A/N: I begin my apologies for not making my first chapter more interesting. Please note that I did add an extra line at the end which should help, but if you've already read the first chapter that doesn't help. I originally intended to post the first two chapters by was not cooperating with me. By the time I finished posting the first chapter I needed to leave for work. I had no choice in that matter as I have already used all of my sick leave days for the first half of the year and I wanted to save my vacation days. Being the conscientious person that I am, (please stop laughing,) the idea never occurred to me to be a few minutes late. At least not until after I've had my annual review. My thanks to everyone who read the first chapter anyway.

Chapter Two: The First Witch

Hermione watched as her friend left King's Cross Station with his Aunt and Uncle. She knew they despised him. Because they despised magic. But she had heard reassurances that he would be free of them as soon as possible. Saying her goodbyes, she turned to rejoin her parents. She stepped toward them and her foot landed on . . .

Grass.

Hermione was in a meadow. Birds were singing from the copse of trees not too far away. Butterflies were flitting from wildflower to wildflower. It was a beautiful summer day.

Panic never entered her head. At once she had her wand out and was turning around looking for danger. She stopped to listen once she assured herself there was nothing to see, and a butterfly made a poignant irony by landing on her wand. Hermione couldn't help but smile.

CLINK.

Hermione turned toward the copse of trees. Oddly, she had heard the sound of glass hitting glass. She could see nothing in the shadows but she could hear sounds. Sounds of children. Wand at the ready, she walked slowly and steadily toward the trees. Entering the shadows she spied another harmless sight.

Three children, bent over a circle. A blond teenaged boy dressed in light colored furs. A blond girl the same age, in woolen skirt and blouse. With his back to Hermione was the third child, most likely a boy, probably eight or nine, long brown hair, tunic and leggings of rough wool died dark brown to match his hair.

Putting her wand away, Hermione called out to the trio.

"Excuse me."

"WE'RE BUSY."

It was the brown boy who shouted. He was still hunched down over the circle of (Hermione could finally see) marbles. The girl looked up at her and smiled at some inner joke.

"Odin."

"I'm shooting."

"She's here."

"OH, POOF." The boy called Odin stood up, throwing his marble into the dirt at the same time. He turned around with anger on his face and looked at Hermione.

"I guess the game's over, Thor."

"Not yet," the older boy answered. "We'll come back to it later. Me and Freyja will make sure no one bothers anything."

Odin relaxed. "Thanks. I owe you."

Freyja laughed. "We're all on holiday until this is over, remember. You've payed us already."

Odin glanced back at his friends and smiled. Turning back he began walking toward the girl who interrupted him.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. We were waiting for you and I guess I got a little involved."

"You know me."

"Hermione Granger. You just finished your fifth year of seven, scoring top marks on all your OWLs. Your teeth used to be larger but you magicked them to a prettier size. And . . . I could go on, but I think you want to know about me." Odin smiled as arrogantly as was possible for a boy of eight. "I would."

Hermione had to laugh, which caused Odin to frown, which caused Hermione to laugh harder.

"I was trying to be serious," Odin pouted.

"I'm sorry." Hermione tried to sound serious as well but it was ruined by a giggle. "Really. It was just the way you said that." Smiling sincerely she asked. "So, Odin, what about you?"

Odin would have stopped frowning except he could hear his two friends behind him. They were snickering.

"Let's take a walk, Hermione."

Odin ran up to the young witch and grabbed her hand. He tugged at her, getting her to follow him at a half run. They ran a fair distance until they went over a low hill and the trees were lost to sight.

"Here, by the brook," Odin said and led Hermione to a small stream. He let go and sat down, sticking his feet into the water. She had not noticed until then that he was barefoot. With mixed feelings of trepidation and mirth she sat down next to him.

"You didn't answer my question."

Odin nodded as he leaned back on his elbows. "Hermione, you know my name's Odin."

"I heard your friends call you that. I also heard their names. Thor and Freyja. Your parents must be into Norse mythology."

Odin gave an impish grin. "Close. My parents are in Norse mythology. Me, too."

Hermione stopped in the middle of her smirk. The boy sounded so serious. And . . .

"Really," Odin insisted when he saw her look. "Hermione . . . I . . . Am . . . Odin."

"Then why are you only eight? Or are you nine?"

"Think." Odin's voice suddenly sounded older than his age. "You are one of my acolytes. You should be able to figure it out."

Hermione nodded. It was a test of some sort. She thought of what she knew of Odin. The Norse god of Wisdom and Knowledge. The old man with one eye. The two ravens. The tales of Ragnarok, the final battle. But the myths did not explain why Odin would appear as a young boy. No one would think of him as the harbinger of knowledge. To look at him, lying on his back, his feet in the water, you could only see a boy. An innocent boy who could not harm anyone.

"Deception."

Odin laughed in delight. "That's great. You figured it out really fast. You are smart."

Hermione smiled at his reaction. "If I may ask, Lord Odin. Why did you bring me here? And where is here?"

Odin propped himself up on his elbows again. "Here is . . . just a place. And I didn't bring you here. I only came here to meet you. The gods are having a contest, and you have been chosen as one of the contestants."

"What kind of contest?" Her smile faded.

"It'll be lots of fun. Hermione, do you know about the multiverse?"

"Multiverse?"

"Yeah. You live on your world which is in your solar system which is in your galaxy which is in your cluster which is in your universe. You follow that, don't you."

Odin received a hesitant yes.

"Well, there's another universe next door. It's just like your universe mostly but with some differences. And there's a universe next to that, and so on."

Hermione nodded. "And they make up the multiverse."

Odin nodded happily. "And here's the clincher. Each universe is governed by a set of physical laws, but the set of laws is not the same for each universe. And that's why we're having this contest. You'll compete against two other witches from two other worlds."

Hermione frowned. "But why?"

"It'll be fun to watch. The three of you use magic differently. The contest is to see which of you uses magic the best. And this world lets each of you use your own style of magic."

"I could have guessed that." Hermione's voice was a little frantic. "Why are the gods having a contest?"

Odin sat up and looked at his companion with sad eyes. "I'll give you a godlike answer. Why not?" He sighed. "The gods are doing this because they can. And it's not to the death or anything. If you end up being killed, you're really only disqualified."

"And why are YOU doing this?"

Odin sighed again. "I didn't bother going to the last council meeting. I hate going anyway. The meetings are boring. And the dinner afterwards. Last time, I sat next to Isis, the Mother-Goddess of Egypt. She insisted on cutting my meat for me." Hermione snorted and Odin gave a wry smile. "She tucked my serviette under my chin, and she would have fed me if I didn't grab my fork at once." Between fits of laughter, Odin added. "She must have told me a dozen times to keep my elbows off the table."

It was a while before they both calmed down. Then Odin continued. "They made me a judge, Hermione. One of three. I'm supposed to greet one of the contestants, you, and explain about the contest. Then I'm supposed to lead you to the spot where we'll meet the other contestants and judges."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "Well, explain the contest and then let's get going. I think I'd like to get this over with."

"We're there, already. I just need to explain the contest. At least what I know. And there's only one more thing. I don't know what you have to do, but each of you can ask for some kind of help."

"Like someone to help me?" Hermione immediately thought of asking for Dumbledore's help.

"Or something useful that you might normally use. But there is a catch. All three of you get that boon, or its counterpart, from each world."

Hermione smiled. She had an advantage in mind. She dare not ask for Dumbledore. Dumbledore was the most powerful user of magic she knew. Who knew how powerful the witch or wizard was that the others would know. But she did have a powerful friend. She could ask for a close male companion. Harry Potter would be here to help her. (And away from the Dursleys, she mentally added.) And the other witches would each end up with a boyfriend who was, hopefully, less skilled than Harry was. But she did have one more question, a very important one.

"Odin. What happens if I win? What do I get?"

Odin's grin was full of mirth.