Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter Ten

Training

Xerxes

Yuery and Draco were about to head to their training session with Alphonse when Ron asked why they left during free period every day. Yuery explained that he was training with his uncle on how to fight as was Draco. "You should come with us. I am sure Uncle wouldn't mind it and its useful to know."

"Fighting like dueling?" Ron asked in confusion.

"No, fighting like using your body to hold off another's body." Draco said with a frown trying to think of a better way to explain it. He knew from growing up in a wizard household it would be hard to explain without using terms like 'muggle fighting' which he was doing his best to avoid the term muggle since Xerxes had determined the use of the word not allowed.

"Oh, so like martial arts or like boxing?" Hermione asked, catching on faster than the others.

"A bit of both actually." Draco said with a shrug. "Yuery invited me to join him a couple of years ago and it's pretty useful to know. I mean, what if you were somehow separated from your wand? This way you could still defend yourself."

"How would you be separated from your wand?" Neville asked, before frowning. "I'm not sure my Nan would approve of me learning to fight."

"Well, I want to go." Ginny said as she stood to follow Yuery and Draco. Hermione nodded in agreement and joined them as well. Ron and Neville frowned at each other before shrugging and decided to at least watch today even if they decided against learning.

Yuery and Draco lead them to one of the courtyards, where the headmaster is waiting in a loose-fitting set of exercise clothes. His hair is held back in a ponytail similar to the one Edward wears around the mansion and he smiles as the children approach. "I see we gained more students, Yu."

"Yes Uncle, as long as you do not mind." Yuery smiled back.

"Of course, it would be impolite to send them away without at least the basic idea considering the event of the world." Alphonse agreed gravely. "Hello, friends of Yuery. If I were to guess correctly, I believe the two of you are the Weasley siblings Ron and Ginny, you're Neville Longbottom, and finally you are Hermione Granger, correct? I believe those were your preferred names." All of the children nodded in agreement.

"Alright then, as you already know, I am Alphonse Elric Headmaster of this institute and uncle to Yuery." Alphonse continued. "I also teach this self defense class, though it was originally just private lessons since my brother believed Yuery would benefit from a second teacher in this area."

"A second teacher?" Ron asked.

"Third, technically. Yeye and Dad have both been teaching me for years now." Yuery nodded. "Uncle began when I started school here. Dad felt I was beginning to pick up their patterns a little too well and decided another instructor would help and it has."

"Alright, for today, can someone explain to me why we would be learning these lessons? Are you bored, or interested in trying new things, or were you told to join by a relative." Alphonse said.

"I just want to watch for now." Ron asked and Neville nodded in agreement.

"I would like to learn." Ginny said with a defiant glare at her brother. Hermione agreed with Ginny.

Alphonse nodded in understanding and instructed the boys to a safe place, off to the side where they could see clearly but not be in the way, before he began the lesson with the other four children. He had quickly decided that this would be a review lesson for Draco and Yuery to allow the others a chance to catch on to what they were meant to be doing even as he gave instructions as well.

Ottery St Catchpole

Weasley's Cottage

Sirius had done some digging, eventually finding the correct address to the Weasley's home. The house, which appeared to be held together with magic and hope, was run down but well cared for in appearance. There appeared to be rather a lot of floors added on, stacked haphazardly on top of the original cottage and Sirius wondered why the family didn't move if they needed more room. There were chickens in the yard and gnomes in the garden. A clothesline filled with bed linens swayed in the light breeze.

A plump, redhaired woman that Sirius vaguely recalled seeing around Diagon Alley was hanging the last of the pillowcases when Dumbledore appeared over the hill. The woman paused to wave at the Headmaster, while Sirius did his best to hide among the tall grasses surrounding the fenced yard. "Hello Professor!" the woman called our cheerfully, "What brings you?"

"I'm afraid I must arrange a meeting of the Order Molly." Dumbledore replied gravely. "I feel it is important we keep on top of the Xerxes situation."

"Of course, come right in. Have you already informed the others?" the woman, Molly, asked as she lead the way inside wicker basket now on her hip. "My Ron wrote just this morning, has something come up about Black?"

"No, not as such. The others will arrive shortly. "Dumbledore said pleasantly as Sirius carefully crept closer to hear better, now hiding behind a pile of discarded cauldrons. "We are almost completely cut off from information however, and I would feel better about young Potter's situation of we had more information."

"Well, Ron was asking permission to visit the Fuhrer's Mansion over the weekend at some point, but we told him we had to think about it. After all, we don't really know these people, but you don't seem to trust them at all." Molly said with a frown.

"I believe you should allow it Molly. Though Elric is a hinderance to us overall, he does seem to want to protect the child. He is just going about it the wrong way." Dumbledore smiled. "I believe it would put everyone at ease if the boys were allowed to visit each other in a social situation."

Sirius scoffed, clearly Dumbledore wanted to get information from this woman's son without the boy knowing he was being used. He had done the same thing to Sirius and his friends when they were young. Sadly, he didn't see it until far too late. Hopefully, though they didn't speak of these things too often as it was if Sirius had heard them from the yard, then Pettigrew surely had overheard them at some point. Which meant he had some idea where to begin searching for Harry, much like Sirius now did.

First though, Sirius needed to find a way into that house and get rid of his former friend before he could betray what was left of the Potters. He had mostly tuned out the conversation inside as others arrived and the meeting settled in. Suddenly though, it occurred to him this may well be the best time to try to get to Pettigrew. The front door had been left ajar, and everyone had moved to the back half of the house. Presumably toward the kitchen.

Sirius made his way inside quietly, following his nose up to the top floor where a door was clearly labeled 'Ron'. This was where that rat had been staying, certainly. Sirius nosed the door open ready to pounce before the rodent to make an easy escape only to find the room empty and things inside destroyed.

Somehow Pettigrew had gotten wind of Sirius was nearby and faked his death. Again. That damned rat. Sirius slipped back downstairs, and toward the door when he was unfortunately spotted as he passed the doorway, making Molly yell in alarm. He rushed far away from the house. It would be pointless to return now, Pettigrew surely wouldn't after the scene he had established and after being spotted, they would be frightened to see him again.

With nothing left to follow, Sirius made up his mind. He would make his way to this Xerxes, as soon as he located it, and check on young Harry himself. Though Dumbledore seemed concerned for the boy it wasn't enough to raise an alarm in Sirius. The Headmaster was good at manipulation, it was entirely possible then that the child had a perfectly happy homelife…or he could be kept locked away unless it was convenient to be seen. Either way, he needed to know for his own mental health as well as the welfare of his godson.

Central City, Amestris

Fuhrer's Mansion

Edward had been getting ready to walk out of the door when the phone rang. He answered to find Jean Havoc on the other end asking to speak to Winry. This alarmed Ed enough that he paused to listen before leaving, even if that would make him late this morning. He didn't catch much on this end of the conversation, however. Winry was mostly 'yes'ing every few minutes.

As soon as she disconnected, he knew something was terribly wrong by the expression on her face. She looked crushed as she said in a sad voice. "It's Granny. They think it's her heart. She collapsed this morning while replacing a leg. Luckily the man at the presence of mind to call for help. I need to get down there to her."

"Of course! You go pack now; I'll call Dad and tell him I won't be in today. Do you want to take the girls or leave them here?" Ed asked even as he began shrugging off his uniform jacket and walking toward their room.

"I don't know how bad off she is…though if I really need extra help with the girls, I can ask Rebecca until you can come collect them again." Winry frowned thoughtfully. "If it's bad, I want them to have a chance to see her again."

"I'll bring the boys down over the weekend, if it's worse than that, let me know and I'll pull them from school, and we can stay at the house for a few days." Ed said before picking up the phone to call the office while Winry went to pack a bag for the girls.