A/N: Hello all my favorite readers! So I'm giving you a new chapter really quick, because you have all been amazing to me. I want to thank everyone for the great reviews that I have gotten, they definitely have given me a slight boost. Also because I give you this chapter so soon it isn't betad yet, but I will upload a betad version as soon as I get it. Furthermore I want to explain Merlin's behavior a bit more. He has been alone for more than thousands years and I do believe that so long alone has an big impact on a person's personality. So please read and I hope that you will all enjoy this chapter! I have a lot planned for this story so be expecting a lot more chapters in the future!

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''Emrys isn't my real name...''

''I suspected that.''

Merlin blinked at him. ''You did?''

Albus let out a small laugh. ''Yes, I have been suspecting that for quite some years... And Merlin, I was right, weren't I?''

Eyes grew wide and he just gaped at Albus as he tried to get a sound out of his throat. ''H-ho-w.''

''I have done my research and I guess from your reaction that it's the truth. You truly are the great wizard Merlin, I have quite a lot of questions for you, first of which is how, but... you should only tell me what you want to tell me.'' Albus leaned forwards, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. ''I care for you and I know that the students would also never hate you.''

A small smile crossed Merlin's lips as he felt relief spread over him. Maybe the truth wasn't so bad.

It was then that the first rays of lights appeared through the window as the sun rose from the horizon. A new day had began.

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Merlin sat still curled up in the headmaster's chair when he heard three pair of footsteps walk, or more likely run, up the stairs and he eyed his friend with worry. Albus only smiled reassuringly at him in return.

They had send one of Hogwart's house elves to get Harry, Ron and Hermione, they had the right to know after all. He wanted to start small, but he was planning on also telling Neville, Luna and the rest at the start of next year, for now he only had to gather the courage to tell the three of them, which definitely frightened him.

Several knocks were heard from the door before Albus answered. ''Come in?''

''You wanted to see us, professor?'' Hermione asked as she was the first to walk in.

It was then that the three of them spotted Merlin and they rushed to desk. ''Emrys, you're alright!'' ''When did you wake up?'' ''How are you feeling?'' Questions rushed over him and somehow it brought a smile back to his face, they did care for him.

''I woke up this night.'' He answered as he straightened his back, he shouldn't act like a kid in front of them. ''I'm glad to see that the three of you are okay, you had me kind of worried.''

''We worried you? Mate, we thought you were dead.'' Ron returned.

''The three of you should sit down.'' Albus replied as he waved with his wand to conjure three more chairs and the trio sat down.

Merlin eyed all of them for a moment, ending with Harry and their eyes lingered. It was eventually Harry who broke the silence as he asked. ''So are you going to explain what happened when we faced Voldemort.'' All ignored how Ron cringed at hearing the name and curious eyes settled themselves on Merlin.

Emotions and memories rushed over him and he hoped that they couldn't read anything of his face. He could feel the fear of rejection go through his mind, but he quickly told himself that they were his friends, they cared for him. Merlin breathed deeply in before he straightened his back and shot his friends his famous smile. ''Uhh, yeah that was kind of what I wanted to talk to you about.'' Did they really need to lean in any further? ''… I have kept several secrets from all of you and I think you all deserve to know the truth.'' He eyed them, wanting to know what they thought, but it was clear that they had already guessed he held something from them, which wasn't actually really an surprise. ''I told you that I was 'some kind of ghost' and even though that isn't really an lie it is also not the truth. The truth actually is that I'm immortal.-''

''You have an philosopher's stone?!'' Ron interrupted him.

Merlin shoke his head. ''No, me being immortal has another case, but the story is to long to explain now... then there's my second secret, uhm...'' He breathed deeply in. ''Emrys isn't really my name, or it's, but at the same time it isn't, that name has actually been given to me... so yeah...''

He fell silent again and three pair of eyes looked almost begging at him. ''So tell us.''

''My real name is Merlin.''

It was completely silent for a good couple of seconds, till it was Ron who broke the silence by bursting into a loud laughter. Harry was just staring at him and Hermione's lips curled up in a wide grin. ''I knew it.'' She mumbled.

''Wait you mean that it's the truth, you're really the Merlin?'' Harry asked as he looked slightly startled from Hermione, as he had heard what she had just said, to Merlin.

He just nodded nervously, eying them with an apologizing and nervous smile on his lips. He didn't know what to say, he had betrayed them after all, he was a liar... but they were also his friends.

Ron's laughter died down and he paled as he replied. ''You mean that wasn't a joke?'' He looked ready to faint at any moment.

Merlin played nervously with his hands in his lap and had turned to look away. Gentle hands took his own and he turned to look Hermione in the eyes, who was smiling kindly at him. ''You were afraid that we would be angry at you.''

''I was afraid that you would hate me, for lying... for being a monster.''

''We would never!'' Harry breathed out.

''Yeah Harry's right, we're your friends and if I can believe you than you're my idol, our hero!... though I had expected you to look... different.'' Ron said and Merlin could see how his eyes sparkled with excitement.

He could feel a smile spread over his lips and this time he meant his smile. ''Yeah I have heard that one before.'' He then took his hands out of Hermione's before asking her. ''So how did you know?''

''You talked about Lancelot.'' He could feel how shivers ran over his back... Lancelot. ''When Sirius' was... cursed. You said that you couldn't let Lancelot die again.'' She fell silent for a moment. ''You did really care for Lancelot, didn't you?... But... He was the one that betrayed King Arthur with Guinevere, wasn't he?''

Arthur... Lancelot... Gwen... He could feel his heart ache hearing their names, he had failed them after all and it did hurt even more hearing that horrible, yet most known story of Lancelot betraying Arthur. Lancelot and Gwen had never done anything unfaithful... when they were themselves. ''Lancelot never betrayed Arthur, he was an hero!'' He could feel the fierceness in his voice and he knew it came out harder than he meant. ''I mean... Lancelot and Gwen did love each other, but after Gwen and Arthur became a thing they had both accepted it. Lancelot even gave his life to save us and most likely the whole world, he's an hero.''

''So the stories are wrong?''

Merlin smiled, he had read the stories about them from the books nowadays, they were rather amusing. ''Yeah, they're definitely quite different.'' Old memories rushed over him and the smile on his lips faded, those memories did still hurt, even after all those years. ''… But I don't really want to talk about it.'' He barely whispered as he wrapped his arms around himself.

''… Can I ask how you saved Sirius?''

Merlin turned to look at Harry and he gave a slight nod. ''I traded his life for one of the Deatheater's.''

''You have the power over life and death?''

''No, not really. The world needs to be in balance, so I traded one life for another. They don't really care who's life it's''

They stared at him for a moment before Ron breathed out. ''That's wicked, but also really scary!''

Merlin shivered. ''I know...''

''No I didn't mean it like th-.''

''It's fine.'' The warlock quickly interrupted. ''But there's one more thing I need to tell you three and you too Albus.'' The headmaster, who till then had kept silent, narrowed his eyes hearing that. ''During our fight with Tom- Voldermort, told me how he was able to come back to life, he had the help of the old religion, or better said a dark version of it. I don't know exactly how he did it, but I fear about what it will mean for the future.'' He didn't tell them about the Cailleach, he didn't want them to be scared about Tom making a deal with someone as powerful as the Cailleach... he didn't even know for sure if they had made a deal.

Albus spoke up. ''Would you be able to figure out how he did it?''

Merlin shook his head. ''I don't know.'' He said as he met those baby blue eyes. Albus didn't respond, but it was clear by the look he was giving Merlin that their talk about this hadn't ended yet. It almost looked like he knew more of all this. His friend most likely didn't want to involve Harry and the others more into this. He wasn't really against that, for now the trio should have an as carefree life as possible.

He turned back to the students as Albus stated. ''Now you three should hurry off to get some breakfast, the train will be leaving for London this afternoon after all.''

Harry was about to protest, but he closed his mouth as he saw the looks that he and Albus were giving him and Merlin quickly said. ''Don't worry, I will visit during the summer.'' Those words seemed to calm the three of them down and they quickly said their goodbyes.

Merlin smiled brightly at Harry as he promised again to visit. ''So I guess I should call you Merlin from now on.''

''It may be smarter to keep calling me Emrys when others are around.''

''Than it's a goodbye for now Merlin, see you later.'' With that he walked after Ron and Hermione towards the door. Harry slowed down when he reached the heavy door, his hand resting on the dark wood before turning once more to Merlin. ''So you're waiting for him to come back?''

''What?''

Harry bit his lip before answering. ''When we first met I asked you if you were waiting for someone and you told me that you did... So, you're waiting for king Arthur to return, aren't you?''

A sad smile spread over his lips as he watched the dark haired boy. ''I... Yes, I'm waiting, hoping, for him to return.'' He could feel a tear roll over his cheek, he had been waiting for more than a thousand years for his best friend to return and he didn't even know if Arthur would return to him. The memory of their prophesy that he saw in the ministry pushed against his mind, but he ignored it, fate wasn't that kind after all.

The boy who lived eyed him with sympathy as he saw his pain and he just stared for a moment at the almighty warlock before speaking. ''I don't know how or when, but I'm certain that you two will be reunited, fate is kinder than you might think.'' And with that he followed his friends through the door and out of Merlin's vision.

More tears followed the first one as those words sank in. ''If only that was the truth.''