"Ok, who the heck is THAT?" said a flabbergasted Ed as he saw a giant man. He was probably 12 feet tall, and it almost pissed Ed off that there were people who were that tall. "Or should I say what?"

"Oh, come on, Ed. I know you have some manners inside that big head of yours. Why don't you use them? That man over there is Hagrid. He's a good friend of ours. He is taking the First Years to the main entrance, but I think you should come with us. We don't know if you'll be sorted or not. You know, this had never happened before. I've read about it in Hogwarts, a History," said Hermione.

"I DO NOT have a big head!"

"Come on, we're going to miss the carriages, and then we'll have to swim across. Let's GO!" shouted Harry in a frustrated voice. The train ride had been especially long for him because he'd told Ed his story, including the parts he didn't really want to remember.

They walked toward the carriages, but Ed stopped dead in his tracks. "Okay, this isn't funny, guys. You could have told me about the chimeras," he spat out the words with a deep hatred. Nina...

"Ed, what are you talking about? These carriages are drawn by magic. There's nothing actually pulling them."

"Yes, there is! Don't you guys see them? Those horse-things. They're black, and reptilian. They even have wings! You really can't see them?" Ed said in an unsure, agitated voice. He didn't want to have anything to do with chimeras again, not after what had happened...

"Ed, it's all right. We've ridden in these carriages for years. There is nothing to worry about. What do you mean by 'chimeras'?" Harry said with a doubtful frown on his face.

"Okay, I get it. They're not harmful, but I've just had too many bad experiences with beasts like that to trust them." Nina... "Anyways, chimeras are half-breeds. They were created by mixing two animals with a technique called alchemy. It doesn't seem to work in this world."

"Hold on a minute. You're telling me that these chimeras are created with the same method used to turn lead into gold? And what was that about another world? Ed, are you not telling us something important? I trusted you with my story, so I think you should tell us yours. It's only..."

"Equivalent Exchange. I know, more than you can imagine, Harry," Ed said in a melancholy voice. He hadn't wanted to share his story with anyone. The guilt was enough to rip him apart. He had killed so many, and cheated death. He didn't even know if his brother was alive. But Ed knew one thing- Al had given up his life for him, and he would make sure Al was alive. That was Edward's one and only responsibility left to complete. Not exactly, he thought regretfully. He had never told Winry how much he loved her. Winry, his only family left, besides Al. Ed missed them so much! The hope that they were still alive was the driving force behind his strength, and persistence. Without it, Ed knew he would have given up months ago. He didn't know how he could make Harry, Hermione, and Ron understand the absolute need for him to go back. But I must, he thought fiercely, if I want to go back!

"Look, you guys, how about I make a deal with you. I will tell you my story, but only when I'm ready. In return, you guys have to keep all of this to yourselves. Don't tell anyone. Maybe when I go see the Headmaster, I'll tell the story for you all at the same time. Dumbledore will probably want to hear it anyway. Does that sound good?" Ed said, willing to make a compromise with his new-found friends.

"Okay, I know this is hard for you, Ed," replied Harry, wondering what Equivalent Exchange was. He decided to ask about it later.

"Yeah, mate. You must have had some traumatic experiences to not be able to speak about them. I know how you feel, being friends with Harry and everything," stated Ron

"Ed, don't be afraid to talk to us about anything. We're there for you. Even though I've known you just for a day, and you haven't told us anything about yourself, I still have a gut feeling that you are a good person. Now that I think about it, we still don't even know how old you are!" Hermione said solemnly.

Embarrassedly, Ed admitted, "I'm eighteen. Look, you NEED to keep this to yourselves! It's not funny!" The others had burst out laughing at the short, blushing eighteen-year-old who looked just about ready to murder them all. Ed glared at them with his amber eyes narrowed to snake-like slits, until finally, he relented, and said stubbornly, "Thanks for being such good friends, though." For the rest of the carriage ride, he made it a point to look at a very interesting speck of dirt on the carriage door, and to ignore everything (and everyone) else.

As the carriages slowly came to a stop, Ed was woken up by Hermione. He had fallen asleep, like he had done so many times before with his brother. He smiled. It was nice to have such steadfast friends. It would be hard to leave them. NO! I can't think like that! I mustn't get too attached to anyone here. Damn, Ed! Remember, you need to get back to your own world!

He faced the gigantic double doors that were the main entrance to the biggest, oldest castle he had ever seen. The castle had such a majestic aura, filled with magic and mystery. It was all he could do to keep from running over to touch the ancient brick, to be able to feel the strength resonating within. It brought back memories of when he could touch an object, feel its individual components, and be able to change them into anything he pleased. That alone made his stomach lurch unhappily, which made Ed realize how long it had been since he had eaten last. "Hey, Ron, are they going to feed us?" he asked. Harry and Hermione were whispering to an older-looking witch with a large hat on who was looking back every once in a while at Ed. Her disbelieving expression told Ed that the school really hadn't been prepared for something like this to happen.

"Of course, they'll feed us. Or else, I swear, I would have never left home!" said Ron in a humorous voice. He still felt a bit guilty about provoking Ed back in the train, and tried to make it up by cheering up the sleepy teen. It was hard to believe that Ed was eighteen, but why would he lie? It wouldn't accomplish anything, and besides, he had seemed genuinely embarrassed when he had admitted it.

"Oh good! I am STARVING! I could just about eat a horse right now. Well, when do they serve the food?"

"I think we should probably go inside fist, Ed."

"Shut up, and let me enjoy my moment!"

"Okay, okay!"

"Mr. Elric, could you please follow me into the hall?" said an unfamiliar voice with an English accent. It was the elderly witch that Ed had seen Harry and Hermione talking to. "By the way, I am Professor McGonagall. I am the Head of Gryffindor House. There isn't any time for a formal introduction, because Dumbledore will need to have a word with you immediately," she said, half-dragging, half-guiding Ed to a Gargoyle Statue in the hallway. Ed heard her mumble something that sounded strangely like 'Chocolate Frog', and the gargoyle jumped aside, showing a spiral staircase that, moments before, hadn't been there. The stairs curved around the large effigy of a bird with outstretched wings. Out of habit, Ed had clapped his hands when the gargoyle had moved. Professor McGonagall looked back, stared for a second, and then smoothly climbed up the stairs. Ed followed, after steaming at himself for being off guard like that.

What Ed presumed to be Dumbledore's office was richly decorated. The furniture inside was oddly comforting, old but cozy in a way. Strange, otherworldly tools were stuffed in dusty cabinets, looking as if they hadn't been touched in ages. This office would make Colonel Mustang himself jealous, Ed thought smugly, I should tell him about it, or better yet, get him a picture!

Then, Ed noticed a scarlet bid, the size of a parrot, sitting on a beautiful ebony stand. It was the same bird as the statue in the stairwell. Its bright, onyx eyes were fixed on him, and they buried into him, making him feel very vulnerable. It felt almost like he had been caught doing some mischief, he felt exposed to the very core. Look all you want, I have nothing to hide, he directed the thought to the bird, all the while staring back at it with equally deep, golden eyes. As if satisfied, the bird looked away, and Ed thought he say its beak curve upward in a smile. I must be losing it! Talking to birds! That's an all-time low, even for me.

At that point, a very old, frail-looking wizard walked in from another room, a serious frown on his face. This must be Professor Dumbledore.

"Hello, Edward Elric. Welcome to Hogwarts," the old wizard said in an unexpectedly thundering, attention-demanding voice.