The sand-covered young man picked himself up from the ground and provided a rough translation. Gemini and her companions nodded their understanding, and Old Sun responded with a satisfied salute before vanishing in a brilliant flash of light—the kind of casual display of power that left no doubt about his capabilities.
With the crisis resolved, the Chinese families approached Gemini's group with grateful bows before gathering their children and departing. Wisdom dictated a swift retreat—this might be neutral territory, but international magical incidents had a way of developing unexpected complications. Better to enjoy the rest of their vacation elsewhere.
The beach fell into an almost surreal quiet, leaving only Gemini's group facing Draco Malfoy in what felt increasingly like a diplomatic encounter rather than a family reunion.
"Gemini," Draco said with the kind of disapproval that could wither flowers, "are you planning to change clothes, or shall I inform your brother that this is how you conduct yourself in public?" His gray eyes swept over her beach attire with the expression of someone discovering slugs in his morning tea. "Is this how Potter supervises your behavior?"
Gemini clutched Draco's expensive robe tighter around herself and fled toward the changing huts with all the dignity of a scolded child. Tony and the others exchanged uncomfortable glances before offering Draco their most diplomatic smiles and hurrying after her.
By the time Gemini emerged properly clothed, the beach had largely emptied. The Chinese families had long since departed, and the remaining beachgoers had decided that entertainment could be found elsewhere—preferably somewhere that didn't involve international magical politics.
"Come along," Draco announced with the authority of someone accustomed to immediate compliance. "I've reserved a private dining room at The Full Fortune Restaurant. Your... associates... are welcome to join us." He paused, studying their makeshift camp with aristocratic distaste. "How did you arrive here?"
"We took one of the camp's panda cars," Gemini replied with the careful tone of someone trying to avoid further criticism.
Draco's expression suggested he'd just been informed that she'd traveled by garbage truck. "Forget that contraption—it will return automatically. You'll take the Malfoy family carriage. I refuse to have you walking through this heat like some common tourist."
He tapped his silver-headed walking stick against the sand three times in a precise rhythm. The sound of ethereal neighing drifted from the sky, and Tony's group watched in stunned amazement as four magnificent winged horses descended from the clouds, pulling a carriage that looked like it had been crafted from liquid platinum.
Pepper gripped Tony's arm so tightly he winced, her face flushed with the kind of excitement that transcended adult dignity. This was every childhood fairy tale made manifest—Cinderella's coach had nothing on Malfoy family transportation.
The carriage settled onto the sand with supernatural grace. Its door opened with clockwork precision, revealing a house-elf in an immaculate pillowcase who deployed the boarding steps with practiced efficiency.
"Master," the elf said with a perfect bow, "all preparations are complete."
Draco acknowledged this with a casual nod and instructed the elf to assist with their belongings before boarding the carriage himself. He clearly preferred to avoid extended interaction with Muggles—Gemini could handle the social logistics.
Once Draco had disappeared into the luxurious interior, Tony approached Gemini while massaging his bruised arm. His expression mixed pain with barely contained excitement.
"Okay, I have to ask—who exactly is your cousin, and more importantly, are those horses for sale?" His engineering mind was clearly cataloging the flight mechanics and magical propulsion systems. "I'm talking serious money here. Name your price."
Gemini glanced at Pepper, who was still staring at the winged horses with undisguised longing, and barely suppressed an eye roll.
"That's Draco Malfoy, current head of one of Britain's oldest magical families and my father's nephew," she explained with the patience of someone who'd had this conversation before. "As for the horses—forget it. These are Abraxans, bred exclusively in Malfoy family stables for generations. The bloodlines are more carefully guarded than state secrets, and the care requirements would bankrupt most small countries."
She gestured toward the magnificent creatures, who were preening their silver-white wings with obvious pride. "Even if you found wild Abraxans—which you won't—untrained ones would kick your head clean off your shoulders before you got within fifty feet. They're not pets, Tony. They're symbols of power that happen to fly."
Tony turned to Pepper with a helpless shrug, but Gemini wasn't finished.
"However," she continued with the sly smile that meant business, "if you wanted to borrow the carriage for special occasions—say, a certain redhead's birthday—I might be able to arrange something. For the right price, of course."
Tony stared at her with the expression of someone who'd just realized he was negotiating with a particularly mercenary fairy godmother. "You know what? Let's just enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience and leave it at that. I have enough complications in my life without adding magical horse maintenance to the list."
Gemini sighed with theatrical disappointment as she began herding everyone toward the carriage. Having all experienced the expanded tent, no one was surprised when the modest exterior gave way to a spacious interior that resembled a luxury hotel suite more than a vehicle.
The main compartment featured plush seating for twelve, crystal windows that provided panoramic views, and ambient lighting that adjusted automatically to complement the external conditions. Draco occupied a window seat with the casual authority of someone for whom such luxury was mundane.
"Please be seated," he said without looking up from what appeared to be a leather-bound report. "Departure is imminent."
Gemini orchestrated the seating arrangements with diplomatic precision, ensuring that Tony and Pepper secured window seats while she positioned herself across from Draco. The carriage lifted off with barely a tremor—the magical suspension making commercial aviation seem primitive by comparison.
Pepper and May pressed their faces to the crystal windows like excited children, watching the island shrink beneath them as they soared over turquoise waters and white sand beaches. The view was breathtaking—better than any first-class flight either had experienced.
The journey lasted only minutes before they descended toward the market district, landing in what was clearly a designated area for high-end magical transportation. The transition from flight to ground was so smooth that several passengers didn't realize they'd landed until Draco stood.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced with formal courtesy, "welcome to the Full Fortune Restaurant. Gemini, please ensure your guests disembark in an orderly fashion."
Gemini had indeed become an impromptu tour guide, but she was beginning to appreciate Draco's organizational skills. Malfoy efficiency was legendary for good reason.
The Full Fortune Restaurant proved to be the four-story establishment they'd glimpsed the previous day, now revealed in its full glory. Traditional Chinese architecture blended seamlessly with magical enhancements—floating lanterns, self-serving tea sets, and privacy charms that ensured confidential conversations remained confidential.
Draco's presence transformed their group dynamic entirely. Even Peter, normally irrepressible in his enthusiasm, adopted a more subdued demeanor. Everyone understood that this was Gemini's family, and first impressions with magical nobility could have lasting consequences.
The private dining room Draco had reserved occupied the entire top floor, with panoramic windows offering spectacular views of the surrounding islands. The table could have accommodated twice their number, set with porcelain that probably cost more than most people's annual salaries.
As courses arrived with clockwork precision, Gemini performed introductions with the skill of a seasoned diplomat. She presented each team member with careful attention to their strengths and backgrounds, but reserved her most detailed explanations for Tony and Peter.
"Tony Stark," she announced with obvious pride, "son of Howard Stark, the previous generation's most accomplished Seer. Technically, this makes him part of the Picquery family lineage, though he's chosen to focus on magical engineering rather than divination."
Draco's demeanor shifted perceptibly. Seer bloodlines commanded respect throughout the magical world, and the Picquery name carried significant weight in international circles. This wasn't some random Muggle Gemini had befriended—this was magical aristocracy, albeit American rather than European.
"And Peter Parker," Gemini continued, ruffling the boy's hair affectionately, "displays remarkable natural talent despite his Muggle upbringing. I believe he has the potential to excel at Hogwarts, given proper guidance."
Tony and Draco began conversing in the low tones of people assessing mutual benefit. Despite their different backgrounds—American innovation versus British tradition—they discovered surprising common ground. Both had inherited vast responsibilities at young ages, both navigated complex political landscapes, and both understood the burden of family expectations.
"Magical engineering," Draco mused, swirling his wine thoughtfully. "An underexplored field in Britain. Our traditionalists resist innovation, but recent events have demonstrated the value of... adaptive thinking."
"Recent events?" Tony inquired with the careful neutrality of someone probing for intelligence.
"The war," Draco replied simply. "Traditional pure-blood ideology proved... inadequate... when faced with actual threats. Those of us who survived learned to value competence over bloodline."
They exchanged contact information with the formality of diplomats establishing trade relations. Draco expressed genuine interest in Tony's magical engineering projects, while Tony was clearly fascinated by European magical traditions.
The conversation eventually turned to Peter's future, and Draco's proposal was both generous and practical.
"The boy should attend Hogwarts," he declared with finality. "I can arrange transport back to Britain and handle the bureaucratic requirements. My connections at the Ministry include the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes—establishing his magical citizenship will be straightforward."
He studied Peter with the assessing gaze of someone evaluating potential. "Once his name appears in the Hogwarts admission records, he'll receive his letter regardless of his physical location. The school's magic is quite thorough in that regard."
Peter looked overwhelmed by the sudden transformation of his circumstances—from orphaned Muggle to prospective Hogwarts student in the span of a single conversation.
Tony leaned back in his chair, studying Draco with new appreciation. "You know, I think this is the beginning of a very productive relationship."
Draco raised his wine glass in a subtle toast. "To mutual benefit and shared prosperity."
Gemini watched this diplomatic dance with mixed feelings. On one hand, she was pleased to see Tony and Draco establishing rapport—it would make future interactions much smoother. On the other hand, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just witnessed the formation of a partnership that might prove more significant than anyone currently realized.
The afternoon was turning into something far more consequential than a simple family meal. This was international magical diplomacy in action, and Gemini found herself at the center of negotiations that could reshape relationships between American and British magical communities.
She just hoped she was ready for the responsibilities that came with such influence.
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