"I can't believe you..." Ryou mumbled.

"Hey! I kept you out of trouble, didn't I?" Malik said defensively.

"I didn't do anything to get into trouble!" Ryou argued. "I've just been dragged into your feud with that Malfoy. I'm innocent in all this!"

"That may be true, but that's not my fault. Blame HIM," Malik said, gesturing to the ring concealed under Ryou's shirt. "I did tell him this would happen." Ryou nervously crossed his arms over his chest and the ring.

"I'm not even going to talk to him now. He's in a bad mood," Ryou said.

"'Bout what went on in your fortune-telling class this morning? What was the big deal, anyway?"

"N-nothing," Ryou stammered trying to smile innocently. "Just dramatics is all. He doesn't need a reason to be in a bad mood anyway."

"Hey! You're lagging behind," they heard Harry call. "Hurry up!"

"Coming!" Ryou and Malik both answered.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were leading Yugi, Ryou, and Malik to the Quidditch field as they had been instructed to do. Harry had his trusty Firebolt broomstick over his shoulder. He was hoping to get some early practice in while they were here. But there was more than Quidditch on Harry's mind.

Now that he knew for sure that something was up, he was unsure of how to handle it. There was something not right about these new guys, especially Yugi and Bakura. Harry really didn't feel like they were a danger. Just...a concern. They seemed to go through extreme personality changes with no warning, not to mention that strange look they sometimes got in their eyes. But what should he do about it? Should he confront them? Naw, that probably wasn't the best idea. Maybe he should go to Dumbledore. The headmaster had always told Harry to inform him if there was something that concerned him. Or what about Sirius? He was here to keep an eye on things. This certainly seemed like something he should know about. And he wouldn't think that Harry was just paranoid. Sirius had witnessed the boggart incident, so he knew something strange was up. And Harry had a feeling that the form the boggart took was a big clue about whatever was really going on.

He'd made up his mind. He'd speak to Sirius about it during their next training session.

Ryou and Malik caught up to the rest. Yugi's eyes were exceptionally wide with anticipation. Flying sounded like so much fun. Malik wouldn't admit it, but he was every bit as excited. He'd always loved speed and feeling the wind in his hair. That's why he loved his motorcycle back home so much. But with flying, he wouldn't be limited to roads. Ryou thought the whole thing seemed dangerous. Nothing to catch them if they fell. No pads or helmets. Not that that would help them if they hit the ground after falling a hundred feet.

Fred and George were waiting for them when they arrived. Several brooms lay on the ground. Two of which were obviously new. The other three looked like antiques. "See you brought your broom, Harry," Fred observed.

"Always prepared," Harry answered. "How's the team looking this year?"

"We're filling up the blank spots," George said with a nod of his head. "We're thinking Dean for keeper. That muggle sport he's always talking about-"

"Soccer?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, that's it," George nodded again. "Well, anyway, seems Dean's got some experience playing a similar position for that. He's real good at guarding, but he needs to work on handling his broom. And for one of the chasers, we got Josie Reinbeck, a third year. She played some muggle sport too and she's a great shot." Harry suspected they were talking about basketball this time, but he said nothing. It wasn't that important.

"So there's still one chaser position open?" Harry asked.

"Yep," Fred said. "You wanna try for it, Ron?"

Ron shook his head violently. "No, thank you! Not with you two as captains. That'd mean I'd have to listen to you."

"You have to listen to us now," Fred corrected with a laugh. "You just don't know it."

"We should probably get started," Hermione interrupted. "Otherwise, they'll be flying in the dark."

"Alright," Fred agreed. He spread the three older brooms out evenly. "These are our old brooms and one borrowed from the Quidditch supplies that's probably older than Dumbledore. Stand next to one, stick your hand out, and say 'Up!' You've got to be firm about it."

Yugi, Ryou, and Malik each did as they were told. Yugi's just jumped a bit and fell short. He tried again, and this time it worked a bit too well. It hit his hand a bit forcefully and stung. Malik's broom didn't seem to want to do anything. He shouted at it a bit and prodded it with the toe of his shoe, but it didn't want to cooperate.

Ryou tried himself while Malik continued to fight with his broom. Ryou had the oldest model broomstick. "Up," he said meekly, almost asking instead of telling.

"No, no," George corrected. "Be firm. Say 'up' and be confident that it will listen to you."

Ryou took a deep breath and tried again, visualizing the broom obeying him. It worked and the old broom floated gently into his hand. Malik cast a dirty look at him and Ryou was tempted to stick his tongue out in response, but that would have been too childish so he simply smiled innocently at the Egyptian.

"Maybe you're being too forceful," Fred offered the frustrated Malik. "It's an old broom and can be temperamental. Be firm, but don't yell at it." Malik tried this different approach and after a few attempts, it worked and the broom jumped into his hand.

"Well, now that that's done, let's take this next part one at a time, hm?" Fred said. "Yugi, you first. Let go of the broom. It should float on its own and you can climb onto it. Straddle the broom and when you're ready, kick off the ground, but not too hard or you'll start off too fast. Harry, be ready to go after him if he needs your help."

Harry nodded and readied his broom. Yugi released his grip as he was told and the broom hovered in place, a bit too high for him to have an easy time climbing on, but he managed. His feet could barely touch the ground, however, so he couldn't really kick off. He was determined, though. He stretched and was able to push off with his toes. He slowly rose higher off the ground and laughed giddily with excitement.

"This is so cool!" he shouted.

"Try to maneuver the broom!" George shouted back. "Just pull it gently in the direction you want to go! Be sure you lean with it or you'll go off balance and fall!"

Yugi did as he was told and slowly lifted his broom higher in the air. He turned to the left, then the right, amazed at the feeling of freedom flying produced.

Malik watched this from behind everyone else. 'Humph,' he thought, 'Yugi makes it look easy.' So of course, Malik wasn't about to wait for his own instruction and he mounted his broomstick and kicked off from the ground. He lifted about ten feet in the air without anyone noticing. Steering the broom seemed easy after his motorcycle. Malik's sense of balance was already well prepared for it. So what else was there to do but show off?

Malik leaned forward and shot past Yugi. "Hey!" Yugi yelled in shock. He narrowed his eyes angrily at Malik. "You trying to kill me!"

"You're seven feet off the ground! I doubt it would kill you!" Malik called back.

"Do you have to hog the spotlight!" yelled Yugi angrily.

"Don't talk to me about hogging the spotlight, King of Games!" Yugi blushed and had no reply.

"Did he just call Yugi 'King of Games?'" Ron asked.

Ryou laughed nervously. "Just a title," he said.

"Really? Not an official title, huh?" Ryou nodded. "Humph. No wonder I lost at chess," Ron said. "How'd he get a title like that?"

"A long story," Ryou said.

"You'll have to tell it to us sometime."

Malik sped around on his broomstick, having the time of his life. Yugi pouted. He tried to mimic Malik's movement, but only succeeded in nearly falling off his broom. He decided not to try that again and slowly floated back to the ground. He sensed Yami fighting a laugh. <You're free to give it a try,> Yugi said moodily.

<No, I think you're handling it okay alone,> Yami declined. Yugi frowned again

Ryou watched from the safety of the ground. He had to admit it did look like fun. And it didn't seem too hard. Maybe he'd be able to do it... He didn't have to be great. It's not like he was trying out for the team or anything.

"Looking good, Malik!" George called. "Too bad you're a Slytherin! We might have been able to use you!"

'Believe me. No one regrets me being a Slytherin more than me,' Malik thought with a shake of his head. He began to try to slow the broom so that he'd be able to land... only to find that he couldn't. When he pulled the broom up in an attempt to decrease his speed, he only went higher.

"You're going a bit fast!" Fred yelled. Malik didn't answer him.

"He's too high to hear you!" Hermione said, concern in her voice.

'Maybe I should have waited to hear all the instructions,' Malik thought. From his height, the others looked like insects. His broom still wasn't slowing down. Was there some break he didn't know about? "Little help up here!" He called. No good. He was too high to understand anything they said. He pointed the broom downward to try and get closer to the others but ended up in a dive. A really fast dive.

Malik desperately tried to level out his broom. Seeing that Malik had lost control, Harry mounted his broom and took off after him. Unfortunately, not even his Firebolt was able to move fast enough. Malik succeeded in straightening his flying, but he'd been unable to do that and watch where he was going. The result was him plowing straight into one of the goals.

Malik managed to avoid any serious damage from the impact, but the broom got away from him and he was left holding on for deal life from the fifty- foot high hoop goal. Hermione used a summoning charm to keep the broom from heading into the Forbidden Forest. Harry caught up to Malik and hovered beside him, trying to figure out the best way to get him down, as Malik was in an awkward position. He hung upside down with one leg and both arms wrapped tightly around the hoop and the other leg struggling for a grip. "Any time now, Harry!" Malik said impatiently.

"This wouldn't have happened if you had waited," Harry said matter-of- factly.

"I don't need a lecture, I need to get down!" Malik shouted.

Eventually, everybody got back to the ground safely, but pretty soon, Malik began to wish he was still stuck on the goal.

"And what did we learn?" Yugi taunted.

"Shut up, Yugi..."

"Pride goeth before a fall? Or a crash in this case?" Yugi pushed.

"Shut. Up."

"You had a very nice start," Ryou complimented. "You just couldn't stick the landing. Better luck next time."

"You can shut up, too."

"Hey! I was being nice," Ryou frowned.

"You were patronizing me," Malik said.

"Was not! I was serious."

"Yeah..." Malik replied sarcastically. "Isn't it your turn? Let's see if you can do better."

"Yes, can't wait to see him crash, too," came a voice. An annoyingly familiar voice belonging to none other than Malfoy who strolled casually towards them broomstick in hand and flanked by his two cronies. "Really Ishtal, if you can't even handle that old broom, you're even more pathetic than I thought."

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Ron said.

"We have a lesson going on here," George said, oddly official-like. "You have to leave."

"On the contrary," Malfoy said. "As captain of the Quidditch team, I have every right to be here to observe any fellow Slytherin's skills on a broom. Professor Snape said so."

"You know very well that you're not seriously scouting me," Malik argued.

"Yes, I know that, but the Professor doesn't," Malfoy said smugly.

"You also know that it was you who caused all that trouble in Potions today," Ron said. "You set Bakura up."

Malfoy looked directly at Ryou, a smirk on his face. "Prove it."

Malik sighed. "Look. I'll leave. Then he'll have no excuse to stay."

"No," Ryou said. "You don't need to leave just because of him. We'll just ignore him."

"What makes you girls think that I'm that easy to ignore?" Malfoy inquired.

"Girls WOULD find you easy to ignore, but I guess we can manage," Malik remarked. Malfoy narrowed his eyes at the comment and Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles as if waiting for the order. "Why don't you save yourself some embarrassment and leave now?" Malik said.

Malfoy scoffed. "I'm not worried about you."

Malik shook his head. "They never learn..."

"You may have Snape fooled but not me," Malfoy said. "You're nothing but talk and childish pranks. I bet you still don't know how to use a wand."

Finally Fred interrupted. "Look, we're losing daylight. You two can finish this later. We can't make Malfoy leave if Snape gave him permission to be here."

"But if you disrupt the flying lesson," George added, pointing a finger at Malfoy, "We will report you for it. This is official business and Professor McGonagall won't be happy if you prevent us from carrying out her instructions."

"Carry on with your little lesson, Weaslys," Malfoy said condescendingly. "I'm just here to watch."

Ron turned to Hermione. "You're a prefect, can't you do anything about him?"

"Afraid not," Hermione answered. "Not if Snape gave him permission."

"Can't you take some points away from Slytherin because of his backtalk?" Ron asked. Hermione shook her head.

"I can only do that is he sasses an authority figure, and Quidditch captains don't count, especially since he's one, too."

"What's the use of being a prefect then?" Ron said exasperatedly.

"Come on, Whitey," Fred said. "You're up."

"This ought to be good," Malfoy commented. "Is he going to ride side- straddle?"

"Back off, Malfoy," Malik warned.

"Or what?" Malfoy challenged. "I was just talking to my associates. That's not a crime." Malik glared at him, but said nothing. The rod was in his pocket, but there was too much attention on him to risk using it. His only other strategy was fighting, and if Malfoy held through on his threat to start using his wand, that may not be the best approach. Malik didn't even have his wand on him and even if he did, what was he going to do with it, poke Malfoy to death? Maybe he'd be able to set his robes on fire... It worked on the curtains of the wand shop.

Seeing Malik back down, Malfoy turned his attention back to Ryou who was trying to ignore him but with little success. Ryou had been through bullying worse than even Malfoy would be capable of, but that didn't make him immune to it. Malfoy's words hurt him, but it hurt more that Malik felt he had to defend him. Ryou didn't really want his friends to feel the need to protect him.

<I am really getting tired of this kid...> Ryou heard his yami mutter.

<No! Don't do anything! I can handle it. You just don't worry,> Ryou assured.

<Have it your way. But I'd be doing the world a favor in probably more ways than one if I locked that idiot in the shadow realm.>

<I'm not saying I disagree with you, but I don't want to get expelled on my second day,> Ryou said.

<It would be worth it...> Yami Bakura mumbled.

<To you maybe, but I->

"Would you answer him already?!"

"Wha-what?" Ryou stammered. The sudden shout brought Ryou out of his thoughts. His friends were giving him concerned looks while Malfoy and company stared at him as if he were stupid. Ryou realized that they must have been speaking to him while he was talking with Yami Bakura. "I'm sorry. What was it you needed?" he said, blushing.

"I was asking if you wanted to use this broom instead of that older one," Yugi said, showing less concern than the other Gryffindors because he knew what had been going on. "I guess I said it too softly for you to hear me," he said, offering an excuse.

"Bull," Malfoy said. "I heard you from over here. And I heard the rest of you who tried to get his attention, too. Face it, he was spaced out. What a head case. You and Ishtal are real candidates for St. Mungo's. Were you talking with the voices in your head, 'Whitey,'" Malfoy said, using the Weasly twins' nickname in a mocking tone.

Ryou's first though was admittedly 'How did he know?' Of course, he soon realized that Malfoy was only making fun of him. Malfoy didn't know it was true. Both Malik and Yugi were about to open their mouths to defend Ryou, but he beat them to it. "Quit trying to improve your own self-image by belittling me," Ryou said, trying to sound firm, but his voice was still wavering. He doubted he sounded too intimidating. He didn't really know how to sound imposing. He figured he probably seemed more like a teacher.

As Ryou could have guessed, Malfoy was not impressed. "That the best you can do?" he said, cocking an eyebrow. "You act tough half the time, then the other half you're like this. Trying to act all nice so Potter's gang will believe you're innocent? Pathetic."

Ryou narrowed his eyes. He hated having is intentions questioned. But he also couldn't help but notice how close Malfoy was getting to guessing the truth, even if it wasn't in seriousness. He wasn't the only one. Yugi had a worried look in his eyes. Malik had noticed but wasn't reacting. He felt sure Malfoy would never figure out what was really going on. Malfoy's observations also caught Harry's attention. He didn't exactly have much respect for Malfoy, quite the opposite actually, but it was more evidence that others were noticing the differences in Bakura and Yugi. Something was up, and he was going to find out what...

"I'm not acting any sort of way," Ryou defended even though his better judgment was to just let the subject drop. "I am not devious, and I am very straight-forward. I don't like to lie or deceive. What you see is what you get. And unlike some people-" but Ryou never got to finish that sentence for while he was talking, he had pointed the broomstick he still held in his hands accusingly at Malfoy... and the fool thing shot out of his hand and hit Malfoy directly in the stomach.

Malfoy "oofed" and doubled over, his goons immediately at his side. That old broom had moved with surprising speed. Ryou was frozen in shock, his hand hanging in midair still positioned as if he were holding the broom. This wasn't going to be good for inter-house relationships, that was for sure. No one moved... until...

"You. Are. Dead..." Malfoy choked out, clutching his stomach.

"I-I'm s-sorry!" Ryou quickly apologized, putting his hands up defensively. "I didn't mean... It-it did it one it's own!"

"Just like the dragon escaped on it's own," Malfoy said dangerously.

Malik suddenly broke the tense atmosphere with a short but loud laugh. "I'd almost forgot about the dragon," he said when everyone had looked at him.

"Not helping!" Ryou said through gritted teeth. Malik didn't serve as a distraction for long. Ryou dodged with a yelp as Malfoy dove for him, not missing by much. What happened next made Ryou suddenly very worried. Malfoy reached in his robes and pulled out his wand.

"Perhaps you didn't hear when I told your friend that I was through playing childish games. Something tells me you don't know how to use a wand either..."

Ryou's eyes went wide. "Don't you dare, Malfoy!" Hermione threatened. "That's not fair!"

"Who cares if it's fair, mudblood?!" Malfoy shot back, standing straight up even though his stomach still hurt quite a bit. "What are you going to do? Report me? Do it and see! I'm sure the professors will want to reconsider your position as prefect when they hear how you stood by and did nothing while your "friends" viciously attacked me and only stepped in when I moved to defend myself."

"That's not true!" Harry shouted.

"This is low, even for you, Malfoy," Fred said harshly.

"Say what you will, but I have two witnesses here that are willing to back me up," Malfoy answered, thumbing at Crabbe and Goyle who grinned stupidly. "It'll be my word against yours, and with my father's influence, well... you understand. Now back to you," Malfoy said, turning back to Ryou who recoiled involuntarily.

<Yami...> Ryou said internally.

<Oh, no. You wanted to be on your own, and I'm giving you what you asked for. You made me spare his miserable soul, and this is your reward,> Yami Bakura answered.

<Then what do I do?!> Ryou asked desperately.

<For you, I would strongly suggest running,> Yami Bakura said before closing down the mental link. Maybe this would teach Ryou to appreciate his help when it was offered.

Ryou returned to his senses just in time to dodge a blast from Malfoy's wand. What a time for his Yami to suddenly agree to leave him alone. A second blast that almost hit home sent Ryou running for his life. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George all pulled out their wands, but Malfoy had already prepared for that. He succeeded in disarming Harry and Hermione with a spell before either of the Gryffindors had been able to say a word. Crabbe and Goyle served as backup, disarming the Weasly brothers and making sure nobody picked up the dropped wands. Malik and Yugi, not having wands, moved to help their friend. Unfortunately, Crabbe and Goyle, wands ready, blocked their path. Malik reached for his millennium rod, but the goons, thinking he was reaching for a wand, pointed their wands at him and warned him not to move. Malik made a mental note to make Malfoy and his cronies drown themselves in the lake sometime in the near future. Yugi watched helplessly. If he did anything, he wouldn't be able to explain it away afterwards. What could he do, anyway, short of having Yami mind crush Malfoy, which was starting to sound better and better?

Ryou peeked over his shoulder and realized he was completely on his own. This was soooo not good. He knew he wasn't going to be able to run for long and Malfoy was closing in. Ryou heard Malfoy shout an incantation and veered to the right to avoid the spell that followed it. At this rate, Malfoy wasn't even going to need to catch him. One well aimed spell and...Ryou didn't like to think about it.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!!" Ryou shouted. Now was no time for pride. But Malfoy wasn't in a forgiving mood. He wasn't in the mood for running either. Not when he had his broom...

Ryou looked back and ducked just in the nick of time as Malfoy zoomed overhead on his Nimbus two-thousand-and-one. Now Malfoy had a wand, and a broom, and he knew how to use both. What did Ryou have? An alter-ego who was choosing this moment to be difficult and a stitch in his side from running. This was beyond unfair. He didn't stand a chance on the ground, so he made a mad dash for the brooms, not knowing if they would do him any good. He grabbed the first one he reached, one of the twin's Nimbuses, and kept on running. Gods, he hoped this flying thing was as easy as Malik had made it look before he crashed into the fifty-foot high hoop. No time for second thoughts. Ryou straddled the broom while keeping up his run and he gradually lifted off the ground.

Yugi let a cheer escape him as Ryou rose higher. The more experienced Gryffindors knew the broom wouldn't make that much of a difference in the hands of someone who had never been on one before. And it was a Nimbus at that. Hardly a beginner's broom. But...Ryou was doing fairly well...

Ryou looked back again. The devious grin on Malfoy's face was oddly similar to that of his Yami. Malfoy had been on the losing end of his war against them. Now he was enjoying being ahead. And, as Ryou soon found out, Malfoy could use his wand while flying. Ryou heard the incantation and barrel- rolled to avoid it.

Malfoy wasn't aiming to kill. He hadn't even been trying to hit his target yet. He was toying with him like a cat toys with a mouse. But playtime was over. He was going to knock this cocky upstart out of the sky. Malfoy poured on the speed. His broom was a more advanced model than the one Ryou had. One well-timed vertigo spell and his opponent's sense of balance would be no more. You can't fly a broom if you can't even sit straight. But just as Malfoy was in position, Ryou killed his speed and Malfoy overshot. Malfoy cornered and came back at Ryou. Ryou retaliated by doubling back and flying directly at Malfoy and forcing him to dodge. Malfoy was growing frustrated. This was not the way it was supposed to work. It was as if the other boy sensed his moves before he had even made them.

Ryou was running on pure adrenalin. Ideas for evasive maneuvers came to his mind and he carried them out without even thinking. He was so glad he had paid attention while Yugi had been instructed on flying and had learned from Malik's mistakes. But he couldn't keep this up forever. He needed help. But he saw everyone capable of giving it held at wand point. That wouldn't do.

Ryou leaned forward and dived at Crabbe and Goyle. The goons threw themselves on the ground to avoid him. At that moment, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the twins dove for their wands and Malik reached for the millennium rod. Malfoy came flying through after Ryou and never knew what hit him. He was informed later that it was about five curses. Malfoy was out before the millennium rod could be of much use curtesy of at least one stunning spell. Crabbe and Goyle were left to take him back to the castle. Harry and company knew Malfoy wouldn't dare report them for cursing him. He'd gone too far. But they also knew it wouldn't do any good to report Malfoy. His father and Snape would make sure of that. It was a stalemate.

Ryou settled back down to the ground, out of breath and more than a little frazzled. <I can't BELIEVE you wouldn't help me!> he scolded his yami.

<I would have if I felt you were in danger,> Yami Bakura said, shrugging it off. <I sensed he wasn't planning on killing you. Besides, you need to do some things for yourself. Now don't you feel good, knowing that you handled that on your own?>

<I would disown you if only I knew how...>

Everybody rushed to Ryou's side to make sure he was okay. After it was determined that he was indeed okay, the celebrating began.

"Bakura that was great!" Yugi exclaimed. "You were going so fast and all those sharp turns, and you didn't even crash!"

"Yes, I remain original in that aspect," Malik commented

"I can't believe that was your first time on a broom," Ron said.

"It just comes naturally to some," said Harry with a nod. "Well done."

"That should keep Malfoy off your back for a while," Hermione said.

"I have to admit, I haven't had that much excitement in a while," Ryou said.

"Well, I hope you're prepared for more," George said.

"Why...why do you say that?" Ryou asked cautiously.

George grinned. "I think we've found our chaser..."