Fullmetal Alchemist
The Alchemic Wizard
By: Melissa the Damgel
I don't own anything of Fullmetal Alchemist or Harry Potter. I just like playing with them and shoving them into situations we know we'd never see them in –and also I like seeing Ed and Winry play. … you'll know what I mean later! It's all for fun and kicks so don't sue! I'm not rich! Really!
Ch. 9
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Remembering the Past
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Day 3: (Three days after Winry's rescue)
Ed scratched his head as he leaned back in his chair on two legs. "No, listen. In order for the transmu… uh… transfiguration to work, you have to focus your mind completely on it. If you are thinking of other things or your mind is distracted, then the magic won't flow and the focusing power in the wand will not be directed at what you wish to transfigure."
The three third year students frowned and put their cheeks in their hands simultaneously. "We just don't get it."
"I didn't get it either the first time I was learning. But it's like… like a magnifying glass." He stopped and eyed the three, "You know what those are, right?" He asked suddenly, watching their reactions wearily. Over the years he had found that children from a full wizarding family often didn't know those little mundane things that muggle children knew of.
Two of the three nodded. That was good enough for him.
"Well the magnifying glass amplifies an object. It makes a small object larger, right? That's what your wands do, they turn your will –or the magic- and force it into an object to make it what you desire. Your wand just amplifies it and focuses that magic into it."
The third years nodded, though Ed groaned and slapped a hand over his face –they didn't get it.
"Fine… go. We'll try again tomorrow."
The kids gathered up their books joyfully and raced from the Great Hall where Ed had decided he would make this space his unofficial office –food was more readily available to his stomach this way!
Winry got up from the Hufflepuff table across the way and sat down across from him, "You really know your stuff here." She told him, her voice hinting at how impressed she was. She laid her chin in her hand as she leaned forward on the table.
Ed sighed and tapped his mug and pumpkin juice filled it quickly. He took a drink and shook his head, "I needed to know what I was up against here, so I learned all I could. I'm not even from a wizarding family and I figured this stuff out. How can some of these kids grow up and never wonder how it works?" He rambled, his scientific mind on overdrive with the theories he possessed concerning magic and how it was used in this world.
She raised a brow at him, a corner of her lip quirked upwards even as she looked bored. "Ed, shut up."
He glared at her but did so, finishing off his drink, "Okay, ready to go? I promised the Weasley's I'd meet up with them." His eyes suddenly flashed dangerously as his voice went a bit higher as though he was trying to hold in his laughter. "We're planning a little 'Welcome to Hogwarts' gift for Umbridge." His smile was dark and menacing even though clear sadistic pleasure was being taken by whatever was running through his mind.
With a loud sigh, Winry shook her head, "Edward, you better not be planning anything. You don't need anymore trouble. Al said she's with the Ministry; do you really need to make them hate you more than you already made them?" She questioned then glared as he was packing everything up, that demented grin still plaster on his face and evil, mischievous thoughts flashing through his eyes.
"Are you even listening to me?" Winry demanded.
"Come on, they said they'd meet us there before lunch."
"Wait, does that mean they're cutting class?" Winry asked. But She never got an answer.
He led the way through the Great Hall and out into the maze of hallways known as Hogwarts. Winry followed after him quickly, finally catching up and keeping stride with him.
Ed walked to a dead-end hallway where only a few suits of armor stood to decorate the seemingly useless hall. He hurried up and down it three times while muttering to himself.
"Ed, what the hell are you doing?" Winry asked with a raised brow. She folded her arms, waiting for him to regain his sanity and realize he was acting like an idiot –then the door appeared and Winry choked on her own breath. "Wha..?"
He grinned and waved for her to follow him. He opened the door and held it for her.
Winry went inside simply because she didn't know what else to do. This was so… weird. She stood there several feet from the doorway as she looked around –it looked like a junk room full of boxes with odd names on them like: Dungbombs, Whiz-bangs, Skiving Snackboxes, Patented Daydream Charms, Licorice Wands, Ten-Second Pimple Vanisher, Defensive Shield Hats, Shield Gloves, Shield Cloaks, Decoy Detonators, Love Potions, Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder, Fake Wands, and Sugar Quills.
She stared at the area, momentarily confused before a young man –who looked to be her age- poked his head out from behind a crate and waved, "Oi! Ed, over here… who's the bird with you?"
"Who are you calling a bird?" Winry puffed up defensively.
"Bird means girl here…" Ed whispered as he led the way over to the boxes and flopped down next to the boys –twins to be correct. "Her name is Winry. I grew up with her as a kid. She appeared somehow with Al so she'll be with us for awhile." He flung his bag from his shoulder and he grinned wickedly, "You two have to find a way to jinx Umbridge into dancing, maybe a nice tango or something."
One of the boy's eyes went wide as the other snickered in delight and looked at his brother.
"That's bloody brilliant mate! Why didn't we think of it?" the one on the right asked.
The other shrugged and laughed again, "I don't know. Think we can do it?"
"Maybe some gum…"
"…or a bit of goo on the floor."
"We can't just jinx…
"…her from across the room…"
"…we can't get caught…"
They two talked back and forth, finishing each other's sentences as they began to write out how they could put it together –making a list of items.
"…or maybe a spray that when the right…"
"…incantation is said…"
"…it activates…"
"…and she'll dance all day."
"Seeing how we want to get rid of the Old Bat, we won't have to worry about…"
"… a counter spell." The other nodded and tapped the paper."
"Or her food, the house elves would probably slip something into her food." Ed offered, his eyes still dark with delight.
Fred snapped his fingers and pointed at Ed then the twins went back to their scheming.
Winry rolled her eyes as she sat down and listened to the three plot. She was growing bored. The girl looked around the room, eyeing boxes and trinkets –then she saw something that looked like a machine. She was up in a second and wandering over to it. It was a discarded alarm clock with two bells on the top and a hammer to rattle the bells when the alarm went off.
She looked it over, held it to her ear to listen –nothing- before she dragged it back to her seat, snitching some of their tools and dragging a box over to use as a work bench. As the boys talked, Winry worked on the clock.
"… maybe we should try a different approach."
"Maybe a charm," George offered and Fred nodded, having thought the same thing.
"I just provide the ideas, I don't know how to figure this stuff out." Ed held up his hands. A minute later however he was pointing out their flaws and mentioning that in order for a jinx charm to work they would also have to take into consideration distance and the endurance of the charm.
An alarm went off suddenly.
The three boys jumped and looked to Winry who was smirking in triumph. She turned the alarm off and turned it around to show the boys she had fixed the clock and it was ticking away happily.
Ed smiled slightly as though not impressed –this was nothing compared to what he'd seen her do with a run down tractor that only had one good wheel.
The twins on the other hand were far more impressed and they jumped at the woman, looking over the clock.
"Amazing, how did you get it to work?"
"Dad would love to meet her."
"Could you see him going bloody ballistic if she were…"
"…to fix the old car? He would get Christmas…"
"…early, I know." They talked wildly, and suddenly dark smiles crawled over their faces.
One sidled up close to her and draped his arm over her shoulders, leaning in close to her face. Winry blushed and shifted, staring into the boys warm eyes. "Would you like to work for us? We have ideas that…
"…we think you could build." The other moved in close, throwing his arm atop his brothers and leaning in close –sandwiching the girl between them.
Winry blushed more, looking between the two brothers. "W…"
"Would you two get off her?" Ed shouted, standing there with a furious look in his eyes and his hands curled into tight fists. He looked as though he was about to snarl and pop a vein.
The twins looked to Ed, shot each other coy looks, before they smiled and stepped back, their hands in the air.
"Sorry mate…
"…didn't mean to…"
"…crowd your…"
"…girlfriend."
"Honest mistake."
Ed's face blossomed and his jaw snapped shut. Winry blushed more but she did eye Ed with a silly grin on her face.
"Sh-she's not my girlfriend!" Ed shouted, regaining his voice a few seconds later.
"Oh really?" George drawled and he moved closer to Winry, "Mind if I take a wack at trying then?"
"What?" Ed choked, his eyes wide.
Winry hit George upside the head with the handle of her screwdriver, "I'm standing right here!" She snarled, and shoved the clock into George's stomach, forcing him to cough again as some of the wind was knocked out of him. "Don't use me as a pawn to tease Ed!" She bristled up in annoyance before she turned and threw Edward his book bag and marched to the door, "I'm going to lunch! You coming, Edward?" she demanded while glaring at him.
The twins blinked several times and Ed looked annoyed at her actions, "Would you try and act like a lady sometimes?" He demanded as he threw his bag over his shoulder roughly and moved to join her.
"Why? They were acting like I wasn't there and couldn't hear their snide remarks! I'm not going to stand around and listen to that!" Winry shouted and opened the door, heading out into the hallway.
Ed rolled his eyes, though a look of relief was clearly visible in his golden eyes. He looked back to the twins and waved to them before he headed out the door to chase after Winry.
"Blimey…" Fred said suddenly.
George nodded. "Ed got upset about a girl…"
"…we were teasing. He's never done that before."
"Think the blokes finally cracked?"
"Don't know. It'd be about time… I was…"
"…starting to wonder if he even liked girls."
The twin finished off and they both laughed. They dove back into their planning, their heads were close together as they whispered and muttered to one another, pointing out flaws and tapping strong points on their paper of scribbles.
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Winry led the way to the Great Hall this time –she was getting better about navigating her way through the castle –instead of using the paintings as reference, she was using the picture frames, for at least they never got up and left.
Ed jogged after her, slowing down as he reached her side, "You didn't have to hit him. He doesn't have as thick a skull as me."
Winry turned to look at him incredulously, not believing he just admitted to being imperceptive. She shook her head and kept walking, "I don't like feeling like I'm being used. I might be useless here, but I won't be used."
Ed scowled, "Don't bring that up again. You aren't useless."
She again frowned and shook her head, "I am…" But she was interrupted as Ed shoved her against the wall, slamming a hand against the wall next to her head and leaning in close to her face. Her face grew warm and her lips parted as a flicker of nervousness ran through her body from the fire in Ed's eyes.
"You aren't useless. You just don't know where you fit into this world yet. I had to find it, Al had to find it. You'll find it too." He hissed, his fingers squeezed her elbow while he tightened his jaw.
That fire in his eyes was so consuming, that Winry didn't say anything for a time. For a moment, she felt like he was right –she would find her place in this world. They would probably never go home, but that would be all right so long as she was here –like this.
Winry frowned, finally dragging her eyes away from his while trying to pull her arm from his grasp; that flicker of hope gone and the self hatred back. "I want to know now."
"Well it's not going to work that way. It might take years, Winry." He whispered. "It took me three year before I even had a flicker of an idea as to where I fit into this place."
Footsteps alerted them to a group of fourth year girls walking by. They all held their books tightly to their chests, their cheeks pink with a mixture of horror and romantic delight at the scene they had witnessed. They blushed as Ed and Winry turned their eyes to them and their pace immediately picked up –keeping their eyes locked on Ed and Winry till they disappeared around a corner where immediately irruptions of giggles filled the corridors.
Ed frowned and looked down, staring at something near Winry's shoulder.
"Ed?"
He snapped awake and stared at her face –a soft pink color spread over his cheeks and he jerked away suddenly, clearing his throat loudly and tugging on the already loosened collar of his shirt. "Uh... come on… lunch is already started. He muttered, buttoning his vest securely.
Or nervously, Winry thought briefly.
The two walked quietly down the hall side by side, Ed's hands in his pockets and his head turned away from Winry.
"Is there anything I can do here?"
Ed frowned, turning his head slightly, "No, not that I can think of. You might be able to helped the Muggle Studies teacher, but only if the kids want to learn about our world." He trailed off, feeling as though he failed her by not thinking of something she could do.
Winry nodded, turning a corner and walking the last few yards to the Great Hall.
The two entered the vaulted room where the ceiling reflected the gray and cloudy sky outside today.
Ed took a seat next to Hermione and nodded to Harry and Ron and smiled to Al across from him. Winry hesitated then took a seat on the other side of Hermione –causing Ron to raise a brow slightly but not say a word.
"So, Edward, how did your tutoring session go?" Hermione inquired as she took a bite of her sandwich.
"The kids are idiots." He told her flatly and dished himself up some food.
"Edward!" Hermione squealed, her eyes wide in horror. "How could you say that? They are trying to learn! You have to be patient!"
"They don't even get the simple fact that the wands are nothing but amplifiers; they have to draw the magic to themselves and once that energy is gathered, focus it and send it through the wand so the magic can be harnessed and magnified through the wand; and by using your will, you change the object into the one you desire."
Harry blinked and Ron looked rather confused. Hermione sighed in exasperation, "Well I hope you didn't explain it like that to those children. Of course they wouldn't understand it that way!"
"How else am I going to describe it?" He asked with a perplexed look on his face.
Al sighed and shook his head, "Brother, they don't think in terms of alchemy here. You have to remember that."
"I do remember that; I was just telling them how it worked!" He defended, then gave up suddenly and waved a hand, tapping his plate and soon a large cut of steak appeared smothered in mushrooms, sauce and other various vegetables. He loved Wednesdays.
Lunch went by quickly and the group of six moved at the same time as they gathered up their things and headed out of the Great Hall.
A group of girls giggled as Ed and Winry walked by. Winry looked back and blushed –realizing it was the same group of girls that had passed them in the hall before.
"-help with." Ed asked, looking at Winry.
Winry snapped awake from her embarrassment from the fourth year girls and she looked to Ed in a daze. "What?"
Ed frowned before he repeated himself, "Do you want to help me with some work Professor Grubbly-Plank asked me to do for her?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, "Who is Grubbly-Plank?"
"She's the substitute teacher for Care of Magical Creatures."
Winry considered that for a moment before she nodded. "All right."
They waved goodbye to Al and the trio and wove their way through the crowds of students and out to the back, near the Forbidden Forest were Hagrid's hut was located and where Professor Grubbly-Plank still held class out back.
The woman pulled her pipe from her mouth and she nodded businesslike, waving to Ed to join her. There was a large carriage with four winged horses strapped to the front and Grubbly-Plank motioned to the sixty-plus crates atop it.
"Well, I need those moved over there; they're for my first and second year students. They need to be arranged so best to do it now. Get going then." She told them and turned to head to the front of the wagon to talk with the driver and inspect one of the horses he was indicating.
Ed's shoulders drooped and his face fell as he realized just how much work this was going to take. He looked over his shoulder at Winry who was taking a seat on the back steps of Hagrid's home. Fang bounded after her and groaned as she rubbed his ears and patted his neck. The dog then decided she was his new best friend after being so lonely without Hagrid around.
Winry laughed softly and rubbed the dog's cheeks –if dog's had cheeks that is- and she ruffled his ears. Fang flopped down next to her with his head on her knee and promptly slobbered down the front of her pants.
Watching her for a moment, Ed smiled –remembering that same sight with Den. But he sighed heavily as he remembered the crates, "No chance you're going to help me, huh?"
She looked up and smiled warmly, "Not a chance in hell. Get to work."
He sighed heavily and it looked as though the weight of the world fell upon his shoulders as he trudged over. But as soon as he stood in front of the carriage, he straightened up, cracked his knuckles and inhaled deadly, "All right then." He said to no one in particular. He pulled his coat and vest off, tossed them to the side and rolled up his sleeves before he got to work.
It was two hours later he finally finished –arranging the boxes how Grubbly-Plank ordered him. But it had felt like days!
Ed groaned as he flopped to the ground, his brow dripping sweat, his hair stuck to the back of his neck, and his clothing was plastered to his body. "I'm so out of shape." He grumbled.
Winry stood from the steps and stretched, yawning loudly as though just to rub it in. She wandered over to him, rubbing her backside as she groaned, "My butt hurts."
With a slowly turn of his head, Ed leveled dark, festering eyes upon her and he snarled, "Go move those crates and then see if you'll complain about your butt!" He snapped and looked away, pouting as he rolled his shoulders and winced.
She shook her head and smiled before she moved behind him and knelt down, using his shoulder as ease her way down.
"Ow! Winry!" Ed complained, jerking away from her hand; but she slapped his other shoulder once he pulled away and he winced.
"Hold still" She ordered, kneeling behind him and she began to knead her fingers into his shoulders and the back of his neck.
Ed crumbled immediately and groaned loudly, "You're the best, Winry." He moaned as she rubbed his spine and the muscles under his shoulders. He rolled his head, his eyes closed in delight.
With a smile, Winry continued her work, "No I'm not. You're just saying that because I'm being nice and giving you a massage."
"Well yeah, but you're still the best." He groaned again, "Yeah, right there…" Ed trailed off, arching his back as she dug into a particularly nasty knot.
Winry smiled at the back of his neck and trailed her eyes along his neck and to the side of his face. She kept at her massaging, rubbing her hands over the top of his shirt and trailed her fingers along his back and feeling every one of his muscles. She mildly wished he could take his shirt off so she could rub him down better –then she blushed at that thought and continued what she was doing without vocal complaint.
Ten minutes passed before Winry finally straightened her back and patted his shoulders quickly before she sat back on her heels. "There you go."
Ed moaned against and fell backwards onto his elbows, nearly laying his head in her lap as he leaned it back to look up at her and grin wistfully, "Thanks; that felt wonderful."
Winry smiled back at him, then wrinkled her nose and wiped her fingers on a dry portion of his shirt, "You're all sweaty, ew."
Ed snickered. At least something entertaining came out of this.
She shook her head then tilted it to the side, "Now you just need to fix your hair."
"Naw, too lazy." He closed his eyes again, staying where he was in his reclined position in front of her; enjoying the feeling of doing nothing.
She rolled her eyes at him –she felt she did that a lot around him. She reached down and yanked the tie out of his hair and ran her fingers through the sweaty strands.
Ed jerked his head away as his eyes shot open. He stared at her a moment then blushed and tried to sit up.
Wrenching sharply on his hair, Winry pulled him still and she finished combing her fingers through his hair then retying it up into a ponytail. "I remember the last time I did something like this…"
"You combed my hair?" Ed asked, obviously not remembering. He sat up more fully, turning his head to stare at her questioningly.
Winry frowned, a sad look crawled into her eyes, "Yeah… well, I braided your hair." She told him, her eyes saddening as she remembered and her fingers gently ran through his hair once more with a wistful lingering on her fingertips. "It was the last time I saw you." She whispered.
Ed looked away and frowned, "Yeah well… I didn't…" He stopped, his frown deepening and drawing the light from his eyes. No, he had known what he was doing when he had made his decision to get Al back.
The two were silent for a time before Ed startled the young woman from her contemplative thoughts as he stood. He placed his hand on her head and ruffled her hair –getting a glare from her.
He grinned silly as she stood and shoved a finger in his stomach.
"Jerk," She grumbled and smoothed her hair back before turning and heading back to the castle.
Ed's smile widened as he gathered his vest and coat and threw them over his shoulder, following after her and heading back to the castle. After a nice shower –it was back to tutoring. And his light and content mood suddenly shattered at the remembrance of having to teach a group of seventh year girls next.
Winry turned suddenly and smiled; her hands behind her back as she walked backwards, "Thanks Ed."
His face twisted up in confusion, "What?" He felt his cheeks warm up as he watched the sunlight dance across her shoulders and alight her eyes with a twisting of blue and silver.
She shook her head; not about to tell him she was simply happy he hadn't forced her away earlier. Winry turned back around, walking ahead of him and back to the school with a little sway to her hips and a skip to her steps.
Ed paused in his tracks, staring after her with a confused look on his face. "What the hell are you talking about?" He shouted after her and jogged to catch up to her –but he never did get an answer.
'Women are weird.' He grumbled in his mind.
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"I still can't believe you got this room. I begged Dumbledore for it but he refused, saying it was specifically for 'special guests'." Ed scowled, looking around the bedroom Winry had been given for her stay here at Hogwarts.
It was enormous compared to his room, the ceiling reached up a good two feet higher –two feet higher for books, he bemoaned in his mind- and had at least five extra square feet all around. All that extra room and Winry got it.
'It isn't fair.' He grumped.
Winry smiled and hopped onto her bed, bouncing a few times before she settled into place, "I really like it. It's so much bigger than my old room back home!"
Ed frowned and he looked around the room then grumbled aloud this time, "I wanted it first…" He said under his breath as he waved his hand, "I'll see you tomorrow." He called, heading out the door.
She hopped off the bed and hurried to the door, leaning against the edge before Ed closed it, "All right, goodnight Ed." She smiled sweetly, waving her hand to him.
Ed blinked at her, studying the way she leaned into the door, how one of her knees was bent in an alluring way she wasn't aware of doing; before he smiled nervously and turned, heading up the stairs to his room for the night.
Winry closed the door and turned around with her hands on her hips. She got to work, fixing and arranging her room the way she wanted it to be.
A full two hours passed before she was satisfied with the way the bed was arranged, the way the dresser was now dusted off and cleaned inside and out. There were no more cobwebs in the corners and the window seat was once again suitable for humans to inhabit.
She yawned and stretched, reaching for the ceiling before she pulled the white shirt off and slipped out of her pants. She crawled into bed and snuggled into her clean sheets and smiled. It was nice to have her own room again. True, she had only shared Ed's bedroom for a few nights, but it was nice to know this was her own personal space –like how her workroom was her own.
Mmming softly before she slipped into a content, dreamy place between sleep and awareness. Winry turned her had, stirred back to wakefulness by the sound of buzzing.
Winry whined and waved her hand, somewhere registering in the back of her mind that the buzzing was a bug or an alarm clock –like that alarm clock she fixed. That had to be it.
She mumbled against her pillow and nuzzled at it before she moaned and forced an eye open a sliver.
And Peeves stared back at her.
He grinned slowly, his eyes narrowing darkly and a toothy snarl greeted her as her eyes flew open and she screamed.
Winry scrambled backwards in bed and fell off the edge, waving her hand at him as the ghost giggled in delight and flew over her, reaching his hands out at her in grabbing motions as he laughed and howled.
The young woman screamed again, scrambling across the floor. She managed to get to her feet and rushed out of her room and up the stairs. Winry threw the door open and leapt into Ed's bed, crawling under the cover and throwing them over her head.
Ed jerked awake quickly, his hand groping out behind him to grab a spear that rested against the wall by his headboard. He blinked several times to force himself awake after being bolted from sleep. Ed vaguely registered that there was a shaking body holding tightly to his waist and he raised a sleepy brow as he lifted the covers to see Winry's face pressed against his side.
"Wha' the hell?" He muttered, pushing at her head and arms, looking around the room as though waiting to see an army rushing in after her."
"He came back! The ghost! He was in my room and he attacked me!" Winry shouted, shaking harder and gripping at his body.
"Wha'?" Ed yawned and rubbed his face, "I'll go get rid of him…"
"No! I'm not going back in there!" She shouted.
Twisting his face up in disgust, Ed wriggled against her and finally pulled her up to hold her at arms length from him.
Winry shifted so she was kneeling in front of him. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she stared at him, her hands curled and pressed to her chest. "Please Ed, don't make me go back…"
"But you can't stay here! I'm tired, Winry! I haven't slept in three days and I worked my ass off today!" Ed croaked.
"Let me stay here! Please!" She reached up and gripped his wrists.
Ed frowned at her and looked away. "You really that scared of Peeves? He's nothing but a mischief maker… and a liar!" He added quickly for good measure.
He and everyone in the castle had taken note that Peeves had taken it upon himself to terrify Winry –if he wasn't leaping out at her from corridors; he was popping his head up through the table while she ate. Yesterday, the ghost had even gone into the shower after her –Ed had chased that damn ghost through the castle, threatening to kill him again after that one…
Winry nodded, "He hasn't left me alone today. Let me stay here…"
"No, I want to sleep, Winry!"
"Ed…" She croaked, the tears seeming to grow larger in her eyes.
Ed winced and groaned in his throat as he looked away, pouting now. "Fine…" He pulled his hands back and waved one to the side as though dismissing everything. He scratched the back of his head, yawning hugely, as he twisted about in bed, getting ready to stand.
Winry threw herself at him and wrapped her arms about his waist from behind, "No! Like this! Let's stay like this tonight… I want to sleep with you, Ed."
Edward's face turned scarlet as he stiffened at her words. He peeked to his side, seeing her head hiding against his ribs.
"…just like when we were kids and we'd pile onto our beds and curl up to sleep. I loved those days, Ed. I always felt so safe."
Nodding slowly, Ed slowly relaxed once more, his minds eye momentarily throwing back the images her words had provoked. "Uh… That's not a good idea, Win… I'll sleep in the chair."
"No… I… you want a good nights sleep, right? And I don't want you to go anywhere! We'll share the bed." She shifted and looked up to him from under his arm, "Please, Ed…"
He blushed and looked away from her large, blue eyes that begged him so alluringly. He frowned and shifted on the bed before he growled loudly and scratched his head, "Fine! Lie down and let me close the door." He struggled against her arms and finally freed himself with a decisive shove. He stood from the bed and pounded to his door, slamming it shut in annoyance before he rummaged about in his drawers to pull out a t-shirt. He struggled into it –wanting some form of decency between the two of them.
Ed turned to head back to bed and paused, his jaw slackening and his eyes widening while a deeper blush flooded his cheeks.
Winry struggled with the covers to once again put them right –and her bare legs were exposed to his eyes. Stumbling backwards, Ed turned quickly, scratching his head again as he squeezed his eyes shut and then rummaged through his drawers wildly, looking for anything that could be useful.
He finally found a pair of cotton pants he used to work out in when he had the time. He threw them at her, keeping his head turned away from her, "Put those on."
Winry blinked and looked at the pants then she turned red herself and momentarily hid her face in her hands. His old tank top and a pair of panties. Not exactly the best sleepover apparel wore unless… She cut herself off from finishing that thought. She stood and fumbled about, trying to locate the front of the pants.
Ed rubbed his neck; his face still felt like it was on fire –when his eyes locked onto the mirror behind his dresser. He froze, completely engrossed in watching her through the glass.
The young woman shook the pants out then bent down, slipping first one leg, then the other into the pair of loose pants. They hung low on her hips and the tops of her hips swelled outwards enticingly from a thin waist.
He stared at her reflection –still seeing how gracefully she had slid her leg through the material in his minds eye; and suddenly wished he hadn't given her the damn pants to wear.
'You are a horrible man!' His mind screamed at him. Ed shook his head and hissed, slamming the heel of his hand into his temple to force the images out. He shook his head again before he dared to peek at her when he heard the blankets rustling again.
Winry's face lit up the darkness of his room; and momentarily eased his own nerves –she was just as embarrassed as he.
He looked away as he shuffled back to the bed then hesitated, "I… I really should just sleep in the chair…"
"No… just for tonight? I swear I'll stay in my room tomorrow… so long as I know the ghosts won't come in…" She whispered, her fingers gripping the bedding.
With the frown growing on his face, Ed finally nodded –though he still didn't like the idea. Ed crawled in next to her and turned his back to her immediately, staring at his wardrobe so intently, he almost didn't feel her arm slipping about his waist and her nose nuzzling against his spine between his shoulder blades.
Ed stiffened then felt her stiffen as well.
Inhaling deeply to calm himself, Ed slowly relaxed against her, leaning back a bit as he settled into bed once more. He tugged the blankets up higher and Winry's face was soon hidden from view –not that she minded; she felt safer now; inhaling his scent and pressed tightly to his back.
They were quiet as they lay there –so tired yet unable to sleep while feeling the other's warmth seep into their bodies.
Ed stared at the wardrobe, watching the shadows play against the wall as the moon disappeared behind the clouds. His eyes grew heavy and they eventually slipped closed. He exhaled loudly as contentment finally settled into his muscles and he drifted upon the haziness of sleep that lingered so close.
"Thank you." Winry whispered, sighing against his back and shifting her hand against his chest to curl near his belly. Her breath caused a pleasant shiver to run up his spine and she smiled, her eyes closing finally after fighting it for so long.
They both finally managed to drift off to sleep with Winry gripping at Ed fearfully. Ed rolled to his back slightly, forcing a sleepy Winry to lift her upper body enough to move with him before she settled back down against him, her head tucked against his arm and chest and her arm flopped lazily over his chest.
Ed's mouth fell open as he went dead to the world and back to sleep. His hand scratched at his belly and hiked his shirt up to expose his stomach to the air.
But it was all right. They both agreed this wasn't so bad –it was actually rather pleasant. They never said it aloud of course. That would be too embarrassing.
---------- ----------
Day 4:
Al hummed happily as he headed up the stairs to his brother's room. He smiled as he opened the door, "Morning Broth-" He called but it was cut short as he stared at Ed and Winry. He blinked and tilted his head then a frown crawled over his face.
Was that jealousy he felt? Why? It was silly. Al shook his head then smiled, looking back to his brother and best friend-turned-sister.
Ed was sprawled across the bed, his mouth open and his shirt hiked up to his chest. His hand was on his stomach and a bit of drool threatened to leave the corner of his mouth.
Al rolled his eyes, "Brother, you'll catch cold." He scolded as he shook his head.
Winry was curled against his side, her nose nuzzled into his ribs and her hand was hidden under his shirt atop his chest.
He stared for a moment longer –that curl in his stomach again making him feel as though he was being cheated in some way. But he forced it away and smiled, tilting his head and watching them sleep.
With a grin that slowly grew mischievous, Al shouted and ran the last few steps before he jumped onto the bed, laughing loudly as Winry sat up with a yelp and Ed rolled off the side of the bed and landed hard on the floor.
Laughing, Al hugged Winry, "Morning!" He crowed, "You two should get up before the other students wake up. You're always complaining that there is no hot water left in the mornings."
Ed scowled, ruffling his bed tussled hair. "Why the hell did you wake me up that way?"
Smiling, Al shrugged, "You two looked so comfortable I wanted to join you!" He laughed.
His face twisted up in confusion then he blinked and peeked over the edge of the bed and looked up at Winry.
She rubbed her eyes before looking at him and smiling warmly in a very content and sweet way. "Morning, Ed."
He blushed, staring at her for a moment longer. He finally managed to pull his eyes away before he enjoyed lingering on her tousled form for too long, "Yeah, morning." He stood quickly and yawned loudly.
"Why was Winry sleeping with you?" Al asked innocently, tilting his head at his brother even as he moved to sit against the headboard and smiled as Winry giggled and curled back up, hugging Al and laying her head on his shoulder –watching Ed closely with a knowing smile.
He turned scarlet immediately, "It's not what it looks like!" He shouted, panic etched into every fiber of his being.
Al blinked, "What do you mean? You two were sleeping together."
"No we weren't! We were just sleeping! We weren't together…" He waved a hand, fumbling over his words, not sure how to explain himself anymore.
"But… you were together in bed… didn't you…" Al looked confused.
"No! Nothing! We didn't do anything!" Ed waved his hands wildly, his face growing hotter if possible.
Winry giggled and poked Al in the side, "Leave him alone. He's suffered enough."
Al grinned silly, wriggling against Winry as she poked him. He batted at her hands and smiled larger, "Okay! I'll stop!"
Ed blinked, staring at Al, "You…" He pointed at him, accusing him without getting anything out.
He just smiled and shrugged his free shoulder that didn't have Winry's head on it.
He glowered at him, "Damnit Al, that wasn't funny!"
"Yes it was." Winry told him simply, giggling again.
"Don't you start!"
"Oh stop it! You never could take a joke!" She sighed, sitting up slowly with a stretch, her arms reaching up to the ceiling then curling about her head languidly with an arch of her back before she sighed and smiled at him.
"I can too take a joke!" He shouted nervously, blushing softly while watching her.
Winry rolled her eyes, "No you can't. You can make the jokes, but if they're made about you, you flip out and start shrieking."
"I do not!" He shouted.
Winry pointed at him, "See?" she shouted back.
He scowled at her as he stalked up to the bed and snatched her by the wrists.
Winry shrieked and struggled as he pulled her off the bed, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Teaching you a lesson!" He snarled, dragging her with him to the door.
She shouted and fought against him, managing to get in a kick to his shin and a slap to his cheek.
Al laughed, shaking his head, "Brother, leave her alone!" He grinned, sitting up from the bed.
He glared at Winry, fumbling for the door. He nearly lost his hold on her as she twisted about –so he twisted her arms behind her back and pulled her close to his body to pin her in place as he flung the door open then grabbed the wrist she had managed to get loose to stop it from beating against his chest.
"You are such a jerk!" She shouted in his face.
"So are you!" He shouted right back, leaning into her more.
They practically snarled at one another –Winry bent backwards slightly with Ed's face inches from hers.
"Uh…"
Winry and Ed snapped their heads to the side and stared at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry's jaw was slack and his brows raised high, Hermione looked as if she was speechless for the first time in the four and a half years he'd known her, and Ron looked ready to die of blood loss.
Ed turned scarlet. He didn't move for a minute, "What are you three doing here?" He shouted –then remembered he was still in his boxers as Hermione blushed and turned away from him. He straightened as he pushed Winry at the three before he jumped back quickly and darted back into his room, shutting the door tightly with a bang before he ran a hand down his face.
Winry stumbled into Ron and Harry, leaning on them heavily till she regained her balance. She then turned with a huff and glared at the door, "You are such a jerk, Edward Elric!" she snarled in her throat before turning to stare at the trio.
"That's the last time I'm nice to you!" Ed shouted through the door even as he opened his dresser drawer and yanked out a pair of pants and shoved a leg into them.
Harry just stared at her for a moment, lost for words till he managed out weakly, "Hello." He waved.
"What did you two do?" Ron blurted out, looking her over and appraising her attire.
"Ronald!" Hermione hissed and punched him in the shoulder.
"Ow…" He whined and rubbed his arm as he blushed, chastised thoroughly.
Winry glared, "We were sleeping!" She hissed and pushed past them.
Hermione caught her arm, following after her. "Do you have anything to wear? I heard Al mention yesterday that Dumbledore will need to take you out to buy clothes. Would you like to borrow something?"
Blinking in surprise and then deflating immediately, Winry nodded, "That'd be nice. I don't really want to wear another of Ed's old shirts."
Smiling both cutely and yet businesslike, Hermione nodded, "Agreed. Come on then, my dorm is in Gryffindor. I have some clothes I can loan you." She hooked her arm through Winry's and patted her hand like a mother might as the two girls headed down the stairs.
Ron knocked on the door as Harry talked through the wood. "Ed? You all right?"
Ed opened the door, a towel thrown over his shoulder with some bath supplies tucked under his arm. "Yeah, fine. And why are you up here anyway?"
The boys shrugged together. "Coming up to get you, I suppose." Harry offered.
Staring at the two boys, Ed blinked then glared at nothing as he turned and grumbled something about 'idiots' to himself while heading down the stairs to the bathrooms to shower.
"What did you do with Winry, mate?" Ron called, his cheeks flushed but his eyes curious.
Ed's face turned scarlet and he lifted his hand, flipping Ron off before he rounded the corner.
Al ran down the stairs, and his jaw dropped as he caught the last of his brother's actions, "Brother!"
"Think he doesn't want me to know?" Ron asked, sounding as though he wanted to be told he was wrong even as he turned, looking at Harry with his face slightly pale.
Harry nodded, his lips pursed, "Seems that way." He looked to his friend and they shrugged together.
----------
"Here, I don't know if this will fit you seeing as how you are a tad bit more… busty…" Hermione trailed off as she turned, offering over a thin, blue sweater that had a diamond weave at the bottom. "But it should look lovely with your eyes."
Winry wrinkled her nose- she liked things a bit more free feeling. But this was certainly better than walking around in Ed's old clothes.
"Thanks. Mind if I borrow a skirt too? I can't wear these pants forever. I want to go shopping, but Dumbledore said now wasn't a good time." She frowned, not liking those words at all. Winry had stated to the old man that telling a girl to wait a week before she could get a new wardrobe was like telling a man to hold his breathe underwater for twenty minutes before being let up for air –either wouldn't survive long. Luckily she only had a day or two left before the grand event of clothes shopping would begin! She couldn't wait!
"Well it is drawing close to Halloween. It is a very important event here at Hogwarts." Hermione explained as she got to work, helping Winry out of her clothes so she could help accessorize her.
Winry's eyes went wide and she struggled away from the girl, "I can do that myself!" She shouted. "I don't know how you people do it here, but I can dress myself!"
Hermione frowned and sighed as though irritated, "All right." She took a seat on the bed with a leg under her, "Ronald has insisted I ask you if Edward gave you an answer to that question we asked him a few days ago at lunch."
Blinking several times as her mind screeched to a halt, Winry had to rewind her memories to remember their conversation that day. She laughed suddenly and shook her head, "No, he never did; and probably never will. Just tell Ron it's none of his business." She told her simply as she turned her back, pulling off Ed's tank top and flinging it to the bed before she struggled into Hermione's sweater. It was rather tight around the bust at Hermione had predicted, and it was tight about shoulders as well –but Winry was used to it; all those years of working in a tube-top, and from building muscles, she had learned certain styles of clothing just weren't her friends.
"I did, but he wouldn't leave me alone." She sighed exasperatedly.
Winry grinned, smoothing down the sweater over her hips then took the offered skirt and struggled into it, frowning as it hung a bit loose around her waist but a bit too tightly at her hips. "I feel so… awkward." She shook her head as she turned, smoothing down the pleated blue and brown skirt while looking to Hermione for approval.
The younger girl smiled at her and tilted her head, seeming to appraise her before she nodded, "You look proper now."
She raised a brow, her lip curling up slightly. "Proper?" She'd never been called that before in her life.
"Well then, let's get to breakfast." She stood, pulling on her school robes over her clothing before she gathered her books and led the way very matter-of-factly out the door.
Winry snatched up her night clothes that she had stolen from Ed and rolled them up into a ball, hurrying after Hermione. Once they stopped off at her room to drop her clothes off, they hurried to the Great Hall and took their seats.
The two got cups of tea and for once, Winry enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. Edward and the Weasley twins arrived, whispering under their breath as Ed pointed to a paper they passed between the three of them. He nodded as Fred talked quickly and explaining something that caused Ed's eyes to go wide before a wicked grin crawled up his face.
"What are those three planning now?" Hermione sighed heavily.
"What do you mean?" Winry asked, reaching out to grab an orange and began peeling it.
"Those three cause so much trouble every year. Last year, they set Snape's robes on fire with a cold-fire charm. Snape wasn't hurt –after all that is the purpose of cold-fire; but they were caught and Ed was given the task of cleaning the Dungeon for three weeks and Fred and George had detention for a month. But even then, the three set off four rounds of Dungbombs in his classroom a week later. They didn't get caught that time, but everyone knew they did it." Hermione sighed and shook her head, clearly disapproving.
Winry laughed and shook her head, "Ed always seems to get in trouble, even in another world. He was constantly dragging Al and me into trouble when we were little. It was his idea to run away from home one day. He wanted to explore the woods about five miles from home. We stayed out all night, making a house of sticks and weeds. Around midnight we got cold and Al and I left. But of course Ed, he was too stubborn to leave so he stayed outside all night and even sat through a rainstorm. He got sick after that and was the worst patient ever. I told him I'd be his doctor…"
"I remember that. Ed tried to order you around." Al took a seat across from her, smiling sleepily at her. "You finally got mad at him for ordering you around so much and you poured his juice on his head and went home crying."
Winry puffed up and folded her arms, "Well he was acting like a real jerk."
"I was not!" Ed denied, breaking off from his conversation with the twins, "I had a sore throat. I just asked you if I could get some soup!"
"You told me to get you some soup or you'd die and it'd be my fault."
Ed scowled, "Did not." He grumbled and turned back to the paper, looking over their equations for the jinx.
Winry smirked and shook her head. But her mood quickly changed as her first experience with the owl post arrived. She had arrived late to Breakfast the last few days –mostly due to the fact if she wasn't waiting for Ed, Ed was waiting for her to get finished so they could walk together to the Great Hall so she wouldn't get lost for a week in this huge castle.
Owls flew in from every open window high in the rafters. They soared above the tables, dropping their letters to their recipient before landing to get some breakfast as payment, or simply flying off and back to the Owlery.
Winry shouted, her hands to her mouth and her eyes wide as she stared up at the birds swooping and diving through the room. "What the hell is going on?" Winry gasped.
"Just the owl post." Ron explained, taking a seat across from her with Harry at his side. Al took a seat next to Winry and smiled, "It scared me the first time too."
Winry shouted slightly and slapped a hand over her mouth as a small owl darted in and dropped off a letter for Ron. It hopped around as though the little creature had one to many sugar mice, before it snatched at his food then took off again, zooming away.
She slowly uncurled from herself, looking around the room and seeing how all the children seemed to not notice the oddity of this.
Al patted her hand reassuringly, "Don't worry Winry, it's just how this world gets mail. The muggles get their mail the way we do back home…"
"Muggles? What's that?" Winry asked quickly. She had heard that word so many times in the last few days –and mostly directed her way- she finally was fed up and wanted to know what that word meant.
"Oh, non-magical people. You know how in Amestris there are some who choose not to do alchemy?" Al began.
"Like me?" She offered.
He nodded, "Well in this world, it's the opposite. The magic is only given to a select few. Some people have magic, and some don't. The ones who don't have magic are called, muggles." Al explained.
Winry nodded and looked away, a bit confused as well as overwhelmed –first owls and now magical terms for a group of people. What was next? A creature that could suck out souls and eat it for dinner? With a sigh, Winry slumped forward, "This is too weird." She whined. "I just want my tools and a work bench with piles of metal…"
"You mean you really are a mechanic?" Ron asked in amazement, his eyes wide and round.
She nodded simply, "I am. I'm an Auto…" Ed nudged her leg and frowned.
"What?" She hissed.
Ed shook his head again, "They won't know the term…
"Well I don't know anything else here! So we're even!" She snapped, "I'm an Automail mechanic. I made Ed's…" This time Ed shot her a look so withering her words fell back into her head and she stared at him in surprise, not sure what that look was for. "Ed?"
Harry stared at Winry closely then looked to Ed and narrowed his eyes –Ed had never really talked about himself –why was he being so secretive? "You made Ed's what?" Harry asked, deciding to push his luck.
"I ma-"
"It's nothing!" Ed growled, chopping at his food as he shoved it into his mouth.
Fred and George looked to one another then raised the same eyebrows at the same time, "Nothing my ass…" They said together, eyeing Ed.
"So what has happened recently? I haven't read the papers in the last couple days." Ed interrupted, looking to Hermione as his scapegoat.
The girl frowned, clearly not liking the fact he was using her; but she sighed and began to tell him, "There was another break-in at the Ministry a few days ago by Sturgis Podmore. The paper had said he tried to rob the Ministry of Magic." Hermione explained in a whisper. "He was one of the men who were supposed to escort us to King's Cross."
Ed frowned, "He's one of the order, right?" He whispered. Al and Winry peeked at each other –still new to this and unsure as to what to say. Al sat across from his brother, nibbling on his bacon and toast. Winry swirled her food around as she listened intently.
Harry nodded, "So this is the thing; he was caught trying to force a door open and was sent to Azkaban."
Ed blinked in surprise and frowned further, "Just a door huh?" He glanced at Winry and smiled sheepishly, "We did get off easy."
"You're lucky that Dumbledore fellow is a smooth talker." She grumbled and took a large drink of her pumpkin juice.
"Well I still think it was a set up," Ron whispered. "They suspected that bloke was part of the Order. I still think they set it up and caught him just so they could put him away for awhile."
Hermione nodded; even a week later she still had to agree that Ron's logic on that matter.
"So what else is there?"
The trio looked to one another and hesitated.
"I made Keeper." Ron offered.
Ed smirked but didn't say anything; he left that to Al who brightened up across from him.
"Oh, really? Congratulations!"
Ron hesitated and turned to eye Al across the table –still somewhat prejudice against a younger child supposedly being on the same level as him as Ed insisted. "Do you even know what a Keeper is?"
Al blushed faintly, "Well no… but it sounds like a game of some sort; and you're happy you became a Keeper, so I'm happy for you too."
Ron looked away shyly, feeling horrid after his little bout of spite.
"Well…" Harry trailed off, "Snuffles came by… through the fire I mean." He went quiet, a flicker of hurt crossing over his face but he brushed it away. "He was checking in about my scar, and also, he told us Fudge thinks Dumbledore is making an army here. Fudge actually believes the students are going to be an army for Dumbledore."
Ed took a moment to compose himself from his snickers, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but none of these kids are warriors. For many, they never will be; even when war breaks out."
Harry nodded in agreement, "But that's why Umbridge is here. She's here to watch us to make sure nothing 'fishy' is going on."
Ed nodded, "Makes sense."
Winry shivered –she hadn't had the joy of speaking with Umbridge yet, but she had gotten several glares from the woman already. She had been informed the day before by McGonagall that she should be preparing herself for a visit from the woman, and that Umbridge had a habit of attempting to force herself upon people to learn the facts about them.
"That woman gives me a wiggins." Winry said with another shiver.
Ed nodded, and Al bobbed his head in agreement.
"I don't think she likes me very much." Al spoke up suddenly.
A few moments later another round of delivery owls came swooping through the windows. Winry jumped and glared at her plate of food –still not used to the mail service in the school.
Winry jerked violently away as a bird swooped down to Hermione, dropping off what looked to be a newspaper it carried. It held out its leg and Hermione put a coin in the pouch on its leg before it reach out, took her toast then took to the air once more. Before the owl could even clear the top of a milk jug –which Edward was greatly disappointed it hadn't just toppled over- Hermione let out a gasp that stabbed him in the stomach and he jerked back to look at her.
"What?"
Hermione pointed to the flattened out paper on the table.
MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DELORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST-EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"
"'High Inquisitor'?" His voice dropped dark and low as he narrowed his eyes at the statement, his toast flopping back down onto his plate. "What does that mean?"
Hermione cleared her throat and began to read:
"In a surprise move last night the Ministry of Magic passed new legislation giving itself an unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"The Minister has been growing uneasy about goings-on at Hogwarts for some time…"
"Don't read that shit." Ed hissed and threw his sausage back down onto his plate with a sickening splat.
Hermione glared at him then continued –but Ed sneer and looked away, looking into his mug of pumpkin juice to ignore the news report.
He knew that was the reason she was here –she was here to spy for the Ministry –he just couldn't believe the Ministry had gone so far as to appoint her a place of higher authority that was on the same level as Dumbledore.
"She's been a WHAT?" Harry nearly shouted.
Ed snapped back to attention and looked at Winry who had seen that glazed look in his eyes. She'd seen it so many times in the past she knew Ed had been off in his head. She cleaned closer, "The paper said Umbridge has been a success…"
"What the hell?" Ed snapped and leaned over the table to read that portion of the paper. He sneered and flopped back down, "She's been a bitch the moment she got here."
"Wait, there's more," Hermione said grimly then got back to reading.
"-an immediate success, totally revolutionizing the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts and providing the ministry with on-the-ground feedback about what's really happening at Hogwarts."
Ed grumbled and looked away, once again shaking his head in disgust. The woman was here to spy on them as well as now inspect the teachers and critique their lessons.
"This is so stupid." Ed mumbled as he stood suddenly.
"Ed?" Winry asked.
"Come on, you have an appointment with Dumbledore." Ed grumbled.
Winry sighed and shook her head, "Ed just sit down."
Ed sat back down, but with much protesting in his head.
Hermione shook her head as she finished, "-It's outrageous!"
"I know it is." Harry turned back to her after watching Ed stand then promptly sit back down once ordered to by Winry. He looked down at his right hand and felt his stomach flip in anger, at both himself and at the woman who was lumbering about this school.
Harry looked back up at Ed –who was still fuming over this turn of events, then to Ron –who had a grin unfurling across his face.
"What?" Harry and Hermione asked together.
"Oh, I can't wait to see McGonagall inspected," He declared happily, just short of cackling, "Umbridge won't know what's hit her."
Edward snorted and a sly, almost evil grin crawled up his face, "I'd love to be there to see that…"
"Well, come on," said Hermione, jumping up, "we'd better get going, if she's inspecting Binn's class we don't want to be late…"
Al nodded quickly and stood, snatching up his book bag and struggling around in the robe "This thing isn't as comfortable as our old Sensei's coat, Brother. This thing is so hard to move around in." He fidgeted as he looked up at his brother –who was standing with Winry following his lead.
Ed chuckled, "Now you know why I never enrolled."
Al wrinkled his nose and mumbled under his breath as he hurried to join Harry and the duo at the doors where they waited for him.
Winry was already down the hall, having past Ed without waiting for him.
The four students waved goodbye to the older adults before they disappeared down a separate hallway that led to their first class.
---------- ----------
The meeting with Dumbledore didn't go so well. He had confirmed that Winry had no magical abilities and it was unheard of to keep non-magical folk who weren't Squibs, in the castle.
Ed had nearly jumped the old man across his desk for suggesting Winry leave, his eyes had seen red and Dumbledore had quickly lifted his hand to halt Ed's train of thought before he himself was killed.
"I'm not suggesting she be taken to London and obliviate her memory, Edward. I'm suggesting that if you wish her to stay here, perhaps we should move her off school grounds. I'm certain Hagrid wouldn't mind helping us build Miss Rockbell her own lodgings near his hut. Or even Hogsmead would be better yet. If it wasn't for the circumstances this year, I wouldn't hesitate to allow her to stay within the castle walls." He explained, looking to Winry with a sad smile, "I'm sorry, my dear."
Winry shook her head, "I'd rather be out of this castle where the ghosts can't get me." She shivered, still seeing Peeves' face in her mind's eye.
After they had left his office –with many promises to take her to Diagon Alley soon to get her clothing, Ed had gone off to tutor a gaggle of girls for an hour, another hour spent with a bunch of rowdy first year boys –then headed back out to Grubbly-Planks to finish helping the woman move the crates into the designated clearings where she taught the different age levels.
The day had gone by quickly and without a tragically grand incident as the last few days had been. Everyone was gathered around the fire in the Gryffindor common room –Harry sitting in his wing-backed chair, Hermione sitting next to Ron on the sofa and Winry sitting in the chair across from Harry. Al was on the floor with a pride of kittens around him –seemed every cat in the castle had taken a liking to him and if he didn't have his kitten at his side, he had two or three following him around the castle at any given time. The teachers were becoming more and more distraught at having the creatures following him about in their classes and lying under his feet as he worked.
Crookshanks was sprawled across his lap, kneading his paws into Al's thigh and causing him to giggle as he ran his fingers through the long hair of the old cat. His kitten was crawling up his back, his little claws being careful not to stick Al before he finally made it to his shoulders and meowed loudly, walking back and forth shakily. The kitten nearly fell several times but always managed to save himself at the last second. Four other cat's whom Harry and the gang had never seen before were curled up close to his body in one way or another –whether rubbing their sides against his back, nudging at his elbow's or sleeping at his sides, Al looked to be the King of Cats.
Ed groaned as he walked in through the portrait and trudge over to the group. He whined faintly then looked at Winry, his eyes growing large and pleading. Like a sweaty, dirt covered puppy –he was too pathetic to ignore.
She rolled her eyes then motioned him over, sitting up and moving to the edge of her seat.
Ed laughed with a shout of victory and with more vigor than he previously displayed, he hopped over the edge of the table and flopped onto the floor in front of her with her legs on either side of his shoulders.
Winry got to work right away, running her hands over his shoulders and kneading them into his back and slowly easing the muscles into relaxation.
Ed groaned in delight, his eyes closing and his head lolling backwards.
Several sixth year girls glanced over at the display and their eyes went huge before whispers ran rampant through the entire common room about Ed and the girl, Winry. They suddenly elevated her from his childhood friend, to his girlfriend in five minutes flat and it spread from Gryffindor clear down to Slytherin in ten. For the most part, the female population didn't care, but there were those select few who decided this girl was a possible threat to their livelihood.
The night wore on and the common room emptied. The group hadn't moved though, even when Hermione had suggested they should go to bed, the six people hadn't budged, rather enjoying this warm, peaceful atmosphere next to the dieing fire and in the presence of friends.
"Brother…" Al whispered, breaking the silence between them.
"Hmm?" Ed grunted, his head moving to the side to allow Winry better access to his neck and skull as she began to rub at the base of his head.
"…" Al stopped suddenly and shook his head, his courage failing him.
"Ed, where you in the Military?" Harry asked quickly, his face was rather hard, clear anger and betrayal was written there.
Ed stiffened and lifted his head, eyes opening to stare at the boy across from him, "What? Why would you think something like that?" He looked away.
"Al told us you were in the Military back in your world." Harry hissed, watching Ed wince then a sadness grow over his face. "Why didn't you tell us? There's so much you could have taught us! And why was Winry so upset that first day here? We know you broke her out of the Ministry, but why did you have to break her out in the first place?" He opened his mouth to continue but Ed lifted his hand to cut him off.
"How do you do magic without a wand?" This time it was Hermione who asked him, her eyes peeking up at him from under her lashes.
Ed frowned further –all of Winry's work gone to waste as he tensed with anxiety. He locked his eyes on the fire, watching the coals burn and glow irregularly. Telling them would be connecting with them even more than he already had. He didn't want that… but the jar was open, there wasn't any turning back now.
"I joined the Military to get Al's body back." Ed stated bluntly. "They funded our research…"
"What happened to his body?" Ron asked quickly, tilting his head.
"It was taken by the Gate… when we tried to bring our mom back to life." He whispered his eyes and head bowing in shame.
Al lowered his eyes as well, hugging his kitten close as he shivered, faintly remembering the black hands reaching for him, reaching and stretching out for his brother, then nothing till he woke up and saw Rose.
"What is the Gate exactly?" Hermione asked, a disbelieving look to her eyes.
"It's the source of magic and alchemy. It's the place where you cross over in death. It's like the gates of heaven, or the doorway to hell. It all depends on how you look at the damn thing." Ed sneered, shaking his head and looking away, staring at something under the legs of the couch.
"So what did the Military do for you to make it such an appealing option?" Hermione asked; glancing to Winry whose face was shadowed by the fall of her hair before her eyes –she looked just as upset as Ed did about the past.
"They funded our research. In exchange for being their dog and doing what they said, they would let me and Al search for the Philosopher's Stone. Al and I must have trekked over the entire country of Amestris ten times over, and all we got were rumors. But those rumors did hold truth to them. But anyway, that's why I joined the Military. For money to get Al back to normal."
"But I know I must have wanted to get you back to normal too, Brother!" Al shouted quickly, shifting in his seat on the floor. "I know I must have wanted to fix your arm and leg!"
Ed glared and looked away –he knew the questions would start right about…
"What happened to your arm and leg?"
Now.
"I lost them. When Al lost his body, I lost my left leg as part of the equivalent exchange, and when I transmuted Al's soul to the suit of armor, I used my right arm as alchemic material to seal him to the armor."
The trio was silent –how could anyone say anything after that?
"Al brought him to my house… I was the one who figured out it was Al." Winry whispered, her fingers still rubbing his neck lightly. "He was this little boy in this huge suit of armor –Grandma and I were stunned. But we got to work and we stopped the bleeding. Ed was very close to dieing; but he was too stubborn as usual to even die… and once he got better he asked to go through the Automail operation."
"Automail?" Ron asked, not familiar with the word. He looked to Harry, thinking it was a muggle term, but the boy shook his head, shrugging to further tell him he had no idea what it was.
"Automail is prosthetic limbs in our world. But it's more advanced than here." Ed explained. "Mad Eye Moody would be running at full speed if Winry could get at him and equip him with Automail." Ed grinned, bragging ever-so-slightly for Winry's sake.
She smiled sheepishly before she gave a further explanation. "I take an amputee into surgery and connect wires to their nerves and make a port casing so their new limb can be connected to their body. It's more complicated than that, but basically the nerves are still sending out signals so the wires act as nerves to move the limbs how you would your real arm. It's… very… extremely painful. Even grown men scream like babies for their mothers." Winry whispered.
Ed nodded then looked to the three sitting near him to clarify everything. "I had a metal arm and leg for five years. When I was ten I went through the operation –it was soon after trying to bring mom back." He said simply.
"He recovered in a year which has never been heard of! It usually takes patients three or four years to fully recover." Winry piped up quickly –unable to hold back the bit of pride in her voice. "He never once cried during the surgery, he didn't scream…" She whispered –lightly touching his shoulder, forcing herself to go quiet about her other memories, how she used to hear him crying at night.
Ed closed his eyes, rubbing his neck slowly.
"Ed?" Harry interrupted him.
Looking to the boy across from him, he raised a brow slightly, waiting for him to speak.
Harry leaned forward again and glared at Ed. All of last year, all summer, and all the beginning of this year he felt as if he was betrayed or lied to time and time again. And now to know Ed had purposefully withheld his past felt like another blow. "Why didn't you tell us? Why did you lie and act like you knew nothing?" He growled, somehow managing to withhold a shout he desperately wanted to issue forth. "You could have saved Diggory. You could have helped us get Wormtail and clear Sirius's name!" He finally did yell.
Staring at the furious boy, Ed shook his head, "Harry, I had my reasons…"
"I don't care! You should have trusted us!"
"I'm going to leave this place! Why make attachments when I'm going to leave and never plan on coming back?" Ed shouted back, struggling for a moment to stand –but Winry's hands slapped atop his shoulders and forced him back down. He glared at nothing in particular, fuming where he was forced to stay put.
"Edward…" Hermione dared to speak, shifting where she sat leaning against Ron –who looked torn between listening to the conversation, or trying to hide his nervousness at feeling Hermione so close to him.
Ed didn't look at her; instead he locked his eyes on Al and the kitten.
"I understand; but, Harry's right. We didn't even know you could do wandless magic. How should we know in the future if we can trust you when you didn't trust us to understand?"
Ed finally did level a look on the three, "Do you really want me to tell you that this isn't home to me? That I don't want to stay here? That without Al or Win…" He stopped himself but forced himself to continue, "…without Al or Winry I'm not home; I'm just visiting and staying in one place longer than want to be. Did you really want me to tell you all that even though you've been great friends, I don't care; I just want to go home?" He snarled, his knuckles turning white and his eyes flashing from the firelight and from the flickering flames to his left.
Hermione looked away, her nose almost touching Ron's shoulder as tears threatened her eyelashes. Ron looked away with a deep frown on his face, and Harry only stared hard into the fireplace.
Curling his lip then standing, Ed looked at Winry and then to Al, "I'm going to bed. We'll talk later." He hissed and stalked away to the portrait.
Al stood quickly from the midst of his cat-kingdom, "Brother..!"
"Later Al!" Ed called, waving his hand, the other shoved into his pocket.
Alphonse frowned and looked down at his kitten's ears. His shoulders fell and he slowly sank back into the purring haven of the cats.
Winry sighed loudly. "Don't listen to Ed. Knowing him he doesn't want to leave now that he knows you three. I'll go talk to him." She whispered and stood, heading for the door.
"Do you think Brother meant what he said?" Al called after her.
She looked back to him, catching the faint turn of Harry's head, "No. Ed's just… I don't know. I'll find out." She smiled reassuringly though she didn't feel it. She turned against and left, walking down the hall quickly.
As she turned a corner she saw him up ahead and jogged the rest of the way after him. "Ed!" She shouted, reaching out to snag his elbow.
He jerked away from her and glared, "Are you here to calm me down and make sure I'm fine? 'Cause I am! You're wasting your time." He turned, once again stomping his way to his room.
Winry glared and hurried after him. She moved quickly and stood in front of him and shoved him backwards, her hands on her hips, "You are a jerk sometimes… and sometimes you can be so nice too." Her face softened and her cheeks turned a soft pink, "It made me happy… hearing you say that." She said quietly.
Ed blushed and shrugged, "Don't think about it. It just slipped out." He grumbled, trying to step past her.
She smiled and tilted her head as she studied him. "You should tell them you didn't mean it –and makes sure you tell them you do want to stay; even if you still want to go home."
Ed rolled his eyes and looked away, but he didn't say anything, knowing she was right and not wanting to admit it.
With another smile, Winry took his hand –ginning larger as she saw his cheeks flush, "Now come on. I want you in my room –make sure that ghost is gone."
He nodded slightly then registered what she said fully and he nodded –then remembered what the ghost did the night before and for his own sanity as well as her own, he growled and ended up dragging her down the hall, "I'll chase that bastard out of there even if I have to put up a ward around your room." He stated loudly.
And she followed after him, laughing softly.
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First off, I'm SOOOOOO sorry this took so long! ;.; I really did try to hurry and get this posted! But then school work, and a screwed up schedule at work –and turns out a dude is quitting so that puts more pressure on me- and so bleh, sorry. But I did make it extra long! Almost seven+ full pages longer! So I hope you enjoy.
This story is also a waste of time because not much happens that contributes to the plot. But the next chapters will be. I guess I just wanted to show their interactions together as a group of friends before the horrors of war I will put them through.
Another picture for ya'll to look at! -
chupachup. deviantart. com is the picture I used to inspire me for this story. It's in her Scraps file on the second page. I know that's a lot of work to get to a picture, but I thought it was sooo lovely I couldn't not let ya'll see it It's the yellow one with the side of Al's face in the background with Ed in the foreground with 'Fullmetal Alchemist' in the right hand corner in scratchy letters. Again, it's the Yellow picture. It's really nice, just something about it made me write a whole bunch. Mostly the EdXWinry fluff ;) next chapter ya'll see it.
I am rather proud of this useless chapter though. I like it. Mostly because it set Ed and Winry up for something to follow; and it also was forcing Al to pull away from relying on Ed so much. It's not a huge theme, but Al is mentally getting himself ready for it –especially when he walked in on Ed and Winry in bed. That was his 'waking up' moment and so it was a sharp turning point for him. As well as just funny ;) teehee
And I hope I did justice to Harry. I was sitting back in the car on the way home from school thinking about the 5th book and how much I loathed how 'teenager' they were, and I realized I had only hinted at that with Harry, so I hope I made him irrational here, heh.
Okay, I'll let ya'll run.
Oh! And thank you for all the ideas! Please, do it again for me! Anything that you'd like to see now or in the future! And also!
Another challenge! What should I name Al's kitten?
o.0 I'm still not sure!
Thanks for the reviews - you all are awesome!
Melissa the Damgel
