A New World

A/N: This is my first fanfiction so I'm sorry if its messed up in any way. Hope you all enjoy it. Please review

Chapter 1

Harry Potter stood outside by the Black Lake at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, looking up at the night sky thinking about the final battle against Lord Voldemort mere hours ago.

"What are you thinking about, Harry?" came a soft voice from behind him. Harry turned to face the voice, knowing whom it belonged to. The voice belonged to none other than Hermione Granger, his best friend.

"Everything, 'Mione." He replied.

"What's wrong Harry? You should be happy. Its finally over, you've beaten him."

"It doesn't feel like I've won anything. Did you see how everyone is looking at me now? You and Neville are the only ones who aren't looking at me like I must be broken or mad. I-I…" Harry paused, looking into her eyes. "It just doesn't feel right here anymore. I-I think I need to leave." The last he said mostly to himself. As Harry started to walk towards the Forbidden Forest, he felt a hand grasp his and he stopped to look at Hermione.

"Then I'll come too, Harry. I, uh, I…" she stammered.

"It's ok Hermione, I know. I love you too." They both blushed as they turned and continued to walk.

"So," Hermione started, "Where are we going?"

"I don't know." Was Harry's answer. "It just feels like I'm supposed to go this way. It feels like something or someone is drawing me this way."

"Are you sure it's safe?"

"Yeah. It feels like it's something good, like going towards a happy place." And so, they walked deeper and deeper into the forest until they came to a clearing. Standing in its center was an elderly wizard carrying a wooden staff.

"Who are you?" Harry called, as they drew closer to the man. When it was clear the man wasn't going to answer him, Harry looked to Hermione before turning back to the man.

"My name is Harry Potter. What is your name, sir?" he said, politely this time. He didn't want to offend the man, as he realized it was this clearing, this stranger, which was drawing him. "Please, sir," he tried again, "Why did you draw me here, to the place where Voldemort tried to kill me?" Harry heard Hermione gasp beside him and he squeezed her hand reassuringly, never taking his eyes off the stranger.

After a long silence the man finally spoke. "Hello Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. I am the Guardian of Earth. My name is Merlin."

Harry and Hermione shared a look of surprise and uncertainty. "How can you be Merlin?" Hermione asked shakily. "Merlin died over a millennia ago."

"Ah, yes. To the people of Earth I am dead, but that was as it had to be. I could no longer be thought alive at the time as I had to retreat to Avalon to watch over the planet and protect it." He answered.

"Protect it?!" Harry yelled. "How were you protecting it by letting Voldemort run around killing everyone?" Harry was furious, his hair and clothes swirling around in a non-existent wind as his magic poured off him.

"Alas my boy, that was one event I could not interfere with. A destiny, your destiny Harry, had to play out." Merlin replied calmly, raising his staff into the air. "Had I intervened, the outcome would have been disastrous." As he said this, the gem on the end of his staff began to glow. Suddenly, an image of Harry losing the final battle shown. As Voldemort cast one last Killing Curse toward Harry time seemed to freeze and a new face showed itself. Standing in front of Harry was Merlin, holding his hand out to help him stand. Together with wand and staff, the two wizards still linked, cast pure untainted magical power at the still frozen Dark Lord. When the light hit him, time resumed and Voldemort crumbled to the ground, alive no more.

"You see, had I not had faith in you, and you in yourself, this would have been the outcome." Merlin said.

"But it would have been quicker and easier." Hermione finally spoke.

"Ah, young lady keep watching." As they continued to watch the image, they saw Harry and Merlin falling. As they hit the ground, both wand and staff braking, raw power exploding outward and killing everyone within the Hogwarts grounds and destroying the school, leaving nothing but a smoking crater.

"You see, had I stepped in, all would have perished. The power I wield is no longer suited to be used practically on this planet, especially in battle. It would have completely drained my physical being resulting in my staff breaking. The explosion was the power contained in this staff, used to watch and guide the Earth, and drawing the latent power from the phoenix feather from young Harry's wand and breaking free from the seal within the staff."

"Wait a second…" Harry said slowly. "So you knew I would beat him?"

"Yes." Was Merlin's reply. "And I also know that you now feel like you don't feel you belong here. That you feel alienated, unwanted, and that you have no purpose."

"H-How did you know that?" Harry stammered, as Hermione looked between the two completely dumbfounded.

"I know a great many things, Harry, and I can help you."

"How can you help me? Why would you help me?" Harry asked.

"Because you remind me a lot of myself. The reason I became Guardian of Earth was to continue being needed, to have a new purpose." Merlin replied.

"So, you want me to become a Guardian of Earth too?"

"Goodness no child," he chuckled, "I still have many years left in me. Besides, that destiny belongs to another. No, there is another world Harry that will need your help in the coming years if you choose to go. They can manage should you not wish to, and will I am sure. However you would have a chance to meet new people and make new friends, who will not turn their backs on you for having to kill a threat to the world as many here have."

Harry turned to look at Hermione. "What do you think, luv?"

"We could be happy?" she asked.

"Of course my dear, happy and loved." Merlin answered.

"Then let's go Harry. We can get a fresh start and we will be together."

Harry smiled and squeezed her hand, turning back towards the elderly wizard. "Thank you sir. I would like to go, provided I can stay with Hermione."

"So you will lad." Merlin said with a bright smile. "There is one thing you should know before you go. You will no longer be human and will no longer have magic, however your appearance will not change."

"W-what?" Hermione asked, "Will we still be us?"

"Oh yes, my dear Hermione, you will still be yourselves. In place of your magic you will have new abilities. I will be sending you to the Guardian of that dimension's Earth so that you can learn to control your newfound abilities. Alas, the time has come my young friends. If you are going it must be now."

"But we still have questions." They both shouted over a sudden gust of wind.

"All of your questions will be answered, I assure you." Merlin's voice rang in their heads as he raised his staff up towards the sky which began to pulse with a brilliant white light.

"THANK YOU MERLIN!" Harry shouted above the maelstrom.

"You are quite welcome children. Please tell Kami 'hello' from me when you see him. Goodbye Harry Potter. Farewell Hermione Granger. Until we meet again." The light flashed one last time blinding all present and the clearing was silent and empty once more.

Back at the castle everyone was gathered in the Great Hall, resting and mourning those lost in the fight.

"Well done everyone." Came a voice from the doorway. Everyone turned towards the unfamiliar voice with varying degrees of apprehension, many wands raised. From the crowd one man stepped forward, sword in one hand and wand in the other. He stood confidently between his friends and the newcomer.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" The man asked threateningly.

"Ah, Neville Longbottom, just the young man I was hoping to find." The stranger said, a smile gracing his lips. "My name is Merlin."