The Strongest Trio
by val'tanelle

Summary: So...what if Yugi, Judai, and Yusei are invited to Hogwarts? Time-traveling, dimension-hopping, ancient-magical-thingy, Voldemort, Umbridge-hating, and school, what else? Card games? ...THEY DON'T EXIST!

Author's Notes: Big fan of Yu-Gi-Oh. Watched half of GX. Never bothered with 5D. Expect the usual crossover cliché but I think despite generic premise, it's in the storytelling that makes it extraordinary :D

About This Fanfic: This is similar to Evil In The Wrong Hands. Don't beg for updates; this was only posted as a way to see...well, your reaction. Does it work out? Is it good? Properly written? And did I hit some ooc marks? I do plan to work on this in the future (in fact, chapter 2 is already available in my pc) but not right now. This is, basically, a draft.

The Strongest Trio
I: The Haunted Graveyard

"So you know, people been saying there's some ghosts in the graveyard...Hey, what's the whole point of this?"

"Judai, for the fourth time, I'm trying to explain Synchro Summoning. And people usually assume there are ghosts in graveyards, considering that's where dead people rest."

"C'mon, I thought you were the smart one. There's a ghost right within this room. Oh spirit, ghosts, don't be so picky, Yubel-"

"So anyway, you were having trouble with...?"

"Everything! What the heck is up with this chart thingy you drew?"

"It's supposed to help you understand the theory—"

"I told you man, let's just play. I'll get a hang—"

"But that would be unfair! How do you expect me to give it my all when my opponent is an apparent disadvantage by his lack of information?"

"Hope you're not saying I'm dumb."

"No! Why would you even think that?"

"Well since you insulted me, how about making it up with a duel, huh?"

"You're not fooling anyone with that."

"Did you just insult me again? I'm so hurt Yusei. I think I'm wounded for life."

"Thanks Judai, but maybe you'd be a bit more convincing if you weren't laughing."

One big sigh went unnoticed as the two bickered like barking dogs. Yugi Motou leafed through the stacks of paper in which Yusei had fervently worked on overnight; it detailed changes and updates on Duel Monsters from his time. It was interesting to read through them but Yugi himself was never good at studying. He had merely pretended to have understand all the complex scribbles and had Yusei explain in layman terms for Yugi to grasp the new ideas.

Judai was a bit different. If anything, he was the opposite of Yusei though they actually get along just fine. It's just that Yusei is best when he can grasp the theory behind the game while Judai play by instinct, which is honed by practical experience, not by analyzing.

Yusei had not really insisted his learning method onto Judai until it was the last resort. He was a man of honor and dignity, especially to his friends, and refused to do any blasphemous acts to betray such friendship. Not that they weren't like that too. Yusei, however, was just very...detailed in his ideals.

"Geez, I can't even understand half the words Yusei writes," Yugi thought, grimacing at the huge wall of text.

There was a small ringing in his head, signaling the presence of Yugi's other self, Yami. "I guess this is what it means to have a genius. I never imagined I'd live to see someone who rivals Kaiba's mind."

"Oh please," Yugi replied mentally, rolling his eyes. "As if you're not one too."

"Not at all. I just happen to be very knowledgeable."

"...been days already. How long would the money last?"

Yugi's attention was drawn to Yusei; the atmosphere had changed. The discussion appeared to have shifted away from the usual bickering. Judai was tapping his chin, looking at the table silently. Yusei's hands on the table were clasped together, his eyes distant.

"We'd have to put our faith on Dark Magician," Yugi said after a pregnant silence. "Since we can still connect to the Shadow Realm, then there should be a link back to our respective homes."

"We should have Yubel come along with him after all," Judai said.

"No, I think it's assuring that there's someone who could protect us," Yusei said, looking at both of them, letting a pause to sink in, "should things come to worsts."

The three of them fell silent again. The gloom was even more pronounced by the despondent house the trio were staying in. It appeared to be completely abandoned judging by the cobwebs and dusts collecting on each corner of the house; however, electricity and water still worked perfectly. It was a huge but empty house with only three occupants were inside, locked in by the fact they could not step possibly step outside where boundaries crossed were too risky.

Yugi, Judai, and Yusei were from another dimension after all. To make it worse, they belonged to different time periods too.

And what made them even in less cheerful spirit was the fact Duel Monsters, the game they all share a beloved connection with, did not exist.

"Hey Yusei," Judai said all of a sudden. "I've been thinking about it, but were you serious when you said you played card games on motorcycles?"

"Yes, I am," Yusei said, sounding slightly annoyed. "Why would you think I was joking? What's so funny? Even you, Yugi?"

"Well, the way Judai just phrases it is funny," Yugi said bracingly, still chuckling. "I think it's pretty cool but I don't think I'd be able to focus at all."

"Man, I can't believe the King of Games is a wimp," Judai said, laughing. Yugi blushed red, stuttering angrily. "I'm just kidding!"

Yusei smiled benignly, mentally appreciating the slacker's ability to break the ice and create humor in their bad situation. Silently, he cursed himself for being useless; he was even the oldest (and of age) between the three of them, no less! They relied on Yugi to get out of this mess because of his mystical item, the Sennen Puzzle, while Judai kept their spirits up. Yusei, on the other hand, could not contribute to their cause. He hated not being able to do anything.

"I'm going to take a look around the house again," Yusei announced, standing up. He might be able to find something of use, maybe to sell just to earn some more money. They found some cash around the house when they arrived but the money wouldn't last forever. He had hope to find spare parts, which he should be able to put together no matter what age and time but he was out of luck there.

"Sure," Yugi said. He probably knew why Yusei felt like going through what they had gone through all day already.

"Well be careful," Judai said, watching Yusei walked away. "Don't go screaming like a girl when you see hairy spiders, all right?"

"Har-har," Yusei said.

When the door closed, Judai turned back to Yugi and slapped his deck on the table. "Good, I've got you cornered now. Let's duel!"

"If you'd asked me, I would have agreed, you know," Yugi said, bemused.

"Oh sorry. I mean the other you. Yami, was it?" When Judai said the name, he noticed Yugi's aura change completely. Yubel shifted uneasily, intently looking at the spirit that took over Yugi.

"That's right," Yami Yugi said. "If you wanted to duel me, you could have asked too. Yugi and I would be happy to."

"Yeah well, when Yusei's around, he kept on hogging you for himself. I didn't want to be rude," Judai said, grinning.

"Very well," the spirit said, amused.

"Judai!" Yubel's spirit admonished. "I've told you not to duel him! He is dangerous!"

"Oh c'mon, you've been saying that for days," Judai said mentally, shuffling Yugi's deck. Their conversation was interrupted with mild surprise when Yami spoke.

"It's not my habit to use dark magic," Yami said, still expertly shuffling Judai's deck. "Rest assure, this is just an ordinary game."

Yubel frowned, but said nothing. Judai grinned. "It's still pretty wicked that you've got all this strange powers, you know. Who would have thought the legendary Yugi Motou had something supernatural up his sleeves?"

"You're not one to speak, Judai," Yami said, returning the boy's deck. The two of them drew six cards, looked through their hand, and back each other's eyes.

"Duel!"

The darkness tonight was the result of a cloudy sky, blocking both stars and moon to shed any natural light. They tried not to use any lights in the abandoned manor to not raise suspicions from the neighborhood. They used lamps to help them through the dark, which did not hide well up in this dark hill. In case a passerby of the village came, no doubt he would be able to see the small firefly light through the bombarded windows.

Yusei had joined the others earlier for dinner, which was some leftover stew from this morning. No one had really complained, Judai adding that mediocre meals back in his academy made Yusei's stew a delicacy from a five-star restaurant. Yusei for one had grew up from poverty while Yugi, surprisingly with his kind of background as King of Games, said he came from a middle-class family. After eating, the discussion about the duels in Battle City (Yusei being very attentive since it was ancient news for him) carried over for an hour more before it was stopped when Judai had fallen asleep on the couch. Yugi had sought to sleep too while Yusei had said he wanted to take a walk for a while.

"I better come with you," Yugi said sleepily. "It's too dangerous, you know."

"It's going to be a short walk," Yusei assured. "I just need some fresh air."

Yugi was unconvinced, being concerned yet at the same time finding sleep irresistible every passing second. "Just don't do anything reckless. Wake us up if something happens."

"Yeah. I will, thanks."

Yusei walked down the hill, finding the pitch-black darkness rather unnerving. He went over to the spots of light from the village below than hanging around the darkness. As he had arrived, Yusei felt relaxed when voices of chatters spoke clearly through the air. Being in the mansion made Yusei feel that only the three duelists were the last men alive in the planet; hearing new though unfamiliar voices eased him up a bit.

But Yusei didn't linger around the empty streets of the village. He made a beeline toward the place where he, Yugi, and Judai appeared in this world. Back to the misty, desolate area where tombs were placed and stone slates erected: the graveyard.

The freezing temperature in the graveyard emphasized the bane of the living. Yusei was used to harsher conditions although having his arms wrapped in gloves helped. He studied the place, hoping it would give him new ideas how they came upon here. The lack of anything around though had been very much unhelpful.

For a couple of minutes, he walked in silence, his thoughts drifting back to his friends back home until his ears sharply caught noises not too far away. Laughing.

In a wild moment, Yusei thought the graveyard was indeed haunted as Judai had said. Of course, he banished the thought instantly and stealthily went toward the source of the noise, thinking that there were probably grave robbers or punks messing around.

But it wasn't just a bunch of teenagers around and they didn't look like mere grave robbers either. Fully grown men were in complete black garbs, circled around a tombstone, making a very good impression of ghouls. Amidst the laughing Yusei heard, a blood-chilling, hissing voice made the duelist frozen on his spot. Then there was the cry of pain of a boy that alerted Yusei he had just came up with more trouble he could handle. Yusei knelt behind a headstone, blood pounding in his head.

"I WON'T!" he heard the fierce scream of the boy.

"You won't?" the snake-like voice said; his quiet voice spoke volumes over the fragile silence. "You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a virtue I need to teach you before you die...perhaps another little dose of pain?"

Yusei gritted his teeth, his fists curled into fists. He was going to kill him, the boy named Harry! There was a shatter of stone and the cold voice continued.

"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry." The ghouls laughed once more. "You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean you would prefer to finish it now, Harry?" Yusei's heart beat violently; he was sure his ribcage would explode. Yet he kept his mind clear...waiting, thinking, considering...he was going to kill him- "Come out, Harry...come out and play, then...it will be quick...it might even be painless...I wouldn't know...I have never died..."

What happened next was a complete blur, but Yusei kept a tight grip to his vigilant sense. He jumped out of behind the headstone, threw himself against one of the ghouls, breaking into their circle. Taking advantage of their stunned states, Yusei propelled one to the others with a powerful kick. The man at the center – bald and pale, with skin leathery like a snake's – whirled around with a raised arm. Yusei had swiftly ducked and hid behind a ghoul's back but nothing came to Yusei's way at that split second. There was a shout instead.

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Motion from the ghouls suddenly ceased and even Yusei was distracted upon the touch of golden light flaring from a thread connecting the boy and the other man. He saw that they held something onto their hands – ruler-size sticks – where the thread of light stuck out. Their hands shook, their feet slowly gaining inches from the ground. The laughing had turned to panic shouts; ghouls ran about to where the two had been lifted and descended, leaving Yusei free to his escape or -

Yusei's jaw dropped. Arcs of crisscrossing lines bloomed from the thread of light like a fountain. Both their grips on the vibrating sticks were weakening and Yusei had a strong feeling that should the boy lose his grip on his, the line would break and the light would vanish. They disappeared from his sight as the lines formed a webbed area of dome, blocking trespassers away.

"Do nothing!" he heard the snake voice's muffled shrieked. "Do nothing unless I command you!"

Yusei sped past the ghouls, knocking them aside into the circle once more. He only heard their shouts becoming muffled as he managed to get through the line when others could not.

"Don't let go!" Yusei shouted, stretching his hand toward the boy. He clasped both his hands to the boy's shaking hands, feeling the surging power that he was trying to control.

The boy's emerald eyes widened. "Who—"

Yusei didn't know which had caused the immediate, shocked silence: him or the song. He saw at the corner of his eyes the familiar red glow on his arm, its color flowing through his arm; Yusei could not hide his shock. It was his Mark – at least where his Mark used to be but it had been taken from all the Signers. It filled him with strength nonetheless, but there was another source; gentle whisper rang in his ears – no, it was more than that – in his heart, reaching deep into his soul where the magnificent dragon roared.

From the tip of the boy's stick, silvery dusts escaped. A solid crystal - first with the head with long, spiked, slithering neck, followed by a winged, scaly crystal body with beastly clawed ends – came out, which Yusei recognized as his Stardust Dragon. On the other end of the thread that held the two sticks bound, had ghostly yet solid images of humans coming out one by one, each of them whispering words Yusei could not hear; only the gentle song and the dragon's roar soothed him.

Yusei didn't know how longed he had kept his grip on the boy's hands. They held on it together like they were clinging for their lives.

"I'm breaking it! Get ready to run!" the boy shouted. "Ready – NOW!"

The moment Yusei had let go, the song and the roar vanished just as the light disappeared. The figures of the ghouls returned, but the images of the people that came out of the wand stayed, blocking the man like iron walls.

"LET'S GO!" the boy shouted, tugging his jacket. Yusei obeyed without saying anything, turning his head when the snake man shouted, colorful jets of light chasing them. But the Stardust Dragon had remained as well, taking in all the light like a protective shield barrier with its grand figure dominating the space.

"The boy is mine! Kill the other one, kill him!"

Yusei quickly said, "I know where to hide-"

"No," the boy said. "Get Cedric, his body – that – the dead – get it, just-"

"Got it," Yusei said, his eyes unable to hide the shock of the corpse he saw. He was much faster than the boy and took the corpse with the utmost gentleness he could. The Stardust Dragon roared faintly as its crystal body slowly vanished.

"The cup – we have to-"

Yusei saw the golden cup on the ground, but it was too far for him to pick up. He could try and get it but the body would slow him down. The face of the vile snake man's appeared, flashing red eyes and a dangerous, triumphant smile. The bespectacled boy grabbed his arm, shouted at the top of his lungs just as the snake raised the stick.

"Accio!" the boy shouted, jabbing his stick at the distant cup. The cup flew into his hands and suddenly, Yusei's surrounding disappeared in a colorful blur, his stomach feeling sick like he had just developed a motion sickness.