Captain Fury and Minister of Magic Kingsley Shaklebolt spent nearly thirty mins staring at each other without speaking. Behind her boss, Natasha stood, tossing a knife between her hands in increasingly complicated patterns. Her partner, Clint stood across from her, his eyes tracking the moving weapon.

"Mine now!" Clint said, gleefully snatching the blade away from her.

"You say that every time," Natasha retorted, as she rolled her eyes over her partner. Clint grinned, even as Romanov's gaze darted to their boss, whom she'd never seen this silent, much less for this long. Reflexively, the woman caught the blade Clint had thrown back at her. Neither leader reacted to the flying weapon.

"When do you think we'll get an update from Asgard?" Clint asked, his voice overly casual. Romanov's eyes met his own over his question.

"How should I know?" Natasha asked, pivoting to gain momentum before tossing the back at him. "it's not like I have them on speed dial."

"Can't imagine it's going well, can you?" Clint asked, catching the projectile. "Hermione's aunt seemed rather formidable. Tony won't shut up about the woman."

"Does Tony's opinion really matter?" Natasha asked, raising an eyebrow. " Why would his obsession be indicative of anyway?"

"I'm more interested in seeing her hex the man," Clint admitted, earning a grin from his partner. "You can't deny that would be entertaining."

"No doubt that would only encourage him," she said with a slight shrug. "The word no only serves to motivate the pest. Besides, Granger's family is clearly against the idea of her marrying Loki, which I can't blame them. Imagine marrying a psychopath."

"I'd rather not," Clint muttered, with a slight shake of his head and quick grimace. "Especially after that maniac was in my head. The whole concept of Hermione marrying him is entirely disturbing."

"At least she's capable of keeping up with him," Romanov pointed out.

"You saw her fight him in Germany," Clint said. "Is she capable?"

Natasha nodded, "The look of pure shock on his face when she took the scepter from him was genuine. Honestly, I think it triggered his obsession with the girl. Imagine years of boredom broken when a slip of girl suddenly can not only keep up with you, but win."

"You think he's just bored?" Clint asked.

"Why else cause all the mayhem?" Natasha asked, her eyes returning to the wizard and Fury. She and Clint were curious over how long the two would sit there in silence.

"You don't think he's doing that mind walking thing Hermione and Loki can do, do you?" Clint asked.

"Few wizards or witches have the fortitude required to learn Legilimency," Kingsley answered, surprising the assassin. "Hermione is a bit of an anomaly in that regard. Most cannot get beyond occuluding their own mind, much less endeavor to penetrate someone else's. The Aurors, of which I was a part of, prefers to ensure their employees are well versed in defending their own."

"It'd make the interrogations easier," Clint said.

"No mind is the same," Kingsley answered, "There are far better techniques for procuring the information you seek. Miss Romanov has proven it a great many times, has she not?"

"How do you know about that?"

"Agent Brown is quite impressed with your accomplishments," Kingsley explained. "She's used examples of your talents to shame her coworkers who refuse to let go of their bigotry."

"Seems your people aren't that advanced if misogyny exists there too," Natasha commented, unable to withhold the snark.

"Unfortunately, Agent Brown's gender is the least of the bigotry she faces. Although you'll understand if I respect her privacy."

"Of course," Romanov answered. "Though I'm concerned about the leak she seems to have become."

"On the contrary, Agent Brown is far more loyal to Shield than us. Amongst your organization, she's thrived more than she could have if she remained among the Auror Corps. Here she's found an unyielding acceptance and acknowledgement of her capabilities. Never has anyone sneered in her direction for her unique abilities or dismissed her opinion over their existence. Shield has given her opportunities to utilize them. What's more is that she knows it."

Clint and Romanov were staring at the wizard.

"Wouldn't that make your government wary of her?" Natasha asked. "Why would you continue to trust her?"

"Agent Brown has been insistent about allying with SHIELD even before she started working with you," Kingsley said. "She spent years campaigning for us to work with you, and has proved herself vital. Eliminating her access to the ministerial security would only serve to prevent us from successfully protecting both the magic and muggle populations Not to mention the witch would thrash me for even considering it."

"You trust her?" Romanov asked Fury.

"Yes," he answered. Clint knew, his partner, however wasn't satisfied and would insist on investigating the matter.

"How's Phil?" Clint asked.

"He's recovering well," Kingsley said. "Considering the highly unusual nature of treatment that Hermione used, he's being closely monitored, and we successfully altered his records to convince the community he's a squib."

"What's a squib?"

"Child born to wizarding families that never manifest their magic. Rarely do our hospitals treat muggles. Hermione lied to ensure Mr. Coulson would be treated, and his healer would notice the lack a magical signature."

"She did that for a man she'd never met before?" Romanov asked exchanging a look of disbelief with Clint. Kingsley chuckled.

"It's quite a habit of hers. Not to mention she's muggleborn. I believe her parents were tooth healers."

"Dentists?"

"Yes, and no doubt, were they still amongst the living, they'd be appalled at the danger you've placed her in by allowing her to travel to another realm," Kingsley said. His voice hardening, and reflecting ice with each word he spoke.

"Explain. Explain to me why in Merlin's name you allowed such a decision, much less even considered that asinine betrothal after she returned."

"We are in desperate need of allies. Earth isn't alone in the universe any more, and Granger's choice to secretly remove the tesseract endangered our alliance with Asgard," Fury retorted.

"Yet, not once did you consider contacting me?"

"It isn't like you have a phone number!"

Angrily, Kingsley pulled his wand, summoning his Patronus. The shimmering lynx leapt gracefully from his wand, and without uttering vocal instructions, the minister willed it out of the room. Within moments, the conference room door opened to reveal a cheerful Lavender Brown.

"Hey Kings, you summoned me?" she asked before turning to Fury, "Director good afternoon."

Petulantly, Fury looked at Kings, "Alright you made your point."

Smirking, Lavender tilted her head at Kingsley and left them alone.

"In your misguided fear, you've endangered your most recently acquired alliances, and you haven't even considered the economic consequences of such a decision," Kingsley said conjuring a thick file of parchment.

"How could it possibly have economic consequences?" Fury asked incredulous.

Kingsley sighed, "Hermione Granger is one of the most prominent and well-connected witches that exist."

"I've surmised that much," Fury answered. "Perhaps more information would be prudent."

"The Black Family is an economic powerhouse. Their wealth alone, outweighs Tony Stark nearly ten times over. You've essentially brassed off a family known for their possessiveness and inability to reign in their tempers."

"What are you talking about? Hermione and her brother both have said your world has a separate financial system," Fury said, earning a bitter laugh from Kingsley.

"We do, but that doesn't mean witches and wizards don't diversify their financial portfolios. The Black's have been long invested in both economies, Merlin we're talking about generations here. Andromeda kindly provided this copy of their financial assets before she went off world."

Fury opened up the Kingsley had slid across the table, and scanned it, "You cannot be serious. You operate on the gold standard?"

"Yes, and our currency is stronger than the Euro and Dollar combined," Kingsley answered.

"They own stock in all of these companies? God, this is half of the Fortune 500 list."

"Tony's going to freak out when he finds out. He'll fixate that she has more money than he does," Clint muttered as Romanov shushed him. "Granger negotiated this contract herself," Fury pointed out. "Why would—"

"Legally she has no authority over such matters, a fact Mr. Potter informed you of," Kingsley interrupted. "Andromeda holds the title of Matriarch and can literally force Hermione's compliance. The Goblin Horde will defer to Madame Black's financial choices. Then there's the fact that they're already irritated that Hermione has been delayed in picking up the scepter as agreed."

"Sorry…goblins?" Natasha repeated.

"We'll gladly take it back," Nick retorted.

"They're more likely to destroy the damn thing before giving you someone else's property."

"They can't do that," Fury objected.

"I assure you they have the means and motivation to accomplish it," Kingsley said. "Your only solution is to grovel, and hope Andromeda reaches an accord with Odin that doesn't further piss her off."

Resigned, Fury asked, "Do you think she'll be successful?"

"If anyone could go against a demigod and win it would be a Black. Of all the members in that family, Andromeda is the most dangerous. She's the only one who has a decent leash on her temper, and she does get angry it makes her more calculating. Not to mention that she's already survived two wars that eviscerated the family."

"In the meant time, I'll continue parlaying with the Goblins regarding the scepter until Hermione is able to retrieve it."

"You can't compel them to provide it?" Romanov asked, not expecting Kingsley to snort.

"Sure, if I want to ignite another series of Goblin Rebellions. I assure you Goblins are vicious and creative. Not only would it be bloody, but it would also decimate the economy. NO thank you."

"She just had to be in Germany didn't she," Fury muttered.

"Oh, that feeling," Kingsley said, recognizing the regret in Fury's eyes over meeting Hermione. "You'll get used to that when dealing with her."