Iron fic Merpeople.
Albus Dumbledore watched himself in the bathroom mirror.
"You missed a bit." It told him.
He took the long, open bladed, razor and removed some tufts of, what his dorm mates rudely called bum fluff, off his cheeks.
Once he was done shaving, he dressed himself and lastly put on his medallion, the symbol of The Hallows, the symbol of the knowledge seeker.
Let the old grey beards declare this forbidden and that forbidden, Albus knew better. Knowledge was pure and neutral. Man could do terrible things, but the search for knowledge was a worthy act.
He had learnt this last year when he went walking deep into the forest. The centaurs had been wary at first, not out of fear, why should those mighty stallions fear him after all? But wary that they didn't want their society contaminated by foolish human concerns.
It took some time but he had earned the trust of some of the herd. Learnt some of their ways and left understanding a little of their gift. It would take a centaurs lifetime to learn it all. He had learnt enough. The heavens told them the Hallows would be reunited, that it would happen soon.
Although they had laughed in that peculiar whinnying way of theirs when he asked how soon.
"Soon as the heavens want it to be. Before we see the sun burn out and the skies go dark. Soon."
He hadn't returned to the centaurs after that he had other areas to peruse.
This was the thought that had him row out into the middle of the Black Lake. If the centaurs didn't know maybe the merfolk did. He took his wand and transfigured his clothing. Wizards didn't swim much so he had to follow muggle fashion.
He felt a little scandalised with his ankles bare and the whole thing seemed much too tight. Although the stripes were a nifty touch, he had them in red and gold of a Gryffindor. As such he gathered his courage and stepped out of the boat.
The water was like being hit with a block of ice. The shock of it drove the air from his lungs. He had already applied his bubble head charm. Carefully taking his wand, he altered his density and slowly sank beneath the waves.
It was cold and dark in the lake, his vision faded and water pushed against him and the cold seeped into his very bones.
He had to cast a warming charm. His hands had gone blue and he could barely hold his wand. The cold pushed around him numbing him. His urgency had gone. His panicked movements slowed, he must have cast the charm. He felt warmer already. So much warmer. Insulated, as he sank slowly deeper and deeper into the waters embrace.
His vision faded to just a few feet, then inches. It was so soft and warm, maybe he could sleep.
Then a vision, a creature of beauty, an angel swooped up beneath him. Held him in its strong and powerful hands.
Lifted him up higher and higher. Lifting him from the dark and into the light. He slept then. Cradled like a child, held in its mothers arm.
He awoke in the hospital wing the unlovely Professor Black glowered over him and the school matron standing in his shadow.
"What damn fool thing were you doing this time Dumbledore? Stage two hyperthermia and dressed in Merlin knows what? Do you know how much paperwork I have to fill out over a student death? Try and use that great intellect of yours for school work not for coming up with new ways of killing yourself."
Before he had a chance to speak Professor Black swept out of the room leaving him alone with the matron.
"A little abrupt but to the point. You would have died Albus if not for the merpeople. They put you back in your boat and then pulled the boat to the dock. That hideous shouting they do let half the castle know you were there. Savage and strange they might be but they saved you."
"Merpeople? I thought that he was an angel." With that Albus sank back into sleep in the warm beds of the medical wing.
Once he was fit and able Albus was back in the library, scrolls and books littered the table. He had been inadequately prepared last time. He was more desperate than ever to return, not just to learn but to find his angel. To thank him, to worship his beauty. That last idea he kept even from himself.
He needed to know, was it hallucination or true beauty he had seen in the depths of the lake.
He eventually found a plant that would help him. It would alter his body enough that he could breathe and swim and adapt him to the underwater world.
Albus from then had a marked passion for Herbiology. He improvised a bath in the tropical green house. Gillyweed won't grow in Scottish weather but the green house gave him the right climate, the plant was a quick germinator and it was only six, slow and painful weeks before he was ready to go and search for his angel, his rescuer.
He rowed back out into the lake. Arms aching, back stretching, anticipation building. He had a handful of Giilyweed next to him and more in sealed bag at his waist. The books were unclear how long it would last but Albus had learnt the hard way that being in the lake without it could lead to disaster.
This time he glides through the water. His hands and feet extended, gills filtering the oxygen for him. The cold energises him and he heads downward. Deeper and deeper into the lake.
It takes sometime before he finds the village. He is unexpected, an intruder. Fierce looking guards look to block his path. Albus is not afraid. Somewhere here is his angel, his saviour, the creature of beauty that saved him once before.
He slowly sits on the ground throwing up a cloud of silt masking himself from the guards and they from him.
When the mud has settled there is another figure standing in front of him. Albus recognises him. It is his angel. After these long nights dreaming, picturing the face of the otherworldly, the alien beauty of his saviour, his angel is here.
Something is wrong. There is no care in this eyes only anger. His angel is scared and afraid.
He halves the distance between Albus and the guards. "You must not be here." His voice is musical Albus had longed to hear this voice and to be held again by those strong arm but this wasn't right. He was being told to go.
"No one must know, you cannot tell what I have done. My father is coming."
As he spoke an elder merman approached Albus, he leaned on the arm of a young female.
"Why are you here human? Have you come to see how the beasts live?" While his words had a musical quality, the way he said beast held notes of discord.
Albus went to speak but all that came out were bubbles. He couldn't speak. He couldn't profess his thankfulness or declare the bravery of his saviour-angel to the rest of his folk.
He pointed to his angel and then himself. He rocked his arms like a baby and pointed up to the surface.
"Marcus, what does he mean, have you met this human before?"
Albus nodded and repeated his signs simultaneously Marcus spoke. "No father."
"I might be your father but I am Macros clan chief I ask you as a matter of law. Have you met this human before?" The old merman's voice had a power that cut through all who heard it. It was clear that it held some magic Albus didn't understand.
Marcos staggered as if hit.
"Yes clan chief."
"So despite my laws, despite being my son, you met with this human and brought him back here?"
Albus shook his head vigorously. This was his saviour, he had gone what was right.
"No father." Marcos.
The old merman swam slowly forward placing his hands on his sons shoulders. "Speak only the truth. What did you do?"
"I saw this human falling towards us, he was dying, freezing, whatever human magic he used not suitable. I took him back to the surface and left him on his boat. I then let other humans know he needed help."
Macros nodded his understanding and you he turned to Albus. "You foolish human still haven't learnt your lesson. There is a strict laws on my clan we do not interfere with humans, after all we are merely beasts. If not for these laws I would kill you now. You have cost my people a compassionate ruler. Marcos would have been next clan chief but now he will be banished. My daughter will follow me instead. Marcos you have till sunset."
"Please father no."
"You acting with compassion my son. You chose what was good not what was easy but that choice brings with it a consequence. The law is the same for kings as for the lowest. Maybe your sister will let you back. I am proud of you but you need to get your things and leave."
Macros turned to Albus. "Go human. My son was well liked. It is a long way back to the surface although I have laws that say you shouldn't be killed my eyes grow dim."
Albus sat in confusion. What had happened? How could he have caused such pain to his angel?
Albus sat until he saw the first of the tridents was levelled at him. Then he swam.