After Voldemort took over the Ministry, the order went underground and any places linked with known order members were being watched which meant that Danny couldn't inform them of the taboo. So, instead, he was forced to actually do as Voldemort wanted. He searched, using his special skills, to find anything on the order. He and Snape let slip the occasional piece of old information to tide over Voldemort and keep the Death Eaters convinced that Danny was on their side and an asset.
The first of September, Danny was called to watch Grimmauld Place with a number of other Death Eaters. It was widely believed that Harry was hiding in the previous order headquarters, bequeathed to him by Sirius Black and they suspected that Harry would be heading to Hogwarts. However, due to the protective spells, in particular the Fidelius charm, none but Snape and Danny could even see the building and Danny and Snape had told the Death Eaters that neither of them could enter the building without triggering defensive spells. Danny nearly had a heart attack when he saw a shoe on the doorstep before the door opened and shut, obviously Harry or his friends under the invisibility cloak. However there was no call to arms from the others so they mustn't have seen it or passed it off as a trick of the light. It was only for a split second.
The next day he told Narcissa and Draco that he was going to be away a lot more than normal. He told them that he wanted to spend longer tracking down the order which he needed to do since a lot of their members had gone underground after the wedding. The excuse for leaving was believed and Danny teleported to Hogwarts. Draco would no longer be attending the school. His bedroom looked the same as it had for the last two years. He sank on to his bed and sighed. This was all he could do as Phantom for now. Be at Hogwarts for as long as possible to protect the students from the Carrow siblings. The Death Eaters were given teaching posts in the school, Snape was headmaster. But Snape couldn't do much without showing his true colours, Phantom could actively interject into situations. It was an agreement Danny and Snape came to. Also Phantom turning up at Hogwarts gave Danny the opportunity to speak with McGonagall or Hagrid at the school to get information to pass on to Voldemort.
Danny glanced around his room and smiled at the Hufflepuff robes in the corner. He had come to like the robes despite the connection to badgers. Maybe his new friendship with Vlad helped with that. But he didn't hate them as much as he used to. However they wouldn't be used again. Danny Fenton turning up in Hogwarts wearing the uniform would be more suspicious than Danny Fenton turning up to see Snape. Danny floated to his feet and phased out of the room, his crown still on his head. Now that it was widely known in the order and among the Death Eaters that Phantom was Ghost King, there was no point in taking it off. Danny also didn't bother turning invisible. He wanted, as did Snape, Phantom to be a sign of comfort and rebellion. McGonagall and Hagrid had their hands tied as teachers, but a ghost didn't.
It was the first day of lessons and Danny spent the morning greeting the ghosts, Peeves in particular, and paid a visit to Grawp. That lunch he floated down to the kitchens, turning invisible only to hide the fact that he required food. With a surprised, confused frown he realised that Kreacher was missing. He spotted Dobby and asked the house elf where Kreacher was. Danny learned that the house elf was with Harry in Kreacher's ancestral home, Grimmauld Place. Danny was quick to order Dobby not to tell anyone that information. Dobby understood why and was quick to agree to the order. As a free house elf, Dobby could choose which orders he obeyed and which he didn't.
After lunch, Danny checked in with McGonagall and Hagrid. Both teachers asked how the teen was and he warned them of the taboo on Voldemort's name. Danny then returned to casually floating through the school. He blinked in surprise however when Neville stormed past him, fisted hands shaking with rage.
"Neville? Hey! What's wrong?" Danny quickly called. Neville paused and turned to the ghost, too upset to even greet Danny properly.
"Professor Carrow. He was telling us in class today that muggles are inferior to us, muggle-borns are scum, squibs are stains on our society. He encouraged us to attack them magically," Neville growled. Danny frowned in dislike but floated down to Neville's level.
"I know that kind of stuff is hard to listen to Neville," Danny attempted to sympathise. Neville shook his head forcefully.
"No! It's wrong! Completely wrong! They can't get away with saying that sort of stuff," Neville snapped sharply. Danny raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. It's wrong. But what can you do about it? Death Eaters are in charge now. Them and their leader. By the way, ugh, I hate pandering to this, but You Know Who's name is taboo. Let your friends know," Danny retorted. Neville blinked.
"Really. How do you know?" Neville asked, calming down due to his surprise and confusion. Danny rolled his eyes.
"What do you think I do all day Neville? The order's still out there, underground right now, but it's there. And you know I can turn invisible," Danny replied.
"You've been spying," Neville whispered in realisation.
"Me and some select others," Danny lied in order to protect Fenton's cover, just in case Neville told others or became compromised at a later date.
Neville sighed dejectedly, his anger replaced with despair.
"You're right. They are in charge now. I can't do anything," Neville groaned disappointedly. Danny smiled apologetically.
"I know it's hard Neville. Just… think of it like having Umbridge back. Grin and bear it until they're gone. You only have one more year here right?" Danny offered, hating how he sounded. Neville nodded.
"Alright. Guess that's all I can do for now," Neville agreed and shuffled away.
Danny watched the student walk away sadly. It was horrible. Danny knew there was a plan in place. People still fighting. But all everyone else saw was Death Eaters in control. Voldemort winning. The order had their hands tied. If they openly defied Voldemort, they'd be killed or their families targeted. Harry was in hiding, quietly looking for horcruxes. Despite being Ghost King, Danny could only do so much. Voldemort truly did have everyone backed against the wall with very few options left.
Danny turned a corner and turned invisible. He decided to check in with Snape. He phased into the headmaster's office and turned himself visible.
"Wow, this is weird. Reporting to someone here other than Dumbledore," Danny mumbled with a frown. Snape turned to Danny and smiled to the teen awkwardly.
"I know. But I'm glad I managed to convince the Dark Lord to make me headmaster. Being here with all these portraits is great. Except, Granger, who's with Potter and Ron Weasley in Grimmauld Place, has removed Nigellus Black's painting from the wall and placed him in an extended bag," Snape informed him.
"We did know that Harry's there. But it's good to hear that he's with friends," Danny replied. Snape shrugged.
"I suppose," Snape muttered.
"Too bad about the painting though. I assume you were hoping to use it to watch Harry," Danny remarked with a sympathetic smile. Snape nodded.
"But at least they're not stupid enough to leave a glaring loose end," Snape sighed with slight annoyance. Danny shrugged in agreement.
"I met with Neville earlier. He looked so down. I wish we could show everyone out there that there are people against V-ugh. I hate watching what I say all the time!" Danny told the wizard, growling in annoyance.
"It's funny you say that considering how much you lie and pretend to not know things," Snape commented with an amused smirk. Danny frowned.
"It's different. When I chose to act a part, it's my choice and I can decide how far to take it. When I'm forbidden to do or say something then all I keep thinking is that I'm not allowed to say something. And I've never really been great at that, you know, whole lab accident thing remember," Danny explained. Snape chuckled softly.
"Just don't say his name. If you must come up with another name for him," Snape offered. Danny grinned mischievously.
"Now that is an idea," Danny remarked deviously.
First day back at Hogwarts. Really just showing how much people have been affected. It isn't shown much in the books. The only people Harry encounters are order or people on the run. But what about everyone else?
Anyway, yeah, Danny is going to have some fun with Voldemort's name. So any ideas? I've written the rest of the story already but I can always switch my special names out with suggested ones, or add them in.
Let me know what you think so far of the story.
Until the next chapter.
