Disclaimer: Guess who doesn't own Harry Potter and Fullmetal Alchemist? This person right here!
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Edward stared out at the clear blue skies and the green sea that seemed to stretch on n miles in every direction. Edward had heard about the colonies set up in a new world called 'America' and he decided to go. He had already scoured and explored Europe. Not only that but he wanted to talk with some of the natives of 'America.' Maybe they could inspire some new theories and make interesting conversationalists.
Edward leaned away from the railing of the ship he was on. A number of other people were also on, having abandoning their homes to find a better life across the ocean. Turning around, Edward looked at all the dirty and thin people. Many of them were being persecuted and others simply wanted a simpler life.
Just like him.
Taking a few steps away from the railing, he slipped away from the other groups and sat alone. He didn't want to take any chances of falling off the side. With his automail, he couldn't swim. He also wanted to be far away from any living people. Though he's lived for about three hundred years or so (after counting to two hundred he lost track) he still felt uncomfortable and unclean around living beings. They were human. He was not. And that fact cut him deeper than any sword wound could hope for.
Sitting in the shade, Edward let the rocking of the boat lull him into restfulness, letting the sounds of souls echo around inside him.
~~0~~0~~0~~
Edward groaned as he dragged himself into breakfast. Dumbledore had made it…adamant that he couldn't skip every meal anymore. In fact, Dumbledore ordered the house elves to only allow him to eat lunch in his room from now on. Edward took the last seat unwillingly. The other professors had to make sure that he got the other seat next to Lockheart.
Edward grabbed a cup of black coffee and started sipping the bitter and hot drink. He was grateful that Lockheart hadn't noticed him yet, being too busy chatting Minerva's ear off. Said witch looked flustered and was trying to dodge all his questions and self-adoring. That is, until, she saw him of course. Giving Edward a pitying and apologetic look, she dismissed herself and practically ran to her classroom. Turning around, Lockheart beamed when he saw Edward sitting next to him.
"Good morning Edward! It's rare seeing you at a meal!" Lockheart started.
Edward tried to drown himself in more coffee. If he kept his mouth busy, maybe Lockheart would take a hint…
"So Edward, how has your classes been going? Mine have been an absolute dream! Though some students really need to reread my books; they didn't even know my favorite color was lilac!" Lockheart babbled.
Meanwhile, Edward had finally gotten to the bottom of his cup. Looking around in slight panic, he noted that there wasn't any more coffee left. Edward mentally prepared himself for stupidity while questioning what the color lilac had to do with defense. Slowly drawing the cup away from his lips, his eyes scoured the table frantically. Seeing a bowl of mushy looking oatmeal, he grabbed the food and started shoveling the mush into his mouth, not noticing the flavor or texture.
"You better slow down, Edward!" Lockheart chided. Grabbing the half-eaten bowl, Lockheart casted it aside, leaving Edward at the mercy of the blue-robed man.
"Lockheart, remember what I said about dragging people into your social practices…" Edward growled.
"Hm? No. when did you tell me that?" Lockheart asked, clueless as ever.
Edward groaned and slapped his head to the table. He's going to need some aspirin after this. Though he bought a couple of bottles in London, something told him that between Lockheart and the Weasely twins, he's going to need another trip soon.
"I told you in the bookstore, Gilderoy." Edward grinded out.
"Ah, yes! You won't believe how many fan letters I get! I'm glad that so many people like my published works and love my smile! But what else do you expect from someone who has won the Witch Weekly's most charming smile award five times?" Lockheart continued.
Edward looked at Lockheart quizzically. Was the man deaf? Could be. Maybe all he heard was his own self-adoring, which would make sense. As Lockheart continued to ramble, Edward wondered if anything that someone said to him went in one ear and out the other. Knowing wizards and Lockheart, it was very possible that said man might not actually have a brain. Finally, Edward had had enough.
"I'll be seeing you, Gilderoy." Edward said between his teeth and like Minerva before, practically ran out of the Great Hall. Turning a few corners, he fought to get outside. Fresh air always does wonders on the pained mind. Always.
Getting out into the grounds, Edward strolled along, the Lockheart incident in the back of his mind. He enjoyed the morning air and the sharpness of the air. The sun warmed his ports through the clothing he wore, causing a slight pleasurable tingle to go through his nerves. Today was a beautiful day. Edward continued his stroll down to the Quidditch pitch. Though he didn't particularly care for the sport, the grass was always green and soft; perfect to lie down in and take a nap. Since today was Saturday and the only work he assigned was cracking the riddle, he had no papers to grade. Plus he had finished all his lesson plans up to the start of next term. Who said being a professor to a bunch of young brats was hard? Not him.
Edward had just settled himself next to one of the poles when the sound of arguing broke the calm. What now? Edward thought and with a grumble, he stood up. Near the middle of the pitch, sixteen students were standing. Seven were in green and silver robes; seven were in red and gold. The last two were standing behind the Gryffindor side, watching the argument like he was.
Edward knew he should probably want to break up the fight because fighting was wrong in a school but the only reason that he found himself climbing to his mismatched feet was because he was irritated. He only wanted to relax and maybe have a conversation with one of the many actual sensible people within him! Was that too much to ask for? Apparently.
Standing up and stretching, he took off after the green and red robed wizards, readying himself for flying spells and irritating prepubescent voices.
"Hey! What's going on?" He called out, breaking into a light jog.
The sixteen figures didn't seem to notice. As he neared them, he caught snippets of the argument.
"-filthy little mudblood."
Edward snarled and broke into a run as Fred and George leaped for a small, blond figure. He heard a girl shriek "How dare you!" Edward appeared just as Ron Weasley was pulling out his wand.
"Stop this instant or you'll all get detentions!" Edward snarled, throwing himself between the two fighting teams. At the sight of him, every student who's taken alchemy paled and stepped back. Sadly, this was only the Weasley twins, the golden trio, and Draco Malfoy. The other students leaned away, only having to have heard the rumors about the golden eyed teacher. Edward glared around at the students.
"What the hell is going on here?!" He snarled. First Lockheart and now a stupid fight. This was supposed to be a day of relaxation, not tension.
"W-well you see, professor…" A burly Gryffindor said to the right of him. Though Edward didn't know his name, he could clearly see he was the leader here. The Gryffindor explained how he had booked the field and that the Slytherins marched in here and started throwing insults for no reason. Flint tried to butt in during the explanation, but a sharp look from Edward silenced him. After the Gryffindor explanation, he got a similar, but different explanation from the Slytherins, who said that they offered to share the pitch, but got threatened. Edward took the note to make sure they were telling the truth.
"Hm, Malfoy, you're they're new seeken?" Edward asked.
Malfoy went pale and nodded, not bothering to correct Edward.
Edward threw him a slight smile. "Good for you. But…" Edward's smile darkened and the rest of the Slytherin team took many steps back, awaiting the tornado of rage that would overtake the young Malfoy.
"Calling someone a mudblood is disgusting in and of itself. In fact, this entire fight is stupid." Edward let his eyes rake across the students. Mentally cursing himself that he was only taller than the second years there, he scolded all of them.
"Why can't you share this dumb pitch? Look, there are six hoops. I'm pretty there's plenty of room." Edward jabbed is automail finger to each hoop as he pointed them out.
"Professor, we can't share! They'll know all our tactics!" the Gryffindor leader burst out. He flinched when Edward caught his eye. Letting a twisted smile cross his face, Edward sneered. "Detention for back talking a teacher. What's your name?"
"Oliver Wood." He croaked out, fear written all over his face.
Edward whipped around to the Slytherin side. Seeing the leader's gloating face, he gave him a detention as well.
"But sir…!"
"Name?" Edward snarled.
"…Marcus Flint." He muttered.
"Detention for being a smartass."
"Malfoy, who did you call a mudblood?" Edward asked, not even missing a beat.
"um, uh, G-G-Granger…" He wimpered.
"Detention for using foul language."
Finally, Hermione had enough. "Professor you can't just throw detentions around like that!" She cried out, unable to stand the sight of a teacher abusing their power and breaking the rules.
"Detention, Miss Granger." Edward sung. "Oh, by the way, Slytherin gets the pitch. Better practice hard, Malfoy or I'll take your permission away." Edward strolled away, gloating about the power he held over the students.
"I'll see you tonight at seven, Wood, Flint, Malfoy, and Granger."
And with that, Edward headed on inside. He had detentions to plan.
~~0~~0~~0~~
Draco mumbled to himself as he walked down to his alchemy class that night. He was terrified at what Elric might do to him. Knowing that mad professor and his disregard to safety, he could lock him in the dungeons for the rest of the night. Or hang him by the ceiling by his toes. Or…
Draco shook his head violently as he opened the door to the classroom, shutting the door behind him; he froze when he saw what was going on.
Wood and Flint were sitting on a strange and uncomfortable looking couch that wasn't there before. The couch seemed to be made of the same material as the floor and was even connected to the floor at the base. Wood and Flint were sitting as far enough away from each other as possible and were holding hands. It took a few seconds for Draco to register they were singing.
"I'm a little teapot short and snout. Here is my handle, here is my spout…" They sung together in monotone, both of them having a strong red blush occupying their cheeks. When they caught the sight of Draco, they stopped immediately and broke away, flushing even more furiously.
"Hey! I never told you to stop!" A familiar voice rang out. Draco looked up to see Elric sitting at his desk. He seemed to be rifling through a large, dusty looking tomb. He had an amused grin on his face as he glanced toward the two boys. Seeing where their horrified eyes were staring, Draco found his eyes being met with laid-back, amused golden ones. Elric cracked a wide grin.
"Don't worry, Malfoy. When Granger gets here, we'll start your punishment." Elric purred.
Draco stared at him, terrified. He couldn't help but ask, "will it be the same as, um, theirs?" Draco pointed at the two boys.
"Nope!" Edward sung. Turning back to the boys, he snarled. "I never said you could stop! Go on, continue!" Both boys flinched. Grabbing a fallen book that Draco didn't notice and propping it up between them, they clasped their hands together again and continued singing.
The door swung open in and banged loudly against the wall. "Sorry I'm late, Professor! I was completing some homework and lost track of time…" Hermione panted.
Elric nodded and motioned for the both of them to stand in front of his desk. Both second years nervously stood before the teacher, noticing a large pile of what looked like mud sitting on his desk.
"Can you tell me what this is, Malfoy?" Elric whispered, his eyes bright and dangerous.
"I-its m-mud." Draco croaked out, eyes darting around.
"Yes. It's mud. Draco, Hermione, give me your left hands." He asked.
Barley giving a glance at one another, both students passed their hands to the professor. A flash of metal and a sharp sting later, both students watched as a few drops of blood oozed out of a small cut on both their index fingers. Elric set the sharp steak knife down next to him and grabbed both students' hands, comparing the crimson to each other and the mud.
"Malfoy, does Granger's blood look like mud to you?" He asked.
Draco looked at his hand, then Hermione's. The blood was the exact same. Same color. Same thickness. Same…everything. Draco shook his head no.
"So, 'mudblood' isn't the proper insult because Granger here doesn't have mud for blood." Edward continued.
Draco stayed silent.
"In fact, did you know that blood is made of red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma? I'm going to make this simple for both of you. Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body and are red due to the iron in them. White cells keep diseases out of your bloodstream. Platelets clot your blood when you get cut, forming scabs. Plasma brings nourishment to your organs and gets rid of waste. Everyone's blood is made of these four things. No one has mud for blood." Elric explained, his eyes sparking.
"Did I tell you two to stop singing? He asked Wood and Flint, not even looking at them. Both boys stopped staring at the professor and went back to singing about Mary's lamb.
"Now, I have a feeling that even though I explained this to you, you will ignore what I've told you and continue calling others by this stupid insult, so I have an idea." Looking between the second years, Elric continued, "both of you are to meet here at seven every Saturday for the rest of the year and for an hour you two are going to help each other in alchemy. Basically, you'll tutor each other." Elric finished with a wide grin. Automatically, both students started to complain.
"I'm going to be busy…!"
I don't need tutoring!"
"Wait till my father hears about this…!"
"I have other work to be doing, professor!"
"QUIET!"
Both students fell quiet at the professor's scream.
"We're only a week into this year so I doubt both of you are going to already have plans. If you do, too bad. Malfoy, stop bragging about your father. It makes you sound like an immature daddy's-boy. Granger, I know you think your smart, and you are, but your no genius and you will need help. Trust me." Elric smiled. "Both of you are dismissed. Remember, next Saturday." With that being said, both second years gave each other dirty looks before slipping out of the classroom, heading to their respected classrooms. Meanwhile, Edward turned back to Wood and Flint.
"Just another thirty minutes left boys. Make sure you sing 'Twinkle twinkle little star.' That's my favorite."
Both boys silently cried inside.
~~0~~0~~0~~
"What?" Ron cried out in outrage. Harry stared at Hermione in shock and pity, not knowing what to say.
"Elric's making me tutor with Malfoy over alchemy!" She cried. Hermione's cheeks were flushed with an angry red and she was practically in tears.
Ron continued to mutter obscenities under his breath.
"Are punishments like that even allowed?" Harry asked. Though he did find Wood's and Flint's punishment hilarious, he couldn't help but wonder if it was breaking some school rules.
"I doubt it, but I don't think Dumbledore will fire him. There isn't anyone who can take his place." Hermione said. "Anyways, how did your detentions go?" She asked.
Harry and Ron gave her uneasy looks before diving into the story of Lockheart, Snape, and the strange voices.
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A/N: Sorry it's short. To be honest, I wasn't so sure what else I wanted to add.
Before anyone worries(or hopes), this will NOT be a HermioneXDraco story. In fact, I will most likely never ever write any romance. Unless its canon and the story calls for it for what ever reason. The reason for this is because I wouldn't know romance if it hit me in the face. Lets just say my idea for a "romantic date" is going to the amusement park and seeing how many times it takes for me to start feeling nauseous on a rollercoaster.
So yea...no romance.
This will probably be the last chapter that comes out on my spring break, but I don't know. Matters how much time I get to type this weekend.
Anyways, thanks for reading and of course, leave a review, if you so choose.
