Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Fullmetal Alchemist. They belong to J. K. Rowling and Hiromu Arakawa respectively.

Speaking = "blah blah"

Thinking = blah blah

Speaking German (when not written in actual German)= "~blah blah~"

~ Ch 10 - Tea Time ~

"Tertiary step." A chorus of voices droned out. "Reconstruction. Continuing the flow of energy so as to reform the material into a new shape." Some of the students voices ended at slightly different times. However dull they sounded while reciting the statement, upon finishing those lines, they were immediately looking upon the blond professor with hope shining in their eyes .

He sent them an unpleased semi-glare. "Again." He said loud and clear. There was a collective groan through out the class and he scowled. "From the beginning then..." He looked through the sea of faces, just daring someone to complain. "Begin."

"The sequence of Transmutaion comes in three parts... Primary step. Comprehension. Understanding the inherent structure and properties of the atomic or molecular make up of a particular material to be transmuted including the flow and balance of potential and kinetic energy within."

It was almost painful to here the monotone, unsynchronized voices and Ed's eye began to twitch. "Enough." He said sternly. They're not even trying now. As he closed his eyes and took a calming breath. "You vill all practice these lines and by next class I expect it to sound like a choir in here. Am I understood?"

"Yes sir." Most students merely grumbled it out.

"Vhat was that? I don't think I heard anything."

"Yes sir." They all said a little louder, some with a slightly sarcastic hint that Edward chose to ignore for the time being.

"On top of that, I vant you all to vrite out each element from the periodic table and give the number of electrons in its valence shell. After that I vant you to tell me vether it has more of an affinity in nature to become a cation, anion, or remain as it is vith the reason vhy." There was yet another collective groan. "Most of you are lucky to even still be in this class after the horrid test results today." He said with a bit of a growl. "And since you are all so enthusiastic about this assignment, there vill be a fifty question quiz on not only vhat ve covered in class today, but also on that covered in your homework assignment. You are dismissed." He turned and stormed off towards his office before the first student even rose from their seat.

As he was about click his office door shut, he heard one of the slytherin girls talking quietly, but not quite quietly enough, to Draco. "He thinks we are made up of tiny little balls. This guy is a complete nut job, and he had the nerve to pick on you last class for standing up to him. pft. What an..." Her sentence was cut off by the sound of a door slamming. All those remaining in the classroom turned to see what was going on, but what Pansy saw made he blood run cold. Her alchemy professor had slammed the door shut alright, but he was still on this side of it... staring directly at her with a smirk.

Edward made a come hither motion with his finger, but the girl swallowed hard and shook her head no. Edward's grin widened just a little more, though one could tell that his jaw was clenched if they looked close enough. He made another motion for her to come to him which this time, reluctantly, she did. The bystanders watched as he clasped her hand in his and pulled her close to him, eliciting a blush from the girl. Professor Elric then leaned over and, still smirking, whispered into her ear. After a moment Pansy jerked back, wide eyed, and ran from the room. "Oh," Ed said cheerily. "and fifty points from Slytherin for disrespecting a Professor." That said, he finally retreated to his office for real this time.

Flopping down at his desk, he allowed his forehead to bang against the wooden surface with a groan of his own. Bunch of ungrateful brats. I went through all the trouble of writing the course material for them and all they had to do was read it... lazy bastards.

A small pop sounded next to him and he didn't even bother to look. "Hallo Dobby."

"Excuse me Edward Elric, sir, but is there anything that Dobby can get for you?" He said hopefully.

Ed let out an amused puff of air, "You alvays seem to know don't you Dobby." He propped his head up on a fist and smiled at the silly looking being. "I could really used some of that vonderful apple pie. You make it so well and... it reminds me of home."

"It would be a honor sir, but Dobby is unworthy of such praise from a great wizard like Edward Elric the great alchemist." He started in on his negative self talk.

Ed reached out and patted the little guy on the head like you would child you were fond of. "Dobby, just call me Ed... please." The wide, awe struck look nearly caused Ed to sigh, but it was too cute... and Ed felt his expression soften of its own accord. "Now," He said before the house elf could do anymore self-bad-mouthing, "how about that pie."

"Yes sir," He started, but much to Ed's relief, Dobby ended with a "right away Ed... sir." And he disappeared again.

Ed shook his head before resting it once again on the cool surface of his desk. "~what a day~" He was now down to two classes. A vast improvement to be sure but he had hoped to knock it down to only one class. The numbers in each class were small though. Perhaps he could combine them. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw seemed to have the most students anyways. The class number size wasn't the big issue though. He had given them all a quiz and quickly reviewed them while they worked on an inclass assignment. With the exception of a couple... lets just say they weren't so good.

After he had enjoyed a slice of apple pie and got the next class's assignment and lecture set up done, he finally sat back with a stretch. "~Well, now that thats over, I think I'll go grab some more to eat before heading off to Poppy's "lessons".~" Grabbing a leather bound notebook that he had taken to writing his notes in, he headed for the great hall.

As he sat down at the head table he made sure to keep his nose in his book. No doubt the potions professor would have heard about the incident in his class by the time he got there. But perhaps, this time, he would be left alone if busy. He pulled out a ball point pen he had transmuted for himself and began scribing some coded notes as if writing in natural sentences. Of corse they were written in German, but he knew at least one other person knew that language here and he had a sneaking suspicion another did as well. In fact, that person sat down next to him as he finished up with his train of thought.

The amount of pink the woman wore burned his eyes even in his peripheral vision, but duty called. "Guten abend Dolores. You are looking lovely as ever. How has your day been?" He asked with a smile in a pleasant sounding voice. A few teachers as well as nearby students had stopped eating or conversing to look at the blond in confused wonder after hearing that.

Dolores let out a soft giggle of sorts. "Good evening to you Edward, I have had a pleasant day, though I must cut dinner short as I have another detention with Mr. Potter this evening."

"I see. Vell, best of luck." He said returning to his notes, friendly chit chat managed.

"I do have a bit of time thought." She said in an overly sugar coated voice. "And I actually wanted to talk with you about your class."

Uh oh, here we go. He turned his attention back to her and asked politely, "Vhat is it you are curious about?"

"It has come to my attention that you are teaching the children," here she 'giggled' again, "muggle studies. Science, if I'm not mistaken. I was merely curious as to your motives."

"As this is a school for vizards and vitches, I can see vhy you vould be curious." He said matter-o-factly. "But let me ask you a question. How many alchemy masters have you heard of?" She didn't answer right away so he answered for her. "Not many I'm sure. That is probably because the powerful alchemy involves a deep understanding of muggle science."

Dolores scoffed. "That's preposterous."

"It may seem so, but I assure you it is true. They may be very, primitive, in their vays, but in this they actually got something right. As I told the students, you should never underestimate something because of it's origin." Edward appeared to turn away to mumble to himself, but he was keeping a close eye on her. "~Even if that origin is from a bunch of filthy cavemen.~"

Professor Snape was sitting down just as this was said. He raised a curious eyebrow at the blond, but didn't comment.

"Couldn't agree with you more Edward." Replied Dolores approvingly. "I find them rather filthy myself. Don't know how you manage to suffer though their thought processes." She said with an air of superiority.

Gotcha. Edward thought, but appeared to look surprised and pleased. "~Why Dolores, I was unaware you spoke German. What a pleasant surprise.~"

"No, I do not speak it well, but I do understand a fair amount." She said as she dropped a couple of sugar cubes in her tea.

Ed sent a meaningful look to the potions master while she was occupied. He may not like the man, but he was still on the same team. No need for them to let anything 'slip' should they be talking in German.

"So you give a swish, flick, swish-flare." He demonstrated to make sure he had the movement right. With a nod of approval from Poppy he continued. "And say the words 'Resarico Viscus.'?

"Resarcio Viscus, but yes very good. You've learn quite a few advanced medical spells tonight. Why don't we end it here?" She offered.

"How are you planing to give me practice vith these spells Poppy? I suppose you don't have some cut and bleeding people on standby for just such an occasion?" He joked. "Though I suppose a couple of them can be tried on anyone. I vould like like to practice though finding a villing participant might be..." He smirked. "Never mind. I'll be here same time next week vith a partner to help." He placed his wand in a holster at his hip and made to leave.

"Your not going to use a student are you?" She asked in concern.

"As I understand it. So long as the children do not die, I have the right to chose whatever punishment I find fitting for them. If in their detention I benefit from their punishment, which is often the case in such situations, then all the better." He waved over his shoulder and left the nurse in the hospital wing.

"I am going to have to speak with Albus about this. His methods are just to unsettling." She said, shaking her head.

Ed was writing down notes in his leather notebook as he walked. He didn't want to forget anything he had just learned. It was all very handy in dangerous situations. Mending flesh, stopping blood loss, numbing, as well as mind calming or dreamless sleep spells. In deed, very useful spells, especially in his line of work. Though, not exactly sure what to classify myself as right now. Soldier, spy, teacher... all of the above. He smirked, oh well, since it's me theres sure to be danger no matter ware I am. The smirk slowly faded and he started to flip back through his older notes. I'm coming back Al, just wait on me.

He didn't have have another private lesson with Harry until tomorrow morning, so he decided he might as well get some more research done. He made his way to his office, as it held most of his work. Not to mention the transmuted walls of the classroom were an excellent surface for drawing arrays on. Besides, with the direction his thoughts had taken, he doubted he'd be able to go to sleep anytime soon. Regardless of the hour, he wasn't going to waste any free time.

The latest design he had been working on was still not to his liking. He could chance the same method that got him here, but more than likely it would only succeed in killing him. The times he had been transported between worlds there had been been some sort of alchemic amplifier and all were distinctly different. Based on what he was told, the only reason he had come out on this end again after his 'sacrifice' had been because the old gate had been opened by magical means and he had been 'summoned' after a fashion. Now he had to find yet another way to traverse worlds.

After pushing all the desks aside he held out a piece of chalk and set it on the ground. A quick clap of the hands and the gigantic array was spread out before him. He stood there just contemplating it for quite a bit. After a time he went and got some transfiguration and vanishing text books out and opened them to different sections. Spreading these out on the ground, he looked between them and the circle a couple of times. With a small nod he focused in on what he thought needed to be changed.

Using his wand, he levitated a piece of chalk over to one of the emptier spots near the middle of the large array. This time I'm going to do it without giving up a part of me. He thought determinedly as the chalk began to write out what his wand willed it to. After about five minutes of writing in runes like this, he took a step back to admire his work. "~There is still something missing. Hmmm, It looks a little to... geometrical.~"

He used his wand to set down the chalk and said, "Tergeo." softly. The small flick of his wand only cased a small section inside an inner circle to be erased. This continued on until close to midnight. Edward was just putting the finishing touches on an intricate tribal like design, over lapping a double lined circle, when he heard the large wooden doors creek open. As he was facing perpendicular to the door, a quick glance told him that no one seemed to have entered. He was just about to go look for someone in the hall, but his finely tuned ears heard the quiet pat-pat of soft foot steps.

Ed circled the array to make it seem as if he were inspecting his work, but in reality he was drawing nearer to whoever or whatever was in the room with him. He didn't survive two waves of homunculai and the gate several times only to be taken out because of some silly invisibility charm. He slowed to a halt when he came near the spot the patter had stopped. Wether they were standing at the edge of the circle to spy on his work or to stand in his intended path and take him by surprise, it didn't matter. He would get the jump on them.

There was a split second where he looked like he was going to lean down and fix something on the array, but instead clapped his hands at the last minute. He held the sharp blade against an invisible force, around where a person's head should be. Even the bangs framing in firey golden eyes seemed to be sharper, more dangerous, as he glared towards whatever his arm was pressed against. "Show your self unless you vant to die."

Harry's heart nearly leapt out of his chest when he saw the glint of metal heading for his neck. If Ed had followed through, Harry would be dead. The malice in his teacher's voice only cause the teens hart to pound harder. An amazing feet since it already threatened to pound straight through his ribs. Gasping in a breath, not realizing he had been holding it in the first place, he finally responded. "W...wait Ed! It's me!" He ripped the cloak off, trying as best he could, with shaky hands, not to cut it on that blade held so close. "See!"

Ed looked surprised for a second and quickly lowered his blade, transmuting it back. Harry promptly let out a sigh of relief and fell to his butt. "Harry? Vhat are you doing?"

"I came to visit you cause..."

"Vhat do you think you are doing sneaking up on me like that! Didn't you learn anything from Hermione?" He to sat down on the floor, though his decent was much more graceful. His gaze grew distant and he looked off to the far corner of the room. "I could have killed you..." He turned back to Harry, just as the boy was about to apologize, and his glare returned. "Stupid!" He smacked him on the back of his head.

"Ow!" Harry exclaimed as he rubbed the back of his head and fixed his glasses. "You didn't have to hit me so hard you know."

"That vas a gentle tap. vussy." He said with a smirk. He saw Harry's brow scrunch and laughed. "Don't vorry. Ve'll have that cured in no time." Harry frowned and Ed laughed a little harder. Finally, after his laughter subsided and Harry was all but pouting, Ed stood up and offered a friendly hand to him. He took it and Ed hauled him to his feet.

"So," Harry said trying to keep the pout out of his voice. "What are you trying to do with this thing?"

Ed eyed him for a moment with a smirk. "I think the more important question at the moment is vhy you are out so late after curfew." He then looked past Harry to the cloth heap on the floor. "And vhat exactly you have there." He looked into emerald eye's, waiting for his answers.

Harry sighed. "That's just an invisibility cloak." He looked away and mumbled the next part. "And I kinda wanted someone to talk to."

Ed's feature softened. "Come on then. Lets go to my office and have a seat. I'll have Dobby bring us some snacks."

Harry gave him a surprised look. "You know Dobby?"

"Ja, vhy?"

"Well, I don't know." He shrugged. "Guess it's just surprising you knew his name. Most wizards don't take the time of day for the house elves and there are just so many here in Hogwarts."

"I only know a few of their names, but Dobby comes around the most. Strange creatures really. Kinda slow, but sweet." He smirked again and looked at Harry. "Kinda like my apprentice."

"Hey!"

"Kidding kidding." He said with placating hand motions.

"Not like I'm really your apprentice yet anyways." He said grumpily.

"Now vhy vould you say a thing like that?" Ed asked as he opened the door to his office.

Harry looked kinda sheepish after the comment had slipped out, but his ego had been bruised enough tonight so he came up with his defense. "Well other than letting me know about your plan with the pink demon, all you've really done is use me to further that goal and scare the bloody crap out of me." He crossed his arms as he sat down, looking defiant.

Ed crossed his arms and look at him with equal defiance. The staring contest lasted just a bit longer before Harry relented and relaxed his posture, looking away. Ed to relaxed slightly, "It seems you are too used to classroom learning. Again, another thing ve vill need to clear up in our lessons." Harry gave him a questioning look. "You may not realize it yet, but you have already learned some very important lessons. You'll figure some of them out in time and the other... ve'll pray you never have to truly understand.

Harry thought about the prosthetics that were currently hidden from view. "Sorry Ed, I just had a hard day." He looked back to the alchemist. "Ron found out about Umbridge's detentions last night and tonight something happened and I talked to Hermione. But... but all they do is tell me to run to the teachers. I can't even really talk to them about it."

"Last time I checked, I vas a teacher Harry." His voice held a hint of amusement.

Harry flushed. "You're different! It doesn't count." He objected.

"Ok, ok. I'm done picking for the night." He leaned back in his chair and pulled a rope. After a second Dobby popped into the room, wearing several hats that looked suspiciously like the ones Hermione had been making. At the sight of his two favorite people the poor thing looked like he was about to faint. "Dobby," Ed said, trying to get his attention. "Could you please bring us some snacks and drinks?" The elf nodded, wide eyed, and disappeared. "I take it he likes you as vell?"

"You have no idea." Harry groaned fondly, but laughed with Ed about their little friend.

"So, tell me vhat has you so upset you felt it necessary to sneak out of the dorms."

"It's kinda... complicated." harry started.

"Vhat ever you say in this room vill not be repeated, you have my vord."

Harry looked grateful. "You see, my scar..." He started. For the next bit of time Harry explained a few things about his scar and how it reacted to Voldemort and how he had had the same reaction when Dolores touched him in detention earlier that day. "... and Hermione thinks it's just a coincidence because of what Dumbledore said last year about my scar reacting to what Voldemort was feeling." He finished. "But then she just told me to go talk to him."

Ed took a deep breath, buying himself some time to think over what he was about to say. "I think..." He started slowly. "She is right about telling Albus," He put his had up in a halting motion. "but I vill not make you tell him. I've already given you my vord I vill not tell anyone vhat is discussed in here."

"Thank you."

Ed waved off the thanks. "I just vant you to know I am glad you confided in me. It may seem like it's for the best, to keep things to yourself to save others, but sometimes it is for that very reason that people end up hurt in the end." He was silent for a moment. "Trust me, it is a lot easier vhen you are not carrying the entire veight of the vorld alone." He said softly.

"So what do you think about all this?" Harry asked hopefully, trying to change the topic slightly.

"At this moment I think it is good ve pulled off that little play in your detention." He gave self approving nod. "But I honestly have no clue." He said with a sheepish smile. "All I can offer you is an ear to listen and my vord that I vill do my best to learn vhat I can from the toad."

"Thanks... again." Harry said, not entirely let own by the fact Ed couldn't give a guess. He did feel lighter after talking about it all to someone who he didn't have to worry about telling him to go to Dumbledore or McGonagall. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, one sipping coffee, the other hot chocolate, compliments of Dobby the house elf. Finally after finishing the drink Harry came to another topic of conversation. "So you never did tell me what that big circle out there is f-f-for." He said with a yawn.

Edward set down the barley half finished coffee and yawned himself. "I suppose," He started, "it is only equivalent to let you in on my little secret since you confided in me." Harry woke up more at this declaration, but the follow up made him slump back in his chair. "But that is a story for another night." Ed pulled out his pocket watch. "Alvright, off to bed vith you. Ve both need some kind of sleep tonight."

"I guess." Said Harry tiredly as he picked up his cloak and threw it around his shoulders.

Ed's eyebrow rose at the sight of a seemingly floating Harry head, but just shook his own. "You know, I vas going to make you get up really early and run you ragged, but I think I might just vant to sleep in. Vhy don't ve save our lesson till after breakfast instead of before sunrise." He said as he closed the classroom door behind him. He looked out the windows and caught sight of a moon low in the sky. "If I kept it the same time I set ve might as vell stay up for just a bit longer and start." He joked.

"Yeah, that would kinda suck." Agreed Harry.

"Cover up your head. Vouldn't vant anyone seeing your head floating down the hall beside me. They'd all think the crazy Alchemy professor vith a bad temper beheaded 'the-boy-who lived'." He made finger motion quotation marks.

"God I hate that name." Harry said as he covered himself all the way.

"Ja, it is pretty stupid." Ed agreed. They walked together until nearly the Gryffindor common room. Even though Ed couldn't see him he knew they would be separating at this point. "Guten nacht Harry." He said softly and walked away with his hands in his pockets.

"Good night Ed." Harry said equally as soft and then went his own way.

Snape had been enjoying a peaceful breakfast for the first time since the start of term. He had arrived early so that paired with the fact most students would sleep in on Saturday, the disturbances would be kept to a minimum. He was in a rather good mood actually. That is until he saw a slightly disheveled Edward Elric, with bags under his eyes, walking to the head table. Snape closed his eyes and waved goodbye to his peaceful morning.

To the potion masters surprise, Ed merely grunted out a greeting, pored himself a cup of coffee and turned to leave. Snape mentally breathed out a sigh of relief, but tensed again as the blond stopped in his tracks and turned back to him. I knew it. The imp looked entirely to disgruntled to leave me in peace. A sneer rose to his lips as he watched the young man from his peripheral vision.

Ed stopped a couple paced away and set his cup down on the table while looking at a sugar bowl, the one that Dolores always used. He then proceeded to smile at Snape, who's brows furrowed. "Do you think I should add sugar to my coffee today?" Questioned Ed, but before Snape could make a snarky remark about not caring, Ed continued on. "You know," he said in a happy voice while clapping his hands together. "I think I vill." He reached down and rested his gloved fingers on the mound of sugar cubes.

Snape watched as a small, subtle flash of blue seemed to flow through the sweet squares. He then looked at Ed with suspicion. Much to his annoyance the blond just kept on smiling as he drew his hand back.

"You know, maybe I von't. I don't think this 'sugar' vill be to my liking." He picked up his coffee again and left.

Snape eyed the sugar bowl suspiciously for a moment, expecting a trap to spring on him. After nothing happened for a few moments he returned to eating. A little more tense than he had been originally, but none the worse for ware.

Dolores sat down in her usual seat just as Severus was finishing up and getting ready to leave. He had made to stand, but as Dolores had a cup of tea before her he decided he might just wait for his meal to digest before walking around. Or maybe he was curious to see what Edward actually did to her sugar, not that he'd admit it.

He watched discreetly as she slowly added a couple of cubes while reading the Daily Prophet. He watched still as she slooowly stirred the liquid... and then left it to sit. He scoffed mentally at himself for being curious and was about to get up when she finaly picked up the tea cup and lifted it to her lips, still reading the paper.

To make his attempt at getting up look less noticeable Severus reached for a muffin and sat back in his seat. He mechanically took a bite of the muffin while still focusing on the woman a couple of seats down. The cup was being tilted back and...

Tea sprayed from Umbridge's mouth like a hose and even managed to hit some poor unsuspecting student who had just arrived and was sitting at the head of his table. The pink clad 'professor' sputtered a few times before looking around to see everyone staring at her. She set down her sodden paper and lifted her chin high. Standing from her seat she brushed some imaginary dirt off of her damp skirt and left the room with her nose in the air.

After the shock of what he just saw wore off and the students started laughing loudly, he almost laughed right along with them, almost. Perhaps the brat isn't a complete waste of space. He thought, but then he frowned. If the little rat ever tries something like that on me, I'll kill him.

IVX: Hehe, I usually end the chapter with a night scene, but I figured to give you guys a little bonus scene for being so understanding about college and stuff. Hope you guys liked it and remember. I love you all... ^_~