Last time our three Aurors heard the story of Edward and Alphonse Elric, or just Ed and Al as they like to be called. Nuff said. On with the show!
Chapter 8: Alliance and More Research
"So Alchemy was banned in your world," said Ed as he and Al were escorted to the Auror office, "Due to the number of accidents and irresponsible experiments."
"Right," said Hermione, "But The Ministry archives still has several books and scrolls on the subject for historical purposes. We've learned a lot about Alchemy in such a short time, yet I've yet to find anything that can help us destroy the Homunculus."
"How to destroy a Homunculus is easy," said Ed, "All you need is a portion of the remains of the one the Homunculus was meant to replace."
"What do you mean?" asked Harry, hoping that Ed wasn't implying what Harry thought he was implying.
"We don't understand exactly how it works," said Al, "But Homunculi lose their strength and become venerable when in close proximity to the remains of the person that was supposed to be brought back to life."
"I thought as much," said Harry, "You're saying we need a part of Cedric Diggory. If we can get that part of Cedric close enough to the Homunculus, we can destroy it."
"Just bloody great," said Ron, "Now all we need is to dig up Cedric Diggory and use some part of him."
"We won't have to dig anyone up," said Hermione, "After the fiasco of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Cedric was cremated. Last I heard his ashes are still above ground. We'll have to ask Amos Diggory for permission to use Cedric's ashes. It would be better if you asked, Harry."
Naturally Amos Diggory was happy to oblige. He was somewhat concerned that his son's ashes would be used for something dangerous, but once explained the situation he agreed.
Meanwhile Hermione continued her research into Alchemy. "This is incredible," said Ed as he examined several of the titles on Alchemy in the archives, "I remember some of these books from when Al and I were kids."
"You're kidding," said Ron, "How can two different dimensions have the same things?"
"I don't know all the mechanics of parallel realities," said Hermione, "But different universes can have similarities both big and small."
"I remember this one," said Al as he picked up a book, "'Equivalent Exchange: A Beginners Guide to Alchemy.' This sure brings back memories." He leafed through the book before putting it back in the bookcase. By shear chance a random book fell from the top shelf of the bookcase and landed next to Ed.
"Here's one I've never seen before," said Ed as he picked up the book, "There's no title, just a name on the inside cover, some guy named Flamel."
Ed's words hit Hermione like a tone of bricks, a metric tone to be exact. She ran over to Ed and took the book from his hands. "I don't believe it," she said, her voice brimming with joy and excitement, "This is the personal journal of Nicolas Flamel! It was thought to have been lost over a hundred and fifty years ago!"
"That's the Alchemist you told us about," said Al, "The one who made a Philosopher's stone."
"Indeed," said Hermione as she eagerly speed-read the book, the pages turning like a fan, "This book should tell everything that is needed to create a Sorcerer's Stone. Wait a minute, there are several pages ripped out in the middle."
"Who wants to bet that those are the pages about the Sorcerer's Stone?" said Ron.
Hermione meanwhile continued to scan the book for further deletions until she reached the last written page. "Listen to this," she said before reading the words out loud; "'These shall be the last words I write in this journal, or in anything, for soon I shall be dead. I've spoken to my good friend Albus, and we both agree that the stone should be destroyed. If I had known that he-who-must-not-be-named was so relentless, I would have destroyed the stone months ago, if not years. Still, life is not an easy thing to give up. Already I feel the withdraw effects from lack of the elixir of life. I've used what little I had stored for emergencies to put my affairs in order; soon I shall give up this mortal coil of mine.
"Yet despite the knowledge that I shall soon meet my end, I am not troubled. I feel that I am finally going to bed after an extremely long day, which isn't all that surprising since I am almost seven hundred years old.
"There is one more thing I must put down on parchment. I have destroyed all my notes and research on how I made the stones. What I did to create them is too terrible for anyone to reproduce. The secret of the Sorcerer's Stone will die with me. That is all, there's nothing more to say…'"
"He took his method of making a Philosopher's Stone to the grave," said Ed, "I wonder how many people he had to kill to make the stone."
"We don't know what Flamel did to make the stone," said Ron, "How do you know his method involved innocent lives?"
"Would he have destroyed his research if id didn't involved blood and death?" asked Ed.
"Hold on a second," said Al, "What was that about 'stones?' 'Stones' as in more than one?"
"You're right," said Hermione as she reread Flamel's final writings, "He did write down 'stones' in the plural sense. He must have had more than one at that time."
"What are you talking about?" asked Harry as he came into the room. In his arms was a modest size brass urn.
"Is that it?" asked Ron.
"Yes," answered Harry, "These are Cedric's ashes," he carefully placed the urn on the table, "Now what was that about the Sorcerer's Stone?"
"Well we found Flamel's journal," said Hermione, "And in his last entry he mentions the stone, but in a sense that there was more than the one that Voldemort tried to steal. There's a distinct chance that there's another one out there somewhere."
"If we could get that stone," said Al, "We can restore your arm and leg, brother."
"No thanks, Al," said Ed, "After all this time, I'm used to having Auto-Mail limbs."
"But we could use it to restore Cho's hands," said Hermione, "And then use it to send you two back to your world."
"That sounds like a very good plan to me," said Ed, "But first thing's first. We need to deal with this Homunculus before it kills again."
Ed spoke too soon for word had reached Harry that the Homunculus had indeed killed again, another four muggles this time. But good news was right around the corner. In came Lavender Brown with word that she and Parvarti had located the Homunculus again. "Let's go," said Harry as he, Ron, Hermione, Ed and Al prepared for the coming hunt, "And this time we finish it."
The end of chapter 8. Next chapter our heroes track down the Homunculus for the final showdown. Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!