A/N: As promised here is chapter 10, study leave is over but now it is half term, so if you guys are lucky you might even get chapter 11 by the end of the week!
I love hearing from you guys, so please leave a comment telling me what you did/didn't like. In the next chapter we are in to the third year!
Madam Pomfrey diagnosed Morgana with a concussion, keeping her overnight in the hospital wing, Gwen stayed at her bedside, despite Madam Pomfey's insisting on her leaving. In the following days Morgana was unable to read or write without feeling sick or getting a blinding headache, instead she convinced Gwen in to reading to her in the evening, in the library. They both agreed that the Gryffindor common room was too dangerous now. Every night they would smuggle blankets and biscuits into one of the reading nooks where only the studious ventures, these people were too preoccupied with their books or simply didn't care to make a fuss about a Slytherin curled up with her head on a Gryffindor's lap, sleepily nibbling on biscuits whilst the Gryffindor read quietly, whilst gently weaving her fingers through the Slytherins dark hair. On occasion a gangly Hufflepuff boy would be seen chattering with them before wandering off to find his own quite place to read.
Since 'the incident' Merlin's visits to the Gryffindor common room had dropped to barely anything, The 'Knights' as they were now referring to themselves, were rarely around anymore, they were always out practising for Quidditch try-outs, even when snow began to fall on the grounds they would stay out till McGonagall would threaten them with a week's worth of detention if they didn't 'come in this minute and get themselves to bed'.
Before long it was the Christmas holidays. Merlin returned home to his mother in Ealdor, Arthur stayed at Hogwarts with Lancelot for company. They spent their days playing wizard chess and learning new Quidditch tricks. Arthur received a short letter from his father that was obviously written by his secretary, just a generic merry Christmas and well wishes for the New Year. Merlin on the other hand wrote him three pages; it was easier to stay in contact when he didn't have to worry about being knocked about by older students. Arthur wrote back a letter of similar length. Over the holidays they sent a few more letters before the holiday ended and they had to return to writing essays.
The spring term flew past, Arthur threw himself back into Quidditch practise, despite not making the team, if anything it made him even more determined to get on the team next year. Morgana and Merlin were still avoiding the Gryffindor common room; there had been an increase in inter-house hate in the recent weeks so they had to be even more careful. Arthur had snuck down to the Hufflepuff common room a couple of times, but even the Hufflepuffs had become weary of outsiders, and there had been stories of people turning on members of their own house for 'fraternising with the enemy' as it had been put.
Merlin retreated into himself as the year started to draw to an end. He spent more and more time in the library, poring over books, learning about new things, practising new spells, most of them ending in an unsuccessful cloud of ash that would often earn him a disapproving frown from Madam Pince , though she never threw him out, he reckoned that she secretly liked him, or at least felt a bit sympathetic forwards him because he was almost always along, apart from the chats with Gwen and Morgana every now and then.
Then the summer holidays were upon them, on the train ride back Merlin shared a carriage with Morgana, Gwen, and a couple of second year Ravenclaws. On his way to get some food Merlin bumped into Arthur, on a similar mission. They chatted as they stood in line, about the school year, what plans they had for the holiday, Arthur explained some new Quidditch things he had learnt and Merlin gave him a few fun facts about the origins and other trivia. All too soon they were at the front of the queue. Calling goodbye and promising to write they went their separate ways.
As promised Merlin sent Arthur a letter, via Kilgharrah within the first couple of days of the holiday starting. He got a reply the following evening, Uther was sending Arthur away to a muggle summer camp, business training or something, apparently Uther was still hoping that Arthur would relinquish his magic and take over the family business. It was a muggle camp so he couldn't have an owl flying in and out every other day, and his father would hardly forward any letters.
Merlin spent most the summer lounging in the sun, working the vegetable patch or out playing with the village children. Arthur meanwhile spent the summer indoors, learning about the stock market, business statistics and all the other fun things a 13 year old boy wants to spend his summer learning about. The camp finished just a week before Arthur was due back at Hogwarts. In that week he wrote to Arthur and the other Knights, catching up on all that had happened.