"What the hell? Why?" Tony's voice cracked with disbelief. "What exactly happened in America that makes their regulations so draconian? I mean, Britain seems perfectly civilized!"
Gemini rummaged through her leather satchel with deliberate slowness, finally extracting a thick tome titled A Brief History of American Wizarding Society. She lobbed it at him with casual disdain. "Read the bloody book instead of pestering me with questions every five minutes. You're giving me a headache."
Tony caught the book and stared at Gemini as she slipped on a silk eye mask and reclined in the plush aircraft seat. Indignation burned in his chest like acid—he couldn't swallow it down or spit it out. He! Tony Stark! Genius inventor! The man who'd built an arc reactor in a cave with a box of scraps! Today, of all days, someone had the unmitigated gall to call him annoying!
Tony rose with wounded dignity and stalked to the jet's private dining compartment, settling into butter-soft leather with a huff. Out of sight, out of mind—though he had to admit that when it came to the wizarding world, he was embarrassingly ignorant.
Cracking open the historical text, Tony found himself immediately captivated. While most history books were exercises in tedium, wizarding publications came alive with moving photographs that danced across the pages, transforming dry facts into vivid theater.
Throughout the transatlantic flight's dozen hours, Tony didn't sleep a wink. He devoured virtually every book they'd acquired, and under Gemini's grudging supervision, mastered several elementary spells—Reparo proved particularly satisfying after his destructive performance at Ollivanders.
This success filled Tony with tremendous confidence. Naturally, he was destined to excel in the magical arts as well! Gemini maintained her enigmatic smile, watching his enthusiasm with secret amusement. Enjoy your delusions of grandeur while they last, Stark.
After touchdown, Gemini dismissed the entire crew with crisp efficiency, then Apparated Tony directly to her shop's familiar confines. During her absence, business had proceeded smoothly—several minor commissions for hair restoration and scar removal had arrived, all handled competently by Ethan, her capable assistant.
They'd barely settled in the sitting room's comfortable chairs, steam still rising from their untouched teacups, when the ornate fireplace suddenly erupted in emerald flames. A pristine white card shot forth like a guided missile, hovering expectantly before Gemini's startled face.
Her expression darkened as she read the elegant script. She cast Tony a look heavy with unspoken complexity before moving to the mahogany desk, withdrawing official stationary bearing the Black family crest. Her quill scratched furiously across the parchment—a full page of carefully chosen words—before she fed the response back to the hungry flames.
Without pause, Gemini summoned Coby with a sharp snap of her fingers. "Take Mr. Stark to the guest quarters for a proper wash. And procure him a set of formal wizarding robes—something befitting his station."
Coby noticed the wand nestled in Tony's grip and his perpetual scowl softened considerably. Tony blinked in surprise at this sudden acceptance.
"What's the emergency?" Tony demanded, bewildered. "What exactly are we preparing for?"
"Move quickly," Gemini commanded without explanation. "You have precisely one hour to make yourself presentable. Don't embarrass us both."
Recognizing the steel beneath her tone, Tony swallowed his questions and followed Coby with uncharacteristic compliance.
Minutes later, the fireplace blazed anew. Gemini positioned herself before the hearth with formal precision, hands clasped behind her back. Green fire parted like a curtain, revealing an elderly woman who stepped through with regal bearing. After appraising Gemini with shrewd eyes, she inquired, "You would be... from the British Black lineage?"
"Indeed, Madam." Gemini inclined her head respectfully, gesturing toward the seating arrangement. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Mr. Stark will join us momentarily."
The distinguished visitor settled gracefully onto the velvet sofa. Coby materialized with a silver tea service before vanishing like smoke. She lifted the delicate porcelain cup, inhaling the aromatic steam. "Authentic British tea truly requires British expertise to reach its full potential. Exquisite."
"Your praise honors us," Gemini replied with practiced diplomacy. "I trust your visit concerns Mr. Stark?"
"Rather transparently so, wouldn't you agree?" Seraphina Picquery smiled with dry amusement.
"Then I must inquire—what are Congress's intentions regarding Tony? He represents my most significant client relationship." Gemini's smile remained perfectly calibrated between courtesy and steel.
"Such defensiveness is unnecessary, child. You should understand he holds far greater importance to us than you might suspect. I presume you've learned of his mother's... circumstances?" Seraphina studied Gemini with knowing eyes. "I'm genuinely grateful he encountered a wizarding ally before entering our world completely unprepared. You ventured to Britain recently? Ollivander's establishment?"
"Precisely, Madam. Cypress wood selected him. I believe you comprehend the significance." Gemini's response carried careful weight.
Seraphina lowered her cup with a soft sigh. "His mother also attracted cypress, though she ultimately chose silver lime. Such a remarkable mother and son..."
Gemini resisted probing deeper into Tony's maternal history, instead pressing, "Surely you recognize Mr. Stark's prominence in No-Maj society. I trust Congress wouldn't act precipitously against someone of his influence?"
Seraphina laughed—a sound like silver bells. "It appears Tony has indeed cultivated a formidable friend. Should you harbor concerns, you're welcome to accompany us as an observer."
"I, Gemini Black, final heir of the Black dynasty, ward of Harry Potter the Boy Who Lived, would be honored to accept your gracious invitation." Gemini executed a precise curtsy, laying her political cards face-up on the table. If Congress harbored hostile intentions, they'd need to calculate whether they could afford such powerful enemies.
Seraphina nodded with evident satisfaction, and both women settled into pregnant silence.
Before long, Tony knocked and entered, resplendent in midnight-blue dress robes that transformed his usual casual demeanor into something approaching nobility. He tugged awkwardly at the high collar, clearly unaccustomed to formal wizarding attire. "Do you people actually find these getups comfortable?"
Gemini nearly choked on her tea, shooting Seraphina an apologetic smile while frantically signaling Tony with her eyes—company present, you absolute disaster!
Tony followed her desperate gaze, his hand rising unconsciously to stroke his goatee. "You seem familiar somehow. I could swear we've met before..."
Seraphina examined Tony from head to toe with obvious approval before responding. "You should address me as Grandmother, dear boy. I believe you've encountered me within your mother's preserved memories."
Tony's face went slack with shock. "You're—but that's impossible! How old are you exactly?"
Seraphina regarded him with twinkling amusement. "A lady never reveals her age, darling. I believe our departure is overdue."
"Departure to where?" Tony looked utterly bewildered, still processing this sudden familial revelation.
"MACUSA headquarters, naturally. Miss Black is welcome to join our little expedition." Seraphina rose and moved toward the fireplace with fluid grace.
Tony turned to Gemini with pleading eyes. "Come with us—please." He winked conspiratorially and made a subtle gesture indicating financial compensation.
Gemini stood immediately. "Very well. I accept your invitation with gratitude, Madam Picquery." Absolutely not because of Stark's money—purely professional curiosity about Congress's handling of this situation.
After providing Tony with rapid Floo powder instruction, Seraphina stepped into the emerald flames first. Tony followed with only minor hesitation, and Gemini brought up the rear. Within heartbeats, all three materialized within the imposing Woolworth Building.
Gemini discreetly flicked her wand, directing her voice exclusively to Tony's ears: "Stay close to your grandmother. This is not the time for your usual curiosity. Trust me on this."
The marble corridors stretched before them like arteries of power, and Tony's wide eyes reflected the golden gleam of MACUSA's most closely guarded secrets.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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