It was already nighttime when the mechanical voice announced their arrival at Hogwarts was supposed to happen in five minutes of time. Yami, Yugi, Joey and Tristan were already into their robes long before that had happened. The sky outside the window was clear like glass mirror and it was full with millions of twinkling stars.
"…Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately" the voice across the train finished.
Yugi's face took a worried expression.
"But…what about Billy?" he asked
"I'm sure he'll be fine Yugi" Yami said smiling, "I guess they will take good care of him"
"Yeah, don't sweat it, Yug'" Joey said too, winking, "Luggage and pets are taken to school separately. Dis is how's done 'ere!"
"O-Okay" Yugi agreed.
He didn't seem so sure about it yet. He took a last glance at the small cage of his new pet rat and sighed
"I guess…" he added
He gulped then once. Yami knew exactly how Yugi felt. He too had his guts lurched with nerve by just imagining what could be possibly waiting for him in that enormous castle that was coming all the more closer to him. He could tell that even Joey and Tristan were hardly containing themselves in excitement (not that Joey was doing much to conceal it anyway)
"Well…I guess this is it" Yami said beaming excitedly, "Let's go!"
And all four of them joined the rest of the crowd that was thronging the corridor and inside the babbling and confused noises coming from their mixed talks…
The train finally seemed to have started to slow down till it finally stopped and people (our friends included) started pushing their way to the exit impatiently through the narrow train door to the small, dark platform. Yami, Yugi, Joey and Tristan were still packed within the final space before the exit and they could hardly breathe freely by the huge amount or pressure they were receiving from the crowd that had also packed itself within that small space. Yami spotted a familiar trench-coat-dressed figure by the small window.
"That's Titan!" he said
"Where?" Yugi asked, naturally having his nose literally squeezed against Yami's back so he couldn't see a thing, not to mention he was already getting annoyed, by the fact he was so small-sized for his age.
"There, at the platform" Yami said again
They didn't have the time to speak much cause some people behind them were apparently growing impatient because the queue was given a hard push from somewhere inside the train and the small gang technically was…forced through the exit. Yugi was not prepared for Yami's "barrier back" to be lost from before him so suddenly. As a result he stumbled forward and he found himself at a small free-fall from the train's high stairs that were separating the high wagon from the cold platform. He gasped and fell but his hands instinctively searched to grab onto something. And that "something" was a Hogwarts's cloak. The small sound of a nearly torn material was heard over the talking.
"Hey!" was heard a protest and Yugi got that it wasn't Yami's cloak the one he had grabbed onto.
In the beginning he would have apologized but at the most critical time his English abandoned him so he said bowing his head:
"G-Gomen!"
He looked up and gasped to see the really annoyed expression on the boy's face. He looked to be the same age as Yami, though a few inches taller. His skin was tanned as if he had just come out of a solarium or anything and his eyes were like a pair of sharp, violet glass. His hair had the color of wet sand and was falling on his forehead, gracefully. The boy raised a brow. Seeing the annoyed expression on his face Yugi realized he hadn't spoken the correct language so he rushed to correct his mistake.
"I-I mean…I'm sorry…I…I didn't mean to… OUCH!" this time it was another child bumping into him causing him for one more time lose balance and stable forward now stepping over the edge of the child's cloak.
"Watch it, you idiot!" the boy said again in frustration snapping his cloak away from Yugi's sole, "You'll ruin my new cloak!"
"I-I'm sorry…" Yugi's face was all flushed red in embarrassment, "It…it was an accident…"
The boy didn't seem satisfied cause he growled deeply in his throat and Yugi could distinguish words coming through his clenched teeth about "careless, blind idiots" over the ear-piercing whistle and shrieking of the train and the constant talking all around him. He was ready to apologize again when:
"Something wrong, Namu?" there was a third voice
Yugi snapped his head upwards to see an even taller child but he couldn't help but gasp at his appearance. The word "scary" didn't seem enough to describe him. He had the same color of skin and hair as the boy before him (the one that was addressed as Namu) and he even had the same color of eyes, but his eyes were like a pair of dull glass, worn off by the merciless touch of time and their color was barely visible as if they were about to turn completely vacant anytime soon. His hair was also crazy-like and tame less, sticking out of his head towards all directions.
His face had an annoyed expression as well but that wasn't the scary part. That would be the veins, that were sticking out of his cheeks and cheekbones and his sharp gaze. He looked the same age as the child he had stumbled on, maybe a year older.
"Oh, big bro" the child named Namu said bored with a barely noticeable accent to his voice, "Nothing really. This careless mouse nearly tore my cloak. Twice"
"I-It was an accident…" Yugi stuttered again in a small voice cringing in fear in front of the new child.
He was about half head taller than Namu and a bit better built. He seemed like one of those evil wizards he had read about in fairy tales when he was a baby when the older child walked closer to him, constantly looking downwards so their eyes would meet, with his hands crossed over his chest.
"You better watch it, kid!" he said and Yugi realized in his fear that he too had some accent in his voice, "You don't want to mess with the wrong guys here!"
Yugi gasped (and then sighed in relief) when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see that the iron grip belonged to Yami.
"Is there a problem here?" he asked glaring daggers at the pair that –as it seemed- were brothers
"Ah! Two crazy-haired guys to complete my day!" Namu said snorting in disapproval as if he had just smelt something stinky.
"If you have something against my brother, go ahead and say it!" Yami continued coolly but barely holding his temper, "But say it alone without bringing reinforcements! If you insist on that, you'll have to speak with me too!"
"And what are you? His bodyguard?" the crazy-haired boy said again, "Back off, Spike-head. This doesn't involve you!"
"It DOES when it has to do with my brother! And cut the nickname thing!" Yami started losing his temper already
They seemed ready to get on a fight but then another voice interrupted them (in flawless British accent).
"Now, now…you two this is enough"
The two brothers –as it seemed to be- they turned around to see yet another person dressed in Hogwarts's robes. He too seemed around Yami's age. His skin was pale and his hair was pure white like fresh-fallen snow. The tips of his tame less hair seemed like silver under the faint light of the platform. His eyes were in the color of milk chocolate but hid neither warmth nor pleasant feelings. A grin seemed to have frozen to his face, revealing his well shaped, white teeth. Namu and the crazy-haired guy snorted.
"You stay out of this Bakura" Namu said in boredom, "This squid nearly torn my robes! He doesn't even pay attention where he is walking on!"
"Now, now…" Bakura repeated again, grinning in amusement, "I think it is you two who should stop, Namu, Marik. We're supposed to be…nice with the newcomers"
Something in his voice and the way he said the word "nice" didn't sound right to Yami's ears and felt the blood running hot to his head in anger.
"Why should we listen to you, now? This is our matter!" the other one –proved to be named Marik- said
"Well" Bakura shrugged, "Your choice to listen to me or not. But I wouldn't give too much fuss about it if I were you. They're not worth the time after all"
That, made Yami glare even more feeling the strong urge to punch the person standing there.
"What did you say!?" he exclaimed angrily.
The person addressed as Bakura turned his head at him with a mocking expression.
"You two…just constantly looking around, having no idea even where you're looking at? You must be Muggles!"
All Yami could do against that "accusation" was to narrow his eyes further.
"Not to mention" Bakura kept on, "The style of yours. You don't even seem local" and then he added more sarcastically, "Nice hair by the way!" earning yet another glare from Yami, "You do not even seem British. Where are you from?"
"Japan" Yugi stuttered
"Japan huh?" Bakura grinned again, "Interesting. I am British." he said, "What brings you two here then? Shouldn't you be to a Japanese magic school or anything? Did you get a transfer here?"
"That's none of your business!" Yami snapped again
"And you" he said again coming closer to Yami, so close that their noses were almost touching each other. He was a few inches taller than Yami but Yami could still smell his breath on his face, "I've never seen you before… If you ARE a wizard then you look too old to be a freshman. What happened? Failed your exams on first year before they started?"
The chuckle of the other two made Yami almost tearful in anger.
"I said that's none of your business!"
The reaction earned him a chuckle from Bakura (naturally) that made him even angrier than before.
"Fine, fine, calm down Spike-head. You look ready to burst into tears!" Bakura scoffed, "Alright let's introduce ourselves properly then. These are Namu and Marik Ishtar. They are from Egypt originally" he said pointing each of the two brothers standing behind him, "And I'm Bakura. Just Bakura"
Yami's lips formed a smirk.
"What? No surname?"
"My surname is not necessary really. It's the same as my first name. Funny isn't it?" Bakura was still grinning in amusement, not at all bothered by his so-called self-sarcasm
"You have Japanese name and surname" Yami stated as a matter of fact, "Why?"
"Sharp mind" Bakura said once again sarcastically, "My father originally was from Japan but I grew up in England. I live in England since the day I was born. That makes me British"
Yami was ready to answer that he would care less where this boy was from or what his name was and that he would meet him at the back of the school anytime with pleasure –even if he were against unnecessary violence- but Joey and Tristan who approached the spot interrupted him.
"Hey Yug', Yami. What 's it?"
Yami looked at them and then glared at Bakura wishing really hard that his self-control wouldn't betray him now and so he wouldn't show his tears to this person and ruin his dignity.
"No" he finally said satisfied that his voice didn't crack, "Nothing"
Bakura's face was still grinning in amusement. As if he was seeing some joke only he could understand. The expression reminded of Yami the cat that looks at the mouse waiting so it will run away and so the cat will then catch it again only to let go once more and continue this game barely to enjoy her victim's despair and false hope.
"I think we've gathered quite a lot of people here" he commented
"Why don't you shut up, White-haired?" Joey said aggressively. He seemed ready to start a fight already.
"Oi, calm down Joey. They're not worth it" Tristan pointed out as he held onto Joey's shoulder.
"Ts ts ts…" Marik shook his head in a very well pretended disappointment, "freshmen these days! They don't know their position!"
It took a little more strength upon Joey's shoulder by Tristan's hand in order for Joey to be stopped from rushing upon Marik. The train whistled once more right behind them.
"Well then" Bakura said as if nothing happened, "We better end this small joke cause we need to be at Grand Hall soon. You freshmen wait here for someone to pick you up." They turned their backs at them starting walking away. A little before doing so, Bakura glanced over his shoulder at Yami, "See you there" he said to them and walked away.
"Humph! Slytherin scum!" Tristan snorted
"Slytherin?" Yugi questioned
"Yeah. They had the Slytherin crest on their robes"
Yami glared once more towards the leaving trio's direction. If that was how all Slytherin were like, then he wouldn't want even to pass by their door. He shivered a little at the cold night air. Then he saw a lamplight coming through the mist of the steam coming from the train and soon he heard a familiar voice:
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"
They didn't have to guess to remember that raspy voice, but even if they needed to, they could simply turn their heads towards the voice's direction and spot the enormous man with the saggy hair and beard coming at them holding a lamp.
"Firs' years! All 'ere to me!" Hagrid said
"Hey! It's Hagrid!" Yugi said happily, his pace already beaming in happiness to see him and the next moment he ran to him, forgetting his previous scare or his shyness.
"Wow! He's huge!" Joey commented and he couldn't help but stare up.
Hagrid's haired face smiled over the sea of heads below his waist and at the spiky-haired boy coming at him.
"Hey there, lads! Well c'mon Firs' years! Don't be shy! All ta me!"
More and more heads joined the previous ones.
"Oi, mind yer step 'ere! Now… Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling but most of all practically marching to follow the giant's large steps, they all followed Hagrid down to what seemed to be a narrow path. It was hard to tell because only the beam of light from Hagrid's lamp was illuminating their way and it was dark from either side of it. It seemed to Yami, though, like a dark cocoon that was surrounding them, leaving a good view of the starlight above. Sure the trees looked like they were thick and perhaps hundreds of years old.
No body really felt the urge to say something in the silence of the night. The one or two whispers that were heard from time to time didn't even count as disturbances of the silence. Only their footsteps on the stones of the path were echoing rhythmically constantly without a pause.
"Now, now, be careful ev'ry one!" Hagrid's voice said once again from the head of this parade, "Ye' all get yer' firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec" He then called over his shoulder; "jus' around the bend there!"
If Yami could express the whisper of astonishment that left everyone's lips (magic or Muggle-born) he wouldn't be able to express it to its fullest. The narrow path had opened at the edge of an enormous black take. Perched atop a high mountain (as if it came out of a Knight Medieval novel), on the other side its windows glowing in a fire-orange-red color in the starlight with the black of the sky as background, was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a vast, huge castle. Its many towers and turrets seemed to be tearing the sky above to shreds or at least like they wanted to.
"Now ge' on the boats!" Hagrid's thunder-strong voice was heard again and he pointed to a fleet of little boats sitting –patiently, you'd say- in the water close to the shore.
One by one the children started getting on the boats, sometimes determined sometimes shyly and some other times a bit with fear while Hagrid's voice was guiding them:
"No more'n four to the boat! Careful there, lad"
Yami, Yugi, Tristan and Joey were exactly the number needed so they settled themselves within a boat while Yami held on a small lamp at the edge of the boat to illuminate their way. He was surprised to see no oars to either side of the boat. He made an attempt to ask how they were supposed to drive the boat but Hagrid was busy helping the others and since no one paid attention to him, he stopped, waiting impatiently for his question to be answered in due time.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, sitting himself within a boat too –of course he had it all to himself- "Right then…FORWARD!"
And the entire flee of boats started off at once, to Yami's great surprise and relief, gliding across the smooth like glass mirror lake, following Hagrid's one. Everyone seemed too astonished to speak and was constantly staring up at the castle that appeared to come closer and closer and grow bigger and bigger as they sailed neared to the cliff, which it stood on.
There was yet another warning from Hagrid "Heads down!" as the boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads almost in complete union as the little boats carried them through an ivy curtain that hid a large, long and dark tunnel at the cliff's face.
The tunnel seemed like it was leading them below the castle. Yami's hands holding onto the lamp were shaking in anticipation, already too sweaty and his knuckles had turned white by the amount of strength he was using; His numb fingers sometimes clenching and unclenching the stick of the lamp. This trip in the darkness lasted very little and finally the boats reached some short of underground harbor and they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
After a short pause for Hagrid to count the small heads beneath his waistline and make sure everyone had reached the spot, they clambered up to a passageway, following Hagrid's lamplight, coming out to smooth grass at the shadow of the castle. Yami hoped he were a cat or a tiger or some similar animal so he could open his eyes even wider than they were, to take in the entire castle, he couldn't stop staring at. The majestic sight was making his heart hammering against his ribs and his stomach having countless butterflies flattering in it. They walked a bit further on stone steps only to be crowded before the huge, oak, front door.
Hagrid raised his giant fist to knock onto the door three times. The banging sound, Yami thought, was no different than the sound of his heart. On the contrary, he could swear his heart was beating louder than that…
The door swung open and once (Yami was starting getting used to such things). There, at the entrance a tall man was standing. He was dressed in a long trench coat and the mask and the hat he was wearing covered his face.
"Titan!" Yami called out
"Ya know da guy?" Joey asked
"Yes. He's the one who brought us here"
Titan Darkwaters was standing there in his entire enormous height waiting expressionless for the new students to come closer.
"Lads, here's Hogwarts's In Charge for External Affairs, Titan Darkwaters" Hagrid introduced them to him. He then turned back at Titan and said, "They're all yours, T'an" Hagrid said and Yami could see he was only half-serious.
"Thank you, Rubeus Hagrid" Titan said in his most formal tone
"He's huge!" Joey whispered to Tristan and Yami close to him, "Well…he too…"
"Titan Darkwaters" a familiar voice was heard behind their shoulders.
They turned their heads to see Rebecca Hopkins's blonde hair and smart eyes staring at Titan.
"I've read a file about him" she continued, fixing her glasses upon her nose, "He is in charge for the external affairs of Hogwarts. His duties mostly include bringing back to Hogwarts undisciplined students or rule-breakers. However I believe it is possible for him to accompany first years here too"
The gang looked at each other and probably Joey was ready to tell her that no body asked her or probably ask her how she knew all that but Titan's voice covered every whisper that probably started.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"
He then opened the rest of the doors wide and said:
"Follow me, please"
The many children, still too astonished to utter a word, followed him inside, our friends included. The entrance hall was so big that Yami could easily compare its size with a shopping center in Tokyo. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches (Yami kind of saw that coming) and the ceiling was five times taller than anything else Yami had seen before but also ten times more impressive. The magnificent, suited-for-a-king staircase led them to the upper floors.
They followed Titan across the stone floor however they stopped to a small part of the hall and so everyone got crowded there, exchanging confused or sometimes uneasy glances.
"Now" Titan turned around to face his audience, "You will join your new classmates in the Great Hall shortly but first you must be Shorted to your Houses. As you already know there are four of them; Griffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin." He said the words Yami and Yugi had already heard coming out of his mouth, "For as long as you will attend classes here, your House will be like your family. You will attend classes together, you will sleep in your House Dormitory and you will pass your free time in your House's Common Room.
While you are here your triumphs will earn you House Points and with your rulebreaking you'll lose points. At the end of the year the House with the most points will be awarded with the House Cup."
The word "award" caused some reaction in the children's audience since one or two started already whispering with each other.
"I hope" Titan's voice again surpassed the whispers, "that you will have a good start in this school"
Yami felt as nervous as he had never felt before. How were they supposed to be Shorted to their Houses? That was something he had forgotten to ask Titan for. Was that some kind of test? But he didn't know any magic. He tried to show his calm and excited face (the excitement wasn't hard to show) but it was hard not to feel nervous. The butterflies in his stomach seemed to have increased and gone berserk while flattering. What if he failed the test since, as so many people had said, his powers as wizard had showed two years later than the usual?
"Please prepare your minds and wait here for a second…"
Then, to Yami's great surprise, Titan walked to him and said.
"You come with me for a second…"
Yami felt so astonished that he didn't even ask for details, yet alone to resist. He barely asked.
"Why?"
To receive the answer; "You'll see" before following Titan down to some corridors.
They walked down to a dark corridor. It was as if the lights were out deliberately.
"Lumos" Titan whispered and from the edge of his wand a small light appeared, illuminating their way
They walked down the corridor to something that looked like dungeons. They got in.
"Headmistress McGonagall" Titan said, "I am sorry to bother you but I brought you the boy I gave you the report about"
"Thank you Mister Darkwaters" there was a high-pitched voice
Yami gulped nervously. There was a woman dressed in emerald robes and a pointy hat. She had a stern look on her face that gave Yami the first impression that she wouldn't smile at them at anything, however when he observed her eyes better, he saw a trustworthy and deep inside warm person. Headmistress McGonagall had dark gray hair that had started to turn white. She seemed old but not that much. She sat upon a desk chair and signaled for Yami and Titan to come closer, that they did.
"So this is the boy" she said and then looked at Yami, "What's your name?"
"It's Yami. Yami Muto"
"Well, Mister Muto, in the years I work in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry I have never seen such thing before. How old are you?"
"Thirteen" Yami replied once more
"Incredible. This child should have been in Third-Years by now"
Yami felt a knob in his throat. Was that indeed a bad thing? Would that affect his studies? Did that mean he couldn't attend his classes?
"P-Professor…" He stuttered, "Does that mean I am…w-worse than the other students?" he swallowed hard to stop himself from getting emotional or desperate, "Does it mean I cannot attend in classes? That I must leave?"
McGonagall took an expression as if she couldn't believe in her ears.
"Leave? Of course not, my child. You will attend the ceremony normally. No matter what happens or what the situation is, you are still considered a student in this school and I will do anything in my power to help you. However you must promise me to work hard"
Yami sighed in relief and cracked a small smile.
"Thank you Professor McGonagall. Thank you so much. I won't let you down. I promise!" he said with flaming passion.
McGonagall smiled. It was hard for Yami to interpret her smile but he could think that it was a smile, which hid a secret admiration behind, as if she was seeing inside Yami's eyes someone she hadn't met for so long ago. Yami and Headmistress of Hogwarts exchanged a handshake and Titan took Yami out of the room to leave McGonagall prepare herself for the ceremony. Soon they went back to where the others were waiting and they seemed to be growing impatient. They barely have noticed Yami's absence, lost in their own worries.
"I am sorry to make you wait" Titan said. He then turned to everyone, "Form a line and follow me, please" Titan told the first years.
There was a quite loud rumble as the students tried to line-up in their small space and they finally formed their lines. Yami took his place next to Yugi having Joey and Tristan right behind them, while in front of him he had a boy with curly, red hair. Lined-up as they were, they made their way out of the small chamber, back in the hallway and after that through two double doors into the Great Hall.
The sight was by far the strangest and also the most magnificent and extraordinary thing Yami had seen in his life. The Great Hall was huge and splendid. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles, that were floating in midair over four extremely long tables where the rest of the students were sitting. The plates and goblets (yes, there were goblets everywhere) had a gold color. At the top of the Hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Yami could see people dressed in strange clothes. He also spotted Hagrid sitting among them.
In the middle of them there was Headmistress McGonagall looking at the students. Titan stopped and so the line of freshmen following him came to a halt in front of the teachers' table. Titan gave a small yet formal bow to her and then turned around to face all the students waiting to be Shorted.
Yami looked up to see a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars.
"Wow" he heard Rebecca's whisper somewhere close to him, "So this is the famous bewitched ceiling. It is made like this so it will be like the sky outside. I've read about it"
"Me too" Yami whispered back, suddenly feeling the urge to prove his knowledge and feel some of his previously damaged pride returning, "I've read about it in a book talking about Hogwarts History"
He caught a glance with the corner of his eye of Rebecca's face pouting that someone else had known something she was hoping to be the only one who knew. Nevertheless Yami was completely astonished and impressed by the fact that it didn't look like a ceiling at all. It mostly looked like Hogwarts School was open to heavens above.
"We're lucky no wax has dropped on us yet!" he heard Joey whispering kidding and he chuckled at that.
He looked forward once more, watching Titan placing a four-legged stool in front of the first years' audience. On top of that stool was placed an old, pointy wizard's hat (like those mentioned in children's stories). It was patched, old and dirty however something on it drew Yami. It was as if it was irradiating a mystical aura. He also noticed that everyone in that Hall had turned their eyes –and ears no doubt- towards the hat. And then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened as though it were a mouth and the hat…began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find,
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Shorting Hat,
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head,
The Shorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you,
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Griffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry Set Griffindors apart.
You might belong at Hufflepuff,
Where they're just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you have a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind.
Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I am a Thinking Cap!"
The Hall audience, teachers and students, burst into applauding after the Hat finished its song. The Hat bowed its…head in return and became pretty much still once more.
"Well…from what I've heard I'll be in Hufflepuff…" Yugi mumbled half-kidding, "I cannot come up with anything else…"
Yami gave him a small smile. He wasn't feeling at all easy though. In fact he could see that almost everyone would occasionally take a glance at him. He was one of the tallest people in there and obviously looked older than any of them. For sure they had come to the conclusion he was older than them and yet he was standing among first years. Not to mention that having everyone looking at him while being Shorted in his House was causing him feeling of both nervousness and excitement.
Titan walked forward and took hold of the hat with one of his enormous hands while with the other he opened a long scroll.
"Now I will call upon your names. Whoever listens his or her name will step forward and the Shorting Hat will put him or her to the right House."
He held the scroll up and red a name.
"Penelope Longbones!"
A short and kind of plump girt with reddish hair tied up in ponytail stepped forward, blushing shyly pink and stumbled towards the stool. She sat on it and Titan placed the hat upon her head.
"Ha…" the Hat whispered, "I know…clear as day! HUFFLEPUFF!"
The students sitting at the table on the right started applauding and cheering at Penelope who walked across the room to take a seat among Hufflepuffs.
"Trevor Forest!" Titan called again
A boy with short, dark hair and eyes stepped forward and sat upon the stool.
"RAVENCLAW!" the Hat called and so the boy joined the cheering Ravenclaw table
The names kept on being heard and Yami was feeling his nervousness growing more and more. Yugi was also holding Yami's hand for dear life and Yami could feel how sweaty his clenched little hands were in his.
"Rebecca Hopkins!"
Rebecca drew a deep breath and stepped forward to sit upon the stool and soon the Hat was placed upon her blonde head.
"Ah!" the Hat said, "It couldn't be clearer! RAVENCLAW!"
A smug smile crept on Rebecca's lips as she scuttled off to join the Ravenclaw table.
"Joey Wheeler!"
Joey tensed when heard his name and stepped forward trying to extend his chest like a peacock and seem more calm than he actually was (probably failing tragically). Soon the Hat was upon his own blonde head.
"I know…GRIFFINDOR!" the Hat called upon and Joey breathed out in relief before running at the cheering Griffindors.
"Tristan Taylor"
Tristan too walked at the stool and was really glad to hear the shorting Hat announcing:
"GRIFFINDOR!"
"Tomas Backer"
And for him the Shorting Hat said:
"SLYTHERIN!"
Yugi was clenching Yami's hand all the more tightly.
"Oi, Yugi, otsitsukete…" he whispered to him
Yugi gave a small smile to his brother.
"Gomen" he whispered back releasing his strong grip
"Ryou Bakura" suddenly Titan called
The name stroke Yami like a thunderbolt and turned around to see a boy stepping though the sea of children. He was tall and thin and pale like moonlight itself. His hair was long and tame-less and also white like snow. His eyes were a pair of warm chocolate-colored orbs that hid so much sadness that Yami could sense the tears in them already. The boy seemed completely lost in his world and not nervous at all. He simply walked like a ghost towards the stool and sat upon it quietly. The Hat was placed upon his head. Yami observed the boy's expression. It hadn't changed at all. He was sitting there, quietly and patiently. He looked like Bakura and had the same name as Bakura but he looked different like day and night with Bakura they'd met.
"Could it be they are siblings or something…?" he thought
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Shorting Hat called out without hesitation
Without showing any pleasure or sadness (at least any more sadness), Ryou Bakura got off the stool and walked calmly at the table of Hufflepuffs, taking his seat.
"Yugi Muto" Titan's voice drew Yami's attention to the stool again
He heard Yugi's breath being caught in his throat. He gave him a small encouraging smile and a small push to make him step forward.
"Good luck!" he whispered with his lips without making any sound
Gulping and looking as if he was about to have a heart attack, Yugi walked with small and mechanical steps and climbed upon the stool. He seemed uneasy even to settle himself on it. Titan placed the Hat on his head. Yami smiled at the thought that it was a miracle the Hat fitted on Yugi's spiky hair.
"Ah! Here's a nervous one!" the Shorting Hat whispered after a small pause, "Alright…better be…GRIFFINDOR!"
Yugi's face beamed happily and once the hat was removed from his head he practically ran towards the table to join Joey and Tristan who were applauding him as if in ecstasy. Yami smiled proudly at his brother when he saw him among others like that and he felt kind of jealous he wasn't among them too already. His smile faded and gave its place to a frowned face when he spotted Namu, Marik and Bakura at Slytherin table grinning in amusement. The names kept on coming one after the other and every name was adding more nervousness to that it was piled inside Yami already. Finally he was the only one left. Titan held the scroll up and said;
"Yami Muto"
All heads turned upon the last student, the one who looked so older than the others. Yami, feeling his heart hammering against his ribs so hard that the sound alone seemed able to break the bones from inside and his stomach feeling tied in a knob as if he had swallowed a grand stone whole, stepped forward and sat himself upon the stool and he felt as if the stool had nails on it. The Hat soon got lowered upon his spiky head.
"Hmm" the Hat sounded as doubtful as it hadn't been heard before, "Difficult…very difficult…" it kept on mumbling and Yami swore he could listen to the whisper in his ear, "…I haven't seen such difficult mind for so long time… Plenty of courage I see in here…yes…and wisdom… Self-confidence I see…at the point of arrogance maybe and a strong thirst to prove yourself… I see determination…yes…and a hate to lose or being underestimated…but where…to put you…?"
Yami clenched the edges of the stool he was sitting on already feeling that his nervousness had given him enough boost of strength he could break it with just his fingers. He heard whispers from Slytherin table and he didn't need many moments to understand who was talking:
"Imagine what would happen if our hero went to Hufflepuff!" Marik whispered to the person next to him causing a small wave of chuckle between them
"Oh, shut up!" Joey snapped at them over his shoulder from his seat, "Yami's gonna be in Griffindor with us! You'll see!"
Meanwhile the Hat kept on its constant mumbling, driving Yami to the brick of brain-stroke from agony.
"Where to put you…? The wits I see…yes…and the desire to protect…I see strong sense of justice…hmm…and also the strong desire to climb up and show your true potential. I see the will to win…I wonder…which House is for you…?"
"Just get over with it already!" Yami whispered through clenched teeth feeling his patience had ran short half an hour ago.
"Okay…then…" and then the Hat yelled louder than it had done before that evening, "SLYTHERIN!"
Yami felt as if someone had stripped him naked out in the cold, emptied a bucket of icy-cold water upon him and then threw him in a pile of snow. He couldn't describe this with any better way. He could also see Yugi had gasped and half-raised himself from his chair, looking at him with his big eyes. Yami hardly felt himself getting off the stool and walking as if in a daze towards the Slytherin table and taking his seat there. He refused to look up at the others looking at him. Yami hated to lose and this was a loss no matter how he looked at it.
He had lost the chance to be with his brother in the same dorm, he was chosen for the dorm he was hoping most of everything else in the world not to be in and the cherry on top was the fact he was sitting at the same table he had hated at very first sight. Deep inside he knew it was stupid to think so over-dramatically but still he couldn't help but feel angry tears burning his eyes, threatening to flow and it took all his willpower to hold them back. He felt as if he had lost the ground below his feet. There was the jingle sound of the spoon upon McGonagall's glass goblet.
"Your attention please" she announced in her well-known –now- voice. She then rose from her seat and said, "So let the dinner begin"
And out of nowhere the plates on the tables that were empty and clean the moment before, got full with food. Yugi's jaw dropped open as well as Joey's and Tristan's, who seemed like great food-lovers. Yami too, couldn't help but blink in surprise. He had never seen so much food in such a variety all in one table. There were; roast beef and chicken, pork and lamb chops, sausages, potatoes of every kind, bacon, steak, carrots and lettuce salads, gravy and many other things.
Most of the students were already piling their plates with food (Tristan and Joey put in their place with pretty much everything) and beginning to eat. If Yami too wasn't feeling like starved to death, he wouldn't have the heart for food. However he put in his plate a few things and started to eat. He was eating pretty fast as usually.
"Hungry, aren't we, Old Newcomer?" he heard one of the Slytherins saying
Yami raised his head from his plate to glare at the one who had spoken.
"Hey, leave him alone, will you?" he heard a female voice across the table. He looked towards that direction to see a tall woman with scandalously large breasts and rich blonde hair glaring at the boy who had spoken with her arms crossed over her chest.
To Yami's surprise, the boy simply snorted and spoke no more.
Suddenly something happened in the back of the room that made everyone to the front jerk up almost a foot from their seats. Someone at the back of the Great Hall screamed.
"What the-"
Yami too, even in his broken spirit state gasped. Ghosts, many of them appeared out of nowhere, passing through the floors or the doors or walls, streaming non-stop to join the festivities. Pearly-white and slightly transparent they glided across the Great Hall. First Years seemed astonished but most of students appeared to having fun. They were even greeting them like old friends. Some of the ghosts were coming close to the tables, welcoming the new students. Yami stopped paying attention and returned back at eating. The food was delicious but the day's events had made them leave a taste of ashes in his mouth. When the main courses were over, the food disappeared in thin air to give its place to deliciously looking desserts.
After some time they were all fed and content and the desserts also disappeared. Yami was feeling his fatigue –increased by the sad fact that took place before- he had started to get sleepy. However he was also impatient. He was hoping the feast to stop anytime soon so he could talk to Professor McGonagall. Perhaps she could transfer him to Griffindor House, so he could be with his brother again. Then, professor McGonagall rose from her seat once more and everyone fell silent.
"Your attention please" she said, "I have a few start-of-term notices to announce you. First of all the Forbidden Forest is strictly off limits to all students with no exceptions. Also please note that no magic is allowed outside classes, included corridors of this school. Also I would like to remind you a few things about our school. As you know the past years Hogwarts School has become also an Academy for all students who wish to continued a career as teachers of Magic. This gives me the opportunity to introduce to first years the distinguished students of our school"
She made a pause and continued.
"First we start off from Ravenclaw. Please Mister Seto Kaiba stand and present yourself, please"
A tall, brunette boy rose from his seat so everyone could see him. He was quite impressive. He looked to be too around thirteen or fourteen but his body and icy-blue eyes were making him look more mature than that.
"That guy!" Yami heard a whisper close to him, "Seto Kaiba. It is said to have the better grades in Ravenclaw House and he is a top-student in Defense Against The Dark Arts class. He's so cool!"
The person the boy had whispered to nodded his head.
"Yeah" he agreed, "The only one who can probably compete him in his dorm is…"
"Thank you Mister Kaiba. Now please Miss Ishizu Ishtar do the same" McGonagall's voice said.
Kaiba sat to his seat and a tall, tanned woman rose from her seat. She looked a bit older than Kaiba (around 16 years of age) with long raven-black hair and deep blue eyes. Yami was shocked to hear the surname. It was the same as the two other foes. Namu and Marik.
"Her!" the boy finished his previous sentence, "Ishizu Ishtar. She is the best student Professor Trelawney ever had. Some people say she even surpassed her!"
"No kidding… Ishizu Ishtar. I heard about the Ishtar family. She is the oldest one. She has two younger brothers, Marik and Namu."
"Didn't she have an older brother too?"
"No. That was adopted. Rishid Ishtar was adopted. Anyway where was I? Oh, right. Well they are all originally Egyptians but Ishizu was located in England when she first received her letter so she came to Hogwarts so her brothers followed her. They are all Purebloods but their family isn't one of the well-named ones"
"Why not?"
"They say…" the voice became even lower, "They say that they were born of incest!"
"Eww!" was the reaction but nevertheless the young woman took her seat once more at Professor McGonagall's signal.
"Next will be Griffindor. Mister David Cromwell if you please"
A tall, well-built tanned man rose from his seat. He had smart blue eyes and black hair that reached down his shoulders. He sat back down as well.
"From Hufflepuff please rise Miss Victoria Seeker."
A tall lady with red hair and green eyes rose from her seat and sat back down.
"And finally from Slytherin, miss Mai Valentine"
To Yami's great surprise the previous sexy-blonde woman stood smirking smugly.
"Whoa! What a babe!" Yami heard Joey's voice
"Joey come to your senses!" a boy close to him scolded him, "She's good eight years older than you!"
"Oh, shut up!" Joey pouted, "You insult me!"
When Mai sat back down McGonagall said:
That was all I had to tell you. Whatever you need please speak with any of the students that now rose from their seats and of course all us teachers are at your disposal whenever you need us. Study well and enjoy your staying here." She smiled as an ending, "Thank you"
Soon followed a song most of older students knew. Even if it sounded more like a rumble and less than a song (since everyone sang it in different speed and style) however it was quite enjoyable. Finally the teachers rose from their seats and wished students goodnight. Students too rose almost in union.
"Griffindors come with me, please" David Cromwell said to the newcomers of Griffindors.
Following his example:
"Follow me, Ravenclaws." Seto Kaiba said, "Come on, we don't have all night"
"Hufflepuffs, with me"
"Come on, Slytherins" Mai winked, "Let's get going"
Everyone started following the elite students but Yami walked away from them and pushing his way through or avoiding the almost solid human river finally reached professor McGonagall.
"Please Professor McGonagall…if you have a moment…" Yami was talking to her but they haven't stopped marching and, surprisingly, Yami had to march fast to keep up with her.
"Not now, Yami" she said in a hurry
"Please!" Yami insisted, "There must be some mistake! I am not supposed to be in Slytherin… There must be something you can do"
"You were Shorted, Yami" McGonagall insisted
"Please, Professor McGonagall" Yami was almost at the point of begging, "I'm sure there must be something you can do"
For the first time McGonagall stopped her marching steps to touch his shoulder and look at him almost sympathetically and said:
"I-I can't, Yami. Once the Shorting Hat puts you in a House there is nothing I can do to change it. It is permanent and it cannot be changed. That's the Law."
Yami felt as if his last hope was turned into dust before his eyes.
"I'm sorry" and she left him alone in the corridor. Yami was left there like frozen, with all the passing by students sometimes bumping into his shoulder. Half-heartedly he did a half-turn and returned to Slytherins to follow them. Every nerve of his body was crying out "Unfair"
Slytherins were walking down the marble staircase now. Yami was the last in line but he was feeling like his legs were moving on their own. Nothing seemed to be amusing him anymore. Not even the moving paintings on the wall in which the figures were waving at them in a greeting way. Suddenly the stairway moved violently making others grab hold of the parapets for dear life.
"Oh!" Mai said chuckling, "I forgot. Be careful with the stairs newcomers! They like to change"
The stairs span around fast and Yami felt himself going dizzy but they finally stabilized again and so the children walked further. They reached a stonewall that looked like a dungeon-wall. Cold, dark, bare and humid; Just great, Yami thought bitterly.
"Pure-Blood" Mai Valentine chanted and the secret door, concealed under the stonewall, slid open with a rumbling sound.
Mai marched in and the group of First Years followed her. Slytherin Common Room was a long, low underground room with rough and naked stonewalls and ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging with chains. A fire was crackling under the elaborately curved mantelpiece ahead of them.
Yami sighed in frustration and disappointment. This place was dark, unfriendly. It looked more like a dungeon rather than a place where someone could pass his time beautifully.
"Now, now. Girls' dormitory is on the right and boys' on the left. You'll soon see your stuff was already transferred there. Go, go."
Then she gasped seeing Yami.
"Oh, goodness, I forgot about you. Well, there is a free bed but you must join some Third-Years. I guess you don't mind since you are of their age as well… Come on, I'll show you"
Yami hardly felt himself following. They passed through yet another oak door to enter a room with around six or ten canopy beds here and there. The beds were all dressed in green; the same green with the common room. Figures, Yami thought once again.
What truly made him feel that his day was ruined even further was the fact that on some beds around he spotted Namu and Bakura and to the last corner at the end of the room was Marik. Once he stepped within the room, the heads turned around to see him. Bakura's lips curved to form a grin.
"Well, well, well… Look who's here... The Big First Year!"
"Shut up Bakura" Mai said with nerve, "Give the guy a break"
Bakura smirked at her, not at all scared of her.
"Well, Valentine-prefect forgive me for my rudeness but it is true isn't it? In any case we'll see what he's worth of!"
Yami paid no mind to them. He had decided. Since his years in Hogwarts were supposed to be a living Hell, at least he would shut his ears to their bitter words or anything else and he would do what he had to. He walked to his bed giving the others one last glare. He found out that indeed his suitcases were there along with all the books he had bought in Diagon Alley plus a scarf with the colors of Slytherin House and the crest of the House. He sighed once more and wiped his eyes with his sleeve to lift the upcoming tears away and started to undress himself to change in his pajamas. He then got under the green covers and pulled them up to his ears, shutting his eyes close.
Only when lights were off, he allowed some angry tears escape his eyes and then he fell asleep…
Here is another chapter. I wanted to make it faster for a friend of mine (even if I was late again) but as you can see it is a huge chapter. It became longer than I have expected.
Yami and Yugi shorted to their houses. Yup! Yami is in Slytherin! Surprise?
Now for the chapter's details. I thank again our all so dear Harry Potter creator because she gave me the great help with the wonderful descriptions. I do not copy them because I want to but because I want to give the writer the proper credit, therefore I have used extremely the original writing of the writer to give her the proper credit and also to honor her and thank her for her writing.
For the Shorting Hat's song again I used the original song because I was hoping my story to get some of her awesomeness. I wanted to keep the original Harry Potter style but having the note of my Yugioh story as well. Descriptions were generally inspired by the first Book (Sorcerer's Stone) while the Slytherin Common Room was inspired by the description of Chamber of Secrets. Plus, the pictures in Pottermore were great of help too.
Yes Professor McGonagall is Headmistress now.
There are a few Japanese words here and there. Gomen means "Sorry" in Japanese and also what Yami says to Yugi Oi, Yugi, otsitsukete means Calm Down
For the name choices now, I wanted to have Marik and Yami Marik seperate here. Therefore I decided to name normal Marik, Namu (like he introduced himself in the original anime at first time) and Yami Marik as Marik. Also you got the chance to meet other characters as well.
Yes I know it sounds kinda silly to have Bakura be named "Bakura Bakura" but I didn't have much of a choice. You'll see later about him.
Also the room Yami was taken to, was inspired from the office Ron and Harry were taken after their arrival at Hogwarts in Chamber of Secrets where Snape scolded them for being seen by Muggles.
As for why I mentioned about the Ishtars being born by incest...I dunno why this random idea for rumor came to my mind. Just another straneg headcannon of mine I suppose.
I hope you liked it. Please if you read this, review me.
Harry Potter and Yu-Gi-Oh belong to their rightful owners!
Please do not use or copy any part of this writing without my permission. If you want to create art of it (pics, one-shot comics etc...) please give me credit and come to me giving me a link of your art so I can thank you properly and admire your work