"Havoc, what the hell are you doing here!" exclaimed Edward as Havoc rotated his smoke from side to side.
"Whose Havoc?" asked Harry with an extremely confused look on his face, not that anyone noticed.
"He is our cousin, right Alphonse?" asked Roy into the darkness.
"Yep!" exclaimed Alphonse in a sweet voice. Edward just sat there; his jaw practically touched the floor.
"Oh, I thought he was my older brother! I thought we adopted him at the young, tender age of 25. I think we have some pictures of him in a diaper with a smoke in his mouth!" exclaimed Edward sarcastically. Havoc twitched his cigarette, emotionally insulted.
Alphonse turned with a metallic chuckle. Hermione raised an eyebrow and shook her head at the Elric.
"Now, Edward. Just because he doesn't have a girl friend, that doesn't mean he's a child," sarcastically laughed Useless-In-The-Rain. (Roy)
Havoc sarcastically laughed as he took his seat between Roy and Ed. Ed cursed as he moved to Alphonse's lap. Alphonse quickly set Crookshanks and Shukumei down on the floor while Edward tried to make himself as comfortable as he could on a metal suit of armor.
"I would put my cigarette out on your face, Shrimp, but that would be a waste of a cig. Isn't that right, Useless?" asked Havoc coldly as the words 'useless' fell onto Roy's head and Ed felt a tantrum coming.
"Anyway, Roy. Hughes is a few carts down. Bradley thought… I'll talk to you later when we reach our destination," Havoc glanced at the dark figures of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lupin on the other side of the room.
"Who is Hughes?" asked Harry as Roy froze.
"He's…."
"Ron!" exclaimed a childish voice as the compartment door slid open again.
"Ginny? Is that you?" asked Ron as he scooted over to make room for his little sister.
"What are you doing here?" exclaimed Ed he groaned from all of the space taken from unwanted people.
"Well its nice to see you again too, Ed," spat Ginny as she went to take her seat.
"Ouch! Sit in the seat, not on me!" exclaimed Harry as Ginny whispered an apology.
"Hughes! What the hell is he doing here!" snarled Roy.
"Roy, get a hold of your self!"
"Dad, did you know about this?"
"Brother?"
"Ginny you didn't have to look for me!"
"Quiet!" exclaimed a rough voice. Lupin had finally woken up from all of the uproar, apparently. Shifting noises could be heard from his corner as a crackling sound filled the room. All went silent. I waver of light burst in Lupin's hands as he held them up enough to light the small compartment. The flames showed wrinkles cleanly on his tired face but his eyes shined with caution.
"Everyone stay where you are. Roy, watch over all of them," stated Lupin as he stood up, flames held in front of him. Roy nodded as Lupin reached for the door, but something odd happened. Before he could even get a grip on the handle the door slid open slowly but steadily.
A cloaked figure now stood before Lupin. The flickering flames illuminated its massive height, as the top of its hood cascaded with the ceiling. The folds of midnight fabric shunned its face from mortal eyes. Edward felt his eyes skim down the creature to where his eyes made contact with something nauseating. A large hand was protruding from the creases of fabric. It was glossy and thick with slime, and had scabs on scabs. It looked like it had long since deceased and had been decomposing at the bottom of a lake for years. The monster soon retracted its slimy hand into its coat, as if it knew of Ed's stares.
The creature took a long, hoarse, rattling breath, as if trying to suck more than air out of the cart. A gasping sound could be heard from Harry, as an intense cold swept across everyone. Ed glanced over at Harry, just in time to see his eyes roll into the back of his head and to fall onto the floor of the cart. Ed went to scream out at Harry but found his voice caught in his throat. He heard a woman's voice in his head.
" Could you transmute me some flowers? Your father always used to do that for me."
Edward slapped himself in the face with his auto-mail hand a couple of times to think clearly again.
"Al, we need to get that thing out!" whispered Ed to the suit of armor behind him.
"Right."
"Go away! No ones hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks! Leave!" exclaimed Lupin as he whipped out his wand. The thing did not move. Lupin looked frustrated by this point and pointed his wand at the beast. Lupin began to murmur something as a silvery object shot out from the end of it. The thing backed away a few steps as it was fighting a losing battle. The thing finally turned around and glided off to another cart to inspect.
Lupin quickly shut the door and ran over to Harry, who was now twitching like mad. Lupin knelt down next to Harry to see if he was correct as to what was happening to him. Suddenly the lights flickered back on. Gasps of excitement and relief could be heard through out the entire train. A few seconds after the lights turned on the train began to lull forward to their destination. Edward sighed as the train began to pick up speed again.
Havoc sighed with relief as Crookshanks and Shukumei came out of their hiding place from the luggage rack and onto Hermione's lap. Lupin stood up and starred at Roy for a few seconds. He reached for the door.
"Excuse me, I need to have a word with the driver." And with that the door slammed behind him. Hermione practically fell on the floor next to Harry, startling the cats onto her seat. Ron starred at Harry as he jerked and twitched on the floor.
"Mr.Elric, do you have anything to stop him?" Ron asked hopefully as he raised his head up to look at Roy. "Roy?"
Roy fell forward as Havoc caught him in midair. Ginny let out a small squeak as she buried her head into Ron's shoulder. Roy looked dead as his eyes became fogged and started to go into some sort of spasm like Harry.
"What's wrong with them?" asked Ginny as she peered out of Ron's coat to look from Harry to Roy. Ron pushed Ginny aside as he sat on Harry's chest. (AN: Harry chest XD)
"Wake up, damn it!" exclaimed Ron as he began slapping Harry's face.
"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione as Ron ignored her.
"W-what the hell?" asked Harry as Ron slapped him again.
"Ron, he's awake!" exclaimed Hermione as Ron sheepishly smiled at his glaring friend.
"Number one priority. Get off." Ron pulled himself back into his seat as Harry stumbled to his feet with the help of Hermione.
"You too! Wake up!" exclaimed Ed as he grabbed Roy by the front of his shirt. Ed gave a square punch straight in the jaw with his right hand. Blood spewed forward onto Ed's shirt.
"Ow! By the gate, Edward!" yelled Roy as he spit a mouthful of blood onto the floor. "What the hell was that for, you little bean!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BEAN?" snarled Ed as Alphonse grabbed Edward by the hood of his coat, and pulled him back into their seat.
"Ed, control yourself!"
The door slid open again as Lupin walked in.
"So you two have woken up," he stated as he sat back down in his seat. "Here. You two eat this." He handed Roy and Harry some chocolate from his robes. Harry stared at the clump of it in his hands as if it were toxic.
"Its not poison!" exclaimed Lupin as Harry shrugged and took a bite. Roy followed suit and found out that it helped quite a lot.
"That thing was a dementor. They are from Azkaban," stated Lupin. Everyone just starred at him. He just sighed.
For the remainder of the trip they did not talk a whole lot. After that incident no one really would. Harry had one brought up the subject that he heard a woman scream but to his surprise he was the only one who heard it. Ed never brought up that he heard his mother and Roy never brought up what he heard. That war was a long time ago.
After a few hours of silence they arrived at their destination. It was a frenzy of hissing cats, luggage falling onto people's toes, and screeching owls. Ed grabbed Shukumei and stuck her on the end of his red coat. Shukumei happily dug her claws into the easily destroyable fabric. Hermione put Crookshanks back into her cage. After everyone had their luggage, the started of out the train. Icy rain crashed down on them in thick sheets. There was a sea of students outside on the platform. First years were trying to reach the lake while kids among kids pushed and shoved to reach carriages.
"Ed! Havoc, Alphonse and I are going to find Hughes! Go with Harry!" hollered Roy as they disappeared into the crowd. Ed nodded as Harry led them further into the crowd.
"Firs' years, over here!" Harry, Ron and Hermione smiled as they waved as fast as they could.
"You guys all right?" hollered the giant. They grinned at him while they were swept into the crowd of students. They followed they students to a dirt path off of the platform where hundreds of stagecoaches awaited the arrival of the students. Ed hesitated climbing in, because nothing seamed to be pulling them. Ron grabbed Ed's hand and jerked him in. Edward made a face from the smell of mold and straw that filled the stagecoach.
Edward, Ron, and Hermione chanced glances at Harry to make sure he wouldn't pass out again. Harry scowled at them so they instantly stopped.
"Hey look ahead!" exclaimed Edward enthusiastically. They were heading towards a pair of breath taking, wrought iron gates. Two massive dementors stood guard at each one. They made rattling sounds at each gasp of air they took, which made the gate slightly frost over. Ed was now able to see his breath as he looked over at Harry who was now leaning his head, back against the seat, both eyes snapped shut. Ed gave an evil glare at the nearest dementor as they pasted. In return it took a deep, rattling breath. Ice began to crust over his face and on his bangs. He felt like he would be stuck in eternal darkness. But as quick as it came, it left. Harry opened an eye to make sure they were gone and sighed with relief. Ed grinned broadly as the castle became clearer and clearer for them to see. The stagecoach began to pick up speed as they came closer. Ed grinned harder as the reached the gate.
"This is it, Al" he whispered. (AN: Ends you guys at giant cliffhanger. XD)
Edward practically flew out of his seat before they were at a complete stop. Hermione hopped off after him and grabbed him by the hood of his coat and began to scold him for being impatient. Ron helped Harry out and joined Ed and Hermione.
"You fainted? You actually fainted?" came a sick voice from behind them. Malfoy shoved Edward to the ground and stood before Harry, blocking his way to the entrance.
"Burn in hell!" spat Edward, as he stumbled to his feat.
"Did you faint too, Midget? Did the scary, old dementor scare you, too?" cooed Malfoy evilly as Crabbe and Goyle chuckled loudly behind him.
"Is there something wrong?" asked Professor Lupin, as he stepped out of his carriage. Malfoy starred at the poor condition of his robes and belongings. He chuckled to himself.
"Oh no! There's no problem what so ever!" Malfoy exclaimed, voice full to the brim with sarcasm. Malfoy turned around and snapped his fingers to order Crabbe and Goyle to follow him through the giant oak doors, but instead Shukumei made a loud hissing noise. Malfoy raised an eyebrow as he turned around to see Ed hurl Shukumei into the air. She made a loud hissing sound as she firmly planted her claws into Malfoy's face. He screamed as Edward smirked at the sight of Shukumei slicing his face and robes. Edward snapped his fingers and watched as she finally let go of his face and trotted over to Edward, with a grin on her face.
"Cats can grin?" exclaimed Ron as Shukumei happily planted her self onto Ed's jacket. Malfoy snarled as he stumbled to his feet.
"That dirty, disgusting rat! I should have that monster slaughtered!" he screamed as Shukumei stuck her small tongue out at him. Malfoy growled as he whipped out his wand. Before he could say a spell his wand shot out of his hand. Lupin lowered his wand as glared at Malfoy.
"Go."
Malfoy quickly left. Crabbe and Goyle followed suit. Ron laughed and clapped a hand around Ed's shoulders.
"I change my mind. I love your cat!" he exclaimed. The shivering lump in his pocket said other wise. Harry couldn't help but chuckle as they went through the oak doors. Edward starred in winder at the humongous entrance hall. Harry grabbed the hood of Ed's coat and dragged him towards the Great Hall.
Edward let out a gasp when he saw the ceiling of the Great Hall. Swirling, dark clouds hid the midnight sky from sight. Thunder echoed through out the room as the ceiling light up at each clap.
"Potter! Granger! Elric! I need to see you!"
"Professor McGonagall!" asked Harry surprised. Edward sweat dropped while Hermione grabbed him by the hood of his coat and Harry by his sleeve.
"Come on! Ron, We'll meet up with you later!" stated Hermione. Ron sighed as he went to go take his seat at the Gryffindor table.
"Don't look so worried! I just need a word with you in my office!" She grinned at the worried faces of Ed and Harry. "Come on."
After reaching her office she told them to take their seats across from her desk. A fire was lit in the small cozy room, so Shukumei decided to take a break from destroying Ed's coat to taking a warm, comfy nap in front of the fire.
"I received an owl from Professor Lupin, telling me about how you and Mr. Elric falling ill on the train, Potter," she stated coolly. Harry turned eight shades of red. Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Madam Pomfrey burst through the door. Harry, by this point, was fifty shades of red.
"I don't need any thing, I'm fine!" exclaimed Harry as he put his hands in front of him defensively. Madam Pomfrey bent down to inspect him closer.
"It's you again. What the hell have you been doing now! Getting into more trouble, huh!"
"It was a dementor," McGonagall stated. Madam Pomfrey shook her head.
"Putting those beasts all over the school. What's this world coming to," she said crossly, as she pulled Harry's hair back and placed her hand on his forehead.
"He and Mr. Elric will probably wont be the only people who will pass out. Look! He's all clammy! Those terrible beasts! And the effect they have on already fragile people!"
"Who are you calling fragile!" exclaimed Harry. Ed couldn't help but snicker. Seeing Harry as fragile was funny, but seeing Colonel Roy Mustang fragile… that was classic.
"Sure…" she trailed as she took his pulse.
"What does he need? Bed rest? Should he spend the night in the hospital wing?"
"I'm fine!" exclaimed Harry as Madam Pomfrey huffed in disapproval.
"At least have some chocolate!" she exclaimed, looking into his eyes.
"I already had some from Prof. Lupin! He gave some to Roy and I!" he retorted back.
"Did he? Finally a D.A.D.A. teacher who knows what he's doing!" she said happily.
"Are you sure you're alright?" McGonagall asked.
"Yes," stated Harry.
"Good. Please wait outside with Edward for a bit. I need to have a word with Miss. Ganger for a minute. Edward, I need you to come in after here to talk about arrangements," she stated with a smile.
Edward starred at Prof. McGonagall's door.
"You don't think staring holes into the door would make her come out faster, would it?" asked Ed while Harry laughed.
"Lets try."
"Don't kill your eyes now."
Harry and Edward turned around to see Hughes, Havoc, Roy, and Alphonse.
"Yo!" exclaimed Hughes as he clamped an arm around Edwards shoulder. "Do you want to see some new pictures of Elysia! What the hell am I talking about, of coarse you do!"
"NOT NOW!" yelled Edward as Hughes pulled out about fifty photos.
"Aww, come on! Her one of a kind cute, adorable, delightful, sweet, gorgeous face will make you feel soooo much happier! Look! This was when she played dress up! Doesn't she look adorable putting on Roy's boxers? You should have seen her try to snap her fingers, she practically idolizes Roy!"
"HUGHES! How did she get a hold of his boxers any way?" Edward exclaimed as Hughes grinned.
"He spent the night at my house once because he was painting his house or something along those lines."
"You stole the boxers right off of him in the middle of the night?"
"HUGHES! Show Harry. He's never seen Elysia. Plus give me that picture to burn!" screamed Roy as Hughes turned around to look at the painfully terrified teen.
"Oh! You just have to see my little escort of cuteness!" he exclaimed as he shoved Edward into Havoc and went over to Harry who was now trying to hide behind Alphonse.
"Harry, what's going on?" asked Hermione from Prof. McGonagall's open office door.
"Saved!" exclaimed Harry as Hughes shoved the pictures back into his pocket.
"Miss. Granger. Mr. Potter. Go on a head and go to the Great Hall. It will take a while with Mr. Elric and I," said Prof. McGonagall. Harry and Hermione nodded as the started off down the hall.
"Now. Please come in."
Alphonse sat down in the corner of the room while Havoc, Hughes and Roy occupied the three seats in front of her desk. Ed took a seat on Alphonse's lap and made sure that Shukumei was still lazily staring at the fire in the fireplace.
"First, Mr. Mustang. I received word from Prof. Lupin that you passed out on the train," Prof. McGonagall stated while placing her fingertips together. Roy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I would like Mr. Elric to escort you to the hospital wing after our conversation. Now, about where every one will stay. I have arraigned a room for you five in the Gryffindor tower. We are going to place Edward into the Gryffindor house because I was placed in charge of watching out for all of you and you have already became friends with three students from my house. There is also one thing I would like from everyone."
Roy raised an eyebrow but nodded. "What would this favor be?"
"I would like you five to watch after Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Those three always pull dangerous stunts out of the teacher's reach, so they will probably include you five into their plans. I would like you to follow along and help keep them out of danger with your alchemy."
"Just allow us to keep our weapons at hand on the schools property. We assure you we will keep them out of the students reach at all times," Roy stated formally as Prof. McGonagall nodded in agreement.
"Now. Mustang, you will be helping Prof. Lupin with his Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Mr. Hughes and Mr. Elric will help out in the library. Probably look into some books. Mr. Havoc, I would like you to stay with the kids. Protect them, because we have no clue on where Black is. Are these terms just fine with you?" she asked. Roy nodded.
"Actually, I would like to look after the kids. I would think alchemy is more efficient than guns," Roy stated coolly as he intertwined his fingers together.
" Actually, I heard about your homunculi problem in your country. I thought this would be a good experience for you to find a way in the dark arts to destroy them, along with Mr. Elric and Mr. Hughes," she stated. Roy put a hand up to his chin and nodded his head.
"It would… Lieutenant Havoc! Follow them. Keep at least two guns and plenty of ammunition in hand at all times!" Roy stated in a firm tone as Havoc smiled and saluted.
"I'm sure Mr. Havoc can hold his own against Black until reinforcements come. Good. Now that that's settled. Edward. Take Mr. Mustang to the hospital wing. I'm sure you can find it, plus it will give you a chance to look around the school. I'm sure you will be done in the hospital wing before we announce the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I would like Mr. Mustang to have a seat next to Prof. Lupin. Mr. Havoc, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Elric will come with me to the Great Hall." Prof. McGonagall stood up and opened the door. Havoc, Hughes and Alphonse followed her out of her office. Now Mustang and Edward were left.
"She called us kids so many times, I swear I will kill her later," Edward grumbled as he picked up the sleeping Shukumei and cradled her like a baby. Roy yawned and stood up.
"Better get going," he yawned as he walked out of her office. Edward obediently followed, closing the door behind him.
After getting lost a few times, and getting a painful scolding from Madam Pomfrey, Edward, Roy, and the sleeping Shukumei made it to the Great Hall. Roy pointed Edward in the direction of Harry and the others before going to his own seat between Prof. Lupin and Hughes. After about five more names, an old man with a long silver beard, who Ed later found out was Dumbledore, walked up to the front of the stage. (AN: or what ever it is the teachers are on.)
"Welcome!" Dumbledore yelled across the Great Hall. Edward by now took his seat next to Ron, putting Shukumei in his lap.
"Welcome to another year of Hogwarts! There are many things I wish to say as one of them is extremely important! I would like to get this out of the way so before our feast bemuses you. As you all well know from the incident on the Hogwarts Express, dementors of Azkaban now occupy our school for Ministry of Magic purposes. They are stationed at every entrance of the castle. While they are occupying our school, I want to make it perfectly clear that no one is to leave school grounds with out any permission. You cannot trick a dementor. No silly tricks or disguises or Invisibility Cloaks will work on them. They will not listen to pleading or explanations and will not hesitate to harm you. I warn each and every one of you to give them no motivation to hurt you. I place the prefects and Head Boy and Girl to make sure none of you are causing trouble with any of the dementors." Dumbledore paused; looking around the entire room at each student seriously.
"Now, on a happier note, we have two new teachers, and four guests who will be helping out." Dumbledore smiled.
"First, Professor Lupin, who has now been assigned our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!" There was applause, but it wasn't too enthusiastic. Only those who had seen him on the train really clapped loud.
"Look at Snape!" whispered Ron to Ed and Harry. Snape was starring down the table at Lupin. A twisted face was plastered on his face. His expression showed pure loathing.
"As our second new teacher," Dumbledore paused to let the clapping die out.
"Well, I'm sorry to tell you that our last years Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Professor Kettleburn, had to take his leave this year, in order to spend time with his remaining limbs." Ed frowned at that part. "But I was happy to assign Rubeus Hagrid in his place in addition with his gamekeeping duties."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione starred at each other astonished, then joined in with the cheers and clapping. Edward soon guessed that the giant, that was leading the first years away, was none other than Hagrid, because his face turned eight shades of red and a large grin spread across his face. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Edward were among the last ones to finish clapping.
"Now for our guests!" Dumbledore exclaimed after waiting for the applause to end.
"Roy Elric, will be Professor Lupin's assistant in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Alphonse Elric, and Maes Hughes will be assistant librarians. Jean Havoc will be in one of the classrooms from time to time. I expect everyone to respect them as if they were one of your teachers." A small applause started. It was about as enthusiastic as the applause for Lupin. After the clapping died down Dumbledore smiled a large grin.
"That's every thing! Now, Everyone. Let the feast begin!"
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Woot! (Does Alphonse fan dance) Another chapter! And I still have to finish up Mustang's Unit is Never Normal…. Well…. I got like… eleven pages of that one. I just think that I was too hyper when I wrote it so it's painfully random. Anyway, I tried hard! And I tried to repent for what I did to Havoc in the beginning by making him have a bigger appearance by hanging out with Edo. Plus I think Roy would have more of a chance against Lupin than Havoc would, what do you think? Anyway, for those people who are confused with the dementor… Neville and Ginny got into the cart first before the dementors! I just replaced Havoc with Neville! Anyway, please review! XD