You people wanted unicorns, dammit I'll give you unicorns.

Chapter 13: Fifth Year- High Inquisitor

Dragging himself out of bed seemed like far too much effort this morning so Merlin lay back in bed and dozed. Despite centuries living as his own man Merlin had found the habit of waking early and getting moving quickly difficult to shake, however there were always days when it was nice not to have to make someone else breakfast.

However when he stirred again the sun was streamed though the gap in the curtains. Merlin catapulted himself out of bed and ripped the curtains aside. It was late or at least late for him and Grubby-Plank would be waiting, sometimes she seemed worse than Arthur. Throwing his clothes on Merlin dashed down to the Great Hall.

He arrived at the same time as Filtch. The old caretaker had a ladder and a notice in a wooden frame under his arms. Merlin knew through Grubby-Plank that Flitch was a Squib, so it wasn't a surprise when the old man carefully climbed the ladder and began to hammer a nail in between the stones of the wall. "New student notice?" Merlin asked up at him.

Filtch swayed on his ladder as he hung the notice lovingly on the wall. "Professor Umbridge had been made the High Inquisitor; it's about time this place had someone willing to shape it up." Filtch clambered the down the ladder, folded it up and hobbled off. Merlin looked up and read through the notice. It named Umbridge as the High Inquisitor, Merlin didn't know what that was, but he was certain that it wouldn't be a good thing.

There were already several students seated at the tables and all of them had their heads buried in their newspapers.

As Merlin walked towards the teacher's table he caught sight of the front page of one of the papers. There was a picture of Umbridge shaking hands with Fudge. Merlin paused and tapped the girl with the paper on the shoulder. She jumped and looked up at him. "Could I have a look at that? If you're done." Merlin asked politely.

The girl went pink. "Sure, okay, that's fine. I was done anyway." The paper was thrust into Merlin's hand with surprising force before the girl ducked her head towards her friend and began to whisper.

"Thanks." Merlin gave her a slightly unnerved smile before hurrying up the dais and opening his newly acquired paper. A flick of his fingers set his breakfast to making itself while Merlin began to read. According to the Prophet Umbridge now had the power to dismiss the other Professors following thorough assessment of their capabilities. Merlin turned to the next page and picked through his eggs while he read. What he read made him angry, angry enough that the edge of the paper began to smoke under his fingers.

He'd give Umbridge one day. One day to prove that she wasn't going to abuse this power and then it was on.

Tuesday dawned as bright and cheerful as Monday had. Merlin lay on his back and examined the curtains above his head. Yesterday had done nothing to improve his opinion of Grubby-Plank, she reminded him of Arthur when Merlin had first met him, only without the ego.

That wasn't even getting him started on Umbridge. Merlin had heard through some of the students how she was treating the Professors. Now he just had to think up a way to teach her a bit of humility.

Dragging himself out of bed and into his clothes Merlin jogged downstairs to grab some breakfast. As usual for his early morning starts only the Astrology Professor and Grubby-Plank herself were present in the Great Hall.

As Merlin was about to sit down Grubby-Plank looked over at him. "Emrys." She called beckoning firmly. Grabbing a glass of juice Merlin trotted over. "I'll need a hand this morning if you can spare the time." For the first time ever Grubby-Plank looked concerned. "I found a unicorn on the edge of the forest this morning. It looks like something's attacked it poor thing. It's an adult so..."

"They only tolerate the touch of a woman." Merlin finished for her.

He'd never handled any unicorns, not since the one that Arthur had killed. He considered them the most wonderfully magical creatures, almost better than dragons, but ever since that day he had always been wary of them. Unicorns were Old Religion creatures, some of the last remaining ones and even now Merlin was wary of those old powers. He was powerful, but the truly old magic was stronger even than him. "Happy to help." He added truthfully. As much as he was wary of them Merlin did like unicorns. He did wonder how well they would tolerate him though.

After eating a hasty breakfast Merlin followed Grubby-Plank down to a makeshift area behind Hagrid's hut which currently housed the injured unicorn. The magnificent creature was almost blindingly white and stood warily, its right hind hoof balanced carefully on its toe. The reason was obvious.

The glistening white of its coat was badly marred by four long deep scratches running under its belly and another deep wound on its back leg which looks suspiciously like a bite. Silvery blood was caked onto the wounds, flecks of dirt and leaves were caught within them and as the unicorn moved uncertainly the scab cracked and more blood leaked free.

Grubby-Plank approached the injured creature with one hand easily extended. "Righto Emrys, I'll need some warm water and a clean cloth please."

With the bucket already in hand it was the work of a moment for Merlin to fill the bucket and warm the water. He grabbed one of the thick wads of cloth they had borrowed from the Hospital Wing and ducked under the gate.

Grubby-Plank had one hand on the unicorn's shoulder and was examining the wound gently. Merlin approached slowly, keeping his eye on the unicorn. The magnificent creature turned its head to watch Merlin though one large dark eye. "Easy now boy, don't frighten her."

Merlin set the bucket on the ground behind the shorter woman and handed her the cloth. The unicorn examined him peacefully; she didn't seem unsettled by his approach or worried about his presence at all. Grubby-Plank seemed to have noticed. "Dumbledore said you were good with animals." She noted, moistening the cloth and gently applying it to the wound.

The unicorn flinched and danced away. Merlin, who had spent more than his fair share of hours inside the royal stables, immediately grabbed the mare's head to prevent her from rearing. All three of them flinched and then waited for disaster to strike.

After a long tension filled moment, the unicorn relaxed and allowed Merlin to continue stroking her velvety nose. Grubby-Plank made no comment however as her eyebrows disappeared into her hairline Merlin felt it was safe to assume that he had startled her.

With a steady look and a firm nod the woman went back to cleaning the injury. With Merlin holding the mare, the task took considerably less time than they had expected. However by the time Grubby-Plank had straightened and handed the bucket and blood soaked cloth back to Merlin the fifth years were starting to wander down from the castle ready for their lesson.

Several of the girls stood on the bottom rung of the fence and cooed over the unicorn. Merlin opened the gate for Grubby-Plank and glanced over at the unicorn. She seemed content to remain within the confines of the temporary yard for the time being.

"Just keep an eye on her for now, Emrys. I'll take this class and then I'll get you to give me a hand looking for whatever did this to her." Grubby-Plank ushered the girls away from the fence.

"Yes Ma'am." Merlin replied, winking cheerfully at Hermione as she hurried past him to join Ron and Harry near the table full of Bowtruckles Merlin had collected yesterday.

As Merlin was going about refilling the bucket with water for the unicorn a run of tension went through half the students, distracting them from Grubby-Plank who had begun to ask them questions about the Bowtruckles.

Merlin straightened to watch Umbridge make her way primly down from the castle. Now would be the perfect time for him to start putting his plans into place. However the ever watchful eyes on the unicorn had Merlin on edge. It was hard to start mischief when you were being watched by something that pure.

The pink clad woman arrived at the class with her clipboard and pen and gave the class a cursory glance. Her eyes lingered maliciously on Harry for a moment. Merlin couldn't help himself; he tilted his head and sent one of his cloths out to tangle around her leg.

With an ungainly shriek Umbridge nearly fell flat on her face. Only Grubby-Plank reaching out to steady her stopped Umbridge from ending up face first in the slightly muddy grass. "Careful there Professor Umbridge it's a bit slippery down here today."

Umbridge glared around at the gathered students, however even Harry had the sense not to even smile at her misstep.

Merlin ducked his head and grinned, he was going to enjoy this. The unicorn snorted and lowered her head to crop at the grass.

Grubby-Plank continued with her class with Umbridge watching from the sidelines. She stood against the wooden bars which formed the unicorn's yard. The mare stood calmly resting her leg, though she watched Umbridge with something akin to wariness. Merlin had taken a seat with his back against one of the gate posts and was watching Umbridge.

As the class progressed Umbridge would make little notes on her clipboard and eventually when the students had each taken a Bowtruckle to examine she began to walk around. Merlin waited where he was. He had decided to try and keep the blame on fate. If Umbridge slipped on some grass she would put it down to clumsiness, particularly if she could clearly see that none of the students had their wands out. Of course around Merlin fate tended to be something of a flexible concept.

As Umbridge began to question some of the students Merlin watched the Bowtruckles. They were tricky things to catch and when you had caught them they could be nasty. So he imagined if you bumped into one of them they would take it rather personally. Umbridge had now approached Grubby-Plank. "You do not normally take this class?" She asked in her little girl voice.

"No, I'm just filling in." Grubby-Plank said plainly, throwing some woodlice onto the table to distract the Bowtruckles. "Normally this class is taken by Professor Hagrid." Merlin frowned and strained his ears to listen in. He was yet to meet Hagrid, but from what he had heard the man was one of the good people.

"Where would he be?" Umbridge asked in what could almost have passed for a polite voice. Her eyes sparkled maliciously.

Grubby-Plank seemed oblivious. "Not a clue I'm afraid. Dumbledore contacted me just before term started and asked if I'd like a few weeks work. I was happy to oblige. It's made easier with Emrys working as well." She added nodding in Merlin's direction.

Merlin immediately feigned fascination with the students nearest to him. They were attempting to hold their Bowtruckle still enough to draw his hands. The Bowtruckle was objecting by attempting to bite their fingers. Having been chomped on himself, Merlin wasn't at all surprised that they were trying very hard to avoid that eventuality.

Out the corner of his eye Merlin could see that Umbridge was no longer looking at him, but he suspected that he would soon be receiving the same treatment as the teachers. Well that would be a lovely surprise for Umbridge wouldn't it?

"Are you aware of when Professor Hagrid will be returning?" Umbridge asked sweetly. Glancing up Merlin could see that Harry and Ron were glaring daggers at Umbridge's back. Hermione was looking at her two friends with concern. Merlin silently begged Harry to keep his temper under control.

"Not sure, you'd have to ask Dumbledore." Grubby-Plank caught one of the Bowtruckles before it could escape the student it had just bitten. Merlin paralysed another to his right moments before it could bite Neville who was trying to restrain it. The boy looked confused, but accepted the stickman's sudden compliance.

"Could you hold this for us?" Merlin jumped as he realised that two Gryffindor girls were addressing him. They were struggling to hold their Bowtruckle.

"Oh...sure." Merlin caught the little stick man around the middle and pinned his arms to his sides. The Bowtruckle tried to bite him. Merlin rolled his eyes. "It's alright, just hold still it'll all be over in a minute." He told his wriggly prisoner. The Bowtruckle glared irritably up at him, but fell still.

"Thanks." The girls beamed as they settled back down to focus on their drawings. Merlin glanced over at Umbridge. She had finished discussing lesson plans with Grubby-Plank and had gone back to moving through the group of students asking questions. The fact that she didn't seem happy suggested that the students were either answering correctly or were remaining loyal to Hagrid.

Knowing that Hagrid was half-giant Merlin was sure that Umbridge would persecute him and that made his blood boil. In this day and age there was no need to persecute people because of something they had been born with.

Unfortunately Merlin was on the other side of the group to Harry so he had no idea of what the blonde Malfoy had said to get such a strong reaction out of Merlin's friend. He did, however, hear Harry's response of. "Only because he was too stupid to do what Hagrid told him to do." The boy's angry words echoed around the group. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked with bated breath between Harry and Umbridge.

"Another detention Mr. Potter." Umbridge said with undisguised glee.

Merlin glared. The outburst was rude certainly, but it deserved nothing more than points being deducted, not another of the horrible woman's detentions. Harry's face was red with fury, but Hermione had him by one arm and was obviously telling him to calm down.

The lesson was over, so while the students packed up their books and equipment Merlin started ushering Bowtruckles back towards the table. Umbridge was making a final note on her clipboard and informing Grubby-Plank that her results would be available in ten days.

Crouching to pick up one of the Bowtruckles an opportunity presented itself. There was still a Bowtruckle surrounded by the Slytherin's and Umbridge was just walking past. A single magically enhanced thought was enough to send the already excitable and ferocious Bowtruckle leaping out to slash Umbridge in the calf.

The stout woman shrieked angrily and tried to smash the Bowtruckle with her clipboard. The Gryffindors were doubled over in silent incredulous laughter while the Slytherin's tried anxiously to get a hold of their Bowtruckle. Grubby-Plank was forced to grab her wand and concentrate on the other Bowtruckles which had been excited by the outburst of noise.

"Get off you disgusting creature." Umbridge yelled and swatted the Bowtruckle again, this only served to anger the tree guardian more.

Seeing that Umbridge was on the verge of pulling out her wand Merlin went to the rescue of the poor thing. "Easy Professor, you scared him." Merlin bent and reached for the Bowtruckle which went to swipe his fingers nastily, only to be frozen with a quick spell. Hefting the traumatised creature in one hand Merlin beamed down at the little pink woman.

Umbridge narrowed her eyes at him, so Merlin just gave her another vacantly pleasant smile and carried the quickly recovering Bowtruckle back to the table with the others. Grubby-Plank eyed him with interest. "Well we need to get going if we're going to find what attacked that unicorn."

"Right." Merlin said and glanced at Hermione and Ron who were hovering, obviously waiting to talk to him. "I'll be right there." He wondered what they wanted him for. "What's wrong?" Merlin asked, noticing that Harry had already headed back towards the castle, apparently unaware that his friends were not with him.

"We need your help." Hermione started quickly, glancing up the hill at Harry. "We want to try and convince Harry to teach us Defence against the Dark Arts because Umbridge is well..."

"Useless." Ron supplied.

"Why do you need my help?" Merlin asked curiously. He was certain that Ron and Hermione possessed the ability to convince their friend to do something that he was obviously already very good at. Merlin had seen Harry fight the Dark Arts the boy was good.

"He's not going to like the idea." Hermione warned. "Can you meet us in the Library after dinner tonight?"

Merlin glanced back at Grubby-Plank who was waiting with her wand out. "I'll try."

"Thanks." Hermione said and ushered Ron up the hill to where Harry now stood waiting for them.

Merlin hurried after Grubby-Plank thinking that lessons in Defence against the Dark Arts with Harry would be fun.

It was dark and well past dinner by the time Merlin hurried into the Library. They hadn't been able to find whatever had attacked the unicorn. The trail of blood had ended rather mysteriously in a clearing deep into the forest. Grubby-Plank was concerned and had gone on to talk to Dumbledore about the event.

Merlin had spent the walk back thinking furiously about what sort of thing would have the power and stupidity to try and kill a unicorn. Other than an overly testosterone fuelled group of knights, but Merlin was pretty sure they were in short supply these days.

Casting a glance around the semi-light of the library Merlin caught sight of the back of Hermione's head. The three Gryffindors had sequestered themselves away in a little alcove.

They were surrounded by books and were all writing with varying degrees of intensity. Ron appeared to be doodling in his margin, Harry was slowly turning his way through a thick book while chewing on the end of his quill and Hermione was writing furiously. Merlin dropped into the spare seat causing all three of his friends to jump in surprise. Hermione carefully recapped her ink well. "Emrys, I'm glad you're here." She said brightly, throwing a quick glance at Harry who had greeted Merlin with a tight smile. "Now Harry we all have something we'd like to talk to you about."

Harry went from looking irate to looking worried. "Er...what?"

Ron refused to meet Harry's gaze so the boy turned to look at Merlin. Merlin shrugged and looked at Hermione. As far as he was concerned Merlin was here for moral support and to point out possibilities.

"Well Harry, Ron and I were thinking that...since Umbridge is refusing to teach us proper Defence then we should probably start teaching ourselves." Hermione explained while Ron nodded cautiously. Merlin leant back in his chair and looked around. They appeared to be alone in the library; Madame Price was well out of hearing range. However Merlin wouldn't put anything past Umbridge so he kept one eye on the conversation and the other on the space around them.

"Alright, that's sounds like a good idea." Harry admitted looking back and forth between the three of them. "Are you going to help Merl...I mean Emrys?"

Merlin grinned. "Nope. Hermione will explain."

Harry turned back to Hermione with a questioning look that was just starting to be edged with suspicion.

"Well we were thinking that what we need is a teacher who knows about fighting the Dark Arts, someone who has actually fought against Death Eaters." As Harry cast another look at Merlin, but Hermione cut him off. "Not Merlin, you Harry."

Harry stared at the three of them. Ron look worried, Hermione looked hopeful and Merlin was interested. Having essentially taught himself, with a little input from Gaius and Kilgharrah, Merlin was always interested in learning more and different ways of performing magic. Even though he had never caught on with wand magic he was still keenly interested to see how Harry would go about teaching it.

"You can't be serious." Harry hissed. "I can't teach Defence against the Dark Arts."

"Why not, you get the best marks in the class, you've faced V..Voldemort four times and every time you've come out the winner."

"That was luck and Merlin." Harry snapped angrily. Marlin hushed him as Madame Price threw their little group a warning look.

"Harry I've done almost nothing to help you fight Voldemort. You've done it all yourself, besides even if you haven't fought Voldemort, from the stories I've read in the paper and from what I've heard around the school you've done more than your fair share of combating magic."

"It was luck and I've always had help from other people." Harry insisted through gritted teeth.

"The Chamber of Secrets was all you, and so were the dementors in third year." Ron offered.

Harry opened his mouth to object, but at three insistent faces he closed it. "Look I can't teach, I don't know how. Why can't you teach us?" He demanded of Merlin.

"I've already told you I'm not very good at wand magic, I doubt I could teach it. Look they don't need someone who knows everything. All they need is someone who knows what it's like and is willing to show people some good, useful spells to protect themselves with." Merlin was certain that it was a reasonable argument. Madame Price was now watching them like a hawk from just outside hearing range.

Harry glared at him, then at Hermione and finally at Ron. "Look I'm not going to do it, I don't care what you say." This was said a little too loudly for Madame Price's liking and she scurried over to their table and chased all four of them out of her domain whispering fiercely about yelling in the library. When Merlin pointed out reasonably that they hadn't been yelling he was told blankly that his boots had left dirt marks all over the floors and if he didn't want to be licking them clean again he would vacate the premises.

The stocks were bad, Merlin imagined licking floors clean was worse so he left, waving a cheerful goodbye to Hermione and Ron. Harry had hurried sullenly off by himself.

Making his way back to his room Merlin hoped that Harry would agree. If not to help his friends then to help himself, Voldemort was not going to go down without a fight and Harry needed to be prepared.

Merlin was just pulling his boots on a few days after the incident in the library when a House Elf appeared in the middle of the room. "Mr. Emrys sir?" The elf squeaked, bowing so low her nose almost touched the ground.

"Yes? Is something wrong?" The House Elves strict devotion to their duties always made Merlin a little uncomfortable.

"We has a letter from Hermione Granger Mr. Emrys sir." The little creature reached into its embossed tea towel toga and presented him with a piece of neatly folded parchment.

As soon as Merlin's fingers folded around the letter the House Elf released it and vanished with a loud crack. Puzzling over the strangeness of House Elf behaviour Merlin opened the letter and read through it quickly. A slow smile spread over his face and he tossed the letter on the fire, waiting to ensure it burnt completely before hurrying from the room.

Harry had agreed. Take that Umbridge.

Unfortunately I now have some less than good news. I'm going away on holiday as of next week. Which is unbelievably awesome for me, but it does mean that you are going to have a bit of a wait for the next chapter. I'm not writing while I'm away, hell I'm not even taking my computer with me. So at best the next chapter will be up in late July, at worst early August.

I promise I have every intention of returning to this story on my return home, but yes it will be something of a long wait.