Notes: This chapter isn't a Seto-oriented as I hoped but I still think it's one of the best, from here on the story will focus on the CEO mainly.

And just for all of you who were wondering about the Sennen Rod, I have one thing to say: Who said it's actually going to be use on anyone? Its uses will become apparent very soon…

Well, thanks again for the wonderful reviews, and I hope you enjoy his chap! Cheers!

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Turmoil

By Kaitourei

Chapter Five: Unpleasant Arrivals

"Great… Out with one Deatheater, in with another. You'd think the Ministry would want You-Know-Who to win."

- Fred Weasly

The weather outside Hogwarts castle betrayed the feelings of the remaining students. It seemed ironic that their first day and first day off was to be rained out. Heavy, pounding showers and even occasional hail shattered the hopes of any outdoor activities for the students, and for those who did decide to venture into the chaotic climate were given a tongue lashing and detentions courtesy of Filch the Hogwarts caretaker.

From the Gryfindor common room Ron Weasly sat begrudged near a window, glaring at the cold rain. "It is unnatural, I tell ya, Hermione," He repeated over and over. "Rain like this never comes this hard… even if it is September! Summer's not even over!"

"Over on not, you're doing no good just sitting here," the curly haired girl shot back.

Ron rolled his eyes. "And what do you suggest? Read?"

"Well," Hermione opened her mouth. "It may be the only thing worth while you'll do. We are in our fifth year, two years away from graduation Ron, I'd hate to see you fail now."

This caused Ron too look up from the miserable weather. "What are you implying somthing, Hermione?"

Seeing that the two were beginning to clash again, Harry looked up from his position on one of the various chairs. "Just look at this weather as a way to warm up those chess skills, Ron," he said with a smile. "I'm sure I've improved some. Maybe even enough to bet you once or twice."

"Beat me?" Ron looked skeptical. "I'll have you know, I've been practicing all summer. I'm probably ten times better than before."

Hermione looked up from her book. "All summer? So that's what you do. I've been brushing up on my spells, in fact I've checked out a few seventh-year books already - " She stopped upon seeing her friend's face. "Are you all right? You look a little pale, Harry?"

"I'm okay," Harry said, unsure to tell his friends about the dream he'd had he night before. He'd write Sirius when another owl came, atleast that way he'd know Hedwing would have no chance of getting lost – not that, that was a problem before. "I'm just a little tired, you know first day jitters."

"I wouldn't blame ya," Ron said walking over and clapping his friend on the back. "We all know what happened last year."

That was enough said and the conversation fell silent. Harry looked away, remembering again, last year's tragedy and his near death experience. Voldemort, he knew, wouldn't be messing around anymore – the Dark Lord was back and had a body of his own.

"What's with the long faces?" Fred Weasly came up to the trio. There was mud on his shoes and the hems of his robes.

Hermione was the first to speak, rolling her eyes in the process, "Don't tell me you went outside in this weather." Harry and Ron exchanges glances, not sure to snicker or question the twin's sanity.

"Can't say we didn't," George popped up beside his brother. "An' we got a sneak peak at the new student."

"New student?" Ron asked.

"Yes," Hermione said matter-of-factly. "Dumbledore mentioned it last night at the sorting. Weren't you listening?"

"Well so-rry if I was a little preoccupied," Ron defended. "You know how I feel about the food here!"

Hermione would have replied if George hadn't cut her off, "Well are we going to welcome our esteemed future classmate in or what?"

"Right," Harry said, wanting to break the tension between Hermione and Ron. "C'mon I'm pretty hungry myself."

"Yeah," Ron said hotly. "Let see this so called 'esteemed future classmate'. Bet he's a dark wizard, like the article said."

The group headed out of the common room, grabbing their coats on the way. A cold breeze flew through the corridor and into the common room as they stepped out from behind the portrait of the fat lady. Shouts of "Close that door!" and "Where'd that wind come from?" could be herd within the Gryfindor common room.

"'Bout time you all woke up!" Fred called before the portrait slammed closed.

"So?" Hermione inquired. "What does this new student look like?"

"Interested gin him already, eh?" George gave her a friendly wink. "We'll he's tall for starters."

"And he's about as cold as the weather," Fred added. "The way he talked to Hagrid you'd think he was a professor!"

"Speaking of Hagrid, the poor guy had to practically wrestle away the suitcase the guy was holding."

Ron snorted, expressing the other two's feelings as well. "Sounds like Malfoy all over again."

What awaited them would not be the best way to start the already ruined morning. As they turned a corner in the ever-winding halls, an infamous chuchle met their ears. Draco Malfoy stood blocking the hall, his flunkies nowhere in sight. He had apparently been waiting for the five to round the bend.

"You know," Draco said smugly. "If you want to talk behind someone's back I suggest you do it when they cannot hear you."

Harry knew that game face. Malfoy was too smug. Something was would happen and he doubted it would be good. Hermione dug an elbow into his side, nodding her head toward a dark figure approaching in the hall diagonally from them. He squinted through his glasses but he couldn't make out the face. Harry shrugged and moved to break up the fight that was waiting to happen.

"Well," Ron remarked fiercely. "You're advice stinks Malfoy."

"Getting a little bold, aren't ya Malfoy?" Fred added in the same tone. "Insulting us with out your bodyguards and such. Not to afraid of what we could do to you, eh?"

"THAT IS ENOUGH!" A powerful voice projected from the said hall.

With a flurry of robes and pale hair, Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, came hurdling toward them with fire in his stone cold eyes. He stopped and looked form Harry to Ron and the twins – skipping Hermione completely. His eyes narrowed and rested on Harry for the time being.

"Please explain to me what is going on here?" Lucius asked with malice.

"Why should we?" George said in Harry's place. "And better yet, what's a sleaze ball like you doing here during school hours? Shouldn't you be with your cartel of dark wizard planning world domination or something?"

 "Hasn't my son told you?" Lucius' pale lips curled into a sneer and his gaze snapped to Draco, who looked as smug as his father. It was like a pair of shoes, one just like the other.

"Told us what?" Hermione asked for all of the five.

Draco came forward his smirk broadening with every step. "I would have mentioned it on the train if that oaf of an Auror hadn't cut in," the blonde began. "You see it's very simple Granger: my father is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Appointed by Fudge, the Minister of Magic, himself."

"What?"

The response was unanimous. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged worried glances. What a way to start the year, yet another class had fallen into the pro-Slytherin theme. Potions was enough, now even Defense Against the Dark Arts was to be a hellhole, thriving with malice all aimed at Harry and his fellow friends.

"Great," Fred said dryly. "Out with one Deatheater, in with another. You'd think the Ministry would want You-Know-Who to win."

"You're out of line, Weasly," Lucius' didn't look insulted. "Threatening my son and fellow classmate is one thing, but accusing me of being a Deatheater is another matter. I was appointed his task by the Ministry and I don't feel they would send a Deatheater into the school."

"That's if they knew you were one," George reasoned. While Harry, Ron, and Hermione stayed silent waiting for the scene to play out.

Lucius wasn't phase. Instead he look the Weasly twins up and down, eyes falling on their muddied robes. "I don't know if it's customary for Weaslys to sent their children to school with such appalling robes, but from the dampness I'd speculate you two were outside… against the caretaker's wishes."

"What do you care about Filch anyway?" Ron asked, sticking up for his older brothers. "He's just a squib!"

"Rules are rules, Mr. Weasly," Lucius said addressing Ron. "They must be carried out." He glanced briefly as Harry, Ron, and Hermione, "Consider this your only warning, any more folly and you'll be joining your friends in detention. Now if you three will proceed to the great hall, I'll write your friends here a few detentions."

With a curt nod, Lucius Malfoy motioned for the twins to follow him. Harry and his friends turned away, after waving a brief goodbye, and headed for the great hall. Draco, who was still silent, smirked once more before heading toward the hall. He didn't have to say anything, the silence proved his point. Without a word the trio walked toward their destination, quite aware that Malfoy was behind them, with an air of disgust, displeasure, and despair.

Upon reaching the hall, Malfoy departed and the Gryffindors were left to express their feeling in most interesting ways. Ron racked off a few curses while Harry and Hermione slumped down onto the benches and awaited the ceremonies. Their housemates looked back and forth from one to the other – unsure of what to ask.

"You're looking a little green, Harry," Neville Longbottom said with worry.

"What's wrong?" Seamus Finnegan added.

Ron's eyes blazed with flames. "What's wrong?! What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong! The Ministry of Magic is letting us down, that's what's wrong! I can't believe they'd let that bloody son of a - " Harry didn't bother stopping him.

"The point is," Hermione said, lifting her head form her arms. "Lucius Malfoy is our new DADA professor!"

The words spilled through the great hall like venom, although the Slytherin table seemed to be very immune to the contagion.

"That is bad…" Neville said after a brief silence, "Very bad."

---

Once Kaiba had escaped the cab of doom and given the driver a small tip, telling him he could "use it to better his driving" there was another problem awaiting him. Getting on to the train had been harder than the CEO expected, but easier than Hagrid had implied. Kaiba had found himself feeling very suspicious and - as much as he hated to admit it to himself – stupid when he stood between the ninth and tenth gates wondering where the nine and three-fourths gate was. He had even considered turning and heading back to Domino, dismissing the whole "magic" world as a cruel joke he actually fallen for.

 But upon further thought, Kaiba speculated since this world was "magical" there would be some "magical" way to enter. When he had finally decided to walk into the wall, like the Hagrid had advised it was nearly two minutes to departure. He made it through in one piece, that was safe to say atleast. Although walking through a wall was a different experience for Seto Kaiba he doubted it would be the last.

The train ride had been uneventful, to say the least. He found himself typing most of the time: an email to Mokuba, a quick check on his stocks, a quick speed-read report of the company, and such. The landscape went by unnoticed, it wasn't until the train stopped did he actually notice it. As he looked over the green rolling hills, deep blue lake, and the small homely shops a sense of dread spread over Kaiba – he was in the middle of nowhere and, even better, it was raining like there was no end. The CEO's brow furrowed again, he didn't like this one bit.

He met Hagrid on the platform. The bigger man didn't look as cheery as his words had meant to sound when he muttered: "Glad ye made it."

"I'm not sure if I can return your greeting, Hagrid," Kaiba said in his usual business monotone, ever-present silver suitcase in his hand. The CEO glanced around his surroundings. "A little primitive, isn't it?"

Hagrid held his tongue and glared at the CEO though his wet beard. "Kaiba, if ye 'ave a comment that ain't meant to praise keep it to ye're self."

"You'll have to excuse me if I offend you," Kaiba said without a second glance. "I expected this 'Wizarding school' to be a little more advanced. I did hear it was the finest in the world."

"It is the finest," Hagrid said, trying vainly to control his words. "Well, c'mon, there'll be a carriage waiting to take us to the castle. I 'ope that's advanced 'nough for ye to ride in comfortably."

"Comfort has nothing to do with it," Kaiba muttered, the words "carriage" and "castle" registering in his mind. The CEO warily followed Hagrid toward a large lake, simmering in the rain. Scowling again at the rain, which fell in large droplets against his body – soaking him in no time.

A large black carriage awaited the two. Kaiba couldn't help notice the horses drawing it. They had wings; large bat-like wings, and scales for flees. Kaiba had never seen horses such as them, and he doubted they were horses at all. They were almost demonic. And his dread began to grow. [1]

The giant seemed to be oblivious to the horses, or perhaps he just was used to them. Hagrid ruefully held the door open as the future Hogwarts' student stepped into the dry. Seating himself next to the window, Kaiba watched as the other man jumped in and closed the door.

The ride was silent. Hagrid apparently found the leather canvas of the carriage very interesting, while Kaiba gazed out the window, an unreadable expression on his face. The carriage sloshed through the mud as it neared two giant gates. Kaiba watched the gates close behind him with an overwhelming sense of dread. He doubted seriously that he was nervous, he was never nervous. There was something about the whole area he was around, something overpowering – like the whole world was closing in around him. The carriage abruptly halted and Kaiba was broken away from his thoughts. Again Hagrid moved toward the doors and Kaiba was permitted to step out.

"I trust whatever happened in Diagon Alley will stay strictly between us," Kaiba's tone showed it wasn't a question. "I have nothing to hide, but it would be more effective if little mishaps like the one in question were to stay under wraps."

Hagrid growled. "'Effective' fer who?" The half giant stopped and glared at Kaiba. "I've had 'bout 'nough of ye rich boys an' yer ego trips – thinkin' yer so powerful."

"The problem with power being?"

"Ye'll be goin' Slytherin with that attitude, no doubt." Hagrid commented disdainfully. "Just keep in mind: at Hogwarts… I teach, ye listen and learn. Got it?"

Kaiba didn't respond, a flash of red along the hedges near the steps caught his attention. Narrowing his blue eyes the CEO could make out two figures within the bushed, both with brilliant red hair.

"We're being watched," Kaiba said, not a drop of fear in his voice. His eyes still fixed on the bushes.

"Eh?" Hagrid turned and smiled as two familiar red heads darted away. "Oh, 'em Weasly twins again. Don't let 'em fool ya, they aren't as innocent as they pretend ta be. I suggest ye keep away from any treat they offer ya."

"I'll keep that in mind," the CEO said sarcastically. They continued climbing the steps, Kaiba was surprisingly keeping stride with Hagrid. Upon reaching the top of the steps Hagrid stopped, and turned to Kaiba.

"Yer going to hav'ta hand that pretty case over ta me before ye can be sorted," the half giant held his and out for Kaiba's suitcase.

The CEO's eyes narrowed. "Why might that be?"

"Tradition," Hagrid said with a sigh. "Jus' hand it over Kaiba, it'll be in yer dorm with yer other belongin's."

Kaiba glared at the half giant before handing over the suitcase reluctantly. Clenching his empty fists the CEO followed the giant to a pair of large wooden doors. Behind them the faint sounds of children talking and laughing could be herd. Kaiba put on his face.

Before he was allowed to enter an older woman in green robes rushed up to them. Her eyes shined from behind spectacles and her thin hair was pulled into a tight bun. Pursing her lips the woman looked Kaiba up and down.

"You must be the new student," she said matter-of-factly. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Seto Kaiba. I am Minerva McGonagall, your transfiguration professor. " She held her hand out.

"I only hope this school is as the Headmaster said it would be," Kaiba said, excepting the handshake, his face devoid of any emotion.

"Yes, yes," McGonagall said nodding toward Hagrid, who nodded back and headed down another corridor with Kaiba's briefcase. "Let's get you dried up first," with a wave of her want and a Latin based word Kaiba would have never guessed he had walked through he rain.

"That's useful," Kaiba mentally noted, his surprise still hidden under the mask.

"Now, we shall go through those door and meet your classmates. After the brief introduction you will be called up and the Sorting Hat will be placed upon your head and you shall be placed into your house," she continued. "It that clear Mr. Kaiba?"

"Crystal," Kaiba said, with a trace of mockery in his voice. "But what, pray tell, is a 'Sorting Hat'?"

McGonagall only smiled. "You shall see."

Walking toward the double doors – which flew open as she neared – McGonagall beckoned for Kaiba to follow her. Which the CEO did, not surprised to find a large hall full of children young an old behind them. The room's full attention turned abruptly toward Kaiba and the professor – both seemingly oblivious to the attention they were receiving.

Kaiba's trademark glare was in place, turning anyone who dared to make eye contact with him away. Like the alpha male of a pack, they refused to meet his gaze. This told Kaiba what he wanted to hear: they feared him. The CEO inwardly smirked; they were just as pathetic as the students of Domino – none of them willing to withstand his stare. Kaiba turned his icy gaze toward the row of professors. On the top table he could clearly make out Dumbledore and Hagrid, who were watching intently – atleast Dumbledore was. Hagrid, he knew, anticipate where he would end up.

"Students!" McGonagall called over a slow murmur that had arisen. "Student's! May I have your attention please?" Once the majority of the eyes had turned back to her she continued, "Today we will be having a special Sorting Ceremony. As you might have known, we have a new student: Seto Kaiba!"

There was another wave of murmurs especially from the muggle born wizards; nevertheless McGonagall placed a torn hat on a small stool. The hat looked as if it had survived a few centuries in a landfill, but the professor held it with an aura of respect. Upon the stood the hat began to move, vaguely Kaiba could make out a mouth and a pair of button eyes. Suddenly it did the last thing the CEO had suspected, it sang:

"No don't check your sanity

I'm a real as can be

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And the smartest one at that

There's nothing to confide

That the Sorting Hat can't see

Nothing within your mind can hide

Put me on, you can't lie to me

You'll find your friends in Slytherin

With the cunning wit to win;

Loyalty abounds on every smiling face

If Hufflepuff is the place;

Gryffindor holds the valiant kin

With their selflessness to win;

Or perhaps Ravenclaw for the clever kind

Where resides the quick and ready mind

Just put me on your head

No matter past, blood, or race

Your thoughts and feelings I have read

To determine your proper place!"

The song ended abruptly. Kaiba wasn't sure to laugh or be shocked beyond belief. Instead he let a thin smirk play upon his lips. But it instinctively faded as McGonagall called him forward and motioned for him to take a seat. The look on Kaiba's face was deadly. Maintaining his image, Kaiba walked toward her.

"This has to be a joke," he hissed to McGonagall. "There is no way I'm putting that on my head."

The transfiguration professor scowled, "If you want to say in Hogwarts, you will."

Kaiba glared daggers, his mind torn between curiosity and animosity. His glare letting the professor know he was already vexed, Kaiba sat down grudgingly on the stool. Whatever he was suspecting, such as a little intrusive voice in his head, didn't happen. As the hat lowered towards his head he could barely make out a whisper.

"Beware Seto Kaiba, you are already within his claws…" The voice faded a minute before it continued quickly. "That is why you must be in…" The voice was gone again.

Time seemed to slow for a second before he felt the hat touch his head, then as if someone had hit the "play" button, everything was the same. McGonagall was placing it fully upon his head when the hat instinctively jumped away, bellowing one word:

"GRYFFINDOR!" 

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OotP Spoiler Below!

[1] Thestral – the animals that pull the carriaged to Hogwarts.

End Notes: The end of this chapter was extremely hard to write, but I think it turned okay. Now, I (and Trynity, a fellow authoress/reader) have been discussing Seto's persona. As for our choice, you shall see why we avoided Ravenclaw and Slytherin soon. (There was no way he could be in Hufflepuff anyway.)

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I'll be happy to hear any comments or suggestions!