Reminder:  Yami/Hikari mental conversations are indicated by // \\.

They couldn't have found a more perfect spot for the duel to take place. A few hills kept them out of sight of Hogsmeade. A rough uphill climb and miles of uninhabited landscape insured that no one was going to be sneaking up on them from the other side. Yugi set his backpack down and opened it, reaching inside to test the duel disk. He crossed his fingers and switched it on. The lights snapped on and the tiny motors whirled, signifying that it was warming up. It worked. No problem. Yugi flashed everyone a thumbs up, grinning. So far, so good.

Yugi could already feel his other's cool confidence and anticipation. Yami mentally went over his past duels with Yami Bakura. Both had been heated matches that Yami had won by one card. But that didn't discourage him. All his best matches were the really close ones. What fun was it to duel if you always won in a few turns?

Yami knew that Yami Bakura's strategy focused on occult cards. Dark Necrophia and Ghost Duke were likely to show up as well as the hoards of horrific magic and trap cards that the tomb robber was so fond of. Yami knew he would probably rely on his De-spell and Dust Tornado cards to rid himself of those dangerous traps. At least they would not catch him by surprise.

As Yami continued going over his strategies one last time, Yugi pulled the duel disk out of his bag, revealing it for the first time to the Hogwarts crew.

"That's the hologram machine?" Hermione questioned. "It seems kinda small."

"This is it, trust me," Yugi replied, slipping the contraption onto his arm. He glanced at Ryou. "Are you all ready, Bakura?"

Ryou nodded without saying anything and nervously shifted his weight from one foot to the other. This all seemed too easy to him. One would have thought they would have had at least a little trouble getting this far. But they hadn't had any. Even flying with the added weight of Yugi to get there had been easy. Ryou couldn't help but think that they were only temporarily escaping trouble, that it would eventually catch up to them and probably sooner than he would like.

"As the only one not dueling who knows the rules, I guess that makes me referee," Malik said, choosing a spot to the center sidelines where he would have the best possible view. He gestured for Harry, Ron, Hermione and the twins to do the same. Malik grinned broadly. "I think you're gonna like this."

Yugi and Ryou took their positions opposite of each other, leaving a good bit of space between them. "Isn't that a little far apart for a card game?" Harry asked.

"Just watch," Malik replied.

Harry decided to do just that. Yugi and Bakura appeared normal for the time being, but Harry had a hunch that they weren't going to stay that way. The thought crossed his mind that he should tell Ron and Hermione to keep an eye out for the transformations that it seemed only he and the parties involved ever seemed to notice. But there didn't seem to be point to it. Sirius had told him to leave it alone. Then again, Sirius had also told him not to take any unnecessary risks, and low and behold what he was doing. Harry sighed as he thought of it. Why did every mystery that passed through Hogwarts have to involve him?

Yugi took a deep breath. In and out. His part was done now. It was his other's turn. Yugi retreated to his soul room where he could just watch and Yami took over smirking the way he normally did when he was in "game mode".

"Are you ready, Bakura?" Yami said, voice dripping with confidence as if he had already won.

All at once, the nervousness and worry in Ryou's face disappeared and he smiled devilishly. "The question is... are you?"

Yami answered by flinging off his robes, revealing his choice clothes underneath. A black sleeveless shirt, black slacks, and a collection of belts, each with a heavy silver buckle. The millennium puzzle was displayed prominently on his chest as it hung from its silver chain.

"What a showoff..." Malik muttered, shaking his head slowly. Yami did like his dramatics.

The now in control Yami Bakura slipped his own duel disk onto his arm and turned it on. He then outstretched his arm forward and the hologram projectors shot out, landing a short distance away and warming up in preparation. Yami did the same.

"Wow, would Dad ever be having a field day if he were here," George exclaimed. "I almost feel guilty watching this without him."

"You haven't seen anything yet," Malik commented, folding his arms behind his head and leaning back casually. "If you find this impressive, it'll be interesting to see your reactions to the next bit."

"You don't seem to be all that interested," Hermione observed.

"Sure, it's real amazing the first few times you see it," Malik replied, "but I've seen this so often that it's come to be expected. The holograms aren't that big a deal anymore."

"So it's lost its thrill," said Hermione.

"Oh, no," Malik responded. "To a duelist, the game never loses its thrill. If that ever happens, it's time to hang up your duel disk and retire."

Yami and Yami Bakura eyed one another, sizing each other up. Both were strong opponents. Both excellent strategists. It would all come down to what cards showed up when.

"Battle City rules?" Yami asked. Yami Bakura agreed.

"First off," Yami Bakura said, "Abide by the conditions of the duel. Turn the safety settings to zero."

"Of course," Yami agreed, flipping the safety switch all the way down. "It'll be your funeral."

"It wouldn't be the first time," Yami Bakura muttered under his breath as he turned his own settings down. He turned to Yami again. "Now show me your three God cards so I know they aren't in your deck."

"I agreed to your conditions not to use them," Yami said. "Don't you trust me?"

"How would you answer that question if it were me asking it?" Yami Bakura retorted. Yami said nothing. He reached into his pockets and pulled out his spare cards. He pulled three of them out and flashed them to Yami Bakura who immediately recognized them. He'd fallen before two out of three of them, and you don't soon forget something like that.

"Will that be all?" Yami said impatiently. "No matter what, the outcome of this duel is already decided."

"Don't give me that talk," Yami Bakura replied, "I've had it up to here with all that destiny bull. I'm in control here."

"Are you two gonna BS each other all day or is there actually going to be some dueling going on?" Malik called. Yami Bakura responded with a rude gesture. "That wasn't very nice," Malik taunted back.

"Since when does Whitey have this much attitude," Fred observed. "Is this just his game face?"

"Something like that," Malik replied.

"It's strange," Hermione said. "I kinda noticed the attitude change when Yugi was playing chess with Ron, too. It's almost like they're different people when they get competitive." Harry sighed and rolled his eyes.

The two spirits inserted their decks into the duel disks, and the game began.

.................................

Students weren't the only ones enjoying their day off in Hogsmeade. Several of the teachers were also lingering around, The Three Broomsticks being their hangout of choice. Hagrid was already enjoying his third drink when the other teachers arrived and he greeted them warmly.

"'Allo all!" said the rosy-cheeked giant. "Great day isn't it? Wonderful weather after all that blasted rain of last week."

"I agree," replied Professor Sprout. "My outdoor plants nearly drowned. I wasn't prepared for such an early storm."

"Let's not focus on that now," said tiny little Professor Flitwick. "Let's enjoy the time off we have. I know I have plenty of work to do when we get back."

"Hmm, I do as well, so why don't we have some refreshments while we have a moment of peace," Professor McGonagall agreed. She turned to the last silent member of their group. "Severus, would you care for a drink?"

"I believe so," replied the potions master. "I could really use one. It's been a really rough school year so far. I swear, my students don't seem to retain anything that I teach them..."

"Ah, ah," Professor Flitwick said, pointing his index finger. "No school matters. We're officially off duty. Leave the stress and chaos at the castle."

"Stress and chaos follows, I'm afraid," Snape muttered.

"Where is Professor White?" Hagrid asked. "I thought he was supposed to be coming."

"He's around," Professor McGonagall answered. "I believe he's placing a supplies order for his class. He should be along soon."

"Hmm... It's rather busy here today," Professor Sprout observed. "Perhaps one of us should go order the drinks rather than wait for someone to come to us."

"I'll go," Snape said, more like a fact than an offer, almost as if it were expected of him. He took everyone's order and walked to the counter. It was busy indeed and he ended up having to wait even there. He looked about the tavern as he waited. The Three Broomsticks always had an interesting collection of characters in it. Several of the tables were occupied by his own students. But it was who he saw in one corner that caught his eye.

"Dammit... Not now!" Snape said under his breath.

It was his informer. The Death Eater he had been getting the details of the dark wizards actions from. But the young man was not alone. With him were two older men. There was no doubt in Snape's mind that they were also Death Eaters, but the chances that they would also not know that he was a traitor to Voldemort were slim. There would be trouble if he was seen.

Snape abandoned his station at the counter and headed for the door. "I have to go," he said hurriedly to the other professors as he passed.

"Oh, Severus, where are you going?" Professor Sprout called after.

Snape ignored her, hoping that the Death Eaters had not noticed. Unfortunately, his informer saw him just as he exited. "That's him," the half-drunk wizard said, pointing after Snape. "He's the only Death Eater that was left here but me. Generous chap, he is. Always insisted on paying for the drinks."

"That man who just left?" one of the older men asked.

"That's the one," the informer replied, downing another drink. "Wish he hadn't left. I wanted to introduce 'im to you. Said he didn't know too many like us nowadays. Poor guy didn't know anything. Didn't even know about Egypt."

"You were supposed to be the only left here to keep an eye on things," the other older man said. "Who else would have stayed behind? Was he a new recruit?"

"I don't think he's -hic- that new," the informer answered, hiccupping. His tattoo of the dark mark didn't look fresh. Heck, mine's still red."

"Perhaps we should follow him and see why he was left behind," one of the men said.

"Yes," the other agreed, "It's strange that he hasn't been keeping up with business. Come along."

The men stood up quietly and exited the tavern, the informer walking with a bit of a sway behind them. Peering through the crowds, they saw the tall, dark figure of their target moving swiftly away from them. They followed.

.............................

"GAME START!" Malik announced. Yami and Yami Bakura each drew their five cards and began. Yami Bakura was first.

He drew his card and examined his hand. Not bad... He could work with this. But first to test the strength of Yugi's hand. "Place one card, face down in defense," he announced. He placed the card onto his duel disk and a holographic image of the card appeared before him.

Harry and company went a slightly wide-eyed. "It's a...card," Hermione said, confused. "A big card. Very real looking, and I've never seen anything like it. But it's still a card. I thought it was supposed to be a monster."

"Relax," Malik assured. "We didn't bring you all the way out here to see a big virtual card. It's in defense mode. The monster hasn't been revealed yet."

"Oh..."

"End turn," Yami Bakura said.

Yami eyed the face down card. It was no secret that Yami Bakura's monsters often had effects. It was also no secret that Yami Bakura's cards were stronger when in the grave. So what to do? He drew a card.

"I summon 'Magnet Warrior Beta,'" Yami announced. "Attack mode!" He placed the card onto his duel disk. The monster materialized before him to the gasps of surprise and awe from the sidelines.

"I...I can't believe it!" Ron exclaimed. "This was done by MUGGLES?!"

"H-how?" Harry mumbled. "I live among muggles. Dudley is always after the latest gadget. How come I've never even heard of this before. How come I didn't know it existed. I would have thought something like this would have been all over the newspapers, the TV, the radio..."

"You mean it's not?" Malik asked. "Geez, you English are behind the times."

The Gryffindors were too in awe to be insulted.

"'Magnet Warrior Beta', attack the covered card!" Yami ordered his monster. The metal monster lashed out at Yami Bakura's defense monster card, slicing it in half. For a moment, "The Wandering Doomed" monster that had been the card appeared before disappearing in a flash of light.

"Intense!" Fred exclaimed.

Yami Bakura smiled slyly, unfazed. It hadn't been an important monster that had been destroyed, so it didn't matter. He drew, and his grin widened. He eyed Yami for a moment. He had an idea, but it would only work if Yami had "that card". It was time to take a chance, something he had never had a problem with. He had a feeling. "Cover two cards," he said, placing the cards in the magic/trap slot. "And I active the magic card, 'Exchange'!"

"'Exchange?!'" Yami said. What was the tomb robber up to?

"According to 'Exchange', we show each other our hands, then each take one of the other's cards."

"I know!" Yami shot back, annoyed. He walked to Yami Bakura and showed his hand. Yami Bakura examined it, careful not to change his expression. He bypassed "Black Magician" and plucked "Card Destruction" from Yami's hand. Yami frowned. If Yami Bakura took that card, it made little difference what card he took. Still, he examined Yami Bakura's cards. His eyes went suddenly wide. In Yami Bakura's hand was "Dark Necrophia". Then those set cards must be...

Yami Bakura smirked when he saw Yami's realization. "Pick a card, any card," he mocked. "Not like it makes a difference."

Yami knew he was right. But there was nothing he could do at the moment. He took one of Yami Bakura's zombie monsters, for all the good it would do. The thief was clever. Through 'Exchange' he could both take Yami's card and see if he had any cards in hand to ruin his plan, which he didn't. Yami had nothing to counteract the effects of "Card Destruction."

The duelist returned to their spots. "You already know what's coming next," Yami Bakura taunted. "Activate 'Card Destruction'! All hand cards go to the grave." Yami cursed silently and discarded his hand. Both players drew again, the same number of cards they discarded. Yami Bakura laughed his low, demented laugh. It sent chills down the observers' backs.

"Dark Necrophia sleeps in the grave," Yami Bakura said lowly. "The disappearance of this monster into the grave signifies the coming of darkness..."

"Remind me never to play a game against Bakura," Ron mumbled.

"Only if you remind me," Harry answered.

"I'm sure glad he's on our team. It almost makes me feel sorry for the Slytherin Quidditch team," George muttered. "Almost."

"God, the way Bakura normally is, I would never have expected to see him like this," Hermione said, barely audible. "He's usually so nice... Now he's...just scary."

//Do you have to be so creepy?\\ Ryou asked from his soul room. //The others aren't going to want to be anywhere near me afterwards if you keep this up.\\

//I'm dueling, dammit,\\ Yami Bakura answered, rather annoyed. //Let me do my thing. Blame it on a brief moment of insanity if you want later, heat of the moment, anything, I don't care.\\ Ryou sighed and resumed his silent view of the duel from his soul room. There was no point in talking to Yami Bakura during a game.

Yami Bakura sneered fiendishly at his opponent. "Last time, I first had to send three monsters to the grave to summon 'Dark Necrophia'. Then I had to let you destroy her before I could reveal my true intentions. Thanks to your 'Card Destruction,' I can skip all that. I thank you."

Yami scoffed angrily at the other spirit. "Go on, then," he said. "It won't make a difference. I'll still crush you in the end!"

"Now, now, Yugi," Yami Bakura mocked. "You're starting to sound like Kaiba." Yami narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.

"With 'Dark Necrophia in the grave, reveal face down card!" Yami Bakura shouted. "Field Magic card, 'Dark Sanctuary!'" Yami Bakura flipped the card and slid it into the field magic slot. Almost instantly, the sky began to fade until it was a dark crimson, like blood. The sun was completely blocked out. In the distance behind Yami Bakura seemed to appear a large black castle, dark and imposing with spiked towers and a haunting atmosphere.

The Gryffindors gasped. "This...this can't be for real!" Ron exclaimed. "Technology shouldn't be able to do this!"

Malik silently agreed. A field magic card shouldn't have been that impressive with the duel disk alone. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Yami Bakura was "helping" it along. It didn't really matter though. He hadn't expected it to be a duel between two dark duelists without at least a little magical intervention. But this was starting to look like Battle City all over again.

Hermione shrieked in surprise as 'Dark Sanctuary' finished forming. Floating eyes and rows of wicked teeth appeared in the sky, scattered about like devilish stars. The once calm and peaceful clearing now looked like something out of a nightmare.

Yami Bakura laughed again, low at first and then building to a high-pitched cackle. "Yugi!" he shouted. "'Dark Sanctuary' covers the playing field and all of its special rules are in effect! Only the second round of the duel and already you are faced with it! And this time you have no god card to save you! Hahahaha!"

Yami looked about, frustrated. This was not a good way to start the duel. "Dark Sanctuary" meant that Yami Bakura could play as many as ten magic cards on the field at a time. It also meant the "Resentment Spirit" was floating around, unseen by all but Yami Bakura. It would possess one of Yami's monsters each turn. If Yami attacked with the possessed monster, the attack would be canceled and half the monster's attack power would be done directly to him...and Yami Bakura would gain the life points he lost.

There was a flaw in Yami Bakura's plan, though. "Dark Sanctuary" required a monster sacrifice every turn in order for its effects to last. Since only one monster could be summoned per turn, Yami Bakura would have nothing to protect his life points and nothing to attack with. As long as Yami didn't attack, his life points were safe. Yami could wait and buy his time until one of two things happened: either he drew a magic card like "De-spell" to destroy "Dark Sanctuary," or drew "Raise Dead," to bring "Dark Necrophia" back to life, thus canceling a requirement of the field magic. But there was one big problem in this plan...

It was possible that Yami Bakura would draw "Ouija Board" first... If he did, Yami would only have five turns before game over.

Yami Bakura was well aware that his strategy was less likely to work this second time around. But that didn't matter. He had backup plans. 'Let Yami worry about "Dark Sanctuary." It will catch him completely off guard when I have other means to defeat him,' the spirit thought.

Yami looked at his hand cards. Nothing to help him. He hoped on the draw...nothing still. He could only build up his monster forces so that he would be ready to take out Yami Bakura's life points when everything was out of his way. "Sacrifice 'Magnet Warrior Beta' to summon 'Black Magician Girl!'"

The magnet monster disappeared, and in its place appeared the cheerful- looking magician girl. She spun around once and winked upon appearance.

"Now THAT is a monster!" Fred exclaimed. "She almost makes up for all this creepiness that Whitey's doing."

"Wow, she looks alive," Harry said in an awed whisper. "She winked at us, like she had a personality, or something... It even looks like she's breathing."

Malik sighed knowingly. Yami was getting magically involved as well, giving the duel disks a bit too much life. Even Kaiba couldn't make the monsters that real. He shook his head and wondered if Yami and Yami Bakura even realized what they were doing. Probably not. It was just second nature that a duel between millennium item holders should involve magic. It was no big deal. Harry and company didn't know the difference.

"'Black Magician Girl' gains three hundred attack points from the 'Black Magician' in the grave," Yami announced. "I leave her in attack mode and end my turn."

It was tempting for Yami Bakura to go ahead with his second plan now, but he decided against it. Better to wait until he really needed it. There was still plenty time left.

.................................

The Death Eaters trailed Snape through several of the streets of Hogsmeade. Without having to look over his shoulder, Snape knew he was being followed. He sensed it. The older Death Eaters were quickly growing tired of this game of follow the leader and were getting suspicious. The man they were following seemed to be leading them into the outskirts of the town, away from the crowds.

Snape took one turn after another, trying to lose his pursuers, or at the very least, lead them away from the students and innocent townspeople. He soon saw that he wasn't going to be getting away and turned in to a nearly empty side street on the edge of town. The only other living soul there was a black and scruffy-looking large stray dog.

The Death Eaters finally caught up to him. He kept his back to them; normally, this was a risky position, but for him, it was more risky to let them see his front.

"Why do you run?" one of the older men said. "Why do you flee from your brethren?"

"Don't want to be seen in public together too much," Snape answered. "It raises suspicions if one of us would ever be found out."

"That tavern was perfectly safe," said the other older man. "Wizards gather there all the time. It is of no risk, especially since we have never been seen with you before."

"Forgive me if I seem a little paranoid," Snape said with a laugh that he hoped sounded good-natured. "I survived the fall of the Dark Lord, but I don't ever want to go through that again."

"You sound as if you expect the Dark Lord to fall again," the Death Eater observed. "Such a statement could be considered treacherous. Our lord has killed many men for that."

"I meant nothing by it," Snape said.

"Well, forgive our lord if he is a little paranoid. He's had a hard decade and doesn't want to go through that again."

The informer laughed drunkenly. "Come on, let's go back to the bar," he said. "He can buy us a round of drinks as an apology. He didn't mean any disrespect."

"I'm afraid I must decline," Snape said. "I have business to attend to."

"Your first business should be with the Death Eaters," the first man said. "We draw ever closer to obtaining the master's goal. We found many clues in Egypt that will lead us to the items."

"Items?" Snape asked, forgetting his position for a moment.

"Do you not even know this?" the man said. "What loyal Death Eater does not keep up with the Dark Lord's instructions?"

"I question his loyalty," said the second man. Snape could feel the sweat forming on his brow. He reached into his pocket and gripped his wand.

"Why do you keep your back to us?" the second man asked. "Turn around."

"I really must be going-"

"Turn around, or I will kill you now." Snape did not need to look to know that a wand was pointed straight at him. This was all part of the risks involved in his work for Dumbledore. He had to accept it. He turned around.

"Snape!"

"You have been giving Severus Snape information of the Dark Lord's plans?! You fool!!!" one Death Eater said, turning angrily to the informer.

"Who?" the young man asked stupidly. "That's not what he said his name was."

"Of course, you idiot, he's a spy! A traitor!"

"We will deal with him later," the other Death Eater said. "Snape, I will be given a rather generous reward when I kill you."

"You wouldn't be the first to try to kill me," Snape replied lowly. "If others didn't succeed, what makes you think that you will?"

"Don't give me your high-and-mighty attitude!" the Death Eater shouted. "All you traitors make me sick. Your loyalty wavers with whoever happens to be in power."

"I never joined the Death Eaters in the first place to follow anybody," Snape sneered. "I was young and it was expected of me. I shared a few beliefs, but that is all. I left as soon as the organization became all about following the orders of one man."

"When that 'one man' becomes ruler, you will wish you hadn't said that," the other Death Eater said.

"No he won't," replied the one holding the wand. "He'll never have the chance. I'm going to kill him now..."

................................

The duel progressed slowly with no one able to do much. Yami had added "Celtic Guardian" in attack mode and a defense mode "Kuriboh" to his arsenal. Yami Bakura had no monsters, having had to sacrifice them all. He had, however laid a face down card that Yami was cautious of and had activated his other face down card "Darkness Gate," which only allowed one of Yami's monsters to attack per turn. Yami, unable to tell which of his monsters was possessed by the "Resentment Spirit," was hesitant to attack.

"My condition for the safety settings to be zero is going to go to waste if you don't make some effort to attack," Yami Bakura said. "You are so cautious that you border on dull, Yugi. You have three monsters out. Only one can be possessed. Why don't you try your luck?"

"I won't fall for that," Yami retorted. "I have not forgotten our last duel. I know that your face down card is probably the spirit that switches my attack to whatever monster is possessed. I don't fall for the same tricks twice, Bakura."

Yami Bakura sighed and shrugged. "It seems we are both waiting on certain cards. Can we do nothing but wait and see who gets it first? Even your monsters are getting bored." Yami Bakura pointed to Yami's "Kuriboh" which appeared to be snoozing. Yami gave the sleeping monster a look that was ignored.

"Just remember, Yugi," Yami Bakura said. "If I get 'that card' first, you'll have only five turns to defeat me." The tomb robber held up five fingers as he said this. "Can you do it?"

"I have before," Yami answered.

"Yes, but that factor has been eliminated," Yami Bakura replied with a devilish grin that showed off his sharp canines.

Yami grit his teeth. There was truth in what the other spirit said. He had to do something soon. Their life points were still unchanged at 4000. He could afford to take the damage if he guessed wrong. At least he would get that trap card out of the way. Yami thought for a moment. In their last duel, Yami Bakura had possessed the strongest monster most often. He would probably do so again. Which meant that Yami would have to step into the trap.

"'Celtic Guardian'! Direct attack!!!" Yami shouted. The monster charged forward, holding his sword high. Yami waited for Yami Bakura to reveal the face down card. Waited...

The monster slashed at Yami Bakura. The ancient spirit howled in pain and fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

"Oh, my God!" Hermione gasped from the sidelines. "Is he really hurt?!"

"Oy, Whitey, are you alright?" George called.

"He'll be fine," Malik assured. "This was his condition remember? It's what he wants."

"What...what happened?" Yami said, astonished. Then the face down card was not what he expected.

"It seems...you guess right," Yami Bakura said between breaths, standing slowly. "My life points are brought down to 2600." He clutched his shoulder where he had been struck. There was no visible wound, but it had hurt like the real thing. The combination of the low safety settings and magic involvement was a force to be reckoned with. But Yami Bakura laughed in spite of this. "My bluff had you going for a while, though," he commented. "It served its purpose."

'A bluff? Surely that wasn't all that the covered card was for,' Yami thought. Why would Yami Bakura provoke him if he had no defense?

"My turn," Yami Bakura said. He drew and grinned. "Summon 'Headless Knight'" He placed the card onto his duel disk and the monster appeared as if it were slowly walking out of a fog.

"Why does he use such scary cards?" Hermione asked, recoiling slightly from Bakura's monster.

"Never mind what it looks like, Hermione," Ron said.

"You're getting into this aren't you?" she accused.

"Can't say I disagree with him," George said. "This is so cool!"

"Does that mean you guys are going to be wanting to play against them next?" Hermione asked sarcastically.

"Not for all the Galleons in Gringotts," Ron replied. "It's fun to watch, but you'd never see me going against these hardcore gamers. They almost make the Triwizard Tournament look like a joke."

"Easy for you to say," Harry remarked.

"It was worth coming out here," Fred exclaimed. "I can't wait to see who wins!"

Malik scoffed. "Yugi is called 'The King of Games' for a reason, you know. Bakura's good, but Yugi's going to win."

"I think I'll have to side with Whitey," Fred argued. "I like going for the underdog. I think he'll pull it out in the end. It's still early, right?"

Malik smiled and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Care to make a wager?"

"You're on," Fred agreed, holding out his hand. "Five Galleons?"

Malik took his hand and shook it. "Deal." He snickered. 'Sucker,' he thought.

Yugi wasn't worried about Yami Bakura's monster. He had to sacrifice it to keep "Dark Sanctuary" going. What he was concerned about was the face down card. His mind struggled to recall their last duel. What other cards did Yami Bakura have? It wouldn't be "Ouija Board" or he would have activated it already. What was his plan...?

Yami Bakura stared coldly at his opponent. "You draw first blood, but it will be me to give the final strike."

"Enough talk," Yami said. "Your move."

"As you wish," Yami Bakura said. "Magic card, 'Cross Sacrifice!'"

"Cross Sacrifice?!"

"That's right. I'm sacrificing your 'Celtic Guardian' to 'Dark Sanctuary!'" Yami Bakura proclaimed with a laugh. He played the card. Darkness swirled beneath Yami's monster and black hands reached up from it, grabbing the "Celtic Guardian" and pulling it downward. Yami was now short one monster.

//Why?\\ Yugi asked from his soul room. //Why "Celtic Guardian" and not "Black Magician Girl?" His monster is stronger than "Celtic Guardian." It could have defeated it.\\

//He wants to force me to attack,\\ Yami answered. //The "Resentment Spirit" is more powerful when used on a stronger monster.\\

//It must be more that that,\\ Yugi said. //He should know you won't attack with a monster that you know is possessed.\\

//I know...\\ Yami answered simply.

"The condition of 'Cross Sacrifice' is that I must skip attacking," Yami Bakura announced. "But, of course, you can still attack."

"Nice try," Yami said, drawing a card. "But two can play at that game. I activate 'Brain Control!'" Yami Bakura's eyes went slightly wide. "I take control of your 'Headless Knight!'" The magic card appeared and reached out and grabbed Yami Bakura's monster. "And I sacrifice it to bring forth 'Summoned Skull,' attack mode!" "Headless Knight" disappeared, replaced by the impressive demon. Yami Bakura sneered angrily in response.

"'Summoned Skull', direct attack!" Yami ordered. The demon made a move to attack, but then suddenly hesitated.

"Spirit Burn!!!" Yami Bakura announced. The "Resentment Spirit" emerged from the back of "Summoned Skull" and attacked the off-guard Yami inflicting 1250 points of directed damage. Yami screamed in surprise and pain but managed to stay on his feet. The attack had felt like his very soul was on fire.

"Ah, what now, Yugi?" Yami Bakura gloated. "Did you forget that my spirit can possess newly summoned monsters as well? Your failed attack brings my life points up to 3850. So tell me, how do you like the conditions of my duel? Hahahaha!"

"End turn," Yami almost growled.

"Draw!" Yami Bakura announced. "Sacrifice 'Haunted Painting' to 'Dark Sanctuary.' And turn about is fair play, Yugi."

"Since when do you care about fair play?" Yami taunted. The other spirit ignored him.

"First, I play 'Pot of Greed.' Draw two cards. Ah! And they're good ones, too! You have your 'Brain Control,' I have this! Activate 'Change of Heart!'"

//What!\\ Yugi exclaimed from his soul room. //Why does he have-?\\

//This is BOTH Bakuras' deck,\\ Yami answered simply. He was frustrated beyond belief. The "Change of Heart" card appeared and Yugi's monster switched sides.

"I'll take control of that 'Summoned Skull,'" Yami Bakura said confidently. "Now I could destroy your magician girl, but I don't like the idea of giving this monster back to you next turn in full working condition. So I play this card, 'Ectoplasm!' Take half of 'Summoned Skull's attack and inflict it as direct damage. That means another 1250 damage, Yugi! Go, 'Ectoplasm!!!'" Upon activation, the demon monster's attack decreased by half and a ghostly form flowed from it...straight at Yugi.

This time, the former pharaoh could not keep standing. The force of the impact sent him flying backwards. He landed hard on the ground, the wind knocked out of him.

"Hahahahaha!" Yami Bakura laughed. "Don't worry Yugi. You can have your monster back, and his measly 1250 remaining attack points. Meanwhile, your life points are down to 1500. Can you stand another attack, Yugi? Do you dare try to attack me? Hahahahaha!!!"

Yami bit his lip as he stood again, still trying to catch his breath. Things were not looking good. His "Summoned Skull" was now severely weakened and either it or his "Black Magician Girl" was possessed by Yami Bakura's spirit. He could survive another attack, but barely, and only if his opponent didn't pull any other tricks out of his sleave.

"I admit, luck has been on your side today, Bakura," Yami said quietly.

"Luck and fate has nothing to do with it," Yami Bakura replied, dismissing Yami's statement with a wave of his hand. "This just proves that you would have never beaten me in the past were it not for the little things that got in my way."

"The game is not over," Yami said, glaring at the Tomb Robber.

"Oh, planning on gambling it, are you?" Yami Bakura mocked.

"All I can do it rely on my deck and draw," Yami answered.

"You do that far too often," Yami Bakura retorted. "It's becoming cliché this 'trust in the cards' crap. Give it a rest, aw!" But Yami Bakura's complaints were falling on deaf ears.

"Draw!"

....................................

Two wands were pointed dangerously at Professor Snape. His hand was gripped around his own, but he would never have time to draw it. This didn't look good.

"And now, traitor," the closest Death Eater sneered. "You die." Snape took a step backwards in reflex, but it would do him no good to run. It was just as well. He wasn't a man to run. He took a deep breath and prepared to accept the inevitable.

"Avada Keda-" But the Death Eater never got a chance to finish his spell. He was too busy screaming and clutching his bloody hand.

Like lightning, Snape's wand was out and he was shouting a disarming spell and the other Death Eater effectively ridding him of his wand which flew into a patch of weeds on the roadside..

Beside him, Snape's surprise accomplice kept the other two Death Eaters at bay, baring sharp teeth around the wand it had just snatched, black furry tail high in the air.

"Don't move," Snape warned dangerously, "or my companion here will gladly taste your blood." The scruffy black stray growled in agreement.

"Traitors and dogs," the injured Death Eater sneered. "At least you are in the same class."

"Silence!" Snape bellowed. "I will give you only one chance to save your lives." The three Death Eaters eyed Snape but remained silent. "Tell me what it is you master is after. What items?"

"We will never tell you anything," the injured Death Eater said defiantly.

"Then you die," Snape said, raising his wand.

"Wait!" the young drunkard shouted. "He doesn't speak for me! I'll tell you what I know. Please spare my life! Remember the good talks we had in the tavern?! Please spare me! They're...they're looking for these magical items from Egypt! They just told me. There're seven of them, total. The Mill-"

"Foul Traitor!" the injured Death Eater bellowed, lashing out at his younger companion. Snape pointed his wand and began on a stunning spell but was unable to complete it. The other Death Eater had thrown a handful of dirt from the road into Snape's eyes. The potions master yelled. His opponent had effectively blinded him as well as inflicted a great deal of pain. Snape couldn't see where to point his wand.

The elder Death Eaters made a mad dash for the wand that had been flung away by the disarming spell while the younger one stood dumbly by. The dog yelped in alarm. It dropped the wand from its mouth and took Snape's hand firmly in its teeth, attempting to lead him away. Snape fought at first, but being unable to see realized that he would be at the Death Eaters' mercy if he stayed. He reluctantly allowed the dog to lead him safely away while the Death Eaters scrambled for the discarded wand.

"YOU!!!" the injured Death Eater yelled at his younger accomplice. "You gave the enemy information of our actions! Traitor!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" the young man pleaded. "I didn't want to die!"

"What do you think will happen when the Dark Lord finds out about what you have done!"

The young drunkard could only repeat over and over again that he was sorry. The uninjured older man, wand now in hand, stood before him. "You are lucky, though," he said. "You will be spared the Dark Lord's wrath."

The young man looked up, hope in his eyes. "I...I will? Oh...oh thank you! Thank heavens! I-"

The young man's hopes were instantly thrashed as the older man's wand was pointed between his eyes. "No...please no..." he cried.

"Avada Kedavra!"

There was a flash of green light, and the young Death Eater fell down, dead. His killer walked slowly up to his body and fished through the pockets, taking out the young man's wand. He pointed it to the sky above.

"MORSMORDRE!"

Now, a green light fired from the wand and erupted into the sky. Screams were heard throughout Hogsmeade as the spell was recognized. Quickly and quietly, the two remaining Death Eaters made off out of town, and as soon as they were far enough, apparated safely away.

....................................

"Draw!" Yami announced. He glanced at his new card and smiled. "Time to end this 'Dark Sanctuary' nonsense." Yami Bakura narrowed his eyes curiously. "The card I have drawn, Bakura, is 'Raise Dead'."

"You're going to bring back 'Dark Necrophia,'" Yami Bakura replied lowly, unsurprised. He had expected this.

"Correct," said Yami. He played the magic card and "Dark Necrophia" rose from the grave, resulting in the disappearance of "Dark Sanctuary."

"Now that I have no 'Resentment Spirit' to worry about, I can attack you without hesitation," Yami said. "And I think it would be fitting if I used your own monster! 'Dark Necrophia! Direct attack!"

The monster lashed out at her former master. Yami Bakura's eyes went wide and his howls rang out with the pain and force of the attack. Again, no physical wounds, but he was spiritually spent. And as soon as the attack was over, he laughed.

"I think Bakura has officially lost it," Ron observed. "He gets attacked, he gets hurt, and then he LAUGHS."

"It's a psychological trick," Malik said. "Laugh, and everything seems to be better than it really is. Not to mention it's a good intimidation tool."

"He looks insane," Harry said, making a face.

"Yeah, that too," Malik agreed, leaning back and looking skyward. His expression changed when something caught his attention.

"My life points may be down to 1650, but remember when I said turn about was fair play, Yugi?" said Yami Bakura. Yami nodded. "Well that still applies. Reveal face down card! Raise Dead!"

"Raise Dead?!" Yami said, slightly confused. But what was he going to...? Yami's confusion was answered when his own "Black Magician" appeared from the grave on Yami Bakura's side of the field.

"You have my monster, I have yours. Isn't that fair?" Yami Bakura said in a mocking tone. He ran his tongue over his teeth as if already savoring the victory. "Of course, 'Black Magician' is stronger in attack power. I need only destroy 'Dark Necrophia' and my 'Dark Sanctuary' will be restored! And with this monster back on the field, your 'Black Magician Girl' loses her extra three hundred attack points! Hahahaha! Are you ready, Yugi?!"

"Time out!" Malik yelled.

"What?!" Yami Bakura and Yami said together. Malik jogged out to their playing field, specifically to Yami Bakura's side.

"Hey, Malik! What are you doing?" Harry called.

"We want to see the end! What's the holdup?" Fred added.

"This better be good, Malik," Yami Bakura said angrily. Malik was interrupting his moment.

Malik leaned in and whispered, "I think you left something out."

"What?" Yami Bakura said.

Malik thumbed over his shoulder at the sky behind him. "Shouldn't that have disappeared with 'Dark Sanctuary?'"

Yami Bakura looked in the direction Malik indicated and cocked an eyebrow in slight puzzlement. "It's not one of mine," he said, confused. All of a sudden, he felt an icy cold emanating from Ryou's soul room. His host had abruptly become very upset.

//What is it, Ryou?// Yami Bakura got no answer.

"What's going on," Yami said, walking over from his side. Malik nodded his head at the source of the disruption.

"Did you do that?"

Yami looked curiously at the sky and shook his head. It wasn't him.

"Oy! What's up?!" Ron shouted.

Malik shrugged. "I guess this is wizard thing," he said. "Do you guys have any idea what that is?" Malik pointed skyward, towards Hogsmeade. The Gryffindors blinked, turned to look, and gasped. In the sky was a collection of what looked like green stars in the shape of a skull with a snake for a tongue.

"The...the Dark Mark! Oh, my God!" Hermione yelled, covering her mouth in shock.

"Oh, that can't be a good thing," Malik muttered. "Looks like the duel's going to be called on account of creepy constellation."

"Dammit, why does something always have to go wrong during my duels!" Yami Bakura yelled. "Where in the rulebook does it say that I can't ever win!"

"Right next to where it says I can't ever lose," Yami replied with a slight smirk.

They joked for the time being. None of the new students had any idea of the true seriousness of the situation.

...................................

There! Longest chapter yet! Stayed up 'til 1:30! 8000 freakin' words and over 20 pages! (really should have split it up ^^;) Don't expect another one this long anytime soon. White Angel needs a nap now... Secretary Ryou fell asleep making my coffee and Yami Bakura, Malik, and Yami Malik are hungover after raiding my liquor cabinet... Good help is so hard to find these days. ^^