Okay, no one reviewed the last chapter. :(. Oh well. I hope that you like this chapter and it follows the book closely for a few parts but I changed a few things so hopefully it's not completely a rewrite of the book. Oh and yes this is the first time Danny uses his signature catchphrase but I, kinda, forgot to put that in earlier chapters when he transformed so…yeah. Just saying. Reviews, as always, are much appreciated.

8

Forbidden Challenge

The next week flew by and the talk around Hogwarts was Phantom.

Danny, Sam and Tucker barely got a minute to themselves before a curious student would come up to them and ask them about Phantom and about specters in general. Hermione, in fact, spent a full hour telling them all she figured out about specters and asking them if everything she found out was true, most of it wasn't. Needless to say, the three Americans were getting irritated, not that Harry was too surprised.

By the time the first flying lesson of the term came around though, the topic throughout Hogwarts had shifted to other matters, much to the three Americans relief. The American trio along with Harry and Ron headed down the corridor toward the Quidditch pitch were flying lessons were taking place. Ron looked excited but Harry wasn't sure what to feel since he's never been flying on a broom before and Danny, Sam and Tucker—well, it was difficult to tell what they were feeling. They had their heads close together and were talking so quietly that Harry and Ron couldn't make out what they were saying.

"What're they talking about?" Ron murmured.

Harry shrugged. "How should I know?" he said.

The five walked into the pitch and noticed that the Gryffindor and Slytherin first years were already gathered. Madame Hooch, the flying instructor, stood nearby waiting for the rest of the class to arrive; she was a tall, gray-haired woman with yellow-eyes.

Harry stood next to Ron with Danny, Sam and Tucker on his other side as Hooch, once everyone was there, told everyone to line up and step up to the left side of the broomsticks on the ground.

"All right, now put your right hand over your broom and say up!" Hooch ordered.

Harry put his right hand over the broom. "Up!" he commanded and the broom shot up almost immediately into his hand causing his eyes to widen in surprise. He looked around and noticed that Malfoy and Danny had both managed to get their brooms to lift up right away. Sam was next but Hermione's and Tucker's just rolled and Ron's smacked him in the face.

When everyone finally had their brooms in their hands, Hooch told them to mount them, hover, lean forward and then touch back down again. Unfortunately, something went wrong with Neville's broom because he shot into the air faster than he was supposed to; with Neville yelping in surprise and fear, the broom began weaving erratically in the air.

"Get down here boy," Hooch called.

"Why doesn't she do something to help him?" Sam muttered.

A few minutes later, Neville fell from the broom to land hard on the packed ground; he groaned as the class gathered around him though Hooch immediately ordered everyone out of her way. "Let me see," she said kneeling beside Neville before pressing her lips together when she lifted one of Neville's arms.

"Oh, looks like a broken wrist. Well, we'll get that set right away. Come, I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing. Everyone else, remain on the ground. If I find you in the air when I get back then you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch'," Hooch barked as she quickly guided the hurt Gryffindor out of the house.

Malfoy snorted. "Typical clumsy Longbottom, he couldn't fly if he had wings," he sneered before he bent down and picked up the Remembrall that Neville had gotten during breakfast that morning from his grandmother. "Maybe if clumsy Longbottom had looked at this then he would remember that."

"Maybe if you had that instead of Neville then you would have remembered a more original insult, but maybe originality is beyond you," Danny said.

Sam and Tucker snickered.

"Oy, did you just insult me?" Malfoy demanded.

Danny tilted his head to one side looking confused. "Did I?"

"Perhaps you need a remembrall to remember that you did, American muggleborn," Malfoy spat.

"See? Originality really is beyond you if that's the best you can come up with. Now, why don't you return that remembrall? It doesn't belong to you."

Malfoy scowled before tossing the remembrall up and down as he mounted his broom. "Why should I give it back? It's not my fault Longbottom forgot about it," he sneered.

"It doesn't belong to you, Malfoy," Harry snapped. "Now give it back."

Malfoy glared at him. "No, I don't think I will. I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to collect,"—he drifted away on his broom before flying into the air—"How about up a tree?"

Harry scowled and immediately grabbed his broom.

"Wait, you'll get into trouble," Danny protested.

"Harry, no, he's doing this on purpose," Hermione said.

Harry ignored both of them as he shot up into the air although he did hear Hermione mutter "what an idiot."

Harry flew upward before glaring at Malfoy who sat casually on his broom tossing the remembrall in his hands. "Give that here, Malfoy," he demanded.

"Why don't you come and get it, Potter?" Malfoy shouted.

Harry scowled and flew rapidly toward Malfoy who dodged out of the way before turning his broom as Harry turned to face him flying almost as if he was a natural had he only known.

"Let's see how good you are at catch, Potter," Malfoy called before he proceeded to toss the remembrall.

Harry shot after it before he had time to think about what he was doing. He felt the wind rush through his hair as he flew rapidly in the direction the remembrall was flying. He stretched out a hand and grabbed the remembrall before pulling up on the broom just before he flew into the tower the remembrall almost hit. He swooped away from the tower before flying downward hearing the gathered Gryffindors—most of them anyway. Hermione was shaking her head in disapproval while Danny, Sam and Tucker looked worried—were cheering.

"Harry Potter!"

Harry froze as the shout sounded and he turned to find an irate Professor McGonagall storming toward them. Oh no, I'm going to get expelled, he thought fearfully eyeing the professor as she came to a stop in front of them.

"Professor, it wasn't his fault, Malfoy…" Parvati Patil began.

"That will be enough, Miss. Patil. Come with me, Mr. Potter, now," McGonagall ordered before she turned and strode away.

Harry followed behind him wishing he had listened to Danny and Hermione and not gone after Malfoy.

\/\/\/\/\/

"So, does anyone know what happened to Harry?" Danny asked worriedly later on that day. He, Sam, Tucker and Ron were seated in the common room with the other first year Gryffindors; he was working on his Transfigurations assignment—that subject was, by far, his hardest subject at the moment—and occasionally helping Tucker who was having trouble with his Potions assignment. Sam was working on the Herbology assignment while Ron was playing chess with Dean.

"No, not yet," Ron said.

"Is he coming to dinner?" Sam asked.

"Probably. I guess we'll find out what happened at dinner," Ron said.

An hour later, the four of them headed toward the Great Hall for lunch and Danny was relieved when Harry joined them at the Gryffindor table, his green eyes shining with excitement. "Harry, what happened?" he asked as the five of them sat down.

"Yeah, mate, did you get into trouble?" Ron asked.

"No," Harry said shaking his head. "I thought I was going to get into trouble but I wasn't. Instead, Professor McGonagall made me the Gryffindor Quidditch team's Seeker!"

"Bloody hell but first years aren't allowed on the Quidditch team," Ron exclaimed.

"We aren't even allowed brooms," Sam said.

"I know but Professor McGonagall said that Professor Dumbledore is making an exception," Harry said.

"Bloody hell, that's awesome," Ron said grinning.

"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting on the train back to the muggles?" Malfoy asked walking over to join them with a smug smirk on his face.

Harry stood and faced him with narrowed eyes. "You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you," he said coolly.

Danny looked at Malfoy's bodyguards—he had learned that their names were Crabbe and Goyle—but said nothing.

Crabbe and Goyle scowled at them but said nothing."I'd take you on anytime on my own," Malfoy said. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel."

Sam frowned. "What's a Wizard's duel?" she whispered to Danny.

"I have no idea," Danny whispered back.

"I figured you wouldn't, muggleborns," Malfoy, overhearing Danny and Sam, said glaring at them before returning his glare to Harry

"I'm his second, who's yours?" Ron demanded.

"Crabbe," Malfoy said with a nod toward Crabbe. "Midnight in the trophy room unless you're too chicken." He smirked, turned and strode away with his head lifted arrogantly.

Danny longed to wipe that arrogant smirk off the blonde's face but refrained himself mostly because his ghost half made him stronger than normal and he might end up hurting him.

"So, what's a wizard's duel?" Tucker asked confused as Ron and Harry returned to their seats.

"Yeah and what's a second?" Sam asked.

"Well, a second is someone who takes over if you die," Ron said casually.

"Die?!" Sam exclaimed violet eyes shooting wide.

Harry looked scared.

"But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. Neither you nor Malfoy knows enough magic to hurt each other. I'm sure he expected you to refuse anyway," Ron added quickly.

"And what happens if I wave my wand and nothing happens?" Harry asked.

"Throw your wand away and punch him in the nose."

Danny snickered. He could just imagine Malfoy getting punched in the nose; that's pretty much the fall back plan he always had when he fought ghosts if none of his powers were working. He thought about the duel and frowned because he didn't trust Malfoy at all; his instincts were telling him that something was not right about Malfoy's challenge and he had learned since the accident to always trust his instincts.

"Excuse me," Hermione said as she walked over to join them with narrowed eyes. "I overheard what you told Malfoy and if you wander around after curfew, you're going to lose us points and that's very selfish of you."

"Excuse me but this isn't your concern," Sam said shortly.

"So goodbye," Ron added.

Hermione sniffed. "Don't say I didn't warn you," she said before she walked off.

Later that night, Danny, Sam and Tucker were in the empty common room dressed in their pajamas and bathrobes. Sam had a dark purple bathrobe while Danny's robe was blue and Tucker's was green. Harry and Ron were in the dormitory with Ron giving Harry advice on the upcoming duel while Danny was just telling Sam and Tucker about his suspicions of Malfoy. "I don't trust him at all," he finished. "I wouldn't be surprised if he either skipped out on them or he brought in extra help."

"I don't trust him either Danny but what are we going to do? Try and convince Harry not to go through with this?" Tucker asked.

"I doubt it'll work," Danny said. "I'm actually thinking of following them."

"What? But Danny, if you're caught then you'll get into trouble. What if they decide to expel you for that?" Sam said.

"I doubt they'll expel me just 'cause I'm in the corridor after curfew but don't worry, Sam. I'm thinking of following them as Phantom," Danny said quietly. "Tuck, can you cover for me in the dormitory?"

"Sure thing," Tucker said. "Just be careful 'cause none of us know how magic affects your ghost half."

"I know. I'll be careful, Tuck. Goin' ghost." Danny shifted into his ghost form before floating in air as he glanced toward the clock in the common room. "You should prob…"

"Wait, I hear someone," Sam said quickly and Danny went invisible just as Hermione, her hair was down and she was dressed in a pink bathrobe, entered the common room. She stopped when she saw Sam and Tucker. Danny was floating invisibly above them.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"We left something down here and came to pick it up," Tucker said picking up the two Charms book he and Danny had purposely left in the common room so that the three of them could meet up in there after curfew. He then made his way toward the staircase and headed up the stairs. Wordlessly, Sam picked up her Charms book and headed for her dormitory.

Hermione watched them go before she sat down in an armchair. "I should've just told Percy but I'm just really hoping Harry won't go through with this," she muttered turning off the lamp and plunging the common room into darkness.

Danny floated over to the portrait hole and watched as, about half an hour before midnight, Harry and Ron came down in their pajamas and bathrobes with their wands in their hands. They headed toward the portrait hole but that was when Hermione decided to let them know that she was there.

"I can't believe you're going through with this Harry," she said flicking the lamp on and causing both Harry and Ron to jump.

"I almost told your brother Percy since he's a prefect and he'd put a stop to this," Hermione added.

"Come on," Harry said not responding to Hermione's words before he pushed open the portrait of the Fat Lady and left the common room. Danny, sinking intangibly through the wall, followed them and Hermione, obviously determined to get through to them, followed.

"Don't you care about Gryffindor? Or do you only are about yourselves?" She demanded angrily. "I don't want Slytherin to win the house cup and you'll lose all the points I got from Professor McGonagall for knowing about Switching Spells."

"Go away," Ron snapped.

Hermione's brown eyes flashed and she said, "All right but I warned you. You just remember what I said when you're on the train home tomorrow, you're so…"

She broke off when she noticed that the portrait of the Fat Lady was gone locking Hermione out of Gryffindor tower. Danny smacked his face. That's not good, he thought.

"Now what am I going to do?" Hermione cried shrilly.

"That's your problem," said Ron. "We've got to go. We're going to be late."

Danny shook his head. While he could understand Ron's frustration with Hermione's lecturing, that was still mean of him. He floated after Ron and Harry as they walked away though it was when they reached the end of the corridor that Hermione, probably having decided that going with them was better than waiting outside the tower, caught up with them

"I'm coming with you," she said.

"You are not," Ron retorted.

Danny heard something and, not hearing Hermione's response, glanced sharply toward the noise before floating over in the direction of it find that it belonged to Neville. He frowned before he floated over and, regaining visibility, knelt down beside the Gryffindor.

"Hey, wake up," he said shaking Neville's shoulder.

Neville blinked before he jumped eyes wide when he spotted Danny's neon green eyes inches from his face. "It…It's you, Phantom," he said.

"Shh, keep your voice down," Danny whispered gently and Neville quieted down. "Why aren't you in your common room?"

"I forgot the new password. I've been out here for hours," Neville said softly.

Danny considered his options and decided it would be safer for Neville in the common room though he was still going to follow Harry, Hermione and Ron since he was sure Harry and Ron wouldn't change their mind. In fact, Hermione and Ron were still arguing and they had just walked right past where Neville and Danny were crouched. Danny decided he'd catch up with them later. "Hey, I can get you back into the common room but you're gonna have to trust me," he said.

"How?"

"I can take you through the wall. It's an odd feeling but it'll be over with quickly. Okay?" Danny held out a hand.

Neville hesitated eyeing him warily but between sleeping outside and sleeping in his bed, Neville apparently decided to choose the latter. He took Danny's hand. "Wow, you're so solid," he said as Danny pulled him to his feet.

"Thanks, I think," Danny said before he guided Neville over to the portrait and, turning both of them intangible, he guided him through the wall. He heard Neville gasp and the other Gryffindor was wide-eyed when Danny turned him tangible once they reached the common room.

"That was…that was so odd," he said. "But, ah, thanks for that Phantom."

"No problem." Danny said before he turned and floated invisibly and intangibly out of the common room. He then immediately shot forward to catch up with the two Gryffindors he decided to follow just in case Malfoy brought back up or didn't show—and the third tagalong that Danny could've taken into the common room had he thought of that before he found Neville. He could always offer it to Hermione but that would mean catching up with them before they reached the trophy room—or were caught by Filch.

Now, where's the trophy room again? Danny thought as he smacked his forehead. During his explorations, he only paid attention to where important places where, like the library and his classes, and never thought about remembering how to get other places.

I should've paid attention but then I didn't think I'd be heading to the trophy room for any reason, he thought before he flew around searching for either the trophy room or the three Gryffindors.

He finally found them heading up a staircase and he realized they were heading to the third floor, which he figured was where the trophy room was located as they didn't look like they were lost. He sped after them hoping to catch up with them before they reached the trophy room. He also couldn't help but shiver; the third floor gave him the creeps.

He slipped into the trophy room to find Harry, Hermione and Ron. The trophy room was empty; the crystal trophy cases glimmered where the moonlight caught them. Cups, shields, plates and statues winked silver and gold in the darkness.

Harry held his wand out and kept looking around as the minutes crept by.

I knew it, I knew Malfoy wouldn't show up, Danny thought.

"He's late, maybe he chickened out," Ron whispered.

Danny was about to reveal himself and offer to escort them back to Gryffindor tower when a noise sounded in the next room causing all of them to jump. Someone spoke but it wasn't Malfoy, not that Danny was surprised.

"Sniff around, my sweet. They might be lurking in a corner."

This isn't good. That git—great, I'm picking up British slang—probably told him about this, Danny thought turning to find Harry, Hermione and Ron hurrying toward the opposite door. They barely managed to go around the corner when Filch entered the trophy room; Danny flew after the three of them as they hurried down the gallery determined to get as far from Filch as possible. It was a good thing Danny was able to keep up with them easily; he decided revealing himself now would probably startle them so decided to wait until they stopped running.

Finally, they did but after they found a hidden passageway that brought them out near the Charms classroom, which was quite a ways from the trophy room.

"I don't think he knows where we are now," Harry panted leaning against the wall.

"I—told—you," Hermione gasped. "I—told—you. Malfoy tricked you. You realize that, don't you? He was never going to meet you—Filch knew someone was going to be in the trophy room. Malfoy must have tipped him off."

Danny nodded in agreement. That's what he thought as well.

"We've got to get back to Gryffindor tower," said Ron, "quickly as possible."

Danny decided that would have been the perfect moment to reveal himself if his ghost sense didn't go off right then. He scowled in frustration just as Peeves shot out in front of them grinning happily. "Wandering around at midnight, Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caught. Students out of bed. Students out of bed. Down the charms corridor!"

Harry, Hermione and Ron bolted and Danny scowled. "Dang it Peeves. They just stopped running," he exclaimed regaining visibility and Peeves yelped as he whirled around.

"Phantom, I was just…" he began.

"Save it," Danny growled before he flew rapidly after the fleeing students just in time to see them pile into a room at the end of the corridor, the forbidden portion of the floor.

Danny scowled furiously before he sank intangibly through the door only to stop when he caught sight of what was in the room; his eyes went wide with shock for sleeping in the middle of the chamber the four of them were in was the biggest, three-headed dog that Danny has ever seen.

\/\/\/\/\/

"Which way did they go, Peeves? Filch was saying when Harry pressed his ear against the door to listen to see when Filch would leave. "Quick, tell me."

"Say please," Peeves said.

"Don't mess with me, Peeves. Now where did they go?"

"Shan't say nothing if you don't say please," Peeves said in his annoying singsong voice.

"All right please."

"Nothing. Ha. Told you I wouldn't say nothing if you didn't' say please!" Then, still laughing, Peeves whooshed away and Filch began cursing in rage.

"He thinks this door is locked," Harry whispered until he suddenly felt someone tugging on his bathrobe. "What?" He whirled around only to find himself gazing at the very reason why this portion of the third floor was forbidden; in front of them was a three headed monstrous dog with six mad eyes fixed on them and saliva hanging from yellowish fangs.

Harry firmly decided he would take Filch over death any day.

But when he tried to open the door, he realized that it had locked again when they closed it behind them. Before Hermione, who had turned with wand in hand, could unlock it, the three dogs lunged at them. Suddenly, Harry yelped as he found himself sinking through the door; the sensation of wood sliding through his body was an unpleasant experience.

He, Hermione and Ron fell unceremoniously on the floor in front of the door just as a thud sounded on the other side. Quickly scrambling to their feet, they turned as one to look at their rescuer. Phantom was floating in front of them. "You three are so lucky I saw you leave Gryffindor tower and decided to follow you," he said.

Harry, Hermione and Ron were too scared by what they just saw to respond.

"You should get back to your common room before Filch finds you. I'll keep Peeves from noticing you but you'd better go now," Phantom added.

Harry pulled himself from his fear-induced trance as Phantom's words reminded them that they didn't know where Filch was and that he could walk in on them at any moment. "Thanks," he said to Phantom before he, Ron and Hermione took off running not noticing the surprised look in Phantom's eyes as they fled.

They arrived on the seventh floor and, panting, came to a stop in front of the Fat Lady's portrait.

"Where on earth have you all been?" the Fat Lady demanded.

"Never mind that, pig snout," Harry panted. The portrait swung open and the three of them hurried into the common room before collapsing exhausted on armchairs.

"What do they think they're doing? Keeping a thing like that locked up in a school? We're lucky Phantom showed up or we'd be that thing's next meal," Ron gasped.

Hermione got her breath back. "You don't use your eyes, do you?" She snapped. "Didn't you see what it was standing on?"

"I was too busy looking at its teeth," Ron exclaimed.

"It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something," Hermione said before she stood up, glared at them and added, "I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed—if not for Phantom—or worse, expelled. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed." With one last glare, she stalked toward the stairs leading to the girl's dormitory.

Ron stared after her with his mouth open but Harry was thinking about what Hermione said.

\/\/\/\/\/

In another part of Gryffindor Tower, Danny, phasing into the bathroom and shifting forms, was thinking about the same thing; the three-headed dog and what Hermione said. It was guarding something but Danny didn't know what it was guarding. Sighing, he decided he'd tell Sam and Tucker tomorrow; maybe they could help him figure out why a three-headed dog was being kept in the school.

He walked out of the bathroom and headed toward his bed glad to see that everyone was still asleep. Lying down on his bed, Danny closed his eyes but he found his dreams were fixated on the three-headed dog and on the trapdoor that Hermione mentioned she saw.

The following morning, Danny told Sam and Tucker about what he discovered the night before while keeping an eye on Harry, Hermione and Ron after he explained why Hermione was with them to begin with. He told them about Filch and Peeves and, finally, the three headed dog and the trapdoor Hermione said it was on.

"So Hermione said it was guarding something?" Tucker asked as they walked toward the Great Hall a few paces behind Harry and Ron who were discussing what happened the day before as well. Danny had also overheard them talking about a package that Hagrid had picked up in Gringotts as well as about an attempted break-in that Danny only remembered being mentioned since school began.

"Could it be that package Harry's talking about?" Sam whispered; she and Tucker overheard the same thing that Danny did.

"It's possible," Danny said.

His ghost sense went off and he looked up as Sir Nicholas floated over to join him. "Hey Sir Nicholas," he greeted the ghost of Gryffindor house.

"Mr. Fenton," Sir Nicholas said and Danny frowned when he heard a mix of disapproval and pride dripping off the ghost's voice. "May I speak to you in private?"

"Uh sure. I'll see you two in the Great Hall."

Sam and Tucker, their confusion evident through the links, nodded before walking past Danny and Sir Nicholas. Sir Nicholas led Danny to a small area away from the students who were heading to breakfast that morning. He turned to face Danny before folding his arms across his chest.

"Care to explain, Phantom?" he demanded.

Danny blinked. "What are you talking about?" he said confused.

"You know what I am talking about. The Bloody Baron said he spotted you with Peeves and with three first year students who were not supposed to be in the corridors last night."

Danny rubbed the back of his neck and remained silent.

Sir Nicholas sighed. "He also said that he saw you rescue the first year students," he said. "But it still begs the question; why where the four of you out of your common room that late?"

Danny folded his arms across his chest. "I was just keeping an eye on Harry, Hermione and Ron. As for why they were outside after curfew, I don't know." It was a lie but Danny wasn't going to betray them by telling on them even to Sir Nicholas.

Sir Nicholas sighed. "I get the feeling that you do know but you have no desire to betray your friends. You did save their lives, which is why I am proud of you, but you should not have let them get that far to begin with," he said.

"I lost them when I was helping Neville since he forgot the password and, by the time I found them, Peeves had just revealed their location and they ran again." It wasn't entirely a lie but, again, Sir Nicholas didn't have to know the entire truth.

The ghost of Gryffindor House watched him for a moment. "Very well but you must understand that while you are not bound by the rules in your ghost form, your human form is. However, as we have agreed to keep your secret, you will not get into trouble. I suggest that you not let this happen again. Just because you cannot get into trouble in accordance with the rules of Hogwarts does not mean you cannot get into trouble with us."

"You're kidding," Danny said eyes wide.

"I am not, Phantom," Sir Nicholas said. "You are here because of our permission alone. That means we have the right to punish you if you abuse the privileges you get because of your ghost half. If we must punish you for that then that is what we will do. Understand?"

"But if I hadn't gone then they could've been killed," Danny protested.

"You should have insisted that they go back to their common room or, better yet, told a teacher," Sir Nicholas said firmly. "You are not above the rules in your human form and you are not going to be above the rules in your ghost form either. Do you understand?

Danny sighed but Sir Nicholas was right. "I understand," he said.

"Good, I thought you would. Now, you may join your friends," Sir Nicholas said before he floated off and Danny watched him go for a moment before he made his way to the Great Hall thinking about what Sir Nicholas just told him.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: well, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter

Darth: what's going to happen in the next chapter?

Danny: oh, can I say?

Blaze: sure

Danny: Halloween, some trouble between Danny and Draco, detention and an accident possibly

Darth: so it'll either cover all of that or it'll just cover the events of Halloween?

Blaze: possibly. Oh and I'm thinking of doing another HP/DP crossover that uses the idea of Harry and Danny being twins (yeah I know it's been done before but every story out there has been done before and if I do it then I'll make it as original as possible). If anyone's interested, let me know 'cause I'm probably gonna write it just for the heck of it.

Darth: cool

Blaze: yup, so please review and I will post the next chapter soon