Chapter 9: - Egypt and Christmas
"Harry, you look terrible!"
Harry looked around; the Common Room was empty except for Ron, who was eating a peppermint toad, while watching Joey and Ombre, who now had the Millennium Orb again, duel, and Hermione had spread her homework over three tables.
"Where's Yugi, Yami and Kari?"
"Kari's gone home, it's the first day of the holidays, and Yami's probably still trying to find Yugi to apologise. Yami got detention last night for looking for Yugi after curfew."
Harry's memory kicked in, "What actually happened last night?"
"Ron took a swing at Yami, then Yami took a swing at Ron but…"
"He hit Yugi instead." Ron said. "Yugi ran out of the common room and no one has seen him since, Yami's been looking most of the morning."
"Yami hit Yugi?"
"Not deliberately…" Yami said as he re-entered the Common Room, "Yugi was trying to break it up, and I shouted at him, and then hit him by accident, but I bet he thinks it was deliberate. He's been learning how to fight hasn't he?"
Joey smiled slightly, though he was still mad at the Pharaoh for hitting Yugi, even if it was an accident. "I've been teaching him. He's a quick learner, and it's not like you and me haven't sparred before." Yami shook his head, he and Joey had sparred quite a few times over the summer, to keep in shape, "I started teaching him and Harry last Christmas."
"Where is he?" Hermione asked, looking up from her homework.
"Mahado won't tell me where he is; just that Yugi is in a safe place and doesn't want to talk to me. I just want to apologise" Yami sighed, the Millennium Puzzle rested on his robes, "And I don't want to speak to him mind to mind, not when I keep getting those headaches every time I do, even if I could when Yugi doesn't have the puzzle." Yami looked as bad as Harry felt; neither boy had gotten much sleep, though for different reasons.
"You've not still got one?" Harry asked, seeing how bad Yami felt.
Yami stopped; he had not noticed until this moment, that the headache that had plagued him almost constantly since his near collapse (and before) was gone. "It's gone… my headache has gone completely." Yami looked at Harry carefully, "Harry, you look terrible!"
Harry smiled slightly, "You're the second person to tell me that."
"Well, they're right Harry; you don't look well at all." Ombre said, looking up from her cards.
"I'm fine." Harry said.
"Harry, listen," Hermione said, exchanging a look with Ron, "You must be upset about what we heard yesterday, but the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid."
"Like what?"
"Like trying to go after Black." Ron said sharply.
Harry could tell they'd rehearsed the conversation while he'd been asleep. He didn't say anything.
"You won't, will you Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Because Black's not worth dying for." Ron said.
Harry looked at the two of them; they didn't seem to get it at all.
"D'you know what I see and hear every time a Dementor gets too near me?" Ron and Hermione shook their heads, looking apprehensive. Yami watched Harry warily and Joey and Ombre looked up from their duel. "I can hear my mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her…"
"There's nothing you can do!" Said Hermione, looking stricken. "The Dementors will catch Black and he'll go back to Azkaban and… and serve him right!"
"You heard what Fudge said. Black isn't affected by Azkaban like normal people are. It's not a punishment for him like it is for the others."
"So what are you saying?" Said Ron, looking very tense, "You want to kill Black or something?"
"Don't be silly," Said Hermione, in a panicky voice, "Harry doesn't want to kill anyone, do you, Harry?"
Again, Harry didn't answer. He didn't know what he wanted to do. All he knew was that the idea of doing nothing, while Black was at liberty, was almost more then he could stand.
"Malfoy knows," He said abruptly, "Remember what he was saying in Potions? If I was a friend or relative of one of Black's victims, I'd want revenge!"
"You're going to take Mouthboy's advice?" Ron asked, furiously, "Listen… you know what Pettigrew's mother got back after Black had finished with him? Dad told me, the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrew's finger in a box. That was the biggest part of him they could find. Black's a madman, Harry, and he's dangerous…"
"Malfoy's Dad must've told him," Said Harry, ignoring Ron, "He was right in Voldemort's inner circle…"
"Say You-Know-Who, will you?" Interjected Ron, angrily.
"…So obviously, the Malfoy's knew Black was working for Voldemort…"
"And Malfoy'd love to see you get blow into a million pieces, like Pettigrew!" Ron snapped, "Get a grip, Malfoy's just hoping you'll get yourself killed before he has to play you at Quidditch."
"Harry," Yami said quietly, concern for his friend obvious, "Please think about this sensibly, what Black did was terrible but if you go after him, you'll be playing into his hands. When he turns up again, I'll be more then willing to help you exact whatever revenge you want, but your parents wouldn't want you to get hurt, or go looking for Black."
"I'll never know what they'd've wanted because, thanks to Black, I've never spoken to them." Snapped Harry.
There was a silence, in which Crookshanks stretched luxuriously, flexing his claws, and Bastet and Kiyoshe leapt up onto chairs by the fire. Ron's pocket quivered.
"Harry," Yami partly asked, "Can I borrow the Marauder's Map?"
"Uh, sure." Harry said, temporarily distracted from fuming. He went up to the dorm and brought down the map, checking no one was around before he opened it up and tapped it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Once the map appeared properly, Harry laid it on the table. Yami scanned the map, ignoring the Common Rooms, then spotted the dot he was looking for and tapped the map with his wand, with the words, "Mischief managed." Then he shot out of the Common Room.
"So, what are the rest of us going to do?" Asked Joey as he and Ombre packed up their cards, "It's the holidays! It's nearly Christmas!"
"Yeah," Ron said, looking at Harry, who was still looking at the two titled dots on the map, "Let's… let's go visit Hagrid. We haven't visited him for ages."
"No." Ombre and Hermione said at the same time, "Harry isn't supposed to leave the castle."
"Yeah, let's go." Harry said, looking away from the map, "And I can ask him how come he never mentioned Black when he told me all about my parents."
Ombre groaned, she thought that they'd managed to distract Harry from that… obviously not. Further discussion of Black was not what she had in mind.
"Or we could carry on teaching you Duel Monsters; that deck you've built from the wizard Duel Monsters cards is quite strong." Ombre suggested.
"No, let's visit Hagrid." Said Harry firmly, rolling up the blank map.
So they got their cloaks from the dorms and set off through the portrait hole, down through the empty castle and out through the oak front doors. Their cloaks made a trench in the snow as they walked down to Hagrid's. The Forbidden Forest looked like it had been enchanted, each tree was smattered with silver and Hagrid's house looked like an iced cake.
Ron knocked, but there was no answer.
"He's not out, is he?" Hermione asked, shivering under her cloak.
"Hagrid?" Harry called, banging on the door, "Hagrid, are you in there?"
There was the sound of footsteps, then the door opened with a bang, causing Ron and Harry to have to get out of the way quickly. "Yeh've heard!" Hagrid said cheerfully, "Come in, come in."
Ron and Harry looked at each other, wondering what was up to make Hagrid so happy but they weren't expecting what they saw.
Bakura, without his amulet, drinking and celebrating with Hagrid.
"Wha…" Harry started, shocked. Bakura smirked.
"Of course," He said with a grin, "You wouldn't know would you?"
"Know what?" Joey growled, Bakura happy was not a good thing.
"Bakura 'ere passed the first part of the course for Beast Care and Tamin'." Hagrid said happily. Then he grimaced, "I though' he would've told yer."
"We don't speak to Bakura much." Hermione said quickly to stall any argument. She hadn't failed to notice the fact Ombre and Joey had moved to the front of the group, putting themselves between Bakura and the others.
Or at all if we can help it. Joey thought, "Well, we're sorry to disturb your celebrations, we'll go now." Joey ushered them out. Once they were out of hearing range of Hagrid's hut, he turned to the others, "If Bakura is trying to pass a course on Beast Taming; he must be up to something."
"I think it's a course to allow someone to keep and train dangerous animals." Hermione said, "But I'm not sure."
"I think we should check it out," Harry said, "If Bakura's trying to get a licence to train dangerous animals it can't be good."
The others nodded, glad that Harry had been distracted. They ate little over lunch heading straight into the library to find out more.
Yugi and Yami returned to the Common Room that evening, looking as though they had a lot on their minds but neither would speak to the others about it. They were however interested to know what Bakura was up to.
"I knew it." Yami growled, the Millennium Symbol on the Puzzle flashed in response to his anger, "He's after one of the Hippogriffs!"
"Bakura with a Hippogriff?" Hermione blanched, "He's bad enough with that Dark Necrofear! He'd never take care of it and he'd try to get it to attack people!"
"Isn't there any way we can stop him?" No one had an answer.
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Home was so close and yet so far.
But his search was renewed. All it had taken was Mana saying only five little words; "I want to go home."
They sat together now, reading his notes again to search for any hint of the way home.
It was… pleasant to feel her presence leaning against him, a ball of warmth by his side.
They were working together on the problem; the Dementors had managed to remind Mahado of an important fact. He was not alone. Then Mana had shown him that she was a powerful magician in her own right and no longer his apprentice.
He smiled down at her now, curled up against his side, snoring softly.
She had fallen asleep.
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Mahado gently brushed her hair out of her eyes; she stirred slightly and murmured something in her sleep.
His protective urges rose again, he would keep her safe, but he would let her fight as well. She was a warrior, if he tried to wrap her in cotton wool then…
They would fight side by side, protecting each other's backs.
Kisara would never…
No.
It was Mana's turn to be the centre of his thoughts. He wouldn't let Kisara deprive her of that.
"I think I might love you." He told the sleeping Mana.
She smiled in her sleep.
Two days later, they were coming from the lakeside, where Joey, Ombre, Harry, Ron and Hermione had been having a snowball fight, to their second surprise of the holidays…
"Mr Muto?" Joey gasped, staring at the elderly gentleman, "What're you doing here?"
Solomon Muto smiled at Joey and Ombre, "I'm here to pick up Yugi, I thought he and Yami would be with you." He turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione, "Joseph, you haven't introduced me to your new friends."
"Mr Muto?" Hermione asked, "You must be Yugi's grandpa." She said respectfully, bowing as she introduced herself, "My name is Hermione Granger."
Ron bowed too, "I'm Ron Weasley."
Harry was about to bow as a black and red blur dashed down the stairs, Mr Muto turned around in time to stagger backwards as it collided with him. "Grandpa!"
Joey looked up the stairs, where Yami was stood, watching the scene unfold, from the next floor up. Solomon Muto was returning his Grandson's hug as Yami came down and joined the others.
"Grandpa, these are the friends I've told you about…" Yugi said.
"They were just introducing themselves." Yugi's Grandpa said, smiling and nodding at the Pharaoh, who was unhappy about what was about to happen.
"Sorry." Yugi apologised to his friends.
Harry smiled at his friend in response, slightly jealous but well aware that this man was the only family Yugi had had for the last seven years. He bowed to Mr Muto, "My name is Harry Potter." Solomon's eyebrows lifted in response, as a full blood wizard he couldn't help but know the name, but remembered that Yugi had said Harry hated it when people treated him differently because he was famous.
"It's nice to meet all of you." He said, and then turned to his Grandson, "Are you ready to go?"
"Where're you going?" Hermione asked as Professor Dumbledore descended the staircase.
"Didn't you tell them?" Solomon asked Yugi, who shook his head. "We're going to Egypt to see Yugi's parents. It's finally safe, they still had several curses on them when they were brought into the hospital, they had get to get one of Gringott's Curse Breakers to lift them in the end, a Bill Weasley I believe." Ron grinned as Yugi looked at him startled; Bill was one of Ron's brothers. "The memory loss was part of one of the curses they believe, as things are beginning to come back to them, we're hoping that's true."
Solomon looked at the group, while the others were excited at the possibility of Yugi's parent's coming home, the Pharaoh, Yami, caught his eye the most. The Pharaoh desperately wanted to come along with them, unwilling to let his hikari go without him, in case something went wrong. Other then his Grandpa, Yugi's family had consisted of his friends and Yami. He was surprised Yugi had hidden something like this from them, even if he had told the Pharaoh.
But there were two problems if Yami went; one was that the hospital was only allowing blood family at the moment, which, even though Solomon had adopted Yami, he wasn't considered blood family and therefore was ruled out.
The second was that he had a feeling that it wasn't time for Yami to return to his homeland yet, if he did, Mr Muto was sure he wouldn't be coming back, something would happen to keep him there, and a destiny fulfilled too soon (or too late for that matter) was likely to end badly.
"Solomon Muto." Professor Dumbledore said as he walked across the hall, "Welcome back to Hogwarts."
"Professor Dumbledore." Mr Muto bowed politely, "Thank you for allowing me to take my Grandson out of school for a few days."
"Your Grandson has inherited your knack for Games, I see Solomon."
"But not my knack for paying more attention to them then class work, I hope." Yugi's Grandpa replied, jokingly.
"No," Professor Dumbledore smiled, "I hear only good things about your Grandsons, except for a few incidences where their heroics have led them into trouble." Solomon looked at his grandson, blushed and looked away. Mr Muto rolled his eyes, "May I enquire how you intend to get to Cairo?"
Solomon shuddered, "The ministry has given access to one of their international Port Keys."
"Before you leave do you have time for a few private words? There is something I wish to discuss with you, but it could wait until you return."
"Well the train to London isn't due to leave for another hour so I do have some time, but Yugi" Solomon turn to consider his grandson, "I intend to leave in twenty minutes, so don't get involved in a duel while I'm gone."
"I'll be good Grandpa" Yugi replied.
"Good Luck, Yugi." Hermione said, giving him a hug. Joey ruffled his hair, while Harry and Ron shook his hand. Ombre just smiled and nodded. Then he turned to Yami.
"Take care Yugi." Yami said and Yugi nodded.
"You know I will." He said with a small smile, "See you on Christmas Eve." Yami nodded and Yugi headed up the stairs after his Grandpa and Professor Dumbledore. Yami watched him go, then was bombarded by questions from the others as to why he hadn't told them.
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Yugi was sat in the waiting room of the hospital, waiting for the doctor.
He and his Grandpa had arrived by Port Key over an hour ago, and had been waiting ever since they'd finished being put through every cleansing spell Hermione and Kari had ever learnt and quite a few they hadn't. He now wasn't one hundred percent sure which was worse, Floo Powder or Port Keys, deciding he preferred the former of the two.
Professor Dumbledore had returned to Hogwarts almost immediately, only waiting long enough to tell them to use the Floo Powder he'd given his Grandpa, to return to Hogwarts on Christmas Eve and that they were free to use any of the fires that Yugi was allowed access to. His Grandpa had grimaced but nodded. Now they were waiting for the Doctor to see them before they were allowed to see Yugi's parents.
Yugi had been starting at the same walls for an hour and had decided that they must've been built a very long time ago, because in certain places they had hieroglyphs carved into them. He'd sent out what little Shadow Magic he had when he wasn't wearing the Puzzle and found out they were for spells of protection and cleansing. The door to the rest of the hospital opened and a doctor came over to them. He and Yugi's Grandpa spoke in Arabic for a moment and then the Doctor switched to Japanese for Yugi's sake.
"Well, young man, your parents seem to have made a remarkable recovery, and I believe they are looking forward to seeing you."
"They remember me?" Yugi asked excitedly.
"They certainly seem to." The doctor smiled, "What ever curse was blocking their memories was removed by Bill Weasley, along with several other curses. The Ancient Egyptians certainly were powerful wizards."
You have no idea. Yugi thought to himself.
"If you'd like to follow me." The doctor said, leading them into the main body of the Hospital, the two Muto's followed as he led them up three flights of stairs, then stopped at the fourth door down which was labelled, Mr R Prewett and Mrs A Prewett. Yugi remembered that his Grandpa had officially adopted him, making him a Muto again, when his parents had vanished. "Well," The doctor said, "Good Luck."
I wish Yami was here. Yugi thought as the Doctor left.
Yugi looked at his Grandpa, who nodded and pushed the door open…
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Yami was pacing the Dormitory Floor, he was on his own, Yugi was in Egypt and the others were finishing Dinner. He hadn't been very hungry, he'd pulled out his Duelling Deck and had been going through it when he'd felt something calling to him and strong emotions. He'd checked with Mahado, it hadn't been him. So Yami had started pacing the Dorm, hoping everything was alright in Egypt. He was being stupid he knew this. Yugi was too far away to call to him, even if Yugi taken the Puzzle with him, instead of leaving it with Yami.
But still he couldn't help feeling that wave of anger and emotional pain, had come from Yugi.
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Yugi had felt like curling into a ball and crying until there was nothing left of him bar a dried up husk.
The hospital had lied to him.
Their memories had returned.
But they weren't his parents.
They'd been at the dig with his parents but that wasn't the same. He'd cuddled into his Grandpa and wept. He longed for Yami and his friend's comfort but the distance between them was too great.
Yugi's Grandpa had been furious both with the Doctors, and at the archaeologists for pretending to be Yugi's parents. However they did know what had happened to Yugi's parents so, once Yugi calmed down, they were going to go back and find out. Whatever it was, it didn't sound good.
It turned out… it wasn't.
They'd been excavating the tomb of an ancient Princess from a foreign land, Yugi's eyes had lit up, it had to be Ombre's tomb. But all the cartouches had been blank, not destroyed, just blank, like they hadn't been told what to put in them, and the Egyptologists weren't divulging anymore then they had to.
Apparently during excavations they had come upon artefacts of a magical kind, but when they had tried to examine them closely a band of masked robed figures had stormed into camp, with wands and horses, and taken the artefacts, their research, including that of references to seven mystical Egyptian items and the artefact belonging to the Princess, and burnt the camp to the ground, then rode off. Yugi's mother had asked these archaeologists to look after the last artefact left, and ridden after them. They hadn't been seen since, but the two Egyptologists knew they were alive because they'd received owl post from Yugi's mother only two days ago, with a letter to give Solomon Muto.
"May I see the artefact?" Yugi asked, surprisingly calm, Solomon could see it hadn't sunk in. The Egyptologists nodded and passed Yugi the golden item, a golden crown, with golden wings coming out at the sides and the Millennium Symbol in the centre. Yugi closed his eyes, and nearly gasped out loud at the images he saw, images from Ancient Egypt, they had to be linked to Yami's memories. He felt drained as he opened his eyes, the two archaeologists were staring at him.
"You were glowing." Solomon explained.
"May I keep this?" Yugi asked, the two nodded quickly and handed over the letter from Yugi's mum.
Dear Father.
We apologise for being away so long, we honestly meant to return long before now, but the group we are hunting continue to evade us. We're both safe and sound though, thank goodness for small mercies.
We've seen Yugi on television; he's inherited your gaming streak. We're very proud of him. You have been being careful to conceal magic from him, haven't you? We wanted our son to grow up thinking he's normal, and not have to be aware of everything he can't do simply because he doesn't have magic.
We realise that we should have returned a long time ago, it's been seven years and we never meant to leave Yugi with you this long. Apologise to Yugi for our delay in coming home, will you?
One thing we must ask. Is that upside down Pyramid Yugi wears the puzzle you found in Egypt? If it is, there will be people who will try to take it from him. He must take great care of it.
Tell little Yugi that we will be home as soon as we can, we promise, and that we love him,
Thank you for all you've done for Yugi,
Your loving daughter,
Aiko Prewett.
P.S. Roland says Merry Christmas.
Solomon Muto stared at the parchment, then looked over at Yugi, who was examining the crown, and decided Yugi had to read it for himself.
He passed Yugi the letter, and Yugi looked at him twice as he read. Solomon knew he had some explaining to do as Yugi shed more tears, they were alive, his parents were alive, and they loved him. He missed the conversation between his Grandpa and Alexia and Mickey, he wanted to get his hopes up for their quick return, but knew better, after all, that had been what they had said when they'd left him with his Grandpa.
But they were alive; he could draw hope from that.
He and his Grandpa headed for the hotel, the Golden crown in Yugi's bag weighing on his mind. His parents had been excavating Ombre's tomb, they would have information on Ombre, they could have ideas on Yami's past, and they'd be coming home soon.
That was the thing that hit him hardest.
He may not have seen them today.
But they'd be home soon.
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It was Christmas Eve and Yami was pacing again, driving Joey and the others up the wall.
"He'll be back when he's back!" Joey finally snapped from one of the tables, "Pacing won't make him leave Egypt any faster."
"If it is his parents, then he might not want to come back for Christmas." Hermione said, watching as the Pharaoh paced up and down and up and down, the smells of cooking had finally permeated through the school and reached the Gryffindor Common Room making Joey's tummy rumble more then once.
Joey and Ombre tried to continue their duel, but they could see Yami pacing in the corner of his eye, with distracted Joey enough to cause him to slam down the cards in his hand and storm over to the Pharaoh. "Will you sit…"
A knocking noise came from the common room door, making Joey and Yami jump, and Ombre got up to open it, revealing Yugi and his Grandpa. "Hi guys."
"Yugi…?" Yami asked, seeing the look on his hikari's face.
"It wasn't them, but they had a letter from my parents, and," He pulled the crown out from his bag, "This."
A memory flashed past Yami's eyes, he knew that crown!
"Here." Yugi said, passing it to him.
Yami closed his eyes as his mind was assaulted by a barrage of images. Images from Egypt. He opened his eyes, and looked at Yugi. "What?"
"I think they were excavating Ombre's Tomb." Yugi said, making Ombre rush over.
"Did they have any information on me?"
Yugi told them everything that the archaeologists had told him, and showed Yami the letter, which got passed around. Solomon tapped his Grandson on the shoulder.
"I'm going to tell Professor Dumbledore that we're back." Yugi nodded.
"What's the password, guys?" Yugi asked.
"Scurvy Seadogs." Joey said shortly.
"I'll see you later." Mr Muto said to his Grandson, and left the Common Room. Yugi watched him go.
"Are you really alright with your parents still being missing?" Hermione asked.
Yugi shook his head, "But at least I know they're alive."
The next morning, Yami was just drifting back off to sleep when something landed on him and pulled the blankets off, before vanishing with said blankets and hiding.
"Yugi!" Yami complained, shivering, "Gimme those back!" Yugi laughed as Yami got off the bed and looked around, if he was his hikari where would he hide? Yami tried to trace Yugi using the little link they still had without the Puzzle, and growled slightly when he lost his hold on it.
"No cheating!" Yugi's voice called, he couldn't pinpoint it but it sounded muffled. Joey smirked, this was worth getting out of bed for, Yugi could be invisible when he wanted to, not literally, but his years of having to escape from bullies had made Yugi brilliant at hiding. Joey got up and watched the Pharaoh search for his hikari.
"Merry Christmas, Hermione, Ombre." Said Yami as he passed the girl.
"Merry Christmas, Yami." They replied, they'd had experience of Yugi on Christmas morning, he was extremely bouncy normally. Harry, Ron and Joey nodded; Yami was too busy trying to work out where Yugi had gone.
Yami smirked; he thought he knew where his hikari was. Yugi hadn't dashed down the stairs; Yami had had a clear view of them. So he had to be up here somewhere and he thought he knew where. He gestured to Joey and Ron who followed him over to Yugi's bed and Yami looked underneath.
Yugi looked up at him with huge violet eyes and laughed, rolling out and avoiding the three boys as he dashed out the door, poking his tongue out as he went. Yami pulled his blankets out from under Yugi's bed before poking his head out the door, "Yugi!" He called, "You may be down there, but we have all your presents up here!"
"But I'm holding all of your presents ransom down here!" Yugi yelled back after Yami had stopped laughing. Yami turned to look and saw that Yugi had somehow moved all his presents from where Hermione had put them.
"How did he…?" Ron asked, Yami shrugged, he had no idea. He had to wonder if Yugi had been taking lessons on his Shadow Magic, from Mahado. Then he spotted a pile of empty wrappers by Yugi's bed, all for chocolate bars.
"Uh oh!" Yami breathed, "Yugi on a sugar-rush alert."
"But I thought he was asleep!" Joey said, blanching, he'd rather face an angry Snape then a hyper-active Yugi, the latter was more dangerous.
"So did I." Yami said, counting, one… two… eight… nine… How had Yugi gotten so much chocolate? There was a note on the hikari's bedside table. Here you go Yugi, early Christmas present, the rest of your present to arrive on Christmas day! From Kari. "I'm gunna kill her."
"Do you think this is revenge for not saving her from her parents?" Harry asked.
"She's a hikari, she wouldn't… would she?" Ron said.
"She would." Yami groaned, reading the note she'd sent to him, "Hi Yami, yes I gave Yugi the chocolate: p, this is payback for making me put up with my parents this Christmas! Merry Christmas to everyone, Kari." Yami growled, "I'm really gunna kill her if she gave him more chocolate for Christmas!" He looked carefully at the wrappers, there was a funny green gunge on them that had come from the inside of the bars, he guessed. He poked it, it was sticky like caramel.
Hermione shot down the stairs, "I'll get them back."
"Hey Harry?" Ron half asked, as they looked over their presents, "What's that?" He asked, pointing to a long thin package.
"I dunno." Harry said, ripping the packaging off. Ron walked over to Harry's bed.
"I don't believe it!" Ron whispered.
"What?" Yami asked, coming over as Ron and Harry gaped at it.
It was a Firebolt, identical to the broomstick Yugi and Harry had eyed up almost the entire time they'd been in Diagon Alley. Its handle glittered as Harry picked it, he could feel it vibrating, and let it go; it hug in mid air, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount.
Yugi dashed up the stairs, carrying Yami's presents, and froze. "Is that a…?" Yugi asked, reverently. He dropped Yami's presents on his bed and walked over, "That is! It's a Firebolt!"
"Who sent it to you?" Ron asked quietly.
"Is there a card?" Yami searched through the wrapping paper.
"No."
"Blimey Harry," Ron said, "Who's spend that much on you?"
"Well," Said Harry, feeling stunned, "I'm betting it wasn't the Dursleys."
"I bet it was Dumbledore." Ron said, eyeing up the Firebolt, "After all, he sent you the invisibility cloak anonymously!"
"That was his dad's though." Ombre said, she could hear Hermione coming up the stairs. "He wouldn't spend hundreds of Galleons on one student; he can't go giving students presents like this."
"That's why he wouldn't say it was from him," Said Ron, "In case some git like Draco said it was favouritism. Hey Harry!" Ron gave a great whoop of laughter, "The Malfoys! Wait till they see you on this! They'll be sick as a pig! This is an international standard broom!"
"I can't believe this!" Harry muttered, running a hand along the Firebolt, while Ron laughed his head off and Joey and Yami smirked at the thought of Draco and Bakura's reactions. Yugi was too busy ogling the broomstick. Yami had to look at his hikari twice, was that envy he saw in Yugi's eyes? No, it couldn't be. "Who?"
"I know who it could've been! Lupin!" Ron said, controlling himself.
"What?" Asked Harry, now starting to laugh himself, "Lupin? Listen, if he had that much gold, he'd be able to buy himself some new robes."
"Yeah, but he likes you," Said Ron, "And he was away when your Nimbus got smashed, and he might've heard about it and decided to visit Diagon Alley and get it for you."
"What'd you mean he was away?" Harry asked, as Yugi examined every square inch of the broom, "He was ill when we played that match."
"Well he wasn't in the hospital wing," Said Ron, "I was there, cleaning out the bedpans on that detention from Snape, remember?"
Yami frowned, "I can't see Lupin affording something like this."
"What about Kaiba?" Ron asked, Yami, Yugi, Joey and Ombre just burst into laughter.
"What?"
"It's not like Kaiba ever notices Harry, he's too busy glaring at Yami." Ombre replied when she got her breath back.
"What're you lot laughing about?" Hermione asked as she entered the room, holding Crookshanks, who was in a bad mood and had tinsel tied around his neck.
"Don't bring him in here!" Ron said, hurriedly snatching Scabbers up. Hermione wasn't paying attention. She had dropped Crookshanks, who had vanished under Yami's bed, where Kiyoshe was hiding.
"Oh Harry! Who sent you that?"
"No idea." Harry said, "There wasn't a card or anything with it." To the groups surprise Hermione didn't look either excited or intrigued by the news. Instead, her face fell and she bit her lip.
"What's wrong?" Yami asked.
"I don't know," Hermione said slowly, "But it's a bit odd isn't it? I mean this is supposed to be a good broom, isn't it?"
"It's the best broom there is, Hermione." Yugi said, finally turning away from the broom.
"Exactly. So it must've been really expensive."
"It is." Yami murmured.
"Well, who'd send Harry something that expensive and not even tell him, they'd sent it?"
"Who cares?" Ron asked, "Hey Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?"
"Can I have a go?" Yugi asked straight after, "Can I? Can I? Can I? Can I? Can I? Can I?" Yami glared at the sweet wrappers that were still led on his hikari's bed, this was more then just a reaction to chocolate first thing in the morning.
"I don't think anyone should ride that broom yet!" Hermione said shrilly.
"What did you think Harry was going to do with it?" Ron asked, "Sweep the floor?"
Before Hermione could answer, Crookshanks and Kiyoshe sprang out from under Yami's bed, right at Ron.
"GET THEM OUT OF HERE!" Ron roared, trying to kick the cats and missing, hitting Harry's trunk instead. Ron howling in pain as Yugi took the opportunity to take the last of his chocolate and dive down the stairs.
Yami lost track of Yugi over the day and it wasn't until they went down for lunch and didn't see Yugi sat at the table that he started to worry. Joey however blocked his path to the table and gulped.
"Ummm, Yami." Joey said warily, Yugi's wand in his hand. Yami gave him an odd look, Joey wasn't normally afraid to say anything, "Ummm, don't shoot the messenger but…" Joey pointed upwards.
Yami looked up at the ceiling.
"How the hell…?" Yami trailed off.
Yugi was sat on the ceiling, looking unhappy.
"Yugi, get down from there."
"Love to." Yugi sighed, "Can't."
"How did you get up there in the first place?"
"I'm not telling you until you get me down." Yugi replied.
At the opposite end of the singular large table that was laid out for the meal, Bakura was silently laughing, Draco on the other hand was looking half amused and half pissed off, Ombre wondered what Bakura had done to piss Draco off for all of about two seconds before she spotted Yugi on the ceiling.
Kaiba had entered just after Yami, having been convinced by Mokuba to stay over Christmas, complaining loudly about people stopping in the doorway for about thirty seconds before noticing Yugi on the ceiling. Mokuba tried not to giggle as Kaiba glared at Yugi on the ceiling.
"I know that can't be the Weasley twins fault, they're not here." Ombre said pulling her wand out. It was at this point the teachers walked in.
"Miss Ironhide put your wand…" Professor McGonagall trailed off, "Mr Muto, how did you get up there?"
"Can you get me down?" Yugi asked.
"Finite Incantum." Professor McGonagall sighed with a wave of her wand, Yugi stayed where he was. Professor McGonagall stared at her wand then retried the spell, this time with assistance from Professor Dumbledore. Yugi fell off the ceiling, and though Professor Dumbledore slowed his decent, he landed on Yami, causing Bakura to laugh really loudly and if it hadn't been for the fact everyone else was taking their seats, and Professor Dumbledore was waiting for them, Yami probably would've leapt on Bakura there and then. As it was it took most of the group to get Yami to sit down without leaping on the Tomb Robber across the table.
"Not now." Ombre hissed, "Wait until after Dinner."
The Transfiguration Teacher joined them at the table, her misty gaze watching everyone as Yami and Bakura spent the entire time glaring at each other. Yami and Bakura left the Great Hall at the same time, leaving the others sat at the table, the boys stood up, Harry and Ron laughing, Yugi and Joey concerned about whatever Yami was up to. "You coming, Hermione, Ombre?"
They shook their heads, "I want a word with Professor McGonagall." Hermione said, Ombre just poked her Christmas pudding in response. The boys headed up to the Common Room. Harry rushed straight upstairs to the dorm, bringing his Firebolt down as Yugi and Joey started a Duel.
Yami came into the Common Room, a smirk on his face, it was one Yugi recognised.
"What did you do to him?" Yugi asked resignedly.
"He'll be fine by the start of term." Yami replied, his smirk growing.
"Fine, but what did you…?" Yugi was interrupted as Professor McGonagall, Hermione and Ombre came back into the Common Room. Ombre looked ashamed and distanced herself from the teacher and student.
"So that's it is it?" Professor McGonagall asked, walking over to Harry's broomstick, "Granger told me you'd been sent a broomstick, Potter." Harry nodded dumbly, "May I?" The Professor didn't wait for an answer but picked up the broom, examining it carefully, "Hmmm. And there was no note? Or card? No message of any kind?" Again Harry shook his head. "I'm afraid I have to take this, Potter."
"What?" Harry exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. "Why!"
"It will need to be checked for jinxes," Said Professor McGonagall, "Of course I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down."
"Strip it down?" Repeated Yugi and Ron, as though the Professor was mad.
"It shouldn't take more then a few weeks." Professor McGonagall said, Harry and Ron tried to reason with her to no avail. The moment Professor McGonagall had left the Common Room, Ron turned on Ombre and Hermione.
"WHAT DID YOU GO RUNNING TO MCGONAGALL FOR?"
"I didn't." Ombre snapped in reply, "I just wanted to check how Kari was doing with her extra lessons."
"I did." Hermione said defiantly, "Because I thought… And Professor McGonagall agrees with me… that that broom was probably sent to Harry, by Sirius Black!"
Harry looked around; the Common Room was empty except for Ron, who was eating a peppermint toad, while watching Joey and Ombre, who now had the Millennium Orb again, duel, and Hermione had spread her homework over three tables.
"Where's Yugi, Yami and Kari?"
"Kari's gone home, it's the first day of the holidays, and Yami's probably still trying to find Yugi to apologise. Yami got detention last night for looking for Yugi after curfew."
Harry's memory kicked in, "What actually happened last night?"
"Ron took a swing at Yami, then Yami took a swing at Ron but…"
"He hit Yugi instead." Ron said. "Yugi ran out of the common room and no one has seen him since, Yami's been looking most of the morning."
"Yami hit Yugi?"
"Not deliberately…" Yami said as he re-entered the Common Room, "Yugi was trying to break it up, and I shouted at him, and then hit him by accident, but I bet he thinks it was deliberate. He's been learning how to fight hasn't he?"
Joey smiled slightly, though he was still mad at the Pharaoh for hitting Yugi, even if it was an accident. "I've been teaching him. He's a quick learner, and it's not like you and me haven't sparred before." Yami shook his head, he and Joey had sparred quite a few times over the summer, to keep in shape, "I started teaching him and Harry last Christmas."
"Where is he?" Hermione asked, looking up from her homework.
"Mahado won't tell me where he is; just that Yugi is in a safe place and doesn't want to talk to me. I just want to apologise" Yami sighed, the Millennium Puzzle rested on his robes, "And I don't want to speak to him mind to mind, not when I keep getting those headaches every time I do, even if I could when Yugi doesn't have the puzzle." Yami looked as bad as Harry felt; neither boy had gotten much sleep, though for different reasons.
"You've not still got one?" Harry asked, seeing how bad Yami felt.
Yami stopped; he had not noticed until this moment, that the headache that had plagued him almost constantly since his near collapse (and before) was gone. "It's gone… my headache has gone completely." Yami looked at Harry carefully, "Harry, you look terrible!"
Harry smiled slightly, "You're the second person to tell me that."
"Well, they're right Harry; you don't look well at all." Ombre said, looking up from her cards.
"I'm fine." Harry said.
"Harry, listen," Hermione said, exchanging a look with Ron, "You must be upset about what we heard yesterday, but the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid."
"Like what?"
"Like trying to go after Black." Ron said sharply.
Harry could tell they'd rehearsed the conversation while he'd been asleep. He didn't say anything.
"You won't, will you Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Because Black's not worth dying for." Ron said.
Harry looked at the two of them; they didn't seem to get it at all.
"D'you know what I see and hear every time a Dementor gets too near me?" Ron and Hermione shook their heads, looking apprehensive. Yami watched Harry warily and Joey and Ombre looked up from their duel. "I can hear my mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her…"
"There's nothing you can do!" Said Hermione, looking stricken. "The Dementors will catch Black and he'll go back to Azkaban and… and serve him right!"
"You heard what Fudge said. Black isn't affected by Azkaban like normal people are. It's not a punishment for him like it is for the others."
"So what are you saying?" Said Ron, looking very tense, "You want to kill Black or something?"
"Don't be silly," Said Hermione, in a panicky voice, "Harry doesn't want to kill anyone, do you, Harry?"
Again, Harry didn't answer. He didn't know what he wanted to do. All he knew was that the idea of doing nothing, while Black was at liberty, was almost more then he could stand.
"Malfoy knows," He said abruptly, "Remember what he was saying in Potions? If I was a friend or relative of one of Black's victims, I'd want revenge!"
"You're going to take Mouthboy's advice?" Ron asked, furiously, "Listen… you know what Pettigrew's mother got back after Black had finished with him? Dad told me, the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrew's finger in a box. That was the biggest part of him they could find. Black's a madman, Harry, and he's dangerous…"
"Malfoy's Dad must've told him," Said Harry, ignoring Ron, "He was right in Voldemort's inner circle…"
"Say You-Know-Who, will you?" Interjected Ron, angrily.
"…So obviously, the Malfoy's knew Black was working for Voldemort…"
"And Malfoy'd love to see you get blow into a million pieces, like Pettigrew!" Ron snapped, "Get a grip, Malfoy's just hoping you'll get yourself killed before he has to play you at Quidditch."
"Harry," Yami said quietly, concern for his friend obvious, "Please think about this sensibly, what Black did was terrible but if you go after him, you'll be playing into his hands. When he turns up again, I'll be more then willing to help you exact whatever revenge you want, but your parents wouldn't want you to get hurt, or go looking for Black."
"I'll never know what they'd've wanted because, thanks to Black, I've never spoken to them." Snapped Harry.
There was a silence, in which Crookshanks stretched luxuriously, flexing his claws, and Bastet and Kiyoshe leapt up onto chairs by the fire. Ron's pocket quivered.
"Harry," Yami partly asked, "Can I borrow the Marauder's Map?"
"Uh, sure." Harry said, temporarily distracted from fuming. He went up to the dorm and brought down the map, checking no one was around before he opened it up and tapped it with his wand. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Once the map appeared properly, Harry laid it on the table. Yami scanned the map, ignoring the Common Rooms, then spotted the dot he was looking for and tapped the map with his wand, with the words, "Mischief managed." Then he shot out of the Common Room.
"So, what are the rest of us going to do?" Asked Joey as he and Ombre packed up their cards, "It's the holidays! It's nearly Christmas!"
"Yeah," Ron said, looking at Harry, who was still looking at the two titled dots on the map, "Let's… let's go visit Hagrid. We haven't visited him for ages."
"No." Ombre and Hermione said at the same time, "Harry isn't supposed to leave the castle."
"Yeah, let's go." Harry said, looking away from the map, "And I can ask him how come he never mentioned Black when he told me all about my parents."
Ombre groaned, she thought that they'd managed to distract Harry from that… obviously not. Further discussion of Black was not what she had in mind.
"Or we could carry on teaching you Duel Monsters; that deck you've built from the wizard Duel Monsters cards is quite strong." Ombre suggested.
"No, let's visit Hagrid." Said Harry firmly, rolling up the blank map.
So they got their cloaks from the dorms and set off through the portrait hole, down through the empty castle and out through the oak front doors. Their cloaks made a trench in the snow as they walked down to Hagrid's. The Forbidden Forest looked like it had been enchanted, each tree was smattered with silver and Hagrid's house looked like an iced cake.
Ron knocked, but there was no answer.
"He's not out, is he?" Hermione asked, shivering under her cloak.
"Hagrid?" Harry called, banging on the door, "Hagrid, are you in there?"
There was the sound of footsteps, then the door opened with a bang, causing Ron and Harry to have to get out of the way quickly. "Yeh've heard!" Hagrid said cheerfully, "Come in, come in."
Ron and Harry looked at each other, wondering what was up to make Hagrid so happy but they weren't expecting what they saw.
Bakura, without his amulet, drinking and celebrating with Hagrid.
"Wha…" Harry started, shocked. Bakura smirked.
"Of course," He said with a grin, "You wouldn't know would you?"
"Know what?" Joey growled, Bakura happy was not a good thing.
"Bakura 'ere passed the first part of the course for Beast Care and Tamin'." Hagrid said happily. Then he grimaced, "I though' he would've told yer."
"We don't speak to Bakura much." Hermione said quickly to stall any argument. She hadn't failed to notice the fact Ombre and Joey had moved to the front of the group, putting themselves between Bakura and the others.
Or at all if we can help it. Joey thought, "Well, we're sorry to disturb your celebrations, we'll go now." Joey ushered them out. Once they were out of hearing range of Hagrid's hut, he turned to the others, "If Bakura is trying to pass a course on Beast Taming; he must be up to something."
"I think it's a course to allow someone to keep and train dangerous animals." Hermione said, "But I'm not sure."
"I think we should check it out," Harry said, "If Bakura's trying to get a licence to train dangerous animals it can't be good."
The others nodded, glad that Harry had been distracted. They ate little over lunch heading straight into the library to find out more.
Yugi and Yami returned to the Common Room that evening, looking as though they had a lot on their minds but neither would speak to the others about it. They were however interested to know what Bakura was up to.
"I knew it." Yami growled, the Millennium Symbol on the Puzzle flashed in response to his anger, "He's after one of the Hippogriffs!"
"Bakura with a Hippogriff?" Hermione blanched, "He's bad enough with that Dark Necrofear! He'd never take care of it and he'd try to get it to attack people!"
"Isn't there any way we can stop him?" No one had an answer.
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Home was so close and yet so far.
But his search was renewed. All it had taken was Mana saying only five little words; "I want to go home."
They sat together now, reading his notes again to search for any hint of the way home.
It was… pleasant to feel her presence leaning against him, a ball of warmth by his side.
They were working together on the problem; the Dementors had managed to remind Mahado of an important fact. He was not alone. Then Mana had shown him that she was a powerful magician in her own right and no longer his apprentice.
He smiled down at her now, curled up against his side, snoring softly.
She had fallen asleep.
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Mahado gently brushed her hair out of her eyes; she stirred slightly and murmured something in her sleep.
His protective urges rose again, he would keep her safe, but he would let her fight as well. She was a warrior, if he tried to wrap her in cotton wool then…
They would fight side by side, protecting each other's backs.
Kisara would never…
No.
It was Mana's turn to be the centre of his thoughts. He wouldn't let Kisara deprive her of that.
"I think I might love you." He told the sleeping Mana.
She smiled in her sleep.
Two days later, they were coming from the lakeside, where Joey, Ombre, Harry, Ron and Hermione had been having a snowball fight, to their second surprise of the holidays…
"Mr Muto?" Joey gasped, staring at the elderly gentleman, "What're you doing here?"
Solomon Muto smiled at Joey and Ombre, "I'm here to pick up Yugi, I thought he and Yami would be with you." He turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione, "Joseph, you haven't introduced me to your new friends."
"Mr Muto?" Hermione asked, "You must be Yugi's grandpa." She said respectfully, bowing as she introduced herself, "My name is Hermione Granger."
Ron bowed too, "I'm Ron Weasley."
Harry was about to bow as a black and red blur dashed down the stairs, Mr Muto turned around in time to stagger backwards as it collided with him. "Grandpa!"
Joey looked up the stairs, where Yami was stood, watching the scene unfold, from the next floor up. Solomon Muto was returning his Grandson's hug as Yami came down and joined the others.
"Grandpa, these are the friends I've told you about…" Yugi said.
"They were just introducing themselves." Yugi's Grandpa said, smiling and nodding at the Pharaoh, who was unhappy about what was about to happen.
"Sorry." Yugi apologised to his friends.
Harry smiled at his friend in response, slightly jealous but well aware that this man was the only family Yugi had had for the last seven years. He bowed to Mr Muto, "My name is Harry Potter." Solomon's eyebrows lifted in response, as a full blood wizard he couldn't help but know the name, but remembered that Yugi had said Harry hated it when people treated him differently because he was famous.
"It's nice to meet all of you." He said, and then turned to his Grandson, "Are you ready to go?"
"Where're you going?" Hermione asked as Professor Dumbledore descended the staircase.
"Didn't you tell them?" Solomon asked Yugi, who shook his head. "We're going to Egypt to see Yugi's parents. It's finally safe, they still had several curses on them when they were brought into the hospital, they had get to get one of Gringott's Curse Breakers to lift them in the end, a Bill Weasley I believe." Ron grinned as Yugi looked at him startled; Bill was one of Ron's brothers. "The memory loss was part of one of the curses they believe, as things are beginning to come back to them, we're hoping that's true."
Solomon looked at the group, while the others were excited at the possibility of Yugi's parent's coming home, the Pharaoh, Yami, caught his eye the most. The Pharaoh desperately wanted to come along with them, unwilling to let his hikari go without him, in case something went wrong. Other then his Grandpa, Yugi's family had consisted of his friends and Yami. He was surprised Yugi had hidden something like this from them, even if he had told the Pharaoh.
But there were two problems if Yami went; one was that the hospital was only allowing blood family at the moment, which, even though Solomon had adopted Yami, he wasn't considered blood family and therefore was ruled out.
The second was that he had a feeling that it wasn't time for Yami to return to his homeland yet, if he did, Mr Muto was sure he wouldn't be coming back, something would happen to keep him there, and a destiny fulfilled too soon (or too late for that matter) was likely to end badly.
"Solomon Muto." Professor Dumbledore said as he walked across the hall, "Welcome back to Hogwarts."
"Professor Dumbledore." Mr Muto bowed politely, "Thank you for allowing me to take my Grandson out of school for a few days."
"Your Grandson has inherited your knack for Games, I see Solomon."
"But not my knack for paying more attention to them then class work, I hope." Yugi's Grandpa replied, jokingly.
"No," Professor Dumbledore smiled, "I hear only good things about your Grandsons, except for a few incidences where their heroics have led them into trouble." Solomon looked at his grandson, blushed and looked away. Mr Muto rolled his eyes, "May I enquire how you intend to get to Cairo?"
Solomon shuddered, "The ministry has given access to one of their international Port Keys."
"Before you leave do you have time for a few private words? There is something I wish to discuss with you, but it could wait until you return."
"Well the train to London isn't due to leave for another hour so I do have some time, but Yugi" Solomon turn to consider his grandson, "I intend to leave in twenty minutes, so don't get involved in a duel while I'm gone."
"I'll be good Grandpa" Yugi replied.
"Good Luck, Yugi." Hermione said, giving him a hug. Joey ruffled his hair, while Harry and Ron shook his hand. Ombre just smiled and nodded. Then he turned to Yami.
"Take care Yugi." Yami said and Yugi nodded.
"You know I will." He said with a small smile, "See you on Christmas Eve." Yami nodded and Yugi headed up the stairs after his Grandpa and Professor Dumbledore. Yami watched him go, then was bombarded by questions from the others as to why he hadn't told them.
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Yugi was sat in the waiting room of the hospital, waiting for the doctor.
He and his Grandpa had arrived by Port Key over an hour ago, and had been waiting ever since they'd finished being put through every cleansing spell Hermione and Kari had ever learnt and quite a few they hadn't. He now wasn't one hundred percent sure which was worse, Floo Powder or Port Keys, deciding he preferred the former of the two.
Professor Dumbledore had returned to Hogwarts almost immediately, only waiting long enough to tell them to use the Floo Powder he'd given his Grandpa, to return to Hogwarts on Christmas Eve and that they were free to use any of the fires that Yugi was allowed access to. His Grandpa had grimaced but nodded. Now they were waiting for the Doctor to see them before they were allowed to see Yugi's parents.
Yugi had been starting at the same walls for an hour and had decided that they must've been built a very long time ago, because in certain places they had hieroglyphs carved into them. He'd sent out what little Shadow Magic he had when he wasn't wearing the Puzzle and found out they were for spells of protection and cleansing. The door to the rest of the hospital opened and a doctor came over to them. He and Yugi's Grandpa spoke in Arabic for a moment and then the Doctor switched to Japanese for Yugi's sake.
"Well, young man, your parents seem to have made a remarkable recovery, and I believe they are looking forward to seeing you."
"They remember me?" Yugi asked excitedly.
"They certainly seem to." The doctor smiled, "What ever curse was blocking their memories was removed by Bill Weasley, along with several other curses. The Ancient Egyptians certainly were powerful wizards."
You have no idea. Yugi thought to himself.
"If you'd like to follow me." The doctor said, leading them into the main body of the Hospital, the two Muto's followed as he led them up three flights of stairs, then stopped at the fourth door down which was labelled, Mr R Prewett and Mrs A Prewett. Yugi remembered that his Grandpa had officially adopted him, making him a Muto again, when his parents had vanished. "Well," The doctor said, "Good Luck."
I wish Yami was here. Yugi thought as the Doctor left.
Yugi looked at his Grandpa, who nodded and pushed the door open…
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Yami was pacing the Dormitory Floor, he was on his own, Yugi was in Egypt and the others were finishing Dinner. He hadn't been very hungry, he'd pulled out his Duelling Deck and had been going through it when he'd felt something calling to him and strong emotions. He'd checked with Mahado, it hadn't been him. So Yami had started pacing the Dorm, hoping everything was alright in Egypt. He was being stupid he knew this. Yugi was too far away to call to him, even if Yugi taken the Puzzle with him, instead of leaving it with Yami.
But still he couldn't help feeling that wave of anger and emotional pain, had come from Yugi.
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Yugi had felt like curling into a ball and crying until there was nothing left of him bar a dried up husk.
The hospital had lied to him.
Their memories had returned.
But they weren't his parents.
They'd been at the dig with his parents but that wasn't the same. He'd cuddled into his Grandpa and wept. He longed for Yami and his friend's comfort but the distance between them was too great.
Yugi's Grandpa had been furious both with the Doctors, and at the archaeologists for pretending to be Yugi's parents. However they did know what had happened to Yugi's parents so, once Yugi calmed down, they were going to go back and find out. Whatever it was, it didn't sound good.
It turned out… it wasn't.
They'd been excavating the tomb of an ancient Princess from a foreign land, Yugi's eyes had lit up, it had to be Ombre's tomb. But all the cartouches had been blank, not destroyed, just blank, like they hadn't been told what to put in them, and the Egyptologists weren't divulging anymore then they had to.
Apparently during excavations they had come upon artefacts of a magical kind, but when they had tried to examine them closely a band of masked robed figures had stormed into camp, with wands and horses, and taken the artefacts, their research, including that of references to seven mystical Egyptian items and the artefact belonging to the Princess, and burnt the camp to the ground, then rode off. Yugi's mother had asked these archaeologists to look after the last artefact left, and ridden after them. They hadn't been seen since, but the two Egyptologists knew they were alive because they'd received owl post from Yugi's mother only two days ago, with a letter to give Solomon Muto.
"May I see the artefact?" Yugi asked, surprisingly calm, Solomon could see it hadn't sunk in. The Egyptologists nodded and passed Yugi the golden item, a golden crown, with golden wings coming out at the sides and the Millennium Symbol in the centre. Yugi closed his eyes, and nearly gasped out loud at the images he saw, images from Ancient Egypt, they had to be linked to Yami's memories. He felt drained as he opened his eyes, the two archaeologists were staring at him.
"You were glowing." Solomon explained.
"May I keep this?" Yugi asked, the two nodded quickly and handed over the letter from Yugi's mum.
Dear Father.
We apologise for being away so long, we honestly meant to return long before now, but the group we are hunting continue to evade us. We're both safe and sound though, thank goodness for small mercies.
We've seen Yugi on television; he's inherited your gaming streak. We're very proud of him. You have been being careful to conceal magic from him, haven't you? We wanted our son to grow up thinking he's normal, and not have to be aware of everything he can't do simply because he doesn't have magic.
We realise that we should have returned a long time ago, it's been seven years and we never meant to leave Yugi with you this long. Apologise to Yugi for our delay in coming home, will you?
One thing we must ask. Is that upside down Pyramid Yugi wears the puzzle you found in Egypt? If it is, there will be people who will try to take it from him. He must take great care of it.
Tell little Yugi that we will be home as soon as we can, we promise, and that we love him,
Thank you for all you've done for Yugi,
Your loving daughter,
Aiko Prewett.
P.S. Roland says Merry Christmas.
Solomon Muto stared at the parchment, then looked over at Yugi, who was examining the crown, and decided Yugi had to read it for himself.
He passed Yugi the letter, and Yugi looked at him twice as he read. Solomon knew he had some explaining to do as Yugi shed more tears, they were alive, his parents were alive, and they loved him. He missed the conversation between his Grandpa and Alexia and Mickey, he wanted to get his hopes up for their quick return, but knew better, after all, that had been what they had said when they'd left him with his Grandpa.
But they were alive; he could draw hope from that.
He and his Grandpa headed for the hotel, the Golden crown in Yugi's bag weighing on his mind. His parents had been excavating Ombre's tomb, they would have information on Ombre, they could have ideas on Yami's past, and they'd be coming home soon.
That was the thing that hit him hardest.
He may not have seen them today.
But they'd be home soon.
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It was Christmas Eve and Yami was pacing again, driving Joey and the others up the wall.
"He'll be back when he's back!" Joey finally snapped from one of the tables, "Pacing won't make him leave Egypt any faster."
"If it is his parents, then he might not want to come back for Christmas." Hermione said, watching as the Pharaoh paced up and down and up and down, the smells of cooking had finally permeated through the school and reached the Gryffindor Common Room making Joey's tummy rumble more then once.
Joey and Ombre tried to continue their duel, but they could see Yami pacing in the corner of his eye, with distracted Joey enough to cause him to slam down the cards in his hand and storm over to the Pharaoh. "Will you sit…"
A knocking noise came from the common room door, making Joey and Yami jump, and Ombre got up to open it, revealing Yugi and his Grandpa. "Hi guys."
"Yugi…?" Yami asked, seeing the look on his hikari's face.
"It wasn't them, but they had a letter from my parents, and," He pulled the crown out from his bag, "This."
A memory flashed past Yami's eyes, he knew that crown!
"Here." Yugi said, passing it to him.
Yami closed his eyes as his mind was assaulted by a barrage of images. Images from Egypt. He opened his eyes, and looked at Yugi. "What?"
"I think they were excavating Ombre's Tomb." Yugi said, making Ombre rush over.
"Did they have any information on me?"
Yugi told them everything that the archaeologists had told him, and showed Yami the letter, which got passed around. Solomon tapped his Grandson on the shoulder.
"I'm going to tell Professor Dumbledore that we're back." Yugi nodded.
"What's the password, guys?" Yugi asked.
"Scurvy Seadogs." Joey said shortly.
"I'll see you later." Mr Muto said to his Grandson, and left the Common Room. Yugi watched him go.
"Are you really alright with your parents still being missing?" Hermione asked.
Yugi shook his head, "But at least I know they're alive."
The next morning, Yami was just drifting back off to sleep when something landed on him and pulled the blankets off, before vanishing with said blankets and hiding.
"Yugi!" Yami complained, shivering, "Gimme those back!" Yugi laughed as Yami got off the bed and looked around, if he was his hikari where would he hide? Yami tried to trace Yugi using the little link they still had without the Puzzle, and growled slightly when he lost his hold on it.
"No cheating!" Yugi's voice called, he couldn't pinpoint it but it sounded muffled. Joey smirked, this was worth getting out of bed for, Yugi could be invisible when he wanted to, not literally, but his years of having to escape from bullies had made Yugi brilliant at hiding. Joey got up and watched the Pharaoh search for his hikari.
"Merry Christmas, Hermione, Ombre." Said Yami as he passed the girl.
"Merry Christmas, Yami." They replied, they'd had experience of Yugi on Christmas morning, he was extremely bouncy normally. Harry, Ron and Joey nodded; Yami was too busy trying to work out where Yugi had gone.
Yami smirked; he thought he knew where his hikari was. Yugi hadn't dashed down the stairs; Yami had had a clear view of them. So he had to be up here somewhere and he thought he knew where. He gestured to Joey and Ron who followed him over to Yugi's bed and Yami looked underneath.
Yugi looked up at him with huge violet eyes and laughed, rolling out and avoiding the three boys as he dashed out the door, poking his tongue out as he went. Yami pulled his blankets out from under Yugi's bed before poking his head out the door, "Yugi!" He called, "You may be down there, but we have all your presents up here!"
"But I'm holding all of your presents ransom down here!" Yugi yelled back after Yami had stopped laughing. Yami turned to look and saw that Yugi had somehow moved all his presents from where Hermione had put them.
"How did he…?" Ron asked, Yami shrugged, he had no idea. He had to wonder if Yugi had been taking lessons on his Shadow Magic, from Mahado. Then he spotted a pile of empty wrappers by Yugi's bed, all for chocolate bars.
"Uh oh!" Yami breathed, "Yugi on a sugar-rush alert."
"But I thought he was asleep!" Joey said, blanching, he'd rather face an angry Snape then a hyper-active Yugi, the latter was more dangerous.
"So did I." Yami said, counting, one… two… eight… nine… How had Yugi gotten so much chocolate? There was a note on the hikari's bedside table. Here you go Yugi, early Christmas present, the rest of your present to arrive on Christmas day! From Kari. "I'm gunna kill her."
"Do you think this is revenge for not saving her from her parents?" Harry asked.
"She's a hikari, she wouldn't… would she?" Ron said.
"She would." Yami groaned, reading the note she'd sent to him, "Hi Yami, yes I gave Yugi the chocolate: p, this is payback for making me put up with my parents this Christmas! Merry Christmas to everyone, Kari." Yami growled, "I'm really gunna kill her if she gave him more chocolate for Christmas!" He looked carefully at the wrappers, there was a funny green gunge on them that had come from the inside of the bars, he guessed. He poked it, it was sticky like caramel.
Hermione shot down the stairs, "I'll get them back."
"Hey Harry?" Ron half asked, as they looked over their presents, "What's that?" He asked, pointing to a long thin package.
"I dunno." Harry said, ripping the packaging off. Ron walked over to Harry's bed.
"I don't believe it!" Ron whispered.
"What?" Yami asked, coming over as Ron and Harry gaped at it.
It was a Firebolt, identical to the broomstick Yugi and Harry had eyed up almost the entire time they'd been in Diagon Alley. Its handle glittered as Harry picked it, he could feel it vibrating, and let it go; it hug in mid air, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount.
Yugi dashed up the stairs, carrying Yami's presents, and froze. "Is that a…?" Yugi asked, reverently. He dropped Yami's presents on his bed and walked over, "That is! It's a Firebolt!"
"Who sent it to you?" Ron asked quietly.
"Is there a card?" Yami searched through the wrapping paper.
"No."
"Blimey Harry," Ron said, "Who's spend that much on you?"
"Well," Said Harry, feeling stunned, "I'm betting it wasn't the Dursleys."
"I bet it was Dumbledore." Ron said, eyeing up the Firebolt, "After all, he sent you the invisibility cloak anonymously!"
"That was his dad's though." Ombre said, she could hear Hermione coming up the stairs. "He wouldn't spend hundreds of Galleons on one student; he can't go giving students presents like this."
"That's why he wouldn't say it was from him," Said Ron, "In case some git like Draco said it was favouritism. Hey Harry!" Ron gave a great whoop of laughter, "The Malfoys! Wait till they see you on this! They'll be sick as a pig! This is an international standard broom!"
"I can't believe this!" Harry muttered, running a hand along the Firebolt, while Ron laughed his head off and Joey and Yami smirked at the thought of Draco and Bakura's reactions. Yugi was too busy ogling the broomstick. Yami had to look at his hikari twice, was that envy he saw in Yugi's eyes? No, it couldn't be. "Who?"
"I know who it could've been! Lupin!" Ron said, controlling himself.
"What?" Asked Harry, now starting to laugh himself, "Lupin? Listen, if he had that much gold, he'd be able to buy himself some new robes."
"Yeah, but he likes you," Said Ron, "And he was away when your Nimbus got smashed, and he might've heard about it and decided to visit Diagon Alley and get it for you."
"What'd you mean he was away?" Harry asked, as Yugi examined every square inch of the broom, "He was ill when we played that match."
"Well he wasn't in the hospital wing," Said Ron, "I was there, cleaning out the bedpans on that detention from Snape, remember?"
Yami frowned, "I can't see Lupin affording something like this."
"What about Kaiba?" Ron asked, Yami, Yugi, Joey and Ombre just burst into laughter.
"What?"
"It's not like Kaiba ever notices Harry, he's too busy glaring at Yami." Ombre replied when she got her breath back.
"What're you lot laughing about?" Hermione asked as she entered the room, holding Crookshanks, who was in a bad mood and had tinsel tied around his neck.
"Don't bring him in here!" Ron said, hurriedly snatching Scabbers up. Hermione wasn't paying attention. She had dropped Crookshanks, who had vanished under Yami's bed, where Kiyoshe was hiding.
"Oh Harry! Who sent you that?"
"No idea." Harry said, "There wasn't a card or anything with it." To the groups surprise Hermione didn't look either excited or intrigued by the news. Instead, her face fell and she bit her lip.
"What's wrong?" Yami asked.
"I don't know," Hermione said slowly, "But it's a bit odd isn't it? I mean this is supposed to be a good broom, isn't it?"
"It's the best broom there is, Hermione." Yugi said, finally turning away from the broom.
"Exactly. So it must've been really expensive."
"It is." Yami murmured.
"Well, who'd send Harry something that expensive and not even tell him, they'd sent it?"
"Who cares?" Ron asked, "Hey Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?"
"Can I have a go?" Yugi asked straight after, "Can I? Can I? Can I? Can I? Can I? Can I?" Yami glared at the sweet wrappers that were still led on his hikari's bed, this was more then just a reaction to chocolate first thing in the morning.
"I don't think anyone should ride that broom yet!" Hermione said shrilly.
"What did you think Harry was going to do with it?" Ron asked, "Sweep the floor?"
Before Hermione could answer, Crookshanks and Kiyoshe sprang out from under Yami's bed, right at Ron.
"GET THEM OUT OF HERE!" Ron roared, trying to kick the cats and missing, hitting Harry's trunk instead. Ron howling in pain as Yugi took the opportunity to take the last of his chocolate and dive down the stairs.
Yami lost track of Yugi over the day and it wasn't until they went down for lunch and didn't see Yugi sat at the table that he started to worry. Joey however blocked his path to the table and gulped.
"Ummm, Yami." Joey said warily, Yugi's wand in his hand. Yami gave him an odd look, Joey wasn't normally afraid to say anything, "Ummm, don't shoot the messenger but…" Joey pointed upwards.
Yami looked up at the ceiling.
"How the hell…?" Yami trailed off.
Yugi was sat on the ceiling, looking unhappy.
"Yugi, get down from there."
"Love to." Yugi sighed, "Can't."
"How did you get up there in the first place?"
"I'm not telling you until you get me down." Yugi replied.
At the opposite end of the singular large table that was laid out for the meal, Bakura was silently laughing, Draco on the other hand was looking half amused and half pissed off, Ombre wondered what Bakura had done to piss Draco off for all of about two seconds before she spotted Yugi on the ceiling.
Kaiba had entered just after Yami, having been convinced by Mokuba to stay over Christmas, complaining loudly about people stopping in the doorway for about thirty seconds before noticing Yugi on the ceiling. Mokuba tried not to giggle as Kaiba glared at Yugi on the ceiling.
"I know that can't be the Weasley twins fault, they're not here." Ombre said pulling her wand out. It was at this point the teachers walked in.
"Miss Ironhide put your wand…" Professor McGonagall trailed off, "Mr Muto, how did you get up there?"
"Can you get me down?" Yugi asked.
"Finite Incantum." Professor McGonagall sighed with a wave of her wand, Yugi stayed where he was. Professor McGonagall stared at her wand then retried the spell, this time with assistance from Professor Dumbledore. Yugi fell off the ceiling, and though Professor Dumbledore slowed his decent, he landed on Yami, causing Bakura to laugh really loudly and if it hadn't been for the fact everyone else was taking their seats, and Professor Dumbledore was waiting for them, Yami probably would've leapt on Bakura there and then. As it was it took most of the group to get Yami to sit down without leaping on the Tomb Robber across the table.
"Not now." Ombre hissed, "Wait until after Dinner."
The Transfiguration Teacher joined them at the table, her misty gaze watching everyone as Yami and Bakura spent the entire time glaring at each other. Yami and Bakura left the Great Hall at the same time, leaving the others sat at the table, the boys stood up, Harry and Ron laughing, Yugi and Joey concerned about whatever Yami was up to. "You coming, Hermione, Ombre?"
They shook their heads, "I want a word with Professor McGonagall." Hermione said, Ombre just poked her Christmas pudding in response. The boys headed up to the Common Room. Harry rushed straight upstairs to the dorm, bringing his Firebolt down as Yugi and Joey started a Duel.
Yami came into the Common Room, a smirk on his face, it was one Yugi recognised.
"What did you do to him?" Yugi asked resignedly.
"He'll be fine by the start of term." Yami replied, his smirk growing.
"Fine, but what did you…?" Yugi was interrupted as Professor McGonagall, Hermione and Ombre came back into the Common Room. Ombre looked ashamed and distanced herself from the teacher and student.
"So that's it is it?" Professor McGonagall asked, walking over to Harry's broomstick, "Granger told me you'd been sent a broomstick, Potter." Harry nodded dumbly, "May I?" The Professor didn't wait for an answer but picked up the broom, examining it carefully, "Hmmm. And there was no note? Or card? No message of any kind?" Again Harry shook his head. "I'm afraid I have to take this, Potter."
"What?" Harry exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. "Why!"
"It will need to be checked for jinxes," Said Professor McGonagall, "Of course I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down."
"Strip it down?" Repeated Yugi and Ron, as though the Professor was mad.
"It shouldn't take more then a few weeks." Professor McGonagall said, Harry and Ron tried to reason with her to no avail. The moment Professor McGonagall had left the Common Room, Ron turned on Ombre and Hermione.
"WHAT DID YOU GO RUNNING TO MCGONAGALL FOR?"
"I didn't." Ombre snapped in reply, "I just wanted to check how Kari was doing with her extra lessons."
"I did." Hermione said defiantly, "Because I thought… And Professor McGonagall agrees with me… that that broom was probably sent to Harry, by Sirius Black!"