"You said he's happy to be here," Hermione said breathlessly, her eyes widening, as she realized their mistake. Fury seemed to catch on immediately to her train of thought.

"You think it's a trap. That there is something on this ship that he wants?" Hermione nodded trying to rack her brain for what it could possibly be that Loki was after.

"Do you have anything of value to him?" She asked looking around the room.

"He plans on using Dr. Banner," Agent Romanov said. "We need to get him off the helicarrier."

Before the group could react, a violent explosion shuddered throughout the helicarrier wreaking havoc on the structure. Hermione lost her footing and stumbled backwards colliding with one of the lab's walls painfully. Distracted by the sharpness in her back she wasn't able to dodge the large debris as it collapsed on top of her.

"Put on the suit!" She heard a muffled Rogers yell at Stark. Her vision was blocked by the various debris lying on top of her, and she couldn't help feeling claustrophobic. Relax. Breathe deeply and calm down. Panicking now, would only make the situation worse. After a moment she was able to gather enough energy to dislodge some of the rubble so she could see the rest of the room. Standing in front of her was a short, dark green troll. She ceased all movements and suddenly remembered her first experience with a troll. This time, the troll's back was to her, and it's focus was on a different target. Hermione was able to make out a red and black blur which disappeared as the troll bellowed in rage.

Once the immediate threat had disappeared, Hermione started focusing on how to escape the rubble trapping her.

Fuck.

Her wand arm was pinned. It prevented her from summoning either of her real wands out of her holster. Using her wandless magic posed a significant risk since she didn't know exactly what was on top of her. Getting crushed to death wasn't her ideal outcome.

Focus. Come on Granger, this is no time to lose your head. Moody would eviscerate you if he could see you now.

"Brightest Witch Our Age my arse," a familiar voice grumbled from above her. "What good are you if you can't even get yourself unstuck."

"Lavender, you can snark at me later," Hermione answered as she felt the heavy weight start shifting off of her. Having back up was a relief, even if she had to endure teasing.

"Now where's the fun in that?" Lavender asked laughing. "Do you know how often I felt inadequate next to you in school? Now I'm here rescuing you. I'm never going to let you live this down." Hermione grinned as she managed to clamber out from the debris and locate the fake wand. She downed an invigoration potion and a calming draught that Lavender handed her while the blonde witch vanished dirt and debris from Hermione's clothes.

"Thanks, but I always felt the same way about you," Hermione admitted. "Especially when I started dating Ronald." Lavender visibly brightened at the comment before jerking her head towards the rest of the ship.

"Get to work Granger, we can bemoan our failings later over a pint." The two witches nodded grimly at one another before darting out of the destroyed lab. Hermione stopped before she started following the shrieks and bellows of the Hulk.

"Lavender," she called. "I need every piece of information about what that scepter does when it takes over someone's mind." The blonde witch nodded and abruptly turned back to her destination as Hermione did the same. Rather than rely on magic, she kept the false tesseract wand in hand, and followed the screams and bellows of the Hulk. By the time she reached the chamber with Loki's cell, it was obvious that she'd missed the fight. Thor was locked in the glass chamber, no one else in sight, as he tried to figure a way out.

"I knew I forgot to research something," she muttered as she neared the cell. She wondered if there was any harm in vanishing the glass. The only downside would be that she wasn't sure what material SHIELD had used, and if it would trigger any defenses. Dropping Thor mid air with no protection wasn't exactly the best plan.

She couldn't hear him speak, but saw him mouth the word "Enchantress" as she drew closer to the cell. Hermione smiled at him, assuming he was greeting her, and reassured him that she'd get him out. She started performing a diagnostic spell to see what she was working with, when her wand arm was grabbed tightly by the man Thor had attempted to warn her about, Loki. His grasp on her wrist was uncomfortable and prevented her from "using" the wand, but was surprisingly unpainful.

Loki gracefully twirled her around to face him, while never relinquishing control her wand arm. He deftly stopped her as she faced him, wrapping his other arm around her waist and pulling her flush against him; her free arm settling on his arm. Hermione nearly jumped when soft classical music suddenly started playing in the room; a quick look around revealed an empty room.

"Witchling," he murmured looking at eyes as he slowly moved the two of them. She knew that her cheeks were scarlet. She could feel the heat that rose to her skin, which only grew when he smiled at her. It was difficult to focus. She forced herself to remember that this was not a charming man holding her, but a villainous Asgardian, and his brother was no doubt staring at them.

"Loki," she said, surprised her voice was not venomous as she'd meant it to be. Her eyes widened at how much he relished in the sound of his name. "Remove your hands from me before I sever them." Her threat did little other than earn a delightful grin from him.

"I am most grateful to find the guardian of my scepter," he said. "You, Witchling, are most delicate in your touch. Unlike these Midgardian brutes who break all they grasp."

"The scepter doesn't belong to you," Hermione said. "You lost it in battle, remember?"

"I would dare not forget, Witchling," Loki answered in that same low sultry tone as he rested his chin against the top right of her head. She forced herself to remain alert, and not relax into his embrace, which was growing considerably more difficult the longer he kept her in his embrace. The hand curled behind her back was tracing small intimate patterns against her clothes. Hermione attempted to escape it by leaning forward, only to allow Loki to close the space between them. He continued to lead her in time with the music.

"You were glorious to watch after all."

"...thank you," Hermione said caught off guard by the compliment. "You forget, however, that I am Midgardian." He made a disgruntled sound at her comment and his eyes darkened momentarily.

"Cease with these pitiful lies," Loki commanded as he pulled back to look at her. "You are above these mongrels. Pathetic claims that you are the same will not change that. Why do you refuse to acknowledge your greatness?"

"Surely the God of Lies is capable of detecting the truth," Hermione sneered at him. "I was born to two disgustingly normal dentists. They are so average that it is nauseating at times, and I adore them. Each time my magic wreaked havoc they soothed me. They never denied my abilities or scorned me."

"Your familiarity with my reputation pleases me," Loki said after contemplating her statement.

"You mean as Thor's baby brother?" Hermione asked enjoying the smug look getting wiped off of his face. She wasn't expecting him to suddenly smile at her.

"Your wit is impressive," he said. "Few can hone it into an effective weapon during battle. My brother is particularly useless at it; and always falls into its entrapment. You cannot deny that Humans were designed to be ruled. They crave subjugation." Hermione couldn't help the laughter that bubbled up and escaped her mouth.

"You mock me?" Loki asked her.

"You know little of those you wish to rule," she answered. "Perhaps you should spend more time researching our history before trying to claim humanity as your own." He opened his mouth to respond, but a deeper voice interrupted.

"Let the lady go," Agent Coulson said. Hermione couldn't see him because of how tightly Loki was holding her, and she tried to ignore the fact that Loki had pulled her closer to him once Coulson had announced his presence.

"My lady," Loki whispered into her ear, "I do apologize." Before she contemplate what he meant, or how to stop him, the Norse God kissed her deeply, using the minuscule relaxation of her wrist muscles to wrench the tesseract wand out of her grip, and shove her behind him as he turned to face the SHIELD Agent.

By the time she'd righted her footing, the fake scepter was transformed in his hand, and he stabbed Agent Coulson through the chest. Her real wand was in her hand and a blasting curse on her lips before the man had fallen. Unfortunately, Loki used it to his advantage. He landed deftly on his feet, clearly having learned after last time, too close to the control panel and promptly dropped Thor from the helicarrier. In her fury she threw a series of vicious hexes and slices, which he easily dodged by teleporting out of the way. Reappearing behind her, Loki pulled her against his chest again.

"You are breathtaking when furious," he whispered. He was gone before she turned around. Gathering her wits about her, Hermione threw herself next to Agent Coulson and started running diagnostic charms.

"Fuck," she muttered as she realized how much damage there truly was in front of her.

"It's okay," Coulson wheezed looking at her. "It's not your fault."

"Shut up," she ordered as she started summoning potions out of her bag. "I'm not letting you go." Hurried footsteps were rushing towards them, which Hermione ignored except to put a strong shield charm up. Once realizing it was Director Fury she dropped it.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"Loki," Agent Coulson answered before Hermione started dumping blood replenishing potions down his throat. She started muttering under breath casting an unorthodox combination of spells against his chest. Once the final stasis and freezing charms were in place she forced him to drink two more potions.

"Granger what are you doing?" Fury asked angrily.

"Saving his life," Hermione answered. "I'm going to need you to trust me," she answered pulling out a portkey. "I'll answer your questions when I get back, but if we don't go now he'll die." Without another word, Hermione made a choice that was riskier than allowing Agent Coulson to bleed out. She activated the portkey and allowed it to transport both of them.