Finding Life's Second Truth
By: FlameXFullmetal
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Fullmetal Alchemist (Brotherhood).
A/N: Holy crap I didn't realize that it has been well over a month since I last updated. I am really sorry about that. Hopefully I'll keep better track of time so this won't happen again for no reason. I could have swore that I posted an update to all of my stories in September but it seems that I missed this one. Anyway you know the drill already!
**********Occlumency*******
After the news that Arthur Weasley had in fact been attacked and killed in the ministry the castle gained a very somber atmosphere. The sorrow seemed to leak into every crack and corner of the castle latching onto the occupants and causing many students to re-evaluate the words of the ministry on whether or not they were safe. The Weasley children had left the school the same day and their absence only seemed to make the gloomy atmosphere worse as it was a reminder that it had in fact not been a bad nightmare and that it was in fact reality. The silence stretched on even through the holidays and followed January as it began. Many students and teachers were solemn and tried to focus on the lessons as a way to distract themselves, even if it didn't work for most. The Weasley's return to Hogwarts only seemed to cause the gloomy atmosphere to worsen. The quiet and monotony of the castle was finally broken for Harry on the eleventh of January.
"Occlumency lessons will begin in two days Potter. As far as anyone in the school is concerned you are taking a remedial potions class to try and bolster your grades a little."
"Alright, Professor Snape." Harry agreed as the potions master merely nodded and left as if he didn't expect a reply. Sighing to himself he continued on his trek to the Great Hall for breakfast. A small part of Harry hadn't stopped wondering if things would have been different if the soul fragment had remained but he quickly banished that thought. Even if it had remained there was no guarantee that he would have been able to save Arthur's life. Sitting down he muttered a quick hello to Hermione and helped himself to the food on the table. It was difficult for him but he was slowly clearing his mind of rogue thoughts and starting to focus on his lessons for the day. His classes still seemed to blur together as he went through the day contemplating what the occlumency lessons would entail. The next day seemed like much of the same and even the increasing difficulty of the arrays in alchemy could keep his focus off of the classes the would have the next day.
The day of his first lesson seemed to move agonizingly slow to Harry compared to the previous two days and for some reason he found himself wanting to spend time with the potions master. Perhaps it was the change in attitude towards him or the fact that the man seemed less hostile towards him especially as he slowly raised his grade in potions. Harry couldn't help but wonder if it had anything to do with the blonde that Snape seemed to have made friends with. Perhaps Edward was slowly easing the hatred that Snape seemed to hold for his father and as a result he was seeing less of James and more of Harry as an individual. Whatever the case Harry couldn't complain about the changes. It made life at Hogwarts less stressful. Now if only Umbridge would disappear. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts he refocused on his charms lesson and tried to keep his thoughts from wandering.
By the time that he made his way to the dungeon for his newest lessons Harry felt like screaming. The curiosity hadn't lessoned at all and had only grown since that morning. Stepping inside the potions classroom he raised an eyebrow to see Snape and Edward engaged in a seemingly competitive game of Wizard's Chess. To Harry they looked evenly tied and he couldn't help but wonder who would win. However, the game ended three moves later with Edward coming out as the victor. Sitting back Snape sighed in frustration.
"Am I ever going to defeat you in this blasted game?"
"When you stop getting distracted and focus more on your moves and what they represent then maybe." Edward replied then glanced over at Harry. "Just on time. I will leave you two to your lessons and do bear in mind Severus, that he is a novice and has had very little experience in the ways of clearing his mind let alone protecting it, so try not to be to hard or go to fast." A grunt was the blonde's only reply as he bounded out of the room and headed out to most likely head to the library.
"Professor." Harry greeted.
"What do you know of Occlumency and Legilimency?"
"Nothing I'm afraid."
"I see. Legilimency is used to break into another person's mind and read their thoughts and memories. Skilled legilimens may use this ability without the other person knowing. Occlumency is the opposite of legilimency. It is used to counter a legilimens and protect your mind against such attacks. I will be perfectly honest Potter, you are an emotional wizard. As such these lessons will not only be difficult but will require you to also gain mastery over yourself. If you have no intention of taking these lessons seriously then I will ask you to leave right now. I have no intention of wasting my time."
"I will professor. I don't want nor need people rooting around in my head. Just the knowledge that Voldemort was able to do so while he was so far away is...unsettling." Harry replied trying his best to convey how he felt about it.
"Very well. We will start by teaching you how to properly meditate." Severus stated his mind constantly replaying the conversation he had had earlier in the week with Edward and Roy regarding his approach to the lessons. He had originally intended to proceed with the trial by fire method but Edward and Roy had a different idea. They had suggested that if a mutual respect wasn't built between them Harry would be less inclined to take the lessons seriously as a way of showing his displeasure at the situation. They had also suggested that if he attacked Harry's mind like he had planned he could potentially weaken it. When they had described the flaws in his approach he had begrudgingly admitted that perhaps he was still angry at James for his constant torment during their school years and he was projecting that hatred onto Jame's son.
The two alchemist had somehow become the friends that he had wanted and needed in school but hadn't found, mostly due to James Potter. He found himself often seeking their advice and listening to them more than anyone else. It was only because of them that he had changed his approach to the lessons and had tried to see Harry as his own person and not the son of that man. He had seen the change almost immediately as well. The less animosity he had sent to the boy, the less animosity he had received in return. Shaking his head he returned to the lesson he was giving.
The next day brought quite a bit of commotion as yet another "educational decree" was posted. This one forbidding teachers from discussing any topics that they were not being paid to teach. The decree had been placed almost as soon as word broke about a mass prison break at Azkaban. Edward himself found the decree to be quite dangerous and yet he knew that it was only a matter of time before Umbridge slipped up. Sighing as his students entered the room he glanced at the students and could clearly see concern and a little fear in their eyes.
"Alright class so far we have focused on making small objects with your arrays. All of you have been progressing nicely and have managed to add quite the variety of details. For that I am quite proud of you. Now according to the syllabus we would be starting on the more intricate items to make with more difficult materials. However, in light of recent events I have decided to move that back in favor of teaching you something more practical and defensive in nature. Thankfully I have been given permission to take this lesson outside and conduct it on the quidditch pitch as we have no where near enough material for this inside. Grab your bags and follow me." He instructed gathering some materials as the students for the quidditch field. Edward managed all of six steps out of the castle before he was intercepted by Umbridge.
"Where are you heading, Mr. Elric?"
"To the quidditch pitch to continue their lessons, though I hardly see how that matters to you. Furthermore, by asking me that you have broken your own educational decree as you are not being paid to question the teachers on where they are holding their lessons." He snapped and walked away as Delores felt her mouth open and then close as she tried to come up with a response. Unfortunately, all she did was do a great impression of a fish.
"Alright everyone. What you are learning today will use a very slight alteration to the array that you have been using for the past few weeks." He said as they gathered around him and he drew the new array. "Instead of a basic array you will be using one more geared towards the earth element. Stand back a bit." The students quickly moved allowing their teacher some room.
"Using this new array you will be able to create structures like this one." He said quickly transmuting a thick earthen wall in front of him. "This wall can act like a shield to protect you from any attacks, replace a missing wall, or allow you to block off an opponent's escape." He said smirking at the awestruck expressions.
"There are very few spells that can break through a properly constructed wall like this one. The most common that would be used is the Bombarda Maxima spell. As such when using this in combat do not remain behind it as I am certain that your opponent will know the spell. Additionally, if necessary you may also use the bombarda maxima spell to use the debris from the explosion as an additional weapon." He informed the know dumbfounded students. "Just bare in mind that the combination will be lethal. So do not use it lightly. It should be a last resort combination." Nodding the students went to work drawing the new array on their chalkboards.
The class then spent their time making many earthen walls. Some of them fell apart instantly others barely rose four feet but it seemed as if they were getting the hang of it quickly. Edward as with other lessons merely walked around and gave advice on how to make the wall more sturdy or even on how to correct mistakes. It was part way through the lesson that a thought popped into Harry's mind.
"Professor? You said that the wall can be used to block most spells. Does that include the unforgivable curses as well?" All movement stopped as the students stared at the strange question.
"The imperius and cruciatus curses will most definitely be blocked with the wall. In regards to the third, it is my understanding that the killing curse requires a living object in order to be successful and will attempt to "kill" anything it comes in contact with. It does not keep traveling if it comes into contact with something. Therefore, you could theoretically use this transmutation as a defense against that particular spell. Bear in mind that I have no clue what will happen should the curse strike a non-living target. So if you do use the wall for that purpose I suggest moving quickly as there may be an explosive backlash." He replied seriously making everyone nod. It was then that they realized he was preparing them in case they were attacked by the escaped prisoners from Azkaban since Umbridge had no intention of doing so. This made the students double their efforts to get the wall correct.
By the end of the class every student had managed to successfully create a four foot sturdy wall. Nodding in approval Edward signaled for them to begin packing up. With one smooth movement he restored the field to its previous state just as he had during his skills assessment. Standing he turned to look at the students and smirked at their expressions.
"You'll get there don't worry. From this point forward we will meet by the front entrance of the castle and continue our lessons out here as we will need both the state and an abundance of material for your lessons that just will not fit in the classroom. I will inform the teachers of the change in location for your class so you shouldn't have any problem with them. I will warn you now that when we are done with the wall, I will be teaching you how to box yourself in completely. While it may seem silly based on the reactions that certain spells may have against it I promise your there is a reason behind it. So I suggest that you keep rested as the tiredness you feel now will be worse when that begins." With that he dismissed the students and looked towards the sky. They still had to find a way into the ministry.
True to his word, Edward did notify the teachers of the change and while Umbridge was indignant about the change and reason she could do nothing to stop it. The alchemy class continued as normal and true to his warning when they began to make the enclosures they found themselves wearing down faster. Whenever they would reach a certain level of exhaustion Edward would call a halt to the practical lessons and begin the theoretical portion. Inside of his own construct.
For Harry, he continued to have his own extra lessons with Snape every week and he couldn't help but feel as if they had been making progress. The potions master had finally begun testing his mental fortitude by attacking his mind and Harry was doing well to hold him off. Granted he couldn't prevent it but he was still delaying the inevitable. For a time the only change in routine came in mid January when both care of magical creatures and divination were suspended. Or when the Hogsmead trips came and Harry would embark on another date with Draco. Both boys finding themselves enjoying the budding relationship even more.
Edward was also beginning to discover that he rather enjoyed spending time with Roy. Despite the fact that neither had officially declared that they were dating, there was no mistake that they were indeed in a relationship. The days continued to pass as the students again fell into a routine never disturbed. Before the school populace knew January had already gone and February had already arrived. It seemed almost as if nothing had changed from the previous years outside of Umbridge's oppressive presence and the educational decrees outside of the Great Hall.
Before long there was yet another quidditch match. This time against Hufflepuff and despite their opponent's best attempts to stop them, Gryffindor took the win. With the match over the students returned to their monotonous routine. The days passing them and before they knew it February had ended as well and March had arrived. Their classes had picked up pace and in the process they became even more loaded down with homework and had less time to socialize. The teachers as well found themselves with less time as they began to prepare their students for their O.W.L.S and the N.E.W.T.S. The toad that was Umbridge nearly forgotten by the alchemist as they found no time to do much of anything between their task for the Truth and their work at the school. March, however, would bring about the first change in awhile.
***********T.B.C*********
A/N: This chapter was quite a bit shorter as there really wasn't much to write. The amount of things that occur between christmas and April is ridiculously low. I didn't feel comfortable covering nearly four months in one chapter. I did leave some of the events vague as well. I probably won't go into details about the dates that Harry, Draco, Roy and Ed go one merely because it will be most of the same since they have little choice in date spots. Furthermore, I know that I haven't done much between Eve, Roy and Ed in regards to their pairing but I will trust me. I still have to find a reason that they go to the Department of Mystery as well. In any case, I did what I could at the time and I hope that it isn't to bad. The decree against the quibbler will not occur as I see little reason for Harry to talk to Rita (I believe does the interview). I hope that I will be able to go into more details regarding the activities in Hogwarts in the next chapter as well. I just ask for a little patience as I have been sick for nearly two weeks now. Anyway, as always if you find any spelling or grammar mistakes that bother you that I miss let me know and I will eventually correct them! Until next time! Ja ne!