Author's Note: I've come to the conclusion that, at this point in the story, I'm never going to know when the next chapter will be posted. Everything is about to get crazy for our beloved characters, which means I'll want to take my time on the chapters so they turn out exactly the way I envisioned them. That said, my goal is still to post once a week—I just won't know what day! I do hope you enjoy this chapter as it did give me a bit of trouble. It's full of plot development and interesting confrontations! Thank you for all the lovely reviews that were posted! I can't wait to see what you have to say about this one!

Disclaimer: All non-original characters, plot points, and information belongs to those at Marvel Studios, Warner Brothers, or J.K. Rowling. The title, "Wolves without Teeth" comes from the song of the same title by the fantastic Of Monsters and Men. The cover photo is a mashup I created from photos found on Google. The story plot and dialogue belongs to me. I do not write for profit.

Full Summary: In the age old fight of good versus evil, two souls converge in a battle to stop the end of all worlds. With the universe crumbling around them, Loki and Hermione find themselves connected by more than just their magical abilities. A myth becomes reality when an old foe comes tearing through the realms seeking revenge upon those who wronged him. What will happen when Loki and Hermione discover there's much more to their connection than meets the eye? Will they be forced to sacrifice everything they've ever wanted in order to save the nine realms or will love prevail?

Wolves without Teeth
Pairing: Hermione Granger/Loki Laufeyson
Rating: M (Rated Mature for adult language, violence, and sexual situations)
Part Eleven:
Confrontation
Song Recommendations: "Pieces" by Sum 41, "Life on the Moon" by David Cook, "Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band, and "Pain" by Jimmy Eat World

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"Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic;
capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it.
"
— Albus Dumbledore
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Confrontation

Watching from the kitchen window, Loki felt a twinge of unrest as Hermione teleported from Jane's backyard. She was off to her meeting with the Minister of Magic and her friends, and he'd been left to his own devices with the others until she returned. Smirking, Loki turned away from the window, recalling the night before. He flexed his right hand, his palm still sore from the intense spanking he'd brandished upon Hermione's backside. She would most certainly be in a bit of pain this morning, and possibly all day, but the way she'd shattered into orgasm afterward was completely worth it—for both of them. They'd stayed awake until the early hours of the morning, experimenting and pushing each other's limits as they got to know exactly what the other liked when it came to sex. Just thinking about it was enough to stir his arousal, so Loki decided he'd best put such thoughts away, for the time being, and find his brother.

Examining the kitchen, Loki sighed, discovering there was nothing immediately set out to eat. There was a fresh pot of coffee and a few mugs ready for tea, but other than that, nothing. Perhaps, he could coerce his brother into obtaining more of that 'pizza' or whatever it was they forced him to consume the night before. It wasn't entirely awful, if he was completely honest. He could see why the Midgardians loved it so much. Snagging an apple from a bowl on the table, Loki tilted his head, listening for voices. In the living area, he could hear Darcy and Hogun talking quietly, accompanied by sounds from that insipid television. Not hearing anything else, he decided this was his only option, for the moment, so he walked through the doorway, enjoying when the two sprang apart on the couch.

"Loki!" It was Darcy who first acknowledged him, her eyes going wide as she took in his calm demeanor. "Where's Hermione?"

Taking a bite from his apple, Loki chewed slowly, watching as Hogun stood from the couch, Darcy following a second later. "She's gone to meet with the Minister. Where is my brother?" Leaning against the wall, he observed the suddenly awkward interaction between the two secret lovers. His eyes narrowed in suspicion as they quickly glanced at one another. He swallowed the bite in his mouth before pushing away from the wall, suddenly suspicious.

"He is downstairs in the lab with our guests. They arrived shortly before you did." Hogun answered, locking his hands behind his back. Darcy observed him, admiration in her eyes that clearly indicated her true feelings for the Vanir.

"Which guests? S.H.I.E.L.D. or the others?" Taking another bite of his apple, Loki needed to know who he had to deal with before stepping into the lion's den.

With a roll of her eyes, Darcy replied, "The 'others' as you so eloquently put it. They wanted to see Jane's lab before you got here." Nodding once in the secretive couple's direction, Loki turned and walked back through the kitchen, opening the basement door.

He was halfway down the stairs when he realized they were following him, and Darcy was sniggering to herself. Narrowing his eyes, he gripped the remaining half of his apple as he descended the stairs, clearly able to hear the insufferable Tony Stark boasting about how he could improve the lab for Jane. When he reached the bottom, Loki observed the chaos in the tiny lab. Stark was poking and prodding some gadgets on a nearby table while Jane smiled politely, shaking her head to decline his suggestions. His brother was talking quietly with a woman of medium height, wearing red who must be Wanda, the Scarlet Witch. There also happened to be another man standing with his back towards him who he did not immediately recognize. The man was wearing a faded purple shirt and gray pants. Taking another bite of his paltry breakfast, Loki frowned as Darcy and Hogun slipped around him and headed into the middle of the room with the others.

Their arrival brought Thor's attention to Loki where he stood quietly at the bottom of the stairs. "Loki! You have arrived, come forth and become acquainted with our guests." The talking in the room ceased as all faces turned to stare at him. Loki, however, found himself unable to see anyone but the man standing with Thor. He took an apprehensive step backwards, ready to bolt at a moment's notice. His heart beating frantically as panic seized him, Loki gripped the apple in his hand, feeling juice drip through his long fingers. Green eyes raked over the timid form of Bruce Banner.

"What is he doing here?" The question came quiet and fearful, so unlike Loki that he wanted to close his eyes and disappear like Hermione could do. He could hear Darcy laughing quietly, grating on his nerves. If it wasn't for the insufferable cuff, he wore, Loki would use his magic to make her infuriating giggles cease in her throat. When he spoke again, he was glad to hear his voice stopped trembling. "This was not part of the plan we discussed."

Shuffling forward, Thor placed a comforting hand on Banner's shoulder. "Bruce is here to act as a guard when Hermione cannot be in your presence." Loki balked, his eyes going wide as the betrayal coiled ugly and unwilling in his gut.

"She planned this without telling me?"

Sympathy in her kind eyes, Jane stepped forward from behind the lab table. "No, Loki; this was our decision. We wanted to ensure everyone's safety. Hermione had no idea until I told her." The astrophysicist looked regretful as Loki continued to stare uneasily at the man who could transform into the Hulk. His heart continued to pound frantically in his chest, and he found he no longer was hungry. Trying to get himself under control, Loki threw the apple across the room, watching with satisfaction as Banner flinched when it landed inside the rubbish bin with a loud thunk. He then took a deep breath and moved more fully into the laboratory.

"Still, she knew about this development." When no one denied the accusation, Loki crossed his arms and made to head back upstairs, unable to stand their pitying stares any longer. He planned on finding a room to hide away in until Hermione returned later in the day. Hopefully, she would not be gone long; he needed to discuss this breach in honesty with her. She was aware of the past between him and Banner. She could have at least warned him before leaving this morning.

"Come now, Loki; there is no need to be so inflamed at Hermione keeping this from you. She obviously wished to cause you no distress." Thor stepped forward until he was standing by the stairs. "We have a mission to plan, and we could use your help."

Loki observed his brother quietly, ignoring the others in the room. He had to admit; it was nice to feel needed once in a while. His specific set of skills could come in handy when dealing with Fenrir, and they were aware of that factor. Releasing his grip on the railing, he turned and faced the others, arms crossing over his chest. "I don't need a guard. I've already promised Hermione to be on my best behavior, or have you forgotten the arrangement she made with you only yesterday?"

"Thor hasn't forgotten. Bruce-y here is to make sure nothing unfortunate happens," Tony said with a bright smile, stepping forward to clap Loki on the shoulder. "Now, I was promised breakfast if I got the three of us here before nine. What's on the menu?" Edging behind Loki, the infuriating billionaire made his way upstairs, followed by Jane, Darcy, and Hogun. The others remained behind, all staring silently at Loki.

The Jotun moved his gaze from his brother's uneasy face to stare boldly into Banner's. Banner looked determined, but with a hint of trepidation. "Are you sure you can refrain from going green in my presence, Dr. Banner." Loki was hesitant to push the man's buttons, but he needed to know exactly how safe he was with the Hulk simmering under the surface of this man. With a sigh, the timid scientist stepped forward.

"I can assure you, Loki; I am in complete control of the other guy. The only time he comes forward is when he's triggered by a significant event, or if you were to step over the line. If that happens, then you can bet your horned crown, I'll set him loose." Smiling at that last bit, the lines around Banner's eyes crinkled. Loki inhaled, pursing his lips as he contemplated this. Before he could open his mouth to retort, Thor gave him a pointed look.

"Leave it, Loki. Let us go upstairs. Jane and Darcy make the finest pancakes on Midgard!" Grinning enthusiastically, Thor shook his brother by the neck before bounding up the stairs. Loki continued to stand there, staring unwaveringly at Dr. Banner. Eventually, their concentration was broken when Wanda stepped forward, sighing with exasperation.

"I did not travel all this way to watch you compete in a staring contest, trickster." Placing both hands on her waist, she tilted her head to smile sarcastically at Loki. "I've come to discuss our magical abilities and prepare to face this werewolf beast." As she dropped her arms and made her way around Banner, Wanda gave him a reassuring wink, before stepping up to Loki. Taking his arm in her own, she turned him, so they could walk upstairs together. "Has anyone told you my powers were given to me by your scepter?"

Trying to ignore Banner behind them as they ascended the staircase, Loki peered down into her face with a renewed curiosity. "No, they have not. Please, Scarlet Witch, tell me more."

Huffing, she swatted playfully at his arm as they breached the doorway. "Please, call me Wanda." With his previous tension breaking, Loki relaxed as Wanda steered him towards the living area where they could speak more freely while they awaited breakfast to be finished. He didn't even mind when Banner followed, taking a seat across the room and flipping open a computer. Perhaps, waiting for Hermione's return wouldn't be so horrible after all. He did look forward to questioning why she kept such detrimental information from him, however. At present, he wished to learn everything there was to know about the Scarlet Witch, and why her magical core felt so similar to his own.

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"So that's where we're at right now."

Hermione finished filling in Kingsley on what transpired since the last time she'd talked with him in this office. Granted, he did know about her time spent on Asgard, as well as the threat Fenrir presented to not just the Wizarding world, but the entire universe in general. She waited patiently as he processed her information, clearly calculating the significance of the situation. Sitting up a bit straighter in her chair, Hermione glanced over at Harry, who was sipping a coffee quietly observing the Minister. With a sigh, she noticed the still empty chair on his other side where Draco should be sitting. He had yet to show up though, and they knew not where he could be. It was only half past ten; surely Draco didn't forget about the meeting entirely. Harry told her he sent an owl just last night after speaking with Kingsley. Clearing his throat, Kingsley startled Hermione from her thoughts.

"It is apparent this is shaping up to be far more serious than we initially thought it would be." His brow furrowed as he clasped his hands together on the desk in front of him. "What do you two suggest we do, because Merlin knows this is more your area than mine." Shaking his head, Kingsley sat back in his old chair as he waited for the two young wizards in front of him to speak. Hermione glanced over at Harry, an exasperated sigh leaving her chest.

"I think we need to notify the Wizarding community at this point," Harry started, scratching at his head. "Fenrir is a much greater threat than we originally anticipated. It's clear his powers are other worldly, and we know he's planning on attempting to destroy the universe, whatever that means. Hermione has already enlisted the aid from S.H.I.E.L.D. and a few of the Avengers; now it's our turn to get involved."

"We're not exactly sure when or where Fenrir is going to resurface, but we have a good hunch he's coming after Draco next." Hermione picked nervously at her fingernails. "He said so himself. That's why we wanted Draco at this meeting, but it appears, he has better things to do." Her agitation was apparent in her voice and the frown that formed on her face.

"While I'm uncertain what part Draco has to play in all of this, I agree with the both for you that it's time to notify everyone. I can set up a briefing meeting with the MLE and Auror departments for this afternoon." Reaching forward, Kingsley pulled parchment and a quill towards himself. He began scribbling a note while talking to them still. "Harry, do you think you can track down some of the old Order members and ask them to come in as well?"

"Actually, Ginny and I already started that last night. We got in touch with the old DA members, but I can reach out to the Order as well. Neville and Hannah said they would love to help, as did Luna and Rolf. George and Ron are on board also. We're still waiting to hear back from a few, but I'm sure we'll be set." Harry shrugged and sat back in his chair. "Ginny wants everyone to come over for dinner tonight—including S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and the others as well. She said she'll set up tents and tables in the backyard, so there's room for everyone."

"That's a great idea!" Hermione was excited by the prospect of a large gathering. "That gives everyone the opportunity to get to know one another in advance! It also allows for a safe place where you can meet Coulson to develop a truce between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Ministry, Kingsley."

Nodding, the Minister set aside his finished memo for the MLE and Auror departments. "It sounds promising. We obviously cannot bring S.H.I.E.L.D. into the Ministry. Are you certain Ginny doesn't mind having so many people over? What about the children? Do you feel it's safe to expose them to such people?" Harry seemed to think these questions over, his eyes squinting in thought. After a quiet moment, he sighed.

"I know Molly and Arthur are probably coming by, so the children will be taken care of. As for exposing them to this new set of people, well, we were exposed to much greater adversities as children," he explained, gesturing between Hermione and himself. "I don't think it will be an issue."

"It will be completely safe; I promise." Hermione nodded, wanting to make it clear there was nothing for anyone to worry about from her new allies. While they all had their misgivings, they really were an honorable bunch. Well, mostly. She would be there to control Loki, and Bruce would undoubtedly attend as well, so there was nothing to worry about. "If that is everything, I really do need to get back to the lab. I should be there to help with our guests and explain about the Wizarding community."

Before Kingsley could dismiss them, there was an abrupt knocking at the door. Confusion appearing on all their faces, he called out for whoever it was to enter. The door quickly opened and then slammed closed, Draco entering the office and looking absolutely wrecked, in Hermione's opinion. He'd clearly lost an immense amount of weight in such a short period of time, his robes hanging from his thinning body. His hair appeared lackluster, and the circles under his eyes were so dark; they made him look skeletal. Hermione's gut twisted at the sight of him, and her heart broke all over again. Clearly, he was much worse than Ginny and Harry described.

"I was summoned."

Hermione winced; even his voice sounded awful. She tried to catch his eye, but he was standing against the door, arms crossed, with his stare on the Minister only. She shared a worried look with Harry before speaking to him, her hands trembling. "Draco? Are you alright? You look…you look horrible to be completely honest."

Without looking at Hermione, Draco snapped, "I'm fine, Granger. Mind your own damn business." Hermione reacted as if she'd been slapped. Tears sprang to her eyes, and her mouth dropped open. At the same time, Harry jumped to his feet, anger evident on his usually cheery face.

"Now come on, Draco. That's no way to speak to Hermione. She's worried about you just like the rest of us!" Clenching his jaw, Draco closed his eyes momentarily before taking a deep breath. When he opened those grey orbs, he looked at Hermione and her breath left her in a rush. So much emotion was bottled up inside this man she used to love, it was nearly unbearable to look at him. He blinked a few times before glancing away.

"I'm sorry."

She wanted to go to him and pull him against her for comfort, but she knew there was no way he'd accept the gesture. At this point, it was highly inappropriate anyway. Instead, she remained seated; her heart aching so horribly she thought it might burst. What in Merlin's name was wrong with him? She was so caught up in her emotions that she could do nothing but nod in reply to his apology. Once that was taken care of, he returned his attention to Kingsley, who was watching them with great interest. Hesitantly, he began to explain what Draco missed by being late to the meeting.

"Fenrir fulfilled the first part of his prophecy—Odin is dead, and Hermione informed us that he's either already back on Earth or on his way." He paused, waiting for Draco to make a reply. When nothing was said, he continued. "She said he named you, specifically, as one of his main targets. Do you have any reason he could be coming after you?"

Instead of answering, Draco simply closed his eyes, his face going blank. He took a deep breath, once, twice, and then again, before opening his anguish filled eyes. "I have no idea what he could want from me. What is our next move?" Hermione narrowed her eyes; she knew he was lying. There was something he wasn't telling them—something important.

As if sensing this as well, Harry's brow creased in thought as he continued to watch his former nemesis. Unaware of what was going on, Kingsley proceeded to fill Draco in. "We're going to have a meeting shortly with the MLE and Auror departments. Then, later tonight, we're going to meet with the others at the Potter's for dinner and deliberation." Instead of acknowledging the Minister, Draco turned his attentions to Hermione, who jumped when she saw the anger in his eyes.

"Is he going to be there?"

There was no question who the he was that Draco was referring to. Sitting up a bit straighter in her chair, Hermione stuck her chin out in defiance. She would not let Draco make her feel inferior because of who Loki was. Instead, she leveled her gaze with his, despite the intensity of it, and answered his patronizing question. "Yes, Loki will be there."

Draco snorted, shaking his head as he looked away. Running a hand through his bedraggled hair, he scoffed, "I don't know why I bothered asking. Of course, you plan on bringing your new fuck-toy despite him being a monster." Harry gulped as those words left his supposed friend's mouth. He was surprised to see Hermione keep calm after their discussion just the night before when Ginny called Loki the same thing. Instead of lashing out, Hermione stood slowly, wincing slightly. Harry wondered what that was about, but didn't open his mouth. He watched as she walked until she was toe-to-toe with her ex, her hands trembling at her sides with anger.

"Draco Malfoy, I should slap that sardonic face of yours so hard you wouldn't be able to chew properly for weeks. However, considering it looks like you haven't been eating anyway, I don't see a point. What gives you the right to speak to me in such a manner? Look at you—you look dreadful, and you feel the need to lash out at me and my relationship. We're not together, Draco. I'm free to be with whoever I want, despite your opinion."

"Hermione, you and Loki are involved?" The question came from a dumbstruck Kingsley, his dark eyes wide in astonishment. Draco laughed, indicating at Hermione where she still stood in front of him.

"Really Minister; you don't see it? Look at her—she can barely walk, let alone stand." Smirking, Draco licked his lips and returned his attention to the witch in front of him. "Tell me, Granger, how many times did you let him spank you? I bet your arse is covered in welts." That time, she did smack him. She hit him so hard his neck whipped to the side, and his lip split open. As tears surged to her eyes, she stared at him as her chest heaved painfully. His tongue darted out to lick at the blood from his lip, his eyes hidden by his long hair.

"How dare you speak to me that way," Hermione whispered furiously, amazed by the force of the slap. "Loki's not the monster, Draco—you are!"

"Oh sweetheart, if only you knew. If only you knew."

With that said, Draco straightened up and opened the door to the office once more. He glanced backward at the three shocked people staring at him, blatantly ignoring the tears streaming down Hermione's hurt-filled face. "I'll see you at the big meeting; I suppose." Then, he exited the office, slamming the door behind him as he went.

Only then did Hermione allow herself to break down, collapsing back into her chair and bringing her hands up to hide her face. She sobbed into her palms, only finding her words when she felt Harry place a comforting hand on her back. "What's wrong with him, Harry? That's not who he is anymore…" Unable to find the words to answer, Harry kneeled down and wrapped his arms around his long-time friend. She relaxed into his embrace as he peered over her shoulder at the Minister. Kingsley looked as flabbergasted as he felt at the moment. Rubbing slow circles on her back as she calmed down, Harry sighed heavily.

"I don't know what's wrong with him, Hermione, but I promise we'll find out." Harry and Kingsley shared a worried look before the older wizard stood from his chair and made for the door.

"I'll let you two have a moment alone. I'm going to prep the conference room for our meeting and get this memo out." Harry nodded at the Minster and watched quietly as he left the office, the door clicking shut behind him.

When they were alone, Harry removed a handkerchief from his robe pocket and gave it to Hermione. Gratefully, she wiped at her eyes and nose, the last of her tears staining the light-blue material. She gave him a watery smile, which he returned as he took a seat. They sat in heavy silence, Hermione's breathing still a bit irregular. The longer they sat there; the more questions popped into Harry's head. Why did Draco go so downhill since their return from Romania? Did it have to do with the fact that Hermione clearly no longer loved him? Was he jealous of Loki? What did he mean when he said she could barely walk? Not wanting to upset his friend, Harry decided that some of his questions could wait for a later time to be answered. Right now, his friend needed him. He looked back up at her when she took a shuddering breath, her eyes falling shut.

"Are you alright, Hermione?"

"I'll be fine, Harry. Thank you." She opened her brown eyes, rimmed with red from crying. "I think I'd better go now, though. They'll be expecting me back at the lab." She stood, trying to hide her flinch as the soreness on her bottom pulled. Harry was at her side in an instant.

"He wasn't lying then—Draco, I mean. You and Loki really are sleeping together." Hermione sighed heavily as she readjusted herself, trying to ignore the throbbing from last night's lovemaking.

"No—I didn't realize it was that obvious, but Draco and I participated in BDSM activities as well." Harry's cheeks began to turn an adorable shade of pink from his embarrassment. "Oh, don't be like that Harry. I know Ginny's told you of my sexual preferences in the past. It's not like I don't know some of the things the two of you get up to behind closed doors." She couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her at the shocked expression on her friend's face at that revelation. "I guess we just took things a bit too far last night. I'll be fine, honestly. I've had worse."

"That is far more than I needed to know about my best friend." Harry held up his hands after opening the door for her.

"Sorry," Hermione said through a grin.

He threw an arm around her shoulders, glad to see she was smiling again. "Are you still going to come tonight?"

"I wouldn't miss it. I can't wait for everyone to finally meet each other." She walked out of the office and pressed the button for the lift. "Do you think Draco will still come? It would be really helpful to have him there…even after what he said. He's a part of this just as much as we are."

"I'll go talk to him, and I'll get Ginny to talk to Astoria as well."

Nodding, Hermione stepped onto the lift when it arrived. "Alright; I guess I'll see you tonight then."

Harry waved good-bye as the lift closed, his face clouding as he tried to determine what the hell just transpired back in that office. There was something dreadfully wrong with Draco, and it was affecting him inside and out. Deciding he'd have to figure it out later, Harry made his way down the hall towards the conference room. Kingsley needed help preparing for the meeting, and Harry wanted the distraction, or else he was going to hunt Draco down and punch him in the jaw for the way he treated Hermione. With any luck, Ron wouldn't find out about the confrontation. Whatever was going on, they needed to rectify it and quick before things got any worse.

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Loki waited for Hermione at the door, barely able to contain the disquiet he felt from experiencing the emotional tidal wave she'd gone through over the past forty minutes. He'd been relaxing in the living room, digesting the copious amount of pancakes he'd consumed and discussing the similarities between his and Wanda's magical cores when it began. At first, he'd thought nothing of it—the worry she was feeling. She was speaking with the Minister of Magic about Fenrir, of course she was to be worried. They were all feeling that in some form or another. He didn't begin to pay close attention to what his other half was feeling until the worry turned into shock infused anger. It was at this point that his magic began simmering just under the surface as if he wanted to smack someone quite thoroughly, and not in the good way. Wanda asked him what was wrong, but he merely held up a hand, trying to allow his mind, body, and soul to reach out to Hermione through their connection.

Unfortunately, wherever she was appeared to be shrouded with magical protection, so there was no way to reach her mentally. He shared a brief glance with Wanda and even Banner before closing his eyes, focusing on what was happening to Hermione. The anger began to dissipate, but before it could disappear completely, a burst of hurt and fury exploded within him, causing the breath to rush out of his lungs. Clutching at his chest, Loki found he wanted to slaughter whoever was making Hermione experience these emotions. Attempting to stand, he opened his eyes to find both Wanda and Banner were already doing the same thing as if anticipating what he wanted to do. He was just about to explain his and Hermione's linked emotions when the sorrow made it impossible for him to stand. His knees collided with the floor, and his sight went blank as wave after wave of despair tore at his beating heart.

Around him, the room filled with the other guests in the house as Wanda called for help. He'd experienced Hermione's emotional outbursts before, but this time it was different. As the Rime Diamonds continued to bind them together, they were becoming more attuned to the other. Eventually, they would be of a single mind, body, and soul…but until then, Loki had no idea how to help his lover. Eventually, the pain dispersed, leaving Loki panting on his hands and knees as he regained control of his body. Thor was kneeling next to him, a comforting hand on his shoulder. Taking a shuddering breath, Loki blinked to clear the last of his vision before taking the hand that was offered to him. The strong arm helped him up to a standing position, and Loki was surprised to discover it was Banner. Swallowing, he nodded his thanks before storming from the room, everyone hot on his heels. Just as his hand was about to grasp the doorknob, Jane called out to him.

"Loki—don't touch that! You'll set off the wards!"

Closing his eyes, his outstretched hand clenched into a fist so tight his knuckles cracked audibly. Swallowing back anger, Loki opened his green eyes and looked at the group of concerned faces. "I need to find Hermione." His voice came out strangled, as if he himself wanted to cry like he assumed Hermione was doing.

Throwing caution to the wind, Jane stepped forward to stand in front of the Jotun. Her eyes were full of concern as she examined his labored breathing and tense stance. "We can't get to her right now. She's at the Ministry of Magic. There are protections that keep people like us out of their world." Gingerly, she reached out and placed her hand over top his clenched fist. "Relax, she'll be here soon. Explain what happened just now."

Glancing around the small kitchen, Loki realized everyone was looking at him curiously or, surprisingly, with concern. That was something he'd not expected from this group of people. Nodding, he tried to take a calming breath, feeling some of the anxiety ease out of his tense body. Placated, Jane removed her hand and stepped back, giving him some room to breathe. Instead of launching into his explanation, he shot his audience a timid look before heading for the sink where he filled a glass with water. After gulping down the cool liquid, Loki set the glass back on the counter before finally sharing his experience.

"The emotional connection I share with Hermione was triggered. Someone is causing her a great deal of duress." He watched as Banner and Stark shared an inquiring look, and Wanda's eyes went wide. The Scarlet Witch stepped forward then, understanding in on her features.

"I shared such a connection with my brother. I felt such pain the moment he was killed." Wrapping her arms around herself, she asked quietly, "Is she alive?" Unable to answer that question verbally, Loki merely nodded, relief flooding him. At least, she was alive, of that he was certain. If she'd died, he'd most likely be feeling devastation beyond reality. Whatever had occurred, she was alright for the time being.

"Right. So what do we do until Hermione gets back?" Darcy was standing in the doorway, her eyes wide behind her dark-rimmed glasses. "I can't just sit here useless with so much stress in the air."

"I'm with Darcy—shall we venture downstairs and find something to experiment on? Honestly, Jane; I am going to send you some advanced computers." Stark rubbed his hands together already heading for the basement.

"Tony, my computers are perfectly fine. Besides, I built them myself—they're specifically for astrophysical calculations." Jane gave Loki a reassuring smile before shaking her head and following behind the rambunctious genius. Darcy made a comment about heading out to pick up lunch supplies, so that was where she and Hogun disappeared to.

"Would you like for me to wait with you, Loki?" Thor asked, giving his brother a sympathetic look.

"I appreciate your concern, brother, but I know you would much rather be downstairs with the others." Loki turned his back on Thor, choosing to stare out the window into the backyard instead.

"If you should need anything, do not hesitate to ask." With that said, Thor vanished into the laboratory as well.

"We will wait for Hermione's return with you. It is clear she means a great deal to you." Taking a seat at the table, Wanda pulled a discarded magazine forward and began flipping through the colorful pages.

Banner moved fully into the room, removing his glasses from his face and tucking them into the pocket of his faded purple shirt. He moved to stand next to Loki, watching for Hermione's imminent return. He stood next to the supposed villain in silence for a spell before rubbing at the stubble on his jaw. He wanted to discuss a few of the more pressing matters that were rattling around his brain, but was unsure where to begin. It was unsurprising when Loki sighed heavily next to him, breaking their silence first.

"What is it you want to know, Banner? I can practically feel the wheels turning in your head. It's distracting." Loki ground out his permission, his arms crossing over his chest in irritation.

"Thor tells me you've changed quite a bit since last we met. I was hesitant to believe him until I just witnessed your display of affection for this Hermione I've heard so much about." Continuing to watch the yard, Loki did not reply, allowing Banner to continue his deductions. "Love can do many things, but I'm uncertain it can change who you are."

"Perhaps you've simply not found the right person," Wanda interjected from the table causing Loki to smirk. "When you open your heart to love, many changes can occur. Look at me and my brother. We were once what you would call the villains. I set you loose on that city in South Africa without a second thought."

"What made you switch sides, Wanda?" Loki's question seemed to startle her, the magazine flipping closed as she pondered her exact answer.

"The love I had for my brother, and for this world we live in. When I saw inside Ultron's mind, I knew I could no longer be a part of his destructive plans. I wanted Tony Stark to pay for what his weapons did to my family, but I did not want the world to suffer so that I could have my revenge." Loki glanced over his shoulder, a smile playing on his lips.

"You and I are not so very different; it seems."

"I don't see how the two of you are anything alike." Loki's eyes shut as Banner made an attempt at proving him wrong. "This world suffered so that you could seek out revenge on Thor. You left New York in utter devastation all because you wanted someplace to rule. Explain to me how you've made an attempt at rectifying what you've done." Opening his eyes again, Loki worked his jaw with irritation.

"Am I not here now? Am I not trying to stop Fenrir before he can destroy this world you love so much?" Facing Banner, Loki allowed his anger to show on his pointed face. "What more do you want from me? An apology? That is not going to happen. New York was a failure of epic proportions, and I paid dreadfully for what I attempted there. I'm sure Thor told you of my stint in the dungeons where I could do nothing as the only mother I ever knew was murdered floors above protecting Jane from Malekith." Hating the way his throat contracted at the memory, he decided to voice something he'd kept to himself since that fateful day. "Do you not think I regret telling Kurse which staircase to take? If I'd kept my damned mouth shut, Frigga may still be alive today."

He could feel Banner's eyes examining his profile as he resumed watching for Hermione. "You're in love with her." He chose not to respond, letting the scientist assume whatever he wanted. Did he love Hermione? With every beat of his heart. That was why he was impatiently awaiting her return. He needed to make sure she was unharmed because even the thought of someone hurting her in any way made him want to tear the universe apart until the person responsible was punished most thoroughly. He wasn't ready to admit these feelings aloud, and if he were, he'd want to share his sentiments with the woman in question first. Thankfully, he was spared any more intrusive questions from the man because, at the moment, Hermione popped into the backyard, immediately running towards the door.

Shoving Banner aside, carefully, Loki took three long strides and was at the door just as it beeped open. Sweet relief overwhelmed him as Hermione closed it behind her before catching his eyes. The searing look she gave him was enough to take the breath away from him for a third time that day, and he wished they were alone at her flat, so he could whisk her off to the bedroom for a few hours. Instead, he held out his hand to her, wanting contact of some sort. Rather than taking his hand, Hermione threw herself into his arms, burying her face in his chest. It was a strange feeling having someone need his touch and wanting theirs in return. Loki wrapped his arms around her quivering body, trying to calm her frayed nerves. After a brief embrace, Hermione retracted, but only enough so she could reach up on her tip-toes and capture his lips in heated kiss. As her hands slid up his chest to tangle in his hair, Loki parted her lips with his tongue before delving inside, massaging hers until she hummed pleasantly.

Unfortunately, their reunion was interrupted when Banner cleared his throat loudly, causing Hermione to gasp as she extracted herself from Loki's arms. Watching as her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, Loki sent Banner a scathing look as the man crossed his arms over his chest. "Well, that's something I never expected to see in my lifetime." Wanda stood from where she was seated and flicked Banner on the arm.

"It was romantic. Why do you spoil everything?"

"Me? I spoil everything?" Banner looked entirely taken aback that she'd insinuated such a thing. Rolling her dark eyes, Wanda shook her head and pointed at the living room.

"Why don't you go and call Natasha. I am certain she could explain why it was impolite to interrupt their kiss."

"I can't call Natasha; she doesn't know I've come back yet!" Banner ran a frustrated hand through his messy hair, reminding Hermione of Harry. "No one is supposed to know I've come back except those involved in this assignment." Patting the frazzled scientist on his arm, Wanda gave him a mournful look.

"That is your loss then," she replied before turning towards Loki and Hermione. "Now, I believe introductions are in order!" Waltzing up to Hermione, she extended her hand. "I'm Wanda, but you probably know me better as the Scarlet Witch. I've come to help you and the others. Loki and I have been getting to know one another this morning."

Still slightly in shock, Hermione accepted the hand in front of her and attempted to smile. "It's so good to meet you, Wanda." Her attentions then shifted to the uncomfortable looking man leaning against the kitchen counter. "And you must be Dr. Bruce Banner. It's an honor to meet you as well." She walked forward and shook his hand before throwing a playful smirk over her shoulder towards her lover. "Thank you for stepping in to help with our situation."

"It's my pleasure, Ms. Granger."

"Please, call me 'Hermione'." With introductions finished, for the time being, Hermione noticed movement in the back yard. "It looks like the rest of our visitors have arrived." Banner turned to glance out the window where Hermione was pointing. Sure enough, Agent Coulson and Daisy were walking up the sidewalk. "I'd better let them in. Can someone tell the other's that S.H.I.E.L.D. has arrived?"

Wanda nodded once before disappearing down the basement stairs. As Hermione went to open the door, Loki couldn't help but feel annoyed that there was yet another distraction keeping him from questioning Hermione about what happened at the Ministry. Now he would have to wait until she debriefed the entire group to hearing the news. The annoyance only deepened when he saw Banner staring at him with a pitying look. He would have to find time to sneak Hermione off to one of the bedrooms for a quick discussion the first chance he got. Until then, he would stick close to Thor or Wanda. They were the only two here that seemed to be on his side, besides Hermione.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Late that afternoon, Loki decided he'd much rather be locked in the dungeons back on Asgard than stuck in this insufferably small house with all these heroes. It was like a pissing contest with the endless amount of stories pertaining to all the benevolent deeds they'd done over the years. Rolling his eyes for the umpteenth time, Loki pushed away from the wall he was perched against before silently whispering down the hall. Finding the bathroom to be blessedly empty, he locked himself inside. After relieving himself and washing his hands, Loki proceeded to stare angrily at his reflection in the mirror. The most heroic thing he'd ever done was protect Jane back on Svartalfheim, but then again, faking his own death most likely overshadowed that. He wasn't even to defend Hermione properly on Jotunheim. The entire afternoon was an eye-opener to what kind of person he truly was. Despite promising Hermione not to call himself a monster, he still very much felt that way.

With Coulson present and constantly reminding him of the pain and mutilation he'd undergone after being 'killed' by him, Loki was ready to get off this irritating planet as soon as possible. He had no desire to spend more time than absolutely necessary with these people. Hermione was thriving in the situation though. They all were entirely fascinated with her Magical abilities and stories of the Wizarding War she participated in. Some of the things she was sharing with them; he still didn't even know about her. It was distressing that he knew so very little about the woman he'd fallen in love with, yet she was so incredibly open with these strangers. Jealousy rippled through him as he continued to stare at himself, narrowing his eyes in disgust. With a start, Loki turned hearing a knock at the door.

"What?" He snapped at whoever it was, crossing his arms and glaring at the annoyingly cheerful pink door.

"It's me," came Hermione's quiet reply from the other side of the partition. "May I come in?"

Unlocking the door, Loki was relieved it was Hermione and not Banner or his brother. He was not in the mood to be treated like some sort of prisoner. At least with Hermione, he always felt like an equal. As Hermione stepped into the medium-sized bathroom, she made sure to close and lock the door. Once she'd completed that, she turned and stared up into his tense face. Moving closer, she reached up and softly cupped his cheek in her hand. With a contented sigh, Loki closed his eyes and allowed her to touch him.

"I'm surprised you could break away from your adoring fans." His eyes opened as she abruptly dropped her hand from his cheek, stepping out of his reach.

"Don't be cruel, Loki. You knew they were all coming here to learn about me and the rest of the Wizarding community. It's so we can properly prepare for the battle with Fenrir." She moved to sit on the closed seat of the toilet, causing Loki to wrinkle his nose. "I'm sorry if you're feeling a bit neglected. Not everything is about you, you know?"

Huffing, Loki threw his hands into the air. "It would just be nice to have a moment where I'm not continually reminded of my previous misdeeds." He turned his back on Hermione, not wanting her to see the hurt in his eyes despite knowing she could feel it through their connection. "It would also be nice to know the Hulk was going to be 'babysitting' me in your absence."

"That wasn't my choice, Loki."

Whirling around, he glared down at her, using his height as an intimidation factor. "You knew and could have warned me in advance." When she merely rolled her eyes, he knew his tactic didn't work.

"I was a bit preoccupied last night, if you'll recall. Discussing our guests was quite far from my mind." As she said this, Hermione watched Loki's eyes darken, recalling their activities from the night before. Standing, she closed the space between them before reaching up to take his face in her warm palms. Sliding up onto the tips of her toes, she brought her mouth to hover over his pursed lips. "Do you need reminding?"

Loki allowed himself to relax, letting his wounded feelings go for the time being. "I believe I do." His eyes slid shut as her lips brushed sensually against his own, her hands finding their way to tangle in his long hair. Their bodies melded against one another, immediately causing Loki to grow hard in his trousers. Hermione, feeling his arousal, sighed happily into the kiss. Wanting nothing more than to sink into the warm heat of his woman, Loki maneuvered Hermione so that she was pressed up against the pink wall. She whimpered slightly as her sore behind came into contact with the hard surface, but when Loki reached down to caress her through the fabric of her jeans, all former pain was forgotten.

Suddenly needing Loki desperately, Hermione untangled her hands from his soft tresses and began to unfasten his trousers. She made quick work of the button and ties before reaching inside to stroke his heated length. Breaking free of her lips, Loki settled his forehead against her shoulder, panting as she continued to stroke him until he was completely hard. Tilting his head, he kissed her lightly behind the ear.

"If you keep that up, I'm not going to last until I'm inside of you." He mumbled huskily, his breath sending shivers down her spine.

"Then I suppose you'd better get inside me quickly because I don't feel like waiting any longer." Arching her back, Hermione thrust her breasts into his chest eliciting a sensual groan from the Jotun as he unfastened the button and zipper on her jeans. Cupping her tender bottom, Loki was careful as he removed her pants before lifting her up, so she could wrap her legs around his waist. As her legs locked behind his back, Loki slid easily into her dripping core, causing them both to make guttural sounds of pleasure. "I should have put a silencing charm on the door…" Hermione moaned as Loki began thrusting into her, slowly at first, and then with more speed.

"Let them hear you. I want them all to know you're mine." Moving faster, Loki continued to pound into her, loving the little sounds that cascaded from her mouth. As her head dropped backwards to rest on the pink wall, he held her hips firmly, sliding in and out with ease. Occasionally, he would thrust especially hard, relishing as she cried out in both pain and pleasure. He knew without a doubt that the others could hear them at this point. Hermione was making the most arousing sounds as she began to contract around his pumping cock. "Mmm. Yes, my pet. Tell them that you are mine."

"Yes! Loki! Yes—I'm yours!" Hermione cried out as she shattered apart in his arms, her fingers digging into the soft leather of his armor. Wanting to finish quickly now that he'd brought his woman to orgasm, Loki pounded her relentlessly into the wall, only going still when he too felt sweet release. He bit the tender skin of her neck, riding out his orgasm slowly.

When they both managed to find their way back to reality, Loki slid them down until they were kneeling on the cool tile of the floor. She smiled tenderly at him through her heavily lidded eyes as she loosened her grip on his back. Releasing the grip he still held on her hips, he tangled his hands in her hair before placing a kiss upon her lips, enjoying when she immediately opened her mouth to allow his tongue to slide inside. After a few minutes of tender kisses, Loki pulled away his eyes blinking open to rake over her flushed features. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and it made Loki want to reveal his true feelings, but he refrained knowing it was still not the right time.

"Are you quite alright? I did not further injure you?"

"I'm fine, Loki." Hermione sighed with satisfaction, readjusting the way she was kneeling so she could lean against the wall. "Are you feeling better now?"

Smirking, Loki realized he did in fact feel much better now that he'd received copious amounts of attention from Hermione. Unsure whether that was from the Rime Diamonds, or if he just needed time alone with Hermione to satisfy him, he did not know. He was not going to complain though. "I do, actually. Is that why you sought me out?"

"Loki—I could feel your anxiety level rising so rapidly I thought I was going to have a heart attack." She gave him a concerned look before untucking her legs and using his shoulders to help herself stand. "Are you going to be alright going to Harry and Ginny's tonight? There are going to be well over twenty people there." Getting to his feet himself, he refastened his trousers and watched as Hermione pulled on her discarded jeans after using her wand to clean up the mess between her legs. Swallowing back a frustrated groan, Loki wished he'd ordered her to leave the remnants of their coupling alone. He didn't want her to forget who she belonged to. There was always next time.

"I'll be fine, as long as I have you by my side." Feeling slightly ashamed, Loki looked aside, picking at his left hand. "You won't leave me alone with them will you?" Closing the distance, Hermione took both his hands in her own and squeezed gently.

"I'll stay with you the entire time. Now, perk up because I'm going to need your sarcastic side if I'm to deal with the teasing we're about to endure the moment we step out of this bathroom." Feeling a rush of affection, Loki pulled the frizzy haired witch close and placed a kiss upon her curls.

"Fear not, my lady. I shan't let those privileged fools make a mockery of the fantastic sex we just participated in." Giggling, Hermione grabbed his hand before opening the door and pulling him out to face the firing brigade. There were still many hours before he and Hermione would be alone once more. Hopefully, he would survive until then.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

That evening, everyone gathered at the Potter household in Godric's Hollow. Ginny and Harry set up tables and magically warmed tents in their moderately sized backyard. While it was a bit snug, the numerous guests, family, and friends found that they fit comfortably. With the help of Ron, Harry, and George, Hermione Apparated everyone from Jane's house without any issues. Luckily, no one experienced any negative side effects from the ordeal; even Loki found he could now stomach side-along Apparation with ease. With everyone safely at the Potter's, it was time to begin formulating agreements and strategies in preparation of the upcoming battle with Fenrir.

Harry, along with Kingsley, Coulson, and Daisy, disappeared inside the study in order to create a contract between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Ministry of Magic. There were many rules to go over so that the International Stature of Wizarding Secrecy wasn't being violated to the point where the Wizarding community was at risk of being discovered by the Muggles. In the end, S.H.I.E.L.D. agreed to terms similar to what the Ministry of Magic and the British government had enacted. Basically, S.H.I.E.L.D. would only become involved with the Ministry of Magic if there was a critical circumstance that directly affected the well-being of the citizens, and vice versa. Both parties exited the study in high spirits and on the same page, finally. In fact, Coulson and Kingsley found they had a lot in common when it came to running secret government agencies.

While history was being made, Hermione and the others were making introductions and preparing for the evening ahead. Immediately upon arriving, Tony and Thor wandered off with Jane to examine the magical objects and artifacts scattered around the house. This was after all the children begged for the signatures of every Avenger in attendance. Not one to disappoint the children, Tony, Thor, Bruce, and Wanda signed a variety of objects from broomsticks and chess sets to shoes and, in Lily's case, her sketch book. After that was taken care of, Molly and Arthur whisked the children back inside to keep them out of the adult's way while they mingled and got to know one another.

Hermione and Loki stood with Ron and Bruce, watching as Luna and Rolf managed to corner Darcy and Hogun across the yard. From her side of the connection, Hermione could tell Loki was a bit apprehensive about being around so many people, but now that they were here, there really was no getting out of it. Occasionally, she would shoot him a private smile or ask if he needed anything using their telepathy. While appearing calm on the outside, Loki was a current of anxiety, especially as yet more people arrived. Hermione was glad to see Neville and his wife; Hannah along with Charlie Weasley decided to join them in their endeavor. Watching as George hugged his brother, Hermione turned and addressed Bruce, who was talking quietly with Wanda.

"That's Ron's brother, George." She pointed out the playful red head with her finger who was still talking animatedly with Charlie. "You may want to steer clear of him. He likes to play jokes, and I'm not sure your other half would be a fan of some of them." Bruce nodded seriously as he took a sip of his drink.

Grimacing, Ron had to agree. "That is definitely not something we need happening here. I'd better go have a word with him, in case he has anything planned. You know how he likes to test out new products on all of us." Smiling impishly, Ron headed in the direction of his two brothers, shouting as he went. "Oi! George!"

Wanda stepped up to fill the space left by Ron. "It is a good thing Banner and I discovered I can use my mind powers to calm his alter ego."

"Really?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. "That's actually quite helpful. How did you two figure that out?"

"I thought that if she could to implant visions of destruction, why couldn't she be able to do the same with calming ones? We've been practicing since I returned from my time MIA." As he explained this Bruce observed the conversation taking place between George and Ron. George looked a bit put out at having to restrain himself, but in the end he nodded, earning a smile of relief from his younger brother and business partner.

"The results have been interesting. The visions are much more effective than the lullaby he used before. However, I think the green guy sometimes misses the one who used it." Wanda elbowed the scientist playfully causing him to shake his head at her. "I believe I'll go and meet this mischief maker. Perhaps, you might like to meet him as well, Loki." With a wink for the brooding Jotun, she sauntered off, asking Ron to introduce her to George.

"I fear my tricks are a bit different than your wizard friends." Loki spoke aloud for the first time since they arrived.

"You're probably right, and I don't think this the time or place for either of you to get any ideas."

Before Loki could open his mouth in retaliation to Bruce's comment, Ron returned to their small group, a fresh glass of firewhiskey in hand. He indicated where Wanda and Charlie were still talking quietly, George having wandered off. "I think those two are hitting it off well. Apparently, she's fascinated by dragons."

Laughing, Hermione had to shake her head. "We've had so many experiences with the creatures; I forget that most people don't know they're real."

"Dragons?" Bruce crossed his arms and looked at the two wizards skeptically. "You're telling me dragons actually exist?"

"Of course, mate. My brother is a dragonlogist. He works at the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary."

"I've got to meet him—I wonder whether Wanda will be upset that I'm interrupting." With that, Bruce hurried over, keen to learn as much as possible about the rare creature he thought only existed in fairytales.

"Where's Pansy this evening," Hermione asked, watching Loki pick at his left hand as he always did when anxious or worried.

"In the kitchen helping Ginny, I believe." Groaning, Ron ran a hand over his face. "I forgot—they asked me to set the tables. I'd better get to it. See you two later." Shooting a grin over his shoulder at the pair, Ron hurried off, grabbing George from where he was attaching something to a chair.

Turning to face her lover, Hermione canted her head to the side. "Would you like to come meet Ginny and Pansy? I should probably see if they need any help with dinner anyway." Loki sighed heavily, his nostrils flaring as he tried to keep his anxiety at bay.

"If I must." Rolling her eyes, Hermione took his hand and led him around the side of the house to the kitchen door. "I'd much rather just get the planning over with so we could leave."

"I realize you dislike large crowds and dealing with people who don't exactly see eye to eye with what you've done, but these are good people, Loki. If you give them a chance, I know they'll return the favor." Ignoring the scoffing sound he made, she released his hand to push open the door, and entered the warm kitchen. Immediately, she was greeted by the welcoming scents of tea, roast, and baked apple pie.

Having heard the door open, Ginny snapped the oven closed and threw her oven mitts aside before running at her friend. "Hermione! I wondered when you'd get your sorry arse in here to help!" The two women hugged briefly before separating. Spotting Loki, Ginny gave Hermione a tentative glance before extending her hand. "You must be Loki. I've heard quite a bit about you. I'm Ginny, by the way, and this is Pansy, Ron's fiancée." She indicated the dark-haired woman who was staring hard at the couple who'd just entered the kitchen; her eyes narrowed.

Loki eyed both suspiciously, wondering what exactly Hermione told this red-headed woman before taking Ginny's offered hand. "I am Loki of Jotunheim. It is a pleasure to meet you both. Hermione has told me much about her friends, the both of you included."

Ginny raised her eyebrows at Loki's formal introduction, but said nothing further. Instead, she moved back to the stove where something was simmering away on top. "I know you're rubbish at cooking, Hermione, but if you could at least mash the potatoes, that would be heavenly. Pansy and I have been swamped all afternoon trying to prepare enough food. I don't have quite the same knack for it as my mother."

Rolling up her sleeves, Hermione moved to the countertop where a steaming bowl of potatoes was waiting to be mashed together with butter and sour cream. "Come off it, Ginny. You've fed us all before. There are only a few extra mouths here this time."

"True, but it sure is fun to watch you panic when the potatoes come out chunky."

"If you'd just let me use magic; I wouldn't have that problem." Hermione frowned at the bowl in front of her as she struggled to use the potato masher. "Look—I can already tell this is going to be a disaster!" As the pair giggled, Loki wandered over towards Pansy to investigate what she was working on.

Tucking her short, black hair behind one ear, Pansy gave him a sideways glance. "Do you want to help me cut vegetables for the salad?" She asked handing him an extra knife, hilt first. Loki glanced over his shoulder at Hermione, who was still giggling away as she and her friend teased one another. Turning back, Loki contemplated Pansy's question. He wasn't supposed to have access to anything that could be used as a weapon. Thor was still wary of allowing him the use of his Rime Diamond scepter. The longer he stared at the offered cutlery, the stronger the desire for his beloved daggers became. Flexing his hand a few times, Loki decided that surely no one would mind if he used a knife as long as it was for appropriate activities.

With his heart beating slightly faster than was necessary, Loki accepted the knife and gripped the handle tight within his hand. His stare slid from the glinting knife to see Pansy's reaction; she smirked as if knowing he was disobeying orders somehow. "What do you need to cut?" His question was asked quietly, so Hermione would not hear. That smirk still in place, Pansy slid a cutting board full of cucumbers and tomatoes his way.

"Here, start with these and if you do well with that, I'll give you some more." Loki snorted, despite himself.

"I am quite skilled in the methods of knife work, my dear." To demonstrate his abilities, Loki flipped the knife into the air, catching it deftly by the hilt once more. Pansy's eyes widened slightly, but she said nothing further as he began dicing the tomatoes in rapid succession. As they worked in silence, the only sounds from the gentle clacking of knives against cutting boards, Pansy occasionally shot him interested glances. Finally, finished with her stack of vegetables, she tossed a bowl of lettuce before giving him another look.

"You and Hermione are a popular topic around here."

"What are you referring to?" Loki paused in his handiwork, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I take it you don't know then?" When he did nothing but watch silently as she gathered his finished pile of chopped vegetables, Pansy decided to enlighten him. "Hermione is cherished by her friends; they act as if she's more a part of the family than simply a friend from school. Since last night, they've talked about nothing else but your future together."

"What happened last night," Loki asked as he stared at the sharp knife in his hand, enjoying the way the light reflected off its gleaming surface. Finished with the salad, Pansy set the bowl aside and turned, resting her hip against the wooden table and crossing her arms across her large chest.

"Well, she told Harry and Ginny about the two of you." She smiled like only a Slytherin could, her eyes narrowing. "She admitted she was in lo—"

Before Pansy could finish, the kitchen door burst open, causing Loki to drop the knife unexpectedly onto the table as he whipped around to see who'd just entered. He was relieved to find it wasn't Thor coming to scold him for using knives without permission. Instead, a young, blond-haired boy ran inside, followed closely behind by a small woman with brown hair who was carrying a covered tray. The boy dashed forward and threw himself into Pansy's arms.

"Aunt Pansy! I missed you!" The boy shouted, before letting her go.

"Scorpius! It's good to see you too!" At hearing the boy's name, Loki's eyes snapped to stare at the woman who was placing her belongings on the kitchen counter near where Hermione stood. This must be the woman Draco was wedded to; Loki realized remembering the name of the boy from her stories. As he examined the woman, Pansy continued talking with the young boy, explaining that the rest of the children were upstairs. After he'd disappeared, Pansy went over to greet the newcomer, leaving Loki to his own devices. "Astoria, I'm glad you could make it. Where is Draco?"

Astoria, as she was called, glanced nervously over at Loki before smiling, the emotion not quite meeting her eyes. "He's outside meeting the others. I'm sorry we're late, Ginny. It took some convincing to get him here." Her brown eyes flickered over to look at Loki again before settling on Hermione, who appeared just as uncomfortable. "Hermione…I'm glad to see you've returned from Asgard. It seems we have a relatively large mess on our hands, doesn't it?"

"It does, but I hope we can capture Fenrir and end this nonsense before it turns into an all-out war." Astoria nodded her agreement as Hermione moved towards Loki, where he stood frozen by the table.

"Draco has been working a lot lately. He seems worried."

"As he should be," Loki interjected.

"You must be Loki." She stepped forward, examining him from head to foot. Her calculating stare irritated Loki, causing him to narrow his eyes.

"You must be Astoria." He grinned, baring his teeth. "I've heard all about you." Hermione and Ginny shared stunned looks before Astoria laughed, clearly not bothered by his obvious dig. Pansy watched on from her best friend's side, arms crossed and shaking her head.

"I bet you did." She shot Hermione a scathing look before returning her attention to Loki. "I could say the same about you." In an attempt to keep the peace, Ginny jumped forward; her arms spread wide.

"Okay! Now that we've all been properly introduced, it's time to move this food outside. Let's get going before everyone starves!" Astoria gave Loki one last disparaging look before grabbing the tray she'd brought out earlier and following Pansy outside to where the tables awaited. When they were gone, Ginny turned to Hermione, a heavy sigh leaving her small body. "That went well."

"It could have gone worse." Loki admitted, smirking. The smirk dropped from his face at seeing the distraught look Hermione was giving him.

"Worse? You haven't met Draco yet, and after our confrontation this morning, I'm dreading going out there." Hermione stepped up until he could smell her perfume, still fragrant all these hours later. "You really should mind your manners, Loki. Astoria didn't do anything wrong; she was forced into her situation."

"Don't worry about it, Hermione. Astoria is a Slytherin—she can take care of herself." Ginny headed for the door. "You're lucky she didn't hex you, Loki. Now, are you two coming? It's time to eat and get this meeting started." As Ginny exited the kitchen, Loki and Hermione were left alone.

Hermione closed her eyes, suddenly unable to catch her breath as her own anxiety peaked. She tried to take deep even breaths, but found her heart was racing far too quickly. Behind her, Loki watched as she practically fell apart at the seams. Closing the distance between them, he wrapped his arms protectively around her, sighing as she relaxed into his touch. They stood there quietly, Hermione finally able to regain her composure as Loki held her. After a short period of time in which Loki was certain the others were probably beginning to think they were having sex in the bathroom again, Hermione turned in his arms so she could stare up into his face. He was surprised to see tears brimming the surface of her chocolate eyes. Clenching his jaw, he looked away.

"You're afraid of what will happen when Draco and I come face-to-face."

"Yes," she breathed. "I'm terrified."

Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, remembering Pansy's words from earlier. Had she been about to tell him Hermione admitted her love for him to Harry and Ginny? Why hadn't Hermione told him yet? Deciding it did not matter, he wanted to put his lover at ease before they left the safety of the kitchen. Swallowing down his confusion and hurt, Loki knew he had to ask her at least one question he wondered about. Opening his green eyes, Loki returned his gaze to Hermione's.

"Are you still in love with him?"

"What?!" Hermione asked, taken aback, jerking from his arms. "Why would you ask such a thing?" She wrapped her arms around herself, worrying her lip as she awaited his response. Frustrated, Loki ran both hands through his hair, whirling away so she wouldn't have to see the doubt that graced his features.

"I need to know." The silence of the kitchen became almost unbearable as he waited for her answer. Unsure of why he'd brought his insecurities up at this particular moment; Loki hoped he hadn't managed to push Hermione away. They were finally starting to open up to one another, and it would be most unfortunate for her to close herself off again. When a tentative hand was placed on his back, Loki lurched forward, not expecting the sudden contact. Hermione was getting better at hiding her emotions from him, and he wasn't sure whether to be glad or apprehensive. Turning slowly, he stared down at her as she smiled sadly.

"No—No, I do not love Draco anymore." She twisted her hands together nervously, avoiding his eyes. "At least, not like I used to. Does that make sense?" Nodding, Loki reached out and tipped her chin upwards so he could make sure she was aware of his understanding.

"It makes perfect sense, Hermione." Relieved, Loki dipped his head, closing his eyes as their lips brushed gently against one another. "Now," he muttered, their lips still barely touching, "we'd best join the meeting before I decide to have you on top of the table." Closing the gap between their bodies, Loki kissed her hungrily, wanting nothing more than to know her true feelings for him. Suspecting someone loved you was a far cry from actually knowing the truth.

Hermione was the one to break the kiss, grinning as she stepped away from his aching body. "You're insatiable," she said through a laugh, taking his hand and leading him towards the door.

"I will never have my fill of you, Hermione. Do not forget that."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The dinner was an interesting affair, to say the least. Those that didn't have the pleasure of meeting Loki earlier were introduced, and then he resumed his sullen silence, allowing Hermione to interact freely with those around them. After initial information was shared, it was determined that some were still unaware of Fenrir's special abilities. Hermione and Harry explained how Fenrir was able to not only shift into his wolf form without the aid of the full moon, but that he knew how to travel through the realms using some advanced method of Apparation. Draco relayed the information he gathered on the Werewolf Army from Romania, as well as the possible locations of other such armies Fenrir could have created across Europe. When added with the Jotun and Dark Elves from Jotunheim, Thor was discouraged that there may not be enough of them to defeat Fenrir if he could gather his forces all in one place.

Luckily, they could factor Heimdall into the equation. Heimdall already promised not to allow the Jotuns and Dark Elves passage through the Bifrost, along with the help of Lady Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, and the other Asgardian soldiers. It was decided that Charlie, Luna, and Rolf would travel back to Romania and seek out the remaining werewolves to determine whether or not they were still a threat. Neville needed to return to Hogwarts, but Hannah would be joining him, so they could help McGonagall secure Hogsmeade and Hogwarts against potential attacks. Ron and George would get the word out in Diagon Alley and the newly renovated Knockturn Alley to be on the look-out for Fenrir and his minions. With the Wizarding community already on high alert, it was Kingsley's job to keep the peace within the Ministry. Coulson and Daisy, along with Hogun and Thor would search London and the surrounding areas, making sure Fenrir wasn't hunting to create new children for his armies. Harry and Draco would continue working with the MLE and Auror Departments doing pretty much the same as the others, but able to use their magic.

This left Hermione, Jane, Darcy, Tony, and Bruce to continue researching anything and everything they could find on destroying Fenrir. Wanda and Loki would also help research, but they would be more focused on finding a way to contain Fenrir magically in case they were unable to destroy him straight away. Hermione would also help with this task. Ginny, having to travel quite frequently for the Daily Prophet, would take Pansy with her when going out of the country, so they could meet with their European friends and spread the word of Fenrir's return. Astoria kindly agreed to help watch the children when they became too overwhelming for Molly and Arthur to handle.

With this all settled, the group began to disperse, going their separate ways for the night. Neville and Hannah left first. Hogwarts was currently in session, and Neville had his classes to attend to. After that, Charlie said his good-byes while he waited as Luna and Rolf explained to their twins where they would be going. Once they were gone, Molly and Arthur headed home as well, reminding Ginny to bring all the children to the Burrow in the morning before she left for work. When George decided he'd had enough for one night, Darcy, Hogun, Coulson, and Daisy asked if he would take them home, so off they went also. The remaining group refilled their glasses of firewhiskey, wine, and butterbeer before disappearing some of the tables to make room for a fire pit. As the night wore on, conversation began to flow freely, the hodgepodge of characters intermingling and getting to know one another more personally.

As the fire crackled, sending tiny sparks of fire into the night sky, it was Ron who finally brought the conversation back around to Fenrir. He readjusted himself on the blanket he and Pansy shared, pulling her close, so she could lay her head on his shoulder. "So when do we think Fenrir is going to make his big move?"

"The night of the full moon." Draco answered, without missing a beat, his hollow eyes staring into the blazing fire. Everyone shared a confused look, apprehension making them fearful of the Great Wolf.

"Why do you say that?"

Draco lifted his gaze from the fire to meet Hermione's questioning eyes. She shivered, unsure why she felt such fear as he continued to stare at her unwaveringly. It was the first time they'd spoken to one another all evening, and Hermione was anxious to clear the air from earlier in the day. The way Draco was looking at her though, it was clear he did not feel the same. Draining his glass of the whiskey it held, he glared across the fire at her.

"Isn't it obvious? Fenrir will wait until his powers are at full capacity. During the full moon, he is not only able to shift freely, but he can also control his army of wolves—his children." He spat the last part, standing to refill his glass from the bottle on the table. Hermione and Harry shared a probing look, the latter shaking his head as if to say he had no idea what Draco was getting at. Wobbling slightly as he walked and his glass full to the brim with amber liquid, Draco returned to his seat next to Astoria. "Speaking of children—," he began gesturing between Loki and Hermione with his glass, causing the firewhiskey to slosh over the side, "it's a good thing you're unable to have any because Salazar knows the world doesn't need any more monsters." Meeting Loki's eyes, Draco took a long sip of his beverage, smirking as he pulled the glass away from his mouth.

In an instant, the formidable god was on his feet, ready to spring himself at the vile mortal. He could already feel the magic surging to his fingertips, a growl emanating from his throat. Around him, the others shot to their feet as well, ready to stop the inevitable fight that threatened to take place. With surprisingly strength, Hermione grabbed hold of his arm and shoved him behind her small body, screaming at him through her mind—No! Loki! Don't do anything rash! If he wasn't so astounded by the amount of force she used to ground him, Loki would have walked through the fire to tear Draco to pieces for insulting Hermione in such a manner. Breathing heavily, he glared at Draco, his teeth bared and chest heaving with fury.

With extreme grace and poise, Hermione hoisted her chin into the air, swallowing back the hurt from being so disrespected by someone who was supposed to be her friend—her former lover. "Draco," she said gently, "I think it's time you went home. Clearly, you're drunk and, honestly, you're embarrassing yourself."

"I have every right to be here as he does."

"No one said that you didn't, Draco," Hermione explained calmly, "but you lashing out at the two of us isn't going to fix whatever it is that's going on with you."

Standing, Astoria tugged on her husband's sleeve, avoiding everyone's stare. "Come on. She's right—let's get Scorpius and go home. We should never have come tonight; you haven't been sleeping, and you won't talk to me about it…" Trailing off, she stopped trying to wrench him to his feet, tears springing to her eyes. Draco continued to stare down Loki, neither of them willing to concede.

Finally, Harry and Ron came forward, grabbing their drunk friend under the arms and hoisting him to stand before beginning to cart him off. Nothing was said as they disappeared inside the house until Astoria turned to face Hermione, one hand hugging her midriff. "I'm so sorry," she said through fresh tears. "I don't know what's gotten into him lately. He just keeps saying the most horrible things, and he won't explain why." Hermione said nothing to Astoria as she broke down and, eventually, Pansy came forward to help her friend inside as well.

Once the immediate threat was taken care of, Hermione released the bruising grip she still held on Loki's forearm. Thor and Bruce came forward to flank either side of Loki, in case he harbored the desire to go after Draco. Tony placed his half-empty tumbler on a table and put his hands on his hips, shaking his head.

"I suppose that's the end of the party, and just when I was getting a proper buzz."

Waving her wand, Ginny began the cleaning process, the empty cups and discarded dessert plates flying into the kitchen. "That was certainly unexpected." As she watched her handiwork, the redheaded woman turned to give her long-time friend a hard stare. "Hermione…I didn't know—are you alright?"

Pursing her lips, Hermione decided to ignore the unspoken question. Only Draco knew she was unable to have children, and for him to bring it up in such a cruel manner was devastating. Instead, she ran a shaky hand through her smoke scented curls and sighed heavily. "I'll be fine. We should go though. Thank you for the lovely evening, Gin." She had to hold back tears when Ginny reached out to squeeze her hand comfortingly.

Their attention was then drawn to Harry and Ron, who'd come back outside. Reaching them first, Ron spoke, his voice filled with uneasiness. "We got Draco through the floo, and Pansy is helping Astoria with Scorpius." He couldn't stop shaking his head as if he too wanted to comment on Hermione's apparent condition.

"I'll go see him in the morning after he's had a chance to sleep off the firewhiskey." Harry ran a hand through his tousled hair. "Maybe this case is just a bit too sensitive for him. He is going after an old ally of his. Whether he's reformed or not, it has to be affecting him mentally somehow."

"I don't know, Harry." Hermione muttered, biting her lip, eyes glossy in the light from the fire. "I've never seen him like this. Well, not since we were children."

"I don't know this guy very well," Bruce said stepping up beside Hermione, so he could be seen by everyone, "but does anyone else get the impression there's something much darker going on here than we're being led to believe?"

A cold wind whispered through the backyard, causing their shadows to morph and twist in the firelight. Hermione swallowed down the fear of that statement, scared to voice any theories aloud. Turning slowly, she finally met Loki's calculating stare, his emerald eyes burning with unanswered questions and an undercurrent of anger. She could still feel his fury simmering faintly under the surface of her skin, making her stomach churn and her heartbeat accelerate. Never breaking eye contact with her lover, she spoke warily, her voice laced with fear.

"For all of our sakes, I pray that you are wrong, Dr. Banner."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

End Notes: Hmmm…..Draco is a hot mess right now. Do you think anyone will figure out what is going on with him? What about Loki? Will he ever get a chance to talk with him face-to-face? Are things going well for Hermione and Loki? I know this was a long, plot developing chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. I love Wanda and Bruce! I can't wait to write more of them next chapter! Please leave a review with questions, comments, or just to say hello! Until next time!
xxDustNight