Danny sat at the kitchen table in Fenton Works. These last few days had been hard. Actually these last few months had been difficult. Stressful. Keeping his secret from everyone. Protecting so many people. Almost getting killed. So close to being killed. Watching others being killed. Watching Charity Burbage die had been hard enough. He couldn't do it again. He couldn't. Not again. So he did his absolute best to protect everyone. Harry, Ron, Hermione. Luna, Ollivander. The snatchers. Greyback. The Malfoys. He failed Dobby. And Wormtail. But he couldn't compromise his position either. He had to keep spying on Voldemort. He had to stay alive in order to fulfil Dumbledore's orders. No one but him knew of the full plan. The horcruxes and sacrifices. Old magic. Deception. Everything. He just needed a few days.

Jazz came into the room and grabbed a glass out of the cupboard. She looked at her younger brother. He had arrived a couple of hours ago, choked out something about needing a break and locked himself in the bathroom for a shower. Jazz was certain she heard a few sobs through the rush of flowing water. She was on Christmas break from college. She knew something was up with Danny. He was strong and determined. Something big had to have happened for him to have needed to have a break from the order this badly. He looked stressed out. She opened the fridge and took out a bottle of cola, filling her glass before putting the bottle back. She picked up her glass and walked halfway to the door. She knew he hated it when she pried. She really did try to avoid being too nosy. But there was clearly something bothering Danny. Ever since he joined the order, he was trapped in a web of lies and secrets and she knew he would keep those until he died if he had to. But… with Dumbledore gone, Jazz had no idea if Danny had anyone he could talk to anymore.

She sighed softly and pulled out a chair at the table. She put down her glass and sat down, laying her hands neatly in front of herself.

"Alright. Danny, what's going on?" she asked. Danny glanced at her. She blinked in surprise to see his eyes were red from crying.

"Nothing," he mumbled.

"Danny, both of us know that's a lie. I know you. Something happened. Talk to me Danny. I'm here for you," Jazz encouraged gently. Danny dropped his head into his arms, a soft bang on the table.

"Jazz you're not in the order," was his muffled reply.

"Then tell me what you can. I understand you have to keep a lot of secrets. Obviously you have to keep them from others in the order if you're here and not with them," Jazz pressed imploringly. Danny sighed. Jazz put a hand on his shoulder and rubbed his back reassuringly. Danny peered up out of his arms.

"I haven't been able to talk to Remus about a lot of stuff for months. Severus, a friend, he has a ton of things to worry about without me going to him about every little thing," Danny admitted. Jazz frowned in concern.

"Why not?" she inquired. Danny bit his lip. He had been sworn to secrecy. But he needed to talk. Dumbledore would understand. But could he risk telling Jazz? Danny groaned softly and rubbed a hand over his face. He couldn't drag Jazz into his dangerous position in the war. It wasn't fair on her. But… she should be safe as long as he stayed with Voldemort.

"Dumbledore gave me a job. One no one knows about. It has to stay that way Jazz," Danny revealed carefully. Jazz blinked in surprise.

"What kind of job?" Jazz asked warily. Danny shook his head. He couldn't tell her that. No one but he and Snape could know the plan until it was fulfilled. Besides, Jazz would be horrified to know the truth.

"I… I can't tell you that Jazz. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you that I even had a job," Danny mumbled.

Jazz watched her brother worriedly. She could tell that most of his stress and worries were involved with this secret job Dumbledore left him. She could also tell that he wouldn't say anything more. Either to protect her, himself or the details of that secret job. She decided not to push it.

"Alright. So, is this job the reason you're so upset about something?" Jazz inquired softly. Danny sighed and shrugged.

"Sort of. Not really but… but it's kinda linked," Danny answered. Jazz scowled in confusion.

"Either it does or doesn't Danny," she pointed out.

"I took on a job that will help me to do the job Dumbledore gave me. So anything involving that job kind of is for the one Dumbledore gave me," Danny elaborated. Jazz nodded in understanding.

"Do you want to talk to me about it?" Jazz encouraged. Danny glanced at her before dropping his gaze to his hands.

He really shouldn't. He couldn't believe he was even thinking about telling her. But he was sick of keeping secrets from everyone around him. The only person he could openly talk to anymore was Snape. And it wasn't always the easiest to talk to him alone and in private. Phantom couldn't be linked to Snape. And Fenton had to have a reason to be seen around Hogwarts. He sighed.

"I failed Dobby," Danny confessed. Jazz blinked.

"Dobby?" she asked. Danny looked at her.

"A couple of days ago, Harry got caught by You Know Who," Danny began.

"You Know Who?" Jazz interjected. Danny blinked in surprise.

"Right. You don't know what's going on. You remember the name of the guy who… er the cross between Hitler and Pariah Dark? Well there's a spell, a taboo, on his name. You can't say it without alerting him to where you are. I don't know if it transfers to muggles so I try not to say it either," Danny explained. Jazz nodded in understanding.

"Harry got caught. He's been on the run, hiding while he's been doing something for Dumbledore. Don't bother asking what Jazz, I can't tell you. I'm spying on You Know Who for the order. You can't tell anyone else that either Jazz. I was there and I was in a tough spot. I couldn't do anything to help him without revealing myself. But Harry somehow got word to Aberforth and he sent Dobby to help them. He got all the prisoners to safety. Wormtail was killed by something You Know Who gave him. Harry escaped with Ron and I helped Dobby drop a chandelier to give Harry and Ron the time and space to rescue Hermione and another prisoner. Bellatrix threw a knife and hit Dobby," Danny told his sister quietly. Jazz watched her brother silently.

"You're a spy. Danny that's so dangerous what if you get caught!" Jazz exclaimed. Danny sighed and nodded.

"I know Jazz. But I can help the order, I have helped the order. I'm also in the perfect position to do the job Dumbledore left for me," Danny retorted. Jazz bit her lip. Danny sighed loudly and ran a hand through his messy, black hair.

"Jazz, I had this conversation before I started spying. I trained for it. Carefully. I've made sure to be valuable for You Know Who. Okay. Besides, I can't back out now. I've been under cover since I went back to Britain after graduation," Danny reassured her with a slightly tired or bored tone. Jazz chewed her lip lightly and reluctantly nodded. She could see that Danny was being honest. And he'd kept his cover for so long already.

"So, Dobby died," Jazz prompted sadly. Danny sighed and dropped his gaze back to his hands. He nodded sadly.

"Yeah. I… I didn't even consider that he wouldn't have been okay. I was concerned when Bellatrix said she threw the knife but… I just assumed she missed or that Dobby would be okay. But he's dead. I've seen his grave. Dobby works… worked at Hogwarts. He was in the kitchens. I knew him pretty well. He was… we were friends. Dobby, and I guess Wormtail, were the only two people I didn't consider to be in danger. I tried to protect Harry and his friends. I protected Draco, Lucius and Narcissa from You Know Who. I would have protected Greyback and Bellatrix. But I failed Dobby and Wormtail," Danny resumed, miserable. Jazz put a reassuring hand on his.

"Danny, you… you're only one person. You can't save everyone. I'm sorry that you lost a friend though. Thank you for confiding in me," Jazz muttered sympathetically. Danny nodded mutely before covering his face with his free hand, fighting back another wave of grief.

Sirius, Dumbledore, Mad-Eye. They were hard to lose. Sirius and Mad-Eye were unplanned and unexpected. But for some reason knowing that they died fighting for what they believed in made their passing easier. Sirius died protecting Harry. Mad-Eye died facing against Voldemort and his supporters. Dumbledore's death was never unexpected. Not for Danny. He knew nearly a year in advance. He had a chance to say goodbye to the wizard. Dumbledore chose the way he died. Made it count for something.

Charity Burbage, Danny didn't know her but he was still saddened by her death. It had taken everything inside of him not to jump up and save her. But back then he had yet to cement his position in Voldemort's ranks. Saving Charity would have done nothing but doom them both. Wormtail… he was always a bad guy. Not that it was a good thing he died. But Danny could accept it. He had feared that his veiled order to go to the cellar had caused his death but Voldemort informed those at Malfoy Mansion that Wormtail died defying him. It made Danny almost pity the dead wizard. Wormtail had lived his life, betraying those closest to him. But for some reason, Wormtail's last moments were filled with trying to do the right thing.

Dobby was different though. Completely different. The house elf wasn't part of the order. He wasn't even killed following orders. He was a free elf. He died trying to save his friend, Harry Potter. Danny couldn't imagine Harry's guilt in knowing that. Dobby was innocent. As innocent as Charity Burbage. The saddest part was no one but Danny and Harry and his friends would mourn the passing of such a kind creature.

Jazz pulled her brother into a hug as he started to cry. She was starting to understand what kind of pressures Danny was under. Bound by secrets and unknown plans and jobs. Constantly having to play a part, hiding what he knew. No one really to confide in. And now, he had lost an apparently close friend. Gradually he calmed down and gently pulled away from her, sniffing loudly and wiping away lingering tears on the bottom of his t-shirt.

"When was the last time you had a day off?" Jazz wondered softly.

"Graduation," Danny mumbled. Jazz offered him a small sympathetic smile.

"I think you've earned a few days then Danny. Don't worry. Everything you told me will stay between us. Promise," Jazz decided.

A little sibling bonding there. And Danny off-loading a little stress too.

Remember, the Dursleys are staying in Amity Park for their protection…

Let me know what you think so far.

It's Christmas Eve!

Until the next chapter.