"Please, have a seat," Merlin said gesturing to the chair across from his. Merlin said down and waited. Professor Flitwick hesitated before sitting. He couldn't believe where he was standing. He had heard about secret rooms in the castle. He'd even heard rumours about Merlin having a secret room. But never in his life did he imagine standing here, with Merlin himself.

As his brain caught up with what was going on, he realized something. "You're a Parselmouth?"

Merlin laughed. "That was the first thing Arthur said as well. But yes, I am a Parselmouth. Salazar believes that all Dragonlords are Parselmouth's. Of course, there is no way to test it."

"This room," Flitwick said slowly.

"A gift from the Founders," Merlin explained. "Salazar did the password. He wanted to make sure only I could come in."

"But anyone related to him," Flitwick started. He was thinking of Voldemort who was also a Parselmouth. The thought of Voldemort with Merlin's things… he shuddered at the thought.

"Yes, it's true any Parselmouth could get in the door," Merlin agreed. "However, they would have to know where the entrance was in order to get in."

That did make Professor Flitwick feel a bit better. "Why did you want to show me this?"

Merlin leaned forward in his seat. "Simple, you're one of three people I can show this room to. Plus, I know you would appreciate the significance. There are books here you can only dream of. I will, however, tell you the same thing I told Arthur. The books cannot leave this room. If you ever want to come just let me know and I'll bring you."

Professor Flitwick didn't know how to respond. This was truly an honour. "Thank you Merlin," he choked out.

"Of course. Now, what did you learn about Scabbers?" Merlin questioned, getting to the real reason he wanted to speak to the professor.

"The Weasley twins were right," Professor Flitwick said. "The rat is in fact Peter Pettigrew. As of right now, I am… unsure how to proceed. It will be suspicious if I start digging into Sirius Black's trial." He looked at Merlin. "If my information is correct then Sirius Black is your godfather. If you were to dig into Black's trial no one would question it. It would simply be you wanting answers."

Merlin nodded. "Arthur talked to his grandmother but she wouldn't tell him anything. Over the break I'll make a trip to the Ministry, or perhaps I can speak to Ragnok and see what he knows." There was a pause. "What are you going to do with Pettigrew?" he asked suddenly.

"I don't know," Flitwick admitted with a sigh. "For now I will keep him in my office but eventually we will need to do something."

"Like turn him over to the Ministry?" Merlin asked.

"That is a possibility," Flitwick agreed. "But you need to be careful. The wizarding world has been more or less peaceful for the last decade. I don't know how Fudge will react if that is challenged and find out a pureblood is innocent for at least one of his crimes…"

Merlin tapped his chin. "How hard is it to get into Azkaban?"

Flitwick stared at him. "Merlin," he started. He shook his head. "For anyone else it would be next to impossible. For you… it should be easy enough. Although you will be recognized as Harry Potter."

"I'll go as Dragoon, once I perfect that potion," Merlin said. He sighed. "I need to get to work on it. I won't have time over the holidays."

"What are your holiday plans?" Flitwick asked curious.

"Ron invited Arthur and I to stay for a few days. The rest of the time I'll be staying with Arthur and his grandmother," Merlin replied. Flitwick nodded. He expected nothing less. Merlin sighed. "I need to get back. I promised Arthur I wouldn't be out late." He glanced at Professor Flitwick, who was eying the books. "You're welcome to stay as long as you want. As I told Arthur, nothing can leave here. I don't want to risk anyone seeing my books."

"Thank you Merlin," Professor Flitwick said gratefully. "I think I will stay for a bit. Goodnight."

"Goodnight Professor."

Part of Merlin expected Arthur to be up and waiting for him. He was a little surprised, and perhaps disappointed, when he saw Arthur fast asleep. Merlin quickly changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed.

Something was wrong. Merlin could feel it as soon as he walked into the Great Hall. Dumbledore was staring at him though Merlin wasn't entirely sure why. He needed to find Helena. She was the most likely to have the answers he needed.

"What's with Dumbledore?" Arthur whispered.

"No idea," Merlin replied.

"Do you think he found out about the stone?" Arthur wondered.

"Maybe," he said with a shrug. "But that doesn't explain why he is staring at me. It's almost as if he thinks I have something to do with it."

Arthur tensed up beside him. "Someone had to have told him," he began.

"Not necessarily," Merlin disagreed. "Helena wouldn't talk. Her loyalty is to the castle, and me. Same with the elves. They would only talk if Dumbledore specifically asked. No, he may be suspicious, or maybe hopeful, but he doesn't know anything."

After Arthur and Ron finished eating, they patiently waited for Merlin. Merlin shoved eggs in his mouth. Arthur shook his head. "I see your table manners haven't improved."

Merlin glared at him. "Not all of us are royalty sire." Arthur rolled his eyes. Merlin grabbed a stack of toast and they headed to class. "I don't know why I'm so hungry."

"How late were you out?" Arthur asked.

"Not late," Merlin promised. "I was in bed before midnight. I need to find Rowena's room so I can start this potion."

"Potter," a familiar, annoying voice shouted.

Merlin groaned. Ever since meeting Draco Malfoy on the train ride Merlin had done his best to ignore him. There had been many times Merlin wanted to tell him exactly who he was, though he knew Draco wouldn't believe it. Still he never had been more satisfied then when the Bloody Baron stood by his side during a confrontation. The look on Draco's face was priceless.

"What do you want Draco?" Merlin said with a sigh.

Arthur glared at Draco. Ron stayed silent knowing it was better if he said nothing. "You're an imposter," Draco spat. "I owled my father. You're faking a connection to the Old Religion. You're nothing like the great Merlin."

Ron and Arthur started laughing. "My connection to the Old Religion has nothing to do with you Draco. If you don't want to believe it then that's on you. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go to class."

Merlin turned around and walked away, leaving behind a confused Draco. He was a Gryffindor and Draco expected him to act like it. What he didn't know was that while Merlin could fit into all of the houses, Gryffindor was the house he fit in the least.

As they approached their first class of the day, Charms, Merlin spotted Helena lurking in the hallway. It was obvious she was waiting for him as she normally didn't talk to the other students.

"Cover for me," Merlin requested.

Merlin walked toward Helena, not waiting for Arthur and Ron to confirm that they would cover for him. Odds are Merlin would still get detention, at the very least to speak to Professor Flitwick, but it was worth it. He needed to talk to Helena more than he needed a magical education. He already had a magical education.

"Helena," he greeted.

"Emrys, I apologize for finding you now," Helena said. "I needed to speak to you. It's urgent."

"Is it about the stone?" Merlin questioned.

"You know," she breathed.

"That Dumbledore knows the stone is missing, yes," Merlin confirmed.

"You know the stone is gone?" Helena asked shocked.

"I took the stone," Merlin admitted. Helena's eyes widened. "Now Dumbledore knows, right?"

"Yes," Helena whispered. "He checked on the stone before breakfast and saw it was gone."

"And he thinks I took it," Merlin surmised.

"No," Helena disagreed. "I think he wanted you to take it, or try to take it."

"Why?" Merlin asked. He needed to hurry up this conversation.

"Because you're Harry Potter and you're connected to the Old Religion," she answered.

"So, nothing specifically that I've done," Merlin said relieved.

"Yes," she agreed. "He watches you closely because of your ties to the Old Religion. He's confused since your family has no connection to the Druids."

Merlin looked to the classroom door. "I need to go. Thank you Helena."

"Goodbye Emrys," Helena said before floating away.

Merlin made his way into the classroom. "Professor , I…"

"Detention Mr. Potter," Professor Flitwick interrupted. Ron and Arthur had filled him in and he was eager to hear what the ghost had said.

"Yes Professor," Merlin said automatically.

"Get with your friends on what you missed," Professor Flitwick instructed, not that it was necessary. Professor Flitwick had no doubt Merlin could do whatever spell Flitwick assigned.

"What happened?" Arthur hissed as soon as Merlin sat down.

Merlin shook his head. "Later," he whispered. There were too many ears around. "Now what are we working on?"

"Severing charm," Ron said gesturing to the cut-up doll in front of him. "Spell is Diffindo, not that it matters to you."

Merlin's eyes flashed gold and the doll was cut in half. "Oops," he said with a sigh. He hadn't meant to cut the entire thing.

"What are you doing?" Arthur hissed.

"My body is still young. I don't have complete control of my magic yet," Merlin said with a shrug. "It's happened a few times in the past." He glanced at Arthur, letting him know exactly how far in the past he was talking. Professor Flitwick came around and repaired the dolls so the class could continue practicing. He paused at Merlin's doll but didn't comment. "During my detention I'm going to speak to Mipsy about finding Rowena's room. I need that potion done before the holidays so I can use it when we return."

"I think the potion is a stupid idea," Arthur said. Merlin glanced at him. "You're the only person in this castle that has your magic but you're about to throw another person into the mix. The odds of them connecting the dots…"

"I'll figure it out later," Merlin said with the wave of his hand.

Arthur didn't agree with Merlin's decision but he didn't say anything. Now wasn't the time to argue, not with so many people around.

The rest of the class went by slowly. Merlin had mastered the spell with little effort. The rest of the class seemed to do just as well as he had. Well almost as well. No one had sliced the doll in half. It wasn't surprising though. Most eleven year old wizards didn't have the magical power for that.

History of Magic was the bane of Merlin's existence. Mostly because he lived through everything that was taught in the class.

What's wrong? Arthur wrote on a piece of parchment. He slid it over to Merlin. Merlin shook his head and tried to pass the parchment back. "Merlin," Arthur hissed, refusing to let Merlin get out of talking to him.

Merlin sighed and took the parchment. Nothing is wrong. I was just thinking how I lived through all of this and it pointless to be in this class.

Arthur laughed. He took the parchment back. You never did say… how long were you…dead, or whatever you were?

I can't die, Merlin wrote. I was… asleep until my soul was reborn, or something like that. It didn't go according to plan so I'm not entirely sure what happened. But to answer your question, I did my spell in 1891, exactly 100 years before I 'woke' up.

Arthur's eyes widened at the words. Do you think it's a coincidence that you were reborn 100 years later?

Merlin shook his head. It's no coincidence. There's a reason I'm back now. I just don't know the reason yet.

Voldemort? Arthur wrote.

Probably. But if it is Voldemort, why didn't I come back for the last war?

Arthur frowned. He dipped his quill in to the ink and paused to think. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact he didn't die the night he attacked you. There has to be a reason for that.

You're right. That has been bugging me. How did he survive?

Any ideas?

Merlin shook his head before writing, No. I have no idea how he survived. Whatever it was…it had to be very dark magic. Darker than anything I've ever seen. Darker than even Morgana would attempt.

Arthur clenched his fist at the mention of his half-sister. Are you sure? This sounds exactly like something Morgana would do.

No, Merlin disagreed. Morgana was too confident in her abilities. She didn't think there was a possibility of her dying so she never protected herself from death. You forget Arthur, there was only one thing that could have killed her. She had no way of knowing I had a sword like that.

Arthur read the note several times. You know her so well…How?

Kilgharrah explained it years ago. She was my complete opposite. The darkness to my light, the hatred to my love. At least that's how he explained it.

Am I ever going to meet this dragon?

Merlin glanced at Arthur. Do you really want to? Arthur nodded. Over break then. During break I want to stop by my room and grab a book.

You don't have time for that Merlin. We have fifteen minutes and we have Herbology. It's going to take almost half that time just to get to Herbology.

Merlin glared at the parchment. Arthur was right. He didn't have time to go to the fifth floor and then to Herbology class in fifteen minutes. Fine. During lunch then. Merlin's eyes flashed gold and the parchment burst into flames.

At the start of lunch Merlin grabbed his book before running off to the Great Hall. The book was tucked away in his bag and no one would be able to get to it, which was a good thing because Merlin was certain it wasn't an approved book. He didn't like breaking his own rule and taking a book from his room. But there was thinking he needed to research and he couldn't spend the day in his room to do it.

"Did you get what you need?" Arthur asked.

Merlin opened his bookbag and showed him the book. "I did," he confirmed. "I'm going to go to the library after Potions class and check it out. I should have enough privacy there."

Arthur nodded. He took a bite of his sandwich. "Do you want us to come?" Arthur asked referring to himself and Ron who was sitting across from Arthur.

"Sure," Merlin agreed. "I may need you two to keep a lookout in case anyone comes near us. This isn't a good book to be caught with."

Merlin practically ran from the dungeons at the end of Potions class. Arthur and Ron had to sprint after him to keep up. "Slow down Merlin," Ron wheezed. "We can't keep up."

Merlin slowed to a walk. "Sorry. I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"What is it about this book?" Arthur asked, gasping for breath.

"It's a book of the Dark Arts," Merlin answered once he was certain no one was near them. "The book is old and the Dark Arts in it are some of the darkest things I've ever seen. If I was found with this then there would be a lot of questions that I can't, and won't, answer."

"You think you can figure out what Voldemort did using that book?" Ron asked, shuddering slightly when he said Voldemort.

"I don't know," Merlin admitted. "That is my hope but the rituals in this book are so old, maybe too old for Voldemort."

"Can't hurt to check," Arthur said when he saw Merlin's discouraged look. "Even if we don't find out how he's done it, it will help rule out what he didn't do."

They found a table in the corner of the library. Arthur and Ron pulled out their homework while Merlin read through the book. Arthur was less focused on his homework and more focused on Merlin. Merlin would quickly read a ritual before aggressively flipping the page.

"Should we look for Rowena's room after you finish that?" Arthur asked. He didn't necessarily agree with Merlin's plan to bring back Dragoon but he would still help Merlin in any way he could.

Merlin checked his beat-up muggle watch. "Yeah we should have time to look for it. I don't know if we will find it though." He tapped his chin. "Last I remember it was on the sixth or seventh floor. But that was centuries ago."

"Are you coming Ron?" Arthur asked.

Ron shook his head. "I promised Fred and George I would play a game of Exploding Snaps with them," Ron said. "Let me know if you find the room. I really want to see it."

Merlin didn't need to finish the book to know what he was looking for wasn't there. Just as he thought, the rituals in the book were far too old and there was no way Voldemort would have learned them. He would speak to Ragnok about other possibilities, and books.

"Let's go," Merlin said tucking the book in his bag. He would drop it off on their way to dinner.

The three friends left the library and made their way to the staircase. When they got to the sixth floor they said goodbye. Ron continued up the stairs, a frown on his face, while Arthur and Merlin wandered down the hall.

"What exactly are we looking for?" Arthur asked.

"I… don't know," Merlin admitted. Arthur stared at him. "Don't look at me like that. The room changes. It becomes whatever the seeker desires. It makes it hard to find."

They were halfway through their search of the sixth floor when they heard some rattling from a cabinet down the hall. "What is that?" Arthur questioned.

"Dunno," Merlin said stepping toward the cabinet.

Arthur grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?" he hissed. "Don't move closer to it."

Merlin ignored him and continued to approach the cabinet. Merlin's eyes flashed gold and the rattling cabinet shot open. What came out of the cabinet was the last person he thought he would see.

Morgana.

His former friend turned bitter enemy.

"You failed Emrys," she said in a low, seductive voice. "Arthur is dead and I remain. How does it feel knowing I won?"

"What the…" Arthur was stunned. He was staring at his long dead half- sister.

Morgana turned to face him. A second later she transformed into Uther Pendragon, Arthur's dead, magic hating father. "You're a disgrace Arthur," Uther hissed. "You're not worthy of the name Pendragon, or my crown."

"Idiot boys," Severus Snape hissed, walking up to the two frozen boys. He pulled his wand out and the boggart turned to him. It changed into the last person he wanted to see in this moment.

Lily.

"It's your fault Severus," Lily said coldly. "James and I died because of you. My son is an orphan because of you."

Merlin stared at the figure. He recognized her from faded childhood memories. This was his mother, Lily Potter.

"Riddikulus," Snape snapped. Merlin noticed the slight edge to his voice. Snape flicked his wand again and Lily Potter disappeared. He rounded on Merlin and Arthur. "What were you two thinking?"

"I heard something coming from the cabinet," Merlin responded. "What was that?"

Snape shook his head. "Idiot Gryffindors," he said under his breath. "That was a boggart. They show you what you fear the most."

It made sense. Merlin's biggest fear was Morgana coming back and Arthur dying again. Arthur feared disappointed his father. But why did Snape fear his mother?

"You should never confront something you don't know," Snape continued. "The key to defeating a boggart is laughter. The spell, Riddikulus, typically transforms your boggart into something funny. It's meant to make you laugh."

"Why didn't that happen with you?" Arthur asked. "It just disappeared."

"If you put enough power into the spell it will destroy the boggart," Snape explained. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Now why are you two here?"