Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 36

Harry gratefully plopped himself down in the area he was using for guard duty, the opening had been closed and now he was alone and he was almost tempted to sleep but Luna was right, he should get in touch. As if she had known what he would do, she had given him the box she and Hermione had used to deliver items back and forth. Which he had promptly stuck in his trunk and put in his pocket after being magically shrunk. They'd had a quick dinner, all of them too exhausted to really cook something, he'd need to go out and hunt though, before winter really set in, he wanted to have a few more cooked meals before that happened. By cooked meals he meant actual meals with cooked meat. Everyone had chosen a cell, except Daryl, who for some odd reason didn't want to sleep in one, and had claimed a sort of perch for a room. If he wasn't going to have a bed them Harry intended on getting that sofa bed up to the cell block so he had something decent to lie on.

Sighing resignedly, he opened his trunk and removed the box, as well as digging out the book he used to communicate with Hermione and the others. Stifling a yawn he stretched restlessly, trying to keep himself awake, he would need to find a way to keep everyone busy while he and Luna got the wards put up surrounding the prison that would keep them safe. Unfortunately without them knowing it meant they'd need to continue with 'watch duty' which was admittedly a waste of time with the wards he planned on having put up around the prison. He did constantly think of revealing it, but he was too worried, they weren't ready to face this world, Andrea had made that pretty damn clear, he didn't want to risk them leaving due to fear of what he could do. He knew what fear did to people, made them extremely irrational, despite the fact he would be their best chance of survival, and he wasn't saying that out of belief that he was superior to them, he just had an advantage, and if the magical world had focused on how to kill the walkers instead of fighting them then Obliviating the Muggles they would have too.

Transfiguring a small table, he placed it where it would be most beneficial to him, to see and write, opening the book, he blinked in surprise, and it said one sentence. 'Open the box' he hoped she meant the box Luna had given him, did she know he had it now or was she simply assuming they'd both be together for this? Shrugging his shoulders he did as Hermione asked, he'd just opened the box when he heard movement, freezing in shock, just about to shrink his trunk when he heard the distinctive clanging that Daryl's crossbow made when he was on the move and hitting metal. Still he had to be sure before whoever the hell it was got up, it could be Dale with a gun for all he knew, so he yanked open the trap door letting out a relived breath when he realized his original thought had been right, it was just Daryl.

"Fucking hell man," Harry grumbled, sliding it all the way up so the hunter could climb all the way up. Moving back to what he'd been doing just moments before; he looked back to the box, frowning in confusion, the mirror? Why would Hermione send him the mirror? Only one existed now, the other was gone…it had been in pieces since he was sixteen years old. Still, the thought of actually seeing her was tempting, so he slid it upright, and spoke, "Hermione?" wondering if it would work. It glowed blue briefly indicating it had worked, that it was in connection to a different mirror.

"It's a two way mirror," Harry explained for Daryl's benefit, "We'll be able to communicate instantly, like Skype or whatever it's called."

Daryl nodded with a grunt, letting Harry know he understood.

"HARRY!" Hermione shrieked, causing Harry and Daryl to wince at the tone and loudness of her voice.

"Merlin Mione, calm down," Harry winced.

"I can barely see you, where are you?" Hermione enquired after calming herself down, her hair bushy as ever, bags under her eyes showing she wasn't sleeping as much as she should, but he was pleased to see that she didn't look as though she'd lost any weight.

"Hold on," Harry muttered, completely blacking out the windows so nobody would notice the sudden light, then he used 'Lumos Maxima' and let it out of the tip of his wand to float around on the ceiling, casting light in every direction. "There that's better," he said, although the light hurt his eyes a little, he just wasn't used to the light anymore.

"Merlin," Hermione whispered, staring wide eyed, "I've not seen you so thin since before you started Hogwarts…" truly aghast at how thin Harry was, although he had quite a tan, something she hadn't seen before.

"Well food is scarce, and in a group it never stretches far, although our group is considerably much smaller now," Harry said, a hint of regret in his voice.

"What happened?" Hermione asked, praying Harry wasn't taking it upon himself to shoulder the blame.

"Rick issued an ultimatum," Harry stated, tensing.

"Did he find out about your magic?" Hermione queried a frown line on her forehead as she tried to work out what Harry meant.

"No," Harry snorted, "Daryl and Merle are still the only ones that know he tried to lay the blame for the fact he'd had to kill his best friend at the feet of the entire group. Then he went on to say it wasn't a democracy, that if we were to stay we had to follow his rules."

"But didn't you say he'd just woken from a coma? He was in no position to lead a group! It took you nearly a month to gather as much information about the walkers as you did." Hermione protested, "I hope nobody stayed with him! The chances of their survival are pretty slim!"

"Some did, the group split in half, literally," Harry informed her, "I think Rick will lead them just fine, I just couldn't stay anymore."

"I don't blame you; you've had enough of people trying to control your life!" Hermione stated indignantly. "I'm sure Dumbledore put you off ever…"

"I know," Harry interrupted her, not wishing for his past to be known anymore than it was. "This is Daryl Dixon," Harry said moving the mirror to the shy Dixon with a smirk on his lips.

"Hi, I never got to thank you for saving my best friend, so thank you, I know its not enough…but really, I am so thankful for you and your brother did," Hermione said without missing a beat.

"Ain't a problem," Daryl muttered, shrugging his shoulders slightly red in the face at the thanks he was receiving. His hair which was getting longer was slightly covering his face as well.

"What time is it over there?" Harry asked, turning it back on him.

"There is five hours time difference between Scotland and Atlanta Georgia," Hermione explained, "its six o'clock in the morning here, which makes it one o'clock in the morning over there."

"I know you were always an early riser but six?" Harry asked wryly.

"We have nothing better to do, all our focus is on finding a cure, and I sometimes take a class or two to get my mind off everything else so I can focus more. It's getting to everyone being stuck at Hogwarts but there are no complaints they know it's better than being on the outside." Hermione sighed softly, shaking her head. "You look hungry, do you want me to get you some strawberry tart?" she knew he couldn't say no to that, it had always been his favourite.

"Is there any food left from last night's dinner?" Harry questioned curiously, he wouldn't say no to a properly cooked meal.

"There's always left over food, admittedly due to the fact they have to watch what they are doing it's lessened quite a lot." Hermione informed them. The House-elves understood the gravity of the situation and were less enthusiastic when it came to preparing meals, she'd seen days were everything was completely polished off, while other days a small portion was the only thing left. "Is that what you both want?" they both heard Hermione thanking Kreacher off mirror, as a breakfast appeared in front of her but that was in front of the mirror much to Daryl's amusement and slight amazement. She disappeared for a few seconds before turning and speaking to them again.

"Close the box, the food will be put in, it will make a slight knocking noise."

Harry moved the mirror and closed the box, "Where did you get a new mirror?" Harry then questioned.

"Oh those were put together by me, your father and godfather were bloody geniuses, and it took me a month to get them working!" Hermione explained.

"Oh I bet that annoyed you to no end," Harry laughed, imagining her flustered face. "As immature as my dad was, I know he was smart, he created a damn map of the school, got into places nobody else knew about, became an Animagus without a teacher, and created those mirrors, and those are the things I know about."

"A little bit," she admitted sheepishly, mostly due to the fact they'd done it as teenagers, she was an adult it should have been easier.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much, we don't know how long it took them to create them in the first place, plus there was three of them and only one of you." Harry reassured her. "How are the wards holding?"

"Since Luna got to that one ward they've strengthened exponentially, that one weakness was driving them all weaker." Hermione explained, hearing the knocking of the chest, indicating the food had finally arrived on Harry's end.

"Good." Harry sighed, "What's this about me being a bloody cure?"

"According to Jenner's notes you have a potential cure or antibodies people need for a cure to be created," Hermione explained barely withholding a wince, she hated having to tell Harry that. "Severus thought maybe it has something to do with the Basilisk Venom and Phoenix tears? Maybe even the... you know…Horcrux, and how you had to…well die to get it out."

"Basilisk Venom? Phoenix Tears? What's a Horcrux?" Daryl asked, he actually acted a question, it didn't happen very often.

"Oh, um, have you seen the golden compass? Or read Philip Pullman's book called the Northern lights?" Hermione queried.

"No," Daryl grunted, not sure whether to be grateful she'd asked instead of assuming he knew nothing.

"Alright, it's sort of like this, in the movie, it's about a parallel world, where human souls take the form of companions, called Daemons…" Hermione started to explain.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Enough, Mione, that's not how you explain it," Harry stated, "We all have souls, if its removed we become comatose, never to wake again. The Dementors I mentioned before they can suck out souls and that's just exactly what you'd be in a coma, whither away and die. Not that they have anything to do with what I'm about to explain, it's just my way of making sure you know I know its real and I'm not guessing. A soul is everything we are, it defines us I suppose. A dark wizard in our world called Voldemort did the most evil and darkest of magicks to splinter his soul into pieces, he placed those slithers of his soul into containers, a book, jewellery, ornaments…until he had only two percent of his soul left in his body. He believed in doing this he was making himself immortal, and in a way he was, as long as a slither of his soul was in a container on earth he was immortal, he could continue returning if the piece of soul in his body was ever killed. With me so far?"

Daryl nodded jerkily.

"He went and created six Horcruxes," Harry told him, before reluctantly continuing. "Voldemort was evil, he killed anyone in his path, including my parents, but something happened that night, my mum had begged for my life, demanding that he kill her instead of me, sacrificial magic came into play preventing Voldemort from being able to kill me. The killing curse hit me but it rebound on Voldemort but because of the Horcruxes he wasn't killed, his soul was ripped from his body which was reduced to ash and he fled. Before that though when the curse rebound, a piece of Voldemort's splintered soul went into me. I became a living Horcrux."

"Alrigh'," Daryl said, waiting for the rest of the story.

"Long story short, the Horcruxes were hunted down amidst a war so great that it tore our world apart, and then I found out I was one, and that I had to die so that Voldemort could be defeated." Harry said bitterly, "I'd been raised like a pig for the slaughter by a man I trusted with my life." he snorted derisively. "I couldn't let the war continue, so I went along with it, let Voldemort kill me, but it wasn't me that it killed, it was the Horcrux in me. Only then did the war finally end. Only for a few years of peace until the whole world went to shit."

"We didn't know, otherwise I don't think we would have let Harry go through with it," Hermione said, her tone just as sad and bitter as Harry's. The war had taken its toll on all of them, now this? It didn't seem fair but they'd all learned long ago that life just wasn't fair.

Daryl just nodded, unable to believe that the man before him had willingly walked to his own death. He just didn't seem like that kind of person, he seemed to be all about survival now, but perhaps that's why, maybe those instances had changed who he was. He definitely seemed bitter and disgusted over what had occurred. It also explained why he wasn't so easy to trust others, like Luna said; he had obviously been betrayed by someone very close to him. Another piece of information slotting in, he was getting there, getting to know everything about Harry. He had a feeling he was central to the war, maybe even leading to an extent, he seemed to do it very well here, and able to keep everyone safe and told them the truth whether they liked it or not - obviously being lied to left a bitter taste in his mouth enough that he refused to lie to anyone else.

"So he thinks is a combination of those things that makes something in my blood stop everyone from turning into walkers?" Harry asked, opening the box grinning widely, grabbing the first tray he passed the hot food over to Daryl, there was even strawberry tart on the tray as well as cutlery. He took out his own after Daryl grabbed the food with a silent nod of thanks.

"Jenner thinks so but Severus is only working off the ideas," Hermione said, wiping her face, removing the egg that had dribbled down her chin.

"Let me guess you want my blood?" Harry asked, paling slightly at the prospect.

"No, we didn't even contemplate asking you, not after everything, it didn't even cross Draco or Severus' thoughts," Hermione reassured him seriously.

"But it would help if you had it?" Harry asked resignedly.

"Well of course," Hermione said, "But we won't ask or take it."

Daryl didn't need to ask why as he listened and watched his chin completely covered in spaghetti bolognaise sauce, as he listened to them. Now it had been worth coming here just for that, it was the best he'd ever tasted. He knew blood was used in dark rituals, Luna had explained that to them the first night she'd arrived. "The French held out," Daryl pointed out.

"Oh yes, that's right, Jenner said the French were close to a cure, the French division of the CDC will have blown up, but they report to the boys in Washington DC according to Merle. Which means the results could be on a computer there. Have you heard from any of the others who had the galleon?"

"How close?" Hermione perked up at that information.

"We have no idea, Jenner only said it in passing, if I can get to Washington we might be able to find the results, and send it to you," Harry stated, "It's been playing on my mind, that maybe after the winter I could make my way there, find out what I can."

"We need to send someone who knows how to use computers," Hermione shook her head at the thought of Harry going. "I'll tell the others and see what they suggest. If it comes to it then maybe you might have to go and I'll guide you into getting the information."

"And the Galleon?" Harry enquired, after swallowing the spaghetti.

"Fleur, Bill and Charlie are alive," Hermione informed him, "They're in France, Beauxbaton has shut down the same way ours did, so Fleur's little sister is safe, she was a teacher there, and she's able to help them some from behind the wards. Although it's not as full as Hogwarts is there's only seventy people in Beauxbaton. I've sent a book their way, hopefully it will get to them, but there's no guarantee. Dennis Creevy also answered, but he doesn't know the code we created, so I only know he's alive, I sent him a book as well."

Harry grimaced, Dennis hadn't been able to cope with what had happened to him or the fact his brother had died. They'd never seen him in the magical world again; he hadn't even completed his education. He'd been tortured with the Cruciatus curse like all the others who the Death Eaters thought of as inferior. By the people he'd been at school with all those years, friends, who had no choice themselves. When he said the war had ripped them all apart he hadn't been kidding or exaggerating. "Let me know when you hear from them," he was so glad that Charlie and Bill were still alive. "Do the Weasley's know what happened to the rest of their family?"

Hermione sniffled, "I had to tell them what I knew, which isn't much." Harry had only told her what he thought happened it didn't mean that's what had.

"I know," Harry sighed, picking up the strawberry tart, despite the fact his stomach was protesting heavily at so much food but he didn't care, he was just so damn hungry. "Send though some needles that have been thoroughly sterilised from Poppy, I'll send one vial of the blood, but when it's done its done, and for the love of Merlin, Mione keep it with you…don't let anyone other than Severus and Draco know." he couldn't believe that he was going to let Draco Malfoy play around with his blood. He couldn't in all good conscience let a cure go undiscovered if he had a potential antidote in his blood. He still believed it was his magic that made Jenner believe he was a cure, and he would believe it until he heard otherwise.

"Does it mean if he's bitten he won't turn?" Daryl asked his food completely polished off.

"I honestly don't want to find out," Hermione was horrified at the thought. "I think he would still turn, but I can't say…this airborne disease is eluding us all." the brightest minds of each generation trying to scramble together something that would help them. "Where are you now? Still at the farm?"

"No, the farm was overrun, just as I warned Rick multiple times, too open, too exposed, but we got out of there with only one casualty," Harry informed her, "We're in a prison, it's not where I want to stay, I want to find an army base, proper housing and all that…and plenty of space, we'll be able to settle down and stop just surviving - moving from one place to the next. Plus there will be a lot of ammo there that we can use to protect ourselves."

"Do you want me to look into the nearest ones for you?" Hermione asked, nodding in understanding. Which gave her ideas about Hogsmeade, if they could get people to come back here, they might be able to secure the area and stop the walkers from getting in and live their lives in relative safety. Maybe even extend Hogwarts wards further down and all over Hogsmeade allowing them to actually move further. She would need to discuss it with Minerva to see if it was even half way possible.

"Merle was in the army, he'll have the best idea on which one to use, hopefully," Harry said, "But it wont hurt to have more than one set of eyes on it, don't make it a priority though, we're staying here through the winter as I said before."

"Is there anything you need sent through?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing we can't here with a bit of investigating," Harry shook his head, "They don't know about my magic and I want it to stay that way." which meant doing it all up the hard way, well mostly…he could sneak some spells here and there to make the work easier on them all. Especially cleaning up the prison and getting rid of the blood.

"You know where to reach me if you change your mind," Hermione nodded in understanding.

"Try and actually get some sleep though, Mione, if you exhaust yourself you'll make yourself sick in the long run," Harry reprimanded her.

"I'm trying, my mind just won't quit," Hermione said ruefully.

"Then take a sleeping draught," Harry pointed out, not letting her away with it.

"Take your own advice," Hermione stated right back, causing Daryl to laugh a little at her bite. The women Harry surrounded himself with were strong, very different from the women he'd met, mostly due to his brother admittedly.

"Touché," Harry muttered, "Unlike you, I'm out here without the protection of wards, and I'm also responsible for the life of others, I have an excuse for not getting much sleep, you on the other hands should be able to sleep at ease."

"I know," Hermione sighed, seeing the strain he was under, "I'm just glad you've got Luna, Daryl and Merle to help you."

Daryl twitched slightly at that pronouncement, help? He couldn't help but wonder what kind of help she was talking about they weren't doing anything.

Harry returned the trays to the box and closed it again, he honestly didn't want to talk, he was feeling rather sleepy, with a full stomach and he was warm, the heating charm he had up here working to full capacity. "Definitely, although I do wish Luna was still safe behind the wards."

"Hermione? Do you want to take the class this morning?" Minerva asked interrupting them, not that Daryl knew who she was, but Harry recognised her voice.

"I'm sorry Harry, I have to go," Hermione said, but her face was quickly replaced by Minerva's.

"Mr. Potter, I'm very glad you're safe and well," Minerva said her face had aged further since Harry had seen her last.

"Professor," Harry said giving her a nod, "I'm fine, thank you."

"Of course you are, you are a Gryffindor after all," Minerva told him, it was the only comfort she had that Harry was a fighter out there on his own…well not anymore she supposed but it had been a concerning time for her.

"I'll talk to you both later," Harry stated, "De-activate!" with that the mirror became blank once more.

"Gryffindor?" Daryl echoed the unfamiliar word, he sat on the floor, back against the wall, and his legs propped up holding his arms as he stared at Harry pensively.

Harry laughed, "There are four houses at my school, we can be sorted into either one of them based on our personality." he explained, Merlin he'd revealed more tonight than he ever had in over the month he'd known him. He certainly hadn't seen that coming tonight that was for damn sure. Seeing that Daryl was waiting for more, he continued to explain to the hunter. "Gryffindor is where the brave and impulsive go; Slytherin is where the cunning and sly go, Ravenclaw is where Luna went, for those that love their books and knowledge. Hufflepuff is for those that are loyal and true to those they care about. We're sorted when we are eleven, before we really know who we are…it's a bit stupid if you ask me, my professor believes I belonged in Gryffindor but what she doesn't know is I was meant to be in Slytherin, Gryffindor was the hats second choice." but he'd just been too damn relieved that he had been sorted to care, that he wasn't going to be sent home.

"And what does bein' brave have to do with the fact you have survived this far?" Daryl queried doubt coating his voice.

"Absolutely fuck all; it's more of a comfort to her than anything else." Harry replied with a shrug. "It just means she knows I'll fight to my last breath, nearly everyone she's ever known is either dead or worse…out here trying to survive I can think of nothing more harrowing than not knowing. I live in hope that those at Hogwarts aren't the only survivors but even magic doesn't make you a fighter or immune to the walkers. Hopefully they've figured out how to deal with the buggers, but it only took me five minutes to figure it out." opening his trunk again, he pulled out two empty water bottles and filled them up with a simple 'Aguamenti' fresh, clean pure water that was crisp and cool. He handed one to Daryl and drank deeply from his own, using both hands due to the fact it was bigger than the normal smallish hand held ones, and full to the brim.

Sounded stupid to him, you either had what it took or you didn't, but he didn't say anything, as Harry said, it was merely a comfort to her and if that's what she needed to help her then so be it. If you want someone you go and get them, admittedly these days it ain't so easy, even for him who was an experienced hunter. Like his brother, he'd gone after him, although he knew if Merle had gotten away from that rooftop - and he would have left he wouldn't have stayed around for those walkers to get him, he doubted he would have found him. The Quarry was attacked; if he'd made his way back there then they would still have been separated. Without a hand though, as strong and stubborn as his brother was, he doubted he would have been able to get far before an infection set in.

"You've learned more about me tonight than I've revealed in over a damn month," Harry said wryly, "More than I ever wanted revealed, even I had trouble understanding what the hell happened without someone who hasn't been exposed to the magical world and doesn't understand their ways, my ways I suppose, being told. I mean I've told you I technically died and you didn't even bat an eyelash. Magical folk can't come back from the dead," Harry stared at Daryl his head cocked to the side just a little. He was pretty much crouched in he same position, back against the wall at the other side, knees up, arms dangling from his knees. His water bottle was to the side of him, half empty.

"It would take a lot to surprise me after what I've seen," Daryl merely shrugged. His room utterly destroyed, Apparation, healing, items being copied and the most magnificent thing to date, the cursed fire that had completely obliterated dozens of walkers,

"Did you believe in magic before I came on the scene? Unconsciously I mean, like the existence of things nobody could explain?" Harry queried, his gaze intense, he honestly wanted to understand what made the Dixons so different from people he was used to dealing with. Were American's more open minded? Or was it just something the Dixons had seen and gotten over before he'd woken up? Sort of like going with the flow of things? They seemed to be very good at that, or did they along the way realize he might be their best chance of survival and accept it from there?

"Saw a chupacabra once," Daryl said, waiting to see if Harry would mock him as well as his brother and everyone else he'd ever told.

Harry blinked, "A Chupacabra? We never learned about them, but that's mostly because it's an American animal, they don't come as far as the UK. Luna and father went hunting for one once, took them a month while studying it to get a picture of it. It's the first I've heard of it going anywhere near a non-magical population though." he should consider himself lucky though, if he had seen the damn thing he was surprised the Ministry hadn't been dispatched to Obliviate him as they did with all magical animal sightings. Unless it belonged to someone magic and it had gotten out on its own, then it wouldn't have been reported for fear of the animal being taken away, it happened especially if the owner couldn't control the animal. Chupacabras were myths like all other magical animals; the Muggles thought they were make believe. He was surprised Daryl would believe what he'd seen. They'd published it in the Quibbler, which had a much broader audience ever since he'd done an interview with Luna in it. Not that the money they'd made would help now, nothing other than survival would. "Luna might even have a book on American Magical Creatures, she was obsessed with them, especially the ones that had never been photographed and were considered even by us as myths. I think the closest career title would be a zoologist."

"What about you?" Daryl then asked after a few minutes of silence, his blue eyes slightly darker at the new topic of conversation.

"Hnn?" Harry muttered slightly startled, the tiredness was beginning to creep in. Sitting up he moved over to his trunk again, nosing around until he found what he wanted. Opening the packet of cigarettes, he took one lit it up and passed both the lighter and packet over to Daryl before reclaiming his seat, this time one leg sprawled out on the floor, only one knee bent holding onto the arm he was using to smoke.

"What did you do before all this," Daryl said, after lighting up his own smoke, he was about to pass them back over when Harry shook his head, gesturing for him to keep them.

Harry scoffed, "Nothing," he admitted and not even slightest bit ashamed of it. "My society had my entire life mapped out for me, when I deviated from it they weren't happy the slightest. They were trying to badger me into a career I didn't want, that and a few friends were expecting things from me they had no right expecting. In the end I withdrew from everyone, my friends…my real friends kept in touch, I was trying to get over the affects the war had on me, trying to figure out what the hell I wanted out of life, I hadn't expected to survive so I never thought on what I wanted just what was expected of me."

"What did they want ya to do?" Daryl asked, flicking ash away from him, before taking another draw.

"They expected me to be an Auror," Harry told him, "It's our version of the Army the police force combined, they're an elite unit of highly-trained wizards who are tasked with investigating crimes related to the Dark Arts, and of course, apprehending Dark wizards and putting them in prison. It's actually that intense, that four years went by without anyone qualifying, after the war they took on substandard wizards; they had to really, if they had any hopes of rebuilding their world. My father was one, as was my grandfather and great-grandfather and so on, it was sort of a tradition not that was the reason they wanted me to be one, they just wanted to feel safe, that I was on the force, so they could build up on it so others would join because I had. Of course I wouldn't have been expected to go through training, because I quote 'I'd already proved myself beyond a shadow of a doubt,' they just wanted a public figure, a face to spread out everywhere. I just didn't want to fight anymore." Harry shrugged hoping that was enough for Daryl to understand. "What about you?"

"Nothin'," Daryl muttered his tone revealing none of his thoughts on the subject, "I drifted around with my brother,"

"And he taught you everything he'd learned in the army?" Harry summarised. "It's a good thing he did, don't get me wrong, you probably did have what it took to survive without Merle's training but let me tell you, it didn't bloody hurt to learn it. For brothers so far apart in age it's a surprise you get on so well, ten years is a big difference. I would have killed for a brother, especially like yours, I know he's no saint, but he's your brother at the end of the day it matters. Not blood in particular, the bond you share, me and Luna as well as Hermione and I have that same bond they're like my sisters and I'd do anything for them…I'd certainly save them over my own remaining blood," a grimace sliding onto his face as he thought about the damn Dursley's.

Daryl didn't react to that; he already suspected Harry's childhood had been very similar to his own. The way he had spoken in the CDC had certainly alluded to that. More than eluded really.

"Even if you did have a career what good is it now? What does it matter? Why does a career matter so much that it defines who you are? You have nothing to be ashamed off, so what if you drifted around with your brother? It's a good fucking job you did, and everyone in this group should be grateful for it otherwise they probably wouldn't have survived the first month at the quarry." Harry scowled at the prospect of anyone being embarrassed at putting family first. "Family comes first, blood or otherwise." Harry stubbed the butt of the cigarette out with his shoe.

"Always has," Luna said causing both Harry and Daryl to whip around in shock they hadn't even heard her coming up. "Go get some sleep, both of you!" she reprimanded. A fierce glare on her face, booking no arguments from either of the men. "It's four o'clock in the morning."

"Nobody goes anywhere alone," Harry stated.

"Then it's a good job Merle's with me then isn't it?" Luna said he was currently doing the toilet not that she was going to say that. Dirty bugger that he was he'd said it as filthily as he possibly could, probably trying to get a rise out of her. Of course, she'd gotten the better of him which made her undeniably smug. "Anubis is outside as well, remember and take him back with you."

"Do you want to talk to Hermione?" Harry asked as he got up, "She'll send you something to eat if you want."

"Sure, I wouldn't mind something from Hogwarts," Luna smiled wistfully.

"I'll leave the box and mirror here then," Harry informed her as he took out another pack of smokes to give to Merle and closed his trunk shrinking it as he did so. "Remember to nix the lights, the heating and make the windows un-tinted before you leave."

"I will," Luna reassured him.

"I'll talk to you later," Harry said as he helped Luna get all the way through the opening so he and Daryl could get down. "Where is everyone else?" he queried, "I'm going to move the sofa bed from the guards office so Daryl isn't lying on metal, since he's too stubborn to sleep in a cell." he teased wryly.

"They're all asleep; we'll put a spell on the door so we will know if they come out, so it will be easier to use magic without worrying where they are." Luna said even though it was more of a suggestion, glancing briefly at Merle who was climbing up as well, as always grumbling under his breath. "Although I know getting runes around the prison is more important,"

"Yeah, we'll need to get what we need to make it work first, then get them planted and erect the wards to keep everyone safe, that means we won't need to do any guard duty, a bed can be put in here or something so whoever it is can sleep." Harry said flippantly. "It will have to be just inside the wards though, not outside, it will raise less suspicion that way."

"Go," Luna said pointedly, and she swore if he was up before eight o'clock she was going to glue him to the damn bed and make him stay there.

"Alright," Harry grumbled, making his way down, not seeing the Dixon brothers trying to withhold their amusement at the sight of dainty little Luna managing to make Harry sound like a little boy. Before he forgot he lobbed the packet of smokes up, he was sure Daryl could explain before he came down.

"Hey, boy," Harry said once he was down, petting Anubis as he wiggled around him excitedly, happy to see his owner. "I missed you too," he said resignedly as he was slobbered with kisses. He could no longer feel Anubis' ribs, he was putting on weight thick and fast, he didn't know if it would remain that way, when they were out again he really needed to look for dog food, enough to last through the winter so he knew the dog would be fine.

He heard the thud of Daryl's feet hitting the ground, so he stood back up, still petting at Anubis absently. "Alright let's get the sofa bed, I'll levitate it until we get near the cell block then make it lightweight so we can both get it up, just don't make it look too easy especially if they're awake." he informed him wryly, with that they headed back into the prison, the route becoming quite familiar extremely fast.

Harry never saw the intense look on Daryl's face; he wasn't used to people giving a damn about him but Harry was proving he did, in a way that wasn't raising a fuss with the shy Dixon. Daryl was beginning to realize his brother had been wrong, Merle wasn't the only one who could give a shit about him, and other people could too. Harry had saved them both without looking for a thank you, just because he could, and now he was even making sure he was comfortable by getting him a sofa bed. It was small things like that; that showed people cared wasn't it?

And they actually had a full blown conversation *crowd goes wild* LOL! it only took 36 chapters! heh and Daryls feelings are growing more and more just need the catalyst for Harry to realise what the younger Dixon feels! and its also my longest chapter to date! I hope you're still enjoying the story despite the fact its taking a while for the plot to develop! Will they remain at the prison or would you like them to live in an Army base where they actually have their own houses somewhere where they're actually safe and this will probably be quite a while before it happens but i want your opinion on it! It doesn't mean the Gov will wreak havoc either, since Harry's had the thoughts a few times...i can have them solidifying over time...will Harry come aware of what's happening at Hilltop? Perhaps running into Jesus while the group is out hunting much sooner than Rick and Daryl did? not the same place obviously but its something...what would Harry do if he became aware of Negan? Would he sort him out or leave it to others realising they'd need to grow a backbone and fight for themselves? R&R please