My apologies on the slow update, chapter 6 has proven to be something of a tricky one. Still I've managed it well enough that I feel I can update this.

Chapter 4: Third Year

Harry soared higher, unable to see anything more than a foot in front of his broom handle. He could only assume that Cedric was doing the same as he, searching through the dense pouring clouds for the elusive Snitch.

It really was a stupid day to play Quidditch. Still Harry supposed rules were rules.

Harry dropped into a dive in an attempt to get free of the oppressive cloud cover and was forced to roll to avoid a Bludger which hurtled out of nowhere towards his head. A shiver ran down his spine, then back up and settled itself firmly between his shoulder blades. He could hear screaming which echoed faintly in his ears. Harry looked down at the exact moment that the freezing death-chill of the dementors hit him full force.

Screams echoed in his ears as his fingers locked around his broom handle. Every instinct in Harry's body was telling him to fight, that the sounds weren't real, but the terror and hopelessness which sunk deep into his heart felt real.

Harry's eyes rolled back into his head and for a moment he could have sworn he saw his father, a tall figure with messy dark hair. Then the figure moved and Harry saw that it was a pair of cerulean blue eyes, not brown, which were focused on his with determination and fury.

The world dimmed as the dementors swooped closer and Harry felt himself drop...

Merlin tumbled back from the Crystal with an agonised cry. He lay still rubbing his chest for a moment. He had forgotten how truly horrific dementors were. It had been centuries since he'd been anywhere near a dementor and apparently he'd lost the touch.

Picking himself up and shoving the dementor enhanced memories of his failure and Arthur's death from his mind Merlin began to pick up his blankets, it had been a long time since he'd been the Crystal Cave and he now remembered why he had avoided coming here. Getting involved hurt.

Merlin pottered around the cave smoothing over his beard. He had always gotten hurt when he was protecting Arthur. Physically, mentally and emotionally. He had lost friends, lovers and family in the name of Albion and that had never stopped him. In fact it had only spurred him on to greater and greater endeavours.

A set of weary old shoulders straightened with a determination that they hadn't held in countless years. Merlin's mind was made up, pain be damned and waiting be damned. If Harry needed his help then help he would receive, Merlin owed it to the boy and to himself.

Turning back to the Crystals Merlin settled himself on the floor and spread out his makeshift bed. He had work to be getting on with.

Harry sunk to the ground in Lupin's office and stared at his feet while he chewed on his chocolate. His Professor had warned him that this would be difficult, Harry hadn't realised just how difficult it was.

He stared at the floor as Lupin sat on the trunk, he could feel the older man's eyes on him. A happy memory. Harry thought to himself. Surely there had to be something happy.

Harry shook his head, he had a few happy memories, mostly associated with coming home to Hogwarts, but not one of them was powerful enough. Harry delved through his mind, trying to think of something that made him happy, something or someone who could provide something to protect him from the dementors.

"Have you thought of one?" Lupin asked quietly.

Harry focused on Ron and Hermione they definitely made him happy. His best friends: Hermione who was always willing to help him no matter the cost and Ron who was as steadfast and brave as the lion their house represented.

Harry got to his feet and nodded. "Yeah I've got something." Lupin nodded and reached out to open the chest.

Gritting his teeth Harry concentrated on his memory.

Lupin's movements to open the chest seemed to fall into slow motion. Harry felt surrounded by a crackling warmth than seeped from his chest out the tips of his fingers, setting his wand to glow. Harry focused on the memories he had of his friends, letting their faces settle firmly in his mind. As the dementor-Boggart slowly unfolded from the chest Harry could have sworn that there were hands on his shoulders lending their strength to his spell.

"Expecto Patronum." Harry yelled, whipping his wand forward. The magic surged along his wand and burst from the tip in a swirl of brilliant silver light. The dementor-Boggart shrieked and cowered back into the chest allowing Lupin to slam the lid down and trap it once again.

Harry's knees gave way with a mixture of relief and delight. He'd done it.

"Well done Harry! Well done, I've never seen anyone catch onto that spell quite so quickly." Lupin praised.

A weak smile pulled at Harry's lips as he accepted the offered piece of chocolate. The thought of swallowing the sweet made his stomach roll, but Harry forced the pieces down his throat and felt the better for it.

As Lupin moved about storing the Boggart for later lessons Harry wondered about the surge of magic he had felt. Harry could never claim to be a master of magic, hell sometimes he only just passed some of his classes and that was mainly thanks to Hermione, but something about that spell had felt strange. It was as though someone else had been helping him.

Harry started and got to his feet as Lupin reappeared, the lesson was over and it was time for him to head back to the common room and get to work on some of his essays.

Far away a Cave echoed with a cheerful cheeky laugh that the magic hadn't heard in a long time. All across the British Isles people smiled. Today was a good day.

"I don't know if you know this, but your parents made me your godfather. Anyway I thought that maybe, after all this is over, you could come and live with me." Sirius asked softly, staring off into space with determined intensity. Harry turned and stared, barely able to comprehend what he'd heard. Sirius obviously misunderstood Harry's surprise because he immediately continued. "I mean if you'd like. I don't know if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle, but I'd understand. After all you barely know me..."

"NO!" Harry gasped out. Sirius looked uncomfortable and looked aside uncomfortably. "No. Sirius, I mean I'd love to go live with you. It would be..." Harry struggled to find a word that properly expressed his unadulterated delight at the idea of leaving the Dursley's forever and living with his godfather. "Amazing." He finished lamely.

Not that it mattered, at Harry's proclamation Sirius's face lit up and he smiled. For just a moment Harry could see the handsome boy from the pictures, his father's best friend and he smiled back.

Merlin smiled with them, it was good to see things going right for Harry. He would do so much better living with Sirius than he would with his aunt and uncle. Merlin was all for family sticking together, but he knew just as well as anyone that just because you were family didn't mean you had to get along. Morgana was case and point.

He leant back and rubbed at his knee. Merlin ached all over, an unfortunate side effect of the aging spell. Merlin turned his head and out of the corner of his eye he caught the image still flickering through the crystal depths. Something was terribly wrong.

Rolling to his feet with surprising speed given his current age, Merlin watched in horror as Lupin's body twisted painfully, bones snapping and reforming as the moon's magic took hold. Sirius surged away from Harry, his own body twisting into a form more suited to protect his godson. Merlin nearly screamed his irritation as the small furred body of Peter Pettigrew bolting off into the darkness. All that work and suffering and he escaped, it wasn't fair.

Spewing curses Merlin slammed his fists into the ground, splitting his knuckles and bringing him back to reality.

Clambering to his feet Merlin rubbed his hands against his thighs. Enough was enough. This little bit of help here and little bit of help there was getting him nowhere.

The time had come. Merlin, the greatest warlock to ever walk the earth was getting involved.

Short chapter here, this is mostly because this was my least favourite book, but also because there wasn't a lot here that needed altering. Next chapter is fourth year and things are going to get a bit more involved.