Chapter 10
It was then the winter holiday, for Christmas, and the two brother had no idea this was a holiday, and spend a few days making some small gifts for their friends.
All alchemised of course.
Dumbledore spoke with them about housing. Since the school allowed students to stay over the holidays, they would stay there.
He actually told them he was getting into contact with an old family friends of their fathers, to maybe find their father, or for the friends to look after them when the school year was up.
He also offered them going to one of their fathers properties to get cleaned up and live in there, but most of them were in Germany. They agreed to stay at the castle until Dumbledore could figure out a plan.
For now, Ed had other problems. “I feel horrible” he said waking up one morning.
He sat down for breakfast. Most of his roommates had gone home, only a few he didn’t know were still around. Al sat next to him, looking at him worried.
“Is it the weather? An automail fever?” he asked checking his temperature.
Ed felt so bad he didn’t fight his brother. While yes, his automail had that dull pain of the cold, he had bundled his leg up and put a heating charm on it so it wouldn’t freeze his leg. “no…it’s something else” he mumbled. “Maybe you should go to Poppy?” Al suggested, giving his brother some tea. “Maybe…” he mumbled into the cup.
Looking to the side, he saw Harry and Ron playing wizarding chess.
This sickness felt different, like he was losing his mind, in a way. Almost like going through the gate, but on a smaller scale, his thoughts kept escaping him and for the life of him he couldn’t keep his focus on anything.
Spent most of the day dislocating. Al stayed by his side like glue, and everyone who knew the brothers were worried, which was only Harry and Ron.
While they didn’t hang out regularly, they knew each other through Hermione, as she has taken up guiding those poor blokes with their homework, and even sometimes gets Ed to help.
So when Ed was sitting aimlessly outside the library by the fountain they grew worried. “Hey, Ed? You okay?” also that his brother wasn’t around, which also was concerning.
Ed twitched “Fine, just can’t seem to…focus on reading right now” it sounded like he struggled to say that. The two boys made eye-contact “Find Al?” they both agreed.
Ron went running to find the younger Elric while Harry stayed with Ed.
Ron and Al came down the stairs at lighting speed, Ron looking out of breath and flush while Al seemed fine. “I leave you for a few minutes, brother we are going to Madam Pomfrey right now!” Al heaved his brother up to his feet before dragging him away.
He reached the steps before turning, smiling politely at Harry and Ron “Thank you for your help, I really appreciated, I’ll repay you later” Before stomping off.
“That kid is inhuman” Ron said breathlessly. “As soon as I told him about Edward he went running, I could barely keep up with him” he sat down by the fountain.
Harry nodded, not mentioning to his best friends that he saw Alphonse and Edward running together on the castle grounds.
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Al was reading all the books he could. He was worried his brother attracted some kind of magical disease.
Poppy looked very worried when he brought Ed in.
She couldn’t find anything wrong other then maybe a fever. Al was always good with medicine and healing. He was actually learning with Poppy and Snape about healing, and how to brew healing potions even before school.
So he was a bit at a loss when he didn’t know what was wrong with his brother.
“I think I’ll take him out for some fresh air, maybe he’s been cooped up for too long, it sometimes happened back at home” he told the med-witch.
While, yes, Edward could binge research for days on end, even weeks, he got to a stage where he couldn’t even read from how pent up he was and had to spar to get it out and get back to work.
They spar every morning with their regular training.
“Good idea, but don’t go too far, if something happens, I don’t want you boys hurt” she said.
“We’ll be safe”
Al actually wanted to take Ed to the forbidden forest to the centaurs, hoping they would have some healing knowledge to help. And the Centaurs liked them.
Once he got Ed wrapped up, “I can do it myself” Ed hissed wrapping his automail leg tightly. “I know, sorry, you were so out of it earlier” Al was worried, Ed could tell.
“I’m fine, lets just see what the centaurs say”
Ed also had no clue why his brain was so muddy and blurry. He hated it, he couldn’t read or spar.
They made their way through the snow in the forest.
It took them most of the afternoon to get to the tribe. “Hello? Chief Magorian?” Al called.
Said centaur was there, trotting over to them “What do you want younglings?” he asked stiffly. The leader didn’t know what to make of them, saying he didn’t believe them when they say they are fully human, saying they have to be half-breeds.
“We wanted to see the healers, brother, Edward, has been sick this whole week, the med-witch didn’t know what it was” Al said worriedly as he held onto Ed.
“An illness? What are his symptoms?” he asked as he followed them to the healer’s tent.
“He’s been-“ Ed stumbled “I can answer myself” he tried his best to focus and not feel as miserable as he did. “I can’t focused on shit, it’s like I’m dislocating without wanting to, I feel horrible all the time, and the fever” he explained.
Magorian stern expression twitched a bit.
He kept the flap open for the two. “Healer Tok, the golden brothers need some assistance”
The female turned “Oh, come in!” she helped Ed to the bed, who protested but one look from Al got him to sit.
“Now, lets see what the problem is” the centaur was old, but spirited it seemed. She didn’t mind treating humans either, which was good.
Only a handful really liked them, or tolerated them, like Magorian. Al stood with the tribe leader as Healer Tok looked over Ed. Who fussed but otherwise let her do her job. Al grew more anxious by her worried lines on her forehead.
“This can’t be right” she muttered. “Is it what I feared?” Magorian spoke up. “Feared what?!” Al asked very worried for his brother.
“It is Chief, the curse stuck, and this boy had resisted it for mouths until now” healer Tok said shocked.
“Curse?!” Al moved to his brother, who was staring at the healer, realization written on his face.
“Edward Elric was bitten and scratched by a werewolf a few months ago, he resisted the transformations every full moon since then, but can’t anymore, its drawing is his body weak” Tok explained. “Brother’s a werewolf!?” Al held Ed’s arm tightly.
“It seems that way” Magorian said. “And it’s a full moon tonight” Ed said remember his astronomy homework he had.
Magorian stared for a silent moment “Do not fear, younglings, there’s a way to control the beast of insanity” he keeled by the two, the shocked look on Healer Tok’s was enough to show he doesn’t kneel often.
“What?”
“Its intense training and you have to have the will power to resist the call of the moon, but I have faith, you can do it” Magorian gave a small smile.
“Well if it’s will-power and determination, Ed is the definition of it” Al smiled, feeling a bit better.
Magorian nodded “You will have to go through this full moon first, I’m afraid, but we will start the training right after” he nodded.
“Can I stay here? Until brother gets back?” Al asked as they stood by the entrance of the village.
“OF course, I’m sure Tok’s or even” Magorian glared at the side “Firenze can wait with you” he said. Al nodded in thanks. He and Ed hugged “I’ll be fine, I can handle anything thrown my way” he smirked. “Just, be careful” Al eyed Ed’s missing leg.
They explained his prosthetic leg might break or get lost, as it’s not a part of him it will fall off, his ports will be fine, since it’s attacked to his bone.
Ronan was going to take him deep into the forest to transform and rom around freely without the risk of hurting anyone other than the forest’s beasts. Ronan was then going to keep an eye on him from a far.
Al didn’t get much sleep, to worried about his brother, Tok had actually given him some herbs to help him relax so he could at least get some hours of sleep.
He had to wait until the morning.
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The next few days were a blur. With it being holidays and only holiday homework to worry about (That Ed already completed) Ed and Al dove into research on werewolves.
There wasn’t sure much about being able to train to control the wolf, only the wolvesbane potion.
Mogrian and Tok’s and Roan all explained most werewolves who discover they can train themselves either only share with their packs only, or die before they can tell anyone.
The centaurs know because their tribe has been around for years, but never told the wizards since they didn’t have need to do so.
They helped as much as they could with Ed’s training.
From what they knew, once he trained enough, he would be able to transform at will, and resist the madness of the full moon, but he still will be the strongest on a full moon.
By the second month, Ed noticed his senses were heightened, he could see, hear, smell better, and his teeth grew sharp.
There were bound to be side-affects.
He had actually stayed in bed for two days to get use to all the smells and sounds. The centaurs also gave some tips on how to help him. Irene and Nelly stayed by his side the whole time as well.
One particular night, Ed had sneaked into the restricted section again, he’s been doing it since the start of term, when he saw Harry.
His sense of magical things had heightened as well. He saw the shimmer of magic and the smell of something living, hear their breathing and footsteps.
“What are you doing here?” Harry asked taking the cloak off him, a bit startled to see Ed there.
“I’ve read everything in the library” he said lamely. “And don’t touch that book, it doesn’t like to be touched unless you ask nicely” he said putting down the book he was reading.
Harry was still a bit shocked and was about to answer, when Ed tensed “Teacher! Hide!” and Harry watched in disbelief as Ed jumped and climbed up the bookshelf and was out of sight so fast. Harry quickly threw his cloak on and hid behind the bookshelf.
Snape walked passed, looking around suspiciously with his nose in the air, before walking away. “You better get back to your room, the cloak might make you invisible, but revelio can reveal you easily” Ed told Harry, jumping down from the shelf, not making sound as he landed heavily on the ground.
The two didn’t say anything about the meeting the next day.
Which was fine with Ed.
When classes started Ed was at least getting somewhere with his training. He could control himself on a full moon, but still had transform. He knew if he put more training, he would be fully able to control it.
Ed was returning from the forest one day, when he saw Malfoy waking towards Hagrid’s hut.
“Draco?” he called. Draco jumped “Elric?!”
Ed rolled his eyes “It’s Ed, what are you doing here?” he walked up to him. “I just got the golden trio in the biggest trouble ever!” he said excitedly.
Ed huffed “I thought we talked about this Draco, this isn’t how you make friends, so what is the real reason you’re sneaking about”
Draco made a face “Come, and be quiet”
They moved towards Hagrid’s window. Huddled around a table, Ron, Harry, Hermione and Hagrid watched as an egg crack and opened to a dragon.
“A dragon!” Ed said excitedly. Draco shushed him but Ed was moving to the door, dragging Draco with him.
“Is that a Norwegian Ridgeback!?” Ed moved to get a closer look. The hatchling snapped at him. He moved back but was still smiling ear to ear.
“What-!! Ed? Draco!?” Harry stuttered. “This is so cool!” Ed was freaking out. He’d read about dragons, and with all the mythical and strange creatures he’s seen, was excited to see a dragon, but was disappointed when he found out most were kept hidden.
“Isn’t he? Oh look, he knows who his mum is” Hagrid had oven mittens on as he mothered the dragon. Ed alchemised his metal vambrace to cover his hand like his automail would, just on both hands as he also rubbed the dragon.
Everyone kind of stared in shock as Ed was able to rub the dragon’s scales. “he’s so cute” Ed was still grinning ear to ear “Al has to see this, is that okay? He will freak when he sees this” Ed asked Hagrid. “Of course’”
“First of, what are you doing here!?” Ron screamed. “Hey, hey, no shouting, there’s a baby” Ed glared before letting the dragon play with his hand. He didn’t feel them biting his hand.
“I saw Draco sneaking around and saw the birth” Ed explained.
“I uh, wanted to see the dragon” Draco said meekly. “You could have asked” Harry rolled his eyes. “Well I didn’t think we were that good of friends”
“We amended whatever that was in the train and at the start of the year, if you wanted to see the dragon, you could have asked”
“Though, you will get fired if they find you with the dragon Hagrid” Hermione said nervously. But Hagrid was all mothering with the dragon, not paying attention to them.
Ed had found Al and told him about the dragon. Al said he knew something was up, since Hagrid said he was too busy to watch over him (not that he needed someone to watch him).
They, spent a lot of time in Hagrid’s hut to watch over the dragon. Irene had glared at Norbert and snuggled around Ed’s neck while glaring at the dragon. Ed didn’t seem to notice, but everyone else could see the snake was jealous.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were able to convince Hagrid to smuggle him out with Ron’s brother.
It went well, everyone saying goodbye to Norbert.
Unfortunately on their way down from the tower, they were caught by Flinch and now had detention.
Ed was excited to go in the forbidden forest though.
He was with Draco and Fang and Harry when they saw the thing drinking the unicorn blood.
“HEY!!” he yelled. He didn’t see it, but his eyes glowed more golden and he bared his teeth.
The thing turned and went to attack them. Ed didn’t like it, it felt too toxic, to evil. He clapped his hands, ready to fight the thing, when three centaurs came out of nowhere.
“Firenze! Ronan!” Ed recognized them. They chased off the thing as Ed stood in front of Harry and Draco protectively.
“Are you alright Golden child?” Firenze asked coming up to them. “Were fine, thank you” Harry said. Ronan gave a look “He didn’t ask you” he turned to Ed again. “You’d think spending all your time in here you’d know not to nearly get killed” he lectured Ed.
“I had it handled, I could have taken that thing” he defended himself. “Not with your alchemy, no” he shook his head.
Ed was a little surprised the other centaur was Magrioan. “What are you doing here? I though you hated humans?” he asked with narrow eyes.
“While I might hate wizards, you aren’t that bad and I still do not believe you are fully human” he gave a grin “Now come, younglings like those two aren’t allowed in the forest”
“Oh and Elric is?!” Draco was white as paper, but still had the energy to be a prat. “Yes, the golden child and his brother are excellent warriors, and have survived in the forest much longer than any other young wizard I’ve seen”
“And I don’t believe they are fully wizards either” Ronan added. Ed rolled his eyes “not that again, I assure you, I’m fully human thank you” Well, not really anymore now being a werewolf, but he didn't say anything other then some looks from the centaurs.
“You and Al have been coming into the forbidden forest all year?!” Harry asked. “Yes? What’s the big deal?” Ed asked a bit irritated.
“What- what’s the big deal!?” Both Harry and Draco stared at him in shock. Ed just raised an eye at them.
“Arry!” Hagrid came back with Ron and Hermione running behind him, and surprisingly Al. “Why am I not surprised you’re here?” Ed smiled at his brother. Who gave him a punch “Someone has to make sure you’re not dead”
“Yeah, yeah”
They made their way back to the castle, fairing goodbye to the centaurs before they left before going to their respected dorm rooms.
“So, how was detention?” Dean asked.
He and Hugo were sitting by the couches, reading comic books.
“Was fine, the forest isn’t that scary” Ed sat next to them, Al falling on Ed’s lap. Most of his roommates know all about their adventures in the forest.
They mostly leave him alone about it, as long as he shares some stories. “Anyway, it’s late, see you in the morning” Ed got up, carrying Al as he went.
Takashi was already in bed and asleep as the two brother climbed into the bunk.
“So? What were you attacked by?” Al asked as he pet Nelly. “I have no idea, it might’ve been a malevolent spirit, but I think it’s something worse” Ed said holding Irene in his palm.
“It felt wrong, like it wasn’t supposed to be alive” he said quietly. They sat in silence for a bit “Well, I know we won’t be getting any sleep, why don’t we read?” Al smiled. “Sounds good” Ed smiled back.
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