Chapter 5: The Witch (And Wizard) Finder

Disclaimer: Am I bothered, though?

Summary: Harry gets caught in the Witchfinder business, helps Merlin, and says his goodbyes to Camelot and its inhabitants.

Harry was in the market, searching for a shirt that would look acceptable for when he got back. He had to return soon, no matter how he loved the castle, the people... He had to think of going home. That was when he heard the whispers.

"...Witchfinder..."

"... Cast the magic out!"

"-Think he'll truly find...?"

Harry abandoned his search and walked swiftly to Gaius's chambers.

"Hello Gaius." Harry said gravely.

Gaius 'hmmed' slightly, and turned away from his potions.

"You've heard, then. About the Witchfinder. Aradian."

Harry absently picked at some leaves, saying, "Whispers, really. I thought it would be prudent to talk to you."

Gaius nodded. "Aradian has spent his life fighting against magic, finding sorcerers everywhere and putting them to death. King Uther heard of some foolish person casting a spell on smoke to make it look like a horse, and decided to call for him."

Harry drawled back, "I can only imagine who that would be. Well, it's good that I don't know of any witches. I mean, witch seems like a pretty mean word. If I knew a witch, I'd at least call her a sorceress."

Gaius gave him a sharp look. 'Oh, fine.' Harry thought. 'Gaius could never take a joke.'

"Indeed, very lucky."

Harry sat down on a stool, looking at Gaius's potion-making.

"You need any help? I can chop ingredients or something."
Gaius smiled. "Thank you, Draco." He looked past him to the doorway, "I am pleased someone wants to aid the subtle art of potion making."

Harry nearly choked. Something about that sentence was just wrong coming from Gaius. Oh yes, he wasn't a greasy bat with a grudge. Harry wondered how he'd be able to deal with Snape now, after getting legitimate knowledge from Gaius, who (despite Merlin's denials and warnings) had made potion-making much more interesting. At least he had his magic now firmly in check. He shuddered to think what Snape or Malfoy would say to him having 'accidental magic.'

"Please, chop these up into centimeter circles." Gaius pushed some reed-looking things his way.

Harry grabbed a knife and quickly
started chopping them, making perfect prices. 'I guess the Dursleys and four years of Potions classes were good for something.' Harry thought.

"You're very good at that." Merlin said questioningly.

"Yeah, got in the habit. For a while, I lived in a village with my aunt, my... Grandfather thought it would be the best place at the time, when Marvolo had more power. I was in charge of most meals. Well, it was that or eat Aunt Cissy's cooking." Harry said with a wince, now that he was back in the Hogwarts state of mind, using Narcissa's nickname as a cover was a bit disturbing.

Harry shot a glance at Merlin, intending to tell him later. It wasn't that he didn't trust Gaius, but the less the old man knew, it seemed, the happier he was. Harry was sure Gaius had figured some of it out - It was obvious he knew about Harry's magic, but he didn't know what Gaius would make of it. Merlin... well, Merlin was less perceptive. He took his story more at face value than Gaius would.

Harry and Merlin were in Harry's rooms, Harry had explained more of his upbringing, and the atmosphere was much more sober than normal.

Merlin was the first to speak, breaking the silence. "I don't know if you've heard, but the Witchfinder is coming tonight. He's said to be able to detect magic from a mile away, and we really can't risk that."

Harry nodded seriously. "You're right." He paused, then said, "But Merlin, a guilty look could do as much harm as doing magic in front of him."

Harry quickly berated himself, realizing that asking Merlin to Not Look Guilty was practically an order to do so.

Harry didn't know how this Witchfinder worked. Back at Hogwarts, the only way to know if magic was there was to see it affect something or to check the wand of the person that did it. He had his suspicions of that since the get-go, and was somewhat concerned that this guy had a gift he'd never heard of.

Harry was talking to Morgana, when she was called in for questioning, herself.

Morgana nodded, looking around the corner nervously. "Oh yes, very. I do hope he is found soon."

Harry, thinking of his earlier joke, said, "Who says it's a he? He calls himself a Witchfinder, we have to consider it actually being a witch."

Morgana blanched, but schooled her expression and smiled at Harry, realizing he had joked for her benefit. "That's true, yes."

A voice came from down the hallway.

"Very perceptive. Magic can come in any shape, any form. It lurks behind corners, in shadows, in people we thought we knew. Very knowledgeable, boy. Who are you?"

Harry turned smoothly, stating, "Lord Draco, sir. I, too, know what you speak. A sorcerer, Marvolo, from my homeland killed my mother. He is after me as well, and that is a part of why I am here." He inclined his head respectfully, snarling at the man internally. 'I bet he goes around and sees who looks guilty enough for him, then drags them off to be questioned. He'd just better hope he finds Morgana innocent.' Morgana was looking at him, slightly awed at his smooth lie.

"Of course, Lord Draco. And you must be the Lady Morgana. If you wouldn't mind, My Lady, I would like a few words."

Harry stared blankly as Morgana walked away, only smiling reassuringly when she looked back at him, fear etched on her face. Harry mouthed, "It doesn't exist." to her, glad when her face relaxed a bit, remembering his advice.

_-*-_

Sometimes, Harry hated it when he was right.

Harry had been spending his time in his chambers, working out when the best time would be to 'return home.' If Merlin was the sorcerer that was caught, Harry could 'admit' to being the one who did the magic, and leave right after.

But then he couldn't return.

"Draco, you won't believe this! They got Gaius thrown in jail, and 'found' a bracelet in our rooms! But it wasn't even him, he had never seen it before and neither have I! And he's going to be killed!"

Harry walked quickly to the doors, muttering a widespread "obliviate" to the surrounding corridor, (just in case) then closing the doors, and locking them with a click.

"What are you going to do?" Harry said quietly.

"I don't know what I can do! The King won't listen to a servant, but the evidence in our rooms? He planted it, I know he did."

Harry turned, a grin spreading across his face. "I had my suspicions. He's been acting suspicious enough - and the overly dramatic attitude? It's bonkers. I have an idea. See, Uther'll listen to me, now that he's realized I had helped with taking down Catrina. If you can search his rooms, see if there's anything... If we can be sure he's not there. And then..."

"If we can't find anything, we'll just plant it! And-"
"And I'll make sure he doesn't try for Morgana or you, too."
There was a knock at the door. "Lord Draco? The Witchfinder requests your presence."

Harry walked calmly to the room Aradian recently claimed for questioning (something about not wanting sorcerers to be where he slept.) Harry wasn't about to give anything away. 'Time for the Inner Slytherin to come out, Harry.' He thought to himself, then snorted. 'Who am I kidding? My Slytherin has been more alive than Gryffindor for the last four weeks.'

"Aradian. I hear you wished to speak to me." Harry said, walking into the room.

"Ah, yes." The man dipped a quill into a skull full of ink. 'Over-dramatic idiot.' "Lord Draco. How long have you been staying at Camelot?"

"Just a short time." Harry said, examining an object on the table in front of where he was sitting.

"And how did you arrive here?"

Harry smoothly replied, "I simply found myself on the floor in the castle, were before I was in my bed in mine."

Aradian looked up sharply. "You just... appeared. By magic?"

Harry nodded, looking a bit scared, "I told you, before, about the Sorcerer Marvolo, the one attacking my Kingdom. I can only assume I was transported here by him."

"A magician transported you from your kingdom? Wouldn't that take an extreme amount of power?" Aradian looked questioningly, playing with his quill.

"I dunno," Harry shrugged. "I doubt I know more of magic than you, one who has been fighting it all his life."

"Of course. I do wonder, however. I have been to a great many places, perhaps I can locate your Kingdom?"

Harry looked up hopefully. "That would be brilliant! My Kingdom is called Scotland, ruled by," He paused for the slightest moment, "King Albus."

Aradian looked at him hard. "No, I have not heard of it. You may leave, Draco."

Harry nodded and turned, and almost scoffed when Aradian tacked on the stereotypical, "For now."

Back in Harry's rooms, Harry noticed Merlin leafing through a half-finished magic book. "Merlin, that's mine!" Harry said defensively. That held all of his notes on what he could and could not do, and his plan to travel back through time.

"I thought so, and it looks brilliant, but you have to hide it." Merlin said matter-of-factly. "I'll not have you in jail for something you actually did. Three 'witnesses' have already come forward, claiming to have seen magic being done. It's obviously fake."

"I thought you were looking at Aradians rooms, did you find anything?" Harry asked.

"Oh, I looked through his drawers and I found these flowers. Any idea what they are?" Merlin remembered, holding them out. When Harry took them, he used the opportunity to take the book, looking around for a suitable hiding place.

Harry rolled his eyes and cast a notice-me-not charm on it. Merlin dropped it, then looked confused. "What did you just do?" He seemed to be squinting through the charm, seeing something on the floor.

"I put a notice-me-not charm on my book." Merlin's eyes lit up, overcoming the spell and he picked it up again. "You're the only one who'll notice it. It's fine. And these flowers? If my classes at school and with Gaius are right, that's Belladonna. I don't really know what it's used for, but it causes mild hallucinations in large amounts. Is there anyone else you can ask? Maybe people have bought something with it."

"I don't know. But I know someone who may." Merlin grinned and ran out.

"Gwen's figured it out! She said it'll be in beauty products! That's why all the people were women! We found a man who sells a belladonna tincture, and he'll testify to the King!"

Harry thought for a moment. "Merlin, if there was only a bit of Belladonna, that might not be enough evidence. If Uther trusts this guy..."

Merlin grinned. "Leave that to me."

Harry stayed in the background, when they went to the King that afternoon with their information. He, of course, refused to believe that his Witchfinder was a fraud.

Harry listened with a smile on his face. It made it easy to decide, Merlin handled it perfectly by himself. Well, almost. Harry only cut in after Merlin said, "So you don't mind if we search your chambers?"

"No, it's a good question." Harry said, and was echoed by Arthur. His son and a noble guest's vouching for him must have convinced Uther, because he

He maintained his shadowing of Merlin through the searching of the Witchfinder's rooms, barely keeping in his laughter as Merlin's planted evidence was discovered. He nearly had to step outside to avoid doubling over, when the toad came out of Aradian's mouth.

Harry grinned when Gaius was released, and looked happily on as Gaius and Merlin walked away. This was a good time to go, when everything was good and everyone was happy. It made for a good last memory of the place he found himself calling his second home.

Morgana walked up to him, "You're leaving, aren't you." She said.

Harry nodded.

"When?"

"Soon." Harry said blankly, looking straight forward.

Morgana stepped into his line of vision, walking right up to him. "Draco..." She said. Harry looked down a her, as she continued, "What am I supposed to do, without you? I don't know how to control my magic, I can't -" She cut off, looking at him sadly. "I know you have to go home. But... where is home? Do you know where you're going?"

Harry nodded. "To the north. Way to the north."

Morgana stepped closer. "I'm going to miss you. You'll come back?"

"When I can, I promise. I'm coming back."

Morgana stepped up to him, sadness in her eyes. Harry said sincerely, "I'll miss you." And leaned in closer.

Their faces were inches away, Harry could see the tears sparkling in her green eyes. "You're a good friend, Morgana. I won't - "

Harry turned, seeing a stony faced Arthur. He turned back to Morgana, who gave him a quick, fierce hug. She whispered, "Goodbye," in his ear.

Looking nervously at Arthur, she ran off.

Harry turned to the Prince, a slight grimace on his face. Goodbyes were difficult.

"So you've found your kingdom?" Arthur said, glaring at him slightly for some unfathomable reason.

"Yes, well, I found a landmark that I can find home from. I hope you'll excuse my lack of warning, but now that I know where I'm going I can't delay any longer. My father will be concerned, he may even think Marvolo killed me."

"Of course," Arthur said, clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I bid you farewell, Lord Draco, and I hope you reach your kingdom without trial."

Harry nodded gratefully. "Do you think... maybe you could inform the King? I have a long journey ahead, and there are few people who would let me go quickly if I gave them the chance to say goodbye."

Arthur nodded. "Of course. Good luck. But Draco," He held Harry's attention with his seriousness, "If and when you return, I want you to know that I am prepared to kill you, if you hurt Morgana in any way."

Harry nodded. He'd expected no less. "Thank you." Arthur was a bit confused by his reply, so Harry continued. "I know you're looking after her." Was all he said. Arthur nodded in understanding, and walked away.

Harry gathered his things. It was strange, how much he had accumulated over the short weeks he was here. He had his own - untested, unfortunately - broom, although he was pretty sure it would work. He had his magic book, a few things from Merlin, some herbs he had picked keeping Merlin company, (Those were interesting, he would have to see what they were called in the future,) a sword and sheath Arthur had insisted he get upon realizing he had none, and a bundle of clothing, all stuffed in a bag.

He knew he had to make his way out of the castle before leaving - if something went wrong, or they realized he had left with magic, it could put Morgana and Merlin in a spot of trouble.

Walking out to the gate, Harry heard someone, two someone's, running to catch him. He turned, and saw Merlin and Morgana.

"Come on, you weren't going to leave without saying goodbye?" Merlin said with a grin.

"Wouldn't dream of it. Merlin, I want to thank you for all you've done for me." He flicked his eyes at Morgana, and Merlin nodded knowingly.

"And I you. I hope someday you can return to Camelot, you're a good friend." Merlin said solemnly.

"Oh, I've promised I will return. Don't think I've forgotten our oath. Maybe," He tilted his head at Morgana, who was standing a few feet behind Merlin, "I'll come back in the summer. If I can convince my father to let me come, of course." He hugged Merlin easily, his friend returning it with a grin.

"I can't wait. Goodbye, Lord Draco."

"Goodbye, Merlin." Harry said, but then he saw Morgana, whose face lit up at his promise. Harry looked at her, smiling sadly, and Merlin backed away with an oddly sly grin.

In Harry's mind, he heard, 'Goodbye, Harry Potter.' Harry nodded, and knew Merlin saw it.

"I knew you were leaving," Morgana walked up to him carefully, "But I couldn't help but say one last goodbye. It was my hope," She held out a piece of expertly woven dark brown cloth, outlined with a slim, twisting green vine that, upon close inspection, would prove to spell 'Morgana.' "That you would wear this. I created it myself." She chose her words carefully, smirking to show Harry that 'Created' was definitely 'magicked.'

"I wouldn't want to crush your hopes." Harry said a bit jokingly, but continued easily, "Of course I'll wear it!"

Morgana smiled brilliantly, and motioned for Harry to hold out his wrist. She tied it tightly, so it made a tight bracelet.

Harry smiled. "Thank you. Let me..." His eyes shone gold, and the fabric closed on itself, creating an unbroken circle. At least he wouldn't have to worry about it falling off.

"Goodbye, Draco." Morgana said, tears forming in her eyes at his motion.

"Not for forever. I'll see you again, as soon as I can come." Harry grinned, and walked away with a wave, disappearing into the trees.

_-*

Once Harry had gone a good distance from the castle, he dug his book out of his bag, and flipped to the pages he had painstakingly created a spell on.

"Reddo Temporis" Harry said, gripping his bag as the gold filled his eyes.

Harry was distantly aware of movement, the feeling of being lifted up high... higher than Gryffindor tower, and speeding forward, both through space and through time. The best comparison was the time turner the year before, but it didn't compare at all to the worse-than-Floo dizziness.

With a thump, Harry landed in the warm, familiar room he recognized as his dorm, right into someone's outstretched arms.

AN: So Harry's time in Camelot is over. But don't worry! He'll be back.

Chapter Word Count: 3000

Thanks for Reading!

SH