SURPRISE! Didn't think you'd get a new chapter so soon, didja?! I've been on a real Harry Potter kick since I started writing the last chapter and was able to whip this up over the last couple of days. So Happy Halloween and enjoy your treat! ;)

Chapter 4: The Noble House of Flamel

Edward spent a lot of time over the next few days reigning in Lockhart. He couldn't stop the man from sitting in on his Alchemy classes, but he managed to at least put a little learning into Lockhart's lessons and still make it relevant to whatever tale the man was regaling his classes with from his books. Edward had even gotten help from Professor Kettleburn who'd procured some creatures for the upper year's lessons. That man was a godsend to Edward that week and had come to enjoy discussing more about creatures Edward had never heard of. He even sat in on a 5th year Care of Magical Creatures class one afternoon he had a free period.

By the time Saturday rolled around, he felt utterly exhausted and allowed himself to sleep in. He still woke at an early hour, but it was a couple hours later than he usually got up. He decided to forgo his usual routine of stretching (since students were more than likely to be up and about at this hour) and headed straight to breakfast, which he enjoyed with Snape and McGonagall.

"I've come up with detentions for Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley," McGonagall informed him halfway through his meal. "I'd like you to supervise Mr. Weasley's detention, which'll be polishing the silver in the trophy room. No magic. He needs to do it all by hand."

"Why bother Edward with this?" Snape asked, frowning, "Filch usually supervises those kinds of detentions."

"Mr. Filch has other duties, and unfortunately will be cleaning up after Peeves' last rampage on the third floor corridor," McGonagall sighed. "It's lucky we haven't resumed too many activities up there and can keep that cordoned off from students over the weekend."

"I'll tell the Bloody Baron to have a word with Peeves," Snape scowled.

McGonagall nodded.

"What about Potter?" Edward asked. "You only mentioned Weasley having detention."

"Potter," McGonagall sighed - and actually looked a touch regretful, "will be serving his detention with Professor Lockhart, helping him answer his fan mail."

Snape's scowl twitched, looking as if he was not sure if he should be revolted by the fact Lockhart was wasting time that could be better spent planning his lessons by answering fan mail, or pleased that Harry would have to suffer a whole evening with the man."

"Let me guess," Edward drawled. "Lockhart requested handling Potter's detention personally?"

"Correct," McGonagall said.

"Well, he'll be suitably punished," Edward sighed. "Kid has been avoiding him all week when he can. Won't even come down to my office if there's so much as a hint of the man in the vicinity."

"Why would Potter come to your office?" McGonagall asked, frowning. "I'm his head of house."

"I sort of became friends with Potter, Weasley, and Granger last year," Edward said, shrugging. "Sometimes they like to come down and socialize, and other times, it's to ask questions on homework or something they don't quite understand from their lessons. I'm only 6 years older than they are, so it's easier to come to me with these things I suppose."

McGonagall nodded, looking thoughtful.

"It mostly started because Dumbledore wanted someone to keep an eye on Potter last year," Snape added. "Edward was the perfect candidate because of his young age."

"It's a good thing I did too," Edward scowled, remembering how the term ended in the Spring.

Snape and McGonagall grimaced.

"Well," McGonagall sighed, getting up from her seat, "I best find Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter and inform them of their detentions. They'll be at eight o'clock sharp."

"Got it," Edward said, nodding before returning his attention to the rest of his breakfast.

That was when a beautiful white and golden brown barn owl landed in front of Edward and stretched out her leg. Edward immediately recognized the owl as Jeanne, Anja's owl. Again he deserted his breakfast and set about untying the small parcel attached to the bird's leg. He then gave Jeanne a piece of bacon to nibble on before she took off while he opened the small box, which turned out to be full of some baked goods that smelled amazing and appeared to still be warm due to a charm cast on the box. It was like they were fresh out of the oven. He recognized croissants, brezel (soft pretzel), and his favorite brötchen (bread roll) that he'd acquired a taste for during his stay in Germany. There was a small letter tied to the box.

Edward,

I hope your first week of classes were successful, that you are doing well, and that this reaches you warm and fresh. I miss your company. It's been a bit lonely around here since the autumn season has started. Most of my older friends have left to pursue new lives and careers in the cities, while all of my younger friends have returned to Beauxbatons Academy. As much as I love my mother and father and our cafe, I envy my friends that have moved away from our small village. But at the same time I can't imagine myself staying anywhere else. Is that foolish of me? To want to travel, but fear leaving home? It must seem silly to someone as well traveled as yourself. Ignore my melancholy. I'm just fine. But what about you? How are things working out with that new teacher you're assisting this year? You never told me who it was.

Hoping you are well,

Anja Schlosser

Edward smiled as he read the letter and then tucked it away into his cloak's pocket before taking a bite out of a croissant. It was flaky perfection. That was one thing he missed for sure about Germany - their baked goods.

"A care package, Edward?" Snape drawled. "From whom, I wonder."

"Her name is Anja. I told you about her when I got back from Germany," Edward said, before taking another bite.

"The German girl you met while visiting the Flamels," Snape mused. "Does she write you often?"

"We exchange letters every couple of weeks," Edward said, shrugging. "She sometimes sends goods from the cafe and bakery she helps her parents run. It's the best place to eat in the village. Perenelle liked to take me there a lot when I first arrived and then after the Summer Solstice, I started going there most mornings on my own. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she and my Grandfather were trying to set me up with Anja."

Edward scowled, thinking about that little revelation when he and Hoenheim had been with the Weasleys, Grangers and Harry in Diagon Alley. Now that he thought about it, Perenelle Flamel had been the one to point out who Anja was and tell him about her. Perhaps she thought they'd be a good match. Anja's last name, Schlosser, could be translated as "metalworker," and the Flamels knew about Edwards metal limbs and former title as Amestris' State Alchemist: Fullmetal.

Snape chuckled, bringing Edward out of his thoughts. When he gave his co-worker a curious glance and raised his eyebrow in question the man only shook his head and got up from his seat.

"Have a good morning, Edward. And good luck."

Good luck with what?

Edward frowned, puzzled, as he watched Snape leave the Great Hall before shrugging and resumed eating the yummy treats Anja had sent him.

That evening at eight o'clock, Edward met Ron in the trophy room. He handed the boy a rag, scrub brush and some polish and set the poor boy to work. Not even ten minutes in, the boy suddenly threw up half a dozen slugs of all things.

"What the hell?" Edward cried, hurrying over to the retching boy, magicking the mess away with a vanishing spell.

"'M 'kay," Ron mumbled. "'S been lettin' up."

"Ron, why are you throwing up slugs?" Edward asked.

"Tried to curse Malfoy this mornin'. Backfired," Ron grunted before getting back to work.

"Why did you try to curse Malfoy?" Edward sighed.

Ron scowled, scrubbing viscously at the school's Quidditch Cup. "The git called Hermione a 'Mudblood.'"

Edward frowned. It was clearly an insult, but he'd heard worse. Seeing his expression, Ron obviously felt he needed to explain.

"It's about the most insulting thing he could think of," Ron huffed, scowling even more as he moved on to the next item that needed cleaning. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is muggle born - you know, non-magic parents. There are some wizards, like the Malfoys, who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pureblood. The rest of us know it doesn't make any difference. I mean, you have purebloods like Neville who can hardly stand a cauldron up the right way, and then you have muggle borns, like Hermione who can cast a spell better than anyone born into magic. Don't tell her I said that though."

Edward snorted, shaking his head.

"Anyway, it's a disgusting thing to call someone a Mudblood," Ron continued, belching slightly and catching a slug as it slipped out of his mouth.

Edward wrinkled his nose and summoned a pot to set beside Ron.

"Thanks," the boy mumbled, tossing the slug inside the pot before continuing his rant. "Dirty blood, is what they mean. Common blood. It's ridiculous. Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn't married muggles we'd've died out."

"I don't blame you for trying to curse him, Ron," Edward said placatingly. "I want to curse that brat on the best of days, but it's probably a good thing the spell rebounded. The brat's dad is on the school board and he'd likely cause a fuss if you cursed his son. Then you'd have gotten into even more trouble than you are right now for driving your old man's car to school and crashing it into that tree."

"'S What Hagrid said too," Ron huffed.

"Well, there you go then. Hagrid knows how things work around here a lot better than I do," Edward sighed. "Now you just have to buckle down and finish your detention."

Ron scowled again, but got on with it. Edward tried to make the time go a little faster by chatting about more pleasant things with Ron. Most of this was just Edward complaining about having to assist Lockhart and basically teach two subjects. That seemed to lift Ron's spirits a bit, at least until he missed the pot Edward had summoned for him and threw up slugs on a Special Award for Service to the School. It was taking so long for the poor boy to get the slime off that Edward relented and cleaned that one with magic so that the boy could move on to the next (and thankfully last) few items.

When Ron was finally done cleaning all the silver in the trophy room, Edward released him from his detention and headed down to the dungeons to his own bed.

The weeks seemed to fly by after that first long week, and before Edward knew it, it was October and a damp chill had spread over the grounds. Madam Pomfrey was kept busy by a sudden spate of colds among the staff and students. Edward was one of the few of those fortunate not to catch cold just yet, though there were signs of Poppy's Pepperup Potion all over the place. The potion cleared up the cold, but left the drinker's ears smoking for several hours afterward, and it wasn't uncommon to get a class where half the room was steaming.

Then there was the rain. Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end; the lake rose, Sprout's flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid's pumpkins swelled to the size of small houses!

Edward did not envy Harry one bit because Oliver Wood, Gryffindor's Quidditch Team Captain, was just as overzealous as he had been last year about getting regular training sessions in. Edward was immensely relieved that he no longer had to sit in on Gryffindor practice sessions this year, though Snape had suggested that perhaps Edward should sit in on the Slytherin practices to make sure Draco Malfoy was adjusting well to becoming the team's new seeker. Edward had scowled and told him that he'd only do it if Snape took over assisting Lockhart. The bastard had only laughed, but at least dropped the idea, claiming that he'd only been joking. Mostly.

It was about a week before Halloween, however, when Edward got a letter during breakfast from Hohenheim, informing him that Nickolas and Perenelle Flamel had died in the early hours of the morning. Not even a minute after he'd read that, an owl from the Ministry arrived with it's own letter. The moment he broke the seal on it, however, the letter fluttered out of his hand and began to talk to him.

"Dear Mr. Elric, We are most grieved to inform you that Lord Nickolas and Lady Perenelle Flamel have passed away. As their heir, we ask that you come in to the Ministry of Magic within the next few days to claim your titles as the new Lord of the Flamel estates and fortune, and Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Flamel. This process may take up to three days to ensure that all of the terms in the late Lord and Lady Flamel's last will and testament are carried out. You have our greatest sympathies, Miranda Stockholm."

Edward stared as the letter sealed itself back up and dropped onto his plate in front of him. He wasn't the only one. The entire Great Hall seemed to be watching him. Edward sighed and tucked both Hohenheim's letter and the Ministry's into his pocket. He got up from the table without another word and left, heading right for Dumbledore's office.

"Lemon Drop," he snapped at the large ugly stone gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Dumbledore's office. The statue sprang to life and jumped aside as the wall split in two, revealing the spiral staircase that moved smoothly upward like an escalator. Once Edward reached the top, the door to the office swung open and revealed the old Headmaster waiting for him, a letter of his own in hand.

"I see Dr. Licht informed you of Nickolas and Perenelle's deaths as well?" Dumbledore sighed.

"Yes," Edward huffed. "And the Ministry thought it was a brilliant idea to send me a talking letter, so now the whole school knows I'm their heir. I'm apparently going to need a few days off this week."

"Take the time you need," Dumbledore said. "I'm sure Gilderoy can handle his own lessons for a few days. We'll have to cancel your Alchemy classes, however, while you're gone. No one here is knowledgeable enough to cover your subject."

"That's fine," Edward sighed. "Do you know when and where their funeral is going to be held?"

"I beleive they wanted to be buried in France, at the Beauxbatons Academy where they met in their youth. The Headmistress there, Olympe Maxime, is a friend of mine and has arranged for them to be put to rest on the school grounds in the park by the fountain that was named after them many centuries ago. As for when the funeral is to be held, it'll be on Saturday, October 31st in the early morning. We should be able to return to Hogwarts in time for the Halloween feast."

Edward nodded. "Today's Monday. I'll teach classes as usual today, and leave for the Ministry tomorrow," he decided. "That way I have the rest of the week to sort out whatever it is the Ministry wants from me, and then I can come back here."

"You may come here tomorrow morning and use the Floo to travel to the Ministry. While you're away, I'll make arrangements for our travel to France," Dumbledore said solemnly. "Bring Dr. Licht back with you from London, so that he may join us as well."

"Sounds good," Edward sighed. "Thanks."

"You're welcome my dear boy," Dumbledore said, smiling softly. "Have a good day. I shall see you later."

"Till later, then," Edward said, nodding at the man before leaving.

The rest of the day seemed to pass in one great blur. He managed to get through his two sections of Alchemy that morning without being pestered too much with questions (mostly from Lockhart) about what happened in the Great Hall that morning, and even made it through Lockhart's afternoon classes without much trouble, though the man had volunteered to teach his Alchemy classes while he was away. Edward made it very clear that Lockhart was not to set foot in his classroom while he was away and that no Alchemy lessons were to be held without his supervision.

That evening he sent notices out during dinner to all of his students so that they knew that there would be no Alchemy classes for the rest of the week just to make sure that Lockhart didn't undermine him. Snape was very amused by this, but had promised to make sure the moron didn't break into Edward's classroom.

Edward was greeted by his new personal house elves, Merribell and Baxter, once again that evening and found that they'd packed him a travel bag for his stay at the Leaky Cauldron while he was in London. He thanked them and let them serve him in whatever manner they saw fit. Both were clearly upset by the loss of their late masters, but were determined to serve Edward with the same loyalty and efficiency that they'd served Nickolas and Perenelle. It was strange to have them waiting on his every need, but knew that he'd have to get used to it. At least he got them to promise that beyond his office, their services were not required beyond his personal rooms while he worked at the school unless he called for them.

The next morning, Edward had breakfast in his office cooked and served to him by Merribell - whom he'd taken to calling Merri - before heading up to Dumbledore's office once more to use the Floo Network to travel to the Ministry of Magic. Merribell and Baxter apparated in that way elves do and appeared beside him, following along in his shadow as he made his way through the grand lobby of the Ministry. It was by the fountain for Saint Mungo's that he saw Hohenheim waiting for him with a witch in sharp dark green and gold robes.

"Edward," Hohenheim sighed as he approached.

"Gramps," Edward grunted.

"Lord Elric," the witch said, bowing her head. "My name is Miranda Stockholm. If you and Dr. Litch would please follow me we'll get started."

Edward nodded, following the woman to a lift that took them several floors up and down a few corridors until they reached a rather roomy and stately office. After they all took their seats, Miss Stockholm summoned mounds upon mounds of paperwork. Edward dreaded the next several hours. There were forms upon forms for him to read and sign that would legalize and register him as the new Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Flamel. Each of the seven estates that the Flamels owned seemed to come with it's own stack of paperwork and he had to register and sign off on on the fact that he had rehired and contracted ownership of all twenty-five of the Flamel's house elves, which was another stack of paperwork. And that was only what he had managed to get through by the end of business hours.

The next day was mostly political gibberish. Edward was read in on his new social duties to fill the Flamel's seat on the Wizengamot. As head of an Ancient and Noble House in the Wizarding world, he automatically got a seat on their high court of law and parliament, as well as a seat on the Council of Wizards. Apparently, Dumbledore was Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, which made Edward feel a bit better about having to take on that kind of responsibility. It became clear very quickly that he wouldn't be required to attend any sort of trial on a regular basis unless a full trial that required all those who held a seat in the Wizengamot was called, which hadn't happened since the trials of the Death Eaters after Voldemort was defeated by Harry Potter. There was a lot more explanations about political responsibilities he now held as the Head of the Flamel House, but most of them seemed to be about making appearances at certain political functions.

Thursday, in comparison to the first two days was blessedly short. All Edward had to do was get read in on the number of charities and things that the Flamels had set up automatic donations for and decide whether or not to continue giving funds to those things. Edward signed off on everything, though he was surprised to find that Perenelle had a scholarship fund for a lot of the local villages in Germany and France that helped muggle-borns and poorer magical families send their children to Beauxbatons Academy. Anja's village, Seestadt, was on the recipient list. After finally getting all of his paperwork sorted (and his personal copies sent back to Hogwarts with Merribell and Baxter), Edward and Hohenheim decided to head to Diagon Alley and visited the Flamel-Litch-Elric vault with another set of the document's copies.

The Goblins were practically gleeful to accept the transition of power and did in a few minutes what had taken the Ministry 3 days to finalize in sorting out his accounts. All of the Elric, Litch, and Flamel accounts were officially merged, moved to a new vault and registered under the name Elric. Edward and Hohenheim were given new keys and then escorted down to their new vault that lay in the bottommost reaches of the bank's deep caverns, separated from the others and protected by it's own pair of dragons. Edward was taught how to calm the beasts and found himself befriending them rather quickly. The dragons seemed to like his metal appendages. Feeling humorous, Edward decided to call one dragon Mustang - Musty for short - and the other Hawkeye when he learned that neither dragon had a name.

Both turned out to be very young dragons. Young enough to sort of imprint on Edward and listen to him give the commands the Goblins had taught him. The dragons hadn't been introduced to anyone else yet, so they became familiar with both Edward and Hohenheim's scent. Because the vault was so remote from every other vault, there was a little more room in the cavern for the dragons who had been conditioned to never leave their designated area (though the chains and barrier spells certainly helped keep them contained). The dragons were given live game to hunt in their little area, but other than Edward and Hohenheim, they had no interaction with any other person besides the Goblins and their conditioning. Trespassers were sure to be attacked and mistaken for game. Edward made a mental note to never come down to his vault with anyone else unless he absolutely had to.

After amusing themselves with Musty and Hawk, Edward and Hohenheim finally entered the vault and took in the great expanse of their new fortune. Edward had thought that the Flamel account had been impressive when he'd last been to Gringotts, but now that it was combined with Hohenheim's fortune, it seemed to stretch on forever with even more artifacts and priceless trinkets and other valuables. There was even a wall of shelving that housed all sorts of documents of some sort. The incredible size and vastness of the combined fortunes was clearly why it had all been moved to this new gigantic vault and required two dragons to guard it.

It wasn't until he was staring at all that wealth again that Edward realized that it was all his now. He wasn't sure what it all implied for him. Clearly he could live a comfortable life for the rest of his days and not have to work a full time job again, but that just didn't seem right to him. He'd always had to work hard for his keep. He'd thrown away his entire childhood to work towards becoming a State Alchemist just so he could get the funding he needed to research the Philosopher's Stone. And even then he'd had to work hard to prove himself and to keep getting those grants. Now, it seemed like he had quite a life of money and splendor plopped right into his lap.

"Edward? Is everything alright?" Hohenheim asked.

"Yeah," Edward said softly, eyes moving about the vault that seemed to go on forever with it's riches. "Just… it's a lot to take in. I'm not used to having so much at my disposal. I could do virtually anything with my life with this sort of money…"

"True," Hohenheim mused. "One wouldn't have to work again with these kinds of funds. You could stop working at the school and work full time on finding a way back to Amestris. On finding a way back to Alphonse."

"I suppose," Edward said. "But…"

"But?"

"...I don't think I could… I don't want to give up my job at the school," Edward said. "I… have come to really like it there. Sure, some parts of the job stress me out, but for the most part the students aren't bad and most of the staff are great. And… I've worked so hard to earn the right to teach there. I'm just one more year away from getting a full time teaching license. I don't want to throw all that away."

"You don't have to," Hohenheim said gently. "I can help you with the research for a way back to Amestris and continue it while you're away teaching. I'll look after the estates and all those other things Miss Stockholm has been cramming down our throats. You're not alone Edward."

"Thanks…Dad," Edward whispered.

After finishing business at Gringotts, Edward left with a small, but full bag of gold in his pockets and headed for Madam Malkin's Robes Shop to get some formal dress robes that he'd need for the Flamel's funeral on Saturday and for the formal occasions he knew he'd now need to attend during the winter holidays. Once he got those, he and Hohenheim flooed back to Dumbledore's office. They ate dinner there and Edward returned to his rooms for the night, while Hohenheim was led to a guest suite.

The next morning Merribell and Baxter had his things repacked and ready to go. Edward headed to the Entrance Hall where he met Hohenheim and Dumbledore in the early hours of the morning before most were up and heading to breakfast. From there Dumbledore led them out onto the grounds where they made their ways to the station where the Hogwarts Express dropped students off when they arrived at school at the start of term. Waiting there was Hagrid with a carriage led by a quartet of pegasi.

"Everything ready, Hagrid?" Dumbledore asked as they approached.

"Yessir!" Hagrid said, patting one of the winged horses on its rump. "I had the 'ouse elves pack ya up a good hearty meal for your trip. Safe travels, you lot."

"Thank you, Hagrid," Dumbledore said, nodding before boarding the carriage with Hohenheim following suit.

"Thanks, Hagrid," Edward sighed, patting the large man on the arm before boarding himself.

He was surprised by how spacious and large the inside of the carriage was. It was about the size of his office and allowed the three of them to seat themselves comfortably. There was a bit of movement a few minutes later, the carriage swaying slightly, before the place settled once more. When Edward peeked out the window, he was surprised to see that they were in the sky, flying at impossible speeds through the air as the countryside below them zipped by. And yet they didn't feel much of anything in the carriage besides the odd swaying sensation every now and then.

"This carriage and its driver are on loan to us courtesy of Madam Maxime," Dumbledore informed them. "It'll take us to the Flamel's estate in France. Tonight, we're to be dinner guests at Beauxbaton Academy and tomorrow morning, we'll attend the funeral, which will be at dawn, and stay for breakfast before we make our return trip to Hogwarts."

"Why's the funeral being held at dawn?" Edward asked.

"Because October 31st is a very special and powerful day for our magical community," Dumbledore explained. "By holding the funeral at dawn, and laying them to rest when the first rays of sun are rising, it is as if we are sending them off from our world with the night, and letting their magic and spirits rise with the sun as a sign of renewal and new life. Nickolas, Perenelle and I are few of the many that believe that death is only the beginning of a brand new adventure in our lives after the old one ends."

Hohenheim was nodding, so Edward just let it go. It made sense in some ways and who was he to judge the beliefs and practices of others?

Hours later the carriage landed on a cobblestone street and pulled into a round cul-du-sac drive before a white square French villa whose house and grounds were perfectly symmetrical. There was a staircase leading up to a terrace that stretched along the front of the villa. Delicate white rose bushes lined the drive and everything felt rich, clean, romantic and like it belonged in one of Lockhart's books.

The inside was even grander. The villa was U shaped. Off the foyer to the right was a guest suite at the front of the house (where their driver would be staying), a formal dining area, and a massive kitchen with a breakfast nook took up the rest of that half of the U. On the left was a large office/library at the front of the house, and the rest of the left half of the U was a long stretch of seating and lounge space that was clearly meant for entertaining. There was even a piano in the middle of the room against the wall. Edward wondered if Perenelle had ever played or if it had once belonged to one of her many late granddaughters. Between the two branches of the U was a covered patio and an outdoor plaza with a fountain. Down a set of split stairs, was a large outdoor pool with crystal blue waters that were in bright contrast against the fiery yellows, oranges, and reds of the fall leaves in the trees that surrounded the property.

Opposite the front door in the foyer was a grand staircase that led upstairs to an outdoor terrace that was above the covered patio and an open gallery that circled the foyer from above. One entire third of the upstairs, on the left side of the U was the master suite. The other half on the right of the U was split into two smaller, but still fairly large suites. While Edward, Hohenheim and Dumbledore had been exploring the villa, the house elves maintaining the property had already brought Edward's things to the master suit, and Hohenheim and Dumbledore's to the two other upstairs suits.

They shared a lovely lunch together on the patio before they all decided to nap for a few hours before getting ready to head over to Beauxbatons to meet Madam Maxime for dinner. The bed in the master suite was so warm and plush, Edward felt himself just sink right into it. It was like sleeping on a cloud. When he was awoken a few hours later, he was sad to leave it's warmth and comfort, but dragged himself out of bed and put on one of his new dress robes. He was still getting used to wearing wizard fashion, but deemed that the robes he was currently wearing weren't too bad.

He frowned as he examined himself in the mirror and took note of his slightly unruly hair. Ramela, one of the house elves, was pleased and excited when he asked her if there was anything she might be able to do to help him primp a bit. He'd never really been to any sort of fancy formal occasion before and he really appreciated the elf's help as she somehow got his hair to behave. His bangs now hung in a neat curtain around his face, and his braid was redone neatly without a hair out of place. She'd helped straighten his robes and all her little touches somehow made him look and feel a lot more… posh than he was used to.

"You clean up well, Edward," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling when Edward rejoined the older men in the foyer.

"I'm lucky to have good help," Edward said, smiling when he heard the pleased twitterings of his house elves, who - after Ramela had helped him - had been most eager to do their part in getting him ready for dinner. Lumar had shined his shoes, Bella had taught him how to put on cufflinks, Fresco had advised him on French dining customs and etiquette, and many more had pipped up with bits of advice on how to behave like the proper young lord he was now expected to be. It had been very overwhelming at first, but with help and reassurances from his new house elves, Edward felt a bit better about being plunged so abruptly into high society. Who knew that life as the new head of one of the oldest and richest families in the wizarding world was going to be so different so fast?

The ride to Beauxbatons was very short and brought them to a stunning white chateau surrounded by formal gardens and lawns nestled within the Pyrenees Mountains. Waiting for them on the steps leading up to the large and grand academy was perhaps the biggest woman that Edward had ever seen. She could even give Hagrid a run for his money in the height department. She was no less elegant, however. Despite a big boned structure, there was a grace about her as she descended the steps to greet them while they exited the carriage.

"Ah! Professor Dumbly-dore!" the Headmistress cried with a thick French accent. "Welcome! Welcome to Beauxbatons. And you must be Dr. Litch, and the young Lord Elric."

Edward inclined his head and took her hand when she offered it and kissed it as one of his elves had advised him to do when he met his dinner host.

Maxime smiled grandly at him as she reclaimed her hand and waved them all inside, lamenting the tragedy of the circumstances that brought them together, but saying that they should enjoy each other's company all the same in honor of the late Flamels' memory. Edward was once again stunned by beautiful french architecture as Maxime guided them through the chateau to the dining all, which was just as big - though definitely fancier - than the Great Hall at Hogwarts. It was all well lit and bright and warm as students in their bright blue silk robes stood at attention as Madam Maxime entered the hall and led her three guests to the staff table where four seats remained empty in the middle. The students didn't sit until their Headmistress was seated and even then they didn't turn their attention to their meal until after their guests were introduced and a moment of silence was held for the late Flamels.

Edward was surprised to hear that there were a number of guests staying at the academy over night for the funeral, but was quickly able to pick out the visitors seated amongst the students due to their lack of school robes. Madam Maxime explained that several of her former students had returned for the funeral to pay their respects to the family that had granted them the chance to learn at Beauxbatons through the scholarship Perenelle had set up centuries ago. When she asked Edward if he planned on continuing to contribute funds to the school and scholarship, he adamantly agreed, and even asked Dumbledore about starting a similar fund for potential Hogwarts students.

Upon seeing just how many Beauxbatons Academy alumni had returned just to pay their respects to a couple they'd never even met, but had been touched by because of their generosity and wish to give others an opportunity for a good education, he felt as if something had resonated in him. He and Alphonse had never had much after their mother had died and knew what it was like to live off of other people's charity. They'd honestly been lucky they'd been able to convince Izumi Curtis to take them on as her students and it was due to her good (though slightly sadistic) will and willingness to give them a chance to teach them Alchemy, that Edward became who he was today. Now that he had the money and resources, he was more than willing to do the same. Being a teacher may be described as a thankless job, and there was no doubt that a load of stress that came with it, but thinking about how many lives he could touch, that he was now helping his students in a similar manner that his teacher had helped shape who he was…how the Flamels had helped both current and former students… he felt that it was more than worth it.

His declaration to continue funding Perenelle's scholarship and create a similar one for Hogwarts was met with thunderous applause from the students and staff.

Baxter woke him at the ass crack of dawn the next morning. Edward was even more reluctant to leave his nice warm bed at the villa, but when he remembered why he was being woken up so early, he was more subdue. He took a nice warm shower and allowed the elves to primp him again, this time in a fancier, but more mournful and stifling set of black dress robes he'd bought just for the funeral. Both Dumbledore and Maxime had warned him that due to the public nature of the Flamels funeral, there were going to be reporters about and he was more than likely going to be asked questions about his new status as a Head of an Ancient and Noble House in the wizarding community.

No one knew where Edward had come from or who he was, so there were bound to be tons of questions tossed his way and a lot of people trying to learn more about who he was. Granted, there wasn't much of anything to dig up on him in this world. And it also wasn't like he wasn't used to this sort of attention. A lot of news and speculation had been stirred up when he'd become a State Alchemist at such a young age, and there'd been all sorts of questions about how he got his automail limbs.

When Edward, Dumbledore and Hohenheim had arrived at Beauxbatons this time, they followed a trail of fairy-lights to a park in the faint dawn light where a large golden fountain with statues of a young Perenelle and Nickolas Flamel stood together with water arching gracefully from their upraised wands in the center. Not far from the fountain, there were a pair of caskets surrounded by a growing crowd. Edward and Hohenheim joined Madam Maxime at the front and waited for the funeral to start.

When the sun was beginning to light up the sky with soft blues, purples and pinks, but hadn't begun to peek over the mountains yet, a witch began to read an epitaph with her wand to her throat. Edward was confused at first because her voice came out a sounding strange, but then he realized that her wand must have been translating her speech. He heard it in English, but if he focused, he could hear her speaking German as well. He even entertained the thought that he was able to hear her speaking in his old Amestrian tongue.

Edward didn't really follow much of the ceremony since he was so unfamiliar with a lot of their customs (which Dumbledore told him were a mix of French and English). But the highlight of the funeral (if there ever was one for such a mournful occasion) was when the coffins were lowered into a small alcove dug out beneath the fountain and the moment it was sealed, the sun peeked above the mountains for the first time, it's rays hitting the statue images of Nickolas and Perenelle in such a way, the statues seemed to come alive for a second. The clear water trickling out of the wands looked like golden sparks and in that one short moment, Edward thought he saw the two statues stare lovingly at each other with bright happy smiles before their expressions melted back into the fixed empty stone stares. For a short while, Edward entertained the thought that death really was just another beginning and that there was a life beyond that. Who's to say that dying wasn't like passing through another of Truth's Gates?

After that, a few more words were said, and then the mourners began to break off, many heading up to the castle for breakfast. It was while they were on their way up to the chateau that Edward noticed the stares and murmurs. There were even a few flashes of light as some people took his picture. Edward resisted the urge to scowl. At least no one was trying to approach him yet. Perhaps it was because he was in the company of two well respected Headmasters. Thankfully only invited guests of the Beauxbatons Academy were allowed to remain on the grounds now that the funeral was over and the reporters were not allowed within the school itself. Though Edward was under no illusion about the fact that a few would be lurking around the grounds hoping to catch him outside when he was leaving.

"Edward!"

Edward startled before he recognized Anja as he entered the dining hall.

"Anja?"

"You two know each other?" Madam Maxime asked.

Anja blushed and curtsied respectfully, greeting the woman that was her former headmistress. Edward was surprised to realize that he recognized quite a few of the people standing around the table Anja had left from the village he'd visited over the summer. Anya's parents were there and so was Henrik who waved at him with a nervous smile. Even Manson was there. He looked like a nicer bloke now that Edward was seeing him sober.

"I spent a few weeks this last summer visiting Seestadt while staying with Nickolas and Perenelle at their vacation home in Germany. I met Anja during the Summer Solstice festivities," Edward explained. "We became good friends."

Anya smiled brightly, eyes shining.

"Perhaps we should allow them to catch up," Hohenheim suggested.

"Indeed. I know that Edward and this young lady have been trading correspondence for some time, but there's only so much you can share in a letter," Dumbledore said.

"Then we shall excuse him and miss out on his company," Madam Maxine said, gesturing for Edward to join Anja's table. "I shall see you later, Lord Elric."

"Yes, and thank you, Madam Maxine," Edward said, bowing his head as the Headmistress led his elderly companions away to the staff table. He narrowed his eyes when both men looked over their shoulders to wink at him. Meddling old coots.

"It is wonderful to see you again, Edward," Anja said, regaining his attention. "I did not expect to see you again so soon, but I find myself delighted nonetheless."

"It's great to see you too," Edward said, gesturing for her to lead the way.

She hooked her arm through his with a winning smile. "So you're a Lord, now, are you?"

"That's what happens when you find yourself suddenly coming into a large inheritance as head of one of the wizarding world's most prominent families," Edward sighed. "I don't suppose I mentioned before I left Germany this summer, that the Flamels had appointed me their heir."

"No, you left that out," Anja said, suddenly looking shy.

"To be honest, I don't really know what I'm doing," Edward said, smiling ruefully at her. "I grew up poor and orphaned, and now I'm suddenly a Lord with all this money and all these estates… I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts, my bratty students, and even that idiot Lockhart."

Anja laughed gaily as they finally reached her table and took their seats between her parents and Henrick once Madam Maxime was seated. The whole table appeared to have shifted to accommodate one more seat. While greetings went around the table, quite a few seemed intimidated by him now that he was somebody of high society, so Edward tried to relax and act as normal as possible. Most opened back up to him again as breakfast progressed.

"Edward, there is someone here that I want you to meet," Anja said, indicating a blond girl in a Beauxbatons uniform sitting across from them. "My cousin, Fleur Delacour is in her fifth year here."

Fleur looked a lot like a younger and more posh version of Anja, who - despite her fetching looks and natural grace - came off as a very country girl-next-door type. Fleur was a high society pure blood and looked more polished. The girls' mothers were twin sisters who'd both benefitted from Perenelle Flamel's scholarship program. When the half-Veela twins had graduated from Beauxbatons, Fleur's mother had married a rich French pureblood with money and status, while Anja's mother had married a humble small-town half-blood who took over his family's cafe and bakery.

Despite her posh and snobby behavior, it was clear that Fleur loved and adored Anya and her aunt and uncle. She also seemed to approve of Edward and was very interested about Alchemy when Anja began telling everyone at the table what Edward did and would continue doing for a living in spite of his new status as a Lord.

Breakfast seemed to fly by and before Edward knew it, it was time for him to leave with Dumbledore and his father. He promised Anja that he'd write her soon and let Henrick and Fleur know that it was alright for them to write him as well before leaving. He ignored Hohenheim's pleased looking grin as they left the chateau and boarded the carriage that would take them back to Hogwarts. They dropped Hohenheim off at the Flamel estate in London before continuing on.

It was mid afternoon when they got back, so Edward returned to his rooms and took a nap until it was time for the feast. Edward was so glad to be out of his stuffy mourning dress robes and back into his usual comfortable attire. He got to the Halloween feast a bit late, so he didn't get to sit by Snape like he usually did. The only open chair, unfortunately, was next to Lockhart. When Edward slipped into the seat he was glad to see that Lockhart was too busy arguing with Trelawney about the proper way to read tea leaves to notice him. Professor Sinestra was seated on his other side and asked him how his trip went. Professors Burbage and Vector craned around in their seats beside hers to listen to him as well.

It turned out to be a fun feast all told. Hagrids pumpkins were ginormous as they hovered in the air above the great hall. Flocks of bats flittered about the ceiling through rafters and pumpkins, and there were dancing skeletons for entertainment along the walls. Even Lockhart was more tolerable this evening when he realized that Edward was back and eagerly listened to when Edward had to say about the Flamel Villa and Beauxbatons Academy, though he did cut in several times to talk about his own ventures in France.

After dinner, Edward was tired once more and was ready to head back to bed, but there was a sudden ripple of distress that spread amongst the students as he made his way out of the Great Hall with the rest of the staff. Dumbledore then began to move with purpose up the stairs to the second floor. Edward shared a concerned look with Snape and McGonagall and some of the other teachers and hurried to catch up with the headmaster, making their way down the corridor through a large gathering of students at the end of the hall. They could hear Filch yelling about something that they weren't sure of until they made it through to the front of the crowd.

"You!" Filch screeched, pointing an accusing finger at none other than Harry Potter. Why was it alway this kid? "You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll-"

"Argus!" Dumbledore barked before sweeping past Filch and Harry, who also had Ron and Hermione with him, towards a gruesome sight.

Edward felt his unease and concern grow when he saw Mrs. Norris, Filch's beloved cat, hanging by her tail from a torch bracket. She was as stiff as a board, and her big feline eyes were wide and staring sightless. Above her were foot high words had been daubed on the wall shimmering in bloody looking smears in the light cast by the torch.

THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS HAS BEEN OPENED.

ENEMIES OF THE HEIR, BEWARE.

Dumbledore carefully detached Mrs. Norris from the torch bracket before facing the distraught caretaker.

"Come with me, Argus," he said. "You, too, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger."

Lockhart nearly bowled Edward over as he stepped forward eagerly.

"My office is nearest, Headmaster - just down the hall - please feel free-"

"Thank you, Gilderoy," said Dumbledore.

The silent crowd of students and staff parted to let them pass. Lockhart, looking excited and important, hurried after Dumbledore. Edward, Snape and McGonagall joined them, dismissing students and harrying them back to their dormitories.

As they entered Lockhart's darkened office there was a flurry of movement across the walls. Edward rolled his eyes when he saw several of the Lockharts in the pictures dodging out of sight with their hair in rollers. The real Lockhart lit the candles on his desk and stood back. Dumbledore laid Mrs. Norris on the desk's polished surface and began to examine her. Edward watched Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchange tense looks as they sank into chairs outside the pool of candlelight. He made sure to position himself between them and Filch in case the man decided to go after Harry again.

The tip of Dumbledore's long crooked nose was barely an inch from Mrs. Norris's fur. He was looking at her closely through his half-moon spectacles as his long fingers gently prodded her. McGonagall was bend almost as close, her eyes narrowed and lips pinched in a thin line. Snape loomed behind them, half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression that made Edward frown. It was almost as though the man was trying hard not to smile. Edward knew no one other than Filch actually liked Mrs. Norris, but it was kind of mean to be happy about the poor thing being harmed in such a way. Of course there was always the chance (and it actually was most likely because) the man was just happy that Harry had found himself in trouble again. The boy was a trouble magnet.

Edward did his best to ignore Lockhart who was hovering around all of them, making unhelpful and outlandish suggestions that were punctuated by Filch's dry, racking sobs. The poor man was slumped in a chair by the desk, unable to look at Mrs. Norris, his face in his hands. As much as Edward disliked the guy, he couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He was just a miserable old miser who's only real friend was his mangy cat. His poor cat that was now lying stiff as a board on Lockhart's desk under the scrutiny of Dumbledore, who was now muttering strange words for spells Edward did not know under his breath as he tapped Mrs. Norris with his wand. But nothing happened. She continued to look as though she had been recently stuffed by the most sadistic taxidermist ever.

Lockhart was still prattling on. Edward only noticed because the man's portraits had returned had were all nodding along in agreement as he talked. One had forgotten to remove his hair net.

At last Dumbledore straightened up.

"She's not dead, Argus," he said softly.

Lockhart stopped abruptly in the middle of counting the number of murders he had prevented.

"Not dead?" choked Filch, looking through his fingers at his cat. "But why's she all - all stiff and frozen?"

"She has been Petrified," said Dumbledore. "But how, I cannot say."

Lockhart said something, but Edward ignored him like everyone else in favor of watching Filch's reaction.

"Ask him!" shrieked Filch, leaning forward to look around Edward so that he could turn his blotched and tearstained eyes towards Harry.

"No second year could have done this," said Dumbledore firmly. "It would take Dark Magic of the most advanced-"

"He did it, he did it!" Filch spat, his face purpling with rage. "You saw what he wrote on the wall! He found - in my office - he knows I'm a - I'm a-" the man's face worked horribly. "He knows I'm a Squib!"

"I never touched Mrs. Norris!" Harry cried loudly, looking uncomfortable now that everyone was looking at him. "And I don't even know what a Squib is."

"Rubbish!" snarled Filch. "He saw my Kwikspell letter!"

Edward frowned, feeling very confused. What the hell was a Squib? Why would anyone care that Filch was one? And what was a Kwikspell letter?

"If I might speak, Headmaster," said Snape from the shadows, "Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time." There was a slight sneer curling his mouth as though he doubted it. "But we do have a set of suspicious circumstances here. Why was he in the upstairs corridor at all? Why wasn't he at the Halloween feast?"

Harry, Ron and Hermione all launched into an explanation about going to Nearly Headless Nick's 500th Deathday party. It was an easy enough story to corroborate.

"But why not join the feast afterward?" asked Snape. "Why go up to that corridor?"

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry.

"Because - because," Harry stammered under the Potion Master's intense gaze. "Because we were tired and wanted to go to bed."

Edward frowned, knowing the boy was lying. Something had happened to draw those three up to that corridor.

"Without any supper?" said Snape, a triumphant smile flickering across his face. "I didn't think ghosts provided food fit for living people at their parties.

"We weren't hungry," said Ron just before his stomach gave a huge rumble. "Before," the boy amended. "The stuff down there smelled awful. Put us off our appetite at the time."

Snape's smile widened nastily. Edward shot him a look. Snape curbed his glee, but still turned to Dumbledore.

"I suggest, Headmaster, that Potter is not being entirely truthful," he said. "It might be a good idea if he were deprived of certain privileges until he is ready to tell us the whole story. I personally feel he should be taken off the Gryffindor Quidditch team until he is ready to be honest."

"Really, Severus," McGonagall said sharply, giving the man her own disapproving glower. "I see no reason to stop the boy playing Quidditch. This cat wasn't hit over the head with a broomstick. There is no evidence at all that Potter has done anything wrong."

"Innocent until proven guilty, Severus," Dumbledore said firmly.

Snape scowled and Filch looked furious.

"My cat has been Petrified!" Filch shrieked. "I want to see some punishment!"

"We will be able to cure her, Argus, said Dumbledore patiently. "Professor Sprout recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made that will revive Mrs. Norris."

"I'll make it," Lockhart butted in. "I must have done it a hundred times. I could whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep-"

"Excuse me," Snape cut in icily. "But I believe I am the Potions Master at this school."

There was a very awkward pause as Snape glared daggers at Lockhart.

"You may go," Dumbledore finally said to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Edward, would you please escort them to their house?"

"Yessir," Edward said, opening the door for the trio.

The three students exited as quickly as possible and let Edward lead them up a floor to an empty classroom on the third floor where he summoned a plate of sandwiches, a jug and three cups, which he filled with water.

"Alright you three," Edward huffed, "sit and tell me what the hell happened tonight. What brought you up to the second floor corridor and why does Filch think Harry had it out for his cat?"

Harry launched into an explanation about how he'd run into Nearly Headless Nick at the beginning of the week after a muddy Quidditch practice and got caught tracking in mud by Filch. Filch had apparently brought Harry down to his office to write him up, but had left Harry alone in the office when Peeves dropped some old and valuable vanishing cabinet in the room above the office. While Filch was out after Peeves, Harry had found the Kwikspell letter (that Filch had been going on about a little while ago) advertising how their program could help those who had trouble with casting spells or making potions. When Filch had returned to the office and realized that Harry had seen the letter, he'd thrown Harry out without writing him up. It turned out that good old Nearly Headless Nick had talked Peeves into causing a ruckus to help get Harry out of trouble. In return for his help, Harry had offered to go to Nick's deathday party. Ron and Hermione had gone with him, but they hadn't stayed too long. On their way up to catch the rest of the feast, Harry had heard a voice saying it was going to kill someone and had followed it to the second floor where they'd found Mrs. Norris.

Edward sat grimly, watching the trio as they nibbled (or, in Ron's case, scarfed down) the sandwiches and sipped at the water he'd summoned.

"D'you think I should have told them about that voice I heard?" Harry asked.

"No," said Ron, without hesitation. "Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the Wizarding world."

Edward and Hermione shook their heads.

Harry looked nervously around at all three of them.

"You do believe me, don't you?" he asked.

"'Course we do," Ron said quickly. "But, you have to admit it's weird…"

"I know it's weird," said Harry. "The whole thing's weird. What was that writing on the wall about? The Chamber has been opened… what's that supposed to mean?"

They looked at Edward, but he could only shrug. "Never heard of any Chamber of Secrets. I'll have to ask the other staff about it."

"You know, it rings a sort of bell," Ron said slowly. "I think someone told me a story about a secret chamber at Hogwarts once… might've been Bill…"

"And what on earth's a Squib?" Harry asked.

"I'd like to know that too," Edward said, Hermione nodding.

To their surprise, Ron stifled a snigger.

"Well - it's not funny really - but it's Filch," the redhead said. "A Squib is someone who is born into a Wizarding family but hasn't got any magic powers. Kind of the opposite of Muggleborn wizards, but Squibs are quite unusual. If Filch's trying to learn magic from a Kwikspell course, I reckon he must be a Squib. It would explain a lot. Like why he hates students so much. He's bitter."

A clock chimed somewhere and Edward sighed, vanishing the leftover food and drink.

"Alright you three. We'd better get you back to your dormitories before McGonagall finds us and decides to give you lot detention and Snape forces me to attend Slytherin Quidditch practices for my punishment."

Before he left them at the Gryffindor common room, he made Harry promise to tell him if he ever heard that voice again and that they were to come to him if they learned anything about what was going on. He didn't want a repeat of last year, but it looked like it was going to be another year where he was going to have to keep an eye on those three.

So, what did you guys think? I kind of like that in this fic I've come a moved more away from the source material and can put in some more original material. I know that a lot of things happened in this chapter, but I really wanted to get to the Halloween chapter in the book and of course to the Chamber of Secrets!

And the Flamels have passed away and left Edward their vast fortune and shit ton of responsibilities as a society wizard. I want to give credit where it is due. I borrowed a lot of ideas for what Edward's titles and new social responsibilities are from the "Rewritten in Time" series by ScotlandEvander. It's a great series where Draco Malfoy decided to switch sides and travels back in time to befriend Harry Potter and help him defeat Voldemort. If you haven't heard of it before, I really recommend it. I am currently rereading the series (hence how a lot of SE's ideas about Pureblood society worked their way into mine) for the second time since it's completion last year. It's well worth the read if you like redeemed Draco fics.

Also, Anja showed up again! Yeah, she's becoming a permanent OC character in this verse. Thankfully a lot of you like her and even ship her with Ed! And she's related to Fluer! Yay? Nay? Likey? Don't Likey? :P Also, meddling old men! I have really come to like writing Hohenheim. I have no idea how well I'm portraying his character, but at this point, I feel that he's bound to be OC anyway because of the change I made in his and Edward's relationship.

But now we have finally gotten into the meat of the fic and now we're going to be dealing with the Chamber of Secrets. We're going to start to see more of Edward interacting with the staff as they try to protect their students, though there will still be plenty of Harry and co. to be seen since Edward is (of course) going to get saddled with keeping an eye on the trouble magnet. I know you guys can't wait to see how that goes, and frankly, neither can I! Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this nice chapter, which is actually the 3rd longest chapter I've ever written for this series thus far. Please leave a review and let me know what you liked, what you look forward to, and maybe even suggest a character you guys would like to see Edward interact with more. :)

Also, little side note and self-plug-in for a new fic I'm also posting today. It's another Harry Potter crossover I'm calling The Scarlet Union; a Harry Potter and Detective Conan/Magic Kaitou crossover where Saguru Hakuba (one of the cameo students from the last chapter) and Akako Koizumi are married muggle-witch couple and rescue Harry Potter from the Dursleys and adopt him into their home. My twist? Akako Koizumi, the Scarlet Witch from the Magic Kaitou series, is a descendant of Salazar Slytherin. Think of what that'll imply for Harry, especially when I reach Chamber of Secrets. ;) So if you like Fullmetal Wizard and wanna read what is basically a Harry Potter AU where Harry is raised in a loving family by the only living heir of Slytherin and her muggle husband who confuse and baffle the magical community by defying pureblood social norms, please go check it out!