Forgive this lateness, I had most of the chapter done a few days after I had posted the last one, and then school started, and with it, my time and motivation.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Yu-Gi-Oh! Or the quotes I used from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

"I'm thinking": Thoughts

Chapter 2: Acquaintances

When Mr. Weasley disappeared, Ryou shut the door and went about the room, setting up his belongings and taking out a few of his school supplies. The setting sun outside of his window indicated that the day was nearly over and browsing through the shops and trying to find others his age would not do any good at this hour. It was around supper time, and Ryou wondered about what to do for a meal. Would the barkeeper—Tom—he hoped the name was, bring up a tray? Was it served downstairs? Did you need payment for the food? This was the only question that was problematic for Ryou. If he didn't have any money… "Stop your unnecessary worrying," he told himself. "Madam Malkin mentioned other Muggleborns earlier today. They must be staying here too, so just go downstairs a look for someone." He nodded, set on his course of action, and proceeded to go to the chatter below.

He let out a sigh of relief when he saw other kids eating. Suddenly feeling out of place not wearing a black cloak, he spied a vacant table and hurried to it. No sooner had he sat down when a waiter came by with a menu.

"Another Muggleborn?" he asked to no one in particular. He spied Ryou's hair and raised his eyebrows. "All right then." He handed Ryou a frayed and stained menu before whisking away to another table. He looked over the list of dishes and drinks for the evening and settled on chicken and potatoes. The waiter came by again to take away the menu and came back in less than five minutes with the food. Ryou saw other kids eating and talking together and wished he could join them. He figured it'd be better to meet them quickly finished, and when the waiter returned to take away the plate, he told Ryou that to the Muggleborns, the food was free (courtesy of Headmaster Dumbledore). Ryou returned to his room and pulled out his black robes. "It'd be best to wear these tomorrow over my normal clothes so that I fit in better." He got ready for bed and anticipated the following day.

Ryou awoke, changed into his clothes, and only just remembered the cloak as he was heading out the door. Breakfast was uneventful, and the only problem arose when he found himself standing in front the brick wall with no way to pass it. Mr. Weasley had pulled out his wand and tapped the bricks in a certain order to enter. "Oh, right!" he remembered. "My wand!" He spun around and bumped into a tall boy with short black hair.

"Watch where you're going, some of us want to get to Diagon Alley," he sneered.

"Sorry, I'll be more careful," Ryou replied, used to this sort of treatment (courtesy of his hair). The boy roughly bumped into him before tapping the bricks with his wand. Ryou started back towards the stairs so that he could retrieve his wand before he was stopped by yet another person.

"Where do you think you're going?" a girl with bushy brown hair stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. He blinked in response. "You have to tell that guy that he can't do that! This isn't a playground with bullies; you need to speak your mind!" she continued to scold him before Ryou cut in.

"It's all right, though," he tried to settle her down. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and I can't go to the Alley without my wand, I forgot it back in my room." He stepped around her and was halfway up the stairs before she came up beside him.

"Forgot your wand?" she gasped, appalled. "We're going to be wizards and witches someday; you can't afford to leave behind your wand at any time!"

"Yes, I know," he sighed. This girl was getting a little on his nerves. She sounded like a nagging mother, which immediately reminded him of his own mom and Amane. In a more somber mood, he decided to finish the conversation. "I won't forget it again. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get my wand so that I can go look at the shops." Seemingly satisfied, she let him pass without another word.

He returned downstairs, wand in hand, and found himself passing the bushy-haired girl. She was sitting amongst, what appeared to be, all of the books on their supply list. Head ducked down, he tried to pass as quickly as possible. Futile attempts, for she struck up another conversation.

"I don't know why you are so keen to go to Diagon Alley. You went before, to get your school supplies, and it's none to interesting if you ask me," she remarked. "You can't buy anything either, if that's what you want to do. No money."

"I just want to go look around," Ryou replied. "There's nothing else for me to do here."

"You can read our course books and study for our classes!" she chirped, hoping for some company.

"I'll be doing plenty of studying during the year. It's still summer break, I'm going to do something fun," he said, not getting her hint. He left the girl and her books behind before heading to the brick wall leading to Diagon Alley.

Only…when he got to the wall, he realized that he didn't know the order of which to tap the bricks. A problem that was resolved when a gaggle of witches approached and, ignoring the white haired boy in front of them, one of them opened the gateway to Diagon Alley. Slipping past them, Ryou once again entered the bustling street. The shops were just as interesting as the day before, the animals at the pet store were foreign, the Quidditch shop was interesting (though the games rules he couldn't quite understand), and he got kicked out of Flourish and Blottsfor reading and not buying anything. The day was nearly over when Ryou realized that he hadn't talked to anyone from Hogwarts besides the bushy brown-haired girl and the black haired boy he had bumped into. Feeling as though the purpose of leaving home a month early hadn't been fulfilled, he headed back to the Leaky Cauldron.

There he spied the girl exactly where he had left her that morning: immersed in a pile of books. Ryou sighed, and wondered if God or whoever mastered Fate had set this up. He walked over and caught her attention.

"Hi," he began lamely.

"Back from Diagon Alley so soon? I would have thought you'd be off exploring," she looked at him coolly.

"To be honest, it wasn't that great," Ryou murmured, embarrassed that she had been right.

"See, nothing better to do other than study," she nodded. "Take a seat," she said, trying to be welcoming. Ryou sat down and shifted uncomfortably. The girl fidgeted as well, realizing how awkward this was getting.

"I'm Ryou Bakura," he introduced, trying to make conversation.

"Hermione Granger," she said. And before they could lapse back into uncomfortable silence, she continued. "So, been at the Leaky Cauldron long? I haven't noticed you here before."

"Arrived yesterday. They don't bring everyone at the same time?"

"I think it'd make the shops even more crowded," she gave a small laugh.

"I don't know how they fit so many people on one street!" Ryou smiled. "Today, when I was at the bookstore, reading, I couldn't find anywhere that wasn't squished. I was almost glad they kicked me out for not buying anything."

"You read at bookstores without buying anything, too?" Hermione asked, appalled.

"It helps when I don't have any money." They both chuckled, glad they could find something in common. "Are the courses at school difficult?" he asked, eyeing the books. Hopefully a change in topic would stop a looming awkward silence.

"So far, it seems like Defense Against the Dark Arts is a bit challenging, Potions should be easy enough (it's like cooking), Charms needs the correct wand movement and pronunciation but is doable, and Transfiguration will be difficult. Those are the only classes I've looked through the books for." They continued to converse until the sun was setting, and by that time a small friendship had been born between Hermione and Ryou.

"See you tomorrow, Hermione," Ryou said as he waved good-bye.

"Same to you, Ryou. Remember to bring a couple textbooks down so that you can study." Ryou nodded and hid a grimace. He was glad to have someone to talk to, but reading textbooks wasn't his idea of fun.

The month leading up to September 1st went by in an instant, Hermione and Ryou reading all of the books and becoming better friends. When the day finally came, all of the Muggleborn Hogwarts students packed their trunks and met down in the pub. Four adults stopped by the Leaky Cauldron at ten, handed everyone a ticket to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, and lead them off. King's Cross Station was a fifteen minute walk from the pub, and all the while Muggles gave weird looks at the odd group of children who had owls of all things among their belongings. And when they reached the brick wall in between signs nine and ten, the adults told the children to run at the wall, supposedly the magical gateway to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Immediately, everyone thought this magic business was a bad idea. Running at brick walls was not a safe thing to do. Hermione was the only one brave enough to go first.

"Please rush me to the hospital if I get a concussion," she whispered to Ryou before running at the solid looking wall. Everyone gasped when she went right through it instead of crashing. Once one person went, it was no problem for anyone else.

The huge train that stood on the platform was remarkable to say the least. Once their belongings had been stowed away onboard, they were told to stay on the train until departure at eleven.

"Someone will steal your compartment if you leave, and you don't want to be left behind when the train heads off," one of them added as they waved farewell. Hermione and Ryou went to one of the compartments in the middle of the train and settled in. Gradually, more people passed by the compartment as the train station filled and time passed.

When the train whistled and began pulling out of the platform, a round-faced brown haired boy opened the door looking flustered.

"Erm, hi. H-have you seen a toad? His name's Trevor and he's about this big," he cupped his hands to form a circle. "And he's brown green with warts."

"No, sorry," Ryou answered. Hermione shook her head no. The boy teared up and sobbed,

"I've lost him! I've been asking around a bunch of compartments, but no one's seen him!"

"I'll help you find him!" Hermione remarked, standing up. The boy looked grateful and he beamed.

"Thank you! Thank you!" he cried, and the two left the compartment, searching for the toad. Ryou, having no desire to search for a toad and not being forced by Hermione, stayed behind to mind the compartment. A candy trolley stopped by a bit later, but having no money, he declined. The rest of the ride involved him staring out the window at the passing scenery which changed every so often.

When Hermione returned, the boy was not with her.

"I went to every compartment with Neville." Ryou assumed that was the name of the boy with the missing toad. "But no one had seen him. I also went to visit the conductor, and he says we'll be arriving soon. We'd best change into our robes."

"I'll leave while you change," Ryou got up and left the compartment, roaming the corridor for a few minutes. There he ran into quite an intimidating bunch.

"Well, look here, a little ghost girl has come to Hogwarts" a bleach blond boy snickered. His two lackeys flanked his sides and crossed their arms, looking menacing. "No doubt she's a Mudblood too." Ryou, not understanding that Mudblood was an insult, focused on the boy's first comment.

"I'm a guy," he said sternly. He could handle when people were rude to him (such as the boy at the entrance to the Alley) but he didn't stand for mistaking his gender, even when it happened all the time. The leader quirked his eyebrows in surprise, for he truly thought the boy in front of him was a girl. Quickly getting over this revelation, he thought up more taunts.

"Really now? That long hair and frail figure seems to disagree."

"Bug off," was his oh so witty reply, and he headed back to his and Hermione's compartment, deciding that she must have been changed by now. The blond boy didn't follow, and decided that he'd get many other chances to pester the white haired boy when school started.

The duo exited the train when it pulled in. A booming voice calling "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" beckoned them to where a large group was collecting. "C'mon, follow me— any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me! Leave yer belonging's in the train, they'll be taken care of," They followed the owner of the voice, a huge man with wild tangled hair through a forest and down to a water's edge, where they saw Hogwarts for the first time. A magnificent castle stood tall, with glittering little lights coming from the many windows. It was a little intimidating because of its size, but it gave an aura of hominess and security that made Ryou feel welcomed.

They hopped into the boats (four to a boat) and Ryou found he and Hermione were with Neville. Glad to be with people he knew, he relaxed slightly as they approached the castle that loomed ever bigger as they got closer. They passed under a curtain of ivy and landed on a pebbly shore underneath the castle. And lucky for Neville, his toad was found there! Ryou couldn't help but feel glad for the poor boy, he seemed quite nervous about losing his pet.

After walking up a flight of stairs, they were greeted by a serious looking woman in emerald robes. The giant man that took them to this point grinned at the students before taking his leave. The lady took them through the grand entrance hall and stopped them in a room off to the side.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she greeted. "My name is Professor McGonagall, and I will be your Transfiguration teacher throughout your years here. In a matter of minutes, I shall bring you to the Great Hall where the rest of the school sits, awaiting the start-of-term banquet. But before you join them at the tables, you will first be sorted into your houses. Here at Hogwarts, your house is like your family; you eat with them, sleep in your house's dormitory, and attend classes with your fellow housemates in your year. While you are at Hogwarts, your achievements will earn you house points. Rule breaking, however, loses points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor.

"There are four houses to be sorted into, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Gryffindors are known for their bravery and strength. Hufflepuffs are loyal and good of heart. Ravenclaws are known for their intellect and use of wits. Slytherins are ambitious and cunning. Whichever house you are Sorted into, may you be an asset." She ordered them to 'smarten themselves up' and to wait quietly until she returned.

Once she left, a gentle murmuring broke out, everyone worried about 'smartening themselves up'.

"Ooh, I hope it's a test!" Hermione whispered, eyes gleaming in excitement. Ryou sighed, "A test is exactly what Hermione would want. She's smart enough to get into that Ravenclaw house with ease." But he was not so sure if a test was what he was looking for. He went over a few facts from the books that he could remember and was interrupted by around twenty or twenty-five white shimmering people gliding in through the walls. After a few screams died out, everyone was silent, watching the ghosts.

"You must be new students!" said one particularly fat ghost. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?" Ryou noticed a few people nodding. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know." The ghosts left one at a time once Professor McGonagall returned. The first years formed a line as she instructed, and followed her into the Great Hall.

Ryou couldn't think of many words to describe the Great Hall at that moment. It was magnificent, without a roof, and engraved in the windows was four large animals that loomed over the teachers table. The candles that hovered over the four long tables glimmered and when he looked higher, he saw countless stars above the room. "I wonder what they do when it rains," he pondered before Hermione spoke up, guessing his thoughts.

"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." Ryou nodded dumbly in response, trying to soak all the details of the room. The group halted and watched as Professor McGonagall set down a stool that seemed to appear out of nowhere and placed a worn-down and nearly ugly hat on said stool. Ryou wondered what a hat had to do with the Sorting before the hat seemed to open a mouth and took a deep breath, if hats could. It started to sing, which was definitely the weirdest moment for Ryou that day.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me oh! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a thinking Cap!"

Applause broke out around the first years as the hat closed its mouth. It bowed (or what looked like one, since it was a hat) to the four tables before becoming still once again on the stool. Ryou wondered if he and Hermione would be separated into different houses, since she was clearly a Ravenclaw and smart was not one of his key traits. "Losing a friend because of Houses would be quite sad." He lamented. But soon began to worry over another problem. "But what if none of those houses fit me? I'm not particularly smart, cunning, brave, or loyal. Is there a secret fifth house for those that don't fit the other places?" He ceased worrying over the houses as the first student was called from a list in McGonagall's hand.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be Sorted. Abbott, Hannah!" Ryou saw her stumble up to the stool, put the hat on, and everyone watched in silence for a moment before the hat bellowed,

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the table on the right of the first years broke out into cheers and whoops, clapping for their new housemate.

"Bakura, Ryou!" McGonagall called, and Ryou silently cursed alphabetical order. He tried to hide his anxiety to calmly head to the stool, but tripped on the way. His face was red and he hopelessly tried to ignore the laughter around him; he was almost glad when the hat covered most of his red face. Staring at black, he jumped when he heard a voice in his ears.

"Not a Slytherin, that's for sure. Don't seem to have a cunning bone in your body. Not too big a candidate for Ravenclaw, no offense to your intelligence."

"Please tell me I can go to a house," Ryou thought to the hat, only half expecting a reply. The hat chuckled back.

"You'll go into a house, don't worry. I think you'll do well in—"

"GRYFFINDOR!" he yelled out loud. Ryou took off the hat, relieved to have been sorted, placed it on the stool, and walked over to the cheering table. He sat down and watched as the others were sorted, once in a while another student joining Ryou at the Gryffindor table. He couldn't help being anxious when Professor McGonagall called out 'Granger, Hermione" and clapped as loud as he could when the hat yelled out "GRYFFINDOR!". She smiled as she sat between Ryou and Neville (who had been sorted earlier).

The only other time he paid attention to the sorting was when the name 'Potter, Harry' was said. For some reason, the whole hall began to bore their eyes into said boy's skull and whisper amongst themselves. "What's so special with him," Ryou thought, curious about Harry Potter. When the Sorting Hat bellowed "GRYFFINDOR!" the table around him stood and cheered the loudest Ryou had heard that night. The sorting continued and eventually finished, though no one got as much applause as Harry.

As Professor McGonagall whisked the stool with the Sorting Hat away, an elderly man stood up from his place in the middle of the Professor's table. He wore a purple robe with little stars on it and had a pointed hat to match. "He's the textbook image of a wizard," Ryou thought. "All that's missing is a toad and wand." The old man smiled a welcome and warm grin that gave the impression that the students simply being here was a great joy.

"Welcome!" his booming voice rang out across the hall. The image of a frail old man was forgotten and his energy seemed to brighten the lights. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" He sat down as the hall burst into applause and cheer. Most of the first years gave one another looks as if to say 'Is there a secret message in that?' or 'Am I the only one that thinks he's a nut?' Ryou was about to ask Hermione those two questions before he realized that there was now mounds of food on the table. Gaping, he piled his plate with food and dug in to the dishes as if he'd never eaten before. The meat was crisp and surprisingly, not dry. The potatoes were buttery and melted underneath the gravy. After a filling dinner, the remaining food disappeared and was replaced with a variety of desserts. Ryou was certain he'd never eat again after this meal; he'd be too full for the rest of his life.

Only when he was finished did he pay attention to the conversation around him. Hermione was inquiring about the classes and Neville was describing his family. But the chatter didn't last much longer, for the elderly man (who Ryou now assumed was the Headmaster Dumbledore that had paid for his stay at the Leaky Cauldron and bought his school supplies) stood up once more.

"Ahem—just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered—"

"Watered?" Ryou thought. "Well don't I feel like a houseplant."

"—I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Ryou saw his eyes linger on the Gryffindor table and he wondered if this was the House of troublemakers.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." A few uneasy laughs escaped the students' mouths, but most were silent and serious.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song! Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go!" A banner above the head table appeared and the words along with it. A very silly song followed until the Headmaster dismissed the Houses.

The first year Gryffindors followed a redhead that proclaimed very airily that he was a Prefect. Stuffed with food, Ryou still found the energy to gape at the talking portraits and the changing staircases. Though later on, after quite a bit of walking, he felt as if he'd go to sleep walking if he didn't make it to bed soon. A short time later, everyone abruptly stopped. Feeling more awake and curious at their halt, he heard the redheaded Prefect whisper to them,

"Peeves, a poltergeist. Best watch out for him." Ryou ignored whatever else he said and stared intently at the nearly see-through hovering figure. It carried walking sticks and cackled in a high voice. Then it vanished and dropped the walking sticks on Neville's head. Ryou, happening to be walking next to Neville, silently was glad they fell on Neville, and not himself.

"You okay, Neville?" he asked.

"Mm, yeah," Neville answered, rubbing his sore head. They continued their trek to their beds and eventually came to the portrait of a fat (no offense to her) lady in a pale pink dress.

"Password?" she asked.

"Caput Draconis," the Prefect answered, and the portrait swung open. Ryou didn't bother to look around the common room and barely followed the Prefect to his dorm before he flopped down on the bed, fast asleep.

A/N: Speaking of silly songs, anyone know of the Silly Songs with Larry? My favorite is I love my lips. There are slight hints of HermioneXRyou that I didn't intend to happen. Just think of them as getting acquainted and trying to be friends and such. I'm quite surprised at the length of this chapter. Nearly a whole page was just the Sorting song, so don't expect such longish chapters (writing four to six pages is generally the most I can do). In fact, I deem this the longest chapter I've ever written in the history of forever…I just couldn't bear to end it before they went to bed, though I got a little lazy near the end.

To ( ): …I knew that! ^.^" You're right, August!