Where do twenty questions lead? Death may know!

by eyeseemore

Harry meets Merle on a rooftop in Atlanta. After twenty questions, he finds himself enthralled with the ruff man and decides to follow him and his brother (and maybe their group). Or maybe, Death feels that Harry deserves a second – albeit fucked up – chance at life. Throw in a George, Ron, Draco, Daryl and Michonne and see what you will get. Also posted on AO3, same user name

5. A walk on the farm, not one at the park

Five: A walk on the farm, not one at the park

As always, all my love and thanks for my lovely beta Salllzy, who helps me struggle through it all, and has a fair judgement for my words.

I've gotten some lovely comments, and I guess I will make decisions you lovely readers might have done different, but I hope you will still love my take on this. I love reading your thoughts and recieving the love through kudo's.

Let me know how you feel, I've placed some questions at the end!

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Luna Park originally was meant to be a vacation park for witches, wizards, and other magical sensitive beings from all over the world. Something Harry could easily maintain and earn some extra money while working with Gerard, or just to kill his boredom and meet new people. It would give him multiple options. The death that started walking had thrown a spanner in the works to these plans. Harry, as inventive and flexible as he was, had started planning for muggle-housing immediately instead of wizarding. The only luck had been, that the goblins already had put some plumbing and other amenities in, and they converted one of the main buildings to act as a water purifier, a sewage system, and energy converter. Only looking more muggle-like than the ones they had at the Manors.

John had proposed in the earlier phase of the build to put some solar panels on those utility buildings, so that Harry could stay off the grid, and did not need to worry about electrical bills. He knew how the Wizarding kind loved to be on their own. It had been Linuok off all people who had known how to work with and around the electronics that were required. The younger Goblin had smiled and explained that he had followed some courses in the Muggle world in disguise because he had been interested in it.

John had not been at work that faithful morning when all hell broke loose but had reported to the gates several hours later with Vicky and Reagan, with a pick-up truck full of stuff. Vicky had cleared their house of all their furniture and had shrunken it all. Ron had wondered out loud if Luna had said something. Harry and John had spoken a few days before that about the situation. During that conversation Harry had offered him a permanent spot within the ranks. They were the first ones to get one of the first level apartments. John had argued with them, but Harry said that it was not negotiable. John had been loyal all along, so he and his family got the first pick. They could always take in others if they wished. It might start to look like an apocalypse, but they could still live with some relative luxury.

Mack, it seemed, took the world day by day. When the walkers started roaming, he just shrugged and continued to work, after knowing that his brother, sister-in-law, and godchild were safe. He was a simple man after all, he did not need much. Ron had taken him to get his personal belongings, but that was it. First, he had taken one of the little cabins close to the fields he liked to work on, but when the main wards were still not good enough around Luna Park, especially without the extra protections Ron and Luna wanted for the place, Harry had moved him to one of the guest chambers at Peverell Manor. Mack could live easily with all that magic around him, and somehow the Elves loved to care for the man who would help them care for their fields.

After a few weeks, Draco and Ron had invited him into their wing, which was lovingly dubbed the singles-wing by Elenoir and Marriet, although it was officially named after Cadmus Peverell. They all had separate rooms with their own bathrooms and an extra room that could be used as a study or anything else. There were still two rooms left, that the elves had covered in white sheets.

Harry had guessed that every wing must have been used by a complete family. It must have been the vacation manor for the old Peverell's. In those times the families were much bigger than now. His own floor was the only one who had not been divided. He mused that this might have been the area for the head of the house. It was ridiculous how much space he had for himself, but somehow, he revelled in it, knowing that this was completely and fully his!

He had wanted to share it, but that seemed impossible. It only had two bedrooms; probably in case, a couple would like to sleep separated. Something Harry would never want; if his partner could not sleep next to him, he could not be with that person. Harry had not gotten much love in his youth. Only Sirius, and Narcissa had really cared for him. Although he loved the attention he got from Arthur and Molly, it had felt different. The war could do that to people. His friends, he felt, that was a different kind of love especially back at school.

Nowadays his friends were his family, and that love was tighter than anything else he had experienced himself. Ron would always hug him, no matter the reason. Draco and he had a special kind of hug; a traditional one. They would get their foreheads together and feel each other's energy or magic, to know that they were safe. Luna was the best hugger of them all. She could attack you without a reason nor warning and would somethings hug so tight that Harry did feel loved like a child. Neville and he would always use the classical man-hug. Everybody was different, and he liked that about them. They gave him that fuzzy feeling, that a family should or so he thought.

Elenoir was a woman who had wormed her way into his heart. She was the grandmother he never knew he needed. Every Sunday he would visit her, even if Gerard were still in the shop or traveling to get materials. Harry had often offered to do that, but he knew that his mentor secretly still liked that. She did resemble Molly a bit, with her figure, but she was a bit more refined, and frankly better dressed. She had always taken care of children of other shop owners, and they would often pay her with their wares. She had more fabrics or clothes than she could wear, but she kept very humbly underneath it all. She and Gerard were purebloods both, she being the second-born child in her family. She still dyed her hair brown, as was her original colour, and Harry was often roped into helping her. He did not mind, it felt very homely. She did pay him with her cookies, so he would call that even.

§§§§§

Ezra had been working as a paid volunteer for John before the apocalypse. After his latest deployment he had not gotten any work that matched his competence but needed to take it slow for his heart. John had offered his neighbour a job immediately when he got back from the war, so the man could rehabilitate and earn some money for his family. The morning John arrived; Ezra had driven behind him with his wife Mila. Obviously with less stuff, but willing to earn and work for it. They were in their early forties, Mila had been working at an accounting office, so she volunteered immediately to start working on inventory, make lists and be the overseer that Luna Park needed. Ezra helped John with all the odds and ends that were needed, and he became the defence officer the moment Ron had talked with him and found a kindred spirit in the man.

Ron and Harry had come to an understanding that for now, they would not tell the muggles about magic, but at one point some of them had to know. Ezra, it turned out, had to be the first, since he worked the perimeter and was so good at it, that he had noticed some wardstones or had seen that animals that noticed the invisible barrier. Ezra turned out to be the son of a cowboy and his father had taught him all the ropes. He could ride a horse as if he were born to do so, plus he had learned to shoot with a bow from the horse. Something that gave him an advantage towards killing walkers. Luna decided to make a leather armour for the horse and Ezra with Elenoir, so it would be as safe as possible for both. That the armour was made from magical leather, that wasn't their concern.

George and Luna had worked for days to make fool-proof spelled parchments, and Ezra was the first to sign it. He now could not tell a single soul about the magic that did not know already, he would not be able to tell where they were located without Harry's permission or Harry's heirs after Harry would pass (that were Teddy and Ron for now) and he vouched to fight to the best of his abilities for the protection of Luna Park. Ron was the one to seal it with Auror-grade compulsions, whereas Luna wove an honesty spell into another parchment: this would become the base for the questionnaire that they later discussed. Ezra passed all the tests with flying colours and loved knowing more than others.

The sergeant had first looked at them if they were crazy, but after some showy spell-work from Ron, loads of questions and the signing of the document, Ezra had decided that fate probably brought him here. He and his wife took the little round cabin, numbered thirteen, that was close to the church building, all the amenities, and in the middle of Luna Park. They pretended towards Mila that a lot of the furniture had been there already, and they just had put it in storage for the repairs, but Ezra was told that Ron still took everything. If a house was empty, every piece of furniture would be taken, shrunken and repurposed.

§§§§§

"I don't know, man!" The ex-soldier laughed, after signing the documents. "Feels weird and tingly on my skin signing that paper of yours, but this does make a hell of a lot of sense. I can fill in some gaps about you people. So, you're telling me John knows?" The man was wearing cargo pants, army boots with a button up cowboy-shirt with a traditional necktie that had been his father's. As he said himself, back to basics.

"John is from a magical family but has no magic and Vicky is a witch herself. Born from a No-Maj family as the Americans call it." Ron explained while finishing a pile of inferi by burning them.

"So, without magic? Okay, I got it. Yeah, I admit, it makes sense how I could not see your big house, while I heard you on the other side sometimes. I knew you were there as well. Magic is one hell of an easy thing to have. You can protect the cabin Mila and I took as well?" He looked eager, now that he knew what magic could do. The man wore a bow with a quiver of arrows on his back, and he was a good shot with it. A knife on his belt for close combat. He would take the long-distance shots, and then let Ron finish the job. Either he or Ron would retrieve the bolts, Ron would sometimes just summon them. Now that he could use magic, it went so much easier.

"Luna will make sure to add some things that will not drain your health too much, the general fields are warded as well, but we can't make the wards anti-muggle against the inferi. Because you guys need to live there, so you need to be able to walk the wards yourself and kill any inferi you see. George and Luna are thinking about creating a system for entrance, that would allow only the ones we trust in and out. For now, we will always send a magical being with you, but maybe in the future we can find you some good men and women, so you do not always need us. Have your own team and council." Ron explained.

"I appreciate that you trust me that much. I don't know what happened to my guys who were still at the compound, but I know of a few who I would trust with my life. Maybe make an extra housing outside of those ward-lines, as you call them? If you find people, let them shack up there first, see what they have to offer, before you let them get onto the compound. You could search for a big army tent." Ezra got on a roll now. He was a sturdy, long man with a rough exterior that had seen a lot in his life. He would protect the people that gave him his life back. He and John were good friends and he appreciated John even more for the fight that he had put up with the moment he went to retrieve Mila and himself. "I won't let Hadrian or John down, I promise!" He meant it. He needed to be useful in his life, and these people made him feel like he would be. Even if they could fix anything with magic, he was still valued.

"We can look into that in the future, it is a good plan. Let me know what you need Ezra." Ron said. "If you know where some of your men live, John and I can find them if they are still in the area."

"I appreciate that. I do need some stuff boss!" Ezra went over the list his wife made him. "We need more weapons that don't explode or need bullets. Save the bullets for emergencies. You need to hit hunting stores, bows, and arrows. I could come along with you. Maybe find a smith that could work a furnace. We could convert the A-building to some garage/sweatshop/forge-building. Maybe already invest in some school supplies, practically anything you can get your hands on. If Hadrian is right, and I believe he is, we need to start building a community. A place where people will want to be."

"Do what you think is best, just make sure I get the lists. If I need your help, I know where to find you. I do use a lot of magical means to travel, that might not be the best for you, but if it's close-by I will hit you up." Ron shook his hand and started walking back to one of the bridges that led to the Peverell lands to get himself to the called in council meeting. "Do remember that you cannot tell Mila yourself. We might do that in the future, but not yet."

"No, I know. You have my word. Scout's honour!" He saluted Ron, who he had started calling either 'boss' or 'captain', probably because of his military past. Ron had led the full Auror-units at one point being second-in-command, so he was used to it. It had felt easy or even normal to take the lead without being asked. He knew Harry would do what was necessary, and someone had to protect him. That always had been Ron, and Ron would not have it any other way. It was scary but comforting at the same time.

§§§§§

After they assessed the damage on the outside with the inferi; George, Luna, and Harry set out to verify all the wards, whereas Vilnuk started with a wall around the full compound. It would be a fence type of wall, that seemed as if people could pass through, but it was filled with goblin magic to the brim. At some places he had opted to use magical plants, and in other places even animals like doxies. Nothing would hurt living muggles, but they would not be able to see it. Not even Luna Park without permission.

As Vilnuk declared himself, he wanted to stay alive as well. He respected Harry, and his compassion for his loved ones. That had been the only reason why he took the job before everything happened, seeing as he wanted to retire a few weeks prior. He had not been able to, because he was still training his nephew, Linuok, to take over for him. The Goblin never did tell how or what, but Harry had guessed that he wasn't always welcome among his kind.

They would need a safe haven; a community, and Luna Park offered all that and more. They now had a few members that could run this place, but they needed inhabitants, workers for the fields, and many more. It should become a thriving community if they wanted to survive. The council knew this would not be something that would change soon. Even if the magical communities were hoping they could sit it out in their manors and behind their wards, Harry and Draco expected something else. Severus was sure that if the Wizarding world fell, it would be hard on those unprepared witches and wizards. Vilnuk told them that the Goblins had already doubled their security-details. They would be able to outlive anything. Only certain clients would be able to use their services. Harry was one of those without a doubt.

One morning, on a perimeter check, Ron and Ezra practically ran into Mitchel. The boy was fighting off an inferi with a shotgun but did not seem to know that you had to shoot them in the head. Ron, who had started wearing the broadsword that he had found in Harry's armory to look more muggle, an idea by Ezra, cleaved the inferi in two and helped the teenager up.

"Thank you, mister, thank you!" The young teenager with his long reddish hair all wild around his face tried to catch his breath, but looked so defeated and practically in shock, that Ron just took him along. Draco verified that the boy had been in shock, and just gave him some herbal tea to relax. Mila had taken pity on the boy and took care of him for as long as he would allow that.

Mitchell turned out to be a hard worker, who had seen his parents turn in front of him, and not knowing how to kill them, he had run while grabbing some essentials for the road. The boy took to Ezra like a fish to water, and Mila practically adopted the youngster. Ezra had started to teach him how to shoot a bow, and in return he taught Ezra how to hunt. He could only do so with traps, but they made it work. The only rule Harry had about that, was that they would not overshoot. They needed the animals to keep populated naturally.

§§§§§

After the shockwave from the explosion passed by, they saw Andrea and Dale hide behind a roadblock, that protected them as best as they could while debris was flying around from the cars and other things that had exploded along. Hadrian still stood very still with Ron next to him in a battle modus Merle recognized, Draco holding onto Luna while using his body as a shield. Luna looking like something beautiful before her had happened. Daryl had been the one to speak.

"Get back here, Hadrian! Com' on!"

Then, miraculously so, Hadrian had done that with Luna on his heels. Hadrian yelled something at Ron, who only waved the concern away, or so it seemed.

"Get in the back!" Daryl shouted. He and Merle pushed the bike in the back of the truck and threw a plastic sheet over it that they fastened to the edges of the car, while Merle ushered Carol into the front seat with Sophia, himself taking the driving seat. That left Daryl next to Hadrian and Luna, who got in without asking questions.

"What about the others?" Carol looked visibly shaken from the whole ordeal. She locked eyes with Luna.

"They will be fine. They have their own means of transportation." Luna smiled at her. "Draco wanted to loot the ambulances for our medical ward. Ron will keep him safe."

"Medical ward?" Daryl frowned, his arms perched on his knees, his crossbow still easily accessible.

"Later, please, later. We need to go. Every walker in the vicinity will have heard that." Hadrian's voice was soft, but it demanded attention. Merle knew that voice, his higher ups had had that same pitch as well. His suspicions about the man were getting vaster.

"Okay, but later you better answer somethin', sunshine." He had been conversing over the radio with Shane and Rick. "We need to stick together, them officers are crazy, I tell ya, but going off alone is no good plan now. Right, Carol?" He looked at the women next to him, who just nodded and held Sophia close.

It stayed silent for a while, all were too tired to talk or to think about their deaths that had been very close. Luna was humming a song under her voice, while Hadrian looked like he was meditating. The whole ordeal did not seem to bother the young man and woman as much as Merle had expected. As if they had not been afraid for their own lives, but more for the lives of others. After a while, it was Sophia that broke the silence after she had woken up from her nap.

"Mommy, did you see that really white wall in front of the building, just before it exploded?"

The first to respond was Luna, with a full-blown laugh, who punched Hadrian in his arm, who looked semi-offended at her whilst carding his hands through his hair and over his face in a fatiguing gesture.

"No darling, I did not." Carol tried to reassure her, thinking her daughter talked about the light from God. She hoped that not had been the case.

"I did." Daryl smiled at the little girl. "Was even brighter than the explosion. Pretty! Like a damned light show!"

Merle just grumbled something that seemed to confirm Daryl's suspicions. This caused even more giggles from Luna and when Merle looked at the backseat through his rear-view mirror, he heard a grown. Hadrian.

"Later?" He asked the man.

"Later Merle, I promise." Hadrian facepalmed himself and poked Luna's side who could not stop giggling. Hadrian however started fiddling with a round disk that hangs around his neck with a black leather cord.

"Stop it, woman!" He pleaded with her. She did not answer but looked at him like he knew what she knew, taking a coloured feather out of her jacket and started waving in the air with it, as if she was conducting. Hadrian did not seem to find this strange, so Merle left it for what it was now. Daryl seemed confounded by the movements but did not let his eyes stray too much from the road and any dangers they could encounter.

After a few hours of driving, Merle had to stop the car again when the RV could not pass through a build-up of cars on the road. A short conversation over the radio made them get out, to see if they could move some cars so they could get through. Everybody was cautious, Luna stayed close to Carol, while Harry went exploring with Daryl. Merle checked the RV over whilst trying to repair it, and watched the group, while Dale took point on top of the RV with a rifle and binoculars in hand.

§§§§§

Daryl watched the man next to him with interest. He did not look like a hunter, but he moved as if the whole world was his prey. It was mesmerizing, but he also felt like danger and death. Daryl really had to pay attention to see or hear him move, and until now the only one who could beat him had been Merle. He did get the all-over soldier-vibe from the man; the same way Merle had been after coming back from deployment overseas. The redhead, Ron, had been the same. Even the blonde woman had snapped out of her trance and seemed to be able to kill if it came to it. That wasn't the behaviour he was used to from a woman, but he liked it a lot. Most women at the camp would still rely on the men too much, but Luna did not. She was very powerful on her own, quirky, and weird, but Daryl felt like that was what she wanted people to see. A smokescreen.

"You see that?" Daryl looked at something in the distance, but nudged Hadrian at the same time. He felt the immediate response from the man.

"I do," Hadrian confirmed. "Let's make sure we are gone before that." The man turned around and looked towards Luna. He waved with his hands and got a wave back. They continued looting; Daryl looking for weapons and clothing and Harry for medicine, food, water, and other necessities. Daryl stuffed everything in a big backpack that he found in one of the cars, all the while his eyes kept roaming towards the smaller man. It was a certain fascination for the British guy, something he could not explain. For now, he would file that away under curiosity about people he did not know.

Daryl heard Rick's yell before Hadrian, since the guy was a few cars in front of him, stuffing things in his bag that kind of looked endless. Harry seemed to be stuffing everything in there. Daryl saw the walkers coming towards them but noticed that Hadrian did not, as if he were in a trance and would not wake.

"Get under the cars!" Rick called again from behind him.

It was then that Daryl heard T-Dog yell out as the man had cut himself on a car, but he also saw Hadrian still looting a car, not paying attention towards his surroundings, which he found very strange. The man had been on edge constantly, for him to slack off was very out of character. He acted quick, shot the walker that was walking towards T-Dog, and lugged the walker over the dark-skinned man, so he would be protected. He tore a strip from the man's shirt and wound that around the wound.

"Keep pressure on tha' wound, will ya'" He instructed the bleeding man, who nodded through the pain, but kept it better together than Daryl had expected.

Daryl saw a walker stumbling right towards Hadrian, who still looked as if he was a million miles away. Daryl cursed and quickly began to load his crossbow, he cursed as he saw the walker stumbling closer towards the other man before he could take another shot, he hoped he would be able to shoot it in time. The moment he had his crossbow levelled with the walker's head, Daryl went to take the shot, Hadrian himself reacted with an almost inhuman speed. He pulled a dagger from his belt and launched that right into the head of the walker, no hesitation visible. He then took the rag that hung from his bag to clean the dagger and went along with what he was doing as if it were nothing at all. Daryl admired his guts, but he did not want to risk anything, so he ran as fast and silent as he could towards to man, to pull him under a car with him. Even between the two of them, they could not kill that whole horde themselves.

Hadrian was radiating warmth, or Hadrian's body was warm; Daryl did not know how to explain it. They were both laying under the car with their faces towards the left side of the car, where the most walkers were passing. Hadrian was holding a longer knife than before in his left hand but seemed to have his right hand relaxed to his side, as if he wanted to grab another at any given point. The dagger was adorned with black jewels and had something carved in the hilt and heft. It looked like a family weapon of some kind, but Daryl knew almost nothing about that. He did know that it was handcrafted, and the person who did it, had done an outstanding job. Daryl felt the man's presence way too much and felt like he looked too much at the man but decided to keep those thoughts to himself. No point to dwell on such things in this situation.

When the walkers were mostly gone, only a few stragglers were left; Hadrian and he rolled from under the car to get rid of the last ones which left Daryl feeling a bit cold after being so close to another person. He did not say anything but pretended to look more at his bow than anything else. Hadrian walked up to T-Dog immediately to help the man, before they heard an agonizing cry from Carol.

"Sophia! No!"

Hadrian froze.

§§§§§

Sophia must have been scared enough by all the walkers to get out from under the car she had been sharing with Carl. She had loosened Carl's hand and left off in a panic. They saw the little girl running towards the woods, with Rick on her heels trying to catch her. Merle followed immediately after Luna held Carol safe and under the car to wait it all out. What nobody saw, was that Luna had spelled a tracker onto the girl the moment she decided to run. Wandless magic was ingenious.

Hadrian wanted to run after both men and the little girl he had taken into his care in his heart but was stopped by Shane.

"No, we can't go all looking for her. We need strong men here as well."

"I can do whatever I want, Shane." Harry's voice turned ice-cold; his eyes trained at Luna who made the gestures for the tracking charm she had placed on Sophia. He recognized those wand movements with ease. It was still active, she signed. Bloody bugger that Ron was, learning everybody their signing, but now Harry was glad that the man did. Him and Draco did seem to know what Harry needed, before he did.

Internally the rage was coiling in his body, his magic reacting accordingly. Harry had the extreme need to protect children and would do anything to see that through. Shane stopping him was ridiculous, but he understood why. Rick and Merle were already after her, if they failed, he would pick it up. He was faster on his own, and he had magic to boot that. He felt a hand on his shoulder, calming him. Daryl.

"But I'll play along, Shane." He bit towards the man.

"Let Merle try first, if it ain' working, we'll go together. Alrigh' Hadrian?" Daryl squeezed his shoulder again, and then released him. Somehow, he had figured out that Harry disliked being touched, so it was nothing more than a brief touch, just to alert him. Harry appreciated that.

"Sure, Daryl. Fine." Harry bit those words towards Shane, but kept his eyes trained on the woods. Daryl would just have to understand that he did not mean it like that.

§§§§§

Later, when Rick returned empty handed, and with a seething Merle behind him, Harry took one look at Luna, saluted towards her, and pulled Daryl alongside him. Luna went directly for Merle, who was a spitting ball of fire, apparently angry at Rick for doing something, but he could not speak properly.

"She was gone Merle, I swear, I went back to see her, I told her to stay or to go back, but I had to kill those walkers. I had to!"

"You could have run motherfucker! Use them damned legs of yer's! Sophia ain't that heavy, ya could have carried 'er!" Merle was spitting while he spoke. Visibly angry, but still being held back by Luna who tried to calm him. Rick looked pale, like he had seen a ghost. Maybe he understood that Merle had every right to be angry at Rick, and this did not help in the slightest.

"Rick did all he could, Merle, I think you should be grateful!" Lori came in between. Which earned her a snort from Luna.

"My daughter, Merle, where is she?" Carol's voice was panicked. She had finally been released by Lori who had tried to console her while Carol tried to refuse, she ran towards Merle and practically fell into his arms. The man instinctively relaxed because he knew that Carol needed the calm protector in him, and not the angry asshole. He held her very close and looked towards the woods where he saw Hadrian and Daryl disappear. If anyone could find Sophia it would be those two. His brother was the best tracker and hunter he knew off, and Hadrian had proved himself in Merle's eyes that he was excellent at whatever he did or was.

"We'll go looking for her, I promise!" Rick said like Daryl and Hadrian had not taken off, and he looked towards Shane, who seemed to let a deep breath go. "There is still some daylight left."

"I want to help as well!" Carl said, standing proud, "I want to help look for Sophia!" The boy looking towards the two men he regarded as father-figures.

§§§§§

Daryl felt himself being manhandled into the woods by the angry man before him. His eyes seemed to darken by every step he took almost looking like forest-green, instead of the bright green he had seen when the man smiled. Hadrian murmured something in another language that resembled something like Latin. It did not take long before Daryl picked up the trail from the moment Rick lost Sophia and took Hadrian with him. He softly pointed out what he saw to the other men but did not expect an answer.

"Ya okay Hadrian?" he asked softly after a while, partially because he did not want to attract any walkers, but he also did not want to scare the man that was following him. He did feel the anger rolling off the enigma in waves. It did not scare him, people would have to try to do better than that, but he was curious. Sophia was no part of Hadrian's family, so what was done to him that the man went into full defence-mode?

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, my apologies." Hadrian said meekly, not giving away any emotion or anything else. He had his right hand clenched tightly at his side, his left holding onto the black bag he carried over his right shoulder to his left side. It did not look worn out, but well used. Daryl noticed everything, even if it annoyed him.

"Ya didn't. Not what I asked." Daryl stood still, watching the leaves and a dead walker on the forest ground with a stone next to it, probably Rick if he recognized the boots correctly. They were getting closer, but he hoped the girl was still alive. He did not think that Carol could handle losing her daughter, or Merle forgiving Rick for letting the girl slip away. That would really cause some grief and trouble. The Dixons were accustomed to trouble, but he did not want to add some extra on this apocalypse, especially not on a sweetheart like Carol. He liked the woman a lot, she was sweet and nice. It reminded him of his ma before it all.

"I'm good, I guess. I just hate seeing children in pain, and Sophia is such a sweetheart, she isn't cut out for being alone right now." It took Hadrian a while, but he answered. Daryl understood that reasoning. It was the same reason he was here with Hadrian as well. If it had been any other child, he would not have bothered. He did this for Carol.

"I've found her trail I'm sure about tha', won't be long now." Daryl knew the man was still following him, because he could feel it, but other than that, he did not make a sound.

"I hope there is enough time."

"There will be," Daryl reassured him. "I'm really good at this."

"Never doubted you, my new friend." Hadrian sounded genuine, and Daryl figured that he liked that a lot. Somehow that statement hit Daryl deep, in a place he had not thought about in the longest time.

They searched in a comfortable silence, until he heard Hadrian open his bag and take out two canteens of water, with two sandwiches.

"Here." Hadrian gave him one of both and Daryl looked surprised to see the bread in his hands. Daryl just nodded a thanks as he started eating. He would not look a gift horse in the mouth.

§§§§§

Harry felt Death's magic coming easy. It slowly would twirl around him and surround him, ensnaring his senses, and softly come into this realm. Seeing Death so much was never a good sign, Harry knew that, but he also knew that Death did not mean harm. Apparently, it was time for rule number one; he had to listen. Death had a job to do. Harry decided that he needed to distract the hunter as Daryl was way too vigilant for a normal muggle as he had noticed, so he could speak to Death and activate the tracker on Sophia. Luna had thought quickly; this would work better than a regular point-me-spell. Especially because they were looking for a muggle.

Harry realised that this morning on the freeway, the hunter would have noticed something was off if Harry had not reacted to the inferi, or walkers as the muggles called them, as soon as he did. Death had encountered him right then, because they needed to talk or rather; the being needed to spew his frustrations towards Harry. Harry did feel that talking to Death was calming, it never judged, it never harmed him or the ones he loved.

Harry went through the leather bag that he had slung over his right shoulder, so it would stay out of the way when casting and dug out some water and food. The moment the man was eating and a bit distracted, Harry dared to let his wand fall into his hand and cast the tracking spell that would find Luna's charm. Death had already been walking next to him for the last few minutes.

'You do realise you can communicate with me, without him knowing?' Death was in a pleasant mood; it had taken care of a problem that had amused it to no end that morning. The CDC that blew up the day before had given him two souls to barter with Life. If souls were touched by its Master, they would always come to it first, before seeing Life. It used that to barter for two other souls with Life, not that its Master needed to know. Death had decided that Harry could use some happiness and fulfillment.

'I do, but I do feel that this could be dangerous. Let me guess, she's on your list?' Harry knew he sounded like a whiny teenager, but he could not help it.

'No Master, she is not. You will find her, but another man just got forfeited because of his own actions. Do not question yourself if that happens and remember rule two. Do not help them, let that play out. Just take care of your new family. You deserve that.' With that vague comment, Death vanished, doing whatever and leaving Harry to his own thoughts.

The charm still pointed in the direction that Daryl was walking, so Harry let him not to raise suspicion. If it were not for the death roaming the planet, Harry would have liked the serenity of this forest. It reminded him of home. Home, what a strange phenomenon. He had not thought of any place of home since Hogwarts. The battle had ruined that picture for him, so it pleased him that he could feel at home again. Even in America, maybe because it was so far away from the war, the people that knew him, and so far away from The-Man-Who-Lived. The only people who really knew, were the ones who did not care at all.

When the evening started to fall, Daryl found the doll the little tyke had held onto while they had been travelling and both men got their hopes up.

"I'm glad we found that this must mean she is close." Harry commented.

"Yah, it is getting dark, and I didn't bring a flashlight! Can make a torch if needed, don't know if we should."

"No fire right now. I found an emergency torch in one of the cars, do you want it?" Harry let his hand sink into the bag and felt various survival tools. The fact that George had made the bag to act like the room of requirement, was baffling. The leather bag had one portal department, anything that Harry put in there, ended up in the storage rooms to be sorted. Ron or Elenoir were probably doing that right now with everything he had gathered from the cars. The other compartment held the survival basics like a small wizarding tent, some normal clothes and an extra set of battle robes, some weapons, and food was in the third compartment where it was held to keep cool. If he ran out of food, the elves would restock it. He knew that this might not be fair for the rest of the group, but Harry had learned that life was not fair. Others were not his responsibility.

"Later, I can still see. Don' wanna waste resources." The hunter did seem to have impeccable sight, and Harry did not have the heart to tell him that it would not waste anything, but he decided not to speak.

It did not take long for the hunter to find the trail again, which led towards a body of water, and Harry's tracker started buzzing even more, which indicated that they were close. Harry did cheat a bit and used his special sight to find any lifeforms in the vicinity the moment Daryl was out of his sight. He did see two inferi walking in a direction and then the girl close towards the stream. They were going for Sophia!

"Over there!" Hadrian shouted with every purpose to lead the walkers away from the girl. Daryl reacted immediately and shot the first walker perfectly between the eyes. He reloaded his bow to be able to shoot the second, but he must have been too hasty to save Sophia because the normal very stable hunter slipped on the rough ground, which turned out to be a slope with slippery, moist earth, leaves, and silt. Harry tried to catch him but was too late, and unable to use his magic in front of the muggle, Daryl tripped in front of him and tumbled down with the bow in his wake, the thing releasing an arrow when it hit the ground and launched an arrow in Daryl's side.

Harry slid down at once, but Daryl waved towards Sophia.

"I'll live, go!"

Harry nodded, understanding this instinct himself. Daryl did look like he would not die within a few seconds. When he looked at the little girl who had climbed up a small tree, he knew he would not make it in time to save her from the inferi if he used only his knife. Although he was very accurate with throwing knives; the wizards and witches had found during the apocalypse that being able to aim spells accurately, helped with throwing knives. He knew he had to act right now. He could always erase their memories later. His wand seemed to have reacted before him and was in his hand in mere seconds. He threw a very strong and complicated shield towards Sophia and then a severe cutting spell towards the head of the inferi. He did not take risks, not after all his extensive training with Severus. He ran towards the young teenager, who was crying, and jumped in his arms the moment she saw him.

"Hadrian, look, Daryl!" She pointed at the man, who tried to get up, too much in shock to ask about the magic he had used in front of her.

Harry saw that Daryl would lose too much blood if they had to walk back because it was already gushing out of him, but side-along apparition would hurt him without a question. So, he did the only thing he could; he activated the necklace his family all wore that would pass a message towards them, with the request that Draco would apparate towards him. It resembled the coin the DA had used, but this one could carry more messages, and had the option to only sent one or two persons a message. Ron had taught the others how to apparate towards magical signatures, an Auror-trick, something Harry had learned that from Severus during his defence-apprenticeship, so it would not take them very long to reach Harry.

Harry took a small moment to assess his surroundings, before closing his eyes and he thought about the creation of his first wand. His strongest memory for the day.

"Expecto Patronum!" At first, only the cloud showed up, something that had bothered him after the war, but turned out to be a side-effect of being the Master of Death, before it took the form Harry willed it. His stag had disappeared after he defeated Voldemort, it had taken a while of soul-searching, but it seemed to like the form of an acromantula or a chupacabra the most and even that depended on the day and mood Harry would be in. Harry did however try to will it back to the stag that they all knew so he would not scare Ron senseless with the spider he loved to use if he conversed with Draco alone, but it was useless. Some days it did work, other days his magic would just be completely stubborn. The Chupacabra it would be.

'Draco, Daryl has been shot, needs light blood replenishers, and healing immediately. Can't do it myself. Already broke the Statute.'

"Nice light show Hadrian, beautiful colours." Smirked a pained Daryl, slowly getting delirious from the blood loss. "I always told Merle Chupacabra's were real, I knew it." He did hold down on his own wound, so Harry 'accioed' the crossbow towards him and threw it over his shoulder before he retrieved the other arrow. Daryl was doing all that Harry was capable of, and he felt Draco coming towards them, so he would be fine. He also had Sophia to take care of for now.

Sophia looked at him bewildered and a bit in shock, and only then Harry saw how wet her clothing was. She must have walked through the water. He already had crossed the Wizarding World's biggest rule of life, so he figured he could do it even more. Aurors could come and get him, but he guessed they were too busy anyway. He dried her clothes with a swish and flick of his wand that would make Hermione proud, and took a heavy woolen cloak from his bag, that he threw around her.

"Here, this will keep you warm." Hadrian smiled at the girl. He also pulled a chocolate bar from his bag and gave it to her. "Here sweetie."

"Thank you, Hadrian." She said softly and started munching on it.

If anything, Harry had not expected to show his magic off so soon, but he was relieved it was before Daryl and Sophia, and not the whole group of survivors. He felt Draco and Ron's presence before he heard the men arrive, but he was relieved, nonetheless.

Draco immediately went into full healer-modus and started casting a variety of spells, relying on Harry and Ron to protect him. Ron lifted the little girl up and held her in his arms. She instantly clamped at him, and exhaustion took the best of her.

"I contacted Luna; she sent a few messages. The other kid, Carl, has been shot by a hunter. The rest of the group left towards a farm where a doctor resides. I told her that Sophia is safe, so she will stay behind with Carol, I believe? Merle too."

"Yes, that's her mother." Harry nodded.

"If Daryl is stable, we can levitate him towards the ladies." Ron always took charge at these times, knowing that Harry disliked it. Ron wasn't his right hand for nothing, so he knew what to do. He had never regretted his Auror-training, he just hoped that he would not need it anymore.

"I had to use magic, I had to save her."

"I know Harry, no worries. According to Luna, everything is happening as it should." Ron positioned Sophia better in his left arm, and clasped Harry's shoulder with his right, his wand still in it. "We'll stay the night, get them up to speed, see what happens."

"No, not all of them." Harry shook his head. "They, and me, are not ready for that."

"I only meant Daryl, Merle, and Carol. Draco ran some diagnostics on the blood he collected from the CDC; you were right about this little thing here. She is magical. In what way, we are not sure yet, but that is not important right now."

"Don't you think Daryl will pass it off as a fluke, he was talking about Chupacabra's just now. We've just met these people. I don't want to endanger us."

"Do you doubt Luna?" Draco levitated a passed-out Daryl next to him. "She told us yesterday that this would be the case. Although I know our magical care for creatures wasn't the best class we had Harry, but Chupacabra's are real. They just have been sighted too much by muggles. Became a fairytale for them."

"I have never doubted Luna, I doubt myself. Wait, yesterday? We drove the full evening?" Harry was astonished. "You prick, I know that Chupacabra's are real, I had to learn an awful lot for my defence-master. Daryl does not. Did you know that you can lure them with sweets?"

"That is all you picked upon? Yes mate yesterday, come along, let's get her to her mother. The other guy is going crazy."

"Merle." Draco added, before he looked at Harry. "Sweets?"

Harry just nodded an affirmative, before giving Ron his full attention.

"Yep, that guy. He really seems to have taken towards the little one. She is very cute, I must admit. With those sweet eyes, I get how she's enticing everybody." Ron laughed softly, not to wake her. "How old is she? She should not have to go through it all?"

"I believe Carol said something about her just turning twelve if she calculated correctly. They had been at that quarry for quite some time." They had started walking, not risking the side-along, and using Luna's energy as a beacon to get to the right place. "Sophia saw my shield at the CDC by the way. I promised to explain a bit, but I hoped to make excuses for that. Did you get what you needed there, Draco?"

"I did get some decent supplies. We did two hauls outside of it. Still could use more, people are bloody violent, I'm telling you." Draco sighed, but accepted the warm tea that came from Harry's bag. Ron took the other cup from him. Only then did Harry pour some for himself. A lovely Darjeeling for some calm and peace.

"What did happen to him?" Ron asked interested.

"Those crossbows only load one arrow per time, so he had to reload after the first shot, because that second inferi was getting incredibly close to Sophia, and I wasn't close-by enough for my knives. He slipped on the moist grounds and fallen leaves. I tried to grab him, but it all went too fast. The bow hit the ground, and something must have hit the trigger to release the arrow. Got him right in the artery. I still would not have made it in time to get to Sophia with a knife, so I did what I did." Harry explained softly, a pained impression on his face.

"I would have done the same mate, no shame here." Ron nodded, handing the empty cup back.

"Me too Harry." Draco added. "Don't worry, he will recover without any problems. I guess your suspicions about him being a squib were right: the diagnostic charm came back with that result as well. It made it easier to heal him. I used a weakened version of a blood replenisher, Severus was experimenting with that for Mack and John. He just has to drink loads of water, eat salts, and rest as long as he can."

"We brought the big tent as well, your own. That has decent beds so everybody can get a decent rest. We can share rooms accordingly."

§§§§§

Merle was the first to see the three Brits walking his way. The tall red one with a sleeping Sophia in his arms, looking as if he carried her all the way, but not looking tired for it. Hadrian in his wake, looking worried with dirt on his face and in his hair, and behind that the blonde doctor they had met at the CDC briefly. When he did not see Daryl, he wanted to yell at them, but then he saw it. Daryl was floating, fucking floating in the air next to the blonde, and they were all holding wooden sticks in their hands, as if they were weapons.

"Oh, that explains it all!" Said the weird blonde girl next to him, before she pulled another stick from her hair and started waving it around. Then it dawned on them; they had Sophia with them, but they could not see if she was alive or not.

Carol just started sobbing uncontrollably when the woman saw her daughter in the arms of the burly redhead, so Merle had to pull her towards him. She kept repeating her daughter's name over and over and buried herself in Merle's strong arms.

"She is very safe and unharmed. She was exhausted, so I let her sleep in my arms." Ron laid her down at the backseat of the truck that Luna was leaning against and tucked her in under the heavy cloak, as if all were normal, and smiled at Carol. "Sweet thing she is."

Carol climbed into the car without a word and cradled her daughter.

"Ya'll know that fucking voodoo? Like my gran? What the fuck happened to Daryl? Are you shitting me, is he floating?" Merle did not seem to know what to do, say or think at that point, therefore he threw it all out. Luna started giggling next to him.

"No voodoo, that's old black magicks, but he is floating, Draco is doing that so that he can lay stable and rest." Luna answered, not really easing the situation.

"Magic ain't real darling, my gran did voodoo-shizzle, so that I know, magic is for magicians. You know, the guy with the top-hat and the rabbit." Merle looked at her with disbelief.

"Harry, transfigure a mattress please, then I can rennervate him." Draco waved his hand wanting to tend to his patient, knowing Harry was the strongest caster of them all, and the best one at transfiguration. Harry did as he was asked, and watched the hunter being laid down. Draco was a quick caster and wasted no time to do so.

"Hello Daryl, my name is Draco, we have met before. I was your resident doctor today. Do you remember what happened?" Draco had the tip of his wand lit up, to check Daryl's pupils, before he looked at the bandaging. He vanished the old ones, already getting dirty, and cleaned the man with spells before magically adding new ones. A bit of dittany on the wound would do the rest.

"Sophia?" The hunter whimpered, coming to.

"Alive and next to her momma." It was Merle who answered, still looking in disbelieve towards Luna, who was smiling her all-knowing smile.

"Hadrian? Where's my bow?" Daryl groaned and rubbed his face with both his hands. "Damn, why do I feel as if I've been in a fight! Head even hurts"

"Right here, Daryl. I have your bow." Harry smiled, and handed the man his crossbow with the arrow that he had retrieved. "Short version: you slipped on the loose ground, your bow launched a bolt in your side, and I called Draco to fix it. Used a light show to do so, in your own words."

"Ah yes, the Chupacabra. I remember." Daryl started to laugh and accepted the water that Draco gave him.

"Again Harry?" Ron shook his head.

"Next time I will send the acromantula Ron! Back off you wanker!" Harry threw him a vicious smile.

"Oi mate! Bloody hell, I was just asking." Ron threw his hands in the air, as a fake surrender.

"I like the Chupacabra better Harry." Luna's voice interrupted the mock-fight Harry and Ron were having, and she twirled around pointing at the muggles. "Show them, it's easier that way."

Harry threw her a look that daggers could slice with but realised that instant proof would be the only thing that worked if they were going to explain the existence of magic. He could only use a memory a few times on one day before it lost its power, so he tried to think of another for the second Patronus of the day. Harry inhaled, and exhaled to clear his mind, and when he saw the moment he found Peverell Manor and the peace and quiet that this had generated.

With that, his 'expecto patronum' came like the silvery, wispy cloud, before it formed the stag he wanted it to be. His magic was sometimes so annoying. He let it prance around Merle and Daryl before it walked up to Sophia who had woken up and now was looking eye to eye with the Patronus. He focused his energy again, and it shifted to the Chupacabra, walking towards Daryl, before turning it into the spider that would scare Ron the most. He let that approach the bigger man for a few seconds, before he switched back to the stag, as everybody would be the most familiar with that animal.

"A Patronus is a charm that protects its caster from their worst fear. During the last war people found that it could carry messages as well." Draco explained. "Harry, being a very strong and talented wizard, is the youngest known person to cast it. Also, the only one known to have the ability to change it at will."

Draco smiled to himself, switched from his healing to his fighting wand in a practiced move, and practically yelled the same incantation, that made his fire dragon leap from his acacia wand with the white river monster spine. It encircled them for a while, but he gave it a message that the situation was under control before he sent it off towards Severus.

"So, magic?" Carol looked a bit worse for wear, but still looked at Harry's stag that pranced around her little girl.

"Yeah, light show, what's up with that!" Daryl had gotten upright and looked at the image before him.

"Harry, don't deplete yourself!" Ron touched the dark-haired man very soft and carefully, to let him know to stop the charm.

"Yes, I know Ron. I did not use much; it needs to get loose a bit." Harry did not elaborate further, and Ron ignored it. An answer was more than none.

"Carefully Harry, we talked about that. Healer's orders, remember?" Draco laughed a bit when Harry rolled his eyes but did retract his Patronus and Draco kneeled before Daryl. "Alright mister, please follow my finger with your eyes." He had pulled out the hawthorn with cedar combination wand, with a unicorn core, to finish the healing work.

Daryl did as he was asked, knowing that the blond would pester him otherwise. Doctors were all the same whether they did voodoo or not. He did not like them at all, usually asking stupid questions like; 'where did you get that scar?' or 'who did that to you?' but Draco seemed not to care, just for his current well-being. Daryl could respect that.

"Perfect, please tell me how much pain you are experiencing on a scale from one being almost no pain at all, towards ten being the worst." Draco's wand emitted a soft glow, to check Daryl's blood reserves and other facts.

"Three, I guess." Daryl seemed to realise that this was very low, for the fact that he had taken an arrow to his torso, but Merle beat him to it.

"Knowing Daryl, make it 6. Do you have medicine? Pills? Carl could use that too, kid got shot."

"No, sorry Merle. I can't use that on the boy. Potions are not to be taken by muggles; people without magic. Furthermore, I believe that Harry is not ready to share with the rest of the group, so if you want to know more, you will have to swear to secrecy. Literally."

"Wait, so this magic-thing is really real? No voodoo? No magician?" Merle looked in disbelief at the wizards. "And you used that stuff on my litt' brother! If he's a mug-thingsie, why did' ya do that?"

"You might have a magical ancestor. You said your grandmother used voodoo? Daryl is what we call a squib, someone who does not have enough magic to use it, but enough to sustain it or to be sustained by it. Mack and John, back at our place, are the same. You are enhanced, for lack of a better word."

"So, no voodoo, yes magic?" Daryl laughed but felt at his wound hurt at that action, so he tried to calm down. "But I'm no squid. I ain' no fish!"

This caused Harry to laugh, and Luna giggled at that statement.

"No, you are most definitely not Daryl. We call people with low magics squibs, with the 'b'. Merle, may I?" Draco held his wand up, while trying to stay professional. "I would like to test you as well. If I may? I am an official healer, the same vows as muggles have. Not to harm patients intentionally and then some."

"Right, have at it blondie!" Merle just shrugged. His day could not get weirder anyway, so he let the guy do his thing.

Draco made some elaborate movements that Merle seemed to follow easily with his eyes, and Luna had taken the Pygmy puff out of her jacket and gave it to Sophia.

"Here, she's yours!" Without any further explanation she walked towards Harry, hugged him tightly, and kissed him on both cheeks. She hugged Ron and Draco, before she waved towards Carol. "I need to leave; my husband needs me. Harry, just call me if need me!" With that being said, she spun on the spot and disappeared.

"Tha fack!" Merle looked at the spot where the weird blonde just had stood.

"Apparation, if you know where to go, we can get there within mere seconds. It's how Draco was able to react so fast!" Harry tried to explain slowly, but he knew it would be an awful lot for the man.

"That confirms it. I could run a blood test with Marriet's help, but you guys have magical ancestors." Draco smiled triumphantly when he declared the results. "But I guess we need to find a camp, it is getting very late, and Sophia and Daryl need to rest. Doctor's orders, so to say!"

"Carl has been shot by a hunter, went right through a deer. He was looking for Sophia with Shane and Rick. They brought him to a farm not far from here. The rest left, but I could not." Carol smiled at the girl. "Not before my daughter was found."

"Then let get going. I have a big tent and some food for the evening. We can talk there." Ron climbed in the back of the truck and gestured that they all should do the same. "Merle, you okay to drive? I can't yet comfortably." He looked at them individually to get their attention. "Everybody climb in. Lay Daryl next to me Draco, I will stabilize him so you can monitor his vitals."

'Draco, at your first convenience, please check in with Marriet and myself.' Severus' Patronus stood proud before them, still being the doe that represented his loyalty towards Harry.

"Go on, we'll be fine. Severus never asks for anything." Harry's voice changed from friend to leader, and Draco nodded.

"Call if you need me. If the need arises, I could always take Mack with me. I believe he needs an outing. He could make us look more believable and drive us the last miles. He knows the roads very well."

"Maybe that is not a bad idea. Sleep at home, then we'll see you in the early midday."

"Will do."

Draco hugged Ron, who whispered something in his ear, when he turned to Harry and they clasped hands, foreheads to each other, before he also disapparated to the Manor grounds. Leaving Merle and Carol again with gaping mouths watching the place where the man had stood just moments before.

§§§§§

"Severus, have you seen my black potion robe?" Marriet walked hurriedly through the Cadmus wing of Peverell Manor where they resided, looking for both her spouse and robes. Her clothing looked dishevelled, as if she had forgotten a how to get dressed.

"Not today my dear, I have not. Don't you normally leave them at the lab?" Severus walked in the room they currently used as a study, which turned out to become quite the extra library. The youngest son of the Weasley clan had listened to him when he said that they needed all the books, magical and muggle. The muggle books were now situated in Peverell Manor's basement, which Linuok was transforming into a welcoming area for the books, to add another pantry and make some extra room for familiars or house elves.

"I don't know, I feel like I have been off for the last few days. I'm of no use like this. Yesterday a potion blew up in my face. I am grateful that it did not bear that many ingredients yet. We can't afford spillage so easily anymore." She was looking a bit frazzled, and Severus looked at her cautiously. He had never seen her like this.

"Have you been brewing with aconite a bit too much?" He queried, his mind going through all the possibilities that could have the woman he loved in such a state. She was very organized, practically all potion masters were. You could not mess with ingredients, that was the first lesson.

"No, not at all. I do have been stocking up on some calming draughts and dreamless sleep. Especially the latter is being used way too much. Healer Malfoy has requested that I deliver them to him personally."

"Marriet, my dear, have you been sick after brewing? Nauseous? Or being more tired?" He asked when it dawned on him. Severus now took his partner in his arms and softly stroked her cheek.

"Why, what do yo.." She held her breath and her eyes were wide open. "But," She stammered, "We use protection all the time! You are a very strong caster and I make my own potions."

"May I cast the diagnostic?" Severus did not dare to hope, for he had never known to think about something like that, but he knew he should stay calm for Marriet's sake. He could have a melt-down in his own time. A witch in this state could have her magic reacting very violently, even if it was used to his magic around her.

"Yes, naturally my love." She took a few steps back and let him cast the diagnostic. When it turned to the colour that he secretly might have hoped for, he sighed and threw her a soft smile.

"I believe we will need Draco for the next conversation but as off today you're officially banned from brewing! I'll inform Lord Longbottom that I will be taking over completely." Was the only thing Severus could say before he held an emotional witch in his arms.

"You are not mad?" The woman was crying now although he could not say if it was out of happiness or stress. She had the same education in healing as Severus since that was obligatory to get your Master in Potions, she knew what it would mean. "No Severus, that is way too much! Let Draco help!"

"Absolutely not, my dear. I could never be mad about such a beautiful thing. It is however your decision any way we go but do know that I will never leave your side my dear, not ever." He kissed her softly before replying; "I have brewed more than that, in less time. I will be fine."

"Draco it is then." She smiled at him and he kissed her forehead lovingly. He was used to crazy in his life, this would be just another thing life would hit him with. Although this explained Lady Longbottom's comment a few days beforehand. The damned witch had to be a Seer herself, Severus was sure off that now if the letter before had not given that away.

---

Well, this was a important part for me to write, I did not want to write it too fast or having people just accept magic as it was getting a slice of cake. I hope I succeeded in that.

Who would you love to have showing up from Engeland? Do you miss people, I feel like I could incorporate some others. Any thoughts on our teddy bear Ron, who I do not have a pairing for yet.

Let me know, I love reading all your thoughts.