"Hogwarts?" Merlin and Arthur said simultaneously.
"A school of what?" Arthur frowned. "And what is this school?"
"We're teachin' magic here,'' Hagrid nodded.
"Is it a joke? I've just found out that my friend here is a sorcerer and now we're in some kind of school of magic?" said Arthur even more confused.
"Well, I don' see anyone laughin' so it's not a joke," Hagrid chuckled but his smile faded immediately as he realised that they still didn't tell him their names. "Anyway, who are yeh?"
"Oh, my apologies. I'm Arthur Pendragon and this is my servant Merlin."
"A servant?" Hagrid was surprised. He glared at the warlock. "He's not a house elf."
The warlock blinked a few times. "We don't know what you're talking about, we just want to find a way back to Camelot."
"And I don' know what you're talkin' abou', either," said Hagrid. "You're Merlin, right? Are yeh not by any chance named after this famous wizard?"
"I don't remember knowing any other sorcerer named Merlin. He is one of a kind," Arthur replied.
"Yeah, I think he's right," Merlin agreed, smiling slightly.
"So if you're not death eaters, not students…, then yeh must be these new teachers," Hagrid muttered under his breath. "What subject will you be teachin'?" he asked.
"What?" Merlin furrowed brow.
"I see we will not get along," said Arthur rolling his eyes. "Take us to your king."
"King?"
"Yeah, the king of Hogwarts or whatever."
They were looking at each other with astonishment for a few seconds when Merlin finally decided to break the silence.
"Well… ehm… who's running this place?" he asked timidly.
"Ah," Hagrid smiled. "It's Albus Dumbledore."
"Could we get an audience with him?" asked Arthur.
Hagrid frowned but after a moment he nodded slightly in agreement. "'Course, I can lead yeh ter him," he said and watched them carefully for a beat before heading towards the castle. "Come on!" he exclaimed and Merlin and Arthur followed him.
On their way, they couldn't take their eyes from this marvellous monumental castle, they were staring at it in amazement. Merlin felt a strong magic around him, and he could sense it since they came out of the forest, but he didn't exactly know what was the source of it and where it came from. It seemed like the castle itself was magical. Arthur and Merlin were sceptical about the man walking before them so they chose not to speak but only to communicate through gestures and glances, which they were quite good at.
Soon they found themselves at the large, high, wooden double doors which opened with a loud creak as they approached. They walked into the entrance hall bustling with people wearing the same black robes. Almost everyone shot him surprised looks, some started whispering and pointing discreetly at them, but the warlock's eyes were able to see it. Just ignoring them, Merlin and Arthur followed Hagrid up the wide marble staircase and when they were about to go up the next, the man stopped and turned to them.
"Before we step on these bloody stairs," he said. "I must warn yeh, it can be tricky," he nodded and continued on his way.
Merlin and Arthur exchanged glances and then stepped on the stairs as well. They didn't get very far when suddenly the staircase trembled and moved to the left. Arthur fell to the right bumping into Merlin. He grasped the railing behind his friend.
"What the hell is going on?!" the king exclaimed looking straight at Merlin's face.
"Don't look down," the warlock said, but Arthur immediately dropped his eyes and saw hundreds of staircases moving, some to the left and some to the right.
"What the –," he trailed off as the stairs trembled again. They both looked at Hagrid who was big enough to hold onto the railing on both sides of the staircase.
"All right," said Hagrid; "We have ter find another way I s'pose."
After many stairs and many halls the three of them finally found themselves in a semi-dark corridor at the end of which stood a tall gargoyle. Hagrid stopped in front of it and started scratching his head.
"And now what?" Arthur asked. "I thought you're taking us to your king."
"Let me think of a password, would yeh?" said Hagrid.
"Pass...word…?" Merlin frowned.
"Blimey… Ah! I've got it," Hagrid smiled. "Exploding bonbons," he said and the gargoyle shifted sideways revealing a winding staircase that led upwards. Arthur and Merlin raised their eyebrows.
"Have you ever seen something like this?" the king whispered to Merlin.
"Yeah, something similar," the warlock muttered. "I hope there's no goblin inside."
Hagrid began to climb the stairs and the pair of friends went after him. They passed the wooden door and entered the room where there were a lot of portraits. People on them seemed to be moving, which Arthur and Merlin noticed immediately, and they could swear that it was the same with other paintings in the corridors they were passing by. From their wooden frames, former headmasters of Hogwarts were giving the two of them curious glances as they were getting closer to the desk behind which was sitting an older man with a long, grey beard. He looked at them through his half-moon spectacles and frowned at the strange clothes they were wearing.
"Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid began and glanced at Arthur and Merlin before leaning towards the headmaster. "These two are talkin' complete rubbish. Luckily, they asked ter see with yeh, so I don' have ter deal with 'em," he said quietly.
"Well, thank you, Rubeus," Dumbledore nodded and turned to Arthur and Merlin. "Come on, boys, come closer," he motioned at them.
Arthur bowed slightly his head and Merlin did the same as he saw his friend doing it, though the warlock wasn't sure anymore whether their acting like that is necessary or not.
"King…," Arthur paused and glanced at Merlin.
"I think it's Dumbledore," the warlock whispered into his ear, looking straight at the headmaster. "But I really don't think he's a king. He wears no crown but this funny hat."
"Well…, maybe that's the way it is in this kingdom," Arthur whispered back, also looking at Dumbledore. "Be tolerant, Merlin."
Arthur smiled slightly and cleared his throat. "King Dumbledore, I am Arthur Pendragon, the king of Camelot, and this is my friend Merlin. We are grateful for your time."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and looked at Hagrid confused. The big man only chuckled. "I told yeh."
"It appears that we got lost," Arthur continued. "We would be even more grateful if you could show us the way to Camelot."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to say something but it seemed like all the words evaporated immediately from his head. "Beg your pardon?" he managed after a few long seconds.
"I said that we…," Arthur started.
"No, no, I heard you," Dumbledore cut him off. "Just give me a second, will you?"
They stayed there for a while, staring blankly at each other. There was astonishment and confusion on their faces and in their eyes, they just couldn't comprehend it.
"You claim that you are this legendary king and your friend's name is Merlin?" Dumbledore spoke up finally.
"Of course I am the king of Camelot," Arthur said indignantly.
Dumbledore started nodding his head. "Well…, so I see there's quite a problem we have here if what I'm thinking is true. But I need to ask you a few questions just to clarify my theory," he said.
"What theory?" asked Hagrid.
"Questions first," Dumbledore replied quickly. "Are you a wizard, Merlin?" he asked looking at the raven haired young man.
"Yes, I have magic," he agreed.
"And your friend here, king Arthur," the headmaster smiled slightly; "I guess, has no magic, am I right?"
"Precisely," said Arthur.
"Well, so how is it possible that he was able to see Hogwarts and now even be here in its very walls?" he sank back into his chair, pondering the question he had asked himself.
"What's the big deal?" Merlin frowned.
"It's because a non magical person cannot see the castle which is spell-protected against ordinary people," Dumbledore answered. "Unless…"
"Unless…," Merlin murmured. "Arthur is not quite non magical."
"Am I?" the king raised his eyebrows.
"Do you remember what Morgause told you about your mother?" Merlin turned to Arthur.
"Yes, but I thought it was a lie."
"It's not, it's actually true. Arthur is born from magic and that's why I think he could see your castle," the warlock said.
"That explains it all, indeed."
"Wait, what is it even about?" Arthur still seemed confused. "We want to go back to Camelot."
"And that might just be the problem," said Dumbledore. "Unfortunately, I am too busy with other problems to deal with yours. I am needed at the Ministry, but I know who has plenty of time to help you and figure it out," he smiled slightly. "During this time they can also attend all the classes if they want. Just don't forget to show them to the Gryffindor common room, Hagrid," he said, then clapped his hands above his head and disappeared with a loud snap. Arthur and Merlin watched it with stunned faces.
"What did he mean? What the hell just happened?" Arthur squawked.
"Yeah, that's Dumbledore," Hagrid nodded.
