Chapter VII

Cherry Syndrome

The ride to Hogwarts started as a highly uneventful one. At that precise moment Alphonse was helping Luna Lovegood hand out The Quibbler. When offered one, he had simply been too kind to refuse and after reading one article Al had become hooked. He very quickly made it his quest to assist Luna. This, leaving Edward alone in a compartment. He had purposefully sought a seat away from his student so that Harry would have time to talk to his friends. He was sure there was lots of subjects they needed to catch up on and Edward was tired.

Despite having regained his brother's body, Edward still slept and ate enough for the two of them. Old habits died hard, he would always explain fondly. So when the professor had walked into the carriage and felt the soft cushion of the seats he had almost instantly fallen into a deep, dreamless slumber for the better part of the ride. He did not even notice when the compartment door slid open and someone tip-toed inside.

Roy Mustang sat thoughtfully with his fingers laced together. His eyes studied the blonde in front of him meticulously. This boy, his colleague who claimed to know him rang no bells. Edward Elric was not a name that he knew personally and he should really have had no interest in him. But something felt like it should ring a bell. Maybe he'd read an article or something. He was after all one of the most well known wizards of their age.

"How do I know you then?" He murmured.

"You know it's rude to watch people whilst they're sleeping and in your case extremely unerving as well." After initially jumping out of his skin, a playful smile spread across Roy's face.

"Most people tend not to be so self-aware when they sleep talk Professor Elric." He chastised playfully as he leaned back in his seat.

"Yes but they also don't tend to mumble away incoherently when they're awake." Edward countered with his eyes still shut. He made no move to sit up and merely listened to the train as it rattled along the tracks.

"Asking how I know you makes perfect sense in my head." Roy reasoned causing Edward to crack an eye open.

"Haven't I already said I won't tell you?"

"I know, I was talking to myself."

"Uah, even scarier." With a final chuckle they fell into silence again. Edward let his eyes fall shut again and shifted in order to become more comfortable. Once he was awake he knew he would not be sleeping again anytime soon. But it could not hurt to try.

"So tell me a little about yourself Edward." No such luck. After a pause, Edward sat up and stretched lazily.

"What do you want to know?" He asked warily. It would be unfair and down right suspicious if he refused to answer a few questions he concluded.

Roy tapped his chin.

"Hobbies?" He asked.

"I like reading." Edward replied.

"Aha. Food?" Roy continued, not wanting them to fall into silence again.

"Pardon?"

"Favourite food."

"Oh." Edward looked down at his hands. They were folded together in his lap. "Apple Pie." He replied fondly.

"Subject?"

"Potions. What's with this? Are analysing me?" Edward asked a little louder than necessary.

"Just answer the questions, Edward."

"Don't order me around." He snapped indignantly. Roy huffed.

"Fine. Please answer the questions Edward, Darling." Roy snorted. "Ha! You shivered. Am I that alluring?" He sniggered. Edward squirmed in his seat.

"Too fucking creepy. Please don't ever do that again."

"If you promise to answer my questions." Roy smiled charmingly. Now it was Ed's turn to huff.

"Fine."

"Brilliant. So...favourite book?"

"It's a creepy shop. He's a creepy bloke." Ron concluded, slapping his hand across his knee proudly.

"Ron, that's hardly reason enough for Malfoy to be stalking the streets of Knockturn Alley with a look that says he's going to meet whoever it was that shoved that stick up his arse." Harry answered incredulously. Ron chuckled at his friend.

"That's a very long way of describing it mate." Hermione eyed them both.

"Not only was it long but is was also vulgar." She added then turned to Harry with a sigh. "Harry, you don't honestly think that he's still messing with the Dark Arts do you?" Ron frowned.

"But You Know Who is dead and he wouldn't dare do anything after what happened to Daddy." He said unsurely. Being friends with who he was there was always more. So Ron was not surprised when the boy opposite him sighed.

"About that. You know how I've been talking to Edward." He paused for effect. Hermione and Ron nodded. "Well he says Voldemort might...not be." Harry said cautiously.

Obviously not carefully enough. Both, Ron and Hermione jumped to their feet instantly with a loud:

"WHAT?!"

"Harry, how?"

Harry tried to back into his seat but it didn't work. He sighed a little then rushed to explain himself.

"He didn't really explain it. I don't know how either. He just said that there's still a lot more work to do." Hermione sighed.

"Could he have been more cryptic?" She complained and plopped into her seat again. Ron did the same but inched slightly closer to Hermione than necessary. Harry grinned. "Harry it's not funny. What if what Professor Elric says is true? Then again how do we know what to believe if that's all he's told you." Hermione answered herself as she gripped her chin. She started mumbling about it. Harry and Ron glanced at each other before deeming it best not to interrupt their friend's musings.

That was when the compartment door slide open once more.

"Would you like me to explain it for you then?" Harry jumped.

"Alphonse." The blonde smiled at him. He was dressed in the students uniform. But when Harry let his eye wander to the boy's chest he was met with a pile of "Quibblers" where the House badge should be. He returned his eyes to Alphonse's face with the intent to ask when another head popped out from behind him.

"Hello everyone." It was Luna. She was carrying an equal set of magazines and her expression was just as warm. She looked at them knowingly before she heartily offered them each a Quibbler. Harry took it gladly.

"Hi loon..Luna." Ron greeted before being elbowed by Hermione and frowned at by Harry. The two newcomers bustled into the room and took a seat on either side of Harry. It was then that he jumped to attention.

"Hermione, Ron, this is Alphonse Elric. Ed's brother and a sixth year" After short hello's Hermione was the first to plow out questions.

"What do you mean You Know Who isn't dead? We saw him die. And where did you come from? Are you the same as the transfers last year? I swear I will hex your balls green Alphonse Elric if you pull anything like what they did." Everyone backed away.

"Tch, and you called us vulgar." Ron mumbled. Alphonse chuckled.

"Miss Granger, I can assure you that my brother and I are not the same as last years tranfers. As you know he is working as a professor and I'm really just here to kill time." He explained. Hermione seemed rather taken aback at his leisurely approach to studying. "Anyway the reason why we believe Voldemort to still be alive is because of the prophecy. You remember it don't you Harry? What did it say?"

"Neither can live while the other survives." Harry provided. Alphonse smiled and nodded at him.

"Exactly. One of you had to kill the other. So, who was the one to deliver the killing blow during your fight last year?" There was a moment of silence as they reflected on that night a few months ago. The one to kill Voldemort had not been any of them and most certainly not the Boy Who Lived.

"Oh shit."

"Ronald!"

"Well sorry Miss Pedantic but we've just found out that You Know Who is still alive."

"He might be." Hermione corrected.

"I think I should be allowed to swear." Ron grumbled and folded his arms. Harry gritted his teeth.

"What a lovely way to start the new school year." He grumbled. Beside him Luna giggled.

"As I said," She turned to Harry and smiled. "As long as you're alive there's always more."

"Poet?"

"Allan Poe. City?"

When given time Edward and Roy had quickly fallen into a rhythm. They were now throwing questions back and forth, saving the information for another time. So even as the joints of the train began to slow and they drew closer to the Hogwarts platform they continued to play.

"Munich." Roy answered, causing Edward to grin. Now there was a surprise. "Love?" Edward almost fell as he felt his grip on the chair slip.

"Now that's personal." Edward stammered as he regained his initial pose. Roy rolled his eyes.

"Just answer the question."

...

"Once upon a time." Edward replied quietly causing his colleague to nod with understanding.

"Still?" He asked. Edward shook his head in reply.

"No." He mumbled his voice gradually shrinking to fit its owner.

"Was she blonde?"

"Yeah. How'd you guess?" Edward blinked. Roy gave another nod. This time however it was one of approval.

"Ah yes blondes are the best after all." He grinned at Edward. There was another pause before Edward slowly began to chuckle lightly.

"You're such a prat Mustang." He laughed, turning away. Roy did the same and at the very moment that the train finally drew to a halt he smiled.

"Why thank you Ed."

Yes there is past EdWinry because I like it and because I want this to be as like the manga as possible.

Reviews are very much appreciated