Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers or Harry Potter.
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Chapter 20
Dahlia was not the most pleased to be back on Midgard but she was excited to see her friends again. She had only spoken to them through letters since she and Micah visited Hogwarts two months ago and they hadn't just told her about what was going on, but Hermione, at Dahlia's request, sent her a copy of the Daily Prophet as well which Hermione made a separate letter dictating what was true and what wasn't to her knowledge. Dahlia was keeping an eye on what was going on, it was easy but hearing it from the perspective of someone on Midgard made it all the more real.
Hela and their father, along with five soldiers, accompanied Dahlia to Midgard, specifically Diagon Alley. They appeared from Hela's portal right outside Fred and George's joke shop, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and Dahlia took a quick look around to see posters covering buildings around them put up by the Ministry but the joke shop stood out amongst them all. Surrounded by the dull poster-filled shops, the joke shop windows hit the eye like a firework display. Passers-by were looking over their shoulders at the shop and a few rather stunned people came to a halt and were transfixed. The left-hand window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped, flashed, bounced and shrieked. The right-hand window was covered with a giant poster and looked like those of the Ministry but in giant yellow letters said:
Why are you worrying about You-Know-Who?
You SHOULD be worrying about
U-NO-POO
The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation
Dahlia started to laugh and heard the sounds of much quieter laughs around her and looked to see both her father and sister were laughing while some of the soldiers looked on in amusement.
"Those boys really don't care about repercussions, do they?" Hela commented.
Loki replied, "in times like these, all people need is a good laugh. The boys are just supplying that laughter, especially for the young ones".
As he said this, two kids not yet of Hogwarts age ran into the shop laughing.
Dahlia and her family made their way inside as the soldiers spread out and tried not to be seen, observing all those in the alley. The shop itself was already packed, and as Dahlia looked around, she saw boxes piled high to the ceiling. They were Skiving Snacks, the snack boxes the twins perfected in their final year at Hogwarts and they were selling out fast, especially the Nosebleed Nougat. There were bins full of trick wands, the cheapest merely turning into rubber chickens or pairs of pants when waved; the most expensive beating the user around the head and neck. Boxes of quills, which came in self-inking, spell- checking and smart answer varieties. People were so occupied with the shop items that very few people looked their way and those that did cleared out of the way leaving a pathway for them as they walked.
They found their way to the counter where a group of children were watching a tiny little wooden man ascending the stairs to a real set of gallows, both perched on a box that read: Reusable Hangman, spell it or he'll swing.
Hermione suddenly appeared, pushing herself through the crowds and said, "Dahlia!"
Dahlia smiled and took a step forward and hugged Hermione, "it's so good to see you".
When they pulled away, Hermione looked to Hela and said, "congratulations on the engagement, Dahlia told us all about it in her letters".
"Thank you," Hela replied smiling, "The wedding is in three days so you and the twins will be there as it clashes with your visit".
Hela began to twist the ring on her finger and Hermione looked at it and said, "it's beautiful".
"Falcon designed it himself, he did a really good job".
"Are you and the boys ready?" Dahlia asked.
Hermione gestured to the small shoulder bag she had and said, "yep. The boys shrunk all of my belongings into here for me and they are around here somewhere. You should look around, it's really quite impressive, some of the magic they have used and what they have created takes extraordinary magic".
"For that, Hermione, pick something for free," a voice said and they looked to see Fred making his way out of the crowd with a beaming smile on his face. He was wearing a set of magenta robes that clashed with his flaming red hair. He was holding a circular tub and smiled at Dahlia and Hela and said, "how are you?" He then looked at Hermione as he opened the tub and put some yellow thick paste onto his finger before rubbing it on Hermione's eye.
"We're fine," Dahlia answered then frowned, "what happened to your eye, Hermione?"
"I'm fine," Hermione answered, "just got on the wrong end of a punching telescope".
"This will stop it from bruising and if it does, it will be gone within the hour," Fred said as he stopped putting the paste on her eye and put the lid back on the tub before putting it in his robe.
George then came through the crowd and said, "you should look around, we have everything, even some Muggle magic tricks, not big sellers but good for people that love Muggles like dad".
"We've got everything. We've just developed a more serious line," Fred said.
"You wouldn't believe how many people, even those who work at the Ministry, can't do a decent shielding charm," George said and gave Dahlia a quick wink, "of course they didn't have you teaching them, 'Lia"
Fred then said, "we thought of shield hats for a laugh, you know have your mate try to jinx you while you are wearing it and it just bounces off you but the Ministry bought five hundred for their support staff and we're still getting massive orders".
"So, we expanded into a range of shield hats, shield cloaks, shield gloves, you get the picture".
"Of course, it wouldn't help against Unforgivable's but for minor to moderate hexes and jinxes…"
"Then we thought to get into defence against the dark arts and it really makes money. We have instant dark powder to get away".
"Decoy dementors are just walking out the door. You drop one and it'll run off and make a nice loud noise, that way it gives you a diversion to escape".
George spread out his hands and gestured around the shop and said, "have a look around, it might not match against your Aesir magic-"
Hela interrupted, "you would be surprised, George. What you have done for your age and the magic you possess and time you've had is surprising".
"Thank you," the twins said together.
"Honestly though, look around," Fred said.
"Anything you want is yours for free, you don't pay here," George said.
"We have money," Dahlia said, "we couldn't not pay".
"We wouldn't have it," George said.
"Yeah," Fred replied, "You gave us our start-up money from the tournament".
"And you," George said looking at Hela, "got us this place without paying and without investors. You both invested into the business, even though it was through gifts and you want nothing in return, so your whole family can shop for free. We won't hear anything of it".
Dahlia and Hela glanced at one another and smiled and Dahlia said, "thanks, I'm sure dad would love to look around". Dahlia looked behind her, expecting to see her father but he was gone, "where's dad?"
Hela turned to and was surprised to see he was gone and stared in panic at her sister as she said, "we just let our father, the god of mischief, wonder around a joke shop".
Both girls' eyes went wide for a moment then Dahlia said, "split up and meet at the front of the shop when we've found him".
Hela gave a single nod as they split up, the boys and Hermione helping look too.
It was Dahlia that found him first but it wasn't in the shop like they had all thought. She was walking past the windows of the shop when the colour green caught her eye outside in the dreary street and she saw him walking down the street. She quickly left the shop and could feel the eyes of passers-by on the street but could also feel more than one soldier following her in the shadows, ready to jump into view at any moment if she needed protection.
Her father was ahead of her a bit so she had to pick up her speed to catch up but it wasn't long before he stopped and just stared down an alley. Dahlia recognised it as Knockturn Alley and didn't understand why her father was just staring. She went and stood by his side and she looked down the Alley to see no one then looked back to her father and asked, "what's wrong?"
"Nothing," Loki said but pushed her back slightly away from the alley as they began to walk out of view from anyone that could be there.
"Dad," she said sternly and raised a brow.
He sighed as he put his arm around her shoulders and said, "it's nothing. I just thought I saw someone watching you so I followed them".
"Dad, people have been watching and staring at me and talking about me since I was a baby, even more so now they know the truth. Don't worry about it".
Loki tried not to but when he saw someone in a dark cloak looking through the shop at his youngest he just had to follow, but the cloaked figure seemed to have disappeared before Loki could confront them. Loki saw people looking at his daughter as they walked down the streets and he tightened his hold on her but then she suddenly stopped and turned to look at a shop. He looked up to see the name Ollivander's.
"Hermione and the boys wrote in their letters what was going on, they said about shops closing and people missing. This is Ollivander's, dad, the place every young witch and wizard who go to Hogwarts goes for their wands before they start school. He's the best wand maker out there. No one knows where he is, Fred and George wrote that they don't know if Olivander went willingly or if he was taken".
It was so weird for Dahlia to look around to see the shop so empty and quiet and dreary instead of young kids coming out holding their first wands in excitement. She looked around, not really taking a look at the shops before. The glittering windows filled with spell books, potions ingredients and cauldrons were gone from view, hidden behind the large ministry posters. Most of the purple posters carried blown up versions of the security advice the Ministry were giving and the pamphlets that were sent out over the summer. But then there were some posters that were black and white and moving, photographs of known Death Eaters. A large poster of Bellatrix sneering was posted outside the apothecary where a few windows were boarded up. In fact, it seemed like most of the shops on the alley had boarded up windows and a number of shabby old stalls had been set up along the alley.
This was not the place Dahlia remembered, this was not the first magical place she was shown and introduced to the magical world. She missed the busy shops and bright colours and the wise eyes of witches and wizards, those who were older and seen more of magic and the world than any other and the smiles and laughter of young children, those who were shopping to start school and those just excited to be there. She remembered being so scared yet excited to be there the first time but now she would give anything for the alley to go back to the way it was before, not like now where the few people in the alley were staying close together, looking around as they walked closely in groups for danger.
"We have to stop this, dad. I have to end this soon," Dahlia said as she watched a mother wrap an arm around a young girl going into Madame Malkin's for what seem to be her school robes but they both looked like they wanted to be anywhere else but there. Had it been only a few years ago, the little girl probably would have run off to play with others her age or going to look through the shop windows but now, she was a victim of war.
"You will," Loki said and stood in front of Dahlia and took both her fingertips into his hands as he held them tightly.
He kissed her forehead as she said, "I didn't know it was this bad here. Reading letters and seeing the paper…I guess it's just the feeling of being here, seeing it for myself and remembering what it was like before that makes it real. People used to be so happy here, it would be filled with life and now, the people that are here are scared. I should be here fighting, I should feel just as scared as they are, not protected on another world-"
"No," Loki interrupted before she could say anymore, "you are not coming back here to fight so don't even think about it".
"But, dad-"
"No," he moved his hands off hers and cupped her cheeks and locked eyes, "you know that you, your sister and brothers are all that matter to me. We have the diary that held a piece, we have the locket, the ring, you, and thanks to Lady Ravenclaw and her daughters help, we got the diadem from Hogwarts earlier this week. We just have to find one more then we can find Voldemort and kill that snake then him. Sweetheart, you are doing more than enough, you put yourself at risk every time you connect with the other pieces of his soul, you are training every day in both kinds of magic and physical training, there is nothing more you could do. You being here just puts you in danger and sweetheart, I would rather have everyone die than my baby girl be put in danger more than you already are".
"But what about other people's babies? What happens if he takes his anger out on other children because he can't get to me?"
"Sweetheart, he and his Death Eaters will hurt people but that is not your fault if it happens when you are not here. You are doing all you can, more than anyone else so do not feel guilty when the people of this world do not understand the sacrifices you have made and the sacrifices you continue to make".
"I…I just…my family is safe, I go to sleep at night knowing that even though there are those in the universe who hate us and wish us harm, we have an army surrounding us and a shield around Niflheim but here…these people don't have that".
"Dahlia, there is always going to be a danger. Look at the history of this world, it is plagued with dark witches and wizards and their followers, even in the Muggle world it is plagued by dictators and rulers that cause harm. Just because half of you is from here, doesn't mean you should feel guilty that they aren't as safe as you are. You have a destiny to destroy him, I understand that and our family will be by your side when that fight comes but darkness is always there, no matter the world. You cannot protect everyone and you cannot feel guilty because you are safe and they aren't".
Dahlia gave a small smile and replied, "here I thought fathers were supposed to lie to their daughters about evil in the world".
"Well," Loki said with a small smile of his own, "you are no fool and I would love nothing more than to lie to you about evil and those who do wrong but I can't. You have fought against darkness yourself for so long, that me lying would only insult you".
She shrugged, "it would still be nice to hear".
"Then there is no darkness and evil in your world. Only love and happiness, only family, your friends and all those who care about you. No sadness, no worries, no fighting, just happiness and love," he then leaned to kiss her forehead before wrapping his arms around her in an embrace as she wrapped her arms around him.
"Thanks, dad," she mumbled against his chest.
They then heard and saw a flash go off and both pulled away and turned with hands on their knives but instead of an attack, it was simply a photographer from the Daily Prophet taking a picture of the father and daughter. Loki reached for then held her hand before walking away, back in the direction of the joke shop.
When they arrived back, Hela, Hermione and the twins were waiting outside and Hela said, "I remember when we were children, papa, you told us not to wonder off. Maybe we should have you follow that rule too".
Loki almost rolled his eyes as he looked to his daughter's friends and asked, "are the three of you ready?"
The three teens nodded and the soldiers stepped out of the shadows which made Hermione jump slightly as she wasn't expecting them but at the wave of Hela's hand, the three Midgardian Gryffindors held onto the soldiers while Hela took the hands of her father and sister before stepping inside.
Stepping into the throne room always left Dahlia with chills and excitement but seeing the looks on her friends faces, the same look of excitement and fascination at the silver and blue throne room and being on another world, it was the same when she had arrived.
"Come over here," Dahlia said and ran to the windows while the portal closed and the three Gryffindors followed and looked out at the view of Niflheim.
"Wow," all three said.
"Is that a space ship?" Hermione exclaimed and pointed to the sky.
"Yes," Dahlia answered, "we mostly use Thestrals to get around but when it comes to patrolling the realm from space, we obviously use ships. You'll see a lot more and different types over the next few days when people start arriving for the wedding".
"You should change," Hela said and they turned to look at her, "I have a council meeting before guests begin to arrive tomorrow and everyone will be busy after that for the wedding. You should change from your Midgardian clothes and go exploring while you all still have the chance".
Loki then added, "I just have to visit the Apex for a couple of hours then I will be back but Hela is right, you should all have fun".
Dahlia smiled at that then looked to her friends and said, "come on, guys, let me show you to your rooms then I'll show you the city".
The four teens almost ran from the throne room, following Dahlia as she guided them through the corridors past servants and guards who found their princess and friends amusing with their excitement. There were a few times the twins and Hermione stopped and just stared at something or someone for a moment before Dahlia urged them to keep following.
When they arrived at their rooms, they stopped running and Dahlia said, "these are just some of the guest quarters but they are the closest to my room which is just down the main corridor. Because of the number of guests coming to stay tomorrow, Hermione, you will have your own room but Fred and George, I hope it's okay but you'll have to share".
"That's okay," the twins said in unison.
"Great. Well this is your room, boys," Dahlia said and opened the door closest to her.
They walked inside to see two large canopy wooden beds side by side, two wardrobes and sets of drawers made of the same wood, they had a seating area with a couch and two chairs in front of the fireplace and a balcony. The room was decorated with shields along the walls and a Gryffindor flag was hung above the fireplace. There was already someone in the room, a Midgardian-looking young dead man who was putting wood beside the fireplace. He stood when he heard them enter and put his hands behind his back and bowed.
"Princess," he said.
"Reginald, I trust everything is ready?" Dahlia questioned.
"Yes, milady".
"Good. Reginald, this is Fred and George Weasley," Dahlia gestured to the twins and Reginald, "Fred and George, this is Reginald, he will be your manservant while you are here".
"Servant?" the twins exclaimed shocked.
"Yes," Dahlia replied, "if you need anything, just ask Reginald but within reason, boys. I'll know if you try to get him involved in any mischief".
"Never," the boys said together with slight smiles.
Dahlia almost rolled her eyes as she said, "sure…Hermione, let me show you to your room while the boys here get ready".
Hermione's room was right next door to the boys' but while theirs was a much more manly designed room, Hermione's was more feminine. She had a large silver circular bed with silk sheets, the curtains blowing as the balcony doors were open translucent and white as was most of the room following white, silver and cream colours. The layout was almost exactly like the boys' but instead of shields on the walls, Hermione had flowers and a piece of artwork above the fireplace. Just like the boys, she did have a servant who was waiting patiently for her.
"Annett, this is Hermione. Hermione, this is Annett your maidservant," Hermione introduced.
"Milady," Annett said with a slight bow of the head.
Hermione's mouth dropped open for a moment before she stuttered, "I don't need a servant. 'Lia, you know I wouldn't agree to this".
"Relax, Hermione, she gets paid and comes very well recommended. Besides you'll need help when it comes to getting into your dresses and if you need help finding somewhere if you are not with me," Dahlia said then looked to Annett. "Hermione has been fighting for the past year for house elf rights so they get paid what they deserve".
Annett was quick to assure Hermione, "we are well taken care of here, we are treated as equals and respected and Queen Hela makes sure all members of her staff from those of the council right down to the stable hands are well taken care of and are paid well. Some may say too well. I can assure you, during my almost 150 years working here, I have never been unhappy to come to work".
"See, Hermione, it's okay. Now, Annett, we have a busy day, I'm showing Hermione and the others around and I have only seen her new wardrobe once so what would you suggest when we're going to be out in the city all day?"
Annett could only smile as she walked to the wardrobe and said, "well you will need something that isn't restrictive, you don't want something too formal, you also want something to be able to run in and because of the fashion difference between here and modern day Midgard, you don't want something so shockingly different. It is warm and sunny outside but there is also a slight breeze so I would recommend this".
Annett brought out a long but thin flowy burgundy dress with lace shoulder sleeves with a gold flowery pattern along the neckline that showed slight cleavage with a gold v shaped belt. The dress was tied by a corset at the back so Hermione would definitely need assistance and it seemed like all three women in the room agreed that was perfect for Hermione.
Half an hour later with makeup done and thanks to potions Annett had acquired once she learned Hermione had frizzy, almost unmanageable, hair, she sprayed the hair with the potion and was able to turn it into soft curls. After hair, makeup and the dress were put on, Hermione stood in front of the mirror and couldn't believe what she looked like. "Wow!" she gasped.
Dahlia gave off a little laugh and said, "one more thing".
Dahlia brought out a jewellery orb and opened it to show Hermione. It contained a gold necklace with a ruby flower at the end with a diamond centre and three teardrop diamonds coming off of it.
"I can't take that," Hermione said while staring at the necklace.
"You can and you will. You have other jewellery that you'll have to leave here when you leave but I bought this for you".
She then walked around Hermione and put the necklace on her and Hermione touched it and said, "thank you".
"Now, let's go, the boys will be waiting for us," Dahlia said then she and Hermione left after thanking Annett.
They had stopped by the boys' room to get them and then made their way through the palace while the three Gryffindors took it all in.
When they got to the courtyard, they saw it busy with life and preparations underway for the guests coming and for the royal wedding. Dahlia and her friends stood at the top of the palace steps and she said, "it's not usually this busy, everyone is getting ready for the wedding and all the guests that'll be arriving tomorrow".
Just as they were walking down the steps, the beings in the courtyard were greeted by a great wolf. Fenrir didn't scare anyone as the citizens of Niflheim were used to him now but the twins and Hermione stepped back and their eyes went wide. "Is that your brother?" Hermione questioned.
"You've all met Fenrir before, he's grown a little since being here".
"Wicked!" the twins said together.
Fenrir then changed into his human self and smiled at Dahlia and her friends but before anyone spoke or approached, a smaller wolf ran into the courtyard but instead of slowing down the wolf lunged at Fenrir.
"LOOK OUT," Fred, George and Hermione shouted.
Fenrir turned just in time to catch the wolf but he didn't catch a wolf, he caught a little girl, Isolda. She smiled as he kissed her cheek and Dahlia gestured to her friends to follow her and when they got to her brother and Isolda, she said, "guys, you remember my brother Fenrir and this little one right here is Isolda. Isolda, these are my friends from Midgard, Fred, George and Hermione".
Isolda curled up into Fenrir when they waved and she gave a little wave herself. "I'm just taking her for her dress fitting," Fenrir said.
"I thought she wasn't coming to the wedding," Dahlia said, surprised that Isolda was actually going to be attending.
"She's decided to try. We've worked on exposing her to new people and she can now be in the city and be around the people of Niflheim without panicking. She wants to try exposing herself to groups of people outside of Niflheim now and what better way than the wedding? We're having her dress fitted today and if she decides tomorrow after being around the guests that she doesn't wish to attend, then she doesn't have to".
"Well I think that is a great idea," Dahlia said smiling to Isolda. "How about on the day of the wedding, you get ready with me? We can have a girly morning before the wedding".
Even though she was still smiling and seemed to like the idea, Isolda still looked to Fenrir who gave her an encouraging smile and she looked back and nodded.
"Great. Just remind Fenrir to bring you to me in the morning, we both know he's getting old and starting to forget".
"Haha, you're both very funny," Fenrir said sarcastically then said, "I'm not old enough to forget the time we need to meet Madame Caivano, which is now. We should be going…it's a pleasure to see you again, Fred, George, Hermione".
"You too," Hermione replied.
Dahlia gestured to her friends to follow as they made their way out of the palace and into the city. She noticed her friends' attention was drawn everywhere at once when they left the palace grounds but their attention was very much drawn to a group of guards on the streets. Frost giants and fire demons. It was then that Dahlia remembered that when on Midgard, the camp was not guarded by frost giants and fire demons so this was the first time they were seeing them.
"Frost giants and fire demons," Dahlia said, "I don't think you really need to ask which one is which. The one that's taller and looks like ice, bluer than anyone else of the dead. Fire demons, rocky texture, they're blue because they are dead but you can see the flames still have a hint of red because of how warm they are, females are born with fire hair. Now you can see why they weren't brought over".
"How cold and hot are they?" Hermione asked, curious about the beings.
"As cold as you can get and as hot as you can get. They can hurt you with their touch but it will just feel cold or warm but not deadly. If they choose to, they can hurt you. Fire demons can get so warm they can turn you to ash if they touch you for long enough and a single touch from a frost giant can cause frost bite that can never be healed and if they hold on long enough, they can even turn you to ice and shatter you".
"That's what you are?" Fred asked.
Dahlia hesitated as she looked at the frost giant and those close by for a moment before she looked back to her friends and said, "yes. My dad was born a frost giant on Jotunheim, son of King Laufey. After he was abandoned and Odin took him, whatever Odin did to my dad to make him seem Asgardian didn't completely stop his frost giant self. Whenever he comes into contact with their magic, he turns. Hela had a member of council try it on her when she found out the truth, she turned to ice as well".
"So, you're the same?" George questioned.
"Highly likely, yes. No frost giant will try with me though because it will be seen as an attempt to kill me if they use their powers on me. Then there is also the problem of if it doesn't work and if I really did inherit more of mum's genes than dads…" she then shrugged, "doesn't matter anyway. Dad isn't a big fan of his birth self, being raised with the stories of the cold-hearted monsters of Jotunheim didn't really go down well, as you know, when he found out…come on, enough about my family tree, we have a lot to see".
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