AN: Hello! So I'm very much in love with Harry Potter/Merlin crossovers! However I can't seem to find enough good ones out there. There are some wonderful ones, really! But not enough. So I decided to give writing one a go instead. I just hope my writing skills aren't too rusty… it's been a long time since I've written a fic so cut me some slack here!
So this an AU that I thought up where Harry is given to the care of Merlin rather than his aunt and uncle. So, basically, it's the Harry Potter series with Merlin being an overprotective daddy over Harry.
EDIT 2/26/14: I've read over this more thoroughly and found blips and such that I've fixed up, mainly just around the end. Last night when I proof read I missed a lot of things because A) it was 1:30am and B) I was still a bit emotional and in this state of shock from my wreck. Should be all better now!
Disclamer: I do not own Harry Potter or Merlin
PROLOGUE
Over the years, Merlin had grown accustomed to living mostly alone. At first, he remembered, he isolated himself due to pure guilt and heartbreak.
Arthur had died and, despite what the Great Dragon told him, he felt like a failure. He couldn't possibly bring himself to face Camelot after their king died in his arms, not even after he caught wind that Gwen had allowed magic back into the land.
It wasn't until he heard rumors of the court physician's failing health that he chose to return to the kingdom. Still, though, he didn't saunter back in through the gates. No, he disguised himself as Dragoon the Great and snuck in at night to the physician's chambers. From there Merlin lived in secret, hiding from all but Gaius as he nursed the old man who he had come to know as a father. Most had expected Gaius to fade away much sooner than he did, but, with Merlin's magic he lasted just over a year more before finally giving into his old age.
It was Gaius' death that caused Merlin's true return to Camelot.
Gaius, bless him, wasted his last few sentences in worrying about Merlin. "Don't live in the dark, Merlin," His last piece of advice still rang loud and clear in Merlin's mind, "a lonely life is no sort of life at all."
After that he proceeded to tell Merlin that he was proud of him and that knowing him had been an honor. Things that Merlin could only manage mainly nods in response to in fear that if he opened his mouth he'd only let out another choked sob.
After Gaius died Merlin stayed to morn him through the night before leaving the chambers the next day for the first time in a long time and making his way to announce the physician's death to the queen. Many stares clung to him as he passed through the castle. Mostly they were from the knights who had been present at Camlann and recognized the old sorcerer (as he kept up his Dragoon the Great appearance through the castle) but he paid them no mind. He only wanted to find Gwen.
When he did find her in the council room he had his resolve almost break, the sheer sight of her ripping open his guilt for what happened to Arthur again, but he steeled himself. He announced Gaius's death as planned but wasn't planning on having her rush to him and throw her arms around him as she sobbed into his robes. Whether it was tears of grief from losing Gaius or tears of relief from Merlin's return, Merlin never found out.
What he does know is that after the funeral Gwen begged him to stay. Remembering Gaius's final advice, Merlin agreed to her request and even allowed Gwen to name him as the Court Sorcerer of Camelot. However, he refused to return to his younger figure. That Merlin could never return to Camelot. He lived there only in his disguise as Dragoon the Great, only now it wasn't a disguise anymore.
He watched as Gwen aged at his side until she eventually died; no heir to take her place. He, on the other hand, never aged. Immortality was something that came along with waiting for the Once and Future King to return it seemed.
He remained, unchanging, as he watched the world.
He watched Camelot slowly fall over the years.
He watched everything he worked so hard to build fall to ruins and the stories he lived become corrupted and turned into legend.
He watched magic fall away from the Old Religion and turn into a weaker power having to be channeled through a magical core to be cast and Latin spells replaced the ones he knew.
He even watched his people fall back into secrecy.
This time, though, they were more united. As much as he hated the fact that magical society fell away from its harmony with non-magical society, he would admit that he was proud it stayed so strong and organized.
He drifted through the world as time went by, standing back only to observe. He wanted to get involved sometimes, he really did, but he knew better. These problems of the world were not his to interfere in. He felt it not only in himself but in the Old Religion that dwelled in him as well.
However, there was one small he did take part in just ever so slightly.
When the mention of building a magical school came into play, Merlin eagerly offered his help. Of course, not as Merlin. He liked the world assuming he was dead, thank you very much. It made things a lot easier when people didn't know you were the most powerful sorcerer to walk the earth and the founder of modern magical society. Therefore to help four young witches and wizards (which was the term that became favored over sorcerers and sorceress not long after Camelot's fall) he went under the alias Myrddin Emrys and blamed his knowledge of the Old Religion on druid decent. Which, though he didn't know at the time, was a story he was going to become very accustomed to fabricating.
He purposely had the founders leave his name out of the creating of Hogwarts, though they did slip him in here and there in personal writings. History, however, chose to ignore him and knew the castle to be made by the four founders, not the four founders and Myrddin Emrys. Merlin was quite happy about that.
Through time, Merlin visited the school often. He attended many times as a student, aging himself down and living through the seven years at the school to pass time.
He also went as a teacher some few times as well.
All with different names, of course, and with considerable gaps between them. Though he usually, when picking his name, kept his name starting with an 'M' and his last name as Emrys. He needed some consistency in his life after all.
The ghosts there began to recognize him eventually. Perhaps they didn't know he was Merlin but they did know of his immortality seeing as he kept returning. They would pester him over the years, desperate to know of his true identity, but Merlin would never confide in them. However, there was one ghost that knew who the mysterious reappearing student was. Merlin remembered not knowing whether to laugh or cry when he first saw the ghost drift into one of the halls.
But it would be just like the spirit of Sir Gwaine to find himself as a ghost in a castle of sorcerers.
Merlin found comfort in Gwaine in his visits to the enchanted castle. His alone time with his old friend was the only true time he could be himself.
When away from Hogwarts, though, Merlin lived a secluded life usually in muggle (which, though he didn't like the term, it was an easier way to refer to non-magic folk) neighborhoods where he was usually overlooked.
Nothing odd and unusual happened if Merlin didn't want it to.
Nothing for over a thousand years at least. Then—
Well, that'd be getting ahead of the story. First, some background.
The last time Merlin attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry he was a student under the name of Marvin Emrys. He was Hufflepuff this time (it always changed since the dammed Hat always made him chose, saying it couldn't rightfully put him anywhere by itself) and nothing he did seemed unusual. He made above average grades (he could only dumb it down so much) and was usually overlooked and ignored by most which was exactly the way he liked it. He had a few friends, though. One, in particular, was a Gryffindor girl by the name Lily Evans.
Perhaps he wasn't as close to her as she was to others, such a Severus, but he was, he could proudly say, one of her closest friends. He even got along well with James eventually and after Hogwarts he attended their wedding.
Lily never dropped contact with him. She kept in touch when she could through mainly letters. Merlin loved that about her. Most people he attended school with lost all connection with him once Hogwarts was over. Although, most of the time, that was his own fault as he became distant and never took the initiative to contact them. They always had to contact him. That fact never seemed to bother Lily, though. She was happy to keep up the effort to stay in touch with "Marvin".
When he heard she went into hiding he quietly mourned the loss of their connection. He enjoyed her company and had even allowed himself to age normally to keep up appearances. All because of a prophecy! Honestly, Merlin was quite fed up with those sorts of things. They reminded him too much of "destinies" and those only caused trouble in his opinion.
But at least they'd be safe in hiding. At least they had their son. That was all good, right? That's what Merlin forced himself to believe at least.
Of course, though, Merlin never claimed to be able to see the future.
This is where the story really starts.
The death of Lily and James Potter woke Merlin up in cold sweat on October 31st, 1981. He'd seen the whole thing as it happened, only able to watch and not able to help.
And because of that, because of his refusal to interfere, his closest living friend in nearly 300 years was dead, as was her husband.
And Harry!
Merlin brought his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.
Oh poor Harry…
Perhaps the child wasn't dead, Merlin admittedly had a few theories how, but if Harry was alive the child had lost his parents and had been cursed to be bound to a destiny. Merlin knew that much for a fact.
He tried to get his mind off things by rolling out of bed and getting himself some tea. There was nothing he could do; after all, he couldn't come out yet. He couldn't help. So he sipped his tea in a chair in his small living room by his front door simply thinking.
He couldn't tell you how long he had sipped his tea (charmed not to go cold) contemplating over the whole matter. In his thought he didn't even register the deep roaring of a large motorbike or the street lamps all going out outside his small home.
His thoughts were finally interrupted, though, when he heard a sharp knock at the door. He jumped in his seat and looked to the door, wide eyed.
He glanced at the clock, making sure he wasn't just imagining it was a completely unreasonable time of night, before frowning at his door again. After a second knock he decided he decided to scramble up to answer. He was over a thousand years old but he still had curiosity. There had to be a reason behind someone at his door so late into the night.
To his surprise when he swung open the door he found the kind face of Albus Dumbledore and, behind him, stood the half-giant Hagrid and Professor Minerva McGonagall.
"Good evening!" Dumbledore greeted him, a smile crinkling his eyes behind his half-moon spectacles. Though there seemed to be something missing… the twinkle in his eyes, perhaps. Yes, that was it. Dumbledore must be sad. Merlin guessed it was the news of Lily's death. News traveled fast, he wouldn't be surprised if it already met the Headmaster.
Merlin nodded back, "Good evening."
"I hope we didn't wake you up."
"Erm," Merlin contemplating lying but quickly decided against it, "No, no I…I was having trouble sleeping tonight." Not a lie but still not the complete truth "…Still, Professor Dumbledore, it is late. I assume you have a good reason for coming here at such an hour. " Merlin raised an eyebrow at the man. He didn't want to beat around the bush. Dumbledore was probably here to break the news about Lily to him. He'd have to recreate his devastation from before but, really, after over a thousand years of lying that was hardly a difficulty for him.
Dumbledore sighed, looking down, "I do have a reason, Mr. Emrys, though I am afraid it is far from good."
Merlin raised his eyebrow higher (Gaius taught him well) to prompt Dumbledore to continue.
"It's Lily and James." He met Merlin's eyes once again, "Lord Voldemort found them."
When Dumbledore mentioned the Dark Lord's name Merlin noticed the Professor McGonagall flinch and Hagrid shift away uncomfortably. Merlin always thought it foolish to be afraid of a name. Names have power, yes, but it also gives one power to use them. Power of courage, if anything. Merlin respected the fact that Dumbledore showed enough of that to speak Voldemort's name out loud.
Merlin took a deep breath and reminded himself to pretend he hadn't heard the news before. He closed his eyes, tightly, as if painfully trying not to think about something before sighing.
"They're dead then," He stated less than asked without opening his eyes, "Lily and James. He killed them." Merlin finally opened his eyes and was proud to say that there was watering in them. Crying usually did the trick in convincing people you were upset.
Dumbledore nodded gravely, "I'm afraid so. That's not all of it, though. Their son, Harry—"
"He was killed too, wasn't he?" Merlin blurted, eager to know the fate of the boy. Was he dead or cursed with destiny? He wanted to know how to properly pity the poor child.
"No, he's not."
Ah. Destiny then.
Dumbledore fixed him with a look that Merlin felt oddly uncomfortable under. Though he was sure Dumbledore's wisdom was nothing compared to Merlin's own he couldn't help but feel intimidated by the knowledge yet need for curiosity and mystery that swam in the headmaster's cloudy blue eyes. "That's something we're all curious about. Voldemort attempted to kill Harry, it seems, but something happened… Harry was protected somehow. Voldemort is no longer."
Something in Merlin deemed that untrue but he decided to ignore that and nod anyway. He cleared his throat before speaking again, "Well…thank you, Professor, for…for that news bu—"
"Oh that is not the only reason we came here, my dear boy."
First, Merlin wanted to call him out for calling him a boy. Second, Merlin had found himself now at a loss in the conversation. He assumed it was just an announcement. What more could there be? He frowned as real confusion took over his features. "Then what else is there?"
"Well," It was McGonagall who spoke this time, stepping closer behind Dumbledore, "It's the matter of who is going to raise the boy, Mr. Emrys."
Uh-oh.
"And… what do I have to do with that, exactly?" He asked, his eyes going from McGonagall to Dumbledore. He had an assumption at where the conversation was going and felt a growing dread creep up in him.
Dumbldore took the lead again, "Ah, let me explain. We were planning on sending the boy to live with his muggle Aunt and Uncle. However, there was a statement found by Lily Potter requesting that, should the event that something this happen, Harry should not be left in their care. Something to do with her sister's hatred of magic, I believe."
Well that was understandable. Merlin knew what it was like to live in a household that hated magic. In fact he knew what it was like to live in an entire kingdom that hated magic.
"The next choice was his godfather, naturally, though Sirius Black has been arrested and sent to Azkaban therefore he cannot care for the boy."
Azkaban? Merlin made note to look into that matter. While Sirius Black was a troublemaker he was no criminal. Merlin had actually gotten along well with James' closest friend in his time at Hogwarts!
"Therefore, Harry will be given to their second choice in alterative guardian who was listed by Lily Potter."
Merlin shifted on his feet. Yes, yes this seemed like it was going exactly where he was expecting.
Oh how could she not have warned me about this…
"And that brings us to here…"
She really should have said something!
"You, Mr. Emrys, are to be Harry Potter's new guardian. I have had Hagrid," Dumbledore gestured behind him, "Collect him from the Potter's home before the muggles could swarm the place and he's delivered the boy here. We're here to drop the boy off." Dumbledore gave a small smile and there was just a hint at a twinkle in his eyes, "I trust you will take good care of him."
"I—" Merlin tried but couldn't find any words after that. He clampted his jaw shut and swallowed hard. This wasn't supposed to happen. Merlin did not prepare for something like this.
Dumbledore, however, either chose to ignore Merlin's obvious panic or was oblivious to it. He turned to Hagrid who shuffled forward and Merlin could now see that the half-giant's arms were wrapped around a small bundle.
Merlin felt like his heart stopped in his chest as he looked at the sleeping babe Hagrid was now passing Dumbledore.
He was a guardian now. He had a child now.
Merlin knew a lot of things and over the years had been many things. He had experience in almost everything imaginable.
Parenting, though… that was something new. Even for him.
AN: So it got a little rough at the end but, truthfully, that's just because I've had a really crappy day. Like not just kinda bad but more of I accidentally got into a wreck and totaled my mom's car crappy. But! I was determined to finish up the Prologue today and dang nabbit I'm not backing out now!
Hope you enjoyed it besides the obvious crappy ending. Enjoyed it enough to keep reading I hope! I'll probably start the first chapter tomorrow and have it up sometime this week! It'll be fun and you'll get to see how Merlin has adapted to being a parent and what a happy young Harry is like instead of the miserable one that lived with the Dursley's.
