Disclaimer: Anything Fullmetal Alchemist is owned by Hiromu Arakawa and anything from the Harry Potter universe is owned by JK Rowling

warning: characters may be OOC

"Let it be known that I, General Roy Mustang, is trying really hard to actually finish the paperwork in his desk for the longest time."

"Operative word though would be: trying, General." His trusty captain replied. Taking a small sheaf of paper from the 'out' box and placing a larger stack of paper to the 'in' box, she said. "If you cannot finish the whole lot by the end of the day, at least prioritize the ones marked 'urgent'. You should be able to finish those within today."

"Today? Have you seen the amount of work marked "urgent'? You have got to be kidding me!" the General whined, taking a look at the amount of folders marked 'urgent'.

"If you have finished them earlier, then they would not have been marked 'urgent', General. I will be back for them at the end of the day." Captain Hawkeye crisply said and promptly went out of the office, closing the door with a soft 'snick'.

"As if whining would actually work on Captain Hawkeye. My, my, Roy, are you losing your touch?" Another person, currently snacking on some sandwiches, commented.

"Shut it Hughes, can't you see I'm working?" Mustang then grumbled, going over the first document he got his hands on.

"Not working is what it looks like. This has got to be a new record, Roy. The highest stack of paperwork in the whole of East City Headquarters"

Not dignifying the jibe with a response, General Roy Mustang instead sent a glare to the Brigadier General.

"But seriously Roy, what's eating you? Anyone can see you are quite listless the past few weeks."

"My team has not commented on that." Mustang then replied.

"Just because you team does not seem to notice, does not mean that they do not. They're your men, Roy."

"That just sounds like the convoluted stuff Armstrong spouts"

"Which Armstrong?" Hughes asks jokingly. "You know there are at least three in the military, right?"

"You know who I am talking about, Hughes." Changing the topic, Mustang said, "Speaking of her, have you heard from Colonel Armstrong lately?"

"Yeah, I just finished reading her latest weekly report. Nothing, to be worried about yet. Just their usual brand of dramatic idiocy."

"You mentioned she's also studying at this Hogwarts school, right? And you're receiving regular correspondence?" Mustang pressed on

Understanding dawned on the Brigadier General."Ah. So that is what it's about."

"Its unlike the brothers, Hughes. They always send in their reports on time. I have not heard anything from them since they were dispatched." Mustang said, finally voicing out his concern.

"You know Edward's not too keen on regularly reporting on time. Sometimes he does just that to spite you." Hughes said, trying to diffuse his friend's worries.

"But not Alphonse, Hughes. He's the type to make sure I actually receive reports." Changing course, he asked "Has Armstrong mentioned the brothers in her reports?" Mustang replied.

Seeing that trying to rationalize the situation won't work, Hughes then went for humor. "Do you know you sound like a worried mother right now Roy?

"I refuse to dignify that with an answer."

Giving it up as a lost cause, Hughes said "You really are that concerned, are you Roy? No matter, I'll just go and check with Era then."

"Thank you, Hughes"

Remembering something, Hughes asked, "I just thought of it, you don't open your windows don't you?"

Raising his eyebrows at his friend's silliness, he deadpanned, "I have a sniper for a captain, tell me why is an open window a good idea."

"Point taken, but seriously. You don't open your window? At least just to let the mail in?"

"Just to let the mail in? The mail. Do you listen to yourself Hughes?" For all his friend's wit and brilliance, he sometimes wonders what type of mushrooms are included in his friend's daily snacks.

"Come to think of it, that sounds rather odd, doesn't it?" Hughes mused to himself. He was about to say something when he was interrupted by multiple insistent taps on the glass windows.

"And there's that goddamned tapping again. I swear it just gets worse everyday! Somebody make it stop, goddammit!" Mustang then took a deep breath and continued. "I know I sound like a whiny brat right now, but that tapping has been going on for weeks! Every day, late afternoon like clockwork. How can one concentrate with that?"

Hughes then looked at the window where the tapping was coming from. His eyes widened in recognition and then he said, "Uh Roy? I think I know what's happening. Give me a minute." after which, he went out of the office, leaving Mustang suffer through the tapping noises.

After a few minutes, or an eternity of torture later if Mustang is asked, Hughes then went back to the office carrying a small bag.

"Pet treats. What the fuck are you thinking." Roy growled upon seeing his friend. Pet treats. What type of mushrooms has his friend eating?

"Making the tapping stop." With this, Hughes then opened one of windows, but not before shouting "Mind the desk, please" to no one in particular.

From the window swooped five barn owls who then proceeded to peck Mustang viciously.

"Don't stop pecking him until he gets the letter. Very Edward." Noticing that the owls curiously avoids pecking at skin, instead attacking at his hair and his uniform. "But make sure he does not get hurt. I bet that was Alphonse's instructions".

"What the fu-? Hughes, what the hell are you trying to do?!" Mustang all but screeched, batting the owls away in vain.

Another owl, larger than the others, swooped into the room. However, instead of it going straight at Mustang, it landed gracefully on the sofa arm and threw an imperious glare at Hughes, as if saying 'tend to me, you peasant'.

"Sorry Roy, this one's more important." Hughes said, going back to the sofa. Ignoring the incredulous looks his friend is giving him, he went to the sofa and relieved the eagle owl of its burden. Hughes's face then contorted into an evil smile as he faced his friend again.

"Hughes, what do you think-"Mustang started, only to be blinded by a camera flash. "Sorry Roy, they said please." Hughes said, smirking at his friend.

Dazed by the camera flash, the owls then landed on Mustang's table, luckily not upending the precarious stack of paperwork on it. It was then Mustang noticed that all the owls have packages tied to their legs.

"Owls." was all Mustang was able to say

"Yep. They say postal owls are smarter than homing pigeons. Also, they won't stop until their packages are actually delivered. Hence the endless tapping at your window." Hughes then explained, handing the bag of owl treats to his friend. "Its actually the most common way of communication with wizarding Britain." seeing the blank look his friend has, Hughes then said; "Let me guess, you still have not read the primer Era left you, lazy sod." but without any heat or malice in the words.

Noticing his friend focusing on the missives tied to the birds, he took the sheaf of papers marked "urgent" from the table, and then some more. "Just this once, Roy. I know you want to read all those reports first. Don't forget to give them pet treats before they leave." Gesturing to the eagle owl still perched on the sofa, Hughes said, "I still need write a reply, can you come with me to my office?"

Looking as if he has no other choice, the eagle owl deigned to perch on Hughes' shoulder as they leave Mustang's office towards their own.

A/N:

yes, I know, that is one snooty eagle owl. I've decided to name him Mycroft. Because reasons. Should his name be revealed in the story? or should it just remain background info for us who reads author's notes?

and thank you anon for this wonderful, wonderful prompt

don't hesitate to leave reviews so I know how I'm doing :)

p.s. since I have not heard from my beta in quite a while now, I'll be posting this raw (read: unbeta'd). Any mistakes are my own