Hey, the start of another fanfic.
Fair warning, this is my longest fanfic to date…
Anyway, this is a crossover between Danny Phantom and Harry Potter. It's based about three years after the seventh book. I've mainly remained true to the books but hopefully nothing to exclusive for any of the film only fans out there. So Harry is about twenty. Danny is about eighteen/nineteen in this fanfic. Phantom Planet didn't happen but his parents do know his secret… it's explained later on.
Oh, I don't own Danny Phantom or Harry Potter.
And with that said, on with the story.
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall was sitting in her office late at night. She glanced up at Albus Dumbledore's painting. The elderly wizard was sleeping peacefully. He had died four years ago. War ended three years ago. She had taken her position the following year. But that was when the sightings began. People, usually students, had seen a dark figure on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. Most sightings were at dusk. Naturally Minerva had searched the forest numerous times. She'd even asked the centaurs to keep an eye out for her. But nothing had been seen. It wasn't until the end of the previous year that Minerva had become certain that it wasn't a prank that had gotten out of hand. She shuddered at the memory.
One of the ghosts had barged through her door and demanded that they speak with her. Sir Nicholas had rushed after the young male ghost, trying to stop them. It was a knight that had once defended the school and rarely spoke with any of the living. He spent the majority of his time patrolling the grounds and the dungeons.
"I must speak with the head master!" the ghost insisted. Minerva had bitten her tongue to avoid correcting the ghost as some of the quieter ghosts didn't always notice staff changes.
"Dumbledore!" the ghost yelled, panicked. Minerva got up and held her hands up in a soothing gesture.
"Please, calm down. Dumbledore died. I'm headmistress now. What's wrong?" Minerva informed the ghost. The ghost scowled but then shook the surprise off.
"I saw a ghost I've never seen before in the Forbidden Forest. Headmistress. This ghost… it was evil. I've never felt anything like it before. Headmistress the students aren't safe with that here," the ghost explained, clearly very upset. Sir Nicholas froze.
"A ghost. Are you sure?" Minerva asked. The ghost nodded vigorously.
"Positive headmistress. It didn't see me. Something I'm grateful for. I'm not a coward headmistress but that thing… something about it wasn't natural, even for a ghost," The ghost had answered.
"Thank you. I'll get right on that," Minerva assured the ghost and the knight nodded slowly and floated out of the office, a little calmer.
"Sir Nicholas, do you think any of that was true?" Minerva asked. Sir Nicholas, as one of the house ghosts, was very reliable and due to his nature, was very familiar with most of the ghosts. Sir Nicholas turned to Minerva and nodded, his head wobbling dangerously to the side due to his botched beheading.
"I'm afraid so. Sir David isn't one to make up stories headmistress. This ghost must have frightened him greatly for him to barge into the castle like that. He takes chivalry very seriously. But headmistress, I have felt a dark presence in the forest for a while now. I assumed it was because of the war, but perhaps it was this ghost Sir David saw," Sir Nicholas admitted.
Minerva was shaken from her thoughts when one of Dumbledore's old inventions that seemed to function as a clock chimed. She straightened her papers and waited for her visitor to arrive. After that encounter, she had sent bands of ghosts into the forest, most found nothing. But a few had run out of the forest, panicked and terrified. It was enough proof for Minerva to warrant the need for outside help. School was due to start back up in a couple of weeks and she was at a loss at what she could and should do. She glanced back at the painting of Dumbledore. He would have known the perfect course of action. He had been so wise and insightful, chances were he would have been able to have gone into the forest himself and gotten rid of the threat. Instead she had been forced to ask Sir Nicholas and the other ghosts for help and advice. They had spoken highly of a Danny Phantom and promised to try and get in contact with the ghost. She hadn't heard back yet.
She had to take action though. So she decided to call in someone who had a knack for finding trouble in Hogwarts. Someone who knew this school better than most, Minerva would nearly say that this person knew Hogwarts better than Dumbledore had. There was a knock on the door. Minerva smoothed down her robes and brushed a few strands of hair behind her ears. She had been so stressed lately that her usual stiff bun and pressed robes were a mess.
"Come in," she called. The door opened and in walked a young man with glasses and a lightning-shaped scar.
"Professor McGonagall," he greeted and inclined his head to her. She smiled at him.
"Harry," she returned and gestured to the seat in front of her.
"Please, sit down. Thank you for agreeing to meet me," She thanked him. He nodded and sank into the chair.
"Your letter seemed urgent. What's wrong?" Harry asked concerned. Minerva nodded and took a steadying breath.
"I don't know how much you've heard about what's happened in Hogwarts since the war. But there have been sightings of something in the Forbidden Forest. Shortly before the end of school last year, one of the ghosts came to me and informed me that there was a dark presence hiding in there. I've tried to find it myself, I've sent ghosts in. But nothing has worked. Apparently this presence is an evil ghost and has frightened the ghosts so much they refuse to go near the forest. Some even refuse to leave the castle at night. I asked you to come here Harry to ask if you would consider teaching here this year. We have an opening for Defence against the Dark Arts. You've had experience before teaching and seemed quite competent. I'd like you to teach here and investigate this evil ghost," Minerva explained.
Harry scowled in thought before nodding slowly.
"I'd need to get a year out from my auror training but I can see that you're desperate. I'll need to check with Ginny first too. Ted's going through a bit of a phase right now," Harry replied. Minerva smiled.
"I think you taking in Remus and Tonk's son was admirable," Minerva commented. Harry nodded and gave her a small smile.
"Yeah, it was the least I could since I'm his godfather. Besides, I know what it's like to grow up without a real family, I would never want that for anyone. Ginny and I were more than happy to. Ginny's and Tonk's parents are a great help too," Harry retorted. Minerva nodded.
"Thank you Harry. I was running out of ideas and candidates. I did ask the ghosts to find help and they suggested a ghost called Danny Phantom but they haven't found him yet by the sounds of it," Minerva admitted. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"They wanted to get a ghost to help?" Harry repeated in surprise. Minerva nodded.
"Apparently he's the best," Minerva affirmed.
Harry got up to leave as Sir Nicholas floated through the door. He seemed tired.
"Headmistress, we found someone to help you. It was a long journey but we found a muggle expert in America to come here," Sir Nicholas announced not noticing Harry. Minerva stood.
"You found a muggle!" she exclaimed. Sir Nicholas nodded, his head wobbling dangerously due to the action.
"Not to worry, I explained the situation and he's more than happy to come here. He recommended that he teach the students about ghosts. He's an expert and an accomplished ghost hunter," Sir Nicholas assured the witch. Minerva opened and closed her mouth a few times before she found her voice again.
"Sir Nicholas, he's a muggle. There's laws. I doubt very many parents would be happy having a muggle teaching here. There was enough outrage with having a ghost teaching here and then a centaur," Minerva argued softly. Sir Nicholas dipped his head in understanding.
"Perhaps you should meet him before disregarding him headmistress. He's already making arrangements to come here. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised," Sir Nicholas suggested, looking a little annoyed.
"Sorry, who is this expert, I could get a few contacts to run a back ground check on him for the school," Harry offered. Sir Nicholas turned to Harry and beamed.
"Harry Potter! Sorry I didn't see you my boy. It's wonderful to see you. How are things?" Sir Nicholas greeted Harry warmly. Harry smiled.
"Everything's good Nick. Thanks. Professor McGonagall was just telling me about your evil ghost problem and offering me a teaching position. You were saying about this ghost expert though," Harry replied, quickly redirecting the conversation on the subject at hand. Sir Nicholas nodded, again his head wobbling dangerously.
"His name's Daniel Fenton. He lives in Amity Park. And I assure you both, he is the best out there," Sir Nicholas answered seriously. Minerva and Harry glanced at each other.
"Can't hurt to meet him, right?" Harry remarked with a shrug. Minerva sighed and nodded.
"Very well. When is he coming Sir Nicholas?" Minerva conceded. Sir Nicholas smiled.
"In a week, it was the earliest flight, whatever that means. He said he'll need to meet with someone in London though, preferably at Gatwick Airport," Sir Nicholas answered. Minerva nodded.
"I'll send our muggle studies professor. Thank you Sir Nicholas. Harry, please do that back ground check for me and I'll send an owl with the time of the pre-school year staff meeting," Minerva decided.
So, that was half the first chapter and half a prologue. But it sets up the rest of the story. Let me know what you think.
Until the next chapter.