A/N: This was originally all going to be chapter 3, but then it was over 5,000 words long, which I know is a bit over kill for a single chapter! That's why it's been split up, just cuz I love you guys! It was all written as one, just an over view of the year. Originally it was just going to be like 1,000 words saying how they drifted apart; Merlin had no friends, etc. but then as I was writing I kept wanting to add a little bit more in here and there, and that little bit more turned into over 4,000 words more! This is no original chapter 3, but I am actually quite pleased with how it all turned out. There are actually quite a few ideas from the original chapter 3 that I was able to remember and add in. Please feel free to leave a review, I always love to hear from people, constructive criticism is welcome, and I hope you enjoy!

It was the penultimate day of the year, and for Arthur that meant Quidditch! He was so excited that that morning he walked into the great hall for breakfast, already proudly sporting his house colours even though the match wasn't until after lunch. His friends quickly joined him, also wearing various combinations of red and yellow to support their house.

Arthur finished first and had agreed to run back to the dorm because Elyan had forgotten the face paint that had been brought for just such an occasion. On his way out of the great hall Arthur saw a figure in a yellow and black jumper with jet black hair. Arthur jogged after the figure who gave a small yelp of surprise when the Gryffindor grabbed his arm from behind and pulled him out of the way of foot traffic.

"Arthur!"
"Hey Merlin" he replied jovially as the two boys hugged,
"you scared the living daylights out of me! What are you doing sneaking up on people?"
"I was hardly sneaking, I called your name three times!" Arthur responded with a laugh
"Oh, sorry, I was reading" Merlin said holding up the book that he had in his arms
"Ah it's okay! You're coming to the Quidditch match today, yeah?" Arthur asked, smiling broadly at Merlin
"Actually no," Arthurs face dropped with disappointment, why would someone not go to a Quidditch match?!
"C'mon Merlin, we can sneak you into the Gryffindor stands and you can watch it with us!" Arthur begged, pulling gently at Merlin's sleeve
"Sorry, I'm helping Professor Sprout move some of the plants in the Herbology greenhouses to one of the fireplaces so that she can floo-powder them home to look after over the summer. Only the ones that need real attention, she has just left instructions for Filtch on how and when to water and feed the rest." Merlin rambled with a smile
"That sucks! What did you do to get detention? Must have been pretty bad for you to be missing the match!" Merlin's ears went red with embarrassment, he should have figured that Arthur would think it was lame, to him they were just dumb plants, what's a plant to a broom in his mind?
"Actually… I volunteered to help, I really like Herbology and it's easiest to do it when there aren't loads of students around, so during the match is perfect… plus Quidditch isn't really my thing." He responded his eyes flicking to the floor and his smile faded,
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean Herbology sucked, just that you were missing the match…" It was Arthur's turn to go red, feeling guilty as he tried to backtrack, but before he could think of what to say next Merlin spoke,
"Well I'd better be going, I have to give this book back to Madam Pince before I go to the greenhouses. Enjoy the match, tell your friends I said hi!" and with that Merlin ducked his head and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Arthur confused by the boy's behaviour.

He hadn't seen much of Merlin since the year began, except for in class were they would occasionally make eye contact and exchange a small smile, but then outside of class he would hang out with Leon, Percival and the others, and Merlin would hang out with… Arthur's thoughts trailed off; he couldn't actually think of a time when he had seen Merlin hanging out with a group of Hufflepuffs. Of course they all seemed nice enough; they are Hufflepuff after all, just Merlin was never with them. Left with the troubling idea of Merlin's isolation Arthur headed to the dorms.

During the match Arthur tried to get caught up in the match, to cheer along with his friends, supporting his house… but he just couldn't. His mind kept wandering to Merlin; they had become best friends on the first day, but just drifted apart, all because of the stupid divide between houses. When he thought about it, he realised how much he had missed Merlin, even though they had not been able to talk much he remembered thinking on many occasions over the year how Merlin's quick wit and light hearted humour would have fit perfectly into conversations. Oh how he wished Merlin had been in Gryffindor… or even he in Hufflepuff, if it meant they could have been together.

When the match had been won, Gryffindor returning victorious, Arthur excused himself from the group of celebrating Gryffindors and slipped away in the direction of the greenhouses. When he arrived he found Professor Sprout quietly chattering away to her plants as she watered them and organising various bits and bobs. Knocking gently on the glass he brought the professor's attention to him,
"Sorry to disturb you Professor, but do you know where Merlin is? He said he was going to be helping you during the match,"
"Oh yes of course, Merlin was such a help! I'm sorry to say that you just missed him; he was heading back to the Hufflepuff dormitories to get cleaned up before the feast, some of the more lively plants have taken to throwing soil at people! Still, not to worry, I will have them out of that habit before the start of the new Year!" Professor Sprout chattered happily, with a smile reaching her twinkling eyes as she did so
"Thanks Professor!" Arthur responded, grinning back as he darted out the door, running now in the direction of the castle.

He caught sight of the scruffy mop of black hair disappearing into the castle, he fastened his pace. He caught up to the boy just before he reached a large painting of an overflowing fruit bowl, down a dead ended passageway. He once more managed to startle Merlin who let out a small yelp as Arthur grabbed his arm once more as he spun round to face Arthur, mud smeared on his face and clothes,
"Jeez Arthur! You have to stop doing that!"
"Sorry Merlin! Look about what I said earlier,"
"Don't worry about it," Merlin shrugged with a smile, "I know you didn't mean any harm by what you said, anyway, how was the Quidditch match?" Arthurs face lit up, relieved that Merlin seemed okay after their conversation earlier.
"Really good, the excitement in the stands was amazing! Gryffindor won, of course, I think there's some kind party going on in the Gryffindor dormitory…" he trailed away and the two boys were left just smiling at one another.
"You should go, enjoy the party!" Merlin said softly, dropping Arthurs gaze,
"you should come" Arthur blurted out, Merlin's eyes darted back up,
"Arthur you know I can't, I'm not Gryffindor, I'd stick out like a sore thumb!" Merlin said, resigned, gesturing to his soiled Hufflepuff jumper,
"Then take that off! If you dress in red and yellow then you'll fit right in, you can come and celebrate with us!"
"Arthur, I would love to… but you remember what happened at the start of the year… I… I'd really like to avoid any other encounters of a similar nature, and that was just for sitting at the wrong table; I dread to think what some slightly drunken Gryffindors will do if they find me in their common room! Sorry Arthur,"

Arthur hung his head, he knew Merlin was right, there had been rumours going round the Gryffindor tower that some of the older students had acquired some barrels of butter beer and bottles of fire whiskey, and he understood Merlin's fear, remembering the look in the sixth year's eye when he had had Merlin on the ground.
"No, it's alright. I understand, I just wish we could hang out, like properly, not just short conversations in the corridors every now and then, but like properly, you know?" Merlin nodded, he too would like nothing more. Arthur watched as a small smile crept across Merlin's face,
"You know…" he said slowly, "The Hufflepuff common room is always empty by Midnight, so…" Merlin left his sentence there, looking at Arthur with hopeful eyes and slightly a slightly raised brow. Arthur held Merlin's gaze, a smile also growing on his face
"Midnight you say?"