Chapter 2 - Houses
Katia Ivanov stood on platform 9 and 3/4 with Wulfrick Ivanov at her side. Her pose was relaxed and her face expressionless as she watched the students make their way to the train. She looked at the Hogwarts Express for the first time, and anticipation and anxiety welled up inside of her.
"Maybe I should go now?" she asked in a thick, Russian accent.
"Maybe we should wait for a while; you still have ten minutes left."
"Do I look plain enough?" She smoothed her thick, grey robes as if to underline her question.
Her father nodded, and Katia looked at the Hogwarts Express again. She'd always used Sidelong Apparation with someone, or gone by a Portkey, so traveling by the train was something new for her. If not for the Muggleborns, all students could have been Apparated by their parents, she thought.
The platform soon became crowded. Young wizards with their parents were pacing, running, and shouting. She tried to listen, but there were too many voices at the moment to separate a single sentence.
A hissing from behind interrupted her musings.
"Focus now, they're here." She looked to her right and saw a bushy haired girl with a round-faced boy.
"Harry Potter's friends, but no sign of him." Her voice betrayed a slight, yet barely audible anxiety.
"Follow them, then." It was the only reply, the closest thing to a good-bye she received from Wulfrick.
She nodded, gave him a brief kiss on the cheek, took her trunk, and headed to the train. Cursing under her breath, she pushed the heavy trunk inside and looked around to try and find a familiar face, but she had no such luck.
She made her way from end to end of the train, but there was still no sign of Wonder-Boy Potter. That left the two she saw at the platform.
Hermione was in a seat by the window, Neville opposite to her.
"Are you sure you haven't seen Harry and Ron? The train will leave soon," she said nervously, and she tapped her foot impatiently on the floor.
Neville scratched the back of his head and shrugged. "Don't ask me. They should be here by now." With a sharp pull, the train slowly left Platform 9 and 3/4 "Maybe they're in trouble?" he finished with another shrug.
Hermione knitted her brows together, and looked out the window at the landscapes, not seeing them, lost in her thoughts. It wasn't long before they heard a knock, and the door of the compartment slid open. An unfamiliar girl stood in the entrance, dragging a large trunk.
"I'm sorry, but all the other seats seem to be taken. Would you mind if I joined you?" She produced a shy smile as she waited for a reply.
Hermione looked at the tall girl whose fringe was too long to the point that it almost obscured her eyes.
"Of course we don't mind. Forgive us, but we were trying to figure out if we've seen you before."
Neville took her trunk and placed it on the luggage rack above their heads. The girl took the seat next to him and raised her hand to her hair, but put it back down before she reached it.
"No, we don't know each other yet; I'm Katia Ivanov and I'm new here."
"Hermione Granger, and this is Neville Longbottom."
Before Katia had a chance to respond, Hermione spoke again. "You don't wear any house colors, but you look too old to be a first year. Did you just receive your letter later than we did?"
Katia smiled and looked straight at Hermione. For a moment brown eyes locked with hazel ones and the girl spoke.
"Yes, I'm too old for a first year. I'm starting school a little bit later. I'm from Bulgaria and I will be attending with the second years, because I passed my exams at Durmstrang."
Neville raised his brows in surprise. "So you're from Durmstrang?" Katia nodded and looked at Hermione again.
Katia took a deep breath and smiled. "Yes, partially," she said calmly, "I was home schooled, and I only had to pass exams at Durmstrang. I will be seeing Hogwarts for the first time. Can you tell me something about it? I don't want to make an idiot of myself on the first day."
Hermione lit up at this request, leaned forward to the Bulgarian girl, and began to give her a lecture on Hogwarts' history. Katia had read Hogwarts: the History, but it was good to hear about the school from someone who had actually attended there before.
She listened carefully when Hermione mentioned the teachers, and tried to figure out who might be strict and when she should watch herself the most.
"Professor McGonagall is the Head of the Gryffindor House. She is an Animagus, and her form is a cat. She teaches Transfiguration, and I really like her subject, but she is demanding. But it's good, because I like the challenge." She took a deep breath as if to continue, but decided against it.
Instead she leaned closer to the other girl. "What do you think, Katia? What is your favorite subject, by the way?"
Katia thought about her busy schedule and her additional lessons, and two subjects especially stood out.
"I enjoy Self Defense and Potions.."
"Self Defense? You meant Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
Katia listened to the British accent that Hermione spoke with, the one she loved so much, and only then did she realize just how much she had to practice.
"No, I meant Self Defense. It's very useful; if an opponent disarms you, you are not helpless, and you have plenty of possibilities. You can dodge their spells, kick them in a sensible place, or throw something at them. It's not a good thing to rely only on your wand, and as a Muggleborn, as you claim yourself to be, you should know that I'm right"
Hermione seemed to be surprised. "Of course, you're right, but Hogwarts doesn't provide us with Self Defence lessons," she said, and then paused. Katia quietly sat , in a modest pose, with her hands resting in her lap.
"You mentioned Potions. Professor Snape teaches that. He's the Head of the Slytherin House and is quite an unpleasant person, unless you are a member of his house. But even then, he makes exceptions sometimes."
Neville looked at Hermione disbelievingly, and raised his brows almost to his hairline. "Quite unpleasant? Great gods, Hermione! That greasy git makes my life miserable every chance he can."
Katia chuckled and put her hand on Neville's arm. "It can't be that bad," she said, and looked between Longbottom and Granger.
"I'm afraid he's right. Professor Snape terrifies Neville, and he seems to enjoy doing it. I'm sure he won't care that your English isn't perfect, and he might lower your grades unless you copy the text from the book, word for word."
Katia sighed. It seemed that Hogwarts would challenge neither her knowledge nor her logic, but rather condemn her for her poor language skills. The only contact that she'd had with English for seven years had been provided by provided by Russian or Bulgarian teachers whose accents weren't much better than her own. Better to work on pronunciation.
Besides, if she survived Aine Delorge, she could survive anything. This Professor Snape just couldn't possibly be worse than her. No one could. Aine Delorge was her teacher of Dance and Graceful Movements. These subjects were a part of her Adept training, that were preparing Katia to be an elite pleasure mistress in the future. Pleasure mistresses could be compared to Muggle Japanese geisha.
The train began to slow down and Neville looked out the window to see if they were in Hogsmeade. However, it was dark outside, and all he saw was the reflection of their compartment in the glass.
Neville was a gentleman, so he helped Hermione and Katia with their trunks, to put them in the middle of compartment.
Katia's trunk opened a little, and a book fell on the floor, showing its title in golden lettering. It said Anatomy of Pleasure: The Most Sensitive Spots.
Katia grabbed the book and did everything to look unperturbed. They couldn't read Russian letters after all.
"What's that?" asked Hermione, curious.
"It's just one of the books for Charms. I have one in Russian so I can understand Charms better," replied Katia nonchalantly. They left their trunks near the door and left the compartment.
They were already changed into their school robes and had started walking towards the front of the train when it finally stopped.
Katia twirled a strand of her hair and smiled uncertainly. "You were so nice to me. I wish I could be real friends with you one day."
Hermione put a hand on Katia's arm. "Of course you can, we can know each other better. Why would you think otherwise?"
Katia produced a shy smile and looked at her feet. "You see, I'm not sure where I will be sorted. You suggested Ravenclaw because I like to read, but I don't think that will be the case. You like books also, and you were sorted into Gryffindor. Would you like to be my friend, despite the house I'll be in?"
Hermione squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Of course Katia, we're not the ones with prejudices, but I hope you will be in Gryffindor. You are really nice"
"Thank you, it means a lot to me.". Katia didn't need to act, because it was an honest answer from her.
Maybe she wouldn't be so terribly alone after all, even if Granger's company was a bit tiring.
Besides, friendship with Hermione would give her access to Harry Potter, and one of her tasks was to keep an eye on him.
They went outside and Katia smiled to the half-giant who greeted them. As a new student, she was to ride the boats with the group of soon-to-be first years.
Hagrid was a nice guy, she could tell, and she was sure that her bad English didn't matter to him. They could barely understand each other, and that was enough.
Katia was just as impressed as her companions were when they were seated in the small boats, but she admired her surroundings without her mouth gaping open. And when they went in through the large doors of the school, Katia tried to take in everything at once.
Only years of learning self control stopped her from standing there with her eyes wide and mouth agape when she looked at the impressive castle. She wasn't showing her obvious interest, however. To a mere observer, she looked at her surroundings with mild interest.
Such a place to study magic!
An elderly woman at the top of stairs welcomed Katia and the rest of the students. She introduced herself as Minerva McGonagall.
She said the greeting speech to the new students, and shortly before the door to the Great Hall opened, she gestured Katia over. The girl stepped closer and smiled uncertainly at the older woman.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. You must be Katia Ivanov, I presume?"
The Bulgarian girl nodded and looked at the floor, not wanting to disrespect the woman by looking straight into her eyes.
"Don't be shy, I won't bite. The Sorting Ceremony is really a nice experience. Now cheer up child, it is the time."
"Of course."
Katia's response was drowned out among the noises made by the first years. She entered the Great Hall with the flow and looked around. The enchanted ceiling was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and the levitating candles made the effect almost stunning. She barely paid attention to the Headmaster's speech, because she was as absorbed by her surroundings as the rest of the first years were. It was out of character for her to be so careless, but she couldn't help it.
She focused however when she heard her name. She straightened her hair with one quick motion, a nervous habit that stubbornly showed her nervousness no matter how hard she tried to stop it.
She lifted her chin and walked stiffly between the tables. She was aware of the looks she received, but they did not faze her. She kept her gaze at the height of McGonagall's knees. She heard whispers amongst the students:
"Nothing special," whispered a bored, tall boy.
"Quite plain," someone said aloud.
"Kind of ordinary looking."
"Wonder if she likes Chocolate Frogs," laughed someone.
"Do you think she'll be in our house?" asked a girl nearby.
"I hope not," replied a voice behind her.
She decided to ignore them.
The Sorting Hat was placed on her head and in the same moment she heard a voice inside her mind. She fought the urge to flinch.
"Sorting you is not a hard thing. I see a lot of courage. That would make an excellent Gryffindor."
"I am not a coward if that's what you mean."
"No, no. But it's not your major trait. You also like to learn new things, even if they are…er…sometimes forced upon you."
"Does it mean Ravenclaw?"
"Your hard work and constant need to prove yourself would make you more a Hufflepuff than Ravenclaw."
"Huff Le Puff then?"
"But… so much acting, so much cunning in such a young mind."
"It has a reason and a purpose."
"Of course it does, and nothing will help you better to gain you goals than …"
"SLYTHERIN!" it shouted and Katia heard clapping from one table.
She sent an apologetic look to Hermione and Neville and headed to the Slytherin table. Despite the dirty looks from some of the students, she kept herself calm and composed, and sat stiff and proud. Providing a small smile she sat on the edge of the bench and, avoiding Malfoy's eyes, looked at her new teachers.
She was a member of the Ivanov family, and the Ivanovs could eat the likes of Malfoys for breakfast. The truth was that if they knew what her true heritage was, they would hate her openly. Ivanovs, Malfoys, Slytherins. Most likely all of them.
She shuddered inside at the thought and took a deep breath. They couldn't know; there is no way. How would they? It's not like she had a flashing sign on her forehead.
Perhaps there was no way for them to know, but she did, and her anxiety grew despite her efforts to calm herself. Did she leave her confidence with Wulfrick at the train station?
She thought that she was over the feelings of anxiety caused by such truths coming out about her. Yet, it still caused her to be nervous. She would have to work more on self-control, and sooner, rather than later.
The Staff table contained one unoccupied chair, and Katia scanned the teachers through hooded eyes and tried to figure out who was who. She couldn't tell much, because Hermione had focused on describing their teaching attitudes, not physical traits. She only recognized Professor Flitwick because Neville had mentioned that he was tiny.
It wasn't long before a tall, lean man entered the Great Hall and sat by teacher's table. His skin was pale and his face was obscure by lank, black hair. Only his large nose was visible. He said something to the teachers and their eyes widened. She turned her head back towards the Slytherins, and tried to hear what they were saying.
"-must be in trouble," said someone behind her.
"-a hell of-" she heard from the middle of the table.
"Snape won't- bla-bla-bla – easily" It was so hard to catch the words in all the noise.
"Potter-" of course Potter, whom else would they discuss? Her? She was "nothing special", or so they said earlier.
"McGona-"
"and Headmaster-"
"-went-"
She looked around again, but there was no sign of this Snape and Headmaster. The feline in disguise teacher was also missing.
She drank her pumpkin juice and ate some fruits, but there was nothing else she could stomach.
"Big cow. Almost like Millicent, yet eats like a bird," she heard a snarky female voice comment, but pretended as if she had not heard the rude comment.
She was aware that because she was sitting with her back turned to her new housemates, she wasn't exactly coming off as the friendliest person, and their unpleasant reactions to her weren't making her feel friendlier, either. It also irritating her to the point that she was constantly playing with her hair.
By the time Katia reached the Slytherin common room she felt dizzy from all the noise that the student body provided. She was used to more quiet, spacious surroundings.
She was half-way to the girls dormitories when the door opened and a pug faced girl poked her head out. Katia recognized the girl's voice as the one that had made the cow comment.
"Oi! Everyone! Her things are in my room! C'mon, let's see what she's got here!" she shouted, and most of Slytherins went into the dorm before Katia could do anything.
When Katia finally pushed through the crowd, most of the floor of the room was covered with her belongings.
Girls were trying her perfumes and cosmetics, and boys were looking at her underwear.
Malfoy was wearing her bra, touching it and shouting obscenities. When he noticed her presence, he smiled wickedly.
"Wooo, what have we got here! Didn't know that twelve years olds could grow breasts already!"
Everyone looked at Katia, probably expecting her to run and cry, but she didn't. She stood still, her head bowed with her hair hanging around most of her face, yet she could still see through it.
She suspected something like this to happen and that's why Wulfrick had taken her most valuable things to Dumbledore when he had come to visit Hogwarts during the holidays.
However suspecting something and actually seeing her privacy violated in such a manner were two different things, and she wasn't about to let it go so easily.
Katia felt rage boiling in her, and this time, she did nothing to stop it.
"Leave it," she said in a deadly low voice. If they had been at Ivanov Manor, they would have listened immediately, but here she was "nothing special" and alone. It only caused a laughter and more obscenities.
"NOW!"
"Or what? You'll hex us all or go back to mommy and daddy crying?"
Without a warning she jumped to the center of the crowd, punched the girl straight into her stomach, elbowed a black skinned boy, and kicked a big baboon of a boy in his groin.
They didn't have time to react, and she would have done more, but Malfoy's son had his reflexes also, and drew his wand.
Severus Snape was furious. Potter and Weasley should have been expelled for their foolish actions. But, of course, they were untouchable. As if that wasn't enough, the old bag McGonagall had made sure that their punishment wasn't too hard.
Had they been in Slytherin, they would've been packed up and on the train back to London by now.
That reminded him of his past. When Sirius Black almost got him killed, he was also spared and punished by a mere detentions and he, the victim, had to be grateful that James Potter had saved his life.
He was heading to his quarters when he heard noises from the Slytherin rooms. He quickened his pace, Disillusioned himself, and entered the Common Room just in time to see a torment party that had been prepared for the Bulgarian girl.
Severus suspected that being from Bulgaria would have provided her an education in the Dark Arts, even if she hadn't attended Durmstrang. But her vicious attack and incredible speed surprised him.
She didn't stand a chance, however. She was alone, and, as far as he could see, this careless child hadn't even drawn her wand. Severus smirked to himself when he saw Draco's wand trained on Bulgarian girl.
But Snape's amusement wasn't long lived when the girl flew across the room, slammed into him hard, and knocked the air out of his lungs. Severus' back met the door painfully.
Katia felt something hard and solid hit her and loose it's balance, but she didn't register it in her furious state. Malfoy's spell felt as if he had punched her in the ribs.
"Svolotch!"
Being defenseless and not having the advantage of surprise, she took off one high-heeled shoes and threw it in the face of the Pug-faced girl. She smirked when she heard the lovely noise of bones breaking.
Pug face held her nose with two hands, and blood flowed from her nose at an impressive speed.
"You got what you deserved, psha yuha ty!"
She could almost feel the hatred from the other students as they approached her, their jaws clenched and their fists balled. Any moment and they would tear her into pieces.
"You think that you are strong, tshorty vy, because you are in a pack! But none of you, NO ONE wants to come here and be first!"
She was holding her wand now in a steady, firm grip. They backed up a little and she advanced, her face controlled and lips in a thin line.
"Remember that this was only a show, a sample. You don't want to be my enemy. Now, you will gather my things and put. Them. Back."
Some of them reluctantly retreated and Katia raised her wand higher.
"Move!"
She stepped closer to see if all her things were put back into the chest.
Snape used the chaos of the situation to retreat. He decided to not interfere, but she wouldn't get away with this.
His back still hurt, but it was a side effect of his curiosity. The girl had handled the situation, but it was strange that she used physical violence instead of some nasty hex.
The atmosphere in the Slytherin Common Room was nervous and unpleasant.
Katia demanded to be left alone and most of them agreed to do it. Malfoy, however, thought, that having her on his side would be an interesting addition to his bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle.
Pansy was escorted to Madam Pomfrey, claiming that she tripped on a stair.
Draco pulled Katia aside.
"You think that you will rule us now?"
"I never said that. Just don't mess with me and we can live here in peace."
"I am afraid that I didn't catch your name, but by the way you acted, I would say you are a Mudblood, using violence like you did."
"I must disappoint you, Malfoy. I don't know what the term Mudblood means, but by your tone, I suspect that it's some lower kind of people. I'm from the Ivanov family; we are one of the oldest and richest Pureblood families in Russia"
Ivanov? She's Ivanov? Oh bloody hell; Father is going to kill me.
"You must forgive my fellow Slytherins, but we were not aware of your heritage. I sincerely apologize and I hope that you won't hold my mistake against me." That should do.
"I have no wish to have an enemy in you, but restrain yourself next time. I want respect for my person, nothing more. I want to be treated like one of you, even if my English isn't perfect and I'm a foreigner. I hope that we have an understanding."
He doesn't know, Rasputin the Great, why I am so worried?
"We do. Remember that whatever happens in this house, stays here," he said, this time with a friendly smile.
Slimy little git, why aren't you more like your father?
She felt hot inside when she thought of Lucius, standing not so far away from her in the book shop.
"Good night Malfoy."
"It's Draco. Good night."
It was long after midnight when sleep finally claimed Katia. She felt hungry and wasn't used to other people sleeping in the same room with her.
Their snoring irritated Katia to no end.
She woke up around five in the morning, more hungry than ever and dressed as she waited for breakfast to arrive. She thought about the fight the night before, and finally realized that she had collided with someone, but had no idea who it might have been. She finally decided that she had been too focused on the things before her to see someone behind her. Some unfortunate Slytherin would have had a rude awakening due to the force in which they hit the door.
A/N: Here's some words that can be problematic for you:
Svolotch – trash (about people). It's used in Bulgarian and Russian mostly to insult a group of people.
psha yuha ty – psha yuha is originally written as "psia juha" but was changed to show the proper pronunciation. It means literally "dog's blood", but it's a mild insult and it shows a disrespect. "ty" means you, and putting "you" and the end of sentence is correct grammatically in some Slavonic languages. It's used in Polish, sometimes in Russian, Czech and Bulgarian.
"tshorty vy!" – literally it means "you devils" but in Russian it's more of an insult than it sounds in English, but a rather mild.
Thanks to Artemis J. Halk for correcting this chapter.