There was an extreme pain shooting through Harry's body and mind when he came back to his own body. For a moment, he couldn't even make out where his body parts were; he couldn't feel his toes or even start guessing where his hands lay. It felt like his limbs weren't attached to where they should have been, and on top of that, every nerve within him burned as the force of Loki's magic still lingered inside his own.
Everything throbbed as he breathed in harshly, chest aching at the movement; it felt like his soul was at constant risk of being torn apart with every breath his body was forced to take. But, sadly, he could not control what came naturally, so he tried to ride out the pain and not fight it. Finally, Harry forced his heavy eyelids to open, only to shut them as fast as he could, as the light sent another set of lightning bolts crashing through his mind.
It felt like a herd of hippogriffs had decided to bash his head into the ground and then whack him a few more times just for the fun of it. Harry could taste his blood in his mouth; the metallic tingle made him feel like his stomach wanted to jump out of his throat. He rolled on to his side and heaved, even though he had nothing to throw up. His body cramped up under the dry heaves as nothing, aside from acid and saliva, came out.
Betrayal and fear stung his heart as he remembered seeing Loki again - or was he seeing him for the first time? Bloody hell, this was confusing. Still, he had some problems separating Harald's memory from his own. He knew that his… soul ... was older than his body, and as such, he had two sets of memories that did not fit together, and were constantly battering at each other, fighting to be the one who was in charge at the moment, Harry or Harald.
The whole remembering thing was a pain in his ass, and perhaps, it was because of that, the memories had come so sporadically, not to overwhelm his mind and body as he went through the changes his inheritance forced upon him. Harry rolled on his back as he took a deep breath, feeling the tingling sensation of Loki's power wash over him in much slower waves.
Chaotic, dark, and cold.
It was somehow familiar, almost like coming home, yet the magic left a foul aftertaste, worse than blood. Harry forced his eyes to open again, and this time it was easier for him to take in his surroundings. He slowly moved his bruised body and looked down at his hands, tied together with some yellowish rope. His magic tickled under the skin, but it was as if the ropes at his wrists prevented him from letting it out, he could still feel it, but he could not get his magic to do what he wanted.
The sensation of being trapped welled up inside him when another memory of Harald came forth as he was too trapped, but this time, trapped in a dome. It was like his body still remembered the constant pain that had shot through him at that time. And that horror blended together with Harrys' childhood, trapped in the small space underneath the staircase, restricted, and not allow to move.
His heartbeat began to pick up speed as he tried to scramble to his feet, only to fall again, landing with a soft thud as his legs refused to work as they should. The memory of his aunt haunted his mind as she suddenly was replaced with Vernon's giant gestalt, leaning over him. Huge, sausage-like fingers were holding on to his hair, hard enough to rip out some strands, as he was thrown into the cupboard like a ragdoll.
Fuck, fuck, and double fuck, why was his life so complicated? Why in the name of the Norns could nothing be easy? Harry tried to calm down as it started to hurt more by the seconds; suddenly, he choked on the air he was breathing. His whole body shook uncontrollably, and his body began to tense up as the panic Harry had felt before took hold of him once again. And this time, he could not break from his body's reaction; white spots filled his vision, and he knew what was coming; he had had panic attacks before.
It was something Harry had experienced a lot after the war. Almost every night for a year, he had woken up in full fight-or-flight mode, his body reacting to memories that trigged his PTSD and that in turn, triggered panic attacks. But this time, it was different; it wasn't his - Harry's - memories that trigged it, it was Harald's, making it was somewhat easier to separate himself from it.
Harry needed to think of it from an rational point of view, lose the emotion that triggered it all; he couldn't let it take over his mind, not like this. First, he thought of the most significant fact, Loki had forgotten him, and what had he thought? Honestly, Harry wanted to hit himself for being that naïve. He had believed that Loki would remember him, open his arms to him without any question, to get to know each other again after what, a thousand years apart?
Of course, Loki had changed. No one stays the same after their life partner dies, but to completely forget about him? That was too harsh. For once in his life, Harry had wanted something to go his way. But nothing in his life was ever easy, so why did he think this would be an exception?
Bloody hell. He wanted to sue whatever deity that found it funny to toy with his life like this. As black spots invaded his sight and the dizziness made him fall back down on the cold wooden floor, he tried to force himself to breathe normally.
Slowly, he started to get his breathing under control as his mind wandered back to the present. He did not need to think twice about who had taken and bound him. It was clear as he had fainted right in front of his crazy aunt; she was more than likely the one.
The question was where she was right now, as she was not within his sight. Ignoring his pounding headache and the feeling of his stomach eating itself, Harry slowly started to feel for the blend of the two different magics together inside of him.
He could feel the flow in and out of his core in a slow motion, and he tried to only focus on the warmth that the movement created. He had to focus on the present, not the past, facts, gain information, and get the hell out of here.
Harald's fear and reaction had to wait until later. Then, slowly, he could feel how he started to relax more, and with a last deep breath, he opened his eyes again, and blinked blearily at the sight that finally met him.
Old pews were overturned, and some had rotted away over the years. Dust filled the air and danced in the daylight, spread across the broken window along the edges. The podium at the front was adorned with a grayish sheet, and Harry could see large candelabra standing haughtily at the side.
As if time had not eaten up its surroundings, and they proudly stood where they had been placed decades ago. A beautiful stained-glass window stared down at him. A cold chill wandered warningly down his spine, the icy feeling amplified when an almost unnoticeable shift took place in the air, and Harry stiffened.
His instincts were screaming at him again; his whole being was so sensitive that he noticed even the slightest shift in magic around him, and right now, he felt that he was no longer alone. Harry slowly turned his head towards the presence of his aunt, who was now sitting three chairs away from him. A silvery shimmering aura embraced her in almost divine splendor; Harry could feel the magic pouring out of her in soft waves, cold and slimy.
Her blue eyes were fixed on him, and she got up in the flowing motion of a river, slowly moving towards him. His aunt was like a predator that was getting ready to jump on its prey, as she walked forward. Eyes hard as steel, with a satisfied smile that adorned the red lips when she saw how defenseless he was right now.
"Bra- vo,'' Sigurd's voice rang out in the otherwise silent church " Once again, you manage to surprise me with your tricks; you truly are the perfect match for the trickster" She came to a stop in front of him. " But I have to admit that I had forgotten how good you were at breaking out of spells; that spell I put you under should have kept you unconscious for at least three more hours. "
Harry pulled lightly on the rope that tied his hands, which did not go unnoticed by the woman in question as Sigurd smiled down at him, more amused than anything else. Like he was a child that tried something and was doomed to fail. She tilted her head a little, and the diamond-studded earrings rattled during the movement before she clicked her tongue.
The sound made Harry cringe, and he had to force himself to take another deep breath. He swore mentally at Harald's fear triggered by the slightest sound from her; this was so not the time. Harry used all his experience to keep his feelings deeply buried, or else they would drown him.
Harry could feel the magic twisted in to the fabric of the bindings; the heat underneath his skin burned hot, begging to be let out. He could do this, only direct everything elsewhere until another time when he could safely freak out. He slowly let out a breath and let his forest green gaze meet her light blue.
Sigurd was now standing right in front of him; the foul smell of her perfume unpleasantly tickled his nose; it was like she had bathed in it. Her magic swept over his already sensitive skin, and it stuck like a thousand needles as her grin grew.
"Well, well," she laughed. "That is a surprise indeed, I would have thought you would be broken beyond repair by now, but it seems you still have some fire in you."
"What do you want?" Harry forced out, trying to get some distance between them.
The steel-blue eyes were drilled into the viridian green. " I want what I have always wanted… You lying dead before me. "
Harry held back an eye roll, if that's what she wanted then why was he not dead yet? She had the perfect time to do so, and his confusion had to be shown as she laughed at him.
" Oh ~, don't be like that sweetie, I will kill you in time; my master demands as much. But there is no rush, and I have you exactly where I want you. " Smiling, she raised her hand and dragged a finger against his cheek. " But there is one thing I need before I do that. "
Harry could not hold back flinching at the awful feeling of her nails; the woman did not ignore the motion as she stared down at him. Her face came close as she took a deep breath in, and her eyes shuttered close for a moment as she felt the magic around him, only to look up with a new determination.
"It really is you; I have to admit, I had my doubts at first " she took hold of his chin, forcing Harry to look at her. "That barrier ... .. " The look she had on her face was a mix of irritation and anger. " That was a very cheap trick you used, but I knew my master would break out of it given time," she hummed and let go of his chin. " Even a soul cage will tear and crack with the right amount of force. "
Harry tried to suppress the memories that were starting to resurface as she spoke, the cage he had created around Thanos. Yes, he remembered that Harald had used his soul to harden it, and in doing so, he sacrificed himself, yet it was not enough to keep the titan there for more than a few centuries. And now… Thanos was loose in the universe again, planning gods know what.
"I can still vividly recall the sweet, sweet sound of your soul screaming in agony each time my master relentlessly pounded the barrier, over and over, and over again." Sigurd's grin widened as a chilling frost seeped into Harry's bones, while he glared at her with fiery defiance. "Until that exquisite moment when your very soul shattered into these magnificent tiny fragments, and my master was finally unleashed, and I believed your soul was eternally broken. Clearly, I was mistaken..."
"... As if that's anything new," Harry mumbled, cutting her off mid-speech. Before he could process what happened, a sharp sting erupted on his cheek from her slap.
"Be quiet!" Sigurd screeched, her hand darting out once more to clamp around his throat, choking off his air and causing Harry to gasp.
" You are not to talk to me like that, " she hissed. "I'm a queen, and you will show me the respect I deserve," she sneered, ignoring the gasping he did to get air down into his lungs. " Don't you dare think for a second that I will not hurt your pretty face, because I will."
Harry tried to get some air down into his lungs, and she suddenly let go of his neck, making him cough a few times before she clicked her tongue again.
"But I have to say, I am impressed," she continued, like nothing had happened seconds before.
Then, with a flourish motion, she turned around and walked over to the altar, heels clicking at the dry floor as she did.
"Truly, my dear nephew, had you not spoken to that fool, I would have never realized you were still among the living. Your spirit is remarkably strong to have endured for so long, but your luck seems quite dreadful. Imagine that, being reincarnated as none other than Harry Potter, the darling of Britain and the Boy Who Lived... twice! The savior of our world," she laughed, her voice resonating through the room as she gazed up at the stained glass. "What an incredible jest..."
She shook her head, locks bunching as she did. "Well, here we are, and you will not get in my way again. You will do what I want you to, and do not bother looking for that stick of yours; I took the liberty to use it as firewood. You can't use magic without that one; I presume... weak as humans are…. you did hit bottom with that, huh?"
Harry swallowed around a growing lump in his throat. He was not utterly helpless without a wand; the elder wand was infused with his magic so he could use it. Not that she needed to know that. But that wand had been the first thing he had got with his own money; even when his wand had been destroyed in the war, he had used the elder wand to repair it. But not even the elder wand would be able to reconstruct his wand if it was burnt to crisp.
"Thanks, but I have to decline, " Harry forced out behind clenched teeth
"tsk, tsk," she taunted, spinning around with a deliberate grace, her hips swaying with each echoing step as she closed the distance between them. "There you go again; acting like you have a choice in this matter. I won't repeat my mistakes this time. So, you don't have to worry." Harry's eyes narrowed, darting around frantically for any possible escape, but her voice, dripping with menace, pulled his gaze back to her, fixated on her retreating form, a chill running down his spine.
"This time, I have a leverage on you that you cannot ignore."
Harry felt an acid taste invade his mouth; Loki, she was talking about Loki. He had known that she had something to do with it all! "You will not touch him!" He spat angrily as death shadows had to start to move around him, begging to be free, to maim, to kill for its master. His back arched as if his wings wanted to break out of his skin, but Harry held them back for the moment.
Sigurd threw her head back in laughter. "Too Late for that little prince!" she sang as she spread her arms out, "and it was so easy!" she danced around, hair swirling like it had a will of its own, and knowing their family history, it probably had. How in the nine realms had Harald been related to this woman?
Harry's mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. Sigurd had the upper hand for now, and he couldn't risk her harming Loki. He needed time to think and find a way out of this situation.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves and center his magic. His eyes flicked towards the altar, where she had been standing just moments before. There was something there, something that caught his eye.
"I must say, slipping through Asgard's defenses was quite simple during the turmoil caused by your so-called disappearance. As for Loki," she sighed, "he was incredibly easy to influence in his fragile state. A severed bond is no trivial matter, and you left him to languish in it for ages. You should be grateful to me; I kept him going all this time. Do you realize how often he attempted to end his life just to reunite with you in the afterlife?"
She smiled. "Too many times that I now have lost count of them, and I made him survive every- single- time. And every time he tried, he was driven further away from everything."
Harry felt the chill spread through his bone, "What did you do?" he tried not to let his feeling shown, but he was not very successful by the look he was receiving.
"Oh, you really want to know?" she taunted, a sly smile playing on her lips as she pressed a finger against them. "It was nothing major, just a little meddling here and there to destabilize his magic... a few twisted memories, sweet but sinister whispers invading his dreams. He noticed eventually, but by then it was far too late. The fool tried to seal his memories, but it was futile. Honestly, manipulating the memories of his so-called family was a breeze compared to you. Did you know he was adopted, and they never breathed a word of it to him?" She burst into a fit of gleeful laughter.
"That revelation shattered him, it was the catalyst my master needed to seize control. The rest, as they say, is history." Sigurd dismissed it all with a dramatic wave of her hand.
"Why are you doing this?" Harry ground out, feeling the restraints on his wrists begin to slacken as his magic strained against the ropes, channeling his anger towards them. Hearing about the suffering Loki endured alone filled him with overwhelming guilt.
"For Alfheim's future, of course" she stared at him like he had grown a second head. " Why else would I do anything like this?"
But that could not be her only goal, Harry thought; there was no way that his aunt would ever be able to ascend the throne of Alfheim. After trying to kill Harald, she was a traitor and had a death sentence on the spot all over the realms. There was no way that she could take the throne, and even if she managed to kill all those that stood in the way, there was still the matter of blood bonding to the realm. There was a reason why only the highest and most powerful Fae would be allowed on the throne. They had absolute power over it.
The other thing about the realm was that it needed a woman to charge over the land; the queen had the highest rank in Alfheims. If Harry wasn't mistaken, Harald had a little sister who probably was the next in line for the throne. Even with her ties to the royal family, Sigurd had been cut out and branded as a blood traitor. So, she could not even take a single step into the realm without the whole environment there trying to kill her.
Sigurd sighed, "Oh, don't give me that look," she said. "I haven't forgotten that my sister and her husband banned me," she retorted sharply, her eyes suddenly gleaming with a hint of madness.
Harry could feel a drop of sweat travel down his neck, and the feeling grounded him as his wrist had gone numb by the magic he circulated there. Sigurd's whole face had now changed as she giggled and took a string of Harry's hair in her hand, wiggling it around her fingers.
"But there is a way, a very legitimate and brilliant way to make it all alright, and I will be welcomed back with open arms."
Harry remained silent while she spoke, as if she had been holding onto this secret for ages, and now she could no longer keep it to herself. "I still have you, and with your soulmate in our grasp, it will be simple to create a new heir to the throne who will assume power when the others are gone." Harry tensed, his eyes widening in shock, temporarily forgetting his restraints.
" W-what?"
Sigurd flashed a wide grin down at him, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You heard me, think about it! A child born from the long-lost heir to Alfheim, whether reincarnated or not, still holds the ancient magic within. That alone is a formidable legacy." Her voice was animated, filled with a fervent passion. "And then, there's your true mate from the royal jotun lineage; a direct descendant of the original giants! Together, they would create a child whose power would be limitless." Sigurd's enthusiasm bubbled over, nearly overwhelming her, but she soon composed herself.
She tilted her head thoughtfully, her gaze softening as it settled on Harry, a curious expression playing on her features. "The real question is," she mused, her voice now a gentle inquiry, "who will be the one to carry this extraordinary child?"
Harry struggled to comprehend what she was suggesting, his thoughts tangled and muddled mid-rant. A faint sensation flickered from the other side of Loki's bond, a connection he had felt abruptly and confirmed was still intact, despite being blocked on both ends. From Harald's memories, Harry knew of Loki's shapeshifting prowess; he had seen Loki as a woman before.
Yet, the idea that he himself might... No, he couldn't entertain that notion. It was impossible, wasn't it? The very idea of bearing a child seemed absurd—he was male, after all, complete with all the necessary anatomy, and as far as he was aware, not a shapeshifter. Still, the thought lingered, unsettling and confusing, refusing to be easily dismissed.
"Anyway," Sigurd went on with her monologue, "The throne would easily see the potential in that child; honestly, I've never grasped why the Asgardians despise the jotun, considering they are the creators of worlds. Of course, it's not as if they're the ones who start all the wars across the realms," she added, releasing him as she stood up, "but the gods have always been afraid of what they don't understand, and unfortunately, that's quite a lot."
It was the last strand that made Harry's magic snap; the rope around his wrist disintegrated by the pure intensity of his magic. Then, tearing it away from the bonds, Harry hit her straight in the face without any warning.
Sigurd was hurled against the opposite wall of the church, causing it to crack. Anger surged through Harry in intense waves, making the shadows around him quiver and dance with delight at his fury. Harry growled as the wind around him intensified, with magic surging out of him in powerful waves. His creature blood boiled, and he slowly pushed himself forward, snapping his wings open as shadows empowered by the dark realm loomed behind him. It felt as if Death itself was urging him on, encouraging him to do what needed to be done. Sigrud needed to die.
Harry's movements felt so light like he didn't have a body, as he slammed into his aunt that was once again flung away from him, not even given her a chance to react. But this time, Harry's hand around her neck as he followed her movement.
Harry barely had the time to dodge the next attack, and he had to let go of her to be able to jump back, narrowly avoiding the cutting spell. Sigurd laughed after she recovered from the attack and had now collected magic in her hands. Silver fog sent electrical wires along her arms as she chanted another spell and sent it rushing towards Harry.
A vast shimmering shield immediately formed before him as he raised his arms instinctively, and the blast slammed into it. There was no way Harry would let her live a third time, the anger was fueling his magic, but it was also eating it away fast. Even now, he could feel how the drain was more significant than what he could collect in his core as he was now battling with his Asgardian magic. So, he drew another wind barrier before him, slicing her attack in the middle, canceling it on the spot.
Sweat ran down his temple, and his breathing was heavy. He had to act fast. Harry had been trained to battle almost all of his life. Contrary to Harald, he had sharpened his senses and instincts in the war. Harald had only known peace and only learned to fight as a cause from his upbringing. But Harry Potter had been on the front-line of one, and as a result, he knew what to do.
A new energy blast hit a bench that exploded, wood flying in all directions, and Harry quickly fired an attack back that missed her by an inch.
"Do you have a problem, little Harald?" Sigurd taunted as she sauntered forward; the silvery energy gathered around her and made stones and wooden planks lift from the ground. She held out her hand and threw them at him. Harry ducked, rolled back on his feet and sent a stunner her way, missing.
"Not really," Harry answered as he flung another spell at her, making her jump behind a pillar to take cover. "Has anyone told you that you talk too much?"
"You…!" She hissed angrily, but collected herself as she took a step back, staring at him as they started to walk in a circle over the rubble and destruction they had created.
"Don't get full of yourself."
Harry bent his finger and tried to get the stiffness out of them, the magic use had started to take a toll on his body, and he had no idea how long he could last like this. He needed to end this fast, and he knew that only one of them would walk out of here alive.
"I have always hated you, ever since the day you were born. The whole kingdom praised the firstborn son, he who had the mark of Death!" The last words that came out of her were said with such a coldness, her eyes darkened a shade as she glared at him. "How can Death even choose an heir that way? But you… You .., a mere babe, were worthy of his gaze? Don't make me laugh! And now you are trying to steal Death away from my master?"
Harry felt the magic quickly flow out of him as he began to concentrate on a protective barrier as her next blow struck it, creating a ringing sound that vibrated through his arms and caused his legs to almost bend. He stared angrily up at her, and his lips were pulled back in a sneer, showing off his now pointier canines as the creature blood brought forth more and more animalistic features.
"I never wanted to be Death's Heir!" Harry shouted and tried to push her away with a last effort. Sigurd stumbled back before she quickly found her balance again, not going down that easily.
"LIAR!"
The stone underneath Harry's feet vibrated and broke apart as they tried to swallow him whole. He jumped back further away from her and the ground.
"No!" Harry bit back, "I would cast the title away if I could," black mist began to spread itself up Harry's legs, and the darkness within him began to grow. He felt how it nibbled at his heart, begging him to use it, begging him to kill her, to feed them.
"Lies, and more lies!" she screamed angrily with that high-pitched voice.
The next assault hit with such force that Harry's protective barrier exploded into a cascade of a thousand, razor-sharp shards. The chasm between seidr energy and the earthly magic he wielded yawned wide and daunting. Though they shared certain similarities, the ways they demanded mastery, coursing through his veins and demanding control, were worlds apart, threatening to tear him apart with their disparity.
Seidr energy could not simply materialize from thin air, much like the earth magic that welled up from within him, drawn from his own essence. As the battle wore on, he could sense the fatigue creeping in, a sure sign that she too was feeling the strain, her labored breaths mirroring his own. With agility, Harry ducked beneath another incoming blow, swiftly countering with a strike of his own. His attack landed with precision, striking Sigurd on the leg, while a follow-up move carved a deep wound into her arm, the sharp edge of his magic leaving its mark.
Harry seized the chance to catch his breath and regain his strength. His legs were wobbly, his fingers tingled, and he had lost all sensation in them after the second assault. Suddenly, the entire church trembled as something struck the roof, crashed down just in front of them, and triggered a minor tremor in the earth.
Harry staggered back in shock, his wings in front of him, acting as a shield from the debris that was now raining down on him as the roof caved in; dust filled the church as the occupants tried to keep their balance. He backed away a few steps when he heard movement see in the middle of all the devastation and caught glimpses of something that slowly grew, only getting bigger and bigger.
Harry stood paralyzed, unable to tear his gaze away from the monstrous figure looming before him. The green beast unfurled itself with deliberate menace, towering to its full, terrifying height at the heart of the crater it had smashed into existence. Its head was held high in a display of raw power. With a dismissive shake, the creature cast off the dust as if it were nothing more than a light snowfall, and Harry realized with a jolt of horror that the beast seemed completely oblivious to the chaotic duel it had interrupted, as if the surrounding tumult was beneath its notice.
Harry retracted his wings, feeling his entire body tremble from the exertion as the darkness receded from him. He breathed heavily and wobbled on his feet, yet he kept his eyes fixed on the massive creature rising before him. He observed his aunt glaring at it with a fierce snarl on her face.
"Your filthy beast," She bellowed, catching the attention of the green monster.
Harry could suddenly feel the raw energy pulsing from the beast; it was like nothing he had ever felt before. It was not magic - that much he knew. Harry suddenly saw his aunt raise her hand, and a tint of red swirled in her palm. It was the only warning before she sent a red blast of energy at the green monster that couldn't possibly survive a direct hit.
"Watch out!" Harry shouted in warning, but it was too late to get away from the blast. So, like the fool with a hero complex that he was, Harry did the first thing that came into his mind and apparated right in front of the creature. A bell-like sound rang out as the spell hit the protective barrier he had flung up. Harry's wings spread out both in a defensive motion but also for stabilising himself.
The blue barrier shivered before breaking down seconds later, leaving Harry gasping for some much-needed air. It felt like his body was on fire as the exhaustion came over him, and he felt how his body was suddenly slumping forward. For a second, his vision blurred, and Sigurd took advantage of this without hesitation.
A spell hit him hard and sent him crashing back into the green being behind him, that hadn't moved since he had landed in the midst of their battle.
Harry felt how the air was stuck in his lungs as his vision blacked out for a second. When his sight came back, it was invaded with green, as large biceps, almost as big as his own body, covered him, warm arms wrapped securely around him and his wings that were tucked in behind his back. He didn't even want to think of how many feathers would need to be put back in place after this fight. It would be a absolute nightmare.
"That's enough from you, you dull creature; this has nothing to do with you," Sigurd ordered from somewhere to the side, but Harry could not pinpoint her position as his head swirled and the black dots inside his field do vision had started to grow.
A thunderous roar of fury erupted, quaking the entire room and the massive chest pressed against Harry. The sound was so deafening that Harry instinctively clamped his hands over his ears, desperate to shield his hearing from the raw, primal force. The sheer power of the roar reverberated through everything as the green monster unleashed its wrath at the insult hurled its way.
In an instant, the enormous, emerald-skinned behemoth crouched protectively around Harry, whose eyes widened in utter astonishment and terror just as his aunt's assault came blazing toward them. Harry's voice caught in his throat, unable to shout a warning before his verdant guardian absorbed the blow. Instead, he was engulfed in the visceral sensation and sound of the green giant's agonized grunt.
What happened next was all a blur; Harry felt the launching feeling in his stomach, and in the next second, the beast had hit his aunt so hard rhat she had been flung away like a broken doll. The silence that came after was deafening; it was almost the worst, most anti-climactic ending he ever had thought could happen to her. Yet, he could not find a drop of sympathy even to care.
He could distinctly sense the deep, rhythmic breaths of his guardian, each inhale and exhale resonating with a profound calmness. Nearby, the verdant creature snorted contentedly, a sound both strange and soothing, while his aunt lay motionless on the ground. The scene was surreal; not only had this formidable being withstood a direct assault of potent magic, but it had also hurled her aside with such incredible force that she now lay sprawled, lifeless and limp, upon the earth.
Harry hoped everything was alright, as he couldn't feel his arms or legs. If the green creature wasn't holding him, he would have surely crumpled to the ground like a ragdoll. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, likely the only thing keeping him conscious. He sensed the large beast moving swiftly and found himself looking up into its neon green eyes gazing back at him. There was a palpable wave of anger emanating from the beast, but to Harry's surprise, it wasn't aimed at him.
" Fairy, alright?" a low voice grunted out.
Harry blinked, dumbfounded as the green being talked, "yes… ah… thank you?"
The green creature let out a grunt and began to leave, a look of irritation on its face as it glanced up at the sky. Harry was clueless about what it was gazing at, and he simply couldn't find the energy to care. Maybe he could allow himself a moment to relax, acknowledging that the green beast hadn't harmed him yet.
Harry turned his gaze to his aunt's lifeless body, exhaling deeply. A peculiar sense of satisfaction filled him, knowing it was finally over.
"What's your name?" Harry asked abruptly, capturing the attention of the green figure. His eyes were an even more intense green than Harry's, reminiscent of neon signs glowing in city nights.
"Hulk," he grunted, beginning to walk away without releasing Harry. Before Harry could comprehend Hulk's intentions, Hulk broke into a run and leaped into the air, resembling an enormous green grasshopper. Harry would always deny the high-pitched scream that escaped him as he clung to Hulk's arm while they soared skyward—without any say in whether he wanted to join or not.
I am so happy to be done with this chapter! Don't get me wrong; I love to write this fic. But it took me FAR TOO LONG to write it down and get it ready for you guys! So, thank you all for waiting so patiently, and thank you again for all the love and support you give this fic!
Beta by Wisx, thank you for your hard work :D
Here are some fun northern mythology facts for you all ;)
Fact 1: Loki is actually the only known God of the old, that is both a mother and a father.
Fact 2: In northern mythology, the world was created from a jotun named Ymir. He was killed, and his body was dismembered into nine parts that represent the nine worlds.