All I could think of when starting this chapter was 'oh god, not Hagrid's accent again.'
Chapter 17: Fifth Year- Hagrid
Merlin tossed the spade over his shoulder and began to make his way down the snow covered lawns towards the chicken coop. It was still early, the bell for the first class had only run a few minutes ago, but it had reminded Merlin that there was a patch of very aggressive vines emerging from the snow in Hagrid's personal pumpkin patch.
Despite having never met the half-giant personally Merlin had done everything he could to keep the Gamekeepers garden neat. The little hut he lived in was locked up tight and Merlin hadn't attempted to open the door and clean up inside the very dusty single room.
As he navigated down the hill towards the forest edge Merlin's stomach growled loudly, reminding him that he had assembled himself an additional sandwich while at breakfast that morning. Dipping his hand into his pocket Merlin pulled out the rough sandwich and bit into it happily.
The forest rippled as a brisk breeze began to blow and the smell of smoke drifted around Merlin. The sorcerer stopped and looked about for a fire or for smoke drifting up from the deeper forests. It would be very surprising if the centaurs had set fire to their forest home, but given the current situation with them anything could happen. However there was no sign of disturbance over the forest. The snow capped trees shimmered in the sunlight and the branches waved. A burst of movement in the distance was the only interruption as a flock of birds took flight into the grey sky.
Frowning as he took another bite of his sandwich Merlin turned back towards Hagrid's house. It took him a good minute to realise that the smoke was drifting free of Hagrid's chimney.
"Excellent observation skills Merlin, really wonderful. When the Death Eaters attack you're just going to be standing around wondering what on earth is going on aren't you?" He muttered to himself and plodded the rest of the way to the cabin. The logical assumption would that Hagrid had returned, but it was possible that anyone had invaded the little hut. Merlin shifted his spade to his right hand and hefted it warily. He had never possessed anything that could pass for sword skills, no matter how hard Arthur had tried to 'teach' him, but a good solid wack over the head would take care of pretty much anything.
Knocking on the door and taking one step back Merlin waited, trying not to look like he was ready to clobber whatever came through the door.
So when the door opened to reveal a veritable wall of person Merlin nearly dropped his spade in surprise. He was going to have to assume this was Hagrid. The man filled the doorway and had to duck his head to peer through a wire-brush beard and hair at Merlin. "Who're you?" He rumbled in a voice that sounded much like it was created by beating two rocks together under the earth somewhere. "Er...I'm Emrys. Are you Hagrid?" Merlin's voice was maybe just a little bit higher than normal.
"Aye, well wha' do you wan'?" The half-giant rumbled impatiently. "I'm busy." He added when Merlin stared blankly at him.
Merlin felt that there were probably several required explanations. After the initial shock of meeting someone so massive Merlin realised that Hagrid bore several nasty looking cuts and bruises on what was visible of his face. He also appeared to have a very impressive black eye which was nearly fused closed. "I'm your assistant? Professor Dumbledore hired me to help out with the Gamekeeping duties seeing as you were away and then you had classes to take." Merlin blinked again as a large very slobbery face appeared near Hagrid's knee and tried to push the giant aside to get to Merlin.
"Assistant?" Hagrid muttered, rubbing his fingers through his mane of hair. "Wha' do I need an assistant for, I always managed alrigh' on me own." Hagrid levelled a surprisingly flat look at Merlin which made him swallow. Harry, Ron and Hermione had insisted that he would get on very well with Hagrid who was one of their best friends. Unfortunately Merlin did appear to have come in on the wrong side of Hagrid, which was mildly terrifying given that the man could probably flatten him with one hand.
"Maybe you should ask Professor Dumbledore?" Merlin suggested, leaning his spade against the wall. "I'll come with you." It was a pity that he couldn't introduce Hagrid to a dragon, that would be a sure fire way to get on his good side.
"Al...cut it ou' Fang, you great ninny." Hagrid stepped out of the door and shoved the huge grey boarhound back into the cabin, shrugging a moleskin coat on which would have drowned most grown men. "Kind o' scrawny ain't you?" The half-giant asked. "Wha' you been doin' around here?"
"Er...this and that. Weeding mostly and fighting blackberries." Merlin admitted. He was probably going to get a serious crink in his neck if he had too many conversations with Hagrid like this. Having run to keep up with the huge man's strides was something of an effort as well. "You a Hogwarts student?" Hagrid asked as he pushed open one of the side doors into the castle and wedged himself through.
"Home schooled, but I like to be outside." Merlin had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from calling Hagrid sir. He had automatically fallen into the servant's attitude when faced with Hagrid's faint resentment; be polite and answer quickly.
All he got was a snort for that answer. For a minute Merlin focused just on keeping up with Hagrid as the man wove expertly through the deserted corridors. It was the middle of class so no one was out wandering. "Dumbledore hired you eh? Good man Dumbledore, excellent judge of character." Hagrid said proudly. Merlin smiled, that was a hell of a lot of loyalty Hagrid had going for him.
"Yes he is." Merlin murmured as they arrived at the hulking griffon which guarded Dumbledore's office. "Lemon Drops." He said cleared when Hagrid hesitated. It would seem that Hagrid hadn't yet had time to see the Headmaster. The griffon stretched and stepped aside, giving Merlin its usual suspicious glance. A Merlin hurried up the stairs ahead of his new boss he turned his head slightly, figuring some name dropping might not go astray at this point. "Harry, Ron and Hermione seem to think that we will get along quite well." He offered.
"Yeh 'no Harry?" Hagrid looked surprised.
"A little, I think Professor Dumbledore will explain more." With that Merlin reached the top of the stairs and shoved his way into Dumbledore's office with all his usual regard for people's privacy. Most nobles hated it, Dumbledore seemed to be determined to take Arthur's stand on the matter and just ignore it.
As he ambled into the room, Merlin noticed with considerable delight that Dumbledore's phoenix was once again on his perch. Resisting the temptation to wander over and fawn over the beautiful creature Merlin instead dropped into one of the available armchairs. Fawkes made a soft noise and watched Merlin back.
"Evenin' Professor." Hagrid squeezed through the doorway, but remained standing. Neither of the available chairs were anywhere near large enough to take his weight.
"Ah Hagrid, I'm glad you've finally returned. Though Madame Maxine said you had some troubles." Dumbledore nodded to Hagrid.
The half-giant glanced at Merlin. "Sorry Professor Dumbledore sir, but the lad says he's me assistant?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Yes. Emrys is...working with the Order."
Merlin scowled, but Hagrid eyed him and then nodded. "Aye?" Merlin smiled, Hagrid was smarter than he looked. He could see that there was something Dumbledore wasn't telling him.
Dumbledore pressed his fingertips together and flicked a glance at Merlin, whether it was permission or a request Merlin couldn't quite be sure, however he smiled warmly at Hagrid and said, "Actually, my name is Merlin."
"Yer parents had a sense o' humour." Hagrid chuckled
"Not really. I'm the original Merlin. You know, old wizard with a beard and a pointy hat. Not that I ever wore one of them by the way. That's all you people." Merlin blabbered, amused to find out that he was enjoying himself immensely.
Hagrid looked between the two of them from between his swollen eyelids. "Sir?" Apparently he figured that Dumbledore was the intelligent one in this conversation. Merlin rolled his eyes and decided that apparently demonstrations were in order. He had never thought that so many people would disbelieve him. He couldn't imagine that all that many people claimed to be Merlin, even the most insane of individuals wouldn't think that would fly.
Casting around for something safe and relatively powerful to do Merlin settled on Hagrid himself. Before Dumbledore could do more than open his mouth Merlin raised his hand and let the magic work. Hagrid was lifted slowly and gracefully from the ground. Merlin rose with him, though he stopped when he was standing while Hagrid floated his way, steady as a rock up to the ceiling. With his hand raised and his focus on keeping the spell, designed to throw someone a considerable distance, under check Merlin smiled. "Hi Hagrid, I'm Merlin. Around here I'm known as Emrys and I'm here to protect Harry from Voldemort." Merlin paused to let Hagrid finish flinching at the name. "And since I'm here already, to help protect him from Dolores Umbridge. You'll meet her later I'd imagine, very pleasant woman."
Hagrid's swollen eyes were the size of dinner plates. "Right, Merlin yer are then." He said his voice shaking slightly. Merlin smiled and lowered his hand dropping Hagrid to the ground with a firm thump. The half-giant staggered slightly before regaining his balance.
"And yer me apprentice?" Hagrid glanced back and forth between Dumbledore and Merlin. Dumbledore had taken a seat in his high backed chair and nodded seriously.
Merlin wondered if they should have told the man. Despite Merlin being sure of Hagrid's good intentions he got the feeling that if anyone was going to let slip his identity it was going to be Hagrid.
There was a long minute of silence before the half-giant shook his head. "Right, lots o' work to be done, come on." He shrugged his heavy shoulders, nodded goodbye to Dumbledore and strode out of the room.
Merlin looked over at Dumbledore in some surprise. "Hagrid is a very accepting man." The old Professor explained.
"No insult intended, but I've only ever met two people who would have given me that response. I wasn't expecting it from him."
"Are yer coming? If yer me assistant then yer work." Hagrid bellowed from around the corner.
Merlin jumped and hurried out of the room with a backwards wave to Dumbledore. Falling quickly into step with Hagrid again Merlin ducked his head to hide a smile as the massive man began to explain what he expected of Merlin in his role as Hagrid's assistant. He didn't mention the Order, Harry and addressed him easily as Emrys. So far it seemed like Harry was right. Merlin was going to get on well with Hagrid.
Harry turned his quill over in his fingers. He had been turning the events of yesterday over in his head all day. He had never seen anyone as coldly angry as Merlin had been after the Quidditch match. The magic he had used, powerful enough to send Malfoy flying with nothing more than the flick of his wrist was terrifying, but also encouraging. If Merlin could do that as easily as Harry could light his wand then maybe Harry stood a chance against Voldemort. Maybe this was even the mysterious power the Dark Lord knows not.
Something did bother Harry though. It wasn't Merlin's anger, which Harry could understand and shared. No, what had Harry staring at the wall in concern had been Merlin's eyes. As Harry had turned moments after Malfoy had been sent hurtling away from him, the sorcerer's eyes had seemed to blaze gold.
At first Harry had passed it off as a reflection of light, or Harry's own distraction and surprise, but the more he considered it the more it worried him. Merlin was using magic so powerful that it altered something as fundamental as his eye colour. Harry hadn't noticed it when Merlin had shown them his magic before the first DA class, but he had been so focused on the magic itself that Harry hadn't even thought to look at Merlin.
Now that it had caught his attention Harry had begun to think back to all the times that Merlin had used magic around them. All those times Harry had been distracted by Merlin either performing spells that made no sense or he was more focused on the lack of a wand. Frowning down at his parchment Harry doodled in the corner, if he had magic strong enough to make his eyes glow Harry didn't think he would need his wand either.
It wasn't until Ron dropped unceremoniously into the chair next to him that Harry was roused from his thoughts. He hadn't told Ron or Hermione about the glow in Merlin's eyes, mainly because he still wasn't sure that he hadn't imagined the event. Ron opened his mouth, probably to complain about the troublingly large pile of homework they had to do, but before he could utter a single word, Hermione grabbed both of their shoulders and dragged them to their feet.
"Hermione what are you doing?" Ron grumbled. "I thought you'd be pleased me and Harry were working."
"Shush, I just noticed..." Hermione dragged the two boys over to the window by their collars. "Hagrid's back."
Sneaking down to Hagrid's hut was surprisingly easy despite the Invisibility Cloak not really covering all three of them anymore. As they trudged through the snow towards the brightly lit cabin by the forest Harry wondered if Merlin had had a chance to meet Hagrid yet.
Hermione reached out and knocked hard on the door, then huddled back between the two boys to keep herself warm. It was a relief when the door was thrown open and a wash of warm air flowed over them. "Who's there?" Hagrid growled, reaching behind the door and pulling out his crossbow. Harry hurriedly threw off the cloak and grinned up at their friend. "Hagrid it's us."
The half giant stared at the three of them for a long minute and then beamed. "Wha' are you three doin' out here at this time o' night." Despite the telling off Hagrid ushered them inside eagerly. As Harry stepped into the light and looked up, he gaped. Hagrid's face was a mess of bruises, his left eye was completely swollen shut and his nose looked a little crooked.
"Hagrid what happened to you?" Hermione asked as she stomped the snow off her boots.
"I've been trying to get that out of him all afternoon. I've known statues who don't keep a secret as well as Hagrid." Merlin chuckled from his seat by Hagrid's table. Hagrid's giant dog Fang was seated on the sorcerer's foot, effectively preventing him from getting up to greet them. Instead Merlin toasted them with his mug of tea and grinned.
"If yer in the Order then yer should know about it." Hagrid muttered as he bustled around his tiny kitchen for more cups. He filled them with tea, all the while avoiding looking any of the four in the eye.
"When Dumbledore said I was with the Order, he meant it in very loose terms. I work with them, not for them. They have their secrets and I have mine." Merlin said evenly. Harry glanced at their newest friend, it made sense that someone as old and shrouded in mystery as Merlin would have some secrets, but Harry couldn't help but let his mind drift back to that glimmer of gold.
"Well then." Hagrid set three more large cups of tea on the table firmly as though this answered all their questions.
"Hagrid you've been gone for months, now you come back all...bashed up? We thought we were your friends, we were worried about you." Harry and Ron both had to duck their heads into their cups of tea to avoid grinning like idiots at the hurt tone in Hermione's voice. Merlin smirked and set his own cup down, fixing Hagrid with a surprisingly piercing stare.
Hagrid fidgeted. The half-giant looked down at Fang, back at Merlin, down at Fang. Then he nervously picked up a large green steak and slapped it on his eye. "Oh alrigh'. Now remember this is a secret, so..." All four of his guests leant forwards eagerly, eyes bright and ready for an exciting tale.
"The Order's been trying to stop You-Know-Who, so Dumbledore...'e sent me off for something difficult." Hagrid started uneasily, glancing at the windows as though someone might have their ear pressed to the glass, listening.
Merlin rolled his eyes and all five cups of tea lifted up and banged themselves on the table. Harry threw a fast glance at the sorcerer, but he must have been too slow because Merlin's eyes were the same clear blue they always were. Biting his lip in annoyance, Harry forced himself to put the matter aside for the moment because Merlin's actions had apparently spurned Hagrid's story forward.
"Well...we needed to talk to the giants."
Harry didn't really know how long Hagrid's, admittedly rather thrilling tale, took to tell. He could only measure it in terms of cups of tea. They had each downed at least five cups from Hagrid's massive kettle by the time Hagrid finally wound to a close with the last disastrous encounter with the giants turned by the Death Eaters.
"So they did this to you?" Hermione asked patting Hagrid's arm gently. Half-way through his tale Hagrid had handed his steak over to a drooling Fang, so he now turned his empty cup over in his fingers. "Aye."
Before further discussion could occur over the events with the giants, what Hagrid knew of the current Order business or just a general catch up, there was a loud and persistent knocking at Hagrid's door.
Harry, Ron and Hermione froze. "It's Umbridge, hide." Merlin hissed. From where he sat he had a clear view out of the window towards the door. Merlin snatched their three cups from the table and hid them under the cushions he was sitting on. Harry snatched the Invisibility Cloak from the hook by the door and threw it over himself and Ron. Hermione scurried under it and the three of them shuffled to the most out of the way corner of Hagrid's hut next to Fang's bed.
Hagrid had shuffled as slowly as possible towards the door and when a glance over his shoulder told him that the three students were well hidden he opened it. Through the silvery folds of the cloak Harry could see the simpering smile on Umbridge's face. He could also see the look of cold disgust on Merlin's, though the sorcerer did well to hide it in his cup. When he emerged his face was schooled to careful blankness.
Umbridge looked up at Hagrid. "Well now, you must be Hagrid." She said in the light giggly tone which Harry had come to associate with Umbridge at her most dangerous.
"Er...yeah, that's me. Who're you?" Hagrid asked uncertainly, throwing a nervous glance at their corner of the room.
Harry grimaced Hagrid was terrible at subterfuge.
"My name is Delores Umbridge," she replied, stepping forward so that Hagrid had to back up and let her inside. "I am the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher and I also have the very difficult task of being Hogwarts High Inquisitor." She simpered, her eye scanned all around the room resting for a heart beat on Merlin before they flicked away. Harry held his breath automatically, though he knew they were invisible he had the horrible feeling that Umbridge knew they were there.
"High Inquisitor, what's that?" Hagrid asked, shuffling his feet nervously.
Umbridge opened her mouth to reply, but surprisingly Merlin got in first. "It means she has the ability to assess and fire any of the Professors." Merlin's bright blue eyes were narrowed and Umbridge sent him a sneeringly superior look. "Yes indeed, and I'm afraid that means I will be attending some of your classes to assess the...appropriateness of your lessons."
Hagrid smiled broadly. "Oh, no worries then. Glad t' have you." Behind the cloak Harry winced. He loved Hagrid, but everyone in the school knew that his lessons didn't exactly follow the school curriculum.
Umbridge's smile widened. "Lovely." She said and handed Hagrid a piece of pink paper which he took, warily, between his thumb and forefinger. "Goodnight."
As the door closed behind her Harry threw off the cloak. Hagrid was peering at the paper as though worried it would bite him. "Hagrid, what do you have planned for our first lesson?" Hermione asked him.
"Eh? Oh, don't you worry about tha'. I got a great lesson planned." Hagrid beamed at them from between his bruises.
"Hagrid..." Hermione began, but the half-giant shrugged them off.
"Best be going, yah shouldn't o' been down here at this time o' night." Hagrid began to usher them to the door. "Goodnigh'."
Harry sucked in a fast breath as the cold from outside hit the three of them. He pulled the cloak out and Ron and Hermione huddled closer. "Oh dear." Hermione murmured.
"We can't let Umbridge get rid of Hagrid." Harry said, tossing the cloak around their shoulders.
"Oh I'm not letting that...that witch get Hagrid." Hermione promised with steel in her voice. "I'll plan his lessons for him if I have to." Harry and Ron exchanged a look over Hermione head; they didn't doubt her one bit.
Just as they were about to walk off there was a creak and a wave of golden light washed over the snow around them. "Harry." Merlin called quietly.
Harry flicked the cloak off his head so the sorcerer could see him. "Yeah?"
Merlin's eyes fixed on the spot where three heads floated, watching him curiously. Merlin wrapped his arms around himself; he wore only his thin shirt and coat though he had taken the time to wrap his scarf around his neck. "Look, I'll try and help with the lessons, but given how Umbridge apparently feels about me now I can't imagine it's going to help much."
"Yeah, I thought you were supposed to be sticking under the radar." Ron asked. Harry had told his two friends about Merlin's yelling match with Umbridge and they had both been as surprised as he was that Merlin, who generally seemed a pretty easy going guy, had that much of a temper.
Merlin gave them a sheepish smile and twisted his shoulders in an uncomfortable shrug. "After a lifetime of being down trodden I guess her being a horrible bigoted cow kind of got to me." He sighed. "So far I haven't heard anything else, but I can't imagine that she will let it slide forever. Umbridge seems the sort of hold a grudge."
"So..." Harry offered.
"I'll do my best, but...and I don't know Hagrid all that well yet...I imagine that it's going to be harder than we think."
"Just try, please. She's trying to ruin everything, but if she gets rid of Hagrid then things are only going to get worse." Harry begged.
Merlin nodded. "I will Harry, but try to keep your spirits up. Remember you've got the DA and the Order on your side. Things will get better."
"How do you know?" Harry asked. While the DA did give him some hope everything was still piling up against him.
"Trust me on this Harry. Things always look hopeless just before you figure them out." With a wave and one of his bright smiles Merlin turned and vanished back into the warmth of Hagrid hut, leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione to begin the long cold trudge back to the Gryffindor common room.
I was going to re-write Hagrid's giant story, but the thought of having to do it was actually making me avoid doing any writing. I took it as a sign and decided to leave that story as canon and move on with life. As such, this is probably not my best work, but I really just wanted to get past it.