Trouble Never Rests
Trouble Never Rests
9:00 pm
Mustang-Rockbell-Elric Residence
Mei looked all over the house, as well as feeling, before asking that Edward and Roy join her in the office. She had had her suspicions earlier but the party being so busy made it hard to pinpoint. A few minutes ago, the feeling had returned. She immediately asked for this meeting.
Once Ed and Roy had come in, Mei sealed the room temporarily to keep anyone from listening in on their conversation. Both of the others frowned at this but said nothing. The last few months had taught them to be cautious. Once they had both sat she took a deep breath before beginning. "Fluffy isn't a cat. I felt something strange the last few days, but it was really strong today once it was in the house. I wasn't certain at first, because there were so many other people in here, and it was sticking to crowds…but when the cats came in a few minutes ago I knew for sure. It's not a cat. It's qi doesn't feel right, it feels like a person."
Roy didn't need to hear anything else, and neither did Edward. Roy was seeing visions of Envy. Edward was equal parts worried about another Envy and his father's reaction to Envy. Roy stormed out of the room with a loud clap, and Ed rushed after him as he yelled for Mei to call Riza over his shoulder.
It didn't take long to track down the supposed cat, who was purring as it sat in Al's lap and he rubbed behind it's ears and chatted with Winry. Winry was holding a sleeping Yuery in her arms, waiting for Roy to come back since he had said he was taking the boy for the night. "Winry. Why don't you go lay Yuery down upstairs for me? I'll be there in a few minutes, just need to get the pets settled in for the night." Roy said calmly. Winry and Al both knew instantly something was wrong by the set of Roy's shoulders but said nothing as she nodded and walked out of the room.
She spotted Ed coming down the hall, he shook his head to keep her from talking and pointed up the stairs while mouthing silently ' Go to Rose's room. Lock the door.' She nodded and walked upstairs far calmer than she felt. She had no idea what was wrong but something was clearly very wrong. She stepped into Rose's room, where the other young mother had just finished tucking Hannah and Daniel in, and locked the door.
Rose was confused but Winry shook her head and whispered. "Not yet. I need you to lay Yuery down with the other kids and watch this door. I'm going to go grab something from my room and I'll be right back. I'll explain the best I promise."
After Winry watched Rose settle the baby between Hannah and Daniel before nodding and walking out of the room. Winry rushed to her room and grabbed both her biggest wrench and a handful of the throwing knives Ed had taken to carrying since regaining his arm. She wrapped them in a sleeping bag as she hurriedly changed into flannel pajama pants and one of Ed's tee shirts. She wanted to appear she just planned to stay over in Rose's room, but there was no problems.
Meanwhile, as soon as Winry and the baby were upstairs Roy reached for the cat. Al frowned slightly, but allowed it. He was concerned about what may be going on though he trusted his father. Ed slipped into the living room and slid shut the pocket doors they never closed. A brief crackle of blue light came, Al knew his brother had just sealed them in.
This didn't make any sense to him, if there was a danger why would Ed seal himself away from his son? Fluffy stiffened in Roy's arms as he placed a hand against the back of her neck in a manner that should have been comforting to the animal. Al stood shakily, and limped toward his brother, Ed meeting halfway across the room and pushed him behind himself. "Dad?" Ed said cautiously.
"I know what I'm doing Ed. I'm here, not back there." Roy said in return, though there was anger in his voice, he wasn't manic. Ed nodded and started subtly pushing his brother back toward the door while keeping himself between Roy and Al and never taking his eyes off of Roy. It was scaring Al, who didn't understand what was happening.
The cat hissed at Roy, and tried to wiggle loose, making Al freeze. "What's going on?" Al asked, uncertainly.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Roy said instead of answering his son.
The cat wriggled in his grip trying to get loose. Ed pushed Al harder, and whispered to his brother to just go and find Mei, that she would explain. Al finally relented, and with another crackle of blue light the doors unlocked. Just as Al reached for the door, the cat scratched Roy and managed to squirm free. Ed rushed forward to grab her again, Al instinctively slammed the doors shut again and the cat yowled in frustration.
Roy and Ed closed in on the cat, blood dripping down Roy's arm and Ed pulling one of his knives from his back. Cobalt came out of nowhere pinning the other cat to the ground, and Franklin the Great barked and growled at the cat. Al felt bad for the poor thing and wanted to reach for the clearly terrified animal.
There was a loud crack, and the cat was gone. The three men jumped, and Roy and Ed both jumped forward too late. Al again asked what was going on as Ed paled. He had only heard that sound twice in his life, both times while he was in England. He had wondered what it had meant at the time, but now he knew at least in part.
He turned to the other two and said in a shallow scared voice. "They found him."
Roy paled along with Ed, but Al frowned in confusion. "Who found him? What? What's going on? Where's the cat? What happened Ed?"
Ed clapped and unsealed the door without a word before heading toward the study. He froze at the staircase, finding himself beaten. He wanted to go hold his son but he needed to explain. His shoulder's slumped as he headed the rest of the way into the other room. Roy and Al trailed behind him. Mei was just hanging up the phone when Ed came into the room. "I need you to teach me to read the dragon's pulse. As soon as you can." Ed said, "She got away. I need to be able to sense when they are around for myself to keep him safe."
"Who?" Al and Mei both asked.
"The Wizards." Roy and Ed responded.
The silence was deafening before Mei nodded. "I will teach you all. It takes most people about three weeks to grasp the basics of feeling qi. Learning to manipulate it takes far longer, though I am hoping that since you three are alchemists it will be easier for you. When do you want to start?"
"Now. Tonight." Ed said, and Mei nodded, before leading them all out of the study and into the library where they would have more room. She sat them all down on cushions and made sure the room temperature was ideal. They were going to have to relax which was going to be the hardest part, but she had never heard of someone learning properly any other way.
Upstairs, Winry and Rose got all of the children settled, before agreeing themselves that they should find out if there was still some sort of threat. Rose offered to go check, since Winry had braved going to her room and gathering weapons it seemed only fair. Winry in turn insisted on going herself. Ed had taught her how to throw knives, and she already was good at throwing wrenches, so it made sense for her to be the one that left the room.
She snuck silently downstairs, before carefully looking around until she found the others in the library. She frowned at them because everything seemed calm but they were alchemists so it was had to say. She had seen Ed and Al over the years look very calm when they were anything but. She hoped she wasn't interrupting anything important as she cleared her throat. All four of them looked at her instantly, before Ed jumped to his feet, already demanding to know if everything was alright.
Winry frowned. "I came down to find out if the threat was over, whatever it was."
"We seem to be safe for the night, but no not really. The Wizards found us." Ed said in reply.
"What are you doing then?" Winry asked, before it sank in what he had said. "What do you mean the wizards found us? Are they after Yuery? Is that why you sent us upstairs?"
"We have to assume they are after Yuery, though we don't know for certain what they are planning. Mei sensed the qi from Fluffy and realized it wasn't a cat but a shapeshifter. She's teaching the rest of us to sense qi." Al said.
"I see. No, I don't, but I assume you are doing this to protect him so I see that." Winry said. "I'll be headed back up to help Rose keep an eye on the children then. Do you think we should just keep them all together for tonight?"
"Yeah. I'll come up with some more security measure tomorrow, for tonight just stay together. Oh, and would you let Ms. Riza in, she just pulled up." Ed said as he heard a car door slam.
"Yeah, ok. I'll be upstairs if you need me." Winry said and just waived at Ed telling her to be careful and try to sleep.
Abandoned House
9:30
Snape had just returned from the city, Lupin about to ask where he had gone, when a loud crack informed them someone had arrived. Snape and Lupin were surprised to see McGonagall. She had intended to stay with the target family for at least two weeks before checking in and it had been less than a day. Clearly something had gone wrong. She had apparated in, another indication. She was also clearly disheveled and agitated, as she attempted to dust herself off and straightened her hair the men stood with matching frowns. She shot them both a stern frown and walked over to the fireplace without a word, before throwing a handful up dust into the fire. As it flared green she said simply " Albus, a word if you please."
Moments later Albus Dumbledore stepped through the flames and dusted off his already clean robes. "Why Minerva, this is a surprise. We weren't expecting you so soon." He said in a jovial tone that belied his concern.
"They knew I was human." Minerva responded. "They waited until the house was nearly empty then they attacked me to force me to return to my human state. I do not understand why they waited until now, when they spent the morning with me in the house without concern."
"Perhaps they didn't want a fight they did have a late birthday party for Harry today." Lupin suggested.
"I think they changed his birthday actually. I was listening to them all morning." Minerva said thoughtfully.
"I wonder why?" Lupin mused.
"Well, they changed his name and his birthdate, they were either trying to hide him or they didn't know his correct information and guessed…or both." Snape said with a frown. He had gone digging through the records department this evening after Lupin mentioned the child's name had been changed.
"Regardless. I do not feel we need to alter the plan at this time. We have established the child is cared for and we have inside connections without Minerva. It is unfortunate to lose her so quickly, but she was able to get inside long enough to assume they treat the child well without witnesses, correct?" Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
"Yes. Edward Elric, or 'Dad' as the boy knows him, is caring for the child as well as we can hope for. I admit I was concerned when I began watching as Elric does not appear to be that old himself. I later became convinced he simply has a youthful appearance as he is apparently a Colonel in their military." McGonagall stated.
"Oh no, he is rather young. I confirmed with their records department. He turned sixteen this year, and has been in their military four years, is under contract another two. His commanding officer, Roy Mustang, is his father. Major General Roy Mustang is thirty, so I assume they just have a rather youthful military though I didn't dive further into the records." Snape said calmly.
"Sixteen?! He's not even an adult. How did he adopt a child?" Lupin asked.
"He didn't." Snape responded. "According to record, his son Yuery Alphonse Mustang- Elric was born on August 2nd, 1913 to Emma Vought and Edward Hohenheim Mustang-Elric" Emma Vought subsequently died in an automobile collision on November 1st, 1913. Edward has since been the sole guardian of Yuery, however, his father, Roy Mustang is listed as a secondary guardian in the event of an emergency or travel." Lupin said. "I looked into those records as well. There is also a temporary, now expired, order of custody listing one Winry Rockbell as Yuery's caregiver. An updated petition has been added listing Ms. Rockbell's intent to become his adoptive mother."
"Edward and Winry are engaged. I saw them both at the party. She and another young woman, Rose Thomas, live with Edward and Roy." McGonagall stated. "As well as the Xing princess Mei Chen, who is visiting I gathered.
"Rose Thomas?" Snape said as he flipped threw his notes as he paced in front of the fire. " I know I've read that name. Ah here it is! William Elric Thomas was born December 3rd, 1914 to Rose Thomas and Edward Hohenheim Mustang-Elric."
"So then he would be Yuery's brother. That explains why they live there at least." McGonagall said with a frown.
"According to the papers, Colonel Elric considers her a family friend who he is temporarily allowing to stay in his home as she recovers from the destruction in the East. Ms. Rockbell is his fiancée." Lupin said as he held up the papers. "It says nothing here about Rose's child being related to them."
"Perhaps they haven't said anything in light of the obvious propaganda they are trying to spread. Have you heard the rumors about the boy floating around? According to the people, he just defeated an entire insurgence with just the help of his injured father and dying teacher." Lupin said. "He is also related to the current leader of their country somehow though I haven't been able to trace the records. General Mustang adopted Colonel Elric a few months ago and his older birth records were sealed."
"Perhaps that is what happened with Harry and this other boy then?" McGonagall asked.
"No, the records are different. We may have a legal fight down the road should we try to get the boy away from Elric. According to international treaty we would have to get Elric's permission to take the boy to Hogwarts, and they are unlikely to allow the argument regarding his records. We have no real proof that Yuery Elric is Harry Potter, particularly because the Ministry declared Potter dead nearly two years ago with his parents." Dumbledore explained calmly. "We must wait and see. Once they realize the boy is magical, that he needs further training, I am confidant they will allow us to train him. All of the information I have received leans toward Colonel Elric is working in the best interest of the child."
"So what do we do now?" Lupin asked.
"Nothing." Dumbledore said. "I will leave one in place to watch over the boy, and keep us informed. Everyone else can come home. We will see him in nine years, when it is time for him to realize his fate and place in our world."
" I don't like it." Lupin said with a frown. "I promised James and Lilly I would watch over their child should anything happen to them. Sirius and I both swore."
"I am afraid nothing short of kidnapping will change it Remus. I fear a kidnapping would not end well for anyone involved." Snape said. "I will return every summer and break to check in on them."
"You hated James, why should you want to check on him?" Lupin asked, frustrated that he wasn't going to be allowed to rescue the boy.
"My reasons are my own, but rest assured, I want nothing but this child's survival." Snape said in return.
"We are to trust the word of a traitor then?" Lupin sneered.
"Better a double agent than a werewolf." Snape replied with equal scorn. McGonagall sighed. She hoped they would calm as they grew older. Both men were still rather young in her opinion. Both having recently passed their twenty-second birthday.
Dumbledore ordered them all to gather their things and return to England by morning before leaving himself. He apparated, they assumed either home or to the pub. He had, in fact, appeared outside of the home of Harry's new family. He wanted to see them for himself, at least to confirm that the boy who was raising the child was the one he remembered. Clearly, he had revealed too much of the plans to the boy for him to have gone to so many extremes to protect the child.
Edward was young, he simply did not understand the need for the Greater Good. In time he would come to see reason, especially as a soldier with other children. Dumbledore simply had to wait it out, then when he spoke to the boy again, he could explain calmly that the child needed to train to save them all. One day, when the boy was a man, he would sit with him and they could agree on an even field.
Until then, the boy would be pampered and cared for which would benefit him, judging by the way Elric seemed, they clearly raised their children to be warriors in this savage culture which would work out better than the other options on the table for them at this time. It really was a shame he wouldn't be able to keep a closer eye on the whole situation.
He watched, bemused, from the safety of the cloak through the library window as the family seemed to be having some sort of meeting. The three men and a girl sat on the floor in a circle, and all seemed to be trying to relax. Suddenly the girl's eyes snapped open before he could decide if perhaps he could get closer to the glass and maybe hear what they were saying. He stepped back even as she tracked him. There should be no way for her to know he was there, but she certainly seemed to sense him somehow.
She murmured something to the men, who all tensed, but otherwise didn't move. She continued to watch him as he stared in fascination. If they knew he was here, they would have come out to confront him ,so whatever it was she noticed she clearly didn't tell the others, he assumed. A few minutes later, the thin blond nodded followed quickly by the one he recognized as Elric. The third man frowned, but the other two stood at the same time and left the room.
The last man sat in silence for another minute before with a frown he turned toward the window and whispered to the girl, who nodded. He then stood and walked closer to the glass, without opening his eyes. He was almost nose to nose with the widow, and Dumbledore on the other side, when the two blonds appeared on either side of him.
They had spotted him somehow, which should not be possible. Just like it should not have been possible for them to notice what Minerva actually was. He frowned as he backed away slowly. He was trying to remember if Nicolas was able to sense him when he was under the cloak but he couldn't remember right off hand. He would have to think about it later…or ask Nicolas. For now he had to leave.
As he apparated, he overheard both blonds telling each other they had done 'it' whatever 'it' was it clearly was how they had noticed him. This made things a bit more complicated, but he was still confidant he had the situation well in hand.