(covers head from the flying bricks from the readers) aieee!

I apologize for my lack of loyalty to my fellow readers and reviewers. Let me explain to you that I don't get a lot of motivation to continue with any of my fics. I would one day get a nice story to begin but after that, I just abruptly stop writing. I'm a huge procrastinator (and maybe a quitter) and continuing to write on a daily base (or even monthly base) seems impossible to me.

I started writing this chapter a very long time ago but after that I just stopped writing. I periodically received reviews from kind readers like you and I greatly appreciate them. Every time I got one, I felt somewhat inspired and sometimes added tidbits to this chapter. Because of your kind reviews, I was able to write the longest chapter of this fic to date! I hope you enjoy this chapter and write me some reviews after and let's see what they offer. Maybe I'll eventually write more chapters. Then again, your reviews may become fruitless and this story would just rot in dirt. Who knows! I say, just review for the hell of it. :P

Disclaimer: I do no have ownership for Fullmetal Alchemist nor Harry Potter.

Chapter 4: Detention

"You're so short! Hahaha!!"

"Hey you! Midget!"

"Where is he? I don't see him."

These phrases were echoing in Edwards head, getting louder and louder…by the second. It was driving him insane and he suddenly woke up in a cold sweat, short breathed.

'Goddamn it.', he though to himself as he rubbed his forehead. He glanced at the clock and it was still 7:00 in the morning and he was teaching at 9. He decided to take a shower so he discarded his moist clothing on to the bathroom floor.

He got dressed in his usual black clothing with his red coat over it. He decided to go get some breakfast and as he walked through the corridors, he noticed that students were staring at him in a strange way and heard them whispering to each other but he couldn't tell what they were saying. He thought it was their way of mocking his height but little did he know, for the girls, they were staring at him because to them, he was their eye candy with blonde hair tied back in a braid and his intense golden eyes piercing through theirs. And as for the boys, they just wondered how a 20 year old could get hired to teach but for some, they thought that he was faking his age. Edward was closing his eyes as he was trying to ignore the stares darting at his direction. And then he bumped into someone. He opened his eyes to see who it was and saw it was girl.

"Sorry Miss-…Oh it's you", said Ed, coldly as soon as he realized it was Hermione.

"And what is that supposed to mean professor?", she asked with speculation.

"Exactly what it means Miss. Granger."

She glowered at him, disgusted at this attitude and he started to walk away.

"You know, you didn't apologize to me yet."

"I didn't? Oh my apologies Miss. Granger. How could I be so vain?", he replied sarcastically.

She grunted angrily and rushed past him.

"That bastard…that, that son of a bitch." She angrily muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, Ed was grinning in victory. But even though he would never admit it, he was feeling somewhat guilty of how he is treating her.

"What's the matter Hermione?"asked Harry.

"The new Alchemist teacher. Merlin, he is most despicable person I have ever met!"

"You mean the most despicable person next to Malfoy right?"

"They're both equally despicable." Answered Hermione coldly.

"So how was yesterday? You looked like the apocalypse came when you found out that Malfoy was the new Head Boy.", asked Ron.

"Thanks for reminding me of him, Ron." Said Hermione, with no hint of appreciation in her voice.

"Oh. Sorry." Apologized Ron with his goofy smile. And Hermione couldn't help smiling at it.

"Why do we need Alchemy anyways? It's not like were ever going to need it." Hermione suddenly pointed out.

"Wow Hermione, you were the last person I would've thought would say that.", said Harry, slightly surprised.

"Why's that?"

"Well, you know, you just love to learn. It's like in your nature or something."

"I guess I just don't want to learn certain things…could we just eat in peace now?"

"Sure" answered both of them in unison.

"Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange." Explained the alchemist.

"Such rubbish.", muttered Hermione.

Edward stopped his lecture and said, "Excuse me Miss. Granger. Do you have something you want to share to the class?"

"Yes, I actually do. Please, answer this question. Why must we learn about alchemy which requires equal value to be lost to gain something when we have magic which do not require a sacrifice?" Everyone in the class gawked at Hermione in amazement. Draco Malfoy was staring at her as well, thinking that she has a good point for once. So he raised his hand as well and said, "I want to know why as well."

Edward sighed and answered, "Professor Dumbledore has his reasons for including this curriculum in Hogwarts."

"Mind telling us this reason?"

"Sorry to say that he did not exactly tell me the reason."

"So you're teaching without knowing why?"

"If you want to put it that way, sure."

"How many people applied for the job?"

"It was just myself. Not many people know about alchemy around here."

"Oh I see. So where exactly did you come from?"

"Do you mind if I teach the class now?"

"Actually, I do mind. I do not want to learn a subject without knowing the reason to."

"Alright then. I hope you don't mind serving detention then."

Hermione glowered at him and sat down.

"Very well then. 7:00 in this room."

Rest of the day for Hermione just breezed by with the burden of detention weighing her down. After she finished her dinner, she went back to her dormitory to do her homework.

Just when she settled down on the lumpy couch in front of the fireplace, the portrait swung open and Malfoy entered.

"Well, hello there Mudblood." Greeted in a friendly manner.

Hermione just sat there, gazing at her homework, pretending to be oblivious to her surroundings..

"So the goody two-shoes, Granger has a detention right after the school year started. Not a good thing is it now?"

"Do you mind? I'm trying to finish my homework before, as you mentioned, my detention."

"Why should I mind? This isn't your room."

"Well I was here first."

"Did it ever occur to you that we share the common room?"

"I wouldn't mind if you weren't a distraction."

"So I could stay." Said Malfoy in a content, yet sly manner.

Malfoy sat on the opposite of the couch of Hermione and took a book off the coffee table. With his feet on the table, he slummed back into the couch on the opposite side as Hermione. Even though he was just sitting there, the common room was completely quite now with the sound of the clock ticking, second by second and this bothered Hermione even more. Tick…tock….tick…tock….the sound became louder and louder and it reached her limit. She suddenly stood up, collected her books and quickly walked up to her room. Malfoy grinned in victory as she shut the door behind her. She looked at the clock in her room and it was 7:15.

"Miss Granger, I'm very glad that you were able to come." Said the Alchemist sarcastically.

"Sorry Sir. There was a detour on my way to this classroom."

"Mind explaining to me what kind of detour is was?"

"There was a flood in a corridor." lied Hermione in an airy manner.

"I see" replied Edward without any conviction.

"Well, what is my task?"

"Ah yes…let's start with the storage closet. It's been a mess since I came here." Said the Alchemist as he pointed toward a worn-out wooden door.

Hermione dragged her feet to the direction of the finger without saying anything else. Meanwhile, Edward picked up a book on his desk and started to read. She turned the door knob and immediately an object fell out and bumped on her head. She rubbed her head as she analyzed the object and saw that it was a book with the title, Legends and Myths of Hogwarts. Hermione somewhat felt that this book was very familiar to her. The book had a mark inserted in a certain page and she opened to that page and saw a picture of a crimson colored crystal and the page had the title, 'The Sorcerer's stone' (AKA Philosopher's Stone). Her eyes went wide.

"Excuse me, Miss. Granger. What are you doing?" asked the Alchemist as he realized that she was sitting there, looking at a book.

"Is this book yours?" she asked without answering his question.

"Why, yes it is."

"Why is this book marked on the Sorcerer's Stone?"

"No reason, just my curiosity... Why do you ask?" questioned Edward with speculation.

"I was just curious as well."

"I see. Do you happen to know anything on the topic?"

She contemplated on whether it is okay to reveal her knowledge about the stone.

"Well?"

"I…actually do know a little." Hermione answered somewhat troubled.

"Would you mind sharing what you know?" asked Edward, with curiosity.

The room was silent and Hermione thought to herself:

'Is it okay to talk about the stone with a stranger? What is he planning to do with the information? Does he desire immortality? What is his motive? But the stone is destroyed and it's now where to be found. Knowing about the stone is just another useless knowledge. Even if he is looking for the stone, there is no way he can obtain because it doesn't exist anymore.'

"The Sorcerer's stone…is a stone a stone created by Nicolas Flamel; it was an extraordinary and very powerful magical item; the Stone could transform metal into gold and produce the Elixir of Life, a potion that allowed the drinker to live indefinitely as long as they kept drinking it…however, it was destroyed, not so long ago."

"Why was it destroyed?"

"Because it attracted evil minds which desired immortality."

"I see. Thank you for your information." He said as he gave her a slight smile.

"…uh…n-no problem." She replied as she looked away.

This surprised Hermione. It was the first time that the Alchemist smiled and thanked her with sincerity. This was actually the first decent conversation that they ever had without trying to patronize each other.

"You know, the storage isn't going to clean itself." Said a voice.

Hermione snapped to reality and glanced at the closet and realized that it was an absolute mess. Every inch was covered with thick, dark layer of dust and there were bits of things (afraid to identify what they are) plastered on the shelves. There were still boxes and junk sitting around, collecting dust. She looked into the repulsive space with disgust.

"Well? Go on, Miss Granger." Said Edward with a smug smile.

Hermione felt like she hated him all over again. She couldn't believe how she could think that he was a decent person for a minute.

Remember to write a review to keep me potentially motivated. :P