Banner concentrated with the intensity of a man attempting to move mountains through sheer force of will. The oppressive darkness around them remained stubbornly unchanged, mocking his efforts. Closing his eyes, he poured every ounce of focus into visualizing the world beyond this void—Hogwarts castle rising majestically against the night sky, the Great Lake shimmering like liquid silver under moonlight, cool evening breezes carrying the scent of damp earth and growing things, and the mysterious calls of Forbidden Forest creatures echoing through ancient trees.
"Banner! Banner!" The Hulk's voice exploded with sudden excitement.
"Shh, don't interrupt," Banner murmured, keeping his eyes firmly closed while patting the Hulk's massive arm. "I'm working on something important here."
Banner remained oblivious to the miracle unfolding around them. Starting from the ground beneath their feet, reality began reshaping itself according to his imagination. Grass sprouted in expanding circles, moonlight materialized overhead, and the familiar landscape of Hogwarts grounds spread outward like ripples in a pond. The clearer his memories, the more vivid each detail became.
"Banner! Look! Look!" The Hulk could contain himself no longer. His enormous hands seized Banner's shoulders, shaking him with the enthusiasm of a child who'd discovered the most wonderful secret.
"I'm looking, I'm looking!" Banner gasped, his head spinning from the vigorous shaking. "Hulk, please—put me down!"
The Hulk immediately released him, setting Banner gently on solid ground with surprising care. "You look now! Banner must see!"
Banner steadied himself, blinking away dizziness—then froze in absolute amazement. The suffocating darkness had vanished, replaced by a perfect recreation of Hogwarts grounds bathed in ethereal moonlight. Every detail matched his memories: the castle's towering spires, the lake's mirror-smooth surface, even the way shadows pooled beneath ancient oak trees.
The Hulk was already in motion, bounding across the transformed landscape with pure, uninhibited joy. His laughter echoed across the water as he discovered grass that felt real beneath his feet, air that carried actual scents, space that stretched beyond the confines of his former prison.
Banner watched the Forbidden Forest's shadowy depths with sudden alarm. "Hulk, wait—!"
Too late. The Hulk charged toward the mysterious woods, only to collide with an invisible barrier that sent him stumbling backward in confusion.
Banner hurried over, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Sorry about that. I've never actually been inside the Forest, so I don't know what's in there. My imagination can only recreate what I've experienced—everything beyond that is just... empty space."
The Hulk grinned with childlike delight, completely unbothered by the collision. This magical playground was infinitely better than endless darkness. Without hesitation, he pivoted toward the lake and launched himself into the air like a green cannonball.
The resulting splash was spectacular—a geyser of water that soaked Banner from head to toe, leaving him sputtering and dripping.
Banner examined his drenched clothes with scientific fascination, muttering to himself, "Interesting. If the sensory experiences here can be completely real, then logically..." He concentrated briefly, and his soaked garments dried instantly. "Then they can also be completely controlled."
"Banner! Banner!" The Hulk surfaced in the lake's center, treading water with obvious delight. "This is good! This is so much better! Banner go out now! Let Hulk see outside world! Banner promised! Hulk will be good, will stay in nice place!"
Banner's scientific curiosity overrode his desire to leave immediately. "Hold on—let me make a few more improvements first!"
He'd visited Hagrid's hut several times, so its exterior was perfectly rendered. But what about the interior? Banner approached the familiar door, his mind carefully reconstructing every detail he could remember. As he turned the handle and pushed inward, the previously empty space beyond began filling itself with Hagrid's possessions—oversized furniture, bubbling cauldrons, even the bundle of unicorn tail hair tied beside the window.
"Hulk!" Banner called toward the lake. "Come see what I've made for you!"
The Hulk obediently emerged from the water, shaking himself like an enormous dog before bounding over with eager curiosity.
Banner gestured proudly toward the transformed hut. "This can be your home base when you want to rest. I've stocked the storage room with all kinds of food—everything I've ever eaten, so I know it's safe. If you don't like something, we'll figure out how to change it. And look—" He indicated a pile of magically enlarged clothing. "Even when you're alone, you should dress properly. It's important to maintain certain standards."
The Hulk initially found Banner's paternal fussing amusing, nodding along with the explanations. But as the lecture continued, his attention began wandering to the transformed landscape beyond. This wonderful new playground beckoned, and Banner's increasingly detailed instructions about proper hygiene and meal schedules grew tiresome.
Finally, the Hulk's patience snapped. He released a frustrated roar that shook the cottage's windows, then spun around and charged back toward the lake.
"Banner go away! Banner talk too much! Hulk want to play!"
The resulting splash was even more impressive than the first, sending waves across the entire lake as the Hulk dove deep beneath the surface.
Banner stood in the cottage doorway, rubbing his nose sheepishly. "I suppose I was being a bit... overwhelming." He looked around at the miraculous transformation they'd achieved together. "But how exactly do I get back to—"
His vision went black mid-sentence.
When consciousness returned, Banner found himself staring up at a circle of concerned faces—Harry, Tony, Gemini, Newt, and Hagrid all peering down at him with obvious anxiety.
Banner's heart immediately began racing as adrenaline flooded his system. Oh no, he thought, sitting up quickly and pressing both hands to his chest. He forced himself to take slow, deep breaths, waiting for the familiar sensation of his other self stirring to life.
Nothing happened.
After several tense moments, Banner realized the truth—the Hulk was far too busy enjoying his new playground to be bothered with transformation triggers.
"It worked!" Tony exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. "The negotiation was successful!"
Gemini smiled with carefully controlled enthusiasm—a lady didn't celebrate too obviously, after all.
"What terms did you agree to?" Harry asked, cutting straight to practical matters.
Banner gathered his thoughts before responding. "Two months per year where he has full control. The rest of the time, he stays quiet unless I specifically call him. He needs to be able to see the outside world through my eyes—no more darkness. And I've... well, I've completely redesigned his living space. He's quite pleased with the improvements."
Tony didn't fully understand the implications, but he clapped Banner on the shoulder enthusiastically. "Brilliant work! That solves most of our problems right there."
The magical members of their group, however, stared at Banner in stunned silence.
"Are you absolutely certain he's not a wizard?" Harry asked in a voice barely above a whisper.
"He needs my Dragon-hide gloves just to brew basic potions without creating disasters," Gemini added, her own disbelief evident.
Newt cleared his throat diplomatically. "I believe it's because he possesses two fully mature souls sharing the same consciousness space. That's... extraordinarily rare."
Hagrid shook his head in wonder. "Never seen anything like it in all my years."
Tony and Banner exchanged confused glances. "What exactly are you all talking about?"
Harry ran a hand through his hair, looking genuinely impressed despite himself. "Banner, what you just accomplished is considered nearly impossible. Very few wizards can even perceive their internal soul space, let alone consciously reshape it. You've essentially created an entire pocket dimension through pure willpower."
Tony's eyes lit up with scientific fascination. "Wait—you've seen your own? What's it like? Do I have one? Can I—"
"King's Cross Station," Harry interrupted. "Mine appears as King's Cross Station, probably because that's where my life truly began. But Tony—" His expression grew serious. "You don't want to see yours. The magic required is incredibly dangerous, and typically only people on the verge of death can access that level of consciousness. Not everyone survives the experience."
Tony immediately paled. "Right then. I'll stick to external engineering projects, thanks."
With Banner's crisis resolved, the group reconvened in Hagrid's cottage for a proper celebration. Harry summoned the Hogwarts house-elves, who appeared with platters of midnight delicacies that would have made the Great Hall envious. Only after everyone had eaten their fill did they turn to planning the practical details.
"So," Harry said, settling back in his oversized chair, "where exactly will the Hulk spend his two-month holidays?"
Banner considered the question carefully. "Remote wilderness areas, I think. Deep forests, mountain ranges—places where human contact is minimal. The U.S. military has standing orders to capture or eliminate him on sight. Populated areas are absolutely out of the question."
He hesitated, then looked toward Newt with hopeful uncertainty. "Actually, I wanted to ask—the Hulk specifically requested time with you and Queenie. Would it be possible for him to... well, to visit occasionally?"
Newt's weathered face broke into a warm smile. "Of course. Queenie and I would be delighted to have him. My case has extensive habitats—forests, plains, even a small ocean environment. If the Hulk ever needs a safe place to stay, he's more than welcome."
Banner felt a weight lift from his shoulders that he hadn't realized he'd been carrying. For the first time in years, both aspects of his existence had something to look forward to.
The Hulk had his playground, his friends, and his freedom.
Banner had his peace, his research, and most importantly, his hope.
It was, perhaps, the beginning of something that might actually be called a life.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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