THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Chapter 10: That is not a price I'm willing to pay.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to their respective owners.

AN: Just a quick reminder, this story is mostly from Harry's perspective and just because Harry thinks something is the truth, it doesn't make it fact. Also, he's still a kid. A smart super powered kid but a kid all the same.

July 31st 2002

Hogwarts

Harry waited patiently as McGonagall watched his encounter with Snape in the Pensieve. How she reacted to this memory would determine how Harry progressed with his plan and decide whether to show her his memory of his conversation with Dumbledore or not. He was hoping that her loyalty to him and his parents would be stronger that her loyalty to Dumbledore, it would certainly make things easier if she were on his side. Whatever side she decided to take, things were never going to be the same for both of them after today.

"He obliviated you?" McGonagall asked, eerily calm, she had emerged from the Pensieve.

"He tried." Harry shrugged. "Thankfully, he wasn't successful."

"How is that possible?"

"Well, I survived the killing curse." He shrugged once again. "Maybe what saved me from the killing curse is what saved me back again."

"I knew he was a despicable man but I never thought he could stoop that low as to obliviate a student." McGonagall rubbed her temples. "This won't bode well for anyone, let alone Snape. I will personally make sure that he is punished for this, even if it means finding a new Potions professor."

"I know that you will do the right thing, Professor." Harry said. "About what I saw_"

"I had my suspicions, but Albus wouldnt give me a direct answer." McGonagall said. "It was probably the guilt of knowing that he was responsible for Lily's death by telling You-know-who the prophecy that made him turn against the dark lord."

Harry nodded, having suspected as much. He knew that Dumbledore had vouched for Snape when the Death Eaters were being rounded up at the end of the war though he hadn't given a reason. And with the power he seemed to hold over the magical world then, his word alone had been enough to absolve Snape of all his crimes. Which made Harry wonder why he hadn't tried to have Black tried, everyone had been sure of Black's guilt but Harry was sure that if Dumbledore had called for the trial, Black's innocence would be found out. Harry wondered if Dumbledore had left Black in Azkaban intentionally.

"What will you do, about Snape, I mean?"

"Don't worry about that, if I have anything to do about it, he won't be here when you come back in September." She shook her head. "I just wish you had come to me with this, much earlier, it would have given me more time to handle this. Why didn't you?"

"To be honest, professor, I wasn't sure how much I could trust you if it came to going against Dumbledore." Harry said, seeing a hurt look in her eyes before she swiftly hid it. "I know how loyal you are to the headmaster, and I didn't know if you were willing to stand against him for the sake of the students."

"And now?" She asked curtly.

"Now I know how much you care for your students, especially me." He assured her. "Which is why I want to show you another memory."

"What memory?"

"My last conversation with the headmaster before we broke off for summer." He replied. "And after that, you will understand what I need to tell you."

"What are you talking about?"

Rather than answer, Harry simply extracted the memory just like how McGonagall had showed him earlier. He placed it into the Pensieve and stepped back.

"Watch the memory, and we can talk afterwards."

A few minutes later, she emerged from the Pensieve looking at him like she was seeing him for the first time.

"You blackmailed the headmaster." It was more of statement than a question.

"I admit, I hadn't thought it through." Harry replied, ducking his head in apparent embarrassment. "At the moment, I thought it was the only way I was likely to get him to give me what I wanted."

"This is ridiculous, I doubt even James would have done this." She rubbed her temples. "The idiot must be laughing at me from his grave."

It looked like she wasn't mad at him, that was good news atleast.

"As you can see, the headmaster was only indulging me, I'm sure he would have found a way to get the Stone if he really had wanted." Harry said. "Surely Flamel had a way of tracking his most prized possession incase it was stolen."

"It doesn't excuse the fact that you blackmailed the headmaster."

"No, it doesn't." Harry sighed. "But after listening to the conversation, surely you understand why I showed you the memory?"

The older witch was silent for a few minutes, thinking back on what she had seen before leaning back in her chair and giving Harry a puzzled look. "You think the headmaster orchestrated everything that happened last year?"

"Not everything per se. I doubt he hired Professor Quirrell knowing the man was being possessed by the dark lord." Harry shook his head. "But he knew what was going on. He knew what I was planning and that it would lead to me in a confrontation with Voldemort, with a possibility of me dying at the Dark Lord's hand and yet he did nothing to stop it."

"I can see how you would come to that conclusion." McGonagall started. "And I have to agree that was irresponsible of him."

"Then you will understand why I'm doing what I have to do to avoid being subject to his manipulations again."

"What are you saying, Harry?"

Harry paused, taking a deep breath.

"I won't be coming back to Hogwarts for second year."

Two hours later, the two appeared in front of Harry's relative's house. For the last two hours, McGonagall had been trying to talk Harry out of his decision but in the end, she had accepted. If Harry didn't feel safe in the castle, then it was within his rights to withdraw from the school. With her watching, he had written his withdrawal letter and given it to her though he had asked her to give it to Dumbledore only if it was absolutely necessary. He had included in the letter his reason, the fact that he didn't feel safe at the school and sighting Snape and his attempt at obliviating him.

If course they both knew what chaos the letter was likely to bring not only at Hogwarts but the entirety of magical Britain as a whole. He hoped that by the time the shit hit the fan, he will have long since left Britain behind and fully settled in his life in the States. McGonagall while not happy about the entire thing was willing to support him, despite her wish to retain him as a student.

"Here." Harry told the older woman as he handed her his wand. Unless he had completed his OWLs and of age, no one was allowed to cast magic with their wand outside of school. "I would rather not he tempted to use it and risk being dragged back into exactly what I'm trying to escape."

"I feel like I have failed you."

"No, professor." Harry shook his head. "You and you alone hold my trust in this world. You did not fail me."

"And yet, there's still alot you're keeping from me."

"Only what I don't understand, myself." He said. "The moment I figure out anything, you'll be the first and likely the only one to know."

"What about your friends?"

Harry frowned, he had been too busy to think about them, having sunk into his solitude at the Dursleys that he had forgotten about all the others. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't received a single mail from either one of his 'friends'.

"I'm sure they'll be just fine without me."

"We'll keep in touch, Mr. Potter." McGonagall told him before she disappeared with a gentle 'pop'.

Harry entered the house, it was already late and the Dursleys were having a dinner meeting. Even without magic, he easily managed to sneak past the living room without drawing the attention of the people there. He had gotten pretty good at it over the last month, knowing that he couldn't rely on his magic all the time. Harry had already eaten his dinner with McGonagall and so headed straight to his room to get some sleep, the next day he would resume studying material for Year 8, while simultaneously arranging for his going to the US.

Petunia had already got him a passport, and getting a ticket should be no issue. The challenge would be accommodation. He couldn't just waltz over there without any plan on where he would be staying, he may look older than his age but he still looked like a minor and wondering the streets aimlessly would just attract unwanted attention. His best option was going as a student, it would be easier to get accommodation that way and once he had his feet on the ground, he could look for other alternatives.

Thankfully, the school at which he was studying his Summer classes had a branch in Los Angeles County, a boarding school to be specific. This was one of the main reasons why he had picked this particular school, because as it so happened, the address which Dumbledore had given him was in Los Angeles county. After the Summer school program, he had applied to be registered as a permanent student of the school which didn't need much convincing given his impressive scores.

The only problem was that only students fifteen years and above qualified for the foreign exchange program and could be sent to the Los Angeles branch if they applied. Harry knew he was going to have a hard time convincing them to allow him to be included in the foreign exchange program, not only was he way below the required age, he was also two classes short of qualifying as they only took students in year 10 and above yet Harry was just going to start Year 8.

If he was to stand a chance, Harry needed to be be eligible for Year 10 by the end of August, which meant he had to cover the material of year 8 and 9 in the span of four weeks. Harry was sure he could handle the load, he may be lazy for the most part but he was smart, and his freedom depended on it. This also meant that he was going to have to put his study of magic on hold for the moment but he would have time for that once he was out of Britain, for now his normal studies were more important.

And so with that resolve, Harry entered his bedroom, ready to get in as much sleep as possible knowing that he won't be getting much of it for the foreseeable future. However, when he entered, he was greeted by the strangest sight. Standing next to his bed was a house elf, but none like one he had seen before. He noticed that it was wearing what looked like an old pillowcase, with rips for arm and leg holes.

"Harry Potter." It said, bowing so low that the end of its long, thin nose touched the carpet. "So long has Dobby wanted to meet you, sir… Such an honor it is…"

"Who are you?" Harry asked as he closed the door and entered his bedroom, and gave the elf a hard stare. "What are you doing here?"

"Dobby, sir. Just Dobby. Dobby the house-elf..."

The name Dobby sounded slightly familiar to Harry but he was sure that he would remember if he had ever met the peculiar house elf before him.

"I know what you are, Dobby." Harry interrupted. "What are you doing in my room?"

"Oh, yes, sir," said Dobby earnestly. "Dobby has come to tell you, sir… it is difficult, sir… Dobby wonders where to begin…"

"Well, why don't you take a seat and_"

"S-sit down!" he wailed. "Never… never ever…Dobby has never been asked to sit down by a wizard—like an equal—"

"Well, then you have yet to meet any of the people I know." Harry said. "Does your family know that you're here?"

Dobby shuddered.

"Oh, no, sir, no… Dobby will have to punish himself most grievously for coming to see you, sir. Dobby will have to shut his ears in the oven door for this. If they ever knew, sir—"

"But won't they notice if you shut your ears in the oven door?"

"Dobby doubts it, sir. Dobby is always having to punish himself for something, sir. They lets Dobby get on with it, sir. Sometimes they reminds me to do extra punishments…"

It was obvious Dobby didn't come from a pleasant family. "Is there any way I can help you, Dobby?"

"Harry Potter asks if he can help Dobby… Dobby has heard of your greatness, sir, but of your goodness, Dobby never knew…" The house elf said reverently, his orblike eyes aglow. "He really is the greatest wizard!"

Harry rubbed his temples, it seemed Dobby's admiration even dwarfed that of the elves at Hogwarts.

"Dobby heard tell," he said hoarsely once he had calmed down, "that Harry Potter met the Dark Lord for a second time just weeks ago… that Harry Potter escaped yet again."

Harry's eyes narrowed, only McGonagall and Dumbledore knew about his confrontation with Dumbledore and he doubted the headmaster would have told about anyone except his most trusted people. Which were McGonagall and ofcourse Snape, and that was when it clicked where he had heard of the name Dobby, in Snape's memories.

"You're Malfoy's house elf, aren't you?" He asked and Dobby's eyes went as wide as saucers.

"How did...Harry Potter is as brilliant as he is great!" If anything, Dobby's admiration for him seemed to have doubled. "Harry Potter is valiant, intelligent and bold! He has braved so many dangers already! But Dobby has come to protect Harry Potter, to warn him, even if he does have to shut his ears in the oven door later… Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts."

Well, that caught his attention. "Why?"

"There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year," whispered Dobby, suddenly trembling all over. "Dobby has known it for months, sir. Harry Potter must not put himself in peril. He is too important, sir!"

"What terrible things?" Harry asked sharply, he may not be planning on going back to Hogwarts but there were people there he cared about. McGonagall and Tracey being a few of them. "Who's plotting them? Is it Malfoy?"

Dobby was about to try and punish himself again but Harry darted forward and grabbed his skinny arms. "Relax, Dobby. I realize that you can't tell me much without betraying your master but I need you to tell me as much as you can. Can you do that?"

Dobby nodded uncertainly, tears streaming from his eyes. "Only if Harry Potter promises not to go back to Hogwarts."

"I promise." Harry said. "I just want this information so I can warn those who will be there, like Dumbledore."

"Dobby has heard Dumbledore's powers rival those of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named at the height of his strength. But, sir"—Dobby's voice dropped to an urgent whisper—"there are powers Dumbledore doesn't… powers no decent wizard…it is what will be used to hurt people."

It seemed that was as much as he was likely to get out of the scared house elf.

"Thank you, Dobby. I'll forward your warning to the headmaster." Harry said earnestly. "One more thing, Dobby, how did you know where I live."

"Dobby heard the greasy man talking to Dobby's master."

Harry nodded, that meant that Malfoy knew where he lived and if the Dark Lord were to rise again, he too would know.

"Harry Potter really promises not to go back to Hogwarts?"

"Yes, Dobby, I have absolutely no intention of willingly returning to Hogwarts and will do everything in my power to make sure it doesn't happen."

It seemed he had convinced the elf who disappeared later with a loud crack leaving behind a thick wad of envelopes where he had been standing. Harry curiously picked up the envelopes only to see that they were from his friends at Hogwarts. It seemed Dobby had been intercepting his mail from the very first day he came back as there were letters from Hermione and Tracey that had come two days after they left Hogwarts. Many others had come for him even though they stopped when they assumed Harry was simply ignoring them.

The latest one had come today from Neville, wishing him a happy birthday and telling him that his mother had recognized him. She had been back to her normal self for a couple of minutes and had talked with him. Even his father was slowly improving, it seemed their recovery was almost assured.

Harry couldn't read through all the letters and so he kept them for another time though he wrote back to all of them telling them about his mail being intercepted but that he was now free to write. He also wrote to McGonagall and told her of Dobby's warning before sending the letter with Mippy. Once that was done, he went and had a quick shower and fell asleep, he had a long month ahead of him and he needed his mind sharp.

August 28th 2002

Harry had been right, and at this point he was dreading making any future predictions. He had thought July had been bad, August turned out to be much worse, way more than he had anticipated. Four weeks which had been a total nightmare, and thankfully had come to an end. However, unlike with the first study marathon, Harry wasn't going to be getting a week to recuperate, there was still work to be done if he was to secure his freedom and yet so little time.

Today, he had sat for the last exam, tomorrow the results will come back along with the final verdict on whether he was approved for the foreign exchange program or not. If so, he would be leaving with the rest of the exchange students on the 31st to California. And if not, then he would have to fall on his other plans. They were much riskier and relied mostly on luck but he was sure things would work out, one way or the other.

However, now that he had some free time, Harry had decided to take a walk around Little Whinging. He had never had a chance to simply walk around aimlessly, when he was a kid, he had been confined in his relative's home and after he got his freedom, he preferred sleeping or reading in his room. He however knew the map of the neighborhood very well, and so after all the fatigue of studying, he let himself let go for once. None of the people he passed spared him a second glance, having learned to avoid attention even without his magic.

He absentmindedly took a turn towards the local park on Magnolia Road. The sun had already started setting by the time he arrived at the park and unsurprisingly, it was empty. He walked across the park towards the small play area which had a swingset, a carousel, three slides, and two benches, all surrounded by fences. The small gate that led to the play area was open and Harry easily slipped in, intent on swinging on the swings for the very first time in his life. When he reached the only working swing, he raised his hand to grip the chains only for it to pass right through.

Harry stumbled back as the swing disappeared in a flash of green light. It was only then that he noticed that his surroundings were changing, that same green light running all over everything like it was changing the very fabric of reality. When the green light finally disappeared completely, Harry was no longer standing in the park, but rather some old and abandoned warehouse he knew was at the very end of Wisteria walk. He had often visited the warehouse as a kid, mostly to hide from Dudley and his friends. Always find peace and quiet in the imposing building where no one else dared to go.

"How did I get here?" Harry wondered aloud, looking over his surroundings, had someone teleported him without his knowledge? That was the likely answer and yet he hadn't sensed any magic being cast around him.

"Questions..." A voice said, seemingly coming from everywhere. "You seem to have quite a number of them, don't you, Harry Potter?"

"Who are you?" Harry asked, looking around the surprisingly well lit warehouse.

"Perhaps a figment of your imagination." The man replied, amusement clear in his voice. "Or the person who has the answers you're seeking."

"Look, I really don't have time for games, if you really want to talk show yourself." Harry growled but was only met with silence. "Well, it was nice talking to you, but I'm leaving."

He turned around and made for the door only to stumble back when the man suddenly appeared in front of him. He was tall, very much so, Harry estimated him to be about 6 feet and 5 inches, way taller than Harry's impressive height. He was wearing a green tunic overlaid with golden metal and on his shoulders was a long green cape, and on his head he wore a golden horned helmet which made him look to be even taller. He stared down at Harry in clear amusement.

"You can only leave if I say so, little human." The man sneered. "You are in the presence of a god, and as such the very breath you take is only out of my mercy."

"Who are you?"

"I am Loki Odinson of Asgard." The man declared, spreading his arms. "And the only single person who has the answers to the questions you seek."

"You don't know anything about me."

"I am a god, boy, I know everything about you." The man disappeared only to appear behind Harry. "I know you are curious about what you are, why you have abilities that others don't, even your fellow witches and wizards, I know you seek to know what your parents were, what made them special and what fate befell them after their death."

He had been circling Harry as he talked and by this point, he was back in front of him.

"I have the answers, Harry Potter." Loki said, his voice smoth and soothing. "The question is if you're willing to face the truth and if so, how much are you ready to give, in order to find the truth?"

Harry stared at the man, his emerald eyes boring into Loki's pale green eyes. The man knew quite alot, way more than any other person short of Harry himself, was he some kind of mind reader?

"What do want, from me?" Harry finally asked. "To give me the answers I seek, what do you wish of me?"

Loki smile was predatory.

"Your allegiance." He said. "All you have to do is swear fealty to me, to do my bidding as I wish and everything you have ever desired will be yours."

"That is not a price I'm willing to pay." Harry shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, I really do but my allegiance is only to myself. Have a good day."

Harry made to walk around the other man, but just as he passed him, the man's hand shot forward and grabbed his shirt before throwing him back. He flew through the air before crashing into a couple of boxes on the other end of the warehouse. Harry stared at the man, Loki, from where he had landed, the man was freaking strong. Harry had grown even stronger since coming back from Hogwarts but this man was on an entirely different level.

"Now, now, no need to be rude." The man drawled. "We were still talking after all."

"I have nothing to say to you." Harry said, getting up.

"Interesting, there is not even a scratch on you." The man mused before his smirk grew even wider. "I wonder how much punishment you can take before you submit."

"I'll never submit to you." Harry declared defiantly as he got into a fighting stance. He could feel his blood pumping and his body practically vibrating at the promise of a fight. The fatigue he had been feeling from his study marathon disappeared in an instant and his mind became sharp, his senses even sharper.

"We shall see." Loki smiled, and then he covered the distance between them in a blink of an eye.

Harry's right foot shot forward just as Loki arrived in front of him catching the man in his midsection and sending him flying right back where he had come from. In an impressive show of acrobatics, the man recovered from the kick in mid air, flipped over and landed in a half-crouch even as his boots skidded on the floor a little.

Loki looked up at Harry, clearly surprised that the younger boy had managed to land a hit on him. He smirked.

"Impressive, I can't say I saw that coming." He stood up to his full height. "But I'm afraid, you're out of luck."

Harry's instincts screamed at him and he jumped to the side as Loki appeared just behind where he had been standing, he lashed out with another kick, hoping to once again catch the man off guard but his leg passed right through the man. And then something slammed into Harry's other side knocking the breath out of him. He bent over, clutching his stomach only for Loki's knee to slam into his face making him stagger backwards. Before he could truly recover, Loki kicked him in the chest sending him flying once again across the warehouse.

Harry called upon his magic and slowed down his momentum, just like Loki had done, he flipped through the air and landed in a crouch, though much less gracefully than Loki had. He didn't have time to revel in his feat as Loki appeared in front of him and backhanded him with enough force that he was lifted from the ground and slammed into the wall behind him. Harry shook his head and looked up as Loki strolled towards him. He pushed himself back to his feet and got into a stance.

"Your resistance is admirable but futile." Loki said as he seemed to multiply, he became two people, then three and soon there were six Lokis surrounding him in a semi-circle all smirking at him. "Once I'm done with you, you will be begging me to accept you to serve me."

And then all six came at Harry at the same time, leaving him no chance at escaping, not that he was planning to. He gathered magic in his hands and slammed them together generating an outwards blast at the six Loki's. Only one conjured a shield to protect himself while the rest of the illusions disappeared and with magic pumping through him, Harry slammed into the man and the two fell over. They tumbled on the floor in a power struggle which Loki won and ended up on top.

"Enough!" He held Harry down by the neck with one hand, while a knife appeared in his other hand which he raised up, ready to stab the boy.

The young wizard didn't plan on waiting to see how effective it would be against his skin and so grabbed the hand that was holding him down with both of his. Without thinking of a particular spell, he called upon electricity which seemed to have eagerly been waiting as it sprang up through his hands and coursed through Loki making the man scream and jumping away from Harry. The wizard wasn't surprised that he hadn't been affected despite being in direct contact with Loki after all the electricity had been conjured to hurt Loki, not himself.

At this point, Harry knew that there was no way he was going to win this fight, Loki was more skilled and much stronger than him. The only reason he had managed to get a few hits in was either because of luck or because of the man's arrogance that made him underestimate Harry. So Harry knew that he needed to get away, when he had told her of the fact that Malfoy knew where he lived, McGonagall had told him that there were powerful wards over #4 Privet Drive, and that anyone with ill intent towards any of the residents wouldn't be able to attack the place.

All he needed was to get under the wards and he would be safe from Loki. The self declared god was spasming from electricity at Harry's side and so the boy stumbled to his feet, hoping to get away before he could recover. Harry doubted that there was more luck left for him in this fight, and so praying to any diety that was listening to give him whatever luck they can, he gathered his magic around himself just as Loki got to his feet, willing with all his might that he was back in his bedroom at Privet drive, Harry disappeared, only leaving behind wisps of golden smoke.

He appeared in his room and stumbled over to his bed. He fell on it, breathing heavily as he came down from the adrenaline rush of the fight. His mind was running, now that he wasn't fighting for his life and had time to think, he remembered reading about a Loki. The Norse god of Mischief. If the man was telling the truth, which was very likely as he fit the descriptions, then Harry had just fought with a god. It didn't matter that his domain was Mischief of all things, the mere fact that he was a god put him apart from everyone he had met so far.

Did that mean that Harry was a god as well? The mere idea sounded not only ridiculous but also presumptuous even in his head, but now that he had thought of it, he couldn't just forget it. He couldn't help but consider the similarities between him and Loki. From their strength, to their size and durability and their similarity in magic. Harry had not noticed it then but his magic was similar to Loki's, up to now, his brand of magic had been unique to him and now he meets a god who has the same type of magic as him.

Or maybe it was Lily and James that had been gods disguised as humans. It would explain the things Harry kept noticing that made his parents different from other witches and wizards. It would explain why Loki had been interested in him in the first place. He couldn't think of any reason why the god had taken notice of him, he had gone to great lengths to keep his abilities hidden. Loki had likely known exactly what Harry was as well as his heritage and that was why he came after him. He had after all claimed to know Harry, maybe they were more than just claims.

Either way, Harry was just speculating and wouldn't know for sure unless he either talked to Black or McDonald. Even then, there was a possibility that his parents hadn't confided in their closest friends and that would leave Loki as his only option. Loki who wanted him to swear servitude to him first before he could tell him anything. Harry would have to find a way of evening the odds between him and the other man if he was to truly get anything worthwhile out of him without paying a price too high.

He needed to learn how to fight, and he needed to train his magic and how to use it in combat. Harry paused, he had used magic in his fight with Loki and yet he hadn't received any owl warning him of underage usage of magic. After his trip to Azkaban, he had suspected that the difference in his magic from normal wizard magic would let him use magic without being tracked but he hadn't dared prove it as he didn't want to give Dumbledore time to stop his expulsion back when that had been his plan on leaving Hogwarts.

But with only two days left before they were to go back to Hogwarts, he didn't need to fear anything.

"Lumos." He whispered, and a ball of light appeared in his hand.

Harry maintained the ball for about five minutes, playing with it as he changed its size and color and also tossing up and letting it fall back into his hand. Slowly, his lips stretched into a smile, things had suddenly become much easier. With his magic, he didn't necessarily the school to have him as an exchange student for him to go to America. And now he had more reason to escape England, not only was he escaping from Dumbledore but Loki as well.

Granted, Loki was more likely to find him much easier even in the states but by then, he hoped he would have improved himself and in a better position to negotiate with the god.

Pulling off what remained of his destroyed clothes, Harry cleaned himself with magic before slipping into bed. Today had been most bizarre but there was alot he had to do tomorrow. He needed to prepare for his next meeting with the god of Mischief, and that preparation will start tomorrow.

August 31st 2002

London

Harry watched the streets of London fly by in the window from where he was seated in the school bus. They were on their way to the airport where they would board a plane to California. The school catered for the transportation of the students, and once they arrived in Los Angeles, a school bus would pick them up from the airport and transport them to the school. Harry had known the school was quite fancy but it hadn't really sunk in untill he met his fellow students.

Either way, Harry was on his way to the States where he not only will be able to get answers but he would be free from Dumbledore and Loki for some time. And speaking of the god, Harry half expected him to pop out of nowhere and attack him but he didn't appear. The whole of yesterday, he hadn't left Privet Drive but rather spent it practicing his newly discovered mode of transport. Teleporting Harry's way was much smoother than wizarding apparation and Harry barely felt a difference when doing it.

One moment he was in one place and the next he was in another. There was no sound at all to indicate his leaving or arriving, only a few wisps of golden smoke, but those too disappeared only a second later. And now after practicing for almost the whole day, Harry could teleport with barely a thought. It was what gave him the confidence to come out knowing that if Loki were to attack, he could just teleport away.

The results for his tests had come back and Harry was happy to see that he had passed. His results, despite how little time he had studying were impressive, impressive enough that he was allowed to be included among the foreign exchange students despite his age. He had later found out that they weren't as stuck on the age rule as he had initially been led to believe. The youngest in his class, year 10 was fourteen, atleast before Harry joined at twelve. Given his size though, he doubted anyone would think so as he looked be at the cusp of sixteen going seventeen.

"Hello." Harry looked away from the passing buildings at the voice. He looked at the owner and raised an eyebrow. Like everyone else on the bus, she was wearing the school uniform. A white shirt, khaki skirt, a maroon tie and maroon jacket. She didn't seem to be much older than Harry, probably fourteen. Harry was actually the youngest on the bus.

"Hi." He greeted the girl and her face lit up in a blush. "May I help you?"

"Well, uhm...I wanted to...uh" she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt as he face seemed to be growing hotter. She looked ready to bolt but one look at her friends who seemed to be watching the two of them eagerly seemed to give her some confidence. "May I... uhm, may I k_kiss you?"

The girl had had auburn hair and light green eyes. She was quite pretty if Harry did say so himself.

"You want to kiss me?" Harry cocked his head to the side in confusion. "Why?"

"Uhm...God, this is embarrassing." She blushed even harder. "I...I just want to, alright?"

Her friends giggled from the other end of the bus and she threw them a glare before turning back to Harry. "Well?"

"Okay." He said with a shrug. He had never actually given much thought about girls, let alone kissing one but now that there was one in front of him, he was actually intrigued.

The girl seemed startled at first at his permission but then she grinned even as her blush grew and she darted forward, her lips barely brushing with his before she was gone the next second. Harry for a fleeting moment wondered if she had teleported but instead just shook his head at the absurdity of his thoughts. When the group reached the airport and boarded the plane, Harry was surprised to find the girl seated next to him. She blushed when he greeted her but otherwise seemed to have put what had happened behind her.

By the time they landed in Los Angeles, he seemed to have made a friend already. Apparently she had been dared by her friends to go and kiss the new 'cute' boy on the bus and not wishing to look like a coward she had done just that. She was pretty smart too, reminded him a little about Hermione though less uptight and more sure of herself.

There was something curious about the girl, something that seemed to call to Harry though couldn't put his finger on it. Even as they talked throughout their flight and the journey to the school, he kept trying to prod her but he didn't get very far. It was nice talking to her however, it certainly took his mind off Loki and with in no time, they had arrived at the school and were being sent to their respective dormitories.

"You know, I don't believe we introduced ourselves to each other." Harry told the other girl just as they were about to be separated and she laughed, realizing the same thing. "The name is Harry, Harry James."

It was what he had decided to go by, even though the official records had his full name. Granted if anyone looking for him knew him, they wouldn't be fooled by Harry James but it was better than going by Harry Potter.

"Shevaun Haldane." She said with a bright smile, shaking his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Harry."

"You too Shevaun."

AN: So that is our latest chapter, we are really going to be delving into the Marvel comics in this story, not just the MCU. There's alot of untapped gold in the comics and I'll be doing quite a bit of tapping in this fic.

Shevaun Haldane is a canon character, she is unique in her own way that I believe will compliment my Harry. I'm quite excited to see where we shall be going with them.