Disclaimer: Harry Potter is property of JK Rowling, Scholastic Books, Etc.
Other ideas are taken from the NBC's Merlin Mini-Series, as well as from
sources of Arthurian Legend.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews =)
Chapter Two: The Journey North
"Wait. did you say Merlin?" Harry sputtered, once again jogging to catch up with the other wizard.
"Yes. Merlin. Do you have a problem with my name lad?"
"N- No" Harry managed to get out, finally finding a steady pace that he was comfortable with.
Harry thought to himself, "Merlin, the Prince of Enchanters, the wizard responsible for Modern Magic. that same Merlin is walking right next to me."
He had survived insurmountable odds, and escaped relatively unscathed from the Killing Curse once again. As far as he could tell, the magic from the Voldemort's curse, somehow catapulted Harry back through time.
Continuing to ponder his present situation, Harry had not realized that Merlin had stopped walking, and ended up crashing into him, causing both wizards to topple to the ground.
Grumbling to himself, Merlin pulled himself up. "We are far enough from trouble, for now. So, since we are out of danger, tell me where you come from? Why someone was trying to curse you? And why people of your homeland wear such ridiculous clothing."
At this last comment, Harry looked down at himself and realized that Merlin was talking about Dudley's hand-me-downs. He was wearing an oversized grey t-shirt, whose sleeves came down to his wrists. In addition, he was wearing jeans, five sizes too large, which had multiple holes in them, and shoes which looked more fitting for a clown than for a sixteen year old boy. The combination of his apparel caused Harry's appearance to be quite amusing indeed.
"The clothes are hand-me-downs from my cousin", replied Harry, embarrassed to be standing in front of the most famous wizard in history, dressed so shabbily.
"Oh..", said Merlin, softening, upon hearing the boy's circumstance.
"Anyways," Harry continued. "I come from England, but as far as I can tell, an England of the far future. As for why someone was trying to curse me." He then proceeded to explain his parents' deaths, the events following the Triwizard Tournament, the battle in the Department of Mysteries, and the damned prophecy.
When the boy was finished, Merlin just looked at him astonished. "This boy really has led a hard life", the older wizard thought to himself. "He can't be more than sixteen years of age, and yet when I look into his eyes, it seems as if he is much, much older." At that point, Merlin resolved to let no harm to come to the boy, for as long as he was with him.
"Well lad", Merlin said, smiling. "We're almost at the crossroads, and from there it's only another month's journey to Norhaven. If you want, you are welcome to join me on the journey there. If you do not already know, Norhaven is a large wizarding kingdom. Also, it has a large library of texts, which we may be able to use, and find a way to send you home."
"R-Really?" Harry exclaimed, quite happy with the thought of traveling with the esteemed wizard. "You would really let me come with you?"
"Yes."
"I'd be honored, sir", said Harry, managing an awkward bow.
"Now, no need for formalities lad. We will see how you fare with my company in a few weeks." Merlin said with a twinkle in his eyes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry didn't consider himself out of shape. But after only a day of hiking, he discovered that he was quite mistaken. They had just stopped and set up camp for the night. Amazingly, the forest was nothing like what he was used to. It was quiet and peaceful; there was rarely a sign of human life among the trails that the pair took. Of course, at the moment, Harry was too preoccupied with letting his feet rest in front of the crackling fire, to take note of anything else.
"Well lad, I take it you wizards of the future do not travel much by foot anymore", chuckled Merlin, while lighting his pipe.
"Not long distances, no", Harry replied. "We still walk short distances of course, but there are many other ways to get from place to place. Wizards mainly travel by apparition, portkey, and broomsticks not to mention enchanted Muggle modes of transportation."
"Hmm." Merlin grunted, as he thought of the intricacies of having to cast one's body from one place to another. "These skills could be of great use, could you show me how to do it?"
"Um - I didn't get a chance to learn it before I was sent here. You see." Harry didn't get a chance to finish, because at that moment, horses could be heard coming towards them.
"Quickly now!", Merlin shouted, grabbing his staff and pulling Harry up.
But it was too late; the horses had already caught up with and surrounded them. Twenty armored men and mounts were formed in a tight circle surrounding the pair. Long, poison tipped lances were drawn and pointed at Harry and Merlin.
Then crackling laughter could be heard from the back of the formation. "Ahh. how the mighty have fallen. The great Merlin, magician extraordinaire, feared by the little lordlings under Arthur, here in my grasp"
"Show yourself!" commanded Merlin, who was standing with calm indifference against the deadly weapons poised to strike. "Unless you are too much of a coward."
"NOBODY CALLS ME A COWARD", yelled the voice, as two of the mounts facing the pair stepped aside to reveal a white horse which looked like it was carrying a beach ball on its back. The ball turned out to be a man, who was dressed in gaudy, jewel encrusted armor, which did nothing to hide his enormous bulk. He had beady black eyes, and looked to have an eternal sneer painted on his face.
"I am King Luc de Farnam the Third," bragged the small man, puffing his chest out trying to make himself more imposing of a figure. "You, Merlin, are trespassing upon my sovereign lands. My men have orders to run you through, if you even twitch."
"Oh, then I won't move a muscle", drawled Merlin in a Malfoy-ish tone.
Without warning, all the mounts were transfigured into doormice, sending the once mounted men crashing heavily to the ground. Next their armor became potato sacks with holes for the head and arms. And before Harry could blink, the armed men held the tail end of fishes in the place of lances. More than half the soldiers could no longer take the madness. So they turned tail and ran.
Harry saw several bolts of red flash through the air, taking three men immediately out of commission. Meanwhile, he could hear the whistling of Merlin's staff spinning through the air, and the resounding crunches and thuds left in its wake. Merlin, making short work of the remaining two soldiers, was too preoccupied to notice the "King" sneaking up behind him. Seeing a glint of silver poised behind Merlin, Harry knew that he would not be able to yell out a warning before that pudgy hand plunged a dagger into his companion's exposed back.
"Expelliarmus", Harry yelled without thinking. He reacted, instinctively, with his wand hand outstretched, pointing towards de Farnam, quickly gathering magical energy to pour into his phoenix wand core, before realizing that he no longer had his wand. However, what happened next was completely unexpected.
A silver beam burst forth from Harry's hand, impacting de Farnam, sending him and his dagger flying in opposite directions.
Merlin had just finished off the last soldier when he heard a whoosh behind him. He turned to see the self crowned king flying into the side of a large oak, with Harry standing twenty feet behind him with a bewildered look on his face.
Before Harry could ask what just happened, Merlin quickly said "Later." And had both of them running towards the north once again.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews =)
Chapter Two: The Journey North
"Wait. did you say Merlin?" Harry sputtered, once again jogging to catch up with the other wizard.
"Yes. Merlin. Do you have a problem with my name lad?"
"N- No" Harry managed to get out, finally finding a steady pace that he was comfortable with.
Harry thought to himself, "Merlin, the Prince of Enchanters, the wizard responsible for Modern Magic. that same Merlin is walking right next to me."
He had survived insurmountable odds, and escaped relatively unscathed from the Killing Curse once again. As far as he could tell, the magic from the Voldemort's curse, somehow catapulted Harry back through time.
Continuing to ponder his present situation, Harry had not realized that Merlin had stopped walking, and ended up crashing into him, causing both wizards to topple to the ground.
Grumbling to himself, Merlin pulled himself up. "We are far enough from trouble, for now. So, since we are out of danger, tell me where you come from? Why someone was trying to curse you? And why people of your homeland wear such ridiculous clothing."
At this last comment, Harry looked down at himself and realized that Merlin was talking about Dudley's hand-me-downs. He was wearing an oversized grey t-shirt, whose sleeves came down to his wrists. In addition, he was wearing jeans, five sizes too large, which had multiple holes in them, and shoes which looked more fitting for a clown than for a sixteen year old boy. The combination of his apparel caused Harry's appearance to be quite amusing indeed.
"The clothes are hand-me-downs from my cousin", replied Harry, embarrassed to be standing in front of the most famous wizard in history, dressed so shabbily.
"Oh..", said Merlin, softening, upon hearing the boy's circumstance.
"Anyways," Harry continued. "I come from England, but as far as I can tell, an England of the far future. As for why someone was trying to curse me." He then proceeded to explain his parents' deaths, the events following the Triwizard Tournament, the battle in the Department of Mysteries, and the damned prophecy.
When the boy was finished, Merlin just looked at him astonished. "This boy really has led a hard life", the older wizard thought to himself. "He can't be more than sixteen years of age, and yet when I look into his eyes, it seems as if he is much, much older." At that point, Merlin resolved to let no harm to come to the boy, for as long as he was with him.
"Well lad", Merlin said, smiling. "We're almost at the crossroads, and from there it's only another month's journey to Norhaven. If you want, you are welcome to join me on the journey there. If you do not already know, Norhaven is a large wizarding kingdom. Also, it has a large library of texts, which we may be able to use, and find a way to send you home."
"R-Really?" Harry exclaimed, quite happy with the thought of traveling with the esteemed wizard. "You would really let me come with you?"
"Yes."
"I'd be honored, sir", said Harry, managing an awkward bow.
"Now, no need for formalities lad. We will see how you fare with my company in a few weeks." Merlin said with a twinkle in his eyes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harry didn't consider himself out of shape. But after only a day of hiking, he discovered that he was quite mistaken. They had just stopped and set up camp for the night. Amazingly, the forest was nothing like what he was used to. It was quiet and peaceful; there was rarely a sign of human life among the trails that the pair took. Of course, at the moment, Harry was too preoccupied with letting his feet rest in front of the crackling fire, to take note of anything else.
"Well lad, I take it you wizards of the future do not travel much by foot anymore", chuckled Merlin, while lighting his pipe.
"Not long distances, no", Harry replied. "We still walk short distances of course, but there are many other ways to get from place to place. Wizards mainly travel by apparition, portkey, and broomsticks not to mention enchanted Muggle modes of transportation."
"Hmm." Merlin grunted, as he thought of the intricacies of having to cast one's body from one place to another. "These skills could be of great use, could you show me how to do it?"
"Um - I didn't get a chance to learn it before I was sent here. You see." Harry didn't get a chance to finish, because at that moment, horses could be heard coming towards them.
"Quickly now!", Merlin shouted, grabbing his staff and pulling Harry up.
But it was too late; the horses had already caught up with and surrounded them. Twenty armored men and mounts were formed in a tight circle surrounding the pair. Long, poison tipped lances were drawn and pointed at Harry and Merlin.
Then crackling laughter could be heard from the back of the formation. "Ahh. how the mighty have fallen. The great Merlin, magician extraordinaire, feared by the little lordlings under Arthur, here in my grasp"
"Show yourself!" commanded Merlin, who was standing with calm indifference against the deadly weapons poised to strike. "Unless you are too much of a coward."
"NOBODY CALLS ME A COWARD", yelled the voice, as two of the mounts facing the pair stepped aside to reveal a white horse which looked like it was carrying a beach ball on its back. The ball turned out to be a man, who was dressed in gaudy, jewel encrusted armor, which did nothing to hide his enormous bulk. He had beady black eyes, and looked to have an eternal sneer painted on his face.
"I am King Luc de Farnam the Third," bragged the small man, puffing his chest out trying to make himself more imposing of a figure. "You, Merlin, are trespassing upon my sovereign lands. My men have orders to run you through, if you even twitch."
"Oh, then I won't move a muscle", drawled Merlin in a Malfoy-ish tone.
Without warning, all the mounts were transfigured into doormice, sending the once mounted men crashing heavily to the ground. Next their armor became potato sacks with holes for the head and arms. And before Harry could blink, the armed men held the tail end of fishes in the place of lances. More than half the soldiers could no longer take the madness. So they turned tail and ran.
Harry saw several bolts of red flash through the air, taking three men immediately out of commission. Meanwhile, he could hear the whistling of Merlin's staff spinning through the air, and the resounding crunches and thuds left in its wake. Merlin, making short work of the remaining two soldiers, was too preoccupied to notice the "King" sneaking up behind him. Seeing a glint of silver poised behind Merlin, Harry knew that he would not be able to yell out a warning before that pudgy hand plunged a dagger into his companion's exposed back.
"Expelliarmus", Harry yelled without thinking. He reacted, instinctively, with his wand hand outstretched, pointing towards de Farnam, quickly gathering magical energy to pour into his phoenix wand core, before realizing that he no longer had his wand. However, what happened next was completely unexpected.
A silver beam burst forth from Harry's hand, impacting de Farnam, sending him and his dagger flying in opposite directions.
Merlin had just finished off the last soldier when he heard a whoosh behind him. He turned to see the self crowned king flying into the side of a large oak, with Harry standing twenty feet behind him with a bewildered look on his face.
Before Harry could ask what just happened, Merlin quickly said "Later." And had both of them running towards the north once again.