"I don't know what's wrong with him. The wounds have healed just fine, but his fever is going up, and there's nothing I can do about it," Mrs. Flamel said with a heavy sigh, stepping back from the side of Edward's bed. "I know you two would rather keep his presence here a secret until we know more about him, but we have to get him to St. Mungo's."

Professor Dumbledore leaned closer to the bed, pushing his glasses up on the nose. Young Elric was certainly not looking good. His face was pale as the sheets he laid on, save for two dark spots under his eyes. A thin film of sweat covered his face and glued his bangs to his forehead. Even as close as he was standing, Dumbledore could barely make out the sound of his breathing.

"I have to agree with you, Perenelle. Nicolas, please contact the hospital and tell them we're coming," the old man said, straightening his back. Mr. Flamel left the room with a quick nod, and Dumbledore turned to face Mrs. Flamel.

"I know you're hardly as ditzy as you like to let on, Perenelle dear. Would you like to tell my just why exactly do you trust this boy so easily?"

"Well, my Sixth Sense has never been wrong, you know," Mrs. Flamel replied with a smile and a wink as she fished a small object about the size and shape of a pocket watch from her apron pocket. Dumbledore leaned closer to take a better look at it.

"A Sixth Sense? Oh my, I really haven't seen one of those in ages… So what does it say about young Elric?"

"Well, at the moment he's 'Harmless', but I suppose that just because he's unconscious, but before it said 'Extraordinary'," Mrs. Flamel said smiling happily. Dumbledore turned to look at Edward.

"You do realize that that's not necessarily a good thing, don't you?" he said then.

"Oh, I know that. But I don't need a Sixth Sense to know this boy is not evil."

It had been three days since they had left Edward at St. Mungo's, and they had been half way through breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron when an owl had arrived with news of the Flamels' unexpected guest.

"Tell me again what the note said, Albus," Mrs. Flamel demanded as they made their way to the hospital, ignoring the strange looks their old-fashioned muggle clothing received.

"You're more than happy to have the letter, if you wish to read it, Perenelle," Dumbledore replied halting in front of an old red-brick department store.

"Oh no, my eyes aren't what they used to be. Just tell me what it said," Mrs. Flamel said waving her hand in a commanding manner. Mr. Flamel sighed as Dumbledore turned to speak to an unattractive dummy in the front window of the store.

"Merlin's Beard, Nelle! Stop pestering Albus!" Mr. Flamel chided his wife, who stuck her tongue out to him. "Besides, we're already there, you can ask them yourself."

"Very well, I will!" Mrs. Flamel exclaimed and stormed through the store window and straight to the Welcome Witch.

"We're here to see our Edward!" she proclaimed pointing her wand to the plump blond witch who covered behind her desk clearly shocked.

"Nelle! Mind your manners! And since when did he become our Edward anyway?" Mr. Flamel protested and tried to snatch her wand away.

"We're here to see Mr. Elric, first name Edward," professor Dumbledore stepped forward, giving the poor witch a commiserative smile while the Flamels argued on in the background.

"Oh yes," the Welcome Witch replied with a slightly shaky smile. "Healer Thyme told us to expect you. He's at the Fourth Floor, ward 48."

Healer Thyme, presumably forewarned by the Welcome Witch was waiting them on the Fourth Floor. She was a stern looking witch with silver grey hair and piercing eyes.

"Professor Dumbledore, Mr. and Mrs. Flamel, please step this way. I'd like to have a word with you first," she said, leading way to a small office, filled with piles of books and parchment and curious instruments.

"What's wrong with our Edward? Is he awake yet?" Mrs. Flamel shot out as soon as Healer Thyme had closed the office door behind them.

"Oh yes, he's very much awake," Healer Thyme replied sitting behind the cluttered desk and motioning them to take chairs. Mrs. Flamel promptly refused to sit down.

"So why can't we see him now?" she demanded. Mr. Flamel rolled his eyes.

"Well, there's a few things I'd like to ask you first, if you don't mind, and explain something about Mr. Elric's condition, if you'll let me."

"Go on," Mrs. Flamel urged her, deciding to take a seat after all.

"The note you send said there was something unusual about Mr. Elric?" Dumbledore stepped in.

"Unusual indeed," Healer Thyme said, picking up a roll of parchment from a pile in front of her. With a tap of her wand it rolled open.

"You see, this here is a chart of the periphal nervous system," she said pointing at the diagram outlining a human figure. "These lines here, spreading from the spinal cord all over the body are the nerves. The chart shows how the nerves should normally appear. Of course," she said, tapping the chart and making the lines in the figures right arm and left leg disappear. "This is what Mr. Elric's nerves are supposed to look like, considering his strange appendages. However," here she tapped the chart again; this time more than half of the lines on the entire body disappeared. "These are the nerves Mr. Elric has at the moment."

"Oh dear," breathed Mrs. Flamel. "That's not good."

"You can say that again."

"Have you told this to Mr. Elric? You said he was awake, right?" Dumbledore asked. Healer Thyme gave him a curt nod.

"I did. His response was rather peculiar, if I might say so. 'So that's what the Gate took,' he said, 'I wonder what I got from it?' I don't think he realized I heard him, for when I asked him to repeat himself, he claimed he hadn't said anything. That was one of the things I'd like to ask from you. You're his grandparents, aren't you, Mr. Flamel, Mrs. Flamel?"

"Well, more like great-grandparents," Mrs. Flamel replied happily.

"Aha. You see, we couldn't find Mr. Elric from our medical records. We need to know where he has received medical attention before, judging by his limbs he must've needed some. Also, he claims to be eighteen years old, but as he doesn't seem to have any identification with him, we haven't been able to confirm that," Healer Thyme pulled out a half-filled card that had Edward's name on top of it and sat waiting with a quill in her hand.

"Well, Edward has been living in Germany for a long time; he must've seen a Healer there. And if he says he is eighteen, then I'm sure that's how old he is," Mrs. Flamel beamed. Healer Thyme gave her a suspicious look, but scribbled something on the card anyway.

"I see. He just seems much younger," she said curtly. Mrs. Flamel nodded with a fond smile.

"It's because he's so short. Poor boy, he just doesn't eat enough. He didn't even touch the toast I made him."

"Uh-um. So do you have any idea what this Gate business is? We need to know this because, even though we can grow back the missing nerves, it's better to know what happened to them in the first place. Also, we need to know if Mr. Elric is going to stay in England or go back to Germany, because he's going to need some surveillance for some years after we grow the nerves back, to see that they are working properly."

"I'm sorry, we can't help you about the Gate. And it might be best to ask about Mr. Elric's plans directly from himself," Dumbledore began when Mrs. Flamel cut him off.

"What do you mean, see if they are working properly? Do you mean there's a chance they might not?" she asked sharply. Healer Thyme primmed her lips.

"There's always a chance, Mrs. Flamel. Messing with nerves is a tricky business at best," she replied patting her silver hair. "Besides, we have explained the situation to Mr. Elric, and I can assure you he is full aware ---"

"NO! NO! NO! NO! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU?!! NO MEANS NO! NO! GET IT OFF ME!"

All three visitors turned to the door at one as Healer Thyme let out a heavy sigh and got up.

"Was that our Edward?" Mrs. Flamel asked. The Healer replied with a short nod and an "Excuse me," as she pushed past them into the corridor.

"I WILL NOT TOUCH THAT! NO! DO YOU HEAR ME?!! NO!"

Healer Thyme made her way quickly down the corridor, muttering something they couldn't quite make out under her breath. Cries and moans were starting to emit from rooms lining the corridor.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I NEED IT TO GROW UP?!!! ARE YOU IMPLYING I'M SHORT?!! I'M NOT SHORT, I'M STILL GROWING!!! I DON'T NEED THAT FILTHY LIQUID!! NO –AAAaarrgh" the shouting died down to a moan of pain as Healer Thyme swung open the second to last door on the right side of the corridor.

"Margerie, Annelore, get back to your wards at once! Agnes, explain yourself!" Thyme barked, taking in the scene in one quick glance. Two of the three young women in lime-green robes hurried off before Healer Thyme had even snapped her mouth shut, while the last one shot anxious looks behind them, clearly wanting to flee as well. Edward was sitting on a bed shaking slightly and holding his head with a grimace of pain on his face. Healer Thyme stepped to his side, casting a spell on him with a quick flick of her wand. Seeing Edward fall back to his pillow as sleep took him over, she turned to poor Agnes, who had backed to corner with a frightened expression on her face, and for some odd reason a glass of milk on her hands.

"What have I told you about Mr. Elric?" Healer Thyme snapped at the girl, receiving an unwanted back up from Mrs. Flamel, who proceeded to prod the girl with her wand, muttering something about our Edward and toads.

"You told us not to disturb Mr. Elric," Agnes managed to say, lifting the glass of milk like a protective shield. Mrs. Flamel gave her a menacing glare.

"Then why where you here, Agnes? And for Merlin's sake, what were those two geese doing here? And why are you holding that glass of milk?" Healer Thyme snapped. Poor Agnes broke down in tears and sobbed an apology. Thyme's expression softened a little.

"Just because Mr. Elric an attractive young man doesn't mean you're allowed to pester him with your idiocy like some deranged fan club. Especially with the condition he has. You may go now, Agnes, but rest assured we will talk of this later. And make sure your friends understand they are not welcome on my ward as long as Mr. Edward stays here."

Agnes hurried of wiping tears from her eyes and muttering apologies. Healer Thyme sighed heavily.

"It's been like this for two days now. We just cannot get those silly girls to understand that although he might seem energetic, Mr. Elric is indeed very sick at the moment. You can stay with him now if you like to. Somnium should wear off him in a few minutes. Please check with me again before you leave," she said, taking her exit with a curt nod to each of them.

Edward woke up a little while later, seeming exhausted.

"I can turn those girls into toads, if you'd like to, Edward dear," Mrs. Flamel suggested after Edward told them the Trainee Healers kept visiting him. Edward gave the suggestion some thought, but decided against it.

"Nah, I can manage," he assured Mrs. Flamel, who looked doubtful but let the matter be for now.

"How are they treating you here? Are you getting enough to eat?" she wanted to know, while Mr. Flamel and Dumbledore seemed content with the old copies of Witch Weekly they found from Edward's bedside table.

"It's alright. All I do is sleep anyway, and I can do that anywhere. Although some weird guy called Lockroy or something keeps popping in and trying to give me his autograph." For some reason this got a small chuckle from Dumbledore. They didn't stay long after that – well, that is to say they didn't stay longer than it took for Dumbledore and Mr. Flamel to convince Mrs. Flamel that Edward was not going to die over night, and they could indeed come back the next day.

In the end it took three weeks to grow back the missing nerves. They had told him it was going to be painful, but Edward was still surprised by the sheer agony. It was just like when the automail was connected to his nerves, but instead of a quick stab of pain, the growing went on for hours. But he knew it had been worth it when he finally was able to move out of bed on his own.

They kept him in the hospital for two more weeks after the nerves were restored, to see they were working as they should, but after that they would've had to tie him down to keep him there any longer.

"I'm sick of hospital food," Edward said, when Healer Thyme tried to convince him to stay yet another week. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with me anymore," he added, giving her a grin, that made the prim Healer blush a little despite her years, and stretching his arms. And, he added in his mind, it felt good to have his own clothes on again. The hospital had had trouble finding him a robe that fits, and five weeks of wearing something that was apparently designed for a woman was five weeks too many.

"So, Edward, what are you going to do now?" professor Dumbledore asked the young man as they were sitting in the Leaky Cauldron, sipping Butter Beers in celebration of Edward's recovery.

Edward hesitated a little before answering.

"Well, I've been thinking that I'd get a job. After all, I need to repay Mr. and Mrs. Flamel for taking care of the hospital bills…" his voice trailed off. The trouble was, he had no idea where to start. Everything he knew of the ordinary world, the muggle world as these people called it, was outdated by fifty years or more. The first time he saw the cars on the streets of London had definitely been a shock. And he knew hardly anything of the magical world, apart from what little he'd had time to learn during the past few weeks.

Lost in his thoughts Edward failed to notice the meaning looks Mr. and Mrs. Flamel changed.

"Well, Edward. Nelle and I were thinking that, if you'd like to, you could come and live with us," Mr. Flamel raised his hand as Edward tried to protest. "Just let me finish, boy. We are going to need some help making certain arrangements, and it will only be temporary as Merlin knows how many years we have left, but you could help us with these arrangements and work your dept off. So what do you say?" Mr. Flamel looked at him expectantly, while Mrs. Flamel seemed to be trying to convince him by using telepathy, judging from the intensity of her stare.

"Yes." Edward replied with a small smile. "Yes, I'll accept you offer."

//AN:

Ahhahah.. Sorry, I missed Monday by 20 minutes… This turned out a lot longer than I thought it would, but I want to move on to the Hogwarts part next chapter, so I had to get this all out of the way.

I hope this chapter made any sense, I'm kind of tired at the moment, and don't have time to read it through as carefully as I should. Also, I hope this wasn't as boring as the previous chapters…

And lastly, a BIG thank you to everyone who's given me reviews 3 I really appreciate them all. Special thanks to Renneh, Harryswoman and fairmon10 

I'll probably update someday this week, but I can't make any promises (since I can't seem to keep them anyway : ).

Anyway, hope you liked it. Sorry for rambling, and sorry it's so boring – I'll try to make the next chapters have a little more action.