'Albion's greatest need has come to pass, the battle has begun anew, it is time for Magic to rekindle, order to be restored. Rise King Arthur Pendragon, the balance has need of the Once and Furture King. Defend, Protect, Restore. Rise Knights; Percival the Strong, Elyan the Brave, Leon the Honorable, Gwaine the True-Hearted, Lancelot the Noble. Rise, and fight for you're people, rise.'

"Mark, are you alright?"

The raven haired eleven year old shook his head, the voice fading from his ears just as quick as it had sounded, turning to look up at the older boy next to him. A fellow Gryffindor, perhaps two years above, was looking down at him in concern. Rubbing his green eyes, trying to slow his racing heart at the meaning of that cryptic message from within the unseen force that was Magic itself, he nodded to the older boy a moment later, "Yes, I'm alright, just a bit under the weather is all."

His older companion nodded, passing him the bowl of stew upon motioning, and he scooped a spoon full onto his plate. Eleven years old, stuck in this body for the passed decade and a half, that was going to be the last time he ever experimented with magic and potions he didn't quite understand (oh a certain someone had had a great laugh at his expense-they were currantly not talking now-and who was he kidding he wasn't going to stop his experiments) lest he get stuck as something worse then a child. An adult, in a child's body, there was a joke in there somewhere that he was having difficulty finding on his own.

Dark green eyes peered up at the staff table; the same people that had been there the last time he had been here. There was Pamona Sprout, a small plump sort of woman, head of Hufflepuff, and Herbology Professor at the currant present. Her graying curly hair bounced as she turned to discuss something in hushed tones with her friend to the left, Minerva McGonagall, a taller thinner woman, hair pulled back sharply in a neat bun, head of Gryffindor, and the eyes of an eagle when it came to detecting trouble (she'd almost exposed him on more the one occasion). To her left, Albus 'too many middle names' Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts; School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, eating softly at a cup of pudding. Then there was Severus Snape, dark clothed, shoulder length hair sheilding his eyes from the classes, Head of Slytherin house, and Potions Master (he was no fan of his). Of course then there was Filius Flitwick, Professor of charms, head of Ravenclaw, and among the diverse magical creatures that taught and/or inhabited the school.

And next to him, glaring disdanefully at the half-goblin every so often, was the toad herself, Delores Jane Umbridge (he absolutely detested her). With her sickly sweet perfume, and obscene pink clothes, she was a terror to student and teacher alike.

The only thing that kept him from targeting her was that annoyingly prattish voice in his head that sounded so familiar, heartbreakingly so, daring him to try and do such a thing. It would not have been the first time he'd charmed someone with purpose, a few occasions brought an amused smile to his lips, but it had been a while since the last time.

"Mark!", he turned at the call, torn from his thoughts, his eyes widening in time with everyone elses as the doors to the Great Hall opened on their own accord, loud crashing, stone falling to stone, echoed from the entrance hall, but not a single soul entered the awaiting doors. Silence fell over the room, meals were left abandoned on plates, eyes focused primarily on the entrance hall before them. The teachers stood from their seats, hands reaching for their wands, ready to protect their students at all times.

And then he walked in.

Red Cape billowing regally behind him, chain mail glinting and beaming in the evening cande light, an ornate sword hung at his hip. Pale skinned, blonde hair dripping wetly onto the floor, and golden crown upon his head, Mark felt his heart skip a beat.

Behind him came more, in the same sort of Uniform, in step with their king. He inhaled deeply, as the dust of the old stone out front fell from their shoulders. The one thing, out of many, that caught his eye was the golden stitched dragon on the backs of those capes. Whispering broke out among the students, and their visiters paid them no mind, the King their only focus. His familar blue eyes surveyed the crowds, as if looking for a familiar face, and their eyes met and locked.

Dumbledore smiled at the newcomers, eyes twinkling in that grandfatherly way they were known for, "Gentleman, welcome to Hogwarts, I am Headmaster Dumbledore, to who do we have the honor of hosting?"

The blonde man at the lead of the carvann halted, the knights behind following suit, his blue eyes blazing brightly at the elderly man before him, "Destiny has spoken, Sir Dumbledore, Albions greatest need has come, we have returned to aid in your battle against the false noble. I am High King Arthur Pendragon, King of all Albion.", he gestured to the warriors behind him, "My knights of the Round Table.", a smirk flit over his features as he turned, his knights looking just as confused at the action as the teachers had.

Blue eyes fell onto the familiar dark head, ducking between shoulders, trying to look as small as possible, "And you seem to know my Court Sorcerer, Merlin."

Thats when all hell broke lose.

Whispers started a new, students turning to peer at one another and their friends on their other side, "Did he say Merlin?", "Surely we would have seen him!", "He's here! How long!", "Where is he! I don't see him!"

King Arthur heaved an annoyed sigh and nodded towards two of his knights, Lancelot and Gwaine exchanged looks, smiling to one another, and nodded simultaniously to their king, breaking away from the pack they made and turned towards the table their dark haired friend was seated at. The other Gryffindors yelled when they grabbed their quiet first year, Mark Evans, up by his arms and carried him between them back to the dias. Falling in around, the knights blocked his escape, and green eyes twinkled up at the fair haired King.

"It's warlock you prat!", nobody moved as the boy made his voice heard, heads spinning between the King of Legend and this young boy, "There is a difference, you know!"

The King laughed, a jolly sound, full belly'd, and he opened his arms for greeting, "I've missed you my friend.", the boy grinned, dashing forward quickly, and plowed himself into the older boys waist, arms curling around, and face burrowed into his stomach. The knights smiled at the reunion of the two sides of the same soul, their king and his warlock, they had waited ages to be reunited again. Mark pulled back, strong hands curled over his shoulders, blue eyes surveying him carefully, "Have you been messing with potions and magic you don't know, again, you idiot?", he looked him up and down for a moment, "You are smaller than I'd thought you'd be."

"Excuse me, King Arthur, but I do believe you are mistaken.", McGonagall, though happy to see her normally so withdrawn lion being so free with this man, was most certainly confused. It was not everyday, afterall, that a King of Legend and his Knights barged in during evening meal and then claimed that an eleven year old boy who jumped at his own shadow could be the Great and Powerful Merlin, "That boy's name is Mark Evans. There is no way that he could be someone such as you suggest.", Merlin smiled at his 'head of house', grateful for her interruption (though Arthurs' look did dictate that their conversation about said potions was not done) he turned to greet his other friends. Leon smiled down at him, ruffling his hair fondly, Elyan pat his cheek in playful welcome, and Percival swung him up to sit on his shoulders which made him giggle excitedly. Arthur smiled at him over his shoulder, bowing his chin in respect for the Tutor, "Most excused Madam, Mark Evans? Really Merlin? Honestly., he is my brother in all but blood, the other half of my soul, I would recognize him anywhere."

"Enough of this nonsense, honestly," the woman in the pink eyesore of an ensemble set her fork down, cutting them off rudely, the boy on the tall knights shoulders ducked down again, fingers curling around Lancelot's collar from where he'd reached for him, "This boy is a horrible liar, this school is full of them, we shan't believe a word he says.", her beady eyes bore into the fabled Kings, "You are trespassing on private property, endangering the lives of our children, you shall be apprehended and questioned until the time you will be sent to Azkaban.", a superior smirk flit over her features, and had Arthur not been raised as he had, he would have snapped at her. Dumbledore exchanged a glance with the Professor next to him, McGonagall nodding at his silent inquiry, "Be that as it may, Professor McGonagall shall escort you to Madam Pomphrey for the evening you will spend the night in the Hospital Wing.", the blonde man bowed in thanks, nodding to his knights, following the elder woman as she led them away. They watched them march down the center aisle, Mark reaching from the tallest man's shoulders for the blonde King, and he took him into his arms, like an older brother does a younger brother.

Sir Nick flew to them, furious at the accusations and disrespect, "Albus, I am surprised at you, allowing her to show such disrecpect to our King and Emrys.", he gave the defence teacher a once over, "She would do to remember her manners and her place."

"Merlin", the boy looked up from his book, meeting the blue eyes of his long awaited friend, "Care to fill us in?", he bit his lip, shaking his head, he didn't want them to know all that had happened lest they get a tad overbearing with their anger.

Arthur narrowed his eyes at the boy he considered to be a kid brother, reaching for the book his clutched in his hands, Merlin jumped back with it, bumping into Leon behind him, and the knight confiscated the novel with a quick movement, making the young warlock pout up at him.

"I was just... experimenting...and found that I couldn't reverse it. It's really not so bad though, I've always been short," he stopped to glare at the men as they laughed at him, "And I still have all my magic that I did before.", they absorbed the information and chuckled as the boy tried, and failed, to get his book back from Leon. Arthur shook his head at his young friend, raising a hand for the book, to which he was happily given much to the warlocks dismay. Of course it was a spell book, and he gave his younger friend a stern glance, setting the book next to him on the night table, "And, pray tell, my young friend, what did the Dragon have to say about this predicament?", he smirked when the warlock picked at the edge of Leon's sleeve, "He was being a jerk so we're not talking now."

"So in otherwords, he gave you a tongue lashing for being foolish enough to use magics you had never mastered, you got upset at him and got into an argument, and you didn't tell him you were coming here.", Gwaine and Elyan snorted when their friend nodded his head, a tad shyly, and peered up at the King like he'd been caught stealing sweets from the kitchens (again).

"Have you looked over his hand?", they turned at the familiar voice, one that they knew so well, and their eyes widened at the portrait. He gave a stern look to the youngest in their company, Merlin ducked back into Leon's shoulder instead, and the others stared at the portrait on the ward's wall, "Gaius!", the old physican nodded in both, greeting and affirmation, "Give it a look. I've been trying to get him to show me but alas, being stuck within this portrait limits my persausive abilities."

Arthur turned sharply, sitting up from his reclined position on the bed he'd been given, "Merlin. Hand."

He was reluctant, but handed over the aforementioned appendage, Arthur snarled angriliy, ordering Leon and Percival to retrieve some bandages for the wounds, and they bound his hand whilst portrait Gaius gave him a firm dressing down for hiding such a thing.

"Poppy, how do our guests fair?"

The Matron looked up at the Headmasters voice, her eyes twinkling, peering into the Hospital Wing silently, not wanting to disturb the occupants at what was clearly a, personal, private moment. She smiled, something not many students thought she knew how to do, "It's truly amazing Albus. Truly. One would not believe just how powerful these men are if they could see them like this."

Albus Dumbledore peered into the room with her, his eyes twinkling with something new within them, something old, but new. These men, Legends, the most powerful and mighty, were something to behold. They'd pushed the beds together, got a fire burning within the hearth, most probably the closest they were going to get to being back to their home in time, whispering among themselves as if more then half of them hadn't been stuck as statues, one sleeping in The Lake, and the other stuck within the body of a small eleven year old for the passed decade. The little boy, the strongest Warlock this world and the next had ever seen, was clearly held so dearly to them all, but none so much as the King of Legend. They rested together, the boys eyes shut, as the King whispered to his knights over his head, absently stroking the warlocks raven locks as he did.

Destiny and Legend had said they had been close, closer then brothers even, to halfs of the same coin, the same soul shared between two persons. What was written, despite how vague it was, explained their relationship very clearly.

But to see it with ones own eyes.

That was true magic.

"On the contrary, my dear", the Matron looked up at the Headmaster, and he winked at her gently, "I think it goes to show just how strong they truly are, to allow themselves to be so comfortable and vulnerable in each others presence. A bond that will withstand time unbroken."

They stepped away, leaving them in peace for the evening, Poppy returning to her office and he to his. Neither knowing the chaos that was to unfold when they woke.

"You.", a sword was drawn in a flash, glistening in the morning light, and the students gasped as the tip just managed to brush against Umbridge's throat. The King was furious, his blue eyes blazing in a way that made them want to step away, but they couldn't, not after spotting the small eleven year old standing at his side, clutching at his pant leg. The Knights had fallen in behind him, their swords drawn in time with his, they'd all seen their friends hand the night before, and rage was not the only emotion empowering them right now, "You dare blemish his skin with your lies. He is a child. You would do such a thing to a child."

"How dare you point that thing at me! Do you know who I am! I am Delores Jan-"

"Did I give the impression that I gave a damn?", Arthur was furious, this...this witch had harmed his warlock. Sure, it would heal easily when they had Kilgharrah look it over, but the fact remained at her daring. Back in Camelot, for torturing a child, let alone one so close to his heart, she could be executed, "Did you, or did you not, carve those words into his hand?", she went red in the face and huffed indignantly, "I don't have to answer to the likes of you!", Gwaine gave a nasty snarl, stepping forward, thrusting his own sword in with his Kings, not as gently as the blonde had either, and he drew blood from her neck where the point broke the skin, "I would answer him sorcerer. He is the leniant option. Or would you rather face the wrath of the Dragonlord's kin?"

Hagrid gasped, a hand clapping over his mouth, eyes widening as he turned to look at the headmaster, they had the King fo Legends, his Knights, and Merlin in their midst so why not a Dragonlord too. That was not something the school could likely take, the wrath of the dragon for the harm of their kin.

"You expect to go to battle with this likeness?"

Umbridge glared, "There is no war, it is all a lie, made up by-"

"We would not have been brought here if you were not at war.", the dark haired knight growled at her, Lancelot hand twitching towards the hilt of his sword (they'd sheathed them only moments ago), her audacity at insulting his friend was something he'd happily rid her of.

Arthur waived Gwaine back, "Very well, don't say we did not warn you, I would not want to be in your place when he gets here."

Hagrid stood quite suddenly, "A dra'on! Com'n 'ere! A real dra'on!", Merlin nodded shyly, ducking into Arthur's leg, it was becoming a bit more disconcerting that he was so much smaller than everybody, "He's so mad.", the older man, whose leg he clutched, gave him a soft cuff to the back of the head, "And rightfully so Merlin."

"MERLIN!"

The little warlock gave a yelp, dropping the bread he'd been munching on, looking up to his King sheepishly. His blonde soul brother shook his head, motioning for him to go, and he hopped down from the chair at his side, scurried down the steps from the high table, through the aisles, and out the great doors to the hall. Students exchanged looks, the Knights standing slowly with their King, even the teachers appeared as curious as their pupils did, wanting to see this dragon and lord together for their own eyes.

The group made their way out of the Hall, and down the steps to the valley before them, and there he stood. A great, mighty Dragon, golden eyes glaring to the boy he had seated between his two front paws. Merlin mumbled something they couldn't hear from the distance, picking at the grass by his feet, and his ears grew an amber red at the admonishment the dragon uttered back, though whatever it be, was not so harsh, as the boy smiled up at the beast and responded in kind.

"You should know not to mess with things you do not understand, young Warlock."

"But Kilgharrah, I got the age-up process down to an art, the de-age process shouldn't be this bad!"

"You are thousands of years old Merlin.", he rumbled another chuckle, "And yet don't look a day closer to manhood."

"Oh sure, laugh it up, you're taller then everyone! It sucks being so short! Everyone can just pick you up and take you where they please! Blasted annoying!"

"Little ones should not use such language."

"I'm over a thousand years old! You even said it!"

"I believe, as they say, old enough to know better, and young enough to still do so?", Merlin crossed his arms petulantly. The bloody overgrown lizard was finding this entire thing much too amusing, in his opinion.

"Yea, well,", the boy pouted at the sign he was not being given any sort of leway, "You're were already ancient.", the dragon huffed, amused, and trapped him under a paw, "Have you always been so cheeky, or has time made me grow fonder for you?"

"You need me."

Hagrid looked as though he was going to faint from mere sight alone, the dragon could talk, the beautiful beast stepped off the little Warlock, settling over him, paws once again on either side,"Please do not insult me as such, Half Giant," his tone was ancient, powerful, slightly admonishing, but peaceful, no danger meant, "I am more then those mindless breeds you all have now. How far they have strayed from the Great Dragons of my time. Noble, yes, but not in the ways they once were.", the boy piped up from below the Great Dragon, leaning against his right paw, "He's so modest, isn't he? Noble my arse.", a rumbled chuckle from the beast, and he bent to press his snout to the boys temple in affection, they had a long history, some parts dark, some not, but they were kin forever, "Hush child, you have caused enough trouble, my name is Kilgharrah. It is a pleasure to meet you young Half Giant.", Hagrid gave a deep bow in greeting, stuttering out his own name, awed and amazed into silence at the mere sight of him.

Kilgharrah greeted Arthur in the same tone he used to greet Merlin, fond but exasperated, regal in the ways that ancient dragons could be. He bowed his mighty head towards the Headmaster, in both respect and silent greeting, anyone who could try and teach the young warlock has his respect. His eyes narrowed on the toad like figure, however, a growl emenating deep within his throat, the scales heating with the restrained fire he wished to spew at her, for daring harm his kin.

Merlin stiffened, pressing a small hand to his paw, "Kilgharrah, please don't, old friend it is alright.", he yelped as he was scooped up, a claw caught on the back of his cloak, and pulled closer towards his companion, "Woah, set me down! Honestly! Overbearing Lizard!", Arthur snorted into his hand, trying to hide it with a fake cough, and failed, he silenced under the dragons harsh glare. Umbridge bristled at the nasty beast being allowed near the children and no one trying to detain it, "You. I should tear you apart for harming what is part of me. You dare use your barbaric tortures on my kin, Magic's Warlock, little witch.", Merlin squirmed out of his hold, scurrying out to stop him from exacting revenge on the poor people before them, despite her cruel actions, "No! No Kilgharrah! Leave them! It's not that bad!", the dragon snorted, urging him forward with a paw, "Very well, young warlock, but make no mistake that shall she come to harm you again I will not be so easily swayed.", and to Arthur, "Keep him out of trouble, young king."

Merlin snorted, grasping onto his King's trouser leg again, smiling innocently up at the dragon when he turned to peer down at him again, eyes narrowed, "Do not give me that look, Merlin, it does you no good.", he laughed at the warlocks pouting, opening his wings, and kicked himself off into the air above, "I shall return in a weeks time to ensure his safety."

She looked much too pleased with herself and Arthur snorted in the same fashion Merlin had moments ago, "Count your blessings my wife is not here, she is not so easily swayed as that dragon is with Merlin, Guinevere would have had your head for what you've done to our dearest friend.", she lost her smug look a moment later.

"He is not to be left alone", the King was taking measures into his own hands, "Not while that vile woman is within these walls.", the protection of their dear Warlock was to be of utmost importance. The Knights nodded as one, vowing to protect him at all costs, not let him out of their sight for even a moment. Arthur nodded in approval, gazing at the young boy sleeping soundly before the fire in the Headmasters office, Dumbledore was reading behind his desk, "I don't care if he says he needs to do something important, or needs to try some whoop-ti-doo new magic trick, and gods above keep him away from the potions.", Merlin had told them, according to the old religion, he needed to keep up his guise of being a student here (despite he already knew more then they could teach him) as to not draw too much attention by those that attention was unwanted from.

Arthur had agreed instantly, the last thing he needed was this false Lord getting his vile hands on his warlock, there was no telling what that idiot would do.

Either one of them.

"Percival, he has classes in the morning, you will accompany him.", the tallest of the knights nodded, saluted, and retreated to his own sleeping mat. They had a long day ahead of them.

Classes weren't so bad, History of Magic, was an interesting one. The ghostly professor was all too happy to have the legendary warlock and his knight escort in his classroom. Not to mention riding on Percival's shoulders between classes was something Merlin wasn't about to pass up, he was just so damn tall.

Transfiguration was interesting, to say the least, it was where McGonagall was in her element but there was something about teaching the Merlin and a Knight that was somewhat distracting, and knowing just who they were didn't help much either.

Merlin thought Potions was fun. He'd made one slight mention of the treatment he'd had at the beginning of the term and Percival had Snape apologizing on his knees. He'd never seen the dour man seem so terrified before, and neither had his classmates, it was entertaining for all of them. And though he wasn't allowed to try any for himself (seeing as his last experience with potions had him trapped in this small body) it had still been worth the visit.

Charms had been just as exciting as the other classes too, Flitwick had all sorts of questions, which he was too glad to answer.

It wasn't until the end of the day that he'd tried to sneak away, and his ever trusty Knight had snagged him up by the back of his cloak, dragging him back to Arthur on parade like a kitten taken up by its scruff (his glare at people who snickered at him wasnt as threatening as he'd hoped), and that scolding had been one to take them back in the ages.

Study Hall and Dinner were something to be seen too, watching King Arthur (of all people) helping Merlin (the greatest warlock to ever live) with his essays ('still have to do the school work Merlin, as the tutors have given it, no lazing about') because he still didn't know how to read all too well ('honestly, hundreds of years and you never thought to pick up a book Merlin?') was endearing to the staff as they watched on. They had their own section of a table blocked off, where the King and Warlock ate their dinner side by side, surrounded on all sides by their trusted knights.

And thus another day went on like any other.

Until the following, when an enraged shout interrupted breakfast, and a redfaced Arthur Pendragon stormed into the great hall without his Warlock friend at his side.

"MERLIN! Where are you!"

BOOM! Guess who has two thumbs and made it back to the Merlin fandom? **Points at self with thumbs** This girl! (that looked way cooler when I did it in person! Any way!...…...cue awkward silence here...…. Who doesn't like Arthur and Merlin bromantic relationships! And the knights being all cool with the fact that Merlin is stuck in the body of an eleven year old! Being all like 'eh he was already short' and going along with it! Kilgharrah being awesome as usual! Him and Merlin have a special relationship, lol! Umbridge is going to get hers.

Great Dragon don't play.

Anywhooooooooo….continue? Where's Merlin run off to? So many things are unfolding!