A couple of weeks later, Dumbledore had taken to teaching Danny the basics of Esperanto and providing books to help the halfa learn. Danny had continued his lessons with Miss Fisher and following Malfoy around. There was very little suspicious activity but that didn't mean that Malfoy hadn't planned anything. Danny could only watch invisibly. He wasn't a mind reader. And he couldn't see everything. He had to leave Malfoy's side regularly between his own bodily needs such as eating and sleeping. He also didn't want to completely violate Malfoy's privacy by being creepy and watching the teen sleep or do homework or whatever. There were boundaries. However there were other things that Danny had to do other than watch Malfoy, such as Wulf, Peeves and Hagrid and his half-brother. True those obligations were given to himself but that didn't make them any less important to him. He truly believed having a good working relationship with Grawp could only help the order. And Peeves needed a babysitter sometimes before he did something unnecessarily dangerous or stupid. And Wulf, he was just eager to spend time with the halfa. There was also his obligation to his own studies with Miss Fisher and getting homework done.
But it came to the first Hogsmede visit. The previous year Danny had taken those days off, but this year, he needed to take these days to watch Malfoy. Hogsmede gave Malfoy the opportunity to smuggle dangerous items into the school or to meet with undercover Death Eaters. However with Malfoy in detention, Danny had to admit that there was no point in watching the teen that day. So instead, Danny took the day to finish some homework for Miss Fisher and study some more Esperanto. Dumbledore was away for the weekend but he had promised an Esperanto lesson on Tuesday evening.
After a couple mind-numbing hours of school work, Danny left his room for a flight to clear his head. He didn't expect to see Filch running through the corridors holding a scarf heading to the dungeons. Danny gasped in alarm, turned invisible and gave chase. Filch barged into Snape's office and began babbling about a cursed necklace cursing a student in the hospital wing before thrusting the scarf into Snape's hands. Snape ran off to the hospital with his wand and the necklace bound scarf while Filch puffed breathlessly against a wall. Danny rushed after Snape.
"What's going on? Need help?" Danny asked, abandoning the on-going dislike between the two order members. Snape spared Danny a glance.
"I'm not entirely sure yet. But I need to get to the hospital wing," Snape answered, also putting aside their disagreements. Danny grabbed the wizard's arm.
"Then let me help. It'll feel weird, but a lot faster if I do," Danny offered and turned them both intangible and phased them up through the castle to the hospital wing. Snape blinked in shock before giving Danny a curt nod in thanks and rushing into the hospital wing. Sensing he'd only get in the way, Danny floated away from the door and waited outside for news.
Less than thirty minutes later, Snape left the room. He looked worried. Danny drifted over to the man.
"Well, any luck?" Danny inquired. Snape shook his head.
"I don't have the expertise nor equipment to heal her. But I have stopped the curse so far. We have alerted St. Mungo's Hospital. They'll come to pick her up as soon as possible, probably tomorrow morning," Snape reported. Danny nodded seriously.
"It was Katie Bell. I fear Draco made a move," Snape muttered carefully. Danny bit his lip.
"I dunno how. He had detention today. He was nowhere near Hogsmede and you know about all the security to stop dangerous objects into the school," Danny reasoned. Snape nodded slowly in agreement.
"All the same, I believe it was his plan. I don't know how. But that necklace has been on display in Borkin and Burke's for years. Don't ask how I know. I just do. And… well, we're aware that Draco has paid a visit recently," Snape revealed. Danny bit his lip.
"I'll try and keep a closer eye on him. I've been avoiding going into the common room until now, but I think I might have to break that rule after this. But I'm not a mind reader. If Draco's doing this alone, he won't say what he's up to. If I can't see or hear it, then I'm sunk," Danny admitted. Snape nodded.
"I'll try harder myself. I'll offer to help, that way we will be able to direct him in the way we want," Snape suggested. Danny nodded. Working together was weird, but oddly natural for them.
By the next day, the entire school had heard that Katie Bell had been cursed. Danny followed Malfoy closely, hoping for any sign of proof that the teen was responsible. But there was nothing. Perhaps because it had been a failed attempt. But true to his word, Danny broke the rules he set in place for himself and watched Malfoy from his first lesson, until late evening, earlier if he had a lesson with Miss Fisher. Danny also made sure to make the lessons with Miss Fisher as erratic as possible in order to catch Malfoy out.
Another week passed and Danny was starting to get much better at Esperanto. November came and Danny claimed his usual perch high above the pitch for the first Quidditch match of the year. With a start, Danny realised that Malfoy wasn't playing! Which meant that Danny had no idea where the teen was. Danny jumped back into the air and charged back to the school and searched everywhere for the wayward student. Unfortunately he had no luck whatsoever. With a sigh, Danny watched the rest of the Slytherins return to the common room in disappointment. The Gryffindors won. Danny overheard that Ron played unusually well that match too. Danny smiled to himself. That was really good to hear. He'd seen Ron play both during practice and in actual games. The keeper just got nervous and messed up when people were watching. The halfa was glad to hear that Ron got over that insecurity. Malfoy turned up an hour later, not even caring about the match's outcome. Danny bit his lip. Malfoy looked stressed. He was up to something. What? Danny didn't know. Not yet.
Halfway through November, Danny deemed himself fluent enough to ask Wulf to come to London with him when he had his lesson with Miss Fisher to go on a patrol for ghosts. The city smells overwhelmed the ghost but he offered to take the time to patrol around when Danny was busy and help the halfa find the missing ghosts.
Danny was floating visibly through the corridors on his way to lunch, having to keep up appearances, when Harry, Ron and Hermione called to him.
"Hey guys. How are things going with you?" Danny greeted them.
"Good," Ron answered.
"Look, is the order watching Malfoy? Draco Malfoy I mean. I really think he's a Death Eater," Harry asked. Ron and Hermione groaned. Danny laughed the second he registered the question and thought of a response.
"Harry… Draco Malfoy? A Death Eater? He's not of age! Besides, what use is a kid in school?" Danny reasoned with convincing forced chuckles. Harry frowned.
"Danny Fenton wasn't of age when he joined the order," Harry pointed out. Danny wiped an imaginary tear of mirth from his eye.
"Special circumstances. And American. Laws are different there. Trust me, if Malfoy was a Death Eater, I would have spotted it. I see a lot around here. And a lot of ghosts alert me to changes around here," Danny assured them.
"Because they respect you right?" Hermione quickly clarified, obviously eager to change the subject. Danny raised a confused eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?" he inquired genuinely not knowing what the witch was getting at.
"Nick told us last year that you have a reputation among ghosts because you beat the Ghost King," Ron explained. Danny blinked in surprise.
"Oh, that's er I'm sure Sir Nick was exaggerating," Danny muttered, completely taken off guard by this topic. Hermione smirked.
"Nick did say you were modest about it. Could you tell us more about it?" she requested. Danny opened and closed his mouth before giving a nervous chuckle.
"That's-er- that's a long story Hermione," Danny began before he gasped as his ghost sense triggered. Biting back a relieved sigh, Danny scanned the corridor and smiled as Wulf ran over to the group.
"Amiko! Mi trovis fantomon. Sed ni devas esti rapida," Wulf announced. (Friend! I found a ghost. But we have to be quick). Danny gasped.
"Oh! Unu minuto. Mi ekpreni la termobotelo kaj vi povos konduki la vojon," Danny replied. (Oh! One minute. I'll grab the thermos and you can lead the way). Danny turned to the listening trio of students.
"I have to go. I'm sorry. But if I don't hurry we'll miss our chance. Wulf found a ghost. I'm sorry!" Danny explained quickly before flying off through the school and phasing into his room, grabbed his thermos and nodded to Wulf. Wulf grinned and unsheathed his long claws and slashed the air to make a portal into the Ghost Zone where Wulf would make a portal to where the ghost was. Danny didn't even hesitate a second before following Wulf.
Any guesses which ghost Wulf found?
In case you were wondering, yes, this section of the story will feature a number of ghosts. Until now Voldemort has been biding his time and keeping the ghosts close to him. After all he had to keep a low profile to remain hidden but since he was discovered, he can step it up and start using the ghosts he recruited.
Let me know what you guys think so far.
Until the next chapter.
