Harry's "friend" from Chapter 7 drops in for a visit!


Harry just finished setting up his extendable tent next to his new little home. He figured he could still use it to do some work even if they may not need to do any treatments inside. He heard the sound of apparition and turned to see Okoye, James, and a handful of other people appearing. James had on a dazed, stunned expression and seemed to be almost manhandled by the Dora.

He also looked… like he'd been meticulously cleaned. Not only was his beard trimmed neatly, his hair looked significantly healthier, softer and shinier than before. He was also wearing different clothes; a simple, loose-fitting shirt and pants with open-toed sandals on his feet. Harry's face contorted as he pursed his lips to stop from laughing; realizing that James had likely been hauled away by the ladies earlier for a thorough clean-up. When he was finally released, the Dora and others bustling around with Okoye calling out instructions to various people, James stumbled over to Harry.

"You look nice," Harry couldn't help sniggering at the stunned look James shot him.

"I… I don't even know what I've just been through," he said, voice hoarse. The bath had smelled like petals, and then they'd whisked him out and wrapped him in towels and there were women rubbing oils into his scalp, women pressing pressure points all along his body. It was like an out-of-body experience, he wasn't sure if he was even alive right now. He was brought back out of his daze by Harry laughing and gently nudging his arm.

"Come on, let's see if we can help with dinner." Harry turned to head to the communal building. They were quickly dismissed by Okoye and a few people from the nearby village who were making the move to stay here for awhile.

So, they went out and helped the other Dora and healers set up more homes for themselves and Harry took the time to go off with the some of the magical Dora to set up the wards around the perimeter. He learnt the name of one Dora – Yama – and they made small talk as they walked around the large perimeter.

He was surprised to learn that a higher number of people were moving here with them than he'd anticipated. At least a team of two Dora and two healers and one mind healer at all times. From Krole's village nearby, two whole families were moving in, apparently keen to survey the land for farming uses. All in total, it was at least fifteen people; and even a dog and cat.

They all celebrated their official 'move-in' with a great feast in the communal building, and even James' eyes were bulging at the amount of food spread out for everyone. Not that he was complaining, he was almost always at a state of constant hunger but had learnt to ignore it for the most part.

The liquor flowed freely and there was even dessert, and conversation soon came easy to both Harry and James with their new neighbours. Harry was grinning over a light dessert that one of the families had brought, as James laughed light-heartedly at the antics of some of the young children. Glancing over surreptitiously at his new patient, Harry's eyes crinkled as he thought, this place will do him good.


Harry's serene morning of doing some meditation by the bank of the lake was rudely interrupted with a soft pop and a distinctly British accent, "where in the bloody hell—" He turned around to see Kreacher just letting go of his 'passenger' – disappearing with another pop – and rolled his eyes, sighing loudly.

"Well good morning to you too," he drawled at the blonde scowling at him.

"Oh, shut up, Potter," snarked Draco. "Where in Merlin's beard are we?"

"You really didn't bother finding that out before you came here?" Harry asked sarcastically. "We're in Wakanda. In a remote village that we just set up yesterday."

Raising an incredulous brow, Draco glanced around, "I can see that." He huffed, then adjusted the large case he had tucked under his arm. "I have what you asked. Figured from your letter it was somewhat serious."

Harry's eyes glanced at the case and he stood up, dusting off his pants. "Yes. Come on, I'll show you to the communal area." They made their way over, Harry greeting the children of his new neighbours who were running around, already playing.

At the communal building, Draco carefully laid down the case onto one of the tables. James was eating breakfast nearby, and at Harry's beckoning, came over. "James, this is a friend of mine; Draco Malfoy. He's a potions master, and came with – I assume – a couple of potions we might find useful for your treatment."

Draco eyed James with the critical eye, even after the other man had extended a polite hand out in greeting. His silent appraisal dragged on for a few moments longer until James was glancing at Harry and about to lower his hand, before it was grasped by Draco firmly. "Draco Malfoy, pleasure."

"I'm uh… James Barnes. Thanks for…" James glanced at the case on the table beside them, "coming."

Draco withdrew a slip of parchment from his robes, turning back to Harry. "You didn't give me much to work from, Potter. Potions for bones and nutrients, anything to assist brain and memory function, as well as general ache and or scarring healing…" he held out the parchment to Harry who took it curiously. "Obviously I'm aware you're not allowed to discuss the details of your case," at this he glanced again at James, "so the most I could do was these eight potions."

Scanning through the list and some basic overview of each potion within, Harry shook his head, "not at all, Draco, this is already plenty. If there are any specific needs that come up I'll be sure to reach out."

Snapping open the case, Draco lifted the cover to reveal rows upon rows of potions; though many looked to be multiple quantities of similar potions. Seeing James' curious gaze, Draco pulled out one flask that looked like a skeleton and held it out to the other man. "Skele-gro. Potter wrote about some possible bone damage or issue. Easiest method would be to vanish the bones and regrow them with this." His lips curled into a smirk, "it'll hurt like hell though."

"Seriously?" James wondered in awe, taking the flask and turning it this way and that. He couldn't even begin to fathom regrowing bones like that.

"I wrote the instructions on dosage for each of the potions on that," Draco turned back to Harry and nodded at the parchment still in his hands. "You don't need me to tell you as a healer not to be a hero and use more than you should," he raised a snarky brow at Harry who rolled his eyes in response. "Especially if your patient is a muggle."

"I took the trouble of noting the magical dosage recommendations. As you're aware, muggles react differently to our potions, and there is not enough data to form proper dosage levels for them that we know of. I suggest at most fifty percent of magical dosage when you start."

"James," Harry called out and snapped James out of his fixation on the Skele-gro. "May I speak with you privately?" The two men moved off just outside the building to talk. "Would you mind if I discussed with Draco about your physical ailments? Particularly about your spinal stress, arm, and possibly your uh… what did your people call it… 'super serum'?"

At James' frown, Harry explained, "I think Draco may be able to give some better insight about using the potions if he knew what exactly we were targeting. Of course, I won't mention anything about your actual mind healing treatment or circumstances. And you don't need to worry about trusting Draco. I've known him since I was 11. Sure, he's a right git and a righteous pain-in-the-arse at the best of times, but his head's in the right place."

"I trust you," James said slowly. "And if you'd vouch for him… then I'll take your word for it." Then he sighed, "honestly while I appreciate it, I feel like this confidentiality thing only applies to your… kind? I'm not sure what you would call it, sorry. But for us uh… 'muggles', I'd be more surprised if someone didn't know all about who I was and what I've done." Though they might not know it wasn't all done willingly.

James smiled bitterly, "so while I'm thankful that you asked me, but really I'm just… used to people already knowing everything about me. Probably more than even I know…" he mumbled that last bit to himself. He jerked and snapped his eyes up to Harry's when the other man grasped at his wrist firmly.

"That doesn't mean what you want or prefer doesn't matter," Harry said firmly. "I know what it feels like to have everyone think they know all about you, trust me. But it doesn't invalidate your ability to make your own decisions about your life."

Blinking in stunned silence for a moment, James nodded hesitantly. "Yeah… you're right. Thanks, doc." He smiled lop-sidedly at Harry's huff. "I really don't care about people knowing about how fucked up my body is by now. Heck, even what you've been telling me has made me realized I'm even more messed up than I thought."

His right hand unconsciously drifted up to touch softly at his left shoulder, where the metal arm had been fused in for the last few decades. "What's done is done. No use crying about some scars and missing limbs," he smiled self-depreciatingly. "But at the very least… I don't want people knowing I'm messed up in the head too."

"For now," Harry cut in, frowning. "Your mind might be a mess right now, but it won't always be."

Staring at the fire in Harry's eyes, James could almost believe it as much as the other man did. The only response he could give was a nod and a clap on the arm as they made their way back inside. He stood off the side a little awkwardly, but amused himself with eyeing the different 'potions' inside the case the man called Draco had brought while the two wizards talked.

Draco had raised an incredulous brow when Harry brought up potentially regrowing James' entire spine with Skele-Gro, and had advised him that while possible, it would not only be a very long process, but it would likely hurt like a bitch to James the entire time. Harry was reminded of how it had taken an entire night for him to regrow just his forearm. A spine was a much more delicate part of the skeletal system. Draco suggested, if possible, trying a smaller section of bone first. Since it was stress on his body caused by a heavy prosthetic, it was possible that his shoulders and neck were affected too; maybe even his hip alignment.

As for physical scarring and lingering injuries, Draco assured Harry that the length of time was not a big factor in treatment. Though he mentioned that older injuries would likely require a longer amount of time to be healed, and recommended the salves he brought just for that, which could be applied daily.

In an uncharacteristic show of interest and intrigue, Draco had a thoughtful expression on his face when informed about James' so-called genetically 'enhanced' body. He speculated that this may at least make him hardier and therefore could mean that the dosage of potions could be upped, but still reminded Harry to exercise caution regardless.

With their discussion finished, Harry offered for Draco to stay for lunch, however the other predictably turned his nose up at the thought of staying in a 'village'; though Harry knew in reality that it was mostly just a habit for Draco at this point.

"Kreacher!" Harry called out, startling James who took a defensive jump back at the sudden appearance of the house elf.

"Holy-!" James blatantly stared at the… creature who wasn't even acknowledging him.

Chuckling in amusement, Harry quickly explained, "James, this is Kreacher. He's a house elf, contracted to the House of Black. Through some complicated series of events, I am the head of the house, and therefore can call Kreacher at any time." Then he turned to Kreacher, "Kreacher, please take Draco back, if you will."

"Of course, as Master Harry wishes," the elf replied in his slow, gravelly voice and bowed deeply. He reached out a hand to Draco who took it with a nod at Harry, then at James. "Will Master require anything else?"

"No, thank you, Kreacher." And with that, they disappeared. Harry turned to a still-shocked James, "sorry about that, he's—well, not harmless, but definitely not a threat to you."

But that wasn't at all what was going on in James' head when what came out of the other man was "that is not what I expected an elf to look like." Harry was stunned for a second, before doubling over in laughter. He was laughing so much he started wheezing when James simply pouted and started mumbling something about an 'Elrond' and 'the Elvenking'.


Last bit is obviously a dig at the "I read The Hobbit, in 1937, when it first came out" scene in TFATWS. It's funny to think about how differently would Bucky respond to Sam now since he can't say "there are no wizards" anymore ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Next chapter may take awhile to come out, as I'll be busy preparing for a big job interview, and its also busy season for work in the next 2ish weeks. Wish me luck!