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Chapter Text

‘A bored Slytherin is a bad Slytherin.’

The students in the Slytherin common room would joke about such sayings after the words were once uttered by the Head of Slytherin and when were they ever wrong?

Wanda would agree with the Slytherin professor full-heartedly as she went to bed that night.

Too bad before then she decided to partake in a game of Truth Serum or Dare-sy with Gamora, Mantis and Lorna. The Wizarding version of the simple, yet venturesome muggle game, Truth or Dare. Usually too busy with school and life, Wanda would avoid such games for the chaos they brought but tonight was one of those still nights where everybody was too excited for tomorrow’s Quidditch game to get too engrossed in schoolwork or some other activity. The Slytherin house had a Gryffindor team to beat in the morning so their house could party the rest of the night away.

Lorna’s eyes were mischievous as she turned on Gamora and Wanda could see the wheels spinning in her sister's mind, trying to see how she could ‘get’ Gamora. “Serum or Dare-sy, Gamora?”

Gamora felt the intended pressure because she knowingly glanced at Wanda before facing Lorna head-on. They were all the best of friends so how bad could this all get? “Serum,” she said in her commanding tone that left little for discussion.

Lorna passed over the flask of bubbly grey truth confection that she cooked up earlier that week. Lorna was easily the best of the four at potions. While not as strong as actual colourless truth serum, this serum was a close second or third to the gold standard. This homemade serum highly implied that the taker must tell the truth or some version of it in a small time frame after drinking.

“Have you and Star Lord kissed yet?” Lorna asked with a cheeky grin, teasing Gamora for liking a boy who wanted to be called by such a title.

Even Wanda smirked at her best friend because the Quill boy was quite a character and a bit of an odd duck. "Gryffindors,” Wanda muttered while bumping shoulders with her sister.

“Ooh good question,” Mantis said as she turned on Gamora. The whole group knew Gamora had a lust crush on Peter, the Gryffindor Beater. While usually they avoided being anywhere near the competing house and its mates, Peter had won them all over when he lied to get the girls all out of trouble. Honestly he had been so smooth about it, they all wondered after how he hadn’t been put in Slytherin as well.

Until he almost ran into a wall as he blathered on, distracting the teacher.

And ever since, Gamora had been making eyes. It was obviously fate and the rest of the girls were just waiting on the inevitable.

“Well…” Gamora’s mouth fell open, trying to decide if she should try and lie or not. The cheeky look in her eyes told them all they needed to know.

“Oh!” Lorna’ eyes grew wide. “They have!”

“Maybe once,” Gamora smirked.

Wanda laughed. She had already heard all about the kiss, secondhand. Gamora was bursting at the seams the day of after hiding this glee from the rest of the world. Only Wanda had a clue of this tryst. They were best friends after all. They rarely kept anything from each other. She still tried to listen as Gamora told the story a second time but her attention was soon pulled away.

A disgruntled snort could be heard from the other side of the room that only Wanda seemed to hear as she turned to the outcast in their common room. She tried to ignore the annoyed glare that came with the snort but Loki Odinson wasn’t always easy to ignore, even if he was obviously not willing to voice his irritation with their girly squeals and noise as he read. The boy who didn't really fit in the all green and silver room. Not that the colours didn't suit him but very few trusted the boy.

His family was known for always being Gryffindor once upon a time before Loki came along and his family were strong supporters of the new Ministry, which overthrew her family from the famous position. All of his part of the wizarding world were there now in the Gryffindor common room as they spoke while Loki sat in a room with families who were well known to support the ‘old’ dynasty, the Maximoffs.

To say he was popular in his own house would be a cruel statement.

His only Slytherin friend seemed to be Banner who was a surprise as well but nowhere to be seen tonight. Banner's family were known as Gryffindors and nothing else. Their house sigil was supposed to be the exact same Gryffindor red as the house proudly wore, yet somehow Banner ended up as a Slytherin with a head of shocking green hair to match. Wanda saw first hand that Banner was more knowledgeable than she first expected.

But were they actually Slytherin material?

“Wands!”

She whipped back around from her staring trance, her hair flying in all directions. “Hmm?” All eyes were now on her. Her cheeks grew warm, having been caught doing something she hadn’t meant to do. She could never explain the urge but she always felt an intricate pull towards Odinson. Like how she could hear him from across a crowded common room when no one else seemed to? Her attention to him never made sense... Not that she ever purposely tried to give him any mind. Encounters with Odinson was the last thing she would encourage. His family and friends were the reason for the capture or death of most of hers…

“Who were you looking at?” Mantis sounded genuinely curious as she looked in the direction that Wanda was now avoiding.

“I’ll tell you who…” Lorna grinned before motioning Gamora forward to whisper in the other girl’s ear. Wanda watched the exchange, uncomfortably. It was her turn next but she had sort of hoped that the game would end over the excitement of Gamora’s news. So much for that luck.

“We can’t do that. That’s too cruel,” Gamora said after pulling away from Lorna. Thank the heavens, maybe Gamora would protect her from whatever Lorna had planned. Her sister loved a good show… Maybe too much. Maybe to even Lorna’s detriment.

“Gamora, come on! It’ll be a good laugh and you owe me for hexing Tony for trying to throw Drooble gum in your hair!”

“Lorna…” Yet Gamora turned her ‘forgive me’ eyes onto Wanda who knew she would instantly pardon her best friend anyways as Wanda relented with a smile at Gamora. At least her best friend had tried to protect her from what was about to come. She straightened up and motioned with her hands to give it to her.

"I can handle anything you throw at me." A Slytherin doesn't show fear.

“Okay… Truth Serum or Dare-sy, Wands?”

“Dare-sy.” Let’s just give this debauchery over with, she thought.

Lorna squealed. “I knew she would pick that.”

Gamora smirked in a matter that suggested she had suspected the same. “Then I dare-sy you, Wanda Maximoff to… kiss Loki Odinson,” Gamora declared mischievously, her green brows bouncing in amusement before glancing over Wanda's shoulder to the male in question.

“What? No.” The words were uttered so quickly that Wanda almost ignored how her stomach seemed to drop while her heart raced. This was a bad idea. She resisted the urge to look over her shoulder to Loki, knowing the very sight of him right now would send her for a small panic attack.

“You picked dare-sy, Wands,” Lorna smirked, obviously enjoying the look on Wanda’s face more than Lorna would say. “This should be easy for you, anyhow,” she added with a shrug as she broke a chocolate frog in two before handing off a piece to Mantis.

Mantis nodded. “I don’t think you have any reason to worry. Your Veela blood will do half the work.”

“It’s not that simple,” Wanda responded, though the glance the girls gave her after they spoke of how much they disagreed. While yes, maybe boys and men tended to fawn over her, Loki Odinson never seemed to be one of those hormonal bunch so she couldn’t see how the racial trait could help with her now. It doesn't matter that she had a family lineage of Veela blood, though of course muddied by time and love, which caused her and her whole family to have such unique traits like violet eyes and platinum blond hair every couple of generations if lucky. Her father being one of the lucky ones with such physical attributes and Pietro and Lorna followed in his blond lineage while Wanda followed more after their mother. The Veela blood was strong in her family yet she doubted even a prayer to her original Veela ancestors would bring such a tepid boy to her side.

“You’re not backing out, are you?” Lorna grinned.

“I’m so getting you back for this,” Wanda gritted out to her younger sister, knowing this was all in good fun… But they had no idea what anxiety this dare brought her. Though maybe they do since her friends hand picked Loki out of everyone in this room. While she may have always discouraged her curious pull to the boy, she also kept far away from him. Afraid of what these urges meant or how they could affect her. Did she have to hear warning bells to be frightened?

It just always seemed so much safer to stay away. Don't poke the hippogryph, right?

Wanda turned to Gamora, trusting her opinion. “Do I look presentable?”

Gamora gave a look equivalent to 'girl please'.

This only made all the girls start to grin even harder. “When do you not?” Mantis teased. “Please tell me.”

“You know the tangles I get in the morning,” Wanda joked, trying to hype herself up for this dare-sy. By putting herself down doesn't seem like a good start but it was a start, right? They were all seventeen, aside from Lorna but at this moment, Wanda felt like she was thirteen again, which was ridiculous. She spoke to boys all the time and many were happy to carry her books or even her. “I need a plan.”

“Just go over and snog him,” Mantis smiled. Suddenly all three of them were no longer perched on the couch but huddled around Wanda. This was an important mission. The Brotherhood at work.

“And maybe get hexed?” Loki was a mean spellcaster.

“Once again, you’re Veela, Wands. He’s not going to do that,” Lorna said, “Use it to your advantage for once!”

“It’s not that easy!”

“Oh, it is,” Lorna announced before leaning back to wave at one of her flings who walked by. She was easily the most comfortable around the opposite sex, having had many boys or toys as she preferred to call them.

Wanda wasn't sure if she should be proud or concerned for her sister, who more than happily used her Veela traits for any occasion.

It did look comically easy with the Slytherin boy in question, now blushing and waving Lorna back. His name was Sunspot or something from Lorna’s year. Lorna was always the natural Veela.

Wanda wished the girls had picked some other boy for her dare. She wasn’t even sure of Loki's type. Though, she did know he had some fling with Lady Sif from Gryffindor, which didn’t end well. Wanda was positive she saw Loki with smouldering robes and burnt hair tips the day the two finally broke up back in fifth year. Either way, Wanda definitely didn’t look anything like Sif with her classic buff good girl barbie set looks.

“Just use that trick that you use on Professors,” Gamora said while laying a hand on Wanda's shoulder. Slytherin pep talk mode activated for when she couldn't let them fail on her watch.

“Yes,” Mantis nodded, “It’s like you get more Veela-y.”

Wanda blew out a breath, hating that they made this all sound so easy. She must be comfortable and confident to do that ‘trick’. The detail was an old Maximoff technique that caused their features to appear more lovely and alluring. Having generations of practice gave her family of Veela descendants the time and practice to perfect this stunt. She wasn’t even sure if other Veela blooded could manage this glamor magic since she doesn't know of any that weren’t family. From what she had learned, this was something her family tirelessly worked to control for generations, though it was said that her father could manage the glamour without any effort.

Not that even that effect could save him from his fate.

Or hers.

“Fine.” She straightened her shoulders and threw her hair back, thinking she could do this. She would finally speak to Loki Odinson after all these years of avoidance. She rose from the couch, trying to already get control of her emotions. She hadn't grown up as part of the now society-stained Maximoff family without some shields.

“I hate you all by the way,” she whispered before turning her back on her friends who only giggled with her declaration. She was sure to keep her head high as she went around the couch, trying to gain that confidence so she could do the Maximoff technique, not that she was any expert on the trick. Her father only taught the technique to his children so that they both could take advantage of people’s good nature and generosity when the family fell on hard, desperate times.

Thankfully those days were mostly behind the family…

She leaned against the back of the couch that her friends now sat on with her eyes closed and started to imagine her features growing more exquisite. If she did this right, her hair would almost glow as if basked in moonlight, her eyes glowed pinkish red, rather just expressive green and her skin smooth and spotless. She imagined all this while calming her breath. Usually she wouldn’t even need to try so hard but her nerves were a bit frazzled at this point.

She wasn’t even sure if she was going to be able to hold this long when she began to feel the usual tickle along her skin. She could almost feel a few gazes start to shift to her form already. Maybe this could work. Maybe Lorna’s plan of kissing and running wasn’t a terrible idea. Dazzle him with her exaggerated Veela traits, kiss and run. The stunt doesn't sound so horrible now.

It was known that Veelas could even entice wizards into doing as they were told. The tactic was always easier to do with people who were completely enamoured. Could she just demand Loki kiss her?

And then run?

This idea was the most tempting and either way, all these options felt sort of dirty. Not that these games usually worried about consent but Wanda knew if she was Loki, she would want the same.

Hell, she was screwed.

And with that last thought, she felt her Veela magic quiver as if threatening to leave her before she stubbornly made the effects return. The more she thought over all this, the worse her chances were going to get. She needed to trust her instincts on this dare. Either she was able to get Loki to kiss her or she was failing this challenge and facing the consequences.

‘If I look back, I am lost.’

She resisted the urge to wrap her fingers around her wand to boost her confidence and instead let a small yet self-assured smile slip onto her lips as she locked her eyes on Loki. Thankfully, he was still reading. She doesn't know what she would do if he was peering back at her. She wasn’t in Gryffindor because of this very moment. The Sorting Hat must have seen this dare and decided she wasn’t a lion.

Which had hurt at the time. She had thought Hogwarts would be her change in fate. Her time to put the past to rest. It seems her destiny was already sealed. She pushed the thought away quickly.

No, she was a Slytherin and she could be cunning. It does not matter that red was her colour.

“Odinson,” she addressed him while he sat in the nook in the wall, plush with pillows and blankets; the usual Slytherin luxury of silver and green. Her chest swelled when he looked up at her and his pupils did a similar dance. A cloudy daze could almost be seen in his eyes that she witnessed before in her Veela victims. She swore her hair and skin glowed a warm red further in triumph. There may have never been a response in him before but she was seeing a reaction now.

This could be a lot easier than she first thought.

“Kiss me,” she declared, deciding to go with the hopefully easiest route. Loki initiating dealt with the consent issue if he does the act himself and then she wouldn’t have to worry about guilting him into a quick pucker up or forcing herself upon him because neither of those options were happening. She couldn’t make him.

She held her breath as she waited and a sense of dread dripped down her spine when she saw the cloudy look begin to dissipate from his eyes. As if her command seemed to sober him up. He gave a small snort and a smirk came onto his face as he stared up at her, almost holding her in his gaze now and sizing her up.

“Beg me.”

Chapter Text

“Kiss me,” she declared, deciding to go with the hopefully easiest route. Loki initiating dealt with the consent issue if he does the act himself and then she wouldn’t have to worry about guilting him into a kiss or forcing herself upon him because neither of those options were happening. She couldn’t make him.

She held her breath as she waited and a sense of dread dripped down her spine when she saw the cloudy look begin to dissipate from his eyes. It was like her command seemed to sober him up. He gave a small snort and a smirk came onto his face as he stared at her, almost holding her in his gaze now and sizing her up.

“Beg me.”

Please.

"P-" Her eyes grew wide as the word wanted to spew from her lips like a favourite charm or hex that she held close. How? How did he do that? She wasn’t one to beg and she sure as hell hadn't come here and to plead to him for a kiss. Fuck this dare, she wasn’t going that far for any game.

And yet, the word still stood on her tongue. Like the plea was swishing around in her mouth, beseeching to be free. Her heartbeat spurred on, fighting to either say or not say the dreaded word. Confusion erupted in her and she had to gasp for breath and swallow the word away, finally.

How?

She dropped to sit in the nook beside him. “How did you do that?” She stared at him. The nook grew. The castle, forever in motion, even in the dungeons must have sensed the question required privacy. Suddenly Wanda was filled with gratitude for being a Slytherin because the green colours came with a weirdly endearing trait from Hogwarts, and Wanda suspected, Salazaar Slytherin personally. Culverts and other tunnels would casually appear when needed or when a Slytherin would be late to class. Sometimes the tubing would just show up to a random adventure when the school thought some extra Slytherin attention was needed so shortcuts galore.

You didn't think Slytherins got into all that mischief without a helping hand, did you?

In this case, the nook was becoming a tube corner by elongating itself and giving their seating a slight turn for privacy. She never expected Hogwarts to act as her wingman.

Suddenly her need to be near him and run at the same time felt all the more real and maybe the school was sensing that. But making the process easier or harder for her, she wasn't sure. How did Loki almost make her beg? Is this why she always felt the need to avoid him? The sense of danger came into focus if he was truly able to make her do his bidding.

Her eyes grew calculating and critical as he peered at the alcove with some distrust.

“If you just used an unforgivable spell on me, I will burn you at the stake,” she whispered harshly, feeling the threat in her very bones. She was pissed. Did he actually just try to use an Imperius Curse on her? She couldn’t think of what else would cause her to almost lose bodily control and her fingers were now burning to snatch her wand and show him the temper she hid deep within her.

That Maximoff flame.

“What?” He jumped back into the pillows in the alcove. “No!” It was the loudest she ever heard him be before. It seemed she shocked him.

She watched Loki, looking for signs that he was lying to her. So far he seemed believable but they were in Slytherin together and he was a part of the Odinson family who were not known for their honour in recent years. Not that she would ever judge him entirely on title alone. The problem was she doesn't know him personally either. “Then how did you almost make me beg there?”

“Uh…” His mouth dropped open and he made her feel like she had just grown another head but she doesn't care how clueless he acted, she knows what she felt. Never in her life had she ever experienced such a compelling sensation. Just the thought made her want to shiver. What happened there?

“Maybe you wanted to...?” Even as he said the words, he didn't appear too convinced and Wanda would laugh if she wasn’t so unsettled.

“I can perceive the difference between my own wants and desires with something that feels like compulsion, Odinson.” It was insulting that he thought she could even be confused by such a thing. Were they not both the top of their class?

“Well I’m sorry to tell you this but I don’t know, Maximoff,” he snapped the book he’d been reading closed. “Forgive me but while I have some talent with spells, I can happily attest to my inability to do wandless magic and I’m sure you do not see my wand in sight.”

Wanda blushed, deciding it was over her mistake to see this vital flaw and not over his tantalizing words. “Fine,” she huffed out after a moment and turned her eyes towards the rest of the common room. “And you didn’t see anyone cast any magic either?”

Her friends weren’t cruel enough to tangle themselves with this dare, would they? No, if anything her friends were taking curious, secretive glances. They were confused. She didn’t see anything malicious in their eyes and nobody else seemed to give her and Loki any mind. Not many were in sight any more after the nook changes.

“None from my view and I would have been in an optimum position to see it.” His duelling skills were supposed to be surprisingly casual and Wanda knew that only came with serious practice so he was probably correct in his observations.

Wanda froze, fighting the jitters that threatened to overcome her. None of this was making sense. If Loki hadn’t done this, then who? She doesn't like the idea of returning to a life of looking behind her back, fearing an attack. Was her family really so unliked still? It had been years since her ‘mad’ father was in power.

“Try it again.” She doesn't like how her voice came out. Smaller and more frightened than she expected as she turned to look at him. It was a flimsy idea but she had nothing else to go on. “Try commanding me again.”

“Maximoff…”

His lips grew tight and she could see he was against this idea of hers. Not that she was going to let him get out of this now but she could see why he was reluctant. Not only had she already threatened him but she had also accused him of a heinous crime.

“It would… help.” She needed to know where the threat came from. Does her fear in him manifest somehow? Or was somebody playing a trick on her? She needed to strike out his part in this before she could move on to other avenues, dare be damned.

“Please, this once.”

Loki huffed something under his breath with a shake of his head before throwing his book aside. “This is ridiculous.” She wondered if he just didn’t believe her when she said she was compelled or what? He rubbed at his eyes with one hand and Wanda tried to ignore the way his breath seemed to come out too fast. She swore she could hear his heartbeat raging.

When his hand dropped down and his blue eyes rose to hers, a sense of calm seemed to overcome her. All the feasting fears from moments ago fell away and she felt a warmth spread across her chest like dragon fire starting in her veins. The spread went all across her body and suddenly she realised how cold she had always been. A heat grew in her and blossomed on her cheeks as a lovely blush that only added to her Veela allure.

“Maximoff… Say my name, my full name.”

“Loki Jotunn Odinson Laufey.” The name was procured there effortlessly. Even after some initial fighting. Puckering her lips had not done the job. The command still popped out. She just didn't expect all the extra details of his title.

“How?” She was so confused. How had she even known that? “Laufey? Is that your true name?”

Loki sat up now. "That's not even on my school transcripts," he scrutinised her to the point of causing a deep ridge between his brows as if an old memory of his was suddenly unlocked. "How? How did you know that?" Neither of them had to refer to anything in particular. Wanda shouldn't have really known any of that past Loki or Odinson. The confusion was evident. "Do it again."

The words blossomed in her mouth and she didn't fight their tide this time. In reward for the obedience, she felt all her confidence return and her features grow bright and brilliant once again. No struggle this time at all. Seamless even.

Loki’s eyes danced around her face, unsure and yet captivated by her flourishing beauty once again as he licked his lips. His eyes grew bright, instead of dazed and Wanda didn’t know what to make of that. Too wrapped up in her own reactions.

She didn't know what to make of any of this.

"Are you sure you're actually feeling a compulsion?" There was still an uncertain look in his eye. Like he wasn't sure if he should believe her or not. Like none of this made any sense and yet it was unfolding before their eyes.

"If you don't believe me after that, then feel free to try again." She might as well be sure too. Especially when she didn't know what to make of this predicament as she looked down at her hands and body for clues to this compulsion of hers. She needed extra time to analyse this scenario and this wasn't exactly the place and time but her mind was always processing.

Plus did this work past just making her speak? What was this?

"Any guidelines?"

She paused in the search of her body for signs and looked back at Odinson again. How does she end up in a second game of Truth Serum or Dare-sy tonight?

"Nothing vulgar, Odinson or Laufey, whoever you are," her eyes held a warning for if he were to try anything. Her Veela side wasn't just for fun and games. The ancient racial would also protect her if push came to shove and Wanda knew that side of her truly existed. Yet her Veela instincts were not giving her any such warning; if anything, her abilities only seemed to flourish and grow magnetic around him.

Her Veela instincts wanted him and Wanda found no reason to struggle against such strong, primal tendencies now that her avoidance of him was now officially over. A dangerous game of impulse and fear she was straddling. Her Veela side usually wasn't this forthcoming and easy to exude. Practically effortless right now and this part of her was getting harder to fight by the moment.

"So nothing worse than what you would suggest?" A single one of his brows bounced up and suddenly Wanda wondered where her luck in games was going now.

"Certainly." The proposal seemed a fair deal.

Yet why did she feel like she was walking into the mouth of a lion, or more accurately the serpent? She could feel the venomous fangs over her delicate skin, taunting and waiting. Wanda didn't show fear when also a serpent herself but she wondered when she became prey in this scenario? Or why does she have such a clear lack of fear as well?

“So… 'kiss me' per se would be on the table then?”

Wanda stilled at his words.

“Since I certainly remember a time when you randomly uttered that particular request to me," he shook his head and a single dark curI bounced beneath his dark beanie with two golden horns printed on the front of the garment. He certainly sounded more than Slytherin now. The proposition came out playfully; a small jab at her.

How was she turned on by this?

"I did suggest it first," she alluded, deciding to follow this fleeting moment even though it felt like he was taunting her.

And maybe he was. It was still hot.

Especially with his eyes drilling into hers as if to accuse her, when she knew what she had done when she came over here. She just wasn't going to be ashamed of a little fun or whatever this new game was. "Do you regret not taking me up on my offer?" her side eye had a curl of satisfaction to its crease. She didn't want to be a faulty Veela was all. That was all. Her ancestral abilities were flocking to the forefront with this teasing attention and she felt in her element again.

And maybe she wanted this more than she expected.

But she didn't need to concern herself with that when she was here for the purpose of a dare and now science. How does Odinson react to her feminine charm, Veela and all?

Staring up at him, Wanda felt suddenly she had been so good for so long and she deserved this. To be reckless for a moment. Staring up at him, Wanda almost felt like he felt the same staring back at her. Those dares suddenly felt like fate.

"Maybe…”

Maybe he felt it too. They shared something. A darkness of similar shades. Wanda secretly wondered if it was a secret shade of green like their house colors or something more. "Tell me if you want me to stop," she whispered, unable to resist wanting to get closer to him. Her instincts were moths to his warm flame and her fingers wanted to be licked and burned.

His eyes which were once hard and cold seemed to unveil with captivation. Wanda almost pondered if she should feel bad for him. He was most likely absolutely spellbound by her Veela magic by this point and Wanda could only hunger more for its power. The lustful filter in his eyes. It was for her. And it wasn't as if he was completely powerless in this situation…

Before had shown that he seemed to have some sort of ability to compel her. Who eats who here?

Smoothly minding her school skirt, Wanda shifted onto her knees in the little nook and remembered what she came here to do with new flourish and zeal. That personal Maximoff touch. Her knees softly sunk into the pillows of their personal alcove and her right hand caught on his shoulder to guide her steadiness, which was handy because Loki Odinson was making Wanda Maximoff feel quite dizzy. Imagine that. The small slip of her movement caused a soft huff of amusement to leave her soft lips. This was not her first kiss but something about this instance felt very sweet, almost naive. Exhilarating. It was the electricity in the air, zapping them.

Her little laugh had the corner of his lips lifting without means. A stolen moment of the heart, hitched high in their chest. Fate rang true through them.

"Don't stop, Maximoff," he spoke with a certain yearning breathlessness, a hook in his voice. His hand was suddenly in her hair and Wanda felt as if every root on her head was raised. And that was all permission she needed as her fingers began to explore the expanse of his jaw and throat. She took in the supple skin while following through with her true intentions of drawing his face to hers.

"Kiss me."

Again, Wanda felt the compulsion of his words similar to shotguns at her back, pushing her forward but she was already on course to take that last leap. She knew the impulse and felt no need denying the pleasure as her body pressed to his rather than fight gravity and the sinking cushion below her and kissed him.

Wanda had kissed others before but there was something terribly frightening about locking lips with Loki. It was like time suddenly ceased to exist and there was nothing but the two of them and maybe their clothes. The world slipped away and so did reality as Wanda sunk into Loki as sand sunk into the ocean, weightless.

She swore she could hear music notes off in the distance as his lips swept against hers, wave after wave of the beach, found in his kiss. She was lost in his embrace as his fingers drew sigils into her scalp and she carved out impressions of his chest with her palms and clay. She wanted to take him in like sunlight to keep away every chill. Her mind was literally singing poetry for this kiss. That was how lost she was.

She was simultaneously trying to be as close as possible with her chest flush against his front to the point that his vest buttons dug into her chest but also leaning on top of him, dominating him. Her fingers were at work on a couple of his top buttons of his shirt when they naturally came apart in search of air and some semblance of sanity. In surprise, she peered at him, wondering if he had felt… that. That freefall. That complete loss of delicious control. It wasn't exactly an urge Wanda was prepared to find but that doesn't matter because the look she does see in his eyes was more enthralling than anything she had seen in another before. Such wonderment that Wanda felt like they were seeing each other for the first time in clear focus. Her ribcage squeezed in anticipation or was that her heart? She felt deliciously dizzy.

She bit her lip, deciding before leaning in for another sweet brush of their lips, which Loki was conveniently facilitated by tilting her face to his with the gentle press of his fingers to her chin. Their second kiss had barely begun before there was a polite "What the fuck!" followed by a giggle and the two sprang apart as if they were still in a common room with loads of other Slytherins. Wanda didn't know how she forgot.

She leaned back, no longer placing all her weight on Loki. The only proof of their previous tryst being her hand on his bare shoulder where his collar peaked open and the color of her new lip potion was smeared on his bottom lip. She should leave a review about that. It really wasn't acceptable, even if he did look adorable.

All eyes went to Pietro who had been the reason for the noise but the commotion seemed to be the reason for Pietro's volume. The commotion being them.

"How did this happen?" Pietro's crude voice broke through the crowd. His masculinity on show for everyone as usual.

Wanda's eyes flickered to Loki's, literally finding herself unable to speak. Stunned to silence and breathless. A rare occurrence for a Maximoff. She just never expected her night to be like this. Not that she had to answer to Pietro in any manner. Or any man. Twin or not.

"Fuck off, bro," Loki answered with his signature defiant stare in place. Only slightly thrown off by Loki correcting his beanie crown. Though Wanda wondered if that action hid anger barely beneath the surface by the tension now dripping through his body. She could feel the tension as her hand fell away from Loki’s shoulder.

"Oh come on," Pietro boasted, "We can't have the resident Slytherin princess kissing our resident loner, though I personally think that L should really stand for loser…" He trailed off to stare at them with almost new found curiosity and disgust. "How could we not have some questions?" He laughed here but Wanda knows her brother's real laugh compared to whatever this was.

Wanda's stomach dropped as she heard snickers from the Quidditch team. "Pietro, stop it!" she snarled, somehow expecting better. Why? She didn't know.

In a whirl, Loki stood to meet Pietro and Wanda shifted so her feet were back on the ground. Though she wondered when she had walked into a pissing match? The two boys stood toe to toe with only a few metres between them but thankfully no hands on any wands.

"Can’t figure out mutual attraction, Maximoff?" Loki smirked. "Not everyone has to be an athlete to get attention."

A few in the room chuckled.

"Yeah, well… Usually charity work isn't this mouthy," Pietro started to raise his fist. Loki dropped into a stance that suggested he was thinking the same when the Quidditch captain slid into the picture with an overly pacifist smile that spoke of how much he wanted to play tomorrow and that meant his seeker, Pietro, needed to be present.

"We have our first game tomorrow," Killmonger gritted out. An obvious thinly veiled threat that caused everybody in the room to watch the Quidditch captain, Killmonger with bated breath.

"Aka back down," Loki translated for Pietro's benefit. The fury that showed up on Pietro's face was nothing but…

"Keep that gold for the pitch," Killmonger said before clamping his fists onto Pietro's shoulders and literally steering him away by force before the Slytherin was evicted from tomorrow's match due to in-house violence.

Such mayhem wouldn't be the first for Slytherin.

Wanda watched as Loki smirked as Pietro was led away. The male hormones were pumping tonight and she flashed back to her own hormonal reaction to Loki before. Their interaction was both exciting and frightening. She didn't know if she was ready for more…

When Loki finally turned around, she was gone.

And so was the corner culvert they had created.

Chapter Text

He had fucked up. He was a fuck up. Not that any of this was anything new to him. A glance across the dining hall to the Gryffindor table confirmed this notion. There, his old life sat, eating, drinking and looking all happy together. Without him. The array of red and gold that he could never be, looking perfect without him jading the whole piece. His brother, Thor, was having a grand time as usual while sitting by all their childhood friends like Hogun and Sif at the Gryffindor table. Forever without him now.

Not that this mattered. He long ago accepted his fate as a Slytherin, the green stain of his father’s mantle. The constant thorn of his family’s side as a misfit, a Slytherin and who knows what else…

He accepted all of that as his horrible fate to bear. What he wasn’t prepared to carry was being such a mess with Wanda last night. He glanced down the Slytherin table to her. She was hard to miss with her glistening hair and enticing smile. Pietro wasn't wrong when he said she was the Slytherin princess. The air of royalty seemed to follow her.

Images of their kiss flashed before his eyes and if he wasn’t at the breakfast table, he would happily relive pulling caress…

Before the reality check came flooding in, it wasn't like the resident Slytherin princess actually wanted anything to do with him. Last night was just a weird fluke. A lack of clear sanity was obviously stirring the air last night. Loki blamed the hormones pumping through everyone's veins. Clearly his own too or why else would he do something so incredibly stupid and typical of a teenage boy when Loki prided himself on how atypical he was.

He still didn't understand how he came to be even making out with Wanda Maximoff when she was a girl who usually had absolutely nothing to do with him. That Maximoff he preferred, or at least he tried to believe that as the memory of her soft lips tingling overcame him. He quickly stuffed some food immediately into his mouth to distract from the sensation. How was he supposed to live with these memories? Of her? Why her? He could live with such taunting memories of anyone else but of course it was her.

He never fully understood his wrath when his attention came to her. There was just something about the Slytherin princess that always bothered him from the moment he met her. Maybe it was because he never fit in anywhere, the Slytherin house included, and yet she walked in and became its princess without even trying. She just clicked into the place while he was the immediate loner. Their social standing was as different as night and day, not that he cared for such things but as a fellow schoolmate and wizard he was bound to observe the social cues in some manner.

Yet even with his wrath for her, his eyes always seemed to stray to her form. To her very presence. She was impossible to ignore. He long accepted that he loved to hate her. Was this tendency still true? Loki was determined to keep the streak so.

Yet a lot of his actions from last night brought this mindset to a rightful questionable level. Loki snorted in derision. He thought he was above such teenage hormone breakdowns but now he wasn't so sure.

He dropped his head in shame. Also did he make her kiss him? How could he live with that? He had never forced himself on a girl before. Hell, he never even made a first move before. With Sif, she had always been in the lead. Sometimes even to the detriment of their relationship.

He didn't know what made him make that request to Maximoff last night. Even if something deep in him wanted to express the statement desperately. Why did he ask for a kiss as his request?

She had just been sitting there, offering herself to him with her big expressive, red shaded green eyes and the words just appeared before he could pull them back. How he wished he could have held the order back… But how often does a person come into a situation where Wanda Maximoff was happy and willing and he was able to say no? He wasn't a saint! If his Slytherin robes don't already give that away…

Not that he was absolutely convinced about his supposed ability to command her. He still somewhat stood upon the ground that the whole notion was ridiculous. How could he have any power to control her?

Yet that firm ground he stood upon grew shaky with how she knew his full name or how swiftly she kissed him by his word. The determined swiftness in her actions as if nothing was going to stop her.

Fuck.

Yes, he was absolutely a fuck up.

Yet his heart pounded for just one more mistake.

"And what were you doing last night?"

"Don't even ask."

"Probably the same person you were just staring at, right?" Bruce laughed, "Don't tell me the rumors are true."

"Then dont ask." Loki got up from the Slytherin table, not seeing a pair of eyes follow him. He was already embarrassed by his hormonal actions last night. He didn't need Bruce rubbing it in and yet he knew his friend was going to want details or an explanation. Hell! So did Loki. It was as if he lost his mind last night.

Bruce cursed under his breath before grabbing a quick sandwich and following after his friend. They left the Dining Hall and Bruce waited until they were mostly alone and his sandwich was practically gone before saying, "You know I can't live without asking, Odinson. Especially when it might be the craziest thing either of us have done…"

"Crazy sounds right."

"So?"

"So my break in sanity included making out with Maximoff in the middle of the common room before almost getting in a fist fight with the other Maximoff after."

Bruce whistled in a manner that spoke of his disbelief and how he was impressed at the same time. "Bro…"

"Bro," Loki answered, wondering how this became his life.

They walked in communal silence back to their common room before Bruce spoke up again, "So like how…?" The intended question sat between them and Loki should have known this particular question was coming. Why? Because no one would have ever expected Wanda Maximoff and him to touch, let alone grope in a free for all. It didn’t sound real, even to his ears.

But neither of them were technical ladies men so Loki could feel the curiosity emitting from his friend.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." It was the honest truth.

"I almost still don't believe you now!" Bruce laughed.

He fought the urge to tug his beanie down and cover his face, hating that his emotions seemed to be on his sleeve today. The uttered words, "beg me," came into his mind and he couldn't stop. He was grinning like a fool and had to literally rub a hand across his face to get the facial muscles to stop. Yep! No one was ever going to believe him.

And maybe it didn’t matter because something in him told him that no lady liked a big mouth as his father would lovingly tell him. Not that he had a big mouth to begin with, Slytherins weren't snitches. And Wanda Maximoff was for sure a woman of class. If he wanted a chance with her again…

Loki shook his head, slightly hating himself for wanting something that didn't seem all that likely.

High hopes were for high losers.

"I heard she was practically in your lap."

Loki smirked, neither denying or agreeing with the statement but he would be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying the infamy. "Remind me to kill Pietro sometime."

Fuck! Maybe hopes weren't so bad.

Chapter Text

Wanda couldn’t fully understand the situation but her findings were the only option that made sense. She read enough books on the subject in the last couple hours this morning to feel akin to the next leading expert on the topic. In some ways, these changes made certain issues fall into a perfectly fitted slot.

In some other cases, the logical conclusion only caused her more confusion.

She may have curiously watched him at lunch, looking for signs that her hypothesis was correct but he doesn’t exhibit any outward signs. Quite normal the books explained, especially since there were very few books on the subject to begin with but Wanda wanted to be keen that she had checked all the boxes because if she was correct, they were technically quite a rarity.

At least Pietro decided against showing his face this afternoon. Or maybe it was more of wise captain Killmonger's insistence. Either way she still couldn't believe the protective shit Pietro had pulled last night. Pietro had a tendency of scaring off her romantic prospects so she really shouldn't be surprised.

The memory of Loki tilting her head to his lips rushed in like endorphins and Wanda didn't really need to question where her interests were right now. Or maybe since the beginning from how she avoided him for so long. The prospects seemed dangerous either way. But she wasn't exactly the fearful kind so she went digging.

She hated that her eyes flicker up to watch his abrupt retreat from the Dining Hall. She didn't mean to but it didn’t change that she observed his departure and she wasn't exactly great with letting certain things go.

Not that her personal investigation mattered because Gamora gave her warning eyes that told Wanda that Gamora was watching and that Wanda wasn't allowed a single step towards that boy until after lunch since she promised to walk Gamora to the game with a stroll by the Gryffindor locker room to hopefully catch Peter before the Quidditch match. Wanda rolled her eyes but at least appreciated the subtlety that Gamora used and gave a nod.

She wouldn't follow Odinson now, even though it was the perfect chance. So few would be in the castle for the first Slytherin Quidditch game of the year. Most were already out on the field. She heard that some had even taken their lunch by basket to be eaten outside.

It didn't matter either way. Wanda Maximoff had things to do and she wasn't the kind of lady who changed her previous engagements for a guy. She learned that lesson long ago. She watched Banner chase after Loki and tried to not give the boys any mind.

Which was why it was interesting to see Thor and Sif also sharing a blanket and basket out on the field. The Gryffindor duo were enjoying the sunny weather that still wasn't too warm because of the big, puffy clouds. Perfect weather for Quidditch. Or a date…

Sif had been chasing Thor for a while now. A favourite joke among Slytherins because it was so obvious to everyone but Thor.

"Gryffindorks," Gamora said before linking her arms with Wanda’s and leading her on. It was for the best. Wanda didn't want to wander down memory lane among all the other things that were already going on.

"Who knew all these couples were so… romantic?" Gamora remarked with reproachful eyes.

"Maybe l'amour isn't completely a foreign process out of France," Wanda smirked, scanning through the basket lunch crew. More than she expected to see. Maybe something was in the air.

"Whatever it is, I don't want it," Gamora scrunched her nose and Wanda gave a snort.

"You really wouldn't want to have something like that?"

"Not with them."

Wanda smirked at Gamora's antics and kept her walking along the grass so she could get this Peter fiasco over with and move on with her day. Probably why she also keeps her mouth shut when she was tempted to tease Gamora for being a hypocrite for Star Lord.

She wasn't joking when she said today would be a good day to be in the castle so once the Gamora routine was finished at the start of the Slytherin Quidditch match, she disappeared off and ditched the rest of the game. A Quidditch game was a Quidditch game. She didn't even stay for the first whistle. Lorna can cheer for their brother today.

Thankfully, Loki was known to avoid sports and not stray too far from the damn nook that gave them ideas yesterday. She never tried to take notice of his habits before but her mind was made for observations, or at least that's what she told herself before. Now she wasn't so sure.

Now it seems she would be his.

Wha-

"Have you missed me, Odinson?" She curled into the spot next to him. Not too close. Though she was oddly tempted. Her eyes flicked over his relaxed state. He obviously made himself comfy when the common room was free.

He slightly tensed before relaxing again. Though he moved his horned crown beanie off of his face. The darkness of his nap was already dissipating in her dawn glow. "Have you missed me?" he challenged back, though the rise in her eyebrows spoke to how his answer was also a coup out in her books.

Touche! He never promised to be a good socialite though.

Wanda took a moment like she was considering herself before smiling, "I have." Boys… Was that so hard to admit?

Loki's eyebrows shot up at her easy admittance. While a part of him was secretly thrilled with this notion, another harder part of him wanted to question all of this and where this was all coming from. The skeptic in him. The piece that can't leave things be. The part of him that questioned a good time and why. Aka the version of him that liked to ruin things and self-sabotage!

It still didn't stop his cheeks from warming.

His brain made one last quick bid to keep his mouth shut with the memory of touching Wanda yesterday. Her chest against his. The contour of her curves was soft and teasing. The bow of her mouth and the sweet espresso past her lips. All fucking heavenly. Like reddish moonlight in his hands. It was embarrassing how hard he had been. Just the smell of her was sanity sapping in exchange for cotton candy clouds. Alluring… Just one lick.

"Have you? You don't have any ulterior motive, Maximoff? Because before yesterday, you've never spoken a word in my presence." Fuck his big mouth! Ugh! Even his hormones couldn't beat a fight against his paranoia.

But it was better than living with the curiosity in his books though.

...Right?

"And here I thought it was mutual attraction," she smirked, quoting him from last night. Though her ears started to pound loudly. She wasn't expecting a fight or struggle here. Maybe she relied on her Veela traits more than she first expected because usually people were ecstatic to be around her.

Loki at least had the decency to blush, which caused her smirk to soften, at no will of her own. "You remember that, huh?"

"I didn't think I would be seeing such male bravado out of you." She would apologise for Pietro but she knew she wasn't held accountable for other's actions, especially men. And whatever happened last night looked personal to Odinson and her brother.

"And I didn't think I would see you again after your little disappearing act last night."

"Are you just going to keep deflecting?"

"Are you going to answer my question? Like why are you here?"

Wanda rolled her eyes. Fine, if this is how he wanted their conversation to go…

“Who are you, Loki Odinson?”

“What?”

They could have had a nice afternoon together. Instead he wanted this. To be confronted. He could nap later. She hoped to push off this whole incident for another day. For when she could be more assured in these findings.

But forget that idea.

"Who are you, Loki Jotunn Odinson Laufey?" she repeated with definition. "Or what are you?"

"Excuse me." The insult caused his eyebrows to meet new heights.

"Like other than a wizard and Slytherin, who are you, Odinson?" He continued to give her a blank look. "Who is your family? Who makes up your ancestors?"

Loki frowned at all these invasive questions. "Why?"

"I'm not here to call you a mudblood or anything," she hastened to explain, not sure where the waters had been muddied between them. Or where in the blood lines his ancestors had dirtied, so to speak as well. Not that her family had any leg to stand on either. And honestly, she didn't care who he had coming over for their Solstice feasts. She just needed to know one thing.

Ugh! This was all so personal and yet she was also personally affected.

"Clearly." His tone spoke otherwise and he got such an incredulous look in his eyes. Yet to Wanda, it felt as if his eyes held a secret amusement for her antics at this moment. Cliche yet she couldn't look away. It pulled her in. No, he pulled her in. It didn't make any sense. None of this did.

Or had he always been this beautiful? How long had she been ignoring it? At least since she had gotten to Hogwarts. Whatever. This wasn't the time for staring contests.

Especially when he looked mighty uncomfortable all of a sudden and then it dawned on her. "Oh, you are one, aren't you?" she said softly.

Loki blushed but his eyes narrowed in what Wanda imagined as distrust. This kind of talk was not usually ever spoken in the house of Slytherin unless a student was bullying someone and honestly it did feel as if she was bullying the poor boy to some degree, even though this was quite commonly spoken about in her household…

"What the fuck, Maximoff? That's none of your business." His eyes flickered around like he wasn't trustful of them being totally alone.

She rolled her eyes wishing he was correct about this information not being her problem but it would seem it wasn't entirely the case. Already she could feel that quiet yearning to be near him; touch him. She also quietly ignored those impulses to keep to the present matter. "I don't care about what muggles you have on the payroll."

His 'what the fuck' expression still remained and Wanda doesn't know what else to say. She doesn't exactly hang around muggles a lot. Or any.

"Look. I don't know what you have going on for a family tree but Maximoffs, as you may know, come from a long line of purebloods…" She started, not sure of where else to begin and beginning with her side seemed smarter since he wasn't reacting well to her questions about his family.

"Are you seriously giving me a family lineage presentation on purity right now?"

She flashed him warning eyes and her hair floated all around her in agitation and old Veela magic. "A long line of purebloods with a slight mix of Veelas, if you would let me finish," her voice hissed and took on an ethereal yet daunting tone. It had been a while since her protective or feral side emerged. A secret thrill ran through her. It was nice to know she was always protected even if it was still through her and the old magic of her ancestors.

His eyes grew big with alarm as they flickered to her hair. "Veela?" Loki's eyebrows curled downward in confusion and then something else. "I thought that was just a rumour about you." Yet his eyes stared at the evidence that said to the contrary.

Something in his gaze softened the old magic and her hair slowly fell around her shoulders again. She looked away. "In this case, it's true." Her voice was returning to normal after that little scene, only slightly otherworldly at this point.

He frowned up at the ceiling of the nook. "And why do I need to know this?" Useful, sure. Required learning? No. Though Loki thought he would figure this out on his own at some point.

Especially after last night… And some serious time to think about it.

"Well after my little disappearing act yesterday, as you so nicely phrased it, I decided to do some research as to why you were able to direct me, compel me, whatever you want to call it." Especially when she had been in her 'Veela state', that really shouldn't have been possible. At all. It was meant to do the opposite!

"Because I shouldn't be able to do that…"

"Exactly." He caught on quickly. "So I went looking for answers at the library this morning and everything pointed to you also being related by blood to a Veela."

"What?" A moment went by and then he was scoffing. She must be kidding.

"You have some Veela ancestor."

"I heard you. I just- No, that doesn't make any common sense. I've never done any of the things you have done, Maximoff," he sat up to better argue with her. He was a wizard and that's it, right?

She frowned at him. "I know what I read, Odinson Laufey. Laufey sounds a lot like ‘water fairy' to my ear." A great emphasis was placed on his extra last name. Something she shouldn't even know but some magic of a different kind had gone on last night. And who knows what they were connected to? “And some believe Veela is nothing but a subspecies of fairy or fae.”

"Yeah, well I've never made my hair float or make people act like total idiots."

"That you know of…" Wanda muttered with a roll of her eyes wondering why she had thought this might have been an easier conversation. This wasn't even the difficult part.

"And how would you know about your hair when it's constantly underneath that beanie of yours." She was tempted to rip it off his head but decided better. He was already freaked out enough.

"Are you seriously trying to explain all this away?"

"Or you don't have those abilities to begin with…”

"So what? You want to blame your fleeting attraction on some Veela thing?" He didn't see how this mattered in the grand scheme of things. If he even believed her.

"What? No." Wanda frowned, stalling at the change of subject.

"Because you probably hoped no one would see last night and it's also why you came now when everyone's gone to the game."

Her eyes darkened. Is this truly what he thought of her? That she wished to turn Loki into some dirty little secret?

"You know what, Odinson?" She got up from the nook, glaring at him and wondering if he was always an ass or does he really just need his nap. "Talk to me when you're not so cranky and this all starts to make a lot of sense."

Because she didn't have time for this derision.

"What? Maximoff-" But she didn't turn around. She needed a break after all that research this morning. At least her mind could be at ease now that she knew the reason for that blip in her lack of control.

And she was safe as long as she stayed away from Odinson. Or Laufey or whoever he was.

Which was too bad. To cuddle in that nook with him had been a tempting thought at one point.

Chapter Text

Wanda awoke to the girls returning from the game. She laid on top of the covers and yawned as she adjusted to the waking world again. She could gather from their excited talk that Slytherin won their first game of the season, as expected.

Good! The celebration meant they all had reason to let loose and have some fun tonight. If Loki wanted to live in a world without this Veela mess, then hell! She was willing to give denial a go too! Especially since she already had enough going on in her life. She didn't need Loki questioning her intentions amongst everything else.

She didn't care that today looked a little funny that she went to visit him when everybody was gone. She just didn't want another Pietro situation. Especially when she thought today might be a more delicate conversation. She never even thought to hide whatever little dalliance they were having.

She frowned, wondering if this was how Loki's brain always worked… If so, it was very Slytherin. All gain and no trust.

An unevolved Slytherin in Wanda's mind.

"That save! I still can't believe how clean he made that shot look after!"’

"Killmonger has been saying that Pietro worked on that move all summer for a reason…"

"Pietro exuded rage this afternoon," Gamora smirked pointedly at Wanda.

Of course, Pietro did well out in the field today. Was it bad that Wanda sort of hated that her fun and let loose day also included Pietro's win? The petty part of her agreed before deciding that Pietro wasn't allowed to bother her…

If anything, Pietro should thank her for supplying the rage for his match. The fuel.

Wanda rolled her eyes at the jab at her and took the high road. Usually this would mean a cute little quip at this moment but Wanda hoped instead the conversation would naturally move on if she didn't add dragon fire to the flames. Don't fight it. Just let it be. If anything, deflect.

If only Pietro would do the same…

"Would you all stop staring at my brother?" Wanda said with a curl of her lip and a deliberate raise in her eyebrows, which caused a gleeful cackle among the girls.

The once chaotic room went peaceful when Gamora delegated tasks after the giggling and outfit changes were accomplished. If Slytherins wanted to keep the status as top partying spot in Hogwarts, the Slytherin girls would need to get a move on. Gamora and Wanda moved to get on decorating duty for the party and Wanda instantly knew what was coming next from the look in Gamora's eyes.

"You almost caused a fight in the middle of the common room."

Wanda laughed at Gamora's words. "You owe me, by the way." The dare was technically all Gamora’s doing.

"You should be thanking me. I heard you were in that hobo's lap."

"Mmm... If you want details, Gamora, all you need to do is ask."

"Fine. I want details then. Like… What were you doing while missing the game?"

"Mostly napping," Wanda answered easily. And here she thought they were going to have a saucy talk but if Gamora was looking for extra details from today, then Wanda had nothing new to add.

"Well I heard that while the game was on, somebody saw the hobo activate the girl's dorm slide," Gamora said with her cheshire-like smile.

Wanda stilled. "No…" Did Loki try to come see her?

"You drive them wild and mental, my sweet Veela friend."

-

The party was in full swing within a couple of hours and Wanda hated that Loki was nowhere to be seen. Not that she ever remembered when he had attended a Slytherin party but still… She thought after learning about that slide tidbit, he might have shown his face for her.

She let the hope bother her for half an hour before Gamora slipped an emerald husked chalice in her hand. Some everlasting charm for the night that Gamora personally enchanted. The chalice and its contents swirled as a golden cloud and smelled so much of citrus to the point that the concoction made her cheeks hurt. One touch of her lips to the chalice brim and the effects started to take its place.

Suddenly the loud music in the common room seemed to pulsate through her body, her cheeks now only stung lightly from the grinning and the edges of her vision softened as if airbrushed. A giggle spilled from her lips without a prompt and Wanda felt exuberant as she passed the chalice on.

"You added a slight time delay!" Wanda noted, impressed with her friend and the ideas Gamora cooked up for these parties.

"You noticed," Gamora beamed impishly before partaking in the concoction as well and letting out a giggle that ended more in a cackle. Lorna and Mantis followed in suit before the chalice was passed on to Pietro for his phenomenal play on the Quidditch field. Though Gamora made the moment seem like Pietro was the first to get a 'sip' by giving Pietro the whole show of presenting the emerald chalice to him in front of the common room after an honourable mention of his grace and speed on the field.

“To Pietro!”

The room broke out in a roar as Pietro pounded his chest before throwing back the chalice. He then also proceeded to dump the content onto his own head for the jeers and cheers of the crowd. The golden gassy swirl rained down upon him like a neverending drink and the golden hue made his hair sparkle and shine. Pietro had never looked more angelic or sinful as this moment now. A halo to his head and a devilish glee to his face. Veela to the bone.

Wanda laughed at Pietro's antics and clapped for her twin, forgetting their fight. The room grew rowdy again in his honour and the Slytherin team did a small chant before Pietro handed off the chalice to one of his Quidditch mates and the party got into full swing.

The music got louder. Lorna and Mantis vanished for the dancefloor, which was already filling up after Gamora and Wanda promised to join the dance group soon. The part of the common room that was free of dancing was filled with butterbeers and couches.

Gamora and Wanda split a butterbeer and shared a couple of snippets straight into each other's ears about the party and its occupants while perched on the corner of a couch arm. Wanda wasn't sure if it's the concoction or Gamora was teasing someone in the audience but her best friend was super affectionate and pushy with her. Probably because Gamora was slowly manoeuvring them towards the dance floor. Gamora knew Wanda needed convincing to get on the dance floor. Not because she was self-conscious but because of the effects her Veela side could have on the dancing crowd, which Lorna and Pietro helped urge on too. A triple effect in place, essentially.

When she truly sank into the music and her body matched in time to her siblings unconsciously, a magnetising pull would ease into the atmosphere. The trance state always started slow before suddenly her friends were practically in sync as well. It always avalanched from there, pulling in more dancers and glamouring others. Gamora and her friends did a good job of keeping the most zealous at bay from her.

She resisted the urge to glare at Alvers and the groping shit he pulled before. It was why she usually needed some prompting, which was too bad because she actually loved dancing.

And Gamora and the rest loved the trance when she did dance. The effect made their parties even more epic than the Ravenclaw raves that used to have the bragging rights for best party in Hogwarts before Wanda and her family began attending these functions. Most don’t even realise it was because of her that the dancing in the Slytherin common room was so trippy. Too lost to the music and ancient Veela magic at hand.

Surprisingly, with everything that was going on Wanda found no fear in dancing tonight. If anything, Wanda felt pulled to dance. As if nothing else could be more logical.

The music just seemed to surround her as Gamora gave her a small twirl before they were once again joined with Mantis and Lorna, who gave out a little cheer at their quick appearance. "Let's dance, bitches!" Gamora hollered while Wanda felt the beginning tell signs that her Veela magic was taking effect. The music had a magnetic force and Wanda could feel a similar yearning in the crowd in turn.

She laughed in glee, delight and power that pumped through her veins from the effect this process had on her as well. She wasn't free from the pull, which now deliciously washed over her. Free endorphins.

Rushing to her. Flowing over her. Coming to her.

Come to me.

Come.

Chapter Text

Come.

Loki questioned his sanity for the sixth or seventh time today.

'Come.'

"What?" Loki frowned before looking around for where the hum of a voice could have come from. Yet he once again learned he was alone among the chairs he sat in and Peeves wasn't in the vicinity.

"Come with me, Loki," Madam MacTaggert repeated with an expectant look in her eyes. "How hard did you say you hit your head?"

"Hard enough to be around you, dear," he said, thankful to finally leave the waiting room of the medical wing since time alone with his thoughts was just not a great place right now. Especially when all he could think about was how he'd done a great job in scaring away Wanda today. Why didn't he just ask about her convict father as well? Don't just make her feel crazy for liking you but also make her question your ability to be normal. Go Loki!

The next twenty minutes were a fun retelling for Loki who doesn't want to tell the real reason so he made up a story about slipping on the stones outside. Madam MacTaggert didn't need to know that he hadn't actually seen the Quidditch match today.

He almost wished he'd gone to the game now if it meant he could have avoided Wanda and not made an ass of himself. His stomach did this horrible dragging motion along the floor at the stained image of Wanda's eyes when he- Ugh! Nope, he wasn't going down that road again. He was still so embarrassed on how he grilled Wanda for having… What? The guts to seek him out? Maybe like him?

Fuck! He was so embarrassed. He rubbed at the spot between his brows as Madam MacTaggert casted a couple of vital signs channelling spells over him. He looked off to an aimless direction, trying to forget how Wanda saw right through his bullshit.

And it was bullshit, right?

Maybe he was wrong to assume she was using the Veela thing as some sort of excuse. He'd just gotten so caught up. One moment Wanda was talking about mudbloods, Veelas and then his mind was jumping to conclusions about why she would be telling him about any of this so of course, his mind just couldn't help but go down some dark, twisted path.

As usual.

Because why would a girl like Wanda Maximoff seek him out?

That fear/thought persisted through him like a chill of the mind.

What he didn't expect was the whisper from before to come back.

"I'll be back with your night serum soon."

Come…

Loki nodded, wondering if he should mention this quirk to Madam MacTaggert. Or was it just an odd effect from the soothing tonic the medic witch gave him at the start? He half convinced himself about the tonic when a new effect materialised.

Or more like re-materialised.

The skin on the back of his arms prickled as the calling came in stronger. No longer was the beacon just whispers but now as if somebody was pulling on light strings connected to his body and skin. An urge. An ushering.

A deep desire.

The entry door never called to him more before as the exit to the medical wing was now beckoning. The door stretched and begged for him but Madam MacTaggert said she would be back soon and held the power to summon him back if he left unsanctioned. He shouldn't ditch even if he was sorely tempted.

He still weighed the pros and cons of a concussion on a young mind when the healer finally returned with the serum and his nighttime instructions for it. Which was for the best because at this point his skin was practically vibrating out the door. He tried to calm himself by drumming his fingers on his knees.

"You need to take this immediately before bed and return to the medical wing tomorrow when you wake," Madam MacTaggert explained as she carefully corked the newly administered serum for his convenience. She gave a couple of other warnings about the importance of good footwear before finally letting him leave once he promised to return.

He quickly packed up his stuff, needing to be gone from this place as soon as possible even if he didn't know where he was so desperate to be. His feet seemed to know though.

He barely ripped back the wing's door when a new barrier came into view. "Sif."

"Loki!" Sif's eyes grew large. "Are you okay? What are you doing here?"

Typical Lady. "I'm fine," he answered before frowning at her. "What about you? Why are you darkening this particular door?" Sif outwardly seemed healthy so his eyes went to hers for answers.

In more than one way. Was she the reason for this magnetic pull? The calling had been bothering him since he had gotten here and it wasn't just a coincidence that he saw her on the way out, was it?

Logically, the scenario made some sense. They shared history and in the past, Sif always served as his complication. At one point, he thought that they could be something more, especially after how they spent the end of fifth year exchanging first kisses to each other.

Loki shook his head, not wanting to go down memory lane and trying to catch the tell end of her story as to why she was here. He tried to not be surprised that it was about Thor. It was always Thor and hell, maybe if he hadn't just spent the last couple of hours in the medical wing and he was a better brother, he would go and check on Thor, who'd broken his wrist while being a Beater for the Gryffindor team.

"What about you?" Her eyes filled with compassion. The look had once made him feel so seen and now it only felt akin to charity work with everything he now knew.

This feeling was only solidified when the fated whisper rang again. Come…

This urging really wasn't about Sif or their fucked up dynamic with Thor. Something he didn't want to get into again and yet something he once feared would always be an issue.

Yet looking at Sif's curious dark eyes now, their issues didn't seem as much of a problem as it once was. He was being drawn somewhere else now.

"Great catch up but sayonara," he said, clamping one hand on her shoulder before moving past her and the door. He wasn't even entirely sure of what he was looking for.

But the source wasn't here.

His stomach was quick to remind him that food was also not here and how he missed supper for the infirmary. While he didn't have Thor's famous appetite, he was still a growing boy. He considered the kitchens but it was Saturday night and that meant date night for most couples. It didn't help that the house elves encouraged the whole thing by setting up the kitchens of Hogwarts with adorable, white and red cloths and sparse flowers everywhere. Very Persian cafe. He didn't think he could take all that romantic nonsense on an empty stomach.

Plus there was a game today, which meant the most appetising spreads would be snatched up by the party crowds already. He frowned at the thought of even being near a party but then his stomach thought about all the best spreads in one place with most people too boozed up to eat…

Already his feet were bringing him to the said party location. More like being pulled. To the food or something else? Loki wasn't sure.

He wished he would get there already because he didn't want to think the thoughts in his head right now. The reason for being in the infirmary. He tried to fight the thoughts off but his unnaturally curious and inquisitive mind wouldn't leave the situation be. Even if he does go down swinging.

Does getting a concussion not count as fighting to the bitter end?

"Fucking hell!" Loki let out all of a sudden in the hallway that caused a couple of Hufflepuff second years to scurry away and he bit his expression in embarrassment at having been seen. He hadn't seen them there.

He couldn't help the self-deprecating laugh that came next now that he was for sure alone. He wondered how he'd gotten here. Sure, last night was crazy with the kiss with Wanda and the face off with her brother but today was supposed to be the return to normal, right? Instead, Wanda was sneaking away from Quidditch games to come see him and inform him that he might be part Veela… What in Valhalla!

He was feeling so overwhelmed and the memory of earlier kept wanting to return. Loki had no energy to fight reruns as he sat down on a nearby granite bench and the back of his head hitting the wall behind. He was running on no food, a concussion and so much confusion, he had to sit down. He didn't care that the voice in his head and the beast in his stomach complained.

He was done and needed a moment.

Which left him powerless to the incessant memory in his head right now. The reel patiently waited until his ass was firmly in the unforgiving stonebench and the back of Loki's beanie was pressed against the wall before promptly starting to play.

His eyes may have been staring at the adjacent wall but his mind's eye was far off. Like a silent film, he remembered Wanda ditching him earlier for-

'Making assumptions about things you have no idea about?' a helpful voice supplied and Loki tried to not think about how it sort of sounded like Wanda.

Or how correct the voice was.

Yeah for that, he silently admitted. Which was the reason he also attempted the stupid act of trying to go up the girl stairs. In his haste to chase after Wanda, he forgot about that small defence detail.

He didn't have many friends that were female or in Slytherins so he didn't have much reason to be staring at the girl's side without feeling like a freak. Imagine his surprise when the stairs turned into a slide for his personal enjoyment. So not only does he scare Wanda off today, she will also probably be hearing about the staircase crash after he tried to chase after her.

Good thing he had no reputation to actually worry about.

Loki wasn't sure if he should feel like a bigger asshole or idiot. He really was sharing qualities with both right now, which confused even him.

'Sharing qualities with Veelas as well,' the helpful voice added in, which Loki had to concede that may be true. Hell! He would know more if he'd just let Wanda finish her explanation earlier rather than give her the third degree for coming to hang out with him.

Come…

The incessant pull began again and Loki wondered if the seeking pull had anything to do with the Veela component… Especially because now he was thinking what did her compulsion issue have anything to do with his questionable bloodline? He scratched at his bottom lip in thought. He tried to figure it out there and then with the limited knowledge of Veelas but also the expanding overall wisdom that came from being a bright student in a multitude of classes. A few theories came and passed but at the end, all they were were theories since he wasn't even willing to hit the library tonight.

The concussion gave him a library pass, right?

His stomach gurgled in agreement, giving him the jail free card. Especially because a hole in his stomach was opening up with the idea that his parents may not be legitimately his. A startling thought too powerful for a moment like this. Wanda could be wrong.

Yet she knew his full name. A name he hadn't heard in a decade or more. A name different from the rest of his family. Fuck!

He thought about all his grievances one last time before deciding this all could be dealt with after he ate something. So he went back to his plan A. Hit a party for its grub.

Come.

Did the voice sound more playful there? He frowned and shook his head.

He had a better time getting across the castle now. He went down a floor and heard the roar of the music. The usual Slytherin affair guaranteed with winning a Quidditch match. Usually he would avoid such gatherings or run for the comfort of his dorm. He was a rare occurrence for attendance and it was always for the food and mischief if he did.

The incessant pull from before returns at full force at the entrance to his common room. The air of the room was alive and infinitely inviting.

Come here.

It was ridiculous but while in this smoke clouded room, he suddenly focused into clarity. The voice… It was her. He sounded foolish. Even to his own mind but it hadn't sounded like her or maybe it was in a tone of hers that he was less familiar with. But somehow now he knew it was her.

This fucking realization was the first breath of fresh air or maybe it was the very sight of Wanda that brings this forward. The sporadic and harsh lighting of the party seems to only highlight her beauty. A hidden ache eased with her presence, which caused his lip to curl. He does not get attached to people this quickly.

Did others feel or sound anything compared to Wanda though?

Rather than answer that thought his body responded by taking on the crowd he would usually baulk at. He couldn't really explain it. He was on autopilot and not a single instinct fought against his choice, which added an interesting thrill to the whole situation. His eyes wouldn't leave her. She danced in the crowd yet the crowd seemed to surround her rather than engulf her. A vortex of her and he seemed unable or disinterested in fighting the force.

"Wanda."

Chapter Text

Wanda wasn't sure of how many songs go by before her mind turned 'on' again. Her body and the music was doing a fantastic job of being her reprieve. She laughed for no reason and got lost to the music and smiles of her friends. Gamora passed her gilly water and Wanda quickly downed the bottle. She wasn't sure what had turned her mind on again. Usually she would be lost in the ocean of other people's wants and desires combined with the rush and pull of the music for the rest of the night and she was planning to… The respite of all her thoughts and worries could be so intoxicating, sometimes even more so than the chalice enchantment.

Yet once she sensed the shift, she didn't mindlessly enter the fog again because this was enticing. While the dance induced fog gave her a thrill, he oddly gave her anticipation of her next breath and what that might bring while in his presence.

Especially when he was looking at her like that.

His eyes glinted with more and the world around her became static while his eyes submerged into a deeper, beautiful blue that no other girl in their year seemed to notice and Wanda felt oddly grateful for all their blind spots because Wanda Maximoff didn't share. She determined painfully quickly how much she wanted this blue diamond in the rough all for herself.

And soon.

She slipped into paradise, seeing the same look peering back in his eyes. Or was she jumping the spell? Something in her told her she was right though. They shared this intensity.

"Wanda."

She didn't really hear her name but was able to read his lips. She slipped away from her friends and met him in a few steps. The party seemed to just go on around their joining. Wanda suspected her dance fog was doing its job and she swayed slightly with the music, encouraging the old magic on as he softly smiled at her.

She managed a smirk but her eyes felt soft as she looked at him. She was all intense and yet still somewhat annoyed, remembering their last conversation. Her arms casually crossed and a single brow may have bounced up as well.

He must remember the issue too because he leaned in suddenly and said in her ear, "My apologies." He announced loudly to be heard over the music but Wanda heard him all the same and found herself softened all over now. Maybe too few men in her life ever acquired the guts to say those words to her so Wanda found his effort heartfelt since she doesn't have to beg or manipulate for this move.

Or maybe she was a little tipsy still from that chalice… And he showed up at a party for her, which she never knew him to do.

He pulled back. His eyes questioning, looking for her response and hopefully maybe even her forgiveness, which was thankfully quite abundant for a Slytherin.

Or maybe he was a good match.

Or maybe she was taking her chance to be near him.

"Come here," she smirked again but with an inviting nature as her arms curl around his shoulders and pull him closer. She continued to move with the music and hoped to see a sign that this was okay or welcomed by Loki. "Wanna dance?"

She didn't expect the mirror of emotions that are shown back to her. A smile started before something else took over Loki's facial muscles. Unconsciously her hands slightly dug into his shoulders, not wanting him to immediately bail. Not when she secretly hoped he would show up all night and he was finally here.

"I don't-"

It was hard to hear him above the music but the distress on his face and the way his body was tense and almost fighting her and the music, even with her luring Veela pull spoke of his discomfort on a dance floor.

He shook his head at her and usually Wanda would let the matter be because she understood he had boundaries and she shouldn't overstep them. A line of boys would love to have a chance to dance with her but there was something about Loki. She noticed that he made no move to actually leave her vicinity and actually placed both his hands on her hips. She bit her lip to bite back a smile and signalled for him to bow down so she could speak into his ear with the height difference. She might as well give this opportunity a chance.

And Wanda Maximoff didn't want a mate that can't dance!

He smirked at her small hand signal but complied. The lights flashed on his face highlighting a dimple that made his face look so natural and unhidden to her eye. Like a glimpse at the true self he seemed to hide away before he was leaning towards and into her as his hold on her hips tightened slightly.

But she noticed and the flicker in his eyes made her wonder if he did as well.

All surprisingly smooth for a guy she barely ever saw speaking to girls. Either way, she was grateful.

"Apology dance or two?" she declared in his ear and only let one hand run through the strands by his neck to position him closer so he could hear her better. Or at least that was her juxtaposition.

He blushed at her words but conceded with the drop of his defences on his face, yet a worried eye still peered over her shoulder. Thankfully Wanda didn't need much to follow a hint as her hand that was once in his hair dragged and traced her way down until her hand was perched in his palm and dragging him further into the mess of dancing people so they would both have more coverage, especially if Loki was hesitant.

She could work with shyness.

Under the cover of the many moving bodies and dark party lights, she turned to face Loki and stepped impossibly close. "Like this," is the only hint she gave straight into his ear before pressing her whole body weight against him and forcing a slight sway between the two of them that could be halfway possibly called a dance. It was mostly the work of her hips and Loki suddenly didn't seem to have the same qualms against dancing.

Or at least no protests. The proximity was bound to happen with how busy the floor was. The contact brought a shiver through her even though the atmosphere was more than warm and pleasant. Guys usually didn't think twice about dancing with her but Loki was different. At least he attempted to follow her movements and honestly he wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't so stiff.

"Stop thinking so much," she tried suggesting after pulling his head slightly down to hear her. She wasn't sure if he got the message until his lips were brushing her ear.

"Stop overthinking?" She thought she heard through the music and party noise before nodding in response to his question.

The beat of the song pounded on for a moment or two before his hand was in her hair and he curled his body towards hers. A sudden rush over takes her as she realised what his overthinking was delaying.

Usually she would be against such forwardness, especially with so many around but she was beginning to understand the law of exception as she smiled despite herself and let her eyes close in a flutter that clutched at her chest all the same.

His kiss was a touch tentative and almost teasing before he accepted that the advancement was wanted. He moulded his torso to hers. His lips take on a soft caressing fashion that left her falling and her sense of gravity threatened with the addition of the chalice effects. He was the rush she'd been waiting for all night. Maybe all day if she was being honest as her fingers pulled him close. All the tensions and annoyances seemed to dance away on their lips as electricity tingled at her spine. A slight taste of spearmint and something purely Loki at her lips. The feel of soft hair that smooth at her fingertips.

They were only broken apart when someone bumped Loki and their close hold was intercepted as they stared up at each other and what they'd done again. No compulsion. No bets.

He pulled away looking pained and clutching his stomach.

"Are you okay?" Her hand went from cradled around his smooth jaw line to his elbow in a curl, thinking the person bumped harder into Loki than she thought. His eyes flickered curiously at the concern in hers. He nodded rather shyly as his attention went from her to over her shoulder.

"Can I strike you a deal?"

Her eyes looked up in interest now, doing her best to hear him over the music.

"We ditch this party and I owe you double dances on the next one."

"Double or nothing?" Wanda pursued her lips in thought before nodding. "We have a deal but Veela talk is not on the table tonight." She suddenly grinned. "Because I'm not sober enough." She laughed, hoping she was heard over the music.

Loki looked like he wanted to say something. To argue the point maybe but that route of action was diverted by her explanation and completely forgotten by her laugh. "Deal." He brushed her cheek lightly before pulling her in by a finger to the back of her neck. One last brush of his lips to hers and she swore she heard him hum.

The thought of another kiss made her want to hum back in response but suddenly his hand was in hers and he was steering her from the dancefloor and to the buffet.

What?

She could only watch curiously as he directed her through the mobs by the soft grip of his hand. Public displays of affection were seen clearly by her, especially in only a budding relationship like theirs and when a lot of the time, her name was just being used for clout. Guys would try to use physical closeness to chase that said 'fame' with her and the media. The PR stunt got old fast.

The present didn't feel like those clout chasers, especially when Loki was technically famous for his own family lineage. Looking at Loki as he steered through the crowd trying to avoid any interaction and actively taking routes that kept them from the crowds. Loki wasn't here to flaunt her or use her as a prize. His sole focus on getting to the food table with little to no distractions while his hand held hers firmly. She didn't want to boast but his hold on her hands was quite snug in a way that made her feel cherished and exhilarated. As if little would convince him to let go.

Until they got to the food table and her sweet hand holding session was replaced by a cup of fries she didn't remember asking for.

He filled every pocket and crevice of his robes with food. Mostly sandwiches but the food disappeared so fast Wanda couldn't be sure. She watched in silent awe until the jello shots caught her eyes. She grabbed a swirly purple jello shot with her free hand and popped the treat into her mouth before also deciding on a gilley water as well. It was all the time she got before Loki returned to her side to snatch back the cup of fries that she so nicely held for him and in one swoop he inhaled the contents as easily as she'd eaten that jello shot. She didn't mean to stare but… "Wow."

Loki smirked at her awe as he crushed the now empty cup and then threw paper bin for the nearest trash before grabbing another cup of fries. His warm hand returned to hers and they were off.

"Come on."

She followed him out of the common room and into the halls of Hogwarts that were currently being loitered by students. Unintentionally her eyes meet his under the scrutiny of the torch lights and their fellow classmates before slinking away shyly. A light brush tinted her cheeks but she didn't let this deter her. If anything, she pressed closer to his side and let their classmates watch on. They always would. "Stay safe, kiddos!" She slyly teased the group of mostly Slytherins and wannabes before ditching them all and the party for a boy. Classic teenage dream and Wanda was happy to play the fantasy out.

The further from their common room, the less noise and curious eyes were found. Not that Wanda minded either way but Loki seemed more comfortable now that they were away from the party. His shoulders were less tense and his walk less rigid.

"What's with all the food?" she finally asked after they had enough privacy. It was hard to ignore when his pockets were stuffed and food wrappers could be seen sticking from his clothes.

She curiously watched as a slight blush appeared on him but she kept quiet.

"I missed the dinner feast tonight."

"I didn't see you at supper. You missed the roast." She looked for him at dinner but had been unable to find his signature beanie in sight. She thought that was only a coincidence or a timing issue.

"You noticed?" Loki raised an eyebrow in her direction.

Her head gave the slightest of nods before continuing, "And the reason was?"

A huff left his mouth and Wanda wasn't sure how to read it. The moment stretched and she assumed he wasn't going to give her an answer when he coughed into his shoulder since all their hands were occupied.

"I may or may not have struck my head today and had to go see Madam MacTaggert."

"What?" Her steps slowed before quickening to keep up with his long strides. "When? How?"

He held a contrite look on his face. "While chasing after you this afternoon when we were talking about the forbidden subject…"

"What?" Suddenly Gamora's words from before returned and filled in all the other important details of how Loki hit his head. "Wait! That actually happened? I thought that was just a rumour."

"A rumour wouldn't have cost me half the afternoon and the leading up evening in the medical wing, which is by the way quite busy on a Quidditch match day."

Wanda giggled slightly into his shoulder as he made light of his outcome today. "Tell me you're okay," she declared. Without realising, her eyes flickered over him for any injury, even while knowing Madam MacTaggert wouldn't allow him to leave if he wasn't in condition to do so. Her hand in his tightened regardless.

"I'm more embarrassed that I forgot that the girls‘ stairs are enchanted." He scratched at his nose haphazardly through the cup of fries, his face scrunched.

"You can't just follow me up to my room, casanova," she teased with a smirk.

A mixed noise left his throat that sounded like a cross between a cough or an indignant snort, that only spurred Wanda on further. "That's not- I wasn't-"

Wanda laughed and shook her hair. "I don't understand how I missed all this excitement or didn't hear you." She wondered if she had seen the commotion meant they would have spent most of the day together. It wasn't like she would have sent him off to the hospital wing alone. She was oddly annoyed to have somehow missed all this. Which felt silly…

But there was something about his very presence that seemed to ease her mind. He was oddly easy to be around. When Loki was known for the opposite.

"I wasn't quite fast on the uptake and you were probably already in your room or close to it when I tried to follow after you… Or a sadist who listened as I fell and slid the whole way down." He smirked and quirked a brow at her in jest.

She wanted to pull him close in again at that moment but she resisted. Not that she could fully hide it. She could feel the warm magic of her Veela ancestors, her skin getting clearer and dewy as a result. Unintentionally her Veela traits were tasked without needing to be asked - to allure him once again. Her powers are thrumming strong from him and the party already.

She was grateful when he looked away before she did anything rash. "Well I'm glad you're now of good health and sound mind. And not starving."

Loki snorted at the ‘sound mind'. "I can't believe I owe you more dances when I didn't intend to join this time."

"Maybe we can make a further deal when you have something that interests me," she slyly smiled before looking serious. "Though I would prefer a mate who dances," she remarked casually or more drunkenly. Also too casually so when she fully realised what she said her sudden stiffness seemed more apparent.

"A mate?"

Shit. She suddenly felt too tipsy for this question.

"Oh, you know… A friend or companion. Do you not use that term around here?" Wanda asked innocently. She licked her lips, reminding herself about the one rule of tonight and how she needed to tiptoe around the deal. Not push her way in but either the chalice or jello shot were doing their job tonight.

"You're strict with your… 'mates'," Loki teased slowly, making sure to use 'her' word correctly. Though some curiosity was seen behind his words.

"My standards are high," she joked, hoping to turn the conversation away from her small slip of the mouth.

"Only the best for a princess," he teased, looking ahead and growing silent for the moment as they took a corner that led them outside and into the cold wet air. Far less students were found out here when the night fully set in.

"Princesses aren't usually brought out into the coId…" She stalled towards the outer entrance. The students at night usually stayed inside. She heard Pietro getting pissed with her already for going out alone with 'some guy’. It wasn't like either of them knew Odinson well.

He snorted. "I bet." His hold on her hand tightens a smidge. "But only for the beautiful night air and dashing paupers do they dare give it a try?"

"The pauper makes a good case," she grinned and pushed him forward and onto his original plan. Her instincts weren't giving any warning signs so she went ahead.

They took the turn for the Herbology space and suddenly Wanda wondered if they were going to be sneaking into the classroom via the window when Loki pulled out a key tied with green braided string that looked more like an ordinary leaf than key. She watched as the vines of the greenhouse seemed to recognize the key as one of their own leaves and suddenly the locked vines unravelled.

"They even open the door for you," Wanda noted with childlike glee. Herbology wasn't exactly a strong or favourite subject of hers but she adored the whole aesthetic of the subject.

"Not always. If I haven't visited in a week or more, they can be temperamental at times." His hand reached up to brush a couple leaves as he walked in. "If anything, they're probably showing off for you."

Her smile grew sweet as she gently fingered a leaf or two, only to have the leaves touch her in turn, curious back. They seemed to shimmer under her attention.

"Why?"

"What usually happens when the world sees a beautiful face.”

He said the words so flippantly that Wanda had to blink before fully registering the blunt compliment. The corners of her mouth were perky as she rounded the entrance of the Herbology station ready to face Loki after he said the praise.

He piled his scavenged food onto a work table with his back to her. A stray vine was slipping away with a sub that he had stuffed into his hood when both the vine and Loki stilled at her words.

"Beautiful, did you say?" she asked, accompanied with a cheshire stare.

He paused for an extra second while Wanda enjoyed herself. She watched as his mind seemed to process what his mouth said in this still, quiet moment. The vine with the sub took its chance to slink away and Wanda only watched the plant thief with mild concern before her eyes returned to Loki's form.

His face appeared over his shoulder, a slight squint to his eye like he didn't expect to be caught or noticed and she was seeing too much of him already. His cheeks were pinkish.

"You don't think plants have eyes too?"

"I… I suppose they do," Wanda responded after a moment of thought to the plants she encountered at the door. Her eyes left him to peer differently at the plants all around with refreshed sight. In response the plants, succulents and other sentient beings came alive under her attention. As if they were waving and making the whole Herbology area brim with energy and excitement.

"Do you think they're blind to such things?"

When she turned to him again, Loki was now leaning against the work table, smirking at her.

"I once thought they were." It was nice to know they weren't though. Loki, included.

He shared his smirk further with her and the greenhouse got pleasantly warmer. Their gazes were only broken when the lady bells in the back started to twinkle their blooms and the two teenagers jumped at the sound of the twinkling bells effect that came with their merriment.

"Are they laughing at us?" Loki asked with a frown before shaking his head. "Come on, let's eat."

They surrounded the worktable now filled with food, even though Wanda wasn't particularly hungry. She could still appreciate the spread he sniped, almost single handedly. She placed the fries he made her carry on the table but grabbed a few fries in payment while Loki managed to make a spinach pastry look tiny by the gigantic bites he took. They both pulled up stool chairs to sit on and it got surprisingly chummy for two Slytherins who never really hung out before.

Chapter Text

"So just to be clear, we're allowed to be here, right?" She pointed to the leaf key in his pocket, "Or did you swipe that?"

Loki chewed faster to try and answer.

"Not that I care either way. I just want our story straight," she eyed him curiously.

The corners of his lip curled up and he surprisingly believed her that she wouldn't tell on him, something he hadn't found in his house a lot. Or at least for him. He knew his fellow housemates would have their little plans and schemes that he wasn't included in.

He shook his head and swallowed. "We have permission for another hour or so," he said before double glancing at the clock to confirm his words. "I have extra projects that sometimes need attending to."

"You spend a lot of time here then?"

"I do…" Loki answered, not used to exactly talking about himself but he watched her and her mannerisms more intently as if waiting on some hint or cue as to why she was asking. He did all this while polishing off a croissant sandwich. When he finally cleared the food, he continued cautiously, "Usually alone though."

He watched her reaction, looking for some sign of distrust or deceit from the Slytherin Princess and only found her, pacified by the idea. He wasn't entirely sure of why but a reassurance that this wasn't his favourite make out spot or something came to his mind.

Nah, how random. She couldn't care about such a thing if she was referring to him.

"So this is where you hide," she smirked.

He had to look away then. While his bullshit meter wasn't perfect, it was pretty damn close after all his years in Slytherin as an unwanted, yet nothing about Wanda and her intentions were giving off anything unseemly or ill-willed in nature.

If anything, she came off interested…

In him.

Even after the handful of kisses they shared, it still didn't fully sink in for Loki that Wanda liked him. Him. Loki Odinson, the destitute, loner Slytherin who wasn't liked by his own house and barely got along with his family. He didn't see his familial bonds getting stronger either, now that he could be adopted? Or was Thor a Veela too?

Loki swore he felt the universe shift then as all this came into alignment but absolutely threw him out of balance.

What was his life right now? Suddenly the rule of 'no Veela’ talk made more sense.

"I won't give away your hiding spot in the castle," Wanda reassured as she unknowingly watched him fall apart before her eyes. "Are you okay?"

Loki jolted back to reality to find Wanda now looking at him with some concern. The slight smile on her lip helped shake off his existential crisis as he also gave his head a good shake as well.

"I think… l ate too quick," he said, looking away from her and taking a big breath. He tried to quickly settle himself so he didn't blow this night or his cover about the food but he felt suddenly winded.

"You did eat a lot."

Loki smirked, knowing that really wasn't a lot of food for him or any Asgardian. He barely ate when his brain seemed to finally catch up to this moment and their leading up conversation. "Wait. You notice I hide away?" he noted, looking over his food before glancing at her.

"Uh… I have noticed it from time to time," Wanda admitted after a pause. Her cheeks warmed slightly. "More so two years ago when I was still new and learning who everyone still was."

Loki nodded, "I forgot you were a fifth year transfer."

"Yeah? Sometimes it feels like that's all people remember about me…" Her transfer year to Hogwarts had been such a whirlwind.

"Yeah?" he parroted back to her in earnest though and he continued on to prove it, "Because you made fifth year look easy."

"So you kept an eye on me as well?" she gloated with a self-indulgent smile.

Without meaning to, the corners of his lips joined her, "I've noticed things."

Wanda found this news encouraging. That he observed her as well. "Nothing really gets by you, does it?" she asked after a moment with her head tilted to one side, clearly inspecting him back now. A mutual agreement that they were both now looking at each other with keener senses than the usual classmate would use. A game they enacted.

"I don't know. It seems I was pretty far off on my guess this afternoon,” he smirked, poking fun at himself.

Wanda huffed in amusement, having forgotten about earlier. “You sure you want to get into this?” she teased, knowing she had some questions herself.

"More like pointing out that I don't always get it,” Loki finished the fries.

"You seemed determined to brush me off earlier… ass,” she teased and let her knee knock into his in jest. Though she was curious about his response too because this afternoon confused and frustrated her, even if it all worked out in a way.

"I'm not getting out of this, am I?”

Wanda shook her head and continued to stare at him with her inebriated flushed cheeks and curious eyes.

Loki blushed under the attention as he cleaned up the table since he polished off most of the food now. "Just thought you were trying to brush me off after the night before.” He felt fucked up for admitting such a fact. Usually he liked to hide his truths in twists and quips.

Yet with how Wanda and he spoke, truths still felt twisted somehow.

"I would have just returned to ignoring your existence if that was the case,” she smirked.

"But you didn't.”

"And I don't really want to.”

He was blushing red now and Wanda could only grin. He looked almost ready to hide behind his crown beanie but Loki didn't back down. If anything, he became curious and more enchanted.

"But you didn't… Because you like me?” He sounds confused but the look in his eyes was smarmy. It was a wonder how he could be so confident and doubtful at the same time.

"Yes,” Wanda chuckled, not one to shy away. "Is that so hard to believe?“

"Yes,” he blankly replied, staring back now. Like she had some defect to be into him.

"You don't make this easy, do you?”

“I'm hard to love.” He looked away.

"More frustrating.”

They both laughed at the sudden heavy topic they stumbled into. The lady bells in the back laughed as well.

"Fine, Odinson. This is your chance to scare me away. Tell me your deep dark shit that I should dislike and actively hate you for.”

"Our family issues aren't enough?“

"Touche.” Wanda had forgotten about that whole factor. She giggled, wondering how tipsy she was.

The corner of his lips curled upwards at her merriment.

"That's not technically us though so try again,” she pointed out. If anything it would be the easy way out if they got scared because of that.

"I'm not popular.”

"Then I'll raise your rank,” she joked. “Not that either of us have control over our status.”

Loki frowned as he pulled out a gilly water to drink. "You're not popular on purpose?”

"No. I'm just being myself and people notice. Just like they notice you but for different reasons. It's more about your social connections.”

"Touche,” Loki remarked, never thinking about how it was out of control for both of them.

"Next.”

"This is starting to feel like a trap,” he smirked.

Wanda's eyes narrowed. "You sound paranoid again.”

"Get bullied as much as I have been,” Loki shrugged, looking away.

Her eyes widened, as if it all made more sense.

When she came to see him today, he thought she was messing with him in some way. He was suspicious of others. She felt like she started to see him with clarity. He watched her carefully because he felt unsafe.

“I'm not pulling a ruse on you, Loki,” she finally said while tempted to touch him but she held back.

Loki scoffed before turning to look at her, "I hate that I believe you.”

"You just hate that I'm winning you over,” she smiled.

"Why?”

"Why what?”

"Why are you trying to win me over?”

"Who's to say I'm trying?” she smirked. “Feels effortless on my part.”

"Cute,” he muttered, but his eyes danced with mirth.

"Cute, irresistible. I've been called many things,” Wanda said and her hair shimmered in the moonlight. Her Veela magic was happy and alive in the greenhouse.

"Temptress,” Loki breathed or maybe complained before he impulsively grabbed at the stool leg of her seat and pulled her close to him. From there, he easily swooped down and captured her mouth that was attracting him with her quick wits and saucy taunts. She was driving him crazy.

She laughed into his kiss, not expecting him to tug her chair to be so near to his. She didn't complain as her eyes closed and she fell into his kiss. Her hand touched his chest to find her steadiness, which seemed to be born in him more than ever expected lately. He unravelled her with kiss after breathless kiss while somehow offering her stability in his embrace.

He groaned when Wanda shuffled slightly forward so her legs were across his lap to erase the room between them. The room pleasantly spun as his hands wandered the expanse of her skirted legs. His touch light and infinitely distracting as she tried to hold back soft gasps and noises. Some flowers in the back seemed to twinkle to life in the back as they lost control of one another.

"Oh, Loki!” A voice called out from outside the greenhouse. “I'm so glad I caught you, dear boy. The dried greens from your mother came in and they're perfect!”

Wanda gasped as she got off his lap and managed to bounce to the other side of the table before Professor McCoy entered the greenhouse and Loki strategically leaned over the table still strewn with the remnants of their meal.

"Hello, professor!” Wanda and Loki both unintentionally greeted their teacher at the same time.

“Hello, children. Maximoff, you don't visit often,” Professor McCoy said while examining a plant at his deck with spectacles closely.

“Oh yeah, I brought Loki some dinner since he missed the roast tonight,” Wanda quickly offered and Loki could only watch on in amusement that she was lying for his benefit. She just got hotter in his eyes.

“The melody of thyme on the roast was lovely, wasn't it?”

“It was,” Wanda agreed before flashing an amused smile Loki's way.

“Well it's time to trek back to your Slytherin common room but make sure you clean up before you go.”

"Of course, professor.” They both cleaned up their small mess and moved for the door.

"Also I'll tell mother you received her package,” Loki noted to their teacher as they left.

“The herbs smelled wonderful,” Professor McCoy said before asking, “Do you know which plant was twinkling when I came in?”

“Maybe the gardenia, sir.” Loki took Wanda's hand and they were gone again.

"Huh. Interesting.”