Disclaimer: I own neither Merlin nor Harry Potter.

A/N: Hi guys! So, I was pondering on what scene to post. I know you'd love to know what happened after 'Past Meets Future', and we'll get there, by God's grace. But for now, I think I'd like to post stuff I've already written. Anyways, I did say this is basically short stories that belong in the same plotline. I hope you like it! Enjoy :D

Snippet Six

Title: Missing You

The feeling of wanting to be found but having no one to look for you, Merlin only knew this all too well. He'd felt it for so long that he eventually forgot he was lost in the first place. He can only hope that they find her soon enough. It hurts to know that he's causing someone else, his own friend even, to feel the same thing that almost killed him many times before.

Of course, it had gotten better after Arthur had finally learned and accepted his magic. But for a long while, the warlock had carried on thinking he will forever have to live with the weight of loneliness, with the burden of having the power to help everyone but having no one capable of helping him.

It's too easy to feel responsible for the lives of others. Caring for others gives him courage. Their happiness had long become paramount to him. He had been doing it for far too long that before he knew it, the happiness of those he loved had become the very definition of his own. Merlin, the boy, was lost to the shadow of Merlin, the protector of Arthur and of Albion.

Sometimes when he's alone in the darkness of his own mind, he still feels that he hadn't changed. That he was still alone. But one look at the prince and the knights, Gaius, Gwen, and now her, and he can pull himself out of the deep hallow pit he had once believed he was meant for. Because while caring for others makes him brave, being cared of, now this gives him strength. This makes him feel important.

Hermione reminded him this.

So why in the world was she out there, alone and feeling like she doesn't belong? How did he let this happen?

Sitting on a rock and watching the crackling fire, Merlin breathed into his open palms, and then slowly, brought them to face the flames.

Footsteps joined him just in time for their owner to see the familiar figures of a dragon and a broom in fire miniature, the latter flying around the former in a game of hide and seek. Tiny sparks of fire came out of the dragon's mouth and popped into extinction, barely catching the broom at every turn.

Sir Gwaine found himself pausing, amazed at the brilliant display of magic.

"Wow, mate," he commented. "Did Hermione teach you that?"

Merlin smiled sadly, shaking his head. He was content on the silence even as the knight made himself comfortable sitting with crossed legs on the damp grass beside him.

"Merlin, you need to sleep," he tells him, eying him worriedly.

The warlock sighs, "Can't."

Gwaine could only nod, knowing perfectly well what he meant.

They stayed like that for a while. A servant and a knight. Two friends plagued with words they wanted out but were holding back.

Merlin was alright with the quiet. But being surrounded by it with Gwaine around, well that was something else. The warlock had almost been tempted to break the silence when the knight spoke again.

"You know, it wasn't Arthur she's worried about. She never doubted your ability to protect Arthur."

Merlin frowned. "What?"

Gwaine sighed. "I was there mate, and I can tell you. It wasn't Arthur she came there for. She worried about your self-sacrificing tendencies to protect Arthur. Said her magic itches to guard your magical backside."

He turned to see Merlin frozen beside him.

"She's right, you know? As much as I like to say we got your back, your battles are too high level for us. You're powerful mate, one of a kind, but even you are not invincible."

Merlin took his time to let the words sink in. Somehow, at the back of his mind, he had thought of that possibility. Hermione wasn't like him in the sense that she had chosen to open up with her secrets early on upon her arrival in their lives. Merlin knew why she did it. She had told him straight on. But to hear it from someone else...to see it in her actions...it was like joy and pain were battling inside his chest. Joy because she meant what she'd said...pain because he'd hurt her despite everything she'd done and was doing for him...and before he know it, the confession was tumbling out of his mouth without restraint.

"She's the first real magical friend I have, Gwaine. I know there's Gaius, but, he's Gaius. Hermione...she's the first powerful person to tell me that I don't have to carry it all on my shoulders, the first to really make me believe it. She taught me spells and control and how to just be. She accepted me before she even knew me. She reminded me that I still could be a boy, just Merlin, and it wouldn't be my fault if things go wrong," the warlock sighs, a lost look on his face. "I don't like knowing that she's alone out there. She doesn't even know anyone outside us. She's wrong…I trust her…I just…I worry too much about her…She said she's sorry for making us have to lie…that she feels unwanted…that we don't trust her…but she's wrong, you know? But I was wrong too…I shouldn't have given her a reason to doubt herself...to question her place among us…and now she doesn't want to be found."

Gwaine only nodded, taking it all in while his mind works on how to cheer his friend up. The little witch had managed to make her way into their hearts, whether she knows it or not. It might take them a while, but he knew in his heart of hearts that they would all get their second chance and be reunited. Family always do.

"Do you remember how we met her? She was saving Arthur's arse. Awed us all with her bravery and magic."

Merlin shrugged. "That's Hermione for you."

Gwaine's eyes lighted up. "She's something, huh?"

Merlin's eyes never left the fire. "Yeah," he said without thought, not seeing the knight's eyes narrowing at him in scrutiny for a few moments, before slowly, but surely, turning into recognition.

"Hah," was the reaction that finally made him look. Merlin turned to him with a raised brow, asking him what the huff was all about, but the knight merely shook his head and patted him on the back.

"Don't worry," Gwaine said, sounding amused as he stood. "I won't say anything. But, you ought to tell princess at some point."

"Wait, what?" Merlin asked, looking the very definition of lost.

Gwaine just laughed.

Times like this, the royal bratness may have a point. For someone so powerful, sometimes Merlin can really be an idiot.

A/N: Like always, I'm more encouraged to post more by reviews than follows/favorites. So, if you want to see more, I'd love to see reviews :) Thanks for reading!