Ed sat on the window ledge in their room, deep in thought. It was dawn, but he had been sitting there the whole night. Al was now getting quite worried about him. Their roommates, Harry and Ron were still snoring soundly.

"Edward?" Al asked. Ed glanced over at his brother. "You seem upset, big brother."

"I am, Al," Ed replied. "It was my fault."

"What?"

"Remember how Winry told us about those Death Eaters that came to our village? She mentioned that they smelt an aura of magic. That was the lingering aura of the human transmutation. Our human transmutation." Ed buried his face in his hands. "It was my fault, Alphonse."

"No it's not, big brother," Al hurried over to comfort Ed. "I helped. It's my fault, too."

Ed shook his head. "It was my idea. Besides, you lost your whole body, while I only lost my arm and leg. A lot of people in Resembool lost their lives because of my stupidity. I'm going to make things right, Al." Ed looked at his younger brother determinedly. "I'm going to make up for what I did. I'll help Harry destroy the Death Eaters. I'll find the Philosopher's Stone, and give your body back. I'll even give a soul to Sloth, the homunculus created from my idiocy. You stay safe, Al. And if I die-"

"Don't say that, big brother!" Al scolded sharply. "I'm coming with you! We'll find the Philosopher's Stone and restore our bodies together! We'll help Harry obliterate the evil people that killed our village! We're a team, brother, and don't you dare forget!"

"What's going on?" Harry asked sitting up in his bed.

"I guess you won't change your mind," Ed told Al. Al shook his head stubbornly. They both turned to Harry.

"We pledge our loyalties to the Order of Phoenix." Al told him solemnly. "We'll do whatever we can to eliminate Voldemort and his Death Eaters."


"G'morning," Ron stumbled into the dining room, yawning. "Wassforbrakfas?"

"Ronald! It's nearly noon!" Mrs. Weasley scolded him. "We're having lunch."

"As long as there's still food." Ron shrugged, plopping himself beside Harry. He looked around the table. Everyone was covered in soot, dust and other various blemishes, except for the homunculi and Armstrong (who was as sparkly as ever). "Wow. Why's everyone so dirty?"

"We've been cleaning the house all morning," explained Ginny.

"That's right. We're going to do some more cleaning after we finish eating." Mrs. Weasley added. Shikamaru groaned. "I expect you to do your fair share, Ron."

"Whatever," sighed Ron, turning to his best friend. Harry was shoving food down his throat as fast as Chouji. "Why are you eating so fast, mate?"

"I'm going back to Privet Drive," Harry replied, "I left some things that still have to be packed. Finished! I'll see you later!" Harry scraped back his chair and prepared to leave.

"Wait, Harry!" called Mrs. Weasley. Team Gai stood up. "Gai's team is going to accompany you," Gai nodded, flashing his famous smile.

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't need escorts." Harry answered politely.

"Don't be silly. Voldemort is still after you, and now there's that killer Scar on the loose." Mrs. Weasley answered sternly. "From what I hear, Gai's team is one of the best."

"You bet we are!" Gai announced. "Team! We will protect Harry from all forces of evil!"

"Hai, Gai-Sensei!" Lee replied enthusiastically. Tenten and Neji sweatdropped.

"Take Naruto along, will ya?" Kakashi entered the dining room, dragging the aforementioned Kyubi holder by his collar.

"Why?" questioned Tenten.

"Just do us a favour and take him off our hands," Kakashi answered. At that moment, some tennis balls that Naruto was holding exploded, releasing an explosion of dust, putrid-smelling acid and doxies.

"Naruto! You baka!" Sakura screeched furiously.

"It's not my fault! Fred and George gave them to me!" Naruto argued.

"Fred! George! Get down here this instant!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked.

Fred and George Apparated on top of the table. "What's up, mum?"

"What were you thinking! Giving those doxies to Naruto! They're poisonous! He could have lost his hand!" Mrs. Weasley's face was as red as her hair, and the veins in her forehead were popping out anime-style. "Go get the doxy spray! You're going to clean up this mess right now!" Fred and George happened to be carrying more doxies in their pockets, and they chose that moment to burst out, along with a dozen pixies and some fireworks.

"We'll be leaving!" Harry yelled through the chaos as he and Team Gai dashed outside.

"Bye, Naruto! Behave!" Kakashi said, tossing the blonde boy to Gai. In that state of panic, all five of them reached the outside.

"Okay, I was originally going to go by broomstick, but seeing as how none of you can fly…" Harry furrowed his brow. "How are we supposed to get there?"

"Um, Harry-san?" Hinata exited the house. She was blushing furiously, and seemed very interested in the cracks on the sidewalk. "Is it okay if… can I come, too?"

Harry stared at her. "Why?"

"Oh, if you don't want me to, that's fine! I'll probably be too much trouble, anyway! I'm sorry for bothering you!" Hinata's face had gone beyond pink, reaching an intense scarlet only found in strawberries.

"No, I didn't mean it that way," Harry felt a little bad for her lack of self-esteem. "Sure you can come if you want. I'm just wondering why you'd want to. I'm related to the Dursleys and I don't want to see them."

"Oh, I want to come, because…" Hinata darted a look at Naruto, who was picking his nose. "Thanks for letting me come."

"Hey, we're coming, too." Ed, Al and Armstrong bounded out of the house. "No way we're going to clean up."

"Okay?" Harry was very conscious of the fact that bystanders were quickly crossing the street.

"When I heard your sad story, I realized that I must help you!" Armstrong sobbed. "Harry Potter! A child of tragedy! I will do all in my power to make sure you suffer no more!" He proceeded to envelop Harry in a bone-crushing embrace.

"I'm glad to see that I have so much support," said Harry once Armstrong had let go and he could breathe again. "But how are we getting there? I mean, unless some of you learned to Disapparate overnight, we're stuck."

"I have something else I'd like to point out," Neji raised his hand. "We don't need ten people to escort Harry. My team is sufficient enough. I know that some of you, like Edward and Alphonse, can pull your weight, but others will just get in the way." He looked pointedly at Hinata.

"We make better bodyguards than janitors," Ed informed the group.

"Kakashi's making me come with you guys," shrugged Naruto.

"I must protect this tragedy-ridden boy!" sobbed Armstrong, hugging Harry again.

"That leaves you, Hinata-sama," Neji turned toward the girl with a cruel expression on his face. "Are you sure you're up to this? This could be a very dangerous mission. You could die. What a blow that would be to the Hyuga Clan."

"Neji-san…I…I…" Hinata stuttered.

"Oh, leave her alone, Neji. I bet she doesn't want to clean either," Ed interrupted. "Nothing wrong with that. Let her come."

"Oi, Harry! Catch!" Ron stuck his head out the door, and threw a vase at Harry. "Dad made this in a portkey for you. It'll activate in ten seconds." They could hear Mrs. Weasley screaming in the background. Ron winced. "I'd better go. Good luck!"

"That solves the transportation problem," Harry said, holding the vase out. "Okay, everyone. Grab hold." They did as they were told. The vase started to glow and they were swept to the site of Harry's not-so-happy childhood memories.


Mrs. Petunia Dursley of 4 Privet Drive was enjoying the nice summer day. Her husband was out having lunch with a client, and her son was at a friend's birthday party. She hadn't seen her nephew Harry for nearly three weeks, and that suited her just fine. Petunia herself was tending her garden. Petunia thought smugly to herself that her garden was the best on the block. Her tulips were especially beautiful this year, appearing as a sea of yellow, pink, red and violet. Yup, her lawn was definitely going to win "Best Lawn of the Year".

Crash!

Petunia jumped up and spun around. She let out a shriek of horror. Her tulips were ruined. Two white-eyed children, a girl with buns on either side of her head, a blonde boy, a thick-browed man wearing spandex and a skinny boy that looked like his son had landed in her sea of beauty. A guy in armor, an extremely buff man and a short, blonde boy had crashed into it, destroying a good portion of her hard work. Standing in midst of it all was her dreaded nephew, holding an ugly blue vase.

"You!" Petunia cried, pointing a finger at Harry.

"Good afternoon, Aunt Petunia," Harry greeted her coldly.

"What are you doing here!" Petunia screeched.

"I'm here to pack up the rest of my stuff, of course," replied Harry. "I'm moving out." Petunia's expression changed dramatically. Her frown was instantly turned upside-down, and her eyes glittered like diamonds. She grinned widely, showing all of her horse-like teeth. After thirty seconds of giddy giggling, she refocused on Harry's escorts.

"What's all this?" she pointed rudely at the ninjas and alchemists.

"I am Gai Maito, the Green Beast of Konoha!" Gai announced, striking his good guy pose.

"And I am his student, Rock Lee!" added Lee.

"I am Major Alex Louis Armstrong!" proclaimed Armstrong, ripping off his shirt and flexing.

"I am Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage of Konoha!" declared Naruto.

"You really shouldn't have asked," Edward muttered.

"Hi, Mrs. Dursley!" the next-door-neighbour came out of her front door with her gardening tools. She raised her eyebrows at the posse assembled in Petunia's front yard. "Isn't your Dudley a little too old for the circus?"

"It's not for Dudley, it's for… our niece, who's… coming to visit," Petunia lied. "Let's all go inside. Have a good day now, Mrs. Jones!" She grudgingly led the troupe into her house.

"Hurry up and pack," Aunt Petunia commanded Harry after the door shut behind them. The group crowded uncomfortably in the hall. "The rest of you stay here. I'm going to keep an eye on you."

"I'll be right back." Harry promised his escorts, squeezing through the crowd and dashing upstairs. His absence left a clearing in the pack, and Hinata found herself face-to-face with Neji.

"How do you find the exam so far, Cousin Hinata?" Neji regarded her scornfully.

"Fine," Hinata muttered, avoiding his spiteful gaze.

"Of course, not everyone will pass. Do you know why that is, Hinata-sama?" asked Neji. Hinata shook her head. "Because not everyone will live." Hinata gasped.

"Lay off, Neji!" Naruto came to Hinata's rescue. "If a useless jerk like Sasuke can get this far, Hinata-san will do fine!" Hinata blushed.

"Big brother and I will make sure no one gets hurt," Al promised.

"I don't know about. My cousin is a natural at finding trouble. She's also good at coming through unscathed while others take the fall for her, right Hinata?" Neji narrowed his eyes at his cousin. Hinata was quivering. "If you try to defend her, you might get hurt yourself. To achieve the rank of Chuunin is not your fate, Hinata. If you were smart, you would have stayed in Konoha. But if I remember correctly, you're not that smart."

Ed opened his mouth to tell Neji off. At that moment, a very fat blonde boy charged into the house, a look of utmost fury on his face. He slammed the door shut and marched straight up to his mother, not even noticing their guests.

"Mum! Gordon's parents got him a car for his birthday! Where's mine!" Dudley shouted in Petunia's face, spit flying out of his mouth.

" But remember that big screen TV we got for your room, Dudders? Besides, isn't Gordon a little too young to drive?" asked Aunt Petunia.

"I don't care! I want a car! Now!" Dudley cried, stomping his foot.

"Why don't we wait until your father gets home, then we'll talk-"

"I want it now or you're fired!" Dudley screeched.

"You can't fire me, sweetums, I'm your mother."

"I can so! I want a car! So get me you, you-" Slap.

Dudley put a trembling hand to his cheek. Edward glared at him, his automail hand raised. There was a large red mark on Dudley's face, which was cut and bleeding in some placed because of the material used to deal such a hard blow.

"Alphonse and I lost our mother 4 years ago. There wasn't a thing we wouldn't have given to get her back," Edward growled. Team Gai and Armstrong exchanged dark looks. Dudley whimpered, stepping back. "So when I think about all that we went through, there's nothing I hate more than ungrateful brats like you!" Edward slapped his hand down on the wall, cracking it with a burst of alchemy.

"Well, I'm ready." Harry descended down the stairs.

"Good! Let's go!" Ed pushed his way to the front door and was the first one outside. Hinata and Naruto quickly followed him. Harry raised his eyebrows at Al.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to fix it," Al bowed to the Dursleys. He clapped his hands and transmuted the wall back to normal. "Wow, transmuting without a circle really comes in handy." He bowed to the Dursleys again. "Please don't hold this against my brother. He tends to act without thinking."

"Wow, Harry! Your friends are freaks!" Dudley gasped. "No wonder you get along with them so well!"

"Say what you will, Dudley," Harry pulled his trunk to the front door. "You and I both know my friends could beat your friends any day. Good-bye."

"Finally!" Dudley yelled to Harry and his escorts' retreating backs as they all filed outside. "That's it! Leave and never come back! Freaks!" Tenten threw a kunai at him that just missed his head. Harry considered hitting him with a spell, but something else caught his attention.

A man with white hair was standing on the lawn. He wore sunglasses, and had a large X-shaped scar on his forehead. He was standing beside Hinata, and had placed his right hand on her head. They could not read the expression in his eyes, but the rest of his face was stern and grim. Horrified Hinata was trembling. Naruto was yelling at the man to let Hinata go, and Ed was swearing up a storm.

"Who are you!" demanded Gai. "Let Hinata go right now!"

"Child… I sense unnatural power in your veins," the man said to Hinata. She whimpered.

"Let her go!" Tenten screamed, pitching shurikens at him. They caught his right sleeve, and their weight ripped it along the seam. His bare arm was displayed. There were strange symbols and words tattooed onto it.

"Neji! She's your cousin!" Tenten cried. "Aren't you going to do something?"

Neji crossed his arms. "Why should I? I owe her no favours."

"Heartless idiot!" Naruto yelled.

"Yet you are so young. I do not harm the innocent. Go, and pray we never cross paths again." The man propelled Hinata away. She ran and hid behind Al. He turned to Ed and Armstrong. "But you… Fullmetal and Strong Arm. You are State Alchemists, correct?"

"That's right!" yelled Armstrong, flexing. "You are Scar, the murderer! I will not permit you to harm anyone else! This technique has been passed down my family for many generations!" Armstrong performed his alchemy, and spiky rocks were launched towards Scar. Lee and Gai watched with stars in their eyes. Scar dodged them, but his glasses were knocked off in the process.

"Red eyes!" Edward observed. "You're an Ishbalan!"

"Correct. I am the right hand of Ishbala, and my mission is to avenge my people. I am cleansing the world, one state alchemist at a time." Scar ran over to Ed, and placed his hand on his head. "Fullmetal. I saw you in Central three years ago. You had quit the military. It is unfortunate that you have rejoined."

"What's all this, then!" a car screeched into the driveway. Uncle Vernon got out of it, his face vermilion with rage. He caught sight of Harry, and the tone of his face deepened. "You!"

The distraction gave Ed time to dodge out of Scar's grasp. He transmuted his automail, and aimed a punch at Scar. Scar caught it in his right hand. His tattoo glowed, but nothing happened.

"Why didn't you blow up?" asked Scar.

"This is top-grade automail," Ed smirked.

"A prosthetic limb. I have something designed for that, too." Scar constricted Ed's hand, and his tattoo glowed brighter. With a large explosion, Ed's arm exploded, pieces of metal, wire, screws and whatnot flying every way. Ed stumbled backwards and fell on the ground.

"Brother!" Al cried.

"Leave him alone!" Harry yelled, pointing his wand forward. He squeezed his wand tightly, causing bright sparks to explode out the end of it.

"I will give you time to pray." Scar advanced on Ed. "Good-bye, Fullmetal."

"Stay away!" Ed shielded his face with his other hand. "Stay-" Screech.

A violently purple triple-decker bus appeared out of nowhere. It parked in the middle of the lawn in front of Ed, knocking Scar down. Uncle Vernon looked outraged. A pimply-faced man stuck his head out the door.

"Harry Potter! Good t'see you again!" he grinned.

"Oh, I summoned the Knight Bus, didn't I?" Harry looked down at his wand. "Hey, Stan! They let you out of Azkaban?"

"Yesterday. They caught Snape. Dementors or not, Azkaban's one place I never want to go again." Stan Shunpike shuddered. "So, what you been up to, Harry?"

"Move now, chat later!" Ed, Alphonse, Hinata and Naruto all pushed their way into the bus.

"These friends of yours?" Stan pointed at Harry's escorts. "Sure have funny clothes."

"They're wizards from… er… Japan and Germany." Harry got onto the bus, with Armstrong and Team Gai following him. Stan shut the door behind them. Harry looked out the window and saw Scar getting up.

"Let's go!" Ed yelled.

"So, how much?" asked Harry after he told him where to go.

"No charge for the Chosen One." Stan smiled toothily at Harry. "Let's go, Ernie!" The bus sprang forward, making Ed, Al, Harry and Armstrong fall.

"Thanks, Stan." Harry told the conductor after he regained his balance, and ushered his friends to the back of the bus.

"Oh, man! Winry's gonna kill me!" Ed exclaimed, pulling at the few wire sticking out of his arm.

"So that was Scar, huh." Gai remarked.

"Yes. I do not understand how he got here, but it is my duty as a state alchemist to capture him," answered Armstrong. Hinata was curled up in her seat beside Naruto, still shaking.

"Too bad he didn't put you out of your misery," Neji scoffed from the seat in front of her.

"I've had enough of you," Ed snarled. "Stop making those comments!"

"What did poor Hinata ever do to you?" Naruto added.

"You're cousins. You're supposed to be nice to each other," Harry scolded him.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you and Dudley cousins, too? Has he ever been nice to you, ever?" Neji glared at Harry, who shook his head. "Then you can think of me as the Dudley to Hinata's Harry. Except I am the one that bears a curse mark." Neji unfastened his headband, revealing a tattoo on his forehead. It was of a small, green X with horizontal lines running on either sides of it. Hinata, Tenten, Lee and Gai all winced, but everyone else looked decidedly unimpressed.

"You got a bad tattoo, and you take it out on your cousin?" Ed scoffed.

"It's not just an ordinary bad tattoo. It represents a bird in a cage. It was carved into my forehead on Hinata-sama's third birthday." Neji clenched his fists. "It is the mark branded on all members of the Branch House of the Hyuga Clan. The Branch that supports the Main House, of which Hinata-sama is part. Our fathers were twins, born two minutes apart. Yet two minutes is all it takes to change one's life. To seal one's fate."

"Why did you get the tattoo?" asked Alphonse.

"The job of the branch is to serve and protect the main house. This mark that remains as long as we are alive, makes sure we do. It seals the secrets of the Byakugan upon our deaths. And with just a hand signal, the main house can destroy our brain cells." Neji spoke grimly. "Hinata-sama could kill me right this second if she wished."

"But she doesn't!" protested Naruto. "Hina-chan you'd never try to kill Neji, would you!" Hinata shook her head, very upset.

"One night, Hinata was kidnapped for her Byakugan. Her father caught the kidnapper and murdered him. He was the head shinobi from Hidden Cloud. Kumogakure demanded that the body of Hiashi-dono be delivered for compensation, and Konoha agreed. Yet Hiashi-dono is still alive and well… do you know why?" Neji glared at Hinata. "My father, Hizashi Hyuga, was sent to die instead of Hiashi. It was his fate to die protecting the main house."

The group was speechless. Neji regarded their expressions of shock with a satisfaction.

"Fate. Our destinies have been set for us since we were born. It is my destiny to live as a mere servant for the main house, regardless of my talents. I cannot change it, and I cannot escape. In the same way, it was your fate to be the Chosen One, Harry Potter. It is your fate to defeat, or be defeated by the ultimate evil. Everyone in this bus, in this city, in the world- in all of our worlds have a path set for them. It is one they must follow for the rest of their lives. Some are destined to be wealthy and grand, while others like me are fated to be servants." Neji narrowed his eyes. "There is only one fate that everyone shares, and that is death."

"That's bull!" Edward retorted. "Humankind cannot gain without first giving in return. Everything we have, we've gained from sacrificing something else. It's not fate, it's called Equivalent Exchange. Sure, some people start off with a richer and higher than others, but that can always change! If we sacrifice enough, if we work hard and believe, we can gain anything! There is no such thing as destiny!"

"Like fate, death is unavoidable. Yet there are those who try to defy it, aren't there, Edward, Alphonse?" Neji sneered at the Elrics.

"How did you…?" Al gasped.

"You promised you wouldn't use this against them! Hughes told Gai and Gai told us," explained Tenten, smacking Neji.

"Those that are smart follow the direction of the path set for them. You tried to bring your mother back to life, even though it was her time to die. And in doing so, your body was broken, Ed. Al… you are now nothing more than an empty shell." Neji bit his lip. "It's useless to try and escape. We are tied down to one inescapable destiny, and we must walk down one path until we die." Ed opened his mouth to argue. The bus suddenly came to a shrieking halt.

"Your stop!" Stan called from the front. The group solemnly departed the bus.

"Harry! Ed! Al! Are you okay?" Winry was waiting for them at the door. She saw Ed's arm, and her eyes widened with horror. "What did you do to your automail!"

"Well, the murderer Scar from Central showed up at Harry's house, attempted murder on Hinata, and then blew it up," Ed shrugged. "Can you fix it?"

"If we were in our world, that'd be no problem," Winry told him. "But we're not. Let me see your leg. Is it okay?" Ed rolled up his pant leg and Winry checked it over. Moody limped into the hall, accompanied by Mrs. Weasley.

"Edward!" Mrs. Weasley gasped.

"I noticed that you had prosthetics, too," he growled. "At your age, eh? Tough. But what happened?"

"Scar," Ed grumbled. Harry proceeded to fill him in on the events.

"You can move it?" Moody asked.

"Yes, because it's directly connected to his nerves," Winry explained.

"So it's almost as good as natural."

"Oh, it's better than natural!" Winry's eyes lit up as it always did when she was talking about automail. "Like I always say, who needs natural when you've got automail?"

"Mechanical geek," Ed muttered.

"Alchemy freak!" Winry snapped.

"You must really like automail," Moody commented.

"I do! I love it! Making automail is what I do for a living! We have a whole workshop back in Resembool! Or had…" Winry looked away. Ed and Al exchanged sad looks as well.

"Tell you what, Winry," Moody finally broke the silence. "I feel that my prosthetic is outdated. I can conjure up workshop, if you provide me with an automail leg."

"Really?" Winry brightened up.

"Yes. Your friend looks like he could benefit from it too," Moody glanced at Ed.

"That's great! How soon can you get it?" Winry chirped.

"Well, I'm not sure, but…"

"Let's go right now! I know there's some space in the basement!" Winry smiled, dragging Ed towards the stairs. Moody glanced over at Mrs. Weasley.

"That's fine with me. We can't let poor Edward walk around like that," Mrs. Weasley grimaced at the wires and whatnot protruding from Ed's torn sleeve. Moody followed Winry and Ed. She looked at the rest of the crew. "We're about to have dinner."

"Yes!" Naruto cheered. "I'm so hungry I could eat an elephant!" The group walked towards the dining room.

"Neji," Alphonse got in line behind the white-eyed boy.

"Yeah?"

"Human transmutation is the ultimate sin. You're right. We paid dearly for it." Alphonse told him. "I am also a bird trapped in a cage. The cage of a body that doesn't fit. I can't smell, I can't taste, and I can't feel. I can't even die. I don't remember anything, and sometimes, I'm not sure if I really exist. I want to escape. Just like you, Neji."

"Like me?" Neji raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," nodded Alphonse. "You said that it's the job of the branch house to protect the main. Yet you didn't try to protect Hinata. That was cruel, but it proves you want to escape your 'fate'. Our situations are different. The cages trapping us are also different. But we're similar because we both want to break free."

"Didn't you hear me before? You can't escape your fate, no matter how hard you try!" Neji replied angrily.

"Maybe it's just a goal that I'll never reach. Maybe I'll be stuck like this forever." Al shrugged. "Either way, I have to try. I want to escape. Don't you?"

Neji scowled, but Al saw his head dip down in a nod.