Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist/Harry Potter
Title: Endless Moment
Part: 01?
Genre: General/Drama
Rating: PG13
Warning: Crossover
Spoilers: FMA episode 51; HP book 5
Summary: Sequel to Mr. Elric.
Chapter 01: Consequences of Failure
He had failed.
One night, right after dinner, the students were ushered out and the doors of the Great Halls were barred. No one had noticed a certain vertically-challenged person slip in swiftly before the doors slammed shut.
They didn't think much of it- perhaps the house elves were doing the annual cleaning before the other schoolchildren returned from Christmas. Whatever reasons their creative minds came up with, there was no reason to be overly suspicious of anything.
But that night, there was no avoiding that frightful seize of energy emitted from the Great Hall that night. Hermione dropped her Arithmancy book and Neville fell clean off the couch. Naturally, those who felt it, basically everyone, rushed to investigate. All they saw was Professor Snape carry out a tarp covered figure dripping liberal amounts of blood- which was promptly removed by Professor Flitwick- all the way to the hospital wing. Then they had to scurry back to their houses, for Professor McGonagall threatened the loss of many house points should she catch them out of their common rooms after hours.
The next day, Mr. Elric was found to be missing from his usual station amidst the paper and books. Two and two together equates wild and groundless rumors. And in situations as such, it wasn't exactly helpful that over half the school would return the day after, just in time to catch and spread the aforementioned wild and groundless rumors.
"Mr. Elric, you know..."
"..blood- lots of blood, there was."
"Yea, he had to be carried out. No, I don't know how he is, Pavarti."
But since nothing was confirmed and they dared not ask the Professors for fear of being the victim of the Evil Eye, anticipation levels rose ever so higher.
---
"Edward? ED!"
He was numb. He couldn't see or feel anything, but he was pretty damn sure that if he could, his left leg- or what remained of it- would be causing him massive pain.
"Ed," someone touched his forehead, "Sind Sie wach? Are you awake?"
"...Hohenheim?"
There was a sigh of relief. "What happened?"
Suddenly, Ed was overcome with the desire to laugh, loud and hard. "It was different," he said, feeling quite air headed from the anesthetic. "The Gate was different." A hoarse laugh ripped out of his throat. Then another, followed quickly by another until his entire body racked with laughter that eventually transitioned into dry, tearless sobs.
"What happened?" Hohenheim asked again, this time quieter, more subdued.
"Do you remember the first time I saw the Gate?" Ed babbled. "My head was stuffed with so much information I though I'd die?"
"Yes."
"This Gate is different," Ed repeated for the umpteenth time with sudden coherency. "It wants other things. This one requires more than just ability. This is the gate of Wizards so it wants magical abilities. Since wizards channel their energy through wands and my kind of magic probably isn't compatible, it did the same thing it did before and threw me back-" here, he broke off and the tears flowed freely.
Hohenheim put his head in his hands and sighed heavily. This was no supposed to happen. This was not the point of Edward coming here. To have this sort of outcome after all the blood, sweat, and tears...
"Go to sleep, Edward." he said softly, allowing the Nurse to replace the bandages around Ed's eyes. "Go to sleep mein Sohn." My son.
---
He was escorted back to the fireplace from whence he came by the Headmaster himself. The halls were empty, but as he passed through, there was a nagging presence in the corner but when he looked, no one was there.
"We managed to recover his arm." Dumbledore was saying, "but Edward lost his left leg from the knee down and his sight was damaged. We'll do what we can for his eyes, but he may have to wear glasses for the rest of his life. Also," they stopped in front of the blazing fire. "I would like to ask for your consent on Edward remaining here." There were deeper meaning behind his words and both of them knew it.
"Edward can decide for himself." Hohenheim said, tossing a handful of powder into the flames. "Thank you for informing me of what happened.
Then he was gone.
---
The one major thing that bothered Hohenheim at the moment was that Edward had said this Gate wanted 'other things'. What else did it take? He already lost the leg of flesh his little brother so painstakingly returned to him, he nearly lost his eyesight altogether; was that enough to satisfy this Gate, which may or may not operate on Equivalent Trade?
It wasn't until he returned to his house in Deutschland did it hit him. During his entire visit, Ed did not graze the subject of Amestris.
Was it possible? Could this Gate have taken from him his will to return home?
---
es gibt keinen Gott.
There is no God.