Hearing this, Gemini felt even more satisfied with her assessment of Ben Parker. She tucked the MACUSA letter back into her bag—she'd deal with the bureaucracy later. After all, she was perfectly capable of performing Memory Charms herself, and with considerably more finesse than most Ministry operatives.
"Then let's continue with our original plan, Mr. Parker," she said, settling back into her seat. "We still have a bakery to visit."
Ben scratched his head, glancing at the chaos still unfolding on the Manhattan Bridge. He started the engine with renewed purpose, choosing an alternate route that would take them well away from the scene. That particular bridge could wait—some psychological wounds needed time to heal.
The journey through Brooklyn's winding streets took nearly an hour, New York traffic proving as relentless as ever. When they finally pulled to the curb, Gemini stepped out and turned to Ben with practical authority.
"Mr. Parker, find somewhere to park nearby. You'll need to stay within reasonable distance for now—consider yourself my hired driver for the day."
Ben nodded without complaint. He understood the delicate position he was in—having witnessed real magic came with consequences. Better to stay close to this remarkably composed young woman than risk having his memory forcibly altered by strangers who might not share her obvious consideration for his wellbeing.
As Ben drove off to find parking, Gemini stood on the sidewalk, studying the modest storefront across the street. Kowalski Quality Baked Goods might not look like much from the outside, but the steady stream of customers flowing in and out spoke to something special within.
Her attention was caught by a rotund, white-haired gentleman emerging from the shop, carrying a tray of golden-brown pastries that steamed invitingly in the cool air. He arranged them carefully on a small table by the entrance, his weathered face creased with the kind of smile that invited strangers to become friends.
A tall, elegant woman with silver hair followed him out, and Gemini watched as they shared an affectionate kiss on the cheek—the casual intimacy of a couple who'd weathered decades together. The woman said something that made the man laugh, then suddenly turned to look directly at Gemini across the busy street.
Their eyes met, and the woman's face lit up with delighted recognition. She waved enthusiastically, as if Gemini were an expected guest rather than a curious stranger.
"Who's that, sweetheart?" Jacob Kowalski asked, following his wife's gaze.
"Hogwarts student," Queenie replied with obvious pleasure, her Legilimency picking up thoughts as clearly as spoken words. "One of your admirers, actually. Her excitement is practically radiating across the street." She grinned at her husband's surprised expression. "You've got quite the fan club at that school, you know."
Gemini felt heat rise in her cheeks as she realized she'd been discovered. She smoothed down her jacket, checked traffic with the practiced eye of a New Yorker, and jogged across the street with barely contained enthusiasm.
"Mr. Kowalski?" she said breathlessly as she reached the storefront. "I'm Gemini Black from Hogwarts. I've heard so much about your adventures with Newt Scamander—you're absolutely legendary!"
Jacob's face transformed with pure joy. In all his years of quiet celebrity within the magical community, genuine enthusiasm from young witches and wizards never failed to move him.
"Well, I'll be! Welcome, welcome!" He beamed at her, then paused with characteristic concern. "Though shouldn't you be in school right about now? Term doesn't end until summer, does it?"
Gemini hesitated for just a moment—long enough for Queenie to catch the complexity of emotions beneath her excitement. The older woman smoothly intervened with a playful swat at her husband's arm.
"Jacob Kowalski, when a young lady travels all this way to meet her hero, the proper response is to invite her in for tea, not interrogate her about truancy!"
Jacob slapped his forehead with theatrical dismay. "You're absolutely right! Look at me, getting so excited I forgot my manners entirely. Please, come inside!"
He abandoned the sample tray without a second thought, ushering Gemini into the warm, flour-scented interior of his bakery. The space was cozy and lived-in, with mismatched chairs around small tables and display cases filled with pastries that seemed to glow with their own inner light.
Jacob settled Gemini at a table by the window while Queenie disappeared into the kitchen with promises of proper refreshments. For a moment, both Gemini and Jacob sat in slightly awkward silence, each overwhelmed by the surreal nature of their meeting.
"You know," Jacob said finally, "just a few days ago my granddaughter Lisa mentioned meeting a young British witch at MACUSA. Said she was hoping to invite her over sometime. You wouldn't happen to be—?"
"That was me!" Gemini exclaimed, her nervousness evaporating. "Lisa's wonderful—so professional and knowledgeable. She really helped me navigate the American magical bureaucracy."
The ice thoroughly broken, their conversation flowed like old friends reuniting. Jacob regaled her with stories of his adventures in 1920s New York, while Gemini peppered him with questions about Newt's creatures and the Obscurus crisis. His natural storytelling ability brought those dangerous, magical days to vivid life.
Outside, Ben had found parking and returned to find the bakery's entrance unattended, his mysterious young passenger deep in animated conversation with the shop's proprietor. Rather than interrupt what was clearly an important meeting, he positioned himself discretely by the door, content to wait and observe.
"Gemini, dear," Queenie called from the kitchen doorway, balancing a tea service that smelled of cinnamon and honey. "Is that gentleman outside with you?"
"Oh! Yes, that's Mr. Parker—we traveled here together." Gemini turned to see Ben waiting patiently in the doorway. "He's been incredibly kind."
Queenie immediately opened the door, her Legilimency already assessing Ben's character as she welcomed him inside. After hearing about their harrowing bridge incident, both Kowalskis insisted they stay for lunch.
"Absolutely not negotiable," Queenie declared with the authority of someone accustomed to caring for others. "You've both had a terrible shock, and I won't have you wandering Brooklyn on empty stomachs. Besides," she added with a knowing smile, "Ben here has the most remarkably pure intentions I've encountered in years. It's refreshing."
Ben flushed slightly, unsure how to respond to such an oddly specific compliment, but Gemini understood perfectly. Queenie's abilities made her an excellent judge of character—her approval was worth more than any background check.
The impromptu lunch was a revelation. Queenie's cooking combined No-Maj techniques with subtle magical enhancements that made every bite extraordinary. Jacob entertained them with stories while Ben listened with the fascination of someone discovering an entirely new world.
As they prepared to leave, Jacob insisted they sample his famous Fantastic Beasts pastries—delicate confections shaped like various magical creatures, each with its own unique flavor profile.
"The Niffler ones are chocolate and gold leaf," he explained proudly. "The Bowtruckles are honey and herbs, and the Thunderbirds have a little spark of cinnamon that actually tingles your tongue!"
Gemini's eyes lit up as she surveyed the display. She wanted one of everything—not to eat, but to preserve with magic as the most unique collectibles imaginable. Queenie, reading her thoughts, gently steered her toward a more reasonable selection.
"Trust me, dear," she said with amused understanding. "Start with your favorites. There will be other visits."
Arms full of carefully wrapped pastries and hearts full of warmth, Gemini and Ben finally took their leave. Jacob made them promise to return, while Queenie whispered something to Gemini that made her nod seriously.
Back in the taxi, Gemini began the delicate process of transferring her purchases into her magically expanded bag. Ben caught sight of this in his rearview mirror and nearly swerved into a fire hydrant.
"Incredible!" he breathed, pulling over to watch properly. "It's like something out of Harry Potter—bigger on the inside!"
Gemini smiled at the reference as she worked. "Something like that. Though this particular bag predates those books by several decades."
As she stuffed the last package inside, a ticket fell from her jacket pocket onto the seat. Ben glanced at it and his eyebrows shot up.
"The Stark Industries tech expo? You're going to that?"
Gemini picked up the ticket, surprised. "You know about it?"
Ben reached into his glove compartment and produced several identical tickets. "I promised my nephew Peter I'd take him. He's eight, but he's got the mind of a little engineer—absolutely fascinated by technology and innovation. This expo is all he's talked about for weeks."
Gemini felt a warm flutter of anticipation. Meeting Peter Parker as a child, seeing Dr. Strange before his transformation, visiting Jacob and Queenie—this day was becoming a remarkable convergence of past and future.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" she asked. "I was planning to go alone, but it might be more enjoyable with company."
"Peter would be thrilled," Ben said immediately, then his expression grew more serious. "Though I have to ask—when you... handle my memory later, could you leave the expo intact? Peter's been looking forward to this for so long. I'd hate for him to lose that excitement because of what happened to me today."
Gemini studied Ben's face in the rearview mirror, seeing again the selfless love that defined him. Even facing memory modification, his primary concern was his nephew's happiness.
"Mr. Parker," she said softly, "I think we can work something out that preserves what matters most."
As they drove toward the evening's adventure, Gemini found herself looking forward to meeting the boy who would one day become Spider-Man—and to seeing how Ben Parker's quiet heroism was already shaping the next generation of heroes.
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