Danny thought about a great solution for his dilemma. Duplication should do the trick. That way he can celebrate Christmas even with two parties. After all, every duplicate is him, not just a part, so no one will be offended.

However Harry was worrying Danny. He barely spoke, came down only to eat. Ron told Phantom that they learned about Mr. Weasley being attacked from him. Because Harry saw it. From the snake's point of view. Maybe that was the reason, depression? Hard to pinpoint what he was feeling and what he thought about, but it was certainly nothing good.

Danny went to Buckbeak's room, where Harry was hiding, along with Hermione. Mrs. Black started to scream, hearing them approach. He just set part of her portrait on fire, just to make her silent. And it worked, he scared her beyond measure, making Danny smile in pleasure of final silence. Hermione started to hammer hard on the door.

"I know you're in there," said Hermione's voice, "Will you please come out? I want to talk to you"

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked her, pulling open the door as Buckbeak resumed his scratching at the straw-strewn floor for any fragments of rat he may have dropped, "I thought you were skiing with your mom and dad?"

"Well, to tell the truth, skiing's not really my thing," said Hermione, "So, I've come here for Christmas", There was snow in her hair and her face was pink with cold, "But don't tell Ron. I told him skiing's really good because he kept laughing so much. Mum and Dad are a bit disappointed, but I've told them that everyone who is serious about the exams is staying at Hogwarts to study. They want me to do well, they'll understand. Anyway," she said briskly, "let's go to your bedroom, Ron's mom has lit a fire in there and she's sent up sandwiches"

"Mm, just imagine, Harry, how delicious they are," Danny said, making Harry's stomach to grumble. He hadn't breakfast today.

Harry followed them back to the second floor. When he entered the bedroom, he was rather surprised to see both Ron and Ginny waiting for them, sitting on Ron's bed.

"I came on the Knight Bus," said Hermione airily, pulling off her jacket before Harry had time to speak, "Dumbledore told me what had happened first thing this morning, but I had to wait for term to end officially before setting off. Umbridge is already livid that you lot disappeared right under her nose, even though Dumbledore told her Mr. Weasley was in St. Mungo's and he'd given you all permission to visit. So ..."

She sat down next to Ginny, and the two girls, Ron and Danny all looked up at Harry.

"How're you feeling?" asked Hermione.

"Fine," said Harry stiffly.

"Oh, don't lie, Harry," she said impatiently, "Ron and Ginny say you've been hiding from everyone since you got back from St. Mungo's"

"They do, do they?" said Harry, glaring at Ron and Ginny. Ron looked down at his feet but Ginny seemed quite unabashed.

"Well, you have!" she said, "And you won't look at any of us!"

"It's you lot who won't look at me!" said Harry angrily.

"Maybe you're taking it in turns to look, and keep missing each other," suggested Danny, grinning.

"Very funny," snapped Harry, turning away.

"Oh, stop feeling all misunderstood," said Hermione sharply, "Look, the others have told me what you overheard last night on the Extendable Ears..."

"Yeah?" growled Harry, his hands deep in his pockets as he watched the snow now falling thickly outside, "All been talking about me, have you? Well, I'm getting used to it"

"We wanted to talk toyou, Harry," said Ginny, "but as you've been hiding ever since we got back..."

"I didn't want anyone to talk to me," said Harry, who was feeling more and more nettled.

"Well, that was a bit stupid of you," said Ginny angrily, "seeing as you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels"

Harry remained quite still as the impact of these words hit him. Then he wheeled round.

"I forgot," he said.

"Lucky you," said Ginny coolly.

"I'm sorry," Harry said, and he meant it, "So ... so, do you think I'm being possessed, then?"

"Well, can you remember everything you've been doing?" Danny asked, "Are there big blank periods where you don't know what you've been up to?"

"No," Harry said.

"Then Baldie hasn't ever possessed you," said Danny simply, "When you are possessed, you can't remember what I'd been doing for hours at a time. You'd find yourself somewhere and not know how you got there"

-Later-

Sirius's delight at having the house full again, and especially at having Harry back, was infectious. He was no longer their sullen host of the summer; now he seemed determined that everyone should enjoy themselves as much, if not more than they would have done at Hogwarts, and he worked tirelessly in the run-up to Christmas Day, cleaning and decorating with their help, so that by the time they all went to bed on Christmas Eve the house was barely recognisable. The tarnished chandeliers were no longer hung with cobwebs but with garlands of holly and gold and silver streamers; magical snow glittered in heaps over the threadbare carpets; a great Christmas tree, obtained by Mundungus and decorated with live fairies, blocked Sirius's family tree from view, and even the stuffed elf-heads on the hall wall wore Father Christmas hats and beards.

But that wasn't the end of his happiness. Danny prepared one wonderful present for both Sirius and Harry. That's why he was currently walking down the streets of London. He WAS getting weird looks from people around, but that wasn't surprising. He was dressed as noble as he could by wizarding standards. Plus, he changed his look a bit. He opened the telephone-box door, stepped inside and reached for the receiver.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business," female voice sounded.

"Lord Phantom seeks an audience with the Minister," Danny said seriously.

"Th-thank you," the woman stuttered.

When he got down, he was standing at one end of a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. The peacock blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that kept moving and changing like some enormous heavenly noticeboard. The wall's on each side were panelled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them. Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge from one of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh; on the right-hand side, short queues were forming before each fireplace, waiting to depart.

"E-excuse me, sir," said shy witch in the reception area. Danny looked at her, "I need to check your wand and ring for c-confirmation"

"I don't have a ring," Phantom handled her another end of his cane, "but if something will happen with my Lord symbol, you will come to regret it," he threatened. She gulped and took it, not noticing how Danny's eye flashed green. Witch then wrote something on the piece of parchment, which became a paper plane and flew somewhere. She handled the cane back.

"Minister will be here shortly, Lord Phantom," she said. Reporters nearby were alredy nearby, scribing something furiously. He sure is going to be the huge news. Funny thing is nobody recognized Work in the new Lord.

"Now there is a problem, good sir," said little man in green clothes said, coming closer with his escort. So that's the Minister, huh? "But we don't know any wizarding family named Phantom," Danny pointed his cane at the man, scaring him for a moment.

"Of course you don't, my ancestors had another last name," he said, "I have the same symbol though. Look at the handle," people did as was told and gasped in fright at the scull drawn on it.

"A-and w-why are you h-here, Lord Da..."

"You better watch your mouth, I don't like to be called like that. Now for the issue I'm here..."

"Issue, sir?" Funny, how everyone called him sir, despite the fact that he is obviously younger than them.

"The fact that you threw an innocent man in Azcaban for twelve years. I'm here to clear the name of one Sirius Black"

-Laaterr-

Harry awoke on Christmas morning to find a stack of presents at the foot of his bed and Ron already halfway through opening his own, rather larger, pile.

"Good haul this year," he informed Harry through a cloud of paper, "Thanks for the Broom Compass, it's excellent; beats Hermione's--she got me a homework planner"

Harry sorted through his presents and found one with Hermione's handwriting on it. She had given him, too, a book that resembled a diary except that every time he opened a page it said aloud things like: "Do it today or later you'll pay!"

Once the residents of Grimmauld Place had eaten their Christmas lunch, the door opened loudly and Danny came inside, grinning widely, but looking excausted.

"Danny, where have you been all this morning?" Mrs. Weasley asked, putting the plate with food in front of his seat.

"In the Ministry," he said. Everyone was surprised.

"What were you doing there?" Sirius asked. The grin on Danny's face became even wider.

"Getting a Christmas present for you and Harry," he said, flopping a newspaper on the table.

"Prophet?!" Ron asked dumbfounded. Phantom facepalmed.

"Seriously, Ron? I meant what is written inside," Harry and Sirius looked on the front page and their eyes widened in shock. Everyone else was waiting with curiosity.

"I...I'm free?" Asked Sirius, rereading the article again and shocking other people.

"Yep," Danny said, continuing to eat, "Dad helped me to find needed papers to prove your innocence," everyone was quiet, but they had smiles on their faces. Phantom chuckled.

"That's not all," he said, putting out the quill and piece of parchment, "If you sign this papers, than Sirius Black will become Harry Potter's legal guardian"

-Laater-

Kreacher, it transpired, had been lurking in the attic. Sirius said he had found him up there, covered in dust, no doubt looking for more relics of the Black family to hide in his cupboard. But he surprised house elf by his cheery attitude towards him nevertheless. Sirius, as well as Harry, were too happy to care about him. Elf was still wary near Danny and was too afraid to make a single insult to half ghost.

"Harry, dear," said Mrs. Weasley poking her head into his and Ron's bedroom, where the pair of them were playing wizard chess watched by Hermione, Ginny and Crookshanks, "could you come down to the kitchen? Professor Snape would like a word with you"

Harry did not immediately register what she had said; one of his castles was engaged in a violent tussle with a pawn of Ron's and he was egging it on enthusiastically.

"Squash him, squash him, he's only a pawn, you idiot. Sorry, Mrs. Weasley, what did you say?"

"Professor Snape, dear. In the kitchen. He'd like a word"

Harry's mouth fell open in horror. He looked around at Ron, Hermione and Ginny, all of whom were gaping back at him. Crookshanks, whom Hermione had been restraining with difficulty for the past quarter of an hour, leapt gleefully on to the board and set the pieces running for cover, squealing at the top of their voices.

"Snape?" said Harry blankly.

"Professor Snape, dear," said Mrs. Weasley reprovingly, "Now come on, quickly, he says he can't stay long"

"What's he want with you?' said Ron, looking unnerved as Mrs. Weasley withdrew from the room, "You haven't done anything, have you?"

"No!" said Harry indignantly, racking his brains to think what he could have done that would make Snape pursue him to Grimmauld Place.

A minute or two later, he pushed open the kitchen door to find Sirius and Snape both seated at the long kitchen table, glaring in opposite directions. The silence between them was heavy with mutual dislike. A letter lay open on the table in front of Sirius.

"Er," said Harry, to announce his presence.

Snape looked around at him, his face framed between curtains of greasy black hair.

"Sit down, Potter"

"You know," said Sirius loudly, leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling, "I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here, Snape. It's my house, you see"

An ugly flush suffused Snape's pallid face. Harry sat down in a chair beside Sirius, facing Snape across the table.

"I was supposed to see you alone, Potter," said Snape, the familiar sneer curling his mouth, "but Black-..."

"I'm his guardian," said Sirius, louder than ever. Snape blinked.

"What?"

"Danny went to the Ministry and proved my innocence. We also signed needed papers"

"The Headmaster has sent me to tell you, Potter, that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term"

"Study what?" said Harry blankly.

Snape's sneer became more pronounced.

"Occlumency, Potter. The magical defence of the mind against external penetration. An obscure branch of magic, but a highly useful one"

Harry's heart began to pump very fast indeed. Defence against external penetration? But he was not being possessed, they had all agreed on that ...

"Why do I have to study Occlu...thing?" he blurted out.

"Because the Headmaster thinks it a good idea," said Snape smoothly, "You will receive private lessons once a week, but you will not tell anybody what you are doing, least of all Dolores Umbridge. You understand?"

"Yes," said Harry, "Who's going to be teaching me?"

"I am," answered Danny, coming from behind. Harry was surprised.

"You?"

"I managed to keep away the Sorting Hat and you are surprised?" He smirked.

-Laater-

The group returned to Hogwarts on the Knight Bus. It was...rocky ride. Danny threw up the second they walked out of the transport. Danny splitted with his friends. People were curious about him. Everyone was curious about Lord Phantom, and nobody even suspected that they were the same person, despite only slight difference in appearance. Danny just said that he and Phantom are related.

"Hey, Danny," Luna greeted, smiling. No one saw her that happy before.

"Hello, Luna," Phantom smiled as well.

"Had a good Christmas?" She asked.

"Yeah, not bad"

"Mine was pretty quiet. Dad really liked Snorkack, he is going to add her photo to the next issue!" Luna said in excited tone.

"Really?"

"Yes, he will even mention you"

"Wow, say thanks from me then," Danny smiled, then added, "Luna, may I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"There's another Hogsmeade trip next month, on Valentine Day..."

"Is this a date?" She asked tilting her head.

"Well...No...I mean yes...I mean if you want to"

"I'd love to"

-Laterrr-

Occlumency lessons should take place in Snape's classroom. Joy. Danny was waiting for Harry to arrive with a some dread. He certainly wouldn't like his method. He walked inside the room, smiling slightly.

"What's up?" Danny asked.

"Oh...I," he blushed.

"It's Cho, isn't it?" He blushed even redder, causing Danny to chuckle,  "I see, well, take a seat," Phantom gestured to the chair.

"So, Old Man wants me to teach you"

"And why does Professor Dumbledore think I need it?" said Harry. Danny shrugged.

"Voldemort is highly skilled at Legilimency"

"What's that?"

"It is the ability to extract feelings and memories from another person's mind..."

"He can read minds?" said Harry quickly, his worst fears confirmed.

"Don't worry about it much, that's why we are here, right?"

"So he could know what we're thinking right now?"

"Baldie is at a considerable distance and the walls and grounds of Hogwarts are guarded by many ancient spells and charms to ensure the bodily and mental safety of those who dwell within them," said Danny with mighty voice, "Time and space matter in magic, Harry. Eye contact is often essential to Legilimency. The evidence suggests that at times, when your mind is most relaxed and vulnerable, when you are asleep, for instance, you are sharing the Voldemort's thoughts and emotions. Old Man thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Snakeface"

"But why does Professor Dumbledore want to stop it?" Harry asked, "I don't like it much, but it's been useful, hasn't it? I mean ... I saw that snake attack Mr Weasley and if I hadn't, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't have been able to save him, would he?"

"I dunno, Harry, but...Better be safe than sorry, right?" Harry nodded numbly.

"Alright, that's the thing you wouldn't like, my method"

"What is it?" He asked wary.

"Well...I need to possess you," Danny said after taking a breath.

"WHAT?!" Harry shouted.

"Hear me out! If you will be able to knock me out of your body, then you will have nothing to be afraid of!" Danny said, sighing, "I'm not fond of it as well, I hate to possess anyone, but it needs to be done"

"Alright," Harry said, sighing as well after some time. Danny nodded.

"Your secrets are safe, I don't have a glimpse on memories, except the strong ones. Now, you will feel a presence inside of you. Use all your will to force me out. Ready?"

Harry nodded and immediately felt a presence, right as Danny told. He tried to force him out. But it was hard to stand against King of Ghosts. Harry then saw only darkness, then classroom came into view. He glanced at Danny, who had a shocked look on his face.

"Eh, is everything alright?" Harry asked. Phantom shook his head.

"You did quite well for the first time. You managed to keep me outside for some time, not kicking me out, though. Let's try again"

Danny tried to change the topic. How was he supposed to tell Harry that he is Horcrux?

A.N. Hey, I started another story, check it out.