First of all, I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy, sweet New Year for 5771! I offer everyone apples, honey, and pomegranate seeds.

I want to thank everyone for reading, reviewing, and for adding this story (and me) to your assorted lists. You have been a serious source of delight and added confidence.

I do believe that this is the chapter that most people have long awaited, short though it is. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

Sans the teleportation antics, the final scene of this chapter was written up months ago by CynthiaW. As of this writing, the scene as it was originally written is practically unrecognizable, but I used it as a guideline to help me with the pacing. Thank you, dear friend, once again for all your help and support.

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

Chapter 50

On February 8, Danny invisibly attended the Apparation lessons. The instructor had an ethereal appearance, and Danny watched the various Sixth and Seventh Years aim to Apparate from wherever they were into their practice hoops.

Inwardly, Danny scoffed. 'Sure. Take already nervous teens and make them focus on a really small space. At least Vlad had me aim for a mark on open floor. It was useful to aim for, but the precision needed… Good heavens!'

Hermione had practiced reciting her Three Ds: Destination, Determination, and Deliberation. She would get it this lesson if it killed her. However, it didn't seem to be working.

Harry and Ron took their places confidently. Murmuring quietly, "See it. Want it. Go. It works for Danny, it will work for us," they visualized the inside of the hoops, desired to get there, and did the necessary turn. It worked!

"We did it!" Ron shouted. Professor McGonagall beamed. One of the Gryffindors managed to be the first to successfully Apparate in this crop of students. It surprised everyone to hear that even ONE student managed it successfully this early in the lesson series.

Mr. Twycross looked up and Apparated to Ron and Harry's side of the room. The Heads of House followed shortly thereafter. "Did you? Really? I must see this. It's my experience that students don't usually 'get it' until their fourth week. You must show me, if you please."

Since Ron shouted to call the instructor's attention, Ron went first. He came back to his starting mark, closed his eyes, and disappeared, reappearing in his target hoop.

Wilkie beamed and fairly glowed. "My boy, you've done it!" Mr. Twycross clapped in pleasure, and turned to look at the other students. "Just as I've said: focus on the Three Ds, and…"

Ron interrupted, "Forget the Three Ds. I focused on far simpler words and got far better results."

"Oh? What words?"

Ron puffed out his chest. "See it, Want it, and Go." The Heads of House were impressed that someone managed to summarize the Three Ds so effectively.

Wilkie blinked. "Well, yes. That is the definition of the Three Ds. That's what makes it so easy to remember, especially as they all start with the same letter."

The instructor was oblivious to the icy glares he received from every student and the cock-eyed stares he received from the Heads of House. Ron and Harry rolled their eyes, and Danny struggled to contain his giggles. Hermione crossed her arms and glared at her boyfriend and their best friend. She was glad they succeeded, but she hated the fact that they got this before she did!

Justin repeated, "See it, Want it, and Go. Huh. Ron, did you come up with that?"

Ron glanced nervously at Professor Flitwick and gulped. "Not exactly."

Harry sighed and flashed an apologetic half-smile at Professor Flitwick. "Sorry, Professor." Looking back at the Ministry instructor, he said, "Professor Flitwick said we should keep quiet about it, as Hogwarts' foreign exchange student didn't register for a British Apparation license yet, but Danny told us that was how he learned it. It works for him, and now it works for us."

Professor Snape crossed his arms and observed his son-to-be, and realized that his favorite student taught both Harry and Ron how to Apparate with mere words that worked more effectively than those that had been taught for generations. He must discuss this with Vlad at some point very soon. Not that he showed it, but he burst with pride at these students showing up the Ministry idiot.

Professor Flitwick looked at Harry and Ron. As per instructions, they didn't call undue attention to Danny, so he couldn't be too upset with them. Danny truly was an asset to the school, and he didn't have to be a wizard to do it. Nicely done!

Mr. Twycross studied Harry. "You can do it, too? Very well, show me." Harry Apparated from his starting point to his target hoop. Wilkie applauded. "Very good, very good. This is wonderful!"

Danny tuned out the Ministry official's blathering about his joyful success. He couldn't believe the level of government stupidity, but looking at the faces of the professors present, neither did they. At least Mayor Montez attempted to do something by galvanizing his parents. This Ministry twit couldn't seem to acknowledge his own ineffectiveness. Then Danny smiled – Vlad would appreciate hearing about this.

At breakfast on February 15, the professors amused themselves and each other by discussing which students they caught being particularly indiscreet yesterday. Personally, Vlad didn't care, but the Headmaster turned it into a game, and Vlad did so love a challenge: the professor or staff member who caught the most couples (not who deducted the most points) would win three Galleons and bragging rights. Considering that the Hogsmeade weekend that usually fell out the weekend either immediately before, during, or immediately after Valentine's Day had to be cancelled due to Death Eater activity, this game was a fun way to burn off nervous energy.

Vlad was personally happy that however hormonal teenagers might be, Danny had enough going on that his relationship with Luna (which was developing rather sweetly) was more along the lines of a deepening friendship. Regardless, he was also privately pleased that there were enough hidden places the boy had access to that, if he chose not to be as innocent as he seemed, he would never get caught.

Severus expressed amusement with the idea that invisibility could go a long way to hide from professors, librarians, and caretakers. Vlad raised an eyebrow, and realized the Potions Master probably had a similar thought process regarding Harry, and could just as easily refer to Harry using his Invisibility Cloak as Daniel with his natural talent.

What made this particularly challenging was that it was a simple school day. Most students didn't care one way or another, as the Fifth and Seventh Years (two of the three years of students most likely to get in trouble) were buckling down and preparing for OWLs and NEWTs, respectively. Still, Filius explained that some students made the effort to take it as a challenge to find romance where they may, so the game that Albus set up was far more useful than it seemed.

As it was, Professor Vector won the Headmaster's game, having caught 14 couples. After that, it was a point of pride amongst the Heads of House to determine who had the students with the most sense, or at the very least, who had the least students who were caught doing what they ought not. Minerva confided that Severus usually won that one, but not always. This year, Pomona won that honor.

Vlad wondered if the students had any idea what a source of amusement they were to the faculty. Gazing out at the sea of students in the breakfast crowd, many of whom wore disgruntled expressions for having been caught, he would imagine they had no clue.

As Vlad prepared for his almost weekly trip to London, he thought about his discussion with Daniel earlier in the week (and subsequent discussion with Severus). Vlad was not only pleased with himself as a teacher, he was extraordinarily pleased with Daniel for being able to convey his lessons well enough to teach others. Apparently, after a discussion of teleportation vs. Apparation, Daniel scorned the Ministry's 'mnemonic' device, and used the words Vlad taught him. During last summer, the boy's vocabulary was sorely lacking, and a simple, effective, and efficient verbiage was necessary to get the point across.

He shook with mirth as he understood that Daniel taught Vlad's formulation of the idea to Harry and Ron. As a focus for concentration, it worked as well for Apparation as it did for teleportation. The simple formula won Ron a bet with Hermione and a good deal of amusement for his son. Vlad wondered what Daniel would think if he knew precisely how much his sense of humor was in line with Vlad's own.

These thoughts filled his mind as he stepped out of the alley he teleported to right near his favorite Internet café. And this week, he expected to hear back from Lewis Greer to see what kind of progress was being made with the technicalities of the adoption process.

He never saw or heard the two people who grabbed his arms. Before he could do anything to break free or even protest, he felt a twisting sensation pulling him somewhere. Everything went black. For an uncomfortable moment, Vlad couldn't breathe, as his body seemed to be compressed on all sides. It was like Daniel's description of being sucked into the Fenton Weasel, or Skulker's description of being sucked into the Fenton Thermos.

When the sensation passed, Vlad breathed heavily and might have fallen forward if his captors didn't have as tight a grip on him. Vlad's head cleared, and he had yet to see the people manhandling him. "What is the meaning of this!"

Whoever held him would not be ghosts, as he would have sensed them. The Guys in White were in America, and though they had the technological capability to become invisible, they would not have assaulted, much less abducted, an American citizen. They had no knowledge of him being a ghost, and England was outside of their jurisdiction.

Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that his captors were wizards, who also had the ability to become invisible. As such, Vlad wasn't sure that he was ready to play his intangibility card. Yet.

The captor on his left jeered, "You'll know when our Master's ready for you to know."

"Unhand me this instant!"

The captor on his right chortled. "You hear that? Masters thinks he has a right to make demands."

They put one hand each all over him, patting him down until the one on the left cried, "Hah! Got yer wand."

Vlad struggled experimentally. Without giving hint to his inhuman strength, Vlad realized that whoever had hold of him was far stronger than his human half seemed capable of being. It wasn't unlike physically fighting Jack Fenton.

These people were subservient to a master, were they? They were far too big to be elves. Humans of the Wizarding World were far too independent… unless these were Voldemort's Death Eaters.

Vlad sneered. "How charming. You must be Death Eaters." Now that Vlad knew with whom he was dealing, he had a surprise or two for their 'master.'

The one on his left almost stopped walking for a moment. "And you're not scared?"

Vlad would have shrugged, but his arms were held too tight. "Of course not. You're merely slaves, mindless drones. Unless I'm mistaken, Voldemort wants me undamaged so I'll suit his purposes, whatever they might be. As such, you have no power over me other than to bring me to your," he wrinkled his nose distastefully, " 'master.' How pathetic."

Vlad's imperious manner confused his captors. They had him prisoner; he knew they were taking him to the Dark Lord, but from his tone of voice, it seemed like he was in control.

The fellow on his right growled. Vlad smirked; he struck a nerve. The truth often hurts, and when it does, it can be wielded like a knife.

The guy on his right had a few uncomfortable truths of his own to share. "Seeing how much that kid means to you, you might like knowing that I, personally, killed his family," he sneered.

Vlad paled, and then he flushed with anger. "You? You killed Maddie?"

The captor on his right shrugged one shoulder. "If that's what she's called. Pitiful Muggle. I don't see why you should care."

Careful not to rise to the bait, Vlad raised his eyebrows briefly, dismissively. "Because that woman was my college sweetheart, gorgeous enough to make a goddess jealous, brilliant beyond your imbecilic imaginations could ever hope to appreciate, and she knew over forty ways to kill, maim, or paralyze a person with her bare hands. She had grace befitting any queen, or what you might arrogantly declare a pureblood should have. She respected people, no matter how different they might be, unless they insulted or threatened her family. One of my only regrets is that she didn't fall in love with me, rather than my adopted son's birthfather."

With that litany of praise, his two captors couldn't respond.

Vlad might not be able to see more than the outline of the man who killed the Fentons, but he filed away that voice and the smell of him. He would enjoy killing that man, preferably slowly and painfully. However, quick and undeniably dead would serve in a pinch, if need be.

His captors led him quickly down a yew hedge-lined driveway, until they reached a wrought-iron gate. The two men slowed just enough to raise their left arms while holding him, though he couldn't see what they were doing. They passed through the gates as though they were intangible.

"That's a neat feature," Vlad quipped.

They brought him down the straight driveway until they reached a mansion. It wasn't as large as his castle in Wisconsin, but its obvious age gave it a grandeur that only antiquity (and upkeep) could bring. "Where is this, if I may ask?"

The captor on his left said, "I don't see a problem telling ya. It's Malfoy Manor." Vlad raised an eyebrow as he remembered hearing about how Draco needed to find other living arrangements, as Voldemort took over his home. Killing Voldemort had such an attractive ring to it. He might have the opportunity to try just that.

This could be interesting, and potentially a lot of fun. It was almost worth the price of the indignity of having the thugs practically dragging him along. Otherwise, he could have teleported away at a moment's notice – it wouldn't give anything away, as wizards potentially could Apparate.

The Death Eaters holding him released the Disillusionment spells on themselves before entering the building. That did little to aid Vlad in the visual identification department, as both men wore black cloaks with hoods and white masks designed to inspire fear. However, the one on the right was far bigger than the one on the left.

Neither of these cretins wore gloves. If they realized how easy it would be (for him, anyway) to identify them based on the hair growths on their gnarled knuckles, they might have thought to have covered them. Vlad wondered whether the Wizarding Law Enforcement personnel dusted for fingerprints. If not, it was at least one logical reason for criminal wizards to ignore the obvious.

They brought him, unresisting, to the 'throne room.' The one on the left knocked. A reedy voice commanded, "Enter." Vlad was curious to see the man who so terrified the Wizarding World that most were too afraid to say his name.

The thin man in a black robe who radiated power stood with his back to the door, looking out the window. Vlad was disgusted by this obvious power play. Of course – making them wait until he was good and ready was so like a stereotypical villain. Vlad himself wouldn't do anything of the sort, if he were in a similar position. Really! Truly – he was far more menacing as he faced his prey. Vlad had first-hand experience with this.

Ah, the famed Dark Lord deigned to take note of their presence. He was bald, his head was whiter than a skull, his nose was as flat as a snake's with slits for nostrils, and his eyes were red. Vlad yawned contemptuously. In his vampiric ghost form, Vlad himself was scary. This self-styled Lord Voldemort was merely ugly.

"Good work, Rowle and Scabior. I will suitably reward you later for having delivered my prize." Vlad rolled his eyes.

The goon on Vlad's left handed the Dark Lord the 'wand.' "I thought you might like this."

"Even better, Scabior. You might just have earned your way into the Inner Circle." The smaller man stood straighter with obvious pride. "Now leave us."

Vlad took note of the fact that the man he was determined to kill was named Rowle. Without further ado, the half-ghost sneered, "Are you sure that's safe?"

Voldemort raised the patch of skin where an eyebrow should have been. "Quite. You are dismissed, gentlemen." The masked men released him and bowed low and exited. Vlad tossed his head; he was right – they were pathetic.

"For a wizard with no wand, you are rather blasé in the face of danger, Vladimir Masters."

Vlad raised an eyebrow. "For a Dark Lord who terrifies the Wizarding populace, you are fearfully unoriginal. Do you really think your 'blood purity' mantra impresses anyone?" He carelessly waved a hand. "For a European to have missed the failed experiment in 'eugenetics' and ethnic cleansing shows frightful ignorance. You don't target Jews and Gypsies – your targets of choice are those born without magic." Vlad peaked his eyebrows. "You are aware that Hitler lost, aren't you?"

Voldemort glared at the insolent American. "Considering the fact that I was a child during the Blitz, yes, I am aware of that fact. However, Muggle that he was, he never learned the art of immortality."

"Neither have you. You can run from death, you can hide, and you can use magic to destroy your soul, but secrets can be revealed, and your 'immortality' will be revealed for the illusion it always was."

Tom narrowed his red eyes. Vlad assumed that this was frightening to someone who didn't know what to make of such an eye color. His own pupil-less red eyes were more impressive.

"What do you know of 'magic destroying the soul'?"

Vlad shrugged. "Not much, I imagine. But enough to get your attention."

Voldemort cocked his head. He never had such an opponent. The Potter brat had a lip, but he was a mere boy. No man had ever stood to him thus, not even Albus Dumbledore. "Enough of this. You are Daniel Fenton's uncle, are you not?"

Vlad smirked. "You are behind the times; I'm not sure where you get your information. I've adopted him – he is now my son."

Something deep within what was left of Voldemort's soul rang with pain. It's been many decades since he cared about the concept, but he remembered being left as an orphan, rejected by his living father. It pained him to know that the Fenton child received what he never did – an adoption.

Of course, this man before him had no need to know. Lord Voldemort had no foolish, debilitating need for 'love' or such rot. "Indeed. Well, your son has intrigued me the way very few have: he seems to be immune to the Killing Curse."

Vlad raised his chin arrogantly. "Yes. It would seem he is."

"Tell me how."

Vlad looked askance. "Why should I?"

Voldemort narrowed his eyes again, and practically hissed, "No one denies Lord Voldemort and gets away with it!"

Studying his fingernails, Vlad drawled, "You know, I once used that very line against a woman who spurned my love, and a child who spurned my bid for paternity. It didn't work for me, and it won't work for you, either."

The Dark Lord growled. "I tire of your flippancy. Tell me how he survived!"

"No."

Voldemort raised his wand. "Crucio!"

Vlad lazily raised his hand and put up a shield of pink ectoplasmic glass. The spell bounced off harmlessly. "And this should impress me… why?"

The Dark Lord screwed up his face in outrage. "You… you deflected an Unforgivable! And you did it without a wand!"

"Yes. I suppose I did."

Voldemort locked eyes with Vlad. "Interesting," he murmured.

Vlad was hypnotized by something in the depth of those red eyes. The villain before him hissed incoherently, but it was nothing Vlad took seriously. He was so lost in the mesmerizing gaze that he failed to recognize that he felt slightly light-headed.

Voldemort broke the stare. "Interesting indeed." He began to chuckle. "You fool. Well, at least now I know how the boy evaded the Killing Curse. You can, too, can't you?"

Vlad sneered. "Yes." A wave of dizziness hit him. "How do you know?"

Voldemort smirked. "The same way I know you're not a wizard. You're not even human." He took a step back. "I may not have your latest technology, but sometimes the old ways work best. Don't they, ghost?"

Vlad narrowed his eyes and stepped forward… and screamed in pain. "What…" He looked around him. Except for a circle of five feet in diameter in which Vlad was the center, the floor was strewn about with Blood Blossoms.

"My precious snake Nagini was busy as I ransacked your mind. The floor above this ceiling and the floor beneath this level have also been so treated. I no longer need the boy. But you shall be fun to play with."

For the first time since his captivity, Vlad was afraid.