Title: The Houses of Pendragon, Emrys and Potter

Summary: AU OotP, set after M-S5. Merlin had always watched as the wizarding world fought for justice. He watched Harry Potter grow up as a young warlock struggling against Voldemort. At the Department of Mysteries on a Thursday evening when a deadly battle was playing out concerning Harry's destiny, Merlin decided it was time to step in. He will join the fight. This time. DISCLAIMER NOW!

Written by: Alexia Blackbriar (hoping to co-write with Holmes1216)

PLEASE REVIEW.

MULTI-CHAPTER STORY.

This will include Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna, Neville, Hedwig all of the members of the Order (including Sirius), the Professors, the characters from Book 5 and Book 6, Aithusa, Merlin of course and there will be mentions of Merlin S1,2,3,4,5.

DISCLAIMER: Some of this work belongs to the brilliant JK Rowling. I cannot take credit for her stuff! All the characters either belong to HER or the BBC.

"Hey!" Hermione said, rising to her feet as Merlin approached her from the doors of the Room of Requirement. "Where've you been?"

Harry and Ron looked up in canon, dropping the books they were holding on the ground. Merlin rolled his eyes at their reaction and flicked his hand, the books they had dropped rising into the air and floating so they could catch them again.

"Don't ask, Hermione, there's no point," Harry said flatly, referring to Hermione's former question.

Merlin shot him a look then proceeded to wave his hands about the room; golden tendrils of magic danced in the air, closing the curtains and lighting candles. Nobody questioned the wandless magic; they were used to it.

"We're taking the older group," Harry told Merlin. "We did the younger group earlier, you missed it."

"Oh," Merlin said. "Sorry."

"No problem," Hermione said brightly. "Look, Harry had a great idea for today's lesson – Professor McGonagall found a Boggart in the teacher's lounge and we offered to get rid of it… well, after…"

"Facing your fear, the hardest form of defence and attack," Merlin stated, nodding approvingly. "Good job, we could all use the practise."

Slowly, people began to file into the room. Some looked curiously at the large trunk set in the middle of the room, while some made loud noises of realization. Zana, Zoey and Lily were talking with Neville, Luna and Ginny, while the others students just rambled on about homework to each other and the N.E.W.T work they were receiving.

"Right, everybody, listen up!" Hermione said, clapping her hands. "I imagine that most of you already know what we're doing today. Neville?"

"Boggarts," Neville guessed, eyeing the trunk with caution.

"Correct, Neville," Hermione said. "Boggarts show you your greatest fear; we can use Boggarts to boost confidence, help you face them, become bold in the face of danger."

"Everybody get in line and we'll all take turns," Harry told them.

The DA members scurried back and forth until a line was formed leading up to the trunk. Merlin looked strangely hesitant but finally joined the back of the line. Neville, Dean, Seamus, Ginny and Luna faced the Boggart with confidence, shouting out "Ridikulus!" and turning the Boggart into amusing objects such as jack-in-a-boxes and teachers in ridiculous dress.

However, the newcomers, such as Liam, Ryan, Zoey, Zana and Lily, were slightly nervous, though they did manage to face the Boggart. Zana was by far the bravest and only shuddered once before yelling the counter curse.

Harry quickly took over after Ron faced his Acromantula; when the Dementor appeared, he wasn't even afraid. He sent it away with a flick of his wand and a shout of the incantation before Ron and Hermione trapped it back in the trunk.

"Hey, wait, Merlin didn't have a go," Zana protested.

"Oh no, I'm fine thanks, Zana," Merlin murmured, eyeing the trunk with disdain and stepping away to stand beside Harry, Hermione and Ron.

"No, Zana's right," Ginny said, frowning, crossing her arms. "Merlin should have a go. After all, it's only fair, we all did it, however unwilling."

Merlin looked scared for a few seconds, shocking the trio, but then he stepped forwards with a grimace and motioned for them to unlock the trunk. The DA looked smug as they shuffled backwards to give Merlin some space. Harry gave Merlin a pointed look and Merlin rolled his eyes, pulling his wand from the pocket of his cloak. Taking a shaky breath, he brandished his wand and aimed it at the trunk.

"You ready?" Hermione asked worriedly, clutching the top of the trunk.

"Do it," Merlin growled.

The top of the trunk was flung open. Dark smoke tumbled out of the depths and a figure sprung from the fog. Merlin gasped in shock and horror and stumbled backwards.

Blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, shining chain mail, with a large roaring golden dragon on a red bed of cotton. In his hand he gripped a sword; Excalibur, the very sword that Merlin's left hand was resting on. His blue eyes however were fierce with fury and hatred.

"You betrayed me, Merlin," Arthur Pendragon spat. "You are a traitor. A liar."

"No," Merlin whispered, his eyes sparkling with tears of fright. "No, you're not real."

"You killed me, Merlin," Arthur shouted furiously. "You killed me, when you could have saved me! You killed me – you killed her!"

"I had no choice," Merlin whimpered. "She was going to kill you."

"You destroyed my life! You destroyed my kingdom!" Arthur yelled. "I hate you!"

"Ridikulus," Merlin gasped, desperately flicking his wand.

Arthur Pendragon vanished and was replaced by a noble lady, in a light purple royal gown, and a golden crown resting on the top of her head. Merlin stepped back in shock.

"You killed him, Merlin," Gwen whispered, hatred in her eyes, and her tone was full of what sounded like disappointment. "You killed my husband. You could have saved him, Merlin. You could have tried. But you didn't. You failed him. You failed me. You failed your destiny."

His wand hand trembling, the queen vanished and five knights, clutching swords at their sides and snarling at Merlin in disgust appeared.

"You disgust me, Merlin," Leon spat.

"You are filth, nothing," Percival sneered.

"You are a traitor," Elyan snarled.

"You were never my friend," Lancelot growled.

"We hate you! WE HATE YOU!" Gwaine roared.

"You're not real," Merlin gasped, "You're not real, not real, not real."

"You abandoned us!" Leon shouted.

"You're dead, you're not real!" Merlin yelled.

"We're going to kill you," Elyan threatened.

"You are going to burn," Lancelot hissed.

The sobbing Merlin cried out in pain and pointed his wand at them, a burst of white light shooting towards them. They transformed quickly into the figure of a black panther with wings, before the shape twisted into that of a beautiful young girl with dark hair.

"Merlin," Freya whispered. "You let me die."

"No," Merlin choked. "No, Freya, not you too."

"I loved you," Freya murmured, her eyes full of innocence and truth. "We were in love. But you didn't care. You left me there. He killed me, Merlin. You could have stopped him, but he killed me!"

"NO!" Merlin roared.

His eyes flashed gold and cold air filled the room as a jet of white light soared towards the figure. The black smoke filled the room once again and as Merlin fell to the floor on his knees, Hermione jumped in front, alarmed, and quickly banished the Boggart.

"Merlin! Merlin, speak to me," Hermione begged him, kneeling down beside the shaking warlock.

Merlin swallowed heavily, his eyes as round as plates as he looked up at Hermione, filled with fear. "Real?" he whispered.

"No, not real," Hermione reassured him, hugging Merlin deeply and rocking him in her arms.

"I'm – I'm sorry – Merlin, I'm –" Ginny was stumbling over her words, looking slightly scared. "I didn't mean –"

"It's fine, Ginny," Merlin whispered, smiling weakly. "I don't blame you."

"Okay, that's the end of the session," Harry called out, shooing the gossiping group away.

Once the group had exited the Room of Requirement, Ron and Hermione helped Merlin shakily to his feet and conjured a chair for him to sit down on. Harry insured the rest of the DA had gone the turned back towards them, concerned.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," Merlin said. "Just a bit shaken."

"I'm guessing that was King Arthur," Hermione said, sitting down on a chair beside Merlin.

"Yes," Merlin sighed. "That was Arthur. And Gwen, and Lancelot, Gwaine, Elyan, Leon and Percival; the Knights of the Round Table. And Freya…"

"And they are your greatest fear?" Ron asked confusedly, handing Merlin a cup of water.

Merlin didn't answer and instead chugged down the water from his glass before smacking his lips together and wiping his face with the back of his hands. Finally he admitted, "I was afraid that they would think of me as a traitor to Camelot, as a threat to the throne just because I had magic."

"But I thought Arthur accepted you," Harry said, frowning.

Merlin paused then confessed, "Not at first."

Hermione gasped. "But I thought –"

"It was after Camlann," Merlin explained. "After the battle. Arthur had been mortally wounded by Mordred, with a blade forged in dragon fire. He was going to die. I saved him, took him to safety. When he awoke in the forest… I thought it was time. I thought he would accept me. But I was wrong. He hated me. He despised me. He refused to even allow me near him."

"But you took him to Avalon…" Ron said, puzzled.

"Gaius, my guardian and the Court Physician, managed to convince Arthur to let me take him." Merlin took a deep breath.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hermione asked gently.

Merlin stood up and made for the door. "No," he said firmly, reaching for the handle.

As Merlin exited the room, Ron sighed, turning to Harry. "God, I never thought Merlin could be such a downer."

yes, yes, I know, the DA should have realised something was suspicious but I want to save the REAL REVEAL for something really really exciting. PLEASE REVIEW!