Zombie

It had been 6 months since Harry started his Eighth Year at Hogwarts. A year since Voldemort’s defeat. Eight months since he and Ginny got back together. Two since he finally accepted that He wasn’t coming back.

Every student who survived the battle was obliged to go for at least three therapy sessions. Surprisingly, the pureblood society had not protested much against this new law. Then again, they rarely protested against much now, after most of them had bet on the losing side of the war. 

So there Harry was, after many pointed looks received from his very scary girlfriend, sitting on a squishy chair in the Room of Requirement across a lady whose looks reminded him a little too much of a certain old Divination teacher who had made it into the top five of Hermione’s People who would have a Better Career Sitting at Home and Doing Nothing list.

“So Harry, tell me, how have you been? Any nightmares lately about You Know Who or the war?” She asked. “Erm yes, I suppose.” He replied. “Interesting. Why do you think that is?” She asked. “Well, I was almost killed on multiple occasions by both.” He said dryly. 

It was a miracle Hermione hadn’t demanded McGonagall change the therapist. No wonder Ron made her take a Calming Draught before each session. He could visualise her turning red with each vague question Ms Smith asked.

“Have you been practising the calming exercises the school recommended for everyone?” She asked. “Not really. But practically no one does, and I have other stuff to do.” He said. “Interesting.” She scribbled more words in her notebook. 

“I heard you’ve been donating some money to the children who lost their parents in the war.” She said. “They remind me of myself, because I was once in that situation. I think it’s important that the homes have enough funds to keep the orphanages running.” He said.

If she says interesting one more time…

“Harry!” Ron burst into the room as Harry inwardly let out a sigh of relief. “You need to see this.” He said urgently. 

They walked briskly to the Great Hall as Harry tried to calm down and reassure himself that Voldemort was not going to be in the hall.

“So me and Hermione were eating lunch and talking about the new DADA Professor, then all of a sudden the lights gave out then BAM! Some loud noise shocked everyone. The lights switched back on and just when I was trying to stop Hermione from cursing whoever scared the hell out of everyone, we noticed a group of people right in the middle of the hall!” Ron said excitedly. 

Harry looked at him in confusion. “They appeared? Just like that? I thought no one could get through the wards.” Harry said anxiously. Ron snapped his fingers. “Cue Hermione who yelled at them, asking them how they managed to break into Hogwarts without wands.” 

Harry felt his anxiety level increase tenfold. “No wands?” He asked in disbelief. Ron nodded. “Of course, no one had noticed that yet except for Hermione, because she’s Hermione. Makes everyone even more confused. Everyone starts to relax and lower their wands when one of the guys starts going crazy, yelling at us.” 

“What did he say?” Harry asked. “Asked if we were bitten. That’s the only thing they’ve been saying so far. McGonagall tried to calm them down to move them away but they wouldn’t budge.” He explained. They reached the entrance of the hall and froze at the scene before them.

McGonagall, Hermione, Ginny, the other DADA members and to his surprise, Draco Malfoy was standing in front of what looked like half the school and waving their wands at the group of people before them. They were all dirty, their skin covered in mud and what Harry hoped was not dried blood. Their clothes were in a similar state. 

The eldest one looked his age and the youngest at least sixteen. Each boy carried a weapon definitely painted in blood as they huddled closer, glaring at everyone. 

“This is the last time I’m asking. Fail to answer, and we will not hesitate to spill blood.” The eldest said coldly. “Please fail to answer.” One of them muttered. “I don’t understand your question.” Hermione said, sounding frustrated. 

They raised their weapons menacingly and stepped forward before someone stopped them. “Enough! Stop this now!” A voice demanded. 

They reluctantly lowered their weapons and parted until a boy on the floor was visible, barely conscious as a girl crouched down glared at everyone, including her companions. 

“You are not helping Sebastian by waving your clubs like idiots.” They flinched as she stood up and walked past them, stopping in front of McGonagall. “Has anyone in this building been bitten by anyone?” She asked. 

McGonagall stared at her in confusion. “No. Why would anyone bite a person?” Hermione asked in bewilderment. The group of teenagers visibly relaxed slightly, if their tensed shoulders and sighs of relief were any sign. 

Sebastian groaned in pain as their attention went back to him. “Bast? You have to stay awake. Come on, man.” The girl whimpered as her friends tried to shake him in an attempt to keep him conscious. 

“I can help. I have experience in internal and external wounds.” Hermione said. “That isn’t going to help him.” One of the boys told them regretfully. 

“Just let her try.” The girl said, staring at Sebastian with a sorrowful expression that quickly turned blank as she turned to them. “Come here. But I’ll have to check you.” She said. 

“I’ll go too.” Malfoy announced. Everyone stared at him in utter confusion. “I have medical experience.” He shrugged. Hermione nodded and tucked her wand into her pocket, slowly going towards them as Malfoy did the same. 

The boys gripped their weapons but did not raise them. Ron and Harry stood next to McGonagall and held their wands tightly as Ginny put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Cover us with something. You can do that since you’re a witch, I assume. I’ll check you and Jacob will check him.” She told Hermione. She nodded and quickly conjured a curtain around them, blocking everyone’s view. The tension rose quickly until the curtains disappeared. 

“They’re clean.” She announced and looked to Jacob who nodded in agreement. They went up to Sebastian and examined his arm. “Why did you tie him up and gag him?” Hermione asked. 

They said nothing as Malfoy gave her a look. “To protect them from whatever’s happening to him and probably us too, so don’t get any ideas, Granger.” He warned. 

“This looks like some sort of infection that spread from the wound on his arm.” Hermione concluded. “That we know. Any idea how to stop it?” One of them asked grimly. “No. I’ve never seen anything like this.” Malfoy muttered, examining the wound. “Me neither.” Hermione admitted. 

“Do you have a freezer?” The girl asked. Malfoy looked at her strangely as McGonagall interjected. “No, but we have spells that can make a room colder than one.” The girl stood up. “Show me.” 

McGonagall levitated the body and left with the girl and whom Harry assumed was the leader of the group as everyone stared at each other, unsure of what to do. 

“What’s wrong with him?” Malfoy asked bluntly. Ron nearly smacked his forehead as the eldest boy gave him a look before sighing. “You really have no idea, do you?” He said a little sympathetically. “About what?” Harry asked defensively. “About anything.” He answered. Harry scoffed. 

“Did you know that there are alternate dimensions?” He asked, as if to prove a point. Silence filled the hall. “That was Gamps’ theory. That multiple worlds existed. He died before he could ever prove it was right though.” Hermione offered.

“Well, that Gamp fella was right. There are two. Gaia which is your world, and Terra which is ours. We had wizards and witches too.” He said. 

“Had? What happened to them?” Hermione asked curiously. “Dead. And good riddance, I say. They created this stupid mess, and tried to back out from their responsibility.” One of them growled. “What happened?” Harry asked. 

“Gellert Grindelwald happened. Tried to convince everyone that he found a way to be immortal. None of us normies believed it, of course. But those damned leaders were persuaded by magical scientists. They couldn’t resist. They were the first to be infected. The wizards tried to hide their mistake and claimed that they never entered the magical world. Everyone was panicking, scrambling to find the missing ministers. Then one day, the US President was sighted in London. Bunch of people gathered, trying to catch sight of him. Bad idea. The man lunged at the closest civilian and started munching on his flesh like a starved man would on rice.” He paused as his friends looked down, holding their silence. 

“London was Ground Zero. We’ve only heard stories about that place. No one crawled outta that death pit alive.” He said quietly.

“By the time everyone realised that something was wrong, the wizarding society told us to wait for them to find a cure. Then we found out that they had been trying to transport their people here, to Gaia, because one of the creators of the virus was from here. Some guy called Voldemort.” He said. 

The students stared at them in horror as he looked around, realising there was something wrong. “Y’all know him?” He asked tightly. “Unfortunately. But he’s dead.” Harry replied stiffly. The boy snorted. “What a shame.”

“You haven’t answered my question. What’s wrong with him?” Malfoy demanded. 

“Honestly? We’re not entirely sure. We call them Teethers. You get bitten or scratched by a Normie Teether, you’re infected in 24 hours. Now, the same thing happens with a Magical Teether, you’re infected in 5.” The boy chuckled darkly. “There was a riot after that stunt the magical world pulled. In the US and some other countries, they started witch hunting again.” He added. 

“Canada too. We call them Hunters.” A boy piped up. The younger students flinched. “But we don’t pull that shit. It wasn’t just their fault. The leaders fucked up too. There were rumours that Russia’s President sent a few scientists to help create the virus.”

“Once someone is mostly infected, their heartbeat slows, inducing a coma-like state for an hour. During this period, the virus spreads to the brain and slowly takes over it. The person becomes a host. Once they wake up, the infection controls everything and does what it’s best at. Spreading the virus. Feeding on other organisms. They’re like zombies, basically.” Another boy explained, pushing his glasses up. 

“Was your friend bitten by a Normie Teether?” Malfoy asked. The boy hesitated, staring sadly at the door where McGonagall, the girl and the boy had exited.

More silence ensued.

“How do you stop an infection? Cut off the area?” Hermione asked. 

The boy stared at her strangely. “What? No! This isn’t some kind of third-rate movie. There is no stopping an infection. But one can hope to slow it down by lowering one’s temperature to below negative 10 degrees. The virus will go into a dormant state of sorts, giving the infected a week before he or she succumbs.” He answered.

“So what happens to your friend after a week?” Neville asked nervously. Grim silence followed as no one answered him.

“Let’s go.” The leader told his group, entering the hall with McGonagall. “Where’s Bella?” One of the boys asked.

“In the room Professor McGonagall provided her with, making sure Sebastian’s comfortable. I’ve settled the arrangement with the Professor. We’ll stay here at Hogwarts for the time being. Meanwhile, we’ll be sent out to… deal with anything that comes through any more portals. The portal we went through was one of many. And since magic doesn’t work against Magical Teethers, we are to assume that the wizarding world is completely unprepared for the new threat, especially since they just went through a war.” He spoke swiftly as if the students weren’t there. 

“We will be separated into four dormitories according to their… Hat. That was another one of her conditions.” He said grimly. There were calls of protest from the group, then the male students upon the realisation that a bunch of scary strangers would be sleeping in the same room as them.

“No way. We haven’t been separated since this thing started. Besides, it is not logical to stay away from each other too long. You’re going to let Bella be alone, especially after Sebastian?” The glasses boy objected. 

“Bella can handle herself and it’s time you all learn that. She isn’t the same girl she was three years ago.” He said firmly. They muttered unhappily, but did not argue with him. 

“It’s settled.” McGonagall clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Before dinner, everyone will turn up to see to their Sorting. Run along and go back to your classes. Lunchtime is over.” She dismissed everyone. 

“You can shower in the Prefects bathroom for now. I will convey the message to Ms Isabella since I’m going to see her now, Mr Ethan.” McGonagall said. 

The crowd dispersed, leaving McGonagall and the Golden Trio and Ethan. She turned to them with a tired expression on her face. “You four are coming with me to explain the situation to Minister Shacklebolt.”