Wah! I have so little free time now! Regardless, I've managed to watch the new episodes of Merlin and that's given me inspiration to write. Enjoy!

Chapter Fifteen: …is my Friend

"Perhaps I was wrong about you," Arthur admitted begrudgingly, as he and the three sorcerers left Uther's bedchambers. They'd cured him, and it had apparently been easy. The king was now under Gaius's care until he'd wake up later and the old physician would tell him a suitable lie.

"Apology accepted," Draco said in his usual Draco-ish way. Arthur narrowed his eyes and looked at him with an unamused face.

"…as I was saying," he continued through gritted teeth, "Perhaps not all magic is evil." From behind Arthur and Draco, Merlin exchanged a looked with Harry and smiled― even under the weight of the still-unconscious Cepheus, whom they were carrying between their shoulders (to any passing person, they'd explain that the old man had suddenly collapsed, and that they were taking him down to Gaius's chambers). Maybe this was a turning point, and Merlin wouldn't have to hide his magic from Arthur anymore.

But then his heart sank with just one word:

"However," Arthur continued, unaware of what was going on inside his servant's head, "I can't knowingly allow those who practice magic to remain in Camelot."

"Are you kicking us out?" Draco asked in slight amusement, smirking.

"It's for the best," Arthur replied, a similar smirk on his lip as well, "And certainly not because I personally don't like you, or anything."

"That's perfectly fine," Draco said, "I wouldn't want to be somewhere where I can't use magic for my every whim anyway. And, really, it's not because Camelot lacks proper hygiene facilities or that the whole city smells like cow dung." Harry looked between the two of them as they spoke with such mock-pleasantry; the similarities were frightening. Clearly, this was how both of them made friends.

"What are we going to do about Cepheus?" Merlin asked, changing the subject.

"We can obliv― erm, wipe his memories of this entire thing," Harry answered, "He won't remember what happened or his intentions against Uther." He'd made up that last part; instead, Cepheus wouldn't remember everything they'd told him about the future of magic, which had sparked the attack in the first place. "He'll think that he came for a pleasant visit and left in the same manner."

"You can do that?" Merlin asked, because, hey, that might be a useful thing to know how to do.

"Yeah," Harry replied, seeing the intent behind Merlin's question, "But if you use too much force, the person can go insane." Case in point: one Gilderoy Lockhart.

"And you expect there not to be any sort of punishment?" Arthur asked, his amusement gone.

"Trust me," Draco responded, "In this case, it'll only make things work. It's punishment enough that his plan failed."

It was at this point that the party reached Gauis's room. Merlin and Harry hobbled over to the bed and laid Cepheus upon it.

"I should leave," the prince stated once Cepheus was down, "I can't be around magic any longer. I know too much about this already for it to sit comfortably with me. The less I know, the less I have to lie to my father about. And I want the two of you out of Camelot as soon as possible." He turned to go, but then stopped at the door and turned back again. "Oh, and Merlin."

"Yes?" Merlin asked, sincerely hoping that Arthur didn't know about his magic after all.

"You won't tell anyone about all this, of course," he warned.

"I wouldn't dream of it, sire," the sorcerer replied obediently, and his master, satisfied, left to return to his father's side.

When he was gone, Merlin sank into a nearby chair with a massive sigh of relief.

"We can erase his memory, too, if you want," Draco suggested, sounding like he very much enjoyed the idea. Merlin shook his head.

"No… I think, in a way, this was good," he said. "I might not be ready to tell Arthur about my magic just yet, but at least he's beginning to see that magic isn't all bad." He shrugged. "So there's hope."

Everything in Camelot was returning to normal― not that most of the people had even noticed that anything out of the ordinary had happened to begin with. Cepheus had been sent on his way, unaware that the visit had been anything more than the friendly encounter of old friends. Draco and Harry had told Arthur that they would soon follow him to comply with the prince's wishes, though their true destination was somewhere else entirely. After days of searching, Merlin had found the spell that would return them to their own time.

The three sorcerers now stood in that same clearing in the wood. Harry and Draco's clothing had been returned to its normal state and everything was prepared for them to go back to Hogwarts.

"It would be nice to know how we got here in the first place," Draco observed as Merlin re-read the spell within his book, assuring himself that he had it right. "You said the spell was 'I call upon those who have need of me,' right? It seems to me like we helped you more than anything."

"No, I think I get it," Harry said. "You and I… I think we need to be on the same side of the war against Voldemort. Being brought here helped with that." Draco's eyes widened in surprise, but then he understood as well, and nodded. But then he remembered.

"Um, Harry," he said, uncharacteristically quiet, "There's something I need to tell you… or, rather, show you."

And with that, he pulled back the sleeve on his left arm, and Harry's face changed from confusion to anger.

Yyyyyep, miniature cliffhanger. This is my last chance, dear readers, as the next chapter will be the conclusion of this little tale.

Please review! I'll love you forever, and the next chapter will be out sooner.