"What...what was that? I saw my brother! How do I get back to him? Damn it!"

"Edward, I know you are anxious to go back to your own world, but I need you to be patient. I'm telling you this because I don't want you tying to make a philosopher's stone by yourself, or something foolish like that. Do you understand? In due time, I will help you myself. Now, you are going to be sorted into a house, and are going to stay in that house for the remainder of your stay. Sit down on the stool."

Out of seemingly nowhere, the old stool from the Sorting Ceremony appeared. Ed, his mind still on the glimpse of his brother, halfheartedly sat down. Dumbledore placed the old hat on him, and once more, the hat's rim broke.

"Hmmm. Very interesting mind you've got here. I see you're very intelligent, so maybe Ravenclaw. Probably not Slytherin, since you aren't power hungry. Ha! Not like there's anything wrong with being just that! Not Hufflepuff, either. You're not nice enough. You've got a lot of courage, though. You would take on the world if you needed to, am I right? Okay, Gryffindor! Yes that's perfect! You shall go to Gryffindor!"

Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked up at Ed, acknowledging the Hat's decision, but they weren't in the mood to celebrate. They still hadn't digested the horrible truths of Ed's life. Dumbledore gave a faint smile; he had anticipated what House Ed would go to.

"Okay, well that settles that. Your possessions are already in the Gryffindor tower, right? Then, off to bed with you! We've all had a very long day," he said, sternly, but with a kind look on his face. He ushered them out into the hallway, where the four students realized how late it actually was. "I'll escort you," he said, hands behind his back.

At the tower, he told Hermione, Harry, and Ron to go ahead. Ed looked up, expecting to be dismissed as well.

"Professor..."

"Edward, heed my warning. Tomorrow, we will go get supplies you need for the classes. I suggest not losing any sleep over the phenomena that occurred. Fawkes didn't absorb your pain just to keep you awake all night. Good night then!" With a huff, Dumbledore walked away.

Ed shook his head, almost amused by the headmaster. He then climbed into the tower, slowly walked to his dorm, and fell fast asleep, dreaming of his world.

"Mother! Come see! We made you a present."

"Oh, really, Ed? Well, show it to me."

"Here they are!"

"Oh my god, these...these toys are beautiful. How did you make them? Alphonse? Edward?"

"Mom, we used alchemy! We learned from father's books, and we did it! Do you like them? I can't make them as well as Ed, yet, but I'll get better!"

"Oh Al, Ed! I'm so proud of you two. They are wonderful! You really are your father's sons. But if you are that good, why didn't you bring me back? Why did you make me a monster? Why did you kill me!?! "

"Ed! Wake up. You were having a nightmare!" Harry's worried face was inches from Ed's own. Ron was in the next bed over, snoring loudly. Ed's face was covered in sweat, his body feverish. This dream! It won't leave me alone! Why does it keep haunting me?

"What happened?"

"I think you were having a bad dream. You started screaming, and woke me up. Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I think so. Thanks, for waking me up and all," Ed smiled, exhausted, as he replied.

"Of course! You know, I have nightmares like that all the time. Usually Hermione wakes me because Ron can sleep through just about anything!" But Harry was talking to the wall. Ed had already fallen back asleep. Poor guy, he's been through a lot. Some would say too much. And with that, Harry got slowly back into his own bed.

In Ametris, Al lay awake in his bed. He had been woken moments ago by a horrible dream. In it, he and Ed had shown their mother some toys they had made. That had been the first time they had actually done alchemy. Then, their mother had turned into Sloth, the Homunculus, and had accused them of not bringing her back, of making her a monster. The worst, though, was when she had accused them of killing her. He shuddered at the thought of the nightmare.

Hmm. I don't understand what that dream was about. Ever since brother brought me back, I can't remember anything that supposedly happened in the four years we traveled together. Brother! Where are you? Why haven't you come home? Al thought to himself, determined to see his brother again. He looked into the moon's shining light, wondering about who the old man and the bird he had seen were. They seemed so real, and I'd never seen them before this. It wasn't a dream, I'm sure. The only thing is to convince Winry that, too. Al chuckled. Winry was very stubborn, and it took a lot to get her to believe anything. "I'll do it, I'll convince her!" Al whispered to himself, "Edward is counting on me!"

"Ed! Wake up! Damn, are you dead or something?"

"What the hell...Ron? What are you shouting for?"

"Ed! Dumbledore's waiting outside in the common room. Get ready, you guys are going shopping. There's a clean cloak on your suitcase. I've got to go, or I'll be late for Potions. If that happens, it was nice knowing you!" Ron said, grimacing. Ed grinned at him, but was a bit puzzled. The other boy's expression was dead serious.

"Thanks Ron. I'll manage, you go ahead."

"See you later, mate."

Ed shook his head, watching Ron hurry out the door. He pulled on a clean shirt, and got to work cleaning his metal limbs. The morning ritual calmed him, reminding him of Winry. After they were both clean (like mirrors) and oiled, he stretched out his stiff muscles, testing his mechanical appendages as well. He brushed and braided his golden hair, yawned, and swung out of his bed in a fluid motion. He sparred and kicked into the air a few times, then proceeded down the stairs, stopping to pick up the cloak Ron had mentioned.

"Hello, Edward. Are you ready?"

"Yes sir. Where are we going?"

"Oh, it's a place called Diagon Alley, where we can buy magical items and books you will need for this year."

"What exactly will I need?"

"The first thing we will get for you is a wand. Then, you'll need robes, books, and a lot more. Also, I need to talk to you about something. All right, we'll have to ride the Thestrals. You've seen them, haven't you? Thestrals are horse-like creatures. They pull the carriages that you rode in when you first came here. I see you remember."

"How could I not? Those...those horrible creatures! We have to ride them? Isn't there another way?"

"Edward, this is the safest, fastest way. You have to trust me. These Thestrals are only seen by people who have watched someone die. You certainly have, from your story yesterday. Do not worry, you're safe with me."

"Are you saying that I'm scared? Because I'm not...Well, I guess a little."

"Enough talk! We must go. Hagrid is waiting for us."

"Hehehe... Sorry. Let's go."

With a flourish of cloaks, the two walked out of the Gryffindor common room, the short eighteen-year-old contrasting greatly with the tall, elderly wizard. Even then, they made a perfect pair, some would say, both with a light twinkle in their light eyes, a steady gait betraying their self-confidence.

o0o