Summary- Harry made a huge mistake at the end of his second year. One that followed him through the years stealing nearly everything from him. But what happens when Harry is given a chance to get it all back? A chance Harry quickly takes. However not everything turns out like Harry would have expected it to. Now how will Harry deal with being in the world of the Walking dead, even if being there did give him back what he lost? Will he find it worth it? Or will he attempt to go back to the world he was in before even when he knows what is waiting for him there?
Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter, or the Walking dead.
A.n- Special thanks to one of my reviewer's, kathy20butterfly, who gave me several ideas as well as a good deal of motivation to get this chapter going and out.
Chapter Four
It had been nearly six months since the trouble with the walking dead had really began. And as such, it had been nearly that long since Harry had made his finally choice between staying with his coma patient Rick Grimes or heading to the CDC.
A choice that still even after all this time bugged him slightly; leaving him wondering if he had made the right choice back then. Especially given the circumstances now or really the lack of any real results positive results in what he had chosen.
As in the end Harry had made his decision that the need to try for a cure was more important than the care of a single man; no matter how much it ranked him to make a choice that sounded so much like the greater good the headmaster preached. Though at least back then he did find comfort in the fact he was truly doing it for more numerous others than for the complete control the Headmaster had meant when he had said for the great good.
Though still in the name of that decision, Harry had put up several more wards up to protect Rick before heading back to the CDC. Which is where Harry honestly felt that he could be helpful at; at least more than he would be if he stayed there with Rick.
That isn't to say that Harry hadn't done his best to help with Rick before he left, or that he hadn't put up several different types of protection around the man, besides the wards he had placed down. Because he had, Harry had done everything he could think of before he left to ensure that Rick was about as safe as could get him under the circumstances.
It was just currently Rick was deep in a coma, there really wasn't much that Harry could actually do about that. Nor was there a lot that he could do to help with anything else that was going on there either.
Not when you consider everything that had already happened there already; or the fact the hospital in question had already seemed to have been abandoned. Something that seemed to have happed rather quickly after everything that had gone down.
In all honestly when Harry thought about staying and guarding Rick, he felt that all he would be was just another person staying in a room. One that would be doing nothing but watching over an unmoving body. And perhaps going on supply runs from time to time when he needed some food or wanted to do something to help someone else. It left him feeling vulnerable, uneasy and rather starkerish all at once; a feeling that Harry really didn't like.
Especially now as he realized, or had realized back then, that with each time he went out, something he knew was bound to happen sooner or later, would be yet another risk to both him and Rick. One that could very easily left them being found out by either the walkers or an unfriendly neighbors that Harry knew was out there.
Making it so if he did stay that he would only end up putting Rick in more danger, negating the whole reason he would have been staying for in the first place. While leaving himself even more open for attacks the whole time; something he wasn't willing to risk.
So instead of leaving himself watching the comatose Rick, Harry had decided to go to the CDC. Where at the time Harry had felt he could do more work than be a source of information when Rick decided to wake up. If that ever did happen.
It wasn't only the fact that Harry felt that he wouldn't be able to be of any real help that assisted in Harry make his final selection on going to the CDC. There was also the undeniably fact of that Harry honestly didn't know Rick at all; having really never met the man before he had ended up being his patient.
In fact, the only reason he was helping him currently was because he was his first patient, and the only one he had so far that hadn't given him a raging headache; if only because he was currently unable to do so to begin with.
Meaning that Harry certainly, did not knowing him well enough to potentially put to risk both his life, and potentially the others that he could be saving if he was able to find a cure for whatever was going on. Because as cold as it may seem, Rick was pretty much a stranger to him, and Harry had no reason to risk not finding a possible cure to help him.
So, when it came down to it, no matter how much he wanted to help Rick, Harry couldn't find it in him to put the life of millions of others at risk for someone he hadn't even really spoken to before.
Not to mention had only really heard about Rick from his police partner, whom had stopped actually visiting a whole month before; with the man actual wife stopping a week before that. Neither of which had honestly left that a good opinion of themselves to Harry either way, even making it so Harry had usually gone out of his way to avoid speaking to either one of them at that.
However even if Harry had left, and hadn't planning on checking back on Rick, Harry also wasn't willing to actually leave the man in question alone defenseless. Unprotected or underprepared for what was happening if he ever did decide to wake up from the coma he was in. Even if he wasn't quite sure as to why he felt that he couldn't do that; as again he honestly didn't know Rick as a person.
What Harry had done to help Rick was, well first was make the wards he had made earlier, to keep the walkers out, a lot more permeant then they had been when he had first tossed them one.
Making the ones he had put up before he left would last at least a year; if not perhaps a little longer than that. Opposed to the first one he had put up at first which would have only originally lasted a couple of hours at most.
Not to mention with the newer ones they wouldn't only keep out the walking dead, but also keep anyone who meant Rick any actual harm out of the room he was in as well. Making it so they couldn't even see said room in the first place. Keeping Rick safer not only from those who wanted to eat his flesh, but any others who may come in to kill him for the supplies he had, or the fact he could possibly become another walker; or even just because they wanted to.
Then Harry went and added even more wards on top of the ones he had just added. These wards would make it so that Rick's muscles wouldn't waste away from the lack of movement that Rick was doing, something Harry had been doing himself with his magic each time he had checked up on him before, but wouldn't be able to keep up on his own anymore. And then finally a last ward that would keep all items, be they water or medicine that was in the room, under something similar to a preservation spells to keep them as fresh as possible; as a just in case.
After that, Harry had decided to do a little more for the man and apparated back to his house. Only doing so because of the wards both on the hospital room, as well as, the ones that were around his home, where he quickly grabbed several smaller guns, a box of bullets for the guns, along with four different sized blades.
Then he had walked into the back to where he had his storage and grabbed one of the thicker hiking bags that were there. One that he had been working on to give as a gift to the orphans he had been wanting to take care of before this all had gone down; but now was no longer an option for him.
It was a bag that had subtle bit of magic on it to make it be able to carry more than it would otherwise; about double the normal mount. Which was around the max amount Harry figured he could do without it becoming too suspicious to those who didn't know about magic. Not to mention Harry had also added several spells to make it so the bag also helped keep everything in the condition it was originally placed in the bag at.
So, the things in it would stay as clean and fresh as possible. He had been thinking on adding an additional repairing and cleaning charm to the bag but hadn't gotten to that point; as he hadn't quite figure out how to make that unnoticeable as the expansion charms had been.
Once he had grabbing this bag, along with the weapons he had gather beforehand, Harry reached into the small side bag that he and transformed his black trunk into a couple of weeks ago.
A small side bag that Harry made sure never left his person and was spelled to be unnoticeable by anyone else but him. From this bag Harry took out a good amount of nonperishable foods from it; knowing that he had plenty more to replace if from as he did so.
Making sure to take things like beef jerky, several different types of can goods, including soups, vegetables and fruits, along with a handheld can opener. Not to mention at least twenty different water bottles.
All things that he wouldn't have to worry about going bad, or at least things that could be explained away as to why they hadn't gone bad to be more precise considering the wards he was going to have this particular bag under.
Once Harry had all these things out, he began to fill the hiking bag he had just grabbed up; until said bag was as full as it could get. Seeing this, Harry placed the guns as well as the daggers he had grabbed on the bag. Making sure to clip them on in such a way they would be secure on the hiking back in question; not to mention easy to grab off if need be.
After he had finished doing this, Harry grabbing the nearest piece of paper, he could get his hands on; which happened to be a very eye catching bright blue piece of paper. One that the hospital obviously used to put notes on so that they would be noticed by everyone who passed them. Something Harry knew was only going to further help what he had planned to do next.
Which was write a long letter to Rick explaining just what was going on outside, then the letter went further on to explain about the supplies Harry had left for him. What was in there, were it was, and how he hoped Rick knew how to handle the weapons he left him. Then after this, as a just in case, Harry add what he knew about the do's and don't when it came to the Walkers; as everyone seemed to be calling the now living dead.
Which was the basics, don't make loud noises as it attracts them, only head shots kill them, they tend to travel in packs, don't get bit by them, and most importantly they were dead and to not hesitate in taking out the brain of one of them.
Then to finish of the letter Harry told Rick the current state of his body and how to best recover from any damage that there may be. Even if because of the wards it wasn't nearly as bad as it would have originally been, and may even turn out even better than it currently was due to the wild magic now powering the wards around him; a bit of information that wasn't added to the letter in question. Before signing it as the volunteer who took care of him and telling him to find him at the CDC if he had any other questions he thought Harry could answer.
Once the letter was done Harry cast a spell copying the letter three different times before putting one letter on Rick himself, one on the bag he had brought, and then on the only door of the room right at eye level.
By doing this, Harry was hopeful that Rick would get at least one of them if he woke up; or all what he had done might turn out to be a waste. Something he really didn't want to happen.
This wasn't the only thing that Harry had done before he had gone back to work at the CDC. No as he was leaving the hospital, under several spells to keep anyone from noticing him as he did so, Harry couldn't help but stop for a minute to just watch the chaos around the city. Wondering just what had happened to turn everything he had grown to love into this hell currently before him.
As he did this, Harry had several different thoughts pop into his head. All dealing with different ways to make sure he survived what was going on the best he could; and perhaps help other survive as well.
Seeing as even with the hell he had been put through, and the fact he didn't like being around people all that much, he still had a bit of a saving people thing. If only because Harry knew he wouldn't be able to survive all of this alone; at least not while retaining the sanity he had he wouldn't be able too. As despite how he felt at time humans, and he himself, needed socializing to be able to survive.
So, he began to get to work with all the idea he had. Ideas which as Harry began to think more thoroughly on them, he could see all being rather vital in the long run.
That is if things got much worse than they currently were. Which when Harry considered basic human nature he could totally see happening. Hell, he could see it getting much worse than even he could imagine.
Especially considering just what type of people were out there, and what some people would be willing to do when it came to their own survival. Look what he had done when it came to his own survival, going to another world altogether with no reassurance the world in question would be any better than the one he had left.
He was sure there would be others who would do worse in a much more bloodier fashion. Hell, there were people who did things like that before the world had done to hell in the first place.
That in mind Harry knew he had several things he needed to do before he went back to the CDC. Though luckily, because of his magic, Harry didn't see what he was going to be doing taking all too long to get done.
Especially not when consider Harry already knew the city he was in like the back of his hand; along with every short cut and exit others usually ignored because it was deemed too dangerous to go down. Smirking slightly at this, Harry got right to work. After all there was no time like the present.
First before he did anything else Harry had made sure that the spells he had on him had still been working. Spells that had keep others from seeing, hearing, or even smelling him.
All of which had worked perfectly; and all of which were spells Harry had long since master. After having been forced to use them for so long, that it had become almost instinctive for him to use whenever he was doing something he didn't want other to see. Not to mention having them tested against both werewolves and vampires that either he had been tasked to hunt down or on the flip side where trying to hunt him down.
After Harry had been sure the spells were working the way he had wanted, he had apparated to the nearest and largest store in the city; one that already had been overrun with Walkers. Making it so that the store in question was ignored or empty of any other living being that maybe nearby.
Then, after making sure to take a higher pathway, so he didn't run into anyone and there for alerting them to the fact he was there. On the very off chance that there was someone suicidality brave enough to be in said store when they didn't have the same advantage Harry did; aka his magic protection.
To do this Harry had decided to walk across the underside of the roof of said store via the metal bars among the ceiling of the store; something Harry found surprisingly easy to get to and balance upon. After which, and after making sure he could easily leap a crossed said beam safely, Harry went over where all the perishable food was stored.
Food that had mostly been ignored by any of the others that had been in the stores; for the most part. As it seemed like all the others were looking for things that if they grabbed it would be easier for them to carry or if not that food that lasted longer than things like dairy did. Or at least that was what it looked like they had been trying to do before the store in question had been overran by walkers.
Seeing this, Harry gave a silent smirk to himself. With his spells, or to be more specific with his preservation spells, he could easily use the stuff everyone else was avoiding long after he had gotten it; long after it was supposed to have gone bad for that matter. Knowing this, Harry quickly began gather all the meat, the seafood, the fruits, and the vegetables that were in summoning distance; placing them all his side bag; former trunk.
A bag that had a permeant preservation charm built into it, so Harry didn't have to worry about anything spoiling within the bag. Not to mention a sorting spell that would make sure all the items placed in the bag would automatically be placed within it neatly and in an orderly fashion so that Harry could more easily find the things he wanted.
Though that didn't mean that Harry wasn't going to be going in the bag and placing his own spells on each piece of food he had grabbed at a later date. After all Harry would rather be safe than sorry when it came to things like that. Even with the large surplus of food he already had.
Mostly because, Harry couldn't help but think, that with more meat and other sources of food that he had just grabbed this would mean that it would take longer for Harry to need to butcher the animals on his farm; be the domesticated or wild. Something Harry honestly wasn't really looking to forward to as he was becoming slightly attached to some of the animals that were currently on his farm.
Harry after clearing the store of most of its perishables, or all those he could grab without alerting the walkers, or the few panicked people that had finally entered the store, that he was there. Put the next part of his plan into motion. As he quickly exited said store with the bag on side much fuller than it had just minutes before.
By going to all the nearby abandon farms and began to basically raid them for all the things he could need. After all, even if this was technically stealing, as Harry saw it, if it had been left behind it was basically a free for all now; at least given the circumstances it currently was.
So, with that in mind Harry had quickly began to place any animal that may still be at the farms, meaning they hadn't been taken with the family when they ran, hadn't fled themselves or hadn't been eaten by walkers, all under a combination of a sleeping and status charms. Before carefully, as well as safely for the animals, shrinking them down and putting them all in the safest part of his bag. Ready to be transported back to his home.
After all, if Harry wanted to survive through all of this, and he might need those animals in the long run. Not to mention, it wasn't like without anyone there to help, or even free, them the animals themselves would survive the Walkers that would be heading there way. Which would be happening very soon if the sounds Harry was hearing from the distance meant anything.
Harry did this to several different farms, that were all nearby or close enough that Harry knew exactly where said farms where, and because of this Harry gained, six more cows, a good fifteen more pigs, thirty different chickens, three magically silenced roosters, four more horse, three dogs, four cats, ten sheep, and two goats; all under status charms and hidden in his bag.
And while the cats and dogs most likely not be helpful for him in the long run, beside perhaps an alert system of some sort or perhaps a source of comfort, Harry really couldn't leave them behind. Not with the dangers that were about to come their way, and not with the sad eyes they seemed to be giving him; making Harry swear he was going soft when he gave into said looks. Besides they remind him of Hedwig, whom had been taken from Harry during his training siting he was too emotionally attached to her and that she could be used against him.
Moreover Harry knew that the dogs could work with the animals to help keep them under control; or end up really protective of their owners. In that last regard it did help though that the three dogs Harry had found were rather young. Looking as if they had just recently been weaned from their mother; and possible left behind because of that.
Harry had even, with a lot of care, magical spell and a smaller air flowing case was able to put to sleep, shrink down and gather all together several different honeybee man-made hives.
Along with finding a couple of newer animals to add to his farm, such as several rabbits, which Harry was to be sure to keep away from the garden or release in the forest.
Two donkeys which from what Harry had read where both very friendly and protective which could prove helpful; if he could get them to be protective of him or the other animals in his farm.
Three rather easily captured turkeys, which Harry captured rather reluctantly and only for food. Along with those birds Harry had even been able to grab a few geese that Harry could tell where clearly domesticated their clipped wings that prevented them from flying to far show Harry that much.
With all these animals he had just grabbed, combined with those he already had at his own home, Harry figured if worse came to worse he could even trade some of the animal for something; if he really had to that is.
Something he was wary about as he knew how human nature could be or to be more specific, he knew how bad human nature could get. And he knew how some people would react if someone would be willing to trade something like a cow when the world had gone to hell.
It would make them think he had a lot more than that, and led to the worst of the worst trying to find him to forcefully take everything he had; just because he had been willing to trade something that would be seen as highly valuable for other things. Which left Harry weary over the fact if he would be able to trade animals for things. Perhaps after a thorough check over, both mundane and magical, of the people he was thinking on trading with? If he even traded with anyone, or if things even got that bad for him that is.
That or perhaps give some of them to other survivors that maybe out there, without them really knowing he had done so; as again reactions. Perhaps by letting them just happening to 'find' one of his animals walking about after he released said animal when he sees a member out a hunt or something like that?
Because in the end Harry knew that he couldn't just stay in his home and do nothing while this whole thing happened. Hell, that showed with how instead of going to his home, where he had guaranteed safety, Harry was instead going to the CDC in the hopes of finding a way find a cure for this whole thing. The thought of simply hiding out in his home hadn't even appeared when he was trying to decide what he wanted to do next.
Harry after going through the farms the way he had, as well as another small camping store, felt that at the moment he had gotten enough supplies. At least for the time being, but at the same time after seeing just how much damage those walkers could do wasn't completely sure about his home anymore. After all those things were starting to form rather large herds, and that didn't look good in the least bit; for anyone on the opposite side of said herds.
In fact, after seeing the damage a herd could do, Harry felt the need to make his home a little more protected then it was. After all, given how he had lived so far, he felt nothing could be protected enough and knew that given enough time someone could eventually figure out how to get past some of his protection. Be it walkers or worse a group of very unfriendly humans.
Keeping that in mind, Harry apparated once more, this time just inside the ward of his home and a good distance from his walls. As he hadn't felt completely safe on adding all the wards to the stone wall fences, he had around his yard; even if his land had ended where the walls ended.
Once there, Harry turned to face the other side of his wards, the one facing away from his home. It was time to add some more muggle like protection to his home. After all, he figured sooner, or later, Harry would be bringing others either around or even possible into his home, and they may feel better if the place in question actually looked to be protected in a much more visible way besides the walls that is. Or they would once they were able to see this place in question that is.
As currently it looked rather undefended besides the fifteen-foot-high stone fence that is. And while that may stop walkers, as they couldn't climb, it wouldn't last for all time; nor would it look like it could stop the other threats that were out there. At least not without the wards that were currently around it, wards no one but Harry knew about.
Knowing this and feeling like he had a good idea how to both make his home look more protected then it was, as well as actually be more protected at the same time, Harry quickly called on his magic.
It was time to get to work on his newest plan as quick as possible, so with this in mind Harry began to blast a good eight feet deep trench in front of the walls of his home. Then moved it to go all around his home; making it lay a good three feet away from the outside of were his wards were placed so not to interfere with them be it by erosion or anything similar to that.
It was time consuming, nerve racking because of the sound doing what he was caused, not to mention rather exhausting work making the trench in question. But that didn't stop Harry in the least bit as he knew he needed to get what he had started done. Though he did add a temporary ward at his back; as a just in case. Not wanting to be attacked from behind by a walker, or anything else that may try to attack him while he was otherwise occupied with what he was doing.
Given the fact Harry was doing all of this with pure magic, and by himself at that, it took him a good five hours of nonstop blasting before he was finally finished with it all. Which considering just how much land he was doing this around, was rather amazing. As Harry had been sure that it was going to take him a lot longer than that to get even the first part of his plan done.
Though still the fact he had gotten this done a lot faster than he had originally believed he would have made Harry once more grateful for the fact he had his magic because he knew without a doubt in his mind that it would have taken him a lot longer, months longer, if he didn't have his magic to help him.
Not to mention he wouldn't be nearly as protected as he was now or have nearly the supplies he did. As while he may have been able to purchase a good deal of the supplies without his magic, he wouldn't have been able to store even a fraction of what he had now; or keep them as good conditions as they currently all where.
After seeing his completed trench Harry couldn't help but smirk once more. Something Harry had been doing more often lately, as he slowly started to get back in tune with his emotions. Something that started to visibly show as his original green eyes had slowly come back; currently looking either dark green or grayish green depending on the light.
Knowing that any walker that happened to stumble on his place would fall into the trench before they got to close to his home. Not even being able to hit the wards that were around the area; and there for not making it look too suspicious if there were large pile of ashes lined up in front of a certain area. Before the wind blew it all away that is.
Not only that, but now someone couldn't do something like use a vehicle to ram his walls; if they ever got past his wards that is. Plus, maybe with some large spikes and vanishing spell, to get rid of the walker bodies after a certain amount of time, place at the bottom of the trench it would act like a real deterrent for anyone attempting to get past it.
Especially if he made it so that the vanishing spell did not go off until there were a certain number of walkers trapped and skewered within said trench. As a certain intimidation factor for whoever may come across it.
Something that Harry decided to go along with as inside the trench he had just made, he added dozens of thick wooden spikes along with several spells to keep them from breaking, burning and of course cleaned when it got too full.
It had been exhausting work, and had left Harry completely cover in dirt not to mention seriously starting to feel the drain of what he had just done; especially as unlike his other magic endeavors Harry hadn't taken even a small break in-between what he was doing. His mind not letting him do so as he continued screaming the large risk he'd be taking if he had.
But now that he had finished what he had planned, even if it was a very last second type of plan, Harry had decided to go back to the CDC. Something he had done quickly before he could second guess himself any further.
Or, in a more likely scenario, continue to think of different plans to use for protection. Something Harry knew he would continue to do until he either completely exhausted himself or covered all the what if's his paranoid mind could come up with.
At that moment, Harry had honestly believed that if later he thought of anything else he desperately needed to do, then he could easily go to one of the darker corners of the CDC. Ones which he had discovered in the first few weeks of him working there, and apparated out from there to do whatever he felt was necessary; where no one could actually see him doing so.
So far Harry really hadn't needed to do so; at least as of yet he hadn't had to leave CDC. Which was a good thing as it turned out suddenly disappearing like he had been planning to just got a lot harder just a couple days after he had first deiced to stay there. What with he lock down in place along with the fact there was only one other person there with him. Making it all the more suspicious if he suddenly disappeared.
So, at the time Harry was still hard at work at the CDC; trying hardest to find information about what was going on out there. Still trying to find a cure for it in some way. Still attempting to do something after nearly everyone else seemed to have given up on it.
Unfortunately, as it turns out despite deciding to go to the CDC Harry hadn't been able to find out nearly as much as he wanted or hoped that he would; at least not in regards as a cure for what was going on.
Especially not after spending nearly half a year working at the CDC trying his hardest to get even a slight clue as to what was going on; as if to make up for leaving the hospital in the first place.
Leaving Harry going back to feeling rather guilty about the fact he had left Rick in a coma, by himself, for pretty much nothing. And this was even with his emotional training that he had undergone, because despite not being able to feel all too much the Headmaster never wanted to get rid of the guilt Harry felt every time he failed something. In fact, Dumbledore always tried to use that guilt to control Harry. So, if anything he did his best to encourage any type of guilt after Harry felt like he had failed to do something.
At the same time, Harry had long since learned how to deal with unnecessary guilt and knew that even if he had stayed at the hospital, and therefor stayed at Rick's side, that he couldn't say things would have gone much differently than they currently had.
In fact, the only thing Harry did know for sure, of what would have happened if he had stayed at the hospital, would be that he would have even less information then he had now. Because while he didn't have nearly as much information as he would have liked, this didn't mean he didn't have any information whatsoever, at least in regards to the walkers. As Harry wasn't going to let himself go into anything completely blind; not if he could help it.
Because of this, what Harry had been able to work out about the walking dead virus. With the help of Dr. Jenner, who was currently the only other doctor still in the CDC with him, wasn't too awe inspiring. And that was with Harry spending nearly every minute he had trying to find out even more about said virus; using both magical and more mundane means.
Something which was completely unknown to Dr. Jenner, who had something about him that scream at Harry to not let him know about his magic or to become real close to him for that matter.
Something that seemed to be replicated by the doctor in regards to Harry as well; seeing as Dr. Jenner seemed to go out of his way to work as far away from Harry as he could possibly get most of the time. If it came down to it, they could and did work together on a common cause but that was about it.
Still, this lack of actual success with whatever was happen was something Harry could see was visibly wearing on Dr. Jenner as time went on; hell, it was wearing down on him as well.
Which was only made worse by the fact that the both of them continued to work alone, with the mutual silence growing heavy between them, as they both refused to give up despite all the failures they had suffered through.
At the same time, all the work they had been doing wasn't a complete failure. As what the two of them had been able to find out was that, whatever was making the dead raise hungry was a virus of some sorts that effect the mind.
Not only that but they had managed to figure out that the virus in question was in everyone body already; be they alive or dead. Activating only once the body died and the brain wasn't destroyed in some way before that death. Which as it turns out was one of the only ways to permanently stop the Walkers in the first place; destroying the brain in one way or another.
Meaning that it was likely that the virus in question could have started out air based, or water based until everyone was infected. Or if not that it was part of a gene that had been breed into everyone until a certain amount of time activated it permanently. Which one of these theories being the correction one exactly, they hadn't been able to find out yet; except for the fact that it was in everyone.
But since Harry had been able to test himself and found that he was infected as well made him lean more to it being an air born virus than anything else. Unless, that is the Veil had also given him the gene in question when he had been in it; which could explain what had happened to him while he was in the veil. Which could ruin Harry's theory about it being an air or water born virus. Leaving Harry going back to the drawing board in that regard; as he couldn't be completely sure of his findings because of the Veil.
Harry, going on his own theory, had worked out that the virus had started off as being more airborne than anything else; mainly due to how many people who had gotten as quickly as they had. He really couldn't see any other reason how it had seemingly spread all over the world as fast as it had; even when considering water and gene-based theories.
He had figured that after a certain amount of time of being air born, and after everyone had the base code of the virus in their system, it had quickly morphed after that; changing even more from what it originally was.
Making it just that much harder to pin down and figure out what was going because of that. A theory that before the rash of suicides that had occurred in the CDC several of the other doctors agreed with him on. And had even began to research more of.
A research that led Harry believed that once the Virus had already infected everyone, it warped once more becoming something more similar to a venom of some sort; at least it did once the first Walkers started rising.
Which would help explain just how, or why for that matter, a bite, or even a bad scratch, from one of the walking dead could kill anyone who had received them; not to mention making them transform into a walker just that much faster.
With the other reason, of why others were dying so quickly as well as transforming into walkers faster than normal, being the current lack of care, hygiene, or personal cleaning that most people were unable to currently use; spreading sickness further because of this. Leaving the person sick, to dying from lack of health, activating the earlier virus in their braining; turning them into a walker that way as well.
On that note, the bite of a walker being what could be considered venomous, Harry had a hypothesis that if the bitten area, like say an arm, was quickly removed after the bit, then the venom wouldn't spread any further leaving the person safe. Similar to how in times, before antivenom and been made, removing the limb after being bitten by a venomous animal could be used to safe a person's life.
Unfortunately, Harry hadn't had a chance to really test that theory out, nor was he incredible eager to do so, to himself or anyone else for that matter either. It just wasn't something anyone sane would volunteer for.
Seeing as even if it did work, you'd be missing a limb and if it didn't work or was done too late it led to death; along with become a walker alongside that. The idea of removing a limb for safter was one that was purely situational and could only be testing in a worst case of scenario kind of way.
Some of the other things Harry had been able to find out about the walkers, that wasn't a cure or anything remotely close to it but were mainly just observations from the Walkers he had studied. Be it from outside the CDC through the Cameras, or the actual studies of the Walker bodies that they had had in the clutches, was something that proved to be rather interesting; in an almost morbid kind of way.
What Harry had been able to figure out because of this was something like the basics, and some of the information he had already known being reaffirmed. Things like head shot killed them but there was also a bit more than that.
Like when they are freshly dead the walkers in question are strong and more intelligent than those that have been dead longer. The more intelligent, fresher, walkers are a lot more dangerous, faster, and stronger than the others.
As it has been shown that the newer walkers have been able to use tool, such as rocks to break things, in some cases. They also seem to have the intelligence to do something like play dead to attract other to them, so they can attack them.
Which was something that made them all the more dangerous when they form a herd. Which was something walkers did on an almost instinctual level moving and attacking all as a unit instead of separately.
Thankful though, Harry noticed that despite moving as a heard, and some intelligence it was nowhere near of something like a wolf's pack; as that put the situation in an all-new field of dangerous. But altogether that information wasn't nearly enough for all the time he had spent working on this.
Nor really were the other odd bits of news he had gotten like how a walker wouldn't bit in the place that another walker did. That the scent of walker, be it by the walkers blood, guts or another thing that could come out of a walker, tended to make other walkers ignore whatever was being covered in said scent.
Something that had been tested several times with pieces of raw meat to even risking is own neck to test it. Though he had found out rather quickly to get the hell out of doge if something caused the walker like scent to be removed; say like the rain. But in the end no matter how interesting, or helpful the little bits of information he had discovered was, it still didn't answer just why this was happening. Or how to stop if for that matter.
Something that at times left Harry feeling rather down and wondering if he was actually helping any. As Harry couldn't help but feel like nothing, he did was actually accomplishing anything when it came to what was happening.
Thought that left Harry feeling rather helpless and wondering if he had made a mistake coming to the CDC altogether. Which were feelings Harry didn't like in the least bit. Nor was it feelings he was completely used to either, as usually Harry didn't fail at what he was doing so he didn't often feel like he was useless; at least not for as long as he currently was.
To make matters worse Harry could see that the wear of being here, in the same place his wife had died was making Dr. Jenner even more dead inside then he already had been. Because even Harry, with his limit ability to even understand emotions, could tell that, whatever that Dr. Jenner lived for had literally died the same day his wife did.
And while he had only continued to fight on, to live, to keep his promise to her. But at the same time Harry could also tell that Jenner wasn't going to last much long at the rate he was currently going at.
Harry honestly wasn't sure how to feel about this little fact, and ended up having rather mixed feeling about it all. Feeling a strange combination of jealous, sad and fearful at the same time.
Jealous, that Dr. Jenner was able to feel a love that was that strong. To have someone who loved him just that much, and that he loved that much in return. Jealous because Harry was unsure if he would ever be able to find someone like that and be able to actually feel the same way about them in return. Especially with everything that was currently going on.
Not only that, but because of his lack of ability to connect to most emotions, Harry wasn't too sure this would be able to happen to him in the first place. As even if he was getting a lot better at feeling his emotion and knowing what they meant. He still wasn't the best at it.
Something that was made worse due to the fact that he hadn't had anyone to really interact with to continue learning about his emotions; like he had been in the past. At least not since the mass suicide the CDC suffered through, when all the doctors, but him and Jenner, had said enough was enough and put a bullet to their heads.
Which had the effect of Harry once more locking his emotions back up, and set himself back from where he had been recovering by several months. At least it had when it came to expressing and understanding his emotions. Fortunately, he hadn't really back traced on not having sudden outburst of emotions or lashing out like he had several times when he had first arrived in this world.
Still, the lock down on the majority of his emotions, from what Harry could read from Dr. Jenner had got said doctor rather terrified of Harry. And at the same time, most likely set the doctor back some when it came to his own emotional responses. So, all and all it hadn't been good for either one of the remaining doctors in the CDC. Then again given what happened how could it be anything but bad?
After the Jealousy Harry knew he was feeling he could also tell that he was feeling rather sad for the doctor in question. Feeling bad that Dr. Jenner had lost something so deep and important to him, like Harry had lost both Sirius and his parents.
But at the same time, it just seemed that much worse for the doctor as his wife seemed to be his whole world to him; something Harry couldn't claim himself. As he never really knew either his parents or Sirius all that well; at least by the time he realized he had lost them he hadn't.
Not only that but Harry was sure he was also vaguely upset about the fact that Dr. Jenner, one of the few doctors at the CDC Harry had respected, even if he didn't really feel close to him as a human or felt like he could trust him in the least bit when it came to his magic, wanted to die now because of everything that had happened.
Which would in turn leave Harry alone once more. Something Harry actual found himself dreading a bit because he had gotten used to have at least some human company; even if it was a single rather anti-social person. After all, Harry didn't claim to be that social himself either. Just knowing that someone else was there made Harry felt just a little better.
And then at the same time, even if he found himself longing for it, incredible fearful of what would happen to him if he ever allowed himself to fall that deeply in love with anyone; would he too wish to die if he lost that person? Would he lose himself to someone if he loved them that much? Would he finally break if that did happen, and if he did break just what would happen to him because of that? Would that mean all the work he had done to free himself was a waste?
Harry realizing where his thoughts were starting to go and knowing that it would be best to not go down that road. Least, he do something he shouldn't, like thinking or worrying himself to actual do something stupid like actually try to lock away, or even worst spell away, his emotion because of the fear of the what ifs. Something that was such a bad idea that even the most insane of the dark lords didn't try it; considering magic was strongly tied to the caster's emotions in the first place.
Harry instead turned his focus back on his fellow doctor, Dr. Jenner, to see if anything had changed about the man during the night. Seeing as the both of them had deiced to separate the night before and work individual in different parts of the CDC to get a little privacy between them; like they had several times before.
Only to find himself mildly regretting this as he got a good look in Dr. Jenner's eyes. Harry wasn't sure what had happened during the night before but whatever it was that did happen seemed to have completely broken the man that was Edwin Jenner. And this much showed in the man's beyond dead looking eyes.
After seeing this and knowing that the man he knew was truly gone, all Harry currently could do was now was realize that some time, sometime real soon, that he would have to get away from that man.
Because the look on Jenner's face was that of someone who wanted to die and wanted to die quickly. A look that had been hidden before but was now shinning clearly on the doctor's face.
Obviously, something had happened the night before, that had been the last straw that broke the camel's back for the Doctor in question. Something Harry was completely unaware of, as he had spent the previous night in his room reorganizing his supplies he had.
Seeing as Harry was planning on leaving soon. So, he had added a good half of the CDC supplies with everything else he had on him; mostly the weapons and medical supplies that were there. Something he was sure the doctor would never really miss as he really didn't go looking in either the medical supplies or the weapons after he had grabbed the weapons he wanted from there.
But at the same time Harry could tell that whatever it was that had happened the night before, it had turned Jenner in to a ticking time bomb. One that looked to be quite willing to take anyone near him, down with him as he did die. Just as long as he could do just that and die.
Something Harry wasn't going to allow Dr. Jenner to do to him. No matter how much he may have respected, and is some cases pitied, the man in question. As Harry thought of this, he heard a sudden commotion coming from just outside the CDC door. Before a loud almost begging voice could be heard, a voice coming from the camera Dr. Jenner had been watching intensely for the last couple of minutes.
"My name is Rick Grimes, and the group I am with need to be let in. Please we have children with us, and we need a safe place to stay. Please let us in."
Harry hearing this and hearing the name of the patient he had left behind, even if it was under several protections as well as with several different things to help him further survive, couldn't help the icy trill of guilt that shot down his spine. Nor could he stop from turning to Dr. Jenner and saying.
"Let them in."
And then when Dr. Jenner looked to be hesitating in doing what Harry said, Harry reached over pushed the button that would let them in himself. Before grabbing a nearby weapon and walking towards where the entrance was, with Dr. Jenner following quickly at his side.
Not that Harry really took notice of this, all he took notice of was the fact he was about to see if this man, Rick, took advantage of everything he had left with him, and if he had been worth all the protection, he had left behind with him. That and perhaps ease some of the guilt he was feeling about leaving him behind in the first place. However unwarranted said guilt may have been in the first place.
