Chapter 10 Due South

Disclaimer: I did not have . . . uh, why don't we just skip it.

Luna and her minions . . . followers . . . companions, followed the footprints in the dust of the tunnel for what seemed like hours. "Look at the walls," Remus said suddenly. "They've changed."

"Looks like goblin made megalithic stonework," Hermione said after a moment. "Strange to find it up here."

"It looks like the tunnel is opening up," Tonks added. "No sense putting things off."

The three girls and a rather reluctant Remus crept up to the opening and peered into the cavern.

"Kitsune," Luna said in delight. "And Yuki Onna."

"And more Veela than I've ever seen in one place in my life," Hermione said in shock. "Where the hell are we?"

"Black's island," Tonks said in shock. "I . . . I'm sure of it."

"And you are correct," a voice said from their left. "What can I do for you?"

"I . . . we were just in Canada?" Tonks stammered. "How the hell did we get here?"

"Looks like you walked," the voice replied. "Forgive my rudeness, I am the Architect. I built these tunnels."

"I'm Luna," the girl introduced herself. "I invented a new way to count that starts with five million instead of one."

"A notable accomplishment I'm sure," the goblin said with a grin. "What may I do for you?"

"We're looking for Harry Potter," Hermione said. "You haven't seen him have you?"

"I don't believe so," the Architect said after a moment of thought.

"Damn," Hermione growled. "Now what?"

"I suggest you come with me," the Architect replied. "I may know someone who could help you."

"Who?" Luna demanded, "It's not a Greblemuck is it? Because you can never trust anything they say."

"I don't believe she is," the Architect assured his guest. "Though it could explain a few things."

"Be quiet Luna," Hermione snapped. "Lead the way . . . sir?"

"Walk this way," the goblin commanded.

"Let's go," Hermione said. "And stop walking like that Luna."

"But he said to . . ."

"Not now," Hermione interrupted and immediately regretted it. "I'm sorry Luna, it's just that we were so close."

"It's ok," Luna patted her friend on the shoulder. "I understand."

"I can see my room from here," Tonks said in excitement as he walked up a large hall. "It was just down that side hall . . . but I don't remember this area."

"It's new," the Architect explained. "Sort of."

"Oh."

"Now just walk through this door," the Architect said. "She's waiting for you."

"That door?" Remus asked nervously, "the one that has an insane giggling on the other side of it?"

"Yes"

"The one that has horrific screams coming from the other side of it?" Remus asked again

"Yes, the one with the screams." The Architect agreed.

"Just to be clear," Remus began. "I just want to be sure that you're talking about the door with the sign that says 'trespassers will be violated,' the sign that says 'warning: if you come through this door, your mind may shatter because it finds out things that man was not meant to know."

"Yes, that door," the Architect agreed with a frown. "Now go in."

"So I don't make any mistakes," Remus said. "I want to be sure that it's the door with the evil black purple smoke with green edging coming out from under it, and a door mat that bears the statement 'by crossing this threshold, you agree to be subjected to any number of harmful and painful experiments.'"

"YES THAT DOOR," the Goblin screamed. "NOW GO IN."

"Come on Remus," Tonks commanded. "You're holding us up."

"Yeah," Hermione agreed. "It's not like anything bad will happen to us."

"Oh god," tears began leaking out the corners of Remus's eyes. "You just HAD to say that didn't you?"

"You take his right arm," Luna said. "And Hermione will get his feet."

"Right," Tonks agreed. And so, the three brave girls carried the weeping werewolf into the mysterious room.

"Hello?" Hermione called out nervously.

"You can let me down now," Remus said in defeat.

"How do we know you won't run out through the door?" Tonks asked suspiciously.

"Because it disappeared the second you crossed over," Remus replied.

"Oh," Tonks looked back. "So it did."

"Hi," a perky voice called back.

"Hello," Luna called out.

"Hi," the voice called back.

"Hello," Luna called out, she was beginning to like this game.

"Hi," the voice called back, she was also begging to like this game.

"Can we get on with this?" Hermione called out, "please?"

"Ok," the voice agreed. "We can play later, let's all get down to business."

"Could we see you first?" Remus asked, "unless of course you're some sort of supernatural horror."

"Sure," the voice replied and a wild eyed woman in a lab coat stepped out. "Hello, my name's Henhgirl."

"I'm Luna," Luna introduced herself. "And I must say that it's quite refreshing to find someone in the world besides my father that knows how to play 'Yell Hello at each other.'"

"Pity we didn't have time to complete the entire thing," Henchgirl agreed.

"Isn't it," Luna replied.

"How long does it take to play the whole thing?" Tonks asked with a grin.

"No less than thirteen hours," Luna replied.

"Only if you're playing with the revised rulebook," Henchgirl sniffed. "I prefer to play the traditional way that takes no less than two days."

"Moving right along," Hermione interjected. "We were told that you wished to speak with us?"

"Yeppers," Henchgirl agreed. "I've heard that you're looking for Harry Potter."

"And," Hermione asked suspiciously.

"I can't do much to help you," Henchgirl said with a frown. "But I can do a few things."

"Why can't you help us?" Remus asked.

"Mr. Black," Henchgirl replied. "Has some dumb idea that Harry has to figure these things out for himself. I, on the other hand, think that Harry's making a mistake by cutting himself off."

"Why'd he do it?" Hermione asked quickly. "Why'd he leave?"

"Because . . . because he saw what he'd become, what he could be capable of and he didn't like it." Henchgirl said sadly, "I think he might be trying to protect you."

"That's stupid," Hermione said quickly.

"I know," Henchgirl agreed. "I think he might also have been afraid that he wouldn't be allowed to leave Hogwarts or retain his independence if he stayed, not sure about that though."

"So what can you do for us?" Tonks asked.

"I'll let the Professor tell you that," Henchgirl replied. "He still thinks that it's all his idea and he'll start sulking if I tell you before he has a chance to."

Elsewhere, a jar of mayonnaise was beginning to turn green.

IIIIIIIIII

Harry was riding south towards the border when he saw something that he had to stop for. "Son of a bitch," he muttered to himself. "Surrey, next right." He read the sign, "Guess England wasn't the only place unfortunate enough to have one." Harry stared at the sign for several more minutes before he cleared his throat and deliberately spat on the sign. Then, he pulled back into traffic and continued south to the customs booth.

"Papers please," the customs agent said without looking up.

"Here you are," Harry handed over his passport.

"Well then Mister . . . Black," the man froze.

"Yes?"

"Purpose of visit?" The agent said, his eyes locked on the passport.

"Just passing through," Harry replied.

"Here are your papers back," the man said stiffly. "Have a nice day."

"Thanks," Harry restarted his motorcycle and continued south.

It took several minutes for the Customs agent's mind to reboot and when it did, the first thing he did was pick up the phone. "Code Black, I repeat code Black."

IIIIIIIIII

"Hello again Ms. Granger, Ms. Tonks." The Professor said with a grin. "How have you been?"

"We've been good," Tonks replied. "You?"

"Can't complain," the Professor said with a shrug. "Who are your companions?"

"This is Remus," Tonks introduced her special friend. "And this is Luna."

"Hello," Luna said.

"Hi," Remus waved.

"You wouldn't happen to be a werewolf would you?" The Professor asked with a squint.

"Is that going to be a problem?" Remus asked levelly.

"No," the Professor said with a smile. "Mr. Black himself is part werewolf, I was just wondering."

"Part werewolf?" Remus gasped.

"Yes," the Professor agreed. "As to the reason for your visit . . . well, I'm afraid that the only person that can tell you the location of Harry Potter is Mr. Black."

"So you won't help us either?" Hermione said flatly.

"I didn't say that," the Professor said with a smile. "How would the three of you like to work for Black Ink?

"What?" Hermione asked in shock.

"HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK FOR BLACK INK?" The Professor said loudly and slowly, "YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO SEE THE DOCTOR TO CHECK YOUR HEARING."

"I can hear you just fine," Hermione snapped. "I just wasn't sure I heard the right thing."

"Oh," the Professor said in understanding. "Well?"

"What would you want us to do?" Luna said quickly.

"Trouble consultants," the Professor said vaguely. "What do you think of the code name lovely angels?"

IIIIIIIIII

"He's what?" The commander of the Magical Law Enforcement for the Washington State Police asked quickly.

"In America sir," the trooper replied. "Crossed the border a few minutes ago."

"Who do you think the target is?" The commander asked with a resigned sigh.

"Couldn't say sir," the Trooper replied.

"Keep an eye on the morgue then," the Commander ordered. "And tell me if you find anything."

"Yes sir," the Trooper agreed.

IIIIIIIIII

"Times," the reporter answered the phone.

"I've got some information for you," the voice on the other end replied. "Five hundred dollars."

"What's the information?" The reporter demanded, "and I'll tell you ahead of time that I doubt anything is worth that much."

"It's about Mr. Black," the voice said smugly.

"What about him?"

"He's in Washington, heading towards Seattle." The voice said, "that good enough."

"Can you give me anything else," the reporter asked, outwardly calm.

"What would you like to know?"

"Anything you got," the reporter said quickly.

"I want another five hundred dollars," the voice said after a moment of thought.

"Deal."

"He's at least several thousand years old and the being responsible for the sinking of Atlantis," the voice began.

"Why."

"There are several theories," the voice explained. "We know that Merlin was exiled from the island for his lack of magical power and it isn't hard to guess how society would have treated Squibs or Muggles."

"Go on."

"We also saw Black's reaction to the Blood Purists in Germany," the voice said slowly. "Current thought is that it brought up old memories and that what we saw in Germany was nothing compared to what he did the first time."

"What else can you give me?" The reporter's fingers danced over his typewriter. "What about the rumors that he's dead?"

"Maybe he is," the voice replied. "Or maybe he's just what the myths are based on, I don't know."

"What else," the reporter demanded.

"One more thing," the voice paused. "Don't assume any death is an accident when Black is in town, just . . . just look closely at the background of any corpse."

"Thank you."

"What about my money," the voice demanded.

"You'll get it," the reporter said with a frown. "One thousand dollars."

"Have it with you when you go home from work next Monday," the voice ordered. "I'll get it from you then."

AN: Well, here's another part, keep trying to knock out the next chapter of 'Back in Black.' Got the idea and the outline in my head, just have to find the time to write it.

Another good Omake by Chris Hill

This omake takes place a few days after the capture of Waldo.

Sargent Cooper walked into the office of his boss, wondering what was up.

"Sargent, I've read all of the reports filed on the Peterson arrest.

What I want now is your impression of what happened as Peterson could

be declared insane." said his superior.

Cooper nodded. "Sir, what I saw was right out of legend. Mr. Black

walked off into a blizzard, tracked him down, and brought him back.

Peterson said that he walked nonstop for two day, dragging him back to

justice."

"That's what happened, Cooper, what I want to know is your impression

of Mr. Black."

Cooper almost fidgeted. "Sir, I've had a few days to think about it,

and I believe Mr. Black was one of the first 275."

The Mountie looked at Cooper. "Are you sure of that?"

"Sir, Yes Sir." Sargent Cooper stated, "I have had a chance to look in

the database, and came up with a Sargent Black. No first name

recorded. He was one of the men that in 1876 signed treaties with both

the Cree and the Blackfoot. In addition, he went on to be one of the

first to create the reputation of always catching our man."

"How can you be sure of this?"

"It was Black's actions and comments sir." the Sargent replied. "Mr.

Black is obviously well versed in woodcraft, but he was determined to

bring Peterson in despite the weather. This was a blizzard that could

easily cause one to get lost and die, but he went anyway. He didn't

stop, and followed his duty to bring Peterson in, forgoing eating and

normal comforts to do so.

"In addition, he said that the cold was a friend of his. The only ones

that I know that say that are those that take the traditional methods

classes. He acted like one of the Legendary Mounties."

Sargent Coopers boss nodded. "Good, write that up. I want to pass it

on to Ottawa right away."

"Sir, if I may." Cooper began, "I have a request."

"What is it?"

"I would like to get approval from headquarters to do a series of

shows on the people which made our force the legend it is. It would be

good for both recruitment and morale."

The Mountie at the desk considered it. "Put the proposal down and get

it back to be as soon as possible."

IIIII

A week later, Cooper was once again called before his superiors desk.

The man behind it was smiling and gave Cooper a warm handshake.

"Congratulations Cooper. Ottawa approved your show with one small

difference. They also want you to produce and direct the show."

Cooper blinked in response. "What was the change sir?"

The other man smiled wider, "It has to do with softwood, but they feel

that this should not only be for Mounties, but for the General Public.

The FULL General Public. They want to see how a Mountie, who follows

the ways of our Legends will do if he tracked a criminal from up north

to Chicago. Then leaving him there at the Embassy as a consultant for

the US police while solving crimes the traditional way."

Cooper smiled, "And the other request?"

"Also approved. We sending Mr. Black a new Red Serge and we have sent

him a new badge and the plaque. The saying on the Plaque is to be

added to the credits of the show."

Cooper smiled. Perhaps a new generation of Mounties, dedicated to duty

would be available in a few years. It made him feel good.

IIIII

The new television show, Due South got great reviews. In the pilot,

one barely seen section had the following:

"To Sargent Black, the man who has thought and shown us, we who where

the Red Serge, the Honour, Dedication to Duty, and Determination

necessary to be the best and To Always Catch our Man."