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Natasha also vanished in the firelight, and Fury hesitated no longer, following immediately into the fireplace.
When Natasha emerged from the fireplace, she landed steadily on her feet. She was trained, after all—this bit of dizziness was manageable.
Fury didn't fare as well. Considering that wizarding food might actually resemble those fairy tale concoctions like live rat soup, he'd decisively stuffed himself full beforehand.
The Floo Powder's disorienting effects left him green-faced and nearly retching as he tumbled out of the fireplace.
The two emerged one after the other from adjacent fireplaces, so they immediately spotted each other. They didn't see Gemini, and in this strange place, they naturally didn't dare move around carelessly, simply standing in place to quietly survey their surroundings.
"Excuse me, could you move? Why are you blocking the entrance?" With a thunderous crash, the fireplace behind Fury erupted, and a diminutive wizard emerged, impatiently shouldering past Fury who was blocking his path.
"Sorry." Fury quickly stepped aside. Natasha walked over, and they both moved to the side, clearing the fireplace entrance.
"There you are! Come over here," Gemini's voice called from not far ahead.
Fury and Natasha hurried over. "Where did you go?"
"There are several fireplaces here. Since we didn't travel together, we got separated. Would you like something to drink to settle your stomachs?" Gemini answered good-naturedly.
Fury's mind involuntarily conjured images of eerily glowing, bubbling concoctions, and he immediately covered his mouth. "No, thank you."
Natasha asked with genuine interest, "What do you have?"
Gemini squinted at the chalkboard menu. "Today there's discounted Mead, plus Firewhisky, Butterbeer, and—oh my goodness—they actually have Ice Sprite's Gift today! I absolutely have to get one!"
Without waiting for their response, Gemini practically skipped toward the bar counter.
"That sounds fairly normal," Natasha observed, immediately reading Fury's apprehensive thoughts. She laughed and followed Gemini, also ordering an Ice Sprite's Gift.
The pale blue liquid shimmered with an ethereal quality, a graceful winged shadow dancing across its surface like captured starlight. A gentle sip sent crystalline coolness straight from her throat to her stomach, the sensation blooming instantly into luxurious warmth.
"This is their limited special—you need incredible luck to find it available. How is it?" Gemini asked, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Natasha released a contented sigh. "Absolutely divine. Is this alcoholic? Can underage wizards drink alcohol?"
"Of course not—this is a specialty beverage with zero alcohol content. Minors can't drink alcohol anywhere in the wizarding world. I've wanted to try Firewhisky for ages, but every bartender refuses to sell it to me," Gemini pouted with theatrical disappointment.
The three lingered at the bar, savoring their drinks and allowing the magical atmosphere to settle around them before Gemini led them toward the pub's entrance.
The moment they stepped outside, Fury and Natasha stood transfixed by the street stretching before them. This was exactly like the magical thoroughfares of childhood dreams—buildings that defied architectural logic leaning at impossible angles, stone gargoyles that shifted positions when no one was looking, shop signs that glowed with inner light.
"Ow!" Suddenly Fury snapped back to awareness, yanking the earpiece from his ear with a sharp curse and ripping off the hidden tracking device attached to his jacket. The magical interference had sent feedback screeching through the electronics.
Natasha also discreetly rubbed her ear, her own communication device having suffered similar fate.
"Oh, I completely forgot to mention—the concentrated magical field here plays havoc with electronic devices. Are you both alright?" Gemini asked with barely concealed amusement, watching Fury's pained expression.
Fury managed a grimace that might have passed for a smile. "No permanent damage. I'm fine. Shall we begin our grand tour?"
Gemini gestured for them to follow as she moved away from the pub entrance. "I offer currency exchange services, by the way! Since you don't have young wizards attending school, Gringotts won't exchange wizarding currency for you. But I provide completely honest conversion rates: one hundred US dollars for one Galleon! Of course, if your funds are insufficient, we can arrange credit terms. I'll cover your purchases today, and you can settle accounts upon our return!"
Fury instinctively clutched his wallet tighter—something about her cheerful tone sent warning bells through his trained paranoia.
Gemini paid no attention to his suspicious expression, launching into animated tour guide mode as they strolled down the cobblestone street. She gestured toward each establishment with theatrical flair: "Eeylops Owl Emporium—for all your postal needs, Weasley's Alchemy Workshop—protective gear and innovative magical devices, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment—everything a practicing wizard requires, and Quality Quidditch Supplies—sporting goods for our national obsession."
This magical commercial district contained everything necessary for daily life, mirroring any mundane shopping area except saturated with wonder and impossibility.
"Do you stock Elixir of Life?" Fury inquired, studying the apothecary's mysterious window display.
"Naturally! There's a renowned alchemist in France who shares your surname—Nicolas Flamel. He's celebrated his six-hundredth birthday recently," Gemini replied matter-of-factly.
Fury immediately perked up with keen interest. "Is the Elixir of Life commercially available? What's the price point?"
Gemini regarded him with the patient expression reserved for particularly slow children. "Do you understand why exactly one six-hundred-year-old wizard exists in all of recorded magical history? You imagine the cost of true immortality is somehow... reasonable?"
Fury's expression shifted to deadly seriousness. "What exactly is the price? Souls? Human sacrifice?"
Gemini rolled her eyes with theatrical exasperation. "Could you please abandon your fairy tale misconceptions? The Elixir of Life promises to halt aging, but it only achieves extended longevity. Your physical body continues deteriorating—becoming increasingly frail and decrepit over centuries. Worse, once you begin the regimen, you must maintain precise dosing schedules indefinitely. Miss even one dose, and death comes swiftly. What's appealing about that kind of cursed existence?"
Fury fell into contemplative silence.
Natasha couldn't suppress her laughter. "So what potions might actually be within our budget and useful?"
Gemini considered thoughtfully. "Blood-Replenishing Potion would be invaluable for your line of work. Dittany for wound healing. Pepper-Up Potion for illness recovery. Actually, quite an extensive catalog could benefit your operations. I'll prepare a comprehensive list—anything you require can be custom-ordered through my shop. After all, you'll need a guide to access this district anyway."
Their shopping expedition consumed nearly the entire day. Fury nearly purchased the complete inventory of protective headgear and enchanted cloaks from Weasley's Alchemy Workshop—the defensive charms woven into each piece could deflect five direct bullet impacts while providing full-body protection. How could that not surpass conventional body armor?
Only Gemini's promise to arrange bulk procurement convinced Fury to reluctantly leave the establishment.
Twilight was painting the magical sky in impossible shades when Gemini finally shepherded her exhausted charges back to the All-Purpose Shop. Both S.H.I.E.L.D. agents clutched armfuls of promotional flyers, while Fury carried a deceptively ordinary briefcase that had cost nearly one million dollars. The case was enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, creating vast internal storage space—currently packed with every magical text he'd acquired from the bookstore.
After settling their considerable bill through Ethan's card reader on the ground floor, Gemini announced immediate shop closure. She'd reached her absolute limit—this single shopping expedition had drained six months' worth of retail enthusiasm. Never again!
As darkness settled over the magical district, Gemini collapsed onto her bed with exhausted groans, her thoughts drifting to Tony. Had he returned from Britain yet? What urgent business had drawn him there so suddenly?
Questions swirling through her weary mind, Gemini gradually surrendered to sleep's embrace.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Who's there? We're closed for the evening!" Ethan emerged from his quarters, peering at the shadowy figure silhouetted against the shop's entrance.
Something about this scene felt disturbingly familiar...
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