Thanks for all the good reviews so far!
This is my first actual story, so I don't really know where it is going, but i promise you won't be disappointed
CHAPTER IV
Ed watched the students file in with curiosity. Many of them- actually almost all of them- were taller than him. He was fifteen! Half the first years were his height or gods sake!
He got many stares from the students. By now they had all heard of the midget professor Dumbledore had hired, so naturally he was at the end of many pointing fingers. Even after everyone had settled down at their tables some of them were snickering at him. His face grew red with indignation. Dumbledore, who noticed none of this, stood to address the students.
"Ah, welcome, welcome back to another year of learning and growing. Before we begin Sorting the new first years into their Houses, I would like to introduce some new faces at the teacher's table." He gestured to Umbridge. "First, I would like to introduce our newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge." The 'Frog' stood and made as if to start speaking, but the Headmaster quickly went on. "I would also like to introduce the professors of our newest coarse, Alchemy, here at Hogwarts." He waved a hand at Ed. "First, Head of the Alchemy Staff, Professor Edward Elric."
Ed stood and surveyed the hall. Everyone stared at him with faces ranging from amusement to outright laughter. He tried to hold his anger as best he could.
"And his staff, Professor Daniel Mason. Mason will be teaching the first, second, third, and fourth years, while Edward teaches the older students. Now for those of you who were taking Divination, you have already been given a seat in one of the classes. Those who wish to learn may fill any other seats that are available. Now! May the Sorting begin!"
"So that's Professor Elric." Hermoine said, leaning over to Harry.
"Yeah." Harry replied. "They said he was short, but my god! Oww!"
"Don't be rude!" Hermoine hissed.
"Would you two quit arguing." Ron said from the other side of Harry. "I've not got to see a Sorting yet, other than my own."
They stopped talking and watched the rest of the Sorting.
After the Sorting was finished and everyone was seated, Dumbledore stood to talk once again.
"It is a rare honor to have the privilege to add to the ranks of the older students. This year we get to welcome two fine young people to the fifth year class."
Everyone stared at Dumbledore with curious eyes. The side door near the teacher's table opened and in walked a young woman with long blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes.
"May I introduce Winry Rockbell. She is from the land called Amestris, where Alchemy is very common. Sadly, our other new student, Alphonse Elric, could not be here tonight, but he will be with you in class tomorrow. I also would like to say that both have been Sorted and will be joining Gryffindor House."
With a deafening roar form the other students, Winry joined her fellow Gryffindors at their table. Only Harry noticed Ed leap to his feet and call out to Dumbledore. Harry watched as Ed reluctantly sat back down and glowered about the room.
Ed hardly ate in his haste to leave the Great Hall. With a few choice words with Dumbledore asking where Al was, he was out and racing towards the Transfiguration classroom.
He barely stopped at the closed door of the room. With a mighty heave of his right arm he nearly burst the door off its hinges. He looked about the room, quickly resting his eyes its sole inhabitant. His heart stopped with shock at the sight that greeted him.
"Al?" was all he could choke out.
Before him stood a flesh and blood fourteen-year-old Alphonse, complete with school robes and tears, which were running down his face.
"Hi brother." Al said sheepishly.
Ed took a tentative step into the room. "H-how?"
"Professor Dumbledore thought a massive suit of armor might hinder my education. Him and Professor McGonagall showed me this spell that gave me the appearance of my real self." He pulled out his wand and tapped his head, instantly reverting back to a suit of armor. "It's not real though. I still feel like metal to me, but everyone else will feel real arms and legs."
Ed had finally pulled himself together to walk up to his younger brother. "But it looked so… real."
"It's only an illusion, but everyone will think I'm real." Al hung his head.
By now Ed had tears streaming down his face. He ran up to Al and wrapped his arms around him. "You don't need some damned spell to tell me your real Al." he cried into Al chest.
"Brother." Al wrapped his massive arms around Ed's back and cried with his brother.
Al soon put his disguise back on and he and Ed found their way back to the Great Hall, where they found everyone had already left for their respective rooms. They turned around and headed up to the Gryffindor common room. They were stopped however, when they reached the portrait hole.
"Oh, damn!" Ed exclaimed. "I forgot the password.
"It's okay." Al smiled. "I remem-"
"Excuse me." Someone said from behind them. They turned to see a tall young lad with black hair walking up to them. "Do you remember the password?"
"Ah… Yes, we do!" Ed cried happily, earning him a look from Al.
"Oh! Your our new Alchemy teacher, Professor Elric." The boy said. "Sorry for bothering you s-sir. I'm Neville Longbottom."
"Pleased to meet you Neville." Ed replied. "This is my younger brother, Al"
"Nice to meet you." Al extended his hand. Neville took his hand. "I remember the password. It's sour gumdrops."
The door swung open and Ed and Neville walked in. Al stayed outside so he would not surprise Winry in front of anyone. Ed immediately spotted Winry with a group of her fellow Gryffindors. The other students still up spotted him walking over to her.
A girl with curly brown hair stood up to greet him. "Professor Elric, sir."
"Hi." Ed greeted back. "Can I steel Miss Rockbell for a few moments?"
The girl looked over at Winry with a yell-if-you-need-help look as she got up to follow Ed to follow him out. When they were outside the portrait hole, she rounded on him.
"Okay Ed, where's Al?"
"In the room down the hall." Ed stated calmly. He had the beginnings of a smile on his face.
"What's going on?" Winry asked, now suspicious.
"You'll see."
It took quite a bit of time for Winry to calm down enough to return to the common room. Ed, for soom reason or another, got jealous every time Winry hugged Al. Strange, I never get jealous of Al and Winry.
Winry still had tears in her eyes when they went back into the common room and saw that the same group of students she had left were still up.
"Winry, Professor." The same girl said. This time they all stood up. They stared at Ed with a look of quiet suspiciousness.
Ed smiled his biggest I'm-just-an-innocent-kid smile and turned to Al. "Well bro, I've gotta get back down to rest of the staff. We're supposed to go over tomorrow one more time"
"Okay. See you tomorrow." Al waved goodnight.
"Bye."