This chapter is not beta read, so there might be some grammar mistakes. Also, a little late, but Happy New Year!

Their campsite was a small patch of dirt at the very edge of the wood at the top of the field. It was a small space with sign hammered into the ground that read WEEZLY.

Some of the kids looked doubtfully at the space. Al had to admit, even he had his doubts that they could all fit in here. But Mr. Weasley looked at the place with so much potential and optimism that Al decided to trust him.

The Weasley family unpacked their sacks with no hesitation, that is until it came to setting up the tents. Mr. Weasley was clueless to how the thing was supposed to be put together, but he was trying. Al eventually decided it's better that maybe he and his brother should take over. Even the ones here who were used to the non-magic world seemed clueless about camping. 

“We’ll take care of the tents, Mr. Weasley. You can prepare everything else.”

“Oh, thank you Alphonse, Edward. We’ll just take care of the food and all then.” Mr. Weasley said, moving away from the tent yet curious enough about the process to not go far. “We’ll need water...” 

“There’s a tap marked on this map the Muggle gave us,” said Ron, looking at the map “It’s on the other side of the field.” 

“Well, why don’t you, Harry, and Hermione go and get us some water then” Mr. Weasley conjured up some buckets. Al could see Brother shake his head at the magic, but he kept his mouth shut. Al knew brother was just being stubborn now about the magic. “and the rest of us will get some wood for a fire?”

The trio left for water and the brothers quickly finished with the tents. Having lived on an abandoned island for a month, it had made them more than qualified. Not to mention the years they lived on the streets while travelling.

While the boys were getting the tent done, Winry was helping Mr. Weasley build a fire.

“Ouch!”

“Mr. Weasley, you can’t throw away a lit matchstick! You might catch something on fire!”

“Sorry! Sorry!”

"Alright," Mr. Weasley said after the tents were done, addressing the rest of the group. "You lot can head in and figure out sleeping arrangements. Girls get the small tent, men get this one. Food will be done in a bit.”

"Mr. Weasley, How the hell are we all supposed to fit-" Brother stopped when he saw everyone easily getting into the tents. Noises and voices came from the other side of the canvas. Even Al could not believe what was happening. He slowly flicked away one flap of the tent to see a giant, enormous canvas palace complete with furniture and bunk beds. 

"Does conservation of mass mean anything to you?" Brother shouted from outside as he checked once again the size of the tent from outside. "Where do you put all of this stuff?"

‘Okay, this is a little freaky.’ Al thought, understanding his brother’s frustration.

"We had a friend lend us his enchanted tents for the trip. We couldn't all fit if we didn't get them," Mr. Weasley said. Brother was still studying the canvas, trying to figure out a scientific explanation behind the tents and failing. Al decided he would ponder about it after he had a good meal. 

(^～^)

Hermione, Harry and Ron had set off across the campsite with the buckets for water and were witnessing the wizards’ version of camping. With the sun newly risen and the mist lifting, they could see the city of tents that stretched in every direction. They made their way slowly through the rows, staring eagerly around.

Their fellow campers were waking up. Here and there adult wizards and witches were emerging from their tents and cooking breakfast. Some, with furtive looks around them, conjured fires with their wands. Others were striking matches with dubious looks on their faces, as though sure this couldn’t work. 

But even in all this hustle Hermione’s mind was focused on something, or rather someone else.

“You alright Hermione. You seem to be lost in thought.” Harry asked when he realised she was unnaturally silent.

“Oh, its nothing, just… have you two noticed something strange about Edward and Alphonse?”

“What about them?” Ron asked. Of the three of them, Ron was the one to spend the most time with the new kids, and even that was when they were eating. “Oh god, please don’t tell me this is another Lockhart situation.”

Hermione blushed at that. The boys still hold it against her whenever she mentions another boy to them. She had been so sick of it that she kept all her boy talk only with Ginny. 

Not that she considered Edward and Alphonse in that way. Sure, they looked good and had great intellect if their reading tendencies are to be looked at and-

Not the point. “I was just wondering if you noticed their appearance. Specifically, their eyes?”

“I don’t know what you think about me, Hermione, but I’m not interested in boys like that.”

“It’s yellow, right?” Harry asked, completely ignoring Ron’s comment. Hermione was glad someone was actually taking her seriously.

“Yes. And you know what yellow eyes mean, remember.”

They all did. Last year's lessons would not be forgotten that easily, especially the fatal mistake that lost Sirius his freedom.

“But aren’t Professor Lupin's eyes more of a dull yellow? Edward and Alphonse’s eyes seem to shine like gold, you know.”

‘Ron might not swing that way, but I’m starting to think Harry does.’

“It’s still weird to have golden eyes. Not to mention the older one has a pet snake! You don’t think they have any relation to You-know-who, do you?” Ron questioned.

He knew some wizards could change their appearance at will, but he had never heard of golden eyed wizards.

Hermione shook her head in denial. She doubted that having a pet snake would automatically make you a death eater. Besides, she had seen it and it was way too cute to be evil.

“Maybe they’re half of something. Something with golden eyes?” Harry asked.

“Maybe. It’s just so curious.”

“You sure that’s the only reason?” Harry teased, causing Hermione to blush again. But no one noticed how tense Ron suddenly became. 

ψ(｀∇´)ψ

The trio who went for water finally returned, but they showed no shock at the space-defying qualities of the tent, even the two who were raised normally. Al had to wonder if living in the magic world for three years had caused them to become immune to such sights.

‘Wonder if we’ll be the same’ Al thought, looking at his brother writing equations in his notebook and becoming increasingly more frustrated.

Their tent seemed to be pitched right alongside a kind of thoroughfare to the field, and Ministry members kept hurrying up and down it, greeting Mr. Weasley cordially as they passed. Mr. Weasley kept up a running commentary, mainly for new kids’ benefit. His own kids seem to know everyone well enough.

As the commentary went on and the remaining people in their group came, Al could not help but feel restless. He tried to stay still out of politeness, but as the dusk came and the sense of excitement surrounding the campsite grew, Al couldn’t help but want to move around.

“Brother, can we go look around?”

After telling Mr. Weasley and promising to come back by dinner time, the Amestrian trio went out to see the festivities. By dusk, the celebration was so grand that every pretense to keep magic secret was abandoned. The Ministry seemed to have bowed to the inevitable and stopped fighting the signs of blatant magic now breaking out everywhere.

Winry suddenly brought his attention to a ministry man talking to an old wizard who was wearing a pink dress. It seemed like he was trying to convince him to wear pants instead.

"For the last time Archie, Muggle women wear them, not the men. You need to wear these." the man said, holding up a pair of trousers. Archie however looked so content in his dress he didn't want to get out of it.

Al couldn’t see what the big deal was. Being a suit of armour for the most part of his life had made him not care much about clothes. But even he had to admit, it was a hilarious scene to watch.

Salesmen were apparating every few feet, carrying trays and pushing carts full of extraordinary merchandise. Thankfully Brother only seemed to be triggered by the travelling-by-magic part and not the possibility of losing your limbs. Al would have to inform him soon, else there just might be an Edward Elric verbal explosion in the near future, but even he was not that onboard with this mode of transportation, much less talk about it.

The salesmen seem to be selling luminous rosettes - green for Ireland, red for Bulgaria - which were squealing the names of the players, pointed green hats bedecked with dancing shamrocks, Bulgarian scarves adorned with lions that really roared, flags from both countries that played their national anthems as they were waved; there were tiny models of brooms that flew, and collectible figures of famous players, which strolled across the palm of your hand, preening themselves. Even Brother was impressed at the display.

“Wow, look at these!” Al said suddenly, hurrying over to a cart piled high with what looked like brass binoculars, except that they were covered with all sorts of weird knobs and dials. 

“Omnioculars,” said the sales wizard eagerly. “You can replay action… slow everything down… and they flash up a play-by-play breakdown if you need it. Bargain - ten Galleons each.”

Brother took one of them and looked into it, turning the dials this way and that. “This could actually be useful…”

As he watched Brother give the money to the salesman for three omnioculars Al couldn’t help but think about how it’s always his brother who had supported him, since he was 11. Even now he was not stable, physically or economically. Wasn’t it high time he lessened his brother’s burden?

As if hearing his thoughts, Brother gave his head a hit. “Don’t think stupid things.”

“Why do you think its stupid?”

“Elric brother telepathy.”

Al just shook his head and laughed. It was a stupid thought. He had supported his brother just as much. And he would continue to do so.

Fun fact: the yellow-coloured eye trope is not canon. It's actually fanon for FMAxHappy Potter crossovers. Did you know how confused I was when I googled Lupin's eye colour?
Also, I tried to write both Al's and Hermione's POV rather than Ed's as I usually do. Let me know what you think!