Well there's that
Rating: K+ maybe T
Pairings: None really
Ages: Everyone is in their 5th year at Hogwarts (Danny's the same age)
Summary: It was already hard enough to be a Halfa in the American Magic School System, but now he was being transferred to Hogwarts because of some obscure international law. Just Great.
"So wait… You're really being transferred to Hogwarts?" Danny paused from eating his chocolate frog and looked up at his friend that had spoken.
Marin's blue eyes gazed at him sternly but without judgement as the boy's long dry hair slid past his tanned cheek. The young native american lifted a brow when he didn't respond immediately.
"Yeah. It has something to do with the fact that I'm adopted and stuff," Danny answered after finishing his frog and beginning to lick his fingers.
"You should be taking this more seriously, Danny. While the half-breed and magical creatures laws are no where near good enough here, at least America has basic rights for people like you. If they find out, they might lock you up over there!" Sam grumbled.
Marin seemed to ignore Sam in order to ask his own question once more. "Have you told your muggle friend, uh Tucker, that you're not going to be boarding in America anymore?"
Danny sighed in mixed fond annoyance and true irritation. His friends were great, really, but they could be nearly suffocating in how they wanted to protect him. At least Elsie was quiet and analytical and Marin wasn't as pushy as Sam. If they all teamed up, sometimes he had no choice in the matter. He grinned.
"I know, Sam. I'll be careful. And yes, Marin. I have." Elsie finally spoke up.
"I have heard the house rivalries are a bit more pronounced at Hogwarts as well… We're only an owl away if you get lonely."
"Or ya know, an email." Marin joked and shared a teasing grin with Danny. Elsie merely rolled her eyes.
"Eventually I will learn and then you will have no reason to tease." She gave a soft smile to show she wasn't bothered at their teasing.
Danny thought over Elsie's words though as Marin tried to further poke fun at their fourth member. Danny himself had been sad when he and Sam had been split between the Wampus house and the Thunderbird houses when they'd come to Ilvermorny together nearly four years ago. While Danny had become mostly friendly with the others in the Wampus house, Sam had been instrumental in bringing the four friends, currently at the table, together.
Elsie Myeong Moon was an heir from a pureblood family that had ties to Korean immigrants and was fascinated with healing. Her house placement had been Pukwudgie even though she'd almost been placed in the Horned Serpent. Sam Ann Manson and Marin Antinanco Duguay had both found each other in Thunderbird. Marin came from a native american family and was a halfblood. Sam was a muggleborn, and until recently, Danny had thought he was too. Now, Danny wasn't sure what he was or where he came from.
"Well, I think we'll need to come to the party that the Wampus housemates are having for you. Gotta make sure you get a proper send off." Marin stretched and folded his arms behind his head.
"You just want me to invite you," Danny replied.
Marin sneered in a good natured way and turned his nose up. "I have best friend rights you know!"
Sam rolled her eyes at the theatrics while Danny merely smiled. Elsie looked Danny in the eyes and nodded. "I'll miss you, Danny. Do as Sam says and stay safe for us, okay?"
Danny felt hurt try to clench at his heart but beat it away with the knowledge that it wasn't really goodbye. "Safety is my middle name."
Sam snorted. "Yeah and I can swallow a caldron whole."
The four shared a good laugh at the quip. He would sure miss them during the school season that was for sure.
zz
By the time summer ended and there were but a few days until the start of the new year at Hogwarts, Danny found himself being talked to by one of his new professors.
The teacher seemed to look like he was constantly disappointed, had long black hair, and had already been quite sarcastic and rude to him. While Danny appreciated good sarcasm, he had been a bit put out by the man known as Snape.
Apparently the Ministry wanted Danny to have a blood test done so that they could determine what family he came from. There was some type of treaty between the magical communities that made it to where lost or missing heirs of pureblood lines, whether halfblooded or full blood, were to be schooled in the school dictated by the parents' wills. Because of this treaty, the magical ledger in charge of the Hogwarts letters had sent his letter to America. There it had taken roughly four years to process through the bureaucracy.
When they had asked for a blood test, seeing as the ledger kept up with the parents' request but did in fact change the name on the letter to match the child's current name and no one had seen what his birth name had been before then, Danny had declined wishing to ask for the services of a private potion master. It was an odd request but not unheard of, but Snape had quipped something about Danny already getting a big head about things and asking for special treatment.
Danny had merely snorted, but had said nothing. It wasn't his fault his test might show ectoplasm in his system. He'd much rather find someone who seemed a bit more pro-halfbreed, compared to most of the Ministry.
"So, how will this go?" Danny asked Snape as the two walked out of the Ministry.
"We will be traveling to Platform nine and three quarters and then you will board the train." Snape droned, giving only the barest of information.
Danny mentally rolled his eyes. Outwardly he nodded.
"Nodding doesn't always properly convey comprehension, Mister Fenton. Especially when one is not facing you. Respond verbally if that's not too difficult." Snape spoke in a measured tone that was seeped in condescension.
Danny grit his teeth slightly and nearly nodded again before he caught himself. "I understand, sir."
It didn't take too long for them to arrive near the train. "Make sure you pay attention and don't get left behind. Farewell, Mister Fenton." Snape dismissed him with a clipped voice before turning and walking away.
Danny sighed both in annoyance and relief. The area next to the train was very crowded and people were saying goodbye to the children. He glanced around before he shrugged and made his way into the train.
It was much quieter on the train itself, even if it was unlikely that the silence would last without a silencing charm. Eventually, Danny chose a car and put his trunk up before flopping onto one of the benches and putting his backpack next to him. He closed his eyes for what he thought was only a moment, before a voice spoke near him in a dreamy distant way.
"I really like your dream catcher there on your satchel, but you should clean it. It's covered with tangled dreams and won't stop the bad ones anymore if you aren't careful."
Danny blinked his eyes open before looking over at where the voice came from. She was a blond haired girl near his age with silvery eyes. "Really? Huh. I thought Marin was just kidding when he told me I had to clean it."
The girl smiled. "You might be able to get the Nargles to clean it if you ask nicely."
"What are Nargles?"
"They're attracted to emotions and thoughts and such things. They also like mistletoe."
Danny felt a brow rise over his right eye but then let it settle. "I didn't know that. I'll probably use the cleansing spell Marin told me about, just incase the Nargles damage it instead."
The girl seemed to hear his response and nodded. "Probably for the best. My name's Luna, Luna Lovegood. What might yours be, if I may ask?"
Danny smiled and held out a hand to shake. "Daniel Fenton, but I prefer Danny."
Luna shook his hand with a smile before her eyes seemed to cloud. "Hmm… you're also born again."
Danny blinked and felt his heart nearly stop. How? "Uh, pardon?"
Luna suddenly blinked and then looked at him. "Hm?"
Danny swallowed a bit and retracted his hand. Does she not remember? What was that? "Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Luna."
"Oh, you as well, Daniel. Sorry, Daniel just sounds so nice. May I call you that instead?" Luna asked peacefully.
Danny stared at her for a moment before he nodded. "Yeah, normally I don't like it, but it sounds okay when you say it. People tend to call me that when well… They're trying to demean me."
"What a shame. It's a lovely name. It shouldn't be tarnished like that."
Danny couldn't help but smile at that.
zz
"Daniel James Fenton!"
Danny swallowed as his name was the last called. Seeing as he was a fifth year transfer, he was being sorted after the first years had all been handled.
He tried to ignore the stares as he moved towards Professor McGonagall and the Sorting Hat. He ducked and sat on the stool as the hat was placed on his head.
Well… I don't think I've ever sorted a halfa before.
"You won't tell anyone about that, right?"
Oh believe me, I've sorted things much worse than you, Daniel.
"Thanks… I think?"
Hahahum. Hmmm… interesting. Yet another wizard with great potential. Potential for what? That remains to be seen…
Ooohm Ha! Yes, a very compassionate young man. You are very loyal to your friends and a hard worker to boot! You work hard to protect your home town from threats during the summer and sometimes have even let your grades at Ilvermorny suffer when particularly powerful ghosts gave your parents trouble during the school year. The muggles in your town don't trust you and the witches and wizards in your community aren't very grateful and yet you persist. Yes, Hufflepuff would value such loyalty and resolve.
Hmm… Slytherin traits are here too. Even if they are few… While not ambitious, you have self-preservation skills…
"Tell that to Sam."
Yes… not in the obvious sense but when not battling foes, you work tirelessly to keep your secrets kept from as many as you can and are not above using sneaky tactics to achieve your goals. You could go to Slytherin… and enhance those skills.
And yet you have no pride in those things, you dislike having to lie and you would rather not be underhanded at all and have only been forced into such things…
Ah your brave heart. You battle against the forces of the dead to protect the ones you love and recognized the fact that you would eventually find yourself up against stronger and stronger foes and when that time came you didn't back down. Even when your arch-enemy and various other foes have made you question your path, you have stayed as noble as you could. Although you are something of a reluctant hero and dislike attention, you made a decision to become a protector in the quiet sanctity of your mind before you acted. It was a premeditated choice.
There can be no better choice, better be, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Danny couldn't help but smile at the cheers he got from his new housemates and after handing the hat to the professor, he headed over there.
He ended up sitting next to a bushy-haired girl and across from a red-haired boy and another boy with startling green eyes and glasses.
"Welcome to Griffindor, mate." The red-head offered.
Danny smiled. "Thanks, really."
"You're from America, right?" bushy-hair asked peering at him curiously.
"You do have an accent." The boy with glasses pointed out calmly.
Danny chuckled. "Well to me, you all have the strong accents, but yeah I am. The professor already said, but my name's Daniel Fenton. I prefer Danny though."
"I'm Hermoine Granger."
"I'm Ron Weasley."
Danny glanced at the third boy who seemed to fight against rolling his eyes. "Harry." Danny rose a brow.
"Just Harry?"
"You mean you don't know?" Ron asked loudly, receiving a small nudge from Harry.
"Well no. I just met him so…"
Harry blinked in surprise before answering. "Harry Potter."
"Haven't you heard of him? He's the boy who lived." Hermoine looked at him like he was something to study.
"Oh, that guy. I guess I've heard of him then. I don't really pay attention to gossip and such."
"Well you'd hardly hear anything honest about me to be fair," Harry offered with a hint of bitterness that was well hidden.
Danny immediately sympathized with something he could easily recognize. "Nasty press, huh?"
Harry rose a brow.
"That stinks. I've had that happen before because of my parents' work."
"What do your parents do?" Hermoine immediately asked.
"They study ghosts of both the shade and full manifestation variety."
"Oh, you mean that new research into ghosts that can actually interact with living things and objects?"
"What?" Ron asked, eyes widening.
Hermoine pinned him with a look. "It's a new department of study. The Ministry in America have the most research on it, because of a Squib and Muggle-" She cut herself off and looked at Danny. "Wait-"
"Yeah, my parents are that Squib and Muggle. Mom's a muggle, dad's a squib. My sister is still at Ilvermorny, she's probably going to go to Muggle college though after finishing her magic education."
"A Squib and a Muggle did all that?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, they'd actually been working on ghostly things before my sister or I ever got our letters."
"Why are you here, by the way?" Ron probed only for Hermoine to chastise him for being so rude about it.
"It's fine, Hermoine. Apparently, I'm adopted and I'm an heir to a magical family line here. Don't have a clue which one though. Didn't know I was adopted until about a year ago either."
"How did you end up in America though I wonder…" Hermoine pondered aloud.
Danny shrugged. "Might be I'm illegitimate or something. All I know is that I was a John Doe at the adoption center where my parents got me at."
"Bloody hell… That's rough mate."
"Eh, I still have my adoptive family. It's all I've really know to be honest. I'm trying not to let it bother me much."
"Good luck with all that," Harry expressed and gestured vaguely towards Danny with his fork.
Danny chuckled. "Thanks."
zz
Danny really had to fight against letting his eyes glow green whenever he had class with Umbridge Dolores. She was cruel, condescending, rude, and neglectful all while pretending she was not those very things.
She showed a lack of compassion towards half-breeds and magical creatures, which really tempted Danny to just change into Phantom during class randomly. She also didn't teach them squat! It made him miss his own DADA professor back at Ilvermorny. To top it all off, she was persecuting Harry ever chance she got and Danny was starting to become suspicious about the detentions he went to. Every time he saw Harry after one of those detentions, he distinctly sensed the feelings of hurt hurt pain fear anger frustration hurt sad radiating off of him.
In all, Harry had mostly been looking really worn down and Danny had even caught snippets of Harry's thoughts too which had startled him at first. Not enough to understand really anything he was thinking, but the truth was that Danny shouldn't have been able to hear any thoughts at all seeing has he hadn't come anywhere near learning how to use his ghostly telepathy. Something was wrong with his friend.
But besides those downsides, his time at Hogwarts had been great in the month or so he'd been there. The golden trio, as Harry, Ron, and Hermoine had been called, had become decent friends with him. He could tell though when they wanted space to just themselves though and would often find Luna and Neville, making his own little trio of friends. When all of his closer friends at Hogwarts were busy, he would sometimes help the Weasley brothers with a few pranks when they were low key enough for him. The duo still couldn't figure out how he managed to be places he wasn't supposed to be at, but they didn't ask, which was fine by all involved.
Danny had also gotten letters from his friends from Ilvermorny and had told Harry and the others about his good friends at home that he missed.
He'd only had one encounter with Draco so far, which was fine by him. The snot had mostly just tried to insult him about being from America, but Danny had just walked away rather than bother arguing. At least this time, Draco had just let him walk away, Dash from his elementary school days had never allowed that.
"Are you reading the chapter, Mister Fenton?"
Danny's thoughts screeched to a halt and everyone subtly looked up to watch as Umbridge pointed out that he had been brooding and day-dreaming. "Uh-"
"Hem hem… Uh is not a proper response, Mister Fenton."
Danny could feel the quill he'd been twisting between his fingers, strain and nearly crack due to the pressure he was putting on it due to his frustration. "I was contemplating life, professor."
Umbridge rose a brow. Danny felt like he was about to do something stupid but was too filled with righteous anger to really care. Sam would be proud. While Danny tended to not cause direct trouble for teachers in all his schooling, he'd also never had a teacher like Umbridge before. He actually really liked to learn, adverse to popular belief. He wasn't as studious as Hermoine, but did a bit more than Harry or Ron, though he felt like both could do better and Harry would probably enjoy learning more than he realized.
"I'm afraid we're reading the chapter right now Mister Fenton. You may play philosopher on your own time." Several Slytherins chuckled softly at his expense.
Danny glanced down at the page he'd stopped on, which talked about how dangerous non-human beings could be. He ground his teeth a bit and then said the stupid thing. "At this rate the only occupation I could hope to find after school is that of a philosopher. Can't be an Auror, a Hit Wizard, or nearly anything else I'd like seeing as you're going to cause us all to fail our DADA O. without proper practical instruction."
Silence. I really said the stupid thing, didn't I? Danny pursed his lips and gazed evenly into Umbridge's eyes as her demeanor changed ever so slightly and then went back to disgustingly cheerful. "You will have detention with me, tonight, Mister Fen-"
"Can't, I have a meeting with Snape to discuss my blood test." Danny replied coldly.
Umbridge glanced at Harry before huffing. "Very well. You will join Mister Potter and I tomorrow evening."
Danny huffed and then grit his teeth before skipping over the next few pages of the chapter as everyone turned back to their work.
zz
"Harry?" Danny asked in confusion. Harry blinked in surprise as he drew nearer to Danny and the gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office.
"Danny? Oh yeah, your blood test."
"What are you here for?"
"Don't know for sure. McGonagall told me Dumbledore wanted to see me."
The two turned to look at the gargoyle as Danny spoke the password. The two walked into the office, only to find Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall talking behind a silencer charm. When they spotted the two boys, Dumblerdore dropped the spell and smiled at them.
Harry blinked, confused as to why Dumblerdor seemed… different.
"Lemon drop, boys?"
"No thanks." Danny and Harry chuckled at each other when they spoke at the same time. Harry then looked at Dumblerdore then gazed that the others there. Snape looked frustrated, and McGonagall looked a bit white and stressed.
"Professors?" Harry asked.
Dumblerdore rose a hand. "I believe Snape can explain everything." He glanced at a very annoyed Snape. "If you would, my boy?"
Snape walked forward and looked down at the two in unhidden contempt. "Daniel James Fenton, you're birth name is Daniel Renatus Potter."
The two boys had very different reactions even if they looked similar to a degree. Harry immediately went wide eyed and snapped his gaze to look at Danny. Danny's eyes merely looked slightly wider and he at a look of mild surprise on his face.
"Professor-" Harry started and snapped back to look at Dumbledore.
"Daniel here is in fact you're twin brother, Harry." Dumbledore explained. Danny remained in silent surprise and shock while Harry seemed to be in denial.
"How!?"
"We thought for certain he was dead. Everyone did. No one was sure how you died, but when we arrived at Godric's Hollow, only Harry was alive and Danny was nowhere to be seen. It was theorized that whatever had caused Harry to survive the killing curse caused some kind of backlash or something that had simply destroyed his brother." McGonagall actually looked a bit teary eyed after having to revisit that night.
"Huh." Danny replied and blinked. Danny glanced at Harry who was still looking at the two before them in shock. "Um, well… Hey, bro."
Harry seemed to snap out of his trance mostly and looked at Danny. "Um-"
Danny could feel it fear anger surprise happy frustration, so he smiled. "It's okay, Harry. It's a shock for me too. There's no right or wrong way to go about this. Just remember that we're also friends and I'm on your side."
Harry blinked in surprise at the kind and sympathetic response. "Thanks, Danny."
Danny smiled and then looked at McGonagall. "Oh, which one of us is older, do you know? Important brother info."
McGonagall rose a brow but smiled. "Daniel Renatus Potter was born a few minutes after Harry James Potter."
Harry blinked and a small smile snuck onto his still palish face.
"Darn, still the younger sibling. Oh well." Danny shrugged.
Dumbledore smiled and the continued to speak. "There is also the matter of the reason why you asked for a private blood test from our resident potions master."
Danny's smile dropped and he stared at Dumbledore and switched his gaze between each face as Harry noticed the tension.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"I would tell him if I were you, Daniel." Dumbledore gestured. Danny felt himself bristle a bit at being trapped into telling when Harry was still so shocked from finding out he had a brother.
Danny sighed and looked Harry in the eyes. "I'm not completely human. I had an accident roughly a year ago and it turned me into a ghost-human hybrid."
With that, Danny transformed for the first time on British soil. He flipped down the hood he wore so that everyone could see his face and eyes. The hood was a poncho like garb he wore over his hazmat suit which covered most of his face and tampered down his back into two coat-tail like ends and his front into a short single point above the space his emblem lay.
"So yeah, there's that." Danny expressed.
zz
It was several hours later that found Danny with the golden trio deep in the library. Harry had just gone through the process of explaining everything from his point of view and Ron and Hermoine were just staring at Danny like he had two heads and couldn't possibly be real.
Ron was eventually the one to break the silence. "Fred and George will never let anyone hear the end of this."
Danny couldn't help but smirk at that. "That's for sure. Whenever Marin finds out, he's just going to laugh at the irony."
"What irony?" Hermoine immediately asked, still looking a bit wary and in denial.
"I don't really care for the spotlight, so of course I'd be the boy who lived's brother."
Harry was about to reply, but Hermoine cut him off looking slightly aggressive. "You're not resentful, are you?"
Danny blinked and looked straight into her eyes. "Of Harry? Why would I be? Voldemort's the one who caused this whole mess. Harry and I were just babies? Personally, I think it's ridiculous that Harry's celebrated for doing anything at all-" Danny looked at his brother. "No offense."
"Believe me, none taken."
"It's just silly really. Why didn't people just celebrate that Mister Dark Lord managed to make a massive blunder and mess up his own spell?" Danny continued. Hermoine seemed to relax a bit and nodded as though Danny had passed some sort of hidden test.
"So, you're like a werewolf but a ghost instead?" Ron asked cautiously.
Danny rose a brow. "Actually, no. Lycanthropy is a magical disease of some kind. My DNA was altered in an accident. I have full control over my powers and transformation in a way werewolves could, at this point, only dream for."
"That sounded practiced," Harry expressed.
Danny smiled a bit at his brother. "Sam's like Hermoine when it comes to proper definitions regarding half-breed and magical creatures' rights."
"Really?" Hermoine asked, suddenly looking more alert. "Also, if you don't mind me asking, what are you classified as in America, a half-breed or magical creature?"
Danny hummed. "Legally, I'm classified as a magical creature because half-breed would imply that my parents where two different species. Although magical creature isn't really accurate either seeing as I wasn't born with my powers. Technically speaking, outside of the law, I would be closest to a Metamorphagus because I'm a wizard with abilities, even if I wasn't born with them. Though my adoptive parents have theorized that I could pass my status onto my children one day, if I can even have children…" Danny trailed off at that, suddenly looking solemn.
"You seem bothered by that-" Hermoine started and then stuttered. "Not that most people wouldn't be, but you seem to be more bothered at this age than most."
Danny flushed slightly. "Well, although I have my own personal dreams and goals… I would love to be a father someday." Danny cringed slightly. "I know not a lot of guys like to say that out loud but Sam always tells me I should be honest about it."
Ron hummed and then shrugged. "No problems here, mate."
Harry just smiled before he spoke. "You know, amidst everything else crazy, that sounds like a nice goal."
Danny smiled back as Hermoine nodded. Maybe finding out about his brother wouldn't be nearly as awkward as Danny had thought.
zz
If Danny's friends were asked to use only one word to describe the essence of their friend, it would either be justice or protective.
Right in this moment, Danny was feeling the burn of protective instinct rush through him. He may be the younger sibling by minutes, but he simply couldn't help himself. The moment Harry wrote out the line Umbridge requested during their detention and he hissed in pain, Danny lost his passive even nature and became more like a wraith and less like a protective spirit.
"Stop, we're not doing this." Danny stated plainly and dropped his quill to stare at Umbridge. He didn't even look to see Harry's reaction to his sudden statement.
"Mister Fenton, failure to comply with disciplinary measures will be met with suspension or expulsion."
Danny narrowed his eyes. "I have a school back home willing to take me and I doubt it would go over well for you to toss out Harry, but that's beside the point. This is illegal. Blood quills are illegal. Sam is enough of a law freak to have let me understand the way your government works." He turned to look at Harry. "Come on Harry, let's go talk to McGonagall-" Danny only had a moment to see his new brother's eyes dilate at something coming his direction before the spell struck.
Danny had only one other experience to rival the pain he was feeling. Once, during potions class back at Ilvermorny, he'd encountered Blood Blossoms right after his accident. Blood Blossoms had the nasty side effect of causing extreme pain to specters of any variety, even shades. It felt like his insides were melting and burning at once. The Cruciatus Curse on the other hand felt like he was being electrocuted and caused him to have a brief flashback to his few moments in the portal.
The next moment, he was feeling the cold floor and he could hear Harry yelling at Umbridge.
"This is a matter of Ministry security, Mister Potter."
Danny was somewhat surprised to see the rage that was on Harry's face. Normally, his brother seemed to be more likely to show quiet defiance or cold fury rather than outrage for someone. Perhaps he did this only every once in a while.
"You just Crucio'd Danny!" Harry expressed angrily, completely dumbfounded by the woman's logic.
"Indeed. You see, we're investigating Dumbledore and we can't have his students giving him a head's up on such things. Interference could very well land you both in Azkaban."
Danny slowly pulled himself off the ground and turned his head to glare at her, even if the effect was lessened by the sweat glistening on his face. Harry's face turned stony as he turned slightly to offer his brother a hand. Danny took it gratefully, but never took his eyes off Umbridge, he was too used to fighting ghosts and mentally dancing with Vlad Masters to make that mistake with her a second time. Umbridge was on his danger list now and she was unlikely to ever leave it.
"Are we clear, Mr. Fenton?"
Danny grit his teeth and barely kept his larger canines from showing. "Yes, but as a concession, you can't use those quills."
Umbridge stared at them for a moment in silence. Finally, "Very well. Continue writing with your own quills."
After a few last moments of a stare down between the brothers and Umbridge, the two settled into doing their lines. Harry kept looking over to see his brother's hand shaking and his own hand still burned with the newly half-marked line on his hand. When he'd seen Danny writhing on the floor, Harry didn't know what to do. He'd felt like the greatest pain imaginable had impacted his heart and a deep sorrow had revisited him like when he had once sat before the Mirror of Erised and seen his dead parents behind him. With a start, he realized the mirror had shown him his desires and thus didn't show him Danny seeing as he hadn't known he had a brother and thus didn't long for him.
It was strange, even if he still wasn't used to Danny entirely, he was his friend and he was a connection to his family. That kind of connection was something he'd only dreamed about for so long, barely touched on by Remus or Sirius, but always out of reach. Harry resolved right then that he would fight tooth and nail to keep it and cherish it, even if they would never have a normal brotherly relationship having been raised apart. He'd try and Harry was certain that Danny would too and that was all he could hope for.
zz
"Well that was interesting," Danny expressed as the last of the students walked out of the Room of Requirement after a session with the club. Only The trio, Luna, and Neville remained.
"Yes, very. I'm glad to see you, Daniel." Luna spoke, glancing over to smile benevolently at Danny, who smirked back.
"We have to get practical experience somehow," Ron scoffed slightly.
"Very true," Danny replied and then sighed. "Okay, so, um…"
"It's alright Daniel. No need to be worried. Your aura is white and calm. There's no way you could mean anyone in this room, harm," Luna expressed through the award tension.
Danny opened and closed his mouth twice without speaking while Neville simply adopted a befuddled look.
Hermoine rose a brow as Luna spoke again. "You're born again. Your name is fitting."
"How-" Ron asked in confusion before Hermoine took a sharp breath.
"Renatus, it's latin for born again. Technically the meaning isn't literal, but-"
Danny blinked and then smirked before he started to laugh though no one could tell if it was in mirth or pained until Danny calmed. "I'm the younger twin and dad though it would be funny to name me that. Great… I'm a pun." Danny rolled his eyes as Harry suddenly started to smile against his will. He then started to laugh himself and everyone besides Danny was so surprised to hear Harry's heartfelt laughter that it made Danny sad just a little.
"Marin's going to start laughing in my face and never stop, perfect."
"I get the feeling that Marin and Sirius would get along somewhat," Harry mused.
"Hmmm… perhaps, though Marin tends to not like getting his hands dirty. He likes to watch people deconstruct from a distance. He is pretty good at planning and being creative though…"
"Maybe Remus then."
"Um, not to bother you both, but what where we talking about again?" Neville asked as Luna just continued to smile.
Danny blinked and then grinned sheepishly. "This."
Neville's eyes widened to enormous sizes as Luna merely flicked her gaze about his now visible aura.
"Bloody hell," Ron gasped at the transformation. While he'd learned what Danny was, seeing it was really different.
"Tell me about it. You don't like giving people a warning, do you?" Harry turned to ask his floating brother.
Danny shrugged. "Easier to determine instinctual reactions people have to catch them off guard. Giving them time to think…" Danny grimaced slightly and shrugged. His voice dropped a bit. "To be honest, I'm scared. My friends from Ilvermorny were worried the British Magical Community would find out and cage me or something. I nearly avoided that in America thanks to some of their laws. Here, it's not so likely."
Luna in her way asked a totally unrelated question. "If you don't mind me asking, does it have something to do with dying? What do you see?"
Everyone suddenly stilled with the exception of Luna and Danny who was calmly gazing at her.
"It's a bit blurry," Danny began and everyone was suddenly focused intently on him. "My dying was… very painful because I was electrocuted for a prolonged time, burned too. The ectoplasm kept me alive and kept me from scarring too badly. I got a glimpse of something, a feel, a longing, something I'm not sure words could describe. I stopped trying to figure it out after a while, because I was worried it would drive me insane. I was given a second chance to live and to help others live. For now, I see no reason to question that."
Luna hummed and nodded. "It wouldn't be much of an adventure if we knew what to expect."
Danny smiled slightly. "Yes."
The tension slowly started to ebb again.
"So, you're what again?" Neville asked in confusion but obviously just curious.
"Half ghost, it's as complicated as it sounds."
"Oh, right then."
"He's also Harry's missing twin brother," Ron added and Neville just gave him a blank look.
"Of course."
"Sounds like a soap opera," Danny expressed and then groaned. "More reason for Marin to laugh at me."
Hermoine and Harry smiled at the reference and Ron furrowed his brow and glanced at an also confused Neville. "What in the bloody hell does soap have to do with this?"
"Muggle reference," Danny expressed with a shrug.
Hermoine smiled but then slowly started to frown. "I'm concerned about Voldemort finding out about you Danny."
Danny and Harry both froze, while Harry looked suddenly worried, Danny merely looked speculative.
"You're Harry's brother and you also might represent immortality if he finds out about your powers…" Hermoine's face contorted slightly before she looked up at him slowly. "Do you know… Do you know if the… if the killing curse works on you?"
Everyone slowly looked towards Danny as he floated and looked thoughtful. "I…" He frowned and then let out a sigh. "All I can say is that… it doesn't work when I'm in ghost form."
Everyone blinked in shock as Danny took in their looks and continued hastily. "Some witches and wizards thought I was unnatural even with the law protecting me and tried to well… you know. I was trying to get another ghost to go back into the Ghost Zone when the spell hit me. It flung me several feet but other than that, nothing."
Everyone was quiet for a moment before Neville swallowed and spoke, "How is that possible?"
Danny shrugged. "Something prevented Harry from dying when the spell hit him. Maybe mom's love did it, or maybe something else. It's hard to say given that other mothers and fathers have died for their children before. Regardless, the spell is supposed to eject the spirit from the corporal body. All it did was toss me a bit. I'm not sure, maybe my body and my spirit are too intertwined now because of my DNA and the ectoplasm or something. Like I said, I don't know what would happen if I was in human form… but I probably wouldn't work then either seeing as I have access to my powers then too, even if they aren't as potent as a human."
"I guess you're right. It must have something to do with how the spell was crafted."
"You should pen-pal with my sister in America. She's really into spellcraft."
Ron sighed and glanced at Harry and Neville. "I still don't know what DNA is."
Harry hummed. "It's like… what determines what aspects of our looks, behaviors, and abilities we get from our parents. Altering one's DNA can change lots of things about how the body works. Metamorphaguses might have some control over their DNA, they must, now that I think about it…"
"Probably," Danny concluded before he sighed and then gave a smile. "Okay, enough sad stuff. Who wants to see me stick my head through the wall and see if this room is in a pocket dimension?"
"Do tell us if you find the homes of the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks," Luna offered.
"How about we start with basic powers before we explore extra dimensions before lunch?" Hermoine interfered.
"Huh, definitely not a Thunderbird in you, miss," Danny grinned and wagged his finger. He none the less, nodded and lit a small sphere of green light into his palm and in that moment, the attempt to bring back a less serious atmosphere plummeted.
Harry gazed at the color of his brother's power and felt a sick feeling building in his stomach. Ron swallowed and spoke. "It's green."
Danny slowly frowned and lowered his eyes. "Bad luck I suppose. I've met ghosts with all sorts of other colors for their ectoplasm, like pink, red, yellow…"
Harry swallowed down the dread in his throat and quietly asked Danny to put it away. Danny seemed slightly hurt but obeyed.
"I'm sorry."
"No wonder people are afraid of you-" Hermoine murmured but then looked horrified by her word vomit. "I don't mean that they should!"
Danny only grimaced and glanced away. "Believe me, I know."
"This is totally bonkers-"
"Ron!" Hermoine objected but Danny raised a hand.
"Denying him his feelings won't help anyone, Hermoine. It hurts, but I understand. I have to…"
Neville gulped a let out a sigh. "It'll certainly take some getting used to."
"Lots of good things are green after all. Grass, leaves, june beetles, and also a nice umbrella I own that stops the rain," Luna spoke.
Danny gave her a small smile.
Harry grimaced slightly, but before he could speak, Danny once again seemed to know what he was thinking.
"I'm sorry that this is a sucky situation. I wish I could change the color. It took my own friends ages to not at least be uncomfortable about it."
Harry wasn't sure how to respond. He wasn't sorry really, because it was nearly killing curse green, but he also could tell how it plagued his brother to see their fear. "We'll try. We'll just keep trying because that's all we can do, right?"
Everyone nodded at that and Danny gave his brother a huge smile that made something lift slightly in Harry's soul.
"Aw, I'm teaching my brother something."
Harry sputtered slightly while Neville and Hermoine laughed a bit, Ron tentatively smiled, and Luna just kept up her happy, pleased face.
zz
He didn't really know this Sirius guy all that much. He apparently had been his birth father's best friend and had been there when he was born. He mattered to Harry though and if there was one thing Danny couldn't stand, it was seeing others in pain. Besides, if this worked and they all came out of this intact, he had some words to share with the man that might have helped in causing Danny's name to be a pun.
To most, it would've appeared that Danny came out of nowhere, but he was just that fast because of his powers. Superhuman reflexes, equilibrium, and other various traits made the feat possible.
Danny slammed into Sirius' side and sent the man across the room as the green spell struck his chest, sending Danny spinning into the veil. He hoped he hadn't bruised Harry's godfather too much, though Harry's desperate cry of his name warmed him slightly. If he'd really died, he would've been mourned and as horrible as that sounded, he was pleased too. He'd make sure to tell them later that there should be a party when he truly died or he would actually haunt them.
The veil was nothing like the Ghost Zone; while both were cold, the Ghost Zone felt weirdly like home home safe right home and the Veil felt more like wrong wrong leave not here FLEE. Ultimately Danny was able to right himself and get a quick glance, which helped him conclude his growing suspicion. They needed to destroy this portal as soon as possible, but he'd deal with that issue later.
Danny rocketed out of the portal and circled above the fight as Voldemort and Dumbledore finished their duel and Harry writhed on the ground like he was being over-shadowed. Unintentionally, Danny let out a roar that echoed through the building and was enhanced by his ghostly wail trying to eek out.
Voldemort's red eyes snapped to his and Danny unflinchingly glared back, mentally commanding the wizard to leave his brother alone through eye contact alone. This snake man was too much like Vlad, too much like his dark future's unremorseful bloodthirsty gaze. Danny could feel himself shaking at the thought and his cursed mentally when Voldemort gave a small nearly invisible sneer of triumph in their second-long body language fight.
Everything afterwards was a blur; Voldemort and his followers had left and Danny could hear familiar voices behind and below him. He didn't stop staring into space until Harry's voice cut through the chaos in his mind.
"Danny!"
It was a startled and somewhat strangled and confused shout that showed Harry's own surprise at his vocalization. Danny slowly turned to see everyone staring up at him, but he looked down to see Harry being supported by Sirius.
"Hey Harry. Sorry about tossing you like a rag doll there, Sirius."
Sirius blinked, not sure how to respond seeing as he was still in shock as well.
"You're okay." Harry breathed out
Danny nodded and then smiled slightly. "You may be the body who lived, but I seem to be the boy who just can't seem to die." Danny grimaced slightly. "That was probably the most morbid joke I've ever made…"
"But, how-"
Dumbledore cut off the auror's voice. "I'm sure they're be time for questions later."
Danny hummed and floated down to the ground before glancing at Harry and looking him over then looking over the other students that had come with them. "You okay?"
"He asks if we're okay, bloody hell." Ron murmured. Danny only shrugged in response.
"Sam says I have a people saving-problem."
Every one of the students turned to look at Harry who gave Danny a blank look that was ruined by the slight smile trying to form against his will.
Danny's calm smile disappeared and he gave Harry a fierce and serious look. "He won't win, Harry. People like him… everything he's built from is sand and silt. The future is not set in stone." Danny ended with finality that many there were surprised at but didn't comment on.
"Who are you again?" Sirius questioned.
"Ah, he speaks," Danny smirked slightly before he transformed, causing Remus and Sirius' faces to pale slightly.
"Huh, I'm starting to sense a pattern here." Danny muttered
"You're impossible." Harry remarked.
"Perfect, that's what I was shooting for."
Sirius let out a bellow that sounded both pained and healing. Remus let out a shaky breath and a few Order members looked at Dumbledore expectantly. The headmaster merely smiled innocently.
zz
"Well, it's not surprising," Ron muttered.
"It's still so very wrong," Hermoine sighed.
Harry only frowned as the trio and Danny walked into the Great Hall to see everyone staring at them, but more importantly, at Danny. Danny seemed to just be pretending that nothing was amiss even as the group noticed the Daily Prophets on the tables.
When the four sat down at the Griffindor table, everyone near them kept looking at them as though to extract a story and explanation through their looks alone; you'd think they had mastered Legilimency.
Fred and George suddenly sat on one side of Harry and on Danny's other side, effectively flanking them. They merely grinned at the two until Danny gave them both a look.
"E tu, Brute?"
Before they could respond, a certain Slytherin scoffed as he passed. "Could've guessed you were a Potter."
Danny merely ignored him.
"He appears just as daft too."
Danny rolled his eyes but said nothing.
"Get lost, Draco. Not in the mood at all," Harry muttered angrily.
Draco sneered and gave a superior smirk as he walked off. "At the rate you're going, you'll end up killing your brand-new brother as well, Potter."
Harry glared at Draco as he laughed and walked off, as Danny laid a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Now that Mister Ad hominem is gone and can no longer spoil breakfast, how about that pudding?"
Harry glanced at Danny and smiled before rolling his eyes. "You're a true puzzle, you know?"
Danny shrugged. "I'm certainly not like other guys that's for sure- Fred, and yes I'm calling you Fred because I'm too lazy to try and figure out if I'm right or not, if you keep staring at me I think you'll burn a hole in my head. I sincerely doubt that you'll get Harry involved in our dealings."
"But my ghostly friend-"
"A challenge is the best fun of all!"
Danny smiled and looked at Harry, who was chagrined at the gleeful looks Fred and George were giving the brothers, both. "Whelp, I tried."
While no one knew what the future held, with Danny around, things would never be the same.
