A/N: I'm back. Apparently, this story is pretty good. I must…continue.
In any case, just to make a few comments: This fic will fall in line with the fifth year and sixth year almost exactly, but it will be drastically AU in some areas (contradiction, I know)…which I think you all expected. But I like to stick to the HP universe faithfully as possible, just because there's a lot more information coming from that end than the DP canon can provide (no offense!)
I'm so so so thankful to all the people who reviewed. I really appreciate it!
P.S. I wrote part of this right after I got my friggin' wisdom teeth pulled. I MIGHT'VE BEEN DELIRIOUS. Please check my sanity. That is all.
P.P.S. It's really difficult to write Jack. OMG. So hard…especially when I have a serious situation and he's in the scene… (blah blah whine whine…and so forth)
Also…THIS IS A DISCLAIMER. The end.
To answer a few questions and thank a few people:
Catadmin
Kitsune51
candidus-lupus-full Moon
aussie-dreamer
Harm Marie
Sweeteen19
ShiroAndFubuki
Phantom of a Rose
Just A Thinker
Forget-me-not
Shiva the Sarcastic
tag.0: I made a reply to you already, so I'll just add on one more thing! In the HP books, wands seem to respond to untrained users in different ways. I say only untrained wizards or witches because they have no control over their magic (trained users can handle a waving a wand and having no response at all), and thus will channel their magic indiscriminately. This causes the wand to react, unleashing random magical reactions. That's how I thought Remus could test them without having to teach them any spells at all. The weird looks from Danny and Tucker will be explained soon, I promise (it involves a toaster).
Pieling
PotterPhan21
shadowspinner1
Drea Phantom
BugzAttack
butterflywing – Thanks for that! I can't believe I forgot how to spell her name….
HikaruOfArrow –First! Yay for you! –: hands over a Danny Plushie :-
Phasmatis Cruor
Chapter Two: Dangerous Discoveries
:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:
"I would like to invite these children to join us for further training," he announced, receiving many shocked glances around the room. "I assume at least one of them belongs to you."
"Where?" asked Madeline as she ignored his last question, looking faint.
"In England," Remus responded. "If that's alright with you," he added.
Remus glanced a bit nervously at Madelyn's expression.
This does not bode well.
-----------:
"It may be in England," Remus said hurriedly. "But I can assure you that there are many more benefits that are available if you go."
"Oh my," she said at last. "What on earth are we supposed to do about payment?"
"We do have a different system of currency," Remus said, "but it should be easy to calculate how much you would have to pay for supplies and such. Travel, I can give surety to you, costs nothing."
Madeline frowned at the floor, contemplating. Danny and his friends seemed to hang on her response, even if she wasn't going to be paying for them. Remus understood why. If she said yes, then maybe there was a chance their parents would also agree.
"I wasn't thinking about supplies," she said honestly. "I was thinking about tuition. Danny's been public schooled for his entire academic career," she explained. "It would be difficult working the extra payment into our regular billing schedule." She glanced at Jack with a worried expression, but he just smiled and put a large hand on her shoulder reassuringly.
"I'm sure we could handle it," he said with confidence. His eyes gleamed proudly in Danny's direction, and the boy looked surprised. "After all, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn about ghosts!"
Danny groaned audibly while his friends chuckled. "Of course it is," he said smiling wearily in exasperation.
Remus merely gave a confused nod. "We most certainly have ghosts, though none so malevolent as the ones you seem to have here," he said, thoroughly amused. He coughed slightly and smiled supportively at Madeline. "Hogwarts is an old school, and it has never needed to worry about students who couldn't afford to go, or had trouble with payment." When he saw Madeline's strange look, he held back a small snort of laughter. "Hogwarts is the name of the school."
"So it's a boarding school?" Sam spoke up. "We would have to stay there all year?" Remus nodded an affirmative, but he was surprised to see Danny tense.
"Yes," he said, a small frown gracing his features at Danny's subtle change in attitude. "But you would be able to come home for the holidays, both summer and winter."
"No tuition would be needed?" Madeline said incredulously. "Are you sure?"
"Very sure, Madeline," Remus said politely. "In fact, under the circumstances I'm sure they would be welcomed with open arms, tuition or not."
Jack beamed like the sun. Madeline merely nodded, and then said, "Just Maddie, please. I haven't been called Madeline in ages."
Remus nodded as well. "As you wish," he obliged. He looked at the children from across the room, and saw them discussing what might or might not happen with hushed excited tones. The three were wearing identical expressions of apprehension mixed with delight, although Danny was significantly more subdued. "Can I count on Danny joining us next this coming year?" he asked quietly.
Maddie nodded, worry once more on her features. "Danny is my son," she said firmly, as if that explained everything. And Remus, paying close attention to her words, realized that it did. "And I think you should test Jazz when she comes home as well," she continued and then paused. "Jazz is also my daughter," she explained. Remus looked away from the woman and saw that Danny had over heard the last part of the conversation.
"I think I'll make a call home," Tucker announced, his glee obvious, flipping open a small piece of equipment Remus recognized vaguely as some sort of muggle communication device.
In a matter of minutes, the living room was a bustle of activity. Remus quickly tested both Jack and Maddie, who, as Remus suspected, were not magically inclined. He was entertained by Jack's disappointed reaction, especially when Madeline had sympathetically handed her husband a cookie. Tucker had invited his parents over, as they seemed completely unconvinced. Sam had a brief yelling match over the phone with her parents, as they too seemed convinced that she was lying to them or at least making up an elaborate hoax. She invited them over in a huff, saying that they had to believe her then.
Danny sat on the couch, calm and thoughtful. It was as if he was the eye of the storm, the only down-to-earth person in the room. His parents seemed relatively accepting of the whole ordeal, in fact they were possibly more excited than he, and Jack made sure Danny knew he was proud of him, as he was busy hugging the living daylights out of his son. This surprised Remus a great deal when he learned that they were muggle scientists, ghost hunters or not. He was satisfied to merely let it all happen, not wanting to get involved in their more personal matters.
Things took an interesting turn when the Foleys appeared. Remus had to admit, they were much more serene in behavior and acceptance. Just before he had begun his explanation, Mr. Foley asked him in a polite but firm manner to prove that he wasn't a hoax. Remus had inclined his head and took out his wand, swiftly turning a nearby, unused, box into a fox and back again. It had earned him applause, which Remus wasn't expecting, but it gave him a surprisingly pleasurable feeling none the less. He had certainly gained Mr. and Mrs. Foley's attention and respect. They knew him to be honest, at least in action, and were readily accepting of the situation, which, Remus noted, pleased Tucker immensely. After he had explained Tucker's potential (Remus admitted he had played spin-doctor a bit), their reaction was most certainly on the nervous side, but above all, they seemed immensely proud of their son. Remus felt it was his duty to also include an explanation of how the Owl Post worked, noticing how Mrs. Foley was beginning to get choked up over the idea that she might not hear from her son for almost a year at a time. Everyone in the room seemed relieved to hear about such a system.
They left with Tucker, saying that is was late enough, and that Tucker needed to sleep. The boy waved his friends goodbye, obviously excited enough that he probably wasn't going to sleep anytime soon. He stopped at the door, where Remus was standing, and gave him a serious grin.
"Thanks," he said, meaning every syllable.
Remus paused a moment, a tiny bit of astonishment circulating through his mind. He ended up sending the boy a good-humored grin. "It is only my job," he insisted, shaking the boy's hand warmly.
As soon as they had left, the Mansons arrived.
Remus felt an overbearing sense of disaster. As he had mentioned to himself many times, he trusted his instincts for a reason.
It was not a pleasant first meeting. They had taken one look at his robes and had sniffed in disapproval, which had not gone unnoticed by anyone, especially their own daughter. Sam frowned darkly at their reaction, where as Remus merely ignored it. He had received far worse from people who he had actually cared for, let alone strangers he barely knew. Remus predicted further complication when he noticed their reaction to his demonstration of magic. Mrs. Manson had actually flinched and gasped, while Mr. Manson merely grimaced.
"…and I would like to invite your daughter to join us for the next few years at Hogwarts, in order to train her and allow her to accumulate as much experience in our world, even if she chooses not to live her life as a witch," Remus concluded at last. Sam was on the edge of her seat, her hand wrapped around Danny's unconsciously. To note the serious attention he was giving the situation, Danny was not blushing at all, which made Remus almost proud of the boy. Danny was still a teenager after all.
The Mansons remained silent for a few minutes after his long-winded explanation. Then, Mrs. Manson spoke, and Remus did not like what he heard.
"It explains a lot," she said, her voice almost a hiss. "All the strange things that happened to me at our fancy dinners, the toaster from Denmark…everything."
Sam's eyes widened a fraction. Remus saw that Danny's grip on her hand had tightened.
"Honey," Mr. Manson said in a low voice, "Please."
"Don't try to tell me otherwise Thurman!" the woman practically yelled. "I knew she had something to do with all the weirdness that happened around our house! And now I have proof!" She whirled around to face her daughter, who was beginning to look just as angry. "I have proof that my only daughter is a freak!" she screeched. At these words Sam's expression went from anger to astonished despair.
Danny's expression darkened severely and Maddie growled. "I would prefer it if you do not call anyone a freak in my household," she said in a voice that suggested the future was going to become very exciting if she wasn't obeyed.
Mrs. Manson, or Pamela, looked to Maddie scornfully. "As if you have anything to say about being normal," she said offhandedly. "I am not the only one to disapprove of your professions; if you can call ghost-hunting a profession."
Mr. Manson, or Thurman, frowned at this and put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "We are in someone else's house," he said calmly, almost ignoring the very not nice expressions they were receiving. "We should respect their wishes."
"Mom," Sam said at last. "I am a witch. If you have any problems with that, I suggest you take it up with yourselves, as you were the ones who gave me life," she spat the last part out as if she was cursing.
Pamela Manson puffed up, her face turning red. "How dare you?" she exclaimed. "We give you everything, and yet you insist on dressing and acting like one of the common ilk! You always ignore our wishes, and we let it be most of the time, thinking one day you would come around and treat us like we were your family!"
"Maybe if you treated me like an individual instead of dress up doll, I might actually respect you!" cried Sam, standing up in a fury, her eyes bright. "I might be proud to call myself your daughter then!"
"Sam!" Maddie gasped quietly, her hands covering her mouth. Jack looked equally shocked.
Mrs. Manson's mouth snapped shut.
"Samantha, you have no right to speak to your mother that way," Mr. Manson said without much feeling. He was looking just as stunned as Mrs. Manson, and his expression was pained. Remus silently thought that Thurman looked far more disturbed by his daughter's words, and was possibly giving them serious thought.
"Fine," Mrs. Manson choked out. "Go to England. Good riddance," she said drawing herself up to her full height. "I hope not to see you again until you decide to behave like the daughter we expected you to grow to be."
Sam collected enough of herself to glare balefully back. "Until you accept me for who I am, I hope I won't see you either."
Remus could only watch as the two parents stormed out. Mr. Thurman had the good grace to nod his head to everyone, and stopped at the door.
"I am sorry Mr. Lupin," he said politely. "Sam may go. I wish you all luck." He turned to the Fentons. "Good night."
And then they were gone.
There was nothing save the solitary sound of Sam's deep breaths, and the occasional sniffle from Maddie.
Danny stood up slowly. "Sam?" he asked, obviously concerned.
"I'm fine," she said shortly, her voice heavy with an unseen burden. "I just need to use the bathroom. Excuse me."
With great sadness, Remus observed her as she trudged up the stairs and around a corner. Danny made to go after her, but Jack held out a hand.
"Son," he said morosely, "I'm no expert, but I think she needs to take a breather."
Danny reluctantly stayed where he was. He looked to Remus, his eyes intense with sympathy. "Does…does this happen a lot?" he asked the wizard in a quiet voice.
"More often than I would like, I'm afraid," Remus answered in a voice imbued with deep resentment. He paused and snorted softly at the incongruity, thinking of a certain young wizard currently in Surrey. "I know a boy who has even less. Yet he still manages to make his way, through thick or thin." He managed a small smile. "Your friend has a great amount of strength and independence. I'm sure she will do the same." His eyes showed a great amount of empathy.
"Although I wouldn't wish such a quandary on anyone."
-:-:-:-:-
Sam eventually came back downstairs and was immediately enveloped in a hug from Maddie Fenton, who was entirely distraught over the recent incident. Sam assured her, looking vaguely panicked from such vast amounts of human contact, that she was indeed well and able. Maddie simply shook her head and offered the girl a cup of tea, which Sam readily accepted. It was turning into rather a long night.
Danny walked back into the room and, in turn, received a large hug from his own mother who did more for her own well-being than his. And not a second after he had been released, Sam hugged him as well. Remus couldn't help but smirk when Danny decided to blush now.
"Sorry Sam," he said, "I called Tuck and told him what happened. He sends his worries, as well as his large flying mallets." Danny smirked. "I told him you'd get his message with pleasure."
Sam started laughing uproariously, which seemed to brighten the previous mood tremendously. Even Remus allowed himself a chuckle or two.
"Oh hang on," Danny said suddenly. "What made you come to this house anyway? You said you were looking for Danny Phantom, right?"
Remus nodded. "I was telling your parents how I had used a particularly strong Finding Spell to seek out this Danny Phantom spirit. The only clue it left me with was your name," he inclined his head in Danny's direction. "This is why I asked earlier if you lived here."
The Fentons turned as one to stare at their son.
Sam and Danny tensed. Then Sam chuckled weakly.
"Oh come on, it makes perfect sense!" she said smiling awkwardly. "The Fentons in general have so much contact with Danny Phantom that you would obviously be the perfect people to seek out for answers!"
Danny seemed to breathe an imperceptible sigh of relief. Sam grinned widely. Jack and Maddie nodded as if it did make perfect sense.
Remus frowned.
-:-:-:-
The night only continued to get more interesting. Jazz, or Jasmine, arrived at around a quarter till twelve to a house full excited family (in addition to Sam), and she was almost blown out the door by the amount of exclamations they threw upon her.
"Whoa!" she said, waving a hand impatiently. "One at a time!" She turned to look at her mother. "What is this?"
"I'm afraid," Maddie said with a knowing smile, "You'll have to ask him, Jazz."
Remus was once more put on the spot. He smiled warmly. "Indeed."
The young woman gave Remus a look that said she was decidedly no nonsense, thank you very much. It reminded him so much of Minerva McGonagall that he had actually started laughing, earning him a reprehensible look from Jazz herself. He quickly composed himself.
"Sorry," he said, only a bit apologetic. "You look far too much like someone with whom I am acquainted with."
"Are you going to explain why my family and – oh hi Sam! – are jumping on me like a pack of hyenas?" she asked putting her hands on her hips.
Remus sighed a bit. Maybe he should make some sort of recording. Then he wouldn't have to inform all those present the same thing he had said repeatedly for the last few hours. A man had to sleep sometime.
After yet another explanation of the situation, Remus acquired a seat and silently took a quick mental break. He hadn't actually suspected to find three different children who had been denied the magical education that they required. He was still, no matter what these folks may decide to do, looking for this powerful ghost. Unfortunately, Remus had no assurance that it was this Danny Phantom fellow, so he might be on the completely wrong path. This did not encourage him.
Thankfully, Jazz was quite easy to persuade, especially after showing off a bit to prove his statements true. He tested her right after and was surprised to see that she was not of the witching persuasion. She was not disappointed by this, but, like her mother and father, she was exceedingly proud of her little brother.
"I think you should totally go," she said in earnest. "There's so much to learn, I'm envious."
Danny merely shrugged. "Yeah, I could."
His father gave him a surprised look. "You mean you think you won't?" he asked his son. Maddie looked positively taken aback.
"Danny," she said looking confused. "Why on earth not?"
If he didn't know any better, Remus was beginning to think that Danny had something to hide. Danny simply avoided any gaze that was being directed at him.
…Or maybe he was just nervous.
"I'm gonna go to my room to think," he said. "I'll be right back." Both Jazz and Sam frowned in concern and Sam touched his arm, but he shook his head at her and moved on.
Remus watched the boy run upstairs with a thoughtful expression. "I'm going to take a quick look outside," he said to those left in the room. "I need the fresh air."
To their credit, the Fentons encouraged him to go take a break. They insisted he needed after all he had had to do this night. He smiled and excused himself.
In the night air, Remus gave himself time to collect his thoughts. It had been hectic enough for him to set his own thoughts aside for most of the evening.
"Uh, hey."
Remus frowned. He hadn't spoken…and the street was empty of any people. He turned around and looked up.
And he was greeted by shocking white hair and glowing green eyes.
Remus stepped back and gripped his wand out of habit. "Are you…?"
"Yeah," the ghost (obviously) told him bluntly. "Danny Phantom." Phantom landed on the steps outside the Fenton home and walked forward. "I heard from…acquaintances of mine that you were looking for me."
Remus studied the spirit carefully. He was wearing an outfit that Remus couldn't recognize and his hair and eyes threw him off slightly; he hadn't been expecting much color (and was that a logo on his chest?). But the thing that really unbalanced him was Phantom's appearance, or to be precise, his supposed age.
"How old were you?" Remus blurted out before cursing himself for being an insensitive clod. "I'm sorry…," he murmured, rubbing his head with his free hand.
Phantom made a small noise that Remus recognized as laughter. "Hey, no problem. I rarely get asked questions anyway, so this is a pleasant change from the shoot-first-ask-questions-later routine." The ghost looked hard at Remus. "Yes," he sighed, "I died young and not too long ago." He smiled in a hollow manner before staring at Remus' tense posture.
"I'm not gonna eat you," he said jokingly. "Uh, what's your name anyway?"
"Remus Lupin," Remus told him promptly. "I was sent here to find a powerful ghost in this…area."
"This 'area'?" Phantom echoed, raising an eyebrow.
Remus' face made a strange mix of amusement and weariness. "I had to search diligently, but you were the best lead I got."
Phantom shrugged, slightly unsure. "I'm not sure I can help you on the 'powerful ghost' bit…I'm not that strong."
Remus frowned at him and reached a hand out, brushing his fingers across what appeared to be solid form.
Phantom jumped back in alarm. "No touchy!" he exclaimed in surprise. "What was that for anyway?"
Remus stared at his hand. "Only the most obsessive or malevolent ghosts can take solid form, as their hunger for the insatiable motivates them beyond reason." He looked to Phantom. "Unless you go the quiet sort of psycho, then I can safely assume that you are not malevolent."
There was a defining moment when the two looked at each other, and Remus realized that Phantom was indeed the ghost he was looking for. Phantom seemed to realize this as well, and he heaved a sigh.
"Actually," the ghost chimed in a bitter voice, "I sort of protect this town. That's about as obsessive as I get."
Remus continued to look at Phantom in a puzzled way. "Why?" he asked the spirit, not really wanting to beat about the bush.
Phantom tilted his head and answered in a solemn voice. "Someone has to."
Remus studied Phantom for a moment before sighing. "I can see the complication of asking you to come with me," he confessed, not quite happy with the situation as it stood.
"Yeah," Phantom agreed. "I don't feel comfortable leaving this town defenseless to the other ghosts, who I know'll try to do something bad if I go," he said angrily. "I can't ever get a break."
Remus pondered the ghost once more. It was so odd, finding the ghost who was as powerful as any wizard to be a young boy, no older than Harry (physically at any rate), and discovering that the one obsession he had nothing at all to do with the spirit's own personal desires. It was closer to self-sacrifice than anything else. Remus personally did not want to force the young ghost away from what was practically his home town. He had a task to perform, but that did not mean he would compel anyone to do anything they did not appreciate themselves. Even ghosts were once human.
"I would most like you to come with me to England," Remus said, and when he saw Phantom's mouth open to argue, he held up a hand. "But, I am not a man who will force anything from anyone. I feel that it is only detrimental to a relationship, and will only cause unpleasant feelings to circulate." He looked Phantom directly in his luminescent green eyes. "You have a choice. You will always have a choice. I'm merely here to plead my case, and say that we will miss your assistance greatly if you choose not to join us."
Phantom looked startled. "You mean that?"
"Every word," Remus said confidently. "And I am convinced that no matter what choice you make, it will be the right one."
The ghost seemed completely thrown for a loop. Apparently, this was not at all what he was expecting. "That's putting a lot of faith in me," he said as if in warning.
"But I do have faith in you," Remus said, surprising himself. "You don't seem at all evil or selfish, even though I won't deny that you feel dangerous –," he stopped short and frowned.
The feeling of self-preservation he had experienced earlier that evening came back in full force. It was the same feeling he had felt from young Danny. Remus shook it off, planning to figure that puzzle out later.
Phantom gave the impression immense relief. "I thought I was going to have to fight you off or something," he admitted sheepishly. "But I should've known better."
Remus raised an eyebrow, wondering what the ghost might have meant by that. But whatever thoughts he had on the subject he kept to himself. Phantom was certainly unique.
"What do you want me for anyway?" he asked eyeing Remus with veiled interest. Remus added another footnote in his head to Phantom's growing profile: the ghost was not stupid or gullible, and though he may be brave in defending this city, he was as shrewd as any human business man.
"We would like your support against a particular wizard," he began, searching the ghost's eyes for any reaction to the word wizard. His suspicions about Phantom being the ghost of a muggle was confirmed when the boy's eyes widened a fraction in surprise.
"So it's not just fairy tales and fantasy," he said. "You guys really exist."
"Very much so," Remus responded. "And I came here representing those who disagree with mass murder of non-magical and magical human beings alike."
Phantom's expression darkened. "I'm dead," he said, stopping for a beat. "But that doesn't mean I like death."
"Mm," Remus muttered a non-committal noise. "That is the main reason I was asked to find the most powerful ghost, located in America."
Remus was interested to see the ghost blush. "I'm really not that powerful," he protested, "but if that's what you think…."
"It was not what I thought," Remus clarified. "But it was the observation of another wizard, a powerful man by the name of Albus Dumbledore." He paced in front of the ghost. "He found you. I was merely sent to confirm his suspicions and try to persuade you to come with me."
"Right," Phantom said, not looking like he completely followed, but understood the gist of what Remus was sent to do.
There was a brief silence were both pondered their current options. Then Phantom smiled at Remus.
"I have to go now," he said. He saw Remus' distressed expression and quickly amended his statement. "I mean," he paused and then grinned to himself. "You'll see me around."
And with that mysterious comment, Phantom disappeared, leaving Remus behind on a dark street corner, wondering if he had done the right thing.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Before he went back inside, Remus apparated around Amity Park, looking as for any sign of a wizarding town. He eventually did find a small outpost of a town on the outskirts of the city, paying a Sickle to write and send and letter to Dumbledore, updating the headmaster of the current situation.
As he left for the Fenton residence, Remus pondered why it was so hard to find any wizarding civilization nearby. Dumbledore's words describing America and its magical community came to the forefront of his mind, and Remus concluded that the country simply didn't have many old wizarding towns like Europe or Asia. No European town in America predated the 1600's, and that made it difficult all around.
Remus, as he hopped around town, searched out any other signs of magical power. He was disappointed to find none at all, aside from the three he had met already. This was very curious indeed…it was an anomaly to find only three of his kind, with the added bonus of having them already know each other as best friends.
Or maybe this was just coincidence and fate ganging up together.
As he set foot inside the Fenton household once more, he found that Danny had rejoined his family and friend. The boy smiled in a knowing manner when he saw Remus enter, and stood up.
"If the American school system didn't find me out," he said, "Then maybe England would be better." He looked at his parents, who were nodding. "I'll go."
Remus sighed in relief. Apparently, everyone had been trying to convince Danny to go and at least explore his options. He smiled kindly at the somewhat nervously inclined boy.
"I am very glad you will join us," Remus said quite honestly looking forward to the boy's company.
Danny thought, turned to look at his parents. "You guys gotta promise me something," he said.
Jack and Maddie looked at each other, before turning to look at their son. "Yes son?" Jack asked.
Danny's expression turned grave. "You have to protect this town. Through thick or thin, come he-heck or high water. The ghosts won't leave us alone, and I want to make sure you guys will be safe, even when I'm not here."
The Fentons looked at their only son in surprise. "Of course sweetie," Maddie assured him, wide-eyed at his fierceness. She had never seen him so passionate about anything before; aside from being an astronaut.
"You can count on us Danny," Jack said proudly. "We aren't the number one ghost hunter's in Amity for nothing!"
Danny grinned in satisfied relief.
After a moment, Maddie inclined her head in Remus' direction and stood up, once more attracting Remus' curiosity. Those clothes must be unique to the United States… he had never seen them elsewhere.
"And I insist that you stay the night," she announced. "It's almost two in the morning, you skipping out on us for an hour like that," Maddie tutted and Remus suddenly felt like a child being scolded for staying out too late.
"I couldn't possibly," he said shaking his head. "I have already imposed on your hospitality enough for the evening."
"It is morning," Sam put in, grinning sheepishly. "You might as well join me in the camping-out-at-the-Fenton's parade."
"Of course you should stay," Jack added as well, "Then tomorrow; I can blather on about ghosts and show you our inventions! Like the Ghost Portal!"
Now this caught Remus' attention. "You have…a what?"
Jack roughly grabbed Remus' shoulder with great enthusiasm, and Remus swore he heard himself rattle. "I knew you'd be interested!" he exclaimed while his family laughed at him with knowing affection.
Jazz simply smirked. "Our family's pretty dysfunctional, but personally, I think that's the only way we can function."
Remus started chuckling, and it soon turned into relieved laughter as the others joined in; the tension from earlier seeming to fade away with every breath and smile.
"How," he managed, "Can I refuse?"
---------------:
The next morning, Remus awoke to a heavy weight on his left shoulder.
He scratched at the air above him and hit feathers.
Instantly, Remus was awake. He startled the owl and it hooted angrily at him, moving away in a flurry of wings to reorient itself on the couch that Remus had insisted on taking the night before. It handed the small piece of parchment to Remus with an imperious air.
Remus took it quickly and pulled out five Knuts and few bits of left over cracker, giving them too the owl as both payment, and to sooth the animal's ruffled feathers, so to speak. The owl left soon afterward, leaving Remus alone with the letter, his horror dawning with every word.
Dear Remus,
I apologize for my lack of reaction to your wonderful news, but I am afraid to inform you that I must call you back. You are needed here, as there has been word of a creature that you, I fear, already know intimately well.
Greyback has been lurking in the shadows for some time now, but it he has brazenly announced his return by openly attacking in broad daylight. The rumors have been confirmed.
I need you to infiltrate your own ranks, so to speak. I know this is difficult, and horribly wrong of me to request this of you, but I must at least ask you to try. Please bring the children with you, as I would be highly interested to meet them and find them a place to stay. If I have to, I will allow them to situate themselves at Grimmauld Place, though I hope that such circumstances will not come to pass.
With Sincere Regrets,
Albus Dumbledore.
He stared at the letter, almost not believing what was written in plain sight. Remus leapt off the couch and gathered his things.
He could only hope that the Fentons would understand his urgency.
-:-:-:-:-:-
"I have received word from my, well, I suppose in America you would call him my boss."
This announcement came at breakfast, where he knew everyone would be gathered. Jazz was making breakfast, along with Danny (to Remus' surprise), and the rest of the small group were already sitting at the dining table. At Remus' words, the entire collective audience whirled their heads around to pay attention.
"Really?" Maddie asked eagerly, "And what did he say?"
"As he is also the headmaster of the school you will be enrolled in, he gave me permission to not only affirm what I have suggested, but to take you back with me as well." Remus halted for a moment, not wishing to startle the group. "Today, if possible."
An exclamation of excited "Cool!"'s and "This is great!"'s echoed across the table. Remus held up a hand.
"Since I have completed my mission with exceedingly good timing…in addition to some urgent business that I must see to, I am free to leave," he explained for clarification.
Maddie paused. "You met Phantom?" she asked incredulously. "Already?"
"I was gone for that hour, as you so said," Remus answered with a smile. "And I'd prefer to say that Phantom found me…and he agreed to my suggestion."
"I suppose you'll be taking him off our hands then?" she asked him, as if this was one of the best things that could happen to this town. Remus frowned and realized the Phantom must have bothered the Fentons before, probably not making too good of an impression, seeing as the family hunted ghosts.
He simply nodded, finding it hard to anything else but, "Yes, I will be."
"I take it that leaving here now is alright? It's not too sudden I hope," he asked.
"More than alright!" Sam and Danny chorused together.
Maddie looked to Jack and voiced her concern. "Do we have enough luggage?" she asked her husband, who merely shrugged.
Remus smiled mysteriously. "Leave that to me."
-:-:-:-:-:-
There was a frantic sort of scurry throughout the Fenton household.
Remus found himself called away to help minimize and widen a whole slew of different items. Luggage was modified and articles of clothing were shrunk. Maddie had elected Jazz to swiftly shuffle Sam out to the mall to quickly allow the now slightly displaced girl to buy herself a few new outfits. Danny was left to call Tucker about the news, and Remus found himself explaining the urgency through the telephone himself. As he had never used one before…it had been entertaining to watch. Eventually, Tucker's parents agreed and said they would send Tucker and his entire luggage over to the Fenton's as soon as possible.
Jack, in all their copious spare time, took Remus down into his lab. To say that Remus had been awed by so much muggle lab equipment, which was used to capture ghosts of all things, would be an understatement.
The Ghost Portal had him wondering about whether or not the patriarch and the matriarch of the Fenton Tribe were in fact muggle at all.
"I need the schematics for this Portal," Remus said at last, grooming over every inch of the strange magical muggle device (which was supposed to be a contradiction). "If you don't mind," he amended, "This is a breakthrough between our worlds, you understand."
Jack gave him a strange look. "How so Lupin?" he asked.
"Muggles aren't supposed to have any magical abilities whatsoever," Remus explained, his hand on his chin, pacing in front of the glowing Portal. "This is going to prove many people wrong, and it may be a step closer to an understanding of sorts."
The large man (in what was finally described to him as a hazmat jumpsuit) frowned in thought. "I don't really know what you're saying… but I'm pretty sure it'll be safe with you!" he said at last, clapping Remus once more the shoulder, which almost caused the smaller man to fall over.
"I promise that the schematics will be safe with us," Remus managed, catching a breath. "I just wonder if other people will be safe from it," he murmured to himself as Jack walked away.
-:-:-:-:-:-
Sam, Jazz, and Tucker arrived a few minutes after Remus followed Jack upstairs, and it looked as if he had brought his entire room with him.
Danny and Sam had actually fallen over each other laughing at the sight. Tucker got rather huffy and insisted that needed everything he had brought, and he refused to go without them.
Remus, feeling greatly amused and a little sorry for the poor boy, volunteered to lighten the load, so to speak. After he was done, the pile had downsized from four large suitcases to two medium sized bags. Tucker mulishly thanked him for it.
Both families had insisted on saying goodbye in the teariest manner possible. Which made the kids embarrassed beyond all reason; especially Sam, who had to repeatedly tell each parent (and that included Jazz) that she would be just fine. This made Remus rest assuredly. They would always have support from family and friends, no matter how small a group they might make.
After all the goodbyes and hugs and multiple kisses on the cheeks of every teenager, Remus was left to explain the Emergency Floo System.
"'Floo'?" asked Sam curiously. "What is that?"
"In America, I believe you call it a fireplace," Remus explained. "It's what we'll be using to travel to England."
"It has the word 'emergency' in the title," Tucker added. "Why's that?"
Remus stood in front of the Fenton's fireplace and tried not to grin at their apparent nervousness. "Since I only have enough Floo Powder for one person to use, we must use the American Emergency Floo System. It allows us to step in all at once, as soon as I throw the powder into the fireplace."
"It'll automatically take you to where you want to go?" Danny asked with a little awe in his voice.
"Not quite," Remus admitted. "I have to tell it where to take us."
Remus held the small packet in his hands. "As soon as I yell, you three may step in, carefully, and try not to trip. That could be rather disastrous."
Not really paying attention to the panic that crossed each child's face at this proclamation, Remus hurled the packet into the fireplace, allowing it to burst into a bright green flame.
"Are you sure that's safe?" Tucker asked loudly.
"Positively," Remus muttered before yelling. "Hogwarts, Headmaster Dumbledore's Office!" He quickly looked to the three and gently nudged them forward. "You have to step in now! I'll be right behind you."
Danny grabbed his friends by the elbows, hurled all three of them into the green fire despite the yelps that followed, and disappeared.
Remus, with one last look at the two families, waved goodbye and followed the children into the familiar flame.