Chapter XVI

Cherry Syndrome

"Patience."

Draco looked up from his work to give the boy opposite him a quizzical look.

"I beg your pardon?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at Alphonse. It had been three hours since he had sat himself down and neither of them had uttered a word until now.

"That's all this book is giving me." Alphonse complained flipping the page in frustration. "The spell wears off with time is what it says. I don't have time. Chaos could be occurring as we speak." He continued to whine. The statement though it may have seemed so was probably not too much of an exaggeration. Alphonse had spent too much time in the library and there was only so much he could expect from his brother's chaperones. It was his brother after all.

Naturally, the complaints did not help Draco comprehend the situation at all but it probably made Alphonse feel better. He glanced down at the book, finally taking an interest in what the other boy was actually doing in the library on a Hogsmede afternoon. One glance gave it all away. The title of the page did not need to explain itself.

'Love Charms'…some poor sod had been slipped one of those horrendous chocolates. Draco shook his head and looked back at Alphonse who was cursing the book under his breath. Judging by the reaction he was witnessing, chances were that the victim was one of Alphonse's close friends, very possibly someone from the holy trio that was Potty and his friends. A small smile graced Draco's lips at the thought of Potter suffering the embarrassment of being slipped a love potion. He even considered going to Hogsmede just to watch the humiliation ensue. Unfortunately, he was meant to be back in the Room of Requirement within half an hour so he could not go. For now, Draco would just have to be contented with his imagination.

Alphonse blinked when a smile fell across Draco's face. He had not seen anything close to friendliness with this boy since the beginning of the year. It came as a surprise. Granted, there was a sadistic touch to the smile. It obviously had nothing to do with friendliness and more to do with suffering but Alphonse took it anyway. He returned the smile and said:

"Any ideas Malfoy?"

The moment the words broke the silence, Malfoy scowled. Alphonse watched as it must have struck Malfoy that he was being civil with a Gryffindor and not a pure blood at that. The shutters came down as he rose to his feet.

"Kindly stop annoying me with your pointless drivel Elric. I have better things to do than listen to you." Malfoy collected the books into his arms and turned his back. Alphonse sighed in disappointment however Malfoy was cruel enough to thwart the feeling with his next words.

"Hogwarts has really gone to the dogs if you can't even think to use a 'Deletrius' charm. Ignoramus, the lot of you Gryffindors. You're an embarrassment to all of us." He spat and stalked off. Alphonse was once again left to blink slowly as he processed the information. However it struck him with a glimmer of hope and with a grin, Alphonse jumped to his feet. Without even bothering to put away his books, he dashed out of the library, ignoring the shouts of a livid Madame Pince. The only echoes of the Elric's presence there was the pat on the shoulder Malfoy received as Alphonse raced past him.

Draco halted in his steps as he watched the boy leave at quite impressive speed. He himself had not even made it out of the library. He also was not going to. Draco's breath caught in his throat when someone seized his collar from behind, constricting his breath. He turned to see the face of the utterly terrifying Madame Pince. Honestly, the woman could rival Madame Pomfrey when it came to their iron grip and balls of steel.

"Young man, you are not leaving until you tidy up after your friend." She ordered, pulling him back towards the mountain of books. Draco's eyebrows shot up in surprise. The words caused him to regain his footing and brush off the librarians arm.

"I don't associate with Gryffindors." He said curtly. "Why on earth should I clean up after one?" Madame Pince stopped to look at the rebellious boy. A slow, dangerous smile spread across Madame Pince's face as she spelled out for him.

"Well Mr. Malfoy, it's this or detention. Your choice." She offered sweetly. Draco swore under his breath as he plodded back to the table he had been trying to abandon. It was all too easy for Malfoy to come to the temporary conclusion that followed: He hated Alphonse Elric.

Roy had managed to survive. His innocence (the little he had) had been protected and he was currently enjoying a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. Confident in his abilities, Roy had shooed the students who had been charged with Edward away. He did not want to ruin their afternoon, nor did he wish for them to witness anything too humiliating for Edward. They had been more than glad to scurry off the moment the words had left Roy's lips. This had left himself and Edward alone, to embark on a trip to the pub. Roy's abilities had not disappointed him there either. Granted Edward Elric was still hanging off his arm but he had grown used to it. It was even started to become quite comfortable, he would never admit that out loud, of course. Roy turned to regard the man beside him and Edward met his gaze with a smile. He moved in closer and the smell of parchment and steel reached Roy through the stuffy, pub air.

"I suppose it's nice to have you smiling at me for a change." Roy mused, feeling a twitch at his lips. Edward shook his head.

"Roy, I smile at you all the time. You just aren't looking." He deadpanned, looking genuinely surprised at Roy's accusation. Roy shook his head.

"No, I haven't seen it once." He denied. "Do you wait until I've turned my back or something?" The silence worked as well as words for a confirmation. "You do don't you? Oh that's horrible Edward!" He laughed, unsure of whether to feel hurt or flattered by his colleague's shyness. Edward blinked innocently before allowing a mischievous smile to make it way across his features.

"Alright, I'll tell you what Roy. I'll start smiling in front of you all the time…but I'll expect a reward of course." Edward prompted, once more increasing their proximity. Now, Roy who was not nearly as clueless as he made out to be, inched backwards in response to the predatory turn the blonde had taken.

"Er…what kind of reward are we talking here?" He asked nervously, scooting further back with every word. Edward shrugged artistically, momentarily ceasing his advance.

"Well, we'll have to think about that won't we?" He suggested. Roy seemed to deflate with relief, once more relaxing into his place on the bench. That was until he felt a nimble hand run its way up the inside of his thigh. Roy shuddered and turned in consternation towards Edward. The blonde had not given up.

"I'll take a kiss for now Mustang." Edward smirked, his voice dropping to a low, sultry tone that brought Roy's shudder back with a vengeance.

"Erm…Edward I hate to break it to you but um…you know I'm straight right?" Roy rushed out, grabbing hold of the hand that was far too close to his private parts for comfort "like, shags women straight. I love women!" He continued, having no effect on the blonde.

"Really?" Edward drawled, their mouths only centimetres apart now. Their desperate breath mingling as the confident smirk refused to leave Edwards lips. "Then tell me Roy, why are you…"

"DELETRIUS!"

It was as if a bubble had burst between the two. The tension snapped leaving nothing but awkwardness behind. Alphonse stood in front of them, heaving enervated breaths. There had been far too much running that day, unfortunately it was not about to stop.

"…Mustang?"

"…Yeah?"

"Kindly inform me as to why you are holding my hand to your groin."

Edward was back to normal. Roy cursed in frustration, ripping his hand away from Edwards, the blonde immediately mimicking his actions.

"You put it there." He explained halfheartedly. Edward merely looked at him in outrage.

"I think you've had too much Firewhiskey." He said slowly, edging away from his colleague. "And don't sit so close to me." He accused. At that point something in Roy must have snapped. He turned to Edward with a look that was nothing short of irritated.

"I'm too close to you huh? Let's talk about that. What about you? You've practically been hexed to my arm all day." He snapped. Edward just frowned at the reaction.

"Hexed to you? No I haven't…"

"It's true Brother." They both looked at Alphonse as he dropped into the only empty seat opposite them. Still slightly out of breath from having run all the way from Hogwarts. "You ate charmed chocolates and have spent all day in love with Professor Mustang….well I say in love, more like besotted." Alphonse and Roy watched with a bemused look as a light blush slowly began to make its way up Edward's neck and onto the apples of his cheeks. Roy swallowed the dry lump in his throat as he watched Edward come to realisation of what happened. "I just stopped you from having your way with him, Brother." Roy started.

"Now hang on a minute. You make it sound like I'm some damsel in need of protecting." He protested with a frown. Alphonse huffed in response to his pointless comment.

"Was that not how it was? You did not seem to have things under control Professor." Alphonse countered. Edward scoffed.

"Besides, assuming we were in that kind of relationship, which would NEVER happen, I would obviously be the top." Edward chimed in, momentarily forgetting his embarrassment. Roy scoffed and took a swig of his drink, before slamming it down.

"Fat chance, look at the size of you. I would probably crush you!" He exclaimed, finally having control of his dry throat again. Alphonse snorted at his words, already anticipating the following reaction.

"DON'T CALL ME SHORT MUSTANG! Besides if I remember correctly, I was the one who made the move, and took control and kis…." He yelled but it slowly died down as Edward realised what he was saying. "….Oh God I kissed you…." He breathed more to himself than anyone else. Alphonse' jaw dropped at the news. He watched incredulously as Edward turned a red that would make a Weasley proud. Roy nodded meekly.

The confirmation did not make the situation better. If anything it worsened. Awkwardness dropped upon the group like a ton of bricks. Edward became increasingly mortified as he raised his fingers to his lips in horror. The blush flared up in him with a vengeance, blood thundering through his veins like a hoard of hippogriffs.

"…Yeah." Without another word Edward jumped to his feet, babbling an excuse about his desk being on fire and darted out of the pub. Roy sighed.

"Anyone else and it would've been funny." He complained, taking another gulp of butterbeer. Alphonse hummed in agreement and tapped his chin as he watched his brother leave. Then with a light countenance he allowed his fingertips to snake around the pint that had originally been his brother's.

"Well, this butterbeer up for grabs?" Roy's refined stance slacked slightly at Alphonse's lighthearted tone but he shrugged and pushed the drink towards the boy.

"It's all yours." He muttered, exhaling yet another sigh. Then a thought struck him and he turned to the boy who was happily sipping away at the scavenged drink. "And I would too be the top, you know." He stated firmly, crossing his arms and creasing his eyebrows. For now the snort of surprise that dragged Alphonse into a coughing fit was satisfying enough for Roy.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that Professor." Alphonse laughed, smiling at the man in something acute to pity. That did not sit too well with Roy who got to his feet with a screech of the chair.

"Yeah really." He replied. Suddenly the care free air that followed Roy but seemed to have taken the afternoon off returned. "Just you wait Alphonse." He chuckled, turning at the heel and walking off. Alphonse was left alone, only to clear his throat and decide that whatever it was Roy meant with those words, he most certainly did not want to know.

Despite the….bizarre happenings of the day, the show must go on, as they say and Harry, Ron and Hermione had been promised an Alchemy lesson. This was how they found themselves sat nervously on the edges of their seats in the Gryffindor room at two on a Sunday morning. Hermione was wringing her fingers as she watched the very last seventh year slink off to bed with a muttered warning not to stay up too late. Harry and Ron were both watching the portrait hole intently, waiting for their teachers to arrive. And so they did. Roughly five minutes after the coast was clear, the Elric brothers strode casually through the portrait hole. The muttered complaints of the Fat Lady and the crackling of the fireplace were the only noises to break the silence that settled. That was until Alphonse cleared his throat and smiled reassuringly.

"Shall we get this underway then?" He suggested, ushering his brother further into the room. Edward stepped further into the room, removing his hands from his pockets in the process. The brothers shifted around uncomfortably at first, obviously not looking forward to what they were going to have to reveal about themselves in the few hours to come. But Edward seemed to come to grips with things first. He skimmed his fingers lightly along the collar of his shirt and from within it, retrieved a chain. He pulled it deftly over his head and held it confidently in front of the students.

"So I'm assuming you know what this is then." He received a silent nod in reply from each of them. Edward mimicked the action then shrugged "well I suppose you've seen a similar one before. This one is slightly different. The difference being it's from our world, the world of Alchemy, not yours." Harry, Ron and Hermione inched closer, searching for a difference between the stone and their memories of the one five years ago.

"You probably won't be able to tell the difference," Alphonse admitted. "Well, I suppose this one is slightly pinker but really the main difference between the two is where they come from and what they can do." He elaborated though he received little response. Alphonse sighed and took the Philosophers stone from Edward's grasp. "This one is made from living humans."

"Thousands of them," Edward added. He looked at the stone with a countenance so laden with emotion that for just one moment, Harry forgot to breath. "The lives of a whole city were taken to make this stone."

"We taught you about equivalent exchange. Well, a Philosophers stone such as this, that can do anything, can only be made at the sacrifice of lives. Harry, we told you before about Nicolas Flamel." Alphonse said.

"Yes, you said he sacrificed his wife to make a stone." Harry replied, providing the needed information for Ron and Hermione.

"Well, he got away with only using one person because he supplemented the process with magic. By doing this he lessened the abilities of the stone but equivalent exchange still applied." Alphonse explained ruefully.

"Fuck!"

Harry, Ron and Hermione started as Edward threw a candle stand to the floor in a fit of anger. It landed with a tremendous crash and Edward growled, clenching his fists.

"Nothing is worth a human life. " He snapped, more to himself than his company. Harry frowned. He had heard this before of course, they had discussed all of this during the summer when he had first met the Elrics. However this was different. Everything, all of Edward's previous bravado was gone. This time round, the blonde was raw. He was being much more honest. And Harry had no idea how to react. "We of all people would know that wouldn't we Al?"

…

"Yeah," Harry and his friends all turned to look at Alphonse. He was smiling but the awkward shuffling of his feet quickly gave away what he was feeling to the trio. Guilt. Hermione spoke first.

"What have you used the stone before? How can you expect us to…."

"No! We've never used the stone before." Edward interrupted, shaking his head at the mere thought. "We swore that no matter what position we were put into we would never resort to that." He continued.

"Not that we weren't tempted many a time." Eye contact had not been made once so far. The topic was heavy in itself without them having to further burden themselves. However, Alphonse changed this when he caught his brother's eye. Whilst doing this he murmured softly.

"Brother…" Edward nodded without much argument and shrugged off his cloak. A surprised squeak escaped Hermione, when Edward's shirt was the next to go. He was left stood in the middle of the common room with nothing but his boots and trousers on. Though Harry's eyes were first drawn to the muscles and scars revealed by Edward's striptease they did not linger long when he came across the gleaming metal, right arm. Edward held it forward proudly.

"This is automail. It's, as you can see, a metal prosthetic. It was constructed in our world. " Alphonse and Harry grinned at the proud edge that had laced its way into Edward's tone.

"What happened to your real arm Professor?" Hermione asked because Ron was too distracted by being impressed. There was a pause.

"Ah…well that is the second part of this lesson." Edward replied unenthusiastically. "We're going to teach you about human transmutation."

Harry Potter had read the book written by Alphonse Heidrich. He had taken notes and revised countless times on the things the Elrics had taught him. He had even mastered the art of a simple transmutation circle. But nothing could have prepared him for what he and his friends learnt that night. The 'ugly' side of alchemy as Alphonse had called it was not just ugly. It was foul.

"I hope, um, you understand why not to use it then…." Edward finished lamely, returning the stone to its place around his neck. "Alphonse only managed to get his body back and me my leg, at the price of losing everything. We've been cut off from our family, our friends, our homes and even our rights to live and die as we please." He said. It was bizarre how calm the boys had managed to stay throughout their story of the adventures they had been through. Harry remained silent as the pieces began to fall into place. All the small hints Alphonse and Edward had accidentally dropped when they'd been talking amongst themselves, their close and incredibly trusting relationship. And there was also Edward's reaction to Harry wanting to see Sirius. He had been ready to help. It had seemed odd at first but everything was so clear now. To Edward, family was the most important thing of all, and for good reason.

"So wait, Professor Mustang is a Colonel in your world." Ron asked, raising an eyebrow doubtfully. The brother's nodded.

"Edward…were you and he…" Harry began but was cut off by Alphonse' sharp shake of the head. He looked at the younger brother who raised a finger to his pursed lips.

"Were we what?" Edward urged, looking at him with nothing but curiosity.

"Were you and he good colleagues." Hermione covered for him. Edward snorted in reply as did his brother.

"They fought like cats and dogs, quite literally at times." Alphonse supplied, chuckling fondly.

"That was only because Colonel useless wouldn't drop the short jokes. I am not short." Edward snapped to which everyone exchanged amused glances. There was an exhale as Edward lost steam and a sheepish look spread across his face. "But I suppose, that if you look past all the mean jokes and times he forced me to do his paperwork, he was a pretty good boss. I would not have wanted another one." Edward concluded reluctantly, looking back up only to meet faces full of wide grins. "What?"

"Professor Elric you're so kind. No wonder you like our Professor Mustang so much as well." Hermione cooed a teasing edge to her voice.

"They must be just alike." Ron added in with a little smirk of his own. This time it was Edward's turn to shake his head in the negative.

"No! Don't compare them. The Colonel and our Roy are different, completely different. This Roy is…" The smirks did not disappear from their faces. As if he noticed what he had said, Edward took a couple of steps backwards and grabbed his shirt, rapidly pulling it over his head. "Oh would you look at the time? I have to go. Lots of work to do you know?" He quipped slowly retreating then making a dash as soon as his heels hit the portrait hole. Alphonse was left alone with the Gryffindors. He smiled and turned back to the group.

"Well, I guess we should call it a night then." He smiled. "I hope you learnt a lot and that our point reached you." Harry, Ron and Hermione nodded. Alphonse returned the nod and bid them good night. He turned towards the staircase leading to the boy's dormitory and within mere seconds was gone. The trio barely breathed as they waited for the boy's footsteps to die.

"So how old are they really then?" Ron mused, once more dropping into the sofa.

"Edward is 88 and Alphonse is 87 but hush Ron that doesn't matter." Harry rushed, sitting next to him and dragging Hermione down with him. Ron raised an eyebrow.

"Oh it doesn't?" He asked skeptically.

"No because listen to this: there's Alchemy in the ministry!" Harry exclaimed excitedly. Hermione and Ron stared at him blankly.

"Come again?" They asked, leaning forwards. Harry sighed.

"Look, remember the trip we had on our first week. We went to see the Veil in the Department of Mysteries." He began. "Well, Edward and Alphonse mentioned the thing about the Gate right? Well what if the Veil is part of that gate?" He exclaimed. Hermione wrinkled her nose in doubt.

"Harry, I don't think that's…"

"No one knows what happens to a person once they go through the veil and why would the Elrics take us there if it had no merit to us? I heard Sirius' voice there too didn't I?" Once more, his friends could only nod. "Well, what if Sirius didn't just disappear? What if he went through the veil? What if he's on the other side of this Gate? That would explain why he's gone." Hermione's eyes widened in understanding.

"He could be in their world." She breathed.

"Or in countless other ones." Ron complained but Harry just shrugged.

"It's a start, that's enough." A huge grin spread its way across his face. "I might be able to find my Godfather."

A week later, Edward was wondering down the hallways alone. Breakfast was on and just about everyone in the school was there, including his brother. However, that also meant that Roy Mustang was there and as of the weekend before, Edward had sworn that where Roy Mustang went he did not….ever. Simpler put, he was avoiding him. His plan may have meant countless impromptu visits to the kitchens, but it was better than any embarrassment gracing the Great Hall may cause him. Edward hummed to himself and traced his hand along the patterns of one of the countless pillars that stretched along the corridor. He had taken the break to wander aimlessly through the castle and for the first time in the six weeks that Edward had worked at Hogwarts, he took the time to admire its beauty.

His musings were not destined to last long. Just as Edward's hand leveled with his eyes, another joined it. This hand was larger and its pale fingers easily stronger. Edward halted his movements when he felt warm breath against his neck and a presence behind him. He shuddered as the fingers closed around his and a voice he instantly recognized, tousled the strands of hair by his ear.

"Edward are you avoiding me?" Roy asked calmly and deeply, his voice not giving anything away. But it was enough to send Edward into a paroxysm of panic. He swiped his arm away and spun around to see the confused look in the other man's face.

"Ah..no… i…um" He stammered for a moment but then his shoulders slumped and he obviously gave up. "I have to go." He muttered darkly. Before Roy could say another word, Edward slipped out from underneath him and fled.

He ran away from Roy, from his hands; from that deep voice but unfortunately, not the raging embarrassment and confusion that refused to give way.

Is 1000 extra words enough for you to accept my apology? This was meant to be out weeks ago but I had to put it on hold for my exams. Then the moment school got out I was off to England. So, I AM SO SORRY! I also regret even more to say that I'm leaving the country and Sebastian (my lovely laptop) for the next three weeks so this is all I can give you for now.

I promise to upload the moment I get back though…really!