AN: Welcome. This story is starting just before the fifth book and four years after the events of the promised day. I hope you enjoy my story.

As an obvious note, I own nothing.

Gateways

By The Rising Robin

"Equivalence states that there is always an equal exchange. Fathers attempt at ascension on the Promised Day opened a door to another world, just prior to Harry Potter's first year. Four years later, Dumbledore brokered a deal for two alchemists to come teach at Hogwarts and help in the coming war. Shadows are stirring across England. Father's influence never truly left."

Chapter 1

"Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of equivalent exchange."

Central City, Amestris

July 22nd, 1919 (Amestrian Calendar)

The Elric brothers stood outside of Central Military Command at the heart of Central City in the heart of Amestris. Medium sized suitcases sat next to both men on the concrete. Edward, the elder at 20 years of age, wore a long brown traveling coat over his clothes. They consisted of brown leather shoes, brown slacks, and a lighter brown buttoned vest over a tieless white dress shirt that looked like it had been slept in. Ed's golden hair was up in a high pony tail. Alphonse, the younger at 19, kept his hair much shorter and parted on one side. The slightly taller young man resembled their mother as much as Ed resembled their father. His shoes and pants matched his brother's but his vest was a forest green and matching tie. The shirt he wore was still nicely pressed and the sleeves were rolled up the elbows. Al's traveling coat was draped over his arm so he could feel the air over his arms.

Al gave a sideways glance at Ed as he unconsciously clenched his automail right hand. Melancholy feelings rose up in his chest, which he quick clamped down on. Alphonse Elric had sacrificed his soul to restore his brother's arm so he could continue the fight against Father on his Promised Day. The next thing he remembered as waking up in Ed's lap, his head supported by one arm. The other had been reverted back to its shattered automail state.

Ed never fully explained what happened at the last time at the Gate. What he did say was that Truth returned Al's body in payment for preventing Father from absorbing him. The older brother then sacrificed his right arm for a second time in exchange for his brother's soul. Al was grateful and knew that the proximity to Central Command made his brother greatly uncomfortable.

The Fullmetal Alchemist stuck his steel hand in his front pants pocket and withdrew his silver pocket watch to check the time. Snapping it shut and returning it to his pocket he said, "Come on, Al. Let's get this over with."

"Brother, relax. I'm sure whatever General Mustang called us here for is important. I was such short notice after all," replied Al with a pensive look on his face.

Ed smiled and lightly punched his brother in the arm with his right hand. "Ever the optimist aren't you, little brother?" Without waiting for a reply, he lifted the suitcase at his side and began up the front stairs to the main building.

"Wait up, Ed!" Al hefted his own case and hurried to catch up with his brother and get to the office of General Roy Mustang.

It only took them about ten minutes for them to traverse the familiar halls towards the general's office. Mustang's staff consisted of his trusted team that had carried him through the Promised Day, including the recently promoted Captain Riza Hawkeye. The outer office was a quiet buzz of activity with no one giving them more than a wave or muttered greeting. Whatever assignment they were about to be given seemed to cause an excess of paperwork. An omen that any member of the military knew to be a bad sign of things to come.

Al stepped forward and got the Captain's attention, "Good day, Captain Hawkeye."

"Colonel Elric, Major Elric. Are you here to report to the General?" she asked rising to attention.

"Yes ma'am. His letter seemed urgent is everything alright?" Concern was evident in the young man's voice and his brother's face conveyed a similar sentiment.

A sympathetic smile passed over Riza's face. "Yes, sir. Everything is fine. You and the Colonel can leave you bags out here." Ed and Al exchanged uneasy looks but left the suitcases next the desk anyway.

Ed opened the door and stepped into the inner office with his brother close behind. Three men were waiting on the other side. The General sat behind his desk on the far side in his royal blue uniform. The two men sitting across from him could be counted among the strangest people either Elric brother had ever seen.

Glasgow, Scotland

July 22nd, 1995 (Gregorian Calendar)

Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody's day had started off as normal. The events of the past school year had left him paranoid as ever. Almost a year of being locked inside of his own truck had left him with fresh mental terrors and a severe case of malnutrition. As with all of his trauma induced nightmares they would fade with time but, for now he just had live with them.

The nighttime delusions often left him with only a few hours of sleep and this night had been no different. He rose from bed early that morning and began his morning routine of checking his defenses and taking his daily nutrition supplementation and pain potions. When he finally sat down to eat, his meal was interrupted by the flashing of a phoenix flaming into his dining room. The grizzled ex-auror fired numerus curses at the bird, which all were avoided causing the kitchen to become a smoking ruin.

When Mad-eye finally stopped attacking, Fawks the phoenix presented the letter he carried and promptly flamed away. The man struggled to pick the letter off the ground, cursing Albus Dumbledore the entire time. He set the letter on the table and scanned for any curse or trap he could think of. Finally after ensuring the letter was in fact just a letter he opened it and laid it on the table to read.

Dear Alastor Moody,

I need to finally retrieve the alchemy professors for the upcoming class this school year. As you know they are coming from beyond the Great Doors in the Ministry building. I would like it for you to accompany me as I believe it may do you good to get out of the house once in a while. Please floo to my office at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

Every adult in the Wizarding World, especially those who worked for the ministry around the time of their appearance, knew of the Great Doors. Four years ago in mid-1991, giant black stone doors with intricate carvings simply rumbled into existence in the middle of what was then the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. Two wizards died in the event and the office was virtually destroyed. The MMAO was then relocated to a small unused corner of the Ministry and forgotten about.

The Daily Prophet was ecstatic. The Doors simply defied all logic and magical theory. All curses fired at them hit with deadly accuracy but made no marks or effected them in any way. Magical scans simply declared that they did not exist. They looked like they were there and they acted like any other physical barrier but magic confirmed they did not exist. When no more information could be gleaned from a distance the Prophet moved on to other topics such as the return of Harry Potter.

For the next two years, Unspeakables and Aurors alike dared each other to go and touch them. It wasn't until a foolish young Auror was breaking the record for proximity to the Great Doors, and tripped, did them open at a touch. On the other side laid another world, specifically the country of Amestris, and alchemical knowledge was rich there. The Führer of the Country stonewalled the Ministry and all magic peoples from entering. Eventually towards the middle of 1994, Albus Dumbledore began to open communication in order to have an alchemy class taught at Hogwarts.

The last thing Mad-Eye had heard was that the Minister had shouted at a young Amestrian general by the name of Roy Mustang over the questioning of the resurrection of Voldemort. Fudge had demanded to know who told him this lie but Mustang reportedly smiled and said that he had read it somewhere. Moody grumbled as he stood and secured the house before flicking his wand at his fireplace causing a fire to spring to life. A pinch of floo powder later, they turned to a stunning shade of emerald. He stepped into the flames and threw down another amount while shouting, "Headmasters Office, Hogwarts!"

One Hour Later, Ministry of Magic

Traveling the halls of the wizarding government with Albus Dumbledore was a quiet affair. The man was all but outcast from wizarding society for his claims that Voldemort had returned a little over a month ago at the end of the Twi-Wizard Tournament. Were it not for the fact that Dumbledore was the only Wizard allowed in Amestris following the esteemed Minister's outburst, he would not allowed within sight distance of the Great Doors. As he passed the crowds of ministry workers, they fell silent leaving only the sound Mad-Eye's staff landing on the cold stone floor.

The desk clerk in the antechamber outside of the main room greeted them somewhat coldly.

"Hello, I have an appointment in Amestris. I need passes for myself, my associate Mr. Moody, and the two professors I will be bringing back with me," said Dumbledore in his usual grandfatherly voice which caused Mad-Eye to snort quietly.

The clerk rolled his eyes and withdrew four passes from his desk and filled the first two out for the present men. "What are the names of the incoming professors?"

Dumbledore shrugged. "That, I cannot say. The General neglected to mention."

The young wizard huffed and muttered something about crazy old men making extra paperwork. "Fine. Just ensure that they have proper identification."

"Thank you." The old man and his companion walked through the doors flanked by two aurors. The Great Doors stood mute in the center with four aurors stationed around the room. Next to the doors was another clerk who checked their passes and laid a trembling hand on the door. Black stone swung out to reveal a bright white expanse with an open door a short distance away. The two man nodded at one another and they stepped into the white abyss.

END OF CHAPTER ONE

END NOTE: That was chapter one. Favorite, review, or set fire to your laptop. I don't know, I'm not your supervisor. Anyway, next chapter will be up next week.

In the meantime, have a good week.

-Rising Robin