A/N: Hi people! I have a beta-reader now! Her name is Ochibi-chan, and it's really nice of her that she takes the time to beta this (so thanks once again :D).
And this is kind of a filler chapter, sorry, it's just that there are a lot of explanations to be made. Like about why Amestris is so far behind qua technology, for example. And a bit about the languages, because I don't think Amestrian is the same as English. Or German, for that matter.
And it's still really short, but I just can't write long chapters, and that's not going to change anytime soon, so you'll just have to live with it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Harry Potter, or any of the characters used. They belong to Hiromu Arakawa and J. K. Rowling respectively.
Ed was sitting in the library, reading a book about modern sciences. He'd been there for an hour and a half, desperately trying to pound as much information in his head as humanly possible. He wanted to be prepared for whatever was out there, and not just the magic. Mustang had given him a brief explanation (that took about an hour) of everything he'd found out about magic so far. He'd also revealed that the 'Hogwarts Express' didn't leave for another three hours, but he'd wanted to be sure that Ed was briefed properly, so he'd told him to be there at 8 o'clock. Then, Mustang had shown Ed how to get to platform 9 ¾, which had been Ed's first - rather shocking – experience with magic.
"Platform nine and three quarters? Are you sure?"
"Positive. And you won't believe how you have to get there."
"What? How?" Mustang didn't answer. Instead, he walked to the barrier between platform nine and ten. When he was only a few meters away, he broke into a sprint. At first, Ed thought the guy had gone mad. Mustang was so close to the wall now that he wouldn't be able to stop even if he tried. Ed watched as he hit the stone… and went right through it. Ed immediately ran to the wall and began to investigate it, only to jump back startled when his hand plunged right through it. How was that possible? There wasn't even a transmutation cir- no, of course there wasn't. If things were as simple as that, the Amestrian army wouldn't send two of it's best alchemists to investigate it. So, how was it done? There had to be something fulfilling the purpose of a transmutation circle, even if the thing wasn't an array.
Ed glanced at a clock that was hanging nearby. It was only three past nine. He still had almost two hours before the train would leave. He could either go to the hidden platform and ponder about it on the train, or he could go into the city and look for a library, so he could get some actual research done. It occurred to him that the Colonel would probably have some books with him, but he'd still have plenty of time to read those on the train ride. And he was sure that Mustang would understand. He wasn't one for sitting still for long periods of time anyways. Or at least not on a train that wasn't moving when he was burning with curiosity. So, the library it was.
And that's how Ed ended up where he was now. He had moved on to a book about the progression of technology of the last century, and he was soaking up all the information like a sponge. There was one thing that he did wonder about though. If Amestris knew about these countries, then why was the technology in his home country still so far behind? Why didn't they use spy satellites, and had no Amestrian set foot on the moon yet? But a similar thing could be wondered about why in this country not everyone used alch- magic. Mustang had told him that only a part of the population could do it, and most of the non-magic folks didn't even know it existed. That was probably why they were so advanced when it came to technology – they didn't have anything else. Amestris had it's alchemy, and England had it's technology. That would also explain why Amestris didn't copy it – the army was afraid of losing it's alchemists. They were a very valuable asset for a country constantly fighting multiple wars at the same time. But even so, there probably was a secret branch of the army dedicated to extremely advanced war technology. It just wasn't used against countries like Drachma, Creta and Aerugo, because it wasn't necessary.
Ed finished reading the book, and finally decided to glance at a clock that was hanging nearby. To his surprise – and shock – it was already ten to eleven. He'd have to run if he wanted to make it to the train in time. He carefully put the book back on the shelf – holding books higher in regard than most people - and then rushed out of the shop. He bumped into someone on the street, and quickly muttered an apology before dashing of again. He raced down the street, and barely avoided getting hit by a car around the corner. When he finally made it to the station, it was three to eleven. He ran to the right platform as quickly as possible, elbowing quite a few people who were in his way while doing so. The station surely was a lot more crowded then it was this morning. He looked at a clock – it was one to eleven. The barrier between platform nine and ten came into his line of sight – just in time to see two boys with heavily loaded trolleys crash into it.
Beta'd by Ochibi-chan.
