Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or Eve 6 or Harry Potter.
Fruit's Note: This came from the thought, "What if before Danny can capture Dan, the Nasty Burger blew up?" Then along came the thought, "Harry Potter is funny… Hey! Let's make a crossover!" There's a reason this is in the DP section. It's because Danny will be the main character and the main focus (might be a small POV change, though)
HikaruOfDreams: Thank you!
Em Phantom: It doesn't make sense? (scratches head) Uh… you can email me if you really don't get it. I'll try to answer them without ruining the story for you. But as for the longer chapter with later updates… (grins) I can deal with that!
EdwardsLover: Good to hear that!
Shiva the Sarcastic: (hug/grope/tackle) I love you! Marry me!
pisces93: Sure thing!
Evelyn Lucia: LOL. I second that!
Queen B of Randomness: Ech! I really wished they would continue… (sobs) But as for Voldemort… nope.
Amber-Phantom: Trying hard here!
Dpbuckeye: LOLZ. Run faster!!!!
egyptianqueen777: Er… die? That's a bit extreme… LOL. You'll just have to strangle me to make me update faster, then!
Fruit's Other Note: Weird… no one still can figure it out… I'm pretty much surprised. At least you can say that everyone guessed in the reviews aren't the right guesses.
Fruit's Other Other Note: Well…. The good news is that my computer is fixed! (Finally!) The bad news… well… ever since HP7 came out; I've been going on rants whenever I saw the name "Harry Potter." That includes the times when I tried to sit down and type this story. I go on less rants now, BUT (yes, it's a capital "but") I know you guys are waiting, so I tried my best. Sorry!
THE MOST IMPORTANT NOTE: Major Angst alert! Watch out for another character death!
Eight/Here's to the Night
"Vlad, today is the last time I can come see you."
Vlad looked up from his brunch and stared at Clockworks blankly. "Why?"
"Vlad, you can't seriously believe that I can always stop by here."
"Don't you like here?"
"I have my own job to get back to."
"You're just jealous that you can't get those Observer friends of yours to clean your castle."
Clockworks rolled his eyes. If only Vlad knew why he kept those Observers around… he surely would become a laughing stalk of the Ghost Zone!
"Anyways, there's something special that I need to tell you."
"Don't tell me. It's about that Fenton kid again."
"You know me well."
Vlad groaned. "What now?" he demanded, more annoyed now. Clockwork just had to spoil his appetite by talking of the Fenton kid. "Is he going to somehow end up with ice powers or something?"
"Er…"
Vlad smacked his forehead. "He is, isn't he?"
Clockwork shrugged innocently. Then he cleared his throat. "But that's not what I'm here to talk about. I'm here to tell you that you must protect him."
"Must?"
"Yes. You mustn't let him die. Even at the cost of your life."
Vlad snorted. At the cost of his life? Ha! Now that was something to laugh at! Him, Vlad Plassimus, risking his own life for a brat trying to save the world? Ha!
"I will do my best to prevent anything from killing him. But there are times when even my powers are limited. In those moments, I want you to protect him."
Vlad rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
Clockworks sighed. Perhaps this really was a bad idea…
If I wasn't a Halfa, this would never have happened, Vlad thought crossly as he and the Harry Potter tried to look for Daniel.
Currently, he was in his ghost form, flying over couple of abandoned alley ways. Harry Potter was god-knows-where and Vlad was content with that. If Clockworks expected him to baby sit this guy as well, then he was very mistaken. Vlad refused to baby sit anyone for as long as he can. Not since Danny's little temper had gotten him in heaps of trouble.
With a sigh, Vlad lowered himself to the ground. He transformed back into his human form.
Really, kids were nothing but trouble. That's why he was glad that he got rid of the clone before she became a full teenager. Imagine what would happen if she was to grow into a teen! "Daddy, get me this!" "Daddy! Now!" "DADDY!!!!!"
Vlad shuddered at the thought. His eardrums would pop! He was grateful that she was no where in Britain.
"Get out of our way!"
Then again, he could suffer the worst of everything.
"Danni? Danny?!"
The two stopped and looked around frantically. When they found out that it was Vlad, though. Danny relaxed. As for Danni…
"Die, Plassimus!"
Vlad caught her before she could punch him. "So why's she doing here?" he asked Danny.
Danny shrugged. "Where's my uncle?"
It took two seconds for Vlad to realize that Danny was talking of Harry Potter. It took another two seconds for Vlad to realize that Danni had stopped struggling. And it took another two seconds to realize that the two must be chased. Or else they wouldn't be breathing this hard.
"Who's after you?" he demanded. If there are creeps after these two, hanging around them would make him a target as well! He didn't want that!
"Death Eaters," Danni said, trying to break away from Vlad's grip.
Vlad, however, was too busy thinking to realize that his grip was hurting the young halfa. They were being chased by Death Eaters. How the heck is that even possible? The Death Eaters shouldn't know who Danny Phantom is! No one, with the expectation of himself and Clockworks, knew about the future! So how…?
"I found them!"
Vlad cursed. Where was that Potter guy when he needed him the most? Although Vlad could do some magic, he could, at best, perform the most simplest of the simplest. He couldn't take on a magically trained third-year, let alone a Death Eater! Undoubtedly, he was screwed.
"Danni!"
"I'm right here, you don't have to scream," she answered, irritated.
It was then that Vlad realized that he was still holding her fist. He let her go. "Can you apparate?"
Danni gave him a dirty look. "If I could, do you honestly believe that I'd let them chase us around?"
Vlad sighed. So much for that plan. "Look," he began, "I know that you don't like me, but if we are to survive this, we have to do it together."
"Yeah right," Danny grumbled. "You'll just run away as soon as the fight begins."
Well, there goes that plan.
"Crucio!"
There was no longer any time to think. Vlad was hit square on the chest with the spell and fell to his knees, screaming in pain. He knew that the spell was dark and painful, but he didn't know just how painful. And he was sad to find out.
The spell finally gave and Vlad shuddered. Danni and Danny were both being treated the same. They were all gasping for breaths and shivering. It hurt. It hurt a lot and he had no physical wound to prove it. He hated it. He hated being helpless when he needed to be strong. He hated pain. And most of all, he hated that Clockworks had chosen him for this path. Or maybe that was fate. But it didn't matter; he was blaming it all on Clockworks anyways.
"Why are you doing this?" he finally croaked.
"Well, seeing that the Dark Lord had promised a hefty reward for the head of the Phantom boy… I say this is a great opportunity to practice my Cruico charm. I think I might be getting a bit rusty."
A round of cruel laughter went around. Vlad gritted his teeth.
There are times when even my powers are limited. In those moments, I want you to protect him. Vlad sneered. He would never give up his life!
The Death Eaters took that as a sign of resistant and fired another round of Cruicios.
Vlad was shaking. And from that, he knew that Danni and Danny were in worse forms. Was it really necessary to give up three lives?
No! He wouldn't! He wouldn't die! Never! Not for these brats!
Another round of Crucios brought forth another scream from his throat. He didn't even remember them stopping!
The children must be suffering so much, though. He couldn't help but to pity them. How intense their pain would be! But he wasn't going to sacrifice his life for them! He wouldn't! He couldn't! He loved life!
You mustn't let him die. Even at the cost of your life. But he didn't want to die! Vlad didn't want to die! He didn't want to let go of life!
He gritted his teeth and gulped down the scream that had been tormenting his throat. He had to make sure that Danny lived. He had to. Clockworks obviously couldn't do anything. It was up to him. But if he was to begin to start distracting the Death Eaters and Danni and Danny got away, he wouldn't have enough energy left to get away himself. It was simple. Save two or all three of them die. But either way, he would still end up dead. What sort of messed up life was this?
Shakily, Vlad forced his legs to carry him. He stood up and faced the Death Eaters. The crucios stopped.
"Oh? You still can stand?"
Damn right Vlad could stand. But he only had so much strength left. He possibly couldn't stand and fight for too long. And he doubted that he had enough energy to kill anyone, either. Injure, maybe, but kill? Not likely.
"We'll just make sure that you can never stand again!"
He knew that. He knew that this would be his last. He will never stand after this.
More laughter filled the air.
Vlad felt Danni stirring behind him. Good, she must've survived. He needed her to stay awake for this plan to work.
"Danni," he rasped. "Get Danny out of here. Go in your ghost form. Now!"
At the word, "Now" Vlad changed into his ghost form. He wasn't going to go down without a fight!
With a sinister grin, Vlad sent red lasers around at the Death Eaters. He noted that Danni was flying off with Danny in hand. At least Clockworks would be happy.
"Cruico!"
Vlad had been through this spell too long to let it affect him greatly, this time. He closed his eyes tightly and fired random lasers around.
Danni didn't realize that she was crying until her vision became fuzzy. She cursed herself for being so weak. Why would she even cry? Because of the little pain that the Death Eaters put her through? Because of the fact that it was that monstery that she was planning to join? Because Danny, no matter how hard she tried, wouldn't wake up? Or perhaps the most important reason was that she had left Vlad.
Sure, she never really got along with the old man, but he was still her father. No. She couldn't think like this. Vlad was alive. He had to be. He would most likely run away at the last minute and spring up later saying, "Fooled ya!"
She shook her head. Of course, Vlad wouldn't do that. He'd be more dignified. He'd be more like, "What? You've been worried about little old me?" and raise his brow up in a questioning manner.
She laughed. Or perhaps Vlad would say, "So you do care about your father!"
She choked back a sob. She might've considered him her father once, but not anymore. Not since his betrayal. That's right. He betrayed her. He deserved whatever the Death Eaters would give him. She wasn't going to cry over him. Not now, not ever.
She dropped to the ground. It was getting really hard holding up both herself and Danny up in the air. And Danny wouldn't wake up. If only he did… then they could go ghost and-
She stopped the thought. Danny couldn't go ghost. He was dependent on her right now. How odd. For the most of her life, she had been telling every one of how great Danny was and how great fighter he was and so on and so forth. But now, he couldn't even win against her in a duel.
"Danny?"
The voice jerked Danni out of her thoughts. She looked up to two brilliant green eyes. She gasped. Could this be?
She searched his forehead and found it. The infamous thunder-shaped scar. It was Harry Potter.
"M… Uncle Potter!" she called. If he was Danny's uncle, then he was Danni's uncle as well.
Harry Potter looked taken back at her. "Um… who're you?"
"I'm Danni. I'm Danny's cousin," she explained. "And he's hurt! There were Death Eaters every where and we were running but we got caught and they started throwing crucios at us and Vlad told us to leave and Danny won't wake up and-"
Harry held up his hand. "Then we'll have to take him to the Order…" he paused. "Wait. How do you know about Death Eaters?"
"I'm with the Serpent's Alliances. And I have been for quite a long time now. But that's not important. We have to take care of Danny."
Harry nodded slowly. "Okay. But you're still going to be questioned."
"Okay, okay! Just help Danny!"
Harry held the two close. Then he apparated away to Headquarters.
He carried Danny while Danni followed silently behind. He knocked on the door three times.
"What's wrong with London Bridge?" asked a muffled voice from the other side of the door.
Danni raised a brow. The London Bridge?
"It's falling down," Harry answered, however, with the utmost ease.
"And who cares the most?"
"My Fair Lady."
"Okay. You may enter."
Then the door sprang open.
Danni, still a bit baffled, walked in after Harry.
"Harry!" A lady with bushy hair shouted. Then she stopped. "Who… are these?"
"They were attacked by Death Eaters. We have to treat them immediately."
Without another word, she used her magic to lift Danny from Harry's arms and took him aside. Danni was about to follow when Harry interrupted her.
"You," he said, "are coming with me."
Numbly, she nodded and allowed him to lead her away.
By then, Vlad was long away from her thoughts.
He knew he was tiring. He knew that he couldn't take them all on. He knew all these and yet, he had to. He had to continue on. He had to buy Danni more time to escape. Danny was the hope of the humans and ghosts. He had to survive.
"He's going crazy!"
"Kill him!"
Vlad smiled. Finally. His end was here.
"Avada…"
Vlad fired another laser, tiredly. The cruicos have really taken a horrible toll on him.
"Kedavra!"
And he welcomed the darkness.
-----------------------------------
Clockworks sighed heavily. The deed was done. Vlad was gone.
If only he knew the truth, Clockworks thought. If only he knew that this was something that has been fated to happen. Something that couldn't be changed. No matter how anyone struggled. Vlad, you were supposed to die, protecting Danny.
Clockworks covered his face, hiding the tears that threatened in his eyes. No one was watching, but he had to cover his face. No one should see him crying. He shouldn't have become attached in the first place!
He quickly wiped away the tears. He had another place to go to, now. Another poor soul to see.
