The Order of the Pheonix
Chapter Thirteen
Hogwarts
Headmaster's Office
McGonagall had lead Edward Elric, Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, Fletcher Tringham, and Kain Fuery into the office after they had left Alphonse Elric and the remaining two guards on the edge of town to call Fuhrer Mustang. Mr. Weasley had gone with them, both to watch them use the phone and to create a portkey should they need it. "Albus left all of his papers here, there should be something on You Know Who." She said as they started looking through the paperwork, Fletcher and Kain watching the door. "You two could help in the search if you wish."
"They really can't." Edward said absently as he glanced through the first stack. "Very few Amestrians read English I'm afraid. Xerxes uses translation spells throughout but here, they are stuck."
"I knew they used the spells, I assumed though since they work in your office- "Minerva frowned. "Where did you learn English?"
"My mother. Her family originated in England. My Father also read the language. I taught my Dad too but haven't had the time or need to teach the rest of the staff with everything else that is going on lately…." Edward set down the first stack and picked up the next one. "It is also beneficial to write and read a language that is largely unused to prevent information getting into the wrong hands. It is why my brother and I write out notes in Xerxian."
"As fascinating as this language lesson is, can we focus on the search?" Severus frowned from his own search, not looking up from the paper in his hand.
"I can multitask, not everybody can though, I agree." Edward snorted as he moved on to a third stack as Minerva set down her first.
"I am proficient in dividing my attention I assure you." Minerva flipped through the forms in her hand before discarding them faster than the first group. "His birth name was Tom Riddle, he attended Hogwarts, if nothing else we should find record of his time here…beyond the plaque in the trophy room."
"Why would he have a plaque in the trophy room?" Kain asked from the doorway.
"He apparently caught the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets." Minerva said with a frown before holding up some of the papers from her third stack. "Here he is, 1938 he began school. He was an orphan, raised in an orphanage until Hogwarts. His family can be traced to Little Hangleton. His mother was a witch, father a muggle. He had excellent scores, prefect, head boy…his records appear to be stripped."
"That isn't surprising really. Albus often stripped records of students he found unfavorable. It's surprising there was as much information as you found- "Severus cut himself off with a shape hiss as he grabbed his arm before pulling up the sleeve to reveal his previously faded mark dark. "We have to go; He has risen, and I do not believe the boy will live much longer."
Quickly the group rushed from the room as Edward addressed Minerva asking her to send Kain back to his brother as several teachers appeared to ask what was happening. Minerva agreed sharply, then turned to the teachers to explain as the others continued through the doors in a rush. Fuery had considered protesting, it is his duty to guard the Lt. Fuhrer but much like alchemists there wasn't much he could do to protect Edward against wizards.
London
"Sir, didn't your brother tell you to arrange to return home?" Mr. Weasley asked even as he followed Alphonse's party down the quiet street.
"Yes, he did. I will, once I have a chance to look for my nephew." Alphonse replied. "My father will be here within the hour. Kingsley, I believe he said was his name, went to get him and Dad would not delay. They will go and meet Brother to find the missing child. Meanwhile, Brother needs to know his son is safe as well."
"Where exactly are we going?" Weasley asked after shaking his head.
"To the home of Sirius Black. It is where he would take my nephew, and luckily for us, I should be able to lead anyone else in provided the information we were given is accurate…at the very least I will be able to enter myself."
"We cannot allow you to enter alone sir." Russell Tringham interrupted. "Your brother and father would have my head."
"Pssh. You work for me, not them." Alphonse waved away as they came upon the house in question.
The building like many magical buildings had an oddness to it that no one ever mentioned but Alphonse assumed was similar to the magic on Yuery's cloak. Designed to hide it from prying eyes. He shrugged as he walked up the stairs followed closely by Tringham and Weasley. He opened the door into a depressingly dark foyer that had a smell of long disuse.
He was quiet as he entered the room completely, before closing his eyes to feel for his nephew nearby. Weasley looked as if he was about to ask a question when Tringham shushed him just as Alphonse's eyes snapped back open. "Downstairs. Three signatures, one of them Yuery. Additional signature upstairs. This is the place. Tringham, go outside, contact my father and brother with the information as soon as possible, Dad will be easier to reach I suspect. Weasley, do you wish to join him or follow me?"
"Sir, I believe we should ensure the area is safe before I leave you." Tringham argued. Alphonse leveled him with a glare to rival his brother's before the man nodded once and stepped back outside in search of a phone box.
Graveyard
They arrived to see the crowd of adult wizards closing in on the Longbottom boy, Edward stepped forward quickly as he demanded they release the child. He was unsurprised that several turned to shoot spells at him even as he ducked to the side and clapped his hands. A moment later, stone hands grew from the ground trapping several of the robed figures, though Pettigrew, Malfoy, Voldemort, and one other hooded figure evaded capture. Edward repeated his demand, as the rest of his own group spread out, McGonagall and Snape headed in the direction of the bound child instantly.
The hooded figure tried to hit Edward, who seemed unaffected when slammed with the curse. He continued forward toward Voldemort with fire in his eyes, even as they tried again to curse him, and he seemingly waved it off. Voldemort himself turned his attention to the younger man who should have been on the ground with pain. Neville screamed then, as he was hit with the curse himself, making Edward frown with anger even as Lupin fired a stunning spell at Pettigrew cutting off the spell hitting the child. Malfoy focused on freeing the rest of their people, reducing the stone hands to rubble, and not caring if he injured the captured in the process.
"Release. The. Child." Edward snarled once more as he glared at Voldemort. The horror of looking at the man may have frozen many, barely human as he appeared, Edward though didn't give it thought during the battle. He had seen the horrors alchemy created and assumed magic to be similar. This man was likely barely what he once was, and he couldn't bring himself to feel any pity for the man.
"Bring him to me." Voldemort said to Malfoy, with a nod in the direction of the still bound child. Neville struggled as Malfoy reached for him, nearly casting off the spells that held him in place in his fear, even as Edward clapped once more.
"Alchemy is inferior to magic in every way, you will not win this battle, nor will you escape." Voldemort said, as stone bonds surrounded Malfoy making him drop the child. Lupin was now close enough to grab the boy as Snape stepped in front of Edward raising his wand in defense of the others. "Severus, you dare defy me?"
"Always." Snape sneered as he shot a spell at Voldemort, hitting a shielding spell. Lupin didn't wait to see what else happened as he disappeared with Neville, apperating back to the rest of the Order. McGonagall now fighting Pettigrew who was quickly weakening from his injuries and her stronger magic.
At a signal none noticed, the Death Eaters and their master disappeared instantly when the child was no longer available. Edward cursed angrily, turning back to the others even as the pain left his body. "Minerva, inform everyone you can that Voldemort has returned. Severus, we are going to need my father immediately, and if my idiot brother was as stupid as I know he is, we need to move fast. He'll have gone in search of Yuery and that last piece instead of returning home as I told him to do."
"The Ministry won't listen; or worse, they will once again demand the return of Dumbledore." Severus warns as they ready themselves to leave.
Amestris
Central Command
Fuhrer's Office
Winry had been pacing Roy's office since they arrived to await word on the status of her son and that of the party that had gone to England. Roy ignored her agitation, feeling the same way even if he was hiding it better. He had left the children in the care of his wife and other daughter in law, but couldn't deny Winry the right to listen to the updates as they came in. Alphonse had called a short time ago to inform them that Edward and the rest had gone in search of the ones who had been taking children.
Roy told her this. He did not tell her that one of the children was dead and another missing still, only that they had found them. He however, had also had to relay Alphonse's message that they had not yet located Yuery. He felt he had a lead into where his nephew would go, and informed Roy he was going there next. Roy tried to argue with him, but he hung up after telling him that Ed wanted Roy to join them.
Roy was now waiting for further news as he prepared to leave the country for a short time. Riza would be left in change in his absence, At least until Alphonse could be persuaded to return. Al hadn't mentioned that Ed had told him to go home, but Roy and Ed had already agreed on this before they left. Should Ed need Roy, Al was to be sent home to take care of the rest of their family and their country. It was the one thing they had not wanted to burden him with and now they were going to if only to keep him out of danger. If only he still had access to his Gate, Ed would be happy to have Al by his side.
"Alphonse called to check in, said you would be needed, but not when. Then he hung up before you could ask any questions…he's gone after my son." Winry said voicing exactly what Roy was thinking and adding to his fear. "He isn't a wizard, Roy. He isn't even an alchemist. Not anymore. He's going to get them both killed."
"Winry, have faith in Alphonse. He may no longer have access to his Gate, but his mind is still that of an Alchemist." Roy assured his daughter in law, even as his own foreboding grew. "He is not alone either."
"If Alphonse gets them killed, I will never forgive him. Either himself or my son." Winry glared, then collapsed into the closest chair as she fought back tears. "It never ends does it? There's always something. Some new threat. Some new enemy. Trying to tear our family apart."
"This is not a new threat; this is the one we've been preparing for this for years now. We are not blindsided in this." Roy stood and walked to the younger woman to hug her to him and offer a tissue. "Have faith in the boys Winry, you know they can get out of anything."
"At what cost this time?" she demanded before sniffing again. "I should check on the other children. Tell me immediately if you hear anything more from them, please."
Winry was nearly out of the office when Remus Lupin arrived holding an old teapot. He set it aside quickly, turning to Roy who was walking Winry to the door. "We have less than five minutes before it is set to return. I trust you are ready to go?"
"Of course, where is my son?" Roy demanded even as his picked up a small suitcase that he had prepared earlier for such a situation.
"Edward is with the Order. Voldemort has risen, they did some ritual using Neville Longbottom, but the details were unclear at the moment. Ed's helping calm the children, asked for me to come collect you. Where's the other portkey?"
"Alphonse has not returned; I presume it is with him." Roy said quietly. Remus shook his head with a sigh.
"Edward was worried Alphonse would disappear like this. His portkey is designed not to activate until he touches it directly at his own request. Ed didn't have time to argue with him. I assume then he has gone to look for Yuery at Sirius' old house."
"With any luck, Alphonse and Yuery will have been found and collected by the time we arrive. I am certain Edward has come to the same conclusion." Roy agreed, as Winry sniffed once more and demanded they find her boys before she storms out of the office.
"I am fairly certain that she intends to beat Alphonse when he returns, hopefully he will find Yuery, and we can just send them both back here right away. That would calm her nerves. Those of the council too, they aren't happy we left the loophole in the shielding when we opened it before, just the two portkeys are still two to many portkeys for their peace of mind." Roy sighed as Remus nodded. They both grab the portkey just as it begins to glow.
Black House
Yuery heard movement above them as he sat at the table in the kitchen and tried to think of the best way to engage Kreacher without risking the poor elf beating himself up again. Yuery had tried to nicely ask if Regulas had left anything in his care and the resulting breakdown was terrifying, not only for the behavior of the elf who began smacking his own head, but Sirius who watched indifferently even as Yuery tried to get it to stop. Now the elf seemed almost docile for the moment, but he clearly was not allowed to say or do something to do with whatever Mr. Black had brought to Kreacher before he died.
He was puzzling over the whole matter when he glanced up at the sounds from the hallway that sounded very much like a fight. Alphonse walked through the door before he had a change to react, face livid as his eyes met Yuery's. "Be grateful I am not you mother or father after what you did. Breaking a known criminal out of prison to act as an escort to a new country? Did you think at all, what if he had been plotting to kidnap you, you would have walked directly into the trap."
"I am sorry to worry everyone, but I had to find a way to help." Yuery said with a shrug. "Dad needs to stop treating me like a baby! I am part of this."
"I'll be sure to let him know you said so, now get yourself together we are leaving." Alphonse frowned.
"No, I am staying until I find the thing they want to destroy." Yuery flinched as the words came out of his mouth, glancing once ore at the Elf. He probably just ruined any chance he had at getting Kreacher to help him find the item now.