This chapter and the epilogue were never supposed to be release because of their lameness.

I am truly sorry about everything.


Turmoil

By Kaitourei

Chapter Eighteen: Number Twelve Grimmauld Place

"The collar Yugi wears reminds you of your stepfather's training, you envy Jounouchi for his friends, and… you can't whistle."

Harry looked from Kaiba and back to the two new characters. The white-haired boy was smirking as Kaiba exchanged a few comments with the tricolor haired individual. They were talking very, very fast in Japanese and what ever they were saying, it wasn't pleasant. Kaiba seemed to have momentary forgot them as he shot an indignant reply back.

"Despite common believe, they're not really arguing," The white-haired boy said looking over that the three. "It's the only way they can communicate."

"You can understand what they're saying?" Ron said surprised, he was having a bit of trouble keeping up with who was speaking due to the fact that the conversation switched speakers so quickly

"Of course," the new comer bared sharp canines as he smirked. "Kaiba just said he's here on family business and my dull witted companion replies, 'Kaiba, don't lie to me. We both know your family is in Japan. What are you really doing here?' or something to the effect." He shrugged, still smirking and Harry imagined his sharp canines piercing another's neck.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, his hand was slowly making its way to his pocket where it wand was stowed away. His own green eyes were fixed on the ring. "What's that around you're neck?"

"You can call me Yami Bakura, or Bakura, I have many other names," he said mysterious, his eyes glinting. "And this Ring is the source of my formidable, dark power."

Involuntarily the three stepped back. Harry's hand was around his wand, ready to curse the life out of this "Bakura". Bakura was chuckling.

"Y-your Yami?" Hermione said. "The Pharaoh?"

Bakura stopped and looked at her analytically. He looked over at Kaiba, who had turned to face them, obviously hearing Hermione. Yami Bakura sent the CEO a look that clearly said: You told them?

"He is 'Yami'," Bakura nodded toward the tricolor haired boy. Bakura muttered something in Japanese to his companion and Yami turned directly to Kaiba. Bakura's pale face contorted into a sneer, he was clearly enjoying the tension.

The Hogwarts students watched in confusion. Hermione was straining to hear their conversation. She was having as much luck as Ron.

"I'll explain to them," Kaiba nodded to the trio. "And Bakura, you explain to Yugi. Let's get this over with a quickly a s possible."

"What's going on?" Ron demanded once Bakura had turned away to tell Yami what Kaiba said.

"I'm getting to that," Kaiba said coldly. "I'm sure you remember our conversation about item holders. To put long story short, Yami-" (He motioned toward the teen he'd been arguing with.) "-is the Pharaoh. Bakura is…" Kaiba paused.

"Sozoku," Yami muttered sourly.

"Is a petty thief…?" Kaiba said giving Yami a questioning look.

"Tomb robber, robber tomb," Bakura said correcting Yami. "Not just thief, Pharaoh, I am far to great for such a simple title. I am the Theif King."

"You mean to say, you're… you're from Ancient Egypt?" Hermione gasped. "Both of you? How is that possible?"

Kaiba rolled his eyes, "They'll be time for that later, first I have to find Mokuba."

"But…" Hermione sputtered. "This is amazing, think of what you could tell us! Thousands of years worth of knowledge!"

"Demo…" Bakura muttered and tapped his head. "We can't remember… Yami, here's on a quest to return his memory."

Hermione looked as if Christmas was canceled, but Harry was apprehensive. "What about you?" He asked Bakura. "What are you trying to do?"

Bakura smirked wider and Kaiba rubbed his temples. The CEO checked his watch and gave them a disdainful glare – no one flinched.

"So glad you asked," Bakura said spreading his arms wide, ignoring Kaiba. "I will rule this world!"

"And you go telling people this?" Ron looked unconvinced.

"Yes."

"Let's remember why we're here," Kaiba said nodding up the desolate street. It was dark, save for the pools of light the street lamps provided. Farther in the direction opposite their destination wild cries could be heard. Kaiba turned without waiting and trudged away, the cries fading.

"C'mon," Harry muttered following him. Ron and Hermione nodded, Hermione glancing fugitively at the Yami's who followed. Bakura was telling Yami something in Japanese, but Yami seemed unconvinced. Bakura shrugged and yawned.

They were moving within the shadows. Occasionally a car would come by, spreading a fresh wave of light over them. Harry would draw back instinctively, as if the occupants knew who he was and that he shouldn't be out at this time. Ron and Hermione seemed to suffer from the same paranoia. They knew if a ministry official was out here, they were as dead as rats in a snake pit.

"Where is it?" Kaiba hissed and stopped without warning. Harry felt someone bump into him. His glasses were jolted askew and his book bag was knocked into the puddle of light nearest them, it's contested strewn out chaotically. Looking over his shoulder, he saw the blurry outline of Bakura's white hair.

"Gomen, er, I mean 'sorry'," Bakura said kindly before reaching into the light to collect Harry's things. Harry was already on his knees adjusting his glasses. In frount of him Kaiba was muttering about not being able to find number twelve, Harry glanced back at Bakura again. It may have been a coincidence but Bakura's hair was less wild, in fact in the dark Bakura's eyes didn't even look red.

"Here," Bakura said and handed Harry his book bag. "Terribly sorry about that."

"It's… fine…" Harry said a bit confused. He looked quickly through the bag, stuffing the Hogwarts cloaks in again until it was bulging.

"One more thing," Bakura held out the neatly folded parchment. The words "Do not open until destination is reached" were scrolled across it. Harry nodded and reached to accept the letter, but Kaiba's swiftly grabbed it.

"Hey!" Ron protested and Harry got up glaring at the CEO. "We haven't reached number twelve yet!"

Kaiba grunted and tore the seal. "Young Mr. Mokuba Kaiba can be found at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place," he read aloud. "What the hell does that mean?" He tossed the parchment to Harry, who caught it.

"I don't like this," Hermione said reading the parchment. Over Harry's shoulder Bakura and Yugi (or was it Yami?) were also studying it.

Ron glanced around uncomfortably, "It could be a trap."

"If it were," Bakura said nervously. "They would have sprung it on us by now."

Kaiba's posture had tensed, "Unless they're waiting for something." His eyes darted across the aged street. "Those bastards. If my bother is…"

"Ano…" Bakura said confusedly. "But who are 'they'?"

Before anyone could answer, Hermione shrieked and pointed into the space between number eleven and thirteen. Her eyes were wide with wonder and Harry could see the reelection of a large Victorian-esque house in them – though there was no such house in sight.

"Oh my," she breathed. "I understand now. The note is from Dumbledore. It's magic, secret keeper magic!" She turned brightly to the others. "Just think about what you've read! Think about it and you'll see it too!"

Harry closed his eyes. What did the note mean and just where was number twelve Grimmauld Place? His eyes opened and the houses in frount of his seemed to scoot over as the house in Hermione's eyes appeared before him. It was considerably older that the other houses. The roofing and tiles were old and weathered, the windows were grimy, and Kaiba was staring at it in disgust.

Yami was growing confused. He crossed his arms and set his face in a patient expression. It would have been nice if he could understand just what Kaiba was saying about the piece of paper he'd taken from the bespectacled boy. Or perhaps, why the frizzy haired girl was raving and pointing into the space between houses. He suddenly wished Yami Bakura had not returned to the ring – atleast he'd have gotten some kind of explanation, even if it was delivered with sarcasm and reticule.

Yami Bakura, he mused, was a pain in the ass. Whenever he needed the tomb robber's help – which, he reminded himself, wasn't often – the spirit would up and disappear.

"Something wrong, Yami?" Yugi's voice resonated from the puzzle.

"No, no," he said reassuringly as the group conversed. "Just a lack of communication."

Yugi wasn't pleased, but accepted the answer. Soon, Yami vowed, I'll tell him everything… But first I have to find out exactly what's going on.

The group had begun to move toward the break in houses. Yami was sure they were seeing something he didn't. Kaiba's face was of utter disgust and the trio of students was looking wary but exited. Yami followed them closely.

It happened in a blink of an eye; Kaiba disappeared. He had been standing rigid, reaching for something at the height of a doorknob, when he stepped forward and vanished. Then, Yami noticed, there was a wave of magical interference. There was something powerful in frount of him and Kaiba had walked right into it.

Another wave hit Yami as the Bakura (currently hikari mode), redhead and friends entered the magical barrier. When Yami recovered he was alone in the yard. He sighed and walked toward the barrier, which in this case seemed to be a few inches from a rundown fence.

He reached forward, his fingers straining for some trace of magic. Instead the roughly painted wood me this hand.

"Oh shit…" he muttered listening to the crickets. This was not his week…

"Yami?" Yugi again.

The ancient spirit sighed. Now was as good as ever, he had no idea when Kaiba and the others would realize he was gone. Yami Bakura would, but the thief would probably careless. Kaiba was on a rampant search for his brother and Yami Bakura distracted Ryou. His only hope lie within the three students.

"Hey! That Yami guy isn't here!"

Kaiba was glad Yami couldn't enter. The spell on the house obviously only allowed those who understood the message to enter. It was fine with him, Yami was like extra baggage.

"Leave him," the CEO commanded. "He wouldn't understand the message anyway."

"Hermione?" Harry's voice was wary.

She sighed, "Well, he is right…"

Kaiba sniffed the air, it was old and rank. How dare they keep his brother in such a place! He scowled, who were "they" anyway? Servants of that Voldemort? Deatheaters? Why did they want him, his abilities were below most first years'. Nothing made sense anymore.

They had walked through the door and proceeded into the dusty guest hall. It was dim but a faint light was coming from a room adjacent the far end of the hall. Everything was old and worn, ancient plaques and moth ridden black curtains were the main décor. Kaiba's brow creased, there were heads on the wall, although they didn't seem human.

"What is this place?" Bakura breathed.

"I don't know," Hermione said uncertainly. "You don't suppose Lucius Malfoy slipped us the letter as a trap?"

"Now you think of that!" Ron hissed hysterically. Kaiba knew everyone but him was now staring at her intently.

"Quiet," Hermione hissed back. "The possibility crossed my mind, but it doesn't make any sense. Who is the only person who could have known about us leaving tonight? Who knows about Kaiba's little brother? Dumbledore, right?"

"It doesn't matter," Kaiba said continuing toward the light. "As long as my brother is here and safe, that's all I care about right now."

"No need to worry then," said a young voice with a heavy Japanese accent. "Hi, ni-sama!"

Kaiba spun toward the source of the voice. Another door had opened and Mokuba Kaiba was standing in an oversized jacket and pants, facing him. His messy midnight hair was tied back and his face was lit brightly.

"Mokuba…?" Kaiba felt himself move toward his brother, falling to his knees to engulf the boy in a hug. He pulled himself away, so he was loking into his brother's eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Hai!" The boy smiled. "Thanks to you and Sir - " Mokuba coughed forcedly. "Ano, thanks to you." He reached to hug his brother again. "I missed you, Seto."

Kaiba smiled softly. "I missed you, too. Mokuba I need to ask you -"

Kaiba noticed the figure standing in the doorframe Mokuba had come from. Instinctively he broke the hug and stepped in front of his brother.

"No need for that, Mr. Kaiba," said the man. He brought out a wand and called: "Lumos". Kaiba squinted against the light. He could make out the figure of an older man with graying hair. There was a cup of coffee in his other hand and a benevolent smile on his face.

Hermione gasped, "Professor Lupin?"

"Hello, Mrs. Granger," Lupin said with a frown. "And you Misters Potter and Weasly. We weren't expecting you all here."

"What do you mean 'we'?" Kaiba snarled. The man was still untrustworthy.

"Calm yourself, Mr. Kaiba," Lupin said reassuringly. "Everything will be explained in due time. I assure you - " Lupin's eyes swiftly drifted toward Bakura who was reaching toward a moth-eaten curtain. "Please don't do that -"

A screech filled the house and a woman's voice came tumbling from behind the curtain. "MUGGLES!" She howled. "MUGGLES, BLOOD TRAITORS, AND FILTHY MUDBLOODS. MY HOUSE! MY FATHERS HOUSE! DESSICRATED!"

The billowing curtains threw Bakura back. Behind them, Kaiba noticed, was a sickly skinned woman. Her large face was of pure hatred and despaired. Her eyes flashed with such emotion also. She was looking down on Bakura with an acrimonious glare.

"A MUGGLE!" She billowed. "A FILTHY, ANIMAL! DISPICABLE, LOWLY, FOUL, UNHUMAN CREATURE - "

The room was drained of heat instantly and a cold cackling filled the air. Bakura stood up again. His eyes were a familiar flashing red.

"You," Yami Bakura said darkly. "Need to watch who you're speaking to."

The woman shrieked again and the curtains closed dramatically. Ever so slowly the life and heat returned to the room. Lupin was standing shell shocked, the coffee in his hand was cold as ice. Mokuba whimpered and clung to Kaiba's hand.

Bakura faced them with a smirk, "Did you honestly want listen to her all night?"

"Bakura," Kaiba said in a dangerous tone. "Don't you ever do that again in my brother's presence." The spirit only laughed again.

There were hurried footsteps and before anyone could react a girl with oddly colored hair came flying through the light doorway. Oddly enough she seemed to trip over her own footing and fell onto her face. The group, now prepared for anything, watched with silent bewilderment.

"This keeps getting weirder and weirder," Kaiba herd Ron mutter.

"Hullo all!" The girl said as she picked herself up. "Remus, was that thing that just happened the 'Shadow Realm'?"

Lupin nodded, "Before anyone asks how we know of this, there is pressing business." He nodded toward Mokuba, Bakura and the Hogwarts students. "You all will follow Tonks - " The odd girl waved. " – As for you Mr. Kaiba, you will follow me. Your brother is safe with us."

"It's okay Seto," Mokuba said reassuringly.

"Fine," Kaiba growled and dropped his brother's hand. Mokuba smiled again and followed the group into the light room. Kaiba on the other hand followed Lupin into the darkness.

Lupin's footsteps were rhythmic and Kaiba found himself in step with the older man.

"Where are you taking me?" They had walked though a number of halls and finally proceeded up a staircase. The whole process took only a few minutes but Kaiba was beginning to get suspicious again. Remus Lupin, he knew, was a former Hogwarts professor. But even so, he could not be trusted. Dumbledore couldn't be trusted. Kaiba mentally scolded himself for following such and idiotic plan. Nevertheless, he couldn't help feel that is was right.

"We're here," Lupin said and pointed toward a large door. "You should know, this is very dangerous."

"What the hell does that mean?"

Lupin looked grim, "What ever you see in there, know it's real."

Kaiba raised an eyebrow and proceeded to either the room. It was lighter than the hall, a giant window stood across from his and moon light was streaming in. Kaiba cautiously made his way toward the window, somewhere below he could make out the shape of Yugi's spiky hair. The boy was still outside waiting for their return.

There was a rustle of clothing and Kaiba tensed.

"The collar Yugi wears reminds you of your stepfather's training, you envy Jounouchi for his friends, and… you can't whistle."

Kaiba's head snapped toward the speaker. He knew that voice and he knew whose eyes he would be staring into, it didn't matter that what was just said was true.

"You have a lot of explaining to do." Kaiba growled.

The bottom of a trench coat dragged against the dust floor and identical cobalt blue eyes stared back. There was a patch of sand and dried blood on his shoulder and the bandaged on his torso could bee seen through the gash in his shirt. His hair was askew and the remnants of a turban were hanging around his neck. Besides the obvious, the only difference was the fact that a small golden hourglass was hanging from his neck.

"I know."

The only two people in the room were the same.

End.


Now I know what you're thinking WFT!

I've just commit fanfictional suicide.

You hate me don't you? Yes, you do. Don't deny it. I have myself at this moment, also.

I built up the epic adventure than turned around and got anticlimactic. Bad me.

Well, if you want some answers, check out the epilogue.

Then, you can flame me. Only, then.