There is a saying that, "Things never happen the same way twice." It was a statement concocted philosophically and has been proven time and time again. Merlin had originally stated such after several centuries of watching from the sidelines. In all of his time as an immortal creature and living vessel of magic itself, he has seen wars, famine, destruction of kingdoms and cities and towns by both natural and unnatural forces. He has seen a variety of disease outbreaks ranging from the flu and measles to the bubonic plague. If not for many of the positive triumphs human kind has also made, Merlin would have turned his back on society a millennium ago in his wait for Arthur's return. He has witnessed and aided in the building of beautiful architecture and languages. He has seen the rise and fall of Great leaders, both good and bad that have left plenty of long-lasting effects on the world.
His worldly travels have introduced him to a variety of different cultures. Whether it is Greeks, Egyptians, Chinese, Japanese, Minoans, Mongols, Mycenaeans, Germans, British, Scottish or even the recently established Americans, he has seen them all. After the fall of Arthur and Morgana, Merlin and Aithusa found solace in each other's company. They set out exploring, attempting to avoid any matters pertaining to the past. Even so, it had taken several decades before the hostility between them completely severed. Once it had, the relationship between dragon and Dragonlord stood strong. By this time, what remained of Camelot had dissipated. Guinevere never produced an heir or remarried and she died due to sickness just two decades following her husband. Gaius had long before died of old age and all of his knightly friends perished in combat. Magic had been returned to the kingdom following the war at Camlann. After much prejudice finally subsided, there had been a great time of peace for all people both magical and non-magical alike. Merlin sought out to protect the remaining castle. He repaired all damages and set up magical enchantments to protect it through the tests of time. Further protection was found in isolation. The land around the castle was changed. Steep cliffs over a roaring sea prevented invaders from behind. The large deep-rooted forest became home to many magical creatures both dark and light. They created an un-contracted agreement with him that they would help to defend the school in his absence. And so the two comrades continued on their travels knowing everything was well taken care of at home.
A few centuries passed now. Merlin and Aithusa still traveled. The young dragon had gotten older and much wiser with age. He and Merlin had taken a break from the world and spent some time in solitude. After reemerging, they discovered that a separation had occurred. It seemed, the grudges between magical and non-magical people came back and cam back hard. Unbeknownst to most of the world, he has also spent much of his time living among the magical communities who have since then separated from the 'muggles' and created a society of their very own.
In the beginning, after first finding out, he was conflicted upon whether or not the separation would play a good or bad role in society but he has long since found both groups striving. This way fear does not spread through witch-hunts and massacres. He has long since concluded that misunderstandings can lead to fear and fear can lead to violence. Ignorance is far better than uprisings. Still he knows that time is a fickle thing and with all of the changing technologies 'muggles' have concocted in recent decades, the separation cannot remain secret forever. He only hopes that when the barrier breaks, it is not in the form of a world-ending catastrophe. He hopes that both technology and magic will flow freely and positively impact both sides. Even after the Statue of Secrecy had been administered, many 'witches' and 'wizards' as they were now called, still conveyed resentment towards their now oblivious counterparts. As a means of prevention from harm, Merlin set up the 'Order of Merlin' to establish rules against the use of magic on Muggles. The knowledge of Merlin and his gifts had spread since the time of Camelot. To Muggles, the 'Knights of the Round Table' were only legend but to the magic world Merlin and his story became revered. It didn't help though that every legend got the events wrong. He has only ever been an old man when it conveniences him, he has only had a beard as an old man, and his wise council to his king was only ever given from his mouth as a servant, not a court sorcerer. Arthur didn't even find out about Merlin's magic until the last of his days following Camlann.
Besides all the happy memories of his time during Camelot, which can never be surpassed by anything else he has ever done, he had managed to find comfort in a group of individuals around the time of the separation. Four remarkable people wanted to create a safe zone where children could gather and learn and control in the art of magic. The trick was to find a sizable area isolated enough to offer such protection. It was after realizing they had managed to find the remaining magically protected castle of Camelot that he decided to intervene.
At the time, he had relocated to the 'Isle of the Blessed'. Though he has only grown stronger, much of the magic located within many of these important sites were beginning to lose its potency. He had been working to restore the flow when he had been notified of their presence.
Upon meeting them, he noticed how much they reminded him of himself in his own early years. They were eager to learn and grow and strive. How great he decided it would be to mentor them in the times of old. They became his first and only apprentices. Unfortunately magic after their time declined and magic wielders could no longer willingly project it anymore. The first students ever to walk the halls of Hogwarts were required to use 'wands' holding a variety of different cores as magical focusing mechanisms. It became a new form of magic all its own as 'wizards', as they were soon called, adapted themselves to the Latin language and evolved from there. The most amazing part about this new highly diluted form of magic; however, is that far more people are capable of accessing it. In his time, so many people were born with magic in their veins but the small amounts would not enable them to focus it. He could never have imagined the extent that the magical community would grow to so long ago.
For a while, he and Aithusa found comfort at the school but after a few years, people became more aware of his presence. Not knowing whom he was or why he would be so familiarly associated with the most powerful known group of people in that time, they began to notice him much more. After some time, far too many of the staff and students questioned his presence and he knew it was finally time to leave. The pain it had taken to once again leave his home, was not nearly as much as the pain it took to say goodbye. Aithusa decided to settle down and remain within the confines of the school ground. He had grown much older by then and figured his time would be best spent safeguarding the students. The two kept in touch and he kept Merlin notified of the students' progress.
A few years had passed before Salazar had managed to track him down. He had decided to retake up residence in isolation on the outskirts of the Lake of Avalon. It was here he laid Freya, Lancelot, and Arthur to rest. They were his greatest companions through the sum of lifetimes he has lived that nobody could ever compare. But Salazar was still a great companion. The dispersion of the founders left him traveling. Being as loyal and stubborn as he was, he refused to leave Merlin's side after their re-crossed paths. Decades of adventures followed but the happiness could not last. Salazar wistfully grew too old and along he too went to Avalon following fifty-three unprecedented years. After laying Salazar's body to rest like his other companions, he had to move on. Since then he has been everywhere and studied everything, though he dislikes living in one place for far too long.
On several occasions he has enrolled himself in Hogwarts as a means of checking on the school. Him and Aithusa used the time to reconnect. It is a great feeling, knowing that the legacy of his companions lives on through such an extraordinary establishment. Many of the portraits and ghosts have long since gotten used to his presence as rare as it may be. Even with a deep curiosity for the boy who never ages still ongoing, most have long since learned to stop asking questions and leave secrets be. Even still, they hold a great deal of respect for him from what they do know. The only ones who know that he was present around the time of the founders are the Grey Lady and the Bloody Baron because both were living at the time. Aithusa's presence at the school remained secret except to the long time residents.
In recent years, a dark force has engrossed the Wizarding world and regardless of a lack of knowledge for magic, 'muggles' could still feel a change in the atmosphere. A great war broke out and every corner of the Wizarding world was reached. One man so dark by the name of 'Lord Voldemort', i.e. Tom Riddle, recruited followers and caused much death and destruction in his wake. It was not until fourteen years ago, a small one-year old child by the name of Harry Potter managed to stump him. Most only speculate how and why he seemed to be destroyed that night. It was a killing curse gone wrong and Harry became the 'Boy-who-lived.'
Later years Harry began Hogwarts at the age of eleven and Merlin watched him. A sort of, fascination developed as the boy overcame great obstacles and dealt with a great deal of grief through the years. Regardless of how much he wanted to intervene because he couldn't stand the thought of such a young boy going through the things he does, Merlin had promised a very long time ago not to meddle in things that did not concern him. Even his fellow reincarnated comrades had begun making appearances at the school but their destiny was not yet ready to continue. Other motions were already in place and the fight against Voldemort was not theirs. His reason for playing a ghost was to avoid picking sides regardless of his beliefs. The moment he chose, the war would end and all would change. He has long since decided not to play God and leave the world be and until the time was right. And besides, the Old Religion would not allow it.
About a month ago, a shift happened. Harry Potter got cornered after the Triwizard tournament and Voldemort managed to weave his way back to the land-of-the-living. But that is not all that has happened. It was that night that the Old Religion let out a sense of ire dread. Something is looming on the horizon; something that is about to change everything and Merlin has this feeling that he is about to find himself, one again, directly in the middle of it. The Old Religion is preparing itself for battle and calling its greatest assets back home. The only question now it: What's going to happen next?