The Founders

Chapter 44

Kyra stared at Alexander blankly for a moment, the corner of her mouth starting to rise and her eyes flicking between his as she tried to evaluate whether he was joking or not. "You can't be serious," she finally responded.

He slowly nodded his head, holding her gaze. "I am serious. I first considered it when you said your name was Havard; it's not just an old Hufflepuff family. They're the direct descendants of Helga Hufflepuff."

The smile had melted from her face and she was shaking her head slightly, staring at the coverlet underneath her hand.

He hesitated for a moment, looking at her. "Then you showed me your necklace. You said it belonged to Hufflepuff and that it was from your mother. Why else would it be in your family?" he asked.

Kyra raised her eyes to his, protesting weakly, "Someone would have told me. My parents, or- or foster parents. Someone." Her voice trailed off, bewildered.

He looked at her with something bordering on pity. "Would they?" he asked gently. "You were, what, three, when your parents died? And your foster parents- maybe they wanted to protect you, or maybe they didn't know."

"So, you're saying," she concluded slowly, "that I was supposed to be raised like you. To prevent Slytherin from being raised again. But my parents died, and now I'm useless."

He shrugged a shoulder ruefully. "Apparently, I'm pretty useless, too. And I was trained."

She snickered, and glanced up, eyes wide. "Sorry, sorry. This is serious," she cut herself off with another snicker.

He leaned back on his hands, looking with amusement at her. "Are you laughing at me, Havard?"

"Alex, I was ready to strangle you about half an hour ago. Take what you can get."

He grinned at her for a moment, before clearing his throat and glancing away.

Grinning back, she stood up, straightening her skirt. "Would it be alright if we went outside briefly?" she asked. "I really need some air."

He nodded. "Sure."