Hermione hummed under her breath as she cheerily walked down the street. She was wearing a large, wool coat, her hands shoved into the pockets. A small smile just wouldn't leave her face. She was getting close to reaching Asgard with her portal, she could just feel it. It was an itch, that started at her toes and snaked its way up to her nose. The feeling wasn't foreign to Hermione, either. Now she knew that the portal would be successful soon. It was a surprise to her, as well. With the detailed plan she'd laid out, she was meant to finish the portal in three years, four years total. After working irresponsibly hard, though, she managed to get close to the end in just one.

To say she was proud of it was an understatement. This project, deep down in the bowels of the Ministry of Magic, had practically become her life. In fact, thinking about it, Hermione couldn't remember the last time she visited her friends, or even spoke to them. Frowning slightly, she reassured herself that when the Portal was finished, then she would talk to them. Besides, she was far too distracted by her Project. Even if she did see them, her mind would be wandering through the forest of infinite next steps to take.

A small shop, with cushy chairs in the windows and small chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, welcomed Hermione as she walked in. The putrid smell of too much incense assaulted her nostrils. Swallowing her disgust, Hermione made her way over to a stand holding blankets. She absolutely hated the smell of the store, but the products were excellent, so she put up with it.

"Good to see you back, Hermione!" The gravelly voice of Todd, the American owner of the store, came from behind the counter. "Back for another blanket? Seems just yesterday you were in here buying a chair with that strange, tall man." Hermione swallowed the memory of taking Loki here to get his green armchair. The armchair that still sat in her flat, with a grey blanket draped over the shoulder, gather dust. Right now, she needed to focus on the Portal and get back there as quickly as possible.

Hermione picked up a blanket in a dark green. It was now one of her favourite colours. Yes, it would do nicely. "That was last year, Todd." She turned towards the bearded man. He grinned and tapped his nose.

"Seems being the operative word." Todd waved dismissively. "Come here and I'll ring that up for you―what the Hell?" Todd's eyes had gone wide. Hermione wheeled around to see what he was looking at. Her eyes immediately widened in shock as well.

Outside the store, there were at least ten men and women, all dressed in what black. Their handguns were drawn and all pointed directly at Hermione. She gulped. Discreetly, Hermione twisted her wrist so that her wand fell out of the holster and into her hand. She saw some of the people outside the shop register the appearance of what appeared to be a stick. They tensed. Behind them, people walking down the street were stopping and staring at the confrontation. She grit her teeth. Bad luck just seemed to be throwing itself at her these days.

"Hermione Granger! Come out of the store with your hands on your head, now!" A man with cropped black hair stepped forward, barking orders. His gun was still trained on her. "Do as we say!" He kicked the door to the store open.

Icy rage filled Hermione. Who were these people, and what right did they have to arrest her? She'd done nothing wrong. Add in the fact that they were obviously muggles, and Hermione found herself with bit of an enigma. What the heck was going on?

"I most certainly will not come with you," Hermione laughed coldly. She raised the wand and pointed it at the man's face. She didn't care that they were muggles. Her life was on the line, with the way they were pointing the guns at her. She was going to defend herself. Muggle witnesses could be obliviated later. Behind her, Todd squeaked in fear. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Put the stick down, Granger." Even as he said that, Hermione could see the confusion in his eyes. He couldn't believe that she would threaten him with a stick of all things. Of course, he didn't know that it was actually a wand.

"I don't think so." Incredibly quick, Hermione lunged at him, crying, "Expelliarmus!" The pistol flew out of his hands and into Hermione's own. She aimed it at him, even though she didn't know how to use it. The rest of the people, who she now assumed were agents of some sort, swarmed into the store. Their eyes glinted dangerously.

Hermione didn't give them time to react. She turned on her heel and disappeared with an ear piercing crack. The agents in the store were left blinking in shock. A stifling silence filled the room, before one of the agents spoke to someone through an earpiece.

"Sir, there's been a development. The target is...magical, it seems."

Nick Fury glared at the picture of Hermione Granger. Normally this would be a simple operation. Send agents to England, acquire the target and bring her back for questioning, all within three hours. Unfortunately for Fury's temper, Granger insisted on evading them. And now there was the added development that she had similar abilities to Loki. It explained their stint together. Perhaps they bonded over their shared abilities, though Fury found it near impossible to imagine Loki being even cordial with someone. He was a complete menace.

So, when the words came through that Granger was magical, Fury immediately sent the agents to her address. It was the most likely place for her to go after disappearing. As soon as he heard their footsteps thundering out the door, Fury whirled around and made his way to the chamber where they were keeping Loki.

He opened the door and saw the menace calmly standing, staring directly at Fury, with an eerie smile. Fury shook off his discomfort and began talking.

"Hermione Granger." For the first time, there was an actual reaction. He took a few steps forward, until he was right up close to the glass, and uncomfortably close to Fury. He

"What do you know about her?" He snarled. Fury noted that Loki's fists were clenched. He was getting really riled up about this woman. What was so special about her? "TELL ME!" Loki slammed his fists against the glass with impossible strength. It didn't shatter, though. "If you value your life, you will tell me what you know about her, sniveling mortal!" His voice was deadly.

Fury raised his chin slightly, hands clasped behind his back. "What I want to know is how you know her. You were on Earth last year, with Granger. Coincidentally, this was a week before Thor was banished from Asgard."

"Do not speak of my brother to me." Loki spat Thor's name out like it was poison. "And my time with Hermione is nothing you need to know about, human."

"We're trying to bring her in for questioning." A small smile crept over Loki's face.

"You'll never catch her."

Hermione landed in her flat with an anguished gasp. Her hands were trembling from fright and she was sure that if she looked in a mirror, her face would be milky white. She needed to get away from her flat, and quick. Soon, those agents would be knocking the door down and barging into her apartment. She knew how they worked.

The safest place for her to go right now was the Ministry of Magic. Specifically, the Department of Mysteries. There was absolutely no way for the Muggles to get in, even if they had a relative that was magical.

Rushing around the flat, Hermione snatched her immaculate Unspeakable robes off the hanger and pulled herself into them. She didn't bother to take off the jeans and shirt she was already wearing, as there was no time. Thundering footsteps were already echoing up the stairwell. Sprinting into the kitchen, Hermione grabbed a file. Just as the door crashed open and agents spilled into the room, Hermione turned on her heel and disappeared with another crack.

With a deafening crack, Hermione arrived in the bowels of the Ministry of Magic. She began running down the corridors that she now knew by heart. Her shoes slapped on the ground and her heart leaped around her chest, creating a strange rhythm. Today just really wasn't her day. All she wanted to do was buy a bloody blanket, but no, she had to be confronted by muggle agents who seemed intent on capturing her for some unknown reason. And now they were in her house, which really wasn't the most ideal situation.

As she was running down the hall, Hermione was so caught up in her wayward thoughts that she didn't notice Atlas Valerius calmly walking in front of her. With a tremendous crash, they collided, falling heavily to the floor. Hermione gave a startles squeak, her papers flying into the air and wand clattering to the ground. Her cheeks began to flush red. To crash in the Minister of Magic was utterly mortifying.

"Ah, Hermione," said Valerius cheerfully, as though he wasn't tangled up with Hermione on the ground. "I was just looking for you." He pulled himself up and stood with his usual straight back, brushing invisible bits of dust off his robes. A very ruffled Hermione sprang to her feet, after gathering her wand and file back into her arms.

"You were?" She composed herself, smoothing down her hair. It was rare to have a direct encounter with Valerius, so to crash into him was definitely a worst case scenario. Oh, how Ron and Harry would absolutely piss themselves laughing when she told them. She was glad that they would be able to find the story hilarious, even if she didn't.

"Of course. I was hoping that you would be able to provide me with an update on your Portal, and how your travels to Asgard are going."

"I actually haven't gone to Asgard, sir." She frowned. Why would he think that? Going to Asgard was close, but not that close. How could he have gotten that idea? "And the Portal is going well, thank you. I am close to reaching Asgard. It will likely be a month before I get there, which to me is simply phenomenal, don't you think? To think that only a year ago I began. It's amazing how far I've come in only one year. I impress even myself sometimes." An amused chuckle came from Valerius. Hermione swallowed the words she was going to spit out next. Her cheeks flushed crimson once again when she realised the rant she'd just gone on. Even immediately afterwards, she was cringing with how egotistical she sounded.

"As proud as you are of yourself, I asked for an update on the Portal, now how impressed you were with yourself."

Hermione hastily nodded, eyes darting around. What was up with her? Surely, the agents chasing after her were a shock, but she shouldn't be on edge. She was safe here. There was inherent sense of wrongness creeping up her spine that she couldn't shake. It was beginning to drive her loopy.

"I'm sorry about that. It won't happen again." Her voice came out breathy and slightly shaking. Hermione shook her head, as if trying to rid herself of an invisible foe.

"Make sure it doesn't." Valerius sighed and stopped walking. He turned to face Hermione and put his hands on her shoulders, gazing down at her in what was supposed to be a calming manner. However, it just turned out to be unsettling. "Look, Hermione. I don't know what's happened to you today. I just know something's happened to make you so flustered. How about this. After you show me how the Portal is going, you take a break? You can take as long as you need and, tell you what, I'll even make sure it's paid leave."

Hermione's eyebrows crinkled. "I'm sorry, but I won't be accepting. It's clear that you won't do this for any other Ministry employees, so I don't know why you're doing it for me. Unless you do the same for others, I am going to stay right here." She stepped away from him, now feeling very uncomfortable. The sooner his visit to the Portal was over, the better. "Right, let's go. The Idunn Chamber is right down here." She bustled off, refusing to look him in the eyes.

Valerius made a noise of protest, before hurrying after her. Hermione ignored him. Her opinion was now firmly set. She didn't like him, and the least amount of time she spent with him, the better.

"Hermione, listen. Why won't you take the offer?" He placed a hand on her shoulder again. Hermione kept walking, hyper aware of the questioning stares of other Unspeakables.

"I've already told you. And don't touch me."

"Alright."

Fortunately, Hermione was saved from replying by the very familiar door of the Idunn Chamber. She wrenched it open, stepping through. The sight of her pride and joy, the rune covered, stone archway, was very welcome.

"Now, what was it you wanted to see?" She placed the file down on her desk and put her wand away. Valerius wandered around the room, inspecting everything with an attentive eye, before replying.

"I would like you to turn it on, so I can see how it works." It was a blunt reply. Hermione nodded and pressed the rune at the back that activated the Portal. At the moment, it was keyed only to react to her magical signature, something she'd explained to Valerius in a previous meeting. It whooshed to life, the red and gold colour swirling into each other.

"You've already seen it before, so I'll turn it off in a few minutes, okay?" Valerius didn't reply. Instead, he grabbed her shoulders again and steered her in front of the portal. "What the Hell are you doing?" He leaned forward and whispered in her ear:

"Something I've wanted to do for a very long time." Hermione shivered at the dark tone of his voice. Something was definitely off with him today.

Then, he shoved her forward, directly into the swirling portal. Hermione cried out in shock as she fell through the portal. A slight current washed over her skin, before she was plummeting towards the surface of the trash planet she was desperately trying to get away from. With a tremendous crash, she landed face up.

Agonising pain shot through her leg, fiery and hot. Hermione looked down and screamed when she saw a sheet of metal embedded more than halfway through her thigh. Thick blood began oozing out of the wound. Panic began to consume her.

Above her, a swirling circle hung in the sky. Hermione watched in horror as the head of Atlas Valerious poked through, viciously grinning at her.

"Thank you for giving me the perfect opportunity to get rid of you, Hermione," he said sweetly. "It looks like an accident now." He glanced down at her leg. "Ooh, that's got to hurt. Too bad."

"Why the Hell are you doing this, you bastard?" Hermione groaned the words out, the pain from her leg increasing with every second. Valerious gave her a horribly simpering smile that reminded her of Umbridge.

"I don't like you, that's all. And people I don't like, I get rid of. Remember Jillian Stone? How about Henry Travis? Or Dot Cardinal? You're just too annoying. That and the fact that Potter has far too many opinions for one person."

"You won't get away with this," Hermione spat. "Just you wait."

Valerius laughed. "You know, I'll stay in office for a long time. So, if you ever feel like popping in to say hello, and maybe have tea and biscuits, I'll be more than happy to. Happy travels."

He withdrew his head. Hermione watched through a haze of pain as the portal closed with a thundering noise. A distant sense of loss settled over her, black dancing at the edges of her vision. She thoughts she heard footsteps crunching towards her, but couldn't be sure.

"Well, that's certainly one way to arrive on the planet." Hermione barely registered a face hovering above her, with strange white markings painted on it, before she passed out from shock and exhaustion.

Some day she was having.

So.

I have decided to do a new chapter system. I am finding myself totally burned out with the longer chapters, so have decided to do shorter ones, up to three-thousand words, twice a week. It's just personal preference, as well as on the helpful advice of one of my readers. I hope you don't mind this change. I'm actually feeling better after changing it. It's still six thousand words a week, which is what my longer chapters are averaging as. It's a win win situation.

Also, the reason that I'm updating early is that the 30th of November is my birthday, woop. Officially sixteen.

Can anyone figure out where Hermione is?

Sincerely,
Mariadoria.