Chapter 2: - Quidditch World Cup
They were halfway through explaining when Fred and George gate crashed the group, demanding to know why they hadn't been asked for help, letting them know they would have flown all the way to America to help, and that Harry shouldn't worry, they knew who the real Harry was all along.
This was then followed by a member of the English Ministry popping along to check they were still there and that Harry hadn't vanished again, an American Auror checking Yami wasn't breaking any more laws, then lunch, then several people popping by to see the group who'd been arrested for the kidnap of Harry Potter and a couple of their school mates who wanted to know exactly how much trouble they'd gotten in and would they be back to school in September?
By which point dusk was falling and they had to give up on the explanations, much to Yami's disgust since it meant he'd have to wait for an aging potion, and split up to go watch the Quidditch.
The group who had been in the magical jail cells in America were on their way to the Ministry box, where the American Ministry were based, minus Seto who had stopped by to make a surprise announcement, probably badgered into it by Mokuba, announcing that after the match the Kaiba tent was open to the group.
Since it was much bigger on the inside then Grandpa Muto's or the Weasley's a surprised group had taken him up on the offer.
Salesmen apparated into the crowds with trays of things, Harry bought everyone a pair of Omniocluars, which could replay action, slow everything down and flash up a play by play if they needed it. This caused some outcry when they finally browbeat Harry into telling them how much they had cost, but it had settled when he'd told them they wouldn't be getting anything for Christmas from him.
Following the green and red lanterns through the woods, discussing tactics, Duel Monsters, and the girls chatting about something in low voices that the boys couldn't hear over the noise of singing and laughing and joking Quidditch fans, they finally emerged in the shadow of a huge golden stadium, bigger then anything any of the Duellists had ever competed in by about ten to twentyfold.
The wizard at the doors checked their tickets and smirked, "Mr Potter and friends." He made a great show of examining Harry, "Are you sure he's the real Harry Potter?"
"Yes, we're certain." Yugi sighed, "Can we go in?"
"Up to the top and to the right." The whole group went on in and Joey looked over the heads of Tea and Tristan, who were both wearing Yugi and Joey's de-aging amulets so they looked underage, the only way they could get away without showing any magic, to Harry who looked vaguely annoyed.
"You do realise that's not going to get old, don't you?"
"Well…" Harry had to duck out of the way of a group of overly enthusiastic children. "I'm bored of it."
By the time they reached their box the only people in the crowd were people for the Kaiba Corp box, people for the Hosting Ministry box and the box that had been specially reserved for the American Ministry guests. Kari poked her head out of the door, Omniocluars in hand, "Guys, hand around after the match, I know where the Kaiba tent is."
"Got it." Yugi nodded, "Bulgaria to win?"
"Na, Ireland, they have the stronger team." Kari said before ducking into her box and obviously they were either full or everyone they were expecting was there as she shut the door behind her.
Yugi took his seat eagerly, having looked forward to this since they'd been given the tickets as compensation, the stadium was crowded, lit by a soft golden light and the pitch below looked as smooth as velvet, below, hanging on some of the stadium plinths was a huge blackboard that had writing on it that was changing every few seconds, making Yugi grin as he saw an advertisement for the new KC Duel Disks, he had to get one of those before the next Tournament, but was quite happy with his old one.
"What do you think the National Team display will be?" Harry was asking Ombre, who shrugged, "Formation Flying?"
"No, it's team mascots, not the team itself." Tea said, reading the pamphlet.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…" All of them jumped a mile, "WELCOME! WELCOME TO THE FINAL OF THE FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP!"
The stadium roared in anticipation and the blackboard's last message was wiped in favour of BULGARIA: 0, IRELAND: 0.
"AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE THE BULGARIAN TEAM MASCOTS!"
Yugi froze as the team mascots entered the stadium. He knew what they were by everyone's reaction, the fact that Ombre and Tea were the only ones in the box that weren't reacting and he was sure it was the Puzzle protecting him from their effects, just as it had back at the Tournament that Yami had lost to a Duellist who was at least half a one.
They were Veela.
Luckily the display was over before any of the group could do anything stupid, and they retook their seats, blushing bright red.
'Veela?' Yami sounded resigned.
"Yeap." Yugi chuckled.
"AND NOW, KINDLY PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR THE IRISH TEAM MASCOTS!"
A great green and gold comet came zooming into the stadium, split into two and a rainbow arched across the pitch joining the two balls of light, golden rain falling from it.
"Gold?" Yugi asked, catching some of it.
"Awesome!" Joey collected a respectable pile of it.
The giant shamrock that the two light orbs had formed disappeared and the leprechauns, sat opposite the veela.
"AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, KINDLY WELCOME THE BULGARIAN NATIONAL QUIDDITCH TEAM! I GIVE YOU DIMITROV! IVANOVA! ZOGRAF! LEVSKI! VULCHANOV! VOLKOV! ANDDDD KRUM!" To a huge roar from the crowd with seemed to gain intensity with the bellow of Krum's name, the Bulgarian Team zoomed out onto the pitch.
"Isn't Krum a huge name in international Quidditch?" Tristan was asking.
"How would you know?"
"I read."
"AND NOW, PLEASE GREET THE IRISH NATIONAL QUIDDITCH TEAM!" Any chance for a retort was cut off, "PRESENTING, CONNONLLY! RYAN! TROY! MULLET! MORAN! QUIGLEY! ANDDDD LYNCH!"
Several green blurs shot onto the pitch to another huge roar from the crowd.
"AND HERE, ALL THE WAY FROM EGYPT, OUR REFEREE, ACCLAIMED CHAIRWIZARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOSSCIATION OF QUIDDITCH, HUSSAN MOSTAFA!"
A small figure in gold robes walked out onto the pitch, Harry finally remembered to use his Omnioculars, he was a short, thin wizard, who was completely bald but with a rather bushy moustache. There was a silver whistle under said moustache and he carried a box that was unlocked but not open under one arm and his broomstick under the other.
He mounted the broom and kicked the crate open.
Four balls burst into the air, the first, the scarlet Quaffle, which, at Hogwarts, was Yugi's concern, second came the two Bludgers and finally the Golden Snitch, worth a hundred and fifty points, it's capture would end the game.
Yugi edged forward until he was sat on the edge of his seat.
Mostafa blew his whistle.
"THEEEEY'RE OFF!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I told you the Irish were better!" Kari crowed.
"Yeah but look at Krum!" Joey pointed out as they assembled at the Kaiba tent, the elder Kaiba already inside attempting to do some work.
"He's good, but a single good player can't replace an entire team." Yugi pointed out.
"No, but he can win the game if he catches the Snitch in time." Yami surprised himself by pointing out.
"True, but in this case I think Krum was trying to end the game on his own terms, Ireland were playing too well."
Fred and George were doing a victory dance of some kind, there was a huge debate going on as regards to the result of the Quidditch match between Harry, Yugi, Yami, Joey, Ron, Tristan, Ombre, Bill and Charlie, Percy had vanished to talk to someone and Robyn had slipped off during the excitement.
"I bet Harry could do it!" Fred was saying. "Harry could pull off almost anything!"
"What?"
"The Wronski Feint!"
"I'll have a go." Yugi piped up, causing Yami t give him a look that was half horror and half, well Ron wasn't sue what it was.
"I think you'd give Yami a heart attack." Joey laughed.
"Oh come on Yami," Yugi pleaded, "It's not like I'd be trying it without anyone around and…"
"I know I promised I wouldn't be over protective but…"
"Try it when he's not watching." Ron whispered to Yugi who struggled to keep a straight face.
There was still chanting and cheering going on as Ombre finished the hot chocolate she'd had going over the stove inside the tent and started dishing it out. It was a signal, not for them to drift off, none of them were ready for that yet, but for them to sink to the dry ground and sit together, talking among friends and continuing their rousing debate.
Harry found himself drifting off, and he wasn't the only one, he noticed as he woke up for the seventh or eighth time. Hermione was leant against Kari, fast asleep, and, to his surprise they'd been joined by Seto who was in the middle of discussing or rather debating with Yami over some move or another.
Mr Weasley and Yami were the first ones to react to the screams, with Yugi, Joey, Kari, Ombre and Tristan in close second.
Hermione woke up as Kari urgently shook her, "Wha?"
"Trouble." Yami growled as he spotted bright flashes over the top of the tents.
Someone was levitating the muggles in charge of the campsite, they were flopping around like dolls, contorting into odd shapes, several tents were on fire and they were heading this way.
"We're going to help the Ministry." Mr Weasley said, "You lot get to the…"
Yugi pushed the Millennium Puzzle into Yami's hands, "You're underage now, you can only use the Puzzle's power." The Pharaoh suddenly realised what was going on, "Mr Weasley, Joey and I can beat you there."
"What?"
"Apparaître Curse of Dragon!" Yugi cast without thinking, pouring enough Magic into the casting to create a full sized Duel Monster.
"Yugi?" Yami asked, worried.
"Protect the others." Yugi said, as Joey, Ombre and Kaiba all summoned their dragons, Kaiba allowing Kari to borrow a Blue Eyes.
"Mokuba, go with them."
"But big brother…"
"Yami, if you let my brother get hurt, you will pay."
Yami's eyes didn't waver from Yugi's as he nodded, "Be careful, Yugi, please."
"I promise." The group with the dragons took off, literally, towards the wizards.
"Yami," Mr Weasley shook himself out of shock, not having expected them to do that, "I'm trusting you to protect the others, Fred, George, Ginny is your responsibility! Stick together! Head for the woods, you should be safe there." He paused before adding as an aside to Yami, "Do what you have to, but don't hurt anyone who isn't attack you."
"I swear on my deck and wand." Yami agreed.
Percy, Bill and Charlie had started sprinting towards the crowd when the dragons had taken off and Mr Weasley joined them.
Yami paused long enough to watch the first of the dragon attacks, then raced after the kids.
'You better come back in one piece Yugi.'
"I will, I promise."
Yugi's reply startled the Pharaoh until he realised that it was just his mind giving what he knew Yugi's answer would be.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We're insane." Joey shouted over the noise of dragon wings.
Yugi just nodded and sent Curse of Dragon into a steep dive that cut half the group of wizards below off from the other half. Joey followed, Red Eyes using it's Inferno Fire Blast to make the separation permanent.
The Duel Monsters were enjoying this, as much as they could and for a moment Joey was reminded that this wasn't the first battle that they had fought in like this, but them he had to direct Red Eyes into a dodge that nearly had him off it's back. If they were going to fight like this again, he was going to learn how to ride his dragon properly.
He didn't even know where Yugi had got the idea for this from but… Another Inferno Fire Blast at the edge of the group caught robes alight.
There was a scream as Kari's Blue Eyes was hit by a spell that had to be an Avada Kedava and vanished, causing the woman to fall from the sky. Joey urged his dragon into a dive to catch her, but before he could get there, Kaiba's Blue Eyes caught her.
The masked wizards below were in retreat, scared of the dragons, not even thinking to Apperate and running straight into the arms of Ministry wizards. Yugi's Curse of Dragon's Dragonflame attack, tactically laid down between tents, cut off another escape route.
"Yuge!" Joey pointed as he spotted another masked wizard, someone who'd been mad enough to jump through the flames.
The Heir to the Shadows sent his dragon after them as the others rounded up the last of the masked Wizards.
"Avada Kedava!"
Curse of Dragon twisted without direction as it came at a low altitude, protecting Yugi of it's own fruition, vanishing close enough to the ground for Yugi to land safely and draw his wand.
"Shit." Joey growled, more then aware that Yugi could win any game, but this was war and the Heir and the Masked Wizard were now locked in a life and death battle.
Ombre's Red Eyes Darkness Dragon swept past Joey's dragon as Yugi was floored, and the wizard approached, wand pointing at Yugi's chest.
More screams erupted as a huge green glittering skull, with a serpent coming out of it's mouth like a tongue, surrounded by greenish smoke appeared above the forest.
The Dark Fire Blast Attack missed the Apperating wizard by millimetres.
Joey snarled as the group they'd rounded up vanished at the same time.
Yugi was already running towards the forest and Joey stopped in front of him allowing Yugi to mount before they headed for the woods.
"Joey, don't tell Yami." Yugi murmured.
"I won't." Joey promised.
They landed as Hermione shouted at a wizard about his House Elf. Dismissing the dragons they raced over to their friends as Mr Weasley took back Harry's wand.
"Yugi, are you alright?" Yami asked.
Yugi nodded.
"The flames?"
Yugi's eyes widened as he remembered the flames rampaging through the campsite, and that not all of them had been the work of Death Eaters.
"I've got it." Kaiba said quickly, once again surprising them, "Apparaître Golden Rain!"
The heavens opened, drenching everyone in a gold coloured rain that seemed to restore the energy of everyone it touched and put out the many fires everywhere.
"Thank you." Yugi smiled at Kaiba, who hadn't left Kari's side yet, even to cast the spell.
"You're welcome." Kaiba nodded.
"Who are you and what have you done with Seto Kaiba?" Joey's wand was at Kaiba's throat before anyone saw him move.
"What's this?"
"You let someone else ride a Blue Eyes, you trusted Yami with your brother, you…"
"I am Seto Kaiba, Kari Ironhide is my employee, Mokuba Kaiba is my brother, Kisara my partner, I can call her if you need proof."
Joey nodded as the ministry wizards watched.
'Kisara!' "Kisara!" Kaiba called both mentally and out loud and the dragon arrived almost instantly.
Black Dragon Rider, She broadcast into everyone's mind, Would you mind removing your wand from my partner's throat before I make you? Joey was quick to comply.
"Sorry Kaiba."
Kaiba snorted but there was understanding in his cold gaze.
Yugi took the Millennium Puzzle back from Yami as Mr Weasley managed to get the Ministry to let them go back to their tents, but instead of heading back to their separate tents, they headed back to the Kaiba one, sleeping wherever there was space.
'Yugi?'
"Yes?" Yugi was awake enough for short sentences but not much more.
'I'm sorry.'
"For what?"
'I couldn't help.'
"You helped in a big way, we couldn't have fought like that if our friends had been in the way. Can you show me your memories of what happened after we split up?" Yugi sat up and looked at the Pharaoh who was playing at being asleep.
'Sure…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yami wasn't happy at having to leave his hikari behind, but Yugi had had a point, Yami was underage now, and as such the Shadows were the only type of magic he could use outside of school.
A thought played at his mind as they entered the dark forest, surely this counts as a life and death situation. "Lumos."
His wand lit up, allowing them to see as people blundered about in the dark, the sudden light making Ron trip over on a root.
Fred, George, Ginny, Tea and Hermione were gone, leaving Mokuba, Tristan, Yami, Ron and Harry on the path which was filled with scared witches and wizards looking back over their shoulders towards the campsite.
"Lumos." Ron called giving them a bit more light and Harry dug around in his pockets.
"Harry?" Mokuba asked, drawing his wand easily.
"I don't believe it."
"What?" Yami demanded.
"I've lost my wand."
Yami and Ron raised their wands as high as they could to get a better look around but it was nowhere to be seen.
"It's got to be back at the Kaiba tent." Yami reasoned, though he was feeling completely unreasonable.
"Or it fell out of your pocket when we were running. We could retrace our steps." Mokuba said thoughtfully.
"Once it's safe. I have no great urge to find out exactly what your brother would do to me if you got hurt." Yami growled.
A house elf burst through the clearing, squeaking something about bad wizards and finding a place to hide.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked, "Why can't she run properly?"
"Didn't ask permission to hide?" Harry guessed.
They followed the path deeper into the woods, though Yami wanted to stay at it's edge and watch the battle going on, finding men shouting about something in a patch of silvery light that shone from…
Yami stuck his fingers in his ears and closed his eyes, fed up veela and wishing they'd go away.
Between that and Ron falling under their spell, Mokuba and Harry had to drag the two away and Yami didn't open his eyes again until they were safely away.
"I hate Veela." Yami growled.
"What was it?" Mokuba teased, "1900 - 0 in the end?"
Yami didn't reply, he was too busy glaring at Mokuba.
Harry looked around in the wand light, it was a small clearing, deep enough for them to be able to hide, "I reckon we could wait here, the gang could see us a-dragonback and we could hear someone coming a mile off."
With that a ministry man popped in, had the situation explained to him and popped back out again.
"That was Ludo Bagman." Ron frowned, "He was a great beater for the Wimbourne Wasps, but not exactly on top of things."
Yami was pacing, trying to hear noises from the campsite. It seemed to have gone quiet.
"Do you think they're alright?" Mokuba asked, worried about his older brother.
"They're riding DRAGONS, what's the worst that could happen?" Ron automatically wished he hadn't asked that as Harry and Yami glared at him.
"Shush." Mokuba hissed.
"Nox." Yami murmured, Ron following. It sounded like someone was coming up on their clearing.
"Who's there?" Yami demanded.
"MORSMORDRE!"
Far above them in the sky, a huge green glittering skull, with a serpent coming out of it's mouth like a tongue, surrounded by greenish smoke appeared.
The wood around them erupted in screams, which was possibly why Harry didn't hear Hermione ad Tea arrive until Hermione tackle-glomped him. They were about to leave the clearing when twenty wizards apparated in, "Stupefy!"
Yami didn't even think, he was dropping to the ground, taking Mokuba with him as Harry pulled Hermione and Ron down and the collective spell passed over their heads and knocked over a bunch of trees giving them a firm view of the campsite and it's dragon protectors.
"Stop!" Yami's head shot up, he knew that voice! "Stop! That's my son!"
Mr Weasley was striding towards them looking terrified. Yami was on his feet in seconds, Harry and the others following.
What followed was Mr Crouch attempting to prove, one after the other that they were the ones to cast the Dark Mark, only stopping when Mokuba pointed out that the spell came from over there, and pointed in the direction it came from.
It turned out to be a house elf who had found Harry's wand.
Crouch's house elf.
Who had no information for them at all.
The dragons landed as Hermione launched into a scathing tirade at Mr Crouch for freeing his house elf when she'd been scared and their friends raced over.
"Yugi, are you alright?" Yami asked.
Yugi nodded.
"The flames?" Yami asked, worried.
Yugi's eyes widened as he remembered the flames rampaging through the campsite, and that not all of them had been the work of Death Eaters.
"I've got it." Kaiba said quickly, once again surprising them, "Apparaître Golden Rain!"
The heavens opened, drenching everyone in a gold coloured rain that seemed to restore the energy of everyone it touched and put out the many fires everywhere.
"Thank you." Yugi smiled at Kaiba, who hadn't left Kari's side yet, even to cast the spell.
"You're welcome." Kaiba nodded.
"Who are you and what have you done with Seto Kaiba?" Joey's wand was at Kaiba's throat before anyone saw him move.
"What's this?"
"You let someone else ride a Blue Eyes, you trusted Yami with your brother, you…"
"I am Seto Kaiba, Kari Ironhide is my employee, Mokuba Kaiba is my brother, Kisara my partner, I can call her if you need proof."
Joey nodded as the ministry wizards watched.
'Kisara!' "Kisara!" Kaiba called both mentally and out loud and the dragon arrived almost instantly.
Black Dragon Rider, She broadcast into everyone's mind, Would you mind removing your wand from my partner's throat before I make you? Joey was quick to comply.
"Sorry Kaiba."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"They think a House Elf using Harry's wand summoned the Dark Mark?" Yugi sounded surprised.
'Apparently.'
"And you were a help."
'Was not.'
"Was too."
'Was not.'
"Was too."
Hermione was awake too, thinking over what had happened while she'd been separated from her friends with only Tea for company.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is crazy, the boys can't have gone that far." Tea complained.
"It's the boys." Hermione pointed out.
"Ok, they couldn't have left the country yet, hell I bet they haven't even left the county."
Hermione snorted.
Another group of scared people, passed them, chased by a spell and the two ran for it.
A blonde woman caught up with them, when they stopped, Hermione recognised her as the woman who'd been with Kari at Kaiba's tent. "Robyn?"
The woman looked at her carefully, seeming to make up her mind. "Where are your brothers?"
"Brothers?" Hermione asked, but Tea was already answering.
"We lost them, some of them are fighting, some of them are in the woods somewhere."
Robyn nodded and vanished.
"Brothers?" Hermione asked again, "I thought you were an only child."
Tea snorted, "Yugi, Yami, Tristan and Joey are my brothers and by extension Harry and Ron now I guess."
"Does this mean I have an older sister?" Hermione hazarded.
Tea looked at her then grinned, "I always wanted a younger sister, now lets see if we can't find the others."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brothers…
The word sounded nice in Hermione's head, that she had brothers and wasn't an only child.
It was this thought that Hermione fell asleep too.
This was then followed by a member of the English Ministry popping along to check they were still there and that Harry hadn't vanished again, an American Auror checking Yami wasn't breaking any more laws, then lunch, then several people popping by to see the group who'd been arrested for the kidnap of Harry Potter and a couple of their school mates who wanted to know exactly how much trouble they'd gotten in and would they be back to school in September?
By which point dusk was falling and they had to give up on the explanations, much to Yami's disgust since it meant he'd have to wait for an aging potion, and split up to go watch the Quidditch.
The group who had been in the magical jail cells in America were on their way to the Ministry box, where the American Ministry were based, minus Seto who had stopped by to make a surprise announcement, probably badgered into it by Mokuba, announcing that after the match the Kaiba tent was open to the group.
Since it was much bigger on the inside then Grandpa Muto's or the Weasley's a surprised group had taken him up on the offer.
Salesmen apparated into the crowds with trays of things, Harry bought everyone a pair of Omniocluars, which could replay action, slow everything down and flash up a play by play if they needed it. This caused some outcry when they finally browbeat Harry into telling them how much they had cost, but it had settled when he'd told them they wouldn't be getting anything for Christmas from him.
Following the green and red lanterns through the woods, discussing tactics, Duel Monsters, and the girls chatting about something in low voices that the boys couldn't hear over the noise of singing and laughing and joking Quidditch fans, they finally emerged in the shadow of a huge golden stadium, bigger then anything any of the Duellists had ever competed in by about ten to twentyfold.
The wizard at the doors checked their tickets and smirked, "Mr Potter and friends." He made a great show of examining Harry, "Are you sure he's the real Harry Potter?"
"Yes, we're certain." Yugi sighed, "Can we go in?"
"Up to the top and to the right." The whole group went on in and Joey looked over the heads of Tea and Tristan, who were both wearing Yugi and Joey's de-aging amulets so they looked underage, the only way they could get away without showing any magic, to Harry who looked vaguely annoyed.
"You do realise that's not going to get old, don't you?"
"Well…" Harry had to duck out of the way of a group of overly enthusiastic children. "I'm bored of it."
By the time they reached their box the only people in the crowd were people for the Kaiba Corp box, people for the Hosting Ministry box and the box that had been specially reserved for the American Ministry guests. Kari poked her head out of the door, Omniocluars in hand, "Guys, hand around after the match, I know where the Kaiba tent is."
"Got it." Yugi nodded, "Bulgaria to win?"
"Na, Ireland, they have the stronger team." Kari said before ducking into her box and obviously they were either full or everyone they were expecting was there as she shut the door behind her.
Yugi took his seat eagerly, having looked forward to this since they'd been given the tickets as compensation, the stadium was crowded, lit by a soft golden light and the pitch below looked as smooth as velvet, below, hanging on some of the stadium plinths was a huge blackboard that had writing on it that was changing every few seconds, making Yugi grin as he saw an advertisement for the new KC Duel Disks, he had to get one of those before the next Tournament, but was quite happy with his old one.
"What do you think the National Team display will be?" Harry was asking Ombre, who shrugged, "Formation Flying?"
"No, it's team mascots, not the team itself." Tea said, reading the pamphlet.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…" All of them jumped a mile, "WELCOME! WELCOME TO THE FINAL OF THE FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SECOND QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP!"
The stadium roared in anticipation and the blackboard's last message was wiped in favour of BULGARIA: 0, IRELAND: 0.
"AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE THE BULGARIAN TEAM MASCOTS!"
Yugi froze as the team mascots entered the stadium. He knew what they were by everyone's reaction, the fact that Ombre and Tea were the only ones in the box that weren't reacting and he was sure it was the Puzzle protecting him from their effects, just as it had back at the Tournament that Yami had lost to a Duellist who was at least half a one.
They were Veela.
Luckily the display was over before any of the group could do anything stupid, and they retook their seats, blushing bright red.
'Veela?' Yami sounded resigned.
"Yeap." Yugi chuckled.
"AND NOW, KINDLY PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER FOR THE IRISH TEAM MASCOTS!"
A great green and gold comet came zooming into the stadium, split into two and a rainbow arched across the pitch joining the two balls of light, golden rain falling from it.
"Gold?" Yugi asked, catching some of it.
"Awesome!" Joey collected a respectable pile of it.
The giant shamrock that the two light orbs had formed disappeared and the leprechauns, sat opposite the veela.
"AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, KINDLY WELCOME THE BULGARIAN NATIONAL QUIDDITCH TEAM! I GIVE YOU DIMITROV! IVANOVA! ZOGRAF! LEVSKI! VULCHANOV! VOLKOV! ANDDDD KRUM!" To a huge roar from the crowd with seemed to gain intensity with the bellow of Krum's name, the Bulgarian Team zoomed out onto the pitch.
"Isn't Krum a huge name in international Quidditch?" Tristan was asking.
"How would you know?"
"I read."
"AND NOW, PLEASE GREET THE IRISH NATIONAL QUIDDITCH TEAM!" Any chance for a retort was cut off, "PRESENTING, CONNONLLY! RYAN! TROY! MULLET! MORAN! QUIGLEY! ANDDDD LYNCH!"
Several green blurs shot onto the pitch to another huge roar from the crowd.
"AND HERE, ALL THE WAY FROM EGYPT, OUR REFEREE, ACCLAIMED CHAIRWIZARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOSSCIATION OF QUIDDITCH, HUSSAN MOSTAFA!"
A small figure in gold robes walked out onto the pitch, Harry finally remembered to use his Omnioculars, he was a short, thin wizard, who was completely bald but with a rather bushy moustache. There was a silver whistle under said moustache and he carried a box that was unlocked but not open under one arm and his broomstick under the other.
He mounted the broom and kicked the crate open.
Four balls burst into the air, the first, the scarlet Quaffle, which, at Hogwarts, was Yugi's concern, second came the two Bludgers and finally the Golden Snitch, worth a hundred and fifty points, it's capture would end the game.
Yugi edged forward until he was sat on the edge of his seat.
Mostafa blew his whistle.
"THEEEEY'RE OFF!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I told you the Irish were better!" Kari crowed.
"Yeah but look at Krum!" Joey pointed out as they assembled at the Kaiba tent, the elder Kaiba already inside attempting to do some work.
"He's good, but a single good player can't replace an entire team." Yugi pointed out.
"No, but he can win the game if he catches the Snitch in time." Yami surprised himself by pointing out.
"True, but in this case I think Krum was trying to end the game on his own terms, Ireland were playing too well."
Fred and George were doing a victory dance of some kind, there was a huge debate going on as regards to the result of the Quidditch match between Harry, Yugi, Yami, Joey, Ron, Tristan, Ombre, Bill and Charlie, Percy had vanished to talk to someone and Robyn had slipped off during the excitement.
"I bet Harry could do it!" Fred was saying. "Harry could pull off almost anything!"
"What?"
"The Wronski Feint!"
"I'll have a go." Yugi piped up, causing Yami t give him a look that was half horror and half, well Ron wasn't sue what it was.
"I think you'd give Yami a heart attack." Joey laughed.
"Oh come on Yami," Yugi pleaded, "It's not like I'd be trying it without anyone around and…"
"I know I promised I wouldn't be over protective but…"
"Try it when he's not watching." Ron whispered to Yugi who struggled to keep a straight face.
There was still chanting and cheering going on as Ombre finished the hot chocolate she'd had going over the stove inside the tent and started dishing it out. It was a signal, not for them to drift off, none of them were ready for that yet, but for them to sink to the dry ground and sit together, talking among friends and continuing their rousing debate.
Harry found himself drifting off, and he wasn't the only one, he noticed as he woke up for the seventh or eighth time. Hermione was leant against Kari, fast asleep, and, to his surprise they'd been joined by Seto who was in the middle of discussing or rather debating with Yami over some move or another.
Mr Weasley and Yami were the first ones to react to the screams, with Yugi, Joey, Kari, Ombre and Tristan in close second.
Hermione woke up as Kari urgently shook her, "Wha?"
"Trouble." Yami growled as he spotted bright flashes over the top of the tents.
Someone was levitating the muggles in charge of the campsite, they were flopping around like dolls, contorting into odd shapes, several tents were on fire and they were heading this way.
"We're going to help the Ministry." Mr Weasley said, "You lot get to the…"
Yugi pushed the Millennium Puzzle into Yami's hands, "You're underage now, you can only use the Puzzle's power." The Pharaoh suddenly realised what was going on, "Mr Weasley, Joey and I can beat you there."
"What?"
"Apparaître Curse of Dragon!" Yugi cast without thinking, pouring enough Magic into the casting to create a full sized Duel Monster.
"Yugi?" Yami asked, worried.
"Protect the others." Yugi said, as Joey, Ombre and Kaiba all summoned their dragons, Kaiba allowing Kari to borrow a Blue Eyes.
"Mokuba, go with them."
"But big brother…"
"Yami, if you let my brother get hurt, you will pay."
Yami's eyes didn't waver from Yugi's as he nodded, "Be careful, Yugi, please."
"I promise." The group with the dragons took off, literally, towards the wizards.
"Yami," Mr Weasley shook himself out of shock, not having expected them to do that, "I'm trusting you to protect the others, Fred, George, Ginny is your responsibility! Stick together! Head for the woods, you should be safe there." He paused before adding as an aside to Yami, "Do what you have to, but don't hurt anyone who isn't attack you."
"I swear on my deck and wand." Yami agreed.
Percy, Bill and Charlie had started sprinting towards the crowd when the dragons had taken off and Mr Weasley joined them.
Yami paused long enough to watch the first of the dragon attacks, then raced after the kids.
'You better come back in one piece Yugi.'
"I will, I promise."
Yugi's reply startled the Pharaoh until he realised that it was just his mind giving what he knew Yugi's answer would be.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We're insane." Joey shouted over the noise of dragon wings.
Yugi just nodded and sent Curse of Dragon into a steep dive that cut half the group of wizards below off from the other half. Joey followed, Red Eyes using it's Inferno Fire Blast to make the separation permanent.
The Duel Monsters were enjoying this, as much as they could and for a moment Joey was reminded that this wasn't the first battle that they had fought in like this, but them he had to direct Red Eyes into a dodge that nearly had him off it's back. If they were going to fight like this again, he was going to learn how to ride his dragon properly.
He didn't even know where Yugi had got the idea for this from but… Another Inferno Fire Blast at the edge of the group caught robes alight.
There was a scream as Kari's Blue Eyes was hit by a spell that had to be an Avada Kedava and vanished, causing the woman to fall from the sky. Joey urged his dragon into a dive to catch her, but before he could get there, Kaiba's Blue Eyes caught her.
The masked wizards below were in retreat, scared of the dragons, not even thinking to Apperate and running straight into the arms of Ministry wizards. Yugi's Curse of Dragon's Dragonflame attack, tactically laid down between tents, cut off another escape route.
"Yuge!" Joey pointed as he spotted another masked wizard, someone who'd been mad enough to jump through the flames.
The Heir to the Shadows sent his dragon after them as the others rounded up the last of the masked Wizards.
"Avada Kedava!"
Curse of Dragon twisted without direction as it came at a low altitude, protecting Yugi of it's own fruition, vanishing close enough to the ground for Yugi to land safely and draw his wand.
"Shit." Joey growled, more then aware that Yugi could win any game, but this was war and the Heir and the Masked Wizard were now locked in a life and death battle.
Ombre's Red Eyes Darkness Dragon swept past Joey's dragon as Yugi was floored, and the wizard approached, wand pointing at Yugi's chest.
More screams erupted as a huge green glittering skull, with a serpent coming out of it's mouth like a tongue, surrounded by greenish smoke appeared above the forest.
The Dark Fire Blast Attack missed the Apperating wizard by millimetres.
Joey snarled as the group they'd rounded up vanished at the same time.
Yugi was already running towards the forest and Joey stopped in front of him allowing Yugi to mount before they headed for the woods.
"Joey, don't tell Yami." Yugi murmured.
"I won't." Joey promised.
They landed as Hermione shouted at a wizard about his House Elf. Dismissing the dragons they raced over to their friends as Mr Weasley took back Harry's wand.
"Yugi, are you alright?" Yami asked.
Yugi nodded.
"The flames?"
Yugi's eyes widened as he remembered the flames rampaging through the campsite, and that not all of them had been the work of Death Eaters.
"I've got it." Kaiba said quickly, once again surprising them, "Apparaître Golden Rain!"
The heavens opened, drenching everyone in a gold coloured rain that seemed to restore the energy of everyone it touched and put out the many fires everywhere.
"Thank you." Yugi smiled at Kaiba, who hadn't left Kari's side yet, even to cast the spell.
"You're welcome." Kaiba nodded.
"Who are you and what have you done with Seto Kaiba?" Joey's wand was at Kaiba's throat before anyone saw him move.
"What's this?"
"You let someone else ride a Blue Eyes, you trusted Yami with your brother, you…"
"I am Seto Kaiba, Kari Ironhide is my employee, Mokuba Kaiba is my brother, Kisara my partner, I can call her if you need proof."
Joey nodded as the ministry wizards watched.
'Kisara!' "Kisara!" Kaiba called both mentally and out loud and the dragon arrived almost instantly.
Black Dragon Rider, She broadcast into everyone's mind, Would you mind removing your wand from my partner's throat before I make you? Joey was quick to comply.
"Sorry Kaiba."
Kaiba snorted but there was understanding in his cold gaze.
Yugi took the Millennium Puzzle back from Yami as Mr Weasley managed to get the Ministry to let them go back to their tents, but instead of heading back to their separate tents, they headed back to the Kaiba one, sleeping wherever there was space.
'Yugi?'
"Yes?" Yugi was awake enough for short sentences but not much more.
'I'm sorry.'
"For what?"
'I couldn't help.'
"You helped in a big way, we couldn't have fought like that if our friends had been in the way. Can you show me your memories of what happened after we split up?" Yugi sat up and looked at the Pharaoh who was playing at being asleep.
'Sure…'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yami wasn't happy at having to leave his hikari behind, but Yugi had had a point, Yami was underage now, and as such the Shadows were the only type of magic he could use outside of school.
A thought played at his mind as they entered the dark forest, surely this counts as a life and death situation. "Lumos."
His wand lit up, allowing them to see as people blundered about in the dark, the sudden light making Ron trip over on a root.
Fred, George, Ginny, Tea and Hermione were gone, leaving Mokuba, Tristan, Yami, Ron and Harry on the path which was filled with scared witches and wizards looking back over their shoulders towards the campsite.
"Lumos." Ron called giving them a bit more light and Harry dug around in his pockets.
"Harry?" Mokuba asked, drawing his wand easily.
"I don't believe it."
"What?" Yami demanded.
"I've lost my wand."
Yami and Ron raised their wands as high as they could to get a better look around but it was nowhere to be seen.
"It's got to be back at the Kaiba tent." Yami reasoned, though he was feeling completely unreasonable.
"Or it fell out of your pocket when we were running. We could retrace our steps." Mokuba said thoughtfully.
"Once it's safe. I have no great urge to find out exactly what your brother would do to me if you got hurt." Yami growled.
A house elf burst through the clearing, squeaking something about bad wizards and finding a place to hide.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked, "Why can't she run properly?"
"Didn't ask permission to hide?" Harry guessed.
They followed the path deeper into the woods, though Yami wanted to stay at it's edge and watch the battle going on, finding men shouting about something in a patch of silvery light that shone from…
Yami stuck his fingers in his ears and closed his eyes, fed up veela and wishing they'd go away.
Between that and Ron falling under their spell, Mokuba and Harry had to drag the two away and Yami didn't open his eyes again until they were safely away.
"I hate Veela." Yami growled.
"What was it?" Mokuba teased, "1900 - 0 in the end?"
Yami didn't reply, he was too busy glaring at Mokuba.
Harry looked around in the wand light, it was a small clearing, deep enough for them to be able to hide, "I reckon we could wait here, the gang could see us a-dragonback and we could hear someone coming a mile off."
With that a ministry man popped in, had the situation explained to him and popped back out again.
"That was Ludo Bagman." Ron frowned, "He was a great beater for the Wimbourne Wasps, but not exactly on top of things."
Yami was pacing, trying to hear noises from the campsite. It seemed to have gone quiet.
"Do you think they're alright?" Mokuba asked, worried about his older brother.
"They're riding DRAGONS, what's the worst that could happen?" Ron automatically wished he hadn't asked that as Harry and Yami glared at him.
"Shush." Mokuba hissed.
"Nox." Yami murmured, Ron following. It sounded like someone was coming up on their clearing.
"Who's there?" Yami demanded.
"MORSMORDRE!"
Far above them in the sky, a huge green glittering skull, with a serpent coming out of it's mouth like a tongue, surrounded by greenish smoke appeared.
The wood around them erupted in screams, which was possibly why Harry didn't hear Hermione ad Tea arrive until Hermione tackle-glomped him. They were about to leave the clearing when twenty wizards apparated in, "Stupefy!"
Yami didn't even think, he was dropping to the ground, taking Mokuba with him as Harry pulled Hermione and Ron down and the collective spell passed over their heads and knocked over a bunch of trees giving them a firm view of the campsite and it's dragon protectors.
"Stop!" Yami's head shot up, he knew that voice! "Stop! That's my son!"
Mr Weasley was striding towards them looking terrified. Yami was on his feet in seconds, Harry and the others following.
What followed was Mr Crouch attempting to prove, one after the other that they were the ones to cast the Dark Mark, only stopping when Mokuba pointed out that the spell came from over there, and pointed in the direction it came from.
It turned out to be a house elf who had found Harry's wand.
Crouch's house elf.
Who had no information for them at all.
The dragons landed as Hermione launched into a scathing tirade at Mr Crouch for freeing his house elf when she'd been scared and their friends raced over.
"Yugi, are you alright?" Yami asked.
Yugi nodded.
"The flames?" Yami asked, worried.
Yugi's eyes widened as he remembered the flames rampaging through the campsite, and that not all of them had been the work of Death Eaters.
"I've got it." Kaiba said quickly, once again surprising them, "Apparaître Golden Rain!"
The heavens opened, drenching everyone in a gold coloured rain that seemed to restore the energy of everyone it touched and put out the many fires everywhere.
"Thank you." Yugi smiled at Kaiba, who hadn't left Kari's side yet, even to cast the spell.
"You're welcome." Kaiba nodded.
"Who are you and what have you done with Seto Kaiba?" Joey's wand was at Kaiba's throat before anyone saw him move.
"What's this?"
"You let someone else ride a Blue Eyes, you trusted Yami with your brother, you…"
"I am Seto Kaiba, Kari Ironhide is my employee, Mokuba Kaiba is my brother, Kisara my partner, I can call her if you need proof."
Joey nodded as the ministry wizards watched.
'Kisara!' "Kisara!" Kaiba called both mentally and out loud and the dragon arrived almost instantly.
Black Dragon Rider, She broadcast into everyone's mind, Would you mind removing your wand from my partner's throat before I make you? Joey was quick to comply.
"Sorry Kaiba."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"They think a House Elf using Harry's wand summoned the Dark Mark?" Yugi sounded surprised.
'Apparently.'
"And you were a help."
'Was not.'
"Was too."
'Was not.'
"Was too."
Hermione was awake too, thinking over what had happened while she'd been separated from her friends with only Tea for company.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is crazy, the boys can't have gone that far." Tea complained.
"It's the boys." Hermione pointed out.
"Ok, they couldn't have left the country yet, hell I bet they haven't even left the county."
Hermione snorted.
Another group of scared people, passed them, chased by a spell and the two ran for it.
A blonde woman caught up with them, when they stopped, Hermione recognised her as the woman who'd been with Kari at Kaiba's tent. "Robyn?"
The woman looked at her carefully, seeming to make up her mind. "Where are your brothers?"
"Brothers?" Hermione asked, but Tea was already answering.
"We lost them, some of them are fighting, some of them are in the woods somewhere."
Robyn nodded and vanished.
"Brothers?" Hermione asked again, "I thought you were an only child."
Tea snorted, "Yugi, Yami, Tristan and Joey are my brothers and by extension Harry and Ron now I guess."
"Does this mean I have an older sister?" Hermione hazarded.
Tea looked at her then grinned, "I always wanted a younger sister, now lets see if we can't find the others."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brothers…
The word sounded nice in Hermione's head, that she had brothers and wasn't an only child.
It was this thought that Hermione fell asleep too.