AN: Hey, so this is my first fanfic ever. At first it was just going to be a FMA fic, but lately I've been reading more and more FMAxHP. I haven't written anything in, gosh, years, so please bare with me while I hopefully recover my old writing capabilities. According to my friends and me, episode 25 never happened (nyah, what episode?). Oh, this begins after Ed 'n Al know what the Philosopher's Stone is made out of, and I kinda modernized FMA too… oh, and what if Amestris and surrounding countries actually existed today, just in the Bermuda Triangle? (which is why alchemy works there, but not magic, and why their technology is a bit… outdated)
Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist belongs to Hiromu Arakawa, and Harry Potter to J.K. Rowling. I don't own anything except what my meager imagination created. Sure wish I did though…. XD
AN bottom: Please, please, please review. Even if it's to tell me that it absolutely stinks, please do!
Ed's POV:
The trees flashed by, blurs of green as I chased after my prey. Ahead of me I heard a thump, and skidded to a stop. Alert for an ambush, I stood in a fighting stance. Sunshine filtered in through the dense, vibrant green leaves, casting patterns of the leaf littered ground. A zephyr fluttered through the trees. A quick glance around the small clearing showed serene tranquility, no signs of movement. The forest was unnaturally silent. *snap* The sound of someone snapping their fingers cut through the calm. My muscles tensed as I prepared myself to evade an enormous ball of flame. However, the only thing that happened was a warm glow that drew my eyes to it. It looked too small to be a real threat but you never know… there was another snap in the same direction then a burst of flame to my right. Inwardly I cursed myself for being distracted by something so miniscule. Hurridly I jumped out of the way, but the trees surrounding me caught on fire. Now the whole forest was ablaze. Smoke rose, tree branches fell, but through the some there was a humanoid shaped shadow, a space free of flame.
I brought my hands together and shoved at the ground. Spikes burst forth, aimed at the figure, but it dodged to the left. His alchemy might be a tad bit faster, and he has more battle experience, but I, at least, had a plan. Alchemy already activated, spears came out and cornered the shape. My right arm already changed to a deadly blade, I sprinted to the shape which was uselessly sending fire my way. Using the burning trees to launch off of (AP: Ed's kinda like a bouncy ball. A really small bouncy ball. XP) I quickly gained speed. With a glint of steel my knife was at his throat. I had won.
Normal POV:
"Great job chief. You just won me about thirty meals!" Breda grinned.
Fuery was crouching in the corner that was used for moping. After several years of use the carpet and walls were water-logged. They were long due for a replacement, preferably with a Red Guard coating, but the form requesting the renovation from the higher ups was awaiting a signature from the Colonel Bastard, buried under about five pounds of paperwork. Sporting several bandages Colonel Mustang opened the door and navigated his way to his desk. As a joke celebrating the New Year they had created a maze out of his paperwork, about five feet tall, instead of piling it on and around his desk like usual.
"Somebody go get Fullmetal, the Führer gave me a new mission to give him. Oh, and escort him here, with his luck he's bound to run into Scar again…"
Hawkeye volunteered, and exited the room. Somehow she always knew where Ed was, if they were in the same city that is.
Ed's POV
Al and I walked down the street, each carrying a pile of books. The hollow-sounding thumping sound that were his footsteps were drowned out by the crowd. Naturally, my own, uneven sounding footfalls were not even detectable. Even if not drawing attention by sound, eyes still drifted to the big suit of armor due to his massive size. As I carefully navigated through the mass of people, a sudden shove caused me to stumble. The top book started sliding off the pile and Al and I could only watch in horror as it fell to meet its doom in the shape of a puddle. Of course, time was going in slow motion too, as if just to rub my failure in my face. Out of nowhere a hand reached out and caught the book.
"Thanks." I said gratefully. Though, even if it had took a soaking I could have fixed it with my alchemy, but they saved me the extra effort.
"Oh, Miss Hawkeye, what a coincidence! What are you doing in town?" If he could have Al would have been grinning, alas, he couldn't, but his tone clearly portrayed his happiness of seeing her.
"Actually, looking for you two. Ed, you have a new mission." Hawkeye grabbed some books from both of our piles. We resumed our perioulus journey to our hotel.
"Already? But we just got back…" Al had been looking forward to visiting Hughes, and playing with his daughter.
"Yes, but it's not as if that Colonel Bastard cares." I thought darkly. "Oh well, we'll drop these off and be right over."
"I'm to come with you and escort you back."
"…fine."
Normal POV
"What's the mission this time, sir?" Fury questioned Mustang; He had always been more curious than necessary.
"You'll find out when the Fullmetal Shrimp comes." Roy replied arrogantly.
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THEY COULD DROWN IN A RAIN DROP?" Ed flew at Mustang's face, which was saved by Al's quick reflexes. He had caught his brother by his foot and Edward hung upside down shouting obscenities at Mustang. After calming Ed down Mustang sat Edward down in front of his desk, with Alphonse standing behind him. "So, what's the new mission?"
"You are to go undercover as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Mustang stated, his face perfectly serious.
"What?" Ed was dumbfounded.
"You are to go, undercover as a high school student, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Mustang sighed. "It's a school, Fullmetal, that teaches magic."
"What?"
"You. On a mission. Pretending to be a-"
"No, I know. I heard the first time. Mustang, magic doesn't exist." Mustang sighed, again, in exasperation.
"Go with me here for a second, Fullmetal. And besides, it does exist, just not on this continent. Plus, this was a command from the Führer himself, to be taken care of immediately. You will be transported to King's Cross, then from there a town called Hogsmeade. There you will meet your escort to the school at a restaurant called The Hog's Head."
"Fine. Not like I have a choice anyways." Ed crossed his arms over his chest in irritation. 'Geeze, what's with these people and pigs?'
"Here's your briefing as well as your story. Have it all memorized by tomorrow, and report back here before going to catch your train."
"Ya, whatever. Come on Al let's go, we have stuff to pack."
"Wait a minute Ed." Mustang looked down and awkwardly shuffled the papers on his desk. Ed stopped, his hand resting on the doorframe. After clearing his throat, Mustang continued. "Um, about that… Alphonse can't come with you on this one." Mustang inwardly flinched under Ed's glare. You could, quite literally, see the flame in his golden eyes.
"Why ever in the world not? He could be a student too!"
"It wasn't my decision Ed!" Mustang was on his feet, hands planted on either side of his desk. "It was the choice of the higher ups! I can't do anything against them, especially not when I need them to be on my side when I become Führer." The room got tenser as sparks flew in between the two. Mustang sat back down and wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose, pinching it as if to ward off a coming headache.
"Thinks about it Ed. If Alphonse went with you, the result could be catastrophic for the two of you. Especially if people found out that he is empty. He would be far safer here. At least here his safety would be assured, and you could fully devote yourself to the mission." Mustang reasoned. The tenseness was still there, but lessened as Ed began to see Mustang's logic.
"Fine Colonel Bastard, but you're responsible if he pick up any cats."
"Awww, but Edward! It wasn't my fault. They were just sitting there, and looked up at me! I swear one of them told me to pick them up. Not faiiiiiirrrrrreeee brother." Al protested. Ed raised his eyebrows at Mustang as if to say, 'see what I mean?'
"You're so cruel brother!" Alphonse rushed from the room, comically rubbing his eyes even though a suit of armor is incapable of producing tears.
"Hey Al wait up! Aaaaallllllllll!" E jogged after his brother. The office gave a relieved sigh as the Elric brothers disappeared from sight.
The next morning Ed grabbed his travel suitcase and left for HQ, accompanied by Al. Edward preferred to drive, but Al insisted that they walk. It was a nice day, after all, and it would let him be with his brother for a while longer than a cab would allow. Together they strode down the busy, but not yet crowded, streets. The sun was coming over the horizon, signaling the start to another day. After meeting up with Mustang the next morning, the brothers walked to the train station. Of course, by the time that Al dragged Ed, kicking and screaming profanities at Mustang, out of HQ the sun was clearly visible and a breeze had picked up. However, the sun was shining, it was warm, and there was not a cloud in the sky. After several more minutes of walking Al had to say goodbye to Ed, at the train station.
It was a monster of a building, this train station. The normal train station that Ed would have taken was only for inside the country. This one went every where, and as such it was huge. The architect who designed it was very, very fond of reptiles, so the structure had an animalesque feel. Two large stained glass windows acted as eyes, and the tiled roof had a distinctive resemblance to the scales of a lizard. The columns holding up the roof also were covered in scales, but ended in a plant bowl with a likeness of clawed feet (the flowers were red… blood red). Not only was the building wide, but also quite tall. Foreign travelers had to pass through to get their passports stamped, not to mention that it was the only city, besides central, that could issue passports to the public.
Ed waited for an hour in the relatively short line for people to go out of the country. Because the train station was literally in both countries, both countries had a floor each for their needs. After getting his brand-new passport stamped, Ed proceeded to his train to load his luggage. He still ended up with an hour to spare. Thankfully, there was a nearby bookstore and café. After getting a not-so-small snack from the café Ed hurried over to the store, hoping to find some ancient books about alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone.
As he opened the door, a bell tinkled somewhere within the store. When Ed stepped in and closed his eyes, breathing deeply, the smell of books surrounded him, calming him down. It was almost like he was back in the library with Al, researching a way to get their bodies back. He opened his eyes and his mouth dropped down to the floor. For a bookstore, it was enormous. The original bookstore owner had bought all the surrounding stores and knocked down the walls to turn it into one giant store. It. Was. Heaven, at least to Edward it was.
There were floor to ceiling bookshelves that were stuffed full of books- no, overflowing with books. They were stacked on top one another in the utmost care, and placed in strategic piles in the middle of the isle. Heck, there were even shelves that hung from the ceiling in-between the gigantic bookshelves. The rows went back and forth, continuing all the way down to the wall. Instead of where there would normally be spaces for people to pass through, there were bookshelves that seemed to be cut horizontally in half, the bottom half missing, suspended amongst the surrounding shelves with just enough room for people to pass underneath. To maximize the room for books even more, the only visible windows were the shop front. The chairs that were scattered around the sore were very plush, one could almost get lost in them, and they were very, very comfortable. There was no central theme to the decoration and furniture, except everything had a very old feel to it. Even the floor looked as old as the big trees that were fifteen feet in diameter. In fact, they were probably made when those trees were just saplings.
After recovering from the initial shock Ed dove right in. Good thing that the whole mission was funded by the military, even Ed's seemingly endless bank account would have been completely devastated. Luckily for Ed the store offered to send the books to his hotel. He sent the majority of them with a memorandum to Al, telling him that he could read them if he wanted to, and that some of them would be beneficial to their research.
Right as he was leaving the store with his new purchase he heard a conductor's 'All aboard!' and it was for… his train! Since he had already stored his luggage he only had his bag of books, and even though they were quite heavy Ed sprinted to the train, narrowly slipping through the closing doors. A few people still moving into their compartments (the train ride would take a few days, so they got separate compartments with a fold out bed) looked at him strangely, but decided that they couldn't form any really juicy gossip about this stranger, and left him to his own devices.
AN bottom: Please, please, please review. Even if it's to tell me that it absolutely stinks, please do! I probably won't post a new chapter untill I get at least oh, lets say two reviews (I have low expectations, da?)
