That evening, Danny was floating visibly down the hall to show the students that he was still around. He thought it was important especially if Malfoy reported home for Voldemort on him. He had to show Voldemort that he hadn't been deterred and perhaps more importantly, that he was fine. However it was on this leisurely flight that Danny spotted Snape. It was in a quiet corridor and the wizard beckoned the teen over.

"Can we talk? Tonight?" Snape inquired. Danny sighed and nodded. He had expected as much. Snape would want answers and explanations. He knew that Dumbledore had explained some of it already but it was different when it came from him and when it came from Danny.

So after curfew, Danny knocked on Snape's office door.

"Come in," Snape called and Danny took a deep breath before stepping inside.

"Ah, Phantom… Fenton… No, Danny. What would you prefer?" Snape stammered uncertainly.

"In this form, Phantom or Danny is fine, in my human form, I have to say I prefer Danny," Danny answered with a slight shrug. Snape nodded and gestured to a seat. Danny floated over to the seat but hovered a few inches above it. Floating was always more comfortable in ghost form. Danny didn't really know why, it just was.

"So, I guess you have questions," Danny began. Snape shook his head.

"No, I think Dumbledore explained everything. I really wanted… I wanted to apologise to you. I haven't been fair to you. And I've said things that I shouldn't have. I was hoping that we could talk and get a better understanding of each other," Snape admitted. Danny blinked.

"I'll admit Severus, of all the things I expected you to say to me tonight, that wasn't even on the list," Danny remarked honestly. He'd expected a long interrogation. Demands of what he was. Not an apology.

"I suppose you wouldn't. But I am. When Dumbledore got cursed. I… I was upset but that doesn't excuse what I said to you. I'm truly sorry. I'm afraid I never gave you a real chance. Either sides of you. I didn't see how a ghost could help in a fight. And I couldn't see how an underage teenager could help the order full stop. I overreacted when you watched my lessons with Potter as well. I used to be a Death Eater, so being watched… it brings back bad memories and upsets me," Snape explained honestly. Danny sighed.

"No. You were right. It was my fault Dumbledore got cursed. I was there and I didn't stop him putting it on. Just like it was my fault Sirius died," Danny mumbled. His guilt had rekindled and grown since Spectra whispered in his ear. He needed to talk to someone and somehow that had ended up being Snape.

"What do you mean? Sirius wasn't your fault. Black chose to disregard orders and go to the Ministry. His actions were his own," Snape retorted firmly.

"Can you say that I couldn't have gone through the veil and got him back?" Danny challenged. Snape blinked in surprise.

"Where are you getting this from? If you go through the veil, you are dead. There is no way back. I don't know if you would as you are what you are, but Sirius was gone the moment he stepped through that archway," Snape replied. Danny glanced at the wizard.

"You're… you're certain?" he asked hopefully. He truly wanted to not be at fault. But he did play a part. He'd accepted his role in failing to watch Harry and leading to that trip to the Ministry. But… was he directly involved? By not saving Sirius, was he responsible? Snape nodded.

"Yes. I may not have been there but I did hear what happened, from both sides. Not one person commented that you could have saved Black. You were injured. As I understand it, you were injured badly at the same time Sirius was hit by that spell. You could have done nothing. And as for stopping Potter… you are not the only one to blame there. I probably didn't do enough to reassure Potter when I had a chance. You are one person, even if everyone else doesn't realise that. You can't do everything," Snape assured the teen.

Danny turned to Snape. The wizard sighed softly.

"Everyone makes mistakes. And I have been overly harsh on you. Sirius wasn't your fault and Dumbledore probably wasn't either. You weren't to know that the ring was dangerous and you acted as fast as you could. In both cases. You are incredibly dedicated and I don't think there is anyone in the order who would say otherwise, especially those of us that know about you," Snape added. Danny gave a tentative smile.

"Thanks Severus. That… that actually helped a lot. I really shouldn't listen to Spectra, but… it's not always easy to ignore her," Danny mumbled softly.

"Spectra?" Snape repeated in confusion.

"She's a ghost. She feeds on misery. And she's really good at making people depressed to get what she wants. And she knows exactly where to pick. She mentioned that I'm letting everyone at home down too. I might need to visit more often to make sure Voldemort doesn't target there," Danny explained. Snape nodded in understanding.

"If the ghosts know about you, how can you be sure that your secret is safe?" Snape asked after a moment of thought with a concerned frown. Danny nodded.

"I've never had a ghost tell my secret to a living person before. I think, unless Voldemort asks directly, I should be fine. But I have to find those ghosts as soon as possible. But that's the problem. I can't find them. Vortex, I think was just luck. Vortex probably was out in the open because he's a free spirit, no pun intended, for once. He needs room for his powers and he sees his weather as art. He's not easy to control either," Danny replied. Snape nodded.

"So… you were a Death Eater? Why did you swap sides?" Danny inquired cautiously. Snape bit his tongue before sighing in defeat.

"I suppose you have been honest with me. I loved a girl, ever since I was very young. Her name was Lily Evans. We met before we went to Hogwarts. During our sorting though, we started very different paths. I was sorted, as you'd guess, into Slytherin. Lily was sorted into Gryffindor. Over the years, we drifted apart. I still loved her but we were on very different paths like I said, in very different crowds. I became friends with people like Lucius Malfoy, and when we left school, we joined the Dark Lord. Lily, she fell in love with James Potter. Myself and James hated each other. Much like Potter and Draco do. Remus, Black, Pettigrew and James, the four of them were in Gryffindor and tormented me. And Lily fell in love with James," Snape recounted.

"James Potter? Any… any relation to Harry?" Danny asked carefully. Snape nodded.

"Yes. Harry is Lily and James Potter's son. You know of the prophecy. The Dark Lord believed Lily's son to be the one indicated. I begged him to spare Lily. I warned Dumbledore. The Dark Lord disregarded my wishes," Snape resumed.

"So you joined the order. Fought to avenge Lily. And that's why you protect Harry and yet are so… sorry no other words for it, mean to him at the same time," Danny realised. Snape nodded.

Danny considered what he learnt before he blinked in surprise.

"Great, now I understand Vlad better," he grumbled to himself.

"Who?" Snape prompted.

"Oh, just an enemy of mine. He loves my mom, hates my dad because he caused an accident when they were in college, and now he's a bit weird with me. One minute he's trying to kill me and then the next he's trying to make me his son. Actually sometimes he does both at the same time," Danny elaborated. Snape frowned.

"He tried to kill you?" Snape repeated. Danny sighed.

"He's a halfa. Like me. Except, he's a creep and super obsessive over my mom. But I guess I can understand how he might be conflicted about me after hearing how you feel about Harry. But Vlad definitely takes it too far," Danny explained. Snape smirked.

Could that be the sound of Danny and Snape making friends!? Gasp! The unthinkable!

This relationship was/is so fun to write. I hope it's fun to read too.

Let me know what you guys think about the story so far.

Until the next chapter.