Danny had packed a case with some clothes, a printed archive of his ghost files as Dumbledore had told Danny that muggle technology didn't work in the wizarding world, and a couple of thermoses. He had to hope that the devices had enough ectoplasm in them to run when normal technology wouldn't. Everyone was waiting in the living room. It was a heavy atmosphere. All of them wondering how long it would be before they saw Danny again. Yes, they'd been told that Danny would have a method of visiting available, but what if he was too busy to visit? So, they had to assume it would be a long time before the halfa could return.
There was a knock on the door and Danny answered it. He blinked in surprise however when he saw who was standing on the doorstep.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Danny gasped.
"Hello Danny. I trust you are well? We'll be on our way in a few minutes but I thought I should at least meet your family first," Dumbledore replied. Danny nodded and allowed the elderly wizard inside, suddenly realising that Dumbledore was now his leader.
Dumbledore smiled warmly at the Fentons, Sam and Tucker.
"Hello, I'm Albus Dumbledore. Headmaster of Hogwarts and founder of the Order of the Phoenix. I want to assure you that Danny is in good hands and will be able to visit regularly. Any concerns, feel free to take them to this address. Members of the order will be there and can get in contact with me and by extension Danny. Now before we leave, any questions?" Dumbledore explained to the group and handed a sealed envelope to Maddie. The group slowly shook their heads, Lupin had answered most of their questions already, at least as much as he was able. Dumbledore nodded.
He turned to Danny.
"Before we leave, I'll be taking you directly to Hogwarts to drop off your case and then we will heading straight to headquarters. When we get there, I want you to remain invisible until I tell you otherwise. I'll explain at Hogwarts," Dumbledore informed the teen. Danny nodded in understanding. Dumbledore then turned to the others.
"It was lovely meeting you all. Hopefully we will get the chance to properly converse at a later date," Dumbledore bid farewell graciously. Danny quickly gave last minute hugs and muttered goodbyes.
Dumbledore then offered the teen his arm.
"Fawkes is waiting in Hogsmede. I cannot apparate directly onto the school grounds. I forewarn you, apparition is not pleasant, especially the first few times," Dumbledore explained. Danny nodded and nervously took Dumbledore's arm. One minute he was giving his friends and family one last look, the next he was enveloped in darkness and felt like he was being shoved into a cramped pipe. He could understand why Dumbledore warned him, but it wasn't nearly as horrible as the Fenton thermos, which thanks to Jazz, he unfortunately had a lot of experience with. Moments later, Danny, Dumbledore and Danny's case were standing in a dark alleyway in the early evening sun.
Dumbledore turned to Danny and blinked in surprise.
"You're alright?" he asked astounded. Danny smirked.
"Yeah, I've felt worse than that before. But thanks for the warning. Where's this Fawkes?" Danny replied, starting to get used to the unusual names in the wizarding world. Dumbledore smiled before looking to the sky.
"He's coming now. Fawkes is a phoenix Danny. He will be transporting us into the grounds using his branch of fire magic. You will not be harmed," Dumbledore informed the halfa as a large red and gold bird swooped into the alleyway. Dumbledore smiled and held a hand out to Danny, enchanting his case to follow with a flick of the wand. Danny complied and Fawkes dove at the wizard and the elderly man grabbed onto the bird. They all erupted in flames and reappeared in the entrance hall of the large school.
Dumbledore waved his wand at the case and it set itself down gently next to a statue by the enormous double doors.
"Danny, I understand that you would like to explore, but we need to go to headquarters first. I wish to keep Phantom's involvement in the order secret for as long as possible. You are a powerful person, and having you as a secret weapon would give us a huge advantage, especially with your ability to change form. So while at Hogwarts, you will tell anyone that asks that you are simply visiting. I will be the only one to know your location at all times. Is that alright?" Dumbledore began. Danny tore his fascinated gaze away from the impressive building.
"That's fine with me Professor. I'm good at that kind of stuff," Danny confirmed. Dumbledore smiled.
"Next. Headquarters is protected by numerous spells to repel muggles and a Fidelius charm. Now, once included in the charm, I believe the other spells will be made null and void. I need you to remember this address Danny. Number twelve Grimmauld Place. Got it?" Dumbledore resumed. Danny muttered the address to himself a few times, committing it to memory and nodded.
"Good, then the last thing is for you to change into your ghost form," Dumbledore concluded. Danny obediently nodded and complied. Dumbledore then grabbed Danny's arm and Fawkes transported them to the school gates.
Once off the grounds, Dumbledore apparated Danny to Grimmauld Place. However, this time the sensation felt more natural. He didn't feel squashed but he did feel light headed and unusually… gaseous? They appeared in Grimmauld Place and Dumbledore frowned at Danny but quickly he shook off his puzzlement. He walked across the square and Danny turned invisible and followed, thinking of the address. A house appeared out of nowhere between the constantly visible houses numbered thirteen and eleven. Dumbledore knocked on the door and a squat, red haired woman answered the door.
"Professor Dumbledore, everyone's in the kitchen," the woman greeted, stepping to one side to allow the wizard inside. Dumbledore paused and waved discretely behind his back, telling Danny to head inside. Danny invisibly floated past Dumbledore as he thanked "Molly". Inside the house, it was dark, dusty and oppressive. On the landing, a group of teens around Danny's age had gathered. Four had red hair and looked similar enough to be related, probably "Molly's" family. The two oldest were even identical, clearly twins. The fifth was a bushy brunette.
"Shoo! This is order business!" "Molly" called to them in a scolding tone. The teens groaned disappointedly but shuffled upstairs together.
"Honestly, I don't know how many times I've told them," "Molly" huffed.
"They're young Molly. To be curious is natural. Now, come on, we shouldn't delay this meeting any further," Dumbledore decided and led the way down the narrow hallway to an equally cramped, dusty and dark kitchen. However this room had a large number of adults and a crackling fire in the fireplace which made the oppressive room feel almost welcoming.
The group of people in the room were obviously witches and wizards. A tall, stern-looking woman sat at the end of the table beside a bald man in deep blue robes. A haggard, scarred man with an electric blue eye was next beside Lupin, looking a little more rested now. A young woman with luminous yellow hair and vibrant green robes sat next to him. At the head sat a thin man with messy, scraggly black hair. Another man with red hair and a curious similarity to the children from the landing was closest to the door. Beside him was a man with greasy black hair and a hooked nose in black robes.
Dumbledore nodded to the group in greeting and once "Molly" was seated, he flicked his wand at the door.
"This meeting is of utmost confidentiality. Anyone who can't keep a secret, I suggest you leave," Dumbledore declared sternly and waited for anyone to leave. He nodded.
"I have a new member with me," Dumbledore began. The curious eye strapped to the scarred man's head swivelled around the room, even turning into his head, making Danny's eyes widen in shock.
"I don't see anyone Dumbledore," the man growled.
"Ah, well. That would be because he is invisible right now Alastor. Seemingly so effectively that not even you can detect him," Dumbledore replied happily.
"Danny," Dumbledore called expectantly and the teen instantly knew to regain his visibility. Sitting cross-legged, floating at head height with most of the seated adults, Danny appeared close by Dumbledore.
How will these order members react!? I hope I've made it clear whose present but they'll be introduced next chapter so don't worry.
Let me know what you guys think so far.
Until the next chapter.
