108 Best Man

Veiled beneath a disillusionment Charm, Harry stood silently in one of the shadowed alcoves of Kamar-Taj’s main hall, as Harry's eyes were fixed on the drama unfolding before him. The tea he had been nursing ever since he arrived here had long since not steamed. But a small warming charm would have heated it up instantly for him. However, like the heat that had dissipated from the mug, so was his interest in finishing his beverage. Because, across the polished stone floor, Dr. Stephen Strange stood like a statue carved from scepticism, as Yao showed him pictures of acupuncture diagrams, circled ancient chakra maps, meridian pathways and chi that could be found on traditional Chinese Medicine Books.

For Yao, these teachings were sacred and had practiced a more advanced version of these teachings for millennia. For Stephen Strange, they were the fevered hallucinations of a desperate man clinging to illusions.

Strange’s brows furrowed. His mind had been trained for years in medicine, neurology, and hard data. And now he baulked at every word Yao said. “You’re talking about fairy tales, none of this can be proven. This isn't science, it's superstition.”

Harry couldn’t help but smile into his cup as he took another sip. It was always amusing to watch highly intelligent people confront the edges of their reality for the first time.

Yao, for her part, remained unbothered. “You’re a man who’s looking at the world through a keyhole, and you spent your whole life trying to widen that keyhole. To see more, know more. And now, on hearing that it can be widened in ways you can’t imagine, you reject the possibility?”

“No, I reject it because I do not believe in fairy tales about chakras, or energy, or the power of belief.” Strange shouted. “There is no such thing as spirit! We are made of matter, and nothing more. We’re just another tiny, momentary speck within an indifferent universe.”

“You think too little of yourself.” Yao sighed

“Oh, you think you see through me, do you?” Strange snapped. “Well, you don’t. But I see through you!”

Before he could continue, Yao raised her hand and flicked Strange’s forehead and instantly, Strange’s spirit was pushed from his body into the Astral Plane.

His physical form slumped backwards, only to be caught by Mordo, who quickly guided Strange’s limp body into a chair. Mordo checked his vitals with growing concern. “His heart rate’s spiking dangerously high.”

Yao knelt beside Strange’s body and calmly placed her hand over his chest, calling him back to his body. Strange was heaving from his short trip to the Astral Plane. “He’s perfectly fine,” she said serenely. Then, with another slight gesture, she sent Strange’s consciousness spiralling back into the Astral Plane once more.

A moment later, Strange’s body jerked violently again, gasping as his spirit slammed back into his physical form. Disoriented, he stumbled from the chair, his breathing ragged as his mind struggled to process what he had just experienced.

“Have you seen that in a gift shop before?” Yao asked softly. She cast a quick glance toward Harry, who couldn’t help but smirk into his tea.

Strange’s eyes, wide with awe, locked onto Yao’s. “Teach me,” he pleaded, desperation lacing his voice now. “Please... teach me.”

“No,” Yao replied simply. Then she turned to her disciples. “Escort Dr. Strange out of Kamar-Taj.”

The guards stepped forward, taking Strange gently by the arms. He resisted, but it was futile as he was a man without the strength or will to continue. Harry quietly watched as the doors to Kamar Taj closed behind Strange. For a moment, silence settled over the chamber like a silk curtain. Then, Harry let his Disillusionment Charm melt away.

“A bit heavy-handed, don’t you think?” he quipped, stepping into the open.

Yao turned to him. “He will wait outside all night,” she replied serenely. “In five hours, Mordo will plead his case. I’ll appear sceptical. And then… I’ll accept him as a student.”

Harry let out a low chuckle. With a casual flick of his hand, he transfigured a thin wisp of incense smoke into a polished mahogany table, then conjured two ornate chairs opposite one another.

Yao, on the other hand, went over to the pantry to get a delicate ceramic tea set. She brought with her a slender pot of steaming tea and a small silver dish of raw. The scent of jasmine and oolong perfumed the space between them.

They both sat in a comfortable silence that stretched between them.

“If I gave him everything now,” Yao said, finally continuing as she poured the tea, “he would never become the man this multiverse needs him to be. Struggle tempers the soul. Humility opens the mind,” she said, “And without both, knowledge can destroy far more easily than it can heal.” Her gaze drifted briefly toward the door Strange had just been taken through, before turning back to Harry. “The timing of his growth is delicate. Every piece must fall into place.”

Harry accepted the cup with a nod of thanks, inhaling its aroma before speaking, “Who is he destined to become?” Harry asked curiously.

Yao smiled gently. “Your ally.”

Harry opened his mouth to respond, but Yao continued, her next words freezing him in place.

“And my successor.”

Harry blinked, caught off guard. “You’re retiring?” he asked, surprised by the sudden statement.

“Yes,” Yao answered quietly.

“But why?” Harry asked.

“I don’t believe it will be my choice,” Yao replied in a whisper, as if not wishing to tell Harry the reason.

Harry’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean it won’t be your choice?” The words left his mouth before his mind fully caught up. Then, as realisation dawned, his tone shifted. “You think you’re going to die.”

Yao said nothing. Her gaze drifted away from Harry’s, and the silence between them grew heavy.

“Do you think you’re about to die?” Harry pressed again, his voice sharper this time.

Yao remained silent, but her refusal to answer was answer enough.

“When?” he insisted.

“Not any time soon,” Yao finally replied. “But let’s not speak of it now.” She held his gaze, her expression softening. “I have seen futures where telling you the time changes things for the worse. Your interference, though well-meaning, would only hinder the process. This, Harry, is the natural flow of life. Some things are meant to unfold as they must.”

Harry gritted his teeth at Yao’s response. Even after years of friendship, her way of doing things and her cryptic answers still managed to get under his skin. He understood why she did it, but understanding didn’t make it any less frustrating.

For a moment, he closed his eyes, drawing on every bit of his Occlumency training to push down the swirl of anger and helplessness. He exhaled slowly, releasing the tension with a long sigh that carried away the last remnants of his frustration.

When he finally opened his eyes, he was met with something entirely unexpected. Yao was absolutely beaming with what was about to happen next. Her entire face had lit up with childlike joy. Her eyes were twinkling as though she'd been waiting for this exact moment. The sudden shift was so jarring, Harry had to blink twice to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating.

 “Why are you smiling like that?” Harry asked, shifting uncomfortably at the sudden change in atmosphere.

“Why did you come to find me today, Harry?” she replied, practically glowing with excitement.

Harry eyed her cautiously, noting the uncharacteristic bubbly nature on her face. It was strange and slightly unsettling to see someone so old, so wise, and usually so composed, acting this… human. “It seems like you already know why I’m here, Yao,” he observed.

For the first time in what might have been a thousand years, Yao actually pouted. “Don’t spoil my fun,” she said playfully. “This is one of the best days of my life, Harry. I plan to relive this moment whenever I need cheering up.”

Harry let out an exaggerated huff at her antics. “Fine. Whatever.”

“Alright, let’s start from the beginning then,” Yao said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “And this time, keep the act.” She wiggled her fingers playfully, as if savouring every second. “Now—why did you come to find me today, Harry?”

Harry let out a long-suffering sigh, but played along. “Well… the wedding day is coming up soon.”

Yao’s face lit up even more, as if that was the greatest news she had ever heard, despite already knowing. “It’s been two years since you got engaged!” she said with almost childlike excitement. “Everyone’s been waiting far too long, you know. Honestly, you should’ve skipped the whole fiancé part and just married her immediately.”

“I wanted to have a normal courtship too,” Harry explained. “Also, with everything that’s happened with SHIELD and Hydra, there just wasn’t any time to plan for it.”

“I suppose that’s fair,” Yao nodded thoughtfully. “Both you and Natasha have barely had a moment to breathe these past couple of years. There was your trip to Asgard and the whole Extremis and AIM mess, followed by that exhausting Hydra infiltration inside SHIELD. And now you’re halfway across the world dismantling what’s left of Hydra’s network.”

Harry sighed and nodded along. “And on top of all that, there’s Stark Industries. With Pepper expanding the company so aggressively, I’ve had my hands full as chairman, too. Planning a wedding sort of kept getting pushed back.”

Yao gave him a knowing smile. “Well, I’m glad you’ve finally made time. So, have you decided on the wedding date? Seeing as you are here to invite me.”

Harry rolled his eyes again. She knew exactly why he was here, but she was clearly enjoying dragging it out. Couldn’t she just say yes and spare him the theatrics?

“We haven’t set a date yet,” Harry replied. “But once we’ve finished dismantling Hydra, we’ll finally get married.”

“So... sometime in 2015 then?” Yao asked playfully.

“Yes,” Harry nodded. “We’re keeping it small, just close friends and family.”

Yao’s expression softened as her hands folded over her lap. “That’s lovely. And I feel honoured to be included in that circle, Harry. Thank you.”

Harry exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not just here to invite you to the wedding, you know.”

“Oh really?” Yao replied, leaning forward with a widening grin. “Then what else could possibly bring the great Harry Potter to my humble sanctum today?” Her voice was all lightness and mischief, but the glimmer in her eyes said she already knew. She just wanted to hear it from him and savour every second of it.

Harry shook his head with a long-suffering sigh. “Yao… will you do me the honour of being the best man at my wedding?”

Yao gasped theatrically, pressing a hand to her chest as if scandalised. “Me? The best man?” she echoed in mock horror. “But Harry, I’m not even a man!”

Harry gave her a deadpan look. “You know exactly why I’m asking you.”

She tilted her head, clearly fishing for the speech she already knew was coming.

Harry exhaled for what felt like the thousandth time. “You’re my closest friend in this world after Natasha and Pepper. I can confide in you about things no one else would understand. And let’s be honest, gender has become more of a guideline than a rule lately. I don’t care if you’re not a man. You’re strong, wise, and independent, and there’s no one else I’d trust more to stand by my side.”

Yao tried to maintain her faux shock, but the pride beaming from her face was impossible to hide.

“What about your Avengers friends?” Yao asked with a teasing gleam in her eye. “Surely there must be a few bruised egos in the running.”

Harry chuckled. “Clint was a contender, sure, but he’s walking Natasha down the aisle.”

Yao nodded thoughtfully, but her smile stayed mischievous. “And Stark? I imagine he’s already halfway into writing his best man speech.”

Harry let out a small laugh. “Tony will be a groomsman. He’ll probably steal the spotlight during the toast anyway, but no I’m not handing him the title.”

“Won’t he be offended?” Yao prodded playfully.

“Oh, absolutely,” Harry said without hesitation. “He’ll pretend not to care, but Tony knows this isn’t about flair or speeches or being the loudest voice in the room. Being the best man… means being the anchor. The quiet support. The person I can look to when everything else feels overwhelming.”

He turned to Yao, his tone softening with rare vulnerability. “There’s no one else I’d ask. No one else has helped me understand this world the way you have. You’ve grounded me. Challenged me. Been a constant in all this chaos. That’s what I need on that day.”

The brightness in Yao’s eyes softened into something warmer. She blinked slowly, clearly moved, even though Harry had no doubt she'd lived this moment a thousand times over.

“If you’re sure,” she replied genuinely. “Then I would be honoured, Harry.”

For a moment, the centuries of wisdom and burden she carried seemed to lift from her shoulders, replaced by a joy so radiant it made Harry smile without even trying. Yao practically beamed.

“Oh! Before I forget—” she exclaimed, her tone suddenly lively again, “—I have something for you. A little early wedding gift.”

Without waiting for his response, she grabbed his arm and started pulling him toward the rear halls of Kamar Taj.

Harry blinked, trying to keep up. They passed the courtyard where others were training as they approached the armoury, where Kamar Taj’s most powerful magical artefacts were locked away.

Harry raised an eyebrow. “You’re giving me something from here?”

Yao didn’t answer immediately. She only smiled, that same mischievous twinkle dancing in her eyes.

When they reached the heart of the armoury, Harry’s eyes were immediately drawn to a glass display case nestled between wards and runes that pulsed faintly with protective enchantments. Inside, draped over a mannequin, was a silvery-grey fabric that shimmered softly in the dim light; smooth as liquid moonlight and achingly familiar.

Harry stepped closer, his breath catching slightly in his throat.

Yao stood beside him as she gazed at the relic with a rare sense of solemnity. “We were doing the annual cleaning of Kamar-Taj not long ago,” she began. “For some reason, I felt compelled to supervise it personally this year. The last time I even looked into the deep storage rooms was over a century ago.”

She paused, as if even she found the coincidence too convenient.

“I had completely forgotten that we were keeping this,” she continued. “It’s one of the many artefacts we salvaged during the cleansing of the magical world. I thought it should be given back to the right people, don’t you think?”

But Harry wasn’t listening anymore.

Yao’s voice faded into the background as his eyes locked onto the silvery fabric behind the glass. His hand moved on its own, pressed gently against the surface of the case. He didn’t utter a spell, but his magic answered the call anyway. With a quiet shimmer, the glass melted away into nothingness.

His fingers curled around the edge of the cloth. It was light, so light it barely felt real, yet textured with that same elusive, water-like flow he remembered from another life. Like touching a ripple that never ended.

He took a breath, slow and reverent, and draped the cloak over his shoulders.

The effect was instantaneous. From the neck down, Harry vanished seamlessly.

The sensation transported him back through time. He was eleven again, standing before a mirror in the Gryffindor common room on his first Christmas at Hogwarts. And he could still hear the awestruck whisper from Ron: “Wow.”

A tear slipped silently down his cheek.

He wondered what had become of that world. Had time moved on without him? Had Ron and Hermione found peace? Were they safe? Had they mourned him... or had they, as he hoped, found a way to live without the shadow of his absence?

He whispered a prayer to no god in particular, that they were happy, that they had families of their own, that the world he died to protect had been worth it.

Behind him, Yao’s voice broke the silence, gently.

“You like it?” Yao asked softly, watching him with knowing eyes. “It’s the only one of its kind. There were others, but they lost their magic to time. This one, though… this one endures.”

Harry pulled the cloak off his shoulders, letting it fall gently over his arms. Its silken threads shimmered faintly, like moonlight caught in cloth. He turned toward Yao, and with a simple, silent flick of his fingers, his wand flew into his hand.

“It’s part of a set,” he murmured. “The wand. The cloak. And the stone. Together, they form the Deathly Hallows. The legend says… whoever unites them becomes the Master of Death.”

Yao’s gaze swept over the wand, then the cloak, then finally to Harry’s face. “That’s two out of three,” she said curiously. “Will you search for the stone again?”

Harry stared at the cloak for a long beat. “I already united them,” he said, almost to himself. “Back in my original world. I think… that’s why I was able to come here and live instead of staying dead.”

Yao tilted her head slightly, an expression of quiet wonder in her eyes. “Then perhaps they’re not just relics,” she said. “Perhaps they’re anchored to your soul and seeking you out on their own.”

Harry nodded slowly, letting the thought settle. “You say that in passing, but I think it is more true than we think. Somehow, I have found them in the most unexpected ways and places.”

Yao nodded thoughtfully. “So… what will you do with it? You having the wand makes sense. It’s a conduit to channel your power. But you don’t need a cloak of invisibility, you can do that with a wave of your hand.”

Harry looked down at the cloak in his hands as a smile tugged at his lips, small and certain.

“I’m going to give it to Nat,” he said simply. “She will find more use for it than I ever will.”

Yao blinked in pleasant surprise. “Didn’t you say that it was your most treasured family heirloom and that it was the one thing that you wanted to bring with you when you woke up here?”

Harry nodded. “In a world that doesn’t know magic like ours… this will give her an edge. One more advantage in the shadows she walks. And more than that, she deserves to have something extraordinary. Something that reminds her she’s never alone. She is my family after all.”

Yao’s eyes softened. “She already has something extraordinary,” she said gently. “She has you.”

Harry chuckled, cheeks tinged pink. He folded the cloak carefully, reverently, like it were sacred. “Shut up” Harry said as he walked away from Yao, trying to hide his blush.