What's up? Went back and edited chapter 5 a bit, included a reference to Neil Gaiman's book 'American Gods', nothing major. I'm no longer writing 'Hunter's Moon' but if anyone wants to take the idea themselves and write a fic, go ahead and please end me a link so I can read it. I've got a Poll on my profile page in relation to what I'm gonna do come New Year, will I focus on this fic or start one of two other ideas I currently have. Poll closes on Dec 21st, so go vote if you want to. This chapter contains [Parseltongue].Also, in this fic most mythologies are based on actual beings, humans just altered the tales over time, so expect references to other myths every so often. Well I've said everything I have to, and filled a bit of my word count, so on with the show...
Harry Potter belongs to J K Rowling.
The Norse Gods belong to, em the Norse?
XXX
As Loki stepped through the barrier he was almost knocked over by a frantic Mrs. Weasley, as he steadied himself he actually was knocked over be an even more frantic Lily Potter. Grumbling under his breath Loki rose up and turned a dagger filled glare at the snickering James Potter. Loki gave a polite cough to gain the attention of the mothers.
"The boys are fine. However," Loki checked his watch, "If they don't grab a hold of this rucksack at ten past, they'll be left behind when the Portkey activates and than you'll have to take them to Hogwarts. So you may want to calm down." Having said that Loki picked up his rucksack and turned, searching for the auror who would be stationed on the platform. "I'd love to stay and chat but I've got to inform that auror over there that someone's been messing with the barrier. Boys, remember, if you want to catch a ride have a grip of the rucksack at ten past." With that he was off. The families approached him with a minute to spare. A quick 'thank you' from the fathers and an embarrassed 'sorry' from the mothers was all that was said before the trio disappeared.
X
As a way to travel, Portkey ranked as Loki's eighth most hated method. Thankfully it was quick and accurate. With a flick of his wand Loki caused the boys' baggage to float into the air above him and set off towards the castle, the boys tailing behind. They travelled in silence, all three still feeling a bit uneasy after arriving. As they passed several large coaches Loki stopped and smiled.
"Greetings Rubeus." Loki called out. Darren turned and saw Hagrid's large form peak around one of the coaches.
"Ello there Professor." The friendly Grounds-keeper replied. "All set for the... Darren, Ron what are yea doin' ere this early?"
"Bit of trouble with the barrier, meant they missed the train. Luckily I was passing and could take them with me." Loki explained. "Just on our way to see the Headmaster to tell him actually... Is he in his office?
"Yep, just finishin' off some paperwork before the feast, I think." Hagrid replied. "Oh, read them papers you sent. Interestin' stuff."
"Really, well Lokke asked me to check some things while I'm here. Think you could answer a few quick questions? Loki asked. He turned and addressed Darren and Ron. "Boys, you know the Middle Courtyard? Well the headmaster's tower entrance in on the eastern side, the password for the gargoyle is 'Sherbet Lemon'. Go on ahead, I catch up once I've finished talking to Rubeus and dropped your gear with the elves."
X
Darren and Ron left Professor Lockhart and Hagrid talking about something called Thestrals and headed off towards the Headmaster's Tower, as instructed. While talking through the castle they talked about what could of caused the barrier to close. They stopped when a voice rang out behind them.
"And what, pray tell, are you doing here?" Both turned to see Severus Snape, potion master and head of Slytherin House, staring at them. "Ah, Potter. Why am I not surprised. So, the train isn't good enough for the famous Darren Potter and his faithful sidekick Weasley? Just had to be different, to be special, did we boys?"
"No, sir, it was the barrier at King's Cross, it-"
"Silence!" Said Snape coldly. "Was it your father Potter? Or one of his worthless friends? Who helped you -"
"That, Severus, would be me."
X
After finishing with Hagrid and dropping the boy's trunks off with a House-Elf, Loki set off after them. As he entered the Middle Courtyard he spotted them talking with one of the other teachers As he got closer Loki realised that Snape seemed to be working himself up into a fury.
"Silence!" Said Snape coldly. "Was it your father Potter? Or one of his worthless friends? Who helped you -"
"That, Severus, would be me." Loki called out. Snape spun around and fixed Loki with a withering glare. Snape's eyes took in Loki's muggle clothing, jeans and a battered, old leather jacket worn over a plain white shirt and the man made no effort to hide his disdain. Loki felt a small pressure on his mind and knew the Potion Master was attempting to enter his mind via Legilimency. Loki responded by slamming down hard on the probe and using it to send a message.
Snape visibly flinched as the words 'GET OUT OF MY HEAD YOU PATHETIC LITTLE WORM' thundered through his mind. Before the man could recover Loki turned to Darren and Ron, pointed at the door to the tower and made a shooing motion with his hand. Loki than turned back to Snape and warned him to never try that again or he would end up a mindless husk. Loki than turned on his heel and followed to boys.
X
It was breakfast time on the first day of term and Loki was scanning the tables searching for his, for lack of a better term, brother. He hadn't gotten a chance to speak much with Darren yesterday, what with him needing to set up his classroom, office and sleeping quarters on top of explaining how the barrier had been closed by someone or something and that was why the boys had missed the train to Dumbledore, twice. Than before the feast the headmaster had called Loki to his office and 'politely asked' him not to threaten other staff members. It seemed Snape ran to his benefactor with a sob story after their encounter, reminded Loki of that Mediterranean war god who ran off and complained to daddy when someone actually fought back. Pathetic indeed.
Oh well, at least Darren would be in his first ever class later that day and Loki was looking forward to seeing what the boy was like. Looking away from the students, Loki focused on his meal. Kobold cooking was incredible and Loki had to force himself to limit the amount he ate to 'acceptable human portions'. He'd just have the kobolds, or House-Elves as they were now called, send him up several helpings when he finished up in the hall.
X
After lunch the second-year Griffindors and Hufflepuffs made their way up to the DADA class. Their mood was mixed. Many, mostly the girls, where babbling and going on about the 'Dashing Gilderoy Lockhart'. Several of the boys were excited about about meeting someone as well known as him and the remaining boys didn't think much of him.
"Dad knew him in school." Darren told Ron. "Said he was a joke, okay on theory but terrible with the practical aspect. And have you read his books? They read like muggle fairy-tales. Dad thinks he lies or steals credit about what's done."
"He taught Mr. Lyesmith, the man who wrote 'Dark Defence', the text book." Hermione spoke up as they entered the classroom. "And he has those awards. Besides do you think Professor Dumbledore would hire someone who couldn't do the job correctly?"
"Well, Dumbledore did let You-Know-Who teach here last year, and Hagrid did say how Lockhart was the only man to apply. Oh, and he got those awards for the things he's claimed to have done." Ron countered. "Either way, we'll find out now. Here he comes."
"Welcome class, so enjoying your first day back?" Loki asked as he entered the classroom from his adjoining office. "Since I didn't teach here last year I've no way of knowing how far you got in your studies. My predecessor, Professor Quirrell, left very few class plans. You are however using Lokke's book 'Dark Defence' and so I've devised a simple way of identifying how far along you are. A test!" This got a collective groan from the class, Hermione excluded. "Now, now. It only covers the first quarter of the book and results won't count for your end of year grades. Just try to answer as many questions as you can, leave it blank if you haven't studied the topic yet. You have thirty-five minutes."
With that Loki waved his wand, causing the class' copies of the book to levitate several feet about their desks and stacks of paper to appear in front of each student. Loki stared at the students for a short while before informing them that they had thirty-two minutes remaining.
X
Loki felt his first week teaching went well, apart from the rumours that he'd threatened to kill Dumbledore. All he'd said was if Snape kept hiding behind the man's coat-tails every time he provoked someone stronger than him, eventually someone would plough through said coat-tails to get at him. The other teachers were divided over this. Some appeared scandalised he would take back to the headmaster, while others cheered him on for standing up to Snape's bullying behaviour. It had taken him nearly three quarter's of an hour to convince Hagrid that he hadn't threatened the man's idol.
But it was the weekend and so Loki planned to explore the grounds a bit, maybe even see if Hagrid was up for a few drinking games down in the local tavern. As he was passing the Quidditch pitch Loki heard someone shriek 'How dare you!' and decided to investigate. He arrived in time to see Darren point his wand under another student's are, possiblely Flint from Slytherin, and curse Draco Malfoy. As the rest of the Slytherin team reached for their wands Loki intervened.
"Enough." Loki bellowed. "What is going on here. Potter, why did you attack a fellow student?" Loki studied the other boy's face, taking in all the boils and sores that Darren's spell had caused.
"He called Hermione a Mudblood." Darren responded as if it explained and justified his actions. Ymir's Balls, Loki wondered, who thought the kid it's okay to attack people if they say things you don't like? Most likely his father or Black. From what Loki gathered from Harry's memories neither ever showed sorrow over their bullying Slytherins.
"Flint, take young Malfoy to the hospital wing. I don't know any healing magic and don't want any of you lot trying to fix it in case something goes wrong." Loki ordered. "And you Potter, five points from Griffindor and detention tonight."
"But that's not fair." Ron whined. "Malfoy isn't being punished."
"That is because calling a fellow student an insulting name is frowned upon, but not against school rules." Loki explained. "However, hexing a fellow student is against school rules and Darren should consider himself lucky I caught him rather than some of the other members of staff. Since we are on the Quidditch pitch and most of you are wearing Quidditch robes, this could be considered a Quidditch foul and see him banned from flying for the rest of the year, or even his remaining time at the school. Instead he's lost a few points that young Hermione over there will regain come classed on Monday and has to spend an hour or two copying pages out of a book later tonight. Quite frankly, considering how vicious that spell was I think the punishment is too lenient. Darren, look, you need to learn when to fight with your fists and whern to fight with your tongue. A few well delivered insults and young Malfoy would have been a laughing stock. Instead you attacked and made yourself the loser. Next time, think before you act."
Everyone was quite as they realised how lucky Darren had been. The silence was broken when Hermione asked what Mudblood meant.
"It's about the most insulting thing he could think of." Ron said. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who was Muggle-born – you know, non-magical parents. There are some wizards – like Malfoy's family – who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pure-blood." Loki resisted the urge to roll his eyes and explain the proper meaning of the term. It was a basic insult directed at 'Mountain' or 'Earth' giants or those descended from from such giants. Hell, Loki himself used it as an embarrassing nickname for Thor when the boy was young, on account of his mother being one. Loki noticed how Ron was still going on about the term and decided to end it before it became a full blown rant.
"Be that as it may, you cannot punish a person for their opinions." Loki said as he turned to leave. "I'll leave you to continue your practise, but remember Darren. Detention with me tonight at eight o'clock sharp. Oh and before I go, remember what I said. Insulting classmates is frowned on but not illegal. Next time Malfoy or student angers you, insult them. For young Malfoy I'd recommend calling him a 'pillow-eating Nancy boy'", this was met by gasps from the older students, although the meaning of the insult went over the heads of Darren, Ron and Hermione, "but not in the headmaster's presence. He may take offence."
X
At eight o'clock Darren knocked on the door to Professor Lockhart's office. The door opened a minute later to show the man wearing jeans and a shirt instead of robes, the man seemed to dislike waering robes and wore muggle clothing whenever he could. He beckoned Darren in and lead him into the office at the back of the class. Darren studied the room for a moment, there were numerous weapons mounted on the walls alongside several displays containing snapped wands. Beside each wand was a name. It took Darren a moment to realise that they must have belonged to witches and wizards the professor had beaten in his travels. There was also copies of old sketches and pictures of paintings on the walls. The room reminded Darren of a small museum he'd visited with his family shorty before Harry died. It had been in Germany and was dedicated to old Germanic legends.
"There is the book you'll be copying out of. I've also provided quills and parchment." Lockhart explained. "You may begin."
Darren examined the book and laughed. It was a book of insults. Thousands upon thousands of them and it looked like the professor had some as well. Shaking his head Darren set about writing. After about an hour there was a knock on the door and Professor Flitwick entered.
"Gilderoy. Sorry to bother you but I was wondering if I could take up a few moments of your time? Oh, Mr. Potter! What are you doing here?" The tiny teacher asked.
"Detention." Lockhart replied. "And of course. Keep on working Darren. I'll return shortly." With that the two professors left.
X
What had started as a small discussion on the meaning of the runes involved in warding early the day before had blown into a full scale argument between Loki, who was working on old Asgardian warding, Flitwick, working on Goblin warding, and Professor Babbling, who thought 'Study of Ancient Runes' at Hogwarts and was working on what the text book said. Loki finally ended it by pointing out several mistranslations in the book and challenging Flitwick to a warding contest the next day. Both would construct their wards and have someone else try and breach them.
When Loki got back to his office around midnight he was shocked to see Darren still there. He told the boy to run along after giving him a note to present to anyone who stopped him for being out of bounds.
"Sir" Darren asked as he left. "What does the plaque over your door mean?"
Loki stared at the plague over the door to his office. "It translates as:
This is the world we live in,
And these are the hands we're were given.
Use them and lets start trying,
To make it a place worth living in.
It's just something I picked up somewhere. Lokke has dozens of them. Little quips and quotes. I just happen to like that one."
Since Darren had been raised in the wizarding world, he missed the musical quote and could only say "Oh, well good night sir." Darren said as he left. As he neared the door at the back of the classroom Darren heard something. It was a voice, a voice to chill the bone-marrow, a voice of breath-taking, ice-cold venom.
"Come... come to me... let me rip you... let me tear you... let me kill you..."
Darren stopped and turned. Searching for the source of the voice. He stared at Loki for a moment, saw that Loki hadn't reacted to anything, shook his head and headed off to bed.
X
When Loki was ready to retire for the night, he scanned his chambers and wondered aloud. "I wonder who that was? No, I wonder what that was?"
XXX
And that's it. Anyone who is reading dglsprincess105's brilliant fic, 'Harry Lokison the Trickster's Heir', will know there is a link between Slytherin's Basilisk and Jormungand in it. I'd just like to say that they will also be a slight link between the two creatures here, but I came up with it independently well over a week ago and didn't steal the idea of linking them. And if you're not familiar with princess' fic, go read it. I also placed a small shout-out to one of Kyugan's fics here, the fic in question gave me the idea for what's happening in my fic right now.
Any information on the Harry Potter world comes from my copies of the books, or the Harry Potter Wikia. If I get any of the major facts wrong blame the site. Info on the Norse myths comes from typing something into Google and reading whatever comes up, if anyone has the name of a good reliable site I could use please PM it to me.
Also, one non-existent cookie to who ever can guess which god I likened Snape too. Well, I think that's everything I've gotta say so, hope you enjoyed the chapter.
This is Highvalour saying bye and thanks for reading.
