Finally decided on the old method. Tony provided an arc reactor as the core. Plus a chip forged from vibranium. Using this as foundation, created a body in the Cradle of Life. Through data transmission, loaded Jarvis in.
Under everyone's gaze, the Cradle's lid slowly opened. Watching Jarvis open his eyes, Wanda rushed over and hugged him.
Jarvis apologetically patted Wanda's back. "I might not be as powerful as before now. Can't protect you anymore."
Wanda said through tears and laughter: "It's fine. As long as I'm strong enough. I'll protect our home! Your strength isn't in this!"
People around started whistling shamelessly. The noise was deafening. Made Wanda's face turn completely red.
The Jade Emperor placed the stone on the table. Turned to Gemini. "Things are pretty much done. I should go. Remember to visit us when you can! Just bring some good food. Let those killers taste modern cuisine too!"
Before Gemini could say anything, he smiled and transformed into light. A breeze blew. He completely dissipated.
Gemini stared blankly at where the Jade Emperor vanished. Didn't know what to say. Looked like she'd have to visit the Heavenly Court.
"What are you looking at?" Tony walked over curiously.
"Nothing. The Jade Emperor went back." Gemini said flatly.
Tony looked confused. "Who's the Jade Emperor?"
Gemini whipped around. "What?!"
Tony looked at her innocently. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"Do you remember who snapped?" Gemini asked carefully. Could Tony have dementia?
"Uh, right. Who did?" Tony looked more confused. "Why can't I remember?"
Gemini looked at the others. Everyone looked confused. Gemini realized. Shook her head. "Nothing. Let's discuss who returns the stones."
Finished speaking, she glanced at the sky. Smiled and shook her head. What was this? Good deeds without leaving a name?
Everyone gathered in the conference room. Started arguing. Everyone wanted to see the parallel world. Plus their counterparts were still there. Even more curious.
Even Harry, who knew the parallel world had no wizards, was eager to try.
Final discussion result—still decided on the original team. After all, no one knew if something would go wrong. Going to another parallel world would be bad.
The biggest contributor supporting this return trip was Dr. Pym. After learning from Ant-Man that the Pym Particles he lost in '73 weren't stolen by Howard but taken by Captain America, he reluctantly let his daughter join the Guardians. Learning they had to return the stones, Dr. Pym immediately provided considerable stock.
This gave everyone confidence to all go. Just in case, everyone carried at least 4 sets of Pym Particles. One set each way. Two sets for backup. If anything happened, they could get back.
Standing on the platform again, everyone's mood was completely different. Return time was set. But how much time they'd spend in the past—who could control them?
After emphasizing again not to disrupt existing history, everyone relaxed as they vanished in Banner's countdown.
Following the brilliant tunnel forward, everyone entered their own time branches. Only had time to gesture to each other.
Gemini, Scott, and Tony expertly rushed toward 2010. Just as they were about to enter the exit, an accident happened.
A fish-like monster suddenly burst from the tunnel. Charged straight at the three.
While dodging, Gemini got separated from the other two. She was knocked away from that time branch. Gemini only had time to throw the case in her hand to Tony with all her strength. Saw him catch the case. Only then was she knocked into another time branch by the force.
Tony panicked for a moment. Then suddenly remembered everyone could still go back. Only then relaxed. Flew out from the designated time branch. Carefully observed the surroundings. Found the wall scroll they'd left here. Captain America came out. Saw Tony, blanked out again. Neither said much. After exchanging the Infinity Stone, Tony directly retrieved the scroll. Returned with Scott.
On the other side, Captain America, returning the Space Stone in '73, met his beloved Agent Carter. After some soul-searching, decisively chose to stay.
Gemini, knocked into another time branch by the monster fish, wasn't so lucky. When she came to, found herself fallen in a thicket. Light rain drizzled from the sky.
Gemini shivering pulled a thick windbreaker from her backpack. Carefully checked the time display on her bracelet. November 1st, '79. Location: London.
Gemini was completely baffled. What the hell was this?! A strange fish-shaped creature knocked her forty years before where she was going? Tony at this time should still be a snotty little brat, right?
Thinking this, Gemini wrinkled her nose disdainfully. Anyway, Tony should've already returned the stone. She could just go back directly.
Just as Gemini was about to activate her bracelet, a crash suddenly came from the nearby road. Then a loud explosion.
Gemini quickly looked over. A car had crashed in the rainy night. Gemini faintly heard a child's cries and adults calling for help.
Gemini immediately drew her wand and rushed over. No matter what, save people first. This ordinary family probably wasn't important to history. Worst case, erase their memories after saving them.
Rushing over quickly, Gemini checked. Her heart jumped. The driver—should be the family's man—was already dead. The woman in the passenger seat looked about the same. Tree branches and shattered car parts had practically turned her into a sieve. Only holding on with one breath, struggling to turn her head toward the child in the back seat's car seat.
When she saw the wand in Gemini's hand, her eyes suddenly lit up. Grabbed Gemini's extended hand hard. "Save, save him! My son! Wizard! Save him!"
Gemini looked at her in surprise. Confirmed she wasn't delirious from severe injuries but truly knew about wizards. Only then nodded. Waved her wand. Dismantled the car door. Carried out that chubby child. Then took out a potion and poured it down the woman's throat.
"This potion lets you speak properly. Not much time. About 5 minutes. Anything you want to say? Sorry, your injuries are too severe. I don't have everything with me. Can't save you." Gemini said apologetically to the woman.
The woman didn't look at Gemini. Only looked at her son reluctantly. Trembling hand touched the child. "He's called Dudley. This is my house key. Address is on it. Please, wizard, arrange for him."
Gemini looked at the woman. Sighed. "I'll arrange for him properly. Don't worry."
The woman handed Gemini a blood-stained key. Looked at her child longingly. Breathed her last.
Gemini transformed the car door she'd removed into a small bed with a canopy. Put the child called Dudley inside. Then extinguished the fire. Carefully got the two bodies from the car. Laid them side by side.
Police sirens sounded in the distance. Gemini picked up the child. Restored the car to its original state. Hid to the side. After the police arrived, used a Confundus Charm. Made them think they'd gotten the people out. Only then looked at the key in her hand. The woman said there was an address on it.
Looking at that somewhat familiar address, Gemini felt dazed. Number 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging?
The baby's cries woke Gemini. No time to think. She quickly held the child. Got on her flying carpet. Quietly followed the police car back to the city. Used magic to navigate. Found the address on the key.
Seeing the bundle on the front steps, Gemini's ominous feeling finally made sense.
Quickly walked forward. By the streetlight, looked at the bundle on the steps. Inside was a child smaller than Dudley. The lightning scar on his forehead still red and swollen. A letter tucked in the swaddling. Familiar parchment and emerald green ink.
Gemini opened the letter with a complex expression. Looking at the undisguised commands and threats, immediately understood why Harry hated Dumbledore for a while.
Normal people suddenly having to raise an extra child, under threat no less, without receiving a penny in child support—letting that child grow up safely would already be quite good.
Gemini sneered and threw away the letter. Took out the key to open the door. A child in each arm. Walked into this house.
Early next morning, Gemini was woken by ear-piercing crying.
Looking at two babies lying together crying breathlessly, Gemini felt her head explode. What kind of cursed world was this?! History was completely different from what she knew. According to correct history, Harry should grow up stumbling under his aunt—last night's dead woman—until age 11. But judging from the current situation, if Gemini left without doing anything, these two children would probably be sent to an orphanage, right?
Gemini hesitated a long time. Until someone knocked. Only then did it wake her thoughts.
Quickly walked to the door. Looked through the window by the door. Two police officers stood outside.
Gemini opened the door. Looked at them questioningly. "Can I help you?"
The police looked sympathetic. "Miss, may I ask what your relationship is to this family's owners? We have to inform you of bad news."
Gemini of course knew what news. But to keep these two brats from being immediately sent to an orphanage, she had to make something up first.
"Please come in. I just arrived yesterday. This family's mistress should be my aunt." Gemini secretly promoted herself a generation. Anyway, Harry was a child now. Knew nothing!
The police heard two children crying as soon as they entered. Looked at Gemini questioningly.
Gemini quickly rushed to the kitchen. Found two bottles, made milk. Stuffed them in the children's mouths. Only then stopped their crying. Really glad Dudley had spare bottles. Otherwise they'd have to take turns!
"This is?" the policewoman asked.
Gemini paused. Started fabricating her background. "This is my brother. We came to seek refuge with my aunt yesterday. Aunt and uncle said they were going out to get us things. Told me to watch the two children at home. Who knew they didn't come back all night." While speaking, Gemini looked a bit embarrassed. Though she looked young, well-maintained, appeared eighteen or nineteen. But claiming to be a baby's sister was still somewhat embarrassing.
The two officers' expressions became even more pitying. Gemini pretended not to see. Busied herself asking them to sit. Even poured them water.
The police exchanged glances. Organized their words. Informed Gemini of the bad news.
Gemini dropped the cup in her hand with a crash. Took the chance to grab the onion under the table. Rubbed it under her eyes. Tears immediately fell.
Under the police's comfort, contacted community people to help look after the two children. Gemini followed the police to claim the bodies and arrange the funeral. With the Confundus Charm's help, this group quickly believed Gemini's identity. Fortunately, the Dursleys hadn't moved here long. Weren't too familiar with surrounding neighbors.
After handling the Dursleys' funeral, Gemini looked with a headache at two energetic one-year-olds. She didn't even have a boyfriend. How did she start a life of childcare? Two at once?
And most importantly—Harry's problem. Gemini was very hesitant. Didn't know whether to notify Dumbledore.
After nearly breaking down again from the two brats, Gemini decisively asked the cat-loving neighbor Mrs. Figg next door to help watch the two children. She had to go out shopping. Like for an owl!
Fortunately, Gemini carried plenty of Galleons. Enough for her to live well in this era for a while.
Borrowed paper and pen from the Owl Post Office. Gemini carefully worded an invitation for Dumbledore to meet at Number 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging. Time set for tonight at 8 o'clock. After Hogwarts's dinner. Definitely wouldn't delay his headmaster work.
After sending the letter, Gemini also stopped by the Fire and Ice Restaurant next door. Ordered a family meal. Even included baby food. Only then went back.
Thanked Mrs. Figg. Saw her out. Gemini threw away the camouflage supermarket bag. Pulled things from her small bag. This era was really too inconvenient for Gemini from the future!
Just finished feeding the two brats, bathing them, coaxing them to sleep with magical toys. Time came to the agreed 8 o'clock.
Gemini opened the door one second before Dumbledore knocked. Face full of exhaustion, indicated he should be quiet. Tiptoed with Dumbledore into the dining room.
"Sorry, I think I must eat something. About to starve. You don't mind me eating while talking?" Gemini asked while quickly yet elegantly stuffing food in her mouth.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📚 BOOK COMPLETED ON PATREON!📚
This story has reached its conclusion on my Patreon!
🔥 Full story available now
💎 Exclusive bonus content & early access to new books
👉 Join my Patreon community today!
[✨patreon.com/DarkGolds]
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━