Disclaimer all characters, settings, etc, are the copyright of JK Rowling and Bloomsbury Publishing

The Return

Chapter Eight

Meeting Merlin

The next three hours Hugh and Mya were acting like two crazy kids, doing magic all around the house and enjoying the freedom and joy they seemed to have found, they reminded Harry of nights in the Weasley house, when the twins were in an extra mischievous mood, or Christmas come early for two kids.

The four friends decided to leave them to it for a while and took a walk around the local lanes. Returning in time for supper, Hugh and Mya invited them in to eat. Over the meal Harry asked if they new anything about Merlin but was disappointed when they said that they did not, as they sat and talked Hugh mentioned he had once or twice thought he had seen a reflection in a mirror that reminded him of Merlin.

He took them across to the hostel building; in one of the rooms stuck to a wall was a large full length mirror. "I was never actually sure I had seen something, it was like a quick glimpse from the corner of my eye, but I felt I had been watched," Hugh said as he stood in front of the mirror looking at their reflection. The four young ones all looked rather sceptically at the mirror but said they would check it out occasionally until they went home.

Thanks to the fresh air and good food Harry and the others all slept well that night; the next morning Harry woke first and was getting dressed when he heard a strangers voice calling his name.

It seemed to be coming from the far end of the room, going over to investigate Harry was drawn to the full length mirror, as he stood looking at his own reflection and wondering where the voice had come from his reflection changed into that of a very old man, who was very similar in appearance to Dumbledore, his extremely long beard was held in the crook of his arm to keep it from dragging on the ground.

"Ah Mr Potter awake at last, you sleep late young Harry Potter," the old man said and he smiled because he seemed to have Harry at a disadvantage.

"Sorry, you know me sir, but can I ask who are you?" Harry asked.

"Don't you know? Mr Potter? I thought you would recognize me, oh well no matter my name is Myddryn better known as Merlin. I must say it is nice to meet you," the old man said and smiled.

Harry knew straight away that he could trust the old man in the mirror, "Methrun er Merlin sir how come, why are you in the mirror, how do we find you, do you know about elfish magic could you teach me?" the questions tumbled out of Harry one up on another.

"Why would you want to know about elfish magic Harry? when you like me are blessed with the most powerful magic, ah Luna, Ron, good morning," said Merlin jovially as the two Weasleys joined them.

Harry turned to see them standing behind him both with mouths open.

"Well I suggest you have your breakfast, then I will meet you here in two hours time. Till then I shall myself take some refreshment, so till later then," with that Merlin vanished to be replaced once more by the Reflection of the three friends.

Hermione was disappointed she had not seen Merlin and only picked at breakfast as she continually checked her watch. "Do you realise Harry, you have spoken to the greatest wizard of all time. There is so much he could tell us so much we could learn," Hermione as usual was excited about the possibility of learning something new.

The two hours were soon over and the four of them gathered at the mirror. "Merlin are you there?" Harry called.

"Harry, I see you have Hermione with you, well come on in and welcome," Merlin said.

Harry looked at the mirror "What do you mean come in sir? It's just a mirror".

"You never travelled through a mirror Harry? I am surprised, oh but I should remember your full magic has only recently awoken. Well if you hold hands with your friends and think of the mirror as water you can then step through," Merlin informed Harry.

Harry was a little cautious but did as he was instructed, holding hands they all stepped through the mirror. It was like being in a sort of daydream, they were standing in a beautiful forest glade; an early morning mist was drifting slowly through the trees. Just in front of them there was a pool with a stream trickling away to the left, at the opposite side of the pool a small water fall fell gently to the rocks below. The grass appeared to be a beautiful rich emerald green, the place seemed almost idyllic.

Then a small cough caused Harry to spin around, there behind them stood the ancient old wizard named Merlin.

"So here at last eh Harry?" the wizard said, he had a tuneful voice that was full of warmth. It put Harry at ease straight away; Harry knew instinctively that he could trust this man and ask as many questions as he wanted to.

The old man moved toward a nearby log, his beard carried in the crook of his arm to keep it off the ground as he moved, "Shall we sit?", and he motioned with his hand for them to take a seat.

None of them spoke for a few minutes; Harry took in all that was around him, whilst trying to decide what to ask first. Finally Harry spoke, "Where exactly are we, and how did we get here?"

The old man sighed "You Harry are inside my prison, as for how you got here, I decided to send for you."

"This is a prison?" Harry said astonished.

"I am afraid so, I have been imprisoned here for nearly a thousand years, though I have tried many, many, times to escape I have been unable so to do."

"Who exactly are you sir, and who imprisoned you?" Hermione asked her eagerness to learn showing on her face.

Harry could feel the pull of another mystery, he was always drawn to these sort of things, that's how come he had ended up first with the philosophers stone and then in the chamber of secrets.

"As I told Harry I am known as Merlin," the old man smiled at the look on her face, "as to how I got to be imprisoned here, well that is a very long story; suffice it to say had I not shunned my one true love, it would have been impossible for the enchantress to bind me here. Alas she knew she could use my love against me, for love, and hate are some times two sides of one soul."

"Well er-, er- Merlin Sir, how did we get here? Could you not use the same magic to leave. Come to think of it how do we leave?" Hermione asked looking a little worried.

Merlin smiled "I am afraid I can never leave this glade, till the day when my true love finally forgives me and sets me free."

Harry totally confused decided to change track and asked, "Why am I here then Sir?"

"Well Harry once in a thousand years a wizard is born who has the strongest of magic in him, that wizard has full control of all the different kinds of magic. I was one such wizard and now you are my replacement. I have watched as the world outside drifted into its darkest time for many generations. I watched as good chose its champion against evil, and then I have watched you grow and become strong. I watched as your faith was dented when you lost your friend and teacher. I then saw you make the same mistake as did I, you pushed your love away, I know you did it to protect her but you made a mistake, a mistake you very soon corrected, that's why you won. For only in your love can she be safe, and only in her love can you hope to find your greatest strength."

"I made the same mistake as you, is that why Arthur lost Camelot, sir?" Harry was surprised that the great Merlin had taken an interest in him.

"Yes once I had made my decision, the world I helped to maintain started to crumble ending with my captivity here," Merlin looked sad, as he looked longingly at some reflections in the water.

Harry could only guess what Merlin was remembering.

"Now Harry, the reason I have bought you here is to teach you spells that only I know about, and to show you how to perform your magic without a wand or words. You will learn how to summon the warriors of the light to help you to fight and to over come the evils that would bring an end to all you know."

Harry and his friends spent several days with Merlin, as Harry was taught to use the full potential of his magic. One of the spells he really liked was the first Merlin taught him, with a little extra concentration he could summon toward him anything he wanted, even managing to draw right to his finger tips, a full grown stag that had wandered close by.

Merlin called Harry to him early the day after this incident and said, "It is time for you to return to Hogwarts, but when I am rested I will send for you again and we will continue with our lessons. I want you to take a message to your great grandmother Minerva."

Hermione spoke up "Harry has no living relatives apart from the Dursley's Merlin, they are all dead. Harry is an orphan and why are we to go to Hogwarts?"

"Ah now this is a secret that has come to its end, now it is known that Harry is the one to take my place you will tell Minerva that the family legend is true," Merlin told them but did not bother to elaborate.

Merlin led them to a spot where a circle of light shimmered in the air in front of them.

"If you will hold hands as you did to get here, you will be able to leave here, you will return to the place and time you left, I bid you goodbye for now, we will meet again when I am rested."

"I suppose it's a silly question to ask why you don't leave the same way?" Hermione said as they all looked at the circle of light.

"Not if you don't know the answer, its not silly," Merlin replied "this portal was placed here by my beloved as a reminder to me that this is my prison, it will not allow me to leave, nor can I leave through a conjured mirror," Merlin replied sadly.

"Maybe we can find a way for you sir," Hermione whispered to Merlin as she kissed the old man on his cheek and said goodbye.

The friends all having said goodbye to the old wizard and promised to try to find away to free him, once more did as they were instructed and stepped through the light; they found themselves back on the other side of the mirror.