Gotc: Oooookay….So I'm guessing there are more than a few people out there who are upset with me for the cliffe?
Ace: What tipped you off? The angry reviews or the mob outside your window?
Gotc: I could always use you as a human shield.
Ace: They're not mad at me.
Gotc: Yet….
Ace: What do you mean "yet"? WHAT DID YOU DO-
Gotc: Alrighty! While he rants, lets roll on with our disclaimer! Squeaky!
Squeaky: Squeak! (HAHAHAHA! I can't believe she actually did that! Anyway, no ownage of HP or YGO here. Look somewhere else to steal it.)
Ace: Is someone going to tell me what's going on, preferably before it hits me in the face like a dead fish?
Gotc: Nope, simply because that particular mental image amuses me greatly. Instead we shall go on to the fic! Enjoy!
Harry Potter and the Order of the Rising Dragon
CHAPTER 10: Conflicting Magics
Yugi stopped dead in the aisle they had just run around, trying to focus on the words that had just come through his link. In his mind's eye, he could see the usually confident Pharaoh standing in the threshold of his soul room staring off into space with a look of total loss on his face. Yugi looked at him, not sure how to ask the question to a man who had no memory of his life until three years ago.
/Are….you sure?/ Yugi asked tentatively, looking over his shoulder as if the man was still there for scrutiny, /He's not just someone we might have dueled? A fan in the crowd?/
/No offence aibou,/ Yami said with a uneasy chuckle, /But that man didn't exactly look like he was our biggest fan…No…It's…different, somehow./
"Yugi!" Ryou hissed, from the other end of the aisle, "Come on!"
((What do you think has the Pharaoh's mini-me so frazzled?))
(At the moment, Bakura? I don't care.) Ryou said flatly, (I just want to put as much space between us and that guy as possible.)
((What's your rush Yandoushi?)) Bakura scoffed, ((He asked us to leave, we did. He's got no reason to come after us.))
(You don't seriously think that whatever he was looking at on that table was important at all? I find it hard to believe that you didn't get rough with a few innocent people just because they stumbled onto the plans for your next heist.)
(( Different era. Besides, not one book on that table was from the same country, half of them not even written in the same century. Greek, Sumerian, Chinese. My guess, he's some crazy, wash-out professor re-living the glory days of when he was a young archeologist, and morning the treasure he never found.))
(Where did you learn to read all of those languages?)
((The Pharaoh isn't the only one with a complex background you know….))
Ryou rolled his eyes, and called to Yugi again, this time catching the teen's attention. Ryou watched Yugi cast one last glance back over his shoulder, before finally trotting up to rejoin his friend.
"What happened back there?" Ryou asked, as they broke back out into the busier section of the store, "You kind of spaced."
"Yeah well…" Yugi hesitated, "It's….well….weird."
"Yugi," Ryou sighed, "We both have a 3,000 year old artifacts from one of the darkest times in Egypt's history. We both have been to a realm where duel monsters come to life, and magic can steal peoples souls from their body. And do I even need to mention the fact that you have the spirit of a Pharaoh inside your head, while the Tomb Robber in mine has sworn to eventually kill him? What in Ra's name could have just happened that is weirder than anything else that goes on in our daily lives?"
"Ok…" Yugi admitted, "I meant weird for us."
"Well?" Ryou asked.
"Yami…." Yugi hesitated, "He thinks he's seen that guy before."
"So?" Ryou said puzzled, "Maybe he has. It's not like you guys have never left Domino before. Even I get fan letters from the Battle City footage."
"No you don't understand," Yugi tried to explain, "He remembers him."
Ryou's eyes widened as Yugi's words sank in. He muttered something unintelligible, trying to block out the shouting going on in the back of his head.
((WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'HE REMEMBERS"?)) Bakura bellowed at the Pharaoh
/Exactly what I say Thief!/ Yami shouted back.
((It's impossible! The spell that bound your name also wiped your memories!)) Bakura tried to rationalize, ((It's not like you hit your head and one day everything comes back to you!))
/Work on your listening skills Thief,/ Yami growled, massaging his temples, /I said I remembered him, not who he is, or how I know him. Remember isn't exactly the word for it even. He's just….familiar somehow. And why do you care anyway?/
((I care,)) Bakura spat, ((Because the same magic that binds your name and memories also binds the ruler of the shadows to the Shadow Realm. If one begins to decay, so does the other. Which in case you have a hard time comprehending that, it's not a good thing….for you at least.))
Yugi and Ryou exchanged uneasy glances at one another, each hoping their respective yamis didn't try to kill each other before they could figure out what exactly was going on.
/Bakura?/ Yugi mused, /What if the magic isn't decaying? What if some other magic is interfering with it? Remember the Oricalcos? Besides, we have kinda been in and around plenty of strange magic lately./
((Nothing potent enough to break through hat kind of sealing spell,)) Bakura shook his head, ((The Oricalcos' magic was almost as old as time itself. There's not much that wouldn't have been affected by it. Besides, anything strong enough to start unraveling that spell, intentional or otherwise, has bad news written all over it anyway.))
"Great…." Yugi moaned rubbing his head. In the space of a week, his entire life had been turned upside down, and now the one person the thought he could count on for some stability was going through a major crisis of his own, "We'll it's not like we don't know the whole 'Look out for the maniac who wants to take over the world' routine."
"True," Ryou sighed in agreement, "I guess we should try to find Malik and Kaiba."
Before they could start to look for their friends, Kaiba found them. The CEO was carrying a large stack of books, and had several bulging out of a bag slung across his shoulders. Both eyes were blazing furiously, as he literally slammed the massive stack down onto the nearest table.
"Where in the hell have you been?!" Kaiba shouted, barely audible above the din of the crown behind him, "Do you have any idea how fast this place is selling out of these books?! Some lady almost hit me in the head with this glowing yellow rock to get these!"
"Sorry Kaiba!" Yugi apologized, "We got sidetracked and- Wait, did you buy our books too?"
"Yes, and these were the last ones until Monday," Kaiba said with a satisfied smirk.
"But….That's not like you to do something nice," Ryou said confused.
"True," Kaiba agreed, "But every good businessman knows where there's good opportunity."
"So what do you want?"
"Double what I paid."
"WHAT?!"
"Take it or leave it, because these are the last ones in the store."
Yugi and Ryou looked at Kaiba with a dumbfounded look, but realized they were in no position to be arguing with him, since they did need the books. Both quietly shelled out the money into Kaiba's waiting hand, while Bakura laughed all the while, much to Ryou's annoyance.
((Well, well!)) The former Thief chuckled, ((The Priest makes a pretty good thief himself, wouldn't you say Host?))
(Shut up Bakura…)
Kaiba quickly counted the money and dropped the coins into his satchel, and handed the two their books with a triumphant grin on his face. He went to pick the rest of the stack up, when he realized there were more books left than he should have.
"Wait," Kaiba said turning back to the others, "Where's the other mental ward patient?"
"Malik?" Yugi said, "Well I thought he was with you. You two were talking when we came into the store."
"Yeah, but then he vanished," Kaiba growled looking around the store, "I thought he went with you two!"
"Aww….You guys do care!" Malik's voice cut in
Everyone turned with a start to see Malik grinning like a Cheshire cat, and laughing his head off at the scare he had just given his friends. A tangible wave of relief ran through the group, as Malik casually leaned against the table.
"And where have you been?" Kaiba asked, dolling out the books to the other two.
"Running a quick errand," Malik shrugged, "Nothing huge."
"Then what's in the bag?" Kaiba said pointing to the shabby sack hanging over the Tomb Keeper's shoulder.
"Like I said, it was a quick errand," Malik said, leaning over and snatching one stack of books off of the table, "Which is English for 'it's really none of your business'."
Kaiba was about to protest when the familiar form of Mrs. Weasley came bustling through the throng of people. It only took her two seconds despite how many people were packed into the bookstore for her to spot her charges, for obvious reasons. The group tended to stick out like sore thumbs, usually to their dismay, and today was no different. Malik threw a smug grin in Kaiba's direction as Mrs. Weasley caught up to them.
"Oh good! You boys already have your books!" She said checking the books in the boys' arms, "I was worried there might not be any left judging by how many people are in here! Well, why don't we head over to Olivander's and get you boys a wand? It will at least let these shops clear out a bit in the meantime."
All of them perked up at the idea of getting their own wands, but that didn't stop Kaiba from leveling a death glare at Malik as they all made their way out the door.
((You are going to tell me what you and your hikari found?))
[[You ever thought I wouldn't?]] Marik scoffed, feigning insult, [[I'll show you later when there aren't so many prying eyes about.]]
After the close-quarters of the book store, even the tiny wand shop felt enormous. The old dust and the musty sent of several kinds of wood was the first thing to assail their senses as the groups stepped inside the dimly lit store. Dusty shelves lined with boxes were hardly visibly through the grey film that seemed to cover every surface. But the wiry man with wild grey hair that seemingly materialized from around those same shelves completed the scene.
"Ah Mrs. Weasley, good to see you again." The old man said in a whispery voice, "How's you son's wand holding up?"
"Very well Mr. Olivander," Mrs. Weasley said pleasantly, before pulling Yugi in front of her, "But I'm actually here to get these boys set up with their first wands."
The old wandmaker said nothing, but did walk around the counter to get a better look at Yugi. He looked him over from head to toe with a gaze that seemed to go straight through to his very soul. And with Mrs. Weasley standing right behind him, there was no way to avoid his scrutiny. Then, Mr. Olivander abruptly turned around and hurried back to his shelves and immediately began to shuffle through the masses of boxes. At last he seemed to find the one he was looking for, and pulled it out of the dusty box.
"Here we are, Aspen 9 ¾ inches with a unicorn hair core," He said presenting the wand to Yugi, "Go on! Take it and give it a wave."
Yugi looked at the wand hesitantly, before grasping the waiting handle. Almost instantly he could feel the strange magic laying dormant within the wand in his hand. He gave the wand a little flick and sent an innocent teapot into the front window, barely missing Ryou's head.
"Sorry!" Yugi apologized, replacing the wand quickly.
"Not your fault dear boy!" Mr. Olivander said with a chuckle, "One rarely finds their wand on the first try! Here, try this one!"
After a half hour of destruction and nearly fifty wands, Yugi was beginning to feel a little discouraged. He had the fleeting urge to suggest that maybe the Millennium Puzzle had something to do with his difficulty to find a wand, but Mr. Olivander was insistent, so he said nothing.
"Hrrmmm…." Mr. Olivander said looking over Yugi again, "Perhaps I've been going about this the wrong way….yes…..perhaps that might work…."
Yugi looked at the others for some kind of clue as to what the old man might have meant, only to receive similar confused looks. When the old man did return, he carried an ornate wooden box, inlaid with thin lines of gold lettering that was nearly intelligible though the layers of ancient dust and grime. With a tender hand, the old wandmaker lifted the lid and pulled out the wand laying inside. He presented it to Yugi as if it were a precious gem. Yugi gingerly grasped the handle and felt the familiar surge of magic, but this time rather than the strange feeling he had gotten from the other wands, this one seemed to resonate within his very being.
/This magic is very old…/ Yami said quietly, appearing next to Yugi although still wearing a conflicted look on his face.
Yugi nodded despite himself, and took a firmer hold on the wand's end. He gave the wand a confident flick and a shower of golden sparks erupted from the wand's tip. Yugi could feel the magic roar to life, and only on a sudden impulse to hide the Puzzle did he keep the rest of the shop from seeing it shine brightly in harmony with this new magic. Mr. Olivander clapped his hands together in joy as the light from Yugi's wand died away.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" He said happily taking the wand back from Yugi and replacing it back in it's box before handing it back to him.
"What's in it?" Yugi asked, looking at the box in his hands.
"It's a Rowan wand, 10 inches and good and sturdy," Mr. Olivander said, "But it's core! Now that's the interesting part! Bennu feather and dragon heartstring, both with origins in Egypt. A blue phoenix and red dragon. Interesting indeed! Come on now, let's get to the next one."
Yugi still stood in mild shock as Ryou was pushed forward for the wandmaker's inspection. The old man's eyes lit up as soon as he saw Ryou and he went running to the back of his shop. Yugi caught the barest rolling of Ryou's eyes and could only guess what the Tomb Robber thought of the shopkeeper. In no time, he came back with another inlaid box.
"Now, let's see if you're like your friend…" He said opening the box, and motioned for Ryou to take the wand.
Ryou took the red and white wand from the old man, only to have it spark as Yugi's had almost as soon as his fist closed around the handle.
"How strange!" Olivander cried, dashing to the back for another set of boxes.
"Wait!" Ryou called after him, "What's in mine?"
"Alder, inflexable 11 inches with a unicorn hair and a crystallized boomslang venom core," Mr. Olivander said rushing back to the front with two more boxes in his arms, "Truly a wand of clashing magics! Here you two take these! Come on now!"
The same result happened as soon as skin brushed against the smooth polished wood. The sparks from the two wands nearly scorched the hair off of the old wandmaker's head.
"Oh forgive me! Lad," He said pointing to Malik, "Your wand, dogwood, 10 ¾ inches, supple with a Demiguise hair and a golden dragon heartstring core. And you! Kaya wood, 12 inches, rigid with a hippogrif feather and a white dragon heartstring. Magnificent!"
"And how much is this going to cost us?" Kaiba asked, nonchalantly stuffing the wand into his bag.
"Nothing at all!" Mr. Olivander said still bustling excitedly around his shop, "Seeing those wands bond to wizards! I never thought I'd live to see the day!"
"Why Mr. Olivander! Are you sure?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed
"Quite, quite! Now go on! I'm sure you still have much to do!" Olivander said almost shooing them out of his store, "And thank you!"
[[Anyone else find that odd?]] Marik said after the door had shut behind them.
((The old man must have hit his head too hard on one of those shelves)) Bakura dismissed it as they continued down the busy street.
/And you're going to tell me that neither of you felt that magic? How potent it was? Or the fact that the 'red and golden dragon heartstrings' sound suspiciously like Slifer and Ra?/ Yami put in.
((You're seeing people that you think existed 3000 years ago. I don't think your mentally competent enough to make that assumption.))
[[Much as I hate to admit it Thief,]] Marik said, [[The Pharaoh does have a point. How many red and gold dragons do we know of? Besides, the old man was acting strange as well.]]
((Fine, so one crazy old man has a couple of old wands that are possibly connected to Egypt.)) Bakura shrugged, ((Coincidences do occasionally happen.))
/Not to us Thief. Not to us./
Neither spirit or hikari noticed the old man's gaze following them through the dusty window, until they were lost once more in the sea of people.
Gotc: Sorry everyone. I was grounded and had meh lappy taken away for two weeks, hence the delay in this chappie. Sorry….. Anyway I do have some good news for you all! Next chapter, prepare to board the train, cause we're going to Hogwarts! And I promise, this next chapter won't take so long to get up. By the way, remember to review, especially cause I'd like to hear what you think the significance of each wand our heroes received might be! See ya soon!