A New Beginning
Chapter One
Sovann
Reseembool, Amestris
October 3rd, 1923
It had been stressful leading up to the birth. Al and Mei debated the safety of the spells around the house versus the safety of delivery in the hospital for weeks. Mei was insistent that the spells were a necessary precaution before her brother settled the matter by sending his best healers and doctors to attend the birth.
Ling and Lan Fan, Chen, Kenja and Akiro, Naoko and Erity and Jia, and their children arrived just after Alphonse and Mei with the help of Ling's court wizards. Remus Lupin had brought the couple themselves, and Severus Snape had transported Roy, Riza, Edward, Winry, and their children shortly after that. Ling's wizards had also brought along the promised staff in a second trip.
While the siblings and parents had awaited word, their spouses had distracted the children. It was a nice day outside, and the house was not small, until you included nineteen children all ten or younger. Even with the help of their mothers and father, it would have gotten loud inside had they not escaped out to the yard.
"Huan, elbow up." Lan Fan's voice called out across the yard as she supervised walking the children through simple fight stances, she due to give birth next month herself but was to full of anxious energy to sit with the other expectant mothers. "Yuery, left foot too far forward."
Huan, Yuery, William, Ping, Miyo, Tevy, Maes, Tad, and Trisha were all obediently lined up while Lan Fan and Akiro supervised them. While Lan Fan verbally corrected the eldest two, Akira went down the line observing the others.
Nearby, playing in the dirt, sat Miyo's younger brothers Jing and Wong alongside with Emiyo's younger siblings Dishi and Ming, and Akira's son Tao. The other mothers Winry, Jia, and Erity sat on the porch with Ed's baby sister Elizabeth as well as Erity's daughter Juan and Kenja's son Hiro. Juan and Hiro were only a few months older than Elizabeth and kept out of the dirt to avoid them putting it in their mouths.
Winry and Jia were both due in the next couple of weeks and were complaining about the pitfalls of magic travel on their stomachs. All in all, traveling this late in was uncomfortable in general, as was magic travel for most of them. Combing the two had made both women feel very queasy. They both agreed they preferred to be queasy than missing the birth and refused to complain to anyone but each other.
Sovann Roy Chang Mustang Elric arrived with a loud cry that released the building tension inside the house. Roy and Riza hugged Edward between them with excited relief as Ling, Kenja, and Chen did the same. A few moments later, Pinako stepped out of the room to announce that both mother and son were healthy.
Alphonse came out a few minutes after that. "The doctors don't want to overwhelm them, so they said two at a time can come in to meet Sovann."
After what appeared to be a brief silent conversation between Roy and Riza, Roy insisted that Edward and Ling go first, followed by Kenja and Chen, then he and Riza would visit. He then went downstairs to tell everyone outside that the baby had arrived safely.
Edward and Ling crept quietly into the room; in case their new nephew was sleeping. They had nothing to worry about, since Sovann was still blinking widely up at his mother. He was swaddled in a soft yellow blanket once owned by his cousin Tivy. Wisps of black hair stuck up from the top of his tiny head, and golden eyes looked around at the sound of his uncles.
"He's beautiful." Ling said quietly, as he smiled down at his sister and her new baby. "How are you doing sister?"
"Thank you." Mei returned his smile tiredly. "I am doing much better now that he is here and healthy."
"I am glad you're okay. Both of you." Edward smiled from beside Ling.
He had grown enough after Promised Day that he was only slightly shorter than Ling, a fact that Ling loved to rub in his face most days. Today though, he chose to ignore the half inch he still had on Edward. Instead, both men smiled with relief that history had not repeated itself for their siblings. They stayed a few more minutes, neither surprised nor insulted that Mei had not offered to let them hold her son.
Edward stayed with Roy and Riza as Ling went downstairs to take over the smallest children so that others could come up as well while Chen and Kenja crept into the room. "He is fine. So is his mother." Edward sank onto the chair between his parents. "He has Al's eyes."
"I am certain that he will be fine now." Riza said with relief. She had remained outwardly stoically optimistic even as her husband and sons began to worry closer to the time of Mei's delivery. Only now did she allow her mask to slip enough that the men could see that she too had been afraid. Neither was surprised.
Edward finally went downstairs as well, when Chen and Kenja came out of the room. Roy led the way inside and finally stepped forward to meet his newest grandchild. Al had climbed into the bed to sit beside his wife, so he could touch his son without taking him away from Mei since she was not inclined to let anyone else have Sovann at the moment. No one blamed her, nor did they expect this to last. She would soon enough be willing to allow others to hold him.
"So, Sovann Roy?" Riza asked with a smile.
"Yes. To honor the fathers we chose, not the ones who created us and did nothing more." Mei said without looking away from her new baby. "Sovann was the name of my primary guard when I was young. He was my mother's brother. He cared for me after I lost my mother until I lost him as well."
"I am honored that you named him for me." Roy said. "I know that it hasn't been the easiest transition for you after your accident."
"It wasn't an accident. It was a deliberate mistake." Al said. "I refuse to call it anything else. I hurt everyone I care about it my selfishness and am fortunate that you all forgave me. I can never get back what I paid… but I love you Dad. I wanted you to know that. Never doubt it."
Roy managed to not cry at these words, but just barely, as he hugged his son. He felt, for the first time since Al woke up without his memories, like their family was going to heal from all of this. That he had truly regained his son.
The logistics of housing Al and Mei's family was another issue they realized as they sat down to eat an early dinner. There was no room for everyone in the Elric house for everyone. Reseembool was not a big town either. They considered sending part of the group home now that the baby had arrived safely, but none of the parents were looking forward to a second port key trip in the same day with a small child or baby.
In the end they decided to have Ling and Lan Fan along with their children would stay with the Elrics. Naoko and his wives and children, and Kenja, Akira, and their children along with Chen would stay the night at the Rockbelles. All of the wizards and doctors would be spending the night in the barracks. Once that was decided, Edward arranged to take everyone to their proper places for the evening.
After everything was settled, Edward slipped outside to sit on the porch. Alphonse joined him a few moments later, with two mugs of tea. "It's October 3rd." Alphonse finally said into his mug. "It worried you when you noticed the date."
"Yeah well. It hasn't been the best day for us." Edward said defensively. He didn't say that he would have been afraid no matter what day it had been, after what happened last time. He didn't say that he had been equally afraid when Elizabeth and Sarah had been born. He didn't say that the mostly healed wounds of his brother's transmutation still hurt when pushed.
He didn't say these things, but his brother heard them anyway. He hugged Edward, both unbelievably happy that Sovann was healthy and safe. "That's the past now Brother. Going forward today is a day to celebrate." Alphonse whispered, and Edward nodded.
"Keep moving forward." Edward smiled.
Meeting of the Order of the Phoenix
Hogshead Pub
Hogsmeade
Albus Dumbledore called the meeting to order as the last of the members, Molly and Arthur Weasley, arrived running behind as usual. The flustered couple offered stuttered apologies about a late caregiver for their children as the others all settled around the room.
Once the room had quieted, Dumbledore began getting straight to the point of the meeting. "We have one year my friends, until Harry Potter will return to us after he receives his owl. We must prepare for his safety and security of course. However, we must also all prepare ourselves to be ready to offer him comfort and answers about our world. Through no fault of his own, he has been raised isolated from the world of withcraft and wizardry, We must do our best to make him feel welcome in his return."
"Forgive me Albus, but how do we know he is ignorant to our world? You have mentioned him several time over the years being well protected. How can that be if he is among muggles?" Mrs. Tonks asked curiously.
"He is protected by a very powerful enchantment, it is true. However, it was not cast by his current guardian. His guardian is doing well with the boy, as far as we know, but is not a wizard himself." Albus replied calmly. "He is sure to have questions about his true family when he returns. I ask that everyone be ready to answer his questions. It is vastly important that he feel welcomed into our world. Without him I fear winning the war will be far more difficult."
"You Know Who hasn't even had a hint of return in all this time." Minerva said with a frown. " If the child's return will possibly draw him out then would it not be better to leave him where he is safe and loved."
"He must be trained. For his own sake, and for the sake of us all." Dumbledore said quietly.
The meeting room grew quiet at the implications, before Dumbledore moved the meeting on into the subject of finding the remaining Death Eaters. Soon enough, the group started to break up and head their separate ways. Dumbledore asked that Hagrid remain behind.
Once the room was quiet, Dumbledore cleared his throat before he smiled at the men. "I have a large favor to ask of you. I need someone loyal to check in on the boy. I am afraid after this long Figg may be compromised. Snape absolutely has been. I would like to send you there to watch over him, without his knowledge. Subtly guide him and his guardian toward the idea of Hogwarts."