On Punching Gods and Absentee Dads
Enigmaris
Chapter 25: Loki: 1, Albus: 0
Summary:
The Order arrives a bit too late to the action in New York, and Loki finally makes his debut to the Order.
Notes:
Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all the brilliant comments last week! I enjoyed reading them!
I'm leaving for a field trip tomorrow and I won't get back until Sunday. I should be able to update normally next wednesday but in the event of like...exhaustion or some other unforeseen circumstance, I might update a day late on thursday instead. I swear there will be an update next week though!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Voldemort's attack had been quick and well planned. That much Loki could admit. Squadrons of Death Eaters had arrived spells blasting from their wands in five different sectors of the Manhattan Magical Section, commonly known among the locals as Downtown. Thankfully Loki, with the help of Stark, Sirius, and Remus had been able to properly guess which sectors would be attacked.
They'd forgotten the administration building.
It was the most heavily warded place in the state of New York. The very idea of Voldemort, or anyone, doing a frontal assault on that building had been ludicrous. Secretly Loki had been pleased when Harry had volunteered to go there. It would probably be safer for him if he was near such a bastion of security.
Of course, he'd been wrong on all counts on that. Loki had barely been able to fight through the crowds and get to his son before it was too late. Loki had been careful fighting Voldemort, to a point. He was aware that he couldn't kill Voldemort, trying to usurp the prophecy would not end well for him and he refused to die in front of his son.
But the prophecy never said anything about someone else maiming the Dark Lord. Perhaps Loki could just start removing limbs and skin, nothing fatal, but certainly painful. He'd learnt plenty of torturing techniques from his time under Thanos' care and honestly who better to share that knowledge with than the monster who'd murdered his wife? Sirius and Remus had been right behind him, wands blazing with the promise of revenge and justice.
Loki managed to hit the snake eyed monster with a few delightful hexes that would leave the monster in pain for weeks, as well as a jinx that ensured every 51st step he took would result in him tripping face first into the ground. Not to mention the curse he'd specially designed that would give the monster a blistering headache anytime he thought about Harry. Turn about was fair play after all. Sirius and Remus had also gotten in their own shots while firing at the Dark Lord from behind, something Loki thoroughly approved of.
Loki was only sad that Voldemort had fled before Thor could give the man a traditional Asgardian war greeting. Thor looked equally as disappointed as the barbarian like rage drained from his features, the storm in the sky calming to something far more manageable. In the distance, he saw Ron and Hermione rushing towards his son and Loki felt the swell of victory in his chest turn to ice.
"Move." Loki ordered right after he teleported to Ron's side.
"He just went out." Ron said. "He tried to talk to me but he couldn't."
His son's limbs were filled with tremors, and even unconscious his face was filled with pain. And also covered with blood. Loki reached out, ever so careful and let his hands began to glow. He wasn't a trained healer, but over the centuries of doing inadvisable things with Thor, he'd picked up enough that he could do what needed to be done here.
"Is he okay?" Thor asked.
"He will be." Loki said before he even knew the true extent of the damage. His son would be nothing but okay, there was no alternative. "Sirius! Go back to the tower and get the potions kit. Remus with me."
"Got it Prongs." Sirius said at the same time that Remus knelt down on Harry's other side.
"What do you need?"
"Monitor him for me, let me know if he wakes up or if his vitals change?" Loki requested. "Asgardian healing methods can be a bit rough on the body."
"I thought he saw the Asgardian healers when you saved Padfoot?"
"He did but they limited themselves to human methods, but with the amount of damage from the cruciatus, I need a bit more fire power." Remus nodded and used his wand to cast a monitoring charm on Harry.
"Is there anything we can do?" Hermione asked, her voice nervous and unsure as if she hadn't been one of the most terrifying things Loki had seen today. Seriously, that fifteen year old girl had shown about as much hesitation in a fight that Natasha did, which is to say none whatsoever. The only difference being was that she had the mind of Tony Stark. A combination that Loki could have never foreseen.
"Lady Hermione." Thor said. "You are a grand and frightening warrior like myself. The best thing we can do now is give space to those who are trained in this."
"Oh. I knew I should have started studying healing spells."
"We'll learn 'em together." Ron said, giving Hermione's armored shoulder a pat. Ron hadn't been anything to laugh at either. While his range of spells was not as broad as Hermione's he had more magical power than she did and his wand form was excellent.
Loki's hand glowed bright green, flames licking out of his palms and he reached out for his son's left hand. He began to murmur spells, ordering the damaged and destroyed nerves to repair themselves, in a language none of them knew. An ancient language that had been written and forgotten long before even Odin was born. A language that only magic users with too much time on their hands ever bothered to learn. His magic seeped into his son, green power seeking out damage and forcing it back to rights.
The amount of damage to his son's nervous system was severe and extensive. Voldemort had held the cruciatus for far longer than any normal human would have survived under. His son's godly heritage had given him just enough endurance to keep him from being ruined forever by the curse. As it was now, Loki worked slowly, using his magic as precisely as a scalpel to repair his son's hand and arm inch by inch.
He got all the way up to his son's shoulder, a ring of green magic circling around the joint between his arm and shoulder before he let go and switched to his son's left foot. He repeated the same process, quelling the tremors in his son's body with a healing flame. Around him the Avengers were gathering from their stations and comparing injuries and battle stories. When Voldemort had retreated, all of the Death Eaters who were able to, followed after with their tails between their legs. There were of course plenty of Death Eaters who were dead, unconscious, or tied up ready for the authorities to take them away.
Loki ignored the chatter, only paying enough attention to do a cursory head count of everyone in their team, before putting his full attention on his spells. He knew that if his son was awake he'd likely be causing him just as much pain, if not more pain than what the cruciatus had caused. Magical healing, be it human or divine, was generally painful. In essence this sort of magic instantly repaired whatever had been broken in the body. Human magic was akin to a gentle suggestion, a 'how would you feel about sticking back together, dear friend?'. In contrast Asgardian healing magic was more like a drill sergeant that put the fear of god into an injury and forced it to repair itself out of sheer self-preservation.
He forced himself to ignore his son's other injuries, the nerve damage was his priority. Everything else could be seen to by a human healer in a hospital instead of a war-torn city street. Loki finished his son's left leg, stopping the healing right where his thigh met his hip and then moved to the right. This required him to bend awkwardly over his son's body, but he didn't waste time moving into a more comfortable position. The sooner this was healed, the less likely there would be any lingering damage or pain.
"James. He's waking."
"Put him back to sleep."
Remus nodded, although Loki didn't see that, instead he heard Remus cast a sleeping spell over his son, pushing him back into unconsciousness. The ring of green light traveled over his son's right knee cap that appeared to be heavily bruised and inflamed, Harry must have fallen on it at some point and then kept running around on it, heedless of the pain it must have been causing him. The magic continued up and up his thigh, forcing nerves back into working order and quelling the pain responses.
He was at his son's right elbow, gently realigning and reattaching nerves when the sound of multiple teleportations happened all at once behind him. It took all of his will power not to look up or flinch from his work.
"We're here!" Fred called out.
"We brought the Calvary!"
"A bit too late for that!" Ron shouted. "You-Know-Who's come and gone already."
"Ronald Billius Weasley! When your brothers told me what you were doing, I couldn't believe it! And what on earth are you wearing?" Molly shouted.
Loki rolled his eyes as the argument between the entire Weasley clan seemed to explode around him. He also heard other familiar voices. Alastor, telling everyone to be cautious because these muggles could be anyone at all. Shacklebolt demanding to speak to any of the American aurors about potential containment plans. And of course, Severus Snape, telling Ron and Hermione that they didn't belong here and that they were insolent annoying little children.
Was that how he talked to all his students?
Loki moved from his son's now healed right arm to his torso. The damage wasn't as bad here and so he was able to move quicker than he had before. The arguments continued as Loki worked through his son's intestines and pancreas. Ron explained that he was wearing armor so that he'd be better protected, Hermione was defended her choice with the same veracity that she'd declared it to her parents. Loki worked up through his son's lungs, and then spent some special attention on his son's, thankfully, still beating heart.
Up the shoulders and into the neck. Harry's tremors had stopped by this point. His face was lax under the sleeping spell. Remus, or someone else perhaps, had cleaned off the blood from Harry's face and neck. Revealing the painfully inflamed scar. Loki placed his hands on both of his son's temples and repeated the spell for a sixth time. Surprisingly, there was little damage from the cruciatus at all. Loki's magic reached out and touched protections that had a familiar twinge to them.
Lily.
Harry had spoken of his mother's protection, of Lily's sacrifice and now he could see what he meant. Lily's last remaining bit of magic in this realm had gathered in their son's mind and provided protection for it against an unforgivable. Loki frowned a bit as his magic brushed over the scar. There was some sort of…thing inside it. It wasn't a curse or an object. It wasn't anything Loki had ever seen before in fact.
There was a wall of magic, organically grown, that stood as a barrier between his son's mind and this dark, writhing thing. He could see the framework of the wall had been built by Lily's love and protection and his son's magic had bolstered it and filled most of the holes. Carefully Loki reached out and used his own magic to cover up the one's that Harry had missed. It was a temporary protection, but at least Loki had an idea of what he needed to do now.
Whatever was in his son's scar needed to go.
"I don't see why these muggles are even here." Severus sneered. Loki opened his eyes and rolled them at Remus, who looked relieved beyond all measure to see Loki had finally stopped healing Harry.
"Really? You can't think of a single reason?" Loki asked, standing up and turning around.
It was something out of a soap opera. Two sides forming a circle. The Order on one side, with the Avengers on the others. Ron and Hermione were of course standing by the Avengers, bold against the adults they were meant to be respecting. At his words the entire Order, including Dumbledore all stopped to look at him. Dumfounded. Loki forced himself not to immediately rushed Dumbledore and stab him. Instead he looked Severus Snape dead in the eye, a smirk on his face he hadn't worn in over 15 years.
Snape looked like he'd seen a ghost. His greasy hair outlining a paler than usual face. It was ironic since the man worked in a castle frequented by ghosts.
"It can't be." Arthur breathed out.
"Arthur!" Loki called, a genuine smile forming on his face upon seeing the red headed man. "It's so good to see you! Harry's been telling me so much about you. You really got the job as the head of the Muggle Artifacts Department? Congratulations! I can't think of a better fit for you. You know I really should introduce you to my friend Tony. You two would get along swimmingly. Just tell him about that flying car of yours."
"A flying car?" Tony asked.
"I…uh yes. A Ford Angela." Arthur said still looking at Loki and blinking stupidly.
"It's not…" Kingsley said stepping forward.
"Shacklebolt!" Loki shouted. "It's been an age hasn't it? Did you get that promotion you were after? Harry didn't know what your position in the Auror Corps was when I asked him about it. And Mad-Eye! You're still here, although with a few new accessories I can see. Nice peg leg."
And Loki meant that sincerely. It did look rather nice and if Loki knew Mad-Eye at all then it was probably enchanted to hell and back.
"James?" Molly asked, her voice trembling. "Is that you?"
"Molly." Loki said beaming at the woman. "Thank you. Harry told me about how you welcomed him into your home, I cannot express my gratitude to you. Not only for being so compassionate to my son but for raising Ron so wonderfully. He's been such an excellent friend for my son, a brother in all but blood and I can't help but be grateful to both you and Arthur for it."
"Now hold up right there!" Mad-Eye shouted before Molly could step forward and either hug Loki or slap him across the face. "James Potter is dead! This is clearly an imposter!"
"Mad-Eye, the first time you and I met, you helped me detangle myself from a cursed rose bush when I was 16. I swore you to secrecy and as far as I know, you never told anyone."
"You could have guessed that!" The man said, his magical blue eye whirring around looking for enchantments on him. Loki rolled his eyes and lifted up his right hand. He let it glow green with magic again, two tongues of magic swirling down his wrist and curling around his forearm.
"I swear on my magic, and on my life, that I am the James Potter you knew. I am not a spy sent by You-Know-Who or any other enemy force. So mote it be."
"Well." Mad-Eye said. "He's not fibbing!"
"Not this time." Thor muttered causing Loki to giggle just a little.
"James." Arthur said. "Where have you been? What happened? Why do you look like that?"
"Do you have any idea what Harry's has been through?" Molly shouted, clearly having chosen to try and smack Loki across the cheek.
"I thought him dead." Loki said, his voice cracking. "I thought You-Know-Who killed him along with my wife and Sirius and Remus and Peter. I thought they were all dead and I was left alone. I went back to my home to mourn, never even imagining that I was abandoning so many people."
"Your home?" Shaklebolt asked.
"I am not only James." Loki said. "My true name, the one I have known for 2000 years is Loki of Asgard, god of magic and mischief."
Before anyone could react to that truth bomb, Sirius finally returned.
"James! I got the potions kit! Did you really have to hide it under that many hexes?"
Molly screamed. Then Sirius screamed, but that was mostly because Arthur, Shaklebolt, Mad-Eye, Severus, and Dumbledore all fired spells right at him. Loki immediately cast a shield spell, a thick wall of translucent green magic that took in all of the spells like it was nothing, protecting his friend.
"I hid it under that many spells because I didn't want you or Remus pranking it."
"Come on! I wouldn't have done that." Sirius defended before frowning. "Well maybe just a little."
"Go over and help Remus. I've done what I can for Harry, he just needs a few pain potions and some basic healing before we let him wake up."
"On it!" Loki let the shield spell drop and Sirius hopped past the entire confrontation and towards Remus who had transfigured the rocks around him into a floating cot that he'd moved Harry onto. The boy looked better already which brought Loki an incalculable amount of relief.
"I suppose I should do introductions right?" Loki asked. "I'll start on this side and work my way around. This is Thor, my brother, god of thunder and lightning."
"Hello!" Thor boomed happily, waving his hammer around like the golden retriever he often was.
"And this is Captain Steve Rodgers, or as he is more famously known, Captain America. He's a famous muggle hero with a body enhanced by a permanent strength potion. He's also the leader of this motley crew.
"It's going to be an honor to work with you all. Loki's told us plenty about the Order and I can tell you're a tight operation."
This made Mad-Eye scowl and mutter about being vigilant, but Loki ignored that. He continued down the line introducing each Avenger, with both their real names, as well as their hero names. He explained their abilities and skill sets as needed to ensure his magical audience understood perfectly. He did everything in his power not to look at Dumbledore, he could feel his gaze boring into his skin, probing for the truth and preparing for a confrontation.
A confrontation Loki didn't plan to give.
At least not so openly.
When he finished he introduced the Order members he knew, and was introduced to a shapeshifter named Tonks. Then he got to Dumbledore.
"And this is of course Albus Dumbledore, leader of the Order." Loki said, his voice only slightly brittle. "He's the man I worked under when I was James as well as Harry's headmaster at his magic school."
The Avengers to their credit hid their disgust well, Thor even managed to keep the sky clear of any incriminating lightning strikes.
"James. You owe us an explanation." Albus said. "Where have you been?"
"I'll tell you everything, under veritaserum if necessary, but I want to check on my son again as well as ensure the captured Death Eaters are taken into custody. If Tony is willing, we can have a meeting in his tower and hash everything out after the clean up?"
"That's fine with me. I'll have Jarvis get a room together."
"Very well." Albus said. "Everyone, let's get to work!"
The Avengers didn't move until Loki gave them a nod. They then followed the Order and did as Albus commanded. Which Loki appreciated. Loki saw Severus give him a fearsome glare as the man stalked away to begin looking for survivors.
"Thor." Loki whispered. "Come here."
Thor walked over and Loki pointed out the black cloak of Severus.
"That's Severus Snape. He's Harry's teacher at Hogwarts, he bullies him."
"Really." Thor growled.
"Yes. Go over there and be as friendly and bright as possible. Do not go away no matter what hints he gives. Be the annoying man I know you are deep down."
Thor grinned, his blue eyes glinting with excitement at the task. He gave Loki a pat on the back and then strolled directly towards Snape, calling him a wizard very loudly. All Loki needed was one peak at Severus' pained face as he turned to look at Thor to know he'd made the right choice. Loki went over to his son next, unsurprised to find Albus already there looking over the work that had been done.
They'd been left largely alone but for Remus and Sirius. Ron and Hermione had been herded away by Molly, who was only slightly mollified by Loki's words. He could hear her still lecturing her son and Hermione quietly for being reckless. Loki knelt by Sirius, and noted the tenseness of his posture.
"How is he?"
"Better than I thought he'd be. Honestly he'll probably need a day of bed rest." Sirius decided.
"We really should pick up his training." Remus added. "He held his own decently well against Him but he can be better."
"I agree." Loki said. "Once he's well I'll work out a new schedule with him."
"I don't think it's necessary for the boy to be going under training." Albus said. "He's not even 16."
"That, is not your call to make." Loki said, his voice as cold as the peaks in Jontunheim. "In fact Albus, I'd like it if you fucked off completely when it came to choices I make about my son. Have you not done enough?"
"James I…" Albus said, his voice only slightly pained. He reached out a bit and Loki spotted his blackened left hand. Loki reached out and snatched the cursed limb. Albus hissed in pain at the tight grip Loki was exerting.
"A nasty curse that is." Loki said, examining it and the large ugly stone the man was wearing as a ring. "It'll be fatal to you within a year I suspect."
"Severus is working on a cure." Albus lied, trying and failing to pull his hand back. Loki snarled and let his magic burst to life again. His sheer power burned into the man's skin making him cry out in pain. Sirius already ahead of the game cast a silencing ward around them so that no one could hear. Loki's magic seared up Albus' hand burning away the cursed flesh.
"Don't lie to me Albus." Loki hissed.
"James…I…thank you." Albus said looking at his healed hand, his voice was hoarse from the lingering pain. The man's entire body was shaking from the roughness of Asgardian healing methods in fact.
"This was not a gift." Loki warned standing up to glare at the old man head on. He let go of Albus' hand. "You don't get to die so easily old man, not after what you did to me. What you cost me. When the time is right I'm going to make you suffer. Truly suffer. Your betrayal will not go unpunished."
"Why not just punish me now then? Why not tell the truth?"
"Because, I still have need of you." Loki told him. "The merciful James you knew died the moment you lied to him in the name of the Greater Good, Albus. Every moment that you live from now on will be filled with pain and suffering and when you finally outlive your usefulness I am going to do to you what should have been done decades ago."
Loki saw the calculations going on in the old man's eyes and he leaned forward, letting his eyes turn red and his teeth grow into fangs.
"If you do anything against me or mine I will destroy everything you've ever touched. I will raze Hogwarts to the ground. I will ruin anything you've ever known or loved and I will make you watch. I am an ancient deity Albus, you will not outsmart me. You are not going to win. It would be in your best interests to give me everything I demand because every time you fight me that adds one more log to the stake I'm going to burn you on. Is that understood?"
"Perfectly." Albus said.
"Good. Now get away from my son." He waved his hand, a wave of magic forcibly teleporting Albus away from them. Loki stood there, rage sending tremors through his body.
"Shit James." Sirius said. "Who knew you could be so terrifying?"
Notes:
Next week's update might be a day late. If it's not up on Wednesday then check in again on Thursday.