Hey guys! Here it is! Loki's rescue!
Before we start there are some things that I need to address from the comments:
First, I COMPLETELY forgot about Neville(sorry Nev!). I was attempting to not drag down the story too much since its already full of different aspects but someone pointed out that I introduced that line of thought and then kind of just abandoned it. So I will try adding him back in as we go. We do mention him a little from chapter to chapter so for now let's assume they have become friends but Harri was so distracted with the twins and all that was going on that she forgot about the wand thing. That will be addressed in second year!
Secondly we got a review from someone logged in as a guest on FanFiction and my sister ended up deleting it(oops, sorry. she's new to this, we're not ignoring it). First off Guest named Alice. If you have problems with the time travel/manipulation tropes then this is not the fanfiction for you and we wish you luck in finding something that you do like. Also, as you addressed, we have not shown a motivation for Hermione's inclusion in the scheme by Dumbledore and certain Weasley's. That hasn't shown up for two reasons; first, its a bit of an inside joke between my sister and I, MOST of the stories with these sorts of events don't really show what big thing drug Hermione into the mix or what she's getting out of it(we've mentioned that question in the twins musings). Secondly, we do have a reason however at the moment, the people who are joining Harri(the 'good' Weasleys) are more focused on the chaos within their own family. We will talk more about Hermione's involvement once Harri shows the twins and the other three Weasley brothers her memory of her child's death and the battle that followed. The final thing you asked about was the changing dynamic between the twins and Harri since she is mentally older than them, that will be addressed later as well when the older Weasley boys corner Harri to be all protective over their little brothers. If you decide to continue on with this story we will do our best to clear up these things. If you decide not to brave this fic in light of your dislike of time travel/manipulation stories then we wish you good luck with others.
Guys this chapter is VERY short, especially considering what I've been putting out lately but this is just focused on the rescue of Loki and the immediate aftermath NOTHING else.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer in Chapter 1. Will add as necessary.
Harriet sat in the play room with her fathers, waiting patiently for the final alert to tell her it was time to go to Asgard. Earlier, she had felt the Bifrost sight activate to bring the Warriors Three down to Midgard and she knew it was getting closer to time. She had made sure to pack light, only taking what she could carry on her person; her throwing knives at her belt, her wand, an emergency trans-realm portkey, extra strength pepper up potions to counteract her weak spells, and some chocolate. All in all, she was ready to go save Loki. It was her fathers who were having a hard time.
James was pacing agitatedly in front of her, Remus sat off to the side with his leg bouncing distractedly, and Sirius was leaning against the wall twirling his wand as he watched Harriet like a hawk. "You three need to calm down." Harri commented, "This is a simple retrieval mission. I'll be fine."
Sirius snorted while James rounded on her, "A simple retrieval mission? You going to another realm via strange pathways to essentially kidnap the God of Mischief out from under his brother and father's noses while attempting to put off your burning day which hits you with random bouts of weakness at unspecified times!" James exclaimed, he ran his fingers through his wild black hair, "We won't be able to get to you or help you!" his eyes were wide, "What if the burn happens while you in Asgard? What if you get captured? What if you can't make it back? What if…." He stopped when Harriet stood and calmly slapped him across the face. He blinked and faced her again, "Princess?"
"Get yourself together!" Harri demanded, "I will be fine. If something goes wrong, then I'll adjust. Have a little faith in me."
"It's not you we don't have faith in cub." Remus piped up, "It's the universe and the shitty Potter luck we don't trust."
Harri softened a little, "I will be fine." She repeated, "I have all my bases covered." She smiled over at Remus, "I'm even carrying chocolate." Moony's mouth twitched upward.
Suddenly, Harri felt her alarm go off; Thor was at the sight, calling for Heimdall. "Was that it Princess?" James asked nervously.
Harri nodded shortly, "Yes, I just have to wait for Heimdall to activate it." She looked between the three with a serious expression, "You remember all we talked about right? In case by burn hits before I can explain things?"
"Yes pup." Sirius said, "Loki won't know about Midgard magics because our wards hid us from Asgard's sight."
"He will most likely be violent and emotional due to the things he just went through so try not to go 'fangirl' on him." Remus added, frowning at Harri for the term she had assigned their worship of Loki. She simply smirked at him.
"Keep an eye on your bracelets in case your brothers need help." Sirius threw out, jiggling the bracelets on his arm.
"Lock down the wards as soon as you arrive to cut off any trail Asgard might try to pick up." James finished.
Harriet nodded again, "I will bring us back into the parlor, so wait there. Loki's rooms are already set up, you know where. Keep calm." They all three nodded just as she felt the Bifrost activate, "I'll be back as soon as I can alright?"
"Be safe." Was the last thing she heard from her father before she apparated away, directly on to one of the branches of Yggdrasil.
She quickly ran along the path that Loki had shown her how to navigate. Harriet clenched her jaw as she felt a bit of fatigue creep up on her and flexed her magic to keep her going, not wanting to stop in the middle of the world tree during such a vulnerable time. A few minutes later she tumbled out of the special pathway, right into the royal paddock.
Harriet collapsed against the fence next to her as a weak spell hit, "Oh come on." She hissed, she reached for one of the pepper up vials and, with a bit of effort, uncapped it for her to drink. She leaned her head back to wait for the potion to kick in. A minute later she was just starting to get feeling back in her limbs when she felt and heard hoof beats approaching her rapidly. Harri pulled her wand and sat up as straight as she was currently able but froze when the horse she had heard came into view.
This particular horse, a dark dappled stallion with a wild mane, had eight legs.
In the last timeline Loki had spoken of his children more and more as they grew more comfortable with each other, but it was always with a tinge of guilt and regret. And of course a healthy dose of anger at his adopted father.
Harriet smiled, though she didn't lose her tenseness, as the horse approached more slowly now that she was in view. His head was lowered and his eyes locked on her in a way that would have been intimidating if she wasn't used to his mother's thousand-yard stare. "You must be Sleipnir." Harri greeted weakly, the stallion made a soft whickering noise and let out a long huff. Harri hadn't met him in the last timeline but she had a pretty good guess of what he said, "Your mother speaks of you often." Sleipnir drew back and his hooves began to beat at the ground in agitation. "Woah there." Harri said, holding up her hands weakly, "I mean him no harm. In fact, I'm here to save him." Sleipnir stilled at that and stared at her again, after several tense seconds he came closer and nudged her wand with his nose. "Yes, I have magic." A hoof stomped and he nudged her wand again, Harri frowned, "I'm not sure what you're asking bubby." Sleipnir drew back and let out an agitated snort, he thrust his head toward her again and tilted it sideways with his mouth open. Harri frowned when she saw Sleipnir's bit and bridle was tightened to the point it was wearing at the already delicate skin of his face. "Aw, sweetheart. You should have said something sooner." Harriet reached forward and, with her slowly returning strength, allowed ice to freeze the metal to the point where she could shatter it easily. "There you go." She soothed, as she took the offending piece away and rubbed lightly at the horse's muzzle.
*Why am I not surprised that my mother's friend can be just as reckless as he?* came a voice in Harriet's mind.
Harriet blinked several times before huffing, "I'm not reckless. And I'm sure your mother would have a few words to say about you calling him that."
*Taking off that bridle could have been disastrous for yourself and you barely looked at it.* Sleipnir huffed in her head, *As for mother, he is very cunning unless he is pursuing knowledge, then he is almost as reckless as my Uncle.*
Harri giggled, "Okay, that I'll buy. I've been on a few trips with him when he was going after a rare book or scroll."
Sleipnir bobbed his head with an affirming snort, *Now what is this about saving mother? And how do you plan to with a tiny piece of wood?* he nudged her wand again.
Harriet heaved herself to her feet and sheathed her wand, "Your mother has gotten himself into a bit of trouble with his current scheme and if it continues he will allow himself to drop into the void." Harri said, Sleipnir's head jerked back in alarm. "As for the saving him, I won't be doing it with this. I pulled my wand out to defend myself in case you were someone who wished me harm. It focuses my magic to make it easier to use."
*I know of the current scheme you speak of.* Sleipnir said, *But how do you know of mother dropping into the void?*
"It's a long story." Harri said, she spun when she heard a whooshing sound and saw lights flashing out of the corner of her eye. "I don't have time right now though. I have to go get your mother." She changed into Glacia in the next instant, barely noticing her bedraggled feathers and bald patches where her feathers had already disintegrated.
Before she could take off one of Sleipnir's hooves came down in front of her, *You are a phoenix lítt stórmerki? And one close to its burning. What is my mother to you that you would risk yourself like this?*
Harri turned back and looked up at Sleinir, "He's part of my flock." She answered without hesitation, if Sleipnir could identify her and the fact that she was so close to her burn she was willing to bet that he would know the importance of calling Loki flock.
Sleipnir bobbed his head and leaned down to nuzzle her hair, *Are you going to take him to safety? His scheme will not be well received should he stay here. Your status as a phoenix will not help at this time.*
"Yes, I will be taking him away until things calm down." Harri said, reaching up and patting the horse's cheek.
*Do you have room for one more?* Sleipnir questioned.
Harri grinned up at him, "I do." Thunder sounded off in the distance and Harri's grin fell, "But we must go now."
Sleipnir drew his head up, *Yes, we must. Get on lítt stórmerki. Save your energy for saving my mother. I will get you to him.* Harri nodded and stood, she jumped as high as she could to latch onto the horse's enormous form. Sleipnir nudged her up onto his back with his nose as she pulled herself along, *Hold tight lítt stórmerki. Don't fall off.*
Harri clutched Sleipnir's mane as she settled onto his broad back with a light sticking charm, in the next second Sleipnir took off like a shot. His eight hooves, shimmering like the Rainbow Bridge, hit out an odd rhythm as he charged in the direction of his mother. Harriet's breath caught in her throat when he vaulted over the fence of his paddock and hit the ground without breaking his stride. They galloped through the city, startling the more common peoples of Asgard who all scrambled out of the way of the Allfather's magnificent steed.
They reached the rainbow bridge in just enough time to see Thor hitting the bridge for the final few times; they were halfway down the bridge when the dome fell off into the abyss, attempting to Loki with it. A streak of gold arced over them and in the next second Odin was kneeling along the edge, catching Loki with his spear. Harriet couldn't hear Loki's words but she knew them well enough from comforting him over them. Sleipnir skidded to a stop, his back legs bending beneath them, just as they made it close enough for Harriet to hear Odin say, "No, Loki."
"Loki! No!" Harriet screeched as he released the end of his father's spear, her voice covering Thor's own yell. Odin and Thor turned around in surprise in time to see Harri jump from Sleipnir's back and change to Glacia midair. She swooped off the bridge, her flames surrounding and driving her forward as she dove into space. Glacia spun around Loki and gripped the back of his armor with her talons before shooting back toward the bridge, her wings beating furiously to fight the pull of the void.
"What…" Loki started as Glacia set him down on Sleipnir's back but Glacia didn't stop to answer. She screeched threateningly at Odin, her coal eyes glaring and her wings spread wide in warning as she landed on Sleipnir's head. Glacia arced her wings up over her head as her flames rose to encompass all three of them and then, they were gone.
The second Harriet had disappeared the three Marauders had raced down to the foyer to wait for Harriet and Loki to arrive. James was standing stiffly by the currently exposed ward stone, his hand already cut and hovering at the ready. Remus was pacing by the stairs, Moony trying to push his way forward and go hunt for their cub. Sirius looked outwardly calm but his hand was gripping his wand tightly and his eyes darting around the foyer, looking for any sign of Harriet's return.
It was a tense fifteen minutes later that blue flames exploded into existence in the center of the foyer, sending ice over the floor, walls, and the three worried wizards. The second the fire died down James pressed his hand onto the ward stone, slamming centuries worth of family wards down around them protectively. The three quickly shook off the thin sheets of ice that covered them and looked to the center of the room. There stood an eight legged horse with a disheveled and bewildered god on his back and an ice phoenix perched on his head looking a little worse for the wear.
"Harriet!" James exclaimed, coming forward as the phoenix flew shakily from the horse's head and changed back in a heap right next to the animal.
"Told you it would be fine." Harri said weakly as her father pulled her into a more comfortable position.
The horse walked forward a step and James clutched Harriet closer, the horse simply bowed its head closer to Harri and James heard a soft voice in his mind, *You need to burn lítt stórmerki. You are not looking too good.*
Harri gave the horse a lopsided smile, "I've been holding it off for a week Sleipnir. Of course I look like crap." She shifted in her father's arms, "I just need to get to my nest."
"Does someone want to explain to me just what is going on here?" Loki demanded imperiously as he slid from Sleipnir's back with ease, he looked down at Harriet and frowned, "And who are you?"
*You don't know her mother?* Sleipnir asked, taking a startled step back.
"I most certainly do not!" Loki snapped, he glared at Harri and Sleipnir joined him, "Explain yourself!"
Harriet struggled to her feet with James' help, "It's a very long story. I promise I'll explain but…." She stopped and a pained look came across her face, "I need to burn."
Sleipnir looked torn but Loki just frowned, "No, explain NOW!" Harriet didn't even flinch under his harsh gaze, used to it after so many years.
James pulled Harriet closer, "I'll get you to your nest Princess."
Another pain hit Harriet and she clutched at her stomach, "No time." She gasped, "Back up."
"Oh no you don't!" Loki said stepping forward.
"What? No!" James said worriedly, ignoring Loki's protests.
Harriet shoved her father back as hard as she could even as Sleipnir dragged his mother backward. In the next second Harriet burst into blue flames; power came from her in a wave, moving people even further back as the ice allowed them to slide. A moment later the fire sucked in on itself and all that was left was a pile of ashes and a blue, green, and black swirled egg.
Well...that's sort of a cliffhanger. Maniacal laugh, I guess.
Chapter Notes:
On the subject of the Emergency Trans-Realm portkey. It is a REALLY last minute option for her. It's more dangerous than a regular portkey and even some of the more iffy travel options. She only has it to put her dads at ease.
Ah Moony's chocolate addiction. One of the things Harri does that she picked up from Remus specifically is carrying chocolate at all times, even into battle. I love adding that little thing in.
Asgard doesn't know that Midgard's magical peoples survived, the last they heard from them was the Witch Trials and then nothing due to the new specialized wards. I decided to have it like that so Loki has more of an incentive to stay. Away from the other realms, Midgard's magic will have developed differently than others, giving Loki 'new' knowledge to learn.
"Um, hey author, why is Harri surprised that Sleipnir can talk?" She's a witch who has spent years around magical creatures, magic, gods, monsters, and superheroes. Would you be all that surprised? Especially considering who Sleipnir's mother is?
IDK if the freezing metal thing actually works. It works in cartoons and at the moment that is my specialty.
'lítt stórmerki' means 'little mystery' or 'little notable thing' in old Norse. Or at least it does according to a website I found called Vikings of Bjornstad. I don't know if its correct but I thought it was a cute name to have Sleipnir call Harri since she didn't exactly introduce herself.
Yay! Sleipnir's going with us!
I was a little iffy on the time Harri should be in Asgard but went with fifteen minutes to be safe.
BAM! Hope you enjoyed!
See you next time!