Fullmetal Wizard | Chapter 3

Ed had watched as Harry walked for hours after he left the library. Walking aimlessly. Ed closed his watch with a snap and replaced it into his pocket. He settled back into a more comfortable crouch, waiting for the inevitable. This wouldn't be the first time he'd overhear it, and it caused him deep concern. How Harry had reacted to his question in the library only confirmed what he had suspected the second day Harry joined him at the library.
This...really doesn't concern me. Ed thought, not for the first time. Then sighed as the yelling began.

"I DON'T CARE WHATCHA SAY! THERE'S NO WAY YOU WERE AT THE LIBRARY ALL THIS TIME!"

He winced a little as he heard the first blow land, audible, even from this distance. Must be a face slap. Ed stood up and brushed himself off lightly. He approached the door, and knocked.

"YOU HOOLIGAN! YOU HAD TO BE ROBBING...!"

The man who opened it was red in the face with anger. Slightly balding with most of the hair clinging to the sides of his head, wearing a shirt called a "wife beater", suspenders, and some long pants that barely contained a generous belly.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" He yelled.

Ed clenched his fists at his sides, and gave the man his most intimitating stare. Never wavering his golden eyes.

The man blinked. And took a step back.

"Hello." Ed said, voice low and calm. "I vas vondering if Harry vas here."

The man stuttered, and pointed at Ed's chest.

"Y-y-you're onna..t-them...? A-aren cha..?" The man said.

"Vhat are you talking about?"

Before his eyes, the man began to shake. The man quickly looked left and then right, fear clearly on his face.

Ed was perfectly aware that there was no one else out in the night with him. Well, except maybe a few cats, the odd owl, stray dog or even...rat. He didn't even feel the presence of..well those weren't here anyway, now were they? In short, Ed's concern for Harry skyrocketed at that moment, and he knew for certain that he was in the right. Especially when the man eyed him once more, and clearly said.

"Who're you, boy?"

BOY!? Ed felt a vein pop out on his temple, but he bit back the anger. Now was not the time to indulge, so he blinked a slow blink instead. With much effort, he willed his temper down. Taking a deep steadying breath first, he began.

"My name is Edvard Elric. Your son Harry's..."

"He's not my son. He's my nephew-in-law." The man snapped.

"Fine. I'm his study partner this summer. Is he here?"

"Study partner..? What?"

The man blinked in confusion.

Ed heard Harry's voice within. Angry, hurt, tense.

"I'm in summer school, Uncle Vernon...Remember? You signed.."

The man blinked again.

"Summer...school? For that weir.."

"M..NORMAL summer school." Harry spoke softly, almost bitterly.

The man smiled brightly at Ed suddenly. Eyes wide and..friendly, even. Ed blinked as he was slapped on the shoulder and pulled inside.

"Well...! That changes things! Petunia! Dudley! We have a guest!"

If there was a picture that went with the definition, Ed looked "bewildered" to Harry. At least his eyes did. The rest of his face held a smile as the Durlseys introduced themselves and nearly forced him to sit on the overstuffed couch. Harry himself tried to disappear, slowly creeping up the stairs..before..

"Harry! Lazy brat! Get the refreshments out! It's not everyday that you have a normal friend over."

Harry sighed, and caught Ed's quick glimpse at him before he turned back to the very much over-plump Durleys.

"Yes Uncle Vernon"

"Sir, Brat. Don't forget sir."

"Yes Uncle Vernon. Sir."

Harry then decended the stairs and entered the kitchen, and soon had a tray laden with all sorts of munchies. Along with four cups. He knew better than to include himself in there, so five was out of the question. He carried it out carefully, trying to decide on the drink.

"Zhere's..vreally no neet to go trew zhis muk truwble. I jeest.." Ed began, accent punctuating his discomfort.

"Nonsense! Eat up!" Uncle Vernon announced jovially.

"Your english is very good. But that accent...Is it German?" Aunt Petunia asked as she grabbed one of the small sandwiches.

"Um..No. Yes...um.." Ed stumbled as he reached for something on the tray. Before he could land a finger, Dudley snached it from beneath his gloved hand.

"Where you from?" Uncle Vernon asked.

"It za...verzy zmall kontree. You probzably haveznot heardz of zit." Ed said, leaning back on the couch and smiling politely at Uncle Vernon.

That began a discussion, utterly loud, annoying to Harry's ears, and certainly uninformed if he knew the Dursleys, regarding world geography and politics. The three Dursleys happily arguing with one another. Harry tuned it out as he took his normal seat in the darkened corner, as far away from the Dursleys as he could possibly get. Ed's face was unreadable, and he added little to the conversation, except the occasional nod, "Oh", or "Uh-huh." His mouth busy...slowly chewing the one morsel from the tray of goodies he managed to grab...a piece of celery. Harry watched him nibble it for well over an hour, golden eyes darting from one speaker to the next.

Harry absently rubbed the slap on his cheek with his hand...it still stung...and looked out to the kitchen. That is when he hit on a grand idea.

"Uncle Vernon..?" Harry began.

"Shut up brat, we're talking here. Go to the kitchen or something..." Uncle Vernon said.

"But Uncle..I promised Uncle Sirius I'd write him today, and I'm almost out of time...He'll be so...disappointed that..." Harry said.

It certainly wasn't magic, but it worked. The room fell silent as all the Dursleys looked over at him with shock and fear plastered on their faces. Ed blinked his golden eyes and looked at their reactions, eyebrows raised. Harry was surprised when he added...

"Ve...alzo neet to zudie. Zere zat test tomorrow."

The Dursleys moved fairly quickly after that, clearing the room. Harry saw Ed let out a breath and glance at him when he reached for the now empty tray.
"No. I'll get that." Ed said, picking up the tray and heading for the kitchen.

"But...!" Harry said.

"Equivalence." Ed called over his shoulder. Harry soon heard the sound of water running in the sink.

Then he heard a tapping at the window. He looked over, and saw an owl.

"Bloody well time." Harry said under his breath.

:::

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