Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Fifty Six - End of the School Year

"Once again, we've come to the end of the school year." McGonagall addressed the school in the Great Hall. "And for the seventh year running, Gryffindor have won the House Cup." A loud cheer erupted across the room, with three Slytherins joining in and chanting ‘Gryf-fin-dor, Gryf-fin-dor' continuously, banging their knives and forks on the table at each syllable. McGonagall waved a hand for everyone to settle down. The Great Hall fell silent. "And what a year it has been." She smiled warmly. "The Wizarding World is now free from he-who-must-not-be-named."

"Voldemort!" Bakura shouted. To which Yami, Malik, Marik, Harry, Mana, Kaiba and Kisara laughed.

McGonagall, clearly in a good mood, allowed their mirth to subside before she continued. "The Wizarding world is safe once again, thanks to Harry Potter, and his friends. And with the threat gone, there is no need for the Pharaoh to have to attend our school, next term, unless he chooses to."

"No thanks. I think I'll just stick with Domino High next term." Yami commented, loud enough for most people in the Great Hall to hear him. This caused yet another amused disturbance.

"Furthermore, we'll be saying goodbye to all our exchange students this year." McGonagall continued.

"Aw." A few whined.

"So why don't we all say a fond farewell to them." McGonagall suggested. The Great Hall broke into a loud explosion of various shouts. Some of the Slytherins were shouting ‘good riddance!', but were promptly silenced by the three Egyptians sitting among them. "And now, we will enjoy the feast!" McGonagall called, and just as it had, so many times before, food appeared, covering the tables.

Twenty minutes into the feast, Malfoy let out a feminine-like shriek, while Malik, Marik and Bakura roared with laughter. Yami wonder what they had done, but Ryou informed him that Bakura had found a dead starling four months before, and had held onto it, specifically for the end-of-year feast, to throw into Malfoy's plate. At this, all within hearing range of Ryou burst out laughing. Yami shot out his seat and over to the Ravenclaws to tell Kaiba and Kisara, while Mana went to tell Téa. After another bout of laughter, Kaiba caught Bakura's eye and held up his goblet to him silently. Bakura smirked and returned the gesture, before breaking off in maniacal laughter yet again. Eventually, it was required of the teachers to get the students under control before the feast continued. Weevil and Rex were too scared to touch their food, knowing how much the six Egyptians hated them, and wondering what cruel tricks they might try on them. But Bakura spared them, as he was enjoying the attention he received for pulling one over Malfoy.

---

With all that had happened, the students had forgotten that they had done their exams and were awaiting their results. Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Ryou found themselves woken in the morning by Yami, reporting that their exam results had arrived. The teenagers promptly groaned and hid under the covers, worried about how bad they had done. "Oh, come on, it can't be that bad." Yami said to their reaction. He himself had gotten marks to rival Hermiones.

"Not everyone has read and memorized the librarys entire collection, Yami." Tristan groaned.

"You open mine, and tell me how I did." Ryou said, sitting up again.

"And mine. I'll listen if you tell me." Yugi said, also sitting up.

Yami was about to say something to them, to express that he thought they were being childish, but changed his mind. He had a better idea. And so he put on his best poker face and shrugged indifferently, rolling his eyes. He opened Ryous and read it in silence. He raised his eyebrows and winced. Ryou, watching Yami, also winced. "Um, I'll come back to this one." Yami said, awkwardly. He opened Yugis and read it, then looked shocked. He gave Yugi an almost disappointed look, and Yugi groaned, lay down and pulled the covers over his head. Yami looked at Joey and Tristan."How did you guys do?" He asked.

"You tell me." Joey replied, handing Yami his results. Tristan quickly followed suit.

Yami read both of their results and compared them thoughtfully. "Hmm." He frowned slightly.

"AGH! Who was I kidding, coming here to learn magic!" Joey whined, rolling over and diving under the covers.

Yami couldn't help it anymore. He started laughing. "Who said anything about you guys doing bad? You just assumed that. Actually, you'll be pleased to hear you all passed, with good marks. Here, see for yourself." Yami handed each of them their results. "I knew you'd do well Yugi. I'm proud of you partner."

Yugi smiled as he looked at his grades. "Thanks Yami. By the way, you're a jerk. Why'd you have to go and wind me up like that?"

"It's my revenge for you all holding me back when Weevil ripped my card in half." Yami shrugged. "You shouldn't have come between me and my prey."

"Prey?" Yugi asked. "You've got that right. There's nothing he can do to you."

"I'm going to go find out how Mana, Kaiba, Kisara, Bakura, Marik and Malik did." Yami said, leaving the room.

---

Yugi sighed as he climbed onto the Hogwarts Express. "What a year it's been!" He mused, as he entered a compartment. "Oh, Kaiba. Hi. Do you mind?" Yugi asked, gesturing to a seat that Kaiba had his briefcase on. Kaiba had already changed back into his usual attire. Yugi amused himself wondering whether Kaiba would burn the robes, or keep them, but quickly recomposed himself before he burst out laughing.

"Suit yourself." Kaiba shrugged, moving his briefcase.

"Where's Kisara?" Yugi asked, hoping to strike a conversation. He hadn't moved from the doorway yet.

"She's gone off with Mana, Téa, Mai, Serenity, Hermione and Ginny for a little girl chat." Kaiba replied. Just so you know, that means they've gone off to discuss us, their boyfriends, and argue about who's better." Yugi clapped his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. "Seen Yami anywhere?" Kaiba asked suddenly.

"I saw him with Marik, Malik and Bakura." Yugi shrugged. "But I don't know what--" Yugi stopped as Yami suddenly pushed him into the compartment, and slipping in himself, followed by Bakura, Marik and Malik in hysterics. Yami slid the door shut and leaned against it with a sigh. "--They're up to." Yugi finished, raising an eyebrow at Yami.

Yami walked over to Kaiba, struggling to keep a straight face, and handed the Blue-Eyes White Dragon card to him. "As promised. I am returning this to you." Yami said, shaking.

Kaiba raised an eyebrow. "What have you four done now?"

"Nothing." Yami said, trying, and failing miserably, to look innocent.

"The Pharaoh got Malfoy, Crabbe AND Goyle with a really good bat-bogey hex." Bakura snickered. "And that was after he made them all fall into the lake. But before he made them think the Blue-Eyes White Dragon was on the ground in the station. It was actually Jarvey dung. But the Pharaoh got them with an illusion caused by a mind crush. So they thought they'd rip up the card, so that you would never forgive the Pharaoh for not looking after your card." Malik and Marik doubled over in peals of laughter.

"Shit!" Yami muttered as three figures appeared outside the compartment, and he darted past the group and opened the door exiting the train, hopped down and went off to find another door to enter. Malfoy forced the door open, absolutely livid. He looked around the compartment, then he and his two goons sprinted out of the train and split up to search for Yami. Yami came in from the corridor and shut the outer door behind them. He pointed his wand at the compartment door and it slid shut. Then Yami sat down opposite Kaiba without invitation. "Needless to say, they weren't as amused by my pranks as we were." Yami commented, sending Bakura, Marik and Malik onto the floor, their sides bursting.

"Obviously." Kaiba replied, raising his eyebrows, before putting his card into his deck and opening a book. (The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey) He sat back and pointedly raised it to his face. The message was simple. 'Don't talk to me.' Yami smirked. Kaiba wouldn't be reading that for very long, and so he'd be able to speak to him soon, if he wanted. Yami had a book to read himself. (Most of his friends, having learned he enjoyed reading, had gotten him books for Christmas.) The train suddenly began moving. And Kaiba was disturbed from his reading by a sudden commotion. He looked up to see Malik and the three Yamis banging on the window at something. Marik, Malik, and Bakura were pointing, laughing and jeering, while Yami was putting on a surprisingly convincing smile, and waving in a seemingly sweet manner. Kaiba looked out the window to see Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle shaking their fists. Kaiba was shocked at first, then gave Yami an almost impressed look. "You know, this tops all the pranks the four of you have played this year, put together. Nice work Yami. But it's missing something."

Yami looked at Kaiba. "You're absolutely right." Yami agreed. He stood up and opened the window, then he, Bakura, Marik and Malik started shouting, in a chant, "They're big, they're thick, their heads are like a brick, Crabbe and Goyle, Crabbe and Goyle! He's blond, He‘s low, he needs a better wand! It's Draco! It's Draco!" They laughed once the three Slytherins disappeared from sight, having tried, and failed, to catch up with the train. Yami looked at the other three. "Actually, that was pretty good, we should remember that one."

"We need to change the words for Bug-Guts and Dino-Dung though." Bakura commented.

The group turned to the door as they heard a noise on the door itself from the other side. A few moments later, Harry and Ron walked in. "Hey guys, what's up?" Ron asked.

"They were just taunting Malfoy and his goons." Yugi shrugged.

"What? You mean the rumours are true?" Ron asked. "That Malfoy missed the train?"

"How did he manage that anyway. That's not like him." Harry commented, frowning thoughtfully.

"He doesn't normally have to put up with a former Pharaoh and three nutcases, does he?" Kaiba asked pointedly. He suddenly smirked. "Actually, that was pretty funny. But you could have done so much worse to him Yami. Such as, I don't know, full body lock in front of the train, feed them to a dragon, offer them to a god in some weird cult ritual, the list goes on."

"Ooh! We need to try the cult ritual." Bakura said, eyes glinting dangerously.

"Or we could have mummified them." Yami said smirking. "Alive."

"That too." Kaiba said raising an eyebrow. We're talking about Egyptians here, why didn't I think of that? "Anyway, it's too late now."

"I would apparate there and annoy them, but I can't be bothered." Yami said taking out a book from his pocket, sitting down and reading.

"What are you reading now?" Yugi asked.

"The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien." Yami replied, without looking up, as if it were an automatic response.

"What kind of ring?" Bakura asked.

"A magical one." Yami answered, still not looking up from his book. He paused and looked up. "Actually, you might like this one Bakura."

"Are you gonna read it out?" Bakura asked.

"Nope. This is a novel. And it's only the first part. You see, there are three parts to The Lord of the Rings. Books one and two are in The Fellowship of the Ring. Books three and four are in The Two Towers. And Books five and six are in The Return of the King."

"How far are you?" Bakura asked.

"A Knife in the Dark." Yami replied. He grinned. "That's chapter 11 of the first book." Yami added helpfully as Bakura opened his mouth to speak. "I suppose you shall ask me another question now, in your bid to keep me from reading, yes?" Yami asked.

"Do you have a favourite character?" Bakura asked, smirking.

"Hm, Aragorn." Yami answered after a thought.

"Isn't he the vagabond that the hobbits meet up with?" Kaiba asked. He would have asked 'Isn't he the heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor who's in love with an Elf?', but Yami had said he was on chapter eleven, and to ask that would spoil the plot.

"That's right." Yami replied, turning his attention onto Kaiba. "You've read it?"

"Once." Kaiba replied with a shrug. "But it was a long time ago. So, why Strider?"

"Because there's far more to him than meets the eye. And I'm sure those verses in the last chapter have something to do with it, since they go with his name. The first part I think is about not judging one by appearances. The second part, I'm sure, is the clue to who he really is. ‘The crownless again shall be King', I wonder… What will his role be? He's an heir to some throne or another." Yami shook his head. "You three go and locate Rex and Weevil, and wind them up for a while." Yami said to Marik, Malik and Bakura. The three nodded, and rushed out the room, as if Yami had just said to them to go get themselves some candy or something. "I'll just have to read the books to find out. And I feel like I can relate to him." Yami said to Kaiba with a half smile, before he and Kaiba both settled in their seats and engrossed themselves in their books.

Kaiba finished his book, then took out his laptop. He glanced at Yugi. "Do me a favour Yugi. Take this and go film some stuff for Mokuba." Kaiba held up the digital Camcorder.

"Okay!" Yugi said brightly. Truth was, he had been getting bored. Clearly, Kaiba had noticed.

---

The train reached King's Cross Station without incident. Platform nine and three quarters was buzzing with excitement. A lot of the families pointed to Harry and Yami, speaking to each other, some even waved to them. Yamis gang accompannied Harrys to the Weasley family. Molly promptly started fussing over Harry, Hermione, and her children, then turned to Yami and Yugi, fussing over the pair of them, making them blush. "Now you boys take care, and don't forget to write." She told them.

"Thank you for your hospitality." Yami replied. He smirked suddenly. "You know, I might just pop over and see you all again some time. Anyway, I had fun when I was at your house. If I do come again, you really have to let me de-gnome the place."

"Me too." Yugi piped up. "And thanks again, Mrs Weasley."

"It was my pleasure, dears." Molly replied, giving them a final hug, before letting them head through the barrier.

After all the goodbyes had been made, Yami hung back with Harry for a few last goodbyes. Neither spoke for a while. Yami sighed. He smiled. "You did good, kid." He said finally, smirking.

"I was a year above you." Harry replied, though he wasn't really bothered, more playing along with Yamis latest game.

"True. But I am the living Horus, and immortal spirit of the puzzle, blah blah blah." He trailed off, and looked down, his bangs shadowing his eyes. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

"What?" Harry asked, thoroughly confused.

"When you and Voldemort attacked each other, I thought that was it. I truly believed you were dead." He faced Harry, then suddenly, it seemed like he had changed the subject. "Bakura's such a shit."

"What?" Harry asked.

"Bakura's such a shit." Yami repeated, deliberately misinterpreting Harrys question. He smiled though. "But I'm glad. Otherwise, you" Yami turned and tapped Harry on the chest, "wouldn't be here anymore."

"Oh." Harry stated, finally understanding. He should have known Yami would get to the point. He grinned. "Not a little shit then?"

"Nope. For one thing, he's taller and bigger built than I am. For another, he's older than me. And that's saying something." Yami added, raising his eyebrows.

Harry laughed. "Hey Yami, thanks." He nodded. "It's been fun." Yami nodded, and offered his hand. Harry took it to shake. After, Yami began to head after Yugi and the others, he turned to make a mock-salute wave to Harry, before he and the others disappeared from sight in the bustling crowds of London.

Ron walked over and leaned on Harry with an arm on his shoulder. "So, school's over, the dark lord's gone. Now what do you want to do?" Ron asked as Hermione joined them.

Harry smiled. "I think I'll see about becoming an auror.