(Lilo: *sigh* I was sick with this stupid flu for a week and a half! And now I have to face school! And catching up! Oh, the horrors! The horrors! *faints* I really, really don't want to go there! Urghhhh!!! Somebody save me … lol, ahm, here is the next chapter. You see, some things will get solved and other will get more complicated. Ah, but Ron will remain a bastard until the end because this is the plotline … it was either him or Hermione and I just couldn't make her evil so ya. And it kinda fits too … anyways, no spoilers! Read the chapter and find out for yourself!
Marikue: *looks at her weirdly* she is just saying that. And for the Disclaimer … go bother so other chapter! we all know that she doesn't own Harry Potter and Yu-Gi-Oh, so qualified lawyers .. shoo!
~Trying to rid of one, gaining another~
It was quiet, very quiet in the room that they were in. Marik was sure that if someone would dare to drop a pin, the rest would hear it loud and clear. This sort of silence was nerve breaking and suddenly a face of a happy girl flashed in his mind. Suddenly, not knowing what made him say such, he blurted the first question that even he himself didn't know he had.
"What happened between you and your friends?" Marik asked Harry, beating whatever Ryou had to say about this. What's the point of wasting time in something silly when you can get straight to the point? Such was Marik's logic and that was why he was never afraid to tell someone off or to start a fight. Even though he knew that he would win, it was still challenging … sometimes.
Harry's jaw almost hit the floor but the bed that he was sitting on prevented it. While Yami congratulated Marik on the question, Harry's mind was an unreadable mumble-jumble. He never even though of a possibility of them noticing that Hermione and Ron used to be his friends, let alone get enough courage to pry into his personal business. He could, of course, refuse, but that would mean that he would never find out why they changed so much, Yami and Bakura… and what did all have to do with ancient spirits and why he didn't sense as much power around them as he did before?
"Um" was Harry's feeble attempt. He didn't want to talk about, he never talked about it. Now he was forced to decide between the two: knowing or not knowing what was wrong with the other two. It just fascinated him, well, actually, any mystery fascinated him but this … this was just screaming at his face, wanting him to solve it and Harry knew oh-so well that before something actually gets solved, you make a bunch of sacrifices and this one was the one that he had to make, even though an evil voice deep inside of him told him to just drop it.
"You don't have to tell us if you don't want to." Yugi said quietly, starring at the ceiling with boredom. He didn't expect Harry to tell them. What was the point?
"Nah" Harry shook his head and began. "It's just that on one of the days at Hogwarts Ron and Malfoy, this other bastard, started a fight again. They were insulting each other as usual but that day I just wasn't in the mood to put up with it. So, basically, I told Ron to lay off. Ron started telling me that Malfoy insulted his family and told him that he was stupid, some other crap and well, something in me just snapped and I told Ron that maybe if he'll stop being stupid Malfoy would stop calling him stupid. Ron got pissed at me and told me that maybe I wanted to be friends with Malfoy instead of him and I just had to go and hug a stunned Malfoy telling Ron that I, in fact, was best friends with him. Of course, it was a total bluff but Ron believed it. He got mad and told me that he now knew that I was nothing more but what the Daily Prophet wrote about me in my fifth year. I got mad cuz they wrote some pretty big and made-up shit so I told him that I was popular already and that I did have a mental link with Voldemort and that I was waiting for his command to blow the entire school to pieces," Harry pause to laugh while Yugi, Ryou and Marik tried to register the information.
"So you were bluffing and he believed you?" Yugi said slowly.
"Ya, but that's not it. Listen," Harry said, a sinister smile still on his face. "Hermione tried to tell Ron that I was probably joking but Ron was furious. He told me that I probably was under Voldemort's control but I just laughed and told him that I wasn't. Then I laughed and he told me that no wonder Voldemort wanted to kill me so much, because he probably knew that I was far more worse than he could ever become. I got touchy cuz that's when my parents died and said some crap in Parseltong that I don't even remember and this huuuuge monstrous snake appeared out of practically nowhere and it reached the very top of the ceiling, which is pretty high because it was the Great Hall where we usually eat food. Basically, there was a major panic and I told Ron to watch whatever crap he wanted to say in my presence unless he wanted to become snake-food. Hermione tried to stop me but I snapped at her as well and told her that I don't need anyone or some shit like that. Anyways, I hopped onto the snake and told the entire school that I am going to the Chamber of Secrets to awake my old monster-friend from my second year which was a bluff too cuz I killed the Basilisk off. Ya, and I told them to watch their steps as long as I am here in this school. Then I told the snake to go and basically we just got to the top floor and then I set it free … but it would come back whenever I would call on it …"
"So your friends are afraid of you?" Marik asked. God, this kid had more to him than they had expected.
"Ron is, Hermione knew that I was bluffing so not her. She just got stuck with Ron cuz I told her that I don't need anyone but I really don't have anything against her. She is a great friend even though she can be very annoying and nosy from time to time. But the rest are terrified! Honestly, in the classroom there is like five or six desks that are empty and they all sit in front of the class because I prefer the back. And in corridors they run away. When we eat they try to sit as far as possible. They wouldn't even be sitting at the same table if Dumbledore hadn't threatened them or something … I don't really know what happened after I left. But you know it's fun and quiet. All the time."
"Nice" Marik said and suddenly he started to laugh. Yugi shook his head and Ryou just smiled. Harry blinked and looked at Marik who was gasping for air, tears coming from his eyes. After a minute of laughing, Marik was finally able to get a hold of himself and sit up straight. Then his eyes darted to the door but the returned to Harry and he gave him a big smile. "I guess you answered two questions, one being the one that we didn't know that we would have!"
"Huh?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Why the entire school is running away from you!" Marik said and chuckled.
"Oh" was Harry's reply as he smiled.
"So that's why Yami is still having a hysteric attack of the evil laughter…" Yugi said and dropped his head into his hands. Harry stared at him weirdly and wondered what the heck the other was talking about.
"You know, talking to yourself about yourself is a bad habit" he said with a raised eyebrow. "So, what's up with you and ancient spirits?"
"Simple." Marik said as if it was nothing. Ryou gave him a desperate look but Marik ignored it. "Basically, those two have a 'split' personality as one may call it." Harry nodded his head in understanding, silently telling Marik to continue. "so the 'other' one is this ancient spirit."
"So you guys are controlled by them?" Harry asked, trying to understand whatever they were trying to tell him. Right now, all he knew is that the two needed a doctoral advise and fast.
"No. we share"
"Huh?"
"These spirits live in the items that we possess" Marik said and at the same time, Yugi pointed to his puzzle, to give Harry an idea of the kind of object they were talking about.
"So …. These spirits are harmless? I mean … so, right now I am talking to two different people?" Harry waved his hand in Yugi's and Ryou's direction, being utterly confused.
"Yes and no." Marik replied. "Yami or Bakura take over, the hikaries, that's what we call the lighter halves, can still see things through yamis' eyes but they can't do a heck because yamis are in control."
"'yamis'?" Harry, asked, completely confused.
"The darker half. You see, one half is light and the other is dark. One is Hikari and the other is Yami in Japanese language." Marik explained patiently. He knew that it wasn't just Harry that he was explaining it to right now.
"So, um, when hikaries are in control the yamis can still see everything?" Harry said slowly, processing this newfound information.
"Yup" Marik said and Harry did one of the stupidest things in the world. He turned to Yugi and Ryou and waved his hand.
"Hi Yami and Bakura" Harry said and Yugi, Ryou and Marik fell to the floor with a thud. Whatever reaction they had expected, this wasn't it!
"So, um, do you call yourself differently as well?" Harry said as a thought struck him.
"Ya …" Marik said as he slowly peeled himself off the floor. This Harry kid was fully of shocking surprises. "right now Yugi is in Yami's place and Ryou is in Bakura's place."
"Oh … so you are using you real names?" Harry asked, his memory telling him that Bakura, when the first talked introduced himself as Ryou Bakura and Yami as Yugi Motou … but how come Yami's name mean 'dark' in Japanese? That was the question that Harry had asked.
"Because the pharaoh couldn't remember his name" Marik said with a smirk.
"Pharaoh?" Harry asked, knowing that Bakura called Yami with that title.
"Long story but Yami is a spirit of a pharaoh and Bakura is a spirit of a tombrobber. Two mortal enemies who always fought and now look at them! They are practically best friends!" Marik said cheerfully and for some reason, Harry thought that if Yami and Bakura were in control, they would've huffed and crossed their arms, denying it. Harry blinked and wondered what let him to such thoughts.
"So, um ….." Harry began but then stopped. After scratching his head, he said, " Too much for my poor little brain to absorb in one day."
"Understandable" Ryou said quietly.
"So, um, hi Ryou and Yugi … I feel kinda dumb when I say that but I never really said hi to you … " Harry pause and turned to Marik. "How come you don't have a split personality … I mean, the spirit thingy?"
"Easy. Mariku, my other half, was a smart and evil nutcase who wanted to kill the pharaoh, Yami, and take over the world. But in the end, Yami killed him and I am alone now." At this, Marik gave a laugh.
"So, um, who was your other half? A bandit?"
"Actually, I accidentally created him myself" Marik said with a sheepish smile. Harry sweatdropped and made a mental remark to never try and create a yami for himself … if 'self-created' once were nutcases. Right now, Harry felt lighter, as if something was lifted from him. Maybe it was because he told them what happened to him and now it wasn't as weird and he wasn't laughed at but laughed at the fact that the school as afraid of him, which meant that Marik was actually laughing at the stupidity of the students of Hogwarts.
"Oh" was all that Harry could say.
"But I think Bakura is far worse than Mariku could ever be because dude, that guy died something like 20 times and he just kept on coming back! Really!" Marik shook his head in disbelieve and dropped onto his bed.
"Died?" Harry said in disbelieve.
"Looong story." Ryou said as he shook his head. "and I want to sleep, my body is killing me."
"True" Harry replied. Marik's eyes, once again, darted to the door but then he closed them and let out a small whistle. Nobody noticed anything.
"Then let's sleep … otherwise I'll have bags under my eyes!" Yugi said in a sad voice.
"Why are you so touchy about your eyes?" Marik asked, his mouth quirked into a weird from.
"Back off Marik" was all that Yugi said before burying his head in his pillow.
"Good ….um, night I guess …" Harry said.
"Ya, night at 1 pm.." Marik smirked. They turned off the lights and hit the pillows. However, Harry just couldn't fall asleep. He just kept on thinking about how he changed without his friends, when he was all alone. Now, Marik, Yami and Bakura … and Yugi and Ryou somehow managed to gain his trust when he swore to himself that he will never feel again … never trust again. They told his their story which, in Harry's opinion, was completely bazaar. It fascinated him still, to think that they had two personalities, like two different people in one body … it was amazing. It also explained why their behavior was so strange and the drastic character changes that he had noticed before. Today explained everything and they were truthful. He knew that because Ryou was thinking and asking himself why they were telling this to Harry. Harry, on the other hand, didn't expect them to tell him anything. Now all he had to do was to find an explanation to their weird powers … but deciding not to think about that, he doze off, not thinking about Sirius even once.
~~~
Hermione slowly moved away from the boys' door, trying to make as little sound as possible. She was sent by Ron and Dumbledore to 'spy' on her own friend! For crying out loud, they were using her to eavesdrop because they knew that if Harry would discover them with an ear pressed against his door, then they would meet the same fate as Kreatcher. But her … noooo, they knew that Harry wouldn't do anything to her and that was what frustrated her to no end! They were behaving themselves as if Harry was this runaway prisoner or some psychopath! Ridiculous! She sighed and shook her head, heading for Dumbledore's office. God, she did not want to do this!
"At least they are nice to me…" she told herself quietly, thinking about the way that Ron acted with her. Always nice and polite, never insulting, always defending but to Hermione, for some reason, it seemed fake. Just like that, fake, forced, unreal. "Time will tell." She muttered under her breath and continued on her way. Suddenly, at the back of her mind, it felt like some sort of intrusion but as quickly as it came, it was gone. Hermione, thinking that she was just getting paranoid shook her head and knocked on the door of Dumbledore's office. She heard someone from the inside say 'enter' and she opened the door. Inside, there were Ron, Snape, Moody, McGonagall and Dumbledore, all sitting around a small table. They all had grim expressions, aside McGonagall, who looked frustrated. Hermione knew that McGonagall was the only teacher that was on Harry's side … Hagrid was ….. she shook her head, trying to clear it from the sad memories.
"What did you hear?" Dumbledore asked, putting his fingers together.
" Nothing other then him being happy and proud at his first successful murder. Then they talked about nothing in particular." Hermione replied in monotone. She hated doing this.
"Please tell us everything. You know that we don't want harm to come to Harry" Dumbledore said patiently.
"Then I am telling you that they talked about nothing that could harm him" Hermione said steely. Except that the new students have split personalities and that those personalities want to kill each other. Completely harmless, she was suuuuuuure.
"Hermione. Please stop being rebellious! This is for his good!" Dumbledore tried to explain.
"If you want him good, then leave him alone" she stood up to the headmaster. For some reason, today, she felt like she didn't give a damn about anything anymore and she wanted to quit the 'spy' job. And the others could go and screw themselves over.
"Hermione! What happened in there?" Ron demanded.
"Nothing drastic. Nobody got killed except of a couple of thousands muggles when they wanted to see if the curse worked over long distances." Hermione smirked at their shocked faces.
"No way" Moody said disapprovingly.
"Hermione?" Dumbledore began calmly. "Are you possessed by something?"
"Actually, this is what I wanted to ask you." she shot back and silence fell over the others.
"You are not your usual self today" Ron said quietly, looking at the headmaster, as if asking for something and then looking back to Hermione.
" Because I am fed so up with all of you! If you weren't such a bastard, Harry would've still been with us, and not so secretive! You ruined his life" she told Ron but then looked up and stared at the center of the table, not really seeing anything. "You treat him like some bastard, like an animal … stop trying to butt into his personal business! I am tired of this! I am quitting this stupid thing! And going back to Harry and there isn't a heck you can do to stop me! I am fed up with you all." She declared and when Ron opened his mouth to speak, she beat him to it. "You can shove my Head Girl badger up your ass because I am not her anymore! Find some other looser to do your dirty job! I. Had. Enough." With there words, she stormed out of the room, making her way through the long corridor. All she had to do would turn right instead of left and she would reach her own room. However, her path was blocked by Ron. How did he manage to do that?
"What's wrong with you?" he asked her gently. Too gently.
"I am tired Ron, let me go!" she said and tried to get past him. Instead, she had her left arm grabbed, twisted and she found herself being pressed tightly against the wall.
"No, you listen here! You will do as I say or you will live the same life as Harry." He said in a low and dangerous voice.
"Oh really? Now you are threatening me?" Hermione asked in a faked surprise. She knew that it would come to this, but she never thought that she would be pressed face-first into the wall.
"Damn right girl." He said slowly. "you leave us, and your life will become hell."
"I'll go back to Harry!" she exclaimed and winced in pain as he twisted her arm even further.
"You go back to him and the next day there will be a very nasty article about him in a Daily Prophet, written by you." he spoke into her ear. Hermione struggled against his hold.
"Bastard." She hissed and dug her nails into his arm as hard as she could. She knew that she drew blood by his gasp of pain and her being roughly spun around. He stared at her for a moment before he lifted his hand and slapped her. Hard. Her left check tingled with pain but she tried to endure.
"Bitch! Do that again and I promise you pain." He said and watched as tears formed at the corners of her eyes but she wouldn't let them fall. No, instead, she spat at his face. He seemed unfazed and whipped it off with his free hand.
"I dare you to" she said in a low voice, something in the back for her mind not feeling right. It was the same feeling that she got before entering Dumbledore's office, but right now, it stayed. She was so distracted by it that she didn't notice the gleam in Ron's eyes and register its meaning before it was too late. He gave her a bruising kiss, biting her bottom lip so hard that it started to bleed. She whimpered in pain but didn't allow him to get what he wanted … sure she was kissed by him before, only once though and was a simple peck on the lips. He acted all shy and all but now, he was a maniac. Hermione felt some strange surge of power pass through her veins and it was like somebody took control of her body. She could only watch as she hit Ron with the power she didn't know she could ever muster right under his rib-cage. He flew a couple of meters away from where she stood and fell to the ground, coughing up blood. She got her body back and she did the only thing she could: run. She took off in the opposite direction of her room, knowing where she was going. With the speed she didn't know she possessed, she ran through the corridors, knowing that Ron would follow. When she actually 'heard' his footsteps, she ran even harder, getting closer to her goal … but what if he was asleep. Desperate, she managed to take a deep breath and scream with the voice that shook the entire building.
"HHAARRYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
(Lilo: see, now comes the Hermione issue! Yes, Ron is a bastard in my fict. why? Because there had to be a villain that would abuse Hermione and I didn't feel like bringing Krum into the picture so ya. Forgive me Ron fans! I have completely nothing against him and even find him funny but this is how it goes. Sorry, sorry, sorry and I hope that I wouldn't need to lift the rating after this chapter! this is PG-13! Trust me, it is. Ah, and it is a cliffhanger. Will she make it in time???????????? Or will Ron catch up to her? Oh, and who can answer this: who was controlling her when she hit Ron? It's obvious but I want to see if you will guess it correctly. … just read between the lines, lol! Anyways, ya, told you that it would get more twisted???
Marikue: R&R!)