My dear followers, favouriters and reviewers, I apologise for the wait. I got distracted by another story and though that's a poor excuse it did teach me something. It is very hard to write a serious story when every time you spell the word 'beautiful' Jim Carrey's voice goes through your head spelling it out. "B-E-A-U-tiful".

Anyway, sorry again. Although after the last update I had about fifty emails from Fan Fiction about this story. Thanks guys, it really does cheer me on to see so many people enjoying this.

Chapter 6: Fourth Year-Part 2

Merlin paced around his room in Hogsmeade and glanced once again at the clock on the mantelpiece. There was no way for him to help Harry out with the second task and from what he'd seen of Dumbledore's preparations for the task there was little actual danger involved.

None-the-less Merlin was nervous, after all the effort he had put into keeping Harry alive all these years he would hate to see him die. Digging his fingernails into his palms to keep his mind away from Arthur, Merlin sifted through his clothes and found the scrying crystal. Another glance at the clock showed him that the second task should be just finishing now.

Focusing his magic and letting the images sift through the crystal's depths Merlin looked for Harry.

The boy was being helped from the water with not only Ron, his hostage, but also the little girl who the Beauxbatons girl was supposed to have been rescuing. People were clapping Harry on the back and the pretty Beauxbatons champion kissed the blushing boy on both cheeks.

Merlin beamed, it seemed that Harry had done spectacularly in the task going beyond what had been required of him. Merlin couldn't be sure with the lack of sound, but by the looks of things Harry had rescued both hostages.

Settling back on his bed Merlin stroked his beard and smiled, he could see a lot of Arthur in Harry. Stretching out, ready for a nap, Merlin finally relaxed. Harry was safe until the next task which meant that Merlin could get some rest.

Merlin dropped into his seat and looked around. The large gathering of students was very quiet. Unsurprising really when you considered the imposing wall of shrubbery in front of them.

The four champions, the school heads, judges and Rita Skeeter were down at the very front and after a moment Bagman lifted his wand to his throat and allowed his magically magnified voice to echo around the altered stadium.

"Welcome everyone to the final event of the Triwizard Tournament." Merlin joined in the applause without enthusiasm. This was the last task which meant it was also the last task in which someone could get to Harry. The fact that the entire final task was to be held behind an eight foot tall hedge had him somewhat on edge.

Bagman was continuing. "The champions will be sent into the maze in order, Mr. Diggory and Mr. Potter first, followed by Mr. Krum and finally Miss. Delacour. The first to reach the Triwizard cup in the centre of the maze will be declared the victor." Again Merlin joined in the applause and watched anxiously as Harry and Cedric were led to the starting points and on the signal burst into the maze with their wands in their hands.

A few moments later and the other champions entered the maze and then everyone realised how boring this task was. Merlin propped his hand on his chin and let his eyes unfocus. He hated waiting. After all this time waiting, he had finally made the decision to get involved and he was stuck on the sidelines, literally.

Half an hour into the task there was a momentary burst of excitement as someone, who turned out to be Fleur, sent up red sparks and was withdrawn from the task. Several minutes later a second cascade of sparks rose above the hedge and Krum was withdrawn, unconscious from the maze. Merlin was chewing on his bottom lip, the longer this went on the more nervous he became. The general sense of magic in the area did nothing to help him pick up any big curses.

Rising from his seat Merlin paced around behind the crowd. He was just hoping and praying that Harry was alright.

Another half hour passed and nothing happened. The students and even the judges were relaxed and chatting amongst themselves. Then without warning Merlin sensed a sudden and very vicious surge of magic. Cursing under his breath Merlin ducked behind the stands and pulled the scrying crystal out of his pocket. It took him several minutes to locate Harry, far off and tied to a great stone statue.

For the first time in a long while Merlin didn't hesitate. He rose onto one toe and twisted on the spot, vanishing with a loud crack.

The sudden release of the statues arms sent Harry stumbling forward several steps. Voldemort had paced around the circle of Death Eaters so that he was now facing Harry. "Pick up your wand Harry Potter and face me in a duel." Voldemort commanded lifting his wand, the brother to the holly wand that lay at Harry's feet.

Harry shivered at the cold voice. He wanted so badly to run, so leave and get as far away from here as possible, but there was no way escape this time. The Portkey was well out of reach and besides that Harry was surrounded. Bending slowly to pick up his wand Harry didn't take his eyes from Voldemort. The Death Eaters had been told to leave him be so at least for the moment Harry only had to worry about Voldemort.

He grimaced as his fingers closed around the cool wood of his wand, only Voldemort, right like that wasn't bad enough.

Out of the corner of his eye Harry could see a gravestone which might just be close enough for him to run to, he just needed a few moments more to think of a plan. Every other time he had faced Voldemort he had had his friends by his side and the Dark Lord had been a pale shade of himself. This time was different, Harry was alone and Voldemort stood in front of him as large as life and twice as deadly.

Harry straightened, his wand clasped in his right hand. Voldemort sneered and lifted his own wand, ready to cast his next and most probably final curse. Harry bolted, he was sure he had never run so fast in his life, but before Voldemort or any of the Death Eaters could react he was behind the gravestone and safe, for the moment. "Well now Potter.' Voldemort sneered. "I never placed you as a coward, but it is obvious that you are one. Come out and face me like a man."

His wand hand was shaking, Harry realised, he was terrified and had no idea what to do. He couldn't take Voldemort down in a duel; he wasn't even sure how he had managed not to be killed in the tournament. His eyes drifted to Cedric's body and tears stung his eyes. Voldemort sneered from behind the gravestone. "Are you too afraid to fight me Harry without your precious Dumbledore to back you up?"

Harry gritted his teeth and stared at Cedric, he wouldn't let him have died for nothing. Harry wasn't going to sit here and hide until Voldemort got impatient and killed him here. He would fight, even if he didn't know half the spells he would need to finish this.

Standing from his hiding place, Harry turned slowly to look Voldemort in the eye. He opened his mouth. "Leave him alone." Harry closed his mouth in utter shock. The voice which had called out in determined irritation was old and croaky.

The Death Eaters and Voldemort were looking around in shock and anger. An old man with a long white beard and hair, wearing a plain black robe picked his way carefully over the uneven ground of the graveyard. After focusing on the ground for a moment, to clear a particularly rocky area, the old man looked up again and frowned at Voldemort. "Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" He snapped.

The Death Eaters drew their wands, but Voldemort was faster. "Avada Kedavra."

The old man sneered and stepped aside to allow the killing curse to shoot over his shoulder. "Is that the best you've got? I've faced children with more magical capability."

Voldemort was livid with fury and three of the masked Death Eaters whipped their wands towards the old man, who had finally managed to place himself between Harry and Voldemort. Three spells of varying colours blasted towards the old man who waved his empty hand and muttered something under his breath. The spells petered out before they even reached him. Harry gaped along with the Death Eaters.

The old man glanced over his shoulder. "Get out of here boy, run!" He snapped when Harry didn't respond. "Run."

The anger in the old man's brilliant blue eyes sent a burst of energy into Harry's legs and he bolted for the Triwizard cup which still lay next to Cedric's fallen body.

Over his shoulder he could hear the old man taunting Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

"Oh no you don't, you can just stay here and fight me."

"What was that? That the best you can do, I thought you were supposed to be some all powerful Dark Lord or something."

"I've had about enough of this."

Grasping Cedric's cold arm in one hand and summoning the cup with the wand in his other, Harry glanced over his shoulder. The old man had thrust both hands palm out towards the Death Eaters. The masked men were sent hurtling backwards with the force of the spell. The cup connected with Harry's fingers and with a surge he was gone.

Merlin noticed the Portkey taking Harry away out of the corner of his eye. The Death Eaters had been dealt with, but he still had Voldemort to contend with. Dodging a fired spell and blocking the next Merlin hurtled another spell at the Dark Lord. Thankfully this one connected, the spell sending him spiralling over three graves and slamming unconscious into the ground.

Grunting with the exertion Merlin hurriedly made his way away from the duel site. He'd been lucky. He'd had the element of surprise on his side for the battle which had given him a huge edge.

Fighting hand to hand magic was not something Merlin had ever really had a chance to practice and the wand wielders were much more adept at it than he was. Voldemort in particular would probe a problem. He was far more powerful than Merlin had originally thought. Almost Morgana powerful.

Still, Harry was safe for the moment. However Merlin knew that he wouldn't stay that way for long, not now that Voldemort had recovered his magic and his body.

Apparating back into Hogsmeade and muttering under his breath about the use of the hated mode of transportation Merlin made a decision. There was no way that he would be able to keep this secretive method of assistance up if he really wanted to make a difference and keep Harry safe.

Harry wasn't Arthur, he couldn't follow the boy around and use his magic secretively and he shouldn't have to. Magic was universally accepted here and Merlin had every right to use as much magic in whatever way he wished.

Nodding to himself Merlin made for The Three Broomsticks to collect his things. It was really about time he introduced himself.

Yes Ladies and Gentlemen, the time had finally come. Next chapter is Harry meets Merlin.