Harry Potter: The Prince of Games

Disclaimer: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

Plot: Harry never went to the Dursleys; instead, he went to James' brother and was raised in a life of fun, mystery and excitement. But, as it always does, destiny soon catches up with Harry as he discovers strange powers, dark destinies and unusual truths about himself.

Author's Note: Okay, so this one is an idea that's completely random and yet fun at the same time; and, as always, I say that if you don't like it, then don't read it

Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this story to Goodfella96 and Above the Winter Moonlight for being my inspiration for this story; their stories are also my recommended reads: Battle Born by Above the Winter Moonlight and Harry Potter and the Stone of Ra by Goodfella96;

Also: If you've enjoyed this story, then go and check out Different Dimension Duellist by The Mad Prince: it's an amazing adventure;

Key Pairings: Harry/Alexis;

Normal Speech

'Thought'

'Spirit/Mind Speech'

(OC Cards)

"We're all here, Harry: you, me, Jaden, Alexis, your Father and Seto Kaiba; no matter what may be coming for those cards or the beasts, we won't let them be lost quite so easily."

"We still need a seventh," argued Yugi, but Harry smiled as he looked back to his Dad.

"I think I might know someone willing to help…"

Chapter 37: Harry's Choice

Yugi Muto, Seto Kaiba, Jaden Yuki, Harry Potter, Alexis Rhodes, Zane Truesdale and Sirius Black.

At first, the sight of these seven figures of duelling and Duel Academy fame and infamy stood together in the same room might be cause for concern considering two of them are world champions, one of them is a regional champion, son/nephew of one of the world champions and the ranked number one freshman in Duel Academy as well as another whom was the rank number one student in all Duel Academy and another that was a duelling legend before becoming a teacher.

With that level of fame and prestige under the belts of the respective members of the gang, it was a surprise for any of them to be together, save for Harry, Jaden, Alexis and Zane, whom were all members of the Academy's infamous Slifer Squadron.

And yet, they were all there, standing together in Chancellor Sheppard's office while, in front of them, seated somewhat-nervously in his leather chair in his office, said Chancellor waited for the seven of them to grow comfortable before he finally cleared his throat.

"Well," said Sheppard, looking to each of the seven in turn as he spoke, "Now that everyone's here, I want you all to know that I appreciate what you're willing to do for the sake of protecting the dangerous powers that slumber beneath our floors from evil forces."

"A dark force wants to end the world: it must be Tuesday," drawled Seto, earning a snigger from Harry and Yugi before he asked, "So how do we go about doing this, Sheppard? I mean, I assume that it's no mere coincidence that the seven best duellists in the Academy…"

"Five, Uncle Seto," Harry corrected him, pointing to his godfather before he added, "You and Dad are here because I can't think of anyone better suited to these kinds of risks and stakes than you two."

"Yes, well, as Mr Kaiba just said," continued Sheppard, tugging at his collar nervously as he admitted, "It isn't just coincidence that the task at hand requires duellists: for you see, the ancient scriptures that guard and protect the Sacred Beasts from evil can only be won in a duel because only then can the Duel Energy of the individual duellists be harnessed to break said seals."

"Seven duellists, seven seals," reasoned Harry, his gold coloured eyes filled with a hint of concern as he asked, "And who are the ones who'd want to take the Beasts and bring about…what I've seen in my nightmares?"

As he said the last part, Harry shuddered while Yugi, sensing his son's distress, put a hand on the boy's shoulder while Sheppard answered his question, "They are known collectively as the Shadow Riders: a band of warriors supercharged and harnessed from the darkness in their individual souls to become agents of destruction. If they were to claim the keys in question, then your nightmares, Harry, would be the least of our concerns."

"So you want the seven of us to be the guardians of these keys?" asked Sirius, earning a nod from Sheppard before the Black King looked to his young student as he added, "I see now why you asked me to be the seventh man here, Harry."

"You went 21 straight victories in international circuits, Sirius," agreed Harry, nodding to Seto and Yugi as he added, "With the exception of Dad and Seto as well as Zane and I, I can't think of anyone else on the island who'd be able to stand true to the hand that fate has dealt us. More to the point, Jaden, Dad, Seto, Zane, Alexis and I can't really do this alone…"

"You probably could," Seto reasoned, earning a curious look from Harry as he explained, "The power of the Supreme King that lives inside you: from what Sheppard and Pegasus have told us about these Sacred Beasts, they answer to your ancestor's spirit, so, if anyone has the best chance, then it's you, Harry, and probably Jaden too as your Guardian."

"Compared to what you and Yugi have dealt with in your lives, we're rank amateurs," scoffed Jaden, earning a kind smile from Yugi before he added, "He's not wrong, mind you: but the only way we'll do this is together."

"And on that note," added Sheppard, reaching under his desk and removing a small box, which he opened, revealing a set of seven oddly-shaped keys that were inscribed with ancient-looking runes.

As everyone stared at the keys, Harry's eyes shone with the power of the King as he sensed an air of power that was so much like his own.

At the same time, Harry heard what sounded like a low, ominous growling echoing all around him as he reached out and, before anyone else could say anything, he took one of the keys, holding it in his hand with a determined look in his eyes.

"My nightmares won't come to pass," whispered Harry, earning concerned looks from Alexis, Yugi and Seto as they, along with their companions, took the other six keys, each one now held by one of the Sacred Seven. "I swear it."

"Be on your guard at all times, all of you," Sheppard told them, an ominous note lacing his words as he explained, "The challenges you face will be like nothing you've faced thus far at the Academy…and remember always that, in your hands, lies the fate of the entire world."

While the Duel Academy group took the words to heart, Yugi sighed before, looking to Seto, he mused, "Here we go again."

Prince of Games

That night, while most of the Academy were sound asleep and others pondered on the up-coming end of year exams and tests to announce their official rank in the classes, in the Obelisk Dormitory, in his room, Harry sat on his bed, each one of his duelling decks – Elemental Hero, Evil Hero and Twilight Force – spread out across his sheets while his eyes were full-gold as the Supreme King pondered on what he was going to do.

As he eyed his cards, choosing strategies and ideas that would best suit him, Harry felt a ripple in the dark energies around him that, without looking up, made him scowl as he asked, "What do you want?"

'I want you to rest,' replied Haou, appearing in his Evil Hero Yami guise as he stood in spirit form by the bedside of his friend and incarnation, 'We know better than anyone else what the challenges ahead will do to us. This is the test we've been preparing for all year long, Harry.'

"I know," said Harry, rubbing at his temples as he added, "But that's not why I'm not resting."

'Then what is it?'

Looking up at Haou, Harry swallowed before he admitted, "I've been thinking about it ever since we left Sheppard's office and…well…I know it sounds crazy, reckless and definitely not something I should consider, but I think Seto's right."

Haou raised an eyebrow in response while Harry licked his lips as he said, "Maybe, if I truly believed in the power I wield as the King…as you, then maybe this could be the point where I face this alone. After all, if I were to gain command of the power of the Sacred Beasts, then they'd be safe because they'd be bound by my powers to serve me and only me."

'That's a…dangerous thought, young one,' Haou told him, his eyes filled with a hint of worry as he asked, 'Are you sure you're ready? I mean, what if the trial standing between you and the Sacred Beasts is too great? It could cause your nightmares to come to life after all.'

"I know…" admitted Harry, putting a fist to his heart as he added, "But I…I can't risk the lives and souls of my friends and family, especially Alexis, in these Shadow Games if I have it in me to do something about it."

Here, Harry lifted a hand before, to Haou's amusement, the three decks of the Obelisk reassembled themselves, although, to the bewilderment of the dark spirit, it looked like the Elemental and Evil Hero Decks united into one, which Harry picked up, caressing it as tenderly as a faithful pet.

'You brought the two sides together?' asked Haou, earning a nod from Harry.

"I can't be afraid anymore," explained Harry, summoning his Black Disk before, looking up at Haou, he asked, "Would you mind…"

'If you're sure this is what you want to do,' said Haou, earning a firm nod from Harry before, with a sigh, the Evil Hero spirit added, 'I'll be a few minutes because I'll need to make sure they don't see me, especially Jaden.'

"I'll be here."

Prince of Games

The Next Morning

"THE GATE KEYS ARE MISSING!"

The cry of alarm, raised by Alexis Rhodes and Zane Truesdale, had the other four champions of shadows on full alert as, one by one, they ran to the spare room where Yugi and Seto were staying during the trials.

When they all arrived at the guest suites, it was Jaden who asked it, "Where's Harry?"

"He should be on his way," replied Sirius, his face whiter than white as he explained, "Like us, he must have had his key taken in the night…"

However, as soon as he said it, Sirius' lips clamped shut while, at the same time, Yugi and Seto shared a look of worry; as she saw the look, Alexis' eyes widened with horror as she asked, "You…you don't think Harry…"

"Kaiba!" snapped Jaden, earning a shocked look from the others as his eyes flashed Yubel's colours while he hissed, "You convinced him of it: he must have taken your advice to heart. Saying that Harry alone could control their powers; don't you realise what could happen if he fails?"

"Calm down, Jaden," Yugi insisted, although he too looked angry at the fact that Jaden's theory might be correct: because Harry wasn't there with them and because, thanks to the power of the Supreme King, he had the ability to move through shadows and employ the assistance of forces that only one of them could stop – Jaden – it made sense Harry would take such a risk.

However, Yugi knew what such risks reaped: pain, torment and destruction of the highest calibre.

As everyone shared looks with one another, Alexis asked, "Where could he have gone?"

"I don't know," answered Jaden, drawing his deck from his pocket before he added, "But we need to find him."

"Let's just hope we find him before he winds up costing us all everything," reasoned Seto, earning a scowl from Sirius and Yugi, both of whom took off while Jaden called on his duel monster spirits to help with the search for their wayward friend.

Prince of Games

Below the earth, in a cavern that could only be found by those who knew where it was, Harry walked down a long, steep path to the belly of the island, his eyes fixed straight ahead while his hands were clenched into fists as, with every step, the deeper he went, the stronger that he felt the call of power that came from the Sacred Beasts' tomb.

As he walked towards the tomb, Harry felt Haou stirring again while, around his neck, the seven spirit gate keys jangled as Harry walked, but he didn't let either feeling stop him.

Instead, he just lifted his head and, after several minutes, he reached the base of the cavern; calling on his own powers, Harry conjured a burst of Shadow Energy, which cast long, ominous shadows on the walls around him, but, at the same time, it illuminated the base of the cavern, which included seven obelisks with different runes cut into their designs.

At the heart of the seven's formation, a square-shaped depression seemed to vanish into the earth, but, as Harry approached the depression, he took a deep breath before he shifted into the armour of the Supreme King, the feel of the full power of the Gentle Darkness causing the ominous feeling to grow as another rippling growl resonated through the chamber.

"Yes," hissed Harry, his voice distorted much like Haou's as he said, "That's right: I'm back…and I've come to help shield you from the evils that threaten the many dimensions of our world. With the seven keys in my possession, I've come to claim you and, if I must pass a trial to have your allegiance, then so be it."

"How brave you are, Key Keeper," a new voice laughed, causing Harry to wheel around: as he did so, his eyes widened as he saw a figure emerge from the shadows of the cavern as easily as Harry would spirit himself from one location to the other.

The figure was dressed in a black outfit that was complete with a long black trenchcoat that billowed out around him like the wings of a dragon while his face was concealed by a mask that looked like the maw and facial features of a dragon. However, as the figure materialised into being, Harry's eyes widened as he saw that the figure had more than just badass attire and a dark personality to him.

His mask, for one, was highlighted by a gold piece that resembled the Eye of Horus while, on one hand, he wore a gauntlet that was outlined in gold, its palm also bearing the same symbol as did the medallion around his neck, the choker around his collar, the eyepiece that seemed to replace one of the sockets in his mask and the circlet he wore around his forehead, its golden form lifting the bangs of his fringe and merging almost completely with the mask that covered his eyes.

To look at him, Harry imagined that this was what a true Shadow Duellist would look like and, as he watched, he saw that he wasn't wrong as the stranger exuded dark energy that Harry had only felt against Haou and in the darkness of his own soul.

That also seemed to be an appropriate title for this figure: Darkness.

Still, it begged the question, "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

"You're not the only one with command over the dark powers, your Highness," laughed the dark figure, his voice filled with malice and dark ambition as he explained, "As for who I am, you may call me Nightshroud and, as for what I'm doing here, I am here to claim what is rightfully mine: the power of the Sacred Beasts!"

"That won't happen," hissed Harry, his eyes filled with raw determination as he explained, "I don't know how you found your way down here when it took all my strength to open this cavern myself, but I refuse to let that stop me from keeping their powers from the likes of you!"

Here, he scoffed as he asked, "Anyway, I thought that there were supposed to be seven of you? I only see you."

"Because I am all that remains," answered Nightshroud, indicating each of the items he wore as he explained, "The others, including the one who thought he could call himself our master, was tested by the Shadows and found wanting. Only someone brought into the darkness and made one with it in ways they could only dream of could pass the tests and that, King, is me!"

A fire burned in Harry's eyes as he stood between the figure, Nightshroud, and the seven obelisks, his voice filled with power as he snarled, "If you want these cards, you'll have to go through me to get them!"

"I know…" sniggered Nightshroud, lifting his arm and, to Harry's shock, he too summoned a Duel Disk from the darkness: it looked just like Harry's Black Disk, but there seemed to be a recurring theme as the disk resembled a dragon's wings with the head and maw of the dragon acting as the deck holder and life point reader.

"In fact," continued Nightshroud, lowering the disk as he laughed, "I was hoping that you would be the one to stand in my way, Supreme King: because after I defeat you and claim the Sacred Beasts powers, you'll see that you are unworthy to call yourself a King. Then you will bow to me!"

"Not a chance," spat Harry, summoning his own disk before he retrieved his deck from its holder as he exclaimed, "If beating you saves the world, then you can bet your deck that's what I'll do!"

"Then let the Shadow Game begin!" declared Nightshroud, activating his own disk while Harry did likewise.

"Let the games begin!"

"HARRY!"

Turning to the source of the voice, Harry and Nightshroud both gasped as they saw a Blue Eyes White Dragon flying down to the ground, its back bearing the forms of Jaden, Yugi, Seto, Alexis, Zane and Sirius, all of whom looked on in alarm as they saw what was happening.

"What did you think you were doing?" demanded Jaden, leaping off the White Dragon's back as he asked, "Didn't you care about the fate of the world being in danger because of moves like this?"

"Of course," answered Harry, his eyes filled with raw power as he looked to his friends, girlfriend and his family as he added, "But compared to putting you lot on the line in a series of Shadow Games, it's nothing. Besides, Seto's right: only I can truly command their powers, so it falls to me to be the one to be their protector just like you were and still are mine, Jay."

"Harry…" Yugi whispered.

However, before he could get another word out, Yugi gasped, as did the others, when Jaden activated his own Disk, standing next to Harry as he told him, "If that's the case, then we do this together, Harry: Team Supreme, the Guardian and the King, with the fate of the world in their hands."

While Harry did look shocked, he smiled before he looked to Nightshroud as he asked, "What do you say, Nightshroud? Jaden and I forming a little tag team: in exchange, you gain some more life points for this duel…"

"I gain extra life points? Interesting: I accept," sniggered Nightshroud, looking to the eyes of his dragon's head disk as his life points went up while, at the same time, Jaden placed his own deck into his disk, his eyes turning into Yubel's colours.

At the side of the arena, Alexis watched along with the others as she whispered, "Well, it looks like there's no stopping them."

"What more would you expect?" asked Seto, folding his arms as he added, "Of course, if Harry loses to this masked weirdo, then I'm going to be very upset and not just because I was the one stupid enough to put the idea in his head in the first place."

"All we can do is hope," agreed Yugi, clutching his hand against his chest as he added, "All those times I was in situations like this: now, it's their turn. I only hope they can match this Shadow Rider, especially with the added power he seems to have with those items of his."

Here, Seto chuckled before he added, "Mumbo jumbo won't save him from them, Yugi: remember, Jaden and Harry beat us!"

"And Harry beat me," added Zane, a thoughtful look on his face as he watched the duellists take their place.

"If they're going ahead with this," said Yugi, a smile forming on his face as he explained, "They won't go down easily, you're right there, but still, this is one part of the life that I never wanted for Harry."

"And yet it is the hand that fate has dealt him," argued Sirius, earning looks from the others before he explained, "Like you said, Yugi; all we can do is hope that they have it in them to defeat this last trial and, like you, save the world."

"Good luck guys," whispered Alexis, her hand trembling as she looked from her friends to Nightshroud: as she did so, another tremor passed through her as she saw his physique, his attire and his dominant stance.

She didn't know why, but something about it made her shiver as though she recognised it, but she couldn't tell why;

All she could do was watch as the fate of the world rested in her boyfriend's hands;

"DUEL!"

So, a tense Chapter 37 and it looks like Team Supreme are back together with the fate of the world in their hands, but with Harry no longer fearing the power of the King and a supped-up Nightshroud in their way, can they survive?

Also, what is it about Nightshroud that makes Alexis so scared and what could Zane be thinking about his potential successor?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: Team Supreme reunite as Harry and Jaden go up against the power of this Super Shadow Rider, but when certain truths are revealed, they force Harry to up the ante as he addresses the dark power of Nightshroud himself…

Please Read and Review

AN: Shadow Riders

So, I know some of you might be a bit PO'd at the fact that I've abridged the entire Shadow Riders arc down into one duel, but I think I should remind you that this is a SERIOUS AU of the series anyway and, with all the time and effort I've put into the story thus far, I realised I couldn't just let it fade into memory;

So, yes, the SR duels and arc are only going to be part of this one duel, so there's no Kagemaru, Tania, Camula etc.

Instead, with the conclusion of this duel, we're going to be at the finale: the Grad Match and, trust me, I'm going out with a bang.

But, once this story ends, THAT'S IT! There won't be a sequel or continuation; this story ends with the Grad Match;

Still, thanks to everyone who has continued to enjoy and follow the adventure;