I have returned! Yes, after a long interval of withdrawal and writers block I can finally write another chapter, wahoo! I'm SO sorry it took this long, but with all the craziness going on I couldn't do anything. Tennis is…in it's second month and I'm one week into school, yeah so this is finally a weekend for me and I plan to end it with this!

Reminders:

/Ryou to Bakura/

/Bakura to Ryou/

'The thoughts are here.'

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or Harry Potter.

-Beginning of Chapter-

Ryou and Joey slowly made their way to breakfast some days later. Ryou hadn't gotten anymore sleep and needed someone to make sure he didn't fall over. "Ryou, you should go to see Madam Pomphrey about this. She may have a sleeping potion," Joey commented after he caught his friend when Ryou had stumbled.

"I know," Ryou yawned. "I'm going to ask her later today."

"Good," Joey replied as they sat down at the Gryffindor table. "You need it."

"Good morning, guys," Hermione said with a smile that quickly left her face. "Ryou, you look like…well to put it bluntly, a ghost. I know you're normally pale, but…this is unhealthy."

Ryou smiled innocently, "Don't worry about me, I'm fine." Joey gave him a look that he returned.

Ron sighed exasperatedly, "It's finally the weekend," he said with a grin. "What should we do?"

"I don't know," said Harry. "We could go outside and maybe fly or sit around by the lake."

"That sounds like fun," Hermione smiled looking at Ryou and Joey.

"Yes, I would enjoy it," said Joey as Ryou nodded with a yawn.

"So it's decided," Hermione beamed, "We're going to the lake!"

"Hey," Ron groaned. "What about flying?"

The quintet made their way to the lake after breakfast and found a patch of shade under a tree. The leaves fell gently onto the ground as a soft breeze sent ripples across the water. Hermione and Ryou sat to the side with books and Joey watched Harry and Ron play wizard's chess.

After the boys were deeply engrossed in their game, Hermione spoke up in a whisper, "Ryou?"

"Hm," Ryou mumbled without looking up.

"What's wrong," she asked, concerned.

Ryou was startled by her question and his head snapped up, hitting the tree he was leaning against. "Ow," he said and rubbed his head.

"Oh, sorry, Ryou," Hermione put her book down. "I didn't want to bother you about it, but," she hesitated, "I've noticed how tired you are and that you aren't eating as much. I really don't mean to pry, but I'm worried."

Ryou looked at her and bit his lip. 'What am I supposed to do,' he wondered.

/Maybe you should tell her/ A voice broke through his thoughts.

/Bakura! I…are you sure/

Ryou felt Bakura nod and sighed. "I'll need to," Ryou hesitated. "Talk to you alone…" he trailed off.

Hermione looked shocked for a second before a smile graced her lips. "Okay."

Looking to the side, Ryou reached for a leaf, but a small movement caught his eye. He slowly turned towards the forest and jumped back as a brown snake came closer. He yelled and pulled out his wand, pointing it at the creature.

"Stay back," he stuttered. "I'll…curse you or something…"

His friends watched in shock as Ryou continued to gape at the snake. It hadn't move from its spot. "Hey, Harry," Ron whispered to his friend. "Did you know Ryou was afraid of snakes?" Harry shook his head slowly.

"I mean it," Ryou snapped. "Leave me alone!" He quickly turned and ran toward the castle, the snake stayed in its place for a few seconds before it sauntered back into the forest.

Harry, Ron, Joey, and Hermione watched the white haired boy run until he was out of their sight. "Um…what do we do now?" asked Ron uncertainly as Hermione threw a stick at him.

"Be quiet, Ronald."

LALALA

When Ryou entered the school, he stopped for a breather. Why had he been scared by the snake's appearance? He didn't mind snakes, but he supposed that his fortune could be causing the jumpy air.

Ryou stood up straighter and started walking towards Gryffindor tower. If he was going to calm down he should be alone.

Arriving at the portrait of the Fat Lady, Ryou muttered the pass word and entered. He slowly walked to his dorm and lay down on his bed.

"What should I do," he whispered to himself.

"Maybe you could try not talking to yourself," Bakura replied from next to him.

"Ha ha, very funny, Bakura," Ryou glared and Bakura held up his hands in a silent truce.

"Hey, no use getting angry at me, I'm just trying to help. So you saw a snake, big deal, it didn't mean anything," Bakura muttered. "Though I wish I could've seen your face, your friends' were priceless." Bakura's snickers were cut off by a pillow being thrown through him. "Hey!"

"Fetch my pillow, boy," Ryou said as his hand flopped back onto his mattress.

"I'm not your pet, I'm an evil spirit! I could do evil things and take over you mind and body and…"

"Bakura," Ryou began slowly. "Get my pillow or I'll lock you in the ring and please try to stop rambling."

Bakura blinked for a moment. "Do you know how to do that?"

"Care to find out," Ryou asked with a grin as his Yami brought the pillow back in record time. "Thank you."

"So," the spirit began. "What should you do?"

"Throw another pillow at you, enslave you, and manage to get a good night sleep," was his light's response.

"Why, Ryou, you've somehow acquired a sense of humor over these last couple of years."

"Actually, I'm just too tired to think straight so everything I'm saying isn't even thought through before being said," Ryou buried his face in his pillow.

"Hey, no smothering yourself," Bakura pouted as he pulled the pillow away.

"I was not smothering myself," Ryou glared. "I was trying to sleep."

"Sure, that's what they all say."

"Bakura…" the spirit look at him confused. "You need help."

"Actually, you do, Ryou. You're the one talking to his past self," Bakura grinned before he quickly disappeared into the ring to avoid another pillow.

LALALA

Dinner came and Ryou was walking to the Great Hall. He took his last turn and saw a quick flash of silver.

"What was that," he said and stared for a few moments before moving on.

/I think you've finally lost your mind, dear hikari. /

/Oh, shush, Bakura. /

Ryou sat next to Hermione and looked at the assortment of food. He chose a piece of chicken and some vegetables.

"Where were you all day, Ryou," Harry asked in concern.

"I was in our dorm," said Ryou. "Where were you?"

"We looked for you, but then went to Hagrid's."

"Oh," said Ryou as he went back to his meal not wanting to talk.

The dinner plates cleared and desert came. The students drifted back to their common rooms, but all stopped at the light seen through the window.

"The Forbidden Forest is on fire," someone yelled as Dumbledore made his way to the front.

"Everyone to your common rooms," he shouted over the whispers and shouts of the students, who were slow to obey.

Ryou looked out the window and the fire shown in his eyes. All thoughts were directed on one memory, the silver around the corner.

-End of Chapter-

Yes, I know it's short, but if I added more the chapter wouldn't fit well. I hope you enjoyed it and once again I am really sorry it took so long. I've been thinking through this chapter this last month and trying to form it completely.

Now before everyone starts to yell at me about the forest, listen. If you have noticed in the last chapter, there are a few images being portrayed many times. For example there is the snake, fire, and forest. Kudos to those who figure out the reason for the fire, though I'm sure none of you will. I won't tell you the point of the forest burning, but you'll hopefully understand as the story progresses.

Thanks for reading and please tell me your thoughts.

-Maki-sama-