Chapter 5: - Chocolate, Boggarts and Chess
Mineola was curious, both Mahado and No were acting strange. Ever since Monday night they had been working together to make sure that no one was left alone in the same room as Boh. Mineola wondered what was going on.
Being curious for an extended time was a new experience for this emerald Dragon, normally as soon as he took an interest in something he would soon have all the data he could want. Either that or he would lose interest. It just so happened that Mineola was looking for something new to take an interest in, since he had grown bored with his latest hobby.
He was going to find out what exactly had happened that Monday evening. Since Mahado and No were in on the conspiracy he wasn't about to ask them, but somehow Boh knew about it. Getting Boh to talk was like telling water to run downhill. The only problem now was getting Boh alone for long enough for him to spill the beans.
However Mineola found getting Boh alone was harder than expected. If he didn't know better he would think that Boh thought that someone was out to get him. Boh was never alone, and while he had already settled into a routine Boh never took the same route twice. Mineola started to wonder if Boh had gotten into some trouble last year. If he did he never complained, at least not to Mineola or the other duel monsters. Then Mineola wondered if Boh would have told them, it wasn't like he was on good terms with any of the others, he was barely tolerated, except by Mahado who always treated Boh with the same respectful ways he had for just about everyone.
Mineola started to feel guilty. They were all Duel monsters, and yet they kept fighting amongst themselves. Kisara and Mahado hated each other, and somehow that hatred had deepened in the past year until the point where Mineola was starting to think they had only had healthy respect for each other beforehand. He couldn't help remembering the many Wars that had occurred, mostly because Kisara and Mahado had found something new to disagree over. First it had been over the sealing of the shadow realm, with Mahado for and Kisara against, then it was Dragons against Magicians, then it was Light against Dark, then the wars had just degraded into an endless battle, but no matter what they claimed the War was about it was always Kisara against Mahado.
After the wars everyone had just seemed to wander, it was boring being stuck in the monster world at first. No one new entered and no one ever left since the Pharaoh sealed the Shadow realm, closing that pathway, the last pathway. Mineola wondered where all his memories were disappearing to; trying to look back over his memories was strange. It wasn't like his recent memories which he could play like a video, more like reading a story that had been written down. He knew the story but he could no longer feel it. It was maddening to know his memories were slowly fading. Except he would rather have known than suddenly wake up one morning and have no memory of the past five thousand years. He wondered what had led to this train of thought and suddenly realised; Boh!
He was going to catch Boh, and make him talk. Or rather listen to Boh babble on until he found out what happened Monday night. The only question was how to catch him.
Mineola's patrol was midday; Boh's sentry duty was from 9pm to 5am. The only time their daily schedules overlapped was when Boh decided to sleep the morning away in his own room instead of on Yugi's bed, and Mineola was up early enough to see him come in, and since Yugi and Yami were fighting… Boh always went to Yugi's in the early morning.
Mineola didn't want to talk to Boh while he had sentry duty, Boh took his job very seriously… and Mahado would want to know why Mineola was talking to Boh, and Mahado had the evening to Midnight shift, while Mana had the Midnight to morning shift. Mahado would find out too easily if Mineola was to approach Boh during Sentry duty. He wasn't about to risk life, wings and talons just to find out Mahado's secret.
He studied Boh's schedule again, Sentry duty, then bed and sleep, breakfast in the kitchen (why was Boh still allowed in there? Kisara had ordered everyone else to stay out of the kitchens unless Pudding was missing.) Then he joined Yugi in his afternoon classes (Very unfair, he wasn't allowed to join Rebecca in her classes), then he came back to their common room and played with the dragonets, (Why Boh consented to being a ball Mineola would never understand), then he again went to the kitchens for supper before Sentry duty on the roof. Boh didn't ever have alone time, or quiet time, or reading time, he fluttered about his day talking to everyone, and he was never alone. He seemed to make sure that when travelling from place to place to do so in a large group of students, or with a teacher, or with Mahado.
Maybe he could ambush Boh outside the kitchens?
He tried out his plan that day. No was already on Sentry duty, and Mahado had just left for his Patrol. Kuriboh bounced out the door and Mineola pounced. (Or rather extracted himself from the shadows so Boh noticed him.)
"Hi Boh, how's you?" Mineola began.
If the sudden appearance of the Emerald Dragon worried Boh he gave no sign of it, in fact he seemed positively happy, "Good afternoon!" Boh squeaked in his cute way.
Mineola tried to smile innocently, "We haven't talked much since we got back, have we Boh? I kinda wondered how you had been getting on." Then he worried, was he going too far out of character here? Would Boh catch onto his ploy? He hadn't really shown too much interest in Boh for a few hundred years, not since he had asked Boh to check out a collapsed cave to see if anyone had been trapped inside, the small Kuriboh had been just the right size to fit through the opening that had been left.
"I've been good." Boh began; Mineola nodded knowing if he said nothing than Boh would start to ramble on about what he had been up to lately.
Boh hated silence.
As Boh rambled on Mineola made sure to give the right amount of feedback to keep him going, nodding, and one word comments to show he was listening. Boh was a goldmine! He seemed to know everything that was happening in the school, from crushes and romances, pranks and dangerous stunts, all the way to the political tendencies of the teachers. Luckily Mineola didn't have to wait too long before the conversation got around to what had happened on a certain Monday night.
Boh had the dragon's undivided attention when he uttered the words, "Did you hear what No did on Monday night?" Followed by a nervous giggle, if any duel monster could be said to giggle.
"Not yet, what happened? He didn't get into trouble did he?"
"No decided he wanted to go and meet the Dementors."
"He didn't!" Mineola exclaimed, he had known it was juicy but he hadn't known No had been in real danger.
"He did. Mahado had to go and rescue him."
"And neither of them want Kisara to find out! Oh this is too good, I have to go and tell her straight away!"
"What!" Boh exclaimed, "No! No! No! You know what Kisara and Mahado are like; they are always ready to believe the worse of each other!"
"That's why Kisara has to know. She always goes on and on about how she wouldn't trust Mahado any where near her hatchlings. If she knew Mahado had saved one of them then she would have to reconsider how she sees Mahado." With these words Mineola turned around and ran back the way they had come, leaving Boh imagining the disaster about to happen.
Mineola was too naïve for his own good.
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THUD…THUD…THUD…
"Harry, please. You're making my hot chocolate spill everywhere!" Yugi complained the Thursday after their detention, as Harry banged his head on the table.
"Hot chocolate?" Yami asked suspiciously.
"I didn't mention chocolate." Yugi said innocently, and then decided to change the subject, "Why are you banging your head on the table anyway?"
"Look at the timetable."
"Ahh, potions."
"Chocolate?" Yami asked again, growling slightly.
"Where?" Yugi asked, looking around as he did so. "There are no bars of chocolate on the table."
"No, but apparently the chocolate is in your cup." Yami said, staring at his hikari, who's eyes darted from side to side, and then he downed the whole cup and got to his feet.
"Uhh, it wasn't real chocolate?" Yugi tried, Yami gave him a disbelieving look, sending Yugi dashing out the door.
"So that's how he's doing it!" Yami growled, knowing full well that Yugi would be eating chocolate by the ton if Yami would allow it, but he wondered why Yugi's chocolate intake had increased so much recently and he wondered how he could cut it back so he didn't end up with a hyperactive hikari on such a regular basis.
Thud…thud…thud…
Harry continued to play Can-I-Knock-Myself-Out as Yami considered ways of getting chocolate banned from Hogwarts all together. "Maybe I can release a plague of chocolate frogs outside Filch's office."
"Yami, I wouldn't." Kari said. She pointed upwards and Yami looked where her finger was pointing… and got a pot of hot… well warm… chocolate dumped on him.
"Ombre!" Yami yelled, "Now what am I supposed to do? I'll have points deducted if I turn up like this!" Yami gestured at the hot chocolate streaming down his robes, "And I don't have time to get cleaned up. Snape's going to eat me alive!"
"Yummy… chocolate covered Yami!" Smirked Ombre. Kari stared at her.
"Ombre…" She said, going red.
"What?"
"That sounded very, very wrong!"
Ombre groaned, "Kari Ironhide, you have a very dirty mind!"
Yami caught on and sank down into the bench, going bright red as he did so. "Mind if I join you?" He asked Harry, and began to bash his head on the table.
Harry looked up, "At least you have an excuse not to go. Ombre here…" He handed her another pot of hot chocolate, "Do me."
"Harry!" Hermione scowled as Kari went redder, then pulled out her wand, and pointed it at Yami, "Scourgify!" The spell hit Yami, leaving him chocolate free.
"So what should I do with this?" Ombre asked, looking at the others.
"Drink it, silly." Hermione replied.
"Fine." Ombre downed the jug.
"This is very entertaining, but we have Potions in five minutes, do we really want to be late?" Hermione asked.
They made their way out of the Great Hall. Hermione and Ombre slipped out the hall without trouble but Kaiba intercepted Yami, Ron stayed to prevent a fight between the two.
"Yami. The chess club is filled with losers; doesn't anyone in England know how to game?"
Yami smiled slightly, "Well not many people are up to your standard, Kaiba."
"I know, I need a challenge. Why don't you come tonight? We haven't gamed each other for a while."
Ron piped up, "Hey! I'm good at chess!" Kaiba stared at him and Ron went red.
"Ron is good, you should play against him sometime, Kaiba." Yami said, "He's almost beaten me a few times."
Kaiba snorted, "You say that about the mutt too. So tonight?"
Yami nodded, "Tonight." Kaiba nodded and left the room, his laptop under one arm.
"You never turn down a challenge from him, do you?" Ron asked as they head down to potions.
"No." Yami's reply was firm, "I never turn down ANY challenge."
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Malfoy walked into Potions late, about halfway through the double lesson. His arm was in a sling and he was acting like some heroic war survivor.
"Does it hurt much?" Pansy Parkinson asked.
"Yeah." Draco said, putting on a brave sort of grimace. Yugi had to wonder if Malfoy was aware of the look Bakura was giving him as he set up his cauldron next to Harry and Ron so they were preparing their ingredients on the same table.
"Sir." Malfoy called, "Sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots because of my arm!"
"Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him." Said Snape without looking up.
"He's such a fake!" Kari growled to Ombre as they prepared their own ingredients, "That wound would be completely healed by now!"
"Professor." Malfoy drawled, "Weasley's mutilating my roots!"
"Surely this counts." Joey hissed to Yugi as Snape ordered Ron and Mouthboy to change roots.
"If you've noticed, it's Snape who's ordering the group to do something." Yami muttered, "Malfoy's worked out the loop hole in his Penalty Game." He looked at Yugi, "As much as I dislike the idea of you Shadow Gaming anyone else, you'll have to be more specific next time."
Yugi watched Snape order Harry to skin Malfoy's Shrivelfig and wondered why Bakura was watching his 'brother' like a hawk.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Joey asked as he waved a hand in front of Yugi's face. Yugi jumped a mile causing Joey to laugh, however across the classroom, Neville's potion which was supposed to be bright green had turned…
"Orange, Longbottom." Snape said as he ladled up some of Neville's potion and allowed it to splash back into the cauldron so everyone could see. "Orange."
"Speaking of orange." Joey murmured to Yugi, "Shouldn't you be adding that right now?"
"Eeep!" Yugi squeaked, and added his ingredients, his potion had been on the verge of turning an interesting shade of blue and he'd only just caught it in time.
Yami, meanwhile, was wondering what Malfoy was saying to Seamus that was making Harry and Ron so confused. He joined them at the basin in the corner as they washed their hands. Yugi watched as the look Bakura was giving his brother turned malicious, and shuddered.
"If I was a friend or relative of one of Black's victims, I'd want revenge? What was he going on about? He was talking to Seamus, but he was looking at me." Harry growled as Yami washed his hands. They watched as Snape tested Neville's potion and Trevor, Neville's toad, shrank into a tadpole.
The Gryffindor's applauded, however, Snape did not look impressed, in fact he looked rather sour as he used the antidote on Trevor the tadpole and ended up with Trevor the toad in his hands.
"Five points from Gryffindor," Sneered Snape, wiping the smiles off of every face, "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger."
"But she didn't…"
"And five points from Gryffindor for lying to a teacher, Miss Ironhide. Class dismissed."
The gang climbed the steps to the Entrance Hall. Harry was still thinking about what Malfoy had said, Yami and Joey were arguing over who had challenged Yugi to a duel first, however Yugi was ignoring them both and talking to Kari and Ombre. Ron, on the other hand, was still fuming about Snape.
"Ten points from Gryffindor! Five of them because the potion was alright!" Ron snarled, catching everyone's attention, "And then when Kari tried to tell the truth he took another five! Why didn't you say something, Hermione?" Ron asked, turning around, "…Uh guys? Where's she go?"
The rest of the group turned around, making room on the stairs for the rest of the class to pass them, "She was right behind us." Kari frowned.
Bakura passed them, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle and followed by a sullen looking Malfoy. He smiled vindictively at Yugi and Kari, then vanished round the corner.
"Why don't I like that?" Yugi sighed as he watched Bakura go.
"You're not the only one," Ombre growled as she watched the passing students, "There she is!"
Hermione was panting slightly, clutching her bag with one hand and tucking something down the front of her robes with the other.
"How did you do that?" Ron asked as they finished their accent.
"What?" Hermione asked, confused, "Oh... I had to go back for something. Oh no!" A seam on Hermione's bag spilt, sending her books tumbling down the stairs. Kari reacted quickly, using the Orb's power to stop the books in midair and bring them back up. "Thanks." Hermione said gratefully as the last of the books floated into Hermione's arms.
Kari smiled, then let the magic she'd called die back down. She wavered and nearly fell back down the stairs, only saved by the fact Joey and Ombre caught her.
"Kari, don't risk yourself." Ombre panicked as Ron confronted Hermione about the amount of books she was carrying, "Not in your condition!"
"I'm fine!" Kari snapped, "Just hungry." She and Hermione marched off towards the Great Hall.
"D'you get the feeling they're not telling us something?" Ron asked the rest of the group.
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Professor Lupin wasn't there when they first arrived at the classroom for their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Boh had somehow joined the group sometime after leaving the Great Hall. They all sat down with their quills and parchment and were talking… well other then Joey and Yami, who were duelling to settle their earlier argument … as Lupin walked into the room. Lupin looked healthier then he had on the train, like he'd had a few square meals.
"Good afternoon," He said, "Would you all please put your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands. Oh and Yami Muto, Joseph Wheeler," Yugi wondered how he'd known who they were without taking a register, "Since it's likely that Yugi will beat both of you, can you please both pack your cards away."
Kari snorted at the looks that statement produced, while packing her books away. She pulled her silver wand out of its hiding place up her sleeve and examined it. Compared to some of the wooden ones the other students had, her's, Ombre's, Yugi's and Yami's silver and gold wands looked almost brand new.
"Right then," Lupin said as Yami finished putting his deck away, If you'd like to follow me…"
Puzzled but interested, the class got to it's feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom. Yami and Joey were looking positively mutinous as the teacher led them along a deserted corridor and around the corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the poltergeist, who was floating upside down and stuffing the nearest keyhole with gum.
Peeves didn't look up until Professor Lupin was two feet away, then he wiggled his feet and burst into song…
"Loony, loopy Lupin." Peeves sang, "Loony, loopy Lupin. Loony, loopy Lupin."
Rude and unmanageable as always, Peeves normally showed some respect towards teachers. Everyone looked at Lupin to see how he'd react To their surprise he was still smiling. "I'd take that gum out of the keyhole, if I were you Peeves," He said pleasantly, "Mr Filch won't be able to get into his brooms."
Peeves only response was to blow a loud, wet, raspberry.
"Peeves!" Ombre growled, stepping forward.
Lupin shook his head and waved her back, before sighing and taking out his wand. "This is a useful little spell," He told the class as Ombre rejoined Kari, "Please watch closely. Waddiwasi!"
With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves's left nostril. He whirled right way up and zoomed away, cursing.
"Wow," Ombre grinned, "I need to make a note of that!"
"Certainly, Ombre Ironhide is it? Professor Dumbledore pointed you transfer students out to me at breakfast the first day of term, though I still keep mixing you twins up. The spell is waddiwasi w.a.d.d.i.w.a.s.i." Ombre made a note of it, "Right, shall we proceed?"
They set off again, the class looking at Professor Lupin with increased respect. He led them down a second corridor and stopped right outside the Staff Room door.
"Inside please." Lupin said, opening the door and standing back.
The staff room was empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair and he looked around as the class filed in. His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty smirk playing around his mouth. As Professor Lupin went to close the door, Snape got to his feet, "Leave it open Lupin, I'd rather not witness this." At the doorway he turned and spoke to Lupin loudly enough for the entire class to hear. "I don't know if anyone's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger and the Miss Ironhides are hissing instructions in his ear."
Neville went scarlet. Yami, Harry and Joey glared at Snape. He had no right to bully Neville, especially in front of other teachers. Boh squeaked at Snape angrily.
Professor Lupin raised his eyebrows, "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," He said, "And I am sure he will perform it admirably." Snape's lip curled and he left, shutting the door with a snap.
"Now then," Lupin said as Boh settled down, beckoning the class towards the end of the room, where an old wardrobe was stood. It gave a sudden wobble. "There's a Boggart in there." He said, smiling, "Nothing to worry about."
Most of the class disagreed with him and Neville gave him a look of pure terror. "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," Professor Lupin continued, "Like wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboard under sinks… I once met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon and I requested that it be left alone for my third years to practise on. So, the first question is, what is a Boggart?"
Hermione and Kari's hands shot up, "It's a shapeshifter," They said at the same time, Kari laughed and waved Hermione to continue, "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us the most."
"That's right," Lupin said, smiling, "I'll assume Miss Ironhide had the same answer. The Boggart sitting in that wardrobe has not yet assumed a form, no one know what he looks like when he's alone, but when I let him out he'll immediately become whatever each of us most fears. This means," Professor Lupin continued, ignoring Neville's splutter of fear, "That we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?"
Trying to answer with Hermione and Kari bouncing up and down was off putting but Harry had a go, "Er, because there's so many of us, it won't know what shape it should take?"
"Precisely." Lupin said, as the two girls lowered their hands, "It's always best to have company when dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused, which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake… tried to frighten two people at once and turned into half a slug. Not remotely frightening." Yami snorted at the idea.
"The charm that repels the Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape you find amusing. We'll practise the charm without wands first. After me please… Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" said the class together.
"So what frightens you most?" Ron asked Joey in a whisper.
"I'm not… oh wait, yes I do know." Joey whispered back with a shudder, "Creepy zombie duellist."
"Zombie… duellist?" Ron asked, Joey shuddered again.
"What would you say is the thing that frightens you the most?" Lupin was asking Neville. Neville's lips moved but no sound came out, "Didn't catch that Neville, sorry." Said Professor Lupin cheerfully.
Neville looked around, then in no more then a whisper said, "Professor Snape."
Nearly everyone laughed.
Lupin however advised Neville on the best way to beat Professor Boggart Snape, then he turned to the class. "If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to turn its attention to each of us in turn," Lupin said, "I would like you all to take a minute to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you would force it to look comical."
Yami looked around, a lot of people had closed their eyes to think, Yugi included. Boh was staying still and quiet, Yami tried to think of what he was afraid of, there were two… possibly three things that kept springing to mind, none of which could possibly be made funny.
"Everyone ready?" The whole class, bar Harry and Yami, nodded. "Alright then, Neville, we're going to back away," said Lupin, "Give you a clear playing field, all right? I'll call the next person forward… now everyone back now, so Neville can get a clear shot." They all retreated, "On the count of three Neville, one, two, three, NOW!"
A jet of sparks shot from Lupin's wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open. Hook nosed and menacing, Professor Snape stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville. Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Snape was bearing down on him, reaching inside his robes…
"R-r-riddikulus!" Squeaked Neville.
There was a noise like a whip crack and Snape stumbled. Suddenly he was wearing a big lace-trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth eaten vulture and swinging a huge crimson handbag. There was a roar of laughter, the Boggart paused, confused, and Professor Lupin shouted, "Joseph! Forward!"
Joey growled a bit at being called Joseph but was quickly preoccupied by Bonz and his creepy zombie deck. His first reaction was to reach for his own deck in response, then remembered what Professor Lupin had said, pulling his wand out of his robes and yelled, "Riddikulus!"
A miniature sun appeared and the scary looking duellist screamed like a vampire from a horror film as he crumbled into a pile of ash, with two rapidly blinking eyeballs on top. A couple of people laughed as Lupin called the next person forward, "Pavarti! Forward!"
The ash turned into a blood stained, bandaged mummy. It's sightless eyes were turned to Pavarti and it began to walk towards her, slowly dragging it's feet, it's stiff arms rising…
"Riddikulus!" Pavarti cried, a bandage fell off at the mummy's feet; it because entangled, fell face forward and its head rolled off.
"Seamus!" Lupin yelled.
Crack! Where the mummy had been was a woman with floor length black hair and a skeletal green tinged face. A banshee. She opened her mouth wide and an unearthly sound filled the room, a long wailing shriek which made the hair on Harry's head stand on end.
"Riddikulus!" Shouted Seamus, the banshee made a rasping noise and clutched her throat, her voice was gone.
Crack! The banshee turned into a rat, which turned into a rattlesnake, which turned into a single, bloody eyeball.
"It's confused!" Shouted Lupin, "We're getting there! Yugi!"
Yugi stepped forward, slightly nervous. Boh stayed back, as Yugi had told him too, though he wasn't too happy about it. There was another crack and where the eyeball had been was a tall, Egyptian male, with ash blonde hair, wielding a glowing Millennium Rod. Yugi's Puzzle flashed in response.
"Yami Marik." Yami growled as he and Joey went to go to Yugi's side.
"No," Professor Lupin commanded, as Yugi took a step backwards, but raised his wand, "Let him handle it on his own."
"Ri… Riddikulus!" Yugi shouted. Another crack sounded and the darker version of Marik was desperately swatting at his head trying to put out his hair which had caught alight suddenly. Yami smiled vindictively.
"Good!" Lupin shouted, "Dean! Forward!"
Yugi looked relieved to be able to retreat to the back of the room, Boh following close behind.
"Well done." Yami said, smiling at him.
"I know it's stupid, it's not like he's ever coming back but…" Yugi shuddered.
"You know," Joey whispered to them, "Out of all the bad guys we've faced, I'd've thought Anubus would be your least favourite."
"Not that simple." Yugi whispered back, "I'll explain after class."
Lupin was still calling people forward, "Excellent, Kari you next!"
Kari stepped forward, Dean's hand in a mousetrap turned into a large truck, Ombre wondered how it fit in the Staff Room. Kari froze like a deer in headlights as the truck's engine roared and the lights came on full, then she raised her wand and yelled, "Riddikulus!"
The car spluttered, halted, and the seats were ejected before it collapsed in on itself. A single wheel came off, rolling towards Kari made a small cycle then fell with a clang. "Brilliant! Ron, you next!" Lupin yelled, allowing Kari to gratefully retreat and Ron stepped forward.
Yugi squeaked and hid behind Yami as a giant spider, six foot tall and covered in hair, was advancing on Ron, clicking it's pincers menacingly. Yugi was certain Ron had frozen when…
"RIDDIKULUS!" Ron bellowed and the spider's legs vanished. It rolled away and came to a halt by Harry's feet. He raised his wand, ready, but…
"Here!" Lupin shouted suddenly, however the laughter had spread around the room and the Boggart apparently couldn't take anymore and burst into nothingness.
Lupin looked relieved, but Hermione had caught a glimpse of a silvery orb before it had exploded. "Excellent," Lupin said, turning to the class, "Excellent everyone. Let me see, five points to Gryffindor for everyone who tackled the Boggart, and five points each for Harry and Hermione."
"But I didn't do anything!" Said Harry.
"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly, excellent lesson everyone, now, Homework!" Lupin called. Ron and Joey groaned as they wrote it down before being dismissed. Kari dashed off to her extra Transfiguration class as Joey caught up with Yugi, Yami and Boh.
"So, you gonna tell me?" Joey asked Yugi. Who seemed to be in the middle of a conversation with Boh. "Yugi?" The boy looked at him and Boh shot off as a group of Slytherins turned the corner. Yugi watched Boh go then turned his attention to his friend.
"What's up, Joey?"
"You were gonna tell me why you're still afraid of Marik." Joey said, wondering what the two of them had been talking about.
Yugi sighed and pulled Yami and Joey into a deserted classroom. Yugi sat on one of the desks and waited until Yami had shut the door to start.
While Yugi was explaining to Joey, Yami was wondering about something else, why was Kaiba being nice, or nicer at least; he was still Kaiba. And why had Kaiba been so… brittle before. Maybe he had just needed to grow up a bit. Or maybe being somewhere where he wasn't constantly reminded of… something had helped.
Maybe it was just that Yami wasn't the only person here who was better than Kaiba at something. Kaiba always needed to be better than everyone else, learning that he couldn't be the greatest at everything had probably at first sent him into a rage, but he had had two years to think this through.
He was thinking this while having dinner, and missed Yugi helping himself to a piece of chocolate cake.
Kari noticed. She poked him with her spoon and asked "What yer thinking?"
Yami jumped, "umm, nothing." He tried.
"Kaiba invited us to Chess club tonight." Ron put in as he added more custard to his apple pie.
"Us?" Ombre raised an eyebrow in a good impression of McGonagall.
"Well if Yami is going, I'll come too." He said, starting to go red.
"But it's chess." Joey said.
"I'll go. It'll be fun. You don't have to go Joey." Yugi decided.
"Harry?" Yami asked, breaking Harry out of his reverie.
"Sorry, what was the question?" He asked.
"Do you want to come to chess club tonight?" Yugi said. The humour was clear in his voice.
"I don't know, Quidditch season is starting soon, I didn't have much time last year for any extra clubs."
In the end only Yami, Yugi and Ron who went. Yugi wondered out loud how Kaiba had already known there wasn't anyone that could give him a challenge joining the club this year.
When they reached the room they found out. There was a large crowd of Ravenclaws, a few Hufflepuffs and even a couple of Slytherins (sixth years Yami thought).
Kaiba was sitting on a table placed against the wall, scanning the room. Yami wondered why the image of a hawk watching for prey popped into his mind. Kaiba smiled when he saw them, a smile of victory. Yami wondered what Kaiba had just won; he didn't have to wonder long.
A tall Ravenclaw boy jumped them just moments after they entered the door. "Hello, I'm Rupert. Welcome to the Chess club."
"Hi, I'm Yami…" Yami began.
"Great," He said, but he didn't sound too happy about it, "now Seto gets to organise the first set of match-ups."
"Why?" Yugi asked.
"Well Yami Muto is the Japanese 'King of Games' isn't he? Seto bet he could get Yami to come to our club, and I said if he managed it he could set up the first match-ups, I normally just try to randomise the matches so no one gets suck playing just the people they know."
"Well you wanted to play against Kaiba, didn't you Yami?" Yugi said cheerfully as Yami started to groan, Yami hated being manipulated by Kaiba.
Kaiba had already pulled out a printed list from his pocket.
Rupert called for attention. "Okay guys, glad to see some new faces among the old. Welcome back to the Chess club. As some of you know I made a bet with Seto Kaiba last night. For anyone who doesn't know, never expect to win anything against Seto. SO anyway, he gets to decide the first match-ups. After that the matches will be random until October when we'll begin our bi-yearly Championships, which are divided depending on the talent you show in the next month. Seto?"
Seto slid off his table, "I will be playing against Yami Muto, the other pairings I have decided that the more experience players will be playing against the amateurs. Take this as a learning experience, and don't underestimate your opponent." Seto glanced around the crowd, making sure he had their fill attention, some faces looked annoyed with him, but most of the Ravenclaws looked eager to begin.
He began to call out pairs; Yugi was paired with a second year called Owen, who seemed nervous. Ron got paired with Rupert, who was one of the two best players in the club (with Kaiba being the other). After finding out that little titbit Ron became very nervous.
They set up the boards and the room became mostly silent, except for the commands being issued to the chess pieces. The pairs were mostly second years to fourth, third to sixth, and fourth to seventh. Most hadn't talked to each other before, Kaiba had made sure of that, and the younger players didn't have the confidence to break the silence.
The first game to finish was Darius (Slytherin sixth year) against Stuart (Ravenclaw second year). While Stuart started dissecting the game, Darius started to watch Kaiba's and Yami's game.
It didn't take much longer for other games to finish, Kaiba and Yami soon had a crowd. Whispers started. Yugi was heard to say, "Yami always wins against Kaiba."
Soon the only two games still being played was Yami and Kaiba, and Ron and Rupert.
None of the Ravenclaws could believe it. "Since when could Gryffindors play chess?" One was heard to comment.
"There hasn't been a Gryffindor in the chess club for almost five years." One of the seventh years told Yugi, "and Art was never very good at it, she just came because her boyfriend enjoyed it."
"Where are all the girls?" Yugi asked him, Yugi couldn't see a single girl in the room.
"Not many join, Becks normally comes but she's busy tonight. Got a detention with Snape for answering back in class."
"Do I know her?" Yugi asked.
"Probably not, she's the blond second year Ravenclaw with the glasses. Very smart, even for one of us. Over the summer she went to one of those muggle colleges to get something called a level."
Just then Yami put Kaiba in checkmate. Kaiba frowned, "You had that planned 12 moves back."
Yami smiled slightly, "15 moves back actually. That was a good game Kaiba."
Kaiba looked around at the crowd they had gathered, "Has everyone finished?" He asked.
"Nope, Rupert is still having trouble with that redhead you gave him to trounce."
"Really?" Kaiba looked mildly surprised. "You weren't kidding when you said he was good." This comment was directed to Yami, who seemed on the verge of gloating, not that the Pharaoh ever gloated.
After a few more moments Ron proclaimed "Checkmate, and don't ever go easy on me again."
Rupert tried to deny it, "I only went easy on you for the first few moves. I didn't want to devastate you in your first game here."
Ron looked slightly cross, "next time, don't do me the favour, I want a fair game."
The Slytherin put in, "You Gryff's are crazy, I would have taken advantage and set Rupert up for a quick downfall if I was you."
"You mean pretend I'm not as good as I am just so I could win quickly? I wanted a real game, not just to win." The Slytherin looked at Ron as if he was crazy, but the true gamers in the room knew what he was on about.
"So who's up for another set of games?" Rupert asked, getting a black painted box with a blue pawn painted on the front with a hole in the top. "Random match-ups this time. Just put your name on a piece of paper and into the box."
After a rush for paper and quills, nearly everyone put their name in the box. Yami could see why Kaiba had wanted him to come, if it meant he could organise the players. Kaiba had always been a bit of a control freak and Kaiba hated playing against anyone who hadn't already proved himself.
Truthfully Yami had a hard time believing Kaiba was in this club, unless most of the good players were refusing to play him unless he joined the club and proved to them that he was a good player.
Pairs of names started to jump out of the box, and Rupert called them out. Kaiba seemed bored by the process.
Then…
"Seto Kaiba and Ron Weasley." Kaiba looked pleased, while Ron had gone white as a sheet.
"How did Kaiba get the box to do that?" Ron asked panicky.
"Don't worry about it. You're good enough to beat him." Yugi whispered.
"The box likes good chess players; it's been in the chess club for years. If a player is good enough and doesn't ask too often the box pairs them up with the person they want to play against. That's why none of the leaders of the chess club has replaced it, because they are all good chess players by the time they get voted leader." A third year Ravenclaw whispered to Ron after hearing his question.
"Why me?" Ron asks the ceiling.
Still they reset the chess boards and Ron hesitantly made a move, Kaiba snapped out quick commands to his pieces, and slowly Ron began to gain confidence, forgetting who he was playing and seeing only the game. The two of them didn't notice as the other games finished and they were the only game still going.
"Weasley's good." One of the Ravenclaws whispered to Yugi who nodded, as he intently followed every move, having just beaten one of the sixth year Slytherins. Yami, who'd finished off the second year Hufflepuff he'd been playing quickly, watched as Kaiba realised with dawning horror that Ron had backed him into a corner.
"Checkmate!" Ron declared.
Kaiba looked stunned, Yami couldn't help smirking. Yugi looked at him and sighed, he saw an I-told-you-so coming. However, instead of the expected response, Yami whispered something to Ron, "I'd watch out, he'll keep bugging you for a rematch now." Ron gave him an odd look as Kaiba came to his senses and…
"I want a rematch." He stated.
"Not today, Seto." Rupert said, coming to Ron's rescue, "I hope I'll see you all next time?"
They nodded and headed out the door, a black and blue blur was shooting in their direction, a second year Ravenclaw probably, Yami stopped and looked at the student, "Hi Rebecca!"
Rebecca turned, "Yugi!" Yugi found himself glomped before he could do much, including his usual trick of hiding behind Joey or Yami, not helped by the fact Joey wasn't there. "Hi, Yami, Ron, Yugi." Rebecca actually pulled away without being prised off, "Wanna come cheer me one at chess club, Yugi?"
"Sorry Rebecca," Yami said, highly amused at the shade of red his hikari had gone, "You've just missed it."
"What? That's not fair!" Rebecca sulked and Yugi took the opportunity to hide behind Yami, "All I did was tell Snape that he had the wrong quantity of an ingredient up on the board…"
"And have you ever made that particular potion before?" Yami asked.
"No but I've heard what too much dragonpowder can do…" Rebecca replied. "I've never seen you three at chess club before…"
"Well, Kaiba wanted Yami to go, and I wanted to play so I went along too." Yugi said from behind his protective human shield. Ron didn't reply.
"Great, does that mean Kaiba lost today?" Rebecca asked.
Yugi giggled, "He lost twice."
"Really? Who beat him the second time? I can do it if I'm lucky, but Rupert refuses to play him unless they get matched up."
Ron went a brighter shade of red.
"Ron did." Yami said.
"If you're that good why haven't you joined up before? I mean what sort of player are you if you've been satisfied with the sort of challenge you'll get out of Gryffs?"
"I, um, didn't want to go alone…" Ron said quietly.
Yami, Yugi and Rebecca stared at him, "Why?"
"Well, it's not really cool to be in the chess club. I mean I already hang around with Hermione, what are people going to say if I go to chess club as well?"
"That you know how to take advantage of clever people." Rebecca said almost spitefully.
"Chess isn't cool?" Yugi asked, surprised. This time Yugi got the disbelieving looks.
"Well, the club is full of Ravenclaws…" Ron began.
Rebecca went ice cold at that, "Are you calling me a geek?"
Ron looked confused, "What's a geek?"
"I'll give you geek!" Rebecca shouted, tackling Ron and subjecting him to the famous Hawkin's left clip, quickly followed by the infamous right handed slap.
"Remember when Joey did the same thing?" Yami asked Yugi.
"Yep, but shouldn't we be making a quiet exit before Rebecca remembers I'm here?" Yami nodded and they left Ron and Rebecca to it.
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The day was almost over and Kisara was feeling alone and almost homesick. She knew her hormones were making her feel down, but that didn't make her feel any better.
I just want to go home! Where things were simple, and I didn't have to worry. Kisara was curled up beside the fire, watching the flames. It would be so easy… Her thought began, before Mineola burst into their living room. Kisara raised her head to stare at him, but he refused to calm down.
"Kisara! You'll never guess what!" He said, as jittery and lively as an electric eel.
"What?" Kisara asked, putting her contempt of him in her voice. He didn't hear it.
"You'll never guess what Mahado did!"
Kisara was getting impatient with him. "Spit it out, and then leave me alone." Her voice sounded tired even to her own eyes, but Mineola was deaf to tone of voice when he was excited about something.
"No went to confront the Dementors…"
"What?" Kisara rose to her feet, her wings flaring open.
"And Mahado saved him from the Dementors!"
"When did this happen?" Kisara hissed, in a low dangerous voice. Mineola was still oblivious.
"Monday night!"
"I'll kill him, I'll (insert suitable phase here) kill him."
"Who? No?"
Kisara didn't answer, inside turning and jumping out of the open window. Blood rage was clouding her mind.
She landed.
He turned to look at her.
"How dare you?" She began her rant.
Realisation dawned in his eyes. "What else should I have done?" He asked quietly and calmly, but something gleams in his eyes.
"Stay away from my children magician." Malice fills her.
He snorted, "If I had done nothing you would still have blamed me dragon." Something cold and hard is in his voice, and once again Kisara almost regrets… no, never, no regrets.
"I told you before magician. Apparently it needs repeating. Stay away from my children."
"If you had taught your children better maybe No wouldn't have needed rescuing." That hurt.
"I don't want a lowlife like you anywhere near my children."
The trading of insults continued. Some dug deep, cutting to the bone. It only confirmed Kisara's opinion that Mahado was hateful and evil.
What did she expect? He was a being of dark. She was a being of light.
They couldn't get along.
They couldn't work together.
She would refuse to have anything to do with the pig-headed, egotistical, narcissistic, self-centred, arrogant, conceited… she searched for more adjectives to insult him with… vain, pompous, pretentious, haughty, brainless, obtuse, foolish… there's a thesaurus in my room.
What didn't Mahado understand?
She hated him.
Being curious for an extended time was a new experience for this emerald Dragon, normally as soon as he took an interest in something he would soon have all the data he could want. Either that or he would lose interest. It just so happened that Mineola was looking for something new to take an interest in, since he had grown bored with his latest hobby.
He was going to find out what exactly had happened that Monday evening. Since Mahado and No were in on the conspiracy he wasn't about to ask them, but somehow Boh knew about it. Getting Boh to talk was like telling water to run downhill. The only problem now was getting Boh alone for long enough for him to spill the beans.
However Mineola found getting Boh alone was harder than expected. If he didn't know better he would think that Boh thought that someone was out to get him. Boh was never alone, and while he had already settled into a routine Boh never took the same route twice. Mineola started to wonder if Boh had gotten into some trouble last year. If he did he never complained, at least not to Mineola or the other duel monsters. Then Mineola wondered if Boh would have told them, it wasn't like he was on good terms with any of the others, he was barely tolerated, except by Mahado who always treated Boh with the same respectful ways he had for just about everyone.
Mineola started to feel guilty. They were all Duel monsters, and yet they kept fighting amongst themselves. Kisara and Mahado hated each other, and somehow that hatred had deepened in the past year until the point where Mineola was starting to think they had only had healthy respect for each other beforehand. He couldn't help remembering the many Wars that had occurred, mostly because Kisara and Mahado had found something new to disagree over. First it had been over the sealing of the shadow realm, with Mahado for and Kisara against, then it was Dragons against Magicians, then it was Light against Dark, then the wars had just degraded into an endless battle, but no matter what they claimed the War was about it was always Kisara against Mahado.
After the wars everyone had just seemed to wander, it was boring being stuck in the monster world at first. No one new entered and no one ever left since the Pharaoh sealed the Shadow realm, closing that pathway, the last pathway. Mineola wondered where all his memories were disappearing to; trying to look back over his memories was strange. It wasn't like his recent memories which he could play like a video, more like reading a story that had been written down. He knew the story but he could no longer feel it. It was maddening to know his memories were slowly fading. Except he would rather have known than suddenly wake up one morning and have no memory of the past five thousand years. He wondered what had led to this train of thought and suddenly realised; Boh!
He was going to catch Boh, and make him talk. Or rather listen to Boh babble on until he found out what happened Monday night. The only question was how to catch him.
Mineola's patrol was midday; Boh's sentry duty was from 9pm to 5am. The only time their daily schedules overlapped was when Boh decided to sleep the morning away in his own room instead of on Yugi's bed, and Mineola was up early enough to see him come in, and since Yugi and Yami were fighting… Boh always went to Yugi's in the early morning.
Mineola didn't want to talk to Boh while he had sentry duty, Boh took his job very seriously… and Mahado would want to know why Mineola was talking to Boh, and Mahado had the evening to Midnight shift, while Mana had the Midnight to morning shift. Mahado would find out too easily if Mineola was to approach Boh during Sentry duty. He wasn't about to risk life, wings and talons just to find out Mahado's secret.
He studied Boh's schedule again, Sentry duty, then bed and sleep, breakfast in the kitchen (why was Boh still allowed in there? Kisara had ordered everyone else to stay out of the kitchens unless Pudding was missing.) Then he joined Yugi in his afternoon classes (Very unfair, he wasn't allowed to join Rebecca in her classes), then he came back to their common room and played with the dragonets, (Why Boh consented to being a ball Mineola would never understand), then he again went to the kitchens for supper before Sentry duty on the roof. Boh didn't ever have alone time, or quiet time, or reading time, he fluttered about his day talking to everyone, and he was never alone. He seemed to make sure that when travelling from place to place to do so in a large group of students, or with a teacher, or with Mahado.
Maybe he could ambush Boh outside the kitchens?
He tried out his plan that day. No was already on Sentry duty, and Mahado had just left for his Patrol. Kuriboh bounced out the door and Mineola pounced. (Or rather extracted himself from the shadows so Boh noticed him.)
"Hi Boh, how's you?" Mineola began.
If the sudden appearance of the Emerald Dragon worried Boh he gave no sign of it, in fact he seemed positively happy, "Good afternoon!" Boh squeaked in his cute way.
Mineola tried to smile innocently, "We haven't talked much since we got back, have we Boh? I kinda wondered how you had been getting on." Then he worried, was he going too far out of character here? Would Boh catch onto his ploy? He hadn't really shown too much interest in Boh for a few hundred years, not since he had asked Boh to check out a collapsed cave to see if anyone had been trapped inside, the small Kuriboh had been just the right size to fit through the opening that had been left.
"I've been good." Boh began; Mineola nodded knowing if he said nothing than Boh would start to ramble on about what he had been up to lately.
Boh hated silence.
As Boh rambled on Mineola made sure to give the right amount of feedback to keep him going, nodding, and one word comments to show he was listening. Boh was a goldmine! He seemed to know everything that was happening in the school, from crushes and romances, pranks and dangerous stunts, all the way to the political tendencies of the teachers. Luckily Mineola didn't have to wait too long before the conversation got around to what had happened on a certain Monday night.
Boh had the dragon's undivided attention when he uttered the words, "Did you hear what No did on Monday night?" Followed by a nervous giggle, if any duel monster could be said to giggle.
"Not yet, what happened? He didn't get into trouble did he?"
"No decided he wanted to go and meet the Dementors."
"He didn't!" Mineola exclaimed, he had known it was juicy but he hadn't known No had been in real danger.
"He did. Mahado had to go and rescue him."
"And neither of them want Kisara to find out! Oh this is too good, I have to go and tell her straight away!"
"What!" Boh exclaimed, "No! No! No! You know what Kisara and Mahado are like; they are always ready to believe the worse of each other!"
"That's why Kisara has to know. She always goes on and on about how she wouldn't trust Mahado any where near her hatchlings. If she knew Mahado had saved one of them then she would have to reconsider how she sees Mahado." With these words Mineola turned around and ran back the way they had come, leaving Boh imagining the disaster about to happen.
Mineola was too naïve for his own good.
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THUD…THUD…THUD…
"Harry, please. You're making my hot chocolate spill everywhere!" Yugi complained the Thursday after their detention, as Harry banged his head on the table.
"Hot chocolate?" Yami asked suspiciously.
"I didn't mention chocolate." Yugi said innocently, and then decided to change the subject, "Why are you banging your head on the table anyway?"
"Look at the timetable."
"Ahh, potions."
"Chocolate?" Yami asked again, growling slightly.
"Where?" Yugi asked, looking around as he did so. "There are no bars of chocolate on the table."
"No, but apparently the chocolate is in your cup." Yami said, staring at his hikari, who's eyes darted from side to side, and then he downed the whole cup and got to his feet.
"Uhh, it wasn't real chocolate?" Yugi tried, Yami gave him a disbelieving look, sending Yugi dashing out the door.
"So that's how he's doing it!" Yami growled, knowing full well that Yugi would be eating chocolate by the ton if Yami would allow it, but he wondered why Yugi's chocolate intake had increased so much recently and he wondered how he could cut it back so he didn't end up with a hyperactive hikari on such a regular basis.
Thud…thud…thud…
Harry continued to play Can-I-Knock-Myself-Out as Yami considered ways of getting chocolate banned from Hogwarts all together. "Maybe I can release a plague of chocolate frogs outside Filch's office."
"Yami, I wouldn't." Kari said. She pointed upwards and Yami looked where her finger was pointing… and got a pot of hot… well warm… chocolate dumped on him.
"Ombre!" Yami yelled, "Now what am I supposed to do? I'll have points deducted if I turn up like this!" Yami gestured at the hot chocolate streaming down his robes, "And I don't have time to get cleaned up. Snape's going to eat me alive!"
"Yummy… chocolate covered Yami!" Smirked Ombre. Kari stared at her.
"Ombre…" She said, going red.
"What?"
"That sounded very, very wrong!"
Ombre groaned, "Kari Ironhide, you have a very dirty mind!"
Yami caught on and sank down into the bench, going bright red as he did so. "Mind if I join you?" He asked Harry, and began to bash his head on the table.
Harry looked up, "At least you have an excuse not to go. Ombre here…" He handed her another pot of hot chocolate, "Do me."
"Harry!" Hermione scowled as Kari went redder, then pulled out her wand, and pointed it at Yami, "Scourgify!" The spell hit Yami, leaving him chocolate free.
"So what should I do with this?" Ombre asked, looking at the others.
"Drink it, silly." Hermione replied.
"Fine." Ombre downed the jug.
"This is very entertaining, but we have Potions in five minutes, do we really want to be late?" Hermione asked.
They made their way out of the Great Hall. Hermione and Ombre slipped out the hall without trouble but Kaiba intercepted Yami, Ron stayed to prevent a fight between the two.
"Yami. The chess club is filled with losers; doesn't anyone in England know how to game?"
Yami smiled slightly, "Well not many people are up to your standard, Kaiba."
"I know, I need a challenge. Why don't you come tonight? We haven't gamed each other for a while."
Ron piped up, "Hey! I'm good at chess!" Kaiba stared at him and Ron went red.
"Ron is good, you should play against him sometime, Kaiba." Yami said, "He's almost beaten me a few times."
Kaiba snorted, "You say that about the mutt too. So tonight?"
Yami nodded, "Tonight." Kaiba nodded and left the room, his laptop under one arm.
"You never turn down a challenge from him, do you?" Ron asked as they head down to potions.
"No." Yami's reply was firm, "I never turn down ANY challenge."
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Malfoy walked into Potions late, about halfway through the double lesson. His arm was in a sling and he was acting like some heroic war survivor.
"Does it hurt much?" Pansy Parkinson asked.
"Yeah." Draco said, putting on a brave sort of grimace. Yugi had to wonder if Malfoy was aware of the look Bakura was giving him as he set up his cauldron next to Harry and Ron so they were preparing their ingredients on the same table.
"Sir." Malfoy called, "Sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots because of my arm!"
"Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him." Said Snape without looking up.
"He's such a fake!" Kari growled to Ombre as they prepared their own ingredients, "That wound would be completely healed by now!"
"Professor." Malfoy drawled, "Weasley's mutilating my roots!"
"Surely this counts." Joey hissed to Yugi as Snape ordered Ron and Mouthboy to change roots.
"If you've noticed, it's Snape who's ordering the group to do something." Yami muttered, "Malfoy's worked out the loop hole in his Penalty Game." He looked at Yugi, "As much as I dislike the idea of you Shadow Gaming anyone else, you'll have to be more specific next time."
Yugi watched Snape order Harry to skin Malfoy's Shrivelfig and wondered why Bakura was watching his 'brother' like a hawk.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Joey asked as he waved a hand in front of Yugi's face. Yugi jumped a mile causing Joey to laugh, however across the classroom, Neville's potion which was supposed to be bright green had turned…
"Orange, Longbottom." Snape said as he ladled up some of Neville's potion and allowed it to splash back into the cauldron so everyone could see. "Orange."
"Speaking of orange." Joey murmured to Yugi, "Shouldn't you be adding that right now?"
"Eeep!" Yugi squeaked, and added his ingredients, his potion had been on the verge of turning an interesting shade of blue and he'd only just caught it in time.
Yami, meanwhile, was wondering what Malfoy was saying to Seamus that was making Harry and Ron so confused. He joined them at the basin in the corner as they washed their hands. Yugi watched as the look Bakura was giving his brother turned malicious, and shuddered.
"If I was a friend or relative of one of Black's victims, I'd want revenge? What was he going on about? He was talking to Seamus, but he was looking at me." Harry growled as Yami washed his hands. They watched as Snape tested Neville's potion and Trevor, Neville's toad, shrank into a tadpole.
The Gryffindor's applauded, however, Snape did not look impressed, in fact he looked rather sour as he used the antidote on Trevor the tadpole and ended up with Trevor the toad in his hands.
"Five points from Gryffindor," Sneered Snape, wiping the smiles off of every face, "I told you not to help him, Miss Granger."
"But she didn't…"
"And five points from Gryffindor for lying to a teacher, Miss Ironhide. Class dismissed."
The gang climbed the steps to the Entrance Hall. Harry was still thinking about what Malfoy had said, Yami and Joey were arguing over who had challenged Yugi to a duel first, however Yugi was ignoring them both and talking to Kari and Ombre. Ron, on the other hand, was still fuming about Snape.
"Ten points from Gryffindor! Five of them because the potion was alright!" Ron snarled, catching everyone's attention, "And then when Kari tried to tell the truth he took another five! Why didn't you say something, Hermione?" Ron asked, turning around, "…Uh guys? Where's she go?"
The rest of the group turned around, making room on the stairs for the rest of the class to pass them, "She was right behind us." Kari frowned.
Bakura passed them, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle and followed by a sullen looking Malfoy. He smiled vindictively at Yugi and Kari, then vanished round the corner.
"Why don't I like that?" Yugi sighed as he watched Bakura go.
"You're not the only one," Ombre growled as she watched the passing students, "There she is!"
Hermione was panting slightly, clutching her bag with one hand and tucking something down the front of her robes with the other.
"How did you do that?" Ron asked as they finished their accent.
"What?" Hermione asked, confused, "Oh... I had to go back for something. Oh no!" A seam on Hermione's bag spilt, sending her books tumbling down the stairs. Kari reacted quickly, using the Orb's power to stop the books in midair and bring them back up. "Thanks." Hermione said gratefully as the last of the books floated into Hermione's arms.
Kari smiled, then let the magic she'd called die back down. She wavered and nearly fell back down the stairs, only saved by the fact Joey and Ombre caught her.
"Kari, don't risk yourself." Ombre panicked as Ron confronted Hermione about the amount of books she was carrying, "Not in your condition!"
"I'm fine!" Kari snapped, "Just hungry." She and Hermione marched off towards the Great Hall.
"D'you get the feeling they're not telling us something?" Ron asked the rest of the group.
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Professor Lupin wasn't there when they first arrived at the classroom for their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Boh had somehow joined the group sometime after leaving the Great Hall. They all sat down with their quills and parchment and were talking… well other then Joey and Yami, who were duelling to settle their earlier argument … as Lupin walked into the room. Lupin looked healthier then he had on the train, like he'd had a few square meals.
"Good afternoon," He said, "Would you all please put your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands. Oh and Yami Muto, Joseph Wheeler," Yugi wondered how he'd known who they were without taking a register, "Since it's likely that Yugi will beat both of you, can you please both pack your cards away."
Kari snorted at the looks that statement produced, while packing her books away. She pulled her silver wand out of its hiding place up her sleeve and examined it. Compared to some of the wooden ones the other students had, her's, Ombre's, Yugi's and Yami's silver and gold wands looked almost brand new.
"Right then," Lupin said as Yami finished putting his deck away, If you'd like to follow me…"
Puzzled but interested, the class got to it's feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom. Yami and Joey were looking positively mutinous as the teacher led them along a deserted corridor and around the corner, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the poltergeist, who was floating upside down and stuffing the nearest keyhole with gum.
Peeves didn't look up until Professor Lupin was two feet away, then he wiggled his feet and burst into song…
"Loony, loopy Lupin." Peeves sang, "Loony, loopy Lupin. Loony, loopy Lupin."
Rude and unmanageable as always, Peeves normally showed some respect towards teachers. Everyone looked at Lupin to see how he'd react To their surprise he was still smiling. "I'd take that gum out of the keyhole, if I were you Peeves," He said pleasantly, "Mr Filch won't be able to get into his brooms."
Peeves only response was to blow a loud, wet, raspberry.
"Peeves!" Ombre growled, stepping forward.
Lupin shook his head and waved her back, before sighing and taking out his wand. "This is a useful little spell," He told the class as Ombre rejoined Kari, "Please watch closely. Waddiwasi!"
With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves's left nostril. He whirled right way up and zoomed away, cursing.
"Wow," Ombre grinned, "I need to make a note of that!"
"Certainly, Ombre Ironhide is it? Professor Dumbledore pointed you transfer students out to me at breakfast the first day of term, though I still keep mixing you twins up. The spell is waddiwasi w.a.d.d.i.w.a.s.i." Ombre made a note of it, "Right, shall we proceed?"
They set off again, the class looking at Professor Lupin with increased respect. He led them down a second corridor and stopped right outside the Staff Room door.
"Inside please." Lupin said, opening the door and standing back.
The staff room was empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape was sitting in a low armchair and he looked around as the class filed in. His eyes were glittering and there was a nasty smirk playing around his mouth. As Professor Lupin went to close the door, Snape got to his feet, "Leave it open Lupin, I'd rather not witness this." At the doorway he turned and spoke to Lupin loudly enough for the entire class to hear. "I don't know if anyone's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger and the Miss Ironhides are hissing instructions in his ear."
Neville went scarlet. Yami, Harry and Joey glared at Snape. He had no right to bully Neville, especially in front of other teachers. Boh squeaked at Snape angrily.
Professor Lupin raised his eyebrows, "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," He said, "And I am sure he will perform it admirably." Snape's lip curled and he left, shutting the door with a snap.
"Now then," Lupin said as Boh settled down, beckoning the class towards the end of the room, where an old wardrobe was stood. It gave a sudden wobble. "There's a Boggart in there." He said, smiling, "Nothing to worry about."
Most of the class disagreed with him and Neville gave him a look of pure terror. "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," Professor Lupin continued, "Like wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboard under sinks… I once met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon and I requested that it be left alone for my third years to practise on. So, the first question is, what is a Boggart?"
Hermione and Kari's hands shot up, "It's a shapeshifter," They said at the same time, Kari laughed and waved Hermione to continue, "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us the most."
"That's right," Lupin said, smiling, "I'll assume Miss Ironhide had the same answer. The Boggart sitting in that wardrobe has not yet assumed a form, no one know what he looks like when he's alone, but when I let him out he'll immediately become whatever each of us most fears. This means," Professor Lupin continued, ignoring Neville's splutter of fear, "That we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?"
Trying to answer with Hermione and Kari bouncing up and down was off putting but Harry had a go, "Er, because there's so many of us, it won't know what shape it should take?"
"Precisely." Lupin said, as the two girls lowered their hands, "It's always best to have company when dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused, which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake… tried to frighten two people at once and turned into half a slug. Not remotely frightening." Yami snorted at the idea.
"The charm that repels the Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape you find amusing. We'll practise the charm without wands first. After me please… Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" said the class together.
"So what frightens you most?" Ron asked Joey in a whisper.
"I'm not… oh wait, yes I do know." Joey whispered back with a shudder, "Creepy zombie duellist."
"Zombie… duellist?" Ron asked, Joey shuddered again.
"What would you say is the thing that frightens you the most?" Lupin was asking Neville. Neville's lips moved but no sound came out, "Didn't catch that Neville, sorry." Said Professor Lupin cheerfully.
Neville looked around, then in no more then a whisper said, "Professor Snape."
Nearly everyone laughed.
Lupin however advised Neville on the best way to beat Professor Boggart Snape, then he turned to the class. "If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to turn its attention to each of us in turn," Lupin said, "I would like you all to take a minute to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you would force it to look comical."
Yami looked around, a lot of people had closed their eyes to think, Yugi included. Boh was staying still and quiet, Yami tried to think of what he was afraid of, there were two… possibly three things that kept springing to mind, none of which could possibly be made funny.
"Everyone ready?" The whole class, bar Harry and Yami, nodded. "Alright then, Neville, we're going to back away," said Lupin, "Give you a clear playing field, all right? I'll call the next person forward… now everyone back now, so Neville can get a clear shot." They all retreated, "On the count of three Neville, one, two, three, NOW!"
A jet of sparks shot from Lupin's wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open. Hook nosed and menacing, Professor Snape stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville. Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Snape was bearing down on him, reaching inside his robes…
"R-r-riddikulus!" Squeaked Neville.
There was a noise like a whip crack and Snape stumbled. Suddenly he was wearing a big lace-trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth eaten vulture and swinging a huge crimson handbag. There was a roar of laughter, the Boggart paused, confused, and Professor Lupin shouted, "Joseph! Forward!"
Joey growled a bit at being called Joseph but was quickly preoccupied by Bonz and his creepy zombie deck. His first reaction was to reach for his own deck in response, then remembered what Professor Lupin had said, pulling his wand out of his robes and yelled, "Riddikulus!"
A miniature sun appeared and the scary looking duellist screamed like a vampire from a horror film as he crumbled into a pile of ash, with two rapidly blinking eyeballs on top. A couple of people laughed as Lupin called the next person forward, "Pavarti! Forward!"
The ash turned into a blood stained, bandaged mummy. It's sightless eyes were turned to Pavarti and it began to walk towards her, slowly dragging it's feet, it's stiff arms rising…
"Riddikulus!" Pavarti cried, a bandage fell off at the mummy's feet; it because entangled, fell face forward and its head rolled off.
"Seamus!" Lupin yelled.
Crack! Where the mummy had been was a woman with floor length black hair and a skeletal green tinged face. A banshee. She opened her mouth wide and an unearthly sound filled the room, a long wailing shriek which made the hair on Harry's head stand on end.
"Riddikulus!" Shouted Seamus, the banshee made a rasping noise and clutched her throat, her voice was gone.
Crack! The banshee turned into a rat, which turned into a rattlesnake, which turned into a single, bloody eyeball.
"It's confused!" Shouted Lupin, "We're getting there! Yugi!"
Yugi stepped forward, slightly nervous. Boh stayed back, as Yugi had told him too, though he wasn't too happy about it. There was another crack and where the eyeball had been was a tall, Egyptian male, with ash blonde hair, wielding a glowing Millennium Rod. Yugi's Puzzle flashed in response.
"Yami Marik." Yami growled as he and Joey went to go to Yugi's side.
"No," Professor Lupin commanded, as Yugi took a step backwards, but raised his wand, "Let him handle it on his own."
"Ri… Riddikulus!" Yugi shouted. Another crack sounded and the darker version of Marik was desperately swatting at his head trying to put out his hair which had caught alight suddenly. Yami smiled vindictively.
"Good!" Lupin shouted, "Dean! Forward!"
Yugi looked relieved to be able to retreat to the back of the room, Boh following close behind.
"Well done." Yami said, smiling at him.
"I know it's stupid, it's not like he's ever coming back but…" Yugi shuddered.
"You know," Joey whispered to them, "Out of all the bad guys we've faced, I'd've thought Anubus would be your least favourite."
"Not that simple." Yugi whispered back, "I'll explain after class."
Lupin was still calling people forward, "Excellent, Kari you next!"
Kari stepped forward, Dean's hand in a mousetrap turned into a large truck, Ombre wondered how it fit in the Staff Room. Kari froze like a deer in headlights as the truck's engine roared and the lights came on full, then she raised her wand and yelled, "Riddikulus!"
The car spluttered, halted, and the seats were ejected before it collapsed in on itself. A single wheel came off, rolling towards Kari made a small cycle then fell with a clang. "Brilliant! Ron, you next!" Lupin yelled, allowing Kari to gratefully retreat and Ron stepped forward.
Yugi squeaked and hid behind Yami as a giant spider, six foot tall and covered in hair, was advancing on Ron, clicking it's pincers menacingly. Yugi was certain Ron had frozen when…
"RIDDIKULUS!" Ron bellowed and the spider's legs vanished. It rolled away and came to a halt by Harry's feet. He raised his wand, ready, but…
"Here!" Lupin shouted suddenly, however the laughter had spread around the room and the Boggart apparently couldn't take anymore and burst into nothingness.
Lupin looked relieved, but Hermione had caught a glimpse of a silvery orb before it had exploded. "Excellent," Lupin said, turning to the class, "Excellent everyone. Let me see, five points to Gryffindor for everyone who tackled the Boggart, and five points each for Harry and Hermione."
"But I didn't do anything!" Said Harry.
"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly, excellent lesson everyone, now, Homework!" Lupin called. Ron and Joey groaned as they wrote it down before being dismissed. Kari dashed off to her extra Transfiguration class as Joey caught up with Yugi, Yami and Boh.
"So, you gonna tell me?" Joey asked Yugi. Who seemed to be in the middle of a conversation with Boh. "Yugi?" The boy looked at him and Boh shot off as a group of Slytherins turned the corner. Yugi watched Boh go then turned his attention to his friend.
"What's up, Joey?"
"You were gonna tell me why you're still afraid of Marik." Joey said, wondering what the two of them had been talking about.
Yugi sighed and pulled Yami and Joey into a deserted classroom. Yugi sat on one of the desks and waited until Yami had shut the door to start.
While Yugi was explaining to Joey, Yami was wondering about something else, why was Kaiba being nice, or nicer at least; he was still Kaiba. And why had Kaiba been so… brittle before. Maybe he had just needed to grow up a bit. Or maybe being somewhere where he wasn't constantly reminded of… something had helped.
Maybe it was just that Yami wasn't the only person here who was better than Kaiba at something. Kaiba always needed to be better than everyone else, learning that he couldn't be the greatest at everything had probably at first sent him into a rage, but he had had two years to think this through.
He was thinking this while having dinner, and missed Yugi helping himself to a piece of chocolate cake.
Kari noticed. She poked him with her spoon and asked "What yer thinking?"
Yami jumped, "umm, nothing." He tried.
"Kaiba invited us to Chess club tonight." Ron put in as he added more custard to his apple pie.
"Us?" Ombre raised an eyebrow in a good impression of McGonagall.
"Well if Yami is going, I'll come too." He said, starting to go red.
"But it's chess." Joey said.
"I'll go. It'll be fun. You don't have to go Joey." Yugi decided.
"Harry?" Yami asked, breaking Harry out of his reverie.
"Sorry, what was the question?" He asked.
"Do you want to come to chess club tonight?" Yugi said. The humour was clear in his voice.
"I don't know, Quidditch season is starting soon, I didn't have much time last year for any extra clubs."
In the end only Yami, Yugi and Ron who went. Yugi wondered out loud how Kaiba had already known there wasn't anyone that could give him a challenge joining the club this year.
When they reached the room they found out. There was a large crowd of Ravenclaws, a few Hufflepuffs and even a couple of Slytherins (sixth years Yami thought).
Kaiba was sitting on a table placed against the wall, scanning the room. Yami wondered why the image of a hawk watching for prey popped into his mind. Kaiba smiled when he saw them, a smile of victory. Yami wondered what Kaiba had just won; he didn't have to wonder long.
A tall Ravenclaw boy jumped them just moments after they entered the door. "Hello, I'm Rupert. Welcome to the Chess club."
"Hi, I'm Yami…" Yami began.
"Great," He said, but he didn't sound too happy about it, "now Seto gets to organise the first set of match-ups."
"Why?" Yugi asked.
"Well Yami Muto is the Japanese 'King of Games' isn't he? Seto bet he could get Yami to come to our club, and I said if he managed it he could set up the first match-ups, I normally just try to randomise the matches so no one gets suck playing just the people they know."
"Well you wanted to play against Kaiba, didn't you Yami?" Yugi said cheerfully as Yami started to groan, Yami hated being manipulated by Kaiba.
Kaiba had already pulled out a printed list from his pocket.
Rupert called for attention. "Okay guys, glad to see some new faces among the old. Welcome back to the Chess club. As some of you know I made a bet with Seto Kaiba last night. For anyone who doesn't know, never expect to win anything against Seto. SO anyway, he gets to decide the first match-ups. After that the matches will be random until October when we'll begin our bi-yearly Championships, which are divided depending on the talent you show in the next month. Seto?"
Seto slid off his table, "I will be playing against Yami Muto, the other pairings I have decided that the more experience players will be playing against the amateurs. Take this as a learning experience, and don't underestimate your opponent." Seto glanced around the crowd, making sure he had their fill attention, some faces looked annoyed with him, but most of the Ravenclaws looked eager to begin.
He began to call out pairs; Yugi was paired with a second year called Owen, who seemed nervous. Ron got paired with Rupert, who was one of the two best players in the club (with Kaiba being the other). After finding out that little titbit Ron became very nervous.
They set up the boards and the room became mostly silent, except for the commands being issued to the chess pieces. The pairs were mostly second years to fourth, third to sixth, and fourth to seventh. Most hadn't talked to each other before, Kaiba had made sure of that, and the younger players didn't have the confidence to break the silence.
The first game to finish was Darius (Slytherin sixth year) against Stuart (Ravenclaw second year). While Stuart started dissecting the game, Darius started to watch Kaiba's and Yami's game.
It didn't take much longer for other games to finish, Kaiba and Yami soon had a crowd. Whispers started. Yugi was heard to say, "Yami always wins against Kaiba."
Soon the only two games still being played was Yami and Kaiba, and Ron and Rupert.
None of the Ravenclaws could believe it. "Since when could Gryffindors play chess?" One was heard to comment.
"There hasn't been a Gryffindor in the chess club for almost five years." One of the seventh years told Yugi, "and Art was never very good at it, she just came because her boyfriend enjoyed it."
"Where are all the girls?" Yugi asked him, Yugi couldn't see a single girl in the room.
"Not many join, Becks normally comes but she's busy tonight. Got a detention with Snape for answering back in class."
"Do I know her?" Yugi asked.
"Probably not, she's the blond second year Ravenclaw with the glasses. Very smart, even for one of us. Over the summer she went to one of those muggle colleges to get something called a level."
Just then Yami put Kaiba in checkmate. Kaiba frowned, "You had that planned 12 moves back."
Yami smiled slightly, "15 moves back actually. That was a good game Kaiba."
Kaiba looked around at the crowd they had gathered, "Has everyone finished?" He asked.
"Nope, Rupert is still having trouble with that redhead you gave him to trounce."
"Really?" Kaiba looked mildly surprised. "You weren't kidding when you said he was good." This comment was directed to Yami, who seemed on the verge of gloating, not that the Pharaoh ever gloated.
After a few more moments Ron proclaimed "Checkmate, and don't ever go easy on me again."
Rupert tried to deny it, "I only went easy on you for the first few moves. I didn't want to devastate you in your first game here."
Ron looked slightly cross, "next time, don't do me the favour, I want a fair game."
The Slytherin put in, "You Gryff's are crazy, I would have taken advantage and set Rupert up for a quick downfall if I was you."
"You mean pretend I'm not as good as I am just so I could win quickly? I wanted a real game, not just to win." The Slytherin looked at Ron as if he was crazy, but the true gamers in the room knew what he was on about.
"So who's up for another set of games?" Rupert asked, getting a black painted box with a blue pawn painted on the front with a hole in the top. "Random match-ups this time. Just put your name on a piece of paper and into the box."
After a rush for paper and quills, nearly everyone put their name in the box. Yami could see why Kaiba had wanted him to come, if it meant he could organise the players. Kaiba had always been a bit of a control freak and Kaiba hated playing against anyone who hadn't already proved himself.
Truthfully Yami had a hard time believing Kaiba was in this club, unless most of the good players were refusing to play him unless he joined the club and proved to them that he was a good player.
Pairs of names started to jump out of the box, and Rupert called them out. Kaiba seemed bored by the process.
Then…
"Seto Kaiba and Ron Weasley." Kaiba looked pleased, while Ron had gone white as a sheet.
"How did Kaiba get the box to do that?" Ron asked panicky.
"Don't worry about it. You're good enough to beat him." Yugi whispered.
"The box likes good chess players; it's been in the chess club for years. If a player is good enough and doesn't ask too often the box pairs them up with the person they want to play against. That's why none of the leaders of the chess club has replaced it, because they are all good chess players by the time they get voted leader." A third year Ravenclaw whispered to Ron after hearing his question.
"Why me?" Ron asks the ceiling.
Still they reset the chess boards and Ron hesitantly made a move, Kaiba snapped out quick commands to his pieces, and slowly Ron began to gain confidence, forgetting who he was playing and seeing only the game. The two of them didn't notice as the other games finished and they were the only game still going.
"Weasley's good." One of the Ravenclaws whispered to Yugi who nodded, as he intently followed every move, having just beaten one of the sixth year Slytherins. Yami, who'd finished off the second year Hufflepuff he'd been playing quickly, watched as Kaiba realised with dawning horror that Ron had backed him into a corner.
"Checkmate!" Ron declared.
Kaiba looked stunned, Yami couldn't help smirking. Yugi looked at him and sighed, he saw an I-told-you-so coming. However, instead of the expected response, Yami whispered something to Ron, "I'd watch out, he'll keep bugging you for a rematch now." Ron gave him an odd look as Kaiba came to his senses and…
"I want a rematch." He stated.
"Not today, Seto." Rupert said, coming to Ron's rescue, "I hope I'll see you all next time?"
They nodded and headed out the door, a black and blue blur was shooting in their direction, a second year Ravenclaw probably, Yami stopped and looked at the student, "Hi Rebecca!"
Rebecca turned, "Yugi!" Yugi found himself glomped before he could do much, including his usual trick of hiding behind Joey or Yami, not helped by the fact Joey wasn't there. "Hi, Yami, Ron, Yugi." Rebecca actually pulled away without being prised off, "Wanna come cheer me one at chess club, Yugi?"
"Sorry Rebecca," Yami said, highly amused at the shade of red his hikari had gone, "You've just missed it."
"What? That's not fair!" Rebecca sulked and Yugi took the opportunity to hide behind Yami, "All I did was tell Snape that he had the wrong quantity of an ingredient up on the board…"
"And have you ever made that particular potion before?" Yami asked.
"No but I've heard what too much dragonpowder can do…" Rebecca replied. "I've never seen you three at chess club before…"
"Well, Kaiba wanted Yami to go, and I wanted to play so I went along too." Yugi said from behind his protective human shield. Ron didn't reply.
"Great, does that mean Kaiba lost today?" Rebecca asked.
Yugi giggled, "He lost twice."
"Really? Who beat him the second time? I can do it if I'm lucky, but Rupert refuses to play him unless they get matched up."
Ron went a brighter shade of red.
"Ron did." Yami said.
"If you're that good why haven't you joined up before? I mean what sort of player are you if you've been satisfied with the sort of challenge you'll get out of Gryffs?"
"I, um, didn't want to go alone…" Ron said quietly.
Yami, Yugi and Rebecca stared at him, "Why?"
"Well, it's not really cool to be in the chess club. I mean I already hang around with Hermione, what are people going to say if I go to chess club as well?"
"That you know how to take advantage of clever people." Rebecca said almost spitefully.
"Chess isn't cool?" Yugi asked, surprised. This time Yugi got the disbelieving looks.
"Well, the club is full of Ravenclaws…" Ron began.
Rebecca went ice cold at that, "Are you calling me a geek?"
Ron looked confused, "What's a geek?"
"I'll give you geek!" Rebecca shouted, tackling Ron and subjecting him to the famous Hawkin's left clip, quickly followed by the infamous right handed slap.
"Remember when Joey did the same thing?" Yami asked Yugi.
"Yep, but shouldn't we be making a quiet exit before Rebecca remembers I'm here?" Yami nodded and they left Ron and Rebecca to it.
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The day was almost over and Kisara was feeling alone and almost homesick. She knew her hormones were making her feel down, but that didn't make her feel any better.
I just want to go home! Where things were simple, and I didn't have to worry. Kisara was curled up beside the fire, watching the flames. It would be so easy… Her thought began, before Mineola burst into their living room. Kisara raised her head to stare at him, but he refused to calm down.
"Kisara! You'll never guess what!" He said, as jittery and lively as an electric eel.
"What?" Kisara asked, putting her contempt of him in her voice. He didn't hear it.
"You'll never guess what Mahado did!"
Kisara was getting impatient with him. "Spit it out, and then leave me alone." Her voice sounded tired even to her own eyes, but Mineola was deaf to tone of voice when he was excited about something.
"No went to confront the Dementors…"
"What?" Kisara rose to her feet, her wings flaring open.
"And Mahado saved him from the Dementors!"
"When did this happen?" Kisara hissed, in a low dangerous voice. Mineola was still oblivious.
"Monday night!"
"I'll kill him, I'll (insert suitable phase here) kill him."
"Who? No?"
Kisara didn't answer, inside turning and jumping out of the open window. Blood rage was clouding her mind.
She landed.
He turned to look at her.
"How dare you?" She began her rant.
Realisation dawned in his eyes. "What else should I have done?" He asked quietly and calmly, but something gleams in his eyes.
"Stay away from my children magician." Malice fills her.
He snorted, "If I had done nothing you would still have blamed me dragon." Something cold and hard is in his voice, and once again Kisara almost regrets… no, never, no regrets.
"I told you before magician. Apparently it needs repeating. Stay away from my children."
"If you had taught your children better maybe No wouldn't have needed rescuing." That hurt.
"I don't want a lowlife like you anywhere near my children."
The trading of insults continued. Some dug deep, cutting to the bone. It only confirmed Kisara's opinion that Mahado was hateful and evil.
What did she expect? He was a being of dark. She was a being of light.
They couldn't get along.
They couldn't work together.
She would refuse to have anything to do with the pig-headed, egotistical, narcissistic, self-centred, arrogant, conceited… she searched for more adjectives to insult him with… vain, pompous, pretentious, haughty, brainless, obtuse, foolish… there's a thesaurus in my room.
What didn't Mahado understand?
She hated him.