Chapter 9: Rumination on the Remarkable Runemaker

Lunch proved to be the catalyst needed to spread the word of the mysterious magic during Runes to those in the school who hadn't heard yet. Upperclassmen were verifying what Merlin had said earlier: illusions would be taught at the end of their first year, causing suspicion to fall on the Slytherin students and the Ravenclaw students since they were the only likely ones to have read ahead. But that was narrowed down since it was only Slytherins and Hufflepuffs in the class. The older snakes kept their voices low, trying to find out who was responsible so that their initiative could be rewarded. Then Flora reminded them that it wasn't likely to be a first year since there had been more than just simple illusions. She still wore the flower in her hair but passed it around when Anna and her friends wanted proof.

"I would normally say it had just fallen from the ceiling on accident, maybe a breath of wind knocked it down," she said as her friend passed it back to Flora. "But it's almost the end of October and all the flowers would've been dead by now. It had to have been magic."

"Skillful magic as well," Stephen, a fourth year added. "Aside from the professors I don't know anyone who could do that. I don't think that's even in the curriculum until next year. I guess I'll let you know then."

"It would be more useful if we knew now though." Lisa sighed. "Whoever it is, I could use their help in class." The others laughed.

"You said you thought the professors could probably do this," Merlin pitched his voice to sound unsure. "What if it was the professor? We didn't even consider that." Anna stopped chewing for a moment and thought.

"You might be right."

"Don't talk with food in your mouth," Laura scolded as she slapped her friend on the arm. Anna scowled and slapped her back but finished chewing before she continued.

"Aside from the butterfly, all of the other illusions, and occasional real magics, related to the next rune. Right?" Merlin and Flora nodded. "And you said that they happened as soon as the class finished saying the name and meaning." They nodded once more. "That's not a lot of time to think of an illusion. What if Professor Goodfellow was making them?"

"What?" Flora asked.

"Not following the logic." Stephen rested his chin on his hands.

"Well Goodfellow could probably tell that people don't find his class as interesting. Maybe over the summer he has been thinking of ways to make it more interesting. When he sees the class bored, he decides to try and make it more memorable by creating these illusions. And the flower and the fire and the butterfly," she added hurriedly. "I got it." Flora closed her mouth with an apologetic look. "So obviously he would've had time to think about which illusion he would make for each rune ahead of time. He made them while his back was turned so that you wouldn't see his eyes glow. After all it seems more fun when it's a mystery who is creating them." That got nods from all around. "You may be wondering what the butterfly had to do with it. I think that and the fire and the flower were all real to make sure he caught everyone's attention." They pondered this theory for a moment. Merlin was impressed with the argument considering it was all wrong.

"But we would've heard him doing a spell for each one." Flora naturally found a fault. "And he would've needed to use his wand."

"I believe I can solve that loophole." Stephen sat up proudly. "First off, he was using his wand to write the runes on the board. These are Druidic runes so he could've linked the magic with the writing of the rune. Secondly, you were undoubtedly too distracted to have noticed him muttering when he was facing away from you. But if that isn't enough, there are those who can do magic without a conduit for their powers. Some of the Druid kids can do some magic without their staffs I know. And the stories say that the great Merlin doesn't need anything. He just thinks and the magic does his bidding. I don't think Professor Goodfellow is that powerful but he might be able to manage a few illusions without an incantation." Merlin just smiled. If only they knew who he really was. Regardless, it was really fun to listen to the whole school talking about the magic he had done. It left a warm feeling inside of him It wasn't pride exactly, okay, it was pride. But no one knew it was him so that had to count for something didn't it? And it would help others to learn the runes so it was a good deed all around. But if he was being honest, he just liked the feeling of being the cause of everyone's conversation without them knowing. Lunch was drawing to a close with no one any wiser about who really made the illusions and Merlin knew he would not be paying attention that day in Counterspells and Potions.

One of the invaluable skills Merlin had learned in Camelot was the ability to keep lists in his head. Whether a list of plants he needed to collect for Gaius or the never ending list of chores for Arthur, he became very good at balancing multiple lists and committing them to memory. It would spoil the fun if anyone found a written list of prank ideas and spells for them in his handwriting. So while Professor Gryffindor walked around the class, giving people suggestions to improve their black fire potion, Merlin brainstormed various widespread pranks that no one would think him capable of.

"Drugen! Did you hear a word I said?" Gryffindor asked impatiently.

"Sorry, Sire," Merlin responded automatically. Godric raised his eyebrows slightly but continued.

"I said your potion looks perfect. You can bottle it up and set it in your slot on my desk."

"Thank you Professor." Merlin did as he said and cleared out the rest of the cauldron with two taps of his staff on the side. Class was nearly over anyways so he just walked slowly to put his things in his room. Professor Slytherin had said that today's class would be a practical in woodcraft so they would not need to bring anything to class. Mind still whirring away, he walked outside and lay on his back, staring up at the clouds and waited for the rest of the class to arrive. Professor Slytherin was the first to arrive. He shook his head at the small boy stretched out with his cloak for a blanket in the chill October air.

"I hope you have at least learned a self-heating charm by now to keep yourself warm." Merlin tilted his head back to look at him.

"No." He sat up. "Do you know one?"

"Not one that works well," he admitted. "I had only figured you would probably know one. You must have spent many cold nights outside with the knights."

"That's why I built a fire. Keeps everyone warm and you don't look suspicious. I'm not like Percival; people would notice if I took my sleeves off."

The rest of the class walked out the the grounds to find Professor Slytherin and Drugen laughing, the latter still sitting cross-legged on the grass. When they noticed the weird looks, they stopped and turned away from each other so that they wouldn't start laughing again.

"Feel free to join your classmate on the grass or remain standing," he addressed the other students. "As soon as the stragglers arrive I'll give you your task and you can get started." The task was to bring back an elm leaf and some henbane. It wasn't meant to be difficult, just a short practical that was more useful than identifying the plants on a page in a book. Also henbane was a plant that was useful in curing common colds that students tended to get in the winter. Being the last class of the day, everyone took off running into the forest as soon as the assignment was given. The students had been exploring small parts of the forest as part of class and many were furiously trying to remember where they had seen the herb. Others were remembering something of the teaching and were looking for signs of water which would lead them to where the plant usually grew.

Merlin ran faster than all of them and launched himself down into his secret hideout to do some research while the rest of the class looked. He ran his fingers over the spines of his small library scanning for the book that would help him with his next prank. Finally he found the one. He remembered the book but he just couldn't recall the wording of the spell. It was the one he had used to duplicate the crest he had made for Lancelot into Geoffrey's book. He sat back down at the small table and began flipping through. Then he found it. Ic us bisen hræd tán hwanon. This time he read the additional commentary on the spell. How to properly set the template for the duplication, how to apply the pattern of the original to an existing object of the same type, and how to set the duration of the spell. It would take some extra words and some additional charms but he may be able to pull this off.

Merlin? He heard Salazar's voice in his head. Where are you? Class is almost over and I know you know where to find both of these plants. I expected you to be the first one back.

I got distracted. He could almost hear Salazar about to ask what had distracted him. Thanks for the reminder. I'll be right there. Merlin responded and cut the connection. Salazar was right; he did know where he could find the henbane plant but why bother looking when he had some on his shelf. With a grin he put the book back and grabbed a few leaves of the herb. He peaked out of the entrance to his little room, making sure no one was around, before climbing all the way up. He had a pretty good idea of where the few elm trees in the forest were but he used his inner eye to scan the forest between him and the field. Finding one directly in his path he took off at a run. He only stumbled a few times but he didn't even need to think about it as he reached out and plucked a leaf as he ran past the elm. He slowed to a jog as he neared the edge of the forest and returned to Salazar. Handing over the leaves he grinned at him as the bells rang out.

"This has been a most informative class period. Thank you, Professor." Salazar gave him a suspicious look but Merlin said nothing further as he jogged back up the hill to the castle. He knew that Salazar would notice the henbane was not freshly picked and he didn't want to explain himself. That night, after the school had gone to sleep, Merlin snuck out of the dorm and placed a blanket charm over the entrance to the other three common rooms and returned to his room with a soft smile.

A/N: What? Two updates in less than 24 hours? Well I got some great writing done so I am rewarding you. Enjoy.