Fullmetal Alchemist and the Crimson Stone Chapter 9: The Unexpected Visit, a fullmetal alchemist fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own the copyrights to Fullmetal Alchemist and Harry Potter, as well as any other songs or other character references made in this story.

Fullmetal Alchemist

And the

Crimson Stone

A Fan Fiction Fusion

Tattoo Alchemist

Chapter 9: The Unexpected Visit

The days of January had passed as the students came back and classes had started again. January had soon given way to the rather stagnant month of February where winter wasn't quite gone, but spring hadn't yet arrived.

Edward Elric had done just as he had told his friends that he would move forward and continue his search for Flamel's book, no matter how long it took. Even though he had said that with such conviction, doing it became much harder than how it sounded. In those times, Ed had started to wish that his brother was there to try to give him some kind of moral support. Instead, Edward Elric had gotten quite the surprise one Wednesday after classes.

He was in the library where he usually was when he wasn't in classes, sleeping or eating, still conducting his search, when he ran into Harry and Hermione. He did notice that the two of them had been acting differently, always being around each other, having rather gazed looks when they looked at one another, and even though Ed couldn't be completely sure, but he thought he saw them kissing in another corner of the library. It was obvious to Edward that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were in love with each other, while there were some who expected it, there were some who were in denial about it.

Ed came across the happy couple in the library looking as if they were searching for something, he was about to ask about why they were in the library when from around the bookshelves came Ron Weasley and Sandra Locke.

Ron shook his heard, "Couldn't find it," he reported sadly.

Sandra shrugged, "Neither did I."

"Do you mind telling me what you're searching for?" Ed asked feeling a little left out of whatever was going on.

"Sorry for not telling you mate," Ron apologized, "You see it was Hermione's idea."

"What was?" Ed asked starting to feel a little annoyed by the unfolding event.

"We're going to help you find the book," Hermione explained.

"It is the least we can do to pay you back for teaching us alchemy," Harry added.

"With all of us, we'll come through this library and find that book," Sandra finished.

Ed had smiled at all of them truly feeling happy because he not only had friends, but he also felt that he was not along at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He even felt the truth that they wouldn't' tell anyone else about it. After all, once Ed gave it a little more serious thought, there were just students looking for one special book.

It had been two weeks since this cadre of Gryffindors had joined Ed in his search, except for that one special day in February, Valentine's Day. Since this holiday wasn't celebrated in Ed's country, Ron and Sandra had to explain it to him since Harry and Hermione had gone to Hogsmeade to spend Valentine's Day together. Ed could only imagine the fun they had since the two of them came back from Hogsmeade looking as if they had never been happier in their whole lives. The sentiment was felt all around the Gryffindor table at dinner time, there was even a toast made Harry and Hermione by Fred and George Weasley. Even though the two were such jokers but when they saw how happy Harry and Hermione were, they couldn't help but have such respect for it.

Even with this wonderful prospect, Ed was still no closer to finding the journal. February was starting to come to a close and Ed knew that he said that he would find that book even if it took him all year. It looked like that would be the very case since the work load for each class was growing more difficult and as the outdoors were starting to warm up, Ed's spirit grew bleaker.

Once again, like that day back in January when the secret about himself was revealed to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Sandra, Ed was sitting in the corner of the library rethinking the search. He started to doubt if the book was really there, but just then as he started to doubt, he heard a voice that he didn't want to believe that he heard it.

"Brother?" a young, hollow voice called to him.

Ed slowly turned his head towards where the voice came from and saw that very same suit of armor that held his brothers soul. At the very first glance that he looked up at his brother, he wondered if it was truly real.

"I must have lost my mind," Ed commented, "I'm starting to hallucinate that you're here, Al."

"I'm no hallucination, brother," Alphonse Elric said his voice half-smiling and half-informing, "I really am here."

Ed smiled while at the same time, he felt like crying but he had to ask:

"What made you come here, Al?"

"It's your birthday tomorrow, brother," Al explained, "And I thought that it would be a great present if I came."

"Yes, it is," Ed smiled, "but how did you manage to get here?"

"I made a deal with Colonel Mustang," Al explained, "But how I got here…I'd rather not say."

Ed scoffed, "You know Al I'm surprised you weren't allowed to come with me when I started this case."

"Why do you say that, brother?"

"You wouldn't be that conspicuous here," Ed explained with a grin, "In this place they have ghosts, paintings that move in their frames, weird creatures, and even stranger plants. So, being a walking suit of armor wouldn't stick out that much."

"Yeah," Al responded in agreement, "I thought the same thing from the letters that you sent."

"It's funny, Al," Ed chuckled slightly, "It's been months since we saw each other and yet we're acting as if we saw each other yesterday."

"I guess that's the bond that brothers have, Ed."

"Hey, Ed," Ron Weasley called, "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Ed and AL looked to find the four Gryffindors standing near the table, all of them looking at Alphonse Elric with looks of both amazement and some puzzlement.

"Well, Al," Ed grinned once again, "Here they are, the people I told you about. The one in the glasses is Harry Potter."

"Nice to meet you," Harry greeted.

"The one with the red hair is Ron Weasley," Ed introduced.

Ron smiled rather intimidated at the large size of Alphonse Elric.

"The brown hair girl is Hermione Granger," Ed continued.

"Pleasure," She acknowledged to Al.

"And finally, Sandra Locke," Ed Finished.

"You must be Alphonse," Sandra stated looking up at Al in total awe, "Ed's younger brother."

"Younger?" Ron asked, "isn't it supposed to be the other way around with how huge he is?"

Ed's blood boiled instantly.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SHORTIE!" Ed snapped at Ron.

"SHHHH!" Hermione answered back keeping in mind that they were in a library.

"Take it easy mate," Ron whispered trying to calm the situation, "I didn't mean it like that."

"So, what brings you to Hogwarts?" Harry asked Al.

"It's Ed's birthday tomorrow," Al explained.

"We know that," Hermione smiled, "and tomorrow we'll have a really special dinner planned."

The dinner in the Great Hall seemed extra special to Ed. At the table were several dishes that were among some of Ed's favorites. There was even a cake that read "Happy Birthday, Edward," on it with the candles still burning on it waiting for Ed to blow it out.

"Happy Birthday, Edward Elric!" They all said as they took their seats.

Whiel everyone else ate dinner, the friends of Edward Elric began the birthday dinner and all of them sharing stories of their past exploits. Harry, Ron, and Hermione told their stories from the past three years, while Ed and Al told their stories from their time being involved with the state. Ed had to admit that he found that he was laughing when he was retelling his own stories despite the tragedy that he had in his life. He also had to admire Harry and his friends for the things that he heard about from them. It was a wonder that children like them could do such things, but then again Ed had to remind himself that he became a state alchemist when he was only 12 years old.

The dinner came to a close, while some of the school tables left to go back to their dormitories, Ed, Al, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Sandra stayed to finish the birthday celebration.

"Now for the presents," Harry said as he pulled out a red and gold checkered wrapped box and handed it over to Ed.

Ed peeled off the wrapping of Harry's gift and smiled when he read the label on the box – Quidditch Gear. He looked further to read that the set included shin guards, shoes, gloves, goggles, and even team robes.

"Thanks, Harry," Ed smiled as he cleared the part of the table in front of him to set the box.

"I only hope that you can play Quidditch back home," Harry said sounding concerned, "I think that they'd love it back there."

Ed grinned, "I think that they might," but then Ed started to feel like laughing when he was trying to imagine Colonel Roy Mustang flying around on a broomstick.

"Here's mine, Ed," Hermione stated politely as she handed a package that was wrapped in a dull silver paper. Ed took the present and started to open it up, but when the package was all clear, Ed's eyes widened and he could only let out one phrase:

"Wow, Hermione," he uttered as he held a sleek black leather case with silver works stamped across it that read: Broomstick Service Kit.

"I gave one to Harry about a year back," Hermione explained, "I figured you could use one too."

"Thanks Hermione," Ed thanked cheerfully as he opened up the case to find various items needed for broom care. There was a jar of Fleetwood's High-Finish Handle Polish, a pair of gleaming silver Tail-Twig Clippers, a tiny brass compass that fits onto the broom for long journeys, and a Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broomcare.

"And here's my gift," Ron said as he handed to Ed a package that was poorly wrapped in brown paper. Ed took it and began to peel back the paper and held in his hand a rectangular box that had in red gothic letters: Wizards Chess Set.

"I'm a pretty good player," Ron told, "So, if you need someone to teach you how to play, just ask."

"Don't worry," Ed grinned, "I definitely know how to play and I'd be willing to take you on."

"Now, don't let that go to your head brother" Al warned.

Sandra gave a small giggle before Ed gave her a rather annoyed glance, she then gained control of herself when she said, "Here's my gift."

Sandra then leaned in and pressed her lips to Edward's. All around the table people stared when it happened, it seemed to come from out of nowhere and yet Sandra looked as if she had planned it all along. Ed on the other hand felt so warm on the inside as well as in the skin of his face as if that one kiss had set a fire throughout his body. Never before had he felt so good in one moment as Sandra pulled back to whisper:

"Happy Birthday, Ed."

After dinner, everyone had gone back to their respective towers and dormitories, while Ed and Al (after setting aside the presents that he received) had gone back to the library in its final hour of the day. The brothers came to that little corner of the library where Ed had done his school work as well as taught alchemy and conducted his search for Flamel's Journal.

"So, brother," Al started, his voice sounding very mournful, "You haven't been able to find Flamel's Journal?"

"No, Al," Ed answered, his head sunk, even though he still felt so warm because of Sandra's kiss, the fact of his search still loomed over his head like a vastly approaching deadline. "All this time, I've searched this library, and there isn't anything here. I thought about asking this guy, Dumbledore, about it, but he's Flamel's friend, for all I know he could be in on it."

"You don't know that for sure, Ed," Al pointed out to his brother, "maybe he does know something."

Ed shook his head, "It's too risky to compromise the security of this mission."

Out of his own frustration, Ed had shoved his hands into his robes pockets and he felt something there. He pulled it out to find it was a pair of the see-through glasses he bought at Zonko's joke shop.

"Ed," Al asked, "Are those the glasses that you were telling me about? Can they really see through things?"

"Have a look, Al," Ed had told as he handed his brother the glasses. Al had tried to slip them over the helmet but allowing his eyes to see through the magical lenses. He looked at his brother who was then only in his underwear and Al pulled them up to see Ed's clothes had returned.

"These things really do work," Al said with amazement as he slipped them back over his eyes again, but as he looked he saw something odd in the bookcase behind Ed. The glasses saw past the books to the wall behind it and there on one of the shelves, Al had seen a brick that was out of place.

"What is it, Al?" Ed had asked knowing that Al had found something.

"There's a brick that's out of place," Al explained as he went to the shelf, removed all the books, and saw the out of place brick. It looked the same coloration as the others, but it looked loose, as if the mortar around it had been chipped away while it sat out of place with the others. Al reached in and pulled the brick away to find that the brick gave way to reveal a secret compartment behind it. Inside the secret hole in the wall was a book covered in spider webs, Al reached in and pulled it out. The book was as thick and as wide as the brick that he pulled out, it was leather bound with a very elegant and elaborate transmutation circle embossed into the front leather cover. Al wiped the dust and spider webs off of it as his brother watched.

"Brother," AL called sounding like he was trying to contain his excitement, "I think I found it."

Ed lifted the book from Al's hands and opened it smelling that dirty whiff of the dust that had piled onto it for the untold time that it was in that hiding place. Upon opening the book, Ed had found charts, notes, and hand-drawn transmutation circles. Each section was written like a personal journal and each section ended with the name:

Nicholas Flamel

"You found it, Al," Ed smiled, "You found Flamel's Journal."

After the excitement of discovering Flamel's Journal, Ed and AL headed back to Gryffindor Tower. They wanted to tell their friends about the discovery that they had made, but they had already gone to bed. So, the Brothers Elric stayed up in the Gryffindor Common Room discussing their next move.

"Just think of it, Al," Ed grinned in his euphoria, "We can finally be put back into the flesh."

"But what are we going to do once we're flesh and blood again, brother?" Al asked

"You know…" Ed began, sounding as if he lost a little of his euphoria with that very question, "I hadn't thought that far ahead just yet."

"There's also the matter with Nicholas Flamel himself," Al pointed out.

"You're right, Al." Ed agreed sounding as if he lost all of his euphoria from being a step closer to his ultimate goal, "Flamel needs to be brought to the attention of the Wizarding Authorities, we just need to prove that he's still alive and possibly making another stone."

"How are we going to do that?" Al had asked.

Ed grinned once again, "We'll worry about that later, right now I have to write the report to Mustang…if he doesn't already know that we've found it."

Ed's grin vanished just as quickly as it appeared when he thought about his egotistical boss, Roy Mustnag. Still, Ed wasn't going to allow that man to infer upon his victory, but as he thought about it, it was truly Al who had helped him achieve it, and that made him think that if Al had come with him sooner, the investigation wouldn't' have taken so long. Then he thought about going back to his home country and leaving behind his new friends at Hogwarts. Once again, he felt a little saddened at that thought, even though eh found the entire wizard world to be so blatantly juvenile at first, he was thinking that he would truly miss all of it.

To Be Continued…