CHAPTER IV

Ed, Al and Winry spent the next two months preparing for the school year. Dumbledore gave them all the material they needed to learn the past four years of class work. Ed and Al, for the most part found this easy. They both could go through a mountain books in just a short time. Winry however, spent her time learning the practical uses of spells and charms. They made up the difference by quizzing each other.

Their first trip to Diagon Alley was an adventure in itself. Ed, being a scientist, sputtered and choked at nearly everything he saw. Their time spent mostly in a place called Ollivader's getting their wands. Ed's was seven inches with a phoenix feather, Al's was ten inches with unicorn hair, and Winry's was nine inches with dragon's heartstring.

Next, they walked around in search of Al and Winry's school supplies. They had a particularly fun time finding their books. The first thing Ed had done when they arrived was wire Roy for all of his research funds. The result was Ed buying a copy of almost every book in the store. They had to request for help in getting the books to Hogwarts. They quickly finished there business after that and got Ed back before he had a heart attack.

Ed, Al, and Winry quickly started on their catching up with the fifth years when they got back to the castle. It was hard saying who did the best. While Ed and Al excelled in the bookwork, Winry was a whiz at the practical use of spells. They each helped each other and were soon at a level with the other fifth years. To their utter amazement, the teachers found themselves giving the three Amestris teens practical exams for the first and second years by one month.

Ed and the other's were with Dumbledore in the library practicing potions for their third year exam, when the door burst wide open, revealing a squat, froglike woman in her mid forties.

"Alright!" she yelled. "Where are they?"

"Where are whom?" Dumbledore asked politely.

"You know whom!" she shrieked. "Those two Alchemy professors you dredged up! Where are they?"

"Well, I'm afraid Professor Mason will not be joining us for another week, but you can reach him at Whizgram in America if you must talk to him."

"And the other?" the woman spat.

"Why, Professor Elric is right in front of you." He gestured over to Ed and Al and Winry.

Without preamble, 'the Frog', as Ed would later affectionately call her, the woman walked right up to Al. "Well Mr. Elric, it seems your as absurd as all the other teachers Dumbledore has on staff."

"Uhm… Dolores, that's Professor Elric's younger brother." Dumbledore interjected, seeing the fire start burning in Ed's eyes.

"Well there isn't anyone else here old enough to teach is there. Unless you gave the job to the girl."

Everyone moaned when they saw Ed slowly rise. "Excuse me. I'm Professor Elric."

Silence was quickly followed by outright laughter. Umbridge ruffled his hair. "Don't play games with me boy. It may not be the school season yet, but I can still expel troublemakers."

Al and Winry quickly grabbed Dumbledore and flung themselves to the floor. "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE! YOU THINK I'M SO SMALL THE STUDENTS WILL TRY AND WALK OVER ME? THAT I'M TINY! I'M MICROSCOPIC! I'M THE BEST DAMN ALCHEMIST YOU'LL EVER MEET YOU BIG POMPUSS FROG!"

With every word, Umbridge was stepping back towards the door. This little hothand was really giving her his all. Ed was still ranting when everyone else noticed that Umbridge had fled that room. They had to subdue Ed physically from going after her.

When they passed the third year exams, Ed stopped his lessons with the others to prepare his class schedules for the fifth, sixth, and seventh years. He worked night and day to work out how he was going to teach the students. In the end however, he had to go to Dumbledore for advice.

Near a week after the incident with Umbridge, Ed found himself walking up the stairs to Dumbledore's office. When he reached the top, he knocked twice before entering. Inside he found the Headmaster talking with tall man in his late twenties. He was well dressed for a muggle with a sweater and khakis that fit neatly. His hair was brown and near chin length and he had blues eyes.

"Ah, Edward!" Dumbledore smiled, standing up from his desk. "Please come in. I was just about to send for you. I would like you to meet your one and only staff member, Daniel Mason." He gestured to the man. "Daniel, this is Edward Elric, your head of staff."

"Pleased to meet you." The man said, holding out his hand. "And please call me Daniel."

Ed took Daniels hand in his. "And you can call me Ed." He quickly got down to business. "Headmaster, I came up here to ask for advise on my work schedule, but I guess me and Daniel here should put our heads together first and see what we can come up with."

"Yes, that would be splendid." Dumbledore gave them the go ahead. "Come back when you two have iron out your schedules and I'll approve them."

Ed quickly grew to like Daniel. He was a native of Amestris and had moved to a place call the United States after he turned eighteen. He knew quite a bit about Ed and his adventures. He said he kept up with news from the old country as best he could.

Al and Winry both took a weary liking to him. They both sensed a man keeping secrets, but they soon forgot their feelings and joined him and Ed in their classrooms while they worked out their schedules.

Soon, Ed found himself back at the door of Dumbledore's office. This time he knocked and waited for the Headmaster to call him in. he showed the old wizard his and Daniel's plan, which Dumbledore had little to add. After it was approved, Ed made to leave, but Dumbledore called him back.

"Edward, I was wondering if you could join Minerva in patrolling Diagon Alley for the next week." He began. "I normally send teachers there to watch over the students as they prepare for school just incase they get into a little mischief. I think you could do well meeting some of your soon to be students before classes start."

"I don't know…" Ed said warily, not trying to commit.

"I assure you it will be perfectly alright. All you have to do is point out anything suspicious to Minerva. She can handle it." Dumbledore added some of his charm to his voice.

"Oh… Alright." Ed huffed, trotting out of the office. He was pushed out of the way by Umbridge, who was walking in. she had taken it to heart to avoid the little cannon in the hallways, but her number one priority ever since their first encounter was to get Ed sacked.

"Ah, professor Umbridge." Dumbledore smiled. "I was expecting you sooner. Please go on about your business Edward. Make sure Minerva knows your going with her to patrol the Alley."

"Sure thing." Ed ground out, shooting daggers at Umbridge. He walked out of the room.

Dumbledore could see the tension melt off the rather large witch when Ed left. He smiled his first genuine smile in her presence because of that. "What can I help you with-"

Umbridge cut him off. "How can you be so stupid, Dumbledore. To actually think that the Ministry would allow you to hire an eleven year old as a teacher-"

"Stop right there, Dolores." The angry tone in his voice shocked her. "Edward is more qualified to teach Alchemy than anyone you or the Ministry could ever find. He is the youngest State Alchemist in Amestris history. The Fuehrer himself recommended him."

"The Ministry doesn't even recognize that Amestris exists." She huffed.

"Too true. But that still does not discredit the fact that if you continue to harass Edward, they may take political action. How would Cornelius feel if he suddenly had an international crisis on his hands?"

Umbridge sputtered, but could not come up with a retort.

"Please leave Edward alone, Dolores. You do not know what can happen in an incident like that."

"What's that supossed to mean!"

"Anything, I suppose."

Umbridge stormed out oh his office.