Chapter Three of Behind Bright Eyes
Disclaimer: In addition to not owing Yu-Gi-Oh! (Kazuki Takahashi) or Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling) or anything else copyrighted in this fic, Hikari and her alter-egos also don't own Marie Blackfelt or Wendi. Marie is owned by Random Person number three and Wendi is owned by Torina Archelda. Both have given her permission in using their OCs in this fic. Both also made up the age and the description, and Random Person number three also made up Marie Blackfelt's history. Random Person number three also owns Arina Arono. I also don't own the phrase "A word/phrase which here means." That's coined by Lemony Snicket.
Me: I know, don't tell me. Don't kill me. I know I haven't updated in – pause for quick calculation – nearly five months. Hear me out. September 6 first day of high school. I'm in a program called IB – international baccalaureate. It's the toughest program out there, and my school is the best in my state and one of the top 100 in the nation because of it. I've been working hard at school (more than four hours of homework a night) and when I have the chance I'm perfecting my book, because I'm starting to contact publishers. On top of that I've been writing as many stories that I can – and because of this I have successfully revised New Professors, New Adventures, which has started reposting, a chapter a week (or, at least, I try). I don't even have internet in my room in make life easier. Because you've all probably forgotten the storyline (and because I've tweaked it a lot), please go back and reread New Professors as it comes out again. And review. I had 250 reviews for it and then stupid took it off, so I'll be grateful if you comment. Tell me things to add. Tell me where the heck this story is going to go because I have no idea. Okay. I'm done now. If you read all of that, give yourself a pat on the back, let me know, and I'll congratulate and be grateful to you. And give you cookies.
Oh, and by the way, if you suddenly find my humor and quotes parallel, similar or the same to Lemony Snicket's, know that I just finished The Penultimate Peril. Those books get better every time. I love them. (The autobiography is probably the best, though.)
Harry sighed as he lay on his bed. It was soon after they'd decide to open the Gods of Egypt, and he now fully appreciated how tough it was for his teachers to make their curriculums – a word which here means "what the students are supposed to learn throughout the year because of what the teacher has taught them and how." But they're not my teachers anymore, Harry thought sadly. I'll probably never see them again…
Ironically, what Harry was thinking was actually not true. Little did the not-so-young Mr. Potter know that through his bedroom door would step none other than Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
And mere moments after Harry thought that he would never see his teachers again, there was a knock on his door.
Harry sat up and told the person to enter. Surprise and then joy filled him as his former headmaster – a phrase which here means "head of the school where Harry used to attend, but now had the misfortune of not returning to" – walked inside.
"Professor Dumbledore!" he said in amazement as he stood up, and a rare grin lit his face.
"Hello Harry," said his former headmaster kindly, placing a hand on his shoulder and peering into his eyes. "All's well, I hope?"
"Yes sir," said Harry. "Comparatively, anyway. I mean, Kari's not quite as cheery as she used to be, but then again, we all aren't."
Dumbledore smiled sadly and said, "I've afraid that the death of Altáriël has effected Ms. Daeron quite more than any of us would have figured." He took his hand off of Harry's shoulder and smiled a brighter smile. "But that's not what I came to talk to you about. Harry, Yugi Motou tells me that you wish not to return to Hogwarts this year."
Harry's smile faded and he sat on his bed. "Er… about that Professor… Oh, and you can sit down." Dumbledore did so. "Well, the truth is I don't think Hogwarts will be any safer with me being around. And I also don't think that I can be properly trained there. I think it would be best if Hermione, Ron, Mokuba and I – along with Yugi, Ryou, Malik and the others – to open a smaller school over here for anybody who wants to focus on training against Voldemort. I know that the former members of the DA – most of them, anyway – would love to be back, so… yeah…"
Dumbledore's eyes shone with admiration. "That's very brave of you, Harry. I admire how you decide to take action… but I don't think you should have the Gods of Egypt here, in Seto Kaiba's mansion."
Harry looked confused. "Why not, sir?"
Dumbledore walked to Harry's window and opened the curtains. Harry stood up and went to stand on the other side of the window. He peered out.
Outside, Yami and Seto were dueling while the others cheered them on. Joey was yelling at Hikari for supporting Seto, while Hikari was telling Seto to kick Yami's butt. Joey lunged at her and they roughhoused, much to the amusement of the others. Soon, Mokuba and the others came out, with Ginny Weasley, who had recently been recruited a Marauder known as Goldenheart. Mokuba cheered on his niisama, while everyone else – except for Hermione – was all for Yami (or, in their minds, Yugi, as none of his friends – save Mokuba – knew about the yamis, the ancient past, the Millennium Items or the true nature of Duel Monsters). Instead, Hermione, too, cheered on Seto. Harry inwardly shook his head – Hermione was still smitten with the icy-eyed brunette, and hadn't yet realized that he was deeply in love with someone else. But he knew that Ron would bring her around, and she'd realize that she liked the youngest Weasley boy much better.
"Do you see this, Harry?" whispered the aged headmaster softly. Harry looked at him. "Can you see the love and compassion they hold for each other? The tightness of their friendships? That their comments and remarks are only said in the utmost affection?"
Harry looked back out. By now, two other people that Harry had met – Tristan Taylor and Anzu Mazaki – had joined them. He watched at how Yami would compliment Seto on a move, and then strike back with intense ferocity; how Joey would be cheering him on, and when Seto spoke a snide remark, he would get annoyed and his cousin would come to his defense; how Anzu would ramble on about friendship and then how Tristan would tell her to shut up.
"Harry, these people grew up in this small town of Domino City. Seto and Mokuba Kaiba's parents died when they were young and they were brought here, in this house, at a young age; the former has paid the price through countless beatings – emotional, physical, mental and sexual – from their adoptive father. Joey Wheeler grew up in a house where his father came home and beat him and his family, and then at the age of ten his mother and little sister moved out, leaving him to defend himself from his father's attacks and later, the rough life of the streets. Tristan Taylor grew up with a loving family until he took to the streets and had to fight to survive there. Yugi Motou grew up being constantly bullied and picked on with no friend to be by his side. Ceribi Motou was kidnapped when she was very young. Anzu Mazaki grew up being repressed from her dream as a dancer. And even the ones that didn't grow up in Domino City had hardships – Ryou Bakura saw his mother and sister die in a car accident, his father was never at home so he moved out on his own, and he soon saw his friends fall into comas whenever they played a simple game. Malik Ishtar was forced to have tattoos carved on his back at age ten, and never saw daylight until he was eleven; after this, he killed his father. Arina Arono saw her parents killed in a robbery when she was only five years old and the trauma has scared her ever since. Even Hikari Daeron has pain in her life, as she has been depressed ever since her cousin died, her youngest brother has an incurable disorder called autism, and right now I am about to deliver to her news that will devastate her even more so, although it pains me to do it."
Harry stared incredulously at Dumbledore – a phrase which here means "stared at his former headmaster as if he couldn't believe the words that were coming out of his mouth because they were so shocking." He could not believe that these people had so much tragedy in their lives. He, Harry, fully understood and appreciated the difficulties of having a troubled life, as his parents had been murdered when he was a year old, he had faced death several times, saw three of his friends, two seventh years and one spirit, die, and saw his godfather die as well. He was no stranger to tragedy and suffering, and had never known that these people whom he loved and respected had felt as much pain as he had. His respect went up even more as he gazed back out at his teachers and his friends as they continued with the duel.
"Harry… these people all have something in common, a place they can all relate to and recognize," continued Dumbledore. "That place is here, Domino City, Japan. If we suddenly bring students here to train, Domino City will no longer be their hometown, it will be the place where they are forced to work and fight, a constant reminder of the war. It is for this reason that I propose that you move the school to England, to one of the buildings on Hogwarts property. Hear me out," said Dumbledore, holding up his hand when Harry opened his mouth to speak. "Please, listen. I know you do not wish to endanger students, but Hogwarts will not be safer with or without you. So I believe that the Gods of Egypt should be a class that the students take, if they so desire. Of course, you, Ron, Hermione and Mokuba are welcome to not take further classes in Hogwarts and remain in the Gods of Egypt building as to further plan your defense skills."
Harry shut his mouth. Finally, after a few moments of thinking, he nodded. "Okay Professor. We can do that." He hesitated, then added, "But I might decide to take classes at Hogwarts again – I'll have to think about that one."
Dumbledore smiled, and then turned to leave, when suddenly Harry remembered something. "Er, Professor?"
Dumbledore turned back. "Yes, Harry?"
"Er, Professor, I was just wondering what you were going to tell Hikari."
The aged headmaster's smile fell. He beckoned to Harry. "Come with me, and you'll find out."
Harry nodded and followed him out.
"I place three cards face down and end my turn," said Seto coolly, smirking and glancing up at his opponent. "Your move."
Yami raised an eyebrow and drew his card. He smirked and was about to play it when Dumbledore – trailed by Harry – walked outside.
His hand paused in mid-play, and Yami turned to face the aged headmaster, his hand dropping. "Professor Dumbledore. This is a surprise. You've just caught us in the middle of a duel."
The headmaster smiled softly before saying, "I wonder, if it isn't too much trouble, if I could speak to Ms. Daeron please?"
"Me?" said Hikari, surprised. She shrugged. "Sure, why not?" She patted Seto's shoulder and said, "Kick his butt for me, kay?" and turned to follow.
"One moment – Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Kaiba, I think it best that you come too."
Joey and Seto glanced at each other. Joey shrugged and linked arms with his cousin, while Seto turned to Yami. "I'm not forfeiting. We'll pick up the duel later."
Yami nodded, pulled out his activated cards and deactivated his duel disk. Seto did the same. "You're on, Kaiba."
He nodded and turned to follow the cousin, walking side-by-side with Harry. Harry, who was particularly fond of teasing his tallest teacher, said, "So… did Yami kick your butt again?"
Seto coolly replied, "You said 'again' as if it's happened before."
"Well, Kaiba, to tell you the truth… Yami always kicks your butt."
Seto rolled his eyes.
After they were some distance away from the others, Dumbledore turned to them. Seto and Harry caught up, and the headmaster started. "Ms. Daeron, I'm sorry to report to you that you are desperately needed by your family back in the United States."
Hikari's smile, which she had been wearing moments before, fell. "Why? What's happened?"
"I'm afraid that your youngest sister has gone missing."
Harry watched as Hikari's face paled. "She's… missing? But… but she's only fourteen… she couldn't have just run off, she loved it at home…"
Dumbledore placed a hand on Hikari's shoulder. "My dear Hikari… I'm afraid that your sister was probably kidnapped."
Harry's shock turned into horror. He watched as Hikari's face turned white. "Kidnapped?" she whispered. She looked at the others, her eyes wide. She rubbed her eyes and face and repeated the word again. "… Kidnapped…?" She spoke as if she couldn't believe it.
Harry, sickeningly, remembered that the city Hikari had grown up in was one of the biggest in the United States, and that girls went missing often… and never turned up again.
And suddenly Harry realized that everything was not going to be okay.
Note: This side-plot with Hikari's family is relevant to the story. It's not meant to be a focus on my OC. I promise. It does have to do with Harry. Actually, it's really important.