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Feeling slightly stronger the next day, Harry sat at his balcony, examining the golden world he had found himself in. It really was amazing. Bright and vast, with an unfamiliar pulsing magic. It was nothing like the constant presence of the Earth.

A sudden thought came to mind. "Accio wand" Harry called, his uninjured hand weakly reaching out, waiting for the familiar grasp of holly or the knobby elder. Moments passed. Wait for it. Then minutes. Keep waiting… At a half hour, his hand fell back into his lap. Damn it...

His wand was not coming. He must be too far away. His holster was missing from his clothes. And he could not feel his wand in the palace. Either of his wands. In the past, people had tried to hide one or the other from him but he always still knew where they were. Especially the Elder Wand. Nothing had ever stopped that one from reaching his hand before. Not wizard or wall or the world itself.

Was it possible that the Asgardians took it and had a way to hide it? Harry was uncertain. He felt the stirrings of magic coming from all directions but none of it was familiar. None of it felt like home.

Suddenly soft footsteps neared him from behind. He glanced over his shoulder to see Loki watching him, curiosity in his gaze.

"Mother said you have magic different from ours. What's it like?" Loki asked as soon as he realized he had Harry's attention. No time wasted on pleasantries, it seemed.

Harry thought for bit before asking, "Do you sense magic?"

Loki looked confused for a moment before his eyes lit up in understanding, "I think so. I can tell when mother is healing or when father speaks to his ravens. My magic feels a little different, but mother says it's just because I need to grow yet. You feel different too. Mother says she gets her power from the world around us. Father gets his from Yggdrasil." Harry blinked at the unfamiliar term but did not wish to interrupt. Loki continued his explanation, "I'm like mother but not strong enough yet to do more than the basic healing and protection."

Harry nodded. "My people get our magic from within ourselves. We can add to it with charms and potions and certain tools but all those were given power by other magic users or magical creatures," Harry explained with a smile, "that's probably why my magic seems strange."

Loki furrowed his brow in thought as he considered the man's words. He had been noticing Harry's magic was getting stronger as he healed but Loki wondered if it was bad manners to ask Harry to show him some magic from his world.

Harry studied Loki then decided to ask his question. "Loki, did you or anyone else find two pieces of wood? They would feel similar to my magic," Harry asked calmly, green eyes locked with the boy's. If Loki lied, he'd see it this time. And it would help Harry sleep because now that he noticed the wands' disappearance, he felt naked and unprotected. Who knew what dangers this world held?

"No, you arrived with what you were wearing and that was it." Loki answered truthfully after a moment of thought. "Why? Are they important?"

It was Harry's turn to pause in thought before answering, "In a way, yes. My magic is difficult to control without my wands. They help me focus it."

Loki looked puzzled before Harry offered, "Picture a stream channeling rainwater. My magic is very broad and unpredictable, like rain. My wands act as the channel to get it where and how I need it to go."

Understanding blossomed on his young features. The boy wondered if his father might know what they could do to help.

The heavy stomps of booted feet were heard nearby and getting closer. Loki would know that sound anywhere. He turned in time to see Thor enter the balcony with Harry glancing over his shoulder at the older brother.

"Loki, mother requests your presence in the library," the boy said, gazing at Harry in suspicion. Harry was tempted to roll his eyes at the boy-he knew an overprotective brother when he saw one. Oh, Ron, I miss you.

"Thank you, brother," Loki said before excusing himself from Harry's side with an apologetic glance and taking off into the palace. As he passed Thor, though, he kicked at his brother's shin and hissed, "Be nice." Harry turned to look back at the city to hide his grin.

Thor pouted after him, and seemed to promptly ignore the command. He stalked toward Harry, his footsteps even heavier in some attempt at intimidation, and glared down at the man. Harry glanced up, making sure his features were schooled into a calm but interested mask. "What are your intentions toward my brother?" Thor's young face was rather comical when forced into a scowl.

Harry took a moment to make sure he wasn't about to burst into laughter, which Frigga would no doubt tut at him about since it would pull at his injuries, then answered with as much sarcasm as he could convey. "I plan on kidnapping your brother and offering him up as a sacrifice to my heathen gods."

Thor's eyes popped wide open, and Harry decided that he would just have to deal with Frigga's disappointment about him irritating his barely healing chest more. Because this was too funny. He began laughing, merriment twinkling in his eyes. His wounds stretched and pulled painfully but not enough to stop laughing.

"You dare mock your threat to my kin!" Thor bellowed. Granted his voice wasn't very deep, and it was more of a shriek that made Harry laugh even harder. Tears started streaming from his eyes much to Thor's enragement. "You-"

"What is the meaning of this?" Odin's voice boomed from the doorway. The king looked between the two, his angered son and laughing guest, in confusion.

Harry managed to pull himself together enough to speak through his chuckles-and they were most definitely chuckles, not giggles. He very dryly answered "Oh, Thor wanted to know my plans for his little brother. I explained that I was going to kidnap Loki and sacrifice him to my heathen gods. He didn't approve." Odin's brows shot up to his hairline, and Harry returned to laughing.

"Father!" Thor pointed furiously at Harry. "See how he mocks us! We should never have allowed him inside the palace! Inside the city!"

Odin blinked his one eye slowly. His expression amused. "I believe, my son, that young Harry was making a jest."

Thor, gearing up for another burst of noise, stopped midway. Mouth open, foot stamping, and arms flailing, he stopped and stared at the both of them.

He looked at Harry who nodded his head in agreement with Odin, still grinning and wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. And then he turned to his father who grinned behind his beard with a small shrug.

He looked back at Harry who held his chest, obviously in pain but still smiling, his eyes flashing with good-natured mischief. "Forgive me, young prince. I am afraid my sense of humor took me a little too far."

After another moment of staring at Harry, Thor gathered himself. "Nay! 'Tis good for one so injured to remain in good humor!" He nodded firmly, as if he understood from the start.

Harry and Odin shared an entertained glance before letting Thor believe that they bought his quick change of attitude. "Loki and Harry have merely been discussing magic and Asgard to occupy his hours as he heals. Harry has been in many battles, Thor. A brave warrior, indeed." Odin tilted his head, leading his son's train of thought. "With many stories, I'd imagine."

Thor's blue eyes widened, and he glanced at Harry with new curiosity.

Harry nodded, his lips still pulled into a grin. "I had a madman attempting to kill me since I was born, so… yeah, been in a few interesting scraps."

Odin grinned again before leaving, having accomplished his task at making sure his eldest behaved himself. Thor sat on the floor before Harry's chair as the injured man began a tale with the words, "You know, I once rode on a dragon…"

Good gracious... I apologize for the long wait. But here is chapter 3. I have other chapters waiting for editing. So expect some updates in the next couple months. As I said in another of my stories, I just finished my Master's Degree and now I am engaged to be married in July of this year. Updates may be sporadic but they will happen. Thank you for sticking by me for so long!

Cheers! Randompersonality