Disclaimer: See Chapter 1! The conception of Merlin and his role in this story is my creation, but otherwise, I own nothing!

Author's Notes: Once again, major love and thanks to my beta PTwritesmore who was absolutely instrumental in writing this series, and this chapter in particular. There's a lot in this chapter so if anyone is confused about anything please feel free to DM me! Please review!

Chapter 2: A Chance At Redemption

Draco was confused. Where was he? What had happened? His head was fuzzy and he couldn't seem to think straight.

"Well, that's never happened before," said a voice from above him, sounding slightly amused.

Suddenly remembering, he bolted upright. His head spun as a result of moving too quickly and he nearly fell again but was caught just in time, "Easy there, just calm down now," Merlin said gently, easing him into a sitting position on a nearby bench.

"That's your advice? Calm down? Oh for the love of Merlin…" he paused, smacking his forehead in frustration. He would have to come up with a new expression at this rate. He almost found the whole thing funny. Who knew dead people could faint?

This thought didn't disturb him like he thought it would. He actually found it rather easy to accept. His own father had stabbed him, and there was really no other explanation for coming face-to-face with Merlin. Some instinct told him it was true; the stranger in front of him was Merlin. If nothing else, the massive amounts of magic emanating from the wizard would have convinced him.

"But hold on," Draco protested, "aren't you supposed to be ancient? Long white hair and beard, long staff, that sort of thing?"

Merlin stared at him with slight reproach and Draco winced, mentally scolding himself. Merlin was the most powerful wizard who ever lived. He really should have had more tact. "I just meant...you don't look the way you were painted at Hogwarts," he trailed off, nervous about the reaction to his insult, unintentional though it had been.

To his astonishment, Merlin began to laugh, "Don't look so fearful, Draco," he grinned broadly, "in the thousands of years I've been here, do you really think that's the worst I've heard?" He paused momentarily, gathering his thoughts, "to answer your question, why would I appear as a frail old man if I had another option. Besides, this is much less intimidating, wouldn't you agree?"

Draco thought it over for a moment and nodded. He hadn't recognized the man as Merlin before and thought that had most likely been a good thing. "So then...what are you doing here?"

"Due to my success at guiding young witches and wizards throughout my lifetime, I was given the responsibility of helping them transition into the afterlife. Whether good or evil, I take each witch or wizard to their next destination in the afterlife. Think of me as a ferryman of sorts."

Fear gripped Draco's chest once again. He scrambled up from his seat and backed away as far as he could manage. He made no move to escape, however. He knew it was pointless and was strangely relieved that he would be able to atone for his crimes.

Merlin approached him slowly, as though approaching a cornered animal, "no Draco," he pleaded softly, "do not fear. You are not here to be punished. Nor am I sending you to any type of afterlife."

Confused, Draco could only stare.

Merlin sighed, "It pains me to know that you both fear and seek punishment for your past deeds. Please understand, this is not how things were meant to be. You do not bear the weight of your sins alone."

Draco made to protest, but Merlin held up his hand, "You must listen to me Draco. You were but a child. You must understand that. Your course was decided for you long before you ever had a chance…"

"NO!" Draco shouted, unable to bear it any longer, "I don't care who you are! You don't get to decide that! It was my fault! It doesn't matter if I didn't kill Dumbledore! It doesn't matter that Harry chose to forgive me! NONE of it matters!"

He sank to his knees, punching his fists into the ground as hard as he could with each breath he took, determined to punish himself as he felt he deserved.

"If I hadn't been so stubborn," he growled in frustration.

"If I had apologized to Harry sooner!" Draco was shouting now

"If I had just grown a bloody spine and broken away from my father!" His fists were now bruised and bloodied, but he took no notice.

"None of it would have happened! I let them in! Me!" He screamed in anguish, "Everything that came after that was TOO LATE!" Sobs wracked his body as he curled into himself, unable to say or do anything further. His screams and cries of sorrow echoed through the garden as he grieved every loss and regret buried in his soul.

A hand grasped his shoulder and Draco flinched, unable to help the immediate reaction to another person touching him. He relaxed after a moment, realizing his father would not reach him here, and continued to cry. It was different than before. Instead of feeling as though he was being crushed or suffocated, it felt as though a dam within him had broken, allowing him to release his inner torment for the first time in his life.

After several moments, his tears slowed until he was able to breathe calmly. Draco found that he felt infinitely better, as though a poison had been purged. It was at this point he registered the pain in his hand. Interesting, he thought to himself, dead people feel pain. He supposed it hadn't been the smartest thing to do. He'd lost control of his emotions completely, but it had confirmed something he'd often suspected: his father's policy on a Pure-Blood being above emotions was completely mad. Surely it couldn't be healthy if what he'd felt was the end result. It was enough to drive a person to an early grave. Draco shook his head again, another unintentional pun. That was going to get old.

Draco looked at Merlin, surprised and humbled to see nothing but concern on the other wizard's face. With a wave of his hand, Merlin healed Draco's injuries, "feel better?" Draco nodded, standing carefully and returning to the bench, "So where does a Wizard go when he dies, if he's not being punished?"

Merlin hesitated, studying Draco for a moment, "there are many different options, but I do not want to send you to any of them."

"I don't understand."

Draco watched as multiple emotions flew across Merlin's face; anger, sadness, and finally, determination. "The war did not end as it should have. The legacy I strived to create has been destroyed, and the wizarding race along with it. But with you, I see a chance to change it. To restore our world to what it should have been. I want to send you back."

"Back...you mean...home? To before I died?" Draco wasn't sure he wanted this. Even if he went back to just before he was killed, Harry had already been dead. What would be the point?

"You're right, Draco. There would be no point in returning you to the present."

This caught Draco off guard, "Wait, hold on a second. How did you know what I was thinking?" He realized this wasn't the first time Merlin had answered one of his thoughts out loud. Was he using legilimency? Draco examined his mind and found his shields were still up. There were no signs of any intrusions, so how was this happening?

"Part of the job description," Merlin said with a chuckle, relenting when Draco glared at him, "In order to help souls move on to their next destination, whatever it may be, I need to help them through whatever fear, pain, or grief they may be feeling. This place allows me to hear those thoughts, regardless of any magical defense. Rest assured, I hear only what I need in order to help you, nothing more."

"But why me? After everything I did, surely someone else would be better suited." Images of Harry, Weasley, Granger, and countless others flashed through his mind.

Merlin smiled, "You were his friend, or have you forgotten? Without the poisonous thoughts of those around you, you would have been friends much sooner. It was your destiny."

There it was again. "You keep mentioning destiny, and earlier you said that the war should not have ended the way it did. What did you mean by that? Was Voldemort actually destined to lose?"

Moving to sit next to Draco, Merlin thought it over for several moments, "Destiny is a tricky thing. Certain things are set in stone, others can go either way. While the war could have been won or lost, no one other than Harry could ever defeat Voldemort. In the same sense, certain outcomes would not have come to pass if not for the actions of others, like yours and Harry's friendship. It's a very complicated thing, but I do not believe the fate of our race should be to perish at the hands of that abomination" Merlin's eyes flashed with fire, and Draco was reminded of just how powerful this man was.

He paused briefly, and then continued, "The other thing to consider is what you have that Harry's other friends don't. The fact of the matter is that your destiny was very much intertwined with that of the war. Had you not been led astray, many things would have come to pass as they did."

Draco grimaced. While he could still feel the overwhelming guilt, he was able to force it aside at the chance of setting things right.

"Most importantly, however, is Harry. You were correct in your statement that he was the only one who could ever defeat Voldemort. He should have been nurtured, allowed to grow in his strength and confidence. Instead, he was sheltered, manipulated, and abused. "

Draco nodded stiffly. He had been rather angry when he learned that not only had Harry been abused, no one had thought to help him. If he had been Harry's friend, he would have done whatever was necessary to see that he was spared from such treatment.

"Alright then," Draco admitted hesitantly, "but that still doesn't explain why you couldn't send Harry? If he is the one who was meant to defeat Voldemort, surely he would be the best choice?"

Looking sheepish, which was an odd expression on the wizard, "The truth is that I am breaking a lot of rules by offering you this chance, and even in death, The Powers That Be watch Harry closely. They would know immediately if I were to attempt to send him back in time, and they would put a stop to it. Regardless of what was meant to be, they don't take kindly to the idea of me, or others like me, tampering with what has already come to pass. In fact, it has never been done before."

Even Draco had to admit to himself that this made a lot of sense. No one would think to notice if he was the one who was sent back. Thinking of Harry, and everything he had gone through, "I'll do it."

Merlin appeared to be pleased with the firm decision in Draco's voice, but halted him once again, "Hold on Draco. Before you agree to this, I need to make a request of you."

Draco was immediately on his guard. He mentally cursed himself; he should have known there would be a price to pay for a chance like this. He motioned for Merlin to continue, bracing himself for anything.

"Do not worry, I do not intend to deny you this chance if you do not agree to my request. It is one I must make nevertheless. For too long now, our world has been divided. Houses at Hogwarts, blood-status, light and dark, good and evil. This is not the way the world works. One madman has convinced the world that all Slytherins are evil, choosing to ignore that I myself was a Slytherin."

"What would you have me do?"

"It's very simple; regardless of what house you and others end up in when you go back, I want you to do what you can to take down the walls that separate you from your peers. It will be difficult, but I believe that if one generation started this mess, another generation can repair it."

It didn't sound so difficult; he'd managed to become friendly enough with students outside of his house after he'd defected from the death eaters the first time, and that was under the most impossible of circumstances. Something Merlin had said made him wonder, "What do you mean, regardless of which house?"

Merlin smiled and shook his head, "I cannot give you all the answers I'm afraid. However, I would encourage you to think about your sorting the first time and even that of other students. Consider if you may have benefited, or even been better suited for another placement.

Without further hesitation, Draco agreed, "I'll do what I can."

Merlin clapped his hands together, his face once again lit with a bright smile, "Excellent. I wish you the best of luck. I'll send a friend to check on you now and again."

Before he had a chance to ask, Merlin waved his hand. The world around him blurred and Draco felt as though he was being pulled into a whirlpool of magic.

Draco's last thought was that he was getting tired of falling unconscious; it was embarrassing and inconvenient.