CHAPTER III

Winrey and Hogwarts

There was very little to pack for Ed and Al. All of their belongings they carried with them in one suitcase, which Edward had not unpacked since they had returned to Central a week earlier. They went up to their rooms to get the case, then went back down to meet Roy and Dumbledore at the main entrance.

"Are you ready?" asked the Headmaster.

"No." Al replied. "We need to say goodbye to Winrey before we leave."

"Winrey lives in Rizenbul," Roy said crisply. "It will take you two days to get there by train."

"Actually," Dumbledore interrupted, "I can apperat to Rizenbul."

"A parrot?" Ed said confused.

"Apperat." Dumbledore corrected. "It is how most Wizards get around. You simply think of where you need to be, twist, and you're there."

"We've never done that before." Al admitted.

"Most others your age don't either." Dumbledore said. "We do not let students test for an apperating license until their seventeenth birthday."

"Ah."

"Fullmetal." Roy said, gesturing for him to have a few words in private.

"What." Ed said walking over.

"I want weekly reports on your findings." Roy began. "And I have talked to Dumbledore about your… condition. He believes no one will say much about your automail, just don't go around showing off."

"Like I do that." Ed said crossly.

"And try to watch your temper. "Roy almost moaned. "I know you're a little volatile about your height-"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL PEOPLE WON'T NOTICE AND SQUASH HIM IN AN OPEN FIELD!"

"See what I mean?" Roy Smirked, sharing a look with Dumbledore.

"Well!" Dumbledore clapped his hands. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yes." The brothers said.

"Oh! Fullmetal!" Roy shouted. "Someone will be by to see you around Christmas."

"Alright!" Edward yelled. "Can we leave now?"

"Just take a firm grip of my hand." Dumbledore held out his right hand. Ed and Al grasped and the next thing they new they felt like their entire bodies were being squeezed through toothpaste tubes. When it was over, they found themselves in a field not half a mile from Winrey Rockbell's house.

"Which way is Mrs. Rockbell's house?" Dumbledore asked.

"About half a mile east from here." Al replied.

"Good. We should get moving." Dumbledore began walking in the direction that Al pointed. The two brothers followed. Along the way Dumbledore told Ed of his role as a professor, and of the rest of the faculty at Hogwarts.

They reached Winrey's house in less than an hour. Ed immediately ran up to the door and knocked loudly. A few moments later a young woman with long blonde hair answered the door.

"Hi Winrey!" Ed and al said smiling ear to ear.

"What did you break now?" Winrey said, pulling out a very large wrench.

"No, no!" Ed yelled, putting up his arms in defense. "We didn't break anything!"

"We just came to say hi." Al said trying to sate Winrey's need to do bodily harm.

"Oh!" the wrench disappeared behind her while she put on a big smile. "Then please come in. Who's this?"

"Albus Dumbledore." Said man bowed. "A pleasure to meet you."

"Someone hanging around Ed and Al with manners?" Winrey said smiling. "Maybe you'll be a good influence on them."

"Not a chance." Ed mumbled.

They all went in and sat down while Winrey went to find Auntie Pinako and make some drinks.

"Hello Edward my boy." Pinako said entering the room. "And Alphonse. My aren't you two in a little to good a shape for a visit? Usually the only thing holding you two together is string and thumbtacks."

"Yeah, well, we decided we needed a visit." Al said, raising his right hand behind his head.

"You two never stop in for a visit." Winery reentered the room.

"I have a new assignment." Ed put in.

"Brother is going to teach alchemy." Al chirped.

"Edward teaching!" Winrey and Pinako said incredulously.

"Yes." Dumbledore said, bringing the attention of the two women to him.

"Uhm… who are you?" Pinako asked.

"Albus Dumbledore." He bowed again. "Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Pinako nearly choked on her tea.

"Pinako!" Ed yelled. "Are you alright?"

Pinako managed to get her coughing under control. "Did… you say… witchcraft and wizardry?"

"Yes." There was a question in Dumbledore's voice.

"You don't happen to know a Minerva McOnogal?"

"Yes." Dumbledore was now smiling. "Minerva came to see Mrs. Rockbell's parents fifteen years ago to see if they would allow her to come and learn magic."

This time everyone choked on their tea. Finally Winrey was able to say, "They what!"

"You were borne with the ability to use magic Mrs. Rockbell. Unfortunately they declined our offer."

"I can learn magic?" Winrey almost whispered.

"Yes."

SEVERAL HOURS LATER…

After much debating, Dumbledore decided to take Winrey with them. Though Winrey was a mechanic, she said it would be nice to know a little magic to help around the house. Of coarse Pinako had to convince Winrey that she would be alright without her for a year. Plus she would come home for Christmas. So at the end of the day three people were holding onto Dumbledore's arm instead of just two.

Ed was snickering. "You're gonna love this."

Before Winrey could ask what he meant, Dumbledore Apperated.

When they finally made it out, winery suddenly produced wrench and threw it at Ed.

"OW!"

"That's for not warning me!"

Before Ed could retort Al interrupted them. "Guys! Look!"

Before them stood the most beautiful castle either of them had ever seen.

With a knowing voice Dumbledore announced, "My friends, welcome to Hogwarts."