Alright... to make up for the really stinky chapter last time, I've decided to start on this one almost immediately. Um... I hope you guys like it! I haven't really had too many ideas lately – this is all from a few months ago. I kind of planned the whole story when I first started. And also, I noticed that I'd pretty much forgotten about Mokuba, everyone's pets, Dracilla, some other students, Hagrid, one of my ideas, and – gasp! – Seto's birthday! Seto fans are going to hate me now... so I'm going back and fixing it! I'm going to rewrite their O.W.L. week too. I think I just rushed by that and didn't put too many details. But for now, the next chapter!

WAIT WAIT WAIT! is screwing up again, so now I can't do the two slashes that indicate Yami talking. So whenever you see... um... here, I'll underline his text. That might work. I'll try to fix it later, but for the time being, Yami gets the underlined text. I can't do my little thingy to separate stuff, so I guess I'll be using the lines this time.... grr....

Classes had gone back to normal by the next week. Yugi-tachi's and the other three Gryffindors' – as well as Draco's – friendship, had, if anything, gotten even stronger. And, for one thing, Harry, Hermione, and Ron had stopped jumping a mile every time Yami or Yami Bakura popped out. That... was definitely an improvement.

During breakfast on Wednesday, there was a blue shimmer in the air. Dozens of letters dropped from it, falling into their owner's laps. The people getting the letters were all sixth years.

Ryou raised an eyebrow at Seto. Nefertari had obviously done this.

"Oh my gosh!" Hermione squeaked excitedly, biting her nails and practically chewing her fingers off. "It looks like our O.W.L. results! Oh, oh, here comes ours! I can't wait to see what I got – I think I did fairly well on everything. But there was that little bit in the Arithmancy class, ooh... I really hope that didn't affect my overall score too much! Do you think –"

"Hermione," Ron said. "We're all feeling the same way. Now you can just calm down, open your letter, and read it." He himself was looking quite pale.

There was almost complete silence in the Great Hall. Sounds of tearing paper started coming from all the House tables. The professors looked anxious as well. Perhaps it was because of the fact that the student's grades reflected upon how well they were teaching. And... this was probably the first time students had gotten their results back during their presence.

First, second, third, and fourth years were holding their breaths, trying to see over the shoulders of the nearest sixth years. The fifth years were maybe even more scared. They had seen how the sixth years had reacted to taking the O.W.L.s again. Was that how they were going to be like at the end of the year? When they had to take it for themselves?

Then came a very long pause, as the recipients of the letters quickly read through their results with baited breaths.

Then came the chatter of conversation. It came gradually, as more people took in their results, whether good or bad. There were relieved sighs, moans about how they could have done better, and... overall chaos and heads banging on tables.

"— I did better than I thought!"

"— can't believe I got one 'Acceptable!'"

"— look at this! Only two 'Exceeds Expectations!'"

"— a good thing. I can show this to my parents now."

"— yeah, I'm kind of glad they didn't see it first."

Ryou... was one of the ones banging his head on the table.

"Doshite [1](bang), doshite (bang), doshite (bang), doshite (bang), doshite?" He moaned, finally hiding his head in his arms. "Ugh... why? Why me?" he asked at the ceiling, to nobody in general. He was about to start whacking his head with One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, when Yami Bakura suddenly took over, his eyes narrowing.

"What is this rubbish?" he asked, snatching up Ryou's O.W.L. results and reading through them quickly. The others watched him with perplexed expressions.

:Yaaaaami... my life is over...:

::Your life is certainly not over. It's just one –::

:I know, but... but...:

::Yes – now that's the spirit. Now get out there and tell them all why you started spasmodically killing your own head with the table.:: And with that comment, Ryou was thrown back into his own body, by none other than his wonderful, loving yami.

Ryou blinked. Everyone was peering at him with... strange... looks on their faces.

"Um... what's wrong?" Malik asked. "Bad results?"

Ryou nodded bleakly.

Malik sighed. "Lemme see." He grabbed the little white-haired bishounen's letter. "Mr. Bakura, blah blah blah... blah blah... Oh. This must be what the problem is." He sighed, looking over at Ryou. "Ryou, you got ONE 'Exceeds Expectations.' That's nothing to be hammering your head into the table for."

Ryou sniffed. "Why?"

"Because I got THREE 'Exceeds Expectations.' You don't see me trying to kill myself, now, do you? And look – yours is in History of Magic. Nobody could pass that. Oh, wait a minute." He leaned over to look at Seto and Hermione's results. "Never mind. Let me rephrase that. Only geniuses could pass that class with 'Outstanding'. And every other exam," he added under his breath.

Ryou obviously hadn't heard, or either had heard and not comprehended. "Yes, but... but... it was one of the last exams, and... and... I was just feeling so tired, and I just couldn't remember... and... and..."

"RYOU. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD."

Ryou blinked. "It... isn't?"

"NO. Now shut up and let me see what everyone else got."

Hermione's scores were obvious. She was beaming, taking extreme care not to wrinkle her paper in the slightest.

"What did she get to be so happy?" Ron muttered to Harry.

Malik, who'd heard them, replied, "Oh, only 'Outstanding' O.W.L.s in all of her exams."

"Yes! My parents are going to be so pleased!" she said giddily. "Although I'm not really sure what career I'm going to take. Choosing has been a bit difficult, considering my parents are both Muggles, and –"

"Good for you, 'Mione," Harry said, giving her an encouraging smile. "I'm sure you'll do well in whatever you choose." Now, for his own results...

"Hey, mate, what did you get?" asked Seamus, leaning over from across the table.

Harry had actually not done nearly as awfully as he'd thought. He'd scraped by the Potions theory AND practical with 'Outstanding', which he was glad for. He could get into Snape's N.E.W.T. class (as much as he'd hate to see Snape even more), and maybe get his wish of becoming an Auror, a dark wizard catcher. And as for the other three 'Exceeds Expectations,' he'd probably deserved them. The History of Magic, Transfiguration, and Charms tests were rather hard this year. Luckily, McGonagall and Flitwick took anyone who got 'Exceeds Expectations' into their N.E.W.T. classes.

Voicing all of this out loud, he looked up. Hoping that Ron hadn't failed too many examinations to not be able to become an Auror with him, he leaned over to look at the redhead's piece of parchment. Ron was still staring at it in disbelief.

"What is it?" Harry asked. Ron's mouth moved wordlessly. He tried again.

"...I – I passed... I p – passed..."

"You passed... what?"

"P – P – Potions. I got an 'Outstanding.'"

"Ron, that's great!" Hermione said happily. "That means that you can get into Snape's N.E.W.T. class – you'll need that to become an auror, won't you? What else did you get?"

"Four 'Exceeds Expectations,' one each in History of Magic, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, and Transfiguration, as well as one 'Acceptable' in Divination," Malik read aloud. Ron, finally coming out of shock, grabbed the letter back. Malik grinned, lilac eyes shining with mirth.

"And what did you get, Malik?" Yugi asked.

"Um... all 'Outstanding' and three 'Exceeds Expectations.' History of Magic's just too boring, I hardly ever pay attention in 'Magical Creatures... and I figured no one could pass Divination –"

"I did," Ryou said, looking as if he was realizing his results for the first time.

"What?" said Ron incredulously. "What did you do during the exam? Brainwash the examiner? I mean, you can memorize the book for the theory part, but the practical is another story."

"Oh well, figures," Malik sighed. "Ryou's been doing stuff like that even before we came here."

Dean, who had came over just in time to catch those last few comments, whispered, "Yeah, Ron – remember those Tarot cards of his? He was doing some pretty accurate readings."

Mokuba suddenly appeared. "Hey, what about you, Yugi? What did you get?"

"Oh – I got two 'Exceeds Expectations' from Care of Magical Creatures and from History of Magic. The rest are 'Outstanding'."

"Cool. Looks like all of you guys got good grades."

"What did Seto get?" Yugi asked, looking around. He found the poor CEO trying to escape a group of girls circled around him.

"So, like, how were your O.W.L. scores, Seto?"

"I bet you got, like, all 'Outstanding', didn't you?"

"Oh, you're sooo smart, Seto!"

"Weren't you given the chance to take it with all the 5th years at the end of the school year?"

"You still took it, like, with the 6th years?"

"After only two months of studying?"

"Wow! That's, like, sooo cool!"

Mokuba gave Yugi a sheepish grin. "He's been trying to pry them off for some time now – they still won't leave him alone. Oh, and he got all 'Outstanding's. I don't really know which career he'll pick, with Kaiba Corp. back in Domino and all... I heard that you guys have to go to Dumbledore for Career Advice, since you missed it last year. It all pretty much be based on how many classes you got good grades on."

Yugi looked confused. "Nani? I didn't know about that."

"Seto was supposed to tell you. But... I guess he didn't have time yet. You're supposed to go see Dumbledore on Friday. You'll get to take a look at all the wizarding jobs and choose. Then, if you have all the right requirements, you'll get to take certain N.E.W.T. – those are in preparation for the 'Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests' at the end of your seventh year – classes and get a job after you finish Hogwarts."

Tell me – why in the world does Mokuba always seem to know more than us?

/Um... I REALLY don't know./

Friday came. There was a notice on the board. New schedules were to be handed out Monday, and all N.E.W.T. classes started then too. As for Yugi, Ryou, Malik, and Seto, they had to go see Dumbledore. For some reason, he'd also called Harry, Ron, Hermione, and... Draco, as well. The group of eight trooped up to the stone gargoyle, said "Pocky", and rose up to his office together.

Not only was Dumbledore sitting there, McGonagall and Snape were there as well. Once they had all gotten seated, Dumbledore leaned forward to start.

"First of all, let me say that I am quite pleased, and impressed, with your rising up to the challenge of taking the O.W.L.s." His eyes twinkled. This bit was going to be aimed at Yugi, Ryou, Malik, and Seto. "While all other students had five YEARS to prepare, you only had mere months. And yet, your results were quite as stunning as most of our other students, if not more so. And I congratulate you." He smiled at the four. Malik was looking uninterested, Yugi was actually listening, Ryou was in his 'polite mode', and Seto's face was once again devoid of emotion. Dumbledore coughed slightly, continuing. These children were rather difficult to deal with sometimes...

"This is where THESE come in." He made a sweeping gesture over the surface of his desk. Many fluorescently–colored pamphlets, leaflets, and other forms of notices materialized. They could make out some of the words on them – 'Working in the Department of Magical Transport: the Floo Network, Brooms, Portkeys, and Apparation'; 'Do you like working with rare magical creatures and spirits?'; 'Interested in the law? Then consider the Magical Law Enforcement business'; and... 'Aurors, Dark Wizard Catchers.' That was what caught Malik's eye.

"Ooh... what's this?" he asked interestedly, picking up the dark leaflet. His lavender eyes scanned through it. "Hey, Ryou, come look at this." Now Ryou was reading it with him.

"'Catching dark wizards... you'll need five N.E.W.T.s... will have additional years of training outside of school...'" Ryou muttered, still reading.

"Doesn't it sound dangerous?" asked Malik excitedly. "C'mon, we could get KILLED or something and no one would care. Okay, some people would care, but wouldn't that be cool?"

McGonagall was staring at Malik with something of a horrified look on her face. Harry was trying to keep from grinning at her reaction, while Ron and Hermione were looking somewhere in between mystified and dubious. Draco gave Malik the thumbs-up, and Snape proceeded to keep his I-really-don't-want-to-be-here look on his face. Dumbledore just seemed amused.

Meanwhile, our lovely Egyptian bishie continued to rant. "And you can use your skills – how many blades can you use again? Any type of blade or weapon? AND," he added, sounding impressed, "we'll get to kill people." He finished with a crazy, sadistic smile. He almost looked... happy.

At this point, Dumbledore cut in. "Mr. Ishtar, I don't think there will be any killing involved. Aurors are most likely to be asked to bring in a live captive."

"Damn... what if it's a life threatening situation?"

"Maybe you'll be permitted to, then. I am not too familiar with those regulations and laws."

The gleam in his eye came back. "Oh, well, good enough."

"What do you say, Ryou?"

::Yes. Say yes, Ryou.::

:Why?:

::BECAUSE you need more guts, for one thing. For another, it sounds like fun.::

: ... sounds like you only want me to take it so you can benefit from it.:

::No, that's not it! RY-OU...::

There was a mild curse on Yami Bakura's side. He sighed. ::PLEASE, Ryou? Onegai?::

Ryou grinned. :Okay, yami. But only 'cause I love you to death.:

::Mm hmm. I know.:: he said in a satisfied manner.

Malik was still waiting for Ryou's answer. "You know who wants me to take it," Ryou told him, throwing a meaningful look the Egyptian's way. "'Kura," he whispered.

"OH. Right. How 'bout you, Seto?"

Seto shrugged. "Auror sounds fine." He said it as if it didn't really matter much. "Although," he added, blue eyes piercing Malik, "I'll still have to manage Kaiba Corp., so it might be rather hard."

"Um... Gotcha, CEO – dude. What about you, Yugi?"

There was no reply. "YUGI," said Malik impatiently, leaning over to read the pamphlet Yugi was looking at.

"'Department of Magical Games and Sports?' I don't think so." He yanked the pamphlet out of Yugi's hands and replaced it with the dark Auror leaflet.

"Don'tcha want to be with the rest of us? I'm sure ATEMU would like it," he added teasingly. "He could learn the stealthy trade, instead of sitting with a stick up his ass on a throne."

Why that little –

/Calm down, Yami. He didn't really mean it. And... being an Auror sounds okay. We can be with the others if we say yes. And I got the right grades on the O.W.L.s to do it./

Wouldn't it be a little dangerous?

/C'mon, Yami – I'm old enough to look after myself!/

Yami felt his other side start pouting. Alright.

Yugi looked up happily. "Hai! He says yes! Er, I mean, I say yes." Professors McGonagall and Snape were still there. He didn't exactly want to ruin their cover. Not yet, anyway.

"Interesting decisions," Dumbledore said, taking back the Auror leaflet and arranging all of the other information sheets back into a neat pile, then motioning to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. McGonagall rose, taking a stack of papers with her. She cleared her throat.

"You have all chosen the path of an Auror. This particular job will be very dangerous, as you have already found. It will also be difficult to achieve. The Ministry is now setting higher standards for Aurors. You may not know it, but a whole team of them disappeared mysteriously not one month ago. The Daily Prophet has been asked to stay quiet, as not to frighten our community. Even if you finish all of the required courses, you will still have to manage to pass all of the set tests during your Auror training, which will take a further two to four years. As your heads of houses, it is our responsibility to oversee your work at Hogwarts. Anything beyond that, though, is indefinite. Professor Snape?"

Snape looked coldly in the general direction of Malik.

"You will need to excel in Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Charms, at the very least. They require at least five N.E.W.T.s. The more you get, the better. To get into my N.E.W.T. class, you need to have scored an 'Outstanding' in your O.W.L. Which I've seen you've all accomplished," he added sourly.

"Having heard all of this, do you all still wish to become Aurors?" asked Dumbledore.

"Sure," Malik shrugged. "Why not? I mean, it can't be THAT bad."

"I... think he's speaking for all of us on that," Yugi concluded.

"Very well. Now, this leads us to the next reason we are all here. And this is where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco will come in. Two years ago, the Dark Lord was resurrected once more. Last year, he found inside ways to infiltrate our group and cause pain and injury. He finally struck at the end of the school term. And this year, he is after you – and that's why you are here at Hogwarts. We will need to prevent the same thing from happening again." He sighed and glanced at Snape, although the only ones to notice were Ryou, Malik, and Seto.

"As tough as it may be, my plan is to start up Occlumency lessons again."

Dumbledore's words seemed to echo in Harry's head. Occlumency. Occlumency. He had been forced to take it last year when he started having visions and painful insights into Voldemort's plans. And he had failed to try. He had failed to save Sirius, falling for one of Voldemort's mind tricks instead. Now, all of his friends were being roped into it too. This year, he vowed, this year, he would try as hard as he could. He did not catch the worried looks Ron and Hermione gave him.

"Occlumency..." Seto said quietly, "That's a very unclear branch of magic... It helps set up a barrier in a mind to protect against external access.... Is that right?"

"That is correct. Although there is no telling if Voldemort will try to attempt it again... we must be prepared this time, though. Through Harry, and the bond that you all share, he will be capable of breaking into your minds."

::I doubt it.::

:I'm not so sure, 'Kura...:

"Both Professor Snape and I will be managing lessons," Dumbledore was saying. "We will set a time later. This is mandatory, as you are the ones that Voldemort is after. If we barricade your minds from him, then he will not be able to harm any other students or find valuable information. Not in this way, at least."

"So..." Ryou said hesitantly, "what do we do during these sessions?"

"I'm sure you'll find out soon." Without giving anyone else time to speak, he said briskly, "It is getting late. You'll need to get to sleep soon. Your N.E.W.T. classes have been arranged. Expect your schedules on Monday like the rest of the student body. As for Occlumency, you will all receive memos including the time and date your lessons will take place. Draco, I'll need to talk to you separately."

This was all said with finality, and they were soon shown the door.

"Sheesh!" Malik grumbled. "You'd think that after all these years, that guy would at least learn some manners! He was just kicking us out. Again!"

"Yes, yes, we know," Hermione said. "I just don't understand why he called all of us there. I assume Draco's going to be taking Occlumency too, but... why talk to him separately?"

At this, Harry and Ron exchanged guilty looks.

"Oh well," she went on. "I suppose we should just go to our common rooms. There's no telling how long he'll be...."

[1] Doshite – Why

[2] Nani – What

[3] Hai – Yes

Grr... I did it again! I almost completely forgot about this... T.T And school has also started, so I'll be trying to manage both at the same time. This was a pretty uneventful – and short – chapter. But keep in mind, all my extracurricular activities are starting now. sigh And the Draco/Hermione thing is still pretty indefinite. When I have time, I'll go back and count every single vote. And I won't mess up this time. Promise. I think....

Anywho, I'm a techie this year! Yay! And I get to be in it with one of my best friends, Anna-chan! Go check out her stories. Her pen name is: Slithers. We get to wear all black, and work the sounds and lights, and make the props and stuff. It's going to be awesome! Especially since we'll have a new auditorium and everything. So starting in October, I'll have afterschool rehearsals with the actors. Encore (our top acting group) will be doing Canterbury Tales. It'll be even harder to keep up with ! Uh oh...

But I'll try. I really will.

So... fare thee well, and may thy journey be successful! (That's from Anna.)

"Give me your homework or I'll poke you in the stomach with this french fry!" (That's also from Anna.)

DON'T MELT INTO AN ICECUBE AND GO TO SLEEP! AND DON'T USE PLASTIC CAULDRONS, SNAPE! THEY WILL MELT WHEN YOU PUT THEM IN THE MICROWAVE!

Sapphire: o.O She has cracked....

Silver: I CRACKED A LONG TIME AGO!