Walking Dead Wizard
Chapter 92
Daryl gaped when he got his first full sight that was the Hogwarts castle in all her glory. Not that he'd really stopped gaping since he walked through. The ghosts had been an interesting experience, that had thoroughly freaked him the fuck out, not that he'd admit to it. For a few hours Harry had shown Daryl all his old haunts, Gryffindor common room, the potions lab, astronomy tower, letting him see Hogwarts from that angle. The only place he didn't bother taking Daryl was the Chamber of Secrets, although he reckoned Daryl would have loved to have seen the basilisk.
Two and a half hours after they first appeared, Harry showed Daryl what Hogwarts looked like from the outside. It looked untouched…by the horror of the outside world. How many schools were the same? At least it gave hope for humanity, even if it meant being stuck here. Although, it definitely wouldn't be any hardship, by the look of it. There was some sort of game going on, and there were dozens of people down at the lake, and even some people puttering around the greenhouses. His sharp eyes even caught sight of animals in the forbidden forest – not that he knew what that was – just a blur but nonetheless there.
"They're playing Quidditch," Harry said, watching the game with a wistful look on his face.
"You play?" Daryl asked, watching the game curiously for a few minutes, he'd never cared for sports, not like his Da and Merle, he preferred solitary things, like hunting, being on his own, not hollering at a TV as if it would make one ounce of a difference to the game currently being played. There was cheering going on right now, but it was nothing over-the-top in terms of loudness. Although that might have something to do with how far away from the actual pitch they were.
"Yeah," Harry said, shrugging indifferently, or trying to play it off that way.
"Harry became the youngest Seeker of the century," Minerva spoke. "He was quite frankly the best seeker to grace Hogwarts school." The right build for it too. Finally having caught up with him, she'd known the moment he entered the school, she hadn't told the others yet.
"If I hadn't been The-Boy-Who-Lived or a Gryffindor I doubt I would have became that," Harry said dismissively. Only Minerva who was an avid Quidditch fan – not that everyone knew this surprisingly given her actions – would bend the rules in order to get Gryffindor to win. She also took quite the risk too, it could have blown up in her face, helped along by the fact they hadn't a seeker and were desperate.
Daryl looked between the pair of them, slightly uncomfortable. He didn't like anyone being in his personal space, well, except Harry, but that was the obvious exception. He took a step back, and relaxed a little, Harry had relaxed the moment he stepped foot in Hogwarts. Part of him worried that Harry would want to stay, he didn't belong here, he knew that, and he definitely wouldn't be able to follow him here. The only reason he'd left Britain was because he hadn't been able to get into Hogwarts to begin with.
"That is not true," Minerva stated firmly, unsurprised by Harry's recriminations and self-doubt. It didn't rear its ugly head often, but when it did…it was normally for good reason. It was understandable that he might doubt his own abilities especially when it came to being The-Boy-Who-Lived, he had gotten away with a trite more than most students would have and that didn't help matters. "You didn't win nearly every single game you participated in by sheer dumb luck," in fact, Harry had only lost one single game, and that was extenuating circumstances. Harry wasn't responsible for the affects the Dementors have on him.
Harry snorted, shaking his head ruefully, "How is everyone?" changing the subject gracefully, squeezing Daryl's forearm in silent reassurance. He knew Daryl didn't take well to new people, preferred fading into the background, although if anyone did anything to endanger those he cared about…they'd see a whole new side to the normally quiet hunter. He couldn't help but still want to show Daryl where he came from, his home, a place he loved very much. Despite all the bad that had happened, just like Daryl had loved the cabin they'd been until they were overrun and had to leave or risk being bitten.
"We are surviving, thriving, it's all we can ask," Minerva informed them, with a small smile. They had everything they'd need here to survive, for the next generation to survive. That was all that mattered.
"Take us to the walkers," Harry half suggested, half commanded, and with that Minerva merely nodded and begun stalking off towards the direction of the gates of Hogwarts.
She didn't reprimand Harry for the way he spoke, he had spent so long on the outside on his own then leading a group to safety. He was a leader and deserved to be respected like one, although truthfully…he'd been a leader long before the apocalypse had started.
"They surrounding the castle?" Daryl asked Minerva, more comfortable talking about something he was quite an expert in.
"Yes, but they cannot gain entrance," Minerva explained, "Unfortunately, we cannot get out of the wards to deal with them." which made it so they couldn't get out of Hogwarts – with the exception of the cupboards of course – they were stuck but there were definitely worse places to be stuck in.
"Doesn't magic help get rid of em?" Daryl asked, as they stepped off the grass and onto gravel. Despite the fact he had been on the move since this morning, and then for the past few hours, he wasn't the least bit exhausted. Hell, he had hunted for days in the past until Harry put a stop to it during the apocalypse, the need to know each other was okay, meant that they only hunted for up to ten hours before they returned whether they caught anything or not.
"It bounces back," Minerva informed him, "I suppose we could have gotten rid of them when the wards were at their weakest before Luna fixed them, but sending someone out to the masses…it was suicidal." Especially if they didn't get back inside in time. At the time they hadn't known very well how to handle the walkers, and not a lot of people could cast Fiendfyre successfully, and they definitely didn't want the school catching of fire again. The idiot of a Slytherin boy had almost burnt Hogwarts down years before.
"I thought it was only supposed to protect those on the inside, why does it stop magic goin' out?" Daryl asked perplexed.
"The dome doesn't pick and choose, it does it's job on either side," Harry explained before his professor could get into a long winded explanation, which she most definitely would have, she was a teacher after all. She was much like Hermione in that way. Its why nobody had duelled until the wards had fallen during the battle of Hogwarts all those years ago. He wondered what Voldemort would have made of this plague upon the earth. He supposed Voldemort was right about some things, Muggles had been the end of them.
Daryl grunted, as they walked swiftly towards the gates, which were as expected closed. The school as shut down as possible without trapping the occupants of Hogwarts actually in the school itself. "Well I'll be…" staring at the masses of walkers all around him. Other than when he'd been in Fort Benning before it came PA he'd never seen such a collection of walkers before. He could see nothing except the hoard that surrounded them. There wasn't a single break in the lines of walkers.
"Have you noticed more lately or is it less?" surely more couldn't be making their way here, it was impossible, most of the damn area was sealed off. Protecting the castle and its inhabitants from Muggles.
"We don't make our way down here often," Minerva admitted, "We can feel the wards, we have no need to worry about them." which was true enough. There was no point to worrying about them until they actually had to worry. Although Severus had made contingencies for when such a thing becomes necessary, which they all knew due to Harry's dealings with them.
Daryl loaded his crossbow and aimed out at the first walker that was eye to eye. Not worried that the metal rods for the gates were too close together for him, he was an expect when it came to aim. He waited until Harry removed his wand and nodded at him, confirming he'd have it if it bounced back. Then seconds later, he squeezed the trigger, it hit the walker between the eyes, and it was down, ceasing its groaning. It was immediately replaced with another, being stepped on as if it wasn't there. Harry pocketed his wand absently, both working so well together that they never even needed to utter a word.
"We didn't think…" Minerva wanted to groan in exasperation, they hadn't thought to actually use weaponry to try and take care of the problem. Then along comes a Muggles – not that she had any problems with them, she had Muggles in her family, her own father had been one after all – and bam a solution. All those smart minds they had here, and none of them had thought to use a Muggle weapon, she was mortified, and she knew the others would react the same way. Then again, those smart minds had primarily been focused on a cure not the walkers out front.
"Not surprising, we rely too heavily upon magic," Harry said, pondering on whether he should bring some sniper rifles here and let someone deal with them. Either that or let Luna and Merle have fun with them, they'd see it as a competition and try to outdo each other. He snorted inwardly at his own thoughts.
"Ain't we," Daryl shook his head, "They," he grunted, Harry had never relied on his magic, not even to get better after being shot with a damn arrow when they first met. He would use it when he must, but he knew how to use an assortment of weapons from guns to knives. He only used magic against a large herd, so's not to use up the ammunition they had.
Harry just smiled, "If this is what they're like all around…it could take months to deal with them all," Harry informed her.
"We don't have anything better to do, plus, this has given us more hope than we've had in a long while." Minerva confessed, other than the two way cupboards of course. It's the first time they'd been able to actually go somewhere since the school locked down.
"You're forgetting the passageway to Hogshead," Harry pointed out, "Is that too cut off?"
"I…have absolutely no idea," Minerva confessed, "I presume Hermione may believe it to be so…if she knew about it?" more of a question than a statement. Not surprised that there were passageways she didn't know about, the school was full of little hideouts that were still being found to this day. Not even as Headmistress was she aware of all the ins and outs of the castle.
"We knew," Harry nodded, "It's how they got to safety when the Death Eaters invaded Hogwarts," remaining confined to the Room of requirements in order to escape persecution. So, more than one person should have thought about it unless they just assumed all passageways were cut off too. Neville definitely knew, he'd been unknowingly coached by Severus during that year, who was doing all he could to protect the students.
"Would one of them RPG's work in getting rid of loads o' em?" Daryl asked Harry, they had hundreds if not thousands of them in the vault back in PA. "Ain't anything to hit nearby, sept the tracks or rocks." The train tracks where the Hogwarts express made it's way from Kings Cross station.
"The wards would likely slow it down, but to an extent I have no idea how much, but yeah, I think it might be worth a try," Harry nodded, "Can't hurt, although we should probably try at the other side of Hogwarts, where nothing can be caught in the backlash." Vividly reminded of the tank and his own wards at the prison, "Might need to go about it the long way with just single projectiles."
Minerva just smiled, they had hope at getting the wards to let up, it was more than they had thought possible a day ago so she couldn't complain. With that they begun walking away from the walkers and the gates of Hogwarts, making their way directly back to the castle itself, all the while making small talk. Or Harry was, Daryl remained silent, having used his allotted words for the day.
"How is Hermione?" Harry asked, "She working?" having no doubt she was, probably both Hermione, Severus and Draco come to that. Some of the brightest minds of the age working together, whether they succeeded or not, you knew they would do everything they could to fix whatever this was.
"At the moment I believe they're in the Great Hall, dinner is about to be served," Minerva explained, "After one too many times of them missing meals we made it so that they didn't miss a single one." Their health was vital to the continued efforts they were making to help the entire world. She'd thought Severus was bad, but the three together? It was worse.
"How long until the game finishes?" Harry asked, gesturing behind him towards the pitch. "Unless, they'll continue to play?"
"Twenty-minutes before they're called in," Minerva informed him.
"Want to get something to eat?" Harry asked Daryl, "Or wait until we get home?" they'd stay until the rest of the students descended on the Great Hall in droves. Daryl wouldn't be comfortable with so many people there.
Daryl relaxed fully hearing Harry referring to the PA as 'home' just knowing Harry considered it home eased him immensely. He wasn't sure why he was thinking about it so much today, when he'd known Harry had a way to get to Hogwarts, and had done so for weeks…perhaps it was the fact he wanted to come here that had woken his fears? "Yeh want to see Mione' go see her," Daryl said, "I can eat," although he definitely wanted some of that venison, he had caught it before he left after all. He could have it for supper.
"Hogwarts food is the best," Harry declared, as they walked up the steps and into the main entrance hall again. "The House-elves know what they're doing,"
"Speaking of em' ET's, what you going to do with em?" Daryl asked, "They can't just stay in the house forever," too many of em.
"ET's?" Minerva asked, was one of the House-elves named Et? Such a strange name for a House-elf.
"I called upon my House-elves, I didn't expect the amount that I got…" Harry admitted, shaking his head ruefully. "I don't want everyone to rely so fully on magic or magical creatures…but at the same time they need something to do."
"How many did you acquire?" Minerva asked, lips twitching in amusement, uncaring that technically what Harry had done was again the law. There was nobody left to uphold it, plus really, what was the harm in summoning your House-elves?
"I didn't count them, but there were dozens of them, they took up the entire living room and then some," Harry said, lips twitching in remembrance, Merlin, it was ridiculous. Yet plans began to form.
"Don't send them here," Minerva warned him, "For Merlin's sake, we have so many here that we're struggling to give them tasks on a daily basis." That was with everyone in the school, which was hard to believe, but very true. They very nearly outcounted them when it came to House-elves versus humans. A slight exaggeration on her part, but it felt true some days when they were asking for things to do.
Harry laughed a little, "Don't worry about that," he wished Dobby was still alive, he'd always been fond of the little creature, and wouldn't see any of them abandoned. Not doing anything must be driving them mental though, he'd need to decide soon.
"Harry!" Hermione squealed the second she saw him enter the Great Hall. Severus who was sat next to her winced, while Draco rolled his eyes, amusement dancing in them, his lips twitching, a lot had changed since the world had ended, and Draco was one of them.
"Potter," Draco said, giving a nod as the wizard approached the head table.
"Malfoy," Harry nodded back, "I'd like you to meet my partner, Daryl Dixon, Daryl, this is Draco Malfoy, and you've met the others," seeing no need to introduce them again.
"Dixon," Malfoy stated giving a nod, giving the Muggle a weird look, he could barely believe a Muggle was actually in Hogwarts. He was probably one of the first Muggles to step foot in her halls since the wards had gone up. Even the Muggle Born parents didn't get to come in.
Harry considered that a win, at least he wasn't squealing like a little girl over the fact he was face to face with a Muggle. Or grimacing in disgust and going off on a long winded rant about 'telling his father about this…' or some such nonsense. He honestly could have foreseen that being the reaction years ago, Draco was a Pureblood raised son of a wizard who loathed Muggles, so he had never interacted with them.
Daryl just grunted, not at all interested in talking, although he did get a great deal of amusement at the blonde's eyes widening upon seeing his crossbow, honestly, you'd think he'd never seen a weapon before the way he was acting.
"Eat up," Minerva said, Harry was too skinny, but he'd always been that way.
Hogwarts had changed the way it dispensed food, upon the first few weeks of the apocalypse. When they realized just how much food was actually being wasted, and with concerns raised about how long this thing could last, much less was being made or consumed. It was now placed on a plate and kept under warming charms until it was eaten, and only one per person.
The second the plate of food appeared on his plate his stomach decided it did not like the smell. Gagging at the scents wafting up his nose, Harry leapt from his seat, and bolted around the table and ran towards the antechamber, and proceeded to lose the contents of his stomach in the corner, he could feel people behind him and groaned. Hopefully it would only be Daryl, because he didn't want everyone to have observed him puking his guts up, it was embarrassing. Not only embarrassing…but Harry was beginning to worry. He never got sick, and the fact he was now being sick…Harry began to wonder if he was ill.
"Does he have any other symptoms?" Harry groaned when he heard Poppy, presumably talking to Daryl.
"Nah, just sick, ain't the first time," Daryl murmured, brow furrowed, showing a little of his own concern. "I thought wizards couldn't get No-Maj illnesses?" it's what he had been told.
"No, we can get them, we just don't suffer from them, they've very easily dealt with," Poppy explained in her normal curt demeanour. "With a few potions whatever ails them is usually gone within a minute." And she was in no way exaggerating, at least when it came to her experience, but she wasn't all knowing.
Harry just grumbled, "I'm fine," not daring to get up quite yet.
Poppy kept talking to Daryl as Harry regained control over his own body. Asking him question after question. "Leave him alone, Poppy," Harry muttered, wanting to add 'he doesn't like being pestered' but he felt another bout of sickness coming on, thankfully, his stomach decided it didn't need to rebel further and it receded.
Despite his grumbled complaints, the voices continued nattering in his ear causing him to groan even more dramatically. Why did nobody ever listen to him? Why did Daryl have to keep talking? Didn't he hate doctors? Why was he talking to one then? well, for all intents and purposes she was a doctor of sorts, just a magical one.
"You're coming with me to the Hospital wing," Poppy stated curtly.
"I'm fine!" Harry stated sharply, starting to stand up, managing to do so successfully, "See?" showing off his balance, which was perfectly fine. Absently banishing the sick, and another spell got rid of the smell, leaving behind a pleasant lemon scent behind.
"And if there is something wrong and you end up killing yourself out there? What happens to everyone else? Your group? Luna? Daryl? Hermione?" Poppy went right for the jugular, she knew how stubborn he was, but also knew his weaknesses. She'd taken care of him for six years while he was at Hogwarts and known him considerably longer, despite the fact he had been away from Hogwarts for quite some time now. People don't change that quickly, so she knew this was the best way to get him checked out without him putting up too much of a fight.
Harry narrowed his eyes, damn her, she knew just what to say to get to him. He swallowed thickly, his own doubts squirming like a living thing in his belly. Prevention was better than the cure, he'd just have to suck it up and endure the examination, he was probably just feeling under the weather due to the stain he'd been under…and maybe a bit of the flu too. He couldn't tell his people to do one thing then proceed to do another thing on his own.
Lead by example.
"Fine, just lets get this over with," Harry sighed dramatically, but he sobered up seeing the genuine concern in Daryl's eyes, "I'll be fine," he added softly, giving him a small smile, that hid how apprehensive he was.
Or perhaps he didn't do it well enough, judging by the narrowed eyes he received in turn. Daryl was way too perceptive, except for the things he was wilfully blind to of course. Everyone had something they were wilfully blind regarding though, so it wasn't a matter of some being that way and others not.
Just as they began making their way out the students who had been playing Quidditch descended upon the great hall. By the sounds of it, the snitch had been caught, and they were in high spirits.
"In a few years there will be no students left to teach," Poppy said shaking her head, "I'm not sure how the teachers will feel about that." they were going to be bored to tears. Fortunately, quite a few of the 'students' that had 'graduated' had begun apprenticeships, learning what they could, keeping their minds busy. Helping to take Harry's mind off his worries and fears. It was common for people to hide from certain ailments for fear of finding out something was really wrong.
"I noticed that the common rooms looked more like sitting rooms these days," Harry said, very different from how he remembered them. None had been more disconcerting than seeing that nearly every surface was covered with baby things. Not in a bad way, just different, as so much was these days.
"That's because most of the dorms have been converted into living quarters for families," Poppy explained as she guided Harry down to the Hospital wing, all the while keeping an eye on Harry. "Slytherin dorms are now used for the students still in school." She had helped mothers give birth to twenty children since this all begun, a dozen of them bonded, the rest…well, the rest were still together unbonded and unmarried but seemed nonetheless happy enough.
"That makes sense," Harry agreed, the urge to ask Poppy to just forget it was strong, but he knew that Poppy wouldn't give in. Plus, if there was something wrong…he didn't want Daryl, Merle, Luna or anyone else he cared about paying the price. Plus, he did want something to help with that sick feeling still lurking under the surface.
"How long do you think it will be before Hermione joins us?" Poppy asked with a teasing smile, glancing at Daryl who was following with a scowl twisting his features. She didn't bother with empty platitudes, but whatever it was, she was sure she could heal him with the aid of a few potions. She wouldn't be surprised if he was just run down, he wasn't getting enough sleep by the look of it.
Harry laughed a little, "I'm surprised she isn't already following," he said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. She was just as protective as Luna when it came to him, despite the fact he could look after himself. Glancing back as if suspecting she would be.
"Oh, Severus will have encouraged her to wait, he knows Hermione won't get in until I'm finished." Poppy waved it off, it had surprised her when she realized that Severus and Hermione were together, but actually seeing them together they actually fit. Someone who could keep up with Hermione's spectacular mind, and someone who wasn't afraid to stand up to her and tell her when she's wrong and prove it. Hermione had also calmed down and didn't feel the constant need to prove herself with Severus. They weren't exactly the most affectionate couple she knew, but they did care, it shone through.
"He's treating her right, isn't he?" Harry asked, already knowing Snape was a man of honour. Well, insofar anyway, he was still the most singularly the biggest grudge-bearing wizard he'd ever met. He would never be the best of friends with Snape, but he'd always trust him to have his back. It was an odd relationship for sure, but it had taken seven long years to reach that conclusion. Fingers absently brushing against Daryl's unconsciously just making sure he was nearby.
Poppy just gave him an inscrutable look, before caving, "She's just fine, can you see her allowing anyone to be disrespectful?" knowing that Harry was just worried and he already knew the answer. No doubt Harry had thought he'd never see her again, only speaking through the two-way books that they'd used to keep in touch since the beginning.
Harry grinned wickedly, vividly reminded of Hermione actually losing her cool and slapping Draco across the face. "Point," Harry conceded as he reluctantly entered the Hospital wing, somewhere he hadn't seen in years. It was quite possible that this was the only place that hadn't changed at all, oh, except an added room, that wasn't Poppy's office he realized.
"Put this on and sit on the bed," Poppy informed him, putting a hospital gown in his arms. She was going to give him a full physical, who knows when she'd get him back here. Flicking her wand, not giving Harry time to say anything before the curtains were drawn around the bed, giving him privacy.
Daryl paced just outside the Hospital wing, not entering he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He didn't like hospitals, never had done, and that hadn't changed just because the world had ended. The more he paced and worried, the greater the desire was to go to Harry.
Ten minutes had passed, and Daryl was counting, ten whole minutes, it normally only took a few seconds for Harry to cast the diagnosis charm, wasn't that what the witch was supposed to be doing? Growling low in his throat, his brother taunting him in his own mind for being a coward. Stiffening his shoulders, he stepped in, he second he did so he could hear what was going on.
"…mean pregnant?" Harry's voice was high and incredulous. "You need to do that damn scan again because it's not possible!"
And Daryl's steps faltered, standing still, like a statue, listening to the conversation between the healer witch and Harry.
"Excuse me?" Poppy sounded both confused and indignant at Harry's slight.
"I know it's impossible to get pregnant without potions, which I. Have. Not. Taken." Harry enunciated quite politely, but he could have been politer about it. "Neither I or Daryl have even spoken about having a family…" which considering Daryl, his and Merle's reactions to Lori getting pregnant…well, he doubted very much it was something he wanted.
"Did you hit your head in the past year or so?" Poppy suddenly asked.
"Wha…no, I don't think so, Poppy…" Harry ground out, "What is going on?" he could tell she knew something he didn't and that did not sit well with him at all.
"You do not remember the conversation you and I had when you were thirteen years old?" Poppy asked delicately, the sound of shuffling was heard as she sat down. "It happened on the fifth of November 1993," she declared reading the information on the chart.
"The fifth…isn't that the day of the Quidditch match, the day the Dementors swarmed me and I lost my first Quidditch match to Cedric?" Harry asked utterly perplexed, trying to remember everything that happened that day. His heart sank when it was blurry and vague after a point. The Dementors had affected him yes, but not to the extent that his mind was fuzzy after he'd been taken care of. He could remember being told his Nimbus was destroyed for Merlin's sake! Why couldn't he remember this conversation he was supposed to have had with Poppy? "Are you sure you weren't charmed to believe you had the conversation?" he wanted so badly for that to be the case and not him having his mind tampered with.
"That would be impossible I have a physical with my healer every six months, such a spell would have been uncovered at the time." Poppy explained, she'd been getting one regularly since she begun her training, regretfully she had to self-examine herself these days, or have her 'apprentices' do so, they were training under her to be Medi-witch's and Medi-wizard in Edmund's case. He had to have people who could take over her job if anything happened to her.
Harry pinched his nose, "Alright, I give, what exactly was said in this conversation we supposed to have had?" and what on earth did it do with him being pregnant? It made absolutely no sense to him, but he was prepared to hear Poppy out. Shifting uncomfortably, wanting his clothes back on instead of the hospital gown. "Can I get dressed while we talk?"
"Of course," Poppy agreed, gesturing for him to begin getting dressed, she glanced to the side to give him some semblance of privacy as she begun speaking. "The Quidditch match happened to coincide with the Sex education class I was to give to the thirteen-year-old male students, I have them by house, so they are more comfortable."
"Nobody would have been there, they were all at the match," Harry pointed out, the events of that day not meshing.
"No, it was scheduled for immediately after lunch," Poppy explained, "Everyone was there except for you, of course, since you were in the hospital ward."
"Alright, I still don't understand how this…" Harry was perplexed.
"The sex education talk also includes a specific scan on all participants, to ensure they are healthy and to see if they are a natural carrier," Poppy informed him, "Natural carriers are males who are capable of carrying a child to term."
"That sounds…" Harry trailed off, "How is that possible?" he'd never read anything about it.
"Creature blood I believe is how it came to be, mixing with wizards centuries ago," Poppy explained, "It's rare due to the fact these creatures and their descendants were hunted down by the Ministry and killed. They didn't get them all of course, and overtime having a male carrier became something of a…commodity. They were precious, revered even, and a lot of money went into dowry's for them, especially if it's a second heir."
"How many are born each generation?" Harry asked, stiffly.
"With the wars…the numbers declined, there were two in your generation, which is a surprise, there has only been five this past decade." Poppy informed him, "Can you remember anything from late that afternoon? Any blanks in your memory? See anyone?"
"I think we both know who did it, Poppy," Harry sighed resignedly, rubbing his head, just trying to remember was giving him a headache. "I reckon I know why he did it too." Dumbledore knew how much he wanted a family, that news had probably given him a lot of hope he hadn't allowed himself to feel due to the pressures on him as the Boy-Who-Lived.
He pressed a hand to his stomach, he was bloody pregnant, he really was. It left him reeling in surprise and worry. There was a part of him and Daryl inside of him, a tiny, tiny thing right now. Fucking hell, how the hell did he go about explaining this? Was it even right to bring a child into this world? How the hell would Daryl understand let alone everyone else? Especially with everything he had to do? Tightening his fingers around his stomach, was it wrong to want to be selfish, truly selfish for the first time in his life? He didn't want to care what anyone else said or wanted, he was having this little miracle. "Bloody hell, Poppy, I really thought I was sick," he breathed out shakily. In a never get better kind of way, it would be his luck really wouldn't it?
"You were a little malnourished but not severely so," Poppy went on to explain, at least not as bad as he had been in the past, but that had cleared up, where they were, they were consuming enough food to keep them healthy. "Why exactly is that the case? I was given to believe you had food and the means to get more?"
"I was with a group that didn't know about magic," Harry explained, shrugging his shoulders. "There were kids in the group, so I gave them what I could without arousing suspicion." Eating when they weren't felt like a dick move, he was soft, what could he say? He was so grateful that his group had trusted him…thinking of Hilltop and how they'd reacted…it wasn't surprising really, what had surprised him was that Merle hadn't pummelled their teeth down their throat. Daryl probably wouldn't have had the same reaction though, not with Daryl knowing about his past the way he did. Not even Merle knew as much as him.
"I assume that Mr. Dixon is the father?" Poppy questioned.
"I hate that you asked me that," Harry said, "Even if I understand you're obligated to ask, yes, Daryl is the baby's father for Merlin's sake." He wasn't someone who would ever cheat on his significant other, but didn't others think the same thing before they went and did the unmentionable?
"Would you like me to help explain the situation?" Poppy asked softly, "I think someone should be there…for both of you." She had no idea how a Muggle would react to the news, it was an unpredictable situation they were in, which was in no way unique just rare perhaps.
"No, we'll be fine, he's already aware wizards can…have children, although usually requires a lot of potions and doesn't always work." Harry said, vividly remembering that day, when they'd apparated to the old potions masters property, with Mira's help, how Daryl had seen the book and asked about it.
"Do I have your permission to inform Severus?" Poppy asked, standing up, ready to get to work. "He will be able to give you potions that will aid your morning sickness."
"Yes, please," Harry said, slightly takeback that Poppy hadn't even asked him whether he wanted the baby or not. She was just assuming quite correctly that he wanted the baby…then again Poppy knew him well enough to know he would have already spoken up against it if he didn't want it.
The curtains were drawn back, and Poppy and Harry froze when they caught sight of Daryl just standing there. Honestly, he looked as if a feather could knock him over at the moment.
"Are you sure?" Poppy asked Harry one last time.
Harry gave a firm nod, "Yes," Daryl would never hurt him, not under any circumstances, they'd both suffered as children, and couldn't contemplate hurting someone they loved. Brothers getting into scuffles wasn't the same thing.
Poppy silently slipped out of the hospital wing.
"I assume you heard everything?" Harry asked quite subdued.
"Yeah," Daryl grunted out, turning to face Harry, or rather his eyes boring into his stomach.
"How do you feel about it?" Harry eventually asked, it wasn't an ideal situation, he knew this, but he rather hoped Daryl wasn't about to retreat on him. Or worse make him choose, he absolutely refused to do/accept either of those things. Gesturing for Daryl to come closer, wondering if he would.
Daryl shrugged, he had never been good at expressing his feelings, he wasn't suddenly going to be the opposite.
"Okay, are you against it?" Harry asked, heart pounding, grateful for the space between them becoming less as Daryl sat next to him on the bed.
Daryl vehemently shook his head, as Harry leaned against him.
"That's…that's good," Harry said, letting out a breath of relief over that. "We can work through everything else."
Daryl remained silent, brow furrowed as if he was trying to digest everything he'd just heard.
"According to this…I'm just at the tail end of the 'first trimester'," Harry grimaced at the term, still trying to come to terms with the fact he was bloody pregnant. It didn't matter that it was the best news he'd heard since Voldemort was dead. "Thirteen weeks," he'd been feeling nauseated, vomiting, the tiredness how could he have been stupid? Now that he knew the symptoms were bloody obvious.
Shaking off the remnants of his stupor Harry slid out of bed and put the rest of his clothes on. Feeling much more comfortable and less vulnerable. Both he and Daryl remained silent after that, it wasn't the same unstrained silence but it wasn't completely strained either, just both feeling shocked. They'd just had the rug pulled from under them after all.
It wasn't an ideal time for this.
Twenty minutes later, Poppy did return to the hospital wing but she didn't come alone. It wasn't just Severus and Hermione either, but six others, Susan Bones, Marcus Flint, Roger Davis, Graham Montague, Lavender Brown and Blaise Zabini. The lucky ones who had made it to Hogwarts before the lockdown looking for sanctuary. They had packs on their backs, it was obvious they were planning on leaving.
"What's going on?" Harry asked, surprised.
"They're coming with you," Poppy explained, "Even if only temporarily, they will be switched out by a different six in a weeks' time." Harry needed help and there was more than enough people here to help Harry with everything that needed doing.
Harry's eyes began to take on a gleam, that made Flint and Montague nervous – purely because they didn't know him – and the others roll their eyes. If they were going to come…well, plans began to take hold, perhaps he should have suggested something like this himself, and sooner. "You'll be on the outside, dealing with walkers while helping to find those with magical blood that are still alive. Not all of them are purebloods." This he aimed at Flint and Montague, they barely blinked at the words, what matter did pureblood's have now? In the face of this devastation? It made the war seem extremely pointless. Plus, they had never actually become Death Eaters, they hadn't joined Voldemort, nor had they had a dark mark upon their forearms.
That didn't seem to deter them, no it made them stiffen their spine and gleams of steely resolve filled their expressions all giving nods of understanding. "Bringing them back, as well as anyone else who wants to come with them." continued.
"We understand," Flint replied, who was the eldest of the lot of them.
"Since you're all purebloods I'll need to coach you on how to deal with the situation, if you can do as I've advised then I will be grateful for your help, I'm sure the others out there will be too." Harry informed them, they weren't used to dealing with Muggles.
"My aunt taught me how to fit in just fine," Susan explained solemnly, she knew how to pass herself off as a Muggle, and how to interact with them.
"Alright," Harry agreed, relaxing fully, they knew what they were getting into, and well, he hoped he could trust them. "You understand that nearly everyone is a No-Maj right? You can't just use your magic on them if they piss you off?" because that would just piss him off and he would retaliate with extreme prejudice. The look on his face expressed that to the others because they were all very hasty to agree.
Daryl snorted, finding the entire thing hilarious, especially considering they were older – well most of em – than Harry.
Harry gave him a grin in return, happy to hear Daryl make any noise, he'd been entire too silent since this had all gone down.
"Oh, Harry, good or bad?" Hermione said, venturing forward not sure whether to hug him or not, or congratulate him for that matter.
Harry smiled, "Good, no matter what," Harry reassured her.
Hermione beamed before hugging her best friend tightly, "We would come too, if we could…" she whispered quietly, feeling a little bad that she couldn't be there for Harry all the time like they used to be.
"No, the work you do is too important," Harry stated firmly, "I got used to the idea that I'd never see you again…this…this more than I thought I'd have. I'm so grateful, and this kid, better know its Aunt Hermione and Uncle Sev."
Severus startled at that, his masks dropping momentarily before they went back up. Swallowing thickly, Severus felt his heart give a little. What family he did have…he was glad was gone, to hear that those closest to Hermione actually accepted him meant a lot, to both of them. He doubted Weasley would have though, but he may have thought the same of Harry, but Weasley had dated Hermione at one point, which made it significantly different. A decade ago he would have been horrified to hear any Potter declare him 'Uncle Sev' to anyone never mind an actual child of Potter blood. Times had changed, he was a changed man, he wasn't a selfish idiotic, desperate for a approval and acceptance teen he used to be.
"It will," Hermione said, not wishing to sour the mood…but if the baby didn't survive…what would happen to Harry? They would need to be oh, so careful, she didn't even want to think on what they would have to do in a bid to ensure Harry survived. No, she wasn't going to spoil today with voicing her worries and fears, Harry didn't need to hear any of that, he probably had already thought it, judging by Daryl's brooding features he too worried. "They'll help take a load of your plate," Hermione added, jerking her head towards the group waiting patiently at the doorway.
"Yeah, they are," Harry acknowledged, his mind already having come up with and discarded dozens of plans already. "Alright, I guess we best get back," gesturing towards him and Daryl, they definitely needed some alone time.
"Just a moment, Harry," Poppy called for him, books, pamphlets and potions in her hands. "Now Severus is going to make the potions for you, so you'll need to wait for those. These are prenatal vitamins you should take every day. Books explaining everything and pamphlets to help for a quick answer and there was some things on the pamphlets that just weren't available in the books. Such as what to eat, what not to eat, the potions you can consume, the ones to avoid and general information like that.
"Thanks," Harry murmured, grasping his bag from where he'd slid it under the bed and made sure it was all put inside to read over later. He probably had a few of them in his own trunks, and would see about getting them read as well as these ones. "Well, I didn't expect this when I came…I was looking forward to just relaxing for a bit." Rubbing his temples, hearing Severus telling the others where to go and wait.
"I'll have the potions ready for you tomorrow evening, I'll bring them to you myself," Severus informed Harry, watching him cautiously.
"Thank you, Severus," Harry said, sighing softly.
"What happened?" Hermione asked grimly, she knew her best friend well, better than almost everyone else. "I wasn't aware you had anything going on today?" Harry wrote every night, giving a run down of what he was doing and what he planned on doing, it was almost a calendar and even planning than actually a conversation between two best friends.
"Told Hilltop about magic, most of them were alright but a few…well, it's not something I've not heard before." Harry muttered resignedly.
Severus grimaced, he didn't need farther words to confirm what he knew was a lot of unsavoury words. A lot of people didn't react well to the revelation of magic, his own father had loathed magic and spent his entire life reminding him of how Tobias viewed him.
"What did they say?" Hermione demanded indignantly.
Harry tried to wave it off, but Hermione wasn't having any of it. In the end too tired to fight or argue, Harry just told her everything that had happened and all they'd said.
Daryl growled low in his throat, looking ready to murder someone. Preferably those assholes in Hilltop. "Ain't Merle do anythin'?" Daryl demanded, shocked that his brother hadn't stood up for Harry, it wasn't like him.
"Just made it clear whether they change their mind or not…they don't get to come." Harry said wryly, "Fighting wouldn't have changed their views it would have reinforced it, or thought I had something to do with it, forcing it. I have the Kingdom people tomorrow…I have a feeling it will be much the same."
"Take the others with you," Severus warned him curtly, "Your magic could act up at any moment leaving you extremely vulnerable. Admittedly it doesn't often happen, usually the third trimester, but Harry…I wouldn't put anything past you," his lips quirking a little, making light of a very serious matter. He was powerful, exceedingly so, it stood to reason that it would make things a little more complicated.
Harry nodded, "I will," he promised, giving him a tight lipped smile.
"You take care of both of you," Poppy said, giving him a hug, "I'll be by to see you at the end of the week," he would need constant monitoring, and if she thought for a moment he would remain at Hogwarts, she would be trying to coerce him into it. Unfortunately, she knew that Harry would never abandon everyone at PA or Daryl.
"Alright," Harry nodded his agreement, slightly grateful when she let go, he still wasn't used to being spontaneously hugged, the only one who ever really did that was Hermione. Even Luna wasn't big on hugging actually, although she'd done it from time to time. "I'll see you then," with that Severus, Hermione, Harry and Daryl left the Hospital wing and begun making their way towards the cupboard in order to return to PA.
Harry felt content, plans working their way through his mind, they would potentially be able to get maybe seven or eight wizards or witches at a pop if he had the others helping. Even if they weren't exactly experts at dealing with the walkers…the house-elves would be able to help. Blasting them away before popping them away from danger. If they begun early enough…he could probably get up to twenty-eight wizards and witches in a single day…not including those that came with them. This way they would lose less people, and he wouldn't feel like crap.
Heck, he could have a few of his own people teaching those at Hogwarts how to use sniper rifles, cleaning up the walkers from Hogwarts, having the wards lowered and some semblance of a life to be had outside of the school. To make a life again in Hogsmeade, the House-elves could make sure their tasks were done for them so they didn't fall behind.
They could actually do this.
Harry's fingers felt for Daryl's, gripping his hand tightly for a few minutes in silent reassurance, to his surprise, Daryl tightened his grip back and refused to relinquish Harry's hand. Not that Harry actually tried, a wide grin settled on his face as he approached the others feeling very happy and so inordinately smug.
Things were finally heating up, who knows, in a few months he might actually be able to put his feet up safe in the knowledge he'd helped absolutely everyone he could.
Things are heating up, a lot is going to start happening here so it's important you read it properly ;) So, what will Harry be having? A girl or a boy? Will Luna end up pregnant too? but a few months later... Or will that be too cliched? DO you actually want to see the pregnancy and life for them all when it's settled? Or would you genuinely prefer to see it as a Epilogue only? What of Negan? Who will he take? That would land Harry with giving the Muggle a massive Asswhupping? Daryl? Sophia? Although Both would cause Carol and Harry to go to town on him! Would you like to see Carol having her moment? She hasn't done much in this story and I love Carol in the series so...what do you think? Will see the those who left Rick in the beginning? the Spanish family? Sorry their names are escaping me at the moment! Will any of the Saviours survive? Or will they be 'imprisoned' and rehabilitated...the base has to have some sort of jail...I can't be sure but surely there must? I know a lot of them aren't getting their 'moments' and i'm sorry about that but I cannot write about EVERYONE the story would go on for decades if I did that so yeah, I'm sorry for those who are disappointed by that! BUT if you'd like to see a particular person get their moment let me know since there will be a lot of action going on in the next few chapters SO this could be their chance and I might be able to indulge! R&R Please!