Chapter 23

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed, and put this fic on their favorite list, their alert list, and me on your favorite author list and alert list. There are so many new names that I'm glowing with happiness. Both all the old and new friends help to make this source of happiness a constant.

I offer you all cybercookies and hot cocoa. Thank you again!

This chapter, I incorporated suggestions, ideas, and inspirations from mystery_writer5775 and Spartan Commander. There are scenes that I only thought of briefly before your suggestions, and after them, the scenes not only came to fruition but became vital plot points once I included them. Thank you kindly.

I also want to thank SongoftheDarquePhoenix for introducing me to the Harry Potter fic community of Potions and Snitches. I have spent far too much time there lately, and I think it's rubbing off on me. An idea that spent too long adrift in my subconscious has come to light in a major way here. I'm not sure that I'll ever write something for that community (who knows? Weirder inspirations have hit me before), but the influence of that community will turn into a minor story arc that I've missed until now. Thank you for that.

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

At dinner, Danny stared at Goyle thoughtfully. Draco tried to get Danny's attention, but it was useless. Goyle looked over and noticed Danny's intense focus on him. "Fenton, can I help you?"

After a couple of false starts, Danny asked, "What… would you do to earn House points?"

This was the last thing Goyle expected to be asked. "Anything. Why?"

"Professor Snape… Uncle Vlad…" Danny glared at the Head table. Vlad caught Danny's eye and smiled. Danny growled and looked down at his plate.

Draco put his hand on Danny's arm. "Does this have to do with another assignment?"

Danny sighed and looked up. "Yes, it does. Defense Against the Dark Arts…" Wow, this was difficult. "Professor Snape and Uncle Vlad are working together on a project in Defense Against the Dark Arts. But Goyle, I want to know…" He took a breath. "What would you do to get House points for Slytherin?"

Goyle cocked his head. "Why? Who's offering?"

Danny said, "Professor Snape. Maybe."

Crabbe perked up. "Can anyone get in on this?"

Danny closed his eyes. He didn't mean to open a can of worms. "No, it is a private project. Besides, it was only a theoretical. Maybe." Crabbe deflated, but Goyle looked far more interested. Draco looked confused. "Draco, it's for my uncle, and Professor Snape said that Goyle would be uniquely qualified for the job." Danny felt sick at the thought of this.

Goyle thought for a moment. "If it's for Professor Snape, I would do anything."

Danny's eyes widened. "Really? Anything?"

"Yup. He's been there for me at times no one else was." He looked hard at Draco, Crabbe, and Danny. "Don't ask about it. But I know he'd never steer me wrong."

Looking thoughtful, Danny said, "Interesting." He took another breath. "What if you couldn't remember afterwards?"

"If it was for Professor Snape, I'd do it."

Danny relaxed. He could do this. Maybe. 'How about something that has the effect of the Imperius Curse and Obliviating you afterwards?' Danny thought, but he was afraid that asking would be giving away too much. "If you're sure, then I think I feel better about a decision I have to make."

Draco looked at Danny, Goyle, Crabbe, and back at Danny. "Are you going to tell us about this project?"

Danny smiled, perhaps for the first time all day. Even Astronomy couldn't break through his gloom. "Nope. It is between Professor Snape and Goyle. I just wanted to know." He looked back at the Head table. He caught Vlad's eye and nodded.

Draco continued to look at Danny. This is the first time the dark-haired boy looked almost happy since dinner last night. "Are you feeling better, Danny?"

He nodded. "I think so. Things are far from peachy, but at least one major weight has been taken off my shoulders."

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Peachy?" Danny shrugged. Draco smiled. He almost had Danny back. Or, at least as much as he ever had Danny. The kid was still a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

Danny and Vlad met in Professor Snape's office. The older Slytherin offered them both seats. The professor asked, "Daniel, did you think about what we talked about?"

Nodding, Danny said, "Yes. On both counts." Vlad raised his eyebrows. Danny took a deep breath. "I spoke to Goyle. It looks like you're right. He'll willingly do what ever you ask, Professor. Because of this, I'll…" Danny hesitated. He wasn't sure if he wanted to commit to this. He gulped. "Can I… can I try this for one day?"

Vlad frowned in thought. Professor Snape asked, "Why only one day?"

Danny answered, "This is kind of an experiment, right?"

Professor Snape nodded. "Exactly. Remember – if nothing comes of it, then it will end almost immediately."

Danny explained, "This is going to be a series of experiments. One is to see if I can use magic when I overshadow someone. One will be to see how I feel about this afterwards. If I don't feel right, I don't want to commit to a whole week of this. One will be to see how Goyle reacts. Will he remember? Regardless, if he feels 'creeped out' by this like Dash felt, I don't want to do it. If he stays excited and interested, then I'll see how I feel about it. If we are both cool with this, then we can continue."

Professor Snape decided that Danny's attitude was more than fair. Vlad considered this. Danny certainly thought this through. He checked every angle to verify his overshadowed target was not hurt through this project. Even though he objected to this with every fiber of his being just twenty-four hours ago, Daniel sought a way to accomplish this task, with attention to details concerning who might be offended. Either Snape was a better salesman for this idea than Vlad was, or Snape was right about Daniel wanting to impress him. Or a combination thereof.

"I think starting with one day and expanding on it afterwards is a fantastic approach, Daniel." Danny stared. Vlad not only expressed that Danny's thoughts and feelings counted, but the option of Vlad's plan being scrapped was being honored by Vlad.

Professor Snape broke the silence. "Tomorrow, I will ask Mr. Goyle about 'helping me' with the project, and we will begin our experiment on Monday. It will last no longer than Friday, if it works, and if you choose to continue it that long."

Danny said, "Okay."

Vlad cleared his throat. "From tonight through Sunday night, we will review the skills you've built and we've worked on thus far." He looked at Danny. "Are you ready to review a bit, and perhaps discuss some literature?"

Danny looked down, feeling a little lost. Who was this guy, and what did he do with Vlad? He raised his eyes to see Professor Snape, who gestured with his head in Vlad's direction, gently indicating that Vlad was waiting for an answer. Danny took a moment to assimilate this new version of reality.

Peering up at Vlad, Danny said, "Review sounds pretty good, I guess. I read Act II in Macbeth, and I answered the questions on page 67 in the Business textbook." Only Vlad's gentle tone from before prepared Danny for what he saw: Vlad expressed relief. Danny was glad to see it, but decided he fell into the Twilight Zone. He was a half-ghost, in a school for magic, looking at his arch-enemy who was relieved to have found an iota of favor from his young rival. If he wasn't in such a daze, Danny would have laughed at the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Vlad extended a hand. "Shall we away to the Seventh Floor?" Danny nodded and took it. Since Vlad was responsible for this teleportation, the half-ghosts disappeared in a pink mist.

Professor Snape shook his head. Despite everything that evil banshee did to the boy, Daniel still worked hard to get his approval. Snape decided that if he ever heard that Masters hurt the boy again, he would personally make Masters a FULL ghost.

The professor threw some Floo powder into the fireplace. "Headmaster."

Professor Dumbledore looked into the fire. "Severus."

"Do you have a moment? We need to talk."

"Of course. Come in."

Professor Snape entered Professor Dumbledore's office and was offered a seat. "What brings you here this evening, Severus?"

"Daniel and Professor Masters, sir."

"Danny Fenton was more than a bit distracted today. Every professor noted as much."

Professor Snape thought for a moment. "What do you know of their relationship?"

Raising his eyebrows, the older wizard sat back and considered. "Professor Masters lived a distance away from where Danny lived, so Danny took some effort to reach him. Danny made mention of the fact they had an adversarial relationship, although I'm sure this is not something either of them want known publicly. I notice that Danny's moods seem to shift based on whatever follows from their evening meetings. More than this, I couldn't tell you. Why do you ask?"

"Adversarial is quite an understatement of their positions towards each other before circumstances thrust the boy into his hands. Sir Nicholas explained that Daniel would patrol his hometown, protecting the 'humans' from molestation by vicious specters. Apparently, before the current arrangement, Masters and Daniel were arch-nemeses." Dumbledore gasped. "Daniel's moods have been volatile because – besides the obvious mourning – he has major issues with trust of Masters.

"That…man has mentally and physically tortured the poor boy, and he was wary of Masters. Last night, Daniel came to me, hysterical, terrified of abuse threatened against him by Masters for refusing to use his powers illicitly for what Daniel considered to be a nefarious plot. Such has been their history, and you need to know of this."

Professor Dumbledore crinkled his brows. "There has been no mention of such a problem before."

Professor Snape shook his head. "Daniel is far more forgiving than Masters has any right to expect. Despite his well-deserved animosity towards the man, Daniel explained why – of all people – he chose Masters to be his guardian: from the time they knew each other to be half-ghosts, Masters let Daniel know of his interest in adopting him. As such, when Daniel decided to 'give him a second chance,' I did not disallow it immediately. But I told Masters (and repeated for Daniel) in no uncertain terms that if I learned of further abuse or threats of harm against Daniel that I would act to have Masters removed permanently as a guardian in both Muggle and Wizard law."

"Thank you for telling me of this. The situation is serious, indeed."

"Because the boy is a half-ghost, it occurs to me that if Masters violates his responsibilities as a guardian again, placing him with a wizard family would suit Daniel's needs better than a Muggle family, with the possible exception of his deceased friend Tucker's family. But honestly – a family in the Order would be far better prepared to understand that a ghost hybrid is not evil simply for existing."

Dumbledore closed his eyes and stroked his beard. "I understand. Your assessment makes a good deal of sense."

Snape narrowed his eyes in concentration. "Yet, despite everything, Daniel continues to work to please the man. This is so ridiculously complicated!"

"So it would seem, so it would seem." Dumbledore drummed his fingers on his desk. "I wonder… Professor Dippet, would you be so kind as to summon Sir Nicholas?"

The portrait roused. "Of course, Headmaster." With alacrity, he left his frame in search of the Gryffindor ghost.

Professor Snape was confused. "Sir?"

Professor Dumbledore explained. "Our American guests have a complicated relationship. It makes sense to inquire about it further from someone who has been familiar with the situation for far longer than we are. I have no doubt that Danny spoke the truth, but perhaps a person who knows the dynamics between Danny and Vlad can offer advice on how to proceed."

Sir Nicholas phased through the door. "Professor Dumbledore! How can I help you this evening?"

"There appear to be great difficulties between Danny and Vlad."

Sir Nicholas's face fell. "But this makes no sense! He's only wanted this…" He frowned and shook his head slowly, so that his head didn't unhinge. "I imagine there might be. What are they fighting about this time?"

Both professors stared at the ghost. He made it sound like… whatever was going on between Danny and Vlad was to be expected. Professor Snape said cautiously, "A potential misuse of the boy's powers. Vlad threatened to harm him…"

A pained look on Sir Nicholas's face stopped Snape from continuing. "It was bound to happen, sooner or later. Danny is so good, and Plasmius… is known to not be the most scrupulous of characters."

Anger built in Snape. "He threatened to abuse his position as a guardian and abuse Daniel for not falling prey to Vlad's 'unscrupulousness'! And you speak of this as if it was expected!"

Sir Nicholas closed his eyes. "Of course it is wrong and needs to be stopped. But… both of them are hurting and each is looking to claim some of his past, as so much of it has been lost." He rolled his eyes. "And Plasmius lost sight of the goal and pulled up the wrong piece of the past."

Professor Dumbledore worked something out. "I take it that 'Plasmius' is another name for Professor Masters."

Sir Nicholas sighed. "Indeed. Plasmius is the name of Vlad's ghostly persona. When he acts on his Darker impulses, it is easier to think of him in that more dangerous form."

Taking this new information about his DADA professor in stride, Professor Dumbledore asked, "And how do we best ensure Danny's safety?"

Sir Nicholas countered, "What has been done so far?"

Professor Snape narrowed his eyes. "I told Masters if he harms or threatens Daniel again, he will be removed as Daniel's guardian permanently."

Relieved, Sir Nicholas said, "Then you've done it."

Professor Snape felt he missed something. "Done what?"

The former knight smiled. "You've ensured Danny's safety. Let me explain. Vlad Masters is a very powerful man, and as Plasmius, is one of the most powerful ghosts in existence. However, it is very difficult being practically unique. For twenty years, he was one of a kind. But there is more.

"Vlad's becoming half-ghost had the unfortunate coincidence of happening at the same moment when the love of his life declared her love for his best friend. Further, said friend was responsible for the accident that turned him half-ghost.

"At this point, loneliness and jealousy consumed him. He was unique, so no one could truly understand him. No ghosts of his acquaintance before he came to the Wizarding World could truly relate to him, and the living in the Muggle World would have a difficult time processing the idea of a ghost altogether, forget about a half-ghost. He's been angry for a long time.

"Twenty years later, the son of his love and his former best friend was in a similar accident, turning Danny into a half-ghost. Once Vlad discovered a second half-ghost, he became obsessed with wanting a connection with him. It was completely logical, even though his actions took him entirely in the wrong direction to get what he has wanted for so long: companionship.

"This time, through no fault of his own, Vlad got his fondest desire: the almost guaranteed companionship of the only other creature quite like him." He paused for a moment self-consciously, and continued. "It is said that old habits die hard, and no one knows this more than a ghost."

Professor Snape said, "He did indeed say that."

Sir Nicholas smiled again. "I'm not at all surprised. As I said, he is very powerful, and a master of any game for which he knows the rules. But this is the Wizarding World; the rules are different. This evens the playing field of power. As such, you have an ability that has been heretofore unknown to him. You have the ability to put Danny somewhere his considerable influence can't reach. (Well, maybe not, but he doesn't know that.) With this understanding, Vlad has no choice but to play by our rules, if he wishes to keep what he has longed for so desperately."

Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "I see."

Impatiently, Professor Snape snapped, "This is all very well. But what of Daniel? While I appreciate you both caring for Professor Masters' emotional welfare, I had a hysterical Slytherin student in my office last night who – only through a LOT of gentle prodding – only grudgingly spoke to a man as the enemy he's been. I'm sure Masters needs some time to heal, but what about Daniel?"

Professor Dumbledore said, "If I understand Sir Nicholas correctly, then I would imagine Danny is also interested in this companionship with a fellow half-ghost. He seems to make friends far more easily than his guardian does, but barring the possibility of having his family and friends from home, he wants the acceptance from the only other one like him." He sighed. "Even if he can't trust Professor Masters right now."

Sir Nicholas said, "That is my thought on the matter. I believe it will serve both of them best to know that there is a family prepared to accept Danny, if such a thing is necessary. Vlad will worry about it, and Danny will be put more at ease. And their growing relationship will probably be best for them in the long run."

Professor Dumbledore sat in reflection. There is very little he's seen in his long life that could surprise him, and this was a new twist on an old story. The idea that the uncomfortable relationship between the two half-ghosts was so similar to that of his Potions Master and Harry Potter made him stop and consider. Severus left his life as a Death Eater when Voldemort killed Lily and almost killed Harry, and he probably saw a lot of himself in Vlad. Whatever 'unscrupulousness' Vlad involved himself with on a general basis probably came to an end with the death of Danny's mother and the acquisition of Danny as his charge.

If, heaven forbid, something similar happened to Harry's friends and remaining family, Dumbledore would be hesitant to arrange a guardianship between Severus and Harry, considering their enmity. Last year was enough of a reminder of how badly things could turn out. What would be if they were thrown into a situation of that nature?

Professor Snape fumed. None of what Sir Nicholas said excused Masters' behavior towards Daniel. Daniel is an innocent child who managed to mark himself as a hero. He was involved in an event he couldn't control to make him what he is. He is just like… Professor Snape drew a sharp breath. He may owe Harry Potter an apology. Or a few of them. Damn.

Getting back to Masters… If Sir Nicholas was right, Snape has already done what is necessary to keep Masters in line and Daniel safe. "Sir Nicholas, you recommend that the best solution is to let things continue as they are, for the present?"

The ghost nodded. "Yes. You have used the one threat against Vlad to scare him enough to keep to the straight and narrow."

Professor Dumbledore relaxed a little. He was glad that this safety issue was resolved. Professor Snape wasn't sure, but if Sir Nicholas, who knew them best, agreed that Daniel was safe, he would believe it. Now he had to think of some spells Daniel could learn to apply next week, if this works.

Draco thought about his friend Danny. When he came back from his lessons with his uncle, Danny was significantly calmer than yesterday and a bit more communicative. He refused to expand upon his thoughts from dinner, but Danny always kept his secrets. If Draco wanted Danny to keep talking, he knew better than to press too hard on any matter he didn't want to discuss.

At breakfast, Danny was closer to what Draco thought of as 'normal'. Danny still eyed Goyle, but settled back into whatever conversation Draco tried to have.

At lunch, Goyle pulled all thoughts of Danny away from Draco. "Yes!" Goyle cried, jerking his right elbow back in triumph.

Draco started, "What…?"

"Fenton, you are brilliant! Professor Snape asked me to help him with a project on Defense Against the Dark Arts. Maybe he'll get the job next year!" Danny smiled.

Draco said, "We can only hope. What is he having you do?"

Goyle smirked. "He didn't tell me yet. He says he has some last-minute plans to work out, but it can take anywhere from one to five days next week. And for every day the project continues, I'll earn 20 points for Slytherin!"

Draco looked impressed. "Goyle, that's…" He considered the math, making a few calculations. "You'll earn anywhere between 20 and 100 House points. That's more than you've earned over your whole Hogwarts career until now!"

Crabbe stared at Draco and Goyle. "When did Professor Snape speak to you?"

"During the morning break. I can't wait to start on Monday. It's after dinner."

Draco furrowed his brows. "That's when Danny has lessons with his uncle."

"Imagine that," murmured Danny. He peaked his eyebrows and smiled uneasily.

Crabbe crossed his arms. "And there's no way for anyone else to get in on this?"

Goyle answered, "Not that I can see." He looked concerned for his close friend. "But I'll ask if there's an opening." Danny sighed.

The thought hit him – could he do magic from two angles, if he overshadowed two wizards? He'd ask Professor Snape… NO! One was quite enough! But still…

Arg! Danny shook his head violently to the puzzlement of the other three boys. Draco asked, "Is anything wrong?"

Danny said, "This project my uncle has me doing is going to make me crazy!"

Draco tried his luck. "Can you tell us about it?"

"No!" Putting a hand to his head, Danny closed his eyes, calming himself. "Sorry. I think Professor Snape would say that I officially had 'a Slytherin moment'."

That was the last thing Draco expected to hear from a fellow Slytherin. He shook himself out of his shock and clapped Danny on the back. "Embrace the moment. It's a beautiful thing."

Thursday afternoon, Terry Boot took his afternoon break and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"Thank you, Professor Masters."

Vlad invited him in and offered him a seat. "Good afternoon, Mr. Boot. What can I do for you?"

"Sir, I wanted to ask about Danny."

Vlad blinked. "I beg your pardon?"

Terry lowered his eyes. "I'm in many classes with him, and sometimes… I'm concerned about him." Vlad's expression softened. Terry frowned bitterly. "The Death Eaters were very busy this summer. Many students this year have faced loss of all kinds. I understand that mourning causes some interesting emotional upheavals in people. But some of Danny's mood swings are rather… harsh."

Vlad sighed. As much as part of him wanted to tell this student to mind his own business, another part of him realized that he was concerned for his friend. More to the point, Vlad realized that he was the cause of some of Daniel's volatile mood shifts. He closed his eyes, putting a hand on his forehead, collecting his thoughts.

"As always, you've asked me an excellent question. From what I understand of the Death Eater attacks, the tragedies involving most students have taken a family member or two, or a few before the… Aurors stepped in to stop the attack. The tragedy in Daniel's life is more than one or two people. He's lost his entire immediate family, his closest friends, and almost everyone in his general acquaintance. That isn't to say that anyone else who has lost friends or family isn't suffering, but Daniel lost almost everyone whom he felt gave definition to his existence."

Vlad paused a moment in thought. "Some of his more interesting mood shifts have had to do with pressure he's faced in classes and other factors." He grimaced. "I hope we worked out a major issue last night."

Terry thought about everything Professor Masters said. It appears that Danny was in a bad way, but that he seemed to make the best of a bad situation, even if it got horrifically emotional sometimes. "I'm sorry to hear that, sir. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Vlad sighed. "I suppose… it would help if you don't ask him too many questions. They might upset him. But let him know you are there for him."

Terry nodded. That seemed to be the most useful strategy for dealing with other students who were in mourning. Professor Masters made a good deal of sense, but there were other things about Danny that puzzled him. Should he ask the professor about the Crup? He might. But as long as he ventured into the realm of personal questions about Danny, he might as well ask some questions that were higher priority on his curiosity list.

"Thank you, sir. I'll be sure to do that." Vlad smiled. It was good to know Daniel made so many friends, or at least pleasant acquaintances. "May I ask another question? Something happened in the library a little over a week and a half ago, and everyone present has no idea what went on."

Vlad was curious. "I assume this somehow involves Daniel."

Terry smiled. "Yes, sir. As we studied in the library, Peeves came and annoyed the students." Vlad furrowed his brows – that name was familiar, but he wasn't sure why. "He's our resident poltergeist. He exists to cause mischief. No one can control him except the Bloody Baron of Slytherin. Or, that's been the theory until now.

"However, when Peeves annoyed Danny, Danny made one small remark, and Peeves flew from him in terror."

Vlad smiled broadly. "Did he, now? I'm not surprised," he murmured.

Terry was confused. "Sir? Why is that?"

Looking at the student before him, Vlad needed to think of an explanation that would satisfy the young Ravenclaw's curiosity. Still wonderfully amused, he thought for a moment. Ah, he had it. "You know that in the Ministry, the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has a Spirit Division, correct?"

Terry nodded. "You made mention of it in our first week of class, sir."

"Your memory serves you well. Daniel and I have extra lessons in Defense Against the Dark Arts after dinner. Of the many things we've discussed and reviewed, Daniel is proficient in the skills required to stop, capture, and otherwise incapacitate wayward ghosts."

Terry shook his head. "But sir, that doesn't make sense. It might, as far as poltergeists are concerned, but ghosts can't do anything. They are mere imprints of who they were when they lived. They are nothing more than sentient memories of who they once were. How is it possible for such things to cause trouble?"

Vlad was pleased that the majority of the Wizarding World seemed to be ignorant of the ghosts he and Daniel were and dealt with on a regular basis. He found no need to enlighten them at present. "I believe in relatively recent history, the Ministry was called upon to contain and restrain a ghost from harassing a student, Olive Hornby. The ghost was of Myrtle Duncan."

Terry looked confused. Vlad refrained from rolling his eyes. "The containment happened fifty years ago. She died a few years before that."

"Myrtle Duncan, sir?"

Vlad closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I believe students call her Moaning Myrtle."

Terry widened his eyes. "Oh! She resides in the Second Floor girl's bathroom. Harry said that's where she died."

That much, Vlad hadn't known. "Yes, well… Back home, Daniel honed his skills for capturing and containing said wayward ghosts. He has earned himself a reputation and is known by all ghosts." Vlad smirked. "Peeves knows better than to annoy… the living in front of Daniel."

He considered Terry. "I've only wanted to train him in the use of the skills Daniel possesses since the day I discovered he was particularly capable. I tell you this because such knowledge might be necessary to comfort Daniel. I'm not sure how, but you're clever enough to figure out how to use this information."

"So Danny's training to be an Auror of the Spirit Division. I thought he wanted to go into Astronomy."

"Knowledge is the key to the door. There is no telling which door he'll choose to use." With this, Vlad closed the conversation about Danny. "Was there anything else?"

On Monday evening, both Danny and Goyle were agitated as they made their way through dinner. Goyle was excited, and Danny was worried. Professor Snape nodded to Goyle, signifying that now was the time. Goyle made his way down to the dungeons and Danny started on his way upstairs. When he knew no one saw him, he turned invisible and flew back to Goyle.

Goyle knocked on Professor Snape's door. "Gregory! Come in. Thank you for helping me with this project."

He smiled. "It's my pleasure, sir. What are we doing?"

Danny tapped the professor on the shoulder to let him know he was there. Professor Snape smiled. "We are going to practice some defensive spells. Take out your wand." Goyle held out his wand and prepared to duel. "And now we begin."

Danny took his cue and entered Goyle, who gasped and stiffened momentarily. Danny blinked his eyes, getting used to his new surroundings. "Daniel?" Danny nodded. "Interesting. So that's what it looks like. Do you have access to your powers as a ghost?"

"Yes, sir." Snape heard Goyle's voice, but Danny's intonation.

Professor Snape grinned. "You have teleported us before. Can you fly us to the Room of Requirement?"

"Of course." Danny put his arm around Professor Snape, turning them both invisible and intangible, and soared up to the Seventh Floor. Snape knocked on the door. Since it was there, it was obvious that Vlad waited for them. They entered.

Vlad watched Snape and Goyle enter the room. "Daniel?"

"That's me." Vlad smiled as Professor Snape looked curious and unsettled. Hearing one student in the body of another student would take some getting used to.

Professor Snape collected himself and said, "This is the moment of truth. Professor Masters, I would ask you to take out your wand, useless though it is to you." Vlad complied. "Daniel, take Goyle's wand and point it at your uncle, and say the word Expelliarmus. If you are capable, you will Disarm your uncle.

Danny did what he was told, and Vlad's wand slipped out of his hand and flew into Danny's. Vlad beamed. "Excellent work! So you can perform magic using a wizard's body." Danny squirmed. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. But it was cool that he could honestly do magic! Or, rather, force Goyle to do magic…

Professor Snape said, "Before we continue, I have a question for you." Danny waited. "I know you have your own wand on you at all times. Can you reach it?"

Danny shook Goyle's head. "No. While I'm overshadowing someone, I have access to my powers, but not to my body or my clothes, or anything on my person. Instead, I have my consciousness in someone else's body, in their clothes and with their possessions until I leave."

"Interesting. You share a space with Goyle, yet your body is unavailable. This reminds me of an Animagus, a wizard who can transform into an animal and back at will. When the witch or wizard transfigures her or himself into the animal form, the witch or wizard has no access to anything on her or his human forms besides the human mind."

Vlad said, "Fascinating. And how does this 'animagus' thing work?"

Professor Snape raised an eyebrow. "I imagine it would take years of practice with Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall is one such Animagus. She has the form of a cat." Danny snickered and Vlad scowled. "Because of the dangers present in the transformation – as well as the subterfuge available by such a disguise - Animagi are required to register their animal forms with the Ministry." Anger flashed in his eyes as he thought about Sirius Black, but he closed his eyes as he collected his temper. Actually, it was necessary to inform the half-ghosts of the Dark Lord's right hand rat.

"There are witches and wizards who learn the art, but fail to register with the Ministry. I believe such a deliberate failure is punishable by jail time." Danny winced. "One Animagus you need to be wary of is a rat, who is otherwise known as Peter Pettigrew. Or," he grinned in amusement, "by his 'pet' name Wormtail." Both Danny and Vlad looked askance. The expression on Goyle's face was all the more amusing. "Daniel, you would do well to ask Mr. Weasley to describe his one time pet rat. Wormtail lived with their family for twelve years as a pet rat named Scabbers."

The idea that a person would choose to live life as an animal almost freaked out Danny, until he remembered Bertrand. He was a shapeless blob of ectoplasm who chose whatever form suited Spectra's needs best. Danny shivered.

A predatory grin blossomed on Professor Snape's face, and they began. Over the course of the hour lesson, Danny learned and perfected the spells of Impedimenta, Locomotor Mortis, Petrificus Totalis, and Silencio. It was interesting to Danny to see how the spells affected Vlad. The Disarming Charm disarmed Vlad, regardless of whether he was tangible or intangible. This was good to know.

The Impediment Curse worked when Vlad was tangible, but was easily escaped by turning intangible. Danny was learning all kinds of things: he learned how to perform these spells, and how they affected ghosts. After his initial discomfort in making Goyle do all of this, Danny decided to allow himself the perverse pleasure of attacking Vlad over and over. He had no chance to verbalize his thoughts, but he now understood why Professor Snape was so willing to help Vlad with this project.

Vlad's expression throughout was interesting. It cycled through and back with pleasure at knowing that his initial scheme worked, and Danny could use magic against a wizard (and, by extension, so could he, if he overshadowed a wizard), pride in how quickly Daniel picked up the ability to perform said spells, resignation at how he was the target of all of this (Snape remembered the thing with the ectoplasmic bonds all too well), annoyance at Snape for enjoying this far too much, and guilt, as Daniel seemed to thrill with revenge. Vlad could have been angry, but he supposed he deserved Daniel's anger at him.

The Leg Lock Curse and Full Body Bind, like the Impediment Curse, worked on Vlad as long as he remained tangible, but ceased working when the counter-curse Finite Incantatem was said, or when Vlad went intangible. The Silencing Charm worked in either state, and could only be released by the counter-curse. All five of these spells could be blocked by a ghost shield.

Danny thought that this was a fascinating lesson. The idea that he was using magic almost made him glow with power, until he remembered that the only reason he could do this was because of the body he was borrowing. He sobered up. When the lesson was over, Vlad told him to meet him back here for English.

Danny took Professor Snape back to his office. The professor said, "Stay after Goyle leaves, please." Danny nodded. Snape nodded back, and Danny exited Goyle.

Goyle blinked and looked around the office. Professor Snape smiled. "Thank you, Gregory. You did an exquisite job."

Goyle cocked his head. "I did?"

Professor Snape's smile broadened. "Indeed, you did. How do you feel?"

"I… feel like I practiced some spells, but…" He stopped for a moment. "I can't remember what happened." Danny almost sighed with relief, but he hadn't heard everything he needed to hear. "Are you sure this is helping?"

"Absolutely. Today's work was a success."

Goyle beamed. "That's great, sir. I can't wait to do it again tomorrow! That is, if you still need me."

The professor smiled fondly. "I need to check a few things first, but I will definitely let you know by your morning break. And that's 20 points for Slytherin for your participation today."

"Yes!" Goyle stopped and thought for a moment. "Um, Professor? Is there any way Crabbe can join us? He kind of feels left out."

Professor Snape furrowed his brows. "I'm not sure yet. But I'll let you know, perhaps tomorrow."

"Thank you, sir!"

"No, thank you, Gregory. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir. Good night!" Goyle practically bounced out of the office in excitement. He couldn't wait to tell Crabbe and Draco…. He wasn't sure what, exactly. But he would tell them something.

"Daniel?"

Danny materialized and took a seat. "Yes, sir."

Professor Snape observed his unique student. "How do you feel about this evening?"

Danny thought for a moment. "First of all, I'm glad Goyle is excited. I'm kind of relieved he doesn't remember anything, except vaguely practicing spells for Defense Against the Dark Arts. He doesn't even seem to remember the surprise of my entry.

"It was cool to finally be able to do those spells that Harry worked so hard this summer to get me to do. I'm beginning to understand why he likes Defense so much. It's a bit of a rush. Does using spells always feel like that?"

Professor Snape smiled. "You know, it's been so long since I stopped to think about it, I'm not even sure. Witches and wizards display their first act of unintentional magic as children. You've performed your first act of magic with full intention and dignity." He paused. "Now that I think of it, I think it does feel like that. You have felt for the first time what everyone else here takes for granted."

Danny thought again. "I won't pretend that it wasn't cool to get Vlad like that. But… it was weird. It was like… using magic against Vlad is like using my ghost powers against humans."

Professor Snape nodded. "Indeed. That is why there are laws against using magic on Muggles. Actually, with a few exceptions, Muggles are not even supposed to know of the existence of magic. Besides you and your uncle, none who survived in Amity Park know of the Death Eaters."

Danny cocked his head. "What do they think happened?"

"It has officially been declared 'a terrorist attack' by the Muggle media, which isn't far off from the truth."

"But… Why aren't Muggles supposed to know?"

Professor Snape looked at Danny. "Have you ever heard of the Salem Witch Trials?" Danny's eyes grew wide and he nodded. "There was a lot of that going on all over Europe for hundreds of years. I understand the Muggle World has calmed down about such things, but we can never be too sure."

Danny sighed. "I can understand that. People hate what is different. My parents… I never told them I was a ghost. They were convinced that all ghosts are evil. Most ghosts just want to be left alone. The fact that I worked hard to save people was completely ignored by some folks, who were sure that I was planning something dark and nefarious. So, I guess I can understand that Muggles in general might not appreciate the existence of wizards." He thought of other Slytherins. "Or vice-versa."

After a few moments of reflective silence, Professor Snape asked, "With all of these thoughts and feelings you've shared, are you prepared to do this again tomorrow?"

Danny put a finger to his chin. "It really looks like Goyle is excited. I guess we can do this again. But could we, maybe, focus on spells that affect stuff and not people? Today was a little much." He smirked. "Even though it was kind of fun. Vlad's been creative in finding ways to hurt me, so I didn't mind too much. But some of this stuff – he can't defend against it. That's not right."

Professor Snape appraised his student. "I think we can arrange for that. However, with your permission, later this week we might focus on spells affecting people again. It isn't so much to annoy your uncle," He thought, 'Although that's a side benefit for me,' "as it is to learn spells that could be used defensively. While I appreciate your concern, neither your uncle nor I will think less of you for performing this magic. Actually, it is precisely what he wants you to do. You would be learning these spells for the same purpose you learned to create your ectoplasmic bonds. By learning to use these spells, if you had need, you would be able to overshadow a wizard and defend yourself or others."

"Can I think about it?"

Professor Snape smiled. "Of course." Danny fidgeted uncomfortably. "Is there something wrong?"

Danny sighed. "I was just thinking… Crabbe seriously wants to be a part of whatever Goyle is doing, especially when participation has such a high point value. I thought, maybe… I could see if I could use magic if a duplicate and I overshadowed two wizards…" He shook his head. "It's stupid."

Professor Snape said, "On the contrary – it was insightful and inspired. I will speak to Mr. Crabbe this evening. If he agrees, and I'm sure he will, I'll speak to your uncle after your other classes tonight. This will make a lot of work for you tomorrow, but the findings will be valuable for the three of us in the know, and will give pride and satisfaction for the other students involved. But I think one day will suffice for Mr. Crabbe's participation."

Danny was surprised at the professor's not only acceptance, but encouragement of what he thought was only a harebrained scheme. "One day would work. But what are you going to tell Crabbe? And almost more importantly, what are you going to tell Draco? If both Crabbe and Goyle are involved in something special, Draco will feel left out, considering how much more talented he is than they are in general."

Professor Snape realized that this concern for others was part of what made Sir Nicholas dub Daniel a hero. "Leave that to me. Were you always this perceptive of the needs of your peers?"

Danny blushed. "Not exactly. But when it came to things involving ghosts overshadowing humans for personal gain, or otherwise taking advantage of or harming humans… while it wasn't necessarily my fault that it was happening, it was my responsibility to fix the situation. And whether or not I think this overshadowing thing is a good thing, the only reason Draco, Crabbe, or Goyle might be emotionally hurt is because of this project which centers on MY ghost powers."

With pride in his half-ghost student, Professor Snape said, "Impressive. You head to the rest of your lessons with your uncle, and I'll take care of Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Malfoy."

When Goyle came back to the Slytherin Common Room, Crabbe, Draco, and Pansy sat on the couches and chairs in their usual place. Draco called, "Goyle! So how was it?"

Beaming, Goyle said, "It was great. I came to Professor Snape's office, and he told me I did an exquisite job, and that I really helped him. He'll tell me by tomorrow whether he still needs me, or if today was it."

Draco smiled. "That is great."

Crabbe looked at him. "Did you ask?"

With a smile that was almost a sneer, Goyle answered, "Of course I asked! What do you take me for? Professor Snape said he had to check on a few things, and he would see."

The grimace left Crabbe's face. "That works for me. So, what did he have you do?"

"He told me that we were going to practice some defensive spells. I took out my wand and got into dueling stance…"

The room around them got quiet, and the four of them looked up. Professor Snape entered the Slytherin Common Room, and the conversation stopped as the students respectfully waited to see what would happen. The professor smiled. "As you were," he announced. Conversation picked up as he made his way to Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy. "Gentlemen, if I may see you in my office? Miss Parkinson, I'll return your friends shortly." She smiled and nodded, and the four guys left.

Offering the three boys seats, Professor Snape took his own behind his desk. "First of all, I want to thank you once again, Gregory, for your assistance this evening. It was a resounding success, and I believe this project will carry on until Friday. Vincent, tomorrow I will need your services, but because of the nature of the project, I will only be able to use you for one day. It isn't a reflection on you, but a facet of the project." Crabbe glowed in happiness.

"Just so that it's clear, I am aware that Gregory and Vincent need extra credit in Defense Against the Dark Arts. You didn't pass your OWLs, and after this project, we are going to arrange for more regular tutoring so you can retake them later this year.

"Draco, because of the remedial nature of this project, this is not a project for you. I haven't devised a plan yet, but I intend to find a project for you and Mr. Fenton to accomplish together later on this year. Are there any questions?"

Draco asked, "What is the nature of this project?"

Professor Snape smiled. "This is a project that Professor Masters has spearheaded. He likes to keep his special projects confidential until he is ready to publish the results. Having performed experiments of my own and having the results reported in various publications, I understand exactly where he is coming from. As I said before, it isn't a reflection on you, but on Professor Masters and my experiment. But if Gregory or Vincent choose to discuss it, I'll leave it up to them."

Goyle nodded. "I'll keep it under wraps. It's just easier that way." Crabbe raised an eyebrow – he was going to be let in on it tomorrow. Draco furrowed his brows.

Professor Snape soothed, "Draco, remember how well you did. You don't need this."

Draco sighed. "Okay." At least he and Danny had this in common. Professor Snape didn't ask for him for this project either. Draco wondered if Danny knew of his uncle's project. Well… he had to know something, because he told Goyle about it to start with. But Danny was with Professor Masters in whatever classroom they used, and Goyle was in Professor Snape's office. He saw Danny head upstairs when he went downstairs. So, Draco concluded, Danny might know about the project, but he wasn't a part of it. Not unless he could be in two places at once.

The following evening, Professor Snape entered the Room of Requirement with Crabbe and Goyle. Vlad asked, "Daniel?"

The boys chorused, "That's me." Vlad smirked at Snape's momentary disorientation. He watched as Snape taught Daniel, primarily in the guise of Goyle, Accio and the Banishing Charm. It was interesting to see Daniel focus on using magic to summon items to him and propel items from him, and compare it with ghostly possession of items. Once Professor Snape was temporarily satisfied, he taught Daniel three spells involving doors: Alohomora to unlock them, Colloportus to seal them, and a door opening charm.

Professor Snape set Daniel to practice these spells as Goyle, so Vlad took it upon himself to speak to Daniel as Crabbe. "While one of you is learning the new spells, you should review what you learned yesterday."

Danny protested, "But I asked Professor Snape about focusing on spells dealing with stuff and not people today."

Vlad's voice turned harsh for the first time in a week. "I agreed to no such thing. You will practice the spells you learned yesterday!" Danny winced.

Professor Snape said, "How dare you? You have no right…"

"I have as much right to expect Daniel's full cooperation and effort in the participation of these magic spells as you did when I taught Daniel to manipulate his ectoplasm into bonds and gags." Both Danny and Professor Snape were silenced. Vlad's demand that Danny practice the spells on him was indeed no different than Snape's demand for Danny to not give a second thought when binding him as Masters directed during the beginning of September.

Professor Snape relented. "You are absolutely correct, Professor Masters. Daniel, this is part of the point of using Crabbe this evening. One of you," pointing to Goyle, who was busy practicing the new spells, "will focus on inanimate objects. The other will continue what we began yesterday. If you can. Can you?"

Danny shrugged uncomfortably. Vlad crossed his arms, and Danny threw the Leg Locker Curse at him. After grunting with the fall, Vlad said, "Excellent work. Now we know that any number of duplicates can use magic while overshadowing wizards. Well done, Daniel!" Danny never saw Vlad so proud to be incapacitated. This messed with his head. The glee and pleasure Danny had yesterday was gone, but he would work as hard to do what Professor Snape directed him as he did in his other Power Training sessions.

After the lesson was over and Danny delivered the wizards back to Snape's office, and the other students were duly rewarded with 20 House points each to their joy, Danny returned. Vlad beamed at him. "How are you feeling, Daniel?"

"Excited and tired. It's difficult to focus on duplicates for too long, and I not only maintained a duplicate for an hour, but I did it while overshadowing Crabbe and Goyle, using their magic. It was awesome, but wow. I'm glad it's done."

Vlad nodded. "Indeed. You did well. And I understand that using the duplicate to do magic was your idea. I commend you for it. Further, I'm glad you were interested enough in this project to add your own innovations. It means a good deal to me, and I thank you."

Danny was surprised at the feelings he had. While he targeted Vlad with the spells earlier, Danny wasn't particularly happy about it. But now that it was over, Vlad was very happy, and Danny was pleased. And it didn't even feel weird this time. "You're welcome, Uncle Vlad," Danny said quietly.

A tear ran down Vlad's cheek. "Right, then. Let's discuss your paper regarding 'Double, double/ Toil and trouble,' shall we?"

By Wednesday night, Professor Snape could tell that Danny was getting agitated again. He distinctly didn't like using powers against people who could not defend themselves, regardless of what the victim said about the matter. (He said that at home, when he joked around with his friends, that was different. But this was a true strategically offensive use of his powers that could not be defended against.) And unlike Vlad's lessons on ectoplasmic bindings, Professor Snape said Danny could stop at any time.

"Daniel, this evening, we will work on some more spells that affect people, but tomorrow, we will work on spells affecting inanimate objects. Friday, we'll work on some of each." Danny sighed. Vlad raised an eyebrow at him. Danny shrugged.

"On Monday, you learned five spells that would incapacitate an opponent. Today, you will learn two more that will incapacitate, and three that will distract an adversary. All five can be avoided with a ghost shield, but only one of the five you will learn today can be avoided by turning intangible. (Professor Masters and I made a few discoveries during the summer.)" Professor Snape felt that such an introduction would make Danny feel more at ease.

The two spells they worked on first were Stupefy and the Conjunctivitis Curse. Danny learned the Stunning Spell, and was worried when Vlad fell unconscious. Professor Snape promised that this was expected, but Danny wouldn't rest until he learned the counter-spell, Ennervate. When Vlad came to consciousness, Danny sighed with relief. The eye-damaging spell was released with a Finite Incantatem.

The next three spells were supposed to distract an opponent, especially if the other spells generally used were more easily predicted. Professor Snape was ready to enjoy this. He taught Danny a Trip Jinx (and Danny remembered when Draco said he used it on Harry at a most inopportune moment). The Tarantallegra set Vlad dancing uncontrollably. (Danny was amused.) And the last one of the day was Rictusempra, which made Vlad laugh uncontrollably until released.

A moment of reflection made a grim look cross Professor Snape's face. "As long as Rictusempra isn't confused with Sectumsempra, all is well."

Vlad asked, "What does Sectumsempra do?"

Professor Snape shuddered. "It produces a magical gash. If a limb is severed by it, no magic can restore it. The blood loss can be horrific. Truly, I don't even want to know if you can live through it."

Vlad crossed his arms. "The Unforgivable Curses were of no consequence, yet this makes you squeamish?"

Professor Snape's voice turned cold. "Professor, I knew you couldn't be killed by the Killing Curse, as Daniel already survived it. Cruciatus is only pain, which you learned you can avoid. (True, it is the most painful curse imaginable, but if you can avoid it once under it, unlike ordinary humans, the effect can be negligible.) The Imperius Curse only affects those who don't have a strong enough force of mind and will. You have far more control over someone you overshadow than anyone can with an Imperius Curse, as the curse can be fought and thrown off, as both of you now can.

"Sectumsempra, while it might be avoided, may do far more damage than I can fix." Professor Snape shuddered again before the moment passed.

Danny asked, "Why does this make you so uncomfortable?"

Professor Snape said in a low tone, "Because I invented it." Danny stared. "Let's practice what I've taught you tonight, Daniel."

After Danny delivered him and Goyle back to his office, Professor Snape gave Goyle the promised points, much to the bigger boy's continued excitement, and Snape asked how he felt. Goyle couldn't place it – he felt fine. Confused with the idea that it's been three days since he started helping his favorite professor and he still couldn't figure out what he was doing, he said, "I feel fine, Professor. I'm not sure what I've done, but I'm glad it's helping you. You said this project was for you and Professor Masters. How does he feel about all of this?"

Danny himself wanted to know, as he hovered invisibly in the corner. This was a major part of his point in participation. As long as Goyle was happy, he didn't mind continuing. Yesterday, Crabbe was thrilled. He said he wasn't sure why, but a few First Year spells stuck out in his mind, particularly the Full Body Bind. More than that, he didn't remember, but he volunteered his services to Professor Snape again, should he need it. Danny was glad he suggested including Crabbe. Back to the matter at hand…

Professor Snape said, "This project is working out far better than Professor Masters hoped. We've made a few important discoveries, and we have you to thank for it."

Goyle smiled. "That's good. Does Fenton know about this project?"

Both Professor Snape and Danny started in surprise. "Why do you ask?"

Goyle looked thoughtful. "Fenton told me a little about it last week. He didn't say much, only that you and Professor Masters had a project. But how much does he know?"

He looked at his student. His curiosity surprised him, but made the professor proud. "Mr. Fenton knows exactly how much his uncle lets him know. As I've said, this is a private project. Professor Masters tells Daniel as much as the professor feels he needs to know." He thought, 'Of course, that is every last detail of what we're doing.' He smiled.

"Okay." Goyle tried to work something out, but he wasn't sure of the answer he came up with. He shrugged. "Good night, Professor."

"Good night, Gregory. I'll see you tomorrow."

After the boy left, Danny materialized. "You know, sir, it's been a week since I decided to agree to this. Goyle's happiness with this only makes it easier to continue. But what does… Uncle Vlad have to say?" Danny knew Vlad was particularly happy with yesterday, but he wanted to know what Vlad said about him when he wasn't around.

Professor Snape noticed the pause before Danny called Vlad 'uncle.' It was one week since Daniel agreed to this project, and it was one week since Snape realized that but for the grace of… Well, he stopped being quite so obnoxious to Potter. However, he had to think that through a bit more. If things were different, what would he prefer Harry to call him?

He shook his head as if to clear it of dottle. Carefully, he said, "Your uncle is very proud of you. Just as I told you on Monday, you are doing precisely what he wishes. The idea of 'Muggle ghosts performing wizard magic' tickles him to no end." Danny thought of Rictusempra and giggled.

"Is there anything else you would like to discuss this evening?"

Danny thought for a moment. He wondered what his friend might say, but he decided it was a good idea to mention it. "Harry said that he noticed a difference in you during Potions this week. He's not sure why it is, but he's thankful for it."

Professor Snape's eyes widened. "Is he?" Interesting. "Daniel, may I ask you a personal question?"

Danny was curious. "Sure."

"Do you look more like your mother or your father?"

Danny blinked. "Um… My mother was more muscular than I am, but I'm kind of more like her in build. But my hair is black and my eyes are blue like my dad's. Why?"

"Harry looks just like his father, but his eyes are just like his mother's."

"Okay." This seemed to come from nowhere. He noticed that the professor called his friend 'Harry' and not 'Potter,' as he usually did. "Sir?"

Professor Snape smiled warmly. "Thank you. Your uncle is waiting for you."

Danny was confused, but said, "Good night, Professor. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, he evaporated in a green mist.

Professor Snape mused over his current favorite student. His father had black hair and blue eyes. Wouldn't it take all if his mother's hair was red?

Harry Potter looked exactly like his father, but was he like him? He broke the rules, was arrogant, and… wait. Vlad Masters was manipulative and evil, but he managed to mentally separate the boy from the father he despised. Since Snape met Harry, he superimposed the boy's father onto Harry in his mind, and attributed his behavior to his father. But was he like his father? All other professors (with the exception of Umbridge, but what that woman said was negligible) mentioned how well mannered, likable, and humble he was, and Snape refused to acknowledge their reports, until now. If Masters could figure out that the boy in question was not his father but he couldn't… That made Vlad twice the man he was. Snape was ashamed.

At breakfast, Professor Snape approached the Gryffindor table. "Potter."

Harry spun around in his seat. He was engrossed in his conversation with Ron, and didn't see his professor until now. "Sir?"

"Please come to my office during your morning break."

The professor looked a little too eager for Harry's liking. "Am I in trouble, sir?" He couldn't think of anything he'd done wrong, or anything at all to attract Snape's attention.

Snape sighed. "No, Potter, you're not in trouble. Just come to my office after Transfigurations."

"Yes, sir." With that Professor Snape swept away from the table.

Ron and Hermione stared at him. Ron asked, "What was that?"

Harry shuddered. "I don't know."

Hermione asked, "Should we be worried?"

Harry looked at his plate. "I really don't know."

After Transfigurations, Harry knocked on the door of Professor Snape's office. "Come in." Harry entered, and the professor offered him a seat. He sat, with a little fear. He had no idea what to expect.

Professor Snape studied Harry for a few moments. "Do you remember what I said to you the first time we met in Potions class?"

Harry asked, "When? This year?"

The professor answered, "No. In your First Year." Harry listened closely. There was no mocking sneer in Snape's voice. He wasn't sure what to make of this. But he would answer.

"Yes, sir. You said something about me being a celebrity, and asked three questions that I couldn't possibly answer, considering the fact I only discovered I was a wizard when Hagrid brought me my letter personally on my eleventh birthday. Since then, I've burned the answers to those questions into my memory."

Snape noticed the bitterness in Harry's tone. "You…what?"

"You hated me from the day you set eyes on me. I never looked to be a celebrity. I didn't even know I was the Boy Who Lived. Personally, I wish I were the Boy No One Heard Of, living with my parents and just being normal. But no one's ever asked me what I wanted.

"You saved me from Quirrell, when he tried to hex me off my broom, and I guess I never thanked you for that. Thank you, sir. But the fact that I hate doting attention on me, especially for stuff I barely remember, is something…" He grew quiet. He closed his eyes and growled. "How many points are you going to take for this? What am I getting for detention?"

Professor Snape uncomfortably noticed the pain in Harry's voice and remembered the same resignation to his fate, yet defiance at the same time Daniel expressed when he brought Masters to his office on October 1.

"You aren't going to be punished, Potter. Please continue."

The gentle tone and the very words Professor Snape used confused him. "Huh?"

Snape sighed. "No doubt, you have had some of these thoughts and feelings for years, and I never actually noticed. I never listened to your side of the story." He held up a hand. "This isn't a trick. Have no fear of retribution. I want to hear what you have to say."

Who was this, and what did he do with Professor Snape? He wasn't sure… "What did you see when you found me in Professor Moody's office after the Tri-Wizard Tournament?"

It was so out of character for him to be kind to Potter that the boy checked to see if he wasn't Polyjuiced. He shook his head. "The Polyjuice Potion wore off, and Moody turned into Barty Crouch, Jr. I gave him Veritaserum, and he explained his plot to take you to the Dark Lord."

Harry nodded and grunted. This was Professor Snape. He was just… different. "Five points for Gryffindor for your cautiousness and attention. Moody would be proud." He muttered, "Constant vigilance," and rolled his eyes. "Please continue."

Unnerved, Harry thought of everything he's wanted to say. "You knew I was an orphan – apparently, the whole Wizarding World knows – yet there was never a time you didn't find a chance to put down my father. I never knew him, or my mother, and my aunt and uncle never let me ask questions. All I know about my parents is what people here say. You kept calling him arrogant, and all kinds of horrible things, and telling me I was just like all those horrible things. It wasn't until I saw that memory of yours last year that I understood.

"By the way, I was horrified, and I demanded that Sirius and Remus explain this, because it was the first time I saw my parents in action, and I didn't like what I saw. I am sorry he was so mean to you, and I am sorry for looking into your private thoughts."

Professor Snape closed his eyes. "I forgive you, Harry. Please continue."

If Harry didn't just check to see that someone wasn't acting as Snape, he would have been certain of foul play now. Snape not only forgave him, but he called him Harry. "Until today, I can't think of one time you gave me the benefit of the doubt. Many times, I ended up breaking rules. It wasn't because I 'thought I was above the rules,' as you're so fond of saying. My track record for having adults listen to me and take me seriously is abysmal. My aunt and uncle would sooner lock me into the cupboard under the stairs than actually listen to me. Further, all the teachers in primary school were told that I was 'a congenital liar and a problem child,' so anything I tried to explain, or find help for was useless. The only one in Little Whinging who might listen to and believe me is Mrs. Figg, but she was afraid to do too much for fear of the Dursleys forbidding me to see her again."

Professor Snape was shell-shocked. This was the home life of the 'pampered and spoiled Golden Boy of Gryffindor?' Harry had it worse growing up than he did. "I knew Petunia hated magic, but she did that to you?"

Harry stared. "You know Aunt Petunia?"

Professor Snape said, "Your mother, your aunt, and I grew up in the same neighborhood. We knew each other. Your aunt hated 'our freakish ways,' and whatnot. But they locked you in a cupboard?"

Harry said bitterly, "It was my bedroom from my third birthday until Uncle Vernon intercepted my first letter from Hogwarts. I wasn't fit for a real bedroom because I'm just a waste of space, food, money, clothes, and any other resources. And even now, I can't call my room 'mine.' It's Dudley's second bedroom, essentially a storeroom for his broken toys and anything else he doesn't want. I fit right in."

"But…"

"So, my first inclination to ask adults for help just wasn't there. And when I did ask for help, it was unavailable. The whole deal about the Philosopher's Stone really might have gone more smoothly, if Professor Dumbledore was about. But he was out of town, on 'much more important business' than listening to me, but hey… that's what happens.

"In my Second Year, I couldn't do anything right. Dobby, formerly the Malfoys' house-elf, levitated a pudding and I got in trouble for it, with both the Ministry and my aunt and uncle. Dobby locked the barrier so Ron and I couldn't get to Platform 9¾. True, if I thought things through more clearly, I would have sent Hedwig to get help, but would that have made a difference to you? I had to do things differently, getting all kinds of attention. The fact that I couldn't stop the hero-worship of the younger students went completely unnoticed. Honestly, I could have lived without the notoriety of being thought of as the Heir of Slytherin.

"And if I didn't break a few rules, Ginny Weasley would be dead, and Tom Riddle's sixteen year old self would be alive and well, in addition to the 60+ character who came back at the end of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. No, I'm not above the rules, but which was the better option here?

"But more on the benefit of the doubt… In my Third Year, Sirius finished explaining that Wormtail was the Secret Keeper, and I wanted you to know this. But you yelled at us to be silent, and told me how I, like my father, would never listen to how mistaken I could be about Black. I understand now that you had good reason to not like my father or Sirius, but if you would have just listened, Pettigrew would be in Azkaban, and I could have lived with Sirius, the only adult who, since my parents died, actually wanted me as a son." Snape winced as he heard Daniel's words in Harry's mouth. He knew what Petunia was, but he had difficulty processing the concept: Harry's aunt and uncle didn't want him?

Tears started falling unbidden but unchecked from Harry's eyes. "If only you let me know, somehow, that you got my message about Sirius and Voldemort, instead of taunting me and making me feel like no one understood, I wouldn't have felt the need to go to the Ministry to save him! My friends wouldn't have been hurt, and Sirius would still be alive! It's my fault that he's dead, but it's your fault for not letting me know there was another way!"

Professor Snape acted instinctively. He came out from behind his desk and hugged the hysterical child in front of him. Harry was so far gone in his emotional torment, he did not realize he was being embraced by his most hated professor.

The professor understood that Harry never allowed him to see him this emotional. And until today, Harry probably would have been right. These were powerful emotions, and unlike Daniel who had his loving family until recently, Harry never had a person before whom he could release them. Snape only hurt him thus far. He was worse than Vlad. At least the villainous half-ghost knew the boy he tormented had secure emotional support. Harry had no one.

When the boy he held no longer maintained a torrent of tears, Snape allowed the boy to pull away. "Harry, no amount of apologies would begin to cover the debt I owe you. But I do hope that one day you will forgive me."

Harry took off his glasses, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and asked, "Excuse me? What brought this about?"

Professor Snape answered sadly, "I have recently discovered someone very much like me, and I've seen his relationship to someone very much like you. The gentleman in question sought that relationship and would do anything to maintain it, and it occurred to me how badly I've done things, particularly with regards to you. He has got to be the luckiest man alive to have been so cruel, and to have the boy in question so forgiving."

He sighed and looked down. "Harry, I don't think there was a moment, until very recently, that I've seen you and not thought of some of the more hurtful things your father did to me as a child. But that was no excuse to treat you as if you were him during those precise moments. I don't suppose I ever told you of how protective your father was of younger students and Muggle-borns. And I know I've never told you of how your actual personality is very much like your mother." Harry blinked. "She was one of the kindest, most caring people I have ever met. If the truth be known, I was insanely jealous of your father, particularly after I lost the attention of your mother. That was entirely my fault.

"More to the point, until now, looking at you reminded me of my failure and descent into madness. Only when Voldemort threatened your mother did I realize how wrong I'd gone. I was the one who gave the prophecy to Voldemort, but I also tried to save your family afterward. When he killed your parents and tried to kill you, my resolve to leave him and spy against him was cemented.

"The reason Professor Dumbledore trusts me both implicitly and explicitly is that revenge is a very strong motivator. I will fight Voldemort to the bitter end for what he did to your parents."

"Professor, until now, you never said Voldemort's name, nor did you allow me to do so. What changed?"

Professor Snape smiled. "I'll get to that in a minute. I wanted you to understand my past, so we can decide on what to do in the future."

"Sir?" Harry was very confused. He wanted to be angry about Snape giving Voldemort part of the prophecy that made Voldemort sign Harry's death warrant, but if everything the professor said was true, then the professor cared for him a lot more than he cared to admit.

"Your father wasn't the only man I was jealous of. Until very recently, he was. Now, I'm jealous of the gentleman I spoke of before. He has the type of relationship that I now want, though both he and I are undeserving. Frankly, I am less deserving than he is, because there has never been a time he did not express interest in a relationship with the boy he now has in his charge."

"Professor, you aren't making sense."

Professor Snape sighed. "I know I'm not. For now, let it suffice to say that between us, things will be different. And I do apologize to you for my dreadful behavior to you in the past."

Harry was seriously overwhelmed. "Thank you. You… have given me a lot to think about. Can I get back to you on this?"

"Of course. You have no obligations but your class work. And since you started working with Daniel, your work has improved tremendously."

"Thank you, sir." Harry thought for a moment. "Would it be okay if I discussed what we talked about with Ron and Hermione?"

"Yes. And while you're at it, you might want to talk to Daniel. But other than those three, I would prefer this not to be public yet."

"Okay," Harry said unsteadily. This would take some time to sort out.

"You better head to Charms. I'll see you this afternoon in Potions."

At lunch, Ron and Hermione descended on Harry. Hermione said, "So, what did Professor Snape want with you?"

Harry frowned. "To be honest, I'm not really sure. But he said that things are going to be different from now on."

Ron put down his fork. "That doesn't sound good, Harry."

"I don't know. I'm really not sure. He asked me to speak my mind about my years of school here. When we get back to the Common Room later, we'll really hash this out. But he… apologized for being horrible to me, begging me to forgive him. It was weird. I told him I needed to think about it."

Ron said, "That doesn't sound like him."

Harry shifted his shoulders uncomfortably. "I know. I asked a 'security question' to make sure it was really him. It was. He was just really different. And he gave me five points for my vigilance." He looked around. There were too many people to share some of the more interesting moments. "He asked me to keep the details of our conversation private, but that I can tell you guys and Danny."

"Danny?" they chorused.

Harry shrugged. "I really don't get it. In any event, we'll see what happens in Potions. I'll ask Danny about finding a time to talk, maybe this weekend."

Hermione smiled. "Perfect! This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend. Professor Masters didn't let Danny come in August, but maybe he'll change his mind. I don't know if Danny's ever been, but we could pick an out-of-the-way table at the Three Broomsticks and talk about this to our hearts' content." Even Ron smiled; Danny was beginning to grow on him.

Harry felt better. "We'll still talk tonight, but now I have another reason to look forward to Potions this evening."

Before Potions began, Harry asked, "Danny? Can we arrange a time to talk this weekend?"

Danny was surprised. "Sure. What's up?"

Harry furrowed his brows. "Professor Snape and I had a rather long, interesting conversation this morning. It involved a lot of confusing emotions, and when I asked him if I could talk to Ron and Hermione about it, he said yes, and suggested that I talk to you about it."

Danny tried to absorb this. He's had his share of bizarre, emotionally confusing conversations both this week and last week. Maybe talking to someone else about their issues might give him some perspective on his own. Plus, he was curious about the strange relationship between Professor Snape and Harry.

"Sure thing, Harry. How about this Saturday?"

Harry smiled. "Sounds great. You know, this weekend is the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year, now that classes are in session."

Danny's eyes lit up. "I didn't think of that! I'll have to ask Uncle Vlad about it."

Harry said, "Let me know by tomorrow so we can make more definite plans." Danny nodded. Professor Snape began, so their conversation ended.

The potion they worked on was complicated, but Danny and Harry worked hard, and their potions were the exact color and shade Professor Snape told them to expect it to be. Harry was curious to see how Professor Snape intended to be different. For the past week, the professor refrained from making any negative comments, and the absence of nasty, snarky remarks made it easier for Harry to concentrate. He wasn't sure of Snape's reasoning, but he was glad for it. Today, however, Professor Snape said 'things will be different.' Harry wondered what that meant.

Professor Snape made his way over to Danny and Harry. Looking into their cauldrons, he said, "Excellent work as always, Daniel. Your attention to detail is amazing. Your potion is just as good, Harry. Five points to you both." He smiled at them and moved on.

Harry's eyes went wide. "That's new. Professor Snape… complimented my work and gave me points for it. This is a serious first."

Danny looked hopeful. "This is a good thing, right?"

Harry peaked his eyebrows. "I hope so. It makes the upcoming conversation we're going to have that much more important."

At dinner, Professor Snape told Professor Masters to wait for him before he entered the Room of Requirement. Vlad looked curious, and Snape explained that he needed to prepare the room. When Snape and the other Slytherins went downstairs, Vlad left for the Seventh Floor to wait.

When Danny brought Professor Snape to the Seventh Floor, the professor walked back and forth three times. The door opened to the cavernous room that was as big as several city blocks and filled with all sorts of things that Danny and Harry discovered as they explored the room. Danny exclaimed, "I've been here before!"

Professor Snape raised his eyebrows. "Have you?"

Danny smiled. "Harry and I explored the possibilities of the Room of Requirement, and this was one of the rooms we found. What is this place?"

"This is the Room of Hidden Things. Over the centuries, students put things here. Some of the things are forbidden to have, some things are experiments gone wrong. Other things might have been stolen from students, teachers, or whomever and disposed of here. What is more is that the room seems endless. If you need a place to simply destroy inanimate objects that no one will miss, this room suits the purpose. That's what I had in mind when I called this room into being."

Vlad's mind raced. "It occurs to me that after we finish these overshadowing exercises, this would be an ideal place for Daniel to practice his Ghostly Wail."

Danny beamed. "That's what I had in mind when I called this room up before!" Professor Snape looked concerned. "I didn't tell Harry what I had in mind, beyond mentioning 'a really destructive curse'."

Professor Snape looked unconvinced. "That 'Ghostly Wail' of yours certainly is a powerful attack. I don't think I've seen anything magical that was quite that destructive cast by any one person at once. It is absolutely tremendous."

Vlad smiled. "Yes it is. Daniel told us that he has used it at least once defensively. This power is truly awesome." He looked at Danny proudly. "Some day, you will be far more powerful than I am, and this is only one of a few talents we don't share." Vlad stared off into the distance. "Think of the possibilities…"

While Professor Snape looked vaguely disturbed, Danny looked almost panicked. He whispered, "What a cool power…if it weren't being used for evil." He hugged himself, lost in thought. He started shaking.

Professor Snape noticed Danny's distress first. "Daniel?" The boy was too ensconced in a vision only he could see to be aware of his surroundings. The professor tried again, but this time louder and more insistent. "Daniel?"

Vlad was woken from his reverie, and he noticed Danny's catatonic panic. "Daniel!" He gently put his hands on the boy's shoulders. "What's wrong, Daniel?" He embraced the boy. Vlad couldn't imagine what Danny was thinking. He just wanted him back. Rubbing Danny's back, he whispered, "Daniel, come back to us!"

Somewhere between the gentle sounds and the soothing touches, Danny came back to the present. "The possibilities… I could, in theory, destroy a whole city. That…wow."

Vlad almost cried with relief. "Daniel!" He hugged Danny again, and then held Danny's shoulders at arm's length so he could look at the boy. "What was that about?"

Danny looked at the two men. He wasn't ready to talk about his evil future self. He wasn't prepared to think about it properly, forget about explaining it. "I don't want to discuss it."

Vlad and Snape looked at each other. Vlad guessed, "You've used this power on another occasion besides last Christmas and this summer."

Danny said, "Yes. But I don't want to talk about it."

Professor Snape tried. "Does anyone else know...?"

Danny crossed his arms and said fiercely, "I don't wanna talk about it!" The two men stared at Danny. Of the many things Danny's seen and been through, neither man could guess what would make Danny mentally shut down as he just did or clam up like this. The three of them stood in silence for a few minutes.

Professor Snape was the first to break out of the moment. "Right, then. Today, we are going to cover four powerfully destructive curses (I promise that as much power as they have, nothing we'll do today has that much power) and a spell to repair things. Are you ready, Daniel?"

Danny shivered. "Are you sure about this?"

Vlad reminded him, "It's only 'stuff' no one wants or cares about. Ectoblasts can do a bit of damage. You might think of these spells as new and creative ways to cause property damage."

Danny looked askance. Professor Snape said, "A few of these curses saved Harry last year. I understand that wing of the Ministry will never be the same, but six students casting the Reducto Curse at the same time provided an excellent distraction and a means of escape. Temporarily, anyway. It was a painful, complicated adventure."

Danny's curiosity was piqued. "What happened?"

Professor Snape smiled wryly. "One of the less common magical talents is that of Sight, with a sixth sense, or some such. Prophecies can be divined by a true Seer. One such prophecy involves Harry and the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord wanted Harry to retrieve the recording of it and laid an ambush for Harry and his friends." He still felt Harry's accusations from this morning acutely. "In order to escape the Death Eaters, I understand Harry organized a massive destruction of the shelves holding the recordings of prophecies."

Danny thought about this. "If Harry could use these curses to save people, maybe I can, too."

Vlad smiled. "There's my boy!" Danny blinked. Did Vlad just call him 'his boy?'

"So, are you ready?" Snape asked.

Danny took a breath. "I'm ready."

Professor Snape taught Danny five spells, some of which seemed redundant. Confringo causes objects to explode. Deprimo blasts a hole in objects. Expulso blows up a target, and Reducto blasts solid objects out of the way. Danny learned them all, but he felt that ectoblasts of varying strengths would do the job just as easily. Then again, there might be times he needed to hide his powers. It would be useful, if Death Eaters attacked and he somehow needed to hide the fact he was a ghost, to be able to overshadow someone and use these curses for the same purpose.

Of all the spells he learned this evening, the one he liked best was Reparo. Considering all the damage caused by ghost fights, he often wished he could magically repair the damage. And now he could, at least in theory. They reviewed all the spells Danny learned so far, and they decided to call it a night for Powers Training.

After Danny returned Professor Snape and Goyle back to the professor's office, Vlad started discussing Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Vlad was proud of his Shakespeare-heavy curriculum, but after this third tragedy, he decided a Shakespearean comedy was in order.

Once they finished the math lessons for the day, Danny decided to ask about the weekend. "Uncle Vlad?"

Vlad was in a good mood. "What's on your mind, little badger?"

"This weekend is the first scheduled Hogsmeade weekend for the year."

Vlad smiled. "I would say, it is the first Hogsmeade weekend since the beginning of the term. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had the first Hogsmeade weekend in August. That was the first time you showed us your Ghostly Wail."

Danny vaguely remembered… oh, now he remembered. Harry asked if he could come, but the Hogsmeade outing was a chance to get the students someplace safe while Danny demonstrated his Wail. "Right. Students can only go if they get permission from their parents or guardians. So, can I go?"

Vlad sighed. "No, Daniel."

"But I really want to go!"

"I said no, Daniel."

"But everyone else Third Year and up is going!"

"Good for them, but you're still not going."

"But you've been to London a few times. I just want to go to Hogsmeade once."

Vlad started losing his patience. "I told you, no!"

Danny shouted, "It's not fair!"

Vlad glared. "What part of 'You're hiding from Death Eaters who recognize your face,' do you not understand? In case you've forgotten, our trip to Britain isn't for pleasure, but for your protection!"

Danny lowered his voice. "The Death Eaters are looking for Harry, too. And he can go."

Vlad sighed again. "And Harry doesn't currently have a guardian to protect him, as I understand his aunt and uncle are useless."

"So what am I supposed to do when all my friends go?"

"Funny you should mention that. By the time we finish Julius Caesar, it will be time for a mid-term project. I have a few essay topics for you to choose from. Tomorrow you will choose the topic, and you can spend some time on Saturday to start working on your essay. A little outlining and research would never go amiss."

Danny sulked. "I still say it's not fair."

Vlad crossed his arms. "Daniel, this time I'm not being overbearing and controlling – I am merely doing my job as a responsible guardian. And that means keeping you out of harm's way. And that means, making sure you stay where the madmen trying to capture and enslave or kill you can't find you. These people aren't like the ghosts you've spent time fighting, including me. Every ghost you've ever fought had a clear agenda, and a way to defeat it, difficult though it might have been.

"These people are evil. Unlike Showenhower, who had a ghostlike obsession, these humans… are ruthless, and don't seem to care about anything or anyone. You have rarely dealt with the evils of humanity. This is beyond you. That's what we're here for: your protection and education to learn how to defeat these people."

Danny scowled. Vlad sighed. "It's getting late. Have a good night, Daniel."

Danny grumbled, "G'night, Vlad." They went their separate ways.

When Vlad got to his room, he realized that Danny forgot to call him 'uncle.' Well, Daniel was angry. But Vlad was right. And no matter how special he is, Daniel is still only a teenager. This was not to be helped.

The next day, the Great Hall buzzed with students clamoring about what they intended to do in Hogsmeade. Draco asked, "Danny, are you going to Hogsmeade tomorrow? Besides the Honeyduke's Candy Shop and Zonko's Joke Shop, you might like to see the Shrieking Shack. They say it's haunted by a malevolent ghost."

Danny perked up. "Is it really? What do these ectoplasmic malefactors do?" His mother would be proud of him. If it was bad, he might have to kick some ghost butt after hours. He might have been out of action for a few months, but he'd been training, and he was stronger than ever.

Draco sat still for a second. "No one actually knows. But sometimes, people hear unearthly screams coming from the Shack."

Danny thought he was missing something. "You said they were malevolent. What do they do to terrorize the people?"

Draco was at a loss. "I never heard." Wait a minute. Ghost attacks were well publicized, as he knew all too painfully well. If Draco didn't hear what went wrong, that must mean… that nothing wrong was happening. Some innocent ghost was being unfairly blamed and defamed.

Rolling his eyes, Danny sighed with exasperation. "You know, Draco, just because a ghost makes noise, rattles chains, looks in pain, or yells about something, that doesn't mean it's bad. I've seen ghosts actively trying to take over the world, or otherwise significantly alter… the world of the living. They find ways to hurt people, mess with people's minds, change traffic patterns, or even violently enforce an outdated school lunch menu. These ghosts hurt people who get in their way. Making a lot of noise in a space confined to one house does not get a ghost labeled 'malevolent.' Would you like people to assume that because you own fine robes and things that you are a stuck-up snob?"

"Danny!" Draco cried indignantly.

"Didn't think so. So why should a ghost who, by and large, isn't bothering anybody be thought of as evil?"

Draco couldn't take it. "Why does this matter so much to you?"

"Because I happen to know a ghost who works hard to protect humans from violent ghosts, but ends up as Public Ghost Enemy Number One for his trouble. He's framed for crimes he didn't commit, and he's under constant suspicion for wrong-doing when he's never done anything but try to be useful to the citizens of his town. Yet he suffers from a seriously tarnished image because there are people who believe that ghosts can't be anything other than evil."

Draco flushed. He never heard of ghosts actively able to do anything, forget about acting malevolently. But that's what he's always heard about the ghost or ghosts who were known to cause a ruckus in the Shrieking Shack. But put in the light Danny mentioned, he could see Danny's point. "I never really thought about it before. But it's still interesting."

Danny smiled. "I'm sure. But to answer the question you asked me before all of this began, I won't be going. Uncle Vlad won't let me go."

"Why?"

Danny knew Vlad was right, but he didn't have to like it. "I'd rather not discuss it."

Draco sighed. "Sorry to hear it. I'll be sure to bring you back stuff."

"Thanks, Draco." Danny wasn't sure when he started noticing it, but at some point, Draco started acting more like a real friend, and Danny reciprocated the feeling honestly. Based on a few of Draco's general prejudices, this friendship might come to a screeching halt if he ever learned Danny's secrets. So he found a new Valerie, without the 'pretty girl I want to date' part.

During the beginning of Potions, Harry also asked Danny, "Are you coming to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

Danny sighed. "No. Uncle Vlad won't let me."

Harry was very sympathetic. "My aunt and uncle wouldn't let me go in Third Year, either. But when Sirius, my godfather, and I connected, he let me go. But you see, my aunt and uncle work hard to deprive me of any joy in life. Professor Masters seems to really care about you, even though he has a weird way of showing it sometimes. Did he say why he won't let you go?"

Danny thought for a moment. Harry already knows about the Death Eaters. He could tell Harry. "It's to protect me from the Death Eaters. They massacred my town, and we're worried that they'll look to finish the job they started. They know what I look like, so it's best I stay in Hogwarts, where it's safe."

Harry said, "That's logical. I'm very sorry to hear it."

They had a few more minutes, because Professor Snape hadn't entered the classroom yet. "Harry, have you heard about the Shrieking Shack?"

Harry started in surprise. "Yes. How do you know about it?"

"Draco told me about it. Is it really haunted?"

Harry remembered that Danny was respectful of Remus when it was clear he knew Remus's secret. If he didn't know it when Remus visited in July, he certainly knew once Professor Masters mentioned it in class. "No. You know that Remus Lupin is a werewolf, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well… when we covered werewolves in your uncle's class, he talked about Wolfsbane Potion. But the Potion has only been around for maybe ten years or so. Before that… I understand that the transformation was brutal.

"In order for Remus to come to Hogwarts, he needed a safe place to contain him when he went feral once a month. There is a secret passage from the Hogwarts grounds to the Shrieking Shack. Because of the pain and… blood lust involved in his wolf form, Remus would howl and snarl in pain. But no one was ever seen to enter the Shack. I understand that Professor Dumbledore encouraged the rumors that it was haunted by a dangerous ghost. That would kill curiosity and ensure the safety of both Remus and anyone who might otherwise encounter him by accident."

Danny frowned. Draco was purposely told there was a malevolent ghost in the Shrieking Shack as a ruse to protect Remus Lupin, and Danny bit his head off for believing what he was told. "It looks like I owe Draco an apology."

Harry noticed that Danny was troubled over an owed apology, which brought something else to mind. "We still need to have that discussion. Should we have it tomorrow when we come back or Sunday?"

"That depends. If you get back a few hours before dinner, we'll have time. If you get back too late, we'll have to do it Sunday."

Harry thought for a moment. "Can we do it Sunday, then? It is really important. And I'll be sure to bring you something."

Danny smiled. "Thanks. Sure. We've got a date – Sunday after breakfast." With that, Professor Snape came in and class began.

After dinner, when Danny came to get Goyle and Professor Snape, the professor was amused. "Because today will be the last day you will use magic this way, I decided we are going to have a little fun."

"Professor?"

Professor Snape smirked. "You'll see."

Once they met Vlad in the Room of Requirement, Professor Snape said, "Today, the five spells I'm going to teach Daniel are more of a potpourri. The first spell is Diffindo. It is a useful charm to release bindings and otherwise sever certain items. It has nowhere near the same force and violence as Sectumsempra. Professor Masters, please step forward." With a wave of Snape's wand, Vlad's arms were pinned to his sides and his legs were bound. All of these bindings were of silk cords.

Vlad barked, "You've been planning this since September, haven't you?"

Snape purred, "You have no idea." To Danny, he said, "Now flick your wand and think of the bonds you want to sever and say 'Diffindo'." They practiced this spell, using different materials in the magically conjured bindings. Some materials required more intense concentration than others. Metal was tougher, but the spell worked just as easily.

Danny thought for a moment. "Professor, all of these bindings could just as easily be avoided by phasing through them. The real test would be ghost-proof bindings." He shuddered. Both Snape and Vlad looked at Danny curiously. "I guess part of me wants to know if you could conjure such things, and part of me wants to know – if you can – if this spell can break through them."

Vlad said, "That is very insightful, Daniel."

Danny blushed. "Thanks."

Professor Snape's analytic mind went into hyper drive. "What material would that be?" Danny shrugged.

Vlad considered this. Until this point, the Wizarding World held no knowledge of anti-ghost technology, with the possible exception of Blood Blossoms, and that didn't count as technology. Without this knowledge, no one had any power – except psychological, perhaps – over ghosts of Vlad and Danny's caliber. Once he told them, they would be at the wizards' mercy.

"Professor, I have a dilemma. At this point, no one in the Wizarding World has a reliable method of restraining either Daniel or myself. If I tell you this information, then you may truly have a power that we honestly cannot defend against. So far, everything you have taught Daniel can indeed be avoided by either of us with the expedient of an ectoplasmic shield. Ghost-proof restraints would hold us in place and cancel either of our ghost powers.

"Since Daniel's parents are no longer living, the only humans who know this secret are the Guys in White. They are Muggles, and could not use such things against us without being in very close proximity. As you have demonstrated, distance is almost negligible when it comes to creating bonds magically. As such, I don't feel compelled to teach you how to make these bonds, even at the expense of learning whether magic is capable of breaking them."

Professor Snape frowned. "You make a valid point, Professor. We'll have to leave it at that." Looking back at Danny, he said, "The next two spells are of my own invention." Danny's eyes widened. "Not to worry - they are both relatively harmless. Muffliato is an anti-spying technique. The victim of this spell hears an indistinct buzzing in the ears. The purpose is to drown out other sound. The other is Levicorpus. I already told you what that one does."

Vlad asked Danny, "Should I be worried?"

Danny said, "Only for your dignity. You have your suit on under your robes, right?"

"Of course, but why should that matter?"

"You'll see."

The Muffliato spell worked on Vlad only when he was tangible, but he could avoid it and end it by turning intangible. Snape smirked conspiratorially when he told Danny to point his wand and think the spell Levicorpus. Vlad squawked as he felt a force grab his ankle and suspend him upside down in midair. Turning intangible didn't help him. "Oh, apple strudel! So how do I get down?" Snape's grin broadened, and told Danny to think the word Liberacorpus. Vlad squawked again as he fell in a heap on the floor. The Levicorpus spell could not hit Vlad when he was intangible, but Liberacorpus could.

Vlad muttered so only Professor Snape could hear him. "I'm going to get you for this!"

Snape murmured, "I have no doubt." To Danny, Professor Snape said, "The last two spells are simply for fun." Vlad looked wary. "Not to worry, Professor Masters. The next spell should have no effect on you. At least, not directly. The spell is Serpensortia, which conjures a snake from nowhere. The idea is that most people are afraid of snakes. Making a snake suddenly appear is often a useful distraction." Vlad rolled his eyes.

Danny asked, "What kind of snake gets conjured?"

"I suppose any you can imagine. A black garden snake will suffice for the start of this exercise."

Danny nodded, but paused. "What will happen to it when we're done?"

This was unprecedented. A student wanted to know the welfare of a magically treated animal. They were routinely transfigured or Vanished, but this was the first time he could recall a student asking what happened to it. "What would you like to happen to it?"

Danny thought for a moment. The end location for the snake wasn't already thought of? "Well… how about sending it to the Forbidden Forest? You taught me how to Banish something, so I could Banish the snake there."

Vlad smiled. Danny had a good heart. The idea that Danny would think so far ahead for an animal not even in existence yet spoke well of him. His hero complex wouldn't quit.

Professor Snape nodded. "Very well. The Forbidden Forest may have a few new residents after this session. The spell is Serpensortia. Point your wand in the direction you want the snake to appear. Ready?"

Danny nodded. He conjured a handful of different snakes, and Vlad was interested to see the versatility of this spell. Vlad even offered a few suggestions and was amazed and amused that they appeared. However, when Danny was done learning about them and their conjuration, he Banished them.

Professor Snape smiled at Danny. "The last spell is your choice, Daniel. You have learned any number of spells since the start of September. Are there any that you would like to learn to do? Pick one. The choice is yours."

Danny considered. "I think Aguamenti. I can conjure ice all on my own, but it would be kinda neat to be able to do it in liquid form."

"Very well." Professor Snape conjured a goldfish bowl. "Aim your wand and say Aguamenti." He did, and the bowl began to fill. Danny thought this was very cool. "And as a bonus, I'll teach you to Vanish it. Unlike Banishing something, which sends an item somewhere else, Vanishing an item makes it nonexistent, as if it never was. That spell is Evanesco. Point your wand at the water in the bowl and say Evanesco." He did. The water Vanished.

"Awesome!"

Professor Snape smiled again. "I'm glad you enjoyed this experience. This week you learned no fewer than 25 spells and their counter-spells. Would you like a final review?" Danny looked to Vlad, who was getting quite a workout as a target.

Vlad said, "Daniel, I think you should. This is the last time you'll be doing magic for a long while." Danny agreed. After a quick run-through of all the spells he learned, Danny looked back at both Vlad and Professor Snape.

Professor Snape said, "On behalf of your uncle and myself, I truly want to thank you for participating in our project. At long last, we now know that it is possible for a Muggle ghost to perform magic while overshadowing a wizard. We also know how certain untried spells affect a half-ghost while both tangible and intangible. Thank you for your patience for doing that which you understandably were reluctant to begin." Vlad nodded. "I think now is the time to thank Goyle for his participation. Professor Masters, I'll send your nephew back up shortly."

Vlad smiled at Danny. "I'll see you when you get back."

Danny teleported Professor Snape back to his office, and exited Goyle, waiting silently and invisibly in his usual corner.

Professor Snape smiled warmly at Goyle. "Gregory, I want to thank you kindly for your participation this week. It was indispensable, and Professor Masters and I got precisely what we required from our project, and your contribution was vital. With the 20 points you received for today's participation, you have earned Slytherin 100 points."

Goyle glowed in pleasure. "Thank you! But sir, what did I do?"

Professor Snape said, "My dear Gregory, you performed a series of defensive spells under conditions that might have worked or not, based on the principles of the experiment. Every last thing you did was successful in every way, and the information we sought was absolutely valuable."

"How come I can't remember anything about it?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure. When I underwent the same condition, I remembered every last detail. But your performance was admirable, and you provided everything we required. I cannot thank you enough. And next week, you and Vincent and I will discuss and establish a tutoring schedule to get you the help and practice you need so you can retake your Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL."

With a sly grin, Goyle asked, "Will we get points for the tutoring sessions?"

Professor Snape rolled his eyes. "Don't make me regret your participation in this, Gregory."

"Yes, sir. I mean, no sir. Thank you, sir."

"Have a good night, and have a nice weekend."

"Thank you. You, too, sir." Goyle smiled and walked out.

"Daniel?" Danny materialized and took a seat. "Thank you for agreeing to this experiment. Considering that you were totally against it before you began, you have been an incredibly good sport. There were times you went completely against your inclination for our benefit, and you allowed yourself to be used for our purposes even when there were moments you might have chosen not to. I cannot thank you enough."

"You're welcome, Professor."

"And for your participation, I give you 100 points." Danny's head snapped up in surprise. "You didn't think I would give you any less for your efforts than I did Gregory, did you? He was a willing participant from beginning to end. You were dragged, literally screaming, into this, and you are the one who did all of the work. Even if the points are virtually meaningless to you, you do need to know that every last minute, thought, and effort you put into this was appreciated beyond words. Thank you, Daniel."

When Danny went back upstairs to the Room of Requirement, Vlad smiled more warmly and more genuinely that Danny had ever seen. He hugged Danny (Vlad decided that he can seriously get used to this), and said, "Daniel, I have never been prouder of you. You did it. You went through a week of this project. You…" Words failed him, and he hugged Danny again. Oh, yes. He can indeed get used to this.

"Um… You're welcome?" Danny was not sure what to do, here. But after the week he had, he decided that humoring Vlad was a good idea. He could be angry with him tomorrow.

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