"I cannot believe this! I actually treated an adult wizard's magical outburst?!" Gemini collapsed onto the carpet after administering the final potion, staring with shell-shocked eyes at Tony, whom she'd essentially rendered unconscious through medicinal intervention.
"I can't believe I actually consumed that entire arsenal of—ugh!" Tony felt as though his taste buds had been permanently obliterated by the magical concoctions.
"You're a grown man afraid of drinking medicine! Pathetic!" Gemini hauled herself upright with visible effort. "Feeling stabilized? We need to leave immediately."
Tony steadied himself and rose, surveying the study's devastation before decisively calling his cleanup crew. "Where exactly are we going?"
Gemini extended her arm with practiced authority. "Hold on tight."
After experiencing the nauseating compression sensation of being forced through a rubber tube, they materialized in Gemini's parlor. "So what's your plan now? You possess raw magical power but zero control. Eventually you'll cause a catastrophic incident." Gemini brushed debris from her robes with obvious distaste.
Tony dropped unceremoniously onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling with thousand-yard stare intensity. "How do you people manage magical control?"
Gemini considered the question carefully. "We attend magical schools starting at eleven years old. Unfortunately, you've significantly exceeded that age requirement. Additionally, American magical governance maintains extremely strict oversight—entering MACUSA's jurisdiction would essentially require complete isolation from the non-magical world."
"That's completely unacceptable. What alternatives exist?" Tony demanded.
Gemini hesitated, wrestling with internal conflict. She questioned whether helping Tony to this extent was wise—despite her American registration, she remained fundamentally a British witch. Yet some inexplicable instinct insisted she must assist him.
"Do you have resources to reach London, England?" Gemini made her decision with visible resolve.
"Obviously. I can depart immediately—my private jet maintains exceptional speed." Tony radiated confidence regarding his transportation capabilities.
Gemini released a weary sigh. "Then return home and pack essential belongings. We must reach England with maximum urgency."
Tony immediately stood to depart, then paused as a crucial thought struck him. "Actually, I nearly forgot—do you require a shop assistant? Ethan became a target because of his association with me, and I cannot provide constant protection. Your establishment represents the only secure location I can envision."
Gemini sighed again, conducting a mental cost-benefit analysis. Her shop's ground floor operated with only Coby as supervision, and his inability to interact with human customers created significant limitations. Having someone capable of proper communication would dramatically improve operations. This reasoning solidified her decision.
"Bring him when you return."
Tony nodded with genuine enthusiasm. "Excellent! Whatever this establishment requires going forward, simply make your requests—I can acquire anything." With that declaration, Tony strode purposefully toward the exit.
Standing before the All-Purpose Shop's entrance, Tony stared with dawning horror at the empty parking space. He'd driven Gemini to the Stark estate, and they'd returned via Apparition. The immediate problem became glaringly obvious—how was he getting home?!
He contacted Happy for emergency pickup, hastily collected Ethan, and instructed Pepper to arrange immediate private flight to London while maintaining complete operational secrecy.
By the time Tony appeared at the All-Purpose Shop with Ethan in tow, evening had settled over the city. Tony knocked on the entrance, which opened instantly. Gemini, unusually, awaited them on the ground floor.
For Ethan's accommodation, Gemini simply mounted a painting on the wall—the artwork depicted a simple door. She instructed Ethan to stand before the door, visualize his ideal room configuration, then push through once he'd finalized his mental image. This space would serve as his combined dormitory and office. After settling Ethan, Gemini assigned Coby to remain in the shop, teaching Ethan essential operational knowledge—minimally, he needed to understand which services they could and couldn't provide. Coby gazed at Gemini with liquid eyes as she followed Tony outside.
The pair maintained low profiles departing the airport. London's atmosphere perpetually shrouded itself in characteristic fog. Gemini guided Tony to an isolated corner, retrieving an oversized cloak from her enchanted case. She donned the garment and pulled up the hood to obscure her features, then provided Tony with identical concealment. They positioned themselves roadside as Gemini raised her wand skyward.
Within moments, violent braking sounds announced the arrival of a purple triple-decker bus that materialized before them. "Knight Bus emergency transport, providing premium magical conveyance! Where to?" The acne-scarred conductor lounged lazily in the doorway.
"The Leaky Cauldron," Gemini stated. "Two passengers."
She presented two Galleons, quietly indicating he should retain the change, then led Tony aboard. Navigating to the rear seating, she employed magic to secure herself firmly to the vehicle. Tony observed with bewilderment, whispering, "Is this some ritualistic requirement?"
Gemini managed only "Brace yourself!" before the bus launched forward. The instantaneous acceleration catapulted Tony from the back row directly into the front windshield, followed by emergency braking that sent him careening backward again.
Fortunately, the airport's proximity to The Leaky Cauldron minimized their travel duration. When Gemini disembarked with a thoroughly disoriented Tony, daylight remained relatively unchanged.
Tony immediately embraced the nearest rubbish bin upon exiting. "I never imagined vehicular operation could achieve such... creative interpretations of physics!"
After his eventual recovery, Gemini escorted him into The Leaky Cauldron. Avoiding all social interaction and deliberately circumventing the proprietress Hannah, they proceeded directly to the rear chamber.
Tony examined the wall-mounted rubbish bin with confusion. "What's our next procedure?"
Gemini lowered her hood and smiled with anticipatory excitement. "Welcome to Diagon Alley."
Her wand tapped a precise sequence above the bin, triggering the entire wall's mechanical transformation. Accompanied by grinding stone and mortar, a corner of the magical world finally revealed itself to Tony's astonished gaze.
"Let's proceed. Fortunately, I had Coby withdraw sufficient currency—I absolutely refuse to endure Gringotts' mining cart transportation." Gemini stepped confidently into the cobblestone street, beginning their comprehensive shopping expedition.
Their first destination was Flourish and Blotts, where they acquired fundamental texts absent from Gemini's personal library. Next, she guided him to the apothecary, purchasing complete potion-brewing equipment and essential ingredient supplies. Finally, she brought Tony before the entrance of Ollivanders wand shop.
Opening the door and entering, Ollivander materialized behind towering shelves with characteristic suddenness. "Welcome! Ah, Miss Black, you—"
"Silence! Don't reveal anything to him! I've brought my friend for wand selection!" Gemini cut off Ollivander's words with sharp authority, preventing further commentary.
Ollivander pursed his lips with theatrical disappointment. "Very well, Miss Black. If he doesn't inquire, I shall remain diplomatically silent. Acceptable?"
After witnessing Gemini's satisfied nod and strategic withdrawal, Ollivander focused his attention on Tony. "Now then, which hand do you favor for spellcasting?"
A measuring tape leaped from the counter, beginning comprehensive dimensional analysis while Ollivander commenced intensive shelf exploration.
"His mother was a Seer! Silver lime wood chose her!" Gemini called out with strategic emphasis, causing Ollivander's eyes to illuminate with professional fascination.
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