A/N: I forgot to say this in my first chapter, but I have two thank-yous. First, to bunnyhops, who agreed to be my beta though she doesn't normally work with crossovers. Loki is hard to resist. Also to RiaBinger, who put up with every frustration, gripe, writers block, and mood swing that went into writing this. Thanks again to both of you!
She returned to her hotel room after dinner with her mind racing. She could scarcely believe she had just agreed to help Loki, and she was quite sure he was the Loki though she could never explain why. She wondered if everything would go south tomorrow, when she was to take Loki into magical community to visit the Las Vegas Gringotts Branch. Also, she would have to find a library or bookstore, even a Muggle one would have the information she needed to refresh her memory of Norse mythology. She had planned to leave the city in two days with her friends, so she would have to think up a convincing lie for what may turn into an extended absence. She hadn't expected them back when she returned from dinner. She knew they were probably at a nightclub or gambling, so she anticipated being able to fall asleep without drunken ramblings around her, but she was too keyed up to actually sleep. She gave up around two in the morning, pulling out her suitcase and starting to pack her things.
Ten minutes later the door opened. Harry, Ginny, and Ron entered loudly, and Harry and Ginny immediately started to stumble towards the room opposite hers for drunken sex. Her room had two beds, one for her and one for Ron, though it was only that way because she threatened to get her own room. Ginny, and in fact most of the Weasleys, were hoping that she and Ron would get drunk, fall into bed, and rekindle their romance, but Hermione, while on good terms with her friend, was not interested in being Mrs. Ronald Weasley. Nothing about them clicked, every annoying habit he had seemed amplified when she felt the pressure of romance. The arguments came quickly and often, and the sex was rushed and lacking passion. She had stayed with him for two years, hoping things would get better, and, as Ron was known to do, there were strokes of brilliance; moments where there was romance, moments where a future with him didn't seem so bad. But those were the moments that convinced her they weren't going to work. She didn't need to settle for 'didn't seem so bad'. She needed someone her heart ached for, someone who challenged her intellect and kept things exciting, and someone she couldn't wait to fall into bed with. Ron wasn't that man; he would never be that man. Sleeping together again would be a monumental mistake, and an admission that she was willing to settle.
The truth was that she was as excited about being away from her friends for a while as she was to hear about the Norse legends straight from the source. They had been making her uncomfortable lately, trying to discourage her from her advocacy work, taunting her for spending so much time at the office and working one-on-one with abused house elves, Ginny even called her a selfish bitch for bringing a werewolf who was being hunted to Grimmauld Place to keep him safe. She needed to get away from them for a while, and she couldn't think of a better opportunity than spending the next few days, maybe even weeks, with a god.
"Whatchoo doin', 'Mia- knee?" Ron's drunken slur came from the doorway.
"Packing," she replied shortly.
"Whatchoo packing for?"
"I've got a job I'm starting in the morning."
"Bloody fantastic. 'Nother job. You got too much of 'em."
She fought the urge to respond, biting her tongue as a preventative measure. Instead, she slammed her suitcase shut and strode out of the room, expecting to sit and watch a little telly until she fell asleep. She would finish packing in the morning. But the next thing she knew, the cell phone Loki had given her the night before was ringing loudly next to her, and a morning news program was playing.
"Hullo?" she asked as she answered the phone.
"Good morning, my dear," Loki's smooth voice replied, and she could picture the mischievous smile across his face. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," she lied.
"I will be coming by in about fifteen minutes to collect you. As I am staying in what you would call a Muggle hotel, I would think it suspicious if I suddenly had a young lady occupying the second room of my suite without you officially moving in, so I thought it would be best to do this in a somewhat conspicuous fashion."
"Okay," she readily agreed.
"I promise you will be able to get some of the sleep you lacked when you admit you're feeling tired," he said then hung up without a farewell or even asking where she was staying. She didn't tell him the night before, and she had Apparated back, but she would have to get used to being around such a powerful being for a while.
She stood and stretched, starting to make coffee.
"Who the ruddy hell is calling so early in the morning?" Harry grumbled as he entered the room, getting a coffee cup and standing by the coffee maker, ready to usurp the first of the available brew.
"My new employer," she replied, deciding against telling them exactly who she would be working with until after her experience was finished.
"Is there coffee?" Ron and Ginny asked in unison as they appeared in their doorways.
"New employer?" Harry ignored his fiancé and his best friend, suddenly looking more awake. "What new employer?"
"I'm going to be working with a... wealthy diplomatic sort for a bit," she answered, hiding her smirk. If she was going to be working with the God of Mischief and Lies it would behoove her to learn to convincingly deceive someone.
"Doing what?" Ron asked. He and Ginny both looked surprisingly alert, and they sat at the small table, staring at her.
"He wants me to go over some history, use that information and some information we'll be getting in to form an opinion on a matter, and present my opinion to a group."
"That sounds ridiculously vague," Ginny pointed out.
"It makes perfect sense in my mind."
"What are you giving an opinion about?"
"Norse mythology and its current applications."
"And a diplomat is asking you to do this?" Ron sounded skeptical.
"I said diplomatic type. And he's not only asking me, he's paying me handsomely for my time and effort."
"How handsomely?" Harry asked.
"About ten years' salary."
"Bleeding hell, Hermione, that's tens of thousands of Galleons!"
"I didn't choose the figure. He did."
"And all he wants is for you to go over some history with him?"
"Yes, though technically the money is to help finance a book about vampire rights."
"Are you sleeping with him?" Ginny asked, narrowing her eyes and wearing a smug smile.
"No."
"Are you going to? Because my vote is for yes, unless he's totally repulsive."
"He is quite charming, and handsome in his own way..."
"And apparently as loaded as a Malfoy." Ron was sounding bitter.
"I don't care how much money someone I sleep with has. Sex is not part of the job, but depending on the circumstance, I wouldn't turn it down," she lied, her own mischievous smile playing on her lips. The more uncomfortable they felt, the better. "Now, if you'll excuse me, he wants me to move into his suite at the Bellagio, and I have to finish packing."
"For how long?" Harry followed her to her room.
"Until the job is done."
"You know this doesn't sound right, don't you? We're going to get a note or something in a few days telling us how much we need to pay to get you back."
"I'm not going to let something happen to me. I promise my wand will not be away from me for even a second, and I will fully secure my room at night," she said, trying to sound confident, but realizing just how foolish her arrangement was sounding. She remembered somewhere Loki had been referred to as 'Silvertongue'. He certainly used one to get her to agree to the assignment.
"It's not that I doubt you, but we don't know him..."
There was a rap on the door.
"Now would be your chance to meet him, then," she said as the last of her things packed themselves neatly into their suitcase and she carried it out to the common room.
Harry was already opening the door, staring with an appraising eye at Loki. To his credit, Loki seemed to realize he had to impress her friends, and he flashed them a charming smile.
"Is this Dr. Granger's room?" he asked.
"It's all of ours," Harry replied. "But yeah, she's here."
"Come in, Loki," Hermione called when Harry made no offer.
"Thank you, Dr. Granger," he walked in and gave her a little bow. "How does this morning find you?" he asked, holding a hand out for hers.
"Well," she said, fighting a blush as he raised her hand to his lips. "You?"
"It is a fine morning," he said, before turning to Ginny, kissing her hand as well. "Loki Odinson," he introduced, and Hermione was glad her friends had no interest in mythology.
"Ginny Weasley," she replied with a schoolgirl sigh that turned Harry's ears red. "Pleasure to meet you."
"You as well," he nodded then turned to Ron, who crossed his arms before introducing himself. Harry had to be elbowed by Ginny in order to say his name.
"Are you ready to go, my dear?" Loki turned to Hermione.
"Yes," she said, patting her suitcase.
"Would your friends be more comfortable with our arrangement if you left them the number of the phone I gave you, so they can reach you?"
"Not a bad idea," she said quickly.
He waved a hand in the air, and a piece of paper appeared, which he handed to Hermione, who looked at the sheet in astonishment before handing it to Ginny, who was the only one of her friends who didn't seem to be trying to stare Loki down.
"Let me get that for you," Loki picked up the heavy suitcase with ease. "I will be waiting by the car. It was a pleasure to meet you all," he added, and left before anyone could reply.
"I don't like this," Harry asked after Loki was gone. "There's something... off about him."
"It's called chivalry," Ginny snapped. "I think he's quite charming."
"No, Harry's right," Ron frowned. "He reminds me of Lucius Malfoy. He might seem charming, but there's something darker beneath the surface."
"Something darker," Ginny scoffed. "My vote is now firmly in the 'sleep with him' category, 'Mione."
"Thanks, Ginny. Glad to know my sex life is up to a vote," she rolled her eyes.
"Oh, sod off, you know what I meant."
Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to Harry. "Would you feel more comfortable if I called you every day?"
"Yes," he replied quickly. "Hermione, I have a bad feeling about this. I feel like you're going to get hurt."
"Then I'll let you say 'I told you so'."
"I'd rather not say it at your funeral."
"You won't. I'll call. I promise. He's not going to hurt me. There's a chance I'm going to walk away from this later today."
"I hope you do."
"Goodbye, Harry," she hugged him tightly. Ron hugged her stiffly, hoping for her to offer to call him despite the fact that he didn't own a phone, but it didn't come.
"Don't forget... sleep with him," Ginny whispered as they hugged.
"Since you've started fucking Harry every ten minutes, you've become horrible!" she sighed.
"It's fun. You should try it."
"You're incorrigible. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. Give him a long enough break to eat something, yeah?"
"I'll try," she smirked.
"Why don't you turn your considerable match-making desire to find someone for your brother?"
"Because he's my brother."
"Touché. I'll see you when I'm done with this."
"I want details."
"Never."
She bid them good-bye one more time, and went out to find Loki waiting by a dark-colored sedan.
"Shall we?" he smiled, opening the door for her and holding his hand out to help her in. She slid across the seat and he sat next to her.
"You have to tell me where to get to the bank of your preference, my dear," he said.
She glanced at the driver.
"He won't remember a thing," he murmured.
"Echelon Place," she told the driver.
"There's nothing there, ma'am," the driver sounded confused. "They never managed to open it."
"Just go," she urged. "Park across the street."
"Yes, ma'am," he nodded, putting up the partition.
They drove in silence for a while before she finally asked, "And how will he not remember us?"
"Either you or I will take care of it," he smiled.
"Do you know how to change someone's memory?"
"I haven't tried, but I can make the attempt if I must."
"I'll do it," she sighed. "If you mess it up, he'll forget who he is, we only want to delete a single memory."
"I'll leave it to you, then, my dear."
The talk turned banal until the driver parked.
"Wait here," Loki murmured, slipping him some money through his open window. "If you must get food, do so, but tell no one of us."
"Yes, sir," the man nodded.
Hermione and Loki crossed the street, and they walked out of sight of the car. When they came to a sign that was hanging off from one corner Hermione checked to make sure no one saw them, and took out her wand, touching five letters in order. The sign quickly opened, and they ducked through. They were still on the property, but no one from the outside could see them. Nevertheless she hurried across the vacant parking lot, and pushed open the door to a building.
The inside of the building was loud and vibrant, with witches and wizards moving about. The shops were set up like in a mall, with glass storefronts displaying wares. Loki looked around with interest. He was well aware of the magic on Midgard, he had no idea they had such large and complex hidden communities, though he wished he had searched them out sooner.
"Quidditch?" he asked, looking at a display of brooms.
"A game witches and wizards play on broomsticks. I watch, but I'm not as big a fan as my friends. Ginny plays professionally."
"Interesting," he murmured, his eyes moving to the sweet shop.
"There's Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," she said, pointing to the lurid orange sign across the way. "A good friend of mine owns the chain."
"Ron?"
"No, one of his brothers, George."
"One of his brothers?"
"He has four. He used to have five. George's twin, Fred, died in the war."
"I've heard a lot about your war. It was quite interesting to some," he said vaguely, hungrily eying a bookshop.
She waited for him to elaborate, and when he didn't, she pointed to another storefront, this one unlike the others, made of the same distinctive white marble as its London branch.
"Gringotts," she said as they approached. "The only bank in our world. Nearly every wizarding community has a branch, though they are headquartered in London."
"Stop!" a goblin held up his hand as they entered. "You will wait here, someone will come to escort you," he said, motioning to a small alcove.
"Is something wrong?" Loki asked as he watched a woman and her small daughter pass through security easily.
"I get this at every branch. I'm always under scrutiny here."
"May I ask why?"
"During the war Harry, Ron, and I earned the distinction of being the only group who managed to break in, actually steal something, and then break out. It was necessary for the war effort, and we were legally forgiven, but the goblins have rather long memories, and we're always escorted when we come here."
"But you only took what was necessary for victory in your war?" he sounded confused.
"And I may have released one of their security dragons into the wild."
He chuckled. "Would that be what you may find that is more than treasure?"
"That and a few other nasty surprises. And now every time one of us comes here, we get an escort. Luckily, my vault is in London, so we won't have to deal with the full-scale search they do when I actually want to visit my money."
Another goblin came over, eying her suspiciously. "This way, Dr. Granger and friend of Dr. Granger," he said, turning and walking off.
"Best stay close," she whispered to Loki, taking his arm and pulling him along a row of desks to the final one.
"Sit," the goblin ordered, and they hastened to comply as the goblin moved to the other side.
"What is it you need today, Dr. Granger?"
"She needs to make a deposit," Loki announced.
The goblin scrutinized him.
"I am Dr. Granger's new employer. I have her contract bonus," he said, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a box that had no right to fit. The goblin took it and opened it, eyebrow raising.
"Sir, there's no need to carry this kind of money. We can take it from your account..."
"I do not have an account here, nor do I desire one," he said shortly. "Make the deposit."
"I shall convert this to Galleons, then. Wait here," the goblin disappeared into the back.
"May I ask where you got loads of Muggle money?" she muttered when they were alone.
"Casino games are pathetically easy to fix if you know what you're doing. The hard part is being careful about not attracting attention or winning too much. Ridiculous mortal laws, they have no qualms about taking a man's last coin, but as soon as you return the favor they start tracking every moment," he sounded irritated.
Her eyes narrowed as she scrutinized him, and she realized she must be hearing the real Loki for the first time. Of course he was going to be charming during their first meeting and as much as possible thereafter, but he still had a reason he needed her to vouch for him. And she was going to have to hear the darker side of Loki sooner rather than later.
"Your deposit slip, Dr. Granger." The goblin returned, but didn't sit, thrusting a piece of parchment at her.
"Thank you," she said, scanning it and trying not to let her face redden at the number, before folding it and putting it in her purse. They left without another word.
"Is there anything you'd like to stop for?" Loki asked as they made it back out into the mall, which had gotten busier.
"No. Let's just get out of here before..."
"Mommy, look! It's Hermione Granger!" a little girl pointed excitedly.
"That happens," Hermione murmured.
She gamely signed a few autographs and took a couple pictures then Loki got impatient.
"She must be going," he said, placing an arm around her. "She has work to do."
"Sorry," she said repeatedly as they moved through the small group that had formed and back out of the mall. They were back in the car and heading toward the Bellagio when Loki turned to her.
"You are uncomfortable with fame," he noted.
"I am uncomfortable with how I earned it. People remember who I am from all the press after, they forget the hell I went through to get there, and they gave me no privacy to mourn after."
"Humans clamor to their idols. They will wait for hours for a chance to see them even with no chance of interaction. You did not stop them from spending time with you, and yet you owe them nothing."
"If I can make someone's day a little better by posing for a picture or signing an autograph, I'd like to. I don't every time, if I'm in a hurry I turn people down, but if I have a few minutes I'll stop."
"You fought so they would have the freedom to move around in public like that without worry of those Death Eaters. And they forget it."
"They won't forget me. Or Ron and Harry. They've forgotten the others who fought with us," she said softly.
The driver pulled into the driveway of the Bellagio and parked, quickly moving to take Hermione's bag out. Before she even got out of the car, a bellhop had hurried forward to gather the bag.
"All right today, Mister Odinson?" he asked.
"Well," he nodded. "Dr. Granger will be staying with me for a while. She shall need a key."
"I'll make sure they know," he nodded.
Within minutes, they were upstairs, and Hermione's jaw dropped. She stayed in upscale rooms before, but everything in this room was exquisite. The bellhop deposited her bag in a room to the right, and Loki tipped him and closed the door.
"Is it to your liking?" Loki asked.
"It's amazing," she whispered, walking into the living room, which overlooked the strip below and the mountains in the distance.
"Good. Would you like to get settled?"
"Actually, I think it would be best if we got something out of the way. You told me you needed to tell me everything about your past. I've read some of the stories, but I'd like to hear it from you. Why don't we start there, because I'd hate to get settled and decide after that I cannot work with you."
"Very well," he nodded. "The bar is there, if you need a drink."
She debated then poured herself a glass of wine. She sunk onto a seat, and he stood at the window.
"I guess I should start when I was young..." he said, eyes glazing over.
