Chapter 21- Professor Loki
"I can't believe it! I just can't!" said Hermione.
"Keep your voice down!" hissed Harry. He had told Ron and Hermione what had happened last night. They were on their way to their defense against the dark arts class.
"It all makes sense! That's why Snape had us learning about - you know," she said.
"Do you think Snape will be teaching today's class?" asked Ron regrettably.
"I hope not … by the way," said Harry stopping at a corner of the castle between two large columns. Harry looked around carefully before answering. The hallways were busy but he didn't think anyone would really hear or have any real knowledge on what he was about to say.
"What is it Harry?" probed Hermione.
"You were right … about Mr. Laufeyson," he said finally.
"What?" she asked quickly.
"His name is Loki," whispered Harry.
"And how do you know this?" asked Hermione.
"I saw it on the Marauders' Map … that's why I went out last night," said Harry.
"You're not actually suggesting that he's one of those people in Hermione's book, are you? It's fiction," asked Ron doubtfully.
"I asked him about it," said Harry.
"You what?" demanded Hermione.
"Well … he didn't deny it," said Harry. Ron and Hermione exchanged worried looks.
"He could be lying. I mean … he is a bit-" said Ron twirling a finger near his head. The hallways became less and less full with the students as the went to their classrooms.
"Come on, we can talk about this later. We are going to be late for class," said Hermione. They rounded the corner and entered the defense against the dark arts classroom. Hermione gasped when she thought she saw their infamous potions master teaching the class again. Sporting a black professor's robe, Loki stood at the front of the classroom with the windows open and the desks pushed aside. Harry noticed he looked cleaned up compared to last night, only a few scratches lingered on his face. Lupin was no where to be seen.
"Thank goodness … I thought that was Professor Snape at first," said Neville next to them.
"At first so did I," whispered Hermione.
"Is this really better?" whined Ron.
The Trickster usually loved the attention of a good crowd, but for the first time in a long time, he was nervous.
"Morning … class," he said awkwardly.
"Morning," said the class.
"I will be teaching defense against the dark arts today," he said walking towards the group of students.
"I thought Professor Snape was suppose to replace Lupin when he wasn't feeling up to the task, not his lesser look a like," snarked an overconfident Malfoy. Most of the students glanced over in Draco's direction. Some of the Slytherins snickered. Loki narrowed his eyes at Draco, and threw him a petty smile. He really hated that boy. Harry shared his sentiments. Loki took out his fake wand and swished it quickly, transforming Draco's scarf into a slimy eel. He screamed and threw it towards the trio. Loki flicked his fake wand again, making the eel change back into the scarf, breaking the illusion. It fluttered to the ground with ease. The whole class awed in wonder.
"Thank you for being by guinea pig, Mr. Malfoy," said Loki, "Now then, today we will be learning about illusion projection and duplication casting. Can anyone tell me which one I just performed?" he asked the class. The class remained still.
"No one?" he asked glancing in Hermione's direction.
"Hermione, aren't you going to answer?" whispered Ron.
"I … I don't know what those are," she admitted.
"What?" said Ron in disbelief.
"Anyone, take a guess. It's either one of the two," he said pacing the classroom. Finally, Harry answered remembering some of Loki's usual talents from last night.
"Illusion projection?"
"Correct! And can anyone tell me the difference between illusion projection and duplication casting?" he asked the class, but looked toward Hermione again. She grew frustrated at not knowing the answer, but given the opportunity.
"You sure you don't know? It wasn't in that book of yours?" whispered Ron honestly.
"No! I don't know Ronald!" she hissed.
"Finally the mudblood shuts up," Malfoy snarked under his breath, but Harry, Ron and Hermione heard, especially Hermione. She glared at him sharply with watery eyes and a clenched jaw. It did not go unnoticed. Loki cast a spell without them looking, projecting another illusion of himself right behind Malfoy. It tapped him on the shoulder, making him scream again. Draco whipped his head around to see the original Loki grinning proudly, to the new one smiling maliciously. The class gasped.
"Illusion projection is depicting a detailed image outside oneself which is perceptible in the external world" he said walking forward, looming over him, forcing him to walk backwards into another conjured illusion of himself. Malfoy squealed again.
"Bloody hell!" said Ron.
"While duplication casting means creating an exact facsimile of one's own body in its present circumstance... a true holographic mirror of its molecular structure," his new self continued pointing to his original self, "But uh, you already knew that," he finished with a petty grin. Draco took several steps away from the Lokis.
"Wicked!" said Neville. Harry turned towards Ron whose mouth was wide open.
"You think he's fiction now?" he whispered to him. The God of Mischief made his illusions disappear.
"Let's focus on illusion project for now, shall we," said Loki. The frustrated water in Hermione's eyes turned to admiration for Loki's intelligence.
He walked around the room showing the students how to project an image. He didn't think it would be that difficult, but his magic was different than theirs. The use of a wand to preform magic befuddled him let alone saying a word for every spell, which seemed exhausting. He held a bit more adulation and curiosity for Hermione, knowing how much knowledge she kept in that head of hers, but she was having trouble with this spell which surprised him. She called him over for more help.
"Professor … I don't understand … you just think of something and project it?" she asked clearly frustrated.
"Yes, more or less," he said.
"But, there's no spell? No word to say or think of?" she asked exasperated. He noticed the more she didn't know something the messier her hair got which made him laugh.
"I don't quite understand this either Professor Sn-" began Neville, but he caught himself. Loki glared at him unamused.
"I'm sorry Sir, the black robes don't help much," Neville apologized. Loki rolled his eyes and with a shrug of his shoulders transformed the robes to his usual TVA attire. He gave Neville a slow turn. Hermione saw the strange, orange word on the back of his tan jacket again: VARIANT.
"Whoa," said Neville at his transition.
"Better?" Loki asked popping his collar.
"Much," said Neville smiling.
"Sir … why does your jacket have that word on the back?" Hermione asked carefully. Loki had gotten so use to it, he nearly forgot about that stupid label.
"It's uh … not important, just a bad joke … anyway," he said returning to the lesson. He thought for a moment. When his mother taught him this magic, she would help him harness it through visualization. He would copy an object she would give him, but they never used words. The thought made him sad.
"Professor?" asked Harry snapping him out of the memory. He projected an apple in his hand and floated it towards the group of students.
"I want you to copy that, envision it, memorize its details," he began. Hermione could do that. He ran a hand through the illusion, show them that it was not real. "Remember, this is just an illusion projection, not the real thing. Now, I want you to … use your wands … and say … uhh… 'lage en visjon'" he said copying their random ritual. The last few words came out in a different accent.
"Say what?" asked Ron confused.
"You want a word for your spell, don't you?" he said nonchalantly. Hermione looked at him funny. Loki put his hands in his pockets.
"Can you say it again? It … sounded strange," said Neville trying not to be offensive. The Asgardian rolled his eyes again.
"Lage en visjon" he repeated. The word still sounded foreign. Only the students noticed. Harry concentrated on the floating apple, memorizing its details while also remembering all the item's he saw Loki conjure, project, and duplicate. He had to be the same person in Hermione's book. He let the feeling give him strength, and flicked his wand.
"Lage en visjon!" he announced with determination and a second apple appeared in front of him. Loki raised both eyebrows. He was not sure if that would actually work. It was a perfect replica of Loki's. Hermione gasped.
"Wicked Harry!" said an excited Ron. Loki ran his hand through it, making sure it was an actual projection.
"Yes, well done," he said.
"How'd you do that?" demanded Hermione. Harry was smiling proudly.
"I dunno, I just did what Professor Loki told me to-" said Harry, realizing his slip up. The trickster narrowed his gaze at him.
"Loki? You mean Laufeyson?" asked Neville nearly laughing. Ron and Hermione stared fearfully at Harry. Loki could sense the tension amongst them, remembering Harry's line of questioning and quest for him the other night.
"Yes … that's my name," said the Asgardian with a suspicious gaze.
"Really? Loki Laufeyson?" asked Neville more seriously.
"Something wrong with it?" he demanded crossing his arms. Neville shook his head.
"No, it's just much easier to say than Laufeyson," said Neville kindly. Loki returned his glare to Harry who gulped.
"Hmm, you three," he said referring to Ron, Harry, and Hermione, "see me after class … in the meantime …keep practicing." Loki walked away to help the other students.
"What was that about?" asked Neville.