Chapter Text
Loki kept his hair over his face as he walked down the platform, his trunk trailing along behind him. His pace was quick, so as to put as much distance as possible between himself and his family, and he didn’t meet anyone’s gaze. All around him families were making happy yet tearful goodbyes, but all Loki wanted to do was get as far away from his family as possible. “Loki, aren’t you going to say goodbye to Mother and Father?” He sighed at the loud voice, wondering if Thor would ever learn the meaning of volume control. Turning, he gave his brother a cool stare, raising an eyebrow.
“Goodbye, Mother and Father,” he said simply, briefly glancing at his parents before turning back to the train again. Before he could board it, however, a large hand grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Brother, please,” Thor murmured, his blue eyes earnest. “Can you not just be civil for ten minutes?” Loki sighed, scowling, though allowed the blonde third year to direct him back towards their parents. His mother’s lips were pursed, and his father was frowning at him.
“I’ll see you at Christmas, I suppose,” Loki told them with a sigh, standing stiffly while his mother hugged him around the shoulders. He doubted they’d allow him to stay at the castle for the holiday.
“Good luck with your sorting, dear,” Frigga murmured. “And do try and make friends.” He scoffed; like that was going to happen. When she released him, Odin clapped him on the shoulder.
“Do the family proud, son,” he said, his voice just as booming as his son’s. Loki resisted the urge to roll his eyes; he’d not done the family proud once in his life. They weren’t even his family.
“May I go now, brother?” he asked waspishly, and Thor gazed at him sadly.
“If you must. I’ll come find you after the feast,” the older boy assured, making Loki grimace as he turned away, dragging his trunk towards the train. He’d much rather Thor went off with his stupid Gryffindor friends and didn’t bother him after the feast. Hoisting the trunk onto the gleaming red engine, he found the nearest empty compartment, wishing he knew a locking spell; he didn’t want to be disturbed. Still, no one bothered him while he sat on his own with his nose in a book, and eventually the train began to move.
Several hours went by, and Loki happily sat in his peaceful compartment, reading a book on rare magical creatures, wishing his mind would stop straying to considering what his brother was getting up to. He didn’t care about Thor. There was a loud slamming noise, and he looked up in alarm as his compartment door was wrenched open and a small dark-haired girl rushed inside, shutting the door again with an equally loud bang. “What in Merlin’s name are you doing?” he exclaimed, glaring at the girl who had interrupted his reading.
“Hey, dude, chill, I just need to hide out here for like, ten minutes,” she insisted, unceremoniously stretching out on the seat opposite him. She was already dressed in her uniform, scruffy as it was, and her plain tie told him that she was a first year, like him. Joys.
“And who gave you permission to do so?” he retorted icily. She snorted, seemingly unfazed.
“Who said I needed permission? You don’t own the train,” she told him. “Also, you might wanna get dressed, we’ll be there soon.” Loki glanced down at his black jeans and green sweater, then over to the satchel containing his uniform.
“I can’t very well do that with you in here, can I?” he pointed out with a scowl. “Who are you hiding from, anyway? Surely you can’t have made enemies before we’ve even arrived.” She flushed, looking sheepish.
“I may have, uh, tasered this guy. But he was freaking me out! Really loud and waving his arms all over the place. Smoking hot, though,” she added, smirking.
“Did he happen to have shoulder-length blonde hair and a Gryffindor tie?” Loki asked knowingly, already feeling a headache building. The girl nodded, brow furrowed.
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
“I believe you just tasered my brother,” he told her flatly. Her mouth formed a small ‘o’, and she blushed.
“Really? Crap, sorry, but like I said, he freaked me out. And it wasn’t even really tasering, it’s this spell I learned from this really cool book. Still, sorry dude.” Loki laughed, surprising her.
“By all means, don’t apologise; the great brute deserves a good shock every now and then. All the better coming from someone like you,” he added, eyeing her up. She folded her arms over her chest, glaring at him.
“What do you mean, someone like me?” she snapped defensively.
“A girl. And a small one, at that,” he explained nonchalantly. She paused, then smirked once more.
“Yeah, I did kind-of own his ass. I’m Darcy, by the way.”
“Loki,” he replied, making her eyebrows shoot up.
“Dude, your name is weird,” she declared. “I like it.” Before he could say anything, she jumped up from her seat, peering through the window in the compartment door. “Looks like the coast is clear. I’ll catch you later, Loki.” Before he could even say goodbye, she raced out of the compartment as quickly as she’d entered, leaving Loki alone once more. He stared after her, then sighed, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.
“My bloody luck, we’ll end up in the same house,” he muttered under his breath, getting back to his book.
.-.-.
Loki was quite sure he was the only one in the gathering of first years not worried about being sorted. Whichever house he was in, he’d end up disappointing someone, so he hardly thought it mattered. Besides, there was really only one option for him. He followed the crowd into the hall, determinedly not looking over at the Gryffindor table where his brother was sat with his friends. He hoped to any gods that were listening that he wouldn’t end up there. He didn’t think he’d be able to stand it.
Only half paying attention to his yearmates being sorted, he squared his shoulders when he heard the shout of “Laufeyson, Loki!” from Professor Selvig. Stepping up to the stool, he sat down and placed the hat on his head.
‘Ooh, well, you are an interesting one, aren’t you?’ the hat whispered in his mind, and he felt shivers down his spine. ‘Destined for many things, though whether great or terrible has yet to be decided. Not quite a Ravenclaw, definitely not a Hufflepuff…’ Loki felt alarm grip him at the only two choices left.
‘Not Gryffindor,’ he pleaded desperately, gaze flicking finally to his brother, who was watching intently. ‘Don’t sort me in the same house as him.’
‘You’re awfully quick to scorn him, young man. Do not forget, he thinks of you as a brother, and your coldness surely pains him. But if you’re certain, I suppose there’s no convincing you.’ There was a pause, before the hat yelled ‘SLYTHERIN!’ for the hall to hear, and Loki let out a sigh of relief even as Thor’s face crumbled in disappointment. Loki pushed away the slight stab of pain he felt at the sight, taking the hat off and walking to join his new housemates as his uniform changed colours. It surprised him when the girl from the train, Darcy Lewis, was called immediately after him. She sauntered up to the hat seemingly without a care in the world, and there was several minutes of silence as she apparently argued with the piece of sentient cloth. Eventually, however, the rip in the brim opened, and the hat bellowed ‘HUFFLEPUFF!’, causing a satisfied smirk to creep across Darcy’s face. Loki’s brow furrowed; she was definitely one to watch out for. A snake in badger’s clothing if he’d ever seen one.
He didn’t bother trying to speak to his fellow Slytherin first years — of which there were four — nor anyone else at his table during the feast, eating very little and slipping away without notice. At least, he thought he hadn’t been noticed. “Loki, wait!” He groaned under his breath at the call, turning to see Thor jogging up the corridor after him.
“What are you doing here, Thor? Surely you can’t have eaten enough to satisfy that horrendous appetite of yours,” he remarked, but Thor’s step didn’t falter.
“Steve is saving my seat,” the blonde explained. “I said I’d see you after the feast.” He paused, then offered a tentative smile. “Slytherin, hmm? You’ll do well in there, I’m sure.”
“Why, because I’m a manipulative little sneak who can’t be trusted?” Loki sneered acidly. Thor blinked, looking hurt.
“Of course not!” he protested, offended that Loki would even think he’d have that opinion. “Because you are cunning, and unafraid to do what you wish to reach your goals.” Loki snorted internally; how very untrue that was. “I’m proud of you, brother.” Even as he spoke, Loki remembered the look on his face when he’d been sorted, and how they didn’t match up with his words now.
“Spare me the platitudes, Thor. And if you’ll excuse me, I should retire for the night.” Thor grabbed his arm, stopping him from walking away.
“Why are you registered as Laufeyson?” Thor asked, voice somewhat hollow. Loki winced; of course that wouldn’t have gone unnoticed.
“Because it is my name, as much as Odinson is yours.” Thor took a step closer, towering over the younger boy.
“It is not your name anymore, brother,” he began, but Loki stepped back, glaring.
“We are not brothers,” he hissed. “No one must know we are related by adoption. No one.” Thor frowned, looking perplexed.
“But why not? There’s nothing shameful about it.” Loki laughed bitterly; of course, there was nothing shameful about it for Thor. He didn’t have to deal with being the family disappointment.
“You’re a Gryffindor, Thor, and I’m a Slytherin. No one would believe us anyway, and I wouldn’t want to taint your reputation,” he added dryly. “Promise me you won’t tell anyone. Swear to me that no one will know of our connection. As far as you’re concerned, I’m just another Slytherin.” He couldn’t stand it if he was known as ‘Thor Odinson’s brother’ all through his Hogwarts career, as he was everywhere else. He needed to make a name for himself.
Thor didn’t look pleased, but bit his lip. “If I swear to it, will you stop running from me when I want to talk?” he asked hopefully. Loki sighed; it was an acceptable compromise.
“Deal.”
“Then I swear I shan’t tell anyone we are brothers. Because you are my brother, Loki, whether you like it or not.” Before Loki could protest, Thor wrapped him in a tight hug. “You’re my brother, and I love you. There needn’t be blood between us to make that true.”
“Go back to your Gryffindor friends, Thor, before dinner is over,” Loki replied, determinedly keeping a blank expression even as Thor looked so very pained.
“Goodnight, Loki. Pleasant dreams.” Loki turned back down the corridor towards the dungeons, not glancing back to check if Thor was leaving, and wondered why his chest felt so tight. Stupid brothers.