Training
Asgard was beautiful. The huge golden palace was beyond belief. The gardens blossomed and bloomed gorgeous flowers. The trees were so big, they reached into the sky. The sun always warmed the land and it even smelled really nice, everywhere she went.
The people of Asgard looked like fashion models. The men all looked a bit like Thor, broad-shouldered, blond, muscled, and big. Funny enough Loki did stand out, with his lean body and raven black hair. The women were even more beautiful. They had such grace and in a way, some of the women looked like Narcissa Malfoy. Elegant and graceful, but a bit cold and reserved. Not that they were not kind, they were but reserved. Except for the Queen, Frigga was amazing.
Alexis, Thor, Jane, and Loki had arrived at Asgard five days ago. They were welcomed by Frigga, Odin and The Warriors Three. To say it was awkward was putting it mildly. Thor was embraced, Loki was ignored. Odin had greeted everyone but Loki. He didn’t ignore him, but it was clear he wasn’t thrilled to see him.
Frigga on the other hand had hugged everyone and had hugged her as last and she immediately loved the woman. So warm, so kind, and so welcoming. Odin was a bit standoffish, but okay, the dude was the King. He nodded at her, welcomed her and left her with Frigga.
Back in New York, after she had woken up, she understood she needed to act. She saw the footage from earlier in medical and realized her magic wanted out. She was really shocked to see herself with black eyes, veins all over her face and the black smoke terrified her. Was that inside her? So she had accepted Loki’s offer to help her. They had made an awkward truce. She apologized profoundly for throwing him across the room, he apologized (because Frigga apparently made him) about threatening her.
They were now painfully polite to each other and she wanted to murder him. She never realized there was a man worse than Draco Malfoy, but Loki gave him a run for his money. She was never scared of him before, now she didn’t know how to act normally. It of course didn’t help that the man was drop-dead gorgeous. She was afraid she would hurt him again and that he would retaliate. Witch or not, Loki was a God and at this moment simply no match for her.
The next day after they had arrived her training had started. Simple things, but it wasn’t a success. It also didn’t help that Loki criticized everything she did. He laughed at her attempts to control her magic. She had snapped at him several times, making him yell at her in retribution that she was a puny mortal who was given a gift, that she couldn’t control and that she was pathetic, which led to her feeling insecure and that of course didn’t help at all.
She of course. Had no idea Loki behaved this way, because he wanted to talk to the darkness inside her. After one of their fights her magic had acted out again, but this time she didn’t hurt Loki, she only destroyed half the kitchen, to her utter embarrassment. When she had collapsed, Loki had realized he was in fact nót helping her and that whatever was inside her, would not come out. He was reluctant to hurt her to make his mission a success and asked his mother for advice after he repaired the kitchen.
Frigga had helped her on the fourth day and together with Loki she had outlined spells she had learned at Hogwarts. She wrote down what the spells could do, the right way to make it work and she had tried using her wandless magic to make things come to her. When his mother was around, Loki was the picture of the perfect gentleman…arsehole…
Both she and Loki knew that the fact remained that she had still not touched her wand. It was still in its case. She had brought it with her, but the thought of using it again frightened her. She couldn’t explain why. She knew it would still accept her as its owner, but she also knew that wands grew with the witch or wizard that used them. That was one of the reasons that Neville’s wand never worked properly for him because it wasn’t a new wand. It was his father’s wand and didn’t accept Neville.
So it was the fifth day now. She and Jane had breakfast and she was lost in thought. If she used her wand, there was a real chance she would destroy half the palace. Probably not the best move if you are a guest somewhere. When Loki walked in, she stood and prayed for courage.
‘Good morning Loki.’ She smiled at him and hoped he was in a good mood today. That was another thing with him, totally unpredictable. God, she sometimes wanted to strangle him.
He nodded at her and went back to ignoring her, in favor of his meal. She took a deep breath before she lost her nerve. ‘I would like to try using my wand this day, but we should not be here. Is there a place where we can go, that can withstand some destruction?’
At this Loki smirked. Finally. He took his time answering her, knowing it would set her on edge. She was way too easy to rile up.
‘There is.’
Alexis gritted her teeth. Bastard. ‘Fine, I’m ready when you are.’ She turned on her heel. Don’t murder him, don’t murder him…
Loki smirked again and ate his breakfast. When he was done and stood, he saw Alexis walk over to him. ‘Can you ride?’
‘Huh?’
‘How eloquent, miss Potter,’ he responded mockingly. He had called her that before, so he didn’t think anything of it. Until she furrowed her brow and looked down.
‘Please don’t call me that.’ She spoke softly. Loki looked at her and saw her shake her head. ‘I haven’t been miss Potter for a very long time.’
‘It is your name, isn’t it? Darcy Lewis was an invention, you said so. So why not go back to Alexis Potter?’ He was confused and curious why her name bothered her this much.
Alexis shrugged. ‘It brings back painful memories for me. So please, just, don’t.’ Deciding to drop the matter for the moment, he went back to his original question. ‘Can you ride a horse?’ To his surprise, the girl nodded. ‘Once rode a Hippogriff, so a horse should be easy.’
‘A Hippogriff?’ Alexis looked up and smiled. The tension left her shoulders and she became more relaxed as they walked to the stables. She explained what a Hippogriff was and when she was done, Loki had chosen a horse for her. It was a pitch-black mare. ‘What is her name?’
‘Amara,’ came the reply, as Loki climbed on his own horse. ‘Are you ready to go?’ Alexis nodded and told him she only need to get her wand, and they could go. At that, Loki simply used his own magic to bring the wand to him. At her expression, he laughed. ‘Let’s go, little mortal.’
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In Riddle Manor, Tom was engulfed in a huge tome, about Obscurials. He couldn’t understand why, if Potter was one, why he was troubled by it. Surely it wasn’t the Horcrux? Hermione walked in.
‘Uhm, don’t freak out, but there is someone here for you.’ He looked up because for some reason she sounded on edge. When he saw who stood behind her, he quickly rose from his chair and pulled his wand from his sleeve. He pointed it at the woman, standing behind Hermione. ‘Get away from her, Hermione,’ he spat. Why was she so foolish?
Hermione raised her hands and looked over her shoulder. ‘She only wants to talk to you Tom, please…hear her out?’ Tom didn’t lower his wand but nodded all the same. Hermione stepped aside, putting Bellatrix in full view. She looked better than the last time he saw her. Healthier and at least she appeared saner. ‘Bellatrix?’ he asked, his anger barely restrained. He send Hermione a dark look. Foolish woman.
‘My Lord.’ Bellatrix dropped to her knees and bowed deeply. At this Tom took a deep breath. Damn it. ‘Get up, Bella, and tell me why you came,’ he ordered. She quickly obeyed. ‘I come about the Potter girl, My Lord.’ Tom looked at Hermione, who simply smiled at him and left the room. She wasn’t concerned. Tom could wipe the floor with anyone, so Bellatrix posed no threat. Hermione was still recovering from the fact that the witch had asked her to help her. She claimed to have information about Alexis, and Hermione did want to help where she could. She should have been a better friend…
Tom and Bellatrix talked for about an hour. When Bellatrix had left, she was on better terms with the former Dark Lord. It had lifted her spirits and for the first time in a long time, she had a little hope. She knew she was a monster. She had done so many unforgivable things. She was doing a bit better now and her Lord had wanted to talk to her. She would remain loyal to him. He had given her his blessing for leaving the country, to start over. She would pack her belongings and leave Malfoy Manor. A new chapter was starting in her book.
Hermione came back after she had felt the wards. Someone had left. Knowing Tom would be upset with her, she steeled herself. She walked over to Tom, who was deep in thought.
‘Everything okay?’ When he looked at her, she suddenly felt like she was eleven years old and she had ruined a potion. He looked at her with an intensity that gave her shivers. He stood up and walked over to her, like a predator stalking its prey. Knowing she didn’t really need to fear him, was all that kept her from running from the room. She did however take a few steps back. His steel gaze upon her, she gulped. He was angry. She held out her hands. ‘I know y…’
She didn’t get to finish her sentence, for he jumped at her, grabbed her arms, and threw her over his shoulder. ‘Hey..hey…what the…Tom!’ she shouted. Never had she ever thought…He gave her a firm slap on her arse, causing her to yelp, as he walked up the stairs. ‘Tom, put me down!’ Hermione yelled, wriggling to get free.
‘You. Little. Insolent. Crazy. Witch!’
Each word was spoken separately, indicating he was really angry. The bedroom door flew open with a simple gesture of his hand and he unceremoniously dropped her on the bed, towering over her. She wanted to get up, but the look in his eyes told her to stay put. ‘Is this about Bellatrix?’ She cocked her head and he narrowed his eyes. Damn it. Why did she have to be so fearless and beautiful?
She had nerve, he gave her that. ‘Yes,’ he snapped. ‘Are you really that stupid, as to turn your back on her?’
They argued for a good ten minutes before Hermione conceded and apologized. Of course, it wasn’t smart of her, but she hadn’t felt threatened by the other witch. He harrumphed and that lead her to call him a caveman. At that, he chuckled darkly and Hermione swallowed. Oh shit…
A caveman huh…He then spent the entire afternoon teaching her how caveman disciplined their wives…
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Loki and Alexis rode for about an hour. He had to admit, she could ride. Another surprise. They arrived at a field. It was a green meadow, with trees all around it. There was not another soul in sight. Perfect. They got off the horses and Loki used his own magic to create a kind of bubble. Alexis looked at him questioningly.
‘It’s for the horses. I don’t want you to accidentally hurt them.’ Well, that made sense…
Time to face the music. Loki conjured up the case that held her wand and handed it over. She took it with trembling hands. Suddenly all her insecurities came back and she cursed herself. She was a Gryffindor. She had battled a huge snake, faced a bloody dragon, and defeated Voldemort in the graveyard, but the thought of handling her wand made her afraid. Damn it!
Loki saw her struggling and in a rarely seen act of kindness, he stepped closer and placed his hands over her own. She looked at him and he saw that she was close to tears.
‘I know you can do this. From what you told me, your magic wants to come out. It wants to be used and you need your wand for this. The worst that can happen is that you burn the fields around us or that you create some kind of crater. And then we will fix it. I’m here, with you and I will help you.’
Alexis smiled. So he could be nice. She nodded and Loki gave her an encouraging squeeze before releasing her hands and walking backwards, giving her space. Alexis took the lid off the box and looked at her wand. Dark brown, the core of a phoenix. It was still beautiful. She closed her eyes and lifted the wand from the case. The moment she held the wand tight, a strong wind came up. The air around her grew heavy and dark. Loki stepped closer, ready to her help if needed. Alexis raised her other hand, indicating she needed a minute, and he stopped.
The wand became scalding hot in her hand, but it didn't burn her. The air began to crackle and the wind picked up. Alexis had squeezed her eyes shut as she took the wand out of the box and was now opening her eyes. The bright green eyes Loki had grown accustomed to were pitch black. Alexis' hair, which had always been black, suddenly glowed red and the black smoke that seemed to be coming out earlier swirled around her. She arched her back and it seemed like it was getting too much for her. The faint eerie cry that was heard earlier in the Tower was now heard again and it gave Loki a chill. It sounded like nothing he had ever heard before. Otherworldly, beautiful, and strangely deadly. For the first time in a long time, Loki didn’t know what to do.
All this only took about a minute. As suddenly as it started, it was over and Alexis got her magic under control. Her eyes turned green again, the veins disappeared from her face, and her hair turned back to its original color. The smoke disappeared inside her and her breath was jerky.
She gave Loki a small smile. ‘I did it.’ He nodded and was secretly quite proud. She was ready to start and he was ready to help her. So far, he'd only seen some wandless magic that didn't impress him and went over the theory with her. Now it was time for the real work. Poor Loki, he didn’t know what he was in for.