Chapter 21: Fullmetal Wizard | Chapter 21
The cat suddenly squeaked, and jumped away from his arms. The pounding in his head returned almost immediately. He closed his eyes, breathed in a deep breath, and let it out though his nose. Beating it back down. Inch by inch. He then leaned his elbows on the table and entwined together his mismatched fingers. Looking at no one but the table, he leaned his forehead into his hands. He felt His heart thundering in his chest, pushing up the pain in his head, making it worse.
"I'm still here..my heart's still here..." He said softly to himself in Amestrian, like a mantra. Slowly, he was convincing himself he was safe.
"Fred..George..NO JUST CARRY THEM!!!" Mrs Weasley called out.
Ed looked up in time to see the pot of stew float in, and skid across the table unsteadily, settle itself right before him. He didn't raise an eyebrow, but he did clutch at his stomach as the smell wafted over. He screwed up his eyeballs and panted, pushing back the bite of bile as it rose back with all his formidable will. He turned himself away, and pinched his nose closed.
"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE. THERE WAS NO NEED. I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS!!!"
He then stood up and stepped away from the table.
"EDWARD!?" Mrs. Weasley shouted.
If his head wasn't pounding so much already, he'd have flinched at the sheer volume of her voice. Instead, he looked over his shoulder, and clutched his stomach with his left hand. He blinked. Standing behind her, were the twins. They were looking at him. They turned to each other with a grin plastered on their faces, and high-fived above their heads. One of them then held up a single hand and mimiced a countdown with his fingers. By the time that hand got to one, Ed found himself coughing. Gagging. He turned away. Then dry heaving began. He couldn't stop. He leaned one hand heavily on the wall, and squinted his eyes shut. His knees gave way, both metal and flesh hitting the floor as one.
"THAT'S WHY YOU TWO VOLUNTEERED FOR KITCHEN DUTY!!!!??? I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!!!!!!"
"Nothing we did mom..."
"Honest! Nothing at all!"
Ed felt a hand on his back. Rubbing it in slow circles. Slowly, the heaving eased. Soon it was back down to a just quesy stomach. His head still pounded from the mother of all headaches, but he was able to push it back enough to open his eyes. He saw the ground before him, and it was dry. He panted, trying to catch his breath.
"Wotcher..." A female voice said softly beside him, and he blinked a slow blink.
"As much as I hate to agree with those two pranksters. They're right." Male voice, words softly spoken. Was it Lupin?
"WHAT?!?"
"Edward's got a real bad concussion. On top of..this other thing. I was surprised when I saw him sitting at the table."
"What's a.."
"Concussion..?"
"It's not something you can bottle, you gits! Now shut it!" Ginny yelled. Ed smiled. The girl had LUNGS. Just like her mom.
He turned his head and looked at who was rubbing his back. He blinked, but wasn't really surprised. Tonks, now with red hair. He met her eyes and nodded slightly to her in thanks.
'Her eyes are kind. How could I have mistaken her for that..thing?' He thought.
He slowly climbed back to his feet. He closed his eyes as the room spun around him. Shaking off Tonk's hovering hand. He willed it to stop, fisting his hands at his sides. It obeyed, for now. He then turned slowly and shuffled to the hearth with all the grace of an old man..well away from the food, but close enough to be part of the conversation. He sat on the warm bricks, and sighed as his chilled skin was warmed by the fire.
"Stop talking like I'm not here." Ed rasped out, his voice now a ruined wreck.
He eyed the twins as they took their seats and smiled evilly at them. They smiled mischievous smiles right back.
He watched them as they ate heartily, and soon all about the table relaxed, bellys full and quite satisfied. Ed's aching head had eased a bit, too, thanks to the warm influence of the fire relaxing tense muscles in his back and neck. The quesiness of his stomach was down to a more tolerable level, and the oppressive drowsiness had tapered off. He was relaxed, but alert.
"You know. I'm surprised at you. I thought the first thing you'd do when you got here was start asking questions about Voldemort..." Black said to Harry and lifted a mug of some warm looking liquid to his lips for a sip.
Ed watched the relaxed atmosphere of the room changed instantly. Everyone seemed to tense up, and go silent. The tension in the air so thick a knife could cut though it. Like they were waiting for death to descend down upon them at any moment.
Ed thought it was about time to get some answers of his own. Elbows resting on his knees, he leaned forward, and cocked his head to the side.
"Tell me. Who is this...Moldy-shorts..anyvay? " Ed asked, voice low and rasping, but the sarcasm in his tone rigging loud and clear.
Black spit the liquid out of his mouth in a huge spray on the table, and looked at him with his eyes wide in surprise. Ed raised his eyebrows as one by one they all turned and looked at him incredulously, as if he had just asked the most ridiculous question in the world. Ever. He then lowered his brows and stared right back at each of them with his own steady, unnerving gaze, until each looked away. When he got to Harry, he saw that the dark haired boy with the lightening bolt scar looked him with a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Vha--at..."
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