FOR ALL NEW READERS: THIS STORY IS BEING REVISED!!!

EVERY CHAPTER WITH A DATE AND BOLDED AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE TOP IS A NEW CHAPTER. PLEASE BE PATIENT AND WAIT AS I UPDATE, AND READ MY AUTHOR'S NOTES!! Thank you.

SOME NOTES FOR NEW READERS: When I first wrote this, Ceribi was a professor as well, and going out with Ryou. THIS HAS CHANGED! I'd suggest not reading ahead, things are drastically different now.

10-16-07: I started this over a month ago. I sorry – but school's started, and it took FOREVER to find information on tarot in order to write a scene in this chapter. ONE SCENE!! THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T UPDATED – ONE! (sighs) In any case, Compy's contest, school/homework, and crew have eaten my life. So… yeah. Sorry about that folks.

Telepathy:

((Yamis))

/Hikaris/

Disclaimer: Hikari Daeron does not own Yu-Gi-Oh! (Kazuki Takahashi) or Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling). The characters Hikari Daeron, Altáriël Daeron and Ceribi Motou are all original characters by Hikari Daeron. Also, The Abridged Series is forevermore Little Kuriboh's. I just like to quote it.

Chapter Five: A Feeling Of Doom
New Professors, New Adventures

The Burrow, Outskirts of Ottery St. Catchpole, England

"Hm… about twenty cups of sugar, two dozen eggs… la, la, la, spin clockwise and then counter, shift in like five pounds of flour… hum."

Marik Ishtar was in the kitchen. As this could never lead to favorable conclusions, he had requested that Mrs. Weasley leave a recipe for him to attempt. Thinking him a sweet and polite young man, she had acquired with a smile.

Mistake.

"This recipe has far too many complicated steps!" concluded the Egyptian. "Hey, Ryou!" he shouted down the hall. "You're good at cooking, right?"

Ryou poked his head into the kitchen, before blanching. "Yes, but I'm not going to help you out of this predicament, Marik Ishtar. Have Kaiba help you."

"Kaiba?!" Marik wasn't that desperate. "Please. He can't cook!"

"According to his family, he can."

"Psh." Marik waved a floury hand. "Please. Families always stick up for fellow members. The only exception to this rule is Ishizu."

Ryou laughed. "Marik, you know your sister loves you."

"Loves?! Loves?! She tortures me!" Marik backhanded his forehead, flour falling into his eyes. He blinked rapidly. Eyeing a laughing Ryou, he said, "Okay, fine. Since you're obviously not going to help, send Kaiba in."

Ryou smirked. Damn, Marik thought, Bakura's rubbing off on him. "I can try."

A few minutes later, just as Marik was attempting to pry open the top of a jar of cocoa powder, Seto Kaiba entered the room. He eyed Marik critically before washing his hands, snatching away the jar, and deftly twisting it off. Marik stared at him in amazing.

"How the hell did you get that open?! I was trying for like three hours!"

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "I'm sure, Ishtar." He glanced at the recipe before measuring out the needed amount of powder – which, incidentally, was not fifteen cups, but two.

"How the hell did Ryou convince you to help, anyway?" said Marik, taking some eggs out of a basket on the counter.

The taller man snatched the eggs out of his hands and started to separate white from yolk. "Ryou didn't; Mokuba did."

Marik laughed. "Oh. that explains it." He watched as Kaiba beat the whites and then carefully added them into the bowl. "This is taking far too long!" the blonde concluded. "Thanks for your help, Kaiba, but I think this is where magic steps in."

"Oh no you – "

POOF.

Marik coughed and waved a hand until the dust settled. He had sent out a blast of Shadow magic to mix the contents of the bowl, but instead, most of the mixture ended up in the air. "… Kaiba?" he asked nervously.

When the dust cleared, Marik saw one very much annoyed Seto Kaiba covered from head to very-low toe in the flour-sugar-cocoa mixture, one hand holding an egg, the other a whisk, with his hair covered in yolk and topped with the bowl.

What did Marik do? The obvious, of course. He broke into laughter and ran for his life.

Harry was sitting on his bed and looking through Ron's deck. Although he had been skeptical at first, he soon found Duel Monsters so-very fascinating. It wasn't just a bunch of cards to him anymore. Suddenly, he found that monsters were almost alive. Staring at the cards, he noticed very-much human characteristics. For instance, on Panther Warrior – one of Ron's prized cards – he couldn't help but notice how, for instance, its growl had the slightest hint of a smirk, or how its eyes were so aware. The cards seemed to have a heartbeat of their own, and if he just reached out…

Someone cleared his throat.

Harry jumped in surprised, snapping out of his thoughts. Dismayed, he noticed that he had scattered Ron's deck across the ground. He bent to hastily retrieve the fallen cards. As he reached for one, slender fingers plucked it from the ground before him. He glanced up and was embarrassed to see Yugi Motou, bent on the ground next to him.

"Panther Lady, 1400 attack points, 1300 defense, level four," said his professor softly. He handed the card to Harry. "By offering her as a tribute, you can place one of your monsters destroyed in battle that turn on the top of your deck. A very stable card. Is she yours?"

Harry blushed. "N-no. I don't have a deck yet, this is Ron's."

Yugi watched the boy quietly as he put away the cards. "Would you like your own?"

"Sorry?"

"Harry, I'm… let's say, moderately good at Duel Monsters." Yami snorted from his soul room. His hikari ignored him. "Would you like to build your own deck? I have plenty of extra cards."

Harry stared at the duelist, his pulse quickening. Yugi Motou was offering to help him build a deck! Yugi Motou! The King of Games!

"Y-you don't have to," stammered Harry, unable to believe the scene that was unfolding.

"Nonsense," said Yugi, beckoning. "I insist."

Harry followed him out of the room, amazed that he was about to build a deck with Yugi Motou.

Meanwhile…

(("Moderately good" my foot, Aibou.))

/Oh hush./

((Well, in any case, it's an interesting offer. I take it that you, too, sensed that he was trying to get in touch with the Heart of the Cards?))

/I did. I admit, I didn't think any of these wizards would be able to use the Shadows, or sense them… but Harry seems uniquely aware that Duel Monsters is no ordinary game./

((How do you plan to help him with his deck?))

Yugi smiled. /That's where you come in, O Wise Pharaoh. How would you like to test Harry's Shadow abilities?/

Yami paused, his own ideas formulating and connecting to Yugi's. As Yugi entered the room he was sharing with Ryou, Yami grinned. ((I like it, Aibou.))

/Excellent. I'll let you take over, then./

"So, Harry," said Yami pleasantly, as the teen entered the room tentatively. "How long have you been playing Duel Monsters?"

Harry blushed. "Truthfully? About a week and a half…"

Yami laughed. That was when he and Ryou had first arrived at the Burrow. "I see. But you seem to hold a great fascination and respect for the cards?"

Harry glanced up to see his professor eyeing him quizzically. He looked away. "Fascination, yes, but how can you respect a game…?" he mumbled. It was silly, but Harry knew that he did respect the cards, and the game.

Former Pharaoh raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "Now Harry, I want you to try something for me. It might seem silly to you, but I think it's the best way to determine what kind of deck you should make." Harry nodded. This was the King of Games, after all.

Yami opened Yugi's suitcase, ruffled around for a bit, and then picked up a box. He flipped open the lid and took out several cards. He placed them before Harry face down. "I want you to close your eyes and pick up the card that calls to you," he said seriously. "I know it sounds odd, but please, I think it'll make more sense once you try."

Harry nodded slowly, and then closed his eyes.

His professor extended a hand, and the Shadows crept around the room. The door was shut, and Shadows danced around Harry, the cards, and Yami. Shadow master perched on the edge of the bed, poised, ready for any action. Meanwhile, he watched Harry's reaction.

Harry felt suddenly… cold. It was as if someone swept the sunlight and warmth away. He tried to open his eyes, but found that he could not. Panicking, he considered blindly running away, when a soothing voice entered his consciousness. Relax, Harry. Embrace the silence. Let it wash over you, and listen to the cards.

His breathing started to slow. Harry's shoulders, momentarily tense, dropped. The silence wasn't deafening. But… maybe because there wasn't silence. In the midst of the nothingness, he heard a call. A bird, maybe? Yet it sounded deeper, more like a roar…

An image started to form in Harry's mind. Magnificent silver and bronze wings shone in his vision. A long, powerful tail flicked in and out as Harry stared at a great silver orb. Suddenly, sharp claws and then legs extended from the globe, and then the creature unfurled itself. Its head was of a falcon, large and imposing, its eyes powerful and perceptive. Its wings beat powerfully, sending blast of air whipping Harry's hair and clothes. And oddly enough, it seemed to… to glow, with a brilliance that could match the sun itself.

Slowly, its wings beat slower and slower, until it landed – surprisingly softly – near Harry. Tentatively, he raised a hand.

The bird… dragon… whatever it was came forward. Closer, Harry realized just how big it was. It was at least the size of the Burrow, maybe larger. And yet… he was not afraid. He felt an extremely powerful bond and kinship to the beast. When it was close enough for him to touch, he gently placed a hand on its beak – as it had lowered its head. He stroked it, and a soft, musical note was uttered by the monster spirit.

Harry opened his eyes. In his hand there was a card entitled Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV 6.

He stared. The LV series were rare, and difficult to master. Horus LV 6 was not only extremely rare, but also extremely powerful…

He looked at Yami, wide-eyed. Pharaoh looked back and smiled. "It appears," he said calmly, "that this particular Horus has chosen you for his master."

"Okay… tell me about Hogwarts."

"Oh?" said Ginny, looking up from a magazine she was reading. "Suddenly nervous about your new school, Mokie?"

"Don't call me that," said Mokuba without a blink. "I'm not nervous, just curious. What's it like?"

Ginny rolled over and sat up. "Well," she said, reaching for her wand and a piece of parchment, "it's a giant castle, and looks perfectly ordinary from the outside."

Hermione glanced over at what the redhead was doing with her wand. "Wow, I've never actually seen anyone draw with magic before," she said, appreciatively, watching as Ginny flicked her wand in different directions, murmuring under her breath. On the parchment, a drawing of Hogwarts was slowly forming, Forbidden Forest and all. When she was done, she levitated it to Mokuba, who picked it up and looked at it.

"Wow. Looks big."

"It's huge," said Harry idly. He was examining his new deck, getting to know the feel of each card. He reached into his back pocket and took out his wand. "Accio Marauder's Map!"

"Harry!" said Hermione, scandalized. "Don't tell me you're too lazy to go and get it yourself! You're not even seventeen yet!"

"Yeah, but in a house full of magic, nobody knows," said Ron, walking in with the map in one hand and a piece of toast in the other. He threw the map at Harry. "This nearly killed me on the way, it did."

"Sure, Ron," said Harry, grinning. "Gimme some of your toast."

Ron stuffed the remaining bits in his mouth. "Soay 'Arry," he said, chewing rapidly. "Ah finith et."

Harry grinned and then tossed Mokuba the Marauder's Map. "Hogwarts," he said, "is big. Really big. No one knows all its secrets." He motioned towards the parchment in Mokuba's hands. "My dad and his mates made that in their Third Year, and it's probably the only one of its kind. It shows all of Hogwarts, including the secret passageways and whatnot."

"Bloody useful," said Ron, sitting on the corner of one of the two beds in the room.

Mokuba stared at what he was holding. "Harry, I hate to disappoint you… but this is a piece of parchment. There's nothing on it."

Harry grinned. "Ron, care you to do the honours?"

"Be bloody well proud," said Ron. He pulled out his wand and stretched out so he reached the parchment. Tapping it, he said, "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

"Woah!" Mokuba gasped as the map came to life. "This thing is super special awesome! You say your dad made it? I am impressed. Visibly so."

The others laughed. "I'm glad you appreciate it," said Harry with a grin, and he and the others spent the rest of the afternoon reciting adventures at Hogwarts to Mokuba.

He stiffened, craning his neck and straining to hear an unheard noise, before relaxing. He wanted to roll his eyes at his jumpiness. He had done this dozens of times. Why suddenly nervous?

Bakura was in the broom shed in the Weasleys' backyard. He knew it was odd, but he had the oddest feeling and wanted to do this alone…

He exhaled deeply. The thief knew he was being paranoid. He slowed his breath before slowly opening the box before him, and taking out the wrapped parcel within.

Bakura… hadn't used this deck in a while. He was more adept with tarot than he was even with Duel Monsters. Sometimes it worried him, the use of such an unstable magic, but he generally brushed it out of his mind. He liked to tell himself that those were lingering doubts of Ryou's in his mind.

And yet, he couldn't deny the fact that something had worried him enough to bring out his strongest tarot deck – his Duel Monsters deck. That it made for the best tarot, he knew from experience. But it was dangerous, to mix Shadow magic with the Occult. He above all knew that. But… he was compelled.

Controlling his breathing, Bakura shuffled the cards, drawing out a thin line of the Shadows and willed it through the heart of his deck. He closed his eyes and tried to relax, but there was a nagging feeling…

Thirteen cards. Thirteen, the supposed unlucky number, was the spread he decided to use – the one of his own making, the one that he had been compelled to do on only the most disturbing of occasions. The cards were in a clock-like formation, with the last card in the center. The reading jumped from one side to the other –it started with the 12 o'clock position, then went from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock, jumping from side-to-side – and ended with the card in the center.

Bakura hesitated. He wanted to ask Ryou if he should go through with it, but he had blocked Ryou to do this in the first place. He feared that he wouldn't like the result.

Best not let the Pharaoh think I'm weak, he thought, rolling his eyes, before flipping the card in the 12 o'clock position: The Task.

Ah. Polymerization. It was a fusion, a joining of sorts. Standing upright, Bakura took it to mean that the current task was to accept and embrace the new form of magic being presented to him and those around him. This would entail taking on both its strengths and weaknesses. He reached for the next card then paused. It might also mean an addition to the little group we've formed… hmm… interesting.

He flipped the 11 o'clock card: The Focus.

The near-albino rolled his eyes upon reading the card that represented the main focus in the task: The Magician of Black Chaos. The ultimate fusion of dark and light, it was the card that he had chosen to represent the fusion of Yugi Motou and his yami. He studied the card for a moment, before placing it down slowly. The ritual background of the card meant, in the game, that it could only be summoned under certain circumstances. Did that mean Yami and Yugi held powers that hadn't yet been unleashed?

1 o'clock was The Assistant, which meant the person most able to help The Focus. Bakura was surprised to see the Unity magic card, as opposed to a single person. This meant that the people most involved with the Puzzle bearers' lives would be those helping. Usually, it was confined to one person or a dual-combination, but in this case… interesting.

10 o'clock's card revealed The Overall Problem: Call of the Haunted. While in Duel Monsters it was extremely useful, Bakura took it to mean that those with old grudges would come back – if you could call Voldemort's anger an "old grudge" – and that battle was not only possible, but inevitable. Huh. It usually has an ulterior meaning as well… Ah. The card was in the reverse position, which made its hidden meaning clear: though in Duel Monsters the monster summoned with Call of the Haunted was destroyed when the trap card was, reverse position meant that destroying this particular monster was not as easy as that. The card had brought it back, thus they had merged…

2 o'clock revealed Subtle Problems, and that proved to be Narrow Pass. Also a trap card, it depicted monsters attempting to get through a narrow passage. Bakura frowned. In the reverse position, it meant an unending flow of whatever that were simply jumbled together. But in the upright, as it was here… He stared at the card. Something in him was trying to tell him what it was, but for some reason, he was blocking that idea out…

He flipped the 9 o'clock card, which was Unexpected Person. In the reverse position, it meant that the person would cause harm or hinder the task. However, this was in the upright position: a positive card. Bakura stared at the card, but he could not figure out who it could be. After all, whose monster spirit was Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV 6?

The Unexpected Event card in the 3 o'clock position was Monster Reborn. Bakura nearly flinched. He felt ill just by looking at the card. Whatever – or whoever – is coming back isn't going to be pretty.

The 8 o'clock card was Problems in the Future. It was the Thunder of Ruler trap card in the reverse position. The creases in Bakura's forehead deepened. Upright, the card meant that whatever "enemy" in the task would be delayed, but in reverse it meant that his group would be paused. There will be a battle…

4 o'clock revealed Reoccurring Events: Bait Doll. A sacrifice… interesting. Someone in the past had sacrificed themselves, and their reincarnation – or someone different entirely – was going to do it again. He stroked his chin, wondering who the sacrifice was last time… and who it could be this time.

Bakura hesitated at the next card, which was 7 o'clock. It was the Role of the Reader/Person Asking. This meant the role he and Ryou had to play. Usually, he used the Change of Heart card to represent the two of them, so what would represent their role?

He flipped the card over… and started to laugh.

Graverobber, huh? I bet Ryou will be thrilled… After all, stealing on a request of someone – Probably Pharaoh. Who else would ask? – was not something Ryou Bakura enjoyed. Actually, stealing in general wasn't something he enjoyed …

The Role of the Assistant was the card in the position of 4 o'clock, and that revealed Yu-Jo Friendship. Of course. Bonding of the souls, thus helping of one another. Am I surprised? No, don't answer that, self. I already know the answer.

He knew it was not a good idea to start talking to himself, so Bakura flipped over the twelfth card in 6 o'clock: New Insights.

The white-haired thief rolled his eyes. Judgment of Pharaoh, Yu-Jo Friendship and Unity made for a powerful combination. This meant that should any of the Assistants be harmed while helping The Focus, he could stop at nothing to punish those who had inflicted the harm. In addition, The Focus became stronger through his Assistants.

Lame.

But now it was not time to kid around. The last card, in the center of the clock formation, was the Conclusion card of their particular task. Bakura calmed his breathing, and flipped it over.

In horror, he jumped up, knocking the table over. His eyes widened in alarm as his heart raced. He backed away from the floating card and into the wall. Bakura threw open the door next to him and ran for all he was worth.

Slowly, the card fluttered onto the ground, revealing a card in reverse position. It was Change of Heart.

Betrayal.

Author's Note: I know that last scene was confusing, but the tarot scenes are meant to be. There's a lot of foreshadowing in that part, by the way…