I can't believe I wrote this entire chapter in one day XD Well, here's an early update! :D

I'm sorry, I just love writing this story so much... *Sniff sniff*

Disclaimer~

Chapter Four - Discoveries

"Potions class first thing in the morning should be banned!" Ron grumbled loudly.

"Tell me about it," Harry joined.

"Even I don't like Potions in the morning," Hermione moaned.

Ed smirked at the three as they reluctantly dragged themselves to their first lesson of the day - Potions. To be honest, Ed didn't mind Potions - Snape was an idiot, after all, and the work was just too easy for someone well-versed in chemistry. He didn't see why the others were moaning so much. So, true to his nature, he loudly stated his opinion. "I don't see the problem with it."

Ron gawked at him, his mouth agape and his eyes resembling two of the fried eggs Ed had eaten for breakfast. "How - how -"

Ed shrugged casually. "Snape's a moron, and the work isn't that hard."

"Seriously?" The incredulity in Harry's voice just made Ed's smirk grow. Damn, he thought, I'm turning into the Colonel.

"Yup." Ed promptly began whistling so as to drown out any other unwanted questions and nagging. Ron began another question before Hermione elbowed him with a quiet hiss, catching Ed's drift.

"Hey!" Ron protested, and scowled at his attacker. Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry chuckled.

"Before this breaks out into a fight, I'd just like to remind you two that we're, y'know, here," Harry said between laughs.

"Oh great," Ron groaned.

Ed grinned.

It looked like the four had arrived just in time, because at that very moment, Snape burst through the rusted double doors and commanded everyone to sit down and be quiet.

As soon as everyone was settled, Snape began the lesson, throwing wary glances at Ed every few seconds. "Today we will be practicing making veritaserum. I presume you are all at least clever enough to remember what that is. The instructions are on page fifty-two of your textbooks, and I want a perfect example of it from each and every one of you by the end of this lesson. Don't mess it up, because you will be testing it on your fellow students and I'm sure none of you want to poison your friends." Snape allowed a few moments for the message to sink in, watching with a hawk's eye as many of the students visibly paled, Ron included. "Begin."

Ed wasted no time jumping straight in. "What's veritaserum?"

"It's a potion that makes the drinker tell the truth," Hermione responded as she began unpacking the necessary ingredients and her cauldron in a business-like manner.

At this, Ed paled too. He could see why the class wouldn't want to be test subjects. Not only could it be poisonous if you ingested a failed potion, but if it was a successful potion you'd be spilling your secrets left right and centre. It was a lose-lose situation.

Especially if your name was Edward Elric, he realised. He'd lied about his age, his home country, his background, his limbs - his life. If any information got out about what he was doing here Mustang would kill him. No, actually, he wouldn't, Ed concluded after a brief moment's thought, these people would.

"Ed? Are you okay?" Harry asked, apparently the only person to notice his reaction.

Ed gulped. "I'm fine," he managed, though it was far from believable.

Harry caught the hint, however, and let it be. He knew Ed had a tendency for speaking whatever was on his mind, so if he refused to say something then it was probably a subject that shouldn't be pushed. "Do you have a cauldron?"

Ed was grateful for the change of subject. "Yeah. Hang on, I think it's over here somewhere..."

Ed bent over and rummaged under the desk, and Hermione used this chance to send Harry a questioning gaze and a discreet tip of the chin in Ed's direction. What's up with him?

Harry shrugged and shook his head. No idea.

"Aha!" Ed returned, triumphant, from under his desk, holding up his cauldron like a trophy.

Ron watched in awe as Ed began to efficiently sift through bags of various ingredients and tip seemingly the exact quantities straight into the cauldron with only a couple of glances at the textbook. "Wow..."

Ed heard the whisper and shot Ron a neutral glance - he'd gotten this reaction all the time at home. He'd get 'wow's and 'amazing's from performing simple alchemy, and even just walking down the street merited awed gasps from the general public.

The time passed quicker than Ed thought it would. He'd only barely managed to finish and perfect his potion before Snape called out, "Stop making your potions and pour them into a bottle. Put them in this bag and you will all take a random bottle for yourself."

The students did as instructed. Ed retrieved a strangely-shaped bottle with a green stopper that Harry promptly told Ed was his own. This comforted Ed a little - Harry's potions were average, so hopefully it wouldn't poison him or be strong enough to force him to say anything. Ed had always been known for his iron will and stubbornness, after all.

"Damn," he heard Ron mutter from in front of him. "Why'd I have to get my own?"

Ed sighed, amused. He mentally planned out the route he'd take to the hospital wing and what he'd say to his next teacher to excuse himself for being late.

The class had begun to hesitantly down their bottles as soon as Snape had turned his back and begun to rub off the chalk from the blackboard. Ed noticed a few of the students - the ones unlucky enough to obtain well-brewed potions - babbling the most personal answers to complete strangers. Ed gulped - he just hoped Harry's potion was really as average as the rest of his potions were.

Snape caught Ed's eye and sent him a glare that clearly said Drink it or I'll force it down your throat. So, not wanting the unnecessary attention, Ed uncorked the three-inch tall bottle and raised it to his lips. Ed almost choked on the disgusting flavour as he downed it in one go - it tasted like milk.

He then discreetly made his way to his own cauldron, pretending to pack up his stuff under the desks in the hope of not being noticed. He knew he would probably get asked tons of questions if people caught him - he was, after all, incredibly attention-attracting (not by choice) and stood out rather blatantly among the normal students.

His hopes were dashed, however, when he felt a presence beside him and an arm brushed against his right thigh. He jerked his head up at the contact, only to be greeted by bright, glowing pools of turquoise-blue mere inches from his own golden orbs. "Luna," he whispered.

She gazed at him, her dreamy expression cast straight through him, and Ed had the uncomfortable feeling that she was searching through his very soul. Searching... for something.

She let out a slow breath, and the sudden tang of oranges in the air made Edward blink. "Who are you?" she breathed.

Ed couldn't restrain himself from answering - the weak veritaserum pulled the words on the tip of his tongue out of his mouth, and Ed's stomach dropped as he heard he words he uttered. "The Fullmetal Alchemist."

Ed spent the rest of that day thinking about what he'd accidentally told Luna earlier. Was she going to look him up? Was she going to spread it around the school? She didn't strike Ed as the type to do either, but the possibility was still there, and it made Ed more than a little tense. If Mustang knew he'd let his military alias slip so easily, he'd surely get a good threatening... or the bastard might even call Winry, just to make sure the threat of a beating was actually carried out.

But what's done is done, Ed assured himself. There was no use brooding over the past when he couldn't change it - and even if there was a magical way to time-travel, he honestly didn't have the time or energy to go through with it. He was too absorbed in schooling, research and pretending to be someone else to worry about such a thing, after all.

So then why couldn't he get it out of his mind?

"You all right? You seem a little out of it," Harry muttered from behind him. Ed jumped in his position seated on the red leather sofa and craned his neck to give Harry a grand glare for sca- surprising him.

"I'm fine." Ed sighed. "It's just that whole thing in Potions - Snape, that bastard."

Harry sighed too, an almost perfect imitation of Ed's own. "I know. That was hell."

Ed smirked. "Who caught you?"

Harry grimaced, flopping himself down next to Ed, letting the Gryffindor fireplace warm him from the winter chill. "Lavender."

Ed couldn't stop the amused smirk creeping onto his face, and it took everything he had to stifle the snickers rising in the back of his throat.

"Hey, don't laugh," Harry grumbled. "I'm sure you said some things you didn't want to, too."

Ed's humour quickly vanished, replaced with a tired grimace. "Yeah. Luckily it was only Luna, though."

"What do you mean?"

"Even if she told everyone what I said, no one would believe her... Well, except you, because I've told you its true now."

It was Harry's turn to smirk. "I guess."

"How's Ron doing?" Ed asked off-handedly.

"He's not dead, thank god. He's still out cold, though. I wonder if he's gonna be all right..." Harry trailed off.

"He'll be fine," Ed chirped lightly. "He's... y'know, Ron. He'll make it out alive if it's the last thing he does."

Harry chuckled at this. "I guess you're right. No use worrying."

Ed paused thoughtfully before responding. "Yeah," he murmured distantly, a dreamy look coming over his face.

Harry waved off Ed's strange reaction - Ed was a strange person; he was used to it by now.

Ed thought over Harry's last sentence. 'No use worrying'. There really wasn't anything that could come out of obsessing over the information he'd leaked, and he could easily deny it if word got out. Except to Harry, that is. But Harry was Harry Potter, so Ed was sure he'd be good at keeping a secret. And plus, it would give him a good excuse to hang around Harry a bit more and find out if he'd be helpful in the Drachman war that was on the brink of erupting. That was another one of Mustang's orders. Honestly, Ed thought, are war, promotions and power the only things that bastard ever thinks about?

Ed blinked. Actually, thinking about Mustang... I should really send a report soon. Ed grimaced - he detested writing reports. He usually just made his handwriting as illegible as possible so he could fit in some scribbles to take up space without anyone realizing it was gibberish. The first time he'd done it, he'd burst out in laughter at how nobody seemed to notice. He got quite a few sideways glances in the corridor after that.

"Hey, Harry," Edward said.

"Yeah?"

"Is there any paper - parchment, whatever - around here I could use? I wanna write someone a letter."

"Oh, yeah - under the table over there." Harry gestured vaguely behind him without looking up from the essay he was writing. "Next to the ink pots."

"Thanks," Ed muttered over his shoulder as he began to roam the room looking for said table and ink pots. He found them after about five minutes, and slid into a seat at an unoccupied table. He was writing his report in code, so people looking over his shoulder wouldn't matter, but he liked privacy all the same.

Now, Ed thought, how should I write this?

Eventually, Ed decided to label Al and Winry as the main recipients, and have a small 'recipe' attached which he was sure Al would give to Mustang.

Al & Win, he started.

Sorry for not writing sooner. It's been pretty hectic over here - who knew there was so much studying to do? This 'magic' they have is incredible - it completely bypasses the laws of Equivalent Exchange!I still don't like it much, though. It's weird and unnatural. I'm sure you'd love it here, though, Al. This place is full of weird things and people.

Ed paused, absent-mindedly tapping the end of his pen against his chin.

How are you? I heard you're engaged. Then again, I can't trust anything that bastard Colonel tells me. If it's true, I'm happy for you. If he was just making an idiot out of me, hit him. Hard. Preferably with one of your wrenches, Win. Actually, hit him anyway.

Ed sniggered.

Promise more news soon. Please don't worry about me, I'll be fine. These wizards have no self-defense skills.

- Ed

Ed smiled, satisfied with the letter, and folded it haphazardly in half before setting it aside to begin the 'recipe' for Mustang.

Bastard,

No news on time travel or space travel, though there's nothing anywhere that says they're impossible. There's this big evil guy who's trying to lead an army of brainwashed followers into world domination. Apparently, he's not far off attacking Hogwarts. When he does, I'll kick his ass. No other threats, though. It seems Hogwarts is 'one of the safest places on earth', according to the headmaster. There are plenty of useful allies over here, but they don't seem the type to be easily persuaded into helping out in another war - they have their hands full with their own.

Write soon with more info.

-FMA

Ed crumpled up the parchment and ripped it into a smaller size for effect before stuffing it in an envelope along with the letter for Al and Winry. He brusquely sketched the military seal on the back of the envelope to make sure Al got the hint, and stood up to leave the Gryffindor common room.

"Where are you going? Ron asked from across the room.

Ed waved the letter behind him as he crossed the carpeted floor. "Owlery."

"Oh." Ron returned to his game of wizard chess with someone Ed hadn't bothered to learn the name of as Ed shoved open the heavy wooden doors and slammed them shut behind him.

Ed sighed deeply. He was free. He could be himself now, now that no one was watching him with prying eyes. He could be the Fullmetal Alchemist, right here, right now, wandering these corridors, and it gave him a much-welcomed sense of freedom he never knew he wanted.

It took him longer than he planned to find the Owlery. He'd only been there once (on a brief tour with Hermione), and he hadn't bothered to memorise the route.

Ed was thoroughly frustrated by the time he finally made it up the spiral staircase. Who had the stupid idea of making staircases move, anyway? He'd gotten trapped on the staircases for a good half hour before he managed to make it through a door of some kind and onto flat ground, only to find out he was outside the Slytherin dorms, on the opposite side of the school to the Owlery.

Ed found the owl Mustang had assigned him, and shoved the letter in its direction. The owl snapped at his hand holding the letter (Dammit, why'd I offer it my left hand?) and practically tore the envelope out of his now bleeding grip before shooting through the window in a flurry of feathers. Ed scowled at it as it flew through the sky far faster than a normal owl should've been able to fly. Mustang probably thinks this is funny, the bastard. He'll probably give it a treat for harassing me or something.

With that irritating thought, Ed stomped down the staircase, ignoring the frightened protests of a couple of Ravenclaw girls as he passed them on his way down.

I haven't got any exams or tests tomorrow, and I finished all my homework yesterday, Ed thought. I have absolutely nothing to do.

Ed sighed irritably. He hated having nothing to do. He was the kind of person who was always on his feet, always doing something, even when researching. If his brother wasn't there to stop him, Ed would often pace up and down while reading something, and once Al caught him throwing punches at the wall with his automail hand while trying to decode his father's research on the philosopher's stone.

So having absolutely nothing to do didn't sit well with him. "May as well take a walk," he muttered under his breath.

Ed didn't know how long it had been since he'd started 'taking a walk', but someone had pulled a silky, pure black blanket over the evening sky by the time he found something interesting.

It was a wall. Ed knew that - it was just an ordinary castle wall on the second floor. But there was something about it that just didn't seem quite right. Call it a sixth sense, but Ed had always been able to tell if something was wrong, and this was a prime example. Ed wandered over to the wall slowly and brushed his fingertips against the stone - he gasped when the stone rippled under his touch.

Now Ed knew something was definitely wrong. Stone didn't ripple.

Suddenly a giant black door appeared in the wall, and Ed was immediately touching dark wood. Ed flinched back, and he couldn't help the hiss of surprise that bubbled out of his throat at the sudden change. Ed was hopelessly curious, however, and couldn't resist finding out what was in the concealed room.

Ed was never one for politeness, but if there was some ancient evil warlock on the other side of the door he definitely didn't want to get on its bad side. So, hesitantly, he knocked.

"Hello?" he whispered.

There was no warning before the door flew open in his face, smashing into his nose and surely breaking it, and a pointed line was shoved in between his eyes.

Ed trailed his vision along what he now made out to be a wand, and let his eyes rest upon the owner. As they made eye contact, both parties gasped.

"Ed?"

"Luna?" they said simultaneously.

There was a brief moment of tense silence before Luna burst out in a fit of giggles and gently pushed Ed inside before quietly shutting the humongous door behind her.

"You gave me quite a shock, there, Ed - I thought you were one of the professors!" Luna giggled again.

Ed gave a half-hearted laugh - he was still in shock. "What is this place?" he breathed.

Luna smiled airily. "The Room of Requirement. It's a room that gives the person everything they need for a specific purpose."

Ed nodded thoughtfully. "I see." He glanced around. "It's empty."

Luna smiled enthusiastically. "Because I wanted it to be empty."

Ed understood the idea, and his face brightened. "I get it." He took a moment's consideration before asking, "Why did you want it to be empty?"

Luna pranced around the room, her skirt twirling around her. "I come here to find peace." She smiled. "It's hard to find peace when there are loads of nimblewags crawling around."

Ed chuckled at her antics. "I see."

Luna danced right up to him, so her nose almost touched his. "Your nose is broken."

Ed blinked at the sudden closeness, and went cross-eyed attempting to look at his nose.

Luna giggled, and nudged his nose with hers.

"Ow!" Ed let out a sudden yelp of pain before shielding his nose with his hand.

"See?" Luna tipped her head to the side. "I could fix it if you want."

"With magic?" Ed asked, his voice dripping with incredulity.

"Of course." Luna eyed him in a way that suggested he was crazy for thinking anything else, and Ed sighed.

"O-okay." He really wanted to see what magic could do, after all. If it could fix broken bones and heal injuries then it would be incredibly useful in the battlefield, and if he fed Mustang this knowledge he might get a pay raise.

Luna waved her wand idly at Ed's nose, which snapped back in place with a 'crack' and a burst of white light.

Ed let out another yell, but this time in surprise. His nose was really healed! He touched it tentatively, afraid that it would break again without warning.

"There." Luna giggled dreamily.

"Thanks," Ed whispered, totally in awe.

Luna smiled her response, and Ed decided she must be in a good mood. She seemed to be smiling and giggling more than usual.

He jumped when she grabbed his hand - his automail hand, to Ed's surprise - and dragged him over to a leather chair that had mysteriously appeared. Ed slumped down into it - he'd been on his feet for hours, and his right leg was really starting to ache. He let out a sigh of contentment, to which Luna briskly skipped over to a window ledge under a window overlooking a sunny field that had also appeared out of nowhere and curled herself up on it, dragging her knees up to her chin.

"You said you come here to find peace," Ed started after a moment. There was no reaction from Luna, so Ed didn't wait for one. "Why?"

It was a full five minutes before Luna answered. "Because I like peace. And the castle isn't peaceful," she whispered.

Ed considered this. He could see why she liked peace - it had a strange habit of temporarily lifting a weight off your shoulders, Ed found. And the castle certainly wasn't peaceful in the places he normally went.

Ed drew his gaze back to Luna again, about to respond, when he noticed her eyes were closed and her breathing was considerably slower than before. He smiled. Trust Luna to fall asleep in the most awkward of positions. Although, he quietly admitted, she does look like an angel like that.The non-existent midday sun outside her window cast a halo around her white-blond hair as it reflected off it, and her expression reminded Ed of a sleeping baby. Her lips were slightly parted, and he could hear the deep breaths she was whispering in the silence of the almost-empty room. It sounded like a lullaby to Ed, who really hadn't had much sleep over the past few days after gaining a false lead on time-travel. He barely noticed as his own eyelids slipped shut, and he drifted into oblivion.

Aww! More EdxLuna! :3

God, this chapter took forever to edit. =.= FFN thinks it's funny to string all my italicized words together so I have to go through the whole chapter and put spaces in between them, which isn't fun when you have huge paragraphs of italics. =.=

Sorry for mistakes. I don't proof-read my work XD;;