Hello, everybody! This chapter is much shorter than my other ones, but it's really more of a related one-shot/omake, and I wanted to share the holiday spirit since it's around that time :). I hope you all enjoy, have a Merry Christmas -or Happy Hannukah-, and Happy New Year! I also hope everyone stays safe and healthy because this is the prime time for getting sick. Wash your hands, wear a mask, practice social distancing, etc.

Just a quick note, this goes all the way back to before the Yule Ball, so this has technically already happened in the story timeline.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter and Fullmetal Alchemist franchises aren't mine. 'Nuff said!

Chapter 9: Winter Break And More Culture Shock

It was the first day of winter break, and Harry was having a wonderful morning, which was something he hadn't quite had the chance to have in a long while. With the whole tournament-trying-to-kill-him thing going on, along with the hectic amount of schoolwork and trying to find a partner to go to the Yule Ball with, there was really no way to have a calm and relaxing morning, especially for him, who was at the center of the chaos... again.

Anyway, he'd started off the day on a particularly good note. He'd woken up feeling refreshed, had gotten a slight head start on his winter break homework, and for some reason has simply been in an overall good mood.

The professors were once again in a maniacal cleaning frenzy in preparation for the Yule Ball that would take place on Christmas. The fussing reminded him of the time shortly before the foreign schools arrived, when the two Amestrian Professors had to break up a fight between McGonagall and Snape.

Harry hoped the teachers weren't tense enough for spells to fly this time. Breakfast had just finished, and it was delicious as usual. Agreeing to have a simple day without anything big to do, he, Neville, Ron, and Hermione left the Great Hall with the intention to hang out in the Gryffindor common room.

That is... before he heard his name get called.

He turned to see who had called him, only to be met with Professor Elric standing at the entrance of the school, the door open before her.

She stared at them for a moment with her unnerving gold eye, making sure they were aware she'd addressed them before she pointed outside and asked with noticeable confusion, "What is Hagrid doing?"

Harry blinked, wondering what could possibly have her so confused. He approached the door to see what she was staring at, only to find himself confused.

Hagrid was dragging an enormous evergreen behind him, bringing it in for decoration like he did every year around this time. What was confusing about that?

Realizing Professor Elric was still expecting a response, he answered, "He's just bringing in the Christmas trees. He does this every year."

She stared, as uncomprehending as if he'd spoken in an alien language while tap dancing in a tutu. A small part of Harry wanted to check to see if he'd suddenly sprouted horns or something. He wouldn't put it past Fred or George to pull a prank like that, especially with all the ideas they've come up with for their dream joke shop. Peeves with his questionable sense of humor was also a possibility...

Anyway, Professor Elric's head tilted to the side, still looking nonplussed by his answer -Harry wondered if she was aware just how much like a curious kitten she looked when she did that-, "What is Christmas? And why does it need a tree?"

Right behind Harry, Ron, who still had trouble with his brain to mouth filter, blurted out, "You don't know what Christmas is?!"

She blinked, "No. Should I?"

"How?"

"Clearly, Mr. Weasley, whatever Christmas is, we do not have it in Amestris, or it exists under a different name. Could someone please answer my question?"

Hermione came to the rescue, whacking Ron on the arm before she began to explain, "Christmas is a holiday celebrated on December 25th. It's a religious holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, but not everyone celebrates the holiday for religious reasons. Some of the traditions are giving and receiving presents, and decorating a Christmas tree, which is typically a pine tree."

"I see." the woman responded slowly, "Why a pine tree?"

Hermione frowned, "I'm... afraid I'm unsure." she begrudgingly admits, "Perhaps it's because Pines are evergreen, and are visually appealing? I am not as familiar with this as I am with other topics, I'm afraid."

Harry, Neville, and Ron exchange incredulous glances. Hermione admitting she doesn't know something? Is the world ending?

The bushy-haired girl didn't stay down for long, though. Curiosity gleamed in her eyes, "So, you don't celebrate Christmas in Amestris?"

The woman shook her head thoughtfully, "No. There aren't many holidays that we celebrate. The military holds a New Years Parade and Ball annually, and the village I was born in always held a Harvest Festival during the first big harvest of the year as appreciation for a good year of growth. Other than that, there isn't any particularly important holiday that people in Amestris celebrate."

She frowns slightly, realizing something, "Actually... it's not much of a holiday, but the annual State Alchemist Exam is always labeled on calendars, even for those who do not practice Alchemy. For those who already passed the exam, it would be more of a reassessment to see whether they are still worthy of the title."

Professor Elric sent a final glance to the approaching half-giant before she led the four of them away from the entrance, "It's cold." she commented, "I'd rather not have Madame Pomfrey after my hide for letting students get ill on my watch."

They didn't mind. It was cold out.

As they walked -to where? Harry wasn't quite sure -, Hermione began on a new line of questioning, "You mentioned the State Alchemist Exam in class once, but you never elaborated much on it. What differentiates a State Alchemists from others who practice the art? What sort of things does the Exam test? You mentioned before that you are a State Alchemist, correct? Are-" The Professor, paused the girl before any further questions could be asked. Harry wasn't positive, but he could have sworn he saw the hint of a smile on the blonde's face for a split second before she sent Hermione a pointed look.

Hermione chuckled sheepishly.

They walked in silence for a moment before Professor Elric responded, "Yes, I am a State Alchemist, and I'm considered a good one. The Exam has a writing and practical portion, similar to the... I believe they are called O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, correct? The tests distributed in your fifth and seventh years?"

At Hermione's affirmative nod, she continued, "The written portion simply tests one's common knowledge. The practical portion is where an Alchemist has the chance to shine. They are asked to display their skills, to prove they are worthy of the State Alchemist title. The main difference between the State Alchemist and an Alchemist without the title is, usually, a difference in skill level, and the resources one has at their disposal. However, I know some people who do not fit this mold, so I'd... take that with a grain of salt? I believe that is the idiom?"

Harry tilted his head, "What sort of resources?"

"Research, government funding, and so on."

They turn the corner and find themselves in front of the Alchemy classroom. Professor Elric turns to them, "Care for tea?"

They agree, not opposed to the idea, and they soon find themselves in the rather cozy office of Professor Elric.

Harry and Hermione, who had been here before, made themselves at home on the couch. Neville joined them a little more cautiously, followed by Ron, who wasn't even in the class and had thus never been in the woman's classroom, let alone her office.

"Help yourself to the biscuits," she called from her place by the teapot, where she was carefully spooning some tea leaves.

"Why don't you use a spell for that?" Ron asked, referring to her manual preparation of the beverage.

She turns to the redhead, hitting him with an analyzing stare. "I live in the muggle world. I have grown used to doing all of these simple tasks manually. I find it more rewarding, as well." she placed a kettle of water on the fire to boil before she joined them.

Her gaze ran over them as a cool creek runs over the little stones that lined its floor, "The Yule Ball is coming up soon, is it not?" her lips pursed slightly in a minor display of distaste.

They nod.

"I've never been too fond of Balls and other such occasions," she commented, "I find them far too crowded, and someone always manages to spike the punch with alcohol."

That gets a startled chuckle from them. Hermione recovers first, "If I may be frank, Professor, you certainly don't strike anyone as a person who attends social events in the first place."

The woman's lips twitch, "I've been to a few, though I rarely stay long. Professors are required to attend the upcoming Ball, though we do not have to dance."

"Lucky," Ron grumbled.

Harry not-so-discretely whacks him on the arm in a very Hermione-like manner, "At least you don't have to dance, Ron. The Champions are required to open the Ball with the first dance!"

Ron winces, "Tough luck, mate." he sympathizes, and awkwardly pats his friend on the shoulder.

The kettle whistled, and the blonde professor wordlessly rises to prepare the tea. Neville peeks at Harry over his extra-chocolate-filled biscuit.

"Do you even know how to dance, Harry?" the boy asks in concern.

The dark-haired boy turns to Nevile with a deadpan expression, "Do I look like I dance?"

"No?"

"You look like you would have two left feet." Ron 'helpfully' adds his two pence.

"Thank you, Ron, for summing that up."*

"No problem."

Hermione whacks the red-head on the arm.

"Ow!"

Professor Elric chooses this moment to enter with the tea. Much like their owner, Harry noted, the cups containing the beverage were practical, and not particularly fancy. But they were tasteful in their simplicity.

As he took one of the offered cups, Harry vaguely realized this statement also applied to a good majority of the furniture in the room, too. The table that separated the two couches was rather plain, but it was sturdy and well cared for, like the bookshelf sitting in the corner of the room, which was filled to bursting with more books than Harry could count at a glance. The couches were each decorated with a single pillow and handmade quilt. Harry wondered if they were used as a substitute for a bed on days where she's stuck grading late into the night, but he didn't ponder long. The curtains were a tasteful russet that reminded Harry of Professor Elric's trenchcoat, which was currently draped over the back of her desk's chair. They fit the room well, but there was no particularly fancy embellishment to them to make them more eye-catching.

Overall, it was quite simple, but Harry found that he couldn't imagine Professor Elric decorating a room any differently. Though, there was a strangely out-of-place tower of puzzles and board games in the corner that made Harry wonder if Professor Hughes's daughter came by often.

Catching where Harry was looking, Professor Elric simply shrugged and provided, "Maes's daughter comes around every now and then." as if it explained the meaning of the universe.

The next few hours were spent in surprisingly comfortable silence, filled occasionally with a small bout of discussion when the Professor had a question about Christmas or some other topic she found foreign, as the group enjoyed some tea and biscuits on the first day of the holiday break.

...

And that's that. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter despite its lack of length, especially compared to my previous chapters, but I didn't want this to be a long chapter. I just wanted to give all of you who read this a small treat for the holidays.

*A small How to Train Your Dragon reference. I couldn't resist. It just seemed like something that would happen. Ron and Gobber both have absolutely no brain to mouth filter, and Harry and Hiccup both have a minor habit of being sassy and sarcastic as a defense mechanism.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!