Asgard, 2012

Loki wasn't particularly upset about being captured.

In fact, he was rather put out that somehow he, the God of Lies and Trickery, fell for such foolish words and mind-altering magic. He was willing to admit that deceiving Thor and convincing him to stay on Earth under the guise of Odin being dead was… one of his poorer ideas, but he still stood by his reasoning. At the time, Thor was incredibly arrogant and stubborn and goaded on by his equally arrogant friends. Truth be told, he never expected Odin to banish his firstborn. It worked out excellently in his favor and Loki gladly took advantage of it, but it was an unexpected side effect.

Thor returning was… anticipated. While Loki didn't exactly have faith in his adoptive brother for most things, he did have faith in his persistence. Respected it, even. He wasn't the type to stand down and roll over. He also wasn't the type to simply have a discussion instead of butting heads with the opposition. So there Loki sat on Odin's throne, King by proxy, taking on a task he thought he wanted.

It got boring rather quickly, if he was being honest.

Had sibling rivalry really pushed him this far to obtain a status that he didn't even want? Yes, yes it had. It drove him to the point that he willingly rejected help and fell from the Bïfrost out of pure stubbornness. Because of the numerous occasions that he was pushed aside for his brother, even at that moment. Out of the self-hatred he didn't even know he had until recently, that was fed to him by the people surrounding him; by his father. After lying to him for years about his true ancestry, Odin honestly expected him to just accept that he was taught to hate who he truly was.

So he fell.

Right into the lap of a plan that was looking for the perfect patsy.

Loki had always noticed that he was treated differently than Thor. A lankier build, to them, meant no strength. His temperament was more demure than his older brother so that meant he was a pushover. His affinity for magic over Thor's brute strength equaled no pride in battle. The way he used magic to trick and deceive was cheating in their eyes; lazy. Magic wasn't meant to fight opponents, it was meant to heal. Growing up, he never understood why he was treated differently over his preference.

Except for their mother.

She had favored him more so than Thor, who was groomed for the throne by Odin. She taught Loki everything she knew and what she didn't know (which was very little), he took upon himself to get lost deep in the multitude of books they had in their enormous library. It was where Loki spent most of his precious time away from Thor and his rambunctious friends. Hidden away and tucked in a corner where no one would spot him accidentally. Magic protected him when his brother did not. Which as they grew older, happened less and less often.

No more did his brother protect him from the bullies he called his friends. Instead, he merely told Loki to ignore them as they stole his books, altering them by writing over pages, ripping them or even going as far to toss them in rivers. Or to fight back physically when he was held down to prevent him from doing so.

But what upset Loki the most about not noticing the differences between them was simply their hair color. Of course, how could he had been so foolish? Now he realizes how obvious it was.

Alas, here he walked.

Surrounded by the Warriors Three and Sif, with Thor walking on his left hand side as they entered the Grand Hall. Inside, stood the rest of the King's forces equally split in number and on either side of the throne. From the moment they entered the golden chamber, their eyes stared down the Frost Giant. His ancestry has reached them, it seems. They shamelessly wore their resentment and disgust on their faces for Loki to see, but he refused to acknowledge their, technically well placed, anger.

In the middle of the room sat Odin, his face showing nothing but a neutral disposition towards the situation. His only good eye did show a sense of relief (maybe for his safety? Most likely not.) and disappointment. Loki rolled his eyes and grit his teeth behind the muzzle that he was forced to wear back on Earth. The group stopped walking as they arrived in front of the steps before Odin's throne and kneeled. Loki stood, albeit awkwardly, with his eyes locked on his adoptive father. His hands twisted uncomfortably in the thick, heavy cuffs he wore; he despised having his hands bound as they were the only way he could properly defend himself.

Odin stood slowly and too did the other four warriors.

"Loki…," the Allfather's voice echoed throughout the chamber. "Odinson…"

The Frost Giant snorted.

"You have been brought here before me in light of your past and recent crimes. One act of treason against Asgard, two acts of conspiring with foreign enemies and two acts of war against Midgard, resulting in two hundred Midgardian deaths. It has also come to my attention that you were under the power of the Mind Gem during your invasion of Midgard by the Titan… Thanos."

At this, the people present gasped, including Sif and the Warriors Three for not even they knew that much. Thanos was a fearsome legend. Conqueror and Destroyer of Planets far from here, but word of his power reached even Asgard.

"Is this correct, Loki Odinson?"

As Loki stared ahead unblinking, someone moved behind him and unlocked the muzzle covering half of his face. Licking his dry lips, he worked his jaw and his answer rose from his mouth hoarsely, "Yes." The gasps came once more.

"Then… at the mercy of such a powerful relic, I shall retract these particular charges from your sentence," Odin revealed. "As for the others…,"

Loki steeled himself, a bitter taste building up in his throat.

"I am… willing to offer you a bargain." He rose his hand before any objections could bubble up. "This arrangement will not only count as your punishment, but as a way for you to reflect and safely recuperate from the abuse of the Mind Gem. It is a powerful, strange item that is capable of warping one's inhibitions and wants to match the caster if need be. Does substituting actual imprisonment for this seem attractive to you?"

The Frost Giant gave a short, silent nod, unsure if he should agree to such a vague offer.

"Then as a way for you, Loki Odinson, to atone for your crimes against Midgard especially, I, Odin Allfather, suggest that you spend the time wasted with Thanos on Midgard instead."

This time, Odin was not quick enough to avoid the backlash of his words. Loud complaints echoed and bounced off the high walls. "Your Highness, why are you showing this traitor mercy?" Even the Warriors Three and Sif voiced their protests in his ears. Thor was surprisingly quiet and had been since they had left Midgard.

"Silence," the Allfather commanded. "I am giving Loki this chance because I believe he can be rehabilitated. Now, Loki, do you think this acceptable? Although, I do recommend this seeing as your only other option is to spend quite some time imprisoned."

'Allowing me to return to the very place I sought to enslave? Reversing the time I lost at that?' thought Loki. 'Is he mad? Surely.'

Though, it did seem rather appealing. Loki harbored no real hatred for Earth and he was rather educated in Midgardian technology… He wanted to help fix what Thanos forced him to destroy. "I… accept your offer… Your Highness."

It was not long after the Grand Hall was cleared of Asgard's soldiers. With only Thor, Loki and Odin remaining, the three moved to the more intimate setting of Odin's study, where Frigga was waiting impatiently.

"Loki, my dear, you are okay," cried Frigga. She snaked her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. Her adopted son's eyes drifted shut with the feeling of security she never failed to wash him in, and returned her hug.

"Yes, mother, I am fine." Loki appeased her with a smile when it faded as the curiosity of his sentence could not be quelled anymore. "But…" He turned to face Thor and Odin who were still standing in the entry way. "This decision to alter time for me and to send me back to Midgard… Why?" Loki couldn't help the frown that took over his face.

"You may thank your brother for my verdict," was all that Odin felt to say.

"...Thor?" he echoed. The God of Thunder wore a serene but sly smirk on his face.

"Purely selfish reasons, I'm afraid, dear brother. I couldn't bear the thought of you stuck in the dungeon withering away for so many millenia. It doesn't become you. What you've done prior to Thanos corrupting you was treacherous, yes, but never fatal. I realize now that what you did was to cure me of my own stubbornness. Took a bit of convincing on my part for Father to even consider it. Foolish of me to have such a naive view on this, I know," Thor grinned.

The Frost Giant blinked. "I… thank you," he said simply. There wasn't much Loki could say. He would try to fulfill his debt in future.

"Now Loki," Odin started. "You will be able to keep your magic; this is a great chance I am giving you. Heimdall and I will both watching you personally. When we cast this spell, he and the four of us in this room will be the only to have knowledge of these past events. Do you understand?"

At Loki's nod, there was nothing left to say as the exited the room, then the castle itself. They walk the Bifröst silently and meet its Guardian waiting stoically at his usual post.

"Are you sure that this is the best method, my King?" Heimdall's deep voice rumbled.

"As a method that is beneficial to us all, I do, my friend," Odin replied.

Heimdall nods, turning and leading them inside the chamber. He assumes his second post and activates the Bifröst, pulling forward the entrance that would deliver Loki to Midgard. The Frost Giant slowly walks up the steps when Thor chimes out, "We shall see each other soon, brother." Loki offers a small smile to both Frigga and Thor and steps into the doorway.

The spinning dome of the Bifröst slows to a stop, allowing Heimdall to remove his sword. Putting it back into its holster, he asked Odin again, "...do you think he can accomplish this task?"

"Loki is a brilliant sorcerer," Odin answered. "Intelligent and clever. I believe that he feels the need to correct the wrongs he's done, even if he does not recognize it himself. Assisting someone like the Mistress of Death will benefit not only us in the long run, but Loki himself."

2006, Surrey

A sullen Harley kicked her feet in the air, forcing her to move forward on the swing she was sitting on. It had only been an hour or so since she left the Dursleys'. She always ran to this playground to hide while evading Dudley and his friends or if by luck, she managed to get out of the house when she was a child. It was pretty much abandoned and surrounded by tall grass that reached her hips (her shoulders when she was younger). The rusty swing set creaked sadly with each movement, the see-saw was stuck in one direction and the dirty manual carousel had paint chipping away, but it was hers.

"I can't believe I did it again," she berated herself out loud. "I thought I could control it… Accidental magic at sixteen?" She felt Kiyo and Vasuki moving over her, humming in contentment, probably because of how warm her body was right now. To others, this would most likely be an uncomfortable feeling to have, but despite only having the two for no more than nine hours, their presence calmed her down.

She couldn't allow her anger to get the better of her. Being a Pyromancer always meant staying level-headed. Your anger could drive the magic to do drastic things you really had no intentions of. It lived in all moments of anger; from annoyance, jealousy and to extreme rage. It was a delicate balance of directing such emotions to more beneficial outcomes and staying vigilant to make sure those same emotions didn't grow and take control.

Add Fire Magic to a magical core that already inhabits Shadow Magic, and Harley was basically at war with herself. A Shadow Mage could not fall too deep into the darkness they summoned. Her core could be reduced to nothing, absorbing all of her magic and only leaving a pit of emptiness behind. A shadow.

As it was, Shadow Magic is naturally cold and the two simply sharing the same space was risky enough. The fire could easily overtake it and eat away at the magic. Lately, she could even feel the dark core recoiling from her fire. They were like two opposing ends of a magnet. Which confused her greatly. When she completed her training originally, all three of her cores worked together in perfect harmony.

Harley huffed and kicked her feet again. Her eyes flickered up towards the night sky, narrowing them as something odd caught her attention. A bright stream of light glowed directly over the park that grew into a wide beam the size of a car. It slammed down on the ground, shaking the earth for a moment before the light disappeared as quickly as it came. The quake shook Harley off of the swing, unable to do anything but stare at the column of multi colored light. She stood unsteadily, eyebrows furrowed as her eyes focused on something where the beam struck.

'A… guy?' she gaped. "Um… hello?" She called out loud. Still unsure of what she had seen, Harley moved closer anyway. The man spun around to face her, causing her to jump back in shock.

"Where am I?" the newcomer demanded. He seemed confused, Harley noted. As if he knew he wasn't supposed to be here.

"Um… Surrey? Outside of London, England?" she offered. She played with her fingers nervously.

The man moved closer in long, but careful strides. Harley wished she could say this was the weirdest occurrence she'd ever had, but this didn't even crack her top five. Seeing the man up close, the first thing she observed is how handsome he was. Too handsome. Like he wasn't even human. He was rather tall, lanky, had long silky black hair that was slicked back over his head, and from the help of the bright moon overhead, Harley was able to tell that his eyes were green? Blue?

"What year?"

Why was he asking her what year it was? Did- did he time travel somehow and end up in a different year than what he wanted? But it didn't look like had a Time-Turner! Though, this man having one wouldn't make sense either because they could only go back a few hours.

"Wha? Uh, 2006."

"Hmph, so either they made a mistake, or they've put me here on purpose. And I strongly suspect the latter," he assumed.

"Uh, um, I'm Harley. Harley Potter." She offered her hand in greeting. Who sent him here? Why was he here? Why isn't this weirding her out? Though there wouldn't (shouldn't) be anything that can top killing a sixty foot long venomous snake when you're twelve, anyway.

The man showed an odd look of recognition in his eyes that confused her. There's no way that he knew her in the future, was there? Wouldn't he have recognized her despite how old she was? "Ah, so it seems my father had other intentions." He shook her hand with a gentle grip. "I am Loki."

But before Harley could say anything else, they were suddenly jerked away from each other in a powerful burst of magic when their hands touched. An icy tingle rushed through her body, causing both Vasuki and Kiyo to hiss sharply, recoiling from her body in anger. The force threw them across the field, Harley groaning as her head spinned. What's with the surprise magical surges lately?

The twin snakes dove into the grass, trying to regain a source of warmth from the ground. She sat up slowly while holding her head. "What the hell…? Again?"

Across the field, Loki was already upright, his eyes wide from the strange occurrence. Was she already this powerful so young? Outside of Odin, his mother and himself, there hadn't really been anyone else that even closely matched the level of magic he possessed. At this point, the Mistress of Death was a mere child but the raw power she had was incredible. Although, from the mere touch, there was this sense of resistance. Had someone tampered with her core? It already seemed like she was breaking it naturally.

Her magic was so warm, the thought passed through his mind quickly. Loki always ran cold, personally, due to him being a Frost Giant. As a child, Thor often complained about that fact whenever they would hug or when Loki would demand they share beds during a harsh rainstorm.

He stood, regaining his senses easily and crossed the field to assist the young girl. When he grew closer, hissing rose from the grass. "Stay away," they warned. Snakes? Interesting. He offered Harley his hand and pulled her up gently. As she got up, her companions wound themselves around her legs and snuck back up her shirt. Their bodies disappeared from sight, most likely melting into her skin. Ah, so they're her Familiars.

Harley shivered as she grabbed his hand. So cold. Her Shadow Magic tingled pleasantly through her body at the sensation, but the feeling soon was chased away by the fire. "Wait." She brushed her hair away from her face, trying to sort her thoughts. "Did… d-did you say y-your name was Loki? Like the Norse God of Mischief, Loki?"

"I believe that is what I said, yes." The demigod in question lifted his brow in amusement.

"Of course you did, bloody dragons exist, why not you?" she muttered to herself. "So Asgard, the Great Tree, it all exists? Why would you even be down here on Earth?"

At this, Loki held up his hand. "Questions such as these needn't be answered where wandering ears could hear. Is there any place we could go that would offer privacy?"

He needed privacy just to answer that? What could be so important, so secret, that they had to leave? Plus, there couldn't be any way that someone was watching, was there?

Was it?

Harley's eyes darted around the area, fruitlessly searching for any glimpse of well… anything. Since learning of the Order of the Phoenix, she had heard bits and pieces of them possibly watching her at the Dursley's. Is that what Loki meant? Could he see through concealment charms? She looked back up at the he shook his head, her shoulders (that subconsciously tensed) relaxed in relief.

"It would seem that my father did not completely disclose his reasoning behind allowing me to return to Earth. I am afraid part of that might have to do with you and your mission."

Harley pointed to herself, mouth agape. A bloody demigod was sent to help her defeat Voldemort? What could be more demanding of a secret than this?

"I — yeah, okay…," she stuttered. "I know where we can go." She lead the demigod towards the street, stopping right at the curb. Loki watched Harley curiously as she pulled out her wand and pointed it towards the open space. He managed to suppress his alarm at a purple, triple decker bus suddenly racing up the same street at a breakneck speed. The bus stopped short with its doors aligned with them perfectly. They opened quickly, and out a head popped; Stan, Harley believes is his name, the same person who greeted her the first time she (accidentally) summoned the bus.

"Thank you for calling on the Knight Bus," his voice droned. "My name is— Oi!" The conductor's eyes widened. "You're 'Arley Potter!"

The young witch offered a quick smile in return. "Cheers, Stan. Think we can get a ride to the Leaky Cauldron?"

He nodded quickly, almost shaking his hat right off. "Absolutely, miss; that'd be a galleon and five sickles."

The two boarded the triple decker bus, Loki's eyes checking over it with apprehension obvious on his face. This is what passed as transportation? From how old its interior looked, the bus barely seemed safe to ride, let alone sleep in, according to the beds sitting freely on the floor.

The trip was… eventful to say the least. Jerking around corners, narrowly avoiding vehicles that obviously couldn't see the purple monstrosity, and getting clipped by bed frames skidding across the floor. The bus arrived at their stop with a screeching halt. Harley tipped their conductor and casually strode off the bus, Loki following exhaling a breath of relief. He couldn't help but watch as the beast on wheels rocketed off into the night again.

"What exactly is this place we've come to?" the demigod finally asked. He eyed the chipped bricks of the building and its rickety door in skeptically.

"This is the Leaky Cauldron," she announced with unnecessary cheerfulness, pushing open the beat up door. She revealed a decrepit looking tavern, such so in every sense of the word. The bar was partially empty, there were some lonely wizards scattered around that were nursing either a tea, Fire Whiskey or both mixed together. Tom the bartender was quietly cleaning mugs with a very used and old looking rag behind the counter. Loki couldn't resist his nose scrunching up with distaste.

"Are you… sure about this place, Miss Potter?" he whispered. He noticed a couple patrons pick their heads up slowly and stare the two curiously as if they could hear him.

"Meh, we'll be fine once we're in a room," Harley dismissed. "It's the Hog's Head you gotta worry about." She greeted the bartender and easily got them a room with two beds, paying with ten of what they called a galleon.

Leading the demigod up to the room, she felt Kiyo and Vasuki's smooth scales on her skin as they wound themselves around her waist. The sensation calmed her more than she realized. Occasionally, the two hissed, trying to smell and taste the new environment they were in. Harley suspected that was rather difficult to do, what with them blended into her skin and covered in her clothes. They seemed quite anxious too, most likely still shaken up from being tossed in the air and jolted with ice magic.

As Harley opened the door, she checked her watch. 10:36, it read. A sigh rolled off of her lips at the thought of what the next day will bring. She couldn't help but wonder why Sirius (while very alive, apparently) didn't have a will reading scheduled. Her parents having so one this late after their death was odd as well. Was it because she'll be of age in a year and she could only access the money they left for her to use for school until now? She also thought about who would even be present. From what Harley had learned, her parents didn't have many friends between them. Pettigrew was with Voldemort, everyone thought Sirius was dead, so clearly that left Remus and Dumbledore.

Loki walked inside ahead of her, looking over their momentary living quarters. He looked much taller and intimidating where she could properly see him. His hair did, in fact, reach his shoulders like she assumed and was even correct about his eyes being green. The warm lighting from the candles shook some of the paleness away from his skin. The shadows from them traced his sharp jawline pleasantly, but thankfully (for Harley's sake), the Asgardian interrupted her thoughts before they could finish.

"As I was saying, earlier, my father had ulterior motives in sending me here," he stated.

"But… why? What happens in the future that bloody Odin would know about me?" Harley questioned, closing the door behind her and locking it.

Loki offered a roguish smirk as an answer. Though to himself, not even he knew specifically why the Allfather would send him to the young witch. "Even Asgard knows of the humans blessed by Magic, Miss Potter; that includes you and your enemy, as little humanity there is left in him. In the timeline I am from, you are known as the Mistress of Death —"

Here, Harley's hazel eyes widened. They called her what? Was she gonna be the new Voldemort or something?

"— and we knew of your strength, yes, but it was nothing like I felt earlier."

The witch thought back to when they were forced away from each other.

"But that isn't my reason being here," he admits. Loki can't explain why, but he feels slightly apprehensive in explaining himself. He knows that the invasion wasn't truly his fault, that the Mind Gem molded his intentions to match those of Thanos. But the stone also unlocks and warps your inhibitions; Loki wanted to be respected and feared? To be acknowledged? It encouraged him to do whatever he needed to in order to achieve it. Even if it meant sending legions of Chitauri to Midgard.

Without noticing that he took up pacing around the room, Loki's past crimes spilled from his lips. He began from the beginning; reigniting the rivalry between the Jotunn and Asgardians, Thor picking a fight and (accidentally) getting him banished. Even how he blatantly lied to the Thunderer about Odin dying and sending a fighter mecha to keep him from returning.

His eyes drifted to Harley, who has been seated on one of the beds, staring at him warily; he assumes, for quite some time.

This doesn't deter him, however, as the more Loki says, the more it encourages him to talk about it. Once he has finished revealing his wrong doings, he notices that the young witch has grown more and more nervous in his presence. Even her snake familiars pick up on her change and hiss warningly at him to keep distance.

"Odin struck a deal with me," he quickly throws out. He, for some reason, doesn't want her to be afraid of him. "What happened after I fell… I became a puppet for a being far more threatening and powerful than I. Odin understood that those intentions were not really my own and allowed me reprive to regain my strength, and to well, apparently help you achieve your goal." Loki finds himself trusting her rather easily with all this information and briefly wonders why he doesn't find any issue with it. "I am here… to redeem myself."

The room is silent for a few moments, outside of the twins hissing quietly.

Harley… wasn't precisely sure how she was supposed to absorb what she had been told. And she suspects that the Asgardian is possibly holding more back and only giving her the bare bones about his adoptive family. But that was neither here nor there.

She was in a room with a demigod. One that had been brainwashed into killing hundreds of people and threatening the lives of much more.

And she was… okay with it.

She couldn't explain how, but she sensed the sincerity in Loki's words. He truly regretted what he caused on Earth. Not really about Thor but definitely everything else.

It was odd, and Harley had never felt anything like it before, but she was sure that Loki was telling the truth. Not even the twins had objected at any point.

"I…. believe you," she said quietly. The way she said it almost sounded like she was still determining whether or not that was the correct thing to say. Her eyes met the Asgardian's and the relief she saw made her relax completely. "Well… now that this emotional rollercoaster is over, let's get some sleep, yeah?" Harley, quick to shake off the heaviness, fumbled around in the pocket of her hoodie for her miniaturized trunk.

She tossed it on the floor and with the wave of her hand, the trunk grew back to its original size. It snapped open and sleeping clothes, a tank top and sweatpants, floated out of it.

"I'm gonna guess that you didn't come with clothes of your own?" she asked the demigod. When she received a negative answer, she stood and looked into the trunk herself, unsure if she had any old clothes of Dudley's that would (no doubt) fit the man. Humming in satisfaction, she pulled out an oversized t-shirt and sweatpants.

Loki's nose scrunched up in disgust at the dingy clothing.

"It's either this or you sleep naked cuz what you're wearing isn't gonna cut it," she bargained. The Asgardian looked like he considered the latter before taking the clothes anyway.

Harley almost began to change out of her clothes when a thought came to her. §Vasuki, Kiyo.§

The green and black heads of her newly acquired snakes appeared on either side of hers, their bodies revealing themselves as well, wrapped around her torso. §Yes, Mistress?§ they both replied.

Behind her, Loki stared curiously at the hissing falling from the teen's lips. From what he knew of Midgardian witches and wizards, the Language of Snakes was a dying art. Meanwhile, most Magic users on Asgard who had snakes as familiars spoke to them with ease.

§Will you two be okay to sleep like this or do you want to be seperate?§

Surely melded into her skin while she rolled around in her sleep would not be comfortable.

§We want to roam this new place you've brought us to,§ Kiyo demanded.

The Parselmouth eyed the female King Cobra cautiously. §Only if the two of you stay out of sight and don't alarm anyone.§

On the left side of her head, Vasuki scoffed at the thought of being seen. §Of course not, what do you take us for? Besides, we'll only attack if you tell us to or if we know you're in danger.§

Satisfied, the witch opened the door to the room, checking to see if anyone was in the hall before allowing the twins to escape the room. §Be careful,§ she threw out in a whisper.

Harley re-locked the door, pulled off her hoodie and was about to pull on her tank top when she noticed something in the full length mirror against the wall. Something glittering on her right hip. It was the shape of a bursting silver star. The layers of the star shimmered rhythmically. It glowed faintly with a light blue outline under the light from the candles and it even felt cold when she prodded at it. If she was being totally honest, the chill that tingled through her afterwards was kinda calming.

"Lo...ki…?" She turned around to question the Asgardian when she sees him, shirtless, and observing a mark of his own in the same place hers is. Only this one is shaped like a small, black flame outlined in a warm orange.

It was warm, Loki noted when he copied Harley and poked at the new feature. Soothing. When he moved closer to the mirror, the flame gave the illusion of flickering against his skin; almost like it was alive.

"Loki. What the bloody hell is this?" she asked quietly.

"Well, it's rather simple," he murmured. "Our magic imprinted on one another."