Ryou began by first explaining to his other about the dream. He went over every detail he could remember. Yami Bakura remained silent as Ryou spoke.

"I didn't think the dream really meant anything," Ryou said as he finished. "And I was afraid you would get the wrong idea. I was afraid it would be like with that boggart. I didn't want you to get defensive."

"So you felt guilty that the first thing that came to your mind when that shadow appeared in your dream was me," Yami Bakura spoke up finally.

"Kinda," Ryou replied, looking cautiously at his yami, searching for signs of anger. "It did fit with the way you used to be. But just because it came to my mind doesn't me I believed it. Besides, truth be told, I was thinking about you before the shadow appeared, so I guess I just automatically linked-"

"You don't have to defend yourself," Yami Bakura interrupted. "I suppose it was perfectly rational to think what you did. But give me a little more credit, will you? I can handle being seen as somewhat suspicious, even by you. I'm used to it."

Although Ryou was relieved that his other half wasn't angry, he still found Yami Bakura's attitude to be somewhat sad. To be so accustomed to others being suspicious of you...

"Why did you seem to take the boggart incident to heart, then?" Ryou asked curiously. Coming from anyone else, that statement would have done nothing but annoy Yami Bakura. He would have thought they doubted his words. But he could find nothing but sincerity and concern in Ryou's words. It made him want to answer in the same way.

"I can accept others being suspicious of me. But I didn't like thinking that you found me to be the most terrifying thing imaginable. There was a point when I would have found pride in that. But now...I just don't want that anymore. I guess my views have changed. My priorities are different now."

Yami Bakura closed his eyes and sighed. When he looked up again, Ryou was looking at him with an expression he couldn't place. Understanding? Approval?

He shook his head as if to clear away his thoughts. "Enough of the serious sentimental stuff. If I'm not careful, I'll end up completely like the rest of you saps. Don't forget, I still have an image to maintain. So let's keep what I've said quiet, shall we?"

Ryou laughed softly. "You're a paradox, you know that?"

"Why do people keep telling me that?" Yami Bakura asked, casting his eyes up as if expecting an answer from the heavens. "Whatever. Back to the matter at hand. You've told me at least partially why you were upset, but am I right in assuming there's more to it?"

Ryou nodded slowly. "When I...when I saw that thing in the sky, that skull and snake, it was suddenly like I was back in the dream. I...I felt as if my insides were twisted in a knot. And it was so cold..." Ryou nervously rubbed his arms as he remembered. "And that laugh... I could hear that laugh echoing in my mind. That sadistic, twisted laugh. I couldn't escape it. I felt...trapped."

"Well, that officially makes this a recurring dream," Yami Bakura said. "How long did it last this time?"

"I'm not sure," Ryou answered. "Even after it finally stopped, I couldn't shake that feeling it gave me. That feeling of dread. And that nervous feeling deep down." He took a trembling breath. "I think I started to come around about the time Malik was attacked by that tree."

"Oh, caught that, did you? Glad you didn't miss that prime example of stupidity in action. The lesson learned: trust nothing in this place. Everything's bewitched."

"Don't be too harsh," Ryou said. "It was just a mistake." He waited a moment before speaking up again. "So, what do you make of all this?"

Yami Bakura inhaled deeply and released it slowly. "Well, this is obviously a premonition. You seem to have been getting a lot of those lately. Dammit, I so wanted to get away from this fate and destiny crap."

"Sorry?" Ryou said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Nevermind. This is probably the same thing the Tarot cards were predicting. Which means nothing we've done so far has changed it for the better. Great. Just peachy."

"Well, at least that means we know for sure who the cards were pointing at, right?"

Yami Bakura cast curious eyes at his host. "What do you mean?"

"Well, the snake and skull is a symbol of that wizard bad guy," Ryou said. "So it must be him that was in the prediction and my dream. Right?" Ryou looked at his yami expectantly. He really didn't want Malik to end up as the source of all their future problems as they had originally thought. Though the wizard guy probably wouldn't be any easier to deal with. But at least they wouldn't end up with an enemy that was also their friend that way.

Yami Bakura began pacing, his transparent form seeming to shift as he stepped into and then out of the afternoon sunlight that streamed through the open windows. "I suppose that could be true," he said finally. "The reading was a few weeks ago; I don't remember all of it. Should have written it down." He stared at the floor as he continued to pace. "I do remember that Malik was my first impression, and my first impressions are usually the ones I go with. But...recent events do seem to point to that other guy. And he's a wizard problem, not ours, so I guess that's best."

"But...we are wizards," Ryou spoke up softly. Yami Bakura halted and turned to him, a questioning look on his face. "Well, we've been learning their magic," Ryou said, feeling the need to explain. "And they seem to have excepted us as their own. We've made friends with them. We can't very well just walk away from all of this if things happen to take a turn for the worse. Their problems are our problems now."

Yami Bakura snorted in his aggravation. "Just what we need...more problems."

"Bakura? Is that you up there?"

Ryou jumped slightly at the sound of Harry's voice. "Yes," he answered. Harry peeked his head into the room. Ryou cast a nervous glance at his yami, but of course, there was nothing to worry about. While in his spiritual form, no one could see him but Ryou, not even Yugi or Malik.

"We were wondering where you went," Harry commented. "We didn't see you leave."

"Tell him you just needed to get away from everyone to clear your head," Yami Bakura instructed. Harry couldn't hear him either. Ryou did as he was told.

"Well, I can understand that. S'been a rough day."

"You don't know the half of it," Yami Bakura mumbled.

Harry couldn't help but notice how Ryou kept casting eyes towards a spot that to him looked empty. "Is someone else up here?" Harry asked.

"Wha?" said Ryou, mouth dropping slightly. Harry couldn't see or hear his yami right? Could he maybe sense him? Ryou's eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"Well, I heard you talking before I came in," Harry said.

"You were talking to yourself," Yami Bakura said, feeding Ryou his lines. "It IS technically true."

"I was just talking to myself," Ryou said. "It helps me think," he added to make it seem more sincere.

"Oh..." Harry was getting the feeling that something was going on that he wasn't clued in on, which seemed to be happening more and more lately. Ryou was still glancing nervously at that one spot.

"Stop looking at me, you idiot," Yami Bakura hissed. "He's gonna start thinking you're schizophrenic."

'That's almost the truth,' Ryou thought. An awkwardness hung in the air as neither Harry nor Ryou said anything. But their silence was broken when they heard Ron's voice.

"Oy, Harry! You're wanted!"

"Coming," Harry called. He turned back to Ryou. "If you decide you want to talk to someone other than yourself, the rest of us'll be downstairs." Ryou nodded to show he heard.

Harry ambled down the stairs from the fifth year boys' dorm and once again entered the Gryffindor common room. "What is it?" he asked Ron as he stepped off the last stair.

"McGonagall came by and said we can leave the common room now," Ron answered. Several people had already left Harry noticed. The room was quite a bit less crowded than it had been previously. "She also said that, um, Professor White wants to see you. In his classroom."

"I don't remember us having a training session today," Harry said, lowering his eyes and placing a hand on his chin as he struggled to recall. He'd been studying privately with his Godfather two nights out of every week since he started school, going over spells used in dueling mostly. But Harry was sure that they'd already done their sessions for the week. Perhaps Sirius wanted to fill him in more on what had happened in Hogsmeade. Maybe it involved him in some way. Could those Death Eaters have been after him?

"Thanks, Ron," Harry said, and he made for the exit.

"You going to fill us in on it later?" Ron asked.

"Of course," Harry answered. He emerged from behind the portrait of the Fat Lady and closed it behind him. The hallways were a buzz with students discussing the day's events. The first and second years (who were too young to go to Hogsmeade themselves) were all begging the older students to tell them the goings on. Several of them were looking positively terrified. Peeves the Poltergeist wasn't helping. He seemed to find a great deal of enjoyment in sneaking up on unsuspecting students and shrieking behind their backs.

Harry reached the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and knocked apprehensively on the door.

"Come in, Harry," Sirius answered from the other side. His voice sounded grim. Not a good sign in Harry's opinion. He hesitantly opened the door.

"You wanted to see me?" Harry asked. He prepared for bad news. Sirius was hunched over his desk. Harry was still not completely used to Sirius's disguise. That messy blonde hair and mustache just didn't seem right and Sirius seemed to have made even less of an effort to tame them than usual.

"Sit down, Harry," Sirius instructed without looking up. Harry did as he was told. His heart was beginning to pound furiously in his chest. Sirius seemed to be angry, yet trying to keep a lid on it. Harry wondered what was wrong.

Sirius looked up finally. His eyes were hard and narrowed. "Guess who I saw today as I was heading back from Hogsmeade via the Shrieking Shack pathway?"

Harry's heart jumped. "Uh, I...uh..." he mumbled.

"Would you like to explain to me what you were doing with all those other students on the other side of the hill? And why you were so late in responding to the announcement to get back to Hogwarts?" Sirius wasn't yelling, but the volume of his voice was steadily rising. "Do you have any idea the trouble you would have been in if those Death Eaters had fled in that direction?!"

"Sorry!" was Harry could think of to say.

"Sorry isn't enough, Harry!" Sirius passed a hand through his frizzy blonde locks in his frustration. "I expressly told you to avoid risks. And there you were, sneaking around in the underground passage, failing to warn your newest members of the Whomping Willow. Lucky for all of you, especially him, that Madame Pomfrey is so good at taking care of head injuries. And we're fortunate that that's all it was. That tree could have easily broken any of you in half."

"Malik's okay then?" Harry asked timidly. Sirius's expression softened slightly.

"He's fine. I checked on him myself as soon as that foul disguise potion of Severus' s took effect. Poppy, Madame Pomfrey to you, fussed over him a bit and wouldn't let him leave until she was sure all his ailments had cleared up. Made him walk a straight line and everything to make sure he wasn't lying about his dizziness being gone. Looked like a sobriety test. He didn't seem to like it to much."

Harry wasn't sure if it was safe to laugh at this. In the end, he decided against it. "I am really sorry," he said again.

"Just what were all of you doing?" Sirius asked. He eyed Harry, waiting to hear the excuse.

Harry didn't know how he should answer. He could get the others in a lot of trouble if he told about the brooms and the duel disks. He was fairly certain that Sirius would put being his Godfather over being his professor and would not expel him, but he may do other things, such as report them to McGonagall or Dumbledore. Something like this could cost Hermione her prefect title. He, Bakura, and the Weasly twins might get booted off the Quidditch team, as well.

"The truth, Harry," Sirius said when he saw him hesitating.

Harry sighed. "Yugi and Bakura had this contraption they wanted to show us. But it was technology and couldn't work anywhere near the school. And it sounded really neat, Hermione and I had never even heard of it, so...we just kinda..."

"Just kinda took off until you were far enough away for it to work," Sirius finished. He was still staring at Harry. So this was what it was like to be scolded by a parental figure of sorts. He never got anything like this at the Dursleys; they yelled simply for the sake of yelling.

"Well I am very disappointed at your serious lack of judgment," Sirius said. "Nothing is worth that kind of risk, no matter how 'neat' it is." Sirius paused for a moment before continuing, as if debating whether or not he wanted to share the next bit of information. "But I also don't believe that I would have done anything different in your place, especially at your age. I suppose that makes me a hypocrite."

Harry's heart lept. Maybe they wouldn't be in that much trouble after all.

"The trouble with being a juvenile delinquent who grew up to be an, if anything, worst adult is that I just don't feel right lecturing you like this. I can't help but remember all the times I was on the other side of this conversation. But that doesn't mean that I still don't think what you did was a stupid risk. I'll bet your heart skipped a beat or two when you saw that Dark Mark in the sky, eh?"

Harry nodded. "Well, I ask you," Sirius said, "was it worth it?"

Harry swallowed hard. "That depends on the punishment."

Sirius sighed. "I'm not going to report you on this, Harry. For several reasons. One, this new double punishment rule would be enforced. All of you would end up serving detentions every weekend until you graduate at the very least, and I think that's slightly harsh." Sirius smiled for the first time since Harry stepped into the room. Harry felt relief instantly wash over him. "The other thing," Sirius continued, "is those transfer students. I don't think they fully understood the risks they were undertaking in all this or the trouble they could be in. But ignorance isn't an excuse so they would be punished every bit as harshly as the rest of you and I don't think that's fair. So as far as anyone is concerned, no one saw you breaking all those school rules except ole' Snuffles, the stray dog."

Harry beamed, feeling a great swell of affection and appreciation towards his Godfather. "Thanks, Sirius!"

"Now, you don't get off that easy," Sirius said, cutting off Harry's elation with a stern look and a pointed index finger. "I want you to swear to me that you aren't going to be doing anything stupid like this again. No matter what."

"I promise."

"And you'll make sure those transfers don't either," Sirius added.

"The transfers?" Harry questioned.

"I just have a feeling that they shouldn't be wandering around with Death Eaters about. They don't know the dangers. I suppose that's my fault, being their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Just haven't gotten that far yet... Anyway, all of you are to stay on Hogwarts grounds until further notice. Got that?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I got it."

"Right. So go enjoy the rest of your weekend. You've got Quidditch games coming up, don't you have to practice or something?"

"Not really. It's just Slytherin," Harry replied with a bit of a laugh. Sirius mussed Harry's hair good-naturedly and shooed him out of the room, locking the door behind both of them. He watched as Harry left, heading back towards the Gryffindor common room.

Now that that was done, Sirius had other business to attend to. He walked down the stone hallways and up several flights of stairs, greeting a few students along the way, until he came to a stone gargoyle. Just as he was about to speak the password (rice pudding) the gargoyle jumped aside, revealing the passageway behind it. A shrewd figure clad in black stepped out.

"I've already informed the headmaster of the day's events," Snape sneered with a look of loathing that he normally reserved for Harry (and lately, Ryou). "I doubt a testimony from a dog's point of view is needed."

"Ah, but you'd be surprised what a dog can sense that a man is blind to. Sights, sounds, smells...all may prove important," Sirius replied, ignoring Snape's arrogance.

"Are you implying that A DOG might have obtained some useful information that I missed?" Snape said dangerously.

"Not at all," said Sirius. "It's just that dog may have caught some information that you were too busy rubbing the dirt from your eyes to see." Snape glared at Sirius with a look of raw, seething hatred. "Now, now, Severus," Sirius spoke up with a cheerfulness that he knew would grate on Snape's nerves. "We are not competing over who can gather the most information. This isn't a game. It doesn't matter who provides the most valuable information. It's all for the greater good."

Snape curled his lip into a vicious sneer but said nothing. He only turned and stalked away. Sirius couldn't help but grin. He loved pushing Snape's buttons. It was a good thing Harry wasn't around. Sirius would be such a bad influence.

As he turned and made his way up the stairway that had been behind the stone gargoyle, Sirius wiped the grin from his face and returned to a business-like manner. He needed to have a serious talk with Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was seated behind his desk when Sirius entered. The Pensive was placed in front of him; he apparently had been filtering out some of his thoughts from his discussion with Snape for later examination. On a nearby perch sat Fawkes the phoenix, looking positively magnificent in his brilliant plumage. The bird was at the point in its cycle when it was most impressive. Sirius whistled at it as he walked by. Fawkes responded by ruffling his feathers and singing a few notes of his beautiful song.

"I expected I would be hearing from you," Dumbledore said as Sirius sat down.

"Snape's given you most of the details, then? That which wasn't said at the staff's meeting?"

"He did," Dumbledore answered. "He told me that the man who was murdered was mere seconds away from revealing what Voldemort was after before his fellow Death Eaters silenced him. All Severus heard was that they were looking for items in Egypt."

"Yes," Sirius said, "seven items is what he said. He started to say what they were called, but the others cut him off." Sirius leaned in closer. "Do you think that it could be mere coincidence that those new students also have magical items from Egypt? I mean, could they be the same ones that Voldemort is looking for?"

"That is a strong possibility, but not a sure one," Dumbledore replied. "Egypt is home to many magical mysteries. I attempted to research the items, but there is very little information. All I've found pertaining to them so far is a legend, and I don't know how much of it is truth. You said the man started to say what the items they were looking for were called. Did you happen do catch any of it?"

"It sounded like Mill-something," Sirius answered. "And that's if I heard right. With a dog's hearing it's sometimes hard to focus on one sound."

"The boys said their items were called the Millennium Items. And seven is the number stated in the legend. That does sound like more than a coincidence, doesn't it?"

"If it was nothing but a legend, then what gave Voldemort the idea to go after them? In his situation, I know I wouldn't be going after something that might end up a lost cause," Sirius said.

"He's desperate," Dumbledore said simply. "He's not as strong as he was fourteen years ago, and his power is slow to strengthen. That's why he has not made any bold moves yet. If what I read in that legend is true, then such power would be very tempting. For someone like him, the ability to read minds or see the future would be irresistible. So he finds it to be worth the effort, just incase there is any truth to the legend."

"Those items have that much power?" Sirius said in awe. "Our students have that kind of magic in their hands?"

"Our students have three of the items that I know of," Dumbledore said. "But as the International Magic Counsel is failing to locate the adults that they had first detected with the same power, I suspect that our students may be holding out. But that's what happens when the Counsel and the Ministry rely on outdated information."

"You've told me about the split personalities that the items give two of the boys," Sirius said, "but you never went into their other abilities. What magic do these boys have?"

"Their powers are great," Dumbledore said, stroking his beard in thought. "They can manipulate the soul, sealing it away. Not so unlike a Dementor's kiss from what I understand. They can summon a realm of darkness, a dimension completely separate from our own. They can call forth monstrous beasts to do their bidding. And if the accusations of one Draco Malfoy are accurate, the Egyptian boy possesses the power to manipulate the minds of others. To control their every action."

"Like the Imperius curse..." Sirius said, mouth agape.

"Correct. You see why I am hesitant to give the information of their special abilities out? It's hard to treat someone with such power equally to the way you treat the other students. It's difficult to not express a certain amount of fear or suspicion. And these boys have done nothing to deserve that. They are here to learn, not to cause trouble. And though they may exercise their powers more than they ought and cause some mischief, the Ishtal boy especially, they mean no real harm. They are just like any other student here in that they want to learn proper magic. And I won't deny them that chance."

"But shouldn't the staff be aware if Death Eaters could come in here after these children?" Sirius asked. "Shouldn't they know of the danger?"

"Some members of the staff will know," Dumbledore answered. "But for safety's sake, not all. Information has a way of leaking out. As long as none but a select few are aware of the items being here, the boys are safe within these walls. The Death Eaters do not yet know who has what they are looking for. Incidentally, I do not believe it to be a good idea to tell the boys of Voldemort's plans either. "

"Why?"

"Take Harry for an example. For the past four years, he's had to worry about Voldemort coming after him. That concern is forever at the back of his mind. Those fears are indeed justified. But if you could spare him from that, wouldn't you?"

"I see," Sirius muttered. "But at least he is prepared that way. He knows of the danger so he is better able to prevent it."

"Look at the last four years, Sirius. Has anything been prevented? What good did it really do him?"

"If it had taken him completely by surprise than surely he would not have faired as well as he did," argued Sirius.

"One can never truly prepare for such an encounter," Dumbledore said solemnly. "There will be a time when they will have to know. But I intend to spare them the worry for as long a possible."

"I suppose you know best," Sirius replied, though he clearly did not agree.

"I will have to have a talk with them, though," Dumbledore said. "I need to advise Mr. Ishtal not to resort to his other magic to solve every dispute. I cannot have him using such dangerous magic within the school. I shall also see what other information I can gather from them all. The more we know...the better, and safer, we'll all be."

"Right. I'll leave you to it, then," Sirius said, as he got up to leave.

"One more thing."

"What is it?"

Dumbledore seemed to smile with his eyes alone. "Please try to get along with Severus. You are both on the same side, after all."

"I'll make every attempt, Albus," Sirius said. "But I'm afraid some things never change."

He left, closing the door behind him. Dumbledore laughed quietly.

"Funny... That's the same thing he said..."