Chapter 11: - The Duelling Club
A week later Joey was still fuming at the CEO, Hagrid on the other hand had understood, content with the thought that he would have a dragon, though Joey was the one who'd found out the reason for the dragon's overprotective feelings towards the hatchlings, "Red Eyes says they thought they'd be more like Blue White Chick when they hatched, Kisara is going to be protective until they're stronger, at least able use tele…tele… until they can talk."
Professor McGonagall interrupted them with the sheet to put down if they were going to stay at the school over Christmas, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Joey, Yugi and Yami put their names down, Kari and Ombre were going home for Christmas this year, Kari had a few things she needed to sort out back home, and since she was in England and her parents knew it, she had no excuse.
The Christmas holidays were the perfect time to test the potion, they'd heard Malfoy and Bakura were staying over Christmas, with Crabbe and Goyle, there were rumours flying around that their father couldn't have them over Christmas because he couldn't afford it. They wanted to see if they could worm a confession out of Malfoy.
However the potion was only half finished, they still needed the Bicorn horn and the Boomslang skin and they would have to steal from Snape's private stores to get them. Yugi was of the opinion he'd rather play another Shadow Game against Marik then risk Snape catching his stealing from his office.
"What we need," Said Hermione, as Thursday's lesson loomed nearer, "Is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office and take what we need." Harry, Ron and Joey looked at her nervously, "I think I'd better do the actual stealing," Hermione continued, in a matter of fact tone, "You three will get expelled if you get into any more trouble and he doesn't trust you four as far as he can throw you." The latter was directed at Yugi, Yami, Kari and Ombre. Yami nodded, "I've got a clean record and he just ignores me. Then all we need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so. Yami smiled weakly, why did he have the feeling causing mayhem in Snape's potions class was equivalent to poking Marik in the eye? And he did mean Marik not Malik.
Potions lesson took place in one of the large dungeons. Thursday's lesson proceeded as per usual. Snape was stalking his way through the classroom, making waspish remarks about the Gryffindor student's potions. Bakura kept flicking puffer-fish eyes at Yugi, but Yami knew if he retaliated on his hikari's behalf he'd get detention faster then you could say 'unfair.'
Harry's Swelling potion was far too runny, something Snape took great delight in mentioning as he passed. Harry wasn't paying attention, he waited until Snape's back was turned on him, and looked at Hermione, who nodded and Harry took great pleasure in tossing a Filibuster Firework, which had belonged to Fred, who'd willingly given it to them when they'd told him they were going to aggravate Snape, into Bakura's cauldron.
Bakura's potion exploded, showering almost the entire class. People shrieked as the potion landed on them. Bakura was drenched, and swelled up like a balloon, Serves him right, Yami thought, trying to contain a smirk. Through the confusion Harry saw Hermione sneak out. Snape started giving everyone antidotes and Harry desperately trying not to laugh when Malfoy made his way to the front, his nose the size of a small melon. About halfway though the casualties of war Yugi spotted Hermione making her way back into the class, the front of her robes bulging.
When everyone had taken a swig of the antidote and the various swellings had subsided, Snape swept over to Bakura's cauldron and scooped out the remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush.
"If I ever find out who threw this," Snape whispered, "I shall make sure that person is expelled." Yugi tried to look confused, Snape was looking right at him, and though he knew he hadn't thrown it, the bell which rang ten minutes later was a welcome relief.
"At least he didn't look at you, Harry." Yugi said, trying to sound cheerful. Yami gave him a look as if to say what-are-you-hiding?
"I bet he knew Bakura was aggravating you all along. I bet he thought the firework was your way of retaliating." Joey snorted. "He doesn't know you very well…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yami growled protectively.
"Nothing…" Joey was on the defensive, "I just meant that you would have gotten there first." Hermione had thrown the ingredients into the cauldron and was stirring feverishly.
"It'll be ready in a week." She said, stalling any possible argument between Yami and Joey. The two just sat there glaring at each other.
"As long as Snape thinks it was me, he won't even think about questioning you." Yugi continued, talking to Harry, trying to ignore the glaring match… and failing. "Oh, cut it out you two."
"Yeah, but he might try to prove it was you, Yuge." Joey said, finally looking away from Yami's glare.
"But it wasn't." Ron said, "So what, exactly, can he do?"
"Knowing Snape, something foul." Harry said, as the potion bubbled away.
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A week later the gang, were walking across the Entrance Hall when they saw a whole bunch of people gathered around the notice board, reading a newly pinned up piece of parchment. They were beckoned over by an excited looking Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas, and a thoughtful looking Ryou.
"They're starting a Duelling Club!" said Seamus, "First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind wizard duelling lessons," Joey's face fell as he realised it wasn't a Duel Monsters club, "The lessons might come in handy."
"What do you think?" Yugi asked Yami, who was thoughtfully reading the sign.
"I don't think Slytherin's monster can duel, but it could be useful." Yami said, as they went into dinner. "I'm going to go."
The rest of the gang were up for it, so at eight o'clock they hurried back to the Great Hall. The long dinning tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles overhead. Most of the school seemed to be here, carrying their wands and looking excited.
"I wonder who the teacher will be." Kari said, as they edged their way into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a Duelling champion, no Joey, not our sort of Duelling," Joey poked his tongue out at her, "He was a champion, when he was young, maybe it'll be him."
"As long as it's not…" Yami began, but ended on a growl, as Lockheart walked onto the stage.
"Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me?" Lockheart called waving his arms.
"Why would we want to?" Joey asked, Kari stomped on his foot.
"Now, Professor Dumbledore has given me permission to start this little Duelling Club, to train you up in case you ever need to defend yourself as I myself have done on countless occasions, for full details, see my published works." Harry was surprised to hear a bored, derisive, snort from Yugi. Yami gave the hikari a startled look; obviously Lockheart had pushed even the normally placid boy to his limits.
"Let me introduce my assistant Professor Snape," Lockheart flashed a smile, "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about Duelling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now I don't want you to worry, you'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him."
"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Yugi whispered, it was only loud enough for the gang to hear it, but Yami nearly fainted in surprise, he had to wonder who this boy was and what he'd done with Yugi.
'Are you alright?'
"…" Yugi didn't reply, it wasn't because he couldn't hear Yami, he was just ignoring him, he had been since the owls had arrived this morning. Yami's owl had arrived with post for Yugi and the hikari had been quiet ever since. Yami was worried but was distracted by Lockheart being blasted off his feet by Snape.
"Do you think he's alright?" Hermione asked.
"Who cares?" Harry, Ron, Yugi and Joey said at the same time.
Lockheart got to his feet a little unsteadily. His hat had fallen off and his hair was tilting to one side. He fixed this immediately and tottered back to the platform. "That was a disarming charm, as you see I've lost my wand, ah, yes thank you Miss Ironhide, yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, But if you don't mind me…" Lockheart trailed off at the murderous look Snape was giving him. He changed the subject, "Alright, I'm going to come around and put you into pairs." Immediately Yugi and Yami tried to pair up, but Lockheart had other ideas.
"Ah yes, Mr Malfoy…no not you, the other one, that's right, if you pair up with Mr Muto, no not you, the little one." Yami gave Lockheart the most evil look you could possibly imagine as the idiot teacher paired Yugi with Bakura. "And Mr Kaiba, if you'd pair up with the other twin…" Now he was getting death glares from two parties.
"Wands at the ready!" Lockheart called, returning to the stage, "And bow!" Yugi's bow was more of a nod, he refused to take his eyes from Bakura. Yami and Kaiba barely even nodded at each other. "On three cast your wands to disarm your opponent, DISARM ONLY, we don't want any accidents. One…two…three!"
Malfoy wasn't the only one who started on two, while his spell hit Harry hard enough to make him feel as though he'd been hit over the head with a saucepan, Bakura cast a spell that had Yugi staggering backwards, feeling like he'd been hit a rugby player. Kaiba and Yami had started on three, but their spells had bounced off each other and hit other people in the crowd.
"I SAID DISARM ONLY!" Lockheart yelled over the heads of the battling crowd, but no one heard him, Yugi had gotten his wind back and cast a spell that sent Bakura sprawling.
"So you do have some fight in you, it's not just the Pharaoh's doing!" Bakura smirked, as he got to his feet, he tackled Yugi, sending them both crashing to the ground.
Yami saw this and looked away from Kaiba, giving the CEO enough time to hit Yami with "Rictusempra!" The beam of silver light hit the Pharaoh and he doubled up, wheezing.
"STOP! STOP!" Lockheart yelled, but Snape took control.
"Finte Incantateum!" Snape shouted, all active spells stopped. There only two pairs still moving. One of which was Yugi and Bakura, which was soon remedied when Joey and Kari pulled Bakura off of Yugi, prising his hands off the chain of the Millennium Puzzle. Yugi winced in pain as Yami helped him to his feet.
The other pair was Hermione and Millicent Bulstode, a Slytherin in their year, or the year above. The Slytherin had Hermione in a headlock and Hermione was whimpering in pain. It took Harry, Ron, Ryou and Ombre to pull her off, considering she wasn't much older then them, what she lacked in age she made up for in sheer bulk.
Lockheart walked through the crowd, giving advice on recovering and stopping in the middle of the hall, "I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," He glanced at Snape who quickly looked away, "Let's have a volunteer pair… Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you?"
"A bad idea, Professor Lockheart," said Snape, "Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest of spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchly up to the hospital wing in a matchbox." Neville's face went pinker, "How about Malfoy and Muto?" said Snape with a twisted smile.
'This has to be payback 'cause he thinks I chucked the firework.' Yugi thought down the link to Yami.
"Excellent idea!" Said Lockheart, gesturing Yugi and Bakura into the middle of the room, the crowd backed away quickly, to give them room, plus the fact they didn't like the look on Bakura's face.
"Now, Yugi," Lockheart said, "When Bakura points his wand at you, you do this." He did something with his wand that was supposed to be a complicated wiggling action, Yugi guessed. Lockheart dropped his wand. Lockheart picked it up quickly.
Snape moved closer to Bakura, and whispered something in his ear. Bakura smirked and Yugi looked up at Lockheart, "Professor, what was that you showed me, again?" Lockheart just pushed him forward.
"Scared, little Yugi?" Bakura smirked at him as he stepped forward.
"You wish."
"Three… two… one… go!" Lockheart shouted, Bakura raised his wand quickly and before Yugi could counter, he bellowed something.
"Serpensortia!" The end of Bakura's wand exploded, and a large black cobra shot out the end and raised itself, ready to strike. Yugi was paralyzed, he didn't know what to do, his mind was too busy screaming cobra, cobra, cobra, cobra…
"Don't move, Muto," Snape said, clearly enjoying seeing Yugi rooted to the spot, ash white and eye to eye with an angry snake, "I'll get rid of it…"
"Allow me!" Lockheart said, brandishing his wand, there was a loud bang and instead of disappearing it shot up into the air and landed with a thud. Enraged it turned on the nearest person, hissing fiercely.
It stopped in front of Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs exposed, poised to strike.
Harry wasn't sure what made him do it. He wasn't even aware of deciding to do it. All he knew was that he moved forward and that he had shouted stupidly at the snake, "Leave them!" And for some odd reason the snake had listened, slumping to the floor docile as a garden hose, with it's black eyes on Harry. Harry knew for some odd reason that it wouldn't attack anyone now, not Yugi, not Justin or anyone else in the room, though how he knew, he wasn't sure.
He looked up at Justin, grinning, expecting the Hufflepuff to be relieved, or puzzled, or even grateful… but certainly not angry or scared.
"What do you think you're playing at?" Justin yelled, before storming out of the hall. Snape made the snake vanish while looking at him in an odd way and he felt someone tug the back of his robes, as ominous muttering started up around the room.
"Come on," Said Yami's voice in his ear, "Move… come on…" Harry was steered out of the Great Hall by Yami and Ron with the rest of the gang following. None of the gang would explain anything until they'd dragged him into the empty Gryffindor Common Room, and Yugi had collapsed into an armchair, and Ron had pushed Harry into another one while Yami looked Yugi over, the hikari's face was still white with fear.
"You're a Parselmouth. Why didn't you tell us?" Ron demanded.
"I'm a what?" Harry asked, confused.
"Parselmouth!" Ron said, "You can talk to snakes!"
"I know," Said Harry, "I mean that's only the second time I've ever done it. I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley once, long story, but it was telling me it had never seen Brazil and I accidentally set it free. That was before I knew I was a wizard."
"A boa constrictor you'd never seen before told you it had never seen Brazil?" Yugi repeated faintly, colour finally returning to his face.
"So?" Said Harry defensively, "I bet a load of people here can do it?"
"No, they can't, it's not a very common gift. Harry this is bad."
"What's bad?" Harry said angrily, "If I hadn't told the snake to leave Yugi and Justin alone…"
"Oh, so that's what you said to it."
"What d'you mean? You were all there… you heard me."
"We heard you speaking Parseltongue," Yami said, "Snake language. You could have been saying anything. It's no wonder Justin panicked, it sounded like you were egging the snake on."
"It was creepy." Joey said, looking Harry in the eyes. Harry gaped at them.
"I spoke another language? But… I didn't realise… how can I speak another language without knowing I can speak it?"
"How did I become fluent in ancient Egyptian overnight?" Kari retorted, "Without extensive study? Magic!" Harry had to admit she had a point.
"Can you please tell me what's wrong with stopping a dirty great snake from biting Justin's head off. What does it matter as long as he doesn't have to join the Headless Hunt?"
"It matters," Hermione said, speaking at last, "Because being able to speak to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why the symbol of Slytherin house is a snake." Harry's mouth fell open.
"Exactly," said Ombre, And now the school's going to think you're his great-great etcetera grandson or something!"
"But I'm not!" Harry said, a feeling of panic he couldn't quite explain rising.
"You'll find it hard to prove." Said Hermione, "He lived about a thousand years ago; for all we know, you could be."
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By the next morning the snowfall that had begun in the night, raising Kari's hopes of a chance at ice skating before she had to go home, had turned into a full blown blizzard so thick the last Herbology lesson with Hufflepuff house was cancelled. Professor Sprout wanted to fit socks and scarves on the Mandrakes, a tricky operation, but an essential one as they were needed to revive Mrs Norris, Colin and Rebecca.
Harry fretted about the previous day, wanting to explain to Justin, pacing next to the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room, while Kari had gone ice skating now the blizzard had died down, Ron and Hermione were playing a game of wizard's chess and the rest of the Gryffindor group were duelling each other, with Yami in the lead, his life points untouched.
Eventually Yami was banned from playing, after beating Joey and Ombre and drawing with Yugi and he left the Common Room to go look for Kari. Hermione grew frustrated as Harry continued to pace and she started losing, "For heaven's sake, Harry," She said as Ron's bishop dragged her knight off the board, "Go and find Justin if it's that important to you!"
Harry left the Common Room, wondering where Justin might be. The castle was darker then it normally was in the daytime, because of the thick swirling grey snow which hadn't long started up again, Harry hoped that Kari had enough sense to come inside. Harry heard snippets of conversation as he passed the classrooms, not everyone was as lucky as them to have a cancelled lesson. As he passed the Transfiguration class he could hear Professor McGonagall yelling at a boy who by the sound of it had turned his friend into a badger.
Harry had to force himself not to take a look and continue walking, thinking the Hufflepuff student would use the free lesson to catch up on some work, and decided to check the library first.
A group of Hufflepuffs who would have been in Herbology were sat in the back of the room, and Ryou was sat on his own at another table, but there was no sign of Justin. He inadvertently eavesdropped on their conversation as he went through the invisibility section.
"I told Justin to hide in the dorms. I mean to say if Potter's marked him as his next victim it's best if he keeps a low profile for a while. Of course Justin's been waiting for something like this to happen since he let slip to Potter that he was muggle born."
"You defiantly think it was Potter then, Ernie?"
"Hannah, he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself serpent-tongue." There were some murmurings at this, "Remember what was written on the wall? Enemies of the Heir, Beware! Potter and his friend, Muto, had some sort of run in with Filch and next thing we know, Filch's cat is attacked. Creevey and Hawkins was annoying Potter and Muto at the Quidditch match and then both of them are attacked. The only reason I don't think it's Muto is because of the way he froze in fear in front of that cobra, if he could control Slytherin's monster then he wouldn't have any trouble controlling that snake."
"Potter always seemed so nice though, and he got rid of You-Know-Who. He can't be all bad, can he?" Hannah said uncertainly.
"No one really knows how he survived that attack by You-Know-Who…" Ernie continued, Harry was getting more and more angry and as Ernie finished he stepped out from behind the bookshelf. The Hufflepuffs's looked as though they'd been petrified by the sight of him.
"Hello," Harry said, "I'm looking for Justin." The Hufflepuffs looked fearfully at Ernie.
"What do you want with him?" Ernie asked.
"I want to tell him what really happened at the Duelling Club."
"We were all there, we saw what happened."
"Then you noticed that, after I spoke to it the cobra backed off."
"All I saw was you speaking Parseltongue and chasing the snake towards Justin." Ernie said stubbornly.
Harry and Ernie's debate went on and Harry stormed out of the library and bumped into Hagrid.
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Up in the Common Room, Yugi's head had shot up and Joey had to chase the hikari as he grabbed his deck and dashed out of the room. "Yugi, wait up!" Yugi didn't pay any attention, the link with Yami had gone dead and Boh was panicking, unable to reach the Dark Magician.
Joey, the voice is back. Red Eyes Black told him as he followed his friend round a corner. Be careful. Mahado was last sensed around where we can hear it. Coming to the Pharaoh's aid.
Catching up with Yugi as he turned a corner, he saw Yugi fall to his knees beside the victims of the latest attack; tears running down his face. Harry was stood stock still in shock.
Nearly Headless Nick was floating just off the ground, no longer white, but black and smoking. Justin Finch-Finely was led on the ground directly behind the ghost, petrified, but it was the last victim that had caused Yugi's distress, Yami was on the ground, petrified. Mahado, the Dark Magician, was close to collapse, without Yami, the magic supporting the monster was nearly out. "Yami… please, wake up!" Yugi practically screamed, shaking the Pharaoh. "Yami…!"
"Yugi…" The Dark Magician spoke verbally, Yugi's head snapped up, tears still flowing as he looked into Mahado's eyes, "Be strong." The Dark Magician fell, exhausted and unable to maintain consciousness any longer. Yugi's anguish passed through the link with Boh, right through to everyone with a real live Duel Monster in their little group.
Yugi closed his eyes and Joey had the scare of his life, as Yugi collapsed on the spot, still sending despair and fear, so acute that it hurt the rest of the gang and their Duel Monsters, down the link with Kuriboh.
Yugi opened his eyes in the corridor between his and Yami's soul rooms. His soul room was untouched, but the once Bronze door leading to Yami's room and the puzzle that was the Pharaoh's mind was marble grey, and as hard as Yugi tried he couldn't open it. He tried everything he could but the door wouldn't open.
"Yugi? Yugi, you alright pal?"
"No!" Yugi wanted to scream at the voice that echoed down the corridor, he wanted to find out who had done this and then make sure they couldn't hurt anyone else. How could he be alright when his dark half was petrified? Yugi followed the voice out of the corridor.
Joey shuddered and backed away very quickly, as Yugi picked himself up. Tears were running down his face still, but the look in his eyes was very much a Yami type look and he wasn't talking Yami on a good day, this was a 'Yami-after-the-blood-of-someone-who'd-hurt-Yugi' type look. In all honesty it scared Joey considerably, he'd never seen Yugi look at anyone like that before, not that the look was focused on anyone in particular, there was no one for Yugi to vent on, they only thought they knew who the attacker was, they weren't sure.
"Yugi?" Joey asked, warily approaching the boy, Yugi turned to him, and for a spilt second the glare was focused on him, and then Yugi's angry gaze dissolved and Yugi burst into loud sobs again. Joey wasn't sure if he was relived or not as he went over to comfort his best friend.
"It's not fair."
"None of this is." Joey said, holding his friend tightly, Yugi buried his face in Joey's chest. Peeves shot out of a room next to Harry.
"Why it's potty wee Potter!" cackled Peeves, who'd spotted Harry first, "What's Potter and friends up to? Why're they lurking…" He spotted the victims and in seconds his attitude had changed. He filled his lungs up with air and before Harry could stop him shouted at the top of his voice. "ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAAACK!"
Crash… crash… crash, door flew open along the corridor and people flooded out. For a minute there was too much of a crowd and the victims were in danger of being kicked. Yugi pulled away, tears still running down his face, the glare was back again as he saw people weren't watching what they were doing. "BACK OFF!" He shouted, the Millennium Puzzle glowed gold and a burst of golden magic pushed the students away as Professor McGonagall rushed down the halls.
"Caught in the act!" Ernie yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Harry.
"That'll do, MacMillan!" said Professor McGonagall. Peeves burst into song.
"Potter, you rotter, oh what have you done?
You're killing off students, you think it's good fun…"
"That's enough Peeves. Mr Wheeler, if you could escort Mr Muto up to the hospital wing with the victims." Joey nodded and led Yugi up to the hospital wing, as Harry was led to Professor Dumbledore's office and the victims were carried up to the hospital wing by other Professors. Once there Yugi burst into tears again and Joey comforted him as the small boy cried himself out.
Yugi looked back to Yami as his tears dried up, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "You'll be fine, Yami. I know you will!" Yugi said, determination in his voice, "And we will stop whoever did this!" Joey smiled gently at his friend, watching as Yugi's game face came on, he knew the boy was still upset but this was the reaction he'd expected from Yugi. The scary, glaring Yugi from earlier was gone, replaced by the Yugi, Joey knew and respected, who was determined not to let Yami's attacker go unpunished.
Professor McGonagall interrupted them with the sheet to put down if they were going to stay at the school over Christmas, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Joey, Yugi and Yami put their names down, Kari and Ombre were going home for Christmas this year, Kari had a few things she needed to sort out back home, and since she was in England and her parents knew it, she had no excuse.
The Christmas holidays were the perfect time to test the potion, they'd heard Malfoy and Bakura were staying over Christmas, with Crabbe and Goyle, there were rumours flying around that their father couldn't have them over Christmas because he couldn't afford it. They wanted to see if they could worm a confession out of Malfoy.
However the potion was only half finished, they still needed the Bicorn horn and the Boomslang skin and they would have to steal from Snape's private stores to get them. Yugi was of the opinion he'd rather play another Shadow Game against Marik then risk Snape catching his stealing from his office.
"What we need," Said Hermione, as Thursday's lesson loomed nearer, "Is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office and take what we need." Harry, Ron and Joey looked at her nervously, "I think I'd better do the actual stealing," Hermione continued, in a matter of fact tone, "You three will get expelled if you get into any more trouble and he doesn't trust you four as far as he can throw you." The latter was directed at Yugi, Yami, Kari and Ombre. Yami nodded, "I've got a clean record and he just ignores me. Then all we need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so. Yami smiled weakly, why did he have the feeling causing mayhem in Snape's potions class was equivalent to poking Marik in the eye? And he did mean Marik not Malik.
Potions lesson took place in one of the large dungeons. Thursday's lesson proceeded as per usual. Snape was stalking his way through the classroom, making waspish remarks about the Gryffindor student's potions. Bakura kept flicking puffer-fish eyes at Yugi, but Yami knew if he retaliated on his hikari's behalf he'd get detention faster then you could say 'unfair.'
Harry's Swelling potion was far too runny, something Snape took great delight in mentioning as he passed. Harry wasn't paying attention, he waited until Snape's back was turned on him, and looked at Hermione, who nodded and Harry took great pleasure in tossing a Filibuster Firework, which had belonged to Fred, who'd willingly given it to them when they'd told him they were going to aggravate Snape, into Bakura's cauldron.
Bakura's potion exploded, showering almost the entire class. People shrieked as the potion landed on them. Bakura was drenched, and swelled up like a balloon, Serves him right, Yami thought, trying to contain a smirk. Through the confusion Harry saw Hermione sneak out. Snape started giving everyone antidotes and Harry desperately trying not to laugh when Malfoy made his way to the front, his nose the size of a small melon. About halfway though the casualties of war Yugi spotted Hermione making her way back into the class, the front of her robes bulging.
When everyone had taken a swig of the antidote and the various swellings had subsided, Snape swept over to Bakura's cauldron and scooped out the remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush.
"If I ever find out who threw this," Snape whispered, "I shall make sure that person is expelled." Yugi tried to look confused, Snape was looking right at him, and though he knew he hadn't thrown it, the bell which rang ten minutes later was a welcome relief.
"At least he didn't look at you, Harry." Yugi said, trying to sound cheerful. Yami gave him a look as if to say what-are-you-hiding?
"I bet he knew Bakura was aggravating you all along. I bet he thought the firework was your way of retaliating." Joey snorted. "He doesn't know you very well…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yami growled protectively.
"Nothing…" Joey was on the defensive, "I just meant that you would have gotten there first." Hermione had thrown the ingredients into the cauldron and was stirring feverishly.
"It'll be ready in a week." She said, stalling any possible argument between Yami and Joey. The two just sat there glaring at each other.
"As long as Snape thinks it was me, he won't even think about questioning you." Yugi continued, talking to Harry, trying to ignore the glaring match… and failing. "Oh, cut it out you two."
"Yeah, but he might try to prove it was you, Yuge." Joey said, finally looking away from Yami's glare.
"But it wasn't." Ron said, "So what, exactly, can he do?"
"Knowing Snape, something foul." Harry said, as the potion bubbled away.
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A week later the gang, were walking across the Entrance Hall when they saw a whole bunch of people gathered around the notice board, reading a newly pinned up piece of parchment. They were beckoned over by an excited looking Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas, and a thoughtful looking Ryou.
"They're starting a Duelling Club!" said Seamus, "First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind wizard duelling lessons," Joey's face fell as he realised it wasn't a Duel Monsters club, "The lessons might come in handy."
"What do you think?" Yugi asked Yami, who was thoughtfully reading the sign.
"I don't think Slytherin's monster can duel, but it could be useful." Yami said, as they went into dinner. "I'm going to go."
The rest of the gang were up for it, so at eight o'clock they hurried back to the Great Hall. The long dinning tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles overhead. Most of the school seemed to be here, carrying their wands and looking excited.
"I wonder who the teacher will be." Kari said, as they edged their way into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a Duelling champion, no Joey, not our sort of Duelling," Joey poked his tongue out at her, "He was a champion, when he was young, maybe it'll be him."
"As long as it's not…" Yami began, but ended on a growl, as Lockheart walked onto the stage.
"Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me?" Lockheart called waving his arms.
"Why would we want to?" Joey asked, Kari stomped on his foot.
"Now, Professor Dumbledore has given me permission to start this little Duelling Club, to train you up in case you ever need to defend yourself as I myself have done on countless occasions, for full details, see my published works." Harry was surprised to hear a bored, derisive, snort from Yugi. Yami gave the hikari a startled look; obviously Lockheart had pushed even the normally placid boy to his limits.
"Let me introduce my assistant Professor Snape," Lockheart flashed a smile, "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about Duelling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now I don't want you to worry, you'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him."
"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Yugi whispered, it was only loud enough for the gang to hear it, but Yami nearly fainted in surprise, he had to wonder who this boy was and what he'd done with Yugi.
'Are you alright?'
"…" Yugi didn't reply, it wasn't because he couldn't hear Yami, he was just ignoring him, he had been since the owls had arrived this morning. Yami's owl had arrived with post for Yugi and the hikari had been quiet ever since. Yami was worried but was distracted by Lockheart being blasted off his feet by Snape.
"Do you think he's alright?" Hermione asked.
"Who cares?" Harry, Ron, Yugi and Joey said at the same time.
Lockheart got to his feet a little unsteadily. His hat had fallen off and his hair was tilting to one side. He fixed this immediately and tottered back to the platform. "That was a disarming charm, as you see I've lost my wand, ah, yes thank you Miss Ironhide, yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, But if you don't mind me…" Lockheart trailed off at the murderous look Snape was giving him. He changed the subject, "Alright, I'm going to come around and put you into pairs." Immediately Yugi and Yami tried to pair up, but Lockheart had other ideas.
"Ah yes, Mr Malfoy…no not you, the other one, that's right, if you pair up with Mr Muto, no not you, the little one." Yami gave Lockheart the most evil look you could possibly imagine as the idiot teacher paired Yugi with Bakura. "And Mr Kaiba, if you'd pair up with the other twin…" Now he was getting death glares from two parties.
"Wands at the ready!" Lockheart called, returning to the stage, "And bow!" Yugi's bow was more of a nod, he refused to take his eyes from Bakura. Yami and Kaiba barely even nodded at each other. "On three cast your wands to disarm your opponent, DISARM ONLY, we don't want any accidents. One…two…three!"
Malfoy wasn't the only one who started on two, while his spell hit Harry hard enough to make him feel as though he'd been hit over the head with a saucepan, Bakura cast a spell that had Yugi staggering backwards, feeling like he'd been hit a rugby player. Kaiba and Yami had started on three, but their spells had bounced off each other and hit other people in the crowd.
"I SAID DISARM ONLY!" Lockheart yelled over the heads of the battling crowd, but no one heard him, Yugi had gotten his wind back and cast a spell that sent Bakura sprawling.
"So you do have some fight in you, it's not just the Pharaoh's doing!" Bakura smirked, as he got to his feet, he tackled Yugi, sending them both crashing to the ground.
Yami saw this and looked away from Kaiba, giving the CEO enough time to hit Yami with "Rictusempra!" The beam of silver light hit the Pharaoh and he doubled up, wheezing.
"STOP! STOP!" Lockheart yelled, but Snape took control.
"Finte Incantateum!" Snape shouted, all active spells stopped. There only two pairs still moving. One of which was Yugi and Bakura, which was soon remedied when Joey and Kari pulled Bakura off of Yugi, prising his hands off the chain of the Millennium Puzzle. Yugi winced in pain as Yami helped him to his feet.
The other pair was Hermione and Millicent Bulstode, a Slytherin in their year, or the year above. The Slytherin had Hermione in a headlock and Hermione was whimpering in pain. It took Harry, Ron, Ryou and Ombre to pull her off, considering she wasn't much older then them, what she lacked in age she made up for in sheer bulk.
Lockheart walked through the crowd, giving advice on recovering and stopping in the middle of the hall, "I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," He glanced at Snape who quickly looked away, "Let's have a volunteer pair… Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you?"
"A bad idea, Professor Lockheart," said Snape, "Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest of spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchly up to the hospital wing in a matchbox." Neville's face went pinker, "How about Malfoy and Muto?" said Snape with a twisted smile.
'This has to be payback 'cause he thinks I chucked the firework.' Yugi thought down the link to Yami.
"Excellent idea!" Said Lockheart, gesturing Yugi and Bakura into the middle of the room, the crowd backed away quickly, to give them room, plus the fact they didn't like the look on Bakura's face.
"Now, Yugi," Lockheart said, "When Bakura points his wand at you, you do this." He did something with his wand that was supposed to be a complicated wiggling action, Yugi guessed. Lockheart dropped his wand. Lockheart picked it up quickly.
Snape moved closer to Bakura, and whispered something in his ear. Bakura smirked and Yugi looked up at Lockheart, "Professor, what was that you showed me, again?" Lockheart just pushed him forward.
"Scared, little Yugi?" Bakura smirked at him as he stepped forward.
"You wish."
"Three… two… one… go!" Lockheart shouted, Bakura raised his wand quickly and before Yugi could counter, he bellowed something.
"Serpensortia!" The end of Bakura's wand exploded, and a large black cobra shot out the end and raised itself, ready to strike. Yugi was paralyzed, he didn't know what to do, his mind was too busy screaming cobra, cobra, cobra, cobra…
"Don't move, Muto," Snape said, clearly enjoying seeing Yugi rooted to the spot, ash white and eye to eye with an angry snake, "I'll get rid of it…"
"Allow me!" Lockheart said, brandishing his wand, there was a loud bang and instead of disappearing it shot up into the air and landed with a thud. Enraged it turned on the nearest person, hissing fiercely.
It stopped in front of Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs exposed, poised to strike.
Harry wasn't sure what made him do it. He wasn't even aware of deciding to do it. All he knew was that he moved forward and that he had shouted stupidly at the snake, "Leave them!" And for some odd reason the snake had listened, slumping to the floor docile as a garden hose, with it's black eyes on Harry. Harry knew for some odd reason that it wouldn't attack anyone now, not Yugi, not Justin or anyone else in the room, though how he knew, he wasn't sure.
He looked up at Justin, grinning, expecting the Hufflepuff to be relieved, or puzzled, or even grateful… but certainly not angry or scared.
"What do you think you're playing at?" Justin yelled, before storming out of the hall. Snape made the snake vanish while looking at him in an odd way and he felt someone tug the back of his robes, as ominous muttering started up around the room.
"Come on," Said Yami's voice in his ear, "Move… come on…" Harry was steered out of the Great Hall by Yami and Ron with the rest of the gang following. None of the gang would explain anything until they'd dragged him into the empty Gryffindor Common Room, and Yugi had collapsed into an armchair, and Ron had pushed Harry into another one while Yami looked Yugi over, the hikari's face was still white with fear.
"You're a Parselmouth. Why didn't you tell us?" Ron demanded.
"I'm a what?" Harry asked, confused.
"Parselmouth!" Ron said, "You can talk to snakes!"
"I know," Said Harry, "I mean that's only the second time I've ever done it. I accidentally set a boa constrictor on my cousin Dudley once, long story, but it was telling me it had never seen Brazil and I accidentally set it free. That was before I knew I was a wizard."
"A boa constrictor you'd never seen before told you it had never seen Brazil?" Yugi repeated faintly, colour finally returning to his face.
"So?" Said Harry defensively, "I bet a load of people here can do it?"
"No, they can't, it's not a very common gift. Harry this is bad."
"What's bad?" Harry said angrily, "If I hadn't told the snake to leave Yugi and Justin alone…"
"Oh, so that's what you said to it."
"What d'you mean? You were all there… you heard me."
"We heard you speaking Parseltongue," Yami said, "Snake language. You could have been saying anything. It's no wonder Justin panicked, it sounded like you were egging the snake on."
"It was creepy." Joey said, looking Harry in the eyes. Harry gaped at them.
"I spoke another language? But… I didn't realise… how can I speak another language without knowing I can speak it?"
"How did I become fluent in ancient Egyptian overnight?" Kari retorted, "Without extensive study? Magic!" Harry had to admit she had a point.
"Can you please tell me what's wrong with stopping a dirty great snake from biting Justin's head off. What does it matter as long as he doesn't have to join the Headless Hunt?"
"It matters," Hermione said, speaking at last, "Because being able to speak to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was famous for. That's why the symbol of Slytherin house is a snake." Harry's mouth fell open.
"Exactly," said Ombre, And now the school's going to think you're his great-great etcetera grandson or something!"
"But I'm not!" Harry said, a feeling of panic he couldn't quite explain rising.
"You'll find it hard to prove." Said Hermione, "He lived about a thousand years ago; for all we know, you could be."
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By the next morning the snowfall that had begun in the night, raising Kari's hopes of a chance at ice skating before she had to go home, had turned into a full blown blizzard so thick the last Herbology lesson with Hufflepuff house was cancelled. Professor Sprout wanted to fit socks and scarves on the Mandrakes, a tricky operation, but an essential one as they were needed to revive Mrs Norris, Colin and Rebecca.
Harry fretted about the previous day, wanting to explain to Justin, pacing next to the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room, while Kari had gone ice skating now the blizzard had died down, Ron and Hermione were playing a game of wizard's chess and the rest of the Gryffindor group were duelling each other, with Yami in the lead, his life points untouched.
Eventually Yami was banned from playing, after beating Joey and Ombre and drawing with Yugi and he left the Common Room to go look for Kari. Hermione grew frustrated as Harry continued to pace and she started losing, "For heaven's sake, Harry," She said as Ron's bishop dragged her knight off the board, "Go and find Justin if it's that important to you!"
Harry left the Common Room, wondering where Justin might be. The castle was darker then it normally was in the daytime, because of the thick swirling grey snow which hadn't long started up again, Harry hoped that Kari had enough sense to come inside. Harry heard snippets of conversation as he passed the classrooms, not everyone was as lucky as them to have a cancelled lesson. As he passed the Transfiguration class he could hear Professor McGonagall yelling at a boy who by the sound of it had turned his friend into a badger.
Harry had to force himself not to take a look and continue walking, thinking the Hufflepuff student would use the free lesson to catch up on some work, and decided to check the library first.
A group of Hufflepuffs who would have been in Herbology were sat in the back of the room, and Ryou was sat on his own at another table, but there was no sign of Justin. He inadvertently eavesdropped on their conversation as he went through the invisibility section.
"I told Justin to hide in the dorms. I mean to say if Potter's marked him as his next victim it's best if he keeps a low profile for a while. Of course Justin's been waiting for something like this to happen since he let slip to Potter that he was muggle born."
"You defiantly think it was Potter then, Ernie?"
"Hannah, he's a Parselmouth. Everyone knows that's the mark of a dark wizard. Have you ever heard of a decent one who could talk to snakes? They called Slytherin himself serpent-tongue." There were some murmurings at this, "Remember what was written on the wall? Enemies of the Heir, Beware! Potter and his friend, Muto, had some sort of run in with Filch and next thing we know, Filch's cat is attacked. Creevey and Hawkins was annoying Potter and Muto at the Quidditch match and then both of them are attacked. The only reason I don't think it's Muto is because of the way he froze in fear in front of that cobra, if he could control Slytherin's monster then he wouldn't have any trouble controlling that snake."
"Potter always seemed so nice though, and he got rid of You-Know-Who. He can't be all bad, can he?" Hannah said uncertainly.
"No one really knows how he survived that attack by You-Know-Who…" Ernie continued, Harry was getting more and more angry and as Ernie finished he stepped out from behind the bookshelf. The Hufflepuffs's looked as though they'd been petrified by the sight of him.
"Hello," Harry said, "I'm looking for Justin." The Hufflepuffs looked fearfully at Ernie.
"What do you want with him?" Ernie asked.
"I want to tell him what really happened at the Duelling Club."
"We were all there, we saw what happened."
"Then you noticed that, after I spoke to it the cobra backed off."
"All I saw was you speaking Parseltongue and chasing the snake towards Justin." Ernie said stubbornly.
Harry and Ernie's debate went on and Harry stormed out of the library and bumped into Hagrid.
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Up in the Common Room, Yugi's head had shot up and Joey had to chase the hikari as he grabbed his deck and dashed out of the room. "Yugi, wait up!" Yugi didn't pay any attention, the link with Yami had gone dead and Boh was panicking, unable to reach the Dark Magician.
Joey, the voice is back. Red Eyes Black told him as he followed his friend round a corner. Be careful. Mahado was last sensed around where we can hear it. Coming to the Pharaoh's aid.
Catching up with Yugi as he turned a corner, he saw Yugi fall to his knees beside the victims of the latest attack; tears running down his face. Harry was stood stock still in shock.
Nearly Headless Nick was floating just off the ground, no longer white, but black and smoking. Justin Finch-Finely was led on the ground directly behind the ghost, petrified, but it was the last victim that had caused Yugi's distress, Yami was on the ground, petrified. Mahado, the Dark Magician, was close to collapse, without Yami, the magic supporting the monster was nearly out. "Yami… please, wake up!" Yugi practically screamed, shaking the Pharaoh. "Yami…!"
"Yugi…" The Dark Magician spoke verbally, Yugi's head snapped up, tears still flowing as he looked into Mahado's eyes, "Be strong." The Dark Magician fell, exhausted and unable to maintain consciousness any longer. Yugi's anguish passed through the link with Boh, right through to everyone with a real live Duel Monster in their little group.
Yugi closed his eyes and Joey had the scare of his life, as Yugi collapsed on the spot, still sending despair and fear, so acute that it hurt the rest of the gang and their Duel Monsters, down the link with Kuriboh.
Yugi opened his eyes in the corridor between his and Yami's soul rooms. His soul room was untouched, but the once Bronze door leading to Yami's room and the puzzle that was the Pharaoh's mind was marble grey, and as hard as Yugi tried he couldn't open it. He tried everything he could but the door wouldn't open.
"Yugi? Yugi, you alright pal?"
"No!" Yugi wanted to scream at the voice that echoed down the corridor, he wanted to find out who had done this and then make sure they couldn't hurt anyone else. How could he be alright when his dark half was petrified? Yugi followed the voice out of the corridor.
Joey shuddered and backed away very quickly, as Yugi picked himself up. Tears were running down his face still, but the look in his eyes was very much a Yami type look and he wasn't talking Yami on a good day, this was a 'Yami-after-the-blood-of-someone-who'd-hurt-Yugi' type look. In all honesty it scared Joey considerably, he'd never seen Yugi look at anyone like that before, not that the look was focused on anyone in particular, there was no one for Yugi to vent on, they only thought they knew who the attacker was, they weren't sure.
"Yugi?" Joey asked, warily approaching the boy, Yugi turned to him, and for a spilt second the glare was focused on him, and then Yugi's angry gaze dissolved and Yugi burst into loud sobs again. Joey wasn't sure if he was relived or not as he went over to comfort his best friend.
"It's not fair."
"None of this is." Joey said, holding his friend tightly, Yugi buried his face in Joey's chest. Peeves shot out of a room next to Harry.
"Why it's potty wee Potter!" cackled Peeves, who'd spotted Harry first, "What's Potter and friends up to? Why're they lurking…" He spotted the victims and in seconds his attitude had changed. He filled his lungs up with air and before Harry could stop him shouted at the top of his voice. "ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTAAAAACK!"
Crash… crash… crash, door flew open along the corridor and people flooded out. For a minute there was too much of a crowd and the victims were in danger of being kicked. Yugi pulled away, tears still running down his face, the glare was back again as he saw people weren't watching what they were doing. "BACK OFF!" He shouted, the Millennium Puzzle glowed gold and a burst of golden magic pushed the students away as Professor McGonagall rushed down the halls.
"Caught in the act!" Ernie yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Harry.
"That'll do, MacMillan!" said Professor McGonagall. Peeves burst into song.
"Potter, you rotter, oh what have you done?
You're killing off students, you think it's good fun…"
"That's enough Peeves. Mr Wheeler, if you could escort Mr Muto up to the hospital wing with the victims." Joey nodded and led Yugi up to the hospital wing, as Harry was led to Professor Dumbledore's office and the victims were carried up to the hospital wing by other Professors. Once there Yugi burst into tears again and Joey comforted him as the small boy cried himself out.
Yugi looked back to Yami as his tears dried up, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "You'll be fine, Yami. I know you will!" Yugi said, determination in his voice, "And we will stop whoever did this!" Joey smiled gently at his friend, watching as Yugi's game face came on, he knew the boy was still upset but this was the reaction he'd expected from Yugi. The scary, glaring Yugi from earlier was gone, replaced by the Yugi, Joey knew and respected, who was determined not to let Yami's attacker go unpunished.