Back at her home in New Mexico, Hermione Walkers was a little surprised to receive a visit from Agent Coulson regarding something apparently called 'the Avengers Initiative'. With the expression he wore as they sat down, it was clear he meant business. As they spoke, Hermione indulged herself in listening to 'Begin Again,' a popular gaming parody she had found on YouTube.

"So, the Avengers Initiative. It is designed to bring together specially talented people to see if they could become better-"

"Let me stop you right there, Agent," Hermione said. "This all sounds well and good, but why exactly have you come to me?"

"You have been selected as an Avengers candidate, due to your supernatural skills and magical ability, but also due to your sense of right and wrong, and evidently preferring to do what is right."

"You mean the storm?" Hermione asked.

The agent nodded, then handed her a booklet. "Debriefing packet. Look it over. There's a phone number at the end to reach me. Contact me if you have any questions or an answer." With that, he left.

Hermione immediately snatched up the packet. It was twenty-three pages long, and extremely well-thought out. The first few pages covered what exactly the Avengers were, concluding with confirming what Agent Coulson had told her. Then it moved onto the freedom of movement and freedom to hero around. An important freedom. There were five pages of the freedoms and rights that allowed the Avengers to take care of any villains that came a-knocking. They included movement, heroing around, right to keep their identities secret, not having to answer to the government, and the right to choose who to protect. There were several more, but Hermione was not quite as interested.

The third section of four was the longest at ten pages, and Hermione raised her eyebrows when she saw what it was about. It pertained specifically to her, and the whole thing basically said that she was forbidden to use her magic to break the law. A seemingly pointless section, until Hermione saw a rather telling sentence. Use of magic on people is strictly forbidden. Oh that agency was in for it.

The last section stated the loose ties to SHIELD, most of which was just saying that the Avengers, while not a part of or tied to SHIELD, would be in contact with SHIELD via a liaison whose duty was basically keeping and eye on them. Oh, yes, some parts would just have to go.

Hermione was reluctant to dial the number, but she did have to talk with the agency.

"Miss Walkers?" she heard Agent Coulson ask.

"Yes, I need to speak with your director regard the Avengers Initiative," she informed him.

"So you'll join?" he asked.

Hermione looked at the booklet lying closed on the table a few feet away. She smiled.

"Maybe."

–

"Miss Walkers," Director Fury said as she entered his office two days later. "Glad to speak with you."

"Let's cut to the quick," Hermione said. "I have something to say regarding the Avengers Initiative." She dropped two booklets on the table. "I have made a revised copy of the booklet, and am willing to seriously consider joining on my terms. I did not change much, but have edited the third and fourth sections. The first two are practically the same, but I have removed certain clauses in the last two and added a few more."

Director Fury flipped to her third section. "You've removed the 'no magic on humans'," he noted.

"Yes," she confirmed. "I refuse to be limited to non-human targets for my magic. I shall use my magic as I see fit," she explained.

"And you've edited the liaison duty," he noted. "May I ask why?"

Hermione didn't flinch. "Because it's stupid. I do not mind being in contact with SHIELD. I do, however, mind being watched like a hawk. I will be using my magic to ensure that no-one goes and reports everything about me anyways. I would prefer to keep my life a secret," she deadpanned.

Director Fury nodded. "I can respect someone like that. I'll enter you under this contract," he said.

"Sign it," she insisted.

He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because you need to sign it." Hermione handed him a pen. It was enchanted. She had studied her magic, and while her skills were somewhat limited, she had stumbled across a tune that took blood from someone to fill a pen. It had already managed to bind her colleagues into a contract of secrecy on what exactly had happened. Whenever they tried to talk about it, their hand hurt drastically. It was extremely painful to start, and only got worse.

Director Fury signed it carefully, but only after perusing the entire document. Hermione did not sign, but instead took it. "I'll sign it and return here if I agree," she informed him. "Thank you for your time."

As she left, she blacked out.

–

Hermione blinked. She was facing Director Fury, her flute in hand. Hermione put it back at her waist and left.

Questions burned in her mind as she utilized her magic to return home. Uncle Thor was waiting for her, and she frowned at his unhappy look. "What's wrong?"

Uncle Thor sighed. "Asgard has been invaded. Many of our people have been killed. Do not worry, your father and our family are fine. I thought you should know."

Hermione smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Thor. Now why are you really here?"

Uncle Thor chuckled. "You see right through me, don't you? It's because I'm tracking down an anomaly that has the potential to destroy the Nine Realms."

Hermione smiled. "I suppose you're not talking about me?"

Uncle Thor chuckled. "No, I'm not. I am referring to the Tessaract. It needs to be taken back to Asgard before all of Midgard and the Nine Realms are destroyed. I was hoping to get your help with that."

Hermione frowned. "I'll help you. But know that I cannot do much if I don't know where to go. I must have a place."

"I have the place," Uncle Thor told her. "It's in a compound owned by SHIELD."

"SHIELD again? I hate them," Hermione grumbled. "If almost anyone else asked, I would have turned my back and walked away. But I trust you. Alright, where's the facility?"

–

Hermione and Uncle Thor enjoyed annoying SHIELD after New Mexico. It was really the idea that someone could steal another person's entire life, dedication, and happiness like that, especially for something as stupid as not liking the research. Hermione knew very well that she should be wary of SHIELD, and she didn't like working with them in any way. But it wasn't about SHIELD. Contrary to the organization's belief, they were not the center of everything.

Hermione was only at the facility to annoy the agents, so she made it perfectly clear that she didn't much care for SHIELD. The point of her possible signature was to help innocent people, not be a puppet with someone else pulling the strings. Hermione was not a puppet.

Uncle Thor was known to be Dr. Selvig's friend, and while it took some convincing – mainly ignoring protests – it was not difficult to get the agents to let them talk with the doctor. There was the flute as well, which was apparently now a source of fear for SHIELD agents, as evidently the guy Hermione had stranded in the desert hadn't been found in time. Showing the flute was enough for agents to stop bothering them so much, more so if they had seen what she had done.

In the cavern where Dr. Selvig was, Hermione and Uncle Thor found a glowing blue cube in a mechanism. Uncle Thor frowned and approached Dr. Selvig.

"Selvig, my good friend. How are you?" he asked jovially.

"There aren't very many good moments these days, but I am fine," Dr. Selvig said.

"What's wrong?" Uncle Thor asked. The jovial tone had dropped from his voice, and he was more serious now.

"I suppose you know what the Tessaract is," Dr. Selvig said.

Uncle Thor became slightly angry at that. "So you've tried to study the Tessaract?"

"Succeeded. We know more about it now," Dr. Selvig countered.

"We haven't met."

Hermione turned around, and Uncle Thor did the same. A man with brown eyes and short brown hair had leveled a bow, two arrows nocked, at them.

"Who are you?"he asked.

Dr. Selvig intervened. "Hawk."

'Hawk' gave him a nod of acknowledgment, but his attention remained firmly on Hermione and Uncle Thor. "This is a SHIELD research facility. You shouldn't be here."

"Agent Barton!" The agent lowered his bow slightly, and a man came into view. He wore an eyepatch, a long black coat, and a serious expression. Director Fury. "Doctor, are these the two you were talking about?"

Dr. Selvig nodded. "Hermione Walkers and Thor. My friends."

"Thor what?" the Director asked. "Surely you must have a last name."

Hermione butted in. "So Director, we meet again." She did not miss the bow raising slightly at her recognition of the Director.

"We do. Now, I want an answer. We need to make sure that you are not a threat to our research," the Director told Uncle Thor.

"Research you have no right to," Uncle Thor said gravely. "The Tessaract belongs on Asgard. No human is a match for it. If you consider taking away the Tessaract threat to your research, then yes, I am. For the good of the Nine Realms."

"The Tessaract is on Earth. I am aware that there are other civilizations out there. Your people have made that painfully clear. But as the Tessaract is on Earth, it falls under our laws. Which means that you cannot take it."

"Oh really?" Hermione asked. "I know what an Infinity Stone can do. The legends of weak beings trying to contain an Infinity Stone...they don't end with anything but death."

"We can contain it," the Director said passionately. "We already are. Humanity is not weak."

Uncle Thor laughed. "No mortal can hold an Infinity Stone and live, especially alone. Your technology is not capable of containing its power."

Hermione smiled at the Director's expression. "Alright, I'll make this simple. Fury, shut up. Dr. Selvig, good day. Agent Barton, pleased to make your acquaintance."

She put her flute to her lips, vanishing with Uncle Thor and the Tessaract a mere heartbeat before the arrow from Agent Barton would have hit her.

–

Back in New Mexico, Loki was wondering where they had gone. He knew that it was probably a SHIELD facility, but there was no way he could be sure. Loki would simply have to await the return of his daughter and brother.

A slight ripping sound alerted him to the arrival he had been waiting for.

Loki was aware that Hermione's flute ripped holes in reality. He hated it, but there was nothing anyone could do. The Asgard Bifrost made holes too, but they were all where the Bifrost was. Hermione's flute ripped huge holes, from where the flute started its journey to where it ended.

Hermione smiled as she walked into her bedroom. It was painted black with white borders. Everything in her room, save the pictures on one wall, were either black or white. There were nine pictures, eight in a circle opposite her bed, and the last in the middle of the circle. All of them showed fond times of her childhood. All happy memories, all containing her, her father, and Uncle Thor.

None of them were from the same year or holiday. The nine occasions they showed were Christmas, Thanksgiving, her birthday, the 4th of July, New Years, Easter, a lunar eclipse, All Hallow's Eve, and 's Day. They were the only source of vibrant color in the room.

A single memory in each picture frame, preserved in the only way it could be.

–

"So, how's the research going?"

Jane smiled happily at her question. "We confirmed the theory! I got an invitation to research at a university, and I published a paper on it, but no-one believes me." She smiled. "Except you."

Hermione laughed at her comment. "Oh, please. I never did anything to be a part of the scientific community. You know just as well as I do that I was trying to stop you from finding the last pieces. I still don't get why you still want to be friends after that."

It was a day after their visit to SHIELD. Uncle Thor had taken the Tessaract back to Asgard, but of course there were problems. The Tessaract had been off Asgard for centuries, which meant that no-one believed that it could possibly be recovered. The logic in that was sound as Hermione had heard it; everyone who would be in the know about it believed that if the Asgardians, after searching for centuries, had not recovered it, then one of three things had occurred: it had been destroyed, hidden miles below the surface in an unreachable facility, or had been found but used in such a way that meant the Asgardians intentionally kept it where it was. Hermione had laughed when she heard the theories.

Soon after the Bifrost Incident, Hermione had stopped working with Jane. The two were still friends, though, despite a rift in their friendship when Jane found out that Hermione had been hiding a lot of data in order to keep secret her 'family' on Asgard.

The two friends were enjoying breakfast in the cafe. Jane had eggs, bacon, and coffee, and Hermione was enjoying a plate of pancakes and a glass of water, not letting the fact that they had been fighting a few days earlier mar their morning.

Soon though, it was time to go. Hermione smiled as she walked down the street. Nothing much had happened since the SHIELD Incident, and Hermione didn't like it. She could tell that it was only the calm before the storm. Asgard had been invaded, many Asgardians killed, the Tessaract returning to the now-weakened Asgard – wait.

Hermione froze mid-step. Frowning in puzzlement, she thought back. Almost all of the trouble in her life since she was five or six was related to Asgard in some way. A chill went down Hermione's spine.

–

Five days after breakfast with Jane, Hermione received a visitor. Agent Coulson of SHIELD was there to ask if she was going to sign or not.

Hermione was silent for several seconds. "I have reasons to sign. I also have reasons to not sign. I don't like SHIELD by any extent of the imagination. SHIELD is the very culmination of everything I hate. But, I don't want to miss out on possible action. And if I don't sign, that will be one less person protecting innocent people."

"Can you please make up your mind? Someone's invaded the research facility. Dr. Selvig and Agent Barton have gone missing," Agent Coulson informed her.

She froze. Looking at the agent, Hermione proceeded to pour herself a cup of water. Sitting down, she continued the conversation. "I'm sorry, what?"

Agent Coulson nodded. "I'm afraid so. We haven't yet identified the invader, but she seems to be Asgardian, and you're the only reliably found person who might know about the Asgardians."

Hermione froze even more at that. "She's an Asgardian?"

Agent Coulson nodded. "Yes, she even had the sense to introduce herself. But that's all I'm allowed to tell you. If you've agreed to sign, I can tell you more. But Director Fury's gathering the people who have agreed to join the Avengers at SHIELD headquarters."

Hermione sighed and laid the document in front of her. Flipping to the last page, she stared at Agent Coulson. "I'll sign, but listen to me. I'm Hermione Walkers. If SHIELD messes with anyone I care about, then SHIELD will be no more. You know I have the power to make it happen."

With those words, she picked up her pen and signed her name.

Hermione Walkers

–

Agent Coulson had a quinjet waiting just outside town, and it turned out that there was another stop, this one to visit someone whose name Agent Coulson had not divulged, but Hermione didn't even have to guess when she saw who it was.

Captain America. Captain Freaking America.

Hermione promptly gave him an analyzing stare. The guy cocked his head at her. Then he extended a hand. She took it. "I'm Hermione Walkers," she told him.

"Steve Rogers," he told her. "Any idea where we're going?"

She shook her head. "SHIELD Headquarters, apparently."

"SHIELD?" Steve asked.

"I hate them," Hermione said enthusiastically. "They ruin lives."

Steve raised an eyebrow at that comment, but was silent the rest of the trip.

–

SHIELD Headquarters turned out to be the SHIELD Helicarrier. Hermione scowled darkly. SHIELD agents were stupidly risking lives by doing this. If even one of those engines failed, the Helicarrier would fall, and who knew how many lives would be lost then.

On the deck of the Helicarrier, they were introduced to another of their fellow Avengers, this one a SHIELD agent and a dark one at that. The red-haired woman sized them up once and was done with it.

"Miss Walkers, Captain Rogers, Agent Romanoff."

"Hello," Hermione told Agent Romanoff.

"Hey," Steve greeted.

"Hi," Agent Romanoff said wryly. "They need you two on the bridge. They're starting the face trace."

In the bridge, three pictures dominated screens. One was of no interest to Hermione, but the other two were. One was of Dr. Selvig, but someone had darkened his eyes to a darker and clearer blue. The last one was of a woman Hermione was sure was Asgardian from the way that she could freaking summon weapons!

"Do you know her?"

Hermione glanced at Steve. "No."

It was the truth, just not the whole truth. Hermione was pretty sure from the myths that this woman was Hel, the Goddess of Death.

–

A/N: Yes, I know. It's been weeks, and it's good to be back. I'm cutting it off here, but don't worry. I've been so slow in updating because I'm working on a rather extensive FanFic besides this one. It's a RWBY – Harry Potter crossover entitled Ruby Witch. Chapters up to five are up.

I apologize again for being a horrible author in the area of keeping an updating schedule. Sorry!

Sincerely,

HedwigFan101