Chapter 15

"Damn her," Bakura snarled, hands clenched into fists. He was sitting on the parapet of the tower, Ryou kneeling beside him, watching the clouds scudding along overhead. "Why couldn't she just leave Marik out of it?" He slammed a fist into the floor before turning his fiery gaze in his hikari's direction.

Ryou quailed inwardly at his yami's wrathful gaze but didn't dare to move a muscle in fear of attracting Bakura's attention. A leaf spiraled downwards and Bakura reached out, snatching it out of the air and crushing to powder between his fingers. He opened his hand, letting the dust drift down, falling towards the ground far below the tower. He watched it fall, a pensive expression gracing his features as the remains of the leaf spiraled down towards the bare earth.

"Of Ra's tears we were created and to his earth we shall return." He mused out loud and Ryou relaxed at the thoughtful tone. "And yet he would not have us destroyed, for did he not restrain Hathor in her aspect as Sekhmet when she would have destroyed all those souls upon the earth? And did he not appoint those to rule over us that we would live in peace and happiness despite knowing our wicked nature?" He turned abruptly to Ryou. "What do you think happens to us when we die?"

Ryou stared at him in disbelief but answered as quickly as he could. "I don't know. I never really thought about it."

Bakura smirked at his answer and stood up, stretching quickly before sprawling out on the edge of the tower and directing Ryou's gaze to where Yami was trying to master the art of flying on a broomstick. His antics had the two of them so convulsed with laughter that they didn't even respond when Marik came up to join them. He was rather annoyed by this until he saw why, whereupon he joined them in laughing at the former pharaoh.

Laughter and gaiety was the order of the day, seeing as their classes were over. They would have been in DADA except that professor Umbrage had left, and thus there was a vacancy. Apparently someone called Lupin had taught them once before and he was going to come and teach them again. The students all rejoiced over that one. Apparently he was a good teacher.

But back to the subject. Even Malik joined in the laughter without bringing repercussions on his head. Yami just looked so funny. Marik took a bunch of pictures to use as blackmail on the normally staid and sober pharaoh. He was going to send a bunch of them to Isis, especially if he could somehow get them to move like the wizards did.

"Ready, one, two, three, GO!" Harry yelled and the two brooms took off. As this was a one on one instead of an official match with seven players they'd had to change the rules a bit. The two Bludgers had been released, the Snitch had been released, and that was it. First one to catch the Snitch won. Any cheating got you instantly disqualified and the match would have to be restarted with the cheater at a disadvantage.

Ron dodged the Bludgers easily, heading towards the tiny flash of gold he'd spotted as Yami? did the same thing. They both grabbed for it, both missed, and ended up at opposite sides of the field from each other glaring. Harry smirked. "They won't be able to catch the Snitch if they're not paying attention to it. They have to forget their rivalry, at least temporarily, and focus on the game."

"That shouldn't be too hard for Yami." Marik remarked absently. "He's played plenty of games with high stakes."

They watched as Yami shot one last fiery glare at Ron before determinedly tearing his eyes away and staring around the field. His – purple? eyes darted here and there, constantly on the lookout as he flew, trying to avoid the Bludgers.

"Bakura?" Marik asked finally in an undertone, "Why is Yugi playing?"

"Yami couldn't cope with the broomstick." Bakura replied just as softly. "So he let Yugi take over. Yugi used to play games sort of like this at those carnivals he likes so much."

"Okay." Marik replied. "I was just wondering."

"I know," Bakura replied cheerfully, eyes on the game. "It's no big deal."

"Bakura?" Marik looked at him skeptically, "Are you okay? You seem sort of – strange." 'You never act this happy.' He added mentally.

"I'm fine, really. I just had an idea on something is all." Bakura's eyes sparkled with mischief as he stared up at Yugi. "What would you say to sneaking back to Hogsmeade and buying a whole bunch of those sweets?"

"I'd say it sounds wonderful," Marik replied, startled, "But how do you propose to do it? There isn't any way to get out of here without attracting attention. Is there?" he finished uncertainly.

"There are several ways." Bakura's reply was mysterious. "And although Harry knows most of them, he doesn't know them all by any means."

"How did you find out about these?" Marik asked curiously.

"I've been exploring the castle with shadow magic in my spare time and I went through his stuff yesterday. He's got this map of Hogwarts. It's not perfect but it's pretty good. And it shows where people are in the castle too, which can be useful."

"Cool," Marik agreed, nodding. "Let's go tonight then. After Yami's asleep of course. We wouldn't want him to be distracted from his upcoming duel after all." His smirk gleamed as the clouds passed over the sun.

"Oh, look, look!" Hermione exclaimed and Marik looked up just in time to see Yugi reach out and grasp the snitch, taking it almost right out of Ron's hand.

"Yami wins." Harry yelled; sounding completely shocked at this development. This was Ron's game after all, the game in which Ron had the advantage over Yami and still Yami managed to beat him.

Yugi gave Bakura a tired thumbs up as he switched back into Yami. Hermione ran across the field to congratulate him, throwing herself into his arms and smiling up at him in obvious adoration.

"Ugh," was Marik's comment. "I can't see how he stands it. That girl is so infatuated it's not even funny."

"I don't think it's meant to be funny Marik." Bakura stared at them, mouth twisted in disgust. "But it is sickening. Let's get out of here."

"Yeah," Marik agreed and ran off, Bakura following, laughing at his eagerness to get away.

"Are you sure this is the quickest route to Hogsmeade?" Marik asked. "This is going to take weeks at this rate."

"This is the quickest way that no one else knows about yes." Bakura replied, irritated. "But we're almost there now. Aha!" He pushed open the trapdoor and the two slipped through into the dark forest. "Now right over there should be the shrieking shack." Bakura walked over purposefully and Marik followed shaking his head at the other's attitude.

"Honestly Bakura, don't you think you should try to be at least a little less... Yami-like.

"What!" Bakura nearly shrieked the word. "What do you mean Yami-like! I am nothing like the pharaoh!"

"You're acting like him." Marik retorted, smirking at the response he was getting. "All 'I can do anything' and confident ass-of-a-pharaoh. Quit it already!"

"All right, all right." Bakura held up his hands in defense. "Just stop comparing me to pharaoh-baka. Okay?"

"All right." Marik replied cheerfully. He'd just realized that if anyone else had said that Bakura would have banished them to the shadow realm by now. The thief must like him.

"And what the hell are you smirking about?" Bakura demanded angrily. "I'm not that funny." He glared over at his friend. "Quit bugging me, anyways we're there already."

"Aww," Marik complained. "And I was having so much fun teasing you."

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Well find something else to do then. Get yourself something to eat. This place has some cool treats."

"What?" Marik asked sarcastically, "Like blood pops?"

"No way! Those things sound awful. Blood tastes okay when it's fresh but other than that it's not a good taste. I like those Fizzing Whisbees. And don't tell they're made out of Billywig stings, I already know that."

"I wasn't going to," Marik protested, all injured innocence, "I was just going to say that I like the chocolate frogs better."

"Why? Because you can smash them to bits and they actually react? Or because they're so much fun to catch when you open twenty of them at once?"

"Both," Marik replied firmly. "They're both good reasons to like them, right?"

When the two of them eventually left the shop they had hundreds of sweets concealed in various places and were still arguing about what type was best. As soon as they were out of sight they took all the candy to their soul rooms and then, at Bakura's amused suggestion had their hikaris walk back to the castle instead of them, thus saving Marik the tedium of another trip.

Ryou and Malik seemed really happy to be allowed to talk to each other too. They were, or had been, really good friends but they hadn't been allowed to talk to each other in so long that they'd almost forgotten what the other was like. This was a real treat for them.

"Should we have done that?" Marik asked Bakura, repossessing Malik as they reached the castle again. "Now they're going to think that they can do this all the time."

Bakura snorted. "I doubt it. But if you're really that concerned about it then just teach him that he can't. I don't think you should have too much trouble with that."

"Really?" Marik's face lit up. He hadn't touched Malik since Bakura had told him to leave the boy alone a while ago. He hadn't wanted Bakura to be angry at him.

"I did say so didn't I?" Bakura replied, smirking. "Besides, I think he should be fine now. You've given him enough time to heal from what you did to him last time don't you think?"

"Yes," Marik agreed smirking. "He's had more than enough time."

"Don't overdo it though." Bakura added warningly. "Just 'cause he should be healed now doesn't mean that you can undo the good you've done and beat him to death now."

"I know," Marik agreed. "But I still think you're too lenient."

"Oh really?" Bakura replied archly, "Then why is it that my hikari is by far the more obedient of the two? Or don't you know?" And with that parting shot he fell into bed, separated from Ryou, and fell asleep.