A/N: Wow, this was a fast update. But I guess I just liked this chapter more than chapter twenty.
Chapter 21: Stupefy!
For what time they still had of the holiday, the two spent most of it either playing the wizarding game Gobstones Yugi had bought in Diagon Alley, or trying to get Yugi caught up on the part of the year he'd missed.
Bakura was grateful for the chance to be the one helping Yugi for a change, rather than the other way around, but Bakura could not stop himself from being a little disappointed when he saw how good Yugi was with spells. It was almost always a matter of Yugi simply saying the incantation and the results coming out the end of his wand. Although, on rare occasions, Yugi's wand would go as dead as Bakura's. But this didn't happen very often, so Yugi wasn't especially concerned. Bakura didn't think Yugi had cause for concern either.
But even if it seemed as if Bakura was to be trapped in Yugi's shadow yet again, he could not bring himself to mind very much and could not help but enjoy his holiday with Yugi. Bakura would have preferred the holiday go on forever as he grew to dread his return to classes and the failed spells and extra homework that it implied. But, no matter how much he tried to block it out, he soon found himself climbing into bed the night before he'd be going back to classes all the same.
He tried reading from his Defense Against the Dark Arts book to calm his nerves but, somehow, he didn't exactly find the detailed descriptions of dangerous spells and grotesque monsters all that helpful. Not to mention, they tended to bring back memories of the sickening, bizarre dreams he'd been having an awful lot lately. But he was determined his time with Yugi not be ruined by a morbid imagination run wild.
The next day, Bakura trudged into the Great Hall for breakfast, half-asleep and his appetite just barely returning to him after the nightmare he'd had last night. Really, he wasn't sure how much more he could take.
He considered telling Yugi about the nightmares, but he hesitated to do so. For one thing, if it was just simply a dream, then he wouldn't want to trouble Yugi over it. On the other hand, if it was indeed something from the spirit's mind, as Bakura had come to suspect off and on, then that may result in someone losing their soul...
As Bakura sat down with Yugi at the Gryffindor table, he did his best to ignore the looks he got from Yugi's fellow Gryffindors. He got some dirty looks from the Slytherins as well, but he was used to those by now and he had a two-table buffer between him and them, so they were easier to ignore.
Eventually the blank and weirded-out stares went away and Yugi said to Bakura in a hushed tone so as not to attract more attention, "I have Care of Magical Creatures and Defense Against the Dark Arts today. You have those too, right?"
"Yes," Bakura answered, also in a low voice. "We go to Care of Magical Creatures right after breakfast, then Defense Against the Dark Arts after lunch." He hesitated for a moment, thinking of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Yugi was in Gryffindor, naturally, so it was only right for Bakura to put his friend on his guard.
"Oh and Yugi," Bakura began, a little nervously, glancing up at the staff table. "Speaking of Defense Against the Dark Arts, I think it would be better if I warned you in advance about Professor Snape..."
After breakfast, the two went to Care of Magical Creatures. The class had a lot of questions for him, why he was transferring to Hogwarts, why he was starting so late in the year, and so on.
No one seemed to realize at first that Yugi was too old to be in a beginning Care of Magical Creatures class, but Yugi was quick to straighten them out, even though Bakura wouldn't have minded being in Yugi's position, with the choice to hide how different he was in regards to his age. When they all found out Yugi and Bakura had become good friends, Yugi was quickly assimilated largely thanks to the efforts of Orla and her posse. Though Yugi thanked Bakura when they were alone again and said he was glad Bakura was there, Bakura privately thought that Yugi would have had no trouble making friends whether he was there or not.
As far as the class itself went, as Bakura had guessed, it turned out that Yugi was a natural. He seemed to know a lot about the things they studied and every mythical beast Hagrid happened to mention, especially the ones that held even the slightest resemblance to duel monster cards. The creatures also seemed to react well to Yugi, warming up to him before anyone else. Needless to say, Hagrid quickly became attached to his newest student.
Unlike with the casting of spells, Bakura had to say that Yugi's superiority in Professor Hagrid's class didn't bother him in the slightest. At least Bakura wasn't completely hopeless at it, and Yugi could now help him out if he had any trouble. Care of Magical Creatures was more about knowledge and patience than wand work after all.
After Care of Magical Creatures was over, the two went to lunch. Yugi's cheerful mood was soon replaced by a worried, more somber one as the prospect of going to Defense Against the Dark Arts loomed closer. This unusual level of vexation could probably be attributed to Bakura's rather descriptive report of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, telling Yugi numerous stories including of every incident he could think of where his Head of House had done something less than fair to his unfortunate Gryffindor classmates.
"You were exaggerating about the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher just to scare me, right Bakura?" Yugi asked for about the millionth time, as they walked down the corridor toward the classroom. "That's not like you."
"Actually, I don't think I did him justice," Bakura answered ruefully. He wished he could cheer his friend up, but when it came to Professor Snape, Bakura doubted ignorance would be bliss. "For whatever reason, he really doesn't like Gryffindors."
Yugi sighed, biting his lip. "Great. Why do I keep picturing some sort of Shadow Game happening after class?"
Bakura laughed a little despite himself. "Well, let's hope that doesn't happen. Professor Snape doesn't learn lessons, he only teaches them. You might even end up getting detention afterward."
Yugi started to laugh, then stopped, looking worried again. "I don't want to get detention on my first day..."
Inside the classroom, Yugi looked around at Snape's choice posters and decorations, and made a face. He shared a look with Bakura, but didn't say anything, too intimidated by the teacher sitting at his desk at the front of the room. So the two only took seats next to each other near the back and waited for class to start in silence.
Most of the other students were pretty quiet as well, but Bakura noticed his Slytherin roommates nudging one another and whispering as they gaped at Yugi. Some were even snickering a little. If they had been Gryffindors, Snape might have taken points off for being too loud, but as it was, Snape turned a deaf ear to it and only continued writing at his desk.
Some of the Slytherins shot Bakura annoyed glances, as though they felt betrayed by him. Bakura couldn't come up with a single reason for them to feel this way, considering not one of them had ever treated him like a part of Slytherin in the past. But now apparently he was expected to show House loyalty like anyone. They were certainly in for some disappointment.
Bakura ignored them pointedly and busied himself with pulling out his homework. Glancing worriedly at Yugi, Bakura wondered if perhaps he ought to have told Yugi of the assignment they had due and helped him to do it. Most teachers would understand that students who had just transferred in would not have the last assignment done, but Bakura was not so sure about Professor Snape.
Indeed, when Professor Snape came around to collect the papers, he made a sly comment on how Yugi's 'lack of preparation' wasn't much of a way to make a good first impression.
Yugi looked a little hurt and didn't make eye contact. This, in Bakura's opinion, was probably a wise tactic since eye contact or looking defiant in any way tended to spur Snape on. Bakura had forgotten, Yugi was as experienced as he when it came to bullying, and was familiar with all the strategies. Guide to survival for bully magnets, tactic number one: be submissive.
When Snape wasn't looking, Yugi raised his eyebrows at Bakura as if to say, You were right about him.
Bakura shrugged.
When the class divided into teams of two in order to practice stunning spells, Bakura and Yugi immediately paired up. Bakura couldn't help but be a little apprehensive though since Yugi could perform pretty much any spell he chose. Plus, whenever the shorter boy did so, the spell always seemed to come out more powerful than he'd meant it to, amid a rain of gold and purple sparks.
Bakua swallowed. He didn't want to think what Yugi's stunning charm would do if his Accio pen had been so powerful that the speeding pen had nearly put a hole through the boy's hand. Though that spell was supposed to be for higher-level wizards, Yugi's lack of need to practice much meant he simply went down the list, trying out the ones he thought looked useful.
Fortunately Yugi quickly said, evidently having had the same thoughts as his hapless friend, "Maybe you'd better go first, Bakura."
Bakura nodded and tried to smile. Most of the students were busy arguing over who would go first, since none of them were looking forward to being stunned. Of course, Yugi didn't need to be concerned with that and from the look on his face, he didn't appear too worried. Bakura resisted the urge to wince. Oh, so nice to have people believe in you.
"Stupefy!" Bakura cried, pointing his wand directly at Yugi. Maybe if he'd had had any hope at all that his spell would work, he'd have been more hesitant at casting a stunning charm at his friend. But, as usual, his wand did not react to the incantation. Instinctively he glanced around, hoping that no one was watching.
Professor Snape was busy verbally abusing one of the Gryffindors, so his back was to Bakura, but Olseth was looking right at the tall white-haired teen and gave him a mocking thumbs-up.
Bakura sighed and looked back at Yugi who had since adopted a rather sympathetic look.
Bakura really did wince then. "Stupefy!" he tried again, determined to prove that Olseth wasn't getting to him, but, as expected, nothing happened. Bakura grimaced and Yugi shrugged slightly.
Bakura prepared to do it a third time, but hesitated as he caught sight of Professor Snape looming up behind his partner.
Yugi didn't notice at first, but following Bakura's gaze he glanced over his shoulder and yelped, jumping.
Professor Snape sneered as he looked down at Yugi, right after shooting Bakura one of his usual calculating looks.
"Mr. Bakura," Professor Snape said suddenly and Bakura's gaze snapped up to the Professor's face for a fraction of a second before dropping to the floor. "Why don't you give our new student a chance to show us what he can do?"
Bakura stiffened. Was Professor Snape trying to embarrass Yugi by making him try a spell he couldn't perform in front of everyone? If that was it, he was in for a nasty surprise and Bakura was in for something even worse.
Bakura took a step back, his heart pummeling his throat. 'Oh dear.'
Yugi started to give Professor Snape a pleading look, then stopped at the Professor's expression. Yugi slowly raised his wand. "Stupefy," Yugi said, his voice soft and wavering.
Nothing happened.
Bakura relaxed about an inch. He hated to admit it with the sneer on Professor Snape's face that was growing more pronounced with every passing second, but Bakura was glad Yugi's wand had chosen now to act up. Bakura didn't think being stunned under the scrutiny of the whole class by a professional shadow gamer sounded like much fun.
"Oh well," said Professor Snape. "It seems you really are behind..."
All the Slytherins, save Bakura of course, chuckled.
Crimson started to creep up Yugi's neck and he answered, "Yes, Sir."
"We'll have to make sure you're caught up," Snape continued, "so I'll expect an eight-inch summary of each chapter we've gone over this year by next class period."
Yugi's mouth dropped.
Bakura knitted his eyebrows. Surely it was one thing to give extra homework to help him get caught up, but so much at one time and with the entire class listening in? Professor Snape had to know that there was no way Yugi would be able to finish all that in time. But of course, this was Professor Snape's M.O. He probably intended to ridicule Yugi for all it was worth next class.
Bakura frowned a little. He glanced back at Yugi and his eye suddenly widened in shock as he saw that Yugi's features had darkened.
Bakura did a quick prayer for his Head of House's sanity before interpreting the apologetic look of the Pharaoh's face and realizing he'd prayed for the wrong person.
Professor Snape had just barely turned his back to them when the pharaoh cried, "Stupefy!"
Bakura froze in horror, unable to believe it. But then a different feeling came flooding through his head, pushing out ever ounce of fear. A hot, completely overwhelming emotion, that drowned out all sense of being.
"Protego!" His voice a low rasp, the word escaped his lips before he could make sense of what was happening. He felt the sheer power of the shield spell in his arm as it blocked the angry red light of the stunning charm. His arm felt paralyzed, but he knew better than to hope for that. The sense of paralysis came from the fact that his arm was being controlled by something, no, someone else. A feeling only too familiar to Ryou Bakura.
The pharaoh's expression betrayed no surprise. His eyes merely narrowed in loathing, his wand still raised.
The seconds ticked by as nobody in the room said anything, the two continuing to glare at each other, wands held aloft. Finally, Bakura felt himself regain use of his limbs and he lowered his wand, blinking. After a moment, so did Yugi, also back in control.
The room broke into a sea of frantic whispers.
Professor Snape silenced them with a look and turned to Yugi, scowling. "I did not ask you to attempt the spell a second time. Ten points from Gryffindor, I think, for lack of attention to instructions."
"I can't believe how much homework he gave me!" Yugi complained as they were walking along the corridor away from the Defense Against the Dark of Arts classroom. "You weren't kidding."
Yugi had not commented on the stupefy fiasco and it didn't look like he was going to anytime soon. Bakura would have had to be mentally ill not to notice that Yugi was intentionally avoiding the subject of the spirit inside the Ring. So Yugi had already known, or at least suspected, as Bakura had thought.
"Bakura? Are you listening?"
Coming out of his thoughts, Bakura blinked and looked down at Yugi. He forced a smile. "Sorry, Yugi. What was that?"
"It's nothing really," Yugi said, giving Bakura a bit of a strange look. "I was just saying that I need to get started right away or I'll never finish all that homework in time."
Bakura nodded. "Oh, right. I'll help you as best I can, Yugi, but I don't know whether or not getting it done will save you from Snape." He started to smile, but stopped when he saw that Yugi didn't seem amused. The terror of Professor Snape was not to be made light of.
"Anyway," said Bakura. "What do you say we go to the library? It may not be the best place for games, but..." He smiled a bit, recalling when they'd gone to play Gobstones during break in the library, which had lasted all of about five minutes before Madame Pince had gotten fed up with them and kicked them out, descending on them like a harpy.
Yugi smiled too. "Yeah that's a good plan, thanks a ton, Bakura. Though I still can't imagine anybody even if they knew the text inside and out could get it all done in just a week."
"Don't worry," said Bakura encouragingly. "I'm probably the only person in our class that's actually read everything up to the point we're at." Then, smiling a little ironically, added, "Since there's really no reason for me to bother practicing the spells, I can spend extra time on the text."
"Oh, Bakura," Yugi said, expression somewhere in between worry and trying to match Bakura's light, joking one, "Don't say that..."
That night, Yugi Mutou lied awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. He rolled over in an attempt to get in a more comfortable position, but to no avail.
/Partner, are you having trouble sleeping?-/
Yugi smiled at the sound of the voice. /Sorry. Am I keeping you awake, other me?-/
/No,-/ the pharaoh said quickly. /Don't worry about it. Is there something you want to talk about?-/
Yugi sat up and saw the ghostly image of his 'other self' sitting on the edge of the bed. He smiled. For some reason he couldn't quite explain, it was always comforting to talk to the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle, even when he wasn't particularly worried or upset about anything.
/We saw the spirit of the Millennium Ring today,-/ Yugi said quietly.
The pharaoh's expression darkened. /Yes, I know. I'm also pretty sure we saw him when we first came here, on Christmas Day, but now there can be no mistake./
Yugi hesitated. /Do you think that this proves what you thought before? That Bakura's being here is all his doing?-/
/It's impossible to tell for certain at this point, partner; however, there can be no doubt that the spirit of the Ring is indeed here./
Yugi's brow furrowed in thought. /He must be wearing his Millennium Ring again,-/ he said thoughtfully. /But when did he put it on? I thought we were the ones who had it. But then, I guess I have to admit it's true we haven't seen it since Battle City.../
/I don't know,-/ the pharaoh replied. /But it doesn't matter so much how he got it back. We just need to worry about what we're going to do now that he has it./
Yugi bit his lip, staring down at his blankets. /You know, I'd hoped that maybe it wasn't him this time. Bakura has been through enough already./
The pharaoh's pensive expression softened slightly as he sensed his partner's distress. /Don't worry, Yugi; Bakura will be fine. But that reminds me, there's something else I'm very interested in knowing./
/What's that?-/ Yugi asked, looking up.
/What do you think Bakura is concealing under that scarf of his?-/
/Oh,-/ Yugi said, laughing and shaking his head. /You heard him, other self./ Yugi laughed. /It's a fashion statement. You have to admit, he's always sort of been into the occult and stuff; this isn't much different. Maybe he just wants to try the whole eye-patch look for awhile, like those old witches sometimes wear in fairy tales./ At the lack of amusement of his other's face, Yugi's grin faded. /Oh, come on. What would he be hiding?-/
/I don't know. That's why it troubles me./
Yugi sighed and laid back down. /I think you're paranoid,-/ he told the pharaoh, pulling the covers up to his chin. /But I guess I'll humor you. All right, what do you have in mind when you say you think he's hiding something?-/
/Perhaps he has been injured somehow,-/ the pharaoh suggested. /Remember when the spirit impaled Bakura's hand on that tower?-/
Yugi made a face. /So you're saying you think he did that to Bakura's eye? That's sick./
/It would have to be a pretty serious injury for the spirit to want to keep it hidden,-/ the pharaoh continued thoughtfully.
/Maybe hewas injured, but that doesn't mean it has anything to do with the spirit,-/ Yugi said, frowning. /He could have just had an accident or something. It happens, doesn't it?-/
/It's possible, Yugi, but then why wouldn't he have just told us what it was? Bakura has not given any indication of knowing the spirit of the Millennium Ring is inhabiting his body once more, but at the same time, I believe he has to know. Somehow.../ the pharaoh trailed off. When he really thought about it, it seemed so obvious. The way Bakura acted when Yugi had asked about the scarf, as though he had something to hide... There must be a connection.
When the pharaoh saw how upset his partner looked, he added with a bit of a sigh, /But I suppose you may be right after all, Yugi. Perhaps it was something that had nothing to do with the spirit, and he has another reason not to talk about it. Perhaps he was hurt by a spell or something of that sort, and he does not want to worry you. Or it happened under some embarrassing circumstance./
/Yeah, maybe,-/ said Yugi, sighing. Then, more enthusiastically, he said, /You could be right. And you know, I have another idea. It could have been bullies, you saw the way those kids in Bakura's own House treat him, didn't you? Maybe he's afraid if he gives us the details, you'll go hunt them down and force them to play a penalty game./ Yugi winked jokingly, but underneath it he did indeed seem satisfied with this alternative.
The pharaoh could barely suppress a smile. The pharaoh gave a dignified little cough, pretending to be insulted that Yugi could even suggest such a thing. But then his expression grew serious again. /Well, I think we ought to find out the truth for certain from an authentic source before we start throwing off our armor,-/ he cautioned. /We still don't know for sure that it is an injury and we can't be certain that the 'other Bakura' has nothing to do with it./
Yugi nodded. /Yeah, you're right. But I would hate for Bakura to find out we were asking around about him. Why don't we just ask him?-/
/Well, for one thing,-/ said the pharaoh, /like I said before, I believe Bakura isn't so unaware of the spirit's presence as he's letting on. He might have some reason for not wanting to discuss the matter with us and our asking might cause problems for him, especially if the spirit is indeed involved. At the very least, we know the spirit is up to something, and I am afraid that even just asking would give him too much insight into what we know and what we were trying to find out. Since he likes it so much, I think we ought to keep the spirit in the dark as best we can. Bakura will understand./
/I hope you're right,/ Yugi said, staring up at the ceiling. They both sat in silence for a long while until Yugi propped himself up onto his elbow and spoke up again, on a different subject. /Other self.../ he said tentatively.
/Yes, Yugi?-/ the pharaoh answered.
/What do you think about Shadi? Should I have told Bakura that he was the one who brought us here?-/
/I believe that would have been unwise,-/ said the pharaoh. /You did the right thing. Like I said, the less he knows the better, I think./
Yugi bit his lip, not entirely satisfied for some reason. It just didn't feel right hiding so much from a friend, even if it was all to hide it from a deadly enemy. It was almost like treating the real Bakura as their enemy.
Yugi shook his head, deciding to let it go for the moment. /So what do you think Shadi wants?-/ he asked. /Just showing up and then dropping us on Hogwarts' doorstep like he did./
/Playing whatever sick game he always is,-/ said the pharaoh scathingly. /He didn't impress me./
Yugi shrugged. /Yeah, I guess so. What was it he said again?-/
/Not much. But he seemed to think that something unnatural was happening here. Something we needed to correct./
/Shadi didn't mention the spirit of the Ring though, did he?-/ Yugi said thoughtfully. /But do you think the spirit was what he was talking about?-/
The pharaoh gazed at his partner for a moment in thought, then said finally, /That's my guess. I don't think any of us really belong in this 'other world,' the world of wizard magic, least of all the spirit./
/But what would he want here?-/ Yugi asked in frustration. /He already has his shadow magic and it doesn't look like Bakura is actually learning anything anyway—/
The spirit shook his head. /No, partner./
Yugi stopped and gave the spirit a questioning look. /Huh? What do you mean?-/
/Bakura himself has proved unable to perform the spells, but, with the demonstration in Defense Against the Dark Arts today, I'd say that his memorizing the incantation is more than enough./
Yugi stared down at his bedsheets with sorrowful eyes. /It's not fair, is it?-/ he said quietly after a moment. /He uses him. Bakura does all the work, but all the benefit doesn't go to the person who earned it./ Yugi scowled as he gripped his bedsheets tightly, as anger slowly replaced sadness. /That's what I hate the most,-/ he said after moment. /I just...hate it./
"You heard your better half, you fiend."
A/N: This chapter, along with chapter 11, was always one of my favorites. I think I just liked writing confrontations between the spirit of the Ring and Yami. X3 (And Snape was in there, too.)