I am so incredibly proud of myself it's not even funny. I've finally figured out the plot for this story!

Please, all rejoice!

I swear the term will start soon! They just have to pick up Harry (next chapter – I'm gonna have some fun with that, actually.) and then we'll fast forward to school starting (The sorting, "Oh, wow! It's Seto Kaiba! It's Yugi Moto!", "Oh, wow! A new subject!", "Oh, wow! Weird teachers!", "Oh, wow! That guy has a sword!", "Oh, wow! What if they have something to do with Voldemort!", etc, etc.) and Ryou's birthday (which I'm also having a lot of fun with…).

Disclaimer: (Rolls eyes) Nope, still don't own 'em. Damn.

Oh! I have a request! I have all of the YuGiOh, but I need to know if ANYONE KNOWS THE BIRTHDAYS OF YU YU HAKUSHO CHARACTERS. IF YOU DO, PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME!

Or is that just a dumb bit of information I'll have to make do without?

I'm horribly sorry I keep switching this on all of you. I think I've finally got a system down.

Yugi - /Speech/

Yami - /Speech/

Ryou - /Speech/

Bakura - /Speech/

Random Monster Thing (You'll understand later, I promise.) - /Speech/

The Guardian

"I will meet all of you inside the castle once you have crossed the lake. Four to a boat." The headmaster waved merrily and disappeared, presumably to the entryway of the castle.

"Remind me why we're crossing a lake in a rickety boat again?" questioned Yusuke.

"Hn."

Kurama was the one to calmly answer, "Dumbledore-san said it was a tradition, you two. While we're here, we're going to have to respect these people's customs. Try to remember that. And, no, Hiei, you are not allowed to set the boats on fire."

"Hn."

And with that, the groups split, Bakura, Kurama, Hiei, and Botan in one boat, Yugi, Seto, Mokuba, and Yusuke in the other. The boats propelled themselves in a fluid motion across the lake, making no ripples on the water. The boats traveled a good six feet apart, neither one ahead of the other. The group traveled in silence, eager to see what would become their new home.

"Guys?" whispered Mokuba suddenly. "Something's down there…."

Yugi froze and the others could feel him sending a light probing force into the water's depths. "….It's…a giant…squid?"

"We're being stalked by a giant squid?" Yusuke yelled, leaning over the side of the boat. "Cool!"

Botan looked inquisitively into the water. "Oh! Koenma-sama told me about this! It sort of….screens everyone who come into the school so it can protect them, I think." She stopped looking at the glassy surface to evaluate everyone in her boat. "Guys? Are you okay?"

The question attracted the attention of everyone in Yugi's boat, Mokuba scrutinizing the white haired spirit. "'Kura! Your eye!"

"Why does Kurama have ears?" questioned Yugi softly.

Yusuke nearly jumped out of his boat. "Hiei! Your arm! What the hell?"

The three looked at each other. Kurama sported a pair of silvery vulpine ears poking through his red hair, and visible only to those sitting closest to him, fangs had lengthened in his row of teeth. Bakura gained a scar crossing over his left eye, darkening his looks even further.

As for Hiei, the bandages encompassing his right forearm slithered to the bottom of the boat of their own free will, and underneath his robed sleeve came a blackened purple glow. He stared at in shock, and with seeming trepidation, pulled back his sleeve to reveal a now-glowing black dragon tattoo.

A tentacle rose slowly through the air, and a voice reverberated through the heads of all eight professors.

/I have marked the thieves; they shall now be recognized within the school of the Hogwarts Four. Harm those under my protection, and you will be marked for life, a scar of death across your neck. You have been warned./

Three thieves exchanged worried glances, saying but one word. "Kuso."

A smiling Dumbledore met them in the doors of the beautiful castle. "I trust your ride went well?" He glanced towards Bakura, Kurama, and Hiei, all of whom were seething and glaring in his general direction. "…Perhaps not."

Bakura began, "Your –"

"Asinine –" interjected Kurama, in a rather foul mood himself.

"Guardian in the lake gave us a rather –"

"Unnecessary and pointless –" hissed Hiei from the middle of the group.

"Alteration to our physical selves that we most certainly do not appreciate. Is it common in Europe to discriminate based purely on one's past?"

"Something some of us didn't have any control over?" added a furious Kurama.

Dumbledore's eyes seemed to twinkle infuriatingly. "I see you've met the castle's primary protector." He sighed. "I must apologize for the squid's actions – it is old, and dedicated to an old way of thinking. Those protected within this school are all it knows."

"I don't want your excuses, Dumbledore. I want this thing," Bakura pointed to his eye, "Removed from Ry–my face. Immediately."

"And," furthered Kurama in a sarcastic voice, "As much as I do truly love this new addition to my skull, I can't see commanding respect from my students when I have a pair of fox ears poking out from my hair."

"Oh, come on, Kurama!" snickered Yusuke, "You love them and you know it!"

The red haired bishonen looked unsure whether he should kill Yusuke or smirk with admittance. He felt Hiei twitch in utmost annoyance, and out of the corner of his eye saw Hiei's hand move to his sword hilt. Kurama quickly placed a calming hand on the jaganshi's shoulder to avoid the murder of a ningen as the man started talking again.

"Unfortunately, I cannot reverse the effects placed on you. I do believe that when you leave school grounds, the changes will disappear, but while you reside in this school, they will remain."

Silent communication flew through Hiei and Kurama, without the two even looking at each other. A twitched finger from Hiei (I'll slash the ningen's neck!), a lock of hair tucked behind Kurama's ear (Hiei, no. You're not allowed to and you know this.), a calm blink in return (And what do you care?), Kurama fiddling with his scarf (Hiei, don't. Please?), an ending flick of imaginary dirt off a spotless robe (Vain fox. Fine, I'll stay.), and a final, longer than necessary blink (Thank you, Hiei. It means a lot.), coupled with a quick smile, was more than enough to settle the entire argument.

Kurama quickly stated for the both of them, "You can count on us, Dumbledore. We're not going to leave anytime soon."

Bakura had also gained a glazed look in his eyes. /Are you alright with this?/

/I'll be fine, Bakura. It's just a little scar, right?/

/Right. Still…/ The Egyptian Thief King was quickly quieted.

/Still nothing, 'Kura/ the little albino said with an air of finality. /And you are not allowed to hurt that…..ano, are you sure it was a squid/

/Yugi's sure./

/Squid, then. You're not allowed to hurt it in any way! It was only doing it's job!/

/If you haven't noticed, ahou,/ huffed Bakura/My job is to protect you.

Ryou was touched and a little flustered by the spirit's caring, unpleasant as it came across. He withdrew to his soulroom, a warm, fluffy feeling in his head as Bakura announced to the group that he would be staying nonetheless.

"All of you are still with me?" A general consent was murmured. "Then please follow me to your rooms and classrooms."

"Excuse me, Dumbledore-sensei?" Mokuba stepped from his brother's side to query the headmaster. "Where am I going to stay? I know I'll have to be sorted into a house, but in the meantime…?"

Dumbledore smiled kindly. "I do believe there is an extra room adjoining to the one we planned to house your brother in. If there is not…well, we'll just have to make one, won't we?"

Mokuba beamed, childhood innocence shining through. "Thank you."

The headmaster regarded the younger Kaiba briefly, before coming to an inner conclusion. "And, if you're not particularly interested in moving into the castle, I believe Mr. Lupin would be more than glad to have you accompany him on a….business venture."

Hopeful eyes were spun on a lithe body towards the older brother. "Can I?"

Iced daggers were shot from blue irises at the headmaster, daring him to lie. "It's safe?"

Dumbledore smirked. "I can assure you that Mr. Lupin is one of the few people that even you, Seto, would be grateful to have at your side in any sort of fight."

Seto gave a slight nod. "Good enough. Mokie, I'll move your things."

Some translations…

Kuso – "Oh shit/damn."

Bishonen – Literally "Pretty boy," but adopted into fanfiction as "Uber hot/sexy man/demi-god."

Jaganshi – Literally "Master of the Jagan", referring to Hiei's Jagan Eye.

Ningen – Human, mortal.

Ano – "Umm….."

Ahou – "Fool."

Reviews

BEFORE REVIEWS, I WILL ASK AGAIN. DOES ANYONE HAVE BIRTHDAYS FOR ANY OF THE YU YU HAKUSHO GANG? IF SO, PLEASE TELL ME!

Chelley Angel – Always glad to be called original, if nothing else. Thanks!

The Raging Flame Moon – (Blinkblink) Right. I'll sit here and pretend to understand that while my father tries to convince me that the computer is the spawn of the devil and normal teenage girls do not spend this much time around them. (Scoffs) Yet he's still the one paying the internet bills….

RainOwl – Sadly enough, that was the most inspiring review I've gotten. It scared me a little…..which is why I came up with a plot! So I applaud you!

Yami Hitokiri - ….I'm glad you weren't bored out of your mind? Thank you? I'm not quite sure how to respond to that…..

Computerfreak101 – Well thank you! And now you know the answer to both your question and your demand.

Crazy Hyper Lady – Ummm…..See above response for 'The Raging Flame Moon'. You and her should talk sometime. You make about the same amount of sense.

Lady Threarah – (Watering chibi eyes) You are….the first person to ever say that to me! (Glomps) I love you!

Rosedark – Thank you, my good lady. Love ya much!

Emiko (PenPusherM) – Hey girl! Glad to hear you're back!