What was Once Lost is Found Anew

by darkoraclegirl

Long before Odin's line took the throne of Asgard the realm of Taerelyn withdrew from the other realms and cut ties with everyone. Now they are back and seeking an alliance with Asgard. Though the princess seems to want more then friendship. What does this mean for Asgard and future events? Read to find out.

8. Loki's Nightmare School Visit

AN: Ogremen: A new chapter has appeared, and we hope you enjoy it immensely, we know its been a while, but, things have been hectic in real life, for example, well, one of my sisters got into a car accident, and then my mother got into one two weeks later! Don't worry, they are ok, a little banged up, but, the real problem is my mother is off work till her hand heals, and she has to start looking for a new car if she can afford the insurance for both cars still. Anyway we hope you enjoy the chapter, and now for a word from the Mistress of Chronicles, Oracle!

Oracle: Ogremen's not the only one who's had an issue with cars and family members. My own sister got hit with a car while crossing the street. Thankfully she is also fine but this does stress the point that you should always look before crossing, even if the light is for you, and never trust the people behind the wheel to be paying attention to you. Now that that little family update is out of the way, we are sorry about the long wait, we have been trying to get this one out for a while but sometimes it takes time for the idea to pop into our heads if we want it to flow with the rest of the story rather than just put out trash chapters. Thanks everyone for waiting patiently and for all the love and support you give this story. It really means so much to know that our work makes so many of you happy.

Please give us feedback, we really don't know if you are enjoying it unless you speak up.

~w~

~Midgard, Hogwarts, Headmasters Office~

~Song Start: Lair of the Great Wyrm by Midnight Syndicate~

Dumbledore was pacing, he had been busy the last two weeks, trying to figure out what that damnable French bastard had been talking about with Loki. He had, sadly, been unable to find out much of anything really, he had heard a few whispers of things that seemed to be unrelated individually, but, together, they had touches of a picture that was forming.

First there were rumblings of inquiries being made regarding Azkaban and its population, there was also rumblings about various dead witches and wizards of the last hundred years going around, what worried Dumbledore though is that they were all witches or wizards who had been close to, or known his family, when he had been growing up. Needless to say, Dumbledore considered his past his own and not fit to be looked at by anyone else but himself, and his estranged brother, at best. Sighing, he pinched his nose, he really needed to know what Loki had talked about with that french prick of a wizard.

At that moment, Dumbledore's thoughts, that had been going in circles within circles, were interrupted by a knock on his door by Minerva McGonagall, who then stuck her head in and said, "Albus, a man is here in some kind of gold and green armor, complete with a helmet with horns!" she said worriedly. "What have you done now!?" she hissed angrily in concern for the school and its students.

Dumbledore outwardly smiled at Minerva, "Nothing my dear, merely a meeting with a prominent member of our society," he reassured her, inwardly, however, he was seething. He had had to use a number of archaic mental and emotional manipulation spells that had long since fallen out of favor before being forgotten to get Minerva to be more...pliable…to his influences and preferences, of course, he had also had to use a few select obliviation uses to make her forget their applications of course. "Show him in, my dear, I am sure he is eager to get this meeting over with, seeing as he is a…busy man," he said, his smiling straining ever so slighting at that last bit.

~Song End~

~Meanwhile with Loki outside the office~

As Loki waited to be shown into Dumbledore's office he smirked a little to himself as he recalled the looks on the faces of the students and staff as he walked past them. He hadn't thought to wear his armor to this meet, having been planning to wear a similar outfit as he had the day he first met Dumbledore, but when Adrette and his mother had heard of this meeting, and what had already been discovered about Dumbledore regarding Harry, they had insisted, vehemently, he make a statement and even leave the students and staff concerned about what such a visit might mean. Frigga had even pointed out that the students would most likely inform their parents about Loki's appearance, even if they themselves do not know who Loki is at that time, and thus it would serve to get the parents of the students on Dumbledore's back about the 'strange man in armor that had come to the school'. He actually liked their suggestion and thus here he was, looking like he was ready to do battle, and, in a way, he was. Though if that battle was a battle of wits and trickery with Dumbledore, or a battle against his desire to just straight up murder the man the moment he laid eyes on him, Loki wasn't sure yet. Either way, Dumbledore would not walk away from this meeting with anything truly useful.

Loki smiled as he felt the magic of the castle, in its way, giving him the equivalent of a hug. It had been giving off vibes of joy and happiness since he had set foot on the grounds of the castle, however, there had also been a sense of intense anger, deep sadness, and something else that Loki couldn't help but describe as being akin to a sort of deep disappointment, but not on whose part. He made a mental note to check the ward room before he left. If he remembered correctly, it had been on the top floor of the castle, hidden by a rather clever illusion spell of his own making that prevented anyone from finding it unless they had a specific need to find it.

Loki's attention snapped back to the here and now as Minerva reappeared before him and told him that Dumbledore would see him now. Loki took a moment to straighten his armor before climbing the stairs to the office. He wondered for a moment if this office had always been here like this, or if Dumbledore had made 'alterations' just so his office was more 'fancy' than the others. He didn't remember an office being tucked away like this, but it had been a few centuries since he'd last been to Hogwarts, so he would have to consult his map of the school in his private office later, along with its magically up to date list of changes made to the school over time. Pushing open Dumbledore's door, because he had no intention to show any respect to the old Goat bearded human, he cast a glance around him at everything in the main office. The sheer number of tools littering the office just to spy on things and people, the paintings that appeared to mostly be asleep but were actually awake and quietly listening, and the grand old Ironwood desk that Dumbledore was seated behind, all showing to Loki that Dumbledore was both paranoid, and overreaching.

Dumbledore, for his part, smiled outwardly as Loki entered his office, inwardly however, he was deeply disturbed. Shortly before he had gotten word from some of the portraits that Loki had entered the castle, he had 'felt' the wards of Hogwarts 'flexing' under his tight reins of control he had put them under when he had become Headmaster. He could only surmise that they were reacting to Loki's presence here, as the magic of the castle itself seemed almost…excited…at Loki's presence in the castle's hallowed halls. He would endeavor to check the Headmasters Wardstone later, since no one had ever been able to find the castle's Hearthstone, any changes had to be made indirectly to the wards, so a second Wardstone had been set up and had had some unintended side-effects over the centuries as a result. Drifting out of his thoughts, he failed to notice Loki's curious eyes eying some of the tools on one shelf that, to those in the know, would have identified instantly as Blood Tracer Monitoring devices. He technically wasn't supposed to have those by any means, but who would argue with one such as him, and it wasn't often he had one who would recognise them for what they were in his office.

"Mister Loki, it is an honor to meet with you, and thank you for arranging this meeting with me most urgently," he added, putting on his best manners and trying his best to subtly test out Loki's mental defences with a gentle legilimency probe.

Loki raised a challenging brow at the greeting. "For one who places his Blood Tracer Monitoring devices in clear view of any that enter, I would not recommend forgetting something like common courtesy. It's Lord Loki, not 'mister'. And given that I was kind enough to grant you some of my time when I could've just dismissed your request, I shall advise you not to make me regret agreeing to come." Loki enjoyed the brief flicker of shock and panic on Dumbledore's face when he identified the illegal tools on display and was making a mental note to mention this to Amelia at their next meeting.

Dumbledore had a minor panic attack the moment Loki mentioned the devices for what they were, rather, as most people assumed, them being some form of odd magical instrument. He then coughed slightly and tried to regain his composure, not realizing that Loki, having spoken first, had left him standing on the wrong foot, so to speak, in regards to this meeting. "Erm, well, you see, they are merely antiques," he began, trying to play them off as being more for display, then purpose. "Anyway, I must say, I was hesitant to reach out to you, at first, but I feel that I must, considering what has happened of late," he sighed dramatically.

Loki gave an annoyed sigh. "You seek to ask my aid on something and yet you clearly think I possess such low magical skill as to not sense that those so called…'antiques'... are, in fact, very much active. If you plan to insult me, you should not do so to my face if you want my help," Loki warned coldly. "Now, in regards to 'what has happened of late', you will have to be more clear," Loki said before smirking, "Unless, that is, you want me to pluck such information from your mind?"

Dumbledore frowned, but inwardly, was panicking again. "N-no, no, that won't be necessary, but, if I may, have you been keeping up with the affairs of the magical world in the last twenty to thirty years?" he asked.

"If you are referring to this Voldermort business, then I am currently in the process of learning what I can about that war. Though I have made it a point to learn some of this savior boy, what was his name again? Derry Trotter?" Loki was making a point to appear as clueless and uninterested as possible to lower Dumbledore's guard. The more Dumbledore thought Loki clueless about current events, the better to catch him off guard in his lies later.

Dumbledore nodded, but, inwardly was seething at the disrespect for his prized piece, even though he was far more guilty of disrespect to the boy then anyone else. "Er, Harry Potter, actually, Lord Loki," he corrected awkwardly, "The boy has disappeared recently from his guardians place of residence, and, I have been at a loss as to what has happened to the boy," Dumbledore said, putting on a show of being sad about Harry's disappearance.

Loki sighed and shook his head. "Perhaps had you wand wavers not spent so long cutting yourselves off from the non magicals, you might have learned that there is currently more to this world and it's threats than what you lot are aware of." Loki was only partially aware of the changes to Midgard since he stopped coming to this realm, but he could already give a short list to Dumbledore to leave the man chasing his tail like a stupid mutt for a while. "If you wish for me to search, or even to give my thoughts on the matter, then I must search the home of his guardians before I can do anything else. Thus you need to tell me where I might find it." The home of the Dursleys was one of the things he hadn't been able to get from Harry as the boy's speech struggles prevented him from giving the address.

Dumbledore frowned, the address of the Dursleys was a closely guarded secret, it wasn't in any of the archives, or even the information he had been forced to submit to the Ministry of Magic regarding the boy. "Very well, Lord Loki," he said, before reaching into his desk and pulling out a slip of paper that he then wrote the address out on. "I must warn you however, Lord Loki, the guardians live in a muggle neighborhood, as such, I would ask that you do not use any magic openly that could threaten the Statute of Secrecy," he said.

Loki frowned at Dumbledore as he snatched the slip of paper and read it before making eye contact with him again. "I use magic far different from that of your mortal abilities. Were I to use my magic it would have no effect on that silly Statute of Secrecy, nor would any like you notice it," Loki said dismissively. "As for it being in a non magical location, I am more than able to hide in plain sight when I so desire, thus you may keep your concerns about me to yourself!" he finished in a harsh tone. He was doing his best to come off as an arrogant man, just to make sure that Dumbledore would be foolish enough to treat him as such. Which given that Dumbledore is pointedly ignoring the fact that Loki is royalty, is a very bad move come the day Loki invokes the laws pertaining to magical royals. "I shall pay a visit to these guardians and see what I might learn. Though it may take time before I can send word to you, as I do have better things to do then to find lost mortal children."

Outwardly, Dumbledore smiled happily, "Any help you can offer, be what may, is good," inwardly, Dumbledore was cursing up a storm in a rage. Loki should be showing him more respect, given that Dumbledore had accomplished much and was considered the second coming of Merlin. Of course, Dumbledore was also ignoring that fact that stories of history had said that Loki had had a large hand in helping build Hogwarts, and, indeed, much of the rest of the foundation of the Wizarding World as they know it today. Dumbledore, however, had fallen into the trap many famous people who are lauded with many titles and famous deeds, fall into time and time again. He had started believing in the hype of his own reputation, believing he could honestly do no wrong and that the law should serve him since his vision for the world was the 'best one'. "Anyway, Lord Loki, I must be getting back to my various duties, you understand I assume?" he said, giving a clear signal of dismissal.

Loki raised a brow at the dismissal before glaring at Dumbledore and slamming a hand down onto the desk. "I am not one of your staff, nor a student. I'm not even one of the mortals who sees anything of worth in you," He growled. "Continue to speak to a Prince of Asgard like that, and should I stumble upon this savior of yours, I might decide to spirit him from this realm and claim him as my pupil, never to see this realm again!" Loki warned before straightening himself. "Now then, before I leave the grounds I intend to look around. Make sure the school is functioning properly as well as see if I happened to have left anything here." He was partly mentioning the last part to distract Dumbledore in a fruitless search for anything Loki left behind. Not that Dumbledore stood a chance of finding any of those things, given that Loki had made sure his private space in the castle could not be accessed by anyone who did not know the Aesir enchantments to open the path.

Dumbledore frowned at that, if Loki had some things hidden in the castle, they could be of immense value or power. He made a mental note to check some of the old journals left by previous headmasters and headmistresses who might have made mentions of odd things during their time looking over the castle and its students. So distracted by his thoughts, that he never even saw Loki leave, or was even aware of his exit.

Loki waited until he was at the bottom of the steps and in the empty hallway before he let out a long sigh. "Insufferable old fool. Still, at least he'll be busy for now," He mumbled to himself before glancing around. "Now then, where was that stone block…" He took a moment to create a few illusions of himself, in case Dumbledore was going to have eyes on him in the form of any ghosts or even the paintings. With luck he will easily fool everyone into thinking they had spotted the 'real' Loki, while Loki himself finishes his business here. A small smirk tugged at his lips as he made a plan to give the castle a little more freedom to perhaps rebel against the old Goat.

Loki slowly retraced his memories from the great hall at the entrance to the castle, and took note of how the hallways he followed, began to appear less, and less traveled the deeper he retraced his old routes. He also seemed to travel through several areas where classes once taught at Hogwarts, had apparently been untaught, for quite a long time…given that all of the classrooms he was passing by were covered in layers of dust that were, quite literally, at least two feet thick of just dust, dirt, and other debris.

He was even able to name some of them as he passed by the class rooms. There was Alchemy, Sorcery, Spell Creation, Spell Research, Spell Improvement, Theory on Blood Magic and its Dangers and Uses. There were also unused classrooms once dedicated to the magical equivalent of genetic research, Lineage History, better known by the name of Genealogy in the mundane sciences. There was also Golem Crafting and Care. He then stopped as he saw one classroom that, honestly, had at one time, been his own where he had, for a time, taught many students. It had been a class that had been dedicated to the study of the nine realms, their history, and many of the other worlds in celestial existence beyond Midgard's own solar system. However, it seemed this class had been untaught the longest as its door, which had been especially made to be made out of glass that one could see through, showed a layer of dust inside the room pushing up against the door that had to be about three feet thick in height, given it wasn't just dust, but also dirt, debris, and various things that had accumulated over the centuries, like insect and bug carcasses and other such disgusting things that make their homes in unused locations.

Frowning and deciding to check on the room again when he finished looking for his old quarters, he moved on to the final destination.

Going down to the end of the hall he turned to face a wall that looked no different than any other wall in the hall. "Now then, how did it go?" He asked himself before placing two fingers on one stone block. Then, while humming, he began to move his fingers along the blocks in a pattern and rhythm, in tune to his humming before, as he hummed the last note, he tapped one block three times. Stepping back Loki smiled as the wall opened up before him with such a smooth and soundless movement it was hard to believe that it was stone. Knowing there was no one around to see him, Loki stepped through the opening, making sure to close it behind him and headed up to his room.

A room that contained quite a few portraits that, when he entered the room, woke up and gave cries of alarm and shock. Amongst these paintings were some paintings of the Founders, and himself, as well as some of the very early Headmasters and Headmistresses. These paintings were not like the ones that he had seen in books and in a few other paintings. These were the real paintings of the Founders, the ones he knew and worked with, his friends and first students.

"Calm yourselves. It is only I, come home after all these long years," He told the paintings with a smile. How he had missed their voices and company. 'Perhaps I should bring them back to Asgard with me. Harry could learn a thing or two from them…' He thought to himself.

In response, the portrait of Salazar huffed, "About bleeding time," he said irritably, then he jabbed a finger at Godric's portrait, "The smug shite with muscles has been droning on, and on for centuries about his various battles, I swear, the damn muscle bound freak has been going stir crazy the last few centuries!" he finished in an annoyed tone.

Godric meanwhile glared in response, "Oh go and fart in one of your potion bottles you undersized dragon!" Godric retorted, "You and Rowena have been driving me crazy for centuries with your incessant discussions on old theories!" he argued.

Helga meanwhile huffed and then nodded to Rowena, who nodded in understanding back, before Helga went and pinched Godric's ear, while Rowena pinched Salazar's.

"Oi!" both Salazar and Godric screamed angrily as they were forced to stop arguing and focus on the pain of their pinched ears.

"That will be enough of that, dears," Helga said simply as she and Rowena glared at their fellow founders. "You two have been having a go at each other for centuries!" she argued, "Now, our master, Lord Loki, is here finally, so hopefully he can tell us how long it's been and give us all some much needed new information to discuss about!"

"Indeed, Godric, stop acting like an uncouth inbred mundane from the back hills, and Salazar, stop acting like some pompous noble who has never had to work a day in his life!" Rowena snapped angrily.

"Yes Rowena," Godric responded like a puppy that just got kicked in the balls before being told to sit in a corner.

"Yes dear," Salazar said defeatedly.

Loki gave a chuckle and shook his head. "Good to see you four have not changed," He mused. "In regards to what has happened, I fear you would all be appalled if you could see the magical community of today. It is a shamble of what it once was, with corrupt power hungry fools in charge, old magics and skills that were once prized, being left untaught or rebranded as evil magics, the laws that once governed all magic users, have been perverted or buried, to say nothing of how magical sentients are being treated. I shudder to think of the things I haven't yet had a chance to look into!" He told them before dropping into his chair heavily with an even heavier sigh. "There is much work to be done to correct this mess they have created for themselves. So. Much. Work!" He groaned.

Salazar huffed, "Well, hopefully the 'Youths of the Future', as Godric liked to call them, haven't tarnished our legacy too badly," he said, "Anyway, what brought you back, it feels like it's been forever and an eternity since you last visited us here!" he joked.

Knowing that his private office is secure, in that no one would ever be able to listen in on him in there and that all the portraits won't betray his trust, Loki easily opened up to the four. "I recently discovered I am a grandfather when my grandson found his way to Asgard through a passage I myself was unaware of," He shared. "The boy was beyond starved, abused, and was clearly being groomed to be little more than a slave by those he had thought his kin. Thus did I return to Midgard to learn why my grandson was treated thusly. What I have learned angers me in such a way I have half a mind to burn the current magical world to the ground and start over," He finished and clenched his fists as he tried to reign back in his anger before Hiemdal could get the wrong impression.

The founders, and their successors, in terms of headmasters and headmistresses, up until around the time that Asgard had stopped interacting with Midgard, along with Loki, were all silent for a moment, digesting what he had said, then, Helga spoke up first.

"Is the boy going to be alright?" she asked in concern, ever the caring and loving individual, "I mean, if it's as bad as you say, surely there is hope to counter it?"

"At present he is being looked after by my mother and my bride to be, both have taken to him as if he was their own, thankfully. Other than that the healers are keeping an eye on his health and advising how to reverse the damages done to him," He assured Helga. "However while he is safe and being looked after in Asgard, I have been looking into how this happened. Seems the current headmaster here is a key reason for my grandson ending up in the hands of such people. What I have learned of the man suggests he is truly corrupt but of the mindset that he is the only truly good person alive," Loki explained.

Rowena winced at that, she had always hated such people, fanatics and self righteous idiots, when she had encountered them. Salazar sighed like a disappointed elder. Godric looked like he wanted to rip someone in half and then piss on the ashes of the remains after setting them alight. And Helga, she had a pinched expression, ever the kind soul that she was, she also had a temper that could be downright terrifying once awoken and revealed. Several of the other headmasters and headmistresses were shaking their heads in shame of what the current headmaster was clearly doing. Salazar then spoke up.

"I trust you are formulating a plan, and intend to free this castle from his control?" he asked seriously with an arched eyebrow.

Godric, meanwhile, growled and said, "You are preparing to fight him, aren't you?" he asked, with the other three founders shaking their heads at Godric as with him, one could never tell if he was referring to a duel of wands, or with propper weapons.

"Oh I fully intend to turn the school against him, though it seems that all I need do is break the hold of the headmaster's Wardstone, rendering it useless to him. As for doing battle with the current headmaster, one Albus Dumbledore, I have already recruited the aid of a brillant witch, who also happens to be the godmother of my grandson, and a close friend of my dead daughter. She has a position in the Ministry over the law enforcement division and thus the perfect person to have aid me in my endeavors. On top of her aid, and that of the Goblin king himself, I have also tricked both Dumbledore, and another wizard who is equally full of himself, into thinking I am an ally to each of them, thus making them more willing to share certain information with me, under the belief I want the same things that they do," He finished with a chuckle. "With those two feeding me their crimes, as well as the names and crimes of others like them, I am certain I can destroy them both without needing to lay a finger upon them, or even casting a single spell."

Salazar ran a hand down his goatee in thought, but he did approve of the approach, as did Rowena for that matter. Helga just smiled, glad to hear that the man who was threatening their legacy and world would be dealt with. As for Godric, he was just angry that Loki wasn't leading an army of sorts, or fighting the man with magic and weapon in hand.

Suddenly, one of the other headmasters spoke for the first time since Loki had entered the room. "Pray tell, Lord Loki, did you say the name Dumbledore?" he asked cautiously.

Godric groaned when he realised who it was that had spoken. "Oh Merlin help us, the Dreamer is awake..."

Salazar shot Godric a look before turning to glance at the man who had spoken, "Why do you ask headmaster Fingal Gallchobhar?" he said, identifying the man who had asked Loki the question.

Fingal harrumphed, he really hated the name he had been given when he had been sired. "As most of you know, I was the last headmaster to have a portrait added to this room," he said, "You may not know however, since you all came before me, is that I had the occasional vision of the future," he said, surprising everyone there, even Loki. "What's more, while it wasn't enough to make me be labeled a seer, it was enough that I was able to write down a journal of my various visions, one of which, happened shortly before this very portrait of me was commissioned, and my magic and memories transferred to it," he smirked, "I remember the Dumbledores, because I had a vision where one of them, in the future, would prove worthy of their families founder, by being power hungry enough to get various positions of power!" he finished.

Loki gave a thought to what Fingal had said before nodding. "Yes, that does sound like the man that is currently running Hogwarts. A list of titles and positions that even the Allfather would bulk at," Loki confirmed. "He even seems to think he is greater than I as he dared to refer to me as 'Mister' Loki." If Fingal had a vision about Dumbledore, Loki was going to be sure to learn what all had been seen. Loki did know better than to dismiss visions as his mother was often discussing with him ones she'd had in the past that had come true. "Oh and Godric," Loki said as he turned to the Founder in question. "While simply going after my enemies with spells and weapons would be pleasing, Dumbledore is a special case. He has built up an 'image' you see, one that makes him respected and admired by all. Were I to just cut him down or hex him to within an inch of his life I would appear the monster to all, and thus he would still win in the end. However, were I to thoroughly destroy that image of his, turn even the most loyal and ardent of people against him, take away all his power, authority, influence, and followers, not only would I be hailed a hero by all for exposing such a twisted and corrupt worm, but should Dumbledore suddenly turn up dead in a way that is clearly murder, well...I dare say no one would really look into the matter or care," Loki finished with a smirk.

Salazar smirked, and, raising a glass of wine that had been in his portrait, saluted Loki with a smirk. Godric, meanwhile, grumbled and muttered about how it would be more satisfying to just kill the little shite of an upstart and then challenge anyone who took issue with the justifiable execution to challenge him to an honor duel.

Rowena, however, having been extremely patient, for her anyway, asked a question she had been burning to ask since Loki had entered the room. "Pray tell, Master, how long has it been since you last visited this room?" she blurted out hurriedly and in an effort to change the subject before another argument could break out.

Loki let out a sigh. "It has been eight hundred and one years since I last roamed these halls. Having foolishly thought that, after two hundred and seventeen years, I could leave mortal magic users with what we had created, and not come back to find them having reduced all that we built to rubble," Loki answered, feeling a little of his age, by mortal standards at least, as he thought of how long it had been and how much the more recent generations had spit on their forefather's hard work.

Fingal meanwhile, looked at Loki and whistled, "Wow, it's been a while then…" he said in shock. Then, growing more serious, he said, "Master Loki, should you have need of my journal of visions, thoughts, and recording of things I wrote down, I believe my true self last left his journal, hidden, within the old guest house that, if memory serves me, was located just beyond the grounds ward line," he said, not knowing that was he was referring to, was now known as the Shrieking Shack.

"My thanks, I shall be sure to find and retrieve it before leaving the area," Loki smiled in graduate. "Now then, I had best get to collecting the things I came here for," He then smiled at each portrait in the room, "And I do believe I shall be taking all of you with me. That way, you can all meet Harry, and perhaps offer some wisdom and what lessons you can to him," He announced.

The various portraits took a moment to register Loki's words before Salazar was the first to speak. "Wait…" Salazar said, thinking over his words carefully, "You're taking us to…" he paused, trying to remember the various names that Loki had told him and the other Founders, when they had been alive, for Asgard. "The Realm Eternal, the Golden City, Asgard?" he asked in wonder and shock.

Rowena, meanwhile, was of two minds. On the one hand, she wanted their portraits to stay at the castle, but, on the other hand, her thirst for knowledge, and the fact that her true self had never gotten the chance to see their masters home, was an opportunity she couldn't deny being eager to see.

Helga was, privately, very eager to see their master's home, to see if the warriors there really were as caring for one another as the stories said, or, if it truly was as their master had described. A place where magic, and the various mundane arts from when they had been alive, were one and the same, and yet its warriors, according to Loki, fought more like brutes, then with using their heads and skills in magic and arms to help.

Godric, meanwhile, was extremely eager to see the Home of Heroes, as he thought of it. After all, the warriors of Asgard were renowned in the magical world for their skills in arms and for their, now, unknown to Godric, forgotten help, in the war against the Jotunns in ancient times.

Loki rolled his eyes at the titles for Asgard. "Nowadays it is not as grand as I once told you, Salazar. As with all things in existence, change happens, and not all of it for the best," He sighed sadly, before turning to Rowena and giving her a smile. "I'm sure you and Helga will enjoy meeting my mother. You three should get on quite well." He then turned to Godric, "I have always compared you to Thor, in my head, now the others shall see for themselves how alike you two are." He chuckled, thinking about how the others will hate him for this, and wondering if Thor and Godric will come to like each other, or if they will quickly grow to hate one another with a passion and claim there is nothing they share in common.

Helga and Rowena grew thoughtful looks, while Salazar had glazed eyes as he thought of all the knowledge on various potions that, so far as he knew, were known only to Asgard, along with their unique ingredients. He nearly had a brain aneurysm as he realised there would be so many different things that could be used for potion ingredients, that were probably unique to Asgard, and, just trying to imagine what some of them could possibly be, made it feel like his brain was overloading and going to explode.

Loki, leaving everyone else to their thoughts, got to work arranging everything he was going to take with him back to Asgard, as well as plotting the little false clues to his office he'd leave for Dumbledore to lose his mind over. After all, there are enough hidden rooms and locations within the school, that one wouldn't find, or even expect, if they didn't have a clue, or were pointed towards them. Thus Loki had a large number of rooms to keep the old fool busy for years. Maybe he'd send Dumbledore to the old Dark Herbology room, where the plants that thrive in dark and damp places of the world, were grown. Or maybe into the sewer under the school, having Dumbledore wade through waist deep shit, piss, and other unmentionable stuff accumulated over the centuries. So many horrible possibilities to torment Dumbledore with as Loki and Amelia gather their weapons and defences against him. By the time the trial is upon him, Dumbledore would not be aware of even a fraction of that being used against him.

One of the other headmasters, who had been after the time of the founders, but, before the time of Fingal, spoke up. "By the way, Lord Loki," he began, "Will you be clearing out the Room of Requirement?" he asked, getting the attention of some of those that came before him, most of whom had arched their eyebrows in curiosity as they were unfamiliar with a room of that name in the castle.

Loki paused in his packing and turned to the headmaster in question. "Room of Requirement?" He had not heard of such a room before, but a part of him suggested that someone might have changed the name of some of the rooms in the castle to something else after the almost two hundred years he had spent teaching here.

"Yes," Fingal replied with a smirk, "Its located on the seventh floor of the castle, across from the tapestry that I made and enchanted to move," he said, proud of his achievement as he had managed to get it to move, granted, he had tweaked the enchantments for moving portraits to do so. He really hoped his work was still active, otherwise, he would be most put out that his enchantments had not stood the test of time as he had hoped. "You know, the one of that strange wizard, Barnabas the Barmy!" he said, making some of the more recent headmasters and headmistresses, well, in regards to shortly before his time, realise who he was talking about.

It took Loki a moment to figure out what tapestry he was speaking about, then he burst out laughing. "I had almost forgotten about that wizard. How anyone could think training trolls to do that, is beyond me," Loki managed to get out as he was forced to use his desk to keep from falling over with laughter. It took a moment before Loki could stop laughing enough to speak again. "Wait, is that not the room the Hearthstone is located in?" He asked Fingal in surprise and shock.

In that moment, every single one of the headmasters and headmistresses portraits blinked in confusion and surprise at Loki. It was, sadly, Godric who spoke up first, "Master Loki," Godric began cautiously, "You never shared with anyone where the Hearthstone was…" he finished lamely.

"As such," the first headmaster said from his painting, "We were forced to 'adjust', the wards to a control stone that allowed us to make adjustments to the wards when necessary," he finished lamely, knowing that Loki would be far from amused, as well as realise that what they had done, would not make any of the changes made to the wards of Hogwarts, via the Control Stone, permanent, as they were not made on directly to the Hearthstone itself.

"Ah, right," Loki said as he recalled he had meant to tell the headmaster during his last year at Hogwarts the location of the Hearthstone, having chosen to guard its location's information during his time as a teacher here, but had forgotten to do so. "Well, I suppose it's best I didn't share that information after all. I shudder to think how the school would be if the likes of Dumbledore had access to it," He commented. "So, tell me, what is this 'Room of Requirement', as far as any of you know? What have they done with said room?" He asked, having seen some of what fate befell the other rooms and wanting to know if he'd have to wade through waist deep dust and dead things to get to the stone.

Fingal rubbed his chin in thought on that one. "Well, it also has a few other names," he said thoughtfully, then chuckled as he remembered a few of them. "Lets see, I remember it being called, the Come and Go Room, the 'Map Room', the Room of Many Chamber Pots, the Room of Views, The Room of Hidden Things…" he rattled off, ticking his fingers as he remembered them.

Loki stared at Fingal, or at least his portrait, with a raised brow as he turned over the list. "So what you are saying is, I'll know when I get to the room?" Loki asked, wondering just what the hell the school had done to the Hearthstone room since he left it. Or could it have actually been the school itself? Had the castle become sentient? Was it using the magic it had absorbed over the centuries, from students and teachers casting spells on its grounds, and from the Ley Lines that lay beneath the castle, to try and aid those inside it? He would have to study the Hearthstone to get a better understanding of just what had happened, and should the school have gained sentience then perhaps this would be something worth showing his father to help prove that magic is far more than just 'tricks and spells and household cleaning tools'.

Fingal shrugged, "All we know, is what our true selves told us about it," he replied, "But, what I do know for sure is how to access it," he grinned triumphantly, while looking pointedly at two of the headmistresses that had preceded him, who, in turn, shot back glares of anger and apathy at him in response. Fingal then looked at Loki and said cryptically, "Across from the tapestry, lays a blank wall, walk back and hence thrice, while thinking of one's desires to reveal its mysteries…" he finished, giving Loki a smug look.

Loki stared at Fingal for a moment before speaking. "Or, I could just go there, place my hand to the wall, and use my magic to open the path since the school is still able to recognize my magic after all these years." Loki then gave Fingal a cheeky smile, "Perks of being one of the ones who's magic helped to found the school and form its foundation. Even if I'm 'not as young as I used to be'," He chuckled good naturedly.

Fingal just gave Loki a flat look and harrumphed as he crossed his arms. "Take all the fun out of how to use it…" he muttered in response sullenly. The founders, however, were all debating in Helga's portrait as they sat around a table that had been painted behind her, discussing things.

"Something you four wish to share with the class?" Loki called out teasingly to the four while using his teacher tone. If they were talking among themselves it had to be something of note.

Godrick coughed awkwardly and then shot a pointed look at Rowena and Helga.

"Master Loki," Rowena began awkwardly, "We would like it if you could try and find our other frames, so that a set of them could be restored to the Castle and that way we can, once again, help guide future generations into a better future," Rowena said with confidence.

Helga nodded, "All we know is, they are amongst piles of junk and other things, but, we cannot see through the cloth that was put over our portraits there at some point very well," she said sadly.

Salazar nodded, "One of Fingal's successors apparently thought we should not help teach the future generations of students," he said flatly, a look of cold fury in his eyes as he was the only one who saw the one that had their portraits removed from elsewhere in the castle, even if he didn't know the shite stain's name, he would never forget that wizards face…

Loki frowned at that, wondering why anyone would not want students taught, even a little, by the portraits of the Founders. "As I am still familiar with the magics woven into the portraits, it should be no trouble to lock onto where they have been hidden. Once recovered I shall ensure that they are permanently affixed to a wall where all students must pass through so that this can not happen again," He promised his friends. "In fact, from the Hearthstone I should have no problem locating anything I desire within the school grounds!" Loki looked back to his packing and smiled. "That is all of that done. Once I find the Hearthstone and set things right, and tend to the matter of your portraits not being in their proper places, I shall return to grab my bags, and your portraits from here to take back with me. Until I return, do try to remain civil," Loki told them before giving a slight wave and left his office.

Once out in the hall, and the path to his office closed, Loki took a moment to think about the layout of the castle. "Now then, that location is quickest to get to by going…this way," Loki said before turning and heading down the hall he was in.

As Loki walked, Peeves the Poltergeist had been following him for a while. Watching Loki like a hawk as he made his way through the castle.

Loki took note of the portraits on the walls as he passed, which ones he knew from his days as a teacher, and which ones seemed more recent. He even spotted several that never would've been approved of in the past as he navigated the moving staircases, spotting a few of his copies still walking around the school and even getting a chuckle as, what appeared to be a first year, did a double take after passing one of his copies at the end of the hall, and then spotting Loki himself walking past. He could tell these students weren't being taught much about illusions, and he would have to see about changing that before Harry would ever step foot here. Just what were all these children being taught that people thought was better than the old lessons? He'd have to see about getting the full list of the currently available subjects and curriculums off one staff member and possibly the school's book list for every class and year to see just what had been cut from these eager minds in terms of education, magical and not. Were they at least being taught how to blend in with the non-magicals? Taught how to handle a bully without a wand?

Loki let out a sigh. "Oh how many died because they did not know how to at least throw a punch in a non-magical community," He said sadly in response to his last thought.

Peeves, deciding to greet his idol and personal hero, smiled as he flew up to Loki from behind, hoping to surprise his idol, but, not in his usual manner of surprising someone.

"Hm? Oh a Poltergeist? I wasn't aware Hogwarts had gained one of your kind," Loki commented when he spotted Peeves. He didn't mind such entities as they were often amusing to him, still he did wonder what had drawn this one here.

Peeves smiled nervously as he fiddled with his hands for a bit, finally, he looked at Loki, his idol, and introduced himself. "Oh Lord Loki, Emperor of Jokes, Patron of Pranksters, and Ruler of Mischief," Peeves began, "I am Peeves, the only poltergeist in Hogwarts, I am, also, one of the oldest ghosts here in the castle, not that anyone remembers that last one though…" he finished with a grumble, "I have been a devout follower of yours both when I was alive, and ever since my death," he said bowing respectfully to Loki.

Loki was a little stunned by the 'titles' he'd just been addressed by. Sure he knew of one or two that people called him in the past, but since returning to Midgard he was beginning to wonder just who had done what to his reputation. Still, it was good to see a ghost he could 'possibly' trust. Not that Loki didn't believe this poltergeist wasn't loyal or anything, it's just their nature of…unpredictability…that can make them sometimes hard to work with. "How many years have you roamed Hogwarts?" Loki asked in interest. Perhaps Peeves would know a thing or two about when the changes to the school had happened.

Peeves thought about it as he put a hand on his chin, thinking back to when he had died exactly. "Peevesy has been dead a looong time," Peeves replied sadly, "Peevsey still remembers you teaching his year at Hogwarts!" he said proudly.

Loki stared at Peeves in shock. This single ghost remembered him teaching, but Loki hasn't taught any lessons in Hogwarts for just over eight hundred years. That would imply that Peeves might have been one of his past students who'd just been around as a ghost long enough to forget most of their life. Forcing himself to stop thinking about that, as he was made to think about his age in terms of mortal years, and he really didn't need the thought of himself as being as 'old and decrepit' as Dumbledore right now. "If you were around during my teachings, perhaps you are aware of all the educational changes that have happened since those days?" Loki inquired.

Peeves frowned and then groaned, "Ugh!" he groaned, straining his ghostly brain as he tried to call what he could in regards to ages past. "Peeves remembers some things from backs then, but, Peeves no remembers everything!" he said sadly, making it clear his age as a ghost was partly responsible for his apparent insanity.

"That is fine." Loki assured him. "I am not asking for anything more than you can give, regardless how small that may be it could serve me well one day," Loki explained, not wanting to say anything more in case the walls had ears.

Peeves frowned but then said excitedly, "Peevesy might not remember all from that time, but, Raven's Daughter mights!" he cackled a bit in his excitement as he finished speaking, not seeing Loki's look of interest at that, then he frowned suddenly, "There is the other, though, rarely seen, rarely meets others, but, would know far better then any else…" he finished mysteriously.

Loki gave a nod to that, knowing Rowena's daughter did haunt the school, but he hadn't known she was still around. "I would very much like to speak with Helena if she will meet with me." He then cast his mind to try to figure out who this other person might be. "Though I'm not sure who this other one you speak of is. However, if they will speak with me I shall gladly hear what they have to say." If this other person had information that Loki could use against Dumbledore or even in helping to set the school right again, he would be more than grateful to whoever tells him of it.

Peeves frowned in thought, "Raven's Daughter would most likely meet with you, oh Master of Jokes," Peeves replied, "Other though…" he paused uncertainty, "Might she meet with you, probably, maybe…" he said, sounding both confused and uncertain by his own responses. "She usually hides, bad old heads try to control her in the past, she be vindictive to them in response…" he added cryptically, "But Peeves knows her hiding places!" he grinned, "I's will go and inquires on your behalfs oh Patron of Pranksters!" he said, before flying off and disappearing through a wall with a cackle of amusement and slight insanity.

Loki stared after Peeves, unsure if he should wait there or continue on to the Room of Requirement. After all, Peeves had not said anything about waiting and if this one entity hides themselves from the heads of the school, then clearly being in a hallway, even one as deserted as the current one wouldn't be good for someone that doesn't want to be found.

~With Peeves~

Peeves smiled as he flew through the castle, surprising a few classrooms filled with students, and their teachers, as he literally flew past like a speeding ghostly bullet. He had searched through a few locations already, the Kitchens, several ancient classrooms from the schools Founding, a few of the girls bathrooms, unintentionally scarring a few girls with nightmares of ghostly perverts or something, and even the old, sealed off Ravenclaw Library that Rowena had sealed when she had died so that only the cleverest, or those Hogwarts itself allowed, could find and peruse the shelves of. Finally, he had found the one he was looking for. She had been hiding in Helga's old personal chambers, which had largely been lost to living memory, staring at a non-magical painting of the founders. As soon as Peeves entered the room, he took a ghostly knee in respect as he bowed to her. "My Lady, he has been given the opportunity, and requested a meet, will you meet with him?" he asked, a bit more sane now that he was in the presence of the one he, more or less, truly served and who helped keep his mind intact the most over the long centuries.

A small smile slowly broke over her face as she glanced at Peeves. "I know full well why he's come here, what he truly seeks. To deny him it would be to empower those I too seek to tear down," She said as she stood. "Am I the only one he wishes to speak to?" She asked, knowing there were a few others in the castle that could prove useful to Loki.

Peeves shook his head, "No, my Lady, he has also requested a meeting with the Raven's Daughter," he replied, "I would also think that the Lady of the Chamber Pot would also be a good one for him to meet, but, did not, exactly, bring it up with him…" he finished, though, he started to twitch oddly near the end after talking normally for so long without stopping really and as such, his insanity started to cause a tick.

"Go then, collect them, bring them to me and I shall bring them to him. You've done your duty well Peeves," She instructed him. "Do this last thing for me now and then go rest." She wished she could do more for him, but sadly as she is, her power is limited regarding such matters.

Peeves nodded, relieved that he could now go and do the ghostly version of sleep and rest. "Of course my Lady," he said, "It would be a pleasure to go and gather those who will help the Patron of Pranksters!" he said excitedly, slipping back into his more well known personality by the end as he raced off with a cackle of devilishness.

~w~

~Back with Loki. Ten minutes after Peeves left~

Loki was still unsure if he should remain where he is, or move into an unused classroom, when the wall next to him shifted in appearance, and a set of doors he was familiar with appeared. They were the doors to the Hearthstone, yet he was nowhere near that floor. Still, knowing that something like this doesn't just happen for no reason he pushed open the doors and headed inside, hearing the doors close behind him.

Loki then almost tripped over what appeared to be a half broken chair.

"What in the realms?" He asked himself in utter confusion before looking around, his eyes widening at the mess of items, some trash and some not, that had clearly just been thrown into this room without thought or care. "What in the name of the Allfather have they done to this room?!" He shouted in outrage and confusion.

To leave classrooms to rot as they were he could handle, to stop teaching subjects he was willing to let slide. But this was beyond disrespectful to the school! Turning a room, any room within the school, into a trash heap like this infuriated him and he would get to the bottom of who is behind this, regardless of if they are dead or alive at this time.

Suddenly two figures entered the room through the doors behind Loki. One appeared to be the ghost of a school girl, probably somewhere around her fourth year, maybe fifth, judging by her looks. The other, had a degree of refinement, an air of superiority and nobility to her. Loki quickly recognised the second one as the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw, Helana Ravenclaw.

"I'm telling you Myrtle, something is different about the magic in the castle!" Helena could be heard saying in a haughty tone, "But, I cannot place the why!" she added in frustration.

Myrtle sighed, "I don't know how, nothing really changes here, students come and go, and life goes on…" Myrtle replied drolly.

Loki couldn't help but smile a little, clearly while the living knew he was there, the dead had yet to fully hear the news. "Lady Helena, still as lovely as I remember," Loki called in greeting to get the attention of both female ghosts. "Who is your companion? A former student I see, my condolences on your untimely death child," He said as he turned to look at Myrtle.

Both ghosts froze, though, for different reasons. Helena, because it was a voice from the extremely distant past, for her, and for Myrtle, because someone had named the Grey Lady of Hogwarts by her actual name. Not to mention the fact that Loki was quite cute, and Myrtle was now feeling nervous. "Who are you?" Myrtle blurted out first, causing Helena to feel conflicted now.

Based on Myrtle's question of who he is, Loki felt assured this wasn't a ghost from his days as a teacher. Though this did raise the question just how long this girl was dead for. Was she one of the reasons some of the old lessons were no longer taught? Had a careless teacher gotten her killed, and then the head of the school just blamed the class as a whole to justify getting rid of it?

Forcing aside his questions for later, Loki gave Myrtle a charming smile. "I am Loki, a prince of Asgard, come to learn what I can about the current state of the school. Peeves had told me he would bring to me those that could answer my questions. I take it, young lady, that you are among those he asked to meet with me?" Loki didn't want to frighten Myrtle so he did his best to sound as warm and welcoming to her as he could, a trait he was finding more and more natural thanks to both Adrette and Harry.

Myrtle sputtered in shock. This guy was a prince, and of Asgard no less?! Helena, seeing her 'friend' had become overwhelmed by the information that Loki had shared, spoke up. "Apologies, Master Loki," Helena began shocking Myrtle with her choice of words, "Myrtle here has been a ghost for nigh on forty years now," she continued, "She, like many students these days, are not aware of your importance in our society," she finished with an apologetic ghostly curtsy.

"No need to apologize. I realize now that I should have been a little gentler with revealing who I am to her," Loki waved off. "Seems a great many amongst the magical communities have forgotten about me, but that does not matter right now," He told Helena before turning back to Myrtle. "My apologies for not considering how much of a shock this meeting might be for one so young. Please do not feel pressured to say or do anything if you do not desire to, also do not fear any punishment for anything said here. I only wish to gain answers to my questions after all, not to cause any uncalled for harm to anyone," He finished with a smile.

Myrtle was really falling for Loki hard now. He was just so charming, handsome, and had such a way with words, not to mention his accent intrigued her. Helena, however, replied first, "Of course, Master Loki, how can we be of service?" she asked with a smile.

Picking up the chair he had tripped on, Loki used his magic to repair it before taking a seat. "Tell me then, which of the lessons have been removed since I was last here?" Loki asked before thinking about what he was asking. "Or if it's easier, just list the ones still being taught," Given the long list of lessons the school had when he was a teacher, Loki could only imagine how long a list of what's been cut would be.

Helena frowned a bit, sighing as she thought about it, "To be honest, some were combined, others faded due to lack of apparent interest, others were outlawed by the Ministry," Helena began, "But, as of now, currently, there is Potions, History of Magic, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies," she listed off, missing Loki's arching eyebrow at the derogatory term 'Muggle'. "Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Herbology, Advanced Arithmancy Studies, Alchemy, though, granted that last one is only really taught by those that the current Headmaster takes enough of an interest in since he is the only Alchemist of real note with in Hogwarts, and the only one known of any real skill in Britain at the moment," she added sadly. She then took a breath and thought some more, "Then there are the extra curricular activities," she continued, "Such as flying, Ancient Studies, Apparition training," again she failed to note Loki's raised eyebrow at the unusual word, "Art, Ghoul Studies, though, that one is, admittedly, rather rarely looked into, Magical Theory, Music, Muggle Art, Muggle music, and finally, Xylomancy," Helena finished after much thought.

Loki took a second to marvel at how much had clearly been cut, important lessons that he was certain would be of high value in this day and age, he also took a moment to ponder the names he hadn't recognized. "Clearly more has changed here than I thought," He sighed. "Helena, let's start with something simple," Loki began. "What in the ten realms is a muggle? I keep hearing the term coming up but have yet to learn the meaning behind it. So what is a muggle?"

Helena frowned, thinking about it, "Well, it's been around, as a term, since very shortly after you left Hogwarts," Helena began slowly, "From what I have been able to study," she continued, "It originates from the term 'mug' referring to a gullible person," she said, "And was also combined with some long lost word that meant foolish, and something else…I think…" she finished uncertainty, she then frowned in thought, "What's more, it has taken on a number of meanings over the centuries, but, in blunt, plain terms, a Muggle is anyone who doesn't have magic, or magical ancestry, and while that is similar to a Squib," another term that caused Loki's eye to start twitching now in irritation, "A Squib, in plain terms, is a Muggle born to magical parents, so has more magic then a Muggle, but not enough to qualify as a witch or wizard," she explained.

Loki processed that before letting out a sigh. The magicals of Midgard had names for non-magicals that were basically mocking those without magic. 'This is the reverse of Asgard and I hate it already,' He thought to himself. "And what do these 'Muggle' classes entail?" Loki really didn't like the way Muggle felt on his tongue but he had to know just what these lessons gave students and if they were mandatory for one's education.

Helena again thought about it, but, before she could reply, Myrtle spoke up before she lost her nerve. "Well, when I was alive, in Muggle Studies, we were learning about the everyday life of Muggles, though, to be honest, it did seem kinda dated…" Myrtle replied, sounding a bit confused by the time she finished her answer.

Helena nodded in agreement, "As for Muggle Art, and Muggle Music, those two are considered extra curricular," she began, "Muggle Studies is an elective that can be taken in third year," she added. "Anyway," she began anew, "In Muggle Art and Muggle Music, students learn under their own guidance about various Muggle musicians and painters. To be honest, it is one of the less appreciated extra curricular activities," she finished with a shrug of indifference.

"They…" Loki had to struggle not to let his anger show. "They only start teaching anything about Muggles in third year, and for art and music they teach themselves?" He asked, trying not to break the chair's armrests in his hands. "And those are the only such lessons available?" Loki questioned.

Helena and Myrtle both nodded. "There used to be Wizarding World Introductory classes for Muggleborns, but that was stopped roughly two hundred and fifty years ago, I think…" Helena said with a hand on her chin.

Myrtle, meanwhile, decided to add her two cents, "From what I remember, we were learning about telephones around the time I died," she said awkwardly.

Prying his hands from the armrest Loki tried to keep them still by placing one hand over the fist he was making. "And, what about any Muggle defense classes? To study how to combat a muggle without magic?" He inquired as that had been very important in the beginning years of the school.

Myrtle looked utterly shocked while blinking owlishly at the very idea of learning such a thing. While Helena once more frowned in thought. "I would say that that training stopped about one hundred and seventy five years after you left, Master Loki," Helena replied.

Loki nearly exploded with rage at that, as those classes had helped magicals to fend off non-magicals without any risk of accidental magic, thus saving many lives in the process, but before he could do more than violently jump out of his chair, a new voice spoke up.

"Those that came after you left did not consider the risk to children by removing such classes. One by one someone came around and changed or removed a lesson that would benefit the students under the claims that it was pointless, that it was dark practices, or that it was just out right heresy to teach such things. Many names of those who did great things for those of magic, were stripped from history as traitors or simple mad men." A woman stepped out from around one of the towers of trash. "Just as this room has become that which you see before you, the school has been reduced to but a shell, serving only to control the minds of those that come seeking knowledge and guidance, rather than cultivating their minds and empowering them," The woman explained.

Myrtle frowned, while Helena arched an eyebrow curiously for a moment before gasping as she realised just who, and what, had joined them. As such, Helena immediately took a ghostly version of a bow to someone extremely important to them. "My Lady!" she exclaimed in shock, never believing that she would ever get this chance to meet the heart of the castle itself given form. Myrtle, though, looked between Helena, Loki, and the strange ghost-like woman who had joined them, but that Myrtle had never seen in her long time residing at Hogwarts. "Who is this?" she asked the room, confusion clearly written on her face.

The woman smiled at Myrtle. "Very few know who I am, even fewer know I exist at all. Yet I know all who have come and gone through these halls since the beginning. Every name, every face." She then turned to Loki. "I have waited and hoped for this day to come, when I can at last look upon the face of the man who created me and say, hello Sweetie."

Loki stared at the woman in confusion before her words hit him. She had been there since the school was built, knew every person that came to the school, and Loki had been her creation. "No," He gasped. "You can't be, but you are!" His shocked expression transformed into one of pure amazement and delight. "You are the Heart of Hogwarts, gained sentience after all these years from both the magic I infused you with, the Ley Lines you were built over, and that of the students and staff that have trained and worked here."

"I am as you say," The woman, the Heart of Hogwarts giggled. "It is good to see you at last returned to us, and I shall do all in my power to aid you in fixing that which was damaged and destroyed since you left. I only request that you destroy that which they use to try to control me."

Myrtle, feeling way too far out of her depth, decided to change the subject, "Um, just out of curiosity, what is this place?" she asked, indicating the room around them.

The Heart of Hogwarts gave the room a look of disgust. "This is my home, the place Loki hid me from all so that I would never be harmed, and could ensure the protection and care of the school. And yet, when those fools found out how to summon this room they thought it was just a room that would take any form they wished. When they wanted an out of the way place to store things, or just to throw things away, my room would appear in it's true form, but as they could not see me, they just dumped whatever they wanted here and forgot about it. They have even hidden that which they do not wish to be found. The old textbooks, portraits of those they wish forgotten, books that contain the truth they wish to pervert, anything they wanted gone was hidden here," She explained in anger.

"Oh, they have been so cruel to you my creation. They have taken your gifts and tarnished them," Loki said in sympathy. "I promise you, things are going to change around here. Your treatment shall improve, and I shall endeavor to ensure you never have to hide away again," Loki promised her.

Helena, meanwhile, took all the information in, she may have been sorted into Hufflepuff when she had been a student, mostly to get away from her parents, but she had been a Ravenclaw in truth, a true heir worthy of her mother. And as such quickly put the pieces together. "The Room of Hidden Things!" she said, getting the attention of the other three. "The Headmasters and Headmistresses of old would often talk of this vast 'storage room', as they called it sometimes, but, they would more often refer to it by the name of the Room of Hidden Things, at least in regards to that which wasn't needed most of the year," she finished explaining.

Myrtle frowned before her eyes widened comically, "I remember finding a room that had all sorts of books and things that could not be found in any other room in the castle, was this that room?" she asked questioningly.

The Heart of Hogwarts nodded. "Indeed, this is that room. Though it was not meant to be a place to store things. Instead this location was meant to channel the very energies of the school, all the magic that is given off by students and staff alike, brought here so that it can be used to provide power for the enchantments, to make repairs to the walls when needed, and ensure that all here are protected," She explained before frowning. "Or at least it was, until those bastards decided they wanted to control me and created those stones of theirs to try to exert their influence over me."

"Those stones will be dealt with soon enough, and I shall ensure they can not create more," Loki promised her. "However in order to do so I need access to your stone so that I can check it and then reinforce that which protects you from them," Loki said before sensing the magic's of the portraits he had also been looking for. "And it would seem the portraits of the Founders have been tucked away here. I had best find those as well." He still had questions for the three with him, but at least he now knew that Hogwarts itself was ready to go to war with him.

Myrtle frowned for a moment, "So, if I heard you lot right, this room can change to suit anything one of its occupants desire then?" she asked questioningly.

Loki chuckled, "No my dear. This room is the very heart and soul of Hogwarts. The place every great headmaster and headmistress has sought out since I left. With this room, should one locate the Hearthstone within it, would enable a person with direct control over everything within the castle, even a measure of power over the very ghosts themselves and what magical growth the students experience, to an extent of course," Loki smiled before realizing just how dangerous this place is. "Why, the wrong person could strip those they see as beneath them or unworthy of magic, of all their magical power using this room and the Hearthstone. Could drain a person of all their magic and take it for themselves…"

"Thus why I have done everything to remain hidden to all but the few I know I can trust," The Heart added, "As well as adding functions to this room so Myrtle is, in a way, correct," she explained, "After all, while it can become what one desires, it's also a part of me, and as such, it will only do so if I allow it to," she finished with a smile.

Myrtle frowned in thought, while Helena was thinking of the possibilities. "Helena this room could be of incredible use to the school, well, maybe not the Hearthstone version of the room, but, think about it, this room could be used for training students in various spells that need a controlled environment to test and train with!" Myrtle said excitedly.

Loki smiled at Myrtle's suggestion. "Well Salazar used to have a room for something similar under the castle. I remember he took great pride in that class and would often have the other houses come down to experience a few lessons with his top students. Where was the entrance to that class again?" Loki mumbled the last bit more to himself before remembering and stating where the entrance had been.

Helena frowned however, "I recall the location, however, I believe it is now a bathroom…" she replied in a tone of confusion.

Myrtle frowned as she worked out where the location was. "Wait…that sounds like where I died!" she exclaimed in shock.

Loki almost questioned Myrtle about dying in a bathroom but bit the question back as that would be in poor taste. Instead he frowned at the change to the location. "They changed the entrance to Salazar's classroom into a bathroom? What in the name of the Allfather would possess them to do something as stupid as that?" He asked and wondered what had happened to the other Founders personal rooms. Rowena's library, Helga's kitchen, and Godric's training arena.

Helena frowned, "From what I remember of my parents, Uncle, and aunt's various private spaces in the castle, Helga's kitchen was lost and a new one fashioned, though, I do not remember the reason for why…" she began, "As for my mothers library, sealed, under a protection of her devising and making that has yet to be solved, so it could still be there," she continued to explain, "Godric's old training spot was hidden by what is now the Quidditch Pitch," she added, not seeing the anger, the unbridled but controlled anger, smoldering within Loki's eyes, "As for Papa, well, I believe that some of the later headmasters and headmistresses were responsible for the smear campaign against him," she finished sadly.

Loki would later be shocked by how well he contained his anger in that moment. Not only was the Hearthstone room treated with such disrespect, even if no one knew it was here, but two of the locations the Founders themselves had built into the school for the students to use were gone, one he highly doubted any student was even shown the location of in order to try to solve the locks on it, and now there he was hearing that Salazar had his reputation smeared? "How exactly has your father been smeared?" Loki questioned. Salazar, while at times could be a prude of sorts and had a wicked sense of humor when he got going, was among one of the best men Loki had ever known. There was a reason the four Founders and him got along so well in the past and it was because they were great people that truly cared both for the education and safety of children. How could anyone smear any of the Founders, much less smear a man like Salazar who had spent years after the school was built to further potions and studies into creatures. Salazar was even the first man to milk a Basilisk for Odin's sake! A risk no one else had been willing to take. A risk that even led to the discovery of a rare gemstone that is able to block the effects of a Basilisk stare completely. Who would smear Salazar?

Helena smiled, but it was a sad smile. "After my mother died, which, I will admit, was after I myself had died, my father remarried. I will never know the full details, of course, but, I do know that the line he started after our deaths, went on for some time before the name disappeared from incoming students," She explained sadly, "Eventually, a smear campaign against the Slytherin line came to my attention, but, sadly, by that point it had been happening for some time before I myself was made aware of it," she added. "What's more, my efforts to try and set the record straight kept backfiring, I am pretty sure that one or more of the Heads portraits in the Headmaster's office could fill in the gaps," she continued, "However, apparently at some point, one of the Heads of the school designed special wards to keep ghosts out of that particular room, as such, I am, physically, unable to investigate properly myself," she finished, sounding both deeply saddened, at the ruined legacy of her father at the hands of whoever had smeared his reputation, and frustrated at the fact that she was unable to locate the source of said smear campaign.

Myrtle had been quiet throughout all this, quietly observing the conversation and taking in the information that had been shared. For Myrtle this was all very hard to swallow. For her entire life, Salazar Slythrin had been a bad man, whose house was linked to evil and Pure Blood supremacy. Yet here was Helena Ravenclaw, calling the man her father, and both Helena and Loki were speaking as if Salazar wasn't the monster she had grown up hearing about. The thought just seemed so insane to her. Rather than try to figure out what is true and what isn't, Myrtle decided to point out something to the other three in the room with her, one of whom had been staying silent throughout all this. "It almost seems like someone tried to erase the Founders presence in the school, so that they were more mythical than real, so that they could then make up whatever bunch of centaur shite they wished," she said sadly, not seeing Loki's eyes widen in realisation. "After all, it's easier to say whatever you want about someone long since dead. I would know…" she finished sadly.

Salazar's name had been smeared, the Founders were more or less myths to the students, the majority of classes from the old days were gone, education seemed to have been altered to keep the children stuck in the old ways rather than branching out and improving themselves and the world at large, the governing bodies were more self serving and focused on staying hidden as if still in the dark ages, those in power were corrupt or in someone's pocket, children were being used as pawns, and those races that were once the corner stones for protection and knowledge, were now treated like mindless animals or worse. And that was just everything Loki had learned since returning to Midgard's magical side.

"Please tell me there is not more to this nightmare," Loki sighed/pleaded.

The Heart of Hogwarts drifted over and patted Loki's shoulder. "If only it were that easy…" She told him sadly.

Loki groaned, "I may need several lifetimes to sort out this mess…" He then closed his eyes and rubbed his temples tiredly. "Alright, what more is there?" He asked, dreading what he was going to find out next and thus pulling out some parchment and a self filling quill. He was going to have to have a visible list for Odin to look at if he wanted to be able to come back to fix this mess.

~w~

~Omake 1: Crazy Family News~

Darcy smiled as she re-read the letter she had received from Gringotts once more. It had been a few days since she got it, and she still couldn't believe her father had finally been found, and that he was apparently high up enough, or at least important enough, to know the king of the Goblins personally. She was undecided on whether or not to tell her friend Jane, who she had met through one of those online chat groups regarding crazy theories about stuff. After all, she was planning to intern with her friend once she finished Salem's Academy and started college. On the other hand, it's not like she could really tell Jane much, what with her being a no-maj, and whatnot. Though, she had gotten looks of curiosity from some of the other girls and teachers wondering why she was acting so giddy…mostly because when she got excited like this, someone would usually end up getting pranked in a very…diabolical…manner. Usually it was because someone had crossed Darcy, and as such, payment was due in recompense.

Smiling, Darcy realised it had been a while since the last prank, and as such, some of the more…self-righteous girls, were getting a bit full of themselves and beginning to pick on the younger class girls to get them to do things for them. Maybe it was time that Darcy started getting to work on that idea she had for a personal defence weapon…she still liked the idea of giving it the name 'Mr. Sparkler'.

~w~

~Omake 2: Orphans Of Asgard, and a Slice of their Lives~

Godiva sighed, rubbing her forehead as Runa did the same while standing beside her.

The reason for their obvious irritation, was that Jarl and Ari had gotten into an argument, not for the first time, of course, but this time they were going at each other with their fists, and while Jarl had Ari beat in the strength and size departments, Ari had Jarl beat in terms of speed, and flexibility.

Runa sighed herself now, and turned to Godiva, "Ok, so, what set them off this time?" she asked curiously and resignatedly.

"Jarl has expressed hope for the changes the Nenkonee princess may bring once she is married to Prince Loki. Ari is convinced that she will be no different towards those like us then any other noble or royal. It was mostly a shouting match, but then Ari brought up Jarl's father as a means to suggest that the child of such a parent won't ever be accepted and…well…you know how Jarl gets about his father and what happened," Godiva sighed. Technically Ari had broken one of the main rules in their settlement. You don't talk about a person's family if they've deemed it a forbidden subject. So Jarl was in his right to hit Ari, just Ari was too stubborn to apologize and accept he was in the wrong.

Runa pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation and then stormed over, her clear irritation causing the other kids watching to clear a path for her out of instinct. Once she reached Ari and Jarl, she reached up and pinched each of their ears on one side, getting two exclamations of shock and pain. This was made easy for her since at that moment, Jarl had Ari in a headlock, and Ari had his legs wrapped around Jarl's middle while he tried to use his legs as leverage to try and pull out of Jarl's arms.

"Alright you two, that's enough!" Runa stated angrily, "Seriously, you two are as good as brothers, and, yes, I know that family fights, we all know that," she said, giving them a flat but pointed glare, "But, Ari, you know better then to mention Jarl's father," she then rounded on Jarl, "And you, you have the biggest size of any of us here, despite that the fact that you, me, Ari, and Godiva are all the same age!" she said, "You're supposed to protect everyone!"

She then ran her hand down her face, "Look, you have different views, ok, that's fine, but, we are a family that chose one another!" she stressed to both of them, and all the other kids in the makeshift hideout home that they had made and sort of prospered in. "After all, blood does not a family make!" she said simply, but with force, causing Ari and Jarl to look down in shame and let go of one another. Runa then looked at both boys, "Don't you two have something to say to each other as brothers?" she stated more than asked, giving them an arched eyebrow look.

The two boys glanced at each other before Ari shrugged, "Wanna go mess with those twin guards?"

"So long as the manure bag doesn't rip open on my shoulder again," Jarl nodded. The pair then bolted before Runa could snap at them that that wasn't what she meant.

Godiva chuckled at the pair as she watched Runa fume that she still couldn't get them to just say sorry to one another like normal people. Her thoughts then turned to Harry and if he would find this just as amusing as she did.

Runa, seeing Godiva turned thoughtful as she turned to look at said girl with a huff, asked what was on her mind, "What's up Godiva, you have this thoughtful look on your face, what gives?"

Knowing Runa wouldn't approve of her having made a friend in a noble child, let alone one with a direct tie to the royal family, Godiva just smiled. "Oh just thinking about all the good things in my life and all the people I like." Not a complete lie in a way, but enough that she was certain Runa wouldn't question it too much.

Runa nodded, not entirely believing Godiva, but, deciding to let it lie for now, "Alright, well, I am off to the Brothel quadrant, gotta pay a visit to our contact in the Thieves Network," she said, and, seeing Godiva's curious look explained, "It's been long enough that the skin and pelt from that royal deer that Jarl brought in should have cured, I'm going to try and see what we can get for it," she finished with a shrug.

Godiva nodded, knowing they might soon need the coin one day. "Alright, be sure to hide them though and avoid the main streets. That one group of guards is in a foul mood today and I hear they are looking for any reason to take it out on their 'lessers'." Godiva warned.

Runa nodded and carefully retrieved the skin, hiding it under her makeshift dress as she made her way out to the Brothel quadrant.

~w~

~An: Ogremen: So, was that an exciting chapter, we hope so owo and we hope we left you with questions that will be answered down the line, lol we also hope that the wait was worth it, and the material we came up with and wrote was to your satisfaction as readers of our crazy story! ^w^ Also, we hope that you deeply enjoyed the journey so far, and that you please tell us your thoughts, your opinions, your hopes for the future of this story, what you hope to see, and what you hope will happen in your reviews! :) Anyway, and now, I have said my piece, and am going to pass the 'mic' to Oracle, ok? lol

Oracle: That's another chapter done, please tell us your thoughts regarding what's happening in this chapter. What are your views on how the school's changed since Loki's days there? How do you feel about Salazar in this light? What are your thoughts going forward? Anything you want to share please comment (Ogremen: or private message us if you prefer!) so we can see.

Also, I would like to take this time to alert people to the fact that because Cyberpunk 2077 is about to be released (AT LONG LAST) I may be disappearing to submerge myself in the game. I shall try not to let it take over my life and hopefully am able to take some inspiration from the game. I've just really been looking forward to this game and have had my pre-order for it for almost a full year now. Sorry to pull this on all of you but I will try MEGA hard not to get too wrapped up in the game so that we can post more chapters for both stories. Just wanted to give all of you a heads up. Thanks for your time.

Ogremen: As for myself, I am looking forward to Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of An Elusive Age - Definitive Edition which drops, for the PS4 and Xbox one, i believe, on December 4th, of this year, lol so, like Oracle, I will try my best not to lose myself in the game too much, lol but, again, we can only try ;)