A/N: Thank you for all the follows and reviews - also, I still don't own anything. Furthermore, sorry for not updating any earlier. I wrote this chapter into my phone, stealing bits of time from my busy schedule. I have a research paper due in a few weeks and I'm hopelessly behind. Don't expect me to update more than once a week :)

Chapter seven: In which Hermione shows Merlin some of her magic, Morgana shows her true nature and Arthur is frustrated.

Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play-
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song-
And gladness waiting everywhere
All your whole life long!

~ Irish blessing

It was nearing dawn, when brown eyes noticed a traveller among the trees. Her sleek body leaned out of the porthole with grace inherent to a young royalty, as she tried to catch a glimpse of the explorer. When he stepped to the sunlight, she saw it was the young warlock. Her heart quickened in excitement. She had spent a long time learning the origins of charms, but it had greatly surprised her when she found how little spells were not of Latin origin, her curiosity had increased. Now, she could get all her answers. It was such a good thing she could!

Her dress was vibrant red, reflecting her house in Hogwarts. It was revealing and the woman was sure it would catch the man's attention. Showing off her femininity in school was not favoured, but here, she could be a little Slytherinish. It had been Draco, who had made her aware of how much the male population paid attention to looks. She would do anything to learn. Even if it meant listening to her arch enemy's advice.

She nearly called out to him. It was so tempting, but she stopped herself with a scolding. What was she thinking, wanting to call out to him? She was still unsure she could trust him. Many of her fellow soldiers in war had fallen in the arms of Death because of trusting too easily. She would not make the same mistake.


Lady Morgana could not sleep. Her mind was filled with anxious thoughts about the woman who had caused a scene in front of the castle. A witch! Who would have thought? Morgana had had her suspicions. She rose from her bed and dressed quickly. How foolish Guinevere had been to leave her! There was no doubt she would not leave the castle.

Her blue dress was alluring in the enchanting darkness. She loved the night, the fear it forced upon others. It was definitely the best time for magic. With a singsong voice, she began calling the mist. It came silently, lulling everyone it touched to sleep. Morgana knew it consumed a lot of her power, but she believed it was vital. She could not let anyone leave, before she talked to her sister. Especially not Merlin.

The stupid servant had been so open with his idiotic infatuation. If the woman called, he'd probably follow like a lovesick lost puppy. It disgusted Morgana, but she was sure Hermione would definitely side with her. In order to create a kingdom, where magic was allowed, many witches and warlocks had sided with her already.

Her and Morgause. The thought of her sister made Morgana smile in the mirror. She would have to know as soon as possible. The woman grabbed her cape and exited her room. The guards were sleeping in the hall and the woman gave a dark laugh, whenever she noticed anyone of importance asleep. She could kill anyone she wanted now, even Uther. She would, if Morgause didn't have a plan. If Uther wasn't important to her.

She knew she would find Morgause waiting by the forest and when she reached it, she saw the woman immediately. Morgana was taken by her. The woman greeted her with wide arms.

"Sister!" she exclaimed in a silvery voice."I heard something happened! Are you okay?" She was genuinely worried, but Morgana dismissed it quickly.

"I don't have much time!" she whispered, gripping onto her sister's arms."They might wake any moment now. The girl I told you about, she's a witch!" Morgause looked slightly impressed."She might even be a powerful one. She protected the other girl." She hardly concerned herself with the worthless people like the one Genevieve was, but Hermione's actions had left a mark nevertheless.

"Do you think she'll join us?" Morgause inquired softly to witch Morgana nodded. She looked anxiously around, before letting go. "I must go now," she whispered, caressing her sister's face.

"Take this," Morgause put a silver ring in Morgana's hand. The witch looked at it with a loving smile. The ring was a relic she'd been looking for a very long time. She would soon see how useful it would prove to be.


It was as if nothing Hermione did seemed to work. She had transfigured her clothes three times, each time into a more revealing one, but the prince's manservant only had eyes for her wand. How many spells had she shown him? "That's right," she thought with a groan."About fifty at least." Merlin didn't take his eyes from her once.

"So basically," she honeyed."That's about it." Draco had toned it would be the quickest way to get answers from a boy, but she strongly doubted him now. Merlin's mouth just stayed shut. In fact, he hadn't spoken for a while now.

When she jumped off the table she'd been sitting on, she transfigured her shorts and the tight blouse into jeans and a jumper with a sigh, feeling more comfortable that way. She turned to Merlin. His ears and cheeks were bright red in embarrassment and that's when it hit her. She'd been so consumed by what she'd been explaining that she forgot to pay attention to the boy.

"Any questions?" she added after a thought. She was smiling, as she tied her hair into a ponytail. It felt like back in Hogwarts with the wind blowing through the hallways.

"Where did you learn all this?" the man asked, leaning unconsciously forward over the table. They were alone. Hermione knew that unveiling the magic of another to anyone would be like treason towards them.

"I had a few teachers," she gave a prepared answer. Hogwarts would not be founded any time soon. It would be foolish to claim something before it was even existent. However, that did not apply to people, because people lived and died

"Four of them, each a bit different from others," she continued."The wisest people I have ever known." She didn't know when she'd begun to trust him. The comfort of another magician made her feel warm inside. It was magic that had began to feel like home after her long studies at Hogwarts, despite her muggle origins. She was a witch and would always be that.

"It is so different," Merlin was in awe, eyes sparkling with excitement and, although neither would admit, slight lust. The boy grinned cheekily.

"What about your magic, Merlin?" her silvery voice was filled with curiosity. Merlin shrugged, adoring the way his name sounded from her lips. He would like to listen to it time after time after time. Hermione gave the drooling boy a disappointed look. It was a pity the greatest warlock of all ages was such a dolt. Of course, that would only prove to be very advantageous to her.

Hermione sighed softly. She looked serious for a moment, the excitement of a new era slowly wearing off. The time already spent had brought to light many disadvantages of the centuries before her time. The lack of proper showers and toilets did not mortify her as much as it would have the girls she had shared a dorm with. As a child, Hermione had already encountered places without modern restrooms while travelling and had thanks to that learned a few tricks from her mother.

"There is something else I wanted to show you," she said, suddenly grinning. She threw him a Galleon, which he regarded with curiosity. He felt magic oozing off it, a powerful one as well. Hermione noticed the wondering look in his eyes.

"A teacher of mine bewitched it," she explained, wittily not mentioning it had been her who had cast the charm. She showed him an identical coin."Look carefully!"

The inscription on it changed itself, although all the woman had done was point her wand at the gold. He'd been shocked by the pure metal, but now he looked impressed.

"That's the way I'll let you know when I want to see you next," she confessed, avoiding looking at him. Her cheeks had tinted red."It will grow warm to touch, when changed." Merlin looked at the gold, realizing it was now his.

"Thank you," his voice was husky. Hearing it, he coughed, ears flaming red. Hermione was too flustered with herself to notice it.

"I, I think I should go," he muttered. Arthur would be furious to know he had avoided his duties again. "Thank you for inviting me," he passionately avoided looking at her, trying to hide his sparkling grin. He could not stop smiling in her presence.

"You're probably right," she murmured back, standing up to send him off. She felt nervous for various reasons. It would be good if he left.

She touched gently his arm to give a proper goodbye. The fingers sent an electrifying shock crawling up her skin and when she removed her hand, the echo of the feeling of his skin lingered. It felt strange, but pleasant still. Merlin's ears reddened. He had experienced it too. When he turned his back to the girl, a wide smile spread over his face. Hermione looked at the receding back. A frown stayed on her face. She'd given so much and received so little.

Simply put, Arthur was confused. He found himself daydreaming of Hermione all throughout the day. It angered him, but he could not stop. He'd talked with Gwen about it, only to receive a mysterious smile and words of encouragement. And only when he'd wanted to send Merlin off to do something completely irrelevant and disgusting job just to relieve his own frustration, he'd realized the servant was missing.

But he felt too annoyed to look for him. Images of Hermione being kind to people and the scene she'd created mixed in his head. Then, after grunting in anger, he decided. If she apologized to him, she would be forgiven.

Done that, he wondered if he'd see her ever again. Suddenly, the door opened with a loud bang.

"Merlin!" he bellowed, jumping off from his bed. The unexpected sound made his heart bump faster. The servant looked at him sheepishly. "Where have you been?!"

"I was picking herbs for Gaius," Merlin lied. Arthur raised an eyebrow: Gaius had told him he knew nothing of the servant's whereabouts. Merlin had fallen in.

"I was with Hermione," he reluctantly confessed. Arthur looked at him as if he'd gone bonkers. Had his servant hit his head and imagined himself with the girl? Even he found it difficult to believe.

Merlin felt it difficult to hide the truth from the prince. Just like Genevieve felt thankful for her spared life, an unspeakable bond had been made between Merlin and prince. That's why he entrusted him with the secret.

"So you were with Hermione," he drawled, giving him an accusing look. He would have liked to see the frizzy-haired beauty himself."Go clean the stables!" he ordered, feeling the tension build up. Merlin rolled his eyes, but went off nevertheless. He could explain to him later. For prince to react that way to very important information meant he wanted to keep it a secret. Arthur's same-intentional order was completely unnecessary.