Whoo! The second installment already! Hahaha, actually, I find this story harder to write than my other tonyloki one, maybe because I have the added task of blending these two different worlds together into something that is both tangible and interesting. Thanks for the reviews/subscriptions to this one as well! It's so strange, I have much more people putting me on alerts for Wild Goose than this one here, but this receives more reviews..? :0 Anyway, thanks guys, I really appreciate all the love :')
- Chapter 2 -
The Detention Room
When Tony arrived in front of the twin dark mahogany doors leading to McGonagall's office, he was surprised to find that Loki was already there.
'You're late,' he scowled. 'She said to meet her here at 7 pm sharp.'
Tony frowned. 'I don't really care for rules, snake boy. Besides, she's not here yet. Stop being such a prissy ass.'
'Indeed, Mr Stark.'
Tony stared in disbelief as the figure of Loki Laufeyson transformed into that of Professor McGonagall right in front of his eyes. Oh shit. He had forgotton Professor McGonagall's area of expertise – the study of Transfiguration. Her ability to turn into any dead or living creature, real or imaginary, as well as her prowness as an animagus had not been exaggerated, Tony noted with a sullen grimace.
'Mr Laufeyson is already waiting for you.'
Sure enough, when Tony entered the detention room Loki Laufeyson was already inside, seated at one end of the long oak table. Tony had no doubts that Loki knew what had happened; there was a smirk on his face that stretched from one ear to the other, and finally he couldn't control his laughter any longer.
'She played you like a fool, Stark! Just goes to show the level of intelligence you possess.'
Tony gritted his teeth.
'Shut up already, greaseball.'
The two exchanged glares across the table. Professor McGonagall had stepped in right after Tony, and was inspecting the both of them above the wire rims of her square glasses. Suddenly, she snapped.
'Stark, Laufeyson. I want the both of you to make friends.'
Predictably, both boys protested.
'No way! A mudblood like him -'
'Professor, he's a Slyther -'
'Enough!' Professor McGonagall slammed both her hands down on the table and the resounding crack silenced them. 'Mr Laufeyson, do not let me hear that word from your mouth again, or it will be double detention. Mr Stark, wouldn't you say it's time for us all to let go of our bigoted differences against our fellow schoolmates? Slytherin has been known to produce a sizable amount of good-hearted witches and wizards as well.'
'Who all turned to the dark side sooner or later,' Tony muttered darkly, which earned himself a reproving glare from the professor. Ignoring him, she continued.
'As long as you guys don't learn how to work together, you will be seeing me every single evening at 7 pm sharp in here.'
Tony groaned. 'Professor! I have Quidditch practice!' This was what he had been fearing - being robbed of his precious Quidditch time. 'We need to win the cup this year!' Last year had been a narrow fight against Hufflepuff, and Tony wished for a smoother victory path this year. Gryffindor might not be so lucky twice in a row.
'I'm sure they can find a replacement seeker, Stark.' Loki grinned nastily at Tony across the length of the table which caused him to simmer with rage.
Professor McGonagall frowned. 'I don't think it's necessary to replace him. He will just have to train harder by himself during his breaks.'
'The professor knows I'm Gryffindor's best chance at securing the cup,' Tony broke into a wide smile. It was the same charming, heartbreaking smile that had snagged the hearts of many a guileless female. 'Right, professor?'
Professor McGonagall hardly batted an eyelid but a slight softening of her expression was visible. 'Mr Stark, I'm not Ms Potts, and you would do well to remember that.' Tony flushed from head to toe whilst Loki's laughter rang loud and clear in the detention room. Pepper Potts had been his girlfriend for the past five months and stories of their blatant PDA were almost as rampant as Thor's formidable reputation for blowing his top. They had just broken up a few weeks ago but even now, Tony jumps at the mention of Pepper's name and casts a wary eye about.
'Now, as for tonight's detention. I could set you guys cleaning duty of course, I heard Filch requires some assistance with regards to the polishing of the trophy room...'
Both boys shuddered in a mix of fear and disgust. Filch was the caretaker and he was known throughout school as the number one wizard not to cross. Technically, he wasn't even a wizard since he failed to graduate from Hogwarts and it is believed by many students to be the source of his jealousy, and thus, cruel treatment towards students of the school. Stories of being caught sneaking around the castle after lights off and being punished by Filch with a particularly nasty spell that involved dangling in the air by an ankle were not uncommon.
'However, that would not be necessary I think. Instead, I would like you to coach each other on spellwork. Take it as if it were private classes or tuition being held for your own sake.'
Tony was flabbergasted. Him? Teach Loki Laufeyson? But what about his reputation?
Across the table and studiously avoiding any eye contact, Loki did not look too pleased either.
'I beg your pardon, Professor McGonagall, I don't suppose I have any areas in which I require Mr Stark's...expertise.'
'Mr Laufeyson, I've heard from your professor that you are not doing too well in your Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, despite, of course, illustrious results in all your other classes. Particularly Transfiguration.' Professor McGonagall showered Loki with one of her rare smiles which abruptly turned into a frown as she looked at Tony. 'On the other hand Mr Stark, you have been performing poorly in every single subject other than Defence Against the Dark Arts. Also particularly Transfiguration.' Tony wanted to melt into ground as her gaze meet his. Professor McGonagall, who taught all fifth-years Transfiguration, hadn't been too pleased with his latest results.
'Hey, Quidditch is considered a subject too.'
'Not in my book, Mr Stark. So as you can very well see, both of you would benefit from having each other's fields of expertise. The help that you can provide each other is very complementary. Hence, I have decided that dentention would be turned into a mutual coaching session. Mr Laufeyson, you would be teaching the basics of Transfiguration to Mr Stark, and Mr Stark, your adeptness at Defence Against the Dark Arts would no doubt benefit him. Have I made myself clear?'
Her cold eyes met both of theirs in a sweeping arc from left to right and brood no protestations. Both boys nodded with the enthusiasm of chickens about to go to the abattoir.
'Good then. Use the classroom as freely as you see fit, and I will be in periodically to check on your progress. Your test results next term would determine whether both of you have need to continue this special arrangement. Of course, your conduct report would be a factor as well. Alright then, how about an introduction? Shake hands.'
Loki's expression suggested that he was shaking hands with a toad rather than the most popular boy in school.
'I'm Loki.'
'Pleased to meet you, call me Tony.'
Tony wanted to shrivel up and die when they clasped hands in what was decidedly a demonstration of formality and compliance. Loki's hand felt as cold as Death himself and his startlingly white skin was so smooth and soft that for a moment, Tony thought he had accidentally gripped a girl's hand. He squeezed the other's hand as little as possible, trying his best to avoid any contact at all, and quickly slipped back when the observed period of politeness was over. He did not want to touch the other guy's hand for as long as he can.
Likewise, Loki felt the same and both extricated their hands from each other's grip in a flash.
And so, their mutual coaching session began. Professor McGonagall had left as soon as she made sure they were settled down and informed them that she will be back in two hours, when detention officially ended. Great, thought Tony. Just great.
He was trapped and not too pleased about it.
They were sitting in silence, fidgeting uncomfortably when Loki spoke up first, eager to break the tension.
Of course it was a snide remark.
'Not good at anything huh, Stark? Lesser brains than even Professor Longbottom?'
Tony could feel anger rising in him. Professor Neville Longbottom was a kindly, if a bit scatterbrained, young Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts. He always had a warm smile for anyone and that included even the Slytherins. Although Tony could not be said to be overly fond of the man, or even close to him (Professor Longbottom was too dense for his liking), Loki's insult came a slap to the face, and he felt impelled to defend Professor Longbottom's virtue.
'Defence Against the Dark Arts getting you down? Ha, I thought you pure blood supremacists were good at everything. I mean, what would your father think?' Immediately, Tony regretted bringing Mr Odinson up. A pang of guilt stung him as he watched the expression on Loki's face change from one of smugness to a splotchy mess of red.
'Y-you sh-shut up!' Loki was positively shaking with rage. Tony had done it, he had hit a nerve. He was almost regretful and was surprised he actually felt for the boy.
'What -'
'None of your business.' Loki snarled as he whipped his wand out and pointed it straight at Tony's chest. Tony's eyebrows flew up. The boy was willing to risk getting another detention, probably detentions for the rest of his life, just because of one remark? He must have serious daddy issues.
'Go away!'
Loki retreated to one corner of the room where he lay huddled in a chair, pulling his robes around him, green eyes sparkling menacingly in the gloom. Guilt nipped at Tony. I need to recompensate, he thought. It was his fault he knew. Families were always tricky businesses, even at their best, just look at his own. He should not have gone poking his nose into other people's families.
'Well, if it helps matters much...I was an orphan.' This blunt statement prompted a pair of curious green eyes to swivel around the room and lock onto his own brown ones. Sensing no objection, Tony cleared his throat and continued.
'My parents, they died in a car crash and left me behind. So I understand how it feels -'
'I am adopted.'
Tony froze. He could sense that he was treading on thin ice here. Thin black ice to be exact. The kind that could swallow you under 50 feet of ice cold water without warning. So he waited silently till Loki was ready to talk.
It was ten uncomfortable minutes of silence as time dragged on, and more and more Tony wished he had kept his mouth shut about other people's parents.
Loki finally spoke. 'That is why Thor and I have different surnames. His father is not mine. I was adopted into their family.' He looked calmer already, the red spots on his face already cooling down to a warm shade of pink which made his face look rosier and healthier.
'You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I mean, I'm not all that interested -'
'No. It is a fair trade. After all, you told me something about yourself.'
'The orphan thing? No big deal,' Except only my closest friends know, he thought. Damn Loki for making him guilty over making him feel bad. Sometimes, Tony hated his sensitivity.
'I became the first Slytherin in the long line of Gryffindors in the Odinson family. That was when I discovered my birth status. My parents, the Laufeysons, they were pure blooded Slytherins. It was then I decided to use my rightful name. Loki Laufeyson.' He spat the last word out bitterly as if he would much prefer the usage of Odinson.
'Oh. Suits you better.' Tony replied for lack of something to say. What was he supposed to do when his mortal enemy was spilling his guts out to you?
'Indeed?' Loki cocked a quizzical eyebrow. 'Because I'm the sneaky evil snake boy, aren't I?' He laughed when Tony's face flushed right red, then he twirled his wand and said almost lazily, in a voice as smooth as butter. 'Well, shall we get on with Transfiguration?'
They spent the next hour going through the finer details of it ('Twirl your wand like this, no like this, and concentrate, you have to want to make the transformation happen.') and finally at the end of the lesson Tony attempted to turn a strand of his own hair into a needle. He managed to transform half of it into something resembling silver but the other half wouldn't change, no matter what he did.
'Okay okay. Let's stop with this whole transforming shit.' Tony panted as if the lesson had taken up all his energy and stamina. 'Do a little Defense Against the Dark Arts now?'
Loki's faced flushed and Tony realised that he probably did not want to embarrass himself in front of Tony. He was more self-conscious then he let on, thought Tony. Then again, this meant that he was more disastrous at it then Tony thought.
Tony weighed the costs and benefits of acting nice to Loki. He wouldn't miss as much actual Quidditch practice if he played nice to Loki and would get let out of detention early. Not that he needed those lame ass team trainings anyway, he could train as well or even better on his own, but it was a good excuse to be flying on the broom. The faster he could meet less with Loki and get back to making fun of him...what? Did professor McGonagall think he was going to stop just because of the fear of punishment?
'I won't laugh, I promise.'
So he stretched a smile across his face and said 'Well. Shall we begin?'
