Notes: Ok, I did kill off the writer's block. That, coupled with the fact that there was no school today, let me write up the rest of the chapter and post it. Anyways, I still haven't decided about Malik. Before, I would have added him sometime during Chapter 3 or 4, but since I'm still researching on how he looks and stuff (I've read SO many fanfics with conflicting information that it's hard to sort out what's actually right and wrong info), he might be introduced on the train ride to Hogwarts (probably Chapter 5). But Malik isn't in this chapter. Keep that info coming!

**Thanks to my reviewers, Serenia, Catherine, Bulan-chan, Rosz of the Angel, AngelsKitten, Kylie Alyssa Potter Kaiba, Alaena Flamestar Dragon, and Silver Angel! You guys rock!**

~*~Thanks to Alaena for telling me stuff about Malik! ^_^ I appreciate it!~*~

Responses:

To Bulan-chan: Déjà vu, eh? Hmm, well I assure you that the plots won't be the same…I think… Thanks for putting me on your Favorite Stories list! ^_^

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Disclaimer: Don't own it. Kazuki Takahashi is one lucky guy…

New Author's Notes: Definitely not many changes to this chapter. I managed to write in a wand scene with Ryou though, because I just realized that Mrs. Weasley wouldn't be able to buy him his wand. ^^;; A bit late to the party, aren't I…so, it's longer, but somewhat rushed.

Chapter 3

Knockturn Alley

Ryou saw various scenes flash by him.

~~Ryou, what the hell are you doing? I will be so humiliated if we get stuck up a fireplace…~~

~Um…I don't know what we're doing, traveling through fire?~

~~I'm not doing anything! If something goes wrong, I refuse to take the blame!~~

~Who said you were going to take it in the first place?~

~~Um…I don't know.~~

~Let's leave it at that.~

The fire had somehow returned to its normal state and color but he still wasn't being burned. Ryou tried to remember all the facts that the Weasleys had told him. He kept his eyes shut, tucked in his elbows, and tried not to fidget. However, that wasn't helped by the fact that the path of fire seemed to be jerking around violently. The only thing he forgot to do…

…was keep his mouth shut. The moment he stepped in, he had somehow started choking on soot that he hadn't even realized was there. Now that their traveling was whipping up something like a soot cloud, he started worrying about how he was going to breath later on.

~~I knew those Weasley people were mental from the start.~~ Bakura scowled.

Ryou was too busy choking to try and find Harry at all. He saw people as he whizzed by, but they were all colorful blurs. Then, somehow, he sped up even more. The soot cloud grew larger, and Ryou promptly fell out of the fire path. The next thing he knew, he was flat on his face. If he had had glasses, they would have been broken in about three seconds. Bakura was laughing at him.

"Where am I?" Ryou grumbled, and picked himself up. Somehow, his sweater had gotten all sooty and dusty. A wrought iron sign read, Knockturn Alley. The display windows in the shop were filled with gruesome things.

~Ew…Bakura, do you have any clue where we are?~

~~I don't know…~~

~Figures you don't know anything the minute I need your help.~

~~You'd better watch your mouth!~~

He started to dust off his sweater. Well, I can at least explore a while here, he told himself. He started to walk around, but he knew he was wasting his time. This place was dark and mysterious, and he probably wouldn't be able to find anything on a Hogwarts supply list even if he searched all day. And this was definitely not Diagon Alley. Besides, he didn't even have his supply list with him.

He strode around quite a bit when he saw a giant, shaggy head towering above the rest of the people. He caught sight of Ryou.

"You, you over there, with the white hair!"

~~If anyone refers to us as the 'kid with the white hair' one more time, I'll banish them to the Shadow Realm!~~

~Bakura…calm down!~

"Hey, anybody in there?" the giant inquired, waving a giant hand in front of Ryou's face. "Hello?"

Ryou snapped back to reality. "Uh, yeah, just…thinking…" He faltered when he looked at the giant. He was huge, and towered over anyone and everyone that was currently making their way through the plaza.

"Good," the giant said loudly. "My name's Hagrid. Well, Rubeus Hagrid, but everyone calls me Hagrid. I'm Keeper of the Keys at Hogwarts. And you?"

"Ryou Bakura," Ryou said. "I'm supposed to be starting Hogwarts, but well, er…"

Hagrid growled. "How did you end up here out of all places? I suppose you were running around Diagon Alley and found the secret way in?"

"Er, no, sir, I was traveling by Floo Powder…"

Hagrid grinned. "That reminds me of the time Harry fell out of the fireplace at the wrong time. Landed exactly where you did, if I'm correct."

Ryou stared. "Which Harry?"

"Harry Potter," Hagrid said loudly, as if that explained everything.

~Isn't that my cousin?~

~~I think so, well he said his name was Harry Potter…~~

"Er…" Ryou began, but Hagrid cut him off.

"Anyways, I gotta get you back to Diagon Alley. You traveling alone?" Hagrid made a motion for Ryou to follow him.

"No, sir, I was staying with a family called the Weasleys, and they were getting here by Floo Powder, and you know the rest…"

Hagrid chuckled. "I know the Weasleys. Hmm…there you go." They were in front of a gigantic, snowy-white building. "Gringotts," he explained. "Wizard bank."

Ryou gulped. Wizard bank? They had a different kind of money?

~~Bank?~~

~Uh…yeah.~

~~I could always steal some for you. Don't underestimate me.~~

~No!~

"Um, sir…I only have regular money…I mean, Muggle money…"

"Don't worry, they have exchange systems," Hagrid winked. "Ah, there they come now."

"Who?" Ryou asked curiously, but Hagrid pointed one finger and Ryou knew. The Weasleys were panicking, running towards him.

"Hagrid!" Harry and Ron, who were somewhat in the lead, yelled.

Mr. Weasley finally reached the two of them. "Molly's frantic, we hoped that you had only gone one grate too far, oh, here she comes now."

Mrs. Weasley ran up to them. "Oh, Ryou dear, we were so worried, are you all right?" She started to frantically brush off the soot on Ryou's sweater.

"Where'd you come out?" Fred asked.

"Um…a place called Knockturn Alley," Ryou said.

"Wow, again?" George exclaimed, grinning at Ryou.

"We still haven't gotten in yet," Fred explained. "We've been trying and trying for years but we've never found the secret path."

"Good riddance!" Hagrid snorted. "Youngsters like you shouldn't be allowed to get in!"

"Again?" Ryou asked.

"Oh, Harry landed in Knockturn Alley a few years ago," Ron explained. Harry grimaced.

"That place was horrible!" he exclaimed.

"You came out in Knockturn Alley?" Mrs. Weasley screeched. "If it weren't for you, Hagrid-"

"Whoa, I'm having a serious case of déjà vu here," George murmured to Fred, who started snickering. Mrs. Weasley glared at the two of them, who put on perfectly innocent faces. Ryou had to stifle a snigger.

"Now, now, Molly, I'm sure Ryou would've been able to take care of himself-"

"That doesn't matter, Arthur, what would have happened if he never found out how to get out of there?" Mrs. Weasley continued with her if-then statements.

"But that's not what happened, Molly, why can't we just put it behind us and get on with our shopping?"

Mrs. Weasley had stopped brushing off Ryou's sweater and was now wringing Hagrid's hand profusely. "If you hadn't found him!" she kept repeating.

Everyone exchanged amused glances.

"Um…she can do that," Mr. Weasley said uncertainly. "Ryou, do you have any Muggle money?"

Ryou nodded.

"I can go exchange that for you if you'd like," he offered. Ryou nodded again and handed over several 100-dollar bills. Amazingly, he seemed fascinated with the money. Or at least, he certainly gave that appearance, staring at the bills all the way up the stairs and until he vanished out of sight into the bank.

"Dad's crazy about Muggle stuff," Ron whispered to Ryou. "He takes them apart, puts them back together again, and takes them apart again. During our second year we found out that he made a flying car."

Ryou stared in shock. "A flying what?"

"Car," Harry said. "They came to the Dursleys' house and pulled me out the window at midnight."

"Wow…" Ryou said. "I'd like to ride in it sometime, if it's possible…"

"Nope," Fred said, sniggering. "The car's currently running wild in the Forbidden Forest somewhere." Seeing the clueless look on Ryou's face, he explained. "The Forbidden Forest is a forest on the Hogwarts grounds that the students aren't allowed to go in."

Ryou nodded. Bakura's attention was pricked, but they didn't mention any more of it, so he went back to doing who-knows-what in his soul room.

"Anyway, I think we'd better start doing the shopping," Mrs. Weasley said hastily, having finally stopped shaking Hagrid's hand.

"Er, well, I'd best be off," Hagrid said quickly. "So I'll see you at Hogwarts."

Everyone nodded. He strode off into the crowd.

"All right, let's start pairing you up…Ron and Harry, you can go together. Fred, George, you can run off and find Lee…I'll take Ginny with me. The adults will get your school stuff," Mrs. Weasley said, looking distracted. "Except Ryou…you need to get your new wand…now where did Arthur run off to…"

~~Wand?~~

~I don't know. We'll see.~

Fred and George screeched, "All right!" and started to run off, but Mrs. Weasley stopped them.

"And not one step down Knockturn Alley!" There were significant groans but they kept going.

"C'mon," Ron motioned to Harry. "Let's go find Hermione, if she's here. Mum's kindly offered to buy all our supplies this time so…we have the day to ourselves."

Harry nodded. Then to Ryou, he said, "Do you think you could find Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor? We'll be there if you can."

Ryou nodded.

"Anything you want to order in particular? My treat," Harry said.

"Not really…"

"Then I'll just order you what we get, is that all right?" Harry asked. Ryou nodded. They left. Ryou followed Mrs. Weasley and Ginny to a shop called Ollivanders.

"Well, this is the best place for wands," Mrs. Weasley said cheerfully.

~I don't know…this place looks ready to fall apart…~

~~Oh relax.~~

An old man emerged from the shadows. "Why hello there Molly. I remember the wand you bought perfectly. Willow, eleven inches, rather swishy, wasn't it? With a hair from the tail of a unicorn?" Mrs. Weasley nodded.

"I'd love to talk more," she said, "but he needs a new wand." She gestured to Ryou.

"Ah, a new customer," Mr. Ollivander said. "Hold our your wand arm, please." He grabbed a tape measurer off a dusty shelf.

"Er-" Ryou stuck out his right arm. "Like this?"

"Right," Mr. Ollivander said, and started measuring his arm, legs, hand, and chest, and basically anywhere else the tape measurer could reach. Then Ryou realized it was measuring itself. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around shelves, taking down seemingly boxes at random.

"Try this one," he said, handing Ryou a wand. "Thirteen and a half inches, elm, with a unicorn hair. Take it and give it a swish."

Ryou tentatively waved the wand around. The wand pulsed red.

"Well, I never!" Mr. Ollivander said, shocked. "That was quick!"

But just then all the mirrors in the shop shattered and the wand glowed black before reverting to its original state. Ryou blinked.

"I guess that's not it," he said, quickly throwing the wand back into the box. "Sorry about that…"

"Mm," Mr. Ollivander said. "Try this one. Twelve inches, oak, and another unicorn hair- from a different one's tail this time."

The wand pulsed yellow. Mr. Ollivander looked at it suspiciously when there was a rather long delay.

Miniature eruptions exploded all throughout the shop, knocking over shelves and shattering windows. Ryou looked horrified. Mrs. Weasley looked ready to faint.

~~Destruction and carnage. Now this is my kind of thing.~~

~YAMIIIII! That's not funny! Do you know how much I'm going to have to pay after this?~

"I suppose not. Try this one- willow, eleven and a half inches, with dragon heartstring," Mr. Ollivander said, unfazed, handing him the wand.

That wand happened to blow a hole right through the roof, causing fireworks to dance above the shop. Ryou could see the people walking around outside stop and admire the sight from the front window.

It went on like this, the wands rampaging the shop, until he finally found a suitable wand- a twelve inch long wand made of maple wood and containing a phoenix feather. Boxes of tried wands were stacked nearly up to the ceiling.

Ryou sighed as he handed over the money for the wand. "I should probably pay you the repair fees for the shop," he said.

"Oh, that's quite all right," Mr. Ollivander said. "Magic is very handy in this kind of situation." And he bowed them from his shop.

They ran into Ron on the way back to Gringotts. Mrs. Weasley looked delighted. "Ron, can you take Ryou with you? He just finished getting his wand."

"Okay," Ron said, looking at Ryou and grinning. Ryou simply followed him to where Harry had bought four double-scoop ice cream cones with sprinkles and nuts, and was passing them around. They seated themselves at an outdoor table. Ryou was sitting closest to the gate, so it wasn't any wonder that he heard some very strange conversation going on behind him.

"I'm telling you, that guy was as easy to squash as Weevil was at Duelist Kingdom! There is something very wrong about him…"

Ryou listened closely.

"Yeah, well, are you sure you just haven't gotten better?"

"No, I'm telling you that something is up with that guy! He said he was the most recent Intercontinental Dueling Champion!"

"Looks like Bandit Keith's title has just been eliminated…"

"Hey, Ryou, you ok? You're being really quiet," Ron said.

"Er…I'm fine, just…eavesdropping on some people's conversation," Ryou said.

Ron and Harry grinned. "Yeah, Fred and George do that a lot."

"That has got to be the longest duel I ever played in my life!" came a voice behind Ryou. He started listening again. "I even almost ran out of cards!"

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, and after I pulled my last card, the guy just sort of…let me win. It was like he was just playing to see which cards were in my deck!"

"Why would they want to do that?"

"I don't know."

That was it. Ryou had heard enough to guess who these people were. He slowly swiveled around to see who the people were.

They saw him.

"RYOU!"

Okay…that was a strange chapter. More like one of those 'fill-in-the-blank' sort of chapters that lead up to what's actually interesting. But I don't know if there's school the next day and if I wait to put up this chapter, I might not get to putting it up for a long time. Anyway, thanks to Alaena AGAIN for telling me stuff about Malik. If anybody else can spare the info, I'd be very glad. R+R! I'm surprising myself with the rate that I'm putting these chapters up…wow…

Anyway, this chapter was 7 pages long. And one of the more important parts was that 'conversation' that Ryou was eavesdropping on. Read my bio for the due date for Chapter 4 of Harry Potter and the Duel Monsters!