Chapter 4- The Weeks Before November 5th
Hermione cornered him after DADA. Al hoped it was to apologize for all the mean things she said about Ling and Brother, but he knew that wasn't it.
"I know about your arms." Al froze. Even if it wasn't necessarily a secret (his dorm mates knew) he wasn't comfortable with people knowing, especially not people who he hadn't told personally, and most definitely not Hermione Granger! At least she didn't know about his legs... "I want to help you, Alphonse. Please tell me what happened!"
He didn't trust her. He didn't need help; he had Brother and Ling and Roy and Riza and Winry and Granny Pinako and Teacher if he ever did end up needing help anyways! Hermione may have genuinely wanted to help him, but he didn't want or need any. Besides, that kind of accident would be hard to explain. After all, what happened to him and Brother was a result of the Ishbalan War. Granny Pinako had taken them to the city to try and get their minds off their mother. This group of Ishbalans decided that they would give Amestris a taste of their own medicine and attacked a city instead of the actual military and set up bombs in the area. The two had wandered too close to one of the bombs and it didn't end well. However, the Ishbalans weren't evil. Amestris had done far worse to their cities and slaughtered millions and Amestris wasn't evil either, just under bad leadership the citizens had no choice but to obey. The Wizarding War, Hermione's familiarity with war, was criminals attacking for their own screwed up ideals. It hadn't started with civil unrest and growing tension, but with one horrible person gathering equally horrible people to attack others. Hermione was smart, but she had no experience with actual war.
"No," he said. Hermione looked frustrated.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't like or know you. Please leave me alone." He turned to go but she grabbed his shoulder.
"I know you're scared, but if you could just let me help you-"
"NO! LEAVE. ME. ALONE." Everyone present stared in the direction of the yelling. Hermione frowned.
"Maybe you're more like your brother than I thought..."
"That's not a insult. Goodbye, Hermione. I'll see you in Charms." Al turned away.
"Don't walk away from me-"
"Granger, Elric, just what are you doing out of class?" They both froze and looked at the looming Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, we were-"
"I would've gone to class but Hermione stopped me. Please tell her to leave me be!"
"I'm just trying to help you! Professor, he has metal arms-"
"And legs." That shut her up. "Hogwarts requires a medical history on all its students. If Mr. Elric is having any difficulties, he is to go any professor as we are all briefed on the special cases of our students. There's no need to worry. Five points from each of your houses, now run along!"
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Ed was cornered by Ron Weasley after Potions. "'Mione's mad at your brother." Ed didn't care about Hermione or whatever reason she was angry. He gave zero fucks actually. "She knows about his limbs, Elric." That, on the other hand, Ed did care about.
"How?"
"Harry told us." Ron said bluntly.
"Okay, how did Harry know?"
"He spied on him." Ron got straight to the point. Ed almost liked him. Almost.
"Then tell Harry to mind his own damn business!" Ed was about to storm off.
About to, when Ron said, "You've got metal limbs too, don't you, Elric?" How the actual fuck-
"Did I figure that out? Your footsteps, Mate, they're uneven. I just noticed." Ed looked down at his feet. He walked a few steps. Sure enough, his left leg came down harder than his right one.
"Um..."
"I won't hecker you 'bout it. That's what got 'Mione in trouble. We won't spread it around."
"...Thank you."
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Ling cornered Neville after Divination. Not for any grave reasons, he just wanted to brief him on his acting skills. They were talking about where they could practice said skills, when a strange room appeared. Going inside, they found that it was full of scripts, a stage, and books on the subject of acting. They would show the Elrics later.
()()()()()
Sirius Black wanted so badly to corner Lupin in the field. To explain what happened to his old friend, but he couldn't, not for now. He wanted equally badly to barge in on Parent's Day and introduce his wonderful godson to everybody there. But he couldn't. He wanted to strangle Pettigrew with his bare hands, but he couldn't. He wanted to see James and Lily again, but he couldn't. Hell, he wanted to see his brother again! But... He couldn't. There were so many things he couldn't do, but least a few of them would change soon.
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Harry didn't understand why that black dog kept looking at him. It was almost as creepy as the daggers Elric was glaring into the back of his head. And why did Hermione look like she wanted to strangle Al instead of Ling? And speak of the devil, why was Ling being chased by a hawk?
Something dropped in his lap. A letter from... Elric? What did Elric want with-
Dear Sneaky Asshole,
Mind your own damn business. Leave me and my brother alone. Don't tell a soul what you saw. I WILL get you if you don't comply.
With extreme hatred,
Edward Elric
That explained at least half of the things he was confused about.
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Ed sat down and wrote his final report before Parent's Day.
November 1st, 1993
Re: The Events of the Past Week.
Al and I are doing fine. We're getting good grades and all that. Secondly, I'm sure you received the letter for Parent's Day, and I have a few things you'll need to know:
·This place is HUGE Seriously, it's ridiculous! I've enclosed a map in the envelop. Slytherin dormitories are in the dungeon and Hufflepuff dormitories are by the kitchens. The Passwords are "Chocolate Covered Onions" and "Get Off the Damn Fence".
·There is a poltergeist named Peeves. He's very mischievous. Stay away.
· Beware the Golden Trio They are, by far, our greatest trouble. Ron Weasley (third year: four siblings in attendance, poor family, of pure blood) is the most tolerable, but he's not the brightest bulb in the box. He also has a pretty nasty temper. Hermione Granger (third year: no family in attendance, standard middle class family, muggle born) is smart and she knows it. She cannot deal with being wrong and is very stubborn. Harry Potter (third year: no family in attendance, deceased parents but lives standard middle class muggle life with aunt and uncle, half blood) is the Boy Who Lived™. He apparently defeated a notorious dark wizard as a baby. He's extremely snoopy. He spied on Al and discovered the whole automail thing. I have given him a standard warning about spilling our secrets.
That is all.
-Lieutenant Edward Elric (aka: the Fullmetal Alchemist)
He gave it to his owl, Maes, and the letter was sent.
Chapter Four is completed! Stay tuned! I will be changing my name to Cheeeesy Bagles! In a week's time. The exclamation point is a part of the name.
