Not long after Ryou and Yugi had settled into their rooms, two more figures fell out of the fireplace. Rishid stood first and helped Malik to his feet before moving to inspect the room. Rishid was VERY protective.

"Give it a rest, Rishid," Malik said in perfect English thanks to the charm that had been performed on him. "If they were going to try something, they would have before now. And nobody's mentioned either the rod or my history with the Ghouls. I don't think we need to worry."

The door opened and the innkeeper appeared. 'More weird ones,' Tom thought to himself as he took in Malik's abundance of gold jewelry and skin revealing shirt and Rishid's long, flowing cloak and tattooed face. 'Dumbledore sure knows how to pick 'em.'

"Welcome to London and The Leaky Cauldron," he said in his most hospitable voice. "Ishtal, right?" Malik only nodded. "I'll take you to your room where you can rest and get cleaned up."

Tom left the two of them alone in their room.. Tom had explained that they had a lot of boarders right now, and so, as family, Malik and Rishid had to share a room. There was only one bed, but it was quite large. Rishid, however, allowed Malik the bed to himself and took a seat in a plush chair facing the doorway. Malik shook his head. Paranoid was the only word for it, but he knew better than to try to talk Rishid out of it. It just didn't work. Well, Rishid was alert enough for the both of them, so he could get some rest. They'd wait until tomorrow for their shopping. He knew he didn't have enough money for all the supplies on his list, especially not the long booklist, but that was okay. Isis disapproved, but she wasn't there at the moment, was she? His time with the Ghouls had made him a thief with skills that rivaled that of Yami Bakura the Grave Robber himself.

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

In their separate rooms, Yugi and Ryou were both having a difficult time sleeping. It was hard to contend with the time change. Yugi was passing the time by examining his information papers and holding a conversation with Yami, who was quite upset with the fact that the papers Dumbledore had given them stated that electronic equipment didn't work at Hogwarts, which meant their Duel Disk was of no use. Any dueling would have to be done the old fashioned way. Yugi made sure that it was HIS old fashioned way and not Yami's. Using magic to summon monsters at school would likely get him expelled.

The Game King's strategic mind was so eager for a challenge that he was almost ready to challenge Bakura. Either one, he didn't care if it was the dark or the light. His thoughts were broken when he heard loud footsteps and quiet cursing coming from the hallway outside the door. Yugi allowed Yami to assume control and check out what it was. Yami opened the door and peered into the hall. It was Bakura. Well, Bakura's body anyway.

"What's your problem?" Yami asked, irritated with the other spirit who didn't seem to think he needed to keep a low profile.

"Ryou was boring me with his stresses and worries," Yami Bakura began, "so I shut him up the best way I knew how. Then I decided I needed a drink, but the lousy barhand won't sell me any! Age, or something, I think was his excuse. I'm probably three thousand years older than his GRANDMOTHER and I am too young to buy ale! Lousy mortals..."

"I'm impressed that you actually tried to BUY some," Yami said, crossing his arms smugly. "No stealing for a change." Yami Bakura scowled.

"I am quite capable of stealing, Pharaoh, but I wasn't in the mood for the effort," Yami Bakura replied defiantly. "And if I tried stealing now, I'd never get away with it because I would be the first suspect and I am thousands of miles away from familiar territory. Now, if you are done, I'd like to return to my ring." With, his eyes glazed over, his head nodded, and the ring glowed. When he looked up again, Ryou had regained control and looked rather confused.

Yami sighed. Whenever Ryou regained his body back, he only had a faint memory of what his Yami did, if any at all. Ryou was baffled to find himself in the hallway, and even more confused to see Yami Yugi standing in front of him. Experience had taught him to tell the difference between Yugi's lighter and darker halves.

"Uh..." Ryou started, slightly embarrassed, "what did he do this time?"

"Tried to get a drink at the bar, is all," Yami replied. "So don't be surprised if the barkeep gives you a dirty look tomorrow."

Ryou rolled his eyes. "Great. So much for first impressions."

"Your other half seemed in a particularly bad mood. What's his problem?" Yami asked more out of boredom than concern.

"Oh, he's been bitter since he found out you were going to this school, too." Ryou said. "I guess he wanted to be able to say he knew something you didn't."

"That'll be the day..." Yami said sarcastically. Ryou just shook his head and returned to his room next door. The yamis' competitiveness was something he preferred to stay out of.

It took forever for the boys to finally fall asleep. Yugi's head seemed to have hardly hit the pillow before sunlight was streaming harshly through his window. He got up to draw the shades and returned to bed.

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

Malik and Rishid were ready to leave at nine that morning. Malik wasn't happy about being up that early, as it was too early for him, but Rishid insisted on getting an early start.

They had breakfast in the inn and asked Tom for directions to Diagon Alley. Dumbledore had given Malik a map of the alley itself with all the places he needed to visit marked, but it didn't say how to get to the alley. Tom was happy to escort them to the entrance.

After they were astounded by the sights before them when Diagon Alley was finally revealed, their first stop was the bank. The goblins inside were officially the strangest thing that Malik had seen yet, but there was still much to see. Rishid didn't like them at all, but as they were only exchanging money, they didn't have to stay long.

"I don't think the money we have will be enough," Rishid said as he examined Malik's supply list outside the bank. "There's well over a dozen books on this list plus potion ingredients, gloves, a cauldron..."

"I'll make do," Malik replied. "Go on back to the inn, Rishid. I can handle the shopping myself."

"But Malik..."

"Look, Rishid. I'm supposed to be getting adjusted to this new environment. How am I supposed to do that with you hovering over me? I think that if I am capable of controlling a millennium item and a God card, I can handle shopping for school supplies."

"Yes, and if Battle City has taught us anything, it's that you shouldn't be left alone," Rishid replied, unconvinced.

"That's not the case anymore. I'm in control now. Give me some freedom, will you? You and Isis haven't left me alone in months."

Rishid sighed heavily. "Alright," he agreed. "But be back at the inn for lunch, or I'll come find you."

Rishid reluctantly left. Most men his age were not so easily ordered around by their younger step-brothers, but most men didn't have Malik. Sometimes it was better to just give in. He didn't see the harm in it. Malik was right. He did deserve some freedom.

Malik waited until Rishid was well out of sight. He then began wondering around, searching both for the stores on his list, and an easy victim to steal some much needed cash from.

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

Later, there was a loud knock on the door to Yugi's room. Yugi sleepily rolled over and mumbled "Go away, Grampa."

"Oy, are you awake in there?" came a loud, deep voice. " 'S almost eleven."

'That doesn't sound like Grampa,' Yugi thought, opening one eye. He turned to face the door when it suddenly opened. Standing there was the biggest man Yugi ever saw!

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!" Yugi screamed.

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!" the man screamed.

Yugi, terrified, threw the covers over his head. He wished he had slept with the puzzle on. Now there was a giant in his room and Yami was dangerously out of reach. He heard the giant step into the room.

"What is it?! Why'd you scream?!" he said.

"What's all the yelling about?" Yugi recognized the sleepy voice of Ryou. Then silence. Followed by another wave of screaming.

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"What's wrong with you two?!" the man exclaimed. "Didn't Professor Dumbledore an' Tom tell ya I was comin'? I'm Hagrid!"

Yugi poked his head out from the covers. Ryou was on the floor with his back to the wall. "W-wait, you're the escort?" he said.

"That I am. Hagrid's the name. Keeper of the keys and the grounds at Hogwarts. And your Care of Magical Creatures teacher," Hagrid said, swelling with pride. "Sorry if I startled you. I'm told I can be quite intimidating."

"It's alright," Yugi said.

Hagrid nodded. "Right then. I'll give you some time to get ready. Be waiting in the lobby."

He left and the boys watched him go. "That just about gave me a heart attack," Ryou said.

"Well at least no one will mess with us if he's hanging around," Yugi replied. "I'm surprised your yami did nothing. You're wearing the ring."

Ryou scoffed. "When there's potential danger is the one time he won't come out," he said as he walked back to his room.

Yugi and Ryou dressed, grabbed their money, and made their way to the lobby. Hagrid was easy to find. He led them out of the Leaky Cauldron and into Diagon Alley.

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

Malik arrived at The Leaky Cauldron at noon sharp. He'd spent all the money he had and only had his cauldron, potion ingredients, gloves, and parchment to show for it. Rishid was waiting in the room for him.

"That's all you got?" he asked as Malik set down his stuff.

"Shopping takes time," Malik muttered.

"How much money do you have left?"

"Enough."

"You could probably get it done faster if you let me come along."

"But what kind of learning experience would that be?"

Rishid had sandwiches that Tom had brought in waiting. He and Malik began to eat. He tried several times to convince Malik to let him help, but Malik wouldn't hear it and was getting aggravated, so he let it drop. He wasn't sure how far he could push Malik before it became dangerous. He knew Malik had to be really mad for there to be any risk, but better safe than sorry.

Malik polished off the last sandwich and was almost out the door to return to the alley when Rishid stopped him.

"What?" Malik asked impatiently.

"Be careful out there." Rishid said. "There are a lot of strange people out there. I saw a man that dwarfed even me in the lobby when I went to order the sandwiches."

Malik was sure Rishid was exaggerating, but he agreed to be careful nonetheless.

Malik walked into the backyard of the inn. There was no one else around and the door to the alley was closed again. When Tom opened it, he had taken out a wand and tapped on a brick near the trash bin and that had triggered the door. 'It must be magic activated,' he thought. Well, he only knew of one thing that would be of use to him in that department. Besides, it was demeaning to ask for help.

He pulled the millennium rod out from his cargo pocket. He didn't remember which brick it was but he knew the general area. He focused his powers and began tapping on bricks with the millennium rod. He went through ten bricks and was growing frustrated. He was about to forgo his pride and seek some aide, when he touched a final brick and the rod glowed brightly. The door began to open, slower than it did when Tom opened it, but it was opening nevertheless. Malik smiled and tucked the rod away again. He walked through into Diagon Alley, not noticing that the door was failing to close behind him.