Hey everyone, thanks so much for your reviews X3 Sorry that this chapter took a few day, the paper that I wrote it on got lost x.X So I had to start it all over again, and it's frustrating because I liked it better the first time, but as many of you know, it's nearly impossible to write something the same way twice. -.-; So now, while I'm listening to Apocalyptica (awesome band, check it out on youtube), I am typing up the new version of the chapter. Warning, some minor Ed and Al angst ahead. Why? That's just how it was meant to be
The first part of this chapter took up about 9 inches of receipt paper that I wrote tonight at work when I was bored , ; Shhh…don't tell my employer x.X
Note that whenever I refer to the homunculi, I'm referring to the up-to-date MANGA
VERSIONS. If you aren't familiar with them, I suggest you go look them up so you don't get confused.
And now, I shall take this opportunity to reply to reviews! 8D
Bluie Twilight Star- I haven't decided if I want pairings yet. I'm not planning ahead, I'm just going with whatever I write next. Jeredu- Bad grammar is my pet peeve. I just found out after re-reading my chapter on FF that my word wasn't scanning my document for errors. It made me sad, but now I'm too lazy to go back and re-post . ;;LuciousLadyLucius- MINE O.O
albino-yaoi- Have you noticed that FMA/HP seems to more popular now? I know tons of people have written Naruto/HP. I guess Harry Potter is just a good crossover story? O.o
Snowbluerat- X3 Thanks. I think I owe my hopefully improving writing skills to FF. the only problem now is when I have story writing assignments for English, I have a hard time making them un-complicated and short. T.T
Chapter 2:
Last time:
Dumbledor bowed, and then extended a hand. "Elric-san, allow me to formally welcome you to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Ed raised an eyebrow at the offered hand and made no move toward it. Instead, he opted to stare rudely at the white-haired man before him. Magic? Magic only existed in children's books. The only thing resembling magic in the world was alchemy, and that wasn't magic at all. He cast a sideways glance at Envy and met the sin's gaze. He saw the same look, suggesting silently that maybe Dumbledor had lost too many brain cells in a transmutation. Perhaps he had tried human transmutation, and the price had been his sanity? For a moment, they were mentally united against the crazy old man that was standing there smiling at them.
Ed coughed into his flesh hand politely and looked at Dumbledor. "With all due respect misuta-san, 1" Ed began, stressing the honorific far beyond politeness, "magic doesn't exist. It's not scientifically possible." He spoke as if it were a child before him, not an aged man. Dumbledor simply chuckled at this as he pulled what seemed to be a long, polished stick out of the pockets of his robes. He twirled it around in a few silly movements and said a word or two in a language that Ed didn't understand, then pointed it at the small cabinet next to Ed's bed. The bedside table contorted and twisted in on itself. Ed's eyes widened in horror, much as Al's did, when the transmutations stopped 2. Where there had once been a small table now sat a small puppy, it's pink tongue hanging out cutely. Ed was instantly and painfully reminded on Nina, Tucker and Scar. The blood-stained wall still haunted Ed's dreams, and he wondered for a moment if he would find the puppy calling out to him, Ed…ward…Edward-nii-san…Ed gulped and choked as he saw visions of the eroded brick wall with horrible red blood being washed away by the cold, unforgiving rain as it beat down on anyone unlucky enough to have been caught outdoors.
A soft chuckle pulled him out of his thoughts, and Ed realized he had been staring, eyes still wide. "Surprised, I see," Dumbledor said. Ed's eyes narrowed.
"You monster!" he yelled, throwing off his covers and standing as tall as he could, which, is to say, not very tall at all. 3 "You…how can you mess with life so easily!" Dumbledor looked slightly taken aback. Apparently, this was not the reaction he expected. Ed snatched his clothes off of the bed with one hand and reached down with his other to retrieve the puppy before fleeing the hospital. Al was quick to follow, throwing Dumbledor a slightly suspicious look before going after his only family member.
"Nii-san!" he called, trying to catch up with Ed. The elder alchemist stopped suddenly, and Al jogged up to his side. Ed's bangs were shadowing his eyes, and he held the puppy close to his chest, almost tightly enough to hurt. "Nii-san..," Al suddenly found that he couldn't think of anything to say. Ed always dealt with his inner demons where Al couldn't see. Al never usually saw pain in Ed, not nearly as much as Al suspected his brother felt, and now that Ed was so clearly battling down intense raw emotion left him clueless as to what to say. However, it was Ed who broke the silence first.
"You know Al," he whispered dejectedly, "There are two things that still haunt me. One is our attempt to bring mom back. The other is Nina." His arms trembled around the puppy, and Al could see it was one of those rare times that Ed failed to hold back his emotions. The puppy whined and licked Ed's automail hand in a comforting gesture. Al looked around and spotted an empty room. From the desks and chairs, he assumed it to be a classroom, which would make sense, he remembered, seeing as Dumbledor had told him they were in a school. He tugged gently on Ed's arm to indicate where Al's destination was. Once the door was firmly shut behind them, Ed plopped down on a chair and loosened his grip on the animal in his lap.
Ed spoke suddenly and unexpectedly. "I can't accept things like this, Al. I just can't," he said quietly into the puppy's fur as he drew it close once again. " It's too much like Nina." Al sighed, sitting next to Ed.
" I know, nii-san. I hate it too. It's wrong for humans to play with life. But what's done is done now, and the most you can do is take good care of the puppy." He reached over and scratched a spot behind the puppy's ears. The small dog nipped playfully at the hand, and Al chuckled. Ed dropped his head and pulled the puppy close. Al was right. When had he become so wise? Or was it just that Ed had never listened? He didn't remember. Either way, Ed was not going to let this puppy meet the same fate as Nina. Nodding to himself, as if to confirm his plan, he set the puppy down on the floor. It whined pathetically and pawed at Ed's leg, begging to be held again. Al giggled.
"Looks like you've made friends already, nii-san." Al stated as he reached down and gently lifted the dog into his lap. Ed stood, stretched, and then began to strip off his hospital garments. Al sputtered and blushed, looking away, face flaming.
"Aw, Al, Don't be embarrassed. What have you got that I don't?" Ed asked as he tugged up his pants. Al didn't answer right away. However, when he did, his voice was small and tearful.
"A whole body."
Ed's expression fell, and he sat back down on his chair, shirt in hand.
"Nii-san, it's not fair! Why didn't you get your body back too!" Al's voice had risen steadily, and he looked over at Ed, tear-filled amber eyes following the edge of that automail that was attached at Ed's shoulder, some scars still standing out horrendously. Then the elder turned to face his brother and put on a smile that didn't fool either of them.
"Sometimes, Al, these things just happen, and we have to accept it. Plus, if I went back with no automail, Winry would kill me." He flexed his metallic fingers as he spoke, but despite his encouragement, Al's face crumpled, and thick pearly tears dripped down his cheeks. "Aw, Al, don't cry…please?" Ed began to mentally panic. His brother hadn't cried in years. How was he supposed to handle this? Ed got up and awkwardly pulled Al into his chest. Al didn't seem to notice his brother's unease, and quickly wrapped his thin arms around Ed's middle. The puppy whines, as if it were crying with Al. Ed petted Al's hair gently, waiting for the tears to diminish. When they finally did, Al was hiccupping.
"S-sorry," he stuttered, "I keep letting my emotions carry me away…" He sniffed and wiped his face in his sleeve. Now that Ed thought about it, it made sense that his brother was emotionally sensitive right now. His brother hadn't experienced emotion in years, and to suddenly regain those senses and feelings all at once must have been overwhelming. Ed tried his best to put on a bright smile as he lifted the puppy out of Al's lap.
"Well," he said, holding the dog up in front of himself, "What should we name her?"
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1This is sort of the Japanese equivalent to "mister" though I'm not sure of how polite it is, I just had the urge to put something Japanese there .
2 I said transmutation because that's how Ed and Al would think of it.
3 Sorry Ed X3
Well, I stopped there because A) it's late and I have school tomorrow, and B) I have no idea what to name the dog, so suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Oh, also, they will eventually be sorted into houses in the school. Suggestions on where I should stick Ed would be appreciated also. X.x it's between Slytherin and Ravenclaw.
There were parts in this chapter that I really liked and some that I really didn't.
Ed: WHY THE HELL DID YOU CALL ME SHORT!
Me: o.o because…you are..?
Ed: D8
Al: Nii-san!
Ed: And why did you have me get nekkid in front of Al? He's ruined now! Innocence, DOWN THE DRAIN!
Me: (to Al) Is he always this…PMS-y?
Al: Yeah…he has the emotions of a Latin woman, doesn't he? He'd do well on a Spanish soap opera.
Ed: What are you taking about? (glares suspiciously)
Us: Nothing .
Edit: For some reason isn't saving all of my formatting. I had all the paragraphs indented, and asterics and stuff, but they all dissppear after I click the "save changes" button. Does anyone know howI can fix this?