Author's Note: Hello all, the response to the beginning of this story has been amazing. I do respond to all reviews, as long as you have the Personal Messaging feature enabled on your account. I'd love to hear your theories and questions about this story. Just so everyone is prepared, this is going to be a short story, coming in at about 18,000 words and is being written for a contest at another HP fic website. Again, thanks for reading. Another chapter up at the end of the week. MNF
Chapter 2:
Merlin, of the First Seat
The torches on the walls immediately flamed to life as Harry entered the room. As with any magical room, it looked much larger than the alcove the empty frame had been in. It was a richly appointed room, a huge brown bear skin, complete with its head and a full compliment of teeth, laid upon the floor. The walls were covered with beautiful brocade tapestries, making the space feel more homey. There were images of witches and wizards in a circle. Harry suspected it might be an earlier incarnation of the Gathering. A large stone fireplace with an even larger stone mantelpiece took up one entire wall. Two huge, overstuffed chairs were near the fireplace, each with a fur blanket draped across the back. In the center of the room was the table and chairs.
"Please, Lord Potter, have a seat," the robed gentleman said as they approached the small table. His hand was raised to indicate the left seat, and Harry pulled it out. The chair was made of heavy wood, dark in color and intricately carved. As he moved the chair out, Harry was intrigued by the needlework which made up the cushion. Upon the seat was image of a pottery wheel, a vessel in mid-work upon it. The gentleman noticed Harry's look of wonder and puzzlement. "That is your family chair, used by each Lord Potter who has ever been part of a Gathering."
Harry sat down, still somewhat stunned by this turn of events. He couldn't help but wonder if his father had ever met this man. Perhaps Sirius had made his acquaintance? It would make him feel better if he knew someone who had been here before him.
"I am certain you have many questions," the man stated, and Harry nodded in affirmation. "Let us begin with preliminary information then, shall we? My name is Myrddin chan 'r sêr, Merlin of the First Seat. You will meet my descendant when the Circle next gathers."
"The Merlin? As in King Arthur and Camelot and the Holy Grail?" Harry enquired, astonished.
"Tis I," Myrddin replied. "Please, call me Myrddin. Merlin is a bastardization of my name, poorly translated to Latin and then into English. Apparently a proper Latin translation sounded too similar to the word for feces. My descendants use the name Merlin as a title, rather than as a moniker." Harry wasn't sure how to respond to the strange comment, so he chose to ignore it.
"Would you prefer I call you Mister chan 'r sêr or Lord chan 'r sêr?" Myrddin laughed at Harry's statement.
"It is refreshing to meet one of your generation who is respectful of his elders. I had attempted to teach another young one some thirty years ago. He was unwilling to learn and had the most rude of temperaments." Harry swallowed hard upon hearing this.
"Please tell me it wasn't a young man by the name of Black?" Harry asked, worried how his godfather might have taken to a lesson such as this. Sirius despised his pureblood heritage. Myrddin again laughed at Harry's insightfulness.
"No, it was not Lord Black. While somewhat irreverent in his perception of the world, Lord Black recognizes the importance of the task we are commissioned with. This gentleman was named Malfoy; and his impudence cost his bloodline their place in the Circle, and their familial recognition." Harry nodded, secretly excited to have something to tease Draco with.
"If you will permit me to call you Harry, you may use my first name as well."
"You may, and thank you," Harry responded, beginning to feel comfortable with the aged wizard.
"Perhaps I shall have time to instruct you in the correct pronunciation of the Welsh as well. Since you have not had reason to study the ancient tongue, I do not expect proper pronunciation. Those of the old houses require a trained ear and tongue to say the names correctly." Harry nodded, excited about the prospect of learning a new language. He also suspected he was butchering the words.
Myrddin lifted his hand and the table was suddenly larger. In the center were diagrams, astronomical charts, scrolls, blank parchment and a quill. At the ends of the table were platters of fruit, cheese and bread as well as two goblets and a crystal decanter filled with what Harry suspected was golden mead, if the color was any indication.
"How am I interacting with you? I'm assuming you're dead," Harry asked.
"Indeed. I am for quite a long while now. You have spoken with the portraits within the castle walls, have you not?"
"I have."
"The magic which allows you to speak to me is similar," Myrddin explained. "I possess far greater magical power than most, hence the difference in your interaction with me. I will further admit a weakness for the flavor of the fermented golden gift of the hive. I ensured that when I was to travel from my realm to that of the living, I would have a way to partake of the goblet." He then lifted the decanter and poured the amber liquid into each of the drinking vessels. Lifting one to his lips, he swallowed and smiled. "The flavor is that which I relished while alive. Please, Harry, drink, dine. I shall only be informing you of history this evening. Your specific duties and responsibilities we will discuss in another lesson."
"Then I'll be meeting you again?" Harry reached for a hunk of bread and several chunks of cheese, not needing to be told twice. He realized he was quite hungry, as he'd been lost in thought through both lunch and supper.
"You shall. We will continue until you feel certain you can execute your duties fully. Generally, these lessons would be given as you prepared to submit yourself to the entitling ceremony. Unfortunately, your father was taken when you were too young to be adequately prepared. The estate of your family has been presided over by a designo custodia or custodial designate."
"Someone has been handling this for me? Who? Why didn't I know?" Harry disliked the feeling of being a chess pawn moved about the board. He wanted to know why this person hadn't come forward to tell him about all of this.
"Your great-great grandfather, Eldon Obediah Potter. His spectral visage has been consulting with the goblins to ensure the financial obligations of the Noble and most Ancient house of Potter have been fulfilled. The circle has not had need to convene since the passing of your grandfather, Andrew. Had you been living on your family's estate, Sir Eldon would have been instructing you since early childhood."
"Estate? My family has an estate? Why wasn't I told?" Harry could feel the anger boiling up within him. He'd been forced to endure a childhood at the Dursley's, which seemed ridiculous now, seeing as he apparently owned an estate. Certainly someone could have been hired to care for him, raise him and perhaps even love him. Hell, Harry could have had Remus as his caretaker for all these years, instead of being forced to endure the torture of Uncle Vernon and Dudley and the apathy of Aunt Petunia.
"Harry, I wish it were mine to grant you the answers to your questions. Alas, I cannot at this time. I will say this, however. Once you have taken the mantle of your familial lineage upon yourself and have made your vows to the magic of the Yn caethiwo Amgarn, we can revisit your question," Myrrdin explained and Harry unwillingly agreed. He did, however, think it would be nice to finally be given the answers to questions he'd had his whole life.
"You make it sound like I'm going to be an adult when this is done. Is that true?" Harry liked the idea of being emancipated, of someone finally telling him how his life fit into what he knew of the past and what seemed to be coming in the future.
"You have inferred correctly. We shall discuss this in more detail at another time. However, for you to fully appreciate your position and place in the current incarnation of the circle, you must also be cognizant of the past. If you will permit me to put your questions to the side, may we start with a history lesson of sorts?"
"I hope you don't put me to sleep," Harry said under his breath. He must have said it loud enough, however, as Myrddin began to chortle.
"I should hope you find my demeanor and elocution superior to your History Professor. His monotony is infamous." Harry joined in with a hearty guffaw at the astute characterization of Professor Binns.
"How much do you know about the story of Arthur, the sword and Avalon?" Myrddin asked.
"I had to read the story when I was in primary school. I know, or at least what I learned, was you orchestrated the birth of Arthur and were his teacher. You were enchanted by the Lady of the Lake. Arthur formed the Knights of the Round Table and with the knights, they went questing. A woman caused its destruction."
"Interesting the points you remembered. From what you've recounted, I believe you read one of the modern amalgams of our history. Much of the history is unrelated to the Circle, but you did point out the most important part. The round table," Myrddin explained and then took another sip from his goblet.
"These were not just any knights, they were all wizards as well. Arthur was magical too, although other aspects of his personality were emphasized when the campaign of misinformation was started several hundred years ago. These islands were the most magical places in the world. Our forefathers, priests and priestesses alike had encouraged the inherent magic of the natural world, and most humans could access it to some extent.
"Unfortunately, there were kings who wanted more magical powers for themselves. They would marry faeries to ensure their loyalty or take other creatures as slaves for their power. They also began to stake claim on certain places, ones which had powerful wells or founts of magic. We were never going to withstand the attacks from the nonbelievers if we were squabbling over land rights among ourselves."
"The nonbelievers? Were they the Romans?" Harry asked as he sliced another bit of cheese. He'd been taking notes on Myrddin's lesson, although he hadn't been prompted to do so. If nothing else, Hermione would be interested in what he was learning.
"Among others, yes. A curious thing had occurred after the Romans had finally been driven out. The Romanesque, nonmagical began to move toward the east of the islands while those who followed the old ways of faith and magic moved to the west. Avalon was first settled in this magical migration."
"Where is Avalon located?" Harry asked.
"I cannot answer that," Myrddin explained. "While I suspect I could locate its general area on a modern map, the island's magic keeps it hidden. Only those whose blood right has root in its soil may be led there. The importance of the isle was the genesis of the Yn caethiwo Amgarn. I was gravely worried that if we did not begin to work together, our lands would suffer and the natural magic would eventually succumb to extinction."
"How could magic become extinct?"
"Like any other; misuse, abuse, balance no longer a consideration."
"I don't understand," Harry confessed. "Things should have been better once the Romans left." Myrddin grew a knowing smile across his lips.
"In some ways they were, but in others we suffered. Turmoil seeped into every aspect of life. Nearly one hundred years after the settling of Avalon, I called together our first convocation of families. Those who were called came from the original druidic priestly bloodlines. I laid out for them what was happening to our natural magic, and put forth an idea of the future if we changed nothing. It was a desolate future. Our people would succumb to weakening magical cores, and many would be unable to practice any longer."
"Obviously they must have listened to you, since my life is nothing like this."
"They did, which is where we will pick up our story tomorrow. The castle is informing me that your curfew is nearly upon us. You will also find that the assignments you were to complete tonight are finished as well, and you will awake with that which you should have revised tonight safely ensconced within your mind," Myrddin explained. Harry quelled the urge to do a fist pump. He'd been wondering how he was going to get his assignments completed.
"Thank you," Harry emphatically told the old wizard.
"What you are learning with me is far more important than your school lessons. I do not want anything to distract you. Shall we meet here again tomorrow after you sup?" Harry nodded and rose. They walked together to the door. Harry went through. Once in the corridor he pulled the map out and checked to make sure no one was coming, and seeing no one, stepped into the corridor. When he turned around, only the blank back board of the portrait remained.