Morning came too early and his body quickly, systematically, started itself up. First, the arms extend to stretch out the tired joints then then move back to push the body up. Quickly swinging the leg and pushing one more time- Alphonse Elric was awake.

Al pulled his arm over his head and stretched out his tired and sleepy body. He had the complete right to feel the fatigue still looming over his brain even after sleeping for quite a while- it was still an hour before the even the first of the students woke up. Well, other than his brother Ed.

Al quickly grabbed his robe and brushed his hair back and his teeth. He made sure to quietly close the room door so the others wouldn't wake up. He still couldn't shake off the feeling that people were watching him more closely compared to before. Just the other day, he saw Justin run off with another group of first years and he couldn't help but notice that they ran because they saw him. . .


The mornings were cold- the always were. It started to get colder slowly each day after day.

'Soon brother won't be able to come out until making sure his leg is warmed considerably,' Al mused inside his head and mentally laughed at that.

"Aaaallll, why are you being so weird early in the morning?" Ed approached with his hands tucked in his pocket of his bright red Flamel robe.

"Eh? You are wearing your old robe? What's the special occasion?"

"Huh? I mean, it's early and no one is awake. Judging by the current temperature, they will take longer to wake up because it's so much more comfortable in bed. But still, what are you laughing at out here all by yourself?" Ed plopped himself down onto the grass and stretched his legs out in front of himself. He started to warm himself up by pulling his arms above his head then bringing it down to stretch each of his legs.

"Huh? Oh, its nothing much. Hey brother, recently. . .I, well. . .nevermind," Al quickly said before doing the same as Ed and sitting down to stretch.

"Sheesh, don't like Al. I am not as good at reading emotions but I know that you are feeling distressed. Come on, tell me, what's on your mind? And don't lie," Ed lightly hit Al on the head and sternly reprimanded him.

"Well. . .it's just that lately I see that people may be staring at me more. . .and also of course that no one is willing to tell me more about the Chamber of Secrets!" Al rushed the second part out in attempt to try to push Ed's attention away.

"More people watching you?" Nope, it didn't work. "I know that Harry has problem with people since they think he petrified the cat but I don't know why they would look at you. . .Can you describe how they look at you?"

"Um, I can't be sure but. . .somehow it looks like they hate me? Kind of like they are scared of me but I didn't even do anything!"

Ed frowned and leaned forward onto his stretch and then quickly snapped himself back. "They think you could have done it!" As quickly as he said it, he snapped his hand over his mouth. "Ah wait, crap, Al, that is only a guess."

"Me? W-why though? Al stopped mid-stretch and looked back at Ed-distressed. "I don't think I did anything wrong though. . "

"No- no, its only a guess. Hermione and Ron was there too and so was I," Ed quickly corrected himself. "No, that's really stupid. Pretty sure majority of people know that you like animals and too friendly to do something stupid like that. But I'll look into it."

Al sighed deeply then shook his head, "Whatever, I think I may be just imagining things. Anyways, do you think they will do anything about it? I mean the teachers."

Ed scratched his head, "Well, I have no idea. Been awhile since we actually went to school hasn't it?" Ed joked and stood back up to stretch out again. "I couldn't find much from the Hogwarts: A History book. Even though I took the effort to mail back home. . . Agh, couldn't find anything in the library either. Do you think the teachers know anything?"

Al shook his head, "I don't know if they do but brother, maybe we should keep our eyes open. Maybe I'll ask Harry!"

Ed grinned, "Got it, I'll do my own researching."


"Whoa! Al, what are you doing with all those books?" Harry exclaimed in disbelief after seeing all the books nearly flowing out of his bag.

"Huh? Oh, good morning Harry! I thought I should do some research on my own since it just doesn't make sense to me and I would like to know everything I can as soon as I can," Al quickly replied without a single beat. "Good morning as well, Hermione and Ron!"

Harry sat down next to Al and looked at him like he grew another head. Ron and Hermione sat down next to Harry and Ron just stared at the books Al had in his bag.

"I looked through those books already and found nothing," Hermione added in before grabbing a glass of milk.

"Well, it's true that I have found nothing involving the Chamber of Secrets directly so far but I have found out about some interesting things!" Al sheepishly stated.

"Hermione, I think you affected Al. . ." Ron stared in disbelief as Al quickly turned back to the book and continued to take notes.

"I think it's great that he enjoys reading just as much as his brother," Hermione snapped and pushed back her hair, "it's not a disease to enjoy reading. Maybe you should start."

"Speaking of Ed. . ." Harry directed their attention to the older of the Elrics that was sitting at the Slytherin table and talking to Malfoy. He didn't miss how Crabbe and Goyle would seem to pick out Ed's food and give it to him.

Neither did Ron.

"It's kinda suspicious how close Ed is to Malfoy's gang don't you think. . .?" Ron lowered his voice and whispered.

Harry briefly looked incredulously at Ron then quickly dismissed it. There was no way that what Ron suggested made sense. Ed and Al were very nice people. They also arrived at the same place at the same time as well and they didn't hear the voices either. They couldn't possibly have done it.

"Whatever, we will soon see once we get that potion thingy ready," Ron mumbled and folded his arms over his chest stubbornly.

"Wait, so how are we getting it again?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Wait and see, be good today Harry, ok?" Hermione ordered and returned to eating her breakfast.

Ron and Harry turned to each other- confused.


"We gotta be quiet," Ron whispered and gestured to the huge mounds of books surrounding Ed and Al. Al was furiously writing onto a parchment as Ed gave him information.

Harry and Hermione looked incredulous at Ron before walking straight up to Madam Pince. Ed threw them a smaller and thinner book than the one he was currently digging his nose in.

Ron looked offended and hissed at Ed, "What do you want?"

"Open to that page, you'll be surprised. Al, 1943. . ." Ed returned back to his hushed whispers.

Ron looked confused at Ed's demand but Hermione quickly snatched the book and flipped to the page Ed have placed a slip of paper in.

"'Merlin- Prince of Enchanters: He was a member of King Arthur's court during the Medieval Era and founded the Order of Merlin in order to protect Muggle Rights. This was the first of its kind and-'" Hermione read to the group but was interrupted by Ron.

"What is so important about this?"

"Shh!" Hermione glared then returned back to the reading, "So impatient, 'before Merlin was part of King Arthur's Court, he was actually a student of Hogwarts A School of Witchcraft. He was sorted into Slytherin and was taught personally by Salazar Slytherin.'"

Harry looked at the slip of parchment Ed had placed into the book and read what either Ed or Al wrote on it, "'See, not all Slytherins are bad.'"

Ron huffed, "Doesn't mean that all Slytherins are good either."

"Then maybe you should change your way of thinking that all Slytherins are evil," Hermione retorted then gently placed the book next to Al's parchment before walking towards Madam Pince with her own slip of parchment."


"This. Is. So. Boring," Ed groaned before slamming his head onto the desk as Lockhart talked continuously about how he banished some sort of monster or whatever.

Draco looked amused at the way how Ed was lightly hitting his head onto the table. Draco was surprised at how Crabbe and Goyle seemed to be paying attention to what Lockhart was saying and scribbling down some sort of notes.

"Are you guys still actually trying?" Draco asked in astonishment.

Crabbe nodded and pointed to the face-desking Ed then used his thumb to draw an imaginary line on his neck. Draco winced- he didn't know that Ed scared them that badly last year!

"Well, it's not like he is actually teaching us any information. . " Draco leaned slightly forward to look at what Crabbe had actually written down.

He saw multiple different scribbles and the one he was actually able to read said 'The Homorphus Charm.'

"Would he actually quiz us on that?" Draco disbelieving asked.

Ed lifted his head from the face planted position and responded to Draco's question, "All you need to know is that the Homorphus Charm is capable of turning a werewolf into a man again. He is not gonna ask how to actually use it."

"I thought you weren't paying attention," Draco said amused.

"I am not," Ed said before face planting again.


"You want to learn the Homorphus Charm? Don't think it'll be useful but sure. Let's go to the forest again then," Ed uncrossed his legs and sat up- pulling on his red Flamel robe before quietly slipping out of the room and into the darkness.


"Brother! Are you ready to watch the match?" Al excitedly asked Ed once he saw his brother at the stadium as well.

"I guess I am. Not sitting with the rest of the Gryffindor today?"

"No, I'll watch from here," Al sat down with excitement.

"Well, let's see who wins then."

The Elric brothers watched both Quidditch teams walk towards each other and two captains shake each other's hands before the whistle for the game to start was blown.

After the first minute of the game, Al got confused and pointed to Harry. "Why does it look like that bludger is following Harry?"

Ed frowned and after watching for another minute, Ed was pretty sure that the ball was rigged. "Who in the world-" Ed growled.

Then, it started to rain. Ed casted a quickly drying spell so that they wouldn't get wet. "Someone is cheating," Ed hissed after hearing the score.

Seeing that it was time-out, Al started to get up, "Maybe we can do something?"

"Too late," Blaise said from behind. "Looks like game is in our favor," he joked but immediately closed his mouth after Ed glared at him.

"It's not good! It is never good to win by cheating!" Ed growled.

Suddenly, the crowd turned deathly silent and Ed managed to look right back on time to see the bludger hit Harry.

"Harry!" Al quickly got up from his seat before jumping from the stadium and into the playing ground.

"Al!" Ed called before looking up and furiously trying to signal to Draco to do something but it was too late and Harry hit the ground with a incredible PLOP.

"We have to move him!" Al called after seeing that Harry passed out. Due to the frantic rush that was occurring within the Gryffindor team because their player just got attacked, no one questioned why Al was in the field and gave way to let Al perform a levitation charm.

"Gosh Al. . ." Ed sat back down with a smile. There was no way anyone could think badly of Al, he was always trying so hard.

Then Ed saw Lockhart approaching Al and the floating body of Harry. "Oh no."

Blaise snickered, "Well, that Potter is a goner for sure now."

Ed found himself entirely agreeing with Blaise.

"Please don't!" Al called out when he finally put down Harry and saw Professor Lockhart looking incredibly full of himself.

Collin peaked out from behind Lockhart and started to snap pictures and finally woke up Harry. Al sneaked around to stop Collin after seeing that Harry was awake.

"Oh no," Harry moaned after he saw Professor Lockhart.

"I think it'll be better if-" Al tried to suggest before Professor Lockhart shook his head and tried to smile reassuringly.

"I will fix your arm right now!" Lockhart exclaimed before twirling his wand and pointing it to Harry's arm.

Al winced and closed his eyes. This was not going to be good.

And it wasn't.

Al was rendered speechless seeing the flesh rubber that was attached to Harry's shoulder.

"Well, that happens sometimes. Now now, let's get you to the infirmary!" Lockhart chirped and Al had to try very hard not to punch Lockhart in the face.


"How are you feeling Harry?" Al slowly crept into the room but didn't miss the way how Harry's eyes had darted frantically around.

"Collin isn't here."

"Uh, I'm feeling better than when I was on the field at least. . ." Harry sheepishly said.

"Can't believe Lockhart didn't apologize," Ed plopped himself on a stool next to Al's. Harry didn't even flinch seeing Ed there so casually.

"Uh, so-"

"Nope, the teachers just kinda dismissed the bludger incident as an accident. They aren't investigating but if you want them to I can make them- I mean, convince them," Ed quickly corrected himself.

Al quietly muttered under his breath, "No violence brother," but in a louder voice said, "hopefully an incident like this won't occur again. Brother told me of the dangerous things you had to do last year and that would be terrible to go through that all again!"

"Well, it wasn't really all me though, Ed was also very injured!"

"Well-" Al hesitated, "brother was just being careless." Ed reluctantly agreed to Al's comment about his 'injury.'

"But-"

"Don't worry about it Harry. If you have any problems you know you can ask me anytime. Unlike you, I use my brain to the fullest of its capabilities," Ed said offhandedly.

Harry hesitantly agreed- he dared not disagree since Ed looked like the type of person who could easily flip over someone three times his height and Ed seemed studious enough.

"Thanks for the offer bu-"

"No buts!" Al interjected and stood up quickly, "If you ever need help, just ask! If brother won't help than I will!"

"Tch, Al, stealing the words right out of my mouth," Ed joked. "Well, we will give you your rest. Madam Pomphrey will be coming back soon so out we go."

Right after the two Elric brothers left the room, Harry was suddenly struck by the surprise that Ed had actually called a teacher, 'Madam'.


Al jerked awake in cold sweat. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong. The younger Elric shakily tried to close his eyes and concentrate but he couldn't shake off the icy cold feeling on his skin that something was off. He quickly leapt out of bed and advanced towards his dorm door but was stopped when one of his room mates woke up.

"Huh?" the boy asked blearily. "Elric? Why are you up?"

"I thought I felt something but I guess it was my imagination, sorry for waking you up. I'll go back to bed," Al apologized and returned to his bed and pulled up the covers and tried to force himself to re-enter the dream world.


The idea about Merlin is from Lilith Faye Black - Thanks!

Thanks to those who favorited, reviewed and followed! It makes my day to see that people are enjoying what I make!