TADA!d:
It took us quite a while to figure out how to get on to platform 9 and ¾. Envy, being the lazy homunculus bastard he is, decided to give up looking for it within the first five minutes of arriving. He leaned on a wall for support, while I was searching every nook and cranny. Let's just say, we found it, or Envy did…when he fell through it.
Imagine Envy's flailing legs sticking out of a wall and you can very hear a very profound amount of angry curses. It was a really funny sight, really.
The train was big, with smoke billowing flowing like water out of the top. It wasn't at all difficult getting on. We decided to sit at the back, or face the possibility of a sitting with some stupid little kids. Little kids whose balls were just dropping and whose tits were now growing. I'm not used to being in my age orientated environment, so. This will be a challenge, that's for sure.
So now it is twenty minutes until the train leaves, and we are sitting impatiently in a compartment at the back with an old geezer. His hair is thinning, and his shabby robes just add to the desperate appeal. His face is slumped and aged, but he is not really that old. He looks as though he has had many sleepless nights. His suitcase reads 'Professor R.J. Lupin' in fading gold letters, so we know immediately that he is indeed, a teacher. We figured sitting with a teacher would be our best bet to be left alone.
The compartment we are sitting in has plush, red seats and is generally spacious. Not having an animal helps. We wouldn't really need an owl, seeing as we have no one to talk to. We only have one trunk, filled mostly with books, necessary essentials, and a bit of clothing for me. Envy doesn't really need any clothes, so the extra space was a plus.
I sit next to the extremely sleepy Envy, whose head is leaned on the window and is breathing fog onto the pane of glass. Across from us is the sleeping professor. Poor guy is exhausted. Outside, I see parents cooing their itty bitty babies off to school and loud, annoying teenagers lugging around heavy trunks in tow. The whistle of the train blows, signaling we will soon be departing.
When the student's loud stomps are heard, it is easy to tell they avoid our compartment. They have no idea who we are, so they stay away. I'm not complaining, we'll attract plenty of attention at the school.
The train whistles one last time, and begins to roll down the tracks. It rolls along slowly at first, but it picks up speed and we finally see actual skies out the window instead of stone walls.
I have been avoiding Envy at all costs. I suppose he noticed because he's not striking up a conversation to annoy me, which I am grateful for. Throughout the week, I had disappeared into Diagon Alley with a book in hand. I would usually sit on a vacant bench or at a table and read straight through the book until nightfall. I just couldn't face him, not alone, for a whole week. I didn't see Harry the rest of that week at all either. I think I need to say at least something though.
"Hey…" I say softly, causing Envy to look at me in confusion. I open my mouth to say what I've been meaning to for a while, but I am stopped short as the compartment door slides open with a swift whoosh.
I turn to see three people standing in the doorway; Harry, a redhead boy, and a bushy haired girl who was carrying a large, ginger cat. Harry looks delighted, but the other two seem uncertain. "Oh," I say, "Hello Harry."
"Hey Ed, Envy," He replies while nodding to both of us. "This is Ron Weasley," He gestures to the red headed boy, and points to the girl and says, "and this is Hermione Granger."
"This is Crookshanks," Says the girl named Hermione while holding up the cat.
I wave lightly, "I'm Edward Elric and this is Envy." They smile happily and wave back.
"So," says Envy while stretching with a yawn, "What brings you all to this neck of the woods?" Harry laughs, "There's no seats left, so we were wondering if we could maybe sit with you guys."
"Sure, knock yourselves out," I shrug. They clamber in and settle themselves across from us, except for Harry who takes the vacant seat next to me.
"Who's that?" Asks Ron while sitting down next to Professor Lupin and points with his head in teacher's direction. "Dunno," I say and shrug, "he was already here, but I think he's a teacher."
"Must be new, we need a Defense against the Dark Arts teacher," said Harry.
"I hope he's better than the last two," grumbles Ron.
Hermione, who is seated next to Ron, laughs lightly. "So, Ed, Envy; Harry tells us you two are going to be in our year. Travelling transfer students, right? This must be a bit odd," She says and smiles gently.
"It's different, but we'll manage, curriculum wise anyway. At least I will. Who knows about sourpuss over there," I say with a big smirk.
"Aye, 'chibi, pipe down on the insults, will ya? Some people are trying to sleep," says the drowsy looking homunculus while lifting his head slightly from laying against the window where fields seem to fly by.
"How are you guys coming along with your Hogwarts studies so far? I hope it's not difficult, since you've had to catch up on three years of books," Hermione interrupts. I look back at her and laugh lightly, "Oh, it was fairly easy on reading. Not to mention that it was highly interesting."
"Interesting my ass…" whispers a steadily drifting off Envy.
I roll my eyes and scoff. "He's just mad he had to read so much. We got a few more books than just the third year ones."
"Wait, home much more is 'a few'?" asks Ron while raising an eyebrow and casting the occasional glance at Hermione.
"Just up until sixth year," I reply and look vaguely out the window. Envy is snoring lightly, and he's curled up like a sleeping pup and has pulled his legs up against his chest and wrapped his arms around them. His hair drapes like a curtain around his face. His mouth is open slightly and his snores sound more like a cat's purr. I don't notice the silence around me for a few minutes, and when I turn back to the three, their jaws have dropped to the floor.
"Sixth year? Seriously? Why! You're only in third!" hisses Ron who is the first to recover from the surprise.
"Maybe they just like reading, Ronald," says Hermione in a mocking, smug tone. She begins to pet Crookshanks in between furry, little ears and he purrs happily. His purr is very similar to Envy's snore, I muse.
"You're just glad you're not the only book freak!" he snapped back. Hermione looked at him in an undignified way and Crookshanks hissed.
"Whoa, that's a lot of reading," Harry finally says and runs a hand through his hair like it's unbelievable.
I smile and throw my hands in the air with a shrug of egotistical nonsense. "I guess. But I have a question about all this. Hermione, you seem smart, do you mind?"
"No, go ahead, I'd love to help," She says in a chipper voice. She had stopped petting Crookshanks to give me her full attention.
"The energy, used to create magic, from our wands, where exactly does it come from?" I reply.
"What do you mean?" She says, confused.
I sigh, and look back out the window to speak. "I mean, well, like, take transfiguration for an example. Of course the energy used to perform the actual spell comes from the magical substance inside the wand. And the incantation and wand waving is what transfers that energy into a way to conform the object of choice. Basic transfiguration, uh, like turning a match into a pin. The masses are somewhat similar, but the make-up is extremely different. And there's no telling about the difference between an actual living creature and an object like per say, a lamp or something. It doesn't make sense, but it still happens, it's still possible. Can you maybe explain that a little?"
"That sounds a lot like muggle sciences you're referring to, Edward. I'm sorry; I can't really explain well enough that it would help you. Maybe Professor McGonagall can. She teaches transfiguration, she might have some answers." She looks apologetic.
"Don't worry about it." I say and shake my head, "I don't really think there is an answer." I turn back to the window and begin to think, ending the conversation. So maybe this world doesn't follow equivalent exchange. That may be so unfair that it makes me want to vomit, but I just have to except it, right? The sun is warm and inviting, but off in the distance were some swirling, dark clouds, signaling we might come upon a storm of some sort.
I begin to drift off and fall asleep to the voices of Harry starting a hushed conversation with his friends about Sirius Black. I decide listening doesn't matter, since I know the gist of the story and I fall asleep fully without care.
The next time I wake up, it is because of someone has opened the door of our compartment and is having a spat with Ron and Harry. It was shrimp of a boy with slick blonde hair. He had two monstrous body guards behind him that reminded me strangely of gorillas.
"Well, look who it is," he drawled out. "Potty and weasel," he said and the two gorillas chuckled.
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some money, Weasley. Did your mother die of shock?" he said. I woke up abruptly as Ron stood up. I pushed him back down with my right hand, slowly, and gestured to the still sleeping Professor as a reminder that he was still there. "Don't," I warn.
"And who are you?" The annoying blonde asked. I sag into the seat like I'm at total ease to make sure the boy knows he's no threat to me.
"Doesn't matter," I say sharply. "What does is him," I point to Professor Lupin who had just then gave a snort in his sleep. "He's a new teacher. Now, what were you saying?" I smirk and sway my hand casually to tell the boy he's dismissed and should take his leave.
The boy narrowed his eyes; he was obviously not fool enough to pick a fight with a teacher in the room. "C'mon," He muttered resentfully to the two goons and left.
"What a nuisance," I say, frowning slightly. I look next to me at Envy, who slept through the whole confrontation. He is in the same position as before.
"That's Malfoy, he's always messing with us," said Harry while rolling his eyes.
"I'm not going to take any of crap from Malfoy this year," Ron starts angrily. "I mean it. If he makes one more crack about my family, I'm going to get a hold of his head and-"Ron made a violent gesture in midair. I laugh, while Hermione hisses, "Ron, be careful…" And she nods her head towards Professor Lupin. But the professor slept on.
It had started to rain while I had fallen asleep, and as the train sped on, it thickened. The windows, were once clear, had turned a solid, shimmering gray. It became gradually darker until lanterns flickered to life along the corridors and above the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the engine roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept, along with Envy.
"We must nearly be there," said Ron as he leaned towards the window around Professor Lupin, craning his neck to see out the now completely black window. These words hardly left his mouth before the train started to slow down. I tap Envy awake, who blinks the sleep away and sits up to stretch his legs out. "What?" he asks.
"Great," said Ron, getting up and walking carefully to the window, "I'm starving. I want to get to the feast…"
"We can't be there yet," said Hermione while checking her watch, "So why are we stopping?"
The train continued to get slower and eventually the sounds of the pistons fell away making the noise of the wind and rain sound louder than ever. Harry stood up and looked out the door of the compartment. The train came to a jolting stop. Distant thuds told them luggage had fallen from their racks.
Envy mumbled, "What the hell?"
"What's going on?" Ron said. Without warning, the lights went out, leaving them encased in total darkness. "Ouch!" gasped Hermione. "Ron, that was my foot!"
Beside me, I heard Harry feel his way back to his seat. "D'you think we've broken down?" Ron asked.
"Dunno…" Harry said uncertainly.
"There's something moving out there," Ron said. "I think people are coming aboard..."
The compartment door opened suddenly and something fell over what seemed to be Harry's legs.
"Sorry-d'you know what's going on?-Ouch—sorry," Said a strange voice through the dark.
"Hullo, Neville, "said Harry.
"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?" asked the boy apparently named Neville.
"No idea-sit down -" said Harry shortly.
I felt something fall onto my lap. "Ouch!" I yelped.
"Oh, sorry! Didn't see you! Who're you?"
"Edward, now get off!" I said, annoyed, and shoved him off my lap and into the space next to me in between Harry.
"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on, "came Hermione's voice.
I heard her get up and move to the door. The sound of the door sliding open resonated again, and then a thud and two loud squeals of pain.
"Who's that?" Hermione and different voice said simultaneously.
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron -"
"Come in and sit down -"
"Not here!" said Harry hurriedly. "I'm here!"
"Shh!" I whispered angrily.
"Goddamn little kids," I heard Envy mutter.
"Ouch!" said Neville.
"Quiet!" said a hoarse voice suddenly. Professor Lupin appeared to have woken up at last.
I could hear slow movements in his corner. None of them spoke, the silence was eerie. There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired, gray face, but his eyes looked alert and wary. "Stay where you are," he said in the same hoarse voice, and he got slowly to his feet with his handful of fire held out in front of him. But the door slid slowly open before Lupin could reach it. Standing in the doorway, illuminated by the shivering flames in Lupin's hand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood.
My eyes darted downward, and what was there may have been gross, but did not compare to some of the things I had seen. Its hand, which clutched the door, was gray, glistening, scabbed, and slimy-looking. It seemed to have been decaying somewhere damp. It wasn't visible for very long because the hand disappeared in the folds of the black cloak.
I felt myself grow stiff into a ready-to-pounce position, along with Envy. We were on high alert, watching that thing, waiting for it to make a move.
It surveyed the compartment for a few seconds, and then the thing, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattling breath. It seemed as though it were trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings. The sound was scary, and made my spine quiver.
An intense cold swept over me, and the whole room it seemed. I felt my breath hitch and claw at my throat. The cold went deeper than my skin and felt like crawling insects burrowing themselves inside me; digging, digging, digging.
It was inside my chest, inside my very heart. My eyes rolled up into my head. I couldn't see. I was drowning in the freezing cold. There was a rushing in my ears as though I was being plunged, headfirst into a tub of water. I was being dragged downward, the roaring growing louder still. And then, from far away, I could hear noise.
Screaming, pleading, flashing, yelling, shouting, fighting, banging, popping, booming, crashing, smashing, screaming, screaming, screaming! It was everywhere; swirling all around me, in me. My brain felt like it was in overdrive. It was like an ocean's high tide, during a raging storm.
Someone was calling out to him, but it sounds so far off in the distance. "Ed! Goddamn it, Ed! You better wake the fuck up before I make you!"
I know that voice, don't I? They sound angry. The screaming grows fainter in sound as the clarity of the person calling out to me grows steadily better. "Ed! You shit head!"
I hear one last long scream in the distance that sounds a lot like Alphonse…
"Ed, please…" This time the voice was softer, but I heard it perfectly. My eyes flew open, and I snapped upright only to crash into something else.
"Ouch!" I yelped and brought my right hand up to massage my forehead.
I looked around apprehensively. The lights had turned back on and the thing in the doorway had gone.
Next to me, Harry sat, looking quite pale and sweaty. Bags that had not been there before had dug their way under his eyes. Hermione and Ron looked at him from across the compartment with worry, and every few seconds would shoot a glance at Harry with a scared expression. Beside Harry was a trembling Neville. In the corner, next to Hermione was the girl named Ginny, who was looking the same off as Harry. Professor Lupin had left. And Envy was looking down at me from above, rubbing his temple with his right hand. Relief was spread over his face.
He was leaning against the wall, with his legs crossed. I had hit my head on his. My head was resting in his lap and my knees were pulled up. His right hand was tangled in my hair, and kept clenching and unclenching. I coughed lightly into a closed fist. "What the fuck happened?" I said hoarsely.
Before he could talk again, Envy shoved something in my mouth, chocolate. It spread warmth over me like flames from inside and moved throughout me to my fingers and toes. I chewed slowly.
"That thing was a dementor, they're from Azkaban. You and Harry fell out of your seat, trembling. Lupin told it to fuck off, and used some spell to make it go away. Harry woke up before you did, though. He gave us all chocolate. You've been out for a while." Envy said, and unthreaded his fingers from my hair to stroke it instead.
"Oh," I said softly and closed my eyes. It was so comfortable on Envy.
"I was so worried, you stupid bastard…" muttered Envy angrily.
"Are you all right, Edward?" Hermione asked.
"Yes. Is everyone else alright?" I asked and cracked an eyelid open.
"We're all fine, mate," said Ron, "At least I think so." He looked at Harry and Ginny again for a few seconds while he said this.
A second later, Professor Lupin walked in. "You're awake," He said smiling.
"Yeah…thanks."
"Are you alright Ed, Harry?"
"Fine," said Harry shortly, sounding slightly embarrassed.
"Better," I replied and looked up at Envy. His hair was covering his face, but he still kept playing with my hair.
"We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," Lupin said.
I sat up and stretched, yawning. "Whoa, my head hurts. I fucking hate those Dementor things." I said, frowning.
"Only you, Ed, only you," Envy said and shook his head. He turned away to stare out the window again, even though it was black and you could barely see two feet out.
The remainder of the trip was quiet, no one spoke.
At long last, they reached the village of Hogsmeade where they would finally go to Hogwarts. Walking on shaky legs, I made it down to the platform with Envy following closely behind.
Look out, Hogwarts, here we come.
Yeahhhhhh, wow.
Review, okay?
