Chapter 65 - Arcane Solutions: Shop-Chapter 65: Dr. Banner, Would You Like to Be a Fool?

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Fury studied Harry's unwavering stare—the kind of look that had faced down Voldemort and lived to tell about it. Without another word, he silently signaled his subordinates to transfer the funds to Ethan's account. Some battles weren't worth fighting.

Gemini gathered her belongings with practiced efficiency, then slipped her arm through Harry's with casual intimacy. She waved cheerfully at the two agents. "Until next time, then—and don't forget to collect your repaired items!"

The next instant, the familiar compression of Disapparition seized them both. Harry and Gemini vanished, leaving only the faintest pop of displaced air and two very unsettled S.H.I.E.L.D. agents staring at empty space.

"Well," Fury said after a moment, his voice carefully neutral. "I think we can safely say wizards' capabilities have been... underestimated. If they can waltz in and out of a facility like this without breaking a sweat, our most classified military installations might as well have revolving doors."

Natasha shot him a warning look. "You don't exactly have alternatives, Nick. Besides, they're allies now—emphasis on 'now.' Our focus should be on Coulson's situation." Her tone carried the subtle edge of someone who'd seen too many partnerships destroyed by paranoia. The wizards had treated them fairly so far, and she had no intention of souring that relationship because Fury couldn't stop seeing threats in every shadow.

Fury absently touched the magical prosthetic where his eye used to be—a constant reminder of how much the world had changed. "You're right. That's our immediate priority." He straightened, slipping back into director mode. "Your next assignment: get close to Stark's assistant. Protection is primary, but I also need an assessment of whether Tony Stark fits the Avengers Initiative."

Natasha shrugged with practiced indifference and headed for the door. Getting close to Pepper Potts wouldn't be difficult—the challenge would be staying invisible to Gemini. Something told her the young witch would see right through any deception.

Back at The Copper Oak, the atmosphere was considerably warmer. Harry and Gemini had spent the better part of an hour catching up—discussing George's latest entrepreneurial chaos in Britain, the ongoing reconstruction efforts at Hogwarts, and the peculiar challenges of running a magical shop in Muggle New York. Coby had outdone himself with dinner, producing a feast that would have made the Hogwarts house-elves proud.

Now Harry lounged contentedly on the sofa, looking more relaxed than Gemini had seen him in years. The constant tension that had defined his teenage years had finally begun to ease.

"So," he said, adjusting his glasses with that familiar gesture, "this favor you mentioned—what kind of trouble have you stumbled into now?"

Gemini's expression grew serious. "It's my new shop assistant. His soul has been... damaged by Muggle experimentation. It's split into two distinct entities, and the separation is nearly complete. I haven't encountered the other personality directly, but from what I can sense..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Let's just say Grawp would seem gentle by comparison. The transformation is triggered by emotional stress, and it's causing him tremendous suffering."

Harry leaned forward, his interest immediately piqued. "Where is he? Can I examine him? I wish I had Professor Dumbledore's Pensieve instruments here—they'd give us a much clearer picture of what we're dealing with."

Gemini suddenly found the table's grain pattern fascinating. "You mean... this one?"

With the air of someone confessing to a minor crime, she reached under the table and produced the very silver instrument Harry had just mentioned—its delicate mechanisms still gleaming from recent use.

Harry stared at her, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly. "Gemini... where exactly did you get Dumbledore's soul-analysis device? Last I checked, it was supposed to be secured in the Headmaster's office!"

The guilt on Gemini's face was almost comical. "Well, you see... before I left Hogwarts, Professor Snape mentioned a certain... repository of useful items. He said I might have need of them in my future endeavors and suggested I... acquire what I deemed necessary."

Harry buried his face in his hands, wondering if this was how Mrs. Weasley felt every time Fred and George unveiled their latest scheme. "Merlin's beard, Gemini. Only you could make theft sound like a school assignment."

After a moment, he sighed in defeat. "Fine. Snape was the acting Headmaster, so technically he had authority over school property. Just... try not to 'acquire' anything else without asking first, yeah?" He definitely wasn't about to cross Severus Snape, even in portrait form. "Now, let's meet this assistant of yours."

Gemini practically bounced to her feet, eager to escape the awkward conversation. She returned moments later with Dr. Banner in tow, guiding him to the chair directly across from Harry.

"I thought we'd already examined this situation this morning," Banner said, his voice carrying an unusual calm that immediately caught Harry's attention. "Has something changed?"

Harry glanced questioningly at Gemini, who explained succinctly: "I lent him Pandia's Gaze—the emotional suppression necklace."

Understanding dawned in Harry's eyes. "Ah. Well, Dr. Banner, I'm going to need you to remove that for a proper examination. Do you think you can maintain control without it?"

Banner looked uncertainly at Gemini, who spread her hands. "Harry knows more about soul magic than anyone I've ever met. I asked him here specifically for his expertise. You can trust his judgment."

"I'm concerned about losing control," Banner admitted with refreshing honesty.

Harry smiled reassuringly and produced a vial of pale blue liquid from his jacket. "Here—drink this first. It should help."

Banner examined the potion with surprising recognition. "Calming Draught? Will this actually work on my... condition?"

Harry blinked in astonishment. "You know potions?"

Gemini coughed delicately. "I may have created some specialized equipment that allows non-magical individuals to brew certain potions. Strictly limited applications, of course."

Harry stared at her for a long moment, then slowly rubbed his temples. "Right. Of course you did. Because why wouldn't you revolutionize magical theory in your spare time?"

He took a steadying breath. "Dr. Banner, whenever you're ready."

Banner drained the potion and carefully removed the necklace. The change was immediate and alarming—his entire body tensed as chaotic thoughts and barely-contained rage flooded back into his consciousness. His face contorted with the effort of maintaining control, but the Calming Draught held, creating a fragile equilibrium between man and monster.

Harry activated Dumbledore's device without further delay. The familiar silver mist swirled to life, revealing the same disturbing image Gemini had witnessed that morning—two distinct figures, one silver and calm, one green and seething with barely-contained fury, connected only at the feet like conjoined shadows.

"Fascinating," Harry murmured, adjusting the device's settings. "Let's see what happens if we examine them as separate entities."

The mist shifted, and the two figures split apart completely. The silver one maintained its peaceful demeanor, while the green one roared soundlessly, its massive fists pounding against invisible barriers.

"Definitely distinct personalities," Harry observed, making another adjustment. "And if we force integration..."

The figures merged into a writhing, shapeless mass of conflicting energies—neither fully human nor fully other, but something caught eternally between states.

Harry removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes wearily. "You can put the necklace back on, Dr. Banner. I've seen enough."

Banner immediately secured the chain around his neck, his shoulders sagging with relief as artificial calm settled over him once more.

"Well?" Gemini asked, though her expression suggested she already suspected the answer wouldn't be simple.

Harry leaned back, his fingers steepled as he considered the implications. "It's complicated, but not impossible. The real question is what Dr. Banner is willing to sacrifice to achieve a solution."

"Bruce," Banner corrected quietly. "Just Bruce is fine."

Harry nodded and sat forward, his expression growing serious. "Dr. Banner—Bruce—I need to ask you something, and I want you to think carefully before answering." He paused, meeting the other man's eyes directly. "Would you be willing to become a fool?"

The silence that followed was profound. Even with the necklace's calming influence, Banner looked utterly bewildered.

"I'm sorry, what?"

Harry held up a hand. "Let me explain. What Gemini suggested earlier—eliminating one personality to save the other—that's not actually possible. You and the Hulk aren't separate entities sharing space. You're two aspects of the same soul, fractured by trauma and artificial enhancement. If we tried to destroy one half..." He shrugged grimly. "Best case scenario, you'd become a rational Hulk. Worst case, you'd become a Bruce Banner with the intellectual capacity of a child."

Banner's face went ashen. "So I'm trapped like this forever?"

Gemini elbowed Harry sharply. "Stop torturing him and get to the point."

Harry chuckled and ruffled her hair affectionately. "Patience. I said it was complicated, not impossible. There is another option—but it requires a very different kind of courage."

The room held its breath, waiting for him to continue.

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