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Banner stared at Harry with the expression of a man who'd just been told the solution to quantum physics was asking nicely. "You're saying... just talk to him?"
"But he's extremely violent," Banner continued, his voice carrying the weight of painful experience. "I'm not even sure he understands language, let alone complex negotiation. And his strength..." He shuddered slightly. "If he loses control, I have no idea what destruction he might cause."
Harry chuckled, the sound warm and reassuring. "You don't need to worry about that. Your little green problem really isn't as insurmountable as you think. I have a friend who actually specializes in dealing with... oversized personalities." His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Besides, Dr. Banner, he is you. Don't resist that connection so fiercely. You understand human speech perfectly well—why assume he doesn't?"
In his artificially calm state, Banner found himself following Harry's logic with startling clarity. It was true—he'd spent years focused entirely on rejection, on fighting against the transformation. He'd never once considered the possibility of cooperation, of communication. Perhaps his very resistance was what triggered the violent episodes?
The thought was both terrifying and liberating.
Banner studied Harry with new respect. "When could you help me resolve this?"
Harry echoed Gemini's earlier assessment. "We need to wait until your two aspects are completely separated—probably sometime next week, if my reading of the soul resonance is correct. I'll bring my friend over then." He paused, considering. "Your current situation makes international travel rather... inadvisable, doesn't it?"
Banner exhaled shakily. "That's an understatement. I'm still on multiple military watch lists. The moment I appear in any public space, I'll have half the armed forces of America surrounding me within minutes."
Harry nodded grimly. Banner's condition also ruled out magical transportation—Floo powder or Portkeys with someone in his volatile state could end catastrophically. The mere thought of the Hulk materializing in the middle of Diagon Alley made Harry's head pound.
With their plans settled, Banner excused himself to return downstairs. Having a concrete solution—and more importantly, hope—had visibly lightened his burden.
"Well then," Gemini said, stretching like a contented cat, "you might as well stay the night. It's already quite late, and you can return tomorrow morning."
Harry hesitated, running a hand through his perpetually unruly hair. "I didn't tell anyone I was leaving. Ginny's still at home—she'll worry if I don't return."
Gemini's face lit up with inspiration. "I have an idea—wait just a moment."
She produced her phone with a flourish, tapping the screen with practiced ease. "JARVIS? Are you available?"
The device immediately brightened as the AI's cultured voice responded. "Good evening, Miss Gemini. How may I assist you?"
"Could you help me contact Fred? You should be able to reach him through the workshop's communication system, shouldn't you?"
"Certainly, Miss Gemini. Please stand by."
The screen dimmed briefly before Fred's familiar voice crackled through the speaker, tinged with curiosity. "Gemini? What's wrong? Why are you calling through JARVIS?"
Gemini couldn't suppress her delighted laughter. "So it actually works! Harry got summoned over by my Directional Portkey today—completely unplanned. He won't be able to return until tomorrow, and he wants to let Ginny know so she doesn't worry. We don't have any other quick way to communicate, so I'm afraid we'll have to impose on you."
Fred's booming laughter filled the room. "No imposition at all! Leave it to me—I'll have Mum invite Ginny over for dinner tonight. She'll never suspect a thing!"
Harry leaned into the conversation, exchanging a few pleasantries with Fred before they disconnected.
"Remarkable," Harry mused, shaking his head in wonder. "Muggle technology has evolved beyond anything I could have imagined as a child. These days, when I venture into their world, I feel completely out of my depth."
Gemini had already bounded to her feet, calling for Coby to prepare the guest room.
That night brought the kind of deep, peaceful sleep that had eluded Gemini for weeks. Perhaps it was Harry's presence—that sense of absolute safety that came from having someone who'd faced down the darkest wizard in history sleeping just down the hall.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Gemini groaned and flailed at the air, trying to banish whatever was disturbing her blissful dreams.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The persistent hammering at her window refused to be ignored.
Gemini jolted upright, her hair resembling a bird's nest as she glared at the source of the commotion. Outside her window, a magnificent golden eagle perched on the sill, though its usually pristine plumage was disheveled and travel-worn. Despite its bedraggled appearance, the bird's eyes still held that characteristic Malfoy arrogance.
"Amy?" Gemini squinted, recognition dawning slowly. This was indeed the Malfoy family's prized messenger eagle. What could possibly warrant such an early morning delivery?
Yawning prodigiously, she shuffled to the window and unlatched it. Amy hopped inside with dignified exhaustion, deposited a elegantly wrapped package at the foot of the bed, then proceeded to voice her complaints in a series of indignant squawks that clearly conveyed the hardships of transatlantic flight.
Gemini immediately summoned Coby. "Please take Amy downstairs and see that she's properly fed and rested. She's flown quite a distance."
As Coby gently coaxed the weary eagle from the room, Gemini's attention fell on the gift box. Her face broke into a brilliant smile.
Christmas morning.
All traces of sleepiness vanished instantly. She called for Coby to gather all the presents in the living room while she hurried through her morning routine.
Harry and Gemini emerged into the living room simultaneously, both drawn by the festive pile of colorfully wrapped packages adorning the coffee table. Harry's face lit up with genuine joy.
"Merry Christmas!" he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling behind his glasses. "I'm sorry my gift for you is back home—otherwise we could have had a proper present-opening ceremony together."
Gemini grinned mischievously and offered him a letter opener. "Help me unwrap these! That way, when you return home, you can experience the joy of gift-opening all over again!"
Harry chuckled and ruffled her hair with brotherly affection. "These are your presents, Gemini. The magic only works when you open them yourself."
Accepting his wisdom, Gemini settled onto the sofa beside him and surveyed her bounty.
"Malfoy family," Harry observed, eyeing the most ostentatiously gilded package with barely concealed disdain. "Ten Galleons says it's jewelry. Probably emeralds."
Gemini rolled her eyes at his predictable prejudice. How could two grown men still maintain such childish rivalry?
Ignoring Harry's commentary, she carefully unwrapped Draco's gift. Inside lay an exquisite emerald velvet jewelry box containing a complete parure of gemstone accessories—from delicate hair ornaments to an elegant ankle chain. Each piece was crafted with Malfoy precision and undeniable taste.
"Ha!" Harry crowed triumphantly. "Called it! Malfoy has absolutely no imagination whatsoever!"
Gemini maintained diplomatic silence while rummaging through the pile to locate Harry's contribution. She recognized the modest wrapping immediately—his gifts always came in understated packaging that somehow made them more precious.
Harry's entire demeanor brightened like sunrise. "Open it quickly! I prepared something special—you're going to absolutely love it!"
Gemini felt a small flutter of apprehension. Harry's definition of "special" often involved things that moved, made noise, or occasionally exploded.
Before she could begin unwrapping, Coby materialized carrying a familiar portrait frame.
"Miss," the house-elf announced formally, "Professor Snape wishes to extend Christmas greetings."
Harry's expression of joy froze mid-smile, his laughter dying in his throat like a strangled bird. As Coby carefully positioned the portrait on the opposite chair, Harry seemed to physically shrink, attempting to make himself invisible.
"Well, well," Snape's silky voice dripped with familiar venom as his painted eyes fixed on Harry's distinctive hair. "If it isn't the famous Potter. How extraordinary to find the Chosen One gracing a Slytherin's residence with his presence. Tell me, has the Boy Who Lived finally decided to fulfill his destiny by eliminating problematic family members?"
Harry managed a weak smile. "Professor, please don't start."
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," Snape replied with poisonous sweetness. "After all, I'm merely an 'evil bat,' according to popular opinion."
Since becoming a portrait, Snape had noticed certain... alterations to his personality matrix. In life, he would have simply ignored Potter's existence entirely. Now, perversely, he seemed compelled to engage in verbal sparring.
Gemini quickly intervened, placing her hands between the two men like a referee. "Time out, both of you. It's Christmas morning, and I refuse to let you ruin it with your ancient grudges. Harry, sit down. Professor, behave yourself. We're going to have a civilized celebration if it kills me."
Harry offered the portrait an apologetic smile while Snape merely sniffed disdainfully. But both men subsided, recognizing the steel beneath Gemini's cheerful tone.
The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting everything in golden light, and for a moment, the little gathering felt almost like a real family—dysfunctional, perhaps, but bound together by something stronger than blood.
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