Title: Molten

Rating: Rated T.

Pairings: None.

Genre: Adventure and Hurt/Comfort.

Summary: Insignificant, adjective. Meaning too small or unimportant to be worth consideration. Edward realised he was this a long time ago. Maybe this time, though, he wouldn't be. Linear and drabble-esque.

Regarding Q&A: Any questions regarding the story can be asked via PM or review.

Beta: N/A - Help wanted.

Warnings: Language, blood/gore, and violence.

Category: Fullmetal Alchemist and Harry Potter crossover.

Uploaded: November 8th, 2012

(Section Break)

His eyes shone brightly, their exterior still wounded from scars long ago. It hurt. He hurt. Home was far away - too far. He was alone. Just like on that night.

His brother? Not here. Like the rest of them, he was...not retrievable. Stuck there, on the right side. His side of the Gate, the whatever-being-that-might-be-up-there damned Gate.

A catch? Of course. The Truth's a conniving bastard.

There was always a damn catch.

(Section Break)

"Just do me a small favour -"

Damn him.

"- Mr. Al-che-mist."

Damn him to Hell.

"Anything -"

Of course, he was played.

"- to bring my -"

Like a fool.

"- brother back!"

A damned fool. And then, Truth smiled. And Elric, he knew no more.

(Section Break)

Pain, unbearable pain. The feeling of your head about to explode from knowledge. The Truth's voice echoed around him.

"Your brother, your teacher's organs, your commanding officer's eyesight - what do you say? You don't even have to give up your alchemy. Just do me a small favour, Mr. Al-che-mist. Get rid of the nuisance known as the Dark Lord -"

His head pounded, blood flowing freely through his still-open wounds.

"- and I will return you home. Remember, Mr. Alchemist, that your brother's life -"

His heart clenched painfully as he attempted to stand up, wheezing and coughing up red.

"- will be forfeit if you cannot complete this task."

As he fell, knees too weak to support himself, he heard scrambled voices and saw flashes of coloured lights.

(Section Break)

"Who's he?"

"I found him outside. He was bleeding something awful."

"Is he waking up yet?"

"It's been a few days already -"

"- is he a spy...?"

Edward's ears hurt from all the talking. None of it made any sense, either! What language was this, anyway?

English, Truth's knowledge supplied him.

Shit. He's never heard of it. Where was he, anyway?

London, England. Great Britain, Europe.

Great. That was fucking helpful. Where the hell was that?

"He's awake!"

"His eyes - is he a werewolf?"

"See, he must be a spy!"

"Honestly, Ronald -"

"- my hearing -"

"- give him some room -"

"- that was my foot!"

And at last, quiet peace enveloped the room. Careful molten eyes scanned his "finders" or whatever they were from his position on a bed. They didn't seem like Dark Lords. So, he settled for a primitive way of communication.

Pointing to himself, he muttered, "Edward Elric."

And then the peace was broken.

(Section Break)

A silver-haired man with twinkling, sky-blue eyes frowned. He - this boy - was not part of the plan. Voldemort's spy? Severus would know better. He wasn't.

An unknown? Likely. And so, the secret mission codenamed MHPBU began.

Make Harry Potter Befriend the Unknown.

Dumbledore smiled merrily. Elric, well, he shivered.

(Section Break)

A hand with deathly-pale skin grasped its owner's bald head. His side of the link was filled with confusion and worry. Delving in, he saw a short boy with golden eyes. An unknown? And what looked to be a werewolf, as well.

Severus said nothing of the boy. Unless he - Merlin forbid - lied, it was an unknown. So, he snarled, "Find out more about the golden-eyed boy with Potter."

Voldemort smirked. The feeling given off made Elric shudder, hundreds of miles away.

(Section Break)

Dictionaries. They were good. Helpful for learning languages, actually. He needed one.

The girl with brown hair had a gleam in her eye, one of intelligence. Edward recognised that gleam. So, looking to her as a means of guidance, he merely said one word in his own language:

"Dictionary."

(Section Break)

He knew the book like the back of his hand. This dictionary had words - many words - but way to wield them. So, looking up from his book, he saw her from where he had been the last two weeks (a bed) and stated one word, in his own language:

"Grammar."

And she looked up, and begun to translate his German-French-and-something-else mix. Context clues were useful, she believed.

So she smiled. And he smirked right on back.

(Section Break)

Elric reflected. It was a past-time of his, to reflect. So he did.

He was transported in Exchange. He was found by the "Lights." The girl knew things, and she helped. A month was all it took to learn English. At least roughly.

She showed him magic, and he was grateful. The Dark Lord was explained, and he had smiled. The silver-haired man showed up, and he had frowned. He was offered residency, and he was suspicious.

But he accepted anyway. A bittersweet smile showed on his face. The Truth laughed.

(Section Break)

He sat up, stomach growling. Food; he needed food. He hadn't been eating the soups that the overweight housewife had been laying out for him, although he probably should have been.

And so, he shakily stood up. His knees wobbled. He walked.

A kitchen would be helpful, he thought.

(Section Break)

His mind hurt. Truth's knowledge was extremely detailed, but vague. How to comprehend it all, he didn't know. The hell's a wand? It sounded like the sticks from the fairy tales his mother would occasionally tell.

...When she was alive, of course.

The little creature in the dirty rags was irritable. Edward didn't like him, and the creature didn't like him. The girl had potential. She reminded him of Sheska; a bookworm. The rest tried to avoid him.

Edward sighed while the Order cringed at his presence.

(Section Break)

He saw her eyes. She was worried.

Why?

He tried to ask in a garbled mess of words thrown together.

"Why you worried? Eez not good for you."

She sighed and looked away, not bothering to correct his mediocre sentence structure. "Harry's hearing is today."

The boy's hearing? "Eez 'ee deaf?"

Hermione smiled lightly, but her face was plagued with worry. "No, Edward. He's on trial for underage magic."

(Section Break)

Magic was odd. It defied the laws - the Truth's laws - and was overall weird. He didn't like it. Transfiguration was something that would take getting used to, but at least the concept was the same. All of the concept, including Human Transmutation.

It was kind of scary, holding the power of life and death in your hands.

(Section Break)

"Trial?" he asked the brown-haired student.

"It's a government thing," she replied.

Government. A word he knew well, given its definition.

"'Ee be okay?"

"Well," she said softly, "we can hope, can't we?"

Later that evening, the boy in question was greeted by enthusiastic cheers. Edward was forgotten, and the others were content.

(Section Break)

Edward sighed, something that he did all too often.

The time for supplies had come. Hermione had explained he'd need robes. Robes? He'd show them he wouldn't wear them. He always would show them.

Just like he showed anyone who wronged his little brother.

(Section Break)

Alphonse Elric debated. The Truth sat behind him, smiling his creepy smile.

"So? What do you say?"

"I accept," he replied.

So, Alphonse was pushed. And the Truth smiled broadly.

(Section Break)

"A penny -"

It hurt.

"- for your thoughts?"

It hurt so bad.

"I want to see Brother."

He screamed.

"And in exchange?"

His eyes dilated.

"I'll give you -"

And his consciousness...

"- my...leg."

...faded...

"You've -"

...into darkness.

"- got me all figured out, Mr. Alchemist."

(Section Break)

To say Edward was shocked was an understatement. His brother - sweet, nice Alphonse - was there, on the porch. Without a leg.

So, Edward yelled out in anguish, running forward. The Order questioned the two of them immediately.

(Section Break)

Alphonse knew one thing: magic defied laws. So, he knew he could regrow his limb. A month? He'd do it in a week.

He'd be strong for his brother. His beloved older brother.

He smiled painfully at Edward. Edward let tears cascade slowly down his contorted-in-grief face, his body shaking at the sight.

(Section Break)

Roy was confused. He could see...

Why could he see? And where was -

He nearly yelled out in anger.

Stupid Fullmetal. Stupid Elric. Stupid – stupid Edward!

(Section Break)

Edward felt content. He had many copies of his signature outfit. Alphonse was alive. He could communicate, and all he needed to do was kill one Dark Lord.

How hard could it be?

He'd regret thinking that later.

(Section Break)

Hogwarts (odd name, Al and Ed thought) welcomed Alphonse and Edward. Well, the school itself did.

Having the privilege of arriving a few days early allowed the Elrics to explore. And explore they did.

...After being dragged out of the library.

(Section Break)

Edward did not like Dumbledore. Dumbledore was like the king; the piece of chess that made others obey, but never had to lift a finger.

Harry Potter was unwittingly his queen. Severus Snape, his bishop, moving "diagonally" through unknowing foes. His teachers, a rook. Can only go towards one goal, but could go as far as he wanted by influencing children. His knights, the Order. They fought, but were eventually disposable in face of the enemy.

And so many pawns. The most used pawn was the Ministry, however.

The Elrics. They were like...the twist of the game.

Edward explained this to Alphonse. His brother was saddened, but Alphonse also knew something. The Truth had told him in his native tongue. So he passed the warning on:

"The Dark Lord does not know fear." Alphonse sighed, mouth movements changing to what they originally had been. "He knows only corrupt power."

(Section Break)

The students were coming. Alphonse was excited. Perhaps it was the kitten Edward got him; Edward had bought the cat to remind him of Al after great debate while in Diagon Alley, getting supplies.

The cat's name was Abiit. Latin. Alphonse asked why the cat is named "Gone."

Edward smiled solemnly. "Because," he said, "we are gone."

Alphonse tilted his head questioningly.

"We are gone from our home. We are...away."

And Alphonse laughed lightly.

"Brother," he giggled, a feeling he loves, "it could also mean that my old body is gone." He smiles. "Or that your guilt is gone, Brother."

(Section Break)

Edward sighed. Dumbledore wanted to sort them into the Houses the students were in. The old cloth frightened him. Who'd bind a soul to a hat?

"You are brave," the hat said later on. "But you are also cunning. And very loyal - to your brother, anyway. I think, however, that Ravenclaw would suit you best. After all, you did manage to save them. And only quick and pure wit could have done that.

"Dumb luck might have as well, though."

Edward smirked and shuffled off to Ravenclaw. Alphonse then got on the stool.

And the hat went, "You are brave when your friends are in danger. You try to trick your brother into having stray cats, too, so you have some guile. You are fiercely loyal to Edward, so -" The hat sighed. "- I think you'd be happiest with him."

So Al jumped off the stool to Ravenclaw, making the expression of the Headmaster in the Great Hall turn downwards.

(Section Break)

Hermione was happy.

Edward was happy, so why shouldn't she be? So she smiled and began eating the Opening Feast once more.

(Section Break)

Edward saw the odd looks.

Transfer students, they must think, my ass.

After all, how often did anyone see a person wearing bright red when in Ravenclaw? Not to mention the other knew even less English than the other.

Ravenclaws didn't gossip, though. Too many books that needed reading.

(Section Break)

"My lord, Dumbledore seems to have offered them residency at the castle."

"'Them'?"

"It appears that the werewolf's brother appeared, my lord."

"Very well. What else?"

"They are Ravenclaws."

Voldemort's eyes narrowed.

"We'll send them a message. We -" He laughed mercilessly. "- must invoke fear in their hearts."

"My lord?"

"We will test the werewolf's loyalty."

"Y-yes, my lord."

"Take his brother."

"Of course, my lord."

(Section Break)

Alphonse always knew Edward had a sixth sense for battle. So when Ed told Al that he was nervous, it put him on edge.

It was no surprise that Death Eaters attacked that day. Alphonse was ready for them.

(Section Break)

Edward was very, very worried. "Where iz my bruder!?"

And they wouldn't reply, merely looking at the doors of the Hospital Wing.

(Section Break)

Alphonse disliked pain. It was the only thing he disliked about his returned body, even if it made him sound vain about his appearance.

"Bruder!" he shouted.

He was restrained to the bed. Moving was not good for his once again missing leg, which had been caught under debris. They'd shake their heads, and the nurse would tut-tut.

The pink toad of a "teacher" was nowhere to be seen, like he'd predicted.

And he'd shout one other thing, too.

"Ze Truth, Bruder!"

(Section Break)

Harry Potter furrowed his brow.

The Death Eaters were interested in the Elrics. Sirius would know something. Unfortunately, as it would turn out, he didn't.

Nobody did.

(Section Break)

Ron Weasley sighed. He was...

He sighed again. Perhaps another day he'd finally admit it.

He was jealous of Harry Potter.

(Section Break)

Edward hadn't moved from the doorway of the infirmary. He was hungry, tired, stressed, and upset.

"Let me zee Al, dammit!"

Then they opened.

Relief flooded Alphonse's senses .

"Bruder!" he yelled. Edward rushed up to him, smiling through his sleepiness. "Ze Truth, Bruder," Al whispered.

Edward froze, then embraced Alphonse tightly.

"I will take care of eet."

Edward's arm lost feeling.

"I promeese, Al."

And even if he couldn't understand what was said due to Edward's haste, Alphonse knew that Edward did a great deed.

He promised.

(Section Break)

"Bruder?"

"Al?"

"What are ve going to do about zee Truth?"

Silence hung in the air.

"We wait, Al. Like we alvays do, one way or anoder."

(Section Break)

Alphonse's leg had regrown. It was the same leg he lost to the Truth.

Edward's heart felt pained, but...almost all was well, right?

Right?

Right?

He didn't know.

(Section Break)

A chill swept over Edward. Rain, here?

He growled. Alphonse smiled, but said nothing. He liked rain. It reminded him of Mustang.

"Mister Mustang vould be useless out 'ere."

Edward laughed weakly and returned to the fireplace's side.

(Section Break)

Voldemort snarled at his spy.

Weak, pathetic.

"Bring me the werewolf!"

Severus Snape cringed at his lord's words.

(Section Break)

Harry Potter had a knack for getting into trouble. It figured he'd run into Edward having a nightmare. And as he casted silencing charms, he wondered.

Why the bloody hell did Voldemort attack the school just to get Edward?

(Section Break)

Sleep encompassed Roy as he read about alchemy. Riza sighed and began to put away his books, stuffing bookmarks in them and tidying his notes.

A title catched her eye. Watcher.

She opened it to find coded sentences.

(Section Break)

"Al?"

"Bruder?"

"Do you zink about home?"

"Sometimes."

"I miss them."

"I do too, Bruder."

(Section Break)

Hermione complained to Edward about the toad.

Edward smirked and just listened.

Who knew inattentive ranting could be so useful?

(Section Break)

Edward did not understand Quidditch. Al understood Edward's point of view.

What was the point?

Al commented about never enjoying sports like the other children. Edward looked downcast when Alphonse wasn't looking.

(Section Break)

"Bruder?"

"Al?"

"Do you zink zat Mustang and Miss Riza and everyvone are okay?"

"Of course."

"And Teacher?"

"You bet, Al. Everyzing's fine."

"Are you sure?"

Ed paused.

"Al, I zink it's time for bed. You must be tired."

"I'm not tired, Bruder."

Silence ensued.

"Al?"

"Hmm?"

"Zey'll be alright. I'm sure of it."

"Zat's good."

"Yeah," Ed agreed. "It is."

(Section Break)

Edward understood his role. One is all, all is one. So why doesn't anyone here get it?

Al doesn't know either.

(Section Break)

Edward is hopeless at magic.

"Damn it!"

"Mister Elric, language!"

His matchstick ended up turning into a matchstick on fire. Al sighed as his brother complained to him, working on a Charms essay he wasn't sure why he was even putting effort into.

(Section Break)

Dumbledore sighed wearily. The Minister smirked and Umbridge smiled broadly back at him.

Time to call in his Knight, he supposed.

(Section Break)

Edward cursed at the paper in front of him. "How do zey expect us to write in perfectly good Eenglish?"

Al shrugged hopelessly. "At least we don't 'ave to make speeches."

Ed nodded, spacing out. Al switched to his home tongue.

"At least they aren't asking us questions yet, huh, Brother?"

Ed sighed. "Soon, Al, they will. I'm just glad you've got barely anything to hide."

"That's not true," Al disagreed. "They'll still ask personal questions I'd rather not answer. Besides, it's you we should worry about. My eyes can be passed off as hazel. Yours, not so much."

"Well, I suppose they think I'm a werewolf then, huh?"

Al nodded. Ed grinned.

"Wouldn't be suspicious to go missing during a full moon, then!"

"Brother..."

"Al, we have work to do."

(Section Break)

Harry followed the Elrics under his Invisibility Cloak. Why were they in the Forbidden Forest?

And then it clicked. Yellow eyes, full moon, Forbidden Forest...

Edward was a werewolf.

He didn't sleep well that night.

(Section Break)

Riza showed the book to Roy. Roy felt like smirking, a change from his recent sombre days.

Two weeks had gone by since the Elric brothers had gone into the Gate. They didn't know that several months had passed on the Other Side.

But alas, they still tried, and that is what counted.

(Section Break)

Perhaps it was meant to be. Hermione didn't know, but it seemed like the obvious solution. If Edward Elric was a werewolf, the Headmaster ought to know.

So she told him.

(Section Break)

Roy studied. Izumi studied. But most of all, Winry studied, because when the one you love is missing, it became hard to take the mind off it. And that was true for all of them.

The annoying bastard a father, the mentor a protective mother, and the gearhead a lover.

(Section Break)

Voldemort knew he was a Slytherin the moment the old fool told him about Hogwarts.

Sure, he was cunning. And yeah, he was Dark, but most of all, he knew how to wait.

So wait he did.

(Section Break)

Edward has a lighter accent than Alphonse. The reason I put in accents was because they did not have time to perfect them. They have only been in this universe for maybe five months. You will notice a slight decrease in the 'v' and 'z' use progressively throughout both the chapter and the story.

I went through and changed some of the v's to w's due to one of my (awesome) reviewers telling me some interesting information. So, thank you, Bsum1!

I went through and changed some of this since it wasn't how I wanted it. (as of 9/9/13 and later 12/15/13)

Also, if you review, virtual cookies. If not, that's fine too. As long as you like the story, everything's all good!

Shameless advertising: If you're a fan of Fullmetal Alchemist and Naruto crossovers, I have a story called The Everlasting Sins. I also have a Naruto one-shot called A Way to Win, if anyone's interested.