Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 14

It took Harry two days to get back to the road, stopping when it got too much for Sophia making sure they stayed hydrated and had food and somewhere Sophia could sleep. It was getting dark and Sophia was getting extra clingy as she got at night, Harry closed his eyes in dread when he didn't see the RV or even Merle's motorbike. They had left the area, glancing briefly at the little girl; there was no way Carol would willingly leave her little girl surely? Could they be further along just out of sight? Stiffening his shoulders, if they had left that was fine, he would just have to track them if he could, if not he would ensure Sophia lived for as long as he was able to protect her.

"Where's everyone?" Sophia asked, tears already forming in her eyes, the thought of being abandoned was terrifying to the girl who just wanted her mom.

Then Harry noticed the words written on the car windscreen, and his lips twitched, kneeling down beside her he said after nudging her, "Look over there, I think someone left a message for you," he teased her, Sophia eagerly looked in the direction Harry was pointing at and ran over eyes wide. There were crisps, crackers and juice on the hood of the car. Written across the windscreen were the words 'S. H - stay here will come every day.'

Sophia beamed at Harry, tackling him in a hug, she was dirty, tired but elated, and she just knew she'd see her mom soon. "They'll come!" she said with conviction.

"They will, now why don't you go and rest?" Harry suggested, pointing towards the orange car, she would be able to sleep in the back comfortably without a problem.

"Where are you going?" Sophia asked with trepidation, she didn't want to be alone ever again.

"I'm going to go and gather supplies, hopefully I'll find a pair of boots in your size," Harry bopped her on the nose gathering a smile. Her shoes were wrinkled, smelly and dirty after ending up in the water. In fact both of them were dirty, wrinkly and smelly, but showers were things of the past like much of everything else they'd taken for granted. Although he could just shrink them, he just needed to find a pair that a little girl could use to run in and keep her feet safe.

"Do you think everyone else is okay, Harry?" Sophia asked glancing up at her saviour. She knew even as young as she was that he had saved her life. Twice, once from the walker and when she'd ended up almost drowning.

"Yes," Harry said immediately, "I'm sure they're alright wherever they are. But something must have happened to make them leave here and return only once a day." Harry explained not wishing to lie to her.

"Walkers?" Sophia questioned innocence still coating her voice.

"Maybe," Harry said nodding briefly, "I'm sure we will find out soon enough. Go eat and get some rest." he told her, before wandering down to the area he had been clearing out before all this shit went down. Pretty easy to tell since the 'X's he had chalked onto the cars was still there. Harry's lips twitched when he felt Sophia following him.

"Will you tell me more stories?" Sophia asked watching Harry look into a black SUV truck with a dead person inside it. She kept Harry within her sight at all times, just like her mom would want her too - that and she didn't want to stray too far.

"Hmm, what do you want to hear?" Harry asked thoughtfully as he raided all the bags most of them piles of clothes for toddlers or some really disgusting clothes with gaudy patterns, and in one suitcase he found some would actually fit Sophia so he added them to the large black bag he'd been carrying around.

"How about the dragon one? You didn't get to finish!" Sophia blurted out eagerly.

"Wouldn't you rather wait until we're settled for the night?" Harry asked staring out at her, it was getting darker by the minute and soon he wouldn't be able to continue but until the last of that light faded he would continue. Opening the last bag in the trunk he found it filled with canned goods. Beans, beans and sausages, hot dogs, spaghetti, spaghetti bolognaise, cheesy macaroni, ravioli, soups all kinds, beef jerky in packs, pasta, and sachets of sauces and tinned fruit, rice and custard. It was filled completely, a large sack of goodies that would last them a while. He thanked whoever it belonged to as he grunted and hoisted it over his shoulder, bloody hell it was heavier than anything he'd carried in a while. The strings dug into his shoulder painfully but he'd endured a hell of a lot worse. It was only until he reached the next car and the three bags were dumped next to it.

"Alright, I'll tell you the story," Harry said softly, Sophia hadn't spoken again after his suggestion, she never spoke back, he knew why. "There once was a fourteen year old magical boy who was entered into a really dangerous tournament that was meant for adults only and forced to take part in it. This boy was scared, but he never let it get the better of him. He trained and trained until he was ready for anything anybody threw his way." his stories would help Carl and Sophia, give them something to think about, maybe even help them train hard to live in this new world. Added to the fact all kids loved magical stories, they just didn't know they were real. It would also give them hope. This world couldn't taint their imagination, not yet at least; they'd been protected for most part at what the world was like now.

Sophia had already heard this part, but she listened anyway as Harry searched the cars for stuff, randomly putting his findings into one of the three bags.

And so she immersed herself in the tale of a superhero that had to escape a dragon and take out a bad egg from a nest of baby dragons so the baby dragons didn't end up hurt. She did notice that Harry never gave her characters names, just called them boys and girls. She liked it when Harry spoke about brave girls; it made her wish to be like those characters. He was by far the best story teller ever, she absolutely loved his tales, and Carl did too, someone she missed fiercely.

"Alright, let's get settled in for the night, it's too dark to continue this," Harry rasped out, he was thirsty as heck and exhausted he hadn't had a moment to relax or rest. He'd managed to check through nine cars before it got too much, and he'd found quite a lot of supplies though and was feeling really pleased with himself, especially for finding a few pairs of boots ones that could be shrunk just a little and fit Sophia. He hated being out in the open especially with that herd that came their way the other day. Was it really the other day? Two days they'd been away from the group give or take a few hours.

"I'll take one!" Sophia volunteered, holding her hand out in question not sure whether he would let her help or not.

Harry smiled at her and held out his own bag that didn't have much in it, she shrugged it over his shoulders and Harry was left with the three bags he'd collected full of supplies. One over each shoulder and the other clutched in his hand, his right hand remained free at all times just in case. They made their way quietly but alertly over to the orange car where the sign had been painted on it. Harry put the bags in the back under the seats so Sophia could sleep in the back. "Hop in," Harry told her, rubbing his tired eyes, it was during times like these he was glad he'd gotten rid of his glasses and found the spell to correct his eyesight. If they'd come off during a run from walkers, he would have been screwed and unable to see properly. Sophia climbed in when she was asked. Harry made his way around to the passenger seat; it would give him more room to move around.

"Harry?" Sophia whispered after over an hour of silence, both of them dozing.

"Yes?" Harry asked turning to face her, she was curled up, using his bag as a pillow curled up trying to keep herself warm. He absently reached for the water and took a drink quenching his thirst.

"I wish you had been my daddy," she confided sounding extremely sleepy, he was much better at it than her real dad; she was glad he was gone and couldn't hurt her or her mom anymore. She wasn't sad; she was more upset that Jim and Jacqui remained behind at the CDC.

Harry smiled brittle and bittersweet it was, he hadn't been able to save Teddy but at least he'd saved Sophia. She'd deserved better than a disgusting coward like Ed Peletier for a father. Regretfully Harry was also aware whether one deserved it or not, it happened it was how we chose to deal with it that spoke about strength of character. Shaking his head he brought himself out of his thoughts and realized she was asleep, he leaned back against the headrest, rubbing his eyes again, sighing softly. He stank something foul, but he didn't dare to open the windows in the car. One little scratch from those things infected you, hell if he wanted one surprising him if he fell asleep. The heat here was stifling, had been constantly since he came, he wasn't used to this kind of weather. He'd burnt horribly to begin with, especially with the amount of time he's spent outside learning to hunt and track. He'd been riper than a tomato; it had been agony to move. He'd learned the spells to protect himself against the weather he wasn't used to and now had a permanent tan to show for it.

Eventually Harry dozed off unable to keep himself awake any longer.

Harry groaned and opened his eyes blearily, glaring at the light coming at him in all directions, that was the one problem of sleeping in a car or in an open space, first sign of light and he woke up not that it was the real problem, he was just too worried to sleep - vulnerable. He wasn't used to it; there was no light that got into his cupboard after all or his four poster bed at Hogwarts. Harry groaned just thinking about it, man he missed that bed, more than anything else in the world…well maybe except strawberry tart, now that was a treat that was hard to beat. Harry turned to check on Sophia, and relaxed she was still sleeping curled up the bag was over her head so the light didn't seem to affect her. He glanced at the food on the bonnet of the car before shaking his head, they'd been in the sun for what could be two days, digging into the bag containing the food he pulled out some stuff that she could eat for breakfast and cold water he poured into an empty bottle - fresh and cold he was sure she wouldn't think much of it. He put it right next to her so she could see it. He wouldn't go too far from the car; in fact he got out and put a spell so if the doors opened he'd know.

"Right then," Harry said looking around might as well do something, it meant he could actually rest easy when they came back for them. He went back to the last car he'd done last night and began to rake through the stuff. Car after car, as the sun beat down on him, he wasn't as lucky though he didn't get as big a haul as before but he didn't turn his nose up at anything. He much to his disbelief even found a bag filled with fireworks also had a dozen or so knives. Either they were the smartest sons of bitches or idiots, he couldn't decide, but bagged them all the same. You just never know when they could come in handy.

Harry immediately crouched down when he heard an engine, clutching his gun automatically, the first week or so before they found the Quarry they'd ran into a lot of…disreputable people. Trying to get their weapons and food, those that tried to kill them without a second thought. Sneaking around slightly, keeping his eye on the orange car that Sophia was sleeping in. He felt vindicated when he saw that the car wasn't one of their own, he stiffened, his eyes narrowing in anger when it stopped by the car, was it going for the supplies the others had left for them? He didn't want to kill anyone, not without a reason, moving silently he raised his gun only to sigh in relief, bloody hell, it was only Carol, he realized his heart pounding in relief. He heard a suppressed sob she gave off as she stood at the rail; she hadn't even thought to check the car.

Carol spun around hearing the noise of someone walking, only to stare wide eyed at the sight of Harry before tears began to pour down her face. If Harry had made it back why couldn't her daughter? She was out there all alone, worse though she feared that her daughter was no more, but part of her, a very big part refused to believe it unless she saw it with her own eyes. "Harry…" she whispered trying to wipe away her tears only for more to replace them.

"Look in the car," Harry said quietly a small smile playing on his face.

Carol swiftly looked to the car, moving so quickly that Harry worried she might get whiplash. Then she saw her, it was the most magnificent sight she'd ever beheld. She wrenched the door open, shouting her daughters name, scooping her into her arms before she was even awake sobbing in relief, thanking Harry and the 'lord' for her daughters safe return.

"MOM!" Sophia cried out when she realized what was happening, hugging her for all she was worth tears of her own running down her face. "Harry saved me mom, he saved me! I almost got bit by a walker, I was so scared but he stopped it!" she hastily explained, her voice choked even now.

"How can I ever thank you?" Carol choked, eventually looking Harry's way, there was a small smile on the man's face, she didn't see him showing any emotion often he had a beautiful smile she had to admit.

"There is no need, but if you want to repay me, let me train your daughter, she has to know how to defend herself, it will prevent something like this happening again." Harry explained gesturing towards the woods not needing to explain further.

"Yes, yes, anything, yes," Carol nodded before turning to Harry and hugging him, but not too long since she could feel how uncomfortable Harry was, what had his life been like that he couldn't handle gratitude or affection his way?

"What happened?" Harry whispered giving her a pointed look he knew something had occurred for them to move or leave.

"Carl was shot," Carol explained, shushing her daughter when she tried to speak, "He's had the surgery and he's fine, he will be just fine." she explained to her daughter and Harry.

"Who did it?" Harry demanded looking extremely pissed off.

"A man named Otis, it was a stupid hunting accident, he shot a buck, it went through it and into Carl's stomach, Hershel operated once Shane got back with the medical equipment, Otis died trying to make sure Shane could get back for Carl's sake." Carol said still cuddling her daughter, soothing over her face and hair as if she couldn't quite believe she was here.

"You're supposed to clear the area before shooting anything," Harry said gritting his teeth; it was one of the first rules he'd been taught himself. "Come on, let's get the hell out of here." he wanted to see Carl for himself, but he believed Carol though, the little boy was obviously going to make it.

"I couldn't agree more," Carol said ushering her daughter from the car, before collecting the stuff from the hood of the car, overwhelmed with relief she almost started crying again, she was surprised she had any more to tears to cry. These ones were cathartic though, her daughter was with her again, safe and sound. She could never repay Harry for watching over her enough. He was right; she would need to be a protector first and foremost as well as a mother. Renewed determination with the likes she hadn't felt in years thrummed through her.

Harry unloaded all the bags from the orange car and began to put them in the back of the car Carol had brought. Stacking them up to one side so he could sit down in the back comfortably. Opening the door for Sophia to get in, taking his bag back as he did, flinging it beside the others and sitting in the back.

"Is everyone else alright?" He asked her as Carol got back in the car and turned the key.

"Yes, we've set up on a farm," Carol explained, "It's temporarily for now, until Carl gets better, but Rick's trying to get Hershel to agree to allow us to stay permanently."

"I see," Harry said giving a quiet nod, his eyes dropping; he'd had only a few hours uninterrupted sleep, wakening up during the night at the sound of any noise extremely paranoid these past days.

"Have either of you had sleep?" Carol asked concerned, staring at Harry from the mirror.

"Sophia slept just fine, me not so much," Harry admitted tiredly. Nothing further was said as they made their way back towards their new camp, it didn't take too long before he began to see the others, the RV stood out like a beacon. He remained firmly seated as Carol opened the gate and drove the car in before getting out and locking it back up, she was buzzing with excitement now, she couldn't wait to show Sophia the newly cleaned RV.

"Rick! It's Sophia! They're back!" was the first thing Harry heard as he got out of the car, grabbing everything he had.

"Do you need help with any of that?" Carol asked as the others ran towards them at breakneck speed relief and happiness covering their features for the little girl who they thought was long lost to them even if they'd never said it out loud.

"This is all food," Harry told her as he passed the largest bag over it was the only one he'd be parting with. "There's some clothes in there yours and Sophia's size as well as a pair of sturdy boots she needs to wear, the ones she have are no good, we aren't always going to have gas," he added as warning before the others descended on them mostly Carol and Sophia, Harry tried to walk away discreetly, but Rick caught up with him.

"Thank you," Rick said as he walked with Harry, "Shane thought we were wasting our time, said ya'll were dead, said we should stop the search, but I couldn't." the guilt was apparent in his blue eyes.

"Well it's a good job you didn't," Harry said thoughtfully, "How's Carl?"

"He's getting better," Rick said his face changing from guilty to grim. "He's missed both you and Sophia, said something about stories?"

Harry's lips twitched, "Yes, I used to spend time telling stories to the kids, especially Carl and Sophia," he explained, "It wasn't easy for him, still isn't, hopefully he's not been having nightmares."

"Nightmares? He doesn't have nightmares!" Rick was genuinely taken aback by his words. "My wife would have told me."

"That's because she wasn't there, your son spent more time with me, Carol or Dale in the past two months," Harry said honestly, "I'm not sure if he told the others about his nightmares, but he did to me, he said the stories helped."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rick stopped Harry from moving by tugging on his arm trying to get the man to face him.

"Do not touch me," Harry said with deceptive mildness his muscles bunched up as if he was forcing himself not to react. "Look it's really none of my business, make of it what you will. If you want your son to survive keep an eye on him, he's a curious boy, he is being sheltered and doesn't quite understand just how bad the world is now." Harry arched an eyebrow when Rick's thoughts took a turn he wasn't expecting, so the man knew about Shane and his wife, and was still with her? That was some fucked up shit. "I don't want to see anything happen to him because you're determined to be a leader and putting others first before your son, he must come first." the desperation in those green eyes pleaded with Rick to do as he asked. He didn't want to see anything happen to the kids, he didn't want to relive the horror of what happened to Teddy all over again - not that he'd been there if he had he would have protected him to his death just as his own godfather had.

Rick's throat felt heavy as he wordlessly nodded his head, he had a feeling this man was speaking from experience.

"Where's Daryl and Merle?" Harry then asked his tent was in the back of Daryl's truck.

"Merle's sleeping in his tent, Daryl went to look for ya'll," Rick explained.

"Sleeping?" Harry blinked shaking his head trying to stay awake.

"He was on watch last night, after helping his brother look for ya'll." Rick explained quietly, pointing to where the tents were set up. "You should get some rest yourself, you look exhausted."

Harry wordlessly nodded, moving away from Rick as fast as his tired body could go. He wasn't surprised that his tent wasn't up, but it did make him grumble under his breath in annoyance. Not that he'd planned on sleeping, he was going to head into the woods to get Daryl, and there was no point to him hunting all day when there was no need for it, not since he had apparently been at it for two days now. He didn't want to leave his stuff lying though; the group had a tendency to look at everything as if they all had the right. Unzipping Daryl's tent, he shoved the bags inside, it would have to do for now. He jumped in fright when a hand grabbed onto his wrist.

"Bloody hell Merle," Harry snapped, yanking his hand back, "Sorry, thought this was Daryl's tent, just shoving this inside until I get mine up - don't want any nosey parkers going through it."

"Nosey what?" Merle grumbled, his lips twitching just slightly, he always found some of the things Harry said amusing even if it wasn't meant to be.

"Anyone," Harry murmured, "Get back to sleep, both of us are back and safe, I'm going to let Daryl know."

"After getting yersel' lost for days?" Merle snorted, "Ain't a good idea. He's gone on a horse; you ain't gonna catch up with him."

"Nah, the walkers shuffled all over my tracks, had trouble getting back without them," Harry admitted, "Went too far in, but I got there just in time otherwise Sophia would have been bitten."

"Shouldn't risk your pansy ass for them," Merle grumbled in annoyance.

"It wasn't for them, it was for her," Harry replied quietly, "I hope even you wouldn't leave a kid to become walker chow, Merle, although I know self-preservation comes first for you, the only one you'd risk your neck for is your brother." seeing Merle squinting at him as if he was trying to figure him out he just laughed, "Nothing wrong with it, he's your family, you're lucky to have one," he added honestly before zipping up the tent and adding "There's cool water in my bag, help yourself." standing up he put one of the bags he'd left on the outside of the tent on his back, looked around wondering how the hell he was going to find Daryl, he said he'd left on a horse, so that was his best bet, look for horse tracks.

At least he would be able to Apparate when he got far enough away from everyone at the farm. Which is exactly what he did for over thirty minutes. Having taken his rifle out of his trunk as well as some water due to sheer thirst, it was safely within reach in case he needed it. He had just shrunk his trunk and prepared to Apparate further along…

That was until he heard a snake hissing that it was hungry, then when it saw him it began to talk threatening, to strike him down where he stood that he was a 'stupid human'.

"Really?" Harry drawled in amusement, hissing in Parseltongue "I somehow doubt that."

The snake reared back, its face remained the same, but Harry knew he had shocked it to the core. It was a Muggle snake, unaware of the magical world, so it was probably confused as hell as to how the hell a human could converse with him.

Kneeling down he removed his wand and transfigured a few random bits and pieces into rats, as powerful as he was he knew the transfiguration would hold, it would be like eating a meal, it would no longer be hungry. "It's not safe anywhere anymore, find somewhere to burrow down," he told it, watching it chase after its live prey, wicked hunger in its eyes. While he was there, he noticed the hoof marks were skidded as if the horse had jerked to a stop. Was he already on his way back? His eyes narrowed on the familiar water, it's where he'd found Sophia, saved her. Had Daryl somehow found those tracks? Standing up he moved over to the creek, getting a bird's eye view of the entire area. It didn't take him long to see something that absolutely made his heart stop in fear. Daryl was unconscious surrounded by walkers.

Grabbing his rifle, he cocked it and took the walker closest to Daryl, just as he was wakening up kicking it away from where it was gnawing on his foot causing him to miss. Cursing he took another shot successfully getting it in the head this time, swinging his aim to the next one he dispatched of that one just as Daryl was painfully getting to his feet, despite his pain he took care of the last walker. He was staring everywhere trying to find out who had shot the walkers, before he waddled into the water, to find what Harry presumed was his crossbow he never went anywhere without the damn thing. He winced when he caught sight of the arrow deeply imbedded in Daryl's side.

Breathing deeply, he memorised the area before Apparating, he didn't fancy getting soaking wet again so he wanted to actually appear on dry land - before Daryl had a chance to find and load his damn crossbow, he'd already been shot with that thing once and it was enough for a lifetime.

"That looks painful," Harry said as he appeared, "Get out the water and let me see it before more walkers come." but Daryl didn't listen he just continued to prod around in the water.

"Accio crossbow," Harry intoned, it flew out of the water but before it could reach him Daryl had it safely ensconced in his hand, Harry merely smirked at him. "Let me see it."

"I'm fine," Daryl snapped defensively.

"Really? Think you're going to make it all the way back to the farm? In your condition?" Harry arched an eyebrow at the stubborn man.

"I've had worse," Daryl barked, as he made a makeshift bandage with his dirty clothes.

Harry sighed tiredly, opening his trunk again, the first compartment had his four other shrunk trunks of his books and other things, it also had his potions too, sliding his clothes aside he took the pain reliever and a few other potions out, it was a mild pain reliever, at least he wouldn't be in pain until he could get that seen too. He knew how painful it was, literally, since he'd suffered an arrow wound as well. "Drink this, and this and then this," he gave him a look that screamed he'd find a way to get them in him if he said no he was too tired for anything else.

A single shuffling sound had him raising his gun and shooting the walker, as always the sound was muffled to the extent you barely heard anything. Keeping an eye on the area as Daryl reluctantly drank the potions not wanting to chance his luck with a pissed off and tired wizard by the look of things. He looked as if he hadn't slept since the night he wandered into the damn woods. "Sophia?" Daryl asked after grimacing at the taste of the potions, they were bloody disgusting, but he could feel the pain leaving him already, his head felt better too, added to that he was no longer hallucinating.

"She's fine, got her in the nick of time, a few seconds later she would have been bitten and infected," Harry murmured quietly as he put his gun away and shrunk his trunk back down after he put the empty vials back in, there was no way he would be getting more now that the world went to shit so he was keeping them all. "Ready to get back?"

"Climbs gonna be a bitch," Daryl said staring up at the length he had to climb, not even thinking about magic at the moment.

"I'm not climbing anywhere," Harry snorted; he doubted he would make it; he was too exhausted for words. He held his hand out, waiting for Daryl to take it. Grasping a hold of his wrist he Apparated them back as close to the farm as he dared with someone on watch. Just at the edge of the wooded area, before they began walking, despite the potions Daryl was obviously on the edge of exhaustion struggling to walk, but Harry didn't help him, he knew it would be unwelcome. Daryl didn't like anyone touching him; they were very alike in that way.

He did stay close though just in case, he rolled his eyes when T-Dog, Shane, Glenn and Rick began to run in their direction wielding weapons as though they'd just spotted a walker. He turned his head around just to make sure they didn't have a walker sneaking up on them only for Daryl to sarcastically state it was the third time he'd pointed at him and if he was going to shoot.

Then a gunshot sound blasted through the air and Daryl did fall, Harry tried to catch him but he was too damn stunned to do anything other than fall with the weight he was trying to keep up. He barely heard Rick shouting 'NO!' over and over again in the direction of the RV.

There we go! thanks to those who helped with the timeline, i didnt even think of checking to see if TWD had a wiki page should have realized they would and it would be a lot of help in the coming months! now will Harry be able to come up with a plan for the herd coming their way? saving the farm and allowing them to stay there or do you want to see them plodding on to the prison? will they be able to keep it? what do you think it would take for Harry to reveal his magic to the others? the Gov? Terminus? Alexandria? and yes I'm all caught up! :D lol so who shot Daryl and will Merle have any mercy on them? Will he try and get Daryl and Harry to leave? hmm It was during that time that Rick actually began to rely on Daryl, hmm don't think its quite cemented yet though! R&R please I hope you're enjoying the story still!