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Chapter 9

"I know of what I speak!" Thor yelled angrily slamming his fist on the conference table in front of his teammates. Tony was watching the norse god skeptically, while Clint watched interestedly. Romanov was perched next to the marksmen muttering in his ear to to catch him up on the newest addition to the team. Steve sat stiffly while he weighed the Asgardian's words.

"What's Glinda's motivation's supposed to be for destroying the planet?" Tony asked. "Her planet, I might add."

"My brother is a master weaver of half truths and lies," Thor said taking care to choose his words. "He ensnares his prey with pretty promises of their deepest desires."

"People are capable of great atrocities with the right motivation," Steve commented as he glanced over at Tony.

"You really think Glinda's that great of an actress?" Tony asked. "Besides, Loki would never have given up that scepter. Not even to an ally. He's too much of a control freak."

"He could have gotten to her afterwards," Natasha pointed out. "He's already displayed his penchant for mind control, and she did go missing between appearances. SHIELD was unable to track her. Neither was Jarvis."

"She never appeared when I was with him," Clint said. "Although if she's as integral as Thor's suggesting, it means Loki would have ensured she stay secluded from us."

"She didn't have the blue eyes either," Tony argued.

"We don't know what her abilities entail," Natasha pointed out. "She can disappear into thin air. Is it unreasonable to think she could mask the eye color?"

"You're operating entirely on assumptions here," Tony pointed out. "Based on what Point Break, here, thinks he saw."

"Tread lightly Man of Iron," Thor growled at him.

"Your brother is a master illusionist. Couldn't he have shown you something different?" Tony asked.

"This is getting us nowhere," Steve said. "We need to talk to Fury and figure out Loki's next move."

"Fury's disappeared," Romanov answered. "He hasn't been seen since he met with Agent Brown."

"Who?" Tony asked.

"SHIELD agent, one of Phil's favorites. She's got long blonde hair she wears in braids," Natasha said.

"Oh, the Wiccan," Clint said. "What? I was curious when she kept disappearing for full moons."

"What is a Wiccan?" Steve asked confused.

"It's a religion involving witchcraft," Clint answered. "Nothing like what this Glinda is capable of. More about connecting with nature and putting out good will."

"Moving on," Tony interrupted. "We need a plan." Before a plan could be formulated, a thunderous crack forced everyone to their feet in defensive positions. Romanov and Clint were back to back with their weapons pointed as their eyes searched for the threat. Upon seeing Hermione standing next to Thor, still in blood covered clothes, hair in disarray, with her wand held loosely in her hand, Romanov relaxed slightly.

"Phil's out of surgery, and Fury is currently with him," Hermione said pushing her hair out of her face. "The prognosis looks better than I hoped it would." Before her words could sink in, however, Thor seized her by the throat.

"Where is the tesseract witch?" Thor demanded as he lifted her into the air. "How has my brother ensnared you?! What price did you demand for your magic?"

"Thor!" Stark and Natasha yelled out.

"This is not the way to do this," Romanov said surprising everyone when she pointed her firearm at the Norse God. "Put her down."

"Not until she speaks of this foul concoction!" His hand was on her throat, which Thor squeezed menacingly. "She aided him in his escape!"

"Let go," Hermione hissed, capturing the Avenger's attention. The God of Thunder snarled at her, and Hermione silently cast an expulso directly at his chest. She forcibly dropped from his grasp as her spell's explosion violently blasted him backwards into the nearest wall. Hermione launched herself to her feet while massaging her throat. Per her estimation, the spell hadn't had the same effect on the Asgardian that it would've on a mere human, magical or otherwise. The blonde didn't look as though he was entirely pain free as he too lurched to his feet and summoned his hammer, but he was still in one piece.

"The next time you touch me," Hermione threatened raspily, "I will kill you."

"You dare threaten a Prince of Asgard?" Thor asked menacingly brandishing his hammer.

"I'm promising," Hermione corrected him, as sparks shot out of both her wand and hair.

"Glinda," Stark said walking towards her with his hands raised in a non threatening gesture. "While I have no doubt you'd wipe the floor with Shakespeare in the park over here,perhaps you can come sit next to me and debrief us?" She nodded, barely, without taking her eyes off of the blonde Asgardian. Hermione allowed Tony slip his arm around her waist and guide her away from Thor, putting Steve and the table between them.

"Thor mentioned you were confronted by Loki?" Natasha prompted. Hermione nodded, and began explaining the situation.

"He stabbed Phil when he interrupted," she finished. Before she could explain what had become of Phil, Thor interrupted.

"What pretty lies fall from your lips Sorceress," he declared.

"Excuse me?"

"Thor has concerns that you are working with Loki," Steve explained.

"Clearly his brains have been addled," she answered with a glare at the Asgardian.

"He embraced you as only a lover would," Thor accused sneering at her. "No fight did you enact. You remained within his grasp, allowing him to caress you." Bruce, Stark, Steve, all turned to stare at Hermione who was gaping at the Asgardian. However, it was Natasha's response that had everyone surprised.

"Careful of that argument Thor," the assassin warned.

"I do not understand," Thor said glancing the redhead. "What woman would endure the touch of Loki willingly?"

"You clearly haven't seen him," Hermione muttered under her breath. Unfortunately, they all heard her.

"You admit it?" Thor asked triumphantly.

"I believe, Granger, is merely pointing out that your brother is handsome," Natasha said. "Despite the sociopathic tendencies, he's rather attractive. Admitting so isn't a crime."

"Can we stop talking about how hot you find him?" Tony asked in a strangled voice. "I don't need this information." Steve promptly nodded in agreement, while both girls smirked at each other. "So, Glinda can you explain why you didn't immediately fight back?"

"Brute strength is not a primary response of mine," Hermione answered anger getting the best of her. "Especially when the opponent has me at a disadvantage and physically is more powerful. Exactly how was I to fight him off when he had a hold of my wrist in a grip strong enough to snap it?"

"You should have prevented Agent of Coulson's death!" Thor bellowed.

"I did you giant idiot!" Hermione yelled standing with both hands on the table. "Is your brain so addled by ale that you didn't even listen to what I said upon my arrival?!"

"Wait," Steve said. "I think we might all have missed it with the commotion. Phil's alive"

"Yes," Hermione said testily as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I managed to get him to the hospital in time, and he is now recovering from surgery. Fury is with him now."

"Oh," Thor said after a moment.

"Yes...oh" Hermione mocked.

"Perhaps an apology would be in order," Steve muttered quietly towards Thor.

"She could still be in cahoots with Loki," Thor objected, as the glass pitcher on the table suddenly shattered. Everyone startled staring at the table before glancing at Hermione who flicked her wand and repaired it before vanishing the liquid.

"Why, in Merlin's saggy bottom, would I bother saving Phil if I was working with your brother?" She asked trying to regain control of her emotions. Thor opened his mouth only to have Clint cut him off.

"I think it's safe to say she's on our side," he said. "Doesn't anyone want to know what happened to the pitcher?"

"Accidental magic," Hermione answered. "Usually only happens with children and cases of extreme emotions."

"Right," he said as though hearing about magic was an everyday occurrence. "I'm Clint, by the way, since these idiots don't know how to make introductions." Hermione immediately perked up, and looked at the archer in interest.

"How'd they get rid of Loki's influence?"

"Cognitive recalibration" Natasha answered, before simplifying, "I hit him really hard in the head."

"Would you be willing to let me see how he took control?" Hermione asked. "It would be helpful to know exactly how the scepter works, and whether occlumency would be a prudent choice of defense."

"What would that entail?" Clint asked cautiously, clearly ignoring the majority of her statement.

"I would need to look into your mind," Hermione explained gently. "I need to see the memory of Loki taking control, and see how it affected your synapses."

"And give you the chance to ensnare his mind yourself?" Thor interrupted. Hermione didn't glance at him before sending a stinging hex and subsequent petrificus totalus. While a few of the Avengers glanced at Thor when he collapsed onto the ground, Hermione had already resumed her explanation to Clint, which had their attention.

"Knowing how it affects the brain may make it easier to release the victim in the future or defend against it," she finished.

"You need my permission to do this?" Clint asked.

"No," Hermione answered. "However, entering someone's mind without permission is not ideal, and rather invasive. Not to mention, the fact that it's prudent we trust each other. Forcing myself into your mind would be adverse to that outcome."

"I like her," Clint muttered to Natasha. "Do it." Hermione nodded.

"You need to relax and don't break eye contact?" She didn't give him time to respond. Hermione slipped in the moment he met her gaze, finding herself standing on a metal beam thousands of meters above the ground, and wavering with her balance. Strong arms steadied herself, which she latched onto, while turning to see Clint was stabilizing her.

"I hate heights," she said. He grinned at her before releasing herself to sign his response.

"They're my favorite," he said. She cocked her head to the side, perplexed that he was signing to her instead of speaking. He turned without speaking, and started walking along the beam. Hermione carefully followed behind him.

"Don't look down, don't look down," she kept muttering to herself. Thankfully it was long until he stopped, and gestured for her to watch. She could see Loki approaching with his scepter. The grip on her hand ached.

"You have heart," a lilith voice said, as she struggled to free herself. She failed, and the sharp tip of the strange staff touched her chest. A new voice, similar to the haze of the imperius overtook her body and mind. She jerked out of the memory, and slipped off of the beam. Screaming as she fell she hit the ground hard, and realized she was back in the conference room.

"What happened?!"

"Is she alright?"

Voices were yelling as Hermione focused on controlling her breathing and fear. She had slipped into a panic attack. Tony pulled her to her feet, and she saw that Natasha was fretting over Clint, as he struggled to check on Hermione.

"I dislike you," Hermione managed to breathe out. "Who the fuck wanders across beams that high off the ground to organize their thoughts?"

"Afraid of heights?" Clint asked grinning at her.

"Extremely," she answered. "It's why I hate flying and refuse to use a broom."

"You can fly on a broom?!" Steve asked. "The Wizard of Oz got that right?" Hermione let out a laugh.

"Yes," she answered. "I prefer Thestrals and Hippogriffs. Even the dragon was better than a broom."

"Dragons?!" Thor asked excitedly. She glanced over and realized that her spell must have worn off. She nodded as she tried to calm her breathing. "I broke into a bank. We escaped on a dragon." Everyone looked stunned at the admision, and thankfully didn't call her on it. Thor's eyes were lit up at the prospect that she'd battled a dragon.

"What happened?" Steve asked, refocusing the group.

"Everyone's mind is organized differently," Hermione answered. "Clint's manifested high in the air on metal beams. When I panicked in the memory he was showing me, I fell off of one. The takeover Loki used felt similar to a spell I've encountered. Occlumency would help, although may not be totally effective. When undergoing it, you must fight it off mentally, and will yourself to remain in control."

"That seems reasonable," Tony answered. "Not as though you just spouted something out of a scifi novel."

"It takes practice," Hermione answered. "Not everyone can do it. My friend Harry is atrocious at the art. Usually those who are more emotional aren't great at it. If you can compartmentalize it's a bit easier."

"Does anyone know where Loki is, or what he's trying to use the scepter for?" Steve asked.

"No," Hermione said shaking her head.

"He's going to make his play soon though, today," Clint added. "He recovered the sceptor?"

"Yes," Thor answered as Hermione said, "No." Everyone in the room blinked and looked at the two of them confused.

"I saw him use the scepter to assault the Agent of Coulson," Thor answered. "He took it with him."

"He took a scepter," Hermione answered softly. "I had a decoy made after acquiring it in Germany."

"How?" Tony asked curiously.

"Magic," Hermione replied impishly. "It's designed to replicate a staff or a wand, and shoot blue lights out. Clearly it was made a bit too well, considering Phil's condition, but magically it's rather worthless."

"Where's the real one?" Natasha asked. Hermione shrugged with a small smile.

"You have deceived Loki," Thor said after a moment. "Such a feat is a great rarity."

"Yes," Hermione said. "Well, I figured he'd want it back."

"My apologies Sorceress," Thor said humbly. She tilted her head at him.

"Where's Dr. Banner?" Hermione asked suddenly. Everyone promptly shrugged before starting to fill her in on the rest of the battle she missed.