Hi everyone! I found it really hard to write this chapter, for the sole reason that my concentration is horrible. I keep going to other stories while writing and reading those instead. Anyways, can I please get more reviews? I got twelve this chapter, from some of my favorite reviewers, because they almost always review.
Thanks to: ChopSuzi, wishfulliving89, Truth's Apprentice, justanotherkiller, TheDanaDobreAKAToshiroLover, E.P. Wat.s, Kitsune-242, Mel72000, Kaleidoscope Glass, SinoPrisca and a Guest.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than my cool Edgar Allen Poe t-shirt, my stuffed and nameless bunny, and a notebook filled with literary ideas.
Upon seeing the expressions of shock on McGonagall's and Snape's faces, Ed turned from the room once more, a satisfied smile on his face. 'That should hold him…'
Once out of the imposter's rooms, Ed looked around. He had absolutely no idea where the hell he was. The brisk walk through these halls before now, led by Dumbledore, had left him no time to memorize the way back into the Great Hall or to Dumbledore's office. Maybe he could find someone to direct him, but that was unlikely. Even with the amount of people he had seen in the stands outside, this castle seemed large enough that you could spend hours in these halls, wandering around, and not meet a single person.
Well, when in doubt, find a window. You could always gain your bearings if you could see around you, and if that didn't work well enough, Ed figured he could always climb out of the window down to the ground. It would be even better if the spectators were still out on the lawn, so he could laugh at their shocked faces. Ed grinned evilly at the thought.
With a plan now in mind, Ed set off again, intent on not only finding a way back to the Great Hall, but to put as much distance between himself and that greasy, bat-like freak as possible.
The halls before him twisted constantly, with multiple corridors branching out from it, and just as many doors as corridors. Yet he could find no windows. Already it felt as if he had been wandering lost in these halls for hours, but a glance at his pocket watch told Ed it was otherwise. It had, in fact, been only fifteen minutes. But damn it, even fifteen minutes was too long for Ed. There were too many damn paths to take and constant twining hallways made his sense of direction. Although he hated to admit it, Ed needed help. Really, that should be some indicator that he was very lost; Ed asking for help, it was joked around the office, was a sign of the apocalypse.
"Helloooooo?" he called out. "Anybody there? Anyone?" Ed was desperate to get out of this stupid castle and find Tom Riddle again. Al would be worried sick about him. Never mind the fact that Winry would kill him for worrying her too. Actually, now that he took the time to think about it, Colonel Ba***** would be worried too, along with Teacher and Lieutenant Hawkeye. Even Armstrong would be worried if he heard Ed was missing. He would probably give Ed another hug of death when he saw him again, complete with those weird pink sparkles. He shuddered. Maybe he could shove the Colonel (Ed just couldn't get used to calling him Brigadier-General) in front instead. That would be worth a few laughs, and it would make up for the scolding from Hawkeye, too.
As he was lost in thought, Ed's feet unknowingly carried him down the winding halls of Hogwarts. As it often happens when thinking deeply and walking occur at the same time, Ed ran into something. Or, rather, he ran into someone.
"Oh? Aren't you that boy with Potter before?" Ed looked up, shaken from his thoughts by both the voice and the sudden contact with the person's body. It was the man from before, the one in the pinstripes that had frantically hovered over the dead boy and Potter outside earlier. Ed wondered just who this man was, because he carried himself with an air of self-contained importance. Of course, this all was contradicted by the man's figure. He was a rather portly and older gentleman, with a bowler hat and a bemused expression on his face.
"On your way to the hospital wing, boy, hmm? You most certainly need it." This made Ed think. Oh yeah, he had fallen on his face when the Portkey had dropped himself, Potter, and the dead guy onto the Hogwarts lawn. That most likely would leave a few bruises and would also explain why his nose was sore.
The man continued on, oblivious to Ed's distraction. "You're going to see how young Mr. Potter is doing as well, I suppose." This made the man frown deeply.
"Uh…excuse me? Who the hell are you?" Ed glared rudely at the man, crossing his arms in a classic pose of defiance as he did so. His lack of recognition, more so than his rude language towards the strange man, seemed to throw off the man from his current babbling state.
"Why, my dear boy, I'm the Minister of Magic here in England, Cornelius Fudge." The newly named Fudge searched Ed's face for any sign of humor. Surely the boy must be joking. Everyone knew who he was. Fudge just wasn't used to being anonymous. He had gotten used to the fame and power that accompanied his title and job description.
"Never heard of you." Ed was very nonchalant, a fact only his eyes betrayed. They stared at Fudge, calculating and cold. "Is being the Minister of Magic like being a Fuhrer? Because then I would understand better. I don't know what the hell a minister is or what you're supposed to do." He watched as Fudge spluttered in indignation, quietly amused, although Ed was very careful to keep his face void of emotion. He wanted to see where this would go. Would Fudge get angry and stalk off, or attempt to explain and show him the way to the hospital wing?
Happily enough for Ed, the Minister of Magic chose to do that latter. He drew Ed close and with a concerned, "You must have fallen harder than I thought, my dear boy. Let's get you along to see Madam Pomfrey. She'll fix you up in a jiffy", Fudge began a lengthy explanation of what the Minister of Magic did and all of the privileges it entailed. Ed tuned him out, just happy that someone was getting him somewhere away from these damn confusing corridors and hopefully into a place with windows. After all, the only hospital Ed knew of without windows would be an asylum.
Fudge dragged Ed through the maze of Hogwarts, and the silent and somber students that began to fill the hallways parted before them like Moses parted the Red Sea. Everyone around them watched the odd pair; the Minister, cheerfully and enthusiastically explaining his job, happy someone was interested, and a teenaged boy with long golden hair in a braid, molten eyes scanning those around him curiously. One look into those eyes, though, and the unlucky person quickly looked away. Ed's eyes had a tendency to unnerve people, what with all of their intensity and discontent. Although, that might have been from the facial bruising and the bloody cut still on his neck from Wormtail's knife. You never know…
The air in Hogwarts was now filled with sorrow and confusion, for none of the students from any of the three schools knew what precisely had happened that night. They only knew that Cedric was dead, and that a strange boy with haunting eyes had mysteriously appeared alongside the two Hogwarts champions.
Finally, Ed and Fudge reached their destination. They stood briefly outside the massive doors to the hospital wing, before Fudge pushed them open with purpose, calling out "Where's Dumbledore?"
Please review! I miss hearing from you guys and I love all your feedback. I use it, reallly! See, I used someone's idea for getting the ministry involved! Ed meets Fudge and promtly insults him, which is totally Ed. See you all next week!
- Lady Triplet
