Fullmetal Wizard | Chapter 46

Ed rested his right hand back onto the table, and sat down completely into his chair. Then he nodded his slight nod. He saw Harry shake his head.

"Vwhat?"

"You. Your manners. What is it with you?" Harry said.

"Vwhat?!" Ed said, and scowled slightly.

"Never. Once. Do you ever. Think of people. You know? I've noticed that since I've met you. Would it have hurt to leave word where you were headed? What you were doing? People worry you know..!" Harry said.

"Talk about cauldron calling kettle..." Hermione muttered softly.

Ron sat mutely right next to her, watching Harry with a look of shock plastered on this face. "...sounds just like mum..." Ron whispered.

"I didn't ask to be taken to that house..." Ed said evenly.

"I overheard them. At the trial!" Harry interrupted. "They were going to have you obliviated..."

"'Oblivi'--vhat..?'"

"Shut it" Remus said softly. "Both of you. If you want to have a row with him, Harry, it will have to be someplace more private. You're drawing eyes."

Harry glanced at Remus, then glared at Ed. Green eyes met gold and held. There was silence for several moments. Then Harry hissed and grabbed for his forehead, squinting his eyes shut in pain. Ed blinked.

"..Harry?" Ed breathed, and stood up. He shook his hands out, releasing the equation, then moved quickly to reach Harry's side. Remus held him back with an outstretched arm. Ed stopped just short of touching it.

"It's nothing." Harry said, blinking tears away from his eyes, catching his breath.

"Bullshit. That much pain is no nothing." Ed said, stepping back into his seat. He absently rubbed at the bandage at his neck with his left hand as he regarded Harry, his concern plain on his face.

"Your neck still needs a few weeks of treatment, you know." Remus said.

"I can handle it. It is only itch." Ed said, jaw sticking out in a stubborn line. Then he felt something fleshy glance off the top back of his head. He blinked, and glared at the source.

Hermione glared right back at him. Blushing while she did so, but glaring all the same.

"Vwhat did you do dat..."

"Stubborn jerk..!" Ed blushed. The words were just too similar. And the tone..! He didn't quite hear the rest of what she had to say. Except the part that ended. "...back at the house."

"No." Ed said, and looked away from her. "I vill not go back dere."

There was silence.

"Your medicine is there, Ed. You have to at least get treatment." Hermione said slowly. "If that thing goes bad..."

"This vill sound lot crazy to you. " Ed sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his left hand. "Just because you cannot see them, does not mean I am not being followed. Or vatched. My disguise is good, but not that good. I vill be found, if they vant me found."

"All the more reason for you to go..!" Harry blurted. "The Ministry doesn't..!"

"It is not your 'Ministry' I am talking about..." Ed said softly.

Ed looked at Harry, eyebrows skewed up. "Harry. You said I do not think about people. I.." Ed looked away, and blinked. "I should go. You should leave when its.." Ed move to get up but found his right arm kept him in place. He looked down. Tonks had extended her own arm across the table to grab it before he could move away. Her arm was just slightly unnaturally long.

"Arrgh. Stop it already." Tonks said. "The house is secure. You have been safe there for a while now."

"Its not me I vorry for." Ed said, leaning onto the table with both hands, giving up on leaving for now. He looked at each of them, and found he couldn't push them away like he knew had to. "Tch!"

He sat down and crossed his arms on his chest, scowling.

"Maybe you right. You have dis.." Ed's nose scrunched with disgust. "'Magic'. Maybe it vill do if they come. I vanted to track dem down, dat one I told you about already in particular, but.." He rubbed his badge with his gloved left hand. "I know I am not 100 percent yet to do so."

"100 percent?" Ron asked. "Huh?"

"He means he's not well." Hermione said, and she narrowed her eyes. "Tell me, by the way you say 'magic'..."

Ed snorted.

"I am scientist. I do not believe in magic. Just because I cannot explain a ting, does not make it magic." Ed said, looking at her with a scowl. "Most of vwhat I saw in dat house looks to me like overuse and abuse of tings that I am familiar vwith and fill me vith disgust."

"Well, we WERE cleaning it out for a reason." Harry said.

Ed smirked.

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