Merlin's Chosen
Summary: Arthur has slept in Avalon, the otherworldly place just beyond the reach of magic for all but Merlin and his chosen, recovering from the injuries sustained in the battle at Camlann. Years have passed and times have changed and Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry has taken it's place on the edge of the Lake of Avalon, unknown to modern witches and wizards. The world is in need of the Once and Future King to protect Albion again but to do that the immortal Merlin, the man that has learned to live backwards, must be there and he is nowhere to be found. It is now the job of Merlin's Chosen. Only, Harry Potter thinks he's going mental. This is based on the mountains that are around the movie version of Hogwarts and the lake that Merlin takes Freya to in season 2 episode 9.
A/N: I will say that I know Lord Voldemort is OOC but I had such a blast writing the scene that I didn't have the heart to change it. I am glad that we have finally gotten to another major plot point that I was looking forward to getting to! I really hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter XIII:
Harry slipped quietly back into his life between classes, homework, learning how to control his newfound magical method, and learning all he could from the journal, there wasn't much time for anything much more than sleep, much less Quidditch, much to the chagrin of Ron (Despite the season starting while Harry was still in the hospital wing and Harry never bothering to ask about his really was a fantastic Seeker.). Harry still went flying when it felt like too much and liked to think that when he waved at the dark waters of the Black Lake that Freya waved back.
"Well, that's new," Sirius said on a chilly day near the end of October; the rain falling particularly hard against the window.
"What is?" Harry asked clamping down on the sudden worry.
"Cast for me?" Sirius requested.
Harry shrugged and filled the bucket with clear water.
"We are going to have to mask that," Sirius said. "How could we miss your eyes glowing gold?"
"What?" Harry asked. The worry was back in full force as he remembered Merlin's accounts in the journal.
"Don't worry!" Sirius said. "We can just put a glamour on your glasses to mask it."
"Do you know how to do that?" Harry asked.
"Er… no."
Harry fell gracelessly into his armchair. "What are we going to do? I can't go to class with glowing eyes! I can only imagine the rumors!"
"Harry, as far was we know, the last wizard to have glowing eyes was Merlin himself," Sirius said.
"And as far as my research goes, he was classified as a dark wizard because of his ability to not use a wand or a focus of any kind. We both know how people feel about dark wizards these days," Harry ranted.
"Then we need to find a way to mask it and then people will never know."
"But you just said you don't know how to do that."
"Then we find someone who can," Sirius said. "And my first choice is Professor Flitwick."
Harry smiled at the thought of his Charms professor, but he still thought they needed secrecy on their side. "Can we count on his discretion?" Harry asked and then blanched. Despite it all, he hated keeping secrets.
"The only other person or combination of people, quite honestly, would be Hermione and Remus." Sirius thought for a moment. "But Filius is a master for a reason and we are marked for time." Sirius thought for a moment. "We could gain a bit more time if we ask Madame Pomfrey that she is worried about your magic levels still and to tell your teachers that you shouldn't be using magic so soon."
Harry hated the idea but it had merit and nodded waiting as his godfather made a quick call to the matron. Harry let his head fall back against the chair and groaned. "Why couldn't I have been a normal wizard?"
"Come on now, Harry," Sirius said with a smile. "Where's the fun in that?" Harry snorted. "Am I asking Filius then?"
Harry sighed and nodded.
... ... ... ... ... ...
"Come along, Merlin." Merlin tried not to groan as he was pulled toward the training ground. Arthur had been insufferable for days due to not only council meetings concerning an alliance with Mithian's kingdom, but the insistent rain that had been pouring for the last three days. It was the first nice day since Mithian arrived and Arthur was going to use it for training. Merlin hoped he wouldn't be required to hold the punching bag. He was sore for days after the last time.
"Oh, thank the Gods," Merlin whispered when he spied most of the knights on the grounds. He must not have said it softly enough because Arthur glared at him.
"Oh, please, Merlin. We both could use some time under the sun. You can't be cooped up in your tower all the time."
"Then why did you give me the tower?" Merlin said. "The windows are quite wide and I get a lot of sun throughout the day."
"While that may be true, Merlin. Nothing can replace feeling the earth under your feet."
Merlin looked down then up into the king's eyes. "Oh, yes. I believe I will be feeling this muddy earth for days after this."
Arthur rolled his eyes before slinging his arm around Merlin's neck into a soft headlock and pulled him toward the practicing knights.
"Sassed the king again, eh, Merlin?" Gawain called.
Merlin squawked as he was released and stumbled across the muddy ground. "Oh you know me, Gawain, there is not a week that goes by that His Pratness doesn't threaten me with the stocks for my sass."
"It's a good thing that you are Court Sorcerer now with that kind of talk," the mild voice of Gwen said.
"But don't think that you are immune to the stocks," Arthur said making his way over to the arriving ladies. "Hello, my dear," he said before offering her a wildflower.
Merlin made sure he was hiding behind Gawain when he made the mock gagging noise only to smile brightly at the giggling Gwen and Mithian. He ignored Arthur's mild glare. "My ladies," he said bowing.
"My lord," Mithian greeted and Merlin tried not to blanch at the title. He was still getting used to it. Gwen merely nodded with a bright smile of her own.
Merlin produced a group of wildflowers of his own (he thought he heard Arthur mutter show off) and offered them to Mithian. "My lady, would you do me the honor of saving me from these brutes and walk with me around the gardens?"
Gawain snorted and mocked at being hurt. "Brutes? Did you hear that, your majesty?" he asked Gwen. "Can you believe he would call us brutes?"
"Considering how you pound on him so, I believe I can, Sir Gawain," Gwen responded and then laughed.
"I would be delighted for a turn around the gardens, my lord," Mithian answered. "And I think it best that we leave now before these fine knights get any more ideas."
"I believe you are right, my lady," Merlin said offering her his arm and leading them away from the training ground. "How long do you think it will take Arthur to think I am courting you?" Merlin asked when they had gotten far enough away.
"The moment I arrived apparently," Mithian answered. "Gwen had to reassure him as soon as you offered to show me the way to my chambers."
Merlin snorted. "Then Gwen owes me money." Merlin had to restrain from glancing back at Arthur when Mithian laughed.
They were on their second tour of the gardens when Merlin felt the change in the breeze and froze. "Merlin?" He almost didn't hear Mithian's soft question.
HIs head darted toward the training grounds when there were a rushing of wings, a thump, and more than a few screams as a white dragon landed in the sunlight.
"Stop!" He yelled from across the grounds as knights all around reached for their blades. "Stop! I know her!"
"Her?!" Arthur exclaimed shrewdly.
Merlin ran to stand in front of the dragon while trying to block the knights from attacking. "Of course, I know her, Arthur, because I hatched her." He faced the dragon and smiled brightly. "Aithusa!" he greeted before diving in for a hug.
"It is good to see you, Emrys." Aithusa greeted.
"Emrys?" he heard the question behind him and he tried not to flinch as he faced Mithian.
Rather than upset, the princess seemed intrigued. "It's what the druids call me."
"Indeed?" Mithian asked. "I've heard stories of this Emrys."
Merlin snorted. "I've heard them, too." He turned back to Aithusa. "Any particular reason you have come to visit me?"
"I am afraid I bring tidings from Kilgharrah, tidings that he could not bring himself." Merlin sobered. "There have been rumblings up north."
"What sort of rumblings?" Merlin asked.
"Of invaders from beyond the sea."
"We've heard them, as well," Arthur said. "From all parts."
"However, Kilgharrah has reason to believe they are being led by the druid you know as Mordred."
... ... ... ... ... ...
"I shall require the days surrounding Halloween off including the day of," Morgan said rather suddenly the week before the holiday.
"Why?" Harry blurted then blushed. "I'm sorry. Sure, no problem. Do you want me to work on anything during class time?"
"I have a few chapters for you to read and I want you to write a summary for me. At least a foot, but if you find something interesting, please, write more." Harry had a feeling he would find something interesting. "And since you asked, my family and I observe Samhain instead of Halloween and I wish to be with them during that time."
"Samhain?" Harry asked. "Isn't that a holiday of the Old Religion?"
Harry wasn't sure if it was possible to surprise Morgan Penne but he seemed to have done it by the look on her face. "Where did you hear such a term?"
"What? Old Religion?" She nodded and Harry shrugged. "I found some journals in my family vault this summer and I've been reading up on my family history. I came across the term and have been doing my own reading when I can. Which isn't much because of everything that has happened." He didn't want to say it was only one journal. He wasn't even sure if he could and did not want to test the theory.
Harry thought she stifled a snort and smiled in agreement. "You are correct, Mr. Potter," she affirmed. "But it's more correct to say holy day. It wasn't just observed by the Old Religion but many on the isles that became this United Kingdom and beyond. Halloween has its origins in Samhain."
"How do you observe Samhain?" Harry asked. "I found that how my family did it changed over the years and I found conflicting methods in my reading."
"Why are you so curious?" Morgan asked with a smile on her face.
Harry shrugged again, suddenly bashful. "I guess I found the ideas behind it comforting."
Morgan's smile softened. "Of course. How about instead of a potion we talk about that next class?"
Harry returned her smile with one of his own. "I'd like that."
A bell rang throughout the grounds and Harry quickly packed up wanting to get to Charms with enough time to talk to Professor Flitwick before class. "Thanks, Morgan!" He called and she waved him off as the door closed behind him.
He hurried through the halls dodging past confused looking first years and stressed fifth and seventh years and was glad to see his friends outside the charms classroom.
"Hey guys, how was your last class?" he greeted as they stood waiting for the door to open.
"It was good, Harry," Hermione said as Ron nodded in agreement. "Arithmancy is getting quite interesting now that we are finally past review."
"And Hagrid covered the Diricawl, which the Muggles call the dodo bird apparently. He would have had one to show us, but the Ministry blocked his application to bring one into the country."
"But I thought the Dodo bird was extinct?" Harry said.
"Yeah, Hagrid said that Muggles thought they killed them all, but they like to turn invisible so they were probably hiding."
"How was Potions today?"
"It was pretty good, actually. I'm learning a lot from Morgan. A whole lot more than I did from Snape anyway…" He trailed off as the door opened and Professor Flitwick started ushering students in. "You guys go on I want to talk to Professor Flitwick for a second. Save me a seat, yeah?" They nodded and Harry waited for the rest of his classmates to enter before pulling the small professor aside.
"May I ask you a quick question, Professor?"
"Of course, Mr. Potter."
"Did Professor Black speak to you?"
"Yes, he did."
"Have you found anything?" Harry asked. He tried not to seem too anxious, but he wanted to be able to do magic without having to worry about his eyes glowing.
"Not as of yet, but I have some ideas. I will let you know when I have found something."
"Thank you, Professor, for doing this. It really does mean a lot."
"Oh, think nothing of it, Mr. Potter. I do this a lot more than you think." With a sly smile, he ushered Harry into the classroom to start the lesson.
... ... ... ... ... ... ...
The small altar was so very different from the one he shared with his mother so long ago.
He didn't bother to say anything as he lit the candles that surrounded the small meal. The other side knew who he was honoring as he did every year since Camlaan and tried not to think about the many names he added to the list over the years.
Merlin tried not to give into the depression that threatened to take over every year at Samhain. He smiled sadly and whispered, "Yr wyf yn anrhydeddu chi." before leaving the candles to burn the night away.
He blatantly ignored the vial of clear water that sat on his bedside table, something he had been doing since it appeared there over two months before. Shortly after the mists started blanketing the land… He shook his head against the thought and continued to ignore it as he readied for bed and turning his back on it to try to get some sleep on a night that had been sleepless for many years.
Near midnight he heard the screams and winced as pain lanced through his head, but smiled when the spell from so long ago fizzle into nothing and the fabric between worlds remained intact.
... ... ... ... ... ...
Lord Voldemort heard the man beside him start to mutter quietly that got progressively louder until he realized that he didn't know what language it was and was starting to sound a bit dangerous as his companion got angrier and angrier. he let out a sudden shout and dropped the knife he was holding with a resounding clang. And Lord Voldemort could see the relief on the oaf Fudge's face, even when his muggle counterpart was already dead.
"Damn you, Emrys!" his companion exclaimed.
"What is it?"
"We're going to have to find another way," he said.
"But you said this was the only way!" Lord Voldemort said.
"Well, that way has been blocked!" he said and stormed off. "And get rid of the body before he starts to stink!"
"Blocked? How is that even possible!?" Lord Voldemort said. "And by who? I thought you were the most powerful —"
"That's when I thought HE wasn't still around."
"Who? This Emrys?" Lord Voldemort asked.
"Yes! Emrys! He has been thwarting me for centuries!" He said before slamming the door like a petulant child. "And remember to get rid of the body!" He shouted through the door.
"Wormtail!" The mousy man appeared from the shadows. "Dump the body."
"Where, my Lord?"
"I don't care. Put it in front of their parliament. That should please them."
"As you wish, my lord." The two were gone with a snap and Lord Voldemort began to wonder how his life got so twisted.
... ... ... ... ... ...
Harry realized half way through the Halloween feast that for the first time in a long time he was actually having fun. Between his friends antics and the funny faces Sirius pulled behind Remus's back the night was full of laughs and sweets.
He managed to sneak a few things from the meal for what his friends thought were midnight snacks, not like he needed to. Dobby had been doing that for the whole tower for over a year.
No, he had other plans for the treats as the feast began to break up and students and teachers alike with sugar highs began to crash and head to bed. He waved off the offers of games of chess and Exploding Snap in favor of a late night cup of tea with Sirius and Remus.
"You know you could actually spend time with your friends instead of us old people," Sirius said forgoing a greeting.
"Oi!" Remus called from the small kitchenette. "Speak for yourself, Old-timer!"
Harry snorted. "Yeah, I know, but I wanted to do the ritual before I went to bed."
"Before climbing all those stairs you mean," Remus said bringing the tea with him as Harry settled into his armchair.
"Alright, you caught me!" Harry admitted. "But you have to admit it is a lot of stairs." He thanked Remus for the hot cup of tea and took a sip as the other two bickered over the latest round of essays.
He was starting to wonder if he even should go through with it, but as he looked at the bundle of food on the table and the set of candles by the fireplace, he knew he had to.
Harry stood and made his way to the small altar after grabbing the bundle. He hardly noticed Remus and Sirius had fallen silent as he kneeled in front of the fireplace.
"To the ones we lost in the face of battle. To the ones we lost in the face of love. To the ones we lost to the face of evil. We honor you." Harry set out different parts of the meal and smiled when Remus and Sirius joined him by the fireplace.
"To the ones we lost to unrepentant family. We honor you," Sirius said lighting one candle. Harry made a note to ask him what he meant as he watched Sirius watch the flame with a pained look.
"To the ones we lost to traitorous friends. We honor you." Remus lit a candle and shared a small sad smile with Sirius.
Quietly Harry lit the last candle and shivered at a light cold breeze. He smiled knowing that at least his parents were there and almost started crying at the overwhelming love he suddenly felt, only to let the tears fall when he saw the tears on Sirius's and Remus's faces.
A couple of hours later, he sank gratefully in the Sirius offered guest bed and quickly fell asleep, dreaming not a single dream.