AN: Finally! 'Italicized' mean the hat is speaking. I JUST ADDED ANOTHER HOUSE TO HOGWARTS! WHAT HAVE I DONE?! Sorry, J.K. Rowling and the European School System.
DISCLAIMER: I only own Jade Roman... I gotta stop calling characters "Jade" and giving them the last name "Drahkon."
"Hurry up! We're going to miss the train!" calls Loki as he pushes his cart. The Avengers file behind him until he reaches the space between Platforms 9 and 10.
"Huh? How are we supposed to get in?" demands Tony, and Loki smiles at him over his shoulder before stepping THROUGH the wall for Platform 10. Steve and Thor immediately follow, and the rest of the Avengers share a shocked glance before stepping through the wall.
"Over here!" calls Thor, and the Avengers follow the brothers into the train after Loki magicked their luggage somewhere. "May we sit in here?" asks Thor as he opens the last train carriage to find two boys.
"Sure," says the red head, and the boy with black hair and a scar nods.
"Are you Harry Potter?" asks a stunned Loki, and the boy nods wearily. "In that case, I must congratulate you for such awesome parents."
"Thank you! Finally, my mum and dad were the real heroes," sighs the boy, and Loki nods his head in agreement.
"Yeah, I get it. I'm Loki Drahkon, and this is my adopted brother, Thor Odinson. The rest of my acquaintances are Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Steve Rogers, and Bruce Banner. We are all muggle-borns."
"Cool, I'm Ron," says the red head, and Loki nods before sitting next to Harry. "I'm pure, not that it matters," continues the red head, and continues trying to fix Harry's glasses with magic. Suddenly, a girl bursts with bushy orange-brown hair in Hogwarts robes.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville lost his... What are you doing?" asks the girl as Ron's wand emits yellow sparks. "Here, repairo," casts the girl and Harry's glasses fix themselves.
"Have you tried accio?" asks Loki suddenly, and the girl slaps her forehead in frustration.
"Of course! Thanks for the idea. Accio, Trevor the toad," says the girl, and a toad flies out of nowhere and into the boy, Neville's, waiting hands.
"Thanks, Hermione," says the boy as he races off.
"Impressive - that's a fourth year spell. I was simply seeing how much you knew. It's nice to meet you, I'm Loki," greets the trickster, standing up and shaking the girl's hand.
"Hermione Granger. Oh, I heard about you! I can't wait to take your classes! Well, I better go, be seeing you!" says Hermione as she exits the carriage.
We are now skipping straight to the Great Hall of Hogwarts for the sorting
Professor McGonigall walks back into the Great Hall and the student body erupts into whispers. Loki stands next to Ron and Harry when a boy with platinum blond hair and silvery blue eyes walks over and starts to insult Ron.
"Hello, I'm Loki Drahkon," interrupts the sorcerer, his smile sharp and predatory. The boy blinks, taken back, and then realization slides across his face as he recognizes Loki and regains his composure.
"I'm Draco Malfoy-" at the name, Tony, Clint, and Natasha stiffen, "-I don't believe we've met."
"Oh, I'm not too sure about that. In fact, I saw your father just the other night," Loki casually states, loud enough for the Avengers to hear. Steve nods slightly in his direction, signaling that he got the message to keep an eye on this kid.
"Oh, well... I'll see you in Transfiguration," stutters the boy before he makes a hasty retreat. As soon as he's out of sight, Loki visibly relaxes, ceasing his looming presence.
"That one will be in Slytherin for sure," Ron tells the Avengers. "Every wizard that's gone to the Dark Side has been a Slytherin." Loki's breath hitches in his throat at that. The last time he was here, HE was in Slytherin. He liked his house, and was proud of it. But now... he had a feeling Slytherin had changed, and if he was placed in it... then even this second chance would be wasted... everything would go wrong... they would leave him alone, cold, dark, abandoned, hated, -
"Loki! You're hyperventilating, snap out of it!" calls Tony, lightly shaking Loki's shoulders. The trickster's eyes refocus and blink several times. Tony breathes a sigh of relief. "Hey... Do you know what PTSD is?" A nod. "Do you have it?"
"Probably."
"Should you be on medication?"
"Probably."
"Heh, that's the same thing I said," winks Tony, and Loki gives him a confused look. "I have PTSD, as well. Too much getting captured, tortured, and falling out of portals to my death, or something like that."
"Sorry," mutters Loki, and Tony shrugs.
"Eh, you were only 1/3 responsible. Besides, when you're not throwing me out of a window, you're pretty fun," shrugs Tony, and Loki's mouth quirks into a smirk.
"You're impossible."
"So I've been told, Reindeer Games, so I've been told," laughs Tony, and Loki outright laughs at that, a genuine smile on his face. Steve and Clint fist bump, glad that the two pranksters were friends.
"Alright students, follow me please," instructs Professor McGonigall as she pokes her head back in before leading them into the Great Hall. There, the students listen with interest as the sorting hat sings out. After several students, one of the Avengers is finally called up. "Banner, Bruce," calls out the Professor. Bruce takes shaky breath. The other Avengers were all too focused on their own nerves to notice Bruce struggling to control the Hulk. Just when the scientist fears his control will slip, he feels a light, hesitant touch on his shoulder.
"You'll be fine, Bruce. Both of you," whispers Loki before giving the frightened boy a slight nudge. Bruce smiles gratefully at him before climbing up the steps, sitting on the stool, and having a floppy, talking hat plunked into his head.
'Hmmm... There is darkness in you, scientist. You might do well in Slytherin...' Bruce simply gave his head a slight shake. "RAVENCLAW!" cries out the hat, and Loki smiles at him. Bruce nods to the demigod before jumping off the stool and to the blue and bronze house's table.
After several more names, another of the Avengers is called up - "Barton, Clint." Clint fairly leaps up the steps and is on the stool before most kids can blink.'Hmm... Let's see... cunning... brave... but most of all, loyal. I think it's time Hufflepuff had a student that could show the other houses a thing or two. Do you accept my challenge?' Clint nods, smirking. "Hufflepuff!" shouts the Sorting Hat, and Clint laughs before flipping out the stool and sliding into an empty seat at his house table.
"Malfoy, Draco," calls Professor McGonigall, and Loki scowls as the Sorting Hat barely touches the boy's head before sending him to Slytherin.
Time passes quickly for the Avengers, and soon Thor is walking up to the stool. The Avengers had given Loki strange looks when he was skipped, but he assured them it was simply because he was a member of the staff. Now, Thor sat nervously on the stool while staring at his brother, who gave him a reassuring smile. 'Hmm... Another fake child,' mentally says the hat. 'Ah, I see. You let your ambitions get the best of you, and were cruel to those around you. You had great courage, but no loyalty or wisdom. You have changed, but that doesn't change the past, and you have not yet made a full turn-over.' "SLYTHERIN!" cries the hat, and all of the Avengers stare in shock. Thor numbly sets down the hat and a frown forms on Loki's face.
Steve is the next Avenger to go up. 'You are kind, loyal, and most of all, courageous. You would be a true asset to...' "GRYFFINDOR!" Steve jumps off the stool and walks over to Harry, who had already been sorted.
"Roman, Jade!" calls out the Deputy Headmistress, and Loki's breath catches in his throat at the sight of the girl. She has long, blond hair and sparkling blue-green eyes that reflect the depths of the sea. The girl sits on the stool, and the Hat immediately frowns. It stays there, silent, for ten minutes. Fifteen. Twenty. When it is nearing thirty, the hat cries out, "ARCANIUM!" the girl picks up the hat and stares at it incredulously. Suddenly, a fifth table appears in the Great Hall. The banner that hangs over it is silver and red, and it's emblem is a midnight black Hungarian Horntail, the most dangerous of all the dragons. At the others questioning looks, Loki makes a helpless, "I don't know," gesture, and Natasha nods, judging from the whispers that this is indeed strange.
When she is called, Natasha jumps onto the stool with feline grace, and sits poised as the hat is placed on her head. 'Hmmm... You have a dark past, but you overcame it out of loyalty for the boy, Clint. You and him can change Hufflepuff forever. Give the house some backbone.' "Hufflepuff!" the hat howled. Loki solemnly swore never to underestimate a Hufflepuff ever again.
Tony fist bumped Loki before strutting up the steps as if he owned Hogwarts. Tony plopped down on the stool and Professor McGonigall unceremoniously dropped the hat on top of the genius. 'Hmm... You act cruel at times, but you always feel regret for your actions. You are ambitious, but truly only in the quest for knowledge. To top it off, the one you trust the most is in Ravenclaw, the house of knowledge. You would make an okay Slytherin, but you are a better... "RAVENCLAW!" Tony jumps off of the stool and sits next to Bruce and a blonde haired girl who introduces herself as Luna Lovegood.
"Wesley, Ron," calls the hat, and Loki gives the boy an encouraging nudge. Ron steps up to the hat and waits impatiently as it sorts him. 'Ah, another Weasley. You too are brave, and reckless. Keep in mind there is a difference. Either way, you, just like the rest of your lot, belongs in...' "GRYFFINDOR!" Ron leaps off the stool and runs over to where Harry and Steve are waiting.
Soon, everyone else has gone and Loki waits patiently as Professor McGonigall prepares to tell the students about his job. "Alright, students. This is Loki Drahkon. Despite appearances, he has already completed all seven years of Hogwarts. However, he will be sorted and assigned a house. He will be my assistant teacher in Animagus training and Transfiguration classes, as he is an Animagus himself. However, he may also assist in other classes. You are to treat him with respect," Loki rolled his eyes, that was the quickest way to being disrespected. Shrugging, he climbed up the steps and slid gracefully on the stool, smiling as it plopped on his head.
"Hello, old friend," whispers Loki, and the Hat chuckles softly.
'My, my, you have been active,' mentally says the Hat. 'Hmmm... you haven't changed all that much, but Slytherin has. They are prejudiced and cruel. Now, you would probably be a better Gryffindor...'
"What of my brother?" mutters Loki, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead. "Slytherin and Gryffindor are sworn enemies. The rift between us is finally beginning to heal... I don't want to break it again," Loki's voice trails off and he twiddled his fingers anxiously.
'What about Arcanium? It is the House of Secrets,' at Loki's cautious nod, the Sorting Hat smiles and calls out, "ARCANIUM!" The girl, Jade, Loki remembers, smirks and waves at him, and he slides next to her, ignoring the slightly hostile stares of the Avengers and sending Thor an apologetic glance.
Thor's gaze sharpens and he glares at the trickster. Loki gulps and looks down as Headmaster Dumbledore finishes his speech. "Hey, who is that?" asks Jade, pointing at Thor.
"My adopted brother, Thor. I don't know why the Hat put him in Slytherin, but he probably blames me," whispers Loki. Jade frowns and glances between the two, taking in Thor's glare and Loki's sorrow filled gaze.
"I'll be back in a minute," declares Jade, slipping into the shadows. He watches in shock as she grabs Thor's ear and pulls him from the bench. He doesn't even speak when she shoves him into the seat next to Loki and flips over the table into her seat. "There. You," she points to, "stop glaring. You're now an honorary member of the Arcanium House, whatever the heck this is. If-" she points to Loki. "it's okay with you."
"If it's all right with Thor, then yes," says Loki, and the girl's brilliant smile makes his breath hitch again.
"Great!" she exclaims, eyes twinkling. "Hmm... This table is really big for the three of us... If you know anyone else, feel free to invite them over," says the girl, and Loki nods before following Thor to the Gryffindor table. "Steve, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, would you like to join us at the Arcanium table? We're trying to fill in the space," explains Loki, and all five kids nod in agreement. "Alright, I'll get Tony, Bruce, and anyone their friends with, and you'll get the assassins," explains Loki as the Gryffindors go to the Arcanium table and sit next to Jade, chatting away.
"Alright, brother," booms Thor as he walks over to the Hufflepuff table and invites the two Avengers. Meanwhile, Loki walks over to the Ravenclaw table and up to the two geniuses. "Tony, Bruce, if you and any of your friends would like to come over to the Arcanium table to make it less awkward, we would be delighted," says Loki, and Tony jumps up.
"Sure! Bruce, Luna, come on!" Tony races to the Ravenclaw table, and Bruce sighs good-naturedly. A girl with blond hair and a dreamy look on her face stands up and follows Loki back to the table. After dinner with his not-friends the Avengers, Loki and Jade wait for the Deputy Headmistress to come and show them their room.
"I wonder why no one has ever heard of Arcanium before?" ponders Jade, twirling her white wand with red dragon and blue pheonix designs (Elder wood, dual core of pheonix feather and dragon fang, 11 inches, he checked).
"The Hat said that it was the House of Secrets," points out Loki as he makes his wand shoot out green sparks.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean the House IS a secret," defends Jade, and Loki nods in agreement. "On perhaps a scarier note, why are we the first two students to ever make the cut for the House? That's just not normal," continues, Jade, pacing now. "Something... Doesn't add up. And I really, really don't like it. The Hat knows too much about us... about me..." she trails off, her eyes narrowing. "Well, alright, now I'm being paranoid and I'm rambling. Sorry, am I annoying you?" asks Jade. 'A little, yes,' thinks Loki.
"No."
"Oh, good. So... You're the new Animagus teacher, right?" she asks, Loki nods, not bothering to correct her. "I'm going to be in that class this year. I have a bit of a... shapeshifting problem. My form is based off of my emotions," explains Jade. At Loki's questioning look, she turns into a fluffy, white bunny. Loki laughs at her, and he knows it's cruel, but he can't help it, and is cut short when she transforms into a snarling, silver and red wolf. Eyes wide with awe, Loki reaches out and strokes one of the wolf's ears. The wolf makes a sort of rumbling sound in her chest that Loki immediately recognizes as laughter. Not scornful laughter, like his, but... affectionate and amused laughter. Grinning, he withdraws his hand as Jade transforms back into a human (with her clothes on, praise the Norns). "I still can't access my three most powerful forms. My third most powerful form is a sapphire blue phoenix, my second is a red Chinese dragon, and my most powerful form is a black, blue, and red Hungarian Horntail."
"Isn't that the symbol of our house?" wonders Loki, and Jade nods, grimacing. Suddenly, Professor McGonigall arrives and leads the two students to the Room of Requirement, which was apparently created just for the Arcanium House. Too tired to pay much attention to their surroundings, the two children collapsed in their separate rooms and were asleep in seconds.
AN: Is it just me, or was that chapter REALLY LONG?! Anyway, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW AND FOLLOW!