AN Here's the next chapter; enjoy,
Disclaimer: I don't own HP or Marvel.
Chapter 43: The Black Family History.
For the past four days, Loki has been in a grumpy mood. He and Sirius argued and have barely spoken to each other since, which led Loki to sulk for the last few days while Sirius spent most of his time in his workshop when at home, and when at Grimmauld Place, Sirius only speaks to Loki when he has to. Two days ago, when Remus had asked him if something had happened between him and Sirius, Loki snapped at him that it wasn't his business. Remus's response had been a look that promised Loki pain if he snapped at him again, and Loki decided to listen to that look. Remus Lupin had fought the Hulk in werewolf form, and even put up a good fight during an arm wrestling match with Thor (Sirius's idea); Remus was strong for a Midgardain, even for a werewolf. Loki had no doubt the man could cause him pain if provoked, and Remus didn't seem to know his own strength, always seemed surprised by it. Like during the arm wrestling match, he accused Thor of holding back on him, but later that night, Thor came to Loki and swore he hadn't been and that Remus Lupin would make a good Avenger.
Thor also told Loki that Tony Stark said the same thing about Sirius when he first escaped them. Loki doesn't take those comments seriously. It seems like anyone with some power or good fighting skills could be an Avenger. Thor also mentioned that Jarvis had scanned Sirius during his escape, and the magic he was using had the same energy readings as Loki's scepter, which Loki found interesting. He knew Sirius's magic had changed some and become stronger. It's almost like he had a bit of the mind stone in him now. Thankfully, having Lucius Malfoy under mind control didn't have the same results. Loki figured it was because he used the scepter to help put Sirius's mind back together and had used it often on Sirius, where he only had Lucius under mind control.
Loki glanced over at Sirius. He and Harry were on either side of a mantelpiece in the drawing room of Number 12 Grimmauld Place, cleaning out the two glass-fronted cabinets on either side, which were crammed with a weird variety of objects, a selection of daggers, claws, snakeskin, and several silver boxes inscribed with words in various languages. Loki noticed that Sirius wasn't tossing everything in the rubbish bin but was keeping things that weren't "dark objects." he set both the collection of daggers and silver boxes aside and tossed out everything else in the bin. Harry was doing the same, and he set aside anything he or Sirius found interesting and tossed out anything suspicious.
"Is this blood?" Harry asked, holding up a crystal bottle with a large opal set in the stopper. Sirius tossed a handful of snakeskin into the bin and then turned to Harry.
"Yeah, looks like some kind of creature blood," Sirius said, "Just sat it aside over there. I don't know if that bottle is unbreakable, so best not risk tossing it in the bin, untelling what it would do if it touched your skin."
"What the hell would Walburga want with blood?" Andromeda demanded from her spot, cleaning out a smaller cabinet on the other side of the room.
"That is a question I would rather not know the answer to," Sirius replied, watching Harry set the bottle on a table, then went back and started cleaning out the cabinet he was working on.
Loki glanced around the room. Remus was sitting at a table across from Bruce Banner; a game of wizard chess was between them. Nymphadora Tonks was standing next to Bruce, cheering him on, while Natasha Romanoff stood on Remus's side, watching silently, and Thor and Tony Stark stood between the women, just watching. From what Loki could tell from here, it looked like a pretty close game. Either could win.
Further down the table was Bucky Barnes frowning at a page in a book on magical creatures Bill Weasley dropped by earlier on his way to work. Steve Rogers was over on the other side of the room examining the tapestry that had the Black Family Tree on it, and Clint Barton was in an armchair in the corner looking through the arrows Sirius had made to replace the one still sticking in Walburga's portrait. He hadn't made a hundred yet, but gave Clint the ones had made, which was about thirty.
Loki was sitting a ways from everyone at a small desk that kept shaking slightly. He had his feet propped up on a chair he had pulled over to him and had his arms crossed over his chest; if you asked anyone else in the room, they would say Loki was sulking. If you asked Loki, he would deny it, the source of Loki's bad mood: he and Sirius argued again last night over the same thing as their first argument had been about four days ago.
A couple of weeks ago, Voldemort had ordered Lucius Malfoy to lead a team of Death Eaters to Azkaban to break out his followers. Malfoy was able to put him off by claiming he needed to plan for the task, but in truth, he wanted to tell Loki and ask him what he wanted Malfoy to do. The mind control was pretty strong on Lucius Malfoy, and Loki was glad. Still, Voldemort's stupid request has put him in a spot; if he told Malfoy to go ahead with the break-out, Voldemort would regain his most powerful and faithful followers. But if he forbids Malfoy from breaking them out. Voldemort would kill Malfoy for his disobedience, and Loki would not only lose his spy, but it would also make it too risky to put anyone else under mind control because Voldemort would be suspicious and make it too hard for a spy to find out the information Loki needs.
So, Loki had no choice but to give him the go-ahead, and like Loki knew he would, Sirius flipped out when he told him. He understood Loki's reasoning but didn't understand why Loki wouldn't agree to stop it. Sirius first had the idea of telling Kingsley and having him gather up a group of Aurors and be at Azkaban the night of the breakout. They could catch the Death Eaters in the act. But Loki pointed out that would include Malfoy, and he'd lose his spy. Then Sirius said that he, Loki, Thor, and Remus could go out to Azkaban before the night of the break-out, and kill all the Death Eaters there. Though it was tempting to agree with that idea, Loki couldn't because Voldemort wasn't stupid. He'd know Malfoy had tipped someone off and likely kill him, and Loki would still lose his spy.
Sirius had said nothing to that and left their bedroom with a slam of the door. For the next two nights, Sirius slept in Harry's room on a cot he conjured and barely spoke to Loki when he did move back into their bedroom. He faced away from him to sleep, then last night, after four days, he tried to get Loki to agree with one of the two ideas Sirius had come up with, and when Loki refused, they had another argument that sent Sirius back to Harry's room. He's barely spoken to him all day.
"Oh, damn, you lost," Tonks said. Loki looked back over their way to see she was talking to Bruce. Remus won the game.
"It was a good game," Remus said, smiling slightly, as he and Bruce shook hands. "Would anyone else like to play?"
"And lose?" Thor asked, "How about arm wrestling? I can win that?"
"But then I will lose," Remus said, chuckling. Loki's raised his eyebrows. Were Remus and Thor becoming friends? Great Remus disliked him but was willing to be friends with Thor. Loki turned away, feeling a little jealous. The only reason he disliked Remus now was because Remus didn't like Loki anymore. He missed when they were on friendly terms, borrowing books from each other and having conversations about them. Damn Thanos, it's all his fault he lost Remus's respect. If Loki hadn't agreed to that stupid plan, he was sure Remus would still like him.
"Alright, Wolfman, I'll take a crack at it, Brucie; you're in my seat," Tony said. Loki watched as Remus's face fell a moment at the nickname as Bruce got up and allowed Tony to take his place but then smiled politely when Tony sat across from him.
"Stark, if Bruce can't beat Remus, you won't be able to," Natasha said.
"We'll see about that," Tony said, rubbing his hands together. "So, I just tell a piece to move, and it will move?"
"Yes." Remus nodded his head, and Tony told a piece where to move to, and it did, and his face lit up like a kid at Christmas.
"I wonder if I can make my own set like this," Tony said, watching Remus's piece move.
Loki was startled when Bucky Barnes suddenly appeared standing next to him. He hadn't even seen him get up or hear him walk over. Bucky held a book out to Loki.
"Do those things really exist?" Bucky asked. Loki was a little surprised that Bucky chose him to ask but took the book from his hands to see what creature he wanted to know about.
"Dementors," Loki said, "Oh yes, they are real."
"It says Muggles can't see them." Bucky said, "But can feel the effects? How can I fight off something I can't see? It says those things make you relive your worst members. I don't want to see those again."
Loki looked down at the picture of the dementor and frowned. He wished Bucky hadn't come to him with this. He wasn't good with talking to people and comforting them unless it was Harry or Sirius. For the most part, the Avengers had been ignoring Loki unless it had to do with Voldemort and his Horcuxes. They've had two more Order meetings since the first. On the second one, they decided the Avengers would be staying at Grimmauld Place while working with Loki and the others because Sirius pointed out that if Bill used magic to help Tony make a magic-detecting device, MACUSA might find out magic was used around Muggles, so he offered to allow them to do it here if Tony could figure out a way to get electricity to work in this house, Tony was sure he could figure something out. So, they've spent the first couple of days fixing up bedrooms for them, and now the drawing room was being cleared out so Tony and Bill can use it to work in. Loki didn't understand why Sirius was being so friendly toward the Avengers, and it annoyed him a little.
"You do not need to worry," Loki said, handing the book back to Bucky. "The Dementors guard the wizard prison Azkaban. It is doubtful you'll run into any." Loki left out unless Voldemort gets them under his control, which is highly likely. Bucky took the book while looking at Sirius, who was now laughing at something Harry had said.
"But….isn't that where Sirius spent twelve years?" Bucky asked.
"It is," Loki said.
"I have meant his mother's portrait. From that alone, I know he must have some pretty bad memories. How did he not go insane?" Bucky asked, "How can anyone stay sane in that place with these things?"
"Most don't." Loki replied, "Depending on how long you're in there, Sirius spent over a decade and mostly had his mind intact when he escaped, which shows how extraordinary he is."
"Yeah, he's pretty cool," Bucky said, his eyes widened as he looked towards the curtains hanging on the only window in the room to see tiny little eyes peeking out at him.
"Those curtains are invested with doxies," Loki said. "They're harmless unless you make them mad." He looked at Bucky's hair. "Though you better hope there are no nesting mothers, they love using human hair for their nest. The prettier, the better."
"Are you saying I have pretty hair?" Bucky asked, startling Loki for a moment, then it dawned on him he was joking.
"You've spent too much time with Stark." Loki snorted. Bucky didn't answer; his eyes were on the curtains, where about five doxies popped their heads out at the top and stared at Bucky. Then, one flew up in the air, followed by the other three, but at that moment, Thor decided to walk over.
"Hey, what are you two-" Thor started, but the doxies took one look at him and flew right for his golden locks. Thor swatted them away as Loki and Bucky started to laugh. And everyone turned to see what the commotion was.
"Your ability to make friends is astonishing, Thor," Loki said as the doxies flew back to the curtains, their tiny little hands full of Thor's hair. He pulled Mjolnir from his belt.
"How dare you attack the son of Odin." Thor cried, raising his hammer and taking aim.
"Thor, don't. You'll knock the whole wall down," Andromeda called over. Thor paused, then lowered Mjolnir and turned to Andromeda, looking embarrassed, as Tonks started giggling, which turned into full-blown laughter at the stern look her mother gave her.
"Sorry, Andromeda, I sometimes can have a bit of a temper," Thor said.
"Ah, let him, Annie. It could only be an improvement." Sirius shrugged, tossing another dagger onto the keep pile. He glanced back at Loki and winked, causing him to smile. Loki watched Harry walk over to Sirius, holding something in his hand. Sirius took it, checked it over with magic, likely checking for jinxes or hexes, and then handed it back to Harry and gave a nod; Harry grinned and walked over to Loki.
"Sirius said you can have this," Harry said, reaching out and pinning a small snake brooch to Loki's shirt. It was S-shaped (like the snake on Sytherin's crest), sliver, and covered in little green gemstones.
"Thank you," Loki said. He looked up from the brooch to see Sirius smiling at him; he tossed a glass ball into the rubbish bin and started walking toward Loki. Harry grinned and walked back to the cabinets; when Sirius made it to Loki, he lightly tapped Loki's legs. He put them down so Sirus could sit in the chair.
"So, is our fight over now?" Sirius asked, bumping Loki's leg with his knee.
"You were the one fighting. I was not," Loki replied.
"Is that a yes?" Sirius pressed, giving Loki that infamous chocky grin of his.
"I suppose," Loki replied, fighting a smile; Sirius chuckled and set forward and lowered his voice.
"I'm sorry I've been such an arse, Reigny, it's just I don't like the thought of her being on the loose again," Sirius said. "Plus Pettigrew will probably be set free."
"I do not like it either," Loki said. "I promise you, they won't be out for long. I'll kill them myself if I have to." Sirius was quiet a moment, then sat back in his chair and propped his legs up in Loki's lap.
"Are you ever going to get up and help clean?" Sirius asked.
"Not today," Loki replied, as the desk next to him shook again, and Sirius's eyes went to it. "I believe there's a boggart in there."
"Hey, Sirius, are some of these arrows made of silver?" Clint asked. Sirius turned his upper body a little, trying to look at Clint.
"Yeah, that was Moony's idea," Sirius said, "Just in case you might come across werewolves, it's not likely, but doesn't hurt to be prepared"
"Where did you get silver?" Loki asked. Sirius turned back to him.
"I melted down those goblets with the black family crest on them." Sirius shrugged, "I plan to make us some silver daggers, and if I have enough Thor a sword."
"Have you ever made bullets?" Natasha asked.
"No, but I probably could," Sirius said. "I'll give it a go tomorrow. I'll need one of yours to make a mold of its exact size and shape. Give me one of your bullets too, Bucky, I'll make you some."
"So, all those old movies had it right with silver bullets killing werewolves?" Tony asked, after telling another piece move.
"We are allergic to silver, yes," Remus said, then made his play. "But a silver arrow or bullet won't kill a werewolf unless you hit the right place. It will, however, slow werewolves down temporarily and give you an advantage."
"Do you even have that much silver?" Loki asked.
"What do you think I'm keeping those silver boxes for?" Sirius asked. That's the one good thing about having Slytherin-oppressed family members. All the jewelry and similar items in this house are made of silver, gold is too Gryffindor for them."
At that moment, a loud, clanging bell sounded from downstairs, followed at once by the cacophony of screams of Walburga Black, causing Sirius to groan.
"I keep telling those idiots not to ring the fucking bell," Sirius said, standing and leaving the room. Loki could hear him shouting back at his mother's portrait as he stumped down the stairs while Harry braved the Doxy-filled curtains and pulled them back to look out.
"It's Kingsley," He said. "He must have just got off guard duty."
"Nephew, be careful," Thor warned, and Harry looked up to see the doxies looking at him. He quickly jumped back from the curtains and started shoving his hair up in the green fedora of Loki's he still wore.
At that moment Tony cursed, and Remus sat back in his seat looking smug. He had won the chess game.
"Yes, look smug all you want," Tony said, standing, and Remus grinned more. "Cap, get over here."
"I don't know how to play chess," Steve said, turning around and frowning at Tony while he moved the chess board down the table, causing the pieces to panic and run all over the board.
"You're not planning chess," Tony said, "You're going to revenge my loss by beating Wolfman at arm wrestling."
"That wouldn't exactly be fair," Steve said.
"He arm-wrestled Thor," Tony replied. "Couldn't be any less fair than that."
"I really don't want -"
"I'll do it," Bucky said, closing the book and walking over.
"Good, man." Tony patted Bucky on the back as he sat in the chair and put his arm up on the table; Remus frowned a moment, then sat forward and gripped Bucky's hand. "Alright, on the count of three. One..two..three."
Loki watched in amusement as both men tried but failed to take the other's hand down. They both grunted as they struggled to win. For five minutes, Loki watched as Bucky would get the upper hand, only for Remus to turn around and start pushing Bucky's arm towards the table.
"Come on, Buck, stop holding back, beat him," Tony said.
"I'm not holding back," Bucky grunted as he again started pushing Remus's arm to the table. Loki could see a bit of pain cross Remus's face as he tried to fight back, but then, with a loud grunt-like shout, Bucky slammed Remus's arm on the table.
"Yes." Tony cheered as Remus pulled his arm back, rubbing it and looking shocked at himself. He lost. But he put up a fight he should not have been able to.
"I don't remember being so strong," Remus mumbled.
"That's because you always hide your wolf side, Remus," Loki said. "You didn't want to become what you did, but you should not be ashamed; embrace it. Be proud."
"That's hypocritical coming from you," Remus replied.
Loki narrowed his eyes, but before he could reply, the door cracked open, and to Loki's displeasure, Kreacher came walking in, mumbling things under his breath.
"…Nasty old blood traitor coming back after all these years, messing up mistress's house, oh, my poor mistress, if she knew the scum he lets run in and out of her house, what would she say to old Kreacher, oh, the shame of it, Mudbloods and werewolves, thieves and traitors, and muggles poor old Kreacher, what can he do…"
"Hello, Kreacher," Tonks said. The house-elf froze in his tracks, stopped muttering, and gave a very pronounced and very unconvincing start of surprise.
"Kreacher did not see young mistress," he said, turning around and bowing to Tonks. Still facing the carpet, he added, perfectly audibly, "filthy child of a mudblood."
"Hey," Tonks said angrily.
"What the hell is that?" Tony demanded, pointing at Kreacher while the others just stared.
"House-elf," Harry said.
"Try not to ogle him, Stark," Loki said, "Kreacher isn't too fond of Muggles."
"For the last time, I didn't know I was looking at you," Tony said. Since the first order meeting, Loki has made sure not to be in his female form around the Avengers, and he still felt ill thinking about the way Tony was checking her out.
"So, that's a House-elf," Bruce said, "Sirius has mentioned him before."
"The Muggle is speaking of Kreacher as if he has a right," Kreacher mumbled." Oh, what would Kreacher's mistress say? The scum that's invested her house."
"Bruce isn't scum," Tonks said. Kreacher ignored her, his eyes now on Harry.
"And it's the brat's son," Keacher mumbled. "oh, how Kreacher's mistress would be so heartbroken to know of him. He's just like his father he is, a disgrace to the name of—"
"Enough." Loki snapped out, pointing at the door. "Shut your trap, and get out."
Kreacher turned towards Loki. "It orders Kreacher as if it has a right. Oh, what would Kreacher's Mistress say if she saw the kind of thing the ungrateful brat chose to continue the Black family line? They say he is a giant, but he doesn't look like a giant."
"Kreacher!" Sirius had returned in time to hear the things the elf was muttering. "Did not talk to Loki like that, him and Harry are a part of this family; you must respect them."
"Whatever Master wishes, Kreacher is here to serve," Kreacher said, bowing so low his nose touched the floor.
"Stand up straight," Sirius said impatiently. "Now, what are you up to?"
"Kreacher is cleaning," the elf said. "Kreacher lives to serve the Noble House of Black -"
"And it's getting blacker every day. It's filthy," Sirius snapped.
"Yeah, you've done a fantastic job keeping it clean," Harry said, voice dripping with sarcasm. Kreacher turned to him and opened his mouth, but Sirius cleared his throat, and Kreacher started mumbling under his breath.
"You were asked what you are up to," Andromeda said cooly. "Answer the question."
"Kreacher is only here to clean." Kracher bowed to Andromeda in the same ridiculous fashion as Sirius and mumbled under his breath. "Mistress would never forgive Kreacher if the tapestry were thrown out. Seven centuries it's been in the family, Kreacher will not let Master and the blood traitors and the brat destroy it -"
"I thought it might be that," Sirius said, casting a disdainful look at the tapestry. "She'll have put another Permanent Sticking Charm on the back of it, I don't doubt, but if I can get rid of it, I certainly will. Now go away, Kreacher."
Kreacher could not disobey a direct order; nevertheless, the look he gave Sirius as he shuffled past him was full of loathing, and he muttered as he walked out of the room.
"- comes back from Azkaban ordering Kreacher around, oh, my poor mistress, she swore he was no son of hers, and he's back. They say he's a murderer too -"
"Keep muttering, and I will be a murderer!" Sirius said irritably as he slammed the door shut, making Harry jump a little.
"You need to stop letting the elf get to you, Little Cousin," Andromeda said.
"I know," Sirius said, as he ran his hand through his hair and glanced at the tapestry, then walked over to it and stood by Steve, looking at the family tree. Andromeda stopped what she was doing and followed, so did Harry, Tonks, Thor, Tony and lastly, Loki, who stood and walked over. Tonks stepped a little to the right so Loki could stand by Sirius, and he laid his hand on Sirius's back as they all stood in silence, looking at the tapestry.
The Black Family tapestry looked immensely old; it was faded and had holes in it in some places. Nevertheless, the golden thread with which it was embroidered still glinted brightly enough to show them a sprawling family tree dating back to the Middle Ages. Large words at the top of the tapestry read: The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black Toujours Pur.
"Always Pure?" Loki asked, raising an eyebrow. Sirius snorted
"Yeah, guess I broke the family motto," Sirius said.
"I believe I was the first to do that," Andromeda said smugly.
"True."
"You're not on here," Harry said after scanning the bottom of the tree closely.
"Yes, he is," Thor said, pointing at a Sirius whose birth year was 1845.
"Thor, my dad isn't a hundred and seventy years old," Harry said.
"That's more Cap's age, Thunderstruck," Tony said, snickering at the look Steve gave him.
"I'm not that old," Steve mumbled, turning from the tapestry and walking over to where Bucky was sitting at the end of the table.
"There's another Sirius." Harry pointed at a name under the first Sirius that had the birth year of 1877.
"I'm the third one," Sirius said, "I used to be here." he pointed at a small, round, charred hole in the tapestry. "My sweet old mother blasted me off after I ran away from home."
"When you went to the Potters?" Harry asked.
"That's right," Sirius said.
"Why did you run away from home?" Tony asked.
"I hated the whole lot of them: my parents, with their pureblood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal… my idiot brother, soft enough to believe them… that's him." Sirius jabbed a finger at the very bottom of the tree, at the name Regulus Black.
"You have a brother?" Thor asked, then frowned when he noticed the death date under the name.
"Had," Sirius said, "He was younger than me and a much better son, as Walburga and Orion often reminded me. They spoiled, pampered, and brainwashed my brother into believing their nonsense. He joined the Death Eaters at a young age, introduced to Voldemort by Bellatrix, no doubt, but apparently, he didn't have the stomach for what the dark side got up to. He hadn't even joined a year before a death date popped up on this tapestry. I don't know how he died, and his body was never found, but my theory is after joining the Death Eaters, he got cold feet and tried to back out, and well, we all know Voldemort doesn't like that."
"Are you alright, darling?" Loki asked because Sirius's face had taken on a dark look. He ran his hand through his hair, then waved away Loki's concern.
"I'm fine," Sirius said, looking closer to the tapestry. "I haven't looked at this in years. There's Phineas Nigellus, my great-great-grandfather, the least popular Headmaster Hogwarts ever had… and Araminta Mehflua, cousin of Walburga's, tried to force through a Ministry bill to make Muggle-hunting legal and dear Aunt Elladora she started the family tradition of beheading house-elves when they got too old to carry tea trays."
"Not all of our family was dark." Andromeda said, "There were very few decent people; of course, those are the ones who go blasted off." She pointed at a charred hole that was next to Narcissa and Bellatrix.
"Like Uncle Alphard," Sirius said, "Blasted off for leaving me gold in his will."
"Or Isla Black, who got disowned for marrying a muggle," Andromeda said, pointing at a charred hole towards the top of the tree. "Then there's Cedrella, whose crime was marrying a Weasley."
"The biggest blood traitors there ever were, at least according to Walburga," Sirius said. Andromeda snorted.
"My father used to say the same thing." She said.
"I doubt the Weasleys find that an insult," Tonks said, "They're probably proud of it."
"Arthur Weasley isn't a bad guy," Tony said, "Got pretty excited when I explained to him how my suit works."
"There's a Potter on here," Harry said, surprised. "Does that mean we are related to James?"
"By marriage, distantly," Sirius said, pointing at a Charlus Potter, "He was like James's great uncle or something like that. He married Dorea Black, who was a distant relative of mine. There is an infamous family legend about them."
"Are they the ones who killed their kid for a gemstone?" Harry asked.
"That's what they claim," Sirius said, pointing at Dorea's name. "The way the legend goes is Dorea traveled the world searching for some mythical gemstones that were supposed to hold certain powers. That's how the Black Family vault is full of stones. She hoped to find the magical ones. When she married Charlus, her desire to find these stones didn't stop; she dragged him along with her, the same when she had their only son, also called Charlus. Then one day they just disappeared, no visiting, no letters, nothing for a whole twelve years, then Dorea and Charlus came back, without little Charlus, they claimed they had been in space, claimed they had found a way to get there magically, Charlus said Dorea found one of the gems she was looking for, but it cost them, what they never said, some speculated it was their son it cost."
"That's awful," Harry said
"It is," Sirius agreed, "They were never the same again. Upon their return, they were both depressed and closed off. Charlus refused to talk to Dorea and even moved into a separate bedroom. They were barely back a year when Dorea took her own life and, maddened with grief, Charlus followed her to the grave not even a year later."
"Your family is depressing," Harry said. Sirius snorted.
"And evil, don't forget they're all evil," Sirius said, "hell, that family tale used to be mine and Regulus' bedtime story, our so-called father." Sirius pointed at the name Orion, "thought it appropriate enough for children's ears."
"And I thought my father sucked," Tony said." He just ignored me when I was a kid."
"I would have rather been ignored," Sirius said, "Better than being cursed, or hexed or jinxed, or a slapped, or ducking things thrown at your head."
Loki started rubbing Sirius's back while he looked at the name Dorea Black; if he didn't know any better, he would think Sirius's relative was looking for the infinity stones. Loki glanced at Sirius, whose face had that dark look again, and decided to lighten the mood.
"You know, darling, the star from which your name comes was once known as Lokabrenna," Loki said.
"That explains a lot." Thor snorted, and Sirius glanced at Loki with his eyebrow raised.
"What?" He asked.
"that's what the Nordic people called it.." Loki said, "It means Loki's burning, so the star was named after me first."
A playful look came over Sirius's face. "Oh hell no, you're not stealing my star. It is Sirius, known as the dog star; see, it even includes my animagus form."
"Sirius, that's just a coincidence. You were named after the star. On the other, the star was named after me." Loki teased, smirking when Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Whatever," Sirius said, waving his hand dismissively, "They obviously decided Sirius was a much better name."
"Oi," Loki said, "I take offense to that."
Sirius and Loki looked at each other and smiled, then Sirius put his arm around Loki's waist and pulled him closer to him. Loki leaned in and pressed his lips to Sirius's, and at that moment, the doorbell rang throughout the house again, followed by Walburga's shouting. Loki groaned and pulled away from Sirius.
"I killed that bitch seventeen years ago, and she still won't shut up." Loki snapped, heading towards the door.
At those words, everyone except Sirius stared after Loki in surprise, Tonks with her mouth hanging open, and then they all turned to see Sirius's reaction and were surprised he didn't have one.
"Umm, did Loki just say-"
"Yeah, come on," Sirius said, motioning to Harry to follow him out of the room; everyone else looked towards each other, then followed them.
Loki stumped down the stairs, loudly mumbling threats under his breath until he got to the last stairs. He stepped off and turned to Walburga's portrait.
"Shut up, you pathetic good-for-nothing wrench," Loki shouted. Walburga paused, and then her face took on an enraged look, but before she could reply, Loki thrust out his hands, and ice flew from it, hitting the portrait of Walburg Black. She let out a scream of terror as the whole portrait froze, and then a dagger appeared in Loki's hand. He flipped it and went to toss it at the portrait.
"Wait!" Sirius cried. Loki paused, then turned to him, and Sirius held out his hand. Loki grinned and put the dagger in it. Sirius tossed it at the portrait, and the blade struck it dead in the center, causing it to shatter into thousands of pieces, like glass falling to the floor, along with the arrow.
"Well, you don't have to tear down the wall now," Harry said. Then Sirius lost it; he laughed so hard he had to hold on to Loki to stay sanding. He caught his breath, looked at Loki, and grinned.
"That felt good," Sirius said. Just as the bell rang again, Remus strolled forward, unlocked the door, and pulled it open; there were Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snap, who immediately walked into the house. Dumbledore looked at everyone around the entranceway and on the stairs.
"It was nice of you all to come down to greet us, " Dumbledore said, "But might I ask what order members who are here and The Avengers to follow Severus and I to the kitchen? There is something important we must discuss."
And with that, he turned and headed toward the door to the kitchen, with Severus Snape following behind him. Dumbledore paused at the pieces of Walburga's portrait, then looked up at them and smiled.
"I see you've been redecorating."
AN: The Star thing I saw something online that said that, and thought it would be cute if Loki and Sirius teased each other over the star's name. When Thor said that explains a lot, he meant it explains why Sirius is like Loki. I added the part that they had been arguing because I knew Sirius wouldn't like Loki letting Malfoy go ahead with the breakout, plus it shows their not perfect and argue like all others couples do.
The arm wrestling thing was my way of showing how strong Remus is in my story, he just never used his strength before so, it surprising to Remus how strong he is.
I know in the last few chapters nothing has really happened, but there are a couple of things in this chapter I wanted to show, plus something will play a part much later in my story. Hopefully, the next chapter will have some action, if I can get it written right, and Harry will be going back to Hogwarts soon.