CHAPTER 36
Hello both old and new readers! I have a new chapter for you! Here this fanfic turns into a "coffee shop fanfic" for one chapter, so enjoy the light and fluffy (it's temporary). You will all be pleased to hear that the next couple chapters have already been written. It is my goal to make the next couple updates come sooner than the gross stretch of time it usually takes. Please accept my apology in the form of multiple chapters at once.
…..
The café is thankfully empty of customers when they arrive, the four of them smile at the excited looking lady behind the counter as they seat themselves around a table in the back. Arthur looks around at the cozy little room, the fireplace on the wall, the strange art, the cozy mismatched chairs, and the assortment of strange machines behind the counter. Albus would feel right at home here.
"I'm really not sure we'll all fit in here." Hermione eyeballs the limited seating. Judging by the expression on the tavern lady's face, this place has indeed rarely seen a crowd.
"Malfoy and them lot can always just stand in the corner. Likes to look down on us all anyway." Ron settles back in his seat. Merlin sighs.
Arthur glances back over at the front counter and all of its mysterious and intriguing contraptions, wondering idly if he'll ever get used to seeing such strange things in every area he looks. It seems as if for every question that gets answered, ten more pop up to fill the space. He feels like his head might burst from trying to keep them all contained and sorted.
The lady at the front catches him looking and her eyes light up. She scuttles around the area for a moment before opening up part of the counter like a door swinging wide, then makes her way over towards them.
"Hello there! Our hot drinks menu is posted behind the counter on the back wall for all who are interested, and our delicious selection of freshly baked goods-from this morning I might add- are behind the glass at the front, just over there." She points a finger towards an impressive and impossible to miss selection of treats on display. "If there's anything that takes your fancy that's not on display, or on the menu, just ask and I can tell you if it's something I might be able to whip up." Her smile is overly large.
"Thanks. We'll be up in a bit." Merlin's smile briefly matches hers. The lady nods politely before heading back to her post behind the counter, one of the contraptions now emitting a whirring sound.
"We should probably get our orders before everyone else gets here. If we ever wish to see our food that is."
"Smart lady Hermione. So Arthur, any idea what it is you want to have? I don't imagine you're terribly familiar with what is available, shall I list and describe for you?" Merlin folds his hands in front of himself on the table.
"Actually, I was thinking it'd be nice to have one of those hot chocolates. Unless there is something else similar to that I have yet to try that you think I might like." Ten years as his manservant has Merlin very aware of Arthur's taste preferences.
Merlin's eyes go wide. "You've been to a café before?"
"No no, you are with me here for this first epic journey, not to worry. Ethel severed hot chocolate a couple times and I found myself quite fond of it." Ron nods his head along in agreement with his beverage of choice.
"Right then, um. You could always try a flavoured hot chocolate. Cinnamon, mint, spiced, with or without cream… Or you could try coffee!" Merlin's mouth stretches to the far corners of his face. "Coffee is my favourite. It's another hot drink, a bit bitter unless you add sweetener, and smells and tastes absolutely delicious. Got me through many early mornings back in my uni days. Wonderful invention coffee."
"I could definitely see it being your favourite drink. That actually explains a lot." Ron's voice holds laughter.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Merlin's eyes are narrowed, but the humour has not left his face.
"Well…" Ron trails off with a grin.
Arthur feels like he's missing something.
"What they've both failed to mention-" Hermione pipes in, "-is that coffee is extremely caffeinated. It's like an energy drink. Keeps you awake, and," she gives a sly glance at Merlin, "perhaps a little faster."
"So it's a spell?" I thought this was a muggle place?
"No, it's non-magical. It's just the properties of the coffee bean. Completely natural in nature." She pushes her chair back and stands to make her way over to the front.
Arthur turns to Merlin. "I'll try one then. Since now I'm terribly curious."
"A coffee? Alright then. I'll make sure it's sweetened for you, and with a bit of cream." Merlin stands to join Hermione, and Ron gets up to follow, leaving Arthur alone to stare at the bizarre art hanging on the wall next to their table. Some sort of weird coloured blob.
Arthur jumps as a steaming mug of something is placed in front of him with a thump. Merlin appears in his line of vision with his own impressive mug and seats himself back down next to him, jarring his knee against the table leg. Ron and Hermione join him and the combination of new smells cause Arthur to peer into their cups.
Whereas Arthur's own mug has a steaming light brown liquid, smelling strongly of something mouth-watering, Merlin's is heaping with cream and flecks of something. Hermione's seems to have some sort of pattern on the top, and Ron's matches his.
"I got an espresso." Merlin smiles down fondly at his drink. "With whipped cream and cocoa flakes."
Hermione snorts. "That's more than one shot of espresso. God, I down know how you can function after one of those. Or sleep. Ever."
At Arthur's questioning look, Merlin elaborates. "It's like coffee, the caffeine that is, but condensed. It's a lot stronger."
"I imagine that would be a blessing for you." Arthur's eyes hold a twinkle and Merlin's face goes red. Arthur turns to the others. "Given that Merlin once fell asleep on h-" Merlin's hand shoots out quickly covering his mouth mid word. The look he shoots him has an obvious underlying challenge. Arthur laughs instead of completing the story and Ron and Hermione look between them curiously.
Arthur distracts himself from thinking about all the embarrassing dirt Merlin has on him that could get aired if a war were to start, buy taking his first experimental sip of coffee. His eyes close as the strong taste swirls on his tongue. His brows crease. He takes another slow sip. "It's different, that's for sure. But, I think I like it. Not quite as much as hot chocolate, but I do enjoy it."
"It grows on you." Ron finishes half his coffee in one impressively large gulp.
Before Arthur can take a second sip and relax back into his chair, the door opens and a bell chimes. The lady at the counter's eyes widen first in pleasant surprise, quickly followed by shock, then horror. A sea of teenagers quickly spill in through the doors.
In no time at all, all of the chairs are filled, people are leaning against walls, seated on the floor next to chairs, and some pairs of students even squeeze themselves into seats meant for one. Professor Zaden is talking in a low voice to the intimidated lady, gesturing towards the hoard and probably offering explanations and apologies.
"So, how did you find the movie?" Goyle has seated himself around their table with a chair stolen from another. He addresses only Merlin, with a polite nod towards Arthur, as if Ron and Hermione have ceased to exist.
"I share Hermione's opinion actually. We found it entertaining, and non-offensive as long as you choose to remember that those who created it aren't aware of the existence of magic and therefor don't believe the characters to have ever been real. It's a children's movie and it was cute." Arthur figures Merlin has had more time to come to grips with how he is represented. To Arthur, the movie had been although entertaining, also mildly horrifying and more than slightly embarrassing.
Goyle gives him a studying look and says nothing.
"I found the movie magnificent! Did someone really draw by hand every single second to make it look like it's moving? How incredible! Man, just imagine that being your job. Just sitting there drawing the same characters over and over, but in slightly different positions. Would drive a person mad." Ron's wide eyes stare off into nothing, not noticing Hermione's smile directed at him.
"It is quite impressive what people can accomplish without magic. Their civilization has progressed well past ours, their advancements so far along it's now alien to us." Merlin takes a drink out of his now half empty mug, foam clinging to his lip.
"Imagine the things we could make happen if our worlds were to combine forces." Arthur finds it hard to look away from Merlin's face.
"Yeah, instead of adapting muggle creations with magic, we could combine intellects to create completely new inventions together." Hermione's expression is wistful.
Goyle shifts in his seat looking uncomfortably uncertain.
"Why don't you go drag Draco over here from his sulking in the corner? Looks like he could use the company. I'll even offer up my chair." Merlin takes pity on his out of place fellow slytherin.
Not waiting even a moment, Goyle pushes his seat back and weaves through hoards of students over towards Draco, who is indeed standing alone in the only poorly lit corner of the café.
Ron's mouth is a thin line as they watch Goyle gesture over at their table to a miserable looking Draco. He darts a quick look to the group of slytherins huddled around the table closest to the door before he squares his shoulders and makes his way towards them.
Draco stops abruptly in front of their table, eyeing the lack of spare seats and eyeing Merlin apprehensively.
Merlin quickly scrambles out of his chair and offers it up. "Here, I don't mind, really."
"You don't have t-" Draco's indignant voice gains a sharp edge, but Merlin cuts him off.
"No really, I've been sitting too long in the theatre anyways. Wouldn't want a flat bum." They scoot their chairs over to make way as he kneels down on the floor in front of the table, resting his elbows on the surface.
Draco spits out a quick and quiet thanks before seating himself and staring down at his hands.
"So, what did you think of the movie then?" Merlin's voice cuts through the awkward and uncomfortable silence held like a bubble over their corner of the cafe.
He looks over at Arthur and then Merlin, resolutely ignoring the other two seated around the table. "It was…" He blinks his eyes several times. "It was kind of funny?" He scrunches his face up as if recoiling away from his own words.
Ron and Hermione both look surprised at his reply, Ron in a closed off sort of way, his eyes scrunched and his mouth open slightly.
Merlin gives a small laugh. "It was, wasn't it. I think more so from our perspectives as wizards." Arthur arches a brow at him and he winks conspiratorially in response.
Arthur looks back down at Merlin and feels a pang that has nothing to do with their conversation. He feels sort of sickly looking down at him. His eyes trail to where his knees meet the hard ground, and he stomach knots itself. "Maldin, get up."
Merlin turns his head to face Arthur, a question on his face. "What?"
Arthur refuses to let his voice shake feeling suddenly unsettled. "Get up."
"Why? What's wrong?" Merlin's face turns concerned as he peers into Arthur's eyes.
It's not right. Living his life as a servant completely unacknowledged. Fighting harder than any knight yet standing two steps behind. Kneeling at a table on the hard ground while the rest of us sit atop our chairs. Heads lower than the rest of us.
"You shouldn't be-" Arthur cuts himself off. "Take my seat. Here," He stands up and offers it to him, pleading.
"Arthur, I'm fine really. You don't have to do that." He looks confusedly up at him.
"I do. Take it. Please." It must have been the rare addition of 'please' that did it, as Merlin stiffly gets up from the floor and seats himself on Arthur's chair. Arthur bends down situating himself on Merlin's vacated floor space.
Draco and Hermione roll their eyes in unison, Ron looking shocked between them.
Goyle's eyes are wide with realization as he looks down at Arthur and then back up again at Merlin. Arthur feels something unsettling shifting around in his midsection.
"Why don't you guys just do what the others are doing and share?" Draco cannot hide the smugness in his face. Arthur feels himself go bright red and tries to hide it with another sip of coffee. The water is hot. That's it, that's all. It's hot.
Apparently Merlin was taking a drink when he said that, as he sputters out coffee through his nose. Hermione gives him a disgusted look and passes him a napkin.
"Thanks." His voice is scratchy.
"Listen up class!" Professor Zaden abruptly stands, demanding the attention of the room and instantly the chattering of conversation stops. Arthur lets out a breath of relief at the diverted attention and topic change. "Now that you all have had time to discuss the movie amongst yourselves, we are to make our way back to the school where you will be given time to start on your essay. We will be traveling by quicker means than the underground, using a method I'm sure you all will be more familiar with." She pointedly meets as many of their eyes as possible. "We are to head over to 289 Lordell St. meeting at 4:00pm sharp. That gives you some time to explore the neighbourhood and perhaps do a little shopping until then. Any arriving late will be left behind." Her voice turns abruptly sharp. "So don't be."
The reaction is immediate. Students stand up and clatter to the door in a surprisingly dignified fashion that has Arthur wondering again if there is some sort of unspoken rule or formation.
Merlin quickly downs the rest of his drink, eyes a little too wide, his hair standing on end more than usual.
Arthur really starts to feels his more advanced age as his knees give a pop as he stands. "What now?"
Their group makes their way to the exit after the rest of the students have filed out, thanking and waving to the now frazzled looking lady behind the counter.
"Well, we could just walk around the area, we could do what Zaden said and shop a little, or we could go to that cute little sweets shop on the corner for our sugar fix." Merlin looks around at their group for input. Ron's eyes light up at the mention of sweets.
Draco's face is closed off, no response forthcoming.
"Oh! I know! We could check out the museum! I think it should be just a couple streets over, if we hurry, we should have enough time." Hermione's eager expression is comical next to the downward curl of Ron's lip. Goyle just looks confused.
Arthur thinks he sees a hint of light behind Draco's eyes.
"That sounds fun, I think we should do Hermione's idea." Arthur turns to Merlin. Remembering last minute to make it a question. Not a king anymore. Not even a lord or a small land owner. I am not in charge here.
"Yeah, that does sound nice. You wouldn't mind terribly, would you Ron? Goyle?" Seems he caught Draco's interest too.
"A muggle museum? Why would we need to go to something like that?" Goyle looks genuinely confused.
"It's art, Goyle. It's meant to be looked at. And muggle or no, it's a piece of history." Hermione looks at Draco in surprise at his words.
"That's not the problem. Art is boring. Why is no one reasonable and want to go to the candy shop? Candy?" Ron says candy as if the word alone proves his point.
Hermione rolls her eyes and sighs. "Ronald, candy, you can have at any time. There are plenty of wizarding candy stores. But a muggle museum is an opportunity."
Now it's Ron's turn to sigh. "I disagree. Getting more sweets is always an important opportunity. But if you guys really want to go, I won't get in the way of that. But next time it's my turn."
Hermione's smile is like the sun. "Thank you."
"Well, you know the path, lead the way Hermione." Arthur makes a grand gesture towards the stretch of side-walk in front of them.
As usual, Arthur peers inside every shop window along the way, eyes wide and sparkling with wonder and curiosity.
Fashion has gotten quite weird in the time I've been gone. What the hell even is that? Arthur slows down in front of a shimmering storefront display full of strange leather straps with odd bits of metal and lace like he's never seen before. He feels as if he has almost unlocked the puzzle before Merlin grabs his hand and gives an urgent tug back towards their group ahead, his face red and determinedly facing forward.
"What was-"
"We're going to lose them and then get lost if we don't hurry along. Only Hermione knows how to get there, come on." Merlin cuts him off and picks up their pace, still not quite meeting his eye. Arthur trails along, suspecting that Merlin's non-answer might have still answered is question regardless. He feels his own face heat and lengthens his stride.
The Museum is huge and looming. The massive Greek influenced building towers over them in an impressive show of dominance. He cranes his head up to see the ornate carvings, fascinated. The building look ancient, yet Arthur knows it's newer than his time. To see something so obviously old amongst all of the new he had been witness to earlier that day reminds him of himself. The outside is the same, but no doubt the inside has changed. Different. He looks over to Merlin, realizing that the awe-inspiring ancient building in front of them is a child next to him. Yet Merlin looks so young.
"Fun fact, although gsupporting the appearance of an old Greek temple, this building was actually built in the early 1900s and is quite new."
Arthur stops himself from tripping, his foot stumbling upon a crack in the ground. Gods, will I ever get anything right?
"It's like having your own personal tour guide everywhere you go." Ron shakes his head at Hermione. "How do you store it all in there?"
"I read Ronald. And actually pay attention."
Goyle leans in close to Draco, whispering a little too loudly. "Oh, shots fired."
Merlin holds the door open for them as they make their way into the misleading structure.
The entranceway is surprisingly busy, lines of people twisting around making the large room feel small and cramped. "I doubted after wading through this, we'll make it to the meet point in time." Draco's expression speaks of something unpleasant.
As if sensing a challenge, Ron pipes up. "Scared of the muggles, are you Malfoy?"
Draco's face twists into a sneer but is interrupted before having the chance to respond. "I think it's worth the attempt. We'll just set our clocks and leave when we need to, even if we only get to see one exhibit, it'll be worth it." Merlin herds their group over to the shortest looking line, ignoring Goyle's doubtful looks.
After waiting in a line for what feels like the equivalence of the time they spent in the theatre, they finally make it through, briskly marching to where Hermione leads them.
"I know the art is the most interesting to see, alongside the Ancient Egyptian exhibit perhaps, but it's been a family tradition ever since the first time I came here." Hermione's excited face holds a hint of embarrassment. "It's my father's favourite, so he would always direct us here first." The group comes to a stop outside a large archway leading into a massive cavernous room.
Arthur's breath catches, his eyes wide and heart thundering in his chest. One word reverberates through his head, stopping him in his tracks. Dragons.