It didn't take long for Danny to find Wulf. They exchanged a few questions and answers before Wulf ran off through the abandoned streets.
"Where's he going?" Harry asked, concerned. Danny smiled reassuringly at Harry.
"He's going to hang out in the woods until we're ready to leave. Like I said, the ghosts around here don't like him. Besides he prefers it in the woods. Come on, I need to do something before I forget," Danny explained and led the way towards the castle.
"Why are we here? You want to talk to Aragon or something?" Harry guessed. Danny shook his head.
"No, Aragon, like Dora, has an amulet that changes him into a dragon. During the fight I threw it into the moat. I want to get it back so that Dora can decide what to do with it when she comes around. Personally I'd hide it in the Far Frozen or at Clockwork's, if he let me, but it is Aragon's right to have his amulet. So I'll leave the decision for Dora," Danny answered. Before Harry could reply, Danny jumped into the moat.
Harry couldn't help but be reminded of his triwizard tournament. He'd faced a dragon, been forced to go look for something he cared about in the Black Lake and then there had been that maze. To this day, he couldn't go into a maze with flashing back to that task and the graveyard. He shuddered at the memory of Cedric's empty unseeing eyes. Harry bit his lip and waited for Danny to come back up. He wasn't sure if he should dive in and help or wait. He didn't know that much about the Ghost Zone and he wasn't the best swimmer. After a few minutes, which had Harry getting worried, Danny's head popped back up and he floated out of the water. He turned briefly intangible and dried himself off and landed beside Harry. Danny then reverted to human and shoved the clunky amulet into his pocket.
"My jumpsuit doesn't have that many pockets," Danny remarked, seeing Harry's expression. Danny then returned to his ghost form, Dora's ectoplasm now gone.
They walked back into the town and returned to the medical building. Danny busied himself by walking from doctor to doctor offering his assistance. A couple of times he was asked to fetch something, hold a ghost still or even to produce some ice for the doctors to use. Harry lost track of time and tried to help where possible.
After a long time and lot of patients, the grouchy doctor shuffled over to Danny while he helped another doctor bandage up a broken arm on a skeletal woman. The doctor muttered to Danny that Princess Dora had woken up and as soon as the patient was treated, Danny half-ran back to Dora's room. Harry, who had been looking for the next troubled ghost spotted the exchange and followed Danny.
"Mind if I come?" Harry asked. Danny shook his head.
"Not at all. By the way, I'm sorry for dragging you here for so long. I promise, as soon as I've spoken with Dora, we'll head back to Hogwarts," Danny replied. Harry nodded. He didn't blame Danny for wanting to stay and help. The realm looked like a war zone and Dora obviously needed Danny's help.
Danny stopped at Dora's door and took a steadying breath and knocked on the door.
"Come in," Dora called brightly. Danny opened the door and smiled at Dora. She looked a lot better. She was sitting up comfortably in her bed, seeming very alert.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Dany inquired. Dora smiled.
"Better. Thanks. Although my doctor told me to stay here for a little while before returning to the castle. Thank you for coming Danny. I hope I didn't risk your secret or anything," Dora replied. Danny shook his head.
"Not at all. By the way, Harry here knows about the whole Phantom-Fenton thing. He was with me when Wulf came to me," Danny retorted kindly and gestured to Harry. Dora smiled at him and waved in a friendly manner. Harry dipped his head to the ghostly princess.
Danny reverted to his human half and pulled out Aragon's amulet.
"I took the liberty to retrieve Aragon's amulet for you. No one saw me as far as I know. What do you want to do with it?" Danny informed her and with a second flash of bright light, returned to Phantom. He walked over to Dora and handed the necklace to her. Dora bit her lip and sighed.
"I'll keep it hidden. No one will know that it was taken from the moat. I'll hide it in the castle in case it is ever needed. Thank you Danny," Dora decided softly and tucked it out of sight in her gown.
"Any time Dora," Danny smiled at her. Dora nodded.
"My thanks to you as well Harry. The doctor told me how you guided my people to safety or to medical help," Dora called to Harry. Harry blinked in surprise before smiling sheepishly.
"Oh, I was just doing what Danny told me to do and I didn't do much," Harry began. Dora smiled.
"Just as modest as Danny I see. Either way, you helped my people in our time of need. And I'm grateful to you. You are always welcome in my kingdom," Dora retorted seriously. Harry smiled nervously but didn't contradict her.
"Dora, I was going to have a chat with you but it can wait until next week. But if you have any trouble, tell Wulf to come and get me. I'll ask him to stick around in the woods around the castle for the next few days. Is that alright with you?" Danny asked. Dora nodded.
"That's fine Danny. Thank you," Dora answered. Danny smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Good, take it easy Dora and get better soon," Danny retorted gently. Dora opened her mouth to protest but instead sighed and nodded.
"Thank you Danny. I guess my acting skills aren't as good as I thought," Dora remarked. Danny shook his head.
"Nah, I just know the signs too well from experience. But any time, just let me know and I'll come here," Danny assured her. Dora nodded and Danny and Harry left. Harry giving a quick farewell and a wave over his shoulder.
Danny told a doctor by the door that he had to go and then they left. As they walked Harry frowned in thought.
"What did Dora and you mean in there about acting and signs?" Harry ventured. Danny smiled grimly.
"Dora was still in a lot of pain and was trying to hide it from us. I can't blame her really, she's a princess and needs to be strong for her people," Danny explained. Harry scowled.
"I didn't see that," he muttered. Danny gave a small humourless laugh.
"She hid it pretty well. But I've had years of experience hiding injuries and I noticed her flinch when she took the amulet. I'll be honest, she had me fooled until then," Danny admitted.
Danny grinned as he saw Wulf rolling around in a pile of dead leaves that always seemed to litter the ground in the forest around Dora's realm.
"Wulf!" Danny called. Wulf rolled to his feet and bounded over to Danny.
"Amiko, estas ĉio en ordo nun? Kiamaniere Dora?" Wulf inquired. (Friend, is everything alright now? How is Dora?). Danny nodded.
"Malstrĉiĝi Wulf, Dora estos bone. Sed mi konjektas ni estis en la Fantoma Zono por longa tempo. Ni devas reiri al Hogwarts. Gravas fari portalon por ni?" Danny replied with a smile. (Relax Wulf, Dora will be fine. But I'm guessing we've been in the Ghost Zone for a long time. We need to get back to Hogwarts. Mind making a portal for us?). Wulf shook his head.
"Kompreneble ne Amiko. Sed mi ne povas fari portal ekzistas de ĉi tie. Ĉu vi pretas forlasi?" Wulf answered. (Of course not Friend. But I can't make a portal there from here. Are you ready to leave?).
Danny nodded.
"Mi havas favoron peti de vi tamen Wulf. Ĉu vi gravas resti en la ardaro tie trans la proksima semajno en kazoo Aragon provas ion? Dora ebla bezonas kontakti min," Danny requested. (I have a favour to ask from you though Wulf. Would you mind staying in the woods here over the next week in case Aragon tries something? Dora might need to get in contact with me again). Wulf grinned toothily.
"Certe, tio ne estas problem. Mi ŝatas la arbaron tie. Ĉu vi volas ke mi viziti vin venontsemajne?" Wulf asked. (Sure, that's not a problem. I like the forest here. Do you want me to visit you next week?). Danny nodded and smiled.
"Tio estus bonega. Mi sendos leterojn hejmen venontsemajne klarigante ĉiu se tio bone. Kiam vi pretas iri, mi estas," Danny retorted. (That would be great. I'll send letters home next week explaining everything if that's alright. When you're ready to go, I am).
Wulf nodded and jumped into the air and Danny turned to Harry.
"Wulf's going to open a portal for us to get back to Hogwarts. But he can't do it here. Unless you can fly, I'm going to have to carry you again," Danny explained quickly, keeping an eye on Wulf. Harry nodded.
"That's fine. I can't fly without a broomstick," Harry retorted. Danny nodded and grabbed Harry under the arms and flew after Wulf.
Crisis sorted. Let me know what you think…
Until the next chapter.