Lockhart, now conscious, was like a frightened bird. Whoever approached—he'd scream. Shrink into the corner. Only when Sun Aihua and Snape came near would he stay still.
This realization directly blackened Snape's face. Spewed venom at Dumbledore. Said so much Grindelwald couldn't help touching his wand several times. Finally gave up attacking Snape under Dumbledore's soothing.
Completely unaware he'd escaped disaster, Snape angrily grabbed a potion. Walked out of the parlor. To Lockhart's room. Grabbed his clothes. Used a method like poisoning him. Poured the potion down Lockhart's throat.
Before Lockhart fully recovered, school started. Harry reluctantly boarded the train. After confirming Tony and them wouldn't leave temporarily, felt relieved returning to school.
Dudley originally thought he could continue living at home. Also got packed up by Gemini. Sent to boarding school.
Afraid this kid would be corrupted spending too much time with Tony and them at home. Look what happened to the last kid who mixed with superheroes!
Peter blinked. Definitely not talking about him!
The Bloodline Fusion Potion Grindelwald had his subordinates bring also arrived. This potion had usage time requirements. Must be on a windless, rainless full moon night. Consumed under moonlight.
Tony directly connected to satellites. Found a suitable place. Flew there with Peter. Live-streamed Peter drinking the potion.
After Peter drank, white spider silk slowly appeared on his body. His whole person became drowsy. Tony quickly asked Grindelwald watching the livestream.
"Is this normal?" Tony asked somewhat worriedly.
Grindelwald squinted at the screen. "Should be normal. He's cocooning now. When the bloodlines fully fuse, he'll break out himself. After he finishes cocooning, bring him back."
Everyone's eyes widened. Watching this scene. Could say—absolutely once in a century.
Until the moon disappeared, Peter's cocoon finally stopped moving. Tony cautiously asked Grindelwald. Only then cut the feed. Brought the cocoon back to Number Four, Privet Drive.
According to Grindelwald, place it in Number Five's attic. Under the window. Daytime sun. Nighttime moonlight.
A full two weeks later, Tony's surveillance finally sent news. Peter had movement.
Before everyone arrived, Peter broke out. Also bathed and changed clothes before they came. He came out naked after all.
"How do you feel now?" Tony asked. "Can you use magic?"
Peter looked at his hands. Tested. "Spider-Man abilities are still there. I've always carried my wand. I can try."
Peter quickly returned to his room. Dug out his wand from his luggage. Tentatively used a Levitation Charm on parchment on the desk.
Next moment, the parchment wobbled up. Before everyone could cheer, Peter's wand—BANG. Exploded.
Gemini looked at the tearful Peter. Shrugged. "Go buy a new one at Ollivander's later. You've mutated. Your wand can't handle your magic anymore."
Originally happy Peter looked at his wand from childhood with a long face. Under Tony's comfort, could only find a box. Carefully collected the wand fragments.
After Peter's matter concluded, Lockhart had recovered enough.
He timidly clutched Sun Aihua's sleeve. Like a three-year-old child. Afraid if he let go, he'd be abandoned.
Sun Aihua kept a straight face. Didn't say willing. Didn't say unwilling. Just acted like he didn't know. Led Lockhart into the parlor.
"Do you know your name?" Dumbledore asked carefully.
Lockhart panicked, glanced at Snape in the corner. Looked at the sleeve in his hand. Quickly nodded. "Gilderoy Lockhart."
Dumbledore frowned. Asked carefully again. "Do you know who I am? Gilderoy?"
Lockhart carefully glanced at him. Answered softly: "Professor Dumbledore. Hogwarts Headmaster. Great White Wizard."
"Then, do you remember how you were locked in your own house?" Dumbledore continued asking.
Lockhart's whole body shook. Fear appeared on his face. Just as he was about to scream, Sun Aihua quickly pulled out a lollipop. Handed it to him. Lockhart carefully took it. Only then relaxed.
"I remember." He said quietly. Released Sun Aihua's sleeve. Fingers playing with the lollipop.
Dumbledore felt reluctant. But still continued asking. "Can you tell us? How were you captured?"
Lockhart's fingers rapidly spun the lollipop. Started speaking softly: "I was originally constructing a new book's plot. But someone found me. Called Croft. He said he knew a place with very good material. If I could write it into a book, it'd definitely be a bestseller."
Lockhart paused. Continued: "I hired an adventure squad with money. Went with him. Little Hangleton. The Gaunt family's old house. I knew that place. I didn't know why Croft said there was good material. But he ambushed my adventure squad. Threw those teammates all in. That house had something inside! It devoured an entire adventure squad! Only me and Croft left! I wanted to run! I wanted to go home! But I was attacked!"
Lockhart became agitated. The lollipop in his hand dropped. Sun Aihua quickly pulled out another. Stuffed it in his hand. Lockhart calmed again. "Then I was controlled by the Imperius Curse. Brought Croft and an unknown person back home. Then I was locked in the basement. Didn't know time. Didn't know any information. They'd occasionally get me some food. Kept me from starving. Would also occasionally torture me. That's everything I know."
After speaking, Lockhart shrank into the sofa. Clutched the lollipop tightly. Tears streaming down. But didn't make a sound.
Sun Aihua took out a snuff bottle. Waved it before Lockhart. He immediately closed his eyes. Whole person relaxed.
Snape summoned a stretcher. Put Lockhart on it. Nodded to the people in the room. Led him out of the parlor.
"How long will he be like this? Can he recover?" Dumbledore asked worriedly.
Tony stroked his chin. "Looks like severe psychological trauma. Do you have any subsidies? In his condition, probably needs a completely new environment to slowly recover."
Dumbledore awkwardly looked at the sky. "Ahem, how much? I can personally sponsor a bit..."
Gemini rolled her eyes. Looked at Dumbledore disdainfully. "Speaking of which, this is basically your fault. If not for your pitiful pride, dragging so long before releasing Grindelwald from the tower, Lockhart wouldn't have suffered this disaster."
Dumbledore couldn't help touching his nose. But Grindelwald generously waved his hand. "His treatment costs are on me. Just in this area I really don't know anyone."
Tony had Friday search. Found a psychological sanatorium with good privacy and reputation. Address in America. Then printed these materials. Gave them to Grindelwald.
Grindelwald flipped through a few times. Arranged subordinate Saints to handle it. He himself better not appear in America.
Finally concluded. Dumbledore left with Grindelwald. Agreed on when Saints would pick up Lockhart. They continued tracking Voldemort's main soul. Worth mentioning—those Horcruxes were all destroyed. According to Grindelwald, since one was already destroyed, why keep the rest? Destroy them all.
Before leaving, Sun Aihua found Dumbledore. Friendship-sponsored a century-old peachwood sword. Supposedly had miraculous effects on souls causing harm without doing good deeds.
Dumbledore half-believingly accepted the peachwood sword. After politely thanking, disappeared from Privet Drive with Grindelwald.
The freed crowd clamored. Wanted to watch Peter choose his new wand.
Gemini could only lead the mighty group to Diagon Alley.
Before that, Gemini personally went to the Ministry. Got Peter an approval slip. Besides eleven-year-old young wizards, adult wizards replacing wands must have Ministry approval. Otherwise Ollivander wouldn't sell.
Ollivander held the note. Looked for a while. Suspiciously eyed Peter. "I remember every wand I've sold. Why don't I remember selling you any wand?"
Peter's face flushed red. How could he explain? Say his wand was bought here in the future?
Gemini said impatiently: "Alright Ollivander. He's from America. Recently underwent bloodline fusion. Original wand couldn't handle his magic. Exploded. Can only buy again. If you can't do it, I'll take him to Germany. Ask Gregorovitch."
Ollivander slowly took out a measuring tape. Let it automatically measure Peter. "Miss Black, regarding wands I consider myself second to none. Just a wand? Why go so far? Gregorovitch's bad temper—you can't handle it."
Peter let the tape measure all sorts of incredible distances. Like nostril distance. Head circumference. And... Peter quickly grabbed the tape trying to explore inside his clothes. Used too much force. Squeezed the tape like a snake with its tail stepped on. Whole thing went rigid. Then limply hung in Peter's hand.
Peter shook it. Found the tape motionless. Hurriedly placed it on the counter. Carefully stepped back. Looked at surrounding boxes. Whistled softly.
Gemini's mouth curved. Continued flipping through her magazine. Like she saw nothing. Behind her in the glass window, Tony and Steve pressed against the glass. Making faces watching.
Ollivander quickly returned. Holding a pile of old boxes. "May I ask, what bloodline did you awaken? This helps select your new wand."
"Spider." Peter answered honestly.
Ollivander knowingly oh-ed. Tossed several boxes behind him. "Then these aren't quite suitable. Try this!"
A wand was stuffed in Peter's hand. Calling it a wand—Peter preferred calling it a bat. Looked no different from a Quidditch Beater's bat.
Fortunately Ollivander quickly snatched it back. Gave Peter another slightly more normal-looking wand.
Until all were tried, Ollivander found none suitable. He looked at Peter distressed. "I knew it. Bloodline awakening wands are hardest to find matches. Then only one method."
"Custom!"
"Custom!"
Gemini and Ollivander said simultaneously. Gemini glanced at Ollivander. "What materials do you need? We can prepare ourselves."
Ollivander carefully scrutinized Peter. "Give me one of your hairs."
Peter obediently plucked a hair. Handed it over. Ollivander pinched it. Instantly, the hair curled. Turned to ash.
"His hair won't work. I think blood, nerves won't work either. Can you get some powerful spider materials? Fangs, venom sacs, silk glands?"
Tony outside exaggeratedly raised his hand. Gemini let him in. Watched Tony pull out something white.
"This is his cocoon! Can you use it?" Tony asked.
Ollivander checked. "No. The magical activity on this has disappeared. Can't use it."
Gemini thought. "Acromantula work?"
Ollivander considered. "Should be possible."
Gemini said nothing. Started pulling things from her small bag. You know, she and Dumbledore nearly cleared an entire colony. Want these materials? Easy! Whatever you need!
Ollivander didn't ask about Gemini's material sources. Just picked and chose several materials. Told them custom work needed half a month. Then kicked everyone out of his shop.
Gemini didn't mind. Put away her things. Led Peter and Tony out of Ollivander's Wand Shop.
"Alright, business done. Now do you want to browse? Or do something?" Gemini asked.
Tony looked around. "Browse. This place looks a bit different from the future. I haven't properly toured Diagon Alley."
Gemini naturally had no objections. Several people slowly walked the street. This time wasn't holiday. Not many people on the road.
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