Last time...
"We've got a bit of time if you want to explore a bit before…" Hera began, seeing as Hermione and Draco both were lost in some kind of instantaneous knowledge high.
The two were sort of staring in awe at everything, but at her words it was like they'd launched themselves further into the room to explore.
"I think we may have lost them." Ron snickered, watching as the two of them excitedly pointing at things and trying to talk over each other in their enthusiasm to share their findings with one another.
"Just wait till they find the study." Hera replied with a sly grin.
Luna had made it her self appointed task to pet Fenrir into a happy puddle of goo, something the World Eater was absorbing with relish. She seemed to think nothing of an ever growing basilisk saddling up for his share of pets and rubs, not needing to understand him to know what he wanted. Ron found himself flopping down beside Luna to use Fenrir as a pillow and cautiously pet Jör, something he hadn't attempted at Grimmauld Place. Hera just fondly watched them all, her friends, quickly accept another facet of herself. She had hidden this for far longer than she'd needed to, but now it felt right having them all here, and she found herself basking in the acceptance.
Chapter 70
They'd all eventually gathered around her, plushy beanbags proffered by Hogwarts or her own magic; she wasn't sure which this time. They'd been making idle conversation for the last little bit, allowing her to ease into things. Hermione already had parchment and a dictation quill, ready and waiting, apparently determined to write this story down. Hera had sort of been lost in her own thoughts for the last little while. Her friends had so easily accepted this part of her, but she worried.
"They won't fail you." Luna murmurs quietly, pulling Hera out of her thoughts.
Hera smiled, though it could have been mistaken for a grimace, before beginning. "I would ask that you all keep any questions till the end. This is going to be quite a long story."
…
She told them of a life, things both good and bad. She told them of adventures and glory, of friends lost to tragic circumstances, and the bonds of brotherhood; of a father's distant but encouraging nature and a mother's open and loving kindness. She spoke of pranks and mischief, of deeds most cruel. She spoke of lies and intrigue, of betrayal and blood. They were fascinated, spellbound by the story she wove for them. Tony would be jealous, if he knew. Maybe she could give him a copy of Hermione's writing later.
It had been a good life, or so they'd believed, but slowly she began to weave the story of the downfall of that life. The plan to interrupt a coronation, one that was never meant to go as far as it had; two deaths and a secret exposed, things that could never be undone. She could see the confusion in their eyes at the tenses she used, but they didn't ask; not yet. She wove the story of how a mad king was lured to the bedside of his sleeping enemy, how he was killed by one he thought to be the enemy's son. She told them of a horrific decision, to destroy all of that other kingdom with a weapon that could.
She didn't look at her friends during this last part, too filled with shame over what he'd done, too filled with turmoil he would never get the chance to experience or ignore. Instead, she begins telling of the brother's arrival, how he destroyed the transport that doubled as a weapon, even though it meant he may never see his 'Lady Jane' again, how he still sought to save his brother after it all. No one speaks when she describes the fall, or the moment between father and son just before. She's not even sure they're breathing, so quiet they are in this moment. It takes some few minutes before she is able to speak again, clearly affected by what she's spoken.
"He is put through torture beyond imagining, and no – I will not describe that to you." Hera stated, countering any future questions they may have had about that. "You need only know that it was for over a year by our time, maybe two or more, and that by the end of it he was willing to do anything…and I do mean anything…just to get it to stop. I may not condone what he did, but I can understand how he got there, just as I can with Riddle."
"You mean you would-" Ron began, before cutting himself off at the sight of her glare.
"He was told he was nothing! The lie-smith, the trickster, honourless, spineless, gutless, second best to his brother in all things, used in order to get to his brother, tricked, deceived, lied to, because it was okay for them to treat him so, for them to bully and insult him. It's not like he had honour anyway." She snapped scathingly. "He grows up hearing how frost giants are the monsters of the universe, destroyers of all things good, responsible for every vile act you can't or don't want to imagine, and then – Then! – he goes and discovers he is one of those very beings he has been raised to hate all of his life and he decides…If they knew…If that's what they want from me…so be it."
"Hera…" Luna coaxed gently, placing her hand near but not quite touching. "We're with you."
Hera grabs onto it for a split second like it's a lifeline, before letting go, and sighs. "I appreciate it, Luna. I'm fine. I'm fine." She looks to the others. "My apologies. That wound's gonna be a bit tender for a while yet. What I mean with either of them is while I may not condone what they did, I can see what lead them to the paths they chose."
"I shouldn't have interrupted." Ron counters easily, though he looks confused for some reason still. She nodded, though not alleviating his confusion, before getting back to the story.
It wasn't enough that this person had been tortured. He'd been given a mind link with one of the torturers to ensure obedience, and a means to control others. She describes the desperate half mad plan he'd concocted to put together the worst invasion plan without tipping off those monitoring him that he was purposefully botching it. She tells of how he makes a show of pissing off the most powerful people on the planet, bringing them together as a team, having himself be defeated in the most public way. The portal had been smaller than it could have been, and had even had an off switch.
"No one will notice that his mind wasn't his own." She warns them. "Throughout the invasion, his eyes will be blue, but when he is unwittingly freed of the control, his eyes return to being green. His own brother won't notice this."
She describes the trial. There's not much she remembers of the words, just the general look of things around him. A king who refuses to listen to his son and chosen heir, despite their avid defense of his brother, is not a surprise. The Norns stepping in is, however, especially considering what little is known of them. While she knows that at one time she knew who the being had been that had pleaded for the chance, Hera can't describe them now, just that the Norns felt compelled to honour the request enough to give Loki the choice.
The memories are either gone, or obscured for the protection of everyone involved. She knows only that that life would have given anything to stop the Mad Titan from completing his quest. The consequences should the Mad Titan succeed were too innumerable to comprehend, too horrifying to imagine. The Norns and this other being offer him this chance, and he takes it knowing what it will mean. He will not survive to see their plan come to fruition, not as he is. There is not even a guarantee that he will succeed, but the chance is worth everything, and it is that chance he chooses.
"It is 2012 when the invasion of Miðgarðr...of Earth...and subsequent trial on Ásgarðr takes place, and when the chance is offered. With his last breath, he makes peace with the brother he'd always known. With the breath before his last, however, Loki – god of Mischief, Chaos, and Stories; of Lies and Hard Truths; of the Spark; Protector of Children; Prince of both Ásgarðr and Jötunheimr – agrees to the chance," Hera tells them, before taking a bracing breath to look them in the eyes as she continued. "…and Hera Potter is born on June 31st of 1980."
There wasn't a sound to be heard in the entire chamber. For all the gumption it had taken to tell this story, Hera seemed to lose it the moment it was done. She couldn't look them in the eye once the final words were spoken, and her gaze drifted to the floor beneath them. When she began the story, they'd been equal parts intrigued and horrified, hearing of times long past, but…The way she spoke…as if having experienced these things…and then to find out that in a way she had…
"You don't have to stay friends with me. I would never demand that of you. I would understand…" Hera murmured, pulling them out of their thoughts. "What he did…What he'll do…You don't have to stay friends with me…"
"Honestly, Hera, I'm not even surprised; I mean, other than those awful things you said he did, or will do, of course; and what happened and will happen to him is awful, I'll admit." Hermione huffed in a rush, causing Hera to look up in shock. "Did you really think you'd hidden this so well that I wouldn't have figured it out by now?"
Hera hesitated, but then numbly nodded.
"Oh, Hera, I had this worked out when you had your lips sewn shut." Hermione admitted quietly. Hera let out a quiet whimpering sound, curling in on herself slightly. "You told me what happened to him, and that story, at least, is well known to us; probably because of the goblins. I have questions about the other myths, of course, but…Well, that coupled with you turning blue, and the freezing of the troll in First Year…I mean, you have a large wolf you call Fen and a basilisk you call Jör. You gave us an overview of the Nine Realms. None of that was exactly subtle, you know."
Hera let out another whimpering sound, likely having an internal panic about the easy acceptance.
"But I…I mean he…" Hera seemed to gather herself a bit. "He tried to destroy an entire planet…"
"Do you know if he even succeeded?" Draco inquired, causing her to still once more as she considered his words. "I mean, the way you described it, the thing wasn't active for very long. Might not have done much. For all you know, it could have just kicked up a bit of snow before calling it a day when Thor shattered the thing."
"What I want to know is what this has to do with what happened to you this summer." Ron admitted, and Hera's eyes bugged out of her head. He sighed. "It's going to take a while to process all this, Mate, especially that he was willing to kill his entire race to prove himself a good son, but…He's not our friend. You are."
It took a moment before Hera could collect herself enough to try and speak.
"Thor…" She began, her voice still a bit thick with all the emotions she was trying not to be overwhelmed by. "Thor wished me away, wished me away, for a weapon he would not have to prove himself worthy of. I appeared in The Underground, standing before the Goblin King, and ended up making a deal to get out of the Underground before Thor could rescue me."
"Why aren't you a goblin then?" Draco asked with a frown. "Since Thor failed, you became one of them, right? That's how all the stories go."
"That doesn't actually mean becoming a goblin. It means becoming a subject of the kingdom of the Underground, and there are many different kinds of beings that live there." She reminded them. "I imagine I will take on more Fae like traits once my magic finally settles, as what I am has a few already, but I will not be goblin."
"And you haven't punished that berk yet?" Ron demanded, suddenly angry. "For wishing you away for a weapon?"
She cracked a small hesitant smile. "Thor fell into the Bog of Eternal Stench during his Run to free me. I imagine the name implies just how difficult it will be to remove or lessen the severity of that smell. Besides, I haven't been back to Ásgarðr since then. As I managed to wriggle out of the contract he made the way I did, no one there will have forgotten me."
"Which means what exactly?" Hermione asked, frowning in confusion.
"Frigga will pick up on the fact that I'm not visiting; though that might take a while, given how much time passes between visits." She explained, with a sly grin. "She will begin to wonder why, and she will look for answers."
"Is that when King Jareth made you princess?" Luna asked curiously. The others balked, and eyed Hera with renewed fascination and disbelief.
After blinking owlishly for a moment, Hera nodded, and raised her right hand to reveal the ring that confirmed Luna's words. "See? I'm tell'n ya, she just knows stuff."
"It certainly explains why Sirius was freaking out back at Grimmauld." Ron mused. "There are stories about the Goblin King for a reason."
Hera nervously giggled.
"You know, Fred and George would eat their shoes if they knew." He continued on.
"…What?" Hera squeaked, unable to believe it. "Why?"
"Hera, who do you think they worship? Give praises to when a prank works out? Pleas when they're in a tough spot?" Ron asked outright, pinning their friend with a look. "They have performed elaborate and ridiculous rituals in his honour, and have an alter in their bedroom that they burn rubber chickens on, much to the consternation of our mother. Who do you think they offer up those sacrifices for? Merlin's beard, Hera, you're the literal embodiment of their god."
"And should I tell them what became of him? The choices he made? What he did? What then?" Hera countered. "I couldn't bear to disappoint them."
"I don't see how you could." Ron declared, utterly flummoxed. "Hera, you're what Loki could have been if he'd just been allowed to be."
"…What?"
"If I know my brothers – and I do – they would be in awe of what they would consider to be the greatest prank that is you pulling one over on the entirety of the wizarding world, Dumbledore specifically – because even they've never managed that – and Asgard."
…
She blinked owlishly, unable to process what she'd just heard. It couldn't be this easy, this acceptance. They couldn't understand, didn't know, hadn't yet seen. But Luna's gaze caught her own, serene and untroubled, just as it had been before, and her mind scrambled to understand. They'd heard the story, all of them, surely they would want to distance themselves from her now…yet none of them moved to leave.
"You would stand with me, you think they would stand with me, even after learning all that?" Hera hesitantly asked. There is no way to keep the hope from her voice, not with how much she has feared and hoped for this moment, but she couldn't hide the doubt for the same reason. "Truly?"
Hermione got a particular look about her then.
"Oh, I like how you think, Hermione." Luna exclaimed dreamily. "It's the only thing that will sooth her. Should we get the Man of Iron?"
"…Just how much information do you have in there, Luna?" Hera inquired, eyeing her friend now. "I thought I was the only one who knew that about Tony."
Luna just gave her best and most innocent looking serene smile.
Hermione rolled her eyes, and replied. "The Starks were iron mongers, Hera, everyone knows that."
"Yes, but that's not what she meant when she said it." Hera replied in fond bemusement.
"Your filing system is better than mine." Luna smiled with ease. "It's not easy listening to the whispers of the Norns while keeping your mind in the here and now."
"That's why I took to weaving. They really seem to appreciate the art, and they whisper to me less at random times in the here and now." Hera nodded in understanding.
Luna looked surprised and delighted at the prospect. "I hadn't thought to try that. I think I would quite like it."
"In any case, best to leave Tony at home. They can do one later, if they want, something more private." Hermione continued, replying to Luna before turning to Hera.
"What…What do you mean? Do what one?" Hera inquired, hesitant and wary, as she watched her friends silently converse amongst themselves. "What are you doing?"
In response, Hermione raised her right hand, and began.
"I, Hermione Jean Granger, do declare myself shield-sister to Hera Potter – formerly Loki of Ásgarðr and Jötunheimr, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, and Luna Lovegood. So mote it be."
Hermione's hand began glowing. It slowly dawned on Hera what was happening, and it floored her.
"Hermione…"
Then Ron began, with right hand raised.
"I, Ronald Bilius Weasley, do declare myself shield-brother to Hera Potter – formerly Loki of Ásgarðr and Jötunheimr, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and Luna Lovegood. So mote it be."
"I, Draco Lucius Malfoy, do declare myself shield-brother to Hera Potter – formerly Loki of Ásgarðr and Jötunheimr, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Luna Lovegood. So mote it be."
"I, Luna Odette Lovegood, do declare myself shield-sister to Hera Potter – formerly Loki of Ásgarðr and Jötunheimr, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and Ron Weasley. So mote it be."
After all the declarations are made, each one had a raised right hand that was glowing faintly. Hera was in tears. There was no denying it now. These people were just as crazy as she was, just as willing to do anything for the sake of their friends as she was. It was more than she could have hoped for, having been too afraid to even consider the possibility. Seeing the resolve upon each of their faces, Hera gave a watery grin, and shakily raised her own right hand.
"I, Hera Primrose Potter – formerly Loki of Ásgarðr and Jötunheimr, do declare myself shield-sister to Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Ron Weasley, and Luna Lovegood. So mote it be."
Her hand shown brighter than the others, but they had prepared for this, squinting till the light dimmed. When it did, Hera noticed a symbol on the inside of her wrist, a complicated Elder Futhark rune; an effort to encompass all of her newly pledged shield siblings, she'd wager. If she looked close enough, the symbol shifted, showing where each one of them was represented. She imagined theirs was the same. To anyone else, the symbol would look upside down, but it wasn't meant to be displayed outward to others. It was meant as a reminder to each that held it, that there were those that would stand by their side.
"You're all crazy, I hope you know that." Hera chuckled wetly, tears still falling down her face, though the wide grin eased all worries. "What you just did…Not even Thor ever thought to…"
"You needed to know we would always stand with you. Even if we disagree on something, we won't stop caring about you or each other. Words aren't always a good way to convey that. Actions mean more." Hermione stated firmly. "We are your shield-brethren, and you will never be alone again, even if we can't always be with you."
Hera froze for a moment, not willing to think about the implications of that statement, that she could possibly live on while her friends did not…Her mind was already racing with ideas on how to keep them with her. Would this be enough? Would she have to steal an apple of Idunn? Start her own orchard? Would her friends go for that? Would it even be necessary? She might stay mortal in the terms of a human life, but what if she didn't?