Author's Note: Welcome back! I've got some announcements for y'all today, but we'll wait till the end of the chapter for that.

Disclaimer: No own. No money made. All rights to original creators. (But respect only where it is due. We support trans folks on this fic.)

Chapter 30

Kitten or Chimera?

Alphonse really did like Professor McGonagall. He did. But as he lifted Ed-the-golden-kitten from the grass, he wanted to shout at her. He snuggled Ed to his chest, closed his eyes against the visions of a little dog-girl. The warmth of Ed's fur did nothing to stop his stomach from sinking.

"Transfiguring humans is one of the oldest arts known to witches," said McGonagall. "As your Professor, I believe I know what I'm doing."

Al clutched Ed a little tighter, trying to cover as much of the kitten body with the bulk of his upper arm as possible. He noticed that one of the hind legs was grey. Al wondered if McGonagall had remembered to take it into account during the transfiguration, wondered if it even mattered at all. Al had mentioned that the Truth had taken Ed's leg during their conversation after Berlin, but they hadn't dwelled on it. And McGonagall had taken in so very much information that day. He wouldn't blame her for missing it.

Kitten-Ed pressed his head into Alphonse's neck, curling into the security of his hold. Oh dear. Al opened his eyes. "Your credentials aren't zee point," he said, attempting to keep his voice low and even. "In Alchemy, zis sort of transfiguration is impossible. And when alchemists use certain work arounds to make it happen, it is always an abomination. Did you even stop to sink about how zis might be traumatizing for an Alchemist?"

There was a pause, where McGonagall failed to pick up Al's meaning. Shoot. Al lowered his voice to a hiss, eyes darting at the onlookers. "Especially one ov our specialty?"

She paled, clearly remembering herself that conversation about alchemical taboos. It was close enough to the truth. Their own experimentation with human transmutation might not have been the source of this particular trauma, but they likely would not have ever met Nina and Alexander if their research interests hadn't put them directly in Shou Tucker's path.

She looked at Ed, who had calmed in Al's arms. She swore. Alphonse raised an eyebrow. McGonagall waved a hand at him. "I'll change him back," she said. "If you'll put him on the grass, Mr. Elric."

Alphonse set Ed down carefully and watched as the kitten stretched out each flesh leg with mild bemusement. For a moment, Ed seemed secure in himself, but the instant McGonagall's wand trained itself on him, he bolted. "Oh no," said Al.

McGonagall swore again. In a flash, Alphonse was chasing the little golden streak that was high tailing it for the castle. McGonagall followed, keeping up with relative ease despite her advanced age. Alphonse glanced at her over his shoulder, impressed despite himself.

"Endurance spell," she said, right when Al was going to say something about it.

"Right," he said. "Probably for zee best. It's very impressive." Al trained his eyes back forward, trying to follow what scant glimpses of yellow fur he could see through the grass. Ed was fast. It was not long before Al failed to sight him at all. "I sink we've lost him," he said, slowing to a walk.

"So we have," said Professor McGonagall, slowing herself, a scowl overwriting her features. "Might he be headed to his office?"

It wasn't a bad thought – Ed had made a home more out of his office than he had his sleeping quarters. "Possibly," said Alphonse. But Alphonse knew where he'd go if he was feeling vulnerable - he would follow the traces of the safest person in the world. "But I bet he's in Ravenclaw tower. Most of zee cats in zee castle end up in my bed eventually."

McGonagall looked at him quizzically. "Is that so?"

Alphonse shrugged. "Cats like me. I like zem. In zat respect, it's a blessing you turned Ed into a cat over anysing else. Hopefully his cat self will trust me as much as his human self does."

McGonagall seemed to accept that, and cast her gaze about the Hogwarts green, looking grand and stately as anything. Alphonse followed her eyeline, and when it was clear that the bustle of the Tournament had not followed them towards the castle, she said, "Do you mind sharing your experiences with animal-human transmutation?"

Al didn't miss the guarded look in her eyes. He should have known that she'd catch his mild half-truth. He sighed, closed his eyes, said, "It wasn't us, if zat's what you're asking. We didn't perform any creepy experiments on people or animals."

McGonagall did not seem assuaged. The steel in her eyes was directed at him, doubtlessly reevaluating his threat level. Again. "Would you mind sharing who did?"

Alphonse gestured toward the castle, and the two of them resumed walking as he contemplated his answer, swallowing back intrusive images of Nina and Alexander. They'd gone through the great double doors before he'd found his words. "One ov Ed's co-workers," he said. "He cracked under zee pressure ov his research. In desperation, he turned to his daughter and zee family dog. We'd been studying wiz him in zee days leading up to it – Nina and Alexander just loved Ed. He has a soft spot for young children. And dogs love him, even though he's a little afraid of zee big ones."

McGonagall paled further than she had on the tournament pitch. Alphonse could see her hands flying up, probably to tell him he could stop, but now that the basic facts were out, he just couldn't. His voice cracked high, and the words would not stop. "We tried to put zem back. We tried so hard. But no matter vhat variables vee looked at, vee just couldn't. Vee didn't even know vhere zee extra material went. She vas in so much pain, Professor, but vee couldn't justify zee risk ov trying to improve her circumstances."

McGonagall did not say a word as Alphonse paused. Their stride through the Great Hall to the hallways beyond did not falter. How to explain Scar? Alphonse wasn't sure he had the words, but he stopped searching for the right ones. "An anti-alchemy – how do you say, vigilante? - vigilante killed her father shortly after," Al said. "He put Nina and Alexander out of zeir misery too. Later, after he tried to kill Ed a few times, when vee were oversrowing zee government, and our interests aligned, Mei convinced me to work vis him. I didn't know whether to sank him or hit him. She should haff lived, but what kind of life would it haff been? In pain and guarded as a government secret?

"I know transfiguration is different. I really do. But seeing Ed as an animal – I just can't. And I know Ed is as traumatized about zis as I am. So please. Never do zat again."

"I won't," said McGonagall. She tentatively reached out a hand. Alphonse could not quite help his flinch. She pulled back immediately, but Al shook his head.

"It's okay," he said. He wanted it to be okay, even if it wasn't. At his reassurance, she hesitantly placed her hand on Al's shoulder. And yes, the touch was jarring, but after the initial moment of contact it wasn't awful. Al tried to relax into it, managed to release a breath of tension and bottled frustration. He looked at his professor, began walking again. "Let's go find Bruder."

"Right," said McGonagall. She gave Alphonse a serious look, and oh no he did not like the weight behind it. "What do you know of Animagi?"

Alphonse didn't stop walking, but he knew his shoulders stiffened, knew that Professor McGonagall could plainly see the tension return to his body. "Zey're wizards who can turn into animals at will," he said, voice quiet. He didn't know much more he could take of human-animal transformation shenanigans.

"I am a cat Animagus," said Professor McGonagall, matching pace as Alphonse began to quicken. "Would it be too much if I transformed to find him?"

Nina was a sore spot for Alphonse, but he thought of Zampano and he thought of Jerso and he knew that he'd done somewhat more work to get over Nina than Ed had. His close association with other chimeras had demanded it. Besides, ready or not, Al appreciated her asking first. "Go ahead," he said. "If you think it'll help. Just, once we find Ed? Leave the room before changing back." It wouldn't do to startle him into running again.

Professor McGonagall nodded, and without another word seemed to slide downwards. It was dizzying, but only for a moment. Suddenly, at Alphonse's feet, stood a proud looking tabby with spectacle markings around her eyes. Her form was ordinary. Healthy. She looked up at him, gently butted her head against his calf. Alphonse crouched to her eye level and extended a hand. She sniffed it delicately, and Al wondered if she was smelling for him or smelling for traces of Ed.

McGonagall tilted her head, took several steps back, sniffed at the air. Smelling for Ed, then, Alphonse decided, and took off after her as she began walking determinedly forward. He was not surprised when she took them up the moving staircases and toward Ravenclaw tower. Al did know his brother.

They found Ed upright and antsy, fur bristling, on Al's bed. He was circling around Eve with careful paws. To her credit, Eve was not moved. She sat in Al's blankets cleaning herself contentedly. She watched Ed with mild interest, but very little alarm.

McGonagall leaped up from the floor to join them, gently brushed shoulder to shoulder against Ed, touched noses with Eve. Ed sniffed her, and his tail bristled. He took several steps back. Even translated onto a cat's face, Al knew all of Ed's expressions. "It's okay, Ed," he said in quiet Amestrian. "You're safe, and believe it or not, Professor McGonagall is fine too."

Ed jumped from the bed, and for a moment Al braced himself for another mad dash across the castle. But no. Ed stopped at Al's face, looked up at him with his brilliant golden eyes, and mewled piteously. Al knelt, gently scooped up his brother, and placed a gentle kiss between his ears. He hummed deep in his chest, the closest thing a human could approximate to a purr, and felt Ed's muscles begin to relax. Oh, good, Al thought.

"If you'd step into zee hall, Professor," said Al. "I sink you can change back."

Professor McGonagall looked up from her inspection of Eve with an irritated flick of her tail and Ed tensed all over again, but Al clutched at him a little harder. He was not in the mood to chase him again. He wanted this to be over. Al gave the Professor a hard look. After a moment, she nodded and jumped off the bed with all the grace she typically embodied as a human. She trotted off through the cat flap in the dormitory door. There was a moment's quiet.

That quiet was over when the door swung open properly and she strode through it human, emerald robes billowing about her. Ed wiggled at the sight of her, but Al's grip was firm. These wizards, honestly. Al clutched Ed just a little harder. It was more to prevent himself from self-consciously adjusting his pointed black hat than it was to keep Ed from escaping, though. Al knew how to hold an antsy cat. Professor McGonagall's lips twitched. Shoot. Al knew she hadn't missed his impulse.

Al nodded at her, and in a flash her wand was flicking in Ed's direction. Al held onto him as he grew, shifted his hands to hold Ed's shoulders when they became identifiable. Al hadn't noticed that kitten!Ed had turned something in his heart hard until this very moment, when it softened again in sheer relief.

"What the actual fuck," said Ed in Amestrian, spitting angrily. "Why the fuck do wizards think they can just do that to people?!"

When it became clear that he wasn't going to run away again, Al let go of his shoulders. He hugged him instead. "I thought I was handling this," he said, also in their native language. "But Brother, it is so good to see you human again."

"You're telling me," said Ed. He returned Al's hug. Goodness was Al glad to focus on human contact. Ed's familiar red jacket was soft under his hands, his human hair tickled Al's nose. His human size, smaller than Al but so very much larger than a kitten, was a reassuring weight against Al's chest. For the first moment since Professor McGonagall had won the duel, Alphonse knew that he wasn't looking at Nina and Alexander.

It was a long moment before Alphonse abruptly remembered that Professor McGonagall was still in the room. He straightened Ed's red coat and let go of him. "It's good to see him back," he said in English.

"Don't do zat again," said Ed. "Zat was fucked up." His voice was oddly calm, and Al wondered how much of it was shock. Wondered if he'd rage later, before a crowd of students in the Great Hall or privately in his quarters.

"It was," said Professor McGonagall. "I sincerely apologize. I should have remembered certain aspects of our post-Berlin discussion."

Al could feel Ed soften at that, could see it in his face, too. "Right," said Ed. "Remember zat for next time."

Al looked at his shoes, not quite ready to be so forgiving. Ed experienced being transformed into a cat, but it was Alphonse who had seen his brother turn. It was Alphonse who'd had to compare his brother to poor Nina and Alexander. He swallowed. Don't let it fester, he told himself. That won't do anybody any good. So, he looked up from his shoes and locked eyes with his transfiguration professor. He said, quite honestly, "It scared me, Professor. You scared me."

Professor McGonagall's mouth tightened. "I know," she said. "And I promise, outside of necessary class material, I won't be transfiguring anyone else in front of you."

That was probably the best Al was going to get. "Sanks," he said, accepting it. He let himself feel the wave of nausea that came with that acceptance. Felt it, acknowledged it. At least he'd said his peace. They were going into October, and October was hard. Especially for Ed. He wasn't going to foster a grudge against a professor he liked. Not when he needed to be there for Ed, not when he needed to focus on his own healing, too.

Professor McGonagall fixed him with a hard stare. "Both your Head of House and Madame Pomfrey are always available to talk, should you need to," she said. There was a beat. "I am also available but understand that I might be too close to the situation for comfort. I encourage you both to avail yourselves of any services you might need. Madame Pomfrey, especially, has always been discreet."

Al nodded, but found himself unable to hold her gaze. He sat down on his bed and put Eve on his lap instead of addressing any of that. He felt Ed's weight settle beside him, heard Ed mutter out an English pleasantry, heard Professor McGonagall sweep from the Ravenclaw dorm, accompanied by the steady click of her high heels.

Al felt Ed's arm settle over his shoulders, felt Eve push her head comfortingly into his stomach. Alphonse held his cat a little closer, turned his head into Ed's armpit, and for the first time since he'd almost killed Voldemort, Alphonse cried. He couldn't be sure, but he thought Ed might have too.

Word Count: 2602

Date Posted: 2/5/2021

I hope everyone enjoyed this tournament wrap-up! Tell me what you thought in a review.

It's probably a little late to wish everyone a Happy New Year, but I'm doing it anyway! I hope life is going as smoothly as it possibly can, given the circumstances. Originally, this chapter was going to be part of a larger chapter, but there was a distinct tone shift that I decided would be better to separate. So this one is a little short, but with any luck the next chapter should come out within the next few weeks.

Here we are at Chapter 30! Over 100,000 words in. At this juncture, we've got some big things coming up for The Scientist's Lament. The only one that's important right now is this: I'll actually begin concurrently posting here and on AO3. I'd planned to, back in 2016, and you can see that the first three chapters were cross posted before I just started forgetting to post both places. After a few rounds of that forgetfulness, I decided to wait to post on AO3 until this fic was complete.

Obviously, this fic is at least another 30,000+ words from completion, so we're not there yet. But given FFN's somewhat annoying new(ish) ad schema, I think readers will appreciate being able to choose between archives. So if you prefer the layout over on AO3, this fic will soon be totally cross posted. I might make some minor edits and changes during reposts, but nothing that will change important plot beats or themes, so don't feel the need to revisit the old chapters if you don't want to!

Anyway, thanks for reading! See you back here next time on FFN, or over at AO3 if that's your preference.