Author's Note: Happy New Year, everyone! I ran out of time yesterday to finish editing this, but here it is! Also, it took me forever to pick the perfect quote to set the tone! I absolutely love this chapter! We finally get to see Asgard…and LOKI! So much excitement and angst! Well, enough of my rambling…go and read! And please don't forget to review. Special thanks to those of you that favorited, followed, and reviewed (Alice1985, Emma3mikan, and nostalgiakills). Your continued interest keeps me motivated!
Disclaimer: All non-original characters, plot points, and information belongs to those at Marvel Studios, Warner Brothers, or J.K. Rowling. The title, "Wolves without Teeth" comes from the song of the same title by the fantastic Of Monsters and Men. The cover photo is a mashup I created from photos found on Google. The story plot and dialogue belongs to me. I do not write for profit.
Full Summary: In the age old fight of good versus evil, two souls converge in a battle to stop the end of all worlds. With the universe crumbling around them, Loki and Hermione find themselves connected by more than just their magical abilities. A myth becomes reality when an old foe comes tearing through the realms seeking revenge upon those who wronged him. What will happen when Loki and Hermione discover there's much more to their connection than meets the eye? Will they be forced to sacrifice everything they've ever wanted in order to save the nine realms or will love prevail?
Wolves without Teeth
Pairing: Hermione Granger/Loki Laufeyson
Rating: M (Rated Mature for adult language, violence, and sexual situations)
Part Three: The Revelation
Song Recommendations: "Boom Clap" by Charli XCX, "Haunted" by Evanescence, "Monster" by Lady Gaga, and "Weight of the World" by Hurts
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"Revealing the truth is like lighting a match.
It can bring light, or it can set your world on fire."
—Unknown
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The Revelation
Heart pounding so loudly she was sure they could hear it back on Earth, Hermione opened her mouth to speak, to say hello or something, but all she could do was stare in wonder at the all-knowing defender standing before her. Thor, Jane, and Darcy whipped around to gape at her as well—Jane and Darcy gasping at the realization she had somehow made the trip through the Bifrost with them. She stumbled forward, seemingly off balance after the transition from another realm. Jane rushed forward, arms outstretched. "Hermione!" She grasped her upper arms and examined Hermione with her eyes. "What are you doing here?" Thor was speaking quietly to Heimdall, but she caught the words: 'return', 'witch', and 'unsafe'. Suddenly angry, Hermione pushed past Jane, stormed past Darcy, and stopped right in front of the God of Thunder.
"I thought we had an understanding, Thor? I thought you were in agreement that my magical abilities could help Jane with her research?" She glared at the stubborn god, awaiting his answer. When he did not reply, she raised her eyebrows and placed her hands on her hips just like his fiancée had done earlier. "What makes you think that I can't take care of myself here? I fought in a damn Wizarding War!" She stomped her foot on the marble surface in childlike fashion. "I've been petrified, cursed more times than I can count, and tortured until my throat bled from screaming!" She was screaming now, Hermione realized, but she refused to be sent back down to Earth just because she was a witch. "In fact," she said walking a circle around Thor, lifting her face to smirk into his shocked one, "if there is something magical or out of ordinary going on here, I am probably going to be more use than you can even imagine. Isn't that right, Heimdall?" She stopped, her robes swishing about her as she twirled her wand through her fingers and grinned up at the dark-skinned man.
Everyone there turned and looked up at Heimdall as well, wanting to know if he knew something that they didn't. In reality, they realized he knew more than he could tell, but that didn't stop them from hoping he would share even the tiniest bit of his foreknowledge. Heimdall's head lifted as he regarded the witch before him. It was a bit of a surprise when he removed his hands form his sword and walked down until he was nearly toe-to-toe with Hermione. She didn't even blink. She didn't back away. She didn't even breathe. She simply waited as he assessed her carefully, those magical eyes delving deep into her soul. Eventually, he backed away and turned to Thor, his face grim but determined.
"Lady Granger speaks the truth. Sending her back now would be a grave mistake for she has skills beyond yours and mine which will help in determining what is going on with the All Father."
Thor growled and turned away from Hermione and Heimdall, his anger making the air crackle around them. It wasn't until Jane stepped up to him and laid her head on his arm. "Thor, Hermione is our friend, and if she and Heimdall say she can be of help to us, why can't she stay?" She peered up into his blue eyes, hoping he would see things with a bit of common sense. It was uncommon for him to act in such a manner these days, but it did happen from time to time.
With a sigh of frustration, Thor turned and kissed the top of Jane's head gently before walking over to stand in front of Hermione. He looked her over—wand in hand, fierce look upon her face, and fighter stance. Nodding more to himself than to her, he inclined his head. "I apologize, Hermione. You are right, of course. Your abilities are an asset to us. Please, forgive me."
Hermione blinked up at Thor, her anger slowly dissipating until all that was left was gratification. She was glad he had apologized for she did not want to fight with him. She wanted to help him and this kingdom. If something horrible was going to happen like her intuition indicated, then she was glad to have him on her side. "I accept your apology, Thor." She grinned at him, an energy shining in her eyes. "I only wish to help, and maybe do some research while I'm here." He smiled and clasped her shoulder merrily causing them both to laugh, effectively breaking the tension that had enveloped them.
"So," Darcy chimed in from the back where she had kept silent the entire time, "are we going into Asgard or not? I'm starving." Jane and Hermione laughed whilst Thor merely shook his head.
"Yes, let us get horses and ride to the palace." Thor began leading the way, bowing his head at Heimdall as he passed. The three ladies replicated the gesture of respect as they walked out onto the Rainbow Bridge. Hermione didn't know where to look first as they ventured across the glittering bridge. She wanted to get down on all fours to examine the hard surface that looked like it was made out of light and electricity. Next to her, Darcy was staring up at the slowly darkening sky.
She leaned over and whispered to Hermione, "Wasn't it morning just like half an hour ago?"
A smile graced Hermione's lips. "Remember, Asgard is in a different place in the universe than Earth." She pointed skywards. "Look, those stars are not our stars. You won't find the Big Dipper or Cassiopeia in this sky." Darcy kept her gaze towards the sky as they continued onward. "No Sirius either," she added with a sad sigh.
"I told you, Darcy, to take a look at those star charts I've been working on." Jane looked back over her shoulder from where she was walking hand in hand with Thor. Hermione noticed that occasionally there were parts of the Rainbow Bridge that looked as if they were stitched back together somehow.
"Thor, what are these ridged areas on the bridge?" She gestured to one as they passed it. Thor sighed heavily, his eyes softening a bit in the twilight.
"When I returned after New Mexico, Loki was threatening to go out and destroy other worlds, so I destroyed the Rainbow Bridge with Mjolnir." He held up the hammer as if to emphasize its great power. Hermione felt a chill run down her spine at the mention of Loki. He was gone now, died helping Jane and Thor fight off the Dark Elves, but his presence still haunted this realm. "It took much time to repair. Luckily, my mother had magic of her own and was able to help stitch it back together again." Hermione wondered if she would be able to make the seams any less apparent if given the chance. She would have to bring that up at another time as they had reached the end of the bridge.
There were two majestic horses available for them to use at the gates of Asgard, Thor mounted the white one, pulling Jane up easily behind him. He peered down and asked Hermione, "Have you ever ridden a horse before?"
She scoffed, and mounted the raven colored horse gracefully. "If I can ride a broomstick, Hippogriff, and a Threstral, a horse will be no problem." Darcy snorted, and scrambled up after her.
"I'm glad you can, because god knows I have no idea how to steer this thing."
Once they were all settled, Thor kicked his horse into a trot, and Hermione followed suit. They cantered through the city, the triangular palace growing closer with every second. The people of Asgard cheered as Thor rode by, and a few times, Thor thrust his hammer into the air. He was clearly loved by his populace which was important if you may have to rule the kingdom one day. Years from now, there was no doubt that he would once Jane was gone and Odin passed on as well. Hermione's heart panged unpleasantly at that reality. Thor had given up being king so he could live out life with Jane, but her life was deceptively shorter than his own. He would be forced to watch her die, but he'd chosen it all the same. Hermione would not wish that kind of life on anyone. She watched uneasily as Jane snuggled into Thor's back with a happy smile and closed her eyes as they continued their way past businesses and houses galore.
"Even when riding a horse, they find a way to be disgustingly romantic." Hermione giggled at the whispered words Darcy spoke from behind. It was true, Jane and Thor were made for one another. It took no effort for them to stay happy together. They began to slow their steeds as the gates appeared before them. The guards let them in without any issue, bowing their heads to acknowledge Thor's stature. Once Hermione had helped Darcy down from the great horse, they turned and followed Jane and Thor up the stone steps leading into the palace. The four stopped in the entryway and Hermione let out a small gasp of awe. It was absolutely stunning. She hadn't seen such beauty since Hogwarts. Gray and rose colored marble and stone pillars flanked the walls.
Thor turned to face them and gestured down a long hallway. "We must first go to see my father and explain why we're here." Jane's face fell and Hermione and Darcy shared a curious look. Seeing their confusion, he backtracked a bit. "Obviously, we must leave some things out. We will explain that you are here to conduct research. We shall not share what exactly it is we are specifically researching." He turned the full force of his stare upon Hermione and added, "And we most certainly will not reveal what you are." She nodded solemnly, understanding the importance of this precise detail. "Do we all understand?" Once they all agreed, Thor began to lead the way down the hallway.
It wasn't until they were nearly to the large doors at the end when Hermione stopped dead in her tracks, panic constricting her chest. Darcy turned, saw her panic stricken face, and tapped on Jane's shoulder to get her to stop as well. "What's up, Hermione?"
Eyes wide with fear, she gestured down at herself. "I can't meet Odin in my pajamas!" They all took in her appearance. Sure enough, she stood there without makeup, hair a tangled snare, in a pair of plain black yoga pants and a gray t-shirt with her winter boots and traveling cloak overtop. She looked a hot mess, as Darcy would say—and she did.
"You look like a hot mess."
Glaring, Hermione seethed, "Thanks a lot." She shot Darcy and Jane an accusatory glare. "Some of us did not have the privilege of preparing for this journey."
"What the hell were you doing outside in the snow wearing your pajamas anyway?" Darcy asked, confusion clear on her face.
"I was talking to Harry on the phone. I thought the cold air might clear my head a bit."
"Well, that's part of the reason we're here to research. We have to figure out why this ring is causing you issues." Jane made sure to cover the ring of which she spoke as they discussed it so that Hermione would not be affected by the diamond.
Frantically, Hermione made to pull out her wand and change her clothes magically only to be stopped by a gentle hand on her arm. She glanced up into Jane's worried eyes. "If you do that, Odin will be able to sense your magic. We'll be found out right away."
Hermione stared at Jane for a long moment before sighing, her shoulders deflating. "What do I do then?" She was looking desperately at Thor, hoping he could help her out. She always got a bit irrational in stressful situations. Her mind flashed back to when she, Harry, and Ron had been stuck in the Devil's Snare. To this day, they still made fun of her for forgetting she was a witch.
Tilting his head, Thor evaluated her appearance, looking for a way to ease her anxiety. "My father will know you are from Earth, so he may not mind how you are dressed. Darcy, can you help her tame her hair?" Darcy nodded and pulled an elastic hair band from her wrist. She surged forward and immediately began trying to get Hermione's tangles pulled back into a braid of some sort. "Now, if you just button the front of your jacket and untuck your pants from your boots, you will look plenty presentable." Jane helped with her garments as Darcy put the finishing touches on the braid she had finagled out of Hermione's tangled curls.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione shook her head with a pinched face. "Alright, how do I look?"
Thor cracked a grin and walked forward until Hermione was forced to stare up into his dazzling, blue eyes. He grabbed her in a bone crushing bear-hug that reminded her of Ron and mumbled into her ear. "You look fine, Hermione. Now will you relax?" She nodded and chuckling, Thor placed her back on her own two feet. Jane linked an arm with her and began to drag her forward, Darcy trailing behind them. "Come now, you three. We have some explaining to do. Once we are in front of my father, follow my lead and do exactly as I do."
The closer they got to the throne room, the louder Hermione's heart seemed to beat. She worried that Odin would not believe their story and throw them out, or worse, into the dungeons. She had heard Thor talk of the dungeons before and she did not wish to ever step foot in them. Before she knew it, the tall, golden doors were before her. Thor explained who his guests were to the guards flanking the archway, and then the doors were opening in towards the wide, golden throne room. Hermione heard Darcy let out a low whistle as they followed Thor forward. She took in the high, vaulted ceilings that reflected down onto the gleaming floors which had intricate Norse designs swirling through them. It was so breathtaking that Hermione forgot, for a moment, about why they were there and the butterflies in her stomach. She was reminded, however, when she slammed, ungracefully, into the back of Darcy. Darcy snorted and helped her avoid toppling over, which she appreciated. She then allowed her eyes to rest on the golden throne before her where Odin, Protector of the Nine Realms, was seated with his staff in hand. She barely had time to register the King of Asgard before Darcy was yanking her down by the arm to kneel before him. She glanced over to see that her companions all had their heads bowed with one hand fisted over their hearts. She replicated the gesture so Odin would not find her disrespectful and order her out before she'd even had a proper examination of him.
Once she was certain she was not to be reprimanded, glancing up through her fringe, Hermione observed Odin with his curly gray hair, wrinkled face, and eyepatch in quick succession before trailing down and fanning out. He appeared old, frail even, but his posture and stance suggested otherwise. Odin held a sort of presence that made Hermione step back and do a double take. Fear. That was the word to use. Odin evoked a fear deep within her that was surprising considering all the stories she had heard about him in the past. There was most definitely something wrong going on here. Heimdall and Thor had been right about that. She swallowed, doing everything in her power to suppress her magical abilities from this powerful god. With a start, she was surprised to discover that he was staring at her unwaveringly. Using all her willpower, Hermione hid her powers even deeper inside her magical core so that they were undetectable, even to her.
Upon realizing that he had been caught staring at her, Odin let a slow smirk slide onto his face and he turned his gaze to his son. "Thor, I am surprised that you have returned so soon after your last departure, and with…guests." He dragged out the word as if they were scum on the bottom of his armored boot, and Hermione wanted to glare and lash out in disgust, but she contained herself, respecting the authority he supposedly deserved. Odin's gaze fell upon his son like a ton of bricks and Hermione wondered how he did not topple over from it. Years of patience and practice she supposed. "Why have you brought them here?"
Thor stood, and indicated that they could all do so as well, before stepping forward under Odin's gaze. "Father, you remember Jane Foster?"
Odin nodded at Jane. "I do, it is a…pleasure…to see you again, my dear. Welcome back to Asgard." Jane quietly thanked him with a small nod of her head before Thor continued introducing them.
"I have also brought Lady Darcy Lewis and Lady Hermione Granger, both of whom are interns and friends to Jane and myself." Thor gestured towards them and Hermione felt Darcy go rigid next to her as Odin scrutinized the both of them. It was then, as the All Father leaned forward with narrowed eyes to inspect the two of them that Hermione first saw it—a tiny glimmer—around the edge of Odin. It was gone before she could fully determine what it was, but she was certain it would appear again. Thor continued, "They have come, along with Jane, to conduct some research regarding the cosmos. Jane has been working with star charts and blueprints of the universe since the Convergence, but she needs time to see these things in person to further and finish her research. Darcy and Hermione plan to assist her in order to get this research completed within a reasonable timeframe."
Hermione was impressed with the lie that fell so easily from Thor's normally honest lips. Her eyes snapped back to Odin when he spoke, his voice dripping with malice. "I see. It is a bit suspicious that you had no plans to return when we spoke earlier this morning before your departure. What brought about this sudden change of mind?" He raised his eyebrows at his son, who merely blinked causing Hermione's stomach to drop. Luckily, Jane took matters into her own hands, placing a delicate hand on Thor's forearm before stepping forward to face Odin directly.
"That would be my doing, sir. I—we, wanted to share our exciting news with you. You see, we've gotten engaged and wished to celebrate with you and the kingdom, if that was alright." Odin's sharp eyes flickered down to view the intricate Asgardian ring on her hand before returning to her face. She smiled sweetly and reached back so Thor would take her hand, before settling in at her side. "I did come with the intention of conducting some important research, but I thought it was time to publicly share the news of our engagement."
Hermione held her breath as she waited for Odin to contemplate Jane's reasoning. He leaned back in the golden throne and regarded the couple with wizened eyes before gesturing for them to come closer. "Let me see how my mother's ring suits you, my dear." Hermione let her breath out slowly, praying this was his way of saying he believed their story. Jane walked forward and then up the stairs of the throne, her left hand extended. Hermione made sure to keep her eyes averted from the glittering ring so she didn't get set off into one of her fits again. It would not do well to go into convulsions whilst trying to sell their tale. She did well though, pretending as if she were examining the intricate surroundings. Odin gently took Jane's hand in his own, tilting it this way and that before releasing it with a smile. "I believe the Rime Diamond has found a most perfect home upon your delicate hands, Lady Foster." He let out a sigh, relaxing against his throne once more. "Now, I believe revelries are in order. Tonight, we will have a feast in your honor!" He beckoned his guards forward before retuning his gaze to the four of them. "Go get settled into your rooms and prepare yourselves for this evening. We wouldn't want the kingdom getting the wrong impression from the Earthlings now would we?"
Hermione shivered as his stony gaze fell upon her once more. The chill ran right down her spine and she couldn't suppress the quake her body displayed. Odin smirked and straightened his back proudly at the fear she displayed. However, the fear vanished when she once again saw the faint greenish glimmer outlining the King. It was her that smirked this time, immediately seeing the fraud as he was. She knew one thing for certain, as they took their leave of the throne room—King Odin he was not. This imposter was using a Glamour Charm—a powerful one—to disguise themselves. Hermione would have to disclose this information to Thor carefully so as not to upset him and cause a scene. Once they were securely locked away in their rooms, Hermione would tell all. They had an imposter to unmask…and a huge mystery to solve. What happened to the real King Odin?
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A few hours later, Hermione found herself bathed and properly donned in Asgardian clothing. She twirled around in front of the ornate, full-length mirror in her private chambers trying to decide if she looked as beautiful as she felt. Her dress was a deep, blood red. The material felt both liquid and heavy on her body. The strapless dress and hugged her curves on the way down as the bustier underneath thrust her breasts nearly up to her neck. She wished she could use magic to lessen the tightness, but she and Thor had decided she should not use magic of any kind until the unmaking of the imposter king. Turning and looking over her shoulder, Hermione admired the lace that overlapped the top but faded as it went down the gown. It flowed outward once it hit her hips making Hermione feel like she was going to prom or a Ministry ball. She could not deny how beautiful it made her feel though. The ladies in waiting had even managed to tame her hair into a loose, but elegant knot at the back of her head. Little curly wisps of hair accentuated her demurely painted face. She smiled, red tinted lips tilting upwards at herself in the mirror.
Finally, turning away from her reflection, Hermione stepped into the vintage gold heels and headed for the door, mentally checking to make sure she had everything before going across the hall to collect Darcy. Her wand was secured to her sheath, re-fitted to attach to her leg and the red lip-tint was tucked securely inside the bustier, cutting into her skin from the tightness. She threw open the door and crossed the empty hall to knock on Darcy's room. She heard a 'come in' from within so she pulled the golden handle outwards, revealing Darcy's bedchamber. The woman in question was standing at the foot of her queen sized bed, hands on her hips, and glaring at Hermione.
"I look ridiculous." Hermione had to disagree. She felt her dark haired friend looked absolutely stunning. The gown was a strapless dark violet ensemble. The upper part was sprinkled with small diamonds while the rest just flowed smoothly to the floor.
"Darcy, you look fantastic. Honestly." Hermione walked forward, her own dress swishing about her so she could poke at the diamonds on Darcy's dress. "Look at the diamonds!"
Darcy ran a frustrated hand through her long, dark hair that was curled slightly. "I'm going to damage this thing, I know it, Hermione. Why on Earth would Jane let them put this much money on my body." Hermione merely shrugged, her corset digging into her.
"No idea, but at least you can get away without a bloody corset. I'm going to suffocate before the night is through and I'm the one who has a big job to do." It was true, after they had all settled in, the four met in Thor and Jane's chambers to discuss their next move and so Hermione could reveal what she had found out. Thor had absolutely no idea who could be disguised as his father, but wanted to know immediately. However, Hermione had insisted they wait until dinner that evening which would be served for them before the ball began. She was very anxious that whoever was behind the mask, so to speak, would retaliate with deadly force. It was lucky she was so well trained in defensive magic. She guessed the Wizarding War plus her many years working for the MLE had prepared her well for this sort of thing.
Darcy flopped onto the edge of her bed, leaning back on her hands. "Well, hopefully, once you de-mask the imposter, we can get things sorted and I can take this dress off. But I love these shoes!" She kicked her right leg forward revealing her foot clad in a glass slipper not unlike the ones depicted in Cinderella. Hermione had to laugh at her friend, reaching forward and helping her up.
"They really are beautiful. Now, come on. We have work to do. Jane and Thor said they would meet us at the main dining room, wherever that is." Under her breath, Darcy said something about probably getting lost in the palace, but they managed alright. Within a few minutes they spotted their friends waiting outside a golden archway with the hallway permeated with the delicious scent of cooked meats. It made Darcy's stomach growl setting the two women into a fit of laughter.
Thor raised an eyebrow at them once they had stopped in front Jane. They ceased laughing the moment they took in Jane's appearance. She was wearing a golden silk dress with off the shoulder sleeves that puffed up just slightly. The top was trimmed with a slightly darker lace and she had a small diamond tiara upon her head that matched her ring perfectly. Small golden stars dangled from her ears and twinkled in the light as she smiled her Darcy and Hermione. Grasping at the skirt, she gave them a nervous glance. "Do I look alright? Thor says I am more beautiful than the sky, but you know how he is." The couple shared a private smile as she glanced back over her shoulder at him, Darcy making a fake gagging noise. Hermione poked her in the ribs fighting her own smile as Darcy playfully slapped her arm away.
"Ignore Darcy. You look exactly like a future queen should look, Jane" Hermione fidgeted, worried she still might give the game away. Thor smoothed out his trademark armor and gestured towards the doorway.
"Now that it's settled we all look perfectly fine, shall we get this over with?" Nodding, they all entered the dining room, the women's heels clicking softly on the glossy marble floor. Hermione only managed a quick look at the long cedar table flanked with delicious smelling food before her eyes fell upon the so-called king. He watched their entrance with piercing eyes that made Hermione completely nervous. She did not miss the glimmer surrounding him as he readjusted himself at the head of the table. Thor bowed his head upon reaching the chair at his right hand. Jane stood at the seat next to Thor, so Hermione and Darcy walked around the other side, sitting opposite of them. Probably more out of necessity than fear, Darcy allowed Hermione to have the seat to the left of 'Odin'. While this would make things easier later, it caused Hermione's heartrate to accelerate and her mouth to go dry.
"Ah, now this is much better," he said indicating their attire. "All eyes will be on you at the revel this evening." He turned and regarded Thor and Jane specifically. "Your engagement feast will be remembered for years, or until your wedding, of course."
Jane bowed her head briefly, a tentative smile gracing her lips. "Thank you for allowing us this celebration, sir. We are truly grateful." Hermione swallowed dryly, she wondered if there would even be a party once she removed his Glamour charm. From this close proximity, she should tell exactly how strong it was. The others showed no inclination that they were able to see the faint glimmer of the charm so she suspected that it was due to her being a witch that enabled her to catch the deception. The fraud must have to cast it daily for it to settle onto his original form so resolutely. Idly, Hermione thought that Polyjuice would be much easier to maintain than a Glamour charm. As they all took their respective seats for dinner, worry stabbed at Hermione as she wondered if her Earth magic could even compare to the magic this person was using.
The meal began easily enough, all of them digging into the delicious, fragrant food while keeping up the conversation. Odin mostly ignored Hermione and Darcy, addressing Thor and Jane to discuss the revel, their plans for a wedding here on Asgard, and if they planned on having a celebration on Earth as well. Thor described to Jane what an Asgardian wedding would entail, and although to Hermione it sounded completely overwhelming, Jane seemed to accept her positon with poise and grace. She almost seemed excited at the prospect of a royal wedding, a point which caused Darcy to poke Hermione in the ribs with a smirk. Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend and tried to keep her mind on the task at hand.
They had planned to talk Odin into a conversation where he might be tempted to gloat about his deception, but so far Thor had been unsuccessful in this task. With the end of the main course inevitable, Hermione raised her eyebrows and gave Jane a pointed look. Jane gave her the tiniest of nods in return and leaned over to whisper in her beloved's ear. A slow smile spread across his tanned face before he briefly kissed her cheek and turned towards the head of the table. Hermione saw his right arm tense as he gripped Mjolnir under the table in preparation of what was to come. The supposed king did not notice as he was drinking deeply from his goblet of red wine. Hermione also used this time to release her wand from its sheath beneath her gown and prepare herself for what she had to do.
Her heart was pounding in her chest now, thumping so loudly she could hear it above the tinkling of Darcy's silverware as she finished her last few bites of veal. Her wide, brown eyes shot to the king's as Thor cleared his throat so she would be ready to remove the charm without a second's hesitation. "I was curious, father, when are you planning to end this charade?" 'Odin' leaned forward in his chair, his one good eye glaring at Thor before swiveling to take in the other faces at the table. Jane sat stoic next to Thor who held himself in a fighter stance despite being seated behind the table. Hermione imagined white knuckles were gripping that heavy, heavy hammer beneath the table. That eye traveled briefly past Darcy's pale worried expression before settling on Hermione's determined expression.
Inhaling deeply through his nose, the imposter slid a sinful smirk onto his lips as he pushed back from the table, the ornate wooden chair scraping against the marble floor. Hermione felt Darcy flinch next to her at the hateful noise, but did not let her own expression change. She watched as he used the armrests to stand, towering over them all, trying to remain in control of the situation. "I am afraid I know not what you mean, Thor. You will need to enlighten me as to what you are referring to." He held onto the golden staff, but Hermione could tell he did not need it to support his body. The glimmering of the Glamour was sparkling as this magical being tried to remain calm enough to hold the illusion. She watched with morbid fascination as Thor too stood from the table, clearly the taller of the two gods. The Asgardian prince took one long stride forward until he was face to face with the perjurer who narrowed that single eye and tilted his chin up in defiance.
Gripping his hammer tightly, Thor gestured at the man's deceitful form. "'Tis time for you to reveal your true form, imposter. We know you are not what you appear to be." Thor raised Mjolnir above his head, the air beginning to crackle around them.
A cackling laugh escaped the fake king's mouth as he stepped back, away from Thor and his fury. He opened his arm's wide and sneered at them all. "Come now, Thor. Surely you of all people can figure out who I really am?" Unable to determine who was really in front of him, Thor allowed his fury to take over, lifting his hammer higher above his head with an angry roar. Jane and Darcy jumped from their seats, running towards the back of the chamber so they were safely away from the inevitable fight. "What are you waiting for?!" Magic pulsed outward from the imposter, knocking over chairs and nearly extinguishing the sconces lighting the room. The situation was getting out of hand too quickly. Hermione abruptly stood from her seat, effectively knocking it over.
"Enough!" She screamed, brandishing her wand and using a silent spell to shut and lock the doors to seal everyone inside. Immediately, pounding could be heard from the guards trying to gain entrance. "Thor, lower your hammer before things get further out of hand than they already are." She held her left hand out toward him still in dueling stance, right hand holding her wand steady and her eyes never leaving the imposter's. He was breathing rapidly, his chest rising and falling in quick succession. The Glamour charm seemed almost alive as it shimmered, the imposter's face screwed up in anger and assertion to keep it coating his body for as long as possible. "Now," she said, "are you going to reveal yourself, or may I have the honor?"
Teeth bared and chest heaving, the imposter gestured down his body. "Go right ahead, my dear. If you dare to see who I really am." That evil glint sparkled in his one eye and Hermione felt a twinge of fear that reminded her of when she was tortured by Bellatrix. Shoving those thoughts down with a swallow, Hermione chanced a glance at Thor who was still holding that hammer firm in his hand. He nodded, giving her permission to remove the charm and she turned her full attention back to the villain across from her. Inhaling deeply, Hermione gripped her wand securely before swishing it through the space in front of her. The air rippled gold and green as the Glamour melted from the body in front of her. She held her breath as a tall, pale man with scraggly black hair and gleaming green eyes was revealed to her. His pointed face was full of malice as those gleaming eyes set their full attention on Hermione who realized quickly who this man must be.
"Oh…"
The word escaped her lips as if she had been punched in the stomach, a sick feeling of terror overtaking her body. She stumbled backwards, grasping at the top of a chair for support, wand still clutched fiercely in her hand. No one in the room said a word as the realization of the situation enveloped them completely. Hermione opened and closed her mouth multiple times before she was able to find words to speak. Those gleaming eyes. That long, black hair. His smooth, pale skin. She knew who he had to be of course, but she had seen this man before—in her dreams.
"You—you're—"
His laughter filled the air as he stood erect and spread his arms wide, presenting himself to them like a holiday gift. Chin snubbed into the air, his lip curled up as he took a menacing step towards Hermione, her wand hand beginning to feel wet and clammy with sweat. She never took her eyes from his face as he pointedly made his way to stand not two feet in front of her. Panic gripped Hermione as he leaned down so he was staring openly into her startled face.
"I am Loki of Jotenheim, and I am very pleased to finally meet you face-to-face, Hermione Granger."
The next fifteen seconds seemed to last longer than normal as the room dissolved into chaos. First, Loki raised his hand as if to reach out and touch Hermione, but he never got the chance. Hermione threw up a powerfully fear induced wandless Protegro launching the God of Mischief backwards off his feet so that he landed in a crumpled heap upon the marble floor. Ignoring the terror inside her chest, she surged forward with a series of complicated wand movements that securely bound and gagged Loki, incapacitating his ability to use his magical abilities for the time being. She then backed as far away as possible as the horrible realization of the situation made bile rise at the back of her throat. Hermione crashed into the table, still laden with the aftermath of their meal, causing a half empty goblet of wine to tumble to the floor. Her chest was heaving, and she could barely breathe thanks to the overly tight feeling the corset under her gown caused, but she kept her eyes fixed on Loki's as he glared up at her from the floor.
"You said he was dead."
Thor moved forward from where he had stood frozen, shock still evident on his face. "I thought he was. Jane and I watched him die. He died in my arms." Thor crouched down, setting Mjolnir solidly next to his leg, and gripped Loki's green leather covered shoulder to give him a rough shake. Loki's hair cascaded about his face from the force of the movement, his eyes sliding into slits of anger as Thor peered into his face. "He tricked us—me." He grabbed his adopted brother by both shoulders and pulled him into a standing position before slamming him into the wall. "You used your bloody illusions to make me believe you died so you could take the throne in my place. I MOURNED FOR YOU, LOKI!" Thor raged into the pale face before him, spittle spraying from his mouth. Loki did nothing but blink in return, infuriating Thor even more so he threw him to the floor once more before turning to pace the length of the table.
It was Darcy who voiced the question on all of their minds. "So, does this mean Odin is dead?"
"If you have murdered father, Loki, I will not spare you even another second to breathe before striking you down!" Thor stopped pacing and surged towards the mischievous god.
"Odin is still alive." Everyone froze and turned to stare at Hermione.
"What? How can you possibly know that, Hermione?" Jane had stepped between her fiancé and his deceitful brother. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she gazed intently at her friend. "He could have been dead all this time and we never would have known"
Hermione, heart still pounding, pushed away from the table and took a few tentative steps towards Loki. His gaze slid from Thor to her as she approached. "Oh, I am quite certain Odin has been kept alive. I'm right, aren't I, Loki?" In response, he narrowed his eyes and struggled to free himself from the bindings she had retrained him with. Those eyes of his were almost glowing with anger.
"But why would he do that?" Darcy asked, tentatively walking a bit closer to their prisoner. "If he wanted to take the throne, why not just kill Odin and take it anyway?" She stopped next to Thor and Jane who were staring at Hermione waiting patiently for her to explain her theory. Hermione smiled and crouched in front of Loki, her gown scrunching up around her. Inside, every instinct was telling her to run as she stared right into his green eyes as she began to explain.
"Oh, it's rather clever, really. In order for Loki to keep up the perfect illusion of Odin, he would need the King to be kept alive. You see, our memories of people fade if we don't see them from time to time. While in our minds we may feel that they are just as we always remembered them, in reality they are slowly sliding into the memory we want to keep of them. So," she continued, tentatively pushing his straggly black hair from his face so she could see him better, "Loki kept Odin alive so he could go and see him once every one or two weeks to ensure his replication was exactly as needed to fool the entire kingdom." She smirked as his eyes lit up at her deduction. "Now, we just have to ask him where he's been keeping Odin all this time." She stood back up, smoothing her gown of wrinkles as she backed calmly away from Loki this time.
"He is prone to lying, Hermione. How can we know if he is telling us the truth?" Jane asked. Hermione glanced around at all of them still in their revel attire.
"I think we should relocate for the time being. Thor, can you inform the guards that we're going to need to reschedule the feast for another night? I have a way to guarantee Loki tells the truth, but it may take a while to question him." Thor nodded before extracting himself from Jane and exiting the room.
Darcy stepped up to Hermione and stared down at Loki with her. "How are we going to get him to come willingly with us?" Hermione thought for a moment, tapping her chin with her wand. She eyed Loki carefully before smiling.
"Easy." She pointed the wand at Loki, his eyes widening the tiniest fraction. "Stupefy!" He went limp on the floor and Darcy snorted with laughter.
"What the hell did you do?" Jane gasped, creeping forward to nudge him with her sparkling shoe.
"He's not dead, Jane. I just put him to sleep for the time being." Thor returned then, unsurprised to see that Loki was now unconscious.
"I have sent the guards off to deal with the feast. We should have clear passage to the bedchambers." Shutting the door behind him once more, Thor crossed his arms and glared down at the unconscious Loki.
"So…is no one going to mention the fact that Loki said it was a pleasure to meet Hermione face-to-face?" Darcy shrugged, shaking her head and gesturing towards the woman in question. "What the hell did that mean?"
"Hermione, have you met Loki before?" Thor stepped forward, draping a muscular arm around Jane who was staring at her as if trying to read her mind.
Sighing, Hermione decided to come clean about her dreams. Blushing, she averted her eyes and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. "I may have left a few parts out when I described my dreams to you and Darcy last night." She glanced down towards where Loki lie, grateful that those gleaming eyes of his were still sealed shut. "Please, understand I never thought my dreams would become such an important factor in all of this."
"It's alright, Hermione. None of us could have imagined this scenario when we woke up today." Jane's words were a comfort, and immediately Hermione felt more relaxed about what she had to share.
"Okay, well, ummm." She stuttered to a stop, her cheeks flaming and eyes glistening with tears for some unknown reason.
"Come on. It can't be that bad, right?" Darcy chimed in, perching herself on the edge of the table and popping a grape in her mouth like it was popcorn at the movies.
"The dreams could be quite…intimate at times. There was more than one occasion where I found myself participating in sexual acts with the dark haired, green eyed man. I now know that of course this man was Loki, but I never in my wildest dreams thought that the other person was experiencing the same things I was!" She stopped to take a breath, glad that the tears had cleared from her vision. "We were together many times, and it had felt so…so real! It was like he and I were made for one another—like we were two halves of one soul that melted into one when we were together." She stopped, breath coming in quick rushes. "I just thought I was lonely."
They were quiet for a moment before Darcy pushed away from the table and came to wrap her arms around her, the red and purple of their gown skirts mixing about their legs. Hermione did not cry, but she felt near tears. Jane too left Thor's side to come and comfort her friend. It had taken quite a lot of share those secret dreams aloud, and in front of Thor no less. After a few moments, Thor cleared his throat and Hermione gave a nervous laugh. "I'm sorry. I promise not to keep anything from you again. Especially when it comes to this situation."
"Girl," Darcy began, "that is entirely all right, but, damn, I wish I had some superhot and sexy wet dreams with someone as handsome as Loki!" Jane let out a harsh breath.
"Darcy!"
"What? It's true." She pointed at the motionless God of Mischief. "Look at him—he's quite tasty looking despite being such a deceitful ass."
Squeezing Hermione's arm, Jane shook her head at Darcy and returned to Thor's side once more. "That's beside the point. At least we know now that Loki was somehow able to get into Hermione's mind without her willingly knowing." A look of disgust appeared on her face and she clapped her hands over her mouth.
"What is it, Jane?" Thor asked, still looking a bit embarrassed from hearing about Hermione's dream trysts with Loki.
Jane lowered her hands, biting her lip. "Is what he considered rape? I know it was in your dreams, but you had physical reactions to what was happening. Does that mean—"
Hermione cut her off, slashing her hand through the air. "No! No, it wasn't rape, Jane." She shook her head, a few more curls coming loose. "He always asked me if I wanted him to—to do things to me, and I never once denied him. He always waited for me to say yes." She breathed a bit easier seeing Jane's shoulders relax with relief.
"Oh thank God. I was worried there for a second that Loki was even worse of a villain than we already thought he was." Darcy nodded, her eyes clouded with residual worry.
"Now that we have cleared up that issue, can we get Loki to a secure location for questioning?"
Hermione nodded. "Of course. We should hurry before the guards return."
Thor then bent down, scooped his brother into his arms, and led the way out into the hallway. The three women followed him quietly, Hermione never putting her wand away in case Loki somehow managed to fight off the stunning spell and overpower Thor. She watched as his head lolled against Thor's arm and wondered how he had managed to fall so far from grace. Asleep, he appeared to be almost angelic like. His facial features were smoothed out and the angry, resentful façade was gone. Hermione almost wished she had known him as a young boy before the hatefulness towards Odin and Thor had taken root in his heart and turned him into a vengeful man. Deep down, Hermione wished that maybe there was still hope for his tortured soul, but after New Mexico, New York, and now this incident, she worried that he might be a lost cause.
Occasionally, Thor would glance down at Loki, affection muddled in his worried eyes. Hermione allowed a small smile to grace her lips knowing that Thor would probably do whatever he could to try and make sure the only brother he ever knew was not imprisoned without finding everything out first. Thor led his companions away from the center of the palace, up the winding staircases, and back to the bedchambers. He stopped outside of the ornate golden doors that indicated Odin's personal chambers.
"Why are you bringing him here? Shouldn't we take him to his personal chamber?" Jane was looking curiously back and forth between the large door and Loki stunned in Thor's arms. Instead of answering right away, he shouldered the door open, his lips a thin line and a winkle on the forehead of his otherwise young looking face.
"Until we know for certain what is going on, I do not wish to alert the guards to Loki's presence. The guards will want to return him to the dungeon without explanation." He marched forward and deposited Loki carefully onto the double, king sized bed and gestured towards Hermione. "Do what you must to ensure he answers our questioning truthfully and so that he cannot escape his bindings or use magic towards us." Nodding, Hermione pointed her wand at Loki and used her magic to flip him onto his back, the bindings on his wrist vanishing from sight.
"Veritaligare." She whispered, her shoes rapping on the floor as she stepped closer to the bed and twirling her wand in a spiral motion. Silver bindings shot out of her wand and wrapped themselves delicately around Loki's wrists before pulling his back against the headboard. The bindings tied themselves to the bedposts, effectively spreading Loki against the headboard, his head slumping forward onto his chest. She took in the view before her, Loki's green and black armor clashing against the maroon and gold bedspread. It reminded Hermione of when she and Draco had argued about her wanting to include a bit more red into his all Slytherin décor at the Manor. She smiled ruefully before stepping away from Loki and addressing Thor, Jane, and Darcy. "I've bound him with a special creation of mine. Only high ranking officials, such as myself, are even allowed to know the incantation." She indicated what she had done to Loki. "Those bindings are laced with a strong truth serum that we use when interrogating prisoners at the Ministry of Magic. They should also counteract his magical abilities for the time being." Swallowing, Hermione leveled her gaze with Thor. "Should I awaken him now for interrogation?"
Sighing heavily, Thor nodded once. "Yes. Let us begin."
Resolutely, Hermione waved her wand at Loki. "Ennervate." They watched as Loki inhaled deeply, and flung his head back from his chest, cracking it on the golden headboard. Hermione cringed at the sound, but continued to watch as he began to struggle against the bindings on his wrists, the leather of his armor rustling with his every move. Suddenly, he stopped struggling, his eyes latching onto Hermione's russet ones before he smiled, slow and sinful. "I will warn you now, Loki, that those bindings are imbued with a truth serum, so don't even bother trying to lie to us."
"I wasn't aware that you were into bondage, Lady Granger. You never mentioned it before." Loki ignored her information as he spread his legs apart atop the red, silk comforter, causing Hermione's pupils to dilate and her skin to tingle from memories of lust filled dreams. She flushed bright red and narrowed her eyes at him angrily. Thor lunged forward, slamming his fist into Loki's face, snapping it to the side.
"How dare you speak to a woman in such a manner?!" Loki turned his head back slowly, flicking his hair out his face and glowering at Thor. "Apologize to her." He added gripping his hammer tightly. Glaring, Loki turned away from Thor and moved his jaw back and forth, readjusting it after the blow he had taken.
"Fine. I apologize, Lady Granger." His eyes twinkled mischievously and Hermione shivered knowing he was still imagining their interlaced dreams. The images flashed quickly through her head as well, making her blush even deeper, but she ignored the flush that had developed on her skin and forged on wanting to get this questioning over so she would not be the object of his gaze any longer.
"I accept. Now, tell us where you're keeping Odin."
That smirk returned to his face. "I am surprised, Lady Granger. I would have thought you would want to know why I disguised myself as Odin for so long, not simply where I put him." Loki slid his legs back together, crossing them at the ankles as he tried to relax while bound to the bed.
Sighing, she flicked her wand at him, causing him to flinch ever so slightly. Hermione smirked at him this time. "Fine, then. Why have you faked your own death, overpowered Odin, and taken on his persona in order to rule all of Asgard?" Darcy and Jane exchanged a quick look before watching the scene in front of them play out. Hermione and Loki seemed to have some sort of comfortable companionship when it came to discussions. Despite the fact that Hermione was still a bit weary of his powers, she respected him and that allowed for an open conversation to unfold.
"There, that is more like it." Loki let the words fall out of his mouth with such delight, Hermione found herself blinking at the effect he had on her. She would have to be very, very careful with this man. He already had such an intense hold on her thanks to the effects of Jane's ring. "The answer to that is quite a tale. It is good I am already comfortable." Canting his head to the side, he continued. "Now, where to begin?"
"At the beginning. I am growing tired of your incessant banter, Loki. Tell us what we need to know!" Thor boomed while Jane tried to quell his anger by squeezing his shoulder gently. He backed down a bit, still giving his adopted brother a furious look.
"Now, Now, brother. Calm thyself before you go gray." He laughed at his own joke before readjusting himself upon the bed, his arms straining against the bindings. Hermione knew his wrists would be rubbed raw by the time they freed him from the restraints, but it could not be helped at this point. Their interrogation was more important than the delicate skin upon his wrists. "Fine, from the beginning it is. During my time spent wrongfully imprisoned," Jane snorted indignantly when he paused for a second before continuing, "I heard whispers of many interesting dealings that were happening aboveground. As it turns out, your daddy dearest was not the most benevolent of rulers. Apparently, a seer had come to Odin foretelling of a great wolf who would bring the end of all worlds. This wolf would murder and pillage Asgard before piercing Odin's heart with his fangs."
"Who is this murderous wolf?" Thor was gripping his Mjolnir tightly once more.
"Fenrir."
There was silence punctuated by the swish of the women's dresses and the pull of the bindings holding Loki top the bed. Hermione worried her bottom lip, fear gnawing at her gut. "I'm sorry, did you say Fenrir?" Loki's eyes softened ever so slightly at seeing Hermione's worry. He nodded slowly, his bedraggled hair coming forward onto his shoulders.
"Yes, I did. Fenrir the Great Wolf. He is a great legend here on Asgard."
Her wand hand faltered slightly as the familiar name resounded in her mind, the old image of Lavender Brown being devoured as magic exploded above and around her. "I knew a Fenrir. His name was Fenrir Greyback. He—he was a werewolf and he maimed a lot of innocent people during the Wizarding War. I watched him murder my friend's ex-girlfriend." She left out the part where Ron and Neville's combined efforts brought him down, or the fact that Twelawney dropped a crystal ball onto his head. Hermione had always assumed he had died, but was there the possibility that he was this mythical wolf and had simply left Earth after the War?
Loki watched Hermione's face as a deluge of knowledge sparked behind her eyes. He found it mesmerizing to see how she processed the information she retained. "You are wondering if maybe we speak of the same Fenrir." She bobbed he head once, blinking slowly. "It is possible. Perhaps, after this War you speak of, Fenrir decided to return to our world to fulfill his one true destiny."
"This is all really interesting, but what the hell does it have to do with why you took Odin's place?"
Loki tore his eyes away from Hermione and glared at Darcy. "I am getting to that, Lady Lewis. Ignoring Darcy as she clenched her fists and geared up for a verbal lashing, Loki returned his focus to Hermione once more. "Before I was so rudely interrupted, I was getting to the good bit." He smiled that toothy grin again. "I overheard some of the guards talking about Odin leaving Asgard to visit Jotenheim. I was able to discern that he met with their new king, Lauffey's nephew. Now, one would think he was going to ensure that the treaty created after Thor's little incident a few years back remained intact, but in reality, he was going to make a new deal."
"And what deal was that?" Jane inquired, truly curious about his explanation. Loki leaned forward as much as the binding would allow and regarded his brother coolly.
"Have you never wondered, brother, why it took Odin so long to reach mother when Malekith was looking for Jane?" Thor and Jane glanced at one another, clearly having never wondered about that. It was then that Hermione realized Loki was much cleverer than they had ever given him credit for. He was extremely observant, his eyes taking in every bit of his surroundings and his ears picking up the whispering of conversations. He would be quite the asset during battle. This last observation unnerved her the most. When no one responded to Loki's question, he let out a frustrated sigh as if the answer were obvious. "He was biding his time, allowing Malekith to get what he wanted. Odin wanted him to acquire the Aether. It was his plan all along. Jane just happened to get in the way."
"You lie!"
"I cannot!" Loki screamed in response to his brother's outrage. He wrapped his hands around the magical bindings, pulling them tighter, and causing the bedposts to strain from his strength. "These magical bindings do not allow it! Father's treachery caused our mother to be killed and still you stand there blaming me for what has happened!" Hermione cringed at Loki's show of anger, spittle flying from his mouth. She had the strange urge to rush forward and comfort him, but she ignored the feeling, tucking it away to examine at a later time. Instead, she sighed and turned sad eyes upon her friend.
"He cannot lie, Thor. Loki speaks the truth." Hermione spoke softly, gently trying to bring peace to the room once more. She averted her eyes as the sad reality of the situation unfolded. The God of Thunder threw his arms into the air, turning away from them all, sadness curling in his chest and showing on his features. He stomped back and forth a few times before coming to a stop next to the bed. Loki was glaring up at him through anger hooded eyes, his breathing ragged.
"That's fucked up."
"Darcy!" Jane scolded, slapping her friend's arm. "Watch your language."
"Lady Lewis speaks the truth, despite the uncouth nature of her words." Loki said calmly, his voice gravelly from his outburst and pent up emotion. He swallowed, a pained expression on his face as he briefly closed his eyes. "When I found out mother died, I knew I had to act. I knew that if Malekith acquired the Aether before the Convergence, he would stop at nothing until the entire universe was destroyed. So I hatched a plan to stop Odin from ruining any more lives. With your help, Thor, I was able to escape and overpower him. When I returned to Asgard after you and Jane left Svartalheim, I interrogated him for hours before taking his form and locking him in the prison so I could continue to have a mental link to keep up the illusion." Loki swallowed dryly, his mouth parched from all the talking and screaming he had done. He looked exhausted as he let his head drop back against the headboard. "I was a bit too late, though." His head lolled to the side as he gazed up at his brother. "Odin had already assisted Malekith in smuggling a small army of Dark Elves into Jotenheim. I have been unable to make contact with my cousin to confer about this treachery." His eyes, full of emotion locked onto Thor.
Thor stared down at Loki, his jaw clenching as he processed the conversation. Jane and Darcy stood quietly behind him and Hermione realized she had lowered her wand completely at some point, no longer worried about Loki breaking free of the bindings. Silence enveloped them, accentuating the heavy breathing coming from the upset Frost Giant bound to the bed. He no longer struggled, simply allowed himself to hang limply against the headboard, all signs of smugness vanished. Hermione eyed Loki wearily as he inhaled deeply before exhaling, his hair flickering about his face.
"I fear that the end may be forthcoming. If Fenrir really is out there, my cousin, and his army of Frost Giants and Dark Elves will tear Asgard, Midgard, and all the rest of the universe to shreds until only they remain."
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End Notes: Again, I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year! So much action, angst, sexual tension, romance, and bloodshed awaits us in future chapters! I go back to work Monday, so my plan is to finish chapter six (part five) before then so I don't fall too far behind! Until next time my loves! (ps…still looking for a beta reader to catch my pesky mistakes!)
xx DustNight