"Alright, let's talk business now!" Gemini quickly changed the subject. Keep going like this? Dumbledore would be the one losing it next.
"We only knew Britain had problems after receiving your letter. Before coming, we already checked Malfoy Manor. Empty. The manor's in lockdown." Grindelwald followed Gemini's lead. Started explaining.
Gemini frowned. "Ran pretty fast. Now it's troublesome. Who knows where they're hiding."
"What we can confirm: the Death Eaters and Voldemort at Malfoy Manor—that's the suddenly missing ring." Dumbledore said. "Problem is, we don't understand who released him."
"What about Sirius and them?" Gemini asked. "Where'd you arrange them?"
Dumbledore smiled slightly. "Just Lupin's small issue. Wolfsbane Potion still damages werewolves too much. Heard America has something to control werewolves. They left."
"Wait, Wolfsbane Potion? Didn't Snape improve it?" Tony asked, surprised.
Gemini slapped her forehead. Good grief, forgot about that! This world's Snape was obsessed with competing against pills. Never thought about this problem at all.
"But our Snape hasn't made this improvement. This could win a second-class Order of Merlin." Dumbledore said regretfully. Didn't expect Snape could do this. Seems his talent was underestimated.
Tony pursed his lips. Had Friday project the improved Wolfsbane Potion. "This is the potion recipe from our side."
Grindelwald glanced at it. "This formula, oh, so it can be done like this. Not bad. That gloomy young man can reach this level? Wasted as a professor. If he focused on potion research, his achievements would be significant."
Dumbledore silently looked away. He didn't have many usable people. Before things ended, he wouldn't give up Snape.
"The magical world isn't that big, but not small either. Everyone's quite scattered. Where exactly would they hide?" Dumbledore frowned, thinking.
Tony rubbed his chin. "Friday, any satellites we can control?"
"Yes, sir. Already controlled and interfaced."
"Gemini, did you see those people's faces? Can you make portraits?" Tony turned to ask.
Gemini nodded. "Saw a few. I can extract the memory."
Gemini used her wand near her temple. Pulled. Drew out the memory. Wand flicked. The thin silver thread spread. Formed an image. Friday immediately recorded it.
"Recorded, sir. This era has few cameras. Cannot form facial recognition network." Friday said. "Suggest using nano-micro robot coverage."
Tony nodded. "Do it. For projection range, use the wizard addresses we discovered in our era. Try to cover all of Britain."
He pulled a box from his pocket. Opened it. Inside—densely packed mosquito-like things. The box bottom lit up. Those mosquito-shaped micro-robots instantly took off. Split. Batch after batch flew out the window. Tony occasionally tossed metal blocks into the box. Used their metal-assimilating properties to split again.
Soon, the first batch of nano-robots sent back footage. Friday projected it mid-air. Clear images. Should be an ordinary wizard family. What the people inside were doing—crystal clear. They had no idea they were being monitored. The witch in the footage was loudly scolding her child.
Grindelwald looked at Tony warily. "Future Muggles can do this?"
Tony waved his hand. "Not necessarily. Given this world's tech development, I estimate another hundred years or so."
After all, he was cheating. Knowledge gained from the universe greatly accelerated his R&D speed.
And this world? Who knew if the universe had those advanced alien civilizations? Normally, maybe even 100 years wouldn't reach his level.
Grindelwald subtly relaxed. With Tony's blanket search, their work was much easier. Grindelwald also began carefully observing these time-travelers.
Seeing Peter, he made a soft sound. "Hm? Kid, were you a wizard before? Why does your bloodline look problematic?"
Gemini and Peter's eyes lit up. Could see at a glance Peter was once a wizard? That meant—maybe he had a solution!
Gemini eagerly explained Peter's situation. Plus her ideas and experimental process. Poured it all out.
Grindelwald looked at Gemini like an idiot. Made Gemini's heart anxious. Did she say something wrong?
"This is easily solved. Really don't understand why you could delay this long." Grindelwald looked at Gemini like she was hopeless.
Peter started stuttering. "Really? I mean, I can still use magic? I mean, I, I don't really want to become a spider! Sorry, I!"
Grindelwald sneered. "Kid, don't you read history books? How do you think the earliest wizards came about?"
Peter opened his mouth. Stupidly asked: "How'd they come about?"
Gemini turned to look at Tony's surveillance footage. Suddenly didn't really want to admit knowing this person.
Grindelwald nearly choked. "The earliest wizards stole bloodlines from those powerful magical creatures and successfully gained magic!"
Peter's mouth opened wide again. "So that means, but, I was bitten by a genetically modified spider? How does that work?"
Grindelwald originally didn't want to deal with Peter. But seeing Dumbledore's gaze, still rolled his eyes. Continued explaining. "I don't quite understand your genetics talk. But something that can suppress your wizard bloodline? That spider absolutely wasn't ordinary. Your current condition—appearance unchanged, but internally you have some spider abilities. Right, can you spin webs?"
Peter's hair stood on end. "No! I can't. My webbing is self-made!"
"Good. Seems it hasn't changed too thoroughly." Grindelwald continued. "This situation in the magical world would be called bloodline reversion. Maybe your wizard bloodline was from the spider clan. After being bitten again by an unusual spider, your deepest hidden bloodline was activated. Suppressed your wizard bloodline. What emerged—became Spider-Man."
"How to solve it?" Peter asked, eyes bright. Though he was already Spider-Man. Had convinced himself to give up magic. But when nothing was happening, at home seeing his textbooks, broom, robes, picking up the unresponsive wand—his heart would still feel loss. Having tasted magic, suddenly forced to give it up—how could there be no attachment?
Grindelwald again didn't want to talk. "I've said this much. You still don't understand?"
Gemini dryly interjected. "He was bitten in fifth year. Family's all ordinary people. Might not understand this well!"
"Do you know? I remember you're from the Black family!" Grindelwald turned, tone unfriendly.
Gemini smiled sheepishly. "I know. Bloodline Fusion Potion. Just in our era, many potion ingredients went extinct. Bloodline reversion was just a legend. So didn't react immediately!"
Grindelwald couldn't help mocking. "Yes indeed. Your reaction time wasn't short. A bit longer and Voldemort would've fully revived!"
Gemini immediately got angry. What's with this old man? Endless, huh? Believe it or not, she'd badmouth him to Dumbledore!
Grindelwald saw Gemini's eyes constantly glancing at Dumbledore. Immediately felt a chill. Coughed several times. Cleared his throat. "Ahem, well, you're lucky. Years ago I prepared a Bloodline Fusion Potion. Just hadn't used it yet. That young man reached his end. Just happens to benefit you."
Gemini beamed. "Then thank you so much! I'll prepare a big gift for you later!"
Grindelwald looked at the winking Gemini. Knowingly nodded. Subtly glanced at Dumbledore. Mouth saying things like too polite, thanks, etc.
Peter happily couldn't control his strength. Jumped straight to the ceiling. Ran around upside down on the ceiling.
Harry and Dudley looked at Peter enviously. "I want to be bitten by a spider too!"
Gemini rolled her eyes. "Don't even think about it. Who knows what bloodline your ancestors had? Instead of becoming Spider-Man, might become spider dung!"
One sentence directly killed Harry and Dudley's thoughts. Spider dung? Just thinking about it was disgusting!
Dumping all work to Friday, Tony also freed himself. Discussed alchemy with Dumbledore. Grindelwald's expertise wasn't low either. The three quickly chatted together.
Sun Aihua looked at Tony eagerly. Didn't want to interrupt his interest. Could only turn to look at the two children sternly. Made them take out homework. He'd personally grade it. Even if they didn't know something—wasn't there a phone? Call!
Hawkeye stayed on the roof. Though Gemini said here was fairly safe, he felt there should be some vigilance. Gemini could only have Coby send Hawkeye lots of his favorite snacks.
Steve was like a ghost. Always silently following behind Gemini. Went wherever she went. He felt it was because he wasn't there that Gemini got hurt. Gemini said it several times—didn't work. Could only let it be.
Peter stayed in the study. Writing and drawing. Almost didn't come out all day.
Gemini curiously asked what he was doing. Peter immediately excitedly showed her.
"Look! I'm writing letters to my friends! I'm returning to the magical world!" Peter was incredibly excited.
Gemini looked at him, at a loss for words. "Silly kid, why are you writing letters here? Can you mail them? Are your friends even born yet?"
Peter froze. Only then realized. He was in 1992 now. Even after New Year's, just 1993. His friends' parents were probably still in school. Even if he frantically wrote letters, couldn't mail them!
"Plus, you sure they're all still at school? You know, you're this old. Your classmates should've graduated too, right? You wrote Hogwarts on the envelope. You sure they'll receive it?" Gemini stabbed again.
Peter visibly darkened. "Right, they all graduated! So when I return to Hogwarts, I'll have to study with underclassmen!"
Gemini shrugged. "You could also be like me. Self-study at home. Then take the exams."
Peter smiled. "Right, I can be like you..."
Peter suddenly froze. Like who? Gemini? He immediately shuddered. Back when Gemini had exam week, though he didn't see it often, George and Fred told him about it. Plus Tony's taboo expression. Plus the photos he kept of Gemini's Exam Syndrome.
Peter jolted. "I'll think about how to write the school application! Professor McGonagall shouldn't refuse me, right!" Joking! Someone as omnipotent as Gemini in his eyes got wrecked by exams. He shouldn't try it. Better obediently return to school. Accept professors' teaching. Even if studying with underclassmen, he'd accept it! Learning knowledge! Not shameful!
Gemini looked at Peter, surprised. Before wanted to stay up late being Spider-Man. Now would rather return to school than self-study at home? "Professor McGonagall won't refuse you. Hogwarts welcomes every wizard student."
Peter relaxed. Sat back in the chair. Focused on researching how to write the application.
"All units attention! All units attention! Gather in the parlor immediately! Found their trail!"
Tony's voice spread through the entire house. Immediately chaos. Everyone rushed out from various rooms. Even Hawkeye on the roof stuffed the last handful of cookies in his mouth. Entered through the kitchen window.
"Gemini, look. Is this the person!"
Tony pointed to a frozen surveillance image. Inside—a kind-looking middle-aged wizard. Buying things on the roadside in Diagon Alley.
Gemini examined it. Converted this benevolent expression. Changed it to a fierce look.
"Yes! No mistake! It's him! He's one of them!" Gemini said.
Tony snapped his fingers. "Friday! Marking done? Follow him!"
"Sir, already following."
"This thing, won't be interfered with by magic?" Grindelwald asked.
Tony grinned. Pulled out a handful of Galleons. "I added Galleons to those robots. Successfully used Galleon properties to add magical elements. This way they won't be easily detected. Even if there's detection spells—can they react to Galleons?"
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