Chapter 4 - Start of the Storm

"M-my Lord…"

Peter Pettigrew fell to the floor as those red eyes turned to him, paired with a lipless scowl.

"Your interruption must hold merit, given my request to be left alone. Otherwise…" Peter felt his pseudo-silver hand start to vibrate and twist unnaturally. He tried not to yelp as his fingers started bending the wrong direction, but the pain continued to escalate with thick popping noises, and barks of agony betrayed him.

"...you may be losing more than a hand this time."

"My L-lord! I have re-received pressing n-news from S-s-severus-AH!" The crack of the groveling man's wrist breaking was inaudible beneath his hollars. Voldemort narrowed his eyes; if he had to wait for one more second for his pathetic excuse of a Death Eater to pull himself together and quiet his whimpers...

"And you would rather waste my time with your mewling rather than relaying his 'pressing' message?"

"P-please, m-mas-ster…he s-s-said there were t-two n-new t-tr-trans-transfer st-stud-dents at Hogw-warts…"

"And why would Severus believe I would be interested in two children?"

"He s-said...one of t-them...had st-strange m-magic...he c-c-couldn't identify…h-he th-thought it m-may be old m-magic..."

"Why would a child possess an ancient magic?" Voldemort spoke more to himself than his servant, moving his gaze off of Wormtail, who immediately stopped his weeping and pulled himself into a kneel.

"He mentioned that the t-two were originally a single student, and during the s-sorting they turned into t-two separate students." Peter heard his master stand, and he watched as the hem of dark robes swept across the floor and past his line of vision.

"Now that is very interesting."

Yami was seething.

He had assumed due to their particular situation, he and his aibou would have the same class schedule. Not only had the faculty attempted to separate them by 'sorting' them into different 'houses' (which would have never happened if that infernal hat hadn't gone and split the two of them apart), but now they insisted on keeping them apart for the bulk of the day because of their different 'house' schedules. The two of them both were taking mostly the same classes, the majority of them at different times, and when Yami declared during breakfast that he was going to discuss the matter with the headmaster (the insane man seemed to be the only one with a sense of intellect among the staff), his better half pleaded for him to stay seated. Why? To avoid additional attention and conflict from the hateful Potions professor next to old man? He would have brushed off his aibou's wishes, but those damned huge tearing eyes kept him glued to his chair until they took their separate ways to each of their first classes.

Yami spent three solid hours brooding and glaring down both teachers and textbooks. He had tested the mind link at the beginning of his first class (not only was the professor late on the first day of classes for her first class, but some cat was sitting on the desk at the front of the room), and after seconds without a response, the old pharaoh let out an exasperated groan, earning his a few stares.

Could this day get any worse? Aibou, please, tell me you can hear me-

The sound of static vibrated his thoughts just before he heard Yuugi growl.

Yami. I cannot take notes and coddle you at the same time.

Yuugi! Coddle? I only wanted to confirm that we could still communicate while on different ends of this Ra-forsaken castle! In case-!

And how could that possibly matter while we're in class-? GAH, damn it-now I have NO idea what this woman is babbling about! First it was about reading the future in tealeaves, and now something about a large dog and death-Yami, we can't talk. Just pay attention to your class. PLEASE.

Yami wanted to say more, but the silent fury resonating through their link kept him quiet.

"Ra fucking damn it…"

"Mr. Atemu, language. Five points from Slytherin." A pursed-lipped Professor McGonagall has suddenly appeared in front of Yami's seat with her wand pointed at his textbook. With a wave, the book flipped open and landed in Yami's hands. And so began his brooding and glaring.

"Distracted?" Yami didn't bother looking up to the beaming blonde sitting next to him. Draco, with his head resting against his flat palm, watched his fellow housemate turn the page of his text with no indication of noticing him. Turning his smile into his hand, Draco made sure the speak his next words softly, if only to make Yami strain to hear him.

"I don't blame you, with your Little Distraction being so far away…" Draco sat up and moved his hand through his hair and then above his head, tracing invisible spikes as Yami's pair of dark eyes turned to watch his movements, "If your mini-twin ever wants a change of scenery, he's more than welcome to stay with us snakes in the dorms. There's not an extra bed, but I would be more than willing to share-"

Draco Malfoy's words faltered. Suddenly, his lungs were filled with fire, and when he tried to open his mouth to holler for help, his lips zipped shut and filled his cheeks with burning smoke. He lifted his hands to his mouth and tried to use his fingers to pry his lips apart to no avail.

"If you ever even suggest laying a hand on my aibou…"

"Mr. Malfoy! Are you alright?" McGonagall had stopped the lesson once she noticed her student's strange gesturing By the time she was within arms length, Draco's mouth popped open and he heaved heavy breaths before his head fell face-first onto his desk.

"Someone-Ms. Lovegood, go grab Madame Pomfrey and let her know-"

"I-I'm-fine!" Draco was back up with a hand tugging at his professor's sleeve. His breathing was still labored, but his grip was calm with a smile smoothing his lips, "I guess your lecturing is more devastating than it was last year..."

"Mr. Malfoy! Twenty points from Slytherin for such a sick joke!" Snickers from other students made their way around the room, causing Professor McGonagall to yank her hand away from Draco and throw her hands up in the air, "Make that THIRTY!"

"So you do have some fangs behind that facade…"

Draco was still smiling as Yami put his face back into his book with a snarl.

Yami stood at the west entrance of the Great Hall, earning him many looks and rushed steps. After thirteen minutes of stand-still waiting, he ground his teeth together and stormed through the doors.

Are you alright? I've been waiting for you for nearly thirty minutes now-

"Yami!" His fast-paced stalk caused him to run right into Yuugi, knocking the smaller boy to the floor. Yami lunged forward to help his light up, but the two Gryffindors on each side of Yuugi were already pulling him up by his arms.

"Even this snake can't spare a second to watch where he's stomping! I don't see what makes him so different from the rest of lot…" On Yuugi's left, Harry shot Yami a skeptical, infuriated look before looking back down his new housemate. Yuugi opened and then shut his mouth, deciding just to shoot Harry a smile before lunging forward into a hug with his darker half.

You're right, this sucks. I just listened to a crazy woman tell us how 'unfortunate' our futures were. Also, death in soaked herbs. And wolves and moons. And then that giant introduced us to some weird-looking black-nightmare-ish horses. And only three other students in the class could see them, so most everyone though the four of us were full of crap. So much bullshit!

Sure sounds awful… Yami inhaled the scent of Yuugi's hair while looking up to the three staring students. Looks like you made some friends that think I'm the scum of the world?

Pulling his head out of Yami's arms, Yuugi spun around and yanked both Harry and Ron forward, with Hermione following behind.

"He's nothing like you described! Yami, meet Harry Potter. You must understand, when you met Yami on the train he was quite exhausted, and he's a horrible, horrible morning person until he drinks a full pot of coffee-"

"Aibou, that's you that you're describing; let's not forget before yesterday it was your body that required large quantities of caffeine..." Yami nudged Yuugi in the shoulder before reaching a hand out Harry, "...but if you're good in Yuugi's book, you're good in mine. Sorry about before with the crude remarks, I guess I can be a bit snappy after been jostled awake…"

Harry took Yami's hand and shook it firmly, though his eyes narrowed slightly when he pulled away.

"Your eyes. They're like his." Ron and Hermione exchanged looks before Ron pulled Yami's hand into his own.

"And I'm Ron Weasley! As for your comments, no hard feelings; I'm no ray of sunshine when I first wake up!"

"Far from it. Hermione Granger." Hermione moved to the red head's side, and after scooting her stack of books to rest against her chest, she shook hands with Yami with her free hand, "I hear you and Yuugi and talk telepathically. Amazing!" Pulling the first book from her stack, she shoved it towards Yami.

"I think this may help the two of you strengthen your connection across greater distances-Yuugi mentioned during class that you sounded more like a whisper-that's probably due to the safety wards around Hogwarts-"

This girl sure can talk.

She's fantastic. Ask her anything. She figured out yesterday that we talked through our mind link, and she's already researched how we can extend our link's range across continents!

That's…insanely impressive.

"So...you two do this often?" Both Yuugi and Yami snapped back to reality with Ron's question, and with another quick grin, Yuugi started dragging Yami to the Gryffindor table.

"Food! Before we miss lunch! What's your next class, mou hitori no boku?"

"Ancient Runes. Yours?"

"Potions. Please kill me now…"

"Oh, Ancient Runes is fascinating! We can sit together and we can discuss what you've missed the last two years!"

"You'd think by now they would've replaced Snape given how much he hates teaching Potions…"

Sitting together in the middle of the long table, the five started eating and chatting. Harry picked more at his food and listened, eyes moving between Yami and the Slytherin table across the room.

"So...looks like the only class we'll have together is Defense Against the Dark Arts…"

"That class is Harry's favorite! Right, Harry?" Hermione touched Harry's arm, and Harry nodded before moving his arm off the table, keeping his eyes glued across the hall.

"Why's Malfoy staring at you, Yuugi?" Yuugi looked at Harry before turning around to look at the staring Draco Malfoy. Yami also turned and look, and with a growl, he stood up.

"That stupid, disgusting sleaze-!" Yuugi grabbed his other self by the hand before he could storm away.

"Yami! Don't you start something on the first day of classes. He's not doing any harm-"

On cue, Draco touched his lips to his palm and blew Yuugi a kiss with a wink.

I am going to kill this asshole.

Don't you dare! He's just being-friendly, or something...?

"What kind of shit is that ferret pulling now?" Ron turned to look at blonde as well with a scowl.

"Looks like he's fond of Yuugi...or something…?" Hermione looked between Yuugi and Malfoy before turning her eyes on Yami. "Are you alright, Yami? You look like…"

Like I'm about to murder that worthless piece of-

"Don't-you-dare!" Yuugi managed to pull his darkness back down into his seat, and when Yami turned his angry gaze on his hikari, Yuugi gave him his best pout.

"Please? Leave it be?" The other three Gryffindors watched as Yuugi's bottom lip started to tremble, his eyes growing wet, causing Yami to cave and turn back towards his plate. Taking Yami's actions as a win, Yuugi switched his pout into a smile, giving his darkness a sideways hug.

You having your own body makes it SO much easier to persuade you!

I'll leave him alone. For now. And yes, you're very convincing in the flesh. No wonder Jounouchi and Honda could never say no to you. But promise me...if that beast bothers you when I'm not there...you tell me. Immediately.

If it's the middle of class, it's not like you can come running-

Yes I can. He's dangerous, Yuugi. Please, promise me.

Yami now attempted to give his better self his own version of a pout. Yuugi stared, then groaned.

"Fine, fine, fine…"

"What just happened?" Ron looked between the two, mouth wide open. Yuugi stifled a snort.

"You really shouldn't leave your mouth open…"

"Why-hey! You said it was YAMI who said all of that stuff on the train!"

They all laughed and went back to eating. Once the lunch hour was up, Yuugi and Yami shared another quick hug before heading to their next classes.

We've been hugging a lot. Is that strange?

I see no problem with it. Our new female friend is going to talk my ear off. I feel like I should be taking notes.

Oh-you'll learn to tune out her not-so-fascinating speeches. I missed fifteen minutes of her lesson on how those devil horses were described in some book on Hogwarts.

There's a book about this school? That must be a beast of a book.

Apparently. I'll see you in another three hours for Defense. Stay out of trouble until then!

Of course, aibou. You keep me informed.

Aye aye, captain.

Captain?

Yami managed not to murder the starring blonde in his next few classes with the help of Hermione's whispers and notes during Ancient Runes and a very large textbook in History of Magic.

N/A: So...I gave Draco a backbone. Why? He's better that way. So yes, he's a bit OOC. Well, a lot OOC. He's such a pervert. He's so much fun to write! (In regards to his backbone, for any Name of the Wind readers...think Ambrose=Draco if he had a backbone/used his brain a bit more)

Yay Voldie! He's going to be awesome in the next chapter. He's so awesome awesome awesome-

Shut it you crazy woman.

...yes. Voldemort. Also, Harry. Um, maybe additional pairings...? Meybe...I'll see where this takes me. Hermione is awesome. I'm considering Anzu-bashing/comparisons to Hermione. Because, come on, Hermione is greater than Anzu x 1,000,000,000,000 etc.

Review if you liked! Or don't? Not like I can convince anyone to tell me how freaking insane I am and that I should continue my subscription for crazy so I'll keep writing this...whatever it is...

Annnnd I'm just going to leave it there. =D