After returning to her room, Hermione decided to just sit by the window and admire the scenery. Faye had brought Hermione some tea and had offered to keep her company. Hermione kindly declined, telling Faye that she needed some time to herself to just think. Faye understood completely and had left not a minute after. Hermione appreciated Faye immensely. The maid was so kind and innocent, probably never having seen the horrors Hermione had. The chair Hermione was sitting in was very plain, but very comfortable. She supposed Frigga had something to do with it. Hermione had remembered telling Frigga about how plain her life had been outside of Hogwarts. She had said how much she missed things being plain and ordinary.
Hermione was grateful for Frigga as well. Despite what Hermione now knew, she was still happy that she could trust Frigga for the simplest of things. Taking a sip of her tea, Hermione's mind began to wander back to Ron and the others. Nobody knew what had happened to her. She figured they must have been worried. She had been gone for days and there was no way that she would be going home anytime soon. Hermione's heart broke just thinking about Ron. She missed him so much. She couldn't help but think about the freckled ginger boy who stole her heart. She missed the funny faces he made. She missed his unneeded commentary and ridiculous jokes. Hermione allowed a tear to roll down her cheek. She set her tea on the table next to her stood up before walking over to stand in the center of the window. Her eyes scanned the scenery, brown meeting the golden glow of the palace.
A knock on her door pulled her out of her thoughts. Hermione walked over and opened the door. "Yes?" She asked, seeing a guard standing there. "The queen asked me to let you know that breakfast is ready," he replied. Hermione nodded, a polite smile on her face. "Thank you," she said, walking past him after closing the door behind her. He bowed his head as she passed him, never taking his eyes off of her as she walked through the halls to the dining room.
Hermione entered the dining room with a smile. At the dining table sat Odin, Thor, and Frigga. Odin sat the head of the table with Frigga on his left and Thor on his right. They said nothing of her attire, though Odin hadn't said anything about it earlier that morning either. Hermione took a seat next to Frigga who was smiling sweetly at her. Odin didn't bring up the library incident, which Hermione was grateful for. She really didn't feel like explaining to Odin that Loki kept popping into her head. The four ate in silence until Frigga cleared her throat. Hermione turned as Frigga began to speak.
"Are you familiar with balls?" Frigga asked. "Fancy dresses? Dancing?" Hermione asked, clasping her hands together in her lap. Frigga nodded. "We are hosting a ball next month for Thor's birthday. We would like it very much if you would attend." Hermione fidgeted with the ring on her pinky finger in thought. "I suppose I could attend."
Frigga smiled sweetly at Hermione as Thor grinned. Hermione just nodded at him before finishing her breakfast. Once the others had finished eating, they went their separate ways, except for Thor who had come up to Hermione as she was walking down the hall. "Ms. Granger," he called. Hermione stopped and turned around. "You can call me Hermione. Not everyone needs to be so formal with me."
Thor smiled at her. "Well, then. Hermione," he began. "It would make me very happy to see you at the ball. My birthday balls have always been plain." Hermione tilted her head to the side, a small smile on her face. "Plain? How could a ball for you be plain? You're a god." The two had started walking again, Thor right beside Hermione. "I mean that it's the same people every year. With you attending, the ball will at least be somewhat different." Hermione stopped to think about that. "I suppose it will be." Thor stopped walking as Hermione started. "Please excuse me, Hermione. I have some very important business to attend to." He bowed slightly before walking the other way.
Hermione headed back to her room. There were still a few hours until lunch and Hermione didn't have anything to do. She sat down on her bed and looked down at her wand. She remembered the first time she got her wand. It had been one of the best days of her life. Hermione brought her hand to her face, wiping away the tears that had started falling. She missed her friends immensely. She hadn't been here for very long, but she had no idea how time worked in Asgard.
Hermione put her wand on top of the table next to the bed and laid back. She stared up at the ceiling as she played with the ring on her pinky finger. "You do play with that ring quite a lot, don't you?" Hermione rolled her eyes and groaned. "Will you get out of my head?" She spoke somewhat quietly in case anyone was passing by and heard her. Loki chuckled in Hermione's head. "But it's so much fun seeing you angry. Why do you fiddle with that ridiculous piece of metal?" Hermione looked down at the ring before answering. "It was a birthday present from my parents. I'll never see them again and even if I do, they won't have any idea who I am." Even though she couldn't see him, Hermione could tell that he was raising his eyebrow in confusion.
"Why would they not know you?" Hermione really didn't feel like having this discussion, especially not with Loki. "It doesn't matter," she said, sitting up. "Clearly, it does, If it didn't, you wouldn't be crying." Hermione brought her hand back up to her face. She hadn't noticed that she had started crying again. "You wouldn't understand. I doubt you really care anyway." Hermione rubbed the back of her neck as Loki spoke to her. "You don't know me. How would you know if I care or not?" Hermione didn't answer and it seemed their conversation was over. Hermione sighed and laid back down on the bed. She suddenly got a painful headache and gladly closed her eyes, letting sleep take over her body.