It's finally come! They finally come to Camelot! Merlin will be 18 and Hermione should be somewhere around 26, but she looks about Merlin's age. Don't judge it too closely.

A heads up, I had no freaking clue that Gaius was Hunith's brother so…...he's not in this story. Apologies!

Anywho, I want to send a big shout out to Elizabeth (guest)! She has such great ideas and I love reading them. I have big plans for this story!

ENJOY!

"Italics are signing."

Disclaimer: Merlin and Harry Potter do not belong to me. If they did, I wouldn't be writing this right now.

Chapter 6

It was a hard thing for Hunith to do. To send her son away. His magic was getting stronger and neither her or Hermione could help him. Hermione had tried, but found that with her ancient magic mixed with her evolved, she would need some help in the department of figuring out how to work the ancient arts as well. Hunith had decided to send Merlin to Camelot to get help from an old friend, Gaius. She wanted to only send Merlin because Hermione didn't really need to master the ancient arts because she could already do so much. Hunith knew though, she knew Hermione would follow Merlin. Hunith would be alone, but that was alright. She had eighteen wonderful years with Merlin and eleven years with Hermione added to their family. Hunith had to let go. So, she sat down and wrote the letter to Gaius. She was proud of herself for not crying. The only thing that helped was imagining the shock on Gaius's face when Merlin arrived with a sister. The confusion would be hilarious. Hunith wouldn't be able to see it though...pity. She enveloped the small letter and sealed it shut.

Merlin already knew he was leaving, but he was excited. He was so ecstatic to change his routine and to actually do more than chores and grow crops. He didn't notice how anxious Hermione was though. This was the point in history that would change. Merlin originally went to Camelot alone and the details were fuzzy. She just hoped not too much changed with her arrival. Yes, she was past the point of caring about changing history, but too much could have some nasty effects. She was happy though. Seeing Camelot would be every history lover's dream and she felt ready to faint with excitement. Arthur would still be Prince and Uther was King. Hermione didn't like Uther very much. He was a tyrant full of fear disguised as a King that was protecting his citizens. She couldn't say he was all bad though. Camelot had been peaceful, even with the hunting of sorcerers. The people that lived in Camelot flourished. Every coin has two sides, it's just that one side is usually clearer to see and that was Uther's evil side. Hermione had to protect Merlin though. She knew he would screw up once in awhile and she would be there to cover for him. Merlin had an uncanny ability to get stuck in situations and Hermione was always the one to pull his arse out of them. He was always thankful though, and that's all she asked.

Merlin and her were setting off for Camelot the next day. Hermione decided to leave Crookshanks with Hunith. He wouldn't do well in the large city and she was afraid that the cat would be killed by a spiteful vendor for him trying to steal food. It pained her to part with her familiar, but she would visit and take him to Camelot for a while so he could get some new scenery. They had to pack their clothes and Hermione had to find a way to make their place, which Merlin had named The Cave of Dreams, accessible. She loved the name Merlin had given the cave. He said it was because he could only imagine the place being real in dreams. She had smiled and completely agreed. She knew that Merlin was going to be living with Gaius, so she would need to find her own place. Most likely in the lower towns. That is, unless Gaius had a fireplace, then she could connect it to the one in the Cave of Dreams and make a floo network! The only problem would be floo powder. She just prayed that she could find the ingredients for it. It wasn't a complicated mixture, just that some things may not exist yet. If so, she would have to experiment and make her own. It would sure give her something to do.

Hermione just had her satchel which she was ever so grateful for and Merlin had his large backpack. The necklace Hermione had brought to this time with was taken out of the satchel just in case anyone decided to steal it. She put the necklace in the Cave of Dreams, hidden behind a stone in the wall and locked under password. Not even the strongest magic could retrieve it, she made sure of it. She wouldn't dare carry around such a precious object that she still had no idea of its powers.

Hermione and Merlin left in the early morning and hugged their crying mother goodbye. Hermione had made her mother a bracelet and it had their names engraved in it so Hunith would feel a connection to them. Hermione got an extra hug for the gift. Lastly, Hermione gave Crookshanks the largest hug ever. She actually started crying and Crooks licked her tears. She laughed and set the cat down. She left with a final, "be good" to Crookshanks and off they went. They headed out and when they were just at the borders of the village, they turned around and said their last goodbyes to their home. They stepped over the border and smiled. They were heading to Camelot. They walked for hours, just chatting and having fun. It was only a two days walk and they enjoyed every moment of it. They were happy to get away from the calculating looks of their neighbors and the frustration of not being able to do more. Hermione was walking slower now and she signed to Merlin, "it'll be hard for me there, Merlin." He looked at her confused and asked, "why?"

"People with talking disabilities aren't very common."

"Yes, I know."

"You won't be there to translate for me all the time."

"Oh."

"Yes. I have no way to communicate and this leaves most jobs closed for me."

"Well. I guess you're right. Maybe this, Gaius could give you a job as assistant Court Physician or something."

"Is there such a thing as assistant Court Physician?"

"Something the great Hermione doesn't know! What a shock!"

Hermione smacked his shoulder and said as clear as possible, "prat." He just laughed and they continued on. Night fell upon them and Merlin set up camp. Hermione didn't need a sleeping bag or anything. She just transformed into her Animagus and slept like that. Merlin had set up the logs for a fire and sat down. She looked at him oddly and signed, "light the fire." He shook his head and smiled, "nope. The great fire demon hound has enough fire at her disposal. Why should I waste my precious energy on something so trivial." Hermione smirked and breathed the fire a bit too far and it caught a bit of Merlin's shirt. He squeaked and jumped up trying to put it out. She laughed and shot a flow of water that soaked him. He stood there sopping wet while Hermione laughed. He sighed and replied, "you know. I should thank you for saving my life from the fire." Hermione stopped laughing and Merlin smiled. "A hug, sister?" Hermione shook her head and stepped away. Merlin bounded after her and they chased each other. Hermione was faster, but she tripped on a log and fell. She was tackled to the ground when she was getting up and was covered with a sopping wet Merlin. She tried to push him off, but he just laughed and said, "feel that. It's the soggy feel of karma." Hermione stopped struggling and looked up at her smirking brother. She glared up at him and struggled to say, "off you prick!" Merlin whistled and whispered, "don't let mum hear you talk like that. She'll have your head for such a respectable young lady using such foul language!" Hermione chuckled and finally pushed him off. When they got up and brushed off the dirt, Hermione signed to him, "respectable young lady, my arse." He nodded and chuckled, "yeah. You know, she still believes she can get you into ladies cloths." They both silently imagined the sight and burst out laughing.

The two siblings headed back to the campsite to dry off and eat. Hermione left to go hunt for some meat while Merlin stayed put. She loved hunting as the Black Shuck. She originally hadn't wanted to tell Merlin of her Animagus form. Yes, he accepted many things about her, but turning into a hound from hell...that was pushing it. When she was hunting one night the year before, Merlin came across her and took one look in her eyes and laughed. He told her that he imagined her more a cat, but a death omen dog fit too. Merlin had taken to calling her Animagus form, Demon Dog, because it looked like a dog from the depths of hell. Which it was. Adding to that fact, she could breath fire. So, he began calling her Devil when she wasn't in her Animagus form. People gave them weird looks, but Merlin enjoyed it. When she asked him why she insisted on calling her Devil and he always answered, "because of your devilishly good looks." They always smiled at that because they both knew that Hermione's scars and red eyes did look devilish. She took no offense to it and was actually flattered, which sounded strange.

She came back from hunting with two rabbits and Merlin cooked it all up. That was a big weakness for Hermione. She couldn't cook. Even when she made breakfast for Hunith it was a simple porridge which was one of the only things she could make. Anything besides a quick add water or something simple like that, cooking was out of her range of knowledge. Which was odd because she was a master level potions mistress. She didn't think cooking and potions were that different, but apparently, cooking was a master skill that you had to be born with. She was alright with that though. She couldn't do everything.

Once the meat was cooked. They ate the hearty meal and chatted. Mostly Merlin chatting. He had no shortage of words to fill in where she couldn't. It was time for sleep and Hermione transformed while Merlin took a sleeping bag. He turned away from her, but she would have none of that. The large canine Hermione curled her body around Merlin and set her head on top of his. He huffed and pushed her head off of him while saying, "honestly Devil. I thought you were supposed to be scary?" She licked his face and pulled him closer. Merlin sighed and replied, "love you too."

They slept peacefully. They both received a certain amount of peace from each other. No nightmares could reach them in what Hermione called the Safety Circle. When Hermione was a formed circle around Merlin and Merlin snuggled to her fur, it truly brought a sense of safety.

After they ate the leftover rabbit for breakfast, the two headed off to Camelot. It was early morning and Camelot would only take another two hours to reach. They spent that time in anxious silence and couldn't stop doing their usual nervous habits. Merlin fidgeted and Hermione bit her lip. Anyone walking past them would think they were up to something by how suspiciously nervous they looked. They finally came upon the large gates of Camelot with extreme nervousness and excitement.

The guards stood stoic and true, guarding the walls of the great city. Everything looked large and Majestic. The gates were open and anyone who wanted to enter was checked. When they finally reached the large entry way, Hermione was checked a bit extra for her suspicious look. She finally got fed up and glared at the guards. She signed to Merlin and he translated, "please let us through, you've checked enough." The guards gave eachother a look and finally nodded. Hermione sighed thankfully and grabbed her satchel back. The idiots didn't even know how to search for weapons. They didn't even find her dagger that was in her belt as always. She looked quite odd in the sea of people. Wearing a black scarf, black shirt, black fingerless gloves, black boots and dark brown pants. She had a scar over her eye and wild hair to finish everything off. Merlin looked like a normal guy. He wore a blue shirt, red neckerchief that he still wore with pride, light brown trousers and a dark jacket that Hunith had made for him and brown boots. They were an odd combination, but got less weird looks in Camelot than they did in the market in Essitir.

Everything in Camelot was full of energy. People bustling around, animals running astray, children running around and adults buying and selling. It was all such a whirlwind of commotion and Hermione almost got lost in it all. She ended up grabbing Merlin's hand so neither would get lost. He looked at her and smiled. "Didn't know I still needed my hand held." Hermione scoffed and signed, "you'll always need me to hold your hand." He snorted, but they both knew he completely agreed. They walked through the lower city and went up and up. Things started getting less dirty and more put together the closer to the castle they got. They finally reached a certain point, only to find a gathering of people. They were trying to shush each other and Hermione was curious. The problem was, she was too short to see past the tall heads. She looked at Merlin for commentary and he was about to tell her when she heard the drums start. She knew what was going on then she held Merlin's hand tighter and he did the same. They were watching an execution.

Hermione looked up to the walls around the square they were standing in and caught sight of the one and only, King Uther Pendragon. He wasn't as royal looking as she thought, but still pretty royal. He stood tall and proud, completely believing what he was doing was right. His hair was greying, but cut close to his head. He wore his crown with pride and peered over the crowd. His clothes were expensive and fit him fine, even if he did have a bit of a belly. He wore a lot of gold though. He was trying to prove his wealth and power by showing it off. Hermione turned her head to the boy they were bringing out. He was just a boy! Only about twenty! He hadn't even begun his life and now this...tyrant, was taking it away. Her anger flared and her eyes started to flicker. Merlin squeezed her hand to remind her that her losing her temper wouldn't be good. She took a deep breath and opened her now whiskey colored eyes. Uther had begun his speech. "This man, has been accused of Sorcery and Enchantments. For such a crime, I, Uther Pendragon, decree this man be sentenced to death, as per laws of Camelot." The boy was lead to the chopping block on the wooden platform. Hermione would have liked nothing more than to maul Uther to death right about now. The scary thing though, was that she had the power to do so. The executioner stepped up and the boy's head was placed on the block. The weapon was raised above his neck. Higher and higher until...

Hermione didn't look. She couldn't. She heard the sickly slice of flesh and the thump of body separating from the head. She buried her face in Merlin's shoulder and he put an arm around her. The King called for celebrations to begin and she couldn't believe one King could be as spiteful as to call celebrations for executions! Everything was interrupted by the wail of a woman. It was so pain filled and anguish was leaking from the sound. Hermione lifted her head and looked at the woman that had made the sad sound. The crowd parted from the woman and Hermione was washed over with an extreme amount of angry magic. She stumbled back and Merlin caught her. The woman spoke to the King. Angry words formed, "there is only one evil in this land and it is not magic. It is you! You took my son and the revenge will befall upon you! By the end of these celebrations, you will feel my pain!" The old and wrinkled woman was called to be seized and before anyone could touch her, she chanted a spell and disappeared in a wind of fabric. Hermione couldn't believe that she had just witnessed the first form of apparition. It looked a lot more painful than being sucked into a tube. Hermione saw that the crowd was just standing dumbly so she took Merlin's hand and lead him to the castle entrance. They needed to get to Gaius.

They had no clue as to where they were going and the castle was just huge! Hermione lead Merlin to some guards and pushed him forward. He got a confused look at first and then like a light being lit, he asked the guards, "do you know where I could find the Court Physician?" The guard pointed to the stairwell behind him and said, "there." Hermione and Merlin thanked the man and walked up the winding stone steps. Merlin turned to read the sign that said Court Physician and pointed to the right stairway. They reached a door and Merlin pushed it open. The two stopped to just look at the amazing room. The shelves on the walls were all filled with artifacts and potions and ingredients. There looked to be about four tables in the room in total and all were cluttered with what Merlin considered junk. The thing he knew would get Hermione stoked was the shelves of books everywhere. He looked over to Hermione to see she wasn't there. He looked around and spotted her searching the potions ingredients and notes with a large smile. He smiled and whispered, "down Devil," she shooed him away and pointed to the man was above them, searching through books. Merlin cleared his throat and called, "Gaius?" The old man quickly turned around and stepped back just a bit too far. He fell straight through the railing and was falling. Hermione's and Merlin's instincts kicked in. Hermione slowed his fall with a flash of gold in her eyes and Merlin brought over the bed under the falling man. Hermione let Gaius go and he fell to the mattress with a grunt. Gaius opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't dead!

Then he remembered what made him fall in the first place. "What the?" He quickly got up and looked over to the boy standing there dumbly. "You! How did you do that?" He shook his head and answered, "I didn't-"

"Did you incant a spell on your head?"

"No, it wasn't me."

"I know it was you! I just want to know how you did it."

"I don't know! It just happens."

"Who did you study with?"

"I didn't study magic."

"Impossible!"

"What would you have me say?!"

"The truth!"

"I was born like this!"

"Impossible."

There was a snort beside the two and Gaius turned to see a bushy haired girl shuffling through his things. The boy groaned, "down Devil! Leave the man's things alone." Gaius turned wide eyes to Merlin and asked, "Devil?" Merlin shook his head and replied, "just a nickname." Hermione turned around holding some papers and noticed Gaius staring at her scarred face. She got a bit self conscious and turned back away. She put the papers down and straightened up. Gaius walked over to her and decided for a formal greeting. He held out his hand and she shook it. "Gaius, Court Physician." She nodded and he waited for her name. She let go of his hand and pointed to the boy. He turned to Merlin and he said, "that's Hermione." Gaius thought, 'what an odd name.' He took a breath and sorted out his thoughts. "Who are you?" he pointed to the boy. "Merlin. I have a letter." Gaius snapped his fingers in realization and said, "your Hunith's boy! You're not supposed to be here until Wednesday!" Hermione slapped her hand over her face as Merlin answered, "it is Wednesday." Gaius felt a bit stupid. He had been so caught up in his projects that he forgot the date! He looked to the two and his eyes set on Hermione. "Why are you here?" Merlin answered for her again and replied, "this is my sister." Gaius's jaw dropped and he looked at the two. He could find no similarities between them. None at all. He didn't even know Hunith had another child! He walked up to Hermione and asked, "you have magic too?" Merlin answered, "yes. She has a lot better control of it though."

Gaius stepped back and asked exhaustedly, "why do you answer for her?" Merlin became a bit awkward and Hermione rolled her eyes. She removed the scarf and Gaius saw why she couldn't answer. Gruesome scars ran across her neck. Precisely where her speaking abilities would be located. She quickly put the scarf back on and did some motions with her hands to Merlin. Merlin looked up to Gaius and asked, "do you have a fireplace?" Gaius thought that was a strange question, but pointed to the back of his chambers and Hermione smiled brightly. She rushed over to the fireplace and Merlin and Gaius watched in fascination as she roamed her hands over the small place. She looked over to Merlin and did more hand motions. Merlin looked to Gaius and asked, "would you mind letting her do an experiment with some of your potion ingredients?" Gaius didn't see why not. He nodded and the girl shot past them and to the ingredients. Gaius turned to Merlin and said distractedly, "your room is over there" and pointed to the doorway up a few steps. Merlin nodded and quickly went to go put his bag in the room. He came back and Gaius questioned, "you're not going to unpack?" Merlin shook his head and kept his eyes glued on Hermione who was getting out a tool for crushing and grinding herbs. "And miss Hermione work on a potion? No way. In all the years I've known her, she has never made a potion. She always boasts of her abilities, so I want to see if she was truthful."

Gaius decided to watch as well. He pulled out a stool and motioned for Merlin to sit next to him. Merlin took the stool gratefully and they watched the woman work. She smirked at Merlin and brought all the ingredients she collected to the table where they were sitting and began to work. Gaius didn't even notice all the ingredients she was putting in the bowl as she expertly chopped, refined and crushed. She brought over a cauldron and a burner and was then working on two things at once. She put all the crushed herbs in a bowl and waved her hand over it. He saw nothing happen, but knew it was an important step. She took the potion she was brewing and poured it into a vial. She turned off the burner and snapped her fingers. Everything she didn't need went back to their places and Gaius's jaw dropped a bit. She did that with no incantations or anything. He peered over to Merlin and he didn't even notice the significance of the power the girl was showing. He looked back over to whatever she was creating and watched as she dropped a single drop on the mound of crushed herbs. As soon as it touched the herbs, the mound turned into a bowl of grey dust. The girl smiled and jumped in a circle excitedly. She did fast hand motions to Merlin and he laughed in joy.

"Congratulations Hermione! Well go on! Try it out!" She nodded excitedly and put the vial down. She took the bowl with her and placed it on the mantle place. She motioned them over and the two obeyed. She took a pinch of the powder and crossed her fingers for good luck. Gaius noticed that his fireplace was empty of wood and everything. She put a foot in the fireplace and the whole thing expanded to fit a person. Gaius choked and couldn't believe his eyes. She stood in the fireplace and nodded to Merlin. She said croakily, but clearly, "the Cave of Dreams!" She threw down the powder and was engulfed in green flames. Merlin and Gaius shouted in surprise and looked to see the fireplace empty of Hermione. "Where did she go?" Gaius was so confused and Merlin replied, "our Cave of Dreams." They waited a second and Hermione came back in the same flash of green flames. She was jumping everywhere excitedly and hugged Merlin. He hugged her back and they both laughed in joy. Gaius thought they didn't look like siblings, but they sure acted like it. He looked to his now normal fireplace and a soot covered Hermione and asked, "how did you do it?" She looked over to him and separated from Merlin. She shook her head and placed a finger over her lips. He guessed she was telling him that it was a secret.

Gaius accepted the fact and moved on. "You better go unpack Merlin, it's getting late." Merlin looked to Hermione and she smiled and shooed him off. Merlin went to his room and Gaius was then alone with the odd girl. He stood in front of her and asked, "if I were to ask you some questions, could you answer me in some way?" She nodded and he continued, "I didn't know Hunith had another child. When were you born?" Hermione snapped her fingers and a parchment and quill appeared. She motioned over to the table and they sat down across from each other. Hermione scribbled a note and passed it to Gaius. It read: Hunith did not give birth to me. He asked her, "then you're not really Merlin's sister." She got an annoyed look and pushed up her right sleeve. Gaius gasped, not because of the numerous scars littering her pale skin, but because of the tattoo right under the crook of her elbow. It was the symbol of a blood ritual to make people related. So, she really was Merlin's sister in every sense. He asked her, "when did you do the ritual?" She put down her sleeve and wrote: on Merlin's sixteenth birthday. Gaius didn't know how old she would have been, but guessing by her looks, she was the same age. Maybe only a bit older. He then needed to know, "who taught you potions? What you displayed was phenomenal!" She smiled and cleared her throat and said with determination, "Severus Snape." Gaius could tell she held great respect for the man that taught her. She went as far as to say his name instead of writing it because she wanted to show strength and respect for the man she called Severus Snape. He nodded and told her, "I can set you up with a bed for tonight. Then, you'll need to find a place to stay." Hermione nodded and Gaius led her to his bed. "Sleep here. I'll roll out a sleeping bag." He was about to leave, but Hermione grabbed his hand and said, "no. You kee-ep your be-ed." She went over to Merlin's door and disappeared. Gaius was amazed at her generosity. Maybe, she wouldn't be all that bad.

Meanwhile, Hermione had curled up next to Merlin on his small bed after removing her shoes, gloves and scarf. She also made her eyes their original red and felt like herself again. She settled in and Merlin grunted. "We're getting too old for this, Hermione. People would find it scandalous." She just smacked his head and signed, "let them think what they will. If I want to sleep next to my little brother than I will." Merlin chuckled and pulled her closer. "I'm a bit tall to be your little brother, don't you think?" She shook her head and smacked him again. He chuckled and off to sleep they went for the night, peaceful and safe in each other's embrace.