WARNING: this chapter contains crossover relationships, Edry fluff, and spoilers for the Briggs manga arc

Me don't own anything that can be used in an acronym, just the plot of my acronym based story.

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Chapter 11: News and New Faces

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Since Tonks had work, and Ed couldn't Apparate, he was booked a room at the Leaky Cauldron.

Ed put half his wizard money into his suitcase, but he still the other half, and about 700 cenz for when he would go back to Amestris. Deciding to save about 500 of the cenz, Ed took walks around Diagon Alley, browsing through shops, and reading at small stalls that resembled coffee shops.

In a week he had read all his textbooks, had seen every store at Diagon Alley, knew nothing about You-Know-Who yet, hadn't seen Tonks at all, and was bored out of his mind. Ed had written home and hadn't received a reply yet.

This particularly made him sad because the kiss with Winry was haunting his most beautiful dreams, and he wanted to hear from her. There was only one place he hadn't gone yet- Knockturn Alley, but he avoided it because he always saw Malfoy hanging around down there, and bored as he was, Ed didn't want to fight with him.

So the next day Ed resolved to try out his first few real spells.

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Ed woke up groggily, stretching his arms out. It felt good to simply sleep without worrying about people seeing his automail. He walked across to his little sink, and splashed his face. This woke him up, so he pulled on a black shirt and his red cloak.

Walking across the hallway and down a flight of stairs, Ed lazily strode over to the mailboxes. He checked his room number's box. Nothing.

Whatever, thought Ed, I'll check again tonight.

He went back up to his room and pulled out his Standard Book of Spells Grade 1. Ed opened it to a bookmarked page that had the spell for turning a match into a needle. Pulling out a matchbox, Ed selected a match. Placing it on the table, he ignored the voices in his head telling him that this violated equivalent exchange, and so wouldn't work.

I have to believe that I can do this. I saw Tonks conjure up a sleeping bag out of thin air; I made that spiraling pattern of lines appear in the air. I can do this, equivalent exchange or not!

Ed silently read the incantation for the spell, Talicari Memeth, and read the pronunciation. Picturing in his mind what he was about to do, he pointed his wand at the match and said "Talicari Memeth"

The match at first showed no effect, but then slowly turned silver, and the saffron end became pointy.

Ed stared at it with wide eyes.

"I need to test it," he murmured, and clapped his hands together, and touched them to the needle. It deconstructed, proving that it was indeed metal (he used the "Destroy Steel" thing Scar uses). Ed was again, speechless.

If this worked, then who knows what went on with magical healing? Harry mentioned having to take a potion that re-grew all the bones in his arm, so what if there's something for recreating a body? Do they know about the gate? Do they have Philosopher's Stones? I need to ask Tonks next time I see her.

Falling back on his bed, Ed realized that he needed to get another pair of gloves. He was always ripping them when he transmuted his automail, and since transmuted gloves weren't as good as new ones, he needed another pair of gloves.

Setting off for Madam Malkins, Ed noticed a familiar group of red heads come one at a time out of a fireplace inside the inn. Staring for a minute, Ed decided to just ask Tonks about it later, not noticing Harry stumble out of the hearth. Ed took his newly purchased wand out of his pocket and was about to tap the bricks, when he suddenly remembered why the red heads had looked so familiar.

They were in Tonks' picture! They're in the Order. What was their name? W-something. I'll just go ask I guess.

Turning around, Ed found himself face-to-face with the very family he was contemplating. A red headed and slightly pump woman smiled at him.

"I'm so sorry, my hands are full. Could you please open the wall?" Ed blinked, and remembered was he had been about to do.

"Right! That! I'm sorry, here we are," Ed apologized, tapping the bricks. The wall immediately rearranged itself to become and archway, something Ed could never stop staring at.

Doesn't even need a transmutation circle. It just does that on it's own, he thought, remembering his previous searches for a transmutation circle on the bricks, and eventually finding none. Ed was jolted out of his thought when he realized the family was waiting for him to move aside.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I keep holding you up. I was just thinking about the archway and it's magic, and then I just got lost in thought. I'm so sorry to block you, and I should probably be moving now," Ed said frantically, trying not to appear like some stupid kid.

The woman held out her hand, "You're new aren't you. Muggle-born? Well this'll all seem more natural to you in time. I'm Molly Weasley. Would you like me to show you around?"

"Ah no, I've been around this Alley more times than is countable. Thank you for the offer though. Don't let me hold you up. I'm Edward Elric by the way," Ed replied, shaking her hand. He stepped aside to let the Weasleys (So THAT was their name!) pass.

"Ed? Ed! Hey Ed! Over here!" he heard a familiar voice calling. He looked up, and there was Harry, a girl with bushy brown hair, and another Weasley standing next to him, giving Harry confused looks. As Ed walked over, he could hear bits of their conversation.

"What? Harry who's this?"

"He's that guy I was telling you about, the transfer."

"When'd you meet him?"

Ed stopped in front of them, grinning at Harry.

"How's life?"

Harry smiled, "Fine. Where are your brother and Winry? And that one lady – I'm sorry I forgot her name –? Did they leave already?"

"Yeah, they left about a week ago. I've been staying at the Leaky Cauldron since the commute from Tonks' was waaay too long, and I would've been bored just staying there all day." Ed replied, suppressing a flush when he remembered Winry's farewell.

"You were staying with Tonks? Really? Weird. So do you know any more of the-"

"Harry, you might want to introduce your friends. As interesting as my life is, they won't get any of it if they don't have it in context," Ed interrupted jokingly.

Harry looked frantic, and made sure hid friends were till there. Fortunately they were, but they did look rather bored. Harry muttered a quiet "Sorry 'bout that," and stepped back.

"Ed, this is Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Ron, Hermione, this is Edward Elric. He's the new transfer that's starting this year." Ron raised his eyebrow in confusion.

"Wait, aren't you going into first year though? Normally people aren't considered transfers unless they're going into at least third-"

"He's in our year Ron," the girl (Hermione) cut him off. "He's transferring into 6th year."

Ron looked even more confused. "But he hardly looks like it! I mean come on, he's definitely not tall enough -" but was cut off by a glass fist punching him in the side of the face.

Instant playback:

Slow motion "Aren't you going into first year." Wait, first years are 11 year olds. I don't look 11 damn you!!! Ed started to vibrate, rage building. "…Hardly looks like it…definitely not tall enough…" Ed (now remember this is slowed to 25 second long frames) quickly (adjective used while in slow motion) clapped his hands together and placed them on the window beside Ron. A glass fist erupted out of it and punched him in the face, knocking Ron over.

Playback ends:

Ed went into rampage mode.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE'D BE SQUASHED BY A MOB OF STAMPEDING FIRST GRADERS?!?!!? I AM NOT SHORT DAMN YOU!! I AM 16! I'M NOT TINY! OR A SHRIMP! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING NOT TALL ENOUGH TO BE SEEN?!?!?!"

Ed exploded; picking Ron up and throwing him (surprisingly gently) back onto the ground several times.

Harry yelled frantically, "Ed! If you don't stop you're going to kill him!"

Ed stopped, and let Ron lie on the ground and feebly protest Ed's claims.

"He wouldn't have died. I did that gently. I do actually have such a thing as control you know. But if your Mom hadn't been extremely nice to me," Ed growled at Ron, making strangling motions with his hands.

Turning back to Harry he said, "Guess what? I have a wand now! And this morning I turned a piece of wood into a piece of steel with it! I defied friggin Equivalent Exchange! It's amazing!!"

Ed's voice was that of pure joy, and Hermione noted the special happiness given to defying "Equivalent Exchange".

I need to ask him about that… she thought, helping Ron up. Ed helped her get Ron back on his feet.

"Sorry about that, but I'm not short. Anyways, I'm Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist," Ed held out his hand to the space between the two of them. Hermione took it, and after a nudge from Harry, Ron did too.

"Hey, what's that mean? The Fullmetal Alchemist?" Hermione asked curiously. Ed froze.

Shit. That was stupid. Now they'll want to know. Crap. Well, I told Tonks I'd tell her about State Alchemists when she finally got around to telling me about You-Know-Who so…

Ed acted normal. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you that. I need information in return, but if you want to know, then be there when Tonks brings some people from this 'Order' around to tell me what the hell is going on in this country." He looked at the door, ignoring the trio's stares.

"Hm…I guess I should fix that huh. The owner probably won't like it that I transmuted their window into a glass fist will they?" Ed said aloud, talking more to himself than to the others, though they looked up from their small conference about him.

Ed clapped his hand together, and touched the window. The fist sank back into the glass, and it became perfectly smooth, though dusty. As karma based apology, Ed transmuted the dust on the window into a stone ring. He saw a small white stone on the ground, and transmuted that into the ring. I'll try to turn this into steel later. Winry might like it. Maybe one of them knows the spell. Turning around, he saw the Ron stared at him in shock, Hermione with interest (she's checking him out – and goes unnoticed), and Harry with slightly widened eyes.

"Look, don't get all How did you do that? on me. It was just simple alchemy. I know you guys don't have that, but that's all it was. Now does anyone you know a spell that just turns anything into steel?" Ed asked, impatiently, wanting to move on.

The young wizards still looked shocked, but Hermione said quietly "I do. Want me to do it for you, or tell you where I found it?"

"The second one."

"There's a footnote under the matches to needles spell that says it. It's pretty simple."

"Sweet, thanks," Ed said brightly. To his chagrin, they semmed to be staring at him again. He quickly checked both gloves to make sure he had them on. He did. His arm wasn't showing in his sleeve, and his leg was concealed.

What the hell are they staring at?

Then, Ed realized they weren't staring at him, they were staring into the shop behind him. Ed turned around and saw what it was.

Draco Malfoy was in the window staring out with total hatred, and when Ed looked back at the other wizards, he saw that they were mirroring his glare.

Oh.

Hermione muttered, "Lets get out of here," and so the four left, Ron and Ed simultaneously flicking Malfoy off.

"So you've already had a run in with dearest Draco, have you?" Ron asked Ed, grinning at the mirrored extended finger.

Ed narrowed his eyes. "Yup. That bastard is worse than Mustang. At least Roy has good intentions; most of my hatred is boss-hate, but Malfoy. He's just - words fail me."

Ron laughed. "Know what you mean. When'd you meet him?"

"Didn't I tell you any of what happened after me and Dumbledore went to go see Slughorn?" Harry asked incredulously.

When met with blank stares, he launched into the story of their fight with Malfoy, giving them the story he and Ed had told Tonks. Harry felt bad about half-lying to his friends, but he assumed Ed had a reason for it, and so left stuff out. Ron burst into laughter when he heard the story, and a smile appeared on Hermione's face.

"Nice. Very nice. Good job Ed," Ron said. Ed raised both eyebrows in disapproval.

"Why mock him after he's already had an injured pride? That's lowering you to his level," Ed said with a bit of disdain. Ron looked at him incredulously, and was about to retort, when Harry stepped in.

"Look, we've spent five years with Malfoy. He deserves it. Trust me. Although you are right about lowering ourselves, we aren't quite at his level yet," said Harry in his peacekeeping voice.

Ed shrugged in admission, to which Ron grinned and Hermione nodded silently.

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She had been keeping quiet because it was all she could do to stop herself from sighing. Ed was just so hot. His amber eyes were unnaturally luminous, and his hairstyle was very cute. She could tell he was strong by how good of shape she could tell he was in, and he didn't look short, just like a scaled down version of a 16 year old, and his clothes were uniquely cool, and he-

Stop. Hermione said firmly to herself. Stop making yourself seem stupid. Don't get a crush on someone just because he hates Malfoy too, and is really hot, and seems really intelligentt, and- JUST STOP!

Realizing she'd missed out on most of the conversation, Hermione came back to Earth just when Ed was waving good-bye, and walking into Madam Malkins. She gave him a small wave, and walked alongside her friends.

I wonder if he has a girlfr-STOP!

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"Yes!! YES! HAHA!!!!" Ed shrieked, delirious with joy. The owl he'd borrowed had returned with letters from both Al and Winry, but also a second owl had brought him and additional message from Tonks. Ed screamed bloody murder, until almost knocked out by Tom the barman. He ran up to his room in happiness, and was about to begin ripping open the first letter, when suddenly Ed's joy vanished like a puff of smoke under a fan. What if it's bad news? What if my situation seems trivial compared to their troubles? What if someone's died? What if Al's armor got screwed up? What if…What if…

What if Winry decided she made a mistake back at the station?

The thought of new death, or more suffering hit him like sledgehammers to the chest, but the thought of Winry regretting their kiss was like a having his heart impaled on a piece of string and left to hang in the sun. Now wary and afraid, Ed opened the letter from Al.

Dear Big Brother,

Everything is fine. Scar almost transmuted a piece of my armor off but he stopped as soon as he realized it was me hiding in the shadows. The Führer has been trying to send soldiers here to recruit Izumi for State Alchemists, but things keep happening to the people he sends. I actually don't know what happened, because I kept everyone under my sight for the rest of the day after the soldiers would come. Hohenheim is here by chance. Sensei saw him on a train, and brought him back. He says hello and wishes you luck at Hogwarts. Apparently he knows Rentanjutsu, and he rearranged the blood flow in Sensei so her little attacks would stop happening. I got to be her test subject for seeing how fit she was. I'm glad this body can't feel pain…

Winry called, and told us that the owl would be picking up this letter when she sent her reply. It might be arriving slightly late, because from what you told us, it took half a week for the owl to find us, and so it might be a while before you get your replies.

Good Luck to you, and please try not to kill that Malfoy guy,

-Alphonse

Ed smiled, although the thought of his father made Ed's stomach churn. Yes, he was grateful to him for showing him that human transmutation was impossible and that he and Al actually didn't bring back his Mom, and he was also very glad that Izumi's attacks had stopped happening, but the old hatred still rose up.

Pushing the thoughts of the bastard aside, he was glad at his reply. The thought of Bradley trying to recruit Izumi was very bad, and the fact that Scar had probably almost transmuted Al's armor is pursuit of the soldiers wasn't very good either, but still. Everything had apparently worked out for the best. Putting aside his darkening thoughts, he reached for Winry's letter, hesitating.

What if she doesn't love you? What if she's breaking up? You didn't really write her anything, but a letter is good right? What if-STOP! Ed screamed to his head, and tore open the envelope. A sword point resting against his heart, Ed started reading.

Dear Ed,

I miss you. A lot. When I think of you, my heart starts beating so hard it's hard to describe and I start reddening and I feel empty, Ed. I feel as if a part of me has been taken away to where I can't follow. The truth is, I love you Edward Elric. I always have. I only just realized it when I left Central the last time before Briggs, but I know that I've been in love with you for a long time now. When I kissed you, I was so scared; I thought you'd reject me. But then you ran to me, and kissed me back. I felt as if, I had been lit up by the thousand torches. Your kiss was the single most exhilarating and wonderful experience of my life, and I can't thank you enough for it. I can't wait to see you in December, and my heart can wait that long. It has before, and it should still.

Loving you,

-Winry Rockbell

Ed's eyes widened. Winry's words replayed through his head several times.

"I love you Edward Elric…I miss you…your kiss was the most exhilarating and wonderful…loving you…"

Ed's head spun so fast, he needed to sit down.

She loved him.

For a long time.

We could have had so much more than we did before we had to part. It's three months before I see her again…She loves me. Feelings of regret and despair were soon overpowered by happiness, joy that he had never felt before in his life.

Dazed, Ed lazily began opening the letter from, Tonks. He was started to see only a few words on it, but it was the words themselves that brought him out of his euphoria.

Weasel Work Wardens

Back Alley Cardboard Karate Storage Holding Outside Plissé's.

10:0 amt

We find out what we want to know

Ed's eyebrows rose at the obviously encoded message. Marcoh's research notes had been waaay harder than this. The Weasel Work Wardens stood for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The nonsense following was BACKSHOP, so they would meet at the back of the shop and 10:0 amp meant 1:00 am sharp, today. From what Ed had seen of the shop, the rest of the nonsense meant that they would probably be meeting near a back section that had to do with karate.

Ed looked at his watch. It was 11:30 pm. He still had a few hours to make up a few lies and decide what exactly he would tell the wizards. He knew not to say anything about Ishval or his automail or human transmutation or Al or The Gate of Truth. Ed decided that he would tell them about being recruited when he was 12, talk about the state alchemists, say a few things about the homunculi if needed (but nothing about Bradley, or "Father"), and explain basic alchemy. Ed already knew how to explain his own usage of alchemy; he'd just use the explanation Izumi gave him when he and Al had asked , all those years ago.

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and yes, I am terrible enough to start a crossover romance after supporting a canon couple. Because love triangles are fun.

When Ron said 1st year, Ed thought he meant first grade, as in 7 year olds.

Like the last chapter, this one was originally 2 short chapters, but I think you'll agree that the story has got to speed up. I'm sorry, I just like exposition.

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Next:

We officially find out about this shady "You-Know-Who" character, and gain some insight into both Ed's abilitys, and some of the darker Order members.

Cheers!