Disclaimer: I do not own either Danny Phantom or Harry Potter.

Chapter 3

Once Vlad was in his lab, he had a few contacts to make. His first call was to Valerie. He supplied her with her first suit and set of ghost hunting weaponry. He maintained ties with her – she was a useful pawn, indeed. But not today. Now, she was Daniel's lifeline to his past, if she still lived. He called her, and she was fine: she and her father spent the day out of town, and she didn't come to work. A blessing for her! He would tell Daniel later.

He called the school as a concerned guardian. The principal answered the phone. Since the attack, lots of parents called to announce that students were alive or dead, and staff members called to confirm their own survival. Someone had called on Mr. Lancer's behalf. He did not survive.

Vlad then summoned Skulker, a ghost in his employ. He informed the hunter that he was going to England on business and that he was taking Daniel. Out of respect for the people who survived the attack, no ghosts were to further menace Amity Park until his return. Or else. He never needed to specify what else; the threat was enough.

Upon returning upstairs, Vlad passed back to the sitting room where he left his guests. After fetching his bags, Danny sat back in the seat he was in before. He sat sullenly, fiddling with his hands, looking into his lap. Vlad left the other guest to his own devices. He approached Danny, who looked up at him. "I have good news and bad news for you. Which do you want first?"

Danny considered. "The bad news, I suppose." It was best to get it over with.

"Mr. Lancer, the teacher who took an interest in your grades, didn't survive." Danny closed his eyes again. Of all that Clockwork fixed for him, what was left? Himself, he guessed. But to what end? He shook his head in further mourning.

"Now for the good news," Vlad continued. Danny opened his eyes and looked up. "Valerie is fine. She and her father were out of town for the day; neither she nor her father were at work during the attack." For the first time since he arrived, Danny's eyes lit up with hope. Even more happiness shone in his eyes than when he learned that astronomy would be amongst the subjects he would learn in his new school. "You can call her from here. I have more calls to make. I'll be in my office." And with that, Vlad left, turning word to deed.

Danny noticed Professor Dumbledore in the far corner of the room fingering through a book on the Ghost Zone. He felt he was in relative privacy when he pulled out his cell phone to call Valerie. "Valerie?"

"Danny?"

"I have never been so glad to hear your voice! Are you okay?" Danny's urgency confused Valerie.

"Sure, Danny, I'm fine. What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? Did you see the news? There was a massacre in Amity Park today!" Danny's tears returned, but he held himself back from sobbing. "People came and killed half the town. My family, Sam, Tucker, Mr. Lancer… other people…"

"Wow, Danny, that's horrible!" Val realized what a blessing it was that she had other places to be than the Nasty Burger that day. "That means when we're finished, I have all kinds of calls to make."

"Yeah."

"Oh, Danny! Who are you staying with?" She worried for her one-time boyfriend.

"Vlad Masters. He…" There were so many things Vlad was. He searched his mind until he came up with an acceptable explanation. "He's a long-time family friend. I guess he's my legal guardian, now." Valerie whistled in appreciation. Danny looked across the room at Dumbledore. "Tomorrow, we're going to England. There's a boarding school I'm going to be enrolling in."

"You're leaving tomorrow? But it's so soon!"

"I know. I need to talk to Vlad about funeral arrangements and stuff. But after that, we're headed to England."

"When you find out what time the funerals are, let me know. I have to go, now. I … thanks for calling. I'll speak to you later."

"Bye." Danny didn't even think of funeral thoughts when he put his bags together. He just knew he had to get to Vlad, as he flew across state borders. He sighed heavily and stared off in the direction of Vlad's office.

Albus Dumbledore closed his book, as he heard the mournful sighs of the orphan on the other side of the room. He walked over to give solace to young Danny. "Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked.

Danny looked at Dumbledore and thought. "Maybe. I need to try to talk to Vlad first." Dumbledore nodded. For the second time that day, Danny had the unenviable task of knocking on Vlad's door.

Vlad impatienty asked who it was. He would have far more patience for Daniel, at this point, than for the wizard he left in his sitting room. His expression softened when Danny came in and asked about funeral preparations for his family. Vlad generously laid out expenses and made plans and arrangements for three funerals in Amity Park the next day. He would call Maddie's sister Alicia, and send a helicopter for her. As far as getting there themselves, Vlad decided a Portal to Portal trip through the Ghost Zone would be the fastest. And, it might have the added benefit of shocking the stranger who offered to take them away from their lives in America. Well… That wasn't entirely fair. He WAS bringing them to safety. But considering the fact he was taking them to a world unlike any they had been a part of, he thought it was only right (and immensely satisfying) to return the favor.

Bringing his attention back to Daniel… He asked the boy if there were religious services his family attended regularly. It would give Danny the most comfort to have a service in the way of his or his family's choosing. Pained, Danny admitted that while his family celebrated Christmas, "he wasn't very good at this religious stuff." In the end, they chose a minister from the Unitarian Universalists to perform the service who spoke of God, and love, and had no problem with a set of funerals the next day. Danny surprised Vlad by preparing eulogies for all three of his family members.

At the end of the cemetery service, Danny insisted on visiting Sam's family. Sam was Jewish, and was buried in a different cemetery than the Fentons. They found Tucker, too, so Danny could say his farewells. Valerie seemed to be at the same locations as Danny – they arranged to be in the same places at the same times.

Both Vlad and Danny ran out of people they wanted to see before they left. Danny hugged Valerie tearfully before they went their separate ways. Vlad and Danny met Dumbledore back at Fenton Works.

Professor Dumbledore regretted the need to throw the lives of Danny Fenton and his newly acquired guardian and "uncle" Vlad Masters into what would seem to them to be more chaos. But as it was, Voldemort now had two primary targets: Harry Potter and Daniel Fenton. And, apparently, Vlad would be on the list if Voldemort became aware of his existence as a half-ghost. However, Sir Nicholas assured him that both Danny and Vlad's secrets were better kept than that of the entire Wizarding World, and that was saying something.

He watched as they made their assorted preparations. Apparently, Danny was prepared to move. He followed Danny's flight as a ghost by broomstick – he had the foresight to take it with him when he Apparated to Amity Park. Poor Danny was entirely out of sorts – this was a very hard day for him. He was glad that Danny saw the merit of coming to Hogwarts. This would make Dumbledore's task of protection of the halfas so much simpler. It was the best way he knew to get them ready for their own defense, and possibly as well as the safety of the school.

Vlad's choice of transportation from Wisconsin to Illinois for funeral preparations was interesting to say the least. This was the Ghost Zone that was only mentioned in passing by the ghosts in Hogwarts. If his traveling companions – who were good enough to carry him as they flew in ghost form – were not in mourning, he might have asked questions or indulged in expressions of wonderment and awe. The swirling green sky and the floating purple doors, and islands of rock and buildings in mid-air were among the many things he would have to ask about when he got home. He noted the solid humanoid specters that stayed a respectful distance from them as they flew. He noticed the curious looks aimed at him, the hateful glares and sympathetic looks aimed at Danny, and respect and fear at Vlad. Once they arrived at their destination, he waited in the living room as Danny and Vlad took care of their plans.

Towards the evening, the two weary and wary half-ghosts joined the wizard in the Fentons' living room. "Do you need to do anything else?" Dumbledore asked solicitously.

"I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be," Danny admitted.

Vlad thought aloud. "I can move money from the banks in London to acquire what I need once we get there."

"Very good," Albus said, as he pulled a spare set of glasses from a pocket from somewhere in his robes. "This is a Portkey. Once activated, it can take us anywhere instantly, magically. Actually, a Portkey can be made from any ordinary object – to make it inconspicuous to Muggle eyes. Be sure to touch it, and I'll start the countdown."

Danny looked apprehensive. "But how am I going to carry all of this and still have a spare hand for this Portkey thing?"

Vlad sighed. "Daniel, considering the costume of our professor friend here, we will need entirely new wardrobes once we get where we are going." Noting Danny's look of panic, Vlad raised a hand to cut him off. "Don't worry – I'll take care of your expenses there, too."

Danny looked pained. "Can I repack the dufflebag? I won't need clothes, as you just said. Just a few… reminders…"

Vlad rolled his eyes. "Fine, but be quick about it. We have a schedule to keep." Danny glared at Vlad, but dragged his bag back to his room. He made a printout of his ghost files, pulled a couple of his NASA posters from the wall (and packed the model spaceship he built as well), and a few framed pictures he left behind the first time. He had one of his family, one of his friends, one of himself and Valerie. It was hard to decide what in his life would make the cut, and what wouldn't. He didn't know if he would ever be back, so he had to make his decisions count.

Fifteen minutes later, Danny came back down the stairs with his bag full of memories (and a set of pajamas and underwear) and his heart heavy. "Let's go," he whispered. He reached for the glasses, dufflebag slung over one shoulder. Vlad took hold, and Albus counted down from three. Danny felt an unpleasant tug as if a hook pulled him from his navel. The business lasted a whole ten seconds as the three of them were transported to Dumbledore's office.

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