The next few days were fairly uneventful for all three of the boys. Malik successfully convinced Rishid to leave him alone. Rishid was satisfied with the conditions of the inn and the alley and felt Malik would be okay, so he returned home by way of floo powder. Knowing he would soon have to get to work (and wanting to make sure he didn't run into that kid he stole from), Malik spent his time lazing about in his room. His food was delivered to him and he got more sleep than any person could possible need.

Yugi enjoyed sitting to meals with Ryou in the inn. He enjoyed the scenery and watching the people. They would play duel monsters and talk about what lay ahead of them. Occasionally they would explore Diagon Alley and gawk at all there was to buy. Yugi was seriously tempted to give up on saving his money.

Yami was growing more and more frustrated. He needed a challenge so bad that he played as much as thirty straight games of solitaire in an attempt to satisfy that need. It was getting to the point that he was actually missing Kaiba. At least he always had an opponent with him. Yugi tried to help by offering to play duel monsters with Yami, but since they played with the same deck, that was kinda hard. Ryou offered to let Yugi borrow his deck (as he really didn't want to play against an aggressively competitive Yami himself), but the first card Yugi examined looked like something out of a nightmare, so he declined the offer.

Like Malik, Ryou also spent a lot of his time in his room, though he often had his nose stuck in a book; something Malik would never be caught doing if he didn't have to. He found the spellbooks, magical history books, and fortune telling books absolutely fascinating. Yami Bakura absorbed most of this internally, but Ryou occasionally willfully allowed him control of the body in order for the spirit to get some mobility. Ryou felt that Yami Bakura was less likely to take over at the wrong moment if he was regularly allowed control, and he was working on cutting a deal with him for at school using a similar process.

For the most part, Yami Bakura remained in the room. He thumbed through a few books, making a few snide remarks, and he broke in Ryou's Tarot cards. Also, with some help from the millennium ring, he found out Malik was staying there, too. Of course, he had to show up his rival at least one more time before they left for school. He managed to sneak into Malik's room and scare the living heck out of him. Understandably, Malik was quite startled when he turned around to see Yami Bakura suddenly standing there grinning and bearing a knife. He threatened to shove that knife up an orifice that shall remain unnamed the next time Yami Bakura did that. Yami Bakura only laughed and replied, "I told you you were an amateur..."

The week passed by quickly. The time soon came where they once more had to pack up their things again. Much to Ryou's relief, they would not be traveling by floo powder to the train station. Seems they were being provided transportation by something called the Ministry of Magic. Cars rather than a fireplace. Yugi and Ryou hitched a ride in the same car. It seemed that they were not the only one being given a ride as an identical car was parked behind them. They left before they could see who it was, though.

The ride did not take long at all, but the boys' nervousness built up rapidly. Yugi's palms were sweating and Ryou had butterflies in his stomach as they examined their train tickets.

"I think that language charm must be malfunctioning," Yugi said. "It looks like this says our train leaves from platform 9 ¾. That's not right, is it?"

"It's not the language charm," Ryou replied. "That's what it says. I don't remember platforms being numbered like that."

"I guess we'll find it when we get there..."

When they arrived, the drivers loaded the trolleys, much to Nightshade the raven's protest. She clamed down again after Ryou fished a cracker out of his pocket and gave it to her. Then the drivers then left them alone, apparently assuming that the boys knew where they were going. Yugi and Ryou entered the station, counting off the platforms as they passed them.

"Eight... Nine... And there's ten. I don't see a 9 ¾."

"Excuse me, sir," Yugi said to a passing station worker, "Could you help us find platform 9 ¾?"

The man took one look at Yugi and cocked an eyebrow. "Cute kid, real cute... Sorry, I don't have time for this now."

Yugi groaned as the worker walked away. "Well, so much for customer service..."

"The train leaves in twenty minutes. We'd better find it soon..." Ryou said. "I wouldn't know what to do if we missed it... H-hey!"

"Watch it kid!" Said a man as he rushed to catch his train at platform ten, rudely knocking Ryou out of his way. Ryou flailed backwards, unable to regain his balance. He stumbled, seemingly about to fall against the barrier between platforms nine and ten, and then he disappeared.

Yugi stared wide-eyed, sure that he was seeing things. "Hey! Where'd you go?"

Ryou landed hard on the floor. He stood up slowly, nursing his bruised bottom, and finally looking up, he saw the Hogwarts Express in front of him. "Ah! Yugi, I found it! Uh, Yugi?" Turning around, Ryou saw nothing but a bare wall. Sure that that was where he had just come from, he placed a hand on it. It was solid. He pushed on it. It did not budge.

"Gotta put more speed on it if you're trying to get back through," came a voice. Ryou turned to see and Asian girl that seemed about his age next to him.

"More speed?" Ryou asked.

"Right. The barrier doesn't work if you go slowly. That's to keep muggles out. You have to go at a bit of a run to pass," she said.

"Th-thanks," Ryou replied.

"You new to Hogwarts? I don't believe that I've seen you before."

"Yes. I'm new. Still getting adjusted."

"Well, that's understandable. You'll catch on soon." She smiled and headed to the train.

'She seemed nice,' Ryou thought as he backed up to do what he was told. He felt kinda silly and more than a little nervous. He was, after all, preparing to run into a wall. He sighed, took a deep breath, and broke into a run.

On the other side of the barrier, Yugi was searching for Ryou. He couldn't believe that he just disappeared. Yugi eyed the barrier, wondering if it was a trap door or something. Then...

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Yugi screamed as Ryou suddenly appeared though the barrier and almost crashed into him. Ryou quickly shushed him.

"Relax, relax! It's a trick. I found the train."

"Really? Through that?" Yugi questioned.

Ryou nodded. "It's protected by magic, or something. You have to run at it to get through it. Grab your trolley."

Yugi and Ryou took hold of their luggage carts and (with Yugi feeling rather ridiculous), they glanced around to make sure no one was looking, and charged toward the barrier. They of course, passed right through. Yugi was amazed, but they didn't have time to waste. The train was already blowing its whistle. They boarded the crowded train, finally finding an empty compartment at the back, and getting awed stares the whole time.

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

"Hurry up! Come on! Ten minutes! You've got ten minutes!" Mrs. Weasly yelled as she rushed her group to the barrier. "Fred! George! You first!"

"Alright, Mum, we're going."

"Ron, you and Harry next. Then Hermione and Ginny. Hurry up, now."

The students did as they were told and separated as they boarded the train. Fred and George entered a compartment with their friends, and judging from their snickers, Ron, Harry, and Hermione felt it wouldn't be wise to share a compartment with them. Ginny joined some girls from her year. But Harry and company were having a hard time finding a place to go. There were so many new students! There were at least double the first years that there were last year. At least four people already in every compartment. Even Neville's compartment was full.

Ron led the way to the back of the train. This was their last hope of avoiding a crowd. Ron peeked in through the small window on the door. His eyes widened a bit. "Uh, there's only two in this one, but... they... they seem strange. These must be those two Fred and George told us about. I though for sure they were joking."

"Really?" Harry asked. "The kids with the weird hair and eyes?"

"Yeah, that's the ones. I wonder what's their story. They're obviously too old to be first years."

"Oh, will you too stop gawking at them like they were zoo animals and just knock and see if we can share the compartment?" Hermione said. Ron and Harry hesitated. "Oh, step aside," Hermione said. She stepped between the boys and knocked without looking in. She heard a polite "yes?" from inside and opened the door. "Hi! Excuse us, but would you mind sharing this compartment? Everywhere else...is...full..." Hermione was, for once, speechless, as the images of the forms before her registered.

"Sure!" Yugi replied, smiling cheerfully. "There's plenty room."

"Yes. Please join us," Ryou agreed.

Hermione shook her head and returned to her senses. "Thank you," she said, grabbing Harry and Ron by the hand and pulling them in, trailing their luggage behind.. The three sat down opposite of Yugi and Ryou. There was an awkward silence. "I guess we should introduce ourselves. I'm Hermione Granger."

"Ron Weasly"

"Harry Potter." Harry waited for it. Every time he introduced himself, there was that stunned silence, followed by the glances towards the scar on his forehead. But neither of the boys sitting before him reacted to his name. In fact, they reacted to Ron's.

"Weasly, you said," Yugi replied. "I think I met your relatives in Diagon Alley. Twins?"

"Yes, my brothers."

"I can see the resemblance. I'm Yugi Mouto."

"My name is Ryou Bakura. But most everyone calls me just Bakura. Nice to meet you."

"What year are you," Harry asked.

"Fifth," Yugi and Ryou replied together.

"Really? That's our year," Ron said. "How'd you manage to skip four years?"

"We just got out invitations over the summer," Yugi replied. "Dumbledore said he would make sure we got caught up."

"Oh... You know, if you need a tutor, I would be more than happy to-"

"Give it a rest, Hermione," Ron said. "In case you haven't noticed," he said, turning to Yugi and Ryou, "she's the brains around here. Don't ever waste your time in the library, because it will be easier and quicker to just ask ol' Hermione." Hermione gave him a look.

"Well that would certainly explain how you managed to pass last year, Weasly."

All turned to face the door, which had been left open. Standing there were three forms.

"Malfoy," Harry and Ron muttered with disgust. "Don't you have somewhere to be? I can tell you where to go if you don't."

Malfoy sneered. At his side, Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles. "Normally, I would have your nose broken for that. But I happen to be busy now. I'm looking for someone. You haven't seen a girly guy with long blonde hair, have you?"

"Like we would tell you if we did."

Ryou nervously sank in his seat, worried that his yami must have ticked somebody else off. <It's not us he's looking for,> Yami Bakura told him. <If it was I would have already sent him to the shadow realm for that "girly" comment.> Ryou knew he was exaggerating slightly, but he still wondered how his yami could be so sure.

"Clear out Malfoy. You're not wanted here," Harry said.

"I wouldn't want to stay here anyway, Potter. What with a prima donna, a mudblood, and a welfare recipient all in the same room..."

"You shut up, Malfoy!" Ron said jumping to his feet and getting in Malfoy's face.

"Are you asking to get hurt, Weasly?" Malfoy sneered. "Okay, if that's what you want. Crabbe, Goyle, give him what he asks for." Crabbe and Goyle pulled their fists back, preparing to punch Ron's lights out. But then they stopped. Their eyes glazed over.

"What are you waiting for? Hit this jerk!" Malfoy ordered. Crabbe and Goyle drew their fists back again and let fly... right at Malfoy. He collapsed upon impact and fell heavily to the train floor. Everyone gawked at the sight. Crabbe and Goyle merely stared blankly.

"What... what was that about?" Harry asked.

"Apparently, it's not just me. This guy seems to get on everyone's nerves," came a voice from the hallway. A figure with blonde hair and gold in abundance entered. He nodded toward the occupants. "Yugi. Bakura."

"Malik!"