He felt like floating. His senses seemed to be swimming as if someone had used drugs to get him sleep the night before. His head felt funny and heavy. Yami felt like he hardly got any sleep at all as his heavy eyelids started slowly to open to reveal his now black-rimmed violet eyes. Perhaps he hadn't slept after all. He slowly and a bit unwillingly started to sit up onto his bed. As the heavy bed cover slipped from his chest he felt the humidity piercing his bones. He realized he was shocked in sweat. He had fallen asleep with the covers pulled up to his ears despite the heat coming from the fireplace in the corner and so the high temperature combined with the moisture did wonders for his…personal sauna during the night.

He rubbed sleep off his eyes with his knuckles and was seriously trying to make his dizzy mind to work and figure out why on Earth there was such humidity in his and Yugi's room. Had he forgotten to close the window the night before and some midnight downpour made water enter their room? Or perhaps he had simply got hot during the night and it was just his sweat causing him this unpleasant feeling and his clothes stick onto his body. Once the sleep-fog cleared from his mind he started to remember. He was no longer in his home in Domino. He wasn't even in Japan anymore. He was in a magic school, in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and he was about to attend classes, magic classes. What was worse…he was in the last House of his list and with the last people he would even want to talk to or even walk in the same side of the road with, while his brother was in another House, surrounded by their new friends…

His eyes started to adjust to the half-light and started to distinguish more details of his surroundings; The canopy beds around him, the fireplace with the barely lit coals still half-burning inside and the green…oh, that depressing green color everywhere. Everywhere around him, he could hear the calm breathing of each and every one of the sleeping roommates he had. He sighed and glared to his right side where he was facing the back of Namu Ishtar, who was sleeping soundly. To his left –even more soundly- Marik Ishtar was sleeping too. Across the room, to the other side, right in front of him, he could distinguish Bakura's silver hair under the green blanket.

It didn't take him too long to realize he was the only one awake within the dormitory. He hadn't slept much after all. However he didn't feel in the slightest mood to fall asleep again, not into that depressing room with all those invidious roommates. Therefore he threw the covers off him, despite the feeling of coldness he was getting and threw his legs over the side of the bed to let his feet touch the cold stone floor. He mopped the sweat off his forehead with his palm. It was as if he had been having a nightmare or something, however he couldn't remember a thing. In any case he got up. To his great annoyance his new clothes were folded onto the cover of the bed covers already; in other words his robes with the new Slytherin crest inwrought onto it over his left breast, his new Hogwarts necktie in the colors of green and white (colors of Slytherin) along with a scarf when the colder days would come, once more in Slytherin colors. He sighed deeply and started removing his damp from sweat pajamas to change into his Hogwarts uniform. The next thing he did was to walk out on his tiptoes trying not to make the slightest sound and he walked out of the dormitory to the Common Room. For one more time he faced the cold dungeon-like room with not at all good mood (not the best way to wake up) and he walked out of it as soundlessly as he could.

The corridor was still dark and deserted. There was no one walking there. The only thing he could hear was his breathing and the sound of his shoes echoing to all stonewalls around him. He walked half-feeling the walls to make sure he wouldn't stumble in the stairs as he climbed his way up to the upper floor. He could hardly see a thing into the pitch-darkness and he had to have a hand against the wall all the time to feel something secure, cause he couldn't really see the feet below him and he had this strange feeling he would fall in a hole any moment now.

"Hey!"

The sudden whisper-like protest made him practically jump out of his skin and gasped placing his palm against his racing heart. As it seemed it was one of the moving/talking portraits around him.

"Watch it! You woke me up!" said the count-dressed man within the painting holding up a painted (but strangely bright) candle to see who it was

"I…I'm sorry" Yami stuttered still trying to surpass his previous shock, "I…I didn't know…I didn't see you"

"You!" the count in the painting said calmer now, "I know you. You were in First-Years' Ceremony."

"Er, yeah"

"Oh, okay. Try not to walk blindly around like that, young man! It's rude to wake others you know"

"I'll have that in mind, thank you"

"Anyway, there is a candle over there…no, no on your right. There. Well done"

Indeed Yami had tried once or twice holding the so-called candle in the absolute darkness the count was pointing at but he finally did hold it. Then he reached down in the depths of his pocket. He remembered by pure luck he had a box of matches there. He finally felt the small carton box on the tips of his fingers. He closed them around it and pulled it out. He then opened it to find out there were only three matches in it. He lit one of them and the candle's bright light showered the, till then, dark corridor. Mutters of protest came from the countless moving paintings on the walls as their residents were stirring within them muttering phrases like "Who on earth is it?" or "Hey! Put that light off" and such.

"You better go from the corridor on the right" the count said sleepily, "There will be less paintings over there to bother, I still disapprove the night (or too early) walks if you ask me but still if you want to go to…"

"Thanks, sir" Yami replied politely while covering the best he could the small flame of his candle protectively, "but can you tell me…where is the way towards the library?"

"Follow the corridor I showed you, young man, and climb up the stairway. It is the grand door straight forward"

"Thank you sir. Sorry for the bother, sir. Goodnight, sir"

Yami had wished them all almost in one breath and hurried to follow the count's instructions, for he didn't really need to bother any more painting-residents that morning. He wasn't really in the mood hearing more scouting for that morning. Having the candlelight as guide this time he walked more securely and he could now step down the middle of the corridor without really needing to go half-feeling the walls. Indeed he met only a couple of paintings into that corridor that was practically naked, however Yami was impressed by its enormous size and its impressive baroque style. When he found the large, oak door, he silently prayed that it wouldn't be locked. He thanked God when he turned the handle and heard the sound of the lock opening right away. The heavy door opened with a small creak and Yami found himself walking into the biggest library he had ever seen. Not only shelves but also entire piles of books were stored up all the way to the ceiling. There were books of every shape and every size and Yami was simply staring at them all, hungrily, trying to consume their every detail with his thirsty eyes. When he finally remembered how to move, he walked to one of the many shelves and picked up a few books. He then took them to one of the reading tables and sat too, placing the candle to a good place where it would light the entire book without causing shadows. And he started to read.

He was really getting into it. Even the dim light of the candle didn't seem to be bothering him while swallowing the letters like a thirsty man that is gulping down cold water in the desert. He sometimes stopped only to rub his sore eyes before continuing reading. A low meowing drew his attention and made him turn his head around to find the source of the sound. And he saw a cat, sitting a few feet away from him, constantly staring at him with its red eyes. It was a scrawny, dust-colored cat and her bulging eyes seem to be piercing within his soul, glowing more (you'd say) than the candle before him. Yami was sure it wasn't a common cat, since she was staring at him, never leaving him from her eyes as if she was guarding him. She never turned her head to any other direction but him. Yami was feeling slight flatters in his heart, thinking of her being quite creepy but since the cat never moved from her position, he decided to ignore her. Nevertheless he sometimes would raise his head from his book to take a glance with the corner of his eye towards the cat's direction to make sure she was still there, and she was. Always there, staring at him, the cat seemed like she hadn't even moved her tail, as though she were a statue….

And the dawn started to break outside the window, painting the horizon with a misty rose color…

Morning light found him walking down the corridor in a fast pace. He hurried his way within the Grand Hall where everyone was already having breakfast. Yami spotted Yugi sitting at Griffindor table and he was with their new friends, Tristan and Joey, talking lively and laughing. He, on the other hand, would have to go to sit to Slytherin table and sit by Namu, Marik and Bakura, who was now waving at him grinning in amusement.

He sighed and walked there without paying attention to the voices around him, even if he could feel many eyes stuck on him and he managed to distinguish his name among the constant noise of whispers among students. He tried and succeeded maintaining a straight face as he sat down the table to the free seat and started helping himself with the breakfast. It was annoying that he was more used into eating with hashi (chopsticks) rather than using forks and knives but he tried not to show his frustration to the others, especially Bakura and his friends. A few heads rose from the table and some pairs of eyes fastened upon him as Yami made his way through the door. He was still holding a book under his arm and the paleness of his face and the dark circles beneath his eyes proved he hardly got any sleep, if what he did could be called sleep at all. Plus his eyes were red and kind of puffy by the reading he did in the dim light of the candle in the library and the dust that was flying everywhere while he did so. Ignoring the barely noticeable giggling coming from some people, Yami marched towards the Slytherin table towards the empty seat right opposite Bakura, where Bakura himself was pointing. He sat himself to his chair without uttering a single word.

"Did we have trouble to sleep?" Bakura teased him

Yami had to gather all his willpower to ignore him and not yell at him to shut up or anything. Therefore he simply contented to simply sending him a glare before opening the red leather-dressed book he had placed upon the table. He then started helping himself with some breakfast. He was starving to say the very least. He poured himself some pumpkin juice and started taking a few buttered slices of bread. He wished he were more familiar with forks and knives but he was more used in using hashi (chopsticks) instead. He hoped others in Slytherin dorm wouldn't notice.

"Studying already?"

Yami once more ignored the teasing comment coming from somewhere in Slytherin table and went on reading the book while munching a buttered slice with blackberry jam or sipping warm pumpkin juice. Occasionally he would take glances over his shoulder towards Griffindor table and his glance met Yugi's once or twice. His little brother seemed worried to say the very least. However neither of the two spoke to each other. To be honest, Yami didn't know what to say anymore. One part of him wanted to walk to Griffindor table and sit by his brother's side and just…be himself. The same loud, teasing, outgoing nature he was. However the other part simply was telling him he couldn't do that that he had to remain by his House's table and he wasn't feeling the slightest desire to befriends with any of the Slytherins for some reason.

In the end his mind decided to stay the way he was. What would be the point to delude himself with some fake moments of happiness, when in the end he would simply end up being with the Slytherins instead? So he swallowed his anger and disappointment as well as the angry tears, which were threatening to run down his cheeks and he buried his nose into the book he was reading, ignoring both the laughter and the chatting that was coming from all around him. Not even when someone yelled something about the mail and hundreds of owls streamed the Great Hall, flying in circles around the tables to find their owners and dropping their letters or packages. It was a fascinating sight to watch, but soon Yami got tired by it. The reason was simple; Yami knew no one would send anything to him or Yugi since they knew no one who would mail them from the outside Magic World…

Time flies when you are occupied; Yami realized that soon when he realized he was fed and watered for breakfast and that he had to leave to go to his first class. The schedule he had seemed quite interesting but at the same time tiring. There was a Potion Class, Flying Lesson, Herbology and others. Yami decided it was pointless to look up the entire schedule and decided to simply follow the flow and see how it went. His first lesson would be Potion Class and what seemed nice was that he would be doing it with Griffindor House and some students of Ravenclaw House. Subconsciously he took a glance of his brother and by coincidence Yugi had done the same.

"Say, Yami, wanna sit by me?" he asked in his sweet voice

Yami answered him with a small smile, finally his mood changing a little seeing his brother's sweet face.

"Sure" he said

Yugi's face beamed with an unprompted smile. A loud tumult filled the room as all students rose from their seats almost at the same time and started heading out of this grand hall to enter their first classes of the year (for First Years such as Yami it would be the first class they ever had in their life). Yami caught Bakura winking at him and Yami caught himself growling in frustration. He was the same age with Bakura and still he was attending First Year classes instead. His ego was indeed hurt by this fact no matter what he said to himself. He wanted to prove his potential but still he had never seen or used magic before in his life so for the time being that was impossible.

He simply followed some small-sized students wearing Griffindor or Slytherin clothes and walked down the hall and the stairway towards the dungeons, as Yami presumed. He wasn't mistaken. Soon they opened a door and entered a large yet old room. It was slightly colder than the corridor outside (perhaps because of the humidity on the stonewalls).

The walls around were "decorated", if Yami could use this word, with countless jars and glasses of every shape and size and some of them, to Yami's great displeasure, were filled with thick liquids and inside them were floating several weird stuff such as things that looked like pieces of animals (hearts, spleens and other organs), which strangely seemed to be moving independently inside the jars, causing Yami an unpleasant feeling of stirring within his stomach, and he suddenly wondered if it was just the environment or if there was something wrong with the butter or the jam on his bread or if the juice he drank was not fresh after all. He noticed that many other students had the same look in their faces or they avoided even taking glances around at all. The slight "breath of fresh air" was the teacher (obviously) who was leaning against his desk with a smile on his face.

He was a fat and bald man. He was surprisingly short and that made him look even fatter for his buttons seemed ready to burst out of their place. The wrinkles on his face proved he was rather old but the bright smile on his face, as well as a sparkle in his eyes reminded Yami more of a student rather than an old man. His gooseberry colored eyes seemed to be greeting every single one of the students. Occasionally he would caress his moustache with his index finger and thumb. The students chose the places they wanted to sit. Yami sat next to Yugi in front of the already boiling cauldrons while a few feet away from them Joey and Tristan took a seat as well. The unknown, till then, professor cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.

"Good morning, First Years and welcome to your first Potion Class. It's my great pleasure to greet you all. My name is Professor Horace Slughorn and I will be your teacher for this year"

His voice was slightly quivering proving his old age, but just like his smile and eyes it was lively and full of love for his job, at least that was what Yami's first impression was,

"I usually take older classes" professor Slughorn continued, "But we didn't have an alternate solution for a Potion Master yet so I will be your teacher for this class. I'll have to say a few words considering the things I want from you during our cooperation. Potion Making is a really delicate and difficult art. You must be accurate with what ingredients you use and you must boil them for the exact time the instructions of your books say. Since you are not yet familiar with this class, this first year will be an introduction for you and the potion making. I won't have great demands from you but I need you to be hardworking and try to understand what I want to teach you"

While talking to them, it was obvious that every student liked this teacher. He didn't appear demanding or stern (something like Professor McGonagall seemed to them) and he seemed a pleasant man to talk to.

"Now for our first class I planned for us to have the first knowledge of some ingredients and some of the basic potions."

He then gave them a smile from ear to ear and turned his head towards Yugi.

"Mr. Muto" he said softly and neighborly, "Could you tell us what potion can I make using Horned Slugs, Porcupine Quills and Snake Fangs?"

No sooner after the question had left professor's mouth and Rebecca's hand flew in the air, and she practically raised herself from the seat to make sure her hand was high enough but Yugi's eyes widened and his mouth fell open as well. A what with what? And what once again? His face lit up like a bulb lamp and he looked to his right and left searching for support and then back at the smiley professor. He shook his head.

"I-I don't know sir…" he stuttered

"You don't? Hmm…alright. What about you other Mr. Muto?"

Yami was totally lost in his thoughts and some notes he was taking down with his quill but after the attention was drawn to him and after a small push from Yugi's elbow, he felt his heart race in his chest. Horned Slugs, Porcupine Quills and Snake Fangs? He was sure he had seen those names before…but he wasn't 100% certain either. His mouth subconsciously opened.

"W-W…" he stuttered

Yugi bit his lip. Since both of them grew up with normal people he didn't know the ingredients and so he knew (at least) went for Yami as well. He was afraid that the others would laugh at them for that. Rebecca's hand was still in the air and she was holding her breath hoping for the professor to pick her to answer cause she was sure that Yami wouldn't answer the question after all but…

"C-Cure f-for boils…s-sir…" Yami finally decided to risk the answer.

Yugi's head snapped at Yami's direction with surprise written all over his face. Suddenly he realized Yami wasn't thinking about WHAT to answer. He was thinking WHETHER to answer the question. But how did he know? Professor Slughorn on the other hand seemed excited by the answer.

"Very well, Mr. Muto!" he said and also Rebecca's annoyed snort was heard, "So what can I use to cure fast a really serious injury?"

There was again a barely noticeable second of hesitation on Yami's part (and right away Rebecca's hand flew in the air once more) before Yami saying again;

"E-Essence of D-Dittany…sir"

"And what can I brew with Bazoar, Mistletoe Berries and Unicorn Horn?"

"A-Antidote to C-Common potions, sir"

The teacher was officially over excited now cause he kept on his questions one after the other (while all students had turned their heads and attention to that desk and Yugi's jaw seemed all the more able to reach all the way down the floor with every right answer Yami was giving)

"And what is the first potion that comes to your mind when I tell you I have Bat Spleens, Dried Nettles and Pufferfish Eyes?"

"S-Swelling Solution, sir…"

"And what about a potion that is consisted of two parts with ingredients Fluxweed, Knotgrass, Lacewing Flies, Leeches, Horn of Bicorn, Leeches and Skin of Boomslang ?"

Yugi thought he just had a good dizziness by just hearing all the ingredients but Yami had already answered before a second had passed:

"P-Polyjuice Potion, sir"

Yugi didn't know but Yami had totally answered it by luck. He just happened to open for once the book of Most Potente Potions before coming in for breakfast and it just happened to be into the page of Polyjuice Potion and so he simply answered it by luck when he heard the word "two parts"

"And what do I get if I mix Fluxweed, Salamander Blood, Boomslang and Standard Ingredient?"

Yami's lips' corners twitched a little forming an illusion of smile. He thought quickly.

"Nothing. Just a thick, stinking liquid, sir"

Giggles echoed in the class. Obviously the teacher had got over-excited with this bright new student that he had randomly picked ingredients that simply wouldn't match with each other.

"Silence please" the professor said kindly but yet more loudly to stop the giggling and then turned to Yami once more, "Very well. Excellent Mr. Muto! Did you see this everyone? Excellent! Ten points to Slytherin!"

Yami's smile fell and his face took an apologetic expression as if apologizing to Yugi for this. He was supposed to be HELPING him for God's sake! However now his most hated house, Slytherin, was getting points because of him just because he…belonged to it! Also his stupid pride and his good memory! Damn, Yami thought. The rest of the lesson went smoothly. Professor Slughorn was showing them some ingredients, telling them the names and explaining them what they could use them for or what was the reason they were used inside a potion. Yami remained silent for the rest of the class as long this lasted even if his hand felt itchy to raise itself and answer a question or make one but he held himself. He didn't want for Slytherin to get more points against Griffindor. That was at least before Professor Slughorn tell them to work in pairs that is, and tell them to open their books to the first page to start practicing with Cure for Boils brewing.

As Yami started he realized it was harder than he thought. It was easy for him to read the books and memorize the pictures of them so he could answer theoretical questions but in action, even if he was good with his hands, he realized he lacked patience and tranquility to do so. Yugi on the other hand seemed excited and was careful with his every move as if he was saving the world one ingredient at a time. Every time Yami failed to do what he wanted with the first try, he would curse hitting his fist on the table, lightly. Yugi would ask him what's going on and when Yami would tell him his problem Yugi would help him realize what the problem was and correct him.

Yami realized that Yugi was doing way better than him at potions and wouldn't even need to try NOT to surpass him in class. Plus Yugi was not only patient and jubilant but also a fast-learner. He didn't know the answer for professor's first question but during the class he had managed to learn everything Yami needed half a night to read in those books in the library.

The class finished and just a few people in the class had managed to brew a potion correctly. It was indeed difficult lesson but professor Slughorn seemed the best person to encourage them do their best next time. After congratulating them all, independently if they had brewed the potion or not, telling them it was good what they did for their first try, he "distributed" points to many Houses (Griffindors included to Yami's great relief) and everyone left Potion Class with a smile on their lips. Well…to Yami's case that was a half-smile, however they still had many classes to attend to. While walking in the hallway along with many students pushing each other, Yami felt Yugi pulling his robes' sleeve.

"Oi, nii-san" he heard him calling him in a small voice.

'Nii-san' meant "Big brother" in their language. Sometimes Yugi called him that.

"…How did you know all those things?"

Yami shrugged once.

"I read them in a book…" he only said

The rest of the classes went fine. Yami had many classes he liked. For example Herbology seemed really interesting subject and so did Transfiguration (despite the fact McGonagall was too stern) but what he loved truly was Defense against the Dark Arts. He looked forward doing it again. But as much he loved the class, the same much he hated the teacher, Professor Keith Howard. He was mean and nasty cursing person and he belonged –figures- to Slytherin House once…

Surprise? Finally I got this ready! I hope you like it! Here is the first day of Yami and Yugi in Hogwarts. As you can see Yami isn't exactly having the fun of his life for now but at least he got to see more at school.
The potions' ingredients are here thanks to Pottermore potions.

Yami here was having toruble cause he is not the type of student who memorizes a book first and foremost and secondly because he is hesitating to answer correctly cause he is afraid Slytherin will get more points while he wants to help his brother instead. Yup! Our Yami is not the all-perfect student! He doesn't really has what it takes for potions but he is doing his best!

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