Hey, Readers. I've been wanting to write a story like this FOREVER. There aren't enough! For all of you following my other story "City of Angelic Lights" I promise this won't get in the way of its updates. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it. If I make any mistakes with the time period, please point them out. I also couldn't find the exact date the Infernal Devices was set in, so if you know it would be greatly helpful. This is set a few months after Clockwork Princess and couple years after City of Heavenly Fire. Have fun reading.

Disclaimer- I do not own TMI or TID Cassandra Clare does...

Magnus Bane- The London Institute in the 1800's

EVER SINCE HENRY'S MIRACULOUS INVENTION, Magnus, on his own, had been trying to make a portal without any nephilim assistance. Hours reviewing several of Henry's papers that he had nicked from the lab, endless nights with numbers, runes and spells turning like waves in his mind.

It took several months before he figured out. At first he was hesitant stepping through it. It was a miracle that Henry's worked, but this, this was something else entirely. The original version was ingenious. Warlock magic formed it, while the nephilim's runes kept the passengers safe. It was a perfect balance. Only enough magic to make it work, and enough runes to keep it stabilized. Magnus's was a completely different story. His was completely formed out of magic and therefore carried the risk of it going completely awry.

Clenching his teeth and taking a deep breath he stepped through…and after a lot of tossing and turning ended up on the other side of his apartment. Perfect.

Pride filled Magnus, and an easy grin settled on his face. He made his portal again and again going farther distances each time until he was confident his portal could take him any distance. By the time he had finished he was utterly exhausted.

Months later Magnus happened to be perusing around London (he had a certain fondness of the city for the time being) when he noticed a scramble of shadowhunter's running down the street like crazed geese.

Magnus had to restrain himself from laughing. All the poise the Nephilim were notorious for bragging about, certainly wasn't showing now. Faces flushed from the summer heat, eyes wide with panic, and voices babbling hurriedly. Then a voice he recognized right off the bat sounded through the hustle and bustle of London.

"William Herondale, slow down!" He looked to his left and saw poor Tessa rushing down the street in chase of her companions. Lacking the natural stamina from a full blooded shadowhunter, she had sweat running down her face and her breath was wheezing in and out of her lungs. Even with the light weight dress she was wearing, her shoes still had a small heel on them, she never stood a chance.

The group slowed to a stop and amongst them he recognized the faces of Henry, Charlotte, the Herondale and Lightwood siblings and now Tessa as she caught up to them.

Magnus walked towards them, curiosity peeked, just as Charlotte ran a hand down her flushed face. "The first re-signing of the accords since my installment as Consul and I'm going to be late."

Henry laid a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure if we hurry, we'll be able to slip into the first meeting before anyone notices our absence."

Charlotte gave her husband an exasperated look. "I am the Consul, they can't start the meeting without me. They'll notice."

If possible Henry's face flushed bright enough to compete with the shade of his hair. "Oh.."

Gideon sighed, "Maybe we should wake up some of those automations and have them replace us. They'd be more efficient at their jobs."

"Well, they may be able to replace you, but I highly doubt anything other than a god could replicate myself. Hundreds of demon kills in my pocket, a pivotal part in the defeat of Mortmain, rescuer of damsels in distress." Will winked at Tessa, "I am a true legend and my mysterious disappearance would be a grievous blow to the Clave." He said looking the most relaxed of everybody.

Cecily stepped up. "Well I know what it was like to miss you, and honestly, I sometimes wish I hadn't found you." Will sent her a scathing look, and she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Well I'd have you know-." Will was cut off by Gabriel.

"We don't care, Will! We have bigger problems at the moment. Like trying to explain to the Clave that the Consul was late because her husband caught our kitchen on fire." Gabriel spit.

Henry looked like he had just sucked on a lemon and avoided eye contact with the group. Tessa reached over and pinched Gabriel hard on the arm. "Ow! By the angel, what was that fore!"

"Don't blame this on, Henry. Remind me, how many times did Gideon have to wake you up?" His face flushed red and he didn't answer. "That's what I thought."

Magnus finally let a loud laugh escape and decided to put them out of their misery. "Fine morning, Isn't it shadowhunters? Well, fine for me, looks not to be that way for you. Fear not, I believe I can help you with this situation."

Charolotte looked stunned. "What? How? I'll pay any price."

Magnus gave her a kind look and glanced at Will. "Seeing as you're some of the few Nephilim I find even partly tolerable I believe one free favor won't kill me." Will raised his eyebrows slightly. "Come. Follow me, I will get you to Alicante. Or at least as close as possible."

They followed Magnus back to his small apartment. He led them through the entry room and into his own personal chamber where he had cleared off a wall for the sake of portaling. "Ta da," he said.

"It's a wall," Henry observed.

"Magnus, dear friend, I'm afraid your years are catching up with you." Will said, actually looking exasperated. Tessa on the other hand stayed silent, her gaze darting between the wall and Magnus with interest.

"Clever," she said softly.

Magnus beamed at her. "Somebody has been practicing using their own potential I see. I'm glad you spotted it."

Charlotte looked confusedly between the two warlocks. "Spotted what."

He gave her his best charming, devilish look. "This," he laid his hand on the wall and murmured a soft chant under his breath. The shadowhunters gasped as they saw the swirling blue vortex pooling out on the wall from under his palm.

Henry had grin the size of the Thames on his face. "Is that what I think it is."

"Why yes it is. Took a bit of practice to do it by myself. Rather impressive don't you think? Well you know the drill. Step on through and get to your meeting. On time I dare say."

He waved them on, and with looks of relief plastered on their faces, they stepped through one by one, until the tail of Gideon's coat was no longer visible.

Magnus went to close the portal but before he could it turned a violent red and started sputtering. He hurriedly stepped back, slightly dazed from a great loss of energy, and watched as the portal burst into flames on his wall. With a wave of his hands, the flames were gone along with the portal. He slumped against the adjacent wall exhausted, glaring at where the portal had seem to malfunction.

It was strange. That hadn't happened to any of the other portals.

"I hope that's not going to be a problem….."

I hope you enjoyed. Until next time,

FanOfTheWrittenArt~*