Chapter II:
Ceron Potter wrapped the journal in the best water proof cloth he could find in the small village, mindful of the people around him and didn't know magic existed much less there was a magic user sharing their ale. When he got home he would spell the cloth to protect it better.
If only people knew. Ceron shook his head. Magic would be feared and hated just as it was when Uther Pendragon ruled Albion.
"Some might thoughts must be movin' about your head, traveler," the bar mistress said.
"Something of a sort," Ceron answered.
She snorted. "Anythin' else I can get ya?"
"No, thank you," Ceron answered pushing the needed coins across the bar. He slid from the stool and headed out the door to gather horse mindful of how much sun he had left and how tired his horse was. "Few more miles then we're home. You think we can make it?" The horse just stared at him and Ceron rubbed his neck before pulling up onto his saddle.
He was a few miles outside of the village where he felt safe enough to pull out his wand from deep inside his pack. He strapped it to his arm underneath his sleeve. He didn't like stowing his wand so far from his hand, but it was safer among the non-magic folk. A lot less questions were asked. Yes, he still had a sword and he knew how to use it, thanks to the years of training by his father, but magic was something different.
He passed by many on the busy road, one the Romans left from their occupation of the isle so may years before. He sighed in relief as he spied the outskirts of his village just as the sun was going down.
His fellow villagers were working their ways home after a day in the fields. A few waved in greeting as he passed.
He was rounding the last bend toward home, when he heard a snap and hiss and felt pain erupt just below his heart. Ceron toppled from his horse, an arrow embedded deep in his skin. He grunted, dazed and in pain.
His attacker stepped toward him and searched through his bag, becoming increasingly agitated as he couldn't find what he wanted. The man spun around as he heard others approached.
"Pappa!" a child called, his joy quickly turning to terror as he spotted his fallen father.
Ceron tried to comforted his crying child but the pain flared and he knew no more.
Hours passed before the silencing charm was lifted from the kitchen door, all of which Harry spent on the stairs staring.
"Harry?" Hermione had tried early in his vigil. "Harry, even if you had sat for the meeting they wouldn't have let you do anything."
"No, they just would have let me die for them."
"What?" Hermione asked and Harry realized that he had yet to tell his best friends about the prophecy.
"Nothing." And despite Hermione's protests he wouldn't say more.
The pair had retreated to the library after a couple of hours and for some reason he was happy he was alone.
The moment the door opened, Harry stood eager to know the Order's plans. By the look on Sirius's face, however, Harry knew he wasn't going to be told anything.
"Go on upstairs, Harry," Remus said as he passed seemingly on his way to say farewell to an Order member calling his name. "Sirius and I will be up there to explain as soon as we can."
Harry nodded and offering the minimum greetings needed as he retreated upstairs. He didn't have to wait as long as he feared, when less than an hour later Remus and Sirius showed up at his bedroom door.
"Where are Ron and Hermione?" Remus asked.
"I heard something about the library before they disappeared," Harry answered not really caring. Remus walked away in the direction of the library as Sirius made himself comfortable in his armchair.
"You okay, Sirius?"
His godfather looked up, confused at the question. "Yeah, I'm just tired."
They sat in silence, facing one another until Remus returned with Ron and Hermione in tow. Harry just stared at the wall until they settled, Remus in a conjured chair, Ron and Hermione on the bed.
"What has the headmaster decided?" Harry asked.
Remus and Sirius shared a look and Harry almost feared they weren't going to tell him anything. "He wanted you to go into hiding, and while there to train."
"Train?" Hermione asked. "Train for what?"
Remus opened his mouth to answer, but looked at Harry and stopped. "You didn't tell them?"
Harry shook his head just as Hermione exclaimed, "Tell us what?!"
Harry groaned and buried his face in his hands. Ron sounded concerned when he said, "What's going on?"
Silence descended on the group and Harry knew his guardians were just letting him figure out how to tell them. Instead of beating around the issue he said without looking at them, "I know why Voldemort is after me."
Harry expected yelling, gasps of surprise anything but not the silence the declaration was met with. Harry looked up to see concern on Hermione's face and fear on Ron's.
"How long have you known?"
"Since May," he answered. "Just after the Ministry..." Harry looked over just as Sirius looked away and he vowed to talk through it with him. "Dumbledore took me aside to explain everything and he finally told me why Voldemort's been after me all these years."
"Which is?" Hermione prompted.
Harry wanted to glare at her but refrained. "A prophecy was made a few months before I was born." Harry turned away to look out the window. "It said that the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord would be born at the end of July and he would have power the Dark Lord knew not."
"But that could be anyone born -"
"You forgot the bit about having parents that defied him three times," Sirius said. "That drastically shortens the list."
"Yeah, to two," Harry responded sarcastically.
"Who -?" Hermione started only to stop at Harry shaking his head.
"I won't make them a target anymore than they already are."
"So You-know-who is after you over a prophecy?" Ron said.
"His name is Voldemort, Ron, or if you prefer Tom." Ron sent him a bland look and Harry dropped it. "Anyway, yeah, he's after me because of a bunch of words someone deemed a prophecy. One that has already cost me so much..." He trailed off and got a far-away look, then shook his head. "As much as I love to be ready for the epic final battle, I won't hide. Not from him."
Despite looking unsurprised, Remus and Sirius both looked sad and Harry turned away. "That's what we told Albus. That's why we volunteered to teach Defense this year."
"Both of you?"
"It was Dumbledore's stipulation. Something about the board not liking it."
"Oh, Merlin!" Harry jerked in his seat, a strange look passing through his eyes as Ron jumped up and started pacing. "You-Know-Who's taken over the Ministry, right?" There were a chorus of yeses. "So what is stopping him from taking Hogwarts? He has one of his most loyal Death Eaters on the School Board."
"Malfoy..." Hermione breathed.
"Albus already thought of it," Remus placated. "He is activating ancient laws that render the school independent of the government."
"As it was when it was founded," Hermione said.
Remus glanced at her. "Basically, yes."
"Will that work?" Ron asked.
Remus opened his mouth to answer but a whispered voice answered, "No."
The four turned to Harry, who sat looking away from them and out the window. "He needs an heir of one of the founders to do the ancient rites. The only known heir is -"
"Voldemort," Sirius finished. "Do you think Albus thought of that?" he asked Remus.
"I don't know. Most likely. But Dumbledore also said that Voldemort is going to take over of the entire wizarding world and now that he has the Ministry it is only a matter of time before we are all in danger. He was hoping that by separating Hogwarts that we would still have a safe haven."
"But why kill the muggle prime minister?" Hermione asked. "It's not like he is a threat to us. In fact, it may expose us and he doesn't want that, at least not this early."
"Maybe it was a ritual?" Harry suggested before he even realized he was speaking.
"For what?" Hermione asked and Harry tried not to over-listen and hear the condescending tone that wasn't there.
He shrugged. "There could be a lot of dark rituals that require someone not of magical blood and he may have wanted to make a statement that he can get to anyone."
The rest looked thoughtful. "I do not want to know what he is trying to accomplish with something like that," Ron said and Harry smiled.
"Be that as it may, Professor Dumbledore doesn't want any of us out of the house for the foreseeable future, just in case. He is trying to figure out a secure way to get to Hogwarts that doesn't include taking the train. Too many people know about it."
They sat in silence for a few minutes until Hermione checked her watch and yawned. "I think I am going to head to bed."
Ron jumped up. "I'll walk you down." Sirius and Harry tried not to laugh too loud, but Harry could still see Ron's ears reddening. Soon after the pair left Remus also decided to head to bed and Harry and Sirius were alone. The room was quiet as they sat merely taking comfort in each other's presence.
Somewhere in the house a clock struck the hour with a horrible screeching sound and Harry looked over at Sirius curiously. "Never heard that one before."
Sirius flinched. "The silencing charm must have worn off again. I've been meaning to get a new clock." Sirius sighed and stood. "But it will have to wait till tomorrow. Try to get some sleep, okay?" At Harry's nod, he bent over and kissed his head, just like a father would and both were surprised that it felt right.
"Goodnight, Sirius," Harry whispered as he walked out. Sirius smiled and shut the door.
... ... ... ...
Harry waited until he heard his godfather's door shut to stand and walk over to his desk. He opened the chest carefully and pulled a key and journal out. After examining the key he turned to the journal. Red leather was the only thing special about the cover, no title or name. On the inside, on the first page, it read:
Ddewiswyd o Myrddin
*** *** ***
Laughter rippled through the bustling court yard as Merlin seemed to be trying to get away from a furious looking Arthur Pendragon. Yet at closer inspection, Arthur was just as amused, just better at hiding it. No one really knew why the court sorcerer was running away from the king, but they knew it was nothing horrible from the laughter echoing through the halls of the citadel.
Gwen looked up from her sewing and smiled as Merlin burst in and hid behind her chair. "What did you do this time?" she asked not even looking behind her.
"Nothing!" Merlin declared. "Honest!" Then burst into loud laughter.
"You aren't much of a difficult find, Merlin," Arthur said. Gwen looked over to see her husband leaning against the doorway. "At least you could have tried to keep quiet."
Merlin snorted as he stood behind Gwen's chair leaning against it with his chin resting on his fists and waited.
Arthur pushed off the door and slowly made his way across the room toward the pair. "Care to explain why my crown turned to flowers in front of everyone today?" Gwen snorted and Arthur glared half-heartedly at her. When Merlin didn't answer the king moved a little closer. "Don't you think that the Royal Court Sorcerer and Advisor-On-All-Things-Magical should be above such childish pranks."
"Well, to be fair, I didn't actually turn your crown into flowers, I merely replaced it with the garland, which your wife so graciously made for me." Arthur smiled at Gwen's look, one that said, 'I have no idea what he is talking about'. "The crown is fine and siting in your rooms," Merlin said with a smile but the smile fell as he cocked his head to the side as if listening to the wind and Arthur learned a long time ago that he probably was.
"What is it?" Arthur asked just as Merlin darted out the door. Arthur and Gwen shared a look before he said, "You better stay here." She nodded reluctantly as Arthur followed the warlock. By the time he reached the courtyard, Merlin stood in front of the figure of the Great Dragon. Around them the towns folk watched in awe. The pair of magical creatures (as Arthur liked to tease Merlin about) seemed to be conversing as Merlin's body became more and more ridged. "Thank you, Kilgharrah," he whispered. The Dragon nodded regally and turned to Arthur.
"It is good to see you, Young Pendragon," he said. "I only hope to see you again under better circumstances."
"It is good to see you as well, Kilgharrah," Arthur greeted. "To what do we owe the honor of visit?"
"I am afraid such news is not for all to hear. I told Merlin all that I know and that I will return if I find out anymore." The dragon turned back to Merlin. "Fear not, young one, it is not the end," Kilgharrah reassured spreading his wings wide. Merlin backed away allowing Kilgharrah room and was one of the few that remained on his feet as the great dragon launched himself into the air.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked when it seemed he wasn't going to move.
"I've called the knights," he said as he turned and walked back toward the citadel. "We need to prepare." Arthur followed swallowing his comments of impertinence and 'who do you think the king is here, Merlin?'. His closest knights and friends were already in the council room when the pair arrived. Gawain was lounging back in his chair, his feet propped on Elyan's empty chair. Elyan was calmly ignoring the man, talking with Leon and Percival about that day's training session and the batch of new trainees that had arrived over the past few days. Merlin held back the pain that was Lancelot's empty chair but instead forced Arthur to sit as he stood and faced the group.
"Mordred rides for Camelot." Arthur was silent as the knights murmured between them.
"For good or ill?" Arthur asked.
"Kilgharah didn't know for sure, but he rides while an army assembles outside Albion's boarders."
"It would take that army a good month to even get close to the city," Gawaine pointed out. "Now doubt they would burn and pillage all along the way."
"What do you think he wants, Merlin?" Elyan asked.
Merlin dropped unceremoniously into his chair and took a deep breath. "Revenge, I believe."
"Revenge?" Leon asked. "Revenge for what?"
"My father's treatment of his kind, Morgana -"
"Its doesn't have anything to do with any of that," Merlin interrupted. His face was in his hands and was leaning against the table. "He's after me."
"What are you talking about?" Arthur countered and Merlin sighed.
"Back when we went to retrieve that crystal from Alvaar and Mordred, the one they thought told the future, or held power, or some such nonsense. I tried to stop Mordred from escaping and he was almost killed by the knights. He vowed he would never forget or forgive me."
"But why has he chosen now? Why after so many years?" Leon asked he was the only knight in the group who was around to know what event Merlin was talking about.
"I don't know," Merlin said. Then he got a far away look in his eyes. "But I know someone who might."
Arthur got a hard look in his eyes. "No, Merlin. You are not going to her. Morgana will never help you."
Merlin smiled. "I wasn't talking about Morgana."