Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 99

Everyone got themselves comfortably situated, and since it wasn't a full on meeting…there were enough spaces for them not to realize something was truly amiss. There were so many people coming and going from PA that it was quite normal by this point, admittedly usually the same people all the time. They were all talking animatedly amongst themselves, wondering at the meeting and what Harry wanted to tell them.

"Hershel? Are you quite well?" Lori asked, putting her hand on the elder in concern. He wasn't usually quite so silent, especially with his daughters, who were there, so nothing had happened to them. "Shall I get you a coffee? Tea?" he often changed it up, so she always asked which one.

"Oh, forgive an old man from ruminating," Hershel said, eyes filled with sadness. Giving her that precious few more moments of 'ignorance' which was truly bliss. He would leave the announcing to Harry, as he wished.

"Something's happened, my son…" Lori begun, "He's more subdued than I've ever seen him." especially since coming here, which she didn't like at all.

"Yes, something has indeed occurred," Hershel agreed sombrely, "Harry will be informing everyone soon enough, but your son is well." soothing the worried mother. Having been with her through the farm to Terminus to coming to the prison and to PA. He was in awe of how much she had settled down. She was no longer angry at the world and trying to find people to take it out on. Terminus and the attack by the Governor had woken her up to how bad the world was and how lucky she had it he reckoned. She would never risk PA for anything, and she'd even begun to make amends to those she'd royally pissed off. The incident that begun to change her, he thought, was the prison having everything she needed to survive the birth of her daughter.

Lori blinked, digesting the words, worry still simmering in her brown eyes. She also realised that regardless of how often she asked, she wasn't going to get answers…but at least Harry was willing to share what happened. she glanced at the door when noise met her ears and found Luna, Daryl and Merle entering.

"You really should do as you're told," Carol scolded her daughter lightly, but there was no real reprimand in it. She was however, hovering over her daughter vigilantly. "You should be resting."

"And I'll do it after the meeting," Sophia reassured her mom, squeezing her hand tightly in comfort. Grateful when her mom settled somewhat, she knew her mom was just a little shocked at her getting hurt, she wasn't used to it anymore.

"I'll make sure of it," Carol said, narrowing her eyes at her daughter, making it clear she wasn't going to budge on it either. Her body had gone through trauma, she needed the rest, at least she wasn't in pain, the potion she'd taken a sip off, had worked wonders.

Not that she was surprised by magic anymore, not when it came to potions. Carol and Mira had a lot of conversations and potions naturally crept into the talks, and Carol learned just many potions existed and what they did. It really was a wonder. To think some herbs could accomplish so much.

Axel and Carl made a quiet shuffling entrance, nobody missed the protective way Carl was hovering over Axel. He did not seem injured, although only a few noticed that his top had changed from this morning.

"Axel, you okay, man?" Oscar asked, deeply alarmed by Carl's display as his friend sat down. Carl took the next seat to his left, already pouring him a drink and putting it in his hands. "What the hell happened?" roaming over his friends body, looking for any signs of injury, thinking it might be under his new top, which was definitely a different colour from this morning.

Quite a few others asked the same thing, finding it odd as well.

"He'll be fine," Carl insisted, "Drink it, you need to keep hydrated."

Everyone went silent when Harry stepped in, wariness and tiredness exuding from his every move. A few people were still absent, but Harry didn't seem to be overly bothered by this.

"Today…hasn't been a good day," Harry said quietly, but he was heard by everyone. As they all stilled, they'd never heard Harry like that since the day he revealed magic to them. "I'm afraid we've lost two of our own."

Pale and grim faces were the only reaction.

"Who?" Lori asked, just as anxious as everyone else.

"Andrea's group were attacked by Negan and his men while they were out. Patrick and Big Tiny were shot and killed and the girls taken." Harry explained, rubbing his face tiredly. "They didn't stand a chance."

Oscar choked out in shock to hear Big Tiny was gone, closing his eyes in horror.

"To make matters worse, Axel was bitten," Harry added, and there was no withdrawing from the man. They knew how to deal with walkers, they were no longer afraid of them.

"Jesus Christ!" Oscar choked out, gripping his friend tightly, horrified, soon he would be the only one left from the prison.

"I have given him phoenix tears, there is a very small chance that it might cure him. The only reason I've given them to him…is because he was bitten where the infection could not be removed." He continued on explaining.

"You think they're the answer to the cure?" Carol asked hopeful, was it possible that they'd had a cure for this thing the entire time? That it didn't require dozens of scientists but magic itself?

"Please don't get ahead of yourselves," Harry pleaded with them, especially with Axel around, he didn't want to give a very good friend false hope. "I don't know, I'm only trying the only other thing I have in my arsenal to save his life."

"But there is hope?" Oscar insisted, heart pounding erratically.

Harry just shook his head, unable to answer that in any way they might like. He honestly didn't know what would happen with the phoenix tears. It was amazing, the tears, what they were capable of. They'd saved his life when he was bitten by a basilisk, the only thing that would save his life actually. There were no anti-dotes to basilisk venom, let alone that particular one. It worked too fast for any hope to be gotten. "All we can do is wait and see." refusing to promise them anything.

"It might be a fools hope, but it is hope enough for me," Axel explained, his deep voice resonating within the group. "If it works, it works, if not…I don't regret a second of my time here…or what happened. Big Tiny and I…are honoured to have been part of this." Repeating what he'd said to Harry but not in verbatim.

Sharp inhales and nods of agreement, all of them unsure of what to do or say. It hadn't gotten any easier, and they hadn't lost someone to the bite for such a long time. Not someone they cared about so deeply, like they did with Axel, losing Big Tiny and Patrick was bad enough. A respectful silence followed, grieving for Big Tiny and Patrick, who at the end of the day had still been a teenager, unable to adapt to the world they now lived in.

Eventually though, the silence had to be broken, "What else did you want to tell us?" they'd all been curious, admittedly, but had been content to wait…were they going to have to wait yet again?

"I…honestly don't think this is the time…" Harry admitted, he just wanted to sleep.

"If you don't tell em you're goin' to keep puttin' it off," Daryl stated, knowing Harry well enough by now. It might be respectful to hold off, especially since they'd just lost two of their own and a third might join them…but Harry would continue to decide against it. Old – unfounded – fears would keep him silent on the matter. He just needed a push.

Harry gave Daryl a glare, but Daryl just remained stoic in the face of it.

"He's right, Harry, it's not the best of times, but you have to tell them," Luna backed Daryl up, "You aren't going to be able to go out…and people will notice." Right from the get go, Harry always went out.

"Aren't going to be able to go out?" parroted Axel, glancing at Harry in utter bafflement, "Care to enlighten me at least? I might not live to hear it after all…" there was no bitterness in his voice, he was accepting his fate…whatever it may be.

Oscar chuckled, shaking his head, it was just like his friend to say something like that. He was in awe of his stoicism under immense pressure, he wasn't sure he wouldn't be raging against the world himself.

"Amusing," Harry said dryly, inhaling sharply, "You accepted magic and all it entailed. There are naturally many things you still don't know about magic. Even I don't know everything about magic…that's the beauty of it, there's always something new to learn."

Hershel and the elder residents of PA all nodded their agreement. It was true enough, there was always something new to learn. Although, the world was most stagnant at the moment…new information wasn't exactly forthcoming but information could be gleaned.

"Such as what?" Glenn asked curiously, wondering what Harry was trying to say.

"Carriers," Harry said smoothly, watching Glenn closely to see if it was something he was familiar with. Judging by the blank look on his face…it wasn't something he had read about in his sisters books. "In the magical world…some wizards are…capable of being carriers."

"Carriers of what? Are you sick?" Sophia asked, worry beginning to squirm like a living thing in her belly.

"No," Harry stated firmly before they could begin to worry so much. "Carriers are wizards with the ability to naturally conceive, house and birth a child."

"How is that logistically possible?" Lori blurted out, "I mean it's…impossible…" glancing at her daughter, refraining from saying what she actually wanted to say. "The equipment is all wrong." She settled on.

"They're born with a sack right about here," Harry easily explained, pressing against his side, "The sack or pouch has two small thin tube-like line attached to it that travels alongside the stomach and the colon which goes further down." near the rectum. "You can guess the rest."

"A womb?" Sophia questioned.

"Not quite like a female, but if you prefer to call it that then yes," Harry nodded confirming it for her.

"How will it come out…" Bob asked, his mind exploding with this new information. "Can a lot of wizards do this?"

"The baby is cut out, much like a C-section," Harry explained, slightly dazed by the fact they didn't seem disgusted or horrified by his announcement. "And no, not every wizard are carriers, only some…rarer now due to everything," gesturing around them at the world the way it was now.

"So you and Daryl are going to be dads?" Sophia asked grinning widely, finding it entirely too amusing.

"We are, yes," Harry said, gazing at Sophia fondly, how he loved her.

"So why can't you go out anymore?" Axel asked, "It's not as if you're going to get massive overnight," Big Tiny loved kids, he would have been really happy to hear there was going to be another one in PA. He absolutely adored Andre and "Or are you?"

Harry laughed, "The sack or womb…it very dependant on magic, without it, it wouldn't be there. It feeds on my magic, which will make it rather…unstable, not in a dangerous way, just when I use it, it might flare up or not come out at all. It's the same with witches, although it's normally nearing the third trimester that it happens."

"I'm going to assume you won't be asking me to help you give birth?" Hershel asked, looking rather nervous, he knew nothing of this new anatomy he'd just been informed of. "But I would love to assist," he couldn't help but be fascinated.

Harry's lips twitched, finding himself amused by Hershel's desire for knowledge. "In the coming months…Poppy will be here a great deal, along with Severus and Hermione…they will answer any questions you have regarding carriers and the logistics of it, don't be afraid to ask. Nobody will be offended, even wizards and witches ask these sorts of questions."

"The girls are here and safe…you managed to get them back?" Dale stated the obvious, looking for more information. Tightening his hold on Andrea, aware that they'd been hurt but not everything. The knowledge that he had come very close to losing Amy, Andrea and Sophia didn't sit well with him. He'd felt heart palpitations just hearing on the radio that Amy and Andrea were in the doctor surgery blooded and injured. He'd been too far out to get there in time to help them, by the time he got there the others returned and she was healed. It was one of the rare times he regretted not taking any means of transportation.

"I always know where everyone is," Harry explained, "There is a charm on each of you, a wellbeing charm. That not only lets me know of any possible danger…but where you are. I was…unable to get there in time to save everyone."

"It all happened so fast, there was no way you could have, before I even knew anything was happening…both of them were dead." Andrea stated sternly, refusing to let Harry blame himself for what happened. "They had sniper rifles, they were killed before they even got out the car properly." they really hadn't stood a chance at all. Closing her eyes against the image of them being dragged into the position they'd been found in.

"Are we to have a funeral? The same one we had at the prison?" Carl asked, hoping against hope that Axel would survive.

"I thought you didn't have funerals?" Bob blurted out, alarmed by the prospect of them burying their infected dead.

"Cremation," Harry grimaced, it was much too soon to be thinking of that but unfortunately, life liked to remind them all just how fleeting your existence really was. "I have always insisted from the beginning that if we hope to eradicate this disease we must burn the bodies. We must take comfort in the fact Big Tiny and Patrick are at peace." With their families once more. Swallowing thickly, part of him was so very glad Patrick's parents weren't around to see this…that he hadn't been forced to tell them that their son was gone.

"Why kill Big Tiny and Patrick and take the girls?" Oscar asked, suspicion written across his features. Out of them all, except Harry, Luna, Merle and Daryl…he probably had a clearer picture of why they were taken.

"I think you can hazard a guess," Harry sighed, thinking, trying to choose his words carefully. "Negan already had near enough a dozen 'wives' who were married to his 'Saviors' before the apocalypse. Sickeningly, strangely enough…no kids from what I could see." nobody would want to bring a kid into this…and that many 'wives', evidently he wasn't trying to add to the gene pool…unless the girls had some cards up their own sleeves.

"Not that we have to worry about him, Sophia took care of that particular problem." Andrea told them, a glimmer of the old lawyer breaking through, what had the world come to she thought, that they were proud of a young woman killing a evil man? Everything was twisted, wrong, no, not wrong, just different. Everyone had adapted to survive this world. For most part they were civilised, civilisation had just changed now.

There was always going to be a Shane, Governor, Negan and they would deal with them the exact same way. "Here's to taking down another big bad," Andrea raised her glass, wishing it was something stronger, "Will I be able to drink?"

"Give it twenty-four hours," Harry suggested sombrely, "The potion will still be dealing with the internal damage, the tissue damage won't be as quickly healed over." The initial injury was healed yes, but everything else was going to take a little longer.

Andrea's bottom lip came down, but she nodded her understanding.

"I think that makes the end of the meeting," Harry sighed, "I think we should forget whatever else we had to do…and pick up tomorrow afternoon." Which meant chores and such, there was nothing urgently needing done. They needed a chance to grieve, the small reprieve of his news would only last them so long before it hit them that Big Tiny and Patrick were gone.

"What should I do with Patrick's room?" Amy asked, swallowing thickly, tears shining her eyes. "Big Tiny's room?"

Very small reprieve apparently.

Harry inhaled sharply, "Their clothes and toiletries can be returned and reused, anything they claimed as their own…can be given to those who want something to remember them." he said softly. "Axel will be spending much of his time in the surgery…while we await the results of the tears you can visit him but he has to remain under constant monitoring."

"For how long?" Oscar asked, already planning on spending the entire monitoring with him.

"I'm thinking three days, at least," Harry said, "We'll know before then I reckon, especially if a fever makes itself known. Nobody sleeps in the surgery with him, just to be on the safe side. You go home when you're tired, is that understood?" he warned them all, they couldn't start making stupid mistakes now.

"I'd like to attend Big Tiny and Patrick's funeral," Axel asked for one exception to be made. If it was one of the last things he'd be doing, then he most definitely wished it. Even if it meant watching Big Tiny's body burning, reduced to ashes before being scattered into the wind. There was a strange comfort in that though.

"It will be held tomorrow," Harry said giving a nod.

"He would have been really happy for you," Axel said quietly, giving a small pained grin that looked more like a grimace.

Harry smiled, remembering the good times, "I know," Merlin, he didn't pity Michonne who was going to have to explain to Andre, her son, that Big Tiny was gone. The little boy adored the ground Big Tiny walked on. Had done so from the moment Mira and Andre had come to the prison. The big lovable guy had been smitten with the kid. He had been like a father to Andre for the past few years. You didn't need to be blood to be a father, Harry knew that, his gaze zeroing in on Sophia. She looked tired, the potion at work no doubt.

Hopefully he'd get to live to see this new saga. Harry was pregnant, it was nearly unbelievable. Would he get big? Would he have a boy or girl? He was far from the first to have a kid since the apocalypse. In fact he would be the second one, a wizard that could get pregnant. It was official he'd seen and heard it all. Magic was as always…amazing.

There was one thing, the kid would have the biggest family in the world. Axel thought, gazing around at the subdued group of people, who had come together and bonded strongly and fought fiercely for their freedom and livelihood.

"That's the others returning," Harry commented, feeling the wards alerting him of their return.

"I'll explain, you go ahead," Luna declared, as always trying to take as much as she could off Harry's shoulders, to give him a break. Not that if often worked, Harry was too stubborn by half. Meghan and Andre were still in 'school' playing and having fun, unaware of what had happened. Being watched over by a vigilant mother. Meghan's mom. Luna wanted to catch Michonne before she picked up her son.

Daryl was guiding him out before he could reply, or protest more likely. Giving his brother and Luna a nod, grateful for that at least.

"They barely even reacted," Harry said, sounding as dazed as he looked. "All they did was ask a few understandable questions and that was it…"

"Yeah, yeah, you were expectin' different I know," Daryl said, rolling his eyes, even still he doubted their capacity to care for him. They were used to magic now, nothing and he meant absolutely nothing could surprise them. "It's a miracle that allowed em to sleep at night safe from all harm. Nobody was goin' to turn up their nose cus you are able to carry."

"Yeah," Harry mused, as they wandered back to the house.

"They got it good and they know it." Daryl added, without Harry, without his magic, they'd still be running from one place to the next looking for somewhere to settle, all the while being killed off by the next big bad that came around.

Before long they were carefully situated back home, "Hermione?" Harry called, sitting himself comfortably as he waited on her answering.

"Hey, Harry, is everything okay?" Hermione answered within four minutes.

"I'm good," Harry reassured her, "I've told everyone I'm pregnant, they barely even blinked."

"I didn't expect otherwise," Hermione said, everyone in PA were extremely well adjusted and adored magic and the questions they'd asked, they were utterly fascinated by it. "Now are you going to tell me the truth?" she could see that he was far from alright.

"I lost two of my own today…with the potential to lose another," Harry admitted, a single tear running down his face.

Hermione gasped, "Oh, Harry," she said with sympathy, "Do you want me to come over?" she'd abandon everything for Harry, she loved him, he was her brother…in all but blood. The baby when it was born…would call her Aunt Hermione.

"I'm going to need Poppy and Severus," Harry said sombrely, "Axel was bitten, near the shoulder, I've given him phoenix tears. We have no idea what the outcome will be."

"Oh!" Hermione said, eyes widening, "We'll be there in ten minutes." With that she deactivated the mirror.

"Well…" Harry muttered staring at the empty mirror in bemusement.

Daryl snorted in amusement, they didn't wait around, he'd say that for em.

Harry opened his mouth to reply to that snort only for a distinctive pop to interrupt them.

"Who are you?" Harry asked of the House-elf who had popped to him. In it's hands were a massive wad of parchment.

"I'm Sage, Master Potter, I am the head House-elf at Potter Manor," the House-elf explained himself. "This is the report of the holdings compiled by both myself and Daisy." Not bowing and scraping, having been made aware that Master Harry Potter did not like it the least. They adapted very quickly to new Masters and new situations in order to survive.

"Ah, thank you," Harry said accepting the parchment, unrolling it, only to blink dumbly at the amount of bedrooms, rooms, dining rooms etc… "Um, this is a whole lot for a manor,"

"Potter Manor is actually Potter Abbey in the official title, Master Potter," Sage explained, "It's been in the Potter family since the 17th century."

Daryl couldn't help but snort at the look on Harry's face.

"An Abbey?" Harry parroted, stunned, so much for the damn 'manor' bloody hell. Over a thousand bedrooms, four different wings, dozens of dining rooms, offices, libraries, ball rooms, war rooms, museums, servants quarters, kitchens, sitting rooms, Floo rooms, cloak rooms, Apparation rooms, games rooms, owlery, attic's, basements and the list went on and on.

He didn't even bother reading through every single item that had been inventoried for him. It was twenty feet long by the look of it. The writing was neat and small, great care had been taken to write it out.

"Wait is there a manor and an Abbey here?" Harry questioned Sage, wondering if the House-elf would even know.

"There are many properties strewn across the USA, Sir, all stemming back from Auror Abraham Potter, one of the original twelve Aurors when MACUSA was created." Sage explained, knowing the Potter family history very well indeed. "He died without an heir of his own, and his share bled back into the main estate as per his wishes."

Harry blinked, "Huh," he muttered, that he hadn't been aware of, although he knew what the original twelve was, Aurors who had a real tough time of it, trying to civilize the magical world. They had done so at a very personal cost. "I really need to get my hands on a portfolio of everything I own." He absently muttered to himself.

"Sage can get that, Master Potter," Sage eagerly piped in.

"It's Harry, call me anything but and I'll refuse to call on you," Harry threatened, it was mild where threats were concerned…but for a House-elf it was horrifying to contemplate. "Thank you for compiling this for me, I'll read it tonight, and I promise to have something to do for you guys soon enough." At least they'd had something to do while cleaning the Abbey, bloody hell he had an Abbey. He wondered if Abraham Potter had bought it or if it had been gifted to him for his work.

"You thinking of movin' everyone to the Abbey?" Daryl asked, watching Harry pensively.

"Hell no," Harry said immediately, "As amazing as that place sounds…there's no electricity, no gas, no plumbing unless it was updated, what we have here…is perfect. No, I don't think anyone would do well there, not after all this. I do want to visit it one day though." An Abbey.

"This place gonna go the same way eventually," Daryl pointed out, it was only a matter of time before the solar panels packed in.

"By the time they're through, Luna will have a rune equivalent up and running." Harry shook his head, "She's been working with Hogwarts Runes professor to accomplish it. If it fails, she'll just adjust her plans and everything will be rune activated. Which is great, it means you don't need to be magical to use them..." they only needed magic to be activated. It was already used anyway, the runes, all the houses being used actually had a chilled section, like a fridge in one of the cupboards. For special meals, juice or even stashes of chocolate they claimed as their own. Even the washing machines and driers worked, although they were seldom used. The laundromat was used most often.

"Sage will get to work, M…Harry," Sage looked ready to faint at being so informal with his Master.

Harry smiled, a genuine real one, "Thank you Sage, you can come back any time, just don't disturb us if we're asleep or if I'm in my bedroom." He didn't want the poor thing to end up with an arrow or knife through its body if he surprised Daryl.

Sage's entire body sagged as he relaxed, relieved it hadn't been a trick. He didn't want to call him Master and miss out on the next generation of Potter's being born. He could tell Harry was pregnant, their magic was unique and they were bonded with the Potter line.

When and if Daryl married in, Sage would be able to feel him too.

Daryl slumped down beside Harry, who leaned against him, just relishing in the close contact. "We'll get there," he murmured, his mind dwelling on Big Tiny and Patrick. They deserved to be there for this, but despite not being there in body they were in spirit.

They remained there until the noise of everyone drew them out of their cocoon, as they celebrated Big Tiny and Patrick's lives, tearfully sharing their most profound, happy, amusing or hilarious memories. Harry naturally joined in, even Daryl and Merle shared of their own.

A/N- Will Harry and Daryl marry/bond so that that Daryl lives as long as Harry does? Will Harry take on the name Dixon or will Daryl take on the Potter name or will they hyphenate? To Dixon-Potter? Will we see the old generation of magical users moving to the Abbey…? Some non-magical's? Like Glen's family? Do you want to see the reunion of the Glens? Will it be before things are settled with the Saviors and The Kingdom? With that saga nearly over with all that's left is to see the next generation born…Will Luna be able to convince Merle to go through with having a child? So Harry's kind and hers are close in age? Is there anything else you think should be added before the story is over? Will we see Sophia and Carl together? Or will she end up with someone she didn't sorta grow up with? R&R please