Dreams And Revelation
Loki looked around. It was cold, but he couldn't feel it. There was a snowstorm outside. He didn't feel a thing. His green eyes were closing due to the cold breeze.
I'm alone.
That's when he heard a familliar chatter and a voice very loud and boisterous. Loki could never forget that thundering voice of his older brother.
"Thor?"
Silence.
Lokis footsteps echoed as he rushed towards the direction of the sound. He searched and searched and screamed for Thor... but his brother was nowhere to be seen.
Why does he have to have this dream? Even in a dream... why can't he be happy? Why can't he see his brother just once?
Suddenly, he heard Death's voice, "you agreed to this, mister Loki. They forgot all about you. It's like you were never there to begin with. You should live with that now. Move on." Loki felt his heart aching with pain, but he couldn't disagree with the man, he already made his decision. "You're right. I shouldn't, but I can't help it... I want to see him even if it's a dream." There was silence, then the snowstorm completely stopped, however, the tiny cristal flakes continued descending from the sky.
"So that's how it is... very well then. Still, be aware in advance, I don't create your dreams, your brain does, so don't blame me..."
Loki heard a cheering voice again. The people of Asgard were there, close, but not quite there. He hesitated at first, but after hearing Thors voice, he ran as if his life depended on it. Later he stopped to catch his breath.
He lifted his eyes, witnessing that stupid smile of his brother when he saw him. Loki could almost feel his heart warming when Thor held onto him with a hug. It felt like eternity before the liesmith heard, "it's your fault, brother... all your fault."And his eyes widened, he wanted to take a step back to see, was this really Thor?
"Loki, you invaded Midgard, killed innocents, mind-controlled people, tried to enslave them... you ruined humans lives." Little by little, Thor started crushing Loki with the hug. Loki barely got a gasp out, "please, brother..."
He heard a laughter. "Brother you say? Would anyone consider you their blood after everything you've done? You're not my brother and never have been. You don't even share the same blood with me."
Tears were beginning to brim in Lokis eyes. "I beg of you, Thor, stop this. Let me go." Thor let Loki struggle out of his grasp, they came fave to face. Loki looked into Thors blue eyes. His eyes became colder to a dispassionate, almost clinical degree. The rage was written all over the face Loki once knew. He was now watching a complete stranger.
Loki took a step back, making Thor step forward. "Face it Loki, you're a liar, a traitorous backstabber, a murderer..." Loki pressed his palms against his ears and closed his eyes. A hand forced his hands away from himself. He felt his heart shattering, "...a monster. A filthy frost giant."
The past demi-gods knees gave out, he fell to the ground with his hands still restrained by Thor. The tears were already trickling down. He couldn't stop himself. Loki shut his eyes to make himself calm down. After a few seconds, he opened them.
Death warned him and he didn't listen. He should've listened.
Loki noticed that Thor was now nowhere to be seen, he could only hear the voices of his dear friends from afar, mocking him, hating him. They always did hate him. It would be rare if an Aesir ever trusted someone like him. The words of these Asgardians didn't faze him as much as Thor did. He has heard it all from them anyway, this was fine.
It was fine until those voices disappeared. Now he was surrounded with frost giants. He acted quickly, trying to fight them off with his magic... until he realized that he couldn't access his seidr. He felt powerless as they put him in chains and dragged him against the ice-covered grounds to none other than his birth father, Laufey.
There he was, sitting on an icy throne, waiting to judge Loki for his crimes. His red eyes met the grudging green ones. Then Laufey spoke.
Attention everyone, this is Loki Odinson, the god of lies, the Asgardian who tricked our fellow Jötunn and led them to a certain death. He dared to bring the thunderer and his people to us so that they would cause chaos. As if all that wasn't enough, he even tried destroying all of Jotunheim... we can't overlook that."
Loki felt the hateful red-eyed gazes of the Jötunn. He couldn't look, he closed his eyes, he was unable to speak, as his mouth was gagged. He was once more helpless.
"What's your judgement, kind Laufey?" Someone in the crowd asked. "I heard that someone is searching for him... that someone wants the magician. We will give the Odinson to him."
Loki opened his eyes again. When will this be over?
The cold air changed its direction, quietness prevailed. Loki couldn't tell what was happening around him, but it suddenly became darker, colder. The next words made his stomach twist–"it's decided then, we will give Loki Odinson to the mad titan."
No, no, no, no, no, no. This can't be happening. That's impossible. He can't be here.
But he was. Loki would never forget that spaceship. From the first time he witnessed it to the last, he'd never forget the spaceship he was... rescued on. From the fall ofcourse... after that, it's all one long, painful story.
The doors opened and he stepped out, getting closer to Loki. Every step he took made the tricksters lungs lose oxygen. He was absolutely terrified.
No, please, not him... anyone but him.
The madman stood right in front of the chained god and grabbed the chain around Lokis neck, yanking it up to make the other look at him. A satisfied smile settled on Thanos's face, "we meet again, little one."
That was it, Loki wouldn't escape. He'd be locked up in that dark cell again. He would be injected with the liquid that made him see his loved ones death day in and day out. Then Thanos would arrive, personally training him... making him wish he was dead.
Loki didn't want this... any of this. He knew that words were useless with the mad titan, he'd do more harm once Loki tried to talk his way out, which almost always ended up in Lokis tongue being severed. It was a painful, never-ending process of getting it cut or burnt off, then having it regrow.
So, he didn't struggle as he was dragged to the spaceship and then back to that cell. But when he looked around, he wasn't there anymore. Loki didn't know whether he felt relieved that he wasn't in that place, with that man or panicking for what was to come next.
He looked down, the chain was no longer binding him. Right in front of him there was a mirror, a very large one. Loki faced the mirror, gazing at his reflection. Just when he was expecting to see himself as Loki, he saw the little boy, Harry.
"So that's how it is... I'm no longer Loki, I'm just Harry Potter... is that what you're trying to show me, Death?" Despite the wordless response, he counted that as a yes.
"You have me mistaken for someone who listens and follows others orders, I am still Loki, no matter what form I have taken at the moment, do not be mistaken."
Then the reflection divided into two parts, one which shows Harry and the other which reflects Loki.
A smirk tugged at the end of his lips. This was the end of this terrible dream. Finally.
"Good job, mister Loki... oh? Won't take too much of your time now, they're calling for you."
Once more, the dark lord is disturbed by these dreams. They have been occurring more frequently and vividly lately. Right after he possessed Quirrel, these god-forsaken dreams have kept him cautious. He has been more paranoid than ever.
However, only he can see these dreams, Quirinus, who happens to share the same brain with him, doesn't. Voldemort asked his follower about it, but he got nothing out of him. How weird. He don't know why or how he keep seeing them out of nowhere, but it started about over a month ago, when he first saw that man in the slumber illusions.
The dark haired man was tall, pale, he had that aura of power surrounding him. His hair was slightly grown out, but it looked nice on him. The most distinctive features of the man–those lit emeralds of the unknown person in the dreamscapes.
Sometimes the dark wizard only saw little pieces of some images he couldn't comprehend, sometimes he found himself in some grey area, where trying to move or listen to anything was futile. When he did try, a skinny man appeared in front of him and warned about not meddling. That always ended with him waking from his–if he could still call it his–slumber.
Not counting the grey dreams, Voldemort always sew the man with the green eyes in every dream. Was that a coincidence? He threw away that thought after a month of having those nocturnal fantasies. He stopped questioning why and decided only to keep a close eye on the man and look out for any sort of information that might be hinting at something, anything as to why he was having these dreams.
Then one night, he was thrown into another dream, but this time, he could feel everything around him. It was freezing cold. The feared wizard was standing in the middle of nowhere, snowy mountains and ruins surrounding him. He was shivering, he couldn't feel his feet anymore, because of them being bare.
His ears caught some voices from afar, but looking around was useless, he only heard. Why did he have to be here if he didn't get anything out of it in the end?
After what felt like a decade of being frozen alive, he felt the air change. Voldemort was standing in a very dark room. He couldn't see anything. But he heard a clacking sound of chains.
He reached out, walked around, searched, no use. Nevertheless, it becomes evident that more changes have taken place, prompting him to glance around. His eyes stop on a tall figure standing against a mirror. Wait, that's the man.
The dark lord runs in his direction, yet in vain once more. No matter how much he ran, he never reached that person. He sought to inspect more attentively, what he saw made his eyes widen and his mouth fall agape.
That... he was seeing this correctly, wasn't he? In the mirror reflected a small frame of Harry Potter, the boy who lived.
The dark lord was laughing. He felt so stupid for not understanding this sooner. Ofcourse he was seeing the dreams because of Harry Potter, after all, they had the connection through the boys lightning scar.
But why was the chosen one this man? What was the reason for the grown up fecade? Was that the boys imagination of his future self? Or was that his tiny fantasies? Voldemord couldn't understand anything, he was lost.
He got a glimpse of the mirror splitting in two, showing Potter and his imaginative self before he got kicked out of the dream without warning.
"...arri, Harry." Opening his eyes, the first thing he saw were the worried faces of Blaise and Draco as they surrounded his bed. "Are you okay?" Blaise asked with a concerned look. "I'm... fine, don't worry you guys, I just had a little nightmare."
Harry felt Beauty hissing at Draco to stay away from her master while she tries to soothe him.
He hisses out to let Beauty understand that he's fine as long as he has the two humans on his side. Beauty was not convinced by his words, so she decided to wrap around his neck and follow him.
Then Draco, who looked very disturbed by the scene unfolding in front of him, decided to add to what Beauty said, "you call that a little nightmare? Harry, look at yourself, you look awful."
At first he felt like there had been water splashed against his bed, but when he stood up–at first wobbling, almost falling–and took a good look at himself through the reflection. Seeing his serpent wrapped around his neck made him crack a smile.
He couldnt argue with them when the fact was in staring back at him. His body was drenched in sweat. So that's why he was feeling so uncomfortable in the bed. His face was as pale as Dracos hair, and his eyes were undeniably red from tears. "Oh..." was all he could utter.
Blaise gave Draco a warning glance. After the blond childishly rolled his eyes, he walked away to grab his wand and cast some cleansing charms on Harry's bed. Meanwhile, Blaise lead Harry to sit in the common rooms.
Harry offered Beauty to crawl down from his neck, since he was sweaty all over. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable.
She did as instructed, only with a little comment about the blind being responsible for taking her master away from him. "I told you, Beauty, I'm not your master." If pythons ever rolled their eyes, Harry would proudly say that his pet snake was the best at it. "No response, huh?"
It was too early, so nobody was awake then except for the trio.
A minute later, Draco joined in with them on the large couch, startling Beauty and making her move slipping down from the couch to get out of the room, saying some very bad words directed at Malfoy that... really surprised Harry, he'd have a talk about that with her later.
Harry got a glimpse of her dragging a dead rat before disappearing through the exit of the room.
Now the Slytherins were sitting next to a shivering Harry Potter. The trembling boy was the first to speak, "what happened?" He asked calmly.
"We were all sleeping, but then you started making weird, painful noises, we couldn't wake you up. Then you even yelled when Draco tried to wake you up. You were screaming, "no" over and over again... also you were saying words we couldn't understand." Asgardian. Loki thinks to himself.
Draco takes the opportunity to speak next, "Okay. Now it's time for us to ask the question. What happened, Harry? What kind of nightmare would you dream about that you reacted this way?" Harry stayed silent.
Loki, without a doubt would lie. How would he explain all the things he saw in his nightmare? He could only tell them something relevant to Harry Potters life.
Harry made a show of suddenly becoming more secretive and gloomy. "Well, I... there's something I haven't told you two yet." Blaise gently squeezed Harry's shoulder encouragingly, "it's alright, you can feel free to share with us." Harry Inclined his head downward at the recollection of the oh-so-terrible dream he had of Harry's life experiences.
"This happened before my Hogwarts letter arrived..." Harry drew in a breath, making this look like hard topic for him. "I was with my aunt, uncle and cousin in our house." He made sure fidget with his hands and to raise his eyes at the two before continuing, "my uncle wasn't always nice to us. He beat my aunt and sometimes hit me..." The looks on their faces when he told them that was hilarious, they looked both sad for Harry and angry for him.
The Slytherin boys waited for him to finish what he started, despite probably wanting to bury Harry in questions. "It was 23rd of June, my cousins birthday and we were all supposed to go to the zoo that day as a family." Harry squeezed his eyes shut to hold back the tears, "I couldn't do anything." he let the silence stretch on, "my aunt, she stabbed uncle Vernon...repeatedly and there was blood everywhere, I-I couldn't..."
Dracos face turned paler as he listened to the horrifying details of Harry's predicament. In a split second, his face got back it's usual colour and his eyes burned with some kind of determination.
He was outnumbered and cornered, because they both hugged him then, making him feel all warm and–can't believe Loki is feeling like this, but he's...happy. "It wasn't your fault. Your uncle must've been a truly terrible person to trigger her like that, enough for her to kill him for it."
This was said by the usually ice cold Blaise, who was now hugging a trembling roommate. Draco tried his best to give Harry a comforting hug, even though he was awkward about it.
Harry calmed down and after they detached themselves from him, he nodded, indicating himself being completely fine and said, "after that, she sort of pushed my cousin down the stairs–it was an accident, but still." They looked horrified, yet understanding. "He's no disabled." The "shaken" boy finished his tale and looked at them with his eyes filled with tears and a painful smile.
Draco and Blaise comforted him for hours. Harry took a shower to get rid of all the sweat, after getting out he was trapped by Draco in warm blankets and placed on the couch. Blaise personally stirred up hot cocoa and handed it to the now blanket-restrained boy who lived. Blaise had Harry sip the cocoa he cradled in his hands. It was warm.
Loki was now self conscious... Draco Malfoy hurried to knock on their head of the houses door, spilling the facts about Harry's situation. The potions professor came rushing through the Slytherin common rooms with a newly-brewed calming draught.
He checked the boys temperature, scanned him with magic and sighed in relief. Then he turned to the other two, as if Harry wasn't in the room, "physically, he's okay. He just needs some rest. It'll be okay for him to go to classes today." Then he turned to Harry with his hands rested on his sides and his eyebrow so raised, that it practically disappeared.
"Mister Potter, take it easy today, no need for any exhausting activities. Don't stay up or go strolling the new places of Hogwarts, just rest." He said with a warning tone, but Harry could feel the fondness to it and he felt warm again.
Snape left as quickly as he arrived. Before leaving he warned Blaise and Draco, underlining their last names and staring through Dracos eyes, "don't... mention this to anyone." And he left, his cape fluttering in the air as he did. What an amusing sight to Harry, he gladly printed that out in his memory.
Harry was treated like a toddler, he liked it. Then he asked them enthusiastically, "is this what having parents feels like? It's nice." Very much "unintentionally" the two looked sympathetic about that and decided baby him with more determination.
Norns. Looks like I haven't lost my silver-tongue after all, seeing just how these two are affected by everything I say or do in this boys body. How would they feel if I revealed my true identity to them? Would they despise me? Avoid me? Or be ashamed that they fell for my trick?
But Loki wasn't curious enough to test out that theory, it would be a very stupid move for him.
It was already 7:00, which meant classes started in 30 minutes. "Umm... guys?" Once he had their attention he stood up and walked to their shared room to dress up. "Could you keep this a secret between us? I don't want everyone to pity or make fun of me."
Dracos eyebrows basically became one with how he was frowning. "Who would dare laugh at my friend? Whoever does that will hear from my father."
Blaise sighed at Dracos response and shook his head, "what he's trying to say is that, we won't tell anyone, Harry. Your secret is safe with us." The mom assured him and sent Harry to dress up already.
Now Loki felt like his age was lost in this child, human body, because litteral children were babysitting him. It did feel like he was loved and appreciated tho... so it was pleasant.
Loki overdid it with the acting sad about the Dursleys thing, because now his two Slytherin friends looked like loyal guard dogs walking in sync with Harry, as if he needed protection.
They got strange glances from everyone around. The professors who Harry had a glimpse at on the way to Charms class were merely amused. He wanted to roll his eyes, this felt like the old times. Him being captured for his crimes all over again: shield, Asgardian detainers.
The one teaching them all Charms is Filius Flitwick. He was short, old and somewhat made a certain normal Slytherin student want to walk up to him with an innocent smile and say, "professor... how does it feel to have an eleven year old be taller than you?"
Or better, place a little surprise present on his table when no one was around. Placing something very sweet in the box and then leaving a voice message there. "Sorry professor, couldn't come up with anything better to gift you, my parents only recommended me these sweets for those smaller than me."
Loki knew that Harry Potter had no parents, so he'd be the least likely suspect. Especially for the chosen one, he'd be extracted from the potential culprit list.
In the class they were explained a very boring charm, that Loki repeated–even better than the professor in fact. So Harry graciously acquired 20 points for his house, they should be happy that they were blessed with such an exceptional wizard peer.
Some people were very displeased about his accomplishments. Yes, Ronald Weasley seemed to really hate "snakes." Draco and him gave each other a list of insults every time they crossed path it seemed. There were words flying around, such as: "filthy snake," "blood traitor,," "Death eater," "Weasley."
Loki let them be at each other's throats, it reminded him of himself and Thor... they were a bit less savage like that, they were just playing around, unlike these two.
Now that he thought about it, Draco did remind him of Thor, did that mean the Weasley boy was like him? No, not a chance. That's the reason Harry got in between the boys quarrel, since the professor couldn't stop them and secretly used a spell to shut the prat Weasleys mouth.
He looked like an melodrama character, who was accused of murder or something. Honestly, this boy needed to relax a bit.
Honestly, this bloke got what he deserved, he needed to shut his mouth sometimes. Earlier, he was telling his fellow Gryffindor friends about how Slytherin had all the evil wizards and that they all ended up being death eaters.That brat even had the audacity to badmouth his favourite professor... how dare that little no good red-head worse clone of his brothers.
Truth be told, Loki wasn't bad enough to hurt a naive, stupid child... he was just going to teach him a little lesson about how to not be a jerk, and he was going to do it the Loki way.
Once the lesson got wrapped up, Harry and his devoted security duo, followed by Pancy Parkinson(who Loki almost forgot about), were on their way to the great hall. Ronald Weasley, however seemed to look for trouble, so he crossed paths with them and decided to act very friendly, by lunging at Draco. "You dirty snake, what did you do to me class?"
Wow. There... he went and did it. Now Loki had the perfect opportunity to teach the ginger a lesson for touching his dear friend.
Draco seemed effectively disgusted by the vermin gripping his collar right now, so he slapped his hand away. "Buzz off, Weasley. I don't know what you're talking about. Bet you were just afraid that I'd tell my dad about your insults and decided to shut your traitorous mouth." The provocator didn't like the answer, so he directed his broken wand at the blond.
Teenagers and their dramatics.
"Hold it right there." He noticed the confusion over his words, so Harry got between the two. He gave Ron Weasley a professional smile, "let's be civil about this, gentlemen." The blue-eyed boy didn't understand a single word the Slytherin just spelled out to him, it only made him sneer at Draco for hiding behind the golden boys shoulder.
In effect, the pale boys face became a little red from anger, and he was about to make it a battle between himself and Ron, but Harry didn't quite want that, so he sighed, pulled out his own wand and used the new spell he just learnt. "Wingardium leviosa."
Both Weasley boy and Draco floated up in the air. The children were baffled, one was yelling at him to put him down and the other was looking at him like Thor did when Loki turned from a snake to himself and stabbed him. The look of betrayal.
Blaise was trying to hold in a laughter and Pancy was angry at Harry, telling him to return Draco to earth. But he only stood there lazily with his wand out, lifting and dropping the ginger and his friend, but not letting them touch the ground. They both screamed for him to stop.
His heart did hurt a little when he saw how scared his friend looked that even tears sprung to his eyes, so he stopped moving him up and down and only focused on the Weasley. After he was done shaking the boy, he only stuck them in mid-air and casually strolled up to them. "Have the two of you calmed down yet?"
Harry raised an eyebrow when the freckled ginger opened his mouth. He gripped his wand, so the Gryffindor closed his mouth just as quickly. "I've already told you to be civil, if you want to know what that means, I'll tell you. No fighting on my watch, got it?" The students nodded very quickly and waited, as if they were about to be put against the corner by their parents.
"Good. Now... tell me mister Weasley, what did Draco Malfoy do to you that you decide, that the best course of action is pointing your damaged wand to his face?" The lion stuttered at first, but then his face fell and he gulped down. "That darn sn–I mean, Malfoy used a spell to force my mouth shut..."
Crossing his hands, he displayed a curious look. Later, he nodded and glanced at Draco, his eyes softening just a bit, but his serious tone unchanging, "anything you'd like to confess?" Draco shook his head, the tears still remaining in his blue eyes. "I swear, it wasn't me, believe me."
Harry canceled the spell, making the descent safe for the two. He softened his facial expression and walked up to them, "please promise me that you won't fight, ever. It's immature of Hogwarts students, such as yourselves, you'll be shaming your families." That's when the two stiffened, Draco looked way more shaken than Weasley, but it was still very dramatic.
The two blue eyed students agreed with gestures, but Harry wanted to make sure, so he pressed. "If any of you dare and try to start a quarrel again, I'll take matters into my own hands... understood?" The Gryffindor swallowed down fear and let out a shaky "yes." The Slytherin nodded, still pouting because of Harry's actions.
"Splendid. Now, don't make me force you boys to take an official oath. Just leave your childish imaginative "enemies" out of Hogwarts and say proper farewells to one another." Then there were two very awkward goodbyes hears from them and Ronald Weasley fled the place cowardly, leaving the shocked Slytherins alone.
Blaise only gave a smirk, telling Harry how he looked like a professor during the scolding. Pancy was still frowning about how unfairly he treated his own roommate. She was silent the rest of the time. Draco returned to being very confident when Harry gave a little wink, leaned a bit close to him and whispered for dramatics, "don't worry, I won't punish you if you don't get caught."
"That's very Slytherin of you, mister Potter." Called a voice from behind them. There stood Severus Snape, leaned against the walls of the castle, smirking. "I really liked how you handled the situation, however bold that might've been. 10 points to Slytherin for wit and cunningness."
Harry's eyes shone the whole time, his own sly grin not escaping his face. "I feel honored, professor Snape. Thanks for the points by the way." He smiled and made sure to only look at Snape while he transferred his thoughts to his 3 peers, he couldn't exclude Pancy, that would be discrimination. "Another reason why I'm the best asset to Slytherin."
Pancy and Dracos gasps synchronized. Blaise only raised an eyebrow and stared at Harry with a suspicious glance.
Their homeroom teacher asked them what was wrong with an irritated face, to which the gasping duo stammered a lot, so Harry gave a helping hand. "They must have remembered that we were heading to the great hall. You should join us too, professor. It's important to eat and not to overwork yourself too much." He said with a very sincere expression.
Professor Snape scowled at Harry, but there was no anger in it, no danger. If anything, it seemed like they were in the midst of a game. "I already ate, mister Potter. Very caring of you to think about my plans for a meal with your stomach empty. Now follow your friends to the great hall before I deduct those 10 points for wasting my time." Answering with a giggle, Harry tagged along with the other Slytherins to the giant hall.
Prior to disappearing from Severus's view, he smiled and waved the professor goodbye. He bets the man is standing there with a fond smile on his face.
Accustomed to arriving in the grand space and sitting in their usual places, Draco and Parkinson started throwing questions at Harry, to which his smile got darker, more mischevious, "magicians don't reveal their secrets, my amateur friends." He sighed dramatically and put his hand against his forehead, "you'll never uncover my dark secrets."
Why did they take his words so seriously?
Over the next 15 minutes of Harry trying to eat in peace while having the two curious–at the same time deeply pierced by being called "amateurs"–Slytherins continued interrogating a silent boy, who was just trying to eat. Meanwhile Blaise was enjoying the 2 against 1.
This was too unfair for Harry, his head hurt.
Wait, his head really hurt.
Harry brought his hand up to his lighting scar and suppressed a wince. Draco and Pancy didn't notice until Blaise pointed it out. "Are you okay, Harry?"–"what's with that question being said to me today?"
His scar burned even more and he almost let out a pathetic moan. Weak, worthless, pitiful, unwanted.
Parkinson just looked uncomfortable and kind of worried. The roommates started babying the chosen one again, what would the whole hall of peering eyes think?
In spite of all these thoughts, Loki was too busy with the sharp pain in his head, which felt like it burned into his scull to even bother. "I have to get out, now." He stood up, his vision hazy, his head numb with pain. Just when he was beginning to feel a close collapse incoming he took a grip of his head and teleported outside the hall.
He heard the murmurs and the order from Albus Dumbledore to find Harry Potter right away. That's why, he took another deep breath, this time, ending up in the library, where not a soul was present. Or that's what he thought.
"Harry?" Called a familliar high-pitched voice of Hermione. "What happened to you? You look awful." She walked up to him and lead him to the chair of the library. "My head started hurting in the middle of a feast and everyone was watching, I wanted to get out, so when I opened my eyes, I ended up here."
Hermiones eyes widened, "Harry, apparating is dangerous, your body could get splinched, which usually results in serious and sometimes fatal damage as a significant piece of them may become detached." She delays her information and sighs. "I'm glad that you're alright... accidental magic happens sometimes." Harry stayed silent.
He wanted to ask just how Hermione, a first year knew so much about apparantly a very dangerous spell... but he didn't apparate, he merely releported.
He didn't ask, this was Hermione, she'd always find information in books.
"I think it's better now." Hermione sat down to continue reading her book, "your head?"–"yeah."
"Where's Neville?" He asked quietly, "he's hanging out with his new Hufflepuff friends Cedric Diggory, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott." Harry looked at her, impressed, "whoa, Neville is a friend magnet. He made a whole army." He joked. Hermione rolled her eyes, "Harry, they're in the same house, ofcourse they'd get along well."
"What about you, Hermione. Why didn't your friends accompany you in the library?" Hermione shrugs, "they like to read in the Ravenclaw common rooms." Then Hermiones eyes went back to the 64th page of "transfiguration guide book for begginers."–"Harry, you're early." He chuckled, "I had no choice here, Hermione. I just wanted to be in a quiet place, where no one would disturb me enough to make my head split open."
She rolled her eyes in answer, "overdramatic much. But hey, at least you're earlier than Neville. I honestly thought you'd be last." Harry shook his head, "you underestimate my punctuality." She flipped throught the next page.
Harry stood up and tapped Hermiones shoulder, making her look up, "hey, no offense, but I'll get going now. I sort of need to rest... tell Neville I couldn't make it because of the... circumstances, alright?" Her eyebrows softened, "Harry, no need to apologize. You need to be healthy. Risking being hurt to chat with friends isn't the answer. This can wait."
He nodded with a smile and said, "Alright then." This time, he didn't teleport, just walked out of the library, on his way to anywhere but the great hall and the common rooms. Deciding to look around was the best choice.
Somehow, he ran into Fred and Geogre, who smiled when they saw him. Oh, so they've been searching for me. He smirked, "hello, Fred, George." The two seemed to relax when Harry greeted them without being in pain or wincing.
He held in a well-deserved fit of laughter when he saw his amazing creation from the other day. "Do you like your new colour, George?" He asked with amusement as he observed the rainbow on top of George's once ginger hair.
His brother seemed to find it funny, because he started laughing, "you did him good... I didn't expect this masterpiece from a first year Slytherin. But I really appreciated it." Harry nodded in agreement, "I also like it, harmless prank... but how does the victim of my crimes feel?" Their eyes fell on the grinning Weasley.
"At first, I was mad that I, the prankster got tricked, but after your card, I sort of got thrilled. We could accomplish so much together. Join us, Harry." Harry crosses his tiny arms and blinked, "hm... I don't plan on being anyone's employee... I'd rather be the employee, so I'll ask make the proposition. Fred and George Weasley, will you join me in the journey of mischief and trickery? I could teach you two a thing or two."
He asked very proudly. There were two options, but he knew that these two wouldn't act like Ron Weasley, who'd rather run away than join with a Slytherin.
The two had a mental conversation between themselves and seemed to agree when they both smiled at him and said, "we pledge our loyalty to you, great trickster Harry." His lips twitch up in an attempt to laugh, but he holds it in, "no need for such formality." Moments later, he figures out that he has fallen for an obvious trap.
"Alright then, mischief, we're at your service." He just got called "mischief." That was hilarious... stupid, but hilarious. Honestly fitting for him... but he was used to much more... grand nicknames, if he didn't count Tony Starks comments.
Harry sighed, "Alright, subordinate Weasleys, let's go plot." They happily accompanied him. He showed Fred another secret passage, while George–who probably heard about the secret passages from Fred after they talked about the schemer Pottper, who made his hair the way it is right now–experienced using it for the first time.
The three ended up taking a stroll to the astronomy tower. This castle had too many secrets unsolved. So Harry went and solved a great puzzle. He entered the room of requirements for the first time, which was easy.
The Weasley twins followed after him, impressed by the rooms design. The room was slightly similar to Lokis room in the Prince manor, except there's no bed, a nightstand or any bedroom furniture, just a table with three chairs, where they can discuss their plans.
Fred is the first one to ask questions. "Mischief, I'm interested in how you managed to find out about that secret passage yesterday and how you knew about the existance of this room... it's the seventh floor." He waits for the answer.
Why do you have to be so much smarter than your younger brother... if only these two weren't so perceptive... Loki still felt challenged by his observation, so he decided to tell the truth, "I created a wandless spell that navigates the area around you to find any secret passages or patterns." He tells them as if discussing the weather.
To which, obviously they are shocked. Again they have that mind-to-mind session between twin brothers and look at him. "How did you manage to do that right there, when you had no time at all?" Asked a puzzled Fred. Harry shrugged, "I've always had an over active imagination, it just happened. I can't explain how I breathe, it just happens."
George is just watching this conversation with a dumbfounded look and rubs the bridge of his nose, "then there's absolutely no way for you to teach us if you just breathe magic." Here it goes. Loki thinks, expecting disappointment and anger from the twins, but instead getting something else entirely.
"We'll just have to make do with your strategic abilities and be your participants." He concluded with not even a hint of jealousy, Fred looked the same as his brother.
This caught Loki off guard. I swear, it's either this dimension or the Hogwarts students and some of the teacherswho don't lie and don't feel petty jealousy over someone's accomplishments.
He should get used to the feeling, because it keeps on happening, leaving him astonished.
"You're right... we should start off with the normal magic tricks. I guess you could say, you two can teach me a thing or two about your way of mischief, before I can teach you mine." The two looked more than happy to indulge themselves in the younger students offer.
Fred and George offered pranking professor Snape. They got an outright refusal in response to this. Right away, the twins conclude Harry's fondness over Snape, they seem surprised, but they take it easily.
"You two are very smart, how come you're I'm Gryffindor? I'd think you'd be more in Slytherin... I'm not to judge though, not everyone who wants scheme ends up here."
The answer to the question is acceptable, but unfair to him. Ending up in Gyrrindor just because your whole family was Gryffindor is outright a joke. He tells them how displeased he feels about it, but they don't oppose his perspective, in fact they agree with him.
Fred and George tell Harry that he just has to learn a few Charms, transfiguration tricks and for some pranks that require potions, he needs to know how to brew them.
"You two are as good as me in being helpful... which actually means I'm praising you. I'm a very good teacher." He says confidently. Even thought I've never taught anyone. Maybe he shouldn't break it to them, he'll excell in teaching the Weasleys anyway, he knows he will.
Fred and George tell Harry about their first year of Hogwarts and how easily they got caught when trying to prank the students back then. But because of being caught by Filch, they began to approach playing tricks on Filch with more determination.
They told Harry everything about their life in the Gryffindor dormitories and how boring it is. None of the lions understand the Weasleys. Loki feels quite sympathetic about their problems. Besides, he also used to be ostracized for being different on Asgard, everyone pointed fingers at him, even at a young age.
"I know exactly what you mean. Before I was sorted, I felt the same, some people made me feel like I was the problem... but that's because they were jealous of me, so don't let their load of bull get to you." His words brighten the identical twins–if you didn't count the hair colours, that is. And since they haven't heard of someone's personal space before, they each wrap one hand around his shoulder.
What has he gotten himself into? To be honest, it isn't that bad. He only feels like an owner of two overly excited dogs.
"Will you tell us about yourself and how you discovered you wanted to be a trickster?" George asks Harry and Fred nods in agreement with his brother.
"Hm... somehow I always knew. From the very start of my brain developing, I had this inclination towards mischief, it was only natural." This was the truth, however only in the case of this life. Before Loki figured out what he wanted, he was simply curious about magic, before being taught by Frigga and wanting more, something of his own.
Fred hums, "but how could you have known if you were living with muggles?" Harry shrugs, "I just knew... also I did have moments of accidental magic there, and I learnt how to control it." That perks the boys up, "you can use wandless magic? For real?" Harry nods, "but, that'll be out little secret, right?"
Getting affirmative nods from them, he smiles pleasantly. "I can demonstrate if you request a spell from me... something of my profession would suffice, however." He says, as if he's already a professional trickster, which he unofficially is.
Harry watches as the twins have some conversational battle about what he should show them. In the end, they turn to him and Fred starts. "We'd just like to see you use any sort of spells you know to prank the whole great hall. Tomorrow would be best, right George?" George gives Fred a knowing smile, "I don't care how you prank the students, I'm more interested in how the professors are pranked."
That takes the younger boy on a loop of thoughts. These sneaky Gryffindors. So I have no choice but to prank everyone, including Snope and some of my friends, or else I'll be discovered as the culprit. Very cunning.
"Why tomorrow of all times? Because it will be earlier? Or is there another motive?" The twins give him cunning smirks. That doesn't go unnoticed. There must be a catch in the day, but what is it?
"Challenge accepted. But since I'm the host of tomorrow's grand show, I'd like to set conditions... I've already decided that this tast will mean that everyone participates, that includes the two of you." He smirks when they nod with understanding. "And since this is my job, I won't go easy on anyone, I promise."
One twin exchanges a sly look with the other, Harry smiles proudly, "I like the way you both used this opportunity to achieve this outcome... I'm impressed." They have a small celebration.
Harry checks in the great hall and uses the rooms power to steal some of the Gryffindor food on the table and places it here."You two missed the meal there, didn't you? Here, I make sure you won't miss your daily dose of meat on your table." The two offer him to eat too, there's plenty more, they said.
He eyes the dishes distastefully, "I've already eaten." And he finishes the conversation with that, because there's some time of just Fred and George eating and Loki silently completing all his assignments from all the subjects for the next day.
After the Weasleys are done filling their empty stomachs and clean up–meaning they used the rooms magic to return the dishes back to their Gryffindor table–they tell Harry how impressing he is. "You just arrived and already doing all the homework in matter of minutes... how is that possible?" One of them asks.
Harry just closes the book of history of magic and stretches out, "it's easy is all." He says. They seem unimpressed about the answer. "Really. Let's just say, I'm an easy learner." They leave it at that.
How long has it been since Harry outright teleported away in front of all those judgemental eyes? It's been a couple of hours now. Harry, who tried teaching the two Weasleys how to navigate without a map or eyes, to feel the area around and know through pure instinct that certain turns of the castle lead to dead ends, or being able to find secret pathways.
You could say, they know the theory, but don't know how to do it in practic, which is a thing with people who wants to pass drivers license tests. They almost always pass the theoretical, but with no experience of driving, they still fail.
Numerous failed attempts later, they all agree on to calling it quits. The Weasley brothers decide that since they won't be seeing Harry for a whole night and a part of the next day, before having a glimpse of him in the great hall, it's okay to make Harry suffer with a suffocating hug. Harry is done with all the hugs he has gotten all day, he needs to get some time of peace for himself.
They bid each other farewell. The Gryffindors return to their dormitories.
Loki thinks a visit to his head of the house is well overdue.