Danny stared at the box of vials. Jazz's final present. He picked up one of them and stared at the deceptively inert liquid. He had read her letter, once it didn't feel like his core was being dropped into acid whenever thoughts of her came up. He have yet to consummate his marriage with Elsa. For whatever reason, both he and Elsa decided to wait and focus on their family first.

It was the right decision, born of instinct.

The wedding was so happy. Jazz was brilliant. She was talking, singing, dancing, and living. But Danny had experienced so much pain that he knew that something so wonderful was sure to be followed by something horrible. And Elsa...she just seemed to know. She had spent as much time with Jazz on her finals days awake. Then when Jazz collapsed, she had done her best sticking by his sister's side.

But she knew that there was no stopping death.

Danny remembered waking up in cold sweat, feeling the cold touch of death passing through his home. He remembered immediately running to Jazz. Remembered Elsa following behind him and heading straight for him instead of his unresponsive sister. In his distress, he had felt resentment towards her calmness. But that moment passed faster than a blink when he saw her eyes.

She knew. She had lost more than he ever did. She had attend more funerals of her own loved ones than he did. She knew his pain more than anyone else but she also knew that she can't let him continue to hurt Jazz's body. So she attend to him instead of one who had left. She supported him when Harry was still confused. Ellie left, unable to handle the pain of Jazz's death. Dan fell quiet and unresponsive though Danny saw him sitting in front of Jazz's closed door a few times. He had stayed with his estranged sister while Danny had to painfully pull away, hoping to keep her alive for a while longer.

Elsa was his only pillar during those dark days after her passing. She stood strong for both him and Harry. When Harry finally understood that Jazz wasn't coming back, it was hard for Danny. He didn't know what to say or how to explain. But Elsa showed him the way. She picked up the parts that Danny couldn't and gathered their son along with his heart. The days that followed, she continued to be the sole pillar of strength in their home. Slowly, she healed them. Even Dan was less angry around her.

She was the best decision he ever made. She didn't berate him or force him to stand back up. It was every man's fear; to have their weakest moment used against them. But Elsa was compassionate. She waited. She silently supported him. When he felt that the road forward was too much, she was there. Silently reminding him that he have much to continue for. Simply spending time in his office with Harry was enough for Danny. She was patient and gentle. Instead of telling him, without a word she motivated him to be strong.

Could a man fall in love over and over?

If before he fell shallowly for her physical beauty, later her fell for her motherly nature towards his son, then falling for the idea that she was to be his wife, now he found himself fully falling for her as a person. She might not be what he wanted, but she was precisely what he needed.

He won't have ever sought her out if not for Jazz.

And now, Jazz left him one final thing to do to solidify his family as a unit. She had commissioned a potion that will work like a magical adoption that will make Harry truly Danny and Elsa's. Danny wasn't sure how it would work but seeing Clockwork's stick-it-note inside the box told him enough. This was the right road to take. He stroke a thumb over the vial's smooth surface.

He looked at the portrait that he had commissioned a ghost to paint of him and his whole family. Even Plush Dan was included, hugged tight by Harry and looking as grumpy as the grumpiest cat. Spooky sat on Danny's shoulder, proud and regal for an owl. He was completely fearless of Danny's ghostly nature. He partly wondered if the owl was actually a ghost in the form of an owl. Elsa was dressed in her Spirit Dress, looking fey and ethereal beside him. Jazz sat in the chair with Harry standing beside her. Ellie stood close on Danny's other side. As for him? He commissioned a ghost because he was using his Ghost King form for the portrait.

It was the typical family portrait.

He smiled, "I'll do it, Jazz,"

She knew that it was only a matter of time that the rest of the world learn about Harry's adoption by Danny. So far, the people who saw Harry didn't see him as Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, because Elsa have been very careful in dressing him. Making sure that his scar was hidden at all time. Since then, no one tried kidnapping him. The scare only happen once.

Danny wasn't even sure if the blood ward that Jazz had held up for Harry will hold with him as he wasn't fully human. Perhaps she had thought of this too. Thus, the magical adoption.

Harry's birthday was soon. He knew that he will have to do this before presenting the adoption papers to the Ministry and some attention seeker will blab it out.

"Danny? Are you coming down for lunch?"

Danny looked at his wife. Hie beautiful and patient wife. Who need someone who can kick his ass when she can sway him with just a smile? Elsa won't be kicking his ass but she can certainly kick his heart if he wasn't careful. She was the Queen in his life and he would give the world to her if she ask him. He smiled, "Coming,"

He put the vial back into the box, careful with it.

Elsa stared at the box as he joined her, "When are we doing it?"

Danny answered, "Harry's birthday,"

"I see,"

He looked at her and stared at her neck. With his mourning passing by slowly, and with his new realization regarding Elsa, he found himself hungry for more than just hugs and kisses. Unfortunately, romance will have to wait as Harry needed their focus more. He will have to settle being lonely at night. But he can ask one thing, "When will you move into my room?"

Elsa paused at the final step, "What?"

Danny smiled, "Elsa, we can't exactly sleep separate forever, you know?"

Elsa blinked, "But we have our own rooms?"

Danny realized something. Married couples in the past, especially rich ones, tended to sleep in separate rooms. Only peasants will sleep in one bed. He hummed, "I want you in my room,"

She blushed, "W-won't you get annoyed with me in there every night?"

He can't help but grin at that, "What's wrong with having you in my room every night? We are married, not engaged. Besides, Harry will be so confused because parents these days sleeps in one room," He whispered against her ear, "We need to set a good example for Harry, remember?"

Elsa pulled away, face flushed red, "I'll think about it,"

She then made her escape. Danny chuckled at the sight of her all but fly to the dining room. He followed slowly behind her and listened as Harry told her about his music lesson. He was really loving the violin but lately he was training his vocals with Elsa. Danny can hear them in his office and he enjoyed the audio reminder that he wasn't alone. It can be shrill at times but Harry was just starting so Danny will just have to suffer through it.

During lunch, Danny asked, "Harry?"

Harry looked at him, swallowing him food, before answering, "Yes, Dad?"

Danny put down his utensils, "I have a very important question to ask you. Come to my office after lunch,"

Harry looked at Elsa worriedly but she only gave him a smile, encouraging him, "Okay,"

Then lunch continued as normal. Danny spent that time arranging the things he wanted to say to his son. This was an honor. Every parents should feel that having a child in their life as an honor. Because raising one's own child was one responsibility that cannot be replicated in any shape or form. Not as an educator or as an outsider. Because a child was a gift and should be treated as such. Regardless of what child hating people say.

Throughout last year, Danny was anxious about raising Harry. He didn't know what he was doing. He only managed to make it with Jazz's help. Her wisdom raising Lily and Petunia and her knowledge on psychology helped him a lot. And when Elsa entered the picture, he learned from her as well. He became more involved with Harry as more than just an Uncle. Elsa showed him how to be patient with Harry and still educate him even when he was challenging that same patience. She taught him that being a parent was more than being friends. He was the one to guide Harry, to nurture him, to raise that child into a man. He cannot be a friend all the time.

Danny have heard stories of parents that wanted to be friends with their children. Good for them. But those children often time disrespect the parents when it was clear that what they were doing was wrong. Because they grew up without a parental hierarchy. Friends can disrespect each other but not with parents. Respect must be earned, yes, but a child's respect must be built upon with actions by the parents growing up. After all, they relied on the adults to survive. But as they grow older, that childish respect will waver as they started seeing the flaws in their elders and it was only their shared experience growing up that will hold that respect in place. Harry was fortunately a reasonable child and being his friend was easy. But he also have his moments of stubbornness and that was when Danny learned to discard the friend and be a father. That was when he taught his son to respect him as his elder. Just like how he watched Elsa did it.

She was friendly and affectionate but she was also strict. She put her foot down when Harry was clearly making a mistake or misbehaving. Because as much as they wanted to indulge him being a child, he was growing and time will fly. Before long, he will grow into a man and their job was to make sure that he actually grow into a man and not stuck as a child in a man's body. Correcting him then would be a battle.

Not that he had figured everything out. He was sure that he would make a mistake here and there. But fortunately, he have his experiences as a teenager to rely on when Harry reach his puberty. And as a teenager, Danny had done it all. And just because he had done it all does not mean that Harry should experience the same mistakes he made. Wisdom was learning from mistakes made but greater wisdom was learning from the mistakes that others made. Because some mistakes...there was no walking away from it.

Just look at Danny.

He was a literal dead man walking.

Harry joined him in the office with Elsa and Danny gestured for the boy to join him on the couch. He jumped onto the couch and sat there, staring at him with apprehension. Elsa sat behind him. Danny smiled and cupped his little face. He had never thought that he would ever have a child of his own and he wasn't sure if he and Elsa could even have a child of their own. Harry was a miracle left behind by his sister and he wanted to cherish the boy unlike anything else in this world.

He said, "Harry, I want you to know that you are a precious, precious boy to me. More than just a part of Jazz she left for me, you are my family. I want to adopt you as my own and not just my nephew. I want you truly as my own son. Would you like that?"

Harry blinked, "But I thought I'm already your son?"

Danny smiled, "In our heart, yes. But I haven't send in the papers so no one can say that we are not family. There are other relatives out there, like the Dursley, that can demand to have you put with them. I want to prevent that. I am too distantly related to you, at least according to their understanding, that I should be the last choice. However, these people are not right for you. That is why Jazz summoned me for you,"

Harry nodded, "I don't want other people! I want you and Mum to be my Dad and Mum!"

Danny chuckled, "Good to know," He kissed Harry's forehead, hating the tingle of that taint in his scar against his lips, "Precious boy," He then looked at Elsa, "Can you bring me the box in my drawer?"

Elsa nodded and walked to his table. After a moment, she returned with the box. Danny accepted the box and showed the vials to Harry, "Jazz left something important for us,"

Harry looked at it, "What are they?"

Danny smiled, "These potions will make us a true family. I will be your father and Elsa will be your mother. It may not be as great as if we make you like your Mama and Papa. But it will register us as such,"

Harry tilted his head, "I don't understand?"

Danny patted his head, "It's alright. These things are complicated,"

Harry sat quietly, his thinking face on. Although he was young, he have shown aptitude in comprehensive thinking. He and Elsa always encouraged him to think things through, to really understand what he was learning instead of just adsorbing it so he could regurgitate what he learned like a record but unable to apply it outside the box situation. It was a lesson that Danny learned much too late in life. After a while, he asked, "What about...what about my Mama and Papa?"

Danny nodded, "You will still be theirs. Taking this will not change that. You will keep your Potter name because I don't want those bad relatives on your father side to take advantage of you completely changing your name. Your Papa is related to some bad people. It is why you had to stay with the Dursley,"

Harry nodded, "Okay..."

Danny asked again, "Will you be ours?"

Harry looked behind to ask Elsa, "Will you be my Mum?"

Elsa smiled at him, kissing his brow away from the scar, "Only if you want me,"

She kept to her promise. She will only be whatever Harry wanted her to be. And if Harry wanted her as his mother, then a mother she will be. The boy remembered the same thing Danny did and his green eyes sparkled as he threw his arms around her, "I want you as my Mum!"

Danny watched as Elsa's face melted into pure happiness. She had been happy when Harry started wooing her to be his mother at the start of all this but this was different. Harry will, in a way, be hers. She understood that the potion will add a bit of her and a bit of Danny into Harry, making them truly connected. In a way, she will be a mother. He understood her happiness as she hugged her child tight, smiling with tears falling down her cheeks.

This was the very picture of motherhood.

They prepared a lot of things for the ritual. On the night when Harry was born, 5 years ago to that day, the trio stood in the entrance hall right where Danny was once summoned. An array was drawn on the ground with Pepper's help. Danny exerted his power over space, using his core, to feel the moment when they can take the potion. He stood quietly, vial in hand, before opening his eyes to watch them, "It's time,"

He used a sterile needle to prick their fingers and dropped their bloods into each vial, mixing them. After that, he looked into their eyes, "If you are uncertain, this is the moment to back away,"

Elsa shared a look with Harry before both raised their vials to their lips, eyes glowing with determination. Danny stared at them and felt tears burning behind his eyes, moved by their silent unity. He nodded and without another word, raised the vials, "Cheer,"

He threw his head back at the same time the others did. It took a moment but soon after he felt the energies inside him rebelling. He grabbed Elsa when she gasped and knelt down to grab Harry as he started crying in pain. It was expected by him but it hurt. After all, magic and ecto-energy were opposites. They were attempting the impossible.

Soon after, he heart Fawkes' thrill in his ringing ears...

Danny opened his eyes in his bed, Elsa beside him with Harry in the middle. Pepper must have moved them after they blacked out. He stared at them, feeling his core thrum with power. He also felt the thing that Thomas and Bertha once told him when they had Betty the Lunch Box ghost. The pull of kin and the knowledge that they were not alone. The sensation of Harry being his. The bond he felt towards Elsa, that pull that felt both intimate and sensual, acknowledging that they were mates.

He sighed and gathered them close, trying to sleep away the fatigue accumulated from the ritual...

He had not thought that he would feel this tired from the family bonding ritual. Clockwork had explained that this will gift him with magic, a gift that few ghosts ever wield. One such ghost was Desiree, but she was a genie as well as ghost.

He supposed that he can fly a broom now...

In the week following the ritual, Danny walked into the Ministry of Magic with papers in his hand. He headed for Family Registry Department. He stared at the rather short line and took his number, settling down for a long wait. He knew that adopting wasn't as linear and straightforward as most people think. Especially when it came to the likes of celebrities like Harry and 'creatures' like him.

He had read the Ministry's law on creatures and he disliked the lot of it. And they wondered why many of these 'creatures' joined Voldemort during his reign of terror. Their laws were too restrictive and practically cornering them into savagery. He ruminated on these problems and the future mutinies that will happen depending on how much more desperate then will force these creatures to until he heard his number was called.

Danny drew in deep breathes, "Diplomats, Danny. You can do this. You know how they think. You know what to expect. They won't know what to expect because they won't expect you," He whispered to himself as he made his way to the right door. He gripped his fist, "For Harry,"

Entering the office of one Erma Wingslet, he greeted the woman behind the desk, "Good afternoon,"

He stopped his himself from laughing at the double takes she made upon seeing him. He sat down on the chair across from her and the woman cleared her throat as she opened the files, "You are handing in your adoption form for Harry James...Potter..." Her eyes widened as she flicked them from the name to him and back to the name a few times. She cleared her throat, "S-sir, I do not appreciate my time being wasted-,"

Danny raised his hand, stopping her, and gestured, "I have the letters from his magical guardian, one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," He smiled a closed smile at her, "This is not wasting time. If anything, thinking that this is wasting time is wasting time. My time. Your time. You know how it goes," Ancients, he loved it when he could pull up a Clockwork.

Erma frowned and started to fully look through the files. She blinked at his registration, "Sir...you are..."

Danny smiled, knowing what she was looking at, "I know. I look good for my age, right?"

This time he gave her a toothy smile, flashing his fangs. He wasn't going to hide the fact that he wasn't human, anyway. If anything, this will give him an edge. He could sense that she was apprehensive and he was right when she started making 'calls' with those paper planes. He could taste the fight on his tongue.

Oh dear...it seemed that he will be stuck here for a while...

A few days later, the Daily Prophet exploded with stories of Harry Potter being adopted by someone named Dante Melinoe Khaos, a very powerful 'vampire' that can walk under the sun and have been around since the Roman invaded the Celts. There was some outrage but upon being revealed that their celebrated 'hero' was adopted through magical means prior to being adopted through the Ministry, there was precious little that they can do. There were a few families that tried reaching out to the Khaos but the barrier around the hill upon which the Shrieking Shack stood redirected all unknown letters back to their owners.

No one can reach Harry Potter-Khaos.

A few people saw Dante Khaos visiting Gringotts a few times but he didn't bring the Boy-Who-Lived with him. Also, his pictures were all hand drawn as any photos taken was ruined. Even though magical photos weren't like muggle photos and should be able to take the picture of vampires. Somehow, that managed to kick off one Gilderoy Lockhart from Witch Weekly's No. 1 Most Charming Wizard, even though he wasn't a wizard. Apparently, he was extremely pleasant to look at and many witches mourned the fact that he was a married man and not a single father. It was clear that these people thought to not only snatch a seemingly dashing and wealthy man but also to ride the coattail of Harry Potter-Khaos' fame.

A few journalists tried getting his attention to write about him but Dante was famous for his disappearing act. And any attempts to reach him at his home ended with their letters being turned back to them. The few that tried to sneak around found themselves running for their lives as the hill around the Shrieking Shack proved to be heavily haunted. It didn't matter what time of day they tried, they will be chased away by all sorts of 'spirits' and 'ghouls'. In the end, they spread the rumors that Dante practiced necromancy. When caught once to explain his stance on said rumor, he just gave them a fanged smile before escaping.