AN: Ok so here's the next chapter :) YAY!

Merlin hiked through the woods slowly towards the clearing where Killigarah waited for him. The dragon stood proudly before the warlock a look of irritation on his face "What took you so long?"

"You woke me up in the middle of the night, I'm old it takes time for me to get ready"

"You don't have to be old."

"It's easier." Merlin replied and it was true, years ago when he had tried to be a part of society he'd found being old got him more respect.

But after so many years Merlin was no longer willing to watch those around him die with no hope of doing the same himself and so he had moved to the mountains away from anyone and anything. It had just been easier to stay this way, an old man. "Why are you here, It's been three hundred years" Merlin accused him.

"I am not the one who cut himself off from the old religion"

"It hurts less this way." Merlin stated no emotion in his voice. After isolating himself 250 years ago he had also cut himself off from not just the old religion but also magic entirely. I don't want to! If I cannot use magic, then what have I got? I'm just a nobody, and I always will be! If I cannot use magic... I might as well die. The words that Merlin had spoken so very long ago came unbidden to his mind. He remembered how wrong it would have felt back then to be cut off from magic, but Merlin had lost hope long ago. He had spiraled into deep depression and his magic had been a constant reminder of what had been and so he had run from it, unwilling to remember his past. "What does it matter, now tell me why are you here? I know it isn't just to say hello those times have long past." Merlin stated bitterly.

"If that's how you want to be fine. Merlin your help is needed; open yourself to the old religion for much has happened since your disappearance."

"What could they have possibly done that is so bad that my help is needed?"

"Open your heart Merlin and you will know." and with that Killigarah spread his great wings and flew off

"Always so vague, it's irritating" Merlin grumbled, he stared after the dragon and sighed before he settled himself on a large bolder he let out a nervous breath and he began to break down the walls he had so meticulously built. Letting magic stream back into his body was an overwhelming feeling; all at once the gray veil he had been living under was lifted. His whole world changed he could feel everything around him every tree and blade of grass and every animal for miles the magic sang deeply at being released. Merlin's breath was stolen from him as he opened his mind… Impossible! But it was there a darkness. He was no longer the only one of the old religion in this world and Merlin would recognize that magic anywhere.

"Morgana" Merlin whispered aloud his voice overflowing with emotion. Who would dare bring her back?! Who would be so stupid? He reached out begging for information, and his magic showed him all that he had missed. His eyes grew hard at the mention of Voldemort people like this sorcerer disgusted him. Then he learned of Harry Potter and his destiny; the boy was a lot like he had been, so young but with so much riding on his shoulders. Merlin in that moment hardened his resolve he would go to this school and he would stop Morgana and maybe he would be able to help this boy on his way.

And so Merlin made his way back to his cabin a plan forming in his head.

~~~~~Hogwarts~~~~~~~~

Dumbledore reread the letter for the third time; it was from a young boy named Lance Du Lac. He was 15 and had until now been homeschooled by his uncle but apparently with the rise of Voldemort his uncle had decided it would be safer if he were to attend Hogwarts. He was writing to ask if they would accept him. Part of Dumbledore was suspicious after all it was such an odd request one he had never received before, and it came now of all times after Voldemort had regained his body. For all he knew the boy could be a Death Eater.

Yet another part of him, the professor in him, could not bring himself to say no. This boy could be as innocent as anyone desperately looking for a safe place to learn magic. In the end Dumbledore's compassion won over his suspicion and so he found himself writing a reply admitting the boy to the school and filling him in on the procedure that would be followed.

~~~~~~start of term~~~~~~~~~~

The school year came quickly and Merlin took a deep breath as he stepped off the Knight Bus, his large trunk and tawny owl were unloaded by a thin gangly man named Stan. Merlin thanked the man graciously and began to make his way inside. How long had it been since he'd been around people? He wondered how he would possibly manage. Merlin's only saving grace was that he was going to a place where he would not have to deal with mortal technology.

He wheeled his cart through the wall and onto platform 9 3/4 with ease. He used his wand, fashioned from the wood of the Sidh staff (the only thing that would hold his magic) to place his luggage with the rest. Merlin wished Archimedes, his owl, a good trip before making his way down the corridor trying to find an empty carriage.

He made it all the way to the last few carriages before he found one with a lone girl. She had blonde wavy hair and was wearing the oddest pair of glasses as she read what looked like an old magazine upside down. Merlin was startled a bit when she swung her head toward him; she had large blue eyes and she smiled at him. Merlin smiled back and opened the door "Sorry for disturbing you, I was wondering if I could join you?"

"Of course" she said softly. Merlin made his way into the carriage and settled down on the seat opposite the girl next to the window.

"I'm Lance by the way" Merlin felt odd using the name of his old friend but he couldn't think of another name to use and he had found himself writing out Lance's before he knew it.

"I'm Luna"

"It's a pleasure" He nodded politely "...um... I'm sorry but what are you wearing" he gestured to her glasses.

"These are Spectraspecs they let me see things that are invisible" she explained in the same soft airy voice not at all bothered by Merlin's question. "I've never seen you before are you new?"

"Yes I'm a transfer student; I used to be homeschooled."

"How odd…" she stated her head cocked slightly. Merlin felt weird being called odd by a girl whose every action screamed odd. He opened his mouth to question her on her magazine but before he could the carriage door was pulled open and a ginger haired girl entered.

"Hello Luna!" she said then paused as she caught sight of Merlin "Oh... hello" she said with a lot less enthusiasm then when she had greeted Luna.

"Who're you?" another voice asked; Merlin looked past the ginger girl where two boys stood. One was round and nervous looking and the other boy, the one that had spoken, was thin and lanky with messy black hair and intense green eyes. Merlin instantly recognized him as Harry Potter.

"Harry don't be rude" the red head scolded

"Sorry" the boy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly

"It's alright, my name's Lance I'm a transfer student."

"A transfer student? I've never heard of such a thing before." The girl stated looking suspicous

"Yes, I was homeschooled but with Voldemort *flinch* being back and all we decided it would be in my best interest to continue my education here. I'm really glad I got accepted!"

"You said his name" Harry stated staring at him.

"What?" Merlin asked.

"You said Voledmort *twitch* most people are to scared to say it"

"Fear of the name increases fear of the thing itself." Merlin explained; how silly to be scared of a name he thought.

"You remind me of Hermionie" Harry laughed

"Who?"

"Just one of my friends, she and Ron are prefects this year so they're in a different carriage." the three took their seats and Merlin was introduced to them

"I'm Ginny Weasley by the way, and this is Neville" she introduced herself and the round boy next to her. He smiled in response.

"It's nice to meet you both," He turned to Harry, of course he knew who the boy was but it was polite to introduce oneself. When the boy didn't step up to it Merlin decided to take things into his own hands "and you are?"

"Umm... you don't know me?"

"Should I?" Merlin asked making Harry smile brightly

"No not at all, my name is Harry, Harry Potter"

"Ah wow, sorry I should have recognized you." Merlin played along

"No don't worry about it" Harry seemed happy to be able to introduce himself normally. The rest of the trip went by quickly their friendly conversation interrupted only briefly when Harry's friends Ron and Hermionie joined the group. They had had to squish a bit to fit the two but it had been a fun trip.

Part of Merlin wanted to stay away from these people wanted to stay unattached but it had been so long since he had had a real friend.

"Bye Lance see you later" the others called waving as they moved to join the rest of the second through seventh years. Merlin himself was to go with the first years towards the boats.

He sighed preparing himself for what was sure to be a very rough blow. Merlin had done his research on Hogwarts and was surprised by its location. Hogwarts was Camelot; the founders had found the ruins of the once great kingdom and had transformed it into a school of magic. The irony made Merlin smile bitterly, he knew as soon as he found out about it that the year was going to be tough. To be so close to his past, to have it within his reach but being unable to grasp onto it.

And, as if that wasn't enough, there was the lake. Merlin would never be able to forget it, the lake held all his most tragic memories and now he would be constantly in its presence. Destiny was a cruel cruel mistress to torture him so. They turned the corner and merlin stopped in his tracks despite trying to prepare himself as best he could; seeing it here so close had shocked him deeply. The other first years pushed past him some with rude comments but Merlin paid them no mind staring at the lake pain clear in his eyes. He snapped himself out of his memories and took a deep breath moving to climb into one of the many boats. He drifted over the lake his eyes staring at the surface he reached out his hand brushing the water gently knowing Avalon was just beyond his reach.

Merlin heard the other first years gasp and he moved his head towards the castle. Camelot. The castle was so different; it had been rebuilt with a million more windows, its protective walls had been torn down, and a couple new towers had been added as well as covered bridge. The whole place was alight and Merlin felt suddenly exhausted. He had been running from his past for a long time and now he could run no longer.

Merlin followed the first years up a large staricase and in front of a set of large double doors. He knew exactly what lay behind these doors, had stood here so many times so long ago.

The throne room, despite all the changes the layout of the castle was still basically the same. A stern witch in Emerald green robes greeted them and made her speech about the houses and being a family she talked about losing and gaining points and then she left them alone and walked back into what she called the Great Hall.

Merlin turned his thoughts to the four houses Gryffindor the house of the brave, Ravenclaw the house of the wise, Hufflepuff the house of the loyal, and Slytherin the house of the cunning. Merlin placed his friends in each of the categories. The knights would've been in Gryffindor, Gwen and Gaius would have been in Ravenclaw, Morgana would have been in Slytherin, not because she was evil but because even before she had changed she had been cunning. She had proven it on many occasions. Merlin himself would have been in Hufflepuff and yet even as he knew that he found himself hoping to be placed in a different house.

Professor McGonnagal was back, she led them all into the Great Hall. Merlin looked around the room. It in itself was the same, the only differences were the four tables representing the four houses and the fifth table positioned at the head of the room for the professors. Merlin felt a small spark of anger at the old man in the middle, Dumbledore, because he was seated in 'his' throne. A place only met for one person. Merlin knew his anger was unfounded no one here knew that the castle they now lived in was once a kingdom of legends.

He watched as McGonnagal explained the sorting ceremony and found himself relieved; it meant he had a chance on getting into the house he wanted. Mcgonnagal continued, announcing that they had a fifth year transfer student and that he would be sorted first. "Lance Du Lac" she called after her announcement. He made his way up to the sorting hat all eyes were on him and he felt increasingly nervous. It was silly really he had been through so much more than this but he was nervous all the same. Merlin sat on the stool and the hat was placed onto his head.

"Well I'd never thought I'd see this" the hat sounded awed and Merlin felt his cheeks burning "I see you have a house already in mind"

"I do" he replied

"Of course I would be honored to grant such a simple request"

"Thank you"

"GRYFFINDOR" the hat yelled out. The whole hall clapped and the Gryffindors cheered loudly. There were a few jeers from Slytherin but Merlin didn't mind. He walked over to the Gryffindor table.

"Lance over here!" it was Hermionie and seated next to her was Ron and Harry. They smiled at him and he smiled back taking a seat next to the three of them.

AN: PLEASE REVIEW! KING ARTHUR DEMANDS IT!