Chapter 69 - Arcane Solutions: Shop-Chapter 69: Nasty, Ungrateful, Worthless Scoundrel Who Broke His Mother's Heart

💎WEEKLY POWER GOALS 💎

🔥 30→2ch | 60→5ch | 100→8ch | 200→15ch | 400→25ch

⏰ Resets Monday!

"Too much, Gemini! Dial it back—smaller smile! Yes, perfect!" The whispered coaching came from somewhere behind her.

Gemini subtly adjusted her expression, letting her smile fade into the kind of aristocratic disdain that would have made Narcissa Malfoy proud. She gazed down at Sirius with the cold superiority of a Black family heir.

"That's quite enough, you lot!" The voice behind her grew progressively louder, abandoning all pretense of stealth. "He's already a virtual projection—why are you still trying to traumatize him? What if you actually break his programming?"

Sirius blinked in confusion. "What was that? Who's there?"

Gemini's mask of composure cracked for just an instant. "Nothing. You're imagining things."

"Keep your voices down! We're about to blow our cover!"

"Sirius—" A familiar voice was abruptly muffled, followed by the distinct sound of someone being forcibly silenced.

Sirius's entire demeanor shifted, alarm replacing confusion. "That sounded like Harry! What's happening? What are you people doing back there?!"

Gemini set down her teacup with deliberate calm and produced her phone with theatrical resignation. "I specifically told you to stay quiet. Look what you've accomplished—complete exposure!"

Raucous laughter exploded from the device's speakers. Sirius pressed forward eagerly, drinking in the chaotic scene displayed on the screen. Harry and the entire Weasley clan filled the frame—Fred and George were pulling exaggerated faces at the camera while Lupin and Tonks lurked behind them, half-hidden by a small boy who bore an uncanny resemblance to young Remus.

Ron and Harry were engaged in mock combat on the floor, rolling around dramatically while James and Lily Potter cheered from the sidelines like spectators at a Quidditch match.

It was a scene torn straight from Sirius's deepest dreams. He reached toward the screen with desperate hunger, his translucent fingers passing uselessly through the image.

"Padfoot!" James bellowed with characteristic volume, causing everyone within a five-foot radius to wince. "You lucky bastard! This daughter of yours is making us all insanely jealous! Enjoy your father-daughter time—we'll have a proper Marauders reunion when you get back!"

"Dad, you could whisper and he'd still hear you!" the twins protested in unison, grabbing the phone and repositioning it with practiced showmanship. "So, Professor Black—how did our little performance compare to your legendary pranks? Properly terrified? We spent two sleepless nights choreographing this masterpiece! Special thanks to Gemini for her Oscar-worthy guest appearance!"

They executed synchronized theatrical bows before George leaned closer to the camera, his expression turning conspiratorial. "Fair warning, Padfoot—don't cross Gemini. We've said our piece; if you choose to court death after this, we can't save you."

The connection ended abruptly, leaving the parlor in sudden, profound silence. Sirius stared at the blank screen for a long moment before breaking into genuine laughter.

"Brilliant work. Absolutely brilliant. They got me completely."

He crouched before Gemini's chair, his expression growing serious. "I have to believe that whatever my daughter does is justified—anyone with friends like that couldn't possibly be wrong. Forgive me for not knowing you existed. Forgive me for never being there when you needed a father."

Gemini shifted uncomfortably, her carefully maintained composure softening slightly. "An Acromantula invaded the school grounds. It was going to kill my classmates—I had no choice but to act. With so many witnesses, the professors couldn't show obvious favoritism, and honestly, I'd already mastered everything Hogwarts had to offer. America suits me. I've made genuine friends here, people I'd like you to meet someday. I am... genuinely glad to finally meet you."

She glanced at the ornate clock on the mantelpiece. "I should check on the shop. Would you like a proper tour? See what I've built here?"

Sirius's eyes blazed with paternal pride. "You'd let me? You really created all this yourself?"

Gemini rose gracefully and headed for the door. "The camera network covers the entire building. You're welcome anywhere except my private quarters."

Sirius practically bounced with excitement as he followed her through Gemini's domain—greeting Ethan in the shop, marveling at the inventory, descending to check on Banner's containment. His commentary was constant, enthusiastic, and increasingly grating.

By the time they returned to the parlor, Gemini was seriously reconsidering the wisdom of this reunion. She needed a way to make him stop talking before she committed patricide.

The Floo network chose that moment to activate with a soft whoosh, disgorging a thoroughly disheveled Tony Stark.

"Gemini? Sweetheart? Emergency caffeine required—I'm literally dying here!" Tony collapsed onto the sofa with dramatic flair, immediately launching into his usual theatrical demands.

"SWEETHEART?!" Sirius exploded upward like a rocket, his projection flickering with paternal rage. "Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to—"

Tony blinked at the furious hologram in complete bewilderment. "Uh, Gemini? Which one is this? He looks exactly like those virtual portraits I design. Did someone activate one of my prototypes?"

Gemini rubbed her temples and produced a small recording device from her robes. She pressed a button, and the parlor filled with the unmistakable shriek of Walburga Black's portrait: "FILTH! SCUM! DISGRACE TO THE NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK!"

Sirius flinched as if physically struck.

Gemini pressed another button. Kreacher's distinctive voice emerged, dripping with malicious satisfaction: "Nasty, ungrateful, worthless scoundrel who broke his poor mother's heart!"

"My mother never had a heart!" Sirius snapped reflexively. "Kreacher, you miserable—"

Click.

Gemini switched off the device with surgical precision. "Are we finished with the dramatics? Can you manage civilized conversation, or shall I activate the full Grimmauld Place experience? I may not be able to shut down your projection, but I have an entire arsenal of Black family recordings."

Sirius deflated instantly, finally understanding George's warning. His daughter possessed the Black family talent for psychological warfare—and she wielded it with terrifying efficiency.

Tony remained frozen on the sofa, completely lost. Should he stand? Sit? Apologize? Run?

Gemini rolled her eyes with practiced exasperation. "Tony Stark, meet my father. Tony's a Muggle scientist who discovered his magical heritage embarrassingly late in life. The entire world knows he's a genius—the virtual projection technology you're using represents his fusion of magic and science. Sirius, meet the man responsible for your current existence."

Tony shot upright as if electrocuted. Flirting with someone's teenage daughter directly in front of her father—if someone did that to his hypothetical daughter, murder would be the minimum response.

He sat rigidly upright, feeling Sirius's glare like ice down his spine. "Hello, sir—I mean, Mr. Black—actually, what's the proper protocol here?"

Gemini fought to suppress her amusement. "Sirius will suffice. You're practically the same age."

Sirius continued glowering while repeatedly swiping his translucent hand through Tony's head. Tony wasn't sure whether he should react to the ghostly assault or maintain dignified stillness.

Coby appeared with Tony's preferred coffee blend, and Gemini decided she'd enjoyed enough entertainment. "Sirius, leave him alone. I thought SHIELD had you in some kind of training program? What brings you here?"

Tony relaxed fractionally, though he kept a wary eye on the menacing hologram. "Training phase complete. Fury had extensive modification requests for the Magic Mark I—we're now up to Magic Mark II. I even found time to upgrade my regular armor; the Mark V should be ready for field testing. Figured I'd earned a brief vacation."

He paused, studying Sirius with growing professional interest. "The projection quality is remarkable. Much more stable than my early prototypes. Gemini, did you implement any of my suggested improvements?"

Sirius bristled. "I am not a prototype! I'm a person!"

"Technically," Tony replied with dangerous cheerfulness, "you're a consciousness matrix interfacing with holographic projection technology. Fascinating work, really. The emotional responsiveness alone—"

"TONY," Gemini warned, recognizing the signs of an impending Stark lecture on technical specifications.

Sirius looked ready to commit virtual homicide. "I may be dead, but I'm still Sirius Black! Show some respect!"

Tony raised his hands in mock surrender. "Absolutely. Mr. Black. Sir. The dead guy who's definitely not a very sophisticated magical AI."

Gemini decided intervention was required before her father figured out how to strangle a living person while incorporeal.

"Tony, coffee. Sirius, behave. We have actual business to discuss."

Both men subsided, though the air crackled with mutual antagonism.

Gemini settled back in her chair, wondering if all family reunions were this exhausting—or if the Black family curse simply made everything more dramatic.

~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~

🔥 Want to read the next 60 chapters RIGHT NOW?

 💎 Patreon members get instant access! 

⚡ Limited-time offer currently running...

 👉 [Join on Patreon - patreon.com/DarkGolds]