The next morning, Lupin was enjoying a cup of tea in his hotel room. There was a knock on the door. Lupin got up from his seat and answered the door. The girl from the previous evening and the other friend he saw with Danny Fenton were on the other side.
"Mr Lupin. Phantom sent us to take you to him," the girl informed him. Lupin blinked in surprise.
"Right, just let me grab my jacket," Lupin replied and grabbed his jacket and slipped his wand in his pocket. He followed the teens out of his hotel and down a nearby alleyway. Once the street was no longer visible, Danny Phantom appeared in front of the wizard. The teens stood, almost like bodyguards, behind the wizard, blocking the exit.
"What exactly happened last night?" Danny asked seriously. Lupin surveyed the ghostly teen.
"I'm glad to see that you're feeling a lot better today. Last night I saw four dementors restraining you and preparing to administer a dementor's kiss. I cast the patronus charm and saved you. Dementors can cause people to feel cold and upset or distressed. They may also cause a person to recall horrible memories," Lupin explained. Danny frowned.
"Dementor's kiss?" Danny repeated.
"Not something I'd wish on my worst enemy I assure you. The dementor's kiss is the act of… of sucking a person's soul out of their body, leaving the victim's body behind as an empty shell. It is a fate worse than death. I don't know how that would affect you, being that you claim to be a ghost," Lupin answered.
Danny visibly paled.
"S-s-soul?" he stuttered. Lupin nodded seriously.
"Yes," Lupin confirmed.
"How do we know you're not just saying that?" Tucker interjected. Lupin turned to the muggle.
"I'm telling the truth," Lupin replied.
"Well, I've been searching for dementors online since last night. I haven't found anything," Tucker challenged. Lupin frowned.
"Online?" the wizard repeated confused.
"Yeah. The internet. They have that in England too, I know that. There's no mention of dementors anywhere," Tucker retorted. Lupin decided to take it that the teens researched the creatures.
"I'm afraid muggles wouldn't have information on dementors. They are magical creatures that muggles can't see. You would be able to feel their presence. The cold and misery. But not see them," Lupin explained.
The teens all frowned.
"Muggles?" Danny repeated.
"Non-magic folk. It's just a term," Lupin elaborated before frowning.
"But didn't you know that? Being a magical creature yourself," Lupin inquired. Danny bit his lip and shuffled nervously.
"I'm a ghost," he muttered. Lupin blinked.
"But, you're solid," Lupin pointed out. Sam, Tucker and Danny stared at Lupin.
"Yeah. Except when I chose to be intangible," Danny retorted with a confused raised eyebrow. Everyone in Amity Park understood that much. Hadn't Lupin gone to Fenton Works and listened to his parents?
"So you're another type of ghost," Lupin realised. Danny pushed down his panic, that was a dangerous question for a halfa.
"What do you know of the Dark Lord?" Danny demanded. Sam and Tucker rolled their eyes. It was such an obvious subject change.
"Dark Lord? Where did you hear that?" Lupin inquired worriedly.
"A couple of British guys approached me a few days ago. They've been talking to the other ghosts into joining them. They threatened me into joining them," Danny explained.
"Did you?" Lupin prompted. Danny scowled.
"No. I'm not evil. Unlike what some people claim," Danny answered sharply. Lupin smiled.
"I never said you were. And I don't sense that from you anyway," Lupin assured the halfa.
Danny gave the wizard a stiff nod and folded his arms, waiting for his answer.
"The Dark Lord, more commonly known as You Know Who but his name is Lord Voldemort. He is a powerful wizard capable of terrible things. Many witches and wizards are so frightened of him that they refuse to even utter the name," Lupin explained. Danny frowned.
"So, basically this Voldemort guy is forcing all the witches and wizards into listening to him?" Danny inquired. Lupin nodded.
"Danny, you can't believe this," Sam interjected.
"Why not? Sounds to me like Pariah Dark. And ghosts are real. Desiree has magic. Why not witches and wizards?" Danny remarked.
Lupin pulled out his wand.
"I can prove that I am a wizard, if you'd allow," Lupin offered. Danny, Sam and Tucker frowned in confusion and distrust. Lupin lifted his wand and levitated a tin can beside a dumpster. He then transfigured the can into a porcelain statue of a fish.
"I was sent here by Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was concerned about Voldemort's interest in Amity Park and by extension yourself Danny Phantom," Lupin informed them.
"Great. So everyone just wants me on their side. I don't think I've ever been this popular," Danny grumbled.
"That's not what I'm here for. Dumbledore would never force you to do anything you aren't comfortable with. And you wouldn't be a weapon to him. Of course you can refuse, no problem," Lupin interjected.
"Why were those dementors here?" Danny asked. Lupin shook his head.
"I can't be certain. But dementors have worked with Voldemort in the past," Lupin answered.
"I told you that you shouldn't have threatened those guys Danny," Tucker muttered. Danny glared at Tucker.
"Not now Tuck," he growled.
"Are you saying that because I said no to Voldemort, he sent those dementors after me?" Danny inquired. Lupin nodded sadly.
"Would those dementors have stopped after they got me? Would Amity Park have been left alone?" Danny questioned. Lupin sighed.
"Dementors… are greedy creatures. I'm afraid I can't confirm either way," Lupin confessed.
Danny frowned in thought.
"Could you ask Dumbledore to come and meet me?" Danny requested. Lupin nodded immediately.
"Of course. I could bring him here within a matter of hours," Lupin confirmed.
"Wait, Danny. You're going along with this," Sam exclaimed. Danny looked at her and nodded.
"I have to. If Voldemort is as bad as Mr Lupin says, then I can't ignore this. Besides, what's to stop more dementors to come here and… and kiss… everyone in Amity Park? You guys couldn't see them. You didn't feel what I did. And Voldemort is convincing my enemies to fight these guys. Ghosts are my responsibility," Danny replied. Lupin watched the exchange with interest. Completely stunned by how mature and understanding Danny was behaving.
Lupin nodded in understanding to Danny.
"If you'd allow, I could contact him and he could be here before tonight," Lupin offered. Danny glanced at Lupin and nodded.
"If you could. I don't want to leave Amity Park unprotected," Danny replied. Sam and Tucker glanced at each other uncertainly before stepping to one side, unblocking the alleyway for Lupin.
"I hope you know what you're doing Danny," Tucker muttered as Lupin walked back towards the street.
"So do I Tuck," Danny retorted softly.
Lupin returned to the edge of town where he'd last seen Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix. The bird had been told to stay nearby and Lupin didn't have to wait long before the large red and gold bird landed on the ground beside him.
"Hello Fawkes. Would you be so kind to return me to Dumbledore?" Lupin requested. Overseas travel was difficult. Especially when you were a werewolf. The wizarding community held many prejudices and one was against werewolves. Lupin understood. There were cruel werewolves out there like Fenrir Greyback. But there were just as many werewolves like Lupin too. Witches and wizards unfortunate enough to be bitten and cursed with the affliction.
Fawkes cooed softly and flew into the air. The bird circled around and Lupin grabbed onto the bird's taloned foot as it erupted in flames and transported them both to Grimmauld Place. They landed in the square. It was early evening and Lupin walked purposefully to the concealed front door of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Fawkes flew into a nearby tree and hid amongst the leaves. Lupin knocked on the door and minutes later a plump woman with messy red hair answered the door.
"Remus, how unexpected, come in, come in," Molly Weasley greeted him.
"Good evening Molly. I can't stay. Is Dumbledore here?" Lupin replied. Mrs Weasley blinked in surprise.
"Yes, he is. We're about to have a meeting actually," Mrs Weasley confirmed. Lupin nodded and stepped into the house, ignoring the Weasley children on the landing watching.
Lupin opened the kitchen door.
"I apologise, but Dumbledore… I have some news on Amity Park. And someone that requires some explanations," Lupin apologised as he stepped into the kitchen, surprising the group of members. Dumbledore rose to his feet.
"Has something happened Remus?" Dumbledore, a tall elderly man with half-moon glasses and twinkling eyes, inquired. Lupin nodded.
"Last night, dementors attacked a ghost, a very unusual ghost I'll add. They tried to administer a kiss but I stopped them in time. The ghost was quite shaken by the experience," Lupin explained. Dumbledore nodded.
"Completely understandable," Dumbledore remarked.
"I spoke to him a little while ago. Voldemort tried to recruit him. He refused. He wants to meet with you," Lupin concluded.
The members gathered, Mrs Weasley hovering in the doorway, shared surprised looks. Dumbledore bit his lip in thought before nodding.
"Very well. We'll have to postpone this meeting. Feel free to discuss matters of importance among yourselves and update me at the first available opportunity. Remus, lead the way," Dumbledore decided. Lupin nodded and led the elderly wizard out of the house, once again ignoring the Weasley children watching and trying to eavesdrop.
"Fred, we need to make something to eavesdrop," one of the older children muttered as the front door swung shut. Dumbledore called his faithful companion and Fawkes obediently flew to the wizards and transported them back to Amity Park.
So Danny is more willing to listen than Sam and Tucker but will he believe the wizards?
Let me know what you guys think so far.
Until the next chapter.
