Sorry if this question is a bit naive, but, if photons mediate electromagnetic interactions, can you deflect those interactions with a set of mirrors or gravitational objects? And would this result in the attracted object going in the "wrong" direction?
EDIT: It might be impossible in practice to do something like this, but I think the question would really be whether the direction of virtual photons encodes the direction of the attraction/repulsion they mediate.
Assuming I understand your question correctly:
You are referring to the attractive electromagnetic (EM) force between a positive proton and a negative electron, which is mediated by virtual photons. The same force causes electrons to repel. Your idea is that perhaps those virtual photons could be manipulated by a mirror or other methods (such as gravitation) to alter the attraction or repulsion. Let’s examine the issues.
First, the virtual photons which mediate the EM field are relatively short range. Most of the effect occurs on a distance on the order of an atom or molecule, although there is some residual effect at longer distance (such as magnetism). In principle, these virtual particles must adhere to the rules of gravitation already, although this point ultimately depends on whether gravity itself is a quantum force. But keep in mind that photons do not actually go directly from a proton to an electron or vice versa in forming an attraction. It is a field effect from a large number of small interactions. There is no one photon to manipulate in the first place.
It should be clear that you won’t be able to manipulate the basic attraction within a molecule by inserting matter (such as a mirror) between a proton in the nucleus and a bound electron. The scale is wrong. A mirror is itself formed from a large number of molecules and itself a relative giant.
It should also be noted that proton/electron attraction is a very complex process. Among other things, the model explains why an electron does not simply fly into the nucleus. That won’t be obvious from a classical perspective.
So the answer is: No, you cannot use optical devices such as mirrors or lenses to reverse the EM force.
A mirror is loosely a plane of free electrons. An EM wave hits the electrons and causes them to vibrate. Vibrating charges radiate. The generated EM wave isn't the original wave redirected. It is a new wave that adds to the original. The sum of the two cancels the original wave - the total wave behind the mirror is $0$. The only thing left is the reflected wave.
