"No! I don't agree! You're not thinking clearly! You were just controlled!" Steve strongly objected.
Bucky looked at the agitated Steve and suddenly laughed. "Brother, if you had done something like this, what choice would you make?"
Steve was instantly speechless. "But, but..."
Bucky struggled to stand up, using his remaining hand to pat Steve's shoulder. "You don't want me to spend the rest of my life in guilt, do you?"
Steve dejectedly lowered his head. "No matter what, I'll stand by your side."
Bucky shook his head. "That's not the Steve I know. Even when you were small, Steve always stood on the side of justice. Listen, brother—even for me, I don't want you standing on my side. I'm completely clear-headed now. I know what I've done, so I'm in pain, hating myself. If I can't face trial and atone, then I'd rather die."
Steve suddenly turned. "Can't you erase his memories?"
Bucky was shocked. "No, you can't do that, Steve. I know you'll support me."
Gemini shrugged. "Unless he strongly demands those memories be deleted, even if I erased his memories, his resistance would damage his brain. You wouldn't want your old friend to become an idiot, would you?"
Steve stood silently for a long while before finally calming down. "I understand. I'll contact Fury right away. Your situation is special—it can only be judged through him. And Tony—what if he wants to kill you?"
Gemini's frown deepened immediately. "Steve!" she scolded seriously. "If Banner killed your family while out of control, and Bucky tried to stop you from revenge, what would you do? If it were you, would you kill Banner?"
Steve froze in place.
"Don't underestimate Tony, Steve. Just do what you should do. I'll ensure Tony faces Bucky calmly. Though he might not like Bucky much, I don't think he'll kill anyone."
Steve looked at both of them and silently lowered his head. "Sorry, I really need to calm down. I'll contact Fury first. I shouldn't appear recently—if I can't help but side with Bucky, things will get worse."
Gemini nodded. "Go help Fury first. Come back when I notify you. I'll watch your friend—at least I'll keep him alive until his trial."
Steve nodded, took a deep look at Bucky, then turned and walked out.
Gemini called Coby to set up a room for Bucky in the cellar—arranged like a prison cell. Maybe that would make Bucky feel better.
Seeing the room, Bucky smiled and thanked Gemini, obediently walking in and sitting silently on the wooden bed by the wall, staring at the high iron bars without speaking.
Gemini sighed and returned to the reception room. She knew Tony would be back soon.
Sure enough, in less than a cup of tea's time, Tony walked out of the fireplace with red eyes. "Where is he?!"
Gemini looked at Tony calmly without speaking. Tony lost control and shouted at her, "WHERE! IS! HE!"
"Tony!" Maria's portrait, which Gemini had leaned against the sofa, had followed him back when he entered the fireplace. "Calm down!"
"How can I calm down?! I even saved him! Can you believe it?! I saved him!" Tony roared angrily, pushing the door to search the whole building. Unfortunately, despite using great force, he couldn't open the seemingly unlocked door.
Tony angrily drew his wand and threw every spell he knew at the door. Various explosions rang out continuously, and smoke instantly filled the entire room.
After the sounds stopped, Gemini waved her wand to dispel the smoke, looking at Tony sitting dejectedly on the ground. "Did you read the book I gave you?"
Maria looked at Tony worriedly. "Honestly, Tony, Howard and I feel guilty about Sergeant Barnes."
"But he killed you." Tony sat on the ground, speaking dully while still facing the door he couldn't open.
"Look at that book, page 53." Gemini said calmly. "You'll understand after reading it. Calm down."
Tony was silent for a while, then pulled out the handwritten book Gemini had given him. After returning home, Maria had told him this explosive news, making him completely lose his mind. He'd forgotten Gemini's instructions and the book entirely, but fortunately brought it back.
Tony's vision was blurry—it took him a long time to see the words clearly. After several minutes, he realized he was holding it upside down. He turned it right side up and read for a long time without absorbing anything.
Gemini sighed, rummaged through her bag, found the talisman papers Sun Xiaoxiao had given her, located the small pouch marked "Clarity Charm," and threw it to Tony. "Wear this and read carefully."
Tony caught the small pouch containing the talisman paper and gripped it tightly. Taking a deep breath, a cool sensation flowed from his palm straight to his brain, and his chaotic thoughts suddenly became clear.
Taking up the book again, Tony read word by word.
After a while, he silently put down the book and looked at Maria with red eyes. "The price?"
Maria smiled and nodded. "The price."
"But I'd rather you were alive." Tony choked out.
Maria smiled. "When you have children, you'll know—as parents, we always want our children to be well, no matter what we pay. We're willing to give anything, Tony. We love you."
Tony finally couldn't hold back. He hugged his knees and let out a beast-like wail.
Gemini pressed her lips together. "I'll check downstairs." With that, she opened the door and fled. She couldn't bear to see this.
Gemini didn't go anywhere, just leaned against the wall by the door waiting. She knew Tony would definitely want to see Bucky, so she waited silently at the door.
It wasn't until the sky was nearly dark that the reception room door creaked open. Tony stood in the doorway with swollen red eyes. "You're here." His voice was hoarse, making Gemini turn her head away. "Are you going to see Barnes?"
Tony nodded, then realized Gemini had her back to him and rubbed his nose. "Do you have anything to make me look better?"
Gemini pressed her lips together. "Downstairs. Invigoration Draught—works well."
Following Gemini to the cellar, Tony got a bottle of orange-yellow potion that glowed with golden light. He drank it in one gulp, rubbed his face, and summoned a mirror to look at his radiant self. Though this appearance seemed a bit fake, it was much more presentable than his previous swollen eyes and red nose.
"Where is he?" Tony asked. "I have things to say to him. Also, I want to ask a favor—I want to see that memory."
Gemini frowned sympathetically. "Is it worth it? Seeing it again will only bring more sadness."
Tony's sadness couldn't be hidden even by the Invigoration Draught. "You know, we've seen that memory. Before they left, I had a big fight with my... father. I just, I just..."
Gemini fell silent and patted his arm. "I understand."
Gemini brought Tony to the specially created cell door. Through a small observation window, they could see the silent Bucky inside. Gemini opened the door.
Tony walked in while Gemini stood at the doorway.
Hearing the sound, Bucky turned to see Tony, froze for a moment, then immediately showed a guilty expression.
Before he could speak, Tony couldn't hold back. He rushed over and grabbed Bucky's collar, raising one hand high, but couldn't bring it down for a long time.
Finally, Tony just pushed Bucky against the wall viciously, breathing heavily and saying with difficulty, "Thank you, but I won't forgive you."
Bucky looked at Tony in surprise. "Thank you?"
Tony waved his hand irritably. "You don't need to know why. This matter is settled. The old man and them did wrong—as their son, I can't say much. You just need to know you don't have to feel sorry for them, but you did kill my parents. I won't forgive you."
Bucky closed his mouth. He could see Tony was in a bad mood and could only lean silently against the wall.
"I need to see that memory—when you faced them." Tony said awkwardly.
Bucky nodded. "Anytime. What do I need to do?"
"Just think about that memory." Gemini said, taking out her wand and walking over. "Don't resist, or the memory will be fragmented."
Bucky nodded and closed his eyes, forcing himself to overcome his guilt and bring that memory to the surface of his mind.
Gemini's wand drew a long silver memory strand from Bucky's temple, then put it into a potion bottle she carried.
"That's it?" Bucky asked hesitantly. "I feel like that memory hasn't disappeared?"
Gemini explained flatly, "This is your memory. Unless completely deleted, it will always be hidden in your mind. I essentially made a copy."
Bucky nodded and continued looking out the high window, saying nothing more.
Gemini led Tony out of the cell to the room where she'd previously treated Bucky. The Pensieve was still there.
Gently opening the bottle, she poured the memory in, stirred it with her wand, and turned the basin. Images appeared in the Pensieve.
Gemini pressed Tony's head down, pushing him into the Pensieve. She originally wanted to follow but thought better of it and stood silently in place.
After a while, Gemini reached in and pulled Tony out.
"Thank you." Tony sat in a chair after emerging, his voice even more hoarse.
After recovering for a moment, Tony asked, "How will you deal with him?"
Gemini paused, then explained Bucky's wishes.
Tony nodded. "I have to go back. HYDRA is still the real culprit—I won't let them off. But I don't want to see him either. If he's tried and not sentenced to death, I hope you can find a way to send him far away. If you can't do it, let the big guy handle it. They're friends, right? He'll have a solution."
Gemini curled her lip. "Got it. Are you leaving?"
Tony stood up, dusted off his pants, and waved casually. "See you later! So much has happened recently. God, I need to retreat and process everything."
Hearing Tony's forced lightness, Gemini said nothing. After Tony left, she called Pepper, who was on a business trip. She felt Tony should have someone with him right now.
Learning the news, Pepper quickly handled her business and appeared at Tony's house before dawn. Only then did Gemini completely relax.
Steve sent word that Fury would have Coulson take Bucky for trial at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s internal military tribunal.
With this big burden off her shoulders, Gemini completely relaxed. The Parker family had been on edge for several days, only recovering after Bucky was taken away—after all, the commotion had been quite significant.
Taking advantage of summer vacation, Gemini gave the Parker family a long holiday. Since Ethan was back and the shop wasn't short-staffed, and Peter would return to Britain after summer vacation, Ethan happily agreed to cover.
The Parker family didn't lack money now. After Peter promised his homework wouldn't be a problem, they began traveling everywhere.
In mid-August, Gemini spent every day anxiously—her N.E.W.T. results were coming out. Whether because America was too far away or an owl got lost halfway, she still hadn't received her grades.
She didn't know that Britain's wizarding world was already buzzing with rumors that Harry Potter was the third Dark Lord!
It wasn't until a week later, seeing the Daily Prophet headline, that Gemini stared blankly for a long time before realizing what it said.
Gemini couldn't sit still anymore. She didn't even want to look at the grade report she'd just received, immediately pulling out her two-way mirror to contact Harry. Unfortunately, no one responded. She then contacted Draco and learned the specific situation.
Right after that great battle ended, news broke that Harry was Voldemort's final Horcrux. Some radical elements began attacking the Savior, making everyone fearful.
Fortunately, Minister Kingsley reacted quickly, arresting batch after batch of people. The wizarding world was in panic until they extracted information from a Knockturn Alley dark wizard—some escaped Death Eaters, unwilling to accept defeat, had spread the rumors. Only then was Harry's crisis resolved.
Though Kingsley acted quickly, Harry was still hurt. Even little Gemini at the time was nearly implicated. Harry rapidly matured during that period. After the incident settled, he gradually climbed to the position of Head of Auror Office through his own efforts, making Britain's dark wizards flee at the mention of his name.
Recently, rumors emerged from somewhere. Some remote families in Britain's wizarding world were attacked. Auror Office personnel rescued the victim families and caught some dark wizards wearing hoods and silver masks in Death Eater attire. The criminals insisted they were Harry Potter's subordinates. Even under Veritaserum, they maintained this story, making Harry's position impossible and forcing him to temporarily suspend duties. The family had been afraid to worry Gemini and hadn't told her, but unfortunately, this wasn't a small matter—Gemini found out anyway.
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