Disclaimers: Found in Ch.1

A/N: Sorry for the wait, but this chapter refused to be written without fight. Combined with my laziness this chapter took a little while to write. I would also like to send thanks to all the reviewers. I honestly never expected this story to get as many as it has. Also, special thanks to Monkey Mist Robo who beta read this chapter. Also, I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. It's again a lot dialogue, but Draco makes an appearance!

Harry woke up the next morning with a groan. He felt sore, like he had carried something far too heavy for far too long. Groaning again, he tiredly rubbed his shoulder. Putting his glasses on, he looked around the dorm. He saw that he was the only one awake. Shrugging, he managed to get up, grab some robes, and make his way to the bathroom.

Coming out a few minutes later, he looked over at the bed that was currently housing his sleeping guest. The boy shifted in his sleep, and a small frown marred his face. Wondering what the boy could be dreaming about, Harry went over to Ron and shook him awake. "C'mon Ron, you gotta get up if you want to be able to eat breakfast before class." The red headed boy grunted and rolled over.

Knowing he would get up in a few minutes, Harry made his way over to Ed. Again the boy seemed to be dreaming of something upsetting. Harry sighed and then gently shook Ed to wake him. He was surprised to see the boy jerk upright and bring his hand up as if to hit him. Harry jerked back and stared wide eyed at the boy who was staring at him in confusion.

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Ed stared at a dark haired boy wearing glasses that had seemingly woken him up. To say that Ed was confused would have been an understatement. He had no where he was or why he was there. Shaking his head slightly, Ed looked around. He seemed to be in a dorm or barracks.

The boy that had woken Ed up asked him a question that he didn't understand. Shrugging at the boy to indicate that he didn't understand, Ed tried to get up. Only to discover that his automail limbs didn't work. Groaning, Ed cursed under his breath. His memories came rushing back to him. He was in a school, his automail didn't work, and he had to carted around by some kid. Sometimes it really felt like some deity hated him.

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Harry watched as realization came upon Ed. Harry could sigh heavily as he realized that there was a language barrier once more. Pointing his wand at Ed, Harry cast a charm that made Ed's clothes look they hadn't just been slept in. Walking over to Ed, he tried to signal he help him downstairs. Seeing Ed nod in acknowledgement, he helped the boy stand. Managing to make their way downstairs to the common room, Harry saw Hermione already there.

Harry sighed in relief. If there was anyone who would know a charm to make understand them, it was Hermione. Hobbling over, Harry set Ed down in a chair and then sat down himself. "Hermione, the spell Snape cast yesterday to make Ed understand us wore off."

Hermione looked over at Ed and then waved her wand at him and muttered under her breath. "I don't it's as powerful as the one Snape cast yesterday, but it should last at least for a couple of hours." Harry nodded in understanding and then looked up as he heard Ron coming down the stairs, talking to Seamus and Dean about the upcoming Quidditch match.

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Ed watched silently as a bushy haired girl waved a stick at him and he could understand the language around him again. Ed was trying to remain calm, but all the blatant impossibility going on around him was about to drive him insane. He just couldn't understand how the portraits could be moving, how people could just wave a stick and suddenly be able to understand a whole new language, or how waving a stick could accomplish anything! Alchemy could never manage to do anything that he was seeing and Ed was hard pressed to understand anything that was currently going on.

Looking over at the boy who had summoned him here, Ed quickly got his attention. "What the hell is going on here? I mean portraits don't just move, sticks shouldn't make me understand your language, and people aren't just summoned!" Ed spoke this rather heatedly.

Harry looked surprised at Ed's outburst. At a loss for how to answer, the girl next to him did it for him. "It's only magic," the girl patiently explained to him. Ed growled. These people acted as if magic was a logical explanation to everything.

Shaking his head angrily, Ed glared at the girl. "Magic isn't real! There's gotta be a logical explanation for this. Otherwise..." Ed trailed off. Harry and the girl looked puzzled.

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Ron had just walked over to join Harry, Hermione, and the new boy Ed, and was startled to hear Ed's last statement. Looking over at Harry and Hermione, he could see they were just as puzzled by Ed. Sitting next to Harry, Ron asked Ed the question that was on all their minds. "Otherwise what?"

Ed looked up, as though surprised that they were still there. "Nothing. I was just thinking."

Harry was troubled by Ed's answer. When Ed had said that there had been anger, hurt, and pain laced in his voice.

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Looking at three faces full of disbelief, Ed changed the subject. "So, who are the other two, Harry?"

Harry seemed to be confused by the abrupt turn in the conversation before realizing he hadn't introduced his best friends yet. "Oh, this is Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Hermione, Ron, this is Edward Elric, or Ed for short." Introductions done, Harry watched as Hermione leaned forward with a gleam in her eye.

"Ed, I was just wondering why your arm and leg don't seem to work. I mean your right leg and left arm work fine, so why would your right arm and left leg just stop like that?"

Ed shifted uncomfortably, or shifted as best he could anyway. Glancing over at a portrait, Ed sighed heavily before answering. "I can't tell you that. It's classified."

Bafflement crossed her face before a look of understanding dawned. Looking sharply over at the trio he could see they were communicating silently.

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Ed had been deposited at the library and the three who had helped him to get there had left. Madam Pince, the librarian, was more than happy to help Ed get books, but admonished that he should be quiet at all times. Bemused, Ed opened a thick leather bound book, titled Magical Means of Summoning. Quickly becoming absorbed, Ed lost track of time. So he was surprised when he felt someone gently shaking him. Looking up he saw Madam Pince, holding a tray with food on it.

"Edward, I thought you might like a bit of lunch. You've been sitting there all morning, barely moving except to switch books." The librarian smiled kindly down at Ed.

Blinking, Ed could only nod. Setting the tray down in front of Ed, Madam Pince quickly went to go back to her own lunch. Looking down at the tray Ed saw a chicken sandwich, some chips, and a drink that was orange. Picking the drink up, he sniffed it cautiously. It smelled slightly spicy and like pumpkins. Taking a sip, Ed grimaced. Tasted like pumpkins too. Eating quickly, Ed resumed his research.

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Harry had been distracted all through his classes. He could tell that Ron was as well. Harry could only think what Ed might be hiding about his limbs. He had told Ron and Hermione last night at dinner the conversation that Ed and Dumbledore had last night. Hermione had been fascinated that he was in the military and that where he claimed to be from apparently didn't exist. Ron had just been darkly suspicious, saying that he could be from You-Know-Who.

Hermione had just shaken her head, asking Ron how that could be since Harry was the one to summon him. Hermione had also wanted to go to the library right away, but Harry and Ron had prevented her, saying she could go the next day. Smiling slightly at Hermione's eagerness to do research, Harry was startled when Ron tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, mate, bell just rung. Time to go."

Quickly gathering his things and stuffing them in his bag, Harry and Ron left the classroom. Chatting quietly, they made their way to the Great Hall where Hermione was already eating. She had a large book in front of her and was reading intently. Sitting on either side of her, Ron was the first to speak. "So Hermione, what are you reading this time?"

Looking up, surprised, Hermione looked like she had been reading intently for some time. "Oh, it's just about summoning potions. I thought if I could pinpoint the exact one that Harry used it could help Ed in his research. He was so focused on reading that he didn't even notice I was there. Madam Pince said that the only time he stopped reading was when she brought him some lunch. It looked like he had gone through quite a few books already."

Harry and Ron looked at each other, stunned. Ed didn't look like the type that could sit still for any amount of time without something occupying him. And research didn't look like something Ed would be good at. Especially since he was in the military. Ron shook his head. "Never thought a soldier and research went together," he said.

Hermione 'tsked'. "Honestly, Ron, you know there are scientists in the military too. He might be a scientist. From what Harry told us about his conversation with Dumbledore, and from what I saw, Ed actually seems to be really intelligent. Especially if he got into the military at the age of twelve."

"He might be smarter than you, Hermione," Ron teased.

Hermione glared at Ron. Harry sighed and jumped into the conversation before they could get into another argument. "Hermione, I was wondering if you had put any thought into why Ed's arm and leg don't work.

Glancing over at Harry, she nodded. "Actually, the only known instance of anything just stopping like that once they were near or inside of Hogwarts is muggle electronics. But his limbs couldn't be electronic, so I don't know what it could be. Maybe he has some type of implants?"

Harry nodded thoughtfully while Ron just looked confused by the latest turn in the conversation. "Implants? What are those?"

"Like chips or something. Medical achievements might be more advanced wherever it is he comes from. Maybe something happened to his arm and leg and the implants helped to keep them operable, but when he arrived here they stopped working."

"Chips? Why would he have chips in his arms and legs?" Ron questioned.

"Not like the food. Muggles have these tiny electronic devices that are grafted to tissues and can help with various medical problems," Hermione explained.

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Ed didn't notice when someone entered the library and walked over to his table. In fact, he didn't look up till he heard someone clear their throat impatiently and tap the table. When Ed finally did look up he saw a white-blonde haired boy whose skin was almost unnaturally pale. The boy had a pointed face and an air of superiority about him.

Confused as to why the boy would approach him, Ed looked at the boy curiously. When the boy spoke, Ed realized that he didn't understand a word coming out his mouth. Cursing under his breath, Ed realized that he needed to either learn the language or get a permanent translation spell.

Looking at the boy, who seemed to be waiting for a response, Ed only shrugged and tried to tell him that he didn't understand. Seeing that the boy was looking disgusted, Ed stopped him and motioned for him to get Madam Pince. The boy seemed to understand and then left. The boy came back a few minutes later with the librarian following. Ed mimed that she needed to cast a spell. She seemed puzzled until the boy spoke to her. Nodding slightly, she waved her wand and Ed could understand the language again. Seeing that it was successful, Madam Pince left.

"Sorry about that. I don't speak your language yet. What was it you were saying earlier?"

"I was just introducing myself. I'm Draco Malfoy. I was wondering of you were a guest here at Hogwarts."

Ed nodded. "For the time being. I believe you were there when I was brought here?"

Draco Malfoy looked surprised. "That was you? Unfortunately I was in the back and so I didn't get a good look. Are you a wizard?"

Ed shook his head. "No. I don't possess any 'magic'. I still find it hard to believe that magic even exists. I'm still not even sure how I was brought here in the first place."

Ed could see that Malfoy was looking like he had something vile. "You're a muggle? I thought muggles couldn't see Hogwarts."

Ed was confused. What was a muggle? It was something he had never heard before. "What exactly is a muggle?"

"A person who can't use magic," Malfoy said with a grimace. He looked like he wanted to bolt as soon as possible.

Shaking his head Ed shrugged. "I guess I am then."

At the confirmation, Malfoy sneered and stalked away from Ed. Ed sighed at the obvious prejudice form the boy and then resumed his reading. A few minutes he was once again disturbed. This time by the Headmaster.

"Mr. Elric, I hear that you have not yet had a permanent translation spell provided for you. I was wondering of you would like one."

Ed looked at the Headmaster. The man had struck Ed as being shrewd and cunning. Not being able to see anything else behind the comment, Ed nodded his agreement. "Yes. It's annoying to have one cast on me every couple of hours."

Dumbledore's eyes seemed to twinkle at the statement. "Well, a permanent spell cannot be cast on someone who is a muggle, but there is a way around that. We can cast it on an object, and then all you have to do is wear said object."

"By wearing the object, it's as if the spell was cast on me?" Ed questioned.

Dumbledore nodded. "Well do I get to pick the object?"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Unfortunately, I took the liberty of already having the entire thing prepared. All you have to do is wear this," Dumbledore said, bringing out a small earring.

"Old man, in case you haven't noticed, my ears aren't pierced."

Dumbledore shook his head slightly. "It's a clip on Mr. Elric." Dumbledore handed the earring over to Ed. Ed was slightly skeptical about the whole thing. He wasn't really partial to wearing any jewelry, and the earring didn't appeal to him at all.

"Did it have to be an earring?"

"I think it will go very well with your outfit, Mr. Elric."

Sighing, Ed clipped the earring to his ear and instantly, Ed could feel a wash of magic. Shuddering slightly at the feeling, Ed looked at Dumbledore. "Have you thought of any way to get my arm and leg working again? It's getting very irritating to be carried everywhere."

Dumbledore abruptly looked serious before taking a seat at Ed's table. "Mr. Elric, I have been researching that problem. I believe that there is only one solution. Somehow, we get another temporary power source for your limbs. I believe magic is the only on the work while you are at Hogwarts. However, I have no idea what the normal power source for automail is."

Here Ed grinned. "Headmaster, the normal power source is me. You know that humans have a very low level electrical current running through them. Since automail is connected directly to the nerves that current in the human body is also what powers the automail. I can only assume that the current is slightly amplified in the automail to make it work."

Dumbledore looked surprised at this new information. "Why, that is positively brilliant! Use the normal current in the human body, amplify it and you have a power source that never needs to be replaced!"

Ed was amused by Dumbledore's excitement. "Does that help in figuring out how to get a new power source?"

"Yes. I believe that by tomorrow I will have a way to give you a temporary power source. Well Mr. Elric, I must be going now. I have a meeting to attend to." With that Dumbledore took his leave.

Ed grinned. Hopefully before the week was out his automail would once again be functional.

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A/N: If I was inaccurate about anything I wrote about low level current in the human body….well I don't care. It's a fanfic not an article for a scientific journal.

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