A/N: This chapter has major 'I-will-show-you-true-alchemy' feels on my part and a tender Mustang moment. I don't know if people appreciate the pair, but, I honestly adore my character's ship with Roy because of the entire Teacher/Student feels to it. xD demented author there
Now, I would like to thank the following:
n1ghtdr34m3r – once again, your uncanny ability to guess almost quite accurately is astounding. I admire your ability in doing so. You astound me with your ability to pay attention to even the tiniest detail.
My dear friend since I was in third year high school, Champ Elorde, who gave the idea and condemned me to writing this with gusto, encouraging me to pursue my writing, and telling me that my ideas are so amazing even when they pop out right on the spot of discussion. You go, bro~ And, yes, we'll still do the Lucifer thing with the future generation of the Harry Potter characters. once again, his idea, not mine, although, I would prefer adding Constantine for the lelz, too~
Now, Knights of the Round table *insert Monty Python song here*, let's go~
R&R please!
Chapter 04:
"In accordance to the law of equivalent exchange, something must be paid to get something else in return, just like how barter and trade commenced years ago. Now, who can tell me what relationship is this barter and trade I'm speaking of?"
Wille raised her hand with utter boredom while staring at the heavy clouds outside of the classroom.
"Yes, Ms. Laire?" Mustang spoke expectantly.
"Barter and trade is a method in which economical standards were set before coins even existed. One object is substituted for another, such as how a chicken from your farm could be used to buy three cloths to warm you at night.
"Just like in Alchemy, substituting an atom for the other is necessary. You convert or remake something, turning the particles into something else, thus, substituting the particles into whatever you want to form."
Though Alchemy was mostly taking in the sixth and seventh years, Wille knew her way around Alchemy despite her age gap with the students. Her previous knowledge of the subject was one of the reasons she managed to scrape a lot of scores, despite it being supposedly compulsory in first year.
So were Ginny, Louisa, Sonata and Colin Creevey. They were exceptional students given privilege.
"An excellent performance there," Mustang smiled. "Ten points for Hufflepuff. Ms. Laire is correct. You see, transmuting something into another form is a way of trading this object for something else. Mr. Elric here," he gestured to Edward beside him, "will demonstrate, seeing how we are about to enter the more difficult theories."
As Edward positioned himself with a confidence Wille always saw in him, Mustang went on explaining, "You see, what we're about to show you requires a great deal of mental strength." Mustang proceeded to whisper something in Edward's ear. In turn, the short blonde narrowed his eyes but nodded in agreement.
Edward walked towards the blackboard. He took one of the unused chalks and started drawing a circle on the ground, followed by symbols and words that Wille recognized easily.
But, why would Ed need a transmutation circle? He already saw the Gate.
It didn't make sense to Wille at all.
When all was done, Edward clapped his hands together once, and placed them quickly on the ground. The flash of a bright neon blue light engulfed them, then slowly receded to reveal the classroom floor slowly rising from the ground into small stacks on Edward's hands. Though everything else was unaffected, where Edward stood, a small hole was beginning to form.
Small gasps escaped from the class, including Ginny.
"How did he do that?" she asked.
"Alchemy," Wille whispered back.
The moment the spell was done, the tiles merged and transformed into a sword she recognized as –
"That's Godric Gryffindor's sword," a Gryffindor spoke accusingly.
"A replica," Edward said with a grin, and then frowned, "But, it doesn't seem to be that much of a heavy weight." He started swinging the weapon, much to everyone's surprise.
"That's one decent replica, though," Ginny commended.
There was awe in her voice. She would say the same for herself, but, she was still trying to figure out why he used a transmutation circle.
She turned her attention towards Mustang. Making sure her stare was intentional, the colonel quickly noticed the stare and turned to face her. Her expression spoke of wanting an explanation whilst Mustang gave her a 'later' expression.
Oh, she was so going to look forward to an explanation later.
"Now, I want you to all settle down," Mustang instructed.
Everyone scattered back to their seats. The class quieted soon.
"Who can tell me what Mr. Elric did?"
Lots of hands were raised. The colonel turned all over and picked Louisa.
"He created a sword out of the floor," she replied smartly.
Mustang nodded. "Yes, but, there was something else he did. He created the sword," he went on, a passionate expression on his face, "but, what did he do?"
Creating the sword by summoning power from the Gate, duh.
Ginny raised her hand.
"Yes, Ms. Weasley?"
"A circle, sir," Ginny said. "Mr. Elric created a circle with elements and symbols written along the lines on the ground where the sword appeared from."
"Excellent! Ten points for Gryffindor!" Mustang nodded. "Yes, that was what we call a transmutation circle." Mustang was about to continue speaking when the bell signaling for the end of the lesson rang, signaling their dismissal.
"Now, everyone, I want you all to research about transmutation circles, which would be discussed the following meeting. I also want to one-foot parchment written report on the symbols used in alchemy to be handed in next week."
Patiently, she waited until the last student left. As quick as a fly, she cornered the already leaving Mustang.
"You made Ed create a transmutation circle. Why?" She went to grab his hand while they moved along, Wille hobbling in the process.
The two walked in sync in quick footsteps.
"Would you be happy for your classmates to find out that there are methods of summoning and creating objects via forbidden route that they may never survive in, sacrificing their future in the process?"
The two of them paused for the moment.
Wille's eyes widened.
Mustang drew a smug smirk. "Thought so."
"You were protecting them from the knowledge," she whispered. There was awe in her, and she successfully hid her awe with surprise.
"Look, Lark," Mustang whispered softly, "I might be a soldier, but, in the classroom, I am but a teacher. You see, school is like a battlefield, involving the teacher protecting the children. The only difference is that these children around here are still innocent of the dangers outside of the school. They have not seen what we have, and I would like to give them a peace of mind until the right time."
"I see," Wille just nodded, feeling ashamed for questioning his agenda.
Turning around, she was about to vacate his presence when she felt a gentle tugging at her arm. She faced Mustang, whose face softened to the point she barely recognized him.
"I also did it to protect you," he smiled sadly.
She instantly recoiled. "I don't need your protection. I'm not a kid anymore."
"You're thirteen, short stuff," Mustang turned playful instantly, ruffling her already messy hair while inside, Wille could picture a Japanese cartoon version of herself raising a fist.
I will kill him! He will die! He will burn in his own fire!
Of course, she didn't say that out loud.
Leaving him in her semi-fury, she could have sworn he whispered, "And I'll do right by you this time."
That last phrase, which she thought she was not meant to hear, bothered her.
Does he think that it was his fault why she ended up being bitter with life? Surely hope not. She was already bitter the moment her parents died. The incident with her trying to revive them worsened it the way being shipped off to the aunt that didn't care for her did.
Because of how the events turned out to be, she was under the weather until she arrived at the lunch table, where Hermione was looking pissed off.
"What crawled up your ass?" Wille smirked.
"Waibery," Ron said through his mouthful.
Harry looked at Ron in confusion.
Wille, who mostly acted that way, understood his words perfectly after what she considered years of 'awesome practice'.
"What's wrong with the library?" she asked slowly, knowing it couldn't be good if Hermione was acting like the way she was.
"Krum's fangirls," she huffed. "Honestly, I've been trying to study, and he comes and barges into the place. Next thing you know, his fangirls follow, giggling and squealing, breaking the peace in the library." She let out another huff that made Wille smile wryly.
"Well," she shrugged at the others, "Hermione does get it off at the library."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked indignantly.
Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Hermione. I'm sure that Wille meant that she understood why you need the peace and quiet around the library."
"What he said," Wille amended, sitting beside Ron.
Ron gulped his sausages loudly, saying, "Well, it can't be helped. He's one awesome Seeker. Frankly, I would have done the same thing if my schedule's not that full." He licked his fingers and proceeded to attack the chicken.
Wille dug her own food, following Ron's example.
"I swear," Hermione groaned, "you two seemed more related than Ginny is to him."
"Complement," Ron and Wille said together, their mouths sounding like, "Compermint."
Harry just laughed.
"Hey, Harry," the Fred and George called out all of sudden.
"Wanna go check the Quidditch field for some time?" George asked.
"I'll go get my gear," Harry nodded.
"May I go with you guys?" Wille asked shyly.
"Of course," Harry smiled. "If you want, you could also try catching some wind, too."
Wille shook her head. "I'll always be a spectator." Because she also hated heights.
"Or," Fred interrupted, "we could do some engorgement charm on your bad leg. What say you, hmmm?" He waved his wand surreptitiously.
Wille instantly backed away. "I'll pass," she said hastily, knowing whatever the twins were up to were no good. She would recognize the glint in their eyes, and it was scarier than Snape sending her chocolates for Christmas, which would definitely never happen.
She still followed them to the cold field.
Now, what she admired about Harry is his skill in the Quidditch field. Played with seven players, there were three chasers, the people who were allowed to score goal on three ringed hoops using a big ball casted with a floating and lightweight charm called Quaffle; two beaters, who were tasked to protect the team from the Bludgers, or what she would call the overly excited spawns of sugar-eating circular candies spelled to beat up random players on the field; a keeper, or the one who who's in charge of protecting the goal posts from the opposing team, and a seeker, who was tasked to locate and capture a fist-sized ball of gold with wings.
Harry was the seeker to the Weasley twins' beaters.
Harry positioned himself, the broom between his legs. With a kick start, his Firebolt, the fastest broom yet, flew faster than the twins'. He shot like the bolt of lightning that marred his handsome face.
"So graceful," she sighed.
She wished she could be as smart as Hermione, as good as Ron and as brave as Harry, but, she knew her strength lied in Alchemy. As much as she wanted to show it off, she knew that there would be deprecations to her actions. If she did use her Alchemy, her alias should be truly revealed.
I'm afraid of being turned away for the sins I have done…
For a few hours, they flew all over the field. Pretty soon, Wille had to leave to her next class.
"I'll go ahead," she told her friends.
Charms. It was the one class she enjoyed the most. Casting spells to levitate, open locked doors and all, it was one of the few classes she excelled in.
And, it was one of the classes Draco Malfoy was in.
Fear, excitement and nervousness were rolled in one.
"You look winded, Wille," Sonata said the moment she entered the Charms classroom.
She panted lightly, "I was with Harry and the others. They were taking turns on the field."
"Yes, yes," Louisa said flippantly, "we know how the golden boy can score on the field. Goes to show how they're running the Quidditch cup in years since he's joined."
"You're just bitter because you can't seem to do better in the last game," Sonata replied airily. There was a hint of a sneer, but Sonata covered it with a sing-song voice.
Louisa and Sonata exchanged batters, and Wille knew why.
Louisa was one of the chasers for Diggory's team. Diggory was a seeker, and Louisa harbored a secret crush that went bitter when he started dating Cho Chang, Ravenclaw's seeker, a Chinese girl with long black hair and chinky eyes. Though, she still supports her team, she grudgingly does so.
"Still trying for the best Squib of the year for trying, Laire?" Draco's voice sneered behind the three.
Louisa jumped to her defense instantly. "Leave her alone, Malfoy."
Draco's steely gaze turned to Louisa. "Why should I, half-blood? She's so pathetic that she doesn't deserve to fall so gracefully, not that there's anything about her that's graceful."
"Leave her alone," Sonata shot up.
Draco turned to sneer at her. "You should go back to your pathetic Asian country, Takara. Why, I even wonder why Hogwarts accepted you. This is the land of the white, not…" he scanned her body up and down, "of disgusting yellow."
"Guys, stop," Wille sighed. "He's not worth it."
She heard Draco snicker, "Mudblood," which was the wrong thing to do.
Wille stood up, surprising all of them sans the classmates.
"I might be a decrepit little Muggleborn," she hissed, "but, at least I have my morals in respecting others, even those who don't need to be respected, especially little snubs like you."
She could feel it. The call to use Alchemy was at its zenith. The power of the cursed Gate flowed into her soul, calling for a release. It wanted to be used. After years of suppression, she didn't want it to be denied.
She raised her hand and let it fall onto the table. The table rose, quickly forming shape in lightning and dust. The fist-like figure that rose went for Draco's face, causing him to topple over in pain.
"You broke my nose!" he whined while the other two were panicking.
Now, the class's attention was on them. Discreetly, she tapped the table, returning it to normal.
"What's going on here?" Professor Flitwick's voice rang through the chaos.
"Malfoy was insulting Laire, Professor," Sonata chimed in instantly before anyone could. "He also tried to manhandle her, but, she defended herself. He fell of his own accord."
Now, Sonata was a petite little thing, but her glare could do wonders, especially when she threw them threateningly at Crabbe and Goyle to try and say so otherwise. It was very discreet that only the Slytherins, Sonata, Louisa and Wille, knew of this.
"Oh, well," Professor FLitwick squeaked, "send him off to the hospital, the lot of you."
Crabbe and Goyle lifted Draco on his limbs, carrying him off to Madame Pomfrey, the school's healer while Sonata, Wille and Louisa snickered silently at their triumph against the Slytherins.
"How did you do that?" Louisa asked with wonder in a whisper as the three took their seats.
"Alchemy," Wille replied in the same fashion.
"There was no circle," Sonata frowned.
Wille just kept her mouth shut. She did not elaborate why she could do what she could. She decided to let them speculate about what happened.
During their last class, a commotion erupted all over. Louisa, Wille and Sonata were pulled by other Hufflepuffs, saying, "Diggory's going to try in for the tournament!" and, it hastened their pace.
Soaked to the bone from the dreary skies, everyone gathered in the great hall. There, Cedric was dragged by his friends towards the Triwzard Cup located at the center of the hall. It was a plain clay mold around Wille's height. There was fire of light azure glowing from within it and a circle surrounding the cup that determines the person's age. Those below sixth year were not allowed, and the silvery blue circle would determine that.
She looked around, watching everyone. Spotting Ron and Harry, she headed towards them, exchanging greetings. Hermione was sitting on one of the benches for those who wanted to watch, reading her books as usual.
"Heard Fred and George entering," Wille said.
Ron nodded eagerly. "Genius, really. An aging potion?"
"Reckon it'll backfire?" Harry asked.
Wille nodded. "Probably. Potions are tricky."
"From experience?" Ron grinned.
Wille blushed, her cheeks as red as Ron's hair.
"You trying in, Harry?" she joked. It was no secret in the school that, for some strange reason, their group always ended up with the adventures that required, much to Hermione's opinion and exasperation, breaking tons of the school's rules.
Harry snorted. "Rather you than me."
"That's not happening with her leg," Ron chortled, earning a, "Hey!" from her.
The room erupted in the sound of claps as Cedric dropped his name into the Cup. Harry and Ron did so, too, followed by a nonchalant Wille. She really didn't care about the tournament as long as she gets fed despite the amount of coins given as a prize.
"Woohoo~!"
Fred and George Weasley barged in, in their hands, a small vial.
"Oh, snap," Wille muttered.
Hermione was serious about it.
Looking around, Sonata sighed with utter bliss on her face while Louisa looked skeptical.
"What are they planning?" Louisa asked.
Wille shook her head while Sonata sighed, "I'll go ask them."
Before Wille could say anything to stop her, Sonata already went for the twins, who were busy explaining their concoction to everyone who was interested.
A/N: So…can my fellow readers suggest a ship name? I'm going with the following –
DunkStang
RoyArk
ColonelMidget
SirBrat
WilleStang
Just give me a comment on the review section, and, we'll see from there.
Once again –
Harry, Ron and Hermione: R & R, right?
Me: Oh, you're there? I didn't notice.
Hermione: Caeli…you're supposed to be doing your work for Child Research rather than writing.
Me: Hey, I got a B. that's a pretty decent grade.
Ron: Leave her alone, 'Mione. She needs a break.
Me: *ignores the rest* I'mma go to Harley Boulevard and go order some of Sam's awesome Cheng Jerk Chicken… my usual hangout with the gang of creative writers/anime addicts and my favorite food on their menu