Hey guys. Sorry about this one being a bit short but thats just how it happened.
I'm also sorry about the sort of cliffhanger at the end.
but nevermind about that, enjoy the chapter
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Merlin was frustrated. Nothing was happening. It had been several weeks since the incident involving the Broomsticks, and Quirrell still had not made his move. Aithusa, despite having the natural patience of her kind, had also admitted that she rather disliked sitting around and waiting, especially when the only thing the teacher seemed to be doing was his nightly trip to the forbidden forest to attack the unicorns.
Well, it wasn't as though nothing at all was happening. It just had nothing to do with stopping Quirrell. Merlin had long since finished reading all the books he had actually brought with him to the school and had started foraging through the volumes hidden in the library. The modern books had held little to interest him, so he had found himself searching for those which were the most covered in dust, untouched sometimes since the days of the founders themselves. He'd even found Gaius's notes hidden away behind a bookshelf. He had wondered where they had gone to when he had noticed them missing a few decades ago.
As frustrated as he was, Merlin still found some amusement as Draco and Harry had started what appeared to be an all-out feud. Merlin was not sure what the initial cause of it had been, but he knew that whatever it was had resulted in Harry and Ron shooting Merlin vicious looks whenever he was with Draco, and Hermione was no longer talking to the duo. Merlin had to admit, he had been impressed when he had seen just how determined the girl was to not do so. She had been spending more and more time in the library, and Merlin had realised sadly that she had not really had anyone else that she could talk to. The few times when he had tried to initiate a conversation had ended with her asking him how he could 'bear the embarrassment of speaking with a muggle born'. Merlin had left her alone after that.
Halloween had started like any other day, and Merlin had been down in the Great Hall eating a large plate of bacon before he realised what day it was. The moment he had, from a grudging 'Happy Halloween' from Blaise, Merlin had gone cold. It was the anniversary of the day when Lancelot had given his life to close the veil. Normally, that would have kept him in a funk all day, and even so Merlin had half a mind to just skip the day's classes, but Draco had told him that he doubted he could survive the day without Merlin to explain what exactly the teachers actually meant. Merlin had realised something else was wrong during the last lesson of the day when he had noticed that Hermione was nowhere to be seen.
At the end of the lesson, Merlin had shaken off his depression and was about to march straight up to Ron and Harry and demand to know why Hermione wasn't with them, but before he could do so, his thoughts were interrupted.
MERLIN!
Merlin winced. Geeze,Aithusa. There's no need to yell.I can here you just fine.
Not important now,Merlin.
Then what is?
It's Quirrell.
Merlin froze, his heart beating wildly. He knew he shouldn't be happy, but that did not change the fact that he was. Finally, finally, something was going to happen. What's going on, he asked, all thoughts of Hermione temporarily forgotten.
He's gotten his hands on a troll.
How?
I don't know,Merlin. He hasn't left the castle since I started watching him, but however he's done it,the important thing here is that he has.
You're right. What's he planning to do?
Now there I can help you.I heard him talking to Riddle about it.
Old Mouldyvort? Well then, go on.
He's planning to release the troll in the dungeon at the Halloween Banquet.
But that's now!
Yes,Merlin. That's why it's urgent.
Alright, I get your point, Merlin grumbled over the link.
You need to go to the Banquet. The teachers will notice if you're not there. I can keep Quirrell away from the stone for a while. You should probably be able to get over here during the panic.
Right. I'll see you in a bit then.
Merlin turned back to Draco. "Quirrell's going to make his move."
Draco's eyes widened. "What? When?" There was an element of panic to his voice.
"Tonight. Aithusa's going to hold him off until we can escape the Banquet, but it's going to be close."
Draco nodded slowly. "Alright, what are we going to do?"
Merlin paused and then shrugged. "Hadn't thought about it," he confessed. "But whatever we do, we're going to keep Quirrell away from the stone."
"That's obvious." Draco paused. "You aren't going to try to get me to make peace with Potter, are you?"
"Potter? What's with that," Merlin asked
Draco tilted his head sideways slightly. "Well." He stopped. "I guess I'm trying to tell him he's annoying, full of himself, and an utter Clotpole."
"Hey," Merlin pouted. "That's my word."
Draco grinned. "Don't care."
The pair set off towards the Great Hall. Merlin didn't notice that Draco had managed to make him forget all about Draco's feud with Harry.
As the feast continued, Merlin found himself looking around the hall. His magic was tensed completely. It knew, just like him, that something big was going to happen, and neither of them were enjoying the wait. Draco, on the other hand, seemed to have completely forgotten about what was going to happen, though Merlin did admit to himself that he had not actually told the boy anything more than Quirrell was going to make his move. Merlin took a sip of his pumpkin juice. Maybe Aithusa had been mistaken? After all, it did not seem like anything was going to happen. Merlin nodded to himself, turning to Draco to tell the boy he thought Aithusa had made a mistake when –
BANG!
The door of the Great Hall swung open with a crash. Quirrell ran into the hall. Heads turning as he fled in what appeared to be terror. Merlin couldn't see Aithusa. He assumed that meant she had taken up a vigil at the 3rd floor corridor.
"Troll – in the dungeons – though you ought to know."
Then the man fell forwards into what Merlin had to admit was a very convincing fake faint.
All hell broke loose. The students stood up, their dinners lying forgotten as the students struggled to get out of the Hall, several of them screaming at the top of their lungs.
Merlin remained still and silent, noticing that Draco was doing the same. Well, he thought to himself, it appeared that Draco was simply a very good actor.
"SILENCE!"
Professor Dumbledore's voice rang out over the Hall, bringing everyone to a stand-still.
"Prefects, lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately."
Merlin smiled, at least the crazy old man seemed to understand how to get a panicked crowd under control. "Cuddio ni rhag golwg." he looked over at Draco, hoping that he would get the message that they were now invisible. Thankfully, Draco did, and the pair sat still as the Great Hall emptied around them.
Merlin watched as the Gryffindors filed off, making sure that Harry was doing as he was told and not attempting to 'play the hero' as – he – often had. Thankfully, the boy was in line and Merlin felt a surge of relief mixed with guilt as he saw the boy's frightened expression. Merlin frowned. There was something wrong. Something missing. But what was it?
Merlin's eyes widened.
"Hermione."
The word dropped from his mouth as a horrified whisper. The girl had been missing all day. He had no way of knowing whether she was safe, or even if she knew about the troll at all. Draco seemed to have understood his thought as he looked over at Merlin completely horrified.
"We've got to find her," Merlin hissed to Draco.
"But she's only a muggle born," Draco replied, though Merlin could see that the boy did not really mean that. "Besides, she's one of Potter's friends."
Merlin glared at him. "I thought you'd gotten over your pureblood obsession. Hermione could be in danger. We have to help her."
With that, Merlin stood allowing his magic to expand from where he was standing, hoping that he would be able to find the girl quickly. Merlin located Hermione almost instantly and realised with a jolt of fright that the troll was headed straight for her.
He ran from the Great Hall. He wasn't going to let another person die. He had hated that he had not been able to save the unicorn, and he was not going to let the same fate befall Hermione. Draco ran behind him, having decided that Merlin was correct. Hermione's life mattered much more than some argument he had with someone that he was not even completely sure she was friends with.
Merlin skidded to a halt. They had arrived before the troll, but all of a sudden Merlin was not really sure about what to do.
Draco almost ran into him. "Why are you stopping," the boy hissed angrily.
Merlin pointed to the sign on the door in front of them. "Girl's Bathroom," he said by way of explanation.
Draco glared at him. "So?"
"Well, boys cant go into a girls bathroom."
Draco rolled his eyes. "So what are you going to do? Wait for the troll to eat her?"
"Good point." Merlin pushed open the door and walked slowly into the bathroom.
Hermione was standing in front of one of the sinks crying as the door swung open she spun around.
"Who is it," she asked.
Merlin blinked. What was she talking about? Wait. Merlin though about it for a bit. Then he realised that he was still using the invisibility spell. "Dadwneud sillafu."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Morynn," she asked, then she shook her head. "What are you doing in the girl's bathroom?"
Draco stepped into the room. "Not just Morynn you know." He turned to Merlin. "We need to hurry up. The troll will be here any minute."
Hermione stared at him for a moment. "Troll," she asked, then she rolled her eyes. "Oh, right, like you could expect me to fall for that."
Morynn grabbed her arm. "Is it that difficult to believe that we're trying to help you here?"
She looked at him. "You're in Slytherin. Slytherins never just 'help out'"
Draco sniggered. "Steriotype much?"
"Like you're one to talk," Hermione shot back.
Merlin stepped between the two who had somehow managed to wind up standing face to face and nearly yelling at each other. "Guys, guys," he said in what he hoped to be a soothing voice. "We do not have time for this, troll remember?" He sighed. "Not to mention that if we don't leave now, then we won't be able to help Aithusa."
"Your cat?" Hermione didn't sound like she believed him.
Merlin sighed. "Look, I'll explain later but we really need to get moving now."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Fine, but if this turns out to be some kind of trick . . ." She trailed off.
"What, can't you find a good enough threat," Draco sneered.
"Shut up, Draco," Merlin told him. "Now come on. If we don't hurry, then Quirrell will get the stone."
Merlin left the bathroom closely followed by Draco and a reluctant Hermione.
