So I look back at the last chapter, where I said that I'd probably update in a week or so... Then I look at the date now and figure that its probably been a bit more than just a week to put it mildly. And I figure that my only excuse is that throughout all this time, I've probably only spent about a week's time on the computer... which is far too much to be healthy really...

To my reviewers:

Sorry the update took so long! (But seriously, I had writer's block)

Jostanos: Yes, Bumblebore is a senile, deluded old man at times (why didn't he just adopt Harry if he didn't want other people getting their hands on him, lazy old man). I suppose he finds it better to live in an illusioned world than see reality, which would be fine except that Harry's sorta suffering for it. But I don't think Dumbledore's over with manipulating him... not by a long shot...

Fluehatraya: I know right, sometimes I wonder if the wizards still realize that they're every bit as human as the muggles.

DeathBySugarCube, TheBlackSeaReaper: Sorry for the long waiting time! (Well, at least it's up now, right?)

Disclaimer: I own nothing... Except the plotline.. and my laptop... and the article... and... I don't own Harry Potter or Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chapter Four – Sunset

Alchemists live for the people

~Halling

(Miner, Innkeeper and Major of Youswell Coal Mine)

When Harry awoke, it was with a distinct feeling of Deja-vu, although he was not yet aware of the meaning of the word itself.

Good sight. White roof. No spider-webs. Big room. Lots of space. Soft bed. Loud voices, but outside. No Dudley. Even if things repeat themselves, over and over, it's better than back there.

After all, what was there to miss? Certainly not the dingy old room, if it could be called that, under the stairs, hiding away from Dudley. This was better than working to the bone each day, slaving away for the sake of his uncle and aunt. Better than the disappointed glances his teacher would give him, as he'd score last in every test again, breaking a top-of-the-class record for three tests. Better than the disgusted, almost accusing look his new teacher would shoot him, handing back yet another failed test. Better than watching his classmates get hurried away by loving parents while wondering what had happened to his own. Better than hiding away at the top of the climbing equipment, where Dudley (thank the heavens), was unable to reach, wondering why his Aunt and Uncle seemed unable to treat him with even a little of that affection they so frequently lavished upon Dudley.

Snuggling deeply into the soft bed, he pulled the covers over his head, and closed his eyes, breathing deeply, wishing that he could stop time.

He snuggled down further into the bed, pulled the covers over his head to create a cocoon of warmth and safety and allowed his eyelids to flutter, relishing the quiet he had so sought. As he drifted between the realms of consciousness, a distant part of his mind was dimly aware of voices arguing heated, but muffled by the closed door that separated him from them.

"First sight, now prying into an innocent child's mind?" the voice was low, obviously belonging to a man. To Harry, it sounded vaguely familiar.

"Sir! I think that some of the things this child has gone through have marked him far worse than a simple probe! It was necessary to determine the best treatment!" the flustered voice of a woman joined.

"His relatives have put him through so much worse! They've forc-" a second female voice was abruptly cut off as the man spoke again, his previously loud voice dropping to a deadly whisper.

Harry heard no more, as he burrowed even further into the reached of the blanket, wishing they'd argue somewhere else. Releasing a yawn into the confined space, he felt the moist air warm it up further. Timidly, he poked his head out, back onto the soft pillow. His eyes closed.

Light taps on the marble floor announced the presence of a young woman wearing sensible heels. The sound echoed slightly around the hall, breaking the strained silence.

Long blonde hair kept in neat plaits swung slightly with each purposeful step. Behind her, following shyly yet determinedly, was a little girl, her hair every bit as bright as her mother's. Two sky-blue sets oft eyes turned to regard the silent wizards.

Winry released her mother's hand, running towards her father, a smile breaking out on her face. Urey, bending to fondly ruffle his daughter's hair, looked towards his wife and gave a grave nod.

Sara turned smoothly to the healers, not giving them enough time to compose themselves. "I see that it's been ascertained that the boy is a victim of child abuse, yes? As it seems that his... relatives are unable to give him the proper care necessary for a child his age, the duty to provide him with a home falls to us, who found this, I believe." She kept her language deliberately professional and direct; it was best to hurry through the legal legislation before another, wealthier, wizarding family found that taking the young Boy-Who-Lived into their care would benefit them greatly. She was no fool, and though they had left Wizarding Britain long ago, was very much aware of the fall of the Dark Lord, who's appearance had cause them to move away; raising a half-blood in a land where a unstoppable murderer was killing children with relations to muggles was, certainly, not a wise choice. Of course, sending a wizard child to live with muggles was nearly, very nearly, as bad. Even more so when you considered that aforementioned relatives despised and feared magic; the essence of a wizard itself.

"Indeed, those muggles treated him horribly! A wizard would never treat their offspring in such a wa-" The healers tittered, an obvious attempt to buy time in which to regain their posture.

"Which is why he must be relocated immediately. Unless of course, there are problems with the case of his adoption?" Sara's voice changed from business-like to no-nonsense with a sliver of cold determination and the slightest hint of a threat, although she was aware that, should it come to it, she would be unable to carry out any threats she made.

Urey, sensing the rapidly shifting atmosphere, smiled down at his daughter. "Now, shall we go check up on Harry, Winry?" At her slight nod, he gently nudged her away from the scene.

Inside the room, they were isolated from the sounds outside, courtesy of a muffling charm placed on the doors after the last incident.

"Harry!" Winry rushed to the bedside, and placed a hand on his forehead, something she'd often seen her parents do to their patients. She sighed dramatically as she took her hand off again, and raised the back of it to her own forehead, as if to wipe off sweat. From his position near the door, Urey wondered if they'd perhaps allowed to spend too much time around them as they were treating patients. To his relief, the boy wasn't awake to see his daughter's act.

It was preposterous that anyone in St. Mungo's would have a fever, due to the skill of the somewhat immoral healers who, despite any other grievances Urey might air about them, were exceptionally skilled. Nevertheless, he also crossed the room, placing a hand on Harry's forehead to check his temperature, although it was more habitual than deliberate. Under his hand, he felt the boy begin to stir, and by the time his hand was back by his side, the boy's eyes were slowing blinking themselves open, only to clamp themselves shut as Winry jumped at him an something between a hug and a flying tackle. And though it was inappropriate, considering what the child had been through, and unprofessional besides, Urey couldn't help but wonder what the casualty rate was for patients who had been unwittingly attacked by their over-eager visitors.

-Malfoy Manor-

"Mother!" Draco rushed into the living room, their subscription of the Daily Prophet tucked haphazardly under one arm. Narcissa smiled slightly, not even six and he was already learning to speak in a more formal way, although she'd have to do something about his habit of running around. She turned, the smile still present on her face to he son. It was not, however, her son's face that caught her gaze and held it. It was instead the title of the wizarding newspaper.

The Battle for Custody! Harry Potter's New Family Is…

It's new, it's official. Harry Potter is going to be moving in to a new family! Already, relatives have started to claim and prove their relations towards the Boy-Who-Lived, who has recently resurfaced, leaving many to wonder where he has been all these past five years. Exclusive Interviews with Wizenmagot members inside. For more information, turn to page 80.

She tutted, annoyed slightly, why did they newspapers always place the full version of front-page stories on some obscure page in the middle anyway? Flicking to the page within seconds, she was an expert at it by now, she skimmed the article, gathering the important facts. It painted a nice picture. Although there were many families eager to induct the Boy-Who-Lived into their household, few had as strong a blood-relation to the boy as the Malfoys, and those that did could not match the wealth or political ties the Malfoys possessed. The wizards that had found him, were sure to be eager to give the boy off to someone, children would get in the way of someone who was in the healing profession after all. Maybe they'd auction the boy off to whoever gave the highest bid? And the Malfoy name was a respectable one besides, Lucius made sure of that.

As she raised her head to look at the boy before her, the thought that Lucius might have been too dedicated with his work crossed her mind. Had he been more empathetic with his son, Draco might have sent the paper to him. It had only been luck that Draco had thought she might have been interested in Harry Potter's affairs that he'd brought her the article. She'd have to have a word with him about that later. For now, she smiled at her son, and stood to leave for Lucius's study. Another thought crossed her mind, and she turned to praise her son and awarded him the day off, free from study. Only once he'd left did she turn in the direction of the Study. It wouldn't do the alienate their only son and heir after all.

Loved it? Hated it? Had absolutely no feeling towards it? Leave a review!~ (No really, do leave a review...)

And if you think that Ed is short at the beginning of the 2003 Anime, leave a review! And since we all know and think that he's short, we're all going to leave a review now, aren't we? =)

And for anyone with way too much free time on their hands (and for those that don't have so much), if you can spare just an half-hour of your lives, do check out my other fic too =)

The next chapter probably won't be coming out for a while now, since I've got exams which are next week, which in fact I ought to be studying for now... Next update might be in two week. Emphasis on the 'might'.