DISCLAIMER: I do not claim any rights on Harry Potter or The Walking Dead... this goes for any other chapter on this story.

A/N:

In the beginning of January, I wanted to write something challenging, something that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I wanted to write a shorter story (around 50K word count) that hasn't been done yet on the FF HP/TWD Crossover…. not that I've found any actually…. and than I got his one great idea. I wrote it down, wrote more notes to see where I was going with it and then I was hooked and in the end, I just had to get this story properly written down to get it out of my system… and I came up with this story. I love it and I hope you enjoy it too

The pairing of the story is my personal challenge, since I haven't read anything like this on FF.

To make it clear for everyone. This is a Daryl/Hermione FF and the focus of the story will be entire on them, with a little side notes on the other characters.

If you don't like the idea of the pairing or are strictly against it, then you should probably leave and find another story. I won't change anything and the story has been finished, which will allow me to update twice a week, until it's completed.

A great thanks goes to uoduck, who beta reads this story. Thank you so much!

On a side note:

Italic writing = story takes place in the past

normal writing = story takes place in the present

For those of you, who like to find out with what I came up with… I hope you enjoy it and have a good time :)

Chapter 1

It was not the first time that Daryl lay awake and marveled at how things at turned out. How his life had changed in the last years.

Dead people had begun to rise, killing countless living people everywhere and turning them to walkers, that is, if they weren't completely devoured or their head wasn't damaged too much. On top of that, everyone was infected and would turn to another walker once they died, as long as the brain wasn't damaged. Simply put, the world had turned to shit and yet, among this chaos and destruction, he had found the one who had made him feel things he had never thought were possible.

The one person who had become the center of his life.

Daryl couldn't keep his eyes away from her, as she slept next to him. It had taken him awhile to make himself believe that everything hadn't been just a dream, from which he never wanted to wake up. Sometimes, he needed to assure himself that she was here, with him, together, and that she loved him as well. The thought always sent his heart beat heavily in his chest.

He often felt that he wasn't worthy of her. That she could have had anyone she wanted, but she had chosen him and given him so much in return. Things he had never dared to wish for or dream about.

It made him love her even more.

The moment she had appeared in his life, he should have known that nothing would have been the same ever again.

Daryl led the small group through the woods. He would have preferred to do it alone, but seeing how Carol and the others looked worried for Sophia and their need to help, he let them come with him. Not one of them knew their way around the woods and going on their own would only get them lost or killed.

A sudden noise, a branch breaking and rustling leaves, pulled him out of his musing and made him raise his crossbow in that direction. Carol, Glenn, Lori, and Andrea, who were part of their search group quickly went silent and held their weapons ready.

Daryl half expected to see a walker coming from that way, but was completely taken aback, when he saw a little group come into view. Three adults, three children with Sophia in tow, who held the hand of a woman with wild curly hair.

"Sophia," Carol breathed in relief. "Sophia!" Carol called and rushed towards her daughter, who also ran to her mother's arms.

Daryl was glad that the girl had been found by the new group, but he still kept his guard up around them. He kept an eye on the new people, who had way too many kids with them. A teenage boy, around the age of Carl, and two toddlers. One looked like a carbon copy of his dad, all blond and pale as paper, and the last kid was completely dark colored and looked absolutely nothing like anyone from that group.

"They found me," Sophia explained, getting the attention of the others away from the new group. "Yesterday, when I ran… I-I took the wrong turn and-and there were walkers, but then I found them, well, they found me and Mr. Harry killed them quickly. They took care of me and promised me to get me back to you."

"Thank you!" Carol said in a teary voice. "Thank you so much! She- She's all I've left."

The new group smiled a little and the woman, the only one in the group, spoke up first and said in a calm and accented voice, "We're glad that we could help you and return your daughter safely back to you."

"Who're ya guys?" Daryl spoke as he slowly lowered his weapon, while his eyes drifted to each one of the new people, even though his eyes kept drifting towards the woman, more than he should be. He couldn't see any weapons on them, which didn't mean they hadn't any with them.

"Oh, of course. Well, this is Harry, and our godson Teddy," she said and pointed at the black haired man with the glasses and then at the teenager, who had dark brown hair.

"This one is Draco and his son Scorpius," she continued and pointed at the blond father who carried an equally blond child.

"This here, is Andre," she pointed at the dark colored boy, who looked around the same age as the blond kid. Maybe three or less.

"And I'm Hermione. It's nice to meet you."

Hermione and the others had explained from where they had come from, which had been the direction they had been heading for; Fort Benning, the U.S. Army Base. It had been overrun by the undead a few days ago and had barely made it out. On their way out, they had found Andre all alone and almost killed by walkers. Without much thought, they had taken the kid with them, when they noticed that his parents were nowhere to be found. No one would have thought that this kid was actually Michonne's son, whom she believed had died back at the refugee side of the military base. Daryl didn't even want to imagine how she must have had felt all this time, thinking her son was dead, while she was away to get supplies.

After Hermione had introduced their group to the others, Lori took it upon herself to present their own group to them, but things had turned down after they had heard the shot. Everyone had been tense, Scorpius and Andre instantly scared, but everything became quiet and the kids had calmed down. They had tried to find the Rick, Shane and Carl, and when they came out empty handed, Daryl had decided to head back. He was just about to offer the new group to come with them to the highway, when Maggie had shown up on a horse to inform them about Carl being shot down.

Lori had quickly went with Maggie, but then Hermione told them that she was a doctor and could help. Daryl hadn't understood back then, why she would help strangers like that, get involved or risk separating from her own group. Draco and Harry had looked worriedly at the thought of Hermione gone from their side, but she simply assured them that she would be fine.

Daryl had seen there that she was someone special, someone brave and strong and since Hermione couldn't ride with them on the horse as well, he had quickly offered to get Hermione there on his bike, which she had accepted without hesitation. Together they had run back to the highway, got on his bike and took off, with only a few words to Dale and T-Dog.

Hermione, as promised, had helped save Carl's life with Hershel. Only later did everyone find out that she had used her magic to keep Carl stable, until Shane returned with Otis from their supply run. In the meantime, they had used the limited non-magical medical supplies she had with herself in the backbag.

Both groups stayed at the farm after that. Not only did they need to get Carl back on feet, but also figure out a way where to go next, since they knew that Fort Benning was out of question.

He smiled a little at the memory during their stay at the farm. It had given them the opportunity to get to know each other, even it was somewhat odd for him at first.

Daryl sat on the ground and carved arrows, since he was running short on them. He was also pissed at Shane, who just couldn't seem to keep his fucking mouth shut. Making fun of him and Hermione, telling him that she must have been desperate to get laid to be in his presence all the time. Thinking about it made him get more and more worked up.

Since Shane's return from getting the medical supply, in were Ortis had died, Shane had become a righteous dick to most of the people. Hell, at some point, he even had tried to make a move on Hermione, which Daryl had seen. It had made him furious, he had almost gone over and put the jackass in his place, but then he had seen how Hermione had given him a piece of her mind and threatened to remove his balls, if he ever came near her again. Damn, had he been relieved seeing Hermione putting Shane in place. Daryl had snickered at look on Shane's face, as did T-Dog who had stood close as well.

Daryl had known Hermione only for over a week, but during that time they had spent quite some time together. Talked about random things, about plants, woods, animals, things on his opinion on how to survive in the woods. At first, he had thought she was just being nice to him, wanting to be friendly, since she talked with many people around at the farm, but she came more to him, he had noticed that.

Now, she sat before him, talking about another plant, like she was reading from a freaking encyclopedia. He actually liked it, not that he would have ever admitted that to her. Hearing her talk soothed him and he liked that she knew so much, but today, after the encounter with fucking Shane, he was rilled up.

"Why are you talkin' to me all the time?" Daryl instantly regretted his choice of words and the tone he spoke with. He cursed under his breath when she stood up to her full height, which would have barely reached his shoulders, if he was standing. She looked fiercely at him and said, "Because I value your opinion and enjoy your company. From what I have seen, you are the only one who would know where I could find these herbs and plants, know if they were in a good condition or not, especially, with the more delicate plants, is it difficult to deceiver if they are ready to be harvested. But if you are too busy chopping of some woods, and my company aggravate's you this much, I won't bother you again and will seek help elsewhere."

She was about to turn around, when he put the wood to the side and jumped to his feet.

"Wait," Daryl called calmly. Hermione stopped and turned around to look back at him. She looked guarded and he could clearly see that he had hurt her, which made him feel deeply guilty about it. She had been nothing but friendly to him and taken him serious, which hadn't been most people.

"I'm sorry," he finally said and after a moment, Hermione nodded. Both stood silent, clearly not knowing what to do, when he spoke, "I think I know where you can find the type of Burning Bush you were looking for."

It was a peace offering. Hermione had looked at him, still with her wary look and after a moment had nodded in return, to which he surprisingly, sighed in relief.

Daryl hadn't known then and there, how much things would begin to change for him. Both had begun to spend even more time together, going through the woods, searching for various plants and even wood pieces, for some old herbal based medicine, which hadn't been exactly a lie at that time. She did use them for healing potions that she would brew mostly with Draco.

Thinking of Draco, had him almost snorted out loud. He couldn't believe that he had actually been jealous at the blonde pompous jerk, not that he was a bad guy, just annoying. Especially, in the beginning. Thanks for Michonne, Draco had kept himself more in check and became more calmer. Daryl would have never thought that Michonne and Draco would actually become an item at some point, but in a weird way, they did fit together.

Daryl had actually asked Hermione, one day back at the farm, when they were making some potions, if she and Draco were together. The face she had made then, a mix between shock and disgust, was all he needed to know to get the answer even before she had denied such a 'ridiculous thing'. The relief he had felt then was unbelievable and made him for the first time wonder, what she meant to him.

He still remembered, how he had sat next to Dale, just days before he had died by a stray walker, and thought about Hermione, who had begun to become a permanent fixation of his mind.

Daryl sat next to the van, keeping watch around the field. Tonight, he would be with Dale and T-Dog, while Harry and Rick kept watch on the other side of the farm. For some reason, the two of them got along well, and it went unspoken that the new group joined them permanently. He liked the idea of it and if he was honest with himself, it was mostly because of Hermione.

This was another thing that he couldn't completely understand, the way he felt about the brown haired woman with her wild curls that became bushy the hotter the weather became. He had only known her for a few weeks and he didn't understand why he kept thinking of her. About the walks they had together in the woods, the things he explained to her and shared the knowledge of the nature and area.

He liked talking to her, the smiles she would give him at random things and moments. She even found him funny and laughed when he commented on something about Glenn and his boy panting crush on Hershel's daughter, Maggie. He could see it in Hermione's eyes that she was honest with him and didn't fake it. She even shared some things about her own group, their background and history together and even some personal things.

Daryl had been surprised at her honesty and asked her why she would tell him about the secrets of her people. She had looked at him, blushed deeply and had said that she trusted him. It had floored him and all he could do was nod in her direction, while avoiding her eyes at the same time.

Hermione made him feel things that he couldn't understand. All he knew was that he liked her company. She saw him somewhat as an equal to her, someone not beneath her and he had seen her with books thicker than his own arm. Anyone who could read something like that without getting bored or brain freeze, should be beneath her. She was probably the smartest person he knew and yet she never acted upon on it. Even when he flipped through one of her books, he had absently commented that there were no pictures in it and for a short moment, he had thought she would make fun of him. But all she did was smile at him, before pulling out another book with text and pictures and said that he could read it if he wanted to. It had been an encyclopedia on healing plants.

Daryl had simply nodded, unable to find his voice and took the book. After a little hesitation, he sat close to her and looked through the heavy book. He had barely paid attention to the pages and pictures he browsed, while he kept glancing at her, through his fallen hair over his face.

"You all right there, Daryl?" Dale's voice had pulled him out of his memory and he glanced back at the older man.

"S'all right," he spoke quickly and looked away.

He could hear Dale approaching him. "You look troubled. If you want to talk, I'm here."

Daryl glanced at the man and pondered at the thought and in the end, just shook his head and said, "I'm just thinkin'… About the new people."

Dale began to smile, which made Daryl tense up quickly, not that the older man noticed.

"Ah, I see," Dale said, still smiling. "It's about Hermione, isn't it."

Without thinking, Daryl quickly turned around and glared at the man, speaking in a warning tone, "What about her?"

Dale raised his hand in surrender, while the smile stayed on his face, "Nothing. She is just a nice young lady and I see that you both get along well."

Daryl narrowed his eyes and was about to ask what he meant by it, but the older man cut him off and said calmly, "It's just nice to see you both together. She is a kind person."

That was another thing that bothered him a little. He liked that Hermione was nice, but was also worried about it. Nice people get hurt in the end… and the thought of her getting hurt, unnerved him.

Daryl shook his head and pushed those thoughts away, before he muttered to Dale, "We ain't together." He was sure that she would never see him that way. Maybe as a friend, but never as someone more. She was out of his league. Even with everything going to shit, he was not worthy of her.

"Who knows, maybe one day, Daryl," Dale said, patted him once on the shoulder and left before Daryl could say anything.

He had been so confused at that time, trying to sort of his growing feelings for Hermione. Even today, after 5 years, he still felt sometimes that he wasn't worthy of her and wonders what he truly did to make her fall in love with him.

Maybe it was when he, for the first time, defended her?

Daryl had enough of the bitchy attitude of Lori. He had ignored the bitch from the beginning, but not anymore. Thanks to the Randall situation, Hermione and the others had revealed the magic to the others. Only Rick and he had known about it, which did happen due to a horse accident Daryl had a few days ago. She had immediately pulled out her stick, which she had explained to him as a wand and healed him as best as she could without potions.

He knew it wasn't life threatening, even when she insists to check his injuries out and to be sure that he was ok, even if it meant revealing her magic to him. He had been surprised, when she explained that she was a witch and when she became nervous she timidly asked what he was thinking. And in all honestly, all he could think about was the damn Chupacraba. It was the first thing he said, by asking her if the damn creature was real.

Hermione had blinked several times and answered him in a confused voice that the creature existed. She wondered why he had asked her about it and Daryl simply had explained, while trying to stand up, that he had seen one a few years ago. She had been shocked and shot off one question of another, which he answered all of it.

It was the oddest conversation he had ever had. After they were safely out of the cliff side, Hermione had looked up at him worriedly, bitting her lower lip, which had immediately captured his attention. He had actually missed what she had said. Hermione had repeated the question again, asking him if he was okay with the magic stuff.

Daryl was in all honestly fine with it. The dead was walking after all, and if Hermione and the others wanted to hurt anyone, they could have done it by now.

Hermione's eyes shone with tears and for a moment, he thought he said something wrong, until she threw herself at him and hugged him tightly. He had surprised him greatly and took him a moment to respond and hug her back, while his heart raced wildly in his chest.

He couldn't remember when the last time was that someone had hugged him.

Afterwards, the two of them went to find Harry and told him what happened. Daryl had insisted that they should tell this to Rick, which they did and thankfully after a few questions about magic, it was all good.

But now, this high-nosed bitch was verbally attacking them, but mostly Hermione for whatever reason, which only pissed Daryl more off. Everyone had reacted fairly calm and surprised, and asked some weird questions, but no one reacted like Lori and Shane. The bastard was quickly handled by Rick, who told him to leave and cool off. But Lori, wouldn't simply shut up.

"If you were so powerful, why didn't you heal my son? Saved Dale? Huh?" Lori almost screeched, which made the little kid, Andre in Hermione's arm crying into her shoulder. Even Draco's kid was upset by the noise and with a quick look at Harry, walked out, the blond wizard walked out with his son in his arms.

"You stood there and let Dale die! Or aren't we worth it to be saved? I bet you were responsible for the walkers in the first place and-"

"Shut the hell up!" Daryl shouted and glared at Lori angrily, cutting her rant off. "Ya ain't known shit. She saved yer boy, you dumb bitch! I'm sick of your high-mighty attitude! All ya fucking do is bitch and order everyone like you're the fucking queen here!"

"How dare you-"

"I dare, woman! Don'cha think, I ain't seen the crap you pull around here. Gossipin' around, spreadin' bullshit about Hermione and the others, while doin' no shit for this group. I ain't playin' this fucking game no longer. So, shut your trap from now on!" Daryl told Lori angrily.

The whole room, in Hershel's house, went quiet at the display. Usually, Daryl would haven't had bothered whenever Lori had made herself important and let the group deal with the drama, but when she went for Hermione, he couldn't keep quiet any longer.

In the last days, he and Hermione had talked more about magic, what she could do with it and not. At some point, he asked if magic had been the cause of the walkers. He had been actually worried to have upset her, but she was calm about it and explained, that as far as she knew that this wasn't a magical cause. It affected magical people as well and that there was no spell or potion to detect the cause of it or stop it the transformation. Daryl hadn't asked any more about it. He believed her when she said that she didn't know about it.

"You let him talk to me like that, Rick?" Lori turned towards her husband and screeched further.

Rick glared at his wife and began to scold his wife for the way she had reacted. Daryl barely paid attention to the things they said as Hermione looked at him with a grateful smile, as her shoulder's sacked in relief.

"Let's get outta here," Daryl said, when Lori couldn't stop bitching to her husband and Harry, which would probably take a while before they could handle the Randall problem.

Daryl remembered the moment he had realized that he liked Hermione. It was a sudden realization, an instant feeling, like out of the blue that made it clear to him how much she was beginning to mean to him.

Most of the group had gathered together and to come up with a plan to see where they could settle for good, since Fort Benning was out of question, the days becoming colder and Lori end up pregnant.

"I say we stay here at the farm. It's safe and barely got any walkers around here," Shane suggested. "Lori and a few others can stay at the house, and the others in the barn. She will be safer there with the baby."

Rick nodded thoughtfully, while frowning a little, but Daryl didn't like the plan.

"Ain't a good idea," he said, getting the attention of the others.

"What the hell do you know, man," Shane instantly rebuffed with the roll of his eyes.

"Would you let him speak, Shane," Hermione quickly spoke up in an angry voice, which made Daryl glance at her through his fallen hair. Her eyes glared fiercely at Shane.

"Defending your boyfriend, I see. Cause you have something with him, ain't makin' him to a genius," Shane sniggered and Daryl could feel the heat rushing up to his face for being put in the spot light. He looked away for a moment before he glanced back at Hermione, and he could have sworn her hair sparked for a moment.

"Shane," Rick spoke in a warning voice, but Hermione cut him to it.

"You arrogant, self-centered, pompous arse!" she hissed the words angrily. "You don't know anything about him! He does not only possess the skill and knowledge to understand the wildness, but also to survive in them, what I can't say about you, Shane. I trust his judgment and I trust his instincts, and when he disagrees with your plan, I would like to hear his reasons for it."

Daryl had been completely speechless at that and even when she looked at him, all he could do was blink at her completely taken aback. He couldn't remember the last time someone had defended him or took his side. Only Merle had done so and that was because they were blood. Hermione's deep brown eyes bore into his and all he could think was that he liked her.

Hermione had been the first and only one who truly enjoyed spending time with him. Carol occasionally talked to him, as did a few other, but no one was like Hermione. She spent as much time with him as she could, had invited him over to where she had looked after the kids. Always smiling at him, laughing with him, biting her lip when she was nervous or deep in thought. She would make sure he had something to eat and offered to eat with her group, when he felt uncomfortable to stay with his own people, mostly due to Shane and Lori.

Hermione took the time to be with him and he is beginning to look forward to their moments together. Daryl knew right then and there that he truly liked Hermione. He was in deep though and unconsciously was looking at Hermione the whole time, until Rick got his attention and asked him what he had meant.

A/N: Did you enjoy it? What did you think so far?

If you are interested in my playlist to this story, I could add them at the end of the chapter. Here is what I heard for this one ... Blinding by Florence + The Machine