Those who were standing on the front lawn of Hogwarts at 6:00 a.m. on September 6 were treated to a strange and rather comical sight. A small whirlwind occurred, seemingly out of nowhere. A group of people soon came into sight. The group was composed of 3 ninjas, 2 wizards, a witch, 5 alchemists, 3 homunculi, a murderer and a panda. They were all twirling around in the sky, holding onto a piece of blue cloth for dear life. Of course, the inhabitants of Hogwarts were usually asleep at 6 a.m., which means the only people that saw their painful landing was Kakashi and Tonks, who happened to be on duty at the front entrance.
"You're back!" Tonks greeted them warmly.
"I'll go tell McGonogall-sensei," Kakashi told them, running into the building.
"How did it go?" asked Tonks.
"Pretty good. We didn't find the Philosopher's Stone, but all the horcruxes were destroyed," said Harry.
"Good for you!" Tonks praised them. She glanced at the group. She gasped when she saw Sirius. "You really are alive!" She ran over and hugged him.
"Yes. That place was so horrible, I'm so glad I got out!" Sirius told his cousin.
"Don't do anything so stupid ever again! We were all convinced that you were dead!" Tonks scolded him.
A wrench flew out of nowhere, headed straight for Ed. He instinctively ducked, and it hit the person behind him- Harry. The wrench slid off, and a walnut-sized bump swelled up on Harry's head.
"Harry! I'm so sorry!" Winry cried, dashing across the lawn. She leapt towards him, and on impulse, he caught her in his arms. "That was supposed to hit Ed! Welcome back!"
"Er… hello, Winry," Harry said uncomfortably. Harry noticed that she smelled like oil and steel, but not in a bad way.
"What? Your best friend doesn't get a welcome-back?" Ed demanded. He felt something large and metal hit him on the side of his head. Soon, he too had a bump. He turned around. He saw Temari and Kankurou standing there.
"Welcome back," Temari smirked evilly, brandishing her fan.
"You idiot!" Winry gasped, rushing over to Ed. She struck him on the head with another wrench, and another bump swelled up, making him look like he had a blonde version of Tenten and Mei's hairstyles.
"What did I do?" Ed squeaked, backing away.
"You broke your automail! The best automail I ever made!" Winry screeched, shaking Ed's metal arm to add emphasis. The last piece of wire that connected it snapped, and the arm broke off. Winry shrieked a harpy-like scream of rage.
"I'm going to kill you!" Winry announced, running towards a frightened Edward. Temari stuck out her fan, holding Winry back.
"You can fix it, right?" asked Temari.
"Yes…" Winry was still plotting ways to torture Ed.
"Then please do," McGonogall walked out of the building. Kakashi, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mustang, Hughes, Tenten and Neji followed, eager to see their friends.
"Harry! You're okay!" Hermione cried, speeding to his side. She hugged him. Ginny followed suit. Harry was surprised to discover that he preferred Winry's mechanic scent to her flowery one.
"Wait a second. Is it my imagination, or are there more of you?" McGonogall pursed her lips.
"This is Greed. He followed us back," Lust introduced the sunglasses-wearing homunculus.
"Bastards!" Envy came running out of the castle. He delivered to Greed a punch in the face. He twirled in mid-air, and gave Hohenheim a kick in the gut.
"Envy! Mind your manners! Is that any way to behave around strangers?" McGonogall snapped.
"They're not strangers. That bastard and I go way back!" Envy pointed menacingly at Greed. He then shifted his glare to Hohenheim. "And that bastard is my father!"
"What!" everyone gasped.
"That's not possible! Hohenheim's my father!" yelled Ed.
"I remember now… you must be him… the son I had with Dante…" Hohenheim said to Envy. Envy nodded sullenly. Everyone gasped.
"Dante? Our enemy?" inquired Lust.
"Yes. Centuries ago, Dante and I had a son who died of mercury poisoning. I made the mistake of trying to bring him back to life. This is the result," Hohenheim motioned towards Envy.
"That bastard abandoned me! I've been trying to get my revenge ever since!" announced Envy. "Edward and Alphonse… my little half brothers. I hate how his blood runs in your veins! And I hate how he stayed to care for you when he left me!" Envy shape shifted into the golden-haired likeness of his original. The similarity between he, Hohenheim and Edward struck everyone right away. "I hate all of you humans! Even after centuries, you are the same pitiful, corrupted creatures you always were and always will be!"
"Heh," Kankurou let out a chuckle.
"What?" demanded Envy.
"You three brothers are a shape shifting palm tree, an automail pipsqueak and a piece of armor. I never thought I'd ever find a family as weird as mine," said Kankurou. The purple make-up on his mouth turned up.
"Shut up!" Ed snapped. "Winry, where's your new workshop?"
"Headquarters. But I expected this to happen. I've got a spare arm and leg, I can fix you up in the nurse's ward," said Winry.
"We'll go there. I'm useless like this!" Ed looked at the wires protruding from his arm in disgust. He walked back towards the school, hitting Kankurou on his head on the way. Winry quickly scurried after him.
"I've got to get back to duty. I've got toilets to clean," Envy glowered, stomping back into the school. He kicked Kankurou in the stomach when he passed by.
"This is why nobody likes you," Temari shook her head at her brother, who didn't seem to find his injuries as funny as his observation. She went off to catch up to Winry and Ed. "Wait up, Ed!"
Naruto suddenly felt something very sharp chomp on his hand. He screeched in pain. Naruto grabbed the perpetrator by the back of its neck and held it in front of his face. Xiao-Mei was dangling from his hand. She was pointing urgently to something. Mei Chang was lying on the ground, fainted.
"Who's this?" asked McGonogall.
"A girl I met in Lab 5. Her name's Mei, and she says she's from some place called Xing," said Naruto.
"Xing? That's all the way on the other side of the Great Desert!" gasped Roy.
"This must be her first time universe-traveling. At her young age, it's not surprising that she fainted. Get her to the nurse's ward. She should be fine after a bit." Naruto grabbed her arm and hauled her towards the school. Maes, feeling bad for Mei, walked over and picked her up. They all went inside. "Is anybody else hurt?" McGonogall asked the group.
"Luna," Gaara said grimly. He half-carried, half-dragged the unconscious witch to the front door.
"I'll help you," Hermione volunteered, running over and opening the door for them. She looked sharply at Ron, who quickly arrived at their side. They carefully hoisted each of Luna's arms over their shoulders, and slowly walked into the castle. Luna's eyes fluttered open.
"Where…?" she asked faintly.
"Back in Hogwarts," Gaara assured her.
"Is Pride…?"
"He's gone. I killed him." A gentle expression appeared in Gaara's eyes. He gently stroked her cheek with one rough hand. "You're safe."
"My stomach hurts…" Luna groaned. Blood was still seeping out of her injury. Gaara reached out a finger and touched her wound. Some blood trickled down his finger. He looked at it, intrigued. Hermione and Ron winced at each other.
"What are you waiting for?" Gaara's expression was sharp again as he looked at Hermione and Ron. All four of them slowly made their way towards the nurse's ward.
"What is the murderer doing here?" Outside, McGonogall was staring at Scar. His disguise had worn off. It was clear that his scuffle with Tayuya had injured him as well. He was bleeding heavily, and his face had a green sheen. There were bite and claw marks all over his body.
"It's a long story, but he's on our side now," said Izumi. "What happened, Scar? You looked fine back in Lab 5."
"The chimaeras. They're poisonous." Lust recalled. "Remember how purple Sirius' wounds turned? He doesn't have much time."
"But he'll be fine, right? I was healed!" Sirius protested.
"Those chimaeras were specially designed for the Chakras of the people living in our world. You have a different Chakra, so their venom is less toxic to you. However, Scar is of our world… with the same Chakra system. Better get him to the hospital," even as Lust explained, Scar had crashed down to the ground. His face was now blue, and he was throwing up blood.
"I can't refuse shelter to a man in pain," McGonogall softened. "Someone get him to the nurse's ward. But we may have to relocate him to the hospital later." Roy helped Scar up and they went inside.
"You must be the Headmistress, Professor McGonogall." Izumi said to McGonogall. "I'm Izumi Curtis, Edward's teacher."
"Nice to meet you," McGonogall shook hands with her. "I would like you and Hohenheim to accompany me inside. I'd like to offer you some time to freshen up. After that, there is some business I'd like to discuss with you. Sirius, Molly is at the Headquarters right now, and I have informed her of your condition. You should go back, I hear she's planning you a nice meal."
The three of them walked back into the castle.
"I'm going back inside. School is starting soon," said Ginny. "I'm not tired, so if anybody wants a tour of Hogwarts, I'd be happy to show them."
"What a big castle," Greed's eyes shone like starts. "Lead the way, little lady." They went inside the castle as well.
"I'm going to get some sleep. I'm sure McGonogall won't let me miss any school. Besides, I have this year's Quidditch tryouts to plan," Harry said good-bye, and left.
"We should go see Sloth and find out what she's been teaching. We have to plan today's lesson," Lust told Gluttony. They also left.
"I'm going to go home. Nothing can top Mrs. Weasley's cooking," Sirius grinned. "See you!" he walked towards the gate.
"Let's go see my cousin off," Tonks suggested to Kakashi and they followed him.
"Sasuke's the only person on guard right now. I'm going to go, too. Don't forget that you have to take over in an hour," Kankurou reminded Neji before he disappeared. Now Tenten, Neji, Hinata and Al were the only ones left.
"You heard him. We should go," Neji told Hinata. "You made it back, huh? Frankly, I expected you to come running back as soon as the others boarded that bus. I certainly didn't expect you to live. Did they force you to stay?"
"No, Neji," said Al. "No one forced her to do anything. Hinata came of her own will, and she was very helpful."
"Of course, one loser would defend another," Neji scoffed.
"I know you have it hard, Neji, but that's not an excuse for the way you treat everyone! You're not the only one with a tough life! Don't be such a jerk!" Alphonse snapped.
"Shut up! You shouldn't be talking! You have no idea how I feel!" Neji yelled. "No one knows how I feel, especially not a hollow chunk of metal! Do you even have feelings?"
"I… don't know…" Al gasped. "Do I?" He ran off, and amazingly fast too, for a heavy piece of armour.
"What a loser," Neji curled his lips in contempt.
Hinata clenched her fists and looked down at her feet. She felt her body shaking, and goosebumps running up and down her spine. She'd endured his teasing for a long time. She had dealt with it by ignoring, but this was the last straw. She'd already seen how hurt Al was on the inside, and she was sure Neji could, too. During their time in Lab 5, she had finally convinced Al that Edward loved him too much to ever lie to him. Although the proof that he existed was yet to be found, Al believed in its existence again. However, with just one comment, Neji had driven the uncertainty back.
Hinata shifted her much of Chakra into her right hand. It emitted a red glow the same hue as her flushed face. There was nothing Hinata would've liked better than to punch Neji. But he was bigger, older, smarter and stronger than her. He was a genius. She couldn't punch him, even though he had hurt a dear friend of hers. She hadn't all those years he'd made fun of her, so couldn't now, even though Alphonse would do the same for her. She couldn't… could she?
Neji was caught unaware as a bright beam of red light came towards him. His cousin Hinata leapt, her fist leading the way. It sailed straight at Neji, and made contact with his nose. The force was so great it knocked him down. He sat on the ground, seeing bright red starts and the armor headpieces dancing in front of his eyes. Hinata stood a few feet away, panting. She was just as shocked as Tenten and Neji.
"That was a good punch…" Neji gasped, suddenly seeing his cousin in a new light.
"You jerk! I feel bad for your position in the Hyuga family, but that's no reason to hurt others! If I could remove that mark, I would! I didn't brand you, and Alphonse certainly didn't, either! Neither of us made the rules in the Hyuga clan! So stop taking it out on us!" Hinata shouted. "Excuse me! I'm going to be late today! I have a friend I need to console!" With that, Hinata ran off to find Al.
There was a small smile of mirth playing on Tenten's lips as she helped her teammate up. "Wow, Neji," she remarked. "Your cousin's changed."
"Riza!" Ibiki called his partner. Riza ignored him and kept on walking. "Riza!" Ibiki called louder. Black Hayate tugged on her pant legs, but she ignored both of them. Ibiki ran up to her, and tapped her on the shoulder.
"What?" Riza and Ibiki's relationship had been rather strained since the day Ibiki gave her his lecture. She gave him a glare so cold he could feel his blood freeze over. "Well?"
"You're not still mad at me, are you?" Ibiki crossed his arms.
"What do you think?" Riza scowled.
"Look, about what I said… I'm sorry if I hurt you in any way," Ibiki sighed. "We're partners. We need to learn to get along."
"The reason what your said hurt me wasn't because it was true," Riza dropped her mask. Her eyes softened and saddened. "It's because it was. I realized that I wasted my whole life. Roy doesn't need me anymore, does he? He never needed me."
"It's good that you and Roy are such great friends," Ibiki comforted her. "He's aiming to be the leader of a nation. He needs all the friends he can get. He needed your support all those years. He still needs you to be his friend. But you don't need to live for him. You should live your own life."
"I want to." Riza sighed. "But this is how I've always lived. My father who was also Roy's teacher died some time ago. Right before he died, Roy joined the military, much to my father's displeasure. My mother died when I was young, and our relatives kept their distance. I gave up the house and followed Roy's footsteps into the military. He's basically the only family I have. But other than him, I have nothing to go back to in Amestris."
"You're finally on your feet. It's time to walk. Roy is happy now. You should pursue your own dreams. Our shift's almost over. Let's get a drink," Ibiki offered. "I'd like to hear more about Amestris."
"Yes. Let's. I've heard of a good place in Hogsmeade called The Three Broomsticks," Riza smiled. "I'd like to learn more about Konoha as well."
"Alphonse." Hinata found her friend sitting by the riverbank.
"Hi, Hinata," Alphonse greeted her sadly.
"Alphonse, don't listen to what Neji said. He was just being mean, as usual. He always takes his anger out on others. You're real! You're not a machine!" Hinata told him breathlessly.
"I don't know, Hinata. Where's the proof? What is a soul, really?" Al shrugged. Hinata sat down beside him.
"Please believe me! Don't take the word of a psychotic murderer over your own brother's! You're a talking, thinking human being!" Hinata gripped Al's arm. "Ed really does love you. If you were just a machine that he created, would he have spent all these years protecting you and fighting by your side? Would he be this loyal to you?"
"I guess not. I don't know, okay? I can't be sure of anything anymore!" Al buried his face in his hands. Hinata patted his back soothingly.
"Are you sure you can't remember anything from your childhood?"
"I can remember all the stupid fights me and Edward used to have. We fought over who got the last piece of pie… who got the last piece of chicken… who got to marry Winry…" Al chuckled. "Ed always won that one, but he always got rejected. All three of us used to play together. We used to run through the fields, go swimming in the river and play with the animals. And when we stayed out too late, mom flashed a lamp by the upstairs window to let us know she was waiting."
"See? You can remember lots of things," Hinata smiled.
"I remember when mom died. She was getting weaker and weaker and finally, the life her in eyes sort of… faded. I can remember her funeral, too. Almost everyone we knew was there. Everyone was dressed in black…" Alphonse reminisced. "But those memories could've just been created by Ed."
"Edward is pretty smart, but how can a human create a machine that imitates life so convincingly?"
"In our world, it's not impossible." Al put an arm around Hinata, who blushed and drew closer to him. "I'm sure you're warm right now, but I can't feel that. I can hear your heart beat, but I don't have one. And all of those memories make me want to cry, but I can't. What kind of human being am I if I don't feel? If I don't shed tears, and my heart doesn't beat?" They sat in silence for a few moments.
"Hinata… can you see it?" Al asked. "Can you use your Byakugan to see my soul?" Hinata utilized her hereditary trait.
"I'm sorry, Alphonse. I can't."
"If something like the Byakugan can't see it, then where's the proof it really exists!" cried Alphonse.
"A soul is invisible, Alphonse. But with my Byakugan, I can see your Chakra flowing through you. Machines don't have Chakra." Hinata told Alphonse. "Maybe you can't feel anything in the physical world, but you can feel emotions. You can feel pain, happiness, sadness, all those emotions, can't you?"
"Yes."
"Edward knows you better than anyone else, and you know him best. Even if you can't prove anything he says, maybe you should just trust him for now." Hinata smiled sadly. "You're lucky to have a big brother who loves you so much."
"I guess you're right. Edward stuck by my side all these years. We got into this mess together, and we'll get out together, too. He did so much for me. I really should trust him more. Come on, Hinata." Al jumped to his feet. "Let's go see him."
Luna regained consciousness in the nurse's room. Gaara was sitting at her bedside. Edward was in the bed across from hers, lying on his stomach. Winry was sitting by his bedside, polishing a shiny auto-mail arm, and Temari was sitting beside her, listening to her explain happily about her profession. Mei was still unconscious. Naruto was sitting by her bedside, petting her panda. Roy and Hughes watched as Madam Pomfrey fussed over Scar. Eloise Midgen was observing everyone alertly. She had landed in the hospital again, after consuming a potion that had made eyes pop up over her body. Colin Creevey was there, too. A sixth year had cursed off all of his facial features when she caught him sneaking around the girl's bathroom (Colin's talents as a photographer had gone wrong somewhere along the road).
"Basilisks! Dementors! Dragons! Werewolves! Inferi! And now, Chimaeras!" Madam Pomfrey was grumbling as she dabbed ointment on Scar's wounds. "What on earth is next!"
"He'll be fine, won't he?" asked Luna.
"Of course, dear," Pomfrey assured her, but her tone was not so certain.
"Really?" Scar asked her.
"I won't lie to you, dear. This poison was very potent, and you've injected with too much of it. It might be your 'Chakra', as they call it. The infection spread awfully fast. I want you two to keep your distance." Pomfrey warned Roy and Hughes. "It doesn't look like it'll hurt me that much, but I think your Chakra system is the same as his."
Scar gave another bloody cough, punctuating her point. Roy and Hughes stepped back a bit. Scar's right ear had turned an ashy grey, and when Pomfrey went to adjust the bandage, it crumpled and fell off in her hand.
"Oh, dear," Pomfrey gasped.
"Is it too late?" asked Scar.
"It's never too late! Death and lycanthropy are the only things I can't heal!" Pomfrey snapped.
"Ed, it looks like I'm going to have to replace the base," Winry told her friend.
"Can't you just snap the new arm on, and then I can be on my way?" Ed demanded.
"No! You damaged the base! Look, it's all scratched and chipped! Lucky for you, I have a spare base, too." Winry took out her tools from her large suitcase and pried the base of the auto-mail off. Ed winced, but didn't scream.
"Doesn't that hurt?" Temari cringed.
"It's all worth it. Who needs natural when you've got auto-mail?" Winry's eyes sparkled. She took out a small saw. "If you are currently unsatisfied with your limbs, I can easily make a replacement you'll be happy with! And since you're trying to save the world, I'll make it half-price!"
"Um… that's okay…" Temari picked up her chair and relocated to the other side of Ed's bed. Alphonse and Hinata entered the room. Al was carrying a tray.
"Here, Ed. I brought breakfast," Al told his brother. He and Hinata pulled up chairs beside him.
"Thanks, Al." Ed's stomach grumbled. "Winry, I'm sort of hungry. Can the auto-mail wait until I eat?"
"Sure. I have to make some adjustments, anyway," said Winry. Ed sat up, and Al set the tray on his lap.
"Ed, I'm really sorry about what I said before," Al apologized. "I know that there's no proof my body is still out there. I'm still not fully convinced that something called a 'soul' exists. But Hinata and I were talking, and I decided that I should trust you anyway. You've always been there for me. I really am lucky that I have a big brother like you."
"I should apologize, too. I should've told you about the ingredients, but I didn't want to hurt you. The truth is, I feel that everything is my fault. I'll only feel better when you're back in your original form." Ed told Al. "The first thing I do after I find the Stone is to get your body back!"
"It's not totally your fault. I could've stopped you, but I was just as eager to see mom as you were. We're both to blame. We got into this together, and we'll get out together." Al held out his palm. "We're going to get our bodies back."
"Right!" Ed agreed, high-fiving him.
"No! Not again!" Pomfrey cried. This time, it was Scar's hand that fell off. He watched Ed and Al talk happily of their future, and he was reminded of his own brother. His own brother, who gave his life so he could live. His memory and the Elrics' devotion inspired warm, fuzzy feelings inside him. Scar's stomach gave another lurch, and more blood was coughed up. Roy and Hughes squealed like little schoolgirls and jumped away.
"Please tell me the truth. Is it too late?" Scar looked at Pomfrey seriously.
"No, no! Just hang tight!" Pomfrey commanded him. Scar suddenly felt intense pain inside him. He coughed up another wad of blood. Pomfrey quickly pulled out some tools, and examined him.
"What is it?" Scar demanded.
"The virus is spreading so fast… it's starting to eat away at your stomach. We might be able to save you if we get you to St. Mungo's…"
"No." Scar stood up. He stumbled over to Ed's bed. "Don't give him the auto-mail yet. Don't do anything until I come back."
"Why?" asked Winry.
"Just listen," Scar told her. He was still bleeding violently, and even as he spoke, his right arm was crumbling. He looked so scary that Winry nodded her consent. "Where's the old lady with glasses?"
"Professor McGonogall's probably in her office. I can take you," Roy Mustang felt pity for the man.
"Don't get too close," Pomfrey cautioned. "It's still contagious." Roy nodded, and they exited the room.
"I'm done. Thanks for bringing the meal," Ed told Al.
"Edward. You didn't drink your milk." Winry noticed.
"So?" Ed shrugged.
"How do you expect to grow if you don't drink it?" Winry asked.
"Why would I want to drink liquid secreted from a cow?" Ed made a face.
"Drink it," Winry commanded.
"No." Ed refused.
"Drink."
"No."
"Drink it!"
"No!"
"Drink it or I'll hurt you!" Winry threatened, pulling out a wrench.
"What? Where am I?" the commotion woke Mei up.
"You're in England," Hughes gave a brief explanation of what was happening.
"Oh. I was aiming to get across the Great Desert, but I didn't expect to get all the way to a whole new universe," said Mei.
"Why do you think people are always surprised that you're the Fullmetal Alchemist and not Al!" Winry shrieked.
"I hate milk!" Ed yelled.
"Fullmetal Alchemist?" Mei's ears pricked up. "Where?" She and Xiao-Mei keenly looked around them.
"There," Hughes pointed at Ed.
"What? That little kid?" Mei gasped. "That bean-boy can't be the great Edward Elric!"
"Who are you calling short! You're barely taller than I am!" Ed yelled at Mei.
"How dare you break the heart of the 17th princess of Xing!" Mei and Xiao-Mei hugged each other and cried over their lost dreams.
"Drink your milk!" Winry shoved the bottle in front of Ed. Temari sighed. She took the bottle, and drained it.
"Stop arguing!" she ordered.
"You're the 17th princess?" Hughes was trying to recall how the government in Xing worked.
"The emperor takes a wife from each of the states in Xing," Mei reminded him. "I came here to find immortality before my clan dies out completely."
"You crossed the Great Desert all by yourself?" gasped Hughes.
"Yup. It was hard, and I didn't think I was going to make it. But Xiao-Mei helped keep my spirits up," the little panda gave Hughes a pointy-toothed grin.
"In Xing, you use alchemy for medical purposes, right?" asked Hughes.
"Yeah. I can do a little bit of alchemy," said Mei.
"Can you show us?" asked Hughes.
"I guess I owe Naruto for saving my life. Okay." Mei got out of bed. She took out some daggers from her bag. A portly, translucent man carrying a huge hammer suddenly floated into the room.
"Look at all of these hurt little kiddies," he giggled.
"Go away, Peeves!" Pomfrey commanded.
"Does anybody want to see a new trick I learned?" Peeves giggled. He lifted up the hammer and started hitting the wall with it. The wall was magically reinforced, but so was the hammer. The wall started to crumble.
"Peeves! Cut it out!" Pomfrey yelled. Peeves ignored her. Mei threw her daggers at him, and they landed on the wall. She threw some other daggers into the floor. Transmutation circles formed both on the wall and floor. Mei slapped her hands on the one on the floor, and did some alchemy. The wall reformed. Mei made a large fist come out of it and punch Peeves out of the window.
"That was something! I bet you could take away Ed's youngest state alchemist title!" Hughes complimented her. Ed snorted.
"Thank you," Mei smiled cutely. She walked over to the first in the wall, and collected her daggers. She looked at Pomfrey. "I feel better now. Is it okay if I leave?"
"Yes, fine." Pomfrey magicked away the fist on the wall. Mei and Xiao-Mei started for the door.
"Wait! Mei!" Naruto raced after her. "That was awesome!"
"Thanks. I'm a bit hungry. Do you know where the cafeteria is?" asked Mei.
"I'll show you," Naruto told her, and they left the nurse's ward together.
It was now lunchtime. Ron had finished eating, and he and Rose were standing in front of one of the empty classrooms. He opened the door, and was met with a shocking sight. Ginny and Greed. Snogging.
"What the bloody hell is this!" Ron cried in rage.
"Knock before you enter, eh, Ron?" Ginny giggled at the comical expression on his face.
"Ginny! Do you even know what that thing is? It's a homunculus! It's not even human!" Ron shrieked. "Get away from him!"
"Professor Lust is also a homunculus," shrugged Ginny.
"I absolutely forbid you to see him!" Ron exploded. "What was wrong with Harry? Why did you leave him!"
"If you must know, Harry was the one that dumped me," said Ginny.
"Why can't you pick somebody else! Anyone would be better than him! You and Jean Havoc were getting along pretty well when we were staying at the Grimmauld Place!" Ron's face was puce.
"Don't be silly. Jean is much to old," Ginny told him.
"And Greed isn't older! Harry said that Lust said Greed's been sealed away for like a hundred years! I forbid you to see him!" Ron yelled.
"Oh, like you're so innocent, Ron?" Ginny yelled back. "What are you and Rose doing here, anyway? I know you're not giving her a tour of an empty classroom!" Ron's face lightened to a blush pink, and the hue on Rose's face matched her bangs.
"We heard yelling. What's going on?" Harry and Hermione entered the room. One look at their expressions on the Weasleys' faces told Hermione all she needed to know.
"Ron, leave your sister alone. She's old to make decisions for herself," Hermione told her friend. "It's none of your business. Don't be such a pain." Ginny crossed her arms and nodded in agreement.
"Oh, I'm a pain? What about you, Miss Smarty-Pants-Who-Thinks-She-Knows-Everything?" Ron snapped at Hermione.
"Guys… I really don't think you should fight…" Harry held up his hands to stop them.
"You're just jealous that I get better grades than you, which means I'll score better than you on the exams, which means I'll get a better job!" Hermione shrieked.
"No way! You're just a little know-it-all! Ginny is totally my business!" Ron shouted
"You're always picking on Ginny because she can get dates, which is an area you lack in!" Hermione screeched.
"Oh yeah? I have Rose! You're the one that can't get a date!" Ron roared.
"As a matter of fact, Iruka-sensei and I-" Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth. Everyone looked at her with eyes suddenly brimming with interest.
"Go on," Ron told her.
"Leave me alone! It's none of your business!" Hermione stomped towards the door, which had slammed shut during their argument. She was almost there when it flew open, hitting her in the face. Ron laughed very unkindly. Lust and Gluttony stood on the other side.
"Sorry, girl," Lust told Hermione. She looked at Greed. "Did you hear?"
"What?"
"We're about to get our wish. We're about to be made human!" Lust's smile wasn't wicked like usual, but truly radiant. "Aren't you coming?"
"I don't want to be made human," Greed shrugged. "I want money, fame, women, power… but I don't want to be human."
"Wait… McGonogall's about to make you human?" repeated Harry. "Does that mean…"
"Yes," nodded Lust. "They've got the Philosopher's Stone."
So, this chapter was super-long as well. They just keep getting longer and longer… as we get closer and closer to the end. :)
