(A/N)

First thing's first. I should probably apologize for the amount of time it took me to start writing again. Well, first I graduated from high school, and that was good. Then, my friends introduced me to Dungeons and Dragons, and that was distracting. Then I took a summer school class at a community college, and that was fun, and now that school's about to start, I'm writing again.

Why is it that I'm most productive in my free time when I've got non free time stuff looming over me? Makes no sense…

Anyway, I do not own Danny Phantom (if I did, there would be less potty humor), and I do not own Harry Potter (if I did, the epilogue wouldn't have happened). Debbie and Howard are mine.

Magical

Chapter the Fourth

Magical

Fortunately, Danny need not have worried over his acceptance to Hogwarts. A mere two days after he received the Chameleon Amulet, an owl arrived with his acceptance letter.

As Danny turned the heavy yellow envelope over in his hands, inspecting the parchment, the neat writing in green ink, and the intricate seal of a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding the letter H, Mist Shade was so excited she almost lost control of her Debbie disguise.

"It's really working!" the phantasm whispered. "They have no idea that you're not really a wizard! This infiltration thing is going without a hitch!"

"Without a hitch so far," Danny corrected, still inspecting the envelope closely.

"Are you always so negative?" the phantasm asked, putting her hands on her hips. "It's a pity Howard isn't here, but if he doesn't go to work, no one will believe he's really a muggle."

"I'm not negative, just practical. Just because I've gotten in doesn't mean that no one's going to spot me for what I am. I won't be able to let my guard down for a second…and there's no guarantee that this letter is genuine." Frowning, he finally slit the envelope open. When nothing came out of it other than a papery smell, he eased the letter out and read it.

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlcok,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Fenton,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

"Well, it looks like the real thing," he sighed, skimming over the list of things that had to be bought. "I assume you know where to go to get this stuff?"

"Oh, yes," Debbie smiled. "We can get it all in London, no problem there. You can get a pet, too, after we finish buying supplies. We could go now, or we could wait a while and you could meet your future classmates while we're shopping."

"I think I'd like to get my supplies as soon as possible. If my only defense is going to be magic, I'd like to start learning quickly. This Chameleon Amulet is really grating on my nerves."

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it. Most do, after all."

"Only most?" Danny raised an eyebrow. "What happens if someone doesn't get used to one of these things?

"Oh, usually they rip it off, throw it to the ground, and start blasting everything in the general vicinity—twice if it moves. I'm not worried, though."

"Oh, good."

"If you go berserk, you'll be at that school, and far away from me."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Danny drawled, rolling his eyes and looking mildly offended. "If I go nuts, the world as anyone knows it is going to end. I don't particularly want that to happen."

"Well, then, for the sake of the world as we know it—let's buy your school things." Debbie grinned broadly at the prospect of a shopping trip, and pulled her cloak off of a coat-rack. "I believe that a lesson in wizard-style transportation is called for. I'll give you the choice, though: Floo powder, side-along apparition, or should we take the Knight Bus?"

"Hmm…" Danny frowned in thought. Floo powder is travel by fireplace, which means we'll probably get covered in dirt. Her wand only has so many charges, so wasting one to get cleaned up is silly. Apparition is out for the same reason; it'll waste a charge to use it. I guess that leaves… "Let's use the Knight Bus," he smiled, coming to a conclusion.

"OK, then. We'll go as soon as you get your cloak on."

Magical

Before long, Danny was stepping off the double-decker bus outside of The Leaky Cauldron, a dilapidated looking building sandwiched between two larger structures that took the bulk of the crowd's attention, aiding the concealment charm that shielded the wizarding pub from muggle eyes. Debbie stepped off after him, looking somewhat paler than her human disguise normally did.

"Well," she panted, frazzled, "what did you think of the Knight Bus?"

"It was fun," he grinned. "It would have been more fun if you hadn't kept throwing up, Mom. I guess we'll use Floo powder next time we have to go somewhere."

"You," the phantasm in disguise sighed, "are completely fearless. How do you manage it?"

Danny shrugged in response, not seeing much difference in the way the Knight Bus was handled and the majority of his experiences in the Fenton Family Ghost Assault Vehicle.

Shaking her head, Debbie entered The Leaky Cauldron, followed closely by her half breed companion. Danny was astounded—it felt like he had stepped back in time. Two witches gossiped and smoked pipes in the corner, and a giant of a man with a great tangle of black hair covering his entire face drank out of an enormous wooden mug as he sat on a chair that creaked and buckled with his weight.

As interesting as the whole scene within the pub was, Danny did not stop to look. Partially, this was because he knew that he needed to appear as though he was used to the wizarding world, but mostly, this was because Debbie was rushing toward the door at the other end of the building, and he had to jog to keep up.

Through the door was a back alley. There was a trashcan and a brick wall—nothing more. There was something off about the wall, though, and Danny felt compelled to walk up to it and investigate. The whole thing seemed to be giving off a weird vibe, particularly one of the bricks near the trashcan.

"Hey, Mom," he said in a slightly distracted tone, "is this wall enchanted?"

"Why yes, it is," Debbie replied in a surprised tone. "This wall holds the gateway to Diagon Alley, which is filled with wizarding shops where we can get your school supplies and even a pet for you, if you want one."

"A cat, owl, or toad, right?" Danny asked.

"Mhm," Debbie nodded. Then, she pulled out her wand and tapped the odd brick that looked just like every other brick but gave off that weird magical vibe. The bricks began to wriggle and squirm, moving around until there was a wide and tall archway in the wall, revealing that bustling alley beyond, with its many shops and brightly attired shoppers.

"Gringotts first," the slightly pudgy brunette announced. "There's no way I've got enough money for your supplies on me. Now, remember, Danny—be polite to the goblins. Going to the bank is unpleasant enough without them being rude right back at us."

"OK," the boy nodded, wondering what a goblin looked like.

It took all of Danny's self control to not gawk around Diagon Alley like a tourist. He still stared a bit, but reminded himself that that was OK, as it was his first time there, and he'd "just moved from America". He did, however, allow himself the brief luxury of admiring Gringotts before going in.

The white marble and sweeping architecture spoke of wealth, but the warning inscribed above the doorway said far, far more about the contents of the world's only wizarding bank.

Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed.

For if you take, but do not earn,

You must pay most dearly in your turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware

Of finding more than treasure there.

Danny narrowed his eyes. He had a bad feeling that people, many people, were far too compliant in the security of this bank. Still, there was magic involved. He supposed that it wasn't all that important, yet. Resolving to pay close attention to the bank's security in case it turned out to be useful in the future (as so many things often do), he followed his "mother" into the building.

Debbie was standing just inside with a knowing smile on her face, waiting for him.

"Come on," she said, gesturing for him to follow as she walked toward the marble counter.

Danny followed, but looked around carefully as he did so. The goblins were shorter than humans, with long-fingered hands and large heads. They gave him unpleasant looks, which didn't bother him much. Bankers usually disapproved of children.

He watched and listened as Debbie told the goblin behind the counter that she wanted to take some money out of her account. She then produced a key, and the goblin called another goblin over, telling him to "Take Mrs. Fenton and her son to Vault 962."

"This way, please," the second goblin said, beckoning.

Danny and Debbie followed the goblin to an old mining cart. They all climbed into it, Debbie looking more than a little nervous. When the cart began to move, Danny soon understood. It rocketed along at high speed, taking turn after turn after turn, moving ever downward. The damp air was permeated with the feel of magic—enchantment was layered upon enchantment, and Danny realized that the words outside the building were probably very accurate. Gringotts would be very hard for a thief to break into.

The vault itself had three piles of coins. There were bronze…Knuts, he thought, silver…what was the word—ah, yes, Sickles, and gold Galleons. The exchange rate was…he'd forgotten. Oh, well, he could figure it out or look it up or ask and memorize it before he had to make change.

Debbie pulled out several handfuls from each pile and dumped them into a leather money-purse before leaving her vault and allowing the goblin to close it. The ride back passed in silence, just like the first, with Debbie keeping her mouth shut and looking ill and Danny focusing on all six of his senses to get a feel of the defenses—both magical and physical—the kept Gringotts so well guarded.

Magical

(A/N) Well, that took an entire semester.

I've settled into college well—straight A's are a good thing. I should probably apologize for not writing this chapter sooner, but I probably needed the time to adjust. I hope to write more often, but I guarantee nothing—I'm going to start learning Japanese in February, and that's going to be very, very hard.

About Danny's ability to sense magic—I decided that it makes sense. It's canonical to the Harry Potter series that the magical energies at Hogwarts are what stops electricity from working, so I assume that magic gives of energy constantly. This would make it fair game for Danny's sixth sense, much like the energy given off by humans, phantasms, and other living things.

He also has the ability to sense electronics. That's not going to see much use in this story, because, well, wizards don't use the things, and most of the action's going to take place at Hogwarts, where electronics simply don't work.

I had to get the book out and look up the letter. The poem, on the other hand, I've had memorized for years. It's just that catchy.

Please review, even if it's only to point out some typo I made—and I really do appreciate having my mistakes pointed out to me! I hate reading things and finding mistakes, so when mine are pointed out, I make a note to fix them. Someday. Like, the next time I update (or maybe the time after that…)

A pointless note of interest. I typed the latter half of this chapter with a cat on my lap, impeding my reach of the keyboard.