Confession.
Morgan was bouncing as she waited to see the babies! She would have liked one to be a girl but that didn't matter. Babies were so adorable!
Next to her Regulus was rolling his eyes at her giddy look. Sure he was happy for Uncle Remus and Aunt Wanda but not that much. Well, not until the twins were older to teach the fine art of pranks. Now that was going to be fun!
Remus was taking small groups in at a time. They had to because there were a lot of people. You mix the magical world with the Avengers family and you get a full house.
One late arrival got all their attention when he came in. Tony froze. Steve stood there in front of him. Both men just stared at each other. Neither blinking.
"Rodgers."
"Tony."
"I guess you're here to see the newest members of the team?"
"I knew we recruited them young Tony but not that young." Steve gave a small grin back.
"To be fair he didn't recruit the youngest," Pepper spoke up. "That was technically Stephen."
"He wasn't a member of the team then," Tony added.
There was an uncomfortable silence as both men looked at each other.
"Gentlemen." Sirius got up to stand between them just in case.
"Relax Foot," Tony said. "We can call this a neutral ground today." He looked back at Steve who nodded back.
Tony was still bitter at Rodgers. He didn't want to hold on to the resentment but the man had kept something from him. Something he didn't have the right to hide. Even with that, he did know why Steve did it. Protecting his friend, or was he protecting himself from being in the middle?
"How long are Cap and Tony going to be like that?" Regulus whispered.
Natasha sighed. "That's something that they have to work out between them." She was happy to see they could at least have a conversation without it coming to punches so it was a start.
"Steve." Remus came out. "Good to see you." He shook his hand.
"Remus. How's Wanda?"
"Tired."
"No shit," Tony mumbled. Pepper elbowed him and he shrugged back. Giving birth to one kid was exhausting but two magical ones? Of course, Wanda was tired.
"I don't know if these are custom for you." Steve pulled out a box of cigars for Remus. It was funny of all the people in the room he was the one closest to the time frame of the wizard world.
Tony thought back to the same conversation and the soldier's words when he handed him the same thing when Morgan was born. The laugh they shared. Fucking Rodgers.
"Hey if he doesn't want them." Sirius went to grab the box.
"No." Remus tucked them away. He didn't smoke but it was the principal when dealing with Sirius. "Besides you don't smoke."
"If they're the same as the ones he gave me I'll start again."
"No," Natasha told him.
"Never get to do anything," Sirius mumbled but winked at her.
"Boss we have incoming," F.R.I.D.A.Y spoke through the intercoms.
"Who?" A rainbow light hit outside telling them all who was here. "He seriously needs to learn proper lawn care."
A few minutes later the doors were thrown open.
"Everyone." Thor's voice boomed over the assembly.
"Thor!" Regulus jumped up and ran to the god. "I have to show something!"
Thor smiled down at the child. "It is good to see you too my tiny friend."
"Check this out!"Reg pulled off his necklace and his hammer came to full size. "Just like yours!"
Thor wasn't here for pleasant conversation but he could not deny Regulus the joy and he did admire the smaller hammer. "Very impressive."
"Harry made it for me."
"Young Potter is impressive with his craftsmanship."
"Thank you." Harry came out after seeing the Bifrost hit. "Good to see you."
"You as well."
"You here to see the little ones?" Clint asked.
"It's not the main reason but it can wait for a few minutes." Thor didn't want to bring down the mood with his news. "How are the youngest ones?"
"Loud," Harry said. "I think they like me though."
"They'll learn," Regulus smirked.
Harry rolled his eyes at him. "You're just jealous. Everyone loves me."
"Snape."
"He doesn't count." Harry snapped back.
"Ever," Sirius growled.
"Ever, ever," Tonks added to it.
"Ha!" Regulus chuckled.
When the rest started talking about the kids again Thor looked to the team. "We need to talk. In private."
Tony and Steve looked at each other at that. This had to be bad news.
"This way Point Break." Tony motioned. Thor glared but followed.
The rest went with as Harry and Regulus looked on. Reg looked to his brother who smirked back.
In the meeting room, everyone got settled for Thor to say what he had to tell them.
"I wish I came with good tidings but I have grave news. Loki has escaped."
Everyone froze.
"Are you kidding me?" Clint snapped.
"Not to point fingers." Tony did just that to Thor. "But isn't it, your job to make sure that didn't happen?!"
"He spent the last decade lowering the prison he was in. Even Heimdall did not see his work."
"Great. Where is he?" Natasha asked.
"I don't know." Thor stopped. "Unfortunately he took the Tesseract with him as well."
"You got to be shitting me," Steve sighed.
"Language." Tony couldn't stop himself from saying.
"So your brother, who tried to take over the planet is free and has access to anywhere in the universe to hide. Fantastic." Tony hit a switch on the wall and the full bar came out. "Anyone else?" He poured a drink.
"I have one more piece of information and no you will not like it," Thor admitted.
"What now? He's got another army?" Natasha rubbed her temple.
"No. Worse I'm afraid." The God told her. "Loki overheard a conversation I had with one of my friends. He knows of Harry."
Natasha shot up and got right in his face. She knew she couldn't hurt him but at the moment she didn't care. "You stupid..."
"Nat." Steve pulled her back. "What does he know?" He asked Thor.
"He knows there is a child we have all adopted. That is all." He told Natasha. "I didn't make the same mistake with Regulus."
"So he doesn't know of Harry's gifts?" Strange asked.
"No."
"Well that's one good piece of information," Tony said. "Any idea where the drama prince is?"
"With the Tesseract he could be anywhere."
"Even here," Clint added.
"I hope he is." Strange told them. "I have spells in place monitoring for threats like your brother."
"How long have you had them?"
"Since I took over the role." Strange shrugged.
"So we just sit and wait for him to make a move?" Steve didn't like the sound of that but didn't have an alternative idea.
"Whose going to tell Harry?" Clint asked.
"No need." Strange looked up as he waved his fingers in a spell.
They all looked up too and saw Harry floating above them.
"...Oh...hi." He let out. Natasha crossed her arms at him. "Hey, I couldn't not know." He floated down. "One sec."
His body came through the door and the two joined again.
"That still is freaky," Clint muttered.
"How much did you hear?" Steve asked the boy.
"All of it. So is Loki coming for me too? Voldemort, that crazy sorcerer, and now the God of Mischief. I didn't know I was so popular." He was pretty calm considering. It had nothing to do with the fact he wanted to see Loki's face if the god tried to fight him. No way that was the case.
"There no proof he will come for you. Besides he doesn't know your name or what you look like." Thor told him.
"It's something that he would do though," Steve said. "He likes to make things personal."
"That he does." Tony agreed.
"My father has put the task of bringing him in on me and I swear I will find him," Thor promised them all.
"So what do I do?" Harry asked.
"Go to your school and not worry about him," Natasha said. "Is there any chance he'll be able to get him at Hogwarts?" She asked Strange.
"I doubt the defensive charms on the school would slow him down, but he would have to know the location," Strange answered. "But there is one problem. My location spells for him won't work there. The wards and spells counteract them. If he would go to the magical world he would be invisible to my spells."
"So if he has a place to hide here? Great." Natasha really wanted to shoot something.
"Only if he discovers it."
Nobody noticed the side-eye Thor had given Strange at the mention of the Magical World.
Asgard.
"You could have stopped him."
Frigga knew those would be his first words as they looked over Asgard from their room. "Maybe."
"He has done great harm to the realms." Odin reminded her.
"So did Thor." She said calmly. "He started a war with the Frost Giants but you gave him a chance to be better. Don't think I didn't know what his exile truly was."
Odin let out a sigh. "What would you have me do? I am a king who must act as one!"
"You're a father as well." Only she could ever meet his tone and get him to lower his. "Loki spent years in that box. You never gave him a chance to be better. Why?"
"His crimes were worse than Thors as you know."
"Maybe but I still believe that both our children can rise to a glorious purpose."
"Ours? Loki has made it clear he no longer considers me his father."
"Do you still consider him your son?" She asked and stood.
Odin watched her leave and sighed again. She understood his position. He was the All-Father first. Even if his heart did not agree with his decisions. The worst part was the fact he was impressed with Loki. Escaping from the cell and stealing the Tesseract all without Heimdall being the wiser. It was impressive, to say the least.
After the Loki debacle Harry was going to go back to Hogwarts but needed to talk to Sirius about another issue he had so when everyone left the compound, to let Remus and Wanda have some private time with their kids, Harry took his family to the manor.
"Sirius...can we talk?"
Sirius had seen that look on Harry's face before. This was one of the serious, no pun, discussions. "Of course." He led them to his study. "What's the problem?"
Harry let out a sigh. "I...like someone."
Sirius was wondering when Harry would realize that so he didn't smirk. "I see. Would I happen to know the young lady?"
Harry blushed and nodded.
"A certain brilliant witch?"
"Ah!" Harry groaned. Did everyone think Hermione and him were like that before he did?!
"Harry. I'm not making fun of it."
"You want to."
"Only a little," Sirius admitted. "So you like her. More than a friend? I was wondering when this day would come." Harry glared back at him. "I did give you the talk remember."
"Unfortunately."
"So now you don't know what to do right?"
"Yeah."
"Did something happen? Something that made you realize the way you feel?"
"We almost kissed." Harry forced himself to admit.
Sirius nodded. "Did you almost kiss her or did she try to kiss you?"
"Both." He muttered.
So where's the issue?"
"What do you mean?"
"It looks like you both like each other so I say go for it."
"That's your big advice?! She's my friend!"
Sirius gave him a soft smile. "You're worried you'll ruin your friendship?" Harry nodded. "Harry if you got these feelings and judging by what you told me, and what I've seen, she at least feels something for you then can either ignore it and hope it goes away. Or take a gamble and tell her."
"What if she doesn't feel the same? What if the whole thing goes pear-shaped?"
"You never know until you try. Could it go wrong? Maybe. But what if it goes right?" Sirius challenged.
Harry rubbed his head. He knew Sirius was right, but right now he would rather face Loki than go back to the school and try this.
"Hey." Harry looked back up. "Chin up. Either way, you'll know and I know you hate not knowing." Sirius held his shoulder.
"Yeah, I do." Harry nodded and moved into to hug the man. "Thanks, Dad." He pulled off before opening his way back to Hogwarts.
Sirius watched him leave with a smile on his face. He's growing up way too fast.
Neither registering what Harry said.
Stephen monitored the spells he had. No signs of Loki anywhere near the Sanctums yet.
He kept them spells on a large in-air display and went to the table writing all the discussions that had the Ministries from all over the world being written out.
As he read the transcripts from Fudge's office his brow narrowed. It was vague and did not mention him at all. This was another where Umbridge and Fudge didn't curse his existence like they used to.
"Either they have given up on removing me or someone told them about my charms." He knew one wasn't an option for the woman which meant. "Karl." Nobody else would be telling them this. Once again he was working against him from within. He had no proof but it made sense.
Karl, Loki, Voldemort, and Dumbledore. Which one should take my most concerns? I need a drink. Loki and Karl are the more immediate threats. I can only wait for Loki to make a move. Karl, I will look for you and hope I can get through your ego to see what you're doing is only making things worse. Or this will end badly for both of us I believe.
He did have to let the ICW know of the situation with Loki though. At the least, he could have them aware of Loki's face to help look for him if he does hide in the magical world.
"Draco. What are we looking for?" Goyle asked as they snuck around the Defense tower.
"You're on a need-to-know basis," Draco had heard a rumor from some older Slytherins and he had to see if it was true. He would have a place to work on spells without any of the professors interfering if he was right. Crabb was on the lookout while he looked. Once he found the clock he hit it with different spells until it opened. "This way."
They went down the old dust-covered stairs to the gate. It opened and they found themselves in a large room full of armor and various crates.
"It's called the Undercroft," Draco smirked. "Perfect."
"This place is huge," Crabb said.
"It's brilliant. Here we'll begin." Draco said as he cast a spell lighting the fire old fire pits and the room lit up more.
"Begin what?"
"Spell work. Fighting. Anything we want. Here we'll be free from anyone sticking their noses in our business. Maybe these chests will have something in them." He looked around and found something on the wall. He ran his hand down the carved initials he found.
O.G.
S.S.
O.C.
Must be the last ones here. Doesn't matter, it's my place now. "Let's get back to the dorm before that useless Prefect notices we're gone."
The useless one was one of the few Draco still had some pull from his father's former positions but he did not want to use it just yet. Better to save it for later. Besides he knew Zabini was waiting to get information on his activities. The traitor would pay eventually.
They had just gotten past Filch and his demon of a cat back into their dorm when a voice stopped them.
"Out for a nightly stroll?" Snape stood at the entrance. Crabb and Goyle both looked pale as his eyes landed on them. "To bed you two. Malfoy with me."
Draco followed as the others went as ordered.
"Sit," Snape ordered when they went into a private spot in the dorm. Draco did but didn't say anything. His head of house sat across from him. "I'm beginning to believe that the Sorting Hat made a mistake with you. Your foolishness should have you with the Gryffindor."
"I don't need to listen to you insulting me!" Draco snapped
"Sit down!" Snape thundered making Draco to reel back to his chair looking terrified. "You are walking very thin ice. Your mother is already owling me daily to make sure your dunderheaded actions don't get you killed! Was your father's mistake not enough to make you think before you act?!"
"My father..."
"Thought he was untouchable! Just like you do. How did that end? Fudge was useless to help and now he's in Azkaban, do you wish the same fate or do you want to show a true Slytherin side?" Snape tossed a book to the table.
"What's this?"
"A book." Snape sneered. "Read it and meet me in my classroom every Wednesday at 6. We will go over your progress. Once you learn to control your emotions and actions, then you can begin to work on how to go about getting what you need."
"What do I need?" Draco took the book.
"A purpose. There is more than one way to get retribution. Some without even spilling a drop of blood." Snape stood, his robe billowing behind him as he left the dorm.
It's a gamble to teach him this but at least it will give him something to do besides plotting against Potter and it gives me time to work on a better way to get him under control. Still, it risks him cutting himself off from me. I will have to use the lessons to get the most out of the boy's stupid plans.
Draco picked up the book.
Occlumency, The Art of Shielding Your Mind.
While that was happening in the Slytherin dorm another conversation was going on in the Gryffindor dorm.
"So?!" Neville demanded the second he walked into the common room.
"Impatience is something that you need to work on Neville," Harry told him.
"Is everything okay?" Hermione asked more calmly than Neville.
"Everything is fine. More or less." Harry shrugged. "Not something I want to discuss with all the dorm."
The other two turned to see the rest of their housemates looming over them. The twins did the old whistling and pretending to mind their own business.
Harry took his friends off to the side and whispered. "Wanda had the twins."
"I knew it!" Neville let out.
"Neville!" Hermione snapped.
"Oh right." The boy realised tha they were being looked at again. "How are they? How's Wanda?"
"They're fine. Wanda's resting." He leaned in closer. "She was shaking the building and I had to stop it."
"Intense." Neville whistled back.
"Oh and this has to remain between us," Harry warned.
"What is it?"
"You remember Thor's brother, Loki?"
"The one who led an army down from the sky in New York," Hermione remembered. "That's hard to forget."
"He's escaped from Asgard."
"Shite, that's not good." Neville gasped slightly.
"Language," Hermione muttered a little. This was bad news. "What are the Avengers going to do?"
"Look for him but that's their job. All I know is with him out there things are going to get a lot more interesting, to say the least,"
"Funny way of saying dangerous and deadly there mate," Neville argued back.
Harry was waiting to get Hermione alone for their awkward talk. He had gone over their situation over and over in his head trying to find the right words. It was bloody infuriating! He could move mountains, ride a broom like the wind, create black holes, and brew potions that made Nicholas Flamel proud but he didn't know how to tell a girl he liked her?!
"Chaos surrounds you, child."
Harry turned to see Trelawney there. "Oh hello, Professor?" He forced out. This woman's words had set up his family and he wasn't a fan.
"You are a mystery. Grim and dark."
"One of my parents is a Grim so that's not a big revelation professor." He rolled his eyes at her 'prediction.'
Her eyes seemed to go into a trance suddenly. "The Dark Lord waits alone. The Mad Tit..."
"Yeah, whatever." Harry walked away leaving her in the hall still speaking to no one. He took off fast getting away from the woman. Whatever she wanted to pass off as a prophecy was not something that he wanted to hear. Besides if a prophecy is spoken but never heard does it come true?
He came around the corner and found who he was looking for. Hermione just left one of the classes they didn't share.
"We need to talk," Harry told her.
"What about?"
"You know. What we've been avoiding."
They stepped off to the side as a blush formed over her face.
"It's no big deal. It was a stupid accident. We both have more important things to do." She said. Having practiced this in her head over and over.
"It wasn't an accident." He said. "I...like you...like that." He confessed even as his face was red.
Hermione froze in shock. That couldn't be right she had to mishear that. "What?"
"I like you, Hermione."
She didn't misinterpret that but there was no way. "Why? I'm not pretty."
"Yes, you are." He interrupted without even thinking.
She blushed more. He thought she was pretty?! "But... I'm plain. Boring! Why would you like me?"
"Because you're you. You're brilliant."
"Annoying." She corrected.
"Smart." He argued back.
"I'm bossy."
"Sometimes." He shrugged. "I'm arrogant too. Don't tell Snape I said that."
Hermione chuckled at that but Snape was the last thing she wanted to think about. "I...like you too."
Harry let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. "So...what do we do?"
"I have no bloody idea." She cupped her hands over her mouth when she said that. Harry's smirk made her glare back but she was blushing more.
"That's a first." He joked back. "Maybe take it slow. Do you want to go on a date? With me?! Well of course with me..." He stuttered.
Hermione blushed more than she thought possible but was giggling at the way he was acting. He was always so in control but it was cute seeing him like this. "...yes. But not at Hogsmeade. I will not let anyone see it and get the winning from the twins."
"What are you talking about?"
"You didn't hear of the pool betting for when we would get together? Those redheaded monsters started it."
"That's why you yelled at them! I think you may have scared them more than their mum." He remembered the look on their faces after she left. "No not Hogsmeade."
"Then where?"
"I have a few ideas and luckily I happened to be a human port key." He found some of his confidence back.
She rolled her eyes at his joke but grinned back. She was going on a date! With Harry! She had to be dreaming. "When?"
"How about this weekend? While everyone else is at Hogsmeade we go somewhere else. "
"Are you going to tell me where?"
"Do you want to really know or want it to be a surprise?"
She thought a moment. "Nowhere flying?"
"Deal." He smiled.
As they walked off back to their scheduled classes Harry was going over every possible place he could take her. While she was thinking she had somehow slipped into a coma and was dreaming.
When their hands came together neither tried to separate or even wanted to.
"Thank you." Mordo nodded as he took his tea. The woman left and he sipped. The place was charming if not for the fact it was a part of a world that should be left alone.
He was not surprised to not find any of Strange's group here. After all, where better to hide than right out in the open?
He had seen some of the Ministry's posters of him and easily changed them to look like someone else. Still, he didn't need to stay too long. Not with Wong on the lookout for him.
He finished his cup and gave one more look at the castle in the distance. His eye went black briefly at the image as his dark fingers laid the cup on the table and he vanished down an alley.
Nothing about this seems right. The Trickster looked over the Avenger's new compound from a safe distance. His magic was stronger now but he was invisible to be safe. I preferred the tower.
It wasn't the location that had him feeling off. It was something that he couldn't place. A magic he did not know. Or know very well. It felt odd but similar as well.
Suddenly two figures shot up through the sky. A small set of armor Stark wore. At first, he was worried he had been seen until he saw the other figure flying a broomstick?
"Beat you!"
"You took off first!" The boy argued back.
"Want some cheese to go with that wine?" the girl shouted back.
"Ha. Ha! Wait do you really have any? I am getting hungry."
"Regulus get down here!" Someone called from the ground.
Loki saw the redhead. The only one who managed to trick him. One he actually respected to some degree, not that he would admit it.
"Coming mum!!"
Mum? Oh, how very interesting. And he has some sort of Earth magic. Now that is comical. So, brother, this is the boy? I think it's time for him to meet his dear Uncle Loki.