A/n- I got a lot of negative reviews on the 'little by little' thing so from now on it's full chapters whenever I finish them. My goal is to finish this over Christmas vacation, so wish me luck all. Sorry it's been so long; this chapter was long and hard to write and I had to rewrite a certain scene three times. T.T but it's good now. ENJOY!! I LOVE U ALL!!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Chapter 28- Reunion

Harry's POV

The landscape Harry woke up to was perhaps as far away from England and its dreary, misty weather as possible. They had landed next to a small river on a slope of glistening, green grass. The sun reflected off the water, making it sparkle; the effect looked like millions of crystals dancing against one another. Even the colors in this new world seemed brighter, as if they held more character.

"Wow…" he breathed, taking in the vibrant sights around him, then remembering his companions. "Hey Ed, Al, Professor, you up?" he asked, shaking each slightly.

They stirred and slowly opened their eyes. Ed sat up and took a deep breath of the country air, closing his eyes in peace as he relaxed, erasing the various stress creases that were entwined on his forehead.

"It's good to be home," he murmured, opening his eyes again.

"Brother, something isn't right here," Al commented, confusion and worry on his brow, "although I don't know what…"

"It's too quiet," Hoenheim noticed, standing up, "Isn't it…?" he added, as if he wasn't entirely sure.

"We're definitely in Resembool," Al confirmed, listening for moment. "You're right…" he agreed in a low whisper.

A determined look came over Ed's face as he climbed the slope, intending to figure out whatever was the problem. Harry heard a gasp as he froze at the summit, and then the alchemist collapsed to his knees.

Al's POV

Horror enveloped Al's face; his eyes widened and he bolted for his brother, where he too stopped, joining Ed on the ground. Harry and the Professor arrived half a second later, discovering the reason for such an extreme reaction.

The entire town was mere ruins, with the occasional wisp of smoke rising from a few straggling embers. The broken foundations of the houses spoke of a massive fire, the likes of which could not have been natural; it was quite obvious this disaster was purposely inflicted.

"I-it's completely…everything is g-go—" Ed choked on the last word and he hung his head, his hands gripping the grass beneath them.

"Brother, we need to find—we need to see if—"

Al was unable to finish his sentence as well. Tears welled in his eyes as a lump rose in his throat. Hoenheim was the only one able to get out coherent words, though his face was perhaps the palest between them.

"Alphonse is right; we need to search for survivors."

He helped Ed to his feet, who swayed as he gained them but otherwise needed no other assistance. He seemed to have been able to somehow bottle his feelings up for the good of the mission. Al envied him; it hurt so much not knowing if Winry and the others were okay and it was impossible to keep his mind off of that! Faces of the friendly villagers flashed through his mind and fed on his torment, releasing the tears from before.

Then something unexplainable happened. A feeling—determination maybe—rose in him as the analytical side of his mind told him worrying and crying wouldn't solve anything. A thought hit him: 'I need to be strong and keep it together so I can help fix this!'

He glanced at Harry, thinking the wizard might have put a spell on him, but the teen's wand was nowhere in sight. Puzzled, he got to his feet and advanced down the hill into the village. He must have surprised the others, for they hurried after him to catch up, casting worried glances in his direction. Al caught his brother's questioning eyes and nodded, reassuring Ed he was all right.

Ed's POV

Ash marred their shoes as they stepped along the once dirt road through the desecrated village. Ed was worried, but he ignored this feeling. It seemed Al was doing the same, because his face had changed almost instantly from torment to a stoic, intense one. Ed was grateful for this; one, it made him proud that Alphonse had learned to deal with his emotions, and two, the elder Elric hated to see that lost, pained look on his brother's face.

They walked the entire village, finally making it to the former Rockbell household. All that was left now were the foundations, just like the other houses; everything and everyone in it was gone.

"We don't know for sure," Edward said, surprising himself—he hadn't meant to speak aloud—as he continued, "I won't believe anything until I bury them."

"But—Ed! Where could they have possibly—!?" Harry blurted, amazed by his friend's denial.

But Ed wasn't paying any attention to him; he was thinking about bigger problems. 'I don't understand it; where is Voldemort!? Has he slaughtered the people here and moved on?' There was one way to find out, he decided; he'd have to scry it.

Curious eyes followed him as he drew his wand from his coat and held it in front of him. He wasn't unduly worried his magic wouldn't work; he reasoned that if his alchemy worked in their world, then their magic would work in his world. Apparently this conjecture was correct, for a miasma quickly composed in front of him as he released his emotion.

Voldemort appeared, pacing a stone floor. Ed could see the area around him and recognized it immediately as the caves. The Dark Lord wasn't the only one present; around him sat the villagers, including Winry and Pinako, restricted by thick cords. Their faces were contorted in fear as they sat completely still, perhaps too frightened to struggle against their bonds.

Around them stood a group of hostile-looking men, some carrying knives and others, guns. Ed identified them as the less honorable men of Resembool, who probably felt no remorse about turning against their country.

"We should head to the train station," Edward said as the cloud dispersed, "I need to get to Central and find the Colonel. It's less than one town over, so if we hurry we can get there within the hour."

"What do you—we aren't going to rescue them!?!" Al blurted, aghast and angry.

"We aren't ready to—," Ed tried to explain, but Al wouldn't listen to excuses.

"I won't abandon them!!" he shouted, clenching his fists, "They need us!! How can you just walk away from that!?!"

"I don't want to, alright!?!" Ed exclaimed, an angry and hurt look on his face, "But if we try anything heroic now, any deaths will be our fault!! Those men would kill half of those people before we were able to get close to them!! Not to mention there's an evil wizard in our way!!"

He abruptly turned around and headed toward the outskirts of town. Al simmered in anger, not because of his brother's decision, but because it was right. His face slowly turned from sour to distressed, until finally he ran to catch up with Ed. The others followed, silent as they left the tainted land behind them.

"I hate this," Al muttered bitterly as they walked, a disgusted look on his face now.

"I don't like it either, but this is the only way we can help Winry and Auntie. Voldemort doesn't know we're here yet and won't expect us for another four days. If we can give him a surprise attack, everyone will be much better off," Ed reasoned, convinced this was the best course of action; he clenched his fists, willing for everyone to be unharmed when they returned. He didn't put it past Voldemort to get bored and start killing a few.

They made it to the train station in about an hour, noticing as they drew closer that all the windows and doors were boarded up. The town behind it looked the same and the streets were empty; it was a very eerie sight.

"What the hell?" Ed murmured, jogging the last few meters to the front door.

"Ed, I don't think it's open," Al said as he reached it as well.

"But, why would it be closed? And what's with the town?" Harry wondered aloud, "You don't think it's deserted as well…?"

"It's very possible," Hoenheim confirmed, "That or they're all too afraid to come out."

"Well, we still need to get to Central," Ed stated just before he began banging on the door, "Hello!? Is anyone there!?! This is a State Alchemist so you may as well open up!!!"

"Ed, no one's in there," Harry pointed out, "And if there is, they clearly don't want company, State Alchemist or not."

"Wait, I think I can…" Ed trailed off as he squinted through a crack in the boards, "Hey, there's someone—oh, never mind, just a dog. Well, I'm going in," he declared.

"Ed! We can't just break in there!" Al protested at his brother's audacity.

"Why not?" Harry countered as Ed clapped his hands and turned the boards to kindling, "It's not as if there's anyone to object."

"Alright, we're in. Piece of cake," Edward said with a slight smirk as he opened the door, "Now all we need to do is get a train working…"

They walked past the empty ticket booths that on any normal day would be crowded with people. Now the windows were barred shut and the lines vacant. The trains sat on their tracks, their whistles unusually silent.

"So, I think all we need to do is heat up the water in the holding tank and get a good fire going in the engine room," Edward said, scanning the various locomotives and trying to pick the one that had taken him and Al to Central the last time they were here. "I think that's the one," he said after a minute of pondering.

They boarded the train Ed pointed to, each spreading out to get whatever they needed to do completed before departure. Al scrounged up a map of the railroads so they'd know when to change tracks and Hoenheim read through the manual he found in the front car since he'd agreed to drive. As they did this, Harry levitated coal into the stove and created a roaring fire, while Ed heated the water in the holding tank.

Everything had been going great up to the point when Al decided to sound the whistle as an uplifting gesture when they got the train running. Not one of them thought anything of it until the click of a gun and a low voice sounded behind them.

"Don't move," it ordered, waiting for everyone to freeze on reflect, "Now, what are you doing here?"

Ed cautiously turned around so he could face his opponent, raising his hands to keep from getting shot. Somehow he had to get everyone out of this mess, meaning he needed to liberate this man's gun. He just hoped that Harry would hurry back with the extra coal soon; the boy's magic would be really handy at this point.

The man in front of Ed kept his weapon leveled at the alchemist's forehead, nullifying any chance he had to retaliate. He studied the man as he racked his brain for a solution. He was lanky and young; his long black hair and pale face didn't correspond with his neatly pressed security guard uniform. But there was something in his eyes—a certain determined, intense stare that caused the hairs on the back of Ed's neck to stand on end. 'I have seen evil,' they seemed to say. The man's eyes unnerved Ed; where was Harry!?

"I'll ask again," the man said, "What are you doing here?"

By this time Al and Hoenheim were facing their adversary as well. Ed decided that engaging the stranger in conversation was just what he needed to buy time until Harry returned. However, he didn't plan on being polite.

"We're borrowing a train, isn't that what it looks like we're doing," he replied sarcastically, ignoring the weapon aimed at his face and the uneasy feeling in his gut, "Since your service is down, we're taking matters into our own hands."

"Edward," Hoenheim said cautiously, placing a hand on his son's shoulder, silently telling him to keep his cool as he addressed the man, "I apologize for the intrusion, but it is crucial we get to Central as soon as possible."

"I can't just let you take a train," the man said, "Now, if you would, leave before I call the police. Fortunately for you, I'm not under the jurisdiction to arrest anyone."

"Please, the police?" Ed scoffed, "They wouldn't do you any good; I'm a State Alchemist."

"If you're trying to fool me, then I'm sorry to say it's not working," the man replied coolly, "Anyone can see you're much too young to be a State Alchemist."

"Have you ever heard the name Edward Elric?" Ed asked him, steaming, "He was 12 when he received the title."

"Are you trying to tell me you're the Fullmetal Alchemist?" the man laughed, "Everyone knows he died half a year ago after betraying the military."

"Really?" Edward smirked, "And you believe that load of shit?"

Edward cursed just as Harry came back with the coal. It floated behind him, following the trail of his wand, however it fell to the floor when he saw the man in the security uniform as he prepared for a new spell. The man turned abruptly as he heard the clatter of the coal, his gun trained on the one behind him.

"Expelliarmus!!" Harry yelled, before he got a look at the man.

The man in question was thrown backward into the side of the car, his gun skidding away from him as he landed on the ground. His black hair covered his face as he lay there, motionless.

"Nice work, Harry," Edward complimented as he knelt over the guard and ripped off a bit of his uniform.

He used the strand of material to transmute it into a stronger one that he could use as a rope and bound the man's hands. Then he rolled him over to study his face, wondering slightly if he'd seen it before, and if he did, in which world.

"Bloody hell…Sirius?" the boy-who-lived whispered as he saw the man's face.

"You know him?" Al asked, confused, "How is that possible?"

"He's my godfather," Harry supplied, a look of wonder on his face as a giddy feeling rose in his gut.

"The one who fell through the Veil? But that's—what about the toll!?" Edward protested.

"I-I don't know," Harry stuttered, tears in the teen's eyes, "And I really don't care. Come on, help me untie him."

"Hold on," Ed replied, stopping him with his words, "I've seen people in both worlds who look alike but are different altogether. This Sirius could be the Amestrian that just looks like your godfather," he explained.

"Oh…" Harry said, his face falling as he stared at the unconscious man's face. Then it brightened suddenly as a thought came to him. "Wait, Ed, you said you saw a dog earlier—what did it look like?"

"It was big and black. Why—what does that prove?" Ed asked in confusion.

"Then this is him," Harry confirmed, untying his godfather's bonds, "Sirius is an Animagus—he can transform into a big, black dog."

Once his godfather was free, he propped him up in the corner of the car, wondering how long it'd be before he regained consciousness. He hoped it wouldn't be long, because the massive amount of questions flitting through his mind was driving him insane.

Sirius woke a good hour into their travels; by this time they were somewhere between East City and Central. He shifted slightly and placed a hand to his forehead as he opened his eyes, seeming to try and steady his vision. Harry noticed his movements immediately—he'd been watching his godfather religiously since they'd departed. Now he knelt in front of him, anxiously awaiting recognition.

"H-Harry…?" Sirius muttered uncertainly, probably wondering if he was hallucinating.

"Yeah, it's me," Harry replied with a tearful smile.

"That's not possible!" Sirius exclaimed softly, gaining his feet, "How did you get here—unless—you passed through the Veil!?"

Harry nodded, his smile trembling with emotion as he too, stood. His godfather seemed more angry than pleased with his reply though.

"Why would you do something so careless!? You could have died in that place!" he shouted in rage, "I thought you were smarter than that!"

"We had the Philosopher's Stone," Harry explained quickly, "So we were fine, really," he added reassuringly.

"The Philosopher's Stone!?" Sirius blurted in surprise.

"Yeah, we made it—a bunch of us—with Dumbledore's help, too," Harry explained further, before his godfather could chastise him again.

Sirius sighed heavily, seeming to give up on the 'protective, worried guardian' role and smiled, perhaps remembering how he used to get into the same amount of danger when he was young.

"Well," he said in a calmer voice, "I'm glad you're okay." He shook his head in obvious disbelief; "My god, Harry, I thought I'd never see you again."

Tears collected in the teen's eyes; he was glad Sirius pulled him into a hug because at the moment he found it impossible to move.

"There's one thing I don't understand," Harry said once they parted, "How did you make it through the Veil?"

"Magic," Sirius responded, "The Veil took my wand and my magic so I became a security guard," he explained.

"It makes sense," Ed commented, nodding, "But still, you were lucky to make it out alive," he added.

"I take it you're friends of Harry?" Sirius questioned, scanning the other three occupants of the car, "I'm Sirius, Harry's godfather," he established, starting the introduction chain.

"Oh, right, this is Edward, Alphonse and Hoenheim Elric," Harry presented, motioning to the correct person as he said their name.

"So you were telling the truth," Sirius noted, his dark eyes falling on Ed and Al, "I've heard many stories of you two since I came here. Obviously they weren't all true."

"Then you must know about Voldemort," Ed stated.

"I was the one who warned this town to take the rumors seriously," Sirius replied, "Though it was difficult keeping a low profile that way, especially when I had to show a few untrusting people my dog form to get them to believe I was telling the truth."

"Yeah, I bet," Alphonse laughed.

"You said the Veil took your magic, so how is it you're still able to transform?" Hoenheim asked.

"There is still some magic in me," Sirius replied, "But it's draining; with every transformation, it gets a little harder to grasp." He smiled tightly as if to say, 'oh well' and changed the subject. "I know you're here to try and destroy Voldemort, but why are you going to Central?" he asked, his eyes resting on Harry, then moving to Ed, "I would think you'd be anxious to fight him for what he did to your hometown."

"I will take revenge for that," Ed replied, hatred in his eyes. He sighed and the fire faded as he reluctantly continued; "But we need allies. I know of someone in Central who can help."

"For what it's worth, it takes a lot of courage to admit you're outnumbered," Sirius complemented, "I know, well, used to know adults who refused to say the same."

"Thanks, though I'm used to surpassing adults," Edward said, a smirk on his face.

"Of course, your ego surpasses everything else," Al teased, flashing a playful grin at his brother's glare, "The only thing people used to surpass you on was your hei—!"

"Hey, who's brother are you!?" Ed interrupted, mocking anger.

"Well, I used to be brothers with a midget, but then he got a growth spurt at magic school!" Al gibed humorously, laughing at the twitch in Ed's eye.

"I was not a midget!!" Ed protested, crinkling his nose, "And you make it sound like I used magic to alter my height!"

"Well, I can't really be sure…" Al trailed off, his grin widening.

"Don't worry Ed; your secret's safe with me," Harry said seriously, playing along.

"I DID NOT USE MAGIC TO MAKE MYSELF TALLER!!!" Edward erupted, flailing his arms over his head, "I GREW—THE NATURAL WAY!!!"

Al and Harry broke into laughter, with Sirius and Hoenheim chuckling softly in the background. Ed rolled his eyes and exhaled loudly, then breaking into a grin. He couldn't feign anger for long in their company, he realized, and laughed along with them, treasuring the moment.

They arrived in Central an hour later, safely coming to a stop at Central Station. They vacated the front car, receiving strange and suspicious looks as the tourists, travelers, and attendants realized they were the only ones on the train. They ignored the stares and exited the station swiftly, flagging a cab.

"Where to?" the cab driver asked, peering at them in the rear-view mirror.

"Central Headquarters," Ed replied, moving as far over to the window as possible so they could all fit. Hoenheim slipped into the front, ready to give directions if need be.

"Have we met before?" the driver asked, turning around and squinting at Ed, trying to place where he might have seen him.

"You must be thinking of someone else," Ed replied, lowering his eyes to try and avoid recognition.

"Huh, must be," the man said, returning to the wheel and driving away, casting glances at Ed in the mirror every now and then.

Edward kept his head angled down, not wanting to be discovered; he expected he'd be subject to arrest for conspiring against the Fuehrer if he ever was.

It was a quick and quiet ride to Central Headquarters; Ed was trying to think of how he'd get in to talk to the Colonel, since he wasn't exactly welcome there anymore. Breaking and entering was an undesirable solution; he wanted to be on the military's good side when he asked for Mustang's help.

The cab pulled over and Sirius paid the fare, being the only one between them with the correct currency. The driver peered at Ed one last time, his face suddenly brightening.

"I know who you remind me of," he said, shaking a finger at the alchemist; Ed gulped. "You look like that Fullmetal kid," the driver continued, "Except you're taller than he was."

"Yeah, lucky me," Ed ground out, clenching his teeth to keep from punching the moron.

Fortunately, the cab drove away before he lost control of himself. Instead he approached the telephone booth outside the building, taking the coins Sirius handed him to pay; he hoped they hadn't changed the number as he dialed the switchboard.

"Central Headquarters, how can I help you?" a female voice answered, her speech buzzing over the phone line.

"I need to speak with Colonel Mustang; can you connect me please?" Ed asked.

"Colonel…oh, you mean General Mustang! Yes, hold on a moment," the operator replied.

There was a beep and the line went mute. 'That's right, Mustang's a General now,' Ed thought as he waited. There was another beep and then someone picked up the phone.

"General Mustang; how may I be of service?" came the deep, rough voice Ed remembered.

"Roy?" Edward said quietly, all thoughts of what he was going to say fleeing his mind.

"Ed…is that you?" came Mustang's bewildered reply.

"Yeah, I'm back," Ed confirmed, "We have to talk."

"I'll get Riza to escort you in," Mustang supplied, pausing as if he was about to hang up, "It's good to have you back, Fullmetal," he added, and then the line went dead.

A/n- who was it that reviewed and asked about Sirius?? Well, that was ironic, anyway, because I had been planning on this chapter for a while. So what'd y'all think??? Hmn?? Review and let me know!!!! HAVE A GREAT VACATION MINNE!!!!