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Yu-Gi-Oh/Harry Potter

Title: Order and Shadows

Author: Kyogre (Ana)

Summary: YGOHP xover. Yugi come to Britain to do research in modern magic. But Shadows look too close to Dark for the Order of the Phoenix.

Notes: This is the prologue. The rest of the story takes place in the summer before Year Five (OotP). The pairing is YYxY. No, really. The main characters are Yugi and Yami, though they don't even get a POV until the third chapter…

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First: Cathedral of the Sacred Corpses

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Like most big brothers, Bill Weasley loved his siblings dearly. He also often wanted to just curse them all into oblivion. This was one of those times. What had his parents been thinking, bringing their entire brood on vacation to Egypt? Better yet, what had Bill been thinking, taking them on tour of a recently unlocked tomb?

The brats were, of course, fighting again. He wasn't sure what started it this time. Most likely the twins had done something to Percy. The argument had long since spread to the whole lot – Ginny was kicking George in the shins, Fred had Ron in a headlock, and Percy was yelling pompously, his glasses askew and ears red (curse the Weasley genes).

Their mother's voice cut above the cacophony, making all the children freeze in their tracks and Bill pinch the bridge of his nose to stave off a migraine.

"BE QUIET!" Molly Weasley demanded in decibels attainable only through magic. Looking around in the ensuing silence, she nodded to herself and continued at a more normal volume and in a far sweeter tone. "Now children, remember, everyone promised to be on their best behavior while we're here in Egypt, and especially while we're in dangerous places like this. Or else you're spending the rest of the vacation in our hotel room, no room service, no cooling charms. Got it?"

"Yes, Mom!" the brats chorused, even as Fred elbowed Percy again, who promptly stumbled into a large statue of Anubis. The stone effigy was fortunately not one of the cursed or bobby trapped ones… this time.

"Alright, I think that's enough tomb exploring for you," Bill decided, making shooing motions with his hands. "Out, out!"

Groaning, the Weasley brood allowed themselves to be herded outside into the bright Egyptian sunlight. Just to be on the safe side, Molly began another head count, while Bill went to get their local driver and ride.

The man and the bus they had rented were fortunately still more or less where they had been left, though they had moved with the shade. (Bill had long since learned not to count on travel arrangements not absconding at first opportunity.) However, another vehicle was now parked beside the worn little bus, along with an extra three people.

Two were obviously escorts. It was the third – a graceful native woman – whom Bill addressed.

"Hello there!" he said friendlily. "I have permits, if that's what this is about." Quickly, he tried to guess whether they were more likely to be with the muggle or magical governments.

The woman smiled in a very Mona Lisa way. "I am glad of that," she said. "But I am not here for those. You are curse breaker Bill Weasley, correct?"

She knew who he was quite well. Otherwise, she would not have just stated his profession like that. "Yeah, that's right. At your service," Bill smiled roguishly.

Just then, yelling and heavy footsteps sounded from behind him. "Bill!" George shouted, "Mom says we need another fifteen minutes!"

"Ginny lost her diary somewhere!" Fred provided, as the twins jogged up to him, Percy trailing just behind. Some days, Bill really wondered about his mother and why she would ever think sending these three together was a good idea. Or maybe she was trying to ditch them on him. Cunning of her, that.

The Weasley boys halted in their tracks as they finally noticed the strange woman conversing with their brother, all three gawking with varying degrees of subtlety.

"I apologize for interrupting your family outing, but I am in need of your services," the woman told Bill calmly. "The matter is… not urgent, but I would wish to see it dealt with quickly."

"Sorry, but I can't just leave them to make their own way back. They're only here for a short while and not used to the country at all. You know how it is," Bill said with an easy grin.

"I would appreciate it if you could contact me as soon as possible," the woman reiterated with the same cool composure. "I am Ishizu Ishtar. Good day."

With a faint bow, she retreated, her two escorts following her into their car. Bill whistled lowly as they departed, making Fred and George grin while Percy looked scandalized.

"Didn't know that was your type," Fred teased.

"Thought you were into blondes," George agreed.

"Of course, I can totally see what you mean," Fred shot back.

Percy huffed, breaking up their routine. "I can't believe you! How barbaric!"

"It's not that," Bill waved all three of them off. "The Ishtars are one of the most prominent magical families in Egypt, and the entire region too. If they want me for something… it's got to be something good. Oh man…"

Fred and George shared a long look between them, Percy's expression turning thoughtful as well.

"You reckon…" Fred began.

"…We could manage without Billy-boy?" George concluded.

"It is a great opportunity, by the sound of it," Percy agreed.

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It really was something good, alright.

"I do apologize for making you cut short your time with your family," Ishizu said when Bill sought her out at the residence of a local family with close ties to the Ishtars. Sincerity shone through her cool facade. "Family is… very important."

"Are you close to your family? If you don't mind me asking," Bill wondered.

"I have a younger brother. We recently reconciled," she replied, a fond look appearing in her eyes momentarily before she was once again all business. "The matter I need your assistance with is in fact for that person to whom I owe that. I'll say it plainly," here Bill had a feeling she didn't do so often, "I need to retrieve a certain artifact from the city of Hamunaptra."

For a moment, Bill forgot to breathe.

"H, Hamunaptra?" he stammered. "The legendary City of the Dead?" Ishizu nodded, her poker face somehow still conveying an amused air. Collapsing on an ornate bench, Bill tried to take in the opportunity he was being presented with. "Bloody hell," he muttered.

"While you will, of course, be compensated for your time and services, I'm afraid I can't allow you to take anything from the site," Ishizu cautioned.

"That's fine! Just going to the City of the Dead is a life-time opportunity," Bill said quickly, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.

"I believe I do not need to impress upon you the importance of discretion," she continued placidly. "My family has guarded this heritage for millennia, and we have no desire to be forced to… deal with treasure hunters or thieves, more than we usually do."

'In other words, if some weirdoes come knocking where they shouldn't be, we'll know you told, and we'll make you pay, Ancient Egyptian style,' Bill thought with a shudder. (Those Ancient Egyptians were a truly vicious bunch.)

"I understand, of course," Bill assured her. "But… I can't help but wonder," he began, forcing himself to think logically, "why you approached me? I've heard of the Ishtar family. Surely you have people far more experienced than I am in the matters of tombs and traps."

"Well," she began, "you had quite the set of recommendations, from the Bembridge Scholars no less, and a very good record under Grignotts." Bill felt his ears begin to redden. (Curse those Weasley genes.) "Also," she continued, "my family are Tomb Keepers. Guarding is not the same as entering. And… this is a family matter, but not one of the Ishtar clan."

"Ah," Bill said tactfully. 'So it's for your brother, but not your elders,' he thought.

Ishizu gave him another Mona Lisa smile. "How soon can you leave?"

'Right now,' was the answer at the tip of his tongue. But he bit it back, forcing himself to think rationally. "I'll need a few days to gather the right tools. I'll need everything I can get my hands on, including some pretty specialized stuff. Probably a few rare reference texts would be good too." Bill ran a slightly shaking hand though his hair. "I mean, it's… Hamunaptra. It'll be the toughest challenge of my career."

"Do not concern yourself. We will provide all the necessary tools," Ishizu assured him. She glanced behind him and her smile seemed to finally become honest.

Turning, Bill saw two teenagers entering the courtyard, one dark-skinned like Ishizu, but with bleached blond hair, the other pale under wild dark hair and pale bangs. Both of them would have given Bill's mother conniptions.

"Hey," he greeted with a charming grin. "I'm Bill Weasley, a curse breaker."

"Marik Ishtar," the bleached blonde said, eyeing Bill with clear distrust. It was momentarily disconcerting, until the teenager's eyes darted to Ishizu, and Bill felt a spark of understanding. This must be the brother, he realized. Smothering a snicker, he turned to the other boy.

"…Yami," the teenager finally introduced himself, after a strange pause, almost as if he was debating himself. While Ishizu remained expressionless, Marik darted a quick, questioning look at "Yami" that made Bill think the name wasn't one they had been expecting.

"He is another expert who will be working with us," Ishizu explained, not even breaking stride. "Come, we will compile a list of what we will need."

She turned and led the way gracefully, Bill following more slowly. He could feel Marik glaring at his back, before looking away. Feeling the same curiosity that first drove him to become an explorer, he lingered at the edge of the courtyard. Even knowing he shouldn't, Bill surreptitiously cast an eavesdropping charm – he was Fred and George's brother after all.

"-Yugi's idea," the other "expert" finished, his voice just faintly annoyed.

"Hmph," Marik snorted. "Well, I guess you do need to get used to dealing with people outside of dueling. But still, 'Yami,' really? I still can't believe you two chose that! I guess 'darkness' isn't any worse than 'game,' but still… Lame."

Yami made some sort of irritated response, but Ishizu was looking back at him expectantly, and Bill quickly dismissed the charm, hurrying after her.

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End Notes: This is what people do when they have high fevers and sore throats! Mwahahaha~!

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