Mute apologies
“I know this isn’t the best circumstance but we are only going to be here till September after my 11th birthday-” Harry then felt himself be pulled down and his stomach turned a bit and then he was standing in front of Ed as he looked around to see he was in the mindscape they shared and then turned back to Ed, who was looking down at him with his high stature.
Ed firmly put his hands on his shoulders and even if Harry didn’t feel anything violent towards him he couldn’t help but flinch, “No child deserves or should be in a cupboard. I want you to understand this. I want you to tell me you know that this is wrong, and when I say “this” I mean being abused and kept as a personal servant with terrible living conditions.” Shuffled in place as he nodded stiffly and Ed’s hands slipped off his shoulders gently, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Harry nodded, “Yes d- Ed. I… so what am I supposed to do? What can I even do?” his air of helplessness could be seen on his face as he looked down avoiding eye contact. “What we can do is train and I can teach you alchemy! I’m sure you can do it and we’ll start small- hold on… wonder if I can just show you the knowledge and we can work it out together so you understand it, would you be able to understand anyway since we share a mindscape-” not only did Ed go on about what theories that Harry hadn’t even heard of before.
Only did Ed stopped overthinking and began to start more complex theories and equations was when Harry forcibly shut his mouth. “I get it! Okay! Now shut up! My brain is hurting!” Ed cracked a smile before laughing, “Okay, okay I guess not everyone can be as much of a genius as me” Harry squinted at him with doubt. “Okay, Grandpa time for bed-” Ed gasped at Harry, “How fucking dare you!” Ed grabs Harry into a loose headlock and gives him a nuggie. “You little bastard!” Harry couldn’t help but laugh at Ed’s reaction and whined as Ed messed up his hair and nuggied him, “Noooooo stop Ed!” Harry pushed all of his weight on Ed and they both fell down laughing.
“Hahaha-” he snorted as he continued, “-Hahaha!” their breath came back as the tension from before melted away and came crashing down into a carefree air. Harry laid the back of his head on Ed’s chest while Ed had his arm wrapped around Harry’s shoulder into a hug, Harry slowly closed his eyes as a soft mumble came from his mouth. Ed barely could hear it, “I wish I had you the first time around…” Ed sadly ran his hand through his hair as he followed behind Harry to sleep.
As the blanket of night turned to dawn and the cold chill of morning slipped under the door of their cupboard the morning went in the same routine with Harry in the front seat as Ed searched around in his mind for some memories of his trip to the library at central. He found out that most of the books were already memories but when they put forth memories they replace the ones in books but they don’t disappear they just move to another book. He had finally found the beginner alchemy books that he had reviewed for Mei who was learning Amestrian alchemy and before he could realize it, it was noon and the Dursleys had left for a night out for dinner leaving them all alone.
“Ed you there?” (Yes and I finally found the beginner book from back home so we can start- uh actually let’s start with a riddle,) “Oh okay? But before can- would you be able to perform some alchemy and explain it to me? And you can say the riddle?” Ed thought for a moment but thought he couldn’t really force Harry on a deserted island like his teacher nor can he find one since he is basically a foreigner in a foreign land. (Yeah that’s fine let’s share the front seat,) Harry nodded as he could feel Ed prodding at his mind as they shared the body and then they noticed their hair changed slightly.
It went from a raven hue to a light raven with some blonde bleeding into the tips of their hair as if bleached but in pretty gold. “Huh that’s cool-” Harry commented as Ed squinted their eyes, “No, no that is not. That’s concerning… I wonder if it will continue to change or if this will change our facial structure as we age or will blend into it…” Harry rolled his eyes, “We can deal with that later right now you tell me about this riddle and show me alchemy!” they chuckled softly which was from Ed who then led the way grabbing a paper from Dudley’s bag and a pen.
“Well then let me ask you this, this is your riddle prepare yourself it took me a month to figure it out, and keep in mind that I was around 5 or 6 and with a brother who was just as much a genius as me” Harry huffed at Ed’s dramatics but he couldn’t hide his amusement and smile on his face.
He snorted as he said, “Okay okay, go on” Ed smirked as he wrote an array on the paper, “All is one and one is all. What do you think that means?” Harry spaced out as he thought and came back looking at the array Ed was drawing. “When you mean “all” what do you mean?” Ed smirks, “Watch this and decide”
Ed then places his hand on the paper with alchemic energy as the paper starts to merge and Harry couldn’t help but revel in the alchemic energy that surrounded his hand. It felt amazing and it became brighter which alarmed Ed who was going to step away but it was already too late. They were blinded with alchemic light that was too bright and blinded them both, Ed instinctively put his arms up to block an attack that never came.
Once they opened their eyes they were welcomed to a white space and in front of them a gate. Ed whipped around to see his gate that he had lost but there were two. One was his own, the other was blank. They did not share a gate therefore Harry could not do circleless alchemy, but why were they there? Ed didn’t do alchemy without a circle so what gives? When he turned around he was met only an inch away from Truth, “Hello Mis-ter Al-che-mist.” a chill went down his spine as he stepped away he looked around to find Harry but there was no one. They shared the same body and this was not their mindscape of course Harry wouldn’t be here.
“I- we- I didn’t do alchemy without an array so why are we here? We didn’t do human transmutation and I only did simple alchemy.” Ed talked as if he was reasoning with Truth but he knew that Truth was indifferent and kept to the laws of the world. But maybe because this is a different world there are different laws and he accidentally crossed them? “It’s rather simple Edward Elric,” Ed couldn’t help but shiver at Truth’s use of his name.
“You have knowledge of the gate, you have been through the gate more times than humans have survived. When becoming one with another you passed on the knowledge to this boy and performed alchemy in the same body that had not lost anything to have knowledge of the gate triggered you two to come here.” It sounded so simple but he couldn’t help but feel a pit of guilt.
His body shook not because of his own emotions but because Harry was scared. “It’ll be okay it won’t be too bad and we’ll live. I promise we’ll get through this I’m so sorry” he hugged himself to try and quell Harry’s shaking and it worked just a tiny bit. Truth’s face stayed in an unnerving grin as somehow Truth appeared right in front of them holding their neck and choking them both as Ed immediately attempted to claw at Truth’s hand.
“You- bastard…” Truth simply chuckled lightly, “I will do you a favor due to the absence of automail, your alchemy will be just like before and Death will probably contact the boy later” Harry was full of questions as Ed gasped and tried to grip at Truth’s hand, “Hah good luck Mis-ter Al-che-mist.” They blacked out quickly as they woke up on the hard floor. Ed groaned but it didn’t come out, only a weak wheeze came to his ears. He attempted to speak but nothing came out only harsh wheezes that hurt his throat, (Harry? You there…?) Ed tried to contact Harry to see if he was aware or even there.
(Yeah, I guess he took our voice?) Ed nodded as he felt the loose control that Harry had as if his grip on a wheel, (Probably our larynx or in other words our voice box… do you think this will change anything?) Harry hummed in agreement, (Magic is mostly voice-activated when in school but there is such a thing as non-verbal magic that I’ve heard is more difficult but now with this it’s mandatory… ) Ed then thought of the Dursleys.
(How about the Dursleys? Now with us being in a way mute?) Harry paused as they stiffed slightly, (... we- well I guess they would be irritated or something… I’m not sure and the fact I am now in a sense or I guess I am disabled it would look bad…) They bit his lip in anger as he let it go and grated his teeth.
(To hell with them! We’ll just leave for fucks sake! Let’s get the hell out here!) his voice though in the shared mindscape but it was booming and made their body flinch, (I guess there is not really a reason to stay… I noticed the protection wards on the house are tied to an emotion that was never there so it was weak. Yeah, let's get the hell out of here.) The determination in his voice resonated with Ed and made him smirk.
They moved quietly as they rummaged through the Dursleys' rooms taking anything of value that would go for some money and took Dudley’s old clothes that were the most comfortable and some cash from Petunia’s purse. They would get back at any moment so they ran for it, as soon they crossed the threshold the blood ward broke. Harry could feel it in his bones and Ed thought it was their ears popping. When they ran, the wave of fatigue that crashed over them when they finally took a rest made him want to throw up and curl into a ball.
Thankfully Ed took the front seat and powered through as they walked to Magic London but before they passed a bookstore Ed got an idea, (We should learn to do sign language or morse code to be able to communicate with others… Also let’s get a small notebook) Harry agreed, (That sounds good, I’ll take over after to lead us to the magical part of London)
Ed nodded as they headed inside quickly picking out “Sign Language for Beginners,” “Morse Code: Advance and Military,” and a notebook along with a complimentary pen and pencil. The cashier looked strangely at them for a moment before perking up as she asked, “Are you practicing for a friend you have?” They just nodded as they paid for the items, the cashier bagged the items, and they headed out quickly switching places.
(I’ll take the lead now and we’ll exchange the muggle money with wixen money at Gringotts bank, Oh I want to tell you that it is run by goblins that are kind of mean and straightforward, respect them and they respect you… or tolerate) after hearing that description of what he thought of what goblins were like, (Little disfigured green people with long ears?)
Harry almost laughed because of Ed’s description. (Close enough except they aren’t green) Ed hummed in acknowledgment, (Okay I’ll be waiting to see what they are and look like) Ed fell back into the mindscape leaving Harry to the front to take care of business as he sorted through his memories and reviewed them so he could review his old journal in hopes to copy it into a new one.
All the while Harry went into the bank and went to the front desk, “A humanchild here without their guardian.” not really stated as a question, and clearly did not want to know with the goblin’s odd voice. Harry quickly wrote in the book ripping out a page and attempting to hand it to the goblin on the desk he could barely reach but thankfully the goblin snatched it out his hand to read it, [Harry Potter Vault and Inheritance test I am mute.] The goblin huffed as he got down from his desk and whisked Harry away into a back room and to a parlor, “7 drops of blood for the test. If it turns out you are not Harry Potter be prepared to suffer for your insolence”
Harry nodded as he was handed a small knife and made a small cut on his finger. He flinched a bit violently and thought maybe Ed wasn’t paying attention and was concerned or spooked about the knife cutting them. He takes a breath as the drops drip down onto the paper as the magic starts to form the information. He glanced at the goblin as Harry felt a prod then a poking sort of feeling in his mind which was probably Ed asking to come to the front but he didn’t want the goblin to suspect anything when their eyes turned so as not to alert them he simple traced “no” on his palm. This stopped the feeling of poking and he visibly relaxed just as the paper was put in front of him, he was more than surprised at the results.
Harry Hawthorn James Potter
Edward Hohenheim Elric
BirthDate: July 31st, 1980 - February 3rd, 1899
Dam: Lily Evans - Trisha Elric
Sire: James Potter - Van Hohenheim/Slave 23
GodFather: Sirius Black
GodMother: Alice Longbottom - Pinako Rockbell
MagicalGuardian: Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Inheritance:
Potter(3 vaults)
Evans(1 vault)
Black(4 vaults)
Peverell(2 vaults)
Slytherin(1 vault)
Ravenclaw(1 vault)
Elric(- vaults)
Hohenheim(- vaults)
AncestralHouses:
GoldrickHollow
PeverellManor
PeverellCottage
SlytherinCastle
RavenclawCastle
GrindelwaldPlace
BlackManor
PotterManor
Harry could feel Ed push into the front seat and felt a wave of air crashing on him which was new, he could feel the disbelieving emotion that Ed oozed out as they held the Inheritance test. It was as if Ed flooded into the front seat, it was overwhelming but it didn’t hurt like what he thought mind abuse would feel like. At least from what he’d experienced, Ed and if not shared the front seat even though he could feel himself slipping as if falling off a chair and catching a part of the table to save himself from colliding from the floor. He took notice of the golden blonde bleeding into his hair that spilled on his face and the reflection of them in the goblin’s glasses. It was kind of cool how Harry looked to be almost changing every time they shared the front seat, even though he still had his eyes he could tell his jaw was a little more squared than normal.
He slowly came back as he relaxed and let Ed take most of the control, it was like holding onto the steering wheel of the car and Ed was running the pedals. He could feel Ed mouthing ‘“What the fuck” as he took the notebook he could feel Ed take the lead as he wrote, [could i exchange cenz-] he wrote an unfamiliar word as he asked, (What was that word? To refer to normal people-? I mean not magic people?)
Harry wanted to ask about the word that he wrote but he knew it was not the time to think about that right now. (Muggles and in this case muggle money and just say “muggle money to galleons” I’m sure we have enough for at least a few galleons) The pencil rewrote in the notebook, [could i exchange cenz muggle money to galleons] he quickly ripped the page out and placed it on the table for the goblin to read.
A moment passed for the goblin to read, “Of course we can. Put the money on here and we can exchange it right now.” The goblin brought a tray with golden plating and they quickly took out the rolled-up money onto the tray as another goblin picked it up and went to exchange it. They waited not longer than 2 minutes before the goblin came back with a tray with 28 galleons and 11 knuts, (That’s more than enough to buy us some clothes! We can also rent a room in the Leaky Caldron!)
Ed internally gapes and their jaw twitches but it is snapped shut by Harry who takes the money and puts it in their pocket for later. They sit there momentarily before the goblin inquires about the test, “I must inquire. Why are there two names?” they stiffened as Harry avoided eye contact and thought of some explanation. (Let’s bullshit our way through this.) Harry was not pleased to hear that answer from his tomb mate in almost every sense of the word.
(Let us not anger the goblins???) Ed took the lead and before Harry could stop him he wrote quickly, [there was 2 of us, ritual went shit wrong, now we r like this] It was simple and it didn’t give too much and was vague enough for it to sound like business, the goblins huffed in understanding or at least what seemed to be.
They always looked like they were scowling so they couldn’t tell but Ed was sure that that was a sufficient reason that wouldn’t get too many questions. “Fine then.” Harry thought for a moment they could probably access one of the Potter vaults for some extra money he was sure he had more than enough and there were 3 vaults that he perhaps could have access to. Harry took the lead and wrote, [could I get access to one of the Potter vaults or Peverell vaults] The goblin took the note as he nodded, “Yes however, there is a 60 galleon limit.” Harry nodded and quickly wrote, [that is perfectly fine.]
A goblin got up and Harry was going to follow but he put his hand up and shook his head, “There is no need, you will stay here Heir of Peverell.” he said with a scowl which was probably his resting face that showed firmness in his decision and they sat down. (That went well, see? They’re not that scary anyway) Ed said as Harry could feel him lean back out of the front seat letting Harry slowly take the wheel. (It seems so… once we’re out we should get a room-) Ed cut Harry off, (Let’s take one of the houses, we… you…? They’re there and owned by us… so why not just move into one of those?) Harry thought for a moment, (I didn’t before… I didn’t even know they existed but why not right? New experience and shit)
Ed coughed a laugh, (Ha! Yeah keep up that attitude you’ll need it- actually why not tell me about the political part of the magical world you said you were famous or something so you were probably in politics right? I might as well know what I’m getting myself into and whether to be an asshole to certain people!)
Harry took a moment to think, (We’ll get to that later, right now let’s get one of the houses personally I want Grindlewald place how about you?) Ed reached out for the test and read off it for a moment, (I say the cottage seems like a cozy place that we could live-) they then heard footsteps as the goblin came back with a small pouch of gold and handed it to them, “60 galleons, now is your business done?” (I’ve never lived in a cottage before but I’m pretty sure it's going to be in the countryside…) Ed could only smirk, (Well congrats you now live with a country bumkin, at your service! Now let’s get to business!) They quickly wrote.
[Could we occupy the Peverell Cottage and change my name and guardian]