Chapter 5

3rd person

A few days after Danny got his school supplies, he was on the roof of the building that had almost become home. It was midnight, a perfect time to practice his powers. He made random designs made of ice and ectoplasm. Suddenly pain stabbed in his gut. A feral snarl ripped from his throat, fur erupted all over his body, his face elongated somewhat, his teeth grew huge canines. Hands became claws, a tail grew. The panther that had taken Danny's place shook off the tattered remains of what was left of his clothes. The panther stalked out into the night, searching for prey.

Harry's pov

I was lying awake in my bed, Danny had taken off again, he did that sometimes, usually in the middle of the night. I checked the time, 2:43, he would be arriving right about... now. I could sense rather than see or hear when Danny came back, it was the kind of sense when you know you are being hunted by some wild animal, but you don't know if it's just you or even if you are hunted, you don't know where the hunter is.

There I turned slightly to where Danny's bed is, I heard a slight hiss, like that of an animal in pain. A slight groan announced that Danny had relaxed enough to maybe fall asleep. I mentally shrugged it off, but I couldn't suppress the feeling that Danny may have never told anyone in the order the truth, about anything.

Danny's pov

As I came in the window, I heard the slightly uneven breathing that announced Harry was awake. I slinked over to my bed and transformed, wishing it would be less painful, but then, becoming half ghost had been, perhaps this new ghost power would become less so as I become accustomed to this form. I hope.

In the morning, I went down stairs and everyone was cheering, except for Ron, he seemed to be trying to learn how to use his mouth. Harry seemed to be sad... depressed almost. I went back up stairs, and heard Mrs. Weasley crying, so I turned and followed the sound. I entered the room to see Ron lying in a pool of his own blood. "R-r-riddikulus!" Molly stuttered between sobs. Crack dead Harry, she did the spell again but with similar results, crack and a dead person, I stepped forward in front of Molly, crack a growl, feral, feline, me. I turned, my worst nightmare, no longer Dan, it was me. I was older, same clothes in what ever size I was in know, but my newest power had taken over, I had black fur, claws, longer jaw, panther's eyes, but I walked upright.

It was another future, a much, much, worse one than Dan could ever hope to be. And it was the most likely to happen. He stepped forward and began taunting me, his voice sounded like he was snarling and purring the words, "You saw what Clockwork showed you." He kept up his slow, even stalk, like he was hunting. "You know what is going to happen." I backed up keeping myself between him and Molly, "You saw what you will do." He paused and grinned, an action that, while it would have been terrifying on a human, could have fueled the nightmares of the world for over a hundred years. "And the best part is... you cannot stop it." The door slammed open, "RIDDIKULUS!"

Lupin rushed forward, "Are you two all right?" Molly slowly nodded. Lupin turned to me. "You?" I realized I was hyperventilating. "Excuse me" I said, and ran out the door. People tried to stop me on my way out but I dodged their attempts.

I ended up on the roof. Why am I the one who is prophesized to turn evil?

Harry pov

Every one searched the house and even outside for Danny. I walked into the room that he, Ron and I shared and froze, Basilisk turned to face me, but instead of attacking me, he fluttered his huge bulk over to me and pushed me to the window. "Is he on the roof?" I asked. The monster owl nodded. I sighed and grabbed my broom and a snack. This is going to take forever.

Danny pov

I heard Harry talking to Basilisk, I guess he cares more about me than he hates others. I wince as I remember how I snapped at him to go away. I heard Harry fly up to the roof and cautiously approach me in the center of it.

"Danny? Are you ok?"

"...No"

He didn't know what to say.

"Danny... what was that?" now I don't know what to say. What half lie could even possibly explain the panic in my eyes? How terrified I was? Oh duh.

"...I don't want to talk about it..." It was the simplest answer in the world and I used it as a last resort. Harry looked at me, "The first time I saw a boggart it became a dementor." Seeing my confusion he said, "It's a floating thing that basically sucks the happiness out of the air. Professor Lupin taught me how to fend them off with a Patronus charm. You want me to teach you?" I recognized that he wanted to help, so I accepted his offer.

Within an hour I had forgotten, for the moment at least, about the boggart and had a fully corporal patronus. Mine was "A panther?" Why are panthers haunting me so? Everywhere I go there's another panther!

"Why are you so freaked out? You act like a panther, you eat like a starving panther, yet you seem to hate them." I shook my head, "If I ever decide to trust you, I'll tell you." He gave me an injured look. "Why do ghosts hunt you? You said that you protected your town but why did they follow you?"

"Hmmm... I guess that they like to attack me. Actually, they usually attack a lot more often. I wonder wh-"

"I AM THE BOX GHOST! BEWARE MY CARDBOARD BOXES OF DOOOOOOOMM!" I sighed, "There he is." then louder I said "Hey boxy, where have you been? I almost thought you had finally decided to leave me alone." I took out the Fenton thermos and sucked him in before he could say anything else.

"Ummm... ok then, maybe we should go inside. When was the last time you ate?" Harry said.

"How would I know... a day ago, maybe two?" Harry then dragged me over into the house with his broom and forced me to eat, after all, "Tomorrow we go to Hogwarts."