Chapter 3
In the morning, they were questioned again on how they got to Scotland, now knowing what happened, they kept their excuse they couldn’t remember, just fire and running.
They didn’t ask further.
“Well, the German Ministry has intrusted you in my care, you will be staying here in the castle for the school year, and Edward, you will be getting your letter soon I believe”
He explained the two would live at the castle for the time being, he would have sole care of them in papers, but every teacher would be responsible for them.
It was also the day Edward was finally discharged from the hospital and the two brothers immediately went exploring around the castle.
Alphonse didn’t leave Edwards's side so the two could explore together.
They got familiar with the layout of the castle. They got to know it too.
“Do you feel that the castle is alive?” Alphonse asked as they walked passed one of the many artefacts in the hallways.
“I do too yes”
From then on they asked the castle to help them out with the portraits and ghosts.
They found the library as well and spent most of their time in there when they weren’t exploring, Madam Pinch liked them, as they understood the books needed to be handled carefully and respectfully. Having to ask the books to be read.
They visited Snape in his lab, making sure not to touch anything he said not to touch and helped him with ingredients. They mostly wanted to get familiar with all the weird ingredients, Snape had let them help him brew healing potions and things for the hospital wing, mostly by being lab assistants, but they asked millions of questions and he answered as much as he could and they soak up with information like a sponge.
They met with Professor Sprout and Alphonse liked the plants, the two learned as much as they could from all the teachers there.
Meeting the care professor as well as Hagrid. They prefer asking Hagrid, as he is more kind with his explanations of the creatures.
They were even able to meet Fluffy.
“I’m more of a cat perzon, but zey are zo cute!” Al and Ed had rubbed the Three-headed dog’s tummy and climbed on him to scratch his ears, all three of them.
Fluffy was very friendly, they tried to follow the Elric brothers whenever they were on the school grounds.
The two met the house elves soon enough. They had a long conversation with the elves to understand them when they got information through their gate.
It made them raise an eyebrow.
“Houze elvez zerve wizardz?”
They had tracked down the other teachers, who had gathered for breakfast when they asked about the Hogwarts elves. “Yes, they bond with a wizard of servitude for shelter and food and in return they clean and cook for the wizard family or whoever they employ, why? Is it different in Germany?” Flitwick asked. (He had showed up the other day and the brothers charmed him with many questions)
Edward nodded “Not zure about ze main areaz, but vere ve grew up, houze elvez vere free, ja zey vould sometimez take refuge in housez and pay back by cleaning or cooking, but it vas temporary, no need for a bond or contract,” he said confused.
Did the gate give the wrong information or was it really like this in Germany?
(Making this up as I go)
The other professors were confused about the different cultural rules of the elves.
Ed and Al like to sit in the kitchen to read and have snacks, they also ask the elves a lot of questions after they make sure they are happy and content working at the school.
The two would spend hours talking to the paintings, asking how they were made and what they knew. They even somehow sneaked into the headmaster’s office to speak to the previous headmasters.
Most wouldn’t say anything about Dumbledore, saying they were students, when they used the loophole they weren’t students yet, some said a few things. Phineas Black had a lot to say, but wasn’t too bad, liking the Elric Brothers.
“You two have the makings of a Slytherin” he had said.
The two knew about the houses, it was a big thing in Hogwarts. Truthfully, the brothers didn’t really care, but after speaking to the head of houses, Sprout, Snape, McGonagall, And Flitwick, they both agreed they would fit into either one, so were not sure how to get sorted. (McGonagall also showed up to start getting ready for classes, and had two little ducklings following her asking questions)
They had met the hat, by accident for the most part. Ed and the hat got into an argument which had Al trying to placate until they were found by Flinch. The caretaker of the castle didn’t like anyone but seemed to not mind the brothers, mostly Al since he helped Ms Norris.
It was only a month away from the school term to start when Albus gave Edward his letter for the school.
“Now you need to get your supplies, no worries about money, you should be able to access your family vault from Gringotts” he explained.
“I will be happy to accompany them!” Flitwick smiled. “Sank you, Profezor Flitwick”
“I’ll join you, I need to pick up some spare ingredients,” Snape said.
Albus nodded “Great, you should head out tomorrow, get everything you need” he said.
Edward nodded giving a big smile. He was excited to learn magic. Of course, he and Al were worried about returning home, but something told them they would return home and nothing would have changed.
They spent most of the day with Flitwick asking about Goblins once they learned that they work the bank.
Flitwick was overly happy to share about his heritage.
“Goblins are proud creatures, we take a lot of pride in our strengths and weaknesses, most will be quite open with their weakness, as a test to fight it, you can learn more in History of Magic, they go over goblin wars” Flitwick frowned “Though, they mostly just speak about the war and the magic used” he then smiles “So if you have any questions you can ask me, or, even ask the goblins at the bank, respectfully of course, they don’t like being disrespected, Wizards and goblins have a rocky relationship,” he says.
“I’ve heard you’re a duellist, a champion at that, you must be exceedingly proud of your strength and power,” Al said. Al’s English was improving a lot. Flitwick grinned “One of the best”
They spoke more about it before they wandered off to bother another teacher.
The next morning came, the brothers dressed and left their temporal room at Hogwarts, before joining Snape and Flitwick at a fireplace. “We are going to use the floo, you know how to use it?” Flitwick asked.
They both nodded, information just there in their brains.
They arrived on a semi-empty street. “Best to go to the bank early, less be stuck in a queue” Flitwick smiled. The brothers knew for sure he had come early because he knew they had questions.
Snape followed after them, looking like he knew they would be stuck in the bank even without the ques.
They entered the bank, Al and Ed looked around at all the different goblins. If they didn’t know they were goblins, they would have thought they were chimeras.
“Hello Rikod, here to withdraw from Germany” he monitored to the Elrics. “We will need your blood to confirm” Rikod said sneering down at them. Ed gave a glare back, but Al elbowed him “Sank you very much, zir” Al said.
Ed nodded.
They were led to a back room where they took their blood “Confirmed, right this way, heir of Hohenheim” he said.
Edward glared and Alphonse made a noise.
Both teachers shared a look but didn’t ask.
“Of course, it picks up his blood” He grumbled in Amestris. Shaking his head Edward shakes to the questions he had. Getting information from Flitwick and books, he wanted to ask the goblins about Silversmiths.
When they got to the cart thing and after he settled his stomach he turned to the goblin.
As soon as he asked about metalsmiths and silversmiths, Alphonse joined him and the goblins were thoroughly impressed by these two younglings' knowledge of silver and alloy and minerals.
He answered as best as he could, but since he wasn’t a metal or silversmith, only his cousin, he couldn’t answer all their questions, Flitwick was the same.
A bit disappointed in that, they asked about their culture instead.
Kulza had no problem answering those questions.
He was almost sad to see them go. The youngling got very quiet once they entered their vault, only the youngest keeping conversation.
The wizard Filius looked worried. Filius was able to cheer them up with the promise of ice cream and a bookstore, which got the oldest talking about magic theory, again surprising him with how intelligent the two were.
He waved at the two when they left. He had said they could write to him anytime if they had any more questions, even saying he could pass along questions to his cousin.
They went to the bookstore next, getting all their textbooks and extra books they wanted. “Ze bookz on Alchemy is terrible” Ed complained.
Flitwick then took them to get Ed’s robes. “Do I have to?” he asked, not wanting to wear a uniform “You at least need to wear the robes” he said.
He was measured and kept his anger down since he was eleven. “We will be getting your robes when you are eleven Alphonse” Flitwick said cheerfully. “Oh right!” Al smiled “I vill be eleven next year…” he stopped, eyes widening.
Ed looked back at him, both freezing at the thought they both shared. The lady and Flitwick both shared a confused look, it went to shock when Alphonse started crying and whispering in German (Amestris) Ed rushed to his brother, a robe still on him and hugged him whispering in German back to him.
“I will grow, like like a normal boy..” he cried. “Yes, yes, you will grow and live and eat and feel”
It came crashing down on them, the most random of times. Alphonse had lost his body at ten, he couldn’t sleep, eat or feel anything physically, and now, he could.
Edward will make sure his brother will be happy and healthy, no matter what he does.
They assured the professor and seamstress they were fine, just a flashback of home.
They bought Ed’s robes and moved on. “Now for your wand,” Flitwick said excitedly. Ed groaned “Do I have to, don’t like vee vands” he said.
“Doing Wandless magic is a possibility, but much harder to control” he said. Ed lights up “Vandless magic’s a fing! Vat! I vant to do vat!”
“I suppose…but we should get a wand either way, most people prefer a wizard or witch to have one” he said.
Ed nodded happy to do wandless magic.
They entered Olivanders. “Filiu Flitwick, and the Elric brothers” the old man greeted them. “Hello Olivander”
Ed was tense when the man said their name. “Come here Edward, we will get getting your wand now” Flitwick pushed him forward.
It took about four hours until they finally found one for Ed.
Beechwood and Veela core, are reasonably flexible.
“Quite a unique wand you got there, Mr Elric,” the wandmaker said.
They met up with Snape, who had gotten Ed his potion kit and telescope.
“We should look for a familiar for you both, even you Alphonse”
Al lit up and Ed couldn’t even say no, since they were staying at the school and it was a requirement to have a pet.
They went to the store and looked around.
Al of course pointed out the cats, and Ed kept looking at the reptiles.
Flitwick took them to a store in some village, using flu to get there. He said the store at Diagon Alley was more for muggle-born.
“I’m not saying they won’t have the same quality no not at all, I just trust this owner more, and they are my friend, and I would be a terrible friend if I didn’t get them business”
So Flitwick was talking to his friend, Snape standing by the wall while the brothers searched.
Unsurprisingly, Al picked a cat, A Pallas cat specifically. The owner was a bit concerned because Pallas cats weren’t known for being friendly, but the cat was very friendly with Al and Ed before the owner could warn them.
Ed took his time searching before he found himself in front of a bunch of snakes. They were mostly sleeping, the cold weather bothering their heating lamps or charms.
He had found a small, but long snake with white scales and bright purple eyes. “Hey zere” he smiled as the snake slithered over to him. The snake seemed to like him, so he allowed her to slither up his arm. “I fink I’ll take vis one,” he said.
They made their way back to the school, both happy with their familiar.
“It would be best for you to get the full Hogwarts experience to take the train here,” Albus said. “Train!?” Ed was excited to ride a train again, with all the teleporting transports, it was great to have something normal again.
“I vill vait here brozer” Al smiled. “I vill be able to zee my brozer through the year right?” he asked.
“Of course, Alphonse will be living here, he can’t join any classes, and he will be watched by different teachers throughout the day, Hagrid has the freest time” Albus explained. “But if any other teacher has a spare minute they can watch over Alphones, even Madam Pinch”
“He can join meals right?”
“I suppose so”
“Great!”