Walking Dead Wizard
Chapter 28
Harry and Luna woke earlier than everyone else and quickly snuck out; Luna had the map from Hermione clutched in her hands. It would have been easier to read the map actually on something, like Daryl's truck but unfortunately it wasn't possible, putting the engine on would just wake everyone up. Instead both of them knelt down on the gravel, grimacing at is dug into their kneecaps. Harry removed his bag, putting it to the side and unfurling the map Hermione had made specifically for them. The normal map went above it, sighing as they looked at it pensively.
"Oh, she's good." Harry murmured, utterly impressed, little black dots were they sat blinked at them with their names. "It's sort of like the Marauders maps isn't it?"
"I think that's where she got the idea," Luna admitted, "She probably duplicated one herself and knows exactly where we are."
"Alright, let's see what we find on this map," Harry said, getting a proper look at it, sliding his finger along and the magic caused it to go along with it.
"Even with this it might not show us somewhere we can go," Luna commented, tapping the map to get a road view of the area.
"Yeah, that's what I'm worried about," Harry admitted, he wasn't just responsible for Luna but a group of Muggles, he couldn't just fly them somewhere safe they were going to have to do this the long and arduous way. Hearing faint noises coming from within the container he quickly began rolling the map up only to sigh in relief when the Dixons and Anubis came out. Harry silently gestured for them to close the shutter down again.
"We should be able to find something though," Harry said, "Even if it's not what we would hope for. It's too bad it's not more like the marauders map, you know, showing us where the walkers are."
"The what map?" Merle asked lips twitching as he stood looming over them.
"My dad and his friends made a map at school, like this, see," Harry showed them how it worked for a few seconds. "Only that one showed you were everyone was, they called it the Marauders map, after the name of their group."
"We're hoping to find somewhere before anyone wakes up," Luna added, her brow furrowed as she absently moved the map along, but it was mostly farms that were no good to them.
"Which doesn't seem like it will happen, we might even have to leave Atlanta altogether to find something…I'm not sure that will be possible." Harry admitted any road out of Atlanta was probably road blocked to the maximum.
The four of them poured over the maps, coming up with suggestions, from churches to quite secluded cabins near mountains. All of them inevitably nixed due to the fact it just wasn't safe enough, and there really wasn't enough room for everyone either but that was merely pointed out as an afterthought. The few gated communities were circled on the normal map, as a potential place to go.
"No point to going too far though," Harry cautioned, seeing them spreading further out "Not unless we know we'll have the gas we need to get to wherever it is we want to go."
"Good point," Luna stated as both the Dixon brothers grunted affirmative.
"That factory might be a good place to stop for the night, providing we get lucky," Harry pointed out; the Dixons looked where they were before circling the area with the normal map.
"What are your prisons like?" Luna asked suddenly much to the surprise of the boys. "I mean in terms of security and things…" seeing the look of insults the Dixons wore for different reasons she'd bet. Daryl looked more annoyed that he'd be thought to have gone to prison and Merle it seemed was more insulted as if her insinuation had hurt him…but that was ridiculous of course.
"Like all prisons they stop people getting in and out," Merle grumbled out after a few moments of silence.
"Nothing like electrified fences?" Harry enquired, seeing where Luna was going with this; her finger was still pointed to the prison. West Georgia Correctional facility.
"No," Merle shook his head, "Only military bases have things like that."
"We need to discuss this more later, I like the sound of a military base, but for now we'll just content ourselves with the prison if it's available until winter passes and we can travel again without freezing our asses off." Harry said determinedly. "If the prison isn't available we might have no choice but to head towards a military base."
"Only one problem with that, those places will be crawling with walkers, it would even seriously dent the ammunition you've collected." Merle pointed out, "That is if they aren't still functioning."
"True," Harry conceded, nodding, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But if we can gain control of the prison you'd both be alright with it?" he gazed at both of them, waiting on their answer.
"Ain't gonna complain if it keeps us alive," Merle shrugged, he'd never thought he'd be willingly going to a prison it just proved how much had changed.
"Daryl?" Harry then looked at him giving the guy his undivided attention.
"Don't matter," Daryl shrugged.
"It does, if you don't want to go then we don't, it's something we have to decide as a group, if you aren't comfortable about it, there are plenty other places, we just need to keep looking." Harry stated firmly.
"It's as good as any, ain't it?" Daryl answered uncomfortably. He didn't like any attention on him, and seeing the three gazing at him expectantly for his own opinion was something he wasn't comfortable with. Although part of him felt gratitude, it wasn't often he was asked for his opinion, Merle always made it for them except when he was in prison leaving him to his own devices.
"If you're sure," Harry informed him, "Alright then, mark it down, we'll start off with that and if it doesn't pay off we check somewhere else. One step at a time wins the race." they already had a few places marked to check for gas and incidentally food if they had the chance. While the others continued to pour over the map, Harry unshrunk his trunk he had re-arranged it before all hell broke loose in the farm. Taken him quite a while too, but he had been bored so he'd done it - not that it had taken him long at all.
He'd put his clothes, shoes, a potions stash, toiletries (where he had put his other trunks in), a few books he wanted to read mostly on warding and the Muggle medicine in the first compartment. The second one held all the weapons, from swords, knives, daggers, guns, ammunition, all different rounds, crossbows, arrows, an archer set, a dozen RPG's, AK47's he liked to be prepared for anything. They'd come from a group that had threatened them at gunpoint for their stuff, when they had a whole load on their military van they'd driven up in. They'd laughed at the sight of his 'stick' for all of two seconds before they were yelping at their guns literally yanked from their hold, and he began to shoot at their feet, causing them to run, but not before Harry had everything from them. Harry had found the entire thing satisfying, and Merle certainly had his share of amusement. The third compartment was reserved for all his potion ingredients, herbs, and his cauldron and kit as well as more actual potions he'd bought. Fourth was his book collection and a third wand he kept as a spare but it didn't fit him well but he would make do if he had to. Fifth compartment was for food, that had preservation spells cast within it keeping it fresh until he removed it. Sixth of course was for frozen food, it was charmed to keep everything frozen.
Shifting to the second compartment, Harry took out the Desert Eagle guns with silencers already attached, making sure they had bullets in the magazine before nodding thoughtfully each time he did so. He, Daryl, Merle and Luna already had a gun each, the others all had guns, but shotguns and other guns that made too much noise. Once he had the guns out he nosed around for five holsters, he found them behind a pile of boxes filled with bullets. When he was done he switched compartments and grabbed a t-shirt.
Luna got up, wincing at the pain in her knees having sat down so long, when she stood up she got a good look inside his trunk, "You're not going to run out any time soon," Luna said wide eyed staring at the large collection of clothes, half of them were still in their wrappers with tags attached. "You went absolutely crazy!"
Harry laughed sheepishly, "Half are from back home before I came here, the rest are from stores we looted, about a quarter of its not even my size, I just put what was there into the truck, you should see the food section." which he opened up and removed four boxes of pop-tarts for everyone to eat, after that he shut his trunk, feeling the mechanisms locking automatically so nobody could open it.
"How much do you have?" Luna enquired curiously, remembering the large selection of sweets she'd put into her normal one compartment trunk which by the way was overfilled. "I had planned on buying one, I had plans to go abroad so I knew I'd need one, I should have, the one I have is no good." she certainly wouldn't be able to put anything else inside it - it was that full.
"What wood is your trunk again?" Harry asked thoughtfully.
"Oak, why?" Luna asked blinking curiously.
Harry opened his trunk again, grabbing his toiletry bag and opening it, bringing out one tiny trunk and passing it over to her. "They shouldn't notice." he informed her, "There's nothing in that one, it's also a six compartmentalised trunk, when we start going over places you'll have somewhere to put everything. I have a few others so don't worry about it." he shrugged, he doubted he'd ever use them all. "Just be quick, everyone should be getting up soon." Harry then put the guns and holsters which he'd had curled around his left hand side, on top of the trunk to give to everyone when they came out.
"Next place we go to that has Dog food we need to take it," Harry added thoughtfully, looking back as the shutter opened revealing Carol, Dale and Sophia. They'd only just joined them when Amy and Andrea followed them out. "Morning," he said politely, giving them a nod. "We're going to hit the road quickly, we have a few places to check out, I hope you all like Pop-tarts," he pointed to the ground where they sat in their boxes.
"YES!" Sophia cheered, grinning widely, she liked the rare occasion she'd gotten pop-tarts, usually a Sunday morning when her dad was away drinking all weekend until he came home at night.
"As for the guns, lose them," Harry stated, seeing the shotguns in their hands. "I don't want to hear a single person firing off a shotgun, that herd came after us, and they only heard a one shot, and shotguns are noisier, so if you value your life I'd suggest they get put aside immediately."
"You can't expect us to go without protection," Andrea protested at the very idea.
"Normally I would be against using guns, and want you to learn how to use a sword or dagger but that would be asking a bit much, especially in the face of a herd and when you can't use them or are inexperienced." Harry stated, "As it stands I'm not asking you to go without protection, these guns are for you, they're equipped with silencers, but I still caution you only to use them if you have to instead use your daggers…do you all still have them?" he handed over a gun and holster to each of them except Sophia for now who was already eating a packet of pop-tarts from one of the boxes.
"Mine is in my bag," Amy admitted, while Andrea, Carol and Sophia showed their knives still sheathed to their trousers.
"Then get it, do not go anywhere without it," Harry stated sternly to Amy, who did as she was asked, "Tuck your clothes under your knife so you can get it quickly." he added. Watching as they did as he asked and holstered their guns on the other side. "Eat up; you're going to need your strength."
"Should we leave everything here as well as a few of us or go out into the open with it?" Harry mused thoughtfully; both had their own merits and downsides. "Both have the potentiality for disaster, ironically all from humans." he smirked just a tad shaking his head ruefully.
"You wouldn't go without me, Merle and Daryl, so you'd be leaving the others vulnerable, so maybe we are better off together. You know together we are safer anyway, splitting up had never been a good idea." Luna pointed out after swallowing her brown sugar cinnamon pop-tart. "These are good, I'm having another packet!" she insisted, nabbing them gleefully.
Sophia nodded eagerly, "The very best!" she agreed, while scoffing down her cookies and crème ones.
"Alright, together it is, but some of you have to remain watch outside of whatever place we end up if we go inside." Harry conceded that Luna was probably right. Grabbing something to eat for himself, feeding half of each one to Anubis, he really needed to get dog food so he could eat properly although he'd put on a good amount of weight, probably due to the nutritious food he'd been getting from the animal parts that usually just got buried.
"Do we have any water left?" Amy asked, perhaps the pop-tarts had been a bad idea after all; she was extremely thirsty after eating four of them.
"There should be a full bag of water bottles in the RV," Luna answered Amy, "I put it there before everything happened," leaving out how she'd done it, truth be told it was much easier using a wand than a bail to get the water into the empty re-used bottles. It made drinking the water very unsanitary.
"We've picked a potential place for us to stay this winter," Harry pointed out after Amy returned and quickly dispensed the water bottles.
"Where?" Dale enquired speaking for the first time since he got up. To say he had a lot to think about was putting it mildly. He liked how organized Harry was, he noticed nobody had a reason to panic and he always explained what was what. Yet he didn't like what he had done, but for the first time he was beginning to realize perhaps it hadn't been easy, he'd seen the look in Harry's eyes at his accusation, and it wasn't the eyes of a stone cold killer, not like Shane, but one who had been forced to do what was right not easy at least in Harry's view since he wasn't sure of his own anymore.
"West Georgia Correctional facility." Harry answered, waiting curiously for their reaction.
"A prison?" Amy choked on the water she'd just gulped.
"I agree it's not the first thing any of us would think of, but it could be secure, we would be able to sleep without one eye open, they have like entire blocks closed in right? Even if they managed to penetrate the prison we would be safe they wouldn't be able to get passed a certain point…but I'm just guessing here, I've never actually seen the inside of one…let alone here," Harry told them honesty. "Just think about it, you'll have your own bed, own room, a modicum of privacy you might not get anywhere else."
"What if it's not empty?" Carol asked, "I don't mean walkers," she added as an afterthought to make her thoughts actually clear to everyone there.
"By this point? I'm afraid to say if they weren't bitten then surely they died during the initial outbreak trapped in their cells, no food, no water…" Harry informed Carol, "But if you mean other humans they might have, we'll know for sure when we approach the prison, there will be obvious signs of occupancy that we would spot right away, especially Daryl he'll notice the difference between walker and human footprints." he was better at it than him and Merle, they'd learned through experience even Merle didn't question his brother about it…hadn't since about three weeks into the outbreak.
Daryl twitched uncomfortably at the pronouncement, looking away but seeing the impressed looks on their face nonetheless which made him doubly uncomfortable.
"So what do you think?" Harry asked them, as they stood about now doing nothing since the food had long been consumed as had the water. It was time to get back on the road; the gas station was only around the corner from where they were staying, so it will be a short ride until they were back on their feet again.
"I trust you," Carol said immediately, she would follow him wherever he took her and Sophia. Harry had been more of a father to her little girl than Ed had.
"What the hell? Why not?" Andrea said she was up for anything, the prospect of decent nights sleep was more than tempting.
"Guys how long would it take us to get there? Factoring in if we have enough gas and if we don't, stopping minimally?" Harry enquired, watching Merle and Daryl glance over at the normal map, the magical one was gone, and presumably Luna had put it back in her own bag.
"Two days minimum with enough gas factoring in having to take alternative routes and moving cars out the way," Merle grumbled, scratching his chin thoughtfully, before nodding his head to confirm that yes, his thoughts were about right.
"Three days walking," Daryl added, "Maybe four with only taking the essentials factoring in detours and stops for breaks."
"That's a bit too much time out in the open than I'm comfortable with; we definitely have to find gas then." Harry said determinedly, "Even if we have to go to multiple places to find enough to get us there."
"I've circled everywhere nearby," Daryl assured him.
"Alright, Dale you Andrea, Amy, Carol and Sophia are in the RV, Merle and Luna takes the van, Daryl and I will take his truck." Harry insisted standing up, "Keep your daggers and guns with you at all times." he reiterated not for the second time either. Walking up to Carol he handed her the only other gun that wasn't currently strapped to someone.
"This is for Sophia, it's entirely up to you when and if she gets it," Harry said, placing the gun in her hand firmly. "I know you probably want her to be protected and a child, but unfortunately that time has been and gone. Kids are going to have to grow up much too soon in this world, it isn't fair, but in my opinion for what its worth its better safe than sorry." with his piece said he whistled for Anubis to follow him, which he did his tail wagging like crazy moving to the side so the RV, truck and van could get out.
"Harry? Are you still going to train me?" Sophia asked as she stood beside him looking up at him expectantly.
"Of course," Harry replied seriously, "I won't stop until I know you can take care of yourself." she would soon be the same height as him, she was having a bit of a growth spurt, as long as she kept getting enough food he could see her becoming quite tall. It depended on who she took after most, her father as useless as he was had been quite tall, and she could go that way or be short like her mum.
"I miss Carl," Sophia admitted her eyes glimmering sadly, but she would have chosen to go with Harry, he'd saved her while Rick had left her all by herself when she was scared. Rick only had two walkers; Harry had dealt with more and still hadn't left her.
"Me too," Harry confessed, he hoped the little boy was alright. He didn't have the heart to lie to her and say he would be fine or that they would see each other again, it just wasn't something he could promise her without feeling like a total shit. "He learned too, so hopefully he'll put it to good use." it was the furthest Harry could bring himself to comfort her.
"Come on little moon, get in," Merle called, refraining from honking the horn.
Harry felt a grin of amusement appear on his face, at the colour Luna went at his words, considering the nicknames he gave everyone else that one was by far the best.
"I am not little," Luna protested giving Merle the stink eye, "Just because you're an overgrown man." she added as she got into the blue van that held a lot of valuables they'd need in the coming weeks. Harry, Daryl and Merle had slept in the van, even the floor in there was preferable to sleeping on the floor.
Merle just smirked at her with a leer on his face for a few seconds.
"Alright, let's go," Harry called, "Sophia? Would you do me a huge favour? Would you take care of Anubis for me?"
"I'll do it! I'll protect him," Sophia nodded proudly, "Come on Anubis! Come on!" she called as she ran over to the RV and climbed aboard it. Before long they were on the move, Daryl's truck first, then Merle and Luna in the van followed closely by the RV, not that they were travelling far to the first gas station they wanted to try for gas.
Do you want a time jump or would you like to see them working as a team outside the prison first? like fighting a herd of walkers or maybe humans? hmm when do Sasha and Tyreese and the others break into the prison...it was during the time Rick found the prison...definitely need to look it up unless you'd like to see them appear sooner than they would or should in this case :P who else appeared at the prison...Bob for one Karen was with Ty or was she? hmm would Michonne want to be with them if they found her early? i mean seriously? she was completely cut off cold and hard after what happened to her...would she have joined a group? I can't see them going to Alexandria though i'm going to miss everyone there...unless I can think of a real and reasonable reason they'd go there in the first place...AND most importantly when and how Harry reveals his magic :P i have an idea in mind though...but not 100% sure i can make it happen with this version of harry LMAO! ooo just had an idea...on that front! also Abe Eugene and Rosita how to get them into the story too...i think its impossible to get all our favourites into it :D so I hope you'll be happy with who i can fit into it because i really dont want it to follow the series...although it kinda is right now with them going to the prison its just not their last location unless Harry leaves from time to time...maybe trying to get to D.C to send the info to them? R&R please!