I'm hoping that the reaction to this story is still good - my reviewers have been lovely, as always. Unfortunately, due to a glitch at FFN I haven't been able to see any reader stats since Saturday - so I'm hoping you're all still out there.

We're getting close to the big showdown now. This chapter is mostly set up - bear with me, hopefully it will be worth it.

As always, I don't have any rights to either Marvel's or JKR's characters, and I do this just for fun. Merrick x

When it was discovered the following morning that both Loki and Fletcher had vanished, the shit – said Harry descriptively – hit the fan with a vengeance. Sif, torn between fury at Loki's betrayal and satisfaction in knowing that she had been right about him all along, had gloated a little too much, finally pushing Harry too far, resulting in a spectacular row that could be heard halfway around the palace. When she discovered that Hermione would – even now - still be going to Hogwarts rather than staying in Asgard under her suspicious and watchful eye, Sif's fury knew no bounds.

The tactics that had resulted in her quarrel with Harry had been less effective with Thor. Sif, Fandrall, Volstagg and Hogun were summoned to Thor's office shortly before the others were due to depart. No-one repeated exactly what was discussed, but the issue was not mentioned again. Hermione was going to Hogwarts.

ooo0ooo

Hermione stood in the chamber she had shared with Loki for so many years now, looking in the mirror. Behind her, Frigga was tightening the straps on an armoured leather corset. "This needs to be tight but not too tight dear, how does it feel?"

Hermione took a few cautious breaths. "That's fine, thank you Frigga." Next came the specially designed vambraces, with the built in holsters for her wand, and a stiletto knife. Other knives were strapped at her waist, and to her thigh. Finally, Hermione laced her knee high boots, and twisted her tightly braided hair into a bun in the nape of her neck. The woman that looked back at her from the mirror – armed to the teeth and clad from head to toe in black leather and armour was a world away from anything she had known before.

A knock came at the door, "Come in" she called.

The door opened revealing Harry, similarly dressed for combat. Hermione was shocked to see a sword at his waist. Seeing her eyeing it, he smiled wryly. "Dalan gave me my first lessons, but I've been practicing with Sif and the Warriors Three since. I'm not up to their standards of course but I'm not too bad. He eyed the numerous knives around Hermione's person. "What about you – Xena? Since when did you go around bristling with knives?"

Hermione shrugged. "Sparring with Loki. Some martial arts, and knife throwing skills. The advantage of magic is that I can summon the knives back if I need to."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Sparring huh! Is that what they call it...? And you do realise that Loki will have several fits when he sees you in that get up"

Frigga shot him a glare. "Harry Potter – behave yourself. You both need to focus." She turned back to her daughter in law. "Hermione, have you eaten today. You don't want any more fainting fits, especially if things get physical."

Hermione nodded. "I've eaten, and I have a little something in my pack, just in case"

A cough drew their attention to the presence of Tony Stark, suited but faceplate up, in the doorway. He looked at Hermione with an appreciative smile but forbore to comment on her change of image. "I'm playing messenger boy Princess. We're ready when you are"

Hermione turned to hug Frigga for one last time. "Thank you for everything Frigga" she murmured, kissing the older woman's cheek.

Frigga turned, looking her in the eye. "Bring yourselves back safely." Her look became more serious "and bring my son home too."

Hermione smiled shaking her head. "No one can fool you can they Frigga?"

Before she lost her nerve, she turned, took one last look around the room – possibly for the last time - and closed the door behind her.

As they walked through the corridors to the assembly point in the great courtyard, Stark paused. "Princess..."

"Hermione please"

"Hermione." Stark clearly looked uncomfortable, but ploughed on. "Look. I don't know what yesterday morning was all about, and God knows I don't know whether I'm ever going to quite get over your husband throwing me out of my own tower block, but I do know two things. Firstly, I don't believe for one minute that Loki would betray the one man he was prepared to finally take an oath of allegiance to, but most of all - absolutely nothing will convince me that he was pretending to be in love with you for all these years. I'm sure he must have had a very good reason for doing what he did - but even he's not that good a liar - and he was lying through his teeth yesterday."

Hermione smiled, and reached up to kiss Tony on the cheek. "Thank you Tony. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate that."

ooo0ooo

It appeared, thought Harry, that Tony was not the only one of the Avengers to have changed his mind about Loki. Almost as soon as they had joined the others, Steve Rogers took her quietly to one side.

"Ma'am - sorry - Princess..."

Hermione smiled. In spite of their previous history with Loki, she couldn't help liking the tall, straightforward soldier. In many ways he reminded her of Thor. "Hermione - please Captain"

Bless him, thought Hermione. He actually blushed!

"Hermione - I just wanted you to know that - well - I don't believe that your husband would betray Thor. Not now not since - well - since you. Um - what I'm making a mess of saying is that.. well... we won't be classifying Loki as the enemy unless he ... um..." he hesitated, clearly unsure of how to finish the sentence.

Thor loomed just behind Hermione's shoulder. "Hermione. Harry. You are ready?" The two friends nodded. "Do you have the casket?"

Hermione patted her pack. "In here, and already armed"

Thor nodded. "Then let us go." Turning to the others he gave the signal to mount up...

ooo0ooo

Professor McGonagall hardly recognised the armoured figure that appeared suddenly and unannounced in her office, holding Kreacher's hand, that afternoon. When she realised who it was, she sank weakly into her chair. "Hermione? Hermione dear, what is going on?"

Hermione's face was grim. "Professor, I don't have time to explain now, but the whole Gringotts incident, and everything that came after it. It's much - much bigger and more serous than we originally thought. It's all happening today, and Hogwarts is right in the middle of it... You need to keep everyone inside the buildings and away from the windows if possible. And if there is anything you can do to strengthen the wards, that might be a good idea too. Just let me get out first."

She held her hand out "Kreacher!"

"Madam..."

"Can you transport me back to the gates, then return to let the Headmistress know as soon as I am off the grounds please." Hermione gripped Minerva's hand momentarily, took Kreacher's hand and disappeared, leaving the school to its preparations

ooo0ooo

When Hermione returned, Stark and Bruce Banner were talking to Jane, and a tall older man probably in his late fifties with a shock of pale hair. Hermione smiled, recognising Banner, who reminded her a little of her favourite teacher at primary school. A number of large metal spikes were leaning against a nearby tree

"What's going on? I recognise Dr Banner, but who's the other man?"

It was Natasha who answered. "The tall man is Dr Eric Selvig, he's Jane's mentor. The metal things are gravimetric spikes. They're going to put them around the focal point to contain the effects of the convergence." Like the others, the formerly icy Russian seemed distinctly more friendly these days.

Hermione frowned. "They're going to put those around the castle and activate them?" Romanoff nodded. "Have they considered the wards?"

The scientists stopped talking to look at her. "The what?" asked the older man. "I'm sorry, we haven't met I'm..."

"...Dr Eric Selvig, Natasha told me." Hermione shook hands. "I'm Hermione, I'm..."

Selvig flinched. "Oh! You're, his wife" while not unfriendly, his tone was more wary.

Hermione raised her eyebrows, her voice cool. "That's right Dr Selvig. I am Princess Hermione, wife of Prince Loki and sister in law to the King of Asgard..." and don't you forget it she thought irritably. "Have you taken into consideration the effect of the powerful magical field that surrounds this area?"

"Magic" Eric's good natured face was now irritated. "I'm not a conjurer, I'm a scientist. Thor did mention something, but there's no such thing as..." His eyes widened when Hermione calmly turned away, drawing her wand from its holster.

"Harry, do you mind?"

Harry smiled, looking remarkably relaxed under the circumstances. "Knock yourself out Hermione."

She pointed her wand and concentrated. There was a flash of light, and where Harry had stood there was only a small black rabbit with familiar green eyes. Pointing her wand, there was a second flash of light, and Harry was brushing grass off his clothes and looking disgruntled...

"Seriously Hermione, a rabbit! Couldn't you have turned me into something more – dignified?"

Selvig's face was a picture. "You just – you – a RABBIT?"

Jane put her hand on his arm. "Thor did try to tell you Eric, Harry and Hermione are true witches – sorry Harry, wizard. I didn't believe it myself at first, but having lived with Hermione and Loki, I can tell you that magic most certainly exists. How we can allow for it in our calculations though, I don't know."

"We can't" Banner's face was pragmatic. "We can't calculate for..." his voice tailed off as he looked around, frowning "Is it me, or does something seem a little ... off."

"It's the Convergence," said Hermione. She could feel it all around her, feel things shifting and moving imperceptibly. It may be Dr Banner's alter ego that was picking it up. "We are starting to feel its effects. We have to hurry."

"Leave it with me" Stark gathered up the spikes, and flew off. He had only been gone a few minutes when the air seemed to vibrate around them. The wind, which had been picking up steadily since they arrived reached gale force, nearly knocked Hermione off her feet. The clouds over the Black Lake parted revealing the distinctive shape of Malekith's Ark Ship.

"Oh shit" muttered Harry, "here we go..."

Thor's face was grim. "Harry, Hermione, with me." The rest of you back to the trees, wait for my signal. Captain. Protect Dr Selvig and my wife whatever happens. It is vital that they activate the spikes."

The Captain opened his mouth to object, but Thor shook his head. "Wait my friend. Let us see how this develops."

Thor, Hermione and Harry walked a little forward, watching as the front of the ship opened to reveal Malekith his hulking fiery bodyguard, and an escort of six other elves.

"Why is Malekith here?" muttered Selvig to Jane, "Why isn't he taking advantage of the fact that we're here, to attack Asgard if he thinks the Aether is there? He must know he's running out of time"

The light dawned for Jane. "Because he knows it isn't there anymore" she replied, "Malekith can sense the Aether, he knew exactly when he... oh my god...Loki was drawing him away - drawing him here..."

Standing beside Thor, Hermione went very still.

Over the brow of the hill came two figures, one short dumpy and unkempt. The other...

Hermione drew in a shocked breath. The tall arrogant figure, clad from head to toe in green leather and bronze was unmistakable, but the huge distinctive horned helmet belonged to a past Loki - one that she had believed long gone.

"Loki" she whispered.

Thor stepped forward. "Brother, what is this. End this madness..."

"And come home like a good boy..." Loki snapped bitterly. "To be your pet magician, your spymaster. I think not."

Loki stalked toward the elven ship. "MALEKITH"

Thor strode forward, hefting Mjolnir dangerously. "Loki NO!"

The bolt of energy that shot from Loki's hand hurled Thor at least fifty feet across the rough ground to land in a lifeless heap. Hermione heard Jane's anguished scream behind her. Harry's arm restrained Hermione, keeping her still. The seed of doubt in her head wouldn't be silenced. Had his promises of the evening before been the lie? Had he truly betrayed them?

Loki didn't even look in their direction. Even from a distance his voice was agonisingly clear.

"Malekith. I am Loki of the Jotunheim – and I bring you a gift..."

With a contemptuous gesture, he hurled the terrified Fletcher at the Dark Elf's feet.

"... and all I ask in return is to see Odinson's head on a spike over his burning city"

Malekith looked at him contemptuously. "Loki – now Loki of the Jotunheim? It was Prince of Asgard the last I heard. But your reputation precedes you. All of the Nine Realms knows of your disgrace. The traitor. The turncoat. Oath breaker and betrayer of those that love you... Liesmith!"

The Elf raised his hand, Fletcher, his face blank, arms stretched wide, slowly lifted off the ground. Above them a familiar red and gold figure appeared over the trees - signalling frantically.

Banner turned to Jane. "The spikes are in place. We have to activate."

Jane looked wildly around. Above them, the skies had opened and the approaching Convergence was clearly visible for the first time.

As she reached for the controls, everything happened very slowly.

The Aether poured out of Fletcher, rushing straight into Malekith's body.

Thor miraculously recovered, hurtled forward - Mjolnir in hand.

Loki, Harry and Hermione started to run forward...

Jane turned the dial. The spikes activated.

There was a blinding flash of blue-white light, as the wards around Hogwarts sprang to life, in answer to the spikes' effects on the gravitational field.

Before the horrified eyes of the Avengers; Malekith, the Kursed, Fletcher, Stark, Thor, Loki, Harry and Hermione vanished without a trace.

Seeing their leader disappear, Malekith's forces streamed from the ship...

The battle was on...