Sorry that this took so long. I'm starting to slow down a bit because I'm back at my house and have to do chores. I'll be back at my other house (my grandparent's house) and they'll be out of town so I will have more time to write pretty soon.
Anyway, I don't own Merlin or Harry Potter but I hope you like this fanfiction anyway.
While Merlin didn't speak to Draco the next day he did see Draco's surprise at seeing Harry and Ron walking around, and not in trouble.
Merlin also noticed that the four of them had composed themselves. Harry had even shot a grin Merlin's way when he saw him enter the Great Hall. Neville, while composed, looked a bit more nervous than usual, and, if Merlin had to guess, he would think that Neville would probably never go near that door again.
That was how things began to fall back into their normal routine.
By the third day Draco was speaking to Merlin again, though they didn't mention any of their previous arguments. Since Draco hadn't told anyone about their fight it didn't damage his image any either.
That was also when Fred and George had approached him.
Merlin had been minding his own business, leaving the Great Hall a bit early after he finished eating, when the twins stopped him. They had each carelessly thrown an arm over his shoulders saying, "So there's are favorite little Slytherin."
"Fred, George," Merlin acknowledged, "So what are we up to today?"
"We were thinking," said George.
"That maybe it's time to take on an apprentice." Finished Fred.
"Why, are you guys planning something?" Merlin asked, interested, he had been bored as of late.
"Maybe some Dungbombs," Fred admitted.
"Or some Hiccup Sweets," George added.
Merlin smiled, "So you guys are bored too?"
"How'd you know!" they both exclaimed at the same time with a smile.
"If you're going to do Dungbombs you'll be suspected so I'd just give two, or so, to Peeves with a promise not to drop them on you, but if you want the sweets I'd put them on tables in the Great Hall during dinner, at least one person will eat it." Merlin said shrugging.
"Brilliant," George said patting him on the back.
"See, Peeves likes us, so we'll go with the first." Fred explained.
"And we can't get caught," George said, "Cause we didn't actually do anything."
They both laughed then, waving as they walked off, but before they were out of sight Fred spun around to face Merlin, "Just so you know this doesn't count."
"Yup," said George turning to face Merlin as well, "If you really want to be one of us you'll have to prove yourself."
"Lee's first prank was pretty good." Fred reminisced.
"Wonder if you can top it?" George wondered out loud.
Merlin shrugged, "Guess we'll have to wait and see," he responded with a smile.
Both of the twins sent him a smile before they continued on their way.
Merlin sighed then, realizing that he had a class to get to.
At breakfast the next day someone from the Gryffindor house passed him a note that gave a floor and a time period. Merlin assumed that was where, and when, Peeves was going to drop the Dungbombs and made a note to stay away. He was glad it wasn't around anywhere he had a class. It would be hard to explain not showing up if he didn't know about the surprise attack.
Merlin was surprised how calm the year had been so far though. Every once in a while he'd go check the Crystal and have a vision but all of those seemed so far in the future that none of it really mattered at the moment.
He'd seen Voldemort coming back, but it couldn't be prevented, and he'd seen bits of the past as well. He'd begun to understand Snape a bit more, but it didn't make him like him.
Even Draco hadn't been harassing Gryffindor students as much, and he'd been staying away from Harry, so Merlin was beginning to relax.
It wasn't until a few days later that Merlin really appreciated the calm though.
He had seen the broom get dropped off for Harry and knew that it was because he had become seeker. If he had to guess either Dumbledore or McGonagall had sent the broom to him since they were, probably, of the small group of people who knew he would need it.
Harry and Ron had rushed out of the Great Hall, probably to open the package. Merlin had a bad feeling and got up to follow. Draco followed him.
In the Entrance Hall Merlin's fears were proven as reasonable because Ron and Harry had been blocked by Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini.
"That's a broomstick," Zabini frowned, "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed to have those."
Ron couldn't resist it teasing them, "It's not any old broomstick," he teased, "it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home? Maybe a Comet Two Sixty?" Ron and Harry shared a smile, "Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus."
Draco, who was standing next to Merlin, snarled at this because he had a Comet Two Sixty. Still Merlin was proud because Draco had not yet interfered. He had hope that Draco might be changing, at least a little bit.
Zabini sneered, "What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle. I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig."
If Merlin had to guess he would say that Zabini had not only been taking up Draco's position as leader of Crabbe and Goyle but took it upon himself to pick up Draco's slack when it came to harassing people. Still though Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini would back up Draco when he required.
Before the argument could progress farther Professor Flitwick appeared behind Zabini. "Not arguing, I hope, boys?" he squeaked.
Draco stepped into the conversation then and Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini fell in step behind him. "Potter's been sent a broomstick, Professor."
"Yes, yes, that's right," Flitwick said, beaming at Harry, "Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"
"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir," Harry said and Merlin noticed that he seemed amused by Draco's look of horror and Zabini's poorly concealed rage, "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it," he added.
Then Harry and Ron took off up stairs and Professor Flitwick smiled at them before making his way into the Great Hall.
Draco watched them leave with a mixture of confusion and rage on his face. Then he turned to Merlin, "What did he mean, thanks to me?"
Though the question sounded rhetorical Merlin shrugged. They would find out eventually but telling anyone would raise questions of how he knew something that was being kept a secret.
"I'm heading to the library." Merlin said.
Draco looked at him then shrugged before walking in the other direction. Zabini, Crabbe, and Goyle followed him.
Merlin had wanted to stop by because he had felt an odd magic coming from one of the side rooms. This place was lousy with strange magic but most of it he recognized from his previous visits.
Following the magic got Merlin thinking of Quirrell. He was drenched in some evil magic. He hadn't noticed it at first but slowly that magic had been getting stronger and smothering Quirrell's own, natural, magic. Merlin wondered if he had stumbled across a cursed item. He would mention it to someone but explaining how he came across any information like that would be difficult, especially since there was no proof.
When Merlin finally reached the door where he felt the strange magic coming. It looked like it was an unused room but Merlin gave a quick glance around to make sure he wasn't spotted. He then opened the door leading to the odd magic slowly, trying not to make a sound, and slipped inside.
Taking a breath Merlin now looked around the room more carefully. He realized where the magic was coming from almost immediately. There was a rather large mirror pushed up against the back wall. It had a gold frame and legs. On the top of the mirror, in the gold frame, there were words carved, 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'.
Merlin knew what it was then. He had rumors of such a mirror being created. He had also learned enough languages in his lifetime to be able to translate the inscription easily. 'I show not your face but your heart's desire.' Merlin had not really fancied the idea of a mirror showing someone his or her true desires, but Merlin already knew what his would be.
He slipped out of the room as silently as he had come in and headed to his first class before he was late. He never bothered to look into the mirror or look back at it. Merlin also knew that he wouldn't go back to that room either. Some things could cause more pain then they were meant to after all.
That night, and for a few nights after, when he fell asleep he dreamed of being back in Camelot. He dreamed that he had grown old with his friends. They'd all been alive, old, and with children, as they would have been if he'd looked in the mirror. Still, he accepted that dreaming about it was probably less painful than actually seeing it. He knew that he would be avoiding that mirror, forever if necessary.
Okay, so you've probably noticed that I've started to replace Draco with Zabini and it's because neither Crabbe nor Goyle seem competent enough to be in charge of anything or at all cunning, but I do want Draco to be a good guy eventually. The big problem is some things have to happen so if Draco can't do it Zabini needs to.
Don't misunderstand though, Draco and Harry (or Ron or Hermione) will probably never be friends. Draco (and the twins probably) will end up helping Merlin with whatever he's doing with the trio mostly do their own thing.
The books will probably begin the major changes around the end of the fourth book.
Anyway, please review.
