Hermione has finally received the okay by Madam Pomfrey to return to her classes. Granted she is uncharacteristically exhausted today but happy nonetheless. She never actually did manage to fall back asleep after witnessing Martin come into the dormitory, only to leave again quickly afterwards and never return. His apparent absence these last several days have certainly been discerning, especially after the incident with Umbridge. Things with him seem to become more and more jumbled. For instance, lately the mere thought of him seems to call to something deep within her. Harry still holds no trust for the guy and yet she trusts him with every fiber of her being despite the continued lapse in logic there. He seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulder and contain a much better understanding of what is going on. What really did happen with Umbridge? She can't help the question from reoccurring, yet all answers seem either silly or practically impossible. But that shall not dampen her mood. She has never been the sort to lie around and do nothing. She is excited to finally get back to her regular routine.
She also can't wait to once again begin her research. Dreams aside, she can't afford to dwell on them completely. After all, so far they haven't seemed all that significant. No, her research on the Druids and Camelot are far more important. Where did I leave off? I believe it was the love affair but for some reason that doesn't sound right…In fact almost nothing I have found on Camelot so far feels right other than just the generalized names and relationships of the people then. But even half of those feel infuriatingly inaccurate.
For now Hermione is in Mr. Binns' class; the ghost teacher appointed to teach A History of Magic. Despite her best efforts to put all else aside, she can't seem to think of anything else. Currently she as sitting at the midway point between Gryffindor and Emrys; both Harry and Ron reside on her left while Guinevere and Nimueh sit to her right. Boredom has led most of the class to either doze off or begin quietly whispered conversations. Martin still hasn't returned to class, which is good because she's been feeling this deep longing need to confront him that seems to go beyond obtaining answers and she would first like to discover why that is. Back to Camelot; what is actually true about Camelot? "Professor Binns!" she calls out.
He turns to face her and asks, "Yes Miss Granger?"
"Well you see sir, I was wondering if you might tell us about Camelot." Many of the students in the room perk up at the mention, especially the Emrys house.
"My dear, why do you wish to learn about Camelot? That topic of discussion can usually be found in my sixth year course. Now if you don't mind, as I was saying…"
"Please!" Hermione cuts him off. "I mean… it's very important."
"Very well, all those who wish to discuss Camelot today please raise your hand." Everyone in the Emrys house raises their hands immediately, along with the other majority of the class who likely either want a subject change or wish to find out what could be so important it would cause Hermione to argue with a teacher. "Alright, it appears we are onto the subject of Camelot. To begin, let's start with what we think we already know about Camelot. Would anyone like to share?"
"Merlin!" A voice calls from the other side of the room. The name causes many to hum in agreement but it causes Hermione's heart to lurch. A few coughs emit to her right where many from her house subconsciously shifts in their seats. It would seem that they agree this is a topic worth discussing.
"King Arthur!" This came from the seat directly behind Guinevere. Hermione didn't even have to turn to know it was Arthur who said it. Many more voices emit around the room about Queen Guinevere, Sir Lancelot, The Knights of the Round Table, etc. Finally Hermione gathers herself and calls out something she really wants discussed.
"The Great Purge!" Many look at her with confused expressions, including Ron and Harry; however, everyone from her own house looks at her with a sour expression, a pained expression.
"Ah the Purge," Professor Binns began, "a very dark time in magical history."
"What started it?" Hermione asks.
"To be honest Miss Granger, nobody really knows." Professor Binns peers around at all the students before continuing, "All of you know about Arthur Pendragon, correct?" A cluster of nodding heads and murmuring agreement follows. "Well, it was his father, Uther Pendragon, who began the Purge. Much speculation has been made as to the why, but it has most commonly been scribed as the unfortunate passing of his late wife Igrun that drove him to complete insanity."
"Ygraine." Arthur practically growls out.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Her name was Ygraine, not Igrun and she died in child birth." Arthur states matter-of-factly. "As for the Purge he began on magic, it was done due to the purely evil individuals who misused such an art back then. Hoards of people were blamed for the wrong doings of the few." This causes Hermione to think. She doesn't recall reading that information anywhere.
"And just where did you come across that little bit of information?" Professor Binns snidely asks.
Arthur furrows his brows at this. Hermione now realizes it is something she sees him do quite often. Many of her housemates do it in fact but usually in the presence of Martin. She assumed it was always do to his odd sense of humor. "I don't know," he admits disdainfully.
"Ah, then perhaps you should not speak as if you know matters you truly know nothing about," Binns speaks in a snobbish tone.
"That's hardly fair!" Hermione jumps to his defense. "I doubt even you could know the full truth about such matters given how many contradictions and variations there are in each and every telling of it."
"Well it's preposterous Miss Granger, any evils that came to occur would have been stopped by Merlin. He was after all the Greatest Wizard to ever live."
"How could Merlin have done anything to stop it?" Hoel asks.
"He wouldn't have even been born yet," Dagon continued.
"Merlin was what…a two or three years younger than Arthur?" Lancelot inputs. Hermione's head is reeling with the new debate.
"Was he really that much younger than me?" Arthur whispered almost as if to himself. Nobody seemed to pay it any mind but Hermione definitely caught it.
Hermione began to once again glance around the room. Many students were laughing at the discussion about Merlin. It would seem that the thought of him being young was purely comical. To her left, Harry and Ron are leaning back in their chairs. Both of them appear bored again if their expressions are anything to go by. But what surprises her is her own house. All of them seem to be in agreement. Not one of them believes the idea to be ridiculous in the slightest. And the glance back at Mr. Binns shows him to be a little putout.
"Alright," Binns seems to shake off the annoyance. "You are young, so I will dismiss your ignorance; however, do know that Merlin was in fact much older than Arthur. Arthur even appointed Merlin his advisor on all things magic so as to begin and new and attempt to repair all the damage caused by his father."
"Merlin was not Arthur's advisor!" Arthur shouted adamantly. "Merlin was his manservant!" This causes loud shouts of disbelief to emit around the room.
"Arthur didn't even know Merlin had magic," Lancelot claims. "Merlin certainly hid it from Arthur well, leading the prince to believe him an idiot and call him as such on a near daily basis."
"This is absurd!" Mr. Binns is outraged. "You so easily dismiss Merlin's importance and write him off as a mere servant? He became magic's savior."
"We would never dismiss Merlin!" Arthur shouts. "Despite the fact that Arthur didn't know of Merlin's magic, or the uncanny gap in ranking between them, Merlin was Arthur's best friend."
"Despite how hard Arthur would push him, Merlin's loyalty never wavered in the slightest," inserts Guinevere.
"And though Merlin was Arthur's servant, it did not mean that Arthur wouldn't discuss important matters with him. Merlin still advised him without the title." Lancelot joined in.
Hermione could see that Arthur was about to argue until he closed his mouth abruptly. She followed his line-of-sight to Guinevere who is glaring at him with a 'don't even bother arguing' expression. By now she realizes that everyone around the room had stopped laughing. They either wear looks of anger or confusion at the obvious turn of events.
"That is enough!" Professor Binns is angry now. "If you wish to make a big joke of all this then let's see how funny you think it is once the headmaster is involved."
He quickly phases through the room in a direct beeline for the Headmaster's office. The pair returns several minutes later with Professor Binns in a full on rant about the occurrence. Dumbledore looks around the classroom. His gaze stops on all of the resorted students, a few of which are shifting uncomfortably under his gaze. The others, many of who spoke out, are now clutching their heads as if in pain.
"So what appears to be the problem?" Dumbledore asks, a slight gleam to his pale blue eyes.
"Some of my students have begun to speak ill of Merlin and what he stood for. They began to make false accusations such as that of Merlin being King Arthur's manservant." Binns sneers at the idea.
"Did they now? And what exactly brought on this particular topic?" Dumbledore cocks his head a tad to the side. "I was under the impression that Camelot is a subject discussed with sixth year students."
"Well it is; however, Miss Granger…"
"Miss Granger?" Dumbledore asks and turns his attention to her. "Have you by any chance recently taken up an interest in Camelonian history?"
"Yes sir," she almost whispers her response.
"Interesting," he says back with a smile. Hermione can't help the slight widening of her eyes when she detects the double meaning behind his words. She looks to her left again at Ron and Harry but they are glancing confusedly back towards Dumbledore. "Well perhaps, this class is best let out for the rest of the day? This will give everyone time to simmer down before it's back to the regular lesson plans next time." Dumbledore addresses to Professor Binns.
"Very well sir." He replies. "Everyone pack up your things and head out." Dumbledore turned to walk out when Professor Binns calls him back.
"Yes?" Dumbledore asks.
"Well you notified me this morning that Mr. Ambrosias has been absent due to family matters." Hermione, while packing up her things, began to take much more time after hearing this.
"I believe I did yes. What is this about?" Dumbledore responds.
"He has been absent for days. This is highly unprecedented."
"Do not worry about Mr. Ambrosias, he will return to his classes tomorrow. There were certain matters regarding his inheritance that needed addressing. He left a few days ago to clear it up with Gringotts Bank."
"Very well," Professor Binns concludes, "I hope all turns out well."
"Indeed," Dumbledore smiles and heads out of the room. Hermione is still there collecting the last of her things. That doesn't make any sense. Albeit missing for days, she had in fact seen Martin enter and leave the common room early this morning.
"Hermione you coming?" Ron calls from the door. Snapping out of her train-of-thought and looking around, only to realize she is the only student still in the classroom, she quickly nods and heads to the door where Ron and Harry were waiting for her. She plans on spending the leftover time from the remaining class period to mull over the recent events. A lot needs clarifying.