Gwen leaned back in her seat, chewing thoughtfully. "So… you pull candy out of the air, it jumps like it's alive, and now I'm just supposed to shrug it off?"
Nova smirked. "You didn't seem to mind when it tasted good."
"I'm still deciding if I'm impressed or mildly horrified," she said, lifting another candy. "'Fizzing Whizbee'? What's this one do—explode?"
Nova opened his mouth to respond, but she tossed it in before he could speak.
A second later—pop.
Her pupils widened as she floated an inch off the seat.
"Nova!" she half-laughed, half-yelped, gripping the door handle. "What the hell?! I'm levitating! Did you just feed me anti-gravity sugar?!"
"Technically, yes," Nova said calmly. "Though that one wasn't mine. Imported."
Gwen dropped back into her seat with a soft thump, staring at him. "Okay. That's two candies that broke the laws of physics. You better start explaining—or I start assuming your mutant power is 'chaotic reality disruption.'"
Nova chuckled. "Not far off."
She narrowed her eyes. "Where did you say you got these?"
Nova just gave her a sly smile. "From a place called Honeydukes."
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Do you think I'm stupid?"
Nova glanced at her, then back at the road, a flicker of amusement in his expression. He debated internally for half a second—logic or chaos? Then chose the obvious answer.
He smiled wider. "How about a bet?"
Gwen tilted her head, eyebrows rising. "What kind of bet?"
Nova's voice was smooth as ever. "Let's say I prove to you that I've actually been to the real, magical world of Harry Potter. Not a trick, not special effects, not your mutant theory—real magic."
She chuckled, clearly unconvinced. "And what do you want if you win?"
Nova gave her a look—half innocent, half wolfish. "What would I get if I prove it?"
Gwen didn't miss a beat. She leaned in just a little, her smirk slow and dangerous. "I'd do whatever you want me to do."
Nova's eyebrow arched. "Anything?"
Gwen popped another candy in her mouth, exaggeratedly casual. "Anything."
He turned his head slightly, just enough to meet her eyes. "I hope you don't regret that."
"I hope you fail," she shot back, then grinned. "Either way, I win."
Nova chuckled to himself, gaze shifting back to the road. "Okay then. Don't regret it."
Without another word, he took a smooth U-turn, the Charger growling as it circled back toward his neighborhood.
Gwen glanced over, one eyebrow raised. "So... our movie night's canceled now?"
Nova grinned. "Not canceled. Just... upgraded."
She narrowed her eyes, amused. "Upgraded to what, exactly?"
He shot her a sidelong look, the corner of his mouth curving up. "We' can watch it at my place. But first, I'm going to prove I've been to a magical world… and then," he added, voice dipping slightly, "have my wicked way with you."
Gwen let out a sharp laugh, her cheeks tinting just a little. "Confident much?"
Nova shrugged, eyes back on the road. "You made the bet."
She leaned back in her seat, smirking. "Fine. But if you're bluffing, you're gonna be my servant for a month. I mean it—laundry, coffee runs, back rubs. All of it."
Nova chuckled, unfazed. "Deal. But if I win… don't expect to get much sleep either."
The implication hit instantly.
Gwen blinked, her smirk faltering just slightly as color bloomed across her cheeks. She turned her face toward the window, trying—and failing—to suppress the grin tugging at her lips.
"I hate how smooth you are sometimes," she muttered.
Nova grinned. "That's not what you'll say tomorrow."
She scoffed, covering the heat rising up her neck. "Keep talking like that, and you'll be making me breakfast too."
Nova didn't miss a beat. "That's fine… I'm fully prepared to have you as dinner tonight."
His voice was light, almost casual—but the weight behind the words landed exactly where he wanted. Confident, wicked and intentional.
Gwen's breath caught for just a second. Her smirk stayed, but her posture shifted—shoulders stiffer, thighs crossing just a little tighter. She turned her head away again, hiding the full blush now creeping across her face.
"You're insufferable," she muttered.
Nova grinned. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
-----
They pulled into the garage, and Gwen followed Nova inside.
She looked around with a casual glance. "So this is your house, huh. First time seeing it."
Nova kicked the door shut behind them. "Want something? Water, coffee, tea or beer?"
Gwen raised an eyebrow and dropped her bag on the couch. "Already acting like my servant? I like this energy. I'll take a beer… Got any Blue Moon?"
Nova snorted as he walked toward the fridge. "Fancy. You want an orange slice with that too, princess?"
She smirked. "Depends. Are you cutting it shirtless?"
Nova chuckled, grabbing the bottle. "Just wait—once I win the bet, my shirt won't be the only thing coming off."
Gwen laughed, taking the beer from him. "Confident much?"
He leaned against the counter, meeting her eyes. "Always."
Then, suddenly, Nova snapped his fingers. Gwen frowned slightly as she felt a tingle spread across her skin. Unknown to her, Nova had just set a series of temporary wards around the house.
He then took out his trunk — Sanctum's Vault — and with a casual flick of his hand, unlatched it. The lid creaked open to reveal a shimmering portal of soft blue light swirling within.
Gwen raised an eyebrow, taking a slow step forward as the soft blue light from the portal cast a gentle glow on her face. "Alright, that's… definitely not a mutant trick."
Nova shrugged, relaxed. "Didn't say it was."
She shot him a sideways glance. "You know, normal people keep beer or laundry in their trunks."
"And boring people have no style," Nova quipped, then gestured toward the portal. "Go on, take a look. I dare you."
Gwen tilted her head, lips curling into a curious smirk, and she hesitated a little, then arched a brow. "If a monster jumps out, I'm kicking your ass."
Nova chuckled. "Kinky."
Gwen rolled her eyes. "I never knew you were this much of a perv."
Nova grinned as he leaned casually against the kitchen counter. "I'm full of surprises."
She stepped a bit closer to the swirling portal, giving him a side glance. Then, with a hint of hesitation, she slowly reached out toward the light. Her Spider-Sense stayed calm—no danger.
Encouraged, Gwen slid her entire hand into the portal, the soft blue glow rippling around her skin. After a second, she pulled it back and examined it carefully.
No burns, no slime, no magic tentacles, just very same and safe hand.
She gave Nova a look, shrugged, and without another word, boldly stepped through the portal.
With a smile, Nova stepped inside after her.
---
Gwen stepped through the swirling blue light and blinked as her feet touched solid ground. Her eyes widened.
It was like stepping into a cottage lifted from a storybook… and then hijacked by a sci-fi nerd and a wizard with too much free time. Wooden beams framed the ceiling, and a soft rug hugged the wooden floor. Warm ambient lighting lit up cozy furniture, while a fireplace crackled gently to one side.
But that wasn't the weird part.
Mounted on one wall was a television, frozen on a vivid nature documentary—some kind of exotic jungle cat mid-pounce. Next to it sat a sleek, alien-looking device. Its glass screen flickered with green, glowing runes shifting rhythmically over a pitch-black background. It hummed softly, like it was thinking.
Gwen turned in place, taking it all in.
"What the hell… This is inside your trunk?" she asked, jaw halfway to the floor. "Wait, wait—is this like that magical trunk Newt Scamander had? With monsters and stuff?"
Nova strolled in behind her, hands in his pockets. "Similar. Less monsters, more secrets."
She raised both eyebrows. "Okay, but seriously, how is this even real? This place looks like a wizard's man cave met a hacker's wet dream."
Nova smirked and casually took out his wand, which is actually a show piece. He needs to craft his own powerful wand.
"Watch this."
He aimed it forward and called, "Expecto Patronum!"
Brilliant silver light erupted from the wand's tip—then surged outward in a dazzling display.
From the glow emerged a massive Patronus, shaped like a dragon—sleek, majestic, and with wings that flared wide as it let out a silent roar. It shimmered like moonlight caught in mist, coiling protectively around them before settling beside Nova like a loyal guardian.
Gwen took a stunned step back, her face illuminated by the silvery glow.
"…Okay," she whispered. "That's actually badass." Then she glanced at Nova. "Still not taking back the monster-trunk comment though."
-----
→ 30 REVIEWS= 3 BONUS CHAPTER's
→ 200 POWER STONES= 1 BONUS CHAPTER
→ 400 POWER STONES= 2 BONUS CHAPTER's
CURRENT PROGRESS:↓
– FIRST OBJECTIVE:- 22/30 REVIEWS
– SECOND OBJECTIVE- 121/200 P.S
– THIRD OBJECTIVE- /400 P.S
------
CHAPTER:- [80 - EVIDENCE] IS AVAILABLE ON MY P@TREON.
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