Hagrid's massive hand trembled mid-pour, sending a cascade of steaming tea across the wooden table. He laughed with the awkward enthusiasm of a giant trying to pretend he hadn't just destroyed half the tea service. "Blimey! Sorry about that—I'll have this cleaned up in no time!"
Harry observed Hagrid's unusually clumsy behavior with growing understanding, then offered diplomatically, "Here's what I'm thinking—we schedule the Hulk's two months during winter and summer breaks. Winter visits with Newt, mostly staying safely in his case, and summer holidays here at Hogwarts keeping Hagrid company."
CRASH!
The entire teapot exploded against the stone floor, fragments scattering like ceramic confetti. Hagrid's eyes lit up with such desperate hope it was almost painful to witness.
"D'you really think—? Would that actually be possible?" He turned to Banner with the expression of a man afraid to believe in answered prayers. "Professor McGonagall wouldn't object, I'm sure of it. But would you... would you be willing?"
Banner felt warmth spreading through his chest—the unfamiliar sensation of belonging somewhere. "The convenience is entirely yours to decide, Hagrid. Finding truly remote wilderness areas has always been... challenging."
Harry's grin was positively wicked. "Staying with Hagrid is perfect. The Forbidden Forest is vast enough for the Hulk to run completely wild without worrying about collateral damage. And Grawp's still living out there—the Hulk would finally have a playmate who can actually handle his strength."
Gemini and Newt exchanged horrified glances. Tony and Banner remained blissfully ignorant, but the magical members of their group knew exactly what Grawp represented—Hagrid's "little" brother, a developmentally stunted giant. At over thirty feet tall, he might be considered small by giant standards, but compared to normal humans... well, the Hulk would finally meet his match.
"I just hope this won't interfere with your holiday plans with Madame Maxime," Harry added, watching Hagrid carefully.
Hagrid erupted in delighted laughter and delivered what he intended as a gentle pat to Harry's shoulder—which promptly sent the young wizard crashing to the floor.
"Oh, blast! Sorry, Harry!" Hagrid hauled him upright with apologetic care. "But you don't need to worry about that! Olympe and I are both half-giants—children were never really in the cards for us. The Hulk's practically a baby anyway, and Olympe adores children! If this is really happening, I'm writing to her tonight!"
The entire group shuddered in unison. Only Hagrid could look at the Hulk and see an adorable infant.
With the living arrangements settled, Harry turned to practical matters. "I'll contact an alchemy master about the vision-sharing device. Nicolas Flamel is currently in America, but this is hardly worth troubling him with." He and Banner discussed the technical requirements—the device needed an on-off switch and had to survive the Hulk's transformations intact.
"A necklace design would work best," Harry concluded. "We'll use Acromantula silk for the chain—it's incredibly strong and naturally magical. With the right enchantments, it'll resize automatically during transformations."
Speaking of transformations, Harry turned to Gemini with barely concealed amusement. "You'll need to take Banner to Madam Malkin's for some... specialized clothing. The constant nudity situation is becoming rather awkward for everyone involved."
Gemini flushed pink, suddenly finding the table's wood grain fascinating. "Banner's been working in my shop for months without proper compensation. A few enchanted outfits are the least I can manage."
"How much will all of this cost?" Banner asked with obvious concern. "Everything sounds expensive, and I'm afraid I don't have anything valuable to offer as payment."
Harry waved dismissively. "Your wages from Gemini's shop will more than cover it. Plus, helping Newt with his creatures during winter breaks won't be volunteer work—he pays quite well for competent assistance. Same with Hagrid—patrolling the Forbidden Forest and handling various... situations... comes with proper compensation."
Understanding dawned in Banner's eyes. This wasn't just about solving the Hulk problem—Harry was offering him a genuine life. Gemini needed a trustworthy adult presence in her shop, especially as a young woman operating alone in a foreign country. Banner needed stability, purpose, and people who understood his unique situation. The arrangement benefited everyone involved.
"Brewing potions has become genuinely fascinating," Banner admitted with growing enthusiasm. "Watching raw ingredients transform into something entirely different through precise application of technique and theory... there's something almost magical about the process."
Harry and Gemini exchanged significant looks. Those words carried an unmistakable echo of Severus Snape's famous passion for the art.
Gemini made an immediate mental note—the moment she returned home, Professor Snape's portrait was going up in the potions laboratory. If there was even the slightest chance of nurturing the first Muggle potioneer in history, she wasn't going to waste it.
With all major issues resolved, Gemini felt the familiar restlessness that came with emotional exhaustion. The day had been intense, transformative, and frankly overwhelming.
"I think it's time we headed back," she announced, already mentally preparing for another nauseating Portkey journey.
Newt produced an elegant silver key from his coat pocket, pressing it into Banner's palm with ceremonial gravity. "Keep this with you always. Turn the sapphire clockwise three times, and you'll be transported directly to my home. Queenie and I will be expecting you."
Harry refrained from giving Banner a Hogwarts access token—Professor McGonagall needed to approve the arrangement officially first. But for holiday visits, approval was virtually guaranteed.
After Newt departed for Hogsmeade and his Apparition point, Harry dispatched a quick note via school owl. The response arrived within minutes—a battered boot that had clearly seen better decades.
"Right then," Harry announced, placing the Portkey on Hagrid's table. "I won't escort you back—this should deposit you directly in the shop."
Gemini approached the boot with visible distaste, pinching its frayed laces between two fingers as if handling something particularly unsavory. Tony and Banner followed suit, their expressions suggesting they were already regretting the decision.
"Everyone ready? Three... two... one!"
The familiar sensation of a hook behind their navels yanked them into the spinning, nauseating vortex of Portkey travel. They vanished in a whirl of robes and barely suppressed groans.
Hagrid immediately abandoned all pretense of hosting duties, sprawling across his table to begin composing what would undoubtedly be the most enthusiastic letter Madame Maxime had ever received. Harry departed with an amused shake of his head, already planning his visit to Professor McGonagall's office and the Floo network beyond.
The three travelers materialized in Gemini's shop with all the grace of sacks of potatoes, immediately collapsing onto the nearest available furniture in various states of travel-induced distress.
"That experience," Tony declared to the ceiling, "is somehow even worse than Floo travel. Don't you people have that magic where you just whoosh and appear somewhere instantly?"
Gemini rolled her eyes with the patience of someone who'd answered this question countless times. "You mean Apparition? If you want to learn it, you'll need to apply to MACUSA for certified instruction, pass both written and practical examinations, and obtain an official license. Self-teaching is incredibly dangerous."
Banner had recovered enough to stand, though his complexion remained distinctly green around the edges. "I should rest for a while. I suppose I'll need to develop a tolerance for magical transportation, considering I'll never be able to learn the alternatives myself."
He made his way downstairs with the careful movements of someone fighting nausea, leaving Tony to pursue his curiosity with typical persistence.
"Dangerous how, exactly? What's the worst that could happen?"
Gemini buried her face in her hands. "Do you ever actually read the books I recommend?"
Tony had the grace to look sheepish. "There are hundreds of books, none of which can be digitized for efficient study. I'm working through them systematically, but magical texts aren't exactly written like modern technical manuals. I have to extract and organize the practical information myself, which takes considerable time."
Gemini sighed, recognizing the validity of his complaint. Magical education had never prioritized clear, accessible instruction.
"Apparition requires such precise control that even in the wizarding world, it's restricted to sixth-year students and older," she explained patiently. "The primary risk is splinching—accidentally leaving parts of your body behind during transport. You might arrive at your destination missing an arm, or find yourself scattered across several locations simultaneously."
Tony's face went pale. "That sounds... unpleasant."
"Which is why proper certification is mandatory. Licensed Apparition includes built-in safety charms that alert Ministry emergency responders if splinching occurs. They can usually restore missing body parts if they reach you quickly enough. Usually."
Tony made a mental note to stick with mechanical transportation for the foreseeable future.
"Every adult wizard takes the Apparition test," Gemini continued. "It's considered as essential as a driver's license in the Muggle world. The failure rate is... significant."
In the potions laboratory below, Banner settled into his favorite chair, already planning tomorrow's brewing schedule. For the first time in years, he had something resembling a future to look forward to.
Both aspects of his existence had found their place in this strange new world.
The Hulk would have his freedom, his friends, and his adventures.
Banner would have his purpose, his craft, and perhaps—if Gemini's instincts proved correct—his legacy as the first Muggle to master the ancient art of potion-making.
It was, he reflected, a rather extraordinary way to begin again.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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