So... I really enjoyed writing this chapter. It took a little while, but I think it was worth it. I know some of the character's may be a little off in this chapter, but, I mean, come on - I am on , meaning I am not a perfect author. Just bare with their very slight OOCness because I need it for the plot to progress.

CHAPTER 2

"What will you do now?" Harry asked the Elric brothers. He remembered they didn't have a place to stay or any money.

"Brother and I will figure something out." Alphonse said, trying to be optimistic.

"Of course, Alphonse." Edward said.

At that moment, a car came barreling around the corner of Magnolia Crescent. Edward flung his left arm out to push Harry and Alphonse out of the way.

There was a great din. Suddenly, a double-decker bus was parked in front of the alchemist.

"Ya need a ride?" Stan Shunpike asked.

"What are you talking about?" Ed was shocked. Where did the bus come from? Its appearance was like magic….

"What'cha waitin' round for? You held out your wand arm didn't you, shrimp?" the Night Bus attendant asked.

"Ed, you are a wizard?" Harry asked.

"Wizard? You're kidding, right?" Ed scoffed.

"Magic doesn't exist." Alphonse said to Harry.

"Of course it exists! You must have it to have summoned the Night Bus." Harry answered.

"I don't know what I did but I am an alchemist not a magician." Ed argued.

"You sure are stupid, kid. Alchemy is magic." Stan cut in. "You can argue on the bus, but we've got to get going."

Harry shrugged his shoulders and climbed up the steps. Alphonse started to follow.

"Alphonse! What are you doing?" Edward grabbed his brother.

"Well, what have we got to lose, brother? It's about time we actually did something new and took some chances." Alphonse tugged on his brother's arm. "I want to know about wizards. Come on."

Edward followed cautiously, eyeing Stan warily.

"So where are you going, Harry Potter?"

"Uh, Leaky Cauldron again. And my friends too." Harry paid Shunpike for the Elrics and himself.

"So, you believe you are wizards, eh?" Ed asked when they were settled.

"Everything you see around you is magic; that's also the reason Vernon hates me." Harry explained.

"Huh. That is quite an interesting theory…" Alphonse murmured. "So how do you control this 'magic'?"

"I wield a wand." Harry explained, pulling it from his waist band.

"Can I examine it?" Edward asked.

"No. I'm sorry but a wizard never gives away his weapon."

"Well, can you tell me composition?" Ed inquired, slightly annoyed at this point.

"A symbolic tree (mine is cherry) and a magically infused core (mine is phoenix feather). I'm pretty sure that the core is really what gives a wand power…" Harry explained.

"I'm not sure if that connects to our alchemy at all, Ed." Alphonse murmured.

At that moment, the bus lurched to the side and car horns blared outside.

"Accident at nine o'clock Ernie!" the driver's hanging head exclaimed. Ed turned at the noise. He was shocked to see the magical object.

"Hey blondie!" it called in a seemingly Jamaican accent. "You look a little pale, boy!"

Ed stumbled backwards. "That is freaky!"

"You get used to it." Stan said. "So, shorty, who are you?"

"I'm NOT SHORT!" Edward screamed. "And I am Edward Elric. Now, who are you?"

"Me? Stan Shunpike. Nice to meet you - friend of Harry Potter." The man replied. "So, Harry… are you really off your rocker like they say?"

Edward raised an eyebrow.

"What does he mean, 'off your rocker'?" Alphonse inquired.

"Wow. Where have you been? Last year, I witnessed a Lord Voldemort gain power again. Now everyone thinks I'm insane and that he couldn't have come back from the dead."

"People come back from the dead when people make big mistakes." Whispered Ed, solemnly.

"Of course, Dumbledore believes you as well. But, well, he's gettin' a bit old now, in't he?" Stan led the boys to three beds near the back of the bus.

"Dumbledore?" Edward asked.

"ProfessorAlbus Dumbledore. Famous wizard and alchemist." Harry said he were talking

"Alchemist?" Alphonse and Edward asked simultaneously.

"Yes. He used alchemy to help Nicolas Flamel create the Philosopher's Stone. That was first year."

"Philosopher's Stone…? Can we meet this alchemist?" Ed inquired, looking meaningfully at Alphonse.

"When we get to the Leaky Cauldron, I can owl him."

000

"Harry, my dear boy. What was it you wanted? Hedwig landed in my morning pumpkin juice."

"Well, headmaster, two days ago I met these boys, Edward and Alphonse. I thought they were muggles but Edward summoned the Night Bus. Anyway, they want to meet you. Here they come now." Harry motioned to the stairs of the inn. The Elric brothers meandered towards him.

"Is this Dumbledore?" Alphonse asked.

Harry nodded, "Professor Dumbledore meet Alphonse and Edward Elric."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled mysteriously. "Oh, what a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise." Edward answered. "Can I speak with you privately?"

Dumbledore nodded, "Of course, of course."

He led Edward to the quiet, vacant hallway. "What would you like to talk about?"

"The Philosopher's stone. You helped create it, didn't you?" Ed scowled.

"Well, barely. Nicolas did most of the work… Why do you ask?"

"Because I am an alchemist and know what the stone contains."

"And what would that be?" Dumbledore gazed down his nose through his half-moon spectacles.

"You must be joking. The philosopher's stone is made of human souls. And that makes you a murderer!" Edward's eyes glowed with anger.

"Souls? You must be misinformed – the Philosopher's stone was made with magic and potions alone."

"Magic and potions? Really?" Edward questioned cautiously.

"Of course. The use of souls was an ancient alchemic method used for transmutation… Are you an alchemist, young man?"

Edward nodded solemnly.

"That explains it. I only know a bit of alchemy myself. I learned from journals I discovered in a library in Munich, Germany."

Ed stiffened slightly. "I would expect that an alchemist's journal would be coded… How did you decipher it?"

"Oh, I didn't get very far… only to the laws and simply circles. It was quite a code you used. Almost impossible."

Edward's eyes widened. "That means… you were the one who took them!" Edward pointed an accusing finger. "I went back for those thirty years ago…"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.

"Did I just say…?" Edward's eyes filled with panic at the information he had just revealed.

"Your secret is safe with me."

"I don't trust you."

"No? Why not?" Dumbledore asked.

"Anything information you know about me can be used as blackmail but I don't know anything about you counter it."

"Well, you most interest me. I would like to know how you ended up in London of all places." The old man thought for a moment. "Hmm. What would you like to know?" Dumbledore asked.

"Well, why were you in Munich?"

Dumbledore blushed. Edward raised his eyebrows.

"I was meeting my boyfriend's family." The old man finally answered.

Edward smirked. "Definitely blackmail material, Dumbledore."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I won't tell if you won't. Can we make an agreement now?"

"What sort of agreement?" Edward questioned.

"I will accept you as a student at Hogwarts if you teach me more about your alchemy." Albus suggested.

"Will you let my brother Alphonse learn magic as well?" Edward asked.

"Yes."

"Then it's a deal." Edward confirmed.

000

Ypa! Another chapter completed.