Fullmetal Wizard | Chapter 28

'He tends to mutter in that language of his when he's annoyed.' Harry thought to himself, remembering the shadowy shape that was Ed last night. The body language. The slumping of shoulders as he delivered the news of the breaking of the socercers stone. It fit.

"Yeah that. Like he was annoyed it was destroyed or something.." Harry said, and he bit his lip in thought.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"We mentioned the Sorcercer's Stone in passing." Fred said

"He demanded to be told where it was." George said.

They were at the third level of the house standing at a doorway. Ed could smell the straw and dead things even from this distance.

"I assure you that none of us made this creature, Edward. Harry and Sirius are really fond of it. Want to give it a good look?" Lupin said.

Ed grabbed the door handle and turned it. Slowly, he opened the door, and peeked his head around it. He stood so still for several minutes that Lupin placed hand on his left shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. Ed looked back at the sickly looking man.

"Chimera" Ed said in Amesteran, voice flat, nearly spitting it out.

"It's called a hippogryph, actually. Named Buckbeak."

"No. I've..seen..." Ed said in English, shook his head, and blinked. "but..They moved very vrong. Dis one..iz not in pain at da least." Ed looked back. Then he took a step in the room.

"Wait. I..can't go in there with you."

"Vhy?"

"I have this..condition...Buckbeak dislikes the smell so much he attacks me on sight."

"Fine. I've faced bigger than dis vone. I vant to see more of it vith mine own eyes."

"'Bigger...than this one?'"

"Yeah. Easy. Some vith teeth as big as mine hand."

"Molly will have my hide if you get hurt."

Ed grinned brightly at him, and then turned away. He creeped softly forward so as to not startle the beast. It was about as large as a lion, and was in fact, very much lion-like in the body. Huge wings were folded neatly on either side of its body. And the head..covered in feathers. Ed could see that was not the only thing bird like about the beast. Where the lion's mouth should have been, was a proud raptor's beak.

The creature moved so naturally, gracefully..he couldn't believe his own eyes. His mind still screamed it was but a chimera. A thing made by deranged scientists using the most depraved alchemy in existence. Even the most advanced of chimeras...

The creature snorted, and looked at him. He held its gaze. The creature cocked its head and approached him. Sniffed the air before him.

"Whatever you do..Be polite..!" Lupin called from behind the door.

"Polite? Vha..?" Ed said.

The creature reared up, and Ed reacted without thinking. The huge raptor beak came down, blinding quick. Ed brought up his right arm in a block ingrained into him from childhood.

Clank!!

"You alright?"

Ed regarded the huge beak now knawing on the borrowed sweater upon his metal arm. Right in front of his face.

"Yeah. Dis Buckbeak can't get good taste. Haz vrong arm." Ed said, and grunted as Buckbeak shifted his weight. "Iz heavy. Needz to be dieting."

"Can you get loose?" Lupin's said, voice full of alarm. Ed rolled his eyes.

"Yeah. Easy. Harry vill not be pleased if dis creature vrilly iz favorite."

"Why's that?"

"I vill break quite a few of Buckbeak's bones. Starting vith left ribs..."

The huge beak suddenly released him, and Ed stumbled back a step. He watched the hippogryph with wary eyes, and was watched in turn. Then, before Ed could make a move, the creature lowered the front of it body. Tucking one fore foot under.

"What's happening?"

Ed blinked.

"Don't know. Iz odd. Arm's free, though."

Ed backed away from the creature, and reached behind him for the door. With his left hand, he found the snake shaped doorknob by feel easily enough, and opened it. He backed into the hall, and closed the door. He heard a whistle.

"That sweater's seen better days." Lupin smiled.

Ed looked down at the right sleeve, knowing well what he would find. Sure enough, the colorful sleeve was now in shreads. His right automail arm was exposed. He tore off what was left of the sleeve, with a smirk on his face.

"Molly's going to kill me..." Lupin whined, and looked down the hall as if expecting the woman to decend on him at any moment.

"Iz better like dis. Show off VWinry's vork, no?" Ed smiled.

"Winry?"

"De one vho made dis." Ed did a series of isolation exercises focusing on the right arm. "She's alvays does de best automail. Does her family proud."

Ed looked down a moment, remembering. He stopped moving his right arm.

'Will she even remember me when I get back...? Then will we be...? ' he thought.

"Can I ask you something?" Lupin said.

"Depends on if you vwant lies as answer." Ed smiled, and looked at the sickly man.

Lupin smirked. Then looked down.

"What happened? I mean, how did you loose your...?" Lupin waved his hand in a gesture towards Ed's now exposed right arm.

Ed nodded, and sighed. He looked at the sickly man's kind eyes, and made his decision.

"It was stupid mistake dat I do not vwant to be talking about."

'Why am I even saying that much?' Ed wondered to himself. He looked at Lupin, sharply. The sickly man nodded once, seeming to be accepting the bland, half-explaination at face value. Ed could only hope it would do.

:::

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