Danny woke up and got dressed in his normal clothes, Hufflepuff uniform left on his chair, changed into his ghost form and phased out of the bedroom. He floated through the quiet corridors to the hospital wing. He stopped outside and took a big breath. This was it. He was going to tell these people his secret. From today onwards, Fenton had to be as hated as Snape. He slipped into a hidden alcove and changed forms. He then entered the hospital wing. Mad Eye Moody, Lupin, Tonks, Bill, now awake, Fleur, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Hagrid and McGonagall were present.
"Danny? I wasn't expecting you to be here," McGonagall exclaimed in surprise. Danny shrugged.
"Remus sent me an owl. Let me know what happened. I-I owe Dumbledore a lot. So I had to come. You don't mind, do you?" Danny lied. He knew Lupin wouldn't contradict him and the lie only had to hold for a short while anyway. The witch shook her head.
"No. Well, I guess Phantom isn't coming. But he's probably busy. We need to discuss the future of the order. Do we keep it going, or do we let it die with Albus?" McGonagall began the meeting.
The room fell silent. No one wanted to answer as they all felt the same. Without their leader, without Albus Dumbledore. Without their spy, with a traitor. Could the order even keep going? Fleur was perched beside Bill, who was still in bed. Tonks and Lupin were solemnly holding hands. Mr and Mrs Weasley were pressed together, Mr Weasley wrapping a protective and comforting arm around his wife. Danny could almost feel the despair in the room. He was glad Spectra was in the Ghost Zone for now.
"If we dissolve the order, then Voldemort's won," Moody grumbled. A few of the group nodded slowly in understanding, Danny the most convincing.
"What if you guys had another spy?" Danny asked as loudly as he dared in the thick tense silence. Everyone turned to him.
"Danny, it's not a good idea. S-Snape will know it's us," McGonagall muttered, spitting out Snape's name like a curse. Danny shrugged.
"Maybe. Or maybe he won't. If the spy has a reason to turn against the order," Danny countered. Lupin frowned suspiciously.
"You've already thought this through, haven't you Danny?" Lupin realised. Danny rubbed his neck and nodded.
"I have. I can become your new spy. But we have to start it today. And… it can't leave this room. Harry can't know the truth, or anyone near him. Hermione, Ginny, Ron, even Fred and George. They'll tell him. Harry and Voldemort are connected. If we can convince Harry, we can convince Voldemort," Danny informed them all, abandoning his cover story and tendencies to protect his secret.
Moody frowned. His magical eye swept over Danny. He clomped closer to the teen.
"What did you say boy?" he demanded suspiciously, knowing that Fenton never said the name Voldemort.
"I said Voldemort Moody. And before you ask, no. I'm not an imposter. But I haven't been entirely truthful with you guys," Danny replied. Lupin's eyes widened in shock.
"Danny, are you sure?" he called carefully. Danny nodded.
"The order needs hope. I've given this a lot of thought Remus, and I've made up my mind. Besides, you guys kept Phantom secret before," Danny confirmed. Tonks scowled at Lupin.
"Wait, Remus… you know what's going on?" she accused. Lupin bit his lip nervously.
"Don't get mad at him Tonks. I asked him to keep it quiet. Him and Dumbledore. They both respected my wishes. The truth is… there is only one Danny in the order," Danny interjected.
The order frowned in confusion.
"I think you're forgetting Danny Phantom, Danny," Mr Weasley ventured. Danny shook his head.
"I'm not. Because… I'm not a wizard. I'm a muggle. Dumbledore asked Phantom to join the order," Danny attempted again. The witches and wizards frowned in confusion. Danny sighed. He wasn't doing a very good job explaining himself. He folded his arms.
"My parents are inventors and ghost hunters. Maddie and Jack Fenton of Amity Park. Pretty well known in their circles. When I was fourteen they built a ghost portal. A gateway into the ghost dimension, called the Ghost Zone. At first it didn't work. But then, on a dare, I checked it out and hit a switch I wasn't meant to. I went in looking like this," Danny explained. He paused and called forward his ghost form. A band of white light appeared around his waist and split to glide across his body. The band changed his jeans and t-shirt into his iconic black and white jumpsuit, complete with Crown of Fire as he hadn't returned it to the dungeons.
"I came out looking like this," Danny finished.
Lupin and Hagrid glanced at each other while the rest openly gaped at him.
"What are you?" McGonagall breathed.
"I'm half-ghost. Dumbledore and Lupin knew from the beginning. Hagrid found out at the end of the last school year. Dumbledore never met me in a pub. I'm not a half blood wizard," Danny answered. Moody scanned Danny with both eyes.
"I don't think polyjuice potion would work on me since I'm not entirely human," Danny commented to the auror. Moody smirked and nodded.
"I reckon you're right boy," Moody agreed.
"But… I may not be able to infiltrate Voldemort's ranks as Phantom like we thought I could when I first met you guys, but Fenton could. And this is the perfect opening. Dumbledore's death could catalyse my leaving. But we need to make up our minds quickly," Danny resumed, wanting to get back to the reason he was telling them his secret. Some of the adults shared uncertain glances.
"Danny, are you sure about this. You'd be in enemy territory without us there to help you. You'd have to lead two lives," Tonks inquired. Danny nodded.
"I've made up my mind. Besides, before I told my parents about me, they didn't know at the start, they hunted my ghost half. You guys had no idea I was half-ghost right? I can do this. Phantom can stay with the order. And Fenton can join Voldemort and pass on information. Sev-Snape and Fenton have rarely spoken. He mostly dealt with Phantom," Danny replied, forcing himself to sound angry and spiteful towards Snape.
It took a little more convincing but gradually the adults agreed to Danny's plan. He nodded.
"Good. But this needs to be convincing. From today onwards, you have to hate Fenton. Dumbledore provided me with a room here in Hogwarts. As long as that's there, I'll stay there when I'm not with Voldemort. I'll report to you guys as Phantom. If you get cornered, you can always say that king Phantom sent a ghost to spy on Voldemort, because I'm king of the ghosts now. But for now, we need to stage a big argument when Harry's on his way in," Danny concluded. The order nodded in understanding. Danny duplicated himself and sent the duplicate to invisibly watch for Harry.
And Danny has started his journey to become the order's new spy.
Next chapter is a special one, Harry's point of view.
Let me know what you think so far.
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Until the next chapter.
