A/N: Hello again! I apologize about the delay and thank you all for your patience, reviews, faves and follows! You know, I thought I would be lucky to receive 60 faves and 100(+!) followers when this was finished and we're past that on only a prologue and three chapters. As you can probably imagine, I am very happy about this. So thank you yet again!

On a different note, I had originally planned to upload this before I went to NärCon at the end of October, but there were a few things I didn't like about it so it got postponed until after. And November has always been a lousy writing-month for me which is highly annoying considering that's when Nanowrimo is. Ah well, shit happens.

Btw, what would you like to see when it comes to Maes/James meeting Roy? I have a feeling I'll get stuck there and since it's probably pretty close, any suggestions would be appreciated. Just put them in a review or in a PM if you have any :)

Now on to the story!

Chapter four – Planning

When Hughes awoke again Knox was nowhere to be seen but Dipsy was happily bustling about cleaning the place. He silently observed all the items littered around the room lazily floating around in the air while the little House Elf swiftly dusted each off and directing it off to wherever it was supposed to be. Maes doubted there had ever been any kind of system amongst the grumpy old man's stuff, but that didn't seem to hinder Dipsy because there certainly was one now.

"Oh! Master James Potter is awake!" piped the old elf happily when she glanced at him. "Cans I get Master anything?"

He blinked groggily. "Can I have some water, please?" he croaked.

Dipsy nodded and disappeared briefly before returning with a glass. "Here's your water, Master James Potter! But yous must drink it slowly said the muggle healer."

He accepted the glass after pushing himself to a sitting position.

"How long was I asleep this time?" he asked after a few sips.

"Master James Potter slept through all night. It is mid-morning now. Master Muggle Healer Knox had to leave for work though and make sure nobody discovered yours fake body was fake."

Maes smirked at the elf's name for doctor. "I see. And Dipsy, you don't need to call me 'Master James Potter'. I've lived the last few years as Maes Hughes so it's enough if you just call me Maes."

"Oh, okay Master Maes."

Hughes fondly shook his head, realizing he wasn't surprised she still squeezed in a Master before his name. "So, I digress. Since I can't go and see him myself yet, how is my son doing?"

"Dipsy does not know."

He straightened up. "What? Why not?"

"Dipsy was forbidden by Professor Dumbledore to visit Young Master's new home."

"What? Why?"

"It was because Young Master Harry was sent to live with his muggle-auntie. Professor Dumbledore said that Harry survived because of Mistress Lily's sacrifice, and that to keep Harry safe he had put up blood-wards which had to be with someone connected to Mistress by blood. And with them being muggles, any magic done in there would be blamed on Young Master and that might put him in trouble I's told."

"I see… but… Why do I have a bad feeling about Harry staying there? Why can I hear the words 'Petty Petunia' in the back of my head?"

"Mistress Lily used to complain about how her sister was narrow-minded when it came to magic Dipsy remembers. And then you used to say that 'It's Petty Petunia's loss she can accept magic'."

Hughes expression hardened as he stared into nothing. "So my son has been growing up with at least magic-hating person then?"

The old little elf nodded solemnly and sniffed. "Yes. Dipsy is sorry she-"

"No Dipsy, stop. It's not your fault. Let's focus on the future instead. The summer is soon over, so school should be starting soon, right?"

"Yes, Master Maes, Hogwarts will be starting in less than a month. Dipsy has also heard from Hogwarts elves that Professor Dumbledore had told Professor McGonagall that Young Master Harry would stay with the Weasley-family the rest of the summer."

"Right. I don't really remember much more about them than a lot of red-heads but they give me a good feeling so he may stay there for now. Next summer however he'll be staying with me. The question is: will it be here or in England?"

"May Dipsy come with a suggestion?"

"Of course, go ahead."

"Why not both? Mistress Lily was working on a new way of transportation before yous went into hiding, and she was almost done with it. Do you remember it, sir? It was two big trunks which were connected to the same trunk-flat. Like a wizarding-tent with two doors, but the trunks would be able to be miles apart but one would only have to walk a few yards to step out from the other one."

Maes face scrounged up in deep concentration. "I… I'm not sure if I can recall it…"

"That's alright, Master Maes", said Dipsy and petted him on the knee. "Why don't you look through the family-album for now and after lunch Dipsy will bring Master Maes his old school books so yous can try and recall the spells you've learned. "

"But what about Harry?"

Dipsy smiled like a grandmother calming her little grandson. "He will be fine for now, sir. Yous need to focus on remembering, so you can take care of Young Master Harry when the summer comes again. Dipsy is soon done with cleaning the house of Master Muggle Healer Knox and will then ward the basement so yous can train with the wand too. Dipsy is sure that once Master Maes have been reminded of a few spells the rest will follow."

Dipsy snapped her fingers and the Potter Family Album landed promptly on his lap.

"Now, go ahead and look at your family-photos, Master Maes. You need to remember them before you can show them off, right?"

Hughes chuckled lightly. It seemed like Knox had already told her of his habit.

"Right."

When Knox came home from the morgue, he wasn't sure he had stepped into the right house. Everything was sparkling clean. No dishes in the sink, the trashes were obviously thrown out and for some reason there were a vase with a bouquet standing on the kitchen table. As he looked around more he realized that a few pictures of his son had been framed and now hanged on the wall both in the kitchen, the hallway and by the staircase.

"Welcome home, Master Muggle Healer Knox", he heard the little crazy creature say behind him and he turned around.

"You didn't have to clean this place up, you know", he grunted after greeting her.

"Dipsy likes cleaning, Master Muggle Healer Knox, and since yous helped Master Maes Dipsy wants to help yous in any way Dipsy can. Now, what would you like for dinner?"

"Anything's fine", he replied with a sigh, too tired to protest. It was obvious the little elf wouldn't leave things be anyway. "Is Hughes still in bed?"

"Yes, sir! He has only left for loo, just as you ordered. He did get migraines a few times before lunch though as he started to remember more about his family. It got better after a pain-relieving potion, however."

"Good. I'll just go and check on him then and see how much he has healed."

"Okay. Dipsy will show up with dinner when it is ready."

Knox headed up the stairs and into the room Maes was currently occupying only to see the man in question reading a book and waving a pencil in the air.

"What are you doing?" he asked slowly. Hughes looked up from the book.

"Oh, hi Knox! I'm just going through my old school books and trying to remember some spells. I used my wand at first, but when I accidentally fired a successful Flipendo on the bookshelf Dipsy had just arranged she made me promise to not use my wand until she had fixed a practice room."

"Uh-huh. And just what does a 'flippdo" do?"

"Flipendo is also known as the 'knock-back jinx'. It simply knocks things over."

"So in other words you knocked down all the books."

"Yeah. I promise nothing was damaged, though!"

"Hrmf. Though if it was you could probably fix it by waving your stick."

"I could, sure, but it's better to not break things to begin with, you know? So, how was your day at the morgue?"

"Mustang came by today."

Maes stilled. "Oh… Uhm… How is he?"

"Devastated. And hell bent on finding your killer. Also, while he didn't say it outright, I am pretty sure he suspects that at least someone in the top-brass is involved."

"Hmm… Must be Major Armstrong's doing. Bradley forbade us to speak of the Elric-brothers escapade in Lab 5, and Roy would've started with talking with Armstrong. While he wouldn't directly disobey the Führer's orders, he knows Roy well enough to know what kind of hints to drop."

"Hm. Can't say I've ever portrayed the Major as someone who would skip around the rules like that."

"Nah, but it's probably some skill that has been passed down the Armstrong-line for generations, don't you think?"

Knox snorted. "I'm pretty sure that his bragging-technique has been passed down his family for generations. Anyway, you should be able to start moving and training soon. After your 'funeral' I'd say. The 'autopsy' on your fake body has been finalized and the funeral is scheduled to be the coming Saturday.

"So soon? Well that's all for the better I guess. Transfigured flesh doesn't work like ordinary flesh and people would be suspicious if it didn't start to rot."

Suddenly Hughes perked up.

"Hey! I just remembered something without having read up on it or getting a migraine!"

"Oh that it wonderful, Master Maes!" they suddenly heard Dipsy say and both men jumped startled, not having noticed her show up in the doorway with two trays floating behind her. She placed one tray on her master's lap and the other at the desk for Knox. "It means the rest of you memories should come soon too."

Without another word she disappeared – presumably to take care of the dishes. Both men stared at the spot she had just vacated.

"She is rather… eccentric… isn't she?" Knox mumbled. Hughes nodded.

"I'm pretty sure it's a house-elf thing. On to more important things, however. Have you seen this newpaper-clip with a picture of my son Harry? It's from his first Quiddith match – youngest seeker in a century, can you believe it? And he almost swallowed the Snitch too! Oh, and here's one with a picture from when he-"

With a groan Knox sat down at the desk and started in on his meal as Hughes rambled on about all he had learned and started to remember about his son. It seemed some things never changed.

A/N: Am I the only one who is slightly disappointed that we never get to hear Armstrong brag about the bragging technique? Just a little bit? Okay. Anyway, that's all for today, dear readers! See you next time in Chapter five - Get things rolling.