Ice Prince Alchemist
The Black Grim
9foxgrl
Hogmeade village could easily be described as one of those traditional looking Scottish villages that one would in a fairytale book or on a Christmas card. All it needed was the snow laden roofs and it could remind you of the Briggs village of Frost Cove. The trip luckily had been scheduled on a crisp autumn day. The last of the lingering touch of summer's warmth was slowly slipping away.
Making their way down the road from Hogwarts the Amestrian teens paused to look at the village form the cliff above.
"So where do we head off to first?" Ethan asked.
"Hold on a sec, I invited Hermione and the Twins to join us." Lisa said as she waved to the trio heading their way. Hermione was with them looking vexed.
"Your brother is a bullheaded incompetent nitwit!" Hermione snapped to the twins.
"I take it that you're referring to Ronald?" Ethan asked.
"In a certain light; Percy could qualify as well." Zephyrus said dryly. The teen had recently been taking his Head Boy duties too far.
"He seems to be of the belief that my cat Crookshanks is attempting to murder his rat!" She huffed as they walked down the path to Hogsmeade.
"Wait, you mean that old rat Scabbers?" Fred asked.
"I'm surprised that's still alive."
"He owns a rat?" Zephyrus asked in disbelief.
"You hate rats?"
"They are four legged vermin that carry disease. Back at Briggs we used to use them for target practice." Zephyrus said, they all paused and looked at him in shock. "…I was joking."
"YOU JUST MADE A JOKE?" the Twins screamed in shock.
"Calm down, you'll give each other heart attacks." He retorted.
"CHIEF~!" yelled a happy voice.
"Jones, what have I said about calling me that in public?" the teen tensed as the hyper soldier ran up to the group with Arthur lagging behind him.
"Come on Chief! It suits you!" Alfred said cheerfully as Arthur caught up to the hyper man. Thankfully for this mission they were dressed like civilians in order not to stand out around the students.
"Has he been that much of a pain?"
"Oh no; not at all." Arthur said with a wave. "Believe it or not most of the villagers would rather see him on patrol then a Dementor."
Alfred shuddered. "Those things are not cool!"
"Wait, how can you see them?" You're a Muggle!" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Whose this Chief?" Alfred asked as he pointed at her.
"Hermione Granger." Hermione replied.
"No clue! Maybe it's cuz I knew Chief since he was a tiny brat" Alfred said with a laugh.
"What did you call me?"
"Come on Chief! You really got to check this place out!"
Without hesitation he ignored Hermione and grabbed Zephyrus then started to drag him down the hill towards the village.
"Dammit Jones! I can walk on my own!" the teen snapped.
The main street of Hogmeade was filled shops of many kinds, many now being frequented by the students. There was the Three Broomsticks Bar and Inn, Honeydukes' Sweet Shop, Zonko's Joke Shop, and several more.
While the Twins went into Zonko's to refill their prankster supplies Hermione and Zephyrus went to Tomes and Scrolls with Arthur. Lisa, Ethan and Alfred wandered a little further down the lane.
"With all you read it's no wonder you're at the top of the class." Hermione said as she browsed idly through a book on household charms.
"Just because you read and memorize from several sources it doesn't mean that you're a genius." Zephyrus said as he looked at some of the older books. Experience from Diagon and Knockturn was that some wizards never saw what valuable knowledge they were neglecting in the used or outdated section. "Knowing and Doing are two completely different things."
Seeing a poorly preserved journal on the concept of magical doppelgangers, a question popped into Zephyrus' head.
"By the way Hermione, how is it that you're able to be in Arthimancy with Padma, but also in Ancient Runes at the same time?"
Hermione looked startled for a moment but quickly composed herself. "Don't be ridiculous Zephyrus, how can someone be in two places at once?"
Zephyrus just stared at her for a minute with a look of disbelief then resumed his browsing. So far the only interesting thing was a book on Animagus. He suddenly stopped as a faded blue book wedged between two older tomes caught his attention.
The Principal Studies of Elemental Magic
Elle. F. Dante
c. 1898
'Elemental magic?' he thought as he browsed through it, careful not to damage the yellowing pages. There were several spells on water and ice magic. Fire spells, wind, metal, and earth. Some spells caused damage, powerful defenses; one spell used an illusion of flower petals to put its victim to sleep or in a hypnotized state; depending on the user.
'This is perfect!' he said to himself.
"Find something good?" Arthur asked Zephyrus just showed him the title.
"I advise you to be careful with that." Arthur warned in a low whisper. "I would doubt you would be allowed to keep it if Dumbledore discovered it."
"Don't worry. He won't." Zephyrus said as he grabbed a book on Goblin History by a historian named Iron Shank before heading to the counter.
"Three Sickles and a Knut." The man grunted without even looking up from the Daily Prophet.
'He obviously doesn't know the value of what he is selling.' Zephyrus thought as he placed the coins down.
The two bookworms soon joined their group outside. Fred and George were eagerly showing off their new 'toys' to Alfred who was whispering to them about something. Ethan had gotten a few sweets and Lisa was gingerly holding a paper wrapped bottle that apparently she may have slipped into the seedy Hogs Head to get.
"Fire Whiskey." She said with a low whisper as she tucked it in her satchel. "I plan on giving it to Mustang for his birthday next week."
Zephyrus snickered. "I wish I could see his face when he drinks it!"
"Don't worry; I plan on asking for plenty of pictures!" she said with a mischievous smirk.
Zephyrus suddenly felt a drop of pity for Mustang. While he too had his mischievous side, he kept under control mostly. But Lisa…she could be as bad as Ed…And now if you added the reincarnated Envy to the mix.
He wondered if he could get front row seats to the show.
"So where to next?"
"Want to check out the Shrieking Shack?" Hermione asked.
"The what?" the Amestrian teens asked.
"Just one of –"
"-the most haunted buildings-"
"In all of Scotland." The Twins said with glee.
"Oh, you mean that run down old shack just down the road from the Hog Head?" Alfred asked curiously.
The Twins looked at him with glee.
"You've been?"
"This morning. Nothing scary there. Just a large shaggy black dog living in one of the rooms." Alfred said easily. He paused. "It's really boring in comparison to the Windy Pass."
"Windy Pass?"
"It's an old traders route in the North that gets snowed in from December to mid-March. Supposedly when its clear you hear the souls of those who were trapped there wailing." Zephyrus said ominously.
"Since the Shack is no longer an option, let's go to the Three Broomsticks, for a quick nip to warm up."
"I didn't know you supported underage drinking Artie."
"Shut up Jones!"
The small group entered the bustling inn and managed to find a table hidden in the corner. Arthur talked to the bar keeper Madame Rosmerta who came by with a tray of butterbeers for them.
"So any news from the Yard?" Ethan asked Arthur in a low voice as the witch walked away.
"Other than finding out that the Aurors are severally backlogged with the Death Eater cases and several of said files have been either misplaced or stolen?" Arthur huffed. Apparently now the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was facing a secret inquiry by the Crown for negligence of justice.
"So do you all have anything planned for the Holidays?" Hermione asked.
"Going home." Zephyrus remarked.
"Same here." Lisa replied.
"We're supposed to stay over." Fred began.
"-But we're trying see if Dad-"
"Will let us visit-"
"Ishval again."
"Mom and Dad shouldn't have a problem with that." Ethan remarked. "I know my sisters won't."
"Are you taking Percy, Ron and Ginny with you?"
"Ginny; maybe."
"But Percy will be busy with his 'Big Head Boy' stuff, and Ron still doesn't want to accept that Uncle Fabian chose to be with a Muggle over his family." George added.
The group sat in silence for a few minutes before Alfred spoke up.
"It's nearly noon Chief; you want to head somewhere else?"
Zephyrus opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly gasped and placed a finger to his lips and subtlety nodded his head towards the door. The soldiers looked over and were surprised to see Minister Fudge, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, and lastly Hagrid.
Arthur casted a quick Privacy charm around them while Zephyrus tucked his white hair under his dark hat. Hermione looked like she wanted to speak up but Lisa hushed her as the adults took a seat at the table in the corner behind them.
They seemed to be conversing in private for a moment before Madame Rosmerta came over with their drinks.
"A small gillywater-"
"That would be mine." Professor McGonagall spoke up.
"Four pints of mulled mead-
"Ta, Rosemerta."
"A cherry syrup and soda with ice and umbrella."
"Thank you." Squeaked Flitwitck.
"And you're will be the red currant rum Minister."
"Thank you Rosmerta." The man replied. "I hope business is doing good."
"Well it would be better without all the Dementors every other night, but at least that good looking Muggle soldier doesn't drive away my business. He's even willing to help break up a fight or two for me when the men get too rowdy."
"Ever the gentlemen?" Zephyrus remarked.
"Like Granny raised me to be." Alfred replied.
"I don't understand why they were so insistent on having a Muggle being a guard for the boy. After all the Dementors are doing a fine job." Fudge huffed.
"The students and citizens of Hogsmeade might say otherwise." Rosmerta huffed.
"Any sightings around here?"
"None that I've heard. But everyone is still wary since the sighting in Dufftown the other day."
"I just wish I had the man power to station some Aurors out here. But with all the budget cuts that may be impossible."
'Yeah right.' The Amestrians thought.
"Just remember that Black is a dangerous killer."
"If you had told me that when he was still in school I would have asked you how much mead you'd had." Rosmerta said clucking her tongue. "I still remember that boy; he was a prankster but I would have never suspected him to be dangerous."
Ethan quietly took out a small notepad and tucked it behind a newspaper. He started to dictate the conversation. 'Maybe this will give us some much needed answers.'
"-Especially since he and James Potter were as close as brothers!"
Alfred grimaced as did Zephyrus.
"I remember, those two were quiet the double act! Could rival the Fred and George in the pranking department. Always trying to make everyone laugh."
The Twins exchanged a look. Someone out shown them in pranks? Ethan just shuddered at the thought.
"I never could understand how the Potters were so easily killed. Lily was a strong Charms Master and James an Auror and Transfiguration Master!"
"While that is all true, they chose to use the Fidelius charm to conceal themselves from You Know Who."
"Fidelius Charm?"
"A very complex charm that seals a secret within a living soul. No one knows of that secret unless it's Secret Keeper divulges of the secret willingly." Flitwick explained. "To try and force it out will cause their death."
"Black was the Secret Keeper?"
"Naturally; James said that he trusted him with his life. Dumbledore insisted that he be the Secret Keeper himself, but the Potters refused."
Zephyrus frowned. 'Why would the Headmaster be so insistent? Did it have to do with that Prophecy that Prewett had told us about? If that's so then we might have to get a hold of it.'
"And then, a week after it was cast, they were killed!"
"Back stabbing traitor!" Hagrid bellowed causing half of the bar went quiet.
"Hagrid!"
"He was there when arrived at Godric Hollow, after I pulled him from the wreckage! Told 'em I couldn't cuz Dumbledore told me to take him to his Aunt n Uncle's home…AND I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN' TRAITOR!"
"Hagrid hush!" McGonagall scolded.
"I can only imagine what would 'ave 'appened if I did give 'em littlw 'Arry." Hagrid sobbed before throwing back another swallow. "'E probably would 'ave thrown 'im into the sea and disappeared!
"But he didn't, did he?" Rosmerta said with some satisfaction. "The Ministry caught up to him the next day!"
"Yes, but sadly it wasn't until Peter Pettigrew caught up with him." Fudge huffed. "Poor bloke tried to confront Black on his own, then paid with own life."
Ethan and Lisa exchanged a look.
'A day after huh?'
"And that's event the worse part."
"What could be worse?"
"Sirius Black was, and still technically is…the boy's Godfather."
Alfred suddenly stood up and dragged Zephyrus out of the bar, startling the adults and students around them. The duo had made it outside the bar when Zephyrus spoke up.
"Let go of me Jones."
"Chief..."
"That's an order!" he snapped.
"With all due respect sir, no!" Alfred replied.
Zephyrus growled, but made no motion to push him off. He knew Alfred was stronger than he looked. He made it into the Briggs Bears for a reason.
"Okay, I think we managed to establish somewhat of a timeline now." Ethan commented as soon as the group reached them. He flipped through his notebook reading.
"First, Dumbledore warns your birth parents to go into hiding."
"They cast the Fidelius." Lisa added.
"A week later the Old Moldy bastard attacks and fails to kill you."
"Hagrid takes you out of the wreckage, Black runs after Peter."
"And kills him." Hermione finished.
The Amestrians all looked at her and shook their heads.
"Hermione; the Crown wants to capture Black alive for a reason. Under normal circumstances a wanted witch or wizard would be tracked down by Aurors or one of the Unspeakables, not Dementors."
"You think someone wants to silence him?" Hermione gasped.
"Exactly."
"Shouldn't we tell Dumbledore?"
"For all we know he could be behind it." Fred said in a low voice.
"Yeah, did you hear what Fudge said? Dumbledore was insisting on being their Secret Keeper." George added. "And I don't think it was because he was just their friend or former teacher. He knew something big was happening."
"Then it's obvious now. We need to find someone who was close to Black in order to get a better idea of his motives. Something must have happened in that week prior to Halloween to make him betray the Potters." Zephyrus spoke up.
"Who do you suggest?"
"A classmate might be best, former lovers, close friends, former co-workers. I doubt there will be any relatives willing to talk." Arthur commented. "I can look around if anyone from his graduation year knew them well."
"There's a chance that Professor Lupin knew them. I saw his name on the same Gryffindor graduation record as Black's." Ethan explained.
"Professor Snape would have been a student at the time too. I can interview him." Lisa added.
"What-"
"-Can we do?"
"And me?"
"You three shouldn't get involved." Lisa commented.
"I agree." Zephyrus added.
"Me too."
"Why not!"
"Well for one thing, this could get dangerous, and you could get killed."
"So what."
"We put ourselves at risk-"
"-pranking Snape."
"And what makes you three different?"
"Since they refuse to cooperate directly with the non-magicals; Ethan and I are acting as a go between for Amestris and the Magical Ministry here. Zephyrus is already the intended target and is just kept updated on the situation." Lisa lied.
"Besides, this isn't some game." Zephyrus snapped. "Not only do you three have no kind of combative training, if you get involved and killed it could cause an international incident. We are here to capture Black, not play a game of Cops and Robbers!"
*~Ice Prince Alchemist ~*
"He wasn't always like this." Alfred sighed as soon as the soldiers returned to their post. They had the night off since it was the Dementors turn to go on patrol. To their surprise the large black dog Alfred had fed the other night was there waiting.
"What do you mean?"
"I've known Chief since the General adopted him. My Dad was his tutor before he started the school in Frost Cove." Alfred replied. His mind flickered back to the first day he, Ivan and his twin Madeline were allowed to meet the kid. "Zephyrus had been really shy at the time, and was really reluctant to make friends."
"So why did he change?"
Alfred ran a hand through his hair and groaned. "There was…an incident about eight years ago when he was five…We were outside of Frost Cove with some other kids, playing a game of capture the flag…our team…accidentally came across an Drachman drug runners. Before we could get out of there we were spotted."
"They attacked you?"
"Yeah…the guys thought if they held us hostage then they could get around the mountain patrol nearby."
"So what happened?"
"One of the older kids who had been trying to find us tried to fight them off himself while the others went for help. Vash...he was shot in the lower back. Was paralyzed from the waist down" Alfred said with a grimace. "Then the leader decided that it wasn't worth it and order us to be shot. Chief…had no other choice then…he used alchemy to try and stop the Drachmans from hurting anyone else."
Arthur gasped. "Did he-?"
"All ten drug runners…were impaled and killed." Alfred replied.
Another memory flickered in. Zephyrus on the snowy ground, hands on a transmutation circle, covered in blood that wasn't even his. He was too petrified to look up at the corpse dangling inches above his head.
The dog whimpered.
"The General wouldn't let Chief come back to Frost Cove until the guard tracked down where they had come from. That was about a month or so…when he did finally come back it was like he changed. He kept his emotions closed off and was more concerned about being able to protect anyone around him." Alfred groaned. "He threw himself head first into learning how to fight, and how to help the engineers create new measures of protecting our village."
*~Ice Prince Alchemist~*
Upon their return to the school the group parted ways. Ethan went off to interview Lupin and Lisa headed towards the dungeons. They met up again a few minutes later as neither Professor was available.
They decided to head back to their dorms only to be met with a large crowd.
"What's going on?" Ethan asked. He peered around Seamus to get a glimpse of a torn up portrait door.
"Every one, return to the Great Hall at once!" Dumbledore ordered.
The Gryffindors did as they were told and after a what seemed like an eternity the other Houses were shuffled in as well. After summoning some sleeping bags the Professors left with Percy in charge of the students.
"What happened?" Zephyrus asked.
"Someone tried to break into Gryffindor Tower." Lisa whispered. "The Fat Lady's portrait is slashed up and she's missing."
"Sirius Black?"
"Maybe."
"Why did Black break into Gryffindor Tower? Wouldn't it have made more sense to come after me?" Zephyrus whispered.
"I'm not sure." Ethan replied. "While it's not well known internationally, in the U.K. many do know that you're a Ravenclaw."
"Then he would have probably have heard about it by now." He replied.
"So that means that there was something that he wanted to desperately to get in that tower." Lisa added.
"But why?"
"Well, Arthur did say that Black was a Gryffindor. What if it was something from his school days?"
"So you think he stashed something there?"
"Maybe." Ethan replied. "But that was what, over twenty years ago?"
"Lights out everyone!" Percy ordered.
"We need more answers." Ethan whispered.
"I got an idea." Lisa said as she gently nudged her familiar awake. "You feel like doing some spying Ithamar?"
Spreading knowledge is good, but some knowledge can bring about corruption and pain.
Next time: Red Springs
The greed of Man can bring about dangerous things.
A/N: Hey everyone! Before we get to the OMAKES! I just wanted to announce a poll on my profile to determine Sirius's fate! Please vote!
Now without further interruption!
*trumpet fanfare*
Marauders Comic Theater Presents:
LESSONS FROM MOTHER according to Zephyrus
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to practice with knives use the old dull ones, I just sharpened these."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "Get my son accidentally involved in an investigation again Mustang and no amount of prayers will stop you imminent death!"
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you hurt my son again I will personally send you back to your own personal Ice Age."
4. My mother taught me LOGIC. "Because that's just how moron politicians think. They don't know how."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall off of that scaffold and crack open your skull; you're not coming with me to North City."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. "Always keep a knife on you; you never know what lunatics are out there in the world."
7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Only the bullheaded and stubborn charge the enemy directly."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your smart mouth and eat your vegetables."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM. "Just look at that scratch on your elbow."
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA "If you can dodge a dozen rocks you can dodge a sword."
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "See those clouds? We're about to get some freezing rain."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "You shouldn't fight when you're sick or injured."
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "It's a bear eat Bear world out there. So you either get them first, or they will get you."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Miles! Stop corrupting my son!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "He was a shape shifting Homunculus with hair like a one of those coconut trees in the Central botanical garden."
16 My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Remember, if they look or sound like they want to hurt you, they probably will."
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "Keep this up and you're getting the belt."
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "You see? This why I tell you not to make dumb expressions; your face will get stuck like that."
19. My mother taught me ESP. "If you're going to prank Buccaneer again, hide in the prison cells, it's the last place he'll think to look."
20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When you freeze solid standing there; don't think you can come running to me for sympathy."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "You have homework, I have paperwork. It only gets worse as you get older."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "We may not be related by blood but I am still your Mother understand?"
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Stop running around like a fox, do you think you were born in the forest?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you have to deal with a group of idiots you'll understand."
And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a pint of blood for every injury they give your comrades. And for every brain cell of yours they destroy, you destroy what's left of theirs with logic."
Living with Mustang
In the first year of living with the Flame Alchemist Lisa learned many things about her foster father.
One; the man was a disorganized slob at times.
Lisa stared at what she guessed was a living room. There were newspapers stacked against a book case. A bag of empty take out cartons and some crumpled up papers.
It took her nearly two hours to clean it all up, and when Roy came back from work he did a double take at the sparkling clean room before realizing he was in the right house. To her ire the room was a disaster zone again in two days, and she ended up chasing the man with a broom.
Two; Roy could be forgetful about eating when stressed.
Lisa lost count after the third week of how many times she had to remind the man to eat a proper meal and that fast food was not the best on a daily basis. Many times she would bring him a tray of food to his home office or pack a lunch for him.
He finally got the point after a week of nothing but some of the spiciest curry and rice recipes she could make.
Three; Roy could be very overprotective of her.
On her first visit to HQ there was a new recruit who flirted with her. Roy threatened to turn him to charcoal if he even looked at her again. And this was before Havoc and Brenda started to grill him with Fuery standing behind them with an electrician's welding gun and a battery.
Four; He had his 'moments'
Lisa was walking up to the second floor of the house with a fresh load of laundry when she passed by Roy's room. And…he was singing. Peering in through the doorway she saw Roy standing in front of a full length mirror holding a comb like a microphone.
"Snap, snap! Spark, spark! It's time to light up the diggy-diggy-dark! I'm the Flame Alchemist and I'm gonna be Fuhrer; My beats are hot and my rhymes are purer! I like the ladies in the miniskirts, I be posing in the mirror without my fancy shirts. I'm gonna set your heart on fire- whoosh! Whoosh! And you know my heart burns bright too, ka-boom, ka-boom! My fire power tonight is feeling just right, ka-blam, ka-blam!"
Roy stopped singing when he realized Lisa was rolling in the hallway dying of laughter. The basket of laundry abandoned.
Devils of the Desert
"Elijah! We have a big problem!" a young monk yelled as he ran up to the former assassin.
"What is it?" he asked. "Bandits? Alchemists?"
"No! The Weasely Twins are coming back in a week!"
Elijah paled as he remembered the day of chaos the two spread after they learned that one of the Ishvalan holidays was a day of playing jokes on friends and neighbors.
People turning blue. The main fountain producing nothing but cherry soda for over an hour. Rain…INDOORS! Singing chickens and cows! Tap dancing crows! Talking cheese!
And that was before the other children joined in!
And the FIREWORKS visible from East City!
"May Ishvala save us all."
A/n: Now, many of you who know the books by heart know that 'Harry' doesn't find out about his Dog father until before Christmas time. But I needed to speed up the development a bit.