The Inspection

[acciomod]

On the whole, the weather had been temperamental lately. One minute, it was absolutely bucketing it down, and the next, it was bright sunshine. The amount of rain had turned the ground into a muddy mess, but at least the tents provided perfectly adequate shelter, and a gazebo had been erected over the community dining table to protect everyone from the elements.

Despite the temperamental weather, however, it had been fairly warm throughout the past two weeks, so the chill in the air during dinner that evening was particularly noticeable, even before the dark, hooded figure by the Ministry's representative's desk had been seen.

Nervously, the Ministry representative approached the table.

"I'm afraid we have a visitor," he said, addressing everyone at the table and hoping that anyone not there could hear him. "This is a Dementor, one of the Guards at Azkaban. It's a high security prison. He's just here to, well, ensure that a certain escaped criminal isn't hiding amongst you.

"I don't expect he'll be here for more than an half an hour, so do try not to worry too much. They can make people rather, well... uncomfortable."

Bowing his head slightly, he left the Outsiders to their meal.

[And so, a Dementor is lurking around the camp, just in case one of the Outsiders is secretly Sirius Black. They're known to sap the happiness out of the environment, and - in cases where there are true horrors in someone's past - cause traumatic memories to resurface.

The chilly, depressed feeling can be lifted by the deliciousness of chocolate, though the Outsiders will need to discover this on their own. Good thing there's dessert.]

Comments

[unexculpable]

[Ed was just leaving the table himself when he hears it.

That voice. He knows that voice. But it couldn't actually be him, right...? He turns, standing up on his toes to look across the table. He catches sight of a very familiar coat and as its owner starts to walk away he manages to catch a glimpse of his face.]

... Al?

[Ed's not sure how it's possible, but right now he doesn't care because that's his little brother and he's not in a suit of armor and seeing him was way more important than the how and why.

As soon as Al starts to leave Ed is running after him, calling his name.]

Alphonse!

[unerasable]

[The instant he hears someone shout his name, Al freezes in his tracks. He almost doesn't want to look behind him. But there's no way he could be mistaken, is there? After all, it's a voice he's heard every night for the past two years.

So, gritting his teeth, he turns. And then lets out an almighty yell.]

Brother!!

[Forget the cold, forget the Dementor. He's rushing straight back towards Ed, arms spread wide and ready to give him the biggest hug of his life.]

[unexculpable]

[It's really him. It's really Al. He's here and he's a live and he's... he's human. Hearing his voice completely void of the metallic twinge it once had just about takes his breath away. It was a sound he hadn't heard for so long, a sound he was scared he would never hear again.

He closes the distance between them in seconds and pulls Al into a tight hug.]

It's good to see you, Al.

[because for the first time in a long, long time he was actually seeing his little brother. He doesn't know how or why, but he's too happy to care just yet.]

[unerasable]

[He buries his face in Ed's shoulder like he's never going to let go again. Which, honestly, is the plan.]

I knew you were alive somewhere. I told everyone, brother.

[Then he giggles, a little giddy with emotion.] And look, you even got taller than I thought!

[unexculpable]

[That's ok. Ed is cool with this plan. He's not planning on letting go any time soon either.]

You say that like there was something wrong with my height before. [That's because there was, Edward.]

Wait... what d'you mean? Everyone thought I died?

[unerasable]

[More because he has to resurface for air at some point than anything else, he finally looks up. Though, if it's just Ed's face he wants to see, he doesn't strictly need to look up at all.]

Well... they didn't say it like that. Not out loud. Not to me, anyway. But I know some of them started to think it after a while.

[He squeezes, if possible, even tighter.]

We were worried, you know! You could've told someone where you were going before you left. [There's a probably familiar shade of reproach in his voice, but it has nothing on the magnitude of the relief shining in those big grey eyes of his. (Yes, grey.)]