DISCLAIMER: I OWN NEITHER HARRY POTTER NOR FULLMETAL ALCHECMIST!

Chapter Forty-One

"We need to get Ed out of here," Harry told Neville, Al, and Winry. "You need to get to the black circular room and find a way out and raise the alarm. And take Hermione with you. She can't fight anymore."

"But don't you need us?" Al asked.

"I'll stay behind, Harry," Neville volunteered. "I can hold onto Hermione while Albonse and Winry take Ed."

"But -" Harry started.

"Don't worry, Harry," Winry spoke up. "We'll take him."

Al looked at Winry and then down at Ed. Winry had closed Ed's eyes and mouth without anyone noticing. To Al, Ed looked like he was sleeping, but Al knew that his brother was gone. Al helped Winry stand up and Harry and Neville helped put Ed on Al's back. Then Winry and Harry helped put Hermione on Neville's back. Afterwards, Harry, Neville, Al, and Winry found their way to the black, circular room and shut the door behind them. The room rotated again. The fiery crosses had faded from the doors. Harry was about to ask where they should try when the door to their right sprang open and three people fell out of it.

"Ron!" said Harry, going to them. "Ginny – are you all – ?"

"Harry," Ron giggled. "There you are... Ha ha ha... You look funny, Harry... You're all messed up..."

Ron's face was very white and something dark was trickling from the corner of his mouth. His knees gave away.

"Ginny?" asked Harry, fearfully. "What happened?"

Ginny shook her head and slid down the wall into a sitting position, panting and holding her ankle.

"I think her ankle's broken," said Luna. "Four of them chased us into a dark room full of planets, it was a very odd place. Some of the time we were just floating in the dark. What happened to Edward?"

"He's dead," Neville answered. "Dolohov killed him."

Ginny looked up with shock while Luna's eyes, if it were even possible, widened with surprise.

"We couldn't just leave him," Winry whispered.

"Understandable," Ginny replied. "Get out of here. You need to get Ed out of here."

"Harry, we saw Uranus up close!" said Ron, still giggling. "Get it, Harry? We saw Uranus, ha ha ha."

A bubble of blood grew at the corner of Ron's mouth and burst.

"One of them grabbed Ginny's foot, I used the Reductor Curse, and blew up Pluto in his face, but…," Luna continued gesturing to Ginny.

"What about Ron?" Al asked.

"I don't know what they hit him with," Luna replied sadly, "but he's gone a bit funny, I could hardly get him along at all…"

"Harry, you know who this girl is, Harry?" Ron giggled. "She's Loony…Loony Lovegood…ha ha ha…"

"We've got to get out of here," Harry insisted. "Luna, can you help Ginny?"

"Yes," Luna answered, sticking her wand behind her ear for safekeeping, putting an arm around Ginny's waist and pulling her up.

"It's only my ankle, I can do it myself!" Ginny protested.

She stood but fell, grabbing onto Luna for support. Harry pulled Ron's arm over his shoulder just as he had pulled Dudley's so many months ago. He looked around: They had a one-in-twelve chance of getting the exit right the first time -

He heaved Ron toward a door; they were within a few feet of it when another door across the hall burst open and three Death Eaters sped into the hall, led by Bellatrix Lestrange.

"There they are!" Bellatrix shrieked.

Stunning Spells shut across the room: Harry smashed his way through the door ahead, flung Ron unceremoniously from him, and ducked back to help Neville in with Hermione. They were all over the threshold just in time to slam the door against Bellatrix.

"Colloportus!" Harry shouted.

Three bodies slammed into the door on the other side.

"It doesn't matter!" a man shouted. "There are other ways in - WE'VE GOT THEM, THEY'RE HERE!"

They were back in the Brain Room and, sure enough, there were doors all around the walls.

"Luna - Neville - Winry - help me seal the door!" Harry requested.

A few moments later, Luna and Winry were knocked unconscious and sent flying. They landed on the ground.

"No! Winry!" Al cried out.

Ron summoned the brains and they started to wrap around him as the Death Eaters came running in. A few minutes later, Harry ran into the veil room and was soon surrounded by the Death Eaters. Al put Ed down on the floor and helped Neville free Ron of the brains. Ron was now unconscious on the floor. Ginny, Neville, and Al were now the only ones conscious.

"Neville, you can go to help Harry, I'll stay here," Al said.

"Whad aboud Ed?" Neville asked. "Whad are you going to do?"

"Just go help Harry," Al insisted. "Everything will be fine."

"I'b sorry," Neville apologized.

Then Neville left the room to help Harry. Al went over to Ed's body and felt Ed's face.

"Still warm," Al muttered. "But he's cooling down."

"What are you going on about?" Ginny asked.

Al looked at Ginny as he clapped his hands.

"If I don't live, tell Brother and Winry not to be sad," Al requested. "And tell Cho… tell her I'm sorry."

"Alphonse?" Ginny asked.

Al looked down at Ed and then knelt down. They both were engulfed by a bright light. Then the light faded. Al collapsed and lay by Ed.

"ALPHONSE!" Ginny cried.

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Ed groaned.

"You know this is the third time you're here," a voice said.

Ed opened his eyes. He looked to see that he was in a white void. Then he saw…

"Truth…," Ed said.

"Long time, no see," said Truth, a white, black-outlined figure. "I would say welcome back, but that would seem inappropriate."

"What am I doing here?" Ed asked.

"Well, I thought you'd know that one, Ed," Truth answered. "You were killed."

"I know that!" Ed snapped. "But why aren't I -?"

"You know, your brother stole the Philosopher's Stone from me," Truth interrupted. "I didn't expect that to happen. One moment the Stone was in my hands, the next moment it was gone."

"He didn't mean to!" Ed retorted. "And you're not taking his body or soul back!"

"I don't want them," Truth shrugged. "I just want to tell you that it isn't your time to die just yet. You still have many things to accomplish."

"I know that!" Ed snapped. "But shit happens and there's nothing that can be done about it! I'll just have to…"

"Break your promise to your girlfriend?" Truth completed.

Ed blushed in embarrassment.

"I need to talk to you about -" Truth started.

Just then, the Gate doors opened and Ed was pulled through them. A moment later, the Philosopher's Stone appeared in Truth's hands.

"Ooh, I got my Stone back," Truth observed. "Hey! A piece is missing!"

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Ed groaned. He thought the Killing Curse was supposed to be painless, but he was aching all over. When he opened his eyes, he saw a blurry face with blue eyes staring down at him. Ed blinked and his vision cleared.

"Bumblebore?" Ed asked. "Are you dead too?"

Dumbledore chuckled.

"No, dear boy, I am not dead," Dumbledore answered. "And neither are you. Look around if you can."

Ed looked around and saw that he was in the Hogwarts' hospital wing. He saw Winry and Al in beds beside his. He also saw Hermione, Luna, and Ron in beds as well. Ed saw Ginny sitting by Al's bed. He could see Tonks, Kingsley, Moody, and Remus being treated as well. Ed looked back at Dumbledore.

"I don't understand," Ed said. "What happened? Why am I alive? Why can I feel my right arm and left leg?"

"Alphonse performed Human Transmutation," Dumbledore answered.

Ed tried to bolt up in bed, but he groaned in pain and fell back against his pillow.

"I would advise you not to move for a while," Dumbledore advised.

"Al…is he okay?" Ed asked.

"He is just fine," Dumbledore answered. "He is just sleeping. He used up a lot of energy."

Ed nodded.

"Winry?" Ed asked.

"She, too, will be all right," Dumbledore replied. "As will all of your other classmates. If you will excuse me, I need to speak to Harry. I told him I would return in a moment and it has been several. Get some rest."

Ed nodded and closed his eyes. A moment later, he was asleep. Then Dumbledore stood and left the wing. A moment later, Roy burst into the room.

"Where's Edward?" Roy demanded.

"He's sleeping now," Pomfrey answered. "You let him get his rest, Professor Mustang."

Roy sighed and looked around. He saw the people in the beds and looked at Remus.

"Remus, what happened?" Roy asked. "Severus didn't tell me what was going on."

Remus didn't reply until after Pomfrey went to her office.

"Edward, Alphonse, Winry, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Neville all went to the Ministry of Magic to…save Sirius after Harry had a dream that Voldemort had kidnapped him," Remus replied. "Voldemort was just using Harry to get a prophecy made about them both."

"Is Sirius all right?" Roy asked.

"No…Bellatrix killed him," Remus answered, looking down.

"I'm sorry," Roy answered.

Remus shook his head.

"It's not your fault," Remus said. "The idiot was enjoying himself too much when it happened. Edward is lucky that Alphonse was able to save him from…"

"What happened to Edward?" Roy asked.

"Neville said that Dolohov killed Edward with the Killing Curse," Remus replied.

"Then how -" Roy started, then registering what Remus had told him about Al saving Ed. "Human Transmutation."

Remus nodded.

"It shouldn't be possible without a Philosopher's Stone," Roy muttered. "I don't understand…"

"Albus is sending a message to Van Hohenheim," Remus said. "He's hoping Van Hohenheim comes."

Roy's mouth turned into a straight line. He didn't think Van Hohenheim would come.

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Dumbledore got to his office and went in. Harry was standing and looking at the newborn Fawkes. Dumbledore went to his desk and sat down behind it.

"Well, Harry, you will be pleased to hear that none of your fellow classmates are going to suffer permanent damage from the night's events," Dumbledore announced. "Madam Pomfrey is patching everyone up now. Nymphadora Tonks may need to spend some time at St. Mungo's, but she'll make a full recovery."

"What about Ed?" Harry asked. "He was murdered by Dolohov. He had no pulse."

"Edward is alive, Harry," Dumbledore replied. "Alphonse performed Human Transmutation and was able to revive Edward. It took all of his energy, and he is now resting."

Harry looked down.

"Harry, I must ask you not to attempt what Alphonse has done," Dumbledore said.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"The only reason why it worked this time is because Alphonse had the Philosopher's Stone inside his body," Dumbledore answered. "I am sure you already know that he had."

"Yes, but how did you know?" Harry asked.

"Alphonse is easy to read," Dumbledore replied. "He also no longer has the Philosopher's Stone within his body. It has finally been used up. Alphonse is finally a normal sixteen year old boy."