Disclaimer: Me no own Harry Potter or Fullmetal Alchemist!
And yes, this is the real chapter this time. I promise!
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"Arg! No, no, no! Why didn't it work?!" Edward fumed.
"It's okay, Edward. You need to calm down."
"Calm down? How could I possibly calm down now? All this time, all these months led to nothing. Apparation was so close! But it's just a dead end. Another God-damn dead end!"
Nicholas sighed at Edwards melodramatics. Though it was disappointing that apparation led nowhere, they had opened up new ideas about magic, which counted for something. Sadly, Edward, understandably, couldn't care less about the magical breakthroughs they made. He just wanted to go home.
"We'll figure it out, Edward. Remember, nothing's impossible, especially when we're talking about two magnificent geniuses!" Nicholas said, trying to both calm Edward down as well as support him.
Edward slunk into his desk chair, all but disappearing behind the stacks upon stacks of notes and books on his desk. His eyes were liquid gold, full of anguish and sorrow. However, behind the sadness the light of determination still shone, bright and undefeated. Nicholas knew just by looking at the teen that, though he was saddened by the failure, Edward wouldn't stay down for long.
"Come on, Edward. There's plenty of other options. Floo travel. A portkey. And, um, I'm sure there's more ways! We just need to keep looking and experimenting." Nicholas urged excitedly.
Edward perked up a bit. "Yeah, you're right, Nicholas. As always."
"Well, I wouldn't say always, but if you insist..." Nicholas grinned.
"Oh, shut up you egomaniac!" Edward laughed.
Giving each other the same, amused look, both dived right back into the research, hungering for knowledge.
~~0~~0~~0~~
Edward rubbed his head. Ugh. Stupid (most likely) magical induced headaches.
"We did our homework, Professor!" Fred cried out.
"Yeah! And we don't even like homework!" George added.
The class, along with Edward, gave a collected eye roll and sigh.
Edward shook his head. Though there were more fourth years that had turned in their homework than the third years, the number was still pitiful.
After chewing out the class over the neglected work, Edward had them all start on thick review packets, giving the same time frame that he gave his third years. Just because they were older and more did their homework in total doesn't mean he'll go easy on them, after all.
And, as expected, the entire class turned to one another as talking filled the air. With Fred and George in the room, a buzzing class was unavoidable. Deciding that if his student's failed it was on them, Edward sat down at his desk, leaning forward to scratch out more notes and equations. Might as well get some work done and hopefully fade into the world of ink, parchment, theories, and knowledge, letting everything else tune out.
And Edward was successful. For a while.
However, when it comes to Fred and George, a while is a surprisingly long, and thankful, time.
Too bad it couldn't last.
"So, Professor, have you met the new Defense teacher?" Fred asked.
Edward sighed. So close to tuning everything out, yet so far away at the same time.
"No." Was his curt reply.
"You should meet him, Professor. You'd like him. Though he is a bit more fun than you." George added in with a laugh.
Edward gave them a deadpan expression. "School is for learning, not having fun."
"Yeesh." the twins chimed at the same time, giving him exaggerated expressions of both horror and pity.
"You don't really think that, do you Professor?" George asked.
Edward gave a noncommittal grunt in reply.
The twins gave each other matching looks. Well, If Edward didn't believe in fun...they'll just have to make him. As they both stared at one another, a mutual understanding was struck, one that didn't need any words. They'll get Edward to admit having fun. Maybe not today. Probably not today.
Well, definitely not today. And most likely not tomorrow either. But one day.
His head bent over his notes, the poor professor didn't see the mischievous glint's in the red-heads eyes or the smirk that mirrored over both of their features.
They'll get him eventually. They always did, after all.
Edward straightened out, letting his back pop some. Cracking his neck side to side, he bent back over his notes, still ignoring the chattering. If they wanted to fail, well, that was their choice.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, class ended.
Edward was glad to see the last class of the day exit his room. His head was still aching something awful and, all in all, he simply didn't feel good.
Putting his head down on his desk, Edward let his eyes flutter shut. Soft chatter from his souls filled his mind. Normally, this would relax him but for whatever reason, simply made him feel uneasy. Something was wrong with his souls, but he didn't know what. Like he forgot something and he knew he forgot something, but for the nearly-immortal life of him couldn't remember exactly what he forgot. The feeling was distressing and exhausting.
Edward laid their for a few more moments. What he wouldn't give for some sleep right now. He remembered, when he was younger, how he hated sleeping. Just imagine what he could get done or what he could learn if he didn't have to waste hours sleeping? Now, however, all he wished he could do was sleep. Rest his mind, not deal with the world around him for a few hours. That would be amazing.
Lifting his head off the table, Edward peered outside. Though the sun wasn't setting yet, he could tell that it was later in the day. Most classes were over by now.
Standing up, Edward pushed his chair out of his way and walked around his desk and out the door. Maybe a small walk around the school would make him feel better. Maybe he'll even find some seventh years doing something their not supposed to be doing and be able to yell at them.
Circling around the empty hallway, Edward made his way up the stairs, ignoring the paintings' conversations around him. Skipping over the more...devious steps of the stairwell, Edward made it up to the next floor without incident and seeing any student.
His walk continued like this for a while. Simply wandering around where his feet took him, without a care in the world. That is, of course, until he turned a corner and ran straight into him.
Though Edward briefly did wobble slightly on his legs, having been forced to take a few steps back. However, the other man was pushed straight into the ground and on his butt in a pretty undignified manor.
"Ack, I'm sorry." Edward apologized. "Here." He continued, holding out his left hand to pull the man up.
The man, in turn looked up to stare at him. Besides having scraggly clothes, he also had red-rimmed brown, watery eyes that peered at him through limp hair. "Oh, no that's-" the man paused in his speech, his eyes widening ever so slightly. "Uh, I-I mean..." the hand he had raised to accept help dropped back into his lap. He sat there for a few more moments before catching back up with himself and pushing himself back to his own feet. "Sorry." He said, his eyes roving over Edward in a...almost suspicious manor.
Edward cocked an eyebrow, slightly perturbed by the man's behavior. "Are you sure your okay?" He asked.
The man in turn nodded his head in an almost too-fast manor. "I'm completely fine! No harm done!"
Edward cracked a small smile. "That's good. Sorry again for knocking you down. Name's Edward Elric, by the way. Alchemy Professor." He held out his hand to shake.
The man paused slightly when seeing the outstretched hand. Tensely, he gripped the gloved (left, strangely enough) hand in a weak handshake. "Remus Lupin. Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor."
Edward's eyes lit in recognition. "So this is the famed Professor Lupin that my students go on about." Edward replied.
Remus dropped his hand limply to his side, a faint, weak smile gracing his haggard features. "I guess I am. And you're the infamous Professor who tortures students."
Edward gave a hearty laugh, pretending he didn't notice the obvious stress in the other man's voice. "I guess I am!"
After his laughter died down, the two Professor's were left with an uncomfortable and awkward silence. Both glanced at one another, unsure what to say next.
"So...what are you doing?" Edward asked, continuing to ignore the slight tension in the air.
Remus simply shrugged, a tight and stiff gesture. "Nothing much. Just...just wandering about. You?"
"Same." Edward agreed. "I guess I'll be seeing you." He finished, side-stepping the newer teacher.
"I guess so." Remus concluded, watching as Edward turned and strode past him not looking back. He watched the man disappear from sight.
That...That man wasn't human.
He knew it.
Remus felt the wolf inside him slowly settle back into it's slumber, hackles slowly being lowered as Elric wandered further and further away.
Leaning against the wall, Remus hoped no one stumbled across him (again) as he collected himself.
Out of all the years he's had his...furry condition, (which was nearly his entire life) this had never, ever happened. He's happened across many magical creatures. From dragons to vampires to faeries, this situation has never occurred.
The tearing- that's what he'd named it- was awful. There were times before when his wolf instincts and human instincts didn't match up, causing horrible sickness, headaches, and strong emotions, but never this strong before.
He had been terrified. He felt as if his heart was about to be ripped open, like he was going to die. He felt as if the devil himself had just stared into his very soul, burning and punishing him. He had felt like he needed to run away, to get as far away from that-that man. He felt like his flesh was about to get ripped open with the dissonance between his terrified wolf half and his cautious human half.
It was sickening. It was horrendous.
He never wanted to feel that way again.
Remus peered out a nearby window, noting the sun's descent into the evening.
Dinner would start soon.
Hopefully, Elric wouldn't be at dinner again.
Remus sighed and slowly made his way back to his office. Better get cleaned up before heading down into the Great Hall.
Walking through thankfully empty corridors, he eventually got back into his office and room. Raking a hairbrush through his thin hair again, he proceeded to splash some water onto his face and rub his cheeks, trying to get his color back. Giving himself a hard look in the mirror, Remus decided that that was as good as he was going to get. Wiping the water off with a nearby ruby-red towel, he straightened up and made his way down for dinner.
Slipping into the Great Hall, Remus glanced around. Most of the student's seemed to have already come in to claim their food. Walking parallel to the wall, Remus made his way to the staff table.
Most of the Professor's were already sitting down and talking to one another, trading stories about their day and gossip about their students.
Glancing down the row of teacher's, Remus's heart fell when he saw Elric already sitting down talking to...Snape of all people ?
Snape and Elric?
Slowly lowering himself next to a red-faced Hagrid chatting excitedly with a stiff McGonagall, Remus piled some food onto his golden plate, halfway listening to the two unlikely professors converse.
Nothing all that interesting, really. Elric was complaining about a certain pair of mischievous red-haired twins while Snape simply nodded his head in agreement.
Remus sighed as he placed a piece of steak into his mouth. Though Elric was quite a few chairs down, the sickness came back full-force, causing his stomach to roll unpleasantly, killing off most his appetite. His mind was partially injected with fear from his wolf half, rhetorical hackles being slowly raised in warning.
Remus groaned inwardly. He really hoped that the entire year won't end up like this.
Placing a few more morsels into his mouth, Remus tried his best to zone out of the world around him so he could focus on eating. It was working, for the most part until a familiar, heavy hand clapped him happily on his shoulder.
"Hullo there, Remus." Hagrid beamed. "'ow was yer day?"
Remus gave Hagrid a light smile. "Same old-same old, really."
"That it?"
Remus lightly bit on the inside of his cheek. Well, it wouldn't be lying...but no. Might as well tell Hagrid what was (partially) on his mind. "Well, I did meet Edward today."
Hagrid gave a loud laugh, shaking his head while he did so. "Finally met the 'im? Hahaha, that kid sure is a 'pecial on all righ.'"
Ignoring Hagrid's slurring, Remus answered politely as ever. "He sure is...interesting."
Hagrid continued to laugh. "I imagine he didn't give ya the best impression."
Remus shook his head, smiling lightly.
Hagrid had no idea...
"You could say that." Remus finally agreed. "He ran straight into me, knocking me down."
Hagrid gave a large grin. "Sounds like 'im. Kid always seems ta have his 'ead in the clouds."
Remus glanced over to Elric, watching as said teacher tried to show an unimpressed Snape how to balance a spoon in his nose, failing miserably while he did so.
"Yes..." Remus concluded, letting his voice trail off. "Well then." He said, standing up. "I think I'm going to turn in early. Goodnight, Hagrid."
"G'nigh, Remus." Hagrid replied, turning back to a slightly annoyed McGonagall.
~~0~~0~~0~~
Remus flipped through yet another book, slow dread and suspicion setting into his stomach. This was the fifth book he's looked through, for the seventh time, and he still was no closer to figuring out what Elric was.
Because Remus was certain that the strange, golden-haired, golden-eyed, man wasn't human.
Remus put trust in his uncanny wolf instincts. Out of all the years he's been alive, in all the situations he's been in, his instincts, very rarely, failed him.
He had failed in knowing what happened with Sirius Black. Had failed his best friend, his wife, and their only son...
But that was different than what was going on now. Figuring out what creature that could act exactly like a human and somehow do something as complicated as Alchemy of all things...oh, and be golden-haired and golden-eyed as well...well, that narrowed down the options a lot.
And yet, he found nothing. Nothing about Alchemy. Nothing about werewolves being naturally repelled by anything that was alive and not a plant, nothing at all.
Remus laid his head down on his desk, exhaustion yanking on his conscious and eyelids. He was tired. So very tired. But he had sworn to himself to at least find something about the man.
But, lying down closing his eyes...felt so nice. Relaxing. He's always had sleep issues. Part of being a creature of the night, after all. This was a rare occurrence. And besides, Elric didn't seem dangerous. He had been trying to balance a spoon on his nose at dinner, after all.
But, but what if he was dangerous? He had been wrong about Sirius Black...well, everyone had been wrong about Black. But he should have sensed it. He should have known. His sense told him nothing then, but are telling him everything now. And besides, it seemed like Black was helping them. Seemed like he loved them, was friends with them, cared for them.
But the reality was that he didn't. Didn't give a damn. He turned to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Turned his back on everyone.
And Remus wasn't paying enough attention until it was too late. But not this time.
He's going to find out what Elric was. Find out who he's working for, if anyone. Find out what he wants.
Lifting his head, Remus went back to reading his book, this time for the eighth time.
He wouldn't fail.
Not again.
~~0~~0~~0~~
And there we go! The actual chapter! Sorry if it's a bit on the short side (like Ed...don't tell him I said that!) I think lot's of interesting things happened here. Things I don't think y'all saw coming (hopefully) Well, nothing much for me to say so let's move on to question time!
Sachiel Angelo- Loved my trip to NYC (as you can tell) No, the weather was perfect. Didn't snow at all (sadly) but there was snow on the ground, so I guess that's good enough!
KK- Really.
Here's some questions from the last real chapter that I didn't answer!
Curious- Interesting idea...but I'm not spoiling anything!
Krazyfanfiction1- I always love your reviews. You give me such good ideas with your questions. But to answer a couple; well, not stating anything about the mind-reading. No spoilers here, nope. As for the teaching thing...probably. But Ed's been out of the loop for a bit and though he's got a recent year under his belt now, there is still more for him to learn! As for Truth. I'll say this: He exists.
Cyberdragon725- What is wrong indeed. Who knows? (I know!)
Anyways, thank you guys for being the best readers an author could have. You guys are patient and awesome and totally rad. Thank you guys for reading as always and I hope you enjoyed!
