Calai'di–Well, I figured out that double slashes aren't working so I have a new key (hopefully it'll work):
{Ryou's thoughts}
{{Bakura's thoughts}}
[Yugi's]
[[Yami's]]
Oh, and I'd already had this chapter written by the time I read those last reviews, so, sorry Pyro-At-Heart, but those weren't the houses I put those two in and I wanted to post the next three chaps as soon as possible. Maybe next time.
Chapter 7: New Teachers, Old Allies
Ryou had to hurry to catch up with the others and he was almost to late. By the time he was off the train, Yugi and Malik were all ready standing by Hagrid among a lot of pre-teens about the same height as Yugi. Ryou met up with them just as the giant began to walk away.
"We're supposed to follow Hagrid," Yugi told him. "He's going to take us to the castle."
"What about Harry and the others?" Ryou asked as they approached a lake.
"They're going a different way, but all first years have to go with Hagrid."
"What does he think about the way we're chosen for our Houses?" Ryou asked as they got into a boat with Hagrid. The boats started off on their own across the lake.
"He's okay with it, but I'm worried about his history. What if the hat decides that his past evils outweigh recent accomplishments?"
"I think you'll be okay. It's me and Malik I'm worried about. Especially if Bakura tries what I think he going to try."
"Which is…"
"He's going to act as innocent as me, maybe more so, I doubt it'll work."
Their conversation was interrupted when the boat suddenly entered an ivy-covered tunnel and they were thrown into darkness. A few minutes later when their eyes had adjusted, they arrived at a sort of underground harbor where the boats docked, and they all got out; Hagrid quickly checked each boat to make sure no one had left anything, then led them up a dark passageway until they emerged at ground level. The castle stood tall above them, blocking out the light from the full moon. Hagrid led them up a set of stone step to a large, oak door and, after checking that everyone was still there, knocked upon it three times. The door opened to reveal a very stern looking woman dressing in emerald green robes.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid as he stepped aside. The woman's face seemed to soften slightly as she looked them over, her eyes pausing briefly on Ryou and Malik (Yugi could barely be seen standing amid the younger students).
"Thank you Hagrid. First years, follow me please."
She led them through the door into a giant hall that could have easily held a small house inside it and to another door through which they could hear a steady drone of voices, where she stopped and faced the students.
"Now, before the start-of-term banquet can begin, you must all be sorted into your houses. Your house will be like your family during your stay here at Hogwarts, and each has its own noble history and...reputations. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. I hope that each of you will be an asset to whichever house you are out in." For some reason, her eyes lingered on Ryou and Malik again, and they had a feeling that she knew about what had happened with Malfoy. "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."
As soon as she was gone, most of the students started whispering amongst each other. The three teens felt very uncomfortable standing amid people so many years younger than themselves, and they were very relieved when Professor McGonagall returned a few minutes later.
"Will you please form a line and follow me? Oh–" she stared right at the new sixth years– "will you three please stay at the back of the line? You will be introduced separately."
Yugi, Ryou, and Malik hung back as the other first years formed a line in front of them, and then all of them followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall. Four long tables stood the length of the hall, one for each house (they could make out Harry and his friends at the furthest left table), and facing them was another table where the teachers sat; Ryou could see that Isis was already sitting there patiently for the sorting to begin. In front of the table was a stool with a very tattered, old wizard's hat sitting upon it. The first years and Yugi&co filed silently into the hall and waited for something to happen. After about a minute, a rip formed above the brim of the hat, and it broke into song about the four houses. To say the first years (all of them) were startled would be an understatement. Yugi looked like he would faint at the prospect of putting a living hat on his hair, and Malik didn't look to thrilled either, though his reason was because of the hat looking I his head, not about it being alive. When it had finished, Professor McGonagall stood next to it and held a scroll up in front of her.
"Now, when I call your name, you are to come up here, place the hat on your head, and sit on the stool to be sorted," she called. "Adranier, Joseph!"
After a few moments the hat called out, "SLYTHERIN!" The shivering boy pulled the hat and scuffled off to sit at the cheering Slytherin table.
"Alexander, Alicia!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Ryou zoned out about here, drew himself back into his soul room, and sat down on the bed, waving aside one of the fake ghosts floating about. He didn't have a plan, but he knew that he didn't want to be in Slytherin; Malfoy would make his life a living hell, and he wanted to avoid that. Sighing, he glanced up at the bright doorway and noticed Bakura was there, watching him. Ryou quickly got to his feet again; his yami didn't like to see him acting 'weak'.
"She's nearly done with the midgets," Bakura commented as Ryou walked closer. "You might want to take control again."
"Thank you," Ryou said, and he walked into the hall between their soul rooms and took control just as "Zimmerman, Allie" was made a Slytherin. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and glanced around the hall, trying to get the students' attention; most of the students, however, where now staring at the three new sixth years. Ryou didn't know when he'd been more self-conscious.
"Now, we have three new sixth years joining us this year," Professor McGonagall announced to draw attention back to herself. "They have come from foreign country to study here. I want you all to treat them with as much respect as you would any other student. Bakura, Ryou from Domino City, Japan!"
Ryou stumbled forward, completely aware that eyes were following him, placed the hat on his head, and sat down. After a short time, he heard a small voice in his head that he assumed came from the hat.
"This is an interesting mind," said the voice. "I see an interest in the occult, supernatural, darkness...I could go on. I also see that more than one spirit resides here. This other spirit has a very dark mind, no matter how innocent he is trying to make himself appear."
{{Damn, it didn't work.}}
{I thought you said it would!}
The hat continued, "You have several house qualities, though most point to–"
Not Slytherin, please not Slytherin, Ryou thought desperately before the hat could say it.
{{Not Slytherin, absolutely not.}} Bakura echoed.
"Not Slytherin, eh? I've heard that once before. And the other spirit doesn't want it either... Ravenclaw would be another good house for you. However..." The hat was silent for a few moments. "Judging by your past, I would say GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat shouted the last word for the rest of the hall to hear. Ryou breathed a relieved sigh that was echoed by Bakura, silently thanked the hat, and walked over to the cheering table to sit next to Harry.
"Ishtal, Malik from Cairo, Egypt!"
Malik strode up to the stool with a mask of confidence, though he did look apprehensive as he put the hat on.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat cried after about a second.
"What?!" exclaimed a voice from the Slytherin table. It was Malfoy.
"What?!" Malik exclaimed once he'd recognized the voice. But no one cared whether the two didn't want to be in the same house; most of the Slytherins clapped anyway. Malik scuffled to a seat by the first years, muttering under his breath the whole time, as far away from Malfoy as he could get.
"Mutou, Yugi from Domino City, Japan!"
Yugi shuffled up to the stool, manipulated his hair a bit, and shakily put the hat on his head.
"Ah, another unusual situation," said a small voice in his head. "Both of you are will to do anything for a friend, I see. Very strategic minds, courageous, determined. This second spirit, however...is not so innocent."
[I was afraid of this.] Yugi said quietly.
[[No, Yugi, it'll be all right.]]
"Also very self-confident, too much if you ask me. No matter, I know exactly where to put you two. GRYFFINDOR!"
Yugi smiled and walked over to the Gryffindor table to join his friends.
Harry couldn't help noticing how nervous each of the foreigners looked, both before and while they had the hat on. it was like they didn't want the hat to look in their heads. This was only the latest in a series of strange circumstances involving these students, and Harry didn't like being left in the dark; he was going to find out something, anything, about them.
The hall suddenly grew silent as Dumbledore got to his feet.
"I would like to give the start-of-term announcements before we eat so that you can go to bed without thinking about anything else.
"First of all, Mr. Filch would like me to remind you that there is to be no magic used in the halls, nor should there be any forbidden items, which now include Portable Swamps and Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-Bangs. (A loud groan cloud be heard throughout the hall) To see the full list, please consult Mr. Filch's office door, where it is now plastered and fireproofed.
"I would personally like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is still forbidden, as the name suggests, as is Hogsmede to all under third year. Quidditch trials will be held the second week of term, so I invite as many of you as possible to try out, as every house team seems to have at least one vacancy.
"Now, I am pleased to announce that we have two new teachers joining our ranks this year. Unfortunately, Firenze had to leave on personal matters and will not be returning this year. However, our dear Professor Trelawny has been rehired and will be teaching third through fifth year Divination, and joining her will be Miss Isis Ishtal from Cairo, Egypt, who will be teaching Divination for sixth and seventh year students."
Very few students actually applauded when Isis stood up and bowed; those who did included Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, and those who had been in her compartment on the train.
"Our second new teacher, also from Egypt, will be filling the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and wishes only to be known as Shadi."
At first, they didn't see anyone in the usual DADA teacher's spot, but after a second, a figure appeared through the wall behind it. Harry nearly jumped out of his seat with surprise. The figure was dressed in long, pale robes, a turban covered the top of his head, and a large, golden ankh hung from a cord around his neck; not only that, but he was walking right through anything that stood in his way. He was a ghost! What's more, he looked a lot like Professor Quirrell. Harry sank unhappily into his chair.
He wasn't the only one unhappy to see Shadi. Malik had never forgiven the other Egyptian for scaring him when he was little and setting him on the wrong path; besides, Malik didn't need a reason to hate someone anyway. Bakura hissed, "Priest" and a few rude words upon Shadi's arrival; Ryou didn't ask him anything about it, as the yami disliked stupid questions.
Yugi and Yami, however, were excited; Shadi was the only person they knew, besides the Ishtals, that knew anything about the Millennium Items and Yami's past. It would be great if, while they were at the same place, Shadi would tell him a bit more than all the destiny crap he'd ever gotten before; Shadi was unpredictable, but hopefully he wouldn't deny his Pharaoh what was asked for.
Shadi got more applause than Isis on arrival, though that might have been because of his entrance. Harry noticed that Malfoy hadn't lifted a finger since he'd sat down, and it wasn't surprising.
"I believe those are all the announcements," Dumbledore said. "Let the feast...begin."
Instantly, food appeared on the dishes in the middle of the table and most everyone started piling it onto their plates. Yugi stared apprehensively at the food, not knowing what might be safe to eat and what might not be, until he noticed a couple of bowls of noodles, fish, and soup; traditional Japanese food. He happily filled his plate up with the familiar food, then stared at Ryou's plate, which was loaded with stuff Yugi wouldn't have touched.
"How can you eat that?" Yugi asked as Ryou shoved a fork full into his mouth.
The paler boy swallowed and answered, "Yugi, I'm half-British. Give me a break, I know what I'm eating."
"And I'll bet it tastes really good, doesn't it?" asked a voice from behind Ron. The looked up to see a ghost dressed in Renaissance-type clothes staring longingly at the food they were eating. Ron jumped about a foot in the air and choked on his food.
"Nick! Blimey, don't sneak up on people like that! You nearly gave me a heart-attack!"
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to meet the new sixth years, and you happened to be there." The ghost held out a see-though hand and announced, "My name is Sir Nicholas de Mimsey-Porpington, or as these older students like to call me–" he glared down at Ron– "Nearly Headless Nick. I'm the resident Gryffindor ghost."
Ryou, being the most comfortable in situation like this, reached up and attempted to take the ghost hand, though his own passed right through. "Ryou Bakura. Um, if you don't mind me asking, how is it you're nearly headless?"
"Oh no, everyone wants to see that. I'm used to it." Nick pulled on his left ear and his head fell onto his shoulder, held on only by about a centimeter of skin and sinew. Yugi looked appalled, but Ryou thought it was the neatest thing in the world. As Nick put his head upright again, Ryou exclaimed, "That was…you are so cool!"
"Thank you," Nick answered. He probably hadn't had anyone say that in his whole life, either one. "Well, I'll see you all later, I expect." He floated away to talk to some of the other Gryffindor students.
{{We're going to have to introduce him to the Headless Knight...}} Bakura said thoughtfully.
{Yami!!! We don't need to introduce anyone to anything!!!}
{{Maybe Malfoy...}}
A little while later, Yugi got a thoughtful look on his face, then asked, "Harry, what is Quidditch?"
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise, swallowed his mouthful of food, and said, "Quidditch is the most popular wizards' sport, and it's played on broomstick up in the air. I play Seeker on the Gryffindor team...which reminds me, I'll have to find out who the captain is this year. Anyway, if you want to find out more, you could look in the library for Quidditch Through the Ages."
"Hey Harry, I'll bet Katie's the captain this year," Ron said.
"Yeah, I just hope she's better than Angelina was last year."
"Hey, you can't blame her for acting like that. You got detention every other week."
"It wasn't my fault! If Umbrige had just accepted the truth when I told her...!"
Yugi and Ryou glanced at each other, already knowing that this argument could go on forever. Then Ryou glanced back at the Slytherin table to where Malik was sitting, glumly eating his food. Yugi noticed and said, "Do you think he'll be all right?"
"I don't know. With Malfoy in the same house...they're not exactly friends are they? But with Isis here..."
"That didn't work last time, remember?" Ryou glared at him. Of course he didn't remember; he was either possessed or out cold during that part of Battle City. "It's Rishid that matters, not Isis," Yugi continued.
"I wish he was in our house," Ryou muttered, staring down at his plate.
"Malik didn't seem like the Slytherin type," interjected Hermione, who been listening to most of the conversation. "But I don't know him as well as you, so maybe I'm wrong."
Yugi also stared down at his plate. "He isn't now, but...a little while ago he would have been the perfect Slytherin..." Yugi grew silent, and Hermione had feeling it wasn't something he wanted to talk about.
Eventually, everyone had eaten as much as they could and the food disappeared; then, a moment later, desserts appeared in their place and most dished up their plates again. Ryou, who never had much of an appetite anyway, and Yugi, however, didn't touch the desserts, as they were already too full.
And then, at last, the desserts disappeared as well, and people began to get up from the tables and head to their dorms. Yugi and Ryou walked up to the head table to meet with Isis, and they joined by Malik, who was eager to leave his housemates.
As soon as they came within hearing distance, Isis announced, "Professor Dumbledore would like for us to meet with him in a few minutes, Shadi included." She noticed her brother's unhappy expression and added, "I'm sure it's all for the best, Malik. You'll be safer if Shadi's here–"
"It's always about my 'safety' isn't?!" Malik exclaimed angrily. "My safety around other people! You don't want him to show up and kill anyone! It's not about my safety at all, it never is! It's about other people's!"
About half of the remaining students turned and stared up at them, most wearing worried expressions. Yugi hurriedly tried to calm his friend down.
"Malik, it's not like that! Your sister's just worried about you, that's all. She doesn't want you to get hurt."
"I'll bet. That's why he's here," Malik growled, pointedly referring to Shadi. The spirit shook his head.
"No, Malik, that is not why I am here," Shadi argued. "I am here because Professor Dumbledore requested that I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Malik didn't answer and turned his back on the other Egyptian. Yugi and Ryou sighed simultaneously; this would not be an easy year with both Malfoy and Shadi on Malik's bad side.
"Um, Shadi, do you think you can tell my other self any more about his past while you're here?" Yugi asked.
"In time, I am sure I can. Now, perhaps we should find Professor Dumbledore and see what he wants to ask us about."
