Prom tonight so here's a slightly early update in case I case I can't make it to the computer after stuffing myself.

Unfortunately, Snape could not permit the visitors from Central to staying longer. They were to be put on the next train and that gave Edward a mere few hours to spend with his brother.

Mustang, however, was complaining about how he was missing his paperwork, not that he did any. Hawkeye just chided Edward for being so gullible and fired a whole round of bullets at him such that they missed his right ear by an inch as a warning. Edward and Al made sure to avoid Hawkeye for the rest of the day.

"Let me show you around!" Edward said though he did not need much encouragement. Al was already exploring the place by himself.

They went outside to explore the castle grounds while Edward described his life in school and how he was not progressing well in his mission.

"Have you tried following him at night?" Al suggested.

"At night?"

"You know, maybe, he's sneaking around, doing something he shouldn't be doing. Maybe that's why you're not progressing."

"Yea, maybe. But whatever. It's not like he can single-handedly destroy the school or something. So what's going on in Central?"

"I've got a place near the Central library. The Colonel helped borrow some books on the philosopher's stone so I thought I could get started on research while you were gone."

Edward shifted uncomfortably and stopped walking. They were standing beside the lake. Al turned around and walked back to Edward. His head was tilted questioningly.

"Brother?" Al asked.

"Al, in the time I spent here, I discovered that these people could actually regrow flesh. I think there's a possibility that we can get our bodies back with magic."

"But you don't like it." Al said. Edward had not realised he had spat out the word 'magic' so derisively.

"It doesn't just go against the laws of transmutation! It sounds so easy- just like how we tried to create a human when we were kids. And I don't think magic would let you regain what you have lost to the gate and-"

"But it could be the answer!" Al protested. There was a childlike hope in his voice and Edward could not bear to crush that hope. He sighed.

"I don't know Al. Maybe I can find materials on the philosopher's stone here and see if it's safe to use magic. But whatever happens, you're getting your body back first."

"Let's get it back together, ok?" Al said and Edward gave him a placating grin.

"You know, even now, I'm still not very used to the idea of magic. And that Malfoy boy I'm supposed to guard? He's a big pain in the ass."

"Brother!" Al exclaimed reproachfully. Edward shrugged.

"It's not my fault for being stuck in this stupid mission. I seriously want to punch Mustang in the face. Speaking of which, let's spar!"

"But we just got here!" Al protested but Edward was not hearing any of it. It had been ages since he spared with Al. It used to be a daily routine for them and would still be if Edward had not gone on the mission.

Seeing the obstinate flare in Edward's eyes, Al sighed heavily and took on a fighting stance. Edward leapt into the air and swung a vicious kick at Al's side.

"There's this guy!" Edward gasped as Al blocked the blow swiftly. "He goes by the name Sirius Black!"

Edward crouched, then reared up again like a python. His arm shot forward. "I think he might... be the reason!"

"Reason?" Al asked, using his massive hands to stop the blow from connecting with his main armour frame.

"Reason for this dumb mission!" Edward said. With a grunt of exertion, he kicked himself into the air. "I think... he's connected to Malfoy somehow!"

"Related?"

"Yea! Why else would I..." Edward landed a kick on Al's armour and smiled triumphantly. However, Al was quicker and knocked Edward back with a fierce blow to his left leg. Metal clanked with metal.

"Would I be assigned to guard him this year?"

"I don't know, brother," Al said effortlessly. His voice was casual as if he were talking about the weather and not in the middle of a vicious fight.

Edward fisted some sand on the ground and flung it at Al who was accustomed to his brother's dirty tricks. Al sidestepped neatly and retaliated by kicking sand into Edward's eyes.

Edward made the mistake to speak then and sand filled his mouth. Frantically, he hacked out the particles. Al took advantage of his distraction and punched him in the gut.

It was a light punch but it made Edward choke out all the sand in his mouth. Edward squinted at Al to refocus his vision and charged forward at him.

"Could it be that Black is targeting Malfoy somehow?" Edward thought out loud, his face contorting a little at the taste of residue sand in his mouth. He feinted a punch with his automail arm and when Al ducked, Edward swiftly withdrew his arm and kicked at Al's leg.

"That explains everything!" Edward said. It was all making sense to him already. "By employing me... I'd have an advantage over the wizards since no... one knows what alchemists can... do!"

Al's leg buckled at Edward's kick but he used the momentum to drag his brother's face into the ground as he fell.

"Which means if Black... ever decides to-" Edward spat sand out of his mouth and charged at Al again, pulling back his arm for a punch. "-to come after Malfoy... he won't be expecting... me!"

Al slammed an open hand into Edward's fist and turned his wrist sharply, throwing his brother face down into the grass.

Edward pushed himself from the ground shakily, spluttering sand and allowed Al to help him up. The fights always ended like this. Dirty and fast. It ended much quicker this time. Maybe he was too out of practise.

"A... again!" Edward coughed and Al sighed.

"Brother! That's enough for today!"

"But there's no next time!" Edward whined, assuming the fighting stance again. Al knew better than to refuse his brother and crouched, body in position.

It took a longer time this time for Edward's face to be shoved into the mud and sand again. Edward coughed and raised a hand in defeat.

"I give!" Edward croaked and Al grabbed his hand and hauled his brother to his feet. The alchemist looked down at himself. His Slytherin robes were soiled and ripped beyond recognition.

Clapping his hands, Edward pulled out an equation from his mind and the material mended itself. With another flash of light, the grime and sand that clung to his body lifted away and fell back into the ground.

"You know, brother," Al said as Edward helped to remove the mud from his brother's armour. "You look different now."

Edward's face lit up. "You mean I grew taller?"

"Uh... no. It could be that you're not wearing your red coat anymore. You look more I don't know..."

"Aw... c'mon! I think I might have grown an inch or two." Edward protested but his brother only laughed.

As they walked back to the castle, a group of Ravenclaws passed them on their way to the lake. The students stared at Al in fear and shrank away.

Edward hoped Al did not notice. He shifted so that he was walking in front of his brother and glared at the students defiantly, daring them to say anything.

The Ravenclaws widened their eyes in apprehension and walked quickly away. A hot sensation burned in him as Edward glared after the Ravenclaws but he soon realised that the hot sensation was not due to anger.

A burst of flames erupted from the castle.

Edward and Al exchanged a look before they both sprinted to the castle.

The first person they saw was Hawkeye who was looming calmly over Mustang. The Great Hall smelt like burnt meat.

"What happened?" Al asked while Edward tried not to laugh at Mustang whose hair was burning at the tips. The Hall was completely cleared of students but the short Charms teacher was hurtling down the stairs, demanding where the fire came from.

"Things involving sixth grader girls, a turkey leg, some letter about a possessive girlfriend and owl poop." Hawkeye explained curtly while Mustang was mouthing death threats at Edward so that she would not notice.

"Good, Alphonse is here," Mustang said, trying to regain whatever vestiges of dignity by standing up and brushing his uniform. He smelled like owl poop so it ruined the impressive effect he was trying to give.

"Professor Snape told us that the carriage is already prepared. He seems very eager to get us out of the castle. Tsh, there are places with nicer hospitality."

"Already?" Edward cried in dismay. He had barely gotten the chance to talk to his brother.

"Fullmetal," Mustang said and Edward glanced at the colonel.

"Just so you know, I will not be wasting my time and coming here again unless you're dead. But please don't. You can't imagine the amount of paperwork involved."

"WHAT! ARE YOU CALLING ME SO SHORT THAT THE PAPERWORK'S HEIGHT IS COMPARABLE TO ME? I'M NOT SHORT YOU TOENAIL EATING FROG!"

Mustang smirked. "So long, Fullmetal. Try not to die."

Watching Al leave was the worst part of the day. Edward did not know when he could be able to see his brother again.

"Say hi to Winry for me," Edward said, trying to hide his disappointment in front of his brother. Al nodded vigorously.

"Stay out of trouble, brother," Al warned. Edward rolled his eyes in reply.

"I'm not in trouble!"

"But you create them," Mustang muttered while Al cheerily told his brother to remember to drink his milk.

Edward bristled at the mention of the foul tasting liquid that came out from the cow's You-know-what. Fun fact, a cow does not pee from the udders but the site of urination is close enough.

The carriage sagged visibly when Al mounted it. Al had to shift to the middle of the seats so that it would not be lopsided.

Mustang glared at Edward long and hard for good measure before entering, as if glaring at him was the perfect source of revenge. Hawkeye shoved the Colonel into the carriage. She pleasantly shot Edward a smile which told him that he was going to be in serious shit if he made them come all the way to Hogwarts again. Edward withered under that smile and edged away cautiously.

He watched as the carriage pulled away until it disappeared into thin air.

Like magic.