Chapter 7:
The tension hung in the air as all eyes turned to Yugi, who stared unblinkingly into space.
/How could Marik say that?/ Yugi asked through the mind link, the pain evident in his voice. Yami sent a mental hug through the link to his partner. /It wasn't your fault…/
Yami stepped forward, leaving his soul room and entering the corridor that divided their shared minds. He leaned against Yugi's doorframe, while Yugi sat on his bed, his knees drawn up to his chest.
"I'll handle this, Yugi," Yami said heavily. Yugi nodded silently.
Yami opened his eyes and surveyed the room, meeting the gaze of those that surrounded him. During his absence, Ron had apparently demanded answers from Mahaad.
"—not at liberty to talk about it, Ron. If Pharaoh grants me permission to do so, I will talk about it. But it isn't my place," the magician said, shaking his head, his hands at his sides. The only sign of Mahaad's impatience was the tension he carried in his shoulders.
"Mahaad."
The magician looked at his king expectantly.
"I will explain. Sit down everyone," he instructed. He continued on, not waiting to see if anyone followed his direction. "As you know the Millennium Items were created when I ruled as Pharaoh. A particular family was tasked with protecting two of the Items, the Ishtar family. As well as protecting the Items, they also held knowledge about me and the things I would need to do. Over the years, they took some…liberties with things."
Hermione nodded, they knew most of this already.
"Marik's father participated in a corrupt ritual in my name. He carved some text, sacred to the Tomb Keepers into Marik's back with a knife."
The Pharaoh's eyes swept the room. Mahaad face remained stoic. Hermione blanched, Ron and Harry's faces drain of color as they stared at him in shock.
"Obviously, this created a lot of trauma for Marik so give him, his space."
"That's it?" Ron demanded, rising to his feet. "That's all you have to say when some sick old man carved things about you into Marik's back?"
"Watch your tongue," Mahaad warned, clenching his fists.
Yami glanced at Mahaad out of the corner of his eye. "I do not answer to you Ron. This vile thing was done without my knowledge or approval. Do you really think I would order something like that?" The Pharaoh's gaze bore into the teen. Ron looked away.
Half an hour later the students assembled in the living room of the Burrow, Marik and Ryou still noticeably absent. "Where are the other two?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"They already bought their supplies yesterday when Mahaad and I went," Yugi replied, having taken over a few minutes before.
"You boys went by yourselves?" she asked, incredulous.
"Ano…" Umm… "Yes?" Yugi whispered.
After giving them a stern warning to never do it again, she turned to the front door. Hermione let out a high-pitched scream and pointed behind them. Mahaad whirled around, drawing his wand and shifting into a defensive stance.
Several black shapes were moving toward them. Mahaad furrowed his brows together for a moment before his eyes widened.
"Our O.W.L results!" he breathed.
Everyone moved to the kitchen to await the results. Hermione fretted nervously about how she'd done, making everyone else jittery. "Hermione, we're nervous too, stop it!" Ron snapped.
The owls swooped in and lined up on the Weasley's table and extended their legs, a scroll attached to each one. Yugi found his and removed the tightly rolled scroll with shaking hands. Mahaad removed his too, stepping back to read his results. Out of the corner of his eye, Mahaad saw Mrs. Weasley remove the other two rolls of parchment for Marik and Ryou who had yet to reappear.
Mahaad unrolled his scroll and scanned the results.
Ancient Runes: O
Astronomy: O
Care of Magic Creatures: E
Charms: E
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Herbology: E
History of Magic: O
Potions: A
Transfiguration: E
Mahaad lowered his results. Yugi smiled at him. "How did you do?" the teen asked.
"Alright," Mahaad replied, handing him the paper. Yugi's eyes brightened. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You did really well."
Mahaad looked at Yugi's results. The Duelist had mostly similar grades, except he had received and O in Care of Magical Creatures and an A in Transfiguration. The rest of them exchanged reports of how they had done. Hermione tried to downplay her almost perfect score—only having an E in Defense.
"We'll have to celebrate when we get back from shopping, but we'd best be off. We don't want to be back late," Mrs. Weasley reminded them.
She and Mr. Weasley led the way to the edge of the property where there were two Ministry cars waiting for them. The adults climbed in front, while the students got in the back.
"So this is how Kaiba gets around all the time," Mahaad observed.
Yugi chuckled. "Yeah."
"Because Harry's been given the top security status, we'll be joining up with extra security at the Leaky Cauldron," Mr. Weasley told them, as the driver pulled away from the Burrow.
When they arrived at outside the Leaky Cauldron, they discovered to Harry's delight that their extra security meant Hagrid. Harry quickly got out of the car and greeted him.
"Hagrid-san," Yugi greeted as well, grinning at their shaggy haired teacher.
"Yugi 'n' Mahaad, too I see. You brought the whole lot," he said.
Harry and the others gasped softly and looked around solemnly as the Alley unfolded to their view. Several shops were boarded up. Mahaad glared at the amulet salesman who stood in the same place hawking his wares.
"If we were in Egypt…" he muttered under his breath.
Mr. Weasley gave the salesman a nasty look as well. "If I were on duty…" he said to Mrs. Weasley, who nodded. "Don't arrest anyone right now, dear. We're in a hurry."
Mrs. Weasley agreed hesitantly to allow Harry, Ron, Hermione and Mahaad to go with Hagrid to get new robes, while she and the others set off for the bookshop.
As soon as they entered the robe shop they heard the familiar drawl of Draco Malfoy. "—Watch where you put those pins woman! I am perfectly capable of doing my shopping by myself!" He turned his head and wrinkled his nose in disgust. "If you are wondering what the smell, is a Mudblood just walked in."
Madam Malkins came out from behind a curtain. "I don't want language like that, or wands drawn in my shop." She warned, looking between Draco and Ron and Harry both who had drawn their wands.
Narcissa Malfoy walked over and whispered to Harry. "If you attack my son again, I will make sure it is the last thing you ever do Potter."
"Yeah? You'll soon be reunited with your Death Eater loser of a husband in Azkaban!' Harry said.
Madam Malkins squeaked.
The witch waved it off. "I daresay you will be reunited with Sirius before I am reunited with my husband."
Draco took the robes off and threw them on the ground. "I don't want these anymore," he stated.
He and his mother left the shop.
Mahaad, Harry, Ron and Hermione met up with the others before heading over the Fred and George's joke shop.
It was so full of customers it was hard to get to the shelves. Fred spotted them and made his way over and started giving them a tour. Yugi spotted a display with Muggle magic trick items and began examining them. Fred showed them to another section of the shop where they kept a more serious line of defense products.
"Here is some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, useful if you want to make a quick escape."
"Bakura would love to get his hands on some of that," Yugi commented. Mahaad nodded, frowning.
Yugi frowned, "Where are Harry, Ron and Hermione?" Mahaad looked around. "I'm not sure."
Author's Notes:
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! The gang will be back at Hogwarts soon. Please read and review!
Review Responses:
Fireking492: That's true, those conversations are fun to write. Thanks for your support!
FallingToast: Yeah, one doesn't mess with Mrs. Weasley. Thanks, I think Marik can be dramatic when he wants to be. :D