10 points to Slytherin in honor of Compliment Giver who correctly guessed that Soarin' was the Disney ride I used as inspiration when Merlin was showing off his magic to his friends.
Chapter 22: Endings and Beginnings
Weeks passed and soon it was time for finals. Professor Dragoon held his last class the previous week and now the students had the Thursday and Friday of this week off to study. Merlin didn't feel like studying but he sat with his friends and helped them to review while making sure they still took breaks for food.
They sat for finals on Monday and results were returned the next day. Merlin, naturally, received outstanding results in every course, although his History of Magic score was a little bit lower. Flora and Libæna also received respectable scores. Flora excelled in Herbology and Healing while Libæna got top scores in Astronomy and Woodcraft. They joked about how they had expected Drugen to get the highest scores in woodcraft out of the three of them since he spends so much time in the forest.
The students all hung around the castle a few more days for some fun end of the year celebrations and a general desire to stay with their friends a little longer before they had to part for the summer. It was on one of these days that Stephen cornered Merlin.
"Can you tell me anything more about this mysterious job you may have for me yet?"
"A little bit more," he replied mysteriously. "Flora, Libæna? I'll meet you back in the common room later. I need to speak with Stephen privately." They said they would see him later and hung back as the boys walked out to the greenhouses. Stephen waited patiently for Merlin to speak again. Silently Merlin cast a bubble of silence over them. "I still can't tell you exact details but I can give you more hints as to the general nature of the job."
"Okay, go on." They sat down on a workbench.
"It involves working in a castle. But it will also require leaving the castle to go on patrols of the surrounding lands. You will be working with people, both in day to day activities, but also defending against the occasional enemy. You may be called upon to make judgments. You will have the opportunity to further your training with a sword if you so choose. And it pays extremely well." Stephen's eyebrows had been steadily rising throughout Merlin's description.
"That sounds like a dream job. Any more details you can give me?" he asked eagerly.
"That is as much as I can give you now. But if you are serious about wanting this, meet me tomorrow when all of the students depart and I can give you more details on the way."
"Consider the position accepted. I have no idea what I am signing up for but that is just another fun adventure." Merlin grinned. He had most certainly picked the right person for the position of Court Sorcerer.