I have discovered the secret to getting in the right mood for writing fan fiction. Just re-watch the show you are writing about. I was about five minutes into re-watching season 5 of Merlin and had to stop because my inspiration and dedication to this story suddenly exploded at me.

Chapter 33: Sixth Year: Coup

Six days.

Six long, silent days.

That was all it took.

Six days, and Voldemort had made his move.

The message had arrived that morning, through the Order of the Phoenix.

The Ministry of Magic had fallen under Voldemort's control. The Minister for Magic was dead, replaced by one of Voldemort's lackeys.

The instant the message had arrived, delivered by the glistening silver patronus, Hogwarts had reacted. Students and teachers alike had started to shore up their defences.

Letters arrived from the Ministry, demanding that the school gates be opened.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were on the edge of the wall facing the gate. Merlin was leaning over the parapet a few feet away. They were all watching the steady stream of students leaving the school.

Harry was counting colours, sliver and green was the most prominent colour, but there was an even spattering of the other houses as well. There had to be at least half of the school leaving. Parents waited just inside the massive front gates, collecting their children and giving frightened looks towards the silent expanse of the castle.

"Why are people leaving, Hogwarts is the safest place right now?' Ron rubbed his fingers through his hair and shook his head.

"Because Weasley, they are frightened. The Dark Lord has issued a command that unless Hogwarts opens its gates to the Ministry then it will be taken by force." Harry hadn't noticed Snape arrive and he glared at the Potions Master now for interrupting.

Snape had been acting very strangely the last week. Ever since Dumbledore had...Harry shook off that thought... Snape had been watching Harry closely. Sure that Snape was going to turn them over to Voldemort, no one had been more surprised than Harry when the dark haired man had been the most ardent opposition of anyone leaving the school.

Snape and Harry exchanged cold looks before the older man continued. "It will not be long before he demands that Potter be turned over to him."

"What then?" Merlin asked, dropping down from the wall and turning his back on the departing students. "He has more than enough people at his disposal to turn Hogwarts into a pile of rubble if he wanted to."

Hermione winced. "Merlin's right, now that he has the Ministry under his control Voldemort will have the newspapers and they influence people a lot more than anyone realises. It won't be long at all until there isn't anyone left outside who will help."

"I rather thought you would be helpful there." Snape pointed out coldly, his attention firmly on Merlin. "After all you are supposed to be the most powerful wizard who ever lived."

Merlin's blue eyes turned to ice. "I told you there isn't anything I can do. I can help you all fight, but we can't defeat Voldemort. He has the Cup of Life and just as importantly the prophecy says that only Harry can defeat Voldemort."

They all looked over at Harry who suddenly found himself fascinated by the pattern in the stones under his hand. When the silence dragged on Harry peeked up through his hair. They were all still watching him. A sudden slightly irrational anger rose in his chest. "What am I supposed to do? Voldemort is invincible so long as he has that Cup. If Merlin can't think of a way to defeat him, what hope do I have?" He snapped at them, swinging to his feet and turning his back to them.

This served an extra purpose to displaying his anger. It allowed Harry to hide the thoughtful look on his face. He had seen Merlin's face during his little tirade. When he had mentioned Voldemort's invincibility Merlin's eyes had flickered. He knew that look, it was the same look Hermione had gotten just before the Polyjuice Potion idea in second year.

Merlin had just thought of something.

Merlin turned the page of the heavy book, scanning quickly through the pages. Invincible. That one word echoed in his head. He had lost track of Mordred's sword after Arthur's death. He had assumed that Morgana had hidden it somewhere, either buried with the young druid or spirited away with one of her Saxon warriors.

That which can kill what is beyond death. In the long years since the time of Camelot Merlin had completely forgotten that there were two swords. One born of the hope of the Great Dragon and another forged of Morgana's rage and Aithusa's agony.

There had to be something somewhere about what had happened to Mordred's blade.

Merlin read deep into the night, when his candle burnt out he lit his reading area with a ring of endless fire, careful to keep the licking tongues well away from the books around him.

It was early morning, when Merlin's eyes were begging him to sleep when he found it. The last location of Arthur's Bane, the dragon blade of Mordred and Morgana.

Memorising the passage Merlin returned the book to its shelf and finally ascended the stairs to bed.

After the mass exodus yesterday the Great Hall was oddly quiet at breakfast. Classes were generally continuing without much interruption, the teachers were trying very hard to keep everything normal, particularly for the younger students who were understandably terrified.

However as Harry, Ron and Hermione grabbed their bags and started heading out to their first class Snape appeared from around the corner and motioned them over.

Harry felt his face twist into a scowl automatically, but he led his two friends over to the Professor. Snape's sneer matched Harry's scowl. "Come with me." He turned with a whirl of his black robes and strode off down the hallway without another word.

Harry exchanged an eye roll with Ron, but they followed Snape towards McGonagall's office. "What's this about Professor?" Hermione asked, clearly trying to get in before Harry could.

Merlin was waiting inside McGonagall's office with their House Head herself. In the week since Dumbledore's death Professor McGonagall had taken on the role of Headmistress and it was clearly tiring her out.

As the three students took the available seats Merlin looked them over with the first smile they had seen on their friend in ages. "I may have found something." He said, leaning against the windowsill.

"What kind of something?" Harry asked.

"There is only one thing I know of that can kill something beyond death, a weapon that can kill something that is dead...or someone who has been made immortal." Merlin leant back and met Harry's eyes, his gaze steady.

Harry remembered the information Hermione had found back at the Burrow. "Excalibur." He breathed.

Merlin gave a sad smile. "The King's sword could kill anything." He admitted.

"You know where it is?" Snape asked, his voice hitching in interest.

Merlin shook his head. "Excalibur is long lost, beyond reach of anyone."

"Then why...?"

Merlin interrupted McGonagall before she could continue. "What most people don't know is that there was another sword, forged in the same manner as Arthur's sword, with the same powers." He shook his head. "I had forgotten about it, but I think I know where it is. If we can get our hands on that sword then there is a chance we can still defeat Voldemort."

"What are you waiting for?" Snape demanded.

Merlin shrugged his shoulders. "With things the way they are I wasn't going to just run off without telling you." He looked around at them all. "Everyone needs a bit of hope, particularly at a time like this."

"I'm going with you." The words were out of Harry's mouth before he could stop them.

"Absolutely not Potter, it is much too dangerous." McGonagall replied immediately.

Merlin however looked thoughtful. "It shouldn't be. The place we're going isn't that well guarded from what I can find. It's just well hidden."

"That isn't the problem. You-Know-Who is looking for Potter." McGonagall shook her head and levelled her well practiced glare at Merlin.

The sorcerer didn't look even slightly cowed by the look. "Severus can come as well if that makes you feel better, but Harry will be with me. I know the land we're going to better than Voldemort does and he won't be expecting us to be anywhere near there."

Harry gave Merlin a grateful look, he desperately wanted to help and was glad that Merlin was willing to let him chip in, even if it did mean spending time with Snape.

McGonagall's lips tightened so Merlin continued. "The prophecy says that Harry must be the one to defeat Voldemort, you don't want to run the risk that the pivotal point of the prophecy is going to be somewhere along the path to the only weapon that can defeat him."

After a long silent look McGonagall sighed and relented. "Very well. Potter you will go with Merlin and Professor Snape to collect this sword. We will hold the fort here."

"Professor..." Ron and Hermione jumped in, but McGonagall cut them off before they could get further. "Absolutely not, you two will remain here."

Merlin nodded. "A smaller party has less chance of being picked up." He winked at Hermione. "Besides I think everyone here will probably need your skills Hermione."

As they finally made out for their classes Harry's feeling of gloom finally started dissipating. They were moving forward, there was an end to this in sight. Tomorrow they would hunt down the last weapon against Voldemort.

This is not going where you think it's going.