Chapter 9 Where's Waldo?

Disclaimer: I don't know . . . I just don't ok.

Harry spent the next week finishing his exams and flooing them to the Ministry of Magical Education Long Distance Branch. And for once he felt good about his scores. The section on defense posed no trouble, Potions wasn't so difficult that he wasn't sure that he attained a passing grade. Charms, Transfiguration, and a dozen electives. He had chosen to take every exam offered by the Canadian government and now he was done with them. Harry cackled madly for several minutes and then froze in shock. "Looks like I've been spending too much time around Henchgirl," he muttered to himself. "Maybe it's time for me to expand my circle of friends to include people that don't think the laws of Physics aren't . . . how did she put it, 'silly little suggestions?'"

Elsewhere, a Jar of mayonnaise continued spoiling.

IIIIIIIIII

Hermione sighed as she started to leave the hospital. It was no use staying here, their only lead to Mr. Black and Harry Potter had just died. "This is getting annoying."

Outside, she met up with her companions, Remus, Tonks, and Luna. "He's dead. All he had was this letter on him."

Tonks grimaced, "You know, this happens every time we come close. It's too coincidental, I'd almost say that Mr. Black was trying to avoid us. What's in the letter?"

Luna looked at something off to the side dreamily, "Perhaps it is a message to the next location. Mr. Black always did like talking with you."

Remus shook his head as they walked off. "When did the three of you start thinking like that. Angels would kneel before your beauty. It's a coincidence, nothing more. After all, how many people have heart attacks like that? A Triple heart attack? It's pretty rare."

"Mr. Black though us how to do it." Hermione stated, causing Remus to look at her suddenly. "And it's the way the last five people we wanted to speak with died."

"Well, at least he died quickly and peacefully. He wouldn't have suffered much pain." Remus offered weakly, "and what five people are you talking about?"

"The ones we visited while you were having that time of the month," Luna replied. "And I still don't understand what the big deal about that is. The three of us suffer from something similar and none of us are as melancholy."

"Proving once again that women are stronger than men," Tonks added with a grin of triumph.

Remus decided not to comment on the Girl's insensitive and untrue statements. "So what's our next move?" But he'd be damned if he was going to allow them to continue.

"I still think that Hermione and I could do a spell to summon Harry," Luna said sullenly.

"I am not covering myself in whipped cream," Hermione began. "I am not covering you in chocolate sauce, I am not putting a cherry on top, and Tonks is not going to clean it up . . . especially not in the crude manner that you suggested."

"I still think it'd work," Luna pressed the matter. "Especially if we warded the room so that the only male that could join us would be Harry Potter."

"I'd summon me," Remus muttered.

"What was that?" Tonks asked with a leer.

"I said it wouldn't work," Remus replied. "Harry doesn't know how to transport himself magically."

"I still say it's worth a try," Luna interjected.

While the foursome was walking away, an old gossip heard a bit of the conversation clearly and guessed the rest. The three women were the Angels of Death, by Mr. Black, Death himself, to bring peace to those in torment, or lead the souls of the good to heaven. Mr. Black was looking out for all of them, even in death.

IIIIIIIIII

"You sure about this Sergeant Cooper?"

"Sure as I can be sir," the Mountie agreed. "They say that he's the best and we're going to need the best on this job."

"I still don't like bringing in a civilian," the other man growled. "It doesn't seem right."

"Plenty of precedent sir," Cooper said quickly. "And there's also the fact that he isn't exactly a civilian."

"Right," the other man agreed reluctantly. "He isn't . . . do whatever you have to do Sergeant Cooper."

IIIIIIIIII

"I still say . . ." Hermione's tirade was cut off by a buzzing noise coming from her pocket. "Hold on a second, I've got an incoming floo on my portable." Hermione pulled out her Zippo and flipped it open, "yes?"

"Ms. Granger?" McGonagall's voice asked from the floo. "Are you there?"

"I am Professor," Hermione replied.

"I've located Harry," Professor McGonagall said with barely restrained excitement.

"What?" Hermione screamed, "where is he?"

"Canada," Minerva replied quickly. "He just scored the highest Defense score ever recorded and one of the highest total scores in recorded history."

"How'd he do that?" Tonks demanded, "Harry's bright but . . ."

"He got extra credit for spells that none of the examiners had ever heard of," McGonagall explained. "The examiners needed help from several well known area specialists to grade the test."

"Forget all that," Hermione snapped. "Where is he?"

"I'm sending through a portkey," McGonagall's voice replied. "It'll take you to the navigable town nearest to the address Harry marked on the test forms."

"Why not have it go to Harry's doorstep?" Tonks asked.

"The American and Canadian governments placed a series of wards to prevent magical invasion from the north," Luna replied. "It also makes most forms of magical transportation impossible."

"Correct," McGonagall's voice agreed. "A former student in the Canadian Transportation Ministry arranged this Portkey for me so it'll get you closer then would normally be possible. Unfortunately it will not get you out again, I'm afraid that you will have to make your own arrangements for that."

"Thank you Professor," Hermione said impatiently. "Could you send that Portkey through now . . . please?"

"It should be emerging from the flame in a few seconds Ms. Granger," McGonagall voice said dryly.

"I've got it," Hermione grabbed a small red plastic maple leaf.

"Good," McGonagall replied. "It will activate when all of you touch it."

"Is Professor Dumbledore going to join us," Luna asked.

"I don't know," McGonagall replied. "I haven't been able to reach him . . . goodbye, and good luck."

Hermione cut the connection and held out the portkey, "everyone take hold." She commanded.

The Portkey deposed the small group of Harry hunters in a small drinking establishment in front of the bar.

"Can I help you folks?" The bartender asked.

"We need transportation to a small cabin twenty kilometers north of here," Remus replied.

"I can arrange that," the bartender agreed. "If you don't mind traveling by sled."

"We don't," Hermione said quickly.

"Good," the bartender said with a nod. "When would you like to go?"

"In the next few minutes if possible," Remus replied.

"Wouldn't even think of going to the cabin till tomorrow morning if I were you," the Bartender said with a grin. "And even then, I'd advise you to go in a large group with a guide."

"Why?" Hermione asked quickly.

"Never know if Mr. Black's in the area," the Bartender replied.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked with a frown, "I didn't think innocent people would be in danger of harm from Mr. Black."

"They wouldn't be," the Bartender agreed. "You'd be in danger if Mr. Black wasn't around, never know when he's in the area and it's best to play it safe."

"Why?"

"Ya see that thing up on the wall?" The bartender asked with a grin.

"Yes?" Hermione replied, the indicated 'thing' was a large stuffed creature with horrifically large teeth.

"I see it," Hermione prompted.

"That's what we call a Wendigo," the Bartender said with a grin.

"But I thought Wendigos were just a kind of Werewolf?" Hermione said in horror, "why would you . . ."

"Close but no," the Bartender interrupted. "A werewolf is a poor bastard with a curse, a Wendigo is more than just a were. To become one you have to eat another human, it's all quite dark. Don't know everything involved . . ."

"Oh," Hermione replied. She still felt a bit sick to her stomach. "So you have those . . . things in the woods?"

"That and more," the man agreed. "That fellow caught me alone one day. I'd been out hunting and I ran into a man chopping down a tree to get a bit of firewood. The man greeted me and wished me luck."

"And he was a Wendigo?" Hermione said in understanding.

"Nope," the Bartender disagreed. "Least I don't think he is, could explain a few things though. No, I didn't run into the Wendigo till I was further up the trail."

"What'd you do?" Hermione prompted.

"I turned tail and ran," the Bartender said with a laugh. "Knew it wouldn't do any good but I figured that I might as well try. Well I came tearing down the trail screaming at the man I'd met to run. Just as I was about to pass the man chopping down the tree, he made one last cut and the tree fell to the ground . . . crushing that damned Wendigo."

"That was lucky," Hermione commented.

"That's what I thought till he told me his name." The Bartender paused to draw out the moment. "Damned if I know how Mr. Black knew to chop down that tree in that place at that time, but I'm glad he did and I'm glad he decided to save my life."

"Waiting one more night won't hurt," Remus offered. "Do you know of anywhere we could spend the night?"

"Got a couple of rooms upstairs," the bartender replied. "If you don't mind sharing with each other."

"We don't," Tonks said with a grin. "Two in each sound good to you guys?" The girls signaled their agreement. "Good, it's settled then."

"I'll wake you when things are ready tomorrow," the bartender offered.

"Thank you," Hermione said gratefully. "And good night."

Hermione awoke everyone at the crack of dawn and forced her friends to assemble at the base of the stairs.

"Up early are you?" The bartender remarked as he came in for the morning, "good. I've got your sled ready."

"Where is it?" Hermione demanded.

"Is it powered by Yaks?" Luna asked.

"Or reindeer?" Tonks asked in excitement, "dogs maybe? If it's dogs then I know where we can get a wolf to pull it."

"I don't," Remus said quickly.

"It's powered by magic," the bartender interrupted. "It's a disposable item that will take you to the cabin and back to town."

"No yaks then?" Luna persisted.

"Not since they got a union," the bartender agreed.

"Darn."

IIIIIIIIII

Harry awoke late that morning to a knock on the door. Muttering something incomprehensible, he forced himself out of his nice warm bed and answered the door to find a man in a red suit on the other side. "Yes?"

"Mr. Black?" The man in the red uniform asked uncertainly.

"I am." Harry replied, he was starting to get that sinking feeling.

"I am here to ask for your help," the man explained.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, "and why do you need my help?"

"I am Sergeant Cooper, Royal Canadian Mounted Police." The Mountie replied, "and we need your help to track down a dangerous killer."

"What happened?" Harry demanded.

"Prison escape," Cooper replied. "Three years ago. We've been tracking him around the world but he always manages to stay a few steps ahead of us."

"Got any pictures?" Harry asked.

"Several," Cooper replied. The man passed Harry a thick envelope.

"Why so many?" Harry asked as he flipped past the first photo, "and what's with the clothes?"

"Bastard likes to send us pictures of himself," Cooper explained. "Sends us a picture of a crowd and dares us to find him. The clothes are a result of a charm placed on every prisoner, turns whatever they wear into red and white stripes."

"Why come to me now?" Harry asked mildly. "If he's been on the loose so long."

"A child was taken," Cooper said flatly. "We were able to retrieve the child but lost three men in the ensuing fight."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Harry said sympathetically.

"Thank you," Cooper replied calmly. "The killer escaped into the wilderness and has been leading us on a chase."

"And?" Harry prompted gently.

"And there is a blizzard coming," Cooper continued. "We need your help to bring him in before the storm hits and tracking him becomes impossible. We . . . we would also like your help in bringing him in alive."

"Alive?"

"To face justice," Cooper explained. "We would like . . . it wouldn't be right to let some private misfortune fall the man before we had a chance to get him before a judge."

"I'll see what I can do," Harry agreed after a long moment of thought. "Let's go."

"Here," Cooper said, handing Harry a large pair of snowshoes. "You'll need these."

"Hope we're not going far," Harry said as he strapped on the snow shoes.

"Seven league shoes," Cooper said with a grin. "We don't have time to do things the normal way."

"Let's go." Harry suggested.

"Right you are," Cooper agreed, taking off in the quick trot favored by those accustomed to travel in the far north.

"I hate my life sometimes," Harry groaned as he began to follow the other man.

Only minutes after Harry disappeared from sight, the sled containing Remus and the girls pulled up in front of Harry's cabin.

"Hurry up," Hermione commanded as she hopped out of the sled.

"A few minutes won't hurt us," Tonks protested.

"But I will," Hermione growled as she stalked towards the door. "Ohhh, I'm going to give him such a talking to for worrying us like that." Hermione threw open the door and stormed into the small cabin, "Harry . . . are you here?"

"Place looks empty," Remus offered.

"There are tracks outside leading away from the cabin," Tonks called out. "I don't think we missed him by much."

"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked.

"Because it's still warm in here," Luna replied. "His sheets are warm too, he must have just gotten out of bed."

"You said another day wouldn't hurt," Hermione accused. "Damn it."

"We can still follow the tracks," Remus tried to placate the distraught girl.

"No we can't," Luna said quietly. "Not unless they go back to town."

"That's right," Remus groaned. "How could I have forgotten something like that?"

"It's ok," Tonks tried to reassure her beaux. "We can just wait for him to come back.

"Place is empty," Luna disagreed. "He must have packed up and left just before we got here, I . . . I don't think he's coming back."

"Then there still might be clues to tell us where he's going next," Tonks said firmly.

Luna lifted up the carpet and smiled, "I knew I felt something hidden in here. There's a trap door."

"Stand back," Remus ordered. "I'm going through first." Remus pried up the door and dashed down the ladder before any of the girls had a chance to object. "It's just a store room down here," He called back. "But there's a tunnel leading off to one direction that looks like it's been used recently . . . think we should check it out?"

"Yes," Tonks replied. "But wait for us."

"I'm just going to leave Harry a note first," Luna said suddenly. "In case he comes back."

"Don't do that," Hermione snapped.

"Why not?" Luna asked in confusion, "if he gets it then he'll contact us."

"What if he doesn't?" Hermione asked, looking much less confident then she had a moment before. "What if he doesn't want to see any of us again?"

"Then we should respect his wishes," Luna replied. "But until he tells me that I'm going to assume that your fears are entirely without justification."

"Thanks Luna," Hermione said with a smile. "Now let's go."

IIIIIIIIII

"This is where we lost the trail," Cooper said. "Think you can pick it up?"

"He's long gone," Harry said after a few sniffs of the air. "I don't think it will be possible to bring him in before the blizzard hits."

"I see," Cooper replied without emotion. "Thank you for coming."

"I said I didn't think it would be possible to get him before the blizzard hits," Harry said with a grin. "I didn't say I wouldn't try. I'll be back with him or with his body, which ever I find first."

"I wouldn't suggest going out," Cooper said quickly. "Not if you can't get back before the storm hits."

"Don't worry about me," Harry glanced up into the sky. "And be sure to find a good place to hole up, this storm is going to be a bad one." With that last comment, Harry disappeared into the night.

The storm raged for three days and Cooper feared that he had led the stranger to his death. No man could have possibly lived through a storm like that, not in what Mr. Black was wearing anyway.

After the storm broke, the mounties dug themselves out of their shelters and looked around.

"Shame," Cooper said sadly. "But you gotta admire the fact that he was willing to try."

"I'll see that . . . what's that?" The Mountie was gazing into the distance with a look of shock on his face, "I don't bloody believe it."

"What do you see?" Cooper demanded.

"I see a man," the other man replied. "Coming towards us."

The Mounties awaited breathlessly as the man approached and their hearts stopped when they saw what was in his hand.

"Get me away from him," the killer sobbed.

"Here's your man," Harry said coldly as he tossed the killer to the ground. "A bit damaged but alive."

"How did you survive the blizzard," Cooper asked in shock.

"The cold doesn't bother me," Harry replied. "You might say that she's an old friend of mine."

"An old friend?" One of the younger men began but was silenced by a look from one of his more seasoned compatriots.

"Yes," Harry agreed. "Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I haven't eaten in two days and I am in bad need of a shower."

"Thank you for your help," Cooper said. The man's nerves were frayed and he was running on automatic. "If you'd like, we have fresh coffee in the cabin before you go."

"Coffee hmmm?" Harry mused he couldn't recall trying coffee in the past, "well . . . I guess a cup wouldn't hurt."

The shocked Mounted Police watched Harry depart and shared a look. Immediately they turned to their prisoner to get some answers.

"Let me confess," the killer begged. "Put me in a cell, just don't let him near me."

"What happened?" Cooper demanded.

"I was holed up in a snow cave," the killer said slowly. "When there was a break in the storm . . . and he appeared. I tried to shoot him but the action was froze . . . I tried to pull my knife but it caught on my belt and fell into the snow . . . his . . . he's not human. He just grabbed me and dragged me back here, he walked for two days without stop . . . the storm wouldn't touch him, it stopped when he came and started again as he passed. Please don't let him get me."

"Waldorf Statler Peterson AKA Killer Pete AKA Dorf the Killer AKA Waldo, you're under arrest for several murders and anything else we think to charge you with. You're going to be rotting in Astoria Prison for Magic Endowed Criminals until you're a bitter old man. Take him away," Cooper commanded. Involuntary, he shuddered as he watched the man get cuffed and dragged away. Mr. Black had kept to the letter of his bargain, he hadn't killed the man . . . he hadn't had to.

AN: I've been asked to mention that Harry is in the middle of nowhere, the majority of people in Canada live in the southern part of the country. First part of the last chapter was in the last chapter of 'Make a Wish' as an Omake, the majority of the chapter was new. Thanks go to Chris for a part of this chapter.