Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter; that privilege is J. K. Rowling's.
Meeting Merlin
"Who are you?" Harry asked, instinctively moving himself in front of Ginny, and Ron doing the same with Hermione.
"My dear boy," Merlin laughed. "There's no need to fear me. My name is Merlin."
Everyone froze. "Merlin the Magnificent?" Hermione asked. "The same Merlin who advised King Arthur; that Merlin?"
"Well, it seems I summoned young help from the future," Merlin chuckled to himself. "Come come now. Stand up and be proud of your magical heritage."
Everyone stood up, but Harry and Ron still protecting the girls. Draco stood a little distance from them with his arms folded across his chest. Merlin smiled as he looked them up and down. "Why are you all covered in food?" Merlin asked, waving his wand and causing the food to disappear.
"It's a long story," Harry said.
"It's all their fault," Malfoy said.
"Shut up Malfoy!" Ginny yelled, her hand grabbing her wand.
"Or what?" Malfoy taunted back, pulling out his own.
"That's enough!" Merlin said sternly, much like Dumbledore had. Everyone replaced their wands back into their robes, and turned to face Merlin. "Now then, as long as you're here in my time, you will need to exercise great control over yourself and your emotions. You cannot tell anyone, and I repeat anyone, that you are not from this time period. Witches and wizards are feared enough, and it's hard to get the muggles to see things differently. Anyway," Merlin said, turning to see the sun completely set, "it's time for dinner with Arthur; and you are not allowed to call him that by the way."
"But, we don't exactly fit in with these robes," Hermione blurted.
"I think I can fix that," Merlin said, smiling jovially. He waved his wand in a couple of complicated swishes and pointed it at the kids. In a flash of white light, their robes shifted and changed to the time period. Hermione's robes changed to a moderate blue color, and lengthened into a stately gown. Her hair flew up into a bun, and a silver necklace with a moon emblem appeared around her neck at the same time as two golden rings appeared on her fingers. Hermione also noticed her sneaker style shoes also changed into a more graceful style heel.
Ginny's robes did much the same, only they changed to a deep forest green color, and her hair simply braided itself behind her. The necklace that appeared around her neck was silver, but with a sun emblem and the same golden rings appeared on the same fingers.
Ron's robes shifted from the black into a deep maroon cloak with silver lining. His socks shifted into the traditional stockings and his inner shirt, vest, and tie changed into a stately white blouse with the same silver lining. On his ring middle finger appeared a golden ring.
Harry's robes stayed black, but changed nonetheless into the cloak like Ron's, only with golden lining. His inner garments changed similarly but into a lighter grey shirt and golden lining. And on his middle finger a golden lion appeared with a ruby in its mouth for a ring.
Draco's robes shaded into a deep purple robe with silver lining and his inner garments followed suit. A silver snake with an emerald in its mouth appeared on Draco's finger.
Merlin smiled at his handiwork, until Ron's sour expression toward his new robes caught his attention. "What's the problem young man?" he asked.
Ron looked at Merlin with a pitiful expression on his face. Harry, suppressing a laugh, spoke for him. "Ron's mother always sends him a maroon sweater with a big letter R on it, and he's not very fond of the color maroon."
"Oh my beard," Merlin said. "I had no idea. Let me see if I can't fix that. And landsakes, I don't even know all of your names," Merlin said, covering his eyes in mock horror.
Ginny giggled quietly while Harry introduced everyone to Merlin. Merlin smiled and waved his wand at Ron, changing his maroon robes into a royal red with golden lining. Ron smiled at Merlin. "I forgive you," Ron said, noticing the concerned look on Merlin's face. "Mum would have thought they went well with my hair as well."
"Well then," Merlin said, opening the door, "Shall we?" Everyone followed in Merlin's wake of sky blue robes down multiple halls until they came upon a huge doorway. It was an old oak door, with gold for the hinges. Merlin pushed them open easily and the five were awed by what they saw. The round table itself was situated in the center of the room, and many a knight's crest was engraved on a spot and back of a grand chair. Merlin steered the five toward the most elaborately decorated chair of them all, upon which sat King Arthur himself. "So sorry I'm late Wart," Merlin said, sitting down on Arthur's right hand.
"Never you mind about that old friend," Arthur said. He turned to face the five young witch and wizards and stared. "Merlin, who are your guests?"
"Oh, my apologies," Merlin said. "This is Harry, Ronald,Hermione,Ginny, and Draco. They have come to the Camelot to be my apprentices." Merlin looked at them in such a way that they realized this was their cover story. Each was to remember they were Merlin's apprentice.
"I do hope they prove to be worthy of your tutelage," Arthur said, gesturing for them sit in the order of their standing. "Now, Merlin if you would do the honors."
Merlin laughed. "As though you could," Merlin whispered. He clapped his hands and a fantastic feast appeared before all of them. The five, emotionally overwhelmed at meeting King Arthur and Merlin the Magnificent, ate even though they weren't hungry. And from a window far from the table, a crow took flight.
A/N: Well, what do you think?