Let me apologize, this is late. I just couldn't stop writing!

Harry came to slowly. Wait! What happened to all those people? Was anyone hurt? Quickly, Harry scrambled to his feet.

Clang!

Harry frowned. What was that? What was happening? Looking around he found himself in a square looking prison cell. Three sides of the cell were made up of complex runes that kept the prisoners inside the cell without breaking out. Distinctly, he could see the runes prevented magic wielders from affecting anything outside of the barrier and the barrier itself. The last wall was made of white stone. A thick studded chain was attached to the wall and led to Harry's wrists.

These chains were far different than the one he wore, Harry could tell. The chains were thicker and seemed harsher than the bonds he'd worn before. As well as encircling his hands, the chains were wrapped around his waist and then led to a thick collar snapped around his neck. He felt like an animal, but for the first time no azure and opal mist surrounded his arms and wrists. The colors that constantly assaulted his eyes, were muted.

His magic was restricted. Still not completely, but to the point he could hardly see the auras of power around him.

Instead of being angry or worried, Harry looked around him in awe. For the first time in ten years, he was able to see the world around him without being blinded by the sight of magic. Since he became the little boy in the cupboard, he'd resigned himself to never being anything more than an orphan, an outcast. Every time he went without dinner or got slapped by Uncle Vernon for his 'freakishness' all he wanted to be was normal. He didn't want to be different.

After being accepted to Hogwarts he'd been elated. For once there were people like him that could do what he could do. No matter how hard he tried to brush off the Dursleys words and taunts they still hurt. The first year he left for Hogwarts hoping that he would be accepted, not as the criminal Harry living on Privet Drive, but as Harry Potter; the wizard.

It'd taken all but ten minutes before that hopeful daydream came to a screeching halt. At the age of eleven he was thrown into a world of lies, deception, politics and discrimination. He wasn't just the freak in the cupboard, but a freak to the Magical World. The-Boy-Who-Lived. The-Man-Who-Conquered. All he wanted to be was normal. He never wanted to be famous, or powerful beyond belief. If anything, he wanted to be the kind of person who melted into the background. Somewhere he was sure fate laughed at him. Nothing about his life was ever normal, and couldn't expect it to be.

What were the chances?

Since he won the duel against Voldemort, the list of things that were no longer 'normal' in his life only continued to grow. It first started with losing his senses—those were supposed to be important and permanent, right? Next, it was the simple fact he was trapped in a seventeen-year-old body that seemed to have become—and he couldn't even believe had to say it—immortal. Lastly, was how different and sentient his magic had become.

According to magical law, if a wizard or witch lost control of their magic for an amount of time, it was permanently bound and all memories of it were removed. Harry sat in Grimmauld Place for the last ten years feeling more and more of his magic start of have a life of its own. He couldn't control it in the slightest sense. And he'd tried everything. Meditating, testing the limits of his magic trying to burn it out far enough there wasn't any extra left for it to misbehave; nothing worked.

Every day, every time he saw magical auras it was another reminder what he'd lost. The war was won, but Harry's life was doomed to change forever. Oh, how many countless hours he'd spent pouring over old manuscripts and documents hoping there was some cure out there somewhere that would allow him to be normal. If not a normal wizard, then a normal human. He'd completed his task and defeated Voldemort. What more could fate demand of him?

Looking through the clear barriers, Harry could see other prisoners milling about in their cells, although none were restrained like he was. All the cells including his were bare. There wasn't a single piece of furniture to be seen. But Harry had to admit that was fair. The last thing he could remember was his magic slowly creeping over the golden streets of Asgard after engulfing the rainbow bridge. Closing his eyes, he could still hear the screams and cries of woman and children as the deadly frost drew closer.

It was everything that he feared. Harming innocent people around him with his magic while he tried unsuccessfully to stop it. How many people had he harmed? How many had he killed?

So much for gaining the trust of the King of Asgard. Now he was doomed to spend eternity in the deepest pits of Asgard and never to see the light of day again.

oooOOooo

"Elskan? Won't you come out, please? You must eat." Loki curled up on himself further. The soft blankets and sheets underneath his small body weren't what he called protection from seeing his mother, but he didn't have the heart to answer the door.

At first, leaving the palace with Thor had seemed like great fun. Now it was fast becoming a nightmare. Outside the large window decorating the far wall of his room you could clearly see the brilliant city of Asgard. Below the Bifrost sparkled again the deep blue harbor.

The multicolored bridge leading to the observatory was forever changed after the sorcerer's spell. Instead of glowing golden and with a myriad of brilliant colors, it was a chilling, yet beautiful nonetheless, frost blue color. The sorcerers magic had somehow blended into the bridge, not just changing the color, but the very makeup of it. It seemed stronger now, but also sinister and breathtaking. The observatory remained destroyed, but the bridge was forever changed as much as the most knowledgeable of Asgardian Seiders could deduce.

His life was forever changed.

Loki buried his face into the soft pillow his head rested on. All he wished to do was hide in his room until this nightmare passed. But alas, it wasn't.

"Loki, please let me in." The Queen begged outside the door. "Elskan, you must open the door. I have allowed you the time alone you asked for, but no longer. There is much we need to discuss. Open the door Loki."

A tense minute of silence passed as they both waited for the other to act. Finally, the Queen of Asgard unlocked the door magically and pushed her way into the darkened room. It didn't take long for the Asgardians sharp eyes to see the form of her son lying on his large bed. Gently, she sat on the edge of the thick mattress and ran a hand over her son's hair.

"I know you must be angry with me, with your father. But please know, we didn't keep the secret from you to hurt you Loki. You are our son Loki, and I love just as dearly as I love Thor. Nothing can change that. Thor has been asking about you for days now. He wants to speak with you."

Loki's bottom lip quivered before he pressed his face further into the feather pillow to hide his tears from her. Frigga's heart broke as large sobs racked her son's shoulders. Gently, she pulled Loki into her arms, cradling him close to her chest.

A small pained voice finally spoke after most of the sobs had settled down. "Am I a monster?"

Frigga wasted no time shaking her head fiercely. "No, never. You are not a monster Loki. You are good and kind. You love making people laugh and you are so talented at magic." She pressed her lips against Loki's forehead. "You are my son, and my son is not a monster."

"But I'm a..." Loki's young voice cracked with emotion. The sorcerers magic had touched Thor and Loki as they ran back to the palace. Thor had seemed somewhat unaffected if not a little cold. But Loki was far different. The sorcerers spell had turned Loki's skin blue.

And he was left to deal with a startling truth. He was a frost giant. A jotun.

A monster.

Frigga placed a soft hand on Loki's forehead. Pink skin melted into blue. Green eyes turned crimson. Loki tried to back away from his mother. The stories said frost giants could freeze Asgardians with a mere touch. He didn't want to hurt the one person he loved the most.

Instead, Frigga held him firmly, not allowing him to escape. A soft finger traced over his nose and cheekbones. And... nothing happened. She hurt or disgusted by how he looked or what he was.

"See, you are not a monster. No matter what you do, you will never be a monster in my eyes or your fathers, or Thor's. We will always love you, Loki. No matter what." Removing her hands, the concealment spell bled back into existence leaving pink skin behind. "Now, let's get you washed up for dinner. Your Father will join us in the private dining room. I had the servants prepare your favorite dessert."

OooOOooo

Three days later...

Harry woke up to find he wasn't alone. Slowly, he took his time looking around him. The barriers to his cell weren't activated and a party of soldiers stood impassively before him. His green eyes flicked over them without much fanfare. He was used to the soldiers entering his cell to deliver meals and take care of his basic needs.

Then he stopped.

Standing among the soldiers was Odin, King of Asgard. Calmly, Harry dipped his head in respect for the King. Harry had questioned the soldiers about what happened in the city and received no answer. Whether they wanted to keep him isolated about the world around him, or didn't think he deserved the answer Harry couldn't guess. All he could do was hope no one was harmed or killed.

Because none of the cells were furnished, Harry was left to sleep on the floor. For once he was grateful, he couldn't feel pain or discomfort from his body even with his magic bound. The chains and collar were never removed. For a normal magic wielder, Harry knew it could have felt uncomfortable having their magic bound and inaccessible. But Harry could feel anything.

The chains muted his magic to where it was hard to access the therefore hard to find. Since Harry could only barely feel his magic before the cuffs, he couldn't feel it at all now.

"Have you anything to say for yourself, seidr?" Odin asked in a powerful voice.

Harry's face showed regret. His plan to leave the Wizarding World had been for the full purpose to stop himself from hurting anyone. But now his greatest fear had come true.

He must have been lost in thought for too long because Odin spoke again. "Your magic is strong, yet unlike anything I've ever seen... I know you are a sorcerer and a warrior. My gatekeeper has spoken highly of you and vouched for your honor. What have you to say for yourself?"

"I never meant any harm to your people. All I ever wanted in life was to help people." Harry looked down at his hands, encased in chains. They were so innocent, so normal. "The power I hold has changed beyond anything I know how to control. It had a mind of its own. It's...sentient. I will not lie. I wish to be free of these chains and cell, but I also know how dangerous I am. I will remain here for the end of all time, should that be your decree. Innocent have been threatened and maybe even harmed at my hand, and that is a crime I cannot plead innocent to."

Odin got a calculating look on his face. He turned to his guards and made a sharp gesture towards the prisoner. Silently, Harry watched as two guards came closer and pulled him to his feet. The chains connecting him to the stone wall were unlocked and fell to the floor with a dim clack.

Harry didn't pay any attention to the guards standing around him and instead looked steadily at Odin. It wasn't until the chains around his wrists and waist were removed that Harry watched the guards.

They were releasing him? Why?

Lastly, the thick collar around his neck was pried open and cast away. Immediately, the swarming auras of power crowded his vision. Blue and white smoke flickered around his fingers. Without the chains and bindings on not only his body but his magic as well, he suddenly felt light.

"Three days ago, you swore an oath on the Norns that you wished no harm to come to Asgard. Had the words been a lie you would have been struck down by now, yet you are not. If you wish no harm to come to Asgard, would you also protect her and her border? Her King?" Odin asked seriously. The two guards remained on either side of Harry watching him closely.

"Yes, I would." The former mortal answered simply.

"You speak the truth and would be willing to swear to it on your life and magic?" Odin questioned again.

Harry's answer was the same. "Yes."

Odin came forward with an arm extended before him. "Then swear an unbreakable vow."

Harry's first reaction was to hesitate. Odin was asking him to swear an unbreakable vow without saying what the terms were. Odin could say anything and Harry would be bound to it until either of them died. It wasn't the smartest option, but it was all Harry had. Odin was risking a lot by releasing him, obviously the King needed proof to show Asgard Harry wasn't a threat.

'It's a test', a cold voice whispered in his head. Harry did his best not to start. Now he had to hear voices too? Forget about an unbreakable vow, or a prison cell, just check him into the nearest asylum available and walk away.

But there was a part of him that knew the voice was to be trusted.

Harry extended his arm and took Odin's. Immediately, they both sank to the floor on their knees facing each other.

"Do you, Harry Potter, seidr and warrior of Midgard, swear to protect and aid Asgard with all faculties, both in magic and strength, knowledge and mind, in life or death, until you are released from your bonds by Odin Allfather, King of Asgard, God of Knowledge?"

Harry licked his lips before speaking. "I, Harry Potter, seidr and warrior of Midgard, swear to protect and aid Asgard with all faculties, both in magic and strength, knowledge and mind, in life or death, until I be released from my bonds by Odin Allfather, King of Asgard, God of Knowledge. So, mote it be." A band of gold and silver wound around their linked arms and Harry felt a deep tug at his stomach.

"Do you, Harry Potter, seidr and warrior of Midgard, swear to protect the King of Asgard and all named members of his house with all faculties, both in magic and strength, knowledge and mind, in life or death, until you are released from your bonds by the Head of the House of Odin?"

Again, Harry licked his lips before speaking for a second time. "I, Harry Potter, seidr and warrior of Midgard, swear to protect the King of Asgard and all named members of his house with all faculties, both in magic and strength, knowledge and mind, in life or death, until I am are released from my bonds by the Head of the House of Odin. So, mote it be."

A second band of golden fire gripped their arms followed by a tug from Harry's stomach. So far, the terms Odin set out seemed pretty tame compared to what they could be.

"Will you, Harry Potter, seidr and warrior of Midgard, be a faithful and truthful advisor to the Royal family and the throne? Forsaking all past alliances and only revealing the secrets and confidences of the House of Odin with their express permission?"

"I, Harry Potter, seidr and warrior of Midgard, will be a faithful and truthful advisor to the Royal family and the throne? Forsaking all past alliances and only revealing the secrets and confidences of the House of Odin with their express permission. So, mote it be."

Just like last time, a band of gold and silver spiraled around their arms. Sweat beaded on both their foreheads as the heat of the binds coursed through them. The magic was straining on both of them, but surprisingly it seemed harder on Odin.

"So, mote it be." Odin intoned.

"So, mote it be." Harry finished.

With one last tug, the bonds of magic disappeared and they were both left weak and shaking on the stone floor of the prison cell. Based on the guards' expressions, the amount of magic that had just passed between them both was more than just a normal unbreakable vow. Something more seemed to have happened.

While his senses seemed to have been burned out since gathering the Hallows, Harry could feel his body seemed different somehow.

"What... What just happened?" Harry asked. His chest was heaving nearly in time with Odin's. "That wasn't just a vow, was it?"

Odin didn't answer. He just stared at Harry with something akin to fascination. With shaking hands, Harry brought forward a hand to rub his face and stopped. What? The skin on his hand buzzed with power and sense.

This couldn't be real. This couldn't be right. This was too good to be true. Slowly, Harry brought the tips of his fingers together on his right hand. The pads of the fingers brushed against each other and a sense of feeling rushed up his arm.

The nerves in his body were working again. He could feel hard stone pressing against his knees from where he still knelt on the cell floor. One by one, Harry could feel his senses return to his body. How was this possible? After ten years, there was nothing left to try to fix his broken body. He'd accepted his losses a long time ago.

"What did you do?" Odin asked in return.

Harry opened his mouth to say he had nothing to do with it only to be interrupted by someone clearing their throat. From where Harry knelt, he could see the figures responsible without having to move. Odin however, had to turn around completely.

"Norns." Harry heard one of the guard's mutter. It wasn't with the utmost respect, but not scornful either. Before the former human had time to consider what that meant when the three-woman standing outside the prison cell addressed the King of Asgard.

"Odin Borson, bare has your house been of late. Take heed to choose your course wisely, should the destruction of Asgard come swiftly and without warning. Yet, still, the fate of the Nine Realms rests upon the shoulders of the House of Odin." One of the women, the Norn's Harry corrected himself, spoke. Then, their eyes came to rest on Harry. "Harry Potter, Lord of the House of Potter and Black, unchallenged Heir of the House of Peverell, wielder of the Deathly Hallows, and Master of Death. Long and harsh has been your fate, yet you remain unchanged and unweilding to the forces who have caused you so much pain. We greet thee."

Harry's eyes widened. The Norns had all but ignored Odin, the King of Asgard and a God. True they addressed Odin before they spoke to him, but only to insult and king. Then, they showed respect to him by naming his titles and praising his accomplishments. The guards all shifted slightly away from Harry as if they were afraid, he would infect them with some disease about to strike them down.

The Master of Death wasn't at all sure what this was all about, but he had a sneaking suspicion his life would never be the same.