Interlude of the Unknown
While Loki had a firm grasp on the theoretical aspects of potions, he found himself struggling to comprehend the complex mechanics that governed the creation and consumption of magical potions. Specifically, he remained stumped by the notion that one's own proficiency in the art of brewing could have a significant bearing on the duration of effectiveness imparted to another individual through the consumption of the potion. How, he wondered, could such a direct correlation between brewing skills and the duration of a potion's effect exist?
One spell... Loki wielded a single spell to fortify all the potions discreetly while the unsuspecting gingers were momentarily distracted. Little did he know the extraordinary consequences that would unfold. It had already been 3 weeks and the blabbering professors plus a soft, usually grumpy potions teacher hadn't taken any action. They had all been taken to a magic hospital the moment madam Pomfrey came back.
Nobody had heard any news about them since. Fortunately for all the students who had families to go to and weren't orphaned received official permission from the headmaster to visit their loved ones while the teachers got better.
Yes, the headmaster hadn't fallen for the Weasley twins scheme this whole entire time. Loki could have sworn he saw the old man taking a sip from his goblet. Despite his doubts about Dumbledore, Loki decided not to take any action on these suspicions. He believed that it was not his role to interfere in matters that did not concern him.
When Loki became entangled in the lives of these Midgardians, he formed friendships that brought both connection and vulnerability. However, Loki despised the feeling of being burdened by weaknesses, and his discerning nature allowed him to see through the facade of these newfound connections.
During Harrys stays there, some of his friends received letters from their parents expressing how much they were missed. Each of them eagerly returned home to spend some quality time with their beloved families. Draco got a letter from Narcissa, he was the first to leave, followed by Hermione, then Blaise, and later Neville who went to take care of his grandmother.
Fred and George, the ones who had filled Harry's head with hopeful promises of staying, eventually succumbed to the pull of their own family and reluctantly left as well. They backed down on their promise and went to join in the rest of the ginger clan.
The castle grounds were sparsely populated with only a handful of other students, none of whom were familiar faces or friends of Harry's.
Harry was left all alone.
After five days of enduring eternal boredom, the ex-god of mischief found himself craving some excitement. The usual pastime of reading books had lost its charm, as he had exhausted all the literary treasures available in both the accessible and forbidden library. So, what could this very normal eleven year old boy do to entertain himself and alleviate the tedium?
Determined to overcome the constraints of his current form, Harry secluded himself within the confines of his room. Armed with the spells he possessed from his past life, he endeavored to wield his magical prowess once more. Initially, casting the more intricate spells proved to be a challenge within the limitations of his miniature vessel. Yet, in Loki's perspective, this imposed restriction on his true capabilities presented an opportunity for personal growth. It provided him with the chance to push his magical abilities to new heights, surpassing his previous mastery of the arcane arts.
With his discerning eye for aptitude in magic, Loki recognized that this young boy possessed far greater potential to tap into his hidden powers than others had acknowledged. As Harry matured, Loki anticipated a significant surge in his own magical abilities, akin to the remarkable growth he had experienced during his own formative years as Loki.
After yet another tediously uneventful day, Harry relinquished his quest for amusement.That's when a bearded man with false, misleading glimmer in his blue eyes, reached out to him, presenting an enticing proposition aimed at alleviating the child's profound boredom.
"Harry, my boy, since you don't have relatives to go to, you will need another place to stay."
Immediately, Dumbledore had the green eyes boys full attention. "I'm listening." He replied with a buseness smile.
"You must stay with your deceased uncles older sister, Marjorie Eileen Dursley, but only for the time being." Suddenly, a sharp pain throbbed in his head, unleashing a torrent of memories. These were memories of his formidable aunt Marge, a woman known for her stern and unkind nature. She often made disparaging remarks, expressing her fervent desire to mold Harry into her ideal version of a servant. But her descriptions only made Harry think of a slave.
Despite the throbbing pain in his head, Harry kept a stoic expression, refusing to show any signs of weakness. With curiosity, he posed a question, "Why should I stay there? Wouldn't it be possible for me to accompany Snape, just as I did last summer?"
"I'm afraid Severus has his own problems to deal with at the moment, you will have to go with your only relative." Dumbledore explained.
As frustration began to mount within Harry, his head started to throb. He posed a question to the headmaster, "Headmaster, have you given any thought to reconsidering this decision?"
Dumbledore feigned helplessness and responded, "I'm afraid there's nothing to reconsider. Your aunt must be worried sick about you, my boy. She hasn't heard a word from you since you ran away after witnessing something so horrible."
In a deliberate attempt to portray himself as a vulnerable orphan mourning the loss of his beloved relative and the subsequent tragedies, Harry responded, matching Dumbledore's tone, "Indeed, Headmaster, aunt Marge must be so concerned about me... I must apologise to her for making her feel that way." Harry crafted a pained expression on his face to further emphasize his sorrow.
"Exactly, my boy. That's precisely why you should approach her and sincerely express your fear and concern. Naturally, it would be best not to mention anything about Hogwarts during the conversation."
At first, Harry felt a surge of protest building up within him, compelling him to vehemently refuse and stay at Hogwarts. Composing himself, he suppressed the urge to exclaim an instantaneous rejection. Loki acknowledged that he had already laid the groundwork and had to follow through on his act. Then, he had a flicker of realization dawning upon him, recognizing that remaining at the school wouldn't alleviate his profound sense of boredom.
Harry asked Dumbledore when he would be departing to live with that aunt. That question went unanswered, "Since the Hogwarts express is unavailable, you'll have me take you there personally."
With a raised eyebrow, Harry asked, "and how are you going take me there? Are you going to apparate me?"
The old man seemed to be staring intently into Harry's eyes as if he was trying to decipher his thoughts. "No, Harry. We will be using the floo network. You probably haven't heart of it" Then, a piece of information surfaced in Harry's brain.
"Actually, I have read about it in a book." Harry clarified. "When am i expected to leave?"
With his piercing blue eyes fixed on Harry, the headmaster stared into his very soul. Placing his wrinkly hand gently on Harry's shoulder, he advised, "It would be advantageous for you to depart as soon as possible. However, I wouldn't want to press you, my boy."
Harry's brow twitched. A naive eleven year old might've not come to the conclusion that someone good like Albus Dumbledore wanted to use a little kid, but Loki knew better, especially when Snape clearly wasn't fond of the man, despite his insistence on it being otherwise. "If you don't mind, I'll go ahead and start packing," Harry replied, wanting to take his time to assess the situation further.
"Go ehead, my boy. I'll be waiting for you in my office."
Stepping away from the old man, Harry proceeded towards the familiar comfort of his dormitory. He had gotten so used to being here that he couldn't believe he was being transferred to another one of Harry's tormentors.
It would be fine, however, Loki would take care of that obstacle as well.
After diligently organizing his belongings, ensuring everything was packed, he called out to his pet snake and looked around for a form of his beloved snake. He expected Beauty to appear out of nowhere, however, much to his dismay, Beauty was nowhere to be seen
Weird, she should be here.
Faced with no other viable options, Harry realized that the Forbidden Forest remained unexplored. Determined to find any sign of Beauty within her hunting grounds, he ventured into the depths of the forest. As he made his way through, he suddenly caught the faint sound of feeble hisses emanating from a secluded area. Without hesitation, Harry sprinted towards the source, driven by the desperate pleas for help from his beloved snake.
"Beauty!"
A surge of magical energy leashed out through Harry's fingertips, colliding with its intended target and causing it to topple over. He knelt down to retrieve his wounded snake, meticulously examining her wounds for any signs of perilous harm. "Master, you saved me..." Beauty hissed out just barely.
"You're going to be okay." As Harry's snake fell unconscious, he anxiously examined her to ensure she was still alive. A sense of relief washed over him when he observed her steady breathing, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief himself.
With a sense of urgency, Harry immediately started the healing process for his snake, all the while keeping a vigilant eye the disgusting being that had dared to touch what belonged to him.
A giant spider had attacked his serpent.
An Acromantula, he remembered.
As the creature attempted to rise, Harry swiftly cast another spell, striking its heart and instantly ceasing its life. In an unexpected turn of events, Harry Potter unintentionally demonstrated mastery over the killing curse with limited knowledge. His sole intention had been to eliminate the pest for its transgressions, treating it as a mere training target for his magic.
In a remarkable display of instinctive magic, Harry performed the lethal spell without uttering a single word. Surprisingly, he possessed an innate understanding of its effects, although he remained oblivious to the incantation itself.
Harry glanced at the lifeless form of a spider and with a single thought, he vanished from the scene, leaving the remains of the spider behind as he reappeared in the familiar surroundings of his own quarters.
He carefully placed the sleeping snake into his trunk, sneaking a little bit of her favourite raw meat.
Seizing the opportunity of already being present, Harry made the decision to switch out his Hogwarts attire for regular muggle clothing. This way, he hoped to avoid being perceived as a weirdo by the people.
Walking into the headmaster's office, he found Dumbledore standing there, dressed in his signature eccentrically colorful attire.
Once his presence was noticed, Dumbledore extended his withering hand to the youth. Harry took it, even if with utmost disgust. Throwing some floo powder in the fire, Dumbledore lead Harry to the now green flames and stepped in himself.
Emerging from the cramped fireplace, Harry found himself in an entirely unfamiliar location. He glanced around, realizing that this place did not match any of his previous memories, even though he was certain he had been to Aunt Marge's house before. He had no recollection of this quiet, dusty, awful smelling house.
"Where are we?" He asked.
"We have to be careful when it comes to flooing to the muggle world, Harry. That's why I flood us to an empty house, this way nobody will spot us and we'll avoid suspicion."
They strolled confidently away from the unfamiliar place, their demeanor giving the impression that they owned it. Dumbledore then guided Harry to a magnificent-looking house. However, in comparison to the opulence of the Prince estate, this grand house seemed rather insignificant.
"This is where you'll be spending time while all the professors heal from those potions." The headmaster stated.
Harry fixed his gaze on the man's eyes and spoke in a direct, informal manner, questioning Dumbledore, "So, are you planning on explaining the situation to my aunt, or do you intend to leave immediately?"
"I already owled her about the situation, although she couldn't have seen the owl." Dumbledore replied with a reassuring smile that he had evidently honed professionally, "You need not worry, my dear boy. I am confident that your aunt will welcome you open-handedly."
With all the energy he could muster for the day, Harry grinned widely. "Farewell, headmaster. I am truly grateful for everything," he expressed. Dumbledore, giving Harry a gentle smile he shouldn't have had, vanished. Harry couldn't help but wish to remove that smile from the old man's face.
So be could have apparated instead of using that filthy floo.
As he sighed heavily, the young boy ascended the three stairs that appeared more effortless to climb than the way Harry was feeling. Despite his attempts to calm down, Harry's heart continued to race, leaving him with an apprehensive, almost fearful sensation.
Rarely did Loki feel fear for anyone, but this wasn't him, it was the young boy whose body he was currently occupying.
He still couldn't get used to the vulnerability the previous owner of this body evoked in him.
Loki had once shared the disdain of his fellow Asgardians towards Midgardians, it was later revealed that he was not an Asgardian at all. This revelation filled Loki with a complex mix of emotions, including fear, sadness, and anger, causing him to despise everything around him. However, as Loki found himself in a human body, his perspective began to shift. He vividly remembered how Asgardians had belittled Midgardians, viewing them as insignificant insects. As an Aesir and the son of Odin, Loki had been expected to uphold those beliefs.
In a twist of fate, Thor formed meaningful friendships with humans, which prompted Loki to reflect on his own circumstances. He couldn't help but wonder what might have unfolded if their roles had been reversed, if Loki had faced banishment instead of Thor and had forged connections with the human realm. Would the Aesir have welcomed him back with open arms once he demonstrated his worthiness? And would Odin, in turn, have recognized and acknowledged his newfound value?
Taking a breath, he thought of all the ferocious beasts and formidable foes he had encountered in his past life and sneered at himself for being afraid of a petty old woman who wanted to whip kids for "education."
He gently knocked on the door, displaying patience as he awaited a response, yet no one came forward. With curiosity getting the better of him, he decided to test the handle and give it a gentle tug. However, to his disappointment, his efforts to gain entry proved to be in vain.
Remaining unfazed, Loki weighed his options with a cool and calculated mind. The prospect of breaking into the house or finding alternative lodging intrigued him equally, as both paths held promise in his eyes.
After careful consideration, Harry dismissed the idea of forcibly gaining entry through the front door and making repairs later. The risk of being spotted by witnesses was too high to justify such a bold move. With determination, he scoured the perimeter of the house in search of alternative access points. Eventually, his persistence paid off as he stumbled upon a fortuitous discovery—a way in that didn't require him to breach a wall. He considered himself fortunate to have found this entry without resorting to drastic measures.
Loki saw no issue with paying a friendly visit to his relative's house in this manner, as he found himself without a key and an invitation.
Harry ascended the wall and maneuvered his way through the open window. As he did so, he recalled that there was a spell for unlocking locks that he had previously memorized. Yet, this daring act also evoked a rush of nostalgia, reminding him of the childhood games he and Thor used to play. Falling off the walls meant the game was over, without any rescues or second chances. But it was precisely those moments that fueled their determination to embrace the challenge and defy the odds, for they were young demi-gods destined to thrive.
In this particular situation, there was a notable difference. While Loki had received extensive training during his childhood, Harry's physical strength was considerably weaker and he was also too skinny. Recognizing this, Loki decided to utilize the highly effective training methods employed by the Asgardians to strengthen Harry's body.
As Harry ventured through the house, he couldn't evade the realization that the space appeared characterless. The absence of personalized touches such as photographs or adornments contributed to an overall lackluster atmosphere. The plain pink wallpaper stuck out to Harry, causing him to ponder the owner's preference in decor.
Upon opening another door and catching a glimpse of her untidy bed, a disturbing memory resurfaced in his mind. It reminded him of the time his aunt confessed to allowing her filthy, repugnant dog sleep in her own bed. This revelation left Loki questioning her sanity.
Despite the dullness of the house, Harry felt an urgent need to find something to write with. Thus, he embarked on a search of her room, hoping to stumble upon a suitable writing instrument. Much to his disappointment, what he found were a collection of rather unpleasant items, including various dog toys and dog-related paraphernalia. However, amidst these discoveries, there were a few things that Harry wished he had never come across. He recoiled at the mere thought of where and how Marjorie Dursley could've gotten these, hastily returning the box to its original position.
Stumbling upon this unpleasant secret made staying any longer in the house feel unbearable to Harry, and his desire to leave intensified. Especially when she could return home anytime.
While Harry possessed the ability to use undetectable magic to orchestrate a fitting ending for someone like her, he was wary of the potential consequences. If Marge were to meet a similar fate to Uncle Vernon while Harry was present, it would undoubtedly raise suspicion and cast doubt on his innocence.
After what seemed like an endless search, Harry eventually located a pen to write with. Without wasting any time, he started writing.
Dear professor Snape,
I understand that you may suspect that I am using your present circumstances for my own benefit, but that is far from the truth. I feel desperate and you're the only adult who knows my situation, you can help me.
Headmaster Dumbledore made it clear to me that I had to stay with another one of my relatives, uncle Vernons older sister who has always wanted this sort of opportunity.
Take me back to our house before it's too late.
With utmost sincerity, Harry Potter
Loki felt so right while writing that 'our house' part that he thought he might as well have left it like that.
"Now how to owl that..."
At that moment, it dawned on him that he had a white owl that he had neglected for quite some time. Despite the regret he experienced over the poor creature's condition and the shame he felt towards himself, he realized that he required the owl's assistance at that precise moment.
Consequently, he called out to Hedwig, his white owl, and to his astonishment, he heard the sound of two sets of wings outside the very window he had snuck in. He opened the closed window and waited for her to have an owl tantrum, a predictable outcome given the neglectful manner in which he had been treating his feathered companion. However, instead of throwing a tantrum, the owl hooted softly and perched gently on his shoulder, gracefully flapping her fluffy wings.
Was she trying to comfort Harry?
By an overwhelming sense of guilt, Harry gently patted the overly trusting and easily forgiving owl, expressing his remorse for not giving her the attention she deserved. Before handing her the letter, he told her how sorry he was for not giving her as much attention as she needed.
Filled with joy, Hedwig let out a happy hoot and swiftly snatched the letter from Harry's hands, gracefully soaring towards the open window.
In awe, Harry observed the breathtaking sight of the magnificent owl soaring gracefully through the sky, illuminated by the warm hues of the setting sun.