AN: Seeing Karna is the second choice in the poll, he'll be next.
Ch 27 Day 15: The Seed Has Been Planted
Hinako walks over to Ritsuka's laptop and typed in her password for the lesson. Everyone looks around for Ritsuka only to show up nowhere. Skadi was pacing around, observing the children in the room. "Um, where is Harry?" Ginny called out, wanting to know why he's not here.
"Yeah, where is the Professor?" Neville asked causing a few conversations about his whereabouts.
"Is he sick?" Jane asked the two Servants standing in front of the room.
Skadi stops her pacing, looking at her master's students. "Children, one mustn't go and assuming things of another." The Lostbelt Servant instructs the children. "To answer your question, master is currently preoccupied in a personal meeting and unable to teach today's lecture." She informs them.
Hermione raised her hands, allowing the Goddess to point at her with her wand. "What are we learning today um…"
"Caster, my name is Caster young one." Skadi gracefully smiles at her. "Today you all are going to learn about the-"
"Scandinavian Ages of Gods." Mashu rushes out of the office with the same textbook in her hands. She went to the desk, placing down her book, and turn to her husband's class. "(Oh great, the bitch is here)" Cho whispers before feeling a cold glare and some icy winds.
"Ms. Chang, that's detention for insulting an instructor." Skadi defended her master's wife.
"WHAT!?" Cho stood up, flabbergasted that she can hear her from the front.
Hinako finished pulling up the slideshow and place it on screen. She turns around to the children, ready to teach. "Yes, Cho Chang you'll be serving detention with Mr. Filch tonight at six sharp." The True Ancestor informs the foreign girl.
Cho blinks, not believing what she is hearing. "But this is-"
"Sit down, Cho." Hinako looks at the class, "As you are aware, Professor Fujimaru is not with us. I will be taking over of the class until he gets back for the next lesson." She explains, seeing some hands raised.
Hinako sighs, pointing at Ron. "Is Professor Fujimaru going to be back before dinner?" he asks the Assassin Servant.
"Yes, however, he has some important duties to attend to." Hinako points at Daphne who got a smug look.
"So, I was wonder where did that woman get her clothes? And why do you share the same name as Professor Caster in the Muggle Studies course?" The blonde girl asked the True Ancestor about Skadi.
The black-haired beauty looks over to Skadi, finally noticing how their style in clothes is like their own. "Is this even relevant to the class, Ms. Greengrass? If not, then the lesson shall proceed." She started wanting to get to the lesson.
"Well it is relevant to us Purebloods, and how did that vampire manage to get it?" Daphne scoffs like those spoiled rich girls in the movies.
Hinako's eyes twitch at the mention of vampire, an insult to the true vampires and the Dead Apostles. "Ms. Greengrass, that is enough-"
"It's alright, Ms. Akuta." Skadi remained calm, she looks at the blonde girl crossing her arms. "This clothing was created by me so any hopes to have one of your own is low, and for quote vampire. I am not a Dead Apostle, I am a Servant of Ritsuka Fujimaru, my master." She proclaims her allegiance. "As me sharing a name to your Mundane Culture Studies Professor, it's a class we Servants are categorized by our skills."
Daphne scoffs, about to say something when the Lostbelt Servant continues her scolding.
"If this line of questioning is done, Ms. Greengrass. Professor Akuta would like to continue your education in the Age of Gods lecture." Skadi sent a cold, death stare at Daphne who felt chills coming down her spine. The Goddess looks at Hinako with a soft smile. "You may proceed, Professor. I'll be waiting on the stairs if you need my assistance. But seeing Ms. Mashu is here, I see little of my help in the class." she commented, walking to the stairs.
"Thank you, Caster-san." Mashu smiles, proceeding to the desk standing by.
Hinako cleared her throat and looked at the class. "With that out of the way, can anyone tell me what the Scandinavian Gods' names are?" she looks around the class, seeing only a few hands up. She picks a girl from Hufflepuff, seeing she originated from Scandinavia.
"The Gods were Odin, Thor, Loki, Freya, and many more." The Hufflepuff answered the question.
"Very good," Hinako turns to the globe, spinning over to where Scandinavia was. "Now Scandinavia is located what is known in the modern world as the country Norway and Sweden in the European continent,"
"Professor? Are we going to learn how the Scandinavian Gods were made?" Hermione raised her hands, wondering if they're like the Olympians.
Mashu shook her head. "They're not like the Olympians their origins are different." She informs the studious Gryffindor girl.
Hinako pulled up a map of an ancient tree, "The Scandinavian Gods originate from different realms called the Nine Realms from the roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasil." Nine multicolored circles came up. "These Nine Realms are called, Niflheim, Muspelheim, Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, Helheim." She informs them.
She looks at the students, "Turn to page Thirty of your books, there is a diagram of these worlds." Hinako asked them, seeing their books open to the page. "Can anyone tell me what the realms are known for?" she asked, pointing to the first hand raised.
"Niflheim the land of ice and is home to the dragon Nidhug and the ice giants, Jotunn." A Hufflepuff answered as a violet circle glowed. Images of the dragon and Jotunn appeared on the screen in an ancient text.
"Good, who else?" Hinako points to Luna, ready to answer.
Luna stood up with the book in her hands. "Muspelheim, a land of fire. Home to the fire giants known as the Muspel and Surtur, the ruler of the realm." A red circle glows and an image of an illustration of the Muspel and a giant made of fire and magma appears on the screen.
"Yes, these are ancient depictions of the Muspel and Surtur from an ancient scroll." The Dead Apostle informed her students. "Now who else-you," she points to Goyle.
Goyle blinks before lifting his textbook. "Um, Asgard; home to the Scandinavian Gods." A golden circle appears on the screen indicating the realm of the Gods.
Hinako nodded, at least he did some of it. "Yes, Asgard is home to the Gods. It was also ruled by Odin and protected by the Valkyries." An image of a hooded woman with glowing wings with spears and shields appears on the screen. A white-bearded man with an eyepatch was behind them in a scroll. "A short lesson on the Valkyries, Odin uses the remnants of Sefar to make them."
Jane raised her hands, "So the Valkyries are basically aliens too?" she asked as many realized what she means.
"Yes, in a way that would make them aliens," Hinako commented before going back on topic by pointing to a Ravenclaw.
"Midgard, our realm. The humans." The Ravenclaw answered as a light green light glowed on the screen.
Hinako nodded, "Correct, you are next." She points at Neville, quickly looked at his book.
"Uh, Jotunheim home of the Bergriese or the rock giants," Neville answered seeing a grey glowing circle on the board.
"Alright, next." Hinako points over to Parvati. The Half-blood looks in her book where the diagram was in.
Parvati cleared her throat. "Ahem, Vanaheim home of the Gods Njord, Freyr, and Freya." She replied as a dark green circle glowed next to the others. "Um, Professor why are there other Gods in this Vanaheim realm instead of Asgard?"
"Most of the Scandinavian Gods did come from Asgard. Some were born in the different Nine Realms, that's their origins." Mashu steps into the lecture, giving the former Team A member a rest.
The students took the information to heart, some even wrote it down in their notebooks.
"Alright, who's next." Hinako scans the room before pointing at Jane. "Jane, you're next."
Jane looks at the diagram, " Alfheim, the land of the light elves."
"Freyr rules this realm as well, these light elves are known for their beauty that inspires artwork and poems," Hinako informed them as a light blue circle glowed. "You're next Hermione." She points at her.
Hermione smiles, feeling confident in herself. "Svartalfheim, the realm of the dwarves. They are known for their blacksmithing skills and created notable weapons such as the magical ring Druapnir and Odin's spear Gungnir." She smiles seeing a dark grey circle glows with the rest.
"Very good, Hermione," Hinako commented before moving to the last realm. "Ginny you're next for the last realm."
Ginny scoffs ignoring the lesson. "You have eyes, read it yourself." She lashed out.
Hinako sighs, gaining a headache. "Detention Ms. Weasley with Ms. Chang." She responded.
"You can't do this! Harry would-" A rune was drawn on her mouth, silencing her. Ginny tried to speak but nothing came out.
"There, that silenced you." Skadi smiles, putting down her glowing wand.
"(Did you see that? She did a rune charm on Weasley.)" Crabbe whispers.
"(Is she a runemaster? I didn't see any rune like that before.)" A Ravenclaw commented at the new rune she just saw.
Ron nudges Hermione on the side. "(Hey Hermione, what kind of-)"
Skadi cleared her throat causing the room to be silent. "Children, please pay attention to the board please." She asked the students, her voice a kind and yet terrifying tone. Once everyone settles down she looks at Mashu and Hinako. "Please proceed." She held her wand in both hands.
"Okay since you pretty much got eight of the nine realms down, I will give you this one." Hinako looks at the circles, allowing the last one to have a white glow to it. "The last realm of the nine is called Helheim. Home to the dishonored dead that did not get to Valhalla or Folkvangr and ruled by Hel, Goddess of Death."
A Slytherin raised his hand, allowing Hinako to point at her. "Are the giants in the Nine Realms and the Giants in the north the same?" she asked thinking they can't be possibly the same species.
Mashu shook her head. "They're not, these Giants and the Giants from the north have a different biology." Most of the students whisper among themselves about the Muggle term, never hearing about it before. Mashu took notice of this and went on. "You all will get to learn about it with Professor Caster and Professor Velvet." She smiles.
"In any case, today we're learning about a Goddess known to control ice and snow," Hinako informed the student body.
"Professor, how can a person control the ice and snow?" Neville asked, seeing the feat to be impossible for standard wizards and witches. "That power can only be achieved by strong witch or wizard."
"Longbottom's right, who in the world could do that?" Draco added, not believing it himself. Skadi remained calm, saying to herself 'they're just children, they don't know better.' All over again in her mind.
Hinako listens to what Neville and Draco have to say, and she understands. "I hear you two, but a certain Goddess can. A Goddess named-"
"Skadi? It's on the next page." Ron showed an image of a hand-drawn woman with a quiver and bow on her back. In her hand was a spear ready to be thrown.
Hinako sighs, nodding to Ron's answer. "Yes…we're going to learn about the Goddess of Ice and Snow well known as the Queen of the Ice and Snow, Skadi." She turns around typing a few commands on the laptop.
An image of Yggdrasil and the Nine Realm appeared on the screen. "Let's begin." Hinako motions her hand to the tree. "During the Age of Gods in what was known as Scandinavia, a pantheon of Norse deities reside and flourish in the Nine Realms. Two of these realms."
"The Ice Realm, Niflheim." The blue circle glows bright upon enlarging.
"And the Fire Realm, Muspelheim." The red circle glows bright enlarging as well.
"Feud with each other resulting in the creation of the first giant Ymir from a river of poison." A slide of a white giant with a beard and silver armored appeared on the screen. "From this giant, the other giants were born from his bodies such as the Jotunn, and the Muspel."
Hinako looks at the class, about to ask a question. "Can anyone tell me who is Surtur, we know he's the ruler of Muspelheim but what is he known for?" she looks around seeing a Ravenclaw boy raised his hand, allowing Hinako to point at him.
"Surtur the Fiery King who inherited Ymir's wrath, reign over the Muspel with cruelty. He is also considered as Muspelheim itself." He answered the Dead Apostle. An image of a flaming giant appeared on screen in a form of a mural with some Muspel under him.
Everyone look in awe at the ancient mural, they could almost feel the intensity the giant has by looking at the image
Hinako nodded and continued the lecture. "The giants of the Norse Age of Gods are intertwined with the other Norse Gods. By this, they too influence the era."
"Now one of the Jotunn, Thiazi fathered the Goddess Skadi." Hinako pulls up the same image from the text of Skadi. "Many of giants sizes varies, some were five meters or even larger. However, for Skadi, her size is of an average female adult."
"So a Half-blood?" Tracey sneers at the thought of mix blood with a giant like Hagrid.
Skadi gave her a cold icy glare for making that comment. "Young lady, you shouldn't make such vulgar comments. Many heroes and Divine have some mixed-blood within them, this includes you." she scolded them.
"MY FAMILY IS FULL PUREBLOODED! I NO OUNCE OF DISGUSTING MUGGLE OR CREATURE BLOOD WITHIN ME-" Skadi sent another silencing rune over the hollering girl.
"Speak as you may, but this is true. There is no such thing as purebloods in the world, just an ideology created by arrogant people." Skadi instructed the class on a short lesson on genetics. "For a person who is Pureblooded is a crime of insets in many countries in the Modern era." The Lostbelt Servant stared at every student in, many were disgusted knowing the word. Many (Mostly Purebloods) were confused, never learning of the word.
By the others reacting in a disgusted manner, it also gains some discomfort. Skadi looks over the two Chaldeans, inclining her head. "Again, I do apologize for interrupting the class."
Hinako waved it off, "It's fine, every once in a while, we must delve into off-topic lessons." She went back to the lecture. "In any case, The Goddess Skadi's race represents the forces of destruction and death." Many gasps at the mere mention of those words.
"Does that means they are evil?" Ron asked, basing off the natural belief that death is evil.
"It does not, it means the cycle of life. The cycle depends on death and rebirth." Hinako informs the students. "Skadi adores the life of Scandinavia, including her father and fellow Jotunn." Skadi silently nodded as an image of her castle of ice in a snowy mountain appears on the screen.
"This illustration represents where Skadi presided in the Mountains of Winter. Adept in hunting and skiing but soon subside upon the death of her father." Hinako saw Padma's hands raised, "Yes Padma?"
Padma lowers her hand, "Does that mean skiing originated from the Gods of Scandinavia? Since you know that Skadi knows skiing?" she asked wondering if that's right.
Mashu shook her head. "Close, modern-day skiing originated from Scandinavia. However, skiing was first developed in Russia around six thousand BCE." She told the Half-blood.
"So what happens to Skadi's father?" Luna asked intrigue by the lore.
Hinako nodded. "Three of the Aesir Gods, Odin, Loki, and Hoenir trying to cook an ox before they encounter Thiazi who wanted a portion of the meat since he controls the realm. After Thiazi devours all the meat, the Aesir Gods devise a plan which leads to his death."
Many listen closely to the lore of the Lostbelt Servant. Skadi closes her eyes feeling sadness for her father, missing him dearly. "How did Skadi take the news?" Neville asked.
"The Goddess was furious that she suited up in armor, making her way to Asgard demanding for reappearance for her father," Hinako answered, showing an image of Skadi standing before the gates of Asgard in armor.
"Did they give reappearance to her?" A female Slytherin asked,
Hinako shook her head. "None of the Gods want to fight her, they responded, "Blood shall not be drawn in the Gods domain". Skadi's request for combat is denied."
"So what did she do?"
"The Gods instead gave compensation through marriage to the Gods. An exchange for a husband as well challenging the Gods to make her laugh." Hinako showed a picture of Skadi in the banquet hall, agreeing with the terms. "Skadi agrees to the terms, considering their conflict resolved. Upon choosing her husband, she was asked to choose one based on their feet."
An image of many bare feet in a line appeared, Skadi standing in front. The image raised many questions in the student's minds. "Why feet?" Lavender asked, seeing an odd thing to do.
Hinako looks at the brunette. "The reason is to hide the faces from Skadi to pick them, a game of chance per se." She explains as they went along with the reason.
"Picking the cleanest feet, Skadi chose them to think it would be Balder the Norse God of Light however she picked Njord of the Vanir." Hinako showed an image of a bearded man on the oceans. "His feet were clean due to the rise and fall of the ocean's tide."
"Heh, I could see her shocked face now." Rn chuckles not noticing Skadi's displeased look, remembering that time in Asgard.
Neville laughs, "Yeah, same here."
Hermione raises her hand, "So what about the other one, the challenge to make her laugh?"
"I was getting to that," Hinako returns to the slide where Skadi stood before the Gods. "The other part of their promise, the God Loki boldly tied a rope on a goat's beard and…ahem…privates." Skadi chuckles a bit, also remembering that time with Loki.
An image of Loki with the goat (censored) appeared causing some discomfort from the males and a bit of laughter from the females. "Loki was able to get some amusement from the Goddess from his stunt. A stunt that causes Skadi's schadenfreude, a pleasure in someone else's pain." The Dead Apostle could hear Skadi's small laughter in the background.
"That gotta hurt," Neville commented, never imagine someone would do that.
"If anything Loki sounds like he enjoyed it," Jane commented, assuming he is a masochist.
"So what happens next?"
An image of Skadi with the other Gods was on a balcony with a pair of eyes appeared on the screen. "To further apologies to Skadi, Odin cast Thiazi's eyes to the skies where they remain as stars," Hinako explains the mural.
"With Skadi's marriage to Njord, she is not considered as a Jotunn but rather as one of the Vanir." Hinako pulls up Skadi and her new family. "This also means she is the stepmother of Freyr the God of Sunshine and Freya the Goddess of Beauty and Fertility."
"Despite being integrated into the family, Skadi's marriage isn't a happy one." Hinako showed two columns, of the mountains and the oceans.
"Why's that, Professor?"
A cold wind blew into the wind, causing some to shiver. "Njord doesn't want to settle in the mountain due to the wolves keeping him awake in the night, as with Skadi who share the same incident with the gulls. Thus the two spend their days in their respective domains apart."
"Well, that sucks." Parvati scoffs, seeing no point to stay married to the man.
"Indeed, now consider as a Goddess; Skadi continues her feud with the other Gods. Mainly Loki who went into an outburst, insulting many Gods including Skadi. Refusing to take more of this Skadi threatens Loki to end his rants, however he ignores the warnings and continues his rants."
Many of the students laugh, seeing the Trickster God's stupidity. "Soon Skadi went through with her threat, using his son Vali entails binding Loki beneath the Serpent's fangs where venom drips down on to him." An image of Loki under a Serpent appeared, tied to rocks as venom drips down on the God.
"Merlin, she's sadistic." Seamus pales at the sight of the image.
"Yes, there are many accounts of Skadi's punishments and other tales. Such as she divorced Njord in favor of Odin birthing many sons." Hinako continued. "Her titles vary not just the Queen of Ice and Snow, but the Bride of the Gods. Iconic to her title, her bridle crown was made from a variety of materials from the Nine Realms." An image of a golden crown appeared in an ancient text, (not the one she wears now but an illustration from Da Vinci).
"That crown looks beautiful." Padma sighs, dreaming of owning one like it.'
Parvati nodded, daydreaming that she's wearing it herself.
Ginny sighs, dreaming that she wore it during her wedding day with Harry.
"I'm sure you all heard this tale," Hinako pulls an image of a battlefield with various Gods and Giants fighting one another.
"THAT RAGNAROK!" Hermione exclaims, already knowing the tale.
Mashu nodded, "That's correct Hermione-chan." Hermione blushes at the honorific.
"What is Ragnarök?" A Slytherin asked,
Hinako turns to the class, "Ragnarök is where the Gods and Giants clashed, the Nine Realms were destroyed by Surtur's blade, this event causing many Gods deaths including Skadi." She explains.
"So this is the end of the Age of Gods in Scandinavia?" Luna asked receiving a nod from Hinako as confirmation.
"That concludes the Lore of Skadi and the Scandinavian Age of Gods." Hinako finishes off, seeing the students getting off their desks.
"Now just hold up a minute," Skadi steps forward, stopping her master's students from leaving. "Master has advised me that you all have a writing assignment tonight."
Ron slumps his shoulders hearing that he has an assignment tonight. "Really? But we have a Potion test tomorrow." He said to himself.
Hinako nodded, taking the textbook on the desk. "Tonight you have to write your own summary of the Vǫlsunga saga. A romantic and tragic tale of the Valkyrie Brynhildr and a warrior named Sigurd." She explains hearing some discussion of the assignment. "Now you all may be excused." The students left the room, leaving the Chaldeans be.
Skadi smiles, looking at the Dead Apostle and former Demi-Servant. "It was so nice to hear my tale in class. thank you for informing me Mashu." The Lostbelt Servant thanked her master's wife.
"It was not a problem Caster-san. Ritsuka wanted me to tell you, that's all." Mashu smiles at the Goddess.
"Well, please give my thanks to master." Skadi turns to Hinako, fixing up some papers on the desk. "And Professor, excellent executing my tale."
Hinako turns to the Caster, inclining her head in respect for her words. "Thank you for your kind words, Caster." She then noticed Ginny trying to speak near the door.
Mashu noticed it too, watching her mouth move without sounds. "Caster-san, can you…"
Skadi blinks realizing her runes are still in place. "Oh, right." She waves her wand, lifting the silencing runes off of master's Servants.
"Are you okay Ginny? Your voice hasn't returned just yet." Cho asked seeing her lips move.
Ginny's face was red with anger that her voice didn't return. The rune appeared before her throat and shatters. "-hat bitch! How dare she use a rune on me!" her voice echoes in the halls.
"You got to admit, a rune like that is impossible to make," Lavender commented.
"Who's side are you on Lavender!?" Ginny whips her head at her for making that comment.
Lavender smiles weakly, a bit frightened by her voice. "W-Well of course yours, Ginny. After all, you are the president of the Fan club."
"Ah, Ginny Weasley. A moment of your time?" Rita appears out of nowhere in front of the group.
"Rita Skeeter?" Ginny saw Rita's cameraman arriving behind her with his camera in hand. "What do you want?" she acted all high and mighty.
Rita twirls her quill around in her hand, smiling at her. "Well I just published my piece about the new Harry, and I happen to notice you have some relationship problems with him. I could help you know." She explains to the red-haired girl. "So what will it be, Ms. Weasley or future Mrs. Potter?"
Ginny smirks, turning to her followers. "You girls, leave me be." She turns to the journalist. "Me and Rita have some important things to do." she took the opportunity to regain her future. "What do you have in mind?" letting the girls leave her side.
"Plenty my dear, this plan needs to be laid out carefully," Rita explains, leaning to her ears. "For now let's start with the rumors I heard about Jane and her friends…"
AN: How do you like it? Please leave a comment or review.
