A few minutes after Sam returned to the lab, Danny walked into the lab in human form, uninjured. Steven blinked at him in surprise.
"Injuries don't seem to carry over to duplicates. Wish I'd known that before. That time I broke my arm would have been so much easier if I'd known," Danny explained, referencing an old injury and his difficulty in keeping his secret and to continue ghost fighting.
"So, without Karl around, how do you feel? And if you say you're fine, I'll slap you," Sam inquired. Danny shrugged.
"As long as I don't use my ice powers and the pain killers are working, I'm brilliant. Sick of lying still, but that's all," Danny answered.
"We've been catching your parents and Danielle up on everything. And trying to figure out what's going on. Any ideas?" Harry informed him. Danny opened his mouth to answer but then put up a finger and seemed to freeze. A second later he shook his head.
"Sorry, my guard asked me a question. Two conversations are hard to carry like this. Especially when I'm trying to keep it secret. If I freeze for a second, that's why. Ideas? Hmm, well it's obvious Vlad messed up and is hoping for me to fix everything," Danny explained.
"How is that obvious?" Steven asked. Danny smirked.
"Vlad's being nice to me. Actually seems concerned about me. If I didn't know better, I'd say old cheese head grew a conscience and a heart. Only seen that when he needs me to clean up his messes. Also, Vlad may think he knows how I work, but I know how he works too. I'd also say, any ghost looking for a partner is going to prefer Dan to Vlad," Danny replied. Danny then glanced at his parents.
"Did you guys tell them about Dan?" Danny inquired nervously. Sam nodded.
"I told them everything I knew," Sam admitted. Danny nodded.
"Mom, dad. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about him. But I wanted to keep all that in the past. I never expected Dan to get free," Danny apologised, looking extremely sorry. Maddie smiled at him.
"I don't blame you sweetie. It wasn't easy for you to think about. We're not angry at you," Maddie assured her son and pulled him into a hug. Jack joined in. Danny suddenly froze and muttered an apology. Maddie chuckled and shook her head, assuring him that they understood.
"You said you had a theory?" Harry reminded Danny after the family moment passed. Danny nodded.
"I think I figured out why only certain spells work on me. I think magic as a whole doesn't affect ghosts except certain spells that could prove fatal to normal humans. Think about it, electricity works on me, Vlad and Danielle. But healing spells don't. It's only a theory and I can't be certain, but maybe only spells that would kill someone affect ghosts and since we're all half ghost, the rule carries to us," Danny theorized. Harry nodded slowly.
"We could test that theory, but I'd rather not cast those kinds of spells," Steven interjected cautiously. Danny nodded.
"I understand. But this is a duplicate. No damage caused to it, occurs to me. Any other questions?" Danny replied. Harry bit his lip as he recalled the spell Snape invented, Septumsempra. It wasn't illegal and it was potentially life threatening.
"How bad is your ice core?" Sam asked, eager to change the subject. Danny frowned.
"Not sure. But channelling my powers is very painful and difficult. Definitely damaged. I just hope it will repair itself. My ghost sense is linked to it and the way it is, I don't know if it would even trigger," Danny answered. Sam frowned sadly with concern. Danny shook his head and smiled reassuringly.
"Hey, I was able to fight ghosts before I got my ice powers. And yeah not having a ghost sense will make things a whole lot harder, but I'll manage. Besides, it mightn't be that bad. I'd rather hear an expert's opinion before jumping to conclusions," Danny reassured the group.
"Danny's right. We don't know anything for sure, so let's try to be optimistic about this," Maddie suggested. Danny smiled gratefully at his mother. He froze for a split second and smiled apologetically.
"So, where's Vlad?" Danny asked. Sam scowled in annoyance.
"Cleaning off all the blood apparently. Refused to be in the room while we laid out everything we knew," Sam answered stiffly. Danny raised an eyebrow.
"That's Vlad for you," Danny commented. Sam shook her head.
"He wants your help to clean up his mess but he won't help us! It makes me so angry!" Sam growled. Danny placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Sam, don't let Vlad get to you. You know how he is. I'm sure he'll tell us what we want when he feels it's necessary," Danny soothed his girlfriend. Sam looked up at him and nodded.
Danny then turned to Harry.
"So are we testing my theory?" Danny asked. Harry bit his lip and glanced at Danny's parents.
"If these spells are fatal and work on you, you could be killed Danny," Harry pointed out cautiously. Danny nodded.
"That's why I'm offering to be a guinea pig only on my duplicate. Trust me Harry, I know what I'm doing. Also, this is important. If we can understand why certain spells work when others don't then we'll have an advantage. We'd know what spells work against ghosts and use that against the ones attacking and we'd have an advantage over those aurors," Danny replied calmly.
"You want to be experimented on?" Sam inquired sceptically. Danny shrugged before grinning to himself.
"Man I've missed being able to shrug! You have no idea how frustrating it is to not be able to do that and lead a cocky conversation!" Danny exclaimed excitedly. Sam giggled and Danny's parents smirked.
"But, yeah. I guess I do want to be experimented on. The difference is I'm offering and Harry, and maybe Steven, won't be doing anything I'm not comfortable with," Danny affirmed, growing serious again.
"You're sure?" Harry ventured and Danny nodded. Danny then walked to a clear section of the lab and spread his arms, waiting. He froze for a second before nodding to Harry. Harry bit his lip and took out his wand. He decided to start with not necessarily fatal spells.
"Incendio," Harry commanded. Danny shook his head after the spell had no effect.
"Wizards at MACUSA figured out that didn't work on me. Actually it was after that spell that they figured out heat affected me," Danny commented. Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Incendio is a fire conjuring spell," Harry informed the halfa. Danny raised a thoughtful eyebrow.
"Alright, fire doesn't work. Next?" Danny decided.
Harry nodded and tried a number of spells but none worked. Harry frowned.
"That's all the approved, legal spells I can think of," Harry admitted. Danny nodded.
"All spells the MACUSA guys tried," Danny added. Steven bit his lip.
"There is a spell that would prove or disprove Danny's theory. But it's illegal," Steven muttered. Harry nodded.
"I know what you're thinking Steven, but I have another spell up my sleeve. One I only used once and regretted it. Luckily Malfoy didn't die," Harry revealed. He had been trying to avoid using this spell but it looked like this was the last choice, other than the killing curse. Harry cast Septumsempra and everyone waited but like before, there was no effect on Danny.
"What does that spell do?" Danny asked curiously.
"When I cast it on Malfoy, in my defence I didn't know what the spell did, it was like an invisible sword stabbed Malfoy over and over again. Luckily help was nearby," Harry answered. Steven frowned.
"That can't be legal," he remarked. Harry shook his head.
"As far as I know, was never taken to the Ministry to get approved. Can't be illegal if no one knows about it," Harry replied.
"So that illegal spell… what is it?" Jack asked nervously. Harry glanced at the large man.
"Avada Kedrava. The killing curse. Only one person has ever survived it," Steven answered and nodded at Harry. Maddie shook her head.
"No. I will not let you use that spell on my son. Even if he is a duplicate. We don't know for sure if magic doesn't carry over to Danny's original body if it affects him," Maddie interjected sternly.
"Easy way to find out mom. Use a lightning spell on my duplicate and we'll see if my original upstairs feels it," Danny suggested. Harry stared at the halfa.
"Danny, we know that hurts you," Harry pointed out with concern. Danny nodded.
"That's the idea Harry. I told you before, those spells, they hurt, but it's not anything really bad. Nothing compared to shocks I've gotten in the past," Danny assured the wizard.
Harry glanced at Danny's parents and Sam. Sam frowned at Danny but nodded reluctantly. She was giving Harry the go ahead, despite not liking the situation either. She trusted Danny's judgement. Harry sighed deeply and pointed his wand at Danny. He cast the spell and winced as Danny doubled over and grunted in pain. He shook his head and stood up straight. He blinked a couple of times.
"Didn't affect my original, like I knew it wouldn't," Danny announced. Sam bit her lip and left the lab, Danny's duplicate rolling his eyes at her back.
Sam poked her head around the living room doorway. Danny looked up and smirked at her.
"Find the Ghost Catcher alright?" Danny asked from his position on the couch. Sam blinked and nodded.
"Yeah, yeah. We found it. Just trying to get it to do what we want. I thought I heard something up here so came to check. Danielle back yet?" Sam lied. Danny shook his head.
"What about you wizard?" Danny prompted. Karl glowered at him.
"I have a name," Karl snapped.
"And so do I. I told you, treat me like a thing and I'll return the favour," Danny retorted. Karl glared at the halfa before turning to Sam.
"Haven't heard or seen a thing. Just been talking with him. He's telling me about some of his "ghost fights"," Karl answered.
Sam nodded and smiled at her boyfriend. It was a good thing to occupy Karl with. Danny told some of his stories so often that reciting them became second nature. Also, if he accidentally repeated something, he could blame the medication. Sam turned to leave.
"Oh, Sam. Ask mom to check how long those pain killers work, might be needing some more soon," Danny called. Sam agreed to do as he asked.
She returned to the lab.
"Why didn't you ask her yourself?" Sam inquired. Danny's duplicate raised an eyebrow.
"Right, and then have to explain why I have a duplicate down here," Danny pointed out. Sam bit her lip and blushed as she realised that Danny was covering his tracks.
"Mom, I asked Sam to ask you to check how long those pain killers last. Got to be starting to wear off soon," Danny repeated himself. Maddie's eyes widened.
"Of course, I'll do that now. Sorry Danny," Maddie quickly replied and went into the kitchen. Danny then folded his arms.
"I don't want to ask you to break your laws Harry. But this could make or break my theory," Danny urged.
Harry shared a look with Steven.
"Steven, if this spell was cast but not used, would it be classed as illegal?" Harry pondered aloud. Steven bit his lip.
"I suppose, if there's no body, there's no proof. But are you sure Danny?" Steven replied. Danny nodded.
"This is a duplicate. Anything you do to it doesn't affect me. I'd rather experience a little discomfort from a destroyed duplicate than have Danielle end up dead because we didn't know if this spell was dangerous to us," Danny answered. Harry nodded.
"Alright, here goes," Harry murmured and recalling how Voldemort had explained the way the unforgivable curses worked, he pictured Bellatrix in front of him, cackling about killing Sirius. He pointed his wand at Danny and hissed the spell.
Green light erupted from his wand and struck Danny. He was thrown backwards into the parked Spectre Speeder but apart from hitting his head, he was unharmed. Harry shuddered at the hateful feelings he experienced to cast that spell.
"Never want to do that again," Harry muttered, clearly shaken. Danny got to his feet and looked down at himself.
"Huh, guess that disproves my theory. I thought I had figured it out," Danny complained. Jack and Sam breathed a sigh of relief.
Maddie returned and scowled as she realised that they'd gone ahead with the spell while she was gone. But she sighed in relief as she saw that Danny was unharmed. Danny then asked if there was anything else they wanted to talk to him about before recalling his duplicate.
This won't be forgotten, but it won't be figured out in this fanfic. I am planning to wrap things up fully in a later fanfic. You'll see at the end why, and I'll explain then.
Until the next chapter.