Chapter XI

Cherry Syndrome

Once a rebel, always a rebel, it was a habit Harry was having a tough time breaking. However, this time he swore to Merlin it was not his fault…Honestly. He had not meant to lose the rest of the Hogwarts's students. He had just been distracted.

The Department of Mysteries had been rather tedious, as a matter of fact. Harry realised that the dark, tunnels that wound their way like earthworms through the Ministry's complex were banal, when observed in a more peaceful situation. The echoing of his footsteps on the marble floor of the seemingly abandoned department and the desert like scenery surrounding the veil, only served as a reminder of Harry's inert fascination with the monument.

This interest came mainly from the abnormal dreams that had been plaguing him during the summer. He said abnormal because although nightmares were sadly, something that Harry experienced a lot, they were different. These dreams did not have Voldemort in them. Instead, there was Sirius and a woman. Harry knew her only from newspapers. Sirius had been with the convicted Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange. But what worried Harry most of all was Sirius' lack of contact.

Two whole months and Harry had not heard a word. In all honesty, the last time Harry had so much as caught a glimpse of Sirius Black, it had been at this spot. The very spot he was rooted to now. The image may not have been real but that did not matter. The voices told him so.

"I must be crazy" Harry muttered under his breath.

After having wandered the corridors aimlessly in no real attempt to find his class, Harry had found this room, if you could call it that. This hall was massive and containing only one thing, the Veil behind which the shadows dwelled and despite his musings, no, Harry was not crazy. Because the shadows really were speaking to him, in hushed tones they slowly drew him in. Very much the way the Dementors would, but thankfully something stopped him.

Harry jolted out of his trance. They were not just any voices. They were familiar ones. He could not put his finger on them, save for one. One voice seemed to resonate louder than the others and this one Harry knew. It was Sirius.

Harry….Harry….Harry…..

He inched closer to the veil, trying to peer through the soft curtains, but there was nothing. Through the veil, Harry saw only the other end of the chamber.

Harry…..Harry….Harry…

A cold wind crept around his feet. It snuck beneath the hems of his trousers and up his ankles. Harry shivered 'Sirius?' and ever so slowly, reached out to pass his hand through the veil.

"Grab him!"

What happened next came as a surprise to the Boy Who Lived. When next thing he knew, he found his mighty self, on his back in the sand. Someone had thrown him to the floor. Without missing a beat, Harry found a footing and scrambled back from his assailants. This move turned out to be unnecessary when the faces staring back at him were none other than Ron's and Al's. Ron was the first to speak.

"Merlin, mate, I had no idea that sand was so hard to run in." He muttered, sinking his hands into the sand beneath them.

"But Ron, you spent a whole summer in Egypt." Alphonse commented, remaining on his feet.

"How do you know that?" Ron asked. Alphonse did not bother responding but instead jumped back to Ron's previous observation.

"I must say it's a very bizarre choice of flooring, especially with something so dangerous here." This caught both Harry and Ron's attention. Their eyes turned warily to the veil looming over them. "I suppose it's hard to slip in sand." Alphonse continued.

"What do you mean by 'dangerous'?" Ron questioned but Harry interrupted Alphonse's reply.

"Al, I heard Si…someone's voice." He rushed and was satisfied with the surprised look that crossed the blonde's face. "What does it mean Al?" Alphonse looked up to the Veil in thought then look back down.

"Harry it has to do with our lessons." He explained. "You see this is called a Veil. It…."

"Mr. Potter." Sadly, Edward chose this exact moment to interrupt their conversation. At the bottom of the slope stood the rest of the class along with Roy and a very smug looking Edward Elric. The blonde crossed his arms and a self-satisfied smirk took its place on his lips.

"I seem to recall saying something earlier today about anyone running off being lynched and beaten with a hockey stick." He drawled. "Were you not listening to my lecture Mr. Potter?" There were nervous glances exchanged among the students as Harry rose to his feet and made his way down to the group. Edward was new at the school and chances were he would do well to his threat. Harry had known him longer though and thought otherwise. Or perhaps he was just tired of living, because when he reached his frowning professor, Harry put on a cheeky grin in reply.

"I'm sorry Professor, seeing as you left to attend some business yourself, I assumed it would be ok." A collective gasp followed in reply but Edward only bothered to raise an eyebrow. They stared each other down for a moment as the rest of the group held their breath. Edward's previous record led them to think he would explode but that did not happen. Instead he turned his back on Harry and flicked his golden hair over his shoulder.

"Detention, Potter, tonight. You too Weasley." He ordered, ignoring the groan from the redhead and stalked off. The rest of the class scurried after him but Harry grabbed onto Alphonse's sleeve and held him just a few steps behind the group. Something had caught his eye when Edward had walked away. A small, silver chain was now around his neck but, Harry was sure it had not been there before.

"Hey Al, what's that around Edward's neck?" He asked, catching Ron and Hermione's attention with it.

"Hm? Oh that's a present from the Minister. It's…something important. He's been charged to look after it." Alphonse explained.

"Is that why Professor Elric brought us here then disappeared? He went to see the Minister?" Hermione questioned "Because frankly, I cannot think of how this visit -as interesting as it has been- is relevant to Theory Class." Alphonse smiled at her.

"My brother is very much into multitasking. He wanted to bring you here to show you what magic is like outside of Hogwarts. Believe it or not, things are very different. No doubt he will be questioning you on the system they have in the ministry." He explained. The cogs in Hermione's mind were almost visible as she stored that information for later use. "On the other hand, the Minister also charged him with looking after something and I can't tell you exactly what it is but it is something you've dealt with before."

"Alphonse! Would you help me please?" Alphonse was artfully interrupted by what was, of course, Roy's cry for aid. All four of them looked up to see Roy caught in a headlock, by a furious looking Edward. The cries coming from the blonde gave away that a height insult had been thrown prior to the headlock. Alphonse sighed.

"Honestly, Brother, how are the students meant to take you seriously if you are assaulting other professors?" He bid the trio goodbye before running off to save the rapidly purpling Minister official. Harry, Ron and Hermione were left alone to ponder what Alphonse had just said.

"Well at least it's something familiar." Hermione offered with a meek smile.

"Yay, what have we got to choose from? A philosophers stone, an evil diary, a prison escapee, and You Know Who." Ron muttered darkly. Harry grinned at his friends and threw his arms around them.

"Come on Ron, let's be positive, we did it once we can do it again." Harry said brightly.

"You git, you got me detention, I'm allowed to be a little negative." Ron muttered darkly. "Besides who's to say we'll be as lucky this time round?" Harry laughed.

"At least, we have the Ministry worker on our side this time." He offered and all three of them looked up to where Alphonse was lecturing his grumbling brother. As if feeling their eyes on them, the brothers turned to meet gazes with the trio. Alphonse smiled and waved and Edward, in a fit of immaturity, stuck his tongue out at them and stalked off. A small smile spread across Ron's lips.

"Something tells me that doesn't count for much, mate." He chuckled.

The sixth year Hogwarts students returned just in time for lunch and of course just in time for potions class. To say that Harry and Ron were thrilled would be an exaggeration….a colossal one. Their hopes of escaping Potions were shattered the moment Professor McGonagall saw them watching the new meat search for classrooms. Instead of spending the afternoon enjoying the rapidly decreasing sun, they had to head to the dungeons and endure an hour and a half of Professor Slughorn.

Upon entering the classroom Harry noticed several things. A good thing was that both Alphonse and Hermione were in the class. A bad thing was that because he had not planned on taking the class he had no books. And a weird thing was that all of the girls were currently circling a cauldron with very creepy looks on their faces.

"Ah Mr. Potter!" Slughorn could not have looked happier to see him. "Why don't you and your friend go and grab some books and join the rest of us." And so, after a quick tussle Harry found himself stood between Alphonse and Ron, listening to the girls rhapsodize about love potions, with a tattered book signed by some bloke called 'The Half Blood Prince' in his hand…..Well at least Snape was not there.

The love potion in question had Harry feeling uneasy. He did not want to come off as arrogant but he was sure that one of the girls, he did not know her name, was giving him a predatory look. And he was not the only one; Ron had been glancing nervously at Lavender Brown since they took their places. Hermione was just behind them, probably wishing a painful death on the both of them. Funnily enough, the only person who did not seem affected was Alphonse. His Draught of Sleeping Death was already in full swing.

Not that Harry's potion was not. The book he had initially thought of as useless was covered in notes. Extremely useful notes, even. The Half Blood Prince must have been a prodigy at potions because he was ahead of Alphonse and even Hermione. That was why it was no surprise when the prize, liquid luck was awarded to him. Hermione, on the way back to the dorms, was seething.

"Did you know that Liquid Luck doesn't so much affect the situation as it does a person's intuition?" Alphonse said conversationally. It did not help.

"Well, Harry is not going to actually keep it. It's not fair, he cheated." Hermione scoffed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Judging by the look exchanged by Harry and Ron, it was not.

"Hermione, it could do him the world of good. He'd have to be barking mad to give it back." Ron retorted for his best friend. "I wish I'd gone for that book."

"Well yes Ronald, it certainly could have saved you from failing your exams. I can't see how else you'll pass them. Anyway, don't you boys have detention to go to?" She chirped before skipping ahead, leaving them dumbfounded.

"You know what the amazing thing is? I don't think she actually meant offense with that." Harry said.

"No, no, that was pure concern." Alphonse agreed. "So should I take you to my brother's office?"

"But Alphonse, you don't have detention." Ron replied to which Alphonse merely smiled.

"Yes, but I don't need detention to spend time with my brother. Besides, something tells me you'll need my help."

Edward's office was just as cluttered as their house on Privet Drive had been. There were books everywhere, papers scattered across his desk and an owl nestled on a cupboard in the corner. Harry was not surprised to find the room in such a state, after having spent so much time with the Elrics during the summer. What did surprise him though was that Edward had achieved this level of mess within three days.

"Edward how can you find anything in here?" Harry marveled. Edward looked up from the book he was buried in.

"That's easy. Class work over there," he nodded towards a pile closer to the front, "and personal things everywhere else. I run a very organised ship here. Oh and call me Professor Elric." He muttered returning to his books. Ron looked around the room in dread.

"We're not going to have to tidy this for detention are we?" Edward scoffed.

"No Mr. Weasley, I wouldn't let you get your noses into any of this." He said and rose to his feet. "No for your detention we will be having a little chat, starting with Dumbledore's Army." Edward walked around the desk and leaned casually against it, so that he was facing them. The boys started.

"…Why?" Harry asked, not even bothering to ask how he found out. Alphonse replaced his brother in the chair and spoke in his place.

"Because, judging by your relationship with your current DADA teacher, we assumed it would probably be starting up again. We were just wondering if you were planning on teaching them what we taught you." Harry shook his head. It was true that Dumbledore's Army had been a brilliant idea. It had worked better than any of them could have hoped, but the thought of starting it up again had never crossed his mind. Snape may be a horrible person but at least he taught them.

"Would you want me to teach them Alchemy?" He asked. Now, it was the Elric brothers turn to shake their heads.

"No, that's what we wanted to talk to you about." Alphonse said.

"Alchemy is dangerous, we know that from personal experience and we don't want you to be too open with what we've taught you. In fact, it would be best if you kept it to yourself." Edward cut in. At this point, Ron cleared his throat, catching the attention of all of them. Edward moved his gaze to Ron who shifted uncomfortably under it.

"Urm…Professor, if this is so secret, why am I here?" Edward smirked.

"That's a good question Weasley. You're here because; when I mentioned this to Dumbledore he said I should include you and Granger too. He reckoned Alchemy would come in handy in the near future. Sadly, Granger isn't really one for rule breaking so I had no excuse to bring her up here." He added as an afterthought.

"Yeah that's definitely a bad thing." Ron laughed. "So what you're saying is that Dumbledore's Army is not going to be started up again but instead, we're going to be having private lessons."

"Yes, we will be teaching you Alchemy. The reason is simple. Harry, has Dumbledore spoken to you about Voldemort yet?" Harry nodded.

"Yes, he told me about how Voldemort has something special keeping him alive. He just doesn't know what it is yet…but it's something to do with Slughorn." He elaborated, reciting what the Headmaster had told him. Edward smiled.

"Exactly, well if Dumbledore's theories are correct, which we'll have to prove first, then Alchemy will help you destroy Voldemort's lifeline and in turn, Voldemort himself." The smile on Edward's lips changed just a little, but suddenly there was a gleam of excitement in his amber eyes. "Think you two are up to that?" The change in atmosphere was almost instantaneous. Ron and Harry looked at each other with a new found determination before they turned back and grinned at Edward.

"You should have told me sooner. I would have been far more committed to my studies." Harry laughed.

"No you wouldn't." Edward snorted in reply. "Oh and one of you had better tell Granger too." Harry did not have time retort because at that very moment:

'Knock knock'

The door opened. Edward without having to look knew instantly who it was.

"What did I tell you about time Mustang?" He growled. Roy was stood confidently in the doorway, with his arms crossed loosely across his torso.

"Edward its nine 'o'clock, I'm getting better aren't I? Anyway, that's beside the point, tell me you didn't actually give these boys detention? It's the first week. A little harsh don't you think?"

The cool façade that Edward had managed to maintain in front of the students was gone and he was once again the ever temperamental man he was around Roy. Edward pushed himself off the desk and walk briskly towards Roy, not stopping before he was mere inches away from him.

"What do you want Mustang?" The blonde spelled out threateningly. Roy did not back down, instead he glanced towards the boys behind him.

"It seems you've forgotten our arrangement Edward. Hey boys, why don't you go back to the dormitory? Professor Elric and I have a few things to discuss." The request could not have come sooner. Ron and Harry were out of the room like a bat out of hell. Alphonse on the other hand lingered in order to wish his brother good night.

"I'll be sure to tell Hermione what we spoke about Brother. Good night." He smiled. Edward sighed and took a step away from Roy to look at Alphonse.

"Night Al." He smiled softly, and then with one final nod, the door shut and Edward and Roy were alone together.

"So...what were you discussing with them." Roy asked innocently. Amber eyes returned sternly to him.

"Don't even bother pretending you weren't listening at the door. I'm not stupid Mustang." Edward snapped. Roy shrugged.

"Alright, first off Edward, if I'm not going to call you Mr. Elric, then you are not going to call me Mustang. It's Roy and furthermore so what if I was listenin…." Now, Roy was going to continue but something caught his eye and stumped him, leaving him speechless. Edward was stood away from him with his nose shoved in a book. Of course, this was nothing odd but as Roy looked closer a small grin slowly spread its way across his face.

"Edward, are you blushing?"

"No!" The reply came just a little too quickly. It would not have made a difference anyway, because there on the tips of the blonde's ears was just the tiniest tinge of pink. Roy laughed.

"You are!" He said gleefully. "Merlin! Is the thought of calling me by my first name that arousing to you?"

"Shut up Mustang or I'll wring that pretty, little neck of yours." Edward growled. "I…I just can't call you R...by your first name. It's too weird." He continued to mumble inching further and further away as he spoke. It was one thing calling him Mustang but one whole other leap referring to him as Roy. That would be too much like acknowledging that this man was not the Colonel.

Roy raised an eyebrow at Edward's silence.

"Hey Edward, I'm not going to force you to call me Roy. Admittedly it is a bit weird for you not to but…."

"…Roy."

They both stopped. Ever so slowly Roy took a step towards Edward and leaned down to come face to face with him. They stared at each other mutely, just taking in the others expressions. After a few minutes of silence, a smile graced Roy's face.

"Well, what do you know Edward? Looks like you survived." He murmured. Ed once again took a step away, not trusting himself to have the nerve to answer. Roy shrugged when he realised he would not be receiving an answer. "So shall we get started then? I promised the Minister we'd have this report in by the end of the week." He continued, pulling out a few fresh pieces of parchment and a quill.

"What are you doing making promises without me?" Edward huffed, walking over and signing his name on the paper. Roy did not answer him but merely sat down and began writing. Edward sighed. "Best get started, I suppose." He leaned over in order to see what his colleague was writing; only interjecting every now and then. This system worked rather well for the next twenty minutes but sadly, the harmony was not meant to last longer.

"Thank you by the way." Roy said, grinning over the report. Edward blinked at him in confusion.

"Thank you for what?" He asked, pausing to look at Roy. The grin on the man's face became a smirk.

"You know I never really thought of my neck as pretty."

…..Due to certain delays involving Roy's head and Edward's fist, the report was not handed in on time.

That makes 3500 words xD. Sorry this chapter was meant to be out aaages ago but I am trying to make them longer. 2000 words are really not enough, especially if I'm being a lazy arse and only updating once every couple of months. Sorry, about that but thank you to all who have stuck with me

See you next chapter.

PS. My spell check is refusing to let me change my language setting from English (US) to English (UK) so the spelling may be a bit of a mix in certain places. Blame Sebastian (That's my laptop)