Okay! The Big Finale! I am very grateful to everyone who read my story I hope that you all like it! Thankyou for all the reviews as well. DON'T BE SAD! This isn't really the end! I will be making a sequel to this for the next year. If you want to learn more about it I will be posting an author's note after the first chapter is published. The side story will be up as well. Very soon. Very soon. I might even add a spoof of this chapter!
If you want more look for authors notes probably in updates. I will be editing this and changing just minor details. I hope you can hold off with me until then! Enjoy!
CHAPTER 26
The Trip Home
Edward was glad to hear that Harry and his Godfather already want to make plans for the summers and perhaps relieve Harry of the Dursley's care. It was all real touching and sweet. What he absolutely hated was being shoved through the tunnel like an accused criminal. Though his feet were free and able to move about, Remus refused to untie his hands until he hears Dumbledore's story. Edward thought that the man was just being ridiculous but the werewolf assured him that he didn't mean anything by it personally except for the fact that he didn't trust him. Lupin tied himself and Ron to Pettigrew so that they could keep an eye on the rat and make sure he doesn't transform. Ron was having a hard time making his way down the passage with his broken limb, but he was managing.
Edward could tell that it wasn't an accident that every outcropping rock from the ceiling managed to hit Severus's floating body straight in the head. Sirius who was in control of the levitating man was having fun bruising up his menace's face. Hermione stood behind Edward, wand out just in case he decided to murder the lot of them and escape to the arctic. He knew that she doubted she'll have to use it, but then again, she wasn't putting her wand away. Edward easily made his way through the passage. Only him and Peter were able to fit in it without having to bend at weird angles. Though he hated being short, he took pride in the fact that Peter was exactly five centimeters shorter than he was. When he thought about it, it was pitiful he was comparing his size to that of a rat.
It was Crookshanks who saved them all from the pummeling of a lifetime by running out and pressing its paws against the knot of the tree. Edward was half glad that he took the stupid cat along with him. It was quite hard to get out of the tunnel. Walking up the steep slope of the roots was no easy matter when you had no use of your arms. Sirius eventually had to drag him out by under the arms, which was definitely not too comfortable on his shoulder wound. They marched across the grounds towards the tower. Edward saw that the tree started up again after they had reached the summit of the small hill. He walked on rather lost in thought when he smacked his face off of Sirius's back. The line all of a sudden stopped. Their silhouetted shadows perfectly pronounced against the light of the drifting full moon. Edward had a deepening feeling of dread in his stomach. Lupin's joints went all stiff as his body absorbed the direct impact of the Moon's wrath. His limbs started to shake violently. Severus did say that he didn't take his potion that night.
"He's not safe get back!" Sirius cried as he tried to hustle him, Harry, Hermione, as well as the floating Severus away from the frothing man. Edward fought against him.
"Ron!" he shouted. "Ron is still up there!" Everyone turned to look back where Ron and Pettigrew stood still lashed to the turning werewolf. Hermione let out a terrified shriek. Edward nudged Sirius's shoulder.
"Untie me!" he commanded. The man looked down at him a bit unsure. "God damn it! Untie me now! We are running out of time!" Black glanced back towards where Remus was being tortured with the insanity of the moonlight. He quickly nodded and cut his bindings with his wand. Edward ran. He ran as fast as he could towards the transforming professor. A large black dog was beside him bounding across the field. Remus's body had already begun to distort and morph into a very canine like creature. His nose started to grow into a large muzzle while his arms and legs began to elongate. Ron was screaming his head off trying to get free of the writhing creature. Edward ran forward and transmuted his arm into his knife. He slashed the ropes off of Ron. The alchemic light somehow alerted and appeased the animal instincts in the professor and Lupin howled at where Peter and Ron were struggling. Right before the werewolf could attack however Black launched himself at him and drew his claws off course. He started to pull Remus away from everyone by seizing him around the neck. Edward limped forward and started to push Ron and Pettigrew over towards where Harry and Hermione were. Pettigrew still struggled with the bindings around his feet, which were making him trip over himself. All of a sudden Peter dove to the ground. Hermione and Harry screamed as he came back up holding Remus's dropped wand. Two shots were fired from it before Edward could do anything. One hit Ron directly in the chest and he fell to the earth limp. The other shot hit the cat, which Edward didn't really care about at that moment; it flew into the air and landed on top of Ron's abdomen in the same state he was. Angered, Edward clapped his hands and threw them to the ground. A giant rock pillar protruded from the soil and hurled itself at Peter. It hit its mark nailing the short sickly man right in the gut. Remus's wand was sent into the air and disappeared into the night. Just as Edward started to advance on the toppled over scoundrel, Pettigrew simply vanished.
"He transformed!" Harry shouted out from his post below. He heard some scurrying in the grass, but he couldn't spot where the rat was or heading off to. Edward went to go check on Ron which was his primary goal in the first place. His body was cold and clammy, but he was breathing and his heart was pumping; a sure sign of life. He was about to haul Ron off to safety when he heard Hermione scream.
"Edward, look out! He's behind you!" Edward spun around to see a large creature sprinting towards him. Lupin's mouth frothed in crazy rage as it charged them. Black was running down the hill after him but his legs were shorter than the werewolf's. Edward bolted in front of Ron and held up his arm to defend him against the swinging claws. He deflected and jumped out of the way of several swipes that the werewolf threw at him. As Edward ducked under one of the paws the beast all of a sudden lunged at him and clamped his teeth around his automail arm. The werewolf reered on his hind legs and flung Edward about as if it was an attempt to completely tear his limbs straight off his body. Edward punched Remus in the face with his other arm and tried to kick him as well but the werewolf wouldn't let go.
Black came to the scene and he launched on top of Lupin and seized his throat with his jaws. The creature spun back with the impact and so did Edward, but his teeth were still stuck in the metal limb. Claws were swinging about as the werewolf attempted to knock its attackers loose. Edward tucked his legs in to the best of his ability to not be hit by the daggers while the black dog still clenched tightly to Remus's throat. The werewolf raised his right paw and swung it in Edward's direct path. He couldn't dodge it if he wanted to. Edward quickly reached up to his back shoulder and pulled the lever to his automail. There was a searing pain in his arm and he fell just as the sharpened paw would have hit him. He fell to the ground and tumbled a few yards down the hill, his automail arm still secured in the werewolf's mouth, but lucky he wasn't. With one swipe, Lupin knocked Sirius off of his neck and the black dog went tumbling down the hill next to him. Though there was little that Edward could do without his arm, he stood up to prepare for the next wave of attacks the lupinized professor had for them, but it never came. The werewolf let out a huge howl and scampered off into the trees taking flight from the brutal scene. Unfortunately for Edward, his teeth must have gotten stuck between the metal plating and his arm was in tow of the wolf.
Other than a few bruises and scratches from his fall and aside from the two wounds he got from Envy, Edward was left unscathed by the werewolf. Sirius however was bruised and bloodied. Gashes and red ribbons were strewn across his muzzle and Edward could see some deep red patches forming on the matted fur behind his shoulders. Black's head seemed to be searching around for sight of someone who wasn't there, Peter Pettigrew. Before Edward could do anything about it, Black sniffed the air a couple times and bounded off towards the lake. Harry and Hermione ran towards Ron who was still unconscious, leaving the slack form of Severus behind. Edward could obviously tell who their favorite was. He limped towards where they were crouched around him. Harry poked Ron as if he would just awake from his shocked trance.
"What did they do to him?" Hermione asked him. Edward hadn't the slightest idea. His knowledge of spells was shaky and basically nonexistent the only ones that he really knew were the ones performed in front of him daily and the ones that were used to prank him. If Hermione didn't know, he didn't know. Edward and Hermione picked up Ron. Edward lifted him by the shoulders a little awkwardly with one arm by wrapping it around his chest and under the shoulders while Hermione helped with the feet. They were about to carry him off when there was a whimper and cry of a dog off in the distance. It was Sirius. Harry started bounding off towards the lake where they saw him last disappear. Edward gave a loud groan and completely dropped Ron to chase after the foolish teenager. Ron's head smacked off the ground.
"Edward!" Hermione called fearfully out to them, but Edward kept running.
"Go get help!" he hollered over his shoulder to her. He sprinted through the tall weeds and down the hill to the rock beach that surrounded the lake. Harry and black were already there. Sirius was screaming something terrible. The sound of it was torture to the eardrums. Edward ran over to where Harry was standing over him before he noticed that hundreds of black cloaked figures were swirling around him and freezing the water. His empty automail port whined. "Dementors," he whispered completely inaudible. The screaming picked up as the ghost swarmed down towards them. Edward was frozen stiff in his place, he couldn't move an inch.
"Think of something happy!" Harry commanded him. He had his wand pointed outward towards the creatures and was chanting some words that Edward couldn't understand. He tried to grasp hold of a happy memory but the screams of his brother were growing louder and louder. Images started to flash into his head and more screams joined in. Nina, Ling, Mom, Hughes, they all kept growing louder and louder till it seemed he was completely deaf from the noise. "Come on Edward! Come on!" Harry shouted at him.
"I-I can't" Edward screamed. His knees collapsed to the ground and he was bent over clasping his only hand to his ear trying to dampen the noise. But the voices didn't fade, they got louder as if they were coming from within him. The cold and helpless feeling seeped throughout him. He could feel something went dripping down his face as the voices grew louder but it was not raining. A small feeble white light was protruded out of Harry's wand and the dampening feeling subtracted a bit, but Harry tore out a scream and the light faded. He collapsed to the ground along with Sirius. Edward looked up. The dementors were swirling down around him. Each seemed to be diving down and inhaling a huge breath from the lives of each one of them. Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts Edward thought to himself. All of a sudden his memories of the boggart and his nightmare came flooding back to him. Al's body torn to bits motionless, Roy blinded and hurt, Winry alone; everyone….. gone.
"I-I can't" he cried again. Pain filled tears streaked down his face as Edward's elbow and knees shook and they finally gave out on him too. His face hit the earth as his body collapsed. The darkness closed in on him as the screams became so loud they just shut his body down.
….
"JUST GIVE HIM BACK!" Edward shouted as he started to writhe and fight against the black spindly hands that were dragging him backwards. The hands were shaking him roughly by the shoulders but he still tried to keep running forward towards his brother. "ALPHONSE!" he screamed out for him. The arms shook him hard and Edward's eyes busted open. He sat up and lunged forward in an attempt to reach his brother. Something snagged his leg arm and he couldn't break free. For some reason his right wasn't moving, not at all. His wild and terrified eyes glanced down to his right shoulder as he struggled with his left and he caught sight of nothing. His arm was gone. All energy was swept out from underneath him like a blow to the stomach and he collapsed, tears streaming down his face.
"Alphonse… He's all I have left," Edward cried to himself as the sweat and tears dripped to the ground. He felt a hand touch his left shoulder. He tried to brush it off but his hand wouldn't move. He didn't care if the Gate took him, Alphonse was gone nothing mattered. However, the hand didn't do anything. It wasn't jerking him backwards. It wasn't decomposing him or dragging him through the doorway, it just stayed there. The feeling warmed his cold and shaking body up a bit as the hand rested on his shoulder. He slowly looked up from where he was laying and saw the worried and fearful face of Hermione Granger.
The events of the evening rushed back into him as if they were lit on fire. He remembered. He wasn't on the ground, he was on a hospital bed facing the wrong way since he jumped. It wasn't the Gate pulling him, Harry and Hermione were trying to shake him awake from his terror. Though realizing this, his body still shook and chilled him to the bone. Edward pressed his face back into the blankets where it once was and inhaled deeply trying to gain his senses. There were bandages all over him. He could feel the around his bruised bare chest from the reopened wound that Envy gave him and around his leg. He felt something around his head. It was probably from when Ron kicked him. He tried to reach up and touch his throbbing head, but his only arm wouldn't budge. He heard a soft chink as he twisted his arm about. Edward slowly moved his gaze down to his wrist. It was covered in bandages from the cuts the ropes gave him and it was also hand cuffed to the railing of the hospital bed. He pulled it lightly a few times just to see he wasn't dreaming, but it wouldn't budge. Edward buried his face back into the blankets again and groaned to himself.
His mind was still in too much of a panic to do anything. All he wanted to do was sleep, but that might mean another nightmare. He didn't know what to do. He closed his eyes and focused on the noises around the room. The screaming in his ears had stopped and was replaced by the dull sound of the hospital wing. He heard Ron snore a few beds down from him. He heard the breaths of Hermione and Harry who were still standing next to his bed. What really caught Edward's attention was the low, hushed voices coming directly from outside the hospital wing door.
"Confundus Charm, had all of them in a knot_ Attacked me without second thought_ Dragged them back here_ All seem to believe he's innocent," he heard Snape whisper to someone. He heard a gasp and a few astonished comments from no other that Cornelius Fudge. Edward gave one light tug on the cuff but flopped back down on the bed. The doors to the ward swung open and light clopping of footsteps approached them. It was none other than Poppy the nurse. He heard her arguing pleas a mile away.
"What are you doing out of bed! You need your rest!" she scolded the two students. He heard the snapping of chocolate and the smell wafted into his nose. It warmed him up a bit, but he still didn't budge. Poppy tried to give him a piece, but he buried his face farther into the blanket.
"I have never seen him like this," he heard Harry whisper to the crowd. Poppy sighed and set the chocolate down on his side table. Edward turned his head slightly to look at what the nurse was doing. The instant he did, she slipped a hand on his bandaged forehead to check for a fever.
"He screamed something about his brother, Professor," Hermione noted. Poppy clicked her tongue and checked his pulse. Edward pulled on the cuff one more time and gave up.
"Just as I thought," Poppy mumbled to herself. He heard the clanking of glass and bottles when all of a sudden the door swung open again. Heavy and rushed footsteps ran towards them. Edward saw the face of Severus protrude out of the blankets at him. The man shook his prone body.
"Come on Elric," his slippery voice commanded. Edward gave another light and pitiful tug on the cuffs. Poppy pushed Severus back a few steps and out of his line of sight.
"Severus, he is in no condition to be interrogated! The dementors got him bad this time, he won't respond," she scolded him but the man pushed her out of the way. Severus walked over and grabbed him by the bare shoulders and dragged his body into a sitting position. The cuffs made clinking noises as he moved around. Edward gave another light tug on the chain and Severus seemed to notice. He pulled out a small flask of clear colourless liquid and waved it in his face.
"The minister allowed me to use this on you since it seemed you weren't confounded," Severus hissed.
"We weren't confounded!" Harry shouted at him. Edward could tell that Harry was listening to Fudge's and Severus's conversation about Black as well. The man thought that they were all bewitched into thinking he was innocent that is all but him apparently. Snape snapped at the teenagers to be quiet and Poppy led the two of them over to their own hospital beds. Severus turned back to Edward.
"Tell me everything about your country or else I have the worse to assume that you are a rogue alchemist running from their lines. Do you understand?" Severus jeered at him. Edward looked into the man's dark and angry eyes. Roy flashed into his mind a second. He remembered him bloody and almost lifeless. Was that a dream or not? Severus shook him by the shoulders. "Tell me why the Homunculus are after you, Elric! Tell me everything!"
"Severus, this is a ward not a prison! I am ordering you to let go of my patient!" Poppy scolded him as she rushed back over. "He needs his potions! I thought you were a potions's master are you not? Obviously you can see he is in dire need of some draughts! Get your hands off of him!" Edward never heard the nurse get so upset before over a patient. She walked over and slapped Severus away with her hand and then positioned him back right side up on the bed. Severus seemed really aggravated to be delayed almost denied an answer, but he watched as Poppy took out a couple syringes of Calming Draught. Edward didn't move, he for once in his life he didn't fight the nurse. All he wanted was for the empty feeling inside him to go away. It felt like a black holes he couldn't fight. Edward looked away as the nurse stuck his arm with the needle. The instant it was injected his body filled with warmth once again and his mind started to calm down. The nightmares that he had and terrible flashes in his memory were slowly forced to the back of his mind. His head no longer throbbed with pain except for the after effect of Ron kicking him. After Poppy withdrew from him he gave out a loud and relieved sigh.
"That feel's better does it?" Poppy smiled down at him sweetly.
"Thanks," his deep and airy breath seemed to say. Poppy was lining him up for something else when Severus got completely impatient. He shoved Poppy away from his bedside and whipped out the tiny flask of liquid. Poppy tried to fight him but it was no use. Edward saw pure anger in Severus's eyes.
"Poppy, I think you gave him enough for tonight," he growled at the nurse. He uncorked the tiny flask and leaned in towards him. Edward's automail leg shot up and pinned itself to Severus's chest preventing him from coming any closer.
"Ask Dumbledore!" Edward commanded softly. He still felt tired and weak from his excursions from the earlier evening. Severus slapped his foot out of the way in ignorance. Edward pulled on his arm but it was still bolted to the bed. Harry and Hermione were screaming at Snape to stop it, but the man wasn't listening. He desperately wanted answers. The bottle slowly tipped down towards his mouth. Edward could see the contents slowly pouring towards the edge of the glass. Just as the fluid was going to drop out, the doors to the hall busted open.
"SEVERUS!" the headmaster's booming voice came out. "Stop where you are!" Severus froze in his position and looked up at Dumbledore, the flask still tipped dangerously over Edward.
"Professor, I suspect Elric of something very dangerous. Though he is a child I wouldn't have thought he could have fooled you too," Severus said to him. He was urging the bottle a little closer to Edward.
"That is only to be used for extreme cases," Albus scolded him. "Edward was willing to give you an answer if you would have just listened. Come to my office and everything will be explained there."
"Dumbledore, you threatened me with it the other day," mumbled Edward. Honestly, he would have told the old man with or without the threat but for the man to be accusing Severus of something that he did just a few days ago wasn't fair.
"That was water. Can barely tell the difference really," the man noted still glaring at the Potion's Master. Edward threw his head against his pillow in complete humiliation. He was fooled by some simple trick.
"but Albus-" Severus started up.
"Severus! To my office!" Dumbledore commanded him. As Severus was about to put the flask away there was a loud explosion coming from the other side of the castle. Everyone jumped at the noise and unfortunately so did the serum. Edward's eyes widened and dilated as he felt something wet touch his lips.
"That came from the dark tower. Severus, Poppy, go see what happened!" the headmaster commanded in the heat of the moment. The designated people dashed out of the ward towards the Dark tower after a little hesitation. Dumbledore locked the room with a flick of his wand while Harry and Hermione began to panic.
"What was that Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Is Sirius going to be alright?" Harry added. Dumbledore held up a hand to silence them. He looked at the bed where Edward was laying perfectly still. He leaned over and looked into his widened eyes.
"Edward, what exactly did you see on the night of October third five years ago?" he asked while examining his face. Though the four other room occupants already knew limited information behind his story, he felt the sudden urge to tell them everything in complete and utter detail. The words were basically barging from his lips and he clamped his mouth shut as tight as it could possibly go. He could feel the memory revisiting his thoughts and the story strung itself together. Edward bit down hard on his lips to try and stop himself. Dumbledore noticed his struggle and let out a sigh.
"Edward, I don't want you to tell me," he said and the urge suddenly stopped as quick as it began. Edward took in a deep breath as his tension in his mind was suddenly let go. "It looks like you were given a small dose, nothing major, however I don't have the antidote with me right now. It should wear off within half an hour. By then I will have had a talk with Severus and we can get you unchained." Edward let out a relieved breath but he didn't dare say anything in fear that the serum might still be working. Dumbledore turned towards where Harry and Ron were standing. They looked up at him a little worried. Edward knew that everyone was on edge since the innocent Sirius was going to be kissed by a dementor.
"Hermione, you are going to need time to figure this out," Albus warned her. She seemed to be thinking it over but then gasped. The man's twinkling eyes grew even brighter. "Do not be seen. If you do this right more than one life can be saved." Edward had no clue what he was talking about. Albus looked at his watch.
"It is five minutes till twelve. I think three turns ought to do it." He turned his back to them and started to walk towards the door. "I am locking you in. Be quick now."
"What on earth was he talking about?" Edward asked Hermione as she fiddled with something in her robes. She pulled out what looked like a necklace and strung it around her and Harry's necks. "W-what is that?" he questioned them suspiciously. Dumbledore smiled at them as he started to close the doors. "WHAT IS GOING ON!" Edward shouted out. Hermione looked up at him and smirked.
"Edward, you can't come, you are chained to the bed and are missing an arm. I will explain everything to you and Ron later. In the meantime stay away from people when you got that serum running through you," Hermione advised him. She turned the strange necklace and their bodies suddenly faded. Edward looked around to see where they possibly could have gone but he couldn't find them. An instant later the two of them came bounding in through the doors and jumped into their own beds. They looked like they seen battle all over again. Their clothes were dirty and they were panting as if on a thirty mile run. Edward gave them curious looks but Hermione put a finger up to her lips as she pretended to be sleeping.
"NO ONE CAN DISAPPERATE IN THE CASTLE!" Severus's loud and angry voice screamed out of the hallway. "THEY DID IT!" All of a sudden the doors flew open and in bound Severus, Poppy, Dumbledore, and Cornelius all in a row.
"Potter! I know you aren't sleeping! You all are up to something! You let Black escape what did you do?" He interrogated the boy as he leaned over the poor kid's bed and basically spat in his face. Harry glared back at him.
"Severus, they were locked in. They couldn't have done anything, they're just children!" the minister argued. Severus spun around and glared at the small crowd of people looking at him.
"They are the ones who broke him out! They blasted the whole place apart!" Severus argued.
"Professor, you were in here with all of us when the explosion went off. How can we be in two places at once?" Hermione asked him acting completely innocent. Now even Edward's suspicions were up. He looked back and forth from the dueling team. The glares were poison.
"Quiet Granger! Tell me what you did!" he hissed. Hermione and Harry looked at each other and shrugged.
"We did nothing," they said together.
"Don't believe them! They're-" he started at the minister but stopped. His eyes darted over to where Edward was sitting on his bed. What a normal person would call a deadly hate filled scowl, Severus called a smile. Edward shivered at the look that he was giving him. "Lying," he finished. A deep feeling of dread was sent through Edward. Severus walked over and stood beside his bed a little too casually. Harry and Hermione looked at each other in complete distress. He looked into Edward's still dilated golden eyes and smirked.
"Edward, what did you do to help your convicted friend?" Severus asked him. He was implying black of course, but images of Ross popped into his head. He remembered Roy faked her murder and shipped her off to the desert. He remembered Barry the Chopper but that was really Falman and Havoc doing the work there. However long he thought about his dealings with convicted criminals there was only one word that encouraged his lips to say something. He didn't even try to hold it back.
"Nothing," Edward said simply. Severus's smirk instantly faded. Edward smiled back at him. "I can honestly say, I did nothing at all." Severus growled at him and stormed back to the crowd.
"Don't believe him! They're lying! They did something I just know it! Minister, you believe me!" The minister looked back and forth from the kids to the angry man completely conflicted. Dumbledore smiled and stepped forward. He placed a calm hand on his shoulder.
"Severus, Edward is under Veritaserum. He couldn't fight the truth if he wanted to," the headmaster said his eyes smiling. The minister looked shocked at him.
"I thought you said that Severus didn't give him any?"
"There was a mix up with his water," Dumbledore joked.
"There has to be a mistake! I-I" Severus glared at Potter. "You! Tell them the truth!" he started at the boy but Poppy held him back. The minister started to panic.
"He has gone bonkers. Completely missed his rocker," Edward heard him whisper to the headmaster. Severus luckily didn't hear because he was too busy fighting Poppy.
"I wouldn't say that minister. He's just a bit disappointed," Dumbledore replied. Edward couldn't help but laugh a little bit at the old man's wit. Severus glared at him, but the headmaster put a hand on his shoulder to restrain him from tackling Edward with hate. "Severus, I think it is best if we let these patients recover in the care of our nurse. Let us go back to my office for a small chat. I think that you will find what I have to say most intriguing." The headmaster dragged Snape out of the ward rather reluctantly. Poppy huffed at them as she started to prepare more potions for the lot of them. She kicked the Minister out of the ward once he started to smother Harry in apologies and dreary remarks. Harry just looked at the man like he was crazy. Edward was completely glad that the mass of the chaos was over. He let out a relieved sigh.
"Now dear, you rest up for a while. I will have you up and about by tomorrow morning as long as you take your medicine," Poppy said to him. She shoved a piece of chocolate in his mouth against his complaints and filled a couple more syringes. Edward gazed down to where his arm was still cuffed to the bed. He bet a dollar that she had something to do with this. In the end it took Hermione to help pin his chest down in order for the nurse to give the dosage without tearing his arm off. He let the nurse give him one shot without a battle, giving her two was just being overly generous. "There now that's more like yourself!" Poppy exclaimed as she panted from their struggle. Edward growled at her his arm sore from the row of injections. Poppy made her way over to Ron where he was just waking up, leaving a slab of chocolate as big as his head on the bedside table. He was overly glad that to his request she made it dark chocolate but he still couldn't eat it when his arm was tied to the bed. He was wondering when the headmaster was going to come back and free him. Edward grumbled to himself and pulled on the chain.
"Edward, are you okay?" Hermione asked him quietly. He barely noticed her sitting on the bed next to him. He could still feel the effects of the Veritaserum forming words on his lips. A huge sigh escaped him.
"No," he answered truthfully. He looked back down to where he was fiddling with the hand cuff Severus put on him.
"You had us frightened earlier. The dementors must have gotten you bad. I was afraid that you wouldn't snap out of it." She paused for a moment. Edward gave no reply. "I am sorry for me asking, but what was it that you were dreaming about?" Edward's eyes grew wide as the words slowly crept up through his throat. His mind flashed back to the images his nightmare produced. They were so real at the time. He was scared half to death. He looked up at the clock. It was twenty after twelve. He only had five minutes more of the truth serum left. Why did she have to ask him now? Edward clamped his mouth tight, but his mind was so befuddled he couldn't sort out the words he wanted to say from the words he was forced to say. Before he knew it, his mouth was speaking.
"I dreamed that I didn't save my brother," he started. He could feel the tension in his mouth lightening up a bit. The serum was fading. "I thought that I was being pulled away from him and that I couldn't do anything about it. I saw that my arm was missing and I didn't see my brother so I automatically assumed he was dead-"
"I thought you lost your arm in the- well, you know," Hermione said. Edward shook his head.
"Nope," he said. All of a sudden he felt his words being freed from themselves. He gave out a relieved sigh. "It was a whole other set of events," he smiled at her.
…
Edward and the rest of them were released from the hospital the next morning with a few large boulders of chocolate and for Edward a few more shots. Poppy gave him a few more dream draughts to take home for the summer and she told him to send an owl if he needed any help. She didn't know that Scops wouldn't be flying any time soon. Severus had finally come down from the headmaster's tower to unlock him. With a wave of his wand he was freed from the bed. Edward immediately stood up to stretch out his hurting body. His cuts and wounds were still large and painful, but he was glad to be up and about. Severus however was still smoldering and dashed out of the hospital wing before Edward could even get a word out to him. It wasn't easy accusing someone of murder and more just to be proven wrong in front of everybody. Edward was mad himself that his friend suddenly turned on him like that, but they just needed time.
He was still missing an arm and to say the least he was getting rather awkward stares at him. The Weasley twins were all over him still amazed that his arm and leg were detachable. They even tried to take his left leg off while he was teaching the last class of the school year, but their efforts proved in vain. The other students, after getting over the initial shock of him completely without an arm teased him by sticking their right hands out to give him a shake or starting a round of hokey pokey in his class. Luckily his whereabouts and accusations during the previous night's events were kept in total secrecy between him, Severus, and Dumbledore. Edward knew that the trio wouldn't say anything with Black at stake. During his third year class, Ron, Hermione, and Harry were all smiling at him bright and cheerful. He was glad to see that they were all feeling better. The only one he worried about was Lupin.
When the bell rang and everyone left the classroom free from the burdens of school for an entire summer, Edward made his way over to his neighboring classroom. There were things strewn from the shelves and several creature tanks stood empty. He looked around the tormented classroom and saw some movement coming from the office in the back. Edward snuck his way over and knocked on the door.
"Come in Edward," Remus's weak and dreary voice called out to him. He was a little curios as to how he knew it was him without looking but entered the room. Just like the classroom, his office was torn to pieces. Papers and cages were everywhere and he was stuffing a bag full of extra notes and things. Remus looked terrible. His skin was pale and clammy while huge bags were formed underneath his eyes. It sounded as if he had a cold as he was sniffling now and then and there was a floating box of tissues following him around. Edward was just relieved that he still wasn't a werewolf. Remus walked over behind his desk and reached down for something.
"Edward, I found this early this morning and I am thinking that you might want it back," he said as he pulled out a silver object. His terribly bent and dirty automail hung in the man's arms. Edward took it and set it down on a nearby table. "When I finally turned back to normal and found that next to me I was afraid that I bit you or worse. I hope you are alright, it was my fault for forgetting my potion. I just don't-" Edward held up his only hand to stop him.
"Remus, I am alright. Nothing could damage this alchemist," he joked. Lupin gave a weak smile back to him and sat down on a step on the floor. Edward walked over and sat next to him, his empty coat sleeve swaying. He patted his friend's back comforting him. "Everyone came out fine. Don't worry about it. My automail just has a tendency to get things stuck between the plating. Trust me, Crookshanks got himself stuck in it many of times. He was a pain to get off. Kept hissing at me," Edward said mimicking the ugly cat's expression. Remus laughed a little bit but stopped shortly.
"I am just glad you are okay. If I would have bitten your actual arm-"
"But you didn't that is all that matters. I had worse, literally," Edward said motioning towards his empty port. Remus smiled a bit. "Don't worry. No one was bitten, we all got out of it fine," Edward assured him. The man sniffled a bit and took a tissue from his floating box. There was another knock on his door. Harry, Ron, and Hermione hobbled in through it shocked to find the room like it was.
"Professor, we heard that you were leaving!" Ron complained. The three of them ran over to where he and Edward were sitting. Remus nodded softly and got up to finish his packing. He waved his wand and several things flew into a suit case. Edward stumbled a bit to stand up but Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him vertical.
"It is true," Remus said softly. "Severus accidentally let it slip that I was a werewolf. Of course the minister wasn't too happy with this. I am expecting more angry letters from parents and day now. They don't want something dangerous like me to teach their kids."
"Why don't you talk to Dumbledore! He can fix it!" Harry begged him.
"And he tried. I am leaving on my own accord. After my run around last evening, I don't want to put the school in danger like that ever again. I am not safe here no matter how much I tell myself," Remus said giving a saddened glance towards Edward who turned his gaze to his toes. "Don't worry, I will be alright." Remus walked over to his desk and took a piece of parchment off of the top. He handed it to Harry.
"I advise you to keep a good hold on this. Try not to misuse, misplace, or misread it. I won't be needing it anymore," he said his eyes twinkling a little brighter. "I just think that it is right for the inheritance of the Marauders to go to the son and godson of one." He tossed another bundle of him as well. It was the invisibility cloak. "I retrieved that from the shack as well. I agree with Edward in saying that you really shouldn't be leaving it around places." Harry turned red for a moment and Hermione glared at him for his foolishness. Remus bent over to pick up and rather large chest. Edward ran over to help him. Though he only had one arm, it proved better than none. They set the chest down near the door.
"Edward, I heard that Severus gave you a hard time as well. I am sorry that we accused you of things that we shouldn't. I talked to Dumbledore and he explained everything. Are you going to be alright?" he asked him. Edward completely forgot that going home meant to face everything again. He and Al were still searching for that Xingese girl who used Purifications arts. Envy, Greed, and Wrath will undoubtedly be there as well. Edward let out a deep exhausted breath.
"Yeah," he huffed secretly glad that the Veritaserum was fully flushed out of his system. "Yeah, I think so." Remus patted him on the back.
"Well, I hope you have a safe trip home. If you need anything don't hesitate to contact anyone. I am sure that any of us will be willing to help." Remus turned from them and took a few maps off of the walls. He flicked his wand and a few more objects few into their cases. He came upon the chest in which the boggart use to be locked. Edward stepped behind Hermione a little nervous that he was going to open it. Remus chuckled a bit. "Don't worry, Edward. I had the boggart removed from the castle a few weeks ago. I figured that it wouldn't do too well to have it roaming around the castle during the summer and scaring Hagrid or anyone." Edward relaxed a bit. Hermione looked at him a little insulted that she was being used as a shield.
"Harry," Remus said as he carried a few bottles and flasks from a far cabinet. "I heard about your brilliant Patronas earlier. Congradulations, I think that you finally mastered bravery in the face of fear. A stag wasn't it?" Harry looked at him completely shocked.
"H-How did you know about that?" Harry asked him. Remus perched himself on the side of his desk and smiled at him.
"Dumbledore told me about your little adventures the other evening. Truly amazing might I say." Edward shifted a little uneasy as he remembered his fight against the dementors and what state they had left him in. Harry at least had a wand, he was completely useless. He couldn't even think of a simple happy memory. Remus turned to where he was reminiscing.
"Edward I also heard that you couldn't fight them." Edward nodded pitifully. "It seems that your life isn't that full of happy memories to fight with. However, I think that you will find hope is a better weapon in this case. It seems you are filled with it. I just wish I realized this earlier to have helped." Remus smiled happily down at him. all of a sudden the door opened and Dumbledore stepped in.
"Remus, your carriage is ready," he said softly in his elderly voice. Remus nodded and grabbed his bag as well as his coat and hat. He turned to walk out the door. Right before he left however, he spun around and waved them goodbye.
"I hope you all have a great time here at school in the coming years, and Edward," he said to him, "I expect to see your brother better the next time I see him." Before Edward could say anything to his friend, he left. The castle seemed oddly quiet without him.
…..
Edward slowly packed a few of his belongings in his duffle bag and slung it across his shoulders. He made was in the Gryffindor dormitories taking the rest of his things to head back home. It was Saturday and the Hogwarts train was leaving in an hour. Some of the students were walking around and saying farewell to their friends while others were doing last minute checks that everything was cleaned up. Fred and George tried to get one last peek at his automail before he left for home, but Edward denied them. A few of the third years were lounging about the room waiting for the time to waste by or tearing posters off of the walls. Edward shoved a few more of his clothes into the smelly duffle and closed it up. There was a slight tap on his shoulder. Neville was standing behind him holding out a small boxed gift. He was swaying nervously back and forth.
"I-I was wonder," Neville started. "I-I was wondering th-that if you went home to see A-Alphonse, if you could give this to him?" he asked hopefully. Edward took it and looked at it. There was a small oilcan inside of it. He could tell that Neville designed it himself. The alchemy was a work of art for a beginner like him. "I-I had Dumbledore look after m-me when I did it s-so I wouldn't b-be breaking the rules. I-It is for his armour." Edward smiled at the stumpy nervous kid.
"I will be sure to give it to him," Edward assured him. Neville returned the smile and skipped back off to his bed. Edward looked down at the oil can. Yeah, Al will definitely like it.
Edward said goodbye to his students and faculty. Hagrid was accompanying him back to Kings Cross station. He looked a little teary eyed ever since Buckbeak was saved. He still thought that the hippogriff's rope was too loose and he flew away but Edward heard the whole story from Hermione. He didn't tell the large man however, he just let the man dream. Severus, who still wasn't really talkative since the events on Thursday, still showed up to the castle door to wave everybody goodbye. Edward didn't talk to him, but he caught a smile from the man on his way out. It wasn't nasty or cold. Edward took it as an apology and waved him. Dumbledore told him that he expected him to show up at school the following year on time. Edward didn't know if that would be possible but he didn't want to upset the man. He promised. When everyone said their farewells, they all headed for the train to head home.
…
Kings Cross station was empty by the time they arrived there. Edward grabbed his duffle out of the train and walked off through the barrier of the station. Hagrid followed him still talking about his many animals and how Buckbeak would love to be out in the wilderness. When they cleared the brick wall, Edward took the amulet off from around his neck and tossed it to the giant. It felt as if a giant burden was taken off of his shoulders, but Edward kind of wished that he could have kept carrying it. He was being thrown into his old life a little faster than he wanted to. Hagrid smiled at him and gave him another bone crushing hug.
It seemed like only a few seconds that they were talking when Hagrid left back through the barrier to get the next train. Seeing the man leave was a blow to the stomach. It felt only like a couple days ago that the man picked him up from the station. Edward sighed and slung his duffle bag around his shoulders. He would have to go home now. He lazily walked as slow as possible down the train station ways. His feet were heavy and he couldn't seem to be going anywhere. Edward dragged himself over to the closest bench and sat down. He opened his bag to pull out a book to waste his time so his feet could make up their minds to leave. He rummaged through the contents until he came upon an object. It wasn't a book but his old Polecat fur hat. He didn't want to look at it and was about to stuff it back in the bottom but he thought twice about it. Edward pulled it out and studied the warm fur. There was a telephone system nearby and he ran over to it and dialed a quick number.
"Hey Alphonse," Edward said into the system. "You said the Xingese girl was hanging around Scar. Where were they last seen?" After a short conversation Edward hung up the phone and grabbed his duffle. He ran to the nearest ticket booth to purchase a pass to Amestris. He was going to Briggs.