Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 48

Harry grabbed one of the tennis balls that was strewn everywhere, well it might be a slight exaggeration since there were only five or six overall, Harry got stuff for Anubis whenever he could, anything to keep his mind stimulated, they couldn't exactly take him for walks, so keeping him occupied and active was the next best thing. He loved to run after Sophia and Andre, so there was that, he was definitely one spoiled dog. He stretched back and flung the ball with all his might, and despite the darkness Anubis shot off after the ball, his tail wagging like crazy. Sighing softly, he sat on one of the plastic deck chairs, putting the food he'd brought onto the table, before patting his trousers he groaned when he realized he didn't have any smokes with him. Oh, he'd given them to Daryl who hadn't given them back; in fact they were probably all smoked by now, he chain smoked like a damn chimney he thought with fondness.

"Here," Daryl said, flinging over a new unopened pack; as he took a seat on the four seater wooden bench that had been brought back on one of the days they'd hardly found any supplies. The prison had a lot of stuff like that, all mismatched but nobody really cared, they were just happy to have somewhere safe where they didn't constantly need to keep an eye out for walkers biting them. He opened the can of beer he had brought with him, still trying to organize his thoughts, oddly enough despite everything he didn't want to be away from Harry. It wasn't like he needed his protection, which probably drew him in more.

"Thanks," Harry murmured quietly, opening the packet and taking one out, fishing inside his pocket for his lighter, he sparked it up just in time for Anubis to make an appearance again, chuckling in amusement, he picked the ball back up and flung it away again. Leaning back against the chair, deep in thought.

He couldn't deny that if everyone knew about magic, it would make things infinitely easier for him and Luna to protect this place, to protect everyone. Rubbing his temples, anxiety rushing through him, all his life people had reacted negatively towards magic, feared it even. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he cared and liked all those people here. Sophia, Andre and Carol more than anyone else, but he'd never admit that. Even the three newcomers to a certain extent, they hadn't been at the meeting, they were still adjusting to having somewhere safe to stay, and given how weak and rail thin they were, Harry had made sure they stayed in the cell for a few days of rest, with food and drink being brought to them, two were kids themselves…technically since it had all gone to hell and nobody was actually a 'kid' anymore other than stature.

The thought of the others fearing him…well it worried him. He knew the Dixon brothers were unique in the aspect of finding out about magic and not even blinking an eye about it. He wasn't scared they would hurt him, but rather they would let fear rule them into doing something incredibly stupid, like running away, only to be met with a herd of walkers or something. He had kept magic hidden thus far, kept them safe, and the thought of them fleeing after all this time and effort they'd spent in keeping them safe well…it would annoy him to no end. Although maybe it was time to stop thinking about creating a back-up and actually do it, considering the size he'd been told it was…it would take weeks maybe months to get it sorted (especially since his absence would be noticed if he was gone too long) and well…if they reacted badly he could just leave them the prison which was at least moderately safe at least until the wards wore down but there was nothing he could do about that. He intended on making this one under the Fidelius charm, surrounded by wards, ones that would keep out walkers indefinitely, but it was only him and Luna, he would have liked very much if there were a few other wizards and witches at his side to stabilise any wards they put up better. The beauty? He could put up any wards he wanted; he wouldn't need to explain anything…at least not yet.

"You alrigh'?" Daryl questioned, it was usually him who was silent and Harry usually spoke, even if it wasn't anything in particular. "Ain't like you to be quiet so much."

"That's usually you're thing," Harry said wryly, sighing softly, leaning each of his elbows on his knees, as he inhaled the remnants of his smoke, occasionally throwing the ball when Anubis finally decided to relinquish control of it. He flicked the butt on the floor before using his foot to stamp it out completely, not wishing for Anubis to burn his foot.

"What's up?" Daryl asked, his brow furrowing, he didn't know how to make people feel better; he was no good at that. He wasn't good at much, but he wanted to try at least.

"It's getting a bit too dangerous, this place is a bit too open, and I've done all I can to protect it without alerting the others," Harry admitted, "It's time I started building up another safe place, a back up, but this one will have everything it needs to stay magically concealed…"

"So tell em," Daryl shrugged, it would solve all Harry's problems, it was as simple as that, if they didn't like it they knew where to go.

"People don't react well to learning about magic," Harry sighed, "They fear what they don't have or understand you and Merle are very rare exceptions to the rules. Every non-magical person that have found out in the past, that I know about anyway…their reactions were violent to say the least, or they ran fast and far, while they are good enough to survive now…most of them anyway, I don't want them leaving and ending up dead. It's why I've decided to put the back up into affect, that way when they find out and want to leave…they don't have to, they can stay safe within the prison and I'll go."

"Then they don't deserve your protection," Daryl hissed out, hackles rose at the thought of any of them trying to hurt Harry. He would kill anyone that tried, and he meant that. Although he believed everyone in the group would be grateful for the added protection, he knew he was. Magic fascinated him, he loved learning about it actually, and there was so much to learn. Given how his relatives had obviously reacted…he understood Harry's reluctance to share his abilities with the rest of the group. He imaged it would be like him willingly wanting to talk about the abuse he suffered, and that ain't ever going to happen. He couldn't help the snort he let out just thinking about it.

Harry just smirked sardonically, the Dursley's hadn't deserved protection, and they loudly proclaimed their disgust for all things magical but had taken him in and with it the protection against all magical people who would try to kill them. They'd accepted the aid of the magic they so disgusted, just so they could protect their worthless lives. He wouldn't allow that to happen again, he wouldn't stick around magic fearing people who despised him.

"When and where are ya putting the backup?" Daryl asked, downing the last of his beer, he probably shouldn't have brought it out; Harry had made it more than clear he couldn't stand the sight of alcohol. He didn't need to ask why, he had a very good guess on that front, and really it couldn't be considered a guess. His family had obviously been worse when they were drunk, more abusive, just like his own father had been. Harry had gone the opposite from himself; he had begun drinking to dim the memories and pain, while Harry avoided it like the plague.

"Well the map I've got…Fort Benning is massive, not to mention a great deal of its open country, after we've gone hunting I'm going to have a look and get the Fidelius charm up," Harry said decisively. Fort Benning was a United States Army base straddling the Alabama-Georgia border next to Columbus, Georgia. Fort Benning had supported more than 120,000 active-duty military, family members, reserve component soldiers, retirees, and civilian employees on a daily basis before the world had ended. It had been a power projection platform, and used to have the capability to deploy combat-ready forces by air, rail, and highway. Fort Benning had been the home of the United States Army Manoeuvre Centre of Excellence, the United States Army Armour School, United States Army Infantry School, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (formerly known as the School of the Americas), elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd Brigade – 3rd Infantry Division, and had other additional tenant units according to the information he'd gotten from the map. For all he knew, maybe they had managed to keep itself standing, but he knew as he thought this that it wasn't likely. They will have been deployed everywhere when this was happening, probably helped napalm the city, he would be finding out soon.

"You scoffed when Shane brought it up," Daryl frowned, wondering why he was suddenly thinking about going somewhere he had nixed months ago.

"You're forgetting one fundamental thing, if I wasn't a wizard I wouldn't be attempting this," Harry admitted quietly, "With the Fidelius Charm up I can take my time without fearing that someone else will find it and take over."

"What is the Fidelius Charm?" Daryl queried, "Fidelius means faithful," it was one of the rare Latin words he actually knew.

"More worthy and faithful actually," Harry said offhandedly, sparking up another smoke, it was becoming a nervous habit. "It might just be the name, but its meaning will be more than clear when you realise what it does. The charm literally hides people and buildings behind the strongest of wards. Say for instance this place, if everyone went out, and I cast the spell over it, putting a secret keeper into place, people will forget where it is, they'll not remember it, they could pass a dozen times but they won't see anything, just an empty space. Only I and whoever is the secret keeper here would know, and the only way anyone would ever find out is if we told them the secret, which is where the building is, it can be told verbally or written down. To allow someone to be a secret keeper of your home is one of the most trusting things one can do. It takes a lot of faith and worthiness to allow it; in fact my parents went under that spell to keep me safe."

Daryl winced; considering Harry's parents were dead…they had obviously trusted the wrong person with the secret.

"Judging by your expression you already worked out how it went down, not that had to know considering you know quite a bit about my life, they trusted their lives and my life with one of their best friends, they'd been friends for eleven years but that loyalty was one sided. The charm had only been up one week when he betrayed them to Voldemort who murdered them and tried to kill me. That aside, anyone we inform about the location cannot inform someone else; it can only be revealed by the secret keeper. It would keep Fort Benning safe, completely secluded." Harry explained.

"You've been thinking about this for a while," Daryl said shrewdly, not judging him.

"After everything I've been through…I um, I like to have more than one option," Harry revealed, inhaling before blowing the smoke out, Anubis he noticed had stopped playing and was just lying on the grass panting softly.

Daryl nodded with a grunt, it was the soldier in Harry, and he would have been impressed if he wasn't already in awe of Harry's abilities. His shrewdness and caution was keeping everyone alive and safe. Having a back up plan was a smart move, although it sounded to him as if Harry was readying himself for leaving when people find out about magic - thinking they would be disgusted with him. He was holding back because of that he realized, he had ways to make them completely safe but he wasn't doing it because of them. He wasn't sure whether to be annoyed at them or try and persuade Harry to do it anyway, that if they didn't like it they knew where to go.

"I want to come with you," Daryl said, he knew Harry didn't need him to keep safe, but he also didn't like the thought of him going off alone.

Harry turned to face Daryl in the darkness, giving a single nod and a small smile, "I'd like that. I need someone to be the secret keeper anyway and who better than you?"

Daryl gaped at Harry, understanding the meaning behind it, he had Harry's complete and total trust, and once again he couldn't help but feel unworthy, he was a just a stupid redneck, no, he thought to himself angrily, he wasn't going to listen to his fathers voice anymore. If Harry thought he was worthy, then surely it must mean something? Harry didn't trust easily or at all, Luna said, so he couldn't be worthless like he always felt.

"We'll need to get some sleep since we're going to be up really early tomorrow." Harry commented as he stood up, pocketing his smokes before grabbing the food he'd left out on the table. "Night," he added to Daryl as he wandered back into the prison, glad that it hadn't ended up awkward between them, as he had promised though, he would be there when Daryl was ready. Hearing a whistle, Anubis ran to catch up with his human, ignoring the sound of the walkers snarling at the fences.

Unsurprisingly despite their very early morning, Carol was up and making food for them, how she knew they were going hunting he had no idea, he hadn't told her or anyone he didn't think…no, he definitely hadn't. Either Daryl had mentioned it in passing or Carol was just up earlier than normal, but she wasn't cooking for everyone, it was just two people right now, for them.

"Unable to sleep?" Harry queried as he wandered in, stretching absently, Anubis had been out for a pee not too long ago before he bound away to the cell block again, presumably to be nearer Sophia, Anubis knew he didn't get to come with him, so he was maybe used to the routine now.

"I got too much sleep if anything," Carol said, smiling at them as she stirred the scrambled eggs, those two did more for the group than anyone else, they deserved the eggs more than anyone else. There was a few vital ingredients missing from it, but what else could they do? It wasn't as if they could churn butter or find cows.

"I'm glad I'm not going to be around to deal with the hangovers most of them will have," Harry chuckled in devious amusement.

Daryl just groaned.

Carol just glanced over them amused herself, she'd only had one glass, and same with Mira, the rest of them had gotten completely smashed. Ladling the scrambled egg onto plates, she added the bacon (tinned bacon) and hotdogs onto the plate before passing them over to the hangover Daryl and grinning Harry. Harry seemed to have gotten over how tense he was yesterday, all of them worried, but unfortunately worry was an expected state no matter what these days.

"Thanks, Carol," Harry murmured, scooping up the eggs, taking delight in them, he'd had them only once, they took turns in what the chickens gave out each day.

Daryl gave his customary grunt and nod to show his own appreciation as he ate hastily.

"Be careful out there," Carol said, as always concerned about them and yes even Merle and Luna when they went out too.

"Aren't we always?" Harry said smiling in reassurance; it was them he worried about.

"Yes, yes you are," she agreed, sitting down with a dark tea in her hand. It didn't stop her worry about them every second they were away from the prison; the thought of anything happening to them filled her with dread.

"We best get going," Harry said, standing up, grabbing Daryl's empty plate, both of them were still hungry, they always were every meal they had; it just wasn't enough for a grown person, or growing as it were for Sophia. Though Harry had asked Hermione to send a few things over last night at a certain time, which would be right about now actually if Hermione was already up, which she would be. "We'll be back before it gets dark as always, if not…you can assume something has gone wrong."

Daryl rolled his eyes as he stood up, grabbing his crossbow, Harry said that every single time he left their base.

With that the three of them left on foot, opening the gates themselves and it wasn't until Daryl and Harry got outside the main gate did Carol close the prison back down. Once they were out of sight, she wandered back into the prison, wrinkling her nose at the bags of dogs poo that lay in a metal bin at the side of the door they always picked up after Anubis, with children playing they didn't want to wash the dirt from their shoes or clothes if they ended up in it.

Harry stopped when they were far enough away from the prison not to be seen, after looking around of course, but Daryl always had his back. He quickly removed his trunk and returned it to its normal size, grabbing the box that Luna had brought with her (and a vial while he was at it) that allowed food to be brought here from Hogwarts. "Here," Harry said, opening the box and handing Daryl two double cheese burgers and the vial, he gripped a hold of his own before replacing the box and shrunk the trunk and put it back safely in his pocket. "It's a hangover cure, don't use it all, a single gulp will do, keep the rest for another time, I'm sure plenty will come up." he informed him dryly.

Daryl didn't need told twice, he drank some of the contents, sighing in relief as his pounding headache, dry mouth and aches disappeared, it was as if the hangover had never been there, potions were just bloody brilliant he couldn't help but think. The smell of the burgers held his attention most, slipping the vial into his pocket he eagerly began to unwrap the burgers and scoff them down in six large bites as they moved into the trees.

Harry ate his own burgers at a more sedate pace, letting Daryl take the lead on the hunt for the food they hoped to bring back since he'd already finished his burgers. They walked together in silence, it was never uncomfortable, not even in the beginning, Daryl had been too curious in the beginning to feel uncomfortable and Harry was too determined to learn.

Hours passed and the only thing Daryl or Harry had to show for it was a bunch of squirrels, not as much as they normally found either.

"S' too bad you can't use magic to find em," Daryl said, after hours of hunting only to be sorely disappointed. The walkers were killing everything in sight, which included their food sources; it annoyed the hell out of him.

"What we need is something with a great sense of smell, something that can point us in the right direction," Harry pointed out, "It's too bad I can't turn into an Animagus." depending on what he became it could have come in handy, although honestly, it was probably more dangerous, everyone was hunting what animals they could, he'd probably end up shot - not something he wanted a repeat of.

"Animagus?" Daryl echoed he wasn't familiar with that word yet.

"All wizards and witches have the potential to turn into an Animagus," Harry explained as they moved, sometimes crouching down to move leaves and such to see the imprint in the mud underneath it. "Only the potential though, one never knows until they try. My father and two of his friends accomplished it while they were at Hogwarts, by the time they were fifteen or sixteen at least, and something that shouldn't have been possible especially without help, but my dad was one of the best in his class at transfiguration."

"The stag, you mentioned your dad when you spoke about the Patronus," Daryl realized, nodding belatedly, so he had heard of that word it just hadn't sunk in.

"Yes, he had the ability to turn into a stag, my godfather could turn into a black dog that resembled the grim, the one that betrayed my parents was a rat," Harry said snorting derisively, that should have been the first warning really. "They gave themselves nicknames, Prongs my dad, Padfoot my godfather and the rat was named Wormtail, they all did it to help their other friend Remus Lupin, who was a werewolf. They named him Moony."

"An honest to god werewolf? As in full moon in all that shit?" Daryl asked surprised.

"Yeah, he turned into a werewolf every month, we have a potion that allows werewolves to retain their right mind when they turn, and so it's like being forced into an Animagus form I suppose. Before that though the turn was excruciating," Harry explained, picking up a trail, he squashed down the hope, they'd been at this for hours, they'd probably either find it eaten and rotten away, or nothing after trailing after it. "Remus was locked away so he didn't hurt anyone during the full moon, but werewolves thirsted for blood, they were hungry for what they would eat, it resulted in Moony biting at himself, to satisfy its need for bloodlust…there was a few who could actually change form without it being the full moon, although they were rare and it was only those who had embraced there wolf fully. Remus saw it as a curse, but his friends helped him see himself in a better light…but he never truly accepted that part of himself it didn't help that everyone who knew treated him like a leaper. They weren't treated kindly at all, just because of what happens during a full moon," his disgust was plain to hear.

"Guess there's prejudice everywhere," Daryl commented, glancing sideways at Harry to see how he took it. It was his world he was speaking badly about after all.

"My world was just as bad for prejudice as this one," Harry shrugged, "It's why I don't bother trying to fix it, no matter where you go someone's always got an opinion. Better to just leave it, one thing I've learned is that you can't change peoples mind, they have to do it on their own, whether their belief's make sense or not…" and most of the time the belief's in his world didn't make one lick of sense.

Daryl actually agreed with that, both he and his brother had been through it at one point or another. They continued their trek, keeping an eye on the tracks as they did so. Daryl had just knelt down to inspect yet another print not ten minutes later.

"Don't move," Harry said, Daryl froze his fingers flexing against his crossbow, then he heard the hissing, his head jerked up to face Harry, his thoughts had been right, it was Harry hissing and not a snake. With a wordless gesture of his hand that Daryl understood, he began to slowly stand up, aiming his crossbow at the snake that he now knew to be there due to its own hissing which was slightly different to Harry's. "Don't, it's just hungry like you are," Harry removed one of the squirrels from his belt, flinging it over to the hungry snake, hissing that it had just been killed not too long ago, not that the rattlesnake seemed to care, he was already consuming the thing whole.

"Do all wizards talk to snakes?" Daryl asked curiously.

"No, it's exceptionally rare, only one family has ever had the ability, it's called Parseltongue, I'm a parselmouth, the only one left, its considered a dark gift, its to the belief of everyone in my world that anyone with the ability is dark themselves," Harry explained, "When everyone found out they turned against me, it wasn't the only time though, I got used to it." he told Daryl smirking darkly, but there was a bitterness to it that even Daryl could see. Harry hissed at the snake to be careful and to burrow down, that it wasn't safe up here anymore.

"What are you two saying?" Daryl asked, watching them converse, it was bloody weird, he couldn't deny that but there was something mystical about it, magical and like all new things he learned about magic, he loved it.

"She wants to come with us," Harry said wryly, "I explained she couldn't, but she'd arguing with me,"

"She?" Daryl asked bemused.

"Yes, her names Celesta," Harry grinned at the look on Daryl's face he looked perplexed.

A rattlesnake named Celesta? He stared at Harry wondering if he was having him on. There was no way, that rattlesnake would have struck by now if it wasn't true. Harry continued to surprise him, would this awe he felt ever fade away?

Harry laughed, turning to face Daryl, "She's agreed to help us hunt for food if I take her with us, now I know why the emblem of Slytherin house is truly a snake. Cunning little thing that she is I suppose I could leave her at Fort Benning, somewhere where the damn walkers wont get her at least until I've cleared the area fully."

Daryl just shrugged, not bothered either way, but it looked as though Harry was stepping up his plans for Fort Benning; as long as he went with him he honestly didn't mind. While he was there he knew he'd be getting to see a whole lot more magic.

I know no kissing yet...So where will Daryl give in? Fort Benning while its just the two of them? The prison where its just the two of them? or will be plant one in front of everyone after getting jealous again (that would be the only way i think...Daryl is very...private and I doubt he'd want everyone to know his life :P just sticking to his character here it's very important for me :)...!) I know many of you will be scoffing at the thought of them going to a military base that there are many other places they could go...it's something I've decided on...plus i'm sure places like that probably have their own water sources and solar panels etc...which gives Harry less to do :D if not well it will have by the time its up and running...the story can't last forever after all...will Rick be able to yield his own leadership status to Harry? Trust someone else and let go himself? Or will they butt heads and Rick be asked to leave? I personally can't decide lol BUT thankfully I have a few more chapters before that comes into the picture :D soon we'll see the group again...would you like to hear their thoughts and them having a conversation about how things have been or just thoughts while skipping over the hardship? R&R please!