Author's Note:

Again, sorry it's so late, also that it's really short... sorry. :/

So... Merry anniversary of Merlin everyone (Or Christmas eve, whatever you prefer) and... MERRY CHRISTMAS! XD Hope you all enjoy yourselves!

Chapter 13: I'll Come Back to Haunt You

"Oh god," The withered parchment was stretched tightly between his hands, but as Merlin looked up it loosened, falling slowly to his lap.

"What?" Ginny asked; she and Hermione where fixing him with a long hard stare, which, if they had not been allies, he would have quivered under.

"The sword…" Merlin said, shutting his eyes and biting the side of his lip as he did so, "has vanished."

"What?" Ginny repeated, "How is that possible? Why?"

"I don't know." Merlin got up, striding across the room, up and down; thinking.

Minutes past, the three sat in silence wondering why on earth this had happened.

Suddenly, Merlin stopped, and turning slowly on his heel he said: "Unless…"

He paused, and gradually his breath became heavier.

"Oh, god," he said again, rubbing the back of his neck in anguish.

"Merlin?" Hermione asked darkly.

Merlin locked gazes with her, and almost cautiously he recited: "Old ghosts not only of good but of evil may join your plight."

Hermione leaned back in her chair and put her hands to palms to her face, before dragging them away and looking up at Merlin. Ginny looked at them both in turn, confusion etched on her face, before realising herself and letting out a long deep breath.

"Morgana, it must be!" Merlin exclaimed, sitting back down in his chair. "I wished never to see her again. When she died… When I killed her, I thought it was over. It seems I was wrong." He groaned, and fixed the wall with a cold stare. "She is everything I despise."

He sat back in his chair and watched Ginny and Hermione.

"We have to go to Hogwarts. It's the only way I can find out for sure."

"But Merlin," Hermione cut in "if Morgana really is at or near Hogwarts, surely it's too dangerous!"

Merlin sighed "I have to. You two don't have to come, but I'm going. And I'm afraid there's nothing you can say that will stop me."

With that he got up, hands clenched into fists, and ran up the stairs.

"Merlin, thank goodness!" Harry approached him at a fierce pace, his long ambivalent strides making short work of the corridor. "I'm guessing you got my letter?" he asked as he reached him.

Merlin nodded, watching the swarm of pupils as they filed past, with an air of great suspicion; he moved into the shadows as McGonagall walked past, leniently nodding at Harry as she did so, but instead of exclaiming at the presence of a man in his late twenties, she seemed to look straight past Merlin as if he were not really there.

Harry looked at his watch and looking back at Merlin he said: "I have to go to class now, but I need to talk to you… there's something I couldn't put in that letter I sent you." His voice lowered at those last words, and he looked around cautiously, suddenly seeming to realise something, he looked back at Merlin.

"Did Ginny and Hermione not come with you?" He exclaimed, craning his head to look for his non-existant wife and friend.

"Oh, yeah!" Merlin answered, "They said they'd gone to the Room of Requirement."

"Right… Okay how about I get Ron and we meet you there, then we can explain everything properly," Harry said.

Merlin nodded, turning away, but as he did, Harry caught him by the arm.

"How'd you know it was that way?"

Merlin raised his eyebrow as if thinking and paused before exclaiming. "I um, can feel it… the room. It, uh, has a magical essence of the old religion, so I can track it."

He smiled widely at Harry, one of those 'I don't expect you'll believe me' smiles, which he had used so many times before when trying to explain something inexpiable to Arthur.

Hiding the grin, he turned, walking quickly away. Merlin rolled his eyes as he remembered how ridiculous the lie he had just told must have sounded.

Swiftly he rounded a corner, not noticing the boy in a black, Gryffindor cloak as he marched on. The boy watched him walk, his bright blue eyes followed him nervously, recognition filling them. As Merlin disappeared, he backed away; his black robes blending in with the pale shadows; and he turned, heading for Professor Pollywood's office like the devil was at his back.