Disclaimer: Not mine. I don't think, anyways…maybe it is? Nah…
Summary: Ryou visits his father in England, and Bakura wanders somewhere he shouldn't. Set after book Four!
:Ryou to Bakura:
:Bakura to Ryou :
Sorry for the wait! I just have been so busy with college lately! I'm SORRY!
8/4/06
Vampires in London
Chapter 4
Bakura followed McGonagall into Diagon Alley to get his school supplies. He glanced about, bored and slightly irritated with the looks he was receiving. He didn't look THAT out of place, did he? Come on! They were walking around in cloaks and all that. With a sigh, he ignored them and tried to concentrate on how he was going to go to Hogwarts and still keep Ryou happy at the same time.
Ryou solved that nicely for him in the next moment.
:BAKURA: Came the screech through the mind-link. Bakura barely restrained a yelp of shock, twitching violently and attracting even more stares.
:Ryou! Don't DO that: he howled down the mind-link.
:Oh…sorry. Wasn't thinking. Guess what: He asked, sounding so excited that he was probably jumping up and down wherever he was at.
:You know I despise guessing games. What: He snapped back, rubbing his temples to ease off the headache Ryou's first shout had brought on.
"Are you alright, Mr. Bakura?"
The silver haired spirit glanced up, and nodded curtly to Professor McGonagall. She nodded back and led him to some store that sold cauldrons, and he absently followed. Ryou was speaking again, so he paid more attention to his hikari than his surroundings.
:Well…Father and I were talking…and I told him about the school you're going to…not that it's a MAGIC school, but I said a private school…which is close. Anyways, he said I could go: Ryou exclaimed happily. He really, REALLY didn't want to be separated from his yami.
:Ryou…there might be a problem with that…it's invitation only.: He felt his light's extreme disappointment, and hurried to remedy it. :But I was able to get in, maybe I can get you in too.: He said hastily.
:Thank yami: Ryou cheered.
"Excuse me, Ma'am?" Bakura began as they left the store with a new cauldron in tow. Professor McGonagall turned and looked at him.
"Yes?" she asked.
"My…brother. I want him to come to the school too. He has magic as well." Bakura said, crossing mental fingers that it'll work.
"Now, I'd have to ask Professor Dumbledore about that, but once again, I don't think it would be a problem. We at Hogwarts don't like to turn away students with talent that wish to learn." The Professor said, and continued on her way.
Bakura relayed the information to Ryou, who positively squealed in happiness.
"Let's go ahead and buy supplies for your brother as well. If Dumbledore says no, which I don't think he will, you will just have extra, which wouldn't hurt." Professor McGonagall said, and Bakura happily agreed.
:I'm coming to the Inn, yami. When I get there, I'll find you! I'm so excited: Ryou shouted, barely able to speak coherently.
:Fine, fine. Don't trip over your own feet now, rushing like you are.: Bakura shot back, teasingly.
:Yami! I don't trip over my own shoes! That's a Joey thing…: Ryou muttered, and Bakura mentally (and nearly physically) cracked up into laughter.
And the shopping continued on to the book store, where they bought double of everything. About the time Bakura was handing over the money, (and lamenting on the fact that his stolen cash was dwindling quickly), he was suddenly hugged/tackled by a flying blur of blue.
"Kura!" Ryou cheered, hugging him tightly…and making him turn slightly blue in the face.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, and Ryou hastily jumped up and bowed to her, blushing madly. Bakura staggered to his feet, breathing deep breaths of fresh, life-giving air.
"Ryou Bakura, Ma'am. Pleasure." He said, bowing.
"Professor McGonagall." She replied in turn, before turning a bit more serious. "How did you get in Diagon Alley without a wand?" she asked.
Ryou blushed again, fumbling for an answer. "Well…uh…some other people went through and I kind of tagged along, sort of." He mumbled.
"Hmm…and, another question. You say you are Bakura's brother. Are you a vampire as well?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Well…not exactly. I'm sort of…um, it's difficult to explain…" Ryou began. Bakura sighed and took over the conversation.
"He's a relative. Future relative, you see. If I hadn't been made a vampire, we wouldn't have met, because I'd be dead, yes? Or deader…well you know what I mean. We say we're brothers because that's the easiest thing to say." Bakura lied smoothly, and Ryou once again marveled at his abilities. Lying did come in handy sometimes, he had to admit.
"I see. Well, I thought it prudent to ask, as the Headmaster will probably wish to know." McGonagall said, before leading the two over to get Ryou a wand.
"Ah…another one." Mr. Ollivander said, eyeing Ryou, who gulped and hid slightly behind Bakura.
"Yes. Could you perhaps get him a wand as well?" The Professor asked.
"But of course. Now let's see…" the strange man mumbled, disappearing into the back of the room.
"Holly, dragon heartstring, slender but sturdy." He proclaimed, handing the wand to Ryou, who accepted it hesitantly.
Shrieks filled the room and sparks jetted out, and Ryou hastily dropped it, as Bakura doubled over in laughter.
"No, no, not that one. Let's see…ah! Maple, Unicorn, nice for charms." He handed this one to Ryou, who after the last wand was vaguely frightened of trying anymore, but took it after only a moments hesitation.
The wand emitted a shower of sparks that transformed into white flower petals that drifted serenely down, like blossoms from a cherry tree in full bloom. The petals disappeared when the hit the ground, leaving a faint scent of…peaches? Better not think on that too much…
"Yes, that is the one for you. Six galleons please." Mr. Ollivander said, smiling at Ryou who grinned hesitantly back. Bakura paid for the wand, and they left for the next store.
"Robes! Do we have enough money, Bakura?" Ryou asked worriedly.
"We have enough." Bakura said curtly, glaring slightly. He had been systematically looting as they shopped, and still had a suitable amount.
"If you run out, I'm sure we can find something to do." The Professor said without turning around. The two new students behind her glanced at each other, and continued into the store.
They went in and got fitted for robes, and as they were about to leave, they ran into the three kids from earlier.
"Professor McGonagall!" Hermione greeted, before turning to Ryou and Bakura. "Hello, nice to see you again! And I believe we've met before, although I don't remember your name." She said, first to Bakura and then to Ryou. Harry and Ron had to give her points for talking to them, after the last time they saw Bakura.
"Ryou. I'm Ryou." Ryou said, bowing slightly. "I'm Bakura's…well, consider me a brother." He said, lowering his eyes slightly.
"Brother? Are you a vampire too?" Ron put in, looking between the two curiously. They were twins, to his eyes.
"No. I'm a future relation, but due to him being a vampire, we are together. Consider us brothers." Ryou said, restating the fact.
"Alright, brothers you are. Man, you two could be twins!" Ron said. "Two of my brothers are twins." He said, smiling. Ryou smiled softly back, as the small group walked towards the final store, Potion Supplies.
As they went in and gathered their necessary items, Ryou and Bakura they're beginning sets, Harry, Ron, and Hermione to refresh their old supplies, Ryou chattered with the three friends happily.
Ryou was incredibly curious about wizard life, magic, Quidditch, and everything else. Hermione was positively beaming as she discovered a fellow like-minded person in Ryou. Professor McGonagall left Ryou and Bakura with Harry and the others, now that their supplies were bought, and left to go find Dumbledore to inform him of Ryou. The group headed to go get ice cream and continue their chat.
Bakura ignored them, happy his light was happy, but that was all. However, when Ryou asked about why everyone seemed nervous and even scared, he paid close attention. The three were subdued, and looked about uneasily.
"Well…you see…" Hermione began, "It kind of deals with Harry here, he should tell you." She finished, mumbling.
"Gee thanks Hermione." Harry muttered to her. "Well…it's like this…" and he proceeded to tell them everything starting from the beginning, his own parents. It was a touchy subject, but he figured they'd find out anyways, and better from him than someone who didn't know it all correctly.
"Wow…" Ryou said when Harry had finished. "Man, I'm sorry. The only person I know who's had worse than that is…" He trailed off, blushing, but the three caught his quick glance towards Bakura, who was suddenly stone faced. "But never mind about that. What about the teachers?" Ryou said, quickly trying to change the subject.
The three noticed, but decided to continue the conversation on the different subject. Hermione latched onto the new subject.
"Well…they're always Professor McGonagall, who you two have already met. She's the Head of Gryffindor House, and the Transfiguration Professor." She began, and Ron jumped in.
"Yeah…and Snape, who's in charge of Slytherin. Slimey gits." Ron muttered.
"He's also the Potions Professor too, Ron." Hermione said disapprovingly. Ron waved a hand dismissively, as if that was a minor fact.
"Then there's Flitwick, Ravenclaw's Head. He's the charms teacher. I think you'll like him. Um…Hagrid! How could we forget Hagrid? He's the Gameskeeper and Care of Magical Creatures Professor. He's also a really good friend of ours." Hermione continued, counting them off on her hands.
Bakura lost interest again, zoning off in his own little world. He remained that way until Ryou notified him that they were heading back to the inn. The school started in two days, and they were going to head with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the train station.
As it was, tomorrow they got to meet the other people that were staying at the inn with Harry and the others: Ron's family. They will also be the ones who took them to the train station.
Tomorrow should be interesting.
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Thanks to all reviewers, especially for sticking with me in my…er…absence: koinu27, Fai Serphlose, Ryou's Cat, Kitroku, Bluemoon4sphinx, HAUNTED, shadowyoukokitsune, Tarot, yami maniac.