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Chapter 10- Neon

Edward

Rolling over in bed, Ed yawned as he slowly woke up.

"Good morning, Brother."

"Morning, Al," Ed said, sitting up and stretching. The ache in his ports was undeniable, grabbing his shoulder, Ed massaged the stump.

"It's raining...isn't it?"

"It started about an hour ago and I don't think it will let up."

Ed groaned as the pain flared in his shoulder and leg. "At least I can laugh at how useless the Colonel is in this weather."

"But what about your assessment?"

Ed shrugged as he stood up, moving to get dressed.

"I don't know...maybe the rain will stop and we can do it..."

Pulling on his white gloves, Ed looked out the window and saw the heavy rain pouring outside. Sighing, Ed grabbed one of the journals, Al was working on and the two walked out of the room.

"Good morning Edward and Alphonse!" Elizabeth greeted.

"Morning," Ed replied, waving towards the smiling blonde.

"The Colonel and Lieutenant came by, wondering where you were. I said that you hadn't left yet and were still sleeping," A look of disgust then crossed her face. "Then that Major took of his shirt and kept posing."

Ed rolled his eyes and grabbed the bridge of his nose.

"Truth almighty...," he muttered before looking back up. "Sorry about that Elizabeth."

She smiled brightly. "It's fine, they are only here for a bit. I'm sure I can manage."

"Okay, see you later," Ed and Al waved goodbye and made their way down to the Great Hall.

"Are you coming to breakfast too?" Ed asked Al.

"I'll stay in your classroom and work on those journals. I think we may be close to breaking the code."

"Okay then, good luck and come find me if you do."

The brothers bumped fists and Al left to head to Edward's room while Ed continued down the stairs. Pushing open the giant doors, Ed stepped into the Great Hall. Looking up towards the faculty table, Ed say Mustang, Armstrong and Hawkeye all sitting up there.

Groaning slightly, Edward made his way up to the table and sat in his usual seat.

Madame Pomfrey and Hagrid smiled at him as he slid into his seat.

"Mornin' Ed!"

"Good morning Edward,"

Ed nodded and reached for his glass the pain flaring in his right arm again.

Leaning over, Madame Pomfrey whispered into Ed's ear, "I slipped a tonic into your glass, it should help ease your pain over the bad weather."

Ed nodded and drank from the cup, the pain starting to fade away.

"I see you decided to sleep in this morning, Fullmetal," Mustang commented. He, Hawkeye and Armstrong were all beside Madame Pomfrey.

"I didn't decide to sleep in!" Ed snapped back.

"It is quite alright, Edward!" Armstrong said. "A rested body is a healthy body!"

Groaning Edward tried to turn his attention back to his food, but it would seem Mustang had other ideas.

"Fullmetal, want to have a word with you after breakfast."

Ed sighed and nodded, "Whatever, Colonel."

"Colonel Mustang has been telling us about some of your exploits in Amestris, Edward," Madame Pomfrey said.

"Hm? The great Flame Alchemist talks about little ol' me? Why gosh! I'm so flattered!" Edward mocked, glaring at Mustang.

"Don't get a big head, Fullmetal, I only warned them of how much damage and trouble you seem to create."

Edward narrowed his eyes at Mustang, who still looked impartial to the whole affair.

"If I recall, I always try and go back to fix the damage done during any of my fights. Where were you Colonel?"

"I was trying to do all the paperwork that you created because you and some insane person decided to tear up three city blocks."

"I didn't decide to do anything! These psychos you send me after attack me!"

"Colonel! Edward!" Hawkeye warned in a stern tone. Both alchemists quickly got quite, both knew better than to test 'The Hawk's Eye'.

Turning back to his food, Edward picked and barely touched anything.

"Ye alright, Ed?"

"I'm fine, Hagrid. Just not hungry this morning, that's all."

"Alright then," Hagrid said.

Breakfast soon ended and the students began leaving to go to class. Standing up, many of the teachers and staff left as well. Hagrid said goodbye to Edward and wished him luck. Madame Pomfrey told him that if anything continued to bother him to come to her. Edward thanked her for the tonic and she left the hall.

Mustang, Hawkeye, and Armstrong all stood with Dumbledore as Edward walked towards them.

"I am sorry to say, that we cannot perform the assessment today," Mustang said. "We will have to stay an additional day, I am sorry Albus."

"It is quite alright, Colonel Mustang."

"Hem, hem,"

Groaning internally, Edward say Umbridge walk up to them. Mustang raised an eyebrow and looked at Edward who had a look of disgust.

"Headmaster, I must voice my opposition towards this."

"Excuse, me but who are you?" Mustang asked.

"I am Dolores Umbridge, and I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts," she replied. "And might I ask who you are?"

"I am Colonel Roy Mustang, also known as the Flame Alchemist. I am here with First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye and Major Alex Louis Armstrong, the Strongarm Alchemist."

"Well I must know why the Amestrian military has decided to practically invade Hogwarts."

"We are here simply to conduct Fullmetal's yearly State Alchemist assessment, once that is done, we will go back to Amestris."

"Assessment? Why was I not informed about this?"

"Must have slipped my mind," Ed replied, sarcastically.

Narrowing her eyes at Edward, Umbridge turned back to Mustang.

"What exactly does this assessment entail?"

"That's classified," Mustang quipped.

"Dolorous, I agreed that Colonel Mustang would be able to perform Edward's assessment before the school year began. And he assured me that it is simply a report on Edward's research and a physical test."

"Well, I will have to inform the Minister of this, Dumbledore. And I am sure he will not be pleased." Turning on her heals, Umbridge walked out of the Hall.

"I am sorry about that, Colonel. And you are all free to explore the halls if you so wish."

"I think I will observe Fullmetal's class for the day. Seeing as we cannot go outside."

Dumbledore nodded and stated he was needed elsewhere at the moment, excusing himself.

Taking a deep breath, Edward gestured for them to follow him.

"I can see why you said you never wanted to see that Umbridge woman again in your letter," Mustang commented as they walked up the staircase towards Edward's room.

"Yeah, isn't she just a delight," Edward mocked.

"I must say that she didn't seem to very keen on your stay here," Riza added.

"Eh, I've dealt with people like her in Amestris."

Once they reached the room and walked inside, Ed saw Al sitting by his desk and looking up.

"Brother! You're back."

"Since it is raining, and we can't perform the assessment, it would seem that the Colonel wants to see me teach," Ed grumbled.

"Hello Alphonse," Hawkeye greeted kindly.

"What exactly are you reading?" Mustang asked, staring at the journal Alphonse was reading.

"It's just some notes we are using for research," Edward explained.

"Mr. Dumbledore gave them to us! They are Flamel's personal notes!" Alphonse exclaimed.

Both Mustang and Armstrong's eyebrows shot up.

"Flamel!" Roy exclaimed.

"Have you cracked the code?" Armstrong asked.

"No, we got them only about a week ago. We've made some progress, but we are still far from cracking it."

"Brother and I have been working hard, but we can't devote all our time to it since he has to teach."

Before Mustang could add anything, students started to enter the classroom.

"You guys can sit down here," Edward said, pulling a few chairs from what he knew were empty desks.

Mustang and Armstrong sat down, while Riza remained standing.

Shrugging, Edward turned his attention back to his classroom full of students.

As they started to file in, Ed announced, "Those that answered the riddle are to move to the front of the class. If you didn't answer correctly, please sit in the back."

Some students grumbled and complained about the move, but Ed couldn't care less. Once everyone was in their correct sections Edward cleared his throat.

"Hello class, now I intended for Al to be my substitute today, while I had some business to take care of, but that has been delayed."

"Aren't you going to introduce us, Fullmetal?"

Ed shot a glare behind him. "I was getting to that, Colonel."

Looking back towards his class full of seventh years, he groaned a bit before gesturing behind him. "That is my superior officer, Colonel Roy Mustang. He is joined by First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye and Major Alex Louis Armstrong."

Hands shot up instantly and Ed called on Fred Weasley.

"Why is your superior officer here?

"He is only here to conduct matters concerning the Amestrian military, now-"

He was interrupted by more of his students talking over each other.

"But why is he here?"

"Are you in trouble, Professor?"

"Will you have to go back to Amestris?"

The headache Edward had since the morning was beginning to grow as he rubbed his temples. Putting two fingers in his mouth he whistled loudly, and many of the students stopped talking over each other.

"Good, now if you all stop acting like toddlers, I can try and answer your questions, but only if they are about this class."

A few hands were raised and Edward called on one of the girls who answered correctly, Angelina Johnson.

"Professor, what are we going to be doing now that some of us have solved the riddle?"

"The few of you," Edward gestured to the seven students in this class who answered correctly. There were four Gryffindors, Fred and George Weasley, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnet. They all sat beside the the three Ravenclaws, Grant Page, Roger Davies, and Latisha Randle. "Will start working towards transmutations."

"And what about the others?" one shouted.

"You will either be doing simple busy work or using this time as a study hall for other classes. For now, you can do whatever you want, just don't disrupt the others."

A few students complained a bit, but Ed's harsh glare made them remain quite.

"Now, for the seven how answered correctly, you should have started studying the periodic table."

The few students nodded.

"This is going to be very important as we start working towards actually transmuting."

Both of the Weasley twins hands' shot up at this.

"Yes?"

"Maybe a little demonstration of alchemy would show us what we are working towards?" they suggested.

Edward tapped his chin, thinking about this.

"Fine, a small demonstration."

The students looked extremely excited at this and Edward cracked his knuckles.

Clapping his hands together, Edward kneeled down and lightly touched the stone floor. Blue light flashed and sparked around the area. Slowly the stone began to climb upwards and start forming a shape.

Standing back to admire his handy work, the students stared in awe. Edward had made a perfect replica of the Hogwarts crest. The small statue sat in a small dent in the floor and only came up to Edward's waist.

"You all won't be able to create complex transmutations like this for a long time. You will be starting out with smaller objects and that's only after we have finished learning about understanding and deconstruction."

"What else can you do sir?"

"I've said there are many fields of alchemy. Alchemists usually focus on one to hone their skills and become masters in. I specialize in metal and earth transmutations, as you can see."

Mustang cleared his throat.

"Maybe then your students should see other forms of alchemy in action?"

The smug look on Mustang's face made Edward want to punch something. Hard.

"You think you can teach my class better than me Colonel?"

Roy remained silent, and crossed his arms.

"Fine, you show them your 'amazing flame alchemy' while I sit back and watch!"

Clapping his hands once more, Edward touched the small stature and returned the floor to it's original state. Stepping aside, Edward sat at his desk while the Colonel stood in front of the class.

"Now, as Fullmetal may or may not have told you, State Alchemists receive a title upon gaining certification. This is usually related to their field of study. I am known as the Flame Alchemist."

Taking off one of his white gloves, Mustang replaced it with one of his ignition gloves.

"Don't fry my students, Colonel," Ed warned, leaning back in his chair. Al, who was sitting behind his brother, sighed, turning back to his books.

The students looked rather scared and excited at the same time, watching the Colonel raise his right hand and snapped his fingers. Red sparks zig-zagged around the room before creating a mini explosion above the center of the room, which lit the entire classroom up.

"Wow!"

"That was so cool!"

"How did you do that?"

Roy only smirked as he put his hands back in his pockets and turned back to Edward.

"Looks like I can teach better than you, Fullmetal."

Ed scoffed. "You haven't done shit, Colonel. All you did was snap your fingers, creating a spark and then changed the oxygen density in the air. Simple alchemy."

"Then why don't you do it Fullmetal? If it's that easy."

"Cause its a stupid form of alchemy," Ed scoffed.

"If it's so stupid why are your students so impressed?"

"It's stupid cause you are totally useless when wet! At least my alchemy still works if it rains!"

"Shut up Fullmetal!"

"Oh, look the big bad Colonel is upset cause I called him useless!" Ed mocked.

"I'm not useless!"

"Then why when Scar attacked you, you needed Lieutenant Hawkeye to save you!"

"If I remember correctly, Scar was about to take you out as well, so don't call me useless!"

"He surprised me! And I was already out of it that day!"

"Both of you stop this useless fighting!" Armstrong thundered, standing up.

Ed crossed his arms, muttering under his breath.

"Both of your alchemical techniques are notable. But let me show you all true alchemy! The Strong Arm Alchemist, Alex Louis Armstrong will demonstrate the technique that has been passed down the Armstrong family for generations!"

The Major was then shirtless, his bulging muscling sparkling as he posed.

Ed face palmed right then and there.

"Dammit! Look what you did Colonel! Now his shirt is off again!"

"It's not like I asked him to do it,Fullmetal!"

"If you hadn't brought him here and insisted on showing off your skills then this wouldn't have happened!"

The students stared on in confusion as the blond haired man continued to pose shirtless, while Professor Elric fought with his superior officer.

"Brother!" Al shouted, trying to stop his brother from fighting with the Colonel.

Riza Hawkeye had remained silent and stoic the entire time, until now. She walked up to Roy and Edward and tugged on both of their ears, her mask still that of a calm one.

Both cried out in pain as the Lieutenant dragged them forward, towards the Major who was still posing.

"Major Armstrong, I believe that is enough for today."

The Major snapped out of his posing routine and looked at Hawkeye.

"Yes..I suppose..." he said, putting back on his shirt.

Hawkeye then turned to the classroom full of students.

"That is all for today. You can all leave."

The student quickly packed up and bolted out of the door.

"Hawkeye!" Mustang cried out, trying to have her release her death grip on the two of them.

"Promise not to act like children?"

"We promise!" both cried out and she released both of their poor throbbing ears.

Rubbing his red ear, Ed muttered under his breath and shot a dirty look at the Colonel.

"Brother, you really need to learnt to control that temper," Al chided.

"I DON'T HAVE A TEMPER!"

Harry

"Have you gotten any news from Sirius?" Ron whispered.

"No, not since we last talked to him."

Ron slumped back in his chair and frowned a bit.

"It's only been a few days, Ronald."

"Well we should still be informed of what's going on! I mean, Harry's a big part of all this, why aren't they telling him anything?"

"They think we are too young, and you heard what Sirius said, they might be checking owls. They can't just send us a letter about everything they are doing. The can't let the Ministry or You-Know-Who, find out what they are doing."

Ron grumbled about this for a moment before a couple seventh year students came bursting into the common room, including Fred, George, and Angelina.

"Did you hear! Professor Elric's classroom was bloody mental this morning!"

"What happened?" Ron asked his elder brothers.

"You know those weird blokes that came last night? They are apparently here to do some weird inspection on Professor Elric! The black haired one is a Colonel and the large man is a Major!"

"And who was that woman that was with them too?" Harry asked.

"She's a Lieutenant."

"So what happened?" Hermione asked.

"It was insane!" Fred said. "Professor Elric started out talking about alchemy and demonstrated some for us!"

"Then the Colonel guy started saying some things and Professor Ed told him to go on and teach himself!"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "He talked like that to his superior officer?"

"That's not all!"

"Then the Colonel guy did some flame type alchemy and it was amazing! He and Professor Ed got in a fight and then the big bloke ripped off his shirt and started flexing his muscles while the Professor and the Colonel continued to bicker!"

"That sounds like a bloody circus," Ron commented.

"It practically was! I mean, until the Lieutenant lady walked over and started dragging the Colonel and Professor by the ears. They all listened to her and she barely moved a muscle!" George exclaimed.

"She sounds like a really intimidating woman," Hermione said.

"She was insane! These big bad military guys were helpless against her! I wonder why she is only a Lieutenant." Fred tapped his chin.

"Do you know else about the officers that are here?" Harry asked.

"No, we bolted out of that classroom as fast as we could. We only really know their names."

"Why didn't Professor Elric talk to us about them coming here?"

"He said that he planned on not being in class today, doing some assessment, and they were supposed to leave right after."

"Why haven't they done the assessment yet?"

"It's pouring rain, Ronald. I highly doubt they can do anything outside in this weather."

Ron then looked out the window to see how the rain was absolutely pouring down on Hogwarts. "Yeah, I suppose you're right about that."

"So do you think Professor Elric will be in our class tomorrow?"

Fred and George shrugged. "Dunno, he didn't say."

"I wonder if those officers will be in our class too," Harry pondered.

"I hope not, it seems like everyone from Amestris is bloody mental."

"They might not be that bad..."

"Well I'd rather not find out like Fred and George did."

Harry shrugged. "I guess we'll have to see."

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