I don't really think I need to explain why I did not yesterday

but I will anyway

basically the fanfiction server was down

don't know why

but it was

so you get my chapter today instead

...

is it just me or do my chapters seem to be shrinking in length

*sighs*

I'll try to fix that for next week. . .

oh yeah

if any of you know any good HP fanfiction where Harry is evil/joins Voldie/his twin is the BWL can you let me know

cos I'm addicted to those sorts of stories currently and I can't get enough

Enjoy!

Merlin sat cross legged in the middle of the room of requirement, not that the room was very big currently. He doubted it would have taken him any more than three steps to pace the diameter of the place. Merlin hummed as he watched one of the walls. The wall was showing the interior of Dumbledore's office. From the way the daft old man was humming merrily as he ate muggle sweets, Merlin had the feeling that the man did not really care about how the philosopher's stone had been stolen. Now that he knew Mouldyvort was going after the Cup of Life as well, Merlin did not want to risk leaving the cup in an area where he knew Mouldyvort had already successfully infiltrated.

The only real problem now was that Merlin had no real idea as to where the cup of life had been hidden. Normally, this would have reinsured him. After all, if Merlin had not been able to figure something out, how could another? However, as the old professor had made no move to find the person who had destroyed the stone, not that the man would have been able to, he was Merlin. Merlin did not feel he could trust Dumbledore to actually care for the Cup of Life. He had not been able to protect the belongings of a 'dear friend', so how could Merlin expect the man to protect something which had been given to him by a complete stranger?

Merlin's eyes narrowed as someone knocked on the door to Dumbledore's office. The old man looked up from whatever the man was working on at his desk.

"Come in," Dumbledore called to whoever was on the other side of the door.

The man who entered had long brown hair that was tied back in a low ponytail. His skin was unhealthily pale, and he had a long nose and fingers. Merlin could not tell what the man's eye colour was. It was not that he did not have a clear enough view, there was some sort of magic which was covering them. A glamour? Merlin cursed that he was unable to see through the glamours of those he was not directly viewing.

"Dumbledore." The man's voice was low and cultured.

"Doremad." Came the man's short reply.

'Doremad' hummed. "I take it you know the whereabouts of Cup of Life."

Merlin's eyes fixed on Doremad's face. If this man knew of the Cup of Life, then there was every possibility that the man would be aiming to steal it.

"Of course." Came Dumbledore's easy reply.

Doremad hissed. "Well where is it you old fool!" The man's voice kept the same pitch but no longer seemed even slightly harmless.

Dumbledore only smiled, his eyes taking on the slightly annoying glint that some would call a twinkle. "But my dear boy, do you not wish for the thrill of adventure in looking for that which you seek?"

"Crucio."

To Merlin's surprise, Dumbledore gave no verbal signal of his pain, though the man hunched over himself, and the little that Merlin could see of his face through Dumbledore's silver hair, was twisted in a pained expression.

Merlin frowned. Because Dumbledore to have been casual with Doremad, he had assumed the two had known each other. Perhaps Doremad had been a previous student of Hogwarts? But for Doremad to use an unforgivable on Dumbledore, well. Merlin doubted that any student would do that.

Doremad stepped closer to Dumbledore, who had now slumped and was leaning on the top of his desk. "Come now, Albus. Don't be like that. All I want is a little information." Doremad's eyes were as cold as ice. "Where is the Cup of Life?"

"Is that any way to treat a headmaster Molltivro?" Dumbledore gasped out.

Merlin hummed. He was guessing that Molltivro was Doremad's first name. So Dumbledore's mysterious friend was called Molltivro Doremad. It was not a pureblood's name, but it did not sound like a name that would be given to someone not of magical descent. Perhaps the man was a half-blood.

Doremad did not seem to like Dumbledore's continued refusal to answer his question, so he shot another crucio at him.

This time, Dumbledore did not immediately speak when the curse was lifted and only responded when an irate Doremad hissed warningly at him.

"T-the tallest astronomy t-tower."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. That had been easier than he had expected. He would have to thank Doremad for his help if he ever encountered the man.

"A'nghymryd i'r twr talaf seryddiaeth" Merlin said, his eyes glowing gold as a miniature tornado whipped up around him, blurring his vision. Once the wind had cleared, he found himself looking at the clear night sky.

Merlin smirked. This was too easy. His eyes raked over the top of the tower, and he allowed himself a small growl of frustration.

"Dangos i mi y lleoliad yr hyn sydd pwll" he spat. He needed to move quickly. He had no wish to encounter Doremad here.

Merlin's eyes picked up a faint glow which was coming from the shadows of one of the parapets. Merlin narrowed his eyes in anger as he realised that all that Dumbledore had done to hide the Cup of Life was to leave it somewhere that most people didn't go. It had not even gotten a lazy Cerberus to guard it.

With a partial pout on his face, although he felt very glad that he did not have to avoid any more traps, Merlin reached down a plucked the cup from the ground.

Immediately, he hissed in pain.

Images were flashing through his mind. Dumbledore had placed some sort of spell on the cup. The magic was unravelling Merlin's disguise and was aging him to how he looked naturally. Once it had finished Merlin opened his eyes warily.

And jumped backwards in shock.

Standing before him was something which was transparent like a ghost. Whatever the thing was, it gave off the same aura that the Drochea had given off. Merlin shuddered. The thing had a vague resemblance to humanity as it was vaguely humanoid. The thing's face, though, was grey skin that clung to disfigured bones. Scars were laid in crosses that looked scarily as though they had been carved into its face deliberately. It was not bald. Instead, there were random wisps of hair attached to its face and hands which floated as though the creature was underwater. Black rags clung to its body, soaked in what looked to be blood.

"State your intent."

Merlin blinked. So . . . the thing was a guardian.

"State your intent," it repeated.

"What are you?" Merlin asked instead.

"State your intent."

Merlin tilted his head sideways. "You know, that gets old very quickly."

"State your intent."

Merlin sighed. "I have come to retrieve what is mine," he told the creature.

It was silent for a moment before it leaned in closer to Merlin. Despite himself, Merlin shrank back in fear.

"You speak the truth," it said finally.

"Uh . . . yeah," Merlin said.

"What is your name?" The creature asked

"My name?" Merlin asked, unsure of what was happening.

"I guard your treasure," the creature told him.

"I've noticed," Merlin muttered.

"I will continued to guard it."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"I must know the name of the one I serve to protect the treasure."

Merlin blinked. "You know," he started slowly, "I did ask for what you were first. I think I have the right to know that first."

The creature did not move. After an agonising few minutes, Merlin decided that it was not going to answer, so he opened his mouth to continue.

"My kind has no name," it said before he could speak.

"Ah." Was all Merlin could say in reply.

"What is your name?" it asked again. "Be warned if you lie, no matter the reason, I will kill you."

Merlin nodded slowly. He honestly did not know how the creature would kill him, but he had no doubt that even if it did not work, it would still be very painful.

"My name is Merlin," he told the creature

It nodded. "Go then, Merlin. Take your treasure and leave."

And then it was gone.

Merlin stared at the empty air for a second before shaking himself quickly.

"Right," he muttered to himself. "Now all I need to do is head back to the Slytherin dorms."

"Mynd รข fi i'r ystafelloedd cysgu slytherin"

After the magical tornado had once again dissipated, Merlin collapsed into his bed, tucking the cup of life underneath. He was exhausted. The cup could wait until tomorrow.

Merlin was in the great hall for breakfast the next morning when Dumbledore got to his feet and cleared his throat.

The hall fell silent and all eyes turned to the old man.

"Students," Dumbledore began, "I am disappointed to inform all of you that last night, a grievous theft was discovered. An object which was placed under my protection has been taken by a person or persons unknown. It is to my great displeasure that I must tell you that only one of your number could have pulled this off." At that a great number of whispers started up around the hall. "I must ask whoever is responsible for this to come forward and return the Cup of Life immediately. If you fail to come forward and admit to your theft, then I will be forced to have searches performed on each of the house dorms. I do not wish to have to do this, and for now, it is only a warning. Thank you." The man then sat down and continued eating as though he had simply commented on the weather.

Merlin contained the growl that wanted to escape from his lips. Wonderful, now he had to think of a way to hide the cup so that it would not be found during the searches. Just fantastic.