AUTHORS NOTES: JUNE 21st 2021

I know, I know, I know. It's been two weeks and I apologize sincerely for that. Exams are crazy and if it helps. I haven't even had time to watch the new Loki show yet. So please no spoilers. But again I am so sorry. It might even be another week or two before I post again. However, once summer starts I will be able to write and upload a lot more.

Once again please follow my Instagram page for this fic, (delaneys . world . of . fanfiction). Hopefully, spacing out the words will help you guys see what the page is. If not, message me and we can figure it out together. On the page, there's bonus content and if you do fanart you can send it to me there. I already have my own personal piece up right now.

Thank you to my Beta Luke, our marvel expert for editing this chapter. Luke who is the Clint Barton to my Natasha Romanoff, The Hillary Whitney Essex to my CC Bloom, The Charles Boyle to my Jack Peralta. (Yes, I will keep adding more every week because Luke HATES it). Also a big thank you to Rhi who fixes all of my fuck ups. Also another massive thank you to my ghost beta ElianaIsabella who edited this chapter so quickly. A big round of applause to all three of them *insert clapping emoji*

Now for questions! If you have any pressing questions or just want to make some observations about the fic, ask any questions and I will try to answer them.

saralinn: I apologize for the cliffhanger. Hopefully, these two weeks haven't been totally unbearable.

CallaRose4ever: Read this chapter then we can talk.

Fatalromance: I hope you had a wonderful vacation unless you are still on it of course. I know I shouldn't have left you guys this long on a cliffhanger but it was needed. Tony already has his hands full with Hermione being a witch and with being Harry Potter's best friend. Boy troubles will definitely be the least of his problems.

Stille und regen: It was a really emotional part to write so I'm glad that that came across. Tony as much as he wants to protect her, Tony knows that he can't control what she does or she will resent him for it. I was thinking the same thing with the fog transportation and stuff. But I think it's a Death Eater thing so the only one who could teach her is Snape. So we'll have to wait a bit for that. Glad you like the Bruce, Tony, and Hermione action because that is definitely a thing in this chapter. To answer your question, yes, we do all hate Odin.

lumosavis135: I actually cried when I read this comment. Thank you so much for the support. It is comments like this that keep me going.

crity2re: I totally agree with you about Loki. This is why we are winning and Luke is not because he's wrong. I AM SO SORRY that I left this on that big of a cliffhanger. I dare say this one might be worse. I love that name and it's a really good idea with tying in Bucky to her name. To answer your question, they didn't piece it together because they were too focused on Loki to think about anything else. If you want to see Tony and Cap hostility then you are going to LOVE this chapter. Finally, on a side note, I really want to thank you for writing such long and thought-provoking comments because it really does help me make character decisions in the future.

sandipi: I honestly love Cap so I hate burning him but this is payback for abandoning Bucky in Endgame. That's honestly why he'll probably be burned a lot over the next couple of chapters.

GS: So Steve isn't a stupid person, he's just honestly confused. He wants to focus on the task at hand so I imagine he wasn't listening too well. As much as Bucky is portrayed to be less intelligent than Steve, I like to believe that he was just as smart if not smarter than Steve. In this instance though, Bucky knows when to shut his mouth and stay out of trouble, something Steve never was able to do. I was also thinking the expect same thing regarding Peter. However, it will be a while still before we introduce Peter. I am thinking after the war.

Pepperonyfan1982: Pepper is currently on the jet in Germany, waiting to take off again towards New York. She didn't know that Tony and Hermione would be staying with SHIELD so she and Happy stayed with the jet awaiting their return. But they'll be taking off for New York very shortly.

I own nothing but the story line. If I owned Marvel or Harry Potter I would've starred in the films. Oh and married Sebastian Stan.

Without further ado, the chapter that you waited two weeks for...

Previously:

"Peggy!?" Steve and Bucky said, in a breathy astonishment.

June 24th, 2012 Aboard the Mobile SHIELD Headquarters (8:27 am)

HERMIONE'S POV

Steve stood up in shock. Everyone looked towards Hermione. They all knew the infamous tales of Peggy Carter and Captain America. But this wasn't Peggy… right?

Bucky remained frozen in place as Steve walked slowly towards Hermione, hesitant with every step as he walked towards the witch. When he was close enough, he reached out with his hand, gently cupping her cheek. Hermione didn't dare protest, knowing it was difficult for Steve. She didn't want to make it worse by reminding him right away that she wasn't Peggy. The man looked down at the girl for an extended minute, hand still resting gently on her cheek, before pulling her into a hug.

They stayed there for a moment before he pulled away and looked at her again. Hermione had tears pooling in her eyes. She felt terrible for Steve and guilty that she looked so much like her grandmother. She wished at that moment that she looked like anyone else. Steve looked at her with hope in his eyes, not daring to speak, fearing that she wasn't Peggy.

It took a while for Steve to say or do anything other than look at her. It must've been minutes before he said, "You aren't really her, are you?"

That's when the tears began to fall from Hermione's cheeks. She reluctantly shook her head. Steve released his hand from her cheek, letting it sadly drop to his side. She didn't know what she hoped for, for Steve's sake she wished she was Peggy. But on the other hand, she was glad that she was different. It was just a confusing situation for everyone.

"Hold on, you know who 'she' is?" Bucky asked, breaking the trance that Steve was in. As much as there were films made about Peggy and Steve, and at one point they were called the greatest love story ever told, it wasn't common knowledge now. The name Margaret "Peggy" Carter was no longer a household name. So how did this teenage girl know who she was?

"Yes, I know who she is. Margaret Carter, right?" Hermione clarified. She didn't want to reveal too much. It was one thing to reveal her face, name, and magic. But to admit she was a Carter was completely different. It wasn't that she was against being known to SHIELD, but for Steve and Bucky's sake. It would be better for them to not know she was a Carter, and that her face was just one giant coincidence.

"Peggy. Peg." Steve clarified softly.

"I know. She'd kill anyone who called her Margaret. It was always Peggy." Hermione responded, not even thinking about what she had just revealed. She was hoping that they hadn't caught on to the fact that she knew Peggy personally.

Everyone else in the look just let this interaction happen. They knew it wasn't their place to get involved. Sure, they had Loki to deal with but they could take 5 minutes to let Steve and Bucky have some peace. Maybe they would get a little more information on how this girl had her powers.

"So you know Peggy?" Bucky asked. 'Guess they caught on to that huh,' Hermione thought to herself.

"I mean, they called her Peggy in the films. It wasn't that hard to assume-" Hermione tried to cover her tracks but Steve wasn't buying it.

"Don't lie to me. You're talking about her like you know her. So how are you connected to Peggy?" Steve asked, putting on his tough-guy facade. Hermione took a deep, shaky breath, she looked at Tony who nodded. She appreciated the support because right now everything would change. SHEILD would know exactly who she was, and they would never be leaving her alone.

With one more shaky breath, Hermione said, "You're right, I know Peggy. Only I would know her as Grandma Peggy."

June 24th, 2012 Aboard the Mobile SHIELD Headquarters (8:27 am) STEVE'S POV

'What is happening, is she really here right now?' Steve thought to himself as he looked at the woman in front of him. It was Peggy, she looked just like she did that last time he saw her. Those familiar eyes and big, brown, curly hair.

B-But it couldn't be. He had just read, her daughter just died, leaving behind a granddaughter. Peggy was too old to look like this. He knew that but he couldn't help but hope that it was her. He slowly walked toward her, as if with every step, he risked her disappearing right from his eyes. Her eyes grew slightly as he raised a hand to her cheek. Her warm, flesh cheek. 'She's real. She's really here."

Steve just stared at her, studying every element of her face. That face that he had longed to see again for so long. There was a sense of relief. He didn't want to think about anything else other than this beautiful woman right in front of him, he just wanted to feel her. More than just holding a hand against her warm cheek. He could help himself, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

Steve just stood there, holding his best girl, praying that he wouldn't wake up from this dream. Better yet, that the last few months in the 21st century were some type of dream.

But Steve knew that the world was not that kind.

He pulled away from 'Peggy', immediately noticing the tears forming in her eyes. That was enough for Steve to remind himself. 'She's gone. Peggy has lived a long, happy life, without you.'

He didn't step away from her, not yet. He left a gentle hand on her cheek, hoping that this might bridge some trust between himself and her. He wanted answers first. Seconds turned to minutes. He didn't take his eyes off of her. Steve searched her face for answers, but only saw her face grow with more and more guilt. He cleared his throat before asking:

"You aren't really her, are you?" Steve begged for the answer to be yes. Yes, she really is Peggy. By some miracle, Peggy had stayed young and was here in front of him. Hermione, he had to take a moment to remember the name that she had given them back in Germany. Hermione shook her head as the tears began to fall down her cheeks. He felt a tear hit his hand before he pulled it away from her cheek.

He could see that the girl blamed herself. It wasn't her fault, not by any means. Steve knew he should never have gotten his hopes up. He never should've fallen into the hope that she would be alive. It wasn't until Bucky spoke that Steve pulled himself out of his depressive cycle.

"Hold on, you know who 'she' is?" Bucky asked, somewhat curiously but also had an interrogative voice. Steve had to admit that he didn't think about that when he first heard the girl's response. He was usually on the ball about this kind of thing. But Hermione...she just threw him for a loop, she was throwing off his game majorly. Before Steve could regain his composure, Hermione responded to his friend's question.

"Yes, I know who she is. Margaret Carter right?" Hermione clarified sternly. Bucky and Steve looked at each other knowingly. She was hiding something. Steve wasn't used to hearing Peggy be referred to as Margaret and before he could register what he was saying he whispered softly,

"Peggy. Peg."

Hermione looked at him with a knowing smile. "I know. She'd kill anyone who called her Margaret. It was always Peggy." She said quickly and without thought. They watched as her eyes went as wide as saucers. Bingo. Steve and Bucky now knew that she didn't only know OF Peggy. She KNEW Peggy.

"So you know Peggy?" Bucky asked before Steve could say anything. Hermione began to formulate an excuse but the two men could see right through her bullshit.

"I mean, they called her Peggy in the films. It wasn't that hard to assume-" Hermione said clearly trying to find an excuse but Steve wasn't buying it. He wanted answers. Who was this girl? They'd seen her do magic before. Is she like Loki? Could she change her appearance on a whim? If she could, was this her true appearance or some form of illusion used to trick them all?

"Don't lie to me. You're talking about her like you know her. So how are you connected to Peggy?" Steve asked, sternly. He used the commanding voice that he had used in the war. It was intimidating, to say the least, but nothing that Hermione hadn't heard before, Steve didn't know that, however.

Steve saw Hermione look towards her father, almost looking for permission. Tony nodded and Hermione looked down towards the floor, taking a moment before saying:

"You're right, I know Peggy. Only I would know her as Grandma Peggy."

'Well, shit.' Steve thought.

June 24th, 2012 Aboard the Mobile SHIELD Headquarters (8:27 am) BUCKY'S POV

'Holy shit.' Was all Bucky could think once 'Hermione' had removed her mask and he had seen her face, his world had come crashing down. He had been flirting with Peggy, his best friend's girl, or at least someone who had her face.

Bucky watched as Steve put a hand on her face before pulling her into a hug. The silver-armed soldier had never wanted to be Steve before that moment but now he couldn't wish for anything more now. There was something about this amazing woman that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Bucky was happy for Steve, really he was. He had his best girl back...maybe. It's not like he really knew this girl and if it brought a smile to his best friend's face again. It's not like Steve would ever have to know that he found this girl to be the most amazing person he had met since entering this new era. Not that, that bar was high considering he and Steve locked themselves away into SHEILD's facilities.

He watched as Steve asked, "You aren't really her. Are you?"

Bucky saw Steve's face drop in utter disappointment as Hermione shook her head. Confirming that she in fact was not Peggy. Which begs the question, who the hell is this girl? That is when Bucky remembered that not many people would know who Peggy Carter is anymore. I mean sure she's Howard Stark's granddaughter, so they may have met at some point. But for Hermione to know that she looked exactly like her, is a different thing entirely.

"Hold on, you know who 'she' is?" Bucky asked, hoping that it would break his friend out of his haze. He needed Steve to focus on the task at hand. Loki and finding out who the hell Hermione was to Peggy. How the hell did she know Peggy?

"Yes, I know who she is. Margaret Carter right?" Hermione responded, finally looking him in the eyes. Giving him a full view of her face. Wow, did she ever look like Peggy. But as he studied her face more he could notice the more subtle differences between Hermione and Peggy. I mean he had to watch Steve stare at that picture of Peggy that he had in his compass all the time, so he was able to see the subtle differences.

Hermione had a slightly sharper jaw than Peggy, her eyes were rounder and bigger. Peggy's hair was always pinned up, prim and proper, with soft, big curls at the ends of her hair. Hermione was the complete opposite. Her hair was big and wild, uncontrollable, with smaller ringlets that framed her face. Hermione's lips were fuller than Peggy's and her nose was smaller.

They were subtle but they were differences. He understood how Steve could only see Peggy but Bucky could never look at Hermione and see her. Hermione isn't Peggy. Hermione is a completely different type of person.

"Peggy. Peg." Bucky heard Steve clarify. Bucky knew Steve that it would take a while for Steve to be able to look at Hermione and not see Peggy.

"I know. She'd kill anyone who called her Margaret. It was always Peggy." Hermione responded that interested Bucky. Sure Peggy was a common nickname for Margaret, but to know that someone hated their given name is a different thing. He watched as Hermione's eyes went wide at what she had just said. 'She knows Peggy,' Bucky realized, he decided to press further. Just how does she know Peggy?

"So you know Peggy?" Bucky asked, pushing further for more answers. He could see Hermione thinking hard about how she should answer the question. What could she possibly be hiding from them?

"I mean, they called her Peggy in the films. It wasn't that hard to assume-" Hermione said trying to lie, but doing a very poor job of it. Anyone in the room could sense the lies she was telling. But Bucky could tell that her attempt at a lie really bothered Steve.

"Don't lie to me. You're talking about her like you know her. So how are you connected to Peggy?" Steve asked using his tough guy's voice. Whenever Bucky heard him use that voice it made him want to laugh, to him, Steve was still the little guy in Brooklyn who never backed down from a fight. Not this massive intimidating man that the super serum created.

Bucky looked towards Hermione, trying to get a clue as to what she would do next. He watched as Hermione looked towards her father, looking for permission. Tony nodded his head in confirmation. She looked towards the ground, not daring to look at anybody. It had been a while before Bucky heard her take a shaky breath, looking up to meet his and Steve's before saying:

"You're right, I know Peggy. Only I would know her as Grandma Peggy."

'Holy fuck.' Bucky thought.

June 24th, 2012 Aboard the Mobile SHIELD Headquarters (8:34 am)

"Agent Peggy Carter is your grandmother? As in the women who helped build SHIELD from the ground up?" Agent Romanoff asked curiously. Hermione blushed at the attention from the redhead. She nodded with a small smile "I mean given your face that doesn't seem too surprising. Welcome to SHIELD."

"To have Howard Stark and Margaret Carter for grandparents...it's no wonder you're a genius." Dr. Banner commented.

"I wouldn't say I was a genius. Smart for sure. But you and Tony are the geniuses, Dr. Banner." Hermione retorted. She knew she was a genius, she just didn't want to agree and look like a show-off. Tony snored at her response knowing that wasn't true.

"If I was half as smart as I seemed, I wouldn't turn into a big green monster who destroys everything when I get angry." Dr. Banner said, bring up data from a hologram in front of him.

"Hey, that happens to be the thing I like most about you," Tony commented gleefully.

"Thanks," Bruce said sarcastically.

Suddenly a large man walked into the room He was over half a foot taller than Hermione, and appeared thick with muscle under his black trench coat. He wore a black turtleneck, a black belt holding his black cargo pants, and strappy black military-style boots. He had a black leather gun holster strapped to his right thigh. His dark skin was scarred around an eye patch covering his left eye, and his chocolate brown-coloured right eyes held a strong look of authority.

"Dr. Banner is only here to track the cube. I was hoping you might join him, Stark." He said in a commanding voice. "And I guess Miss. Carter here will be able to help since she inherited the Stark genius."

"Granger," Hermione said sternly. Fury turned around to look at her for the first time.

"I beg your pardon?" He clarified. No one talked back to Nick Fury. It was an unspoken rule. Who did this girl think she was?

"It's Granger. Not Carter." Hermione said to him, sending a threatening gaze.

"In this facility, you're a Carter, or in your case a Stark-Carter." Fury said, getting in the last word, or so he thought.

"I have no problem with the name. But I buried my parents, the Grangers, less than 24 hours ago. You can bet your sweet arse that I will not be dishonoring their memories when they aren't even cold in their graves. You will refer to me as Granger if anything at all. Do I make myself clear?" Hermione spat coldly at the director. Her hair was floating around her, sparking with power. "Or we both know I can apparate or teleport as you would know it, right out of here. I'll bring my father with me and something tells me you can't afford to lose another team member, let alone two."

Fury looked her down, daring to call her bluff, before agreeing. "Alright. Granger it is. Banner knows where the lab is, he'll get you all set up and up to speed."

"Let's start with that stick of his. It may be magical but it works an awful lot like a HYDRA weapon." Steve suggested. Hermione was surprised that he brought up HYDRA so casually. She would've thought that he would avoid that subject like Bucky had.

"I don't know about that, but it is powered by the Cube." Fury said. "And I would like to know how used it to turn two of the sharpest men I know into his personal flying monkeys."

"Monkeys? I do not understand." Thor said confused, Hermione and Tony chuckled slightly at the confusion.

"I do." Bucky and Steve said at the same time. Tony and Hermione rolled

"I-We understood that reference," Steve explained.

"Shall we play, Doctor?" Tony asked Dr. Banner while gesturing for Hermione to join them in the lab.

"This way sir, madame," Bruce said to the father-daughter pair as they headed to the lab.

June 24th, 2012 Aboard the Mobile SHIELD Headquarters (8:42 am) Banner's Lab

"The gamma readings are definitely consistent with Selvig's reports of the Tesseract," Bruce said while trying to detect anything else with the Tesseract. "But it's going to take weeks to process."

"If we bypass the mainframe and direct route to the Homer cluster, we can clock this at around 600 teraflops," Tony said, coding casually on a tablet.

Hermione stood in the lab awkwardly. She knew how to use a computer, hack, and code. But SHIELD's tech was more advanced than she had ever seen or used before. She needed some practice but now was not the time for practice. Then again a lot of this was equipment that Tony had provided to SHIELD.

"You know you should come by Stark Towers sometime, once Hermione's all settled in of course," Tony said looking to his daughter smiling. "Anyways, the top 10 floors are all R&D. You'll love it. It's like Candy Land."

"Thanks but last time I was in New York I kinda broke...Harlem." Bruce explained awkwardly.

"Well, I promise a stress-free environment. No tension, no surprises..." Tony pitches as he playfully jabbed a screwdriver into Banner's back.

"Ow!" Bruce said, Hermione looked towards him pulling out her wand, preparing for the worst.

"Are you nuts?" Steve asked Tony. Hermione knew that Tony would fight back with Steve regarding orders. Tony did not do well-taking orders or instructions. She hadn't known him long but that she knew for sure.

"You really have got a lid on it, haven't you? What's your secret?" Tony asked Bruce with genuine curiosity. "Mellow jazz, bongo drums, a huge bag of weed?" Bruce laughed at Tony's guesses

"Is everything a joke to you?" Steve said, said irritated.

"Captain Rogers-" Hermione tried to interrupt, Steve turned to her, meeting her eyes for only a moment before looking away. But at that moment she saw into his soul. She'd use his military title, just like Peggy used to. He must've thought Hermione was her.

"Funny things are."

"Threatening the safety of everyone on this ship isn't funny," Steve said seriously. Hermione snorted at that. Steve and Bucky turned to her, curious as to what was funny about that statement. "You disagree?"

"The Hulk wouldn't get away two feet without me stopping him," Hermione said, twirling her wand in her hand. "I can think of about 10 different spells that could stop him and that's just off the top of my head."

"I think you underestimate the other guy," Bruce told her. Hermione turned around to face him, smirking.

"Wanna bet?" She asked, excited for a challenge.

"I don't think you three should be betting anything," Bucky said, agreeing with Steve while gesturing to Tony, Bruce, and Hermione.

"No offense Doc," Steve added, not wanting to insult the doctor. He seemed like a good guy with a relatively large anger issue.

"It's all right, I wouldn't have come aboard if I couldn't handle pointy things," Bruce reassured the men. Hermione walked over to the staff, wand in hand.

"Do you mind if I-" Hermione started, gesturing towards the staff, light emanating from her wand.

"No, not a problem," Bruce said, moving out of the way, allowing the witch to have more space. Hermione immediately began tracing the magical signature of the staff. It was unlike any magic she had ever seen before.

"Are we going to be able to ask you about-" Steve stopped and gestured to the wand in her hand. "All that? Anytime soon?"

"Go ahead Captain, I have nothing to hide," Hermione said, not looking up from her wand or the staff.

"Please call me Steve." The captain asked politely, Hermione looked up, met his eyes and nodded, before going back to her examination. She knew that this was hard for him, for him to see her grandmother's face, knowing it isn't her.

"I actually have a few questions myself," Bruce added, Hermione sighed, putting her wand away.

"Go ahead," Hermione said, leaning casually against one of the many windows behind her. She was anxiously awaiting the influx of questions.

"What are you?" Steve asked her curiously. "And how did you get your...abilities?"

"What are you? That's kind of a general question don't you think?" Hermione answered with a teasing smile. "Pray tell, what do you think I am?"

"You know what I mean," Steve said, tired of the jokes.

"Do I?" Hermione said still trying to lighten the mood, Steve however clearly wanted to get to the point. Hermione, not wanting to hurt Steve or anyone more than she already had, decided to stop playing. "I'm a witch."

"A witch?" Bucky clarified, "Like flying broom, green skin, pointy hat, flying monkeys kinda witch?"

Hermione snorted at the reference, "Do I look like the wicked witch of the west to you?"

Hermione looked at him knowingly, he and her had had their little 'moment' on the plane ride here. He clearly didn't see her as some ugly witch. Bucky flushed in embarrassment, before blushing softly. He looked at her up and down, like he was going to answer her question. But wanted to come up with an appropriate answer, considering her father was in the room.

"But how did you get your abilities?" Bruce asked, breaking the eye contact between Hermione and Bucky. Hermione turned toward Dr. Banner to explain,

"I was born with them," Hermione said simply. Unless asked, she had no intention of exposing the fact that there were other witches and wizards out there.

"A genetic defect?" Bruce asked, clearly trying to work out how on earth a regular human being could have magical abilities. "Or was it inherited?"

"Well, you've met Tony, he built a suit so that he could be a hero. He wouldn't have gone through the trouble if he had my abilities. My mother was also completely ordinary, with no powers, she was quite surprised when mine were discovered." Hermione said simply.

"So how is it possible that-" Bruce began to ask but Hermione quickly silenced him.

"To be honest no one really knows. However, I do have my theories." Hermione said. She didn't elaborate. In order to explain her theory, she would have to expose muggle-borns, half-bloods, and purebloods. In turn, explaining and exposing the entire wizarding world. The rest of them got the hint, she wasn't willing to say anything else on the subject, much to Bruce's annoyance. Bucky was about to ask another question when Steve interjected.

"Maybe we should be focusing on the problem," Steve said sternly. It was evident that he didn't want to talk anymore to or about Hermione. She knew that he probably resented her right about now. She was the spitting image of the one thing he could not have.

"Do you think we're not?" Tony said, challenging Steve. "She's the only reason that we are all still here right now. My daughter saved us. Not me, not you, not your little metal-armed friend. Her. You guys are the ones who wanted information about her skills."

Hermione was touched that Tony cared so much. She was touched that he would challenge one of his father's friends, maybe one of the only people who can connect him to his father. She didn't blame Steve for not liking her, given the circumstances Hermione wouldn't like herself either. But she really thought that Steve Rogers would be more professional than this, not letting something like this get in the way of a mission. Especially one as important and dangerous as Loki.

"If she would give us information. She's given us nothing but a name for her abilities and we have bigger fish to fry. So if she isn't going to give us any information, we need to get back to the task at hand." Steve retorted. As much as Bucky cared about his friend, he knew that Steve was being biased. He resented Hermione because she looked like Peggy and it wasn't right.

"Okay, how about these questions for you," Tony said, challenging Steve once again. "Why did Fury call us in? Why now? Why not before? What isn't he telling us? I can't do the equation unless I have all the variables."

"You think Fury's hiding something." Steve clarified.

"He's a spy. Captain, he's "the" spy. His secrets have secrets. It's bugging him too," Tony said, gesturing to Bruce. "Isn't it?"

"Ummm…" Bruce started, not really wanting to answer. He didn't like getting involved in conflict, so usually, he doesn't. But being in the middle of a Tony Stark and Steve Rogers argument, that would be impossible. But he could try. "I just want to finish my work here and…"

"Doctor?" Steve asked, prying for an answer. Bruce removed his glasses from his face before answering,

"'A warm light for all mankind.'" Bruce quoted. "Loki's jab at Fury about the Cube."

"I heard it." Steve said, curious as to where Banner was going with this.

"I think that was meant for you two," Bruce said, pointing to Hermione and Tony. "Even if Barton didn't tell Loki about the tower, it was still all over the news."

"The Stark Tower?" Bucky asked.

"You mean that big, ugly-" Steve began to say before Tony gave him a 'you better quit while you're ahead' look. "Building in New York."

"It's powered by an arc reactor, a self-sustaining energy source," Hermione answered, joining in.

"That building will run itself for, what, a year?" Bruce asked.

"It's just a prototype," Tony said, Bruce and Hermione were still impressed with the prototype. No one else noticed the two soldiers' confused looks but Tony. He turned to Steve and Bucky. "I'm kind of the only name in clean energy right now. That's what he's getting at."

"So, why didn't SHIELD bring him in on the Tesseract project?" Bruce pointed out to Steve and Bucky. "What are they doing in the energy business in the first place?"

"I should probably look into that once my decryption program finishes breaking into all of SHIELD's secure files," Tony said, checking the progress on a tablet.

"I'm sorry, did you just say…" Steve started concerned over the fact that Tony was breaking into one of the most secure digital security programs in the world.

"Decryption program?" Hermione asked excitedly, normally she was a rule follower but SHIELD files had EVERYTHING on them. The information is invaluable. Besides, it would be really cool if Tony could show her the decryption system, it was probably more advanced tech than anything she'd ever had access to.

"Yeah come over and I'll show you how I programmed it." Tony said with a smile, clearly sensing her excitement. Hermione practically ran over, she looked over Tony's shoulder as he began explaining the programing. It was heartfelt, to say the least, but everyone else was a little more focused on the fact that Tony was practically stealing files from every form of world government.

"-Anyways, JARVIS has been running it since I hit the bridge. In a few hours, I'll know every little dirty secret SHIELD has ever tried to hide." Tony explained, Hermione was elated. Sure what he was doing was super illegal but who cares.

"Yet you're confused about why they didn't want you around." Bucky joked, Steve was beside him looking as annoyed as ever with Tony's antics.

"I think Loki's trying to wind us up. This is a man who means to start a war, and if we don't focus he'll succeed." Steve said once again using his commanding voice. "We have orders. We should follow them.

'This is what turned my grandmother on? Seriously? What did she see in this guy' Hermione couldn't hold back her laughter to her own thoughts. Everyone looked at her curiously which only made her double over in laughter.

"Is there something funny about all of this?" Steve asked seriously. Hermione tried to calm herself down before responding.

"God, no I'm sorry I was just thinking about something, and…" Hermione said breathlessly while silently beginning to laugh again.

"Something you want to share with the class?" Bucky asked her, raising an eyebrow at her laughter.

"Believe me, you don't want to know," Hermione said simply, taking this opportunity to walk back toward the staff and examine it further.

"Well, now I'm curious too Mya," Tony said teasingly, leaning against the desk.

"Mya? What kind of a nickname-" Hermione started to talk but Tony interrupted her.

"Don't go off-topic," Tony said, fiddling with some tools. "Now what is so funny."

"You don't want to know." Hermione repeated.

"I think we do." Bucky said, also now leaning against the table like Tony. Hermione looked up from the staff and saw Bucky looking at her giving her a flirtatious wink. She blushed and quickly looked back at the staff, running more diagnostics.

"Bruce this thing is radiating energy, unlike anything I've ever seen before, magic or human," Hermione said, trying desperately to change the subject. However, Bucky was not going to let it go.

"But what about-" Bucky was swiftly interrupted by Hermione.

"As Steve said, we should focus on Loki. Besides, SHIELD is hiding something and I don't know about you, but I want to find out." Hermione said.

"Fury wouldn't-" Steve began to argue.

"Fury would." Tony interrupted, stating his opinion quite clearly.

"Steve, tell me none of this smells a little funky to you." Bruce pointed out, wanted for the soldier to be on their side.

"Just find the Cube." Steve left to room, with Bucky following not far behind. Tony waited before he left to speak.

"That's the guy my dad never shut up about?" Tony asked himself.

"That's the guy my grandmother never got over, I mean how the hell did she fall in love with that guy. He's such a-" Hermione said not being able to come up with a word to describe him.

"Arrogant prick?" Tony suggested, Hermione smiled as she finally came up with a word.

"I was going to go with a foul, lonesome, egotistic, little cockroach." Hermione smiled at the nickname that she had given Draco Malfoy just a few years prior. She had changed it a bit to fit the Captain a little better.

"I'm wondering if they should have kept him on ice," Tony suggested

"The guy's not wrong about Loki. He does have the jump on us." Bruce pointed out, looking more intensely at the readings of the staff

"What he's got is an ACME dynamite kit. It's going to blow up in his face." Tony responded, "And I'm going to be there when it does."

"Yeah, I'll read all about it." Bruce said with a smile.

"Uh-Huh or you'll be suiting up with the rest of us," Tony suggested, then he turned to Hermione. "Maybe you too."

"Really?" Hermione asked, surprised. She thought for sure that Tony would be against the very idea of her being a hero.

"Sure, as long as you're trained properly and don't take on anything too difficult," Tony said simply.

"Will you be joining us on the hero's journey than Dr. Banner?" Hermione asked happily.

"You see, I don't get a suit of armor. I'm exposed. Like a nerve. It's a nightmare." Bruce replied with a twinge of sadness.

"I've got a cluster of shrapnel trying every second to crawl its way into my heart," Tony said, trying to make Bruce feel slightly better about his situation. He pointed to his arc reactor. "This stops it. This little circle of light, it's a part of me now, not just armor. It's a terrible privilege."

"Am I the only normal one here?" Hermione asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"If my memory is correct you aren't exactly normal. Witch, remember?" Bruce retorted.

"Touche." The young witch agreed.

"You can control it though," Bruce argued to Tony. Then he turned to Hermione, "So can you."

"Because I learned how."

"Because I was taught to." Hermione said at the same time as Tony.

"It's different." Bruce said.

"Is it?" Hermione argued. "I didn't know what I was until I was 11. Before that my magic was uncontrollable. Any sort of extreme emotion, happiness, anger, fear and something crazy would happen. I've broken televisions, lightbulbs, and made things float. I had to be taught how to control it."

"Okay so you and I are similar, but you and I both aren't exactly human. It's different for Tony." Bruce agreed.

"I'm not disagreeing with you," Hermione said simply.

"I don't think I like the two of you ganging up on me," Tony joked, but was also half-serious at the same time. "But hey Banner, I read all about your accident. That much Gamma exposure should've killed you."

"So you're saying that the Hulk...the other guy saved my life?" Bruce asked, "That's nice. It's a nice sentiment. Saved it for what?"

"I guess we'll find out," Tony replied.

"You may not enjoy that," Bruce told them.

"And you just might," Tony replied with a smirk.

June 24th, 2012 Aboard the Mobile SHIELD Headquarters (9:08 am) Banner's Lab

It was a while before anyone interrupted them. They worked silent and in sync. 3 super geniuses in one room. Who knows what could be accomplished. It wasn't until Nick Fury, Agent Romanoff and Agent Coulson walked in that the group had even looked up from their work.

"We are ready to question Loki." Fury stated simply.

"Then why isn't Coulson or Romanoff in there doing their thing?" Tony asked.

"We have hit a bit of a problem." Fury told him.

"Loki is only willing to speak with her." Agent Coulson said, pointing at Hermione.

"Absolutely not," Tony said firmly.

"Tony…" Hermione tried to argue.

"No," Tony said. "I just got you, I am not losing you again."

"It's an interrogation and he's in a cage, nothing is going to happen," Hermione said, trying to convince her father that she was going to be okay. Thought maybe this was going to give him a taste of his own medicine. She was worried sick during the attack on Germany so now maybe he'll understand just how worried she was. "Please. You said you trust me to be a hero...how is this any different?"

"I was talking about bank robberies and escaped convicts. Not Norse Gods." Tony argued back.

"I already saved you, two super-soldiers, and a trained assassin from this Norse God. That was without a cage, and he had a weapon. I will be fine. Please let me help." Hermione begged. She wanted to help them. Then when this was all over she could go to New York and build her new home. Tony contemplated this for a second, sighing in defeat, before turning to Fury.

"Anything happens to her, you won't live to see the sunset," Tony said to the tall man. Hermione squealed and gave Tony a huge hug.

"Thank you, Tony," Hermione said, releasing him from the hug. Tony went to reply but was interrupted by Natasha.

"We need to prep you for the interrogation." Agent Romanoff said sternly. Hermione couldn't blame her, her friend was under Loki's curse. She just wanted to get this over with and get her friend back. Hermione would be the same way if it was Ron or Harry.

After a brief preparation, Hermione was ready. It wasn't too hard to learn how to interrogate a person. Besides, Natasha was an amazing teacher. Maybe when this was all over, they could be friends. Now that she knew what to do, it was time to talk to a god.

'Wow if you'd told me I'd be talking to a Norse God twice in 72 hours. I would've said you were barmy.' Hermione thought to herself with a smile.

Hermione walked into the room very quietly. She could see Loki pacing with an unreadable expression. She approached the cage one step at a time. On her third step towards him, he stopped. Before turning to face her with a smirk on his face. Hermione refused to meet his eyes, not yet.

"There's not many people who can sneak up on me," Loki said with a smirk that would beat Draco Malfoy's.

"That was always half the fun with you and I," Hermione said looking up to meet his eyes. "Hello, Uncle Tom."

I really hope that this chapter and hope that it makes up for the 2-week wait. I am sorry for the cliffhanger but I have to do something to make you guys stick around.

Ok for last week's poll question, I won which means the score is now:

Delaney-4

Luke-1

This week's poll question is, Was Endgame a good movie to end phase 4 of marvel? In Luke's opinion, it was a meh kind of movie. As for me, I believe that it was a really good way to end phase 4. Other than the fact that Steve abandoned Bucky and Natasha died. Anyways leave your opinions in the comments. Rhi as always has no opinion on the subject

Okay so I know that I said last week was the last week to submit for Hermione's Avenger's name, but I'm going to extend it until the next chapter. Please leave any names down below. No matter how good or stupid you think the idea is, please suggest it because no idea is a bad idea.

Alright, that's all for me this week, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Finally, I just want to thank you all so much for reading and for giving me all the support. It is what keeps me going. See you all next week!

-Delaney