Chapter 19: Herbology and Discussion
When Mahaad entered the common room the next day, Harry glanced at him and looked away, pulling out a book and flipping through pages. Mahaad accepted Harry's coolness and sat down at a table a good distance away from him.
"Who do you think Katie was supposed to give the necklace to?" Ron asked Harry a minute or two later. Harry shrugged, but lowered his book. "Dumbledore or Slughorn would be my guess. The Death Eaters would love to get rid of either of them," Harry said quietly.
Hermione nodded, determinedly not looking in Mahaad's direction. "You don't know that for sure Harry. But whoever it was supposed to go to is very lucky. They couldn't have opened the package without touching the necklace."
"I wonder why Malfoy—" Harry began.
Hermione stamped her foot. "Harry! He wasn't in Hogesmede, remember? He was doing detention with Professor McGonagall."
Mahaad smiled faintly. So, it wasn't just him that Hermione was angry with.
Harry suddenly checked his watch and jumped up. "I've got to get to my lesson with Dumbledore." Without another word he swiftly crossed the room and left.
Mahaad continued reading his Defense book, Neville had joined him at the table, and was currently working on an essay for Herbology. Yugi approached the table and smiled warmly at them. "Mahaad, I believe it is time for Professor Slughorn's party."
Mahaad lifted his head, his eyes flicked to Neville, before returning to fixate on a spot past his younger Master's shoulder. "I would rather not go," Mahaad stated.
/Why won't he just say he isn't going?/
/Based on how you phrased the statement about the party, Mahaad took it as a request rather than an order. He doesn't want to ask permission to stay behind in front of Neville. But I suspect he doesn't want to be around Hermione or Harry at the moment./
/Good point./
"Ok," Yugi said reassuringly. "Have fun studying with Neville. I'll come back when it's over."
The next morning was cloudy and a bit chilly as Mahaad descended to the greenhouses with the other sixth year Gryffindors. Professor Sprout met them and explained their assignment for the day.
Mahaad tugged on his gloves, chaffing at the knowledge that they were made of dragonhide. He didn't always see eye to eye with the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but he didn't relish the idea of wearing her skin on his hands.
He put his protective glasses on and examined the Snargaluff trunks in front of him. Next to him, Neville thrust his hand into the hole in the trunk. The once-dormant plant sprang to life. Its vines whipping Neville's forearm. The teen persisted and was rewarded when he retrieved a pulsating green pod.
Mahaad steeled his nerves and tentatively reached out toward the trunk. The vines attacked him too, snapping at his fingers. Mahaad withdrew his hand to reassess the situation.
"Pass me a bowl, please," Neville asked, having already punctured a hole in the top. Mahaad handed one over and Neville held the pod over it and began squeezing out the juice into the bowl.
A pod shot out of Ron's hands, bounced off the wall and then hit the back of Professor Sprout's head.
"—I was going to invite you to come, but if that's the way you feel," Hermione shouted at Ron. Mahaad turned in time to see Ron's ears turn red. They continued arguing for several minutes, only stopping when Harry accidently shattered a bowl, dropping it on the floor.
The sound caused them to look around. Hermione shook her head and grabbed the nearest pod, stabbed it with a knife and roughly removed the tubers inside.
A few days later, Yami entered an empty classroom where Hermione was perched on the teacher's desk, swinging her legs back and forth.
She eyed him as he approached, regarding him with an unchanging expression. He released a breath. "Granger-san, I would like to speak with you about Mahaad. May I?" he asked, fixing her with an expectant gaze.
She tilted her head to the side. "Are you going to speak for him? Is that why Mahaad isn't here?" she asked.
"Mahaad doesn't know that I am speaking with you, but if you would like I can invite him to join us."
She nodded.
The Pharaoh returned a few minutes later with Mahaad in tow. The Pharaoh took a seat in one of the desks along the front row and casually waved Mahaad into one as well.
"Please ask any questions you have Hermione," the Pharaoh began.
"You'll no doubt recall the story we shared last year about how Mahaad saved me from the snake bite?" Hermione nodded.
Mahaad rubbed the scar, his thoughts far away.
"Mahaad sought to protect me from that day forward. As a young Prince, I was eager to see what lay beyond the palace and I often convinced Mahaad to accompany me. He would usually face the brunt of any punishment when we returned. I almost always was able to lighten the sentence."
Mahaad smiled faintly.
Hermione's lips pulled down into a frown. "I don't like that but I can accept that Mahaad was your servant in Egypt. I fail to see how that applies now. Why can't you just release him?"
Yami opened his mouth but then closed it again and cast a glance at Mahaad.
Mahaad swallowed. "When I died, I pledged my soul to being my king's eternal servant. I won't break my dying vow. And even today among the gods there is a king."
Hermione folded her hands in her lap. "But couldn't Yugi as king make a decree saying that everyone was equal?"
"Then people would only be equal because I said so," the king said. He sifted his gaze to the magician. "Mahaad, do you remember my dream?"
The priest's breath caught. "Yes, my Pharaoh," he breathed.
"I am still striving to achieve it one day. I know it is will take time."
The Pharaoh shifted his gaze to the brown-haired girl. "Hermione, Mahaad has lost his entire civilization. Everyone he knew except me is dead. Can I deprive him of the last shred of familiarity he has left?"
Mahaad's eyes widened.
Hermione bit her lip.
"Couldn't he at least address you by name?" she asked.
Mahaad's body tensed his eyes wide. "I would never be so presumptuous!" He sputtered.
"I will consider it. Your suggestion has merit." The Pharaoh's lips curled upward into a smile.
Mahaad's mouth fell open as he gaped at the Pharaoh. He moved to kneel, but the Pharaoh's raised hand halted him.
Banshee Queen Lydia: Thank you for your review! You've summed up my thoughts too. I hope this chapter was worth the wait…