Disclaimer: Anything Fullmetal Alchemist is owned by Hiromu Arakawa and anything from the Harry Poter universe is owned by JK Rowling
Despite the constant rumble of the train, the hubbub of the student body seeping their way out of the train, and the strong wind blowing everything about, Edward Elric managed to sleep through most of the train ride.
It was a good thing his brother was there to wake him up at relevant times; else he would not wake up in time.
We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minute's time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately.
Stretching his limbs, Edward said: "Well Al, here goes nothing. Ready Al?"
Alphonse nodded his agreement and the brothers made their way inside the train. Letting the other students make their way out of the train first, the brothers lingered in a corner for a minute, before setting their suitcase beside the door and following the mass of black robes, all headed towards the train platform.
Ever the perceptive one, Alphonse asked his brother "Shouldn't there be someone to direct the first years? Or should we all go at the same way as all of the years?"
Before Edward can think of an answer, a woman with a pointed chin and a severe haircut called out for the first years, holding out a lamp as some sort of beacon. "I guess that answers your question, Al." He said, somewhat lamely, and continued with following the direction of the lamp.
The short trek ended in the edge of the lake, where several small wooden boats are waiting for them. "No more than four to a boat." their guide informed them.
"Hey! Does this thing have a weight limit?" Edward said rather loudly, over the gaggle of first years chattering amongst themselves.
Their guide stopped to consider the question, and answered "The question would be irrelevant as the boats will adjust with whatever is placed there."
"Magic, I would think." Alphonse said, knowing full well the reason of his brother's apprehension. "C'mon, brother, it couldn't be that bad." he continued, stepping in on one of the boats, leaving his brother no choice but to step in as well.
The boat ride was rather short and uneventful, much to Edward's relief. After the boat ride, they were greeted by Minerva McGonagall and were asked to wait on a small antechamber for the meantime.
Nervous first years are already twittering amongst themselves on various theories on how they are sorted to their respective houses. A few minutes, or to the first years, an eternity later, the double doors opened to reveal the large hall where the rest of the student population is waiting.
Most of the students took one look at the trembling first years standing by the double doors and then turned their heads back at the head of the table, where Professor McGonagall placed a stool and an old hat, frayed at the edges.
To the shock of the first years, a seam has ripped at the base of the hat, after which, the hat began to sing.
In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffndor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Huffepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
The hat went on singing about a brief history of the school and its founders followed by their subsequent falling out. The first years watched the hat continue its song, open mouthed, entranced by the sheer amount of magic in the hall. The higher years, however, were murmuring amongst themselves, discussing the unique direction the sorting hat's song took this year.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.
I have told you, I have warned you. . . .
Let the Sorting now begin.
Scattered applause was heard after the sorting hat finished its song. The murmurings, though, have increased in volume. This caused Minerva McGonagall to give the student body a glare almost worthy of Izumi Curtis.
This seemed to do the trick as the murmurs died down drastically. Minerva McGonagall gave the whole student body another round of her glare before going back to the roll of parchment in her hand and calling out, "Abercrombie, Euan".
The sorting went on smoothly, each first year wearing the old hat and being sorted to one of the four houses of Hogwarts. The last name was then called, "Zeller, Rose", and was sorted to Hufflepuff.
Minerva McGonagall took the sorting hat and the stool and walked out of the Great Hall. It was then Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet and went to the podium.
"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome! To our old hands - welcome back!" Then, as if remembering something, he said "But before we go on our feast, let me inform you that this year, Hogwarts has extended her hands to some new students from another land. Please do give them a warm welcome. Edward and Alphonse Elric!"
Edward and Alphonse Elric then made their way to the front of the great hall. Scattered applause was heard from the great hall, most students favored talking to their seatmates on the school's unexpected addition.
"These boys will be residing with the Gryffindor house for the remainder of the year, so please make them feel at home." At which, the brothers made their way and settled themselves at the Gryffindor table. "And so, I will not be keeping anyone from their dinner, everyone, tuck in."
"So, which of you is Edward and which is Alphonse?" one of the students, asked the brothers once they got themselves settled in the Gryffindor table, right in the middle of the fifth years.
"I'm Edward, and that is my younger brother, Alphonse." Edward replied in his usual fashion, emphasizing the word 'younger', as always.
Introductions then went round the table; last one to introduce himself was Harry Potter. Harry had then steeled himself for whatever overblown reaction these foreigners may have.
Harry Potter was a tad bit shocked at the reaction he got from the brothers, or rather the lack of shock. Just a flicker of recognition and a polite nod of acknowledgement, at least for Alphonse, Edward just grunted and started piling his plate with the feast. He would have bothered asking himself what is different this time only his two best friends, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley started a rather public argument.
After the feast has been cleared and small talk became a tad bit loud, Dumbledore then stood up again and made a few announcements. It was right after the announcements of the staffing changes when a simpering hem, hem was heard.
Dumbledore tried to continue with the announcements but that hem, hem noise seems to interrupt him at all times. With this, acting the bigger man, Dumbledore stepped down and offered the podium to the cause of the incessant interruption.
A short stout woman then took the podium. Wide eyes and slack mouth gives her a rather toad like appearance, her wide berth covered by a pink cardigan with filly lace and ribbons altogether.
"Thank you, Headmaster," the pink monstrosity simpered, "for those kind words of welcome".
She then went on with her clearly pre-prepared speech, most of which went over the student body's heads. Of course, with notable exceptions.
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione Granger had her eyes glazed, focusing on the speech and doing her best to disregard the high girlish voice and the fluffy pink monstrosity. Edward Elric look thoroughly incensed and ready to destroy property, a combination of a silencing charm and his brother's hand in his arm keeping him in place. Alphonse Elric is not doing any better, but keeping his brother calm takes precedence and he has to effect an air of calmness.
Most of the student body did not even notice her finishing her speech and sitting down if not for Dumbledore clapping his hand.
"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," he said, bowing next to her. After which, he continued with his announcements as if he has not been interrupted.
The so-called, Golden Trio, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley then launched on a furious discussion as to what Hermione thought about the new professor's speech. So engrossed they were with their own discussion that they have not noticed that Dumbledore has already bid his good night, dismissing the school.
"Ron, we're supposed to show the first years where to go!" Hermione told Ronald,
"Oh yeah," said Ron, who has obviously forgotten. "Hey - Hey you lot! Midgets!"
A thoroughly fuming Edward Elric launched himself towards the unsuspecting prefect. If not for his Alphonse Elric, blood would have definitely been shed. However, Alphonse was not quick enough as he was only able to restrain him when Edward is only a foot away from the said prefect.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PIPSQUEAK-MIDGET WHO CAN EVEN GO TO THE BEACH BECAUSE HE'S SO SMALL HE'LL SINK INTO THE SAND AND WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN HE WOULDN'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT *breath* DROWNING BECAUSE HE'S SO SMALL HE CAN BREATH OXYGEN ATOMS THROUGH THE WATER!"
"Brother! Please!" Alphonse pleaded, holding on to his brother for dear life, lest his brother might slip free and maim the offending person within an inch of his life.
"Ron!" Hermione hissed at Ronald, "Now you've done it! McGonagall's on her way"
"First years, please follow Miss Granger and Mister Weasley to your dormitories." Turning to the Elric brothers, she said, "Messrs Elric. Please follow me." throwing another glare to her lions and walked away, expecting the Elric brothers to follow.
A/N: Oh dear. It has been months! With no explanations whatsoever! You must think so badly of me already. I'm sorry. Its just that I got caught up with real life (I'm back at college and I'm still working full time), so yeah.
As with the Ed rant, well, he's being very mature for the last few chapters. I need that. And Ron's asking for it. But that is beside the point. I found the Ed rant on dotb18(period)deviantart(period)com(slash)art(slash)Ed-s-Short-Rants-160660599.
And some of the passages you can recognize are really lifted from the book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
And I'm rambling again.. Anyways, thank you for the support. Keep the favorites and follows coming. And don't hesitate to leave a review. please? *puppy eyes*