Fullmetal Wizard | Chapter 31

Title: Convincing the unwilling

An old man, with a long white beard long enough to tuck into his belt noisily cleared his throat. Ed flicked his eyes in his direction, meeting and holding the blue eyes behind half moon glasses.

"Edward Elric, I presume? I have recently heard so much about you from members of the Order, but it is good to finally meet you for myself. I am Albus Dumbledore."

Ed nodded a slow nod.

"You speak the language well, Mr Dumbledore." Ed said carefully, in Amestrian, and lowered his hands back to the table. "I can only assume you want something from me if you went to so much trouble."

"I assure you it is nothing, Mr. Elric. I learned the language from a good friend a long time ago, when I was engaged in some rather difficult research. I have to admit that I was quite surprised to hear it again in this very room, and from someone who appears as young as yourself."

Someone in the room cleared their throat. Noisily. Ed flicked his eyes and saw that it was Tonks, a fist covering her mouth in an unconvincing manner. She winked at him, and smiled.

"Ahem. Shall we continue this conversation in English, Mr Elric?" Dumbledore said, in English.

Ed settled his golden eyes back to Dumbledore.

"I vill...listen...to vhat you have to say." He said carefully, and narrowed his eyes slightly at the man.

Dumbledore's eyes flicked at moment to the paper on the table that Ed had been working his calculations on, but his face did not change expression.

"As you know, I am the headmaster of Hogwarts. A school that excels in the teaching of the magical arts. I am also the founder of this organization that is headquartered in this house, the use of which was generously offered to us by the last of the Blacks."

"Sirius." Ed said, and nodded in the man's direction.

"Yes. That is quite right. Do you know why I started such an organization? Why I went through such..as you put it..trouble, when I already had enough responisibilty as Headmaster of Hogwarts?"

Ed shrugged. "Iz imaginary school. Running it must not being much of challenge."

That earned Ed several sharp looks. From everyone but Dumbledore. The man merely smiled at Ed.

"I assure you that the school is indeed real, Mr. Elric. As is the danger I founded the Order to guard against. You now bear a burn on your neck that provides all the proof you should ever need of the existence of such danger."

"Vhat of it?"

"That mark on your neck is the result of a rare allergic reaction to the touch of a dementor, an allergic reaction only found in Muggles. Last known record of such a reaction happened in 1943 when a rogue dementor attacked a small village located in Germany to feed. You do know what a dementor is, Mr. Elric? Specifically, what one looks like?"

Ed blinked a few times, looked down and rubbed absently at his bandage with his left hand.

"I am told ve were attacked by two. I am not remembering much."

"Could you tell me what you do remember?"

"I vaz in the air...I could baresly zee Harry right next to me. I..I could not breathe. My handz..de brushed againzt zomeztingz kold. Vezry kold...." He stopped a moment, closed his eyes. Gesturing a reach with both hands. He held them for a moment, then placed them back on the table. "I reacted to it, vaat ever it vas. Next I knew, I vas being helped back to my feet by a woman I did not know. I had de mother of all headaches and could not hold anything in my stomach." Ed looked back to Dumbledore. "Does dis have to do vith Harry? Dis hearing of his that is to be held by dis Ministry of yours?"

"Yes. Yes it does. Could you describe what you felt? After..the cold?"

Ed blinked.

"FELT? Vhat does dat haz to..?"

"It is quite important. Please if you would..?"

"Dis iz...."

"You said you reacted. You must have felt something..."

Ed glared at Dumbledore, and folded his arms across his chest.

"Tell me vaat feelz haz to do vith anyting first."

"If I do, it will color your testimony that I hope to use for Harry's defense."

Ed let out a breath through his nose. Then closed his eyes.

"Perhaps..it's something you've encountered before..?"

"Ye..NO! Stop it!" Ed slammed both fists to the table, realizing the man had slipped in the last question back to him in Amestrian. He then stood up. He felt someone's hand on his left shoulder, he jerked the touch off with a flinch and shot a glance to the offender. His eyes met the kind eyes of Remus.

"Calm down. Easy..." Remus said softly. Ed blinked. His first instinct was to throttle the man and throw him across the room. Instead he balled his hands into fists at his sides. "No one's here to hurt you. Ed..."

"Don't tell me I'm safe. I am not stupid. I know exactly vwhat I am here." Ed grumbled, then glared at Remus. Ed looked down and closed his eyes, fists shaking with his effort to control his temper. "There may not be chains on my vwrists, but I am prisoner."

"Is that what you think?" Mrs Weasley said.

"Is truth." Ed said in a low even voice. "Do not be insulting me by saying it's not."

"I believe that what you're feeling now, I'm afraid, is also an effect of the dementor's touch." Dumbledore said.

"Bullshit!" Ed said. "I can not open door to outside. That makes dis prison by any definition."

"He...does have a point." Sirius said, as he rubbed the side of his nose. "Think of how he was brought here, with no wand and all. Worse. Once he was here, we had no choice but to keep him here, mostly for Harry's sake. And. Of course, security reasons. Not exactly how one would treat a friend, now is it?" Sirus looked pointedly at Dumbledore.

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