I truly cannot thank you all enough for all the support I've received. Considering that I've typed this chapter up on my father's birthday, I offer you all ice cream cake.

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

Chapter 49

Petunia Dursley brought the morning mail to her husband. "Honey, you have a letter from VladCo International. Is that a company you do business with?"

Vernon frowned. "Yes. Between VladCo and DALV, and a few of the other companies in the billionaire Vlad Masters' financial empire… They are some of Grunnings' biggest contracts. Have been for years. But mail from them usually comes to the office."

Petunia handed him the letter. Vernon opened it and found a letter on VladCo letterhead, dated January 18, 1997. Vernon exclaimed, "It's a personal letter from Vlad Masters, himself!"

Petunia prodded, "Go on. Let's hear it."

Dear Mr. Dursley,

This year, a project I've been working on has brought me to your country for an extended amount of time. Since then, I've heard a great deal about your managerial skills and the way you've handled some of your more intimate responsibilities.

It would give me a great deal of pleasure to meet you, your wife, and your son at a meeting to discuss your handling of some of those responsibilities.

If you would accept my invitation, please send back your reply to the Post Office Box listed above, and I'll schedule a time and place – perhaps as early as your son's Easter break.

I look forward to hearing from you, in any event.

Most sincerely,

Vlad Masters

Owner/President/CEO of VladCo

Petunia shrieked in undignified delight. Vernon preened. "Since we gave up guardianship of the freak, things have been looking up for us."

Petunia stopped for a moment. "Vernon, you don't think Mr. Masters knows about the Masons, do you?"

Vernon cleared his throat. "Even if he did, that was years ago. And the freak was suitably punished for losing me that contract. Imagine – destroying the pudding you worked so hard on all afternoon all over the kitchen! And the owl scare afterwards! Locking him in with bars on the windows and serving him a can of soup, toast, and an apple a day through the cat flap on the door was too good for him. Letting him out twice a day to use the loo. Huh! We should have gotten him a litter box, animal that he is. And think of how much worse the punishment would've had to be if he dumped that pudding on Mrs. Mason's head. Then those freaks had the nerve to break him out of the bedroom, destroying the window frame with the bars on the window!"

Petunia cleared her throat. "Speaking of… Since we signed away his guardianship to his lot, I can't seem to find the key to the locks on his door, or the key to the padlock on his cupboard under the stairs. I've been meaning to clear out those spaces to put them to… better use.

"Besides – if anyone saw the state of the furniture compared with that in the rest of the house…"

Vernon covered her hand comfortingly. "Pet, the boy's lucky we gave him the scraps and cupboard – the food and board – he got. No one would have expected us to give that freak better. Allowing him the use of Dudley's second bedroom was concession enough. And even that was only because those freaks managed to spy on us. Giving him decent furniture fit for normal people would have been far too good for him."

Mrs. Dursley sighed. "I know. I just… What if…"

"No, Pet. That chapter of our life is blessedly over. Someone else has taken the freak off our hands, and we have nothing to worry about. Won't be here, taking the food from our Dudley, no matter what that… man said. Accusing us of abusing Dudley! No – the only one abused around here is the runt who deserved it. But why worry about that now?

"Maybe Mr. Masters heard about the Freedman contract that came in right before Christmas. That was a great success!"

Petunia tapped her chin. "Or… What about that person you fired last week? Isn't that a wiser use of your office budget?"

"Right you are, Pet! And he wants to meet us. And our Dudley! I knew it. He's… He couldn't make us prouder. I'm not sure what we've done to attract the billionaire's attention, but… of course we'll go! Who knows what he's got in store for us? Yes, things are definitely looking up."

'And things are working out perfectly, according to my plans,' Vlad's invisible duplicate thought as he flipped off his micro-recorder and teleported back to his office.

On Monday evening, Severus felt restive. After their return from Gringotts on Sunday, they were in time for lunch. This week was Minerva's week to oversee the DA. He couldn't wait – every Head of House had at least one chance to see Harry teach Patronuses, and based on the schedule Harry set, Severus would get a chance to see the development of the students a month after they started.

From what he'd seen, Harry was a brilliant instructor. He was patient, he was firm, and he was direct. Perhaps, after Voldemort was defeated, he could convince the boy of the foolhardiness of being an Auror, and he might be able to convince the boy of the stability of being a professor. Never mind that it was the position Severus always wanted – if his boy would do as good a job as he would do, he would have no problem giving up on the position with good grace. Well… Such plans only made sense if Vlad decided to move on.

To be fair, Vlad mentioned that he was not sure of what he would do after Daniel's Hogwarts' career. So, convincing Harry to think about the possible career switch might be a possibility. But first…

Well, Sunday night, Severus asked Albus about the requirements of the Wizarding World for adoption. The old man blushed, embarrassed, because – head of the Wizengamot though he was – he had no clue about these things. He could recite line and verse on criminal proceedings, but family law… he was good with setting wards, but the intimate details of such mundane activities as taking an interest in an orphaned child escaped his attention.

So, Severus penned a letter to Arthur Weasley, who he assumed knew about such things.

Dear Arthur,

I understand that the adoption process in the American Muggle legal system is fairly complex, and the checks and balances that are done to ensure the safety of the child in question are rather thorough. Vlad Masters brought me to his interview with his solicitor and representatives of their American local government. By the end of the interview, papers were finalized, and he is now, legally, the proud father of Daniel Fenton-Masters.

What are the requirements of the British Wizarding legal system for adopting an orphan? What guidelines must be followed to change my guardianship of Harry into a full formal adoption? I am eager to accomplish this with all possible haste.

Vlad told me how his preparation and research took years to accomplish. I'd like to begin the process, and it would behoove me to prepare for whatever bureaucracy I may have to slog through.

Thank you for your attention and advice.

Sincerely,

Severus Snape

After checking it over three times, the Potions Master was satisfied that it said everything he needed it to. "Dobby!"

The named elf popped into his office with a loud crack. "Professor Snape called Dobby, sir?"

"Yes, Dobby. I would like you to deliver this message to Arthur Weasley. It is to help Harry Potter…"

"Professor Snape is helping Harry Potter, sir? Dobby would do anything to help Harry Potter!"

Severus cleared his throat. "Good to know, Dobby. I need this letter sent without any possibility of it being intercepted."

Dobby nodded enthusiastically, his large ears flapping about him. "Dobby understands, sir. Does Professor Snape want Dobby to stay for a return message?"

"That would be quite helpful, indeed. I would very much appreciate that." The house-elf squeaked with excitement, took the letter from Severus, and disappeared with a pop.

Severus sat back in his desk chair. How did Harry manage to acquire the worshipful attentions of two house-elves? Kreacher, he knew, hated everyone Walburga Black hated. It was part of the way he served his Mistress. Not even Sirius could change his attitude. Dobby, Severus knew, was released from the Malfoys by Harry. That one Harry deserved. He was still quite curious about Kreacher, though.

Fifteen minutes later, Dobby came back. "Professor Snape, sir, Mr. Weasley is wanting to help Harry as much as I do." He bounced on his heels. "Mr. Weasley gave me these for you, Professor Snape, sir."

Severus opened the scroll eagerly.

Dear Professor,

I knew it was only a matter of time! I'm glad to hear of your interest. I must ask you to tell me all about the Muggle way of doing things some time. (Or, perhaps you can convince Vlad to tell me, himself!) It surprised me to hear of all that red tape in the Muggle method of securing an adoption.

Here, as long as the Ministry has information about the orphan in question on file and no earlier claim has been made, you send a form (I've sent you a copy to fill out) stating your intention to adopt the child. Once we get that form of declaration of intent, the Ministry sends back a form to be signed by both the adoptive parent(s) and the adopted child with the child signing his or her new last name (assuming the child is old enough to do so).

With Harry, the fact that you are already his guardian gives you a better claim than anyone. In theory, the Muggles could have had a better claim, but they gave it up when they surrendered Harry's guardianship to you. (Poor Harry! It must have been devastating to know he was rejected by his only living family. But good riddance, I say.)

Send the form back to me at work, and I'll file it. The last thing Harry needs is to have the stability you're giving him disrupted by attention-seeking opportunists making a fuss because the poor boy is the Boy Who Lived, or the Chosen One, or whatever new title has been given to him this week. You can count on me to be discreet – we love Harry as if he were one of our own, and your guardianship, surprising though it was at the onset, is the best thing to happen to him.

I'm eagerly looking forward to receiving your completed form. If you send it by owl, it will be less conspicuous, as it is official Ministry correspondence.

Good luck to both you and Harry!

Most sincerely,

Arthur Weasley

Severus stared at the letter in his hand. How positively Dickensian! The Wizarding World's adoption guidelines were barely a cut above nineteenth-century Muggle British adoption laws. By those laws, orphaned children not claimed by family or friends had absolutely no recourse, and were even considered a criminal class. And even placed with family, there was no guarantee that the child would be treated properly. If a person wished to take in an orphan, the adult was welcome to do so without anyone giving any regard to the child's welfare.

Here in the current day Wizarding World, still no one seemed to care, but the Ministry vaguely kept track, in case accidental magic was performed in front of Muggles. Otherwise, unless family or friends already claimed them, orphans of wizards seemed to be unwanted and uncared for. If they were on record, then notification of intent was required. If they weren't on record, apparently no one cared for them, one way or another.

To be completely fair, however, because most wizards had relatively small families (the Weasleys were an exception), children were usually treasured. An abused or an abandoned child fell through the cracks of the system, as there were no fail-safes or Ministry infrastructure to deal with unwanted wizard orphans.

The professor cringed when he realized how bitter Tom Riddle must have been, and he paled when he thought of what Harry could have become if the boy had a different temperament.

Severus shivered at how simple this was. Anyone could have adopted Harry with very little effort. Anger at the cavalier attitude of the Wizarding World at large for the welfare of children who were orphaned burned within him. A fuss might have been made over the fact that a former Death Eater sought to adopt the Boy Who Lived… if the Wizarding World actually cared enough about such details.

He sneered to himself. Far be it from him to fail to take advantage of this practical plum he'd been granted. He decided he might need to thank Arthur Weasley more formally for his caring and his discretion.

At 4:45pm Tuesday evening, a hesitant collection of Slytherins started to gather in the Room of Requirement. Danny set the Room to look not unlike the Slytherin Common Room.

Draco was impressed. "So this is what it looks like? Interesting."

Danny shrugged. "This is what it looks like for now, because this is what we need. If we needed or wanted something else, the Room would have provided that, instead."

By 5:00, the gathering was at a bit over 30 students. Draco gulped. Danny said, "From what I gather, this is how Harry felt Fifth Year, at the start of the DA."

Oddly, this comparison to Harry Potter gave Draco the strength he needed. "Thanks for saying so." Clearing his throat, Draco called the meeting to order. "We all know why we're here. Of all the Slytherins, this group has been repeat participants in the DA, and," he continued with bravado he did not feel, "we need a peer group of our own that stands against… Voldemort."

Many in the room gasped at Draco's boldness, but his sense of purpose was reflected in every face. Draco smiled as he realized the entirety of the Quidditch team stood together in solidarity. So did Terence Higgs, Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Davis (whose detention was moved back to the after dinner slot after that initial week), Daphne and Astoria Greengrass, Theodore Nott, Blaise Zabini, Malcolm Maddox, Graham Pritchard, and a number of younger students Draco had yet to match face to name.

Danny nudged him. "I told you that you were a great leader."

Draco murmured, "We'll talk about that later. So to start with, thanks for being here."

Urquhart called out, "So, what's been done so far?"

Draco's regular confidence came back to him. "To start with, I gave a list of most of your names to Professor Dumbledore, which reminds me – we'll need a new one before this meeting's over." Spare parchment, a quill, and a bottle of ink appeared on the table before him. His eyes widened.

Danny smirked. "Whatever you require, as long as it can be conjured by magic."

"Right, then." He cleared his throat. "With this revised list in hand, the Headmaster has promised to procure protection for us, as our anti-Voldemort sentiment probably won't endear us to parents who are Death Eaters. Since Voldemort himself took up residence in Malfoy Manor, I'm acutely aware of the need for alternative living arrangements."

There was another collective gasp, and Danny patted Draco's shoulder. Both of these reactions strengthened his courage. Draco breathed deeply and continued. "Earlier this month, when I came to Professor Dumbledore to look for this help, he said that a major blow has been struck against the Dark Lord. Dumbledore didn't explain what it was, but I'm not sure he lets anyone in on anything without good reason."

Blaise sighed. "To be fair, we should probably be grateful that the Headmaster would treat with any of us. It would have been so easy for some of us to just follow in our parents' footsteps, and you know… He may not be ready to trust us."

Danny blew a frustrated breath, ruffling his bangs. Blaise was right. "Well… Professor Snape trusts us. He'll help to make our situation right, or as right as it can be for now."

Adrian Pucey said, "But he said he'd stick by us no matter what our choices are."

Terence Higgs shook his head. "Adrian, do you mean you can't read between the lines? How many times have you heard the professor's speech on choices, and how very unpleasant it sounds to join Vol… him? I don't know how long I've had the idea, but since some time a couple of months ago or so, it all felt like it began to gel. We've never had reason to doubt the sanctity our Head of House holds for the protection of all the Slytherins, but I've always had the feeling he would be prouder if we didn't join…him."

Crabbe and Goyle shrugged. They were part of that project in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Professor Snape made it clear it was defense against Dark magic.

Daphne Greengrass looked around. "All of us besides Danny have been faithful students in the DA." Danny glowered at her. What was that for? "Did anyone notice how far we've come on our Patronuses?" He relaxed – nothing was meant by the comment; it was just an observation.

Vaisey glanced across at her. "The professors notice. Professor Masters notices. All the student teachers notice. Heck, the people we practice with from other Houses have noticed."

Harper was thoughtful. "You know, it isn't just any happy thought that works for the Patronus. When I thought of how I nailed that rat bastard McLaggen with a Stinging Hex for embarrassing Fenton at the game, I got nothin'. When I thought of Fenton's amazing catch and of catching up to Gryffindor in the Quidditch standings, I got a silver mist. I guess… your happy thought can't be connected to somethin' mean and expect it to work for a Patronus."

Danny murmured, "Interesting."

Draco offered, "Are there any other concerns anyone wants to bring up?"

Astoria piped up, "Draco, you're running this meeting like Professor Snape runs a House meeting."

Draco smiled. "I learned from the best." She considered this.

Terence groaned. "I don't know who knows about it yet, but someone stole all of my pictures from the victory party from the dark room."

Tracey grimaced. "What?"

"They took my prints, but they left my negatives."

Millicent shrugged. "Whoever it was couldn't have been too serious about it. You'll be able to redevelop them."

Miles was puzzled. "Who would be interested in stealing pictures of the Slytherin Quidditch victory party?"

Theodore Nott frowned. "Well, who knew about the pictures? You took them on Saturday and you developed them when, Sunday?" Terence nodded. "All the Slytherins present at the party knew. The Gryffindors who showed up knew, as did Professor Masters, but they wouldn't have stolen the pictures – you promised them copies. Who else had access to the dark room?"

Terence said flatly, "Anyone and everyone."

Danny frowned in concentration. "Well… Since they left your negatives, maybe we can assume it was a prank, and we don't need to read more into it."

Terence shrugged. "I guess."

Draco nodded. "That makes sense. Just… develop a new set, Terence."

"Will do."

"Good." Draco thought for a moment. "Easter. It's months away, I know, but… It doesn't hurt to be prepared. It pays to start thinking of where it will be safe to be. If all else fails, we can stay in for the break. (That's especially helpful if you're taking your OWLs or NEWTs this year.) Maybe we'll discuss that in more detail as the break draws closer."

Everyone looked to see if anyone had anything else to say. Draco eyed the crowd again. "Fine. We'll try to meet here again two weeks from today, same time. If I hear about any developments, we'll discuss them then. For now, make sure your name is on this parchment. After that, let's head down to dinner in groups of twos and threes. Again, thanks for coming."

On Thursday morning, Arthur Weasley smiled when he received his mail at work. Severus was serious when he wrote that he was interested in completing the adoption 'with all possible haste.'

The senior Weasley also recognized a teachable moment when he saw it. He took the elevator to the ministerial level and knocked on a secretary's door. Percy called out, "Come in."

Arthur walked in with a piece of parchment in his hand. "Good morning, Percy."

The younger Weasley eyed his father suspiciously. "What's this about, Dad?"

"I have something I'd like to show you. However…" Arthur thought of the bizarre visitation at Christmas. "You'll have access to it, certainly, as the Minister's private secretary. Still, I think you would get more out of it if you remembered what you used to value as a Weasley."

Percy blinked. His father officially had his attention. "Oookay. Is it something you care to show me now?"

Arthur looked over the form in his hand. "Well… I have something that needs to be filed first. What do you say about meeting me for lunch? We'll have a bit more leisure to discuss the implications then."

Percy adjusted his glasses. "Right, then. Twelve-thirty in the cafeteria."

"I'm looking forward to it, son." With that, Arthur ducked out of the office to take care of the mysterious filing.

Percy's curiosity was alight. Scrimgeour didn't have anything intellectually pressing for him to accomplish this morning, so he didn't have much to distract him from thinking about his lunch date with his father.

Twelve-thirty came, and Percy bought his lunch and joined his father at a table that seemed out of the way. "Dad?"

Arthur smiled. "Percy! So glad you could join me."

"So, Dad, what's on your mind?"

"A few things. For one, please tell me what you remember of Professor Snape."

Percy shook his head to clear the cobwebs. "There is a lot I remember. He was precise and careful with every last detail. If it wasn't for him, I'd have little appreciation for the report I wrote about the standard thickness for cauldron bottoms. I remember he favored his Slytherins outrageously, but he did take note when potions turned out right."

Arthur nodded. "Fair enough. What do you remember of his relationship with Harry Potter?"

Percy jerked back. "Any student who shared Gryffindor Tower with Harry could have filled any number of journals with how much the professor hated him. I mostly lost track of them once I graduated." He thought about his next words. "Harry managed to find himself in positions to garner quite a bit of attention after that, but it appears that he was right all along. Don't quote me on that!"

Arthur chuckled. "I'm your father, not a reporter, son." He cleared his throat. "If this next bit is in confidence, we'll skip it, but if it isn't, it may be important."

Percy shot a sidelong glance at his father. "Okay."

"During your… visit at Christmas," Percy blushed. "The Minister took a walk in the garden with Harry and the professor. Did the Minister share any reflections on that?"

Percy laughed mirthlessly. "And then some. The whole floor was treated to how Harry Potter is standing against the Ministry, which isn't so unreasonable based on last year. I might have agreed with the Minister, but he grumbled about Stan Shunpike. Dad, he was a couple of years ahead of me in Hogwarts. Stan wasn't smart enough to do what he was accused of, and… Sirius Black was an innocent man, wrongly imprisoned for 12 years. He was in Azkaban and declared guilty without a trial. Sirius was supposed to be as brilliant as Harry's father and Professor Lupin. For all intents and purposes, he could have pulled it off. But he didn't. And Harry saw Stan being set up for the same.

"Then… When Harry refused an interview, the Minister accused him of seeking attention. But if Harry is avoiding the media, that doesn't make sense."

"I'm proud of you for seeing reason, son. That can be hard when the trappings of office try to blind you to common sense." Percy suddenly found his fruit cup fascinating. "Did the Minister share with the floor his thoughts on Professor Snape's guardianship of Harry?"

Percy looked up. "No. He made a quick comment to me about it being 'inconvenient,' but nothing beyond that."

Arthur frowned. "The Minister thought Harry Potter getting a guardian was inconvenient? The same Harry Potter who, as a polite and shy First Year, had an aunt and uncle who couldn't be bothered to help him find his way to Platform 9¾? The same Harry Potter who had house-elf trouble and was starved and imprisoned until he was rescued by your brothers? The same Harry Potter who blew up his uncle's sister when he couldn't take the cruel slander against his parents any more? The same Harry Potter who – when we came to pick him up to go to the World Cup – his aunt and uncle couldn't be bothered to properly say Good-bye? The same Harry Potter who, after being assaulted by Dementors, was almost thrown out of his house until Professor Dumbledore reminded his aunt about the blood wards? The Minister thought it was inconvenient for this same Harry Potter to actually acquire a guardian who actually cares for him?"

Percy squirmed. Harry was all of that and more. This was the same kid who asked his advice about which classes to add in Third Year. This was the same person who saved little Ginny from the Chamber of Secrets and saved his own father's life two Christmases ago.

Was his head so turned by the media and what any given Minister thought to forget the kid who regularly shared his home and family? Percy hung his head in shame. The media railed against Harry for being an unstable attention-seeking liar. Heck, Percy even encouraged Ron to distance himself from Harry, who was a 'dangerous influence.' But Harry hated the media, didn't he? And he was right about You-Know-Who. It was hard to keep your boss on a pedestal when a friend of the family was so dreadfully wronged. Harry was still Ron's friend, right?

Arthur handed a piece of parchment to his son. "If the guardianship was inconvenient, I wonder what he would think of this?"

Percy read the parchment avidly. "This is a copy of a formal declaration of intent for adoption! But… but Professor Snape hates Harry! He always has!"

"Percy, lower your voice!" It wasn't an issue of secrecy, but of decorum. "That might have been the case for five solid years. But Harry and Professor Snape were at the Burrow for Christmas break. I'm not sure why, but things are definitely different between them. Severus said that he loved Harry, and permitted Harry to use his first name in a more intimate setting."

The younger man sighed. "He's changed a lot, hasn't he?"

Just a little more, Perce. You can do it. "More than you can know without seeing it first-hand."

Percy stared at his now empty plate. "Dad, I… If Professor Snape can change, and Harry seems to have forgiven him… Do you think I…" He couldn't speak around the lump in his throat.

Arthur smiled gently at his son. "Come here, Percy." Percy got out of his chair and wept silent tears of remorse on his father's shoulder as Arthur held his son. He did it.

After a few moments, Percy pulled out of his father's embrace. He lifted his glasses and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. Taking a shaky breath, he asked, "Dad, you think I could… maybe visit after work?"

"Son, nothing would please me or your mother more."

Percy covered his mouth with a hand in thought. "Ron's right. I've been a right git. How do I make up with… well, everyone?"

Arthur sat back and looked at his son. "Severus has requested the utmost in discretion, as any number of people with agendas and ulterior motives could stand in the way of a rather inconvenient adoption. Perhaps, in a show of good faith, you could hand-deliver the final form to record Harry's new chosen last name. Once that is filed, it will be a done deal, and Harry will irrevocably be Professor Snape's son. That could go a long way to mend bridges."

Percy smiled. "I could do that. The day after Valentine's Day seems like a good day to square this away. It isn't romantic, but I'm sure Saint Valentine would have approved."

Arthur patted his son's hand. "There's a good lad. Shall we meet by the Floo after work?"

During the week, Harry arranged to meet with Danny on Sunday, February 2, after breakfast. Harry, Ron, and Hermione brought Danny to a classroom on the third floor. Hermione said, "Could we ask you about your ghostly Apparation?"

Danny smiled. "Teleportation? Sure – why not?"

Ron studied Danny. "The first time I saw you as Phantom, you… teleported Harry to the Gryffindor Common Room. You saw the sign, saying that this is a twelve-week course. How long did it take you to learn?"

Danny narrowed his eyes in concentration. "I don't remember. Maybe a week or two over the summer." Harry looked thoughtful, and Hermione was amazed.

Ron was scandalized. "But… but how is that possible?"

Danny smiled, got up, and sat on the unused teacher's desk. "For one thing, I was the only student, and Pápa was particularly determined. Also, I thought teleportation was cool beyond all reason. I've seen him in his ghostly persona wrap himself in his cape and swirl away in a pink mist. It was awesome to watch. At one time, I was jealous, and now I can do it, too." Eyes widened and eyebrows went up. The trio figured out that Professor Masters was a half-ghost, but no one saw fit to ask what Vlad's ghost half looked like.

"The twins nearly drove us mad, once they got their licenses at seventeen," Ron groused.

Danny smirked. "Why am I not surprised?"

"They even like you better than me!"

Danny decided that a change in topic was in order. "Also, when Pápa taught me, there was no social pressure or nervousness about not getting it right, or… Hagrid used a word when he was worried something bad would happen…"

Hermione nodded sagely. "Splinching. It's the separation of random body parts if you Apparate while distracted."

"Eww!" Danny moaned and grimaced.

Harry said quietly, "It happened to Susan Bones yesterday."

Immediately concerned, Danny asked, "What happened? Is she okay?"

Harry explained, "At first, she screamed in pain, but the four Heads of House fixed that. She's fine now, if somewhat twitchy about it."

Danny stared for a bit and nodded. "I'll see about visiting her later. She's healed, but she could still use a convalescent pick-me-up."

Ron cocked his head. "Convalescent?"

Danny giggled. "Ron, I spend at least three hours a night with Vlad, and he talks like that. I was bound to pick up some of his vocabulary. I'm surprised I haven't got more of his… cultured accent. It's different than yours, but not by much."

Hermione laughed. "You're right. I never thought of that."

Harry sat back and thought for a moment. "You know, Danny, I've teleported with you, and I Apparated with Professor Dumbledore. Besides instantaneous travel, the experiences were nothing alike."

Danny sat forward. "What is Apparation like?"

Harry thought of all the many times he was asked that very question, and decided that even though Danny's question was the same, answering felt very different. "It felt like I was being pressed in from all directions, like being squeezed through a tube. For that one moment, I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe, I couldn't hear. And then, boom, there we were."

Danny made a face in distaste. "Doesn't sound like much fun."

Harry smiled. "Of all the Wizarding modes of transportation, I like flying on brooms best."

Hermione asked, "So, Harry, what does it feel like to teleport?"

He smiled at Danny. "It doesn't feel like anything. In one second, you're in one place, and… the next, you're in another. What does it feel like for you, Danny?"

Danny smiled as he thought of it. "It's like a quick swirl, and then I'm there. It's hard to explain, but it's a cool feeling."

Hermione thought to dissect the concept diagnostically. "Wilkie Twycross, the instructor from the Ministry, said to keep in mind the Three Ds." Danny raised an eyebrow. "Destination, Determination, Deliberation."

Danny rolled his eyes. "No offense, but that just sounds like a fussy, fancy way of saying, 'Visualize where you want to go, decide you're going, and get there.' I do that, too. Forgive my saying so, but it sounds like some self-important Ministry official gave you something all official-sounding to memorize so it sounds more complicated than necessary. Like, you're gonna remember all those words when you're half-worried that you won't end up with the parts and pieces you started with."

Ron and Harry laughed – that was exactly what they thought of the matter. Hermione was offended. She remembered the words. Danny tried to smooth the feathers he ruffled. "How about this: I'll come up with three easier words that do the same thing." She narrowed her eyes; she wasn't sure she was ready to forgive him.

Danny shrugged. "When Pápa taught me, it was as easy as: see it, want it, and go. It does work, you know."

Ron put an arm around Hermione's shoulder. "You know, love, Danny has a point. You think of the Three Ds, and we'll work with 'See it, Want it, and Go.' Next week, we'll see which set gets better results. Winner gets bragging rights for a week."

Hermione glared. "I'll hold you to that." Danny smirked but knew to leave well enough alone.

Tuesday afternoon, Danny did his homework in the library in the very pleasant company of Luna. It was different than hanging out with Sam and Tucker, mostly because at home, homework time was mostly scheduled around hanging out, chores, and fighting ghosts. More often than not, homework got the short end of the stick, and coupled with his skipping class due to ghost fights, his grades were usually in the tank. (Those days of too much Doom weren't worth remembering, though they did beat Technus.)

Here, there were no ghosts to fight, although Danny looked forward to the monthly Ghost Council. Sir Nicholas kept his eye on the clock, so Danny was back in his dorm no later than 11:30pm. Curfew was far stricter here than at home, so there was no chance to hang out with human friends outside his House after his evenings with Vlad.

As a guardian, and now as a father, Vlad had interesting ideas about keeping rules. He didn't care about Danny's nocturnal wanderings, as long as they were done in ghost form. Sometimes, Vlad not only encouraged such wanderings, but offered ideas, and even came with him for more interesting explorations. But regardless of which other rules were broken, Vlad was insistent that homework be done satisfactorily and timely. Danny decided that if this was the only real rule, he would do his darnedest to keep it. (Now that he thought about it, that was probably Vlad's point.)

So hanging out with friends outside his House didn't happen except for the weekends. The closest he could come was doing homework in the library. Danny supposed that Jazz would have been proud of him. Tuck might have either made fun of him or studied with him. Sam… Sam might have encouraged him, especially because there was nothing he learned that she wouldn't have found interesting. (However, Sam might have tried to free the flobberworms, or any number of other creatures used as potions ingredients. Danny wondered what a stand-off between Sam and Professor Snape would look like, and he realized he couldn't figure out who would win.) He grinned, just contemplating the concept.

Luna asked, "Danny, what are you thinking about?"

Danny shook himself. "I was thinking of my friend Sam. She might have liked coming here. However, her concern for every living thing might have put her at odds with Professor Snape."

Luna smiled. "Thank you for telling me. You don't speak of your friends from home often. I think Sam and I would have gotten along."

Danny sat back and considered. "You probably would have, at that."

Before Danny could expand on his thoughts, Terence Higgs came to his table. "Danny, I'm glad I found you. I wanted you to know that there were no unusual incidents with my pictures' development today. I've made several sets. I just wanted to let you know, in case I don't catch you down in the dorm. Draco may leave you your set on your bed."

Danny smiled. "Thanks, Terence."

"Because you're in so many of them, I just made you a full set."

"You're awesome, Terence. Thanks again."

Luna nodded serenely. "What unusual incidents are you talking about? Sometimes, jealous janapes attack the photos that are unusual or otherwise valuable. That's why there aren't as many photos in the Quibbler as there are stories."

Danny wondered what a janape was, and Terence thought about how to respond to this. The easiest expedient was to make fun of Loony, but Danny seemed to appreciate her company. He had to be careful about how he went on about this.

Terence nodded once as he figured it out. "Ah, Miss Lovegood, the photos I developed Sunday morning were stolen."

"How unusual. Colin Creevey said that most of his pictures were safe and sound. The only time he had trouble with missing pictures is when Harry Potter was in them. But nothing happened after his second attempt to develop them."

Terence rolled his eyes, but Danny said, "Wait – did anyone find out about what happened to those originals?"

Luna looked thoughtful. "Well, Tara Macnair is in Herbology with me, and once, her book bag was up-ended. Someone thought her bag was mine. Anyway, lots of pictures of Harry spilled onto the greenhouse floor. I told her that Colin was missing several pictures like that, and she said she didn't care – her father would get these when she sent them home."

Danny was pained at the matter-of-fact tone Luna used when speaking about the misdirected prank, as if she expected them against her as a matter of course.

Terence snapped to attention. "Tara Macnair, daughter of Walden Macnair, had those pictures?"

Luna answered, "Yes, that's her. She, like her father, is in Slytherin. That's well and good. But as a Ministry lackey, he likes executing innocent animals and other magical creatures. My father says that he abuses his position in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and that he's a Death Eater."

Terence paled. "Luna, Walden Macnair is a Death Eater."

"Oh, that's good. It's good to know people agree with my father. There are many people who don't, you know."

Danny thought for a moment. "People often didn't understand my parents' work, either. However, most of their theories were scientifically sound. But Luna, do you know if Tara took Terence's pictures?"

Luna smiled. "No, Danny. I didn't know about Terence, or his pictures. Colin often talks about his pictures in our study sessions." Looking up at Terence, she explained, "It's our OWL year this year."

The Seventh Year considered this. "You're in Fifth Year, aren't you?"

Luna nodded. "I am."

Danny could listen to Luna's gentle sing-song voice all day. However, a glimpse at his watch told him he needed to move. "Listen – I've got to go to Potions. I'll see you tomorrow, Luna." He packed up to go.

"I'll see you then, Danny. And maybe you'll share your pictures with me."

"Will do. 'Bye!" He waved at both of them.

Terence looked back at Luna. He concentrated, narrowing his eyes. "You said that Colin's pictures were taken by the daughter of a Death Eater."

"Yes, that's right."

"Thanks, Luna." Terence wasn't sure what Danny saw in this girl, but even Terence realized that Luna Lovegood could be more than just an object of scorn. But now, he had a mission: after dinner, he would give Professor Snape their lead, tenuous that it was.

At five minutes to ten that night, Vlad and Danny heard a throat clear outside the Room of Requirement. "I'll take care of it, Daniel. You have five minutes left." Danny nodded and turned his attention back to his desk.

Vlad opened the door. "Severus – this is a surprise. Daniel is finishing his math test. Can we help you?"

Severus smiled faintly. "I'd like to see you after you finish with tonight's classes. After we discuss what we need to cover, we can determine what and how much to tell Daniel."

"Fair enough. Come in and have a seat. Daniel will be finishing shortly."

Professor Snape entered the Room. Danny raised his eyes to acknowledge his professor's presence, and then focused on his exam.

Professor Snape watched as Danny frowned, erased something, looked over the figures before him and nodded – his eyes lit with sudden comprehension. He scribbled down a few answers that made him happy, and put his pencil down. "There!"

Vlad smiled. "I'm looking forward to seeing what you've made of this section of geometry. We've spent enough time defying physics, ignoring the basics of volume. It helps to know the rules before you can be fully satisfied with how severely you break them."

"If you say so, Pápa. Hi there, Uncle Severus."

Snape smiled. "Good evening, Daniel. I hope you did well."

Danny smiled back. "Me, too."

Severus nodded. "We'll get back to you tomorrow, Daniel, if our discussion tonight bears relevant fruit."

Danny looked to Vlad. He didn't appear to have a clue about what was going on, either. "Okay."

Vlad gave Danny a hug. "Good night, little badger."

"Good night, Pápa. Uncle Severus." He slipped out the door.

Vlad waved his hand, and the room was replaced by a study, with a crackling fire and two leather armchairs. "Come, Severus. What is on your mind this evening?"

Severus thought for a moment. "I have good news, bad news, and news that may either alarm or amuse you. Which would you like first?"

Vlad grinned. "I get a choice, hmm? Let's start with the bad news, and we'll figure it out from there."

"Fair enough. Two of my Slytherins, Daniel being one of them, brought me an interesting report. I knew something bothered me about the photo session."

Vlad gave him a sidelong glance. "What?"

"Apparently, Mr. Higgs' first prints of his pictures went missing. All we have is a conjecture, but it isn't unreasonable to assume that Voldemort may now be in possession of those pictures."

Vlad's eyes flashed red. "How does this happen? Hogwarts is supposed to be a bastion of safety. But somehow, the madman we came here to protect Daniel from discovered our names, and now has pictures of our faces. I'm beginning to question the security we've been offered."

Severus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I understand your ire. However, Hogwarts does have all kinds of wards, and you've had a respite of close to seven months. Further, you now know a bit more about the enemy you are facing. All of that has to be seen as some sort of boon.

"Another thing to consider: we are in the middle of a war. While all of the faculty do our best to keep the students on the side of Light, the fact remains that some of our students have parents who are Death Eaters. Not every Slytherin has joined Draco's anti-Voldemort group, and there are students from other Houses who have not declared their loyalty. Terence was upset that his prints were stolen, but only today did he have a hint that the thief might have had Darker designs than a childhood prank."

"Boston crème doughnuts, this isn't to be borne!" Vlad stewed.

Severus put a hand on his arm. "I don't know if this helps, Vlad, but Harry has had to deal with far worse since he got back to the Wizarding World at age eleven. Voldemort himself (in various permutations) attempted to kill Harry his first two years. I might have been an idiot concerning the boy, but I did my best to protect him at all costs. In Harry's Fourth Year, one of the Dark Lord's most trusted servants kidnapped a professor, and using Polyjuice Potion, not only stood in his stead, but brought Harry and a fellow student to Voldemort directly. Tom Riddle, Voldemort's name as a student, was brilliant, and as a man, knows how to bend people to his will. Students writing home to loving parents are only one of the many types of tools Voldemort won't hesitate to employ."

Vlad closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. It wasn't so much that the school didn't keep Daniel safe, but that this Dark Lord was a bit better at ferreting out information than he previously supposed.

Severus sighed. "As long as your impressions of the Wizarding World can't possibly be much worse, I thought you could use a bit of information you might find amusing."

Vlad lifted his head and opened his eyes. "Oh?" With an opening like that, he imagined that whatever the wizard would impart would have to be good.

"First of all, I asked Harry about adoption, and he said yes."

"Congratulations! Daniel and I knew he would."

With a half-smile, Severus said, "Thank you kindly. Perhaps – eventually – we might ask you, in concert with a few goblins, about estate management. Between what he's received from his parents' inheritance and his godfather's inheritance, the boy is probably the wealthiest young man in the Wizarding World. It occurs to me that he has no idea about what to do with it all, and his favorite uncle happens to be quite skilled when it comes to dealing with fabulous wealth and fame."

Vlad preened. "Quite right. I'd be honored to help in any way I can."

"Both of us will appreciate that greatly. After taking note of the great pains and hoops you needed to jump through to make your adoption of Daniel a reality, I decided to prepare myself for the same processes in the Wizarding World."

Vlad nodded, and then remembered Severus's introduction to the subject. Raising an elegant eyebrow, he said, "And?"

Severus looked pained. "The current Wizarding laws of adoption haven't progressed too much farther than the Victorian laws of adoption in the Muggle world. If a magical orphan is at all on record, then assuming that family or friends haven't claimed the child, any random adult can sign a form of intent, to be filed at the Ministry. If the Ministry has no record of the child, and no family or friends have laid claim, no one really cares. At all." He thought about Tom Riddle and shuddered again.

Vlad sighed. "Considering that, from what I understand of Harry's earlier existence, he was treated about as well as if not worse than a male Jane Eyre, I can't say that I'm surprised. However, why no authorities whatsoever have been alerted to Harry's deplorable condition at the hands of the Dursleys completely escapes me."

Severus closed his eyes. The man was right. He opened his eyes when he heard… a cruel chuckle. Vlad's eyes twinkled with an unholy gleam. "Hmm. Have you and Harry plans for the Easter break?"

The Potions Master blinked at the seeming non sequitur. "Not as of yet."

"I have a thought or two about how to pay the Dursleys a fond thank you for the care and tenderness they've shown your son-to-be."

Severus raised his eyebrows. "While I'm sure nothing would please me more than seeing what you have planned, nothing will get Harry to leave the Hogwarts grounds again until Voldemort is defeated. Fortunately for us, we are far closer to the goal than ever before."

"How so?"

Severus grinned in satisfaction. "That, my dear Vlad, is classified information. Suffice it to say that when it comes time for you to know, you will. I promise you that."

Vlad gave a sour smile. "Turnabout is fair play, I suppose."

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