Greetings fellow readers and writers! This is story number 13 for me. Just because it's #13, doesn't mean that it's going to be a bad one. Rather, this fic will be super cool to the nth degree. Once again we visit the world of Harry Potter as he, Ron and Hermione continue their careers as Aurors. This story will also have Ed and Al from Fullmetal Alchemist. Time wise it's about 7 months after my last Harry Potter story ended, making it sometime in late April of 2011. Also, the story takes place about two years after the end of Fullmetal Alchemist The Movie. Please note that I don't own either Harry Potter or Fullmetal Alchemist, so please don't sue me. And now, without further to do, please enjoy…
Equivalent Exchange
By AndrewK9000
OPENING MONOLOUGE
"Human kind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. 'To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.' That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed it to be the worlds' one and only truth…"
Chapter 1: Forbidden Arts part 1
For a change something other than a nightmare woke Harry Potter from his dreams. He was having a rather good dream about quidditch; he was seeker, Ron had just blocked the quaffel from the goal post, and his wife Ginny was cheering the two on. Harry looked to the woman in bed next to him. He and Ginny had been married for several weeks and was loving every minute of it.
Harry then realized what it was that disturbed his sleep. On the bedside table next to a clock, which read 4:12 a.m., was an indigo crystal that normally glowed a soft violet. It was now pulsing bright violet and was beeping. This was the magical equivalent of a cell phone.
Harry reached over, grabbed the crystal and brought it to his ear. "Potter residence," said Harry in a groggy tone.
"Sorry to disturbed you, Harry," said Kingsley Shacklebolt on the other end of the line, "But we've got a situation in London."
"There's always a situation in London or elsewhere," said Harry, "But what does this one have to do with me at 4:12 in the morning?"
"I'm sorry, Harry," said Shacklebolt, "I really am, but we have a major mystery down here and we could really use your expertise on this. I wouldn't be calling you this early if it wasn't this important."
Harry knew that Kingsley was telling the truth on the importance of the matter. The Ministry of Magic wouldn't be asking for his help over trivial matters. "What's the address?" asked Harry, "I can be ready in half an hour."
As Shacklebolt gave Harry the address of where he was needed, he noticed that Ginny was awake as well. "Make that an hour," said Harry, "I'll be there then." He placed the crystal on the table, deactivating it.
"Let me guess," said Ginny, "Duty calls."
"That's what happens when you spend half your time at Hogwarts solving mysteries," said Harry, "You gain the reputation of a detective."
"My husband," said Ginny in a sensual tone, "The greatest detective of them all."
"I'm not that great," said Harry modestly, "I've had a lot of help. But putting mysteries aside for a while, I'm not due in London for an hour. And since we're both awake, why don't we make the best of the time."
"Thought you'd never ask," said Ginny slyly. And make the best of the time they did.
At 5:05 Harry left the newly built house that he and Ginny were now living in. Harry had it constructed within walking distance of The Burrow, where his two best friends in the whole world lived, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, now Mr. and Mrs. Ron Weasley. They had gotten married along with Harry and Ginny at a double ceremony at the Spring Equinox.
Taking a deep breath Harry apparated to an empty lot in downtown London that was less than ten minutes walking distance from the address given to him by Shacklebolt.
While en route to the address, Harry took stock of his life so far. He had not only destroyed Voldemort, fulfilling the prophecy made by Trelawney those many years before, Harry had completed Auror training with Ron and Hermione. Their first assignment as Aurors was to help track down and catch a lunatic who was murdering witches and wizards.
Harry had successfully captured the maniac, but not before Hermione nearly lost the use of her hands. Though fully recovered from her ordeal, Hermione's hands twitched sometimes, especially in situations of tremendous stress and excitement. But she soon adapted to it; Hermione hardly notices it anymore.
Just then a familiar and most unwelcome feeling crept over Harry; a feeling that something bad was about to happen. After all, trouble had a nasty habit of find Harry.
Before Harry knew it he had reached the address, a large, flashy looking apartment building. Waiting outside was his best friends and brother-in-law, Ron.
"So they dragged you out of bed as well," said Harry.
"They woke me and Hermione up," said Ron, "We've got a bloody mess here, Harry."
"It must be serious to involve all three of us," said Harry, "Especially at this time of the morning."
"It's more than serious, mate," said Ron as they headed inside the building, "When I sad bloody, I mean really bloody. It's a red, sticky mess where we're going."
Ron showed Harry to a flat on the top floor of the building. The apartment looked to belong to a very feminine woman who preferred the good life. Yet in the living room of the apartment it really was indeed a bloody mess.
The living room had been cleared of furniture and the rug had been removed. On the bare floor a large chalk circle had been drawn. The circle inscribed a six-pointed star. All along the circle and the lines of the star were strange symbols. Scorch marks blotted the chalk lines. And in the middle of the circle was a large pool of blood.
"Well this is something you don't see every day," said Harry, "What happened here?"
"That's what we hope you can tell us," said Shacklebolt, "The local muggles reported strange noises and lights around 1 a.m. We got here first and modified the muggle's memories."
"These symbols," said Harry, "What are they?"
"We don't know," said Shacklebolt, "Hermione said she'll look into them after she gets the statement from the owner of the flat, one Cho Chang."
The mention of Harry's first crush hit him in the head like a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick. "Cho Chang lives here?" said Harry, "What could she have possibly gotten into to leave so much blood?"
"Well whatever left the blood," said Ron, "It isn't here." Harry then noticed a trail of blood leading away from the main pool towards the balcony. Halfway to the balcony the trail began to subside somewhat, only to turn into blood soaked footprints. Said footprints lead onto the balcony and disappeared, as if whatever left the footprints had jumped.
"We didn't find anything on the streets below," said Ron, "Whatever jumped made it to the next building over."
"So whatever left he blood is still alive," said Harry, "Now I'm intrigued. Were there any other witnesses?"
"Only Cho's friend Marietta Edgecomb," said Ron, "You remember, The Sneak?" Harry would be hard pressed to forget the one who sold out the D.A. to Umbridge.
"They're at St. Mungo," said Ron, "You have to see what happened to them to believe it."
Five minutes later Harry and Ron arrived at the wizarding hospital where Hermione was waiting for them outside the intensive care ward. "Harry," said Hermione, "You might want to wait before you go in there."
"What for?" asked Harry, "I've been over Cho for years."
"I'm not talking about that," said Hermione, "I'm talking about what happened to Cho and her friend tonight. Whatever magic they were delving into caused serious damage to their bodies. Several of Marietta's internal organs are missing. I don't know how, but one lung, a kidney and over half her intestines are gone. Most of the other organs are damaged beyond repair. She won't live to see mid-morning. As for Cho, well…"
Something really bad must have happen to Cho to upset Hermione like this, thought Harry. Bracing himself for the worst he followed Hermione into the intensive care ward. At one bed was Marietta Edgecomb. Her face, still covered in pimples that spelled out SNEAK, was deathly pale, sweat streaked and her breathing was harsh and labored. Hermione spoke the truth; Marietta didn't have much longer to live.
Harry then saw Cho. At first glance there seemed to be nothing wrong with her as she sat on the edge of her bed while healers attended to her. Then Harry saw what had disturbed Hermione so; Cho's hands were gone. Where they should be were now stumps covered by blood-soaked bandages.
To be continued. Next chapter we find out just what Cho did to be in this situation. Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!