Disclaimer: I own neither Merlin nor Harry Potter.
IMPORTANT!
A/N: Thank you all for reading! I thought I'll mention again just for future reference that this is basically narration practice for me. As much as I enjoy writing all these snippets being in the same plotline, I might get bored one day or have a new idea and thus, some snippets may be outside of the plot. Just so you're prepared ^^ Like I always, please, pretty please leave me a review if you enjoy them.
Snippet Two
Title: Thy Name is Hermione
It takes a ball of fire barrelling into the tree to alert them that enemy reinforcements consisting of twenty sorcerers have arrived.
Arthur cursed from the ground and kneed the masked bandit atop him, effectively forcing him to pull away, hollering in pain. Free at last, he hurried for his stolen sword that was merely lying in the grass, its blade still dripping with hippogriff's blood.
"MERLIN!" he roared, eyes trailed at the darkening sky lighted by the exchange of fire balls exploding in collision.
"Not the best time Arthur!" Merlin yelled back, dodging in a rather pitiful speed as he held onto the broom Gwaine forced upon him while insisting that Hermione lent it to him willingly. Both were aware that was just another phrase for 'nicked it from her when she wasn't looking,' but Merlin was pretty sure the witch wouldn't mind. He couldn't very well win if their enemies have the advantage of being able to fly, carried in the back of the gigantic birds the size of your average cow.
Arthur jumped in fear when his manservant almost got roasted, and sighed in relief when the ball of fire just passed by him. He's starting to regret keeping their latest addition in lockdown. If she's here then she could at least guide Merlin and offer some useful spells. It amazes him that in just the short span of time he knows her, he believes it with all he has that the witch is just as reckless if not as loyal as his manservant, and would never agree to stay on the side lines.
Just the thought of going back and being welcomed by the fiery witch sent a bolt of fear to his spine.
Arthur turned to another bandit aiming for him with a yell, and was quick to evade and hit him with the back of his sword. Like the rest of them, the bandit's eyes were grey and hollow, their movements nothing but obedience to the sorcerer controlling their minds. It makes fighting them even harder because he knows it would be unjust to actually kill them, and the only thing he could do is incapacitate.
He turned to see another three, newly recovered and aiming for him again. His stance changed and he put all his focus on defence that he barely recognized the sound of a pop from behind him.
He was just about to dash forward when all three were blasted by an invisible force. He gaped at the sight of them sprawled on the floor, unconscious.
"Arthur, where's Merlin?" Hermione's worried voice surprised him, and he gaped as she blasted yet another ten of them.
"Hermione?" he questioned with a frown, unable to wrap his mind at her unexpected presence. "What are you doing here? Where's Gwaine?"
"Oh please," she scoffed, and his eyes narrowed to the wand in her hand. Just the other night, Merlin assured him he'd managed to secure it so she wouldn't dare follow them.
Seeing her here now, standing like a soldier with her eyes on fire, Arthur couldn't help but be annoyed that they'd underestimated her. He doesn't even want to ask what happened to Gwaine.
"Stealing and hiding my wand, really? As if that could stop me. I broke out of the most guarded bank in the world in the back of a bloody dragon for Godric's sake," she told him in the same manner she would speak to a child.
Arthur groaned, his palm snapping to his forehead in displeasure. Times like this, he wished they came up with a different lie instead of telling his father that she's royalty. That way, his problems would be less without having to explain to his father why his supposedly betrothed was out and fighting alongside them.
"Now tell me, where's Merlin?" she snapped, but was quick to turn at the sound of an explosion coming from miles atop them. Her eyes widened at the sight of the warlock hovering in the air in the wiggling broom. "Is that- is that Harry's Nimbus 2000 he's using? How is it-" she scowled, turning to sneer at the prince of Camelot, her eyes cold as steel that the prince actually stepped aback and gulped. "Arthur Pendragon, I promise you that when this is all over, you'd feel the wrath of me with vengeance!"
Bending her neck and casting a sonorous to her own throat, she yelled to the sky, "MERLIN!"
A hundred of miles above the ground, the fight between the army of sorcerers and the greatest warlock stopped as all eyes turned to the source of the enraged scream that shook the entire forest.
"Hermione?" Merlin squeaks in shock, paling and almost losing his grip on the broom much to his enemies' confusion. "Oh for the love of Albion, no, no, no, tell me this isn't happening! She can't be here, just no-" the warlock rambled to himself, ignoring their disbelief.
Merienne who claims to be the most powerful of them frowned at this. She couldn't understand how a mere girl could bring about such reaction from the sorcerer who didn't even cower at the sight of her army.
Slightly comforted that their bushy haired friend was still on ground, Merlin turned to the group of sorcerers, trying his best to sound convincing, waving his hands frantically in the air.
"Okay look, so as you know, I can give you a good fight. But that girl, well, let's just say that even I do not know what she will do to you, so you have to listen to me. Arthur-, Prince Arthur isn't like his father. Uther is vengeful and has deep hatred for magic, but Arthur isn't like that. He may have made bad choices in the past but now he doesn't hate magic and doesn't believe that it is evil. If you just give him your support, then we can join hands and put effort to bring a new era in Camelot. Please, just give him a chance- we don't have to fight like this. I know you're acting out of fear and we don't really want to hurt you."
The army of sorcerers exchanged looks, some of amusement and some of outrage at his sudden shift in behavior.
"Arthur isn't king yet! We couldn't do nothing while the rest of us are being slaughtered simply for having magic! If you aren't willing to help us, then you're just like Uther! You say Arthur doesn't hate magic, but he hasn't shown us anything! He doesn't have the power and he doesn't have the will! He has nothing!" Merienne hissed as the rest of them murmured their agreements and poised, ready to resume battle.
"He has us," the bold statement came from the witch who flew herself to join them right after ensuring that all the bandits below have been knocked down.
Hermione wanted to curse Merlin for making her use the bloody broom but that would have to wait. For now, she'd settle on focusing her rage on sounding like a diplomat. She understands very well how tact is important. She couldn't lose her cool if it means ending another unnecessary bloodshed.
"And just who you think you are to interfere young lady?" Merienne said haughtily, followed by snickers coming from around her.
"Intimidation wouldn't work so I suggest talking with civility," Hermione answered coolly, sending a glare at the warlock and preventing him from even attempting to speak for her.
Merienne huffed, eyes focusing on her and smirking to maintain ignorance to her comrades preparing to attack them from behind. "And if I don't?" she taunted.
Hermione sighed, hiding her relief that Merlin appeared uninjured. This sorceress has nothing on Draco Malfoy but she'd at least give her points for trying.
"Look, you come here with an army of sorcerers and for what purpose? To end Uther's reign and kill Prince Arthur? But these two, they came at you bringing just themselves. Is that not enough proof of their intentions?"
"Arthur has nothing to offer us, and this sorcerer is no difference! You all are just in our way and for that, you will pay," she declared just in time as balls of fire came at them from all sides.
Hermione didn't even move and whispered a soft Protego Duo, leaving Merlin staring wide-eyed at the warmth of her magic. The fire balls bounced back from an invisible shield leaving the sorcerers scurrying to evade. Some couldn't move away in time though, and the fire balls hit the hippogriffs. Hermione made a silent promise to help them heal later.
With their rides wounded, eight of the sorcerers had no choice but to leave the fight and struggle to have a safe landing at least.
"Go to Arthur Merlin," Hermione says, her eyes never leaving the other party's obvious leader.
Merlin looks scandalized.
"Don't make me hex you," she snarled.
With great reluctance but not wanting Arthur to be left alone when some of the sorcerers are on ground, Merlin nodded but eventually obeyed, battling the seven who had chosen to follow him.
"I see you have some magic in you but that's still nothing compared to what we have," Merienne glared at their reduced number and changed her tactic, this time signalling her comrades to combine forces and together, they casted spell after spell at her shield.
Hermione knew it would eventually crack, and disillusioned herself before flying to a safe distance where she can see them all. Still disillusioned and taking advantage of the Firebolt's speed, she casted body-bind curses at the sorcerers and jinxes that had the hippogriffs flying aimlessly, away from the fight.
The sorcerers had trouble locating her and attacked blindly, the sound of the Firebolt's whoosh their only hint of her whereabouts.
"It doesn't have to be this way!" she yelled, finally giving away her location as she flew to escape being hit, all the while casting spells after spells to subdue them.
By the time it was just her and a livid Merienne left in the air, Hermione found herself panting hard, her fear of heights long forgotten in the rush of adrenaline, her magic crackling dangerously in the air.
"Does the name Emrys ring a bell?" Hermione beseeched, feeling her heart beating loudly inside her chest. Deep down, she knew that these people are no Death Eaters. These people aren't fighting for an evil ruler but for themselves, and for that she truly cannot blame them. But she also know she'll be damned if she wouldn't try to appeal to them at least.
Merienne stared at her with an expression of fury but Hermione couldn't look more determined.
"He's a warlock prophesied to work alongside Arthur, and together, they would work to bring about a new era of peace and prosperity, a land called Albion where magic is free and people like us aren't punished for being who are. The druids believe this. We believe this, which is why we protect Arthur," she confided, grip still tight on her wand. "We're not asking you to surrender to Uther's reign. Protect yourselves if that is what you have to do, but if you keep this fight thinking that Camelot is your enemy, then what difference do you have from Uther who uses power to hurt the weak? Your fight is with Uther and not with the people of Camelot who's done you no wrong! Most of them aren't even druids and have no magic to protect themselves, and that is why we are fighting for them!"
"How dare you pretend to be righteous when you attacked my people!?" Merienne exploded, sending beams of light that exploded upon hitting her shield.
"I fight to protect myself and the people I care for!" Hermione roared back. "What do you fight for? Using magic to extract vengeance is exactly why people like Uther thinks themselves in the right! Magic isn't evil and yet it is being used for evil! Controlling the minds of muggles, really? Can't you see it is these acts that instigate fear and loathing to people like us?"
"Arthur has killed a great number of us! And what has Emrys done? Nothing, he's done nothing!"
"No," Hermioned answered. "Emrys is the reason why Arthur didn't come at you with an army ready to kill. He is the reason why we aren't fighting to take lives, only to incapacitate. He didn't come to fight but to make peace, but you aren't giving him a chance!"
Merienne hissed, conjuring sharp ice crystals and wielding them to hover before her, ready to attack at her command. "I said this before and I am saying it again, WE DO NOT NEED ARTHUR!"
Hermione prepared to cast fire but had her breath hitched. Instead of going for her however, the ice crystals changed direction, turned to swords and at the speed of light, headed for the prince riding behind the warlock in the wiggling broomstick.
"ARTHUR!" Hermione screamed at her friends in great desperation.
Merlin's too busy firing spells to their attackers who are trapped on ground, but reacted just in time and turned the ice crystals into water so it splashed at them instead. Arthur groaned behind him, but was secretly relieved.
Seething, Hermione turned to glare at Merienne. "Oh now you've done it," she fumed, giving Merienne no time to react as the bat-bogey-hex reached her in full force. Her horrified screams as bats flew out of her nose brought attention to herself, distracting what's left of her army.
Appeased that none of them would have any clue of how to reverse her hex, Hermione let her conscience win and casted a cushioning charm for the sorceress's landing.
The sorcerers' all stopped fighting and hurried to their fallen leader, proving her intuition that this group are like family to each other.
With all of them on ground and the hippogriffs subdued, Hermione headed to join them, having no doubt that Merlin and Arthur would follow her.
Brows raised and arms crossed, she asked, "Now, are you ready to talk like civilized people or do I have to hex the rest of you?"
A/N: Still loving it? Please leave me a review then! :) Happy reading!