Merlin groaned and rolled over. He checked the time and found it to be six in the morning. By the time he returned from Gringotts it was after three in the morning. He was exhausted. The many late nights were starting to get to him. Merlin closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep when he heard the door to his room open.

"Merlin," Arthur whispered.

Merlin sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Arthur," he said.

"How did it go?" Arthur asked. He climbed into the bed beside Merlin.

Merlin yawned. "Good. The stone is safe. Ragnok will get it back to the Flamel's when term ends."

"One less thing to worry about," Arthur said pleased. They had too many things to worry about. They didn't have time to worry about the stone as well. He frowned at Merlin. The dark circles under his eyes were far more noticeable now. "When did you go to sleep?"

"Eh, I got back just after three and didn't fall asleep till after three-thirty," Merlin answered.

"That's not healthy Merlin," Arthur said with a sigh. "Go back to sleep. I'll have Rex bring us breakfast later. Gran will be gone all morning so we don't have to worry about that." Arthur left the room while Merlin settled back down in bed. Within minutes Merlin was back asleep.

Hours later Merlin could feel eyes on him. He opened one eye and saw Rex staring at him. "Master Emrys," Rex squeaked. "It be after lunch. Master Neville is worrying about you."

Merlin sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?" he croaked. He shook his head in an attempt to wake himself.

"After two Master Emrys," Rex informed the warlock. "Mistress Augusta still be out doing errands."

Merlin climbed out of his bed. "Where's Neville?" he questioned.

"Dining room," Rex answered. "Should Rex being getting Master Emrys lunch?"

"Yes please," Merlin responded. "I'll head down now."

Merlin quickly changed into some jeans and a t shirt before heading to the dining room. Arthur was waiting for him. A piece of pie in front of him. Arthur looked up when he heard the footsteps. "Merlin," he said relieved.

"Arthur," Merlin greeted. He sat down next to his friend and a large plate of sandwiches and crisps. appeared.

"How are you feeling?" Arthur questioned.

"Better," Merlin answered, digging into his plate of food. He was starving. "I need to owl Flitwick. If your grandmother is able to get Black a trial then Pettigrew needs to be turned over to the Ministry."

"You can use Rex," Arthur offered. "It will be quicker."

Merlin shook his head. "I'll owl him. We have some time. The trial wouldn't be until after the holidays anyway. I want Pettigrew sent right before the trial."

Arthur nodded. "You can use Archimedes when you're ready."

"Thanks Arthur," Merlin said. "Did your grandmother say anything to you this morning?"

"She asked about you," Arthur answered. "I told her you had some nightmares and were still tired. She seemed to understand."

Merlin ran his hand through his messy hair. "Good. The last thing we need is for her to be suspicious. It's bad enough we screwed up and brought Ron into all of this."

"Do you regret including him?" Arthur asked curious.

"Yes and no," Merlin said. "He has been a great help to us and I can see his confidence grow every day. But he is so young. It's not fair to bring him into our fight. The risk is so great. What if I can't protect him?"

"Merlin," Arthur said. "You have saved my life time and time again. You can protect him. But if we train him right, you won't need to protect him. He has potential. If he lived in Camelot, he could have been a knight."

"It's still not fair to him," Merlin said sadly. "He's stuck in an adult fight because we were stupid enough to get caught."

"This fight with Voldemort will affect everyone," Arthur said slowly. "Better he start preparing now the getting killed later on."

"What about the other kids then?" Merlin countered. "Shouldn't we prepare them now?"

Arthur shook his head. "I wish we could Merlin but there's no way. Some may get lucky and never fight. But others, others definitely will. Maybe in the future we can train them. But now, they deserve to be kids."

"So does Ron," Merlin pointed out.

"The Weasley's won't be out of the fight for long," Arthur said. "They're considered blood traitors. They will be targeted first when Voldemort rises."

"When you take over the Ministry we're getting rid of terms like blood traitors," Merlin grumbled. "There's no such thing as blood traitors or Mudbloods. Everyone is the same. Magic is magic."

Arthur laughed. "You seem confident that I will take over the Ministry someday," Arthur commented.

"I'm the great Emrys," Merlin said with a grin. "Of course, I know we will succeed."

"Don't let it go to your head Merlin," Arthur said rolling his eyes. "If only the historians knew how conceited you were."

"You could stay out of the fight too," Merlin commented.

Arthur glared at him. "If you think I'm staying out of this fight then you don't know me very well."

"Arthur," Merlin sighed. "This fight with Voldemort is my fight. Not yours. I won't have others risking their lives for me. Especially when I cannot be killed."

"Doesn't matter Merlin," Arthur said. "Even if you weren't immortal, I would still stand by you." Arthur leaned back in his chair. His half eaten plate was pushed aside. "You have saved my life time and time again. I can never repay you for that. But standing by you now is a start."

The two stared at each other for several minutes. It wasn't until Augusta walked into the dining room that they looked away.

"Mr. Potter," Augusta greeted. "How did you sleep?"

"Okay ma'am," Merlin answered.

"Neville tells me you have nightmares," Augusta said slowly.

"Occasionally," he said with a nod.

"I can take you to a healer," Augusta offered. "They can prescribe you a sleeping potion."

Merlin shook his head. "I appreciate it ma'am but I'm okay."

"Very well," Augusta said. "If it gets worse, I will have no choice but to take you to a healer. It is my duty as your guardian."

"Guardian," Merlin repeated.

Augusta withdrew parchment from her handbag. She dropped them on the table. "As of today, I have been appointed your temporary guardian, pending an investigation into the muggles."

Merlin grabbed the top document. It was from the Ministry. It stated Augusta Longbottom had guardianship over Harry James Potter. He grabbed the next document.

"What's that?" Arthur asked.

"Gringotts approved my request for the wards," Augusta explained. "Ragnok himself spoke to me. It seems you made quite the impression Mr. Potter." Merlin blushed in embarrassment. "I looked into Sirius Black and you were correct. He never received a trial. I plan on presenting this in the Wizengamot meeting but I wish to have everything lined up. I need to know… is Pettigrew alive?"

Merlin sighed. "He is," Merlin confirmed. "He's a rat Animagus. He was hiding as the Weasley's pet for over a decade."

"Where is he now?" Augusta demanded.

"Secure," Merlin responded. She raised an eyebrow at him. "He will be turned into the Ministry before the meeting, and not a second sooner."

"Mr. Potter," Augusta started.

"No offense Madam Longbottom but it is very possible Sirius Black was sent to prison without a trial. I don't trust the Ministry to not do something to Pettigrew," Merlin said.

"There's something about you Mr. Potter. I'm not sure what it is," Augusta said slowly. Merlin and Arthur exchanged looks. "I find it hard to believe you are an eleven year old boy."

"I may be eleven madam," Merlin started. "But I'm not stupid. When Voldemort returns I will be first on his list. I, for one, don't plan on sitting around waiting for it to happen."

Augusta studied the young man in front of her. "Spoken like a true Potter," she said finally. "Your grandfather was the same way. We went to school together," she added seeing the look on his face. "He insisted on fighting in the first war, despite his advanced age. He even taught James everything he knew because he knew James would need it." She sighed. "I don't like this. I didn't like it when Fleamont did it and I don't like it now. But I can't deny you're right. Lord Voldemort will target you should he return to power. Pettigrew needs to be in the Ministry on the 7th. If not, there's not much that can be done for Black."

"He will be there Madam Longbottom," Merlin promised.

"I supposed I can't get you to tell me exactly how you got ahold of Peter Pettigrew?" Augusta asked. "Or where you are storing him?"

"Not yet," Merlin replied. He glanced at Arthur. "I'm sure you will find out sooner or later," Arthur bit his lip and nodded, "but for now I ask that you trust me… and Neville."

"You know?" Augusta asked rounding on her grandson.

"Yes Gran," he replied. "Trust us, please."

Augusta sighed again. "It appears I have no choice," she said. "Alright. I will agree to this. Mr. Potter, I suggest you look through those documents. Let me know if you have any questions about what you read."

"Yes ma'am. I will," Merlin agreed.

"Very well. I will leave you two to finish up lunch," Augusta said. "Neville, we will be leaving for the Weasley's at nine Christmas morning. If you wish to celebrate here first, you will both need to be up before then."

"Yes Gran," Arthur said again. "We will be ready."

Augusta left the two alone.

"You're going to tell her," Arthur hissed once she was gone.

"Eventually yes," Merlin answered calmly. He watched as his now empty plate disappeared. "You said so yourself Arthur. She's suspicious of me and just now made her even more suspicious. We're going to have to tell her. I'm just uncertain when. Perhaps we can ask Professor Flitwick."

"It's not safe Merlin," Arthur insisted.

"What would have happened if you told that to Gwen?" Merlin questioned.

Arthur glared at him and for a moment Merlin was glad he was immortal. "Don't bring up Gwen right now. She has nothing to do with this."

"She doesn't," Merlin agreed. "But the idea is still the same. You want to protect someone you love. Someone who doesn't need protection. Your grandmother is far more capable of protecting herself then Gwen was." He paused. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to keep her safe. But the more information she has, the better off she will be."

Arthur stared at the table for several minutes and Merlin worried that he went too far. "Do you ever wish that you told Gwen the truth?" Arthur finally asked.

Merlin glanced at him. "Every day," he replied. "She was my friend and I hated lying to her. I… sometimes I wonder how things would have been different if I told her. Or if I told Morgana the truth about myself."

Arthur looked up. "You think if you had told Morgana the truth none of that would have happened?" Merlin shrugged. "Merlin," Arthur said meeting his eyes for the first time. "Morgana was not your fault. Her hatred of Uther was more powerful than anything. Morguese corrupted her. There is nothing you could have done."

Merlin shook his head. A tear fell down his cheek. "You're wrong. I could have done something. Made it so she wasn't alone."

Arthur put his hand over Merlin's. "I don't blame you for any of that. Everything Morgana did was her own choice. Sometimes I find it hard to distinguish between the girl I grew up with and the woman she became. But when I think about it… she always butted heads with Uther. It's not surprising she grew to hate him."

"Thanks Arthur," Merlin said grateful. The guilt weighed on him but now… now he was starting to let it go, or trying to let it go. "How about a tour of the grounds?"

Arthur laughed and stood. "Alright, let's go."

The two boys left the dining room. Unknown to them Augusta was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, having heard everything they had said.