Planning for a Better Future
Chapter Two
Final Meeting
Diagon Alley
Edward and Alphonse Elric exited the bank for the fifth time in three days. Thankfully, Edward had thought to visit one of the shops and had purchased a handful of small bags containing a charm that expanded them. They were sorting the books into categories of interest and then placing them in these bags.
Anything and everything related to Alchemy and especially Homunculus had entered the first bag before they did anything else. Edward had been assured that no one had ever stolen from the bank, however he was not comfortable with the information being available anywhere outside of his sight. The damage done by this knowledge was too great.
Next, anything and everything he could find on Horcruxes went into a second bag, both as research into a way to destroy them and to keep the information from falling into other hands. Edward wanted to be trusting. He thought that perhaps at one point he had been, but he couldn't leave these things to fate. Not when it could be so cruel.
Finally, Alphonse filled a third bag with all of the magic books that seemed interesting, while Edward went through the rest of their birth father's treasures and picked up a few pieces of Xerxian history to take home with them. They made note of the large pile of coins in the corners but didn't bother with them. Neither of them had any need for the money at this time, and they were trying to finish quickly so that they could return home. They had already been forced to extend the stay an additional week just to sort it all.
After they had put their bags inside another bag that fit comfortably inside Ed's pocket beneath his pocket watch they made their way into the shopping district. Edward preferred to avoid any magic shops, the whole district buzzed with energy, and he had so far managed to keep his own ability secret. Snape was to meet them at the ice cream parlor however, so Ed resigned himself to staying longer today than usual.
Snape was already sitting at a table when they arrived, and thankfully suggested they take their conversation into Muggle London. The Elrics agreed quickly, before Al mentioned that Roy and Mei were to meet them at a nearby restaurant in half an hour. Snape was pleased with the idea, not only did he enjoy both Edward and Roy's company, but they were unlikely to encounter any wizards in that area.
Once they had arrived at the restaurant and sat to wait for the rest of their party Edward leaned over to whisper to Snape that they had made a big dent in the search for answers, and it looked promising. It was going to take time, something none of them liked. They all felt it was something they had however, since they had a few years before the child began any magic school.
Snape enjoyed his visit with the family, he liked to consider them friends after all this time. Ed and Roy, both treated him kindly, certainly better than the people he had known most of his life. He wished there was more he could do to help because stopping Voldemort once and for all was his top priority aside from keeping the boys safe. Both Lily's son (more and more often he thought of the boy as Ed's son instead) and his godson.
"With you staying here we need to arrange a set time to meet on a regular basis. To keep each other in the loop about our progress" Roy suggested.
"Every Saturday I will continue to meet with Edward for an hour as agreed. Perhaps an extension of that time for a meeting with you as well?" Snape said.
"Yes, that should work." Ed stretched, the joints in his shoulder as well as his spine popping audibly. "Keep an eye on the old man. If he slips back into the self-destructive behavior- "
"Trust me, I will be watching him carefully." Snape nodded. Al sighed but added nothing to the conversation. Snape, unfortunately, had not spent enough time with the younger Elric to be able to gauge his mood as he could the other two. Al seemed to realize this as he smiled tiredly.
"Don't worry about him. He over did it the other day and is still recovering." Ed said with a frown at his brother. They had already argued over it and the matter was left unsettled with Al calling out Ed for being both overprotective and a hypocrite.
Snape excused himself shortly after that to return to the school before too many noticed his absence. Ed and Roy had arranged to return to Amestris via Snape the next morning along with their aides, while Al and his wife would continue their vacation, returning home by train.
Hogwarts
Headmaster's Office
Dumbledore frowned down at the grounds as he watched Snape slip back into the castle. He knew Snape was still working with the Death Eaters on Dumbledore's orders, and the Amestrians, also on Dumbledore's orders. What he didn't know was which group Snape had been visiting today. Dumbledore did not like being unaware. It put him at a disadvantage. If they wanted to win, they had to find a way to work together.
He saw now that Snape and Lupin were right. He had pushed too hard before. The Amestrians were not going to give into pressure. If he wanted the boy under his care, he would have to gain their trust. Now the question was how to do so after the terrible blunders of the last few years. Admittedly, he had not been in top form following the news about Nicolas. He had allowed his grief to distract his from the Big Picture.
There was still time, however. He could still make up for his mistakes. The boy still had five years before his school was decided. Surely, in the end, Elric would see reason on the matter. Harry belonged here. This was his parents' school. His grandparents school. Potters had attended for generations.
This was also the safest place in the world when it came to Voldemort. Tom Riddle would not openly confront Dumbledore, so he alone could keep the boy safe until it was time to eliminate the horcrux. Yes, he simply had to convince the young man that this was the best place for the child. Now that young Edward had seen the castle, and its defenses, surely, he would see that Hogwarts could keep the child safe unlike anywhere he might consider sending the boy.
He hoped Edward wasn't the stubborn type, who denied the boy's magic in order to keep him away. Dumbledore had seen firsthand the damage keeping magic in did to young witches and wizards. Edward didn't seem openly hostile to magic in general, just to him, so hopefully the boy allowed the child to explore his magic as much as possible.
"I felt your eyes from the lawn." Snape said quietly as he slipped into the room. "Yes, I had a private meeting. No, it has nothing you need to concern yourself with at this time."
"How am I to know if I should be concerned when I do not know who you've met with? It wasn't that long ago I cast my trust onto you without any proof you were worthy."
"Attempts at guilt and manipulation. Have you been drinking?" Snape said as means of a reply even as he came closer in an attempt to check for signs of alcohol use on the headmaster.
"Of course not. I have far too much to organize to wallow away."
"Pity it took you so long to notice. Perhaps things may have ended differently."
Dumbledore nodded before Snape left the room. There was no way to change the past or bring back the dead. They simply had to find a way to move forward and save those who remained.