Ok, this is a day early but I need the extra time for my last few uni assignments so I decided to post today! Hopefully you enjoy this as much as the last chapter and I will see you all again on 11th April!

Side note, for some strange reason Fanfiction decided to format this strangely, so I've corrected what I can but I will be coming back to it along with the rest of the strange formatting later, I promise.

To avoid confusion:

Words Yami speaking mentally

Words Yugi speaking mentally

"Words" Characters speaking Japanese

"Words" Characters speaking Ancient Egyptian

"Words" Characters speaking Arabic

"Words" Characters speaking Akkadian

"Words" Characters speaking Old English

Yami stalked through the halls, anger simmering just underneath the surface. Yugi was still hiding away in his Soul Room, a mixture of anger, frustration and betrayal leaking through their link. Yami ensured that his own emotions were kept in check- it was not his privacy that the teenagers had just invaded. Knowing Yugi, it wasn't so much the potential theft that had upset him so but rather the fact that they had done it under the pretence of being friends. Yugi had had his fair share of losing his things to others, that this came from so close to home would have hurt the most.

It frustrated Yami that Harry had thought he had had the right to sort through another's things so casually. They had both heard the rumours that Harry and his friends were highly involved in the many incidents that had occurred here in recent years, most notably that Harry had supposedly witnessed the death of a fellow student not even a whole year ago. Yami could sympathise with the boy for that- he may be bereft of memories, but he doubted that he would have ended up in this situation had his past been particularly happy. And he had shared in Yugi's grief at watching his grandfather's soul be stolen, back in the days when the line between his own thoughts and Yugi's had been blurred. What he could not abide however, was how entitled the boy thought he was.

Why wouldn't he just listen? Yugi asked quietly, feelings turning further towards sadness as each second passed. Yami wished that it were not the day so he could place Yugi's body to rest in safety and spend the time needed to comfort his partner, but, unfortunately, he didn't have that luxury. And Yugi was in no mood to be in control at the moment, not with who they would have to face in only a few short minuets as he turned up the corridor leading to Dumbledore's office.

I don't know Yami replied softly, allowing some feelings of sympathy towards him. It seems that he just thinks he has the right to do so due to past experiences. It would be something he would bring up with the Headmaster.

They were stopped by the gargoyles but Yami quickly by-passed them, shifting through the shadows to the other side. This appeared to trigger some kind of alarm that Yami ignored. It wasn't as if he was hiding his presence here anymore. In fact, the Headmaster might be one of the few who was capable of seeing him, right along with the others, Snape and the girl that Harry and his friends had identified as Luna, a friend of Ron's younger sister. Several traps and curses tried to prevent him from moving further up the stairs, but they were no match against a being as old as he. Compared to those that his own people had placed upon their tombs, these were nothing more than an irritation, shrugged off fairly quickly. His magic was far more powerful than that practiced at this school, older and darker.

And Yami knew instinctively just how to control it.

Dumbledore was frowning heavily when he opened the door to his office. He would have knocked but Yami had once been a king and a Pharaoh did not ask permission to enter. He was not here to speak with the man as a student. This would be a conversation between one leader to another. Dumbledore surely noticed as there was no twinkle in those cold blue eyes of his and the man straightened behind his desk, losing the grandfatherly image near instantly. In the corner, a phoenix watched them from its perch, dark eyes sharp and interested. How this man had won the trust of one of Ra's creatures was a tale for another time, however.

"You are not young Mr Mutou," Dumbledore started gravely. Yami gave him nothing, moving across the room until he was opposite him at the desk.

"How observant," Yami stated, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "I assure you, however, that I am not using him. Yugi has allowed me access to his body for now to discuss some troubling behaviours in your students." Dumbledore raised a single eyebrow at that. He wondered if the man cared that Harry quite happily broke school rules on a regular basis. That those rules were supposed to be in place for the benefit of all did not occur to this man it seemed. Not after all Yami had heard.

"That is a serious accusation to make, especially coming from someone in as precarious a position as you." Yami internally scoffed, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"I am no Voldemort," Yami snapped, hearing the accusation. "I did not force myself on Yugi. Not that I expect you to understand from what has just occurred today. I reiterate- Yugi is quite happy for me to take this conversation and he will corroborate that for you now, if you so wish." Dumbledore leaned back slightly, nodding, keeping eye contact.

Yami?

Trust me, Yugi. I won't let him do anything. He and Yugi had both felt the overbearing presence of the Headmaster trying to wiggle his way into their mind. Yami allowed himself to retreat ever so slightly, letting Yugi take control for a brief moment, but moving no further than slipping out of the body and a pace to the left. Dumbledore's eyes briefly followed him before settling once again on Yugi. His mental presence also doubled, as if he thought that Yami might have less of an influence just because Yugi was now present.

"Mr Mutou," the Headmaster started but Yugi swiftly cut him off.

"Yami is doing this with my permission," he said firmly, only a slight tremble in his voice from his still raw emotions. Yugi had come far from the boy he had been all those years ago when he had first solved the Puzzle, but that didn't stop the protective instincts in Yami from rising as he faced off against the master manipulator. "He isn't tricking or coercing me into doing something I don't want to."

"I'm afraid I can't much agree to that with him hovering so close," Dumbledore said, his tone meant to convey sympathy but really only giving away how far he thought he could go. It was no wonder Harry thought himself to privileged to get away with half of what he did. "Not after the way that he got past the school's very own defences." Yugi frowned openly at that. People took his innocent visage to mean that he was some kind of simpleton at times. But Yugi wasn't a Duel Monsters champion for nothing, even without Yami's help. He could read an opponent just as easily as he. It was why he had been so drawn to the quiet child, so tenacious and determined to solve his Puzzle. How the fragmented pieces of his mind had latched onto this tiny being and vowed to prevent it from harm, to pay back the respect a man had once given his sanctuary all those years ago. But the final attack on Yami's shields, constructed around Yugi's mind, built so carefully to prevent another Pegasus, was the last straw.

There was nothing Dumbledore could do when he grabbed his prying consciousness and dragged it into the corridor between his and Yugi's minds. He ensured that Yugi's own Soul Room door was shut tight, should the old man think he had the right to poke through it.

"Are you satisfied?" Yami asked sharply as Dumbledore glanced about in confusion. "Let me show you exactly where you will end up, should you try this again." And without another warning he flung open his own Soul Room door, revealing the labyrinth of his mind.

Dumbledore staggered back, turning to look for the door that Yami had already moved away. He had wandered this labyrinth for years, knew its every trick. When moved to do so, he could willingly rearrange it, a trick he had learnt- or perhaps, remembered- in the final duel against Pegasus and the Eye. Until Yami was satisfied, Dumbledore would not be leaving.

"Where are we? What have you done?" Dumbledore asked sharply and then appeared to do a double take. He was aware that here he looked different, no longer taking on the characteristics of Yugi's body, instead as he had once in life. Unfortunately, there were no mirrors here, so he could only assume he currently looked something like Atem, hence the man's confusion. "Who are you?"

"I have no name. I do not remember it," Yami said simply, aware that he had switched out of English. It didn't matter. Dumbledore understood, the words translated between their two minds. "What I do know is that I was once a Pharaoh of Egypt 5000 years ago. What you are standing in is what remains of my Soul Room. Since you claim to be giving sanctuary to Yugi and his friends and are supposedly making your best efforts to defeat this Voldemort, I will leave this as a warning. Attempt to gain access to Yugi's mind uninvited once more and you will be trapped here forever. You are not the first to try and I will not stand for such a violation of one who is close to me." Dumbledore blinked, turning to look around once more.

"I see," he said solemnly. "If we could return to my office? I believe you have made your point." Yami could sense how uneasy he made this man and smirked.

"Of course." To Dumbledore it would seem that, in the next moment, they were back in his office. However, as Yami took control once more, he became aware of the sharp pinpricks of a bird's claws in Yugi's shoulder. Instinctively, he raised an arm and the phoenix hopped onto the new, and most likely more comfortable, perch immediately, trilling out a sweet song. The Headmaster appeared startled at this but Yami gave him no mind, smiling and gently stroking the plumage atop the bird's head. "It is an honour to meet you. I have not had the pleasure to see one of Ra's beloved birds." Ra held a menagerie of animals, but the phoenix was the rarest and purest extension of his being in the mortal realm. The phoenix gave a soft caw, nuzzling into his fingers. Yami did not notice the soft golden light that jumped between the two, it only being observed by Yugi and the Headmaster who was most perturbed by the change in events.

It had been a long time since someone had outsmarted Albus Dumbledore.

"Well," Dumbledore started with a soft cough, breaking Yami out of the slight trance he had been in, marvelling at this magnificent creature in front of him. "What was it that you wished to speak with me about?" It was clear that the Headmaster now understood where he stood.

"Yugi wishes to move to the Palace Dorm," Yami said shortly, leaving no room for argument. "I've already had his things taken there."

"And why would Mr Mutou wish to leave the Gryffindor Dorm?" Dumbledore asked, seemingly startled.

"Because your Boy Who Lived had taken it upon himself to go through his personal items under the delusion that he had the right due to his suspicions of me." Yami narrowed his eyes, feeling the phoenix turn to watch Dumbledore too with an accusing gaze. "Is this acceptable behaviour in your school?"

"Ah, no," Dumbledore said, suddenly deciding to return to his usual demeanour. "Unfortunately, Harry has not had any good experiences with those who are not what they seem. Only last year, a favoured teacher of his turned out to be a Death Eater in disguise through Polyjuice potion."

"And you somehow failed to pick up on this?" Yami asked derisively, raising an eyebrow. "The so-called greatest wizard of your time?"

"We all make mistakes, my dear boy," Dumbledore said gravely, supposedly repentant. Yami wasn't buying it.

"And sometimes we make them on purpose." An irritated expression appeared briefly on the man's face before it was swiftly tucked away.

"Not this time. His portrayal of Alastor was rather exemplary."

"I hear he performed your Unforgivable curses in front of his classes," Yami said blandly. "I doubt even a man as paranoid as he would do so in front of children." He returned his attention to the phoenix, tired of this man's games. "What will you do about Harry?"

"What do you think I should do?" Dumbledore asked amiably and Yami scowled. Clearly, if it were up to the Headmaster, Harry would face no consequences for his actions.

"I have already warned Harry that if he had been caught in my time, he would no longer have hands with which to steal. However, times are not so dire as they were then, and he is a child. By your own school rules, he ought to at least lose house points and serve time in detention." Yugi had had to serve several catch up sessions after school due to the many tournaments and media appearances he had to make, causing him to miss school. He understood that much at least, about the modern education system. That there would be a little more to it than just losing hands was not something Yami was going to point out- truthfully had Harry made such a transgression, it would be hard labour or several lashes with a whip unless it was a tomb he had been caught robbing. Dumbledore did not look particularly happy with the suggestion however.

"But Mr Potter did not steal anything," he pointed out and this time Yami did turn his attention back to the man.

"Harry and his friends were going through another student's personal items without permission. I do not see what difference it makes whether they took anything or not," he snapped, for some reason feeling far angrier than before. As if… such a violation had once occurred to him. The thought was gone as quickly as it came, buried once more under the fog that served as his memories. Hidden once more in the labyrinth, even from him. "They violated Yugi's privacy. Just because I am the one recounting the events to you makes no difference to their actions." He let the silent message that he did not trust the man in front of him hang between them, a note that he would not endanger his partner to the likes of Dumbledore. That seemed to startle the Headmaster, who leant back, considering. Eventually, he let out a sigh.

"I will inform you Head of House of this infringement of the rules," he said eventually and Yami nodded, allowing the phoenix to take off, giving him help in the lift-off by throwing up his arm as the bird ruffled its feathers, readying itself for flight. For a brief moment, an image of a falcon was overlaid that of the phoenix and then even that was gone once more.

"Good." With that, he turned and left. There was nothing else for him to do here and his partner needed him. It did surprise him, however, when the phoenix followed, leaving the office with them. No doubt, much to the displeasure of Dumbledore.

None of the transfer students had spoken to them in a week, other than Atem who had bluntly given them a slip of paper, allowing the DC to go ahead and a room that McGonnagal had sanctioned for them. Their Head of House had also approached them the day before, bristling in anger and Harry's heart had sank as he observed her pinched face.

"With me you three," she snapped. Hermione immediately packed up her things, head hung low. Out of all of them, she had taken the cold shoulder the hardest, muttering that this was what they deserved for what they had done. They had invaded Yugi's privacy and she seemed unsurprised that they were now in trouble. Harry, however, was incensed. They had been trying to help. Why should they be punished, for trying to keep a new friend safe? He would have thought Dumbledore would have understood after the disaster the year before had been with the fake Moody.

That the ghost could influence the Headmaster so, was chilling.

"Out of all the things!" McGonnagal started once they had reached her office. "Going through a fellow student's luggage was not one of them! What on earth were you thinking?"

"We're really sorry, Professor," Hermione said miserably. "We really shouldn't have-"

"But Yugi's in trouble!" Harry insisted, and Ron nodded, agreeing. "Professor he's being controlled by some kind of evil spirit!" McGonnagal eyed him sternly, her lips thin in anger.

"I've heard this story from Mr Menes already when he came to inform me," she snapped. "I was also informed that it was not any of our business and that this 'spirit' was benign, attached to the object around Mr Mutou's neck, not the boy himself." Hermione flinched, and Ron blinked. Harry wasn't particularly bothered- this only proved his point. That the spirit held too much power over them.

"And you're just going to accept that?" Harry asked sharply.

"Mr Mutou is under the protection of the Tomb Keepers and, since his father's unfortunate accident, the current leader of the Clans is the Prince, Atem Menes," McGonnagal stated bluntly. "Their magic is old, complicated and, most of all, protected by the Egyptian Ministry. You are lucky that the Prince sees this as the act of a stupid teenager, rather than a malicious move by someone opposed to them. Do you understand, Mr Potter?" Harry stared but from the frightened gasp by Hermione, she had grasped what McGonnagal was getting at. "As it stands, you three will be serving detention with me for a week and you will lose fifty House Points each. I don't think I have to make it clear that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable in Hogwarts. Be glad that I do not cancel your new club tonight!" With that they were dismissed, ordered back to classes. The trip to History of Magic was made in silence.

The first meeting of Dagda's Cauldron had only been mildly better. The transfer students did turn up but the only one who spoke to anyone in English was Ryou. Several Slytherins, who could only have heard from Marik or Akhefia, had spent the first hour sending them dirty looks between practicing the Disarming spell. It turned out that many members had been performing Expelliamus wrong for years, although the Slytherins were suspiciously good. A Ravenclaw girl named Ellen, who had a friend in Slytherin, had let it slip to Hermione that Snape taught certain students how to defend themselves but clammed up immediately afterwards, eyes wide in shock. Her friend didn't seem to hold it against her, just gave them a defiant stare and Harry found himself wondering why Snape felt the need to give his House more of an advantage over them. No doubt, it had something to do with the Death Eaters.

The last half an hour was spent listening to several students from pureblood families describe their home culture. Hermione spent that time scribbling away like mad, deeply interested, while Ron looked merely uncomfortable when discussing it. Fred and George were less so- the pair had become fast friends with Marik and Akhefia at some point and, when not messing with hard-line Slytherins, the teachers began to despair at the new additions to the prankster duo. They happily discussed the differences between Wizarding and Tomb Keeper culture, although Marik was oddly tight-lipped in certain areas. Atem gave a quiet word here and there about it, but they were relatively quiet overall. It was mostly more of a giant discussion rather than a teaching session. McGonnagal had come in for the end of the session, a proud expression on her face, clearly having put aside her earlier anger.

And now they were sat in detention with her. Harry had never had to serve detention with McGonnagal. It was certainly different to what he had expected. Unlike Snape, who had you clean up the Potions classroom, or Umbridge, who liked to have you carve into your hand, McGonnagal first insisted on homework being finished before setting a certain number of lines to be finished within the time. She also ensured that they would be back in the Gryffindor Common Room before curfew. And this was all done under her beady eyes, face displaying severe disappointment. Hermione, being the person that she was, finished early and was given extra work to be getting on with and Harry was told not to slack off when, noticing this, had attempted to slow down in his work. Ron had just sat in silence, other than to ask for help with the Transfiguration essay, which she acquiesced to easily.

It was strange. Like Snape, she seemed to have eyes in the back of her head.

"That's enough for tonight," she said when it hit half past nine. "Same time again tomorrow."

"Professor," Harry started but was cut off by a sharp look from his Head of House.

"If you are about to try to defend yourself again, Mr Potter, I believe I was crystal clear yesterday." Harry frowned but decided that it wasn't worth more detentions. He would rather serve with McGonnagal than Umbridge, but it was frustrating that they were being punished at all. Especially when the lines he was forced to write over and over again were, one does not go through another's things.

"Harry now really isn't the time," Hermione muttered as they made their way back up to Gryffindor Tower, eyes on the floor.

"But Yugi's-!"

"Yes, we know!" she snapped, "But think about it! The Ministry is in full investigation over corruption and at the head of that is the Egyptian Ministry. And McGonnagal told us that the current head of the Tomb Keepers is Atem, who is currently sheltering Yugi. What do you think he would do, if we continue like this? What do you think the Egyptian Ministry would do if they knew how we were treating someone under their protection?" Harry flinched, staring. It was one thing to be enemy number one of the British Ministry. He hadn't really been thinking about foreign Ministries. Ron winced as well.

"Mione's right. We met some of the Egyptian Ministry with Bill back before third year remember?" Ron said and Harry nodded. He had forgotten that. "Well, they're not exactly the biggest fans of the British Ministry. They think that the Statute of Secrecy is rubbish and the wizarding world is crossed with the modern muggle world out there. I don't really know about the Tomb Keepers, but if they work with them then I wouldn't want to get on their bad side." He grimaced as he thought. "It's not as if they've forgotten all those curses their ancestors put on the tombs."

And wasn't that an ominous thought.

"But then how do we help?" Harry asked, frustrated.

"We don't," Hermione said simply. "We can't. That artefact that the spirit is attached to is from Egypt- that's probably why the Tomb Keepers are protecting Yugi. And if his grandfather was involved with them like that book suggested, then there's not much we can do because what are three teenagers against international law?"

The rest of the trip to Gryffindor Tower was done in silence. In truth, Harry couldn't think of any way that they could help their new friend. Whatever that spirit was, it had made it known that it was far from friendly, but since it wasn't actively attacking them at this point either, he couldn't prove that it was malicious. Unlike Quirrell, he didn't think Dumbledore knew about it until it had stormed away in Yugi's own body. He shuddered to think what noose it had wrapped around Dumbledore's neck to prevent the Headmaster from doing anything. That Atem was apparently helping defend it was fishy though. The other boy hadn't been looking well since the trip to Hogsmeade and it made Harry wonder what would happen if the Egyptian Ministry started to think that they were the cause of that.

It was not the most comforting of thoughts to send him off to sleep that night.

Blood. He could smell blood as he slithered along the floor. Yes… yes, the Master would be pleased. It was here, he could sense it and no number of followers Dumbledore put in his path would stop him. Not after the Atlantean had made him practically invincible…

Harry stuck his tongue out, tasting the air. For a moment he caught sight of his reflection, a long sinuous body sliding silently through the halls of the Ministry. That was odd, wasn't it? Why was he gliding along on his belly when he could simply stand up and walk? Footsteps echoed down the hallway and Harry slithered away, into the darker shadows. Unfortunately, the orichalcum seemed to only work on humans, not animals, so it was up to him to hide. Did he have to? No, but the fewer people who knew he had been here the better.

The Unspeakable disappeared down the hall and Harry continued. There… yes, fresh meat. Harry had been promised a meal after all… It had been so long since he had last eaten, and he was so hungry…

Balding red hair fading to grey turned to face him just as he lashed out. Arthur Weasley's cry was loud in the silent hallway and beyond him, just out of reach, was the very same corridor Harry had dreamt of for weeks. It was so close… But the human's cries were loud, despite the venom now surely running through his veins and Harry stuck again, hissing.

He truly was very hungry.

Harry woke with a yell, before leaning over his bed and vomiting violently, the taste of blood still strong on his lips. He could almost still feel the way Mr Weasley's body had crunched between his jaws… He shuddered and threw up again, vaguely hearing the shouts of his dorm mates, now back to their usual number.

"Harry!" Ron shouted, at his side in an instant. For a moment, all Harry could do was stare at him in horror as his friend rubbed his back, his hold probably the only thing preventing Harry from dropping off the edge of the bed and into the puddle of vomit below. "What happened?" This wouldn't have been the first time Harry had woken him up from nightmares- it was the first to make him physically sick though.

"Y-Your Dad…" Harry couldn't get more out, mouth clogged with the taste of bile and blood. His stomach heaved again but there was nothing left to bring up and he just ended up dry heaving instead.

"Harry?" Ron asked uncertainly, just as McGonnagal swept into the room, wand raised and casting light over the room.

"What is going on here?" she snapped, taking stock of the several students out of bed. Next to her was the pale figure of Neville, who most likely had run out to go get her. "Potter, Longbottom says you're not well?" A wave of her wand quickly cleaned up the mess, but Harry shook his head, frantic now. Somewhere out there, Mr Weasley was dying, being attacked and devoured by a snake. A snake he had been…

He pushed that thought away, swallowing the fresh bile that tried to make its way up his throat.

"No, Professor, I-I have to see Dumbledore!" Harry cried, swaying as he tried to get up. Ron kept a steady hand on his shoulder, looking mildly alarmed. "Mr Weasley-!

"Is perfectly fine," McGonnagal said, looking rather unimpressed. "You've had a bad dream. Now let's get you down to Madam Pomfrey, some Dreamless Sleep I think…"

"No, I have to see Professor Dumbledore!" Harry insisted, even as she took a surprisingly gentle grip on his arm to help him along. "Please, it's important! He's dying!" McGonnagal gave him a stern look before letting out a frustrated huff.

"If this is another wild story," she threatened, leading them out of the Tower and, thankfully, in the direction of the Headmaster's office.

"I swear," Harry panted, slightly lightheaded. He had no doubt that his Head of House would be sending him to the Hospital Wing either way, but so long as he knew that Mr Weasley was safe… He shuddered and wondered why she had caved so easily. He didn't ask however, not wanting to test her patience any more than he had. He had seen more of McGonnagal this year than he ever had, what with the number of detentions and Umbridge sending him to her office.

Dumbledore was strangely awake at this late hour, although he was wearing a bright pink nightcap. He raised his head as they entered, Harry realising belatedly that Ron had followed them, his hand still keeping him somewhat upright. He felt bad that he had forgotten about him in whatever strange haze he was in- it was, after all, his father who was injured.

"Ah, Minerva, what can I do for you?" Dumbledore asked, taking in their small group.

"Mr Potter has had a nightmare, something involving Arthur Weasley," she started but Harry cut her off.

"It wasn't a nightmare! He was attacked, I saw it! He was somewhere in the Ministry and there was a snake that was trying to get something from there and it attacked him!" Silence fell over the room, McGonnagal disapproving, Ron giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze and Dumbledore staring at him gravely. It was the Headmaster who broke it.

"Everard," Dumbledore said, turning to one of the portraits on the Wall. "Would you go to your portrait in the Ministry? I believe Arthur was on duty tonight." McGonnagal spluttered as the man in the painting disappeared, off to wherever it was in the Ministry Mr Weasley was.

"You don't honestly believe-!"

"I believe it wise to check," Dumbledore said, cutting her off. "Now, Harry, this dream. You said you saw the attack. As in standing aside? From above?" Harry swallowed and shook his head, trying to push back the feeling of slithering along the floor, considering which would become his victim. The unnamed female Unspeakable or the man at the end of the corridor.

"No, I… I was the snake." He shuddered even just speaking the words. It felt wrong somehow. Dumbledore's face was grave as he turned to another portrait.

"Dippet, if you wouldn't mind getting Severus," Dumbledore said just as the other portrait, Everard if Harry remembered correctly, sprinted back into his.

"They've found him!" the man shouted, sounding oddly out of breath for an animated painting. "He was bleeding out on the floor, but I shouted until I caught someone's attention! They've taken him off to St Mungo's!" Harry felt Ron stiffen behind him and he wasn't sure which of them was more horrified. Ron, for knowing that his father truly had been attacked, or himself for having been an unwitting accomplice and spectator to the deed. Even McGonnagal went pale.

"Minerva, if you wouldn't mind letting the other Weasley's know," Dumbledore said softly, suddenly no longer looking at Harry. "I'll send a message to Molly and see if I can get hold of Bill. He and Mr Menes returned to Egypt this… well, yesterday morning on some business and it wasn't clear when they would be back…" He trailed off as McGonnagal turned to leave, nodding her assent, when Snape was suddenly in the room. Harry wondered how he had gotten there so fast except…

"I will tell him," Nofret said very quietly. "Baba and he will be back soon." Dumbledore blinked at her, startled and even McGonnagal jumped slightly.

"And you are?" Dumbledore asked. It was the first time Harry had seen the Headmaster look truly alarmed. Had he not known about the ghostly girl? But how was that possible? Snape didn't seem particularly perturbed, nodding as she turned, disappearing in silence on the spot, not even bothering to answer Dumbledore's question. That, too, was a first. Harry had never seen anyone treat Dumbledore with anything other than respect, even if it was begrudgingly in Lucius Malfoy's case.

"You don't need to worry about her," Snape said blithely. "Mr Weasley has been working with her and her sister for years." That did not seem to please Dumbledore, who frowned deeply but said nothing. "What was it you wanted from me?"

"I believe it is time for Harry to learn Occlumancy," Dumbledore said once McGonnagal had left. Ron had sat in one of the Headmaster's armchairs, face pale. Harry might have joined him had the fact that the Headmaster not just suggested that he spend more time in Snape's presence. The Potion's Master didn't look particularly pleased with that idea either.

"That will be near impossible," Snape said with a sneer in Harry's direction. "The boy doesn't have the discipline for it." Harry went to protest when Dumbledore gave Snape a stern look.

"Nevertheless, you will teach him." There was a note of finality in Dumbledore's tone, a fact that Snape seemed aware of as he ground his teeth. He then sniffed, probably wishing to argue but not able to stand up to the Headmaster, the coward.

"Fine," Snape snapped, and Harry found himself being dragged out of the office so fast he wasn't sure exactly when they had left. Harry tried to ask what Snape was supposed to be teaching him, but it was like talking to a brick wall. The Potion's Master was moving at such a speed that they very nearly knocked Atem over when they reached the Entrance Hall, both he and a pale Bill half running towards the Headmaster's office. The prince did stop however, when he caught the look on Snape's face, as did Bill.

"What happened?" Atem asked, eyes narrowed. "Nofret said that Mr Weasley had been attacked." How did she get there, and they get back so fast? Harry wondered, hoping that they would put a stop to… whatever this was.

"Yes, he's been sent to St Mungo's already. An attack by Nagini," Snape said stiffly and Atem frowned, cocking his head to one side.

"Would they accept help from us? Snake bites are not such an uncommon occurrence for us, even those from magical ones." This was said with a glance towards Bill who looked oddly touched but slowly shook his head sadly.

"I doubt anyone will think of that, and besides it's the middle of the night. If you want, we can send word off in the morning?" Atem nodded in answer, face serious. It took Harry a moment to realise that the other boy had essentially just offered to take care of Mr Weasley better than the best healers in Britain. Then again, they did live in a country with far more deadly snakes than those that exist in Britain.

"So, what does Dumbledore want with Harry?" Atem then asked.

"He wants Harry to learn Occlumancy." Bill let out a half-dignified snort of laughter before quickly covering it up with a cough. Atem merely raised an eyebrow, both clearly knowing what Occlumancy was. That they didn't seem to believe him capable either was rather insulting.

"Sorry, but that… That sounds like a terrible idea," Bill said with a faint embarrassed blush. "It's nothing against you Harry but… you don't exactly fit the state of mind needed for Occlumancy." He paused and suddenly looked him over with an oddly critical eye. "Especially not tonight."

"What would Harry need to learn Occlumancy for?" Atem asked, ignoring that comment, despite Harry desperately wanting to know what Bill meant.

"Because he was the one to sound the alarm about what happened to Arthur Weasley," Snape said shortly. Silence fell once again, and Harry had had enough.

"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" he asked, attempting to tear his arm out of the Potion Master's grip. Weirdly, he couldn't even get it to loosen. Atem blinked, startled.

"Occlumancy is a way to defend your mind," Bill explained, looking surprised. "Snape's one of the best Occlumens in the world, so you won't find a better teacher but…" Once again Bill paused, looking mildly frustrated. "Harry, Occlumancy takes great skill and discipline to control your thoughts and create a barrier against those who want in. And considering what you've just witnessed, hell what you've had to witness these past few years… well, unless you're doing it naturally it's very unlikely that you'll be able to master it any time this decade." Harry blinked, still vaguely confused, but Atem clearly was not.

"Isn't there anything else that you can do?" Snape shook his head.

"Not with Latin magic." Harry blinked. What on earth were they talking about now? Whatever it was, no one seemed content to let him in on it as Atem merely sighed nodding.

"Bill… Go spend time with your family. Your mother will need you," he said quietly, and Bill nodded, leaving quickly. Atem then turned back to Snape. "Meet us in your office in the evening, Saturday. I might have a way to rid Harry of this, if it's what I think it is."

"If it's Horcrux related, you would be right." Harry didn't know what a Horcrux was but going by the expression on Atem's face he didn't want to find out.

"Very well. Saturday." And with that, he was gone.

Ah, Dumbledore getting his comeuppance. This is what happens when you try to manipulate those who see right through you. In fact, writing Yami vs Dumbledore was great fun because no one ever calls Dumbledore out on his shit except, maybe, Snape about once. And that's only when he realises that Dumbledore has only been protecting Harry so that he can 'die at the proper moment'. At which point, I would be angry too. By the way, I am aware that Snape, at this point in time, doesn't technically know that Harry is a Horcrux in the HP canon, but I've tweaked it here for my own purposes. Just in case anyone was confused at the end and wondering how Snape knows this when Dumbledore only tells him after he's been cursed by the Marvolo ring.

Hi, Harry and your entitlement. Not getting you very far is it? He gets less frustrating later, I promise, but at this moment he's still demanding answers he doesn't deserve and pointing fingers where they don't belong. This is just a very rude awakening that he can't actually get away with everything that he wants to, because Dumbledore can't protect him and therefore lies the blame anywhere except on himself. It's kind of laughable that he thinks that everything going wrong is from Yami's influence when all Yami is doing is forcing Dumbledore to act within the school's own standards. Honestly, we needed someone to do this a couple decades earlier when Sirius somehow finds himself not expelled after deliberately trying to kill another student.

As for Occlumancy, I find it curious why people have Harry mastering it in other works. In certain situations, I would understand but here... no. The least likely time that Harry is going to master Occlumancy is Fifth through to Seventh Year. He's still pretty messed up from witnessing Cedric's death, he's just woken from a nightmare that turns out was real and is being demonised left right and centre by the Ministry. With all that going on, it's highly unlikely that canon Harry would ever be able to give the right kind of focus we know Occlumancy requires and pretty much impossible to do it in his sleep. That Dumbledore even suggests this makes me think that he knew it was doomed to failure and just didn't care. Much like how he somehow didn't notice that there was an imposter the year before when even Snape notices the ingredients for Polyjuice Potion goes missing.

But that's enough of my ranting. I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'll be back with the next instalment on 11th April!

Az-Bebere: Thank you and man I would hate to see what would have happened had the Ring Spirit caught them! We're getting to Atem and Harry, as you may have seen with this chapter, although that will have to wait til next time. And I hope you enjoyed Yami vs Dumbledore in this chapter. It was almost as fun as Atem vs Umbridge!

Fireking492: Don't worry, I don't expect reviews so I'm glad that you take the time to do so on every chapter! Hopefully, you won't have any problems with this chapter, only just added it. And good luck with your stories, you seem to be more on top of them than I am with mine! XD