Chapter Text
Dear Ed,
The Dursley's found out that I couldn't use magic outside of school. Guess I can't use that to scare them anymore. I just barely got all your letters, Ron and Hermione's as well. Apparently, a House Elf named Dobby thought that keeping my letters from me would keep me from coming back to Hogwarts. Ron and the twins broke me out in their flying car, and I'm staying with them at their house, the Burrow. It's really nice. Ginny's acting weird, though. Ron says she fancies me.
I'm worried about you, Ed. I know you said that you couldn't tell me what your project was, but I do hope that nothing too bad happened. I mean it must be pretty bad if you can't come back to Hogwarts this year.
Please write back to me, I want to know that you're okay.
Harry.
Dear Ed,
I don't like Harry's relatives. I know that he wrote to you when he got here, but did he tell you that his uncle put bars on his bloody window? The man's mad, I tell you. So the twins and me got him out with a flying car we borrowed from Dad (and Mum was livid when we came home, but was happy to see Harry). We're going into Diagon Ally and meeting up with Hermione. I know you said that you're not coming back, but it'd be good to see you again.
Write soon.
Ron.
Edward Elric,
Ron and Harry are upset that you haven't written in weeks – and don't try and excuse it as not having an owl, Errol and Hedwig have been delivering to you with no problem. Ed, we're really worried about you! We miss you. I miss you.
We had a run-in with Draco Malfoy and his nasty father at Flourish and Blotts. Mr. Weasley doesn't get along with Mr. Malfoy at all. We also saw our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart. I believe you read some of his books with me near the beginning of the term last year. He really will be a wonderful professor.
I wish you would come back, or at least tell us why you're not. It won't be the same without you.
Love,
Hermione.
Ed,
Don't listen to anything Hermione may have sent you. Lockhart is a crackpot, and will be gone before the year's over.
Ron.
Dear Ron, Harry, and Hermione,
How was the sorting this year? Wasn't your sister coming to school this year, Ron? I'm going to take and say that she ended up in Gryffindor as well. This year would have been Al's first year, too, but he had to stay behind. By the way, I've gotten myself lined up for a job within the next few months, so by probably this spring, I'll be a working man.
I do miss you guys, and maybe I'll be able to visit with you in the near future, but for now, I need to focus on fixing the mistakes I've made. I'm not going to tell you what they are, so don't even ask (especially you, Hermione).
Dear Ed,
Harry has a fan, a little first year boy who wants to take his picture all the time. It's rather funny, actually. What's not funny is that stupid Draco Malfoy is on the Slytherin Quidditch team this year because his father bribed them all with really good brooms. I don't like that little Slytherin rat. And that DADA professor, Lockhart? He's just as stupid as I thought he'd be. He released Cornish Pixies into the classroom on the first day. I don't like him. With any luck, Harry will kill this one, too.
That was a joke.
Ron.
Dear Ed,
There's something wrong at the school. I know it's been months since you've gotten a good update, so I'll fill you in. When I had detention with Lockhart (he's and arse, by the way) I kept hearing voices in the walls. On Halloween, Hermione, Ron, and I went to Nick's death day party instead of the Halloween feast (Hermione's insistence) and we found Filch's cat hanging by her tale outside of the girls' bathroom. She wasn't dead, but petrified, Dumbledore said. Ginny's taking it real hard. It's not just the cat, though. Colin Creevey, a Muggleborn first year, was petrified after a Quidditch match. I was in the hospital wing because Lockhart removed all the bones in one of my arms, so I saw them bring him in. This isn't looking good, Ed.
Write to you soon,
Harry.
Dear Ed,
Hermione's been petrified. We'll let you know what happens.
Ron.
Dear Ron,
I'm so sorry that I'm not there to help you guys out. I really wish I could be, you have no idea. Please keep me up to date.
Ed.
Ed gingerly walked into King's Cross Station and headed straight to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. With every step he took, a dull ache shot up his left leg, and his right arm felt like one enormous bruise. The recovery from the automail surgery was going quite well, aided by some healing potions Ed had Pinako get him from Diagon Ally. He had just barely passed his State Alchemist exam, and he knew that he wouldn't have much of a chance to visit out of the country, so he might as well take advantage of his small amount of freedom before his real work began. He stood on tiptoe, ignoring the pain in his leg, looking for his friends. He was glad that his boots gave him an extra couple of inches in height. Not that he was short. Because he wasn't. The twelve-year-old boy grinned when he caught sight of his three friends.
"Hey, guys," he said as he walked over to him, a weak smile on his face.
They just looked at him in shock for a moment, as if he had come back from the dead. Hermione finally flung her arms around him, and he was dismayed to find that she was a good two inches taller than him, even with his kick-ass boots.
"What on Earth have you been doing?" Hermione demanded, releasing him.
"And what the hell are you wearing?" Ron said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
Ed looked down at his boots, black leather pants, black jacket over a black shirt, and his red coat with the Flamel symbol on the back.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" He defended.
"Nothing. Ronald, leave his clothes alone."
"So," Ed looked at them. "I told you that I couldn't come back. I probably won't be able to visit you for a while, so I thought now would be best, since you're all here. I've got a job, an important one."
Harry gave him a scrutinizing look.
"Who would give a twelve year old kid a job?" he asked curiously.
Ed smirked.
"Ah, what's the fun in telling?"
He checked his silver pocket watch, and Harry's eyes rested on the Amestris crest, the dragon.
"I've got to go," Ed informed them. "I have to catch a ferry back to Amestris, and Al will be upset if I'm late." He gave them all quick hugs. "Later."
And then he was gone.
The three friends blinked in surprise and shock at his retreating back. Finally, Ron said, "Did he get taller?"