a/n: Well...this took a while to get out. I really have no excuse other than the sudden and irresistible temptation to work on other stories, but at least I finally got it out! Now that this is done, I'll be able to focus on ASIA and several other fics that are in the works.
Many thanks to all of you who are following this story or wrote reviews. This is one of my favorite fics to write (even with the horrible update times), and it is great to know that people love it like I do. Thanks!

Without further ado: the final installment of Gate Crasher!

Key:
When will the story start? = thoughts
"Soon?" = talking
"You could always just start reading." = Truth talking or magnified voices
~o(0)o~ = viewpoint change
~~~v~~~ = time skip

Gate Crasher 3: Back to the Future

White. Ivory stretching to an invisible horizon. The only things left in existence were an ominous gate of grey stone, Sirius, and–

"Hello~ Little Wizard."

Sirius cursed inwardly at the sight of a horribly familiar grin. Apparently, not everyone kept their curses silent.

"Dammit, Truth!"

Sirius spun around to see Ed pushing himself up from the milky floor. The blond's golden eyes raged with the same fire that spilled from his tongue as the alchemist advance menacingly on the Gate's guardian, proving that his vocabulary had become even more colorful since his visit to the Black estate. The pale shadow's grin significantly dimmed.

"Oh…Mr. Alchemist. I…have been expecting you?"

Sirius snorted at the obvious uncertainty in the being's voice. "Sure you were."

"Doesn't matter." Ed crossed his mismatched arms in front of his chest. "Why am I here and how do I get back?"

"You are not supposed to be here at all, Mr. Alchemist," The alabaster silhouette propped its chin against its single, flesh palm. "but wizards and alchemy do not readily mix, and you were dragged into my domain as the result." Ed cursed, and Truth's grin returned. "What's the matter, Mr. Alchemist? You loved to bargain before: what changed your mind?" The smile mocked the alchemist, stretching impossibly wide across the pale face. "Afraid it'll cost an arm and a leg?"

The blond looked ready to strangle that taunting smirk, but Sirius felt his jaw drop as he finally made the connection.

"Those are your limbs." He muttered numbly. The alchemist turned to face him, confusion plain on his features. Sirius pointed from Truth's two splotches of peachy color to Ed's automail. "He has your real arm and leg!"

Truth cackled, "I told you that there were consequences for entering my domain, Little Wizard!"

"Why…?" Sirius began, conflicted on why Ed would ever bargain with the grinning jerk.

The blond sighed, as if explaining took too much energy he would rather put to use pummeling the Gatekeeper. "Sins come at a price, Sirius."

The wizard felt an irrational anger begin to rise within him at the alchemist's flippant tone. "So you make a deal with the devil?" What did he gain? Power? Wealth? Was he seeking immortality like Voldemort? "Was it worth it?"

Ed's steely-gold glare silenced the wizard, his left hand coming up to touch the cold steel of his prosthetic. The alchemist took a deep breath before answering, and Sirius thought his eyes softened just slightly. "No deal with Truth ever is. Hey," Ed turned to face the grinning being, jerking a metal thumb at the wizard as he asked flippantly, "Can I trade Al for this idiot?"

"Hey!"

"Just kidding." Sirius did not appreciate Ed's sense of humor. "Stay out of my past, will you? It shouldn't matter." The blond turned back to the pale silhouette. "You know I'm not in a position to barter anything, Truth, so you better not expect me to pay for this little detour."

"Mmm," The being shifted its shoulders as if weighing its options. "You may be right, Mr. Alchemist," It began after a while, "But I can't just send you back for free, now can I?"

Ed raised one eyebrow. "Can't you?"

Something was bothering Sirius. "Hey, why do you call me 'Little Wizard' but call Ed 'Mr. Alchemist'?"

"Shut up, Sirius." Ed tossed over his shoulder. "What are you plotting, Truth?"

"Well~ the Little Wizard needs to go home, so~" The white figure snapped and the Gate's doors began sliding open to reveal thousands of shadowy hands. "Why not send you with him?"

Sirius pumped his fist, "Yes!" He was going home!

"Hell no!" Right…Ed wasn't going to be all that happy.

~~~v~~~

"…" The stolen copy of The Daily Prophet fell from Sirius's numb fingers, but the wizard didn't notice. Dumbledore dead? Snape headmaster? Voldemort expected to attack Hogwarts? Has the world fallen apart since I was gone? And the date… the date can't be right. It can't be!

…But if it is… "I've been gone nearly two years?" But I've been gone less than a day? Wait, does Harry think I'm dead? How could Truth–

Sirius straightened and looked around the empty street. "Hold on…Where the hell did Ed go?"

~o(0)o~

"Dammit, Truth!" Ed dove to the ground to avoid yet another chunk of stone flying through the air. "What is this? A war zone?"

Several times he tried to rise, only to frantically duck a piece of rubble or jets of colored light. Resigned to staying down, Ed glanced around the destroyed corridor. Right next to him were the remains of a destroyed wall, and near his left foot–

"Hey!" Ed hissed. "You alive?" There was no reaction from the head of bloodied, red hair, but Ed knew better than to assume the worst. Making sure to keep his head low to the ground, the alchemist scooted backwards until his face was level with the other man's. With surprise, Ed actually recognized the pale face and sightless eyes that greeted him; it was Fred–or was it George?–one of the twins he had briefly seen while he was at Sirius's house. If Ed was going solely based on height, it was obvious that significant time had passed since he had last seen him. A flick of his eyes showed that the twin was wearing a torn, dusty set of casual clothing, but there were no obvious signs of injuries besides the crimson trickled that had traced its way from his hair to his jaw line.

Ed tugged his left glove off with his teeth before pressing his fingers to the red head's neck. The alchemist breathed a sigh of relief when he felt a fluttering pulse beneath his flesh fingertips.

"Good. Alright. Good." The blond muttered to himself as he continued his examination, using his hand to gingerly search for injuries. "Concussion? Likely. Broken ribs? No: one broken, two fractured. What, does this kid sleep with his eyes open?"

Of course, there was no way Ed could have known that the Weasley twins did in fact both sleep with their eyes open–a hard-earned skill put to valiant use in many a prank.

The alchemist paused to think for a moment before brining his palms together in a clap that was lost in the sounds of battle around them. Placing one hand on the redhead's chest and the other on his head, Ed did what he could to relieve pressure and strengthen bone. Thank Truth alkahestry doesn't count as human transmutation. Another clap, and the wizard's outfit alchemically hemmed to create bandages.

"Right. Now to get out of here." A short clap created a small hole in the floor that revealed the presence of another hallway beneath them, this one miraculously clear of rubble and dueling wizards. "Hang on." The useless warning was accompanied by the buzz of alchemical lightning, and the floor melted from beneath the pair.

Ed–having expected the fall– landed in a crouch, stretching out am arm to lower the unconscious wizard to the ground.

"Bloody Hell!" The alchemist's head jerked up at the female voice. "Wotcha–Fred?"

Oh, so this one is Fred. Ed glanced from Fred back to the woman. "You know this kid?"

The witch's expression had become guarded once she realized that Fred wasn't alone, her graceful features tightening beneath bright pink hair. "Yeah? And who're you?" Ed didn't miss the way her wand was trained unwaveringly at his heart. Smart. She knows it makes a better target than the head.

"Not an enemy." Normally, Ed would have asked the woman's name, but he had other concerns at the moment. "Do you know where I can find Sirius Black?"

~o(0)o~

"Anybody home?" Sirius cursed as his voice echoed through the Black house with only silence for a reply. Where was everyone?

Sirius glanced at the rolled up Prophet in his fist. "Right. Hogwarts."

As it turned out, being believed dead for two years has its advantages for a wanted man. Sirius was able to apparate from his house to Diagon Alley to Hogsmead without so much as a single scream or pointed wand.

However, the near-abandoned state of Diagon Alley had afforded Sirius a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So once he had apparated to Hogsmead, the forgotten convict slid gracefully onto his…acquired…broomstick and flew to the borders of Hogwarts as quickly as the Firebolt could manage.

~o(0)o~

"Umm…" Ed wasn't sure what to make of the witch's conflicted, grieving, and slightly angry expression. His mind went back to his first meeting with Sirius and the wizard's reluctance to give his name. Right…Sirius might be a criminal here…In that case, what should I–

"I don't have time for this." The woman shook she head and turned away. "I need to find Remus–"

"REMUS!" Remus Lupin: Ed knew that name, and that was good enough for him. How many 'Remus's could there be? After sliding Fred into a relatively safe place behind a statue, the alchemist clambered off the ground and jogged to catch up with the bubble-gum headed witch. "Lead on, Lady."

"…You aren't a Death Eater, are you?" The woman glanced over at the blond who kept pace with her as they weaved and dodged through the battleground. The combatants were a strange mix of children, adults, and shadowy figures wearing masks and cloaks, though Ed noticed the occasional midget-like creature scurrying underfoot.

"Do I look like one?" It was an honest question, seeing as Ed had no idea what a Death Eater was. All else failing, he would place his bet on the masked group.

"I s'pose not, but you're not Order, either."

Ed ducked a jet of scarlet light. "What makes you say that?"

"Easy: I've never met you in my life. Name's Tonks."

The alchemist nodded his understanding. "Ed. I– Watch out!" He dropped into a crouch and used his foot to sweep Tonks's legs from underneath her. An angry green light passed an inch above her head. With a shaken glance in Ed's direction, the witch picked herself up and continued running.

"Thanks."

"No problem." They sped through ruined corridors and raging spell fire, eventually skidding around a corner to find a shabbily-dressed man with brown hair dueling one of the masked figures. They arrived just in time to see the masked wizard fire an orange spell at the man Ed recognized as Lupin. The jet of light managed to graze Lupin's sleeve, cutting through the fabric and immediately drawing blood.

"He hasn't seen us yet," Ed whispered quickly while gesturing at the dark wizard. "So we can still circle around to flank–"

"Get away from Remus!" Tonks cried as she sprinted towards the unmasked wizard.

Ed nearly slapped his own forehead. Was Tonks trying to get Lupin killed?

"Tonks?" Lupin's head swiveled comically at the sound of the woman's voice, and, now distracted from the duel, promptly tripped over a rock. Unfortunately, the masked man had no problem maintaining concentration and firing a bolt green straight at Remus's chest.

"Noooo!" Tonks threw herself between the spell and her fallen husband.

"Oh for crying out loud–!" Ed stepped in front the pair and stuck his automail into the path of the spell.

Ping! The green light hit the steel prosthetic and bounced off towards the ceiling, leaving all three wizards to stare at the alchemist, stunned.

Ed rolled his eyes. "Come on! I thought you people were wizards– not idiots!"

Of course, the redirected spell chose that moment to bring down several tons of stone ceiling onto their heads.

~o(0)o~

"I never remember the trip from Hogsmead taking this long!" Sirius grumbled as he trudged through the thick brush at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. "The thestrals must know a short-cut."

Having been forced to abandon the lovely Firebolt at the edge of Hogwarts's protective boundary, the presumed-dead, highly annoyed ex-convict was making his way through the forest to get to Hogwarts. He would have taken the road…if it hadn't been full of various monster corpses and looked as if the earth had decided to attack itself. In the distance, Sirius could see a thick cloud of smoke rising from the general direction of the castle. Strangely enough, he couldn't hear any sounds of fighting.

Either they managed to repel the Death Eaters, or… Sirius began running, praying that Truth wasn't cruel enough to do that. Trying to dodge branches and keep his footing was too difficult at that pace, so the animagus slipped into his canine form as he bounded through the dark woods. With the change, everything became sharper: the light more obvious and the shadows nearly vanishing.

Sirius was still a ways from the school when he heard soft footsteps coming from somewhere to his right. Not knowing who or what it was, the animagus slowed down and crept closer, morphing back into his human for so that he could draw his wand. In front of him, Sirius could see the trees thinning into what seemed to be a small clearing. There was a figure standing in the center, but it was too dark to see any details with his human eyes.

"Lumos." A familiar voice whispered, and a grin broke over the animagus's face as the wand light illuminated his favorite godson.

~o(0)o~

Harry closed his eyes as he turned the Resurrection stone over in his hand three times. He knew it had worked when he heard the sound of shifting feet on the twig-strewn ground of the forest.

This is it. Harry opened his eyes and looked around.

Two loving smiles shone back at him– the pale figures of the parents he had only ever seen in pictures. James's hair was the same untidy mess he had passed down to his son, and Lilly's brilliant green eyes reflected her huge smile as she stepped closer to her only child.

"You have been so brave…" She began, but was cut off as another figure crashed loudly into the clearing.

"Harry! Thank Merlin I managed to find you!"

Harry whipped around to face the new threat, wand ready to– "Sirius?" The form of his dead godfather seemed more substantial than Harry's parents (maybe because he hadn't been dead nearly as long?) and looked as if he wanted to crush Harry in a hug. "I-I don't–"

Sirius threw back his head and laughed. "Oh, you have no idea how good it is to be back from the other side. I thought I might never see you again."

Harry glanced incredulously at the small, black stone in his palm. He had thought that it might only bring back his parents, but if it summoned Sirius as well…Lupin only died tonight, so maybe you have to be dead longer for the Stone to work? "Sirius…" The animagus paused at Harry's hesitant tone, raising one eyebrow to make an expression so achingly familiar to Harry that he almost couldn't ask the next question. "Is it quick? Does it hurt?"

Sirius seemed confused for the briefest moment, but then he chuckled. "Quick? Apparently it's been two years, so I wouldn't exactly call it speedy. Pain on the other hand…" The figment of Harry's godfather shuddered, a slightly haunted light shining in his eyes. "Unless you consider the feeling of a thousand fingers tearing you apart piece by piece while your mind is shot through with blinding light to be enjoyable, I do not recommend going through that Veil."

Harry gulped. That hadn't been the answer he was hoping for.

"But hey:" Sirius shrugged, the happy grin coming back to his face. "Everything's good now, so all we need to do is find Ed and–"

"I didn't want you to die," Harry interrupted. The words spilled out before he could stop them. "Any of you. I'm sorry–!" He broke himself off, unable to continue.

"Harry, who's dead? Who died?" Sirius's tone was urgent as he stepped forward, his hands moving to touch Harry's shoulders. Harry pulled away before they could touch–or more accurately pass through him.

"Don't you know?" Harry's throat constricted with grief, but he managed to choke out the names: "Fred and Lupin and Tonks and you are all dead, and it's entirely my fault! I should have–"

"What." The color had drained from Sirius's face, and the figment's knees looked ready to buckle. His godfather ran a shaking hand through his hair as he tried to stay calm. "Explain."

"Harry, dear, I think you may have the wrong idea." Lilly tried to start, but Harry was too wrapped up in his own emotions to hear her.

"If I had been more prepared when the wall exploded, then Fred would still be here." Harry clenched his fists. "Instead we barely had time to realize he was gone before we had to retreat. I-I left his body behind and ran away like a coward!"

"Harry, they're not–" James began, but again, went unnoticed by his son.

"And Remus?" A mask had settled over Sirius's features, making it impossible for Harry to know what was happening in his godfather's head.

"Tonks ran off when she heard Lupin was dueling Dolohov, but by the time the rest of us got there, all we could find was Lupin's wand and a mountain of rubble." Harry's voice cracked with emotion. "And then Dolohov is seen prancing free and unharmed through the halls, gloating about killing two Order members. If only I had killed him at the café instead of obliviating him!"

"…but you don't have their bodies?" Sirius's voice seemed restrained, and when Harry looked at him, he thought he could detect hope in those long-dead eyes.

"No…" Harry mumbled. "Not yet."

Sirius let out a huge sigh of relief, his posture sagging as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. "Good. Great." He jabbed a finger at Harry, his tone growing lighter. "Never assume someone is dead until you see the body– especially if it is a werewolf or a Weasley. I would have thought you had learned that during your third year–" The animagus stopped. "Wait…Did–Did you include me among the dead earlier?"

~o(0)o~

"…d…Ed…wake up, Ed!" The concerned, female voice floated through Edward's darkened consciousness, rousing the alchemist from the depths of sleep and luring him back to reality. Slowly, Ed became aware of the thick dust clogging his nostrils and the warm presence of another person– no, scratch that, at least two people– near his head. Bits of rock were poking into his cheek, but he remained face-down on the rough floor, deciding to find out more about his situation before revealing that he was awake.

"He probably has a concussion." A different voice suggested, this one male.

Where am I?

"Ya think?" Sarcasm dripped from the female voice. "It's a bloody miracle that he didn't crack his skull open on the floor the way he hit it." The world beyond the alchemist's closed eyelids was dark.

Am I in a cave? How did I get here?

"I wish we had some way to get to his legs." The male lamented.

Legs? That's right: there was a strange pressure on his legs but no feeling. Shouldn't his real leg at least have feeling? Experimentally, Ed attempted to shift his legs from under whatever was holding them.

"Gah!" Ed bit his lip to choke off his shout. It was now painfully clear that his legs were trapped–crushed– under something.

"Ed? Ed, are you awake now?" The alchemist could feel a soft hand place itself on his arm, likely in concern. When he opened his eyes, he found that he had been right earlier: they were in complete darkness.

Who are these people? Where's Al?

Ed let himself recover before trying to speak, pushing down the hot daggers striking out from his leg. "…Yeah," No use hiding it now. "And you are?"

"It's me: Tonks. Remus is here too." The woman replied cautiously. "Are you feelin' alright?"

Tonks…Tonks… Where do I know that from– Ah, right: pink hair, witch, knows Remus and maybe Sirius.

"Ha…" Ed allowed himself a pained chuckle. He was definitely not 'feeling alright'. "No, but you said Remus is here? What happened?"

"When the ceiling began falling, you clapped your hands on the ground and then the world went dark. That's all we know." The male voice– presumably Lupin– answered.

The memories came back to Ed then: running forward to block the spell; seeing chunks of ceiling coming down on them; using a transmutation to make a protective dome over the three of them, but not being quick enough for the dome to cover him entirely; and now a pained darkness. Ed used his automail to prop himself off the ground and turned to face Lupin's voice. "I'm guessing you guys don't know how to get out since we're still stuck in here?"

Reums sighed. "I dropped my wand when I tripped."

"And I have no idea where mine went," Tonks added. "So apparating is out."

Ed decided to ignore whatever 'apparating' was. "Is there another floor below this one?" There was a rustling sound, as if someone was nodding, and then an awkward silence.

Lupin sighed heavily, "Yes. The first floor should be right under this one."

"Good." Ed raised his hands, preparing the transmutation in his head. Before encountering Scar, he would have never thought of using the floor as an escape. Now here he was, using it twice in one day. "I'm going to drop us to the next level. Brace yourselves."

"Wait! Shouldn't we try to dig your legs out first?" Tonks asked.

The alchemist smiled grimly into the dark as he clapped. "I'm more of a 'rip the bandage off in one go' type of guy." His hands connected with the floor, and blue sparks filled air. Then there was no floor.

"AAAHH!" THUD.

"Nrggh!" Ed buried his face into the crook of his arm, trying to block out the sharp throbs of pain as his legs hit the ground. "Hah…hah…" The blond forced himself to breath normally.

"Hey! Look at that! We're right next to the Great Hall!" Tonk's noted cheerfully, her voice floating though the mist of pain. "Great job, Ed!"

"Merlin, you really are the same Edward that appeared at the Order headquarters a few years back." Lupin said, surprised. "How did you–oh." The wizard's voice suddenly dropped off, and Ed knew without looking that the other man had noticed his legs. "…Tonks! Get someone with a wand over here now!"

"What–?" Then she saw them as well. "Bloody hell…Stay here!"

The spots in Ed's vision were clearing now, and he eased his head up from his arm to take a look at the damage.

"It's going to be fine, Ed. A few healing spells and they'll be good as new." Lupin tried to assure him, but Ed knew that was a lie.

Sure, magic might be able to heal the broken and twisted bones of his right leg–maybe it could even do it without leaving scars where shards of white had broken through the flesh–but Ed knew he was going to die:

Winry was going to kill him when she saw the cracked remains of his automail.

~o(0)o~

"For Truth's sake, Harry: I'm alive!"

"I know: you'll live in all our hearts forever Sirius, but I'll join you soon."

"Gah!" Sirius was done arguing with his godson. How did I ever forget he was so stubborn? Now, after nearly ten minutes of trying to convince Harry that he wasn't a ghost, phantom, or figment of imagination, Sirius grabbed Harry by the arm as the boy tried to retreat again. "I. Am. Not. Dead."

Harry straightened as he felt the other wizard's pulse, dropping a small stone that had been clutched in his palm. "But–you–I–the veil–two years?" He stuttered.

"Yeah. Confusing. I get it." Now that Harry believed him, there were more pressing matters for the animagus to worry about. "What was this about joining me soon?"

Harry pulled away, looking into the trees in what Sirius suspected he thought was a mysterious and solemn gaze. "Voldemort is going to call off the attack on Hogwarts if I hand myself over. Everyone's counting on me to do this."

Sirius was silent, waiting for Harry to follow up with "I'm just kidding! No idiot would ever do that!," but his godson kept staring at the woods with that slightly-constipated look. "Wait. Are you serious?"

Harry hesitated, and Sirius could see the inner struggle between denying it and responding, "No, you are."

The animagus rubbed his forehead tiredly, "Are you trying to get yourself killed, Harry? Wait, no, don't answer that." He was steadily building volume. Did everyone decide to act like idiots once I was gone? "Better question: what in Merlin's name made you think that letting Voldemort kill you would help anyone?"

Harry took a step forward. "He'll leave the others alone!"

Sirius raised an eyebrow incredulously. "Oh, yeah. I bet. As if that noseless flobberworm hasn't ever gone back on his word. Nope," The animagus grabbed the Idiot-Who-Lived's sleeve and began dragging him back towards the castle, ignoring the boy's struggles. "You're going to get your butt back to Hogwarts and wait for the fight to come to you."

~o(0)o~

"My lord, there has been no sign of Potter."

The Dark Lord frowned. "Hmm. Pity. It would have been so like him to run out here like a fool." The red eyes narrowed as he adjusted his plans. "We will head to the castle: if Potter will not come to me, I will kill him in front of his beloved friends."

The Death Eaters shared a glance and one of them spoke up. "But…My Lord, the, um, hour isn't over yet."

Perhaps that wasn't the wisest thing to say: Voldemort decided that it would match the atmosphere of his arrival at Hogwarts perfectly if he was heralded by screams.

~o(0)o~

Ed couldn't decide whether he loved magic or hated it. He watched the portly, ginger woman with a kind (though vaguely familiar) face wave a stick over his leg, but despite how grateful he was to see the bones and flesh repair themselves, every fiber of his being was screaming at him that it was wrong. Really, it shouldn't have bothered him at this point–it wasn't as if Sirius hadn't used any "spells" in his presence–but it was…frustrating to see the laws of alchemy so easily ignored.

"There you go." The woman smiled at him as she slipped her stick into the sleeve of her robes. "I'm afraid I can't do anything for your other leg; there's too much technology to risk using magic."

Ed sighed as Remus helped him to his feet–foot. He could limp a few steps in case of emergency, but there was no way Winry's work would hold up if he got in another fight. "Thanks anyway. I don't suppose you know where I can find–"

Impossibly loud screams echoed through the corridor. There was no one else close enough to account for the sheer volume of the cries.

Magic then. Ed looked to Remus for an explanation. The man's brow was scrunched in concern, and he seemed about to speak before–

"Harry Potter is a coward." The slimy, pompous voice carried through the air, replacing the screams. "Do you hear me, you misguided fools who were tricked into fighting on his behalf?"

Remus cocked his head, listening intently. "This way." He said finally, helping Ed limp along towards the source of the magically magnified voice.

"Too afraid to face me, he uses you as a shield even as he plans to escape."

They were moving faster now, the voice guiding them through the ruined castle halls until they stood at the edge of a massive battleground. It might have once been a pleasant courtyard, but the pitted stone, scorched columns, and still bodies ruined any semblance of beauty it once held. At a glance, Ed saw the two sides of battle standing on opposite ends of the field. One, composed of children and rag-tag soldiers, and the other made of the Death Eaters Tonks had mentioned.

"Bring me Harry Potter and be over with this ridiculous resistance." Ed could see the snake chimera standing at the head of the black group, a wand pressed to his neck to amplify his words.

"Why bring me when I'm right here?" The entire assembly whipped around to find…the kid Ed had taken the extra soul from? What is he doing here–

"Harry!" The cry swept through the body of students like a virus as the bespectacled teen strode to the center of the courtyard. Oh, so this kid is the one the snake chimera wants? Why?

"You idiot!" Another man stormed after the young wizard, and Ed grinned for the first time that day.

He waved his hands to attract the animagus's attention "Sirius! Where the hell have you been?!"

The whispers had changed from joyous shouts to general confusion, and Ed felt Remus falter under the arm that was supporting him. "Sirius?" The older man breathed, looking to Ed like he couldn't believe his eyes.

Sirius spotted the alchemist in the crowd and put his hands on his hips. "Where have I been? Where the hell have you been?"

Ed stepped away from Remus's support. "I–"

"SNAKE!" Shouted a student to Ed's right.

"What–?!" Ed barely managed to get his automail up in time to block the enormous boa constrictor from biting into his side. The reptile tried to jerk away from its failed attack, but as its fangs appeared to be stuck in Ed's arm, it ended up throwing the alchemist to the ground. Out of instinct, the alchemist awkwardly clapped his hands together and slapped them onto the snake's body. It was to his surprise then, when not only did the reptile deconstruct under his fingertips, but a fragment of human soul escaped from the body into his own.

The courtyard was silent with shock. The snake chimera, who had previously been trying to divert everyone's attention back onto himself, looked mortified by what had happened.

Ed stared at his mismatched hands, the red sparks of transmutation still skipping along the surface of his skin. "Alright, not that I'm complaining, but why the hell does this world have so many extra souls just floating around?"

"Avada Kedavra!"

White.

~~~v~~~

"Really? Really?" Ed stood across from the Gate, arms crossed and staring at Truth.

Truth stared back.

"You send me to an alternate reality only to get killed? By a snake chimera with a god-complex so big he thought splitting his own soul was a sane idea?"

"I never claimed getting back would be painless." Truth smiled, the grin making it obvious what the being thought of the alchemist's predicament. "Now if you don't mind, hand over your payment and–"

"Hold it: I'm not dead?"

The white shadow shifted uneasily where it sat. "Well, since you were already on your way here, the curse technically allowed you to access my domain without any fee…" As if sensing Ed's thoughts, the being suddenly shot to its feet, "But that doesn't mean you won't need one to get back!" It added hastily.

"Send me back."

"What did I just say–"

"Not home." Ed stalked towards Truth, golden eyes burning with anger as he pushed past the surprised being and faced the Gate itself. "That snake chimera just made things personal."

~o(0)o~

"Avada Kedavra!"

Sirius had barely a second to register that Voldemort had pointed his wand at the alchemist before the curse had been fired. Too far away, the animagus watched in horror as Ed turned around only for the green light to strike the center of his chest.

"Ed!" His feet moved on their own, stumbling at first and then gaining speed as the blond's body slumped limply to the ground. Sirius vaguely registered the battle beginning again behind him, Harry's and Voldemort's voices shouting above the spells of the other combatants. After what seemed to the animagus like several minutes, Sirius crashed to his knees at Ed's side. "Hey, you alchemists can't die, right? You just go back to Truth, right?"

There was no answer. The blond lay unnaturally still on the rough stone. It was eerily similar to their first meeting so long ago, and Sirius had to push down the urge to shake the alchemist awake. The dull, golden eyes that stared into the grey sky lacked their usual piercing quality, and his features showed surprise, as if Ed had no idea why he was lying on the ground.

It…it wasn't right! Not that Sirius had known him long, but after battling together for even the shortest time the wizard had come to respect the courageous alchemist–short rants and all. Looking at him now, Sirius was shaken by how…how wrong it seemed for Ed to be so still. Death just didn't suit Edward Elric.

"Dammit!" Sirius curled his fist. "You have a war to fight, Ed! What about the people you still need to save? How are you going to do that if–"

The animagus stiffened as the air suddenly changed. All around the courtyard, the wind was picking up and the very air buzzed with energy. Duels stuttered to a halt as the magic users all turned to find the source of the disturbance.

Sirius hurriedly scrambled to get away from the alchemist when red lightning began swirling around the blond's body (if Ed was getting pulled back to the Gate that was all well and good, but the animagus wasn't about to get sucked in with him). Crimson sparks danced across the broken remains of Ed's automail before diving into the metal. If anyone had been paying attention, they would have noted that the prosthetic limb had been restored to its former glory–but no one was looking at the metal leg. No: they were watching in mixed amounts of awe and horror as Edward Elric bolted upright, eyes blazing with golden fury once more.

"Ed…" The words faded on Sirius's lips as the alchemist lurched to his feet. Ed's head turned as his gaze swept the crowd, and those golden eyes narrowed as they found their target.

"W-what magic is this?" Voldemort stuttered, wand shaking as he pointed it at the glaring alchemist. The Death Eaters blanched under their masks: the dark lord never stuttered. "I killed you!"

"Try again." Ed challenged.

Voldemort sneered at the blond's flippant tone. "Avada Kedavra!"

The alchemist gave a humorless chuckle as he swept his right hand in front of the oncoming curse, the green light rebounding off the metal onto the ground. "I'm not giving you any more cheap shots." The remaining Death Eaters shuffled backwards hurriedly at the display of power, receding like the tide and leaving their Dark Lord to face the alchemist's wrath alone. The blond smiled pleasantly at Voldemort, insincerity dripping from every inch of the expression. "For some reason, I just don't like the idea of being dead."

No indeed. Death did not suit Edward Elric, because in this moment, Edward Elric was Death. And if there was one thing that Voldemort feared…

The alchemist marched straight towards the dark wizard, casually deflecting curse after curse with the flick of his automail wrist until he stood face to face with the wizarding world's largest threat. "Any more pretty lights you want to throw at me?"

"Sirius…" Harry edged next to his godfather, his expression conflicted. "Shouldn't we do something?"

Sirius considered it for a moment as he watched Ed stand defiantly before Voldemort. Only moments ago the animagus had watched the alchemist die, but looking at Ed now… "Nah." Sirius shrugged. "Ed can take care of himself."

"DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?" Roared Voldemort.

"Other than an idiot chimera who tried to kill me?" The alchemist's grin turned feral. "Not a single. frickin'. clue."

Then he kicked Voldemort in the gut.

Sirius fell to his knees with laughter as Ed took advantage of the dark lord's hunched posture and punched Voldemort in the face. Again. And again. And again–apparently with no intention of stopping. It seemed as though the 'great and all powerful' dark wizard had completely forgotten about using magic out of pure shock. A minute later, and Voldemort had been beaten into unconsciousness with a face that resembled a snake less than it did raw meat.

Ed dropped his victim unceremoniously onto the ground with a glare. "Stay." He commanded, before whipping his head around to look at Sirius. "Any more trash I need to take out before I leave–"

Sirius cut him off with a punch to the shoulder. "Jerk. I thought you died."

"Yeah, um, surprise?" Sirius watched as the tension seemed to melt from Ed's shoulders as the alchemist rubbed his neck in embarrassment. "I didn't exactly have time to warn you. I'll try to get killed slowly next time, yeah?"

Sirius snorted. "No dying period, idiot." He looked over Ed's dusty, torn clothes and then glanced back at the stunned crowd of students. "I would invite you to stay, but…"

"I need to get home." Agreed Ed. He clasped Sirius's arm in his own and looked the animus in the eyes. "It was nice fighting with you, Sirius."

"Thanks for all of your help." The wizard sighed. "I don't suppose I'll see you again?"

The alchemist glanced back at the unconscious form of Voldemort and grimaced. "If I end up back here it won't be on purpose; if I never face the Truth again it'll be too soon."

Sirius shuddered at the thought of the grey Gate in its realm of pure white. "Agreed. Good luck with your war."

"Thanks." Ed reached down to pick up Voldemort's limp form. A simple clap was all that was needed to start the transmutation, the fragment of soul rising from the dark lord's body to pay for the toll. The last thing Sirius saw of the alchemist was Ed's trademark sardonic smile. "Good luck cleaning up."

Sirius frowned as the light of the transmutation faded, turning back to look at Hogwarts. "What did he– oh."

Rubble, bodies, and craters filled the courtyard with a thick layer of dust covering it all. Sirius could only imagine the damage done to the inside of the castle. Even with magic, it was going to take weeks if not months for things to even begin to look normal again.

The wizard sighed, resigning himself to the work that was sure to come. "It's good to be home."