Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. In fact, I'm not even a girl. So as such, it is quite the ludicrous idea to suggest that I own the Harry Potter Series. Well I do, but like the individual books, not the actual series and the rights to it. Erm, I own part of my plot, as it still kind of leans on parts of J.K's, and I own some of my characters too. Not much.
"Yes, I'm Merlin. And you're Harry Potter. And that little thing over there," he gestured at the cage "Is Barty Crouch Jr."
"But I thought- you seemed like you didn't- how do you- what?" stammered Harry.
The bearded man laughed in a luxuriant baritone, "Of course I made it seem like I didn't know anything. Much more fun," he winked. "In fact, I'd wager I know more about this whole affair then even you. Like for instance, why he's still breathing. I haven't been dead, just... trapped. A lot like Voldemort," Crouch flinched at the name "but for a much longer time."
"Then how do you know all of this?" challenged Harry.
"My body was bound, yes, but not my mind. I could observe, not influence. It was quite maddening actually..." His brow creased, "But look at me, jabbering on like the old man I am, I expect you want explanations?"
Harry nodded slowly, beginning to wonder if the most famous wizard in history was madder than a cracked teapot.
"That's not very nice," commented Merlin drily, "'madder than a cracked teapot' honestly..." Harry's eyes widened in surprise, had he heard that? Did he say it out loud?
"Of course not," answered the wizard, "you just have a distinct way of thinking, can't help from looking in your mind. Very nice girlfriend by the way, your excellent taste in girls is balanced out by her horrible taste in boys."
"You need to get out-" began Harry angrily, his cheeks red, but Merlin cut him off. "Sorry, consider me done with your head's inner workings, distractions distractions distractions."
He gave the caged man a significant look, "But yes, I know his story quite well, a nice refreshing piece of drama it was. He was apprehended, about thirteen years back with a group of rather nasty people. I didn't much like them, horrible dialogue, awful to watch. They all said the same things, Dark Lord this, Master that, but I'm getting away from myself."
"How dare you-" Crouch said angrily, but with barely a move of his wand Merlin silenced him. "What was I saying? Oh, right, apprehended. So he went to the Wizengamot and- oh! I see, you already know about that do you? Sorry, your mind invited me, couldn't resist." he apologized when Harry started to open his mouth again, for a slightly less violent rant.
"He went to Azkaban of course, but his mother- she was a lovely lady, if a bit frail and dim- convinced that one's father to switch them."
"How did they manage that?" asked Harry, fascinated at tale's of other people's escapes from Azkaban.
"I'm getting there, I'm getting there. The father pulled some strings, paid people off, the normal politician business, and when they went to visit their son... They brought a rather special potion to help them switch the two."
"Polyjuice!" exclaimed Harry almost immediately.
Merlin looked deep into his eyes before chuckling at the memories he saw, "Well well well, look who's quite the trouble maker. Impressive friend though, second year was it?"
Harry simply sighed and nodded, waving at him to continue the story. The mind reading thing wasn't going to change anytime soon, and he needed to know what happened to Crouch.
"Oh all right I'll go on, but we're discussing this later. So condensed version; mother took the potion, became the son, and likewise. Father snuck them out, and hid him at home under the Imperius Curse with the House Elf as a caretaker. A few months later, his wife died at Azkaban- she was already so weak, poor lady- but she took the potion until the last. After his 'son's' funeral, he staged his wife's death at home. In hindsight, I suppose it was quite genius. Didn't work in the long run though, given enough time even the weakest mind's can cast off the Imperius Curse. This one did, at the World Cup, but fortunately the father found him again. Unfortunately though, Voldemort found them again soon after."
Crouch laughed hysterically from his cage, "The tables turned then, when my master came for me! My father bewitched, and I was set free!"
"I thought I silenced you," said Merlin annoyedly, he pointed his wand at Crouch once more and his cackling stopped. "Oh! Oops, sorry Crouch. Looks like the first time I just turned your tongue green."
Harry snorted with laughter, and the great wizard turned back to him, a half smile on his face.
"Yes, that's essentially what happened. He took the place of the real Moody- who I quite liked, doesn't mince words, and he's in that trunk incidentally- by using Polyjuice and came to the school. You've basically got this part as well, enchanted Cedric to egg on the Giant Squid, transformed the Cup, killed his father- Ah. So you didn't know about that did you? Nasty business it was... turned him into a bone and buried him outside of that Half Giant's Cabin. And that's how it went." finished Merlin, staring at Harry expectantly.
"That's-" "I know!" the wizard cut across him again. Harry raised his eyebrow and thought as loud as he could; Merlin's very talkative, isn't he.
Merlin stopped his commentary to laugh at Harry's comment.
"Don't you think we should tell Dumbledore?" he asked, taking advantage of Merlin's temporary silence.
"You know, that's a fair point," he said. "And while we're at it, I suppose we'd better call... Minerva- smart gal, she makes a lovely Animagus- Severus- he can confirm Crouch's identity, not that I need it-, probably Flitwick- phenomenal dueler- and from the look of your mind, Cho, Hermione, Ron and Samantha. Because I know you'll tell them anyway."
Harry looked away guiltily, it was completely true.
"Of course it's true. I'm Merlin." He chuckled at his own antics. "Now stand back Harry, I'm gonna show you how we used to get it done! Well actually, how I used to get it done. No one else could, unfortunately. I've got high hopes for you though, you know you remind me of Arthur and awful lot." He appeared to be about to continue, but he caught wind of Harry's mutinous thoughts and decided on letting everyone know. Wise of him.
Merlin flourished his wand, conjuring a glowing blue sphere directly in front of him. He whispered rapidly into it, and it broke apart into separate spheres, each headed in a different direction. They melted through the stone walls like they weren't there, leaving a slightly glowing imprint on the rocks they entered.
He nodded approvingly at his work, "That's a useful spell. I'll have to remember that one."
"Wait, hold on," said Harry incredulously, "you just made that up?"
"Of course. That's how I did it way back when. How everyone used to do it. So much has changed... so much has been lost." he trailed off sadly. "It was that Inquisition that did it, coupled with all those witch burnings. Magic was underground for so long, nearly all the ancient techniques were lost. And all I could do was watch... that Nimue... wonder where she got off to. She's still around of course."
"Nimue?" questioned Harry.
"Imprisoned me, sleeping, in a tree for around a thousand years. It was quite the spirit dampener, I can tell you that, but there were some ways around it. Such as the mindcasting that I told you about."
At that moment, the door flew open, revealing an imposing Professor Dumbledore, drowsy Flitwick, irritated Snape and an extremely frazzled Professor McGonagall. They started, as you can imagine the scene before them; here they were, called by an unknown spell into a teacher's office, only to find him not there, replaced with a caged man and an impressive looking wizard.
The sound of rapid footsteps could be heard, and they were joined by a huffing and puffing Ron, Hermione and Samantha. Cho was with them as well, her breathing only slightly harder due to her Quidditch conditioning.
"Albus-" began Merlin, but the other wizard stopped him.
"Silence, intruder. What are you doing here?" Dumbledore's normally merry voice was icy and cold. His wand was pointing directly at Merlin's heart. The tension in the room cranked up another notch. Cho gave Harry an alarmed look, but he smiled reassuringly at her. The rest of his friend's were still catching their breath.
Of course, Merlin rolled his eyes. "Albus put your wand down. Minerva, Severus, Filius, Cho, Ronald, Samantha, Hermione." he nodded to each of them in turn. "I'm not here to fight you, if I were, well... It'd be finished already."
"Where is my Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" said Dumbledore, completely ignoring him.
Harry stood up then, and walked in the middle. "Professor Dumbledore, sir, let me explain."
"Potter get out of the way!" yelled Snape. "I quite agree," concurred the severe voice of Gryffindor's Head of House.
"You don't understand," pleaded Harry, "this isn't our enemy-"
"Harry I must ask you to move!" said the Headmaster in harsh tones, never taking his eyes off the alien wizard.
"But-" Harry tried again, "Move!" snarled Snape, the Professor's wands were all out and aimed at Merlin, who simply stood, his bemused expression quickly fading.
"Miss Chang, no!" yelled Flitwick, but it was too late. With purposeful strides, Cho moved to Harry's side and turned to regard the Hogwarts teachers, arms crossed and eyebrows raised. She was quickly joined by Ron and Samantha, followed by a very scared Hermione. "We'll all be expelled!" she squeaked quietly.
"I think," said Cho quite coldly "that you should listen to what Harry, and this person, has to say."
"Chang you stupid child, get out of the way!" hissed the Slytherin Head.
"Snape shut the bloody hell up!" yelled Harry, unable to control himself. Threats to himself he could stand, he put up with them daily, but not to his friends, and most definitely not to Cho.
Ron's eyebrows disappeared beyond the fringe of his hairline, "Wow Harry," muttered Ron as Hermione let out an 'eep' of terror, "you're just a badass today."
"Yeah, a right devilish little rogue," added Samantha in an undertone.
Teeth clenched, the hook nosed man had switched his wand to Harry, who returned the favor.
"Okay, now that's quite enough," cried an irate Merlin. There was a bang and a flash of light, and suddenly none but him could move.
"This has gotten out of hand!" spoke the silver haired wizard, and no one else could contest that as they were all frozen by his spell. "I was planning to work up to this, for dramatic effect, but I'm doing it now, before someone kills someone." He gave Snape a meaningful dance.
"I am Merlin." he said simply "Look, see, if you don't recognize me," he walked forward into better lighting, the one cast by several wands. If anyone could have gasped, they would have. "And your Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor was not Mad Eye Moody. It was this man," he waved towards the cage "who imitated his form by the use of Polyjuice Potion. Barty Crouch Junior. I'm going to take the Charm off now, so I can answer the questions I see in your minds, but if any of you so much as point a wand at me, it's going right back up!"
With another flash of light, the charm was lifted. But still no one moved.
"Merlin," breathed Dumbledore. "Is it possible?" questioned Snape in the same tone, his anger towards Harry forgotten. Cho unconsciously stepped closer to him. After a moments hesistation, Samantha did the same to Ron, much to Hermione's displeasure.
Cho took Harry's hand, "But like he said," she indicated the unpleasant greasy haired man "how is this possible? I mean, you've been gone for a thousand years so shouldn't you be, well, dead?"
"You know, that's quite a good point," said Merlin thoughtfully, "She's a smart one, wonder why she's with you?" he asked Harry on the side, who turned red. Perhaps sensing his thoughts made Merlin backpedal, but for whatever reason he switched back to the question.
"I can't precisely answer it at the moment, due to... present company. But I can tell you it was due to magic. I haven't been around because of that blasted witch Nimue. You know the story, she imprisoned me in a tree. I mean, really, a tree. Couldn't she have been a bit more original? I was only able to escape when Voldemort returned," majority of the room jumped slightly at the name "the spell he did was... Brute. Powerful, but sloppy. It left loads of residual energy, went rocketing all over the place drawn to any magical sites. Enough crashed into my tree to break the bonds she set on me all those years ago. I didn't mean to reveal myself so soon, but this kid," he jerked a thumb towards Harry, "called for help."
"Which I was completely unaware of," Harry added.
"Yes, yes, but still, you called. So I came, and," Merlin shrugged, "and that's what happened."
"But then, where is Alastor?" questioned Dumbledore, while the Potions Master walked forward carefully to get a better look at Crouch.
"Oh, right! Been meaning to do that," Merlin gestured at the chest with multiple locks. One in the middle flew off, landing on the floor with a sharp crack, while the lid creaked open. The Headmaster rushed to the open crate, "Alastor!" he called down into it.
A weak cry could be heard from it in response. Flitwick quickly levitated him out and magicked his prone form onto a stretcher, which he began to tow towards the hospital wing. The veteran Auror was emaciated, his cheeks sunken and his hair unevenly cut. Even if his feeble state, he still managed to give everyone nods of thanks as he floated out of the room.
Dumbledore sent Snape to his stores for Veritaserum, just to confirm the story once and for all. Then as a pair he and McGonagall turned to Merlin, strong hope firing in their eyes.
"Now, I don't know if you know the whole story-," started Dumbledore, but Merlin stopped him before he even began, and for the first time he sounded less than cordial. "Don't begin with me Albus. I know what you do, and I know what you've done, and let's get one thing straight; I don't like it. I refuse to be another one of your pieces." His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You don't understand-" said the Headmaster, sounding angry, yet Merlin interrupted again. "I understand better than you think, better than you in fact." he said heatedly "I know your plans. All of them. And I will not have a part in any of them. No one should."
The remaining people in the room (Harry, Cho, Ron, Samantha, Hermione, McGonagall, and Crouch in case you forgot) watched in growing trepidation as the great wizards butted heads.
Harry noticed with surprise that Merlin seemed to have two very distinct sides. One side, was the amicable, teasing, helpful side of him, but there was a line. A line that Dumbledore seemed to have crossed, and past it was a cold and calculating Merlin, with undefinable powers. It made Harry nervous; he still didn't know what to expect of either of them. Another thing that unsettled him was the reactions that Merlin seemed to incite from the other wizard, never had Harry seen him take anything with a less-than-serene response, but here he was as hot headed as the rest of them.
"You don't know anything!" said Dumbledore loudly, beginning to lose control. Small snatches of wind stirred in the room, several papers flapped.
"Is that so?!" roared the other wizard, if Dumbledore was angry then, why, Merlin was furious. Small fires began to light on the furniture, and were extinguished by ice just as fast only to flare right back up when it melted. "You may be the great protector now, but you weren't so quick to defend before!" Dumbledore's answering expression was terrible.
"Hey-" Harry tried to interject, but Cho turned his head down to look at her, shaking her head emphatically.
It was too late though, and the pair seemed to come to their senses. The wind died down, the flames disappeared entirely, leaving only scorch marks behind.
McGonagall looked at them, superbly disdainful, "Two of the wisest wizards we have, fighting each other on the brink of war? You should be ashamed of yourselves." Her nostrils flared. Dumbledore at least, had the sense to look slightly ashamed, but Merlin's face remained cold and aloof. When he spoke, the words were oddly formal, like they had been learned in court. With a jolt, Harry realized that this might indeed be the case.
"I do apologize, Minerva. Our disagreement ought not to have been forced upon the company gathered." She nodded in acceptance, though her lips were still thin.
Just then, Snape entered the room, a bottle of clear liquid in his right hand. "Headmaster, I have..." he trailed off. Any fool could sense the hostility in the room, Dumbledore was boring a hole into the wall with his gaze, and cold fury was etched in Merlin's unlined face.
"... the Veritaserum." finished the Slytherin Head quietly.
"Thank you Severus," said Dumbledore coolly after a brief silence "please, administer the potion and check over the story."
No one moved while Snape worked, but no sooner had Barty Crouch swallowed it that he began to choke and spasm. Dumbledore made to pull out his wand, but Merlin stopped him "You can't help him," he said, lips barely moving "best ask a quick question, while you have the time."
"Is his story true?!" demanded Snape through the bars. The man inside nodded rapidly, his face turning blue. The Potions Master, leaned back then, watching remorselessly as the Death Eater inside suffocated.
Harry wrapped Cho in a hug, shielding her as she pressed her eyes into his chest. The other girls turned away as well, but Ron and Harry continued to watch, expressionless, as did the rest of those gathered.
Finally the man's convulsions slowed, then stilled. His final breathe rattled out, Harry felt sick. Ron's face was vaguely green, McGonagall was rubbing her closed eyelids, Snape's face was a mixture of shock and disgust, but Merlin and Dumbledore wore similar expressions of great fatigue.
The Potions Master finally stepped forward to examine the body. "He's... dead. It looks like," he leaned in for a closer look "he had a curse on him. It only became active when it reacted with the Veritaserum. Ingenious."
And it was, although horrifying in its elegance. If the fake Professor's position became compromised, Voldemort didn't have to worry about him giving away any information. Dead men, after all, tell no tales.
"Severus," said Dumbledore tiredly "please, remove the body. If situations were different, I would attempt to use it to reason with the Minister but... that's clearly not an option." The room was silent as a tomb while the body was taken out, cage and all.
The girls finally looked after he was gone. Harry kept an arm around Cho's shoulders, while hers encircled his waist.
"Albus," said Merlin, with not a hint of his former aggression, "we need to talk. Just a talk," he added, looking at Professor McGonagall reassuringly.
"Very well," said the Headmaster gravely, "Harry, I must ask you to-"
"No." Merlin was looking at Dumbledore with a very hard look, as if this were a compromise that he wouldn't make.
"If you insist," replied Dumbledore slowly, breathing in deeply through his nose "But the rest of you-"
"I don't think so." This time it was Harry who spoke. "If I stay, they stay. I'll tell them later anyway, what's the difference between having them here?" he gestured at his friends. "Fine," said Dumbledore, even though the tone of his voice hinted that it was a very far distance from 'fine.' Merlin however was looking at Harry with a hint of pride in his clear eyes.
"Oh don't worry," said Merlin dismissively, "they won't tell. Or else," he smiled a dangerous sort of smile, and everyone in the room was suddenly quite nervous.
"Then what is it you wish to talk about?" the Headmaster asked Merlin stiffly, turning away from the group of adolescents. Cocking a silver eyebrow, he replied "Me. And you. And the war."
"First of all," began Merlin, "is that I won't be much help to you. There is only a limited amount I can do."
"But you're Merlin." said McGonagall incredulously, "Surely you could defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and quite easily I might add!"
"Your confidence in me is flattering," he replied with a slightly sarcastic edge, "but nothing can be done." His tone softened "You see, never was I an open combatant- with the exception of Nimue, who I first fought long before I enchanted myself. This spell grants me immortality," gasps echoed around the room "but there are things I've needed to sacrifice. All spells require something, energy, magic, or in my case, obedience. I have always been- and will continue to be- the guide and teacher. But I can not battle in open combat, I must influence from the sidelines. Perhaps a little help here and there may be given, but it's up to everyone else to carry out the deeds. The only area where I am unbridled is during my instruction of others. Over the ages, many myths and fables have sprung up around it. My personal favorite began in Greece, and they still tell it to this day. They know me as Chiron, teacher of heroes."
Harry had no idea who that was, but everyone else looked thunderstruck. It sucked living with Muggles.
Merlin chuckled, "I see you don't know what that means." Harry looked away, abashed. "Maybe this will help Harry. In the days of Babylon, I was known by many names. The most common one is 'God.' Because after all, I was advisor to Jesus. Muhammad. Moses. And many after them."
This time he got it. Bloody hell.
"What exactly are you saying?" asked McGonagall, as though unable to believe it.
"What I'm saying is," he winked, "I'm your new teacher."
Author's Note- Well. That Chapter turned out... quite strange. I took one of my reader's advice, and eliminated Merlin as a super character. I'm actually interested as to where this is going. I didn't even have this idea to begin with, it just kind of... Well here it is. I'm sorry I didn't get to bring in Sirius, or Cho's family. I'll maybe do that in Chapter 10? or 9. Depending how much I put in 9. Of course there's still a few details to work out... Not the least of which what I'm going to do with Merlin, who I'm going to have him teach. He'll probably teach the Order, along with Harry guys. But I'll work it out, don't worry. Thanks for reading, leave an ego-booster! (review) And don't flame, please. Politely critique.