HA! We did it!

We were able to update before Christmas!

{We're visiting our family, so we don't have much time to write at the moment. Not to mention all of the homework we got...}

But on to the story!

But before we go...

{Merry (happy) Christmas, Happy Hanukkah , Merry Kwanzaa, and any other winter holidays!}


Chapter 14

Politicians

Ed was grumpy the next morning. It was mostly due to him being dragged out of bed earlier than they usually did on a Saturday. Sure Ed was an early riser, but that had been the first time he'd had sleep in the last five days. He wasn't too pleased to have it interrupted. A fact that was proven by the new bruise on Ron's face. How long would it take the boy to learn to be more careful when he woke him up.

When they reached the entrance hall they found at least twenty people milling around. The Goblet of Fire was sitting on a stool in the middle of the hall. Surrounding it was a golden ring that Ed assumed was the age line. Ron walked up to a third-year girl.

"Anyone put their names in yet?"

"Yeah, all of the Durmstrang's. But I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts."

"Some of them probably put their names in last night after we'd all gone to bed," said Harry.

"Makes sense. I wouldn't want people watching me if I was putting my name it," commented Ed. The conversation was interrupted by laughter. Turning, they saw a very excited Fred, George, and Lee Jordan running down the staircase.

"We've done it!" said George.

"Just took it!" responded Fred.

"What?" asked their youngest brother.

"The Aging Potion," Fred responded as if it was the most logical thing in the world.

"Only one drop each," George added. "After all, we only need to be a few months older."

"If we win we're going to split the prize money between the three of us," added Lee, wearing the same broad grin as the twins.

"For some reason I have a feeling that this is going to fail," Edward muttered to himself. He had a new found trust in his gut feelings, still not completely relying of it though, since his little adventure with the railroads terrorist.

"I think that Dumbledore would have thought of something as simple as an aging potion," commented Hermione. The three older boys ignored her as Fred and George jumped over the age line. They watched, thinking that it had worked, when a loud sizzling sound came from the age line and the twins were thrown away from the goblet. The twins sat up ten feet away with identical white beards. In a few seconds, the entire hall, including the twins, was laughing.

"I do believe I warned you," said Dumbledore as he walked into the hall, "I suggest that you visit Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing. I do believe she is already attending Miss Fawcett of Ravenclaw and Mr. Summers of Hufflepuff, both of whom thought make themselves a little older. Although, I must say, neither have as fine beards as yours."

As Fred, George, and Lee departed for the Hospital Wing, Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ron and Edward headed into the great hall for breakfast. Live bats flew around the Great Hall, and hundreds of carved pumpkins stared out from every corner. Edward was confused. What was with the freaky decorations?

"Hey, Neville?" Ed asked as Harry led the group over to Dean and Seamus and started a conversation about who might be entering.

"Yes?"

"What's with the bats and pumpkins?"

"Oh, those are just the Halloween decorations."

"What's Halloween?"

"You don't know?"

"I'm from a different country, remember?"

"Ah yes, the country that must not be named."

"I'm so glad that I taught you how to have a sense of humor," Ed replied half sarcastically. "Now, what's Halloween?"

"It's a muggle holiday where people dress up and go from house to house asking for candy. I think that Hogwarts only celebrates it because of all the muggle born witches and wizards."

"What kind of holiday is that?"

"I think that originally it was to ward off evil spirits, but it changed over the years. At least, that's what I've read."

"Hm, okay."

"What're we going to do today?" asked Ron.

"I'll tell you what I'm not going to do. I'm not going to stake out the goblet all day," muttered Ed.

"We haven't gone to visit Hagrid yet," suggested Harry as he looked up at the oncoming mail.

"That sounds like fun," said Neville.

"As long as he doesn't donate some of our fingers to skrewts," said Ron.

"You guys can go, it looks like I've got some business today," Ed said as he looked over a letter that had dropped onto his lap.

"What business do you have?" asked Hermione.

"Oh, you know, official ambassador business," Ed answered, folding the letter and putting it in his pocket.

"Do you need any help?" asked Neville.

"No, how about you go with the others to visit Hagrid."

"You sure?"

"Yah. In fact why don't you guys start heading out. I've got to go. See you guys later."

"See ya, Ed."

"Make sure that you find us for the feast!"

"Will do."

With that Ed walked out of the Great Hall only to sit down right outside of the large doors. He took the letter out of his pocket and re-read it.

Dear Major Elric,

We, at the Ministry of Magic, request your presence today at ten o'clock Am to discuss the future of our countries relationship.

Yours Sincerly,

Cornelius Fudge

Minister of Magic

This would be where the real work began. He would have to prove to a bunch of stuck up officials that Amestris was a country that they should ally themselves with. He would have to ignore his temper and be patient. He would also have to get them to actually acknowledge him instead of just seeing him as just a kid. Back in Amestris, he had the state exam and his rank to get him respect, along with his reputation. He had nothing here. He would be facing a new kind of enemy: politicians.

Sometimes he really wondered why he was chosen for this and wished he hadn't been. But he also understood how sending him to this school would help relations even more than a normal official could. He was the only one young enough to do this job with enough reassurance that he could take care of himself. He just hoped that it would be over soon.

He waited outside the great hall as some students trickled out and others came running in. He was sitting half in the shadows, so no one noticed him in their haste. Not even his friends when they left for their visit to Hagrid. After a lot of waiting, a teacher finally emerged.

"Hey," he said, catching the attention of the teacher, "I need a ride to the Ministry of Magic. Do you know how or where I could get one?"

Severus Snape looked at the boy with an unreadable emotion in his eyes. "Why?" Edward handed him the letter. He quickly read the letter and gave it back. After a few seconds of silence he motioned for Ed to follow him. They walked to the gates of the school, and Snape spoke slowly, "Grab my arm." With a questioning look that showed all of his doubt, Ed grabbed the arm that was held out to him.

The next thing he knew, he had a feeling that was similar to being squeezed through a tube. After resisting the urge to puke he looked around. This was most definitely not the hall he was previously in. He was now in a room with walls made of polished, black stone. Fireplaces lined the sides and periodically filled with green flame before dying out and revealing a person dressed in robes. Taking a wild guess, he was in the Ministry of Magic.

Severus, who had been ignored by the boy thus far, turned to the secretary behind the desk that they were standing in front of. He grabbed Ed's arm and spun him around to face the secretary as well. "He has an appointment with the Minister."

"Wand please?" she asked as she held out her hand. Ed handed her the stick without much thought. She took it behind the desk and gave him a name tag.

"Do you know the way of do you need a guide?" she asked.

"A guide," Snape answered.

Once the girl waved over a man to take Ed up to the correct office Snape left, saying he would send someone to pick him up later. The man led Ed into an elevator without a word. The elevator was packed with people holding strange things, one of the many boxes was growling, and there was many paper airplanes floating above their heads.

They got out at the correct floor and Ed was led into what looked like a waiting room. There were chairs situated around a desk with another woman sitting behind it. She was writing something on a piece of parchment and had many other stacks on the desktop. The guide left, so Ed walked up to the desk.

"Um, I have an appointment with the Minister." She wordlessly stood up and knocked on a door behind her desk. Sticking her head inside the room she said, " Sir, Major Elric is here." She held the door open wider and motioned Ed inside.

It led to an office. It was a nice office. There was a large desk in the back, ten chairs in front of it, and many pictures of who he guessed were past ministers on the wall. The man behind the desk had a definite politician look to him. He smiled a fake smile at Ed and motioned for him to sit in the only open chair. the rest were filled with more politicians.

"Major Elric, it's a pleasure to meet you! I hope this meeting will be beneficial for both of our countries."

The meeting had begun.

~~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~O~~~~

Ed sat in a cafe inside the Ministry during the break they had taken for lunch. He was tired of all of these politicians. He had listened to nothing but vailed insults and doubts for the last few hours. His temper was at it's peak. He wasn't very good at holding in his temper. Mustang should have been sent. He was good at this sort of thing.

One of the most annoying things was that they kept on referring to him as a kid. They refused to see him as anyone with any capabilities. It annoyed him to no end. He was starting to hate this place, but he understood and knew why he had to be the one here. It would have been helpful if someone had given him a crash course on being diplomatic. At least meeting was halfway over. Soon he could go back to the school, which at least was full of people closer to his own age, and maybe speed a few hours in the library before dinner. Truthfully, he had completely forgotten about the events currently happening at the school, which would make it much harder for him to relax once he got there.

Glancing at his pocket watch, Ed cursed quietly. He walked back to his guide for the day and motioned for him to lead him back to the meeting room.


{Oh, look. Everyone else is making cookie.I guess that I'm on my own. Review time!}

Guest: {Briggs Armstrong would be the one to torture him. Thank's for pointing that out!}

ReginaDC21: {They should be appearing a little later. Weapons? I'll take some of those!}

Forgotten one:{Sorry about that. You'll just have to see if he gets in or not. *wink* Ciao!}

BulletWitch1985: {Feel batter soon! No bet. We have a safe house if you want to use it.}

nena: {Thanks!}