This is the sequel to my first multi chapter story, "Keeping the Stars Apart" if you haven't read it, this is going to make no sense whatsoever so go on - give that a read first.

This takes place almost two years after KTSA ended, and while it will involve some angst, and some of the fallout from the first story, there will be a lot more fluff and family this time around. If everything goes to plan, this will be the second be a trilogy of multi-chapter stories with a series of one shots as the fancy takes me. As before, this story is basically complete. All 14 chapters are drafted on my trusty old laptop, I just need to polish re-jig and tweak as I publish.

I'll say this now, because I'm really rubbish at remembering. I don't own any of the Thor or Harry Potter Characters, and I am doing this solely for the fun of it...

That was the problem with lower school potions, thought Hermione wearily, dropping into her seat at the Hogwarts high table. Second year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff weren't too bad, but unfortunately they were followed by the horrendous gaggle of monsters that were third year Gryffindor and Slytherin. Had they been that awful at that age she wondered? If so, it was no surprise that Professor Snape had always been in such a foul mood.

Hermione groaned, wishing she had thought to pick up a vial of headache potion before she came to lunch. Seeing her expression, Professor McGonagall smiled at her sympathetically. "Rough morning Professor Granger?" Hermione shook her head wearily. "I really hate third years... they're old enough to know the ropes and give you a hard time, but not old enough to start to cower under the pressure."

Professor McGonagall thought for a moment. "Ah yes. Third year Gryffindor and Slytherin. Enough to give any teacher apoplexy. It's not school policy, but sometimes the thought of turning them all into toads is tempting. Tell me - did Barty Riley manage to get through the lesson with his cauldron intact for once...?"

But the Headmistress realised that she was talking to herself. Hermione was looking over at the doors opposite, shaking her head ruefully. "I swear I'm going to have to invent a teenage girl repelling charm. It's ridiculous. He's like the Pied Piper - only he's totally oblivious!"

Professor McGonagall looked up and smiled at Hermione's amused frustration. Striding through the door, deep in conversation with one of his seventh year Ancient Runes students, was the newest addition to the Hogwarts staff. Generally known to staff and pupils as Professor William Lawes, Loki of Asgard had finally felt ready to join the staff a year ago teaching Arithmancy; and had added some advanced Ancient Runes a term later, when Professor Babbling decided that she wanted to scale back her teaching time.

The fact that he was being trailed by at least half a dozen of his other 7th year pupils – all female, had not gone unnoticed by the Head, who was not blind to the unprecedented level of female attention he regularly attracted wherever he went – something that he did indeed seem blissfully unaware of.

It was hardly surprising, Minerva McGonagall thought – she might be old, but it seemed that even she was as susceptible to his charms as the next woman – not that she would ever admit to it. Dressed in his black teaching robes, the severity of the cut only served to emphasise his lean muscular height, and the breadth of his shoulders . Above the high collar, his pale face was a study in planes and angles, saved only from hardness by the most extraordinarily green eyes, and his loosely curling black hair, currently just below collar length.

The Headmistress chuckled, patting Hermione's arm. "My dear, I have never been married, other than to my job, and heaven knows up here in the wilds of Scotland, my experience of men like him is limited to – well, there's only one of him, which is perhaps no bad thing. But there is one thing that is very clear, even to me. That man has eyes for only one woman in this room, and that is you." She looked past Hermione "Ah, good afternoon Professor Lawes. Have you had a good morning?"

"Excellent, thank you Headmistress. The seventh year are coming on really well. This year's NEWT results should be even better than last year." Loki sank into the seat to Hermione's left, and very soon the young couple were engaged in a discussion of where they were going to go for their forthcoming holiday. From what the Headmistress could hear, Hermione fancied Venice, while "Professor Lawes" was all for Prague. Personally, her money was on Hermione, but then she supposed that that would depend on how "persuasive" Loki was prepared to be. ..

xx0xx

A fortunate quirk of timetabling meant that Loki and Hermione had Monday afternoons free, time that was usually spent in research, preparing lessons, or marking essays. However, this was one of the first really nice spring days, after one of the worst winters in living memory, so before getting down to some work, they decided to get a little fresh air. Having spent a pleasant half hour chatting to Hagrid by his hut, they returned slowly back to the castle across the lawns.

Finally arriving back in the rooms that they shared, Hermione was surprised to find that they had a visitor. A handsome black raven, with a scarlet band around its neck was pecking rather impatiently on the window, in a way that – eyeing its powerful beak – made Hermione fear for the survival of the glass. She regarded it dubiously. A raven with a scarlet band meant Thor, and messages from Thor were rarely an invitation to catch upon family gossip - that kind of letter invariably came from Frigga.

"Loki! You have a letter." Hermione opened the window, but refrained from attempting to take the letter. The last time she had tried to take a raven-post letter meant for Loki, she had nearly lost a couple of fingers. Lesson learned. Her lover of the past two years appeared in the doorway.

"Confound it, what does Thor want now?" He held out his hand, and the raven obligingly went straight to him - unlike owls, the message was carried in the wicked looking beak rather than on a leg. Recognising Loki, the Raven surrendered the message without any objection, before returning to the windowsill, still eyeing Hermione balefully.

Loki scanned the message impatiently, his face becoming, if possible, even paler than usual. As he looked up at Hermione, she was stunned at the mixture of emotions she saw in his eyes.

"Fath.. Odin is dead..."

Hermione sat down suddenly on the window seat, causing the raven to flap irritably at her – she didn't even notice it.

Odin – formerly King of Asgard, All Father and Protector of the Nine Realms, had been sleeping since his eldest son had wrested the throne from him nearly two years ago. As his grip on reality had slipped, he had descended into a bloodthirsty obsession with his youngest son that had nearly cost Loki his life. Taking the throne had been the only way for Thor to ensure both Loki's survival, and both brother's chances of future happiness. After what Odin had done, there was no way on this earth that Hermione would mourn him, but Loki? Despite everything that his foster father had put him through; despite the physical and mental scarring that he still carried – it was clear that this had affected Loki more than he- or she - had expected.

Rising, Hermione wrapped her arms around him, feeling the tension in his body, quivering beneath her hands. He rested his cheek on her hair, one hand resting on the back of her neck the other still clutching his brother's note. How long they stood there, Hermione was not certain, but eventually he stepped away, dropping a kiss onto her temple as he did so.

"I need some air" she nodded, understanding. While the paralysing claustrophobia of two years ago had abated, in moments of stress Loki still craved space. Brushing a strand of soft black hair off his forehead, she kissed him gently.

"Go" she said, "but I'm not leaving you alone too long. I'll come and find you."

Pulling her hard, against him, Loki returned the kiss, lingering for long moments. "I'm counting on it" he murmured against her lips. With that, he turned and strode from the room. Hermione stood by the window, watching and waiting until she eventually saw him leave the castle, and head off across the lawns towards the lake. That was fine, she would know where to find him when the time came. In the meantime, she had better give the Headmistress a heads up.