I really have nothing to say other then exams are evil and K, you're hopeless. But better late then never huh.
Well I've had this written for ages, but my beta still hasn't even looked at it. So I revised it tonight and viola. I blame any mistakes that might exist on the mush eight exams has left my brain in. Year 11 is evil around this time!
Anyway, It's been long enough. If anyone is still with me I'll get on the next part ASAP.
xxx
Amane looked out the window and sighed. Today ended the longest two weeks of her life! In between the fighting, awkward silences, fighting, loneliness, fighting and the complete lack of female company, (her Mum and Yugi's Mum did not count thank-you very much!) it had indeed been a long hull untill this day. In that time, Kaiba and Joey's relationship, or lack thereof, plummeted to all new lows, ones she hadn't thought were possible for anyone to reach. Ok, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but there was no denying they hated each other with a burning passion that was almost holy! Everything Joey said Kaiba found fault with, and everything Kaiba did got on Joey's never and neither would give the other a chance!
'Though I must admit, it is rather amusing to watch, it does make the days go by faster. Counting how many times they fight in a day, hour, even minute! Seeing how many things antagonise them and aggravate the situation. Provoking them and watching the fireworks,' she thought with a laugh. 'Yes, they did provide me with plenty of amusement during an otherwise tense, boring couple of weeks. But at least it's almost over. The train finally leaves today!'
"Amane, have you finished packing?" her Mother's voice drofted up the stairs to her room.
Amane looked around; sure enough all of her clothes, books and stuff were packed for the school year. 'Oh well, if I've forgotten anything I'll just get them sent up!' she thought before answering.
"Yeah I'm done, do you want my help with something?" she asked, rolling her eyes and mocking her Mother, knowing the answer already.
When her Mother answered that she would like her to help out with the boys, she was already moving to the room Yugi and Kaiba shared. Of course Kaiba and Joey refused to be in the same room for more then absolutely necessary, let alone share one. So Ryou naturally shared his own room with Joey. She still wasn't quite sure how it worked out that way, but Yugi seemed to fear Joey and Joey was, well, just Joey.
"So do you two…" she started as she walked into the room, but found only one small boy occupying it instead of the tall ego centric boy plus the small one. "Ok, do you need help?" she finished. Said small boy shook his head.
"Ok then. Where is gigantor?" she asked, referring to Kaiba. He shrugged.
'Great, just great,' she thought. 'We've lost him.'
xxx
Five hours, twenty-two minutes and fifteen seconds later they were at Kings Cross station, awaiting the train. Joey had walked off in search of some sort of vending machine, only to be disappointed and Kaiba stated that he couldn't be around him any longer. No doubt meaning Joey. So the twins with their parents stood in the middle section of the station saying their goodbyes while not far off Yugi was doing the same thing with his parents. As was most of the people on the platform were doing. A small, forgetful looking boy was standing not far from them with an elderly looking lady and a family of red heads walked past them.
"Oh Yugi," his Mother began before giving him the biggest hug ever. Yugi turned to look at the purple train behind him, the one that would take him away from everything he knew. And truthfully he wasn't sure if he was happy or sad about it. (And for that matter had that train always been there?) The box his ancient puzzle resided in weighed his bag down considerably, and caused a pain to gather in his shoulder where the strap settled. He sighed.
"Yugi," his mother started a little gravely. "I know how hard it was for you in your old school. Just don't listen to what they say; it's not you. They're just jealous." It was a variation of the speech he had heard over one thousand times before, and Yugi knew his Mother was trying. But there was nothing she, or anyone else could do. It was futile even trying. But at least his Mother loved him, and the fact that outside school he was fine was the one thing that kept him going. Even when the other kids didn't give him a chance, teased and bullied him relentlessly, he wasn't going to give up! All he wished for; was a friend. Someone who understood, and liked, him for who he was. That was his one wish. And the puzzle his Grandfather had given him was his one. Last. Hope.
xxx
Joey stood on the other end of the platform, in the midst of proud parents sending their children off. With a half growl he decided to board the train, wondering why he hadn't done that sooner. He bumped into someone small and slight, knocking the kid over.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" He yells. Then he sees the vaguely familiar messy black hair and obscured glasses. Hidden amongst the stands of black that fell down across his forehead was the lightning bolt scar. A predominate feature that Joey missed. He knew he had seen this kid somewhere before, but not quite sure when. And where. He looked back at Joey, thinking the same thing.
"So where are you're parents? Not waving goodbye like the rest huh?" Joey asked, hurt, scorn and sarcasm lightly dusting his voice. Something flashed in the kid's eyes.
"My parents are dead." Was all he said. There was a pause, the kid made a move to enter the train.
"My mum abandoned me and my Dad's probably too drunk to care. I guess at least you know you're parents loved you," Joey said, half muttering to himself. It wasn't something he usually would say to a complete stranger, or any of his fellow gang mates. But over the last two weeks, in the presence of two sets of parents who loved their kids, and an orphan who was probably loved, it had brought home clearly just what kind of situation Joey was in. That his Mum had left him and his Dad hadn't cared. Faced with all the parents and relatives waving their loved ones off, he realised that he was alone in a strange country on his way to an equally strange school. The kid now in front of him turned to look at him, and Joey instantly regretted saying anything aloud. He subconsciously pegged it on the emotional stress of the last month, no, years.
"My name's Harry," was what he said. Joey smiled and replied, "Joey."
A whistle sounded. The signal that everyone was to board the train.
"I guess we'd better get before the crowds swamp us," Joey said to Harry, walking in. Harry nodded and followed. They settled for a carriage as far from the doors as possible. Fellow students walked past in groups, talking loudly about their holidays and some individuals looking for their friends or fellow first years scuttled past, hoping to find a friendly face. Eventually eleven tolled and the train pulled off. A silence had descended upon the pair and five minutes dragged slowly by. The sound of their door sliding open jerked them out of their thoughts.
"Do you mind if I sit here? All the other carriages are full," a hesitant voice asked at the door. Harry nodded that he didn't mind and Joey introduced himself.
"I'm Joey, who are you?" he asked the red head that was now opposite him.
"I'm Ron, Ron Weasley," he said ad looked at Harry.
"Harry, Harry Potter," he said without prompting. Ron gaped at him.
"Harry Potter?" he repeated, amazed. He stared up at his forehead.
"Do you? … I mean," he started awkwardly. Harry nodded with a smile and moved the hair that was sitting across his forehead. A curious lightning bolt scar stared back at them. Joey, under his breath said whoa for he had forgotten who Harry was. For a moment none of the boys said anything. Harry was about to say something when the carriage door opened for a second time and a small boy looked in, gave off a curious squeak and shut the door again. Harry called out to the boy.
"Yugi?"
Said boy didn't hear him as he had seen Joey in there and rather then spend the entire journey with someone who would make the trip uncomfortable he decided to ran as far from the compartment as he could. In his haste to get away he bumped into a tall someone in the corridor of the train. Flying backwards he caught his bearings and looked up at whom he had bumped into. Kaiba's glaring face sneered down at him.
"Watch where you're going Mouto!" he snapped, annoyed at all those around him, for no real reason. The ferocity of his biting remark frightened Yugi more so then he already was, confronting such a tall, threatening person. Peering up with frightened eyes he stumered a response.
"I'm s-sorry K-kaiba," he said trembling slightly. After enduring a month of being around Kaiba, however little he actually did spend with him, he had learnt rather quickly that Kaiba was the sort of person who would let anyone close. And for a good measure he just scared Yugi too. Kaiba glared at Yugi now, stuttering bugged him greatly, but before he could give his response two figures alike in face came up next to Yugi. They were obviously older then the two so Kaiba backed down as one of them said; " Hey, leave the kid alone!"
"Yeah, what's he done to you?" the other asked, with no difference in his voice to the other. Kaiba, never at a loss for words, was about to retaliate when another red head interfered. This one was even older then the other two, and had a badge that identified him as a Prefect.
"Fred, George, what are you doing?" he asked sounding suspicious and with such a tone of authority it was unbelievable that anyone could think so much of themself.
"Hi ya Percy," one of the twins, (Yugi concluded that they were too alike to simply be brothers that they just had to be,) said with a grin on his face that suggested he was up to something.
"We were just helping this poor, defenceless First Year from the tall one!" the other said almost as a defence. Kaiba decided walking off would be a good idea right now, doing anything would really be a waste of his time. He entered an empty compartment and glared at anyone who even dared look in.
"If he's a first year I should be the one to take care of this," Percy said, sounding as if he felt he was rather important.
"Don't worry bout it Perce, we've got it covered," George said cheerfully while Yugi shyly tried to hide behind the older boy.
"So we'll be seeing you," Fred said to Percy, then adding, "come on," to the other two as he grabbed Yugi's shoulder and led him off down to another compartment leaving Percy standing alone in the corridor. Another boy who looked the same age as the twins occupied the compartment the three entered.
"So, we never asked," one of the twins asked Yugi.
"What's your name?" the other finished. It took Yugi a moment to answer. He was a little frightened; it had all happened so fast he wasn't quite sure what exactly had just happened.
"Yugi," he finally answered. The other boy laughed.
"Fred, George, I think you've scared him. What have I told you about intimidating the First Years?" he said while laughing.
"Shut it Lee," one said.
"That's a big word, did you do some studying over the summer?" said the other at the same time.
"You see, I pay attention in class, so I don't have to study," he answered.
"Yeah right," Fred said.
"That's Lee Jordan, I'm George by the way," George says to Yugi as he remembers the additional person in the compartment.
"And I'm Fred," the other introduces himself with a grin.
"Don't worry about remembering who's who, I don't think even their Mother knows!" Lee says, still laughing.
"Hey!" George says indignantly.
"Just cause it may be true, doesn't mean you have to say it!" Fred adds, both of them smiling. During this exchange Yugi just stood in the doorway, not really sure of what to do. He felt sort of out of place here, but there was nowhere else he could really go. There was a bit of a pause.
"So you're a First Year right?"
"Who was that other kid?"
"Just so you know we're…"
"So what year are you…" All of occupants of the compartment start to say at once, paused, then laughed when they realised.
"You two are a bad influence, you know that right?" Lees jokingly asks the twins. George grinned.
"Guilty as charged," Fred says.
"So anyway," George starts, ignoring Lee, "who was the other kid? The one who was obviously less then friendly? What was up with him?" Yugi paused a bit before answering.
"Well, he lives in my town, but I haven't actually meet him before my Mum said we were going to take a couple of others with us," Yugi starts with difficulty. He didn't actually know how to answer the question. "His name is Kaiba, I've forgotten what his first name is, and he doesn't want anyone to use it. He also doesn't like to be around others, he acts like he doesn't want to be here. But he won't tell any of us why or anything for that matter. We came a month early, so my Mum could catch up with a friend. He doesn't like the other boy who came, and he scares me, so we had to share a room. But I don't really know what's up with him," rambling Yugi finishes, remembering at the end of his little speech what the question was. It was pretty much the most he had said at one time to anybody he wasn't related to in a while. And the fact he could speak so easily around them was surprising to Yugi himself. But the twins were kind, and both them and their friend meant no one any real harm.
"Right," Lee comments at the end of it, looking a bit confused.
"So even you don't know," Fred adds, not quite sure if he got it himself.
"I guess," Yugi mumbles, withdrawing once again. "I hadn't really thought about it."
"So that would make you both First Years, right?" George asks, completely changing the topic seeing how Yugi was reacting. He nodded, not trusting his voice anymore.
"What year are you?" he shyly asks.
"Third," they answer altogether.
"Oh."
xxx
She hadn't meant to separate herself from her brother. Honestly. It had just happened.
Amane had rushed through the goodbyes, eager to get on the train and see what her mother had been talking about for the last month or so. Ryou was dragging it out, more hesitant about going. He was grateful that Amane would be there with him. But Amane, after her Mother and Father finished the goodbyes with her she rushed onto the train, purely to get a good seat of course. But amidst the confusion that was the Hogwarts student body, she had gotten separated from everyone she knew.
'Now,' she thought. 'How has this happened?' In her haste she did manage to secure an empty compartment, but by the time she realised that Ryou was out of site, it was too late. There was a confident, slightly unsure of itself, knock on the compartments door. A girl with bushy brown hair poked her head through the door.
"May I sit here please, everywhere else has other years in them," she asked politely.
"So I take it you're a First Year then?" Amane asked, a grin creeping onto her face.
"Yes," was the reply.
"Well no then. I don't want first years here," Amane replied grinning openly now, sarcasm easing naturally into her voice. The girl turned to leave.
"No no," Amane hurriedly called out. "It was a joke. I'm a First Year too. I'm Amane. Please sit. I guess I joke around when I'm nervous." The girl sat down unsure. Amane added an afterthought.
"Or any other time for that matter." The girl smiled, still a bit unsure. To her, Amane seemed friendly enough.
"I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger," the girl introduced herself. She came across as a little prim and sure of herself.
"Have you seen someone with white hair running around? He's my twin and I kind of lost him," to Hermione the question seemed random. She shook her head.
"No, sorry I haven't," she answered a little shyly. Amane was so outgoing, almost absentminded.
"So how much do you know about Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, just to break the ice. "I've read the entire 'Hogwarts, A History.'" She added sounding almost smug and quite pleased with herself.
"Well, I know as much as my Mum has told me. I quite like surprises so I've decided to wait until I've gotten there to read it. Though, my mum did tell me all the important stuff. Like how to get into the kitchens, the trick to the stairs, one or two secret passages. You know, really important stuff like that. It all sounds really cool!" Amane answered rather enthusiastically. Hermione looked quite shocked at that.
"But isn't that against the rules?" she asked wide-eyed. Amane looked thoughtful for a moment.
"No, I don't think so," Amane answered wrinkling her nose. "Besides, why would my Mother tell me if it was? I don't think it matters anyway."
Hermione looked like she was about to protest that abiding the rules was the most important thing at school, along with getting good grades. But the compartment door opened, so she was saved.
"Oh so here you are Amane I. Oh," Ryou entered the compartment, and stopped his sentence dead when he caught site of Hermione.
"Hermione, this is Ryou," Amane introduced not missing a beat.
xxx
Opposite Joey, Harry and Ron Kaiba sat alone in an otherwise empty compartment, glaring at anyone who dared to even think about entering his compartment. As soon as the corridors settled down and the train started moving he grabbed a thick book from his bag and began to read. He had to keep up with his studies if he was to convince Gozaburo that he was at an exclusive boarding school like that weird old man had told them. He had also promised that Mokuba would be fine, so he really had no choice in coming after he had ordered him too. Somehow Kaiba suspected that old man had something to do with it. Though, if Mokuba didn't answer even one of his letters quickly, Kaiba was going back immediately. At the first hint of abuse too, he was gone. That was a promise! Across from him Joey was doing various impersonations of people from his old school, for reasons none of them were sure. He seemed nice, but the impersonations he was doing were kind of mean. He also seemed like a bully.
"Who was that kid who ran away from us?" Ron asked, interrupting Joey.
"Yugi? Well he went to my school and is a bit scared of me for some reason," Joey answered before putting on a higher pitched voice and impersonating him. The answer was truthful, but what he had neglected to mention was that 'some reason.' Ok, so he wasn't officially in the gang yet, but he certainly acted like he was. It hadn't started out that way, but one day, for reasons he had long forgotten he has lost his temper and in his rage Yugi got in the way, so he hit him. Then it was quite accidental, but it soon became a reoccurring thing. No one really cared; the only one who ever tried to be his friend was that girl (Téa wasn't it?) so no one did anything about. He was so quite he had never really thought about it.
'There really is a good reason he ran,' Joey thought, with a very faint trace of guilt.
"Why would he be scared of you?" Harry asked, eyeing him suspiciously a bit. Could Joey really be a bully?
"Well," Joey drew the word out, as if he were thinking. "You know that kid at school no one likes for one reason or another. Yeah, well, that's him. I only moved to his school a few years ago so I don't really know why, but he does seem pretty strange. Keeps to himself mostly," Joey, said indifferently. Ron just nodded and brushed it off, but Harry felt sorry for him, for he knew what it felt like to be that kid no one likes. Without much thought, Harry decided to befriend Yugi also knowing that he wouldn't want pity but a friend.
"So," Joey asked brightly, as if what he hadn't said wasn't at all serious. "Know any good games?"
xxx
The arrival of the lunch trolley in Amane's compartment brought not only lunch but also a rather distressed fellow First Year who had lost his toad. During the morning Hermione decided that she wasn't all that fond of Amane. She was far too outgoing and had a complete disregard for rules and was far too fond of tricks and jokes. Ryou on the other hand she quite liked. He wasn't like his twin; he was shyish and kept her under control. The white faced first year that stood before them was on the verge of tears.
"Ha-have you seen a toad? I've lost mine," he said.
"No, don't think so. But if you want I'll help you look," Hermione said kindly. Ryou, who was next to her nodded.
"What's you name?" Amane asked. "I'm Amane, the boy next to me is my twin, Ryou and that is Hermione." She said pointing out the other two in turn.
"N-n-neville," the boy replied.
"So where did you see him last?" Hermione asked, half kind and half forceful.
"I-I don't know, that's the thing," he replied.
"Maybe he's with the luggage. Which is above our heads. So obviously not. Ummm," Amane said disjointedly, being no help.
"Where have you looked?" Ryou asked. Neville made a vague gesture.
"How about we help you look for him?" Hermione offered. The offer was gladly accepted. So ten minutes later found Hermione and Amane knocking and asking in the compartments while Ryou and Neville searched the corridors. It was Amane who, twenty minutes later, knocked on Yugi's compartment.
"Hello, have you seen a …. Yugi, hi!" she yelled with a grin. "Anyway, toad. Seen one anywhere?" The occupants of the room just blinked at the strange greeting.
"Ah. No?" George said, a tad confused by the statement.
"Why would have we? It's not yours is it?" Fred asked.
"Oh, no, I have a cat. Anywho, the boy, Neville, he's lost one. His," she replied in an over excited rush. She beamed at Yugi. During the weeks she spent with him, although he had said as little as possible, she had become quite fond of him. Though he seemed to get along better with her brother, who could also be quiet at times, once he was over his seeming intimidation of her they got on quite well. For all her faults she is friendly.
"So, this is where you got too after we split up on the station," she continued, addressing Yugi after a pause in which she took a breath. Before she could continue however there was a hesitant knock on the door.
"Ex-ex-excuse me, have you seen a toa… Amane?" a small timid voice asked from the door, before he caught sight of Amane.
"Sorry Neville, I haven't found it, … him yet," Amane said with a smile. "Besides, I thought you were looking through the corridor things." Lee smirked at the twins. They had been talking to each other quietly throughout most of Amane's monologue.
"Oh. Well. I guess I'll continue looking then," Neville said and shyly retreated from the doorway. There was silence in the compartment as the third years tried to make sense of the exchange they had only payed half attention too. Yugi sat indifferently staring out the window, he had gotten use to her strange ways.
"Is it alright if I sit with you?" Amane asked brightly, out of the blue. Lee continued to smirk.
"Sure," George said as Amane went and sat next to Yugi. "I'm George and this stunning person next to me is Fred. As you can tell, I'm the far more stunning twin!" He introduced with a laugh. Amane giggled.
xxx
"Have you seen a…"
"Keep moving."
Hermione asked as an unpleasant brunette, otherwise known as Kaiba, sneered and shut the door on her. Hermione huffed and went to the next compartment. The answer she got from there, while a lot nicer wasn't all that helpful. The pattern was very much the same, until ten minutes later when she knocked on Harry's compartment door.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one," she said for the thousandth time. She looked around the compartment; a scruffy red haired boy had his wand out.
"Oh are you doing magic. Lets see then?" she said as she sat down next to Joey, without waiting for an answer.
"Would it matter if I said no?" Joey asked half unkindly. Hermione glared at him. Ron cleared his throat.
"Sunshine daisy, butter mellow. Turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" he recited then jabbed his wand at the rat. Nothing happened.
"Fred and George swore by it!" he said disappointed. Hermione looked sceptic.
"Are you sure that's a real spell? I've tried heaps and they've all worked for me," she said in a sure-of-herself manner.
"Prove it then!" Joey said roughly.
"Alright then," she said pointing her wand at Harry's nose where his glasses rested. "Occulus repairo." Harry's battered and broken glasses repaired themselves before their eyes.
"Wow," Joey said in awe.
"It's just one of the simple spells I learnt from the text book." She said rather smugly.
"You actually read the text book?" Joey asked in disbelief. She ignored him and got back up.
"You'd better change into your robes, we're almost there," she said as she got up. At the door she turned around and said to Ron; "You've got a bit of dirt. Right here, on your nose. Did you know?" And then walked out.
xxx
After an antagonising month and a fairly interesting train ride, Amane and all her fellow first years were finally at the station, ready for their first year.
"It may look like something now, but soon you'll wish to leave, or feel the desire to blow something up!" Fred said with a wink behind her.
"Why wait? It's never too early to blow stuff up!" Amane said with a grin, her eyes alight.
"Ah you are wise young one," Fred said with a mock bow.
"But now you must go to Hagrid, he's not hard to miss, he's…" George started before interrupted with; 'Hagrid? Really? Why?" from Amane. Yugi was trailing behind them, like a little shadow.
"I take it you've met before then?" Fred said as Amane nodded. "Well he takes all the First Years up to the school."
"Beware of the giant squid though, that's all I'll say," George said with a wink. He then turned to Yugi. "If that kid, or anyone else gets ya, tell us. We can make anyone's life rather uncomfortable for a while."
"Yeah, no matter what house you're in. Though he'll be in Slytherin I'll bet!" Fred said. The twins, while fond of practical jokes, hated bullies. Especially when it was such a small looking First Year. He must have just turned eleven! And with that both of them walked on in the direction of some horseless horse drawn carriages. Amane pivoted around and grabbed Yugi's hand and ran off down the platform, dragging him behind her.
"Come on, we'd better go and find Hagrid," she said, dodging other students as they tore through the crowd. In the distance a voice that had to be Hagrid's was calling, "First Years, First Years this way." When the two got closer they discovered a crowd of small students massed around him.
"Hagrid!" Amane squealed joyfully, penetrating the shy babble of her peers. Ryou's head shot up at the sound of his sister's voice. He sighed. Confidence was something she had never lacked. Neville, who was beside him, almost burst into tears. Apparently they had had as much luck as Hermione and Amane. Hagrid waved at her as he talked to Harry, while Joey and Ron stood further back talking amongst themselves. At least that was until Kaiba came into view and Joey began glaring at him as Ron felt he was talking to a brick wall. Amane sighed and turned to the person next to her. It turned out to be Hermione.
"What's their problem?" she asked, half to herself.
"It's as if they have two conflicting personalities. They just fight all the time," Amane answered aspirated as they waited for Hagrid to tell them what to do. "I really hope they don't end up in the same house! Or at least with me!"
"Oh, so you've encountered them too," Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Amane answered with a sigh, but was unable to continue as Hagrid motioned them to come forward. There was no one but them left on the station.
"Alright First Years, follow me," he said as he led the apprehensive group of eleven year olds to the edge of a great lake. There were small boats, with small lanterns perched at their heads, lined up in the water.
"So that's what they meant by a giant squid," Amane muttered to herself.
"Three to a boat, alright, three. To. A. Boat," he instructed. There was mad scramble to the boats at the waters edge, and in the end Joey, Harry and Ron snared a boat between them. Amane (who was still dragging Yugi behind her) grabbed her brother as well and got a boat between them. Hermione, Neville and another First Year shared a boat and Kaiba glared at anyone who even dared come near the boat he was in. Once all of them were in a boat, Hagrid taking one up by himself, the boats pulled themselves and they set off towards the castle in the distance. Ryou stared straight ahead while Yugi stared unseeingly at the depths below. Amane was looking everywhere and anywhere all at once. She happened to be looking down when a dark shape that looked suspiciously like a squid decided to show off a bit. With a squeal of delight the boat almost capsized. Ryou, who was directly behind his sister, managed to steady the boat as it rocked dangerously, but it was the squid who really saved the day doing what Ryou couldn't by lazily lifting one of it's tentacles to really steady the boat, and another to save Amane from an unexpected dip. It couldn't have been half a minute but to all spectators it happened much slower. And in no time to them the guilty boat was steady and the squid nowhere to be seen.
"If everyone remains sitting in their boat, no one will end up in the lake," Hagrid warned, aiming his stare at Amane, who sheepishly sat back down. The rest of the ride passed uneventfully. Harry, who had been sitting close enough to the spectacle to be splashed, resumed what he was doing before Amane's little show, which was gazing at wonder at the castle. There was not much talking at all among the boats, and very few people felt like it. The night around them contributed wonderfully to the magic in the air. The lights in the castle made it look like something out of their imaginations, something that some dreamed and some dared not. Light and shadow played around them introducing them to their education spectacularly. Hermione seemed unaffected by the magic, as she rattled off facts she had learned from her copy of 'Hogwarts, A History.' As they drew closer to the school the torch light around them illuminated their faces and boats and the dark water beneath them with a half eerie glow. A glow that invited all the First Years in. The dock under the school was lined with torches, dispelling the night around them, while inviting it in. As the new students wandered through the corridor, lead by Hagrid, there was simply not enough time to drink in the sights around them, and the new sensations they felt. No one would ever forget this first night, for one reason or another. Hagrid got out of his boat, holding a toad. With a look around the First Years he asked if it belonged to anyone. Neville's joyful shout was enough for the poor toad to be claimed. That wall sorted Hagrid strode up to a giant oak door that barred anyone from entering. He knocked three times mightily. The door opened to reveal a stern looking woman in emerald green robes.
"This here is Professor McGonagall. She'll be taking ya to the Great Hall to be sorted," and with that Hagrid left the slightly stunned First Years in McGonagall's mercies. The sorting, now that brought out many whispers among the corridor. The unknown test that stood before them and every First Year, even the ones who knew what would be asked of them, was nervous. Whether they admitted it or not. Yugi and Harry, like so many before and after them, stood nervously to one side wondering if they would be good enough? Or was it a mistake they was here?