The Thunderer and the Wizard

Author's Note: Inspiration like lightning has struck me and I'm happy to present a new story. I love the Potterverse and couldn't help but tailor Loki and Thor into the story. I have changed certain characteristic of James Potter and Severus Snape (as well as Thor and Loki) to better suit the story. The story takes place pre-Thor and Avengers and pre-Harry Potter series. I love mythology (Norse included) so the story may contain certain references to it, but it will mainly build on the characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For fans of 'A Riddled Universe,' please refer to the author's note at the end of the chapter.

I hope you enjoy this story and in the modified words of Bilbo Baggins 'We're going on an adventure!'

Disclaimer: Wizards, Aesir, Potions and Jötnar! I wonder how it will look like combined. Thank you JKR and Marvel for giving us a fascinating and spellbinding journey into this magical world.

Chapter 1

A loud boom of thunder heralded in the birth of James Potter, son and heir of a wealthy Pureblood family which wielded considerable influence over the British Wizarding World. To say that his birth had gone unnoticed would be wide of the mark, for his arrival was commemorated by the numerous owls carrying the multitude of well-wishes which flew into the separate Maternity Ward of St. Mungos, which housed Mrs. Potter and her only offspring. The Potters were an elderly couple which is why the arrival of James was celebrated with much pomp. The baby was boisterous in nature, resembling the weather which plagued Britain during the first few weeks of James' life. His demand for attention eclipsed the other residents as his cries seemed to echo the very essence of wild nature; strong, powerful and loud. For James Potter was no ordinary wizarding child. He was born for a reason.

It was said that there was a reason for everything Odin Allfather did. As the King of Asgard, he was responsible for the well-being of his people as well as for the stability and the peace of all the nine kingdoms which formed different branches of the Yggdrasil (the World Tree). Of all the harsh decisions he had taken, this decision the hardest. However as a King, he could neither show such weakness nor leniency towards his sons, as much as he loved them. His sons were among the finest men in all of Asgard, but like even the greatest of warriors, they had their faults. It was these faults that the mighty Odin sought to correct.

His son Thor was the epitome of strength and valour. His adventures provided the Bards of the realm with so much inspiration that it was not strange that his son had become exalted as the very embodiment of the ideal warrior. His faults were ignored in favour of praising his achievements. As a result, his ego had burgeoned out of control and his disrespect for the things he couldn't understand intensified. Thor, Aesir's golden child, excelled in various martial skills and his victories in combat were legendary. But when it came to Seiðr (magic, to mortals), he was at a disadvantage. It would be wrong to say that he didn't have any aptitude for it as his parents were extremely skilled. If he had practised the art, he would have gained a better understanding of it. But he refused to do so as a certain impenetrable obstacle lack before him – his brother Loki.

As a child, Thor excelled in all areas except Seiðr, in which it was Loki who reigned supreme. Thor was so accustomed to praise which he so readily received that when he didn't excel in anything, he ridiculed the activity as not being worth his efforts. Seiðr or magic was considered a womanly art and when Thor mocked it, it was natural that the rest of the Aesir followed his lead. As a result, Loki, one of the most powerful seiðman (wizard) in the nine realms, was ridiculed and ostracised while Thor was glorified.

Odin saw all of this and decided that change was necessary. His greatest hope was that Asgard would prove the glorious of realms with his sons ruling together at the realm, each complimenting the other's strengths. Thor's strength and Loki's intelligence would prove to be the strongest of all combinations. But they needed to overcome their individual prejudices. The only way this would be possible was by testing them.

For Thor to gain a better understanding of his brother's strengths as well as learn to appreciate the world beyond Asgard, Odin 'banished' him to live as a Midgardian wizard named James Potter. Odin hoped that life as a mortal wizard would help his son realise that he need not only rely on Mjolnir (his hammer) for his victories. Of course, Thor and the rest of Asgard were not aware of this banishment. Odin had told his court that he had sent his sons to explore the realms on an exploratory mission. Only his queen Frigga knew the truth and she was not at all pleased with him. Her maternal nature prevented her from wanting her children to face the unknown but Odin was not moved.

It was a known rumour that wherever Thor goes, you would find his shadow Loki lurking behind. While Odin planned to 'banish' his youngest son to Midgard (Earth) as well, it was for reasons very different. While Loki was quiet and inconspicuous, he was also arrogant in his intelligence and prided himself on being superior to his peers. While pride in regulation was needed, Loki's dismissal of others as beneath him was cause for concern. He could see the disdain which lurked in his son's eyes when he spoke of the mortals and the occupants of the other realms. Odin would have ignored it, if it had not resulted in his son's altercation with the dwarf Brokk.

Seeing Loki's lips sewn shut was not a sight for the faint hearted and definitely not something which any father would want to see. He thought that Loki would have learnt of the dangers in underestimating his opponents, but that was not the case. His son's dismissal of mortals and dwarfs even after the 'Brokk incident' was proof enough. Odin needed to teach him to be appreciative of the circumstances of his upbringing as well as understand the sufferings faced by the mortals. He also needed to understand the importance of family. Odin had not yet revealed to Loki the truth of his origins as he feared his youngest's reaction. To him, Loki was his son and an Aesir but if Loki misconstrued his intentions and disowned them, then his precious family would fall apart. He wanted Loki to be appreciative of his family and his upbringing. So that when the truth is finally revealed, Loki would know his good fortune that even though he was abandoned, it was Odin who had rescued him from the wastelands of Jötunheimr.

So, he sent his son to live his life as another Midgardian wizard. Unlike in the case of Thor, his youngest's circumstances would be far more impoverished. To compensate for this, Odin left Loki's powers intact (Thor would not be able to wield Mjolnir unless he proved himself to be worthy). However, Odin hid Loki's knowledge of Seiðr in the recesses of his mind. Knowing how intelligent Loki was, it wouldn't be long before he discovered the same and proficiently wielded his magic in Midgard, hopefully not too ostentatiously.

He hid his sons' memories of their life on Asgard until the time was right. He hoped that the brothers would learn together in diversity and that their bond would strengthen during their time on Midgard. What Odin overlooked was the chances that his momentous decision could backfire spectacularly. That by throwing his sons in such environments, the outcome rendered may be far worse than the present. However the Allfather firmly believed that his family would finally be complete when his sons returned home and Asgard would reign supreme for all millennia.

When Severus Snape entered the world, a few days after his brother's arrival, there was no fanfare. There were no owls ushering in felicitations or people gathering in the hospital to welcome him into the world. The day he was born was eclipsed by the worst thunderstorm ever witnessed in that region. His first cries were muted by the loud claps of thunder which resounded in the heavens. (To think even his birth on Midgard, was unconsciously shadowed by Thor)

The first time he opened his eyes, his keen mind (more intelligent than that of an average child) observed the yellow stained walls and the stale air which permeated through his surroundings. His mother Eileen Snape née Prince and his father Tobias did not proclaim the news as the Potters had. The elderly couple had not planned to have a child and Severus' birth disrupted the older couple's way of life. Not to say that his birth was unwelcome, but Tobias would admit that it was definitely not asked for.

Change was not a welcome word in the Snape household. Tobias was barely coming to terms with his wife's abilities and now he had a son who may turn out like his mother (though Tobias hoped not). He was not the most patient of men and to have an infant in his house seemed to be torturous. But his wife seemed fond of the child and even he held certain affection for the tot which bore his name. However, Tobias Snape hated change.

Severus Snape would learn very soon how to live in the shadows while James Potter would learn to live in the sun. Even with different faces and memories, the intrinsic nature of the two brothers could not be ignored. But memories gained as Midgardians can obscure one's choices as they would soon find out. The bond of brotherhood forged through the centuries will stand threatened. These threats would come in the form of upbringing, house rivalry, Lord Voldemort and finally the girl with the fiery hair.

Regardless of the obstacles mentioned above, their journey on Earth will undoubtedly be a memorable one.

After all, legend stated that wherever Thor goes, you would find his shadow Loki lurking behind. For even on Midgard, it was impossible for one to exist without the other.

To Be Continued…

Please Review!

A/N 2: To the fans of 'A Riddled Universe,' I appreciate the amount of comments and good wishes I received on the story's completion. I am still undecided on whether I should write a sequel. If inspiration strikes in the form of a juicy plot, I will post it in an instant. Till then, forgive me.

A/N 3: Odin is a complex character to write. I know that there is a lot of anger against him because of his failings as a father and his methods of controlling his sons. But as a character, I believe his personality is more complicated and while he may have good intentions, his ways are definitely not the best.