A New Beginning

Chapter Five

Border

Xerxes Academy

Remus had spent most of the night researching everything he could on the spell they had cast on the Borders. As far as he could tell, they didn't actually have a problem, aside from the worry that Arabella had invited anyone else that she forgot to mention out for a visit.

He contacted Severus as soon as it was late enough in the morning to be polite. Severus sounded calmer than he had been the night before, but still insisted that they go back over the spell work in person to ensure there were no issues, after his meeting with Hagrid. Remus agreed and looked longingly toward his bedroom before heading out to breakfast with a sigh.

Both the Headmaster and Headmistress were away, of course, and he had agreed to help keep the school running properly as Head of the Magic Department. He had some help from Tringham who was Head of the Alchemy Department, though Chen Li was absent as well. She had taken over the work involved in coordinating the enrollment of so many high-profile, high-ranking students. Even with Huan and Yuery not in class for the week, which left Anya, as well as at least a dozen slightly lower ranking students.

Remus took his seat at the staff table as breakfast began, quickly joined by the other teachers. He waited until the meal was nearly done before turning his attention to Fletcher. "I need you took act as Headmaster today, perhaps tomorrow. I have some other business that can not wait I'm afraid."

"Personal business, official business, or illness business?" Fletcher asked curiously after nodding in agreement.

"Unofficial, official business." Remus replied, before lowering his already quiet voice. "There is a possible leak of security in the border spell. We need to examine the spell up close to ensure it is working properly."

"I assume this is need to know?"

"The Fuhrer has been made aware. He prefers it remain unknown until a time in which we know there is an actual problem to avoid panic."

"Very well. May I ask how this was brought to your attention No one was hurt were they?" Fletcher asked, concerned for his brother and friends in Amestris.

"We had an unexpected visitor from Europe arrive yesterday, which in theory should not be possible." Remus sighed. "Someone admitted to inviting him, so it is likely not a problem, but better safe than sorry in these matters."

Fletcher relaxed at this slightly, though he knew enough about how the situation with the European wizards had been going that he didn't relax completely. After all, they had been attacked before by the Outsiders. He may not know all of the details, but he knew enough of it from what happened both in Xing and when they had fought at that school. A fight of any sort at their own school was not something he felt prepared to handle.

"We will check the spells; I personally am not expecting any problems. Honestly, I requested both day in hopes of catching up on some sleep the second day."

Central

Severus wasn't entirely comfortable with arranging the meeting, but he agreed that this was the best way to prevent further issues at least from Hagrid. He picked up Edward, Roy, and Yuery about an hour earlier before he left to meet Hagrid. The three men agreed they didn't want to invite the wizard into the Fuhrer's mansion or Severus' house, so they had arranged a private meeting room in the Christmas Lounge.

While they waited for the wizards to return, Roy sat stiffly near the fireplace doing his best to remind himself he was a grown man, who not only had four children of his own but was in fact running the entire country as he endured a lecture from his mother. She finally left in a huff when one of her workers came to ask for help in the kitchen.

"Why is she always like that?" Edward whispered. "She's as scary as Teacher was, I feel like she was seconds away from either sending you to run laps or grounding you to your room!"

"Had she continued, either is likely. She forgets I am an adult; I believe." Roy sighed before smiling at his son. "Riza is much the same way when you forgot to put away your mug the other day."

"Ha! JiMu gets on you more than me. We both know it, Dad. You're the one who tried to ground me last month." Edward laughed.

"You were antagonizing General Armstrong." Roy sighed deeply. "Why you would intentionally annoy her, I have no idea. Sometimes I feel like you are still fifteen."

"I haven't been a child in a very long time. I know what I am doing, and the only way to get Olivier to bend is to annoy her into agreeing with you, in an attempt to prove you wrong." Edward rolled his eyes. "You act like I don't know how to handle these things; we've been running this whole show together for years."

"Dad… am I going to have to trick people into behaving as I want them to behave?" Yuery asked with a frown. He wasn't sure how he felt about having to boss people around, let alone tricking people.

"Everyone has their own style, Yu. Mine is different than Yeye's, yours is likely to be different than mine. In the end, it all falls to what works best for you." Edward ruffled his son's hair, while wondering if he should teach the boy how to braid it or try to talk him into cutting it. "When it comes time, you will know what works for you, and you won't be alone."

Before the boy could respond, Severus walked in with Hagrid. Yuery hid behind his father at the sight of the unfamiliar giant. He had known several very big people through out his life, and he had been exposed to new people often enough, but the man frightened him a bit in a way his father and grandfather didn't understand. Yuery didn't know why he was scared either, but he was a bit. Something about the man pulled at the back of his mind.

He tried not to show how uncomfortable he was though because he knew his Dad would shut down the conversation instantly if Dad knew how scared Yuery really was, and he wasn't convinced it was the man himself that was scaring him. With a deep breath, Yuery told himself to be brave like his Dad and Yeye, even when they didn't like someone they didn't trust. He stepped out from behind his Dad as the man leaned down and smiled at him. At least he was fairly certain the man was smiling behind his shaggy beard. "Hello." Yuery said calmly.

"Hello Harry. You certainly have grown haven't ya?" Hagrid said loudly.

"… Have we met?" Yuery asked with a frown, as he looked to his father in confusion before whispering. "He's calling me the wrong name."

"Rubeus. We talked about this, don't frighten anyone." Severus sounded tired as he sighed. "Yuery, this is Rubeus Hagrid. He's seen you before, but not since you were very small. He isn't dangerous, just a bit overwhelming."

"I ain't tryin to scare nobody." Hagrid looked sad at the idea, and Yuery felt bad to make the man sad.

"I'm not afraid sir. Please, may I introduce my father, Lt Fuhrer Edward Elric, and my grandfather Fuhrer Roy Mustang." Yuery said, pulling from his etiquette lessons. "How may we help you?"

Edward was honestly impressed with how well his son was handling the situation. He fully intended to look into why his boy was this scared though. He himself had met Hagrid before, and the man seemed a bit odd but not dangerous. He seemed kind even, but if his son was uncomfortable then that was what really mattered in the moment. He stepped forward to take over the conversation, which was the right choice when his son sagged against him. "Hello Hagrid, it is nice to see you again. It is my understanding you asked for this meeting to check on Yuery's welfare, as you can see, he is perfectly happy and healthy."

"Yes, of course." Hagrid smiled at Edward, uncertain why both the boy and man seemed to dislike him when the man had not had a problem with Hagrid a few years ago. It left him uncomfortable. There was something going on that he didn't understand. Dumbledore was concerned for the boy's safety, but Hagrid had seen nothing either in person or in the newspapers to cause concern. The child seemed happy and healthy, and the men standing beside him were clearly protective and caring. It left him off-kilter, and as many could attest when he was nervous, he was not good at keeping things to himself. "I ain't to say this yet, I don't think but, you're a wizard Harry. That's why I'm here."

The child blinked at him with a strange frown on his face, the expression reminding Hagrid of the boy's mother despite his appearance being nearly identical to his father. Hagrid could kick himself for that. He knew Dumbledore said they were going to tell the boy much until next year when he started school and they could help him understand what it all meant. He had been forbidden from bringing up James and Lily altogether, Dumbledore felt that it would be best if the boy heard about them from him.

"I know." Yuery said a moment later, faintly confused as to why the man felt Yuery had to be informed. Yuery had known about that his whole life. "My name isn't Harry though, its Yuery."

"…You know?" Hagrid asked, he was under the impression from Dumbledore that the boy would not be aware of magic, despite obviously having magical accidents.

"Yes?" Yuery frowned, as he looked between Mr. Severus and his father before turning his attention back to Hagrid. "Why wouldn't I know?"

"Oh, uh, most children aren't aware until they begin school. Around eleven." Hagrid said with a frown. He never had been good at this, and he wasn't to say anything about Hogwarts directly yet. He hoped not to mess this up too badly and maybe next year Dumbledore would trust him to come escort the boy and his new parents along to make the trip to Hogwarts.

"Oh. Well, that's not how it works here." Yuery smiled. "At least I don't think so, Dad?"

"Until a few years ago, it was very much a dangerous secret to have magic Yu. Remember the history lessons." Edward said even as he continued to frown at Hagrid. "Yu, why don't you go introduce Mr. Snape to Madame Christmas?"

"…Okay." Yuery was confused since he knew that Severus already knew his great grandmother, but he assumed this was one of those times his Dad wanted to have a conversation without him, especially with the expression on his face. He leads Severus from the room, nodding along to the man's promise to buy him a tart.

As soon as the door closed Edward turned back to the man with a frown. "Do not attempt to undermine my parenting like that again or you will not be welcomed back, I don't care if you helped save my brother or not."

"I meant no harm; I sometimes just blurt things out when I'm nervous. Didn' know Harry already been told he was magic." Hagrid did appear sheepish and nervous.

"His name is Yuery. Yuery Alphonse Elric." Edward sighed. "Look, Hagrid. You seem like a nice enough man. I don't think you know what all is going on here, so please try to understand this. I am doing everything I can to protect my child. Even if that means protecting him from those who are well intentioned. Yuery knows he is a wizard. He has known he has magic in his blood since he was a toddler, and we began working on ways to help him keep accidents under control. He has the best tutors and instructors available. I get Dumbledore thinks he needs to interfere, and he send you here on a fool's errand, but that's all it is, a fool's errand. My SON is fine and safe."

"Mr. Hagrid, we have no issue with you in particular. As Edward has just brought up, you helped save my son during the Battle at your school, so I am going to politely ask that you honor our ways and bind yourself with oaths to keep the details you learned while here to yourself." Roy added as Severus slipped back into the room.

"So, Dumbledore was right, you did bind yourself." Hagrid said with a frown as Snape nodded. "I will tell no one but Dumbledore anything I learn here; you have my word and I'll promise it with oath if that's what you need. I wouldn't harm a kid."