Gemini grabbed the two-way mirror Draco had given her. Screw time zones—she called immediately.
Draco's face appeared. The Malfoys always looked perfect, no matter the hour. Did they even sleep like that? Gemini's mind wandered.
"Gemini? What happened? Where are you?" Draco frowned.
Gemini explained about Elder Sun, then held the mirror so he could see Draco.
"Eh? Isn't that Mr. Ma? Foreign Relations just closed a deal with his family. You're relatives?" Elder Sun squinted at the mirror. After a moment, it clicked—the business partner from the Quidditch match. Originally meant for Japan, but that fell through.
"Mr. Ma?" Gemini blinked. "His name is Draco Malfoy."
"Oh, Mr. De then?" Elder Sun asked. "Don't foreigners put surnames last?"
Gemini laughed. "The surname is Malfoy. Not Ma."
Elder Sun scratched his head. "Foreign names are complicated." He studied Draco's face. "Your relative looks fine. Weak connection with children, though. Wife's health, probably."
Draco and Gemini stared. "You can tell that?"
Elder Sun laughed. "Ha! Just basics. Real fortune-tellers can see eight generations with one look!"
He paused. "Since he's Mr. Ma's family and we're partners, I'll apply to go abroad. Shouldn't be hard. Half those Western curses learned from us anyway, then got changed all wrong. I'll check it out."
"Thank you! Or maybe they should come here? We're already troubling you—"
"No problem, little one. Bloodline curses usually mean ancestral grave trouble. If the source is at the family seat, I'd go anyway. Better to solve it all at once." Elder Sun waved. "Settled. I'll apply now."
Draco caught on. "Then please, let the Malfoy carriage—"
Elder Sun cut him off. "No, no. I get carsick. I'll fly myself. Send Foreign Relations an address. I'm not slower than a Flying Ark. That's final! Why are you kids so chatty? Little one, how do I turn this off? Hang up!"
Gemini held back laughter, winked at Draco, and flipped the mirror. She thanked Elder Sun again.
Elder Sun laughed, contacted Foreign Relations, grabbed his sword, and rushed out. He told the junior disciples to show everyone around Mount Laojun.
Elder Sun vanished into the sky. Qu Liangjun smiled. "Can't help it. Elder Sun's like that—something comes up, he's gone."
Gemini couldn't complain. This was her problem. When she learned donations went to temple repairs, she stuffed more money in the box. When she heard about memorial tablets for the living and dead, she went all out. Red tablets for the living—blessings and longevity. Black for the dead. Getting to heaven sooner, probably?
Gemini counted: Sirius, the Potters, Snape, Fred...
The young Daoist making tablets was stunned. Foreign tablets—once every eight hundred years—and suddenly dozens. Enough to fill a room.
The trip was government-paid, so Gemini's money was untouched. Now it had a purpose. After talking with the executive priest, she rented a side room near the main hall, moved all her tablets inside, and chose the highest service: eternal lamps and three daily incense sticks.
Special request—put Sirius and the Potters together. Snape next to Lily. Not that she wanted drama. That spot just seemed... right.
Maybe her imagination, but as the black tablets were arranged, Gemini felt peaceful. Then she blinked. Did Sirius's tablet shake?
Thud. Sirius's tablet fell, knocking down Snape's and dragging James's with it. James landed on top of Snape.
???
Gemini stared. The young Daoist rushed over, bowing and lighting incense. He set them upright. The tablets trembled.
"Benefactor, did they not get along?" The Daoist was sweating. When calming failed, he removed Snape's tablet and held it. The other two settled.
Gemini stammered, "They didn't, but why are they moving? Are those their souls?!"
The Daoist sighed, placing Snape's tablet far from the others. The table went quiet. "The characters are written with spiritual power. Like buying them houses over there. Our country believes people continue living after death, so sincere offerings reach them." After his explanation, Gemini nodded, separating the feuding parties.
After Mount Laojun, Gemini lost interest in sightseeing. She checked the mirror constantly, wanting news from Britain. Everyone stopped pushing to go out.
Three days later, the mirror stirred.
Draco looked haggard but happy. "Elder Sun solved it! I don't know how. He looked at Astoria, drove me all over Britain to some wasteland, dug up bones, buried them properly, gave Astoria a pill, pulled blood mist from her body and crushed it. Astoria was fine! We checked records—that wasteland was where the curse originated. He said their children won't have it anymore!"
Gemini exhaled. "That's wonderful! Little nephew soon?"
Draco's face reddened. He coughed. "No rush. Astoria needs recovery. Elder Sun said she's been weakened for years."
Gemini grinned. "I'm not the one in a hurry!"
After chatting, Gemini ended the call and rolled on her bed happily.
With everything resolved, she wanted to keep playing. Next morning, she woke everyone and headed to their next destination.
They saw the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, mountains and waterfalls, until Tony called. "How long are you playing? It's August! You've been gone a month!"
Gemini checked her phone. August 3rd.
"Ahem, it's too fun here. We haven't covered a quarter yet." The more she spoke, the more reluctant she became.
Tony didn't care. "If you don't come back, I'm skipping class to find you! I see your posts every day, and I can't go! Torture!"
"You could not look," Gemini muttered.
"What?!" Tony's voice jumped.
"Nothing! We'll be back soon! Stay home! We'll bring presents!" She hung up.
"Keep playing! Ignore him!"
They ignored Tony's calls and played for days, until the Clarity Fruit wore off and they couldn't understand the language.
Ned and his grandmother were returning too. Ned was arranged at a Chinatown Daoist temple. For him, quite good.
Knowing they were leaving, the Daoist Sect sent gifts the day before—souvenirs from places they'd missed. Everyone looked longingly, wishing they could stay.
The Clarity Fruit had worn off. Everyone vowed to study Chinese before their next visit.
For a comfortable return, Qu Liangjun scheduled noon departure and slowed the Flying Ark. Eight hours would let them sleep aboard, arriving at 8 or 9 AM for easier jet lag.
Gemini and the others said goodbye, boarded with luggage, and lifted off. Excitement about home replaced sadness.
The journey was long and the afternoon drowsy. Nobody unpacked. They went straight to their cabins.
When they landed, the cultivators used concealment formations. After bidding farewell, Gemini and the others carried luggage back to their building.
Though they'd slept on the Ark, everyone collapsed on their beds.
Two days later, they visited Ethan, left souvenirs and protective items, then left.
In the following days, Gemini sent owls everywhere, mailing gifts. She visited Tony's house to see Seraphina, found a tutor, and began regular studying, determined to get all O's on her NEWTs.
Time passed. At Christmas, Gemini returned to Britain with Steve—he had no family left. Banner was invisible now, learning potions from Snape in the dungeon. During holidays, Hagrid or Newt picked him up to let Hulk stretch. Hulk now had an eight-year-old's intelligence and better emotional control.
After Christmas in Britain, Gemini threw herself back into studying. She only went out once—to inspect Stark Tower's second-to-top floor renovation. Satisfying results. She didn't leave again until the building finished.
In the deep ocean, Tony wore his suit, connecting cables beneath the coastline and welding the final panel. He emerged and flew toward the lit building.
Returning to the top floor from the terrace, Tony found Pepper waiting. He removed his suit and took the drink she offered. "How's that? Clean energy showcase!"
"Fantastic!" Pepper kissed him. "Should we celebrate? Party? Gemini's been home forever."
Tony pulled Pepper onto the couch. "Of course. How about a small internal gathering first?"
The elevator opened. Coulson stepped out, smiling.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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