A/N.- OK...here's a new chapter for you (next 4 updates, not counting this one will be kinda fast since we already have those chappies written). Not much to say here, so please enjoy.
Disclaimer.- Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling and FullMetal Alchemist belongs to Hiromu Arakawa, so y'know the rest.
Chapter 2.- New Rivalries
After the weirdest dinner feast in Ed's life (one without milk, which balanced things out), he joined, alongside Winry, the Gryffindor first years in following Ron to the Gryffindor common room. When he entered the first years' dormitory, he closed the curtains of his bed to put on his pajamas (so no one could see his auto-mail arm) and extracted a spellbook from his trunk to read for a while until he fell asleep.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny remained in the common room talking about the three mysterious newcomers.
"Well, at least we now know they're not Death Eaters" Harry admitted
"One can never be completely sure…they might be under the Imperius curse or something of that sort" Ginny replied, with her head resting on her boyfriend's shoulder.
"There's nothing wrong with us…besides Ed's temper" A voice behind them replied.
The foursome startled at hearing the voice, but relaxed a bit when they saw Winry.
"Hey, I'm sorry about the train, but now you know how irritable Ed can be. If you want a piece of advice…don't make any comments about his size, arm or brother"
"It's OK, don't worry about it" Hermione said "If he has a reason to hide it, I don't blame him"
"It's a very large and complex story, and I'd prefer if he told it to you himself when he feels ready"
"I can live with that" Harry said coldly, heading towards the seventh years' dorm, knocking and shattering a bowl in the process.
"Let me try, please" Winry asked, drawing her wand.
"Go on" Ginny replied smiling.
The blond girl pointed her wand at the shards and clearly said "Reparo!", having the bowl back together in no time.
"Not bad" Ginny admitted raising an eyebrow
"Thanks…as a matter of fact it's the first time I use that one" Winry admitted
"Impeccable, you sure it's the first time you do that?"
"well, yeah…" The blond was starting to blush
"Can you do anything else?"
"Well, several basic spells only"
"Can you defend yourself?" Hermione asked
"Sort of…"
"We'll see…Stupefy!"
"Protego!" Winry replied on instinct.
The attack rebounded back to its caster…and Hermione fell backwards with the force of her own spell.
"What's with you?" Winry asked angrily, the attack had been completely unexpected.
"Just testing your reflexes, you don't really have time to think of the spell while facing a Death Eater" The statement was partially true, but it was true as well that Hermione had detected a certain talent in the newcomer, and as much as she wanted to deny it, Hermione was growing jealous and, even if she didn't know that, it would become a personal rivalry between the two of them.
"That was one nice spell…what was your name again?" The redheaded girl spoke
"Winry Rockbell, and thanks…in fact my reflexes are quite developed, what with having to hold Ed back every time he fumes…by the way, what's with your friend?"
"I don't know" Ginny replied sighing "She is usually a nice person, but she gets pretty bad-tempered when beaten in something"
"In what did I beat her or what?"
"Nothing really…but we are so used to her being the first to learn any spell she comes across that she isn't praised by it no more; on the other hand you get praised for even a basic spell like that, and I think she got jealous or something…"
"Well what a…witch she turned out to be"
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"…ic…Elric…FOR MERLIN'S SAKE WAKE UP NOW ELRIC!"
"Is breakfast ready?" Ed asked more asleep than awake
"Move now, McGonagall wants us both in her office"
Edward was completely clueless as to who was talking or about what, until he regained his senses and saw Harry standing beside his bed, fully awake and dressed, and as soon as he processed the message, he dressed and followed him, in a bad temper, until they reached what used to be Dumbledore's office.
"Order of the Phoenix"
"What the hell was that Potter?" Ed asked startled as the stone gargoyle moved aside granting them entrance
"The password to the headmistress's office, now get in there Elric" Harry motioned the moving staircase
They both entered what could pass for everything, save an office; still full of the spindly metallic objects previously owned by its former occupant.
"Come in" McGonagall called at them "Take a seat. Potter, this is Edward Elric, he comes from far away; he is an alchemist that has been assigned the mission of aiding us in taking down He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Elric, this is Harry Potter, he was hand-picked, involuntarily though, by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named to be, either his final victim, or his bane."
"What do you really want me to do Mrs. McGonagall?" Ed asked impatient.
"Professor, if you don't mind Elric"
"Whatever…" Ed replied wearily
"The thing is that since headmaster Dumbledore was killed by Death Eaters…" She began, but was immediately cut by Edward
"Hold on a moment…what the hell are the Death Eaters?" He asked, with an expression that showed no understanding.
"Voldemort's followers, but just listen" Harry explained, growing impatient by the minute
"…As I was saying" McGonagall continued "We need you and your brother to help us in this war…we want to finish it before it gets worse."
"Whoa, whoa, just hold on a second…you are telling me you want ME and AL to take on a whole army of what's-their-names?"
"Not really a complete army, but you two would be of great help, since Death Eaters can repel magical attacks, but not alchemy…yet it would be better if you had some private extra classes with some professors to amplify your knowledge and get a better defense against them"
"Well…that'd be nice, since I can only perform basic spells, but I think I can do smoothly…and what was that the big guy said about 'ye'll have what ye're lookin' fer'?" He asked imitating Hagrid's growl.
"All at its own time Edward, but for now, you better go get some breakfast, or you'll be late for your first lesson." McGonagall said dismissing them.
Harry and Ed were heading down to the Great Hall not talking to each other, instead Ed was looking cautiously at the way in order not to get lost, since he had noticed the castle hid many passageways and moving staircases. Ed was thinking about all that war business until Harry's voice drew him back to reality.
"Bullocks!"
"What's wrong Potter, you got lost?" Ed asked teasingly
"No, but this shortcut would've saved us a lot of time"
"Excuse me" Ed clasped his hands as he did every time he performed alchemy and he then stretched them towards the wall. When they made contact, the blockade was cleared. Harry was surprised by this, but didn't show it; instead he walked inside the passage that led almost directly to the Great Hall.
When they reached it, each of them looked for their own friends, but unfortunately for both of them, Ginny was chatting animatedly with Winry, with Hermione pointedly looking away.
"Where were you Ed?" Winry asked when the boy sat beside her.
"Potter got me out of bed to go see the headmistress"
"The headmistress? What did she want you for?" Winry asked completely clueless
"To tell me that the teachers will give us extra lessons to be at the level of Potter and company"
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, it's you…sorry for the comment, what was your name?" Ed asked kindly, unlike the day before.
"Ginny Weasley"
"Nice to meet you Ginny, it's just that I know no one. That's why I said Potter and company instead"
"I'll believe you, but watch your mouth" Ginny warned him
"Yeah, yeah, whatever"
Flitwick proceeded to hand out schedules. In Ed's there were 7th year classes, as well as extra lessons, which puzzled him
"Dammit, seventh-year and extra lessons? What's wrong with them?"
The answer to this question fell from the sky, literally, since a barn owl landed in front of him carrying a letter that bore the Hogwarts crest, like the invitation letter. Winry looked at the letter curiously, while Ed scanned the Hufflepuff table for his brother, and as soon as he spotted him he beckoned him to join them.
"Nii-san, what's wrong?" He asked as soon as he arrived.
"This" Ed simply replied pointing at the letter.
"And that is…?"
"A letter from McGonagall, duh" Ed replied sarcastically
"Yeah, I figured as much, but what does it say?" Al replied, used to his brother's sarcasm
"Well, let's see…"
Elric Brothers and Miss Rockbell,
Due to necessity because of the war, we've been forced to move you to seventh year, and give you extra lessons to compensate the other 6 previous courses. Don't tell the reason to anyone, even if I trust your discretion. I already talked to your professors so they won't ask any homework from you, giving you extra time to practice.
Minerva McGonagall.
"What the…"
"What's that Ed?" Ginny asked as she snatched the parchment from Edward's hands.
She read it, and much to Ed's dismay, Harry did as well.
"Excuse me Potter, but I gave the letter to Ginny here"
"Is there any problem with me reading it Elric?" Harry replied in the same cold tone the alchemist had used
"In fact, she reading it is already bad enough, without you reading it"
"Stop it shorty, you're immature enough for me to doubt you're sixteen…"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THAT YOU MISTAKE HIM FOR A FIRST-YEAR?!"
Harry was so startled that his knocked his goblet of pumpkin juice.
"Dammit! What's wrong with you Ed, do you really have to act that way every time someone calls you that?" Winry exclaimed as she drew her wand "Scourgify!"
The table was clean as soon as Winry muttered the spell. Even if she kept using basic spells, the reaction was always the same: Hermione would huff and walk away…this time was no exception.
"Well, we need to go to class…I s'pose we'll have to follow you Potter" Ed said, as coldly as he could
"Try not to get lost Elric" Harry replied
They walked down to the dungeons, since they had potions at that time. For those that kept attending the class, it was a great relief to know Snape didn't impart it no more. Ed and Winry (they didn't have that class with the Hufflepuffs, so Al was absent) entered the dungeon shyly, and when professor Slughorn spotted them, he exclaimed
"Well, well, if it ain't Mr. Elric and Miss Rockbell. Come in, come in, take a seat. We'll be brewing a relatively simple potion today, ingredients and procedure are already on the blackboard…oh, and Mr. Elric, no alchemy please."
Ed's smirk was instantly transferred to Winry's face "Sorry, little one, you'll have to do this the same way as the rest of us"
HOW DID YOU JUST CALL ME WIN?!"
"Mr. Elric, please keep your temper down in my class" Slughorn called from the front of the room.
Ed huffed "Whatever" Meanwhile Winry tried to suppress a laugh.
After a series of classes, both blonds were tired but satisfied, since both, alchemy and mechanics, as well as magic, required a great deal of precision, making it slightly easier for them…the only problem were the words.
"Jeez, I'm exhausted" Ed said as he fell gracefully to the couch, while repeating in his mind the lessons from that day.
Harry and Hermione didn't even spare them a glance, while Ginny, puzzled by her friends' behavior, kept at Harry's side out of loyalty, even if she had started developing a friendly relationship with Winry and Alphonse. The armored alchemist had been nice to her the seldom times they had talked, but the fact that he never removed his suit of armor was really puzzling. Ron still said nothing; he just watched everything from ringside, or at least the blond girl, despite the fact that he was dating Hermione.
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Alphonse's day, on the other hand, was quite calmer than his brother's, yet he had to answer a lot more questions than his brother and friend, and with good reason, since even if he claimed being 15 years old, his armor was bigger than the average-sized adult, and he never removed it, not even for the meals.
His first lesson was seventh year charms. Even if he didn't quite understand why he had been moved 6 years ahead, he sighed and headed for class. When he entered the classroom, he found he occupied a space normally meant for two students. When professor Flitwick called the roll, he stopped when he reached Al's name.
"Well, well, so you're the FullMetal Alchemist, right?" The small professor squeaked.
"No sir, the FullMetal Alchemist is my older brother, Edward" The armor corrected, for the nth time in his life.
"I see, so the small kid is the eldest?"
Al couldn't hold back a chuckle, picturing in his mind his brother's reaction had he heard the professor "That's right sir, but I strongly recommend you not to say that in front of him, since is reaction is…well, not quite pleasant…"
Flitwick chuckled "I see…you know Mr. Elric, I used to be like him, so I understand"
Al chuckled again, he had noticed his professor's petit size, but had made no comment about it.
"Well, let's begin today's lesson, shall we?"
The day slowly ticked away. In several classes he was the first Elric to be there, in others, the instructors had already had the "pleasure" of meeting Ed. Al noticed, as well as his brother and friend, that thanks to the precision required for alchemy, gave him an advantage when it came to wand movements and potion-making, but he had a hard time with the words. When classes were finally over and he was in the common room, a boy approached him.
"Hello, you are Alphone Elric right?"
"That's me, who are you?"
"My name's Ernie McMillan, pleased to meet you"
"Pleased to meet you too" Al replied.
"Umm…do you mind if I ask you sort of an indiscreet question?"
"I suppose I don't mind, but I can't guarantee I'll answer it" He replied shyly, 99 percent certain that the question was going to be about his armor, his brother or why they were in the castle…unfortunately for him it was the first one.
"Why do you wear that suit of armor?"
"Uuh…s-sorry, I can't answer that" Al replied stuttering a bit
"It's Ok, pretend I never asked" The other boy replied kindly, but couldn't quite hide a tinge of disappointment in his voice.
The suit of armor sighed, all day long he had been bombarded with similar questions…either it was the reason for wearing that armor, about his brother, the reason why they had come to Hogwarts at such a late age, all sorts of things…and with a reason, since it's not an everyday thing to stumble across a suit of armor about the same size as the gamekeeper Hagrid besides a small kid (Don't let Ed find out we said that…) and a blond girl, both 16 years old. Nevertheless, he kindly answered what he could, and what he couldn't, he also replied kindly, even if his patience was growing thin.
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The following day, the Gryffindor trio, the Elric brothers and Winry had their first Defense Against the Dark Arts, the first one in which Gryffindor and Hufflepuff coincided.
"Hi, nii-san, how was yesterday?" Al asked, happy to be in a class with his brother and friend.
"How did you expect it to be? Everyone kept bombarding me with questions" Ed replied darkly
"At least you can hide your arm, imagine how's it been for me with this armor" Al replied
"I can imagine" Winry replied sympathetically
In said class, the new professor started with an introduction to the course, and had them practicing for the last 30 minutes a defensive spell more powerful than Protego, but far more draining. When the class was over, everyone was exhausted, and only Hermione, Winry, Ed and Al had managed the spell (This made Hermione keep glaring daggers at the other three). After that, the professor handed them a pepper up potion that Ed rejected at the beginning, since he had his suspicions about the liquid, but ended up drinking it.
They coincided again in Herbology, and when that class was over, they headed for the Great Hall. When they were on their way, someone nearly crashed into Ed, but did nothing about it, except to keep walking; the blond boy, on the other hand turned around and called
"Watch where you're walking pal!"
The other boy turned around, he was 17 years old, with silver blond hair and cold metallic gray eyes…it was Draco Malfoy.
"You watch where you're walking, munchkin"
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!"
"You heard me, munchkin"
Ed growled, and Winry had to hold him to prevent him from hitting the former Slytherin.
"Apologize!" Ed commanded
"You wish" Malfoy replied smirking, having a good time watching the young alchemist's temper rise.
"Elric! What the hell's going on here?"
The Gryffindors had arrived, but when they saw the Slytherin, they froze on the spot, Harry drew his wand and the two Weasleys were trying hardly to hold him, placing him under similar circumstances to Ed.
"Hey Potter! Long time no see"
"What are you doing here you bastard?" Harry asked coldly
"None of your business" Malfoy replied, but unfortunately for him, Ron's strength waned and he released Harry's wand arm, which performed a spell that had Malfoy hanging upside down from his ankle.
"PUT ME DOWN THIS SECOND POTTER!" Malfoy commanded
"Silencio" Ed muttered, hitting the Death Eater, who stopped emitting any kind of sound.
Harry approached Malfoy, keeping a fair distance from his fists though, and threatened
"If I see you around here again, I will show no mercy, now get your sorry ass out of here" He said coldly, releasing him.
The Slytherin ran away as fast as he could, but behind him, Ed was smiling mischievously, he then clasped his hands, touched the wall and several feet ahead a thin rock crossed from one wall to the other one, at a precise height to make Malfoy trip. He fell over and the other seven laughed at him. When he disappeared around the corner, Ed turned to Harry.
"So…who was that arrogant idiot, Potter?" He said, returning the wall back to its previous state.
"Someone who shouldn't be here" Harry replied darkly. "His name is Draco Malfoy, and because of him, Dumbledore's dead…if you come across him again Elric, beat the shit out of him…but save a bit for me"
After he said so, the Gryffindor Quartet left for the Great Hall.
"I see we're not the only ones that have lost many beloved ones nii-san" Al said, speaking for the first time since the beginning of the incident.
"No Al, seems we're not" Ed admitted, beginning to understand his wizard counterpart a bit more.
"Umm…what about we continue our way to the Great Hall" Winry proposed, making Ed smile widely
"Come on, I'm starving"
A/N.- That's all for now...thanks for those that have already reviewed, and please do so for the ones that haven't, reading reviews is rather encouraging for us (as long as they're not flames, though). Thanks, Ibris and Ferchoumaru out.