Hullo! Attention everyone, this is a FILLER chapter just so I can get Ed and Al to be all happy buddy-buddy again. I can't go through the story with Al afraid and Ed all broken. So yeah, it also gives a little more hints to the plot and everything, talk of the Homonculi and stuffs.

IF ANYONE CALLS THIS ELRICEST I WILL RIP OUT YOUR INTERNAL ORGANS WITH MY OWN HANDS.

Okay, so enjoy this random filler chapter! YAYAYAYAY! After this we get back to the real stuff, not action, but the real stuff. I can't be revealing too much in just three chapter, so I gotta spread it out a bit. A lot of people told me in my previous fics that I needed to slow down, I hope I'm doing a good job!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Harry Potter. *grabs plastic Sorting hat and puts it on plushie Ed's head* there, thats enough from each fandom for me to own! XD

Chapter Ten

Hogwarts did not have a river, so that complicated Edward's plans as he set out to find his younger brother and right the wrongs that had been done for the day. When they were younger, and their mother was still alive, whenever Alphonse would become upset he would go and sit by the river. Ed had never understood this, simply knowing to search by the river if Al ever went missing, but one day he had taken the initiative and asked.

"The river helps me calm down, Brother, helps me think things through and make better decisions. Maybe you should try it sometime, and then you wouldn't rush into things without a plan so often!" Edward sighed, jamming his hands in his pockets as he walked down the large hallways. He had changed back into his normal clothes now that classes were over, his bright red coat flapping behind him, the black twisting symbol of Alchemy rippling with the fabric. He barely even thought about someone recognizing it.

Finally coming to the doors leading out of the castle and down to the castle grounds, Edward poked his head out almost nervously. It was rather cold this time of the year, and getting colder every day. If Al was out in the cold weather sitting by some random body of water Ed would personally drag him back inside by his ear before he could freeze.

Sighing, Ed stepped out of the door, knowing that that was probably exactly was Alphonse was doing. He was most likely sitting by the lake, staring at the water. Or worse, crying. Edward winced, he hated it whenever anyone dear to him cried, especially Al or Winry. It hurt him, to know that he was the reason they were crying, that he had made them cry again, and he wanted to make sure both of them only cried tears of joy.

But once again, in this cold weather, Al's tears were probably frozen.

The young alchemist stomped forwards, his boots leaving heavy footprints in the ground as he made his way down the small path to where the lake was located.

Then he spotted it, the small figure hunched over itself, his back to Ed, his face towards the large expanse of sparkling silver water. Ed walked up slowly, noticing how Alphonse was still in his school robes. How long had he been out here?

The older walked up, standing directly to the left of Al and staring out at the water in silence. Alphonse looked up, his face slightly red and his chocolate grey eyes wide at the sight of his brother. Then Edward leaned backwards, his legs folding under him as he sat down heavily on the muddy ground.

"Brother…?" Al whispered, rubbing at his red cheeks with the heels of his hands.

Ed did not reply, simply staring out over the lake as he grabbed his knees and curled them closer to himself in the cold. "Al…" he whispered suddenly, "I'm sorry… I'm sorry that you're afraid of me." He finished, lowering his head until his golden bangs hung before his face like a curtain, shielding his face from the world.

Al took in a sharp gasp, and Ed prepared himself for either silence or confirmation, he wasn't ready for the huge weight that suddenly slammed into his side. Long arms wrapped around his neck and Ed fell sideways into the grass with a yelp of surprise, twisting his head to see his younger brother's head buried into his metallic shoulder despite the fact it gave no warmth.

"Brother, don't… I'm so sorry!" Al whispered, nearly choking his shocked older brother, "I'm not afraid of you, I'm not! I'm… I'm afraid of the Stone, I'm afraid of how it's made, what it can do… what it made you do!" Al wailed as he turned his face upwards, his chocolate eyes meeting Edward's golden ones.

The older carefully maneuvered his flesh arm out from his back - seeing as his right arm was pinned between his own body and Al's – and patted a hesitant hand on his little brother's back. The full gravity of what his brother's fear was hit him, and he quickly tried to come up with something to say that could comfort Alphonse.

"Its over Al… remember? It's… over and done with…" Ed whispered, though he was not exactly sure of himself. He eventually wanted to get rid of his cold unfeeling limbs, not too soon, but not never either.

"No it's not." Al only hissed, burying his head back into his brother's shoulder, feeling the cool metal beneath the cloth. His brother's arm – now metal and tainted in blood - in exchange for his soul, his brother's leg and his own body in exchange for something that most definitely was a monster and not the mother they searched for, where was the equivalence in that?

"Shut up Al, seriously. Its over, the Stone is gone, and we're at a magic school countries away from Amestris. It's not like the Homunculi will follow us here or anything!" Ed said in a mocking tone, rolling his eyes as he forced a smile on his face.

Al pulled backwards in panic, oblivious to the sarcasm in his brother's voice, "They could! They could follow us!" he stated, his voice rising slightly higher as the Ouroboros tattoo flashed through his mind, pulsing red like the Stone the Homunculi searched for.

Ed rolled his eyes, ruffling his little brother's hair and successfully cutting off the younger's fear. "No Al, the Homunculus cannot follow us here." He said to Al with a soft smile. 'I made sure of that.'

"Oh yeah…" Al suddenly stated, Ed stiffened slightly but relaxed as Alphonse finished his sentence, "There's a magical barrier around the school! I bet they can't get in!" he said, nodding his head in agreement with his own theory.

"See! They can't follow us here, and we can just start over. Now come on," he dragged his younger brother to his feet, "Let's go back inside the castle, its freezing out here!" Ed said as he pulled his arms from his brother's shoulders and wrapped his red coat tighter around himself.

"I think its nice Brother!" Al put in, placing his own hands in his pockets as he walked forwards to catch up with his rapidly striding older brother.

"Speak for yourself Al!" Ed grumbled with an undertone of amusement. Al laughed, his red face splitting into a grin as he smiled at his brother. The younger's grey eyes were soft and warm, yet they analyzed his brother as the older walked on, oblivious.

'He's still Ed, no matter what happened or will happen, he's still my brother!' Al thought with satisfaction, his lips pressing into a thin smile as he nodded with hard determined eyes. Ed cocked his head at the younger's strange actions before simply shrugging it off.

"Race ya there Al!"

Al blinked, stopping for a moment as his brother tore away from him and up the hillside. Alphonse laughed suddenly, racing after his brother in mock anger, "That's no fair Ed!" he yelled, trying the best he could to keep up with his older brother – who was in much better shape than he.

Soon they were back at the castle, Edward panting slightly as Al bent over with his hands on his knees. "You got a head start Brother." Al huffed; reaching out one hand and grasping the large door handle to allow them both to enter the castle.

At the staircase, the Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw parted ways, exchanging one last good night, a bit of playful banter, and a mock left handed salute before they went into their respective towers. Both were forgiven.

Once again I warn you, if anyone, anyone at all, says this is Elricest or even THINKS of this chapter that way, I will hunt you down and KILL YOU. Thanks so much for reading! Please, RREEVVIIEEWW! (review)