bought an amulet with a notice me not charm on it and a book on Norse rituals that was written in the Swedish language.
"I don't understand why you bought a book you won't be able to read." Said Ella and Jakob, who were lying in his bed reading. He lowered the book and stared, baffled, at the dark-haired girl in front of him who was sitting in the bed opposite, with her newly bought things in front of her.
"Did I just hear a Ravenclaw say that? He looked out through the window and sighed in relief.
"What is it?" said Ella watching through the window, trying to find what Jakob had looked at.
"I thought that he'll had frozen over, but then I remembered its winter, so yeh, no Biggie." Ella rolled her eyes and continued sorting the different coloured stones she had bought.
When evening came, Jakob took on his pelt, said goodbye to the two, and walked outside.
He felt the cold winter nights chill, but there was no wind, and he could see that the air sparkled from the different lights that were hovering above.
He looked up and saw that the moon wasn't visible. And turned down his gaze to see the mass of people who either used torches or their wands to lighten up a trail, and Jakob joined them on their course as they walked towards the blót. As he took out his wand, he uttered. "Lumos" and became one in the big train of people.
He looked around to see that people were not talking much but had excited expressions on their faces and when he saw the clearing, he witnessed something amazing.
The people surrounded the stage, and on it stood three men in black robes with different animal skulls on their shoulders. They stood there silent like statues with hoods covering them.
At least 1500 people were encircling the stage. the round wooden circle looked much smaller in comparison to when Jakob had stood upon it.
The boy followed the masses and took his place around the circle.
One of the priests stepped forward and spoke, pointing his wand towards his throat, and everyone turned silent.
"Tonight is not just a blót night. It's the darkest night, and the gods will hear our call. They will only show themselves for the few worthy people but to be standing here Infront of the goods is an honour that only a few can speak of."
"I see you came." Jakob looked to his side and saw Syr standing beside him.
"I was wondering if I would see you again." Whispered Jakob giving her a small smile.
Syr smiled back and touched his cheek with her hand.
"Of course, you would." She said, and Jakob felt himself go a bit dizzy from her touch. He was about to question her about what had happened when she interrupted him.
"Shh, it's about to start." She said and pointed to the stage where the first sacrifice was brought up.
The blonde woman, now dressed in armour and a spear, walked forwards into the masses, and Jakob raised his hand, trying to stop her, but everything was spinning, and she soon disappeared from his vision.
Jakob saw a sheep walk forwards and lay itself down on the altar. One of the preist holding a dagger sliced its throat while the other two chanted.
Jakob felt happy and satisfied. He stood there and smiled like he was feeling a sense of peace.
The blood flowed down the side and filled the symbol on the wooden floor.
The boy felt euphoric every time the sacrifices were made, and when the first human walked up on stage, Jakob felt excitement rising within himself.
The man wearing a white dress lay down on the altar, the priest cut his throat, and Jakob felt like he wanted to roar and lay down and rest simultaneously. The other six men's sacrifices made Jakob hold his head, feeling like he was almost going to pass out. When the last sacrifice had been made, Jakob dropped his hands limply to the side and tipped over. He felt someone grabbing him and letting him lean on them.
Jakob looked up to see Syr standing beside him.
Are you okay, Jakob?"
Jakob nodded and smiled.
"I'm perfectly fine beautiful woman. I just need to go away and get some fresh air."
Syr smiled, and together they walked out from the masses.
Jakob, who was leaning on the blonde woman, felt himself catch her hand, and he sensed her squeeze it and rub her thumb over his fingers.
They heard the priest declare the blòt accomplished and that the gods were satisfied.
People were clapping and shouting in too many different voices that Jakob had to stop for a second to shake his head as everything was spinning.
Syr looked back at him, smiled, and guided them away into the forest, not back to the village as Jakob had thought, but he was too happy to care.
He began to laugh with Syr, who laughed back at him, and they walked in the dark woods.
"Where are we?" Questioned, still chuckling as he looked around in the dark. They had walked a while when they got deeper into the dark forest.
He looked at Syr's face, which began to twist and warp.
Jakob closed his eyes, feeling almost a sense of sickness, and he heard her laugh.
The laugh made him laugh, and he stopped to lean into a tree that was, in reality, nowhere near him, and he fell down in the snow, landing on his back.
He felt someone straddle him and looked to see The blonde giggling at him.
"Jakob, are you alright?" she said as she leaned in to see if he was hurt.
As The Slytherin boy saw her come closer to him, he felt another urge rise within him.
"Screw it", He whispered. And raised his hand and gently caressed her cheek, and guided her closer to him. When he could feel her heavy breath tickling his lips, he slightly opened his mouth and kissed her.
He could feel her insecurity about him introducing his tongue, and it took a second before he felt her tongue caressing his back. Jakob took his other hand and raised it to her back, pushing her closer to him, and he could feel her embracing him and trying to be closer than they already were.
Jakob did not know how long they had been lying in the snow. It felt like hours, but When they inevitably had to break the wonderful kiss, Jakob opened his eyes and felt like his heart had stopped.
"Jakob?"
"Ivy?"
Authors note: I think it will take one more chapter after the next one before we return to school. The action in Sweden is just starting, so it might be another one before Christmas is over. One thing I noticed is that I like to get these breaks from Hogwarts, and I enjoy looking up real facts, and I try to be as close as I can be to the mythology I write about, so if you can find the hidden hints about things in this chapter pm me and tell me what you think. If you have any suggestions about other mythologies you would wish Jakob to witness in the future, tell me, and I will see if I can make it a holiday.
Hope you all enjoyed this as much as me and take care.