Chapter 17

"Bloody Hell" muttered Blaise Zabini as he heard soft whimpers coming from down the hall. If he had to hear one more teary first year complain about how they missed their mum he was going to lose it. The fifth year Slytherin wasn't exactly the most sympathetic and paternal person on the planet.

"I'm not even a Prefect for Merlin's sake, why do I have to deal with these sniveling wimps?" he muttered to himself as he approached the source of the noise.

There he saw Roy Jamison, a third year, clutching his left arm and sobbing uncontrollably. From what Blaise knew, Roy was an outgoing, more popular member of the Slytherin house.

"Jamison" he called coldly, watching as the boy's head snapped up in fear.

Blaise faltered in his facade. The poor bloke looked like a cornered animal.

"I'm not doing anything wrong I promise!" Roy practically shouted at the fifth year, "she can't do it if I'm not breaking any rules!"

"Woah mate slow down" said Blaise uncomfortably, "what happened?"

Slowly, Roy held his arm out to Blaise. Blaise had never felt so appalled in his entire life. The words 'I shall not speak out of turn' were etched multiple times onto his arm. The most recent ones bleed heavily while the remainder of his arm was covered in at least a dozen fading scars.

"Fucking...who the hell did this?" Blaise asked in shock.

Roy looked around for a moment before whispering one word to Blaise, "U-Umbridge."

Blaise took the boy and walked him roughly towards Professor Emrys' study as he was the closest person that Blaise could yell at. All the while he let the anger building up inside him grow. He hammered on the Professor's door, his grip on Roy's shoulder almost painful. How dare this happen to a Slytherin? Another more logical part of his brain told him it was probably happening to the other houses as well but at the moment he could care less about anyone but the terrified boy next to him. He had noticed that Potter took great care to cover his arms after his frequent detentions with the woman but teachers liked Potter. Why wouldn't he have said something to one of them?

His thoughts were interrupted when Professor Emrys opened the door and looked at the two Slytherins in surprise, "Mr. Zabini, how unexpected."

"Did you know about this?" Blaise snarled suddenly, holding out Roy's damaged arm. He watched the Professor's face turn chalk white as he ushered the two inside.

"Mr. Jamison what happened to you?" he asked urgently, grabbing various supplies from a cupboard. Roy looked up to Blaise who nodded in the most supportive way he could manage.

"I g-got in trouble while Professor U-Umbridge was watching my charms class" Roy started shakily, "s-she made me do detention with her again."

Any anger Blaise may have harbored towards Professor Emrys suddenly dissipated as he watched the man's features twist in a quiet rage, "so that's her idea of detention?" Roy was unsure of how to respond so he simply nodded meekly.

"If you wouldn't mind Mr. Jamison, may I take a still of your arm?" Merlin asked in a monotone voice. Roy nodded again and Merlin took out his wand, saving a still and transferring it to a blank sheet of parchment.

"Thank you Mr. Jamison" Merlin said with strained kindness while he wrapped the boy's arm in a makeshift bandage, "Mr. Zabini if you wouldn't mind taking Mr. Jamison to the hospital wing, I have some business to take care of." Blaise looked as if he wanted to say more, but after seeing the stern look on the normally carefree Professor's face decided against it.

As he was leaving Merlin leaned in and whispered in Blaise's ear, "please make a list of students you know have served detention with Professor Umbridge recently and give it to me as soon as you can." Surprised at the Professor's tone Blaise turned to face the defense professor one last time. His normally bright blue eyes were dark and stormy and the disgusted scowl seemed out of place on the mouth he normally only saw smiling.

Merlin waited a few moments after the boys had left before leaving to storm down the hall. He wandered for a small amount of time before he spotted a splash of pink against the bleak, snow covered grounds.

Walking briskly to the courtyard he attempted to calm himself and prepare to present his point rationally, but any self-control he built up shattered as soon as his feet hit the snow. Turning to face him, Umbridge cleared her throat.

"Hello Professor" she said in a distasteful tone. Merlin approached her silently, unaware of the hordes of students coming their way.

"Madam I was aware you had strict tactics but I never imagined you would be sadistic enough to torture the students!" Merlin yelled, his mind clouded in rage. Several of the students on the path back from Hogsmeade pointed at the commotion and soon dozens of students quickly flocked to the edges of the courtyard to watch the two teachers.

Umbridge sputtered in indignation, "how dare you sir! I was sent here by the Minister to do what is best for the students!"

"Bollocks!" yelled Merlin, "we knew you had been doing...something to those poor children but a black quill? Are you insane?" The shadows began to grow longer as Merlin's rage grew. A few students gasped at the Professor's tone while others fought to hide giggles.

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about Professor!" said Umbridge in a high tone. By now a majority of the Hogwarts student body both from inside the castle and from Hogsmeade had flocked to the courtyard to watch the argument.

"You're insane woman!" yelled Merlin, "how dare you come into this school and act like the savior of our students! I couldn't stand you from the moment I saw you and now I know why. You are sadistic and horrible. How dare you treat these innocent children like bloody criminals!" Some students began to stare at the sky. Ron looked next to him to exchange a look with Harry. His best mate seemed equally dumbfounded by the argument happening before them.

Most of the students, however, stared at Merlin slack jawed. They had never seen a professor speak like that before. Some of the students unconsciously scratched wounds in their arms both new and old as most knew exactly what their Professor was talking about. The sky continued to grow darker as a strange shadow consumed half the sun.

"You insubordinate little...I'll have you fired for this!" threatened Umbridge, face red with anger and embarrassment.

"Yes well then I think I might have you arrested" Merlin answered in a dangerously calm tone, "you've now lost favor with the Slytherins and they were your last defense." He suddenly turned on his heel and strode back into the castle. Students began to frantically murmur among themselves. Murmurs turned to shouts as the few rays of sunlight left were consumed in shadow and the sun was completely blacked out of the sky.

"An eclipse?" whispered Hermione as she turned to look at Ron.

Ron shook his head nervously, "something strange is happening."

"Really Ronald? I never would have guessed" Hermione stared after Professor Emrys. She had never seen him that angry before and now a sudden eclipse. She couldn't help but imagine that the two were connected. Her 'ridiculous' theory was beginning to feel more plausible by the moment.

Harry stood silently while the students around him murmured worriedly and stared at the sky. Umbridge stood still as a statue and red faced before storming off into the castle after the defense professor.

He looked at Hermione and saw the gears in her mind rotating as she looked after the two professors.

Taking her arm lightly he leaned over, "tell me later." Hermione whipped her head to look at him, surprised, before sighing softly and nodding. Even she had to admit that maybe her friends may know her a little too well.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

He sat in a dark corner. He felt the boy's confusion, though it was weak. Voldemort frowned; it seemed a certain Potter had begun to learn Occlumency. A tentative knock on the door across the room drew him from his thoughts.

"Come in" he announced, rising from the plush chair he had been resting on. The door immediately opened and revealed Jonathan Parkinson standing stiffly.

"Ah Mr. Parkinson" Voldemort said, coldly regarding the man, "what a...surprise."

"My Lord, my daughter has given me some...interesting information that I think you would benefit from hearing."

"Speak" commanded Voldemort, standing tall over the normally confident and bossy man.

"She...has brought to my attention some, ah, interesting information about the newest Professor at Hogwarts" Parkinson said, wringing his hands nervously.

Voldemort's demeanor changed immediately at the other man's words. He smiled slightly and gestured over to the table on the other side of the room.

Parkinson took a seat on one end and the Dark Lord seated himself on the other, "please tell me more about this...information you've acquired."

"My daughter, Pansy and some of her...friends have been watching both the Gryffindors and Professor Emrys closely for a while now." Parkinson started, "they discovered that the mudblood Granger has been researching the name Emrys for quite some time now and has returned time and time again to books on the Arthurian Legends. They have been unable to discover why but they have been able to deduce it has something to do with the Druid language of old."

Voldemort nodded and gave Parkinson a look that made him feel as if he was peering into his very soul, "is that all?"

He shook his head, "I received word from my daughter just hours ago that Professor Emrys and Professor Umbridge had a very public fight due to her use of a black quill on students during detentions-"

"A black quill?" interrupted Voldemort, "it's strange to see a ministry official using dark magic." An extremely unnerving smile adorned his pale lips.

"Y-yes. My daughter reported that Professor Emrys was absolutely livid at the prospect of that kind of treatment of students" Parkinson said, in a matter of fact tone. Voldemort leaned in slightly and looked Jonathan Parkinson in the eye.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Right after the argument ended there was an eclipse. It only lasted a few minutes but no eclipse was expected in this area of the world for at least 5 years."

"Are you telling me the eclipse was caused by Emrys?" asked Voldemort, snake-like eyes flashing dangerously.

"The facts may point that way yes" Parkinson seemed uncomfortable as he wrung his hands beneath the table.

"Leave me now" commanded Voldemort. Parkinson nodded and rushed from the room.

Standing, the dark wizard strode over to the bookshelves across the room and withdrew a book from the shelves. He had done research on the mysterious professor but it had not occurred to him to consult Arthurian legends and why would it?

The Granger child was undoubtedly intelligent; if only her lineage had been pure. He could have put her mind to good use. The gold lettering on the cover of the book was faded to oblivion and a cloud of dust rose from the pages as he opened it.

He turned to the pages on Druid translation, although he did not have much hope. Only a handful of words were understood in modern times of the ancient Druid language; mostly common words found in every tongue still spoken today. He doubted 'Emrys' was among them.

First on the page was the word Rex and below it was Priceps. Both apparently meant 'king' but the first was used to refer to the king of kings or as most assumed: King Arthur. Below the book mentioned that the word Rex was commonly associated with the word Emrys. Most historians thought it was used to refer to either a knight of the round table or Arthur's right hand man.

The great Warlock Merlin.

Voldemort's slit-like eyes grew wider than they had been in a decade. Was it possible? All the facts seemed to fit. He was a Slytherin although he seemed to disagree with everything that made one a Slytherin. One of his spies in the school had snuck into the man's room and reported that most of the room seemed average of one who traveled. Out of all the artifacts, they had unable to find the origin of a red and gold banner picturing the symbol of a dragon. It seemed out of place in the Slytherin's room as did an intricate sword mounted on the wall apparently protected by many complex spells.

Historians agreed unanimously that the colors of Camelot had been red and gold. He was unsure whether the banner in Emrys's room had been the family crest but it seemed possible.

Voldemort sat back in his plush seat across the room, there was much to contemplate but he was sure that the mysterious man fighting for the light was much more powerful than he let on.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Deep in the forbidden forest the ground shown dark; the foliage above too thick for even a sliver of light to shine though. Creatures both innocent and vile roamed the earth in search of both sanctuary and their next meal.

Suddenly, as if by magic, a pool bubbled up from the earth and stood completely still as if it had not been touched in a thousand years. The wind blew harshly and the trees parted with the aches and creaks of an old man.

The pool was hit by sudden moonlight and smaller animals scuttled forward, feeling safety in the rare appearance of light.

The forest stood still again and seemed to return to normal before a terrible scraping noise sounded thought the vast woods.

A gilded sword lie still on the damp grass, the impossibly perfect blade catching the moonlight now streaming freely through the small openings in the leaves.

A bubble reached the surface of the pond and popped. Another followed it, then another.

The pool started to foam and glowed with a golden light that was separate from the silver beams of the moon.

As soon as the strange events started, they stopped.

But before the pool had a chance to return to its glass like state, a single iron-clad hand burst from the surface and grabbed the sword lying on the grass. A visible ring of energy appeared as the two connected as if two beings destined to be together had just reunited for the first time in 1000 years.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXx

I tried to make this vague and I think I failed but whatever. Feel free to theorize what will happen next in the comments, I'm curious to see what you think. I think this is the fastest I've ever written and proofread a chapter but I was so excited I couldn't stop. I really hope you guys enjoyed this one because I'm having a great time writing this story. Everything's about to get a lot more exciting.