Author's note: I'm sorry its so late, but I've been lazy. I'm not sure if you guys'll like this chapter, but I'm posting anyway.

So, Christmas... in June. Yeah, why not? I did a little Christmas party, (though Merlin wouldn't really celebrate Christmas,) and it's going to be kind of corny, and I'm not sure Eric Munch would be invited, but I wanted to choose the typical ministry worker and not make an OC, because I'm awful at coming up with names and I don't want to sabotage someone's favorite character. (God, that was a run-on sentence.) Sorry if you like Eric Munch!

Anyway, this chapter appears to be long, and I might just upload another chapter today as I'm super late, so lucky you.

Just so you know, I overuse the phrase 'strained smile' in here, so I'm sorry if that gets on your nerves, and you have my permission to insult my limited vocabulary.

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin or Harry Potter.

Winter came. A white blanket descended on Hogwarts, and Merlin found himself on the train home, sitting in a compartment with Draco, (and Crabbe and Goyle,) eating Bertie Bott's Beans. Why Draco had found the need to get two boxes was beyond Merlin, but he was liking the result, as Draco was now fingering a light-brown colored bean that Merlin knew the flavor of. He popped it in his mouth and made a face.

"It's rat," he said, and Merlin laughed at his expression. Draco glared. "You could've warned me," he said.

Merlin grinned, "Well, wouldn't that ruin the fun?" he asked, and Draco frowned.

Eventually, though, the two had to part as they left the train, and then Merlin found himself standing before Lucius Malfoy, who's face broke into a rare smile at seeing Draco.

"Ah, Draco, it's good to see you!" he exclaimed as he saw his son, and then his gaze shifted to Merlin and his smile faltered a little.

"And who's this?" he asked, obviously trying to be polite. Merlin held out his hand, nonetheless.

"Marlin Emrys, sir," he said, and Lucius' smile became a bit more genuine, though there was still hostility in his eyes.

"Ah, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Emrys. Draco's told me all about you," he said, and Merlin tried very hard to keep his smile there.

"Really," he asked, looking at Draco. The boy subtly shook his head, and Merlin's smile became easier to hold.

"Yes," Mr. Malfoy said, watching the exchange with mild confusion. His gaze shifted back to Merlin. "I've heard that he wants to see you over the holidays?" Merlin nodded, and Lucius' lips twitched downwards, "Well, I'm sure I'll be seeing you again, then. Where are your parents?" he asked.

"Ah, well, I'm taking the knight bus home. I live with my muggle parent, see," Merlin explained at Lucius' confused look. His smile became a bit more strained.

"Ah, well, take care of yourself," he said, and Merlin nodded, Draco nodding to him as he walked out of the station.

...

It was about half a week into the break that Merlin heard a ring at his door. He sighed as he turned off the TV, ready to go and chase the solicitor away when he opened the door to see Lucius Malfoy and a wide-eyed Draco. He looked at Draco, who was staring at him, and his eyes widened as he realized that he had removed the age spell. Lucius smiled at him.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy," Merlin said, then remembered that he wasn't supposed to know who Malfoy was. The man cocked an eyebrow, but was still smiling, nonetheless.

"I see your son has told you about us," he said, his voice strained. Merlin realized that he probably thought he was talking to a muggle. He shook his head.

"Oh, he's not my son. Marlin's my... cousin! I'm just here to watch him while his mother's away," Merlin said, and Malfoy nodded.

"And you are...?"

"Marcellus," Merlin said, spouting the first name to come to his mind. He cursed internally as he realized that he'd used that one already. "Marcellus Emrys," he said, stepping aside and gesturing for Lucius to come in.

He realized after letting Lucius in that his house didn't look at all like a normal muggle's house. Potion ingredients and wizarding books dominated the shelves and there were several things that only wizards would have a use for. The only normal place, it seemed, was the living room, as even the kitchen had wizarding utensils that were currently floating around to make his dinner. He chuckled nervously at the gobsmacked expression on Mr. Malfoy's face.

"Aunt Gwen insisted that we get some wizarding technology the first time Uncle Balinor told her. She's been using his wand to manage it ever since," he explained, coming up with a story on the spot. Draco glared at Merlin when he used the name Gwen, obviously not liking his wife's name being in the warlock's explanation. Lucius nodded and seemed to accept this explanation, even though wizarding technology should technically not work for a muggle. He led them to the living room, Lucius sitting on the couch as he stared at the TV.

"I'll get Marlin," Merlin said, running up the stairs and feeling Draco's eyes on him the entire way. He opened the door to his room and cast the aging spell, running back down the stairs and stumbling over his feet as he got used to short legs again. He grinned as he walked into the living room.

"Draco, you're here!" he exclaimed as he walked in. Draco just nodded at him, obviously feeling awkward.

"Marlin," he greeted. Mr. Malfoy was still staring at the TV as if trying to figure out what it did when Merlin walked in, but he smiled as Draco greeted the 'boy.'

"Hello, Mr. Malfoy," Merlin said to Draco's father.

"Ah, hello, Marlin. Can you tell me where your cousin got off to?"

Merlin frowned as he thought up an explanation. "Oh, he had to... step out for a moment. Mother should be back soon, though, so..."

Lucius nodded, obviously not pleased with the idea of 'Marcellus' leaving him to take care of 'Marlin.' Merlin grinned at the irony.

"Ah, well, young Draco here was suggesting that we take you to Malfoy Manor to play Quidditch, so I was hoping to talk with him," Lucius said, and Merlin's smile dropped.

"Oh, well, I can call my mum and ask her," Merlin said, and Lucius Malfoy nodded, looking utterly confused.

"You... do that," he said, and Merlin rushed off to get the phone, dialing a random number. He almost sighed in relief as it hit the answering machine.

"Uh, hi, Mum..." Merlin began, letting there be a pause, "Yeah, hey, Mr. Malfoy came over, and he wants to take me to his estate. Is that okay?" another pause, "Yeah, I'll be home before dinner," another pause, and, to make it more realistic, "Mum!"

"Is he talking into that thing?" Draco said in the backround.

"Do not question the ways of muggles, Draco," Lucius answered.

"Okay, thanks, bye!" Merlin eventually said, and hung up. He hoped that he didn't get called back. That would be awkward.

Merlin turned to the Malfoys and grinned. "She says that I can go."

Lucius smiled, though it was strained. "Ah, really? That's good," he said, not sounding sincere at all. He then asked, "Is your house connected to the floo?"

Merlin nodded, "Yeah, it's the only way to keep in touch with the wizarding relatives," he lied, and Malfoy smiled again.

"Well, that makes things easier. Draco had to apparate here," he explained, and Merlin frowned. He didn't want to apparate, but he realized that he had just given Draco the means to appear in his living room whenever he pleased. That might be a little strange.

The group flooed to Malfoy Manor, and Merlin was struck by how dark the place felt as soon as he arrived. The air pulsed with dark magic, and Merlin could tell that several of the artifacts on the shelves were cursed. He shuddered.

"Not used to the floo, eh?" Lucius asked, and Merlin nodded. It would be hard to explain away the fact that he could sense magic.

Draco suddenly grabbed his arm and he jumped. "Come on, Marlin, the Quidditch pitch is this way! You can fly, can't you?" he asked, and Merlin glared at him.

"Of course I can!" he exclaimed, "Living this long and not knowing how to fly! Preposterous!"

Lucius watched them with a curious look on his face as Merlin and Draco headed out to the pitch.

...

From that day on, Marlin decided that the best course of action was casting a glamour on a pot to make it look like his mother and placing it in the kitchen. The pot would do the dishes, and whenever you talked to it, it would say, "Yes, honey." Merlin was glad that the magic of the Old Religion didn't set off the underage magic sensors.

...But, this meant that he would have to stay in kid form most of the time, now. That was the downside.

Draco visited several times throughout the break, most of which alone. When Draco had come just to get away from Malfoy Manor, Merlin took him to the local fencing club. Fortunately, Merlin actually had a chance against Draco after centuries of sword training, and Draco was finding it significantly harder to hurt him with a foil.

When they went to Malfoy Manor, though, Merlin, to his great dismay, found himself playing Quidditch. Draco beat him every time.

Then Christmas came, and Merlin awoke to an owl running into his window. He opened it, and was surprised to see the owl carrying a present. He kept his window open that day, and found three more owls decided to stop by that morning.

After his breakfast, he walked back up the stairs and decided to open his presents. It was the first time in quite a while that he had gotten any from anybody, and he was surprised that he was getting any this year at all. He yawned and opened the one nearest to him, which he guessed was from Hermione.

Sure enough, it was a book, titled The Rise of Albion. Merlin chuckled as he opened it- there was the Great Dragoon, staring back at him. He would never understand how the image that people today knew was him as an old man. It contained a card in it that said, "Figured that this is the closest one to the story you told me. I'm not sure if you've read it, but it's fun to read the different versions."

He hoped Hermione liked her present- he had put some money on her tab at Flourish and Blott's. He wasn't sure that he knew of any books that she hadn't read. Well, at least any that were new.

He opened the next present, which was a box of chocolate frogs from Harry. He was surprised that Harry sent him anything, but he guessed it was because of the tip he gave him. Merlin opened one of them and popped it into his mouth, scowling as he realized that the card was Morgana.

The next present he opened must have been from Draco, judging by the green and silver wrapping. Merlin opened it quickly to find a broomstick. He opened the note that came with it.

"Figured you need practice. It's hardly a challenge to beat you anymore.

Happy Christmas, Merlin.

Arthur"

Merlin smiled at the note. He was glad that Draco was getting used to his memories enough to use their real names.

It also filled him with a warm feeling to actually be getting a christmas present from Arthur. During his times in Camelot, Arthur couldn't afford to be seen giving gifts to his servant, and Merlin had thought for a long time that he would never be getting a present from him.

He was glad he wasn't alone anymore.

Merlin moved to the last present, wondering who it was from. He didn't know of anybody else who would send him a present, and he couldn't recognize the loopy scrawl on the package. He hesitated opening it, pulling his wand out and waving it over the package to see if there were any enchantments on it. His wand shuddered as the entire package glowed gold, and Merlin frowned. He hadn't seen a reaction like that in ages.

Deciding to risk it, Merlin ripped open the present when the glow faded, gasping when he saw what lay inside.

There, looking new as ever, was Excalibur.

Merlin gingerly unwrapped the sword, wondering how it had gotten there. Last he knew of it, he had thrown it into the lake of Avalon, and now it was here, right in front of him. Merlin touched the blade, running his finger along the edge and hissing in pain as he cut himself. It was still sharp.

His eyes glowed and the cut on his finger knit itself back together. Then there was a noise downstairs and Merlin quickly covered up the sword and hid it in his trunk. He hurried downstairs, saying, "Gods, Arthur what is it this time?" he asked as he entered the living room to see Draco standing there. The boy glared up at him.

"You know, I don't appreciate having to look up to you," he said, crossing his arms.

Merlin smirked as an idea came to him and his eyes flashed.

"Better?" he asked Draco, who was looking at himself in awe.

The warlock had transfigured him back into Arthur Pendragon, chain mail and all.

Arthur looked at himself for a few shocked moment, then he hit Merlin over the head.

"I didn't mean like that, you idiot!"

Merlin rubbed his head, "Ow, you prat! You want me to change you back, then!"

Arthur's eyes widened, "No, no. That's fine."

Merlin raised an eyebrow, "You sure?"

"Merlin," he said, and Merlin grinned to hear his name coming from those lips again. Then Arthur sighed, "God, you have no idea how good it feels to be back in this body again," he said, and Merlin frowned, crossing his arms.

"I don't, do I? I, who has been stuck in a ten-year old body for the past few months, don't know what it feels like to be back to normal?"

Arthur frowned. "Good point, but I've been stuck as a kid for longer," he said.

"You were used to it when you remembered!" Merlin protested.

"Shut up, Merlin," Arthur growled.

Merlin grinned.

"What are you so happy about?"

"Just glad to have you back, sire."

There was a silence, and then Merlin said, "So, what did you come here for?"

Arthur straightened up, "Right, I came to thank you for your gift, and to get away from my family."

Merlin raised an eyebrow, "Arthur Pendragon, needing to get away from his family? Do you wish to go on a hunt, sire?"

"Merlin."

"Sire."

Arthur sighed in exasperation, then continued, "And I figured that I'd invite you for Christmas dinner, as I probably won't get to stay here long."

Merlin frowned, "Why do you need to get away from your family, anyway?"

"Oh, maybe the fact that you didn't send me an official gift? It's all, 'Oh, Draco, I'm sorry Marlin didn't send you anything,' and, 'What kind of a friend is he?' over there, and I'm getting kind of sick of it when you sent me a gift that I couldn't show them."

Merlin sighed, "We wouldn't have this problem if we had stayed at Hogwarts."

Arthur nodded, "Yes, but why did you decide to send me that crown, anyway?"

Merlin shrugged. "It's yours, isn't it? Besides, I'm hoping that I won't need a reminder of you again," he said, and Arthur frowned as he realized what Merlin was implying. He clapped Merlin on the shoulder and smiled, and Merlin forced himself to smile back.

Then Arthur pulled him into a hug, and Merlin stiffened, before relaxing and hugging back.

"You're an idiot, Merlin, but you're a brave idiot," Arthur mumbled, and Merlin chuckled.

"Well, being immortal does that to you," he admitted, and they stood there for a while before Arthur released him.

Merlin sighed, then said, "Well, I'd better change you back before your father comes," he said, and Arthur groaned.

"Do we have to just yet?"

"Arthur, you're acting like a ten-year old."

"Well, maybe because I am one!"

"Well, then," Merlin said, and with a flash of his eyes he turned Arthur back into Draco, who sighed in exasperation. Then Merlin cast his age spell, and he was back to his ten-year old self. He grinned, and just at that moment, Lucius Malfoy stumbled through the fireplace, and Draco looked at him with a look of horror.

That had been close.

"Ah, there you are, son! Now, I told you not to go to Marlin over this..." he trailed off as he saw Merlin's expression.

"I'm sorry I couldn't send a gift, Mr. Malfoy- I was going to send one first thing this morning, since I don't have an owl," Merlin explained, and Lucius' expression turned into one of surprise.

"Really?" he asked, and Merlin nodded.

"Yeah, it's just upstairs," Merlin said, then, as an afterthought, "Wait here," and he ran up the stairs to find a 'gift.' He rummaged through his trunk, looking for something suitable, then had an idea and conjured up fencing equipment with a flash of his eyes. He wrapped it up with magic, then ran back downstairs and handed the gift to Draco.

"Here you go," he said, grinning, and Draco took it with a confused look in Merlin's direction, then tore it open, gaping at what he saw before him.

"It's fencing equipment!" Draco whispered, then looked up. "You didn't have to do this-"

"Yes, I did," Merlin interrupted with a twinkle in his eye, "Besides, you purebloods must get bored with the only sport you play being Quidditch."

Draco gaped, then smiled, "Thanks, Marlin," he said, and Merlin grinned.

Mr. Malfoy put a hand on Draco's shoulder, apparently not as irked at the thought of Draco doing a muggle sport as Merlin had thought. Merlin guessed that was because it was swordplay.

"Well, thank you Marlin, but we must go now," he said, and then Draco's eyes lit up.

"Can he come for dinner, father?" he asked, apparently putting on his best face for his father, as Merlin had never seen Arthur with that expression. Lucius Malfoy smiled fakely.

"If it's okay with his family..." Lucius said, and Merlin grinned.

"Of course it is! Mum'll understand. Can I go to the Malfoys' for dinner, Mum?"

"Yes, honey," said the pot.

"See?" Merlin said, and Lucius looked very strained.

"...And you have dress robes..."

"Oh, I'll go get them!" Merlin said, then ran upstairs and transfigured some muggle clothes into child-sized dress robes with a flash of his eyes. It's not like he thought he would be needing any.

He ran back downstairs, tripping over his feet as he went, and grinned as he saw Lucius Malfoy's gobsmacked expression.

"...Then I suppose I'll see you at five," Lucius Malfoy said, not managing to hide his displeasure.

Merlin's grin grew wider. He wouldn't be spending Christmas alone, after all.

...

"Now, you'd better behave," was one of the first things that Draco said to Merlin after the surprising, "Marlin, you're here!" and, "Yes, father, we'll just go then. Come on, Marlin."

Merlin put on his best innocent face. "Why, me, cause trouble?" he said, mocking hurt. Draco glared at him.

"I mean it, Marlin- there are a lot of important people here, and I want you to show some proper manners."

Merlin grinned, "Oh, don't worry! It's probably just like the old days- minus all the vengeful sorcerers, of course. Though there are wizards-"

Merlin cut off at Draco's frown.

"Except people might actually talk to you," said Draco, and Merlin had to admit that he was right. He was a guest, not a servant. There was just one thing, though, and Merlin had no problem voicing it.

"Why would they want to talk to a kid?" he asked, and Draco scoffed.

"Don't be stupid, Marlin, you're friends with the son of one of the most important people in the Ministry-"

"Got an ego, have we?"

"-and people will want to know what kind of friends that person keeps, and may use that person."

"So I'm careful," Merlin concluded, grinning, "And you know me- I'm always careful."

"Not necessarily polite, though," said Draco, and Merlin let out an, "Ah."

"Well," he said, "I'm sure I can be careful about that, too."

Then they entered the dining room, and the two became silent, worrying that one of them might slip and say something that they would regret.

Draco sat down at the table by his father, and Merlin stood, partly because he wasn't sure where to sit and was being careful, and partly because his habits as a servant of Camelot were coming back to him. Draco soon became annoyed, and pulled out the chair next to him, raising his eyebrows. Merlin smiled thankfully and sat down.

The two were silent, only speaking when spoken to, and both still worried about slipping up, until Lucius Malfoy got the table's attention and started a speech about how he was glad that they were all there, and that he hoped that they would have a merry Christmas, and stuff that had no real consequence to Merlin. Merlin almost drifted off, but was awoken from his doze as Lucius' speech suddenly ended, and the table got to eating and talking.

Merlin just focused on his food, really wishing that he was in his adult form so he could have some wine, as the tension was getting to him and he was somewhat bored, until somebody spoke to him.

"So, you're a friend of Draco's?" asked the person, who was somewhat drunk and Merlin didn't know the name of. At Merlin's nervous nod, he continued, "What's your name, then?"

"Marlin Emrys, sir," said Merlin nervously, and the man stared.

"You mean that kid that killed the troll at Hogwarts?" he asked, and Merlin stiffened.

"How'd you know that?" he asked tensely, and the man laughed.

"Oh, it was all over the Prophet! Don't tell me you don't get it?"

Merlin just shook his head, thinking that he should probably start a subscription if he was to survive.

"Ah, well, I suppose with all the rumors that would have been spreading, Hogwarts students wouldn't need the Prophet. So, how'd you do it?"

Merlin frowned, thinking up a quick lie. Obviously Dumbledore had filtered out the wandless magic part if this man didn't know- and he decided he would need to thank the warlock for that- so he didn't want to give it away to the world. He thought of a spell a first year would know, and a probable solution.

"A floating charm," said Merlin eventually, "Levitated its club and whacked it on the head."

The man looked surprised, "Blimey, and that cracked its skull, did it? It must've been awfully heavy!"

"I couldn't have lifted it," said Merlin, and then quickly shut his mouth, glad when the man laughed.

"Oh, I bet you couldn't! You're a twig, you are!"

Merlin resented that- he had put on a bit of muscle, even with the age spell.

"Yet you somehow managed to defeat a troll! I suppose strength isn't everything!" the man continued, then offered his hand to shake Merlin's, which was a bad idea as several things on the table were knocked over in a sort of domino effect. The man didn't seem to notice.

"Eric Munch, nice to meet you," he said, and Merlin managed to weave his thin arm between things without knocking them over to shake the man's hand. Unfortunately, the hand-shaking knocked over several more things, though it seemed that the adults were glaring at Eric more than they were glaring at Merlin. Lucius Malfoy was one of them.

"Mr. Munch," he said eventually, waving his wand to clean up the mess. The various plates and bowls straightened out again. "could you please refrain from reaching across the table?"

Eric Munch just laughed, and the rest of the night passed mildly easy, Merlin only getting a few questions from mostly-sober people.

Eventually, it came that Merlin had to leave for home, and he stood outside the Malfoy Manor.

"That was an awful night," said Merlin to Draco, once they were alone, and Draco nodded.

"Not as awful as some of the nights in Camelot, but still pretty bad. Though it is easier now that I remember those awful nights at Camelot." he admitted.

"I just regret that I didn't get to taste the wine- it must be much better than the wine at those awful nights at Camelot."

Draco laughed, "It is."

Merlin gaped, "Hey, you're supposed to be reassuring me here, not making me jealous."

Draco just laughed again.