Harry numbly walked through the school with Ron, Hermione and Ginny. R.A.B. kept swimming in front of his eyes. He felt empty. Dumbledore sacrificed himself for a fake horcrux. Bill was still in the hospital wing. Neville had been released early that morning. He tuned back into the conversation between Ginny, Ron and Hermione.

"It's not like you can stop it," Hermione reasoned.

"I don't like her. Phlegm in the family," Ginny groaned and shuddered in dislike.

"Well, at least she really does like Bill. Unlike what mum thought," Ron remarked. They were on their way to the hospital wing to visit Bill. Classes were cancelled and they had little else to do.

They were just a few feet away when the doors slammed open and Danny Fenton stormed out looking murderous.

"Danny!" Lupin called after the young wizard.

"No Remus! You guys never took me seriously. Dumbledore was the only one around here that let me help out. I'm not just a messenger boy!" Danny shouted furiously.

"Danny, calm down. No one thinks that," Lupin soothed. Danny shrugged off the comforting hand Lupin placed on his shoulder.

"Sure they don't Remus. Just like they don't think Snape's a traitor. Just because he's gone, doesn't mean you get to cart me off to America. I don't care if it's too dangerous. I'm part of the order," Danny retorted heatedly. Harry glanced at the others uncertainly. This wasn't an argument they should be listening into.

"Danny, let's talk about this," Lupin begged. Danny took a step back and shook his head firmly.

"I'm done talking. I knew some of the order didn't take me seriously. I'm of age now Remus. I'm not just some kid. Alright, I'm not the most gifted wizard out there, but I'm useful. More useful than Mundungus anyway before he got chucked in Azkaban. I thought you understood that. Now that Dumbledore's gone… I guess I've outlived my welcome here," Danny growled. He then turned and stalked away.

"Danny! Please, we can figure this out. Don't walk away like this!" Lupin yelled after the teen. Danny didn't even pause. He stomped past Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, not even sparing them a glance. Harry watched the teen storm around the corner and disappear from view.

"Blimey. What just happened?!" Ron exclaimed.

"Oh, Ron. You… you four heard that then," Lupin muttered, seemingly noticing them for the first time. The four teens nodded as one. Lupin sighed.

"Danny… Danny just needs some time to cool off. He offered to try and track down Snape but we all thought it was a bad idea. Then Moody suggested that Danny check with his family. I guess it was the last straw. Danny's been pretty upset for a while now. There was an argument in the summer and as I understand it, it hit a few nerves," Lupin explained, watching the corner Danny disappeared around sadly. Harry glanced at the corner, recalling the teen in the summer. He remembered that day well, Danny had looked furious.

"Did he just quit the order?" Harry asked softly.

"I hope not. But… I wouldn't be surprised. I'll track him down once he's had a chance to cool off a bit," Lupin decided. The teens nodded slowly, still concerned about the order's youngest member.

"I suppose you four are here to visit Bill. We were just having a meeting, but it's more or less over now," Lupin realised and lead the way into the hospital wing. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny followed Lupin into the hospital wing.

"Did you stop him Remus?" Mr Weasley asked. Lupin sighed.

"I think he needs a little time. It's a difficult time for us all," Lupin replied. Moody sniffed gruffly.

"If the kid wants to run off and sulk, let him. Just proves my point. Kid isn't ready to fight in a war," Moody remarked before clomping out of the room with a gruff farewell and nod to Harry and his friends. Harry frowned slightly. Mad Eye hadn't seen Danny after the teen got bitten by the snake that attacked Mr Weasley. He acted so mature and he knew exactly what to do. In Harry's opinion, Moody wasn't being fair to Danny at all. Harry was starting to see why Danny got so upset. The adults in the order weren't taking him seriously.

One by one, the order filtered out of the hospital wing and Bill, exhausted from the meeting and medication, fell asleep. Fleur, Mr and Mrs Weasley being the only ones left in the room to keep Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione company.

"Hey, did I miss the meeting?" a voice called nervously. Harry turned to see Danny Phantom wearing a flaming green crown floating just inside the hospital wing door. Harry nodded.

"Darn it. Had to go out of the school for a couple of hours," Danny muttered floating closer.

"Oh, um. Congratulations I guess. On being king you know," Harry mumbled uncertainly. Danny smirked at the wizard.

"Thanks. How's Bill? He'll heal right?" Danny asked, glancing at the Weasleys and Fleur. Mrs Weasley nodded.

"Yes, but there will be scarring," she confirmed. Danny nodded.

"Well, if the meeting's over I should get back to the ghosts. They're pretty upset about Dumbledore," Danny concluded.

Harry chased after the ghost as he phased out the room.

"Oh, what's up Harry?" Danny asked, noticing Harry.

"Do you think Dumbledore will… will come back as a ghost?" Harry muttered. Danny drifted down and put a comforting, cold hand on the teen's shoulder.

"I can't see it to be honest Harry. Dumbledore seemed happy to me. Didn't get talking to him much the last few months what with him heading off. But I don't see why he'd want to come back. We once had a long conversation and somehow got talking about death. Dumbledore seemed to think of death as falling asleep. Nothing to fear," Danny answered gently.

"Is it?" Harry wondered. Danny frowned in thought.

"Well, it wasn't for me. But I had a pretty nasty death. But spells, I find that unless they're meant to harm, they don't hurt. The killing curse is designed to kill instantly yes? So I would think it was painless," Danny replied. Harry winced in sympathy for Danny. Danny shrugged.

"I'm over it, dying I mean. Mostly. No need to feel sorry for me Harry. I'll see you around though okay. I really do have to go," Danny concluded. Harry nodded numbly and watched Danny phase through a wall before turning back to the hospital wing and rejoining his friends.

And they fell for it, hook, line and sinker.

What do you think though? Let me know.

Until the next chapter.