Thanks to all my (15!) reviewers from chapter thirteen! Let's see, that's ghostlover15, Nonasuki-chan, lil' munkies, Sasia93, dark magician girl93, Rambie, sweeteen19, Breaking away bit by bit, PotterPhan21, epobbp, Shiva the Sarcastic, The great suskino, Lunagirl101, 1bluefur, and Lady Jarine. Sodas to everyone who asked for them, (Plus skittles to 1bluefur) and doughnuts for reviewing the next chapter.
Also, lots of interesting reviews for the last chapter… There was some disagreement about the prequel, so I'm going to either wait until I finish this story to start that one or ask again when this story gets around Christmas break.
A few of you guessed that Vlad was the one the hat couldn't read… Wrong! I'll give you two hints about who it was. First, it has something too do with Occlumency and Legilimency, and second, I used thirty years as a general term because I'm pretty sure that's around when Harry's parents were there, so I guessed that most of the people at Hogwarts now probably had parents at Hogwarts around thirty years ago. (If you think that's a completely wrong guess please tell me and I will change it!)
An extra thanks to anyone who has ever reviewed any chapter of this story ever. As of November 16, 2006, I have over one hundred reviews. You guys rock!
A few of you said the girl at the end of the chapter sounds like a Mary Sue, which I am really sorry for. Basically she's here because Paullina is not, and I like Paullina's character. Grin She's just one of those characters you love to hate. Or at least I do.
And I'm incredibly sorry for the late update. A combination of events beyond my control (Like Thanksgiving) and trying to make these chapters longer has made the updates kind of slow.
Also, I'm listening to Christmas music! Just thought I'd say that, I love the Christmas season. Grin
Um… I guess that's it. I won't take up any more of your time. So read!
"What are you looking at, geek?" The blonde Danny had been… looking at (Ok staring at without blinking for an unhealthy amount of time) sneered at him when she noticed.
"Um… I'm… you're… What's your name?" He finally finished lamely.
"How do you not know?" She asked, and at that moment Sam decided- She hated this girl.
"Um, I'm… I'm new here," Danny said.
"Well, I'm Kierra, and you… have no chance at me." She walked off towards a compartment near the back of the train, leaving Danny with a look that Tucker called his puppy-that's-been-run-over-by-a-truck expression.
Hermione looked at the clock above the train and She, Danny, Sam, Tucker, Harry, Ron, and Ginny on-board.
As soon as the train had started up and rounded the corner, out of sight of the station, Ron and Hermione hurried off to the front of the train, where two carriages were reserved especially for the prefects. Danny, Sam, and Tucker said good-bye to Harry and Ginny, who (Danny noticed) in an empty compartment across from Kierra and the girl Harry had been looking at who seemed to be her friend.
Danny, Sam, and Tucker walked through the train, looking in every compartment they passed until they got to the very end, where Danny was almost knocked over by a boy named-
"Neville Longbottom," said the boy, bending over to retrieve his dropped things. "Sorry about that. I was just looking for a compartment, but every where's full…"
Sam pointed to the very last compartment, which was occupied by only one girl. "What about there?" She asked, "Looks like there's plenty of room."
Neville looked uncomfortable and shook his head, "I don't want to bother anyone," he mumbled.
Sam rolled her eyes. "I'm sure we won't bother her," she said, "Look, she's reading some magazine, and she probably won't even notice we're in there." And that being said, she opened the door and stepped inside, Danny and Tucker followed, and after a moment or two Neville did as well.
"Can we sit here?" Sam asked the girl, gesturing around to the numerous empty seats around her. The girl looked up at the four of them, and nodded. "Thanks," said Sam, slightly unsettled by the girl's silence, and talking quickly to cover her uneasiness.
"I'm Sam Manson, this is Danny Phantom, Tucker Foley, and… Neville Longbottom, right?" she added, pointing to Neville. He nodded.
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Meanwhile, Ginny had left the compartment she'd been sitting in with Harry. It was hard to have so much as a simple conversation with him when he was spending every second staring at Cho. "Perfect, saintly Cho Chang," Ginny muttered.
Her quiet ranting was interrupted as she ran into Hermione. "Hi, Ginny," said Hermione. "Where are you going?"
Ginny shrugged. "I thought I might go find Danny, Sam, and Tucker," she said.
"Is Harry staring at Cho again?" Hermione said sympathetically.
Ginny nodded. "Where's Ron?" she asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Back there somewhere arguing with Malfoy," she answered. "Mind if I come with you?"
"Whatever," Ginny said, shrugging.
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Meanwhile, an uncomfortable silence had descended over the compartment where Danny, Sam, Tucker, Neville, and Luna sat. Luna was studying Danny intently.
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"There they are," Hermione said, pointing to the compartment. "Who's that?"
"Loony Lovegood, she's in my year, but in Ravenclaw," Ginny answered.
"Well let's go in," said Hermione. She opened the door.
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Suddenly Luna's face brightened, as if she'd suddenly remembered something. "I know who you are," she said, in a dreamy voice with an undercurrent of excitement. "You're the halfa!"
"How did you know that?" Danny asked, panicked.
A voice from the now open (although none of them had heard it open) door said, "You're the halfa?" It was Hermione, with Ginny standing next to her.
"Well, yes, but"-
"I think you've got some explaining to do," Hermione said grimly, stepping in with Ginny and shutting the door.
Danny's shoulders slumped as he began to tell his story.
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So that's everything," he said, "I swear I'm not evil or anything, and whatever Vlad's said about me isn't true."
The silence in the compartment was complete, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Danny was almost shaking with nervousness, his body tense, ready to go ghost at a moment's notice if Hermione or Ginny decided Vlad was telling the truth and he wasn't, and fly out of there.
He really had nothing to worry about, since Hermione had already formed the conclusion that she had been around Danny all summer and it didn't seem like he was violently inclined at all, while she'd only met Vlad twice and hadn't liked him even then. No, what she was really wondering about was how Luna had figured this out just by seeing him.
But just as she was about to ask Luna, the train gave a jolt and stopped. The lights flickered into non-existence, and a light blue mist escaped from Danny's mouth.
Ok, so it's only about two hundred words longer than usual, sorry about that, but I couldn't think how else to end this chapter. Hopefully this should make those of you who have been saying Harry and co. should find out Danny's secret a little happier. Also, sorry if the chapter seems a little choppy, I was talking to a friend while writing this. ;)