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Chapter 3: The Letter--
July 31st, Now.
Ed awoke to the sound of tapping on the window. He sat up slowly, the last few weeks' events running through his head. A bunch of random crap had happened, and for this story's purposes, everything was about the same as before. Kimbley had been killed by Scar in the battle. Envy and Ling/Greed had pushed Buccaneer off a cliff. Miles had sent out several search parties, but so far there had been no luck. Ed and Al were bringing Dr. Marcoh, Scar and Mei Chan to meet Izumi in Dublith. Winry would get dropped off at Rush Valley on the way there. In Dublith they would learn Rentanjutsu from Mei Chan, and try to learn what the tattoos on Scar's arm meant.
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Ed swung his feet out of bed, a sharp rapping still going on his window. "I'm coming, I'm coming…" he muttered, trudging over, and swinging it open. Instead of Al or Winry, there was an owl. A barn owl. With a letter tied to its talons. I must be dreaming. Ed thought, jolted awake by the sight. The owl lifted its leg as if indicating he should take the letter. Ed untied the cord, and brought the owl out of the snow. Setting it by the remainder of last night's food, he surveyed the envelope in its hand. It read:
To Mr. Edward Elric
Dublith, Amestris
He flipped it over. There was an elegant crest of a shield divided into four parts with the word Hogwarts above it in a formal looking type.
"What the hell?" He opened it, breaking the seal and pulling out the first piece of parchment he found. It read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITHCRAFT and WIZARDRYHeadmaster - Albus Dumbledore
Dear Mr. Elric,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"What…the…fuck…" Ed breathed. Most people thought alchemy was magic but it really was just science. With a few magical qualities, he supposed, but really just science…
"Hey Al!! Winry!! Come here, quick!!" Ed yelled over his shoulder. They came running.
"What is it Big Brother?" Said Al, armor clanking.
"Yeah, Ed what's up? By the way, something was tapping on your wind-"
"I know. It was the owl."
"Owl?"
"Hey Big Brother, what's that letter?" Al asked reaching for the piece of parchment Ed still grasped. "Where did this come from?" Ed shrugged. "Hogwarts I guess. The owl brought it."
"Hogwarts? What's that?" Al grabbed the letter and read the first sentence aloud.
"Ed, what is this? Magic school?"
"Winry, I have no idea. I haven't finished reading it yet," said Ed, snatching the letter from Al, and reading the rest of it aloud.
Inside there is a list of books and supplies you'll need.
Term begins September 1. As you will be transferring into our 6th year instead of starting off fresh, please reply with this owl no later than August 7th, to let us know you are interested. If so, you and your family (or two-three others if they are unable) should take the enclosed train ticket up to London on August 20th. Someone should be there waiting for you, and will talk it over with you, and help you buy supplies.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagallDeputy Headmistress.
"Whoa, whoever wrote this is serious," Winry said, taken aback.
"Yeah, and that explains why Big Brother's owl is still here. It's probably waiting for his reply."
"Well we still have a few days before it's due." Ed remarked. "We leave for Rush Valley and Dublith today. Lets continue as planned, and ask Sensei about it once we get there. Her, you, and probably Winry should come with me when we go to this 'London' place."
"Wait, Ed," Winry started, "You're not seriously thinking about going are you? What about learning Rentan-whatever? What about getting back you guys' bodies?"
"Calm down Winry!!" Al cried. Winry realized her voice had risen to a yell. She muttered an apology as Ed put a hand on her shoulder; she relaxed, then stiffened after a wave of security made its way across her.
"Look, Winry, I know. And I just thought the same thing as you said that. But I think doing this would be the best thing. Besides" Ed said, skimming downward, "It says here students can come back for the winter holidays, so it should be okay."
Al raised his head understanding. "If I study Rentanjutsu here, while Big Brother learns 'magic' we might be able to find out a way to get back our bodies sooner. But I agree with Nee-san, that we should go to Izumi first, and that the three of us and her should go to this 'London' place."
Winry nodded. "Well let's head out then. Everyone else is ready to go, so lets go ahead and leave."
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On the train ride, Ed asked Marcoh and Mei if they had heard of Hogwarts. Marcoh shook his head, but Mei looked thoughtful. "It sounds familiar. I think one of our healers in training might have gotten a letter from a different school when she was abroad. She didn't go. There was too much work in my clan that she was needed for. The letter mentioned the Hogwarts place as an alternative though."
"Yeah, mine mentions two other schools in a footnote as well." Ed mentioned. "I think alchemy in Xing and Amestris doesn't show up in this 'London' place, so people only get the letter when they use alchemy in a different country."
Everyone stopped and pondered this. The rest of the train ride was filled with sleeping, staring out the window, and silence. Rush Valley came up, and Winry got off. She hugged Mei, Al, and Ed, and started walking off. Ed, after a brief epiphany, started running after her.
"Winry! Hey, Winry!" he called. Winry turned around slowly. Ed held up something small and shiny that he pulled out of his pocket. "You forgot your earrings," he said when he had caught up to her.
"Oh. Thanks Ed."
"No problem."
"See you when we go to London?"
"Yeah. See you then." The two embraced, then went their separate ways.
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The remaining five pulled up in Dublith, holding their bags, with Marcoh toting the birdcage carrying the owl. They decided that it must have had orders not to leave until the 7th, as it made no attempt to escape.
They hiked up to Izumi's house, where she greeted the Elrics with a punch, and the rest with a stern look. They gathered around her dining table sitting slightly uncomfortably in the presence of the newcomers. Izumi broke the silence.
"So Ed. When you called, you mentioned something about a weird school and Rentanjutsu." Ed introduced Mei Chan and handed her the letter. Izumi read it.
And then burst out laughing. "This is some kind of joke right? This can't be real!"
"Dr. Marcoh has the owl, and here's the train tickets. Here's the list of supplies." Said Al.
Izumi was speechless for once. Then, pulling herself together she said, "Well, when are we leaving?" Everyone was taken aback.
"What?" Ed said. He had expected more ridicule than this.
"From what you told me over the phone, Al will stay here while he is taught Rentanjutsu by Mei, while me and Dr. Marcoh try to figure out the meaning of the tattoos on Scar's arm, yes?"
"Yeah, but-" Ed started.
"But what? Did you seriously think I would let you turn down the greatest piece of learning you could ever get your hands on? This combined with Rentanjutsu is the shortest route to getting your bodies back, so I want you to go for it. Now, obviously I will be coming with you as well as Al, and that Winry girl should probably come too. This station is in Drachma, so we'll need to head back up to the Briggs. My husband will keep the others safe. Any questions?"
She was met with silence. "All right, it's settled. We leave tomorrow. Al, help Ed pack. Dr. Marcoh, could you come talk to me for a minute please? And if Mei and Mister Scar could help my husband out with something that would be wonderful."
Her voice was friendly, but as her face clearly said 'do it or I kill you' no one argued. Ed proceeded to pack all his stuff he regularly took traveling, plus a few extra things that were suggested to him. While Ed packed, he told Al what to write, and they sent the owl with their reply. It read:
People at Hogwarts,
I have decided to take you up on your offer and come to this London place to find out about your school. I will be bringing with me my brother, my sensei, and a close family friend. In case you don't already know this, here is what we look like. I have long blonde hair that's normally in a braid and my brother will be wearing a big suit of armor.
See you at the station,
Edward Elric--
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Tis decided, Ed is going to Hogwarts!
And for those of you who care, the reason I've been updating so fast is because so many people have been reviewing. So review, and be met with updates!!