A/N: I owe all of you guys a major apology due to how long it's been since last time I updated. Homework has been conspiring against me, and I've had to finish both geography AND english coursework...

Chapter 14
Classes

He awoke to find that one of the velvety curtains around his bed, there to prevent light getting in, had opened slightly during the night, allowing a thin beam of morning light shine onto his face, almost blinding him. He couldn't remember falling asleep, but he must have. It was probably due to the fact that he was always so damn tired nowadays.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes with his left hand, he pushed himself into what was technically an upright position, allowing his muscles to loosen before he even contemplated standing up. Pulling the curtain aside slightly, he raised his weary head and surveyed the room around him, noting how all of the other boys in the dormitory were still asleep. From one of the beds, he could even here someone snoring deeply.

He guessed that it was still rather early.

Seeing no point in staying in bed, let alone trying to fall back asleep, he took the opportunity to discreetly change into his school robes; he wasn't yet prepared for anybody to know about his limbs. Pulling himself to his feet, he frowned as his automail creaked loudly, and realised that they felt uncharacteristically stiff.

That's not normal…

Dismissing it as yet another problem associated with his restless nights, he quickly changed into his black robes, feeling nostalgic for his red coat and leather pants. Pulling his boots on (they had said nothing about getting new ones) he made his way down to the common room, once again paying it little attention as he focused on getting down to the Great Hall and finding breakfast.

It was only then that he remembered that he didn't know the way to the Great hall.

Damn, I'm starving…

Sighing to himself, he made his way out of the portrait hole, grateful that his mind was, at that moment, relatively clear. Glancing around as he stepped out into the corridor, he gave a small smile of relief as he saw another student making his way down the passage. Running up to him (trying his best to ignore the slight, throbbing pain in his automail ports), he pulled on the other student's robes. The boy turned around, a look of mild shock on his face.

"What the… Oh, hello." The boy, now composed, looked Ed up and down, before smiling. "Edward Elric, right?" He nodded. "I guess you wanna get breakfast, eh?" He nodded again. The boy's grin grew. "Name's Robin Woodbridge, I'm in fourth year. You're in fifth, right?" He waited for Ed to clarify, before grabbing his sleeve and leading the way down multiple stairways and corridors. After what felt like forever, they found their way to the Great Hall. Making his way in, Ed turned around, wondering why the younger boy wasn't following. Robin saw the look on his face.

"I'm going to the Library. Potions homework to finish." He cringed, and Ed smiled in sympathy. He watched as Robin walked away, before pushing the hall doors open to see all of the teachers up already, but only a few other students. Quietly, he sat down at the Gryffindor table, before helping himself to breakfast. Patiently, he waited for his friends to arrive.

--

It felt like hours before he saw their familiar faces walk through the large doors, making a beeline towards him. In front of him sat his breakfast plate with half of his food still on it, steadily growing cold. Despite how hungry he'd been when he'd woken up he hadn't, for some strange reason, been able to stomach much. Though he was mildly bothered, this did not worry him; he simply put it down to nerves and the fact that today would be his first day in classes.

Classes.

He could feel this strange feeling in the pit of his stomach, like butterflies flying around erratically. Managing only a weak smile as his friends sat down, it took all of his will not to throw up what little food he had consumed. Waiting, barely patient, for breakfast to end and the timetables to be handed out, time seemed to conspire against him, and it felt like hours before the other students had finally finished and the heads' of houses began to hand them out. As the trio and himself were handed the pieces of parchment, Ron and Harry let out a collective groan.

"Oh no, potions…"

"Not Snape, not so soon…" Ron banged his head heavily onto the wooden table. Ed looked at them, mildly surprised at how dramatic their reactions were. Harry saw this look, and explained.

"Snape hates Gryffindors, us three especially." He didn't say anymore, instead forcing himself to his feet long with his two friends. Nervously following suite, Ed stood up his hand shooting out to balance him as his automail leg partially gave way. Ignoring the confused looks on his friends' faces, he waited until he could stand up properly before following them, along with hordes of other students, out of the Great Hall.

Pushing past multitudes of other people, they found themselves in a dank, tunnel-like corridor with some other fifth years. Their footsteps echoing slightly on the damp floor, after what felt like hours they found themselves out side a simple wooden door. Waiting with nervous anticipation, Ed jumped as an oily voice resounded in his ears.

"Enter…"

They pushed the door open.

A/N: Next chappie, the evil that is Snape...