Welcome to Wonderland (Harry Potter/Figure Skating)

2. Personal Service

Harry watched Johnny Weir's eyes go blank. He hated it, because those eyes were usually so alive. He wasn't a figure skating follower, but he had noticed Johnny the moment the man had asked him a question in the event briefing. If he hadn't been so busy trying to keep idiot wizards and witches from giving away just how little they knew about the Muggle world, he might have been very interested.

When he had been sent to the US and then put in the middle of a Muggle sporting event he had almost quit on the spot, but Parkinson was a very dangerous man. At least Harry had half a clue how the Muggle world actually worked, unlike a good percentage of the men and women who were supposed to be backing him up. The whole situation was a magical nightmare waiting to happen.

"You saw a man carrying Adam Rippon out of the men's changing rooms. You defended yourself and Adam and the assailant ran off," he said with his wand still trained on the skater.

Johnny nodded and Harry ended the spell, slipping his wand back into his sleeve.

"Completely gone?" Johnny asked as if they were just continuing the conversation.

"Completely."

Harry was pretty sure Parkinson had run outside the anti-Apparition wards and then fled to wherever he was holed up in the area.

"I have men searching now," Harry said in his best professional manner, "but I think, more importantly, we need to get Mr Rippon some help."

The way Johnny just went along with him was a common effect of shock, but Harry had the feeling that it would not stay that way for long. Throwing a skate at Parkinson had taken real guts. He had Johnny make a statement as Adam Rippon was carted off to the hospital, after which came the joy of dealing with the press. Parkinson was proving to be even more slippery than Harry had imagined and there was absolutely no sign of the Death Eater anywhere.

It took three hours to get everything sorted out, by which time Harry was getting to know Johnny quite well. The man who was currently second in the men's competition, as far as Harry could gather, was beginning to come back to his normal temperament by the time they were finished. Johnny was nothing if not helpful, but Harry could tell there was annoyance bubbling under the surface.

Harry had been chasing Parkinson for three months now, ever since the man's crimes had come to light back at home. When other Death Eaters had given up or just disappeared, it seemed Parkinson had had other ideas. The man had been prosecuted after the war and done a short spell in Azkaban, but he had appeared to be small fry. As they had found out, however, the man had just gone underground with his crimes. Parkinson was a serial rapist and murderer, the like of which Harry had never personally dealt with before, and the man targeted Muggles.

That was why, when Johnny started making noises about returning to his hotel, Harry made a quick decision. Leaving Bachelor, his second in command, in control of the hunt for Parkinson, Harry decided to handle Johnny's situation personally and make sure there were no repercussions.

"Johnny," he said, Johnny had insisted on first names almost straight away, "I can take you back to your hotel now if you would like."

Johnny looked kind of surprised.

"I can just get a taxi," the skater said and looked around at the organised chaos of the incident room.

"I'm afraid you're stuck with me," Harry replied with a smile, "from now until we catch Parkinson consider me your bodyguard."

He had hoped to gloss over that for a while, but it was not to be. Johnny appeared shocked.

"Bodyguard?"