Walking Dead Wizard
Chapter 123
"Wake the hell up you stupid bint, your title doesn't mean shit anymore." Harry stated with a sour look on his face as he stared down at her. Only marginally taller than her, thanks to the Dursley's abuse stunting his growth, bastards. Her stupid title didn't mean anything, hadn't for years.
Deanna straightened up, nostrils flaring at the slight, "How dare you…" the blonde woman was practically stuttering through the words. Shocked by the way they were conducting themselves, and worse nobody had paid the slightest bit of attention to her words. If this had happened in Alexandria, the fight would have already been stopped.
"Keep that up and I'll kick you out without so much as a weapon or food," Harry told her placidly, "I'm not about to listen to your bullshit, my meter is already filled with it."
Daryl snorted, finding it comical, but he refrained from talking, his gaze focused on his brother. He didn't think for a second anyone would get the better of Merle, he was too good, especially compared to these idiots who didn't seem to have an ounce of training or sense. Merle would stop soon anyway; it was no fun when they didn't fight back.
"You're allowing this brute to hurt an innocent man!" Deanna shrieked, sounding just as hysterical as she had been when her son had been on the ground. "We wouldn't want to stay here with you for all the food in the world!" patting down her skirt, in some sort of self-soothing attempt.
Harry stared at her impassively, "Bold of you to assume we wanted you here to begin with." Watching her become befuddled, genuinely taken aback by his response. Did she actually expect him to start begging her to keep the group here? Or some shit? Just how deluded was this woman? How deluded was the group.
"Daddy!" the youngest of Pete's two children cried out seeing their father beaten so viciously by Merle who's face and fists were blooded.
Not to mention Pete's face that was a grotesque mess, swollen and bloody. If he could see out of those eyes tomorrow, everyone would be very surprised indeed.
The oldest of Pete's sons – Ron – just watched the scene, with a look of satisfaction on his face. He knew, he knew what his father did to his mother. He hated it, he hated he couldn't help her, and he hated everyone else who just pretended it wasn't happening too. Ron protectively curled Sam – his brother – into his arms and hugged him. Stopped him seeing the bloodbath, he was young and it was just pure protective instincts that drove Ron to do so.
"Merle," Harry called out, his tone sharp, one that his group knew to pay attention to. It was the voice of their leader, and he meant business. Glancing down at the man, groaning inwardly, the thought of wasting even the muggle medicine they had on this piece of shit didn't sit well with him. "What brought that on?" not doubting for a second, he had a reason to do so. Something always tipped Merle over the edge, and such a thing hadn't happened since he got sober about two years ago. Time was meaningless, they honestly didn't bother to keep track. Last birthday they'd kept track of was Sophia's thirteenth birthday way back when.
"He's an abusive piece of shit," Merle spat out, aiming it at Pete, but when his gaze returned front and centre, he noticed the reactions, "Sons of bitches knew, just like the quarry all over again." Only this time there were two innocent kids in this situation who may or might not be abused. Sophia had never been harmed by Ed though, Carol had been strong enough to ensure that.
Harry nodded, not surprised in the least, it had to be something like that. "Michonne, Andrea, have them taken to the doctor surgery, Hershel, Severus, Lily, make sure they're healthy." Having the women take the family to safety, it would put them at ease, or at ease as they'll likely feel at the moment.
Andrea gritted her teeth, hating the reminder of how badly she'd handled everything at the quarry. Including ignoring Carol's suffering, and likely winding Ed up to hurting his wife, she'd made things worse whilst trying to goad him into hurting her so the group would maybe do something about him.
"Hey, it's this way, let's get you checked up," Andrea didn't hound her, force her or touch her, just gestured with his arm, the direction she wanted her to go in. Well, her and her boys, the youngest was his mother's spitting image and adorable. In fact, it was there that Andrea felt the first stirring, a longing, for a child of her own. They were as safe as they'd ever be; she'd been determined to have a career before family. Then this happened and made her fiercely glad she hadn't had any. Lori's boy had convinced her of that, Carl had been too curious of this world they'd been thrust into for his own good. Now though, yes, she was beginning to feel the stirring of that gentle desire for a baby of her own.
It didn't help that Sam – the youngest boy – was blonde haired, and fair skinned, just like she and her sister were. It made her wonder if she'd have a child like that, or would it be a bit darker like her father.
Pete just groaned in agony, unable to move, unable to threaten her not to go.
"Pathetic, men like you can dole it out but can't take it," Merle sneered, barely refraining from kicking him again. Honestly, it wasn't even worth it, he was just so pathetic. He'd gotten in what? Two sad punches were all he'd really been able to deliver. Sophia hit harder than him.
"Waste of resources," Daryl commented, "Should just shoot him and be done with it." Now that caused a reaction, the man cried out, terrified that they would do just that.
"It's lies," he cried, "Never hurt her." He managed to get out, a loose tooth breaking through the gum, blood continued to ooze out of his mouth.
"Yeah, that's not going to work, mate," Harry said to the pathetic figure on the floor, "Not here at any rate. We don't ignore reality and hope for the best."
"Carol?" Harry arched a brow noticing she was itching for something.
"I'd like to go with Andrea and Michonne," Carol told Harry, glancing at their retreating backs. She understood the woman on a fundamental level that Andrea and Michonne couldn't possibly hope to. Which she was grateful for, it's not something she'd wish on her worst enemy.
"Then go ahead, take Sophia with you," Harry commented, seeing the look of utter disappointment on Sophia's face, "You're going with your mum, the boys need a little bit of understanding. Why don't you take them some chocolate? You can give some to the rest of the kids." Waving his hand in the direction of the children. Although, at this point, he couldn't honestly think of them as children.
"Done!" Sophia declared, already run walking as quickly as possibly towards the kitchens, she knew exactly where the chocolate was stashed, and she couldn't wait to get her hands on them. It wasn't Hershey chocolate either, it was nestle chocolate, Harry brought from the UK nothing though…would ever beat the chocolate frog she'd had way back when.
Harry grinned ruefully, shaking his head, "She'll catch up with you no doubt," letting Carol know she could join the two women and her daughter would be along shortly. She nodded her head, before beginning to jog towards the retreating adults and two sombre children. If anyone had looked, they would have seen her hands trembling in her pockets. The suddenness had flashbacks before her eyes, despite knowing she was safe.
"Fucked up there, eh," Merle said, suddenly tired as he wiped his hand down his face, only to feel like he'd lost an entire layer of skin, when Luna cleaned him up. His gaze faraway, on his mother, on his father, on Carol, on Sophia, on Ed.
"It's better to happen here, in the safety of P.A," Harry said firmly, "There's always going to be reminders, but she knows she's safe." It was likely these experiences would catch her off guard and make her feel weak again. He'd be sure to check on her later on tonight, but Carol was stronger than she knew.
"Better off without you and your violence! You are hoodlums, is what you are! Unacceptable in society today!" Deanna shot out emphatically. Why should they have such a lovely place while they toiled to keep their place safe only to fail at the earliest hurdle?
"I can help you with that denial," Harry commented, "In fact, I'll throw you in it."
Noah groaned, "That was so bad," he told the wizard, while trying to stop himself grinning and failing.
Daryl snorted, whether it was agreement with Noah or how bad Harry's joke was…nobody knew.
"Keep them back," Harry ordered Glenn and Abraham, as he approached Aaron and his partner, disbelief suffusing him. "That family is staying with me; you can take that piece of shit with you." Gesturing towards the abusive husband. She'd never have to worry about him returning to hurt her.
"Please, we won't survive out there again," Aaron pleaded, as his partner clasped his hand in silent comfort. "I'm not sure how we survived to get here, we owe you everything, please…isn't there any hope you'll help?" begging the wizard with wide hopeful eyes.
Eric pursed his lips, displeased to see Aaron so upset, and unable to make it better. They'd been so happy to see another community, one that might become their own. Only Deanna and her family had destroyed any hope of that. Why had she been so stubborn? They'd never seen her this way; she was always soft spoken and helpful even if she ignored the blatant prejudice they faced. Likely helped by the fact both of them were constantly on the outside.
Both metaphorically and physically as the case may be. Although, one more on the outside looking in.
"They aren't staying," Harry replied right away, he would not let them remain after their actions. He indulged Rick's sad attempts at coups but to add another one – even if she was worse than Rick if possible – was just asking for trouble. "I'll accept you and Eric, as well as the woman and two kids, but that is it."
"Jessie, her names Jessie, and her sons Ron and Sam." Eric explained, "Her husband is Pete, I noticed she was quieter when he was around…but given the world we're in its not exactly alarming." Giving Harry a look of contemplation before he asked, "Was any of that true?" in other words was she actually abused like they said?
"Yes," came the blunt reply.
"I…we can't, we can't stay," Aaron choked, glancing at Eric with a tortured look on his face. "Without us they don't stand a chance…"
"Even with us we don't stand a chance! Have you seen the swarm of walkers out there?" Eric's voice was high pitched and miserable. "That's likely not the biggest hoard of walkers either! We won't…we won't survive this." Was there any possibility of him actually being able to talk his partner into saving their own skins for once? They'd saved all of them once…was that to be their end? A futile attempt at saving them another time?
Harry grumbled under his breathe, a frown marring his features.
Daryl quietly leaned in and whispered, "How about splitting them between the communities? You can't use too much magic, not now, it's safer if you don't at all. Luna wouldn't be able to do it all, right?"
Harry leaned in a little, smiling, "That's actually a very good idea," he mused, it was true he shouldn't use magic, never mind the way he actually had been. He couldn't and wouldn't risk his and Daryl's children, their twins, not for anything. Especially not these sons of bitches who dared to act so hostile in the face of their kindness and decency. Something they'd find impossible to come by in this world they lived in. "I'd actually feel sorry for them, I mean imagine having to put up with them." Sniggering at the thought of their reactions to Ezekiel's old dramas.
"What's a good idea?" Eric questioned, staring between Harry and Daryl, who despite never being really openly romantic, always had some part of their bodies touching, even if it was just their hands brushing against the others.
"The group has one option, they can stick together and leave," Harry stated bluntly, "Or they can be split into groups and sent to other communities." It was going to be a big ask, especially a group of people who didn't know the first thing about hunting or killing walkers, he couldn't believe he was thinking this, that far into the damn apocalypse.
Aaron and Eric glanced at each other, silently communicating. Something they'd perfected over the past few years. Walkers were drawn to sound, so they'd had to, necessity was a mother of invention as they say.
"I mean we could…" Eric pointed out, a hopeful lilt to his voice.
"Only if they agree…" Aaron mused, "What do you do if they don't all agree?"
"I'll shoot them," Daryl grunted out.
"He's joking, he's joking," Harry reassured the alarmed men, clearly taking what Daryl said as truth. Not everyone got Daryl's sense of humour, or heard it often as a matter of fact. At least everyone at P.A would know he was joking anyway.
Merle now clean, approached Harry, he didn't bother whispering. "I reckon that woman knows at least about magic."
"Wait, what?" Harry asked, turning to face Merle giving him his full attention.
"The blonde with the kids," Merle said, gesturing to where Sophie was running, presumably to catch up with her mother and the others.
"Jessie," Harry said, remembering what the guys had called her, "What makes you think she knows about magic?" had he missed something? He couldn't recall anything that would have made him think anyone in the group reacted.
"The second she saw your wand, she grabbed her sons and was trying to make her way through the group," Merle stated, a commander giving information to his chief. "She either knows about magic, is magic, or maybe one of the kids are."
"Well, that changes everything," Harry said, "For her and her kids." He added so that there was no miscommunication. They needed to talk to her and find out what was what, and see about giving her a choice on where she wanted to go. She had a few choices, especially if they were magical, P.A 2, Hogwarts there were choices for her. Which would likely be appreciated given she hadn't likely had much choices.
"If she has magic…why hasn't she used it?" Eric asked dubiously, there was no way she was magic.
"Magic or not, she's still only human and capable of crippling fear." Harry stated curtly, clearly angry at the slight against the woman. Not just her either, no, there were dozens of other witches that put up with the unspeakable despite having magic. He would not see them slighted. He never saw them as weak. It might also have something to do with him.
He'd been abused all his life, and never once did his magic direct at them until Marge. His magic hadn't come to his defence. This woman would be no different, and considering how powerful he was…it was a damn miracle he hadn't killed the Dursleys.
A/n – huh not too bad, not my best word count in a day but it's really good all things considered! I hope you enjoy the chapter! I know it's been a while since it was updated and surprise it wasn't on the schedule :D I might even add another to the schedule near the top! So, will Jessie and the kids be magical? Or Jessie a squib with her sons yet to show whether they're magic or not? Will Pete be abandoned outside of P.A? or will Harry take pity on him (knowing his wife and sons would be safe) and take him to one of the other communities? Its going to be good being able to focus on all the communities again especially before it's finished R&R please