Fullmetal Wizard | Chapter 99

"Come in. Potter. Elric."

Ed entered the room after Harry, and watched as the door closed automatically behind him.

"Well? Is this true?" Ed looked the severe looking woman with the square glasses.

"Vhat?" Ed said, in an annoyed tone.

"Is what true, Professor." Harry said in an angry tone, but was trying to be polite.

"Did you both shout at Professor Umbridge?"

Ed folded his arms and presented a stony face. McGonagall glanced at Ed then to Harry.

"Potter?"

"Yes."

"And you called her a liar?"

"Yes."

"You told her He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back?"

"Yes."

"Have a biscuit, Potter."

"What?"

"Have a biscuit, and sit down." Harry reached for a cookie on the tin plate that sat on top of a pile of papers on her desk.

Mcgonagall then looked at Ed, and narrowed her eyes.

"And you..." she said with a frown. "You stated that she might attack you in class? "

"Iz not dhat big a stretch."

"And you requested to be removed from the class?"

"Yeah. I can make better use of dhat time in library."

McGonagall let out a breath, and sat down behind her desk.

"I'm afraid I can't remove you from the class, Elric. That is beyond my authority." She jerked her chin. "Have a seat."

Ed flopped into a chair and grumbled in Amestrian.., "Waste of time..damn it."

"You both have to be very careful." The tone in her voice suddenly anxious and not so crisp and commanding.

Ed snorted and rolled his eyes. That earned him a stern gaze from McGonagall, which softened somewhat when she looked over to Harry.

"Misbehavior in Umbridge's class could cost you more than just House points and a detention."

"What do you--?"

"Vreally, Harry. "Tink about dhe..structure of power... vhere she comes from... who she reports to." Ed rubbed the bridge of his nose. Harry looked at Ed, face puzzled and confused even from this angle. Ed lowered his hand, returned the gaze, and raised an eyebrow.

The bell rang and Ed could hear the rumbling noise of students exiting classrooms in a hurry. He then noticed the thoughtful look from Professor McGonagall, and glanced at her. She quickly looked to the pink note on her desk.

"It says you two have detention with her for the rest of the week beginning tomorrow evening."

"Every evening this WEEK?" Harry said, horrified... "But Professor, couldn't you..?"

"No, I can't."

"But.."

"She's your teacher and she has every right to give you detention. You will go to her room at five o'clock tomorrow for the first one. Just remember, tread carefully around Professor Umbridge."

"I was telling the truth..!" Harry said. "Voldemort's back!" Ed raised his eyebrows at McGonagall's wincing at the name. "You know he is ..Professor Dumbledore knows he is.."

"For heaven's sake, Potter! This isn't about truth or lies. It's about keeping your head down and your temper under control. That goes for BOTH... of you." She stood up, nostrils wide and mouth in a thin line. Harry stood. Ed leaned back into the chair. "Have another biscuit." She said, and thrust the tin plate forward irritably. Ed frowned, but reached for one.

"Didn't you listen to her speech at the feast?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Yeah. She said 'progress practices that ought to be prohibited'..um..."

"She said dhat? Vwow. Vwhat a load of vwaffle..."

"...well..it meant that the Ministry is interfering with Hogwarts." Harry finished.

"Well Potter...I'm glad that you listen to Hermione Granger at the least." Professor McGonagall said, as she eyed Harry. Then she looked sharply at Ed.

"Elric..I believe you have a detention with Professor Snape set for the next few hours?" Mcgonagall said crisply as he lifted the cookie tentatively to his lips.

Ed grimmaced, but nodded.

She sniffed, walked to the door, and opened it.

"Come along, Elric. I will accompany you to your destination."

Ed found himself once again in the lower levels of the castle. The place was as dark, damp, and chilly as it was earlier.

'Maybe damper..' Ed thought, as he rubbed at an ache in his right port.

He stepped through the door to Snape's classroom, Professor McGonagall entering briskly just behind him. He saw Severus was sitting at the high desk in the front with his head down, busily writing something down. He did not look up, so Ed simply stood before the desk. He was amused that he was standing in parade rest in spite of himself.

'Old habits..' Ed thought, and smiled inwardly. 'Must be the damn uniform.'

"Ah..Mr. Elric." Severus drawled. "I have your first task for this evening's detention up on the blackboard." Snape flicked his wand absently over his shoulder. "The materials you will need are in the cupboard. Start now."

Ed looked to the blackboard and to his surprise found the same exact list for the draught of peace.

"You vwish me to do today's assignment? As a ..punishment?" Ed said.

"I wish you to first demonstrate to me ..and Professor McGonagall.. your knowledge and technique, Mr. Elric. Then, afterwards, I will see to your penalty for your willful defiance of my authority in the classroom." Severus stated.

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