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Chapter Text

CHAPTER ONE

It turns out, when a werewolf and a metamorphmagus reproduce, you get a “new” type of werewolf. At least new to the wizarding world. A werewolf that does not turn into an inhuman, feral beast on the full moon. Harry had no idea what to do with a partially shifted three year old, that was not restricted by the moon.

Luckily for Harry and Teddy, Harry had met Stiles while working on a case with the FBI. Harry had been part of an investigation Stiles was working as a special consultant for MI6, as part of his job as a hitwizard; a minor Deatheater had escaped to the US and Harry had been sent to help bring him in. The two hit it off immediately. Harry's magic and Stiles’ spark reacting happily to each other.

After the investigation, Harry and Stiles stayed in contact. Stiles met a five year old Teddy, and recognized the signs of a werewolf…nose flaring to take in his scent, head cocking, listening, before the pizza delivery arrived…all things Stiles was very familiar with.

Harry was shocked when Stiles asked if Teddy was born or bitten. Harry was even more surprised when Stiles told him about the ‘wolves he knew. Harry had no idea about these “muggle werewolves”, he couldn't find any information about them within the wizarding world.

When Teddy was six, Stiles introduced Harry and Teddy to Derek. Derek and Teddy hit it off immediately. Teddy idolized Derek, and Derek doted on the little boy.

Turns out, while Teddy did not turn every month like his father, he did still have a partial “beta” shift, as Derek called it. Stiles was beyond jealous after Harry showed his own animagus form to be that of a wolf; although he was nearly twice the size of Derek in his full shift. Eventually, through trial and much error, Stiles was able to shift as well, his spark being wish magic according to Harry. He was, however, disappointed not to be able to wish himself as large as Harry.

The four stayed close for the next several years. They would visit when they could; the Brits being able to come to their friends easier.

Harry and Teddy were at the funeral for Stiles’ dad, when he was killed in the line of duty. They were there when Stiles' friends in Beacon Hills turned their back on him. They were there when Stiles was shot and nearly died.

They were there for Derek when he killed an out of control alpha, and the corrupted spark was running havoc on him. Harry, Teddy, and Stiles became the pack Derek desperately needed. They were there for Derek when he was going out of his mind when Stiles was in a coma after his shooting.

Derek and Stiles were there for Harry when people tried to force Harry into their plans. They supported him when he realized nearly all those he grew up with were not truly his friends, but a means to fame and fortune.

Soon after, Harry left everything behind; packing up and moving Teddy and himself to the States permanently. Harry's great-grandparents had purchased a large plantation in Georgia. The entire three hundred acres were surrounded by an eight foot high stone wall. The property languished until Harry made it his home three years ago. With the help of three house-elves, the property was now a thriving, working, self-sustaining plantation. With wizard space greenhouses, barns, and bunkhouses, making more room for livestock, the estate could support upto one hundred people easily.

Two years ago, Stiles left the FBI and moved in; six months later Derek joined them. Three months ago, the world ended. One month ago, Harry lost all contact with everyone in the wizarding world he knew. Two days ago, Teddy found a little girl just outside the walls of their home.

Harry, Teddy, Stiles, Derek, and a little girl were trekking through the Georgia woods. Derek was teaching Teddy how to use his werewolf gifts to track old scent trails. The little girl, Sophia, said she had been separated from her group, which included her mom. She said they were on the road when she ran from the dead a couple of days ago. She had no idea where or what road they were on.

After waiting a day to let Sophia rest and recover from her ordeal, Derek decided it would be easier to backtrack her trail than try to figure out which road her group could be on. It would also be an excellent opportunity to teach a now eleven year old Teddy. So, the group gathered up supplies, and prepared to possibly spend the next few days in the wild.

The group had been walking for an hours when Derek tensed up.

“I just heard someone yell for Sophia. This way,” Derek said,heading off to their left.

“I didn't hear anything,” Sophia whispered, clinging tightly to Stiles' hand.

Stiles grinned and the young girl. “Derek has really good hearing. Ears like a dog, that one,”

“Dog jokes, really Stiles?” Derek sighed in fake annoyance, making the two children giggle happily.

They continued along, quickly coming to a creek. Teddy was the first to spot the man lying unconscious with two of the dead closing in on him.

“That's Mr. Daryl. Save him from the walkers, please!” Sophia gasped.

Faster than Sophia could comprehend, Derek had closed the distance and the walkers were no longer moving.

Harry and Stiles moved quickly to check on the man lying in the creek. Derek stopped Harry to whisper in his ear, “He's a wolf…beta.”

Harry nodded that he understood and remained with Teddy and Sophia. “Keep the kids close.”

The man came to with a start when Stiles touched his arm. Daryl was swinging at his attacker before he ever opened his eyes. His arm was caught in a punishing grip, and a subvocal growl penetrated his hearing. When Daryl opened his eyes he found himself looking into forest green eyes that quickly flashed red. He immediately started thrashing to get free.

“Whoa, dude, chill,” Stiles said calmly. “We're just trying to help.”

“Don't need no help,” Daryl growled in his southern drawl.

“Are you okay Mr. Daryl?” Sophia asked.

“Sophia!” Daryl yelled and tried to move towards the girl. “What y'all done to her?”

“Seriously, chill dude! Teddy found her near where we're staying the day before yesterday. We're backtracking her trail, trying to help her find her mom. Derek here,” Stiles nodded, “heard you yelling for her. We found two of the dead about to attack you.”

“Are you ok, Mr. Daryl?”

“She hasn't seen that arrow sticking out of your side,” Derek said quietly, with a pointed look.

“Yeah, just knocked myself silly when I fell, Sophia. Do you see my crossbow? I dropped it in the water when I fell.”

“We'll look for it. Come on kids,” Harry offered, making sure Sophia had her back to what was about to happen.

“This is gonna hurt like a bitch, dude,” Stiles warned.

“Don't call me dude. Names Daryl. Thanks, for bringin’ her back. Carol’s been worried sick.”

“I'm Derek, that's Stiles. Harry is over there with Sophia and Teddy. Deep breath, at least it's just a bullet head. Should heal up in no time,” Derek said as he gave a quick yank on the arrow embedded in Daryl's side. Black lines were running up his arm, pulling the pain for the man.

Stiles glanced over at Harry and the kids, smiling at the two children doing more splashing than looking for Daryl’s crossbow. “Let's get you back to your pack.”

“Ain't ma pack. Ain't never had a pack, ‘cept ma brother. Ain't lookin’ get one neither. Don't need some hopped up alpha tellin’ me whut ta do.”

Stiles snickered while Derek rolled his eyes. Daryl could even hear Harry make an amused snort.

“Lucky you, I'm not some hopped up alpha, then, or you would be missing your head right about now. Can you stand?”

Daryl refused a helping hand, and got to his feet. He started towards the water when Harry pulled his crossbow out.

“I believe this is yours,” Harry said, handing to ‘bow over. “I'm Harry, this is my son Teddy.”

Teddy grinned at the new wolf, and quickly flashed amber eyes at him. Daryl shot a confused look at the alpha, the little boy didn't smell like any wolf he'd ever encountered.

“He's special,” Harry grinned.

“Whatever. Thanks for bringing the girl back. I got it from here. Come on, Sophia. Let's git ya ta yer mom.”

“You're coming with us, right?” Sophia turned tear- filled eyes on the others.

“I don't want to leave Sophia yet. We need to make sure she makes it to her mom,” Teddy protested.

“Teddy, we're strangers to Sophia's group. They might not like four strange men just showing up. Not everyone is good. Everyone needs to be cautious with new people,” Harry explained.

“But you are good people. You found me, took care of me. Fed me. And helped me find Mr. Daryl. You have to come!”

The four adults exchanged questioning glances before Daryl huffed angerly. “Fine. Ya pull any shit, and I'll put ya down. Ya got it?”

“Got it,” Stiles agreed, smirk twitching on his lips.

“Group's hold up on a farm, ‘bout two hours walk.”

“After you,” Derek offered. “I swear, we don't mean any harm.”

Daryl studied the other men. He didn't smell any deceit from any of them, and the alpha’s heart was steady when he said they didn't mean any harm. Actually, all he could detect was amusement and curiosity. Deciding to trust his gut, Daryl gave a quick nod and moved in the direction of the farm.

“How'd you end up in the creek Mr. Daryl?”

“Have to admit, I was wondering the same,” Harry admitted.

Daryl glanced at the man with the emerald eyes. He quickly looked away, his ears turning red and chewing on the corner of his lip before answering. “Was on a horse on top a the ridge, snake spooked it, and it threw me.”

“Where's the horse?” Stiles asked.

“Next county if the damn thing knows what's good for it,” Daryl grumbled. His side had finally finished healing, but he wasn't ready to forgive that horse anytime soon.

The others laughed quietly at the disgruntled reply. The rest of the way was mostly quiet, the sound of Sophia and Teddy filling the silence of the adults.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER TWO

The small group came out of the woods at the far end of an open field. They could see several people moving around an RV in the distance. The adults moved to keep the children between them, with Derek and Daryl in the lead.

“Walkers! Walkers!” Someone shouted from the top of the RV.

“How the hell do we look like the dead?” Stiles asked incredulously as several men began to run across the field towards them.

“They just told the woman to let them handle it,” Derek said, his alpha hearing being better than Daryl or Teddy.

“Buncha dumbasses,” Daryl grumbled.

“Shit, she just cocked that rifle, get down!”

Harry and Stiles dropped to the ground, while Daryl and Derek turned to place themselves on top of the two children. Harry was able to get up a silent Protego just as the crack of the rifle rang over the farm.

“I'm going to kill a bitch shooting at my kid. Hope you don't mind, Daryl,” Harry snarled as the group got to their feet.

“I'm ok dad,” Teddy whispered.

“I'll help ya. You ok, Sophia?”

“Why are they shooting at us?!”

“Like your Mr. Daryl said, sweetie. Bunch of dumbasses,” Stiles grinned at the kids. The kids didn't know that the grin was from imagining the absolute hell Harry was about to unleash.

Just then four men from the other group arrived, weapons at the ready. The man in the lead had another gun aimed at them.

“Daryl?”

“Gettin’ ‘bout tired y'all pullin’ guns on me! Who the hell let that stupid bitch be on watch? She nearly shot Sophia!”

“Oh my God, Sophia,” the Asian guy breathed.

“I'll be damned,” the black guy said.

“Who the hell are they?” A guy with a shaved head demanded.

“They found Sophia and were helping her find her way back to her mom. They also have a kid that you shot at, and have another gun pointed at!” Harry snapped. “And if that gun isn't lowered in two seconds, you're going to find yourself shooting off rounds every time you fart!” The gun was lowered. “Now, if you don't mind, we promised to deliver Sophia to her mum, then we'll be on our way.”

Harry grabbed up Teddy while Derek scooped up Sophia and the group began making their way to the others. The bald guy attempted to move into their path.

“I wouldn't do that dude, you just pissed all of us off. Not a good idea, especially when you threaten his son,” Stiles smirked as they walked around the man. Daryl did not even realize he was falling into step with the new group and not Rick.

As soon as they were close enough to be easily heard, Stiles called out cheerfully, “We have a special delivery for Carol. Is there a Carol here? Need a signature for the delivery please.”

Stiles smiled hearing Sophia giggle into Derek’s shoulder. Derek began to put the girl on her feet when he saw the woman with short gray hair come out of the RV.

“MOMMA!”

“Oh my God! Sophia!” Carol grabbed her daughter and the pair clapped to the ground in tears.

At that time, an old man with white hair came stomping from the house.

“What is going on out here?”

“Sorry Hershel, one of ours thought there was a walker.”

“Oh yes. Four adults, with two kids who are obviously playing. So easy to confuse for one of the dead,” Harry said sarcastically. Harry nodded at the older man, “Doc Greene.”

“Mr. Potter, it is good to see you and young Teddy. What brings you here?”

“We found a lost lamb. We were trying to backtrack her trail when we ran into Daryl after he fell off a ridge.”

“I am glad the girl was found,” Hershel gave a small smile, then looked sternly at Daryl. “Where is my horse?”

“Better be in the next county after it threw me.”

“If you had asked, I would have told you not to take her. Name's Nelly, as in Nervous Nelly.”

Daryl snorted and walked off towards his tent.

“Well, we got Sophia back. We'll be heading out, Doc “

“No! You can't leave!” Sophia protested.

“I don't want to leave yet dad,” Teddy complained.

“Teddy-o, my dude. We don't want to intrude on people. They don't know us. We can't expect them to be okay with anyone staying,” Stiles explained to the young boy.

“Well I know Mr. Potter, and this is my farm. It's getting late. You brought that girl back, you are more than welcome to stay?”

Harry, Stiles, and Derek exchanged speaking looks. “We’ll head out in the morning then, if you don't mind.”

“We can make room for y'all in the house…”

“That's alright, Doc. We'll just set up our own tent. We don't want to be a bother. These are my friends Derek Hale and Stiles Stilinski, and you of course know Teddy.”

“Stiles Stilinski, really?” Hershel asked, surprise in his tone. “I knew a Stiles Stilinski when I was in the military. Any relation to Elias Stilinski?”

“My grandfather,” Stiles relied cautiously.

“What a small world. We served together in Korea. He was a friend, a good man. How is he? We kept in touch for a few years after the war. Did he only have the one son?”

“Yeah, yeah, dad was an only child. Grandad passed about six years ago. Dad…dad died three years ago,” Stiles finished in a whisper.

“I am sorry to hear that, son. You boys get yourself set up. Stay as long as you like. Come up to the house when you get hungry, ya hear.” Hershel gave a glare at the other group before walking away.

“I'll go set us up next to Daryl,” Derek said, grabbing the bags from Harry and Stiles. Harry turned to the gathered group, eyes cold, and scowl firmly in place.

“Now who is the soddin’ bloody idiot that decided it would be a grand idea to shoot at children?! One of which was MY SON!”

“I am so sorry! There was a glare and I thought…” Andrea began.

“Oh, I highly doubt you thought! That would mean you had more than two functioning brain cells. The absolute level of incompetent dumbassery that allowed you to touch a gun, let alone give you such an important assignment as watching for the safety of your group, is astounding.”

“Who do you think you are?! You don't have a clue…” Shane demanded, attempting to get in Harry's face.

“Oh, let me!” Stiles grinned. “Deputy right? Sophia said you were Sheriff deputies?” Stiles waited for the nod. “The big guy over there is Derek. I am Special Agent Stilinski, FBI; but just call me Stiles. And this is Supervising Agent Harry Potter of MI6. Oh, and my dad was the Sheriff of my town. I grew up in the station, so don't think you can use being a local LEO to try to sound important either.”

“Bullshit!” Shane puffed, face turning red from anger.

“Catch,” Derek called ad he lobbed two square-ish items
in their direction. “Neither of you cleaned out your bags. These were still in them.”

Harry's hand shot out with seeker-honed reflexes and grabbed the wallets out of the air. He flipped both open and held them for the two former deputies to inspect. “Happy? Have I proven my…” Harry pauses to look the two men up and down, “jurisdiction is bigger than yours?”

Stiles watched and agitatedly scrubbed at his head when he saw the people around them relax, just because of their former credentials. “Right, let's just get set up so we can get some rest and head out first thing in the morning.”

Harry and Stiles joined Derek where he was finishing their tent near Daryl. They settled down to relax, when Stiles whispered, knowing Daryl would be the only one able to hear, “So, what's up with keeping all those zombies in the barn?”

*=*="="=*="="="\"\"\"

A/N: I know Hershel was not old enough for.the Korean War. But, Scott Wilson was.about 16 when the war ended...so for this fic, Hershel is a few years older for this to work. Not like timelines mean much anyway.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER THREE

Daryl squinted at the three men that had set up their camp beside him. He didn't know why they chose to set their tent with him instead of the others. Sure, he was a wolf like the alpha and the boy, but in his experience, he was still an outsider even amongst other wolves. Seeing nothing but wary curiosity he decided to answer.

“Don't know why the crazy fuckers are keepin’ ‘em. Heard one a ‘em tossin’ chickens in, like theys feedin' the things,” revulsion clear in Daryl’s tone. “Been keepin’ an eye on it when not out lookin' fer the girl. Long as no one goes near ‘em they stay quiet.”

“You know this place isn't safe, right? And I'm not just talking about the cannibal corpses in the barn,” Harry stated.

“Ain't stupid. No walls and all these animals are just ringing the dinner bell. Don't know how they's not had a herd blow through here yet. Why're y'all set up over here? Figured ya'd want to do some socializin’, seenin' how's people're in short supply nowadays.”

Stiles laughed. “Harry and Derek socialize? That's never going to happen. So, I guess I should go over that way before Junior and Dangle decide to come here.” Three blank faces looked back at him. “Oh come on! Reno 911?! Comedy Central? Really? Uncultured heathens!”

“Didn't have a TV most of the time,” Derek rolled his eyes, like Stiles should already know this…he did.

“Wasn't allowed to watch TV when I was at the Dursleys’. Never seen much use in it after, since electronics don't work well around my type of magic,” Harry shrugged. “Had one room set up for Teddy to watch movies and stuff when he was younger.”

Daryl watched the others for a moment before replying, “Never bothered paying fer cable, waste a money. ‘Sides, I'd think they'd be more like Roscoe and Ennis.”

“Don't you dare insult Roscoe like that! She's better than those tin badge cops could ever dream…probably seen more action, too,” Stiles declared totally affronted. “The bald one could compete with Ennis tjough. Got the same attitude.” Daryl looked at him like he had lost his mind.

“Roscoe is the name of his JEEP,” Derek explained. “Deathtrap on wheels. I don't know how the thing is still running. It's all duct tape at this point. Hell, it was all duct tape a decade ago.”

Daryl cringed at the thought of yet another vehicle held together only by duct tape.

“Ennis was a roid raged bald wolf with more fleas than brains. Derek killed him when he attacked us. And, don't act like you didn't rebuild her after moving in,” Stiles said, pointing an accusing finger. Derek replied by raising a single eyebrow. “And with the eyebrow of death, I am off on my mission.” Stiles saluted the other men and began to skip to the other camp.

Daryl watched Stiles move across the yard with a squinted stare. “That boy ain't right, is he?”

Harry and Derek both laughed.

“I have thought that for over a decade,” Derek smirked.

“That's actually probably his greatest power,” Harry said, at Daryl's confused look, he continued. “Stiles makes you see this happy go lucky guy, that couldn't lie if his life depended on it. But really, he's one of the smartest people I've ever met, if not the smartest. His brain runs so fast his body doesn't always keep up, which makes him look like a klutz…adding to the harmless facade.”

“Don't let the clueless motor mouth fool you,” Derek defended at Daryl's dubious look. “By now, he's already profiled everyone over there around him. He's building plans on how to defend, assist, or kill as the situation demands. And don't think he won't kill if needed. He's scary with a gun.”

“Not to mention he has his spark to fall back on in an emergency,” Harry added.

“What the hell is a spark?”

“Magic,” Harry said slowly, as if unsure.

“Ain't no such thing as magic,” Daryl denied.

“The dead are walking and you howl at the moon,” Harry deadpanned, while Derek chuckled.

“I don't fuckin' howl at the damn moon, asshole.”

“Okay, sorry,” Harry placated, hands up. “But magic is real. How can you not know, surely you met a druid or wiccan at some point. As the saying goes, like calls to like. In this case, being other should have called to other not fully humans.”

“Met a few people thought might be into that voodoo shit. Seen a chupacabra once. Don't know nothin’ ‘bout sparks or druids,” Daryl answered, chewing on the corner of his thumb. “Never spent much time round people, theys didn't like me, an’ I didn't have no need for them.”

“Well, Stiles is a Spark and I am a Wizard.”

“The hell's the dif'rence?”

Harry grinned at the gruff question. “Basically, it depends on the way you are able to access and use magic. Druids, Wiccans, Sparks, Wizards, some creatures, all access magic differently. For this though, we just need Sparks and Wizards. A Spark is basically wish magic, think of it like a fire…it gets started with some type of combustible…or wished into existence for this, the wish is the spark that ignites the fire …it can burn for different amounts of time and intensities, but eventually it's going to burn out. You'll have to rebuild it with more combustibles and add another spark before you have another fire. Wizarding magic is like the magma under the surface of the planet. It's always there, and if you know how you can access it at will. It might explode sometimes, but there is always more right below the surface, just looking for an outlet.”

“Right. So, sparky over there is a house fire and yer a damn volcano. Why didn't ya just say that, instead all-a that other nonsense?” Daryl rolled his eyes. Harry and Derek burst into laughter.

“There's more to it than that, but that works for now,” Harry grinned. “You said it was always you and your brother before. He a wolf too?”

Daryl studied the two men with him for several moments. He finally decided to answer since they didn't refer to his brother as if he were already dead. “Nah, Merle ain't a wolf. Got lost in the woods when I was a kid. Got bit. Never met who bit me. Was lost fer nine days. Wiped my ass with poison oak, itched like hell for weeks. Made it home and made a sandwich. No one even noticed I'd been gone. Merle was in juvie at the time. When it all got too much, I'd take off to the woods. Merle helped some when he was around, which wasn't much, when I was young. He was in an’ outta juvie, then went into the army.” Daryl was sitting on the ground facing them, thumb being chewed aggressively, and knee bouncing quickly. He took a deep breath before continuing. “Ma was already dead, burnt in a house fire; said she fell asleep smokin’, so much liquor spilled in that house, weren't no wonder place went up with her in it. I'd been tryna play with the neighbor kids, watched the place burn. Ain't nothin’ good to say about Pa. Damnit, the hell I tell ya all-a that?”

Harry gave him a sympathetic smile. “Like calls to like. My parents died when I was a year old fighting the darkest wizard in history. I was left with my mother's sister and her family. The Dursleys didn't like anything that didn't fit in with their idea of normal…and my mom was by no means normal by their standards. I was already doing accidental magic, so they used whatever means they could come up with to stamp the magic outta me.”

“When I was 15 I had a girlfriend, I wanted my mom to bite her but mom said no. Stuff happened, other alphas were in our territory. One of the alphas ended up attacking her and bit her. She rejected the bite and she asked me to kill her to end her suffering. Obviously that messed with my head. So, when a new teacher started flirting with me a few months later, making advancements no teacher should be, I didn't care. She turned out to be a hunter. I realize now she was grooming me, and she would drug me with wolfsbane when we had sex so I would tell her things I would never normally tell anyone. She was able to seal our home with wolfsbane and mountain ash and burn it and my most of my family to the ground. My oldest sister and I came home from school while it was burning. They found my uncle with burns over eighty percent of his body; wolfsbane was in the burns, he was in a coma for six years slowly healing and going insane reliving the fire. We thought my youngest sister died, but she got away and made it to another pack in South America.”

“Damn. What about Sparky?”

“I lost my mom when I was eight,” Stiles said, plopping down beside Derek. His sudden appearance causing Daryl to flinch.

“He likes to use his magic to hide himself, no heartbeat, no smell, no steps…used to drive me crazy. Learned to listen for his heartbeat to disappear…then I knew he was up to something.”

“No fair telling my secrets,” Stiles pouted. “Anyway. My mom had frontotemporal dementia. At eight, I got to watch my mom lose her mind. She called me evil, said I was killing her. She tried to kill me a couple of times before dad put her in the hospital. The good days were almost worse than the bad…cause it just made it hurt so much worse when it did go bad. I was alone with her when she died, dad didn't leave work to come to the hospital. Next few years, I took care of the house, bills, shopping, dad…while he lived in a bottle. My best friend's mom finally did an intervention, threatened to take me. It got better-ish. I mean, what mentally healthy fifteen year old drags his best friend into the woods to look for half of a body, right?”

“Dafuq?” Daryl demanded, then he got a contemplating look on his face, cocking his head to the side. “The right or left half?”

Stiles burst into laughter. He quickly got control of himself as Derek gave him the stink eye. “Oh my god. Sorry big guy,” Stiles pat Derek's shoulder. “Sorry, really should not laugh at that. It was the top half, but what I did not know at the time was that it was Derek's older sister. And with the limited maturity I have gained over the years…I fully admit we were total assholes for that. And Sourwolf, you were a saint to put up with all the shit we put you through after.”

“Damn. Did they find out what happened?” Daryl asked, no matter how much he was internally telling himself to stay outta these people's business.

“ My uncle's crazy nurse lured her back. He was coming out of the coma, but was all wolf no human; at least according to him. He killed her for her alpha power. Although he claims he didn't know it was her and just attacked what he thought was an invading wolf. Then hunters found her body and cut her in half to lure me back. They wanted to make sure they killed all the Hales. They did not succeed.”

“So, do you lose your eyebrows when you shift too, or is that just a Hale thing?” Stiles asked to break the tension that had been building.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 4

Daryl had just stared at Stiles after his last question. After a few minutes, when he realized Stiles was serious with the question, Daryl shook his head and entered his tent.

“Another who has been Stilized,” Harry laughed.

“I'm surprised it took so long, honestly,” Derek smiled.

“It was a serious question! This has been bugging me for over a decade!” Stiles whined. “Anyway. Our current neighbors. Teddy is sticking over for a bit longer to get some more intel, by the way. Let me just say, my dad is rolling so hard right now. I've been apologizing to him, and I'm not even the one that's messed up.”

“That bad?” Harry asked.

“Oh my god,” Stiles scrubbed his hands through his hair. “The stupid idiot that shot at us isn't even the worst they've done. Oh no, that prize goes to the cowboy who woke up from a coma a week ago. Meets some guy who tells him what's going on. He decides to go to Atlanta to look for his family. At some point, he ends up on a horse and rides it right into Atlanta. So, the street turns into a French restaurant while Glenn, the Korean kid, rescues his dumb ass.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Derek sighed, scrubbing at his face.

“Hold on, he woke from a coma a week ago? How is that possible? Is he some type of other?”

“Nope. As far as my magic can tell, they are all one hundred percent human.”

“Hmm. He must have had someone caring for him until recently. Oh well, not like it's going to matter to us anyway,” Derek shrugged.

“Oh. My. God! You know you just totally jinxed us, right? Why would you do that? Has Beacon taught you nothing? DUDE!!” Stiles exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Daryl.

“Don't call me dude. And someone with medical skills, how bad could it be?” Harry and Stiles both stared at him with wide eyes. “Yeah. I just heard what I said. That was stupid.”

They could hear Daryl snort with a low mummered, “Better y'all than me.”

“Fuck you, Dixon. That's his last name, by the way. Anyway, moving on before Derek has the legions of hell descending on us…oh my God,” Stiles trailed off. A look of absolute horror came over his face. “Did you mention him, more than once earlier?”

“Who?” Derek asked, slightly wary.

“No, don't even think about him. Don't say his name! He's like Beetlejuice, say his name and he'll appear. Not one word, Derek!”

“He's not that bad any more…”

“AHT!!! Not another hint of thought about him!” Stiles mimes zipping his lips. “Where was I?”

“Derek, you're not allowed to speak again,” Harry chuckled. “Cowboy was being rescued.”

“Right. So, they're all in this department store. Daryl's brother starts shooting from the roof. They all run up the stairs. And at some point, Cowboy Rick has handcuffed Merle to the roof. Apparently he “did not play well with others”.”

“Merlin. He high?” Harry asked.

“Yep. According to T-dog, who he got into a fist fight with, he had powder on his nose, and Rick chucked his baggy over the side of the building.”

“Lovely. And did any of those idiots say if they asked what he was shooting at? Or did they just all think it was a grand idea to run up on a man, who they knew was impaired, and get confrontational?” They heard Daryl shift loudly, probably preparing to defend his brother. “Of course they didn't ask anything, why am I even asking? So, what, they started yelling at him, he snapped back, punches were thrown, and he was handcuffed?”

“After being knocked out with the butt of a rifle. They then proceeded to escape their ordeal, while losing the key and leaving Merle behind. They did not go back for him until the next day, only to find Merle had used a handsaw to cut his hand off.”

“Bollocks. The lot of them need their arses kicked. What in Merlin's name were they thinking? So he's most likely still out there somewhere, we'll have to keep an eye out.”

Daryl came storming out of his tent, towering over the three men still sitting calmly on the ground. “What the hell ya gotta keep an eye out fer? Those pussies couldn't take him out, all them geeks in Atlanta didn't take him out, what's a buncha city slickers like y'all gonna do?”

Harry stared calmly at Daryl. “We will keep an eye out to help him if he needs or wants it…not that he'd admit to either way, I'd wager. If nothing else, we may be able to assist you to find one another again.”

“Oh,” Daryl said, instantly deflating. He began to chew his thumb, unsure what to do now all fight was taken from him. “Why? Y’all don't know me an’ ma brother from Adam. What ya willin’ ta help us for?”

“Well, I could blow smoke up your arse, saying it's the right thing to do. But you wouldn't believe me, and might try to punch me,” Harry grinned mischievously. “Honestly, you'd be useful. You're a hunter right? Bet your brother is too?” Daryl nodded, eyes narrowing. “You know the area, what plants grow wild in the woods around here. What animals can be found. You know the resources in the area, useful shops to pilfer, bodies of water, where to avoid? Your brother too?”

Daryl nodded again, more tension leaving his shoulders, while a look of confusion was slowly settling on his face.

“Those are the main reasons,” Stiles smiled up at him. “I mean, yeah, you're all wolfy but we already have Derek…who's an alpha, so the whole super senses and strength is already covered. And a mini-wolf. Then, ya know….magic,” Stiles mimes twinkle fingers.

“Yeah, ‘bout that. Y'all keep sayin’ yer magic, but I ain't seen no proof.”

“Oh, you gotta see this,” Stiles smiled, while bouncing to his feet. Derek and Harry followed his example.

At that moment Teddy came barreling across the field toward them, only running slightly faster than would be considered normal. “I wanna show him! Let me show him the tent please!”

“It's just a tent,” Daryl said dubiously.

“Nah huh. It's a Wizard's tent!” Teddy grinned up at the hunter, bouncing excitedly. He grabbed Daryl's hand and started dragging him into the tent.

Daryl stared bemusedly at the young boy at his side; the boy had grabbed his hand without a single hesitation. No one had ever touched him like that, except his brother. Daryl allowed himself to be pulled along. He ducked to enter the large tent, not expecting anything, and stopped dead in his tracks. Daryl prided himself on not being shocked by anything, but this had him dropping his mouth open.

“How in da hell?...Dafuq?...How?...What?...It's bigger, how?”

“It's Wizard's space!” Teddy bounced beside him. “Stiles says it's like the TARDIS. Isn't it awesome?”

“Awesome, yeah…sure…” Daryl mumbled, taking in the fully furnished sitting room, complete with fireplace (a burning fireplace! A burning fireplace that was not putting out heat!!). “It's cool in here, like yous got air conditionin’...with a fire goin’...in a tent…”

Stiles came from another room…another room that looked suspiciously like a kitchen…with a few bottles in his hand. “Beer?”

Daryl stared at the bottle in Stiles’ outstretched hand. He could see the condensation start to bead up on the bottle. It was cold. Cold beer, in an air conditioned tent, with a burning fireplace that wasn't putting out heat. Daryl took a deep breath, nodded his head once, and extended his hand.

“ Yeah, beer sounds real good.”

Chapter Text

Harry stepped out of the tent the next morning, nodding to Daryl sitting at the fire in front of them, cleaning his crossbow. He stretched with his arms above his head and arching his back slightly, causing his shirt to shift slightly up his abdomen. He did not miss the quick side-eye he received from the hunter, but made no motion to indicate he had noticed.

“Morning, Daryl.”

A grunt was his only reply, as Daryl continued to focus on his crossbow. Harry was not surprised. He figured Daryl was still a bit overwhelmed. The group had chatted a bit about the tent, in the comfy chairs around the fireplace, while Daryl nursed his beer.

The day caught up to Teddy rather quickly. As Harry was ushering Teddy to his room, he offered Daryl one of the unused bedrooms. At that point, Daryl shot to his feet and mumbled something about taking watch; retreating from the tent as quickly as he could.

“Stiles made breakfast. There's bacon and pancakes. Plenty to actually fill up a wolf. Go help yourself. He made sure to make enough for you, too.”

Daryl wasn't going to question how they had bacon, let alone enough for two humans, two fully grown wolves, and a mini-wolf. He had very quickly decided any question like that was just going to be mentally answered as ‘magic’ and be left as that.

“Why would he do that?” Daryl asked, suspiciously.

“Because it's Stiles,” Harry chuckled. “Really, he started cooking for his dad when he was a kid, all healthy stuff; part of his fear of his dad dying too. Anyway, Stiles won't let anyone go hungry, cooking is caring for him. And, we have no doubt you have been near starving yourself to make sure the others have enough…especially the kids.”

“You gonna be tellin' them ‘bout magic and shit?”

“No. At least not right now. Sophia didn't even see anything when she was with us. We just assumed you knew something about magic…not that we regret telling you anything.”

“Don't seem right,” Daryl squinted up at Harry. “All-a that food, whiles they barely got anything.” Daryl nodded toward the other camp.

Harry grinned at the hunter. He was such a grumpy hedgehog; all prickly on the outside, but soft and squishy on the inside. “Taking care of them too. Not cooking for them, but I have all the standard canned foods plus several bottles of mix that you just add water for pancakes, even a bottle of syrup. And four cans of some kind of canned meat called SPAM. I don't know what it is, but it nearly sent Stiles into fits…especially when Derek said it made a decent substitute in sweet and sour pork?” Harry ended in a questioning tone.

“Don't know about sweet ‘n sour shit, but I know SPAM. How'd ya get ‘nough of that ta share?”

“You can probably guess we can get into places others can't?” Harry waited for Daryl to nod, he'd figured as much. “We've been going into places that are overrun, no hope of anyone getting into them any time soon; mostly distribution centers, like for Wal-Mart or Amazon, or manufacturing facilities. We go in and completely empty the place so it doesn't just sit and rot. I have ways of preserving everything. We were even able to hit a bread manufacturer before it went bad. I have about two thousand loaves of bread in storage and as long as I have an original I can duplicate it. We have more flour and yeast than we will ever be able to use. We even got lucky and hit a dairy manufacturer that still had power, so we have milk, cheese, all that.”

“How?” Daryl choked out.

“Flying carpet,” Harry smirked. “Apparently my great-grandparents liked to take leisurely flights around the countryside. It has charms that keep people from seeing it, or anyone on it, while in flight. So we make a hole through the roof and stay above any of the…walkers, didn't you call them?...I have bags and trunks that are like the tent, only they're called bottomless for a reason. I have a spell that summons everything I want into the bags, and well, we take everything. We've been leaving supplies in easy spots for others.”

“Right,” Daryl said. He got to his feet and walked into the tent without another word.

Harry smiled at Daryl's back, hoisted the bag he was carrying more securely on his shoulder, and made his way over to the other camp. His plan was to chat with them for a little while before making his way to the house to speak with Doc Greene.

Harry approached Carol at the fire the others had set up.

“Hey, we have some stuff to share. We packed enough for several days, since we didn't know how long it might take for us to find all of you,” Harry smiled, as he handed the bag of food over.

“Oh my, are you sure?”

“I'm sure. We found a delivery truck full of the stuff. We have plenty more back home. It's not far and this will just weigh us down. In fact, Stiles might revolt if he has to eat any more right now. I think he was ready to propose marriage to Daryl when he shared some of the squirrel he fixed last night.”

Carol laughed at that. “We are all very familiar with the squirrel Daryl provides. And I, for one, am very thankful for those squirrels.”

“Me too!” Sophia chirped. “Hi, Mr. Harry! Is Teddy up yet?”

“He was just starting to move around when I headed this way. He'll get something to eat from Stiles, then I'm sure he'll be over here before we head out.”

“I can't thank you enough for bringing her back,” Carol said, hugging her daughter.

“It was no problem. She found us,” Harry smiled at the woman.

Harry spent the next hour getting to know the campers in the field. He genuinely liked most of them. A couple he wouldn't trust at all. He knew they would keep a silent observation of the farm after they left. Between Harry's invisibility cloak and Derek's wolf form, the group would never know they were watching. He would make the offer to join them when he was more sure of this group. For now, they were safe and he didn't think they would want to leave.

Harry eventually made his way to the farmhouse to talk to Doc Green.

“Mr. Potter, how are you? How is Teddy’s Ari?” Hershel smiled at the young man.

“We're fine, all things considered. Ari is still as.much of a diva as always. How have all of you been?”

“Things had been quiet here, until that group arrived. Otis accidentally shot Rick's son while hunting. Had to dig the bullet fragments out. He's resting upstairs now. Otis was killed when he and that Shane fellow went to the high school to get some supplies I needed.”

“I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anything you are needing now?”

Harry spent a bit of time speaking with Hershel before moving back to their camp. Derek had already packed away their tent. Harry's group quickly said their goodbyes, letting Daryl know they would discretely keep an eye on them, in case they were needed. After receiving a grunt of acknowledgement, Harry's group made their way back into the woods. Once they were out of sight, they each touched Harry, and they disappeared with a quiet pop of displaced air.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

Harry stood on the porch of his home, looking over the land before him. He slowly sipped at a cup of coffee, lost in thoughts of the recent visit to the Green farm. That was a tragedy just waiting to happen. Harry was very much agreeing with Stiles’ on the subject: “Not his circus, not his monkeys.”

That's not to say he just left the situation completely alone. Dr. Green was still very deep in the denial stage of his grief, and it was going to take something drastic to pull him out. Harry did what he could, secretly warding the barn and strengthening the structure. Nothing would be able to escape the building…as long as no one did anything stupid. They had a bet, none of them, including Teddy, gave it longer than two weeks.

“Still going out today?” Stiles asked, coming to stand beside Harry.

Harry hmm’ed in agreement. “Where are Teddy and Derek?”

“Derek took him out to the far side of the farm to practice some tracking. He went out last night and set some scent trails for Teddy.” Stiles stared over the fields before him. He had been thinking of what they needed to really make this a homestead, and he wanted to discuss his ideas. “So, I've been thinking…”

“More terrifying words have never been spoken,” Harry chortled.

“Ha ha. Seriously. With the greenhouses and other buildings having expanded space, we have about 12,000 acres to work with…but there are a lot of working farms surrounding us that are just empty now. I was thinking we could clear them out, maybe put them under a fidelius charm. Use them for feed crops, hay, cotton...you get the idea. And it's a good idea not to have everything in one place, just in case something happens.”

“Not a bad idea. But who is going to care for all of this? And do you even know how to tend cotton?” Harry asked, giving his full attention to the discussion.

“I've read about it, but no. I was thinking, there is no way your family was the only family to buy a place like this. Do you think there are elves that have lost their families, that need somewhere to go? I'd never suggest it if elf magic didn't require a bond, but they need the bond, and we will need the help.”

There was a pop, and Harry's head-elf Hurly appeared. “Oh, yes Mr. Sparky! There's be two families providing goods for manufacturing cotton and grains, and one fors fruits and vegetables, and even raises cane for sugar making.” Hurly started to shift nervously.

“What is it, Hurly? You know you are always to speak your mind.”

“Flippy and Casty be friends with other elves, and make visits for trades. They went to trades yesterdays. Other elves say they masters went out, but never came backs. Elves felts their bonds breaking. They is not doing well.”

“Flippy, Casty,” Harry called. “This is your fault. You're no longer allowed to think,” Harry grumbled, playfully giving Stiles the stink eye.

“You have met me, right?” Stiles laughed.

Half an hour later Harry had new bonds to fifty elves. He gave them orders to continue as they had been, and come to him if they needed anything. He made plans to come to their estates and set them up so no one else could enter.

“You are a jinx,” Harry grumbled, mock glaring at Stiles. “I'm leaving before you cause any more trouble for me.”

“Don't you want any of us to go with you?”

“I'm going to go by the Green farm. See if I can get Daryl to come with me. I found a blood tracker charm. I want to try to help him look for his brother.”

“Sure, you want Daryl to go, just to look for his brother.” Stiles grinned slyly, with an exaggerated eyebrow wiggle. He knew his friend's type, and Daryl Dixon was checking all of his friend's boxes.

“Shut it,” Harry mumbled, blushing scarlet.

Stiles moved back to the house with a cackling laugh.

Harry double checked he had everything he needed, covered himself with his cloak, and quietly disapperated to the tree line near the farm.

Harry watched the others sat around a campfire, having breakfast. It did not take long for Daryl to start looking around, trying to find the source of the new scent in the air.

Seeing this Harry spoke, knowing only Daryl would be able to hear him from this distance.

“It's Harry. I'm heading out to scavenge. Thought you might want to get away for a bit.”

“Goin’ hunting,” Daryl said as he stood and tossed his paper plate into the fire.

“Follow me,” Harry said, when Daryl made it to the tree line. He lifted the cloak enough to expose his feet for Daryl to see and moved away from the farm. When they were far enough away not to be spotted, Harry removed the cloak.

“That is freaky as hell.”

“It's a family heirloom. Invisibility cloak. I used to sneak all over my school with it. It's saved my life several times over. Never leave home without it.”

“Still freaky. Where're ya gonna scavenge?”

“Well, that depends,” Harry said, pulling his flying carpet from his bottomless bag and rolling it out on the ground.

“Depends on what?” Daryl asked, looking at the rug dubiously.

“I found a spell that might let us track your brother, but I'll need a drop of your blood,” Harry fidgeted nervously.

Daryl froze, a choked off whine escaping his throat.

“Why?” Daryl asked so many questions with just one word.

“Because I have the ability to help, and it's the right thing to do. No strings, promise. I can't promise it will work, but nothing will happen if it doesn't.”

“What do I do?”

“I need a drop of blood…”

Before Harry could finish speaking, Daryl had his hunting knife in hand, making a slash on his forearm. A small trickle of blood began to well up.

Harry levitated a drop of blood, the wound already closed from Daryl's wolf healing. Harry chanted an incantation and the blood began to glow like a will-o-wisp.

“Looks like it worked,” Harry grinned. He indicated the rug lying on the ground. “Hop on, and let's follow it.”

“Won't we be seen?” Daryl asked, not sure he wanted to get on the carpet.

“We'll be disillusioned, uh invisible, once we take off. Don't worry, we use it all of the time.”

Daryl still wasn't fully convinced, but the possibility of finding his brother out weighed his doubts.

“Alrigh' , le’s go. But if I get shot, imma kick yer ass,” Daryl threatened as he sat down. “Get yer ass movin’, Aladdin. “

“I wouldn't expect anything else,” Harry said with a grin. He gave a tap of his wand and they began to rise above the trees, following the glowing bit of Daryl's blood.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER SEVEN

Daryl didn't know how to feel as they flew above the tree tops. Part of him was freaking out. But the little boy in him, that had never really been a little boy, was giddy. He was on a magic carpet! He was flying! Not that he would ever let those emotions show.

Daryl side eyed the man beside him. He had sensed him and the alpha, Derek, at the edge of the farm a few times after they brought Sophia back. They never showed themselves, but he knew they were there. There were even four fat rabbits left by the alpha one day, with a note saying he caught them while on patrol of their territory, but they couldn't eat rabbit. Daryl was puzzled over that, they ate the squirrel he had just fine, what was wrong with rabbit?

Daryl focused back on the light ball they were following. If this could lead him to his brother, he didn't care if he was turned into fuckin’ Aladdin, or any other magic shit. He'd do his damdest to pay back whatever they asked of him.

The little glow ball began to descend towards a clinic in a small town, about an hour north of the farm. It touched the building and disappeared. Harry landed them on the roof. Once they were standing, he rolled up the carpet and sent it into his bag.

“Let's go,” Daryl said impatiently.

“Hold on,” Harry said, pulling his wand and pointing at the building. “Homemen revelio.” After a few seconds Harry replied, “There are three people towards the other side of the building. No one is below us. I'll banish part of the roof here and we can drop down. I'll cushion the floor below us so we don't need to worry about injury.”

After two quick spells from Harry the pair were dropping into the room below them. Another spell from Harry had their steps silenced. They moved through the building to where the voices of a man and woman were coming from.

“He's still burning up,” the female said. “If we don't find some stronger antibiotics he's going to die of sepsis.”

“We've used everything here. There's a pharmacy on the other side of town. I'll try to make it over there.”

“Chris,” the woman sounded worried. “There are too many…”

“I know what I'm doing, Karen. And like you said, if we don't do something soon, he's not going to make it.”

Hearing this Harry decided to make their presence known. Staying behind a wall for cover he spoke up. “We can help you with that.”

Immediately the two had weapons drawn, aimed in the direction of Harry's voice.

“Who's there?" the man demanded.

“We're friendly. There are two of us. Don't shoot when we come out,” Harry said calmly.

Harry and Daryl stepped into view. Harry had his hands up, while Daryl had his crossbow at the ready. There was a woman with shoulder length curly brown hair and brown eyes. The man was blonde, going grey with a beard to match and clear blue eyes. Both had guns aimed at them. On the floor, on a makeshift bed lay an older man with a military-close haircut and missing his left hand. Daryl let out a strangled whine when he spotted the man on the floor.

Both of the strangers focused on Daryl when they heard his whine, becoming more tense.

“Merle,” Daryl breathed, moving towards his brother. He trusted Harry to have his back.

“You're a wolf,” the man said, still tense but not making any other move. The woman looked wary but unafraid.

“He is,” Harry nodded to Daryl. “That's his brother. They were separated a while ago. I was helping him track him down.”

“How?” The woman asked.

The man continued to stare at Harry. Then his eyes widened and his shoulders lost the tension in them.

“Harry Potter,” he breathed. Harry tensed now.

“What? Are you sure?”

“I am. How do you know me?”

“Oh, thank god,” the woman…Karen sighed. “Are Stiles and Derek still with you?”

“How do you know them?” Harry asked defensively.

“I'm sorry. I'm Melissa McCall and this is Chris Argent. We knew Stiles and Derek back in Beacon Hills. Stiles was best friends with my son, I practically raised him.”

“Why did he just call you Karen?”

Melissa shifted nervously. “I left Beacon Hills after Noah died. I just couldn't take any more deaths, and Scott just wouldn't listen to anyone any more. I moved to Georgia to be closer to Stiles. I was working up the nerve to contact him after everything that happened, but well, apocalypse. Anyway, too many people know Scott, so I started going by my middle name and maiden name to avoid attention. I've been Karen Delgado for the last three years.”

“And the hunter?” Harry asked, disgust clear in his voice. He didn't know the hunters were aware enough of the wizarding world to know him on sight.

“We've been together for two years. I left hunting behind around the same time Stiles left Beacon Hills,” Chris explained. “Even before that, I was working with the ‘wolves in Beacon.”

Harry nodded, letting his guard down slightly. Stiles and Derek had both told him stories of the two people in front of him.

“Ta hell with yer reunion shit. What's wrong with my brother?” Daryl demanded.

Melissa switched to nurse mode immediately. “We found your brother two days ago. He was delirious with fever. His stump is infected. We managed to get him to this clinic, but they only had basic antibiotics on hand. He needs some heavy duty antibiotics, or sepsis is going to kill him.”

Another involuntary whine escaped Daryl. Clearly he had been using his brother to stabilize his need for a pack, and that was affecting him now. Harry wasn't sure how Daryl had managed not to go feral without a pack, even before the world ended. He reckoned Daryl was always a bit feral, even as a child before the bite, and his wolf adapted to the human's normal state.

Harry was about to assure Daryl he would be able to take care of his brother when the sound of vehicles approaching reached them.

“Right, let's get everyone back to the room we entered through,” Harry said, brandishing his wand. A quick flick and Merle was floating, being guided out of the room.

They entered the room in the back of the building. Harry left Merle floating for the moment while he pulled the carpet from his bag. He quickly had the carpet down, and with a tap, it enlarged enough to fit them all, still allowing Merle to lie down.

“All aboard. I don't think we want to be in here when those vehicles get here. On the carpet and sit. We'll be disillusioned once we start to fly. We won't be seen.”

“You have a flying carpet,” Melissa said incredulously, however she did not pause to get on the carpet.

“Fuckin’ Aladdin,” Daryl mumbled, settling beside his prone brother.

“Does that make you Jasmine?” Harry asked innocently.

“Fuck you,” Daryl d grumbled without heat, while flipping him off.

Harry grinned at him as they began to rise through the hole he created previously. “I'm going to put a sticking spell on Merle, don't want him to fall off if he comes too and reacts badly.”

They had just cleared the building as the vehicles entered the street in front of the clinic.

“Don't worry. They can't see us, and there is a silencing spell, nothing we say can be heard past the edges of the carpet.”

As Harry finished saying this, ten heavily armed men exited the three vehicles below them. They watched as a dark haired man ordered the others to sweep the buildings in this area, telling them to take everything.

After ten minutes two of the men came out with two other men at gunpoint. The two men were clearly starving. Their clothes were dirty and hanging off of them, no weapons in sight. The leader asked if there was anyone else with them, when they said they were alone, the leader shot them.

Melissa gasped in shock. Harry, Daryl, and Chris watched on with a hard look in their eyes. They watched for another twenty minutes as the men went through all the buildings in the area. When the men returned to their vehicles, Harry finally started flying them towards home.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER EIGHT

Now that they weren't following the bobbing light of the blood tracker, Harry increased the speed of the carpet. The trip that took an hour previously only took a half hour to return. Chris and Melissa were shaking when they finally stopped, while Daryl was cussing a blue streak.

“Fuckin’ hell! I ain’t ever doing that shit again, ya fuckin’ asshole.”

Harry hopped off the carpet, cackling.

“That was nothing. I can do twice that speed on my broom!” He grinned like a madman.

“Screw that. Now help me with Merle,” Daryl grumbled.

“Let me get you all keyed in the wards. I've got potions that will help your brother.”

A few waves of his wand, and Harry began to lead the others through the gate they landed before. He left Merle on the carpet, guiding it to the manor before them.

Daryl, Melissa, and Chris all gasped getting their first view of the property. The land stretched as far as the eye could see. There were open fields layed out neatly, with several buildings scattered around. In the center was a huge manor home. As they approached, Stiles exited the house.

“Hey, where did you…oh my god, Melissa, Chris!” Stiles ran to them, giving both of the newcomers bone crushing hugs. “How did you get here?”

Melissa answered as they continued to follow Harry into the house. “I left Beacon Hills after Noah died. I knew you were in Georgia, so I moved here to be closer to you. I just didn't have the nerve to contact you after the fallout with Scott. He wouldn't listen to me anymore, and it was just getting more dangerous. I started to go by Karen Delgado because too many people knew the name Melissa McCall thanks to Scott and the whole true alpha thing; I did not want to chance someone trying to get to me to get to him. I got a job at the hospital in Kings county. I've been there for the last three years. Chris found me two years ago, and we've been together ever since.”

“Did you hear anything from back home before everything went down?” Stiles asked.

Melissa gave Stiles a sympathetic smile. “I only got to speak to Scott once. I am so sorry Stiles, Lydia is gone. She started screaming, and couldn't stop. Scott said they tried knocking her out, but nothing worked. She screamed for hours until her throat was shredded. She died, then came back. She bit Mason before they were able to stop her and he bit Corey. I don't know about anyone else.”

“Why’d she scream like that?” Daryl asked as Harry deposited Merle onto a bed.

“Lydia was a banshee,” Stiles said sadly. At Daryl's confused look he explained. “Banshees scream when a supernatural dies. All the deaths happening so quickly…she would have been overwhelmed.”

“Lydia was one of the most powerful Banshees alive, if she couldn't survive,” Chris started.

“Then they may all be gone,” Stiles finished leaving the room.

“Give him some time. Lydia was one of his best friends at one point, and he's known her since primary school,” Harry said. Harry cast a diagnosis on Merle and read over the results quickly. He waved his wand and cast a summoning charm. A few seconds later a bottle containing a purple liquid came zooming into the room. Harry snatched the bottle from the air and showed it to Daryl. “Healing potion. This will take care of your brother's infection. He'll be fine in an hour or two. It'll also take care of the withdrawal he's dealing with. I'll look through my books to find a spell to help with the hand.”

Harry uncorked the bottle and poured the liquid into Merle's mouth, rubbing his throat to encourage him to swallow. Another flick and another potion came floating into the room.

“Nutrient potion.” This potion was also quickly administered. “He'll sleep for a while, but he's going to be fine.”

Daryl slumped in relief. “Thanks. He's all I got.”

“It's not a problem. You're both welcome here. Stay as long as you want.”

“Doubt you'll be saying that when his ass wakes up,” Daryl snorted. “He's an asshole.”

“Aren't we all?” Harry smirked. “Come on. I have a monitoring charm on him. It'll alert me when he starts to wake. No sense to sit here staring at the walls.”

Daryl cleared his throat awkwardly after being led into a sitting room, and everyone taking a seat. He glanced at the other two in the room, eyes darting away quickly.

“Thanks for taking care of Merle. Like I said, he's an asshole, but he's my brother.”

Melissa smiled softly at Daryl; touched that someone so obviously hardened to the world was so shy.

“It's no problem, hun. It's my job after all. What happened to him? He was really out of it when we found him. We never got an answer that made any sense.”

“Assholes he went on a run with handcuffed him to the roof in Atlanta. By the time I made it to him, the next day, he'd done cut his own hand off to free hisself. Bastards just left him there with walkers trying to get to him. Acted like chaining the door was some great help. He mighta been high and actin’ like a dumb shit, but that weren't no reason for what they done.”

“Damn. That's not right,” Chris said, shaking his head.

“You know it's messed up when even a werewolf hunter says its bollocks,” Harry snorted. Daryl tensed, hand going back to the crossbow he had propped beside him.

“Former hunter,” Chris assured. “I walked away from that when Stiles was still a teenager. I'd step in when things were needed to protect everyone, but I wasn't hunting any longer. I swear I don't mean you, or anyone here any harm."

“He wouldn't have been able to pass through the gate if he meant anyone harm. There are intent wards up, they keep anyone with ill intentions.”

“What sort of things?” Daryl asked, still suspicious.

“Bad things!" Melissa assured him. “I swear, Beacon Hills was on the verge of an apocalypse every other week when Scott was first turned. We didn't have zombies, but I swear we had everything else.”

Daryl relaxed slightly, but still kept a jaundiced eye on the two new people.

“Oh, Daryl. Hand me your arrows and quiver,” Harry grinned, holding his hand out expectedly.

“Why?” Daryl questioned, even as he handed them over.

Harry smiled slyly and started waving his wand over one of the arrows. He then replaced it and waved his wand one more time before handing the quiver back to Daryl. At Daryl's unamused gaze, he chuckled and explained.

“I cast a Gemino charm on one of the arrows and then attached it to the inside of your quiver with a sticking charm. Gemino copies items. Every time you touch that arrow, it will copy itself. The sticking charm is to make sure you don't use that one by accident. You now, essentially, have unlimited arrows,” Harry finished smugly.

“Thanks,” Daryl choked out, taken aback. His eyes were wide in awed disbelief staring at his quiver. He couldn't resist and touched the arrow that Harry had bespelled. Daryl felt a small giddy grin form as a new arrow appeared in his hand, just like Harry said.

“You’re welcome,” Harry replied, still grinning.

“Can you do that for bullets?” Chris asked, intrigued. Melissa was nodding in agreement.

“Its actually better to duplicate full gun clips, otherwise you have to replace individual bullets every time. We tried bullets at first, and it nearly drove Stiles crazy until we tried the clips. I can silence the gun better than a silencer, and make it self cleaning; self cleaning and ever sharp for any bladed weapons too.”

“I think they might be in love,” Melissa laughed at the awed look Daryl and Chris were giving Harry.

“I may have had an inappropriate thought or two,” Chris shamelessly nodded. Daryl gave his own grunt of agreement, still examining the duplicated arrow.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 9

Harry, Daryl, Melissa, and Chris continued to talk for a while longer before Derek and Teddy returned. Derek smiled brightly at the pair from Beacon Hills. He gave Chris a quick embrace with a friendly back slap, and then held Melissa in his arms as she gave a few sniffles into his chest.

“I can't believe you're here,” Derek smiled at the pair.

“We've actually been in Georgia a few years, I was just too nervous to contact Stiles after everything,” Melissa replied sheepishly. “Then the world ended and I didn't have any more excuses. We've been looking for you for a while, but weren't sure exactly where you were.”

“Stiles never blamed you for anything, you know that right?” Derek asked, looking around the room. “Where is he? I would think he'd be attached to you right now.”

“We told him what we know of Beacon. When it first started Lydia started screaming and couldn't stop. It killed her, then she turned and bit Mason, who then bit Corey before they were stopped.”

“Oh no. I'm going to go find him.” Derek left at a hurried pace.

“Lydia was Stiles’ childhood obsession. From the time he was eight he was all about her. Had a ten year plan to get her to marry him and everything. Not that it came to anything for years, she was the most popular girl in school and acted the part of shallow bimbo perfectly. Stiles was most certainly not part of her group, he had ADHD and he was all hyper spastic. He and my son, who had asthma at the time, were the outcasts.”

Melissa continued with a pained sigh. “Then Scott got bit. He, Stiles, and Derek were fighting Derek's uncle, who was going on a murder spree at the time. Peter bit Lydia during that time. Lydia eventually became part of their group. She and Stiles did date for a while, but they realized they were better friends.”

“Wait, you said she was a Banshee, but she was bit by a wolf?” Daryl asked, confused.

“The bite reflects the person within, if it doesn't kill you,” Chris explained. “In Lydia's case, she already had Banshee in her family line, her grandmother, the bite woke that. Derek's first bite, the first time he became an alpha, was a young man who had issues with being adopted and not knowing who he really was. Jackson became a kanima. When my sister was turned, she became a werejaguar.”

“The hell is a kaniwhatsit? “

“Kanima, is a lizard-like creature that does not have an identity of its own. It seeks out a master to control it. Its skin is impervious and it secretes a paralyzing fluid from its claws and the barb on its tail. It's a turn that has gone wrong, an abomination. Derek was eventually able to kill the kanima, and that allowed the wolf to complete its turn. Jackson is a hybrid now, with wolf and kanima abilities.”

“That's not the weirdest thing out there. Welcome to the wacky world of magic and supernatural. No more sheltered puppy for you,” Harry teased an overwhelmed Daryl.

“And who are you, young man?” Melissa asked with a smile, lightening the mood.

“I'm Teddy. Harry is my dad. And you're Momma McCall and Mr. Argent. Stiles has showed me pictures. You're not going to hunt me, are you?” Teddy asked with a worried frown, his hair turning a sickly yellow to show his anxiety.

The two adults were surprised by the color change, but didn't comment. “No, I'm not going to hunt you. I stopped doing that a long time ago.”

“Good. I don't want to be hunted, unless it's time for dinner, My dinner, not me being dinner.” Teddy grinned, his hair returning to its usual teal. “Why are you here Mr. Dixon?”

“It's just Daryl, kid. And my brother is in another room. Harry helped me find him.”

“It's good you found him, why isn't he here?”

“He was sick when we found him. He's sleeping off some potions right now,” Harry explained. “He should be waking any time now.”

As if he had cast a summoning spell, there was a loud crash, followed by Merle cursing, and two sets of thumping steps heading in their direction. Daryl was about to go to his brother when the largest white rabbit he had ever seen came bolting around the corner, not even pausing as it jumped on the couch and settled beside Teddy.

“Aricula!” Teddy grinned happily, petting the rabbit.

“Git back here you long eared, buck-toothed, demon rodent! I'm gonna skin ya and eat ya fer dinner!” Merle bellowed as he came into the room.

Teddy gave a scandalized gasp and covered the bunny's ears. “Don't worry, Ari. No one will eat you. And she's not a rodent!”

“Ya didn't deny the damn thing is a demon!” Merle snapped, rubbing his chest. “Who the hell are you people?”

“Merle!” Daryl snapped. “Leave the kid's pet alone. And those two,” he pointed to Melissa and Chris, “have been taking care of your fool ass for the past few days, when your fever was so bad ya were delirious. And Harry, the kid's dad, helped me find your sorry hide.”

“Oh, well I'm still gonna make rabbit stew out that oversized hopper,” Merle threatened, still rubbing his chest.

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. “What did she do?” He asked, familiar with how contrary the rabbit could be.

“Pressed all the air outta my lungs, sitting on my chest and when I tried to move it, it thumped right in the middle of my rib case. Think it cracked a damn rib.”

“Ari, that wasn't very nice,” Teddy scolded. The rabbit put its head down and flopped on its side. “You could at least pretend to be sorry.”

The adults were all wincing thinking of the punch those back legs could deliver with a rabbit that size. Harry knew from personal experience, being subject to such kicks on more than one occasion.

“Sorry about her,” Harry said. “She's Teddy's familiar, and a bit of a drama queen.”

“The hell is a familiar?” Daryl asked.

“A familiar is an animal companion for a witch or wizard. They form an empathic bond. They also gain increased intelligence and a bit of an attitude. I had a snowy owl when I was Teddy's age. She died protecting me.”

“A wolf has a rabbit for a familiar?” Chris choked on a laugh.

“Trust me, I am well aware of the irony.”

“What the hell is going on?” Merle demanded.

“They're talking while waiting for your brain to kick in,” Teddy said, matter of factly. “Potions are like that. Make you a little wonky right after taking them.”

“Ma brain works just fine. What the hell you mean potions?”

“Wizard medicine,” Harry explained. “You were near death with the infection from your injury. I gave you some options to clear it up. They would have cleared up the withdrawal you were going through too.”

“The hell you say. DarylIna, what the fuck, man?”

“Watch it, there's a kid. And he's telling the truth. Harry and Teddy are wizards, wands and everything. Kid's a wolf too. There's ‘nother wolf and a different kinda magic user around here somewhere too. Harry gave you potions to take care of that infection that had you out of it. He brought you back here on his flying carpet, too,” Daryl smirked.

“ Now I know yer full a shit ain't no such thing…”

Harry levitated the rug in the middle of the floor with Merle on it. Granted, it wasn't his flying carpet, but he felt his point was made.

“Well slap my ass and call me Alice. We done went to Wonderland, complete with an annoying white rabbit.”

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 10

“You are welcome to stay here,” Harry offered after things calmed.

“Why'd you want ol’ Merle to stay here?” He asked suspiciously.

“Because it's safe here. Plenty of food. And honestly, we need someone more familiar with the area. While we pretty much have anything we would ever need, there are still things we need. Some of the plants used in potions only grow in the wild here, we haven't been able to get them to be successful in the greenhouses. Knowing where other bodies of water, or where to find some supplies will be invaluable in the future,” Harry shrugged.

“You been staying here, baby brother?” Merle asked.

“Nah, the group from the quarry is holed up on a farm near here. Been staying with them. Met Harry and them a bit ago when they brought the little girl back after she got separated."

“What the hell you still doin’ with those fuckin’ pansies?”

“Language,” Teddy reprimanded at the same time as Auricula raised her back feet and thumped the sofa hard.

“I don't want to hear any shit from you,” Merle grumpled, pointing at the rabbit. “I'm arguing with a rabbit and I ain't even high. What the hell is this place?”

Teddy giggled loudly at the pouting man. “Come on Ari, let's see if the elves have some veggies for you. I think his brain is still a little wonky.” Teddy dashed out of the room, Ari hopping along with him.

“Ain't nothin’ wrong with my brain!” Merle shouted after the disappearing Teddy. “This is just some trippy shit.”

“You'll get used to it if you stay,” Harry consoled. “For now, who's hungry?”

“Now you're talking. Don't guess you can magic up some burgers and fries, with all the fixin's can ya?”

“Hmm. No I can't ‘magic it up’, can't conjure food from thin air, it's still just like air with no nutritional value. However, we do have everything to have them made. Hurly!” Harry called.

With a pop the house elf appeared causing all of the others to jump in fright. Daryl and Chris both aimed their weapons at the strange creature. Hurly just stared at the newcomers with a truly unimpressed look.

“What the hell is that?” Daryl demanded.

“I is not a what, I is a who. I is Hurly, head elf for Potter's Retreat,” the little elf said with a huff, crossing his arms over his scrawny chest.

“Hurly is a house elf, they're helpers for wizarding families. They bond with wizarding families in a symbiosis relationship. Wizards provide magic and elves do work in exchange. There are three here, Hurly, Casty, and Flippy. This morning it was brought to my attention that a few other wizards were in the area that had not made it. I have taken in their elves as well, but you'll most likely never see those.”

Daryl and Chris lowered their weapons, still watching the small creature warily.

“Hurly, can you fix some hamburgers and chips for everyone, please? Daryl here is a wolf, too, so make sure to fix enough for him.”

“Right away Harry Potter, sir.” With another pop, the elf disappeared.

“Let me show you to some rooms and you can get cleaned up. I'm sure you would all like a hot shower. Flippy,” Harry called and another elf appeared. “Get into the things we have in storage and find some clothes for our guests. Make sure they are appropriate for the conditions we are facing now. At least three outfits each. Put them in the rooms they'll be staying in.”

“Yes sir, Mister Harry Potter, sir,” the little elf said with a salute and disappeared.

“Stiles has corrupted him,” Harry sighed, shaking his head.

An hour later, everyone in Potter’s Retreat were gathered around the table enjoying their meal. The four that had been surviving outside looked overwhelmed with all of the food before them.

“How do you have so much?” Melissa asked in awe.

Stiles grinned at his psuedo-mom. “As soon as we realized what was going on, we started hitting everything. Harry has bottomless trucks that are just what they say, and they put everything into stasis, so if it's frozen when it enters, it stays frozen, you get the idea. We raided so much before the power grid went down, and even more after. We put entire warehouse distribution centers and processing plants into those trunks. Between what we have in stasis, and Harry's ability to copy anything, we'll never run out. Plus we have the fields and greenhouses to raise fresh stuff. All we're really lacking is new sources for meat. Animals have gone pretty quick with the dead eating everything,” Stiles explained rapidly.

“I thought you couldn't create food, how can you copy it?” Daryl asked, starting on his third burger. He hadn't eaten this well even before the world ended.

“I can't make it from nothing. But making a copy is different. Everything is already there, vitamins and minerals, all of that, it all gets copied. And I can enlarge it all, so I can make a single grape large enough to feed a hundred people, for example."

Merle let out a loud, impressed whistle. “So, why's it only the four of ya? If ya can do all that, why don't you have more people here?”

“Haven't run into many others, and the ones we have we wouldn't trust,” Derek explained. “We've left supplies in safe spots that others can find easily, but they wouldn't be a good fit here. Between Teddy and I being ‘wolves and Stiles and Harry with their magic, not a lot can deal with it. Or, aren't desperate enough to look beyond preconceived ideals yet.”

“And you'd trust me and my brother?” Merle asked in disbelief.

“Daryl is a wolf, too. And for all your faults, you had to do something right to help him make it this long without going completely feral,” Stiles waved like it was self explanatory.

“Was already feral, always in the woods,” Merle explained.

“I don't think you realize how much of a miracle it is that he didn't go completely feral and need to be…” Chris shifted uncomfortably. “My family were all werewolf hunters. When a wolf goes feral, they lose all touch with humanity and kill everything in their path. That that didn't happen with just the two of you, shows what type of people you are. Whether you want to admit it or not.”

“Deep down good people who are stubborn as hell,” Stiles grinned.

The brothers shifted, uncomfortable with anyone having anything good to say about them.

“Whatever,” Merle waved away the compliments. “But if you try ta hunt ma brother, I'm gonna shove this stump so far up yer ass you'll look like one of them pencil toppers that all the kids had back in the day.”

“Understood. But like I said, I left that life behind,” Chris nodded.

Stiles cackled at the image Merle created. Derek and Melissa gave small snorts of amusement.

“You are welcome here,” Harry said softly, taking pity on the pair. He knew how uncomfortable unwanted attention was. “We have plenty of space, if you don't want to stay in the manor. There are a few bunkhouses, we could even set you up with a tent if that's what you would prefer.”

“We need someone that knows how to trap, so we can bring animals inside the walls,” Stiles explained. “Harry and I tried, but they get one whiff of Derek and Teddy on us and they bolt. If you can trap them, Harry and I can bring them without any problem. The only thing we've really been able to bring in so far has been fish for the ponds around the property. Harry summons them into a bottomless tank, then we release them. Summoning larger animals didn't work so well. They panic too much and cause the spells to destabilize."

“Could do that, bring in some deer, check around here if any farm animals have survived. Don't want to bring in many rabbits unless you're gonna eat them, you'd be overrun in no time,” Merle mused.

“We don't eat rabbit!” Teddy protested.

“Would have to be careful of inbreeding. It would be a problem within a few generations of the critters,” Daryl said thoughtfully.

“I can check the other wizarding properties with the other elves. Might be able to secure them as well, stock each one, then we can rotate to stop the inbreeding,” Harry supplied.

Merle and Daryl stared at each other, having a full conversation without speaking.

“Well, guess we'll be stayin' in Wonderland.”

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 11

After a bit more discussion it was decided that the brothers would stay in the mansion with the others. Daryl said he needed to go back to the Green farm to get the motorcycle and the rest of his stuff. A small argument ensued with Merle insisting he would be coming along, he had a score to settle after all. Daryl tried to argue that he didn't need to be going anywhere with his arm the way it was.

When Merle finally won their argument Harry took pity on the man. With a few flicks of his wand, Harry transfigured a copper penny, he found in the sofa cushions, into a temporary prosthetic that he attached to the now healed stump. The prosthetic resembled a hand, but each of the fingers ended in sharp blades, like exaggerated claws.

“Whoo hoo, lookie here!” Merle whooped, slashing his arm through the air. “I'm Freddy Krueger y'all!”

Harry smirked at the excited man. “The fingers don't move, but you'll still be able to protect yourself with it, if you need.”

“You outta your mind, givin’ him that,” Daryl sighed, shaking his head.

“While I'm sure your brother could beat anything with one hand tied behind his back, there's no reason to test it when I can help,” Harry smirked.

“Whatever,” Daryl mumbled. “Let's get a move on, we're waistin' daylight.”

“I'm coming, too,” Derek said, joining them. He could feel the barest tiny flicker of a pack bond starting to form with Daryl. While he knew the man could take care of himself, and had Harry with him, there was no way he could sit back and let a new beta go into a potentially dangerous situation without him.

Daryl chewed the corner of his thumb, glancing at the other wolf and away quickly.

“Don't need ya, but if yer comin’, lets go already,” he huffed, moving out of the room.

“Oh my god, it's like deja vu,” Stiles faux whispered. “It's early Derek all over again.”

Melissa and Chris snorted in amusement at the comparison. Derek let out a playful growl and flashed his alpha red eyes. This, of course, just made Stiles laugh happily. Derek shook his head and went to follow the other men out of the manor.

“Keep an eye on Teddy for me, yeah?” Harry called as he left.

“You don't even need to ask,” Stiles agreed readily.

“So how we gettin' to that farm?” Merle asked, as they made their way to the gate.

“I figured I'd apparate us to the turn for Doc Green's driveway, then we could drive the rest of the way to avoid too many questions,” Harry answered, adjusting his ever present bottomless bag.

“What the hell is apercate?” Merle demanded.

“Apparate and you'd call it teleporting…,” Harry sighed, waiting for the inevitable question.

“Why not just call it teleporting?” Daryl questioned.

“Because it's not teleporting its apparating,” Harry stated firmly; he'd had this debate too many times with Stiles. Derek snorted in amusement, having heard Stiles rant many times about what to call Harry's ability to pop around everywhere.

“Whatever. What are you planning to drive?” Merle asked, looking around and not seeing any vehicles on the property.

Harry grinned mischievously and reached into his bag, his arm disappearing up to his shoulder. When he bought his hand out he was holding an SUV the size of a matchbox car.

“Told you I could make things bigger…can shrink them too,” he said proudly. “We went to a dealership that specialized in heavy duty vehicles, mostly trucks and SUVs. Shrunk them all and put them in one of the trunks, except for three that I keep in my bag, just in case.”

“Well hot damn!” Merle grinned. “Where can I get me one a dem bags?”

“I'll make sure you both have one later. Oh, and here,” Harry reached into his bag and brought out a pistol, already in a gun belt, with an extra clip stuck to the belt. “It's completely silenced. Nineteen rounds and one in the chamber. If you have to use it and need to reload, just touch the clip stuck to the side, you'll get an identical copy. Don't try to remove the clip on the belt. You can get duplicates indefinitely as long as you don't use the clip with the Gemino on it.”

“If you had tits and pussy, I'd fuck you right now,” Merle declared.

“No thanks. While I like my men older, I don't have daddy issues,” Harry replied dryly.

“Yer queer?”

“Queer, gay, fag, poof, shirtlifter, bent, fairy…,” Harry rattled off. “Whatever you want to call it. And don't expect me to get all up in arms when you start tossing out insults. I know it's all Hippogriff shite coming from you, you bloody wanker.”

“Well, ya hear that Darylina?! We found us a queer little magic man that's not gonna get all pissy when ol’ Merle starts yanking his chain.”

“Shut up Merle!” Daryl growled, cheeks blooming with a blush.

“Gender doesn't matter so much when instincts , or in Harry and Stiles’ case magic, rely on compatibility,” Derek stated.

“Don't get yer panties in a twist,” Merle defended, hands up. “There's a reason I call my brother Darylina. Only one allowed to give him shit is me. Way I see it, just means more of the sweet ladies for ol’ Merle.”

“Lets just go already,” Daryl demanded, stomping out of the gate.

Harry couldn't help but grin at the hunter's back. He was being a grumpy hedgehog again.

“I need everyone to touch me,” Harry started, only to be interrupted by Merle.

“I knew you wanted me, Tinkerbell. But, I just told ya, ol' Merle don't play that way.”

“Ha, funny,” Harry answered dryly. “Now if I can finish so we can get this over with. Put a hand grab onto my arm, don't let go. Might want to bend your knees and take a deep breath.”

“Why we need to…” Merle started to question. With a devilish grin from Harry, they disappeared with a pop before Merle could finish his question.

They appeared on the highway near a mailbox showing Green. Derek and Harry were immediately alert to their surroundings, each taking a position to cover their recovering companions.

Daryl was bent with his hands on his knees, breathing deeply, quiet gagging sounds escaping him occasionally. Merle, however, hit his knees and was reaching violently.

“You fucker,” Daryl breathed out heavily.

“I’ll get you back for this, asshole!”

Harry laughed merrily. Taking pity on the kneeling man, and the ‘wolves delicate noses, Harry banished all traces of sick. He reached into his bag, pulling out the shrunken vehicle and placed it on the road. With another flick of his wand, it grew to a full sized red and gold Chevy Suburban.

“Iron Man mobile,” Derek grumbled, getting into the driver's seat.

“Gryffindor mobile, thank you very much,” Harry protested, sliding into the backseat. Merle hopped into the passenger seat, with Daryl joining Harry in the back. Derek started the suburban with a quiet roar and headed down the drive.

When they made it to the Green farm, the sight before them set Daryl, Derek, and Harry on edge. Hershel and Rick were holding two walkers with dog catcher poles. All of the other people on the farm were armed and surrounding them.

Shane was yelling something at Hershel when he began shooting the walker Hershel had leashed in the chest. A final yell, and he shot the walker in the head, causing it to fall truly dead. Shane turned and stormed to the barn doors, continuing to yell the entire way.

“The fuck these idiots doin’?” Merle demanded.

“Merlin's saggy tits! The barn is full of walkers, and he's about to open the doors!” Harry yelled, scrambling out of the vehicle to dash across the yard.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 12

“You three cover the Greens and Dale. I've got Carol and Sophia. Don't shoot unless absolutely necessary. This isn't our circus!” Harry commanded as he dashed across the yard.

The others took up their positions to protect those without defense. Merle didn't even comment as he fell into step. He felt the command in his bones, responding to the directive just as the military had trained him.

The four maintained their sentries, while the residents of the farm shot into the crowd of walkers streaming from the barn. The Greens were a grieving mess, while Carol and Sophia hid behind Harry when it was finished.

“Momma!” Beth yelled, moving to run to the pile of walker bodies laying on the ground.

“It's not safe yet,” Derek told the girl, gently holding her in place.

At that moment a rasping moan could be heard, and a walker began to shift and try to get back up.

“Momma, no,” Beth wailed.

While the others seemed frozen, Harry made his way to the struggling walker. Stepping behind the walker, Harry grasped the back of her neck to hold her in place.

“I am sorry this happened to you. Be at peace now,” Harry said softly, gently sliding a knife under the back of the walker's skull to end it permanently.

Maggie took her sister as Beth collapsed in tears. The devastated Greens began to make their way to their home. Shane would not let the family have their peace, and was dogging their steps, yelling the entire way.

“Derek, go protect the house when they make it in,” Harry directed. Derek nodded and with quick steps, made himself a barrier between the family and the raving man.

“Merle,” Harry said seriously, with only a head tipped in the direction of Shane.

“Oh Tinkerbell, you know how to please ol’ Merle,” he grinned cockily.

“No killing, maiming only if unavoidable,” Harry called to the retreating back. He glanced at Daryl.

“I've got Rick,” Daryl assured, without prompting.

“Can mom and I go back with you, Mr. Harry? Please? I don't like it here. It's not safe,” Sophia begged, looking fearfully at all of the bodies.

“I'll need to talk to your mom,” Harry said reassuringly. There was a loud yell followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground, hard. Angry yells began to fill the air again. “For now, I want you to go stay with Derek until someone comes to get you,” he looked to Carol to make sure he had not over stepped.

“Ill talk to Harry, sweetie. Go on like he said.”

Once Sophia was on her way, Harry turned his attention to the new drama unfolding. Daryl had disarmed Rick and was covering him with his crossbow. Shane lay on the ground, nose bloody. Merle was leaning over him threateningly, with his bladed hand poised right over the man's heart.

“What in Merlin's name were you bunch of bloody morons thinking?!”

“The barn was full of walkers,” Glenn began sheepishly. He couldn't deny he was intimidated by the three men.

“No shite, noticed that when we brought Sophia back. Did it seriously take you all this long to realise it?” Harry asked, completely dumbfounded. How could these people not be aware of their surroundings? “I want to know what the bloody hell you were thinking shooting off like that! You just rang the dinner bell for everything in a five mile radius! Everything will be headed this way, people and walkers. That means our place, MY SON, is potentially in the path of what the ever living fuck you've called down on all our heads!”

Granted, Harry wasn't worried about his home, but they didn't need to know that.

“What the hell were we supposed to do, asshole?” Shane snarled, trying unsuccessfully to get up from the ground.

“I would say use your brain, but you're all clearly lacking in that department. I'm questioning if any of you would even turn with the lack of brains in this group,” Harry replied sarcastically. Daryl snorted in amusement, grinning at the pissed off Brit. Merle roared with laughter.

“Now just a minute,” Rick tried to gain control of the situation. Harry was having none of his attempts.

“No, you listen here. It's not just your group or mine you've put in danger. How many other survivors are in the area? How many of them have you potentially aimed a herd at, without warning? Or how many people, you do not want to find you, have you just told you are here? When we found Merle we watched a group of men drag out two survivors and kill them for no reason.”

The others gasped, exchanged nervous glances, and shifted uncomfortably. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, they were realizing their actions may have been a mistake.

“You expect us to keep sleeping with walkers a few feet away?” Shane demanded again, earning a thump to the head from Merle’s flesh fist.

“I would expect you to be smart about it, especially two officers. They have been in that barn since before you got here. Those doors weren't going to give. You could have sent Daryl up top with his bow. Or take them out by sticking them with knives through the gaps between the boards. Make spears and use those. Hell, I have swords you could have sent someone to ask to borrow.”

The farm group were looking completely cowed by the end of Harry's rant.

“Well, that's all well for you to say. You're not the one staying here are you? And where were you all day, Daryl?” Lori stuck her nose in it.

Daryl just stared the woman down.

“I found him in the woods when I came to let him know we found his brother. He's been at our place all day,” Harry said the altered truth with a wave of his hand.

“Merle can't stay here,” Lori stated immediately.

“Wasn't planning on it, Queenie,” Merle sneered.

“Just came back to get my stuff and the bike,” Daryl agreed.

“You're just going to abandon us?!” Lori yelled.

“Listen here, Olive Oyl! I've hunted and kept you people fed for months without so much as a nod of thanks from any one of y'all. If you think for one second I'd turn my back on my brother for any of you, you're not just lacking brains, yer delusional,” Daryl shot back.

“Well, I never…”

“You're right, you never did a damn thing while sitting on your ass handing out Susy Homemaker orders to the women and running off to screw Shane in the woods,” Daryl turned and stormed off to start taking down his tent.

“He told you, bitch,” Merle laughed, getting up to follow his brother.

As soon as Shane could get to his feet, after Merle started to walk away, he let out a bellow and started to charge at the back of the other man. Before anyone could react, Harry was between the two. He threw a punch connecting with Shane's jaw. Shane toppled back to the ground, this time unconscious.

“Ain't you a firecracker, Tinkerbell?” Merle whistled, impressed.

“Just help Daryl so we can get out of here,” Harry said tiredly. Turning to Carol, he beckoned her to follow. “Let's talk.”

Harry moved over to Derek and Sophia.

“Before we can agree to let you stay with us, we need to let you know some things about us. If you can't accept it, then we won't be able to let you stay.” Here Harry looked to Derek, not wanting to explain or demonstrate magic with so many people around.

Derek understood what Harry was wanting. Staring at Carol he lets his eyes briefly flash red, and grinned with a hint of fang showing. Carol gasped, hand covering her mouth, eyes wide.

“You're a wolf!” She whispered, relief sounding in her voice. “My aunt married into a pack,” she explained. “Daryl. I thought I saw his eyes flash a couple of times, but always put it to a trick of the light. Are you a wolf too?”

“Wizard,” Harry answered.

“Wow,” Sophia said excitedly. “Teddy, too?”

“Teddy is special, he's both,” Harry grinned.

“That is so cool!”

“Do you still want to come with us?” Harry asked, much more relaxed.

“Definitely. Let me get our things,” Carol said, hurrying to the RV.

“We've added six people in a day,” Derek sighed. For all that he had grown over the years, he still wasn't the best with groups of people.

“Stiles and the elves will be thrilled,” Harry grinned. “Come on. Lets get everyone loaded up and get the hell out of here.”

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 13

To say the others allowed Carol and Sophia to leave quietly would be a lie. They all tried to coax the two into staying. Lori even going so far to try to guilt Carol by stating all the extra work she would be leaving to others. Carol remained firm, stating she was doing what was best for her daughter; she was not asking or needing their permission.

Derek stopped at the same stretch of highway they originally stopped earlier. “Everyone out,” Harry stated.

Carol and Sophia climbed out curiously. Harry flicked his wand at the loudly idling motorcycle, casting a permanent silencing charm.

“That's better. And no drawing attention to yourself any more. Off the bike too Daryl.” Daryl shut off the bike and dismounted warily. Two more flicks of Harry's wand, and both miniature vehicles went into his bag.

“So cool,” Sophia breathed.

“Hell no, Tinkerbell! Merle ain't doing any of that teleporting again. I'll walk!” Merle declared, backing away from the wizard.

“Not apparating, no worries,” Harry grinned, his arm disappearing into his bag. He pulled out his carpet. Unrolled it on the highway and cast an engorgio so it would fit everyone. “Everyone sit.”

“Nah, I'll walk,” Daryl said, backing away now. Harry and Derek laughed at the two men.

“Is that…is that a flying carpet?” Sophia asked in awe.

“It sure is. Hop on and sit. I'm going to cast a sticking charm on you just to be cautious. But it's perfectly safe,” Harry assured the worried looking Carol.

“About a hundred miles an hour, above the treetops, with just a rug under ya. Yeah, perfectly safe,” Daryl mumbled sarcastically.

“Don't sound no different than flying in hot in an Apache helicopter with the doors open,” Merle whooped, settling onto the rug.

“I would never go that fast with Sophia onboard,” Harry denied.

“What about with Teddy?” Sophia asked curiously, wiggling to test the sticking charm.

“He goes faster than that on his broom,” Derek said with an eye roll as he settled next to Sophia. He trusted Harry's spell, but he wanted to be close to grab the girl, just in case.

“You fly on brooms, too?” She squealed, eyes full of adoration. Carol finally settled on the other side of her daughter, still looking dubious.

“We do. Stiles thought he'd be cute and made a vacuum fly, like in Hocus Pocus,” now Harry rolled his eyes. “Get on Daryl.”

Daryl stayed standing for a minute longer before relenting. “Fine. But, ya pull any a that Speedy Gonzalez crap, I'll put a bolt in yer ass.”

Daryl settled next to Harry, and with a tap of his wand, they began to lift into the air.

“Won't we be seen?” Carol questioned.

“Concealing charms,” Harry said simply, guiding the carpet toward home.

True to his word, Harry kept to a reasonable speed. It took ten minutes before they were landing before the entry gate to the estate.

“I'll need to key you into the wards, Carol. Sophia was keyed in when she was here,” Harry explained.

“Wards?”

“Stiles says think of them like shields, each shield does a different task. The main ward is a modified muggle repelling with a notice-me-not. It won't make you turn away, thinking you need to do something else, like a standard repelling ward, but it will encourage you to look somewhere else, unless you're desperate. Like Sophia was. Muggle is non-magical, before you ask.” The gate slid open as Harry finished adding Carol to the wards.

“Can I go find Teddy? Please, mom?” Sophia begged.

“I'll follow her,” Derek assured the worried mother.

“Alright, but listen to Derek and Stiles.”

“Yes! Come on, Mr. Derek!” Sophia exclaimed, dashing to the manor ahead.

“This place is amazing,” Carol said, looking around.

“It was my great grandparents. It was in stasis for over a hundred years, until Teddy and I started staying here five years ago.”

“What other…wards…are protecting this place?”

“Second defense is an intent ward, no one that means harm can enter. It only works on those beings able to reason…so people and certain creatures like house elves, centaurs, even merepeople if they were to want to stay in one of our ponds. They do not work on non reasoning creatures, so they wouldn't keep out bears, cougars, or even walkers; That's where the walls come in, perfectly smooth, no way for anything to climb over.”

“Won't walkers be able to hear and smell us?” Merle asked.

“There was already noise and smelling dampening wards. But when we realized walkers were attracted to those, Stiles and I strengthened what was there. Now, no sound or scent will travel past the walls. This is probably the safest place in Georgia, if not the US with Stiles and I here.”

Carol raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Harry blushed and rubbed the back of his head nervously.

“Stiles and I are the most powerful magic users for each of our types in the world.”

“Stiles isn't a wizard?”

“He's a Spark. His magic works differently.”

“A Spark?” Carol breathed. At Harry's grunt she explained, “I would visit my aunt when I was young. I heard stories.”

“The hell’s the diff’rence?” Merle asked.

“Sparky's a house fire. Harry's a volcano,” Daryl drawled.

“The fuck?” Merle demanded.

Harry laughed in delight, remembering Daryl's description when they first met.

“For any other Spark, that description is accurate. Stiles is more like one of those California wildfires. Potentially massively destructive, but still requires a spark to start and will eventually burn out. You have to light another spark to get it started again. Wizard magic is like magma, always there, always ready to explode. But I need a wand to focus my magic, Stiles only needs that beautifully scary brain of his.”

They finally made it to the front of the manor and were joined by Melissa and Chris.

“Melissa, Chris, this is Carol. Her daughter Sophia is around here somewhere. She and Derek were looking for Teddy,” Harry introduced.

“They found him with Stiles,” Melissa greeted, glancing behind her. Chris also looked a bit terrified.

“What?” Harry asked, worried.

“Everything's fine. Like I said, they're with Stiles.”

“Ah. Sadly, that does explain those half terrified looks,” Harry laughed. “Carol, Melissa is the mother of Stiles’ childhood best friend. Her son was bit when he was a teenager. Chris is a former hunter. Carol was part of the group with Daryl. Her aunt was married into a pack.”

“Ok. I feel like there is a lot more to that.”

“You have no idea," Melissa agreed. “But, from the look of the world we'll have plenty of time to discuss if you're staying.”

“We're staying.”

“Good. There is a distinct lack of female sensibilities around here. Unless you count Stiles, he was given honorary rights by the girls back home,” Melissa grinned.

“Lets get you and Sophia a room, or rooms if you're comfortable with her having her own,” Harry said, entering the manor.

They entered to find Stiles, Derek, Teddy, and Sophia holding Auri sitting around a coffee table. Derek was staring at the ceiling as if asking for patience.

“No, Stiles. I do not think Merle will want a web shooter magiced into his prosthetic hand,” Derek sighed heavily, as if having said this phrase more than once.

“Whoa! Wait jest a minute. Let's talk about this!” Merle exclaimed, rushing to join the others at the table.

“Ah hell.”

“Dear Merlin.”

Harry and Daryl said at the same time, each covering their face with both hands.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 14

A few days later, a shifty looking Stiles joined everyone at the breakfast table.

“Stiles?” Harry asked, just knowing he was going to regret getting up this morning.

“Harry,” Stiles replied innocently, filling his plate.

“How're things?”

“Good, good,” Stiles nodded. “Oh, could you transfigure me another of the titanium rings we have into a hand to work on for Merle?”

“What happened to the one you were working on?”

“Oh, well, you see, about that…”

“Oh god,” Derek moaned, thumping his head on the table.

Auricula came hopping into the room at that moment. On her back, was what could only be described as a metal demon hand. There was a skull shaped head, with glowing red eyes, horns, and fangs growing out of the back of the hand. Each of the fingers was tipped in long sharp claws.

“What the bloody hell is that, Stiles?!” Harry shouted, wand shooting into his hand.

“That's Clawd!” Stiles grinned.

Melissa, Derek, Teddy, and Chris groaned as if in pain. Daryl, Merle, and Carol were staring, horrified.

“It's so cute!” Sophia gushed, reaching down to pick up the demon hand.

“Don't touch it!” Carol panicked.

“It's safe. Little guy might look fierce, but he's a sweetie. Only eats veggies. Just don't give him sugar. Or coffee. Or especially coffee with sugar,” Stiles tried to reassure the nervous mom. It didn't work.

“Look how adorable he is mom,” Sophia smiled, showing off the creature that was currently cuddled in her arms. She stroked between the horns. It proceeded to let out a metallic sounding purr.

“Ah, you're purring! You're just the sweetest thing ever aren't you, Clawd? Yes, you are.”

“She was so normal before coming here,” Carol said faintly. “Not that I regret coming here, just…” she waved at her daughter to make her point.

“Its the Stiles effect,” Melissa consoled.

“Hey!”

“Stiles, sweetie, I love you like a son. But, you're not right.”

“Fair,” Stiles conceded, with a negligent shrug of his shoulder.

“Can we keep it dad?” Teddy asked, giving it his own pets.

Clawd turned glowing red puppy eyes on Harry.

“Is it sentient?!” Harry choked, alarmed.

“As far as I can tell, he's as smart, if not smarter than, Auricula.”

“I'm out,” Derek declared leaving the table. This triggered a mass exodus of the adults. Only Harry, Stiles, and the two children remained.

“How, Stiles?”

“I couldn't get the claws right. And then I started thinking about this anime I watched once with these demon robots, and that I really wanted a salad, and…” Stiles waved at his creation.

Clawd opened his mouth. A sticky string shot out of its mouth to snag a piece of tomato, retracting back to begin chewing its stolen treat.

“But, I got the web shooters working! Oh, and we'll never run out of titanium to work with!”

“Do I want to know?” Harry groaned.

“He poops titanium.”

“Of course. Why didn't I realize that?”

“It was really kind of obvious,” Stiles nodded sagely.

“No more working on Merle's hand alone,” Harry declared, taking his tea and leaving the room.

“We think Clawd is awesome Mr. Stiles,” Sophia promised.

“Yeah, Stiles. He's really cool.”

“Thanks guys. At least someone appreciates me.

“Don't encourage him!” Derek yelled from somewhere in the house.

“Spoilsport,” Stiles groused.

Teddy and Sophia giggled happily watching Auricula and Clawd chase each other around the table.

~×~×~×~×~×~×~

Two days later Merle was presented with a new prosthetic. He looked at the hand dubiously, expecting it to grow a head as well. They were all outside with targets set up for Merle to test his new hand.

“Don't worry, I supervised…err…helped Stiles this time,” Harry promised.

“That don't reassure me none, Tinkerbell,” Merle reluctantly stuck his arm out for the prosthetic to be attached.

Harry placed the hand on the end of his stump.and waved his wand a few times. “You'll have touch sensations, and it'll move like a real hand, but that's all. We didn't want to try to have your nerves relay any more information.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” Merle glanced at the scuttling Clawd, chasing Sophia, and shuddered.

“Now the cool stuff!” Stiles bounced on his toes. “Flick your wrist out. This engages each setting.”

Merle followed the instructions and wicked claws, much like a werewolf's, extended from his hand. He watched nervously for a minute, but nothing else happened. He nodded with a breath of relief admiring the glint of sunshine playing off the nails.

“Now, flick your wrist in. This will cancel each of the settings,” Stiles explained. What followed was Merle going through each of the settings of his new hand.

“Web shooter…pointer and pinky extended, middle and ring finger curled in…”

“Short sword, hold all of your fingers together with your thumb touching your ring finger…”

“Standard pistol, make a gun hand, pointer only extended thumb up. To shoot, bend your thumb for each shot and pretend it's a trigger. All of the gun settings are silenced and unlimited ammo. And it's all feather light so your arm won't tire out, or the setting be too heavy to use single handed.

“Full automatic. Make gun with pointer and middle finger extended , thumb up. Trigger the thumb to start shooting, trigger again to stop.”

“Sniper. Pinky extended, thumb up.”

“Bend the ring finger for a high powered magnet. No more losing your keys,” Stiles giggled.

“Fuck you,” Merle used his prosthetic hand to flip Stiles the bird, flicking his wrist.

“Oh my god! Is that a rocket launcher?” Chris squeaked.

Harry and Stiles both grinned maniacally. “It's unlimited, but we can't silence the boom after, sorry.”

“Are you out of yer ever livin' minds giving him that?!” Daryl stared at the two insane magic users.

Chris was staring interestedly at the magic hand.

“No Chris, you cannot cut your hand off so you can have one,” Melissa deadpanned.

“I didn't say anything,” Chris defended himself.

“Darylina, kiss ‘em fer me,” Merle laughed, delighted with his new hand.

Daryl blushed, the tips of his ears turning scarlet when he glanced at Harry.

“Not that I would mind,” Harry grinned, “but we have other things to discuss now that we have Merle sorted.”

“Right. Those idiots on that farm bringin’ trouble this way.”

“What did you guys pick up?” Harry turned to Daryl and Derek.

“They got an injured guy in the barn. He's human, but reeks of wolf,” Daryl replied.

“He also has older scents of young females on him. And not the kind you get by just being near someone,” Derek shot a painful look at Sophia. “Heard him say he went to school with Maggie, too.”

Carol gasped looking at her daughter. Never had she been more relieved she decided to leave with Harry and Daryl. Rick was going to get that group killed.

“Why're you even still checkin' on them people?” Merle scowled.

“Because they are in our backyard and if they're bringing trouble, we need to know. Plus, Doc Green is a good man. Deluded by grief, but a good man,” Stiles replied.

“Where did they get this guy?” Melissa asked.

“Hershel ran off to go on a bender at the bar in town, after that mess with the barn. Apparently Glenn and Rick went after him. Got into a fire fight with this guy’s boys.”

“A firefight with wolves?” Harry questioned.

“Everyone is carrying now. Adapting to even the playing field?” Chris hypothesized. “Don't need to get close to others with guns, or walker teeth.”

“S’not like a regular bullet will kill one a us,” Daryl huffed.

“No, but a head shot will still drop you, and with walkers everywhere…”

Daryl nodded in acceptance of that logic.

“Any idea where this pack is holed up?” Harry asked.

“No, but if we go to the bar, Daryl and I can track them. Use the carpet, get a bird's eye view. Be able to scan more ground that way.”

“You get to hunt this once,” Merle pointed at Chris with his real hand, “but if you point a gun at my brother…” his prosthetic transformed into the pistol setting. Chris nodded his understanding.

“I'll grab my bag. Daryl, Derek, Merle, Chris gear up. Stiles, stays and protects everyone else.”

“Chris, give me three wolfsbane bullets. I need to change out Merle's ammo. I didn't think we’d be needing them. Should have known,” Stiles complained.

A few minutes later the other men returned while Harry had the carpet laid out. Stiles and Harry worked to make the changes to Merle's hand. Harry casting shrinking and duplication charms while Stiles fit them into place.

“The pistol, automatic, and sniper have all been changed. I'll work on a wolfsbane rocket later; maybe mistletoe instead, that's kind of an all purpose supernatural killer. Watch out for friendly fire! That's your brother and my boyfriend, dude! Not that your brother is my boyfriend. But that it’s your brother, period. And my boyfriend, period. Two totally different people,” Stiles rambled, his nerves showing.

“Don't worry, Sparky. I got ‘em!” Merle assured.

“We'll be fine, Stiles. This is what we do,” Derek gave Stiles a quick hug and kiss.

“I know. Just be careful. Haven't had to deal with anything but walkers for a while now.”

While Stiles was having his mini freakout, Harry exchanged bullets in his and Daryl's duplication clip for their guns. He also cast the duplication and sticking charms for Chris on the clip he needed; silencing his gun as well.

“I would step up a dipped arrow for you, but I don't want you accidentally exposed,” Harry said to Daryl. “Later, Stiles and I will work to make you one with an enclosed tip that will break on impact.”

Daryl nodded to show he understood.

“We can leave from here. The moon is two days away. We need to get this done today. Let's go,” Harry settled onto the carpet.

“Fuckin’ Aladdin,” Daryl grumbled as he settled beside him.

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 15

It took the men a frustrating three hours of crisscrossing over the countryside, to find the invading wolves’ camp only five miles from their home…in the opposite direction they started searching. Less than three miles from the Green farm as well.

“Think that's all of them?” Daryl asked from where they were hovering above the camp in the clearing below.

“Most likely,” Chris answered, studying the roughly thirty men scattered below. “They're not very concerned, no watch that I can see. Unless you want to become an alpha, Daryl, let one of us take him out.” Daryl nodded in agreement.

“Most of them aren't armed either, but if they're wolves…” Merle continued the observations.

“They have prisoners,” Derek indicated a tarp-covered cage. “Looks like two males and three females.”

“Bloody hell, they have a darach,” Harry exhaled, watching a woman enter the center of the clearing. She was tall and willowy, with long red hair. In her hands she was carrying a large tome and a dark flask full of a dark red liquid. “This just got a bit more complicated.”

“Sonovabitch,” Derek cursed.

“You going to be okay?” Chris asked worriedly. He knew what happened to Derek with the darach back in Beacon Hills.

“Yeah, Jennifer is dead. Peter ended her for good.”

“The hell is a dark rock?” Merle asked.

“Darach,” Harry corrected. “It's a dark druid. They use sacrifices to gain abilities. And it looks like she's setting up for one now. We're going to have to land. I was hoping to just stay up here and pick them off, but I have to stop her.”

“Then let's get down there. We got this,” Daryl bumped his shoulder into Harry.

“I'm going to hit you all with scent blockers and silence your feet. She'll probably sense me when I start casting. We need to move fast.”

Harry had everyone stand before beginning to cast, so they would be ready to move immediately. Like he predicted, the darach began searching for him immediately. Once they were ready, he let the carpet drop quickly. Daryl and Derek jumped while they were still twenty feet in the air. Merle and Chris jumping off within five feet of the ground. Harry apparated behind the darach catching her off guard.

“Wizard,” she smirked.

Harry didn't bother to answer, instead casting a cutting curse at her neck. She managed to keep her neck, but lost an ear as she dodged.

“You'll regret that,” she snarled, beginning to chant.

Harry didn't give her a chance to complete her spell sending a blasting hex into her chest. She was lifted off her feet, her back connecting with a nearby truck. The snapping of several ribs could be heard.

“Is that all you have?” She attempted to taunt while coughing up blood.

Again, Harry did not reply. Instead, this time he took a page from Mrs. Wesley. He hit her with a freezing charm, turning her body to ice, then followed with a blasting curse. Frozen bits of darach rained over the clearing. In all it took him about three minutes to defeat his opponent.

When Harry turned to help his friends, he found them all leaning against a couple of trees. All thirty wolves were on the ground, all with a wolfsbane smoking hole in their head.

“What took you so long, Tinkerbell?” Merle grinned. “Thought you said it would be complicated.”

“I only said a bit more,” Harry shrugged with a grin.

“Scarhead, if you could get us out of this bloody cage, it would be much appreciated,” an annoying voice called.

Harry froze. He knew that annoying voice. Only one person called him that Merlin be damned name.

“Malfoy?” He asked incredulously, moving to the cage.

“I see you finally got rid of those bloody awful glasses,” the blond smirked.

“Eye correction potion. Hurt like a bitch. What the hell are you doing here?”

“Hullo, Harry,” a dreamy voice floated out.

“Luna?!”

“Heya, Harry.”

“Neville?!”

“I don't know you, but if you could get us out of here, that'd be really great,” an Asian woman requested.

By that time the others had moved to stand behind the wizard. Daryl crowding close to his back, a small snarl and quick eye flash slipping his control.

“Kira!” Derek grinned.

“Hi, Derek. Mr. Argent. Thanks for the rescue.”

“Yes, yes. Yay, wonder boy. No get this cage opened,” Draco demanded. “Bloody bint took our wands, and the inside of this cage has runes to stop any wandless magic.”

Derek moved forward and ripped the door from the cage. Kira rushed into his arms.

“So not fair. Why didn't I get the werewolf level of super strength with the supernatural package?" Derek chuckled, handing her over to Chris for his own cuddle. Harry had his arms full of Luna after a quick brotherly hug with Neville.

Luna turned to the final woman in the cage with them.

“They're safe. You can come out. Those two are wolves, but if they're with Harry, they're good people.”

“Who you callin' good, sugar?” Merle postured. Luna just gave him a dreamy smile.

A black woman with long dreadlocks stepped out, watching them all warily.

“This is Michonne,” Luna introduced. “She's Zabini's squib sister.”

“What the bloody hell?” Harry asked.

“Yes, yes, all very intriguing I'm sure,” Malfoy waved to comment away. “Now, that bitch had our wands stashed somewhere. I do hope they were not on her person when you blew her up. Get to summoning, if you please, Potter.”

Harry was still too stunned to argue with Malfoy. He raised his wand and intoned, “Accio wands.” Three wands came sailing from a nearby tent.

“Oh, our swords too please. If you don't mind,” Kira requested, indicating herself and Michonne.

“Accio swords,” Harry said, still too perplexed to do anything but obey.

“Thanks,” Kira said, changing her sword back into a belt and slipping it on. Michonne watched impressed.

Harry waved his wand over Michonne's sword, and it collapsed to a belt as well. “Hold the buckle and give it a hard flick, it will return to normal. For now it's a one time deal. If you come with us, Stiles and I will work on it so you can change it at will, without accidental collapse. I don't know how Kira's works to copy it right now.”

“Make ol’ Merle one a dem, too now.”

Chris nodded in agreement. “I always admired that sword.”

“We need to get a move on before the smell of blood draws in walkers,” Daryl nudged Harry's shoulder.

“Right. You three help me shrink everything down and we'll put it in my bag. And I mean everything, vehicles, tents, supplies. Even that cage, if we can, might come in handy some day.” The four magicals made quick work of the camp.

“What about the bodies?” Neville questioned.

Harry studied the bodies in the clearing. “Permanent transfiguration into twigs, then toss them into the woods. Except the darach. I'll transfigure the head into a pebble, then drop it into a river we'll be flying over. Leave the rest of the body for the walkers,” Harry said in disgust.

“No mercy for those who corrupt magic's gifts,” Luna agreed.

Within moments the clearing was absent of all bodies that had been littering the ground not ten minutes ago.

“Right, let's get out of here,” Harry said with a clap of his hands.

“Are you coming along?” Harry asked Michonne. The woman had not spoken a word so far. “You're more than welcome. There are four others at home. Stiles, Derek's partner. Melissa, Chris’ partner. Carol and her daughter Sophia. And my son, Teddy.”

“Of course she's coming,” Luna said, looping one arm through Michonne's.

Kira repeated the action on the other side, “Sword sisters gotta stick together.”

The two women lead Michonne across the clearing, not that she was protesting.

“There are too many for the carpet. I have brooms in my bag. Do either of you want to fly the carpet instead of ride a broom?” Harry directed the question to Neville and Luna, knowing Malfoy would want a broom.

“I have no idea how to fly a carpet,” Neville declined quickly. He wasn't the biggest fan of brooms, but no way was he going to try to fly a carpet with people on it. He could kill them all!

“Oh, Daddy and I have used carpets on our travels. I'll fly it,” Luna enthused.

“Wait, seriously? A flying carpet?” Kira asked, enthusiastically as Harry removed and enlarged three brooms from his bag. “And flying brooms?” She grinned.

“Welcome to the wonders of wizards,” Draco sniffed, kicking off. They were all quickly airborne.

“I can open your eyes, Take you wonder by wonder, Over, sideways and under, On a magic carpet ride, A whole new world,” Kira sang, to the laughter of all but the new magicals, and Daryl.

“Goddamned fuckin’ Aladdin!”

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 16

After some rest, baths, and a meal with full introductions, everyone settled in to hear how the new residents of Potter Retreat became captured by the wolf pack.

“We were in Gringotts when the goblins started putting the bank on lock down. They sealed the doors and started sending everyone through the floo. They connected to Longbottom Manor and Luna and I started through, when Luna suddenly grabbed Malfoy and took him with us,” Neville started.

“Bloody good thing, too. The floo network went down right after.”

“Right,” Neville nodded. “Gran was in the alley while we were in the bank. She never made it back. We stayed at the manor and tried to find out information. We sent patronus messages out to everyone we could think of. We only received replies from about half,” Neville finished sadly.

“Professor McGonagall engaged the war wards. We couldn't go there, and no one could leave. Hermione made it to Hogwarts, though. The Weasleys, except Bill's family and Charlie, stayed at the Burrow. Hermione said she lost all contact within a week. From what they told on the wireless network, a horde pushed into The Leaky Cauldron and in the panic the passage into Diagon was left open, so the horde just kept flooding in. St Mungos was lost within a few days of it starting. The Ministry fell within a few days of the floo going down. The wireless stopped broadcasting eight days after Diagon fell,” Luna explained.

“Mother was in France. I never received a reply by patronus or owl,” Draco added.

“Bill sent me a patronus about two weeks in. They were heading to Charlie, figured a dragon preserve would be one of the best protected places they could be.”

“Whoa, hold up now! Dragons?!” Merle exclaimed.

“We have protected preserves to keep them hidden from non-magicals,” Harry explained. “A friend of ours is a dragon handler at the preserve in Romania.”

“Harry fought one when he was fourteen,” Stiles smirked, enjoying the gobsmacked looks of Daryl, Merle, and Kira.

“I didn't fight it. I just out flew it on my broom and stole a golden egg from its nest,” Harry tried to defend himself. “And I was forced into that bloody tournament.”

“And rode on the back of one during the war. He was seventeen then,” Neville chipped in, with a smirk. He was enjoying watching Harry squirm.

“It was the only way to break out of the bank after we broke into Bellatrix's vault!”

“That explains so much,” Daryl mumbled.

“You rode a dragon?!” Chris choked out.

“I want to know about this bank heist!” Merle chuckled.

“That wasn't even the craziest thing he's done,” Draco drawled.

“No, riding that dragon was the worst!” Harry insisted.

“You killed a thousand year old, sixty foot basilisk when you were twelve,” Neville continued. “With a sword.”

“I didn't have a choice! It was crazy, and wouldn't listen when I tried talking to it!”

“What's a baskilisk?” Kira asked Chris.

“A serpent that can kill with just a look into its eyes. It also has the strongest venom in the world,” Chris whimpered. “How did you kill it with a sword?”

“A phoenix had destroyed its eyes, then I stabbed it through the roof of its mouth,” Harry groaned. He hated them all.

“And what happened when you stabbed it?” Derek asked, getting in his own teasing.

“A fang broke off in my arm. But Fawkes, the phoenix, cried into the wound and healed me,” Harry slumped into his chair, burying his face in his arms.

Chris, Melissa, Kira, Carol, Daryl, and Merle just stared at Harry. Finally, Merle let out an amused snort.

“You'll do, Tinkerbell. Now, about these dragons. Any chance of gettin’ us one here?”

“No, Merle! Gawd!” Daryl threw a worried look at his brother.

“Lets talk later, big guy,” Stiles giggled.

“No, Stiles!” Derek protested.

“You're such a pooperwolf, Sourwolf.”

As if on cue, Clawd scuttled into the room, and climbed Stiles’ leg. Merle stared at the demon hand.

“Ya know, on second thought, I think I'll pass on your idea of dragons,” Mere made a full body shiver.

“What is that?” Draco asked.

“That was supposed to be a prosthetic hand for Merle,” Harry explained. Merle waved his new hand for emphasis. “It's now sentient.”

“Ah, it's so cute,” Luna cooed, wiggling her fingers at the…hand.

“This is Clawd!” Stiles said proudly.

“ADHD kicked in?” Kira asked, not even surprised. Stiles grinned, she knew him so well.

“Better than a blast ended skrewt,” Neville declared with a shiver. Harry, Luna, and Draco nodded emphatically in agreement.

“I've never heard of that,” Chris said.

“Our grounds keeper bred them illegally. Think scorpion crossed with a crab that can shoot fire out its arse! He had us walking the bloody things for Care of Magical Creatures class,” Draco drawled in disgust.

“NO STILES!” Derek shouted without looking at Stiles. Stiles huffed and began to pout.

“Can we please get back on topic?” Harry pleaded.

“We stayed at the manor for a month. We stocked what we could, but the manor is in the Orkney Islands, not a lot available. We realized we'd need to leave pretty early on. Once July came, we packed everything and got ready to leave,” Neville started.

“Everyone back home is gone or behind war wards. So, we decided to find you, Harry.”

“We took brooms and a tent that Longbottom had. Went from Orkney, to Shetland, Farhoe, Iceland, Greenland, and then Baffin Island into Canada. We started heading south from there. We would stay on rooftops and gather supplies when it was safe. Still nearly froze my bullocks off, even if it was July and using heating charms,” Draco complained the last bit.

“We were a day outside of patronus range when they caught us. The darach messed with the alert wards. We were knocked out and caged before we even knew they were there,” Luna explained. “They've kept us for the last six weeks. Kira was already with them.”

“They caught me coming out of New Jersey. I was visiting my parents. They bought me time to get away. Mom might have been nine hundred years old, but she still couldn't survive being torn apart by them. There were just too many. My lightning does nothing to them. Even if it sets them on fire, they just keep coming.”

“Wait,” Carol interrupted. “When you say nine hundred years old, are you just being facetious?”

“No, mom was nine hundred thirty seven years old,” Kira said seriously.

“You forgot to mention your half kitsune and your mom was full blooded,” Stiles prompted.

“Oh, yeah! Mom was a full blooded celestial kitsune, she could do things like astral projection. I'm a half thunder kitsune, I control electricity. Kitsune are also super fast, faster than a werewolf. We have increased strength, too, but we're not as strong as even a beta wolf.”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Stiles said excitedly, with big puppy eyes. “You control electricity!”

“You are not turning Kira into your personal battery, Stiles,” Melissa snapped.

“But…”

“No, Stiles.”

“Fine,” he huffed, crossing his arms.

“I might be willing to work something out,” Kira whispered. Stiles gave her a high five.

“Doesn't the magic interfere?” Neville asked.

“We have a room set up with a dampener so electronics will work. It also works a treat when an emotional wolf is throwing around accidental magic,” Harry explained.

“I was using a generator, ‘cause this place is completely off the grid. But fuel is gonna become an issue, even though we have plenty for now.”

“About that,” Daryl started. “You said them trunks was unlimited and preserves stuff, righ’? You have any extra?”

“I have a dozen still unused,” Harry assured. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well, fuel is only good about three or four months, six if yer lucky. All that fuel in them silos in the refineries is just gonna sit in ‘em and go bad. Any way you could move it into some of them trunks?”

“Why didn't I think of that?” Stiles groaned.

Michonne sat by herself, observing everyone. She was not willing to speak about herself or give any of her own opinions. But, she thought, she might have found somewhere to stay.