It is an obvious sign of how terribly Ed's day is going to go when he wakes up to twinkling blue eyes that as far as he can tell have been watching him sleep.

Clearly, Dumbles is even more messed up in the head than Ed first guessed if he believes this is something socially acceptable that people do.

(In other words: creepy as fuck)

"Good morning, Edward!" the bearded bastard had the audacity to chirp at him.

In response Ed, does what comes naturally. He slides smoothly off the bed and punches Dumbledore in the face.

With his flesh hand, obviously, Ed's not trying to kill or maim him permeantly (even though he really, really wants too). His fist makes a satisfying thwack sound as it connects with the old guy's face.

"That was for making me relieve my worst memories and being a colossal asshole." Ed watched in satisfaction as the blue-eyed menace staggered upright, cupping his nose gingerly.

"I suppose that was deserved." Dumbledore gargled as he drew his wand and pointed it at his nose which then healed itself with a small crack. "I do apologize for the way I went about gathering information from you. I cannot, however, be sorry for my actions I needed to make sure you weren't a threat to my people, or a spy sent by Voldemort. There is a war going on Mr. Elric and I must be cautious."

Ed scowled, because even if it kills him he understands (he knows what it's like to have to distrust everyone around you, to question and wonder and hope that maybe-) "Well since you read my entire life like a godamn novel you already know exactly why I'm here and it doesn't involve anyone in this house or impact you in any way."

Dumbledore smiles, "I'm afraid that you are incorrect. For you see the Order of the Phoenix was specifically created to oppose Voldemort, I lead the side of the effort to stop him."

Ed rose a golden brow, "And?"

"Voldemort was once known as Tom Riddle."

Ed resisted the urge to groan and bang his head against the nearest wall, because of course the guy he's looking for is an evil mass murderer who started a magical civil war.

Dumbledore must've read something in his expression because he nodded gravely in response. "I'm glad that you grasp the severity of the situation. I understand that you cannot return to your home dimension until Voldemort is defeated for good. I am willing to help you as much as I can in this endeavor."

Ed blinks at the man feeling extremely wary. "Help how?"

"A cover story, a place in Hogwarts to learn magic and once you've learned enough a position in the Order."

"What's the catch?"

"Ah," Dumbledore looks down for a moment before meeting Ed's eyes once more. "You have, I believe, become acquainted with young Harry, yes?"

Ed blinks, surprised at the change of subject, "Yes,"

"As Miss Granger and Mr Weasely may have already enlightened you, Harry is Voldemort's main target. In return for my help I would like you to aid him in any way you can."

Ed stares at the old man half in disbelief and half in suspicion, "Why?"

"Harry is very special. He must be protected in every way."

Ed hums in a carefully neutral tone neither agreeing or disagreeing with Dumbledore's statement.

'Do we have a deal, young Ed?" Dumbledore smiles benignly.

(Yeah still fucking creepy).

Ed takes a moment to think it over but honestly, it's the perfect deal he could've been offered at this point since he was already going to do what the old man was proposing anyway. He's sure, however, that they both have different opinions on how this 'protecting' is going to go. Since Dumbles didn't specify anything, Ed is more than happy to make plans to help Harry himself.

"Deal." He agrees with a terse nod.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore claps his hand together cheerfully dispelling the serious aura of the room. "So, to start we will need to make sure you have the level of magic required to enter Hogwarts."

Dumbledore reached into his robe and retrieved a small glass sphere that sparkled like crystal in the low light of the room. "It is a simple test, merely hold this if it glows gold you have the Required Amount, if it glows blue you have Just Enough, and if it doesn't glow at all you haven't any magic at all." He offered the sphere to Ed who eyed it dubiously, "What's the difference between 'Just Enough' and 'Required Amount'?"

"Ah, the Required means that you essentially function as any other student of Hogwarts meaning that you have the average level of magic that students there already possess or possibly more. In reverse Just Enough means you would have below the Required amount so less than the average student. It would require you to have special instruction because some of the more powerful spells we teach at Hogwarts could have an adverse effect on your magical core."

Ed grunts (why did magicals have such idiotic names for things? also why didn't this device go more in depth? wouldn't it better to measure the whole scope of someone's core? to know what magical specialty they lean too? Well, something to ponder another time), and holds out his hand impatiently watching as Dumbledore drops the orb into his palm.

It emitted a soft golden glow.

Dumbledore smiles, pleased, "Excellent, now we will head to Diagon Alley to grab your school supplies and other essentials you'll need during your stay here."

Ed nodded in absent agreement turning the softly glowing orb in his hand. He's certain that in his own world he didn't have magic, because magic didn't exist there (he's sure of this at least he'd spent so many years chasing the impossible so many years looking for a miracle if there had been a magic way to save Al he would have found it at any cost). So, how did he inexplicably acquire magic? He thinks furiously on the subject his automail hand clenching into a fist-and oh. Of course, Truth had given him magic as payment for retaking his arm, magic so he could better fit into this world and complete the stupid task it had set for him. Well, that was thankfully one mystery solved. He set the orb down on the bedside table and reached down to quickly pull on his boots as Dumbledore stood.

They exited the room together, Ed pulling his hair up into a pony tail as they went. As they descended the staircase, Harry's voice followed them down, "Wait! Professor Dumbledore!" Oddly, Dumbledore ignored the call and moved quicker to the front door, Ed shrugged internally and stopped waiting for Harry to catch up. Harry skidded to a stop by Ed flashing him a grateful smile as they walked the rest of the way to Dumbledore together.

Dumbledore smiled at them, but Ed's keen eyes noticed that it didn't reach his eyes, "Harry, my dear boy, what can I do for you?" Dumbledore may have been talking to Harry, yes, but Ed noticed how the man's blue eyes skittered away from Harry's face never quite looking at him.

Ed glanced at Harry and saw how his expression tightened before disappearing behind a blank mask (another thing Ed would have to teach the kid, while he wasn't an expert on hiding emotions, Ed didn't really see the point it was Mustang who insisted, his nonchalant face was pitiful) "Yes," Harry began in a cool tone, his green eyes betraying his displeasure at Dumbledore's blatant avoidance. "I would like to know more about this trial I have to attend, what charges am I exactly facing and I'd like to know if there is a plan I should be aware of."

"Ah!" Dumbledore seemed relieved for a split second at this line of questioning before responding, "Not to worry, my boy, I have everything under control, now if you'll excuse Mr. Elric and I we need to head out."

"Where?" Harry asked, but his eyes turned away from Dumbledore clearly directing the question Ed's way instead.

"Some place called Diagon Alley," Ed shrugged, "I'm headed to that Hogwarts school you all keep blathering about so I need supplies." Ed made sure to make himself sound extremely uninterested, he didn't want to give Dumbledore any hints that he and Harry were more than mere acquaintances. He didn't trust Dumbledore and that included whatever plans he had involving him and Harry.

Thankfully, Harry seemed to pick up on Ed's intention (good the kid was smart, smarter than he let on, smarter than his friends believed if the stories they told were any indication) and responded with, "Oh, well I haven't gotten any of my supplies for this year yet, either, would you mind if I tagged along?"

"Harry, my boy, I don't think that would be wise with the current public- " Dumbledore began but Ed smoothly cut him off with, "I'd be more comfortable with someone my age to help me get all my supplies."

Dumbledore's smile dropped completely and now he looked disapproving to the extreme, "Well, if you think Harry would be helpful I suppose…"

"I do," Ed affirmed calmly, "This way Professor (Ed is very careful to use a respectful title less one off his more…interesting pet names slip out) you won't have to babysit me as much I do understand that you are an extremely busy man." Ed could tell that the last part of his statement did appeal to Dumbledore and his sense of responsibility and entitlement because he finally nodded his agreement.

"Very well then," he said nodding importantly with his irritating twinkle restored in his blue eyes, "off we pop!"

As glad as Ed was to be finally leaving this house for the first time since he stumbled into it, he was equally apprehensive on what exactly waited for him in the magical world, but well Edward Elric was a lot of things, but a coward was never one of them. He flashes a grin at Harry while they walk out into what passes as London sunshine and gets a hesitant smile in return.

Diagon Alley is bound to be an interesting experience. He can't wait.

This chapter was originally supposed to include the Diagon Alley scene but I got halfway through and got stuck, as I realized that it was going to need a lot of work to get it how I wanted. So, I decided to separate these two parts into separate chapters. As you read above the plot is finally moving forward (yay!) and Ed is going to Hogwarts (yay again!). It's been a long time since I read the fifth book so don't expect anything to go the same as it did in cannon. I have the general timeline I'm going to work with and I will try to include all the details of Harry Potter's 5th Year that I find pertinent (*cough* Umbridge). I will finish my author note rambling with a thank you for all the lovely reviews it's nice to know people like what I manage to write when I have time! SO THANK YOU WONDEROUS READERS!