"But you know healing spells. Didn't you study this? Help us check if Fred's okay inside." Tony and George looked at Gemini with puppy-dog eyes.
Gemini didn't know what to say. Medical exam for this situation—how did they even think of it?
Unable to resist George's pitiful look, Gemini finally caved. She knocked on the lid. "Can this open?"
Tony's gaze wandered. "Just check like this. We don't dare open it."
Gemini stared in disbelief. "Say that again??"
Tony became interested in the nearby computer graphics. "That gem went in with him. We don't dare open it. What if something's wrong inside? Could we really do anything to Fred then?"
Gemini laughed in exasperation. "Even mystical Chinese medicine has pulse diagnosis through silk—at least they touch the person! You want me to examine someone through this huge metal shell? You think I'm a wishing stone!"
Tony looked at the ceiling. George at the floor. Two men totaling seventy-eighty years acting like kids who'd messed up.
Gemini rolled her eyes. "I'll try. By the way, you're sure it's finished? Don't tell me it's half-done inside. I'm capable, but I can't examine a pile of materials."
Tony pointed at the LCD screen. "Look, energy 100%. Should be openable, but there's been no movement..."
Gemini gave Tony a polite smile. "Ha."
She carefully cast a spell at the coffin-like metal box, sensing, then increased magical input slightly.
Before diagnostic glow appeared—BANG! The entire lid flew off like Steve's thrown shield.
George ignored Tony's attempts to stop him and rushed over.
Gemini nearly got knocked over by the blast, now leaning against equipment behind her, gasping. Good thing she wasn't too close, or she'd have been blown away.
"Fred?" George stood dazed, looking at the person inside who seemed peacefully asleep.
He carefully reached out, gently touching Fred's face. Warm. Success? George's heart leaped. But why hadn't he woken?
George frantically looked up to call Gemini when the hand on Fred's face got grabbed.
George quickly looked down. Eyes identical to his sparkled with amusement. "Long time no see, Gred!"
"Fred?" George called in delight. "We just saw each other! How's it long time? Did you sleep yourself silly?"
Tony hurried over. "Did we succeed? Fred, how are you?"
Seeing Fred's state, Tony quickly turned. "Hey! Girl! Turn around! He's not wearing clothes!"
Gemini turned and walked away. "Can't you be more reliable?!"
George and Tony laughed, fumbling to pull Fred out. "Get up, brother! The ladies left!"
Fred looked at Tony curiously, examining him thoroughly. "I like your clothes." Immediately, identical clothes appeared on naked Fred.
George's hand slipped. He grabbed Tony and backed away, watching Fred warily. "Who are you?!"
Fred smiled. "I'm Fred. Fred Weasley. Died at Bellatrix Lestrange's hands during the Battle of Hogwarts, buried in the Weasley cemetery. I didn't move on, didn't stay behind either, brother. I was waiting for you, but who knew you'd come with a red tin can to steal my middle finger, buddy." He paused. "You know, if my middle finger's taken, how can I flip you off? So I followed."
George stared in disbelief. "You're the real Fred?! Not the virtual Fred?!"
Fred shrugged. "Of course I'm real. After following you here, honestly I was surprised seeing that virtual portrait, but having it made me happy. Just now I was looking around. When you discussed inputting data, I watched from the side."
Tony pressed, "Then what?"
Fred scratched his head. "Then I felt something pulling me. Vision flashed, knew nothing more. After that, magical fluctuation woke me. Felt stuffy, wanted to push, so the lid opened. Heard someone calling. Opened my eyes again, saw George. Had a body. Incredible."
George's mouth hung open. "We resurrected someone? This is resurrection?"
Tony's eyes burned. "We achieved this?!"
George stopped Tony. "We need one final test!" He drew a dogwood wand from the small pouch at his chest, pointing the tip at himself, handle toward Fred.
Fred looked at the familiar wand and smiled. "You carry it? I wondered why I couldn't find my wand in my grave! Look! Scorch marks from your experimental explosions!"
George looked at Fred firmly without speaking.
Fred said nothing more, just reached to grasp his wand. Next moment, golden-red spark appeared, circled Fred several times, let out clear phoenix song, rushed into Fred's body.
George's lips moved, unable to speak. Next moment, Tony pushed him. George stumbled, caught by Fred. All George's strength over the years crumbled. He held his other half, lost and found after ten-plus years, and wailed.
Tony quietly backed away, leaving to find Gemini. This was no small matter! They'd resurrected someone!!
"You're sure?!" Gemini's eyes nearly popped. "Impossible! Even the Deathly Hallows couldn't do this! What's going on?!"
Tony pouted. "But we did! Think—if this technology succeeds, we won't need to hesitate anymore! Isn't that good?"
Gemini frowned. "No, this isn't right. Wait. Deepest soul research is in China. I'll contact someone. Since he says he's Fred, he won't mind being examined, right?"
Tony frowned. "We already succeeded, didn't we?"
Gemini looked at him. "This was accidental, Tony. I know you're thinking of Maria and Howard, but that special gem—think you can replicate it?"
Tony fell silent, watching Gemini call Sun Xiaoxiao.
"Gemini? Your matter needs two more days. America's not small, but I have leads." Sun Xiaoxiao smiled.
Gemini pressed her lips. "Are you safe? I need to consult you."
Sun Xiaoxiao became serious. "Wait." After electronic beeps: "Go ahead. Absolutely safe now!"
Gemini explained what Tony and George did. Sun Xiaoxiao was shocked. "How did they dare?! Life and death—can they interfere?!"
"Originally just wanted a robot, but who knew! Now none of us studied this, don't have trustworthy people. Doesn't China research souls? Could you come look?" Gemini said.
Sun Xiaoxiao pondered. "This isn't small. I need to call back and ask. I major in thunder magic—good at destroying souls, don't understand this well. I'll ask. Don't worry, just my great-grandfather."
Gemini thanked her. Elder Sun—old acquaintances. Gemini sent money yearly, supporting her separate house.
Call ended. Five minutes later, phone rang. "What'd they say?" Gemini asked immediately.
Sun Xiaoxiao smiled: "Don't worry. Elder Sun's set out. Very interested in Fred. Should arrive in three hours. Send location—don't move. He's coming by air."
Gemini looked at Tony. Tony had JARVIS send Stark Tower's coordinates to Sun Xiaoxiao's phone.
After hanging up, Gemini and Tony sat in top floor living room in silence, until George brought Fred up. Seeing their serious expressions, they lost their smiles.
"What's wrong? Why those faces?" George asked uneasily.
Gemini and Tony exchanged glances. "Don't get excited. We invited an expert to examine Fred. That thing—we don't know what it is, but Hydra had it, so we need to be prepared." Tony stood to explain.
George frowned, thought springing to mind. But before he could act, Fred patted his shoulder. "Of course. When will the expert arrive? I want to know what I am too."
George looked at Fred worriedly. "You sure? What if he says you're... a monster that needs destroying?"
Fred laughed. "Gred, you know me. We've always understood each other, right?"
George sat on sofa, silently covering his face. Indeed, if it were him, having become some unknown monster, he'd rather be dead.
"Sorry, brother." George apologized glumly. This was caused by him and Tony.
Fred looked fascinated at JARVIS's holographic screen. "No, this is wonderful. I can still see so many things I've never seen, still touch sunlight, wind, temperature. This is good."
Gemini studied Fred wearing Tony's outfit. "So what about the previous virtual Fred?"
Hearing this, Fred froze like he'd crashed, stopping about a minute before coming back, looking at Gemini amazed. "So you're Sirius's daughter?! Incredible! God!"
Gemini covered her forehead. Was this the point?!
Tony clapped, interrupting. "Bogg! Prepare food!"
The house-elf quickly brought delicacies. Food from different countries filled the table. "Uh, can you eat? I mean, maybe watch first? Don't eat yourself into trouble." Tony looked at Fred hesitantly.
Fred silently picked up a roll. In front of Tony, opened his mouth wide, took a fierce bite, closed eyes blissfully. "Ah, missed this. Just bread. Merlin!"
Tony looked at George, suddenly feeling George was really a good boy in comparison!
As they ate and played, time flew. Sword light flashed. White-haired, long-bearded old Taoist in robes appeared. "Eating? Give me some too. Flying all this way wasn't easy."
Gemini smiled. "Elder Sun, come sit!"
Elder Sun sat without ceremony, picked appealing foods to taste, looking Fred up and down.
Casually wiped hands on clothes, reached toward Fred. "Extend your hand."
Fred looked at others confused, placing hand in Elder Sun's palm. Elder Sun flipped it over, let Fred's hand rest on table, placed fingers on pulse.
"How'd you know it was me?" Fred asked curiously.
Elder Sun stroked beard silently. After a while, removed hand. "You're the only special one here. I'm not blind!"
George watched nervously, afraid he'd say something no one wanted to hear.
"Nothing major. I examined him. His situation's complicated if you call it complicated, simple if you call it simple." Elder Sun stroked beard. "Complicated because he's special, impossible to replicate. First, his body includes his own bones and such, plus that energy body carried his soul. He can be considered a person now, but you should feel it—you survive entirely because of that thing in your heart. Simply put, you're that thing's shell. Long as it's fine, you're fine."
"So what is that thing? Can it be replicated?" Tony asked persistently.
Elder Sun looked at him. "What do you think it is? Replicate just like that? Something born of heaven and earth—you won't find an identical one this lifetime."
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