Walking Dead Wizard
Chapter 51
Harry made his way over on wobbly legs to the outside barbeque Carol had going, the food was already done cooking, the others had just been waiting on them. Groaning softly, trying to hide just how damn weak and tired he felt, he slid down next to Anubis and leaned against the building patting at his beautiful boy. He loved Anubis just as much as he had loved Hedwig, or still did the pain of losing her still stung fiercely. He hoped nothing ever happened to Anubis, that his boy lived a long full life, however long it will be the thought of him being touched by a walker horrified him. The quicker he got Fort Benning done the better, with his planning the place was going to be locked up tighter than Hogwarts, well just less so, he was only one person after all.
"Hey boy," Harry said, scratching at his ears, head and back with a grin. Anubis wiggled until his head was lying on Harry's lap, his tongue out as he enjoyed being scratched.
"Harry you're back!" Sophia called relief and happiness shining on the teenagers face and she raced up to him.
"I did say I would be, and you know I don't break my promises," Harry said, and she knew that more than most, he had promised nothing would happen to her, that he wouldn't let anything hurt her, while back at the quarry long before the attack. He had gone for her and found her, protected her and kept her safe for three days before they found their way back to the road again. He'd had to reassure her a lot, she'd been scared and wanted her mum, but she'd pushed ahead of that fear and been brave for him.
"Will you tell me a story? It's been so long since you told one," she asked, sliding down at the only other side available. She did lean over and pat Anubis smiling when he licked her hand. Anubis loved playing with the kids, but there was no doubt he loved Harry more, it was him he always went to when he come back. She had always wanted a dog, but her mum had never got one. Her dad would have probably hurt it anyway, probably why her mum said no.
"You are an odd one aren't you?" Harry mused giving her a smile.
"What your stories are good!" Sophia protested, she absolutely loved them and they made her feel like she could be strong too. "I like that the girl is so strong!"
"In some ways, girls are stronger than men; despite the fact society believes it's up to the men to protect people." Harry explained, "Ever heard of the saying 'There's nothing more scary than a mama bear protecting her cubs' same goes for women, they'll go to the end of the earth, tear anyone down that stands in their way to protect those they love." and Hermione and Luna were two of the most extraordinary witches he knew.
"Here," Daryl said handing over two plates, one for Harry and one for Sophia, he had a soft spot for the girl, he wasn't sure why. Maybe the fact she had a similar childhood to him, only similar since his mum was already gone by the time he reached Sophia's age. Not that he'd had a mother like Carol, there was no denying since that bastard of a husband of hers had died she'd came fiercely protective of her daughter and a hell of a shot with a gun.
"Thanks," Harry said gratefully, and it was a big plateful, fresh meat, nobody would be going to sleep hungry tonight that was for damn certain. He felt guilty that he could just get Hermione to give them food while the others didn't have as much, probably why he didn't do it often…unless he did it for Daryl or Luna or while he was talking to her himself. It looked as if they'd even gotten some potatoes from the vegetable patch as well.
"You alright, Dale?" Harry asked, noticing the older man was being a little delicate with his walk, more so than usual.
"Just old aches and pains," Dale said, sitting down with a wince.
"What kind of old aches and pains?" Harry asked suspiciously.
"Arthritis in my knees, sometimes hands and feet, it's been a long time since I was bothered by it," Dale admitted, accepting the cup of tea from Mira and his dinner with a look of gratitude. "It's the cold that's causing it,"
"What helps it?" Harry asked, frowning deeply in contemplation.
"My doctor prescribed anti-inflammatory medication, sometimes painkillers when it was more severe," Dale explained almost humorously, "Definitely not something I can do now."
"A spice called Turmeric is supposed to be good for arthritis, my father put it on his meals, he swore the stuff helped, he was allergic to ibuprofen," Andrea said, looking concerned for Dale. He was the oldest of them all, if something happened and he was in pain…the chance of getting away were reduced significantly.
"I'll keep an eye out for it, but even at that, there won't be getting any more once we're out, spices are going to be a thing of the past along with a lot of other things for a long, long time." Harry said, chewing on the meat, he'd never thought to grab spices, he just took all the edible food he could, he'd need to raid his trunk and see if he had ibuprofen for Dale, he wasn't sure how bad arthritis was but he didn't want to see the old man in pain because of it.
"Maybe there are other things other than Turmeric?" Sophia questioned, trying to help and be grown up.
"Boswellia is good for inflammation, unfortunately it's only found in India so it's not available here." Harry said thoughtfully. "So is aloe Vera, cats claw, eucalyptus, ginger, green tea would help as well, if we have any, thunder god vine, that's mostly used in Chinese medicine though, and willow bark." he ignored everyone staring at him in a little cross between impressed and amused that he would now so much.
Daryl and Merle nodded, they knew their plants and their properties, or as Harry and Luna would call them, herbs.
"It's getting colder, I think this is the last time we'll be able to use the outside grill," Carol said, wrapping her cardigan around her delicate frame.
"Can't have that much gas left anyway," Harry mused thoughtfully as he put his empty plate down, having consumed his very hearty meal. "I assume you're going to make some sort of soup or stew with what's left?" he asked gesturing towards the leftover meat.
"I am hoping to, I'll need to see what's left in the vegetable garden," Carol said, sitting herself comfortably on one of the chair again. They had put in a lot of seeds so in the coming months more should spring out; they kept it well watered and well sheltered.
"This was absolutely lovely, thank you Carol," Dale said, as always complimenting the chef who made their meal. Which was usually Merle, Harry, Daryl or Carol with Sophia learning what she could.
"Normally I'd suggest a fire, but I don't think we should," Mira sighed, staring longingly at the chimineas they had, filled with wood from the forest surrounding them.
"Smoke would be a dead give away," Oscar agreed, he had used one of those to burn his prison clothes with great relish, to think just when things were going great they had to go ugly again. Someone was out there worse than the walkers, while they'd heard the groups talk about it they had yet to experience it until now. The fear and worry it ignited was strange, especially for himself, Big Tiny and Axel, having been in prison there wasn't much left to fear…but they had became attached to the group, worried about them as much as theirselves.
"Not now that darkness is descending, I doubt even they would leave the safety of their compound, wherever it is, in the dead of the night…even with armoured vehicles." Harry nixed the idea that they could potentially be found so close to nightfall. He would feel better knowing where the bastard was situated, but unless he got close enough to cast a tracking spell on him there would be nothing he could do. "Nobody and I mean nobody is insane enough to try that."
"I best get this little one to bed, he's falling asleep," Mira laughed, her fingers delicately brushing the hair from his face, a look of total love and adoration on her face. She had come to adore the little boy as if he were her own, she'd die for him. She never asked the child to call her mum, the poor dear, whoever she was, was obviously long gone, there would be no other reason for the child to be on his own. He was very well cared for, very bubbly, it was obvious to her he had been loved by his parents whomever they were. Despite the fact she didn't know the parents, she would never try to replace them in the eyes of this adorable toddler, he would know the truth, not that she could exactly hide it from him, but when and if he got a chance to grow up and wanted to call her it then maybe she would acquiesce to his request. She stood up with the toddler in her arms ready to settle in for the night and read an interesting book she'd found in the library.
"I'll come with you," Chloe said, her voice quiet and whispery as if she had gotten used to not being heard or too terrified to speak any louder. She picked up Luke and both of them went into the prison, unsurprisingly the elder teen, Patrick followed them in.
"Did it take Mira long to start interacting with the group?" Harry asked, frowning, Chloe and the other two were extremely jumpy, very, very quiet and terrified of their own shadows. He wasn't sure if they just didn't want to trust them and be hurt again or if they were just too hurt and shut down to think of doing it.
"Mira hadn't just lost her fiancé," Luna said sombrely, "He scarified himself for her, it will take her a long time to begin to open up and trust anyone…and knowing how this world is now she might decide not to, not that I can blame her, I mean nobodies life is guaranteed to be safe."
"It's not just her, I saw Patrick sitting playing with Lego's instead of learning how to fight," Oscar said shaking his head not sure what to make of it.
"Was Luke with him? He may have just been playing with…" Amy asked.
"No, he was by himself, in the corridor," Oscar said, Big Tiny was nodding to confirm Oscars story as if he believed the others wouldn't trust his word but he knew that wasn't true.
"Kid's about twelve isn't he?" Axel questioned, he hadn't been there the day the others spoke to them.
"Worse, fifteen," Big Tiny informed him.
"Fifteen? And he was just sitting playing Lego's instead of being in Carol's class?" Harry asked narrowing his eyes, he had been fighting for five years by the time he'd been Patrick's age, what on earth was wrong with him? "Is there any chance he saw his family killed? It could have an affect on kids, but I wouldn't know I'm no physiatrist."
"He's been protected, same as Luke, they first time they saw anything was the night their camp was overrun and Chloe lost her fiancé." Carol informed them, she knew them best of all, she could get information out of anyone, and she just had that motherly affect on everyone. "They know next to nothing when it comes to dealing with walkers." her tone was one of concern and grimness.
"If he doesn't show up again, come and get me, I'll talk to him," Harry said, he meant every word when he had informed them that those lessons were mandatory. It actually annoyed him that the fifteen year old was trying to get out of it, Sophia was twelve years old and she could pummel him to the ground within seconds no doubt. He had taught her well.
"Maybe he just needs time? I know I did," Amy suggested.
"Time is the one thing we cannot afford, you needed time at the start of all this, it's been months and months now since it started…everyone that can wield a damn knife should know how to use it." Harry stated, "I stood back while Shane continued to promise you all lessons…it was my biggest damn mistake, that ambush in the quarry wouldn't have been anywhere near as bad if I had just gone with my gut and made sure you were all prepared. I won't let that happen again, if anything happens to this base, I want to know that everyone will know how to defend themselves."
"I agree, everyone should know how to defend themselves," Carol said, the days her daughter was missing she'd had those exact same thoughts as Harry was stating now. How she would have made sure Sophia didn't fear the walkers that she knew how to defend herself that she have a knife and a gun to do what she had to. She hadn't told anyone but she truly had feared her daughter was dead, that Harry had died too. The sight of Harry without her daughter that day she'd seen him coming from behind the cars had been soul crushing; it had almost destroyed her for that brief moment, until Harry had told her to look in the car. Then there was Harry offering to do what she had been thinking, and she'd let him, he knew better than her how to wield weapons.
"Take him out on a run, he'll want to learn soon enough," Merle chuckled darkly, imagining the kid wetting himself. Barely blinking at the light punch Luna delivered to his arm, scolding him for his words without saying anything.
"Sad thing is I don't think it would," Harry said wryly, shaking his head at Merle's humour, it was always a dark gallows sort of humour he had. "He'd just close off more."
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Andrea asked, maybe sharing her story would help get through to the fifteen year old.
"By the end of it I think we'll all have to talk to him," Harry said smirking a little, "But no, we'll see how it goes when I talk to him…" the air was getting nippy, even Anubis' ears were cold, "For now I think we best get inside, we don't want anyone catching a cold. It's the last thing we need, especially with kids around, we definitely don't have the diluted medicine we would need for them to get better." and kids caught everything, their immune system was nonexistent.
Twenty minutes later they were all inside the cell block, while it wasn't exactly toasty warm, it was much better than being outside.
"Anyone up for a game of cards?" Andrea asked them, wagging the pack of playing cards at them. "Harry?"
"I don't know how to play any of the games," Harry said wryly, exploding snap didn't exactly require any skill, and of course, you didn't have the rules either, you just avoided the cards that snapped and hoped you didn't get singed eyebrows end of story.
"You've never played any card game, ever?!" Andrea said incredulously, she hadn't realized that was the reason he never played before.
"Nope," Harry said amused by the look on her face.
"Not even bakers dozen?" Andrea was aghast. "It's available on all computers, surely you played once?"
"Never had a PC or laptop," Harry said pointedly, he was getting a little annoyed now.
"Some families couldn't afford one, but surely you used one or got one after you left home, got a job and an apartment?" Amy said she was even more shocked than her sister; she missed her laptop more than anything else.
"Oh they could afford them, my cousin went through computers like there was no tomorrow, the same happened with any device he got," Harry informed Amy, "I just wasn't considered part of the family." Harry shrugged indifferently, that thankfully quietened them down, sighing in relief that the damn inquisition was over. From where she was in her own cell, Mira held her hand over her mouth, shocked to the core, how could anyone have raised Harry and not considered him part of the family? He was a hero. "You warm enough in there?" he asked Sophia who had brought her duvet from her bed and curled up in it, she was curled around Anubis who was helping to keep her even warmer.
"It would help if you told me a story?" Sophia said slyly chancing her luck.
Harry laughed as he sat down next to both of them, ruefully shaking his head.
"Hum…alright, there was a boy called Wes, a girl called Raven and a boy called Chameleon a girl called red and a girl called moon, they were all magic wielders and all now fifteen years old…" Harry began.
"You're giving them names?!" Sophia squeaked in excitement. "Which ones the main boy?"
"Chameleon is the main boy," Harry revealed, "Wes is the red headed boy," knowing she'd understood, since he mostly used their hair colour to differentiate between them.
Sophia beamed at Harry, and listened to his tale which unfortunately wasn't a happy one, but most of the tales Harry had that was full of magic had something bad happen. In this Chameleon lost his godfather to a wicked witch who worked for an evil wizard. But together his friends fought back and had nearly all of them arrested, and the incident made the friendship between them all stronger than ever.
Daryl would never admit it but he sat and listened to Harry talk, spin his tales, he had quite the way with words, but he'd always known that. Daryl recoiled slightly when he felt someone sit down far too close for his comfort. "You do realize those aren't stories don't you?" Luna whispered with a grin, her blue eyes twinkling in amusement and mystery. With that she giggled softly and ambled away having gotten the reaction she wanted.
For the rest of the night, Daryl sat there with a perplexed look on his face as he gazed at Harry, wondering if what Luna had said was true or if she was just yankin' his chain. Trying to figure out what could be true and what was obviously made up, not just for this tale he'd told Sophia but them all he'd heard.
There we go! another chapter of bonding time, since we haven't had them all in it for a while I thought it should have it :D next chapter i think i might do just a small jump but not too big after all i want to show Daryl and Harry's relationship evolving, once it has begun then i'll be safe to add in the new character i planned and of course sooner or later the other half of the group ;) would you like to see another dog come on the scene? German Shepherds are my favourite but if you had to pick another breed which would you choose? male or female? :D will we see them having pups? (I so did NOT like when the group killed those dogs in the series poor things were just hungry :D lol) anyway R&R please