What have I done? (First Year)

Chapter three

The bus stopped and Yugi saw that Ryou let go of the seat he had held himself to. Yugi let go of his seat. He looked over at Malik who laid flat on his stomach on the floor. "Here," Yugi said and stretched out a hand to help him up.

Malik took it and let Yugi help him up. Ryou came over to the two of them and nodded at Malik.

"This is our stop boys," the woman said and they followed her out of the bus. They all felt a bit dizzy.

Yugi noticed that they were on a street in front of a bookstore and recorder shop.

"Yugi, what is Kaiba doing here?" Malik leaned in and whispered. "Kaiba was also accepted to Hogwart apparently," Yugi said and eyed the heir of Kaiba corp. Malik also eyed him.

"I thought the man didn't want anything to do with magic, kind of strange he accepted an invitation for a magic school," Malik pointed out. Yugi actually thought it was a bit strange Malik accepted himself, but didn`t comment and instead nodded in agreement.

The woman led them into a pub, which he swore hadn't been there moments ago. Yugi really wondered what this had to do with the magic school thing.

The inside was dark, but there was a fireplace there beside a set of stairs. There were tables spread around and there was a bar, Yugi took notice. He looked towards Ryou to see him looking fascinated around, he had always liked dark stuff. Yugi shuddered when he remembered the guy`s duel monster deck, but then again that may be most of Bakura`s doing.

"This is Leaky Cauldron, this is where you will be recidenting this week until school starts. A guy named Hagrid will help you shop for school supplies, he will come tomorrow at twelve o`clock,'' the woman informed.

"I did hear we would have students from other countries," a man came up to them. He smiled at them. Yugi did not know what to make of him, but he seemed nice enough.

"Oh? Well if you are so happy to see them? Why don't you show them to their rooms, Tom? I have other things to do," the woman said. It sounded more like a command than a question, Yugi thought. He did not like that the woman was willing to leave them so fast, was she not supposed to help them settle in? Had he misunderstood?

"Oh yeah, I can do that," Tom said with a sheepish smile. The woman promptly left, Yugi could not help but think she hated them already. Possibly Ryou, or rather Bakura but she did not quite understand that he existed or rather didn`t know he existed. The four of them - or six - were left alone with this Tom person.

"Um... well I will give you the keys, I have stuff to do. The rooms are upstairs," Tom said and pointed to a stair that did go up stairs. Yugi`s mouth turned to a thin line, they were just getting abandoned here and there. The other seemed to notice this too.

"Yeah, we can do that old man," came from Ryou`s mouth. Yugi shot him a glare, did he have to come out at the worst times? "What he means is that it is no problem," Malik said and covered Bakura`s mouth and gave him a warning glare. Yugi smiled and nodded.

"Um... just wait a second," Tom said and went behind the counter, before he came out with two keys. "Here, one is a one room bedroom and the other is for three people," Tom said and handed the Keys to Yugi, which seemed to be a thought over action.

Yugi turned around to see Kaiba staring at him, which made him slightly uncomfortable, while Malik and Bakura were arguing over something, which was, well, expected.

"Hey guys, who wants to share a room?" Yugi asked. Malik and Bakura stopped arguing to stare at him. Bakura was about to open his mouth, but Kaiba beat him to it. "I will take the one bedroom."

Yugi was fine with that and gave the key to Kaiba, but Malik and Bakura didn`t seem to like that fact. "I am not going to share a room with this maniac," Malik said and pointed at Bakura. "Oh, as if you are the one to talk," Bakura shot back. Malik seemed to go quiet after that statement.

Yugi turned to tell Kaiba he should leave now only to discover that he had already left. Yugi sighed and turned back to the buffoons. Time to deal with them. When he turned back it looked like they were fighting yet again. It seemed like Bakura`s trip to the shadow realm caused by Malik was still unappreciated even if it had been a long time since then. What should he have expected? It wasn't like Bakura got along with Atem either and Malik might still agree with that sentiment.

"Hey, stop that, people are staring," Yugi motioned around the room to the people giving them ugly glares. Malik had the decency to look a bit embarrassed, but Bakura looked like he couldn't care less. Ryou wouldn't like that, Yugi thought, but Ryou hardly accepted anything the spirit did.

“Well, it is not like it is really you who are really going to share with me either,” Malik said and smirked. “Well, in a few days when I have gotten Ryou to agree to give me a body, I might as well be,” Bakura spat back, Malik looked confused, but Yugi knew what Bakura meant.

“What are you-” Malik began, but Yugi interrupted. “Not here,” he hissed and looked around and smiled at nearby onlookers. He ushered the two of them upstairs. They were both quiet. Bakura had noticed his slip, because his lips appeared to be in a thin line.

“Here is the room,” Yugi pointed out. It had the number which also appeared on the key, but before he could open the door. Bakura had apparently done his work and opened it.

“How did you do that?” Yugi asked, Bakura smirked and showed him a lock-picker.

“Of course you did, tomb-robber,” Malik muttered.

“Huh? What was that, tomb–keeper?” Bakura mockingly asked.

“Guys, let's go and set our bags inside,” Yugi said, he didn't want another argument to arise. Luckily both obeyed or more like listened.

Yugi shut the door behind them and went in. There were three beds, which was expected. Two were already occupied by his two roommates for the week. They seemed to have chosen a bed at the opposite side of the room from each other.

Yugi put his bag by the bed which was in the middle of the room and let out a sigh when he fell down onto the bed.

“So what did you mean by having your own body?” Yugi and Bakura shot each other a glance. Malik was technically also a part of this, so it wouldn`t be telling someone who didn`t deserve the knowledge. He was part of the shadows and Yugi couldn`t think of a single excuse on how the heck Bakura suddenly had his own body.

“Professor Dumbledore came to us with a proportion, he said there was a way to give our yamis a body through a ritual,” Yugi explained. Malik's eyes shot up, before he smirked.

“You really believe that bullshit, tomb-robber?” Malik asked and gestured towards Bakura. Yugi sighed. They were the definition of starting arguments without reason or at least bait each other into one.

“Well, if he lies, he will have a nice life in the shadow realm,” Bakura stated and smirked evilly. “I object, you can't send him to the shadow realm just because of that,” Yugi said. Bakura glared at him, but that was expected.

“Of course I can,” Bakura snarled.

“Yeah, but I don't know if it is the best idea,” Malik said in defence of Yugi.

“Oh don't act like you wouldn`t do the same,” Bakura said. Malik didn`t say anything to that and Bakura laughed.

-

Ryou had been following along with the conversation at hand, so Yugi and Bakura had told Malik about the ritual. He didn`t have anything against that, because it would be hard to hide a spirit who had gotten a body and you knew the spirit shared with a person before. Malik was a trustworthy person too. He did not like the prospect of sending Dumbledore, which Bakura had said he would do.

He was still weary of if he should do it, but he still had some days to decide still. Bakura could potentially hurt people, but he could still hurt people through him. Then again he would have a wider range with his own body, but he hadn`t done anything too gruesome since Zorc was defeated. He had been a thief, but old habits die hard. He had pranked people for the fun of it. The only real bad thing he had was to defend them in some cruel ways and make threats he hadn`t gone through with, yet.

The knowledge he could do very cruel stuff was there, but everyone had the potential to do cruel things. He was a special case though, he could take a person's soul and crush it completely and has done so in the past. That in itself was worse than death. Then again, he himself could also potentially do that, same with Yugi and Atem.

“Ryou? What is it?” Yugi asked, which made him snap back to reality. Yugi had a concerned look on his face.

“Oh um… it is nothing, really, but…” Ryou stopped mid sentence. Yugi smiled.

“You can tell me if you want,” he said. Ryou knew he could and it would be smart, because they would be deciding on the same thing in the end. Even if the result would end up different.

“Well, I was just thinking about that ritual,” Ryou said and laid down on the bed. He looked over to where Malik`s bed was, he wasn`t in this room. He frowned. They hadn`t seen Kaiba since the key incident.

"Where is Malik?" he asked.

"Oh he said he went out for some fresh air," Yugi answered.

"Oh... well, yeah, I was thinking of the ritual," Ryou repeated. Ryou looked at his hands, they had done a lot he never imagined he would do, but then again it wasn`t really him, was it?

“Yeah, that is understandable, it would be a big change if we decided to go through with the ritual,” Yugi said and propped his head on his hand where he laid on his bed.

“I agree, I am also worried about what the spirit might do if it gets his own body, he might do more damage than good,” Ryou voiced his concerns. It felt good to tell Yugi about it, because he knew Yugi would understand.

“That`s true, but I ultimately think he is better after you know what, he is still sour and all, but I do think he deserves a second chance,” Yugi said voicing his own opinion on the matter.

“It still is up to you if you would rather have the spirit with you at all times,” Yugi continued. Ryou put his head in his hands and dragged them slowly over his face.

“I know, it`s a hard decision still, what about you? What have you decided on the ritual?” Ryou asked and glanced curiously at him. Yugi paused and shook his head.

“I don't know, I think I might go through with it. I know Atem would like to go through with it, even though he doesn't admit it,” Yugi said. Ryou smiled. Bakura and Atem both wanted to have their own bodies, but probably for different reasons. Now that he had thought of it, why did Bakura want to have his own body? He didn`t know the answer and he was currently in his soul room.

“We both know Bakura wants to have his own body too, perhaps I should let him, but I will have to think about it some more,” Ryou said. Yugi nodded and agreed.

“Do you want to have a round of duel monsters?” Yugi asked out of the blue. Ryou smiled.

“Of course.”

-

Malik sat on his bed. Yugi and Ryou were also sitting there, they had filled him in with what Dumbledore had proposed to them. Malik didn`t know what to think about that, his yami was technically a part of him, but was also banished. There was no way he would go through with the ritual. Yugi and Ryou could decide what they wanted, this proportion wasn`t directed toward him either.

This new place, Leaky Cauldron, was interesting. The people around here was full of magic, he could feel it. He had been to busy arguing with the white-haired maniac to pay attention, but with this quiet air that hung over the group it was easy to sense. It was the same magic that the old man had wreaked of.

Excitement grew in his chest, perhaps this was going to be more interesting than he had initially thought.
He would have to check it out, plus if anything potentially dangerous decided to come their way which it so often did he wanted to know any exits and ways to get out of here.

"Hey, I am heading out for a bit," he informed Ryou and Yugi, who looked deep in thought. Yugi seemed to snap out of it and smiled at him, while Ryou still looked deep in thought.

"Okay," Yugi said. Malik wanted some time alone, so he left out an invitation. He got up and went to the door.

“Be careful,” Yugi said when he had reached the door. Malik nodded.

“I will.”

Malik went down stairs. There were a good deal of people here. He looked around, it was dark, many people in the shadows, but that wasn't hard to get by. He was a master of the shadows after all. It smelled like smoke, he spotted a man who was smoking a long pipe.

He wrinkled his nose.

He hid in the shadow, with his back pressed against the wall. He observed the people around. Tom, the innkeeper, was working at the counter that second.

Malik didn`t know what the shifts were in this job.

There were few windows in the room and doubted they would be a suitable escape route. He sighed, the best he could do was observe the people around here. He watched the door and the people who went in and out the front door. Most were strange people, but no one caught his interest.

After some more minutes, he hated the smell, so he had to get some fresh air. He stood up and went out of the shadow and got some people behind him to flinch as he no longer was hidden by the shadows. He was glad his hiding skills had not died yet.

He headed towards the door and opened it, fresh air hit him. He took a deep breath, and his lungs celebrated in happiness. He stepped completely out.

He stood there for a few minutes, longer than he probably should have. His head was filled with thoughts of Hogwarts and what it was going to be like.

An uneasy feeling hit him, his stomach moved in unease. He couldn`t ignore it, while it had come suddenly, which meant it was something disturbing his peace. It may be dangerous.

He looked around, up and down the streets. They were dark, but the sky had darkened, they had arrived in the evening. Then his breath hitched. No, it can't be… but there was no doubt.

A man with a turban walked around the corner, he had empty eyes. He couldn't see them, but he didn't need to see to know. That was Shadi.

Before Shadi could spot him, he slipped inside Leaky cauldron and walked a bit faster towards the stairs, but not enough to cause suspicion. If Shadi managed to find this place and asked for him, someone wouldn`t immediately point out where he went.

When he was half up the stairs he could hear the front door open, he didn`t want to assume, but it was better than being unprepared. He ran the last part of the stairs and down the hallway to Yugi`s, Ryou`s and his room. He heard someone come up the stairs and he tried to get the door open. It was locked.

“Coming!” he heard Yugi say. There was a little side step before you saw the rooms and what he assumed was Shadi was there when Yugi opened the door. Malik didn`t hesitate, he ran inside and helped Yugi close the door with a slam.

“What is-”

“No time for that, we have to get out of here, get the most important things and get out of here!” Malik interrupted Bakura who had taken over Ryou`s body when Malik had come in.

“What are you talking about, you nuthead,” deadpanned Bakura.

“I will explain later, just get your stuff and run. There is no time, do whatever, jump out of the window, up on the table, just whatever!” Malik stressed.

“Malik, what is happening? Are we in danger?” Atem asked. He had taken over Yugi`s body when Malik seemed to have wanted them to jump up on the table.

“Shadi i-”

“Nope, I am out of here!” Bakura interrupted and ran over to the window.

They heard footsteps outside their room.

Malik hurried over to the window where Bakura had successfully opened the window. Malik climbed out and let himself fall, any damage over Shadi any day.

“Hey! I was supposed to go first!” he heard after him.

He landed on something hard, his legs hurt - hoped it wasn't going to affect him when he was going to run.

Something fell on top of him or more like someone. He let out a groan. The person on top of him, which was most likely Bakura, the person got off of him and he saw the pharaoh land perfectly fine beside Bakura.

They could hear someone above them in their room, Malik tried to get up, but his legs didn`t respond. Atem lifted him when he saw that he couldn't get up, something Bakura would never have done. Malik wasn't too keen on letting the pharaoh embarrassing him like this, but anything over Shadi. Bakura was already halfway through the alley. Atem followed suit after Bakura.

He didn`t know where they were, but neither did Atem and Bakura. They stopped when they were a bit further down the alley, where they could not see their room.

“Malik, are you okay?” Atem asked as he placed him against the wall. He looked worried.

“Yeah,” he sighed.

His legs hurt, but that was expected. “What happened?” Bakura asked. Malik glared at him, he returned the gesture.

“I jumped out of a window on the second floor and someone just decided to fall on me,” Malik spat. Atem looked between the two, Bakura appeared to be spiteful towards Malik and Malik appeared to like to spite up the spirit. It all may be mutual bickering though.

“I think we have a bigger matter at hand though,” Atem said. Malik and Bakura looked at him.

“Yep, apparently Malik saw the ghost maniac,” Bakura said.

“I know what I saw!” Malik defended himself. “I never said you did not?”

“What could Shadi want though?” Atem asked, ignoring the two. Malik shook his head.

“I don't know.”

“Whatever it is, I am not going near him in a million years,” Bakura said.

“Don`t want to deal with him.” Malik could agree with him, he was the main reason that he thought Atem had killed his father. He still doesn't fully like Atem, but he can stand him. Then again, though he won`t admit it, Shadi is scary. When he is around, it is asking for trouble. They all agree on that.

If he was around that meant he thinks something is wrong with the millennium items, he doesn't want to have anything to do with it. Avoiding him is avoiding a plague about to take out a whole village.

“What do we reckon we do now?” Atem asked, while Atem didn`t have anything against Shadi, he had helped him and his friends before. Malik knew that the encounter would rather be avoided.

“I think we should get the fuck away from here,” Bakura spat. Malik was surprised he hadn`t already abandoned them, but who knew? The more the merrier.

“Can you walk?” Atem asked, turning towards him. He tried to get up by slowly getting his weight on his knees. Then he tried to stand up. He fell again, his legs hurt very badly. Concern made its way into the pharaoh`s eyes.

“I will just have to carry you then?” Atem stated, but it sounded more like a question. Malik bit his lip and nodded. It was necessary and he didn`t want to sit behind for a certain psychopath to find him.

Footsteps echoed through the alley. He gave Atem a panicked look. He picked him up and they dashed through the alley.

“In there!” Bakura shouted and went into a particularly dark alley. There were actually people there which would make it harder to find them, even though they did have the millennium items. Any advantage though. There weren't too many people there, but the few who were there gave them strange looks. Malik gulped.

“Hey, perhaps we should walk at a normal speed and find somewhere to hide?” he suggested. Atem nodded.

“Bakura,” Atem said with a stern voice. Bakura had already stopped.

“Let's hide in the shadows.”

Now that they have stopped. Malik noticed the pressuring atmosphere in this alley. The people looked dark and creepy. It was eerily quiet, except for some whispers. There were not many people near.

“What is this place?” Malik asked. Atem shook his head, but Bakura was smirking. Which could only mean one thing.

“I don't know, but it is something worth exploring,” Bakura said.

“We should keep together,” Atem stated. Bakura gave him a glare.

“You can come if you want,” he said. They trailed after the trouble making, this time with a much more natural pace. They did not look too out of place. There were a few lamplights lining the alley. Malik felt uneasy. What was drawing them attention was himself, he could feel the stares he got as they moved slowly through the valley.

He made eye contact with someone, the person's eyes were cold. He snapped his gaze away. He did not usually feel uneasy with places like these, he was often the one who created these places or used to.

“Oh, that looks interesting,” Bakura suddenly said. They turned towards the shop that Bakura had taken interest in. Malik's breath hitched, because it was so obvious, this was Bakura`s kind of shop. The window displayed different types of knives, he was sure if he had asked Bakura could recite every name of every knife displayed in the shop.

“Bakura,” Atem said. Bakura glanced back. Atem shook his head and mouthed no, which got a glimpse in Bakura`s eyes. He smirked, there was no stopping him now.

“No, you are not hurting Ryou again,” Atem said sternly.

“Oh no, I am not using it on Ryou, but defence, I say, is fair game,” Bakura pointed out.

Malik did not know if that was an excuse, but Bakura and knives should be two separate things.

“Listen to the pharaoh, what would Ryou say if he found a knife on him?” Malik said. “Oh, he won't know, if I don't let him of course,” he smirked.

“Well, I am not taking part of it,” Atem said and turned his back to the shop. It was late, it probably would be closed anyway, well, that wouldn't exactly stop Bakura.

“Do what you want,” Bakura said.

“Hm… not open? I guess I will have to make it,” they heard Bakura mutter.

“He is already causing trouble,” Malik conversed.

“Yeah,” Atem conversed.

“We will just warn Bakura of the knife,” Atem said.

“Yeah, why don't you stop him, though?” Malik asked and looked up at the pharaoh. Atem sighed.

“It would bring too much attention if we caused too much wreckage in this alley. I have a bad feeling about this place. You don't feel it?” Atem frowned and as did Malik.

“I do, should we head back to Leaky Cauldron yet? Perhaps Shadi has given up?”

Knowing Shadi, that wasn't the case. He wouldn`t stop until he got what he wanted. Malik was getting tired and his legs hurt like hell. The only reason he wasn't whimpering in pain and actually levelled headed was because he had experienced much worse pain. He frowned and thought about the carvings on his back.

“It might be a problem to avoid him for at least a week, before we get to Hogwarts,” Atem said.

“Guys, let's get going, before whoever owns this shop gets alerted,” they heard a voice behind them say. Atem turned around and they saw Bakura with a big grin on his face.

“The cat got the fish I see,” Malik mocked. “Oh it did,” Bakura said and smirked. Malik looked away.

“Where should we go?” Atem asked.

“I don't know,” Malik yawned. Atem`s lips turned into a thin line. Their bodies were tired, while he did not feel it himself, he knew from Malik yawning.

The white-haired psychopath would not know, he used to torment Ryou`s body by going days without eating or sleeping. From what Atem knew, that had stopped, but he didn`t know if Bakura would actually eat.

“I think we should head back,” Atem said.

“No way in hell, that maniac might still be there,” Bakura retorted and went over to another shop right across the street.

“Why do you hate him so much?” Atem frowned and shifted his grip on Malik. A moan of pain came from Malik.

“Sorry.” Malik shook his head, but he seemed to drift off into a slumber. He really shouldn't sleep now, but there was no sight of Shadi and they were possibly lost.

“Tch, none of your business all mighty pharaoh,” Bakura snapped. And locked pick another shop open, Atem sighed.

This shop did not even look like something Bakura would deem useful. There were some weird plants displayed in the windows of the shop. Atem could not identify any of them. Ryou would have a heart attack in the morning wherever they would end up.

Bakura came out with a grin, but he did not have any plants with him. He had a pouch with something in it.

“What is that?” Atem asked disgustedly.

“I have no idea, but it may prove useful,” he smirked.

“Are you done now? I reckon we will find a secluded area and rest,” Atem said.

“No, I actually think we should leave this alley, it has a strange vibe to it. I don't like it.” Bakura pouted.

“I think this area is awesome,” Bakura said and gestured around him. Atem wrinkled his nose.

“No.”

“We are leaving now,” he said sternly before he started to head down the way they came. Bakura followed reluctantly.

“What`s up with the tomb-keeper?” Bakura asked and gave Malik a look. Atem side glanced at Bakura.

“He is obviously tired and he also wounded himself by jumping out of that window,” Atem said.

“Right.”

“Oh look, we are almost out of this alley,” Atem said as a much lighter alley started to come into view.

“I have eyes, you know?” Bakura said.

“Yeah, I can see that.”

“Hello children,” a manly voice said behind them. They looked behind themselves to see a person standing there. He looked strange, and gave off this vibe Atem did not like. He turned around, him and Bakura made eye contact.

They started to walk towards the other street.

“Ignoring an old man? How rude,” the man said.

“Yeah, I have no business with an old man,” Bakura mocked, which was ironic, since he kind of did have business with an old man, just not this one.

“Oh? Rude are you?”

“Come on, we got to get out of here,” Atem whispered and took a grip on Bakura`s arm and tugged his arm.

The less characteristics he memorised the better. Bakura nodded, they were almost out of this alley.

“Oh come on,” the man had come close and grabbed Bakura`s shoulder. Bakura slung his hand off of him and punched him right in the nose.

“Don`t touch me oldie,” Bakura spat in his face.

“What do we have here?” a sleazy voice, both calm, but the level of disgust were of rats.

They Atem looked to the side to see a man dressed in black with hair that had not been washed in at least in weeks. He looked at them with so much disgust Atem did not have to pick up the book about this man's body language.

“Already causing trouble?” the man quirked an eyebrow. He had a permanent frown on his face.

“What? You are here to abduct us too?” Bakura shot the man a glare of pure disgust.

“Bakura,” Atem said and pinned him with a stare. He shook his head.

“Like I thought, you are Professor Dumbledore`s precious exchange students,” the man said. His frown couldn`t get any more down, Atem thought. Bakura and Atem looked at each other, Bakura had a frown on his face. Then he smirked. Atem grabbed his arm and squeezed.

“Wait till I tell him that his future students are lurking in Knockturn alley,” the man said. Knockturn alley? Was that what this place was called and it appears to be a bad place considering this man`s word.

“Come with me,” the man said. Bakura and Atem glanced at each other, could they trust this man? They had just met him and he could very well be a smarter copy of the man who grabbed Bakura`s shoulder.

“No,” Bakura stated and glared at the man. “I will not blindly follow a stranger,” he continued. Atem`s lips turned into a thin line.

“That wasn't a question young man, it was an order,” the man said and started to make his way over to Bakura.

“No, I don't think so!” Bakura slung some green stuff at the man. His eyes widened.

Atem took that as a sign to run as fast as he could out of this alley and back to their room. By now Shadi would have found them if he really had wanted to. They dashed through the alley and out to the lighter one, which was still dark. It was night after all.

The lighter alley gave them much more comfort, or so Atem could assume, but who knew with Bakura? He swore he could see his eyes softening a tiny bit. They did not stop until they were at least in the dead end of the alley and looking for the window they had all jumped out of.

“How are we going to get the tomb-keeper up and in the window?” Bakura asked.
“Well, for all I care, we could leave him here, it would serve him right,” Bakura quickly explained.

“Figured you would make a fuss out of it anyway,” Bakura shrugged.

“That is a good question, that might be a problem,” Atem observed, ignoring Bakura rambling. “Might?” Bakura quirked an eyebrow.

“First, where is the window?” Atem asked. Bakura could show them with the ring`s power.
Bakura found the millennium ring. “Where is the window we jumped out of,” Bakura commanded. Atem did not comment on how he could have just said their temporary bedroom window, but he did not. The ring pointed to the side and they started to follow it, Atem noticed that they took more turns even though he thought that in the light alley they had only ran straight forward, but apparently not.
“There it is,” Bakura said, the ring pointed upwards towards a window which was wide open. Atem cringed, it would be obvious they escaped out the window.
“Well, pretty obvious, huh?” Bakura pointed out. Atem nodded.
“Now, the matter at hand,” Atem started. “How to get Malik up without making everything worse.” Bakura nodded. “We got a job now, well, there has to be a wizarding spell for this!”
“Well, we don't know what it is,” Atem pointed out. The window was at least five metres over ground. The wall was manageable to climb, but to get a sleeping person up with you was a whole other matter.
“I know that!” Atem ignored him. “Perhaps we can try to fly him up by just thinking about it?” Atem suggested. That could be the way of magic.
“And how do you think we are supposed to do that?” Bakura asked. He smirked. “Do you have a better idea,” Atem shot back. When Bakura just looked away, he took it as a no.
Atem placed Malik on the ground carefully, Malik would not agree with this, but he did not know what else to do. Atem stood over him with his hands outstretched. He tried to focus.
“Atem? Do you need help,” Bakura asked. Atem wrinkled his nose and turned towards Bakura. “Oh, hello Ryou,” Atem greeted, Ryou smiled. “It would be nice with some help,” Atem stated.
“Well, I will be happy to provide,” Ryou said. “What are we doing?”
“We are to get Malik up and through the window,” Atem provided. Ryou made an “oh” face. “Not to be… uh… I… well… how are we doing that?” Ryou asked. Atem`s lips turned into a thin line.
“My best idea is to use magic,” Atem said. “Okay, lets try,” Ryou said, he looked a bit flushed. They put their hand over Malik, they both focused. After a minute, Ryou slumped.
“I am sorry to disappoint you, but I don't think that is going to work,” Ryou said. “No, it`s okay.”
“Could you let me come forth?” Yugi suddenly asked from his head. Atem had been so focused on the matter at hand that he had forgotten Yugi, he felt a bit ashamed. “Oh yeah, sorry,” he said and let Yugi take over.

-

Yugi looked around, he had followed what Atem had done, but had decided to stay quiet unless there was something he could provide. He had actually fallen asleep after a while and just woken up to Ryou and Atem trying to get Malik to fly up to the window and inside. It had not worked, but he could try to figure something out.
“Hi Ryou,” Yugi greeted.
“Hi Yugi.”
Yugi went over to where Ryou had seated himself by the wall under their temporary bedroom window. “What do you reckon we do?” Yugi asked. “I don't know, I am tired from this unplanned escape,”he answered, tiredness seeped into his voice like ink did on paper.
“Me too, I kind of want to just sit here and sleep,” Yugi agreed. “Yeah.”
They sat there in silence, Malik`s chest rose in silent breathing. He was not dead, so much was clear, he was just wounded. Not that he could die from it, unless they spent too much time here. He would need help, but someone was doomed to stumble upon them soon enough or at least when the sun decided to rise in it`s grace.
“Hey Yugi, I was thinking, how do we even contact Dumbledore?” Ryou asked, he had a complicated expression on his face. “I have not decided yet, but if I did, I would like to know how to get in contact.”
“That is a good question, but I have no idea. Perhaps this Hagrid person who was to help us buy the things we need tomorrow was supposed to tell us?” Yugi suggested. “Perhaps,” Ryou agreed.
The silence started to come back into display over them.
Suddenly when Dumbledore popped up in front of them they shrieked like mad chickens. He just suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Oh, I am sorry for frightening you,” he said. The silence was deafening before Ryou spoke up. “No, that's okay Professor.”
“Well, there is curtain rumours going around about you, but first we should check up on your friend here,” Dumbledore gestured to Malik who looked to have a troubled look on his face.
“Could you hold onto this,” Dumbledore asked and held an old shoe in front of them. “Sure, but what is this going to do-” Yugi stopped talking the second both he and Ryou gripped the shoe.
It started to spin, Yugi was not sure what happened, but when it stopped spinning they were in another place. A room full of white beds, big windows with white curtains. It kind of looked like a hospital, Yugi noted.
“Wh- what happened?” Ryou asked. He looked baffled, Yugi agreed with him.
“Oh dear, what happened here?” a womanly voice asked. Yugi and Ryou turned to see who it was. It was a woman with white cloth in her hair and her hair was grey. She looked kind.
“It seems like one of our new pupils has had an accident, Madam Pomfrey,” Dumbledore said and put Malik who Yugi had not noticed that they had taken him with, he felt a bit ashamed. He should be thinking more about his friends. Could Malik be considered a friend? They were on speaking terms and do get along, but they have never verbally confirmed or denied.
“I will take a look at him right away!” Madam Pomfrey said and walked up to Malik. “Now, hush, hush, give me some working space, I promise I will take good care of him,” Madam commanded and made a gesture to a gawking Yugi and Ryou.
“I actually wanted to have a conversation with you two, preferably three, but Malik isn't in a state for that,” Dumbledore informed. “Sure,” Yugi said.
“Please come with me,” Dumbledore said and started to walk out into a corridor where there were armors and paintings. Yugi flinched when the paintings started to murmur, however Ryou looked like he had stars in his eyes.
“The paintings talk?” Ryou asked in excitement. “Yes, they do,” Dumbledore answered. “That's amazing!”
They followed him up a staircase which at the top Dumbledore said something which got a door to open. Both Yugi and Ryou stared in amazement. Inside looked like some kind of office. There was also a greasy haired man who looked sour. When the man saw them the office which had felt warm was now ice cold.
“Is that man in the alley,” Atem said in his mind. They had met him?!
“It`s them, headmaster,” the man said in pure disgust and pointed at them with his sleek finger. Yugi gulped down a lump of distress.
“Who are you?” Ryou asked who looked confused. Oh no, Bakura hadn't told him anything! “Bakura threw some green stuff on that man in the alley that he had stolen from some shop,” Atem filled in. Yugi paled.
“Don`t play dumb, we all know what you did,” the man accused. Realisation seemed to dawn on Ryou, then it turned into a terrified expression.
“Now, now, it has been a long day and we don't know what happened,” Dumbledore said before anyone else could say anything. “But at that, I would like an explanation. When Tom contacted me and told me that he had heard great ruckus up stairs and he hadn't found you in the room and Kaiba had nothing to provide, I got worried. Then Severus told me he had spotted three of the exchange students in Knockturn alley and one seemed injured, I got more worried,” Dumbledore finished with his long explanation.
Yugi and Ryou shared a look, before Ryou turned to Dumbledore.
“Um… could Mr. um… Severus please leave the room… uh… it`s private,” Ryou managed to ask. Dumbledore nodded and turned to Severus. “Could you please leave this room, I will call you back when Ryou is done,” he gestured to the door.
Severus nodded and started to walk towards the door, but stopped beside Ryou. “Also, it's Professor Snape to you,” he informed. Ryou froze. Then Professor Snape walked out of the room. The door shut firmly behind him.
“So Ryou, and Yugi, what was it you wanted to tell me?” Dumbledore asked. He had a soft smile on his face and he did not look judgemental. Bakura took over and same did Atem, Ryou had forced him out, which Bakura did not appreciate. Yugi thought Atem could provide more insight.
“What do you want now, old man?” Bakura spat annoyed.
“I am sure you are aware of what I want, what happened tonight?” Dumbledore repeated bluntly, he had not blinked at Bakura`s rudeness. It was probably expected after their first meeting.
“None of your business,” Bakura stated. “Bakura, just tell him,” Atem said sternly. Bakura rolled his eyes. “Fine.”
“Okay, so psycho maniac ghost chased Malik and he told us. I didn`t want to deal with psycho maniac ghost, so I opened the window just for Malik to jump out of it before me,” Bakura said, annoyed, especially at that last part.
“You jumped out of a window on the second floor?” Dumbledore quirked an eyebrow at that. “Yes, then we ran away into an alley and waited there before we went back just to meet old ass pain in the ass man who tried to harass me, then oldie greasy man popped up out of nowhere and also tried to harass us, so I defended us and we ran back to the window to try to get Malik and ourselves up into the room again,” Bakura rambled, then he smirked. “When the pharaoh did not have any good idea he tried to perform magic with my host to get Malik up into the window, which failed miserably,” Bakura let out a loud laugh. Atem glared daggers at him, which made Bakura laugh even more.
“You tried to perform magic?” Dumbledore asked and turned to Atem. he gave a short nod, but stayed quiet.
“Severus mentioned you threw something green at him and that it has started to swell,” Dumbledore said and turned his attention back to Bakura. He laughed and nodded. “Yep, I did do that,” Bakura said. “Probably shouldn`t kill him, but who knows?” Bakura added. Atem wanted to slap him, for who says that without a death wish.
“Bakura, we can't have that when you start at Hogwarts, I take big steps to have my students` safety at the very top. I would also prefer if you two never went back into Knockturn alley, it is illegal to be there,” Dumbledore said, the last statement was for everyone in the room. “We will see,” Bakura muttered under his breath. If Dumbledore had heard it, he did not say anything.
“Now, I will call Severus back into the room,” Dumbledore said. Yugi and Ryou took over yet again. Dumbledore called professor Snape back into the room.
“I have heard the story from their side now, and it appears to be an accident,” Dumbledore said to Snape. Snape narrowed his eyes, before he glared at them.
“Well then, it won`t happen again,” Snape said in a warning tone which made Yugi shiver. Dumbledore ignored him.
“Now, Yugi and Ryou, would you like to have a spell set on the room to keep away ghosts?” Dumbledore asked. Ryou looked confused, but Yugi nodded. He didn`t want any of them to freak out again, mostly Malik and Bakura. “Okay, I will make someone come and do it.”
“Also, I was quite surprised to see that you chose to share a room with Malik, I thought you would share with your friend Kaiba,” Dumbledore commented.
“Oh, we have known Malik for quite some while and are closer to him than Kaiba,” Yugi explained. Dumbledore looked a bit surprised, before he sat back in the chair he was sitting in.
“Very well, now you can go and check up how Malik is doing,” Dumbledore said.
“Yugi, you should ask how to contact him, we don't have any way to do it now,” Atem said. That was true, Yugi had completely forgotten about that.
“Um… Professor, how are we supposed to contact you for our answer?” Yugi asked when he was at the door.
“Oh, use this,” Dumbledore said and showed him a coin. Yugi caught it when he threw it his way.
“Now, off you go,” Dumbledore prompted.
They nodded and hurried out of the office.
In the hall they had passed, Yugi and Ryou stopped to look at the talking paintings.
“It`s so cool that these paintings can talk,” Ryou commented. Yugi agreed. He wondered how they could talk. He did not know, perhaps they were magical. Well, of course they were magical.
“We should probably go and see to Malik,” Yugi said. He was worried. Ryou nodded, he still had stars in his eyes. They went over to what he assumed was some type of infirmary. When they came in Malik sat up in the bed - he looked a bit nervous, Yugi noted. Malik`s shoulder seemed to settle down when they came in. “Oh thank god, I thought I had been kidnapped or something,” Malik said.
“Your friend here put up much drama when he woke up,” Madam Pomfrey commented when she came out of nowhere. “Oh hello,” Yugi said.

-

Malik woke up to a woman with grey hair and an apron standing over him, she was muttering something. What was this? Who was this? Had he been kidnapped? Where was Atem and Bakura? Had they abandoned him?! Knowing Bakura, he probably would have, but Atme, less so.
He shot up and grabbed her wrist to twitch it. The woman let out a yelp. “Tell me where I am or I am not letting you go unharmed,” he threatened and twisted a bit on the wrist to prove it.
“There is no need for dramatics, I am merely fixing up your ankles at Dumbledore`s order,” the woman said. Malik`s eyes hardened. “Where are we?” he repeated and twisted her wrist more. The woman sighed.
“We are at Hogwarts,” the woman informed. Malik loosened his grip a bit.
“How do I know you are not lying?” Malik demanded. “Because your ankles are good, aren`t they,” the woman said. Malik looked down, he stomped a bit on both of his feet. No pain.
“Okay, thank you,” he said and warily let go.
“You should probably sit for a bit,” she said. Malik did as she said and sat down on the bed he had woken up at. He wondered what had happened in that valley. He watched as the woman walked around and fixed stuff.
“I am Madam Pomfrey,” she said suddenly, like she had forgotten to introduce herself. Malik stayed quiet, but watched her in case she would do something out of line. He could not believe someone despite how innocent they looked. Looks could be deceiving.
“Are your legs alright?” she asked after some time after she seemed finished with sorting out liquids. “Do they hurt?” she asked again. Malik shook his head.
“That`s good,” she said.
At that moment Yugi and Ryou came in. Malik let out a quiet sigh of relief and let his shoulders slump.
“Oh thank god, I thought I had been kidnapped or something,” he said dramatically. Ryou let out a laugh.
“Your friend here put up much drama when he woke up,” Madam Pomfrey said. He smiled sheepishly. The woman must really not be lying. He looked amazed around the room, he was at Hogwarts. He let that sink in.
“Oh hello,” Yugi said. “So are your legs alright?”
“Yeah, Madam Pomfrey seemed to have fixed them,” Malik explained. He started to feel a bit ashamed at how he had acted when he woke up, the woman was truly just trying to help him. Despite him not knowing that, he should have had the decency to not threaten her.
“I am sorry for the way I acted when I woke up,” he apologised. Madam Pomfrey shook her head. “It`s okay, pupils have reacted worse before,” she commented. Malik sighed in relief. It seemed to be alright then.