Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 110

"Well, this is good as it's going to get," Emily declared, staring at the wooden make shift spears she'd created. Merlin only knows if they'd survive the first thrust of going into a Inferi heads. They were as pointy as she could make them, she just wished she could dip them in metal, it would give them a greater advantage, sort of like jousts she recalled reading about at home. She'd made two for each of them, so if one broke…they'd have a backup.

"I miss my wand," Amelia confessed, not for the first time. She'd had it since she was eleven-years-old. To be without such a monumental part of her, she felt as if she was armless. Useless, if only one of them had retained their wand…they would have a significantly higher chance of survival.

"Do you recall seeing any wands on your way here?" Emily asked, staring at Amelia, frowning in contemplation as she tried to come up with an answer to that particular question. She'd lost hers trying to Floo out, which had been useless, the Ministry had gone on lockdown. If it hadn't been for the others, she would have died she knew that.

"I don't recall," Amelia sighed, leaning against the wall, "Everything is just a blur I just don't know how it could have happened." they were killing the inferi properly, yet the entire Ministry just seemed to swarm with them. It was like everyone had been bitten but kept it secret and it just exploded from there.

Emily nodded, "For me too," she agreed, "How long do you think has passed?" they'd tried in the beginning to count the days, but they'd stopped. It just didn't seem relevant, they weren't going to be rescued, they couldn't go out there and face the Inferi so this place was as good as they were going to get. It was that bad that they didn't even notice the disgusting smell wafting from themselves and each other every day. "Merlin, what I wouldn't give to see the sky and feel fresh air on my face." closing her eyes and just imagining it, which made the longing prevalent.

"At least two years," Amelia said, rubbing her eye, where her monocle used to sit. Her eyesight in that eye wasn't what it could be. She was short sighted in it, but she supposed she should consider herself lucky that she had perfect vision in the other. Otherwise, the world would be constantly blurry. "Maybe three or four…" they had forced themselves to eat so little so that what they had in the stores would last as long as possible.

"So, I'm either nineteen or twenty-two," Emily teased, grimacing a little, this wasn't exactly the future she'd envisioned for herself. She was lucky though, she didn't have family, she wasn't constantly missing people. This group…this group had become her family; she didn't want anything happening to them. She prayed the spears held steadfast. The tales Percy had spoken of had made her long for a family of her own though, but growing up in an orphanage had put an end to that.

Amelia was just about to answer when Percy wrapped his arms around her, "Come eat, both of you, we'll need all the fuel we can get for this." They were going to finish off the rest of the food, hope if gave them enough strength to see it through. They were all probably severely underweight, not eating anywhere near enough for a fully grown adult wizard. Fortunately, they weren't doing anything strenuous so they didn't feel that sort of energy flagging feeling.

"Not right away, we should wait an hour or so," Amelia said, leaning into Percy, who had been her rock. It had been such a surprise really, she'd always been too busy too determined to work her way up the Ministry, to pave a way for witches, to prove they had what it took. To have a family and a career, and yes, that's what she'd had despite not having a child herself.

She'd raised her niece since she was a baby, she hadn't allowed herself to have a real relationship…and if she did, they got annoyed by her dedication to said job. She'd been lonely, busy, never alone but lonely. More so when she had woken from a coma with news clippings of an obituary for her and nobody to grieve for her except her niece. Someone else had taken on her job and the world continued to move on. It had been sobering realizing she hadn't left the mark she wished to in the world.

Now there was no leaving a mark really, it was just survival plain and simple. She and Percy had become the leaders of this small group of people. Giving them someone to look up to, to trust. Bonding together to survive…along the way Amelia had fallen for the much younger man. She'd kept a lid on it, he was much too young, but then to her everlasting surprise – given her age – he had returned those feelings.

Why say no to her chance of comfort? Of having something to herself? She hadn't, and they were as strong, they'd both been ambitious, determined and dedicated to the Ministry.

"Why?" Percy asked calmly, cocking his head to the side, was she getting last minute reservations?

"Just to let the food do its job," Amelia explained, closing her eyes, "Plus, we'll be extremely full and probably a little bloated at first." They were about to eat a weeks' worth of food…in a single sitting. After so long on surviving on such a small amount, expecting anyone to run after that…was irresponsible and it would lead to accidents that hopefully, could otherwise be prevented.

Percy nodded, that made sense," Alright, an hour," kissing her on the cheek he told them, "Be quick." Leaving them to talk some more, it wasn't as if it could go 'cold' since none of the food required heating. Not anymore. Even then they'd ate it cold, there was nowhere to build a fire…let alone actually light it up for warmth or to heat food.

They were useless, and Percy hated it. When you imagine something like this happening, you imagine yourself fighting heroically, finding a way to live, to survive. Not hiding away, unable to use magic, he hadn't felt his own magic coursing through his body for so long.

This, this was the most useful he'd felt in so long, and it wasn't even him. if it wasn't for Emily, they wouldn't be able to attempt this. Spears? Honestly, who would have thought of it? Certainly not him that's for sure. It just proved they relied too heavily on their wand.

"How many Ministry workers used to use wand holsters?" Emily asked, as she moved to sit down, taking her own share of the food supplies.

"Quite a few," Amelia said slowly, figuring out why she was asking, there might be wands on the Inferi themselves. "And the wands while in there are secure, unbreakable if they didn't have their wands when they turned…but what are the chances of us managing to get one?" they didn't actually like their chances. She sat down next to Percy, so used to sitting on the cold marble that she barely registered it anymore.

"Our luck has held quite well this far," Emily commented, "They haven't managed to get through the second door." The first one had held for a long time, but eventually its integrity had been worn down and bam they could hear the Inferi better.

"Don't, it would just be our luck that it would break before we begin the plan." Gerard exclaimed, "We're not all Harry Potter, you know, born with liquid luck coursing through his veins." It was said with a little bitterness. Some people had it easy, while everyone else struggled constantly.

Years ago, Percy would have agreed fully with Gerard, "I wouldn't say losing your family and being hunted down by Voldemort every year being lucky." He said bluntly, "I used to do the same, blame a kid for everything that went wrong…just because I didn't want to face the reality in front of me. I was a fool, more worried about a job than my family…I was lucky I got over myself in the end." Not before losing Penelope of course, who hadn't wanted to be with someone so bitter and angry all the time.

"Ignore me, I'm just…worried," Gerard confessed, he didn't really mean anything by it, he was just grumpy and terrified. Wanting to blame the world, and there was nobody, luckier than Harry Potter. He'd survived death twice, and everything else anyone including You-Know-Who had thrown at him. "What if we're the only ones left?" speaking his worst fear, as he ate his food. His stomach already cramping uncomfortably as he ate more than normal.

"Statistically unlikely," Emily declared, swallowing her food before drinking some water, for she'd swallowed too soon. "There are people out there who were ready for this sort of thing, doomsday preppers and those that were just smart enough to know to back the hell away when they did. Whether they're still alive…well, who can say? I do know it's very likely we aren't alone."

"And if we went on lockdown, it's very likely that the school and Hogsmeade did as well..." Amelia said, "We can only hope that they were more prepared than we were…and that they managed to get themselves all safe."

"What actually caused the lockdown anyway? It can't have been a single Inferi, otherwise we wouldn't have been ambushed by them?" Sally.

"That's always got me," Gerard agreed, scratching absently at his stubble. They were thankful for the nail clippers, which had enabled them to cut their beards. It took such a long time, but it was better than having a beard the size of Dumbledore's getting in the way.

Amelia remained silent; she had her suspicions. That the wards had been altered to let those things in to study them. To find a cure against them, but it had backfired, at this point it was only speculation, for she honestly didn't know. She wouldn't have allowed it if that was the case. It was the only explanation how much a large group had overcome everyone…surely?

"Oh, I'm so uncomfortably full," Gerard groaned, a murmur of agreement rousing around the room.

"Tristian, Titus finish up," Amelia asked of the brothers, the boys had lost their mother in the Ministry, she'd begged them to take the boys to safety, she'd been bitten and close to death. They were around twelve or thirteen years old now they reckoned but had no real clue. They were quiet, they knew what was happening and were quite rightly terrified.

They didn't even know what time it was, whether it was day or not, no clue on the date…and had no idea if there was anything left of civilisation.

"What about hanging this on top of the veil?" Tristan suggested, holding up the bound wind chimes so that no noise broke through. "It will make noise and attract the Inferi?"

"I don't think noise is going to be a problem, it echoes, the problem will be getting out of that room." Amelia confessed, "Then the corridor, and then onto the lift." If they could even make headway of getting out of the lift without getting bloody bitten. It was an impossible situation but they truly had no other alternative here.

"Do we really have to?" Titus asked, only ten months younger than his brother.

"Yes, we do," it was Emily who reassured him, "We will stick together alright?" squeezing his shoulder. "All of us." she glanced up at Percy and Amelia, praying that she could keep her word.

"You okay?" Harry murmured, from where he lay pillowed in Daryl's lap, watching Supernatural. He'd shook his head when Luna brought it in, but he actually found it fascinating.

"Are any of those things real?" Daryl asked, as the credits came up. They weren't one for watching TV, in fact this was the first time it had been on since they arrived here.

"Yeah, some of them," Harry said quietly, "Not something we had to deal with personally though, they're American creatures."

"And the rituals?" Daryl questioned, wondering if wizards had to deal with that sort of shit.

"Demons aren't real, but the Latin behind them is very accurate," Harry turned over so that his back was on the sofa and he was staring up at Daryl. "I thought they would blame me…stupid isn't it? It wasn't as if I was the one to really kill him."

"Can't help those thoughts," Daryl murmured, fingers twisting Harry's hair absently. "Course they didn't blame ya, you didn't do anything." Just put down a feral beast, and that's all the Walkers were. It's all they would be if they weren't put down when they died.

"He was still their brother," Harry sighed, "We've doubted our numbers in a single day, two different groups…it might be harder to integrate them." He was musing out loud now.

"That's if they stay and don't to go Potter Abbey," Daryl pointed out, "Brothers will wanna stay together." He reckoned, "I would." And the Weasley brothers did seem as close as he and Merle were. Although, they wouldn't have broken down crying…alright maybe a single tear that nobody could see.

"And the others will follow," Harry commented, "True enough," nodding he wouldn't mind at all, the Abbey certainly had more than enough room. He'd make sure to give the suggestion tomorrow morning.

Daryl grunted in agreement.

"I honestly don't know what to do with myself…" Harry confessed, "It won't be easy," he wouldn't be easy to deal with either.

"You're still leading, just less active, with new people around you still have a lot to do," Daryl reassured him. "Just as busy, but here instead of outside."

"And what about you? You're used to coming out with me," Harry said wryly, with a grin.

Daryl shrugged, "I'll check on the animals, Hershel will have enough to do at the Surgery," which would give him plenty of time alone, and getting work done. He wouldn't be sitting doing nothing, which didn't sit well with him any more than it did Harry.

"Charlie will be taking my dragon and it's baby to the reserve with the others," Harry commented, "So that's one less thing to check."

"Or putting them all in that field, plenty more room than they'd get at the Abbey," Daryl suggested.

"Good point, a significantly lot more room." Harry agreed, and with rocks and boulders they can heat up and lie against. "I'll suggest it tomorrow."

Daryl grunted his agreement, "C'mon, lets go," nudging Harry a bit, he was needing a pee and he was getting sore of sitting in the same position to avoid jostling Harry too much, who clearly wasn't going to go back to sleep.

Once he was standing, he put the TV and DVD off, finding bloody weird. He hadn't done any shit like that since before the apocalypse. It made everything feel way too domestic, shrugging he stretched out, it had been a nice change. Usually after they were done for the day they just slumped straight to sleep in bed. Well, not always, the proof of that was gradually growing in his partners belly, but for the most part that was how it worked.

Daryl plucked the book from the arm of the sofa before joining Harry. He read and re-read the book on male pregnancies on repeat.

Before long, they were in bed, asleep.

Unfortunately, for the Ministry group, their day was just starting. All of them were standing in the middle of the room, with Percy at the door. They couldn't hear a single thing, "Could they be dead?" Titus chimed in sounding ever so hopeful.

"How weird…they were making noise yesterday I could have sworn…" Percy murmured, tensing up, "Get ready, I'll get a few in at a time, take care of them, shove them in the corner and keep going until there's none left unless I get the opportunity to run along the corridor with this and get them into the room. So, keep bloody quiet, don't let yourself bleed, they should follow me." Showing the wind chimes which were still bound, before putting them in his pocket.

"Do it," Gerard said, spear grasped tightly in both hands, feet spread ready to do what must be done. They probably should have tried sooner if they were brave, but none of them were. His extra spear was within grabbing distance against the wall. His white hair up in a ponytail made with old string.

Percy flexed his hand against the doorhandle, before yanking it open his other hand splayed against the middle of the door for purchase.

"There's nothing there!" Amelia whispered, brow furrowed, glancing in confusion as Percy closed it again in surprise.

Licking his lips, he glanced at the others, "No bodies?" wondering if they had died off himself now.

"Nothing," Amelia said, relaxing her stance, they'd been prepared to fight…it made them feel wrongfooted.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Gerard grumbled.

"Could they have ended up through the veil themselves?" Tristian pondered.

"It's possible if the door is open," Amelia nodded, glancing back at what had been their base, the door two doors were still open, if they needed a quick exit if it didn't go there way. "I don't understand why they'd give up…" they'd known they were there forever, had never let up, not entirely…but she'd never been aware of them leaving the area entirely.

"It is weird," Percy agreed, "There's always been noise out there, always muffled but there."

The others nodded their agreement.

Inhaling sharply, "Alright, let's get to it, open the door, and make for the lift,"

"And if the lift is full? Are we really going to take the stairs?" Gerard cautioned.

"Less chance of being bitten on the staircase, I reckon…it's how we got to safety! Everyone was stupidly waiting on the damn lifts." It was Emily, their resident Muggle-born that declared as such. "Regardless of whether there is any here…the greatest risk is at the lift…" she warned them all.

Percy nodded, taking her words seriously, "Alright, we'll use the stairs if it's a feasible option."

Emily didn't look surprised that her option was being listened to, they were a close-knit group. Using their knowledge to the entire groups advantage. If it kept them all alive, to see this through they'd do it.

They were still off kilter by the lack of Inferi and it was making them anxious and worried. They'd been expecting to have to fight their way through Inferi…it felt like their plans were all going to be derailed if it happened at the first hurdle.

"Let's go!" Percy stated firmly, as they door was opened once more, putting his hand to his mouth, urging them all to remain as silent as possible. Wincing at the sound of scraping wood as they claimed both their spears. Yeah, it was impossible to remain entirely silent but their lives depended on it. "I suppose we should be grateful we only need to go up one level." The reception area was in level eight and they were in level nine. There would be vending machines in the reception area, hopefully with food and plenty of wands allowing them to actually deal with the Inferi.

"Yeah, but do you know where the warding hub is? It's our only hope of getting out of here alive…" they were underground, with no way out.

"Not true, I got in through the Muggle entrance…" Emily declared with a wry smirk, these purebloods truly were utterly daft when it came to all things Muggle. "The phone booth in the Atrium…if it can get in…it can get us out."

"Merlin's balls," Percy grumbled, wondering why he was leading his group, "Of course, my father was fascinated with that thing for years." Just looking for an excuse to use it, and eventually he had. Faltering a little on the word father…he missed him so much. He missed his entire family. "Does anyone know how to get it moving?" he'd never really cared for all things Muggle, not like his father and had paid zero attention – much to his consternation – when his father spoke about those things.

Silence was his answer.

"Well, to get in you type in 62442 which spells out magic, what if you have to do the opposite? The word for Muggle to get back to the Muggle world?" Emily posited.

"Alright, if we can get to it, Emily you take the boys upside, see what it's like…if it's possible to leave that way…then we do it." Percy agreed. "London is a long way from Hogwarts but we might not have any other choice…" the warding hub was in the middle of the Atrium, under the stone with the Ministry of Magic's motto and insignia. Which just so happened to lay under the fountain, so that it couldn't accidentally be 'disturbed' so to speak. They needed to get it moved, and hope they can lower the Apparation ward despite the lockdown. None of them were experts, they might kill themselves in the attempt.

The Unspeakables were responsible for its upkeep, mostly due to the fact they weren't able to discuss their jobs. They were deemed the best candidates for it. It has never changed in all the time the Ministry had been together. It had been sheer happenstance that she found out, but it was good for them. They had to remove the wards to Apparate out.

If there was a single wand out there that would accept any of them.

It would be just their luck that the young boys would find wands to accept them before them she reckoned.

With that they silently as possible, left the room, anxiety blooming in every single one of them. Merlin only knows what their scents were giving off…and whether the Inferi could sense it.

"Quiet!" Percy hissed out, really having to struggle not to scream the word out, when he heard the clattering of spears around the doorway. Merlin, he knew the spears were big, but couldn't they just not make any noise?

None of them were sure who had made the noise, but tried to stop themselves from whacking the spear into something else. Which distracted their focus, not enough to not realize that there were Inferi in the stairwell, Percy crept forward, flashing three fingers up, then two, then one before he opened the door, and backed away.

They had to do this, the lift wasn't available on this floor, so they couldn't bypass this part.

Then all thinking was forgotten as they all began to fight the Inferi, thrusting their spears through their heads. Gerard was so vicious with his swipes that he couldn't dislodge his spear from the Inferi's head leading to him already being one spear down. If he lost his backup the same way…he was going to be in a very vulnerable spot.

"Stupid git!" Gerard grumbled, whether he was talking about himself or the Inferi, nobody knew, but nobody paid a whole lot of attention.

The teens Titus and Tristan might be young, but they were brave, and were taking part and pulling in their share of kills. Luck seemed to be in their favour as they only had to deal with two each, less than twenty Inferi altogether.

"Disgusting," Emily mouthed with a grimace, barely breathing the words. Gagging at the stench surrounding them. It was a new different kind of disgusting. She didn't dare touch the blood and gore splattered all over her.

Amelia made a follow us gesture, as they grasped the rail and began to hoist themselves over the mass of dead bodies. Failing spectacularly, of course, as they squelched in the bodies of the walkers, and the bones crunching underfoot.

"No want holsters," she noticed, disappointed but not at all surprised. Not everyone who had been in the Ministry had been workers, and not everyone elected to have wand holsters. Even the Aurors didn't bother with them unless they were called out to an incident.

The youngest boys were able to be swung upwards without difficulty by Gerard and Percy. Although, the elder wizards were more in danger of slipping, with the fluid still clinging to their feet. They managed to keep themselves steady, by sheer strength of will.

All of them glanced at the door up ahead, it would take them right to the Atrium. The very place they had fled from in fear of being bitten, chowed on and killed. They felt like it had been decades since they were at this particular door although it wasn't really. Although it could be years, they had nothing to really say how long it had been.

"Now or never," Percy said, swallowing thickly, fear getting the better of him, he could see that fear reflected in everyone else's eyes. If they thought those walkers were bad…they knew they'd be ten times worse.

"Oh, the stench…" Sally gagged, clasping her clothes over her mouth, which did not help the slightest. She felt like she was going to be sick.

"There's no sign of this being put down…" Amelia crouched down in front of it, breathing through her mouth. "It's broke down on its own…Muggles very rarely come the Magical world…a squib?" coming looking for aid?

They all theorised that magical people didn't disintegrate like Muggle bodies do. The magic in them making them last significantly longer in terms of a rising after being bitten.

"Or it was brought here," Emily commented, "It wouldn't be beyond the realm of possibility. I mean they would have wanted to inspect it, find out what made it tick and hope for a cure."

Amelia swallowed, giving a nod, "I suspect you might be right," she just didn't realize they would be thinking the same as her.

"Do you think there is information in the Department of Mysteries?" Sally pondered, "Information we don't know?" that they could use?

"We'll be back one day…hopefully with more help and wands…we'll reclaim it," Percy said, entirely serious. At least if they survived this anyway.

"If anyone sees a wand, they say 'Wand' and go for it if it's safe, if it doesn't work for you, pass it around." Amelia stated, "If it works for you, aim for the heads and just keep shouting the blasting curse, which is Bombarda, can you say that?" speaking particularly to the twins, enunciating the spells so they had the right wording.

Percy had his head against the door, trying to listen for anything, as the boys parroted the words back to Amelia until she was satisfied, they knew the spell and would say it with the intended results.

"…and all you need to do is point it at your target," if there were wands, they would definitely be in the Atrium surely, she hoped at any rate.

"Let's go before I change my mind," Gerard said quietly, staring at the door in trepidation, "Hear anything?" all sound had been muffled between levels, there was no saying what was behind that door and just because they weren't banging on it, didn't mean they weren't there.

"Nothing, I can't hear anything," Percy said, shoring himself up for the next part, once again, raising his hand three fingers up, two then one, before the door was opened and there was a whole load of them that they wouldn't be able to get through.

"Look wands!" Titus declared slipping out between them and running on bare feet. Almost silent in his run towards the wand registration desk.

"Titus!" Tristian whispered urgently, fear consuming him whole, as he wrenched himself out of Sally's grip and ran after his brother.

Sally, Emily, Gerard, Amelia and Percy instinctively followed despite knowing they were likely going to their deaths. It was instinctive to help children in danger, especially one close to their heart, who they had watched growing up these past years. Plus, it was either this or they died anyway.

They stumbled to the registration desk, as Titus fumbled with the wand, but found it unsuitable and past it to his brother.

Amelia, Percy, Sally, Emily and Gerard surrounded he kids as the Inferi approached them. They had no barriers, no way to protect themselves, they were sitting ducks as the Inferi approached rapidly.

"There's no phone booth," Emily said, eyeing the area where she had come off it in disbelief, they had no way of getting out…the way was shut. Even attempting to come back the way they came…they'd just end up cornered.

Now the Inferi were in touching distance…and they couldn't help but close their eyes as they faced the end. They had tried…it was better than just sitting waiting for death they acknowledged. They'd see their families again; the horror would be over…no more survival required. They tried to placate themselves…but the thirst for survival is so very strong in all races.

Titus' growing agitation sprung fully fledged, especially as a Inferi got too close to him and scared him. Accidental magic sprang forth, and the walkers went down in a single wave of magic.

Percy's eyes sprang open when a wand was thrust into his hand, nothing, no sparks, he hastily passed it to the next person, like a life-or-death version of pass the parcel.

The Inferi were already scrawling back towards them, as Percy grasped Titus and put him on the top of the registration desk. In the long run it would do nothing…but they had to try anything. Gerard did the same with the other brother wands still being passed around.

Then almighty blasts had the Inferi distracted, fireworks…they realized, and Percy's breathing hitched, it was WWW fireworks. It made his heart hurt as he watched the dragon spread its wings before another explosion had gunk spewing everywhere, as they were levitated up in the air as fire began to saturate anywhere the gunk had gotten, which meant all the walkers were going up in flames. The heat was very welcoming, heating them up for the first time in so long.

The sight of broom straddled wizards was a sight that caused them to want to weep in relief…one more so than any other. Floating out in the lead.

"George…" Percy choked, blinking tears out of his eyes, not too shamed of them to insist they were because of the stink. Tears were soon trailing down his face, Merlin, was he dreaming? Was this a wonderful dream that he was about to wake up out of? "George," Percy practically mewed pathetically, great big sobs leaving his mouth as he hung in mid-air.

They were safe at long last.

A/N – Okay, this sort of made me tear up a little! LOL there we go! Here I was thinking there was only five chapters left and they've come and gone and still the muses are jumping out of the woodwork now :P typical! But hey more chapters for you all to devour :D and it helps that I'm enjoying this story again which is huge plus! I promised myself I wasn't going to do this when I started the story…way too cheesy and unlikely to happen in the middle of an apocalypse but you go where the muses take you :D R&R please!