Harry was happy to loan Yami his chess pieces for what he was sure would just be another opponent on the chopping block for Ron. "You any good, Yugi?" Harry asked as he handed over his pieces.

"I'd say I have a few skills when it comes to strategy games, yes," Yami answered confidently.

"Ron is the Hogwarts champion in chess, you know."

"Really? Well that makes things more interesting doesn't it?" Yami smirked. He could have answered that he had beaten champions before. Heck, he'd beaten creators at their own game. But it would have ruined his fun if they knew all that. It was so much better to take to opponent by surprise.

It'd been a couple years since Yugi had really played chess, but he still remembered all the rules, and so Yami did as well. Yami himself had only played chess twice, once against Honda, and once against Ryou, winning both times. He'd wanted to play against Kaiba, who was again, a champion, but the opportunity never arose.

Yami was taken by surprise himself as the game began. He hadn't expected having to verbally direct his pieces. But once he understood what he had to do, he was a natural. He had a strange knack for commanding an army. And the game got even more interesting when they got to the first kill of the game.

Ron drew first blood, taking out a pawn with his knight. Yami watched as the knight "rode" up to his pawn, walloped it one good, and dragged it off the board.

"They actually kill each other?!" he exclaimed.

"That's wizard's chess," Ron said confidently. "Your move."

'Oh, I can definitely get into this!' Yami thought. 'It's practically a shadow game!'

And thus preceded the most heated game of chess Hogwarts had ever seen. It wasn't long before Hermione put down her books to watch. As Gryffindors passed through the common room, a crowd gathered around. Normally, chess didn't gather that much attention, but it had never been this intense before. Both Ron and Yami had unwavering focus, neither willing to accept defeat. Each had their moves planed out several turns in advance. It was a close match.

Yami did not want it to end in a stalemate. He was in it to win. And he knew that wasn't going to happen if he didn't make some sacrifices. He'd analyzed Ron's style. Ron went for devastating the opponent's forces rather than going for a quick kill. Yami could relate. But while Ron paid attention to destroying pieces, his focus was away from protecting his king. Yami had a plan, but a single bishop was in the way. So he offered up something Ron could not resist, his queen. But when Ron took it, thinking Yami had made a mistake (for he didn't know better), he clenched the match. Yami moved the now unguarded rook into place, and that, along with his other rook and a couple of well-placed pawns sealed Ron's fate.

Ron could hardly believe he had been defeated by someone playing their first game of wizard chess. He didn't like having lost in front of so many of his fellow Gryffindors, but he was a good loser. He shook Yami's hand and conceded the match.

"Good match. I guess I've lost my touch. Need to practice more." Ron laughed. "Been playing against easy people like Harry too long." Harry responded with a snicker and a friendly shove.

Yami felt as if there was something missing from this victory. There were no agonizing or frustrated screams of defeat. No threats. Not even an "I'll get you next time!" He sighed. He supposed he'd just played so many serious games that he'd almost forgotten what it was like to just play for fun. He shrugged it off and smiled back at Ron. "I look forward to playing against you again."

"Is that a challenge?" Ron grinned.

...................................

Yami Bakura lay on the sloping bank of the lake, facing the water with his head resting on his hands. It was a warm day and he had discarded the heavy black robes and remained in just the under shirt and his slacks. He watched the many tentacles of the giant squid lift lazily out of the water. It was peaceful and serene. He liked it.

He was just about to doze off when a shadow fell over him. He looked up but did not move from his resting position. "What is it, Malik?"

The blonde said nothing. Instead he sat down besides Yami Bakura with his legs stretched out in front of him. He, too, had abandoned his robes for cooler clothes, only he had left them in his dorm. His gold glinted in the setting sun.

Yami Bakura closed his eyes. "If you're not here for a reason, go find another place to sit and do nothing. This is my spot."

"Why'd you get involved today?" Malik asked.

Yami Bakura opened one eye. "You didn't think I was going to let you have all the fun, did you?"

"I can handle Malfoy on my own. I don't need your help."

"Who ever said I was helping you? What makes you think I didn't just feel like raising a little Hell?"

"Well, I don't know if you realize you're on that guy's list now. You're in it for the long haul."

"I'm not afraid of him," Yami Bakura said.

"That may be true, but he doesn't know the difference between you and the other Bakura."

Yami Bakura opened his eyes. "I didn't think about that."

"Why does that not surprise me?" Malik muttered. "Now he has to deal with Malfoy, too."

"I can handle Malfoy for the both of us."

"If by 'handle' you mean send to the shadow realm, that won't work. You're at a boarding school, remember? They'll notice if students go missing. And since your little talk with Dumbledore, I'm sure you'll be high on his suspects list. You can't reveal you're a schizoid without some drawbacks."

"I 'possess' Ryou. Two souls, one body. You're the schizoid." Yami Bakura said matter-of-factly.

"Speaking of which, you didn't tell Dumbledore anything about me, did you?" Malik asked.

"Nothing incriminating," Yami Bakura replied. "He figured out on his own that you have a millennium item, but he didn't ask what it does. He'll find out eventually though if you keep using the rod to solve every dispute."

Malik laughed. "That Malfoy kid is convinced that I've been using some kind of curse on him. Some kind of wizard spell. He doesn't get what's really going on. What else does Dumbledore know?"

"He asked if you had another spirit living in you, too. Yugi told him no. Technically, that wasn't a lie."

"Technically," Malik agreed.

They sat there and watched the approaching night as the sun set behind them. Stars began to dot the horizon and the giant squid appeared to settle down for the evening. It would be time for supper soon. Yami Bakura sighed and stood. "Better get going." He offered Malik a hand. Malik took it and lifted himself off the ground.

"By the way," Malik began, trying to think of a way to phrase what he wanted to say without sounding soft. "Not that I needed your help, but thanks for today anyway. I rather enjoyed seeing Malfoy chased around by a midget dragon."

"Don't mention it. I got your back. Someone has to, what with all the trouble you get yourself into," Yami Bakura snickered. Malik sighed, but smiled back. But, of course, the peace could not last.

"Hurry up, Crabbe! Supper's starting!"

"Race you there, Goyle!"

Yami Bakura and Malik didn't know what hit them. It felt like a train ran into them, but in actuality, it was Malfoy's goons running past, or rather, through them. Malik fell backward and was lucky enough to land in the soft grass behind him. Yami Bakura wasn't as fortunate. He tumbled down past the grass, over the muddy bank, and into the shallow lake water below with a splash and a lot of cursing. A familiar obnoxious laugh answered Yami Bakura's swears.

"You really must forgive my associates. They get so excitable at mealtimes. I do hope they didn't scare you girls. They must not have seen you," Malfoy snickered, walking past them. "They'll be serving dinner in the Great Hall in a few minutes. You may want to clean up a bit, though." Malfoy laughed again, particularly at the drenched and muddy Yami Bakura below. But Malfoy foolishly did not see the dangerous look spreading across Yami Bakura's face. Few have faced that expression and lived to tell the tale. Yami Bakura's eyes were narrowed, his mouth locked in a sneer, and his fists clenched so tight he almost drew blood. He hadn't even made a move to get up yet. Malik saw that look and knew what it meant. Yami Bakura wasn't about to send Malfoy to the shadow realm; he was about to kill him. Under normal conditions, Malik would have allowed him to do so, but he didn't know what sort of criminal system these wizards had yet. He had to do something to break the tension. So at the right moment, he stuck his foot out.

Malfoy tripped over the outstretched leg and fell forward, face-planting into a muddy spot on the bank. He coughed and sputtered due to the mud that went into his mouth. He spit furiously, trying to get it out.

"Sorry. Guess I didn't see you..." Malik chuckled. He cast a quick glance at Yami Bakura. The grave robber still looked angry, but he didn't look like he was going to kill anyone anymore. Malik stood and hovered over Malfoy. "You may want to clean up a bit," he added.

Malfoy fumed and stood up in a rush, mud dripping down his face. "If you think you have any chance of winning this, you're wrong!" Malfoy hollered. "One word from my father and-"

"I'm not scared of you or your father," Malik said, all humor leaving his voice. He got right in Malfoy's face. "You're a sniveling little child and it's high time someone put you in your place. You can't hide behind your goons and your father forever. Sooner or later, you'll be on your own. And you won't last five minutes."

"Who are you to tell me that?!" Malfoy yelled back. "You don't know who you're messing with. You're in the wizard world now. You know nothing! Either of you!" Malfoy said, now addressing both Malik and Yami Bakura. "You're just another of Dumbledore's charity cases, like that big oaf of a grounds keeper. You don't have what it takes to survive in this world! You're going to get snuffed out with the rest of those not fit for the Magical world!"

"And who's going to do this? You?" Malik taunted sarcastically.

"You'll find out eventually. In the meantime, I'm warning you. Next time, I'm not fooling with these low-brow pranks. Next time, I'm using my wand." With that, Malfoy stomped off towards the castle.

Malik watched him go for a minute, and then slid carefully down the bank and offered a helping hand to Yami Bakura. Yami Bakura cocked a questioning eyebrow at him. "You got my back, I got yours," Malik responded. Yami Bakura took Malik's hand and pulled himself out of the water. Yami Bakura wrung what water he could out of his clothes and hair as he the climbed the bank.

"I think I might like this tag-team effort," Malik observed as they made their way back to the castle. "Makes things a lot easier."

"Yeah," Yami Bakura agreed. "But I'd feel a lot better if I had finished him off then and there."

"No you wouldn't. There are far better ways to get revenge with less risk involved."

"I guess that's true," Yami Bakura mumbled. "But if he lays one hand on Ryou, I'll show no mercy."

"I think you underestimate your host," Malik grinned. "If Bakura can put up with you twenty-four/seven, I think he can deal with Malfoy. Besides, I'll be there for him as backup. You can't play big brother all the time."

"Yes I can," Yami Bakura argued.

The two split up upon reaching the castle. Malik headed to his own dorm room to put his robes back on and to flush the toilets while Malfoy was showering off. Yami Bakura went to the Gryffindor room where Yami and Ron were on their fourth game of chess. The majority of the spectators had gone off to the Great Hall, but Harry and Hermione were still there and the soaking-wet Yami Bakura did not go unnoticed by them. Yami and Ron, on the other hand, were oblivious.

"What happened to you?" Harry asked.

"Went swimming in the lake," Yami Bakura replied dully.

"Oh, you shouldn't do that," Hermione said. "It's awfully cold and dirty this time of year."

"Tell me about it," Yami Bakura muttered.

Hermione was about to say something, but Harry stopped her. "Hermione. Sarcasm, remember?"

"Oh! Right."

Yami Bakura went upstairs, rinsed off, and changed. He was still in a bad mood when he came down, but by that time, the final game of chess was over. Yami remained undefeated.

"You're in an unusually bad mood," Yami observed quietly to Yami Bakura as they all prepared to head to supper.

"Bad day," Yami Bakura replied simply.

As they left, Harry couldn't help but notice something about the way Bakura looked. In the experience with the boggart earlier, he'd thought the boggart had taken on Bakura's exact form. But now he saw something he didn't before, and as he recalled the earlier experience, he saw a connection. The form the boggart had taken had looked like Bakura, only...darker, and with more attitude. It had been the same way Bakura had appeared during the incident with the dragon. And it was the same way he looked now. There was just something about the way his hair seemed to spike up now. And the fierceness in his gaze. He no longer seemed so innocent and good-natured and it sent chills down Harry's spine. He noticed it in Yugi too, now that he looked. The spiky haired boy seemed to have lost his child- like appearance. And there was an obvious change in his height. There was definitely something more to these transfer students than simply being late- starters. And Harry wanted to know what it was. But Dumbledore wouldn't have let them into school if they were a threat, would he?

They reached the Great Hall shortly after the food appeared and found themselves seats. Malik walked in shortly after them and confidently took a seat...at the Gryffindor table.

"Um," Hermione began, "Didn't I tell you that-"

"I'll take my chances. I'd rather avoid the company of those Slytherins if at all possible," Malik said, helping himself to a bowl of soup. "That is, if you don't mind," he added after, but judging from the way he seemed to be settling in, the Gryffindors doubted if he would move even if they did mind.

Yami Bakura bypassed the soups and the salads and went straight for a thick cut of meat. He paused, dissatisfaction in his expression and he examined what there was to choose from. Yami (who himself had a salad) wasn't sure if he should dare ask. Yami Bakura met Yami's gaze and knew the question before it was asked.

"This meat is far too over-cooked," he mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Ron said. "It's medium at the most."

"Medium is over-cooked as far as I'm concerned. I like my steak rare. I want it to practically moo when I poke it with a fork..." Disgust of varying degrees passed over the faces of those that heard him, with Malik appearing to be the most disgusted.

"Quit making a scene. As often as you eat, you shouldn't complain. Take what you can get," Yami whispered, leaning in.

"If anything, that's a reason I should complain," Yami Bakura replied, not bothering to keep his voice low. "Where are those elves or whatever it was you said made the food?"

"Right below us, but-" Hermione said, but she was cut off.

Yami Bakura stomped loudly and seemed to yell at the floor. "Hey down there! Send up a steak! Rare! And when I say rare, I mean rare!"

"But it doesn't work that way..." Hermione began. She stopped however, when a steak appeared on Yami Bakura's plate, flame kissed, and that was all. Yami Bakura grinned broadly.

"Humph," Ron said, impressed. "Apparently, it does work that way." He stomped twice. "Hey, can I get some cherry pie up here?" Nothing happened. "Please?"

"Ha, ha, ha!" Yami Bakura laughed. "You just don't have that tone of voice."

"Then why don't you ask for me?" Ron retorted.

"Because I don't want any cherry pie," Yami Bakura replied smartly.

"It's probably not just a matter of ask and you shall receive, Ron," said Hermione. "They had steaks on hand, so I guess they could specially prepare one of those. Cherry pie, however, would take a bit more." Ron pouted.

Yami Bakura happily dug into his steak. Malik was thoroughly grossed out. "How can you eat that?!" he mumbled.

"Like this," Yami Bakura answered, cutting off a particularly large piece and tearing into it so that Malik got a good look. Malik gagged.

"I hope you get E. Coli or something..." he muttered. "Or a tapeworm." Yami Bakura laughed and continued to eat his bloody steak.

"Next time, you'll sit at your own table..."

"You'd think that, wouldn't you?"

Yami sighed. He was wondering if Malik and Yami Bakura being on friendly terms was a good thing or a bad thing.

Later, everyone returned to their dorms. Malik decided he would sleep with the millennium rod under his pillow instead of under his bed, just incase. Meanwhile, Yugi and Ryou were allowed control back. Once more, Harry observed the change, but said nothing.

The rest of the evening went by fairly quiet. Ryou read his textbook for Divination, which was the first class they would be having in the morning. Harry and Ron could not for the life of them understand why anyone would willingly read about Divination. Ryou seemed to have an unusual interest in it. Yugi was reading as well, but he was reading a book borrowed from Hermione on magical creatures. He was amazed see just how many fairy-tale monsters and beasts actually existed.

After about an hour, Ryou put his book down with a groan. When he was asked what was wrong, he replied that he had a stomachache.

"It's probably that raw steak you had for dinner," Harry said.

"Wha-what?" Ryou mumbled so low only Yugi heard him.

"Yeah," said Ron said. "Big, bloody slab of beef. Almost made me sick just watching. Maybe you should let the house elves cook it a bit more next time."

Ryou went very pale, even for him. Yugi stood quickly, grabbing Ryou by the arm and leading him to the bathroom. "Weren't you paying attention?" he asked in a hushed whisper.

"Oh, how was I supposed to know? I was asleep," Ryou moaned, louder than he should have. Harry and crew heard him clearly before Yugi closed the bathroom door behind them.

"That was...strange..." Hermione said.

"Yeah..." Harry said. "Did you guys notice anything else weird about them, tonight especially?"

"Yes, now that you mention it," Hermione said thoughtfully. "Bakura was acting a little strange after classes. And I hadn't realized Yugi was that competitive. He really showed no mercy against Ron."

"What about the way they looked?" asked Harry.

"Well, they seemed the have more serious expressions..." Ron said.

"No, it's more than that," Harry said.

"I didn't notice anything else."

"What do you mean you didn't notice anything else? Yugi was like a foot taller. And there was something weird with their hair, too."

"There was?" Hermione said. Harry gave a frustrated groan. "Maybe because we weren't looking for it?" Hermione offered.

"I guess that could be it," Harry said. "But really, a foot in height? You had to notice that." Ron and Hermione shrugged.

Yugi and Ryou emerged from the bathroom, Ryou still reeling from his indigestion. Yugi led him upstairs and straight to bed, bidding goodnight to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the latter two staring after them as they went upstairs.

"I still don't see anything, Harry," Ron said.

"Not NOW you don't," Harry replied, rolling his eyes and sighing heavily.