Chapter Ten:

Scars and Kittens

Harry broke eye contact and looked down at his feet. If he ignored them they might keep pushing until they knew exactly what had happened to him but if he told them they might treat him like glass. He sighed and made up his mind flipping through his sketchbook to the drawings he had done of Privet Drive and of his uncle when he was angry. Sketches of him as a four year old at the stove, a sketch of him peeking out of his cupboard, and a full body profile of his uncle with his belt raised high in the air with aunt Petunia in the doorway with Dudley peeking from behind her both watching with amusement and glee on their faces. Death had made him draw them in an attempt to get rid of some of the anger and sadness that resided in the memories but even now he disliked looking at them.

He hesitated a moment but handed the sketch book over and looked back down at the ground shuffling his feet nervously. He felt like he was in grade school all over again, right after he had tried to tell Miss. Matheson what was happening at home which was weird since his relatives couldn't hurt him anymore, not that he would let them if they were here anyway.

Harry looked up and saw as the notebook was passed around. He looked back down to the ground and then almost jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder he looked up in surprise at the gruff redneck that was looking down at him. He found no pity in the man's eyes, just understanding as Daryl squeezed his shoulder gently. He leaned into the man before pulling away and walking over to Lori who was currently holding the sketchbook and sliding it from her hands before making his way to the tent that he shared with Rick and Carl even though the sun's light was only just beginning to die.

He lay on top of the bedding with the leather bound notebook cradled in arms as he fought off tears. He wasn't sure why he was crying, he didn't feel angry or sadness but that same warm feeling he had felt when he realized that Dale was watching his progress up the quarry. It was warmth he hadn't felt since his first few years in Death's Realm. Perhaps this was what Death meant about his soul being restored. He hadn't even realized that his emotions were dulling in Death's Realm.

Without meaning too Harry fell asleep only waking for a moment when Carl and Rick entered the tent Carl snuggling down in his blankets beside him. Harry rolled over and looked at Carl sleepily as Rick wished them goodnight. Carl smiled and pulled the blanket Harry was laying on out from underneath him and helped Harry get under the covers. Harry scooted a little closer to Carl taking in his warmth as Carl scooted closer as well until they shared a pillow. Warmth continued filling Harry as he drifted off into undisturbed sleep.

When Harry awoke it was to him and Carl snuggling together wrapped up in blankets alone with the morning sun already fairly high in the sky. "Morning" said Carl not really moving as Harry blinked emerald eyes wide staring up at Carl's face from where he was snuggled against his chest. Carl giggled as Harry blushed, pink spreading across pale cheeks. Harry snorted and snuggled further into Carl's warmth avoiding Carl's blue eyes. "You're like a cat, you know that? A black green eyed kitten," giggled Carl further. Harry sat up with as small glare at the kitten insinuation. Carl sat up too giggling. Carl reached out and patted Harry's head. Harry leaned into the touch as Carl's fingers dragged through Harry's short silky locks and let out a sound resembling a purr. Harry abruptly paused and Carl began to outright laugh. Harry glared again and moved to leap playfully onto Carl.

Carl rolled and laughed running out of the tent Harry chasing after him with a smile. People stopped to watch as Carl and then Harry raced passed him. Carl dove and hid behind Rick where he was standing talking to the majority part of the group and Harry tried to reach around Rick to grab him but Carl kept dodging.

Smiles were on the groups faces and Rick asked aloud, "And what are you two doing?" Carl chuckled as Harry tried to glare him into submission. 'Don't you dare' Harry tried to convey through his eyes but Carl's own just twinkled.

"I told him" Carl began but he had to leap away behind Daryl. "He was like a kitten," he had to pause as he dodged back behind his father. "And then I pet his hair and he pur-oomph." Harry caught him and wrestled him down on the ground covering Carl's mouth with his hand as he straddled Carl's hips.

Carl squirmed and wiggled and Rick chuckled before asking. "Harry did what?" Carl tried to wiggle further and Harry squeezed his thighs as he tried to stop Carl from escaping. Suddenly Carl stopped moving and Harry looked down concerned. Harry moved his hand off Carl's mouth in surprise when it was suddenly wet from Carl's tongue.

"He purred! He purred just like a kitt-oomph!" said Carl before Harry's hand was once more over Carl's mouth in a vain attempt to stop him from speaking. The group chuckled and suddenly hands from behind grabbed him and lifted him up. Harry reacted instantly moving not unlike the cat he had just been described as flipping his now free legs up and around moving over his unknown attacker's head using his weight to push the man to the ground. Harry rolled and stood eyes wide with fright. The man got up to his knees and kept his hands outstretched in a peaceful manner. Harry calmed himself as he realized that his attacker was Rick. Carl stood beside where his father was on his knees.

"It's okay," said Carl. "My dad didn't mean to scare you. He picks me up sometimes too." Harry nodded moving a little nervously. Rick just smiled at him holding open his arms wide. Harry watched him his own eyes wide.

"It's okay Harry," Rick reassured him. Harry hesitated a moment more before moving into Rick's arms and leaning onto Rick's warm shoulder allowing the man to hold him.

Minor Spelling and Grammar mistakes have been fixed