"We have to help Phantom!" Harry argued.
"There is nothing you can do Potter. All you'll do is get detention," McGonagall retorted sharply. Then a few students fled down the corridor.
"Matthews! Hunter! What are you running from!?" McGonagall shouted.
"Peeves is attacking Professor Umbridge, Professor. He's really angry at her for chasing Phantom," one of the students explained. McGonagall's eyes widened in alarm and she ran after the poltergeist. Harry, Ron and Hermione followed their house head.
"Out of the way! You are obstructing Ministry business!" Umbridge screeched furiously, casting spell after spell at the poltergeist. For once, Peeves wasn't enjoying throwing objects at someone. He bared his teeth angrily instead of cackling.
"Phantom is Peevesy's first friend in centuries! Peevesy helps friends," Peeves growled. Harry blinked in shock at the poltergeist's loyalty to Phantom. McGonagall eventually managed to cast a colourless shield between Umbridge and Peeves.
"Peeves, I suggest you go and cool off somewhere before I call the Bloody Baron. Dolores, this is pointless. Phantom is elusive and is only ever seen when he wants to be," McGonagall ordered the furious combatants.
Peeves glared at Umbridge.
"Peevesy will be in Phantom's classroom," Peeves decided before he flew off down the hallway. Umbridge made to follow the poltergeist but the shield spell prevented her. With an angry sniff, Umbridge adjusted her drooping bow and stomped off in the direction of her office. McGonagall sighed in relief before letting the shield dissipate.
McGonagall then fixed the damages in the corridor magically before marching off to inform Dumbledore what she knew.
"Guess that proves that Phantom isn't working with Umbridge," Harry remarked to Hermione. His friend nodded.
"I hope he's okay," she whispered worriedly.
"I wonder why Phantom didn't just attack Umbridge. I mean, he obviously could if he wanted to," Ron muttered.
"Maybe it was part of his agreement with Dumbledore," Harry guessed with a shrug.
"Or maybe he just didn't want to hurt her. Or was worried about us getting caught in the crossfire," Hermione countered.
The trio of friends decided to return to the common room. They had last minute homework assignments to complete before the end of term. They stepped through the portrait opening and spotted Ginny, Fred and George. The siblings turned to the trio.
"You're never gonna guess what Ginny's telling us. Phantom was getting chased by-" Fred began.
"Umbridge. We saw," Ron interrupted.
"I wonder what Phantom did to tick the old bat off," George mumbled.
"Absolutely nothing!" Hermione snarled as she sat beside the siblings, Ron and Harry joining her.
"Come off it. Umbridge is a psycho when it comes to control and punishment, but even she wouldn't attack without a reason," Fred retorted.
"But she did. We found Phantom and Peeves in a classroom on the fifth floor. They weren't doing anything bad. Then Peeves left to get chalk and Umbridge spotted Phantom. She tried to order him to leave," Harry explained.
"Why?" Ginny asked.
"Something about not being registered with the Ministry," Ron answered.
"Anyway, Phantom refused. Found a loophole that the High Inquisitor can't order ghosts around. She drew her wand and then Phantom… he made some green energy stuff and fired it at a wall. He told Umbridge to back off and she attacked him. He ran for it," Harry resumed.
"The hag! She's awful. Phantom didn't do anything," Hermione hissed angrily. Fred and George whistled.
"Wonder if he'll stick around after that," George muttered.
The next day, news of Phantom's chase through Hogwarts had spread through the school. Most students were upset to hear it. Phantom was well liked and students weren't blind to the fact that Peeves' tricks had gotten a lot less dangerous since the coloured ghost arrived. Everyone kept an eagle eye out for the ghost, but there was no sign. By Tuesday, Harry was certain that Phantom had left the school. And Peeves was devastated. He could be seen frequently floating sadly down hallways and the only pranks he played were on Umbridge.
Harry had even spotted McGonagall looking concerned whenever Phantom was brought up. Wednesday, at lunch time, Harry, Ron and Hermione were walking to the Great Hall and spotted Nearly Headless Nick.
"Nick! Hey, can we talk to you?" Harry called to the ghost. Nick turned to the trio and beamed.
"Of course! What do you want to talk to me about?" Nick confirmed, floating closer.
"Phantom. Has anyone seen him since Saturday?" Harry asked. Nick sighed sadly and shook his head.
"No. He's not in the castle. In fact no one knows where he went," Nick revealed.
"That's terrible! I feel awful," Hermione gasped.
"Why do you feel bad?" Ron asked confused.
"Ron, that woman mightn't have seen Phantom if we hadn't distracted him by talking to him," Hermione answered. Nick sighed.
"I'm sure Phantom doesn't blame you. He's a very forgiving person," Nick assured her.
"You know him well?" Harry realised.
"I knew him more by reputation before he came here. But yes, we speak regularly. At least we did. His absence has been felt by many of us," Nick admitted.
"Reputation?" Ron repeated.
"Yes, Phantom is well known among us ghosts. He saved us all by imprisoning Pariah Dark over a year ago. That's his most famous achievement. There are many others," Nick revealed.
"Who's Pariah Dark?" Hermione inquired.
"Pariah Dark is king of all ghosts," Nick answered.
"King of all ghosts!? And Phantom stopped him hurting you all?" Harry exclaimed. Nick nodded, his head wobbling dangerously due to his "nearly headless" state.
"He did. He actually gets embarrassed whenever it's brought up and is extremely modest," Nick recalled with a fond smile. Harry blinked in surprise.
"If he's so powerful and strong… why did he run away? He could have defended himself," Harry inquired.
"Phantom isn't like that Harry. He's very kind hearted. He only fights in order to protect others or with no other option. And he especially avoids fighting the living," Nick answered.
"Do you think Phantom will come back?" Hermione asked hopefully. Nick shrugged.
"I'm not sure. He may not want to return in case he is attacked again to protect the students here. Or he might come back but stay hidden," Nick replied.
"If he does… could you let us know?" Harry requested, starting to feel guilty about what happened also. Nick confirmed that he would and the trio resumed their journey to the Great Hall.
"Do you think that Phantom is in the order?" Harry wondered softly.
"What? Why do you say that?" Ron retorted in a hushed tone.
"Well, it's just Phantom sounds like a fighter. And he just happens to visit the year after Voldemort comes back?" Harry replied, rolling his eyes as Ron hissed in dislike, Hermione had gotten over hearing the name after she started saying it herself.
"And if Phantom has been spying on you like I thought, it would make sense. Snuffles said you were being followed still," Hermione added, using Sirius's codename. Harry nodded in agreement.
"What? Wouldn't Phantom have told us?" Ron pointed out.
"Not necessarily. He might have orders not to," Hermione countered thoughtfully.
"Well, then why did he leave?" Ron asked.
"Maybe he's worried about his cover being blown," Hermione answered.
"The only way we're gonna know for sure, is if we ask someone. We can't ask Phantom in case we're wrong as well as because he's gone," Harry decided.
"So we have to ask someone we know is in the order," Hermione deduced and Harry nodded.
"We can't ask mum. She'd go ballistic. She got so angry in the summer when we asked stuff," Ron interjected. Hermione frowned slightly as she recalled Mrs Weasley's scolding.
"What about Snuffles? He answered a load of our questions," Harry suggested. Hermione bit her lip.
"He is a good choice. But I don't know. What about Lupin?" Hermione counter-suggested.
"Doubt it. He only tells us what he thinks we need to know. What about Danny?" Ron replied.
"Actually that's a good idea. He's pretty easy going. He might tell us," Hermione agreed.
"So if we see them, we ask Snuffles or Danny," Harry concluded. Hermione and Ron nodded as they entered the Great Hall.
So Danny's involvement with the order mightn't be as hidden as he'd like…
Back to Danny…
Until the next chapter.