I AM SO SORRY!
I really am! I really really really am! I'm so sorry..but hey, I kept my promise, didn't I? One update per month, and don't tell me that this chapter is too short! There's thirteen pages here!
Okay, this ought to go into the FAQs:
Nope. No pairings in here. Why, does it look like it? O.O Oh well, if you guys want to hear about pairings (I've been asked this loads of times already) just go check out my other account, AphroditeLove. Yeah, I write yoai too. Mostly specialize in thiefshipping and deathshipping, so go take a look! (Groans) I'm still trying to finish the first chapter of the PotO/YGO cross that WSJ and I are working on, but I'm working on chapter five for "The Phantom of the Ring", so that's good. It's a yaoi crossover, but the one that WSJ and I are working on isn't. (giggles) it's a humor fic.
Crappy chapter, but I'm really sorry about it. We'll have fun later on when I manage to jump over any plot holes and bunnies. (sweatdrops)
Chapter Twenty-Two: Suspicions
"'The origins of Dementors are not well-known, and there are …many…superstitions…about…such a place…"
"How come you're still not done your Dementor essay?" demanded Hermione exasperatedly as Ron furiously scribbled out a misspelled word. "It was due ages ago."
"Yeah, well…dunno when Umbridge is coming back," muttered Ron. Hermione raised her eyebrows into her brown bangs.
"Seriously, Ron?" she asked. "You're getting earlier prepared for work?"
Ron made a face at her. "…"
Harry laughed. "Professor McGonagall found out about it, and told him to finish it or face detention. Turns out it's going to be on our NEWTs."
"That's AGES away!" Ron wailed, crumpling up his sheet of parchment and throwing it into the fire behind him. The parchment made a loud, cackling sound, before crinkling up in the midst of the fiery embers. "Why do we have to study NOW?"
"I'm surprised," Hermione said, an idle smirk on her lips. "Knowing you, I would thought that you would've left it until it was only a week away." She gave Ron a look. "Remember the last time you didn't study for a test."
Ron gave a heavy sigh and made another face. "I won't ever by dragon brains anymore," he said in a monotone, but slightly defeated voice. Hermione beamed.
"Good for you!"
Suddenly, the door of the common room opened, and first entered Yugi, looking very
relieved. Harry, Ron and Hermione all jumped up at the sight of him, all of them very relieved also that Yugi had not been expelled.
"Yug!" Hermione exclaimed. "How did it go? How's Ryou?"
"He's fine," Yugi said, smiling. "He's coming up soon."
"Well, that's good to know," Harry breathed, sighing with relief, before looking a little anxious. "What did Dumbledore say?"
Yugi grinned. "It's okay. He just told us…some precautions we had to take."
"What were you doing at the Ministry, anyways?" asked Hermione, frowning.
Yugi gave them an apologetic smile. "It's nothing…we're sorry we got you into all that…"
"Ryou isn't hurt, is he?" asked Ron, quirking an eyebrow. "Like…Marik didn't convince him to do something bad at the Ministry, did he?"
Yugi laughed. "No no…if anything, it's quite the opposite."
Hermione's eyes grew. "Ryou….?"
"Hello," said a pleasant voice, a little out of breath. "Yugi…shouldn't we get to bed?"
They all swiveled around to find, indeed, the mentioned white-haired boy standing by the entrance, a small, hesitant smile on his face.
"Ryou!" Hermione scolded. "You should be in bed!"
Ryou chuckled weakly. "Yeah…well, that's what Professor McGonagall said…it's okay, it's fine, really. I'm fine."
"Don't worry about him," Marik spoke up, appearing behind Ryou. He lightly punched Ryou in the left shoulder. "He's been through worse."
Ryou gasped a little, since Marik had accidentally punched him where the scar was. Marik seemed to suddenly realize and gave Ryou a small, sheepish smile of apology, before he returned to his normal, hostile attitude.
"Oh, you're still here," Ron said, acting disappointed. Marik quirked an eyebrow.
"You're strange, did you know that?" the Egyptian said, looking a little bewildered. Ron replied by blinking his eyes.
"Huh?"
"You could've gotten rid of me," Marik continued, flashing the redhead a rueful smile. "Why aren't you whooping in joy?"
Ron shrugged. "Don't ask me. It's a mystery, you know."
As the two boys continued to insult each other with playful jokes, Harry and Hermione had turned to Ryou and Yugi, who were looking a little nervous under their newest circumstances.
/Will they even remember…/ asked Yugi.
/I'm not sure/ Yami replied softly. /Do you want them to forget/
/ I…I'm not sure / admitted Yugi. /I mean, it's not any harm, right? They didn't even know that the Shadows were in the Ministry… should we tell them/
Yami shook his head. / No….no…that may not be the best thing to do. Dumbledore may not know that the Shadows are consuming the Ministry, but I suppose one day we'll just have to tell him./
/Why can't we tell him now/ Yugi asked.
Yami gave another sigh. /There's nothing he can do, at any rate. Even we have absolutely no idea as to why the archway is a gateway to the Shadow Realm. We can't do anything about it unless we find out more about it. After all….Bakura was there for a reason…perhaps he found something that could help us./
/I hope so/ Yugi said sadly. /But Yami…it's serious. The Shadow Realm has a leak in it! Shouldn't we tell somebody? Get someone to help/
/We already have someone to help us/ Yami said quietly. /Sadly, he's actually in the Shadow Realm right now./
Yugi blinked. /You mean Sirius/
Yami gave a small nod. /Yes…and I don't want to seal up the Shadows before Ryou has the chance to free Sirius. That was one of the reasons for coming here, was it not? We came here to learn about the Millennium Items, if they manage to teach it to us at all, but also…Ryou wanted to come to find out how to save Sirius./
/I see/ Yugi nodded understandingly. /Do you really think Ryou…/
/Sirius is the only friend Ryou has / spoke Yami softly / that seems to be familiar. Ryou after all, is British himself. I think it's been a long time since Ryou ever had someone this known since he received the Millennium Ring. Despite he won't admit it, that is probably the only reason why Ryou is here at all./
Yugi shook his head. /I don't think so. Ryou wanted to come so that he could learn. But I guess you're right, Yami. He seems happier here than he's ever been in Japan./
The ancient pharaoh nodded. /I think he finally feels at home again, subconsciously./
/I'm glad/ Yugi said, smiling. After a moment, the smile faded. /But the Shadows…/
/If we find out how to seal it once more/ said Yami thoughtfully/I think we should either tell Dumbledore so, or else do it ourselves. We still can't trust Dumbledore yet. There still seems to be things that Hogwarts is keeping from us. For one, Voldemort himself seems to be an enigma. No one dares to say his name, and no one wishes to say as to why they fear him so. Of course, Harry must know this, since he's starting the DA…/
/Maybe we can…. Maybe we can teach them how to duel in the DA/ Yugi suggested.
Yami blinked. /Why on earth would we do that/
Sheepishly, Yugi shrugged. /Well…I don't know…maybe…if the Shadows get too big…/
/I'm sure by then, we'll be able to find more information/ Yami assured. /After all, everything is seems to be rather incomprehensible right now. Obviously, the professors are doing something behind our backs. Shadi met them, and Shadi never told us. There must be something…something that the professors are doing in secret./
/Something bad/
/No…./ said Yami quietly. /But we're not sure…/
"OY! YUGI!"
Startled, Yugi jerked back, only to see Ron waving a hand right over his eyes. Deciding to ignore his other's low chuckle at his carelessness, Yugi straightened, smiling curiously.
"Yes?"
"You blanked out for a moment," said Ron, frowning suspiciously.
Yugi blinked, his eyes wide. "I…blanked out?"
"A long moment too," said Ron, nodding. "You sure the Death Eaters didn't do anything to you?"
Yugi laughed weakly, shaking his head. "No…no. I'm sure I'm fine."
/He just has a five thousand year old pharaoh living in his mind/ supplied Yami, chuckling. Yugi made a mental face, but could tell that the spirit was attempting to lighten the mood. Turning back to Ron, Yugi gave him a sheepish smile.
"Daydreaming, I suppose."
"So you're sure you're alright?" Hermione persisted. "What were you doing in the Ministry, anyways?"
At this, Ryou blushed slightly, averting his gaze towards the side of the otherwise empty common room. Both of the more timid hikaris shifted uncomfortably on their feet, awaiting for the moment in which either yamis would appear. When Bakura seemed to be not in the mood for such a confrontation, the pharaoh was about to step in with another prevarication, when Marik took things under control.
"Curious," he said easily, thinking thoughtfully. Ron wrinkled his nose at the Egyptian.
"Oy," Ron said suspiciously. "You knew those Death Eaters, didn't you? What are you doing in Gryffindor, if you were their master or something?"
"Family business," Marik replied coldly, idly reaching back for his Rod. "Not that it's any of your concern, Weasley. You've got your own to worry about, don't you?"
"Hey," said Ron warningly, his ears turning redder and redder by the seconds. "If I didn't know better, I would've thought you were on You-Know-Who's side!"
"No, I don't know who," Marik snapped, looking quite irritated. Ron's ears were about to combust.
"What are you doing in Gryffindor, anyways?" he demanded. "If I didn't know better, I would've thought you were related to the Malfoys, or something. You got Death Eaters on your side, and you got their tongue. If you weren't in Gryffindor, I would've sworn you could be Salazar Slytherin's heir…"
"If you are finished rambling," cut in Marik coldly, turning around, "I'd like to get some sleep. And don't you ever dare relate me to that idiot of a Slytherin. I'm nothing like Malfoy. He hides behind his father's back, like a simple-minded coward. I don't."
"Then you tell us why you had followers on the Dark side!" yelled Ron.
"Ron, stop it!" Harry exclaimed. He had never seen Ron so touchy, but after what had happened the last year, Harry couldn't blame Ron for the mention of his family and Death Eaters in the same sentence.
Slowly, Marik turned around, his lavender eyes flashing for an instant, before falling prey upon Ron, who was breathing heavily.
"I don't have followers on the Dark side," Marik said smoothly. "None at all. And if you know what's good for you and your family, Weasley, I'd suggest you leave mine alone."
"Is that a threat?" Ron yelled, stamping forwards. Quickly Harry and Hermione latched themselves upon Ron's sleeves, attempting to hold him back. Yami had taken control in an instant, his crimson eyes flashing with concern.
"Take it," Marik hissed, "as a precaution. Get it Weasley? Ask too much about my family, and you may find yours in total darkness."
"Marik, stop!" Yami ordered, his eyes flashing once more. "Marik!"
"Marik, please," Ryou pleaded.
The Egyptian paid them no heed.
"If you honestly wish me to not be in your presence," Marik hissed, "then I will go to Dumbledore and get myself into Slytherin. Who wants to be in a dump full of goody-two-shoes, anyway?"
"Ron, please," Hermione whispered. "If he doesn't want to talk about it, then he doesn't want to talk about it."
"I don't need you to protect me, Hermione," Marik snapped. "I can do things on my own." Hermione bristled.
"I was only trying to help!"
"I don't accept help," Marik snapped. "Do you get that? You wizards sicken me. You think you live in fear every day, with Voldemort alive? Voldemort is nothing. Nothing. I have better things to do with my time rather than to hear my own classmates turn their backs upon me because of a past relevance! Are you English really that prejudice!"
"Don't talk to us like that!" Ron yelled.
"I'll talk like what I want to those I want!" Marik yelled, turning around. "You want me out, Weasley? You suspect that I'm going to murder you in your sleep just because I used to be their master? Well, fine then!" Marik roared. "I can see I'm not wanted. I'm leaving!"
"Marik, please!" Ryou pleaded, hurrying after the Egyptian. "Marik, come on!"
"I'm leaving," Mariksnapped. "I'm leaving."
"Marik," said Yami quietly, "no one wants you to leave."
"Oh?" Marik hissed. "Really? No one wants me to leave? Look at us, pharaoh! Look at me! How could you dare even come near me after what I've done!"
For a moment, Harry froze, his mind echoing words from the Ministry.
He tried to kill Yugi.
Harry stiffened, his eyes darting back from Yami to Marik. The ex-pharaoh was looking at the fuming Egyptian with a calm, regal stance, but his eyes were slightly narrowed in concern, deepening with a slight trace of hurt.
Marik tried to kill Yugi…
"Forget about it, Pharoah," Marik yelled. "I'm leaving! Leaving! It's obvious no one wants me here. Not Dumbledore, not Ron, and not you!"
"Marik, you know that is not the truth!" Yami exclaimed.
For a moment, Marik looked into Yami's eyes, an unreadable glaze upon them. Those same eyes then drifted from Harry, to Ron, to Hermione, and for an instant, Harry shivered at the intense look in those lavender eyes. How they reminded him so of Voldemort's, so intense and sharp. How could anyone, anyone in their same year, be so angry, so commanding, and so powerful?
By this time, Yami had made his way through the crowding sixth years, and was staring up at Marik with an unreadable gaze upon his face. As Harry attempted to get a closer look, he was immediately hit with that sensation of change…had Yugi's eyes really been that dark of a shade of red? In the dim light of the dying fire, Yugi's eyes were no longer an innocent shade of violet, but were now a rich bloody red.
Like the Dark Lord's….
Almost immediately, Harry felt another shiver run up his spine. Why was it that Yugi had such a imperial aura about him? Why was it that every time those crimson eyes flashed, Harry immediately would stiffen, as though in a presence of a king?
"Marik, please," Yami said softly. "No one wants you to leave, least of all me, and Ryou. None of us wishes for your presence to part."
Marik snorted. "Tell that to Weasley after I've packed my bags."
And with that, the Egyptian whipped around, flaxen hair billowing past as he stomped up the stairs. They could hear muffled Egyptian curses even after he had disappeared, followed by the heavy SLAM of the door. Everyone winced.
Silence followed shortly, broken by Ron's heavy breathing. Without further word, he stomped back to his seat, grabbed his bags, and stuffed them violently into his schoolbag.
"Ron, that wasn't the best thing to do!" Hermione scolded. "You couldn't have possibly meant whatever you said!"
"Threatening my family, I'll show him…" Ron muttered heatedly under his breath.
Sighing, Harry turned back to Yami, who had closed his eyes in attempt to think rationally about the present situation. Ignoring that tense feeling that had stiffened his spine, Harry attempted at a smile, before failing and sighing again.
"Sorry about that," Harry mumbled. "I really don't know what's gotten into Ron…of course we want Marik to stay…"
Understandingly, Yami nodded, his eyes still closed in effort to think up a solution. Ryou was looking nervous, blowing his bangs out of his eyes as he stared up towards the dormitories.
"I'll be heading up," Ryou said quickly, pointing towards the dormitories. "Goodnight!" And without further warning, the white-haired boy quickly pounded up the steps, and shortly afterwards, disappeared.
Sighing, Yami stood, still at a loss as to what to do. Perhaps they should all just go to bed. It had been a long day for them all, at any rate. And as much as he would've liked to learn more about Ron's temper (as Yami had previously noted was never this temperamental), it was getting late, and Marik's attempted departure was ranked high on his priority list.
And the Shadows in the Ministry….
For a moment, Yami stiffened. It seemed to uncomprehending to think that the Shadows could possibly have a leak in them, or a passageway to them. If so, it was dangerous. The Shadows could and would ultimately destroy and consume the world, and if he didn't find a way to approach Dumbledore on the subject, the Shadows would succeed. And how could he approach Dumbledore on such a devastating subject? No clue. Yami never liked to approach a situation without knowing full well what was going on, at least, to as much as his extent, and he hated having the idea of recklessly plunging into the Ministry to destroy the Shadows. There was just no way of destroying the realm of darkness.
Except perhaps to seal it away…
"It's getting late," said Yami abruptly. Crimson eyes opened and lingered forth, from Hermione, to Ron, to Harry. And it was quite strange too…for a moment as Yami stared deep into those vivid emerald-green eyes, countered by his ruby ones, the Millennium Puzzle gave an aggravated jolt, as though awakened from a deep slumber, before shining bright beneath Yami's robes.
/What/ Yugi gasped. /What on earth is going on with the Puzzle/
Freezing still as to not agitate the relic any longer, Yami carefully draped his cloak around his shoulders, so that its black material could hide the glowing treasure from further eyes. When he looked back up at Harry, he saw that the black-haired boy was leaning against the mantel at the fireplace, clutching his scar.
How peculiar.
"Harry?" asked Yami seriously, "are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Harry insisted, through gritted teeth. Hermione fidgeted, looking as though she longed desperately to fly to Harry's side and inspect the scar upon his forehead. Even Ron had momentarily ceased his muttering rants and was looking at Harry with wide-eyed concern.
"Is it your scar?" inquired Yami, eyes widening a fraction as he remembered the rumors of the Potter boy's fits and seizures when his scar hurt. "Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine!" Harry insisted, taking his hand away from his scar. He took a deep breath, before saying solemnly, "I'm fine."
Though still slightly suspicious and curious, Yami decided to dismiss the subject. Perhaps if he delayed the question about Harry's oddly-acting scar, perhaps they would in turn, delay their questions about the Ministry.
"Well, if you're sure," Yami said, turning away, his cloak unknowingly billowing gracefully behind him. "Goodnight, then." Within another good seconds, the tri-colored haired boy had left the common room, and up the steps to the dormitories, cloak swishing smoothly behind him. Distinctly, they heard the door close calmly, before a dull "fwop" occurred, possibly indicating that a pillow was thrown.
Slumping into a chair, Harry sighed heavily, his scar still prickling. Why was it that he could not stare at any of the relics that Yugi or Ryou wore without experiencing such pain from his scar? Were they truly on the dark side?
It was so hard to imagine Yugi or Ryou on the Dark Side. Marik was easier to believe, since a few Death Eaters were actually his former followers. But Yugi and Ryou? They seemed so innocent, so pure and happy, that there could be so possible way that they could be on the Dark Side. Yugi was cheerful, happy, and friendly, and very enthusiastic. Ryou was shy, quiet, and kind. Both of them seemed pushover sorts, not Death Eater sorts.
But then again, there were also those strange, personality shifts…Harry had never seen someone who could change character that quick and that drastic in his life! It was as though whenever the foreigners had switched personas, a wave of aura would bombard Harry's senses, unfamiliar and different. Perhaps they possessed a different sort of magic back in Japan?
His thoughts were broken, however, when he heard a glass inkpot drop, splattering the floor with splutters of black, followed by muttered curses. Ron, in his haste (and perhaps anger), had dropped his inkpot while attempting to stuff all of his core subject books into his bag, which had ripped significantly.
"Better get that mended," Harry suggested, eyeing the puddle of black that stained the carpet.
"Really Ron," said Hermione, with a worried frown on her face, "what has gotten into you?"
"Wrong with me?" Ron snapped, poking at his backpack with his wand, accidentally setting it on fire in his suppressed fume. He stabbed a finger violently up the stairways, toward the dormitories. "What about him?"
"Marik, you mean?" Hermione blinked, before her frown deepened. "But Ron, really, he's new, you shouldn't have talked to him like that."
"He threatened my family, Hermione!" Ron said angrily. "You saw him! You saw him at the Ministry! He had followers on the Dark Side! FOLLOWERS!"
"But he says he doesn't," Harry spoke up. "He says he doesn't, and they weren't in his league anymore. You heard them. They said that they had gone to Lord Voldemort instead of him."
"Oh, and that's supposed to make everything all better?" Ron asked, still fuming. "I'll never understand why Dumbledore let him in," he continued, finally managing to put out the fire on his backpack and was attempting a Sew-Up spell upon it, with not much avail. "Seriously, why does Dumbledore keep on sending nutcases in like this?"
"Like what nutcase?" asked Hermione, sounding a little annoyed.
Taking a deep breath and rolling his eyes in mock thought, Ron stuck up all five of his fingers, before going, "Hmm…Let's think. Weirdo number one: Quirrel. A guy who teaches us DADA with You-Know-Who sticking from the back of his head. Weirdo number two: Lockhart. Idiot git who can't tell wands from sprites. Weirdo number three: Fake Moody. A You-Know-Who's follower in disguise." He looked back, between Hermione and Harry, before pointing to the dormitories again. "And look! Another one on the Dark Side!"
"But Dumbledore never knew they were dark, and you know that Ron," Harry said. Ron wrinkled his nose. "And anyways, you and Marik were getting along really well. I watched when you guys sword-fought. You guys were having so much fun."
"So?" asked Ron. "Crouch tried to kill you Harry. I ask you. Would you still trust him?"
For a moment, Harry faltered, remembering his fourth year professor in disguise. "I suppose not," he finally said, at length. "But really, Ron. Marik's a student! They said he wasn't their master anymore, or something. I heard them. Well, two of them, anyways."
"Really?" pressed Hermione with concern. "What did they say?"
"They said that if Marik caught them, he would punish them…send them to the Shadow Realm or something," Harry said, scrunching his nose in attempt to remember the actual conversation. "They wanted to send me to the Shadow Realm too, wherever that is, but Marik stopped them and sent them to the Shadow Realm…or at least…I think…"
"Where the heck is this Shadow Realm?" Ron said, his own nose scrunched up in disbelief. "But see? Look! It's obvious that the Shadow Realm is a dangerous place…and Marik sent his own followers there! That's evil for you."
Harry furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't think….Marik's evil…."
"Well, fine, maybe not evil," Ron agreed, "but Harry, he has powers we don't even know of!"
"Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps Yugi and Ryou possess the same powers?" Hermione spoke up calmly. Ron rounded on her with big eyes.
"Yugi and Ryou?" Ron repeated incredulously. "Hermione, they're the last people on earth to be on You-Know-Who's side."
"I'm not saying that they're on Voldemort's side," Hermione said calmly. "I'm saying that perhaps they possess the same powers. We all know that they're not wizards by blood, and whatever magic they have in them, it's different. But maybe that's what their magic is. And maybe Marik put it into a more worse use."
"That could be," Harry agreed, remembering the incident at the Ministry. "Hey, listen. When I was looking for Marik, I heard that his followers said that he actually tried to kill Yugi once, and that Ryou was helping him."
Ron and Hermione's mouths gapped open. "What!" they said in unison, identical shocked looks upon their faces. Harry nodded, wincing slightly at their reactions. Just great. He didn't need to give them another reason to bodyguard him.
"Yeah," Harry said hastily. "I didn't hear much, but they said that Marik tried to kill Yugi once, and I think they mentioned that Ryou was in it too…but I'm not really sure." Pausing, Harry pondered for a moment, before carefully continuing. "But guys…listen. If Marik really did try to kill Yugi before, and Yugi forgave him…shouldn't Marik be good again? I mean, why would Yugi forgive him for killing him?"
"Yugi's the type of person to forgive anyone," Hermione said.
"Yes, I know," Harry said, "but even Ryou. Yugi, Ryou and Marik are still close friends. Even though Marik tried to kill Yugi once, he still went back into the Department of Mysteries to look for him. There must be something deeper, but if Yugi can forgive Marik for all he did, why can't we?"
"Because they don't have Dark forces crawling all over Japan," Hermione said. "Look, Harry," she said desperately, "I know you don't really want to hate Marik. I know Marik's done nothing bad to us at all since he's been here, but Harry, you can't just trust so easily. Look at…look at your parents…and Wormtail…" Hermione whispered, dragging off as Harry stiffened.
"Still," Harry persisted, though he could tell his argument was getting weaker. "I mean…well look. Maybe Marik hasn't had the best life in the world…"
"What?" asked Ron, blinking with thought, red eyebrows knitted together. "Why doesn't Marik have the best life?"
For a moment, Harry faltered, remembering how Marik yelled in a fit of rage that night with Umbridge. He (barely) grimaced, also recalling the image of the Ministry Official…so dead, so lifeless…so empty and…
…soulless…
"Hey, Hermione…" said Harry suddenly. "What does a person act like, when they've got no soul?"
"When they've got no soul?" Hermione replied incredulously. "You mean, when they've been sucked out by a Dementor?"
"Yeah," Harry said, nodding vigorously. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows.
"Well…they're all…empty," she said, at length, looking suspicious as to why Harry was asking. "Empty, soulless. Like Professor Lupin said. A lifeless shell." Hermione paused. "Maybe you ought to ask him."
Harry nodded. "I will."
"But why though?" Ron asked. "Why hasn't Marik had the best life?"
A silence followed, before Harry looked around for any eavesdroppers, and beckoned them closer. Curious, Hermione and Ron edged closer, sitting around the small round table near the fire-place.
"Listen," said Harry lowly. "You know that night, when I had my detention with Umbridge?"
His friends nodded.
"Well…look, when I was there…you know how she used that quill on me last year, right?" (At this, Ron gave a rather loud and angry snort, wrinkling his nose. "I still say we ought've poisoned her," he muttered to Hermione.") "Well…it cut into Marik's hand, and he got really really mad about it. He got so mad, in fact…" Harry made a face, turning away from them. "He used that Rod…the golden wand…on Umbridge. I'm not sure what he did to her, but after that, Malfoy attacked him, and ripped away his shirt…"
Harry looked back at them.
"Hermione," he whispered, "he had hieroglyphics on his back. The same ones you were reading."
Hermione blinked, her eyes growing wide. "What on earth do you mean?" she breathed. Ron frowned with unease.
"I mean," Harry whispered, leaning forwards even more, "he had them scarred on his back. The same hieroglyphics that you were reading in Ancient Runes. He had them scarred into his back."
Two barely audible gasps were breathed in. Ron's frown had deepened even further, having quite no idea how to take such a thing. Hermione looked in disbelief.
"You must be joking," she breathed. "Why would he have them scarred onto his back?"
Harry shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "But, Hermione, I don't think it's like a tattoo or anything. I think he really hated it, because when Umbridge released a Dementor on us, all three of them collapsed, but Marik was the worst. He was actually crying."
"Do you really think it could've happened?" Ron asked, looking like a cross between sickened and disbelief. "I mean, who'd do something like that?"
Once again, Harry shook his head.
"I don't know."
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"Marik, stop it!" Yami yelled, narrowly ducking another pillow that was ready to behead him.(Well, at least with the ferocity that Marik as throwing it at.) "Marik, stop!"
"Just leave me alone!" Marik bellowed again. "Look! I'm sick of hearing you guys lecture me, okay? I'm trying to make things work, but this year just SUCKS! Okay?"
"We know it does!" Ryou cried out, waving his hands in front of Marik, in attempts to calm the Egyptian down. "But Marik, it's going to be okay! No one's putting any pressure on you to make it all better!"
"No one wants me here," Marik muttered, his breathing ragged and heavy. "Not Dumbledore, not Umbridge, not Malfoy, not Harry, not Ron, and not you. I know it."
"Marik, listen to me!" Ryou cried. "We all want you here, we really do! We're not lying! Ask Bakura and Yugi!"
For an instant, there was a flash of blinding light, and immediately Yugi emerged, looking extremely worried.
"Marik, please!" Yugi cried out. "Really! We do want you here! It won't be as fun without you! Even Yami wants you to stay! Bakura would want you to stay!"
Marik didn't reply, merely breathing noisily through his nose. Fists shaking, he whipped away to one side, heading towards his bed, and flinging the curtains with such ferocity that they ripped.
"I'm going to bed," he muttered.
"Please, Marik," Yugi pleaded. "Please? Come on, we don't want you to go! We're friends, and we can't survive the year without you! It'd be so boring!"
"Marik, come on," Ryou sighed, his arms hanging limply by his sides. "Come on. We really do want you here. We really do."
"We know it's tough for you to do so much and change so much in one year," Yugi insisted. "We know. But Marik, you can't push yourself too hard. All of us have to stick together if we're going to survive. Please Marik?"
There was a small silence, as Marik stood still, still staring at his mattress, his back towards them.
"Marik, please," Ryou tried again. "Please stay."
There was another short silence, before Marik finally replied, very softly.
"I'll stay."
A wave of relief washed over both Ryou and Yugi, and before each of them went to give Marik a hug, Yugi took out a card in his pocket, and gave it to Marik. The Egyptian stared wide-eyed at the sheet of cardboard, before staring back at Yugi with utter disbelief.
"Yami wanted to give it to you," he said, smiling. "He says he doesn't feel as though you trust him just yet, so he wanted to give you the card, as a reminder that everything's good between us."
Marik was speechless for a moment, while staring back at the card. Ryou smiled.
"You deserve it, anyways," he said. "I told Sirius about your past, and even he thinks that you deserve it. At least, for now. Maybe one day you'll find something just as precious, that you deserve even more. But for now, let it just be a token of friendship between us. Even Bakura's agreeing, and that's saying a lot."
Marik's face slowly broke out into a smile, his eyes shining with unshed tears. Laughing slightly, and successfully keeping his tears from falling, he looked up, from Ryou, to Yugi, and then from Bakura, who had materialized with his usual cross face, and Yami, who was looking away.
"Thanks," Marik breathed. "Sorry about …the blow-up I had…and the Ministry…"
"That was me," Bakura snorted, looking away. "And stop getting all mushy, Keeper. Just take the damn card and let's just go to sleep."
"Agreed," Yami said, finally turning back around, and giving Marik a small smile. "I'm glad you chose to stay."
Marik shrugged, sighing. He looked back up at Yami seriously.
"Thanks," he said again.
Yami nodded. "You deserve it," he said solemnly. "And until you are entirely convinced that everything is alright between us, you no longer need to look at the Winged Dragon of Ra to remind you."
A month followed since the incident at the Ministry, and a lot had happened during then.
Yugi, Ryou, and Marik were all given the chance of continuing their tuition under the new regulations, while Harry, Hermione, and Ron were told by Dumbledore not to mention any of their suspicions. Though Yugi, Ryou and Marik were tense in the first few days after the Hogsmeade weekend, Harry was still wondering about each of their past backgrounds.
Hermione and Ron, though, weren't as casual about the mystery of the foreigners as Harry was. Every time that Yugi, Ryou or Marik would be in view, Hermione and Ron would somehow steer Harry off another direction. Though Harry was slightly irritated at his friends' paranoid attitudes, he couldn't blame them. They were only protecting him… and after what had happened the last year when he had not followed their judgement, he didn't quite as dare do it again.
Yet, it still found it curious…It was strange, to put it frankly. How could he be so calm, when Hermione and Ron were on their toes about the strange new foreigners? Why did Harry did not feel any menace, nor any malice, nor any fear? It was as though he could feel…in place, with the three of them, if they ever dared become a group of friends again.
Yugi, Ryou and Marik, however, didn't quite notice Harry's distraught blight as well as they should've, or perhaps they chose to ignore him. Yami had suggested to all of them very wisely that it was best to avoid them all, and each of them had readily agreed. Yet, occasionally chaos would erupt when Ron couldn't find his wand, and Ryou would find himself waking up with two magical sticks twirled in his fingers.
Obviously, the Ministry didn't satisfy Bakura's needs of stealing, but thankfully, he hadn't been caught yet.
After about a few weeks, Bakura had also produced his copy of the reports from the Ministry, and was leafing through them with Marik when Yami came in, books askew from his backpack.
"Don't you think you ought to give that back to Dumbledore by now?" Yami asked, raising one eyebrow as Bakura merely snorted and continued leafing through the sheets. "Really, if you honestly want to analyze it so intently, can't you just ask Potter for it?"
"And risk our chances of being revealed to those bakas?" Bakura had retorted, his eyes still upon the old, crinkled paper. "Not a chance, pharaoh. Plus…Dumbledore seemed to have forgotten why I was there in the first place at all…he'd never ask again why I was there."
"You ought to be glad he didn't ask," Yami said lowly. "After all, how suspicious would it be even more, if you told him you went on a stranger's orders?"
"He'd think I was a nutcase and I'd get kicked out, but not before I incase this entire school in the Shadows," Bakura replied idly. "Relax, pharaoh! I'm not going to give these back just yet."
"Really, now," Yami sighed. "Look. If you honestly did not wish for Potter to see any of these files, then you could just ask him for them and keep them for yourself."
"Oh my Ra, the pharaoh, suggesting the thief king to steal?" Marik asked, incredulously.
Bakura smirked. "That could be a good plan, but, no, sorry, Pharaoh. I have plans of my own, and I'm not ready to give these up just yet." He looked up, before throwing the files to Yami. "Here," he said smugly. "You try to translate them. Pore over them day and night if you wish, since I think it'd be more productive if you attempted to translate them."
"Can't you and Marik?" asked Yami, frowning. "Yugi and I have hardly the time to read these."
"You just mean you forgot to read," Marik snickered. Yami wrinkled his nose indignantly as Bakura began to laugh.
"Come on," Yami sighed. "Let's not be immature. We have school today."
"The pharaoh can read his schedule," Bakura said, nodding. "Well, at least that's an improvement."
Yami had to take a substantial amount of energy not to roll his eyes. "Get up," he commanded. "We have classes today."
"At least we have DADA today and Quidditch," said Marik, sighing as he got off his bed and randomly picked up his books.
"I wonder what we're going to learn in Divination today," Bakura wondered out loud. "Tarot reading? Crystal balls?"
"Let's just get to DADA first," Yami sighed, as he walked out the door.
Soon, DADA was over, with Yugi, Marik and Ryou at the front, and Hermione, Harry and Ron at the back. Neither of the groups barely exchanged more than a cheery hello, before books were opened and Ryou and Yugi both were poring over them, whilst Marik was attempting to stay focused. After the Defence class was over, Yugi, Ryou and Marik all made their way back to the dormitories, as Ryou had forgotten his homework and needed someone to accompany him.
As class filed out, Harry took his chance to tell Professor Lupin what was weighing down on his mind.
"Professor?" asked Harry tentatively.
Professor Lupin looked up, smiling slightly as he took out a rather wicked looking jar of potion. Harry made a face at the smoking jar, noticing its plain but bitter scent.
"Full moon again, Professor?" asked Harry quietly, as Hermione and Ron headed out towards Ancient Runes and Divination.
Professor Lupin smiled wryly. "Naturally," he sighed, before pinching his nose and taking a sip. "I'm just glad I haven't gotten any more owls about my state," he said, sighing again.
"The students love you," Harry assured. "They'd never complain, except for Malfoy, but you know what he's like."
Lupin snorted lightly. "Naturally."
He finished the smoking goblet, before laying it down on his desk, and shuffling some papers together.
"Now, what was it you wanted to talk about, Harry?" he asked.
"Professor…." Harry bit his lip, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot, before he leaned into the desk a bit, his voice lowered. "Professor…I know this may sound a bit…stupid, but…have you noticed something different about Ryou, Yugi and Marik?"
Professor Lupin almost gave a start, but he merely composed himself once more, busying himself with his papers.
"Not really, no," the Defense teacher replied simply, looking not even mildly interested. "Why?"
"I…well…" Harry made another awkward face. "They just…haven't you noticed…that sometimes they change personalities?"
"Perhaps they're just touchy," Professor Lupin shrugged. "Really, Harry, it's hardly something to dwell on in. Are you possibly suggesting that they are dangerous?"
"No, no," said Harry quickly. "I just…found them…sort of strange. Maybe it's just me, but I was just wondering."
"Don't worry about it, Harry," Professor Lupin even said mildly, putting away his briefcase. "It's not something to prod about in, but I wouldn't worry so much."
Harry inwardly sighed, since he had been expecting such an answer. Still, it couldn't hurt but to prod some more; after all, there was more than just the new students and Dementors on his mind.
"Professor…" he said carefully. He stared up at Lupin, the teacher's hazel eyes looking inquiringly into his. "…You know…about my …problem with hearing things and feeling things that aren't my own?"
"Yes," the DADA professor nodded, his eyebrows raising slightly into his brown hair.
"Well…" Harry shifted from his left foot, to his right. "Well…when I was at the Ministry, professor…I heard…I heard Snuffles."
At the mention of Sirius's name, Lupin's briefcase slid off the table, though he caught it rather awkwardly.
"Oh, did you?" asked Lupin, keeping his voice calm. Harry nodded.
"Yeah…do you think….maybe…do you think he's alive?"
Lupin sighed inwardly, remembering the promise he and Sirius had made. There was no sense in worrying Harry now, but all the same…should he tell?
"Harry," started Lupin carefully, "I…"
"Professor!" Ryou called, stumbling into the classroom with parchment in hand. "I'm so sorry! Here are my papers, I got them done as quickly as I could…"
"Teacher's pet," Marik teased from the door, standing in the frame with his hands crossed over his chest. His gaze lingered towards Harry, and hardened. "Oh. Hello."
"Hey," Harry nodded. "Quidditch practice later today. Our first match is against Slytherin."
"Fine," Marik merely said, still hostile, though a smirk lingered on his lips. "And how's our Beater doing?"
"Marik! Not now!" Ryou moaned. He didn't like being reminded that he could barely even LIFT the darn, bludging beating thing…
Professor Lupin laughed as he took the papers from Ryou's hand. "Really now, you didn't have to finish them all in a rush. You hardly ever forget your homework, Mr. Bakura. Distractions at all lately?"
Ryou flushed, before he muttered. "Yeah."
"Then you shouldn't push yourself hard," the Defense teacher sighed. "But, it's quite alright, you have it done and there's no sense tell you to go redo it later. I'm sure it's quite fine, don't worry."
"I know," Ryou sighed. Yugi popped into the room.
"Hey!" he smiled at Harry fleetingly, before turning to Ryou. "You're going to be late for Divination."
Ryou moaned. "Not again!"
Yugi giggled, before waving to Professor Lupin. "We'll see you later, professor! Bye Harry!"
"Bye," Harry replied, waving hesitantly. "Hey, wait, I'm in Divination too!"
Oh great.
"Glad I'm in Ancient Runes," muttered Marik as all four of them scrambled out of the room, leaving Remus Lupin chuckling behind.
"So, how curious was Harry today?" Dumbledore asked mildly, an irky smile on his lips as he shuffled through sheets of papers on his desks. Next to the Headmaster, floated more stacks of paper in midair; some even had owls awaiting attention sitting upon them.
Fawkes gave an indignant squak before flying off from his perch on the shelf, startling the owls and sending some papers flying erratically through the air.
"Very," Lupin laughed lightly, before falling into a more serious demeanor. "He asked about Sirius today...Professor Dumbledore, do you possibly think that perhaps Harry can hear spirits from the Shadow Realm?"
"I wouldn't doubt it," Dumbledore replied, still smiling. He shuffled through the papers again, finally finding the files sent to him from OotP members.
"And if he did," the headmaster said amusedly, "I think we're a card ahead of Voldemort."
"Wonder what we're going to do today?" wondered Yugi out loud as he climbed the steps. He huffed when he missed a step (the one that vanished every other Friday) and had to ask for Ryou's help to pull out his foot.
"I don't I'll ever get used to these stairs," Yugi groaned. "I mean, and I thought the main entrance stairways were bad…but this is horrible! It's so ridiculous! Marble cold stone steps that disappear in the middle of a TOWER…"
Ryou giggled lightly as he dragged Yugi up with him.
"And a trap door, that's so…tiring," Yugi rambled on, his book bag on the verge of ripping. Feeling a mental prod in the back of his head, Yugi turned around and saw a transparent Yami behind him, poking with mild interest against the rip.
/Sewpa…stichtika…./ Yami muttered lightly as he poked the rip with his finger.
Yugi gave a mental giggle. /You're terrible at spells, Yami./
The ex-pharaoh shot him a look, barely concealing a rueful smirk. /Really? Am I really that bad/
/You don't want me to answer that/ Yugi replied, grinning. /Anyways, I'll fix it later. I don't think you have the right spell for it anyways…/
"Slashomora!"
Immediately, the seam split, and out tumbled Yugi's books, down the stairways, and toppling through the missing step that vanished every second Friday eleven o' clock.
"Bakura!" Yugi wailed.
And indeed, there stood the thief, grinning smugly as he twirled Ryou's wands between his fingers.
"Bakura!" Yugi wailed again. "Why did you do that?"
"Because Marik isn't here and I wanted to have some fun," the thief replied, grinning cheekily as he walked up the steps, reaching the top of the tower. Jumping slightly, he hooked his wrists around the dangling rope from the trapdoor above, heaved, and out descended the golden-strung rope ladder.
"Someone forgot their books?" asked a voice wearily.
Yugi turned around, and was immediately eye-to-eye with Harry Potter (who was at least four steps below him).
"Heh," was all Yugi could say sheepishly, as Harry smiled and dumped the books into the arms of the tri-colored haired boy. "Sorry about that…when did you catch them?"
"When they dropped onto my head when I was walking the steps underneath," said Harry dryly as he stepped past Yugi. "Come on…Trelawney's going to have our heads if we show up late. I wonder what we're doing today, anyways…"
"Tarot cards?" Yugi suggested, somehow managing to balance all his books in his arms and still walking up the steps. Harry shook his head and took the books away, before stuffing them into Yugi's backpack, and sewing up the rip messily with his wand.
"God, I hope not," the black-haired boy muttered. "She'd predict my death even if I had a full house."
Yugi laughed. "I don't think we're using a deck of muggle cards like that," he said. "There are more fun ways to play tarot with different cards."
Harry grinned. "Like yours?"
Yugi beamed back. "Yep. Just don't use Ryou-kun's though, they can scare you. He uses an Occult deck."
Harry made a face. "Occult? Isn't that like, necromancy and stuff like that? Walking zombies and ghosts playing witchcraft in the middle of night?"
"I think you need to study your History of Magic more often, Harry," Yugi laughed. "But I guess you're a little right…but they're all mostly wandering spirits with special abilities. If you help me up the ladder, I can show you, even though I don't really like them that much."
Harry laughed too. "Yeah sure," he said, giving Yugi a leg up towards the ladder. The smaller boy flashed him a thankful smile before skimming up the ladder and into the Divination room.
"Ouija boards!" Trelawney exclaimed dreamily. "Oh, it has been so long since Hogwarts has ever allowed us to teach with Ouija boards…"
"I think Fred and George banned them, didn't they?" Ron whispered in Harry's ear. "I think they were predicting Professor Flitwick's future and told him that he was going to grow a few feet in the next year."
"Didn't happen, eh?" Harry murmured back, a small smile on his face.
"Flitwick wanted to curse them after that," Ron snickered.
Over with Yugi and Ryou though, the reaction was quite different.At the mention of Ouija boards, Ryou had moaned loudly again, before thunking his head onto the table. Within another second, out popped the thief, grinning manically as they seated themselves around a particularly gloomy Ouija board.
"This...is going to be fun."
Make me HAPPY, give me lots of reviews! (dances) Yeah, I've been LONGING to get a chance with Bakura and an Ouija board...(snickers)
Sorry for cutting it so like that, but come on, that was thirteen pages! Still, I'm so very very very sorry! (bows humbly) forgive me.
Anyways, thanks for reading! I'll try to update again as soon as possible! And no, I'd never abandon this fic, despite how long it may be.
(gets working on the PotO/YGOcross with WSJ) Oh my, Yami no Malik and the prostitution rate in 1700-1800 France may not be a good idea...