Chapter 3: A Merlin Problem...

And a Potter Solution

Summary: Harry spends some time reflecting on his situation, helps a friend of a friend, and gets an nasty surprise.

Harry looked up sharply, still pretending to not know why Morgana was there. He worked false emotions run across his face, that roughly read, 'There was only one thing she could be talking about, and that's Magic. And how could Merlin have told her!' He saw that Morgana had caught his expressions, so he continued.

"Well, I assume I know what you're talking about, but please, explain to me what you did Merlin. I promise not to act upon anything you tell me in confidence."

Morgana smiled at him gratefully, relaxing enough to sit down. "Draco, it's... it's about magic." She looked for his reaction, but got a carefully blank face. "I was talking to Gaius, and I know he knows about magic, but he refused to believe that I had it. But I know I do, I lit a flame up to a drape, and shattered the vase in my rooms. And I have these dreams..."

Harry stood abruptly, causing her to trail off, wondering if she had said too much. Walking around the table so that he was two feet away from her,
Harry raised his hand and concentrated. A moment later, a small, glass lily was floating in the air. Harry let it fall lightly into his hand before presenting it to Morgana.

"I understand what's happening to you. I understand perfectly, like you wouldn't believe. But you have to trust me, because I really know that it will all be okay."
Morgana looked at the lily in wonder. "You've got magic too?" She looked up hopefully, still needing verbal confirmation.

Harry grinned and nodded. "I know it all seems crazy now, while you're magic's uncontrollable and violent. You need an outlet for it, and whenever the magic makes you angry, or you get so scared it bubbles to the surface, focus on the lily – it should be able to absorb any magic you send it. But Morgana, you need to train, and to learn what magic is for. Now, I myself have only been learning a short time, and it's been self-study. We can learn together, if you like?"

Morgana looked like she was about to cry, or laugh, or both, but simply smiled and nodded vigorously. "Draco, I would love that. I always wondered what it would be like to have magic, but I never thought of the consequences. Of course, never thought magic was evil, no matter what Uther's tried to tell me since I came here. But it's frightening, to know if I slip, if something happens I'll be burned for what I am."

Harry nodded. He didn't like to dwell on it, but he was quite aware of the possibility since he learned of the ban. "You can't pay attention to it," he offered her. "When you're around him, your same as you've always been, with no magic to speak of. I know it's difficult, but you can act normally when it's just me or Merlin." He held up a hand to stop her comments, thinking she was about to question Merlin's trustworthiness, "Merlin knows my secret, and he at least has a hint of yours. I can assure you, he will tell no one."

Morgana nodded. "Thank you, Draco. You don't know what this means to me."
Harry smiled. "It's the least I could do for a fellow magic user. We may be persecuted now, but I'm confidant we can make a change. Eventually. Good night, Morgana.

And sweet dreams."

Morgana smiled, walking out of the room and walking to the left.

"And I hope I can change what Destiny had planned for you." Harry said to the empty room, turning back to his broom.

It hit him, then. He realized it too late, after he had become attached to these people. Where and when he was from - in the future, at Hogwarts, everything here was destroyed. All these people - Merlin, Morgana, Arthur, Gaius, even Uther, they are all dead. If he managed to get back, these people would be hundreds of years dead. 'I don't want to go. But I can't stay.'

Harry thought about everything, tried to put it in perspective. "Think like Hermione, you dollop head." Harry said to himself. "You have to go back. You have a Destiny there. You've got a life, people who expect you."

A small part in the back of his mind said, 'You can stay here for however long you want. You'll just be 'lord Draco' until you go back, and no time will have passed.'

Harry pushed the broom away, laying his head on his arms. He promised to help Merlin, and to help Morgana. He would stay long enough to do that. But he would also make sure that when he did go back, whatever the third task was, he would trample it.

_-*-_

For the next week, Harry worked furiously, learning and trying to master his magic, and helping Morgana do the same. He trained with Arthur and his knights, fighting with all his might. The effort he gave, more than anything, kept them working with him.

Soon, he was settling into a routine, and had to shake himself awake again. 'You can't stay here forever' became his mantra, but he kept finding excuses to stay. The best excuse failed when Gwen, Morgana's servant and Merlin's friend, was captured, and thought to be Morgana. Harry had to comfort a distraught Morgana and wait with her as Gwen was returned safely home.

'See?' Harry's snide voice said to him, 'You aren't even needed. They managed perfectly fine and you didn't do anything at all. You just enjoy being someone else.'

Harry, like any sane person talking to their voice, replied, 'I do not! I have obligations here! I'm not neglecting them. After Morgana is in control of her magic, I'll be able to go back..' Harry couldn't bring himself to say home. This castle had become important to him too. He cared more for the people in general here, he didn't have any enemies and he wasn't held to expectations.

'You can stay here a while, but you must figure out how to get back now.'

There was a knock at the door. 'Alright, figuring out can wait... a bit.'

"Yes?" Harry opened the door. It was Merlin.

"Arthur was wanting to know if you wanted to go hunting with him." Merlin said.

"Uh... Alright. Do you recommend going?" Harry said blankly.

Merlin gave a so-so motion. "You could insult him if you don't go, and I'll be there so it won't be completely boring." Merlin grinned. "But it's pretty stupid. They'll kill anything that crosses their path."

Harry noted the scorn behind that, and had to ask. "What creature..."

"A unicorn."

"Arthur Killed a Unicorn?" Harry all but screamed.

"No, no. Well, yes. But he made up for it, and it's alive again." Merlin assured.
Harry looked at him, confused. "It's alive... again. How?"

Merlin paused for a moment. "It's a long story. A very long story." Harry was about to comment, when Merlin said, "And you have to decide whether to go or not."

Harry shrugged. "You want me to come?"

"Oh yes please. Arthur makes me go every time, and I can hardly talk to him because he's 'focusing.'"

Harry nodded. "Great! What do I need?"

_-*-_

"You're right, Merlin. This is a bit boring." Harry said, falling in step with the servant, looking distastefully at the Prince and his two knights in red.

With a resounding cry, twenty-odd bandits came crashing onto the path.

In a moment, Arthur and his two knights drew their swords and slashed at the bandits, breaking through their forces, even gaining a bit of an upper hand...
But not enough of one. The two knights were stabbed, one across the side and one through the heart.

Harry and Merlin glanced at one another, then at Arthur, who was nearly surrounded.

Harry drew his sword and tossed it to Merlin, then summoned one from a fallen bandit.

"Arthur! Look out!" Merlin yelled, prompting Arthur to turn and kill someone.
Harry and Merlin fought through the five bandits between them and the prince.
When they reached him, there were four left. Harry ran one through, just before the bandit ran Arthur through, not spending time to think about what he was doing, not paying any attention as a shallow gash was cut into his arm. Merlin burned one sword out of a bandits hold, and smashed him into a tree with a glimmer of gold.

When the last of the bandits turned and ran, Arthur and Harry were standing next to each other, panting. Merlin stood a few feet away, staring at the blood on his sword in disgust.

"You just saved my life, Draco." Arthur said in amazement, looking at the bandit Harry had run through without a moments hesitation.

Harry shrugged. "I did what I could. And you probably saved our lives, too."

Arthur shook his head. "Doesn't matter. My father will hear about this. You have my sincerest thanks." Harry would laugh at the wording that so reminded him of Malfoy, but it was said in a completely different tone, it didn't seem like the same words.

He nodded. "As you wish, Sire." He was still holding in his chuckles at Arthur's phrasing, and he was sure the words came out a little choked.

As Arthur looked over the dead, checking to see if any were alive (Particularly his Knights) Harry's adrenaline wore off, and he became aware of a stinging pain in his arm. "Ah!" he said softly. It wasn't the worst pain he'd been in, but he checked the wound, taking off his jacket. The gash he had gotten during the fight traveled down the length of his upper arm, making a curved jumble of blood soak into his shirt.

Merlin came over, "You're hurt." He stated, looking worried.

"I'll be okay. I'll get Gaius to take a look at it when we get back, if you want."
Merlin nodded. "But, Draco, it could get infected."

"What could get infected?" Arthur walked over.

"Just a scratch." Harry said easily, shrugging the black jacket back on.

By the time they had gotten back to Camelot, and talked to the King, Harry's arm stung horribly. He walked quickly over towards the Physician's rooms, eyes staring ahead blankly.

"Draco? Are you alright?" He heard from behind him.

"Huh? Oh, Morgana. Yeah. But show me the way to Gaius's chambers?" Harry felt slow and stupid.

"Yes of course, I'll take you there. What's wrong?" She said worriedly.

"Uh..." Harry paused for a moment, trying to find the words. "My arm. But it'll be okay, it's only a scratch. I've had worse." He tried to smile, but the expression on Morgana's face told him he hadn't quite done it right.

He followed Morgana up an inordinate amount of stairs and hallways, mumbling to himself about how glad he was Madame Pomphrey wasn't here, and something that he would definitely regret later, if he remembered, about Morgana's hair, until they finally stumbled into Gaius's rooms.

"Gaius?" Morgana called. Gaius turned around, and she continued. "Draco injured himself somehow. He said his arms hurt, but I don't think he's thinking properly."

Gaius walked forward quickly, taking Harry's good arm - his left - and guiding him to a bed.

Faintly, Harry recognized him saying something, but all he could do was look at the way-too-comfortable looking bed, relieved. He practically fell onto the bed, and knew no more.

Chapter Word Count: 1942

Thanks for reading!
SH