One: Shake the fear and let it all go

I wanted to update the first chapter yesterday with the look-back, but I ran out of time. So here you are. Enjoy. As always; Salllzy: thank you very much!

Musical notes:
A: the fear by Robin Loxley Ps. I'm curious if anybody actually listens to the music. Let me know!

Present On the road (music: A)

"Daryl?" Harry stood still at the point they had decided to meet with a few people from a local settlement. Merle had been the one who had made contact, and Ron, Ezra, Shane, and Merle were already at the meeting point. Harry and Daryl are the cavalry, so to speak.

Daryl had been silent throughout their hike, and Harry felt guilty for sniping at breakfast. He had been short, even more than usual. Daryl turned his attention towards Harry by walking close, and the hunter touched his upper arm briefly. It was something he had been doing regularly. Not that Harry minded it all. His magic seemed to revel in the fleeting touches here and there.

"I'm sorry for being so curt to you at breakfast." Harry's voice was muffled by his cloak, but he knew the hunter would be able to hear him in any case.

"If that's sniping, I don't want to see you agitated." A small smile graced his face, and he raised his brows a bit. Harry just laughed softly which made his hair bounce a bit, and a few strands came loose from being tucked in too fast.

"Never had a reason to." Harry scanned the area, as he tried not to look in Daryl's direction.

"No?" Daryl snorted. "Never, ever?"

"Nope, not towards you." Harry decided to be as brave as the house he had been placed in, and follow Ron's advice to lean in a bit more here and there, to show that he was interested.

Ron usually wasn't the best person to talk about feelings with, but his best friend had looked at him a few times, and then smiled when Harry had looked weary at the redhead after hearing the advice that seemingly had come from nowhere. He was still betting on Draco or Merle being the instigators behind that sudden advice.

Daryl seemed to move on auto-pilot as he stood closer, so that Harry could lean against the hunter's shoulder. Daryl didn't even move a muscle on that side of his body, but embraced him with his left hand while his right held a big army knife that Merle had found for the hunting teams at some abandoned Army shop.

That day the men had been like a group of children when Ron and Merle had come back with their loot. Harry thought that even a big Christmas dinner would not make them as happy as the guns, crossbows or knives had done. Since Christmas was coming soon, he had remembered that.

"You need more rest," Daryl commented in a whispered voice.

"You said I should go outside more."

"Yea'. Ride a horse, walk, talk with Luna, go for a swim. I know that pond 's enchanted to keep warm," Daryl looked with a fake menacing look towards Harry, "Do something fun for yourself." Darly seemed to pull him even closer. "Have a brawl, drink a beer and get drunk. I dunno what you'd do for fun."

"When are we supposed to show up?" Harry asked into Daryl's shoulder, deliberately changing the conversation, almost afraid to move. He wanted to keep the conversation flowing, to somehow keep standing the way they did. It felt protected, and safe.

"Already running from my hug?" Weirdly, Harry felt Daryl's hesitation in his voice, and he knew he had to make sure to let him know that this was welcome.

"No, absolutely not." Talking with Daryl had become easier the more he did it. The hunter always accepted whatever he said. He never pushed, and he never needed even more words. Explaining how he truly felt wasn't as hard now as it had been. It was like they had known each other for years.

"I like you, Harry." It was soft, sudden, and spoken very silently.

"Same here," was all he managed to blurt out. Instead of the distance some people took after that statement, Daryl saw it as a sign to pull him even closer.

Harry closed his eyes and sighed contently, when he felt a second arm around him. It was like the world shifted on its axis, and nothing but Daryl seemed to matter.

Like his whole being felt complete just right then and there.

Death had to ruin it, by showing up and having that serene face that Harry found stupid on an eternal being. It's eyes glowing with the darkness that was in there. It was almost as if he said; 'I told you so.'

The entity was a bitch to deal with sometimes. It made him understand more and more why one of the Peverells before him had written in his journal that being able to understand Death was and would always be a curse.

With an entity like that; anything was possible.

"We have to wait for either the walkie or a message from Ron." Daryl broke the silence, and Harry looked up from the position in which he had been conversing with Death about the death that walked the lands around them, to see two eyes staring at him intently.

Daryl saw that as his cue, as he hesitantly let a rough finger softly caress Harry's face and cheek. He tipped his nose slowly, and then all of a sudden kissed his nose softly. It was such an intimate gesture that Harry was shocked, and was able to ignore Death's cackle for once.

Now Harry was even more afraid to move because he did not want this to end, and he stared into the abyss that was his hunter. He knew his magic had claimed the man a long time ago, but how would you explain that to a Muggle or in Daryl's case: a Muggle-raised squib?

Would he ever be able to explain? Would Daryl accept such a thing?

His magic felt passionate, warm, and like a comfortable blanket wrapped around his shoulders like it always did. It had taken care of him all his life; when he was in danger, when he was in his cupboard all alone and scared, when he walked to his death, and when he started to make decisions on his own.

It comforted him, it took care of him, and Harry would do anything to keep it safe.

Both men continued to gaze into each other's eyes before Daryl took the lead again, as if there was no tomorrow and softly pressed their lips together. When they broke apart, Harry felt breathless and weightless, even from such a small kiss. Everything he knew had changed and was different.

It would change everything.

A few minutes later they got called in by Merle, and hand-in-hand they walked towards the meeting point. A few metres beforehand, Daryl stopped him. He let his hand go, but pulled Harry close to touching their noses together in an intimate gesture. It was a gesture that went through his whole body, and he didn't want it to stop. Harry realised that he needed it; now more than ever.

"Can we talk later?" Daryl asked with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

"Yeah." Daryl's voice sounded different, as if there was arousal in there from that mere kiss that they had shared just a few moments ago. It hadn't been more than pressing their lips together, but it had felt more intimate than any weird French or other kiss Harry had ever had. It was something he hadn't experienced before, and he seemed to crave it. He needed the touch, he needed that feeling that his magic lay low a bit.

But first, there was a mission to do. They could talk after the business was handled.

Present time the meeting point

They arrived at the small street that had been blocked by various objects, to make makeshift walls and obstacles on the street so that walkers could not pass easily. It wasn't bad, but it also didn't look promising for the people behind the walls. There was blood everywhere: fresh and old. They were getting more and more walkers each day.

Harry softly pushed some of his magic forward to check if everyone was alright, but found everyone still standing nicely. Merle, Ezra, and Ron together looked impressive. All three men weren't by any chance small or meagre. They had done physical labour, and it showed. Where Merle was a bit rough on the edges, and looked like the dangerous part of the team; Ezra had that look that gave off big-brother vibes, whereas Ron was neutral. Merle had dubbed them; "the good, the bad, and the ugly", not specifying who was what. He grinned with that dangerous smile whenever he said it. Ezra had just shoved him good-naturedly, and Ron had hexed him with a small stinging hex.

Shane stood on a car as a lookout, looking pretty impressive in his new updated gear, like the former cop he was. Gun strapped on his hip in a military holster, a shotgun on his back that had been attached with a holster to his leather jacket, and a hunting rifle in his hands: the man screamed danger and safety all at once. Harry understood now what Ron had seen in the man: he was a soldier, a cop; someone who would fight for what he stood for. A kindred spirit.

Ezra was talking to a Latino-looking man with short hair, and a darker-skinned woman, who both held shotguns in an insecure way. Ron and Merle had encountered them on their travels, and decided to help them out with some walkers.

Lena Gomez was a woman with determination in her eyes, and admitted that they were already running out of supplies. They had willing people, but many were getting sick or too old to fight with her and her husband; Samuel. It had been a no-brainer for Harry, after Ron showed him the memories of his visit. They were good people who needed help, and who would be able to offer expertise and people for whatever Luna Park needed. They would be able to strike a deal.

Ron walked towards Harry and Daryl with a gentle step, ready for danger, but relaxed enough that Harry felt his own shoulders relax for a bit. Daryl scanned the area around them, and Shane waved in a direction that Daryl had also noticed. There was something in the woods there. Merle crossed eyes with his brother. They only needed a few silent moments before Daryl nodded, and Merle said something to Ezra.

Harry let the men handle that; they couldn't use magic anyway with all the Muggles around, and the brothers were more silent with their arrows than any gun could be.

"And?" Harry made an open gesture with his face and left hand towards Ron, who now stood before him. An informal look, but Harry knew Ron always had his back and vice versa.

"Decent people. A few elders, some children. I offered them one month next to the compound and then they can choose to join us or we can help them set it up better here." Ron took the lead, and Harry fell into step next to him.

Gone was the man that had just cuddled with his magically compatible partner; the leader had risen and Harry took charge.

"Fair enough." Harry declared as he fiddled with a knife on his belt. He had seen another movement on his right, but it was taken out by Merle a few seconds later. He felt the enchantments from Daryl's bow react which meant that the man was still on the hunt.

"They are locals who were abandoned by the army and police. Mostly tradesmen and their families. We need those, so I offered them refuge," added Ezra. The man was wearing his cowboy hat with matching boots, and it was a sight to see. Mila had told Luna once that it had been the hat that had done it for her.

"Absolutely. I trust your judgement completely. Did Merle bring the truck?" Harry asked.

"Yes, they are packing up as we speak. They believe the second truck will bring their belongings, so George and Theo will come to pick those last boxes and suitcases up." Ron laid the plan down.

"Good. Well done."

"This was all Merle, to be honest. The man has a little heart, so to speak." Ezra added as he joined them when they passed him while walking towards the 'gate'. Harry just smiled. Death had spoken those words as well when Harry had found him on the roof.

"They are good people, Hadrian. They even have a priest with an apprentice who has been keeping the children safe. Real Southern folk."

"Sounds decent. I would like to meet them so I can solidify our offer." With those unspoken orders and praise, Harry took the lead of the group. Ron at his right hand, Ezra on his left, and a few steps behind him Daryl closed the ranks after the danger around them had been dealt with.

Shane jumped off the automobile with ease, and joined Merle to close the ranks. Both men had their eyes trained on their surroundings. It didn't take them long to reach the gates, where the appointed leaders of the little settlement stood. They introduced themselves officially to Harry as Lena and Samuel Gomez, and shook hands.

"Y'all seem like decent men, but we have a few elders and children. We don't want to be put out on the streets because some can't work," Samuel said, with a steel determination in his voice.

"Seems like someone made you an offer before?" Ron asked.

"Yes, but everybody needs to contribute, and some have more life experience than others." He answered honestly. "You can't expect them to pick up the slack, so to speak."

Harry understood what the man meant, and he listened as Samuel told them a story about that other settlement.

"Well," Harry started after Samuel was done with his retelling, "We do expect everybody to contribute to the best of their abilities. We need to set up a school area for the kids, but teenagers can choose a mentor for a profession of their own choice if they don't want to learn anymore."

The couple nodded, and Harry continued. "So the elder can advise, supervise, keep an eye on the children, or help out with any task they deem possible."

"So you're saying that people just need to contribute to society in one way or another and it's fine?" Samuel's wife, Lena summarised.

"Yes, no forced labour. You do have to respect Ezra as your direct contact and he will maintain order and law with Shane around the park," Harry pointed towards both men individually. "Shane used to be a deputy sheriff and Ezra is ex-military. We're thinking about forming a council to get it to work. We only have seven inhabitants in our park, and we could use the help."

"This almost sounds too good. What's the catch?" Samuel asked.

"No catch, we need workers as well for our settlement. We need people for the fields and want to invest in other people's futures. We can't sit still now."

It didn't take long for the couple to decide on the offer, and the truck was loaded with two hours.

Past and present The settlement around the shop

Lena and Samuel had been the little town's supermarket owners for many years, and with Samuel being a volunteer firefighter, he had known a bit about protecting the people around them, and had taken on the quest after they had been abandoned.

At first, the army and police invaded the town without any notice, had taken over, killed all the sick people, and put up defences. That had held out for quite some time, until orders had come and the last ones had to leave to go to another base. Without any notice, and within 24 hours the forces had left the settlement at night, and in the morning people had turned to the Gomez couple for help.

Some of the newer members came from neighbouring towns and they had tried to make it work for the last year. When supplies started getting low, and their small crops had been overrun by a few walkers, they had to seek out help, but hadn't found much. There was no government left to take care of things, and no settlement close by to help them out. They hadn't dared to go to the bigger cities.

On a run for food in a neighbouring town, one of the older kids who had volunteered to help Samuel, had run into Merle, and they had started talking after the kid had proven not to be a danger. The oldest Dixon had met up with Samuel, who had confirmed their story, and from that moment on plans had been made.

After meeting with Ezra and Ron, and now Hadrian, the group had agreed to their terms. They would help further the build on the little settlement outside of Luna Park, and after a panel they would or could be voted in for Luna Park itself. They had understood the necessity. If not, they could stay in the outside house, or be relocated back to their old settlement with some provisions.

The terms had been very agreeable.

Past and present The settlement by Luna Park

All the men, including Daryl, Merle, Ron, George, and Harry himself were busy helping at this moment. George had erected the barriers with Luna, Neville, and Ron the night before, seeing as the group had been bigger than expected they had to build another building with sleeping quarters. With magic, it only had taken a couple of hours that morning, but from the moment Linuok had left them the process had been slower. The Goblin was just that good on his own.

There were three buildings now; one with rows of bunk beds on each side communal bathrooms, a small lounge area that had some games, and a big fireplace. The second building was a bit bigger with smaller rooms for families that usually held a small double bed, a bunk bed, and a table with chairs or a couch if it fitted the room. Those rooms had a small shower with a compost toilet.

The third was a small building with a full chef's kitchen, a decent-sized pantry, and a little community room where there were books, games, and all sorts of things. New bed linens, cushions, stuffed animals for the little kids, and a starter of food to get them through a few months. Some of it came in the glass jars from the larders, others were Muggle food finds to not confuse the new residents.

Ezra and Merle were hoisting in some of the older couches that Mila had turned down for Luna Park, but was more than good enough for this purpose to accommodate everybody. Some wooden chairs from neighbouring farms that they had scavenged, and a few lazy chairs that looked and were well-used but good enough for some of the elderly to sit on.

Ron had looted an unfinished hotel for furniture for Luna Park, and he had gone back with Merle to get extra materials for the compound. The older Dixon had a nose for finding things, and so they had gotten an address for the company that made the bedding. Clearing walkers with Merle was almost enjoyable for Ron, as they made a good team. Brash and strong, yet tactical and silent. Ron appreciated the sharpshooter having his six, as Merle called it.

Both men had had a field day with that, as they had looted the supplier completely. There had been no sign of real life in the houses around the store. Ron and Merle had shared big smiles all week long all the while keeping tabs on their kill count. Draco would shake his head, and Theo only lifted a single eyebrow when they spoke over dinner. Their current stash of stuff was growing exponentially, and if it were up to them; it would keep growing.

Hallow mansion's storage had been filling up nicely. Ron and Merle made a good team, and they reaped the benefits. Harry still felt guilty, but Merle had looked at him with a drawn eyebrow just as Severus had done at that council meeting, and he had dropped it. His advisers were right; it would deteriorate eventually or be destroyed by walkers, and they were helping people with it. They did distribute to others who were in need. Harry wasn't hogging it for himself, so to speak.

They had found a few bed frames, and Ezra had taken one apart from every design to make drawings with John for the future if they would need to repair or remake them. Every single one of the bed frames in Luna Park were completely new, and they intended to keep it that way. The ones that had been in Luna Park from before were used for the little compound outside. They weren't bad but if people broke them the materials could be used to make new things.

Nobody needed to know that everything in Luna Park was enchanted to hell and back. No, not really.

The Muggles might not know it, but they were almost just as protected as the people inside Luna Park. It just felt different for them because they didn't have the steel walls and could not feel the magic that protected them. They only had wood and concrete. All in all, it was just a little bit sober but it would do the trick. If people behaved, they would not have to stay there very long and Harry would put it back under stasis.

As Shane had explained, people needed to feel comfortable enough to show their true colours. A trick he had learned at the police academy. Scare them, and their survival instincts kick in. Have them cosy enough so they'll talk, and eventually you will know who you want, and especially don't want on the premises.

It would take a few months, but it would show character, and that sounded like music to Ron's and Ezra's ears.

Present time The settlement next to Luna Park

One look at their new destination, and Lena almost fell apart in Samuel's arms from happiness. It did look beautiful from this side, Harry concluded as he watched the three wooden cabins, a small field with trees and an acre of land to grow food on. The whole thing had been fenced, and it gave off a rustic feel with the few animals that were already walking around. Something Luna was in charge of.

If it wasn't for the doom and gloom around them, it felt whimsical.

"So, you're saying that there is an accommodation that's even better?" Samuel asked with disbelief. "There is a little field for crops, there are even a few fruit trees that I saw, running clean water through a piping system, and enough stuff to get us going for a few months."

"You will need to get through the winter, so yes," Harry answered, as Ezra came by with more lumber that had been cut up in pieces for firewood. "I'm hoping that everything turns out as good as you think, and then you will be moving into Luna Park without question. For now only some labourers will be able to visit under the oversight of Shane or Ezra. Without a guide, you will get no entrance."

"Yeah, no problem man. We're more than good on that." Samuel laughed, but then turned serious. "I will kick out any idiot that tries to ruin this for us."

Lena smiled as well, and went on to help one of the smaller children pick a bed inside the cabins. The ones without parents were going to be supervised by a few of the older ladies or gents, and that's why John was now rearranging some of the rooms for them at the last moment.

Shane showed up a few seconds later with a small generator on a trolley.

"For now there is no power, so we've found this one for you. You get enough fuel for a month, but when it's gone, it's gone. We use the leftovers from the fields to make a modified Ethanol. So you'll only get provisions once a month."

"Yep, although I've been trying to alter it a bit. Blew up in my face twice." George added, as he took a travel mug from Mila with tea who had been smiling all day, and was gently guiding people into their places and roles.

"Chester used to be a chemist, maybe he could help?" Lena asked hopefully. She pointed at one of the older men in a thick woollen sweater, who walked with a walker, but was urging the kids on without any hesitation. "His mind is still reliable."

"Thank you, Mila," he smiled towards the woman, and added: "I'll let him settle in first, then we'll see what we can do about it." George nodded.

"Yes, sure." She scooped one of the littler kids up who came out running with a stuffed bunny in his hands as if his life depended on it.

"Lea, Leah!" shouted the kid. His smile was larger than life. "This is mister Bun Bun. He found me!"

Leah looked startled, and George shrugged.

"Ron and Merle cleared out a few dozen stores in the last few weeks. They went on a field trip with the lorries, or trucks as you call them," he explained, trying to sound as Muggle as he could. It made Ron laugh a bit. "Probably looks like his old stuffed animal."

"It looks like it," said the bronzed woman as she smiled. "I don't think we can thank you enough."

"Nah, you're good!" George winked, and took his leave as the gates around Luna Park closed now that the last truck had driven in. Merle was in charge of everything mechanical, and had taken on this role with verve. He had arranged a garage with multiple vehicles. Bikes, cars, trucks, bicycles, and even an electric scooter had been placed inside. It was the first building that you saw, where the second floor was dubbed as a security office for Shane. This way, if people came in, they would not plunder the most important stuff, and in need, they would always have a truck loaded with goods to leave immediately.

It used to be the reception to the park, and had the amenities they needed so the men had turned it around last week. Nobody needed to know that the mechanical pantry was filled with many more miniature versions of everything Merle's old mechanic heart desired, and that Merle always had the biggest smile when he walked past the 'miscellaneous' boxes.

Ron didn't need to know that Merle was building him a bike, and Daryl would offer him riding lessons for Christmas. That was still a secret that George helped keep.

The once-drug addict seemed to be in his element as he took on more responsibilities. George had watched the man on his younger brother's behalf, and saw what Harry had seen in the man as well. A strong-willed fighter, with his heart in the right place. The way Merle took care of Sophia, walked around the gardens with her, taught her to hunt and shoot, listened to her babble about everything magical she was learning, and worried about Carol at the same time as well; the man did well. He had just needed a little push in the right direction.

Harry had a weird way of getting the strangest people together, but he also had something going that made people loyal within seconds. It wasn't just his magical prowess, or his Boy-Who-Can't-Die-status; it was a pure heart that inspired people. If he wanted that power or not. He still had it.

It had been the reason he had moved out to America with Harry after everything. It had also been the reason that he understood his brother's choices. Especially after everything that the duo had gone through at Hogwarts and later on in the war.

Present time Peverell Mansion, Harry's office

"I believe I owe you a conversation?" Daryl stood in Harry's doorway that led to his office, and looked a bit uncomfortable. He had changed out of his outdoor tenue, and was wearing some baggy jeans with boots, and a thin sweater with the sleeves pulled up to his arms.

Harry often wondered how the man could not be cold, while Harry was still cold in his three-layered outfit. A long-sleeved shirt, a dress shirt, and then a thick winter sweater threw over it. He felt Death next to him, giving the impression that he was smirking.

Maybe it didn't help that he technically wasn't alive, so his magic had trouble keeping him warm. But still … all those layers, spells, and runes that Luna had weaved through his clothing sometimes didn't work. He sighed internally, a bad habit he had picked up along the way, and turned over to Daryl.

"Whenever you're ready, Daryl." Harry smiled softly, but inwardly he felt the nerves in his stomach creating havoc. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, but it made him giddy in a way he wasn't used to. He wanted to talk. He needed it.

Harry had barely eaten at dinner. Falling in love had been difficult before, but with Daryl everything seemed to be easy, and he was afraid that the hunter would turn him down when he found out what Harry saw as a good relationship. It was a whole lot different than others found normal, and Harry had accepted that.

"I don't like talking, you know that." Daryl entered the room, and made himself comfortable on one of the chairs, as Harry called Kreacher for some refreshments. "But I do need to explain some things to you."

"Likewise." Harry nodded thoughtfully, and he sat across from the man. Afraid that if he sat next to him, they wouldn't talk.