By the time Danny returned to Malfoy Mansion, Voldemort had gone, only pausing long enough to tell his followers to call him if something big happened. However, despite Voldemort being absent, Danny couldn't slip away for any length of time. Although he was able to teleport into London, overshadow a stranger and teleport to the Burrow. He slipped into the large elegant white pavilion and found Bill and Fleur.
"Hey, can't stay. It's Phantom. Just wanted to wish you both a great day and congrats," Danny muttered with a quick smile.
"Danny, thanks for coming. I know it can't have been easy," Bill replied with a grateful smile. Danny nodded. Suddenly his host, a businessman who had probably been heading home, doubled over.
"Danny?" Fleur called softly in concern but the man straightened with a determined scowl.
"Sorry, he's kind of fighting me. I'll need to take him back to London soon. Quick warning. I know the Death Eaters are planning something tonight. Haven't heard an actual plan though. Voldemort's travelling," Danny reported hastily.
"Got it. We'll keep an ear out. You're okay though? Not in danger or going crazy?" Bill inquired. Danny laughed and shook his head.
"Nah. I'm fine. Anyway, I need to get back. Congrats again," Danny concluded and left the pavilion to teleport away from prying eyes.
He returned to Malfoy Mansion after returning the businessman to London where he found him.
"Where have you been!? Fenton, get your robes on," Bellatrix shouted angrily.
"Sorry, went for a walk. What's going on?" Danny quickly replied, not willing to run and do whatever Bellatrix Lestrange ordered.
"We've gotten a couple of us near Scrimgeour. The minute we put Thicknesse on top, he's gonna drop those protective charms around the Weasleys' house. It's perfect timing! There's a wedding on today and we'll catch a ton of order off guard!" Bellatrix explained with a grin. Danny nodded.
"Right. I'll get my robes. Give me a second," Danny retorted. He ran up the stairs and tugged on his robes as quickly as possible. He was so grateful that he got the chance to put Bill and Fleur on their guard.
Danny returned downstairs.
"I'm going to have to do side along apparation Bellatrix, I never went to the Burrow and I'm not very good at apparating," Danny warned. Bellatrix huffed.
"Fine!" she growled and held a hand out to him which he took. She apparated him to the Burrow just as everyone started to flee the wedding. Danny pulled out his wand and cast as many spells as he could, restricted by the spells he had loaded on the fake wand. He couldn't fake casting spells in case someone noticed that his wand didn't work. However, he made sure to put himself into the way of an exit so he was constantly knocked and unable to aim his wand. It meant he could get away with less spells being cast.
Over the course of the next ten minutes only a handful of the wedding guests hadn't escaped. Most of the order got away without incident. The Weasleys retreating to their house and being guarded by a few Death Eaters as they were questioned on Harry's location.
"The Dark Lord isn't going to like this. Potter got away," Bellatrix whispered in the ruined pavilion.
"So did the rest," a male Death Eater Danny wasn't familiar with growled.
"Yeah, but he's not going to like missing Potter again," another Death Eater retorted worriedly.
"Who's gonna tell him?" Bellatrix asked. Everyone looked to each other nervously. Danny sighed. Yes, he'd make Voldemort angry and possibly not like him, but he'd be a hero for the Death Eaters. If he was their hero, they might be grateful enough to help him later.
"One of you call him and I'll do it," Danny announced.
"You sure Fenton?" one of the Death Eaters asked.
"Look, the Dark Lord is going to be mad at whoever tells him Potter got away. Might as well be the new guy. Might be a little more forgiving considering I'm new," Danny reasoned, not really believing himself.
Bellatrix licked her lips nervously before touching her Dark Mark. Within minutes Voldemort arrived.
"What!? Why did you call me?" Voldemort demanded. Danny stepped forward.
"My lord. We thought we ought to inform you of tonight's activity. It will affect our actions for quite some time," Danny answered, bringing Voldemort's attention onto himself. Voldemort glared angrily at the teen.
"We have good news and bad news. Bad news. The blood traitors, the Weasleys, had a wedding here. Potter was present but he and the order escaped," Danny reported. Voldemort's snake-like nostrils flared.
"You called me here to tell me that you didn't catch Potter!" Voldemort shouted furiously.
"Yes, but we have good news too my lord. We have successfully killed Scrimgeour and placed Thicknesse in his place. We have control over the Ministry and dropped all the security spells around this location. From there, we can find other order safe houses and remove their security. If Potter turns up at any of them, we'll be able to catch him," Danny interjected before Voldemort could get angrier. Voldemort paused.
"And I'll work to find more of those safe houses, if you'd allow, my lord," Danny concluded.
Voldemort stalked away and began to pace. He considered Danny, who stood straight and calm. Voldemort raised Lucius's wand and pointed it at Danny. Danny tensed slightly but didn't move. With an angered growl, Voldemort lowered his wand.
"I expect that you were the only one brave enough to inform me of this failure," Voldemort hissed. Danny didn't respond.
"I won't punish one for the fault of the many. Make sure you do find those order safe houses. I might not be so forgiving the next time any of you fail me. Place a taboo on my name. Immediately! Any who dare utter the name Lord Voldemort shall be arrested. Potter has never feared to speak my name. It should make catching him easier," Voldemort decided. Two Death Eaters apparated away to carry out Voldemort's orders. Voldemort turned to the remaining Death Eaters.
"Do not alert me unless you have Potter or something equally important to report. Next time, I won't lower my wand," Voldemort warned before apparating away. The entire pavilion breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wow Fenton, you've got guts," a Death Eater muttered. Danny smirked.
"I'm just glad that worked. But it won't work twice so maybe we should avoid calling the Dark Lord unless we absolutely must," Danny replied, he was not going to bail these Death Eaters out all the time. He had to keep in Voldemort's good books as much as possible. But he could see the benefits of sticking his neck out this once.
Danny returned to the Malfoy Mansion once the other Death Eaters had gone, feigning trying to find a clue for another safe house. He then teleported to the mansion and walked in to see Draco crying silently, using the cruciatus curse on a Death Eater under Voldemort's watchful eye. Large and blonde. Rowle Danny recalled. He pursed his lips. Rowle hadn't been present when Voldemort issued his warning.
"I don't remember! They wiped my memory!" Rowle screamed in agony. Sickened, Danny walked away, feeling terrible for abandoning Rowle. But, as much as he hated it, he had to protect himself and his cover. He had a job to do.
Bill and Fleur's wedding been and gone. Harry's on the run now with Hermione and Ron.
Will Danny's risky move to protect the Death Eaters pay off in the future?
Let me know what you think.
Until the next chapter.
