~oo00oo~

London King Cross Station Platform 9 3/4

There's no way Tony is going to turn down an opportunity to visit another strange realm, so he's quite happy to accompany Thor and young Loki to London. He's curious at how a wizard world could exist, in today's age.

From his conversations with Stephen, who's taken Loki on a shopping expedition to buy Loki's school supplies like his robes and wand, Dr. Strange found it quite intriguing, seeing these British wizards with their robes. Stephen has also been surprise to learn that Muggle technology does not work in the wizard world, so as a precaution he applies various protective and mystical spells on Tony to ensure the projector in his chest continues to work.

Of course, Tony ignores the warning, having battled against magic welders and won, so he instead eagerly keeps up with Thor as he and Loki make their way to the platform 9 ¾.

They walk up and down the platform, pushing the trolley that contains Loki's books, luggage, and a cage holding Loki's pet Ikol, but there's no 9 ¾. They even ask the train attendants who give them puzzled looks.

Finally they stop in front of the wall between platform 9 and 10.

"Perhaps it's another station." Loki states as he tugs Thor's sleeve.

A man and his son approach the wall. They are pushing a similar trolley to Loki's, except this one has a cage containing a large brown owl. His son, who looks to be around Loki's age, glances over to Loki and their trolley. He asks, "Are you off to Hogwarts?"

Loki stops pulling Thor's sleeve. "Yes. Do you know how to get there?" he asks, trolley forgotten.

The boy smiles and Tony wonders if it's a trickery of the light because for a moment he'd swear the boy's hair turned a deep blue before going back to black. "Come on, follow me." The boy steps to the wall between platform 9 and 10 and passes through it.

"Awesome." Loki states as he too steps through the wall.

"Loki – " Thor calls but is ignored.

"Kids." The man agrees as he extends his hand to Thor. "Hi, I'm Harry Potter."

~oo00oo~

Having grown up in Asgard, Thor is familiar with magic. He may not be user of magic like his brother Loki, but he knows it exist, that some people find use for it, but a whole village – that to him is rare.

He looks at the Hogwarts Express and all the children getting ready to board it.

Loki and his young friend, whose hair colour has now changed to neon pink are having an intense discussion about Houses and something called Quidditch, and expendable ears, and interesting maps – while Tony just stares at them in bemusement, as he chats with Mr. Potter.

Loki runs up to him and throws himself in Thor's arms, trusting his brother to catch him. "Thor, I should have brought my sword."

"Your sword?" he asks.

"Yes, to stick it into unspeakable things for Teddy tells me there are many dark things in the Forbidden Forest. Maybe I should have hel-wolf eat them, he'd like that, don't you think?"

"Headmistress McGonagall only agreed to one familiar, not two, Loki."

"But Thor –" Loki protests.

"Loki." Thor quietly admonishes.

"I'll behave because you asked me too, but we will talk of this again."

"Of course."

Loki hugs his brother. "I will miss you, brother."

"And I you."

"I –"

"Yes," Thor prompts.

"If I don't like it, you'll come get me right?" Loki voice wavers.

"Always." He put his brother down. "And Loki, if they don't treat you well –"

"You'll raze them to the ground." Loki teased.

"Never doubt that."

Another quick hug, followed by a polite hand-shake to Tony, and then to Mr. Potter and the boys are off, boarding the train, both it seems having become fast friends, as most children do upon a first acquaintance.

"You know, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm going to miss that little bugger." Tony tells him.

"Me too." Thor agrees as he waves to Loki, missing him already.

~oo00oo~

Opening Feast – Sorting Hat

"Loki Laufeyson," Deputy Headmaster calls out. The boy, Neville could see is talking excitedly with young Teddy Lupin.

When the boy fails to approach the Sorting Hat, Neville calls again. "Mr. Laufeyson, please step forward."

The young boy nods back to Lupin as he then skips down the hall and does an odd hop before climbing the steps and finally sits on the stool waiting patiently for Neville to place the hat on top of his head.

What happens next stuns everyone in the hall. Where there was once one young boy, there are now four, each wearing a sorting hat, each talking with their hat that have come to represent the colour of one of the four Houses.

Neville takes a step forward but is waved back by Headmistress McGonagall. They wait. And wait. And wait some more.

One of the boys disappears, then another. So Hufflepuff and Gryffindor are out of contention.

Then both remaining boys representing the Slytherin an Ravenclaw House merge back into one, and the Sorting Hat calls out, "Ravenclaw!"

~oo00oo~

In bed, hearing the gentle snores of his fellow housemates, Loki reflects back to the Sorting Hat's words.

During the Sorting Ceremony, for the longest time the Hat believed Loki belonged in Slytherin for in this house he would make true and loyal friends. Hufflepuff had also been in contention for the love and devotion Loki has for family, in particular his brother, Thor. For his bravery against the Serpent King, the God of Fear, the Hat thought he'd be quite welcomed in Gryffindor, the House of Lions. But ultimately, it had been his hunger for knowledge, his desire to learn and not hide his, as Midgardians would call it 'geekdom' (as those are not considered by Asgardians to be worthy type of goals), that made the Hat decide he was Ravenclaw material.

Loki burrows deeper into his covers, ignoring the indentation on the bed as his magpie Ikol walks toward him.

"Magic," the magpie grips. "You're stronger than them. You're wasting your time here, Loki."

Loki ignores him.

"Mark my words –"

"I think it would be nice to have friends and be allowed to study, without people thinking it strange, don't you?" he asks now sitting on the bed. "The Ravenclaw students are like me. Didn't you hear them? They already made a timetable for when they can study together and the older students are going to be tutoring the younger ones and –" he stops, excitement dying down. "Here, I wouldn't be called a freak for wanting knowledge."

"They will make you weak." The magpie argues. "You don't need their acceptance."

"But Ikol, I'm not asking for it. They've already given it to me by putting me in this house, by inviting me here, to Hogwarts to study, where I can learn and ask all sorts of questions." Loki tells him in an earnest voice. "And if they dare bully me, Thor will smite them."

"You wouldn't last a month. You'll die of boredom with these mini-do-gooders." The magpie ruffles his feathers. "And I'm not helping you study."

Loki rolls his eyes. "Like I need help." He lies back down. "Go on, back to your cage." He yawns. "I have a big day tomorrow."

The magpie huffs and flies back to his cage, murmuring all the while about little boys, with little minds, who don't know any better.

~oo00oo~
End: Part 2
~oo00oo~