Stark Tower
Selvig crouched next to the machine, nervously watching as a man in a black robe descended from the sky to land on the rooftop. A shiver ran down his spine. There was something about the man's grim demeanor and cold presence that unsettled him. He didn't look like someone to trust.
But Selvig reassured himself. The machine had been designed by his own hands. He knew it couldn't be stopped unless someone wielded the Mind Scepter. And with Loki gone, the wormhole would remain open, allowing the master's plan to unfold.
The plan would succeed. It had to.
Then the robed man spoke.
"Sir Thor, I need your help. I have a way to find Loki's whereabouts."
Selvig's eyes widened, his pupils shrinking. He can find Loki?
Before he could act, the air exploded with the sound of gunfire. Loud bangs echoed as bullets streaked toward the man in black.
Snape didn't flinch. A golden light shimmered around him, the bullets stopping mid-air and clattering harmlessly to the ground. He cast the spell without a wand.
Snape's piercing gaze locked onto Selvig, who held a trembling pistol. With a flick of his wand, Selvig was lifted off the ground, struggling and shouting as an invisible force suspended him mid-air.
"Ahh! I won't let you ruin the master's plan!" Selvig shouted, thrashing helplessly.
Thor, who had been watching nearby, stepped forward awkwardly. "Professor Snape, Selvig didn't mean any harm. He's a friend—he even knows Lockhart! He's a smart man, really. So why would he help Loki?"
Snape glanced at Selvig, still squirming in the air, and replied, "I'm aware. Lockhart told me everything. Selvig is under Loki's control. This isn't his fault."
Raising his wand, Snape touched it lightly to Selvig's forehead. White light pulsed, and the magic surged.
Buzz!
Thor watched as the black mist clouding Selvig's eyes slowly dissipated, replaced by clarity and recognition.
"What… what have I done?" Selvig whispered, lowering to the ground as Snape released the spell. Horror filled his voice as memories of his actions came rushing back. He recalled every step he had taken to help Loki build the machine, every piece of advice he had given, every way he had contributed to the enemy's invasion of Earth.
"Thor!" Selvig shouted, urgency overriding his guilt. "You have to stop Loki! The only way to close the wormhole is with the Mind Scepter!"
Snape's sharp eyes turned toward the Cosmic Cube and the glowing blue shield surrounding the machine below. Raising his wand, he cast:
"Diffindo!"
An invisible blade shot toward the protective barrier. It struck with a loud crack but barely made a dent. Snape frowned. The shield's energy was immense, its feedback overwhelming.
Boom!
Thor swung Mjolnir, summoning thunder and lightning to batter the shield. The machine sparked under the assault, but the barrier remained unbroken. Frustrated, Thor turned to Snape. "You mentioned you could find Loki. What do we do now?"
Snape reached into his robes, pulling out a small vial of shimmering, pale gold liquid.
"The Elixir of Fortune," Thor said, eyes widening. "Snape, you're suggesting I drink this to find Loki?"
Thor's face broke into a grin as memories flooded back. The last time he drank an Elixir of Fortune, he had successfully destroyed the Rainbow Bridge, thwarting Loki's plans to annihilate Jotunheim.
Snape raised an eyebrow at Thor's enthusiasm but nodded. "You know Loki better than anyone—his habits, his patterns. The potion will enhance your instincts. It's more effective if you drink it."
The vial floated toward Thor, who grabbed it eagerly and downed it without hesitation.
A cold, exhilarating sensation surged through his body. His mind sharpened, his confidence swelled, and an inexplicable certainty filled him.
"I think," Thor said, smiling broadly, "that we should head downstairs for a drink."
Before anyone could respond, Thor strode confidently to the edge of the rooftop and leapt into the air, descending toward Stark Tower's first-floor balcony.
Snape raised an eyebrow but followed. The effects of the Felix Felicis were clear—Thor's instincts were leading him somewhere important.
The two landed on a balcony connected to a sleek, luxurious room. Inside was a bar stocked with an impressive array of wines and spirits. The polished furniture and elegant decor made it clear whose space this was—Tony Stark's private lounge.
Thor moved to the bar, pouring himself a drink and one for Snape. His movements were smooth and assured. "Something tells me we'll have company soon," he said with a knowing grin.
Before Snape could reply, the sound of a repulsor beam heralded Stark's arrival. The Iron Man suit clanked as Stark stepped into the room, helmet retracting to reveal a bemused expression.
"Well, well," Stark said. "Look who's raiding my liquor cabinet." He eyed the drink in Thor's hand. "How's my stock?"
"Excellent," Thor said with genuine appreciation. "You have remarkable taste."
Stark smirked, but his tone turned serious as he glanced at Snape. "Any progress on closing that wormhole? Selvig said you might have a lead on Loki."
Snape gestured toward Thor. "We're working on it. For now, we wait. The Felix Felicis will guide him."
Stark raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched into his features. "Wait? While the sky's falling? You're putting the fate of the world in his hands?" He gestured toward Thor, who was happily sipping his drink.
Thor's confidence remained unshaken. "My gut tells me to wait. Trust me, Stark. Something good is coming."
Stark sighed but relented. Grabbing a glass, he poured himself a drink and raised it. "Fine. To trusting our guts."
The glasses clinked, and the two men drank, their camaraderie momentarily easing the tension.
The brief calm was shattered by a thunderous roar.
"HULK!"
The sound came from the balcony, and moments later, the massive green figure of the Hulk climbed into the room, shaking the floor as he landed.
Following closely were Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton, arriving in a stolen Chitauri hovercraft. Captain America entered last, his shield strapped firmly to his back.
The team exchanged glances, the weight of the moment settling over them.
"Avengers," Captain America said, his voice steady and resolute. "Assemble."
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