Chapter 5 First Contact
The Walking Dead crew will show up soon. Not this time though. I had to delete this chapter twice, but I think I got what I wanted out of it. I warn you; I have a bit of writer's block. Too much on my mind. I have two surgeries coming up, so… Since I live in a small town, they will be months apart. If I disappear for a while y'all will know why.
I did find that Word will read this back to me, so there should be a lot less errors. I also went back and corrected the last four chapters, but I didn't change anything. I think. I might have changed some of the last chapter, but not enough to worry about.
I added a bit, so I deleted and re-added this chapter. Sometimes reviews spark my muse. Hey, I rhymed.
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They spent the next week setting up the campsite. They wanted to make sure that it would host both non-magical and magical. Since this was an established campground there was already public shower/restrooms. The magicals made sure to rig them with runes to never run out of water and stay a tepid temperature, to keep from using electricity to power them. The toilets had runes in the bowl to banish waste. The RVs were spelled the same way.
There was a water reservoir that was also spelled too never empty. Rain would still fill it, but with runes it would never get below a certain spot. Water was not something they would ever run out of. If the reservoir, for whatever reason, was destroyed, they all knew the water spell and could make another. Well, the magicals anyway.
The sites that were laid out were used for the RVs and regular tents. They didn't want to put non-magicals in magical tents. Not that they wanted them to be cramped or anything, more that there were things in magical tents that non-magicals couldn't operate. It was just simpler to give them what they were comfortable with.
Meals would be communal. There was going to be a large wizard tent set up as a cafeteria. The elves were in charge of the food. Cooking, storing and dispersion. The people would be able to 'purchase' snacks and stuff, but main meals were group interactions only. This way food could be regulated and kept track of.
They also took a couple more trips into the city to see if anything was going on. They did see a couple zombies scrambling about at night and people were starting to get leery. They killed and banished those they saw, but there were getting to be too many. It looked like it was time to make sure that everything was set up.
Jessi had set up a tv and they watched the news every night. More and more reports on alleged zombies were there, but the public was told that it was all under control.
"At this time," the news reporter said, "there are no confirmed siting's. Only rumors. It is thought to be hooligans dressed up to scare people. Please do not panic and stay indoors at night. We will bring you the newest reports."
The group knew that it would just get worse from there. There was fear in the air. They knew what was coming, most of them had seen it. Now though, it was more real.
"When do you think we'll start rescuing people?" Mike asked, playing with the hem of his shirt, fearing it would be soon.
"I'm not sure," Remus answered, peering at the news again. "I give it a week, two at the most. I've already seen more cars on the road." He picked up his coffee cup, which had tea and firewhiskey in it.
The adults had taken to having a bit of a pick me up at night. They made sure to keep it to one. The last thing they needed was to have roaring drunks roaming around. Too much booze made a person stupid, but a bit put them to sleep. They gave the kids a very watered-down sleeping potion. Getting a full night's sleep was becoming an issue.
"The barber shops are closed," Tonks said, making everyone look at her. "What, my dad told me when the barber shops close that means it's bad."
"How do you know they're closed?" Harry wanted to know.
"I called for an appointment," she said casually. Her hair cycling into many different styles. She never needed a haircut.
"With what?" Sue asked.
Harry nodded in agreement, pointing at Sue. As far as he knew they didn't have any phones here.
"A payphone," Tonks said, with a shrug.
"Ah," was the collective reply.
"Wait, we have a payphone?" Peggy said, sitting up straighter.
"Yeah, over by the office," was the answer.
"Why?" Harry asked, looking at the tomboy. "Who are you gonna call?"
"I thought we might call the government," she said, looking at the adults.
"And tell them what? That we're a group of magicals that have set up a small area to help? They will either come and try to take over, or laugh at us," Jessi said calmly.
"No, I mean that we believe them and ask what we should do," Peggy said persistently.
"That won't help any, Peggy. They probably have a canned reply," the busty redhead insisted.
"You're probably right," the girl sighed, looking back to the tv.
"Where did you get the money to make a call?" Sue asked, knowing they only had British currency.
"I stole it from the phone."
"How?"
"Magic," was the smug reply.
"Dammit," the little runner said. That was the adults answer to everything.
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The news only got grimmer as time went on. They put all their efforts into setting up. The elves had started putting up a hedge to direct people to the four entrances of the third ward. They would put signs up later, but for now, they left it alone. They would eventually put up the fence, but they wanted to set up the campground further first.
Tonks and Sirius had gone to see the farmers that were inside the wards. They used the time to fly over everything and get a layout of the land. They had picked a good spot. The trees would offer wood if they ever needed to build, but only if whatever was stored all around Atlanta was used up first. According to the kids, there was always lumber that was just sitting around. Something they had seen on the telly. With the world going to hell, it would just sit and rot. They planned on making sure to find all they could and put it in statis.
The first farmer they went to visit ran them off, siting they were devil worshippers and wanted nothing to do with them. They didn't get to talk to him at all because the second they said magic, they were chased off. Since they couldn't remove the wards from the farm, they just decided to put up no trespassing signs at that particular area. They would not force someone to work for them. Perhaps later, when the dead came knocking, the farmer would be more agreeable.
The second one seemed more accommodating. They agreed to help keep them in food as long as they kept the wards over their farm. It had taken quite a bit of convincing to make them see that magic was real, but when they told them that the news lied and zombies were starting to rise, and that the wards would protect them, they folded.
"Sirius," Tonks said questioningly.
"Yeah," he said, tilting his head.
"That first farm, why didn't the wards stop them from running us off?" she asked, waving in the general direction of the farm.
"They didn't intend to harm us, just get rid of us. I think that if we'd pushed it, then they might have gotten violent. The wards would have ejected them, which is why I had us leave," he answered with a shrug. "Wards are weird like that. You can hate someone, but as long as you didn't actually intend to harm said person, you're safe."
"Oh, I guess that makes sense," she said as they continued flying to the campground.
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The full moon had come, making the time they'd been there almost a month. The werewolves had stayed in camp this time, since it was just their group. They had fun running the woods, and Sirius joined them.
The rest stayed in the office; it was the only fortified building on the grounds. The shower/restroom had no doors, just a winding doorway. They figured it was to keep the smell in. The elves volunteered to clean those. The office had been uncomfortable, but it was better than a tent.
The werewolves were happy to note plenty of game in the woods. That will be good later down the line. The Wolfsbane was utilized, and they kept a clear head. They mapped out what they could, being in animal form. It was quite a spread. There would be plenty of room for those who need to come here.
It was after that week that they had set everything up, that people started running from Atlanta. The news had broken. Warning everyone that there were now a lot of zombies. That they hunted in packs and that people should take shelter and hole up as long as they could. The public was assured that the government was doing all it could. They were told that rescue crews would be on the way.
Harry, and everyone he asked, didn't believe that.
The highways were completely packed with cars. Most of the time those cars flowed along, but right now they were at a standstill. The honking is what drew the trio watching them.
"Where are they going?" Sue asked looking at the people sitting in the cars.
Some people had gotten out and were yelling at the cars in front of them, like that would make traffic flow again.
"I don't know. Maybe they are going to family," Harry suggested. He knew that the first people he thought of when this all started was his family of runners. He went straight to them the second Sirius was free to take him. He could have gone on his own, but he couldn't Apparate, Sirius could.
"Should we tell them about us?" she asked Sirius, who was the only adult there.
"I'm not sure. We're not quite ready to bring people in and they are not in immediate danger. Maybe we should just wait a while," he said, looking at all the angry people.
"I disagree," said Harry, still looking down, "I think we should at least tell them we have somewhere safe." He peered at Sirius, looking at him with pleading eyes. He only wanted to help.
"Okay, fine. I'll go down. You two stay here. There are a lot of angry people down there," Sirius said, starting down the road that led to the campsite.
Harry could see that his godfather had his wand at his side. He knew the man was nervous, after all he would be breaking their most important law. The Statute of Secrecy. If the world wasn't going to hell, Harry would be worried. As it was, he didn't think any government would care.
"Do you think it'll work?" Sue asked, watching Sirius start to talk to a few nearest the entrance.
"I don't know. My relatives hated magic, who knows how these people will feel about it," he answered, ready to run and help Sirius if he needed it. He saw Sirius hold up his wand and shoot a few sparks for a family. Those people seemed to be receptive.
They watched as car by car, Sirius stopped and talked to the driver. Some ran him off, others looked considerable. There was a crowd down at the bottom of the road. The cars weren't moving still, so they left them behind. They did grab what luggage they had packed, or whatever they could carry. There was one man who was so burdened, that Harry was surprised that he could lift what he was. The man must be strong. When there was a group of 20 Sirius started leading them to the kids.
"…will have to pass the wards," he was saying as he came within hearing distance.
"What are wards?" a little girl asked, her face bright with wonderment.
"Like shields," the wizard said, smiling down at her.
"Why don't you just call them that? Then people won't ask," said the child.
"Out of the mouth of babes," the girl's mother said.
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"That's a good idea," Sirius agreed, leading them to the third ward, where Harry and Sue were standing. "This is Harry and Sue. Harry is a wizard, and Sue is non-magical."
"Oh," the little girl and a few other kids said.
"This is where the third… shield is. It will tell us if you mean us any harm. Once you pass this one, there'll be one for health. Not that we think you will need it now, but later, when the world goes to… heck, more people will need treated," Sirius explained, waving to the budding bushes.
"Do you really think it'll get bad?" someone asked, fear lacing their voice.
"Yes, we have evidence that it will get really bad," Sirius said honestly. There was no reason to sugarcoat it, even for the kids.
"What kind of evidence?" another person questioned.
"Magical kind," was all the answer they got. "Look, we've set this place up to help who we can. All we ask is that everyone pull their weight, and not cause trouble. I don't think that's too much to ask," Sirius said, walking on and stopping next to Harry.
They watched as everyone passed the wards without issue.
"Good, everyone passed," Harry said, glad there weren't problems.
"I made as sure as I could that they were good people," his godfather explained. "There were some… mean people down there. I got called all kinds of heretic names," he said, running a hand down his goatee.
"You're in the bible belt," explained the girl's mother as she held her daughter tight. "Magic is the devil's work."
"Oh, I didn't know that when we set up here. I thought most of that thinking was in the past. Well, we did keep it a secret for a reason, but still… Oh well, the world is ending. They either accept it or find somewhere else. I'm not leaving me and mine open to ridicule," Sirius said, turning and walking to the next ward.
"Did you Obliviate the others?" Harry asked in concern.
"No, just a Confundus charm," the man answered. He didn't want to risk taking the memories of others in a crowd like that. That and he, like Harry, felt that the government was going to be too busy to worry about the Statute.
"That's reasonable," his godson said as they trooped up the hill.
"We're here," Sirius said, looking at the group and stopping them with a raised hand.
"This is a health ward," Harry said, waving to an invisible shield. "If you're healthy you can pass right through."
"What if you're not?" came the question from the back.
"We'll fix you. We have a cure for just about everything short of cancer," he said, leading the way. There was grumbling at that, mostly how it would have been helpful before the world ended.
"Can't you cure the zombies?" one kid asked.
"No, sorry. We are not gods, we're just humans that have a bit extra," Harry said, firmly. They had practiced what to say if that question came up. The whole group had discussed it, and that was the best answer.
"That's good to know," another woman said, and clarified with, "That you don't think your God."
"I promise, we're just as human as you," the teen said, waving them along.
Sirius and Sue just watched, knowing that too many voices would be confusing.
"How do you know the shield is there?" the first little girl asked as she held her mother's hand.
"Magic," Harry said with a wink.
She giggled.
Everyone passed through this one as well.
"Okay, here's where we stop and go over the rules and let you know what is acceptable and what's not. We were going to have everyone sign something, then we realized that would be futile. So, listen up. Beyond here is a fertility ward. We don't want any unwanted pregnancy. If you want a child, we ask that you hold off for now. We can help later, but right now, no," Sirius said, watching everyone's faces.
There was a general consensus of agreement. If what he said was true, then a baby would be bad. There was a murmuring of consent and Sirius went on.
"There will be no violence. The wards won't allow any. If you strike out at someone you will get a warning. If you continue to fight, you will be removed magically," he said, seeing some concern over that rule.
"What if we're attacked?"
"Then the wards will expel the attacker," was the answer.
"Everyone pulls their weight, like I said," Sirius continued as he started moving them along.
"How?" someone asked.
"Right now, we're sorting stuff. When there are more people, there'll be more chores. You are responsible for your own messes. No one, and I mean no one, is picking up after you and yours. If we find you're leaving messes, you will be warned," Sue said, wanting to make sure that they understood that. She wasn't anyone's mother.
"I can agree with that," the girl's mother said, nodding her head. She didn't want to pick up after strangers either.
"There will be mandatory self-defense classes as well. Right now, it's more along the line of getting away, but when we find someone to teach, it'll be physical," Harry stated, looking at the adults in the crowd. "Us teens will teach the kids how to hide and run," he added, smiling at the children.
The group had agreed, who better than those who had lived on the streets?
"I can teach fighting," the strong man said, lifting his load to show he wasn't a wimp.
"Get with me later," Sirius said, leading them to the camp.
No one turned back. The next hour was assigning people to their new homes. A timetable for meals was given out and everyone went to deflate. It was stressful to everyone. The main group and the group they just brought in.
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"Not bad for a first contact," Remus said as they sat at their spot. He watched the new people set up home.
"No, but I know that it'll not go that good every time," Sirius said, running a hand down his face. "We're in a place that one woman called 'the bible belt'."
"What does that mean?" Mike asked, worriedly, like he was getting the gist but not really understanding.
"It means we're surrounded by people who think we're evil," Mac answered, watching the newcomers.
"But…" Mike stuttered.
"The wards will keep the worse out. If someone changes their mind after being here, the wards will evict them. You're safe," Tonks said, hugging the youngest preteen. "Besides, you're not magical, what can they say to you?" she naively said.
"I know and I trust you guys, but what about when we're out there?" was the fearful question.
"You have your gun, right?" Harry said, hoping to encourage him.
"Yeah, and I know when to run and hide," Mike said, relaxing a bit.
"Good. No one goes alone, alright? If we have to get supplies, we go in a group," Sam said, looking to the other adults.
"Yes," Sirius said, leaning back on his log. He stretched his legs out and looked at the stars. Automatically looking for the Dog star.
"Sounds reasonable," Remus agreed, he raised his arms over his head and stretched. "Let's get to bed. We have to sort this lot out tomorrow," he said, standing and holding his hand down to his relaxed friend.
"Right," was all that was said as they all got up and went to their tents.