May Parker stood in the aftermath of chaos, her clothes stained with Ben's blood and the grime of terror. Gemini took one look at her haunted expression and immediately guided her toward the guest suite's private washroom.
"Take your time," Gemini said gently, her voice carrying the kind of authority that brooked no argument. "There are clean clothes waiting for you. Peter and I will be in the sitting room when you're ready."
Peter was remarkably composed for a child who'd just faced down a killer robot, though Gemini noticed the way his hands trembled slightly as he brushed dust from his Iron Man mask. She led him to the sitting room, where Coby had already prepared a spread that would have impressed any five-star hotel: steaming milk tea sweetened with honey, delicate pastries that seemed to glow with warmth, and an assortment of treats designed to soothe frayed nerves.
"Here," Gemini said, placing a leather-bound volume in Peter's hands. "This might interest you—The Tales of Beedle the Bard. They're wizarding fairy tales, but I think you'll find the underlying magical theory fascinating."
Peter's eyes lit up with the same curiosity that had made him analyze Hammer's drones. He settled into an oversized armchair, already absorbed in the ancient stories, while Gemini waited for May to emerge.
The washroom had worked its subtle magic on May Parker. The blood was gone, replaced by clothes that fit perfectly despite Gemini having no way to know her size. More importantly, the simple act of washing away the physical evidence of trauma had helped clear her mind. She was still shaken, but no longer on the verge of collapse.
Walking down the corridor, May noticed something that made her pause: nameplates on each door, written in elegant script that seemed to shimmer slightly in the lamplight.
Harry Potter. Tony Stark. Hermione Granger-Weasley.
And there, two doors down: Ben Parker.
The sight of her husband's name, written in that same magical script, drove home the reality of their situation. They weren't just guests—they were part of something much larger and more complex than she'd imagined.
The guest suite was more luxurious than any hotel they'd ever stayed in. Three bedrooms, a full living area, and appointments that spoke of both wealth and impeccable taste. May found Ben in the master bedroom, sleeping so peacefully that for a moment she feared the worst. But his chest rose and fell with steady rhythm, and his color was better than it had been in years.
Peter adapted to their temporary home with the resilience of childhood, though May noticed he kept the book Gemini had given him close at hand. They settled into an uneasy night's rest, May keeping vigil beside Ben's bed, watching for any sign of distress that never came.
Dawn brought Ben Parker back to consciousness with the gradual awareness of someone emerging from the deepest, most restorative sleep of his life. The unfamiliar room confused him momentarily, but the sight of May sleeping in the chair beside his bed—dark circles under her eyes testament to her vigil—brought memory flooding back.
"The expo," he said softly, his voice hoarse but strong. "The robots. I was shot."
May woke instantly, tears of relief streaming down her face as she threw her arms around him. "You're alive. You're really alive. I thought—when I saw all that blood—"
Ben held her close, marveling at how good he felt. Better than good, actually. The chronic back pain that had plagued him for years was gone. His joints moved without the familiar stiffness of middle age. Whatever Gemini had done, it had been far more comprehensive than simple first aid.
"Where are we?" he asked, though part of him already suspected the answer.
"Gemini's house. She saved you, Ben. Saved all of us. There's so much to explain, but first—Peter. He was so brave last night. He stood up to that robot to protect us."
Ben's chest swelled with pride and terror in equal measure. Eight years old, and already showing the kind of courage that could get him killed if he wasn't careful.
They found Peter in the suite's dining area, already dressed and working his way through a breakfast that looked like it had been prepared by professional chefs. He looked up as they entered, his face brightening with relief.
"Uncle Ben! You're okay! Gemini said you'd sleep until you felt better, and then we should go find her in the sitting room. She has something important to tell us."
Ben ruffled his nephew's hair, noting the way Peter seemed to have grown up overnight. There was something different in his eyes—a new awareness of the world's dangers and his own capacity to face them.
"Then we'd better not keep her waiting," Ben said, though his stomach clenched with apprehension. In his experience, "important" conversations rarely brought good news.
The sitting room held two occupants when the Parker family arrived: Gemini, serene as always, and a figure that made Peter gasp with delight.
"Tony Stark!" Peter exclaimed, his composure finally cracking. "You're really here!"
Tony grinned, clearly enjoying the boy's reaction. "Hey there, hero. That was some display of courage last night. Standing up to a killer robot with nothing but an Iron Man mask and pure guts? I've seen grown men run from less."
Peter flushed with pleasure, but Ben noticed the way Tony's expression grew more serious as he studied the boy. There was recognition there—and perhaps concern.
"Please, sit," Gemini said, gesturing to comfortable chairs arranged around a low table. She poured tea with practiced grace, but Ben could sense the tension beneath her calm exterior.
"Mr. Parker," she began without preamble, "I'm afraid your family's situation has become... complicated. These arrived this morning."
She gestured to a stack of official-looking envelopes on the table, all bearing Peter's name in flowing script. The paper looked expensive—parchment, actually, with wax seals that seemed to shimmer with their own light.
Ben picked up the topmost letter, his hands steady despite the growing dread in his chest. The return address made him blink twice: Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Last night," Gemini continued, "when Peter faced that robot, his terror and determination triggered what we call an 'accidental magic' event. It's common in young witches and wizards during moments of extreme stress. Unfortunately, Ilvermorny has monitoring systems designed to detect exactly these kinds of magical outbursts."
Ben opened the letter with trembling fingers. The contents were both wonderful and terrifying: an acceptance letter to a school he'd never heard of, for abilities he'd never known his nephew possessed. But there were other documents as well—legal forms, warnings about the Statute of Secrecy, and what appeared to be a custody evaluation form.
"They want to take him," Ben said, the words coming out flat and cold.
"They want to evaluate his home situation," Gemini corrected. "Ilvermorny has... policies regarding No-Maj guardians of magical children. Policies that can be quite intrusive."
Tony leaned forward, his expression darkening. "What kind of policies?"
"The kind that assume No-Maj families are inherently unsuitable for raising magical children," Gemini replied. "The kind that result in children being removed from loving homes and placed in 'more appropriate' magical households."
May went pale. "They can't just take him. He's our nephew. We love him."
"Love isn't always enough in their eyes," Gemini said sadly. "They look for evidence of magical education, proper understanding of wizarding culture, ability to provide magical resources. By their standards, even the most loving No-Maj family is seen as... inadequate."
Peter had been listening with growing alarm. "I don't want to leave Uncle Ben and Aunt May. They're my family."
Tony stood abruptly, pacing to the window. "This is exactly the kind of bureaucratic bullshit that makes me want to blow things up. A kid shows courage under fire, and their response is to tear apart his family?"
"Tony," Gemini said quietly, "there might be another way. But it would require significant commitment from all of you."
Ben looked up from the letters, hope and fear warring in his expression. "What kind of commitment?"
"Peter needs magical education—that much is non-negotiable. But it doesn't have to be at Ilvermorny. There are... alternatives. Private tutoring, international exchange programs, specialized boarding schools with more flexible policies regarding No-Maj families."
"Like Hogwarts?" Tony asked.
"Hogwarts is one option, though getting an American student accepted would require significant influence. There are others—Beauxbatons in France, Durmstrang in Northern Europe, several smaller institutions that prioritize the child's wellbeing over bureaucratic convenience."
Ben felt overwhelmed by the choices, but one thing was crystal clear. "Whatever it takes to keep our family together. Peter belongs with us."
Peter looked up at his uncle with eyes bright with unshed tears. "You really mean that? Even though I'm... different now?"
Ben knelt beside his nephew's chair, taking the boy's small hands in his own. "Peter Benjamin Parker, you are the most important thing in our lives. Magic doesn't change that. Nothing could change that."
Gemini smiled, the first genuine warmth she'd shown since they'd arrived. "Then we have work to do. Tony, I assume you have contacts in the international magical community?"
Tony's grin was sharp as a blade. "Gemini, I have contacts everywhere. And if Ilvermorny thinks they can intimidate the Parker family, they're about to learn why that's a very bad idea."
Peter looked around at the adults who were already mobilizing to protect him, and for the first time since the robot had targeted him, he felt truly safe. Magic might have changed his life forever, but the love of his family remained constant.
"So," he said, his voice small but determined, "when do we start?"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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