I woke up screaming. I was drenched in sweat. I just had a nightmare from that awful night again.
"Brother?" A sweet and soft voice said. I dreamt of the night I had to attach my little brother's soul to a suit of armor.
"Just a bad dream." I said trying to reassure Alphonse. Al and I made the worst mistake when we were little. I was only nine when we tried to bring our mother back from the dead, but instead I lost my left leg and Al lost his entire body. I gave up my right arm to get his soul back. We are paying for that mistake to this very day, seven years later. Recently I was able to get his body back but with a terrible cost. The philosopher's stone was given to keep me alive but my brother offered his sole as well. I gave up myself and my alchemy to Truth but he didn't want it. He said that he had grown fond of my company over the years. It had never had someone see him more than once besides me. The bastard let me off but took the limbs my brother gave back to me and gave Al a very weak body.
There was a knock at the door so I quickly covered myself with a blanket. Checking once again that my automail was covered I answered the door. A messenger handed me a piece of paper and saluted me. I mumbled something about it being too early in the morning for formalities as a way of getting out of showing my automail arm by saluting. After I shut the door I went over to where Al was and sat down next to him. I opened the note and found that it was from my superior Fuhrer King Roy Mustang. He wanted to see Al and me in his office ASAP. That bastard was calling me on my day off.
"Let's go Al."
After meeting a strange man who wanted me to babysit some fifteen year old boy I was furious.
"Magic doesn't exist!" I yelled for what felt like the fifth time.
"Oh it certainly does." The professor said. Then he took out a strange looking stick and pointed it at me. Roy raised his hand, prepared to snap, and Al stood up. I was lifted off the ground then put back down. I backed away warily, levitating is impossible even for an alchemist.
"But what about Al!" I demanded. I was fuming.
"I'll be alright, Brother. I could go stay with Granny and Winry." He said. I looked at him sadly. We never were apart for more than a few hours but I could tell from his tone that I wasn't going to win this argument.
"Fine." I muttered.
"Good, I will pick you up in about an hour." With that the crazy old man disappeared with a load crack. I blinked but looked back at the colonel with anger seeping from my very pores.
"When you are there don't openly use alchemy and don't show your automail. I don't think their country has developed it yet." The bastard said calmly.
"I'm not that stupid." I muttered.
"The only one who knows about you will be Albus, as he is the headmaster of the school. He is also the only one from his country who knows about our country." Mustang said, ignoring my statement.
"You know I'm not good with people my age. I've never even gone to a real school! You can't expect me to blend in easily. I'm not going to like this. What year is the kid in school anyway?" I said. For now I will admit defeat, but he better not expect good results from this.
"It's all in your case file. See you around Fullmetal." The bastard dismissed as he threw the file at me.
I saw Al and his escort, Armstrong, off at the train as soon as we were both packed then headed straight to the Colonel's office. He wasn't in there but the man, Albus, was.
"Well I read the file so let's go old man. The sooner this is over the better."
The man cracked a smile then held out his arm for me to take it. The file had told me about my transportation there but I was still unwilling to take the old man's arm. As soon as I did I felt like I was being squished in all places. The ports where my automail attaches was so painful that I had to bite my lip to keep myself from screaming. Finally it ended and we were standing in front of a dark looking house, I had blood dripping down my chin from where I bit my lip. The old man looked at me strangely.
"What's wrong with your arm? It shouldn't hurt to apparate, though you may be nauseous." He said.
"I guess magic and I don't mix well. I'm still in one piece, though." I said, starting to walk towards the building. "You coming old man?"
"I'm afraid I have other business. The order knows that you will be arriving tonight, but it's best not to linger out here any longer." He shooed me to the door then apparated again.
I exhaled and went through my cover story again before opening the door. As soon as I did a plump woman ushered me in. She checked me over for injury.
"My name is Molly. Are you Edward?" she asked sweetly.
"Just Ed, but yeah. Albus just dropped me off." As soon as I said that I heard a thundering of footsteps. Four redheads, a girl with curly brown hair, and a dark haired boy who matched the description of the kid I was supposed to babysit. I eyed the two identical ones with distrust.
"Children, this is Ed, the exchange student." The woman smiled. "Ed, this is Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry."
Each waved in turn but Harry scowled.
"How did you get here?" He asked.
"Albus dropped me off. Crazy old man just left me at the doorstep." I growled. I hardly knew anything about the wizarding world and he just dropped me in it. I could tell they thought I was strange for using the first name of their headmaster.
"That's something we have in common then." Harry smiled. I'm not sure if I could get along with this kid but I'll have to at least fake it so I smiled back.
I could hear people on the other side of a closed door. Molly must have seen me glance at the door because she told us the meeting would be over soon and then we could have dinner. She had the kids show me my room when she went back to the meeting.
"So Ed, where are you from?" Hermione asked when we got to Harry and Ron's room.
"Just a small farm town. I can guarantee you haven't been there." I said vaguely.
"Oh. Well what school were you from?" She continued
"I was homeschooled in a way. We hired a teacher and we went to live with her and her husband."
"Did you like being homeschooled?" she asked yet another question.
"Is she always like this?" I exclaimed. A few people snickered while Hermione blushed.
"Hermione just like to know stuff. Once you get used to it it's not bad. Plus she helps us with our homework." Ron said.
"I see. And you two need to keep your paws out of my stuff." I said to the twins who were trying to see what was in my bag. They didn't blush but merely shrugged, like they were used to getting in trouble.
"Sorry Ed,"
"We just wanted to know,"
"More about you." They said, finishing the other's sentences.
I just huffed and let the conversation turn back to Harry Potter. I was hungry, and tired, but most of all I missed Al. Eventually Molly called us down for dinner. They were talking about some sort of weapon but I was too busy being hungry to care. Voices rose and I had finally had enough.
"Would you all quiet down?! I'm trying to eat my dinner. You try traveling all day on an empty stomach then are denied your meal because someone is too busy arguing who loves who more." I yelled then served myself by going to the kitchen and getting my own food.
I was muttering the entire time about how childish the adults were behaving when a weathered man came up to me. From his description he must be Remus Lupin, a friend of Harry's dad. He was mentioned in the case file. It also told me he was a friendly werewolf.
"I'm sorry about that. They have never seen eye to eye. I'm sure they feel bad about their behavior." Ramus said.
"I shouldn't have lost my temper. Besides, I've been in worse shouting matches then that." I said. Normally Al keeps me in check at times like these.
"Dumbledore told me you still need a few school supplies. He asked me to take you. He also explained that since you have been studying at home the ministry didn't allow you to use actual magic. I'll help you buy a wand and any questions you have, feel free to ask." He said with a smile.
"Thanks but I'll be fine." I said taking my dinner back to the dining room.
Everyone stared at me when I entered but I ignored them. Being the youngest state alchemist, you get used to the staring. Soon they all went back to normal and ate their own meals. I was the first to leave the table, claiming that I was tired from the traveling.
When I got to my room I shared with Harry and Ron I found a stack of books with a note on it. The note read:
Ed, these are the books that the
Hogwarts students have completed.
Please attempt to gain the general
Knowledge it contains.
-Albus Dumbledore
"Crazy old man." I muttered. I shoved the books under my bed and took my tool kit out. I did a once over on my automail. The pressure it went through surprisingly didn't damage it. Everything was in place so I just did some regular maintenance on it. I didn't even hear the door creak open I was so zoned into my task.
"How'd ya' get that?" Someone said. I jumped and spun around, ready to attack. It was the twins, Fred and George.
"None of your business." I said while shrugging my red traveling cloak back on.
"That was a fine piece of muggle machinery. We are merely curious. We have a friend with a fake leg." One of them said.
"Yeah I know. His name is Alastor, right?" I said putting my stuff away.
"How'd you know?"
"Well I know Albus so I'm bound to know a few things." I shrugged.
"I guess. Why did you decide to come to Hogwarts this year?"
"No real reason. Now if you don't mind, I do believe your friend Alastor is coming to interrogate me."
The two stopped to listen for a moment then quickly disappeared. The thump clank was what gave the one legged man away. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in, Alastor." I called. The man huffed behind the door then came in.
"And how did you know it was me coming?" he said gruffly
"Your footsteps are the easiest to characterize. It wasn't hard." I shrugged. I liked having information on all of these people; they were fun to mess with.
"Ah, well Dumbledore trusts you but I don't. How do I know you won't give up headquarters location?" Alastor said.
"Well one reason would be because I can't. You must have learned by now that only the secret keeper could give away this location. Other than that you don't. You have no way to trust me. But I can tell that you can sniff a rat out a mile away. Tell me, do I smell like a rat to you?" I said. What I said was completely logical and Alastor Moody knew it.
"Where are you from?"
"A little town you've never even heard of. Sorry, but I would know if you went there considering its max population has been roughly twenty people at one point." I smirked.
"I don't like you, boy." He growled.
"Right back at cha, old man." My smirk grew wider.
"Someone said that you are going out with the rest of the kids to go get supplies. I'm the head Auror here which means I'm in charge of Potters safety. Don't try anything funny tomorrow." He threatened. I could hardly keep my laughter in. This man didn't know that Dumbledore had hired a bodyguard.
"Don't worry, wouldn't I be putting myself in danger as well if I got that kid in trouble?" my smirk grew larger.
"Hmpf. Fine but you were warned." He said gruffly then left as Harry and Ron entered.
The two boys seemed to be celebrating. Apparently the day before Harry had been deemed innocent at a big trial. The file mentioned this but didn't go into detail. They seemed to have completely forgotten their new roommate until I left to go change into more comfortable clothes to sleep in.
When I got back they were ready for bed as well. I waited until I could hear their steady breathing before I drifted off myself.