Title: Molten
Rating: Rated T.
Pairings: None.
Genre: Adventure and Hurt/Comfort.
Summary: Insignificant, adjective. Meaning too small or unimportant to be worth consideration. Edward realised he was this a long time ago. Maybe this time, though, he wouldn't be. Linear and drabble-esque.
Regarding Q&A: Any questions regarding the story can be asked via PM or review.
Beta: N/A - Help wanted.
Warnings: Language, blood/gore, and violence.
Category: Fullmetal Alchemist and Harry Potter crossover.
Uploaded: December 16th, 2012
(Section Break)
Izumi glared at Roy. Winry stared at the two of them bickering.
"If Fullmetal hadn't -"
"- but Edward did, so it doesn't matter!"
It went on for ages. Fed up, Winry took out a wrench and asked with a sickly sweet smile, "Aren't we wasting time?"
Roy blanched while Izumi nodded appreciatively. Winry smiled back cheerfully.
(Section Break)
"Mr. Elric, a word, if you please." A mocking tone.
"What's this all about?" A questioning glance.
"The Dark Lord wants to frame you." A slight sneer.
"Again?" A raised eyebrow.
"Yes. Come with me; I'll tell you my...plan." A melodramatic swoosh of a cloak.
Pompous bastard. A rolling of the eyes and soft sounds of feet walking down a hallway are the only thing that fill the hallway.
(Section Break)
Alphonse sighed worriedly. Where the heck is Brother?
"Al! Snape here has got something to share with us!"
Al sagged with a bit of relief and ran off to join Edward.
(Section Break)
"Harry! Ron!"
Harry and Ron turned around to see Hermione running towards them, a giant sheet of paper being held against her chest.
"Hermione?" Ron asks.
"I found absolutely nothing on Amestris," she panted, "but I did find something on Edward."
"What was it?" Harry asks excitedly.
"It was in the stash of old newspapers from the Daily Prophet. It reads, 'Edward Elric is wanted for the murder of the Auror Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody. Any information regarding his location can and will be rewarded.' Harry, I -"
Harry's mind paused. So it was him. He then shook his head and signalled for her to continue on.
"Well," Hermione started concernedly, "I think Edward may be a Death Eater. Now, wait - hear me out. He somehow shows up out in front of Headquarters, then Professor Dumbledore offers him residency. Professor Dumbledore wouldn't do that without reason, so -"
"- so Professor Dumbledore must suspect him of something," Harry finished for her.
Ron looked amused. If one to ever wonder why, one might just come to the conclusion that a certain short(ish?) blonde was having way too much fun with potions.
(Section Break)
I wonder what kind of machine Winry might like.
Edward strolled through the streets of Scotland in the early morning after the latest full moon, looking for something that might catch his eye.
The stupid gearhead loves automail, so let's see...
If someone had asked him that morning, he could safely say he did not expect anything to come to mind. But, then again, the unexpected always seemed happen to him, didn't it?
And, yes, Edward had money. Transmuting a bit of gold and selling it never hurt anybody, now did it?
(Section Break)
Harry Potter saw the way Alphonse Elric stared at the suits of armour.
It seems almost...nostalgic.
And a bit sad, too.
(Section Break)
One more week. Seven days. One hundred and sixty-eight hours. Ten thousand and eighty minutes. Six hundred and four thousand, eight hundred seconds. I can do this.
Winry paused.
Why do I know how many minutes and seconds are in a week? She shrugged. Whatever.
(Section Break)
"Hey, Al? Do you think we could learn anything here?"
"Maybe, but I think we've exhausted Hogwarts's resources."
"Yeah."
Edward stopped talking for a few seconds, then continued.
"D'ya think we should leave?"
"Yeah. How, though?"
"Full moon. Cheap way out, but who cares. We've got better things to do than sit around here and wait. We need to kill Voldemort."
"You know, Brother, I was thinking about that. If the Truth really wanted to, he could just have killed Voldemort. Why would the Truth send you?"
"'Cause he's a bastard. Either that, or Voldemort's soul wasn't whole enough to be retrieved by the Gate."
"Wasn't there a book on that in Professor Snape's office? Divided souls that make the user 'immortal?'"
"...Damn it."
(Section Break)
Roy looked down at his paperwork.
That woman won't forgive me, but it's necessary.
He snapped his fingers.
I need to get to the library as fast as possible. Something's up. Fullmetal would have contacted us by now.
(Section Break)
Alphonse looked at his hands.
Feeling is still so weird. I wonder if I'll ever get used to it? Even if I do, I...I still...
I still wish that something as trivial as touch wasn't so damned foreign!
(Section Break)
"If he's split his soul up, where would he stash them? It'd have to be in an item powerful enough to hold..."
"Would it be magical?"
"Probably. Voldemort's vain, so something really powerful would have to store his soul."
"Yeah."
"Hey, Al?"
"Hmm?"
"The Room of Requirement that the DA was in..."
"That...is not a half-bad idea, Brother."
"Ha! My ideas are never bad!"
"Lie."
"Come on, Al! That hurt my poor heart."
"At least you've always had -"
"Al."
"- a hea -"
"Al!"
"Let me finish! You always -"
"Al, this isn't the time to fight. Yeah, saying that probably makes me sound like an asshole, but it's true. We can't afford to fight. This country we were thrown into is on the brink of war, Al. If you - we - fought each other, blood would be shed."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologise. You had and always will have the right to hate me. In fact, I don't know why you don't."
"Because you're my brother. You're my family."
"Family, huh?"
"Yes."
"I like how that sounds. Family."
"Let's just go."
"Of course. By the way, how long do you think it'll take us?"
"I'm not sure, but hopefully quickly. From the sound of your deal with the Truth, we have a year from when you first showed up."
"It's March now..."
"Will three and a half months be enough?"
"Plenty. Besides, the bastard's probably gonna show up sometime soon."
"Yeah..."
"Then we can go home, Al!"
Home... We can go home... And, who knows, maybe I can finally taste Mrs. Hughes's cooking.
Yes, home sounds nice.
(Section Break)
"Hermione, why hasn't anyone noticed Ed?" Harry asked.
"Well, that Prophet showed up a little after Christmas," she explained. "If you remember, Edward hasn't shown his face since after we got back."
"Then where is he? Why hasn't Professor Dumbledore done anything?" Harry asked irritably.
Hermione looked thoughtful. "Well, I have heard rumours of random flashes of gold and red out of the corner of people's eyes."
"So he's still here?!" he shouted, abruptly standing up.
"Wait, Harry! We still don't even know if he killed Mad-Eye!"
Harry's face contorted into disbelieving anger, then he stormed off.
He's gonna get himself killed one day, she thought, frowning.
(Section Break)
Dumbledore looked at Dolores Umbridge from the spot where he was nibbling buttered toast.
She'll take action soon. I should get a move on.
(Section Break)
"Our impact on this universe is small, huh?"
"Yeah. We'll be forgotten in two hundred years."
"That a good thing?"
"I have no idea."
"No need to sound so proud, Brother."
"Never mind that. You said Snape has gone into hiding?"
"Yeah. He'll be fine."
"That's good. Evil-looking man, but it's all just old scars."
"Yeah. Say, what are we going to do about Abiit?"
"Take him with us."
"How?"
"Well," Ed smirked, "I was thinking..."
(Section Break)
"Does he wear a mask?"
"Who?"
"Roy."
"I've never seen him wear one, no."
"Metaphorical kind, Brother."
"Probably. Don't we all?"
"I suppose so."
"Doesn't matter much, anyway. He doesn't pry into our business, we don't pry into his."
"Well..."
"Bah."
"Well, I'm tired. 'Night, Brother."
"'Night, Al."
(Section Break)
"But why?"
"Al, it's more humane to use their souls than to make them live in the Philosopher's Stone for eternity."
"Where we even get one?"
"Voldemort."
"Why would he have one?"
"He doesn't. The souls in his wand's memories are plenty."
"Will that work?"
"We can hope."
(Section Break)
Roy glared at Izumi irritatedly.
"Look," he requested, "try to see it how I do."
"How can I?" she snarled. "The idiot's gone missing. It's the military's fault."
"It was Edward's choice to activate that Transmutation Circle, not the military's," he sighed exasperatedly. "If the shrimp was thinking clearly, he'd know that he was going to see the Truth. He'd also know that he probably couldn't come back. What confuses me is why Fullmetal's brother isn't here. He exchanged something for my eyesight and your internal organs, but at what cost?"
"The Truth probably didn't allow Alphonse to be brought back. Call him selfish, but he'd rather have his brother alive than our well-being," Izumi conceded, agreeing. "He wouldn't allow his sacrifice to be in vain, so got something out of it. But what of the Stone?"
"I'm not sure. My calculations are nearly complete, so we'll be able to bypass the Gate soon. Just in case, I'll take some of the incomplete Stones. Using them is better for the people inside, anyway. There's no way to send them to peace, and they're suffering." Roy smirked bittersweetly. "Stupid kid," he mumbled. "Must I always hold your hand?"
"Edward's strong," Izumi disagreed. "He may be a fool, but he isn't stupid."
"Be that as it may, he's still missing. I'll alert Miss Rockbell of my progress. Good day."
"Yeah. Good day."
(Section Break)
Something of equal value...
According to Edward's failure, a limb is worth a soul. Each of us would be nearly fifty, if transporting our bodies and provisions. One hundred and fifty innocent souls, gone. I suppose it's best. But is it worth it...?
Probably. Shorty's worth it, according to anybody he's saved. I best get going, then. I only need to get Miss Rockbell and Mrs. Curtis, as well as drawing the actual Transmutation Circle. The two of us should be able to power it.
Roy looked up at the ceiling of the room. A few cracks and plain white; boring yet fully functional. Averting his eyes, a stray mark on the bookshelf caught his eye.
Funny, he mused, my observations model Amestris. Boring, powerful, and a few errors. Maybe I'm just over-thinking it.
Or maybe some higher force likes screwing with me. Wouldn't be the first time.
(Section Break)
"Are we really ready?"
"One more day."
"Good."
(Section Break)
Molten-gold eyes pored over the book.
"Hey, Al!" he called from the corner of the Room of Requirement. "Look at this!"
"What?" Alphonse asked, trotting up to Edward's side.
"A cup, a diadem, a locket, a ring. More specifically, Hufflepuff's Cup, Ravenclaw's Diadem, Slytherin's Locket and Ring. Their locations are all unknown."
"But that's what they look like?"
"Must be. Could be more than just these, though."
"Yeah."
"How do we tell?"
"Nothing of Gryffindor's."
"He had a sword, right?"
"No playing with weapons, Brother."
"You're no fun!"
Alphonse laughed lightly. "You always get hurt, though."
"Heh. I do."
Edward looked over at their beds and provisions.
"Brother?"
"Ah, nothing. Just wondering if deciding to stay was a good idea."
"Staying will make it easier. You know that."
Edward nods. "Yeah..."
"Say," Al said, "we haven't seen them in a while."
"Who's they?" Ed asks, putting the book down and looking at Alphonse.
"Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I wonder when they'll find us and blame you for Mr. Moody's death."
"Doesn't matter," Edward dismissed, resting a hand on his knee and leaning against the wall. "Voldemort's trying to force me out of hiding."
"What will we do?"
"Who knows?"
Edward closed his eyes and tilted his head back, his golden bangs falling over his face.
"I miss home, Brother."
"Well, hopefully Mustang comes soon."
"Think he will?"
"He has to."
Exactly forty-one days later, Roy Mustang stumbled out of a forest, a scowl adorning his face and dirt upon his clothes. Not that they knew that at the time.
(Section Break)
"We can't idly stand by any more, Al."
"It's time?"
"Yeah. We already gathered the Diadem, so let's go."
"I still can't believe Voldemort would hide it in that room..."
"Doesn't matter much. We can't destroy it anyway. Our alchemy rebounded, remember?"
"That hurt. A lot."
"Yup. Let's get the Cup next. I heard that the LeStrange vault was recently deposited in. Strange name, LeStrange."
"Very funny, Brother. But why would it be there?"
"The heiress of the LeStranges is a Death Eater. Plus, that vault has been inactive for a long while."
"Should we leave a note for them, for when they arrive?"
"Good idea. The full moon is tomorrow. We'll sneak out then."
"I'll start packing. Want me to go to the kitchens?"
"Yes, please."
"Okay. See you later."
"See you then."
(Section Break)
Harry looked out of the window next to his bed.
Is that someone outside? he wondered. Might as well check it out; I won't be able to sleep, anyway.
Pulling on the Invisibility Cloak, he slowly treads down the stairwell and opens the Portrait Hole.
(Section Break)
"Brother, somebody's coming."
"Crap. Quick, go into the forest!"
"Magic."
"Oh, yeah..." Edward waved his wand, letting a camouflage fall upon them. "Magic tingles."
"Shh, he'll hear us."
"Yeah, yeah," Ed grumbled. Looking out by the castle, he noticed rapidly approaching footprints on the damp grass. Is that them? he wonders.
The footprints stopped abruptly and Edward heard shuffling of cloth. He nearly made a sound when Harry appeared out of nowhere.
"Hello?" the Boy-Who-Lived called. Edward grasps Alphonse's arm and slowly began to back off. Harry spun to their direction.
"I know you're there," he bluffed. Ed shook his head.
"It's rude, you know, to follow people," he replied in a thick and fake British accent. "You should leave."
"Like hell," Harry mumbled, pulling out his wand. "Where are you?"
"Doesn't matter. We're leaving, anyway. C'mon, A...Alex."
Alex? Harry thinks.
"Of course, Eric."
These are Muggle names... Well, not common names of purebloods, anyway. Harry shook off his inner ramblings, pointing his wand at he voices.
"Show ourselves?" "Eric" asked. "No thanks."
Harry vaguely noticed the blue light coming for him, a clap resonating inside of his mind.
"See you never, Harry Potter."
Blackness overtook Harry as he was slowly submerged into the ground, only room for breathing.
"Eric? Really, Al?"
"You called me Alex, Brother."
"So?" Edward waved a hand, "let's just go."
Al looked faintly amused. "Sure thing, Eric."
Edward glared at him.
Al laughed.
(Section Break)
"Excuse me?" Winry asked.
"Yes?"
"You said something was wrong, right?"
"Yeah."
"What's wrong, exactly?"
"Well," Roy sighed, "Fullmetal should have given us some kind of signal or sign of his well-being."
"Maybe Edward's just busy, or can't," Winry suggested.
"Even so," Roy replied tediously, "I can't very well spend the whole time looking for him."
"Isn't there something you can do?" she questioned. "Like some kind of equation or something?"
"If there was, do you really think I'd still be sitting here?"
"Well," Winry said, "it's our best shot, you know. And I doubt anyone would forgive you for just giving up on him!"
"It's not like I want to," he replied angrily.
"Then do something!" she yelled. "You shouldn't just stand around here like a lost child! Unlike me, you're an alchemist! You can actually figure this kind of thing out! Meanwhile, I'm just waiting here in Central for you to draw this damn circle!"
Roy glared at her. "If I could, I would, damn it! I don't want Fullmetal to be missing, either! So calm down, I'll figure something out!"
"You better!" she threatened, slamming the door after walking out of the room.
Roy sighed. But what can I do? It's not like there's something I can add to the circle that would pinpoint Fullmetal's location. He pauses. Maybe there is, actually...
(Section Break)
"Geez," Edward mumbled, "that was a lot of work, getting through that forest."
"Yeah," Al panted. "I'm glad we brought along food. But where do we go now?"
"Well, Gringotts. How to get over to Diagon Alley, I'm not sure."
"That's where the Cup is?"
"Yeah. I forgot you never went there."
"That's where you got Abiit, too," Al commented, pulling his kitten out of his backpack.
Edward stared. "You actually brought Abiit along? I was just going to come back for him..."
"Of course I did!" Al replied indignantly. "Who would take care of him otherwise?"
Ed scratched his head. "I didn't think of that..."
"You never do, Brother," Alphonse sighed.
Edward pouted while Alphonse just laughed.
(Section Break)
"So we need to follow the railroad?" Al asked.
"Yeah. Be careful, though. We don't know the train's schedule."
"This train leads to Hogsmeade, right? So I suppose it's a once-a-day train..."
"I just hope it doesn't plan on coming down the rails while we're on them."
"It probably will now that you've said that, you know."
Edward looked back in the direction of Hogsmeade. "Did you hear that just now?"
"Don't try to freak me out, Brother."
"No, I'm serious. Did you? It sounded like -"
His sentence was interrupted by the low rumbling of a train.
"Of course," Edward says sarcastically. "Just my luck!"
"I warned you," Alphonse replied shakily, beginning to run.
"Don't warn me next time! It's bad luck for me!" Edward shouted over the sound. "Anyway, we need to get off the bridge!"
"Should we try going underneath it?" Al suggested.
"We don't have much other choice, now do we?"
"On the count of three, jump! One, two, three!"
So they jumped.
(Section Break)
Wooah, that one took a while. I'm very sorry for the wait. School's having a lot of fun giving me projects to do since it's a week before winter break.
Kind of long due to all the dialogue. My apologies.
If you review, virtual cookies. If not, that's fine too. As long as you like the story, everything's all good!
Shameless advertising: If you're a fan of Fullmetal Alchemist and Naruto crossovers, I have a story called The Everlasting Sins. I also have a Naruto one-shot called A Way to Win, if anyone's interested.