The four Gryffindors rushed to the library as fast as they could run. Immediately, they grabbed a table and began talking in furious whispers.
"She's a homunculus!" Ed whispered, pulling a book off the shelf behind him.
"How do we know that? She could just be a person who is so fascinated by the subject she got a tattoo that looks like it!" Hermione whispered back.
"But I've read somewhere about an eighth!"
"An eighth what, Ed?"
"An eighth homunculus! There are only supposed to be seven but I saw the eighth someplace…"
"Leave the studying to me.. None of you know how to navigate this library more than me."
Harry, Ron, and Ed looked at each other.
"She's got a point there," Ron said. They stood up and returned to the Gryffindor tower, which was empty by the time they got back. The books had been cleared away and Aileen was gone. So much for double-checking.
As Ed climbed the stairs to the dormitories, he was beginning to doubt that the whole trip to Hogwarts wasn't such a good idea. The stone was long gone and it was highly doubtful that Aileen would be able to create one.
Falling face-first onto his bed, Ed drifted into a sleep that he would not be woken from until dawn.
The next class wasn't as interesting as it had been earlier. No longer did Aileen seem normal. Every day she grew more and more in the eyes of her students as a freak.
The class ended as usual and Aileen gave out the project sheet she had made the night before.
"You'll need a group for this. Everything's listed, maximum four per group."
As the students left the room, Aileen opened the window. An owl flew in, a letter in its beak. Taking envelope, she carefully opened it, reading the note inside. After finishing it, she put it on her desk and started towards the stairs that led to her room.
"All right, Professor. We've got a few questions for you."
Aileen slowly turned around. Standing in front of her were Ed, Harry, Hermione, and Ron with determined looks on their faces.
"You're a homunculus, aren't you?" Ed smirked. "We know all about you."
"Me? A homunculus?" Aileen laughed. "Just because I know a lot on the subject does not make me one. If you were an expert on kelpies, would that make you one?"
"This is a totally different matter!" Hermione said.
Aileen shook her head and turned back to the stairs. Before she got too far, though, she was tackled from behind.
Ed had pinned her down, and Hermione brushed Aileen's hair aside. Nothing. She checked the other shoulder. Nothing.
"You're assaulting a teacher, you know."
"But…we saw your orobus last night," protested Ron.
"An orobus? What time did you four leave? It was nearly nine. You must have gotten back around ten. It was late. You must have been seeing things," Ai said, getting up and brushing the dust off of her skirt. "And just because you have accused me of something unthinkable and attacked me, I want two feet of parchment on my desk tomorrow on human transmutations: how it works, why it fails, and the consequences. Except for you, Edward. You will give me two feet on unicorns and their magical properties."
"But…that's not fair!" Ed complained.
"Six more inches on kelpies!"
Ed grumbled and stalked off.
"Professor, what's human transmutation?" Hermione asked. None of them had ever heard of anything like that.
"Here." Aileen handed the trio a large, dusty book labeled Forbidden Alchemy. They left to work on their essays and Aileen finally went to her room.
"Cutting it a bit close there, aren't you?"
"Hello, Envy," Aileen said, knowing who it was immediately.
"What was all that about?"
"They saw my orobus last night. It wasn't really my fault. I was tired and not paying attention. I accidentally left it uncovered."
"We all make mistakes like that sometimes. Just don't make it again."
Aileen nodded.
"Did you get Lust's letter?" Envy asked.
"Yes. I don't see why you have to keep coming here, though. I'm working on the stone as we speak."
"I have other reasons for being here," Envy said with a sly smile. "It's not just the stone. I'm here to have fun."
Aileen put her hands on her hips. "And just what do you mean by that?"
"Nothing." Envy stood up and left, leaving Aileen alone. She flopped down on her bed and immediately fell asleep.
It's been quite a day… …it's hard trying to write in these conditions…it's too freakin cold. anyways, I'm working on chapter 6 now and will be posting before the night's over. Most likely.