Jazz glared at Danny over the table. It was part of her whole over-protective big sister thing. That and she knew he had probably been reckless. Maddie was another matter. The second she saw Danny, she had practically lunged on him, showering him in kisses and hugs, pressing the strongest painkillers in the house into his hand and a glass of water. She then helped him into a seat and offered to make him something to eat. Sam and Tucker were on their way and Danny refused to speak about what happened until they were present. He wanted to only tell his story once. And he was going to tell the entire story.

Jack was sitting anxiously beside his son, muttering the occasional question on how he felt or if he needed anything. Vlad stood in a corner, watching Danny with obvious annoyance but an undertone of concern was shining through. Danielle was nervously chatting to Maddie, who was only too happy to return the conversation. It was a trait Danny and his clone had inherited from Maddie. Danny wasn't nervous. He was more weary than anxious honestly. It had been a long, stressful three years. It was still sinking in that the war was over. The order was gone. Lupin and Snape were gone. Danny swallowed down a lump in his throat. He needed to stay strong. He'd tell them everything and then he decided to have a rest. Being injured was exhausting.

The front doorbell rang and Jazz stiffly stood up and tore her angry gaze from her brother as she left to answer the door. Sam and Tucker had decided to take a year out before going to college so that they could start with Danny the following year, hopefully. Jazz was on her Easter break. Sam and Tucker ran into the kitchen, beaming at that prospect of seeing their best friend. However once they saw him, Sam gasped and rushed over. She pulled him into a hug, frantically asking what happened and if he was okay. Danny yelped in pained protest as she squeezed his injured ribs.

"Dude, what happened to you? You look like you've been through hell," Tucker whispered in stunned horror. His friend was covered in cuts, grazes, bruises and his arm in a cast, and that was only what was visible.

"I got buried alive. Didn't move before a roof collapsed," Danny muttered, gently massaging his side.

"Here you go. Help yourselves," Maddie announced, placing a towering platter of sandwiches in the middle of the table. Danny instantly grabbed two sandwiches, swallowing them in a few quick bites. He was famished. He also knew tablets worked better with a full stomach and he wanted the pain relief as soon as possible. Once he had finished his fourth sandwich, the others had patiently remained silent, he cleared his throat, gulped down some water and turned to the others.

"The war's over," he informed them calmly. It didn't feel real yet. He still had to fully understand and taken in what those three words meant. Jazz blinked, her glower faltering.

"What? Just like that?" Sam pressed with confusion. Danny shook his head.

"There was a massive battle at Hogwarts. Finished early yesterday morning," Danny corrected.

"Then why didn't you come back earlier?" Jazz growled.

"Because I was unconscious for most of yesterday. And I did owe Harry, Ron and Hermione some explanations before I came back. Don't worry. I was in the school hospital wing, getting treated by the nurse there," Danny reassured her.

Slowly, grins grew on everyone's faces, Tucker even began to chuckle with delight.

"We should celebrate! Oh, you must invite Mr Lupin over when you can Danny," Maddie cheered. Danny lowered his gaze to his cast, lacing his fingers gently. He let out a long, slow breath to stop the grief.

"What's wrong Danny?" Jazz interjected, noticing her brother's upset demeanour first.

"Remus is dead," he mumbled sadly. Maddie's grin dropped and she jumped to her feet and wrapped an arm around Danny's shoulders.

"I'm so sorry sweetie. It's okay," Maddie soothed as the dam broke and he couldn't stop the tears. He buried his face in her shoulder.

Everyone in the kitchen shared worried glances at each other as Danny quietly sobbed in his mother's shoulder. This consoling act warmed his heart. Danny's family and friends had been relatively left out of the loop on how the war was going. They hadn't even known that Danny had been injured during his service to the order. Other than Dumbledore and Dobby, they hadn't been informed on any other deaths. They didn't even know anyone, other than Dumbledore, Lupin, Hagrid and Danny, from the order. Gradually Danny regained himself.

"Sorry. I wanted to explain everything b-before I got to that," Danny mumbled, sniffing softly.

"It's alright sweetheart. Take your time," Maddie muttered in his ear, rubbing his shoulder and back gently, soothingly.

"Yeah dude, you don't have to explain everything right now if you don't want to," Tucker agreed.

"No. I want to tell you. I've had enough of hiding everything," Danny replied with determination.

Danny sipped at his water before taking as deep a breath as his injured ribs could allow.

"This all started about three years ago. When the ghosts in Amity Park started disappearing," Danny began to explain, pointedly looking at Vlad and Danielle, the least informed in the room. Over the course of the next two hours, Danny told his family and friends of what he had been through. They listened attentively, not daring to interrupt him but scowling when they learned of his previously unknown injuries.

"The other day, the war reached its breaking point. Harry broke into Gringotts. Wizard bank. Voldemort found out and started to get scared. Severus and I knew that we had to finish Dumbledore's plan soon or we were gonna fail. So, I guess we made our plans and went into radio silence. Harry went to Hogwarts and Severus was run out of the school. I had to play my part with the other Death Eaters but I managed to duck into the Ghost Zone and organise the ghosts into making a small army. The second I could, I transformed and teleported into the Ghost Zone. I then brought the ghosts to Hogwarts. I sent some to remove the injured out of the fight. Some I sent to help the fight. And then Vlad, Dani and me went after the dementors," Danny resumed.

Vlad and Danielle nodded slightly in remembrance. Sam and Tucker shared concerned glances. They certainly remembered how Danny had been affected by dementors.

"Voldemort called for an hour break. I got us chocolate and then sent all the ghosts back to the Ghost Zone. I then went to Voldemort and waited for Harry to turn up. Dumbledore's plan involved Harry sacrificing himself and relying on old magic to save him. It worked. My job was to cover for Harry if he needed it. Voldemort, thinking Harry was dead, led the way to the school. I'll not give you the details but one of the students, Neville. He tried to stand against Voldemort and was going to be executed in front of everyone. A few things happened all at once and gave Harry the chance to hide under his invisibility cloak and get away from Voldemort. I don't really know what happened yet. I stopped Voldemort going after everyone as they ran into the castle. Centaurs, hippogriffs and giants were fighting outside. I revealed myself to Voldemort. I wanted to anger Voldemort. Put him off his game. But he hit me with an ectoplasm spell in the leg and the cruciatus curse. I… I wasn't fast enough and the giants made a roof I think crumble off the castle and on me," Danny continued.

He paused and glanced around the room at everyone listening to him.

"I was found later and taken to the hospital wing. I found out that night that Severus had been killed. I knew about Remus, Tonks and Winky from that hour break. Ron's brother, Fred. He also died," Danny concluded, swallowing thickly as tears threatened again.

"Wow. Danny. You've been through so much," Sam whispered, breaking the silence. Danny nodded slowly. He waited as that news sank in for his friends and family.

"I think you've done enough for those wizards Daniel. You owe them nothing. Focus on yourself now," Vlad growled. Danny scowled at the man.

"I chose to become a spy. I could have refused to join the order right at the start. Dumbledore never pressured me into anything. I nearly walked out when he told me his plan two years ago. I could have walked out before I made contact with Voldemort. But they needed me. It was my decision to help and I will go back when I can to help Harry and everyone to understand," Danny retorted heatedly. Vlad frowned at him.

"He made up his mind years ago Vlad. You're not going to change it now," Jazz sighed.

Vlad sighed in defeat. Danny waited another few minutes but no one else had any questions. He carefully brushed his mother's hand off his shoulder and struggled to his feet, pushing back his seat.

"Where are you going?" Jack croaked. He hadn't spoken a word since Sam and Tucker arrived.

"I'm tired. I'm gonna have a nap," Danny mumbled. He waved off anyone who rose to help him. He was too tired to handle a one-on-one chat with Jazz or his friends right now. He slowly made his way upstairs and collapsed on his bed, kicking off his shoes. He fell asleep soon after.

The story is nearly over.

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Until the next chapter.