Coby and Dobby bustled in the kitchen. Coby knew those people's tastes inside out. Quickly brought out piles of cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and similar foods.
Convenient and fast. Perfectly fried beef patties paired with lightly toasted buttered buns. Fresh lettuce and tomato slices. Finally, loads of cheese. Tony ate with gusto.
Harry and Dudley halfheartedly gnawed hot dogs. Both grew up in China. Western fast food was novel at first. Over time, they increasingly felt burgers, fries, and pizza couldn't compare to roujiamo, potato strips, and various flatbreads.
Just after everyone filled their stomachs, Gemini unlocked the front door with her key. Heard the lively noise inside. Her heart lurched.
Drew her wand. Rushed into the dining room. Saw Tony showing Harry and Dudley his armor.
"Hi?" Tony looked at the aggressive Gemini, bewildered. Didn't know whether to stop. Could only greet awkwardly.
Gemini scanned the room. Good. Iron Man. Captain America. Spider-Man. Plus Hawkeye hiding in the corner eating cookies. Quite the full house.
"How'd you get here?" Gemini put away her wand. Showed a smile.
Tony vaguely relaxed. "Last time I delivered stuff, I installed a small program in Sneezewort. Any news about Gemini being in danger—it'd use all its energy to send a message to 2023."
Gemini immediately turned to the two children. Harry looked at her anxiously. "Sorry. I didn't know Sneezewort would self-destruct. But we were worried about you. Wanted to help."
Gemini walked over. Gently hugged Harry. "It's okay. Sneezewort is still here. Only the shell was damaged. With Tony here, she'll be back soon."
Harry relaxed. Lifted his head to look at Gemini seriously. "You sure you're okay? That was the Cruciatus Curse! Neville's parents are still at St. Mungo's. That's no minor spell!"
"What?!" Tony shot up. The armor he hadn't retracted left another hole in the floor.
Tony pulled his foot from the hole. Retracted the armor. Walked to Gemini's side. Examined her carefully. "You got hit by the Cruciatus Curse?!"
Gemini rolled her eyes. Pointed her wand at the floor. "Reparo!"
The floor hole healed itself. Scattered debris flew back to original positions.
"I'm fine already. Just grazed a bit. Took the potion. It's been hours. Long recovered." Gemini said. "Be careful. This old house can't take abuse!"
Tony relaxed. Looked at the repaired hole. Expression changed. Rushed upstairs. Saw the intact floor. Let out a wail.
"Coby! You scammed me again! What about the antique mahogany floor?!" Tony's voice came from upstairs.
Coby, serving Gemini tea, shrugged. "1976 mahogany floor. In 2023, how's that not antique?"
Tony ran down. Just heard Coby's words. Immediately choked. "You can calculate it like that?! Didn't you repair it?!"
"How's that the same?! No matter how I repair it, it's different from before! Old Chinese saying! A broken mirror can't be mended! Moreover, that's wooden flooring! An antique!" Coby looked heartbroken. Spoke righteously. Made Tony roll his eyes. Collapsed on the sofa. "Profiteer! Your ancestors definitely had Gringotts goblin blood!"
Coby saw Tony stopped pursuing it. Happily pulled out the bill again. Checked it over. "I don't think so. Black family house-elf bloodlines have genealogies. I checked long ago!"
Dobby stood in the corner. Watched this scene, amazed. Usually Coby was strict—not like Kreacher, but even Flicker from Hogwarts had to step back from his rules. But now? He could bill wizards. Successfully! Talked to those wizard lords like friends. This deeply moved Dobby.
Gemini watched them bicker. Didn't stop them. Turned to Harry and Dudley. "It's late. Nothing's wrong now. Go to bed. We'll talk tomorrow. Don't worry. We won't keep you in the dark."
Getting Gemini's assurance, both relaxed. Obediently went upstairs to their rooms. Almost as soon as they hit the pillows, fell asleep.
Dudley drowsily felt he forgot to tell Gemini something. What was it? Next second, even snoring started. Dudley was asleep.
Gemini looked at the sky outside. Then at the people in the parlor. Sighed. Arranged them at Number 5. Good thing it was renovated. Enough guest rooms. Finally stuffed everyone in.
After arranging everything, Gemini found time to write Dumbledore. Didn't use an owl. Had Flicker—a Hogwarts-born house-elf—deliver it personally. These Hogwarts house-elves had special sensing for the Headmaster. Definitely could find him.
Watching Flicker solemnly take the letter and vanish, Gemini finally showed a tired expression. Leaned back in the study chair. Poured herself another Calming Draught. Had to drink this potion for two more days. Every few hours. Even just grazed for less than a second, the Cruciatus Curse was no joke.
Tony and the others' arrival surprised Gemini. But with them here, Harry and Dudley's safety was absolutely guaranteed.
Gemini slept very soundly that night. After all, what was there to fear about Voldemort's return? Worst case, have Tony remotely drop a pile of alchemical bombs on his location. See if he could still hop around! Plus Hawkeye—absolute ranged support. Surprise attack from nowhere. Gemini just didn't believe Voldemort's spells could reach hundreds of meters away!
Morning. Privet Drive changed from quiet to noisy as usual. Housewives made hearty breakfasts. Sent children and husbands out. Then left together. By 9 AM, the neighborhood was empty.
At the road's end, a middle-aged Chinese man walked grimly into the empty neighborhood. Carried a long stick wrapped in cloth on his back.
Held a letter. Compared it to each house number.
"Looking for Number 4 Privet Drive?" A gentle voice suddenly sounded behind Sun Aihua.
He jumped. Leaped forward then turned. Drew the long stick from his back. The cloth fell away. Not a stick at all—a sharpened longsword!
Sun Aihua didn't hesitate. Sent a divine lightning bolt straight at the blond foreign giant.
Steve dodged lightly. Avoided the lightning. Looked at Sun Aihua's sudden hostility, bewildered. "Hey! Don't attack! I think there's a misunderstanding!"
Sun Aihua dealt with Gemini for years. His English was limited to "hello" level. Couldn't understand Steve at all. Just from the address he barely caught, plus suddenly appearing behind him, Sun Aihua decisively concluded: definitely not a good person!
They fought. Steve groaned inwardly. Why go jogging?! His Chinese wasn't learned yet. Now really couldn't explain! Given Gemini's relationship with China, Steve was certain this was one of their own. But language barrier? Very frustrating. Could only keep dodging Sun Aihua's attacks. Loudly calling for companions in the house.
Peter responded first. Didn't even change clothes. Jumped out the window in pajamas. Heard Steve's loud explanation. Immediately understood. Shot webbing from the side. Wanted to restrain Sun Aihua first, then talk. His Chinese was passable.
Sun Aihua saw this. Immediately furious. This foreigner called for help?! Plus that skill, those strange methods—definitely that Dark Lord's subordinates finding little Harry's location. Immediately, Sun Aihua stopped demonstrating swordplay. Jumped back. Dodged Peter's webbing. Stood on a roadside lamppost. Solemnly pulled out a stack of talismans. Sneered at them. Talismans flew.
Dark clouds gradually gathered overhead. Lightning occasionally streaked through them. Steve and Peter gasped. Done for. Went too far.
"Stop!" Gemini also in pajamas. Rushed out the front door. Saw this scene. Head throbbed.
After much chaos, Sun Aihua finally smiled sheepishly at Steve. Apologized sincerely.
With Tony's Friday translating, no problem. Everyone quickly chatted together.
Tony kept sneaking glances at Sun Aihua. Asked Gemini quietly: "This is really Elder Sun? You sure? Doesn't look that impressive!"
Gemini expressionlessly drank her potion. "The Elder Sun we met was decades later. Decades ago you were playing in mud. Why bring this up!"
How could Sun Aihua not hear? Immediately looked at Tony unfavorably.
Gemini noticed. Just felt a headache. Quietly slipped Sun Aihua a note.
Sun Aihua took the note. Just one glance. Eyes widened at Gemini.
Gemini slowly nodded.
Sun Aihua immediately changed faces. Fingers rubbed. Note turned to ash. Beamed at Tony. Asked after his well-being warmly.
Standing behind Sun Aihua, Dudley's sharp eyes caught the note's content. It read: Tony is a scientist. The whole world combined might not equal one of him.
Once things were explained, no problems. Everyone chatted harmoniously. Sun Aihua even pulled out what Gemini considered museum-worthy—a brick phone. Kept asking Tony questions while making calls.
Tony looked disdainfully at the brick phone. Nano-armor on his fingertips produced a tiny screwdriver. Quickly disassembled the brick phone. Ignored Sun Aihua's heartbroken expression. Quickly reassembled the original materials into a palm-sized phone. Returned it to Sun Aihua. Even added a new energy battery.
"Much better now. Were you carrying that thing for fighting? Plus I gave you a new battery. No charging needed. Enough energy for continuous calls for a hundred years." Tony said disdainfully.
Sun Aihua looked conflicted at the phone—now much smaller. Tentatively dialed. Until the other end answered clearly. Then happily held the phone. Asked about problems they couldn't solve due to era limitations.
This activity—just a Q&A game to Tony—was finally interrupted by knocking.
The lively house instantly quieted. Hawkeye poked his head through the kitchen window: "Two old men visiting. One short-haired heterochromatic. One long-haired long-bearded. Should be Dumbledore."
Turned out Hawkeye was on the roof the whole time. Any movement at the door, he noticed. Used the pinhole camera he installed last night. Saw the visitors directly.
Gemini heard. Stood up and walked to open the door. Outside indeed stood Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
"Opening the door so brazenly? Weren't you afraid it wasn't us?" Grindelwald said irritably.
Gemini pursed her lips. Didn't explain. Just stepped aside. Let them in.
Tony and the others heard Grindelwald's scolding at the door. Expressions soured.
Tony even had Friday project a virtual screen when they entered the parlor. Connected to Hawkeye's surveillance. Kept replaying footage from their appearance to knocking.
"Oh? This is new Muggle technology? Quite interesting!" Dumbledore looked at the virtual screen content with interest. "You knew it was us already?"
"Oh my, it's a living Dumbledore!" Tony acted like he just noticed. Stood up enthusiastically to shake Dumbledore's hand.
Dumbledore also approached smiling. "You're Tony, the genius scientist Gemini often mentions?"
Grindelwald watching this couldn't help snorting coldly.
Tony and Dumbledore simultaneously turned to look at him. "Who's this?" Tony asked quietly.
"Gellert Grindelwald." Dumbledore replied quietly too.
Tony raised a smile. Enthusiastically extended his hand toward Grindelwald. "Oh, so it's Grindel..."
"What'd you say?" Tony paused. Suddenly turned to Dumbledore. He just said that name, right?!
"Gellert Grindelwald." Grindelwald said his name expressionlessly. Extended his hand. Grasped Tony's. Shook. Released.
Tony's mouth twitched. Smiled awkwardly. Subtly retreated to Gemini's side. "So that rumor was true! Dumbledore and Grindelwald are... they're actually together!"
Gemini was certain Tony almost said something else. But seeing Grindelwald's pointed gaze, Gemini also chose discretion. "They're very close. Almost living-together close."
"Ohhh!" Everyone eavesdropping made unified sounds of realization. Now Dumbledore's expression turned ugly.
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