Author Note: Yargh. I'm having a real bad week. But its finally starting to look up so I decided to do another chapter for this. I want to say thank you to everyone who reviewed. You guys really make my day. It really helps to know that you guys like this. I appreciate all comments. Thanks alot you guys. Here's hopin' that you like this chapter and the rest of the fic. Don't forget to feed the Author! Review! Also, Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Or Harry Potter. Still more spoilers for Half-blood Prince.
Domino, Japan.
"No change what so ever?" A young girl in her late teens asked as she stood next to her friend who was lying pale and unconscious in a large white hospital bed. The Doctor shook his head sadly as he watched tears gather in the teens crystal blue eyes.
He marked several spots on the boys chart and quietly made his way towards the door.
"You know, sometimes it helps to talk to them. At least then he won't be alone, eh?" The Doctor said softly to the troubled girl. He then left the room to finish his rounds.
When she was sure that the doctor was gone the brunette pulled a chair close to the bed where her friend lay peacefully. She silently thanked Kaiba Seto for getting a private room. It was probably his way of saying he cared and was worried too. And she couldn't forget that it was he who was paying for Mouto Yuugi's hospital stay.
The girl's thoughts continued to drift until they recalled what had happened almost exactly eight days ago...
Flashback
"...Anzu? Anzu!" Yuugi shouted, reaching up and over to tug on the ear of the girl beside him.
"Wha? Ow, Yuugi!" Anzu scowled at the short young man beside her causing him to giggle slightly. Her scowl turned into a glare which resulted in laughter from everyone around her. When they all finally quieted down, the one who had started everything by pulling on Anzu's ear apologized.
"Sorry Anzu, but someone had to pull you back to reality" Yuugi said, a large grin still on his face while amethyst eyes sparkled with mischief.
"So?" Jounouchi asked, turning everyone back to what they had been talking about before Yuugi and Anzu sidetracked them.
"So, what? I was off in La-La Land remember?" Anzu replied and took a sip of her peach smoothie.
"Right, well me'n Honda were just say'n ain't it a little weird how nothin' weird has happened lately, eh Anzu?" Jounouchi said, repeating what had been said earlier. Anzu stopped drinking her smoothie and blinked as she tried to recall the last time something strange had happened to Yuugi and unintentionally his friends.
"Man, it has been a while hasn't it? You better knock on wood!" Anzu stated making Jounouchi and Honda chuckle.
"Right Anzu. That's just superstitious nonsense." Honda said through his chuckles. Even Yuugi was smiling about it.
"Don't worry Anzu. It's really great not having anyone trying to steal the puzzle" Yuugi said softly, a small precious smile on his face as he rested his hand on the gold pyramid hanging from his neck. The Millenium Puzzle glowed gently and when Yuugi looked back up, his eyes were crimson. Yami was out.
"The peace is nice, but I can't help but feel as if-" Yami started, but halted when he started to choke. His eyes were wide as he pitched forward.
"Yami!" Anzu screamed and grabbed her friend before he was acquainted with the pavement. Yami struggled in her grasp, grabbing at his chest he screamed as he was struck with the most horrible pain he could remember.
(Yami!) Yuugi called out worriedly, his voice tinged with pain and panic. The next scream was a mental one, ripped from Yuugi spirit like form.
Dimly, Yami thought he heard someone shouting something about an ambulance...
"Aibou..." Yami called out, eyes still wide with pain and face still chalk white as unconsciousness claimed him.
End Flashback
Anzu had held him, waiting for the ambulance to come and had refused to leave his sight.
Anzu sighed and held Yami's hand. Everyone was so worried, Sugoroku was falling to pieces. There was no explanation for what had happened to Yami or Yuugi. The strangest thing was that Yami was still in control of the body. She didn't know that they could do that, but then again she didn't know very much about Yami or what he could do. Not that Yami knew much more than her. And to top everything off, the Ishtar's would be arriving soon to see if there was anything that they could do.
'It wouldn't be very good for them if their Pharaoh never woke up, would it?" Anzu thought bitterly.
A knock on the door snapped her out of her darkening thoughts. The door opened slightly and a familiar head of platinum blonde hair peaked in, just as Anzu turned around.
"Hey Malik" Anzu said, a small tired smile on her face as Ishtar Malik, Ishtar Isis, and Rashid made their way into the medium sized hospital room.
"Hi Anzu. Any change?" Malik asked hopefully, moving to stand next to the metal hospital bed which held the body of the Pharaoh re-incarnated. Anzu shook her head and squeezed the hand that she was holding.
Isis moved to the foot of the bed and gazed down at the pale form of her Pharaoh.
"He is trapped" A deep voice from the shadows of the corner of the room.
Rashid silently took a step toward the centre of the room, ready to defend the Pharaoh and his family.
A dark skinned man in white robes and a turban stepped out into the meager light of the room.
"Shadi" Isis said, nodding her head and taking a step to the side to allow Shadi room at the bedside. Shadi made no noise as he strode across the room to take a place beside the Pharaoh's bed. Isis looked at Shadi to see what he would do. Perhaps something to do with what he had said?
"There is nothing any of you can do. The Pharaoh is trapped within his own mind, locked there with a magic not even the Millenium Ankh can break. Only he can free himself." Shadi said as he looked down at the immobile Pharaoh and turned to leave.
"Wait! What do you mean he's trapped?" Anzu asked, letting go of Yami's hand and rising from her seat. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Was there nothing they could do?
"He must do this himself. He needs to realize that he is strong" Shadi said softly before he left the same way that he had mysteriously come.
Anzu looked down at the frail looking young man on the bed and wondered how he could not know how strong he was. Anzu's heart froze fearfully when she realized that during the small time that Shadi had been with them no one had said anything about the bodies original owner: Yuugi.
Severus Snape scowled deeply as he followed Albus Dumbledor up to the Infirmary. He had returned from his small home on Spinner's End after his encounter with Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix LeStrange that ended with him taking the Unbreakable Vow. Snape scowled again as he recalled what Dumbledor had asked of him upon his return just this morning.
And now he was being led towards the fruit of one of the Ministry's most foolish endeavors. They were lucky that the boy was still alive, not to mention thanking whatever greater being they believed in that the ex-Minister, Cornelius Fudge was still alive. The high death rate of the summoner or summoners and whatever or whoever was being summoned was one of the reasons that the Dark Lord didn't try and summon a creature of darkness and evil to bind and command.
"Severus" Dumbledor said, pausing midway up the last set of stairs to the Medi-Wing. Snape pulled himself out of his thoughts to look up at the Headmaster to acknowledge him. Albus Dumbledor had a serious look on his face and despite his twinkling eyes, Snape knew that whatever Dumbledor was going to ask of him would be unpleasant.
"No" Snape said before Dumbledor had a chance to ask him and make him cave in. Dumbledor smiled, his serious look disappearing and making Snape edgy.
"Alas then. I shall have to find a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor instead of a new Potions Master." Dumbledor said, his eyes twinkling like stars. Snape frowned, trying to figure out what in Merlin's name Dumbledor was talking about. Why would he ever need another Potions Professor...unless...
"You are a skilled Professor Severus, but not even you can be in two places at once. At least not anymore" Dumbledor said, his smile growing ever more mischievous. Snape's eyes widened as he realized what Dumbledor was saying.
"Sir, I..." Snape's eyes narrowed, why was he doing this? How would it benefit Dumbledor if Snape became the DADA Professor?
"You see Severus, I like you cannot be in two places at once. Unavoidable circumstances have lead to me having to make and unpleasant decision , unless of course you are willing to help?" Dumbledor prompted, stroking his long white beard with his good hand.
"What would you have me do?" Snape sighed in defeat. 'What the bloody hell do you think you are doing! He hasn't even told you what he wants! He's manipulating you!' Inner Snape screamed defiantly in a very un-Snape and un-Slytherin like manner.
Dumbledor's look turned serious again and had Snape wondering if he should perhaps start listening to that little voice inside his head.
"Later tonight the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour and two Ministry officials will be arriving to question and study the boy. They will more than likely try to take the boy. I need you to make sure that they don't. I will be back early tomorrow morning" Dumbledor said and finally continued up the stairs.
Snape followed mechanically, his mind a whirl with thoughts on what Dumbledor had asked of him. How on earth was he supposed to do that? And why was it so important that the boy stay at Hogwarts? It's not like...right. Weapon against the Dark Lord, Dark Lord bad. Ministry stupid, let weapon fall in the Dark Lord's hands. 'Duh' Inner Snape snorted. Really, he had figured that out when the summoning had worked and ended with no casualties.
SLAM!
"Oof!" Snape gasped as something barreled into him, knocking him to the ground. Snape opened his eyes, glaring at whoever dared run into him. A strangely dressed boy who looked like he belonged with the third years was sprawled on the floor. The boy winced as he sat up but quickly sprang up to hide himself behind Dumbledor, though not before Snape got a good look at him. Pale skin, violet eyes, spikey red, black and blonde hair. Skinny, short and wearing dark blue leather with leather buckles, a collar and several spiked bracelets. Oh, and a large hunk of gold that looked horribly tacky but somehow managed not to with the rest of the outfit.
Not a minute later, a set of infirmary pajama's flew out of the open door. Madam Pomfrey was right behind the pajama's.
"Where is he?" Pomfrey demanded, hands on her hips and hair in a disaray. All in all the poor woman looked rather frazzled, Snape thought as he got up slowly.
"Who?" Snape asked, though he was fairly sure there wasn't anyone else in the school.
"The boy! Yuugi get over here this instant!" Madam Pomfrey hollered her normally infinite patience pulled thin by this one boy.
Dumbledor wisely stepped aside, revealing the wide-eyed boy.
"Eep!" Yuugi squeaked as he realized that his cover had moved. He went to try and hide behind Dumbledor again.
"Boy, you will wear these! I will not have you trapezing about in my Infirmary in leather!" Madam Pomfrey fumed. Stupid language barrier! Why couldn't the boy just speak English like a sensible person?
"Iie!" Yuugi said firmly and held onto his precious leather pants and shirt. Despite the different language, Dumbledor and Pomfrey worked with children constantly. A defiant child was a defiant shild no matter the language. Snape, however didn't need his experience as a Professor to tell him what the boy had said. The boy had said 'no', but he had said it in Japanese. A language that Snape was thankfully(or unthankfully, depending upon whom you asked) fluent in.
"Enough boy, wear the blasted things" Snape said, making the boy freeze and stare at him.
"You...you speak Japanese? Thank Ra!" Yuugi exclaimed joyfully and relaxed slightly, glad that there was someone he could understand.
Snape raised an eyebrow as he ran over what the boy had said. If the boy was Japanese, why was he thanking an Egyptian God?
"Excellent Severus! This is wonderful. I shall leave you to get acquainted with the boy. I really must be off" Dumbledor said, smiling, he placed a hand on Yuugi's shoulder. Yuugi tensed slightly at being touched by a stranger but calmed. He felt that there was something about this man that he could trust.
"Don't worry child, we'll get this sorted out" Dumbledor said to the boy and quietly left via the stairs, which promptly switched once Dumbledor was on them.
"You can understand him Severus, you can deal with him! He's perfectly healthy, all he needs is a good meal and sleep. Its far to late for such a young boy to be up!" Pomfrey said all in one huff before she turned her back on the two of them. "Haven't had so much trouble since the Weasley twins" she muttered and walked back into the Infirmary and closed the doors behind her.
Yuugi watched all of this confusedly. What was going on? As Yuugi pondered, Snape mentally cursed. Had someone decided it was make Snape miserable week? 'Why, why me?' Inner Snape wept dramatically, and pulled at his hair.
"Follow me" Snape said and turned to go.
"Um, Sir? The stairs haven't come back yet..." Yuugi pointed out, moving closer to the only person he could speak to.
Snape cursed under his breath. What the hell was wrong with the school? The stairs never did this. There was always at least one flight of stairs to each floor. Was the school trying to trap them in the Infirmary? Snape sparred a glance at the boy beside him who was currently looking around in fascination.
Somehow, Snape had the feeling it was going to be a long summer.