After Loki spoke to Dumbledore, well more like yelled at Dumbledore if the rumors were to be believed, Moody stopped with the unforgivable curse's threats with the class. But not with all the classes, Harry told me that he had been putting the fourth years under the imperious curse and making them fight it off. I knew that the man had to be breaking at least a dozen laws but no one at the ministry seemed to care.
What was even worse was what it was doing to poor Neville. I had found him in the library after the first lesson he had with Moody. The poor boy was sitting on the floor with his arms wrapped around his kneed as he rocked back and forth. When I asked him what was wrong, I wanted to go and freeze Moody's wooden leg to the floor. Neville told me that his parents we aurors and we tourture by Bellatrix Lestrange, who was a death eater and part of Voldemort's inner circle, with the cruciatus curse to the point of insanity and were now in St Mungo's permanently. Moody would have known what happened to Neville's parents because he was an auror as well. I spent an hour with my arms wrapped around Neville while we sat on the library floor before I finally managed to calm him down.
The strange thing was that I had read about Moody before and yes, he was incredibly paranoid and who could blame him with how many dark witches and wizards he had put in to Azkaban. But nothing ever mentioned how cruel he was, just how he was an amazing wizard. Either he had completely lost his mind or something was really wrong.
I had mentioned this to Loki and he felt the same way. He had also assured me that he was going to look into it because he felt that something was wrong and he was going to find out what it was. And when Loki put his mind to something, nothing stopped him until he found out the truth.
Another person who wasn't acting like themselves was Cedric. I knew that it had something to do with the tournament and his dad, but I just didn't know what. He had got a letter from his dad a few days after the tournament was announced and that was when he had suddenly become very quiet. Which was why I was searching through the library on a Sunday morning looking for my boyfriend. Danny had told me that he was gone when he woke up in the morning and had left a note that he was studying in the library. But I knew he wasn't studying; I don't know how I did but I just knew it. I eventually found him in the very back of the library, leaning against one of the bookshelves, running his hand through his hair as he thought about something.
"Need help finding a book?" I asked him as I leaned next to him.
"Hey, love," he said as he wrapped his arms around me.
"What's wrong, Ced. I know something's wrong, so don't tell me it's nothing," I said with my head resting on his shoulder.
"It's Dad, he, well, why don't you read the letter for yourself," he told me, pulling away and pulling a letter out of his pocket and giving it to me.
I took the letter from him and sat down at the table that was close by and starting reading the letter that Cedric's dad had sent him.
Cedric,
By now you have heard of the Triwizard Tournament. I fully expect you to enter the tournament. This is your chance to make something of the Diggory name and to bring pride to the house of Hufflepuff.
I do not know why you have been acting to rebellious as of late but you need to straighten yourself out and so you will be picked as the Hogwarts Champion. I know what an amazing young wizard you are and this is your chance to show everyone else.
You know I love you and I only want what is best for you. I truly believed that this tournament is the best thing for you. It will give you so many opportunities that you would never had if you didn't enter.
All my love,
Your Father
The letter was such an odd mix of father who was demanding and yet trying to be loving at the same time. I honestly didn't know what to make of it. The letter certainly was nothing like my dad had ever sent to me but then again, my dad was born in 1918 so I didn't know if it was a generational thing or what.
"So, what do you think?" Cedric asked me when I had finished reading the letter.
"I really don't know what to make of it. But the most importantly, what do you think? Do you want to do? Do you want to enter because you actually want to?" I asked him.
"I don't know. You would probably think I was crazy if I told you I was thinking about entering before Dad even sent the letter," Cedric sighed.
"No, I wouldn't think you were crazy. Have you looked at my life, it's the definition of crazy! I'm part super solider and part demi God, my uncle was mind controlled in to trying to take over the world, I call two of the most highly trained assassins my family and my godfather who I thought was dead isn't and was a brainwashed Hydra hit man! The tournament is normal compared to what I do on a daily basis!" I told him, making him laugh.
"I guess you're right. But do you think I should enter?" he asked me.
"Only if you want to. Not because your dad wants you to or because it will bring glory to Hufflepuff but because you want to," I told him, honestly.
"I do want to enter. For myself, not for anyone else," he told me after thinking it over.
"Then I will be there for you ever step of the way. No matter what happens. I love you Cedric and I will always be there for you."
After talking things out in the library, Cedric and I headed back to the common room. It was nice seeing him back to his happy and cheerful self, I just hoped Danny would be the same. He had been struggling coming to terms with his new abilities and I had been trying to talk him through it but he had become quite distant ever since that night at the quidditch world cup. I was fully aware that I wasn't one to lecture him about being distance, after all I was the one nicknamed the ice queen. But I didn't want him to make the mistakes that I did and push away that everyone that cared about him. Because that never ends well, as Cedric and I well know. But I knew at the end of the day that was a decision that Danny had to make on his own.
Loki was determined to train him to use his powers so that he didn't have any slip ups. Which I knew was going to be hard, I still had slip ups and I had been born with my powers. Unfortunately, all Asgardian powers seemed to be closely linked to emotions, which was why I tended to make it snow when I was upset. Although ever since the Nornir's warning, I had almost completely got it under control. The problem with Danny's powers is that they could cause a lot more damage than mine ever did if he lost control. It was easy to clean up snow, but stopping a fire on the other hand was a lot more difficult.
That was the very reason I was just about to drag him down to the quidditch pitch for another lesson with Loki. Since there wasn't going to be any quidditch this year, the pitch was a perfect place to practice. All Loki had to do was inform Dumbledore of when he indented to use the pitch and he would make sure that no one would go near it during the training session. Plus, it was out doors so if Danny did set anything on fire both Loki and me could quickly put it out without it getting out of control without burning the castle down.
All hopes of finding Danny in a good mood flew out the window when Cedric and I walked into the common room to find Maggie yelling at Danny for being so distance. Judging by the look on his face, I needed to get Danny out as soon as possible before something caught on fire.
"I don't know what's wrong with you lately. You're acting so strange and I can't help but think you're hiding something from me!" Maggie yelled at him, sounding slightly heretical.
"I'm not hiding anything so back off!" Danny yelled back at him.
"Okay, why don't we all just calm down," I said as I ran between the two to calm them down before something happens.
"Calm down! How can I calm down when Danny is lying to me!" Maggie said on the verge of tears.
"Look, I can tell you that Danny isn't lying about anything. You know as well as I do it's not in his nature. I think everyone is just a little stressed. So, Danny why don't you come with Cedric and me and take a little walk outside to calm down. And Maggie, why don't you and Amanda go and do something fun," I said waving our friend over from where she was sitting.
"Come on, Maggie. Let's go up to our room and we can read my copy of Witch Weekly. You know how much I love doing the quizzes in the magazine!" Amanda said in a happy voice, guiding Maggie out of the common room.
"Thanks, Amanda," I whispered to her when she turned around to look at us and smiled at me.
"Come on, mate. Let's head out side," Cedric said to Danny who was extremely warm to the touch when I put my hand on his arm.
Danny didn't argue as we led him out of the common room, I guess it was because he knew that we were meant to meet up with Loki. But I couldn't help but worry about how quiet he was, Danny was a lot of things but quiet wasn't one of them.
"Danny calm down, your skin is seriously hot," I told him when we were outside.
"Hey, I'm not hot. Your hand is freezing," he said to me.
"Cedric, who's right. Is Danny hot or am I freezing?" I asked, curious about what the answer was.
"Actually, it's a bit of both," Cedric said, after placing a hand on Danny's arm as he held my hand. "Danny's a little bit warmer than normal and you can run to the cool side, Elsa."
"Great! Now were freakin' hot and cold packs!" Danny said, throwing his hands up into the air and walking off in front of us.
"Do I really run to the cold side?" I asked, not realising that people could actually feel my powers on my skin.
"Only when your upset or stressed," Cedric told me.
"You know, I never knew that," I said surprised. "You hear that, Danny? It only happens when your upset or stressed, so calm down!"
"Whatever, let's just go see Loki," Danny huffed, walking a little faster.
When we got to the quidditch pitch we found that Loki had transformed the pitch into an Asgardian training arena, complete with lifelike training dummies.
"You said you wanted to go to Asgard. Well, this is pretty close," I said to Cedric as we walked past the illusion created waterfall.
"This is amazing!" Cedric said as he ran his hand over one of the marble pillars.
"This is Asgard. Technically a fake Asgard, but it's identical to this," I laughed as we walked over to Loki who was dressed in his full Asgardian leathers.
"You two took your time getting here," Loki said in an unimpressed voice with his hands crossed over his chest.
"Yeah, well, I had to deescalate an argument in the common room," I said as I looked over at Danny.
"Well then, we have no time to waste," Loki said, waving his hand and turning Danny and my clothes in to Asgardian training gear. "Now, Cedric. Why don't you wait over here with me so you don't get hurt while these two train."
"Hey! I take offence to that! I am in complete control of my powers," I said, turning my staff back into its original form and twirling it in my hands.
"I know you are, that's why I'm taking things up a notch for you," Loki smirk at me. "First off, no cosmic staff. Ice powers only. Second, I will be testing your illusion abilities so I want you to complete the training session in a glamour. A Sif glamour to be precise."
"I thought we were here to help Danny get control of his powers, not test my glamour abilities," I said as I turned myself into Sif.
"We are but I thought I would surprise you and put your skills to the test at the same time," Loki said.
"You a mean man, Loki Laufeyson-Odinson. No wonder they call you the God of Lies and Mischief," I said in Sif's voice.
"That is really weird," Cedric said walking over to me so he could get a better look at my Sif glamour.
It was really weird looking at Cedric from this height. Sif was a good seven inches taller than me, standing a 5'9. Which meant instead of barley reaching Cedric's shoulder, I was pretty much tall enough to reach his chin. No matter how many times I used glamour's, I would never get used to being taller.
"You're telling me. Every time I use a glamour, I see things from a different point of view. Literally. It turns out that just about everyone is taller than me," I said in a deadpan voice.
"It's not hard to be taller than you, love," Cedric laughed.
"Yeah, I know. Now go stand with Loki before you get hurt," I said, playfully pushing him towards my uncle.
"Now, Danny. I want you to focus all of your powers and fight Elsa or should I say Lady Sif. Elsa, don't hold back on him, Danny needs to learn how to use his powers," Loki called out to us.
"You ready, cousin?" I asked Danny.
"Sure, I guess," Danny shrugged.
"Oh, wrong answer cousin."
It was clear that Danny wasn't taking this seriously. So, I was going to show him just how serious Asgardian training was. So, I threw ice daggers at him to show him just how serious training was. Instead of using his powers to block the ice daggers, Danny ducked out of the way of them.
"What the hell, Elsa!" Danny called out to me.
"It's called training, Danny. This is how Loki trained me, the Asgardian way. If I was thrown into the deep end, so are you," I told him.
"Really, Loki! This is completely insane! Do you guys really try to kill each other?" Danny yelled.
"Honestly Daniel, this is the exact same thing that the Avengers do for training," Loki said as he pinched the bridge of his nose like he was getting a headache. "But as you don't believe us, I will have to show you."
Loki walked out on to the training ground and sent Danny back over to the edge of the grounds where Cedric was standing. When he was sure that Danny was in the clear he gave me on of his trade mark Loki grins before sending a blast of green magic at me. Not even moving an inch, I blocked the magic with a wall of ice. As soon as the magic blast had finished, I dropped the wall and sent a blizzard towards him. But he created a wall of clones to take the blast. Figuring two could play that game, I spread my arms out and created copies of myself/Sif that circled around Loki completely. Then with a snap of my fingers, each of the clones send a wave of ice at Loki who teleported away from the ice and appeared next to Danny.
"Well done, Elsa," he said as he clapped. "It looks like I trained you well, my dear."
"You, Dad and Nat have trained me well," I corrected him.
"I guess you could say that, but it was mainly me," Loki smirked. "Now, Daniel. Get out there and give it everything you have."
Hesitantly Danny walked back out to face me. I could tell he was nervous, so I didn't go all out on him. But by the end of the two hours Danny was getting a lot better. He was remembering everything that Loki had taught him over the last few weeks of summer and could somewhat hold his own against me. But since it was starting to get dark, Loki ended the training session and told us to be back the same time next week.
As we walked back to the castle, Danny was a lot more relaxed than when we headed out. Now all I had to do was fix things between Danny and Maggie, then maybe things could get back to normal.