A/N: Wow! Thanks for the amazing response! Sorry the sequel took so long! I only hope it lives up to expectations!

So, as promised, my Sunday update, crammed into the few minutes I could spare between heading out with my mum and gran for Mother's Day and the fact that the clocks went forward leaving me one hour short of sleep. Hope you enjoy! :)

An Incident at the Ministry

"That's good," said Merlin to the assembled witches and wizards in the Auror department. "You're all doing really well."

"No, we're not," said Wilson, one of the younger Aurors, nursing an injured arm. "We're all rubbish."

"Well, yes," admitted Merlin, with a hint of a smile. "But it's a great start, and that's the truth. Give it a few months and you won't have any trouble at all."

They looked doubtful, and Merlin couldn't help but laugh. Of all the Aurors at the Ministry, twenty-six had proven to be capable of learning Old Magic, and he now taught small groups of them almost every day, as well as the civilian witches and wizards who came into the department and the ones in the DA and Order. Tonks had shown an aptitude for Old Magic as well, but had declined his invitation to learn it. 'I'm clumsy enough with normal magic,' had been her answer, and Merlin had accepted her concerns to be justified. Besides, she rarely had any time to learn, what with her normal Auror duties and caring for Teddy, who was now approaching his first birthday. Merlin secretly suspected her Metamorphic abilities had something to do with her Old Magic, but he had yet to meet another Metamorphagus to try out his theory. He believed she may possess a significant amount of power, and hoped to one day convince her to utilise it. Very carefully.

The lessons were going well, if slowly. Thankfully, there was no Voldemort or Morgana to worry about at the moment.

"I think we'll leave it there today," Merlin said, as, just on cue, Fawkes suddenly appeared out of thin air and perched on his shoulder, drawing the usual gasp from those who witnessed it. "Same time and same place next week. Keep practicing those exercises."

They all nodded, and bid him goodbye, some still a little shy around him. They all left the training room, and Merlin followed out onto the main corridor of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Immediately, he turned and headed towards the lifts, and stepped inside, pressing the Atrium button. There was only one other occupant of the lift, a young wizard carrying a box of files. He took one look at Merlin and squeaked, turning a furious red. He turned away, as though afraid to look at him.

Merlin tried not to let this bother him, but it still did. Although it had been what he had wanted for so many centuries, going around using his real name was still something he had to get used to again. He knew now how Harry felt.

It was only a short trip however, and he stepped out into the Atrium, and met the expected pandemonium. About a hundred witches and wizards were gathered here, some carrying large flashing signs, others crying out slogans, all gathered around the new statue in the centre of the Atrium, a figure representing the very first Minister for Magic. It was the first statue in the Ministry that Merlin had ever actually approved of; that wizard had ended the tyranny of the Wizards' Council and created a better, fairer organisation to represent ordinary people.

Ministry witches and wizards, along with a few Aurors were running around, trying to keep the peace, but the crowd were getting very unruly. A few banners caught his eye: 'Friends to Muggles, not Masters', 'An end to secrecy', 'Magical and Muggle Cooperation' and 'Stop Spell Suppression'. He recognised that last one as being the motto of a witch named Carlotta Pinkstone, who he recalled getting into a lot of trouble several years ago for repeatedly using magic in front of Muggles. He should have known she'd be here.

A man was standing before the statue, holding his arms up to the crowd, basking in the eyes of everyone there. He was short, middle-aged, with a rounded face which was shining with exertion. He had mousy brown hair that barely covered a prominent forehead. He was dressed in long grey robes, which stretched tightly across his chest. His eyes were small and dark, but sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Let us end our long imprisonment!" he was calling to the rapturous crowd. "No longer should we be ashamed of our heritage. Let us embrace the Muggles, our wandless friends!"

"Yeah? And what if they embrace us with burning pyres?" one Ministry wizard shouted from the back, to a chorus of boos. "What then?"

"We are fellow human beings!" the man, who was obviously Cicero Verax, called back. "Given the opportunity, they will welcome us too. With time, we can once again be a fully integrated society. We can end the Long Separation!"

"End to separation!" one witch cried out.

"Friends to Muggles!"

"No more Memory Charms!"

Merlin stood in rapt attention, watching the energy of the crowd, the cries of the people, and Verax standing there, taking it all in, a smug smile on his face. Fawkes squawked on his shoulder, and clenched his claws deep into Merlin's shoulder. Merlin turned to him, confused. What upset him so? Surely there was no danger to be found here?

But Fawkes was restless, and turned his beautiful head away from the crowd, as though grieved by what he saw.

"I thought I'd find you here," said a voice from behind. Kingsley was standing there, having just exited the lift, hard eyes on the crowd beyond. "Don't you think the sight of the great Merlin with a phoenix on his shoulder might whip this crowd into an even greater frenzy than it's in now?"

"Would that be a bad thing?" Merlin asked.

Kingsley surveyed him with one critical eye. "We should leave," he said. "The sight of the two of us might rile them even further."

"Perhaps you're right," said Merlin, and reluctantly turned away from the crowd, still thinking furiously. Fawkes immediately seemed to relax as he and Kingsley walked away, and into a nearby alcove where they could observe the crowd without being seen themselves.

Kingsley was watching him carefully. Merlin still had his eyes fixed on the crowd, unable to tear his eyes away.

"I don't understand quite how this happened," Kingsley said. "Just two days ago, not a whisper about any of this. Now … There were eighty here yesterday, today, twice that number, and more keep arriving. They must have been planning this in secret for months. It's all rather come out of nowhere."

"Not nowhere," said Merlin, his eye still on Verax. "This has been building up for the last three hundred years. The fact that more people seem to be arriving is surely testament to the fact that there is widespread call for this."

"You agree with them?" Kingsley asked, though not looking surprised.

Merlin hesitated a moment. "Yes," he said finally. "The Old Religion is back, after waiting so long. This is the next step. This has to be done."

"Yes," said Kingsley. "One day, yes, it must. But are we ready for it now?"

"I have to help," said Merlin. "Verax is right; I'm the only one who remembers a time of peace between Muggles and sorcerers. This is what I have to do."

"I thought you'd fulfilled your destiny?" said Kingsley. "That is why you were made mortal. The Old Religion surely does not intend for you to take up yet another task?"

Merlin was silent. He searched deep within him, and found none of those whispered messages he'd been so used to hearing over the centuries, no urges, no instincts. They'd become increasingly rare ever since he had killed Morgana, and the silence was unnerving. The Old Religion was not telling him he must do this, but regardless, he knew this was the right thing to do. Surely the Old Religion would let him know if he was making a mistake?

Fawkes gave a soft mournful cry on his shoulder.

"This separation has to end," Merlin said firmly. He looked towards Kingsley. "Are you telling me you do not agree? That you won't even listen to him?"

"It is not within my jurisdiction to grant what he wants," said Kingsley. "It is for the International Confederation of Wizards to decide."

"But surely you have some influence with them?" Merlin asked. "Can't you at least broach the subject with them? Make the first step towards ending this stupid law?"

"Is it stupid?" Kingsley asked him, staring at him intensely. "Are the Muggles ready? Would they accept us?"

"Maybe they should be given a chance," said Merlin, staring back. "They aren't mindless creatures."

"That is my point," said Kingsley. "They have their own problems, their own conflicts, their own internal divides. What would happen if we suddenly intruded into their world? They would fear us, they would see us as a threat."

Merlin looked away, his heart beating painfully. "You don't want to see an end to separation?" he asked. "You don't want an end to hiding ourselves away?"

"I think perhaps you want this for the wrong reasons, Merlin," said Kingsley, his voice a little too understanding.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"You've spent the last thirteen hundred years waiting for the chance to reveal yourself again," Kingsley said. "You've done that. You don't need to do this as well. You don't have to hide amongst your own kind any more, isn't that enough?"

"No," said Merlin, feeling an old pain flare up unexpectedly. "Because they're my kind as well. I was raised by a Muggle, in a village filled with Muggles. I didn't meet another sorcerer until I was fully grown, for several years all of my friends were solely Muggles. I may be a sorcerer, but I'm allied to them as well. I owe it to them."

Kingsley made no answer to this, and just let his eyes fall on Verax, who was still speaking emphatically to the crowd.

"He wants me to petition the International Confederation of Wizards," he said, nodding to Verax. "Propose the annulment of the Statute."

"Why don't you?"

"I don't cater to each and every whim that crosses my path," said Kingsley. "This issue, regardless of what you say, has appeared from nowhere. I need more evidence other than colourful slogans and charismatic speakers before I can even begin to consider the issue seriously."

"You have it," said Merlin gesturing to the crowds, which were rising in volume. "There is your evidence. Plenty of people want this."

"Perhaps," said Kingsley, looking at Merlin curiously. "Speaking of international wizards, I've received yet more invitations for you to visit foreign Ministries. You cannot keep declining them, they are getting impatient."

Merlin sighed. "I have responsibilities here; I can't rush off and go visit the pyramids or climb the Eiffel Tower with a bunch of fawning ambassadors."

"They want to know more about Old Magic."

"Of course they do," said Merlin. "They hate the fact that we're the only country in the world actually learning it. They want a piece of it. But I just can't teach every sorcerer in the world. They'll have to wait until there are more of us."

"They won't be happy with that."

"Naturally. But they have to face facts," Merlin answered. "I'll do the World Tour thing, eventually. But not until Harry's training is complete. Someone needs to stick around and keep it going until I get back. He's the only one I'd trust to teach it to others. He's the only one else I think properly understands it. And besides, I've already met the Australian Minister for Magic!

"That doesn't count," said Kingsley. "You were already in Australia with Harry and the others to find Hermione's parents. And from what he wrote to me, you were rather rude."

"Not rude, just not willing to publically endorse his campaign for re-election," Merlin answered. "I didn't even know the man. I don't like my name being used for political purposes."

"You don't like embracing your own fame," said Kingsley. "But you're perfectly happy for Verax and these 'Liberators' to use your name in their campaign?"

"That's different," said Merlin. "Creating peace between Muggles and sorcerers in Camelot is one of the few things I've done in my life that I am proud of."

"And you think you can recreate it here?"

Merlin avoided looking at him. "Perhaps," he murmured. Kingsley stared at him for the longest time, before nodding to himself. "Very well," he said slowly. "I had best get back to my office before this mob turns on me. I suggest you get yourself home as well."

Kingsley walked off, fixing Merlin with one last look before leaving. Merlin stood on the spot, debating with himself. He should go back to Grimmauld Place, he knew that that the best thing to do, but something stopped him. The crowd was growing ever larger, and Verax' speeches were growing in fervour. Merlin stared at him for the longest time. There was something about the man, something that he did not like, the smarminess of his expression, the glint in his eyes, yet … Merlin couldn't bear to leave just yet.

Then, despite, Fawkes' squawks of protest, Merlin found himself inching closer to the statue, where Verax was standing, arranging himself in a similar pose to the statue behind him. Merlin felt his heart beating even faster as his words began to reach his ears.

Peace between wizards and Muggles, it was something he'd longed for almost as much as the return of the Old Religion. The pain of all those years of persecution, the countless burnings he had seen, endless streams of traumatised orphans, crazed Muggles with flaming torches, all of that haunted his dreams, haunted his thoughts. The world had gone so badly wrong back then, and Merlin had spent every day of those thirteen hundred years yearning for a better future, a time when all of this would finally end. Was this the chance the Old Religion had intended?

"A time of peace existed once long ago, in the great city of Camelot," Verax was saying to a tumultuous crowd. "There, Muggles and wizards lived side-by-side, in harmony. Why can such a vision not exist once again? Why should such harmony be resigned only to history books and fairy tales? Bring it back, I say. We have the means. Merlin has returned to us, now is surely the time. Old Magic has returned, the Old Ways are returning. The Old Peace can return as well. End the Long Separation!"

Merlin moved closer and closer, now making his way through the crowd, which parted easily, looking in awe at Merlin and Fawkes both, stopping their cheering, and whispering behind their hands.

Merlin slowly found himself at the front. Verax, confused at the sudden silence of his audience, frowned, and looked around. He stopped in amazement when he saw Merlin, his little eyes growing wide, and his jaw hanging open.

Merlin stared evenly back at him, casting out his magic towards the man, seeing whether he could be trusted. Verax was not making it easy. There was an air of ambiguity surrounding him. His magic was not particularly powerful, and Merlin knew without even doing the test that the man would be hopeless at Old Magic, but there was a sharpness in his eye that bespoke a greater intelligence, and a gleam of ambition. He was a self-proclaimed visionary, smug and self-satisfied, but were there good intentions beneath all of that? Did he truly believe what he was preaching?

The crowd was now entirely silent, staring between Merlin and Verax with eager anticipation. Verax' astonishment did not last long, and he soon regained control of himself. He grinned, and lifted his arms up in the air in what he must have thought was a welcoming gesture, but actually looked as though he wanted to snatch Merlin away. His hands were trembling with suppressed excitement.

"You see here, my friends," he called to the crowd. "The great Merlin is amongst us!"

Frenzied whispering broke out, beginning at the back of the crowd, where the demonstrators had been unable to see what was going on. Verax' smile widened.

"Surely this is what we have all waited for?" he said. "For Merlin himself to pledge his support for our cause?"

Merlin stared at the man, stared at him for several long minutes into those dark sparkling eyes, searching for the sincerity he dearly hoped was there, searching for some sign that the man was to be trusted.

"I wouldn't be so hasty, Mr Verax," Merlin said, still critiquing the man in front of him. "I haven't decided one way or the other yet."

Verax' smile seemed to falter for the briefest of moments, before it was back in place, beaming at the crowd.

"You support the Reintegration, do you not?"

"Yes, I do," Merlin answered carefully. "But I'm not sure if I support you yet."

"We are merely servants trying to carry on your vision," said Verax, inclining his head slightly. "You are the reason we are all here."

Yes, he's a smarmy git all right, Merlin thought to himself. A right boot-licker.

"And tell me, why should I give support to a movement run by you?" Merlin asked, eyes still fixed on Verax. "I've seen plenty of people speak out against the International Statute of Secrecy over the centuries, why do you think you shall succeed where so many others have failed?"

Verax' grin grew wider. "Because, in this century, we have you," he said. "With your assistance, we cannot fail."

Merlin's assessment of the man was still uncertain. The man was confident, certainly, though arrogant and a right sycophant. Merlin could see the man's ambition, his whole body seemed to pulsate with it. This was no mere passing fancy, this man was determined, he was intelligent. But did that mean trustworthy?

"Given time, I am sure you shall support us," said Verax. "The evidence is insurmountable, now is the time to stand up for our Muggle brethren, now is the time to end our race's long exile. I have no doubt that you will realise that. With you advocating our cause, Mr Shacklebolt will have to accept our demands, and send a delegation to the International Confederation."

"And what if he doesn't?" Merlin asked. "What then will you do? Would you ever resort to violence?"

"Violence solves nothing," the man said. "We have long since moved past such pettiness."

And, unnervingly, Merlin could not be certain if the man was lying or not. Verax, and Merlin's inability to read him, made him uneasy.

"I'll think about it," said Merlin, searching the man's face one last time.

Verax bowed slightly again. "Your judgment shall mean everything to us, Merlin. We know you shall make the right choice."

Merlin tuned and left the Atrium, passing through the still silent and breathless crowd as easily as a boat through water. Fawkes was quivering on his shoulder, but Merlin paid him no heed. His mind was too caught up in memory, in questions and worries. He was genuinely at a loss.

That he wanted the International Statute of Secrecy abolished, he was certain, but was this the right way to go about it? The Old Religion was suspiciously quiet these days. As much as he'd hated it telling him what to do constantly for thirteen hundred years, he now found he rather missed its constant guidance. Is this what it wanted? Was this a new task for him to complete?

"Well, that was rather dramatic."

Merlin was jerked out of his ruminations by a red headed figure that had fallen into step beside him as he neared the exit of the Ministry. Percy Weasley was beside him, looking half nervous, half admiring.

"Where did you come from?" Merlin asked, surprised at being surprised.

"I was in the crowd," Percy explained, polishing his glasses. "I wanted to see what all the fuss was about."

"And what do you think?" Merlin asked, stopping in his tracks just before the fireplaces in the Atrium. "Do you support this Reintegration, or not?"

Percy looked thoughtful, and took his time before answering.

"I believe that it is inevitable, one day," he said. "We can't exist separately forever, eventually they'll notice us. And if that happens, it may make them suspicious of us. Then again, springing this on them suddenly might just scare them. It's a very complicated situation."

Merlin sighed and nodded, knowing better than to get a straight answer out of Percy. It looked like he was going to have to figure this out on his own.

Then, Merlin felt a sudden change in the atmosphere of the Atrium, though nothing outwardly looked any different. He spun on the spot, feeling a horrible foreboding in his gut. There was danger here.

His eyes went straight to Verax, but nothing seemed amiss, he was still preaching loudly to the crowd. Was it one of the demonstrators? One of the Ministry employees?

"Merlin? What is it?" Percy asked, following Merlin's line of vision.

"There's something wrong here," Merlin said, the feeling of danger still growing within him.

"Yes there is," a voice sounded behind him. "Something very wrong indeed."

An old man was standing behind them, so old, he was bent over almost backwards. He had a long white beard sprouting from his chin, and he was dressed in flowing blue robes, leaning on an ancient staff. His wand was in his other hand, and it was pointed directly at Merlin.

Percy made to draw his own wand, but Merlin stopped him, intrigued by the old man, and the sense of danger he was emanating. Fawkes' grip on Merlin's shoulders tightened. He stepped closer.

"What do you mean?" Merlin asked, immediately on his guard as he noticing a flash of anger in the man's eyes. The demonstration was continuing behind them, no one having noticed the old man.

"You are what's wrong," the old man scowled. "Standing there bold as brass. I saw you! You went right up to Verax and didn't even attempt to deny it!"

"Deny that I want the International Statute to end? Why would I when-"

"Not that," the old man hissed, hobbling closer. "Your so-called name."

An element of understanding crept into Merlin's mind then, but he didn't say anything, and just kept continuing to stare the old man down. The man's anger just seemed to increase.

"How dare you stand there and claim to be the great Merlin," the man spat, confirming Merlin's suspicions. "What gives you the right to play with us all like this?"

"I am not playing with you," Merlin said, much more calmly than he felt. "I am Merlin."

The man scoffed. "I do not believe you," he said. "You're nothing more than a charlatan. An imposter."

"He is not!" Percy said, his pace tinged with pink in his indignation. "I've seen his magic. I saw him kill Morgana. How can you ignore so much evidence?"

"Evidence?" the man said. "Who was to say she even was Morgana? I'm sure you're a good wizard, boy. But all those fancy tricks and puffs of smoke won't fool me. You're a disgrace, you're shaming the memory of the great man himself."

"How dare you-" Percy began angrily, but again, Merlin stopped him from going further. He turned back to the man, a sadness in his heart. This man wasn't the first to confront him. Many people did not believe he was who he said he was, no matter how much Old Magic he showed them. Merlin had given up trying to convince them, and just hoped they'd eventually see the truth on their own.

"I am who I say I am," Merlin said. "I'm sorry that you do not believe me."

"Merlin was a great man, a powerful sorcerer, not a scrawny little boy," the man growled, his wand shaking in his hand. "He's been our hero for centuries, our inspiration, our guidance. How can you possibly hope to fill his shoes? How could you ever be half the man he was?"

Although he tried not to let it, the man's words bothered him. These were the very words that had haunted him for centuries, tormenting himself for his past failures, lamenting for the past in which he had been so much better, before he had let it all slip away. His days of hating himself for what had happened were now gone after seeing Arthur and the Knights at Avalon on Hallowe'en, but were not forgotten. Still, a trace of guilt lingered unbidden at the back of his mind. But he would not allow it to control his life once again. He pushed it back impatiently.

"I won't argue with you," Merlin said. "Neither of us will convince the other. I just hope you come to your senses soon."

Then, he turned his back on the man and began walking away again, Percy at his side.

"Coward!" cried the man. "Lying coward! Turn and face me! Let's see the power of Merlin. Fight me!"

But Merlin ignored the man, even though the man's shouts had been so loud as to command the attention of Verax and the crowd. The sense of danger was not decreasing however, but increasing.

"I knew it!" screeched the man in the now silent Atrium. "You're not Merlin at all. And I can prove it! Avada Kedavra!"

Merlin's heart almost stopped as he heard the last phrase; the man was more dangerous than he had thought.

Quick as a flash, Merlin spun around, his eyes burned golden, and the Killing Curse bounced harmlessly off the shimmering shield he had conjured in front of himself. Several people in the Atrium screamed. Fawkes sprung from his shoulder and soared away squawking urgently.

Merlin glared at the man. "Fancy tricks and puffs of smoke, is it?" he demanded, seeing the man reel in shock and fear. "What Modern Magic can resist a Killing Curse, I wonder? Nothing but the Old Religion, if you don't see that then-"

"Merlin!"

A terrified voice to his left drew his attention, and his stomach lurched to see several Ministry wizards surrounding a crumpled form on the floor. The woman who had cried out, one of the Aurors from his classes, was on the ground by the other person, her face turned up to him with an expression of horror on her face.

"The Killing Curse," she stammered. "It rebounded. It hit …"

Merlin flew over to the Ministry wizards to see the person that had been hit, cursing himself for being so careless as to give no thought to the rebound. His blood went cold as he saw the vivid red hair.

Percy was lying on the floor, his glasses askew, his eyes closed, his limbs in a tangle after being thrown away from Merlin by the force of the Curse. He was deathly still.

"No!" Merlin cried, and fell to his knees by Percy's prone form, terror spreading through his entire body.

"He's alive!" said one of the Ministry officials disbelievingly, after taking a pulse. "But, the Curse-"

"Its power must have been lessened after hitting my shield," said Merlin, delirious with relief. But he soon pushed that away, and began to examine Percy, desperate to determine the truth for himself.

True enough, Percy was alive. His pulse was weak, and his breathing shallow, and he was still terribly still, his body somewhat cold to the touch, as though trying to decide whether it was dead or not.

Merlin laid his hands over Percy's chest, and closed his eyes. "Bregdan hine bæc.
Hē is bilewit. Hǣlian hine."

He released the magic into Percy's body, sending it to every inch, letting the force of the Old Magic revitalise him, repair the damage, restore the life. Fawkes cried mournfully. Percy twitched.

Merlin fell back and gasped after such a huge spell. "We need to get him to St. Mungo's. He'll live, but I'm not sure how much damage has been done. Send for his father, he's on Level 2."

A witch nodded and ran towards the lifts, and a nearby wizard pulled out his wand and conjured a stretcher, and began lowering Percy on to it. Merlin turned and walked towards the old man, who was now being restrained by two Aurors, though this was hardly necessary since he was staring at Merlin with dumfounded awe and fear.

"B-but," he gasped. "You-you can't be him!"

"I am," said Merlin, glaring at the man. He turned away then, not wanting to argue any further. It was then he noticed all of the demonstrators had gone silent and were staring at him in awe. Beyond them, standing on a podium in front of the statue, Verax was watching him too. There was a gleeful look on his face, greedy almost.

Merlin turned back to Percy, who was now being taking out of the Atrium. As he walked, he felt the eyes boring into his back, the eyes of Cicero Verax, staring at him so intensely he could feel it even from this distance.

It was not a feeling he liked.

"How is he?" Ron demanded, the moment he, Harry, Hermione and Ginny had stormed into the waiting room at St. Mungo's. The entire Weasley family, plus several Order members looked up as they entered.

"What are you doing here?" Remus asked, seeing that Mr and Mrs Weasley were too pale and anxious to say anything. "How did you find out?"

"McGonagall," answered Ron. "That portrait in her office of the Healer told her. But why didn't any of you bother to let us know? He's my brother!"

"I was just on my way to Hogwarts," said Remus. "I only got here five minutes ago myself. Tonks heard about it at the Ministry and told me. Everyone else was at the Burrow when Arthur sent the Owl telling them what had happened."

"And what did happen?" asked Harry, his heart racing the way it did when any of his friends were in trouble. "Is he alright?"

"He's alive," said Charlie, his voice a little hoarse. "Somehow, he's alive. He was hit by a Killing Curse that was meant for Merlin. That's literally all I know. Merlin's with him now."

"Well then, he'll be fine won't he?" said Ginny, though her voice shook. "Merlin can cure anything. He brought me back from the dead!"

"Killing Curse?" repeated Harry. "Who was firing a Killing Curse at Merlin? Are they mental?"

"Might as well be," said Bill, who was sitting with his arm around his mother. "He didn't believe Merlin was who he claimed to be. And he isn't the first. I've seen him in a lot of confrontations like that since you lot went back to school. None of them have ever tried to kill him before though."

"None would dare if they knew the truth," said Charlie. "Apparently the Killing Curse just bounced straight off his shield. Thank goodness it lost some of its potency when it did, otherwise Percy would be …"

Mrs Weasley let out a sob here, and Mr Weasley glared at his son.

"He'll be alright," said Harry, trying to convince himself as well as everyone else. "Merlin knows what he's doing."

A silence followed these words, and everyone just avoided looking at each other. Charlie paced up and down the waiting room, as did Fred and George after a while. No one spoke, not even to comfort. Hermione held Ron's hand in her own, and Ginny sat by Harry, resting her head on his shoulder, as though sleeping, but really trying to mask her own worry. A sense of dread lay upon them all, which wasn't dispelled until there was a soft knock on the door and a Healer walked in. At once, Mrs Weasley leapt to her feet.

"Is he-"

"Your son is just fine, Mrs Weasley," the Healer smiled. "He's awake. Mer- Merlin's done wonders. You can go to him now."

She nodded and raced towards the door on the opposite side of the corridor where Percy was, everyone following her, though Harry, Hermione and Remus felt they should hang back since they weren't family. Ron just rolled his eyes at them and pulled them with him.

They entered the white ward to find Percy the single occupant of a bed on the far side, by the window. Merlin was standing against the wall beside the bed, his face expressionless, but even so, Harry could see a tension in the way he was holding himself. He was staring straight at the bed.

Percy was lying there, propped up against some pillows. He was pale, his glasses were on the table beside him, and he seemed too weak to reach out and get them, but he was awake, and he smiled as he saw them approaching.

"Oh, Percy!" wailed Mrs Weasley, and threw herself on him, while Mr Weasley stood at her side, beaming, laying a hand on his son's shoulder as though to reassure himself he was really there. "I'm so glad you're alright! After everything that's happened, after spending so much time apart I couldn't have stood it if you-"

"Now now, Molly," said Mr Weasley, though he was a bit watery-eyed himself. "Don't strangle the poor lad."

"I'm alright, Mother," said Percy, smiling up at her. "Really."

"You were hit by a Killing Curse, mate," said Charlie.

"Yeah, can we call you The-Other-Boy-Who-Lived now?" joked Fred, though he looked pale himself.

"You should be dead," said Bill.

"Well, I'm not, thanks to Merlin," said Percy turning towards him. "He saved my life."

Merlin shook his head, looking anguished. "Don't," he said. "I shouldn't have had to do that. I was stupid and careless, and it almost cost you your life."

"What do you mean?" Mrs Weasley asked, a somewhat steely edge to her voice, still clutching Percy's arm.

"The Killing Curse was aimed at me, not Percy," said Merlin, hanging his head. "My shield was only enough to cover me. I didn't even think to shield Percy as well, I didn't even consider the rebound-"

"It's alright, mate," said Ron. "He's fine now, isn't he?"

"Yes," said the Healer, who had followed them into the room. "I don't know what you did, Merlin, but you saved him. He's weak, and he'll need some Strengthening Solutions for a few days, but he'll fully recover. At least, we think so; we've never treated anyone who's survived a Killing Curse before."

"He'll be fine," said Merlin, though he didn't look overly happy about it. "I've repaired the damage."

Mrs Weasley nodded, and set about fussing over Percy's sheets. Remus looked to Merlin.

"What were you doing in the Atrium?" he asked. "I thought you always got Fawkes to sneak you out after training sessions?"

"I do," said Merlin, quietly. "But I went to see the demonstrations. I met Cicero Verax."

Mr Weasley turned sharply to him here. "Verax?" he asked, a sharp note in his voice. "And what were you doing talking with him?"

Merlin frowned at his tone. "Do you know him?"

"Oh yes," said Mr Weasley darkly. "We were at school together, same year only he was in Ravenclaw. Smug, narrow-minded git."

"Arthur!" reprimanded Mrs Weasley, but Mr Weasley shook his head.

"He was and you know it," he said. "Always so full of himself and his own intelligence. We were in Muggle Studies together. If I'm honest, I don't know why he's so obsessed with the International Statute of Secrecy now."

"Why?" asked Merlin.

"It never struck me that he had any particular regard for Muggles," said Mr Weasley, thinking back. "He studied them, he found them fascinating like I did. But, I was always admiring them and how they manage without magic. I wanted to meet them, become friends with them. He … well, the way he talked about them was as though they were animals in a zoo to study rather than human beings. I didn't like him."

"Maybe he's different now," said Merlin, looking at the floor. "Maybe being out in the world amongst Muggles has changed his mind."

Mr Weasley frowned. "You don't support him do you?" he asked. "I know you hate the Statute, but would you really trust a man like him to achieve it?"

"I'm not sure," said Merlin. "All I know is that he's the first man I've seen in three centuries who actually seems like he has the ambition to do it."

"But does he have the right motivations?" Remus asked, and Merlin was silent.

They all fell into silence, sitting by Percy, as the Healer bustled about with potions and vials. She glanced at Merlin, almost shyly.

"M-Merlin?" she asked, hesitatingly. She blushed as he met her eyes. "I, uh, well, you said you might be able to tell us what's wrong with … with the coma patients?"

Merlin nodded, and sighed. "I examined them earlier after I'd healed Percy. There's nothing I can do for them."

"They're dying?" the Healer asked.

"No," he said, and he looked disturbed. "They … they've been using Old Magic haven't they?"

She frowned in thought. "Well, yes, their families did say-"

"They never came to me," said Merlin. "They didn't look for instruction from me. They tried to learn on their own, and the magic overwhelmed them. They're in no danger. They'll simply stay in the comas until their bodies recover. Just keep them as comfortable as possible."

"You warned me that could happen," Harry said. "Is it really that dangerous? Could someone die from it?"

"I don't know," said Merlin. "I've never heard of it happening before. Even though the Old Magic has returned, it's still dangerous to use without proper instruction. I had students in Camelot who ended up in comas for a few days. Godric Gryffindor was in one for two months. We need to stop this happening."

"I'm not sure you can," said Bill. "People aren't too happy with the fact you're the only one who's allowed to teach it, and the fact you turn some people away is making you unpopular. They think you're trying to conceal it from them."

"I am," admitted Merlin. "They can't just rush headlong into this without thinking. I don't want them to think I'm controlling them, but, I have to. They need to understand how dangerous it is. In a few generations perhaps, everyone will have the ability to use Old Magic, and it'll be taught at Hogwarts so there'll be no issue, but until then …"

He sighed again. "Everything is so complicated. Some people hate me and want to kill me, and others want to be just like me and end up almost killing themselves."

"You're right," said Kingsley, who had arrived at the door to the ward when none of them were looking. "Everything is complicated." He moved over to see Percy, and then looked to Merlin, who, for some reason, was frowning. "How can you want to take such drastic action as abolishing the International Statue for Secrecy when even our own society is fighting? How could we find peace with Muggles when we can't find it with ourselves?"

Merlin stared back at him, and Harry was surprised to see a glimmer of anger there. He made no answer, and Kingsley looked away and back to Percy.

"I'm glad you're alright," he said sincerely. "In any case, a death in the Atrium during the demonstrations would have made Verax even more critical of me, and we can't give him any more ammunition now can we?"

Percy smiled weakly, and Mrs Weasley smiled at him, unnecessarily smoothing down his already pristine sheets.

Kingsley nodded. "I must leave," he said apologetically. "I only stopped by to make sure you were alright. The demonstrations are getting rowdier. They seem to have taken the attempt on Merlin's life as a catalyst for more action."

Kingsley looked back at Merlin. "I heard you spoke with Verax," he said. "I urge you to be cautious, Merlin. He is not to be trusted."

Merlin stared back evenly. "It matters not if I trust him," said Merlin. "He is determined to do this, and perhaps we should not dismiss this. You cannot stay blind to the issue. I don't have another thirteen hundred years to wait and see peace. I believe it is time"

He stood up, and swept out of the room then, Fawkes squawking on his shoulder, leaving an awkward silence behind him.

Kingsley sighed. "I only wish it were as simple as he wishes," he said.

"But it can't really be done, can it?" said Hermione. "I mean, when my parents found out about magic, they were okay with it, but only because they'd already suspected something like that about me before. But other Muggles … I don't think they could handle it."

"Perhaps not," said Charlie, glancing at the door Merlin had just left through. "But if Verax and Merlin are anything to go by, there may not be any other choice."

Harry fell silent the rest of the visit as he considered this. Abolishing the International Statute of Secrecy? It seemed a massive step, and all he could think about was the Dursley's neighbour's reactions when they found out magic existed.

It would change everything.

A/N: Next update next Sunday!

Got a new found policy of trying to respond to every review that I get, which I don't normally do unless there are issues to address or questions to answer. I was informed however that it was rude not to say anything back, even if it's only just 'thanks for reviewing!'. Don't want to come across like I don't appreciate every review I get, so I'll try and respond to everybody, which I'll do on the Sunday before the update, since it's easier to do them all in one go :)