Part 2:

"Camelot you say."

"Indeed."

"Then that would mean the king you spoke of was the legendary King Arthur."

"Most of the time that I had known him, Arthur Pendragon had still been prince and an awfully pratish one at that. But he was a good man and later an even greater king. His father, King Uther, was a terrible tyrant. Through the grief of his own wife's passing, he blamed magic and declared it illegal. Thus, thousands of lives were lost during this period known as the 'Great Purge'. Towards the beginning of it I was born in a small farming village known as Ealdor. That was where I had grown up before my mother had me move to Camelot. From then on I lived under the care of my uncle Gaius, the court Physician, who helped me gain better control of my magic while I had to keep it a secret. You know, other than those who have yet to gain their memories, you may perhaps be the only one currently alive to learn of this story."

Dumbledore furrowed his eyebrows again. "You said Arthur Pendragon was awfully pratish?"

"Quite. However, he changed the longer I was in his service."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, upon saving his life, King Uther awarded me a job as Arthur's manservant. The early stages of our friendship were terribly rocky. In fact, in the beginning I absolutely hated the guy." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at this. "Don't get me wrong, it took a while for me to come around. Much of the coaxing came from Kilgarrah, an ancient dragon who spoke of our destinies. We were but two sides of the same coin. We were the Once and Future King and the Warlock who would lead them there. As you can imagine, I basically told the dragon he was crazy, that the prophecy referred to someone else. But destiny is a fickle thing and everything turned out for the better. The two of us from then on changed together, growing like brothers. Of course he didn't know about my magic and I always had to save his life from 'behind the curtain' as the expression goes, but I wouldn't have had it any other way."

"You were Arthur's manservant?"

"In Uther's eyes more than others. Avalon knows Arthur would give me the longest list of chores to do in an effort to get back at me for being my 'idiot' self, as he liked to put it. But I was no bootlicker like many others and in doing so I would generally put Arthur in his place. Guinevere was good at this too. Also, nobody suspects you have magic if you act too goofy and good-hearted to have it. Magic to them was evil. Having it alone made the person evil. Once, even when I downright confessed to having magic in front of the entire council in an effort to save Guinevere, Arthur merely brushed it off saying that I had a grave mental affliction. He told his father that I was in love with her."

"I thought Arthur and Guinevere married?"

"Ah yes, the beautiful love story. You see this takes place before they fell in love. This was when Guinevere was merely the Lady Morgana's maidservant, before Morgana turned downright evil of course. She let her fear and hatred consume her. You see, unlike what Uther believed, magic can be obtained without being taught. A rare few, like me, were born with it and it seemed to manifest within us. Morgana, being the king's ward, feared for her life. She began to hate Uther and in time, after many secrets came to life, she hated us all."

"Do you speak of Morgana Le Fey?"

"Indeed."

"Hmm… and you said Queen Guinevere was her maidservant?"

"I did." Merlin confirmed.

"So how did they marry?"

"Like many love stories worth telling, theirs was forbidden and thus had to remain hidden. In fact, Gwen too had quite a disliking for the man's attitude when I first arrived. At the time, one of the most important lessons he had yet to learn was humility. His role as prince only fueled the arrogance and ego. But oh did she bring him down hard. You see, Arthur found out that during tournaments, his men would many a time not put in all their efforts in fear of hurting the prince. Arthur felt the need to prove his worth and pretended to leave the Kingdom on a hunting trip while he really remained behind to enter the tournament with an alias. Of course doing so, he could not remain in the castle so I talked to Guinevere and she offered said prince a place in her home. In doing so though his arrogance did not cease and her hospitality was taken advantage of. Gwen did always have a tendency to voice her opinions. Avalon knows I've been on the wrong end of plenty of them. In the past I may have changed Arthur's mind, but it was Gwen who changed his heart. They have always been my favorite love story."

"How did the tournament turn out?"

"Arthur's original aim had been to win and then reveal his identity to all so they would know he truly was the best. His disguise had become a lowly farmer man who we cleaned up and passed off as a noble. That was who the people saw when the helmet was off. But after Gwen's rant, he did get that lesson in humility he so desperately needed. He won, but did not take credit for it afterwards. It was a huge milestone. Of course, I didn't find out that the event had led to certain affections between the prince and his sister's maidservant until he hold me later in one of his drunken states but by that time I had already figured out his feeling for her."

"Interesting… truly. I would like to hear more about the destiny you were told about by that ancient dragon."

"Yes, Kilgarrah. During the purge, Uther killed off all of his kind except for him and locked him away for twenty years in the caves below the castle. It is those same caves that Salazar and I had reconverted into the Chamber of Secrets."

"You helped build the Chamber?" Dumbledore's eyes seemed to scrutinize him at this.

"The basilisk was only meant to be a defense mechanism. Besides what history will have you believe, all five of us founders agreed to have it but it just happened to be him and I who designed it. The split between the magical and non-magical community was still relatively new. Bottom line, they feared magic and the possible threats it could hold. The snake was merely an insurance policy in the event that Hogwarts ever came under attack. We even developed the Parselmouth language as a means of ensuring the snake never got out of control."

"But it did get out of control when Salazar's heir used the beast against muggleborns."

"Actually, Salazar never had any direct descendants. But he did have a brother who had produced several. The few years between his time at Hogwarts and the time he spent traveling with me, he had spent them with his nephews. Their father had recently passed and he watched over them until the two surviving ones married off and no longer needed his guidance. I suppose in that time he could have taught them the language and because of blood relation they may have been able to control the beast. But I will have you know that Salazar himself was not against muggleborns at all. I cannot quite say the same for his brother though. Anyone with magic was welcomed to study at Hogwarts regardless of parentage. I myself am a half blood and he had known it. But my parentage did not make me any less than anyone else. That is one thing history can teach you."

"I have noticed in your talk of Camelot, that you spoke a great deal about Arthur but none about Merlin. With magic banned, how did he receive a place as Arthur's personal advisor?"

Merlin smile again, "I was wondering when we were finally going to reach this particular subject." He clasped his hands behind his back and looked up as if in thought. "You are right though. Magic was banned and Merlin never became Arthur's personal advisor."

"Did he truly exist?"

"Oh yes. In fact, I'm awfully sure the name Merlin became Arthur's favorite word."

"Why is that?"

"Because anytime something went wrong, Merlin was the one blamed for it."

"They would do that to him?"

"Well nobody knew he had magic. He spent his time saving Arthur's life without anyone realizing it. And he was always there; every hunting trip, every quest, and every threat."

"Much like you then."

"You could say we were very much alike, him and I."

"How did you two meet?"

"Oh, we didn't."

"So you didn't know him personally then?"

"On the contrary, I knew him better than anyone."

"Were you related to him then?"

"In a sense."

"Was he as remarkable as they say?"

"Oh heavens no. The man was an idiot. At least, that's how everyone else saw him."

"I don't understand. History depicts him as the wisest of us all."

"You seem to be under the impression that contradicting things cannot both describe the man. He may not have been Arthur's personal advisor but it did not stop him from advising the man. With age comes wisdom and he has had plenty of time for that, but back in Camelot he had not yet had that opportunity. He was not as old as everyone described him to be. In fact, he was only seventeen when he first arrived in Camelot and a year younger than Arthur."

"He was not born in Camelot?"

"No, he was born in Ealdor."

"Your home?"

"Yes. He left because he needed to gain control of his magic and having it in such a small village would have gotten him caught in no time."

"And how old were you when you left?"

"Seventeen." And Merlin knew finally that the connection had been made. Actually, it seemed to have been made ages ago but Dumbledore seemed to further avoid any direct association with it. He decided for once to retake that seat in front of Albus but this time cross a leg and lean back in a relaxed manner just waiting for the man to speak.

"I see. Now, in an effort to make myself not seem so slow in my reasoning, allow me to attempt to draw a conclusion. From everything you have told me, it sounds as if you believe yourself to be a legendary wizard who has become an iconic figure in magic. You believe you are Merlin?"

"Well that is the name my mother gave me just fourteen hundred years ago. And I can assure you I have yet to meet another."

"This has become quite a story Mr. Ambrosias. I have always been one to enjoy a good tale. But the problem you face is on lack of proof."

Merlin made no move and had no change in facial expressions. His eyes are closed, as he remains leaning back with his arms behind his head. "There is no lack of proof."

"Well so far I have not seen any evidence to support your claims."

"Remember Albus, do not attempt to talk down to a man who is nine times your age." At this, the aging spell begins to fade, leaving Merlin as his un-aged twenty-five year old self. "You are roughly one hundred and fifty, correct?" Merlin opens his eyes with raised eyebrows towards Dumbledore as he asks this.

"I am."

"Hmm… before this, my last attendance to Hogwarts was in 1811 under the alias of Marcus Pendren. The Hogwarts express had not yet been created. My loyal companion Aithusa, an amazing dragon he became, had decided to stay behind and act as another safeguard for the school while I was away. I had hatched him back in Camelot, and eventually his time had come to an end. Those years I spent here, as a student was to say goodbye to him. To the west of the school, just three kilometers from the entrance of the forest lies his gravestone. There is proof right there. You could also just as easily ask most of the ghosts who have seen me over the years. Some of them have seen me more than others and Helena most of all. I was present before she died. Not to mention, I have done all the high standing protective wards surrounding the castle. Otherwise the walls would have crumbled long before the founders came across it. If you look around the school, I have made plenty of little touches. The room of requirement was originally an idea I had to help the students who needed it to reach their full potentials but I believe you once used it for a potty. The enchantment in the Great hall was I and also I created the knight statues surrounding the building ready to protect when called upon. Let's just say that after the battle of Camlann, I decided to spend my time preparing for once everyone came back."

"The battle of Camlann?"

"That was when Arthur met his end. Him and Morgana each led a side in the attack. I defeated her army but I was too late. The death toll was immense on both sides. Destiny intervened and Arthur was struck a mortal blow. He died only two days later."

"Assuming what you are saying is true, then why tell me now?"

"Because I only have a year before I believe Morgana comes back. I believe that is the warning given to me by the Cailleach."

"Who?"

"She is the gatekeeper to the spirit world. Everyone had the unfortunate chance of meeting her on Halloween."

"Ah yes. Umbridge has been in a terribly nasty mood ever since that night. Might I inquire some further details? Some of my students lost consciousness."

"Nimueh and Mordred were affected because the old magic sunning through their veins. As of yet, I it is still subconsciously inaccessible until full knowledge of who they are return. It affected Lancelot the worst of all."

"Yes it did. Why is that?"

"It is because she caused his death." Merlin looked at his fingers that he now placed in his lap. "Her veil," he began, "is the separation between the living and the dead. At midnight on Samhain, or Halloween, when the veil is at its weakest point, a sacrifice may be made to open it. Morgana sacrificed her already dying sister. In doing so, chaos spread everywhere. Everyone feared the darkness where shadows lingered. Light was the only source of protection against these creatures that were impervious to magic. Our journey took us to the 'Isle of the Blessed' where the torn veil and Cailleach resided. We had to close it but there was a price. Another life had to be given. The majority of the knights were knocked out. Arthur had planned from the beginning to make the much-needed sacrifice but I couldn't let him. I knocked him out with every intention of taking his place."

"Obviously that didn't happen because you are still here."

"No… no, it didn't happen. We stared each other down. She told me… she told me it was not yet my time to die. I still had too much to do. But when I wasn't looking, Lancelot stepped up to the veil. It hadn't even occurred to me that… I mean I didn't think that…" Merlin quickly wipes away a fallen tear and takes a deep breath. "It was Lancelot who made the sacrifice and there was nothing I could do to stop him. Halloween technically is not the day he died but I always remember that day and think of him because the series of events that began that day led to his death."

"You cared for him."

"He was a dear friend of mine and one of the few people who actually knew about my magic."

"I am sorry."

Then a thought occurred to Merlin. "Wow…" he says laughing now, "we sure have gotten off topic quite a lot, haven't we?"

"I believe so. So, what is it you wish to discuss with me? …Merlin?"

"There is the matter of Ministry interference."

"Ah but there is nothing I can do about that. The Ministry holds ties over everything."

"No they do not. I wrote the deed for the school. The entire building is in my name and early on I made sure that all insignificant political parties have no hold over these lands or this facility in any way. That is something I emphasized above all else. And the deed is reinforced by my own magic. It is indestructible, unchangeable and withstanding in time."

"Where is this deed located?"

"It is located deep within the library in a hidden study of mine beyond the restricted section. Much of the layout of the old castle has been magically redone and the Physician quarters in which I had once taken up residency with Gaius have been replaced there. Unlike what the Ministry likes to pretend, this is a private establishment. It always has been."

"And what do you plan on using the deed to accomplish?"

"That is simply a last resort. I do not wish for the Ministry to find out the truth behind the school's history anytime soon. For now, I will get them out by other means. Umbridge has become a nuisance and I plan on making her life a living hell. The reason I have come to you with all of this is because regardless of the power behind my name, I am only one man and I need you to pay attention to them while I deal with Arthur and everyone else. My energy is best spent in preparing them for the coming battle. Voldemort may be on the board this time around, but he is only just joining a war that has been raging for over a millennium and destiny has matched him with Harry Potter as an opponent. That is only the front. What my friends and I face will be a much larger battle behind that. And with everything I am about to do, you may receive some of the backlash. I apologize for that but I am not entirely sorry. Albion is facing her darkest hour and I have long since come to terms with the knowledge that there will be casualties. My sole purpose is to protect Camelot and her people regardless of all else. This time around I am ready for what is to come. Will you help me try to minimize the amount of damage?"

Dumbledore sits up much straighter now. "I will help you Merlin. What is it you wish for me to do?"

"Well first thing's first, no one can find out about this. We need to work in secret, at least until everyone's memories return. Then we'll go from there."

The two of them discussed matters well into the night. They decided that all future discussions on the subject should be held in Merlin's study, away from any possible eavesdroppers. Dumbledore has also said he will inform the teachers of Merlin's return to his classes with the excuse that he has been dealing with the anniversary of his parents' deaths. All talk of what happened with Umbridge was situated as a coincidence. Stress had gotten the best of her and her tiny size couldn't handle it. Everything else seemed to begin to fall into place and the two of them have been working relentlessly for ideas on how to bring everyone's memories back. This is definitely going to be a trying year to get through.