Hey guys! I guess that I overestimated how much time I would need to study. I actually only have to write 2 exams, and I have 2 days in between. So I figured I'd treat you all with an update much sooner than expected! I wrote this on my back deck in the sun, Canadian summers are beautiful and I totally recommend you all come and visit me sometime soon.

I don't know if it's noticeable, (I think it is) but I tend to rush through the bits that are in the book, or just skip over them altogether. I'm not going to waste my time rewriting what you already know. You understand, right?

-blah- - mindlink communication

I own nothing!

Enjoy!

Chapter 6

For the sixth time in three days, Ellie rang the Dursley's doorbell. After a moment she saw the curtains on the living room window open, and a pair of beady little eyes landed on her. Upon seeing her watching him, Mr. Dursley snapped the curtains shut.

"It's that blasted little girl again, Petunia."

"Well you can't ignore her after she saw you! Answer the door, Vernon! What will her parents think?" She cried, her voice tinged with horror. The Dursley's were terrified of being judged by the prestigous Miltons.

After a bit more whispered conversation that Ellie couldn't quite catch, the door opened revealing Mr. Dursley who was dressed in an expensive looking suit. He had a very very strained smile on his face. "Yes?" He asked.

"Good evening, sir," Ellie said in her polite voice, wearing her most charming smile. "Is Harry home?"

"No, he is not receiving or going out tonight. We are very busy, now go away." He slammed the door in her face, obviously not able to force himself to be nice to her any longer.

"Vernon! Her parents!" Petunia hissed.

The door opened once more. "Tell your parents that they are welcome to come over to tea anytime, except tonight. We have been nominated to win the All England Best Suburban Lawn Competition." He had a very smug expression on his face. "Goodnight." He once again slammed the door in her face.

Ellie sighed, and began her short trek home. She hadn't seen Harry since the night of the dementor attack. She and Harry had both received expulsion letters for using magic, then letters saying that they were merely suspended pending a trial. Then an owl had delivered a strange howler telling Mrs. Dursley to "remember my last". Whose and what this last was, Ellie did not know, and she never found out, since at that point Mr. Dursley had lost his temper and physically thrown Ellie out the door.

She felt so bad for Harry. While they were both stuck in the dark, at least Ellie wasn't locked in her room. Poor Harry was grounded by the Dursley's, and under strict orders from Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley to stay in his house. Ellie couldn't imagine being cooped up like that while the threat of expulsion was looming over her. She knew that Harry needed space to let off steam, otherwise he would blow up.

"Elizabeth, where in heaven's name have you been?" Ellie was snapped out of her reverie by the one person who dared to call her by her real name to her face: her mother. It looked as though she had been standing on the front porch, waiting for her to come home.

"I just ran over to Harry's to see if he could talk about the other night." She replied, skirting past her mother and into the house.

"You know that you're not supposed to be wandering the streets alone at night, young lady!" Her mother nagged, following her inside. Diana Milton was a very vain, yet still very pretty woman. Ellie looked very much like her. They shared the same blonde hair, pale skin, and small stature. But their personalities could not have been any more different.

"It's only 7 o'clock, Mother." She protested, her voice slightly more whiney than she intended it to be. Ellie headed into the kitchen for something to eat. "Besides," She continued, "Hasn't the worst already happened? I was attacked and could be expelled." She opened the cupboard, and saw a tray of freshly baked muffins. Her favorite. She ripped off a big chunk and began stuffing her face.

"Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if you stopped going to this silly magic school, dear. You could go to a real school and become a lawyer, just like your father." Diana snatched the half-eaten muffin out of her daughter's hand and threw it in the trash. "Don't eat this junk, Elizabeth. We must watch our waistlines."

Ellie scowled. "They why did you bake them, then?" She decided to ignore the comment about her becoming a lawyer. Both her and her mother were too stubborn to leave that conversation on speaking terms.

"They're for your brother, sweetie. Young men have such higher metabolisms than women. It's really unfair." She simpered, handing her a piece of celery instead.

Ellie eyed it unhappily. "Yeah, it really is unfair," she replied sarcastically, wondering if her mother would notice if a muffin were to 'disappear' later on that night.

"Now, Elizabeth," Mrs. Milton continued, completely missing Ellie's sarcasm. "About that summer calculus course that begins next week-EEEEK!" She was cut off by her own shriek as an owl flew in through the open window. "GET THAT THING OUT OF MY KITCHEN IMMEDIATELY ELIZABETH GRACE MILTON!" The owl gave her a dirty look, offended at being referred to as a 'thing'.

Rather than face the wrath of her mother, Ellie put the untouched celery down, scooped up the owl, and brought it into the garage. She didn't know whether the owl would bring good news, or the notice of her expulsion. She hastily ripped the letter open.

Ellie,

We are picking you up tonight. Be packed and ready to go from Harry's at 9 o'clock, sharp. COME ALONE.

Best regards,

Arthur Weasley

She blinked, and reread the letter. 9 o'clock! That barely gave her enough time to pack, let alone . . . Uhoh, she thought, racing into the kitchen, Mother…

"Mother? MA! Where are you? HELLO?" She bellowed, as her mother wasn't there anymore. However, Ellie noticed with a scowl that all the muffins were now gone. She ran down the hall and into the living room, to find her mom serving the last of the muffins to her 17 year old brother, Oliver, and her father, Andrew. "Mother!"

Oliver grinned at her frazzled state. "What's got your knickers in such a bunch, El?" Their mother gave him a nasty look and a slight smack upside the head.

"Elizabeth, it is not proper for a young lady to be bellowing and stomping around. Oh, and stop encouraging her Oliver!" She added, seeing her that her two children had met eyes and started giggling.

Unlike Ellie, Oliver had never gotten a Hogwarts letter. He had gone to private school, and taken the advanced courses that Diana wished that both of her children would take. He didn't give his mother any of this 'magical nonsense' that Ellie forced her to put up to put up with. Mrs. Milton believed that Hogwarts was just a phase that Ellie had yet to grow out of.

Although Oliver and Ellie were siblings, they couldn't have looked any different. They both shared their father's wild and curly hair, however Oliver's was a dark brown. He stood at just over 6' tall, while Ellie was a tiny 5'1, the same as her mother. Oliver was dark skinned and outgoing, while Ellie was fair skinned and generally quiet. However, they both shared their father's kind heart and loyalty. They got along beautifully, which was a lot to say, considering how some siblings treat each other.

"Now, what's the matter, Ellie?" Her father, Andrew asked. He was the sweet man with the wild hair that Ellie took after. Everything about their personalities were alike. Andrew's hair was now grey, but it never lost the curls that both of his children had inherited.

"I have to leave tonight. I received a letter from Mr. Weasley. They need to take us to our hearing, and we need to be put under protection." Everyone in the room knew that the 'we' meant herself and Harry.

"Absolutely not!" Diana said hotly. "Summer is when you spend time with your family, and you need to take that calculus course if you are to even be considered for Cambridge!" Ellie had been taking college prep courses each summer to keep up with her muggle education. Her mother was adamant that she got a law degree. What Ellie really wanted was to become a healer.

"Let's hear her out before we say no," Her dad soothed his wife. Mr. Milton always took Ellie's side when her mother was being unfair. Ellie had him wrapped around her finger.

"Mr. Weasley sent me a letter saying that they're coming to get Harry and I tonight. So I need to pack in time for 9! Mother, please," She pleaded. Ellie was going regardless of what her mother said, but it would be preferable to be actually granted permission before she left.

"Come on, Ma," Oliver pleaded with her. "Ellie isn't safe here. We can't protect her as well as her kind can." He was always very protective of his little sister, but he understood that against Lord Voldemort, he was powerless and needed to let her go to keep her safe.

Mrs. Milton knew that she was outnumbered. "Fine. You may go, but I hope that you understand that I am not at all pleased about this. Go pack, and for God's sake, Elizabeth, be careful." She sighed.

"Oh, thank you, thank you Mother!" She cried, launching herself at her mother and giving her a huge hug. Diana Milton's face was graced with one of her rare smiles as her only daughter ran upstairs to pack.

xxx

With only fifteen minutes to spare, Ellie walked out her front door, trailing her trunk behind her. Her goodbyes to her family had been bittersweet, as she was sad to leave, yet happy to go. With her mind on her family, it took Ellie a few minutes of walking to realize that the night was strangely dark. She reached into her pocket and clutched her wand, in case dementors were going to attack again.

But no, she thought, it wasn't a dark night, all of the streetlights were just out! Dumbledore, she thought, breaking into a sort of half run, slowed down by her immense trunk.

She reached the Dursley's place out of breath, and at the same time as a big group of wizards. Mostly familiar wizards. Ellie's face broke into a huge grin. "Mr. Weasley! Professor Lupin! Professor Moody!" She cried, dropping her trunk and running to give an uncomfortable, yet laughing Remus Lupin a hug.

"Keep your guard up, girl, we could be anybody!" Moody grunted, pulling her away from Lupin and pointing his wand at her. "We can't even be sure that you're really Elizabeth Milton."

"I highly doubt that anybody else would have greeted us as such," Lupin smiled, causing Moody to lower his wand and permit Ellie to give him a hug as well. His mouth twitched in an almost-smile. He quickly pushed her away, only for her to go and give Mr. Weasley a hug. "Now, on to Potter…" He limped up to the Dursley's front door, and pointed his wand at the lock. "Alohomora." The door promptly sprang open with a bang. A shrill warning beeping came from their alarm system, prompting for the code.

Moody looked as though he was ready to blast the little white box with his wand, and Mr. Weasley looked positively delighted at this new bit of technology that he had yet to discover. Ellie pushed forwards, and put in the code (Dudley's birthday) before it timed out and called the cops. The beeping stopped.

"What was that?" Mr. Weasley excitedly asked.

"Alarm system. If you open the door and don't put the code in within 30 seconds, it calls the authorities," Ellie told him.

"Simply amazing! These muggles come up with the most clever substitutes for magic!" He stayed back to examine the box while Ellie led the rest of the crowd to the kitchen, where she promptly grabbed one of Mrs. Dursley's freshly baked muffins.

At that exact moment Harry came bounding down the stairs, wand first. His face took on an expression of shock when he saw the crowd of wizards standing in his kitchen. Ellie soon realized that he must not have been informed that they were coming tonight. After explanations and introductions were made, Harry went upstairs with Tonks to pack his trunk. Ellie remained in the kitchen to explain to the wizards how the simplest of muggle objects worked.

"So, you just put something in, and it heats it up?" Mr. Weasley asked, bent double and checking out the microwave from 3 inches away.

"Yeah, look," Ellie put what was left of her muffin in the microwave, closed the door and hitting the start button. 10 seconds later it beeped, she popped open the door, and the smell of her muffin immediately wafted throughout the kitchen. The wizards all murmured to each other, wondering how the muggles had made this technology.

"Brilliant!" Mr. Weasley said, "How does it work?"

"Er," Ellie really did not want to get into nuclear technology with an overenthusiastic Mr. Weasley. She was glad when Harry and Tonks came down the stairs, levitating Harry's trunk in front of them.

"Have you two got your broomsticks ready?" Moody asked. Harry dug out his Firebolt, and Ellie rummaged through her trunk for her Nimbus 2002. Even though her mother disapproved of anything magical or unladylike, (especially her playing on the Quidditch team) her father made sure his little girl had the best of everything. Besides, Ellie couldn't let herself be outdone by the Slytherins.

"Where are we going?" Ellie asked Tonks, but was answered by an eavesdropping Moody.

"You'll see when we get there!" He growled. "Don't talk about it here," He warned Tonks, who looked like she was on the verge of whispering to Ellie behind Moody's back. "We could be overheard."

Tonks scowled, "You're too paranoid, Madeye."

"Constant vigilance!" He retorted. Ellie and Harry laughed. They left a note for the Dursley's, and 10 minutes later they were soaring through the skies.

Shortly after their takeoff, Ellie was desperately wishing that she had worn a jacket, or at the very least a sweater. The enjoyable and relaxing ride had quickly became a cold and uncomfortable one. Ellie shivered violently in her thin blouse and jeans, and thought darkly of how Moody wanted to fly into the clouds to throw off any possible attackers.

After what felt like hours, they finally began to descend, and 10 minutes later they touched down on a shabby, dirty, run down street. The sign read "Grimmauld Place".

"Good, I don't think that we were followed." Madeye was satisfied. "Here, memorize this you two." He thrust a piece of paper into Harry's hand, and Ellie leaned over to read it too. It read: The Order of the Phoenix can be found at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London.

"The Order of the-" Harry began, but was interrupted.

"Shh! Not here boy! Don't any of you listen? We could be overheard!" Moody hissed. "Think about what you just read!" He then set the little slip of paper on fire with the tip of his wand.

Ellie and Harry looked at each other, confusedly, but did as they were told. As soon as Ellie reran the words 'Grimmauld Place' through her head, a house just as dumpy as the ones surrounding it inflated in between Numbers 11 and 13 Grimmauld Place.

"Whoa!" Ellie gasped, taking a step back.

"Quickly! Quickly!" Mr. Weasley said, ushering them inside.

xxx

ONE HOUR EARLIER

"Boys," Mrs. Weasley poked her head in the door of the bedroom that Malik, Yugi, and Ryou were sharing. "Professor Dumbledore is in the kitchen, and he'd like to see you." She bustled away as quickly as she had come.

Yami and Bakura both phased out. "He is bound to ask about your powers," Yami said, placing his slightly transparent form in between Yugi and the spirit. Even though they were technically now on the same side, he still did not trust Bakura one bit.

This did not go unnoticed by said evil spirit, who scowled at him. "I am not going to attack your precious hikari, pharaoh," He snarled. It was true. Although they did not get along, the spirit's homicidal tendencies towards the rest of the Millennium Item Holders had decreased considerably.

"Yes, well the past does not speak well of you." Yami retorted.

Yugi and Ryou stepped in. "Come on, you two," Yugi said.

"Now is not the time," Ryou added. Neither yami was very happy, but they did not argue. For now, they had to discuss what they were going to tell Dumbledore.

"Our powers are not public knowledge, but they are hardly a secret," Ryou began. "I think that we can trust Dumbledore."

"I agree," said Malik. "He is taking us in and protecting us, after all. We owe him that much."

"Yes, but only Dumbledore. We don't know who else we can trust." Yugi chimed in. "Yami? What do you think?"

"I trust your judgment, aibou," he nodded.

"Koe?" Ryou asked.

He grunted noncommittally, showing that he did not care either way.

Malik laughed. "Well, I suppose that means that we are all in agreement, then." A slight angry twinge from Marik told him that that not everyone was in agreement, but he ignored it.

Yami and Bakura both returned to their respective items, and the transfers hid the powerful gold items under their clothing, then walked downstairs.

Professor Dumbledore was waiting for them, alone, in the kitchen. Malik was taken aback at his strange appearance. "Good evening, Ryou," He said, standing up. "You two must be Yugi and Malik?"

Malik thought that there was something about this man that caused him to instantly both respect and trust him. "Yes, sir, I am Malik, and this is Yugi."

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Yugi told him, bowing in a typical Japanese sign of respect. This told Malik that Professor Dumbledore made the same impression on Yugi that he had on him.

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Muto. Now, I beg your pardon at my boldness, but surely you understand that this conversation must be over by the time that Harry and Elizabeth arrive. If you would be so kind to invite your yamis out, Mr. Muto and Bakura."

Malik choked on the breath that he had been inhaling. "H-how did you…" He couldn't finish his sentence, as his body was wracked with coughs.

"Mr. Ishtar, the Millennium Items are not the only tool that one requires to get information." He smiled, his blue eyes seemingly x-raying them. "I implore you three to realize that they are also not the only way to control somebody." Malik shifted uncomfortably. "Now, your friends..?"

Yugi and Ryou exchanged wary looks, but both pulled their items out of their shirtfronts. Yami and Bakura phased out. (A/N: I think I mentioned it before, but in case you forgot, wizards and witches can see the Yamis when they are phased out.)

"You had better have an explanation for this, old man!" Bakura growled.

"Ahh, Mr. Bakura, I expect that it was you who truly battled all of those Death Eaters?" Dumbledore ignored his earlier threat.

"Yes, and I could do that same to you, so don't tempt me." He scowled.

"Of course not, Mr. Bakura. I would never dream of exposing your secret until the time that you choose to do so."

"You can see them?" Yugi asked, shocked. Only the Millennium Item holders could see the yamis, or so he had thought.

"Yes, Mr. Muto." Dumbledore smiled. "You will find that you have many things in common with our kind."

"Professor Dumbledore, how can I be sure that my hikari will be safe at Hogwarts?" Yami interrupted, feeling a little like an overprotective mother.

"I promise you that there is no safer place than Hogwarts. As long as you comply with our rules, no harm shall befall any of you. But that is not why I wanted to talk to you tonight. You three," He looked at the hikaris, "Need to have your story straight for when you get to Hogwarts. There will be people who will pry, and unless know your background, you will be exposed."

"Who will pry?" Yugi asked.

Dumbledore sighed. "The Ministry of Magic. I am afraid that we have not been seeing eye to eye, and they are looking for anything they can use against me to expose to the public. The minister had put one of his people in a teaching position." He looked very sad at this bit of information. He quickly changed the subject. "Now, do you three know what you are going to tell the students and staff once you get to Hogwarts?"

Ryou nodded. They had discussed this earlier today. "We are transfers from Japan, where there was no room for us so we never had a magical education. We did not know anything about the wizarding world until this summer, when you found out about us and invited us to Hogwarts." It was partially true.

"Good. I encourage you to trust Harry, Elizabeth, Ronald, and Hermione. These are dark times, and nothing is more important than the unity and trust we share with our friends. We are only as strong as we are united, and only as weak as we are divided." The three hikaris and Yami nodded, as they were well aware of the importance of friendship. Bakura just rolled his eyes, but he remained quiet.

"Now, here is a catchup program I had some of my staff devise for you three." He handed them each a stack of papers, and conjured a few books out of midair. "It will cover the basics of what you need to know for your 5th year. The ministry cannot detect your magic, so you are free to use it to practice these spells as you wish. I am sure someone won't mind letting you borrow their wands until you can go buy your own. I expect this review will be finished by the start of term." He paused for a moment in thought. "If you are in need any help, Miss Granger will be an excellent tutor. But, for now, I must ask you to leave. Our meeting will start soon, and it is not for the ears of underage wizards." He smiled again, as the yamis returned to their items and the hikaris stood up to leave .

"I expect to see you soon."

Wow, this story is getting long. I'm already at 20k words, and Harry and Ellie haven't even made it to headquarters yet. And I just realized that I completely forgot to incorporate a trip to Diagon alley for the transfers. I might just skip that, because there is nothing significant to the plot that I can see happening in that scene.

Anyways, I couldn't resist making a slightly sarcastic jab at the whole 'friendship is everything' theme that YuGiOh has got going. I mean, it's a great concept, but they overuse it and it makes me embarrassed for poor Anzu every time she opens her mouth.

I think that that is everything that I wanted to letcha guys know. I always update then realize that I forgot to mention something.

Back to the story, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review, review, review! Love you guys :)