McGonagall hardly slept a wink knowing the young witch in the bedroom close to hers wept herself to sleep after McGonagall left her as she knew she couldn't do anything for her to help ease her anger towards herself and the potential loss of her family. She couldn't help ease her pain and McGonagall thought herself as a failure as she was supposed to help those under her care being a professor but at that moment, Dahlia was quite literally under her care by Ministry means.

She spent the night tossing and turning thinking about what she could do to help Dahlia but if what Dahlia was telling her was the truth, that there was a darkness inside of her which links itself to Voldemort and that it needs to be destroyed in order for Voldemort to be destroyed, she knew Dahlia would not be safe staying at Hogwarts. She spent the night thinking of what she could do but all roads led back to Dahlia's family.

When dawn broke, the professor got dressed and left her quarters knowing no one in the castle would be awake yet, least of all Dahlia. She had hoped that a member of Dahlia's family would be awake that she could speak to.

Approaching the camp, it was no surprise to the professor that the camp was awake and alive. Soldiers and servants were walking around, patrolling, some practising a distance away from the camp, so they couldn't be heard which made McGonagall question if there was anyone asleep in the camp or if anyone was able to sleep. Approaching the entrance, the two guards there glanced at one another then back to her before McGonagall got close. She then said, "I need to speak to your queen and her family".

"The royal family is not to be disturbed at the moment," the one to the right said.

"I am Professor McGonagall, I currently hold Ministry custody of Dahlia Lokidottir. This is about Dahlia. It is of the upmost urgency that I speak to them," she spoke sternly to them and arched her brows slightly like she would do to any of her students when she wanted them to do as she pleased.

They seemed cautious but the one to the left nodded to the right and they gestured for someone inside the camp, another soldier, and as the dark elf came close, they whispered to what needed to be done and the dark elf gestured for McGonagall to follow. The professor had entered the camp before but the chill that was sent down her spine every time she entered it, the stares she got from the citizens of Niflheim, never failed to make her want to turn into her Animagus form and run from the camp and back to the castle. Of course, her Gryffindor stubbornness and bravery got in the way and she knew she wouldn't run away, especially since she needed to see Dahlia's family.

Approaching the royal tent, she was told to wait outside while the unknown soldier walked in. He returned almost immediately and said, "they'll see you now".

McGonagall walked in to see Loki closest to the entrance, dressed purely in pants and a loose tunic shirt and it seemed he had been sleeping as he walked from the couch which had a blanket on it. The boys were dressed similar to their father in dress, but all of their hairs were a mess and clearly, they had just got out of bed. Hela was putting on a dressing gown quickly, her hair plaited to the side and she asked as she walked away from her bed, "is Dahlia okay?"

"Is she hurt?" Loki asked urgently, "if Dumbledore has gone near her or upset her-"

"No, no," McGonagall quickly said, not wanting to defend the man but she didn't wish to hear how the god of mischief intended on hurting the man she once trusted without doubt. She then said, "she's fine, physically. I spoke with Dahlia last night and she wants to stay and is under the impression that you will leave her here".

Loki shook his head, "that's not happening".

He walked towards the table and poured a drink and gestured to McGonagall to join him while his children joined him naturally. The drinks were being poured as McGonagall said, "I agree, Dahlia should not remain here, she should be with you".

This surprised all others at the table and Fenrir even commented, "and here we thought you were one of Dumbledore's loyalists".

"Maybe once," the professor replied, "Dahlia told me that there is a darkness within her, that it connects her with You-Know-Who and as long as it is there, he cannot die. That is the reason Dumbledore wishes she dies because with her death comes the end of the darkness. She should not remain here under any circumstances, too many people want to harm her and if it was to become public knowledge of this darkness..."

"So, you'll keep it to yourself?" Hela questioned, all but ready to curse the professor so she would never be able tell anyone about the darkness, the Horcrux, within her sister. Glancing at her father, she saw that he had a similar look in his eyes as he leaned his arms against the table and the boys themselves had hints of gold and red in their eyes as if they would attack.

McGonagall seemed to notice the tense position she had put herself in, so she cleared her throat and answered, "Dahlia has suffered enough. Too many people have different intentions, expectations and assumptions about her, people know too much about her already. This darkness, it should be Dahlia's tale to tell and hers alone. This secret is safe with me".

"Thank you," Loki said as they knew the professor was being honest. "Now, I trust you didn't just come here to tell us that".

"No," she shook her head, "I thought we might help one another to keep Dahlia safe and get her to go home with you without force being used. She came back yesterday crying and it took her some time to calm down before she told me her intentions for wanting to stay. She told me how she was attempting to push you away so that you would leave her".

"Never," Loki said immediately.

"May I ask what happened yesterday to put her in such a state?" McGonagall inquired, "she has been so happy since your return".

Silence was her answer as Hela, Fenrir and Jörmungandr glanced to their father knowing it was his place to answer that question. He eventually did after taking a sip from his goblet and said, "we were in Godric's Hollow, she wished to see it".

McGonagall sighed and looked down as she said, "that explains it". She then looked back up and said, "Dahlia is under the belief that she will kill all of you-"

Fenrir couldn't help but scoff and sniggered, "you can't be serious". While Jörmungandr looked surprised but Hela and Loki looked in understanding, knowing why Dahlia would have that opinion after seeing the place of her mother's death.

"Quite serious," McGonagall said, "she believes she will kill you or you will sacrifice yourself to protect her".

Jörmungandr then shrugged, "now the second one seems more believable".

"You see," McGonagall pointed out, "it is comments like that which make her nervous. I understand your family has suffered more than anyone could imagine, each of you in your own way, but Dahlia lost her mother without truly knowing her and she has been blaming herself ever since she discovered the truth..." McGonagall sighed for a moment as she looked down, "and unfortunately, her place of residence since then has not helped and I suppose many people are to blame for that. Myself included for not fighting harder to keep her from her relatives or checking up on her". She then looked back to them and said, "it has done very little for her self-esteem and she is under the impression that when things go wrong, it is down to her or somehow linked to her".

"We know," Loki said as he didn't look to anyone but had his hand tight on his goblet as if he wanted to crush it or throw it.

"As I was saying, Dahlia believes very strongly that she will be the cause of all your deaths one way or another. She told me about how children born of different worlds are treated, killed and hunted, the effects that can happen having a child of mixed species. Her magic is growing in strength every day and she believes if she eats the apple and inherits your ageing, she believes she will go mad and hurt all of you which is the last thing she wants".

Hela frowned, "but she knows the children of two worlds didn't all go mad, just a few while others weren't given a chance at life".

"She is under the impression she is one that will go mad. She believes her outbursts of magic, that she has had, are signs of what is to come".

Fenrir sighed, "We all have our own outbursts, times where we question our actions, but a little magic isn't going to scare us into leaving her here with people that want to kill her".

"Dahlia is not used to people loving her so much that they would die for her," McGonagall said, "however, that isn't all. She is also under the belief that if she stays here, it will protect you from others. How likely is it people will come after her?"

A moment passed as everyone glanced to each other and Hela finally answered, "it is certain people will fear her, fear the power she may have inside of her but coming after her, people of the nine realms already fear us because of our Ragnarök prophecy. They are already aware I have an army that cannot die by simple means and because Asgard have signed a soul contract, they cannot get involved and they would be their biggest weapon. Those of the realms might have an interest in killing her or obtaining her but that would bring about questions of how much trouble it would bring them and how to invade Niflheim to get their hands on her. Those outside of the nine realms will take a great interest and it is more likely they will hire mercenaries from far who know little of the nine realms if they wish to get to her for her powers which will be their mistake. Hiring mercenaries from far is their mistake as they underestimate us. I can assure you, if anyone comes after her, they will be dealt with before they even lay eyes on my sister".

McGonagall hummed in slight approval and said, "I simply asked because that is what your sister fears, not for her sake but yours. She believes if she stays here and doesn't eat the apple, if she lives one life, it will draw less attention to her and people will be more likely to leave her alone, meaning leaving you alone and safe from harm".

Loki shook his head and said, "it doesn't matter if she lives one life or lives thousands of lifetimes, they will attempt to get to her to see just how powerful she is. Unfortunately, I come from Jotun royalty, raised by Asgardians with the power to access Aesir magic. If I was normal, maybe they would leave her alone, but they won't".

"Don't you see her reasoning?" McGonagall questioned, "I have known her long enough to know that Dahlia would put her life before others, but you are her family, the one thing she has always dreamed of having. Dahlia is trying to protect you four above all else. She doesn't care what happens to her, she would rather you hate her and leave her here and live, rather than you loving her and leaving and you dying trying to protect her or her killing you from power. She told me what she said to the four of you yesterday, how she is used to you not being there," she looked to Loki then to Hela, "using her dying as a weapon," then to the boys, "then using the prophecy against you. She has used what she knows will hurt you the most so that you will hate her. She believes if she keeps pushing you then you will hate her before she can be the cause of any harm".

Fenrir shrugged, "a few words we have thought a thousand times ourselves are not going to push us away".

"But she is determined," the professor said nodding, "she will not give up so easily. She was in tears at the knowledge that she has used her father not being there and the prophecy against you, said it was two things she swore she would never use against you as they hurt you. Because she has now used them, she swore she would now have to make sure she pushed you away as she wouldn't be able to live with the guilt otherwise".

Loki leaned against the table and put his head in his hands as he tried to think of how to get through to his daughter. You would think that two people brought up in households where they were never truly wanted, bullied for their gifts and their true identity hidden from them and their origins would make it, so they would be able to figure each other out easily, and you would be right. That's what made it so hard for Loki to think because if it was him in Dahlia's position, if he loved his family so much that his existence would bring them danger, he would fight the threat alone until his dying breath or run far from his family and he wanted Dahlia to do neither of those things.

"I will drag her back to Niflheim if I have to," Hela said with a slight hint of anger in her tone, "she can hate me, fight me, I already scared her, may as well become a monster to her." She then stood and turned her back to them and walked away.

"Is she awake yet?" Loki asked McGonagall as he looked to her.

She shook her head and replied, "I came here early so she wouldn't know. I doubt she will be awake yet, it took her some time to get to sleep last night".

Loki stood, and McGonagall followed as he said, "go to her. If she wakes up, try to keep her there. We'll come and try to persuade her that her decision to push us away is a foolish one".

She nodded then left, hoping the young witch wasn't already awake so she could avoid questions about why she wasn't at the table drinking her tea like every morning.

Loki then turned to his sons and said, "boys, get dressed". The boys did as asked then he walked to Hela who was sat on a couch and he kneeled down and said gently, "you are not a monster".

Hela shook her head with tears in her eyes and said, "you didn't see the look in her eyes".

"No, I didn't, but I know your sister. I know she loves you and looks up to you and would never want you to think of yourself as a monster".

"Just go. I should get dressed and go check on Niflheim," she said. She stood and walked away to get dressed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What are you doing here?" Dahlia asked.

She had come out of her room, fixing up her school tie as she had Dobby go to Gryffindor tower and get her school robes, showing even more to her family and others that she had no intention of returning to Niflheim. She had just finished tying her tie as she was walking down the hallway when she tucked it into her jumper and froze as she saw her father and two brothers. McGonagall was sat at the table drinking tea while her two brothers sat on the couch and her father was leaning against it, so he was the first person she saw.

"We need to talk," her father said.

Dahlia shook her head and said, "I said everything I needed to say yesterday".

"Yes, you did," Loki said and pushed himself off from leaning on the couch and walked towards her, until he was within reach and said, "every lie, everything you didn't mean, was told to us. Everything you meant, your fear, you didn't share that with us".

Dahlia frowned but then she noticed Professor McGonagall looked away and it dawned on her. She looked at the professor, betrayed, and said, "I thought I could trust you. You told them".

"Dahlia," McGonagall said, "your fear, your insecurities about what you are, these are the kind of discussions you have with your family, the people that love you".

"They don't love me," Dahlia said then looked between the three men, "you're just burdened with a child with a prophecy, a child that caused your love to die and you two hated me before you even met me".

"Will you let us explain?" Jörmungandr said as both he and Fenrir stood and walked around the couch. "We didn't hate you. I think it was more on my part than Fenrir's anyway. He had time with papa before they were released, he got a chance to hear stories about you. I was released and right after we found you missing, and papa and Hela are off trying to find you. Then you come back, possessed, and we have to go into your mind to get you and other than what I heard off Fenrir, I don't know anything about you. I swear to you, it wasn't hatred that I felt or even dislike, it was simple caution. Of course, after I saw your memories and met you, I knew it wasn't needed".

Fenrir hummed in agreement, "because you're just as messed up as we are".

Dahlia pressed her lips together and looked away, wanting to smile and even give a slight laugh but she couldn't.

"Dahlia," Loki said and reached out to touch her arm, but she moved away. He sighed and said, "you are going to have to talk to me about this eventually". She shook her head and continued to look away from him. He kneeled in front of her and held her fingertips in his hands, so he didn't seem so overbearing and in her face, and said calmly, "sweetheart, I know how scary it is. How you begin to view yourself as a monster because that's what others would see you as".

She took a slow breath before she glanced at him quickly and said, "not everyone in the universe has the same opinion on frost giants as Asgardians. If you can find a world of children of two worlds, then please go right ahead and take me there. But for now, I will stay here". She then moved her fingertips out of his hands and took a step out of his reach.

He stood and said, "you honestly believe I'm going to leave you here?"

"You don't have a choice. You'll have to drag me back to Niflheim kicking and screaming and then I will find my way back, even if it kills me. Even if you take me back, I will never eat the apple of Idunn, I will die within the next century".

He hummed, "you know some witches live longer than that. Some live a couple of centuries without the need of potions or anything to extend their lives".

"Well I won't be one," she glared at him.

Loki now getting frustrated, glanced around the room before he said, "I'm trying to protect you, to keep you safe, to keep our family together. You're worried about other people coming after you, after us through protecting you, but they will come anyway. The prophecy-"

"You're safe," Dahlia said loudly and gestured between them, "it's different between us. The prophecy stated facts, who kills who, but thanks to the contract, Odin can reassure the others that Ragnarök will not happen. Odin can't reassure them that I'm not going to go mad or power hungry".

"I don't care what others think and nor should you," he said loudly, "all that should matter is your family, the family that loves you".

"You do matter," she said louder than him, "that's why I'm trying to keep you safe. I can't keep you safe if you're around me all the time!"

"But I'm always going to be there. Whether you're on this realm or any other, any space in the universe, I will be there because I will not lose you again. Even if you continue with this ridiculous notion of not having the apple, I will be there every day as you grow old, protecting you".

He reached out for her and his fingertips just grazed her arm as she shouted, "LEAVE ME ALONE!" and swung her arm away from him.

What she didn't expect was for her brothers and father to go flying into the walls, smacking against them so hard she found it hard to believe the walls didn't crack under pressure and she didn't expect to see her hand slowly emitting light again, like the same night with Umbridge when she hurt her.

"Dahlia," McGonagall said as she stood from the table.