I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist, and I obviously don't own the dialogue I lifted directly from Half Blood Prince. However, I happen to own my plotline (HAHAHAHA!! THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME!! I WIN!!)
Warning: there is badly written and pointless Edry in this chapter. I apologize beforehand, and advise that you all skip it.
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Chapter 13: The Ride to Hogwarts
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Why do wizards use trains? Not that I mind, - trains are something familiar - but couldn't we just come by Floo powder, or some equally magical way of transportation?
These thoughts rushed through Ed's head as he waited for his escort to King's Cross. He had been packed for weeks, not having much stuff, but took the opportunity of the last few days to do his laundry, organize all of his stuff, make extra precautions for his automail, turn the ring for Winry into steel (he'd found the spell for it), and clean his wand.
That morning he had gotten up early, and after taking a shower, pulled on his boots, normal pants, his long sleeved black shirt, and familiar red cloak. Ed refused to wear wizard clothes unless he absolutely needed to. As cold as Britain was, they were hot (as in warm), and also slightly uncomfortable. Ed quickly brushed and braided his hair, antennae sticking up. Packing the few things still in his room (and a few things that weren't his), he sat motionless on his bed in the last 7 minutes before Remus and Tonks arrived. Then, getting impatient, he brought his trunk downstairs, set it down on a table, and checked to see if he had mail.
To his delight, there was a letter from Winry. Ordering a water (he didn't want anything even slightly alcoholic right before going to a school) he opened the letter and began to read.
Dear Ed,
I hope this reaches you before you leave for your school. Your letters have been interesting, and although they do dull the pain of your absence, I still miss you more than ever. I wish you didn't keep me in the dark about the whole You-Know-Who business, but you probably have an okay reason. I just don't want to be a hostage again, okay? Anything Else is fine, but please, not that again.
Ed grinned at the crappy attempt at a joke.
This will probably seem like something a stupid girl with a crush would say, but please don't forget about me when you get to that school. If you do I will be heartbroken, and come beat you over the head with a wrench (even worse than usual). Keep that in mind when you start to make friends. I love you more than I could ever say, so don't get injured at Hogwarts, and more importantly, don't screw up your automail. Find a way to bring your bodies back, and never give up hope.
Love,
Winry
Ed smiled at Winry's humor, cringing when she mentioned beating him with a wrench. He put the letter with the others inside his trunk, and right as he finished his drink, Remus and Tonks walked in the front door.
"Ready Ed?" Remus asked. Ed nodded.
"Then lets go," Tonks sighed wearily. "I can't wait to finally get some rest."
With that she grabbed Ed's arm, and they Apparated away, landing in a small phone booth inside an empty tube station next to King's Cross.
After Remus joined them, the three walked to the larger train station, and soon reached the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10.
"Right, here we are. This is how you get to Platform 9 and Three Quarters," instructed Tonks. "You run straight at the wall between Platforms 9 and 10, and don't do anything to prevent yourself from crashing. Got it?"
Ed nodded apprehensively. Loading his trunk onto a nearby trolley, he began jogging toward the barrier. Watching the wall coming toward him, he closed his eyes and broke into an all-out run, pushing his automail to the limits. He opened his eyes to see a brick wall right in front of him, and then felt a cold tingle go through the parts of his body that touched metal, and then all he could see was mist.
Blinking, Ed walked forward a ways, and swiped his hand in front of his face. As if sensing his irritation, the swirling whiteness moved out of his line of vision to merge behind him, revealing a red train with the words "The Hogwarts Express" on it, and a large sign saying "Platform 9 and Three Quarters".
The alchemist stepped forward in awe, seeing hundreds of other people around him, most in robes, some in normal clothes, all with trucks like him, some with caged animals, others had wands out, and most were either loading onto the train or saying their goodbye to their parents.
It suddenly hit Ed that this was real. He was actually going to a magical school, and that the brief bits of magic he'd performed was actually taught somewhere. It made him miss home; almost wishing he had people to wave goodbye to as he left. Almost.
Ed was jarred out of his thoughts when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Twisting around, he saw Tonks was standing next to him, and behind her he saw Remus stumble out of the mist, bumping into Tonks. Tonks burned red, and Ed thought she saw her aqua blue hair flash pink for just a second before returning to it's normal shade of ocean.
"Sorry Tonks," mumbled Remus, and he turned to Ed.
"Right, Ed. This is where we leave you. When you get off the train, get into one of the horseless carriages, and it'll take you to the castle. Don't follow the rest of the students into the Great Hall. Instead wait for a moment, and Severus will come get you. You do remember Severus right?" Remus added at the end of his little speech.
Ed nodded. "Yeah, he was the greasy haired tall guy who had some connection to the Death Eaters, right?"
Remus smiled at Ed's description, and nodded. Tonks turned Ed around to face her, and surprised him by giving him a big hug.
"Good luck Ed," she whispered into his ear, slowly letting go. Ed smiled, and held his hand out for both her and Remus, the two shaking it in turn.
I'm going to miss them, Ed realized. Maybe I'll see them around sometime this year.
Giving the two a mock salute, Fullmetal lifted his trunk off the cart rather easily, and walked onto the train.
--Parody--
For some ungodly reason, Ed twisted around at the last minute to survey the station around him; some invisible wind whipped his hair around his determined face.
"KAWAII!!" screamed a bunch of newly made Edo-fan girls.
"Shit! They're everywhere!!" Ed cried, and quickly lugged his truck into the train and disappeared into the corridor.
--End of Parody--
Wisely choosing not to pause for aesthetics, Ed walked into the car and surveyed the corridor around him. He noticed that this train had small compartments instead of just a full car, so he walked along looking for one that wasn't crammed with people. Finally he saw one containing only two people, both looking like they were about his age. Ed slid open the door. The occupants looked up, startled. Ed gave them his normal sarcastic grin.
"Hey, can I sit in here? Everywhere else is either full, or full of eleven-year-olds," Ed said. Suddenly he recognized the girl from the robe shop. "Hi! I met you at Madam Malkins! You're Luna right?"
Luna smiled brightly and nodded, the guy looking confused.
"Yes, you're Harry's friend, the transfer. Sit down before Nargles get into your hair," Luna said distantly.
Not liking the sound of these "Nargles", Ed hurriedly sat, sweeping a hand across his head and holding out the other to the guy. "My name's Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm a transfer student here. Who're you?"
The guy seemed slightly more tentative, but held took Ed's hand to be polite.
"N-Neville Longbottom," he stuttered, nervous. Ed half-grinned at him, and stretched out, flexing his automail shoulder, while still being careful so that Neville and Luna wouldn't see the metal limb.
The three sat in silence, the train still not moving. Then Neville spoke, seem having just plucked up the courage to do so.
"Hey Edward,"
"Call me Ed,"
"R-right Ed. What year are you transferring into?"
"6th year."
"No way!!" Neville's eyes were bulging at this point, and he jumped up. "You're 16? You don't look like it at all!"
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING AS SHORT AS A 5 YEAR OLD??" Ed exploded, jumping up.
As if right on cue, the train started moving, and the two boys sat back down. Luna put her magazine down again, saying softly, "Neville, I think Ed might be slightly self conscious about his height. But if he was just scaled up a few inches, he'd look like a 6th year-"
"Damn right I would," Ed grumbled, arms crossed and staring out the window. After being elbowed by Luna once, Neville slowly turned to Ed.
"Hey Ed, I'm sorry for-"
"Forget it, it's fine. Well actually it isn't because I'm not short, but you don't need to apologize," Ed replied, turning to face the other occupants of the car. The silence resumed.
The compartment door opened, to reveal Harry. Luna and Neville's faces brightened considerably and after a moment of "Finally!"s (apparently Harry had left for a while), the newcomer sat down next to Ed…
…And just noticed him.
"Hey, Ed! What are you doing here? Nice cloak," Harry exclaimed, realizing his new friend was in his compartment. Ed turned and grinned at Harry.
"Well seeing as I'm going to Hogwarts it'd be kinda hard for me not to be on this train, and since these two were cool enough to let me in, here I am!" Ed replied brightly.
"Awesome!" Harry laughed. "Ron and Hermione will be here soon, they have prefect stuff to do."
"Prefect? What's that?"
Harry, Neville, and Ed started talking animatedly about school, Quidditch, and other random stuff, mostly Ed asking questions and the other two answering them enthusiastically, Luna sometimes adding in a cryptic comment.
After about five minutes the door opened once again, and instead of Harry's other friends, they saw a group of giggling girls. They bickered amongst themselves for a moment, all becoming increasingly more annoying by the minute. Blushing furiously, one girl stepped slightly into the compartment, ignoring everyone but Harry.
"Hi, Harry. I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane. Why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with them." Her stage whisper told Ed loads. Luna and Neville were obviously unpopular. Ed raised his own eyebrows at her, as well as Harry.
"They're friends of mine," Harry replied coldly.
"Oh. Oh. Okay" said the girl, looking rather surprised as she withdrew out of the doorway.
Luna raised her head to look at Harry.
"People expect you to have cooler friends than us."
"You are cool," Harry said firmly. "None of them were at the Ministry. They didn't fight with me."
Neville and Luna beamed, Ed feeling oddly left out.
"That's a nice thing to say," replied Luna, returning to her magazine.
"We didn't face him though," said Neville. "You did. You should hear my Gram-"
"Um, can I get a footnote here?" Ed interrupted. The other occupants turned to look at him. "Is this the time when Voldemort came back, and the Ministry was acting stupid, and that Order member got killed? Sorry, I only just heard a little bit about it from Remus, so it's kinda hard to follow you guys."
Harry's eyes darkened. "Yeah, it's that time," he muttered, and silence followed.
"Hey Fullmetal," Luna said softly after a few minutes, Ed jerking around to look at her startled. No one but military people have ever called me that. I really need to break this titles giving habit of mine. Damn military…
"Yeah?"
"Where'd you transfer from?"
"Um, nowhere really. I was an alchemist before this, and then this summer I got the letter. Why?" Ed asked nervously.
"Oh no reason," Luna said innocently.
Harry cocked his head to the side. "Fullmetal? Why'd she call you that?"
Ed half-chuckled, a tiny smile appearing for a fleeting instant on his face.
"Oh, when I introduced myself to them, I used titles, so yeah. Because I am: Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist." Ed said, giving a dramatic bow after saying his title.
Harry and Neville laughed, Harry more than Neville. Neville seemed to have a lot on his mind, because no sooner did the laughter die down then he had yet another question.
"So um, what's an alchemist? Can you show us some alchemy?"
Ed smiled, rolling his eyes. "Alchemy is basically just science and formulas. You take something, and make it into something made up of the same substances as the first thing. You can't make something out of nothing, unlike magic. I'll show you, but since I have nothing to write with, I'm going to do a way that only a few people know how to do, so don't try it," Ed said, searching his pockets for something he could transmute.
Finding a small rock, he clapped his hands together as if in prayer. The other occupants of the room felt a rush of energy come towards him, as he touched the rock. A flash of light, and where the rock had been there was a small statue of the Hogwarts Express. Ed did it again, and the statue turned into a gigantic beast covered with what looked like skulls, and repeated it one last time, decomposing it.
Ed looked up, and saw the occupants of the compartments staring at him, as well as two people standing at the compartment door. Even Luna, who looked as if she never got surprised in her life, had her mouth gaping open. Harry was the first to speak.
"What was that second statue Ed?"
Ed looked at him, eyes hardening, and it was at that moment that Harry found mirrored in Ed's eyes, the same look of sadness, suffering, and wise-beyond-years-ness that he felt, only much more potent and deep.
"It was Envy," was the alchemist's soft reply.
One of the two people in the doorway coughed, and Harry spun to see his two best friends standing there in front of him.
"Ron! Hermione! You guys are done with your prefect stuff then?"
"Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving," Ron said, obviously trying to disguise his awkwardness.
Ed smiled nervously at the two of them. "Hey, I met you guys that day in Diagon Alley right? You're Ron and Hermione yes? I'm Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. Or just Ed. How're you doing?"
Ron's eyes lit up when he remembered the violent comrade he had joked with about Malfoy, and Hermione blushed, Ed looking just as good as the last time they'd met.
Ron collapsed into the seat beside Harry, greeting the other members of the compartment as Hermione settled in nervously next to Ed.
"Guess what?" Ron said, turning to Harry. "Malfoy's not doing prefect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed."
Ed scowled upon hearing the other boy's name, omitting his confusion as to its context as Harry straightened.
"What did he do when he saw you?" the scarred boy asked.
"The usual," Ron said, flicking off the air. "Not like him, though, is it? Well – that is" – Ron flicked the air off again – "but why isn't he out there bullying first years?"
"Dunno," replied Harry.
"Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad," added in Hermione. "Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after-"
"Alright hold on a second!" Ed interrupted, not knowing what the hell the wizards were talking about. "Help me out a second. First, what is a prefect, second, what do you mean by 'other Slytherins', and third, what the hell is an Inquisitorial Squad?"
The wizards looked at each other, and deciding to explain the Squad first, launched into an explanation of Umbridge's regime and what she did.
Ed had just thought for the third time that these wizards had no idea what a hard-ass teacher was, when the compartment door slid open again, and a younger girl stepped inside.
"I'm supposed the deliver these to Neville Longbottom, Harry P-Potter, and Edward Elric," she stammered, holding out three scrolls of heavy paper, her eyes looking up to meet Harry's before blushing tremendously.
I have never been so glad to be him, Ed thought, wincing when he remembered all the stares he'd gotten because of his fame back home.
The three took the scrolls addressed to them. Utterly bewildered, Ed began to read his.
Mr. Elric,
I would be most delighted if you would join me of some lunch in compartment C.
Sincerely,
Professor Horace Slughorn
"Who's this Slughorn guy?" Ed asked, expecting that this was yet another thing he had yet to be introduced to.
"New teacher," said Harry. "I suppose we'll have to go, won't we?"
"But what does he want me for?" asked Neville, obviously terrified.
Ed put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "None of us really know, but that doesn't matter so much."
The three headed down the corridor, all attracting stares from everyone. Ed wondered at first why everyone was gawking at them so much, but then saw Harry with his head down walking as fast as he could to the compartment. Looking around him, Ed saw that a slightly smaller number of (but just as curious) faces were looking at him as well.
When the group reached compartment C, they saw that they were not the only ones invited to Slughorn's little group.
"Harry, m'boy!" exclaimed an enormously fat, bald man. The old guy had an immense silver walrus mustache, and was wearing velvet robes. The large sphere had jumped up, filling the compartment more than he already had. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr. Longbottom!"
Neville nodded, looking frightened.
"And, you must be our new transfer, Mr. Edward Elric! Have a seat now, have a seat, I've heard good things about all of you!"
There were old two more empty seats, so Ed leaned against the compartment door, nonchalantly holding onto one of the upper handles as Slughorn apologized profusely about the lack of seating.
"So sorry m'boy, do forgive me! Now, do you know everyone?" the professor asked. Ed looked around at the other occupants. There was a tall dark skinned boy whose features vaguely resembled Envy's who looked about Ed's age, two bored looking guys obviously older than the sixth years, and squished into a corner next to Slughorn Ed vaguely recognized Ron's younger sister.
"Well, seeing as I'm a transfer I doubt I'd know anyone," Ed said quietly. Harry and Neville grinned at him, and the corners of the Envy-esque guy's mouth twitched upwards slightly.
"Oho, some humor eh? Well, Blaise Zabini is in your year, of course-" Blaise nodded at Ed but dutifully ignored his companions, as did they.
"This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other, Harry-?" The tall guy raised an acknowledging hand, and received nods back at him.
"-And this is Marcus Belby, and this charming young lady tells me that she knows you, Harry!"
Ron's sister smiled. "I'm Ginny Weasley. I'm pretty sure you know Ron, right Edward?"
Ed nodded, uncomfortable with all these people his own age.
As Slughorn droned on, talking about meaningless shit while handing out food, Ed gathered that the people invited were there either because they were connected to someone famous or influential, or they were picked specially for something unique about them. Ed zoned out right about when Slughorn started going on and on about Harry, coming back into reality when a short confrontation between Ginny and Blaise, but went back to staring out the window until Slughorn called his name.
"Ah, Edward, the new mystery," Slughorn began, and Ed quickly uprooted himself from mentally reviewing spells to look at Slughorn.
"Huh? Mystery? What's so mysterious about me?" Ed asked, caught off guard.
Slughorn chuckled. "Hogwarts hasn't had a transfer with no previous magical training since before Dumbledore attended the school, and you think you aren't a mystery?"
"Um, well, I hadn't exactly known that sir, why is that?" Ed asked uneasily.
"Everyone is marked down from birth, and so come when they are eleven! It is rare that someone develops magical powers overnight! Normally our transfers come from Bobatons, or Durmstrang, or were previously home schooled! But you, you just suddenly popped up, with no history whatsoever, and I have heard that what you can do has never been seen by any-"
"Sorry to disagree with you, but one, where I come from, alchemy is common, and two, I may not have had training in magic, but my sensei in alchemy taught me everything I needed to know about alchemy, and it was my own mistakes that taught me the stuff I wanted to find out. There is no real mystery about me," Ed ended, trying to cap off all discussion about him.
Slughorn stared at him for a while, as did the rest of the compartment until Blaise asked quietly, "And where exactly are you from, Elric?"
Ed met the other boy's eyes, then looked out the window. "From far away, from a country ravaged by war."
The sadness with which he spoke made Slughorn presumable think twice about continuing his interrogation, and droned on for the rest of the ride with stories of meeting famous people whom Ed knew nothing about.
Finally, it was getting dark, and Slughorn released the students back to their compartments, booming something about lamps and robes. Ed walked back to the compartment with his pseudo-friends, watching with slight interest as Blaise gave him a polite nod, he sent a filthy look at Harry, which was returned with equal venom.
What is the deal with these people? Ed thought. They ride so much on prejudice.
The alchemist pretended to listen to his companions' conversation, and barely noticed when Harry left, following the direction that Blaise had gone.
Upon reaching the compartment, the group changed into their robes (Ed frantically trying to hide his automail), and spent the rest of the time talking about what classes they would have, bitching about teachers, and wondering what House Ed would be put in. So far, Ed could tell that they all expected him to be a Gryffindor like most of them, though Ed personally didn't see anything wrong with any of the Houses (though he knew he'd never be in Hufflepuff.
The train pulled into the station, and the group left their trunks on the train, walking out into the moonlight, as carriages pulled by demonic looking horses, pulled up. Ed walked up to one, stroking it gently, and marveling at the twisted beauty of the corrupted Pegasuses. Seeing his pseudo-friends climb into the carriage his steed, was pulling Ed backed up to look at them.
"Hey, Remus told me to take one of the horseless carriages to the castle. Where are they?" he asked.
The group gave him weird looks.
"Um, Ed. All these carriages are horseless." Hermione said. Ed raised an eyebrow.
"Right, because the demonic looking, twisted, underfed, half dead, winged horses pulling the carriages are invisible. Sure," Ed drawled sarcastically. "Seriously though. Where are they? I kind of need to be there on- what are you all staring at?" Ed demanded impatiently, being tired.
The group of wizards were staring at him in shock, all wondering how he could see the thestrals.
Finally Luna spoke up. "The horses are called thestrals. They're very beautiful creatures, though in a dark sort of way. Hardly anyone can see them; so most people refer to these carriages as horseless. Come and get in before they leave you behind, Ed."
Ed nodded, and climbed into the carriage, sitting on the seat next to Hermione, with Luna across from him. Hermione tensed at him being so close to her, then told herself to stop being an idiot and relax. Ed looked at the view of the castle as the carriages moved, oblivious to the stares of his companions.
The wizards exchanged glances, all of them thinking the same thing.
Who did Ed see die?
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And yes, I DO realize it took 13 chapters go get Ed on his f-ing train, but I happen to like exposition. Don't worry, a plot WILL appear. In about a while… Maybe after 10 more chapters…
I think I'm exaggerating…
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You people who are strange and don't know these things, a tube station is a subway station (my unofficial beta got confused when she read that, so I'm telling you guys).
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Also, even though you must think that I'm just naturally brilliant at composing these pieces of dialogue, half of it was lifted from Half Blood Prince. Again, JK Rowling originally wrote that not me (sadly enough).