Yami Bakura made a clean escape from the shop, pocket knife in hand and a smirk on his face. He'd shown that annoying shopkeep just what he knew about thieving and it seemed that his protégée had done a fine job of stealing from that kid. And he had a brand new knife that he would have to make sure Ryou didn't get rid of. This was a good day. He stuffed the knife deep into his pockets and continued his walk around Knockturn Alley. It was still somewhat of a disappointment, but it was better than being stuck in his soul room while Ryou shopped. He was about to turn deeper into the alley when, once more, a voice addressed him.

"I am assuming you are lost? Students are not supposed to be in this area." Yami Bakura turned to see a tall black-haired man clothed in black robes.

"And who are you to tell me where I can and cannot be?" Yami Bakura shot back. "What makes you think that I'm even a student?"

"Perhaps it is the Hogwarts letter sticking out of your pocket." Yami Bakura glanced down and cursed silently. The letter was plainly in sight. He'd left it like that accidentally when he'd put the knife in.

"That attitude will not get you far with me. I have no tolerance for cocky punks. And that look does not intimidate me, either," the man said, answering Yami Bakura's cold stare with one of his own.

"Yeah? Well I have no tolerance for people who think they can tell me what to do. I take orders from no one..." Yami Bakura said, his patience rapidly disappearing. He was getting really tired of people trying to boss him around.

"Then you will not last long at Hogwarts, boy. I have taught there far too long to allow such disrespectfulness within its walls." The man narrowed his eyes at the gradually widening grin on Yami Bakura's face.

"A teacher, huh?" Yami Bakura said through his smirk. "Maybe I can teach you a few things, professor..." 'This is going to be fun,' he thought as began activating the ring, which was still concealed underneath his shirt. Darkness began to envelope just behind the man in black, but he didn't seem to know it.

"Bakura! Stop!"

The yell startled Yami Bakura and broke his concentration. The darkness evaporated. Yami Bakura turned to see who had interrupted. "Damn that meddling pharaoh," he muttered. He wasn't going to have any fun now. Might as well return to the ring.

Yami had been led to Knockturn Alley by the Weasly twins. It was the last place they hadn't checked. The twins were hesitant to go there, as it was forbidden, but they had little choice.

Yami was lucky enough to be ahead of the twins at the time. They hadn't seen Yami Bakura summoning the shadow realm. That was good. Yami Bakura was obviously irritated at Yami's interference, but that was too bad. They couldn't have him sending every person who ticked him off to the shadow realm, not that he wouldn't try anyway.

Rather than waiting around for a scolding that he, of course, would pay no attention to, Yami Bakura took the easy way out and returned to the ring. Ryou regained control, thought he was shaky at first and fell to his knees. He, of course, had no idea where he was or what was going on. The last thing he could remember was walking with Yugi and Hagrid to the bookstore.

Now that the situation was under control, Yami allowed Yugi control. Yugi ran up to Ryou and helped him up.

"Wha... What happened?" Ryou muttered.

"Later," Yugi whispered as he subtly nodded toward the man in black who was staring at them. Ryou turned to look. This man obviously didn't like him, and his yami had probably given him reason not to. Although he didn't show it, the man was almost as confused as Ryou. Was this boy the same one that had just been so arrogant and disrespectful? He now seemed confused, yet wide-eyed and innocent. His attitude seemed to have done a complete 180. But the man was sure it was a trick. Yugi seemed to pick up on the man's annoyance.

"Uh... thank you for finding my friend. We kinda got separated. We're new to the area," he said.

"Is he mentally unstable, or something?" the man asked.

"Uh, you could say that, but only half the time," Yugi muttered.

"Yugi!" Fred yelled as he and George turned the corner. "Did ya find him?"

"Yes!" Yugi called back. "Over here!"

The twins ran up to them babbling most of the way. "Really, of all the places to be..." They stopped suddenly. "Pro-professor Snape... what brings you to this area of town?" George said nervously.

"Professor?" Yugi said. Maybe he shouldn't have let this man believe the 'mentally unstable,' thing.

"Shopping for supplies Weasly," Snape sneered. "Some can only be found here. You, however, have no business here. Back to Diagon, all of you! And I'll be keeping a close eye on you, boy," he said, gesturing to Ryou who could only stare blankly back.

"R-right Professor," Fred said, "come on, guys, let's go."

The twins led Yugi and Ryou back to Diagon alley, introducing themselves to Ryou along the way.

"Ya'll were with Hagrid, right? Stick around here, and he'll find you. Wish we could stick around, but we really need to get home," Fred said. He hesitated for a moment staring at Yugi. "Were you always that small?"

George elbowed him again. "Never mind him," George said. "We'll see you again at school. See ya, Yugi! See ya, Whitey!" And with that, the twins were off.

"Whitey?" Ryou said.

"Those two seem to like to joke around a lot," Yugi explained. "Kinda like Jounouchi and Honda."

"Oh... So what did I do to get that teacher so mad?"

"Don't know. You got away from us. We only just found you. Your other half had you running all over town apparently. Yami says that your dark side was trying to send that guy to the shadow realm, but I don't think the guy noticed."

Ryou sighed. "Well, it seems my yami's making friends already... maybe I should rethink this whole school thing. I can't trust myself around that many people. I thought he might behave himself, but..." Ryou trailed off.

Yami Bakura actually didn't want his light second guessing himself. All this new magic and new people was a welcome change. Besides, if Yugi or Malik made fools of themselves at that school, he wanted to be there to see it.

<Just getting it out of my system, Ryou.>

<And why am I supposed to believe that? You'll say that you will behave, and then run amuck again two minutes later! I can't trust you!"

<Ryou, when did I say you had a choice? I'm not about to go back where I won't even have the pharaoh to annoy anymore. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way, we're going. You didn't drag me this far to turn back now..."

Ryou was beaten, and he knew it. There was nothing he could do. <Will I at least be able to give Dumbledore a heads-up about you? To make it easier on both of us? Yugi's telling him about his yami.>

<Well, if the pharaoh's going to ruin all the fun...>

<And you won't interrupt my classes?>

<No, I won't,> Yami Bakura grumbled.

<Or my study time?>

<Don't push it.>

"Oy! Yugi! Bakura! There you two are! I was 'bout to give up on ya!"

It was Hagrid. He'd finally caught up with them. The poor guy had checked every store, shop, and street looking for them. Yugi and Ryou quickly came up with a story about getting lost and wandering around.

"Well, so long as you two are back," Hagrid said scratching his head and looking around. "We better get a move on. The door back ta the Leaky Cauldron's broke. Stuck open. We gotta try to finish up and get back in case they get it stuck closed next. Good thing there's no muggles stayin' at the inn."

"How'd that door break?" Yugi asked.

"They don't know. They think the wrong kinda magic might have been used on it. Thought the thing was supposed to work for all magic, myself. But enough about that. There's Ollivanders. We can get yer wands there."

They entered the shop to find quite a mess and a harassed-looking Mr. Ollivander. "What happened here?" Hagrid asked.

"Crazy kid," Mr. Ollivander said. "The first wand I gave him was the wrong one. He swished it and broke a vase. Then he decided the whole thing was hilarious and he kept waving the thing around, knockin' over shelves and the like before I could get him to stop. He seemed to think the wand was supposed to do that." Ryou could hear his yami laughing from inside his soul room, though he had no idea why. Ollivander continued. "He paid for the damages though. The kid had a good bit of money. Finally found the right wand. Dragon heartstring and elm. Fifteen inches, a long one. He waved it around, sent out sparks, and set my curtains on fire. You'll have a time with that one this year."

"Well, I got two new one's for yeh," Hagrid said. "These are the late starters."

"That so? Well come on. You first, boy. Name?"

"B-Bakura."

"Alright then, come on. A nervous one, aren't you?" Mr. Ollivander began taking measurements, though after a while, it seemed the tape measure was doing it on its own. After that was done, Mr. Ollivander brought out several boxes, opening each one and allowing Ryou to try them. Dragon heartstring and pine, twelve inches. Phoenix tail feather and oak, eleven and a half inches. Phoenix feather and birch, thirteen and a quarter inches. Each one knocked something over when Ryou waved it. He apologized quickly after, but Mr. Ollivander said it was to be expected. Finally, they found a winner. Unicorn hair and cherrywood, fourteen and a quarter inches. It sent out silver sparkles when Ryou waved it.

"A slightly feminine wand, but it fits you." Ollivander said. Ryou wasn't sure whether he should be insulted or not.

They went through a similar process with Yugi. He tried twice as many wands as Ryou before they found the right one, though most of the wands he tried did nothing at all. His final wand was Phoenix tail feather and ebony, ten and a half inches. It sent out red and purple sparks when he waved it.

With the wands out of the way, they moved on to get the rest of there supplies. Books made up the vast majority of them, but there were also their cauldrons, parchment, quills, charts, potion ingredients, gloves, ink wells, and packs of Tarot cards. The later was most likely for Divination, which both Yugi and Ryou had.

They made a quick run back the inn to drop off their stuff. There were several people working on the door as they passed. No one still had any clue about what had caused it to break like that.

They returned to Diagon with their major supplies bought. Yugi had a little money, but he wanted to save it for those trips to town during the school year that Grampa had had to sign a paper for. Ryou, however, had something he wanted to do.

"My birthday's next week," Ryou said. "The day after we get to school. Since I would be away and so would he, Father gave me some extra money to buy myself something. I'd like to get a pet like Hagrid was saying."

"Your birthday's next week? Seventeen already?" Yugi asked. Ryou nodded. "I didn't realize you were that much older than me."

"We, since we moved around so much when I was younger, I fell behind in school. That's why I'm in your grade."

"Oh."

So they headed down to the Magical Menagerie. Ryou and Yugi entered alone, as Hagrid said it was a bit of a tight squeeze for him. Yugi didn't want a pet for himself, but he did enjoy looking around at all the animals, and he wandered off on his own. Ryou looked around eagerly for something that fit his tastes. He couldn't help but keep practicality in mind. An owl could deliver his mail, but he really had his eye on something else.

In the opposite corner of the shop from the owls were the ravens. Ryou thought they were beautiful. He nervously fingered his coin pouch as he mentally weighted the pros and cons. A worker noticed his hesitance, and, fearing losing a sale, when over to help him.

"Interested in a raven are you?" she said. "Wonderful birds, they are. Very smart. Not as popular as the owls, but easier to keep and every bit as intelligent, if not more so."

"But," Ryou started, "I really wanted to be able to send letters to my dad to keep him posted on my schooling. I've been told that owls are needed for that. They can find him wherever he is."

"Why you can use a raven for that!" The shopkeeper exclaimed. "The larger ravens are great for post delivery! They can't carry large packages and fight harsh winds as well as the owls, but they make less stops. And they stand out less. Owls are too flashy if you're going to be delivering to muggle areas. Plus ravens are so much cleaner! No dead mice! And we have a special this week: buy one of our special delivery ravens, and the cage is half price!" How could Ryou argue with that?

Yugi had lost interest in watching the pets and had gone outside to wait for Ryou. He was somewhat surprised to see Ryou carrying a raven in a cage.

"Thought you were going to get a practical owl?" Yugi said.

"They lady said these can deliver mail, too," Ryou replied, holding up the cage. "Isn't she beautiful? Think I'll call her Nightshade."

"Nightshade?" Yugi repeated, as he backed up away from the bird. "That's, um, very dark. but nice," Yugi added when Ryou gave him a look. As nice as Ryou was, it was easy for Yugi to forget that he was really into dark themes and the occult. Most thought that was all Yami Bakura. But a raven, geez...

"Well, that should be all yeh need," Hagrid said as he returned them to the Leaky Cauldron. "I'll be seeing you at the welcoming banquet. Have fun on the train and good luck with the sorting!" And Hagrid left. Yugi and Ryou exchanged puzzled looks.

"Sorting...?"