Walking Dead Wizard
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Chapter 105
Hermione had indeed come to Luna and Merle's engagement party. Much to Harry's surprise, but he wasn't surprised to see Severus coming along with her. They'd stayed afterwards as well, instead of returning to Hogwarts and had remained for the two days. Both had heard of the Oceanside group, and had decided to come along. Hermione as always, ready to help Harry with any task he needed to do. Severus however, desired to see just how Harry would deal with this particular threat. Make no mistake, Severus did see them as a threat, and until confirmed otherwise would continue to do so.
Despite each community having their own leaders, Harry was seen as the top leader no doubt. He was the one giving them supplies, whether it be animals to allow them to create their own meat source, vegetables so they can build their own vegetable supplies, fresh fruit while they waited for their own to grow. More importantly, he'd been giving over more essentials than they'd ever need. Although, that was the easiest, since it can be duplicated unlike food.
Harry would deny it, of that there was no doubt, but Severus had spoken to dozens of people and had gotten a good read on the situation. He couldn't even fully step back, even if it was for his own good…his protective tendencies, and the leader responsibilities Dumbledore had instilled in him going stronger than ever.
To his everlasting shame, he had played a part in Dumbledore's games. Followed through despite every single cell in his body protesting against it. Dumbledore hadn't been omnipotent, there was no way he would have known Harry would return. He had played a dangerous game, Dumbledore and almost lost the war because of it. He'd been out for the count, Harry supposedly dead…Neville found the confidence to kill Nagini, but if Harry hadn't returned, The Dark Lord would have survived, perhaps made more Horcruxes and the Order would have been decimated and the students killed. He'd had nightmares like that for years after the war, of what his actions could have led to.
He'd also heard that Harry had suffered from PTSD from Merle. Who he had spent a considerable amount of time talking to. That, that had been an eye-opening experience, Merle didn't pull no punches or talk around the reality of it. Merle as a soldier knew the symptoms well, but it seemed as if putting Harry into his element had eased the symptoms, or just having someone there as he got stronger helped. He had never let the PTSD win, he'd been strong, and Merle and Daryl were always there to bring him out of it. PTSD was nothing to sneeze about, the fact Harry succeeded could only be considered an amazing feat. Anyone who could overcome it was amazing.
"The Placenta needs to be removed as well as the sac, these pictures demonstrate that they're attached by little veins attached to the stomach to ensure the baby gets nutrients…will we not risk harming Harry by cutting them away?" Hershel asked, feeling like a student all over again, something he hadn't been for such a long time. Although, other times, he felt like he'd spent his young adulthood as a student while studying to be a Veterinarian.
"They've been magically created for a singular purpose," Severus turned around and began to explain to Hershel with more patience than he'd ever demonstrated for his students in the past. "The moment that the child is ready to come into the world, they'll begin fading, by the time the child is removed, the veins as you called them will be entirely absent."
"But the child will not be able to breathe…" Hershel said worry prominently displayed.
"Which is why it's vital that the child be removed swiftly as possible," Severus agreed.
"How will the signs of labour display themselves?" Hershel asked, "Women have back pain and inevitably their waters break, but clearly that cannot happen to Harry and there's nothing in here regarding that." He'd just finished reading it entirely, and it definitely made no mention.
"It's more painful for wizards, the actual labour, so to speak," Severus sat down, a pensive look on his face. "You see, when the veins began to dissipate, the feelings unmistakable. Harry will be in agony, and will remain so until the child is safely delivered and I can administer potions to help with the pain. To give him anything before would be detrimental to both Harry and the baby's health. Something Harry would not tolerate."
Hershel relaxed hearing that, they'd know when he was in labour, he'd know when he was in labour. "The books aren't very informative," he admitted, rather annoyed by that.
"Yes, they're rather lacking in details, aren't they? All books about Male pregnancies are." Severus agreed, sipping the cup of coffee Hershel had brought for him. "Mostly because it's something of a private affair for most, wizards don't want to be poked, prodded, questioned and stared at like a medical experiment. I doubt even the wizard who came up with the initial concept actually wrote a book about it. We create, writing books…isn't something many desire, the creation is what gets us going. Trying to explain the process is daunting to some."
"Speaking from personal experience?" Hershel asked, thinking about it, yes, it was true. He was a rather hands-on man, preferred to show people than write it impassionate in a book. "Although, it's true, one cannot really learn from books."
"Don't let Hermione hear you say that," Severus chuckled, shaking his head ruefully. "She believes books are the know all, end all. Although, she isn't quite so adamant about it these days. As a young teen, if it was written in a book then it must be true. She had…an unwavering trust in written word." It hadn't helped that her best friend was a Merlin damned walking contradiction. Adults found it difficult to create Patronus' along came her thirteen-year-old friend able to learn within a few months. Yes, her faith had been slowly dismantled over the years, then came the book Umbridge wanted the students to learn from, drier than mummy dust, and against all Hermione held dear. Yes, it took a while but it got there.
"I prefer creating potions, altering existing ones to make them better," Severus confessed, "Writing has never been an aspiration. At most in the past, I'd allow my potions to be mentioned in Potions Weekly, and potioneer which are magazines that were dedicated to Potions, Potioneer was for Master's of the subject and serious about their craft. The most writing I ever did was creating my own recipes, I've copied them now. It's vital that no information is ever lost in this world who knows when or if we'll get back to writing books and mass distributing them?"
"It's good to know I'm not the only one," Hershel said with a smile, "I've been writing down everything I can regarding veterinarian work. Putting it in stages so that if the worst should happen…it will be easy for whoever comes next to succeed. Which is much more difficult than I imagined when I began."
"Indeed, it's difficult to dumb it down isn't it?" Severus said wryly, chuckling, "I never was a very good teacher, the only good thing about my tenure that I can say is that none of my students were ever killed like my predecessors."
Hershel reeled at the words, "Potions are that dangerous?" wide eyed.
"Oh, yes, pack a bunch of students into a classroom…you will find it is dangerous. Especially when they stupidly try to sabotage each other's work and creating explosions. It requires an eagle eye, but it means not being able to focus on dedicating time to students that actually need it. It's why I offer remedial classes, so that they can get the attention they need outside of a class setting. Only a few ever attend, but those few tend to become very proficient I'm pleased to say."
"At eleven, yes I can imagine the mischief, university is worse if it can be believed," Hershel nodded, "Contrary with age doesn't come wisdom, for some." Recalling some of the utter idiots that had been in his classes, they hadn't lasted long indeed.
"And for some, life doesn't give one the chance," Severus murmured, he'd never think of James Potter with anything other than anger and derision. However, he had paid the ultimate price at the age of twenty-one, just twenty-one years old…as had Lily. Neither had gotten a chance to grow up, to learn to forgive and forget.
"May I ask a question?" Hershel asked pensively.
"This must be personal," Severus said shrewdly, "Otherwise you wouldn't be asking."
"Of a sort," Hershel said, "Squibs cannot do magic, cannot access any magic…how is it they can create potions which if I've heard your conversations correct do require magic to make them potions. Otherwise, it would just be a bunch of gloop in a cauldron…correct?" hence why Muggles couldn't create them.
"Ah, Glenn and Mira," Severus nodded.
"Wait, Glenn is considered a squib?" confusion prominently displayed, "Harry has never referred to him as such."
"He wouldn't, he doesn't know exactly what qualifies as a squib, he believes it to be a child born into a magical family without magic themselves." Severus informed Hershel, "Now that's true, they're considered squibs, but any mixed family with magical children and non-magical children…are considered squibs whether their parents or grandparents were wizards themselves."
"I see," Hershel said surprised.
"For example, there were two children at Hogwarts, both magical, they had Muggle parents…and their eldest brother didn't have a speck of magic in him. He would be considered a squib. He would have been able to go on and have a family and actually pass the magical gene onto them. Just as Glenn might be able to one day." Severus told him.
"How likely will it be?" Hershel asked, curiously.
"Fifty-fifty, same as all magical pregnancies, while it does fall in favour of magical's producing a magical child, it isn't always that way. Each pregnancy is different. Magic crops up whenever its ready." Severus stated.
Hershel nodded his understanding, "Glenn's sisters as I understand it, are magical, the only ones in the family that are. Glenn new he had the gene; it was a surprise to learn."
"Yes, I'm sure it was, especially since you're a god-fearing man, Hershel," Severus nodded, "Some people are ill equipped to deal with the existence of magic." Thinking of his own father, and the abuse he perpetrated against his wife and son.
"I've often wondered at everyone's reaction if not for the world we've been plunged into." Hershel mused, "Including my own, but I like to think I've not changed that much but one never really knows…I was a stubborn old man you know."
"Still are," Severus chuckled, "From what I've seen." Stubborn and determined at that to learn everything he could to help everyone.
"What potions did you bring today?" Hershel asked, gracefully changing the subject.
"That is a Dragon-pox vaccine potion, Meghan needs it especially if she's around magical people. They have been vaccinated, while she has not."
"Is it anything like chicken pox?" he asked curiously.
Severus smothered his amusement, "No, not at all, it's significantly more dangerous. It eats up your magical core if you're not giving an anti-dote even then you're weakened permanently and it's not just in a magical way, you can end up with a weakened immune system, and aches and pains that never go away. You can tell immediately, they're pock-marked and with a green hue. That's only the visible symptoms, they're very contagious for a while."
Hershel listened in utter fascination. "Would we be able to catch it?"
"Oh, no, not at all, it requires magical cores, so it's something I'm going to have to explain to Meghan's mother…what fun," Severus said dryly.
"Lily, her names Lily," Hershel explained to him, thinking he was forgetting, there were too many to remember, so he wouldn't blame him for forgetting.
"Ah," Severus nodded, he knew who she was, but he'd really rather not same the name if he didn't have to. He hadn't dealt with Lily's death in anywhere near approaching normal, he'd long ago let the ghost of her go, but the aching wound in his heart still hurt from time to time.
"I'm sure they'll immediately agree to be on the safe side," Hershel said, only to perk up when he heard the door open. It wasn't a surprise to hear Harry and Daryl quietly talking, now the fun could truly begin, he couldn't wait to see what was what. "Finally," he murmured, excitedly.
That gleaned him a look of amusement from Severus, Hershel grimaced he hadn't meant that for that to be heard. Luckily Severus didn't seem the slightest bit offended thankfully.
"Hey, Severus, where's Hermione?" surprised to see that Hermione wasn't with him. They were all but joint at the hip. Not that he could say anything, him and Daryl were so rarely away from one another. The only time Daryl was away was when he wanted to hunt, to have peace and quiet away from everything and everyone. Even now it can be very overwhelming for the formerly excruciatingly shy, reclusive and reserved man.
"Still sleeping," Severus said wryly, "She's not used to drinking much at all." she hadn't drunk while underage – if she had he'd eat his potions supplies – and after well, she'd been too determined to figure all this out and never drank anything that would impair her abilities. She hadn't judged his occasional whiskey or bourbon when his Whiskey stash had run out.
"Yeah, I get that feeling," Harry said with a grin, he didn't drink a lot either, when he did…it definitely affected him. "Speaking off, how did the clear out go?"
"I assume you're referring to Hogsmeade?" Severus questioned, "Hop up, and let's see! and there's no need for any of that, Hershel." Noticing him gathering a cover to preserve Harry's 'modesty' as it were.
"Yeah, that's what I mean, surely it's cleaned out by now?" Harry asked, stretching himself out languidly, not quite awake yet.
"Yes, it took everyone all of a day to get it done when they realized the proficiency of Daryl's suggestion." Severus chuckled, "Minerva acted like a bear with a wounded head for a week at the simplicity of it. I think everyone felt the same way. Even just getting to go down there is doing everyone the world of good. Families are actually moving into the cottages, there isn't an infinite supply of them, but there's been talk of making new houses."
Harry laughed, "Yeah, everyone relies too much on magic." He said in amusement. "Is there even a place they can get supplies to build? Do the have people that know how to do it?" it wasn't as simple as flicking your wand after all, even for wizards and witches.
"There are seven wizards and witches proficient enough that with the right supplies they'll be able to do it." Severus nodded, "Regretfully that means trips into the Muggle world, so there are plans to go out into Muggle London with the best of us that can actually cast the Fiendfyre and control it to an extent."
"I thought that wasn't many people?" Daryl asked, according to Harry there wasn't and admittedly he had played off his abilities.
"No, complete control over Fiendfyre is very difficult and very rare, myself and Harry are the only ones I know alive with that sort of control. Who goes will need strictly monitored, one of my students almost turned Hogwarts into a pile of ashes during the last war." Severus stated, lips pursed, he'd been furious at the idiocy when he heard about it.
Harry winced recalling all the stuff that had been destroyed. He wasn't even sure the room still existed or if the magic in it had been extinguished. He hadn't realized Severus had been pissed at Goyle for that…to have been a fly on that wall though. Hogwarts…Hogwarts had been their home, Voldemort, Severus, him, all those who didn't consider their primary residence their homes.
"Last thing we need is a re-enactment of the great fire of London." Severus retorted, especially since they didn't know if there were survivors in the area. Although, it was unlikely, not in a such a high populace area. Those that had went for the less populated areas would be likely to survive.
Harry made a strangled noise, "Re-enactment? Are you serious? We caused the great fire of London?" gaping at Severus in stunned disbelief. "The great fire of London?" okay, consider him stunned and surprised, he had NOT been aware of that little piece of information. He'd learned about it in primary school through.
Severus just smirked, neither confirming it or denying it. "Perlustro Puerulus,"
"I have noticed the penchant for using classical and Archaic Latin in a single phrase…" Hershel confessed, "Is that normal?"
"We even use Vulgar Latin," Harry said, watching and waiting with bated breath for something to happen.
"All three often times together, they all come from the same base," Severus murmured, coaxing his magic around the sac but not invading it.
"Is something wrong?" Daryl asked, anxious to the extreme, "Ain't nothing happenin',"
"Calm, one more second," Severus reassured Daryl, who he noticed was confident in many areas but so very easily worried in others. His worry for Harry and their child was obvious to see and hear.
A glow began to emanate from Harry's stomach, until it was round, like a globe before distinctive shapes began to make an appearance.
"Well, Harry, it looks like you can't do anything by normal measures," Severus murmured, as the distinct picture showed more than just one child within the sac. "Twins, too, and the sex is apparent, a child of each gender, you're much further along than we thought. Five months, I am genuinely surprised your magic hasn't reacted." Staring thoughtfully at the glowing orb showing the images of the two babies intertwined.
"The world is a very different place now, Judith was very quiet, perhaps because everyone else was too? Could that have something to do with it?" Hershel asked, awed, sure you could see with a scan…but the detail was incredible. You could even see the folds in the skin, at the knees, feet, individual toes, so utterly incredible it was breath-taking.
"More likely to have something to do with sustaining both children, there was barely any excess to spare for spells to go wrong." Severus replied, watching the stunned couple gape in disbelief at the scan results. "Are there twins on your side of the family?" he asked Daryl.
Daryl's jaw snapped closed, "No, ain't heard of anyone in the family havin' twins," he confessed, "But we ain't close, before all this, too drunk or drugged up."
"I see," Severus replied.
Daryl was beyond grateful that there was no pity in Severus' gaze, only a sharp understanding.
"As far as I know there hasn't been twins in the Potter or Black lines," Severus said shrewdly.
"You're speaking as if twins are hereditary," Hershel said, staring at Severus in contemplation. "There's evidence of dizygotic twins being hereditary but not identical twins."Dizygotic was twins from different fertilized eggs, ergo not identical twins but fraternal twins. "They're identical, same egg, same placenta, same sac. Unless, it works different with male pregnancies?" his enthusiasm spilling over.
Harry swallowed, squeezing Daryl's hand tightly, twins, a boy and a girl. Five months along, which meant, the babies were going to be coming a lot sooner than anticipated. Four months they had to prepare, just four short months. Time flew in, Merlin's saggy balls, he was in no way prepared for this.
"It will take longer…he'll be in pain for much longer…won't he?" Daryl said, worried about the pain Harry was going to be in.
"Harry is very strong, he's endured worse," Severus said seriously, "And at a younger age as well. He'll be perfectly able to endure this, and the birthing will only be an added ten minutes if that." With them being identical and in the same sac, so there won't be a wait for the other child to follow.
Nothing, not even childbirth was as painful as the Cruciatus Curse Harry had endured at fourteen. It pained him to think about it, even now, years after the event. A child being subjected to such a spell, it was horrendous. He hadn't been the only one. He'd done what he could to guide his students in the right direction. To keep them safe within the school but out of the teachers reach, out of the Carrows reach. All without exposing himself.
"Twins…" Harry murmured, Merlin, twins, two children, two babies to love wholly and fully with all his heart.
Naturally, they weren't the only ones who would go on to have twins.
And the poor Dixon brothers were going to receive all the blame.
"Are you alright?" Daryl asked Harry concerned.
"Yeah," Harry murmured distracted staring at the globe. "Yeah…I'm just fine…" awed, a protectiveness consuming him whole. He would do everything he could to make this world at least moderately safe for his children. Even if it meant going out and taking care of every single walker in the vicinity and every single person that might do them harm.
"Congratulations, Mr. Potter," Severus murmured professionally. Flicking his wand, and before long, a dozen pieces of paper unfurled from Severus' wand. Hershel took one in curiosity, and gasped a little, they were moving, just like the book's pictures do sometimes. Amazing.
Then just like that, the magic holding the scan aloft began to dissipate.
"Maybe you should refrain from going to the Ocean people today?" Daryl suggested, he couldn't bear if anything happened.
Severus chuckled, giving Daryl a look that suggested he was mad. Harry very rarely went back on his decisions, or rather not at all. "Do not worry, I shall be in front of him at all times. Luna will be at his back I rather think." She was the one he trusted the most next to him so it's a very big reality.
"I thought he shouldn't be near magic or perform it!" Daryl protested; his tone non-confrontational but nonetheless stating his mind. something Daryl wouldn't have done before the damn apocalypse.
"Have magic performed on him, agreed, and the only reason he shouldn't be performing is because pregnancies tend to lead to rather…explosive displays. Trying to disarm someone or summon something might cause a minor explosion instead." Severus replied, understanding Daryl's concern. He was still new in so many ways of the magical world, still learning.
"But the Apparation…" Daryl pointed out with a thoughtful frown.
"Side-long Apparation, someone else will guide him, he won't be using magic," Severus reassured him, Harry was too busy looking at the picture to be of much help. "That's if he comes out of his thoughts today." He added just for the hell of it.
Daryl jerked his gaze over to Harry only to smirk, Harry really wasn't paying any attention to them. A herd of wild deer could pass through and Harry would remain undisturbed.
"If he wishes to still go, I'll have everyone ready to go in an hour," Severus informed Daryl, "Until then, I think I'll retrieve Hermione and have breakfast, so if you'll excuse me." They always had breakfast together, it had become a ritual of theirs. He more often than not forced her away from her research to have dinner.
"Yes, I think I'll join Carol this morning for a Cuppa," Hershel said, giving the two time together.
Both men silently left the Doctors surgery, where Hope Alexandra had been born barely a month ago.
"Twins," Harry murmured quietly, glancing up at Daryl, "I don't think I'm ever going to be able to leave P.A to do anything…" he reckoned it would be difficult to leave one behind but to leave two? Impossible.
Daryl sort of felt the same way, he gave a jerky nod, "I know," he murmured, "But everyone else can hold down the fort…you have everyone at Hogwarts who would love to help you…everyone here who would too…as well as everyone at Hilltop and The Kingdom and with time The Savior compound." He was revered by all, not for his magic but his humility.
Helping others seemed to ingrained that he didn't stop to think, to wonder he just acted.
He was what the world needed in a leader right now.
"Will you bond with me?" Daryl blurted out, "The anima vinculum ritual." The soul bonding ritual. Freezing entirely, watching Harry closely for every minute change…he wasn't sure what he'd do if Harry said no. He held his breath, waiting, each second felt like forever…and as the clocked tick without a reply he honestly wanted to fade away, to hunt, and never return.
There we go! The next chapter up for you all to enjoy! so will Harry think Daryl's only asking because of Merle and Luna? Or because of the baby? And trying to think of a way to let him down gently or will he be so utterly stunned that someone wanted that bond with him? will Luna and Harry bonding to Merle and Daryl actually cause them to have elongated lives? Much longer than Muggles actually live? I mean it's not like I'm going to do the epilogue 200 years in the future :P :P hahah although it would be amusing! so guys anywhere or anyone you want to see in the story whether now or in the future...now's your chance? Anyone you secretly want to be a wizard ;) and have them found by Harry and the gang? R&R please!