"All right, we've pretty much finished eating."
Hermione stood up and straightened her black evening gown. "I have some personal business to take care of, so I won't be heading back to the tower. Take your time chatting."
Before she had finished speaking, the magic within her stirred, locking onto a spatial anchor.
An almost imperceptible ripple spread through the air. Hermione's figure warped and faded where she stood, then vanished completely.
Tony and Pepper remained seated, watching Peter grin foolishly at thin air. They exchanged a wordless look.
With a flash of light, Hermione appeared in a broad, open space.
Towering buildings surrounded her, with black walls, Gothic spires, and an enormous atrium...
She entered the central building and made her way into the hall.
An enormous, unfinished fountain stood in what should have been an empty central space. Several half-finished golden statues floated in midair, held aloft by an invisible force as their pieces slowly came together.
The entire layout and decor were unmistakably a replica of the Ministry of Magic.
Tom was crouching before a statue, wand in hand, concentrating on adjusting its details.
Hearing her arrive, he glanced up at Hermione, then lowered his head and returned to work.
"You've come."
"I have."
"You shouldn't have come."
"I shouldn't have?"
"That's right."
"But I'm already here."
Tom: ...
Hermione: ...
Seriously, Tom, what exactly have you been learning in the year or so since we last met?
"Oh, you're back?"
"You were gone long enough."
After a moment of silence, Tom spoke again as though nothing had happened.
"You've made good progress." Hermione walked over, looking equally unbothered. "You've even built the Ministry of Magic."
"Not bad," Tom said evenly. "You were missing for so long. If I weren't technically your summon and able to