/AN

Sorry this took so long. School has been keeping me bogged down with work…and writers block.

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

AN/

When Edward, Hohenheim, and Dumbledore arrived in the headmaster's office, Edward realized that Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, was standing there as well.

"Great, as if my life couldn't get any worse," Edward stated.

Roy gave Edward a meaningful glare but didn't say anything. He turned to Hohenheim and Dumbledore, saying, "I hope he didn't cause any trouble."

"He knocked out the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Hohenheim stated.

Roy sighed, slapping his forehead. "Any injuries?"

"He managed to break her chin," Dumbledore explained. "Professor Umbridge is currently in the hospital wing getting it attended too."

"Fullmetal," Roy growled in disapproval.

Edward jumped to his defense. "If she had minded her own business I wouldn't have had to do anything to her."

"You should know better than to hurt innocents!" Roy retorted.

Edward scoffed. "Innocent? If there's anyone in this school that isn't innocent, it's that bitch!"

"Fullmetal! I really expected better from you when I agreed to have Dumbledore offer you a spot here," Roy stated.

Edward stood there in silent shock. "You knew this whole time?" He finally asked, looking at the trio of adults. "Is there anything else I don't know?"

"Edward," Hohenheim said, kneeling down, "This is the safest place for you to be."

"Then what about Al?" Edward asked, glaring at Hohenheim. "What about him?"

"We're working on that, but with Alphonse in the state he's in, it wouldn't do very well to have him come here right now," Dumbledore told Edward.

Edward's retort about going back to Alphonse was cut short by an owl showing up at the window. Roy, being the closest one to said window, went over and took the letter from the owl. Roy glanced at it before handing it to Dumbledore, who promptly opened it and read what was inside.

"Well, this changes things quite a bit," Dumbledore said into the growing silence.

Edward asked, "How?"

"It appears someone's managed to kidnap both Alphonse and young Winry Rockbell," Dumbledore stated, showing Edward the letter.

xxx

"Blimey, Hermione, it's almost time for bed. How could you come to the library at a time like this?" Ron complained, watching Hermione look through the books.

Hermione didn't bother saying anything, instead pulling one of the books off the shelf and setting it down at one of the tables. "I know I've seen that somewhere before," Hermione stated.

"Seen what?"

"The sign that was on the back of Edward's jacket. Here." She pointed to a passage with the same sign on Edward's jacket situated at the top of the page.

"The Flamel is said to be the sign of the famous alchemist Nicholas Flamel, representing Equivalent Exchange and being one of the most well-known signs in all of alchemy," Ron read.

Hermione nodded, before saying, "So he was telling the truth. He really can use alchemy. But how?"

"Hermione, you're not making any sense," Ron complained.

Hermione shook her head. "I'll explain when we find Harry." She put the book back and they left the library, hurrying to get to the Gryffindor Common Room.

/AN

R&R Please!

AN/