Notes:

Hello, it is me! I honestly should be doing my course work but instead, I opened up my notes for this story so here it is.

I delved a little bit into Sam, Julius, and Gideon's personality. So I hope you like their quirkiness.

Well anyway, enjoy my friends.

/

Merlin was out of the shop for a few days; he said he had something to do in the ministry, and he left all his workers behind. He tried to get Remus to come along with him again, but he felt terrible because Remus was really tired, and he decided for the first time to leave him behind. Above his shop, since it was two floors, he had a workroom to work on electronics and a break room because Merlin and everyone else in that store did not know how to take breaks and ended up falling asleep there, so there were a few beds just laying around and some couches and stuff and a small little kitchen.

Remus was passed out on one of the couches, and everyone else was just chilling on the sofa and in the kitchen because Merlin was out and they had nothing to do. It was now, one day before Christmas, they just finished everything, and they were kind of hungover, and they kinda did not wanna be disturbed, but they were up for some gossiping.

They didn't really know each other before this job, so they were fast friends even though it's been four months. It definitely didn't feel like four months to them; it felt like a month and a lot less sleep. But Gideon and Julius were sitting in the kitchen drinking tea while Sam was lying down facedown on the couch, regretting waking up this morning.

Did I say they were kind of hungover? They were really hungover. Remus was not one to drink a lot, so he wasn't really hungover. He was just really tired because he tried to keep all the drunk people from hurting themselves last night in their stupidity.

Anyway, while drinking tea and trying to block the sun out of their faces, they started talking about the boss. I mean, who wouldn't. Merlin was a bit weird and eccentric and really impressive. The people in the group who were from Britain were telling Sam about how he was a pureblood and from a wealthy old family or something, and they didn't understand why he was into Muggle technology.

Still, they were happy because they have jobs, and this is the coolest thing they've ever seen in a long time. But apparently, in Russia, Sam said that the pureblood wasn't as strict as in Britain. They still have their disdain for Muggles like everywhere else in the world, but they were pretty open to mingling with what Muggles did, except they couldn't because they didn't have any way to use muggle technology. She thought this was gonna be a game-changer around the world.

When they were talking, Remus woke up, and they dragged him into the conversation because out of all of them, he knew Merlin the best, and they wanted more information on their boss.

Other than his name and that he was a pure-blood, they really didn't know anything about him. He had a British accent, so they assumed he was from Britain, but it was a little different, so they didn't know exactly where from. That was it; they had no other information.

"So I've been curious, did the boss go to Hogwarts, or is he from somewhere else? Honestly, his accent is a little hard to pinpoint; it kind of sounds British but maybe a little Scottish; honestly, I can't tell." Sam says, finally sitting up.

"Uh, I remember him saying that he didn't go to Hogwarts. He said he was self-taught. And I actually don't know where he's from; I met him in my old job about half a year ago." Remus said, trying to think back to see if he recalled if Merlin told him anything else.

"Wow, self-taught! That's unbelievable, really. I didn't think you could teach yourself magic without any schooling." Gideon says, then taking a long sip of his tea just in awe.

"How old is he?" Julius asks.

"He can't be that much older than Sam or Gideon; it is quite amazing," Julius says.

"Well, actually, I'm not too sure on his age either, he acts like an old man from time to time, but I think he's just mature for his age. I don't know much about Myridian, but he's a good friend." Remus says.

The conversation continues for a little longer before Merlin walks back in, halting the discussion. Merlin walked in with ten bags hanging off his arms.

Remus recognized a few of them as muggle electronic brands, some wizarding brands, and some he wasn't sure. Merlin set everything down and walked into the invention room, seeming to look for something.

But he came back out five minutes later looking around,

"Did anyone see my wand?" Merlin asks.

It wasn't that he needed it, but he really could not remember where he put the damn thing; it was such a hassle for Merlin because he kept forgetting that he needed it. He usually would just Accio it over, but that's some "advanced" wandless magic, so he restrained himself in front of company, which led to him asking for help.

Sam looked around half-heartedly; she was still a bit hungover. Remus got up and actually looked around where they were drinking yesterday night. Julius tried to Accio it, but it didn't come. Luckily Gideon got it to work and handed it to Merlin.

"Here, boss. How'd you ever misplace it?" He asked.

Merlin took it back, "I forget about it sometimes. I didn't live in the wizarding world for a long time. I forget sometimes."

Sam went on, continuing the conversation from before; she was unapologetic like that.

"Where are you from, boss? Your accent isn't fully British." She asked; she was curious and wanted to know more.

Merlin was looking at his wand a bit, but he responded, not even looking up.

"Oh no, I wasn't born here. I was born in west wales, in a tiny village." Merlin said.

Taking care not to mention the name because he knew Ealdor was long forgotten by now; even seven hundred years ago, it was gone, let alone five hundred.

"Oh, your welsh, the accent makes sense," Sam said.

She kept glancing at Gideon to join her in her questioning.

Letting out a deep but quiet sigh Gideon asked a question of his own, "I heard you were self-taught; why didn't you go to school. Did your parents not want you to?"

Merlin looked up; he realized they were curious about him; he would be as well if he didn't know about him. But he was prepared for this. Merlin realized that he would amass some close friends and workers, so he set a list of general things to talk about.

"Yes, I didn't go to school. I know you might all believe I'm a pureblood, but I'm not. My mother was a muggle, and she raised me. I learned magic from an uncle of mine, who I lived with for a while. I never went to school because my mother wanted my uncle to teach me, and I learned a lot there. Of course, as I got older, I studied more on my own. Then I learned of having a vault at Gringotts, and so I've been studying up since coming here, but I have all the basics down at least." Merlin shared.

Of course, that was a lie, and he hated lying, but he couldn't exactly say he broke out of Azkaban after a five-hundred-year slumber. But everyone was captivated by the impoverished version of Merlin's life. It was somewhat true, as the best lies are based on the truth.

"Your a half-blood? I would recommend not letting some of the purebloods know; they'll think less of you, unfortunately." Julius tells Merlin knowing how purebloods are from growing up in a family of them.

"Good to know, I just received a letter to go to a party. Uh, let's see... some family called the Malfoy's. I guess it would be proper etiquette to go." Merlin said distastefully.

Merlin was sure the Malfoys were friendly but social gatherings full of elite members of society were tiresome; he'd have to have a fake smile plastered to his face all night.

"Malfoy's?" Remus said with an unpleasant frown on his face.

"You know them?" Merlin asked.

Merlin thought Remus had no friends because he only ever hung out with Merlin. Well, except for those Saturdays that he was busy doing something "important" that he couldn't talk about. But Merlin hardly thought he was spending time with friends then; it seemed more like work of some kind.

"Yes, I went to school with Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, and I briefly taught their son, Draco, in Hogwarts," Remus said.

While Sam interrupted, "You taught at Hogwarts? What are you doing here? No offense, boss." Sam said as an afterthought.

She thought Hogwarts was cool and always wanted to see what it looked like. Remus didn't say anything though, he knew Myridian was accepting, but he was still unsure about telling others of his wolfish nature.

But he had to say something, "I was fired."

Remus looked ashamed.

Merlin was glaring and spoke, "Remus was wrongly fired; if I could meet the person who petitioned to fire you, I'd just...just...well, I'd rather not say, for now, if I happen to get in trouble, I'd hate to take you all down with me."

Merlin wouldn't murder them, but they'd experience some well deserved Karma.

"Well, you're about to meet them," Remus said, pointing to the letter in Merlin's hand.

Merlin looked at the letter, and suddenly, it burst into flame.

"I think I'd rather not," Merlin said heatedly.

Merlin didn't want to be impolite, but he was loyal to his friends first and foremost. Remus looked touched but didn't say anything. Everyone was impressed with Merlin's loyalty and his odd use of wandless/spell-less magic.

"Anyway, we were busy with the shop it doesn't matter; I don't really fit in anyway. So I forgot to show you all; I was thinking about trying to make this magic proof next." Merlin says, going back to the bags he brought in.

He dug around in a small bag pulling out a speaker.

"I just learned about this; apparently, it amplifies sound! Isn't it cool?" Merlin said, showing it to everyone.

Of course, Merlin realized you could do that with magic, but Muggle tech just seemed to have thought of everything in the absence of magic.

Julius had a bit of a bone to pick, however.

"But Myridian, we already have so many products we are going to put out. Shouldn't we see if we're successful? Even if you're selling them cheaply, the magic community will be slow to join in." Julius was saying this half truthfully and half because he wanted to go home for Christmas.

But Merlin seemed to have a solution at hand.

"Yes, well, I thought of that. I only know two children, but if I give it to them, and maybe Mr. Weasly's family, he has a lot of children, they could be ambassadors for the brand. Harry Potter's famous right, I can ask him if he wants to show it off at school for me. Kids are the best to tempt with technology, and as you said, the prices aren't bad, so the parents would be swayed pretty easily." Merlin said.

Was he using his friends? Sure, but he was giving them free products, so he thought it was an easy trade. He already had some business from the pureblood families who were curious about him; he had two investors. It's what he was taking care of this morning. Remus wasn't so happy he was using Harry, but he knew Merlin wouldn't push it.

Merlin finally noticed the tired faces and looked around at the slept in beds and the empty teapot in the kitchen.

"Well, that's all I had to say today. Feel free to go home. I'll open the shop tomorrow, whoever can make it can come tomorrow. I realized it's Christmas, so we won't stay open for long, just for some advertising, then we'll close up until the grand opening." Merlin finished giving everyone permission to go home.

They had been opening it to a few investors and spreading words with some newspapers, but on Christmas, it would be open for a few hours; Merlin was doing a promotional sale for whoever stopped by on Christmas; they got some free stuff, so they would spread the word even more.

Then they would officially open after new years. Merlin would've opened sooner, but Sam wanted to visit her family, and Julius was also going home to visit family. Gideon offered to stay and help, but Merlin said he could handle half a day.

Merlin had prepared ahead of time a little gift bag for all the employees, it wasn't much, but it contained a laptop and a cell phone for each of them, they were engraved, by Merlin's magic (they may be magic proof but Merlin was good at what he did) to say their names on them. He handed the bags over, and everyone was happy.

Sam already had a laptop, but she didn't say no to this custom one. She ran up and hugged Merlin, then Remus, then Julius, and Gideon before saying she was going to show everyone in her hometown what she helped do. Sam was gone in a whirlwind not five minutes later.

Julius also thanked Merlin but said his wife was nagging him to get home for the past three days and that he should probably leave too. He simply waved and apparated out.

Gideon started cleaning the teacups with his wand and tidied up the living area before also thanking Merlin; he left, telling Merlin to contact him if he needed help.

And that left Remus and Merlin once again.

Merlin turned to Remus.

"You can help tomorrow or hang out with family; I'll be here if you need me. Or you can call me now." Merlin said, pointing to the phone in Remus' bag.

Remus looked around the shop, "Are you going home?" He asked.

Merlin had mentioned his mother and uncle, but he never said he was going home to visit.

"Oh well, I'm alone now; my mother passed, and so did my uncle, but I'm okay. I could travel or work on some more stuff." Merlin said, he was of course, lonely a bit, but his friends and family have been dead and gone for a long time now.

At most, he'd probably go sit by the lake and chat to his dead friends like he does at least once a year, or used to do.

"I have some stuff to do, don't worry, Remus," Merlin said after seeing the pity in Remus' face.

"I'm not sad anymore; it's been a while. Anyway, I'll see them again someday; a good friend of mine told me that I'd be reunited with all those I've lost if I wait long enough." Merlin said, remembering Kilgharrah's words.

This time Merlin's smile was more somber, and he seemed almost desperate for those words to be true; he's been waiting a long time for Arthur.

Remus didn't want to argue with Merlin, he didn't think Merlin would be fine all alone, but he didn't really know a counter to it either. He was going to spend the holidays alone too, but he was invited to Grimmauld place, and he couldn't precisely invite Merlin there.

But Remus stayed till late, sharing a drink with Merlin before both called it quits for the night. Merlin left going home, while Remus headed to Grimmauld place.

/

Notes:

So I was going to have Merlin reck some havoc at the Malfoys winter party, but in my mind, Merlin is just more loyal as a friend than that. He wouldn't go if he knew they were the people who hurt Remus, even if it was just getting him fired. I also know Umbitch had a hand in it but she wasn't really too well known. Even if she is in Hogwarts causing a mess right now, Merlin has been a bit preoccupied with everything to notice it.

Anyway thanks for reading, more updates coming after the 17th, that's the last day for my classes so I'll be going on an updating spree then. Thanks for being patient.