Chapter 13

Damn

January 19, 1999

Washington State, United States

Michael was racking his brain. He was using every spell he could think of. He even went and bought a pensive so he could go back and look at memories. He had nothing to go on. He hated what was happening.

"Maybe I do need to check into St. Alfred's. I can't keep doing this. Maybe I should tell Luke. He would come back and help me. He wouldn't judge me. He knows I'm not a blood thirsty person. Why the hell do I keep doing this shit? I don't want to kill anyone. What the hell is setting me off? Maybe Luke is right, maybe I do have this PTSD shit that he was telling me about. Maybe I do need real help. I thought that journal would help, and it was helping, but why did I kill again? What made me see red and kill again. She was an old lady who owned a book store. She didn't even look like anyone I've ever seen before. Bloody hell!"

Michael was talking out loud to himself when his floo came to life.

"Hey mate, how's it going?" came Luke's thick Irish accent from the fireplace.

Michael pulled himself together and said, "It's going really great. How are you? How's being back at Hogwarts and Ms. Granger?"

Luke blushed, "She's is doing just fine. She seems to be very preoccupied with something. I'm not sure what. She keeps disappearing for hours and McGonagall just lets her. School is fine. I'm just studying for my N.E.W.T.s and working on assignments. I'm doing well. I just had a few extra minutes before rounds and I wanted to see how you were doing. You look like you are doing alright."

"Yeah, I'm doing good. I've made a friend at work. He's a muggle but he seems cool. His name is Josh. I think you met saw him when you went with me to work that day. I think I'm going to go into Victoria tomorrow and do some shopping." Michael said to try and seem normal. Now that he thought about it, it sounded like a good idea. Maybe he really would go to Victoria and do some shopping.

"Sounds like fun mate! I'm glad you've made a friend, even if it is a muggle. Have a great evening and have fun shopping tomorrow. I'll floo or owl you soon." with that Luke cut off the connection.

Michael went into his desk and brought out his journal. He reread everything he had written down and looked at more memories. He was still coming up empty handed. He felt like a failure. Maybe he would go into Victoria and do some shopping and go to a bar.

January 20, 1999

Washington State, United States

Michael went to work just like he did everyday. Work was calming and soothing. Work allowed him to think clearly. He made his chemicals all day and thought. He decided he was going to go to Victoria. He needed to get out.

He wished that he could take Josh with him to wizarding Victoria but that was seriously frowned upon.

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Michael wandered around Victoria for a few hours after work. He went to a book store, a bar, the cauldron shop and bought some new cauldrons for his potions work. He made his way to Apothecary to but other supplies he needed.

He shrunk all of his items and placed them in his pocket. He was having a wonderful, relaxing afternoon when he spotted a man whose skin was very pasty and thin looking. He was bald, wearing a long black robe, and his face was scarred. Michael knew that face.

It was Voldemort.

No one else could look that evil, that hideous. Michael was ready to fight.

He had just killed Lestrange he was ready to kill Voldemort too. He didn't care if Harry was supposed to be the one to kill him. He had him alone and would kill him. He had too. Michael followed Voldemort until he turned off onto a side street. There was no one on the street. Michael rushed up behind the man and knocked him out with a stupefy. He then levitated his body into a dark corner and stared at that face. It was the face of pure evil. Michael shook from all of the hatred he possessed. He cast sectumsempra and the mans chest split open and he began to bleed out. Michael felt a rush of relief. He grabbed his portkey in his pocket and he landed back in his bedroom.

Michael woke up a few hours later on his bed. He had no recollection of how he got there either.

Shit! What have I done now?

"SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!"

He ran over to the pensive and extracted the most recent memories he could come by. He watched and re-watched them. He was in wizarding Victoria just strolling down the street thinking about going and getting an ice cream. The memory abruptly ends there.

"DAMN IT!" Michael shouted as he punched the wall so hard he broke three knuckles in his wand hand. "DAMN IT!" He shouted again. Now he needed to go to St. Alberts to get healed. He needed to think of a story for why he had broken his hand first.

Washington D.C., United States

January 21 1999

1:15 am.

Johnny Ray's floo roars to life.

"Sir. Sir. SIR! JOHNNY RAY!" a voice hollered from the floo.

Johnny Ray sits up in bed with his wife and grabs his wand, "Huh? What? What's going on?" He silently preforms the lumos spell and looks around. Then he realizes it is the floo and gets out of bed.

"Greg, what is going on? It's 1:15 in the morning. Please don't tell me there had been another murder?" Johnny Ray said very sluggishly.

"I'm sorry, sir. I wish I had better news. It wasn't here in America though. It was in Victoria, British Columbia."

"Damn! That means this guy probably has access to a portkey that he can use at anytime. Shit! Do they want us in now?"

"I'm sorry, they do. They know it's late but since we've been the ones handling this they want us there. Do you want me to contact Roddy or will you?"

"I'll do it. I can't wait till this bastard is caught. I'll get to sleep like a normal person and I'm taking a few days off. I'll floo Roddy then we'll be right in."

Johnny Ray disconnects the floo from the office and connects to Roddy's.

"Roddy. Roddy! Man, you awake?"

"Barely sir. What seems to be the problem?" comes Roddy's mumbled answer from the other side of the fireplace.

"He's struck again. I don't know any details except that it's in frickin' Canada. Can you meet me at the office in 15 minutes?" Johnny Ray says.

"Damn it!" comes Roddy's response. "Let me shower and I'll be there. I'm going to need a lot of damn coffee, pepper up, and sweet tea. Tell them that needs to be on hand all frickin' day."

"Oh, it better be. Thanks Roddy. I know what an inconvenience this is. We will take some major time off once this guy is caught."

Johnny Ray disconnects the floo, showers, fixes a cup of coffee before flooing to his office.

When Johnny Ray gets to the office he sees Roddy nursing a very large glass of sweet tea. Damn. This is going to suck.

"Greg, do you have any information for us before we get to Victoria?" Johnny Ray asks as he walks into the main room.

"All I've been told is that it is a man who is in his 40's. He was walking to his house after picking up some things from a local apothecary shop that he needed for his illness. He was killed by sectumsempra not far outside of busy wizarding Victoria. They have no suspects and no one saw anything. It's pretty much the same thing that we've heard from hundreds of people since this all began. I'm sorry I don't have anything else for you, sir."

"It's okay Greg. It's not your fault. Shall we head to Victoria, Roddy?"

"I guess so. The sooner we get this over and one with the sooner I can go back to bed." Roddy said while downing the last of his sweet tea.

Roddy and Johnny Ray grab ahold of the portkey and they were off to Canada.

Johnny Ray and Roddy return to their office in wizarding D.C. a few hours later. They didn't have anything new except the fact that this guy had been knocked out by a stupefy and levitated to the corner of the street before sectumsempra was preformed.

"Roddy, you said the only thing that Draco and Ms. Granger came up with were a few more names?"

"Yes, sir. Neville Longbottom, Cho Chang, Professor Flitwick, Luna Lovegood, Shacklebolt, Aberforth Dumbledore, and Dedalus Diggle. Longbottom, Lovegood, and Flitwick are at Hogwarts. Chang is trying to get over the loss of so many loved ones and works at a dress shop in Diagon Alley and lives with her parents. Shacklebolt is the Minister of Magic in England, Aberforth owns a pub, and Diggle was a part of The Order. I don't know much else about anything. That's all Draco's owl said."

"Do you think Draco and Ms. Granger could get Harry involved in this? I need help. I have no idea what the hell is going on. I know that Harry is in auror training, but I do believe that this could count as training." Johnny Ray said grudgingly. He didn't like to ask for help. Roddy knew Johnny Ray was serious and meant business.

"I'm sure Hermione can get Harry involved, but just to let you know that if we get Harry involved then we involve the third member of the "Golden Trio." There is no way that Harry and Hermione will keep Ron in the dark on this one. Draco doesn't like Harry or Ron, but I think that is jealously and the way he was brought up. I'm sure Ron can be of help as well."

"That's fine. Hermione hasn't said anything to anyone has she?"

"No, just her headmistress and that was only the bare minimum to get permission to go out and meet Draco to work on it."

"I'm going to get you a portkey and you're going to go over there and set up a meeting with all four of them. I'm just going to get you a portkey that lets you do what you want. I have a feeling we are going to be doing a lot of traveling and you may be spending a fair amount of time over seas working with them. That alright with you?"

"Yes, sir. When do I leave?"

"I'm going to put in for the portkey now. It'll be ready for you this evening, so tomorrow morning. I'd let your friend know you're coming. Thanks for doing this for me. You can involve whomever you feel you need too. I trust your judgement. I want this bastard caught."

"Yes, sir. What if he strikes again while I'm gone? How long am I going to be gone for?" Roddy asked.

"If he hits again while you're gone I'll bring Greg or Juli with me. They know what's going on. You can have as much time as you need, just keep me informed of what is going on. Floo and owl."

"Yes, sir. I'm going to go floo or owl Draco now. I'll be in my office if you need me."

Roddy stopped by the coffee pot and filled his mug. He had already had 2 big glasses of tea, 2 mugs of coffee, and a pepper up. He might not ever be able to sleep after this day was over. He headed to his office and ignited his floo. "Draco Malfoy, England" Roddy spoke into the floo.

He could feel the magic searching for Draco. It finally found him and allowed Roddy to talk.

"Draco? You there?"

"Yeah, mate. I'm here. What's going on?"

"I'm coming over there first thing tomorrow morning. We need your help. We need Hermione's help and you are going to hate me for this but I think we need to get the other two members of your favorite trio involved too."

"Damn it, Roddy. Do we have to involve Weasel and Scarhead? I am suppose to go out with Hermione tomorrow afternoon too. Damn. You're just ruining all my plans." Draco all but yelled from his end of the connection.

"I'm sorry buddy. I really am. This guy killed a sick man in Canada yesterday. How 'bout this. I'll get there tomorrow and fill you in on everything. Then you can go spend your afternoon evening with Hermione. Bring her to your place or something for supper and I'll talk to her then about everything. I know you don't want Harry or Ron anywhere near you but we need their help. I don't think we can catch this bastard without them. I don't know if we can catch him with their help, but I do know it won't hurt."

Draco sat there glaring at the floo. He didn't want to have to share his time with Hermione with those other two goons. He wanted her to himself. Yes, he was being selfish but he didn't care. He wanted her. Damn, Roddy.

"Fine. I am not happy about this though. I'll owl Hermione and let her know. I'll also let her know that she isn't to tell Potter or Weasel till she's talk to you. Roddy, I really might hate you right now for this."

"I know, Draco. I really am sorry. I'll see you tomorrow. My portkey will take me to the station. You want me to meet you at work or at your flat?"

"Work. I'll try to get part of a days work done before you get here. Later mate."

Draco cut the floo connection off. Damn Roddy. Damn this bastard who was killing these random people. Just damn.

Roddy sat back in his chair. He felt bad for Draco. He really didn't want to have to put him through this. He didn't think that Draco was quite ready to have to deal with Harry and Ron but he really was going to have too. Johnny Ray was right that trio was the best shot they had at catching the bastard. He went to talk to Johnny Ray. Johnny Ray handed Roddy the list of every wizard that has been in America and Canada since the murders started that aren't citizens of either. "Go through this with your friends, maybe you'll be able to figure out something from that. It's taken forever to get that damn list too. I am sorry that Draco is going to have to put in a situation that is uncomfortable but unless he can tell me who is committing these murders he is just going to have to get over it. Go home. Pack. Here is your portkey. You leave at 5 a.m. Get some sleep. You're going to need it."

Roddy took the massive file from Johnny Ray and the portkey and headed back to his office.

Damn.