Walking Dead Wizard

Chapter 36

"Hold on," Harry muttered, completely blacking out the windows so nobody would notice the sudden light, then he used 'Lumos Maxima' and let it out of the tip of his wand to float around on the ceiling, casting light in every direction. "There that's better," he said, although the light hurt his eyes a little, he just wasn't used to the light anymore.

"Merlin," Hermione whispered, staring wide eyed, "I've not seen you so thin since before you started Hogwarts..." truly aghast at how thin Harry was, although he had quite a tan, something she hadn't seen before.

"Well food is scarce, and in a group it never stretches far, although our group is considerably much smaller now," Harry said, a hint of regret in his voice.

"What happened?" Hermione asked, praying Harry wasn't taking it upon himself to shoulder the blame.

"Rick issued an ultimatum," Harry stated, tensing.

"Did he find out about your magic?" Hermione queried a frown line on her forehead as she tried to work out what Harry meant.

"No," Harry snorted, "Daryl and Merle are still the only ones that know he tried to lay the blame for the fact he'd had to kill his best friend at the feet of the entire group. Then he went on to say it wasn't a democracy, that if we were to stay we had to follow his rules."

"But didn't you say he'd just woken from a coma? He was in no position to lead a group! It took you nearly a month to gather as much information about the walkers as you did." Hermione protested, "I hope nobody stayed with him! The chances of their survival are pretty slim!"

"Some did, the group split in half, literally," Harry informed her, "I think Rick will lead them just fine, I just couldn't stay anymore."

"I don't blame you; you've had enough of people trying to control your life!" Hermione stated indignantly. "I'm sure Dumbledore put you off ever..."

"I know," Harry interrupted her, not wishing for his past to be known anymore than it was. "This is Daryl Dixon," Harry said moving the mirror to the shy Dixon with a smirk on his lips.

"Hi, I never got to thank you for saving my best friend, so thank you, I know its not enough...but really, I am so thankful for you and your brother did," Hermione said without missing a beat.

"Ain't a problem," Daryl muttered, shrugging his shoulders slightly red in the face at the thanks he was receiving. His hair which was getting longer was slightly covering his face as well.

"What time is it over there?" Harry asked, turning it back on him.

"There is five hours time difference between Scotland and Atlanta Georgia," Hermione explained, "its six o'clock in the morning here, which makes it one o'clock in the morning over there."

"I know you were always an early riser but six?" Harry asked wryly.

"We have nothing better to do, all our focus is on finding a cure, and I sometimes take a class or two to get my mind off everything else so I can focus more. It's getting to everyone being stuck at Hogwarts but there are no complaints they know it's better than being on the outside." Hermione sighed softly, shaking her head. "You look hungry, do you want me to get you some strawberry tart?" she knew he couldn't say no to that, it had always been his favourite.

"Is there any food left from last night's dinner?" Harry questioned curiously, he wouldn't say no to a properly cooked meal.

"There's always left over food, admittedly due to the fact they have to watch what they are doing it's lessened quite a lot." Hermione informed them. The House-elves understood the gravity of the situation and were less enthusiastic when it came to preparing meals, she'd seen days were everything was completely polished off, while other days a small portion was the only thing left. "Is that what you both want?" they both heard Hermione thanking Kreacher off mirror, as a breakfast appeared in front of her but that was in front of the mirror much to Daryl's amusement and slight amazement. She disappeared for a few seconds before turning and speaking to them again.