AN: It has come to my attention that my normal page breaks arent't working so where I would normally put *** there will now be three vertical dots and a horizontal line replaces an extra space between paragraphs. Grr. Of course if you just recently started reading this you will not notice the difference since I just replaced all the previous chapters to keep them the same.

Chapter 16: And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Merlin.

Salazar? What's wrong? Unless it was important, he knew Salazar would not contact him in the middle of class.

I felt one of my sensors trip. One of my shields is down.

You think they are here? Merlin wasn't quite paying attention when Professor Gryffindor began teaching the other Counterspell of the day.

It's very possible. I need you to check.

I don't know if you've remembered or not, but I am in class right now. As a student. He felt bad for snapping but he was worried.

Well we need a way to get you out of class. They were both silent for a few moments.

I've got it. What is your class doing right now?

Taking a quiz, he replied, not too sure where this was going. You'll be taking it next hour but keep it a secret. Merlin ignored that but, knowing full well the next hour would not find him at a desk taking a quiz.

Send the first person who is finished with a note to Godric saying you have need of me urgently or something. Maybe hint at why but don't put anything in writing in case the messenger looks at it. Then I will be excused from class and I'll see what is going on.

Brilliant. He smiled to himself even though Merlin couldn't see. Expect to leave very shortly then.

Merlin impatiently blocked his partner's spells while he waited for his note to release him. He couldn't help but wish this was Camelot where he could slip away unnoticed and always have the excuse of being the King's manservant to explain himself with. But luckily he did not have long to wait.

Libæna knocked and entered with a note in her hand. Merlin was suddenly worried that maybe this wouldn't go quite as planned. She handed the note to Professor Gryffindor and he dismissed her before he turned back to his desk and opened the letter. Merlin watched as he quickly read the note and then turned to glance at Merlin with raised eyebrows. He forced himself to look back to his partner but he opened a metal connection with Godric.

Salazar says he felt one of his protection spells break and I have a sinking feeling that the time is near, he explained. The note allows me an excuse to get out of class and investigate since the rest of you are currently teaching.

Okay. Then out loud he said, "Mr. Dourado?" Merlin turned to look at him with a confused expression on his young face. "Professor Slytherin would like to speak with you as soon as possible about something. You are excused from the rest of class."

"Yes, Professor." He grabbed his staff and left, careful to keep a confused expression and even gait before he broke into a run when he was far enough away. His class wasn't close to one of the towers, but it was close to the clock so he ran there. He weaved his small body around the ropes and gears to get a good lookout. He peered out. It looked like there might be some people way in the distance, but he couldn't tell from here. The grounds were expansive and he could barely see to the edge of the magical barriers. He needed to get closer. Leaning his staff up against the wall he paced back and forth, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to think of a way to get closer. A movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. A bird had swooped down to land on the ledge. He stared at the bird and the bird looked back at him. With s gleeful grin, Merlin reached down for his magic and felt the overwhelming expanse of power. Using his knowledge of the Old Religion he called out the words of power and felt himself change. He turned around to look in the reflective surface of the clock gears.

Where there had previously been a young boy, now there was a small bird. A raven in fact. He cawed in delight and stretched out his wings experimentally. Looking at his reflection, he couldn't help but be amazed. He unconsciously began preening his feathers before he caught himself. The human part of his brain realized that the longer he stayed in this from, the more bird-like he would become. He might even become stuck like this. He needed to accomplish his mission fast. He spread his wings once more and took to the air. It was unsteady at first, but he let the bird-part of his mind guide him and he quickly go the hang of flying. He mentally laughed; if Kilgharrah could see him now.

But enough of that. He flew high above the grounds and saw that there was indeed a small army gathering. Small, but he could tell that they didn't need many men. He could feel the power of their magic as they worked together to break down his barriers. He could see the spells he had placed weakening and knew that it wouldn't be much longer before they broke down. He took a trip around the perimeter, making sure there wasn't more of them elsewhere before flying back to the clock tower. He transformed mid-air and landed in a crouch before quickly straightening up. He felt his energy reserves build back up as he sent a message back to Salazar.

They are here. We need to get all the students to the Great Hall. Do you have warning bells?

No. But you should be able to use the ones in the clock tower.

Good thing I'm already here then. He grabbed the rope for the bell and started yanking, pulling with all his strength as he let them ring out, an unspoken charm protecting his own ears. He had already warned Salazar but as he pulled, he warned the other founders.

They are here. Get all the students to the Great Hall then meet me at the front doors. He heard their various acknowledgements and left the connection open as the grabbed his staff and ran down the stairs. He knew the students would be shepherded into the Great Hall, but someone had to warn the servants and the rest of the staff.

.

.

.

Flora and Libæna found each other in the Great Hall as soon as Libæna walked in. They quickly grabbed hands and looked around for Drugen. They couldn't see him anywhere.

"I don't understand," Flora said. "He has class with Gryffindor this hour and the rest of his class is already here." There were only a few other students still not in the hall yet, the older students who had a free period and the two students who had ditched class since it was finally a nice day outside.

"Hang on," Libæna said with a worried look on her face.

"What is it?"

"I don't think he is going to be in here." Flora was still in the dark.

"I don't understand but if you think you know where he might be then explain on the way." Thankfully it was still chaotic enough for them to slip out into the corridor without being seen. The Professors were attempting to calm everyone down so that they could explain what was going on.

"I had finished my test early in Astronomy and Woodcraft and so Professor Slytherin gave me a note to deliver to Godric. I didn't read the note, but I did briefly see it before he finished writing it. It had Drugen's name on it."

"What?"

"I don't know what the rest of it said and Godric sent me back before saying anything to Drugen, but he didn't come into our class after that."

"I bet Slytherin sent him to do something for him and the note was just a way to get him out of class!" Flora exclaimed. "I knew the two of them were up to something in the forest. Come on, maybe he is waiting outside Slytherin's office. We have to find him." Wands in hand they picked up their pace and ran towards the main staircase. They hadn't run for very long when they heard a metallic clunking coming from one of the hallways. They glanced at each other and silently walked towards the noise. What they saw was nothing they had expected.

In front of the doorway to the kitchens were three figures. One looked to be the head cook, another was a suit of armour they definitely didn't remember seeing in this part of the castle before, and the third was Drugen. Libæna started forward but Flora held her back with a finger on her lips. They crept a little closer and they could make out what they were saying.

"If there is anyone else we can only hope that they heard the warning bells and have gotten somewhere safe," Drugen was saying to the cook. "The students were all being lead to the Great Hall so some of them may be in there. But the rest of you need to stay here. You will be safest here with a knight to guard you."

"Are you sure?" she asked. "It is just one suit of armour and none of us have any magic." He laid a hand on her shoulder. It looked strange since he was currently shorter than her.

"I promise you it will protect you. And I'm going to do my best to make sure they don't even make it inside. Now get back to the kitchens and keep them safe. If it will make you feel any better, arm yourself with ladles and pots. I know how much a good crack with a ladle can hurt." He smiled reassuringly. She returned the smile and went inside, shutting the door behind her. Drugen turned to the statue. "Sta hic custodiis culinarum. Et non sit qui pertranseat."(1) The knight saluted and stood in front of the door with it's sword tip resting lightly on the ground, ready to snap up at any time.

"Drugen?" Flora asked as she and Libæna walked out from the shadow. He snapped his head around to look at the two of them. "What was that?"

(1) Stand here and guard the kitchens. Let no one pass.

All your kind reviews are continually lighting up my face when I read them. It makes me super happy.

And shameless plug time. If you like HP x Merlin stories, my friend and I worked together on a very short story that is also on my profile called "An Exclamation of Surprise." It is a good read while you wait for the next chapter.