Chapter Four

After leaving Gringotts with a rather disgruntled Sirius, Ryou followed the man down through various bookstores, torturous tailoring, and scary apothecaries. However, none of these wizarding experiences out did his experience in choosing his wand. It was at that moment, Ryou had begun to doubt his choice to come to the school, while the Spirit of the Ring had started crowing in the back of his head.

The little shop hadn't seemed extraordinary in Ryou's eyes, when he first walked in, just a little dusty shop filled with long, thin, rectangular boxes carelessly piled on top of each other with a hint of a tip to the pile as though it would fall. Looking around the murky dim shop, the partial albino had thought the store was empty until the strange man had popped in out of nowhere, crying.

"Oh, who have we here? Customers? Ah yes, Mr. Black, I remember your wand. You don't have it anymore, do you?"

Sirius had shifted awkwardly, his entire posture crying don't see me, I'm not here, but had shaken his head no slightly. However, inside he was surprised at how the man could see through Dumbledore's glamor.

"Now, now," the strange man soothed, "Don't worry. Dumbledore knew this would happen. He warned me not to tell anyone. But who else is with you?" He turned his strange pale eyes towards Ryou calculatingly.

/Be careful around him./ The spirit warned suddenly, /he has a strange air about him./

Ryou nodded in agreement (mentally, of course.) Although he had barely any control of sense of the Shadows, he did have the skill to be able to sense danger and what not. It must come from sharing a mind with a psychopath 24/7. Ryou sighed out loud, and answered the wand maker.

"My name is Ryou Bakura. I'm transferring into Hogwarts this year."

"Oh," the old man chimed cheerily, taking out a tape measure that danced merrily through the air, to take the white boy's measurements without any direction from the wand maker. " What year?" He questioned conversationally, although there was a serious under-current to the question.

Ryou remained silent.

"Mr. Black, if you would wait outside the store," Ollviander announced suddenly, "I think both would appreciate it."

Sirius looked questionably over at the albino, but only received an acknowledgment of Olliviander's request.

Giving a heavy sigh, the convict left the shop with much trepidation. Despite knowing that Ollivander was not siding with Voldemort, Sirius couldn't help but feel a small mistrust of the man. He was a little too strange to believe sometimes. But then again, so was Dumbledore.

After Ryou's escort had left the shop, the wand maker had turned to the transfer again. "I cannot read you." He told the white haired boy bluntly. "Why is it?"

Ryou looked at the man questioningly. "Read?"

Ollivander sighed. "My line is gifted with the ability to read people's … intentions, almost. It's a bit hard to explain. I see their…essence?"

Ryou nodded suddenly. "I know. There were some Egyptians that had that trait in older times."

Ollivander nodded in agreement. "Yes, my line can be traced back to Egypt. But, back to the point, why can't I read you?"

Ryou hesitated for a moment. /Yami?/ he questioned. /What do I tell him?/

The Spirit growled at being interrupted from plotting his heist, although in truth he had been paying some attention to the conversation his host was having.

/Just tell him it's complicated, and you have no ill intentions at this point in time. It's what he really wants to know, anyway./

Ryou nodded, and obediently relayed the message.

Ollivander had looked at him doubtfully, but had none-the-less accepted his word. He had bustled about his shop, pulling down a multitude of boxes that he set down with a dull thunk in front of the bewildered transfer. Opening one, he took out a long stick that Ryou guessed was a wand, and handed it to him.

"Give this a wave." He was told briskly. Shrugging, he did what he was told, only to find that the vase that was sitting next to the window on the right exploded violently. The British boy felt the spirit perk up in the back of his mind.

/Wha-? Do that again!/ the Spirit demanded. Ryou didn't want to, but at the Spirits insistence (and threats), Ryou reluctantly waved the stick again.

Again something exploded, this time a shelf towards the back of the room. Ryou let out a relieved sigh, when the wand maker had snatched the thing out of his had.

"No no," the man was muttering to himself. "That's not right. Too violent. Maybe this?"

Another wand was handed to him, and this time the reaction was much more violent. Fire exploded wildly from the tip, singeing both the wielder and the wand maker.

/I want this one!/ The spirit decided vengefully. / Imagine the look on the Pharaoh's face when I point this at him!/

/Yami,/ Ryou mentally pleaded, /This isn't our wand. With the right wand, you can probably find a spell to do that. The headmaster told us that there were a lot of different spells, and you saw some of those books at the bookstore…/

Ryou's Yami thought for a minute, and suddenly agreed. /You're right. If this is what we get when it's wrong, imagine how much more powerful we'll be when it's correct./

Ryou suddenly had a bad feeling about giving his yami such a tool.

However, he continued to try the wands he was offered. If he suddenly stopped, he would have to give a reason, and he really didn't want to explain the spirit. None of the wizards knew about the Millennium items, and from what he had seen and heard of the wizarding community so far, they did not seem to be the most accepting lot. Most likely, they would accuse him of being dark, no matter how he insisted otherwise. And these people didn't have spirits of their own to understand, even just vaguely, of why he let the spirit continue to share his body.

Because he honestly didn't mind.

At least his Yami was there. But he knew it was a difficult concept to understand.

During his inner monologue, Ryou had continued to wave various wands, and received various results. However, when he grasped one of the sticks, a warmth shot straight though his body, and from the exclamation that came from the Spirit, Ryou could only assume that his other felt it too.

"Well, well..." Mr. Ollviander hummed. "What a strange combination. A powerful combination, to be sure, but strange."

Ryou felt fear shoot up his spine at the old man's careless words. Powerful?

"Unicorn hair, and basilisk fang. Cedar wood." he continued, oblivious to Ryou's inner doubt. "Interestingly enough, the basilisk fang was found in Egypt. It's believed that it was this snake that made the Mehen legends. The opposites make a powerful attraction. It is a wand that I never thought I would sell. Not many people can handle a wand this powerful, but... I think that you might just be the person to wield it."

The spirit cackled joyfully in Ryou's mind. /The Pharaoh will never know what hit him!/

Ryou knew this was a bad idea.

After Ryou had bought the wand, he had met up with Sirius outside the store. The man seemed oddly excited for someone who had stood outside doing nothing for an hour.

"Harry's here!" the convict cheered. "I met Hermione, one of Harry's friends, while you were getting your wand. We're going to meet them at the little ice cream place down the street in a few minutes!"

Ryou nodded understandingly. "I am looking forward to meeting them." he said politely. Inside, however, he was a whirlwind of doubt. What if they didn't like him? They didn't know about the spirit, but neither did any of his other schools when he first entered. White hair was an abnormality enough. It was only Yugi and his friends who had forgiven him for the spirits actions, and even Yugi's friends didn't trust him. Only Yugi.

He just wanted to fit in.

Was that too much to ask?

Ryou followed the glamored man through the bustling streets to the small ice cream stand, its line stretching down the street.

At the entrance, a trio of teens stood, waiting for someone. From the skip Sirius got in his step, Ryou guessed that it was his god-son and his friends. He gave a weak smile as the girl separated from the small group and walked over to them.

She smiled widely when she reached them. "Hello." she greeted him confidently, after giving Sirius a hug. "My name is Hermione Granger."

"Ryou. Ryou Bakura."

The albino glanced around the shop as they wandered in. An eyebrow raised speculatively at the length of the line. Do we really have to wait in that line? He thought.

Hermione followed his glanced and quickly figured out his doubts.

/I am not waiting, Landlord./ The spirits voice spoke at the threat of having to wait, wearing on his patience.

/Calm down. I am sure it will go faster then you think… /

"Don't worry my friends saved us a place in line." She stretched up on her toes searching through the crowed. "There they are!" She pointed to a normal looking black haired boy who was wearing baggy clothes three times the size of him and a red head who was red in the face. She waved frantically catching their attention, smiling as she made her way over to him; Ryou following.

"Hello." Ryou greeted. The other boys stared at him, making no effort to hide their curiosity.

"Hey, Harry. How have you been." Sirius spoke up, hugging his godson. "Ryou here is going to be starting his first year at Hogwarts. I was hoping that you would help him catch up to the fifth year."

"Sure." the boy replied. "Nice to meet you."

Ryou shivered at the feeling which accompanied the words. Why was it he felt as if he had just met another yami?

/Don't be ridiculous, Yondoushi./ The spirit mocked scornfully. /He's not nearly as dark as you think. Hell, he's like a light bulb compared to even the Pharaoh./

Ryou had his doubts, but he dutifully agreed with his permanent guest. /He doesn't seem aware of it.../ he thought absently.

The Spirit snorted, but agreed none the less.

"Ryou!" Sirius yelled, shaking the teen roughly. Dropping his inner conversation, Ryou glanced quickly at the older man who had been eying him with concern.

"What is it?" he asked.