It was a month before Harry made the time to visit Asgard again. There was only one reason for it too, Harry was visiting with Loki. He and Natasha had arrived in their assigned room. Harry had spoken to Heimdall beforehand, though. Somehow it did not feel right to arrive on Asgard without speaking to the guy.
They exited the room and a servant was waiting for them. "This way please, you are expected in the waiting room outside the royal chambers." They followed the man and waved at the few people that they recognised. Trygg had shaken hands with Harry, thanking him again for the magical eye-patch he had sent along. Harry had enchanted it to look like his other eye and follow it about. Both Odin and Fury had opted to keep theirs looking like they had, for their own reasons.
Trygg was dressed in his Asgardian war attire and decided to escort them as they walked, walking somewhat behind them, to show his respect for Harry and his Lady. "Once the bifrost was repaired, we didn't even need to go out fighting. We'd already kept every realm protected thanks to your gift." Trygg was saying. "Without that, I may have actually had a challenge." Harry wasn't certain, but he thought Trygg was slightly mad at him for spoiling the chance for a more dangerous fight.
"Should Lord Harry be saying that he's sorry or that you're welcome?" Natasha asked him with a smile.
"Don't misunderstand Lady Natasha, I am happy there is peace once more, but I would have been happy to die in battle and be welcomed to the halls of Valhalla." Trygg said mournfully. "No matter, I've got a couple hundred more years left in me, I think. Plenty of time to get into trouble." he finished with a smile.
Harry and Natasha laughed, and Trygg joined them. It seemed he wasn't all that mad after all. Depending on what kind of 'mad' you meant anyway. They soon reached the waiting room and were offered tea, while they waited. It was only five minutes, though, before Frigga entered. "Harry, dear! So good to see you." She said as she engulfed him in a hug. "And Natasha." She continued as she hugged Natasha. "Have you come bearing good news?" she said looking at Natasha's hand for a ring. Then she seemed to pout, "You're going to make an old woman wait till her death-bed aren't you?"
"Stop pushing them Frigga," Odin said with a smile as he entered, closing the door behind him. "It has scarcely been a month. Let them enjoy the time a while yet. If they refuse to in a couple of years I'll set Freki and Geri on them until they relent." Odin said with a smile and a pointed look at Harry as he clasped arms with him. "Well met, Lord Potter," he quickly hugged Natasha "Lady Natasha. To what do owe the pleasure of your presence here today?"
"Well met, King Odin, Queen Frigga. My Harry has come to have a conversation with a certain prisoner as he said he would." Natasha said and turned to Frigga, "And Frigga, you cannot call yourself old. You look like you are still in your prime and I refuse to hear different." she said with a smile.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, but it does help." Frigga relented.
"My Lady speaks nothing but the truth. King Odin, your Queen is beautiful as always." Harry said.
"True, though your words are, it seems we have something more important to discuss. Did you have time to think on how you will approach this?" Odin asked suddenly very interested in the conversation.
"I did, but I don't think you're going to like it." Harry said with a wince. "I have three ways of compelling information from people. One," Harry took a vial out of a pocket, "Veritaserum. Truth in a bottle. Once three drops are ingested the recipient cannot tell a lie for an hour." Harry put the vial away and took out a piece of paper. "Two, I give him the freedom to talk as he will and bind us both to a magical Contract that we do not divulge each other's secrets." Harry put the paper away and then looked Odin in the eye, "Three, I enter his mind against his will and force the information out of him."
"I have told you that I will not compel you to do so if it is not something you like to do." Odin said. "May I assume you are going to ask him to willingly sign the contract and attempt a conversation with him?" Odin asked.
"There is more to it, but I must first ask you to trust me. What we discuss will have to remain private. If I had permission or discuss the next part of my plan with you, he will surely feel like you were playing him. If we are to gain his trust, I must have the freedom to offer him a deal, but I cannot tell you what it is beforehand." Harry said grimly.
"You would ask that I give you command of his future without knowing what that might be?" Odin asked with a glint of steel in his voice. This was his son, he could not simply give that right away freely, but he knew Harry well. The time they've spent together had shown Odin all he needed to know that Harry would not ask this if he had another choice. "Are you sure you can make him see reason?" he asked instead.
"I don't know, but if I tell you anything, I'm sure he'll see your hand in my plan. I will also require permission from Frigga, even if your judgement is final. His mother must have a say in it or I will not in good faith be able to continue with my plan. I need something I have never asked of you; blind faith." Harry finished.
"What say you, Lady Natasha? You have yet to say a word." Frigga asked.
"I don't like his plan, but I believe it has a high chance for success. It is also exactly as he says. The more you know, the less chance of success it has. I can tell you more if you agree, but only as soon as Harry leaves. He cannot know of your feelings to the plan or it would negate his effort. If I do tell you the plan, you must also promise not to interfere. For once you know, whether you show up or not will also answer the same question. That of whether you approve." Natasha said.
"Why should we agree, if even your Lady does not like the plan?" Odin asked. "Is there no other way, where we have the freedom of choice, where you are not at odds with Natasha so?" Odin pleaded.
"Would you give up the chance to tell your son one more time that you love him and know that he knew you meant it, for the security of my answering one more question?" Harry asked seriously.
Odin picked up something very important in this question. He had to give the right answer now and live with the consequences. "I would give my life for my son, Loki, to hear it one more time and believe me. He does not believe me, but he is as dear to me as Thor and Frigga. We are family. And we care for him whether he wishes to hear it or not." Odin then straightened. "You have my permission to proceed with your plan and I will carry the consequences freely. You have my trust."
"As you do mine. I wish I could give you more, but I suspect that any attempt I make to help you will only hamper your efforts to bring my beloved son back to me. I have already lost his trust I fear." Frigga said as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Harry smiled and walked out of the room. Natasha started her explanation as Harry was lead to Loki's cell. The people of Asgard trusted him so, that they did not once try to impede him as he went. Harry only received respectful nods.
When he got to the cell, he turned to the man in charge, "Let me in and lock us in together. None are to disturb us."
"Of course, Lord Harry." the warrior said saluting him by putting his hand over his heart. He pressed a button on a control and the shield came down. Loki just sat there looking smugly at him. Harry was keeping his guard up and feeling for any magic around. Loki was not attempting anything, yet. So Harry stepped inside and felt the wall if intent laced magic close behind him.
"So the Ghost has come to speak to me. Did you want me to surrender my information?" Loki asked snidely.
Harry simply raised his hand, and Loki flinched. Harry smirked and conjured himself a chair. Then he cast security spells that would keep their conversation private. "I am here to try and speak to you. That is all. I know of your situation and your father has asked me to try and make you see reason. I come with a different proposal. How would you like your freedom?"
"You do not have the authority." Loki sneered.
"On the contrary, your father…" Harry started.
"He is not my father!" Loki exclaimed. "You did not speak to Laufey, as I killed him myself. So you did not speak to my father." he finished with a smile on his face.
"You and I have different definitions of the word 'father', but that is not what is important here, so let me rephrase. Odin has given me full rights to make you an offer. I did not specify what offer I would make or how I would make it, but you will not believe me on that will you Silver-Tongue?" Harry asked.
"You know nothing and you are bluffing. You cannot make this offer and you lie." Loki scoffed.
Harry smiled and withdrew a piece of paper. "See the contents and look at the magic. I am told you have a slight aptitude for the craft." Harry mocked and handed it over.
Loki sneered again, but took the paper and inspected it. The words were simple. If the owner of the contract states the other's name he will receive a wound on his right hand. The beneficiaries were both of them. Loki scoffed and inspected the magic, "This cannot be! It is bound to the soul! If we signed this, we could not break the enchantment until the contract is destroyed!" he said in awe. "How did you conceive of this?!" he asked.
"I wish I could claim conception of this method of enforcement, but I cannot. Someone far more intelligent than I conceived of it many years ago. This contract is an example. I will sign it and then you will. We will then break the contract. When you are convinced of its authenticity, I will offer another contract, but not before the current one is signed and the demonstration is complete." Harry said.
He held his hand out and Loki handed it back, sitting back and smiling. This Ghost had forgotten who he was dealing with. Harry signed the contract, then he handed it back. "There you go. Your turn, Loki Odinson." Harry said. Suddenly there was a gash on the back of Harry's hand and it started bleeding.
"Thank you," Loki said as he took the contract, "But I don't think I will sign the contract." he smiled victoriously, seeing Harry's name in red. "Instead, I will sit here and watch you bleed." he then laughed.
"I thought you might." Harry said offhandedly. "I suppose I'll just have to bleed out and keep the rest of my secrets to myself in death. Like the other contract I have that will not allow us to lie to each other. So many questions I have that will never be answered." Harry said with a sad smile.
"And what would I attain out of that?" Loki said, also smiling, believing he had the upper hand.
"The knowledge of whether I can, in fact, offer you your freedom, for one." Harry said conversationally, looking at his damaged hand interestedly.
"You bluff. I would enjoy your last moments too much to give you the satisfaction." Loki said.
"Are you sure? Is it completely impossible, given how easily I gained access to this cell?" at this, Harry stood up and apparated out of the cell. "For one such as I who can choose to be wherever he wants to be?" then he was back in the cell and sat back down.
"You can prove it?" Loki asked with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"You'd have to finish the demonstration. I have the means to save my life, but the wound would be an inconvenience for the rest of my existence." Harry offered freely.
"And what assurance do I have that you would not have my wound stay on me forever as well?" Loki asked with narrowed eyes.
"You don't, but you've seen the magic on the contract and know it can be destroyed easily, simply by destroying the paper." Harry said.
Loki considered this. With a growl he signed the contract. "Harry Potter." he winced as there was a gash suddenly in his own hand. He tried to counter it, but it kept on reforming. When he looked up he saw Harry suddenly had the contract. A blank piece of paper in his own. "So you do intend to torment me!" he said angrily, only to be amazed as Harry deliberately ripped the contract in two.
Harry twitched a finger and healed both of their hands. Loki inspected his hand and felt no traces of magic left. "Why?" he asked.
"Like I said it was a demonstration of the effectiveness of this magic." Harry said as he produced another paper and handed it over. This one was less simple. It stated that any knowledge they give the other could only be discussed with their permission with anyone outside of the contract and could only allow two to sign. Lies would also apply the penalty clause. The penalty this time would be the information itself. Loki inspected the magic. It would do exactly as the Contract stated.
"And you would sign this and answer any question honestly?" Loki asked sceptically.
"I will, but the contract does not compel us to answer, only not lie or give the information out without permission." Harry said. He summoned the contract and signed it without fear. Handing it back he smiled. "Wouldn't you love to give me information Odin would like to hear only to have me unable to tell him?" he asked.
Loki thought about it. He saw no down sides and signed the contract. Harry did not take it from him this time. "Why do this when you gain nothing from it for the Allfather?" he asked.
"I'm doing this for him, the information is of secondary concern to him." Harry said simply.
Loki looked at the contract. Nothing had happened, Harry's name was still there in black. "What could possibly be his primary concern?" he scoffed.
"Your safety and happiness." Harry said again, easily.
Loki double-checked the paper, then scoffed. "All that proves is that you believe what you are saying, not that it is the truth."
"I can prove it is the truth." Harry said.
Loki did not believe him, but the contract would not lie. "How could you possibly prove it such an obvious delusion?"
"I have a device for it." Harry said.
"And will you fetch your device and show it to me?" Loki asked intrigued.
Harry reached into his pocket, took out his Pensieve and un-shrunk it. "This is the only one of its kind in existence in this reality. I show it to you freely. In the hopes that you will trust me with the next part. I did not have to bring it or speak the truth, but you can see on the contract that I did not lie. Since you have yet to reveal anything to me and you have the only copy of the contract, there is no reason besides helping you that I can achieve from this."
Loki looked at him sceptically. "I believe that you believe that. How does this work?" he said looking at the bowl.
"I take a memory, that you focus on from your mind and you may relive it. Then after the demonstration, I will show you a memory I have. Tit-for-tat, is what they call it on Midgard." Harry said. "If you will allow me?" he then asked.
"I presume you want a memory of where I was in my time after the fall?" Loki asked, thinking he had figured it out. A part of him really wanted to smash the artefact against a wall. It would be delicious to destroy it and see the man's heartbroken expression.
"You presume incorrectly. If I am to help you, I need some trust. So I will tell you that I did not need to ask you nicely. I have ways by which I could compel the information from you. Instead I want you to freely offer a memory that only you will watch. I will stay out of it and leave it to you to decide if the device works as I've described." Harry said honestly. The process was tedious, but he had no choice. He needed Loki to believe him. Everything hinged on it.
"And you will let me experience it again, while you, what? Ravage my mind in an artefact I don't know or understand? Do you think me a fool?" he asked.
Harry sighed. "You know that I am not lying. You are hoping that I give you something for nothing. My patience is running thin and I will not be treated like this much longer. I offered this to you for free. Your freedom hinges on the fact that you show me some trust." he said.
Loki looked at the contract again, just to be sure. "Very well. How do I do this?" he asked.
"Think of a memory you would like to relive and I will extract it by placing my finger on your temple and extracting it. I will then place it in the device. When I'm done you merely need to touch the memory to enter the Pensieve and relive it." Harry said.
Without saying a word, Loki closed his eyes and said, "Okay, I'm ready." Harry extracted the memory and placed it in the Pensieve. Loki looked at it and placed his index finger in it, as if testing its temperature. His face went blank as he was drawn into the memory for a minute. Then he came back. "I will admit that that is a useful device and precious. I would not destroy it, even if it would satisfy me to see the look in your eyes." Loki admitted begrudgingly.
"Thank you," Harry said solemnly. "It is precious to me and holds many memories for me, if you'll excuse the blatant double-meaning." he chuckled. "Now, do you believe that this device shows the true memory of a person and that I cannot lie to you?"
"I cannot argue the fact, though I am still trying to understand how you would use this to try and save my soul." Loki said, but without the normal bitterness.
Harry looked at him sharply and said, "I am about to tell you something you will not believe, so I will follow it up with a memory to prove it. I will request that you watch the contract and see if I am lying to you." he said. "At first you will think I merely believe what I am saying and then you will be shown the truth. Do you agree to try and bear with it until that time?"
"I will listen." Loki said noncommittally.
"Okay. That is all that I ask." Harry said and then he began. He told him of Odin's request for help and the options he considered. He told him of the meeting he had with Odin and Frigga right before coming to the dungeon and that Odin did not know what he would offer. That he had given Harry full permission to decide his fate. He also told him of his parent's abiding love for him even now.
"That cannot be true?!" Loki said looking at the contract and then Harry. "Once again you prove your naivety. You cannot expect me to believe what you say." Loki said.
"Watch out. That was almost a lie. I can see you are getting angry with me. Why get angry if some part of you didn't want to believe what I said?" Harry asked.
"Prove it then!" Loki demanded.
"Okay." Harry shrugged. He took his finger to his temple and withdrew the memory of the meeting. When he had it deposited, he went in with Loki, this time, to gauge his reactions. Loki was intrigued at first and nodded at Harry's statement that Odin may not know the truth otherwise he would not believe it was offered without consequences. He looked shocked at Odin's admission that he would give his life for Loki, who he loved as he did Thor and Frigga. And he looked ashamed when his mother said that she thought she had lost his trust.
When the memory ended, Loki did not meet his eye. "You have proven yourself to me Wizard and I have much to think about."
"There is one last matter to attend." Harry said as he took one last Contract from his pocket. "This contract holds the reigns to your freedom. If you sign it, you will be re-instated as a Prince of Asgard. You will have made a promise to never try to usurp power from your brother or father or that of any realm. You will not be forced to take any action good or evil in anyone's service and you will be free to make your own choices again, as long as you promise to not do harm. You may defend yourself, those you care for and any realm of your choosing as long as it is against tyrannical rule or attempts to overthrow that would lead to massive loss of life. Basically it means you'll try to be a good son and brother and do what is right and bring honour to your family." Harry said.
Loki looked shocked. "This is unexpected. You do not wish me to serve under anyone? Just be a good son and brother? Defend my people?" he asked.
"Basically. It doesn't even force you to tell us who sent you to Midgard. I'm hoping you'll want to do that on your own, at some point." Harry said finally.
Loki just looked at him, a bit of respect in his eyes. "You are a strange man, but you seem to have a kind heart. To do all this while it does not even benefit you. It is naïve, but respectable."
"What are you talking about? This is completely selfish. I want my friends, Odin and Frigga, to be happy. That would make me happy." Harry said flippantly. Then smiled, "I can see you love your mother and you believe your father's claim that he loves you. I suggest that you think about what you've been offered. See if you can live with being a good prince." Harry then smirked, "You'll note the Contract states nothing about your tricks and nature being suppressed. As long as it is in good fun and not harmful, you'll be allowed to go back to being the trickster god." Harry said, then he paused.
"What?" Loki asked, having spotted his hesitation.
"My father and his friends at school considered themselves pranksters. They even claimed to do some of them in the name of the prankster god Loki, their patron." Harry smiled. "I followed their tradition to a degree. I never said I had a patron, for example." He then looked at Loki, "I'm actually quite good at it and, if my calculations are correct, I've got two on you at this point. Guess I'm just better." Harry smirked.
Loki smirked right back. "Oh, we'll have to see about that then, won't we?"
Harry smiled. 'That's better,' he thought. He picked up his Pensieve and banished his conjured chair. "I'll then be on my way, then."
As he made to cancel his privacy spells, Loki said, "Wait." Harry looked at him and made eye contact. "Thanos." he said. "Thanos sent me to Midgard." He picked up the secrecy/honesty contract, showed it to Harry, who noted it was unbroken, and then tore it in two.
Harry nodded at him. "Thank you," he said and left.
When Harry got to the waiting room, he was engulfed in a hug from Queen Frigga. "Thank you!" she said as tears fell from her eyes. "Thank you for trying to give him back to us. You cannot understand the anguish his absence has caused us!"
"It was no trouble." Harry said humbly.
When Frigga let him go, he was grasped by the forearm by Odin, and pulled into a manly one-armed hug. When Odin released him, he said, "Your wisdom astounds me even now." He was smiling broadly and Harry could swear he saw a twinkle in his eye that was never there before. Then Odin asked with hope and some trepidation, "Was he receptive?"
"He heard your words and I believe he heard them as you meant them for the first time in a long time." Harry said honestly.
"And the final contract?" Odin asked. He was so happy that Harry was able to do for him what before was not achievable.
"I left it in his hands. I asked him to think about it," Harry said, "and then I may have challenged him to a prank war as incentive." He smiled. It had been a good while since he had one of those. One with the god of trickery might be more fun than he could handle. Small price to pay for the happiness he saw in Odin and Frigga's eyes.
Odin outright laughed. "You may have done yourself a disservice. He will not stop now that he has permission."
"Nah, I'll be okay. After all, I'm already two up on him." Harry smirked.
"Did you tell him that?" Frigga asked, slight concern on her eyes, but the happiness still brimmed her eyes with joyful tears.
"I may have." Harry said.
"We will have to have you guarded, when you come to visit Asgard. Loki will no doubt be planning his tricks well in advance." Odin said, with a smile in his eyes. "You have done well."
"If he signs the Contract." Harry reminded them.
"Oh, I'm sure he will, just as soon as his plans are complete. Right now he's in a safe space and believes himself untouchable so that he can plan." Odin said with confidence.
"He might be safe in the cell, but once he steps out of it and his skin and hair turn bright pink and purple for ten minutes, I'll be up another one on him." Harry smirked a devilish smile.
Odin and Frigga looked at him dumbfounded and started laughing again. When they calmed somewhat, Odin said, "You were right in your estimation that I cannot bestow any further titles on you, so I'll have to once again think of how to repay you for your service to the realm."
"There really is no need. If he signs that contract, it will benefit our realm. He will not be able to attack it again. So it served my purposes as well." Harry said earnestly.
"Always so modest. I swear if Natasha wasn't your intended I'd have you married in the next hour to ten maidens. We could do with more of your kind in our realm." Frigga said fervently.
"And that's our cue." Harry said holding a hand out to Natasha. "See you in a couple of years!" he yelled as he apparated them away.
"That man will one day have to stop running from me." Frigga said in mock anger and then hugged Odin. "Oh, husband! How can we ever repay him?" she asked with tears in her eyes again.
"We cannot. He has done too much for us to ever repay. When Loki decides to join us again, I will have to apologize to him." At Frigga's confused look he explained, "Harry informed me of the cause of his drift from us. It seems I never showed him how proud I was of him, of the man he has become. Thor received all the glory, but never did we acknowledge that it was Loki's plans that often lead to Thor's successes. Or his understanding and quick thought that saved many lives."
"We'll have to remedy that. We cannot afford to lose him again. I will not allow him to stray from us again!" Frigga promised.
"I agree. We must try not to thank Harry overmuch either. We must remember it will be Loki's choice that brings him back to us. We cannot make him think we are more grateful to Harry than him for his choice." Odin said thoughtfully.
"But I will thank him in my heart always." Frigga said. Then she had an idea, which split her face with a wonderful smile.
Odin had noticed it, "What are you thinking, wife?"
Frigga looked at him, "What do you think about adopting a new son?"
Odin's own smile was, just slightly, predatory. "I think we can make space at the family table for one or two more."