Welcome another Friday! Thank you so much for all your comments in last chapter, I'm trying to fix the spacing in this chapter so let me know if it's easier to read this time.
I hope you enjoy this new chapter.
I followed Rick who was walking after Hershel. With the option of Fort Benning finally wiped out of the map for us we needed a new plan. And we needed it as soon as possible. Carl would probably be fit to travel in just a few days and if by then we didn't have any plan we would be out there with no shelter or place to go. We could try to go to Hogwarts but that option seemed almost impossible. With no way to contact them until Winky wanted to make contact with us first, no means of transport for the whole group, the tension between Shane and Rick -or between Shane and everybody else-growing daily, I didn't even know where to begin with. We needed to stay on Hershel's farm, at least for some time. At least until we found out what to do.
-I helped you with Carl. He can fully recover and then it would be time for your group to leave.-said Hershel in a serious voice.
-And we are grateful for your help, but we don't have any other place to go. And we could help you. Right now, there's power on numbers and we could make this farm safer.- Rick was trying to make him see the reality.
-Hershel, I understand this is your house, your family, and you want to keep it safe. Just like us. But you've seen what's out there.
-Listen, Rick. I appreciate you. Really. I think you are a good man, with a beautiful family. But is not that simple.
-Either way.- I interrupted the conversation, feeling I wouldn't go anywhere this time. At least not a good place for us.
- I've been thinking about setting up wards around the farm, as a thank you for your help.- I said trying to make Hershel see how helpful we could be, but also I really wanted to say thank you for their help.- They wouldn't hold a crowd like the one in Fort Benning, of course. But maybe a smaller group of walkers.
Hershel thought about my offer for a few seconds. He looked around the farm, his home, his family. The place he was desperately trying to protect.
-That would be very helpful, Hermione. Let me know if you need something from me.
He turned around to leave but changed his mind and faced us again.
-Beth told me you wanted to make some potions. You can use the fire in the kitchen for as long as you need. Patricia and Beth are the ones in charge of the kitchen right now, just ask them.
After that, he left without losing any more time.
-He will see what we mean.- I said to Rick, trying to reassure him.
-I hope so.
-We could always try to go to Hogwarts, but I can't think of any way to do it right now. We would need to make contact with them somehow.
I told him about Winky, the small house elf who had helped Sophia and was probably hovering somewhere around the farm. I couldn't think of anyway to lure her into showing herself. We would need to wait, show her it was safe for her to make contact, and hope for the best.
-First things first. We need to make sure we are safe before looking for a way to go anywhere. Do you have any plans for the wards?
-Yes, kind of… I still need to try a few things and get some materials. But I have a big picture of how I could do it.
-Good, take care of that. I'll try to talk to Hershel again tomorrow.
-Rick... There's something else I need to tell you.
-Sure. -he looked at me patiently, waiting for whatever I was about to say. -Are you okay? Do you need help with something?
How could I tell him about my suspicions. How could I tell him something like that? Would he hate me after?
-I'm not even sure if I should tell you this. But I feel like I would like to know if it was me. I think something was happening… between Shane and…
-I know. -he cut me off with a low voice tone, he looked exhausted and disappointed. -Don't worry about that, I'll deal with it.
-I didn't want to upset you. I'm pretty sure whatever happened, happened before we were back.
-Don't worry about that. -he said again resting his hand on my shoulder, he didn't sound angry at me which made me relax a bit. -But you should be careful with Shane. I wish I could say he's still my old friend, but I'm afraid he's changed.
-Do you need me to do something about that?
-No, focus on the wards and the potions. Let's keep the routine in the camp in place. I'll take care of the rest.
He gave a quick warm hug and left in the same direction Hershel had gone.
I busied myself the rest of the morning with shooting practice and planning the wards around the farm.
Right after lunch, I went for a walk around the farm. It was a miracle almost no walkers had reached the farm for now. But we wouldn't have that much luck for too long and protecting the farm and fields around was a priority. I just needed to take some tests to finalize my plans, and in order to do that I needed a walker. I make a quick sketch in my notebook of the farm, the buildings, the limit of the forest, and where the anchors of the wards should be placed. It would be hard work, especially finding the materials I would need. But worth it.
That night after our dinner around the fire and before going to sleep I stopped Daryl for a second. He had been busy the rest of the day standing on watch and helping to fix a part of the wooden fence that surrounded the farm. He looked tired, like most of us, but his light blue eyes were still awake. Making sure we were safe during the night.
-Hey, I was thinking of going to the forest tomorrow to gather some ingredients. We really need more potions. Do you remember any creek nearby? There are a couple of ingredients that only grow near fresh water.
-Yeah, there's one not too far from here. A couple of miles east. I'll show you.
-I don't want to bother you, I can go by myself. A couple of miles to the east shouldn't be too hard to find.
-Is not a problem.- he answered fast, as if what was bothering him was this conversation, more than tomorrow's trip through the forest.- See you tomorrow.
He turned around and got inside his tent without saying any other words. I laid down on my own cot, Harry was already sleeping, exhausted after a very long day, and I tried to put some order to my thoughts.
First of all, Winky was around us. But either she wasn't around at the moment or she didn't want to show herself for now. She was probably scared of our muggle company. That would take time but I was sure she would feel comfortable sooner or later. Preferably sooner. If she was around us that meant that maybe McGonagall had got my message. And if we could talk to Winky, maybe she could send another message to her.
I needed to start making potions as soon as possible, after Carl's accident, the surgery and T-Dog's injury we were running low again on medical supplies. Glenn and Maggie had gone to a pharmacy close by to get some supplies that same morning but it felt like we were flying through our supplies all the time. And that reminded me of Beth and her weird reaction when I suggested making the potions in the barn. Was something wrong with the barn?
I felt the sleep starting to make my thoughts muddier and slower.
Rick knew about Shane and Lori. At least he knew something had happened, but it didn't look like it was still happening. But who knew? How could he trust them now? Could we trust them? I considered Rick a thoughtful person, I was pretty sure he wouldn't react out of anger and attack Shane. But knowing your best friend and your wife had something… it sounded challenging even for the calmest person in the world.
My brain was starting to go to places I didn't want to check for now, choosing a topic I didn't have the energy -or courage- to think about in depth yet. But it was absurd to lie to myself. I had completely fallen for Daryl. He probably thought I was crazy, but sometimes he said or did something that made me think he might share the same feelings. But I was probably wrong anyway, my experience dating wasn't the best one, and recognizing romantic hints wasn't my forte. At the end of the day, my romantic experience was almost non existent. I had something with Victor a few years back, nothing too serious. And I had almost gotten married to Ronald, who I wasn't in love with -I had that very clear- and whose idea of a romantic dinner was having dinner at The Burrow, made by his mother, with all his family at the table with us. Yes, I wasn't a great catch.
After that thought I finally let myself go and dreamed about Hogwarts's hallways. They were empty and quiet, but I could feel someone was calling me from the end of the corridor. I voice I knew from years ago, but I couldn't identify. It took me a very long time to remember that dream.
The next morning I got out of the tent with the first few lights of the day. Merle was replacing Glenn on top of the RV and he nodded to me.
-Go to sleep before Hershel decides to cut off your balls.- said Merle to Glenn who just ran to his tent, his face a deep shade of red.
Daryl was standing around the motorbike, organizing his arrows and making sure his crossbow was in good condition.
-Morning.- I said stifling a yawn.
-Morning.- he answered nodding to me. -We should go now to take advantage of the light. The days are getting shorter.
-Finally.- I said stifling a laugh.- I hope autumn is a bit colder than summer, is almost hard to breathe.
-Is very different from where you used to live?
-Scotland? Is the opposite of this. Is easier to fly in this weather, I'll give you that. But it hasn't rained since we got here!
Daryl half laughed after my comment. I took my notebook from my back pocket and went through the pages, looking for the sketches I had done from the plants I needed. I showed them to Daryl, not feeling uncomfortable anymore showing him my pictures. And of course, there was the other reason to go to the forest that morning. I needed to take some tests and I needed a walker in order to get those tests done. Would he think I was crazy? Would he tell me to go by myself if I told him?
-I think I've seen a few like those not too far.
-Have fun princess. You too Hermione.- said Merle laughing from the top of the RV and Daryl flipped him off while we were walking towards the forest.
When we were crossing the line of the first trees I stopped for a few seconds making Daryl stop just a few steps ahead of me. He looked at me, waiting.
-I need something else today.
-What?- he said in his defensive tone of voice. That tone of voice acquired after being manipulated and tricked into doing something too many times.
-I've been studying lately about wards and how to create them. And I have a fairly good plan for the farm. But I still need to make some tests… on a walker. I just need one, that's all. And I'll be done in a few minutes. I understand if you want to turn around and go back to the camp.
-And let you go to look for a walker for yourself?
He turned around and started walking again without saying anything else. If he was upset with me he didn't show it.
We talked in whispers trying to keep an eye on any walkers around us, talking about plants and potions. Daryl would tell anecdotes about his hunting trips -I had to smother a loud laugh after he told me about Merle being shot in the ass a few years ago- and some bits about his mum. He missed her dearly but she wasn't a good mum, just like my own.
I told him my story from the beginning, my parents, my magic, my uncle -who felt like my dad more and more-, the war… He listened quietly, scanning the forest and then looking at me. Giving me all his attention.
-Who did that to you?- he asked in a low, menacing voice, pointing to my arm with his head, barely holding the anger.
-It doesn't matter anymore. She's dead... I killed her.
I took a few more steps, not sure if I wanted to share that story. I turned around and looked at him, turned around again, and took a few more steps. And then stopped and looked at him again.
-We were caught during the war. They took us to question us, I had disfigured Harry's face, something temporal, so they wouldn't recognize him. So they took me... They took me for questioning. She was Voldemort's right hand. A crazy psychopath who enjoyed torturing people.
It was hard to talk about that, I could still listen her laughs in the back of my head, feel the tip of the knife slicing my skin. I looked at my arm, the scar that would be there until I died.
-She used a cursed blade, which means I would never be able to get rid of the scar.-I lift my arm to let him see the whole view. -That's what they called us, mud blood. As opposed to their pure magic blood.
He cut the steps between us, not taking his eyes away from me for a moment, to hold my hand. I closed my eyes, scared of seeing any rejection on his face. He stroked my scar, tracing the letters one by one.
-Is good that she's dead. I would have to kill her otherwise.
His voice was deep, filled with anger. I opened my eyes to look at him, he was so close to me I could feel the warmth from his skin, not only in the arm he was caressing, but through my whole body. I couldn't see any rejection or pity on his face.
After a few minutes, he left my arm go and a painful cold invaded my chest. I followed him for a while, not knowing what to say. Along the way, I picked up every ingredient I might need for my potions and some more. When we made it to the creek I started to look for the last one. Daryl sat down on a rock nearby, paying attention to the forest, leaving me space to work my way through the water and the plants. After I was done I sat down next to him on the rock and looked at the scar on my arm. I tried not to look too much at it, it was a nasty reminder of what had happened. But I didn't feel ashamed of it, not anymore. It had been easier to hide it from the group in the beginning to avoid questions I didn't know how to answer. But now that the truth was in the open it felt just natural to show it to him.
-You are a fucking warrior, don't ever forget that.- he said still in whispers.
We started our way back home when we finally found a stray walker. It used to be a young woman with long dark hair, half of her face was gone and she was missing an arm. Before she could see us Daryl pointed to her with his crossbow, I lifted my hand up signaling to wait.
First test: were walkers affected by all the spells the same way? They were affected by bombardas and slicing spells but I had always been thorough in my investigations. After a quick round of spells -levitating, stopping it from moving, pushing it away...- they all seem to affect them.
Daryl was waiting patiently behind me, looking around us making sure we wouldn't be surprised by other walkers. He would make comments sometimes, giving me ideas to test on the walker, but otherwise, he was waiting in silence.
Second test: which ward would be the most useful one.
-I'm almost done.- I whispered in Daryl's direction.
-Take your time. Are they affected by your spells?
-It looks like. Just like any other object or person, that makes me think the origin of the virus is probably not magical.
-Which is good, right?
-Which is good, yes. Imagine a walker invulnerable to fire or any other spells.
I hold the walker to the ground but keep its upper body mobile. For this test I need it moving around, trying to catch us but without real danger for us.
I tested the first ward, a simple invisible shield between the walker and us, not very strong but easy to replace. I would need some anchors to make it stronger, but that was a problem for another moment. I let the walker free and without losing a second it threw itself against us crashing against the shield. We could see it scratching the surface of the shield as if it was a window. I would need to make the inside of the wards invisible somehow. The shield was holding tight, it might be even capable of holding two or three more of them for a few hours in case we would need it.
I immobilized the walker again and let the ward drop. One of the most useful protections we had used during the war was the alarms. They would notify us when someone was coming too close to us with ill intentions. And during the war, 99% of the people out there had ill intentions. But the problem this time was the spell wasn't catching any intentions from the walker. I slightly modified the spell to catch any instinctive intention, any decision taken by instinct just like any human or animal would have. But still nothing. I reduced the triggers as much as possible, to a point where even a bumblebee in search of nectar would trigger the alarms. But still, it was like there was nothing there. It seemed like walkers didn't have conscience, instincts, or will. Their bodies just moved to spread the virus in the most painful and bloody way. But there was nothing beyond that, there was nothing left of the people they used to be. They reminded me of dementors, they were like a walking void of darkness. I tried one last spell, a patronus. I made appear my otter in front of the walker, dancing around it, making it squirm around trying to catch it. I released the walker from where it was and it started to follow the patronus, forgetting about us.
-I'm done.- I whispered in Daryl's direction.
Not wasting a second Daryl shot an arrow to the walker's head.
Coming back to the farm after our trip was like getting out of the story of a faerie into a polluted muggle city. It felt unreal and cold, I wanted to stay in the silence of the forest and keep talking to him. Keep living that moment. But we had to go back.
I found Rick in the camp talking to Hershel in quiet whispers, their heads close and friendly motions gave me hope. I walked in their direction, not wanting to interrupt their conversation but eager to share the new information. They stopped talking as soon as I got next to them.
-I know how to create the wards.
-Of course you know.- said Rick smiling at me like a proud father. The feeling was odd and comforting in my chest.
-It will take some time and I will have to look for some materials but they would keep walkers and people away from her.
-That's great news, Hermione.- said Hershel.-Last night there was a new moon.
-There was. Do you need me to do something in relation to that?- my brain searched through all the information about creatures or events during the new moon.
-There is a friend, he usually comes around the new moon. One of yours. Just so you know in case he comes today. I'm going to be working with the animals today but Beth will come to get me if he arrives.
He nodded to us, saying goodbye and leaving the conversation on standby. Everybody around the farm went to take care of their own business. Our group had assumed some of the chores around the farm, trying to thank Hershel's family for their help and to show how we could actually be of help if he allowed us to stay.
I spent most of the afternoon practicing shooting with Carol -she was frankly good at it- and even Sophia tried for a while. . It was hard to see a kid their age handling a gun but they needed to learn to defend themselves. Hershel had allowed Carl to sit down outside with us, the poor kid was bored to death. Harry had joined us after having a driving lesson with Merle, Rick and T-Dog had sat down on the fence, jokingly supporting Harry while he struggled to drive Daryl's beat-up truck. I could see Harry was smiling from where I was, laughing at Merle's comments. Despite our situation, the group was becoming a small family for us.
Hours later were sitting down around the campfire, Glenn and Maggie had come back not long before and Glenn was looking at Rick as if he wanted to say something.
-Are you alright?- I asked him in a quiet voice.
-Yeah, yeah. Is just… have you seen something out of place recently? Between Shane and Lori…?
I looked at him, he clearly didn't want to gossip about anybody but didn't want to keep secrets either.
-Don't worry about that.- said quietly.
-I would like to know if….
-Glenn, I already talked to Rick about my concerns and he told me he would take care of that. There's nothing left for us to do.
Glenn looked a his hands, clearly trying to decide to say something or to keep it for himself. But Harry interrupted whatever he was thinking about.
-Hermione?- said Harry leading my attention to the sky. In the distance, we could see something coming closer with every second passed. Something coming towards us, something with a familiar shape.
Well this is it. I love writing more chapters where you can see how is their routine, even if nothing really important happens. I think it help to imagine the situation and gives context to their relationships. I hope you like it!