Alchemy: Magic vs. Science

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D/C: I own nothing.

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First Name: Informal

Last Name: Formal (Or used to annoy others...)

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"English and Edward's accented voice."

"Amestrian, other foreign languages or to add emphasis."

Written notes or to add extra emphasize.

'Thoughts.'

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"Where is Professor Elric?"

"Isn't he in the Medical Wing?"

"He escaped."

"Then where is he now?"

"What happened to him…?" Severus muttered under his breath, he walked at a high pace looking for Edward to no avail. Alchemy classroom, nothing. Edward's room, nothing. Potions classroom, nothing. Great Hall, nothing. Greenhouse, nothing. There is no point searching in the Medical wing, Edward made it a point to leave that place. Now he is at a complete blank at where he should look next. The last thing Severus needed is to find Edward dead. That will not be good for anyone.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Severus stopped mid-stride, he looked over his shoulder to see a familiar owl pecking at the window repeatedly. Glancing around to see that no one was around, he reached over to open the window and Xerxes rammed herself onto him. Severus grimaced, he grabbed hold of the owl and held her at an arms distance. "What?"

Xerxes hooted repeatedly and giving Severus a panic look. She kept trying to wiggle out of his grasp and this only caused the Potions Professor to tighten his grasp. "Do you know where Edward is?"

Xerxes gave him a deadpanned look, almost saying 'duh'. Severus ignored that look and allows the owl to pull him along the School. While they are doing this, Severus glared at anyone that saw him following Xerxes. The last thing he needed is whispers that included him. After what seemed like forever, Xerxes led him to an open window. Silently praying that he won't see Edward had fallen out the window and see his mangled body down below. That will ruin his day.

"Hello… Someone… Help me…"

"Oh great…"

-.-

"Shut up…"

"Excuse me?"

"Not you, Xerxes. She is laughing at me." Edward said, glaring down at his owl that made herself cozy in his arms. Xerxes actual gave him smug looks every time Edward looked down at her. "Stop zat!"

"You did manage to get yourself stuck on a roof." Severus stated not even bothering to hide his smirk.

"I got lost, dammit!"

"How in the world did you even end up on the roof?"

"…I haffe no idea…"

"…the roof…"

"Shut up."

"Who? Me or Xerxes?"

"The both of you!" Edward shouted back, he then started to rumble on under his breath. He felt everyone was out to get him; then again, this wasn't new to him. He did have it coming to him, for managing to get stuck on a roof. Edward glanced back at Severus curiously. "Hey…Hey…Hey!"

"What…?" Severus slowly looked over at Edward with a defeated expression.

"What did zat kooky lady want?" Edward asked him, wanting to know what had occurred earlier. Judging by Severus expression it did not seem good at all. "Vell?"

"In all honesty… She does not like you." Severus stated bluntly, he grabbed hold of Edward's arm to pull on a flight of stairs before it moved away. Edward snorted in response that was not new to him. There is a long list of humans that hate him, emphasize on the word human. The only problem was that he had not spoken to the woman long enough to piss her off. The Golden Blonde allowed the Greasy Blacked haired man to pull him along. He already got lost once and he did not want that to happen again. "Are you hungry?"

Severus response is Edward's stomach growling loudly answering for him.

-.-

"Vat are zey?"

"They are called House-elves." Severus explained, he sat on a stool while eating scones and drinking tea. He watched Edward and Xerxes be completely surrounded by the Hogwarts House-Elves and being offered by random foods. Edward looked completely at odds at the House-Elves, he had never seen them before or heard about them. He did not know how to feel about them, it went against everything he knew. In the same time, they looked extremely happy, well cared of and even Severus is polite to them. Plus they make great food…

"Should I be vorried about them?" Edward asked, he gulped down a long glass of apple juice and resumed eating a large plate of random foods. A random House-Elf pulled on his pant's leg to get his attention, Edward glanced down to see it offering him a slice of apple pie. Edward stopped eating altogether to start at the slice of apple pie. Apple pie… The House-Elf trembling thinking it did wrong. The Golden Blonde slowly took the pie and stared at it. It smelled just like Winry's apple pie. It reminded him of home. Picking up his fork, Edward took a chunk out of the pie and brought it up to his mouth. It even tasted like it too.

"Edward?" Severus called out, he swore he saw tears running down Edward's eyes. It only got worse as he continued to eat the apple pie.

"I need to vrite a letter to my fiancé…" Edward muffled out. "Zis reminds me of her."

"You are engaged?"

"…Did I not tell you? No…eh. Could I get more pie? Please?"

-.-

Edward shifted nervously in his spot, he stood in front of his desk as the current heads and headmaster of Hogwarts stood before him. They all know why they are there, it was just a confirmation and answers if they need any. Fortunately for him, Severus and Filius had explained things for him. At least the idea was confirmed by the bearded old man, but the main issue is seeing how they all feel about it. It was obvious the Kooky mean looking lady is against it, Pomona seemed hesitant but willing, and everyone else seemed to be on board with it.

"They take a test from zere I vill determine if they are zuitable to take my class." Edward rubbed his forehead with his right arm.

"What type of test?" Pomona asked curiously. "What material will it contained?"

"When I took an exam to become a State Alchemist, I had to take a vritten test zat showed a high level of altitude in alchemy, a psychological evaluation, and a practical examination…" Edward continued to rub his forehead remembering when he took the test. He knew that doing anything that is remotely close to that is useless. "That was a just Government Military Test. Do not even get me started vat my Teacher did to me."

"What did she have you do?" Dumbledore asked.

"…She dumps me in a small island vith only the clothes on my back and a knife. I had to survive and ansver a riddle. If I had not ansvered the riddle correctly then she vould not have accepted me as a student." Edward deadpanned. "What I plan to do is making it easier for your students to take but it vill not be easy either."

"Was this the woman that nearly sent you into a coma after you joined said Military?"

"…Yes…" Edward shivered visibly, the only thing he remembered that day is a pain, pain, and more pain.

"What will be the requirements?" Minerva asked briskly.

"Anyone is welcomed to take the test, although I prefer them if they have a basic understanding of Science to make things easier for them to understand what is being taught to them. Even then, as long as they understand how the world works…then they might have a chance to get into my class." The way that Edward spoke had everyone in complete awe. He spoke in a crisp tone and hardly a single tract of his Amestrian accent. Then whatever respect they had for Edward went down by his next set of words. "It vill also help me separate the idiots from the imbeciles."

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Alchemy Exam

Contact your Head of House for further questions...

To take the exam, inform your Head of House or Mr. Edward Elric.

-Edward Elric

Fred and George Weasley looked at the announcement that was placed in the Gryffindor Common Room. Their eyes widen in amazement, the announcement states how anyone was welcomed to take the test. Along with that, it stated how Mr. Elric could kick out anyone if he finds said person unqualified to learn Alchemy. They remembered what Mr. Elric stated back in the Medical Wing, this only reinforced what he stated. Mr. Elric is making sure to take all the necessary precautions for everyone's safety.

"Should we go find Professor McGonagall?"

"What if we find Mr. Elric first?"

"Whoever we find first."

With that, the Twins ran out of the Common Room to go look for one of the said adults to take the exam. It was breakfast time and they should find them in the Great Hall. Hopefully. Far as they knew, Mr. Elric is still in the Medical Wing resting. It seemed like they were not the only ones with that train of thought. Many of their fellow students wanted to take that class.

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Severus and Edward stared at each other unblinkingly, standing at the main entrance of Edward's room. Severus glanced upon Edward's head to see Xerxes resting on top of his head. He would have thought the Owl would have gone back to Owlery, apparently, he was wrong. "Elric."

"Snape."

"Hoot!"

Severus glanced back up at Xerxes. "Xerxes."

"Hoot."

"Breakfast, Edward?" Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Breakfast." Edward agreed, he nodded at Severus to lead the way. Like before, he did not want to get lost. "Did you put up the announcement?"

"Yes, do not be surprised if you get mobbed about it." Severus responded guiding Edward down towards the Main Hall. "I already had several students ask me about it."

"Vat are your opinions on them?"

"...I would not be surprised if you end up kicking them out within the first half hour."

"Dat bad?'

"Yes. Yes, they are."

-.-

"But Professor, we know we could do this!"

"Mr. Elric expects us to take the test!"

"I just do not believe you two are capable or old enough to take the class." McGonagall attempted to persuade the Weasley boys to not pursue to take Alchemy. She would have expected older students to take the class but not first years for that matter. "…What do you mean he expects you to take the test?"

"Mr. Elric bought us books on the subject." Fred started off.

"He told us if we studied, we would have the opportunity to learn Alchemy." George continued on.

"We can do this!"

McGonagall rubbed her forehead, the Weasley Twins were not the first, first years to ask to take the Alchemy Exam. In reality, she does not even believe in Alchemy, especially if it is taught by a Muggle. Will that subject actually help in the long run? Not only that, she did not want any of them to end up being disappointed for not getting into the class, it will just end badly. She does not want to get anyone's hopes up. "Boys…"

"We can do this."

"I do not believe you two have what it takes for this class."

"Excuze me? Vat does zat zuboze to mean?" A familiar but clearly frustrated stated, accent coming back in full blast. "Vat makes you zay zat? Vo knows? Zey might end up petder zan I?"

McGonagall turned around to see a furious Elric marching up towards her. Snape trailed along but maintaining a safe distance away from the furious Elric.

"Mr. Elric, I am just looking out for them." McGonagall responded, standing her ground against the Alchemy Professor. "They are still young a-"

"I starded to learn to do alchemy ven I vas apout four or fiffe." Elric deadpanned. "Remember ven I zaid last night about the Alchemy Exam I took back in my home country?"

"Yes…What does this have to do with anything?"

"It did not haffe an age requirement, as it vas too difficult to take zat hardly anyone pazed nov a days. I pazed ven i vas tvelffe." Elric resisted the urge to smash something. He took in a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself down. Unbeknownst to them, Snape had steered the Weasley Twins out of the way. After taking another deep breath, Edward mauled over his next set of words. His voice came out clearer. "It is better to try and giffen a chance to try. If zey fail, zey fail. On their terms. Not yours, theirs."

-.-

"Professor Snape?"

"Yes…?"

"Why did Mr. Elric have an owl on his head?"

"…She made a nest there…"

To be continued…

R/R.