A lone figure stood in the middle of a circular room. To anyone else, the room would look cluttered, plants, vials, and nick-knacks covered the desk and the shelves, books covered the bed and floor, a cage now empty hung in a corner of the room. To the figure, the room represented the only physical proof that he had ever lived. Of course, he knew his name would never be forgotten.
For he was Merlin Myrddin Emmrys, and he knew his time had come. Myrddin sat down in his chair and rubbed his eyes. It had been awhile since he had felt his age, but he felt old now. Everyone he grew up with was long dead and most everyone he knew during life had passed on as well. Myrddin sighed, he had been putting this off for far too long. He closed his eyes and prepared to Gaze.
Myrddin had many gifts, some taught, some given, some earned. Gazing was one of them, it allowed him to look forward in time, but not at himself. It was a gift given to him for being an Emmrys, and it came with a life of responsibility. Myrddin's responsibility had been straight forward, if not easy. Train Arthur and make sure he became king, and so he did. Arthur had become the greatest king that the isle had seen to date. Myrddin had watched with pride as Arthur grew, as claimed his rightful place as king, as he faced the trials of life and kingship. However, Arthur had died almost a year ago and Myrddin's responsibilities, and time on earth, were over.
But Myrddin was not done with earth. For Myrddin knew there was one more thing that he could do. Throughout his life, Myrddin had been collecting ingredients for a special spell that would send him forwards in time to a point of his choosing. Myrddin knew that there was still good he could do for this world.
And so, he Gazed. He Gazed at his four pupils continuing their training and eventually starting a school to pass their knowledge. He Gazed at the conflict betwix them and the divide it causes. He Gazed at the centuries of learning at the school and also the division. He Gazed at many people, magical and not, and saw their lives and deaths, loves and losses, victories and defeats. He Gazed until the school was forgotten and crumpled to nothing more than dust.
Throughout his Gaze he was looking for one person, one event that would cause the most pain and grief and loss. He was looking for something that he could stop. And he found it. During what was then known as the twentieth century, there lived a man named Riddle. This man would cause death and destruction on untold levels. Families torn apart, loved one's dead in each other's arms, centuries of animosity between the houses of the school.
This was the man Myrddin needed to stop. This was the event he needed to change. So, he prepared his spell. With nothing more than a puff of smoke, Merlin Myrddin Emmrys left his time forevermore.
Myrddin found himself in an alleyway in Londinium. The alley was dark and stinky by modern standards, but to Myrddin it felt as normal as any main city street. Myrddin quietly transfigured his clothing into something that would not be noticed by the locals and walked out of the alley. He walked down the street taking in the sights and sounds and smells. So much and changed and nothing had changed. It was just the way cities were.
Myrddin shortly reached his destination. A small orphanage in a poor section of town. It was overcrowded and underfunded. Myrddin was saddened to see it. As he was looking at the orphanage, a young well-dressed man walked up and into the door. Myrddin immediately sensed the magic coming from the man, he was not doing a very good job at hiding it. Myrddin knew today was the day that a teacher from his student's school was going to meet Riddle and tell him of magic and his enrollment into the school.
Myrddin quickly followed the teacher inside and caught up to him in the hall leading to the dorm rooms. Myrddin tapped the teacher on the shoulder, which caused him to turn around. As soon as they locked eyes Myrddin sent his mind into the teacher's. The teacher's eyes widened in shock at the unexpected attack and he tried to fight back. Myrddin was impressed, the man had significant strength, but it was nothing compared to skill Myrddin had perfected over his long life. He convinced the teacher that he had met with Riddle and it had turned out that Riddle was not a wizard. The teacher stood still for a moment before turning and leaving.
Myrddin gave a faint smile and walked up to Riddle's door and knocked. He entered before anyone could respond and looked at the boy sitting in the room. He was pale, not enough sun. His dark hair was on the short side, but not overly so. His eyes were a piercing green. Myrddin could clearly see the familiar resemblance with his student.
They stared at each other for a minute or two, sizing up the other and waiting to see what would happen. Eventually Myrddin nodded and said "Do you want to leave?" The boy looked at him, as if trying to tell if he was serious. "What? Are you going to adopt me?" Riddle replied in a tone that left no question as to what he thought of that idea.
"No," Myrddin said flatly. "You are going to be my apprentice for the next seven years." Riddle looked at him in almost shock at the bluntness of it. "And what am I going to be apprenticing in?" Riddle said in the same tone. "Making tables and chairs?"
"Magic," Myrddin said just as bluntly. To prove his point and speed up the discussion, Myrddin waved his hand and everything in the room started to float. Including the chair Riddle was sitting on. This completely caught Riddle off guard and he fell off the chair into a heap on the floor. After he stood up and brushed himself off, he looked at the floating objects for a few moments, mouth slightly open in awe. He then nodded, still too shocked to speak, and followed Myrddin out of the room, out of the hallway, out of the orphanage and into the wide world.
Myrddin and Riddle traveled the world together for the allotted seven years. During that time Myrddin taught Riddle many things. He taught him magic, the magic of nature, the magic of the mind, the magic of song. He taught him history and philosophy, science and art, politics and language. But most importantly. Myrddin taught Riddle what it meant to be a man of Honor. By the time his apprenticeship was over, it would be fair to say that Riddle was the most knowledgeable and gifted wizard in Europe if not the world.
After Riddle left his apprenticeship, Myrddin faded back into the shadows of the world. He watched Riddle and his life, just to make sure, you never could know what would happen when messing with time. Myrddin did not have to worry though. Riddle quickly distinguished himself from his peers in both his skill and talents as well as in his conduct. He became a well-respected and loved Auror and was eventually offered a teaching position at the school. Which he politely turned down to become Minister of Magic.
It was at this point that Myrddin knew he had succeeded in changing enough to prevent the loss he Gazed so long ago. He knew it was now time for him to pass on. But before he did, Myrddin wanted to say goodbye. So, Myrddin teleported himself into the atrium of the Ministry. There was a large crowd gathered today to hear the new Minister of Magic give his first speech. It was what one would expect of this type of speech, inspiring, promising a bright future with just enough humor to keep the audience attentive.
After Riddle finished his speech and the applause died down, Myrddin stepped out of the shadow he was standing in and walked towards his former student. Riddle was talking to a young man with short-cut black hair and eyes that had a striking resemblance to Riddle's. "Well I'm looking forward to seeing what you can accomplish here Potter," Riddle was saying. "I don't expect you to ride the coattails of your parents." The boy nodded at Riddle. "Of course, Minister. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Riddle looked up and saw Myrddin standing there watching him. His eyes flashed with recognition and surprise. He patted the boy on the shoulder, "Good lad," and walked towards Myrddin. The black-haired boy walked off and linked hands with a girl who had a surprisingly large amount of brown hair.
"Master, how good it is to see you," Riddle said as he enveloped Myrddin in a hug. "Aye, good to see you son." They pulled apart, only to have some one hand Riddle a note. "Hmmm... It appears I am needed right now for some meeting. I'm sorry I have to go Master, but would you like to meet over dinner tonight? I would love to talk with you again." Myrddin smiled for the first time in a long time. "No, my son, I am here only to my farewells." Riddle looked at him for a moment. *He was always so good at hiding his emotions, * though Myrddin. "Of course, Master. If that's the case, then all I can do is thank you. You have no idea how much your teaching has helped me; I can't describe it." A single tear rolled down Riddle's cheek. Myrddin chuckled, barely holding his own tears back. They embraced on more time.
Myrddin finally pulled away and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, and passed on. Just as leaves fall from a tree, so Merlin Myrddin Emmrys left this world.