Harry and company made it the Great Hall and sat down with their fellow Gryffindors. They were eager to speak with Fred and George about Yugi, Ryou, and Malik.

"This new one is even weirder than the other two," Ron said. "Covered in gold, purple eyes, dark skin, but blonde hair. He's strange. But Malfoy doesn't like him, so I guess he can't be all bad."

"Well, Ron I'm sure you look weird to him, too," Hermione said. She obviously disapproved of Ron speaking of these new students like they were there for his entertainment.

"Ron looks weird to me, too, and I've known him all his life," Fred said. "So what? I think it's cool they have their own look going on. For once, us Weaslys aren't the student's at Hogwarts with the most notable hair."

"Yeah, I don't know if I like that," said George. "People might think we're losing our touch if these new guys show us up. We might have to do something about it." Fred nodded his agreement.

Yugi, Ryou, and Malik waited outside the Great Hall with the first years awaiting instructions. Ryou and Malik were heads above everyone else, but Yugi blended in rather well, height wise. Things were going okay so far, but then...

"Bombs away!"

The shout was heard, followed by maniacal laughter. Then, a large clump of white powder landed in the middle of the crowd of student and billowed out, covering several of them in white. They looked up to find a funny looking little man hovering above them holding a bag. Several students gasped and whispers of "A ghost!" were heard. He dropped another clump of powder. Yugi almost suffered a direct hit but he didn't escape completely. The bottoms of his robes were bathed in the white powder. Chaos ensued as the students hurried to try to get out of the way of the falling powder.

"Peeves!"

The students turned to see a stern and very angry looking woman with her hair in a bun yelling at the little floating man. "Peeves! You were warned to stay out of the kitchens! And to leave the first years alone!"

"Oh, but Peeves cannot resist the temptation," the little man snickered. "He wouldn't have taken the flour if the house elves had not put up such a fight with the eggs."

"Drop it now, Peeves!"

"As the Professor wishes," Peeves smirked. He dropped the flour bag into a small group of students, of which, Yugi was in the middle. This time, he could not escape. The half full bag landed on his head, the contents spilling all over him.

"Peeves! You know that's not what I meant! Out now before I get Dumbledore. If you make me disturb him before the sorting, you'll be out of this castle!" Peeves laughed and gave a loud raspberry that seemed to send him flying into and through the wall behind him. His laughter could be heard echoing after him.

Meanwhile, Yugi was covered from head to toe in flour with only his violet eyes shining through the cloud of white. He sighed heavily and shook the powder free of his hair the best he could. Malik made no effort to stop his laughter and neither did Yami Bakura from inside his soul room. His only complaint was that it wasn't Yami instead. Ryou was a bit more sympathetic and helped to brush his friend off, though they couldn't get all the flour off. Yugi was left with a thin, white coat over his skin and clothes.

"I apologize for the rudeness of our resident poltergeist," the stern woman said, addressing the students. "He's like this at the beginning of every year. I am Professor McGonagall. Now, who are my three late-starters?" Yugi, Ryou and Malik raised their hands. "Okay, you three stay at the back of the line. Professor Dumbledore will call for you personally after the first years are through. Everyone now follow me. Stay in line. When your name is called, report to the stool in front and place the Sorting Hat on your head. Then report to the table of the house you are chosen for. Hurry up, there are a lot of you and we're running late."

The line progressed into the Great Hall with Yugi, Malik, and Ryou bringing up the rear. With their height advantage, Ryou and Malik could clearly make out a tattered old hat resting on a stool in the center of the room. The three could feel the eyes of everyone in the room on them. Clearly, the first years were not the object of attention. But gradually, the gazes turned from them to the hat. Ryou, Malik, Yugi jumped when it quite unexpectedly broke into song and began singing about each of the four houses. When it had finished, Professor McGonagall unrolled a long scroll and began reading out names. One by one, first years walked to the hat a put it on. After varying lengths of time, the hat would call out the name of a house. "HUFFLEPUFF!" or "SLYTHERIN!" and cheers would ring out from the chosen house's table as the student joined them. Ryou eyes narrowed in thought as he watched the proceedings. He made up his mind and turned to Yugi.

"Yugi would you please do me a favor?" he whispered.

"Yeah, sure. What do you need?" Ryou reached under his robes and pulled out the millennium ring. He carefully lifted it over his head.

"Would you hold this for me while I'm sorted?" He asked hopefully.

"What?! Why?!"

"That hat thing looks in your mind to decide what house you go in. I don't want you-know-who influencing which house I'm in!" Unnoticed by Ryou and Yugi, several of the first years standing near them suddenly went wide-eyed and began to back away from them, whispering hurriedly to one another.

"But..." Yugi whispered. "What does HE say about it?"

"Nothing. He's asleep. He fell asleep after you got doused with the flour. If he gets mad, I'll take the responsibility, but I won't be able to stand it this year if I get put in a house where the students are like HIM. Please, Yugi. I don't think I can trust Malik with this. He'd wake him up just to see what happens." They both cast glances at Malik who was watching the sorting with fascination. Yugi sighed.

"Alright. Gimme the ring."

"Do you want me to hold the puzzle for you when it's your turn?"

"Yeah. I think so. Yami doesn't mind. He wants me to be satisfied with the house I'm in."

"Thank you, Yugi."

Ryou was looking a little less nervous now. Understanding that they would likely be called alphabetically, Ryou handed the millennium ring over to Yugi just as "Zimmerman, Drake" became a Hufflepuff. He handed it behind his back, hoping it would be less noticeable that way as the three of them were now standing alone. A clash of whispers was heard throughout the room, including at the Gryffindor table.

"That can't be right."

"That's what those first years were saying, Harry." Neville said. A cousin of his had been among the students who had overheard bits and pieces of Ryou and Yugi's conversation. "Those older new kids were talking about You- Know-Who and not wanting the sorting hat to know about him. And the white- haired kid passed something to the short kid. Couldn't make out what it was, though."

"Since when has You-Know-Who recruited in the seventeen and under crowd?" Hermione said knowingly. "Plus, they claim to be muggle-born. A follower of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would never be or claim to be a muggle-born."

"I'm just telling you what I heard. The first years are saying that those new kids are afraid of the sorting hat looking in their minds."

"But that doesn't make sense," Harry argued. "If they were in with Voldemort, they would know about the sorting hat. And what would be the big deal with the hat anyway? It would just put them in Slytherin."

"Maybe..." Ron said, rubbing his chin in thought. "Maybe their job is to get close to you. If they became Slytherins, they would never be able to hang with Gryffindors. Maybe they're trying to fool the hat into putting them in a different house."

"Starting to sound like trouble for you again, Harry," Neville said with worry in his voice.

"It would explain why they came so far to attend Hogwarts," commented Ron.

"Oh lighten up, little brother," Fred said, dipping into the conversation. "No one with hair that cool could be a bad guy. They're just jokers, like us. Remember that heir of Slytherin thing with Harry a few years ago? It's just a big joke. Besides, those first years are on edge. They just got spooked by Peeves as a welcoming. They're probably making something out of nothing. Now shut up, Dumbledore's about to start." Dumbledore was indeed about to began as he stood up and waited for silence. All turned to face him, including a now disturbed Harry. Dumbledore began.

"Welcome all to another year at Hogwarts. I am happy to see so many familiar faces and so many new ones. Among the new faces in your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor White. Unfortunately, business has kept him from being with us tonight. You will meet him at your first Defense against the Dark Arts classes." Ron, Harry, and Hermione exchanged glances. First night and the new teacher was already missing in action. That was not a good sign. Dumbledore continued.

"As you may have noticed, we have quite a few new students this year. I expect all of you to be as helpful as possible in aiding your new house members in getting adjusted."

"That's right, Harry," George whispered, leaning over. "And if they ask you to go with them to meet their master, be helpful and do as you're asked." Harry grinned a little at the joke. At least Fred and George thought the idea was ridiculous.

"Of course, all old rules still apply. The forest is off limits and students are not allowed in the halls after hours." Dumbledore's gaze seemed to hesitate on Harry's section of the Gryffindor table as said this. The Weasly twins must have thought this was aimed at them, and it may very well have been, for they grinned innocently back at Dumbledore.

"Finally," Dumbledore said. "We are going to have three new fifth years. They have journeyed far to study with us. Though they are as new to our magic as the first years, they possess great potential, and I am sure they will catch up quickly. Please be as courteous them as you are to your other fellow students. I am sure you can learn as much from them as they will learn from you. Now, Professor McGonagall, if you please?"

"Bakura, Ryou. Domino City, Japan."

Ryou (slightly amazed that she had pronounced his name right) took a deep breath and walked to the sorting hat. He lifted it off the stool and almost lost his balance as he sat down. "Yep, there's your minion of You-Know- Who," Fred commented sarcastically. Ryou regained himself and placed the hat on his head. It slipped just pass his eyes. He wasn't quite sure what to expect. Then he heard the voice of the hat. Not in the echoing way it had been when it had called out the house names, but quietly, in his head.

"Hmmm. Several house qualities in here," the hat said. "Not a bad mind. Very determined to prove your worth. Seems to be quite a bit of stress and strain here, too. Seems you've made it through some rough times. You take a stand when it really matters. But something's missing here. It is noticeable when there is place for two souls but only one is present." Ryou's mouth dropped open but he remained silent while the hat continued. It didn't seem like it was going to reveal his secret. "I'm thinking... GRYFFINDOR!"

The final decision rang through the hall. The Gryffindor table cheered. Ryou sighed in relief and slid off the stool. He put the hat down and started to walk back to Yugi to get his ring back and take the puzzle, but Professor McGonagall shook her head and motioned for him to go to his table. Ryou stared helplessly at Yugi, who only waved him off and smiled. He didn't mind. Ryou felt uncomfortable because he wasn't able to keep up with his side of the bargain, but there was nothing to be done at the moment. He walked to the Gryffindor table. Fred and George motioned to him. Ron gave them a look, but they didn't care. Ryou took a seat next to the twins and opposite Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He turned to watch as his fellows were sorted.

"Mouto, Yugi. Domino City, Japan."

It seemed that they were being called by place rather than name. Yugi, with both the millennium puzzle and the millennium ring hidden under his robes, stepped up to the sorting hat. He picked it up and with much difficulty sat down atop the stool. He had to manipulate his hair a bit to get the hat on properly. He then heard the voice of the hat in his mind.

"Ah. Another crowded mind, eh?" 'Apparently, Bakura had been unable to keep his Yami a secret,' thought Yugi.

"You're smart, there's no doubt about that," the hat said. "And there is a regal air emanating from the soul who shares this body with you. Very confident. Downright cocky, if you ask me."

<Watch it, hat...> Yami murmured.

"Moody, too. But I see the source of his frustration. No matter. It's clear to me where the both of you belong... GRYFFINDOR!"

Yugi climbed down off the stool, happy that he was at least going to be in a house with people he knew. Yami was grumbling a bit about smart-elect hats. He really needed some mental stimulation. Yugi sat beside Ryou and passed the ring back to him under the table. Now that his sorting was over, Ryou wasn't as worried about the ring being seen. He allowed it to be visible for a moment as he slipped it around his neck and then under his robes. Hermione caught a glimpse of it and opened her mouth to ask about it, but Ron kicked her under the table and motioned that the sorting wasn't over. It was Malik's turn.

Malik walked confidently to the stool and sat down. He started to lower the hat onto his head. It had barely brushed the top of his hair before it shivered and called out "SLYTHERIN!"

"WHAT?!" Malik burst out.

"WHAT?!" came the distinct voice of Malfoy. The Slytherin table didn't seem to care if either of them liked the fact that Malik was in their house, as they clapped and cheered anyway. All except the few who cared about the death glances Malfoy was giving them.

"But I..." Malik began to argue.

"Go sit at your table, please," Professor McGonagall instructed. The sternness in her voice told Malik that there was no arguing himself out of this. He grimaced and put the hat down rather roughly and walked to the Slytherin table muttering something along the lines of "stupid hat" along the way. He took a seat at the end and as far away from Malfoy as possible. He didn't sulk, though. It would be a sign of defeat. He just put on a mask of confidence and told himself he had nothing to be concerned with. After all, the millennium rod was still in his pocket. Nobody was going to mess with him...