Well, hi there! I suppose that I am really alive: I bet some of you guys were wondering about me. I am very sorry about the 6 or 7 month wait, but I needed a break from this story and needed to focus on my schooling and blah insert another stupid excuse here. But now that school's out I have a lot more time to focus on this story! I won't lie to you: it took me about 2 weeks to write this itty bitty chapter and it hasn't even been betaed yet (I got too excited and couldn't wait), and if you noticed my profile update awhile back you've probably been wondering if I lied to you about updating soon. So I'm not yet back into the groove, but I am back! Don't expect me to turn into a freaking machine that updated several times a week like I was last summer, but I promise to give you at least one chapter a month (minimum).

Disclaimer: Really, if I could make money off of this don't you think I would be doing exactly that? I don't own anything, but if I did I would probably build a second Harry Potter theme park. In my backyard. Next to my Marik shrine. *sweat drop*

Now, without further ado, I give you chapter 30!

Enjoy!

Chapter 30

"What a pleasure," Marik regarded the two kneeling forms in front of him both happily and angrily because he couldn't decide whether or not he was happy or angry to see them again. He decided that he should hate them for what they helped his stupid hikari do to him but on the other hand they were his brother and sister and Marik didn't know what to think.

"Marik," Sister spat at him meanly daring to raise her head and look him in the eyes as though she believed them to be equals and Marik decided that even if he was happy to see her and Brother they needed to be punished for what they did to him.

"You will pay," Marik said back to her making his face smile evilly and he squeezed the Millennium Eye that was in his hand that he wasn't supposed to use yet. Lord Voldemort wanted the Millennium Eye for himself which only made Marik mad and he wanted the Millennium Eye now because he didn't want Voldemort to have it and he knew it wouldn't work properly anyway unless it was implanted into his eye but Marik didn't want to make Voldemort angry yet especially since he couldn't teach him how to use either of the Millennium Items.

Marik looked to Miss Bella who had helped him capture Brother and Sister and smiled at her telling her that she had his permission to begin their torture because he wasn't supposed to do it himself until Lord Voldemort got here. Marik wanted to do it himself but Lord Voldemort said that his powers were too strong and he needed Brother and Sister to be able to help him learn how to use the Millennium Eye and Necklace because he said he didn't want Marik inside his head because he was too strong for that too. Nagini the snake was slithering and watching and slithering and watching and Marik knew that she would tell Lord Voldemort if Marik broke any of his rules.

Lord Voldemort made Marik very angry.

"Crucio," Miss Bella raised her wand with a happy look on her face that made Marik happy and cast her spell onto Sister which made her scream and cry and Brother roared in anger and lunged at Miss Bella but a minion who Marik thought was named Dolohov cast a spell on him to hold him down.

Even though Marik was very angry at Lord Voldemort he laughed in glee and couldn't resist opening the mind link to his stupid hikari to show him what was happening even though Lord Voldemort told him to keep it a secret.

Marik felt the anger and sadness coming from Malik but he didn't listen to the words that he was yelling at him because he was too busy laughing and laughing because now Miss Bella was casting her torturing spells onto Brother who was screaming and Sister was yelling at them to stop and it was very amusing. Marik felt his hikari scream for help in the castle he was in miles and miles and miles away and felt a small little bit of fear because he remembered that this was supposed to be a secret and he shut the mind link and hoped that Nagini the snake and Miss Bella didn't notice that he had broken Lord Voldemort's rules.

xxx

"She looks cold," Ryou repeated for the third time that day. He stood up and pulled the blanket higher up on Ellie's still unconscious form. He proceeded to lay the back of his hand on her forehead in an attempt to feel if her temperature was off in any way.

"Ryou, mate, she's going to be fine." Ron said exasperatedly. "Madame Pomfrey said that it'll take a few days for her to wake up."

Ryou sighed, and nodded. "I hope you're right." He reluctantly removed his hand and turned so he could check on Malik, who was in the bed immediately next to Ellie.

Malik looked even better than he had the morning before, before he found out that Marik and Voldemort had kidnapped his only family. The calming draught that Madame Pomfrey had practically dumped down his throat had curbed his frantic and arguably insane behavior instantly. If Ryou hadn't have known better, he would have sworn that Malik was only checked into the hospital wing because of the nasty wound on his face which had yet to heal.

Malik was propped up against a number of stark white pillows in his bed, and he had barely moved an inch since McGonagall had given the order to administer him a calming draught the night before. Hermione was making sure that he was taking a new calming draught every hour, and while he resisted at first he now gladly downed each new refill. The entire group had been sitting with him for nearly twenty four hours. Hermione looked the worse out of the group, as she had been perched on Malik's bed the whole time allowing him to clutch painfully at her hand. It was the only sign that the boy was distressed. Ryou worried what Malik would do if Hermione tried to leave his side.

"Are you hungry, Malik?" Yugi asked his friend, as he rose from his chair on Malik's right bedside and took a few steps closer. "You never ate supper with the rest of us. I can ask Madame Pomfrey if you can have anything."

"No, thank you." Malik said quietly, looking straight ahead. "Not until Isis and Rishid are safe."

When Ryou and the others had returned to the hospital wing the night before with Ellie after retrieving her from the Chamber of Secrets, Yugi had found Malik sitting in the destroyed remains of what was his bed. In an attempt to vent his fear and frustration, he had somehow managed to reach his magic without the Rod or his wand and tear apart the few feet of space he was staying in. Malik had long since informed Dumbledore of how he had seen the capture and torture of his siblings. Dumbledore had of course sent out a rescue team, the second one in as many days that he himself went on. It was long gone by the time that Ryou and the others had found Ellie.

Ryou knew that the Order was doing their best to find Isis and Rishid, but he also figured that Voldemort needed them. Marik was having a difficult time teaching Lord Voldemort how to master the Millennium Items. So they both believed that two of their former protectors would be able to train him in the art of wielding the Shadows. Lord Voldemort needed Isis and Rishid, and he couldn't afford to have them taken away from him.

That was a huge matter of comfort to everyone sitting in the hospital wing at that very moment. Lord Voldemort would not kill them until he got what he wanted, and Ryou and Yugi knew as well as Malik that his siblings would not easily submit to Voldemort. They had time on their side, no matter how torturous it was to both the group sitting safely in the hospital wing and to Isis and Rishid themselves.

If we are looking on the bright side, Bakura's voice floated into Ryou's head as his translucent form standing at the foot of Ellie's bed looked up to meet Ryou's eyes. Then one of us should point out that we outnumber Voldemort. We have 4 Millennium Items while they only have 2.

I don't think he wants to hear it, Koe. Ryou replied, sighing. Besides, I doubt that Ellie is going to keep the Scales. I think we should start looking for another wielder.

Bakura's voice definitely had an irritated twinge to it when he answered. Ryou, do I need to remind you that it is not your decision? Elizabeth is perfectly capable of deciding for herself. Before Ryou could argue further, Bakura added: Besides, rejecting a Millennium Item could be far worse for her than accepting it could ever be. He let the threat of that statement hang over Ryou's head.

Angry, Ryou snapped the mind link shut and resumed his seat in between Malik and Ellie's beds. Ryou had never considered that. He was solely focused on what Ellie would be put through on the path to wielding the Scales. But what Bakura said weighed heavily on Ryou's mind: Shadi was not a forgiving man. Once he decided that she was the true wielder, he would likely do whatever it takes to have Ellie accept the Scales or to punish her for not accepting them. He had proven himself quite capable of getting to her without even Ryou, Bakura, Yugi, Yami or Malik figuring it out. Ryou tried not to think about what Shadi could do to Ellie, but the possibilities ran rampant through his head anyway. Shadi had the power to change her from the kind girl that he had met a few months ago to a ruthless monster who desired nothing but power. He could even threaten to go after her family and friends if she did not abide to his will. He could send her to the Shadow Realm. He could even kill her. Or worse.

Thankfully, Ryou's train of thought was interrupted when both Harry and Malik gasped loudly.

Harry's glasses were knocked to the ground as his hand clapped to his scar, and his gasp quickly turned into a hiss of pain. Malik roughly pushed Hermione away and jumped out of bed, leaving Ryou the job of catching her before she hit the ground.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, straightening up and grabbing Malik's shoulders tightly, holding him at arms length and effectively preventing him from continuing his attempt to grab Ryou's backpack. They all knew that that was where the Millennium Rod was currently stashed, and Malik should not be in control of such a powerful item in his present state. Malik gave up trying to reach the rod, straightening up. He didn't answer, his eyes seeing some far away scene that was a mystery to the rest of them.

Ryou quickly tossed his backpack to Ron, who was currently the furthest away from Malik and stepped in between Malik and Hermione in case Malik decided to get violent in favor of the trance he had just fallen into. He noticed that Yami had taken over for Yugi and was quickly by his side. But Hermione gave up trying to get Malik's attention and instead turned to Harry, who had picked up his glasses and straightened up. He looked pale, but in better shape to answer questions than Malik.

"Harry?" Hermione asked. "What's happening?"

Ryou took barely a second to remember that Harry had nearly as much insight as Malik to what was going on with Lord Voldemort.

"The Order found them," He breathed excitedly. "Voldemort is furious that Marik gave it away. He and Dumbledore fought for a bit, but he quickly apparated away with Marik and the Millennium Items."

"Isis and Rishid?" Yami asked.

"I can't see anymore," Harry replied, shaking his head. "But they were left behind with a few death eaters. The Order should be able to take care of them."

"Why did he leave them behind?" Ron asked, slowly setting down Ryou's backpack. "I mean, You-Know-Who reckons that they're the only ones that can help, right? Shouldn't he have taken them with him?"

"Not necessarily," Hermione answered slowly. "Maybe they didn't help him at all."

"They didn't," Malik snapped at her, shocking everyone that he had spoken at all. Ryou tried to recall the last time he had taken a calming draught, because it's effects were seemingly starting to wear off. "Marik only let me see a few seconds of the fight just now, but I know that they never cracked. My brother and sister would never submit to him."

"Of course not, Malik! I didn't meant it like that," Hermione anxiously said to him. "I just meant that maybe You-Know-Who has somebody else in mind."

"You mean someone else to train him on the Millennium Items?" Ron asked, cocking an eyebrow. "You don't suppose..."

"Shadi?" Bakura asked, and Ryou felt his head swivel around to look at his yami. "Impossible. Voldemort will not be able to find, let alone capture Shadi."

"I'm not so sure about that," Hermione said thoughtfully. "The ministry has found a way to track any trace of our magic, why should the Shadows be any different? And Merlin knows what they've been working on in the Department of Mysteries. You-Know-Who has spies there too! Remember when Harry and Ellie saw Lucius Malfoy in the hallway? They could have already -"

"No, Hermione," Yami cut her thoughts off unapologetically. "You are underestimating the Shadows, Shadi will not be found."

"And you're underestimating our magic!" Hermione replied hotly, her cheeks tinting red from her anger. "No doubt Voldemort is already working on a way to counter Shadow Magic, and when that happens you'll all be in big trou -"

"Hermione, you think too much," Bakura interrupted coldly, rolling his eyes. Ryou had to agree. While the magic wielded by all of the people Ryou has met in the past few months was certainly dangerous, he did not believe that it was truly a match for their Shadow Magic. After all, they had really only come to Hogwarts as a precaution.

"There is nothing wrong with planning ahead," Hermione snapped, crossing her arms huffily.

"Hermione's right," Harry added loudly, trotting around Ellie's bed to get to the action and stand by his friend's side. "I've seen what Voldemort and his Death Eaters can do, I don't think that you guys fully appreciate what he is capable of. He will stop at nothing to take you three down."

"When it comes down to our magic against yours, I think what happened to Elizabeth is a clear example of who is stronger," Bakura said, rolling his eyes. "And if it wasn't for our magic, we would never have found her."

"Oi! That's not true!" Ron said. "Shadi lured her down there like a coward, Ellie didn't even have her wand to protect herself!"

"I am not so sure that it would have made a difference, regardless," Yami added coolly. "Shadi's Shadow Magic could have easily overpowered her. It was probably best that she could not attack him, it could have ended much worse."

"That is not true! Shadi didn't want her to be able to attack him because he was afraid of what Ellie can do," Harry shot back. "And if it wasn't for your magic, she would never have gotten attacked in the first place!"

Ryou felt another twinge of guilt, and sat down again. He looked over to the slumbering girl in question and again wished that this whole thing had never happened.

"Potter, you are going to wish that you never-" Bakura began to threaten Harry, but he was interrupted by a pissed off Malik.

"Will you lot SHUT UP?" He demanded from behind Yami. He had sat back down on his bed, and Ryou felt bad that they had all forgotten him in their argument. After all, he was the one who was hurting the most right at that moment. "I'm trying to figure out what's going on with my brother and sister. In case you idiots forgot, they've been kidnapped and tortured for the past twenty four hours."

Hermione hurried to his side and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Malik. Do you want me to get you a fresh calming draught?"

Malik shook his head, irritated. "No way. It keeps me from thinking straight." He gave Hermione a weird look. "And do you have to sit so close? It's bloody hot in here."

Hermione flushed and scooted away, scowling.

"What's going on?" Ryou asked, glad that the argument was over, but once again questioning Malik's mental state. He noted that with the exception of Bakura, who was now perched on the edge of Ellie's bed, everyone looked quite ashamed of themselves for fighting with each other. Yami phased out and relinquished control to Yugi, then actually sat next to Bakura. Yugi quietly resumed his own seat next to Ryou, and he shot Ryou a look that told him that his thoughts mirrored his own.

"Nothing, really," Malik replied dully. "Voldemort got pissed and left to talk to his snake. Marik's just sitting there trying to figure out if he's angry or happy." He shrugged, and ran his hands over his face in frustration.

"But Voldemort isn't really that mad anymore," Harry said, rubbing his scar. "I think he just might have other plans."

Ryou felt rather than saw Bakura roll his eyes.

"I guess that we'll have to just wait and see," Ryou said, more to himself and Bakura than to anybody else.

"So when do you all reckon Dumbledore will send wo - bloody hell!" Ron gasped as a flame suddenly appeared over Ellie's slumbering form, and when it burnt out a folded up piece of parchment attached to what could only have been a phoenix feather floated down to rest on her stomach.

"It's from Dumbledore!" Yugi gasped excitedly, jumping up. Bakura unthinkingly grabbed for the note, but his fingers ghosted right through it. Even though their mind link was still closed, Ryou could feel a small twinge of sadness from his yami. He tried not to react, as he didn't want Bakura to know he had felt it. Instead Ron grabbed the note, and began to unfold the parchment. Everyone waited with bated breath.

"He says that they're safe, Malik!" Ron cried, and the group broke out into relieved laughter.

"Thank God," Hermione said, placing a hand over her heart and exhaling a huge breath.

Ryou looked at Malik, who looked like he was ready to sob with relief. "What else?" He asked, standing and taking a few steps towards Ron.

"He said that they only have minor injuries, but he's taking them to Saint Mungo's to get checked out just in case," Ron looked up and frowned. "Merlin, he's taking muggles to Saint Mungo's?"

"What's Saint Mungo's?" Ryou asked confusedly. He thought that he had gotten a grasp on most of the wizarding world, but every so often someone mentioned something that he didn't know.

"It's the wizarding hospital," Ron said. "I've never heard of them admitting muggles before, though."

"Is it safe?" Yugi asked nervously.

"Should be," Hermione replied thoughtfully. "You-Know-Who wouldn't dare trying to get to them while they were surrounded by dozens of witches and wizards."

"So does it say when I can see them?" Malik demanded. Ron looked down and reread the letter.

"Uh, no, mate, it doesn't," He muttered, recoiling in anticipation of what he believed Malik's reaction to be.

"Well that's alright," Malik said cheerfully, throwing them all. He dodged Hermione and crawled back into his bed. "I'll ask Dumbledore in the morning."

"You will?" Ryou asked incredulously. He had expected Malik to pitch a fit and put them through hell to keep him in bed: but once again the Egyptian had surprised him by doing the exact opposite. Ryou supposed that it would be different in the morning if Dumbledore said that he couldn't go, which was, Ryou thought, very likely as well.

"Yep," Malik said, snuggling under his blankets further. "I think I'm going to go to sleep now. You guys should go too."

"Are you sure, Malik?" Yugi asked, seemingly not believing that Malik was being rational either. Maybe his calming draught hadn't worn off after all, Ryou thought.

"Do you want one of us to stay here with you?" Ryou asked.

"That's not necessary," He replied. "Go get some sleep. Don't worry, I'll take care of Ellie."

"Malik…" Ryou said uncomfortably. He had a nasty feeling that he was up to something.

"If you guys don't believe me, then I'll take a sleeping potion!" He said, sitting up again. "Poppy?" He called.

Bakura and Yami quickly disappeared.

"That's Madame Pomfrey to you, Ishtar," the healer in question chastised, walking in and wagging an affectionate finger at the boy. "Are you ready for some sleeping potion now?"

She eyed the rest of the group disapprovingly. She had tried to order them all out from the get go, but McGonagall took pity on the friends and gave them special permission to keep Malik company in his time of distress. Madame Pomfrey was good with not asking too many questions about why they all were so adamant about staying with Malik, and why he needed so many calming draughts in the first place. For that Ryou was grateful.

"Yes, please," Malik said and downed the potion. The group stuck around until he was out like a light. Ryou still couldn't believe that Malik was true in his intent to spend the night sleeping while his siblings and only family were being checked into the hospital, but he had watched him take the sleeping potion and conk out. There was no way that he would be conscious until the potion wore off, which would come in about 8 hours.

Ryou sighed. He checked on Ellie one last time, smoothing a stray curl from her face and followed the others when they left for Gryffindor tower.

xxx

Like I said, it was short! I had this chapter planned out before I decided to take my hiatus so please don't get mad at me for such a boring chapter after you waited so long!

Also, yay or nay on the crazy Marik POV? I love writing it, but I'm never quite sure if it's conveying the same effect as it is in my crazy twisted brain.

Please review! I'd rather have 1 review over a million favorites, and really it was a couple of reviews that really kicked my ass into gear and made me want to write this story again. It makes me happy to know that I'm not just shouting all of these words to an empty audience.

On a side note, I found a beta who is going to look through and help me fix up every chapter preceding this one because this story needs work. It will probably take awhile, and there may be some big changes, but nothing drastic that will effect the plot/characters. I'll add a note to the beginning of the chapters as I repost them, and I might even let you all know of my progress in the AN of the next few chapters. If you really like the chapters the way they are, I suggest you save them for your own records.

Thanks for reading!