Edward dropped his fork. It was the first time he had stopped eating or looked up from his food for a full ten seconds. The blonde did have a large appetite and traveling to another dimension didn't do anything to stop it. In fact, doing so just fueled his hunger even more. He swallowed before talking. "We're wearing these damn things for the whole year?!" He hissed, horror and disgust evident on his face. Harry nodded.

"Yes. Except for the weekends." Ed winced. Walking around in a dress all school year was completely...stupid. And yet nobody seemed to object to it. At least the robes are black so the grease from my automail won't show...he thought somewhat dejectedly. He eyed the teacher's table, specifically the fat woman wearing a fuzzy, pink cardigan. She stuck out like a sore thumb at the table, most likely because of her bright and bold clothes.

"What 'bout her?" He asked, mouth full. He pointed to the teacher- what was her name again? Umbrage? Umbide? Ron's eyes drifted toward her and his nose wrinkled immediately.

"I sure hope she won't be wearin' that bloody abomination around," He grumbled. "But I s'pose she's allowed to wear it." Ed snorted as he shoveled more beef roast into his mouth.

"Really? I thought it'd be against the law to wear something as hideous as that."

Hermione didn't look like she approved of the boys' gossip about the new teacher's choice in clothing.

"She's our teacher," She scolded, "and even though she gave a rather horrendous speech, you could be punished for saying those things!" Ed rolled his eyes. Hermione, though she was definitely the smartest one in the trio, was too much of a goody-two-shoes. Of course there was nothing wrong with that, but Ed was never one to follow rules. In fact, he was more used to breaking them.

"Enjoying the feast, Harry?" A new voice suddenly said. Ed looked up and nearly choked on his food at the sight. There, floating next to Harry, was a transparent figure of a man, his head barely being held together by a small piece of flesh on his neck. The person seemed to notice Ed for the first time.

"Oh?" He said. "Is this a new first year?" Ed was too shocked to be offended.

"What the hell?" He said. "Your head- how is that possible? Perhaps its an illusion..." The man looked slightly offended at the accusation. Ron scoffed.

"Ha?" Ron said. "It's just Nearly Headless Nick. He's the Gryffindor House spirit." Ed scoffed.

"A spirit?" He echoed, rolling his eyes. "That's-"

"-Impossible?" The ghost- Nearly Headless Nick- interrupted. "My boy, you're sitting in a school for those who have magical blood pumping through their veins. I do believe that at this point, encountering a ghost shouldn't be too shocking." Ed blinked, staring at Nearly Headless Nick. A ghost... he thought. He has no physical body...could it be that maybe his form is just a piece of his original consciousness or...his soul? The thought sent a small jolt through Ed.

If a human soul was tethered to this Earth, then could he have done that back in Amestris? Did someone bind his soul there, or did he just die? Could Ed have made it better for Al? He immediately crossed that thought out. Nearly Headless Nick had no physical form, which meant that he couldn't pick up or touch items. If he had used that tactic with Al, his appearance would've stayed the same, but he wouldn't be able to really do anything. Still, Ed was interested. Did he have a blood seal somewhere in Hogwarts? Could he possess certain objects?

"So what exactly are you, then?" Ed asked, setting his fork down to gaze at the spirit. "Are you merely a part of the consciousness from when you were alive? A different, fake version of your old self created by magic? Or...are you just your soul without a physical body?" Harry gave Ed a strange look. The look in his golden eyes had darkened at the last part somewhat remorsefully.

Harry was slightly surprised when Sir Nicholas didn't disappear after Ed's questions. His former life as a living person has always seemed to be a sensitive topic. Nick crossed his arms instead. "A ghost is the imprint of a departed soul, yes." He answered. "Afraid of death, they can choose to stay on this Earth. However, it is a path most wizards and witches do not take." Ed raised his eyebrows.

"Really?" He said. "That's a shock. There are people in the world who'd do anything not to die even if it meant taking innocent lives." Ron blinked.

"I don't think there are spirits that desperate to stay 'alive." Hermione interjected. "Once you're a ghost, you're stuck here on Earth. You can't move on, and you'll be forced to roam the places where you once wandered forever." Ed blinked.

"I see..." He said, slowly. "These ghosts...are they only witches and wizards? Can they also be regular humans, too?" The thought was absurd, but did that mean that there was a chance of his mother being a ghost, or at least getting the option? He couldn't fathom why she'd stay behind and not reveal herself to them- perhaps she was disgusted and disappointed in Ed because of the failed transmutation that cost his little brother's body. He couldn't say he'd blame her.

"Muggles?" Ron said. Ed unconsciously sent him a small glare at the word. Something about it seemed disrespectful. It seemed like the wizards believed that they were superiors to those born without magic, like the Homounculi's attitude toward the humans. In the end, it didn't really matter since they were beaten by the "puny insects" called humans. "Nah. Only wizards and and witches can be ghosts." Ron answered with his mouth full of chicken. Hermione scoffed and swatted his arm.

"Don't talk with your mouth full, Ronald!" She scolded. "It's absolutely revolting!" Ron rolled his eyes and replied with a snarky retort and the two began to bicker, as usual.

Ed felt a surge of relief flood through him. His mother had no chance of being a ghost. Which meant that she didn't have to see Ed's hubris and arrogance tear him down to the lowest he's ever been. He pushed his bowl away from him, the strong desire to eat the delicious food in front of him now gone.

Harry glanced over at the blonde. He'd obviously lost his appetite, which seemed to be like a black hole- seemingly insatiable and impossibly large. He was a bit worried for him, if not a little suspicious. A flash of overwhelming relief and sadness had flashed in his eyes when Hermione told him that muggles weren't able to become ghosts.

He said that he had no memory other than bits and pieces. Could it be that someone important in his life died? But why wouldn't he want them to be a ghost?

There was definitely something off about that Edward Elric. And Harry was going to find out exactly what it was.

HOLY SHIT WHAT'S THIS- IT'S AN UPDATE! DAMN I WAS GONE FOR SO LONG I AM SO SORRY YOU GUYS ! SO UHM HOW'S LIFE? I hope I didn't bore you to death with this chapter, I've been getting a bit of writer's block for this lately. Not to worry, Ed's gonna start his classes next chappie . Hehehehe . Anyways so again, so sorry for going off like that . Thank you all who have made it this far, I really appreciate it!