Author's note: Okay, another chapter! I suppose I should thank you all for the feedback that I've gotten, even if it has declined a bit.
In other news, I am up to chapter 18 in writing, so I'll be doing my best to get the chapter up earlier than this next time. I've just been super busy lately.
Anyway, this is kind of a short chapter, but I hope you enjoy it!
Edit: Okay, I've decided, since this and the next chapter are so darn short, I'm combining them. The next chapter, that is, the chapter after the chapter I'm combining with this one, will be up this week since I technically should have posted the two combined in the first place instead of having a pathetic cliffhanger like I had. Anyway, enjoy the addition!
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or Harry Potter.
Gringotts had been robbed, but that was of little concern to Merlin if the vault had already been emptied. As long as it wasn't his vault, then he was okay. No, what interested Merlin was the fact that he was forced to get on a broom Thursday, and there was nothing that he could do about it.
Draco continued to ignore Merlin until said day, but then Merlin decided that he had had enough when the boy started taunting Neville for falling off his broom. His Arthur would never do that, and it became clear to him that Malfoy was putting on a face. He was about to step in, when who should interrupt but the Gryffindors.
"Shut up, Malfoy."
"Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom? Never thought you'd like fat little crybabies, Parvati."
"Look! It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."
"Give that here, Malfoy."
"Leave it, Draco," Merlin and Harry said at the same time.
Malfoy looked at Merlin in surprise, and was that betrayal? But he turned to Harry, and the emotion was gone.
"I think I'll leave it for Longbottom to find- how about- up a tree?"
"Give it here!" Harry shouted, but Draco was in the air.
"Come and get it, Potter!"
Merlin's glare was enough to fell armies.
"No! Madam Hooch told us not to move- you'll get us all into trouble," Hermione said, but Harry ignored her and zoomed after Malfoy.
"Give it here, or I'll knock you off that broom."
"Oh, yeah?" Malfoy was worried, and Merlin smirked. Maybe Potter would teach him a lesson.
"No Crabbe and Goyle up here to save your neck, Malfoy."
"Catch it if you can, then!" he yelled, throwing the rememberall through the air. Harry dove after it, barely managing to catch it, then-
"HARRY POTTER! Never- in all my time at Hogwarts- how dare you- might have broken your neck-"
"It wasn't his fault, Professor-"
"Be quiet, Miss Patil-"
"But Malfoy-"
"That's enough, Mr. Weasley. Potter, follow me, now."
Harry walked off with Professor McGonagall, and Merlin turned to Malfoy as he landed back on the ground.
"You prat! How could you-"
"Shut up, Marlin," Draco sneered as he passed Merlin, heading back towards the castle. All Merlin could do was glare after him.
He never knew his best friend coming back could hurt this much.
...
Merlin was eating when he heard a commotion near the Gryffindor table.
"I'd take you on anytime on my own. Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only- no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"
"Of course he has. I'm his second, who's yours?"
Malfoy examined Crabbe and Goyle, then seemed to have a thought.
"Hey, Marlin!" Draco called, noticing that the warlock was listening in on their conversation. "Want to prove your heritage?" he sneered.
Marlin sighed. He had a feeling that Malfoy was setting both of them up, but it might be worth the risk. On the one hand, this could get him in bad with Harry. On the other, this could get him back Arthur. An idea came to him.
"Only if you and I have a talk afterwards, Malfoy," he hissed, and Malfoy seemed to think this over.
"Deal," he said, and Merlin sighed in relief. He had a feeling that this was a hoax, but he would make Draco go through with it if it was. Plus, there was always that promised chat.
"MIdnight, all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."
Malfoy walked back over to the Slytherin table and sat down next to Merlin, surprising the warlock. Draco sneered at him, obviously pleased with himself, and Merlin frowned.
"The Arthur I knew would never pull a stunt like that," he stated, and Malfoy got another weird look on his face. "You know, I'm holding you to your word. We'll be having that chat."
Malfoy looked away, but nodded, and from the brief glance that Merlin got of Malfoy's face, he looked sad.
...
Merlin had somehow managed to do it! He had managed to drag Malfoy from the Slytherin common room to fight Harry like he promised, and this is what led to them standing in the trophy room, facing the rather large group of Gryffindors. Hermione looked at Merlin like she couldn't possibly believe that he was breaking the rules like this, and Harry just glared at him. Then they heard a noise.
"Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner."
Merlin stiffened. Filch.
Harry waved for the other three to follow him and Merlin and Draco took off after them, the way they came in obviously not available. They moved through the door when they heard Filch enter the trophy room.
"They're in here somewhere, probably hiding."
'This way,' Harry mouthed to the group and they began to creep along the gallery, Merlin much more silent than the rest of the group. They heard Filch getting closer, and Neville panicked and tripped with Ron into a suit of armor.
"RUN!" Harry exclaimed, and they all followed orders, going through corridors at random and tripping into a secret passage, ending up near the Charms classroom.
"I think we've lost him," Harry breathed, Draco struggling to catch his breath.
"We wouldn't've had trouble with him if it weren't for-"
"Draco," Merlin reprimanded the boy, and he quickly shut his mouth, getting the strange look on his face again.
"I- told- you. I- told- you," Hermione panted.
"We've got to get back to Gryffindor tower, quickly as possible," Ron said.
"And us to the dungeons," Merlin added.
The group headed off in the same direction for the moment, as their houses both lay that way, but then Peeves appeared.
"Shut up, Peeves- please- you'lll get us thrown out."
"Wandering around at midnight Ickle Firsties? Tut, tut, tut. Naughty, naughty, you'll get caughty."
Merlin glared at the ghost. "Peeves, be quiet or you can be sure the Baron'll hear of this," he threatened, and the ghost froze for a moment, but let out a wicked cackle as he realized who he was talking to.
"Oh, the Baron likes Marlin, doesn't he? Who does the Baron say Marlin is...?"
Merlin's eyes glowed, and Peeves suddenly found himself without a voice. Merlin ran forward and gestured for them to head forwards. They walked down the corridor, only to be stopped when Merlin's spell wore off and Peeves shouted:
"STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!"
Draco glared at Merlin as they started running and said, "Couldn't you have made it last longer?"
Merlin glared right back, "These spells have a distance limit, you know!"
They rammed into a locked door, banging against it.
"This is it! We're done for! This is the end!" Ron shouted.
"Oh, move over," Hermione growled, grabbing Harry's wand and casting an unlocking charm. The door opened and they went through, shutting it behind them and pressing their ears against the wood.
"Which way did they go, Peeves? Quick, tell me."
"Say 'please.'"
"Don't mess with me, Peeves, now where did they go?"
"Shan't say nothing if you don't say please."
"All right- please."
"NOTHING!" Ha haaa! Told you I wouldn't say nothing if you didn't say please! Ha ha! Haaaaaa!"
For once, Merlin was grateful for Peeves' prankster ways.
"He thinks this door is locked. I think we'll be okay- get off, Neville! What?"
Merlin turned around as he felt hot breath on the back of his neck, and gaped. There, before him, stood a magical creature. It was a giant, three headed dog, and Merlin could quite honestly say that he hadn't seen one before. Normally he would say that it was a learning experience and quickly proceed to slay it if it threatened them, but at the moment he was preoccupied with how close the beast was to them. Draco assumed his battle pose and pulled out his wand, glaring at it as he realized that it wasn't a sword. Merlin would've rolled his eyes and been glad that Draco was starting to accept his role as Arthur, but instead he just screamed "Forbaerne!" and ran out the door with the others, not looking to see if his fire spell hit. He and Draco split from the group and ran back to the dungeons, gasping for breath as they spoke the password and shuffled into the common room, heading for their dorms when a voice stopped them.
"I was hoping I wouldn't have to take points from my house, boys, but as you insist on breaking the rules..."
Merlin and Draco whirled around to face Snape, who was looking rather stern with crossed arms and a scowl on his face.
"Tell me," he said, "What could possibly posses you to go out at this time of night?"
Draco opened his mouth to speak, but Merlin stopped him, "We were having a wizard's duel," he stated, figuring that the truth was the best way to get out of this. Snape raised an eyebrow.
"I am inclined to believe you, Emrys. Let me guess- with Potter?" Merlin simply nodded, "And why did you not choose to have this duel during the day?"
Merlin swallowed- he didn't think the truth was good enough for that question. Snape nodded.
"I see, you were planning on setting them up, but, for some reason, decided that the more... honourable route should be taken."
Merlin swallowed again- Snape had hit the nail on the head. The professor nodded again.
"I see. Well, then, you will have detention with me tomorrow evening. Now, to your dorms," he said before they could object. Merlin and Draco nodded and headed to their dorms and tucked into bed, Draco smirking once they finally reached the safety of their beds.
Merlin tried to go to sleep, but a thought kept him awake, and he turned over to face Malfoy.
"Hey, Arthur?" he asked, wary of the boy's reaction to that name. Draco just grunted. "You are going to let me talk some sense into you, right?"
"Go to sleep, Merlin," Draco muttered sleepily, and Merlin beamed.
He went to sleep with a smile on his face.
...
Friday morning came, and found Draco being dragged up several flights of stairs to the seventh floor corridor, where the warlock who dragged him there began to pace.
"Marlin, you better have brought me up here for a better reason then just pacing-"
"Shut up, Arthur, you'll make me lose my train of thought."
Draco promptly shut up at the use of his past name and gaped as a door appeared in the wall.
"How..." Draco started, then trailed off.
"It's the Room of Requirement, it appears when you pace by this wall," Merlin started as he opened the door and gestured for Draco to go inside. He walked, dazed, into the room and gasped as he saw the inside. Merlin just grinned goofily as he saw how the room had changed- it was an exact replica of Arthur's bedroom, down to the last stitch.
Draco looked around the room in nostalgia for a moment, then shook his head, pain clouding his eyes. He looked at Merlin as he sat down on his bed.
"So," he stated as Merlin sat down next to him, "You wanted to talk?"
"Yes," Merlin said, then looked down, "But I'm not sure where to start. How much do you remember?"
"Everything," Draco said simply, then sighed, "It's hard."
Merlin frowned, "Why?" he asked.
Draco raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"Why is it so hard?"
Draco opened his mouth indignantly, then paused.
"I don't know," he said eventually, "I guess it's just a lot to take in."
Merlin nodded, "So, why don't you accept it?" he asked.
Draco laughed, "It's not that easy. It's like I have two minds, and they're fighting for control. I'm not like Arthur, and I never-"
"Bull," Merlin interrupted, and Draco gaped, "You are Arthur. You know, on the boats to Hogwarts, you were practically quoting yourself without even remembering. You are Arthur, and you just have to accept that."
Draco hung his head, "It's not that-"
"I think it is that easy. Just try, okay?"
Draco nodded, "Okay. I'll try."
Merlin smiled, and there was a silence, before:
"Hey, Arthur?"
"What?"
Merlin smiled at his response. "Are you going to start treating me like a normal person now?"
Draco scoffed, "Like I ever did that in the first place."
...
Merlin had guessed that detention with Professor Snape would be a nightmare.
In his standards, he was wrong. In Draco's standards, he was right.
They were scrubbing out cauldrons, and Merlin had plenty of practice for that. However, Draco, past king and current noble that he is, was beginning to appreciate Merlin's time as a servant.
They were passing the time in silence, not willing to speak and incite the wrath of Professor Snape, when Draco suddenly stopped, frowning as though concentrating. He then gasped, and dropped his cleaning rag, his eyes lighting up.
Professor Snape stared at him from grading his potions, looking at Draco with as much concern as was possible for the potions master, which was a very minimal amount. Merlin just stared at Draco, concerned for him, but aware of what was happening. His spell was taking effect.
Draco then stopped staring into space, and went back to cleaning his cauldron. Professor Snape had an irked look on his face now.
"What was that, Malfoy?" he asked, and Draco frowned, apparently thinking something up.
"...Just figured something out, Professor," he said, and Merlin smiled.
Professor Snape looked like a fly had climbed up his nostril, though, and, after a few moments, dismissed them.
Merlin turned to Draco as they were leaving.
"Figured it out, did you?"
Draco nodded, "A little."
The Slytherins wondered when Merlin and Draco entered the common room smiling.
...
Marlin Emrys was a mystery, Harry decided.
First he insults Draco Malfoy, then he becomes friends with Draco Malfoy, then he fights with Draco Malfoy, and now they're suddenly friends again.
It confused Harry.
How could somebody be so nice to him, and then turn around and become friends with Draco Malfoy? Did he think he could change Malfoy?
Harry seriously doubted it.
But then, there was the wizard's duel. Hermione had told him that she doubted that Malfoy was coming to the trophy room, and Harry had doubted it as well for a while, and yet he had come. With Marlin.
Had Marlin convinced him to come? Did he really have that much sway over Malfoy?
And what about that spell that Marlin had thrown at the three-headed dog? Harry didn't see him use a wand, but perhaps he was wrong. A first-year couldn't do wandless magic, could they?
And then there was this about a chat. Is that why Marlin was now friends with Malfoy again? And why would they get in a fight in the first place?
These questions bothered Harry, and, one day, he had decided that he would ask Marlin. He managed to catch him on his way from the Great Hall.
"Hey, Marlin!"
Marlin stopped and turned around to face Harry, looking somewhat confused but smiling, nonetheless.
"Hey, Harry," he said, "How've you been?"
"Okay, but I suppose I should be asking you that," he said, and Merlin raised an eyebrow, looking confused and somewhat panicked. "Didn't you get in a fight with Draco?" Harry continued.
The panic increased for a moment, then disappeared. "Oh, yeah. Malfoy found out that I'm a Half-Blood. He got over it, though."
Harry nodded, deciding that that made some sense, and then Draco appeared beside Marlin. He looked at Harry, a strange expression on his face, but then turned to Marlin and grabbed one of his oversized ears, dragging him.
"Ow! Ow! Stop!"
Draco frowned.
"Only if you help me with this Gods-forsaken homework. I swear, how you do it..."
Their voices drifted off, and Harry realized that he hadn't asked about the fireball.
Oh, well. He would probably get another chance.