Title: A Step to the Left - Part 1/?
Fandom: The Walking Dead/Harry Potter
Pairings/Characters: Rick Grimes/Daryl Dixon, (Past) Rick Grimes/Lori Grimes, Lori Grimes/Shane Walsh, Rick Grimes & Harry Potter, Daryl Dixon & Harry Potter, Harry Potter & Carl Grimes, Merle Dixon & Harry Potter, TWD Ensemble Cast
Rating: PG (for now)
Spoilers: Set before and during season 1-? For TWD. Set pre-canon for HP with elements of future canon blended in.
Warnings: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Zombie Apocalypse, Families of Choice, Lori Bashing, Shane Bashing, Violence, Language, Explicit Sexual Content (of the Slashy Variety), Crossover, Dursley Bashing, Abusive Dursley Family, Protective Rick, Protective Daryl, Protective Merle, Magic

Summary: What if one small change made a world of difference? What if a young Harry Potter was in the hospital with Rick and could talk to him in his coma? What if Rick becomes a father to one more little boy during a zombie apocalypse? What if that starts the group on a completely different path that leads them to safety, family, love and a better future for all?

They say that when someone is in a coma that they can hear what you say to them... that it helps them to know that they're not alone. Rick used to think that was bullshit, that people in comas we're basically dead to the world until they (if they ever?) woke up once again. But, as it turns out Rick didn't know much of anything about comas until he was actually in one.

At first it's all a jumble of emotions and images. He remembers a lot of panic, blood, loud noises, pain, tears and screams. He remembers white walls and bright lamps overhead; he remembers Lori crying and Carl quietly sitting by the bed holding Rick's hand, he remembers Shane's jokingly whispered words of him trying to get everyone's attention once again, resentment lacing through his words in a way that Rick had never heard before. This went on for quite a while, everything blending together and then fuzzing out for long periods of time... until one day everything changed.

"Harry, dear, Mr. Grimes, is in a coma so he just sleeps all day, so he won't mind you staying in here with him. You're going to be stay here with Mr. Grimes, since all of the rooms are so filled up with patients with this new flu going around. Once this all blows over we'll get you your own room again." Said a woman's voice, soft and quiet, but with an underlying wobble to it that told Rick she was worried about something.

"Do you know what a coma is honey?"

It was quiet for a long while, and then a small, timid voice said, "It's when someone sleeps so deep that they don't wake up for a long, long time, Mrs. Janey."

The voice had a thick, rolling accent to it that reminded Rick of the year he spent in London after college. It was soft and rich, a slight squeak to it from Harry probably being nervous, and so shy that Rick felt his heart break a little at the probable reason behind the timidness.

"That's about right, Harry. So, because Mr. Grimes is in a coma, he's just going to lay there and not talk, but I imagine he wouldn't mind if you talked to him. Probably pretty bored just sleeping there all day, every day with no one to keep him company."

Rick would snort if he could... that was quite an understatement. Sometimes he felt like he was loosing his mind, unable to move or talk or even open his eyes... He didn't know how long he'd been there, but it felt like forever some days.

"I don't mind keeping him company," Harry whispered shyly, his voice getting a little louder as he no doubt came closer to Rick's bed.

Rick could here some rippling of fabric, air passing over sheets and moving furniture along the tiled floor. The nurse was probably getting another bed ready for Harry to take over. He wondered what kind of flu would cause so much trouble that they would stick a young kid who seemed fairly healthy in a room with a comatose man?

"Hullo, Mr. Grimes... My name's Harry Potter. It's nice to meet you."

Rick felt a hand touch his, small and surprisingly roughened with calluses for someone so young.

'Nice to meet you too, Harry.'

There was a gasp and then Harry squeaked, "I thought you said he wouldn't talk?"

"Honey, he can't he's in a coma, remember? You're probably just hearing someone talking from another room." The nurse said with a slight chuckled, her shoes squeaking as she walked away. "Okay, dear, I have to take care of the other patients, but I come back soon."

"But, I heard him... he said my name!" Harry exclaimed, but the door was already closed with a soft thump.

'Can you hear me, Harry?'

"Of course, I can, you're talking to me." Harry whispered as he jumped up on the bed.

Rick felt tiny little hands patting his cheeks and raising up his eye lids, he saw a brief flash of a cute little boy with bright green eyes and wild black hair before his lids were closed once again.

'I'm not talking with my mouth, Harry... you're hearing my thoughts.'

Another gasp. "Uncle told me not to do anything freakish while I was here, oh no he's gonna' be so mad."

'What do you mean "freakish", Harry?'

Rick felt the bed dip and the brush of breath on his ear as Harry whispered to him. "I just... I've always been different and things happen around me that I can't explain like talking to animals or making my hair grow really fast or my broken bones being better when I wake up in the morning. Once my cousin Dudley was chasing me with his friends, they were throwing rocks at me and were gonna' hurt me more because I was a freak... and I was hurt already, so I wished really really hard that I was somewhere else and then the next second I was on the roof of the school." Harry whispered into Rick's ear, his secret shame of being a "freak".

Rick's mind was running a mile a minute at hearing those words, he'd seen a lot of strange things in his life, especially that year he's lived in London... but this? This was different... But it wasn't "freakish".

'Harry, you listen to me... You're not a freak, you're just different that's all, you hear me?'

Rick could barely understand the concept of what Harry could do, but one thing that wasn't a mystery was that Harry's uncle and cousin seemed to consider him a freak, and Rick wouldn't stand for that. Letting a little boy like Harry feel weird and unloved because he was different, that just wasn't acceptable in his book.

"But, Uncle said I'm a freak just like me parents were and that all the freaks like me need to be put down-"

'Harry, I've never met your uncle, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say he doesn't like a lot of things, right? He's mean to anybody and everybody who's different than him?'

There was a giggle. "He's got something to say about everybody. He doesn't like freaks like me, he doesn't like anybody who isn't Christian, he doesn't like "fags" whatever those are, he doesn't like "overly cheery wankers" like our next door neighbor, he doesn't like-"

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Rick found himself laughing, at least in his mind.

'Okay, okay, you've made my point!' Rick chuckled, 'You're uncle seems to have a problem with a lot of people, not just people who are special like you... So what does that say to you?'

It was quiet as Harry thought about Rick's question.

"...that Uncle isn't happy with anybody and that just 'cause I'm different doesn't mean that's bad like Uncle says it is?"

'You got it, Harry. Being different is good, the world would be boring if we were all the same. And, you being different gave me someone to talk to instead of talking in my head and nobody actually hearing it. I like that you're different, Harry.'

From one moment to the next Rick felt a weight on his body as two small arms wrapped around him. Harry hugged him him tight, Rick felt a small tremble and a sniffle.

"Thank you, Mr. Grimes."

'My name's Rick, kid... Calling me Mr. Grimes makes me feel old.'

Rick heard another tinkling giggle and if he could have, he would have smiled.

For the next few weeks, things began to get worse, but Rick was sure that whatever he heard about from the confines of his bed and from Harry was just the tip of the iceberg. The flu that the nurse had talked about that first day had quickly proved itself to be nothing like the flu as people started dying from an unknown infection and then rising from the dead with an unquenchable hunger for flesh. It was a plot from a horror novel, but as the epidemic seemed to get worse Rick couldn't help but realize that it was all to real.

The problem seemed to be localized as of right now, in bigger cities, but Rick knew it was only so long before it began spilling out into smaller places like King County.

One bright spot in the horror of the outside world and Rick's own coma was Harry and Carl. Harry seemed to be getting better. It had taken a while, but Rick finally got Harry to tell him the reason why he'd been in the hospital in the first place. It seems that Harry's uncle had beat him horribly and then blamed it on a made up burglar who had broke into their hotel room while on vacation in Georgia. Harry had recovered fairly quickly, no doubt because of whatever abilities he had, but the doctor's were stumped by some odd medical readings and kept him in the hospital to observe him and do more tests. Harry said they were talking about his weird results test and that he was a "medical miracle", but Harry didn't know any more.

Lori brought Carl into see him every few days, staying for a while to refresh the flowers by his bed and listen as Carl talked about his day. Carl and Harry seemed to get on like two peas in a pod, laughing and giggling like the two young innocent boys they were and it brought a lightness to Rick's heart.

On the other hand, Lori seemed to be fairly distant to Rick, not talking or touching him and as the days wore on Rick became unwillingly privy to the fact that Lori and Shane had begun to sleep together. On a day when Lori brought Carl to see him and Shane came with them, Lori had sent Carl and Harry off to the vending machine down the hall to get a treat... well, Shane spilled the beans right quick then proceeded to feel up Rick's wife as Rick laid beside them unable to do or say anything.

"Sure was nice of you to let me stay the nice last night, Lori... felt good to hold you in my arms, to touch you sweet body." Shane murmured, his voice muffled.

Lori giggled and Rick heard a faint slap of skin on skin. "Get away with you Shane Walsh, what if Carl comes in and sees you doing that. I still haven't figured out how to tell him about us. He's still holding out hope Rick'll wake up."

"It's been four weeks, Lori. He ain't wakin' up, we both know that. No sense in feeling bad about finding a little comfort and love with each other."

Try as he might, Rick couldn't do anything but listen as the two of them necked for the next five minutes in the chair beside his bed.

In his head, Rick knew that he might never wake up and Lori deserved to find someone else if that happened, but in his heart Rick couldn't help, but think that it had only been four weeks since Rick had been in the coma and his wife couldn't wait more than that for him to wake up?

"You talk to the divorce lawyer yet? I want to marry you, girl and you being married to ole Rick here just makes that impossible."

"Yeah, I signed the papers and it's just got to go through the process now." Lori sucked in a deep breath and hummed as Rick heard sucking noises... Shane had found her hotspot on her neck already?

"Mama, the nurse said we need to leave their locking down the hospital." Carl said quietly into the silent room a few minutes later.

"What do you mean, baby?"

"She said that something was happening, the barricades in Atlanta fell and it's spreading... Does she mean that virus that going around killing people and making them come back Mama, is it going to come here?"

Carl's voice was filled with fear, trembling as he spoke. Rick wanted to wake up and pull him in his arms, but no matter how much he willed it, nothing happened.

"Oh god, Shane... what are we going to do?"

"It's not here yet, Lori. We gotta' get ready. Go to the store and get as much food and supplies as you can get to wait this thing out. I'm gonna' go raid the sheriff's office and get some firepower. I'll meet you at the house."

Rick heard them scrambling to get their things and then his boy yelled, "Mama, what about Daddy and Harry? Are they gonna' be safe?"

"Son, you're daddy can't leave right now even if we could take him and Harry's got people to take care of him. Now come on, we have to go!" Lori said harshly.

"But, I don't want to leave them, they have to come with us. What if those things come here and we aren't here to protect them? We can't leave them!"

"Forget it Lori, we can't take them. They'll slow us down and who knows if the delay will keep us from getting safe. We need to go. I'll grab Carl." Shane groused roughly and then Rick heard Carl yelling and thumping of hits against Shane as Carl fought back. It got eerily quiet after that.

'Harry?'

'HARRY?'

"I'm here, the nurse gave me some food since she doesn't know if the cafeteria will be sending up full meals tonight." Harry said quickly, his breath coming out in pants as Rick heard his shoes squeak as he ran into the room.

'Harry, until this situation gets better I don't want you wandering the halls, okay? It's not safe.'

"Okay, I don't mind staying with you in here... I like talking to you." Harry said happily enough.

A little while later a nurse came in to tell Harry that she had called his family to come pick him up, but that they weren't able to come right then... The way she said it, with anger in her voice, let Rick knew that more than likely Harry's family had abandoned him in favor of saving themselves. It was better that way anyways, at least here Rick knew that the nurses could help to take care of him and Rick could at least help to keep him company.

Over the next few days the hospital became more and more tense as news of the infection seemed to get worse and new cases came closer and closer to their door. People began dying locally and coming back to life to attack more people and start the process over again. Food became scare and the power was on rolling blackouts as society as a whole seemed to be falling apart.

One day Rick came back from whatever "sleep" cycle he had while in a coma to the sounds of gunshots and screaming in the hospital.

'Harry? HARRY?'

"I'm here, what going on? Are those things here? Are we going to die?"

'No, we're going to be fine. I want you to lock the room's door, put you bed in front of it and anything else heavy, like dressers and chairs. Can you do that, baby?'

"Yeah, but I'm scared. Uncle said that I'm just a nancy-boy too afraid of his own shadow, that he's glad I'm not his son because he'd be ashamed to have people know he'd had a frightened little poofer like me as a son."

'We talked about how you're uncle is a horrible man who's unhappy with his own life, you forget those things he said to you. It's going to be alright, okay. Just do it quickly, you can do it, you're a brave boy... I'd be proud to call you my son. Never seen a braver boy in my life, you put up with so much and you keep on being a good person who cares about other people, even when my own wife and best friend didn't try to save me.'

As Harry turned the lock and shoved things in front of the door, the sounds got louder and louder. Something slammed against the door from the hall and Rick could hear growls and moans, wet slick noises of something being chewed that made Rick want to heave.

'Harry, I want you to hide in the bathroom and lock the door, no matter what happens I want you to stay in there until someone comes to get you. You need to be quiet, as quiet as you can be. Okay?'

"But what about you?" Harry whispered. "I can't leave you."

'Harry you can't protect me right now, I know you want to, but I'm too big for you to move, so you have to protect yourself right now. Go on, get in the bathroom, lock the door and stay really quiet.'

"No, I'm not leaving you, you need to wake up, NOW!" Harry whispered, packing a powerful punch of something in his voice as he spoke the last word.

From one moment to the next, Rick woke up and drew in a deep breath, sitting up quickly and gasping as energy coursed through his body. He felt the energy spike from his toes to his head and back again, and Rick was stunned by the sheer force of energy that had him almost robotically getting out of bed and walking to the dresser wardrobe next to his bed and grabbing his gear stored there. His uniform, shoes & socks, Colt Python and his holster... just waiting for him to protect Harry like he should. Rick pushed Harry into the bathroom, following him he locked the door and put his hand up to his lips to let the boy know to be quiet.

More noises could be heard from out in the hall, the screams and gunshots were dying down, but a low roar of a high number of people running through the halls could be heard, things slamming into the walls and the doors as the things, whatever they were, rushed by on the hunt for their next meal.

Rick quickly dressed and put on his gun, waiting to hear if the furniture in front of the hospital room door was enough to keep those things out. Feeling arms wrap around his waist, Rick looked down and saw Harry pressed into his side, his face hidden in the wrinkles of Rick's shirt, a wet patch going as he cried. Rick sat down on the toilet and pulled Harry into his arms, wrapping himself protectively around the boy as they waited.

It seemed like a long time before the hospital around them went quiet. Rick tried to decide if they should stay in the room and hide until the cavalry came or leave to find a safer place, but what if it no one came? What if this was it, the end of the world... or at least of civilization as they knew it?

After a while, Rick decided hiding in a bathroom wouldn't keep them safe for very long and they couldn't wait for some fabled white knights to come save them (the military were probably too busy to even contemplate going door to door). So, Rick picked up Harry and set him on his feet before kneeling in from of the boy.

"Harry, we've got to get out of here. I know you're scared, but we don't have any food and who knows how long the door will stand up to those things. Can you be my brave little boy for a bit longer?" Rick smiled and cupped Harry's wet cheek in his large palm.

Harry wiped away his tears, took one deep sniff and then nodded his head.

Just as Rick was about to stand up he thought of something and then turned back to Harry.

"You know, I was thinking... if you'd like, maybe I could be your father. I already love you like my own boy and you and Carl seem to be thick as thieves. I'd be a real good dad, just ask Carl and you'd be Carl's brother too. Would that be alright?"

Harry gave Rick the most blinding smile and jumped back into his arms, whispering "yes" over and over.

Grinning, Rick held Harry tight and just for a little while allowed the simple act of hugging his son to be the only thing that mattered.