"There's one thing I don't understand. You've been watching Harry the whole year, right?" Hermione began.
"Most of it yeah. I did get a few days off here and there and I didn't watch entire lessons," Danny agreed.
"Then how come we never saw you? After I suspected you, I kept an eye out but I never spotted you," Hermione inquired. Danny smirked.
"Easy," Danny answered and turned himself invisible. The six teens gasped. Danny made himself visible again.
"I can even get past Moody," Danny bragged.
"Blimey," Ron breathed.
"Then why watch me? You could have watched Voldemort!" Harry exclaimed, ignoring the cringes at the name. Danny shook his head.
"No, I couldn't have. Remember what I said was my reason for travelling?" Danny replied.
"Your ghost friends disappeared so you decided to go sightseeing," Harry instantly recalled.
"I kind of lied. Voldemort has been recruiting my kind of ghost. Most of my enemies," Danny began.
"Why didn't he recruit you?" Ron interrupted.
"He tried," Danny retorted. Everyone threw him confused looks. Danny shook his head and sighed.
"It was the beginning of the summer. A couple of weeks after school broke up I think and Voldemort returned. Anyway, I was home and I started to notice ghosts disappearing. It was subtle at first. There'd be a ghost attack and by the time I got there, the ghost would be gone. My enemies make a habit of attacking my town, so I took it upon myself to beat them back. So, ghosts were disappearing, I didn't lie about that. One day, I got called over to these two guys in robes and masks," Danny began.
"Death Eaters," Ginny whispered. Danny nodded.
"That's right. I didn't know at the time that was who they were. I thought they were just weirdoes. Anyway, they gave me an offer. Join their boss and do a few jobs here and there and be loyal to him," Danny resumed.
"What was in it for you?" Neville inquired.
"It wasn't an offer Neville. I quickly realised that. It was a threat. Join Voldemort or he'd come after me. So I told those Death Eaters to clear off and refused," Danny answered. Ron laughed.
"Bet they weren't happy," he chuckled. Danny smirked for a second, reminded of Sirius.
"No, they weren't. A few days later, I was on the lookout for ghosts and I saw something above my town. I went after it but as I got closer, I got cold and began to feel upset," Danny continued.
"Dementors," Harry gasped. Danny nodded.
"I realised it wasn't a ghost and ran for it. As a ghost, I can go through walls and give dementors the slip. It was only one, it wasn't hard, or at least that's what I thought. But… it wasn't just one. At least four of them chased me and caught me. Three held me while the fourth… the fourth lowered its hood," Danny recalled.
"They tried to kiss you!?" Hermione squeaked. Danny nodded grimly. The six teens looked upset at the news.
"How did you escape?" Luna asked. Danny shook his head.
"I didn't. I would have been kissed if Remus hadn't been there. He cast a patronus charm and saved me. The next day, I wasn't really with it that night, I spoke to Remus and then Dumbledore and they asked me to join. A week later I went to my first order meeting," Danny answered.
"What did you do all summer?" Hermione inquired.
"Watch me?" Harry guessed. Danny shook his head.
"Nah, didn't start that until school started. No, I did odd jobs over the summer. I was the one to scout the department of mysteries so that we knew how the door chamber worked and so on. I was there during your hearing Harry. I watched Amelia Bones in case they changed the hearing time or place. I warned Dumbledore and Tonks, Tonks passed on the message to someone who'd tell Arthur and you," Danny told them.
"So what are you going to do now?" Harry asked, hoping it wouldn't be business as usual and Danny watching him.
"I was hoping to get a couple of days off to heal. I have no orders at the moment," Danny admitted.
"What spell hit you?" Luna inquired.
"Ectoplasm cleaning spell. Trying really hard not to get offended at that," Danny answered with a scowl.
"Ectoplasm?" Ron repeated. Danny sighed.
"Ghosts, especially my kind of ghost, are made up of something called ectoplasm. That spell literally "cleans" away what I'm made of. Guess I should be grateful. It only hit my arm. Could have been my head or chest," Danny explained. The teens, once again, fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Minutes later, the door banged open and Dumbledore walked in supporting a messy Umbridge. She looked traumatised with her wide fearful eyes and quivering lip. Dumbledore smiled warmly at the teens as he helped Umbridge to an unused bed.
"Good afternoon. I hope you are all well. How's your arm Danny? Miss Granger, Mr Weasley? Feeling better I trust," Dumbledore greeted them.
"Danny?" Neville and Ginny repeated. Danny rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Danny. It's my first name. Still sore. Haven't checked it yet," Danny replied. Hermione and Ron muttered words of assurances that they were feeling better. Dumbledore nodded and gave Harry a smile of his own. Danny smirked as he noticed Harry acknowledge the smile with a weak one of his own.
A few days later, Danny's arm had healed and Ron and Hermione left the hospital wing. Without a cast, Danny happily floated through the corridors. McGonagall was back on her feet and Hagrid was back. It almost felt like the school was waking up from a bad dream. At least that was the case for everyone but Harry. Danny saw the teen sometimes walking through the corridors but he didn't force himself on the wizard. If Harry wanted to talk to him, he'd come to him.
On the last night of term, Danny noticed a number of posters from Luna, appealing for her possessions be returned to her. He laughed as Peeves chased Umbridge out of the castle and then appealed to the ghosts to help him search for Luna's missing possessions. It took less than an hour.
"Hey, Luna! I found your missing stuff. Here, the rest is in my classroom, where do you want me to take it for you?" Danny called to the peculiar witch, handing her a pair of shoes and a book. Luna smiled airily.
"Thank you Danny. I'll come collect it now and then I can pack," Luna decided. Danny led her to his classroom door and phased in and gathered her things for her.
"If anything else goes missing, let me know and I'll keep an eye out for it if I'm around. I may or may not be around next year," Danny told her. Luna smiled serenely and nodded.
"Thanks Danny. I hope you are here next year. For one Peeves was very upset before Christmas when you left," Luna replied. Danny smiled.
"I know. Doubt I've ever had a tighter hug than the one he gave me when I got back," Danny chuckled. Luna nodded.
"Have a good summer Danny," Luna called.
"You too Luna," Danny returned, it was nice being called his first name for a change. Ginny, Neville, Hagrid, Harry, Hermione, Ron and Luna used it now instead of his chosen surname.
The next morning, Dumbledore sent Danny home for a few days. Healed, Danny was more than happy to accept the chance. He spent his birthday at home, a small scale party and cake. It was wonderfully normal and homely. The end of the visit, Lupin visited. Dumbledore had summoned Danny to Hogwarts for his next orders. Danny Fenton was to check in regularly with Harry, just as a precaution, and keep an ear to the ground for ghosts.
Danny nodded and teleported to Arabella Figg's house. He quickly reverted to human and knocked on the door. He would be masquerading as her grandnephew.
"Hello Danny. Good to see you. Come in, Dumbledore's owl just left," Mrs Figg greeted him. Danny smirked, a much better start than the last time when he was left outside for ages.
"Hey Mrs Figg, do you mind me calling you aunt Bella or something like that? Calling your grandaunt Mrs Figg isn't going to work," Danny replied.
"Of course not. There's a spare bedroom on the left upstairs, you can sleep there while you're here. Dumbledore told me that you might disappear off regularly, so just let me know if you can in advance if you're going to miss dinner," Mrs Figg replied. Danny smiled and agreed before he went upstairs and dropped his backpack on the bed.
He then left and refreshed his memory on the layout of the area. Danny grinned as he spotted Harry in a playground.
"Harry, hey," Danny greeted as he joined the wizard on the swings. Harry blinked.
"Oh come on! I'm still being followed!" Harry exclaimed angrily. Danny chuckled.
"Relax, I'm not going to be following you. Just in the area in case you need back up. Staying at Mrs Figg's. Anyone asks, I'm her grandnephew. I needed a place to stay in London anyway. How are you? I heard about Sirius. We had a rocky start, but he was a nice bloke," Danny replied. Harry shrugged.
"Alright I suppose. I still find it hard that he's… he's not gonna come back," Harry muttered. Danny nodded slowly.
"Well, you know how to find me. And if the Dursleys give you any bother, invite me over. I can scare them without pulling out a wand," Danny offered with a wink. Harry snorted.
"I doubt I'll have any trouble. Lupin, Tonks, Moody and the Weasleys all threatened them when they picked me up," Harry revealed. Danny shrugged.
"Eh, offer's still there if you want to mess with them either," Danny replied. Harry laughed.
"See you around Harry," Danny called over his shoulder as he left.
That is the fifth book finished. The next chapter is in between books but setting up the next section.
Let me know what you think of the story so far.
Until the next chapter.