The next few weeks past slowly. Danny resumed his lessons with Miss Fisher, taking trips into London and paying the occasional visit to Amity Park. He tried to keep to what Moody said at the dinner in the Burrow. Live in the moment. He pushed down any thoughts of Dumbledore's plans, both ending in death. Danny didn't want that knowledge. It was hard enough to know that Dumbledore was going to die. But Danny had spent a lot of time around Harry and now… now it was going to be his job to send Harry to his death. A death the teen had to stand and face, making no move at all to protect himself. When Danny faced Pariah Dark, he hadn't been sure if he was going to walk away, but at least he'd been able to defend himself. He would have gone down swinging. Harry… Harry wasn't going to have that much.

Ghost attacks were increasing exponentially. There were traces of ghostly activity at numerous disappearances, in particular Ollivander the wand maker. No sign of a struggle. Of course not, ghost slips in invisible and overshadows Ollivander. Then simply walks out. Danny was also certain that Vortex was around. The weather didn't seem to know what it wanted to do, sunny one day and stormy the next.

There were a few meetings among the order but without a true headquarters, they were few and far in between. But Fred and George had joined. Their flat above their bright and flamboyant joke shop was a known safe place for order members. There had even been a meeting hosted there. Danny smirked as he walked through London with a thermos waiting and hoping for his ghost sense to go off.

"Not idiots now are we?" Fred bragged smugly.

"Never said you were complete idiots. You just do stupid things," Danny retorted.

"Name one thing!" George challenged childishly.

"Throwing a trunk down the stairs at your sister," Danny instantly recalled. Both twins flinched.

"That was an accident," Fred muttered.

"And she was fine," George added, waving a dismissive hand. Danny nodded.

"Anyway, nice place ya got here," Danny complimented as they joined the other members at the table.

It was frustrating. Danny hadn't seen a ghost since the Box Ghost. He practiced his powers with Sam and Tucker regularly, getting a lot better at duplication. He was also using the visits to test his endurance. Teleporting excessively. Holding his powers for as long as possible. Learning his limits and pushing himself past them. He had to keep himself ready for a ghost attack. Voldemort wasn't going to sit back and do nothing with that ready-made army.

Before long, Hogwarts started again. Danny left Mrs Figg's house and teleported to Hogwarts the morning before lessons began. He reported in with Dumbledore, having grown a lot more distant with the wizard. Whenever Danny was in Dumbledore's presence he wasn't sure if he should act normally, or be more serious. If he tried to laugh and joke, he felt callous as the man was going to die. But if he tried to be understanding and watch his actions and words, he felt even worse because he was bringing attention to the fact that Dumbledore was a dead man walking. So, he stayed away as much as possible. Dumbledore did ask for the occasional report on the ghost situation or to tell Danny of another incredibly clean disappearance which clearly involved ghosts.

Danny then spent the remainder of the day floating through the school greeting the ghosts, reacquainting himself with the layout and meeting Horace Slughorn, a short, plump man that would be teaching potions. Danny frowned. Did that mean that Snape would be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts? Danny then asked the Bloody Baron for help in locating the Slytherin common room. If Danny was going to watch Draco Malfoy this year, he'd have to know that much.

At lunch Danny went to the kitchens and greeted Dobby, pleasant as ever, Winky, drunk beside the fireplace and promptly passed out minutes after Danny arrived, and Kreacher, the house elf was as unpleasant as ever. Dobby had taken it upon himself to watch and reprimand the cruel house elf. After lunch, Hagrid led Danny to Grawp's new home in a nearby cave in the local mountains, apparently the headmaster had been very understanding to learn of Grawp's presence. The giant was happy to see Danny, having become quite friendly with the halfa at the end of the previous year. His English had come a long way too, not that he didn't sound like a three year old with his grammar and simplified words.

Peeves soon found Danny and spent the day bouncing around happily, overjoyed that his friend was back for another year. Danny, amused by the poltergeist's joy, asked for help in watching Malfoy making sure to make it completely plain that it was supposed to be a secret. Evening came quickly and Danny floated invisibly above the tables in the Great Hall, having had an early dinner beforehand. He wanted to eavesdrop on Malfoy a little to get a better read on the boy. The previous year, Danny had formed a dislike of the boy for his near-constant snide remarks or mocking gestures towards Harry and his friends. If he was going to spend the next year watching the blonde teen, he should really learn to tolerate if not like him.

The students soon started to file into the Great Hall, chatting happily and taking their seats. Danny smiled as he spotted a few familiar faces. Luna with her long blonde hair and dreamy look in her eyes. Ginny, alongside Dean Thomas, her current boyfriend, sat down with Neville. They were closely followed by Hermione and Ron, both looking worried. Danny frowned and floated a little closer.

"Oh, I wish we knew if Danny was here this year," Hermione whispered.

"Why?" Ginny asked.

"Harry's missing! I haven't seen him anywhere," Hermione exclaimed softly, clearly trying not to draw attention to herself.

Danny bit his lip worriedly. Should he go after Harry? His job was to watch Malfoy, not Harry. But Harry was a friend. Not to mention important. Danny shook his head. He was thinking like Vlad. Harry was a person. Not a pawn to use for his or anyone else's benefit.

"Hermione, I'm sure Harry's fine. He was spying on Malfoy wasn't he? He probably got held up waiting for the coast to be clear before getting off the train," Ron interjected calmly, seemingly convincing himself at the same time.

Danny decided to trust Ron's judgement. However, Danny didn't understand why Harry would be spying on Malfoy. So the halfa drifted back over to the Slytherin table. The tables filled up and Malfoy sat down, looking disconcertedly smug about something.

"Everything okay Draco?" a girl asked him.

"Hmm?" Malfoy hummed, confused.

"You were checking something. Was it alright?" the girl clarified.

"Oh. That. Yeah, actually it was better than I thought," Malfoy replied with a smile.

"Tell me something Draco. You… you weren't really serious were you earlier? When you said you mightn't come back next year right? You're not going to ditch Hogwarts like those blood traitor Weasleys last year," the girl muttered worriedly.

"Pansy, that's next year. But yes. I was serious," Malfoy answered. Danny raised an eyebrow. Malfoy was going to leave school early. Well, of course he was going to. He had been ordered to kill Dumbledore. Definitely something you'd get expelled for.

The girl, Pansy, opened her mouth to continue the conversation but then the doors opened and the first years filed inside behind McGonagall. Danny quickly scanned the Gryffindor table, but there was no sign of Harry. Danny frowned worriedly. The sorting hat burst into song and everyone applauded it. Then a silver light appeared beside the staff table. It hovered around Hagrid's chair, which was empty, before Snape discretely got up and bent his head down to the light, Danny realised it was a dog-like patronus. Snape scowled and slipped quietly out of the Great Hall.

Danny jumped when the Slytherin table erupted in applause and cheers as one of the first years joined the table. During the sorting, Hagrid slipped into the Great Hall and took his seat. Danny frowned, he just missed the patronus. Dumbledore stood up and invited the students to enjoy the feast. Malfoy hungrily piled his plate up high.

"Huh? I don't see Potter," one of the boys near Malfoy commented.

"Probably wanted to make an entrance. Or maybe he gets extra special attention after the end of last year," another boy wondered.

"Oh, don't worry, Potter shouldn't make it tonight," Malfoy sniggered as he took a sip of pumpkin juice from his goblet.

"What do you mean?" Pansy inquired.

"Well, guess I can tell you guys what happened. Looks like my plan worked. You know how Potter has an invisibility cloak?" Malfoy began. A number of the Slytherins near Malfoy nodded, clearly hanging on Malfoy's every word.

"Well, Potter used it on the train to sneak into our compartment," Malfoy revealed.

"Wait! Potter forced open that door?!" one boy a couple of seats over growled angrily. Malfoy nodded.

"He snuck up on to the luggage rail. I spotted him. So, when I said I was checking on something…" Malfoy resumed.

"You were checking on Potter! Ingenious Draco!" Pansy praised with an impressive squeal. Malfoy smirked smugly.

"That's right. I pretended to be looking in my trunk and then jinxed him. You should have seen his face!" Malfoy continued and gave an exaggerated expression of shock. The Slytherins erupted in laughter.

Suddenly the door opened and Harry rushed in, Snape following and making his way to his own seat at the staff table. Danny gave a sigh of relief. Listening to Malfoy, he was starting to get very concerned. Danny turned back to Malfoy to see Malfoy's enraged expression fade into indifference.

"Why's he covered in blood?" one of the boys asked. Danny looked back to Harry as he saw Hermione magically clean the blood off Harry's face.

"That would be because I broke Potter's nose," Malfoy revealed and mimed his nose getting shattered, rewarded with raucous laughter from the students listening. Danny scowled at the group.

"You could get in a lot of trouble for that Draco," Pansy warned once her laughter abated. Malfoy shrugged.

"It was worth it. Potter's the reason my dad is in Azkaban. And he shouldn't have been spying on me," Malfoy retorted uncaringly. The plates laden with mounds of chicken and vegetables faded and were replaced with cakes and pies.

"But Draco-" Pansy moaned.

"I don't care Pansy! I hate Potter for what he did. My dad is a proud man worthy of respect. And he made him a laughing stock and even worse he has destroyed my father's reputation!" Malfoy hissed forcefully. Pansy shrank away slightly from Malfoy nervously. Minutes later, Dumbledore stood up. His injured hand was immediately noticed. Malfoy narrowed his eyes at the elderly wizard before taking out his wand and absentmindedly waving it at his fork, muttering a soft spell.

The fork started to levitate in the air and the blonde teen proceeded to ignore Dumbledore as he told the student body that Slughorn would teach potions and Snape would teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry cried out in horror, attracting a few looks. Danny couldn't blame the teen. His favourite lesson taught by his least favourite teacher. Dumbledore then told the students that security was improved and to keep an eye out for any trouble. Malfoy, too busy messing with his fork, which he was now making flip in mid-air, ignored the veiled warned against trying to kill Dumbledore. Dumbledore then dismissed the students to go to bed.

"Finally, I thought he'd never shut up," Malfoy grumbled, getting to his feet and went down to the dungeons to the Slytherin common room.

And Harry and Malfoy's sixth year at Hogwarts has started as well as Danny's new mission to spy on Draco Malfoy.

This part of the story was surprisingly difficult to write. So little of Malfoy's school life is shown in the books, it focuses on Harry. I also had to try and pave the change from arrogant little – so and so. I'll not swear. Into the pitiful character at the end of the book and in the next.

Let me know what you guys think so far.

Okay, I've been so busy the last couple of weeks. Final year in college means a lot of work! But rest assured I will continue to post a chapter a day. That is a promise.

But there were a few reviews that pointed out a few things I want to clear up. First, in this story, and most if not all of my stories, I don't like to give ghosts, particularly Danny, obsessions. I prefer to think that they have free will and can choose what they do. So, Danny doesn't have an obsession to protect. Therefore, if he wished, he could kill Voldemort, but he choses not to. Personally I feel it makes his struggle against his evil future all the more meaningful.

Next, the horcrux in Harry. In this story, these pieces of soul aren't possessing the objects they cling to. It's more complex and binding than in other stories out there. The only way to remove the soul fragment is to destroy the object it is bound to. So Dumbledore's plan is the only option. I don't see those fragments as ghosts. They're magically bound. So it is different.

Next, as for the first part of the story being boring as it followed the story, I'm not offended. I know it was probably a bit dull which was why I only focused on the important points. But this story has three sections, spanning the three books. The first is tightly woven into the book and Danny is just establishing himself, staying in the shadows as that is all Dumbledore is willing to allow at that point and as part of the agreement with Danny and his parents. Also as he spends a lot of time around Harry, is was unavoidable. The next section is where Danny's journey starts to split from Harry's properly and sets up the third section a lot. As you've probably already started to see. Without giving away too much, the third section hardly features Harry as Harry is busy doing the task Dumbledore will set. This section as a result and the next, will pick up in action and tension. I promise you that.

A few people asked about the veil in the department of mysteries. Unlike some writers, I see it as a gateway to the afterlife, not the Ghost Zone. Go through the veil, you die.

I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone that reviewed so far. Over 100!

Wow that was a long author's note. Pretty sure that's my longest yet. Thanks for being patient and reading it all.

Until the next chapter.