(A/N) speech in a different language is underlined.
oxo...oxo
September 1st came quickly for the gang.
After finding out Harry had a duel monsters deck, Yugi had insisted that he wanted to look at it to see if he had any good cards and to see if he had a good structure to it. Looking through the cards the king of games began to smile. 'You've got a good deck there.' he told the black hared boy approvingly. 'Take good care of it and it could win you allot of battles.' He told the younger boy as he gave the deck and left the room. Harry smiled and looking through spotting one card that hadn't been there before and grinned. In his Hand was Kariboh.
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Hermione had arrived a few days after the program students. It was decided she would sleep in Ron's room with Ginny (who had come back with them from Diagon ally and had spent the last two nights on the floor of her parents room) forcing the two boys to sleep in the living room. Ron and Harry had been seen moving there things down stairs with Ron grumbling something quietly under his breath before tripping over the last step and landing on the floor with Harry underneath him causing Hermione to giggle slightly as Kiba regarded them with an amused look and went back to his book.
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'Guys, I can't find my language pendent!' Came Malik's cry in Japanese the morning of September 1st. they were all packing there Hogwarts things and getting ready to go. Yugi sighed as he put down the cauldron in his hand and went to help Malik search. They soon found the object under Malik's bed. How it had managed to get under there Yugi had no idea as there were no gaps down the sides and the gap going under the bed was about 1cm wide where as the amulet was about 2cm wide. 'Everything gets under your bed. Doesn't matter how.' Malik explained as if this was the commonest thing in the world. Yugi shrugged and went back to finish packing.
The ministry of magic had provided the family with cars to carry the extra people and luggage and they had all clambered in, squeezing as close together as possible. Somehow Atem and Bakura had ended up sitting next to each other and they spent the whole journey to kings cross growling and spiting slide comments at each other in ancient Egyptian while Yugi and Ryou shook there heads in embarrassment.
After the treacherous car journey the group unloaded there luggage onto trolleys and walked towards platforms 9 and 10. The 6 program students looked around confused. Yugi was about to ask where the platform was when Harry said 'Watch us.' and he and Ron ran straight for the barrier between the platforms. Yugi gasped in horror and closed his eyes, waiting for the collision he knew would come, but nothing happened. Opening his eyes again he looked at his Yami who was staring at the barrier with a look of amazement on his face.
'What happened?' he asked in Japanese and Atem turned to look at him.
'They ran straight through.' he answered, Amazement evident in his voice. Hermione and Ginny were the next through and this time, Yugi watched as they disappeared, running straight through the wall.
'Ok then, Ryou, Bakura, you next!' Said Mrs Weasley cheerily as she nudged the two boys forward. Bakura was keeping his face devoid of emotion but Ryou looked terrified. Bakura looked at his landlord and moved closer giving the boy his comfort without trying to show it. Ryou looked up at him in surprise, but the spirit was purposely not looking at him. Smiling with gained confidence, Ryou started running, Bakura at his side as they ran straight through the barrier and onto the platform the other side, Ryou sighing in relief.
Then it was Atem and Yugi's turn. Yugi gulped as he moved towards the barrier and Atem put a hand on his shoulder, smiling at his Hikari. 'Let's go Yugi!' he cried, giving the younger boy a confidence boost as he ran towards the barrier and through to the other side. Malik and Kiba followed and Kiba began muttering in Japanese as he started running towards the wall, giving it a death glare at the same time. Malik just sniggered at the CEO's remarks and ran through the wall behind him. Mr. and Mrs Weasley followed at a brisk walk.
All 6 program students had stopped and were gazing in ewe at the sight before them. The platform was packed with people who were all loading luggage onto a large scarlet steam engine. A sign overhead read 'Hogwarts express, 11 o'clock' and smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering people. Harry, Ron, Herminie and Ginny had vanished into the crowd.
'Come on then boys.' Come Mr. Weasley's voice as he and Mrs Weasley came up behind them. 'Let's get you a compartment.' The 8 walked down the platform looking for an empty compartment when they spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione putting there bags into one of the compartments and walked over to them.
'Can we join you?' Malik asked and the three smiled.
'Sure, if we can fit.' Ron replied.
'Well we have prefect duty so we wont be here allot of the time Ron.' Hermione told the red head. Ron groaned but made no further comment. The program students put there things on the rails above the seats and turned back to were the Mr. and Mrs Weasley was waiting.
'Thank you very much for having us Mrs Weasley, Mr. Weasley.' Ryou said, bowing slightly before Mrs Weasley pulled him into a hug. Blushing, Ryou stepped back and shook hands with Mr. Weasley as Mrs Weasley pulled a very disgruntled looking Thief into her arms causing Atem to snigger slightly before he himself was caught in a hug. Then Yugi, Malik, Kiba, Ron, Hermione and Harry were hugged by the crying woman, each muttering a small thank you as they were released. Soon, the whistle sounded and the Students left on the platform all scrambled onto the train, closing the doors and waving out the window as the train began to pull away from the station.
Ron and Hermione had gone to the prefect carriage so Harry, Yugi, Atem, Bakura, Ryou, Kiba and Malik sat down. They were quiet for a long while before Yugi turned to Atem and pulled his deck from his belt. 'You wana duel? I still haven't seen your new deck.' Yugi challenged playfully. Atem grinned.
'Bring it on.' The pharaoh accepted as he got his own deck out of his pocket. 'Malik? Can you keep life count please?' he asked, turning to the Egyptian who nodded, face splitting into a grin.
'This should be interesting.' Bakura muttered as they each got out a book to use as there playing field. Ryou and Harry watched intently and even Kiba took an interest. The duel was pretty even all the way through but finally, Yugi won with only 100 life points spare.
'Still the king of games then Yugi? Not even the pha- I mean Atem, can't beat you!' Malik said, impressed. Bakura however looked at Atem.
'Beaten by your Hikari pharaoh? That's a bit pathetic if you ask me.' He said, switching to Japanese and smirking as the Pharaoh glared at him.
'Well no-one asked you. Besides, at least my Hikari likes me, yours doesn't even trust you, and I don't blame him ether.' Atem retorted. Yugi and Ryou shuffled in there seats, feeling very uncomfortable all of a sudden. Bakura growled as the tri colored Yami smirked this time.
'Ra that was low Atem.' Malik said, a slight frown on his face. Atem shrugged.
'He deserved it.'
Harry just looked at them, confused and lost. Turning to Kiba, who was closest to him, he asked the question going through his mind. 'What's going on?' Kiba looked down at him then back at the argument that was getting worse with every comment.
'Bakura said something about Atem losing the duel and Atem said no one asked him and then it just went on from there. I'm not really sure I should repeat what there saying, Its getting quite personal now.' Kiba explained while keeping his eyes on the argument. Yugi shot Kiba a grateful smile which the CEO blatantly ignored and looked at Ryou who had tears in his eyes. The argument had stayed on the Hikari's and was focused on Ryou. Yugi felt bad for his friend and after a particularly harsh comment from The Pharaoh Yugi decided to intervene.
'Stop it guys! Look at what you're Doing To Ryou!' he cried getting the Yami's attention as they looked at him in shock then Bakura's head slowly turned to Ryou. A jolt of remorse went through his body as he saw his landlord in such distress. Ryou looked away from them, trying to hide his tears. Atem was looking guiltily at Ryou as well, wishing he had thought before he had spoken.
'I'm sorry Ryou. Those things weren't aimed at you but I should have known they would affect you too.' Ryou nodded his head slightly but said nothing, covering his face with his fringe. Malik was looking at Ryou with a look of pity on his face and even Kiba felt a twinge of it though none showed on his face. they sat in heavy silence for a while before a smiling, dimpled woman came by, slid back there door and asked;
'Anything off the trolley dears?' The boys were glad for the distraction and went out a four and a three. Harry bought one of everything and had begun sharing things out when Ron and Hermione came back to the compartment.
After a couple of hours, everything had relaxed again, though Ryou still refused to make eye contact with ether Bakura or Atem and they could both tell he wasn't as better as he was making out. It had started to get dark outside and so Harry suggested that they should change into there robes. Hermione and Ron had gone back to the prefect carriage and had taken there robes with them so Harry presumed that they weren't coming back. They arrived at Hogsmeade station not long after getting changed and they all got off, leaving there things on the train. 'They'll be taken to dorm's secretly.' Harry explained as they got off.
'Firs'-years and program students! Firs'-years and program students! This way please!' a booming voice cried over the bustle of voices.
'Looks like were going that way then.' Malik said to the others and they said goodbye to Harry and walked over to a large man with a shabby brown beard and long shabby brown hair. There was a collection of students around the man, some where wearing black and others were wearing white but all looked nervous.
'Come on then. Follow me, and watch your step.' The man said and he began walking down a steep, narrow path. 'You'll get your first sight of Hogwarts soon.' The man rumbled as they rounded the corner and stopped at the edge of a great black lake. There were gasps from the students as there eyes fixed on a large castle in the distance, glowing with the lights all around it. 'Yup, there it is.' The large man said proudly as they looked at the castle.
Bakura was first to spot the boats and looked at them with distain. 'Were not doing in them are we?' he murmured to Malik and the young Egyptian looked at where the thief was looking.
'I hope not.' He replied, paling slightly. Bakura looked at him and grinned.
'You're afraid of boats aren't you?' he asked tauntingly. Malik went red.
'No!' he cried defensively. Too defensively. Bakura's grin widened and Malik felt himself back away to stand behind Kiba at the back of the group. Kiba looked at Malik in annoyance and sighed. He couldn't wait to ditch the geek patrol reformed.
'No more than four to a boat.' The man told them in hi rumbling voice and the students all filed into the boats. Yugi, Atem, Bakura and Ryou went in one boat while Kiba, Malik and two program student girls went in another. 'Right then, here we go!' The man called and all the boats began to move towards the castle. Malik groaned, sitting as close to Kiba as he dared.
It didn't take long for them to get to the school and out of the boats. Malik shot out of his boat at the first opportunity and one of the girls that had been sitting behind him giggled slightly. They absent mindedly split into two's as they walked up to the building and to a door that opened to reveal a tall, black haired woman in emerald green robes. Yugi could tell she wasn't one to cross.
'The firs'-years and Program students Professor McGonagall.' the man said gruffly and the professor looked at him.
'Thank you, Hagrid. I shall take them from here.' for some reason, Yugi expected that she had said this more to the students than Hagrid as they must go through the same routine every year. 'Follow me.' she said and she turned to lead them up into a chamber across the hall from where Yugi assumed the great hall must be. 'Welcome to Hogwarts.' she started. 'The start of term banquet will start soon but before you take your seats you will need to be sorted into your house. Your house will be like your family in Hogwarts; you will have classes together with people from your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house dormitory. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. For any triumphs you may have you will earn points and for any rule breaking, you will lose points. I hope you will all be a credit to which ever house you are in. The sorting will start shortly. I shall come to get you when we are ready for you.' And with that she turned tail and stalked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Yugi and Atem looked at each other. What if they where split up?
It didn't take long before Professor McGonagall came back and led them back towards the great hall. 'First years at the front and Program students at the back please!' she called just before they entered and as the group rearranged themselves, she threw open the doors and walked into the hall. The voices died down as the students walked through the middle and stopped at the front facing the teachers table. Ryou looked up and gasped as he looked at the sealing. Pulling at Bakura's robes, he said. 'Look at the roof.' Bakura, who was glad they were back on speaking terms again, looked up with his hikari and had to resist the urge to gasp. The sealing had been charmed to show the sky outside and at the moment it was clear and showing the stars glittering in a purple sky.
Kiba was more interested in what Professor McGonagall was doing to even bother looking up. She had gotten a stool and had put it in front of then. She had then placed a rather tatty looking hat on top of the stool. Looking at it in interest he was surprised when it started to sing.
After its song, the hall erupted into applause as McGonagall stepped up next to it, a list in her hand, and began reading names. 'Annot, Brian.' she called and a nervous looking boy scurried up to sit on the chair, putting the hat on his head. There was silence for a couple of seconds before
'HUFFLEPUFF!' The hat cried. Slowly, the line of first years went down until they had all been sorted and the white robed figures were the only ones left.
'And now for the International program students.' McGonagall told the room in her stern voice and it began again. Soon it was 'Bakura, Bakura.' great, I'm first. He thought grumpily as he made his way up to the stool, sat down and placed the hat on his head.
Hmmm, a very strong mind though I see you have done things you regret. You seem to be powerful and very cunning. I believe you could do well with the snakes but is that what you want?
Don't you DARE put me in Slytherin! I want to go with Ryou and he definitely isn't going in Slytherin.
If the hat could raise its eyebrow it would have
Ok, if your very sure, which I think you are, then its going to have to be 'GRYFFINDOR!'
The thief took the hat off a small smile creeping onto his face at the look of horror on the pharaoh's. He walked over to the cheering table and sat down next to Ron.
'Bakura, Ryou.' McGonagall said and Ryou gulped. He had known he was next but that still didn't prepare him for the nerves that flooded his stomach as he walked up the stairs and towards the stool, sitting down and pulling the hat onto his head.
Ahhh, so you're this Ryou that other lad wanted to be with so much. You have a good mind also and are allot kinder than you're Yami, yet you are brave, though you may not realize it. I believe you would do well in 'GRYFFINDOR!'
The Gryffindor table cheered and even Bakura joined in as his Hikari came to sit next to him looking relived and smiling at him for the first time since the argument on the train.
Malik watched as a few more people were called up and when 'Hale, Amy.' was called up he recognized her as the girl who had laughed at him in the boat. He took this moment to study her. She must have been about 16 years old, her brown hair went just past her shoulders and her long lashed, grey/blue eyes were full of fear as she looked around the hall and put the hat on. There was a few seconds silence before the hat cried 'GRIFFINDOOR!' And her face split into a grin as she bounced down and sat next to Ryou, who flushed red as she smiled at him as if he where an old friend with Bakura chuckling at his Hikari's reaction. Malik sniggered but stopped suddenly as he herd his own name called.
'Ishtar, Malik.' McGonagall called and he gingerly made his way up to the hat. sitting down and pulling the hat onto his head he herd a voice inside it and fear shot through him as he thought Marik had come back but relaxed as he herd its next sentence.
No, I'm not Marik.
A wave of relief flooded him as he realized it was the hat talking to him.
Yes...good mind, very brave, would do anything for his friends but your also a bit of a prankster...well they have had plenty of those already, one more wouldn't hurt, so lets give you to 'GRYFFINDOR!'
Malik grinned and jumped down from the stool and walking towards the Gryffindor table and sitting opposite Ryou. He gave the boy a wink and looked at the girl next to him and gave an amused smirk at how red his friend went. This could be interesting he decided as he grinned and turned to watch the next person up.
Kiba was having second and even third thoughts. He didn't like the idea of a hat deciding his fate. It felt wrong but he felt he had to finish what he started and besides, he didn't think he could back out now no matter what he wanted.
'Kiba, Seto.' Came professor McGonagall's voice, bringing him out of his revelries and into the present. He strolled up to the stool and with all the dignity he could muster, placed the hat on his head.
Well now, you are a bit full of yourself aren't you? But you have a brilliant mind though you have the cunning of a Slytherin I think you would do better in 'RAVENCLAW!'
Kiba smirked as the Ravenclaw table cheered and he made his way to sit next to a girl with long red hair.
Atem knew it was his turn next and was still worried. He didn't want to be separated from Yugi but he wasn't a fan of the idea of being in the same house as Bakura. Waiting nervously for his turn he watched a few other people go up before his own name was called.
'Moto, Atem.' Atem walked up to the stool and stuck the hat gingerly onto his spiky head.
Well, well. It seems the thief wasn't the only ancient in the room and a pharaoh to boot. Hmmm, you seem to be very brave and courageous and would fight for you friends and family to the death. You also seem to be very quick witted and clever. Yes, that's were I'll put you for you belong in 'GRYFFINDOR!'
Atem sighed in relief and went to sit down next to Malik, quickly looking back to watch Yugi.
'Moto, Yugi.' Yugi gulped down his fear and walked up to the hat, trembling slightly as he picked it up and placed it on his head.
Yes, you are very brave and have a good strategic mind which I suppose is why they call you the king of games. You are wise for your age and have kindness in every aspect of yourself, but you would never let anything bad happen to your friends and would protect them at all costs. You belong with your Yami in 'GRYFFINDOR!'
Yugi grinned and bounced down to sit next to Atem as they watched the last of the sorting's. After everyone had been sorted, Professor Dumbledore stood and came to say a few words before beginning the feast. There was loads of it. The boys filled there plates to the brim as Hermione looked on in disgust. They ate for what seemed like forever and the topic turned to many different things including Duel monsters, Yugi's hair, Parentage, Atem's hair, girls, food, Bakura's hair, football, Ryou's hair and Quidditch.
After dissert had come and gone Dumbledore stood again and smiled at his pupils. 'I thank you all for coming back this year and I hope that you all enjoy your time here. Now I have a few announcements before I let you all go to your respective bedrooms. Now I need to remind you that the forbidden forest is out of bounds and Filtch has asked me to tell you that any Weasleys' wizard wheezes products have been banned and will be confiscated if seen. Now, off to bed with you, go on.'
xxx…xxx
Far away from Hogwarts, a tall, snake like man stood on the edge of a cliff, staring at the remains of an ancient pyramid. He was no expert but he did know that a pyramid wasn't supposed to be in India, but he had been given a tip off by a strange looking man that there was an ancient force berried with this pyramid. 'Shall we investigate my lord?' Came a voice as a hooded figure apperated behind him.
'Yes, and make sure you find what I want or there shall be consequences.' The man hissed menacingly, turning his blood red eyes on the man, who nodded and dissaperated. The dark lord turned back to study the pyramid, a cold smile sliding onto his face. The power to rule the world would soon be his and he would make potter and his stupid friends get it for him. But for that he needed an insider at Hogwarts and he knew the best person for the job.
Smile widening evilly, he turned from the pyramid and dissaperated. He was going to have to find his old friend lusus Malfoy.
oxo…oxo
(A/N) Animeloveramy – I hope you're all enjoying the story so far! I have o say, this chapter was a whole lot easier to write then the last one! ^_^
Please read and review!!!