Chapter VI

Cherry Syndrome

The gate was a door to whichever world you pleased. But there was always a price to pay. Edward had told him that he passed through the gate as a punishment and that Al had later joined him. Harry rolled over, twisting the blankets, causing the bed to creak in protest. Once again he found himself making lists in his head. It had become a normal bed time activity since the Elrics had turned up. So now as several nights before he made a list off the top of his head.

Point one: Time does not pass the same in every world.

This was the easiest idea to grasp and it finally cleared a few things up. In comparison to another world the one he was in might move faster or slower than usual. In Edward and Alphonse's minds they were barely turned seventeen and eighteen. However, they were in reality well over eighty. It was like when you go to a different country but do not adjust the time zone. Harry could not help but cringe when he thought that when he saw his friends again. If what his new teachers were saying was true then how old were the ninja now?

Point two: There is a doppelganger for everybody.

Somewhere in whatever place the Elrics actually came from there was an exact copy of Harry Potter wandering around. A clone of him who lived a different life. It was hard to imagine...reeeally hard to imagine.

Point three: Doppelgangers do not ever meet.

When Harry asked why Edward had simply shrugged. If a person, for whatever reason, were to accidentally pass through the gate then the original version always died.

"There's no exception." Edward said stubbornly. "The moment I first passed into this world a boy named Edward Elric was crushed by an enemy airship." His expression softened slightly at his next words. "When Alphonse came here, Alphonese Heidrich was shot in the back and bled to death." At this Harry glanced at the boy still lolling on the bed. He sighed and looked sadly at Harry. He got the message not to say anything but he also took note. DO NOT LET OTHER HARRY IN HERE.

Point four: Edward and Alphonse Elric were Alchemists from another world.

When told this Harry had very cunningly nodded his head and said fair enough. They were strong, clever, manipulative and wise men there really was not much he could muster the nerve to say.

So where did Mustang tie into all this? Well he was a man on the other side of the gate. Put in Edward's terms he was a sadistic asshole who used them to get ahead in his career. A glance to Alphonse however showed him that despite the dubious relationship Edward and his boss had shared there had always been an undercurrent of gratefulness and possibly respect. About a teaspoon's worth of it.

Harry chuckled to himself as he once again caused the bed to creak. From the other side of the room a groggy voice ran out and scattered his thoughts.

"Harry Potter if you make that bed creak one more time I just might come over there and strangle you." It mumbled before retreating back into the shadows. Harry glanced across the room tentatively. Then heard another mumble.

"Sorry, Alphonse doesn't like being woken from his sleep." This time Harry was surprised. Had that been Alphonse? Harry had already deemed him the nicer of the two brothers so hearing something so out of character was just...

"Brother, please stop pretending to be me. You'll confuse people" And things were back to normal again. Harry rolled his eyes and lay back down on the pillow. Hogwarts tomorrow he thought giddily. With a smile on his face Harry waited for sleep to claim him.

Sleep did come easily to Harry that night, only in small fits. He was finding it very hard to lull himself to sleep and it soon became a lot harder when he heard someone climb out of bed and tip toe out the door. Subtly, Harry cracked an eye open to spy. When the room's door opened, light from the hallway flooded into the room and revealed a blonde figure as he snuck into the hallway.

Edward?

Harry knew it was wrong to poke his nose into other peoples' affairs but old habits die hard. He strained his ears to make out the frustrated murmurs coming from beyond the door.

"I'm sorry, can I help you?" Edward asked curtly, folding his arms impatiently. The man who was seemingly innocently walking past the room stopped and smiled charmingly at the blonde.

"Why, Mr. Elric sorry was I disturbing you?"

"Your very existence disturbs me, Mustang."

"That's not nice."

"Never said I was, now why are you pacing outside my room at God knows what time in the morning."

"It's twelve thirty I assumed big boys like yourself were still awake at this time."

"You assumed wrong."

"Obviously not."

"I hate you."

"Now why is that?" Roy asked with a hint of amusement. He mirrored Edward's movements by crossing his arms.

"Because your arrogant, selfish, greedy, conceited bastard who only likes to annoy people." Edward huffed, frowning even more.

"And you concluded this from what? Thirty seconds of conversation with me?"

...

"You really don't recognize me do you?" Edward asked after eyeing the man curiously. This Roy had a less of a haunted look about him, but maybe that was just his memory playing tricks on him.

"Aha so we have met before. When?" Roy asked. This time he was genuinely curious. It was Edward's turn to smirk as he sadistically decided to play with the mystery that had already been solved. This was not Colonel Mustang. Of that Edward was now 100%.

"That's my little secret. It's up to you to figure out Mustang. Oh and by the way call me Edward I hate 'Mr. Elric'." Just as Edward was about to return to bed, leaving the other man riddled with questions as he so loved to do, he remembered his initial purpose. "So what are you doing here?" He questioned, one hand poised on the doorknob. Roy grinned broadly at him.

"Ah you see I recieved a letter from Dumbledore earlier today." Roy took hold of Edward's hand, ignoring when it twitched with suspicion. In it he placed a gold Hogwarts teachers badge. "I assume a genius like you can sew. You need it on your robes." The friendly grin turned into a chuckle as Roy released his hand. "I have a little secret to share with you too Edward. Starting tomorrow we're colleagues." Edward gaped at the badge.

"Are you fucking with me?"

"Sorry Blondie you're not my type, I like 'em a lot more curvy."

"Shut up Mustang. I know I got the job but why the hell am I working with you?"

"Are you really just going to accept it like that?"

"Accept what?"

"Me being a teacher?"

"Well the proof's right in front of me." Edward's eyes flared. "Is it a joke? 'Cuz if its a joke I swear I will..."

"Relax Edward it's completely serious. You and I will be replacing Professor D. Umbrige as Hogwart's Supervisor, seeing as she suffered a nasty demotion after last year." Edward opened his mouth to reply when he heard a gasp that was very hastily covered by a fit of coughs. Harry.

"Do I have a choice?" He sighed.

"Nope."

"Fine, but know that I won't spend more time with you than is absolutely necessary."

"And know that I will discover how you know me." Roy smiled and held out his hand. "To a good year." Edward rolled his eyes and held out his hand. Shaking Roy's firmly he added.

"Or a lovely year of torture. Good Night Mustang." Edward opened the door wider and turned to look Roy in the eye one final time. "One more thing, next time you want to give me bad news think of what time it is. Like lunchtime...Lunchtime's good, tell me then." With that he returned to the bedroom and his warm sheets, leaving a chuckling man behind him in the corridor.

"I'll keep that in mind Edward."

So there's always been this saying. Remember it? There's two sides to every tale. Well this one is no different. In suit of every cliché it is now our duty to go to other people's point of views. Who to start with?

"What the fuck?" He poked at the sleeping, male body lying on his sofa. Sirius Black groaned and rolled over, trying to escape the offending finger.

"Nice way to greet someone idiot."

"I know but..he has a stick."

"Come on moron you know exactly what that thing is called. Even you have read a fairytale at some point in your dysfunctional childhood."

"I happen to have first hand experience with these "sticks" as you call them, Cheapskate."

"I didn't call them that. You did."

"Shut up! So anyway, lets see what the others have to say about this." He smirked and resumed his torturous poking.

After all...if the gate is actually a room only God knows where Sirius Black ended up. Well God and the Gatekeeper and he can tell you...he did not get too lucky.

There was a squeal, two gasps and bonecrushing hugs. Platform 9¾ was as packed as usual and just as cheery. All around him there were the usual sunny goodbyes taking place and also the reunions with friends. His ones being Ron and Hermione.

Ron and Harry would never get used to the odd way Hermione managed to crush their ribs in affection. Behind him, Harry could sense a smirk spreading across his tutor's face. Silently Harry swore to one day pay Edward back with equal amounts of suffering. Edward and Alphonse were looming behind the students, subtly climbing onto the train. He guessed that the only reason they were being subtle is because not three metres from them Roy stood socialising with a group of very young, very pretty witches.

"How was your summer Harry?" He turned back to Ron and smiled.

"Oh you know the same as usual plus a little more." Well he was not sworn to secrecy. Hermione positively beamed with excitement.

"Really? Do tell."

"Well." Harry nodded towards the brothers. Both of them noticed the sudden pressure of three pairs of eyes on them and reacted differently. Edward ignoring Harry thoroughly and Alphonse smiling cheerily and waving towards him. "I've made two new "friends" so to speak."

"Teachers?" Hermione and Ron gaped, each for entirely different reasons. Harry nodded sheepishly.

"They moved in up the road from me. Turns out they're quite famous." He explained.

"Edward and Alphonse Elric. I could tell you a thing or two about them." Hermione filled in. Harry grinned. Obviously his questioning about Edward had caused her to do a little research.

"So could I, Hermione." They shared a knowing grin and Ron merely stared at the space between them.

"You guys...every year our friends just get nuttier." He mumbled. Harry laughed.

"You're so right Ron." He looked his friend straight in the eye and held up his trunk. "Ready for another nutty year?" Ron smiled and with an enthusiastic nod they boarded the Hogwarts Express. Taking them to year six of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Haha I finished this thinking aww thats such a pretty ending I should just keep it like that. But I think you might kill me :/

I dare say I actually managed to keep my goal this time. It involved drinking beacoup de caffine and wearing oversized shirts but I got through it anyway. Ok I was off by a week but it means Im practicing and that makes perfect. Be proud of me :D