Hey! Chapter 3. I honestly didn't think I would get this out during the week. I thought it would be the weekend before I got anything else out, but I really want to get these beginning parts out of the way, so I can get into the really good stuff I'm messing around with in my head **grins**. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: don't own FMA or HP.
Hagrid didn't know how to easily approach the grisly subject of the death of Ed and Al's parents. He first approached the bar and asked the man behind it for a more private setting. They were led to a back room with a couple of chairs and an unlit fireplace. The two boys sat down in two of the worn chairs as Hagrid sat across from them on a couch.
"Well, out with it! If you are just yanking our chains then save it and we're leaving." Ed said, still skeptical of the whole situation.
"Hold on, Ed! I want to hear the truth. I think we can trust him, right?" Al said giving Hagrid a questioning look.
"What use is it to ask HIM if he's trustworthy? It's not like he'll say no, Al." Ed said rolling his eyes.
Hagrid spoke up, "You two can trust me. I knew your parents and I really do work for Hogwarts. It's just hard to tell you, what really happened. I mean it's hard to believe you didn't know. Your parents…were murdured."
"Murdered!? By who? Why? Who would kill them?" Al asked frantically. Ed just gave a blank look, his thoughts still thoroughly hidden behind his golden eyes.
"They were killed by… well…V…Voldemort." Hagrid said apprehensively. "He was a bad wizard. He was as dark as they come, and well, 11 years ago he was trying to gather followers and eliminate those in his way. Your parents…well they got in his way and he killed them."
"So you're saying this 'Voldemort' guy killed our parents because they stopped him from creating his own little club of cronies?" Ed said dubiously while Hagrid flinched when he said the name.
"We don't usually say his name. People refer to him as 'He Who Must Not Be Named', and there is a little more to it than that. 'He Who Must Not Be Named' wanted to take over the wizarding world an' get rid of those who possessed mixed blood. You-Know-Who wanted to kill those with muggle, or non-magic, blood in their family. He gained many supporters and it was a time of great fear and peril. He was slowly becomin' more powerful until he decided t' kill your parents. They were good wizards but they were also trying to protect you. They gave their lives for you. When he went to kill the two of yeh, he lost all of his power and disappeared." Harid finished.
"That's a load of bull-crap. We were just babies, how would we stop some crazed killer?" Ed asked.
"It's still unknown. That's why you are famous!" Hagrid told them.
"Mom….Dad…." Al said in an almost whisper, a look of sorrow washing across his face.
"C'mon, Al. Let's go." Ed said getting up from the table.
"Where are you boys going?" Hagrid asked.
"None of your business."
"Dumbledore sent me 'ere. I'm pretty sure he knew you was gunna be here." Hagrid told them. "I think you boys are here without yer relatives, am I right? Where do you two plan on stayin'?"
"Ah, well…."Ed began hesitantly.
"That's what I thought. Well then you two should come with me." Hagrid said.
"No way," Ed declared adamantly.
"But Ed, we don't have anywhere to go! Weren't we going to go to Hogwarts anyway? We can go with Hagrid." Al said sensibly.
"I uh…well…" Ed scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I wasn't really planning on going to Hogwarts."
"ED! You mean you were tricking me? You wanted to really run away? Where would we go besides the school?" Al demanded.
Ed bowed his head guiltily. He hated it when his plans didn't pan out the way he wanted. He hated it even more when his brother got mad at him for doing things behind his back. "Fine. I'll go."
"Well now that that's settled, I guess we should get going." Hagrid said a little more cheerfully.
"Where are we going?" Al said brightly.
"London," was Hagrid's simple reply. He walked over to the fireplace and pulled out a small bag. "Do exactly as I do. Take a fistful of floo powder, throw it at your feet an' say, 'Leaky Cauldron' real clearly. You go first, Al."
With that, Al stepped forward with his suitcase, took a fistful and threw it into the fireplace he was standing in while saying, "The Leaky Cauldron." Flames engulfed his body and disappeared up the chimney.
When Ed saw this, he flipped. "What just happened? Where's Al? What did you do to him?" Ed said angrily. He walked up to Hagrid, completely unfazed by the great difference in their statures with the full intention of beating him to a pulp.
"Hold on a second there, Ed." Hagrid said holding the boy at bay with his oversized hands. "Your brother is fine. He is now at the Leaky Cauldron. Don't you want to join him? He' s probly 'right confused there all by himself."
Ed gave Hagrid a mixed look of doubt and confusion. "This is…what magic does? He's now somewhere else?" Ed now looked extremely intrigued as if he wanted to find out all of the secrets behind what had just unfolded in front of his eyes. He believed Hagrid's words mostly because, although Ed didn't trust others easily, Hagrid gave off a general feeling of goodwill and honesty. "Fine." Was all Ed said as he stepped up to the fire place with a handful of the powder from the bag. He said, "Leaky Cauldron" and threw the powder to his feet. He watched as flames began to engulf him before he felt himself and his suitcase being hurled upwards until he came crashing down into another fireplace.
"AL!" Ed shouted as he saw his brother's face.
"Ed! That was magic! It was amazing!" Al said excitedly.
Hagrid appeared in the fireplace a few seconds later and walked over to the boys. "It's a good thing that the 'Cauldron has a large fireplace, else I wouldn't fit." He said to them with a big smile.
"What is this place?" Al asked looking around at the people dressed in dark colored cloaks clustered around tables.
"It's another wizard place. It's an inn." Hagrid told them. He walked up to the bar and asked the man behind the counter something. The man looked over at them, a little surprised. He then handed Hagrid something and went back to helping his customers. It seemed that Hagrid had told him who the brothers were but asked for it to be kept on the down low. He led them upstairs and down a creaky hallway where strange noises could be heard from some of the doors they passed by. Hagrid stopped at a door near the end of the hall.
"You two can stay here tonight. I've arranged it so that meals with be brought up to you. I'll be back tomorrow. Welcome to London!" He said before leaving them in the room.
Ed walked over and placed his suitcase on the squeaking queen-sized bed. He then sprawled out on one side of it. Al walked over to the other side and lay down next to Ed.
"What do you think about what Hagrid told us?" Al finally asked, looking up at the ceiling.
"I don't know," Ed replied honestly. "I want to say that he's lying, but I think he could be telling the truth."
"I think he's telling the truth. No matter how much I wish it wasn't true." Al said. "Our parent's being murdered…I just don't want to believe it." They had never known very much about their parents so anything they learned about them they held very close. Al closed his eyes and a small tear trickled down his cheek.
"It's okay Al. We don't need parents. You've got me, don't you?" Ed said a little awkwardly, trying to comfort his brother.
"Yeah, that is one thing that won't ever change."
Awww… I love Ed and Al's brotherly love.
When I start getting more time on my hands, I'll write longer chapters, but right now I try to at least make them over 1,000 words.
