A New Beginning

Chapter Thirteen

Letters From the West

Amestris

Fuhrer's Mansion

An Owl knocked on the window as they all settled around the table for breakfast, just after Yuery and William left for school. Edward had a sinking feeling of dread that he had already sent the boys off as he reluctantly opened the window and took the letter from its leg. "Thank you, you may go." He said quietly to the bird who ruffled his feathers and flew away.

Winry stood, Izumi in her arms, to read the letter over his shoulder as Roy frowned and Riza encouraged the children to continue their breakfast. Roy watched Edward read with a frown on his face while Winry paled slightly then clutched their daughter a little tighter. Wordlessly, Edward passed the letter on to his father before turning his attention back to the children. "Alright, Maes, Tad, Trish finishes up. It's nearly time for lessons."

"Is everything alright Dad?" Maes asked in concern.

"It's a grown-up problem Maes. You will be staying in the mansion today. All of you are to mind your mother and behave." Ed said, appearing distracted. His first instinct whenever he heard from the wizards was to gather his children close and lock them all away safely. However, the boys were at school, and he trusted his brother to keep them safe, and there hadn't been a threat in the letter, just a warning.

Apparently one of the teachers, Minerva McGonagall, felt he needed to be warned that there were rumors of Voldemort's return. He had also been warned that Yuery would soon receive his letter to invite him to the school, and that Dumbledore had every intention of persuading him into allowing it. She had added that the child's raining in magic was important, even if he didn't trust them to do it and that he needed to find someone to help the boy. A warning that untrained magic could be dangerous not only for others but the child himself.

This lead Ed to understand that somehow most of those who knew about Xerxes somehow missed that the school taught magic. An amazing feat considering one of their spies was teaching magic classes at Xerxes. Edward did have serious doubts that Dumbledore actually informed anyone that Lupin was teaching magic after he thought about it. The man kept secrets over everything. It was the one thing he actually understood about the man.

Still uncomfortable with the whole thing, Ed retired to his office to write a letter in return, thanking the woman for the warning. She hadn't been obligated to warn him especially of Dumbledore's intentions. He still didn't trust her motives, for all he knew she was trying to lull him into compliance, but still if she were genuine, it would be nice to have someone inside the school on their side. He sent off the letter with his owl before with a sigh he made his way over to Command. The country didn't run itself.

Snape's Cottage

Narcissa was horrified at the arrival of the school owl just moments after Draco left. He shouldn't receive his owl for another few months and she still hadn't decided what would be the best course of action when it arrived.

Severus retrieved the letter, offering the owl a small bite of bacon in return before it flew away. He glanced at the envelope before patting Narcissa on the shoulder. "It isn't for Draco. Likely it is some final details about my temporary placement in the fall."

"Oh good. I mean to say- "

"No, I know your concerns, it wasn't insulting." Severus said as he opened the letter and began reading. He paled with the news that the Death Eaters may have found a lead in Voldemort and rolled his eyes at the warning about Yuery. Minerva mentioned that she had written Edward as well, which Severus was sure would annoy the younger man.

"Are you going to send Draco to Hogwarts next year, or keep him in Xerxes?" Severus asked so that she wouldn't ask about the letter. He trusted Narcissa, but there were some things were best kept quiet.

"I have not completely decided. With you returning to Hogwarts, I may consider allowing him to attend at least long enough to decide which would be a better fit for him. Though I much rather he remains closer to me." Narcissa fretted. "I cannot return to England myself with Lucius' allies still around. I do have much to consider."

"You still have time. The letters will not begin to arrive until summer." Severus said with a pat on her shoulder, before he stood to rid himself of the letter. "I am expected at Central Command this morning I'm afraid."

"I'll be fine, thank you." Narcissa smiled. "Why are you expected this time?"

"Government Issues." Severus said as he vanished the letter.

"Very well." Narcissa began clearing the table. She hated that answer, Lucius gave that answer often. As had her father. It always seemed that it wasn't true strictly speaking. She knew that Severus wasn't going to hurt her son, he was devoted to keeping him safe, and she knew that Amestris ran differently than the Ministry.

Then again, she had heard stories about how things were before the current Fuhrer. There had even been a war a few years ago, the winning side lead by the Fuhrer, his father-in-law, and his sons. So sometimes she had doubts about it all, and she tried to shake it off. Severus left shortly after while she was still washing the dishes. She decided that for now she should try to set aside her concerns and fears.

Twenty minutes later the kitchen was clean, the house in order, and the letter Severus had vanished restored and in front of her. She was still debating if she should read it. She had decided to trust Severus long ago and he had never violated her trust, but she had, just now, by even considering reading a letter he clearly had disposed of. She changed her mind several times, before she decided that she needed to know.

Xerxes Academy

Dining Hall

A pair of owls flew into the hall, startling most of the students. Remus Lupin stiffened at the sight, normally owls sought him out in his private quarters, while Alphonse Elric was curious, having never directly received a letter via owl before though he had seen his brother and father receive them.

Both offered their owls a bit of bacon from the table before turning to their letters as the students returned to their conversations slowly. Yuery watched the teachers table carefully, as did Draco, but the rest of their friends returned to their concern about this morning's quiz. It wasn't long before the two men traded their letters, whispering together which added to the boys' confusion.

When the bell rang to announce the first class, Yuery hung behind, asking the others to tell their teacher, Princess Chen today, that he would be right there before making his way to the teacher's table. Alphonse saw him coming and pulled out the chair next to him. Mei usually sat there but she had stayed behind in their cottage this morning not wanting to bring Sovann out in the heat.

"Is there trouble?" Yuery asked quietly as the other teachers all left the table. Remus frowned as Alphonse sighed.

"Not exactly trouble per say." Alphonse shook his head. "The England wizards are reaching out with some information. Your father will have received a letter as well, and I know he will likely share part of it with you."

"So, you wish for me to go to class, and wait until I get home to learn what happened this time?" Yuery guessed, annoyed with the way adults tend to try to keep things from him. His Dad and Yeye seemed to be the only adults he knows who are willing to ever tell him anything. Even his Mom would often tell him he was too young to worry about it.

"Not at all, it involves you. Come we will go to my office and call your father to join us. Remus would you so kind as to inform Princess Chen Yuery will not be in class this morning? He may end up not attending any of his classes depending on the length of this meeting." Alphonse said surprising Yuery, Lupin as well judging by his expression.

"Shall I call in Black as well?" Remus asked.

"No, I do not believe so. His mother and Severus can decide what he needs to know when he gets home. Calling Yuery out of class, like Huan and Anya will not cause a stir. Pulling anyone else would cause rumors and questions." Alphonse said, he considered for a moment before adding. "Leave William in class for the moment. Should Edward want him involved we can call him to my office when Edward arrives."

Alphonse picked up the phone as Remus left the room. He had a class to teach after he passed on Alphonse's message so he would not be returning. Alphonse went through the usual steps of connecting to his brother's office, including codes specialized to himself. "Hello Edward." Alphonse said when his brother came to the phone several minutes later. "If you are available, we would like you to join us as soon as possible."

"Did they send you a letter too? I know they said they were going to send something, but I didn't know how long it would take to arrive." Edward sighed. "I will be there in about twenty minutes; I need to clear up a file today."

"Very well. I trust Severus will arrange a portkey for you then?" Alphonse asked. "Otherwise, I can ask Remus to collect you."

"No, it's fine. I'll be there soon. Hopefully earlier than I suggested. Please pull William and Yuery from class, I was trying to just leave them for the day but since I'll be out there anyway…"

Yuery sat quietly, trying not to fidget as he waited for his father and brother. William arrived first, with an upset and confused expression. William relaxed when he noticed his brother already sitting there, relieved that he wasn't in trouble for some reason. Not unless Yuery was anyway which seemed unlikely. Yuery almost never got caught when he decided to misbehave.

Edward and Roy arrived via portkey ten minutes after Alphonse's call along with Severus Snape. As soon as everyone was settled, Alphonse pulled out the letter he had received and handed it to his brother wordlessly. Ed read silently before passing it on to Roy. "Well, it's nearly the same as the letter I received this morning. A warning of a possible threat. A warning that they would be pushing he attend their school. All as we have been expecting." Ed said with a sigh.

"This includes a thinly veiled threat if we should choose not to allow him to attend though." Roy added dryly. He handed the letter on to Severus.

"Ah yes, my letter included a similar warning." Severus added. "Though it is an empty threat at best. Should they manage to convince anyone to investigate the magic program of Xerxes, and found someone who could enter, it more than meets international criteria."

"Am I going to have to go to a different school?" Yuery asked, unsure how he felt about the idea. On one hand, it would be interesting to try a school where he wasn't already famous, on the other hand it was much further away, and chances were he wouldn't be allowed to go home every day.

"Xerxes is a perfectly acceptable Academy. There is no reason to send you elsewhere, unless your father feels it would benefit you." Severus replied as he returned the letter to Alphonse.

"Perhaps," Yuery began, thinking out loud, "If I tried it for a semester, they would finally leave us alone and stop sending people to ask stupid questions."

"They aren't going to leave us alone Yuery. They want you to stay there with them." Ed said with a frown. "I see no reason to give them what they want."

"Are we going to have another war Dad?" William asked quietly.

"Not if I can help it." Edward said as he hugged his younger son. "In the end no one can enter will ill intent so it would be difficult to wage war against us."

"Well, unless they can claim citizenship." Severus added with a frown. "Though as far as I know the only one of them who can is Dumbledore and he bound himself to keep away."

"I see a problem with the spell, though." Alphonse added. "Aside from Dumbledore himself, the majority of his Order believe it is his intent to protect Yuery, therefore they would not be entering with ill intent."

"So, you think I should just hand my son over?" Ed growled, not really mad at his brother but the situation.

"That isn't what I said either." Al held his hands up in surrender. "I was simply pointing out an issue."

"Alphonse is not wrong. It is possible to send others who have no intention of causing harm like Hagrid a few weeks ago." Severus frowned. "There is much to think about."

"If I did go to Hogwarts, would I be able to come home at night." Yuery asked worriedly.

"No, I do not believe so. You would be required to sleep in the dorms of whichever house selected you." Severus frowned deeper as he tried to think.

"Can we go home Dad?" William asked, stressed and wanting to avoid thinking about the idea of not seeing his brother for weeks or months at a time.

"Yes, of course." Ed said as he noticed his younger son's concern. He also noticed his elder son's expression. He was thinking deeply, and Ed was worried about where his thoughts may be headed.