Title: Magical Alliance
Author: AkizukiSakura
Series: Yuugi-ou/Harry Potter/Cardcaptor Sakura
Genre: Romance/Fantasy
Rating: M/R
Pairing(s): Yami no Yuugi/Yuugi, Bakura/Ryou, Scorpius/Sakura, others pending.
Spoilers/Warnings: Since all three series referenced here are complete, let it be safe to assume that I might reference anything and everything. This is heavily plot divergent.
Disclaimer: Yuugi-ou belongs to Takahashi Kazuki-san. Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling. Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP. I own only the basic plot and make no monetary profit off this story.
Summary: With Voldemort gone, the wizarding world was allowed to release its collective breath. The danger seems to be over. So why are people who aren't even associated with wizards having visions that pertain to the hidden, magical world?
Notes: There are hints of pairings in this chapter that aren't listed above. Those will not change, either, but since they are not mentioned too much I deigned it unnecessary to list them under 'pairings'. It's been mentioned twice now that the Japanese words don't have to be italicized. However, as foreign words in a story, I've always been taught to italicize them – for example, Tamora Pierce italicizes foreign words in all of her books. I'd really like it if everyone read the author's notes at the end, too.

Italicized words represent thoughts unless they're in Japanese. Foreign words will be italicized as well as honorifics.

'…' represents telepathic communication.
"…" (non-italicized) represent spoken words.
Any necessary translations will be at the end of each chapter.


Chapter 4: Meeting and Settling

Still Yuugi's end of the link was closed and Atem didn't know why. Was Yuugi oblivious to his worry now? Atem appreciated that his lovable aibou had given him privacy to think without having to worry about the stray thoughts that crossed their link but what could Yuugi be doing that kept him from noticing just how worried his yami was getting?

Atem was no longer concerned with the fact that it would be hell trying to find Kaiba and the others later – Yuugi was and would always remain his first priority, even beyond his own safety. Passing a shop with caged animals on display, and another that appeared to be a tiny bookstore, Atem could still find no signs of his elusive hikari. He persisted in following the mental link and it was only slightly reassuring that it had not weakened. Wherever Yuugi was Atem knew his other was conscious and well… At least for now.


At first he hadn't realized he'd been separated from everyone. After closing the mental link with his yami Yuugi had turned his attention outward on all of the fascinating stores they were passing, violet eyes wide and curious. Some places, like "Flourish and Blotts", seemed completely normal in the sense that it sold books – and there was a stationery shop right next door that might have been normal had it not advertised things like "Color-changing Ink! Write in a Veritable Rainbow of Colors With Each Stroke of the Quill!" Others, like "Quality Quidditch Supplies", sold items that Yuugi didn't quite know what to think of. The brooms on display were not what Yuugi imagined when he thought of witches flying through the night.

It was only upon reaching what looked like an ice cream parlor that Yuugi discovered he didn't know any of the people around him. Starting in shock he gazed hurriedly about in the hopes of locating Hagrid or Seto, as they were the tallest in their group and thus the easiest to spot. Failing to do so Yuugi automatically reached for his link to his yami. Before he could lower the wall he'd erected to give Atem privacy, however, someone knocked into him. With a cry of shock he lost his grip on the mental link and went tumbling down to the cobbled stones of a side alley, landing hard on his side and scraping his palms. He sat up carefully, wincing at the throbbing in the arm he'd fallen on, and looked up into very cold black eyes.

"Standing in a daze near Knockturn Alley is…unwise," the man – for male he was – drawled bitingly and then, to Yuugi's utter surprise, offered a pale hand down to the fallen youth. Shakily Yuugi allowed the man to pull him to his feet. A jolt of something darted through him at the contact and he hastily dropped the man's hand, stepping back and rubbing his fingers. The man's lips tightened as he, too, cradled a hand still tingling with the odd sensation. "What was that?" he demanded icily of the youth, dark eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Yuugi had no clue what the man was saying to him, though his tone was very similar to Seto's when the CEO was irked about something. "I don't speak English," Yuugi said in Japanese with a sigh, expecting that this man wouldn't understand him but would at least realize Yuugi couldn't understand what he was saying, either. The man's brows rose in surprise.

"Well, I suppose it is fortunate that I speak and understand Japanese," he replied in the same language, shocking the Japanese youth yet again. He was scrutinizing Yuugi now, still cradling his hand – since Yuugi's hand had stopped tingling, though, the younger suspected that this man's would be fine, too. "You didn't answer my question," the man said finally.

Yuugi barely refrained from rolling his eyes but his expression must have conveyed his mild irritation – how in the gods' names was he supposed to answer a question if it was spoken in a language he didn't understand? Strangely enough the other man seemed more amused than angry. In spite of the other's foreboding appearance Yuugi found a small smile alighting on his lips and was relieved when the man offered a smirk in return; this man definitely reminded him of Seto, though perhaps with a sense of humor that showed a tiny bit easier than the CEO's. Yuugi bowed formally.

"I'm Mouto Yuugi," he introduced himself. "I'm sorry I was…um…occupied and in your way." He floundered a moment for the right words to describe what he was doing without the other man looking at him like he was crazy. The bow the man returned was distinctly British and slightly mocking but Yuugi took no offense to it – if anything it was his turn to show mild amusement in a faint smirk.

"So, Mouto-san," the man began, noting with amusement that Yuugi seemed surprised and pleased by the cultural way the man addressed him, "my question was: What was that? I do not believe I have ever received such a…shock when offering my assistance to a fallen boy, rare as the occasion may be." Yuugi tilted his head to one side, one hand rising automatically to his chin in thought.

"I don't really know," he said after several moments, clearly baffled. "Oh, and please call me Yuugi. This is the United Kingdom, not Japan." The man inclined his head in compliance. "I'm not sure what it was. Maybe it was…" a strange clash of our different magics? Yuugi started to say. He paused halfway through the speculation, though, peering through his long eyelashes up at the man scrutinizing him. Something in his mind warned him that it might not be such a brilliant idea to suggest to random strangers that his magic was different. Instead he shook his head. "I don't really know," he finished with a shrug, turning his impossibly purple gaze up to the taller man's.

This stranger wasn't as tall as Seto, Yuugi was slightly amused to note, but this man bore the same hands-off aura that Seto did and carried himself with the same air of arrogance. He was older than Yuugi, too – though nowhere near as old as Atem, if one counted the three thousand years of imprisonment. He gave off the same world-weary vibe as the former Spirit of the Puzzle did, though. It was a little strange.

To Yuugi's surprise the man stepped further into the alley and began to walk. If he hadn't glanced over his shoulder at Yuugi, a curious invitation present on his coal-black eyes, the youth would have thought he was being ignored. Instead Yuugi followed, cautious but sure that this man meant no harm. He fell into step beside the man, having to work a little harder to keep up. "What do you think it was?" he asked finally, as though this was nothing more than a scholarly debate. Obsidian eyes glanced back down at him, obviously picking up the air of curiosity around his younger acquaintance.

"A reaction," he said simply, stopping at a stall that looked to be selling jars of very strange ingredients. "Though of what, I don't know." Seeing Yuugi giving everything an intrigued look the man relaxed a little bit, his suspicions about this foreign youth lightening just slightly. Yuugi was likely a new student, if his reactions to basic potions ingredients were anything to go on – though why a clearly Japanese boy was here in Great Britain was beyond him. Yuugi certainly didn't act like he recognized anything in this stall.

"These are typically used in various potions," he answered the youth's unspoken inquiry. When Yuugi blinked up at him, clearly wanting more information, the man sighed almost agitatedly. "I –" he began, only to cut his comment off sharply when Yuugi abruptly stiffened, his amethyst gaze taking on a strangely blank cast. Instantly the man's guard was up, for the expression was eerily similar to that of a victim of the Imperius Curse.

Suddenly Yuugi snapped out of it, his countenance now sheepish as he turned away and gazed back down the way they'd come as though expecting someone. Several tense moments later another young man dashed around the corner of the alley, caught sight of Yuugi, scowled darkly, and hurried over to him.

Releasing the wand hidden in his robes the stranger observed this newcomer in silence, taking in the similarities between him and Yuugi. Both had hair that looked as though it belonged in some Muggle punk-rock group, though the newcomer's bore more gold in it than did Yuugi's. The newcomer – who was now lecturing Yuugi in Japanese on the hazards of wandering off alone in a foreign place – seemed a bit older, though. Perhaps it was the height difference – though the newcomer barely topped Yuugi by an inch or two – or perhaps it was the self-confidence that this new young man gave off in palpable waves.

Their eyes, however, were probably the most striking in their differences: Where Yuugi's were large, round, and an almost improbable shade of vivid purple this man's were narrowed, angled in an almost exotic tilt, and a deep scarlet in color. Also, where Yuugi gave off an aura of light and sunshine and spring this new youth was almost his opposite, his aura an organized mass of shadows and winter. Despite this personification, however, the man had the strangest feeling that Yuugi was like the moon and his new companion like the burning sun – perhaps it was because Yuugi was the color of soft, white beach sand and the newcomer was the darker bronze of sun-streaked desert dunes. It was all very startling.

Yuugi suddenly turned sheepishly to the man he'd followed down the alley. "Ah, I'm very sorry," he apologized. "I was with a group and got separated, and I hadn't realized I'd…" he hesitated a moment and glanced at his companion. This time both of their eyes went rather blank before they both looked back at the taller stranger, Yuugi still rather embarrassed and the other clearly mistrustful. "I hadn't realized I'd gotten separated," he finished, though the man had the feeling that wasn't what he'd initially meant to say.

The newcomer was leveling a strangely dark glower at him now and had wrapped possessive, slender fingers around Yuugi's equally small wrist, the contrast in their skin apparent. He tugged faintly, earning an exasperated look from Yuugi, who turned and bowed contritely. "I have to go. Atem is being rather…" he didn't finish the statement but his meaning was clear without elaboration from the way his older double seemed adamant that they leave. The newly-dubbed 'Atem' gave Yuugi's new friend another irate stare from burning crimson eyes before tugging the youth off.

It wasn't until Yuugi and Atem had finally relocated Hagrid and the rest of their group – both meekly bearing a scolding from the half-giant for wandering off – that Yuugi realized something important.

"He never gave me his name…"


Changing Japanese yen to the wizarding currency – Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts – didn't take as long as Seto had expected when he'd found a lack of computers in the bank. Even more shocking were the creatures that actually ran the facility. They had seemed to realize his mistrust of them and had apparently taken great delight in making him uncomfortable; to get back at them he'd named a sum far greater than the one he'd initially meant to give them to convert – he'd tacked on about four extra zeros at the last moment – just to see their reactions to his apparent wealth.

The fact that both Atem and Yuugi were decked in a decent amount of jewelry between them – Yuugi's in silver and Atem's in gold – didn't seem to help matters. It was a very smug Seto and his resigned companions who finally left the bank. Hagrid, usually so open and chatty, had wisely decided to say nothing of the proceedings to the CEO despite obviously bursting to do so.

Everyone decided it would be best to get Mokuba situated first and that they could get what they would need by going down his list. Obviously everyone needed wands but they would also need clothing to wear. Dumbledore had been rather implicit that they all wear robes – they didn't have to be black but he did want his teachers dressed properly. Yuugi and Atem had both sulked over their loss of leather until Ryou had suggested they merely wear the robes over their usual apparel.

Yuugi, Atem, Ryou, and Seto – as new teachers – also needed to purchase a decent stockpile of wizarding office supplies and would need to search through Flourish and Blotts for appropriate textbooks for each grade level of students. Hagrid was firm, however, in the fact that they should go get wands first and foremost and then they could split up to explore Diagon Alley.

Since Mokuba was a new student Ollivander, the owner of the "best wand shop arou'" according to Hagrid, said that he would start with the youngest of their group. They watched in somewhat stunned amusement as the ancient man demanded Mokuba's "wand hand" and began to take measurements. Since the wandmaker kept talking it took most of them several moments to realize that the tape measure was doing its job on its own.

Getting wands after that seemed to be a trial-and-error situation that ended with a number of bent boxes, broken vases, scorched stones, and one memorable incident in Yuugi's case where he'd managed to light the tip of Ollivander's robes on fire. Finally everyone received a wand, Ryou's taking the least amount of time and Seto's taking the longest. It ended up thus:

Yuugi: A surprisingly long wand of fifteen and a quarter inches that was made of willow with a phoenix-feather core. "Good for Charms," Ollivander remarked.

Atem: Long, but not as long as Yuugi's, at thirteen inches even, made of acacia wood with a dragon heartstring core. "A powerful wand suited for Transfiguration," Ollivander pronounced immediately.

Ryou: Mahogany, with a unicorn-hair core, the shortest wand at eleven and three quarters of an inch. "A quiet wand with the potential to do great things," the wandmaker intoned solemnly.

Bakura: "A good, solid wand meant for power. A stubborn wand," Ollivander remarked of the twelve and a half inch oaken wand also with a phoenix-feather core.

Mokuba: Slightly longer than Bakura's, at twelve and three quarters inches, Ollivander mused that this wand was "not overly abundant at any particular subject but has the potential to turn to defensive spellwork." This wand, too, boasted a dragon heartstring core and was made of mahogany.

Seto: "A difficult person to place. It shows in the wand that chose you, too. A wand meant more to have rather than to be used, though certainly powerful," Ollivander informed Seto of his thirteen and a half inch cherry wood wand with a phoenix-feather core.

Tiring of the silver-eyed man's endless comments Seto had snorted at Ollivander in the end and paid the wandmaker, obviously not putting too much stock into the old man's words. As though used to this attitude Ollivander gave Seto a hard look but said nothing. To everyone's surprise Seto seemed slightly unnerved by the opaque stare and was the first one to exit the dusty shop.

By the time the group had reached Flourish and Blotts to select textbooks and get Mokuba's required reading Seto was back to his normal, cynical self. The store had a remarkably well-stocked selection of books on various subjects that were organized by subject. After selecting the appropriate textbooks – for there was a section specifically for school textbooks – the group broke up to peruse the other books. No one was really very surprised when Yuugi ended up taking the most books to read, though Ryou had a rather impressive selection as well and even Seto had picked up a volume or two other than the textbooks he'd chosen for his students.

"I have to know my subject to teach it," Yuugi defended when Atem teased him about the stack of books Hagrid had mercifully shrunk to fit in his pocket – though Yuugi had kept one of them and was reading it as they walked, Atem's grip on his elbow keeping the younger duelist from any mishaps.

It was as they were casually exploring the Alley that they passed a magical menagerie. Yuugi and Atem saw the kitten at the exact same time. They glanced at each other, broke into matching grins, and immediately went inside – Seto grumbled at the delay but softened under the brown eyes of a small golden puppy. He resisted for all of twenty seconds before, muttering, entering the shop after his two rivals. A shop assistant went to the large display window, removed the kitten and the puppy, and ten minutes later all three came back out, Yuugi and Seto bearing a travel case each and Atem two bags of supplies. The former pharaoh had been gracious enough – meaning Yuugi had used The Eyes on him – to carry Seto's as well.

"Kumo," Yuugi and Atem replied in unison, flashing swift smiles at each other, when Mokuba asked what they were going to call the cat, an Egyptian Mau. No one dared to ask Seto what the golden puppy's name would be – the assistant said it didn't have a specific pedigree – and there was really no need. Seto was going to be without his husband for a while, after all.

They spent the rest of the day exploring Diagon Alley before Hagrid suggested that they return to the Leaky Cauldron, as Mokuba would be spending the next few days there and everyone else was expected at the castle for dinner and to settle in. No one said anything but Yuugi suddenly announced a desire to explore the inn to Hagrid, expressing curiosity. A significant look from lavender eyes between Mokuba and Seto had Ryou dragging Bakura off to find somewhere to be for the next ten minutes. Atem followed Yuugi more sedately, leaving the Kaiba siblings to a moment of privacy in the younger one's room.

Taking advantage of the lack of audience Seto pulled his younger brother into a loose hug. The raven-haired youth returned the embrace. Neither of them spoke for the moment before Seto broke the silence. "Stay out of trouble," he instructed his little brother. "Don't wander into any suspicious shops and make sure you spend your money wisely. Apparently we're expected to ride the train from the school to the station and back because the headmaster wants us to, since we're new teachers, so you won't be alone on the train."

Only in the sanctuary of his brother's arms did Mokuba allow his frame to sag with nervousness. Even so, however, he grinned up at Seto. "Try not to make people too mad at you, Niisama," he instructed mock seriously. He was rewarded with Seto's faint smirk and a tousling of his long black hair. Mokuba stepped out of his brother's embrace just as the rest of their companions drifted back into the room, Yuugi wearing a knowing smile that irritated Seto. Hagrid stumped into the room last, a familiar bag held in one humongous hand.

"Professor Dumbledore linked the fireplace in the room 'side the Great Hall at the castle to the Floo Network for just ten minutes so yeh kin all get to the castle tonight," he said Everyone else hid a smile at the glare both Bakura and Atem were leveling at the innocent-looking leather bag Hagrid carried; if the pharaoh and tomb-robber only knew how remarkably similar they looked right then…

Seto's expression was carefully blank and both Yuugi and Ryou looked amused. Hagrid coughed faintly. "Everyone got everythin'?" he asked, waiting for everyone to check their bags before he shrank them once more. He tossed a good handful of powder into the grate; emerald flames sprang up instantly and, one after another, the newcomers to Hogwarts' staff stepped into the fire and were whisked away.


Ryou's initial impression of Hogwarts was, first and foremost, of a British castle built probably in the thirteen or fourteen hundreds. In spite of its ancient state, however, the slight youth could tell that the magic flowing through the castle kept it in good shape and that the castle itself seemed almost sentient in the way curls and tendrils of its magic seemed to shape lightly around the newcomers. Ryou wasn't surprised that he could see the magic moving – his dueling deck was built on an occult theme from his experiences with such things, after all – and he observed how the castle reacted to everyone.

It brushed over him with the air of a mother inspecting a child's new playmate and seemed to find him suitable for he was connected to a web of magic that was so light he could barely feel it and probably would not have known it had happened had he not been watching. The castle was more wary of his yami and, from the expression on Bakura's face, the castle had every right to be; in the end it curled only a single tendril of magic around Bakura's wrist.

The castle seemed equally wary about Seto and was just as unobtrusive about the way it welcomed the new Arithmancy teacher, perhaps even less so for the thin thread of magic it attached to Seto wrapped lightly around the billionaire's finger and settled with that minimal contact. Atem received an interested pulse of magic from the castle that the ancient pharaoh, after a moment of surprised blinking, welcomed; like it had done to Ryou the castle layered a web of magical energy over Atem.

It was the castle's reaction to Yuugi that surprised Ryou the most. Unlike the tentative probes the castle had given everyone else, this time the magic spread thickly into a blanket of soothing spells and welcome and wrapped the former bearer of the Sennen Puzzle in a cocoon of protection and tenderness that was almost motherly in nature. Ryou expected Yuugi to become nervous. Instead the youth blinked once in surprise before laying a hand briefly on the chilled stones of the castle wall with a small, gentle smile. Ryou felt the castle nearly hum its pleasure at the contact. Well, well… This was certainly a new development…

Seto and Bakura's trials aside, it seemed as though Hogwarts had accepted the new teachers and caretaker.

"Oh, Hagrid, you've brought them," a new voice spoke up as the door to the antechamber opened. The voice clearly belonged to a woman, most likely an aged woman, but it bore a strictly no-nonsense tone that instantly pegged the woman as the type of teacher that cared deeply for her students without mollycoddling them. When she became visible Ryou looked her over carefully.

'Isn't she a bit old for you, my former host?' Bakura's voice spoke up in Ryou's mind, startling the youth. Against his will a blush rose to his cheeks even as he rolled his eyes at his lover.

'My thoughts were nowhere near the road you implied they had wandered down, Bakura,' Ryou rebuked calmly, ignoring his other's amusement as it flooded their link. It had taken several years for Ryou to fully comprehend Bakura's personality and several months after that to realize that Bakura teased him because he actually liked Ryou. He was able to speak more freely to Bakura now and able to distinguish between his yami's truly hurtful insults and the words he spoke as habit.

'As long as you know whom you belong to, hikari mine,' Bakura sent to his lover, grinning when the youth colored up again. 'Or do I need to reassert my dominance in our new rooms…?' Bakura purred, amber eyes dancing wickedly. Ryou bit his lip to suppress a rather embarrassing moan at the dark promise and forced his attention back onto the woman in time for her to introduce herself.

"…Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher here at Hogwarts. I am also the Head of Gryffindor House and the Deputy Headmistress. I have been given the task of making sure you are all escorted properly to your rooms." She waited a moment for Seto to translate what she'd said to Yuugi, Atem, and Bakura. McGonagall glanced at Hagrid, who was lingering uncertainly by the door. "Hagrid is our groundskeeper, as I'm sure he mentioned, and also our Care of Magical Creatures teacher. Hagrid, why don't you take our new caretaker and Divination teacher to their rooms?" Ryou, seeing Hagrid's expression light up and the faint smile the older woman hid, knew instantly that Minerva had a soft spot for the likable half-giant.

He didn't have much more time to ponder on this teacher, though, for he was soon taken with Bakura out into the castle, the groundskeeper pointing out various things to watch out for as he showed them they way. Shaking his head – vanishing stairs and moving portraits seemed to be normal here – Ryou paid more attention to the route, translating the hazards to his other as Bakura did not speak much English beyond a few colorful phrases. Knowing they were lovers Dumbledore had arranged for Ryou and Bakura to share a set of rooms that included a bathroom, bedroom, and living area under the promise that they would "behave".

Back in the antechamber Minerva was speaking to Seto, Yuugi, and Atem. "Since Seto's rooms are farther and a bit more complicated to reach I'll show him the way." She ignored the glare the blue-eyed man directed at her for addressing him by his first name. "Yuugi, Atem, if you go up the grand staircase your rooms are on the second floor." She then proceeded to give them directions, which Seto had to translate to them, on which hallways to take until Yuugi was hopelessly confused. "If you end up not knowing which way to go, stay where you are. I will be returning downstairs shortly to escort you if you still have not located your rooms."

Atem nodded – Yuugi only blinked between the Deputy Headmistress and his yami. Hoping that Atem knew the right way to go they watched as Minerva led Seto out of the room.

In the time it took for Minerva to show Seto to the Arithmancy classroom in one of the northern towers and the rooms adjoined to it – for the classroom connected to his office and his office connected to the living room of his suite – Seto became very annoyed by the brisk woman. Every time she addressed him by name he glared at her and every time he did so she ignored him until, finally, she stopped outside the door to his rooms.

"Professor Kaiba, you are no longer in Japan," she informed him dryly. "Here you will be addressed as 'Professor' by your students and 'Seto' by your associates. You are a teacher here, just as we all are, no better or worse than anyone else. Please refrain from glowering at me like a petulant child denied a biscuit every time I address you." With that Seto decided that he really detested this woman for her complete lack of respect for his wealth. Recalling his younger brother's words, though, Seto kept himself from saying anything for the moment. His teeth ground audibly with the effort.

Finally Minerva presented him with a map of the commonly used areas of the castle; a list of students who would be in each of his classes, organized by year; and another list for each year of students with what they should learn by the end of the term. "I expect your syllabus by the start of term and I need a list of the textbooks you chose so that I may place the appropriate order to Flourish and Blotts," she concluded. Stiffly he handed her a list of the books he'd decided on – Hagrid had suggested they write everything down – accepted the keys to his classroom, office, and suite, and bid the insufferable woman a frosty good night.

"Well!" Minerva remarked to thin air as she stared at the closed door. "I didn't know that Severus had a Japanese twin!"


'Atem… I think we're lost,' Yuugi sent to his yami after they'd been walking for almost a quarter of an hour. 'And somehow I feel like we're moving lower, not higher…'

"We are not lost, Aibou," Atem replied out loud, glaring at the portraits who watched their progress in silent curiosity. 'And you have been spending entirely too much time with the tomb-robber if you know when we are descending,' he added grumpily. Yuugi was tempted to point out that a person not knowing where they were or how to get where they were going was classified as being lost and that he was not spending too much time with Bakura but Atem had started muttering under his breath in hieratic in his frustration. Wisely Yuugi decided to keep his comments to himself.

It took another ten minutes of walking for Atem to growl an expletive – again in hieratic – under his breath. He leaned irately against a wall, glaring through his bangs at the endless hallway before them. "You know, Aibou, I think you may be – ack!" Atem started to grudgingly admit to being the slightest bit turned around – a pharaoh did not get lost, especially in a castle of all places – when the wall behind him dissolved long enough for him to fall through before becoming solid again. Yuugi gaped at the place his other had just been standing.

"Atem?!" he exclaimed, startled and afraid. When there was no answer he tried their mental link instead. 'Atem? Atem, where are you?'

It was several moments before his yami replied, long enough for Yuugi to begin to fret. 'I…am not sure, Yuugi. The air feels different here, though – I think I have somehow been transported to a much higher area than you. I will try to find a way back down by following our link, as I did this afternoon. Do nothing rash, Aibou', Atem warned. Even through his worry Yuugi smiled, touched by Atem's concern.

'I promise to be careful, Atem,' he replied before allowing his side of the link to fall silent, figuring that Atem would be better able to follow it without distraction. This time, however, he did not put up a mental barrier. It was tempting for Yuugi to keep walking along until he was able to find something that might be helpful but Yuugi lingered a moment in front of the strange vanishing wall. Like a cat it seemed quite contrary for, no matter how Yuugi pushed on it, the wall did not seem inclined to open for him like it had for Atem.

A hand suddenly clamping down on his shoulder shocked Yuugi enough that Atem was instantly in his mind to figure out what was wrong. Turning to see his assailant the thoughts Yuugi had been about to send to Atem faded into his astonishment. Yuugi's violet eyes went wide in surprise.

"You!" he gasped in shock, peering up into jet black eyes. The man he'd met in Diagon Alley stared down at him, his expression unreadable for several long moments. He did not release Yuugi's shoulder.

"Yuugi," he greeted coolly, his voice no more telling than his expression. "Would you mind explaining yourself?" he asked, sliding his hand down to grip the youth's bicep to tug him along. "I would very much like to know how you ended up in the dungeon so close to my office when I had assumed you to be a new student upon meeting you in Knockturn Alley."

Yuugi, stumbling to keep up with the man's long strides, felt a prickle of annoyance for being termed a child yet again by someone who didn't know him. He muttered something in Japanese that the man pretended not to hear, though it was certainly not flattering and was probably a phrase Yuugi had picked up from Jounouchi. "I'm not a student, I'm a teacher," Yuugi said indignantly. The man lifted a doubtful eyebrow at him before he opened a door and pulled Yuugi inside. Yuugi recognized it to be something like an office in the moments he had to examine the room before the man pressed him down into a chair and leaned against the large mahogany desk to scrutinize Yuugi, folding his arms over his chest. For some reason it felt like that dark gaze was driving deeply into his mind.

"You are a professor here," the man deadpanned in disbelief. Yuugi's cheeks colored darkly, knowing that the man was taking his hair and leather attire into consideration along with his stature and youthful appearance. About to reply to the man Yuugi paused to address Atem – the pharaoh was insistent in the back of his mind as he tried to figure out what had startled Yuugi.

'It's all right, Atem. I was just surprised because someone came up behind me. It's that man I met earlier today,' Yuugi started, trying to soothe his other. To his surprise it only seemed to worry Atem more.

'Yuugi, I told you to stay away from that man! There is a strange aura of darkness around him that puzzles and worries me, faded though it is. I –'

'I appreciate your worry, Atem, but I can take care of myself,' Yuugi interrupted, his mind-voice surprisingly cool. He felt Atem's surprise and mild hurt at being replied to in such a manner. Yuugi immediately felt appalled to have allowed his temper to flare up at his yami of all people. 'Atem… It's all right. Trust me, okay?' It was the one request Atem could never deny his aibou. Yuugi felt his other's resignation through their link but Atem quieted down, leaving Yuugi to deal with the man now waving a hand in front of his face. Yuugi blinked to clear his sight and looked up at the man.

"Ah… I'm sorry… Yes, I am. Dumbledore-sensei hired me and four of my friends to fill in positions that this school needed." Correctly interpreting the man's expression Yuugi shrugged and offered him a warm smile. "I'm not really sure why, either, only that he told me he wanted me to take the job of History of Magic teacher." Yuugi tilted his head, gauging the other man. The man shifted uncomfortably under Yuugi's innocent-yet-knowing violet gaze. "From your reaction, may I guess you're a teacher here as well?" Yuugi asked finally. "And I would very much like to know your name, since I didn't get it earlier."

The man was scrutinizing Yuugi again. He stayed silent long enough for Yuugi to consider asking again before replying, somewhat tersely, "Severus Snape. I'm the Potions professor here at Hogwarts." Yuugi instantly perked up.

"Potions? Really? I'm new to this world but some of the books I bought from…um…" Yuugi had to think for several moments before he could recall the name of the store. "Flourish and Blotts! Anyway, Seto translated to the clerk for us that we didn't read English so he charmed our books to read in Japanese until we could. Hagrid-san said that Dumbledore-sensei would give us charmed amulets so that we could understand the students and they could understand us but Ryou and Seto are going to help us improve our English, since I never really had time to study because of Marik and Doma and…um…"

Realizing he was babbling, a fact made more obvious by the dark eyebrow that cranked steadily upward on Severus' face with each word Yuugi uttered, the gamer flushed and coughed slightly. "What I meant was that I was reading some of the books and Potions seems absolutely fascinating!" he finished finally, to Severus' obvious surprise. The dour man gave him a long, hard look, trying to decide if Yuugi was mocking him. Finding nothing in the youth's gaze to suggest anything but sincerity Severus fingered the heavy arch of his nose in thought.

"Have you ever actually brewed a potion before, Yuugi?" he asked finally, clearly surprising the youth. Even so Yuugi shook his head in denial. "Well, perhaps I could –" Severus began only to be cut off when the flames in his grate flickered to life and Minerva hastily stepped out.

"Severus, thank goodness. It seems I've managed to lose…" her gaze fell upon Yuugi, who blinked uncomprehendingly back at the Transfiguration professor. He did recognize the relief in her eyes, though he could only tilt his head when she began to speak to him in rapid English. It took Severus' amused reminder to the woman for her to recall that Yuugi could not understand her. Flushing lightly she came over and dropped a long necklace around his neck.

"How about now? Can you understand me?" she asked. Yuugi was surprised to realize that he could and said as much, drawing a smile from the usually strict woman. "That amulet will act as a magical translator for the time being," she explained. "Hagrid will have given one to Bakura and neither Seto" her lips twisted a little at the mention of the CEO and Yuugi hid a smile; Seto had that effect on people "nor Ryou need one. Albus sent one to Mr. Kaiba earlier this evening," she added, obviously referring to Mokuba at the end. She handed Yuugi another necklace. Like the one she'd dropped around his neck the amulet on this one was a small black opal hung on a fine gold chain.

"For Atem, right?" Yuugi asked. Minerva nodded, pleased that he'd understood so quickly. A moment later she glanced around, the question clear in her eyes. Yuugi turned his gaze upward. "Ah, Atem and I got separated… There was a wall that vanished, and he was leaning against it…" Minerva sighed and shook her head, knowing instantly which wall Yuugi was speaking of. She really shouldn't have let them go off alone but Albus had instructed her to do so – that man could be such an annoying enigma at times, really...

"He'll have ended up in the Astronomy Tower. I do hope he hasn't gone too far… I'll have to go look for him…" the Transfiguration professor sighed. Yuugi idly handed the necklace back to Minerva seeing as how she'd end up finding Atem before he did.

'Atem? Minerva-san knows where you are, or at least where you ended up. Don't wander anywhere she can't find you, okay?' Atem didn't reply but he sent the feeling of understanding along to his aibou. Yuugi smiled up at Minerva.

"He won't stray too far, Minerva-san," Yuugi informed the woman. Both Severus and Minerva stared at him. Knowing why they were looking at him Yuugi only shrugged. "Intuition," he added calmly, refusing to elaborate further on the bond he shared with his other.

"Well… If…if you say so, Yuugi. I shall go find him, then. Severus, their rooms, do you…?" The potions professor nodded.

"I will be certain to show him the way there, Minerva," he promised. The Deputy Headmistress nodded gratefully before stepping back into the fire. It died down as soon as she'd gone, leaving Yuugi to stare thoughtfully at the grate.

"Severus-san, Hagrid-san mentioned that the Floo Network would only be open to the castle for a short time. How was Minerva-san able to…?" Yuugi questioned the older man. Severus pushed his long curtain of hair from his face idly.

"The castle is set up under its own Network," he explained. "It can be accessed by a person placing just their head in the fire to send a message but otherwise it is not connected to the full Network. However, the hearths here are all connected in case of an emergency. Now, before we were interrupted, I wished to offer some of my time. Would you like to learn to brew potions?" Yuugi's bright smile was answer enough.

Normally Severus detested teaching but there was something about Yuugi that suggested to him that this student might be different from his others. It would surely merit a little of his time to see if the new History of Magic teacher was worth his attention.


It confused Atem that Yuugi's earlier dismissal of his concern had hurt so much. His aibou had instantly returned to soften his words but Atem did not understand why the idea that Yuugi was in that man's presence bothered him so much. It was equally baffling that Yuugi seemed to like it in the same way that he liked to be around Atem.

Yuugi enjoyed being around his friends, of course, but this excitement was different. It wasn't to say that Anzu, Jounouchi, Honda, and even Ryou were unintelligent but Yuugi always seemed more intense when he was around Atem or Seto. Atem knew that Yuugi loved to learn and that, while he loved his friends dearly, only Atem and Seto – and occasionally Mokuba – were able to offer him the intellectual side of a conversation that he could not get from his other friends. Now that Yuugi was with this other man Atem sensed that same excitement.

What is the matter with me? Atem wondered, annoyed with himself as he walked along the corridor. He was careful not to make any turns, tempting though they were, for he did not wish to spend the night following the link back to Yuugi if Minerva was on her way up. In the mean time he could puzzle out the strange feelings that had shot through him. I recognize this feeling as jealousy… But why am I concerned? Yuugi feels the same emotion with Kaiba, but only with this professor do I feel… What did his feel beyond jealousy? He felt threatened… Perhaps a little insecure.

Atem stopped indignantly with the realization. I am jealous of that man! It was inconceivable. He was Pharaoh – perhaps no longer truly the ruler of Egypt but he was still the Son of Ra by birth – and he was jealous over a mortal man with sallow skin and oily hair! Why? Why am I…? When with Kaiba…?

The answer hit him rather suddenly. …because with Kaiba I realize that there is no chance he would ever harm Yuugi. I do not like the darkness I feel from this Severus Snape… Even so Yuugi had asked Atem to trust him. Atem could not break that promise – not to his aibou. Irately driving a hand through his unruly hair Atem kept walking, half of his attention on where he was going. It wasn't until he'd reached a stone archway and stepped outside that he saw he'd managed to meander to the battlements. Leaning onto the stone wall Atem let the chilled autumn breeze tug at his hair.

"If that is what he wishes, I will not meddle unless it becomes dangerous," he said to the night air, relaxing against the stone and turning his attention to the castle grounds. During the day he supposed he might have been quite overwhelmed by the size. It had been some time since he'd dwelled in a palace, after all. In the moonlight, however, the grounds seemed smaller and more contained. A lake shone silver under the dancing moonbeams, the pearly luminescence sliding over the contours of the castle and highlighting it prettily against the night backdrop. All in all it was quite the lovely sight.

Despite the view, however, Atem couldn't help but regret that Yuugi wasn't up here to see it with him and resolved to bring his aibou out one night for this. If Atem was the Son of Ra, the sun, then Yuugi was a child of the moon – he was certainly fascinated by the moon and stars enough to be. Smiling faintly Atem stayed there lost in thoughts until Minerva found him a quarter of an hour later and led him back inside.

He and Yuugi had separate rooms but they were side by side, something Atem had wanted to request of the headmaster but had never got around to doing so. He chose not to dwell on the matter, instead listening patiently as Minerva explained where their classrooms were. As with Seto she gave Atem a map, paperwork to fill out regarding his syllabus, a list of student names, and asked for the books he'd chosen. She also gave him Yuugi's paperwork and he was able to tell her what books Yuugi had chosen through their mind link.

Both Severus and Minerva were a little unnerved, Severus because Yuugi suddenly pulled out his list of books to mentally list to Atem and Minerva because Atem listed the books as though he was repeating them after someone else. Neither professor wanted to question the matter for the time being. Finally Minerva left, presenting Atem with both his and Yuugi's keys, and Atem was able to slip into his rooms. Their things had already been brought up – Atem could only assume Yuugi's were in his room – but Atem bypassed changing in favor of falling straight onto his new bed and going to sleep with a telepathic 'good night' to his partner.

Yuugi stayed so long in Severus' office that the potions professor, who also mentioned to Yuugi that he was Head of Slytherin House, escorted Yuugi back to his rooms and suppressed the smile that threatened to take his face with each yawn that the Japanese youth stifled. Severus had found that Yuugi picked up potions basics surprisingly well and was surprisingly looking forward to talking to the new professor more. Luckily the door wasn't locked and Yuugi was able to bid Severus a polite good night.

Seto had spent his night uneventfully unpacking his things and rearranging his office and classroom the way he wanted. It had come as a surprise when a number of small elfish creatures had popped up to assist him but, after finding out he could not get them to let him work on his own, he allowed their help in cleaning.

Ryou attempted to do the same thing but Bakura had other plans for his gentle hikari; they ended up retiring early to bed, lucky their rooms were not within hearing distance of others, and falling asleep closer to midnight. It had been an interesting day for all involved and the days following would only prove to be even more eventful.


A much more satisfying length this chapter. I owe an apology to all my English teachers because OMG an outline really does help the planning of a story! For the most part I'm pleased with the way this came out. I didn't detail a lot of the shopping because, come on. We went through seven books of Harry Potter – I'm sure people are familiar with what happens already.

So, funny story – well, not really. It sucked, but oh well. I have up to chapter fifteen (there probably won't be more than twenty chapters) outlined in a binder. And I lost the binder for about two weeks. My general rule of thumb, so to speak, is to wait until I have about five reviews before posting a new chapter, or about two-three weeks, depending on which happens first. In this case the lack of notes slowed down the process a bit, for which I apologize.

I guess you could consider this a (slightly early) Christmas present, since I have to work all the way up until Sunday. No Christmas break for me. –Sigh- I want to get one more chapter out before I leave for boot camp, so I'll do my best!

In any case, this concludes chapter four. Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I had fun writing it, missing binder notwithstanding.

Kumo: Japanese for "cloud". Since an Egyptian Mau is gray I thought I suited the cat.
Sennen: "Millennium" or, literally, "Thousand Year". The Items' owners are a little different in this story. I will be using "Tauk" and "Ankh" rather than "Necklace" and "Key", respectively.
Hieratic: Not exactly Japanese but for those who don't know: Demotic was the cursive-like style of Egyptian writing that was used alongside hieroglyphs and hieratic was the spoken version of this writing. In this case it's what Atem or Bakura would speak when angry and can be assumed the spoken Ancient Egyptian language, i.e.: "prA-a" which is "pharaoh/palace" (a popular term in fanfiction) and "biAw" which is a possessive way of saying "mine" (also a popular term).

Word Count: 9,017

Kampai! (And Happy holidays, everyone!)
AkizukiSakura