Hi everybody! Welcome back to Secrets and Shadows! I apologize for skipping through the DA meeting last chapter, but I'll try to write a better chapter this time! However, I don't know if I'll be able to update next week. If I can, it probably means I won't be able to update the week after. I write on a school-distributed laptop, and with the school year winding down, I'll need to return it. However, I will get a new laptop soon, and then I'll be able to keep writing! Now, on with the story!
I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or Harry Potter.
Two weeks after the DA meeting, Selim wasn't filled with confidence. The wizards were excellent at learning magic, but a large number of the pureblood wizards and witches weren't paying much attention to his instructions on self-defense, believing it to be beneath them. He'd also noticed that Muggleborn members like Hermione and the Creevey brothers had slightly higher stamina than purebloods like Ron or Ernie Macmillan. He guessed it had to do with less access to magic outside of the school. However, where Selim was irritable about the lack of progress, Harry seemed revitalized, even forcing his way through Umbridge's class.
In addition, Selim couldn't always attend the meetings, as he had reports to send and discussions with Malfoy about alchemy and Amestrian history. The Slytherin hadn't revealed anything about Voldemort yet, and Selim was beginning to think that he didn't know anything, but Malfoy was also the only Slytherin who would speak to him at all.
When Hermione handed Selim a gold wizarding coin and explained what it was, Selim was immediately put on his guard. He knew the golden trio had learned what homunculi were, and Hermione was smart enough to put together clues to deduce Selim's secret, if he left enough. He also avoided the Dark Detectors in the Room of Requirement for the same reason. It was even harder than staying unnoticed for the Promised Day.
-Line Break-
The first time Selim really thought about Quidditch was in the library. He and Malfoy were going to discuss how alchemists learned and the differences between wizard alchemists and Amestrian alchemists. When Malfoy arrived, he handed Selim something. He looked down to see that it was a badge shaped like a crown. On it was the phrase, WEASLEY IS OUR KING.
Selim narrowed his eyes.
"What's this, Draco?"
"A badge that we made. Those of us in Slytherin, I mean. Taunts and verbal attacks are common in Quidditch."
"So, who is the badge meant to mock?"
"Ron Weasley. He's the new Gryffindor Keeper, and isn't immune to these tactics like the other players yet."
"Keeper?"
"You don't have Quidditch in Amestris? The Keeper tries to keep the Quaffle from going through the hoops, the Chasers try to put the Quaffle through the other team's hoops, the Beaters try to direct the Bludgers to unseat opposing players, and the Seeker, that's me, has to catch the Golden Snitch. That ends the game, and almost always guarantees victory for the team that catches it."
"That sounds confusing. And why would you give me this badge? I'm in Gryffindor. I might not be a sports person, but I'm not going to taunt my own House, either."
"I suppose. You don't seem to like Potter that much. Why do you hang out with him?"
"He's known in Amestris. It's for political reasons. Personally though, I think he's a biased and nosy idiot who doesn't think before he speaks and thinks he's entitled to everyone's private information. His friends aren't much better, but I think Hermione truly wants to learn about Amsetris."
They studied for a short while, then Malfoy excused himself to get to bed early for Quidditch. Selim had no interest in the game but attending would help his cover.
-Line Break-
The day of the Quidditch match was gray, and the game didn't go well for either team. The only reason Gryffindor won was Harry catching the Snitch. The Slytherins had repeatedly sung a song as loud as they could to taunt Ron in tandem with the badges, and it had worked. Slytherin had played very dirty. The only comeuppance they got was that one of the players was being berated by the referee for hitting Harry after he caught the Snitch.
Walking down to the field, he saw Harry and Malfoy talking. As he got closer, he could make it out.
"-we couldn't fit in useless loser either- for his father, you know-"
Selim noticed Fred and George were also becoming angry and began to run across the field. The Gryffindor captain was trying to calm them down, but things were certainly going to get ugly. Selim remembered how kind the Weasleys had been to him at Grimmauld Place. He reached the group of players just as Malfoy said something else to set not only Fred and George, but also Harry, off, causing both Harry and George to attack Malfoy. When the teams and Madame Hooch separate the trio, Selim turned to Malfoy.
"There's a difference between taunts and lines that shouldn't be crossed, Draco. Whatever you said to set Harry and the twins off, you need to take it back."
Malfoy was about to respond when another Slytherin player interrupted.
"Don't bother, Malfoy. At least mudbloods have magic, even if they don't deserve it. Bradley doesn't even have any magical blood to his name, from a family of filthy Muggles-"
The earthen fist that struck the player knocked him to the ground. Selim stalked over to the player and glared down at him.
"I have a thick skin and can take insults. But you dare insult my family? At least I'm not a product of incest like most of you pureblood idiots!"
Madame Hooch sent the Gryffindors and Selim to Professor McGonagall's office. She was extremely upset with them. Selim had been in the same room as Father when he was angry, before Wrath was born, so he wasn't intimidated, but then Umbridge arrived. Thanks to another educational decree, Fred, George, and Harry were banned from Quidditch for life. Then she turned to Selim.
"Mr. Bradley, I thought you and Mr. Malfoy were on good terms?"
"We are, Professor Umbridge. I don't see how that condones what he said to Harry and the Weasleys. I'm very upset with him."
"Be as that may, Mr. Bradley, that does not give you the right to attack students-"
"That student insulted my family, Professor. People he knew nothing about, simply because they aren't magical. I'm alarmed that steps aren't taken to teach the students that discrimination isn't right."
Umbridge gave Selim a smile that implied that nothing good was coming.
"Our ways are not your ways, Mr. Bradley. And based on your actions today, I believe I'll have to ban you from performing alchemy."
Selim had been expecting this since the Quidditch ban, and mentally prepared to fake protest and fear to give Umbridge what she wanted to see, but then the professor continued.
"I'll be writing to your fuhrer to make sure he knows that your license is revoked, of course. Your abuse of your position makes it clear to me that-"
I'm not the one abusing my position. "You don't have the right."
"Excuse me, Mr. Bradley, but Educational Decree Number Twenty-Five states-"
Selim's faux distress turned into real anger, and he hissed,
"You might have the authority to ban me from using alchemy on school grounds. Maybe you even have the power to prevent me from using it in England. However, you work for the Ministry of Magic, not the government of Amestris. Therefore, you DO NOT have the authority to ban me from using alchemy anywhere else in the world. You DO NOT have the right to fire me as a State Alchemist. Remember your place in politics, Professor. You can punish me as a student, but not as a State Alchemist."
Umbridge flushed red.
"Well then, we'll just see what the Minister and your Fuhrer say when they hear about this, Mr. Bradley."
And with that, she walked out.
-Line Break-
The fact that he was prohibited from using alchemy didn't bother Selim like the Quidditch ban bothered Harry. He'd lived for centuries without the ability to transmute and would be able to again after leaving Hogwarts. Hell, Edward had been using alchemy for most of his life before the Promised Day, and had acclimated to not using it afterwards. Besides, Selim wasn't banned from STUDYING alchemy, just using it on school grounds. He met with Malfoy in the library later that day.
"Selim… I'm really sorry about Warrington. The others don't see alchemy as anything useful to learn."
"I'm not the one for you to apologize to, Draco. I understand that you and Harry despise each other but imagine if he insulted your family that way. You're proud to be a Malfoy, like I'm proud to be a Bradley, but where you come from doesn't make you better than others."
"But-"
"And, if anything, being pureblood will only make you weaker. From what I've observed of wizards, magic appears to be genetic."
"What are you talking about?"
"Okay, are either of your parents blonde like you?"
Yes, my father, but-"
"So, when babies are created, there are different ways that they could look through physical traits that they inherit from their parents. In your case, you inherited your father's blonde hair."
"Okay, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"I'm pretty sure that magic is the same way. You inherit the ability to perform magic from your parents. I'm fairly certain that the level of magical power isn't genetic, though. Still, being pureblood isn't good for you."
"Why would that be?"
"Human beings and all other living creatures are made up of DNA. Some of that DNA are chromosomes, which carries part of your genetic material. Some comes from one parent, some comes from the other. If the two types of genetic material are too similar, like from direct family members, then the resulting person only has half the material that they need. This can lead to birth defects, and over time, health problems like increased vulnerability to infection. With all the pureblood families related like they are, everyone's got a bit of everyone else's DNA."
"Really? Is there a way to fix it?"
"The only way is to introduce a new type of DNA, one from an outside source. They'd need to not be a pureblood because their DNA is too corrupted."
Malfoy looked horrified at the idea of not marrying a pureblood in the future but didn't say anything and left. Selim watched him go. A moment later, Hermione walked in and walked to a bookshelf. Not wanting to be seen, Selim duck behind another bookshelf, using the shadows to see what she was doing. Hermione checked the book out and left.
Moving out from behind the shelf, Selim left the library.
-Line Break-
On Monday, Selim decided to walk across the grounds of the castle. Professor Flitwick was having his third-years practice spells and had excused Selim for his inability to do the same. As he walked, Selim noticed the Care of Magical Creatures class walking through the snow to the forest. Selim followed them out of curiosity.
When the group reached a patch of trees, the teacher (who had returned Saturday night) put what Selim thought looked like a cow carcass on the ground. He then called the students in close and made what sounded like a bird call. Then Selim saw it. One of the not-chimera horses that he'd seen the first night. Most of the students looked confused, but two of them raised their hands when Hagrid asked who could see them. Selim did so as well.
"Yeah…yeah, I knew you'd be able ter, Harry. An' you too, Neville, eh? An'-"
Hagrid's voice cut off when he took in Selim's clearly shorter stature and younger appearance.
"Who're you?"
Selim remembered that Hagrid didn't know him yet.
"Selim Bradley, sir. I'm an exchange student from Amestris. Professor Flitwick said I could leave since the others in my class are just practicing spells today."
"Right, sorry. So, you can see 'em?"
"Yes sir. Why can't everybody-"
Malfoy cut Selim off with a question of what they should be seeing, while Selim got a better look at Hagrid. He was tall, not as big as Sloth, but about Major Armstrong's height, or Alphonse when he was in the armor. Listening to him, Selim also found out that the winged lizard horses were called thestrals, and that only people who had seen death could see them. Then, Umbridge arrived. Selim ignored the way she spoke to Hagrid, he didn't know the man well enough to be offended on his behalf. However, she noticed him soon enough.
"Mr. Bradley, I believe that this is Care of Magical Creatures for fifth years. Unless your schedule has been changed for this class like with my class, you shouldn't be here."
Umbridge had faked politeness with Selim up until the Quidditch match. He had never believed it, of course, but she'd dropped it after that. Whatever Grumman had written to her and the Minister must have seriously angered her, or perhaps she just didn't like that he'd called her out on her lack of authority over his job. Whatever the reason, she was now treating him exactly like how she was treating Harry.
"Professor Flitwick said I could leave class because they were just practicing spells."
Likewise, Selim dropped most of the politeness in his own side of the conversation. She glared at him for that.
"I noticed that you reacted to the thestrals. Who did you see die?"
Selim grit his teeth, and if anybody had been looking into the shadows, they would have seen eyes looking back at them. None did.
"I don't believe that is your business, Professor. I have a right to personal privacy."
"Mr. Bradley, I am the Hogwarts High Inquisitor. I order you to tell me!"
The others looked over to see the conversation at that point. Selim showed a hurt expression.
"She's demanding that I tell her who I saw die, even though I don't want to!"
He carried the act for a few minutes, even showing some tears. By then, everyone was looking at Umbridge in disgust and anger. She quickly retreated.
Selim wiped his eyes and pretended to regain his composure. Some of the Gryffindors and Malfoy were giving him looks of sympathy. Hagrid asked him if he was alright, to which he replied yes, and started walking back to the castle. However, as he walked, Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched him. All three wondered who he'd seen die.
Well, there we go! Nice long chapter! I hope you enjoyed this one. If I still have access to this laptop next week, we'll have some more exciting events soon, we're reaching a more planned out part of the story. Leave a review on what you liked or didn't like, or ideas on how the Order could learn Selim's secret. Or send a PM for that. Until the next chapter!