Disclaimer: Anything Fullmetal Alchemist is owned by Hiromu Arakawa and anything from the Harry Potter universe is owned by JK Rowling
"Brother, is something wrong?" Alphonse asked worriedly. It is very rare his brother becomes this quiet. And in all instances, nothing good came out of it.
"Luna knows about the automail, Al." Edward answered his brother
"But-but that's impossible. We've been very careful here. And it's only just a day! How can she find out!"
"I know, Al.." a pause. "Al, do you think?"
"She knows us? Brother, do you thinks she's from Amestris? I mean, many people from Central has blonde hair and blue eyes."
"Quite logical, but no. My lovely little Lunalove is most definitely English." a female voice said, interrupting the brother's conversation.
The brothers then looked around for the voice, eventually settling on the only student in the corridor. Slytherin robes, long blond hair tied in two low ponytails and grey eyes behind a pair of eyeglasses.
"Armstrong." Edward growled, hackles raised
"There is no need for the aggression, Colonel; I do not mean any harm." a pause, "At least, not today". Era said, a knowing smirk in place.
"Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be abroad, studying?" Alphonse asked warily
"Oh. But I am, Mister Elric." was Era's answer, arranging her features to convey mild surprise
"What do you mean you are, you were supposed to" Edward started to argue, but then he stopped "You mean this is the school you are going to every damn year?"
"Why of course, Colonel. Hogwarts has a certain import a magical child cannot do without."
"Do you mean this is where General Hughes hid that time?" Alphonse clarified.
"Not really. He was in the nearby town of Hogsmeade. But then again, I don't think you will be interested in those details" Eras said, seemingly talking to herself, left hand holding her elbow and her right hand in a loose fist, cradling her chin. "Oh well, that's neither here nor there, though. Feel like having tea later?" she continued, this time looking expectantly at the brothers.
"Stop. Just stop! Quit the crap and better start explaining this instant Armstrong!"
"Don't worry, I will. I promise, no hidden transmutation circles this time. The kitchens, I believe you two are on a free period now."
"Why should we agree Armstrong?"
"I told you I'll explain once I have everything in place. Tell me, when I have actually lied?"
Hearing voices coming from the hallway, Era decided to leave it for now. "The kitchens, Colonel, Mister Elric" said Era, nodding at the brothers and then walked away.
"Edward! Alphonse! Where have you been? Why did you leave breakfast early? You should not be going around the castle on your own!" Hermione Granger badgered at them, berating the brothers like they were a pair of wayward five year olds.
"I'ts okay, Miss Hermione. Professor McGonagall gave us a map the night before. We're good. Thank you for the concern though." Alphonse said, smiling at Hermione, speaking before his brother resorts to aggression, yet again.
Hermione then huffed, evidently not happy but willing to let it slide. "If you're so sure. But still, you should not be going off on your own! You don't know a thing about this place."
Seeing that the brothers are not paying that much attention to her rant, Hermione huffed yet again. "Honestly, you two! Are you listening to me?"
"We are, Hermione." two voices answered before the brothers were able to an appropriate response.
"Harry, Ron! You know I'm not talking to you" Hermione rounded at her friends for the interruption.
"More like talking at." Edward muttered to his brother, to which, Alphonse hissed a "Brother!" in an attempt to shush his brother's impolite yet accurate comments.
"Argh! Hopeless I tell you! Totally hopeless!" Hermione shouted, thereby ending her rattling. "I'm going to class now!" she added, stomping her way out of the hall.
"Sorry about that. Well, she's not always like that, you know. She's okay most of the time." Harry said apologetically, hands rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ah, no matter, I'm not here to be nattered by another girl anyway." Edward said dismissively.
"So, where's your next class?" Harry then asked the brothers, trying to make small talk.
"Our next class starts next period, so we thought we'll just go to the library to see what we can find." Alphonse then answered, consulting his timetable
"No way! You have a free period after breakfast?" Ronald exclaimed, grabbing the timetable from Alphonse. "Blimey, look, Harry! They don't have History of Magic", he said, shoving the said timetable to Harry's face.
"Yeah, yeah, I see it, Ron." Harry said, snatching the timetable from Ronald. "We'll see you around, then, I guess." He said, handing it back to Alphonse, and dragging Ronald to class.
Waiting until they cannot see the two Gryffindors, the Elric brothers then went back to their map and made their way to the kitchens.
"Are you sure this is where the kitchens are?" Edward asked his brother, looking at the large painting of a bowl of fruits in front of them.
"Well, that is what the map says, Brother." Alphonse answered, looking at the map another time, just to be sure. "It should be here somewhere." he added, though mostly to himself
"What's with wizards and all these thoroughly fucked up architecture!" Edward all but wailed to his brother, remembering all the false and hidden doors they have encountered for the last hour.
"I'd like to think it has something to do with them hiding from the rest of humanity all the time. Then again, we're talking about magical humans, who knows what's going on those heads of theirs." a third person joined the brothers in front of the painting, hands behind her back.
"Colonel Armstrong." Alphonse greeted the newcomer, wariness evident in his voice
"Why the lack of trust? I'm hurt." Era replied, dramatically twisting her face to an agonized countenance.
"You only have yourself to blame, bitch." Edward then growled at Era
"Wow. Send a person once to the Gate, even if it is to their benefit, and you have their eternal hatred. What is happening to the world?" Era said mostly to herself, but loud enough for the brothers to hear.
Another dramatic loud sigh from Era and she stepped forward to the painting and ran her fingers on the fruits.
"To answer your question, Colonel, this is the entrance to the kitchen. All you need to do is to tickle the pear." Era said, looking back at the Elric brothers, entering the kitchens before the painting has swung fully open.
Little dwarf-like creatures swarmed the brothers the moment both their feet entered the kitchens. Each one pushing the other aside to ask how can they be of assistance to the brothers.
"Not chimeras, mind you. House elves. The Hogwarts House elves, to be specific." Era called out to them to one of the small tables in the kitchens, where an elaborate tea service was set up.
The brother's made their way to the table, but not before checking the flooring to determine if a circle was etched in the tea service. Era raised an eyebrow at that. "Honestly now." she told the brothers.
The brothers did not dignify it with a response and just sat on one of the chairs. Era then poured herself a cup of tea and took one of the ladyfingers, nibbling on it daintily. Seeing the brothers not touching the food, she said "I did not touch anything of the service, you know. Everything you see was done by the house elves."
The brothers then started to help themselves with the service. Once the brothers got comfortable, Era said, "So, I promised you answers, have I not?"
A/N:Yay! Done! Just in time for October! I told you I will update on October! *faints*
Firstly, I am so sorry for that long wait, I swear I keep trying to write something there but nothing comes up! I only got an idea a couple of days ago on my way to work! :p
Well, yeah, there's the cliffie (if you can call it that). I decided to put the rest of the elevenses on a separate chapter. Else it would be too wordy (even with my standard, and I love hearing myself talk).
So, thank you all for your support! I got some ideas to tide me over the next chapter so I hope I would be able to put it up on November.
And yes, please dont' forget to enjoy, if you can spare the time, please do send me a review. All fave and follow notifications are most appreciated as well! :)
I am still looking for a beta, if anyone is interested.
Lastly, this is also cross posted in AO3. same pen name, same title. See you there too! Hits and reads make my day