Italics=Foreign Language/Dream

Underline Italics=Foreign Language in Dream

Bold=Emphasis

Disclaimer: Though this may be shocking, I am not Japanese(gasp!), A troll-I mean Devil- I mean New York Times Best selling Author, or a British woman. This means, sadly, that I am not Hiromi Arakawa, Rick Riordan, or J.K.Rowling, which also implies that I don't own any of the main/side characters except for Augustine. Sorry to disappoint.

"To put it simply, these kids are dumb. I have suffered through teaching 4 classes already today and not a single student seems to show any promise. Sure, I love kids and helping people, but expecting them to all get something as complex as Alchemy in a few months is ridiculous. They don't - no, they can't understand alchemy the way that I did. They grew up in an environment where equivalent exchange doesn't exist. Overall, I think that the muggle-by the way I hate that term but I can't find anything better at the moment- children have the best chance at succeeding, but who knows."

Edward Elric, 8 Aug 99

Ed was tired, cranky, and confused, all of which did not help his growing headache. He waved goodbye warily to the remnants of his 3rd year Slytherin class before placing his head of his desk. The room was quiet and still, the way he liked it. It felt like the study at home where he and Al used to read late into the night, their only companions being each other and the books around them. He fell asleep, dreaming of his past from so long ago.

Of course, the fantasy ended quickly when a 1st year Ravenclaw entered the room. He awoke from his hour long nap and looked at her as she sat in the front row. Her eyes focused on him, big and gray, full of intelligence and curiosity. A brunette quickly followed, sitting next to the blond who had woke him. The two girls brought out their books, quills, and ink pots before looking intently at Ed. Ed ignored them for a moment as he unwrapped a roast beef sandwich and ate it, making up for the food he had skipped at lunch by napping.

More students came in, louder than the two girls but still relatively respectful. Ed continued eating, knowing that he had to wait for all of his students to arrive before he could start off the class.

Within three minutes' time, all 10 of the Ravenclaw students had entered. Ed finished off the last of his sandwich before wiping his mouth and standing to face the class.

"Who here read the book?"

All hands rose, but some were more hesitant than others. Ed continued.

"Who here thinks they can explain what the book said Alchemy is?" Ed groused. He already knew the answer that they'd say, so why not get it over and done with?

The brunette from before rose her hand so eagerly that it looked like she was trying to flag down an army. Ed pointed at her, signaling for her to talk.

"Alchemy is the understanding of the composition of an object, understanding the composition of the object you want to make, and the harnessing of energy needed to reshape or transform that object." Hermione sat down, beaming that she'd nailed the definition.

Ed was stone-faced. "Now, who can tell me what they think Alchemy is from their own research?"

A boy with curly brown hair and tanned skin rose his grease covered hand.

"Yes, Mr. Valdez?"

"I believe that Alchemy is a bit different than what the books says."

Ed rose an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Well, Alchemy isn't just the reshaping of elements. It's a chemical equation. One that requires careful calculations and precision. And also, it has consequences that can be terrible if the equation or reaction goes awry." Leo fiddled with his hair and clothes as he spoke, driving Ed somewhat insane due to how much one person could possibly be doing at once.

Ed mentally smiled, making a list in his head. Leo Valdez - First Year Ravenclaw. He may be capable.

Ed cleared his throat, looking at the class. "Adequate. Anyone else?"

No one else rose their hand. Ed clucked his tongue in disappointment.

"I thought you kids would do better at this - honestly. Alchemy is, by the definition I know, the science of understanding, deconstructing, and reconstructing matter. However, it is not an all-powerful art. It is impossible to create something out of nothing."

The students looked at confusion, which Ed had expected. These kids lived by a lifestyle that broke Equivalent Exchange, after all. Ed spoke loudly and clearly to set the idea in. "If one wishes to obtain something, something of equal value must be given. This is the law of equivalent exchange; the basis of all alchemy. In accordance to this law, there is a taboo among alchemists. Human transmutation is strictly forbidden. For what could equal the value of a human soul?"

The room went silent as the kids scribbled down what he had said. The blonde girl rose her hand when she was done, her eyes bright with curiosity, although tainted by something darker. Ed pointed at her.

"Yes, Ms. Chase?"

Annabeth straightened and looked at him with a fixated stare. "You say nothing could possibly match the worth of a human soul, but that is false in the world in equations. If one were to sacrifice their own soul for their dead lover's using alchemy, wouldn't it be possible to bring their lover back?"

Annabeth stood and paced around while talking. Some students looked surprised, but Ed kept his gaze on her the whole time. "Consider the myth about Orpheus and Eurydice. Hades was willing to let Orpheus bring Eurydice back for free, as long as he didn't look at her until they reached the surface."

Ed chuckled. "But you didn't say the ending, did you? Orpheus thought he could force Hades to let him bring Eurydice back, but in the end all that happened was that he died along with her."

Annabeth opened her mouth to reply, but Ed cut her off. "Or Icarus. He thought he could fly close to the sun, be like a god, but his cheekiness caused his death. Don't you see? Sacrifice for a human soul always goes awry. Only more and more is lost as time passes."

Annabeth sat down, but the look in her eyes and her body movement made Ed think she had plenty more questions. Ed walked by while distributing a hand made diagram, dropping a note at Annabeth and Leo's desks. The students discreetly slipped the notes into their pockets.

Ed smiled lightly and continued on. There was more to these kids than he thought.

-o0O0o-

Ed snapped out of a flurry of reading, looking at the door as someone knocked tentatively against it. His first thought was, "Al?" but Al was sleeping next to him.

Ed, curious, answered the knock with a loud and rather ineloquent, "Heck. Just come in already."

Leo and Annabeth pushed open the door. Ed's memory clicked, remembering the notes from earlier. Leo walked into the room and up to Ed's desk, with Annabeth following close behind. "You wanted to see us sir?"

Ed nodded. "I believe that you two are the only Ravenclaws in your class capable of learning Alchemy at the moment. So, come to my private lessons tonight at 9. They'll be until 10:30, but I'll make sure you don't get in trouble for being out late. Come if you want."

The duo nodded and left, gathering the binders that they had set on the empty classroom desks before rushing off to their next class.

Ed smirked as he saw the leave. Al poked his head up sleepily and muttered, "I think we should call Walter soon."

Ed nodded. He looked for a telephone, but none were around. He wrote a quick note and stuck it on hs classroom door to explain that he was out and would come back later if anyone had any questions. He locked the classroom door and strutted down the halls, marching straight for Dumbledore's office.

When he approached the gargoyles, he simply said, "Fairy floss," and the spiral staircase to the headmaster's office was revealed. He climbed the stairs and made his way to the boss. When he stood in front of Dumbledore, he cleared his throat and spoke with as much seniority and responsibility he could muster.

"Sir, I would like to have a telephone installed either in my office or dormitory so I can connect with the outside world."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. He waved his wand lazily while muttering something under his breath, most likely a spell.

"You have one in both places now, Mr. Elric. Do you need anything else?" Dumbledore softly spoke.

Ed straightened. "Yes. I would also like for you to give me permission to allow certain students to be out of their dorms after curfew. I'm holding an Honors Alchemy class for those who need an accelerated course."

Dumbledore rose a white eyebrow. "Wouldn't you consider that unfair to students with hidden potential?"

Ed smiled. "No, I don't. And I have a plan to weed out the prodigies from the casual learners. So, I'm asking again, can I do it?"

Dumbledore's crinked face smiled softly. "Sure, but no one is to be up later than 11:45, got it?"

Ed nodded. "Alright. Thank you for your time."

Ed spun on his heel and left, heading back to his class.

Dumbledore watched Ed go and his smile dropped. "I didn't think I'd have this many troubles this early in the year with my teachers. I think I'll have to watch them. Especially this one." He muttered darkly, staring at his desk with a face that only his enemies had seen.

-o0O0o-

Ed whistled a tune as he unlocked his classroom door. He walked in and found that indeed there was a modern wall phone hanging right by his desk. He picked it up and dialed Walter's phone number.

The phone rung thrice before it was picked up.

"Hallo? Walter Heidrich speaking." A young voice of a boy about 8 spoke in German through the receiver. Ed nudged Al to wake up as he greeted his godson.

"Hi bud. How've ya been?" Ed sounded like an old man, but it didn't matter to him.

"Uncle Ed! You called! Where's Uncle Al? Where are you?" Walter exclaimed, obviously surprised.

Ed chuckled. "Yeah bud, I did call. Al's here right next to me. We're at work right now, but I have a break so I called you."

Ed gave the phone to Al as Walter responded. "I'm doing great. Mom's a little sick with the flu right now, and Dad's at work, but I'm just at home reading one of the books you gave me." Walter seemed genuinely happy.

Al took the phone, hearing only part of Walter's response. "Hi Walt. I can't really speak right now because our break is going to end soon, but I'll call you again tomorrow morning when we can actually speak, okay?"

Walter sounded a bit disappointed but agreed. He hung up after a quick goodbye. Ed and Al smiled at each other before Ed took a seat and Al stood in front of the class of empty chairs. The door creaked open, and the tide of 4th year Gryffindors rushed in.

Ed grinned sadistically as Al taught the squirming and impatient 4th years Alchemy while he graded papers.

"Teaching may not be so bad after all...." He mused as Al frantically tried to diffuse two arguing Gryffindors.