I don't' own Yugioh or Harry Potter
Chapter 38
Snape strolled down the halls of the castle. His long robe was billowing behind him as he walked. He has several questions and concerns on his mind. He really hoped his gut feeling was incorrect.
As he approached the stone gargoyle to Dumbledore's office, he took a deep breath. The last thing he wanted was his mind to betray him. After successfully suppressing his concerns, Snape gave the gargoyle the new password.
The gargoyle leaped out of the way, exposing the spiral staircase. Snape started to ascend the stairs. Soon he found himself at the door to Dumbledore's office. Taking another deep breath he knocked on the door.
Hearing the knock on his door Dumbledore waved his wand to magically open the door. Looking up from the piece of parchment he was writing on, Dumbledore smiled. "Severus, to what do I owe the pleasure, this fine afternoon."
Snape inwardly snickered at the irony of the situation. In all his years at Hogwarts he couldn't remember ever having to pay the old man an unscheduled visit. "I apologize if I'm interrupting you, Headmaster..."
"Not at all, Severus, come sit down." Dumbledore gestured to the chair on the opposite side of his desk. He then set down the quill that was in his right hand. "I'm only making some adjustments to my will. As we both know I'm going to have you kill me and there are still so many things I need to take care of."
Snape sighed before taking a seat. "Has it ever once crossed your brilliant mind that I don't want to do this anymore?" He asked.
Dumbledore looked into Severus' eyes. He knew that Snape didn't want to kill him, but the alternatives were worse. "Whether it has or hasn't isn't relevant. You agreed and that is all there is to it. But I'm sure my pending death isn't what brought you to visit me this afternoon."
Snape shook his head. "No headmaster it isn't." He said. The professor paused for a few moments before continuing. "I needed to inform you of a situation that happened right before lunch."
Dumbledore suddenly become overwhelmed with concern. "Has a student been injured badly?" He asked.
Snape shrugged. "Honestly I don't know. All I do know is what Mr. Kaiba texted me and my brief observation when I ran into him and the Moto twins on the way to their dorm."
Dumbledore gave Snape a questioning look, by looking over the rim of his half moon spectacles. "Texted?"
Snape inwardly snickered. "I'm sure you noticed that Mr. Kaiba hates owls. So he gave me a cell phone to send messages to me, instead of using an owl."
Dumbledore laughed. "He sure loves his muggle devices doesn't he?"
"It is one of the things that helped him make his fortune." Snape said.
"I suppose that would make someone passionate about muggle devices, huh?" Dumbledore replied.
"Anyway in my text from him it seems that Mr. Weasley cast a spell, I was under the impression wasn't available to students." Snape explained.
Panic ran down the old wizard's spine as he thought that Ron might have cast an Unforgivable Curse. "What spell did he cast?" Dumbledore asked.
"I deduced from the description that is was Levicorpus. Since he had Mrs. Kaiba hoisted mid air upside down." Snape stated.
Dumbledore's panic vanished when he heard Snape's explanation. He then looked at Snape and said nonchalantly. "It isn't the first time students went around cursing other students like that. As I recall it was quite popular when you were here."
Snape had to repress his rising temper as he spoke. "You know what I mean. It is my own spell. I haven't taught it to anyone since I became your spy."
"I know it is your spell and I'm sure you gave the counter curse to Mr. Kaiba." Dumbledore said.
"Of course I did," snapped Snape. Noticing his anger was reaching the surface. The professor took a moment to clear his emotions before asking. "Where did Mr. Weasley learn my own spell to use it against my student?"
Dumbledore smiled before saying. "I'm sure you know the answer to that if you think about it."
Snape could feel his annoyance at Dumbledore antic and the situation trying to break through. "The only conclusion I can come up with isn't probable. That spell, as well as several others, are all in my advance potions textbook." Snape stated. He then took a second to repress his emotions again before continuing. "But I gave my textbook to you to hide, just like you suggested, since I made the book indestructible. I wanted to make sure no student would ever learn some of the dark spells I created in my youth. They are extremely dangerous and some are deadly." Noticing that Dumbledore didn't seem too surprised by this bit of information, made Snape realize that more was going on then he first thought. He decided he needed to get some information. "How did my book end up in the position of Mr. Weasley?" The greasy haired professor asked.
Dumbledore knew that some of Snape's questions would need answered so he said casually. "I actually didn't intend to have it end up in Ron's hands, it was supposed to end up in Harry's."
Snape was dumbstruck on Dumbledore's possible motivation for having Harry end up with his old textbook. "That makes so much sense now." Snape said sarcastically. Thinking that Dumbledore might pick up on the sarcasm, Snape decided he needed to reinforce the pretence that he hated Harry. "Of course you would want the Potter brat to be able to try to use my own spells against me. He is just like his father."
"In looks perhaps, but I've spent a lot of time with Harry and he has more of his mother's personality than his fathers." Dumbledore said. "Now tell me Severus if you gave Mr. Kaiba the counter curse. Why do you still seem worried? I'm sure he got Mrs. Kaiba down okay."
Snape was shocked that Dumbledore noticed his concern. He hadn't realized that his concern was apparent, but he knew he was still in control of his emotions. He also wanted some more answers and knew the best way was to keep this conversation going. "He did get her down just fine. But before he got her down it seems that Mr. Weasley decided to try vanishing all Krista's clothes. He started with her top then when he tried to vanish her robe only to have Yugi Moto give him a Shadow Game to stop him from doing it. Yugi was trying in to protect Krista from falling victim to breaking the terms of your guy's contract." Snape explained.
Dumbledore shook his head. "What were the results of the Shadow Game?"
"From what I was told. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Moto had a wager attached to the game and then Mr. Weasley broke the wager Mr. Moto punished him with a Penalty Game." Snape explained.
Dumbledore became more concerned for Ron's wellbeing with each moment. "How bad is Mr. Weasley?" He asked.
"I found Mr. Weasley only stunned outside the potion classroom. I revived him and he seemed fine." Snape explained.
Dumbledore was perplexed. "Stunning for a Penalty Game? That doesn't sound like a Penalty Game the exchange students would do."
"Atem and Kaiba don't know details to the Penalty Game. All they know is that it won't kick in until sunset and end at high noon in a month." Snape stated.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in disbelief. He couldn't accept that Snape didn't know the answers to his questions. "Yugi didn't give you details." He said.
"Headmaster, Yugi was completely unconscious when I bumped into Mr. Kaiba and the Moto twins. And Mr. Moto and Mr. Kaiba wouldn't take him to the hospital wing. They insisted on taking him to their dorm instead."
Dumbledore let out an audible sigh from frustration. "That group is so stubborn! We need to go make sure Mr. Yugi Moto is okay." Dumbledore exclaimed while rising to his feet.
Snape was about to respond when his cell phone started to beep signaling a message. Snape pulled out his phone and check the message. "Mrs. Kaiba says Yugi Moto has regained consciousness but will not be attending classes this afternoon because he needs to recuperate. But he will be fine come dinner." Snape spent a few moments trying to figure out why Krista would italicize the word recuperate.
After thinking it over, it dawned on him. She must have snuck Tea onto school grounds. Krista wanted to make sure that Tea wasn't discovered. So she sent him a coded message.
Dumbledore sat back down as a wave of relief washed over his body. "It is a relief that he is okay. I guess we'll just have to wait to see what becomes of Mr. Weasley. It appears that Mr. Moto will need detention. I need to head to his dorm to tell him. I don't approve of that group punishing the students instead of just letting the staff do it."
Snape knew he had to keep Dumbledore from finding out what Krista had done so he decided to keep Dumbledore talking for as long as possible. Perhaps that would keep the old man from going to Yugi's dorm. "Headmaster, forgive me. But I must vote an objection to giving out a detention to only Mr. Moto. It would only be fair to give Mr. Weasley detention too. If you hadn't allowed Mr. Weasley to get my book none of this would have happened."
"If his Penalty Game is anything like the week he was under the illusion he was a girl he won't be in any condition to do detention." Dumbledore said.
"Why did you let my book fall into a student's hands?" Snape asked.
Dumbledore smiled his signature smile at Snape. "I did what had to be done."
Snape had to repress the instinct to smack Dumbledore's smile off his face. Deciding that continuing the conversation was the best way to keep control over his emotions, Snape asked. "When are you going to confiscate it?"
"Sometime in the future." Dumbledore replied.
"I just hope it is before something other than Levicorpus is cast by Mr. Weasley." Snape stated.
"We can't confiscate it just yet. We will know when the time is right." Dumbledore said.
Snape couldn't wrap his mind around why Ron keeping his old book was so important. He figured if he tried to pressure the old man than Dumbledore might agree to let him confiscate it. "Why not confiscate the book now?" He asked.
"I just said it can't be confiscated yet, we need to be patient." Dumbledore snapped.
Snape could sense that this might be an argument he couldn't win, but he wanted to press on anyway. "You know as well as I do what kind of spells I created." He said.
Dumbledore knew he couldn't divulge his plan for why the book needed to be in the hands of a student. He also knew Snape wouldn't drop the subject without some kind of answer. Therefore Dumbledore chose to give Snape a cryptic response. "I am well aware of the kinds of spells you created." Dumbledore dipped his quill in some ink. "But for now things need to play out."
Snape sighed. "Headmaster, what are you planning?"
Dumbledore started to write on his parchment as he continued his conversation with his spy. "I will not discuss this issue with you further. Everything is going just fine, have a little faith."
"I would rest better knowing my book was out of the hands of a student. One whom I might add has a serious grudge against the students I'm entrusted to look after." Snape confessed.
Thinking that Snape needed to realize the severity of the plan he set in motion, Dumbledore put his quill back down and spoke sternly. "You must not confiscate the book, or mention it to any of your students. It is essential that everything play out. Do I have your word on that you'll let Ronald Weasley keep the book?"
Snape sighed. He knew it was pointless to argue further. He figured the only students who would be on the receiving end of a curse from his book would be anyone in Slythern, the group of duelists, and maybe Ginny. He decided the best way to help his students stay safe and keep Dumbledore happy was to keep an eye on anyone who fell into those categories. He knew that he would have to observe from a distance. After all, no one likes knowing that a teacher is watching their every movement. Once Snape felt comfortable with his decision, he just nodded his head to convey the message to Dumbledore that he would comply with the request.
Dumbledore smiled. He was pleased with his spy. "Thank you Severus. Now I really must get back to working on my will. And if I'm not mistaken you have a class of third years scheduled to start in about 10 minutes."
Snape nodded. "I do, Headmaster, and I'll see you at dinner."
"Yes you will, I must say it will be interesting to find out what kind of Penalty Game, Yugi Moto put on Ron Weasley. And I haven't changed my mind. Mr. Moto will serve detention with you every night for the week. He broke the rules by fighting with Ron and therefore must be disciplined." Dumbledore said.
"Very well, I'll inform him myself at dinner." Snape said.
"That is acceptable." Dumbledore said. "Now, Severus, have a pleasant rest of the day."
"You too, Headmaster." Snape rose out of the chair and exited Dumbledore's office without another word.
As he was walking towards his classroom, Snape couldn't help but be both pleased and angered by the events that had taken place in Dumbledore's office. Snape was grateful that had was able to successfully keep Dumbledore from heading to the duelists dorm to give Yugi detention by convincing the old man to let him take care of it at dinner.
However, Snape was still concerned for the future wellbeing of his students. He was furious with Dumbledore for allowing his potion book to end up in the hands of Ron. Snape spent the rest of the afternoon having different scenarios playing in the back of his mind.
He just couldn't get his mind around why Dumbledore would do such a dangerous thing. The fact that his advance potion book was now in the hands of a teenage wizard. A wizard with a major problem with several students in the school had catastrophe written all over it.
As Snape dismissed his final class for the evening, he came up with a plan. He knew he had given his word not to tell his students about Ron having his book. But he never promised not to plant the idea for Krista to conjure a vision. Snape knew to implement the plan to have Krista conjure a vision of the conversation that took place this afternoon would take careful planning. The last thing he wanted was the old man to find out that she could conjure visions.
Relieved he had a starting point for a plan, Snape headed to the Great Hall for dinner. As he was walking down the corridors he passed a window and could tell that the sun had just set. He knew Ron's Penalty Game had just activated and he couldn't help but wonder what was in store for the gangly redhead.
Snape entered the Great Hall to see Yugi sitting at the Gryffindor Table. He walked up to Yugi. "Evening Mr. Moto, I assume you are well rested."
Snape had put an extra emphases on the well rested, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by the short wizard. "You obviously know that I had a visitor this afternoon." Yugi said while his checks started to turn pink.
"That is of no concern of mine." Snape stipulated, but Yugi could almost see a smirk crossing the emotionless face of his favorite teacher. "I assume your visitor is now home."
Yugi nodded. "She left yes."
"I hate to inform you but..." Snape began.
Yugi sighed. "Let me guess Dumbledore is forcing you to give me detention."
Snape nodded. "You will do it with me tonight and every night for the rest of the week."
"I guess I should have realized that, although I don't regret protecting my friend." Yugi said.
"I know that." Snape replied. He then turned to leave. Looking over his shoulder he added. "I'll see you in my office at seven."
Yugi looked into Snape's eyes and couldn't shake the feeling that Snape had more he wanted to say. Yugi trusting his instincts asked. "Was there something else you needed, Sensei?"
Snape realizing Yugi knew he wanted answers, turned back around to face Yugi. "Ron's Penalty Game isn't going to kill him is it?" Snape asked.
"No it won't kill him, but it will make him unable to attend classes for the next month." Yugi explained.
"Meaning he'll end up in the hospital wing or just sent home for the rest of the term." Snape said mostly to himself, even though Yugi heard him.
"Pretty much." Yugi said.
"Can you give me details?" Snape asked.
"Not really since I don't know them myself. The Illusion of Literature is tied to the subconscious as well as dishes out poetic justice. All I can tell you is Ron will think he is a character created by the author Hans Christian Anderson." Yugi explained.
"Who?" Snape asked.
"Google him, Sensei." Yugi suggested.
Snape nodded. "Understood." Snape left the Gryffindor table and headed to the staff table. He figured he would Google the muggle author later and just start to eat.
Dinner seemed to go without incident, as the students started to dish up food. Snape noticed that so far Ron was absent from dinner. He just shrugged and stared to eat a baked potato when the doors to the Great Hall flew open with a huge bang.
The entire student body turned to see Ronald Weasley standing in the back of the hall completely naked with the Half Blood Prince's book in his right hand and his wand in his left. "Hello my subjects! I am your king and don't you love the new cloak I had made from pure gold."
"Oh my Ra it is the Emperor's New Clothes with a twist." Krista relayed over the court's mind link.
"And I thought the High Priest was the entrance maker." Marik added.
"Talk about poetic justice for vanishing Krista's top." Kaiba replied.
"Innocent One, that is better than him think he is a girl. Don't ever tell Hermione I said that." Atem stated.
"I believe this, calls for a song." Bakura relayed. He pulled out his remote for the PA system. Soon the Great Hall started to radiate the intro to The Streak. Bakura then proceeded to sing the entire song, to sounds of encouraging laughter from the student body.
The entire student body was a mixture of shock and laughter at the combination of Bakura's song and Ron's naked entrance. It seemed that no one knew what exactly to do about Ron. Ron noticing this asked. "What is wrong my subjects? Don't you like my new cloak?"
Ginny's sides were aching from laughing. Soon she couldn't take it anymore. She had to point out the obvious, at her brother's expense. She leaped to her feet. "Ron you aren't wearing clothes, you bare butt naked!"
Dumbledore couldn't believe Ron's Penalty Game. He quickly summoned a robe as he approached the naked Ron and tried to give him the robe. "Here Ron you need to be dressed." He said.
Ron waved his wand vanishing the robe in Dumbledore's hand. "I am dressed; you just want my gold robe. Well you can't have it. I'm the king and therefore my word is law."
Dumbledore decided by playing along, so he could at least get Ron to the hospital wing. "Fine your majesty, let's go to the palace and get you some food." Dumbledore said.
Dumbledore decided he would then send a note to Molly as soon as Ron was in the hospital wing. It looked like Ron would have to spend the rest of the term at home since he really can't go to class naked for the next month. Dumbledore and Ron exited the Great Hall to a round of laughter from the students begging for an encore to Bakura's song.
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