CHAPTER 25

Hello hello! I'm back with a new chapter! Happy 2018 everyone J

…..

"Mr. Ambrose, you are capable of telling the time, are you not?" Professor McGonagall's voice is bordering on shrill, her look of disapproval expertly sharpened. If Merlin truly was several centuries younger, he would be quaking in his shoes.

"I am, yes. I am really very sorry Professor, I was having a discussion with Headmaster Dumbledore in his office and had completely lost track of time." Merlin clasps his hands earnestly in front of himself.

"Headmaster Dumbledore?" McGonagall's voice is dry with disbelief. "You mean to tell me that the headmaster is the reason you are late for your detention?"

"It is professor, yes."

"And he could not have left you a note to bring with you explaining your delayed presence?" McGonagall doesn't wait for a reply before continuing, "I will be checking in with the headmaster later than, to confirm your tale." Her gaze is steady, clearly in wait for Merlin to start back-tracking.

"Thank you professor. Please send him my regards when you do." Merlin sets his bag on the floor next to the desk and chair he assumes he is meant to be seated at.

"Get your quill and parchment out, you will be spending your time writing essays on the dangers of time travel. Tomorrow's will be on the theory behind transfiguring object into a form later or earlier in their respective timeline, and why this magic is banned in 5 countries. Transfiguration in relation to time, is going to be our next unit of study so, seeing as you have the tendency to skip appointments, I will not have you falling behind in class when you decide to start skipping that too." McGonagall seats herself in the high backed chair at the desk across from him, picking up her own gleaming red quill and resuming her marking of student essay's, her face the picture of stern disapproval.

Merlin quickly takes out his things and opens his textbook to the required chapter, not bothering to read it before starting on his essay. Will she notice if I write the entire thing without consulting the text? Perhaps I should browse through a bit, just for show. And spell some words wrong just in case.

Goddess, I have better things to be doing than this.

Hand writing on autopilot and eyes staring at a fixed point on his opened textbook, Merlin takes the opportunity to digest the events of the day. Poor Draco. He looked completely distraught. Our friendship is probably ruined now that he knows I've been lying this whole time. Merlin didn't expect it to hurt as much as it does. The teen might be bigoted and terribly misinformed, but he has a good heart. Merlin has found himself growing fond of the boy.

His hand pushes a little too hard on the quill and the tip breaks through the parchment, staining a splotch on the wooden surface of the table. Merlin sighs and grabs himself a new sheet, pointing his wand in his other hand and fixing the desk. At least he's safe, and free of Tom's absurd demands and influence. Merlin hopes desperately he'll come around like Arthur had, even if he wants nothing to do with Merlin in the future. He has such potential for goodness.

Merlin sets back to work on his essay, re-writing out the half page he had destroyed. Now three people know my identity. He shifts around in his chair. Stage two: I have to introduce Arthur to the Order of the Phoenix. He will probably refuse to lie to them. He hates the idea of keeping things from the people who he will be fighting along-side. He will tell them. Merlin makes an effort to lighten his grip on the poor feather before it crushes. If Arthur comes out as the Once and Future King, I will have to step out from the shadows as well.

The side of Merlin's lip splits open as he bites down on it hard. I made the choice to lay the decision at Arthur's feet never truly expecting it to come to pass. But here I am. Here he is. Merlin is elated at Arthur's return, but sweat beads down his back at the thought of revealing himself. There will be no going back from that. No more chance at a quiet life.

Of a peaceful life.

Well, I've spent long enough barely living at all. Perhaps this will be a welcome change. His mind flashes to an image of Arthur. Definitely a welcome change.

McGonagall stops grading papers and stares at Merlin. It takes an embarrassingly long time for him to notice. Freezing mid word, Merlin sets his quill down next to his page. Before he can ask what the matter is, McGonagall arches an eyebrow and sets back to work. Merlin looks down at his own writing, realizing he must have been writing at inhuman speeds for his scrawl to look that messy. Entire paragraphs are barely legible, the ink smudged and blurred under the sweep of his hand as he continued writing lines before the ink properly dried.

He squints to try to make out what the last paragraph says, surprised to note he doesn't recognize his own words. His eyes cross to read the garbled writing, and after several long moments his face goes scarlet. He had certainly not been writing on the essay topic. He runs an embarrassed hand through his hair at the thought of obliviously handing it in to the professor.

Quickly scrunching up the ruined page, he vanishes it with his wand before the evidence can stare at him any longer.

Forcing his hand to work slower and his thoughts to follow the words he writes, the rest of his detention passes unbearably slowly.

Putting his books away under the careful scrutiny of the Gryffindor Professor, Merlin dreads spending the rest of his evenings in her office writing mind numbingly simple essays. A couple weeks ago, he would have had little issue with passing time in such a manner, but now he has more important things to do. More pressing matters at hand. More urgent tasks ahead of him.

Oh you cannot fool yourself so easily you old bat. Merlin fears he might be forced to address his current problem some point in his near future. As important as the defeat of a certain dark wizard along with the rehabilitation of his followers are, his mind has not been focused on the task at hand for quite some time. Selfishly, he realizes, his priorities have re-arranged themselves.

Merlin understands that he should probably feel guilty over this, but cannot seem to bring himself to.

He sighs to himself as he closes the office door on his way out.

His footsteps echo ominously as he descends down the corridor in the direction of the dungeons. He comes to an abrupt stop, staring straight ahead. I don't want to go to bed. When he fully registers his own thoughts, he slaps a hand over his mouth to stop the gargle of laughter that comes out as a shout. For once, my mind matches my body. He examines his unwrinkled hand with a frown.

Despite the blatant childishness of his realization, the sentiment holds true. Just the mere notion of leaving Arthur alone for any farther length of time is enough to buckle his knees and send him sweating. He aught to be watching over him. Protecting him. Keeping him safe and alive at all times. He doesn't have time for sleep.

He spins around and briskly heads in the other direction. Off to Hagrid's hut he goes.

After about 15 steps, he stops again. What will Arthur think? Is this really what he wants? What he needs? Hogwarts is safe, I told him that myself. That was no lie. What use will I have keeping watch over him all night? Yet the thought of spending any more length of time apart rankles. He'll demand I join him in bed again. His heart sends a thrill at that.

I cannot do that. He feels disgusted and disappointed with himself. Impose on his hospitality another night. How selfish of me.

And what would Arthur think of you then? His old friend senile and driven mad with the passing of time. His old servant Merlin would never behave in such a manner. Unable to be alone for any stretch of time without panicking and making a fool of himself.

Pull yourself together old man.

Merlin turns around once again, his shoulders set and a scowl upon his face, he marches down the corridor.

The Slytherin common room is quiet as only a small handful of older students mill about finishing up last minute homework assignments. Merlin stalks off to his dorm room ignoring their curious looks.

Closing the dormitory door softly behind him, Merlin makes his way to his bedside while peeling off his day wear. Trying desperately to keep his mind carefully blank, he misses Draco's bed curtains opening.

"What are you doing here?" Draco's question sounds more like a demand, his voice quiet yet harsh amongst the muted sounds of the other boy's snores. Merlin flails in surprise and his arms tangle up in his shirt on its way over his head. Draco casts a wary eye around the room, checking to insure the other boys are still asleep.

Merlin sags onto his bed, remaining in an upright position facing Draco. "What do you mean, what am I doing here?" I thought I made my presence clear.

Merlin can't make out the details of Draco's face in the dark, but his voice is one that borders on panic. "What are you doing here. In this dorm. Right now. Why are you in the boys' dorm?"

Merlin thinks perhaps he is missing the point. "I'm here to go to bed, to sleep." He says the words slowly.

"Obviously. But why here?" Draco's voice is starting to sound heated.

Merlin's shoulders slump and he casts a wordless sound barrier around their two beds. "I am staying at Hogwarts as a student. It would be quite odd if I were to be sleeping in a hovel somewhere."

A deflated sigh comes from Draco and his bed curtains open up wider. "Right."

Merlin braces himself for the expected barrage of questions.

"So you're really him. Dumbledore and Snape explained a bit more after you left. And uh… Arthur." His voice trails off and Merlin can hear his bed sheets ruffling.

"Yep." Merlin takes a breath in. "My name is Merlin. I'm old. Arthur is a resurrected King. We're here to restore the balance. All true." He looks confidently towards the boy's hazy face.

"Thank god. I mean, this shit is weird as hell. And messed up. And for the record, it is really freaking strange to be sharing a room with Merlin." Draco's talking speeds up and takes on a frantic edge. "But thank Merlin there are more powers at work here than just that batty old coot of a Headmaster. Ah… I mean, thank god. Or, er-" He stutters to a stop.

Merlin scrubs a hand over his face. This is going to be making blending in as a student difficult. He pulls the covers over his legs, beginning to feel sad, but then stops himself. He refuses to feel mournful over an ended friendship he had based entirely upon lies.

"I understand it will be impossible to go back to our previous state of friendship, but I will need you to still treat me as any other student. It is important that my cover is not blown."

"Uh… right. Sure, of course. Just like any other student." Draco lets loose a hysterical laugh that has Merlin glancing around them despite the silencing charm.

"I appreciate it." Merlin lays down onto his bed, but leaves the curtains open.

After a long stretch of silence, Draco flops down onto his pillow and rolls to face Merlin. "My parents are staying in a Muggle town. Dumbledore arranged everything. You said you'd keep them safe…"

"I'll drop by their place and set my own wards. You have my word that they will be safe. I will insure it."

Draco stays silent for a moment longer.

"Where have you been? Why has no one-"

"I've been around. For the first while I was an 'active member of society' as they say. Helped guide the changing of the laws, settled disputes, kept people safe. And others not so safe. But things start to go a little sideways when you notice you don't age. It took me many years to perfect altering my body in such a manner as I do now. I used to have to take potions, and it was very exhausting." Merlin realizes he's rambling.

"Your history class is all wrong. I came back to Camelot after everyone who knew my face had passed. Helped raise Rowena, Godric, Salazar, and Helga, then when they were older, I left them to it. Traveled for a while. Disappeared for longer. I taught here in the 1750's. I had Professor Snape's job actually. Then I lived in Northern Canada for a while teaching. The staying out of the magical world part of my story as a student here is true." Merlin gives Draco time to digest it all.

"I'm not a god. Yeah, I'm powerful, yes, I am immortal, but I am not 'all-seeing', 'all-knowing', or in any way better than anyone else. I'm just different. And old. The last thing I, or anyone else needs, is for me to take control of the ministry and rule for eternity. I know my place, and that would be catastrophic."

Merlin catches his breath, talking about himself is still strange and new feeling.

"This is all a bit much." Draco's voice is quite in the dark of the room.

"Yes, it is." He's still so incredibly young. This is probably too much to grasp. The concept of the passing of time is often lost on those still too young to feel it.

"You didn't have to solve everything for us, but you could have at least helped a little bit." Draco's whisper is sharp and accusatory.

Merlin throws his spare pillow at him, hitting the side of his head. "I did." Draco steals the pillow, hiding it under his blankets. "And besides, I'm here now, and everything's going to be changing soon. Arthur's back and he never liked hiding who he was. And it's about time my life had a little excitement in it." Mentioning Arthur's name is accompanied by the new sensation of his innards performing impressive acrobatics. Draco can probably hear the smile in his voice.

"Excitement." The words are dry and flat.

"Well, yes. I don't enjoy the threat upon people's lives, or the danger of everything going impossibly and terribly wrong, but I do enjoy living at the moment." This is the greatest time since the early years. The goddess has finally answered my pleading.

"Good for you." Draco's snide and clipped way of talking has returned.

Merlin settles more comfortably in his bed. "Thank you."

He can hear the angry rustling of blankets, followed by still silence. Then more rustling. "You're helping me with my coursework from now on."

Merlin takes the begrudgingly offered olive branch with a smile. "Of course."

…..

Draco keeps giving him weird looks whenever he think's Merlin won't notice. He feels the grey eyes drilling holes into his skull. Merlin waves at him even though they are seated across from each other at the breakfast table. Draco's eyes widen and he quickly looks down at his food.

Merlin digs into his own breakfast and feels the drilling quickly resume. He looks up again to catch him, an eye-roll planned and ready, but it's not just Draco. Seated next to Draco across from Merlin is Goyle, his stare also fixed firmly upon Merlin's face.

Merlin arches an eyebrow at him while he chews his food. "What?"

Goyle looks to Draco and shrugs his shoulders. "I figured if he's making a thing of it, I'd join in. Find out what all the fuss is about." He looks back at Merlin without blinking. " 'Tis kind of fun."

Draco elbows him in the ribs as he takes a bite off his fork and the food bit flings over onto Pansy's plate.

"Ew man, that's disgusting! Keep you're germy food to yourself." Pansy picks up the napkin next to her, and uses it to scoop the food off her plate and onto Draco's.

"That was Goyle's, not mine." His lip curls up as he moves the rest of his food away from the intruding bit on the side of his plate.

Merlin lets loose the eye-roll, leaning over and shoveling the food bit onto his fork. He lifts it to his mouth, glad the awkward staring has finally stopped.

Both Draco and Pansy look at him in horror as he swallows the food.

"Hey, that was mine!" Goyle's protest is spoken through a fit of giggling.

Merlin feels a tap on his shoulder and turns to find Hermione standing behind him.

"Want to study in the library after classes today for our dueling session this week? I've managed to talk Ron into it with the lure of learning new hexes."

Merlin nods his head with enthusiasm. "Mind if people join us?"

Hermione glances up to the teachers table where Arthur is currently chatting away happily with Hagrid. Probably about Giant spiders. "Of course." She smiles at him and heads back over to her own table, pulling out the chair next to a waving Ron.

Merlin swivels back around to his fellow Slytherins. "Hey Draco, Goyle, want to join me in the library after class to learn new hexes for the dueling session this week?" He's met by two wide and excited smiles.

"Oh, I'll be there." Draco looks excited and Goyle nods along enthusiastically.

"Excellent!" Merlin claps his hands together once before pushing back his chair and getting up.