A/N- HEY. HAPPY END OF 2016 THE YEAR FROM HELL. Also sorry i was supposed to post this yesterday but i got caught up. Also... i might not post another chapter this month as i have preliminary exams this month :( Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter!

Mr Loki is back again. He didn't visit yesterday.

It's been four days since the initial visit, Mr Loki still hasn't explained himself but he doesn't need to. Luna already kinda knows. He's been telling her about magic and the wizarding community... And to be honest, Luna isn't sure what to make of it all. For one thing she's glad that no one is actually in danger but... She's not quite ready to leave the Avengers quite yet. She's grown fond of them, and even though she's been told that's a weakness, Madame Yelena is wrong about a lot of things so she'll take it as a strength.

She knows Mr Loki doesn't share her sentiments however, but she can hardly blame him.

And there's no time to learn about spells and potions, she'll get to that later, instead what's important is that Luna knows the ways of the wizarding world. Because right now, Luna can use her brain to outwit almost any human, muggle or magical, but to navigate the pitfalls of society is another thing, particularly that of the delicate wizarding community.

Mr Loki insists they start from the beginning, which she gets. After all, one can only fully understand if they know everything, and it would not be wise to waste such a valuable resource such as a god. She also knows to tread lightly.

It's obvious that the god of lies and mischief and magic has been holding up quite a fragile skeleton for his sanity. It will have to change, she decides, but for now she mustn't scare him.

"None of the magical creatures dare speak his name, just refer to him as 'You know who.' And it's for a good reason. Names have power, Luna, it's something my mo- Freja taught me and it's something you should learn."

"Who's Freja?" Luna closes an old book and places it onto a bookshelf in the mental library of her mind. Beside her, she senses Loki flinch.

"That- That isn't important! Anyways, currently, Harry Potter was then given the name 'The boy who lived', he's currently attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He glances down at Luna, "Have you got all that, child?" Quickly, she nods.

Luna hasn't told anyone about her dream meetings with MR Loki yet but she has resolved to tell the Avengers about Hogwarts tomorrow. She isn't sure how they'd react, with either things.

It's something.

And it's never awkward with Mr Loki, it feels like old times with him telling her what she needs to know and her absorbing the information… even if old times were really only a few weeks. It makes her sad but also a little relieved.

Talking to Mr Loki is a different matter. She hasn't. Well, she has but it isn't the same. They're both so different now, her especially. She is not a naïve little girl anymore- she's a trained killer- and she knows that Mr Loki isn't used to it even if he wants to be. It's all practicalities which is all anything is these days. She thinks the last real conversation she's had was when she was six, with Wanda.

Usually, she only 'talks' with Mr Loki for about an hour or two, after all her mind still needs sleep, and when she wakes up she makes sure to write everything up in a small notebook she keeps under her mattress cover along with her Hogwarts letter.

She wonders if one of the professors will visit soon.

...

It feels wrong. Both options do...

Intellectually, Minerva knows she should tell Albus, but something is telling her not to. She doesn't know what. Perhaps, it's the fact that she doesn't know what to make of her discoveries herself, or that she hasn't drawn a conclusion or any ideas to present.

After all, she does trust Albus, doesn't she?

To her knowledge, all he knows is that the Avengers seem to be treating the child fairly and that she seems happy, although Minerva is still not aware of the circumstances surrounding. She sighs. Maybe she should just show Albus rather than tell. And, she is perfectly aware that Albus Dumbledore does not trust easily and… his trust isn't something anyone can afford to lose.

No. She'd better just tell him.

….

Fuck. His life is so weird. Sure, it's almost a given, him being a genius, billionaire philanthropist, but the point still stands.

Tony doesn't even flinch when the alarms start blaring and red lights begin to flash.

"What's it now?" He says without looking up from the wires beneath his hands.

"There's an intruder on the ground floor, second corridor. She appears unarmed."

"Hm." Tony hums, shrugging. "Suit please, FRIDAY." He holds his arms out and waits a second for his suit to make impact around his frame like one of those snap bracelets from the 90s.

"Footage please."

"Here's the footage of the subject in camera G16, sir." FRIDAY says, sounding within the mask now. "The others have already been alerted."

"Right. And Luna?"

"Should be in her room."

Tony nods. Alright, lets do this.

Flying from the third underground floor labs to the ground still takes a minute unless he wants to blast his way through. Which he doesn't. So about fifteen seconds in FRIDAY makes a plaintive, "Um Sir..." The emotive tone briefly makes Tony smile despite the fact it obviously isn't a good sign. God he's so vain.

"Yes?"

"Luna is not in her room. She appears to be making her way to the place of the intruder, who has now moved up to the second floor lounge."

Damn it. Full speed it is then. At least he isn't in a volatile lab area anymore.

The rockets on his feet give a louder, deeper boom and Tony watches as he leaves a trail or paper and metal instruments in his wake.

...

As soon as the alarms and the lights start going off, Luna knows it's time. And she's so excited! Even though, there's this sinking pit of dread that is beginning to rise through her. She knows the others will be mad that she didn't tell them anything.

She also knows, she should probably lie. After all, it seems to be the solution with the least chaotic conclusion.

The clacking heels of the professor seem to be heading towards the second floor lounge, the one with the balcony, so Luna decides to take the short cut. As a result, she arrives there first save for Vision.

"Luna you should be in your room, yes?" He frowns, but he's looking at the door, waiting for an attack.

Luna shrugs and she's saved as the door swings open. You can tell this is not what her android friend is expecting.

Well, Luna smiles a little, he was probably expecting big men with guns.

"Em, apologies for dropping in on you so suddenly. I just didn't think I could ring the bell like I could with a normal house hold."

Luna didn't expect her to be dressed in such stereotypical witch garbs, even if robes were on the uniform list. It's almost comical.

About three seconds later, tony arrives armed with rockets and lasers shortly followed by Natasha, Steve, Sam, Rhodey and Wanda. In that order. For a second, nobody knows what to do and just stares at this rather strict looking, old woman who, all things considered, seems to be holding up quite well. She also wears a rather pointy hat which Luna appreciates.

"Um guys," Tony starts, lowering himself to ground level, "What... Uh what do we do?"

"Shall we sit down? Everyone looks quite tired." Luna asks, throwing a look towards her professor. The lady smiles.

"That sounds like a marvellous idea. I'm very tired, apparating from my hotel to here was still a considerable distance and I didn't have a port key."

No one else moves, waiting for a silent consensus until Steve nods briefly and everyone moves to gather on two black couches facing eachother.

Everyone is squished on one and the witch on another. Tony and Steve stand though.

The woman opens her mouth to speak before anyone else can. "Hullo, My name is Professor McGonagall and I'm a professor at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. And yes," she pauses, "magic does exist and it is not just science you muggles haven't discovered yet."

Smiling, Luna introduces, ignoring the not so subtle signals the others are giving. Professor McGonagall smiles back.

"Hello Miss Lovegood, this may not come as a shock to you but we believe you are a witch, hence I am her to ensure you receive proper magical training."

For some reason, Professor McGonagall doesn't mention the letter which simultaneously makes Luna relieved but also triggers some alarm bells. And so, whilst this is helpful, she also doesn't want to lie to the Avengers, even if it is easier.

Because, well, she likes the Avengers and she wants them to trust her. Secretly, she knows she craves it.

"Oh yes, I got the letter you sent me!" She says as if surprised.

….

Minerva blinks. Oh, that's how this is gonna go. She wasn't sure if Luna had told her guardians but apparently she has…? Or maybe not. She can tell by the varying expressions from the Avengers that this is not something they know of. Patiently, she waits, because she's had enough experience with kids to know that they prefer to sort things like this out themselves. Though she's never encountered a child like Luna before.

"Care to repeat that, Luna?" says an intimidating red headed woman, Natasha was it? She and Luna seem close.

"I received a Hogwarts letter a while ago… why?" Luna replies, blinking owlishly in an attempt to appear innocent. Only half failing.

"And how long is a while, hm?"

She shrugs and cringes a bit as she braces herself. "Um, probably three or four weeks ago, I can't really remember."

Once again, a momentary pause of disbelief occurs. It seems to be a frequent pattern. Then a wave of babbling and protests, all in all quite undignified yelling which makes Minerva think she wouldn't be surprised if the lot ended up in Gryffindor with a few exceptions. Most of its quite unintelligible but it mostly amounts to "Three weeks? Really?", "You should have told us!", "do you realise how dangerous this could have been?" and "so that's what it was, it all makes sense now!".

She sighs, sure that this whole process would have been made smoother with a cup of tea.

"I know." Says Luna. "I'm sorry."

"We'll talk about this later."

Hesitantly, Minerva reaches into her sleeve to retrieve her wand. "Accio Luna's Hogwarts letter."

"Wait, you guys actually use wands and spells and stuff?" says the man in the bold red armour. He looks like a Gryffindor with the colours. Minerva merely rolls her eyes.

She sees Luna do the same and smiles.

There's a quiet whooshing sound before Minerva sees the familiar envelope come zooming into her hand from under the door, and she has fight to keep the smirk from her face at the muggles' astonished gasps. Carefully, she opens it. "Did you understand everything on the letter, Miss Lovegood?" She asks, raising her eyes to look at Luna, who nods smiling.

Good, good. Briefly Minerva offers the contents of the envelope for the Other Avengers to pass along and read before offering to take Luna to Boar Road, a common shopping area for wizards and witches in New York to buy supplies. Narrowing her eyes, she sees Luna turn to look at the other Avengers who shake their head no. And Luna follows in turn.

"I'm not allowed to go outside yet."

"Why ever not child!" This is preposterous. Luna is a child who needs to run around and be free! Not be trapped!

Luna shakes her head again. "It isn't safe. I have to stay inside." Minerva frowns. "Because," she starts boldly, "the people that are looking for me might find me. And they are very dangerous. They have satellites and camera's everywhere." Luna says this very calmly or someone, especially a child, in hiding.

"Sate-whats, my dear?" She sighs, she'll have to report this. She isn't sure how to deal with this. "Who's after you! Are these the people that-" stopping, Minerva decides to slow done for fear of looking hysterical. She breathes. "Miss Lovegood… I and the rest of the wizarding world are quite aware of your family's murder and your kidnap. However the public believes you dead. To them you are a tragic news story from six years ago. We only found out you were alive because your name was still on the list to go to Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore, our Headmaster, went through great lengths to find you. Do you know who's after you?"

Quietly, she hears Luna hum. "Well, they are muggles… but the-they are the ones who made Wanda how she is. I don't really know if that's something that the Wizarding community is supposed to deal with." She shrugs. "And satellites are like these muggle camera's that the muggles put in the sky so they can see everything that happens."

Minerva brushes it off. Muggle criminals are not under the Ministry's jurisdiction, Luna's right. However she knows they'll be interested. Waving her hand she smiles dismissively. "Well the important thing is that you're safe, Miss Lovegood. I believe if we apparate, we can get to Boar Road quite easily. Most public magical places shield from technology due to magical interference. Magic and technology just aren't very compatible."

Honesty, Luna looks as though she isn't very impressed by this and nods along like she already knew all this. The Avengers don't look stunned but she can tell it's new to them. Hm… interesting.

"Besides," Minerva continues, "we only need to go in to get your wand, robes and possibly a pet or familiar. We can order the rest via owl post." she nods. "I've already extracted some money from your family vault at Gringotts, which is a bank.

"Alright. I think that would be nice."

Surprisingly, Luna doesn't ask about her family. Minerva wonders if she remembers them at all; after all, she was only three or four at the time. She also wonders what happened to Luna, but she knows enough not to pry. There'll be time for that later, she knows it will be a sensitive topic.

Eventually, Minerva says she'll come back tomorrow to take Luna to Boar Road at about 1:30 pm. The meeting hasn't gone as she imagined but, all things considered, it's gone quite well, she supposes. She's said what she needed to say, and Luna is coming to Hogwarts. That's all she needs. So she regards the Avengers wary stares with a strong smile as she apparates back to her hotel suite.

….

Luna is currently sitting on the couch as the Avengers are crowding round the small coffee table reading her Hogwarts letter. It hurts that she hadn't told them this. Hadn't trusted them enough. But Wanda knows she'd have done the same. The girl always looked so calm and airy and under control that it felt wrong when she said "I'm sorry." and Wanda knew it wasn't really her fault. She turns her eyes back to the first part of the letter.

~HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY~

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms L. Lovegood,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Had it not been for the woman earlier, and the slightly creepy address on the envelope, Wanda would have regarded it as a weird joke that someone might send her due to her public alias: Scarlet Witch. She has to physically stop the hysterical bubble of laughter that might escape if she isn't careful. Glancing around at the other Avengers (bar Thor, again), she can tell they're thinking the same, even without using her powers. Because even though they all lead extraordinary lives, every new thing still manages to surprise them. She, and they, see that as a weakness. But she knows that Luna, despite her childhood, still manages to see the wonder of it all.

Wanda wishes she still had that. She wishes she still believed in magic.

….

Sometimes, just sometimes, Steve wishes he had never been taken out of the ice at all. Couldn't they have waited another twenty years or so? When he first woke up, it was like everything was different, the scenery, the technology… but he also knows that people are the ones that make up the world and people, well people are just the same as before. Honestly, Steve doesn't mind all this magical stuff, after that big a time leap his mind is practically open to anything now, but he hates that they all had o sign that statute of secrecy thing, that these special people have to live in hiding for fear of being hunted. He looks at Luna, someone who is already in so much danger, with the life she'll lead, even if she manages to integrate into society, she'll always be looking over her shoulder.

….

Mostly, Natasha's annoyed at herself. After all, if Luna didn't know what she was dealing with, why would she tell them. Well, of course there is a perfectly good reason why she should have but Natasha… no, Natalia, straight out of Red-Room would have done the same. Trust no one, only yourself. Most of all, don't trust anyone who doesn't trust you. So, you see, she should have known. She's glad that nobody is hurt though, which as the witch said, is the most important thing. Next time she won't be so stupid.

Honestly, this whole thing is crazy. She wishes the bastards at HYDRA could see this, just to see their miserable faces and reactions to what was sitting under their noses for six years.

However, Hogwarts is a boarding school in Britain, meaning that they'll only see Luna a few times a year. On one hand it might be safer for Luna to hide from HYDRA in a magical school in Britain than with a group of people with powerful enemies, but on the other she knows that she and the others won't feel comfortable with her out of their guard. They'll have to discuss it later.

….

Luna doesn't think she'll get much sleep tonight. She hopes Mr. Loki isn't too disappointed.

A/N- Thank you so much for reading. Comment below if you liked it or not! I really hope you enjoyed it.

- Mercia xx