(3/22/14)
To my surprise, I'm updating two days after the last one?! Call it my apology for not for like 10 months XD I TOLD YOU I WOULDN'T GIVE UP! It's short, but this is only TWO DAYS LATER, so what do you expect? There's a bit of a surprise at the end of this, one I bet NONE OF YOU SAW COMING! MWAHAHA~ Also, if any of you thing Ed's house is totally over the top, just remember all of the stuff he transmuted (Like *spoiler* the purple craaazy car when he and he two chimera were on the run) So...please PLEASE review! If you do, I might be able to get out another chapter by next weekend XD So, please please PLEASE REVIEW. I AM BEGGING YOU! Sayonara!
***NOTE: I don't know if I mentioned this, but Harry won't be making an appearance for quite a while. It will be several more chapters before Ed ever arrives at Hogwarts, sorry! But I will say this: one member of The Golden Trio will make an appearance within the next few chapters! Try and guess how they'll meet!****
Edward stared at the new cabin proudly, watching the blue transmutation sparks fizzle away and die off. Not wanting to call attention to his lack of papers by renting an apartment or boarding in a hotel, he decided to make a house in a secluded, closed off nature preserve. It was off in the countryside, several hours' travel from London and towards the North Sea. The nearest train station or town was miles off, but a little running never killed anybody, right? This way, he could have the necessary privacy to avoid nosy neighbors and hide his transmutations.
Stepping inside, he was pleased to note that his studies of architecture, plumbing, and electricity had paid off. He had made a water mill earlier to get the power from, and hours of planning had gone into a septic system. No way was the Fullmetal Alchemist using an outhouse! Channeling the river over a mile had been basic work, and the water mill was easy, but wires were another matter. To understand the way they all laced throughout the house, how each and every one needed to be connected, took tremendous effort. Photographic memory really kicked in at times like this, and as he flicked on a light switch, he was happy that he had studies the workings of electricity so much back in Amestris. When transmuting a house, there was a high chance that he or Alphonse would mess up the wiring, so Izumi had made the two memorize the blueprints of her own home. Alphonse….
Ed shook the memory away, moving to flick on a light switch. The bulb flickered for a moment before illuminating the room, and the blond took in his handy-work. An intricate, Gothic fireplace overlooked two ornate chairs with snarling chimera carved into the armrests. The room was a vivid blast of crimson and onyx, and gold molding framed the door to the next room. On the far side of the room, a bookshelf with two majestic dragons took up the majority of the wall. The door handle to the next room was a golden skull with red, glinting eyes. (If nothing else, his fashion sense certainly hadn't changed.)
He passed through the kitchen without much of a glance; cooking was always Al's thing. To have Ed describe all of the flavors and tastes he took for granted; to listen, enraptured to every word: this had been their ritual at every dinner for years. Food was one of the things Alphonse missed most, and he lived his meals through his brother. When he had gotten his body back, he had been so disappointed that he needed to live off of a tube for months. His first real meal, he had eaten himself sick—quite literally. Heart aching from the memories, Edward collapsed in his bed.
Edward huffed as he boarded the train yet again; it had been nearly a week of searching for this "Leaky Cauldron" that Alfons had mentioned, yet when he had arrived there, he was shut out. Ed wasn't surprised, not really—to conceal themselves from 'muggles' for so many years, they would have had to become quite reclusive. His mind flashed back to the scene in the bar earlier.
The faint tinkling of a bell sent a ripple of silence through the bar. All eyes turned to Edward as he closed the door behind him. Suspicious, the group seemed to edge away from the boy as he walked up to the counter. He noted with an inward chuckle that everyone was dressed in the same fashion he remembered: long, flowing cloaks, preposterously pointy hats. Scoffing, he pulled himself up to sit on the bar stool. A haggard old man leaned over the counter, bald head shining and yellowed teeth bared in a smile. "What can I do for ya, chap?"
Ed leaned forward as well, elbows resting on the stained counter-top. "I'd like a glass of water please, and a few answers as well." He said, digging out his wallet. The man's eyes locked onto it, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"And, how much would this information be worth to ya chap?" He asked, eyes glued to Edward's hands.
"Depends on who's answering. Are you Tom?"
The man licked his lips. "Depends on who's asking. Haven't seen you 'round these parts before. Which school do ya go to? Surely not Hogwarts; I'd have seen ya going to Diagon Alley then." Suddenly, the man stiffened, leaning back from the counter-top. "Bloody 'ell! You shouldn't be here…your kind aren't welcome."
Edward frowned as he pushed the bills across the counter-top. "What do you mean, 'your kind'?" He asked, feeling a tick of frustration. "I'm a normal fellow, just like you."
The man shook his head, pushing the money back towards Edward. "I won't be having any of your muggle money. Go, go!" At the word muggle, the air stilled and everyone froze. Ed realized that any chance of information he had was gone, and snatched back his money with a growl. Turning, he stomped back out and slammed the door behind him.
Edward sighed in frustration, head pressed against the glass as he watched the trees pass by in a blur. If the rest of the wizard community shut him out this quickly, he doubted he would have an easy time at this. Perhaps he should call Alfons when he got home, ask for some advice….
When the train pulled into the station, he grabbed his coat and stepped off. The station seemed mostly empty, aside from a solitary black dog panting in the shade. It seemed to follow him with its dark, soulful eyes, eyes that seemed almost human… Ed shook away the thought, breaking out into a light jog. It was still quite a ways till he got home, and the exercise might help him clear his head. Every now and then though, he caught a glimpse of a shadow out of the corner of his eyes. Whenever he turned though, he was met with nothing but trees. I'm losing my mind… He thought, but he still couldn't shake the feeling something was following him.
Once Ed could see his cabin in the distance, he slowed down to a walk. His mind was racing, caught up in the day's events. Dear Gate, I need a cup of coffee he moaned internally, hand flailing blindly for the light switch. Suddenly, he froze, pressing his hands together. There was a pregnant pause, before he heard it again: a faint creak. Stalking forward silently, he transmuted his automail into that familiar blade. He waited quietly by the door to the next room until he heard it again.
Kicking down the door, Ed darted forwards to attack the silhouette crouched by his bed. The figure gave a cry of alarm, and in a moment, the blond had him pinned to the floor. The man tried to reach for something—a stick?—but Edward quickly kicked it away. The man's struggles were weak; he seemed frail and malnourished underneath Ed's own stocky, muscular build. "If you're going to kill me, make it quick!" He rasped, eyes fierce and bright.
Ed growled, pressing his blade against the man's throat, but he felt a flash of respect. It took guts for someone to face death with his head held high. Even so, this man was an intruder, albeit not a very dangerous one. "Who are you?!" Edward snarled, pushing the automail against the man's washed out skin and drawing a thin line of blood. "Why the hell are you here?!"
The man glared up at him, ceasing his struggles. "My name is Sirius Black, and I'm trying to go home."
Oh, and I forgot to add two translations in the last chapter:
Saukerl: German curse towards males, translating roughly to bastard. 'Sau' meaning pig, so you get the idea
**pronounced "sow-kairl**
Arschloch: Ass-hole. Gender-neutral
***I haven't used this one yet, but if I do, here's the translation:***
Saumensch: German curse towards females, I suppose it can be taken as bitch? 'Sau' meaning pig, pretty much the femenine equivalent to Saukerl
All of these curses and translations were taken from the Book Thief, written by Markus Zusak. Great book, I highly recommend you read it.