Both students stared at the teenage hunter in astonishment whilst Peeves cackled and flew off, but not before a shot from the Ecto-blaster hit him on the arm, Danny holding up the slightly smoking gun in his hand. Blowing the smoke away, he proceeded to put the gun back in the holster and turned to Harry and Hermione, a hand now snaking up to the back of his neck as he asked, "Er... you didn't happen to hear that, did you?"
Raising an eyebrow at the dumb question, Hermione nodded and said, "We were stood by you the entire time, Danny. So, naturally, we heard everything that was said."
"Also, what did he mean by that comment?" Harry asked, his arms folding as Danny turned and bit his lip, answering, "Peeves was most likely trying to cause trouble. He's a Poltergeist, right? It's what they do."
"Poltergeists do cause trouble, but they also know when someone's lying and/or hiding something, Danny. We've had to live with it for four and a half years, so we should know the resident trouble-causing ghost by now." Hermione rattled off, looking at the American as he shifted about, bit his lip and rubbed his neck even more that Harry was sure would soon start smoking from the friction being caused. Danny sighed before he looked away and muttered something in a different language, the same language that they had caught Phantom speaking when they had seen him with two of the Hogwarts Ghosts earlier.
'Esperanto.' Harry thought, recognising a few of the words that Danny was saying to himself, before the boy in question switched back to English and said, "Look, I know that I've only been here a couple of days, but Dumbles told me that there was a ten o'clock curfew for fifth years and upwards. It's nearly ten now, so why don't we go back to the common room and we can speak after we've sorted everything out."
"We can talk about it now, Danny." Harry countered, shaking his head and moving nowhere as Danny gulped and looked down to his feet, Hermione nodding with her friends and said, "We know about the curfew. We just want to know why Peeves nearly called you Phantom."
"That's not what I wanted you to hear, Hermione. I didn't even want you to find out like this." Danny answered, looking nervous, but determined as Harry shook his head and replied, "How did you want us to find out? When you left? We don't even know how you were brought here."
Danny's eyes flashed a little as he heard those accusatory words and he shook his head vigorously and said, "I came through the Ghost Zone. It's obvious really."
"No, it isn't, Danny." Hermione argued, looking the muggle in the eyes, "We just want to know why Peeves nearly called you Phantom and why you stopped him in his tracks."
"I look like Phantom. It often gets us both confused when we get seen out and about." Danny retorted, his fists clenching slightly as he turned to hide whatever was happening with his eyes and added quietly, "It also doesn't help him when the ghost's call him 'ghost boy' or 'Welp'."
"We just want to know how you got here through this Ghost Zone, Danny. That's all we want to know, and why Peeves said what he said." Hermione told him, just as quietly, putting a hand on his shoulder, ignoring the flinch as he looked up at her and nodded, smiling slightly as he took a calming breath and told them both, "I know what Peeves was trying to do when he said 'Phan' but to know how I got here through the Ghost Zone, you'll have to trust me and follow where I go."
"We can't trust someone who could potentially be a threat to Harry. And that could be a Death Eater in your body, Danny." Hermione said, stepping slightly in front of said boy in some sort of protection as Danny narrowed his eyes and shook his head, answering, "I know the story about your parents, Harry, and quite frankly, I understand why you'd want to protect him, but you have to trust those who you know won't be a threat. I know I'm not a threat, and deep down, so do you."
"That feeling of safety." Harry muttered, Danny looking at him and nodding, "That happened with Phantom when he first arrived. We saw him for a second with the four House Ghosts and he flew off when they went. How does that have anything to do with you, unless-"
"Unless what?"
"Ron was right and Phantom is a Halfa. And you're his human half." Harry concluded, looking around Hermione's shoulder to watch the hunter's reaction. And sure enough, he didn't have to wait long as Danny's face lost all colour and he started to shake slightly at first, but eventually got more and more violent as sweat started to drip down his forehead.
DPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHPDPHP
Yup, cliffhanger.
And for those who don't know, England and the rest of the United Kingdom has been having a referendum about whether or not we should leave the EU. Counting is now underway and I shall tell you the outcome and the next chapter...
Anyway, until next time and I shall tell you about the referendum results and until then, CYA
H.J.B
