A/N: I have a new beta, nomdemprunt, and I would like to thank him for taking the time out of his own busy schedule to look over my new chapters.

Never fear, I am working on the next as I type this. With Thanksgiving break started, I hope to get several chapters written so that I can post in a more timely manner that fits our schedules.

I thank you all for your patience and hope that you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Iron Man.

Exposed

Hogwarts Express
September 1, 2001

As the train began to move, Harry leaned out the window, with Catlin and Draco following, and shouted, "Dad! I'll miss you!" He waved with a grin when his adoptive father called back with "We'll miss you too!"

Sitting back down in the seat when they cleared the station, Harry let out a heavy sigh. He was going to miss California, and his family there, but at least he'll have Severus, Catlin, Draco, and his beloved familiar, Sarabi, to keep him company.

"This is so exciting!" Catlin said, her voice filled with excitement.

Draco chuckled, nodding, "Yeah. Mom and Dad have told me stories from when they were at Hogwarts. Uncle Sev, too. It's going to be strange having to call him 'Professor,' though!"

Harry nodded at that as he leaned into his mate's side. "What do you think the Old Fool is going to do when we get there?"

"That's something we shouldn't worry about until something happens. Until then, we should wander around and see if there are any students worthy of our friendship!" she declared with an air of superiority.

"We probably should. Father would expect us to use this time to make connections." Draco said, with his chin lifted.

"Oh, I suppose I'll go with you. Someone has to make sure the two of you stay out of trouble," Harry muttered, straightening up in his seat, "Norns know that you're both liable to get into mischief."

The three looked at each other with straight faces before busting out into uncontrollable laughter, falling over in their seats. They each struggled valiantly to collect themselves and regain their composure only to catch a glimpse of their companions and be overcome once more.

It was the sound of the door opening that finally brought them around. "Draco? Is that you? I thought I saw you with your parents earlier," the unknown boy drawled. "What would your father say if he saw you acting this way?"

Harry looked at Draco with a raised brow, only for Catlin to speak up, staring at the boy. "It's terribly rude of you to invite yourself into a compartment without knocking first." Turning to Draco, she continued in the same tone, "Do tell us, Draco, what would your father say if he were to see you behaving in such an uncouth fashion?"

Harry had to bite back the snort of laughter that threatened to burst forth, along with the temptation to comment. You've been hanging out with Severus for too long, Cat. You're starting to talk like him now!

Draco once again straightened up, chin held high, and said, "Father would say something along the lines of, 'Well done, Dragon. One must always find opportunities to laugh, lest we all become too serious – yes, you damned mutt, I used that word intentionally – and look as if we all had sticks up our arses like those overcompensating purebloods in Britain. We wouldn't want that, now would we, Draco?'" He turned to the boy in the doorway of their compartment, raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow (for an eleven-year-old that is), and continued, "Does that answer your question, Nott?"

By this point, both Catlin and Harry were finding it difficult to contain their laughter, picturing their 'Uncle' Lucius making such a declaration with a straight face and humor in his eyes. "Oh, and my cousin was quite right. It was rather rude of you to enter without knocking. What would your father say about such behavior, hmm, Nott?" Draco challenged.

The boy, Nott, stared incredulously at the three of them, clearly shocked at what Draco had said, and at a complete loss for words. "I…I don't understand, Draco. Who are these two? Are you now hanging out with Mudbloods?"

Instantly, the temperature dropped several degrees, nearly to the point of seeing one's breath, and Catlin, Draco, and Harry all stood up and faced the boy. "I kindly ask that you never, never, use that word in our presence again," Harry said, his anger apparent in his tone.

Nott took the opportunity to look over the trio in front of him. The black-haired boy's eyes nearly glowed, his emerald gaze eerily reminiscent of the Killing Curse. Draco's eyes were like ice. The girl, though, she was by far the most terrifying of the three. The pupils of her green eyes became slits, much like those of a cat, but what really unnerved him was the fact that her skin was slowly turning from the tan that she'd gained that summer, to an icy blue. He could swear that the girl was hissing at him as well. He took a hasty step back, out of the compartment, before turning and dashing off, pale as a ghost.

Harry stepped forward and closed their compartment door before anyone else could see. Draco turned to Catlin, his eyes widening before he took a step toward her and calmly said, "Cat, he's gone now."

Before Harry could help calm his sister, there was the sound of thunder and a loud crash above them, and, suddenly, Loki was there, his arms wrapped protectively around Catlin. He looked at the boys and asked, "What happened? What caused Catlin to access her Frost Giant?"

"An old acquaintance of mine showed up. He called Catlin and Harry…" he hesitated for a moment before continuing in a whisper, "…Mudbloods."

Loki's eyes flashed, and the oppressive weight of his magic could be felt in the compartment for a moment before he reigned it in. "I see."

Just then, the train came to a sudden stop before their compartment door slid open with a crash. Loki quickly moved Draco and Harry behind him to join Catlin where he could protect them. He stood tall and defiant, unwilling to allow the intruder to intimidate him. "Brother, what a…unexpected surprise. What brings you to Midgard?"

"Loki?" the now-identified intruder asked, confused. "I wasn't expecting you to be here. Heimdall informed me that he detected the presence of a Frost Giant at this location and asked me to investigate."

"The Frost Giant was me, Brother. You may report to Father that I have discovered my ancestry and that I await his explanation. Your presence is no longer required." Loki informed the man frostily.

At this point, Harry bravely peeked out from behind Loki to look at the other man, or rather, god. He saw a tall, broad-chested man with blond hair and well-defined muscles wearing burnished armor, a deep crimson cloak that fluttered behind him, and carrying a hammer. This must be Thor, Harry thought to himself. He looked wide-eyed over at Draco and Catlin, who had returned to her normal self. This certainly wasn't good, the All-father would demand to know how Loki knew what he was and what he was doing on Midgard, to begin with.

"Why are you here, Loki, and why are you in the presence of Midgardian children? What have you done?" Thor demanded, suspicious of Loki's presence.

"My business here is none of your concern, Thor," Loki said, eyes narrowed and frost crawling across the compartment windows as the temperature dropped. His skin was slowly turning ice blue, just as Catlin's had.

Thor took a step back in reaction to Loki's sudden anger and abruptly changing appearance. "I…I will inform Father of your message, Brother, but it would be best if you returned to Asgard as well." He turned and left the compartment, and the sound of thunder was soon heard once again.

"Grandfather…" Catlin whispered, afraid of what would happen.

"It isn't your fault, Little Cat. This was bound to happen at some point, and I am prepared to deal with the consequences. I don't want any of you to worry and would like for you three to make friends before you arrive at Hogwarts. I had best be going. I'll inform your parents of what has happened, and then I will be returning to Asgard." He pulled the three children into his arms and hugged them. "Take care of yourselves and stay safe. I will come and inform you of what the All-father says; until then, take time to be the children that you are." With that parting remark, Loki stepped away and was gone.

Once Loki departed, Harry pulled Catlin into his arms to comfort her. "It'll be ok," he whispered.

"I know, but…I don't want to lose my grandfather. He's the first person to actually care for me. I can't…" she sniffed and buried her head in his shoulder.

Before Draco could move to help reassure his friend, the compartment door opened again. He spun around with anger in his eyes. "Does no one on this damned train understand that a closed compartment door means that we wish to be left alone?" he snarled at the two older students that were standing in the doorway.

The girl, whose robes featured a Ravenclaw patch and prefect's badge, looked at Draco, anger in her own eyes at his outburst, stepped into the compartment, and stated, "If I were you, I would watch your tone. As you are a first year, I am unable to take points from you at this time, but I tell you now that I will be informing your Head of House of your disrespect once you are sorted."

Draco glared at the girl, then the boy. He saw the red hair and the perpetual freckles and knew he was dealing with a Weasley. "Do what you must, but I request that the two of you remove yourselves from our compartment. This is a family matter, and we do not need your interference," he sneered, moving to position himself in front of Harry and Catlin.

"Now see here!" Weasley said pompously, stepping into the compartment to join his fellow prefect. "You will mind your tone, Malfoy, or I'll be sending a letter to your parents with regards to your current attitude.

Harry passed his sister to Draco before stepping forward. "As you are both prefects, you must do your duties, but from my understanding, prefects do not have the authority to inform parents of their children's behavior. That is up to the Heads of House, Deputy Headmistress, and the Headmaster to do if they deem fit."

The girl looked down at Harry and asked, "And who are you?"

"Lord Hadrian Potter-Black," Harry said, standing tall, "Lord of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter, Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black."

Both prefects gasped, eyes widened. "M…My apologies, Lord Potter-Black," she stammered out. "We will take our leave." The two prefects backed out of the compartment hastily and fled down the hall. Once they were gone, Harry slammed the door shut and sealed it with a robust locking charm that Severus had taught them during the summer.

"There. Now, hopefully, no one will come by to disturb us until the trolley comes. I suggest that we sit back and relax for a bit, now that the train is moving again," Harry suggested, taking his seat. With a nod, his companions sat down, sitting on the bench beside him and leaning on each other for support.

All-father's Throne Room
Asgard – Same Day

~*~Loki's POV~*~

Loki approached the doors that lead to the throne room, deep in thought. Everything was coming to a head now, his secret was about to be exposed, Odin would soon know of his daughter and his granddaughter. Tony had been furious at the boy who started this, he was worried for Catlin and what this would mean for her.

As much as he tried to hide it, Loki was just as worried as Tony, even though she had a prominent place among the Midgardian wizards. This was his family, his true family, and they all wanted him to be a part of their lives. He refused to allow Odin to dispose of them like he had his other children.

With a barely suppressed sigh, Loki pushed open the doors and strode in, head held high. "Father, you wished to see me?" he asked, drawing on millennia of experience to affect a casual demeanor, though he could feel his heart pounding loudly in his chest.

"Loki, your brother has told me something of interest involving you," Odin said, standing from his throne.

Loki glanced at his mother, Frigga, who smiled softly and gave him a small nod. "And what has Thor informed you of?" he asked, looking back at his father.

"He tells me that you were on Midgard when he went to search out the location of a Frost Giant. Said you were in the company of three children."

"I see, and did Thor tell you what I asked him to?" Loki asked, a brow raised. "Did he tell you that I was the Frost Giant in question, that I have discovered my ancestry, and that I await your explanation for hiding it from me?" There was a gasp from his mother, and he heard his brother shift uneasily next to her. Loki looked at the All-father, refusing to back down and waiting for an explanation. "How is it, Father, that I came to be a Prince of Asgard when I'm really the Prince of Jotunheim?"

"I see. So, you have learned of your heritage. How did that happen, my Son?" Odin asked as he turned back to his throne and sat upon it.

"I went to Gringotts, the Wizarding Bank on Midgard within their Wizarding world. There were quite a few surprises that day, including that of my ancestry." Loki responded.

"Gringotts? Why did you go there?" Frigga asked, stepping forward.

He turned toward his beloved mother and smiled, "I went there due to my granddaughter having need of an inheritance test, Mother."

"Granddaughter!?" Odin asked, shocked and feeling uneasy at the news.

"Yes, it was a surprise to me as well," he informed them.

"How did you learn of her, Loki?" Frigga asked.

Loki could hear the hope in her voice and see it in her eyes. He smiled softly at her before turning back to the All-father, ignoring Thor's shocked expression. "It happened five years ago when she fell off the roof of her home. She called out to me with her magic, though not specifically by name. When I arrived, she was a crumpled body on the ground and nearing death. I refused to allow her to die and took her to Hela where she was able to save her, keep her from Death himself. She may be my granddaughter, but her magic isn't just my own, but that of Midgard as well. She is strong."

"What did Hela want in exchange for saving the girl?" Odin asked briskly, his anger simmering.

"Nothing but to be a part of her niece's life," Loki stated. "I agreed. They visit on occasion when Hela is free to do so."

"And her parents? I assume one of them is your offspring?" Frigga asked.

"My daughter, Clare, and her husband, Jonathan, gave up their right to raise Catlin. They wanted nothing to do with her. Jonathan has a brother, Anthony, who took her in. He has become her adoptive father, and I have approved of his raising her.

"Did – Clare is it? – inherit anything from you?" Odin asked.

"No, she inherited nothing from me, or from her mother's family."

"I see, and Catlin, what did she inherit from you?"

"My magic," Loki said, with pride. He couldn't hide it, even if he wanted to. "From Hela, she inherited her creature inheritance. I feel that it is quite fitting for her, she's a neko."

"And your Frost Giant heritage?" Odin asked.

"Uncertain, thought her inheritance test informed her that she is a quarter Frost Giant."

"I presume that all those trips you have taken over these past several years were to Midgard to visit the child?"

"Yes, and to teach her to control her magic. She is powerful," Loki said again, pride filling his voice.

"Is she a danger to Asgard?"

Loki's gaze turned cold and the temperature of the room noticeably lowered. "She is not, and if you lay a hand on my granddaughter like you did with my other children, I will call for war!" he snarled in anger.

"You dare threaten me?! The All-father?!" Odin thundered.

"Yes, I do! You have taken my children from me in the past, and sit upon the son I bore as though he were nothing but an animal! A prized steed! I will not let you take my family from me again!" Loki shouted back. "I would forsake my place in Asgard and live among the Midgardians to protect them myself before I would allow you to dispose of her!"

"Brother! Surely you do not believe Father would do such a thing?" Thor said in obvious shock.

"He already has, Thor!" Loki cried out as he spun to face his brother. "If he has already done so, he would be willing to do so again, and I will not allow it!"

"You would truly leave your place here, Loki?" his mother asked, shocked and saddened.

He turned toward his mother and took her hands in his, "For my family, yes. I would do anything for them!"

Turning to Odin, Frigga said, "He is not wrong, Odin, and I implore you to leave the child, and her family, be."

"There is also the matter of a prophecy," Loki said, his anger ebbing away.

Odin looked at him sharply, "Well, are you going to inform us of this prophecy?" he demanded.

"Brought together through Fate and Death,
The Bird, the Fox, and the Cat
Will change a destiny chosen.

The Bird will teach love and acceptance,
The Cat will bring family and trust,
The Fox will cause downfall and chaos.

A man whose soul is broken
Will become whole once more.
A man full of manipulation will lose control.

A fake exposed and lives saved,
Gods will appear, fear will be known,
The Fox will be triumphant.

Change is coming, and the stars rewritten.
Creatures united as one, peace will reign,
Magic will be whole once again.

Brought together through Fate and Death,
The Bird, the Fox, and the Cat
Will change a destiny chosen."

"What does it mean, Brother?" Thor asked, still shaken by the earlier revelations.

"'The Bird' refers to a boy by the name of Draco Malfoy, 'the Fox' is his mate, Hadrian Potter-Black, and 'the Cat', is my granddaughter, Catlin. Draco will teach Harry love and acceptance while Catlin brings Harry a family and helps him to learn trust. The 'man who is broken' is the man who went after Harry and his parents when he was but a babe, and the man full of manipulations is Albus Dumbledore, current headmaster of the school at which the children will gain their education in Midgardian magic. The 'fake exposed' is as yet uncertain and could mean different things, but it hardly matters as Harry will be triumphant and lives will be saved. The gods have already appeared in some instances. There has been myself, Hela, and, after today, Thor. The rest is self-explanatory," Loki explained.

Loki turned toward the All-father once more. "As you can see, Catlin is of no danger to Asgard." With that, he left the chamber and headed for one of the hidden paths between the Nine Realms to return to Midgard.

"Loki!" Thor boomed as he followed him out.

With a sigh, Loki stopped and turned to face his brother, "Yes, Thor?"

"I wish to apologize for…for so many things, but I'd especially like to apologize if I scared your Catlin and her friends."

Loki studied him for sincerity before nodding, "I must go and inform her father of what has happened here. Please inform me of Father's decision when he's made one."

"Of course, Brother," Thor said with a smile and a nod.

With that done, Loki continued on his way and several minutes later appeared in Tony's lab, greeting the inventor with a simple "Tony" to make his presence known.

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