Hello! Okay, only two more chapters to go. Editing is really harder than it looks. And to think, I'm changing Ghost Gal all the way…this is just little stuff compared to the way I'm going to change that one.
Thanks to chapter nine's reviewers:
Aberrancy wolf, Ninja Hotaru, The Fuzy Llama, purrbaby101, Bonnie Mizuhara, Sqweakie the Wonder Mouse, Just Plain Insane, Tuckers-Ghostly-Girl-xD
The name of this chapter was derived from a weird nickname I was given for a long time. So thank you to Caleb and Jesse for giving me the idea for this.
Disclaimer: Danny Phantom is owned by Butch Hartman and Nickelodeon Studios. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling.
Previously In Fiction: On accident, Jazz's idea landed them farther into the book instead of out of it for them unfortunately. And Reader's ticked off obsession with making things right and earning friends is targeted towards Danny, who receives Harry's life memories. And Snape and Lupin are getting closer to the truth…
Fiction
Chapter Nine
The Crazy Lady's Prediction
"I see."
Dumbledore wasn't the slightest bit angry. A little disappointed, perhaps, but not angry, like the three had thought and expected he'd be.
Once again, Danny let Jazz do the talking, this time where Tucker put his two cents in (every five seconds). He sat on a tall chair, swinging his legs absentmindedly back and forth. He massaged his temples, a massive headache crossing over on him. Most likely because of the memories.
Harry's memories. His awful childhood with the horrible Dursleys and his amazement at finding out he was a wizard and then the drama of finding out about how his parents really died... His first year and the ordeal with the Sorcerer's Stone. His second year where most of Hogwarts thought he was attacking the students. All the Quidditch matches he'd been in, including the two more recent ones that he'd played a few little months ago.
For some odd reason, the time that they had skipped using the Time Turner, had gone on normally, as if nothing had happened; like Jazz, Danny, and Tucker hadn't existed within Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
He remembered the current, third year, which had been equally exciting as the first two so far. He knew about his new classes, where they and his others were. He knew everything about most of the school, with its many towers and hall and passageways, particularly the one eyed witch statue, leading right into the magical shops and stores inside the wizard town, Hogsmeade.
And of course there were the Dementors. Scaly, dark figures that could suck the happiness and cheer from anyone's thoughts, and even the soul of a person. He knew they guarded the wizard prison, Azkaban, where not too long ago, someone had escaped.
Sirius Black. A ragged, insane, mad man who had helped Voldemort destroy and kill Harry's parents and had escaped for one sole purpose. To kill him. Well, Harry.
But even though Danny knew Black's main target was Harry, it didn't help because everyone thought he was Harry. And if Black found him…
"I'm really sorry," Jazz said seriously.
"It's quite alright. But I'm wondering something. I've always found the magical world to be interesting. Always something new and fascinating to learn, see, feel, hear, do… Surely you didn't want to go home to the normal world so soon?" Dumbledore asked, his eyes dancing, teasing her.
"No, I…just-" Jazz stammered, looking down guiltily.
"I can understand how much you want to go home, I really do."
Dumbledore laughed at her still expression and looked past them to Danny, who was staring around, thoughtfully, completely oblivious to their conversation. Tucker and Jazz followed his gaze.
"He's been kind of out of it since Reader hit him with something," Tucker explained after a moment.
"She gave him Harry's memories. At least that's what she said at least," Jazz said, staring at her brother in concern.
"Hmm…it's a believable story," Dumbledore said, resting his chin on one hand. "But unfortunately, memories are tied to emotions. He could very well feel Harry's anger, sadness-"
The door in the other room, leading into where they were, burst open. They could hear voices, two men's.
"Oh, no," Jazz gasped.
Danny, who had snapped out of it with the noise, automatically grabbed their arms and closed his eyes, concentrating. The three became invisible, just as two people crossed into the room.
Jazz held in a gasp as she felt an odd tingling sensation travel throughout her body and she could no longer see Hermione's slender fingers. Looking around, she couldn't see Tucker or her brother, but she did remember Danny had laid a hand on her shoulder before it had happened. She didn't question him; Snape and Lupin had entered the room, wearing urgent faces.
"Good day, Professors," Dumbldore greeted, acting like as if they suddenly weren't in the room anymore.
"Headmaster, we have some information for you," Snape said immediately, walking close to the desk.
"Yes?"
"Have Potter and his lackeys come to see you yet?" Snape asked.
Danny felt a sudden anger flare inside him, coming from some unknown source. Lackeys? Hermione and Ron weren't his lackeys. They were his friends. It infuriated him how Snape was such a—
The vase on Dumbledore's windowsill, that had once held an odd flower species (most likely magical), shattered, its contents spilling down onto the floor. Everyone stared, confused, Snape more suspicious.
With a wave of his hand, Dumbledore cleared the mess, and it appeared like it once had, back on top of the sill, repaired and good as new.
The shock at seeing the vase breaking seemed to cool Danny off, who suddenly had the feeling that he'd done it with his sudden burst of anger. But he didn't know where it had come from.
"Let us speak more likely of Harry and his friends, shall we?" Dumbledore said out of nowhere. "I haven't seen them since they spoke to me a few moments ago."
Jazz smiled. Dumbldore's statement had been true. He really hadn't seen them. But Snape and Lupin would believe they had left.
"What did they say?" Snape asked.
"They talked of nothing out of the ordinary from how I think they live, if that's what you're getting at Severus," he said.
"I believe that the three are different again, Headmaster. I heard them talking. Something about a ghost named Reader. And getting home. I think it could be-"
"A number of different things Severus," Professor Lupin cut in.
"Well, don't you agree?" Snape asked incredulously.
"Perhaps we're being paranoid. I don't think there's anything that leads to tell us that there's dark magick or possession involved again," Remus said.
"Were you not listening to their conversation? They wanted to get out. That's not normal, even by wizarding standards," Snape said, enraged. "Sir, I believe in earnest you trust me. Either Potter and his friends are under some sort of spell or they're up to something once again."
There was a moment of silence.
Danny suddenly felt strange. Almost weaker, as if something was breaking. There was a rift in his powers.
Dumbledore sighed. "Very well Severus, I believe you. But, analyze them for a while. When you bring me some evidence something is wrong, we'll take action."
Snape's eyes narrowed, not getting the answer he wanted, but overlooked it, and nodded. Lupin kept his expression neutral, not looking at anything in particular.
Danny held his breath, using all his energy to keep them invisible. Why were his powers doing this? He couldn't let Snape see them. They were in enough trouble already. But he could feel his strength slowly fading…
"Gentlemen, I have a few errands to complete, before the Minister comes tonight, so if you'll excuse me," Dumbledore said.
The two teachers nodded in unison and the four watched them retreat into the next room. When they heard the door close, Danny let go of the two and collapsed against the floor, losing their support in his lack of strength.
"Danny? Are you okay?" Jazz asked, dropping down beside him.
"My powers just started fizzing out," he said shakily, sitting up.
"When someone overshadows someone, or in your setting, it's a case of possession, powers and magick you originally had seem to shorten out. Your powers are only available for a short amount of time," Dumbledore explained. "It could have something to do with your missing human half, which has no extraordinary power, but adds to your strength." He stood up. "It also tends to lead to dizziness, weakness, exhaustion, fainting. You must be careful."
Danny nodded and Jazz helped him to stand. He nodded again to show her he was okay and she looked around, her eyes catching on the now repaired vase.
"What happened? I mean, why did the vase just all of a sudden explode?" she asked.
"I don't think someone liked Professor Snape's comment about his friends," Dumbledore said, staring straight at Danny. Jazz and Tucker followed his gaze, both of them blinking in surprise as they figured it out.
"So it was me that did that then," he admitted.
"That's what I was talking about before. Memories are tied to emotions, so you received both. Harry's memories trigger feelings of all kinds, some harder and near impossible to control."
"Oh, wonderful," he said sarcastically.
"So what happens now?" Jazz asked.
Her answer was cut off as Danny let out a loud cry of pain, clutching the sides of his head, as a sharp pain shot through it.
"What's wrong?" Jazz asked.
He pulled his hands away as the pain came to an abrupt stop. His head felt clearer, and then he noticed something.
"They're gone," he said.
"What?" Tucker asked.
"Harry's memories. They're gone," he said, half relieved, half confused.
Dumbledore turned to look at the wall, as the only thing normal (Muggle) in the room, an old mahogany grandfather clock started to chime, tolling five times.
"I have a hunch on what might be happening," Dumbledore said, his gaze fixed on Danny again. They waited for him to continue. "You said this Reader ghost infected you with Harry's memories, correct?"
"Yes," Tucker replied, even though the question wasn't for him.
"I'm thinking they run on a schedule. How long ago was it that you talked to her?"
"An hour…" Jazz said, figuring out what he meant.
"Then I believe since it's five o'clock, an hour later, his memories return and leave every other hour," he explained.
He made an annoyed face. Reader had to make things so easy for him…
"Now, not to end our discussion, but like I told Professor Lupin and Snape, I have much business to attend to," Dumbledore said. "The Minister is coming tonight."
"Cornelius Fudge?" Jazz asked, quite loud for her normal tone as if she were surprised.
"Yes, have you met the Minister?" Dumbledore asked, ignoring her outburst.
"No, not yet," Jazz replied slowly, looking down, thinking.
"Divination begins in ten minutes. You should probably get something to eat before then. Dinner should be spectacular as usual," he suggested.
"Come on," Jazz urged, nodding. The boys walked out and she looked behind her to where the Headmaster was watching them leave. He winked at her and she knew he knew. Smiling back awkwardly, she shut the door behind her.
□□□□□□□□□□
Sam wrung her hands nervously. This had happened before. He'd wake up right?
She looked back at the book. It still remained on the same page it had been, chapter sixteen. Maybe if she turned the page…She took a quick glance behind her, even though she knew no one was watching, and her fingers slid over the pages. But they wouldn't turn. Almost as if they were frozen. Maybe that's what Danny had been talking about.
She sighed and rested her weight on her hand, setting it beside her.
"That's my stomach," a voice said.
She jumped off the bed in surprise to see Danny smiling back at her.
"You scared the hell out of me," she said, trying to sound angry, but she couldn't quite pull it off.
"You're a lot heavier than I thought," he teased, sitting up.
"Thanks," she said sarcastically.
"Well, you're the one who decided to put your hand on my stomach," he said.
She sighed in annoyance. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, my head hurts a little, but, other than that, I think I'll live," he said.
"Good." She sat down again and he sat up beside her. "We need both Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom around for a while." He laughed, grinning to himself.
"So…"
They both jumped as a ring tone vibrated beside them. Jazz's cell phone (her ring tone being her latest obsession of course, the Harry Potter theme song) was shaking, with an incoming call.
"What do we do?" Sam asked, staring at her pocket and then back up at him.
"I don't know."
The cell phone finally fell out of the jeans, and landed softly beside her. Danny leaned over and picked it up.
"Home?" he asked, confused, after reading the caller id.
His answer came quickly.
"Danny, are you sure your sister's at the library?" Maddie called from downstairs. "She's not picking up her cell phone."
His eyes grew large, trying to find a reply. "Maybe she has it off." He shook his head. It was the best he could think of.
"Hmm…okay, maybe you're right. It's just not like her to stay out this late," Maddie said.
They sighed with relief when she didn't saying else.
"So…" Sam said again after a moment.
□□□□□□□□
"Are you alright?" Jazz asked, grimacing a little.
Danny shrugged. "Just a headache."
They walked over past Dumbledore's phoenix statue and came out on the regular school floor. Jazz shifted Hermione's bag uncomfortably. It was extremely heavy.
"You sure are getting picked on today," Tucker said to him. Jazz snorted and then sighed.
"What?" they asked, turning around.
"This bag, is getting on my nerves," she said. "Hold on." She stopped and dropped the bag onto the floor and kneeled down. As soon as she opened it, Danny and Tucker stared.
"What do you need so many books for?" he dared to ask.
"Oh, you know. Hermione takes a lot of classes this year. A fair few," she said. "Here, hold these for a minute," she said to Tucker. She took a few books and started setting them in his hands.
When she looked up, Danny noticed something he hadn't before. There was dark circles under Hermione's eyes (currently Jazz's), and her face was weirdly flushed.
"Are you okay?" he asked her. "You look exhausted."
"Well, I am," she said, shrugging. She checked her watch. "Holy crap, by the time we get there, it might be six. It's on the opposite side of the castle."
"What?"
"Divination."
"Jazz, do we have to go to Divination class? That teacher creeps me out," Tucker complained, trying to balance the many books she was handing him.
"It's Professor Trelawney, and yes. I have to do something," she said. She shuffled through her bag and finally started to take the load off.
"What?" Danny asked.
"Never mind," she replied, setting the books neatly in the bag.
"Okay…" he said.
"Oh, what do you care? You don't have to do anything, you don't have to worry," she said.
"Considering what happened lat time…" he teased.
Jazz looked up at last, glaring at him darkly. He grinned, and she threw him another look. "That was an accident. Look, I've just seen some clues that have told me where we're at in the book, and what's going to happen today."
"What's going to happen today?" Tucker asked, his neck at last visible as she took some more books from his arms.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out still, but I think I have an idea," she said.
"What do you think is going to happen?" he repeated, just changing the words around.
"Never mind," she said again. Looking up again, she saw their expectant faces, and sighed. "I don't want to tell you, cause then you'll get worried, and if I'm wrong, then it's nothing to worry about, kay?" she asked.
"That made no sense whatsoever," Tucker said.
"Well, then quit asking questions and see how it goes," she said.
"Have you always been this cryptic?" Tucker asked, handing her the last book.
"Yes," Danny said for her.
"Come on, we're going to be late," she said, ignoring them. "I can't believe it's already been almost eight minutes since we left Dumbledore's office. We've got two minutes to get there." She heaved Hermione's bag on her shoulder and started walking to the North Tower.
"Is there some sort of shortcut we could use, like a spell or something?" Tucker asked.
"He's got a point. It's a pretty long way up there," Danny added.
"Lazy buns," Jazz muttered. "Quit complaining."
"We haven't had dinner yet," Tucker said.
"We'll eat later, after Divination is over... I think," she said, her eyes showing that she was thinking.
The two boys groaned and with her leading, began to walk up the thousands of stairs. The trap door opened as they got there, (now breathing heavier) walked up and entered the perfumed room.
"Welcome, welcome my dears, please join us in the spiritual world as we continue our studies in the crystal ball gazing," Professor Trelawney said, swooning over to them for her version of a greeting.
Danny tried with all his strength, not to burst into laughter as Tucker raised an eyebrow when she walked away.
The three sat down at the same circular table they had used before. In the center of it, was a large, glass ball filled with some sort of fog, and had a black supporter underneath it.
"Open your minds, clear your auras!" she said.
Jazz snorted and sat down huffily. Danny and Tucker stared; they still hadn't figured out what her problem was in this class.
"What are we supposed to do?" Tucker asked, setting his chin between his propped up hands.
"Crystal ball. Just stare at it and pretend you see something," Jazz explained.
"Jeez, I was just asking," Tucker said, staring at her.
She took a deep breath. "Sorry, I just despise this class. It's a very wooly subject if you ask me," she said. Danny didn't ask about the smile she had on her face.
"Hurry, pretend to concentrate," she said, digging in her bag again. She pulled out a book and set it on the table between them.
"What?"
Jazz nodded her head beside her, just as Professor Trelawney swept over to them. "How are we doing in the mystical world today?"
"Fine," Jazz answered briefly, looking away.
Professor Trelawney however, held her gaze. "Are you alright Miss Granger? You seem different…Ah, don't mind me. I've been busy talking to the spirits all day. You seem well," she said.
"Oh, good, don't want anything bad to happen to me," she whispered, sarcastically.
"Hm… continue with your studies," the weird teacher said, moving away from them.
Danny snapped. "Are you trying to get us in serious trouble? You're supposed to act like Hermione," he whispered.
"I am acting like Hermione," she said, brushing him off.
"Yeah, cause making smart ass remarks at Professor… whatever her name is, is what Hermione, the over-studious girl does all the time," he said.
"Danny, why do you think I'm acting this way?" she asked.
"I don't know. You're insane?" he suggested.
"No, Hermione's the same way in the class. She doesn't like it either. I'm trying my best to act like my character," she said.
"You could have told us that you know," Tucker said. "All this time we thought you were crazy or something. Or you P.M.Sing."
"You're so nice," she said, looking back down at the book.
"Are we actually supposed to see something in here?" Tucker asked, poking the glass orb.
"I don't know. I still doubt it," she said. "The book says-"
"You read too much," Danny commented.
"Will you shut up?" she said.
Five minutes later, Tucker had fallen asleep, Professor Trelawney kept bouncing back and forth between students, randomly shouting things like "Cast yourself into the spirits," and Jazz and Danny were zoning out. The class had proved to be pretty boring.
Jazz thought about something; if today really was the day, if she was correct, shouldn't it have happened by now?
Danny himself was about to fall asleep, still not seeing anything. Sure, the magical class had been interesting. For a while. Now it was starting to feel like his classes in the normal world. Boring. His peripheral vision caught the bracelet bangled teacher walking over to them.
He poked Tucker hard and he woke up, looking around. "What?" He found out and sat up straighter as she approached.
"Would anyone like help in searching for their futures?" Professor Trelawney asked. "Mr. Weasley, what do you pray tell for tonight?"
Tucker stared into the smokey ball. "I don't know. Foggy weather?"
Both Jazz and Danny burst into laughter. Professor Trelawney even laughed, but it was short. Jazz stopped first and turned towards her.
"Do you mind me trying?" she asked. Trelawney nodded vigorously in earnest. She didn't even look at the crystal ball. "The Grim…possibly."
What in the heck was a Grim? Danny thought.
The cracked up professor sighed, staring at her, almost sympathetically. "My dear, from the first moment you have stepped foot into my class, I have sensed you do not possess, the proper spirit for the noble art of Divination." She took her hand and started rubbing, reading the lines on her palm. "No, see there. You may be young in years, but the heart that beats beneath so roughly in your bosom is as shriveled as an old maid's. Your soul is as dry as the pages of the books to what you so desperately cleave." She patted her hand.
And that's when Jazz knew. She let her memory take over and made a disgusted, angry face at Professor Trelawney and yanked her hand away. Standing up furiously, she pulled her heavy bag over her shoulders again and hit the crystal ball hard with her fist, sending it flying off the table. She walked past the table and out of the door, the ball following her footsteps as she rushed out of the room.
Danny and Tucker watched her, amazed. They really hoped what she had said earlier had been true. That she was taking Hermione's character seriously.
"Have I said something?" Professor Trelawney asked, confused.
□□□□□□□□□
Forty five minutes later, Tucker and Danny were gratefully relieved to get out of the classroom. Jazz had a bunch of explaining to do. They climbed down the stairs, following the other students.
"God, I'm starving," Tucker said, rubbing his stomach.
"Yeah, me too," he said. He held onto the rail as he stepped on something that wasn't the step, and nearly would have toppled forward had it not been for his grip.
He regained balance and ignoring Tucker's laughing, turned to investigate what he had stepped on. It was the glass crystal ball, which had miraculously not broken, that his sister had knocked off of their table.
"We'd better go get this back," he said, picking it up.
"What are you nuts?" Tucker asked. "I ain't going up there."
"Well, someone's gotta return it," he said.
"You do that. I'll go find your wacko sister. See you," he said, continuing his waltz down the stairs. Danny stared back annoyed, but then walked back up the stairs, entering the room again. Professor Trelawney wasn't in sight, and the empty, dark room was creepy.
He found their table, and placed the ball back on the supporter, and was about to exit the room again, when an icy hand gripped his shoulder.
He jumped about fifty feet and whipped around.
Professor Trelawney stood behind him, bent over. Past her oversize glasses, her eyes were glazed over and she was breathing heavily. He wasn't sure what to say. Should he call for help? She looked about ready to have some sort of seizure.
But before he could do anything, she started speaking, her voice raspy and hoarse.
"The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight…the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever he was. Tonight…before midnight…the servant…will set out…to rejoin…his master…"
She stopped speaking and coughed, shaking her head to clear it. "I'm so sorry, dear boy, were you looking for something?" she asked, her voice returned to normal.
Again he wasn't sure what to say. What in the heck had just happened? She didn't appear to remember anything had gone array.
"No, no, I'm fine," he said at last. He broke away from her grip and glanced once back at her before exiting the room as fast as possible. She watched him, looking concerned and confused. He rushed down the stairs.
"Danny!" Jazz greeted, coming around the corner. Tucker pulled into view after her.
"Something is up with her!" he whispered loudly, pointing towards the tower he'd just bounded from. "She just went weird all of a sudden. Do you know what the heck something about the dark lord rejoining his master and return in power means?" he asked.
Jazz bit her lip.
"Well, do you?" he asked, noticing her hesitation.
"Don't worry about it," she lied. "We've got loads to do after we eat dinner. Go see Hagrid. Professor Trelawney's always like that."
They actually looked convinced. She smiled encouragingly. If she told them what was doomed to happen, they would panic. But she hoped her lies wouldn't lead them to other dangers.
Okay, that was fairly long. Sheesh, I'm getting into the longer ones now. Well, only one chapter left. I don't remember how long that one was. I'm sure I'll find out of course.
Please R&R! Here's your sneak peek!
Chapter Ten: Chase
"Oh, great. Malfoy," Danny grumbled, pointing.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle stood at the edge of the hill, watching Hagrid's hut. They kept snickering and laughing, making jokes and comments about Hagrid and Buckbeak.
"What is his problem, seriously? Was he born this big of a pain in the ass?" Danny asked, staring down at them in anger. Tucker shrugged and Jazz remained silent.
Danny looked around to look at her more clearly. Jazz had a creepy, ticked off look on her face, one he'd rarely seen. He'd never seen his sister looked so mad.
"Jazz?" he asked cautiously.
"That stupid little bastard," she muttered furiously.
She took off, rushing down the hill to the three jerks. Surprised, Danny and Tucker followed her, wondering what she was doing.
Malfoy heard them moving behind him and turned around, smiling. "Ah, come to see the show?"
"You! You foul, evil, nasty little cockroach!" she yelled, from the movie lines. But she wasn't aiming to punch him…yet. She didn't care what the book said. Malfoy deserved worse treatment.
She knew where his weak spot was. Without waiting another second, she did a short drop kick in an extremely sensitive spot.
Oh, Jazz gets even. Wouldn't everyone like to?
Lateraina Wolf