Erik, her landlord for the time being, had offered a hand in repairing the tent, a hand that Mia had taken with both of hers, her mother hadn't had time to teach her how to sew and she could only knit with magic. So with that off of her hands, Mia had gone exploring the town and forest that surrounded the majority of it.

The magic that flowed about and into her as she walked through the ancient forest was intoxicating and soon the witch found herself in front of the largest tree she had ever seen. A rush of adrenaline ran through her as she lay her hands on the vast trunk, and after looking around to make sure no one was watching, the witch changed into her eagle animagus form, flying to the nearest branch and changed back before starting her climb.

It took a few hours but soon she was unable to see the forest floor anymore and the branches were beginning to get slender and weak. Just as she was going to give up for safety, Mia's head popped out from the top of the leaves and left her breathless. The sight was indescribable, like seeing the edge of the universe, looking into the opening to the heavens.

Sitting heavily on the branch, Mia instantly began rubbing her ring, smiling as she felt her heart lift, "Fred."

"Loki actually," came a voice a tree over, startling the witch so much she nearly fell from the branch.

Her heart racing a million miles a minute, Mia looked over and saw that she wasn't alone in her private moment. A tree beside her seemed to go as high as hers and sitting in the same position as she was, was a man who seemed no older than herself with long black hair and green eyes that were gleaming with laughter. Catching her breath, she got settled once more on the branch and looked to the horizon while saying, "I didn't realise I was in such regal company but if you don't mind, I was connecting with someone I loved very dearly."

"Regal company? You have me mistaken with someone else, I'm simply a traveller to this town"

With a knowing smile, Mia looked over at the man, "Yes, you are a traveller like myself but while I came in on a bike, you no doubt had to ask permission from the keeper of the gates to escape from Asgard. Loki Odinson, the God of Mischief, son of Odin and Frigga, brother to Thor. Did I forget anything?"

It was Loki's turn to almost fall from the tree, "Loki is a rather common name around these parts."

"Even if it were, there are very few named it who could have gotten to the peak of that tree and if you were a human but gifted, you would know who I was," giving a smile, she then said, "Go on, prove you are a simple human, who am I?"

"A very beautiful woman who is gifted and apparently very good at climbing trees," the god shrugged, "And is also knowledgeable in Norse gods."

"Well I should be, I came here because I was hoping to find perhaps some ruins that were hidden from the eyes of the ungifted, and I read that you and your brother frequent this particular town every so often."

Carefully, Loki strode over the branches before leaping easily over to her tree, coming to sit beside her, "And what exactly are you gifted with?"

"Magic of course"

"Ah yes, I should have realised, but human magic has changed so much since I last was near a practitioner of the art," the god grinned and held out his hand, "As you know, I am Loki Odinson. May I ask your name?"

"I'm Hermione Granger and it a pleasure to meet you," the witch smiled as he kissed the back of her hand before looking at the horizon once more, "Tell me, what do you see out there?"

Green eyes peered out and sighed, "I see an unending universe filled with liars, hatred, war, and death. What do you see?"

"Oh I see that but I also see something much better. I see the heavens opening, letting in those who have passed, their souls free from the torments of this realm. And I see my Fred waiting beyond for me to get there but also making sure I live my life."

Loki looked again and smiled genuinely, "Now that is a much better sight than what I was seeing. If I'm not intruding, may I ask who it was you lost?"

"Fred, he was my boyfriend/fiancé, he was killed in a war not many years ago," sighing, she turned from the view to look at the god, "I'm heading down, would you like a lift?"

Unsure of what she meant, the man nodded and was stunned when her arms wrapped around his waist. After arriving with a soft pop at the base of the tree, Loki refused to let go of the woman, "That was not nice. You could have warned me of that… What was that?"

"Apparition, a fast method of getting to places, takes a bit to get used to honestly," seeing the look on the man's face, Mia couldn't hold in the laugh, "I'm sorry, but you should see your face."

"As I alluded to, it has been a long time since I was around a witch and they certainly didn't do that," feeling more stable now, Loki let go of the brunette and straightened to see he was only a couple inches taller than his new companion and that her eyes still held a pain from talking about Fred, "I apologise for intruding on your private time up there."

"To be honest, I needed it, if I'd been up there alone talking to Fred, well things might not have turned out so well," leaning against a tree, the witch lift an eyebrow and asked, "Now what has brought the mischievous Loki down amongst us mortals once more? You are earlier than usual, it has only been 70 years since you last visited, you've usually only visited every 100 or so."

Loki leant against his own tree, sitting on the ground and twirled a stick as he answered with his own question, "Do you have any siblings?"

"I have 9 brothers and 3 sisters," laughing at the stunned look, she explained, "We aren't blood related but that doesn't make them any less of my siblings, we fight as though related but love each other no matter what. We're probably a lot closer than a normal family because most of us chose to be in the family. I suppose this means your issue has something to do with Thor?"

"Yes, my delightful brother, forever making trouble by not thinking before he acts, eager to pick a fight with anyone who looks at him," green eyes rolled dramatically, "But of course, he is the Allfather's favourite son, gets away with everything."

Getting an idea of what was going on, Mia leant forward, "What prank did you get caught pulling exactly?"

"I simply turned a few vines into snakes, how was I supposed to know they would find their way into the women's steam baths? Mother had no problem with them, though she is probably used to seeing snakes around"

That had the woman laughing, "I have read a few of the pranks that you and Thor both played to the people of Midgard during your stays over the years, as well as the stories that you told and were recorded, but snakes in the steam baths would have to be a piece of genius. Fred would have loved it, mind you, he and George were set on leaving you in their dust for being forever known as the mighty pranksters of history. They were your biggest fans."

"Well I'm pleased that someone finds it funny, Father was extremely angry at it and I believe the only reason I'm banished to Midgard for a week and not a century is because Mother was laughing as she carried a couple of the snakes out."

"You're here for a week? What are you going to do for shelter? Food? You can't have access to our money up in Asgard."

Rubbing the back of his neck as he blushed, the god said, "Had I asked about it my sentence would have been far greater than it was. I didn't even have time to get together a few changes of clothes."

"Nope, that won't do, come on you can stay with me, I don't think Erik will mind having another guest but the accommodations, well, I'm staying in a barn," Mia had grabbed Loki's hand and pulled him to his feet before leading him through the forest, "Not that it is that bad, much better than some places I've slept in, I'm not getting tortured here at least…"

"Whoa, tortured?" Loki pulled up suddenly, his hand still in hers so pulled the witch to a stop.

"Long story, something to talk about tonight if you want"

Nodding, the god simply allowed himself to be led by the hand, trying to work out whether he was being helped or kidnapped and decided that it really didn't matter all that much.