Chapter 7 – Merlin's Story
The battlefield was littered with the dying and the dead as the Knights of Camelot fought against the Mercenary armies of Mordred and his mother Morgana Le Fay. The battle between Arthur and Mordred had been going since midafternoon father and son fighting against one another. Merlin stood upon the battlements looking at his love wondering what had change in her so drastically. He couldn't for the life of him figure it out, scarcely a year before Morgana had been all laughter and smiles within the palace walls greeting her half-brother with open arms at the school they created with their students, Godric, Rowena, Helga, and Salazar. In the twenty years since they wed his beloved wife shown nothing of the monster she had become this day. Was I so smitten with love that I was blind or is it something else? He thought to himself before focusing his eyes on his beloved wife's own blue orbs, what he saw however shocked him, they were clouded not by anger, rage, and jealously as he first thought, they were simply clouded as though she was bewitched. With this realization he looked around the embattled field for something what he saw enraged him. He leapt from the battlements apparating in front of his former student slamming down his staff. "Salazar, what have you done?"
"Doing what must be done," the black haired man snarled. "You would teach our craft to those unworthy, the fools who have no fore knowledge. When she tried to stop me, I had to use a new curse I created, I call it the Imperious Curse, I dropped hints and plans into to her mind. She bedded her own half-brother; bore him a son who will now destroy the last of the Pendragon line. She will raise the entire country side to ground in her war driving every Mudblood from the area away; it is for the Greater Good."
Merlin sighed sadly, "You've delved too greedily into the dark arts, you've bewitched my wife, and you plan to slaughter countless Muggleborn wizard and witches, that I cannot allow. I place my own curse upon you and your heirs forever will your house be hated, until the time of my rebirth, a dark lord the last of your line will face one who will be marked his equal and your line will end, now I show you my greatest curse, AVADA KAVADRA!" a jet of emerald green light slams into the dark haired man sending him flying back landing to ground. Looking at the ground in pity Merlin turned to gaze at the woman he loves, a woman that was now lost to machinations of a bigot and a madman. Godric apparatus in front of him followed by Rowena and Helga. "I am sorry Helga your betrothed was lost to his madness."
The blonde haired woman nodded silently looking at her betrothed in sadness and regret, "He lost his way, Milord."
"He now dooms our way of life, this battle is but the tip," he turns to Godric Gryffindor and smiled sadly, "I leave the charge of running Hogwarts to you Godric, you and your beloved Rowena. One day I will be reborn into your line and be reunited with my beloved. I sense that I will not survive this battle, so you understand."
Godric stood ridge looking up at his long time mentor, "Surely I can aide you?"
"Brave and noble, but no your place is with the future students of your school, mine will be elsewhere," Merlin smiled sadly. "I cannot leave her in the grips of Salazar's madness. I must save her," with that he apparated to Morgana's position on the battlefield as she hurled fiendfyre and blasting curses in all directions, her beautiful features showing cold indifference though if one would look closer they would see tears falling in streams down her cheeks and more would follow after each magical attack, it was only when a figure dressed in dark blue robes carrying a staff like hers did she dare to hope. "My love," came his words.
"My beloved, please stop me I cannot do it on my own, Salazar placed me under his evil curse and used compulsion charms to make me do this," Morgana cried she wanted nothing more than to collapse in his arms sooth all the horrid things she has done the last year away. "I was made to be unfaithful to you, I took Arthur to our marriage bed," her tears continue to stream and her face was kept emotionless though emotionally she was in agony, she wanted to die just so she couldn't look at her loving husband and feel shame of her acts. "I bore him a son, used dark magic to age him and fill him with malice towards his own father. I failed my husband, please end me." She saw him look upon her with a sad but warm smile the same warm smile he had used the day they were betrothed the same day they admitted to love one another, the day married and the night they first made love.
"I will end us both my love, know this I hold you in no way responsible for your actions, you were bewitched," Merlin walked forward grabbing Morgana's staff as she tried to strike him and pulling her close slowly building up his magic, he could feel Morgana's hands wrapping around his neck and though her face showed no emotion her eyes told him all that he needed to see, she still loved him with all her heart. "Our lives in this time are at an end my love, one day we will be reunited."
"I will wait on baited breath beloved," Morgana's emotionless face cracked a small smile. "One thing will they take away my chocolate frog card?" She asked as the area around them turned a bright white.
"No I imagine they'll keep it, let's adolescent teenage wizard fantasize and ogle you," Merlin's green eyes danced with mirth. "Picturing what they can't have."
"Merlin you prat!" Morgana shouts before Merlin leans in kissing her passionately the vice like grip around his neck falls away feeling her arms slide behind gripping his hair as she deepens the kiss a huge explosion sends all those on the battlefield flying save Mordred and Arthur but distract them both enough to impale each other.
XXX
Narcissa Black stood in front of her first class after reading the final moments of the battle between Merlin Emrys and Morgana Le Fay, noting her audience was captivated by what she just read. "That was the final battle; the Dark Sorceress Morgana Le Fay was defeated by Merlin at the gates to Camelot, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff continued to run this school until they retired."
"Professor were Merlin and Morgana married?" Hermione asked.
"No one knows Merlin was a very private person and not much was known about Morgana before her descent into the dark arts aside from the fact that she was Arthur Pendragon's half-sister and that she used a compulsion charm on him to bed him," Narcissa explained. "Much of what is written in Magical History about Merlin and Morgana were dictated after Godric Gryffindor grew too old and senile to remember correctly, all we know is the fall of Camelot and House Pendragon was the result of Morgana's ambitions and Salazar Slytherin's desired for everything pureblood. But 5 points to Gryffindor for that lovely worded question Miss Granger. As for a direct answer I simply do not know, without having been there during that time your guess is as good as mine." Narcissa smiled going back behind her desk and turned to the class, "For homework I want you to write a three foot long essay about a person within the event in history lectured on, to better focus on I have written down each person onto a slip of paper. I'll call you by name and you come forward to pick one." She started down the list, "Hermione Granger."
Hermione stepped forward and grabbed a slip of paper, "Rowena Ravenclaw, oh this will be good."
Narcissa leaned forward, "Talk to the Grey Lady she can give you lots on the subject." Hermione nodded with a smile before going back to her seat. "Daphne Greengrass," Daphne walked forward and grabbed her own slip of paper.
"Morgana Le Fay," Daphne read looking up at her professor seeing the woman frown slightly. "What is it Professor?"
"You'll have a hard time; I suggest first reading the back of her Chocolate frog card to give you some hints on where to go from there." Daphne nodded going back to her seat, on the way back she saw Harry pull out his chocolate frog collection and hold one card out for her.
She took it and looked at the beautiful witch on the front; she looked at Harry and smiled, "Thank you Harry."
"After I got my Albus Dumbledore card, I got like six of her each time she's always seemed to be smiling at me," Harry chuckled. "Makes me wonder if cards can actually fancy someone."
Daphne giggled going back to her chair and sat down looking down at Morgana Le Fay who looked up at her with a strangely familiar smile a smile that she's seen several times before in family pictures. "This is just bazaar," she whispers Morgana nods in response.
"Draco Malfoy," Narcissa stated crisply watching as her son walked up to her pulling out a name.
"Mordred Le Fay," Draco stated glancing at his mother hoping for some advice but not expecting any, after all he wouldn't give any to her if their roles were reversed.
"Check the library Draco like his mother Mordred will be very hard to find, while his role was central to the fall of Camelot there's not much to go on," Narcissa explained shocking her son.
Draco walked back to his chair puzzled beyond belief; he hadn't expected his mother to help him even though she gave advice to each other her students. "Harry Potter," Narcissa calls out and watched with delight as her head of house walked forward grabbing a name with surprising glee. "Like the subject matter, Lord Potter-Black?"
"You are brilliant Professor Black, this is probably the first time I've come to the History of Magic and actually enjoyed it," Harry opened his slip of paper, "Merlin Emrys, yep my luck holds."
Narcissa smiled at the praise she was given, while most wouldn't think it but she loved Magical History or did until she attended Binn's class, the ghost just did things in such monotones that made every feel lazy and stupid it was only those that loved learning that powered through the two hour long class before. Looking at what Harry pulled out she sighed, "Not much but legends and myths Lord Potter-Black, for him." She notice Harry's eyes widen for a second. "Is something amiss?"
"I think I know where I can get the information for my essay, Professor," Harry smiled walking back to his desk and began writing a note to send to Marie.
Narcissa shook her head with a smile of her own, the boy had given her back her freedom while she was still young enough to enjoy it, she had received her copy of Sirius's will and she felt so touched by her cousin. I will do what you ask of me, Sirius I will find someone who will love me for who I am, not for my house and not for my wealth, I'll miss you, you old dog. She went through the rest of the students giving them names, Blaise got Lancelot, Tracey pulled Helga Hufflepuff, Neville however got the surprising pull.
"Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor," Neville gulped. "My luck is rubbish."
"Lord Longbottom you'll do fine, ask Miss Granger if she'll help you, I'm sure she won't mind. Matter of fact I suggest you, Lady Davis, and Miss Granger pull your resources together make a big presentation for the founders of our school," the blonde haired professor stated with gusto. Neville nodded before going back to his seat his face looking better at the prospect of not doing his essay on two of the four founders by himself. He glanced over at Tracey who smiled and nodded, then glanced over at Hermione who did the same. "Ronald Weasely."
Ron walked up and looked down at the last slip, opening it he was mildly surprised, "Arthur Pendragon."
"Ah, another one steeped into the myths and legends, I suggest teaming up with Lord Potter-Black to help you Sir Weasely," Narcissa states then turns back to her students. "These essays will be due on the last class before Christmas Holiday, so you have plenty of time to research. Next week we will discuss Magical World's influence on World War I and II, class is dismissed."
XXX
Ron was stunned as the group all walked out together, "She's good I'm looking forward to next week."
Blaise nodded, "those diagrams she show us while she discussed the battle was unbelievable."
Harry however was deep in thought he hadn't said anything but midway through the lecture he had passed out. At first he thought it was because of the lingering effects of the Dementors but they were nowhere close to the castle, and instead of flashbacks to his parents death he found himself in the middle of a battle and everyone was calling him Merlin. Something told him his dream was important, that it wasn't a dream really; all he could remember was the last image in his mind, his arms wrapped around someone who looked like Daphne if she had midnight colored hair. "Are you okay, Harry?"
Looking up he saw Daphne watching him as they walked, not wanting to worry her he planted a smile on his face. "Yeah, just thinking, going to send a letter to your mom about a book I saw in the Potter vault, might help Ron and I on our essay." She didn't look convinced but didn't press further as they all walked into the Great Hall, for lunch but instead of splitting up the group all center on the Gryffindor table and sat down to eat.
McGonagall stopped by and watched the mix of Gryffindor and Slytherin students eating, talking and joking. She silently rewarded each student five points for inter-house unity, as she sat down next to Severus who looked stunned, "Quite surprisingly I know," she stated just as Narcissa appeared with jointy spring in her step, she practically glowing in pride after her first lesson. "Enjoyed your first class Narcissa?"
"It was such a thrill Minerva, to watch their faces as explained the battle for Camelot to them," the blonde haired woman sighed. "This makes up for twelve years I had to spend with that ponce Lucius," she stated earning snort from Severus who was choking a bit on tea trying to keep his face neutral failing miserably, breaking out into a grin.
"Good to see your enjoying you new lease on life Narcissa," a voice stated to her right, turning she saw Yugi sitting eating his own lunch glancing at one of his aides the female one who was giggling.
"Yugi, I understand you have your first lesson with the third years Friday after lunch, how has your day been with the first and second years?" Narcissa asked a faint smile on her face.
"They are doing well, I cannot teach first years much save a few hexes and curses like the leg lockers curse or the tickle curse, second years I added the blasting curse, disarming spell, immobilizing charm, and the binding hex, Third years I plan jumping the curriculum a bit," Yugi explained.
"Is it because of what happened on the train?" McGonagall asked.
With a nod of his head the star haired young man wiped his mouth, "If I hadn't been so quick many of our first years would have exposed to those foul things up close and personal. Harry suffered the worse and he wasn't even exposed to one directly."
Narcissa turned to look at the boy who was casually talking to one of his friends, "He seems well now."
"On the surface yes, but we all know of his past, just because he doesn't remember their deaths doesn't mean he was not traumatize by them," Yugi explained sipping his pumpkin juice. "So I'll be teaching his year the Patronus Charm and if it works with their class, I'll do the same for every class."
"Such a spell could be too much for them," McGonagall stated.
"Yes but I believe children have more happy memories then adults, the only memory I could think was the marriage I had to my departed wife, the rest were thrown out, children have an abundance of happy memories, they are far more adept at it," Yugi explained.
McGonagall pursed her lips in thought and had to agree with his statement, "Very well I see you're point." Yugi smiled turning to watch as the owls begin to descend for the afternoon deliveries among Hedwig dropping some things for Harry and Daphne from Marie.
Author's Note: Wow two chapters in one day, that's spectacular for me at any rate I was reading Mryddin Emrys Return for the third time and the first part of this chapter just started writing itself. Yes, Harry and Daphne are going to be Merlin and Morgana's reincarnations many myths and legends about these two have been flying around I thought I put my own spin on it, the only thing people agree upon was Morgana was beautiful and evil again put my spin on it, what if she wasn't evil what if she was put under the Imperious Curse and compulsion spells to do all those evil things. Granted the Imperious Curse is suppose to cancel out when the user is killed, but in this story I put Slytherin as the creator of the curse, you would think the creator knew how to keep it running after it took effect even in the event of his death the only that it did was free Morgana's mind not her body. I did like the little echo Morgana has to Dumbledore's statement in Order of the Phoenix, bad mouth me all you want just let me keep card.